Guyana Times Daily

Fear grows as Chikungunya spreads

Linden officials mum on One Mile Primary School contributions

World Bank approves US$105M to tackle Ebola

Body of Matthews Ridge woman found naked in bushes

IMF calls for reforms to unleash economic power of women 56 Guyanese deported from Canada last year

Linden officials mum on One Mile Primary School funds

Region 10 officials have remained tight-lipped on the funds garnered in 2012 to rebuild the One Mile Primary School, which was reduced to ashes by arsonists during the unrest in Linden.

More than a month ago, contributors pressed for answers, but, to date, their questions still are unanswered. Regional Councillor Maurice Butters, who was placed in charge of the committee that was responsible for the collection of the funds, told Guyana Times on Tuesday that the information would soon be disclosed. He explained that a press conference will held where the matter will be ventilated.

His response comes days after Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Audwin Rutherford demanded finan-

cial records from the committee. Rutherford made his demands known during the recently-convened statutory meeting at the Region 10

Democratic Council Office, saying that several requests have been made for the requisite information to be disclosed but to no avail.

During an interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Rutherford said that since 2013, the matter was brought before the Regional Democratic Council (RDC). “We were never given a figure, never. Since last year, we requested a financial report; they said next month, one year after we are still waiting,” the Region 10 Councillor explained.

Contradictory reports

He said during the last statutory meeting when the matter was raised again, Butters disclosed that the accounting process was still ongoing, but would soon be concluded allowing for the audit to be done. But,

Rutherford said this was in total contradiction to what the council was told before – that the Auditing was being done.

“How could the same company that is doing the accounting, do the audit?” Rutherford asked as he vented his dissatisfaction. He said that no effort was even made to present the council with at least an unaudited report. “We would not have had a problem with that. They should have given us something to work with, but after more than a year, we are still waiting.” According to the AFC Councillor, the Chairman of the committee has promised to make available the required document on Friday.

In 2012, the One Mile Primary School was among more than 10 buildings that were burnt down when a

protest over a proposed hike in electricity tariffs spiralled out of control, resulting in the death of three persons in the mining town. The arson resulted in more than 800 students and teachers being displaced. They are being accommodated at three other schools in Linden.

Under the stewardship of Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Vanessa Kissoon, Lindeners near and far had vowed to rebuild the school, shortly after the month-long protest came to an end in August. However, the Government, through the Education Ministry, indicated that it would uphold its constitutional mandate and rebuild the school. Since this announcement was made by Government, con-

tributors have been asking, “where the money is?”

APNU Leader David Granger, when questioned about the monies received, said the monies were collected by the region, explaining that it was done on behalf of the people and not APNU or the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). “No, the PNC never authorised the collection of any money; the PNC does not hold any money for the One Mile Primary and I cannot say how much was collected or where the monies went… I don’t know and I am not going to accept responsibility for that,” Granger said in response to a question posed by Guyana Times. The new state-of-the-art facility is being built to the tune of $170 million and is expected to be completed by February 2015.

56 Guyanese deported from Canada last year

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

There has been a significant decrease in the number of Guyanese being deported from Canada, statistics have revealed.

Back in 2012, a total of 112 illegal Guyanese immigrants were removed from Canada but by 2013, only 56 were deported. The 56 Guyanese represented 0.36 per cent of the 15,440 illegal immigrants who were removed from Canada in 2013. During the period January

to July 2014, Canada has deported 6263 persons, with only 29 being Guyanese.

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles said the figures are not alarming. “We are not concerned, we don’t consider this a trend, we are very comfortable with those numbers,” Dr Giles told Guyana Times during an exclusive interview.

However she explained that when a decision is taken to remove someone from Canada, it is never taken lightly, explaining that

extensive judicial reviews are conducted before action is taken. Overstaying their visits, illegally working in Canada and engaging in criminal activities are among reasons that often result in immigrants being deported from Canada.

It is unclear how many Guyanese were deported from countries across the world in 2013; however in 2012 a total of 750 Guyanese were deported from the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Trinidad and

Tobago, Barbados, French Guiana, Suriname, St Maarten, Curacao, France, Antigua, Jamaica, Holland, Costa Rica and Spain.

According to the Guyana Police Force, the deportees were mainly from the USA (158), Canada (112), Trinidad (128), Barbados (82) and the highest number from Suriname; 234. They were mainly deported because of drug-related and other criminal offences, illegal entry, overstaying time and denial of refugee status.

In addition to the drop in the number of deportees, fewer Guyanese are seeking asylum in Canada. “We have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of refugee applications from Guyana,” the Canadian High Commissioner said. It was explained that in 2007 there were 126 applications from Guyanese but by 2013 the number of applications reduced to 20. Additionally, in 2007 there were 133 decisions on claims while in 2013 there 26 decisions on

claims.

“So we have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of claims. In 2013, there were 20 referrals to 20 new applications, decisions on 26 which obviously carried applications from the previous year, five applications were accepted, and 19 applications were rejected,” Dr Giles further explained.

Before a decision in made, she explained that the Refugee Protection Division in Canada looks at each case on its own merit before making a decision. “Decisions are made after laborious and very intensive investigation of the case that is presented,” the High Commissioner added.

To assist refugees who have had their claims rejected, the Government of Canada has initiated the ‘Assisted Voluntarily Returns and the Reintegration Pilot Programme (AVRR).’

For more than 30 years, the International Organisation for Migration

(IOM)

AVRR

programmes had been in operation around the world.

AVRR is an indispensable part of a comprehensive approach to migration management which seems to remove immigrants in an orderly and humane manner, allowing for reintegration for those persons who are unable or unwilling to remain in host countries and wish to return home voluntarily.

In partnership with the IOM, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) implemented the AVRR Pilot Programme in June 2009. The three-year pilot project will come to an end in 2015. Dr Giles explained that “IOM provides support to the failed claimant in terms of helping them get their travel documents together. They also help them to plans for reintegration.” Upon return to their home land, IOM Offices continue to offer support in the form of financial assistance for educational programme or the development of a business plan.

In June 2009, Guyana had signed an agreement with the IOM with the intention of implementing the “Reintegration of the Returned Migrants Project.” However in 2012, the then US Ambassador to Guyana, D Brent Hardt said the IOM programme here did not produce the desired results, positing at the time that the implementation of the programme was greatly delayed. However when Guyana Times called the local Office in Georgetown on Tuesday, it was informed that the IOM Office was still in operation but the Reintegration of the Returned Migrants Project had concluded a long time ago. (svetlanam@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Dr Nicole Giles, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana

Region 10 Councillor Maurice Butters

BRIDGE OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

GT&T pegs landline losses at $6.6B annually

– says SKYPE, Magic Jack drying up int’l inbound revenues

By Jomo Paul

Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Radha Krishna Sharma said the utility was losing around US$32.4 million (G$6,664,551,901)annually in providing landline service to this country – a situation which he described as untenable. He urged the utilities watchdog to favourably consider the company’s proposal to hike its rates.

GT&T, Guyana’s sole landline service provider, last month said that while the landline service remains critical to the development of Guyana, it is an “albatross” in its current state.

The company says that unless it can take steps to increase rates and tariffs, the situation will remain the same, since the revenues gathered from that sector can barely cover overhead expenses. This was the position of the executives of the company when they appeared before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) at the Cara Lodge, Quamina Street two weeks ago.

Other players

However, commentators have asked why – if the landline service is such a burden to the company – doesn’t it relinquish its monopoly, and allow other players to provide the service.

Sharma told Guyana Times that the company has estimated the magnitude of its losses from two different directions. He said around 2008-09, GT&T had contracted an international consultant to estimate this loss.

He said the consultant’s methodology sought to establish whether GT&T’s domestic service revenues were sufficient to cover its domestic service costs, and if not, to establish a “ballpark” estimate of the shortfall. Using a benchmarking methodology which relied on the costs

incurred by rural telecom service providers across 50 states in the USA, the consultant made two noteworthy findings: whereas the rural USA service providers earned on average US$32.78 per line, GT&T earned in the vicinity of US$8.73 per line.

“In other words, notwithstanding the similarity of their cost structures, GT&T earned four times less per line than the average rural USA operators,” Sharma explained.

Secondly, he said, from the perspective of the total annual loss on the provision of domestic service, using the Total Element Long Run Incremental Cost (TELRIC) of the rural USA service providers as a surrogate for GT&T’s domestic service costs and subtracted GT&T’s annual domestic service revenues from these costs, GT&T’s annual losses in the provision of domestic service ranged between US$39 and US$47 million per year.

According to Sharma, GT&T estimated the loss independently by populating its own Long-run Average Incremental Cost (LARIC) Model with the company’s 2011 traffic and audited accounts. “Our finding was that the annual losses on the domestic service business (ie the de facto subsidy) turned out to be roughly US$32.4 million, an amount that is within the ballpark of the international consultant’s lower estimate of US$37 million.”

Landline customers

Currently, GT&T has around 154,000 wire line customers spread across the 10 regions of Guyana. This count does not include the numerous customers served by remote radio service in the hinterland communities. Sharma said based on the 2012 Census population, Guyana now has a wire line teledensity of 20.6 lines per 100 population (20.6 per cent).

“So, we have come a long way from the two per cent teledensity we had when GT&T became the incumbent telephone provider in 1991.”

He said the provision of domestic service (installation, access/monthly rental, local and local-long-distance calls) is unprofitable because it was consciously designed to be unprofitable.

“International service revenues were intended to subsidise the provision of domestic service... this model is no longer sustainable, given the erosion of international revenues for a variety of reasons,” Sharma asserted.

He said with the introduction of competition, international service rates will fall and GT&T will only cap-

ture a small share of international revenues as more operators enter the market. “So, there will be no international revenues with which to subsidise domestic service.”

Asked if GT&T would consider it opportune to speed up the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector so that other players can enter to provide that service, thereby reducing the burden faced by the company, Sharma said the company has publicly stated its support for sector reform and its willingness to collaborate with Government as far as possible to ensure that the reform is realised.

Reform

“But, the fact is that responsibility for the entire process lies with Government. GT&T has cooperated with all of the consultants engaged by Government since 2000 to propose options for the reform... and offered Government our views on various drafts of the Telecoms Bill and Regulations and the Public Utilities Commission (Amendment) Bill; and responded to an invitation from the Special Select Committee of Parliament to present and defend our views on various aspects of the draft Bill. We can do no more than we have already done,” Sharma stressed.

GT&T CEO Radha Krishna Sharma

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Granger’s ultimatum

President Donald Ramotar must be commended for his decision to seek clarity on the contents of a letter issued to him by David Granger before penning a comprehensive and appropriate response to the concerns raised therein.

Recall the disrespectful tone of the letter which was dispatched to the President last week Tuesday and its concommitant threat of the mobilisation of local and international “action” if he did not operationalise all of the mechanisms in place to hold Local Government Elections.

Surely, the Opposition Leader was not expecting the President of Guyana or the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to abandon the positions and concerns they articulated for months about the state of preparedness of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the need for a more robust public education system to be in place ahead of these elections, simply because he made a threat.

Apart from those concerns, the President and his party have consistently recommitted themselves to ensuring that the elections are held, but they will not be intimidated into doing so with Opposition-tailored pieces of legislation that can taint the integrity of the outcome of the process.

It could not have escaped the experienced Opposition Leader that the PPP/C would have viewed his deadline as a political gimmick, aimed at creating tension in the country in the lead-up to the AFC’s No-Confidence Motion, which will be discussed next week.

That aside, Granger did a very poor job in rationalising his decision to suddenly galvanise support for Local Government polls, even though his party had taken a principled position to support the AFC’s motion, which would trigger General and Regional Elections after being discussed in October.

What is also worrying is that the Opposition Leader did not consult (at least he would like the public and media to believe that he did) key partners within his coalition, Opposition parties and PNC/R’s political constituency about the ultimatum and the line of action that must follow, since the President refuses to be bullied into setting an election date.

This in itself is remarkable and speaks to a lack of political maturity and the understanding of the impact that such threats can have on national life, peace, tranquillity of the public and investment.

The “action” cannot be a top secret and Granger cannot promise that it will only take on a legal and legitimate nature. Because of the ambiguity surrounding that action, any sort of violence, protests and criminal activity that occurs around this period could be easily misconstrued to be the consequences of non-action on the part of the President, as far as the ultimatum is concerned.

It would do the Opposition Leader and his future in politics good for him to unveil or give more clarity to the forms this action will take even if it means giving his political opponents a heads-up.

Coincidently, Granger's ultimatum was issued within the same week that one of the country’s largest workers union suddenly summoned a media conference and threatened to take industrial action against the Government for all issues under the sun.

No one could forget the support given by that particular union in 1997 and 1999 to the political Opposition then to wreak havoc in the streets of Guyana in the name of better wages and salaries, and democracy.

Both Opposition Leader Granger and President Ramotar need to sit around the table and discuss issues frankly with the aim of arriving at a solution as opposed to continuing their hardline positions. And every problem has a solution.

It is therefore not surprising that the date for action following the expiration of the ultimatum is not known. The letter, which was no doubt ambiguous, given the utterances of several frontline spokespersons of the APNU on a variety of issues relating to Local Government Elections, was aimed at forcing the President to disregard the positions, arguments and concerns articulated by his Government and the ruling PPP/C.

The nation therefore anxiously awaits Granger's action now that the ultimatum has expired.

Back to school in Syria

Ramjattan, Nagamootoo are like two feathers plucked from a crow

Dear Editor, Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo, two top former members of the PPP/C, an old party, are now firing some arrows at that very party.

To elaborate on this situation, I would like to use this analogy: the

PPP/C is like an old experienced crow. Ramjattan and Nagamootoo are like two feathers which have been plucked from the wings of that crow, or which have fallen out there one of those feathers was fitted unto an arrow and the other unto the next. These arrows are hitting the crow either simultaneously or alternatively. That’s politics!

Yours faithfully, George Carrington

Respect given is respect gained!

Dear Editor, In commemorating the tenure in office of the Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, a grand fun day was held at the Better Hope Community Centre ground on September 14, where the various Community Policing Group (CPG) divisions had an opportunity to express their gratitude to the Minister.

It was the Minister’s initiative to form and support a CPG in every village, which will work along with the Guyana Police Force to assist in maintaining peace and order, as well as showcase their active sportsmanship, wherein both female and male CPG officers participated in games and competitions.

It was a fun-filled day wherein CPGs interacted with their counterparts as one, and to add icing to the cake, numerous youth groups, which are extended arms of CPGs, also had the chance to compete against each other in sporting activities, such as cricket, herein bridging the gap of communication within the various counties of Guyana.

As much as it was an enjoyable event, the CPG officers should be commended because irrespective of race,

colour or religion, they all ensured that everyone who participated and attended felt like part of a magnanimous family.

Respect was given to all, hence, these CPGs deserve more respect and support from their communities, since as voluntary groups, they ensure stability, etc in their respective neighbour-

hoods. The members of the Bush Lot New Housing Scheme CPG would like to express gratitude to the B1 Division Liaison Officer Wheed Isahak for being the driving force behind the many groups who attended.

And they would also like to join the Courbane Park

Annandale CPG in expressing their condolences to the bereaved family and friends of the late C Division Liaison Officer, Mr Gomes, who passed away early Sunday morning.

Yours sincerely, R Kerut Bush Lot New Housing Scheme CPG

One of the teams at the fun day with Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

This little girl was all smiles and excitement in this September 14 photo as she posed with a book in the Hussien Zein School in the Damascus suburb of Sahnaya. Through education, all things are possible and these little ones returned to school for the new academic year with fresh faces and eager minds (BBC News)

wednesdAY, september 17, 2014 |

Ahead of General Assembly

UN Chief urges world leaders to unite in “time of turmoil”

Just days ahead of opening the high-level segment of the 69th General Assembly session, United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon Tuesday called on world leaders to unite in the face of the myriad devastating crises to uphold human dignity, the rule of law, and the principles of the UN Charter.

“At this time of turmoil, the next two weeks will highlight again the indispensable role of the United Nations in tackling global threats and seizing opportunities for common progress,” said Ban as he spoke to journalists at the world body’s New York Headquarters.

“We are anticipating an impressive turnout of leaders from Government, business, finance and civil society. Most important, we are expecting significant commitments and progress,” the Secretary-General said, adding that he hoped to address the horrendous violence in Syria and Iraq, where conflict and governance failures have provided a breeding ground for extremism.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of “yet another needless and devastating war” in Gaza, Israelis and Palestinians seem more polarised than ever. International consensus is

critical to address the challenges posed in an increasingly complex world.

He said world leaders must act against serious threats to global and regional peace and security including in Ukraine, Libya, Mali, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. Terrorist organisations throughout the world are not only carrying out attacks but seizing large areas of land beyond the Government’s control. In Nigeria, the advances of Boko Haram grow more alarming every day.

Crises

“We will not let these crises be forgotten – and we will meet next week at the highest level to determine what more we can do,” Ban said. This year’s General Assembly will be attended by more than 140 Heads of State or Government, civil society leaders, Chief Executive Officers, and other influential global figures.

“The world is facing multiple crises. Each has its own dynamics, and requires its own approach. But all have featured atrocious attacks on civilians, including children. All have dangerous sectarian, ethnic or tribal dimensions. And many have seen sharp divisions within the international community itself over the response,”

Can Harmon

Dear Editor, It is good to know that PNC/APNU MP Joseph Harmon has perused the documentation sent to him by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) for the proposed debate between himself and the Commissioner of Forests, James Singh.

One of the reports sub-

mitted to Harmon dealt with “Baishanlin’s Forest operations and compliance with GFC’s forest monitoring requirements” which I do believe is quite relevant for the debate. But Harmon is not satisfied, saying that the “report is a gross insult to citizens”. The question in this regard is, can Harmon say if he un-

Ban said.

Meanwhile, on the heels of yet another meeting on the outbreak of Ebola held Tuesday in Geneva, Ban urged the international community to act immediately to contain the epidemic and treat those infected. He pledged to continue his efforts to mobilise the international community to help meet the health services, supplies, food and other requirements.

“We cannot allow travel bans on travel or transport to slow us down. We need isolation of people affected by Ebola – not nations struggling to cope with it,” Ban said.

Consequences

“This is not just a health crisis; it has grave economic and social consequences that could spread far beyond the affected countries.”

On a broader range, the new session of the General Assembly will be a pivotal period for efforts to defeat poverty and adopt a new generation of sustainable development goals.

“Action on climate change is urgent. The more we delay, the more we will pay in lives and money,” said Ban, emphasising the importance of his climate summit next week, which will aim to mobilise political will for a universal legal agreement next year in Paris and to generate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Ban also announced that actor Leonardo DiCaprio will be joining the United Nations in its climate advocacy efforts and commended DiCaprio on his long-standing commitment to environmental causes.

“Today, I am appointing him as our newest United Nations Messenger of Peace, with a special focus on climate change issues. His global stardom is the perfect match for this global challenge. His first act as a Messenger of Peace will be to address the opening of the Climate Summit,” the Secretary-General said. (UN News)

Over 1 million child deaths occur in first month of life – report

As Guyana celebrates National Breastfeeding Week and pushes better nutrition as a way to safeguard both mother and baby, the United Nations has reported that more than one million babies each year die on their first day of life.

In its “Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed” progress report, released on Tuesday, the global body said many of these deaths could be easily prevented with simple, costeffective interventions before, during and immediately after birth.

While evidence shows that breastfeeding the newborn within one hour of birth reduces the risk of neonatal death by 44 per cent, less than half of all newborns worldwide receive the benefits of immediate breastfeeding.

The 2014 progress report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – the second in a series intended to track progress on child survival and hold Governments accountable –indicates, according to the UN News Agency that “an infant’s chances of survival

forts must also be made to ensure that the most vulnerable are reached.”

Since 1990, the number of under-five deaths has been slashed in half from 12.7 million to 6.3 million. But more remains to be done. The first 28 days of a newborn’s life are the most vulnerable and as it stands now, almost 2.8 million babies die each year during this period.

New analysis points to failures in the health system during the critical time around delivery as a significant contributing factor to these unnecessary deaths. It also shows that there is considerable variation – from country to country and between rich and poor –in the quality of health services available to pregnant women and their babies.

Around half of all women do not receive the recommended minimum of four antenatal care visits during their pregnancy. Complications during labour are responsible for around one quarter of all neonatal deaths worldwide. In 2012, one in three babies (approximately 44 million) entered

nancy received a core set of eight prenatal interventions. Those countries with some of the highest number of neonatal deaths also have a low coverage of postnatal care for mothers.

Additionally, the education level and age of the mother has a significant bearing on the chances of her baby’s survival. Neonatal mortality rates among mothers with no education are nearly twice as high as those for mothers with secondary schooling and above.

There is some good news, however. The report suggests that in every region, except sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion of under-five mortality among the poorest sections of society is declining faster than in the richest.

“It is deeply heartening that the equity gap in child survival is continuing to narrow,” said Rao Gupta. “We need to harness this momentum and use it to drive forward programmes that focus resources on the poorest and marginalised households; a strategy which has the potential to save the largest number of children’s lives.”

increase dramatically when their mother has sustained access to quality health care during pregnancy and delivery”.

This is according to UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Geeta Rao Gupta, in a statement to the press. “We need to make sure that these services, where they exist, are fully utilised and that every contact between a mother and her health worker really counts. Special ef-

the world without adequate medical support, the UN said.

Analysis of 10 high mortality countries found that less than 10 per cent of babies delivered by a skilled birth attendant went on to receive the seven required post-natal interventions, including early initiation of breastfeeding.

Similarly, less than 10 per cent of mothers who saw a health worker during preg-

According to the UN, “A Promise Renewed” is a movement launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon to intensify global action to improve the health of women and children and reduce preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths. Since June 2012, 178 Governments, members of civil society, and the private sector have signed a pledge to redouble their efforts for the cause.

derstands the documentation sent to him by the GFC. And if not, is he saying that it is he who is an insult to the citizens of Guyana?

I have absolutely no problem with Harmon championing the cause of public accountability. But in like fashion can Harmon provide the following reports to the National

Library for the public to read and digest?

1) Assessment and compliance reports in relation to the missing Army weapons prior to 1992 when he (Harmon) and his leader David Granger were Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officers.

2) Assessment and compliance reports on rigged

General and Regional Elections from 1968-1991 when the PNC was in Government.

3) Assessment and compliance reports not submitted prior to 1992 when the PNC was in Government to determine the performance of the productive sectors of Guyana’s economy.

It is my view that if

these reports are submitted by Harmon for the public’s consumption, it is only then that the factual evidence would provide to John Public a clear picture of the genesis of Guyana’s social and economic collapse prior to 1992.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Under-five mortality rate by region, 1990 and 2013. Source: UN IGME 2014. Credits: UNICEF

Page Foundation

BY BaRBaRa MantEL

Young children who were breastfed as infants scored higher on intelligence tests than formula-fed children, and the longer and more exclusively they were breastfed, the greater the difference, say Harvard University researchers in a study published in JAMA Paediatrics.

This study adds “to the body of literature of the as sociation between dura tion of breastfeeding and cognition,” says NBC News diet and health editor Madelyn Fernstrom, PhD, CNS. But does breastfeeding make your child smarter? Fernstrom says this study shows an associa tion, not cause and effect.

The researchers an alysed 1312 expectant mothers enrolled between 1999 and 2002 in Project Viva, a study in eastern Massachusetts examining pregnancy and child health, and the children they delivered.

gain would be 4.2 verbal IQ points.

The association between breastfeeding and intelligence was stronger when researchers broke out children whose moms exclusively breastfed during the first six months. Those seven-yearolds showed an increase of four-fifths of a point in verbal IQ each month over chil-

mographically across the world if everyone were to make that gain.” For context, the average IQ is 100, and about 67 per cent of people have IQ scores somewhere between 85 and 115.

Georgieff praised the study’s design. There is really good evidence that breastfeeding reduces ear infections, diarrhoea

able estimate of what the relationship is between the length of breastfeeding and the IQ of the child at school age,” says Dr Mandy Belfort, lead author and Assistant Professor of paediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

The study results show that “exclusive breastfeeding is becoming more and more important,” says Physicist Sean Deoni, head of Brown University’s Advanced Baby Imaging Lab and lead author of a recent brain imaging study that linked exclusive breastfeeding to enhanced brain development in children.

bal

IQ if exclusively breastfed during their entire first six months of life.

The researchers found that seven-year-olds whose moms had done any breastfeeding during the child’s first year – exclusively or in combination with formula – gained a little more than a third of a point in verbal IQ for each month of breastfeeding compared to children who were never breastfed.

That means if the mom did any mix of breastfeeding for the entire 12 months, the

The results were similar although smaller in magnitude for non-verbal IQ.

“I would take three or four IQ points any given day,” says paediatrician Michael Georgieff, Director of the Centre for Neurobehaviuoral Development at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Georgieff was not involved in the current study. “It’s a pretty significant shift, especially de-

hard to do studies of cognition.” That’s because there are many variables associated with both a child’s tested intelligence and a mother’s choice to breastfeed.

The Harvard study, unlike most past studies, controlled for these and other variables, including the mother’s intelligence, education level, and any postpartum depression; family income and home environment; and the child’s race, ethnicity, sex and birth weight.

“As a result, we felt we were able to get a reason-

“And it’s not like you get an early advantage that falls away. Their study showed that the advantage seems to persist,” says Deoni.

Belfort says researchers don’t know for sure why breast milk may increase cognition. “All the nutrients we know that are important for infants are also in formula, but there may be others that we don’t know about yet that are responsible” for this small but significant effect.

BY KIMBERLY DEMUCH

Thaw frozen breast milk in the refrigerator or place the bag in a bowl of warm water. It’s never a good idea to thaw or heat breast milk in a microwave. It will destroy some of the immunity-building properties of the milk, which thwarts all your efforts. Plus, a microwave can produce hot spots in the milk that can burn your baby’s mouth.

Create a plan with your boss

(NBC News) (Continued

each day once you return. Find out what policies may already be in place, or research the legislation in your area. Present your employer with a positive attitude and practical suggestions to make your pumping plan work for everyone.”

Get to work

For example, beneficial fatty acids found in breast milk have been routinely added to formula in the United States since about 2002. But a class of carbohydrates called oligosaccharides found in breast milk and thought to be beneficial to a baby’s health and brain development is not yet found in formula, says Georgieff.

Twenty-five per cent of working mothers report that they are not able to discuss back-towork breastfeeding plans with their employer prior to going on maternity leave.

“Contact your employer several weeks be fore returning to work,” says Nancy Holtzman, a mater nal, infant, and lacta tion specialist. “Let them know you’ll need to express milk two or three times

Expressed breast milk should be kept chilled, so if you’re pumping at work, you’ll need a re-

ator or cooler to store it in until you go home. You’ll also need an insulated bag and cold pack to transport it during

Try to dress in clothing that eases pumping, such as blouses that unbutton in the front or sweaters that pull up easily. You may find that your favourite one-piece dress isn’t worth the trouble of having to disrobe entirely to pump. It’s also a good idea to keep an extra neutralcoloured blouse or sweater at work for those days when you can’t get to your pump fast enough and you start to leak. Wearing a good set of breast pads at all times will cut down on such accidents. It’s a good idea to keep some spares in your desk or locker.

Be patient

You may not master the art of being a breastfeeding working mom the first day back at the office. A mere seven per cent of women find pumping at work extremely easy, according to Bravado’s research.

Through this whole process, the best advice might just be to exercise patience and give it time, says Staci Starr, senior brand manager at Bravado Designs. “Confidence and comfort come with time and with help,” Starr says. (Parenting.com)

Vive La Force logger turns self in after shooting nephew

The West Bank Demerara man who allegedly shot his nephew on Monday afternoon has turned himself into Police.

Guyana Times was informed that Jang Bahadur Ramdhanny, a logger of Vive La Force, West Bank Demerara (WBD), along with his attorney, showed up at the Wales Police Station around 10:30h on Tuesday.

He is currently assisting Police with the investigation. Bahadur, a licensed firearm holder and member of the Community Policing Group, is accused of shooting his nephew on Monday afternoon at the Canal Backdam.

The injured man, 31-year-old Vickram Ramdhanny, of Lot 96 Alliance, Canal Number Two Polder, WBD, was shot once to his forehead with several pellets. He is hospitalised at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he is listed as stable.

The injured man’s father, Komal Ramdhanny, related to this newspaper that he and his son, along with two other men, were at the backdam when they were confronted by his brother.

“This guy come from nowhere straight to where we deh. He had a gun and point it to me; the guy say he come for me, so I run. Then I hear a gunshot and when I turn around, I see meh son drop on the ground, so I run to get my gun but he get away,”

the distraught father said.

Komal said the problem with his brother began about five years ago after his father died and left a house to the three brothers. He said that he gave his two brothers their share of the property, but Bahadur claimed that he had robbed them.

From thereon, there has been an ongoing dispute between the two brothers. Komal disclosed that his brother had threatened him on numerous occasions, most recently, two weeks

ago.

“He say he gone manners me and today he come to kill me ‘cause this guy don’t go backdam but sudden so he end up in the backdam,” the frustrated father said.

Meanwhile, Komal’s sonin-law also told this publication that this was not the first time such an incident has occurred. He recalled that a few months ago, Bahadur had threatened to kill him in his yard.

“That man can’t see this family in peace. Like it does burn he heart or something, he always causing problems for we,” the son-in-law stated. He went on to say that Bahadur knows a lot of influential people and would use his connections to get out of every situation.

The suspect is said to have recently acquired his firearm licence, and frustrated family members of the injured man questioned the basis on which he was issued the licence when he has a history of violence.

Enmore barber robbed, car hijacked

An Enmore man is counting his losses after bandits made good their escape with his Toyota Spacio motor car, which was later discovered in a neighbouring village, and a quantity of items from his barber shop.

Suffian Garbharan, who operates Sanjay’s Barber Shop at Lot 369 Beezie, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, woke up to the grim reality on Monday that his car PSS 2232 was missing as were several pieces of a trimming machine and other accessories, as well as a stabiliser.

According to Garbharan, he retired to bed just before midnight on Sunday, moments after securing his premises. He said he heard nothing to suggest that persons were entering the yard or moving off with the vehicle.

After waking up to the misfortune on Monday, Garbharan immediately lodged a report at the Enmore Police Station, but was told by ranks there, he should begin the search for the vehicle and the missing items.

The man’s wife later received a call from a woman in the neighbouring Paradise village that the vehicle was submerged in a canal just outside her home. Upon seeing the car in the trench, the Paradise woman called the cell number that was on the rear windshield of the car advertising the man’s busi-

ness.

Garbharan, along with public-spirited residents of Enmore who had gathered to begin the search, immediately rushed to Paradise, where the vehicle was found in the canal off Grant Road, pointing South from the Railway Embankment.

Scant regard

With the assistance of a tractor, they pulled the car from the canal, and upon closer inspection, it was discovered that attempts were made to strip the vehicle, as several of the air conditioning vents were removed. The battery was also missing, while the left front tyre was punctured.

Residents in the area said they heard a vehicle speeding through the village about 01:00h on Monday, before coming to a halt in the canal after the driver apparently lost control while navigating a narrow bridge adjacent to the waterway.

An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, said after hearing the impact, she saw two young men disembarking the vehicle. They subsequently took out a few bags before calmly walking towards the Railway Embankment.

She said she did not realise it was a car-jacking gone wrong at that point, adding that she felt the men had genuinely lost control of their vehicle and were off to seek assistance.

Garbharan believes the men may have been out to raid the barber shop, but got lucky after spotting a bunch of keys that was mistakenly left in the shop on Sunday night. Among the bunch is a spare key for the vehicle, Garbharan highlighted.

As if his predicament was not enough, the young man said he has gotten little or no cooperation from ranks of the Enmore Police Station. He is of the opinion that his report of the matter has been treated

wednesdAY, september 17, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

GT&T pegs landline...

The CEO added that the company has said all along that “our expectation is that the introduction of competition will be done in an orderly and transparent manner and that throughout the process, our contractual rights will be respected. Investor confidence can only be enhanced when the sanctity of contracts and legal agreements are respected,” Sharma asserted.

Drying up of revenues

In answering a question regarding what alternative it has if PUC turns down its application, Sharma said GT&T and its parent company ATN are focused on the relevant laws and regulations. “We believe in the rule of law. As investors, all we ask for is policy and regulatory certainty, even-handed and balanced treatment, consistent enforcement of sector rules, and a minimum of discretionary decisionmaking.”

So, we cannot envisage a situation where after all the analysis, discoveries and deliberations, the PUC finds that our application is without merit. After all, GT&T has not had a rate increase in over 12 years.”

Going forward, Sharma said Guyana’s wire line network will be critical to both businesses and households and that every effort should be made to keep it relevant. At the same time, he said all stakeholders must recognise that the introduction of full competition is imminent, that current wire line rates are significantly below cost, and that the international inbound revenues which used to subsidise these rates have virtually dried up consequent upon network bypass, alternative calling opportunities (Skype, Vonage, Magic Jack, etc).

with scant regard, as ranks only came to dust the barbershop for fingerprints after numerous calls were made to the station.

Up to press time on Tuesday, no arrests had been made.

The CEO said the PUC was constituted as a knowledgeable, independent, and impartial body that promotes and safeguards the interests of both the consumers and investors, in the interest of the sector and country as a whole. “In other words, the PUC has an obligation to act as an objective and honest broker.

“As we explained in our rate application, with the introduction of competition, our international revenues will decline even further as other operators obtain international licences, and as competition among operators force inbound termination rates increasingly lower. In such a situation and without cost-oriented rates, neither GT&T nor any other investor would be inclined to undertake the provision of domestic service.”

Komal Ramdhanny relating the tragedy on Monday

The Toyota Spacio in the canal at Paradise on Monday morning

Police Constable jailed for discharging loaded firearm, ammo possession

APolice Constable attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) was on Tuesday jailed for 84 months after being convicted of discharging a loaded firearm with intent to injure and illegal possession of ammunition.

Ocquene Dawson was also fined $50,000, but was found not guilty of a third charge of damaging a bulletproof vest when he made his third appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

On June 12, 2013, Dawson, 27, of 100 Murphy Street, Good Intent, West Bank Demerara, was first brought before the Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and pleaded not guilty to the charges laid against him.

Dawson

said the accused was on patrol duty when he stopped at the lot known as “Globe Yard” in Waterloo Street, and observed Small with two other persons. The defendant approached one of the men and was dealing with him aggressively when the Virtual Complainant (VC) became offended by his manner and an argument ensued. The argument escalated into a physical confrontation when the accused cuffed the VC who returned the cuff. Dawson then drew his firearm and discharged at Small three of the 15 rounds of ammunition that were issued to him. Small was hit in his right thigh.

Eyew tness

Bobbing and weaving…

...on “no-confidence”

The Chairman of the AFC, Nigel Hughes, has emerged from his “lying-low-until-the-Sithe-storm-blowsover” scandal, to comment on the AFC’s “NoConfidence Motion” on Parliament’s agenda after it reconvenes in October.

We don’t count his earlier fervent (undemocratic) endorsement of Leader Ramjattan’s unilateral choice of his buddy Moses Nagamootoo as their party’s Presidential Candidate. That was just some mutual, self-serving backscratching done for self-preservation.

The court was told that on February 18, 2013 at Waterloo Street, the Policeman had in his possession two live rounds of 9mm ammunition without being the lawful holder of a firearm licence; discharged a loaded firearm with intent to maim, disfigure, or cause grievous bodily harm to Phillip Small; and maliciously damaged the bulletproof vest he was wearing, which was valued $245,000 and was property of the Guyana Police Force.

Prosecutor Vernetté Pindar had

Dawson was represented by Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam, who had informed the Court in his application for reasonable bail in 2013 that his client, on the day in question, was acting in the execution of his duties and was attempting to conduct a search when he was attacked by Small with a pair of scissors and reacted in self-defence.

Hughes was answering his Cuffy250 cohort David Hinds’ criticisms in the press about the aforementioned “no-confidence motion”. You wonder if these fellas speak to each other outside their attendance of their “consciousness raising sessions”. But the public tête-àtête did allow us to have a glimpse the real perspective of the AFC on politics in general.

Answering Hinds’ charge that the AFC should’ve demanded “shared governance” out of the “noconfidence” vote, Hughes whimpered that he “support(s) the concept, but the power lies not in the hands of the apparent powerless”. And in this confession of “powerlessness”, we can see how far the AFC has strayed from the promise they made to the people who voted for them in 2011.

Back then, they went on the hustings selling the line that they would support either the PPP/C or PNC/APNU with the seats they secured. They would be “holding the balance of power”! And this would’ve been a hell of a lot of power! So how come the Chairman of the party’s slobbering about their “powerlessness”?? We’ll tell you how – it all has to do with practising politics without a shred of principles.

Let’s look at what happened after the elections. The AFC literally did have the balance of power in Parliament – since neither the PPP/C not PNC/APNU obtained an absolute majority. But the votes had hardly been counted when the AFC threw their unreserved support for the PNC to deny the PPP/C a share in a single institution of Parliament – from the Speaker’s chair to the fella fetching the coffee.

Then, of course, the AFC kicked the President in the teeth when the latter accommodated the Opposition Leaders in the Tripartite Talks. Nagamootoo and Ramjattan ran down to Linden and screamed the PPP/C were “racial” on the electricity rates. And we know what followed.

So it’s because of their lust for Executive power in their gamble to support the PNC/APNU all the way – that they lost any leverage over the Government. They became the “powerless” petitioners they now bemoan.

...on transportation

The minibus operators really do believe that they have the commuters of Guyana by the short hairs. Whenever there’s even a whiff of a fuel increase, up go the fares! And we’re not talking about a percentage that might just cover their additional expense. No sir! It’s always 20-25 per cent at least – if we’re lucky. And with these fellas –when fares go up – there’re no reverse gears. That’s where they remain until the next round of price gouging.

And the commuters always get it in the end – literally and figuratively. There used to be price controls – but with “free market fundamentalism” and all that – that’s not going to be on the cards. This week, the Government tried to help hapless commuters by contracting some “big buses” to offer free services on some runs.

The theory is presumably to lower the demand for the minibuses’ services and hopefully lower the fervour for fare increases.

This is just a stopgap measure. And will fail. “Free” won’t work for long. Bring back the public bus service. If it can work for New York City, why not for Guyana?

...on Chikungunya

We know that it hasn’t been easy for the health authorities on the Chikungunya epidemic. But not being forthcoming with the numbers on the incidence of the infections isn’t helping matters. It just creates unnecessary hysteria.

Ocquene

APNU ups ante as ultimatum expires

… supporters storm City Hall to hold “prayer service”

By Jomo Paul

Determined to prove that their leader can “walk the talk”, supporters of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Tuesday stormed City Hall in an effort to hold a meeting calling for the holding of Local Government Elections.

David Granger, the APNU Leader, had threatened President Donald Ramotar that if he did not call Local Government Elections, there would be local and international “action”. On Tuesday, party members as well as supporters defied the orders of the City Constabulary and stormed into the compound.

However, several of them were also denied entry, when members of the Constabulary following the instructions of acting Town

mentarians Ronald Bulkan, Amna Ally, and Annette Ferguson. There were also several other persons known to be associated with the PNCR.

Mayor Green told members of the media that some of the people who were denied entry were at City Hall for a prayer service. He contended that he saw no legitimate reasons why the persons were denied entry into the compound, since he was sure they posed no threat to the integrity of City Hall. Green branded the action taken by the officers as “completely ridiculous and absurd”.

When asked why the prayer and solidarity meeting was being held at City Hall, the Mayor said it was being done to seek “divine guidance to deal with this nonsense that’s taking place”.

ing to be present at the religious service. He said that it was on this basis that he instructed the officers to place a barricade at the Regent Street entrance of City Hall.

At the gates, tempers flared as the standoff between the Constabulary Officers and APNU supporters led by Mayor Green persisted. The officers were treated to several bouts of verbal assault from persons who had gathered at the gates.

Guyana Times observed that while the service might have started with a prayer by Pastor Ronald McGarrell and a few gospel songs were played, it was far from religious.

Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green led the charge as she spoke of the importance of Local Government Elections and called on the Government to name a date

Clerk Carol Sooba locked them out.

At the forefront of the ruckus were City Mayor Hamilton Green, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member Lance Carberry; and APNU parlia-

Chief Constable Andrew Foo said that the gates were blocked to protect the integrity of City Hall. Foo explained that the constabulary would have received information that some “disruptive elements” were go-

for such. She also echoed earlier calls for Sooba to be removed from the helm of City Hall.

Similarly, Bulkan said Sooba needed to be removed from the post of Town Clerk. He contended that the ac-

tion taken by Sooba in refusing the individuals entry into the compound was somewhat “extraordinary”, claiming that the city was “under siege” by the City Constabulary.

For her part, Sooba detailed that she learnt of the Mayor’s plans to hold a political function under the guise of a church service and took measures to prevent it. Sooba said she will not allow the Mayor or any of the City’s Councillors to misuse the resources at City Hall. Further, she pointed out that no permission was granted by her for the function to be held.

Denial

Asked whether the ruckus at City Hall was part of Granger’s “plan of action”, Ally answered in the negative. She pointed out that while some actions would be taken, it “would be left solely on the residents and citizens of this country”.

Similarly, Granger also denied that he has com-

menced his plan of “local and international action”, since his ultimatum was ignored by the President.

When Guyana Times spoke to Granger on Tuesday afternoon, he pointed out that “consultations” were currently being held on the way forward.

Copies of the letter

that Granger sent to the President were forwarded to the National Front Alliance, the Working People’s Alliance, and the Justice for All Party – the other political parties within the APNU. Additionally, the letter was also sent to some members of the diplomatic community.

When asked where he was going to be looking for international support and if he had any countries earmarked, Granger responded that he was “mobilising support” from countries in the West with specific mention of North America, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. Co-Chair of the APNU, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine on Monday disclosed that as far as he was aware, his party is set to take action as promised if Government failed to set a date for the polls. “There will be some manifestation, some manifestation of some kind,” he said.

Tucville man fined for narcotics possession

Thirty-eight-yearold Devon Johnson, of Lot 7 C Tucville, Georgetown, was on Tuesday fined and sentenced to perform community service after admitting to possession of four grams of cannabis.

Johnson told Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry that he has asthma and uses the drug for medicinal purposes when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts. The Police had intercepted the defendant at Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, on September 14. His lawyer, Paul FungA-Fat requested that his client not be given a hefty fine nor jail time. The Chief Magistrate sentenced Johnson to a $3000 fine along with community service at the East La Penitence Police Station every Wednesday starting today for the next six months.

APNU Chief Whip Amna Ally making her way through the barricades

A section of the crowd in front of City Hall on Tuesday

World Bank approves US$105M to tackle Ebola

The World Bank Group’s (WBG) Board of Executive Directors on Tuesday approved a US$105 million grant to finance Ebolacontainment efforts underway in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, help families and communities cope with the economic impact of the crisis, and rebuild and strengthen essential public health systems in the three worst-affected countries to guard against future disease outbreaks.

The new grant is part of the US$200 million Ebola emergency mobilisation first announced by the WBG in early August. The WBG said that its new Ebola Emergency Response project will mobilise US$52 million for Liberia, the country with the highest number of Ebola infections, US$28 million for Sierra Leone, and US$25 million for Guinea.

The allocations were calculated according to the World Health Organization’s Roadmap and assessments of the relative severity of the epidemic in each country. The WBG said that it would almost certainly mobilize more financing for the countries

since “the immediate response is still significantly under-resourced for the purposes of curbing the outbreak.”

Presenting the new project to the WBG Board of Executive Directors, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, a medical doctor trained in treatment of infectious diseases, said the Ebola grant would have a long-term regional development impact.

He said it was an important part of a coordinated international response led by the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“The world needs to do much, much more to respond to the Ebola crisis in these three countries,” said President Jim Yong Kim.

“This new World Bank grant, which will arrive soon in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, will have an immediate, positive impact on their collective Ebola containment campaigns. I would like to personally thank our Board of Directors for responding so quickly to this crisis.”

In its project document for the new operation, the WBG

notes that Ebola-related restrictions on people’s movements, “is leading to food crises in the quarantined and most affected areas where the three countries intersect.

In the Mano River region, food insecurity is spreading rapidly. More than 1 million people in the region are facing a food crisis in the coming months. Furthermore, as the crisis continues to evolve, this threat may spread to other areas due to quarantine or other disruptions in movement of goods and people.”

Up to 40 per cent of the new grant, which is financed by the WB’s IDA* Crisis Response Window that normally helps poor countries recover from severe natural disasters or economic crises, could be used for retroactive financing of eligible Ebola containment efforts in the three worst-affected countries.

Key priorities

The new project will finance key priorities in the three countries to: (i) implement their Outbreak Response Plans while also provide essential health services during the outbreak; (ii) help them to secure sufficient numbers of national and international health workers for their outbreak response and the provision of essential health services; and provide essential food and water to quarantined families and communities, and other Ebola-affected households.

The funds will then be deployed by the three governments with the support of UN agencies. “I cannot praise the dedication and sacrifice enough of the health workers who form the backbone of the Ebola containment efforts in West Africa. This new WBG operation will provide them with the protective clothing and other medical equipment to keep them safe from the Ebola infection and will allow them to focus with more peace of mind on their frontline duty of delivering care and treatment to their patients,” says Makhtar Diop, the World Bank’s Vice President for Africa.

“I also want to acknowledge the tireless work of the three governments in trying their best to contain this epidemic which as we know is the largest and most persistent Ebola outbreak anywhere in Africa since it was first discovered in 1976.”

According to Diop, the new project will finance: hazard/ indemnity pay to health personnel, including volunteers, who work in emergency treatment centers and referral centers; In-country medical care to exposed health workers; Death benefits to families of exposed health workers and recruitment, training, and deployment of expatriate medical doctors, nurses and other medical and paramedical personnel.

The WBG says there are currently no significant salary arrears for health care workers in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, but that the project could also be used

Can’t get it up?

Satiricus was not a Satyr. By far. But he had to admit he admired fellas with high libidos. Wasn’t this what the “Caribbean Man” was all about?? And didn’t the Mighty Sparrow, the greatest philosopher produced in the West Indies, tell the story in the vernacular about “The Village Ram” – our version of the Satyr?

“Is me the village ram/I ain’t give a damn/Is me the village ram/I ain’t give a damn/I cutting down black and white/Man, I working day and night/If you have a job to be done/See me, I ain’t making fun? And not a woman never complain yet with me/I ain’t boasting, but I’ve got durability/ And if a woman ever tell you that I ever left her dissatisfied / She lie, she lie, she lie.”

Satiricus had been afraid the species had died out. So he was more than ecstatic when he read of the exchange between the Mayor-for-Life and the Town Clerk. Seems the latter had accused the former of being too “tired” to perform his functions and that he should, therefore, step aside. But the Mayor-for-Life took serious umbrage at this. “Not so!!!” he cried. It was just that the Town Clerk was not his type!!

And this was what earned the respect and admiration of Satiricus. He knew the Mayor-for-Life had to take care of things – like garbage and sewerage and world peace and moral re-armament and such things.

Little did Satiricus suspect that among his duties the Mayor-for-Life had to perform was to be the City Ram and service the members of the female species in City Hall –including the Town Clerk. And if a Village Ram had his work cut out for him – imagine what labours being a City Ram demanded!!

But Satiricus learnt something from the Mayor-for-Life’s comment. The Village Ram – and presumably the City Ram – just didn’t service any and all females. They had to be “his type”. So this led Satiricus to ask as to what kind of females was the Mayor-for-Life’s “type”? What would raise his libido, among other things?? After all, he’d had acrimonious fallings-out with every one of the last three town clerks – all different “types” as you could get.

Could it be that now he’d passed the age of 80, the Mayor-for-Life wasn’t titillated by females anymore?? Was he now coming out of the (pink) closet?? Would Satiricus have to call him the “Village Ewe”?

to finance regular salaries for health workers in the event that governments come under financial pressure as a result of the economic impact of the Ebola outbreak.

In addition, the WBG grant will help contribute to rebuilding and strengthening essential public health systems and health service delivery in West Africa, including disease surveillance and preparedness. This support will be critical to prevent the spread of the Ebola epidemic to neighbouring countries as well as to enable more timely and effective regional pandemic response in the future.

Fragile health systems

“Containing the Ebola epidemic has been hampered by the already fragile health systems in the affected countries.

In turn, this is putting recent health gains in the region at serious risk,” said Dr Timothy Evans, World Bank Group Senior Director for Health, Nutrition, and Population.

“To stop this epidemic and prevent future outbreaks, we need to ensure that these countries have the necessary trained health workers, essential supplies, and effective systems in place to respond.”

The WBG says its new project will improve access to food and other basic supplies for Ebola-affected households in the quarantined areas and other “hot zones” in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Initially, this component will look to help as many as 395,000 people affected by Ebola in quarantined areas and other “hot zones.” The project will make sure food and safe drinking water are available “to prevent rapid deterioration of the worst-affected population’s food security and nutritional status.” With WBG financing, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) would provide a food package to meet people’s full caloric and micronutrient requirements. Provision of other basic supplies (eg, safe water, chlorine) will be determined in line with each country’s evolving needs in the quarantined areas, “hot zones” as well as Ebola-affected households. For patients in hospitals or observation centers, WFP will provide cooked meals through health partners in charge of the facilities. For the rest of the beneficiaries, the WFP would provide take-home dry rations to entire communities.

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim

Lawmen get training to destroy firearms

The 11 ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the 14 ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who successfully completed training in the use and maintenance of both the firearm destruction hydraulic shears and small arms ammunition-burning tank have been presented with their certificates.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), during a simple ceremony held at the Home Affairs Ministry, subject minister Clement Rohee presented the ranks with their certificate of completion.

Minister Rohee congratulated the ranks and he thanked the United Nations (UN) for affording the ranks the opportunity. The training was done under the auspices of the United Nations Office for Disarmament’s Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC).

“I take this opportunity to thank them and for administering the training to these competent ranks,

we have benefitted greatly as the equipment has been used to destroy firearms under the watchful eye of UNLIREC.”

According to Minister Rohee, the partnership between Guyana and the UN on the subject of stock pile management is part of the greater goal of disarmament. “Guyana has always adopted a stance of zero tolerance towards the arms trade, a growing phenomenal globally which has links to other offences such as drug trafficking.”

Hence the Minister said, Guyana has recognised the

Body of Matthews Ridge woman found naked in bushes

Relatives of a 32-yearold woman, whose body was found naked in a clump of bushes at Matthews Ridge, North West District (NWD), believe that she was raped before being murdered.

Samantha Ashby, of Pakera, Matthews Ridge, was found around 11:00h on Tuesday by a group of schoolchildren who were passing by. According to a release sent by the Police, the woman was found around 10:30h, and Police are currently conducting investigations into the suspected murder.

Guyana Times was made to understand that the woman’s body bore marks of violence and her feet had abrasions.

Ashby’s sister, Madonna, related to this newspaper that while they are not sure exactly what transpired, they strongly believe that the woman was raped before

she was killed because of the condition in which her body was found.

Madonna disclosed that her sister’s eyes were “black” and “blue” and her face, swollen. She added that there were bloodstains on her body and her knees were badly bruised.

The woman recalled that she last saw her sister on Saturday morning; however, she noted that persons in the area saw her on Monday around midnight imbibing with two men.

This publication was told that investigators were looking for the two men, but were told that they left for the backdam.

The Police are continuing their investigation. The body of the 32-yearold is currently at the Port Kaituma Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination expected to be conducted today.

importance of being able to control the proliferation of weapons, ammunition and explosives as part of its goal of maintaining national security. “We should not forget that the proliferation of the illegal arms trade has implications for the welfare of our citizens.”

Further Minister Rohee said that in keeping with the administration’s desire to have an effective arms control regime, Guyana has subscribed to a number of international conventions related to the arms trade while at the same time it has been constant-

ly seeking to upgrade legislation to make it more effective. “It must be noted that Guyana does not take lightly its obligation under international laws and this collaboration with UNLIREC is one example of the commitment of our country to upholding these standards.”

In addition to these measures, Minister Rohee underscored the importance of having the capability to eliminate weapons, which are no longer functional as they may end up in the wrong hands.

Meanwhile

Commissioner of Police acting Seelall Persaud in his remarks said the contribution of UNLIREC in the donation of the hydraulic shears and the training provided to the ranks represent a total capacity by the Guyana Police Force to perform the operation of firearm destruction.

According to Persaud, since the implementation, the force destroyed in excess of 6000 firearms, some that were seized years ago and others that have been rendered unserviceable.

“The destruction of the firearms brings relief in

two areas, one that it removes the risk associated with slippages that occur from time, and that it frees up space so that we can better utilise the stores of the Guyana Police Force.”

Further, the Acting Commissioner lauded the collaborative effort with the Government of Guyana and UNLIREC as the efforts has borne fruit.

Meanwhile Lieutenant Colonel Cargill Kyte, of the GDF also thanked the Government and UN for the initiative as it has assisted in boosting the capacity of the army. “I would like to thank the government for us being able to participate and it’s a mean of safely disposing of obsolete weapons. I would like to conclude the UNLIREC baseline assessment that highlighted the numerous positives of the GDF with regards to firearms destruction and stock pile management and shows our continuous effort to meet international best practices.” Colonel Kyte however, noted that the army still has a few areas of non compliance which can easily be resolved in the near future.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, Acting Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, Lieutenant Colonel Cargill Kyte of the Guyana Defence Force, Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry Angela Johnson along with the ranks who completed the UNILIREC training

The naked body of Samantha Ashby (partially shown) was found in a clump of bushes

GT&T, BK Int’l at loggerheads again over service disruption

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and BK International are again at loggerheads over the disruption of telephone service due to cut cables along the East Bank Demerara Highway.

In a statement, GT&T said that contractors and other persons involved in the execution of civil works were repeatedly disrupting telephony and data services across the country, sometimes inadvertently, sometimes because they refused to call before they commenced excavations.

Damage

“The consequential damage to the company’s network infrastructure, especially our buried cables, is disruptive to our business, cost millions to restore, inconveniences our customers, undermines revenue generation, and can potentially compromise national security,” said GT&T.

The company added that over recent months, several of its business customers who rely on data service to transmit and receive “mission critical” data and information have been severely affected by service disruptions

consequent upon excavation works by contractors and others who failed to ask if buried cables were in the vicinity of the excavation sites.

“These businesses included Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Republic Bank, Courts (Guyana) Ltd, Guyana Police Force, Demerara Distillers Limited, Guyana and Trinidad Mutual, Diamond Diagnostic Centre, to name a few,” the release said.

GT&T said the road construction works on the East

Bank of Demerara have occasioned cable cuts, in excess of 10 times since 2011, and have been of tremendous concern to the company, as they have inconvenienced the company’s customers and the country at large.

“The most recent cable damage was done (Tuesday) 13.5km from Georgetown, just outside DDL Compound on the East Bank of Demerara. This resulted in disruption to GT&T and thousands of its customers as far away as West Bank

and West Coast of Demerara, East Bank Essequibo and the Essequibo Coast.

"Another fibre damage, also detected today, along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway resulted in the disruption of telephone service to numerous communities in Linden as well as Ituni, Kwakwani, Mahdia and Mabura," the statement said.

"There are severe negative impacts that these cable damages continue to have on the company and its customers, including the diver-

sion of our finite technical and material resources away from our planned expansion programme works and routine installation and maintenance activities," the release stated.

This situation is not tenable, especially since it is compounded by acts of apparent sabotage and wilful vandalism of the network. GT&T has an obligation to protect the integrity of the national communications infrastructure but we need the cooperation and assistance of all Guyana if we are to succeed.

"We take this opportunity to again encourage public utilities workers, road contractors, and indeed all Guyana to call us on 0777 before commencing excavations which can encounter and damage our buried cable infrastructure,” said GT&T.

Controversy

However, BK International, in a statement of its own, said workers of GT&T Tuesday afternoon planted a new pole in the centre of a new carriageway, effectively halting construction on a significant section of the East Bank Four-Lane Extension Project (between the Diamond Intersection and the Diamond DSL

Supermarket).

According to the construction company, its crews were working on the new carriageway when an old GT&T pole collapsed. “No BK employees were injured as a result of the collapse, but some telephone services on the East Bank were reportedly disrupted. When GT&T crews responded, workers from BK International rendered assistance to pull up the ruptured buried cable,” sdaid the BK International statement.

The construction company recalled that in February this year, GT&T had committed to the relocation of its aerial cables and associated fixtures to a new pole route and to relocate buried cables in this area.

However, when the pole fell on Tuesday it was revealed that the cables remained buried under the active construction area. “BK International again calls on the Ministry of Public Works to push GT&T to keep their commitment to relocate the buried cables and to reroute the aerial cables so that the road works can proceed to completion,” the statement concluded. Up to late Tuesday evening, GT&T workers were installing cables on the new pole.

Caricom to launch TVET strategy for workforce on Monday

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA) will formally launch the Caricom Regional TVET Strategy for Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness on Monday at the Hilton Hotel, Trinidad and Tobago.

With funding from the Government of Canada, the Strategy was developed after extensive consultations with more than 350 stakeholders in Caricom Member States.

It was approved by the Council for Human and Social Development at its 24th meeting (which focused on Education) and endorsed at the Council’s 26th meeting (which focussed on Labour).

The Strategy is now guiding action plans in member states as they implement the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) and strengthen delivery of Technical Vocational Education and Training.

Caricom approved its Community Strategic Plan (2015-2019), at the 35th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in July 2014. Identified among the areas for priority focus over the next five years are the accelerated implementation of the CSME, building competitiveness and unleashing key economic drivers to transition to growth, and to gen-

erate employment and the development of human capital.

Caricom Secretariat Assistant Secretary General for Human and Social Development, Dr Douglas Slater says that “the new Strategy establishes the pivotal importance of this Region’s human capital as we seek to forge a viable Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), with the free movement of skilled and certified citizens - workers within the market place. It provides a framework for guiding Member States in the development of the critical skills needed to attract and sustain decent job-creation from foreign and domestic investments, given the imperative of developing a highly skilled workforce.”

Dr. Slater will join CANTA Chair, Dr. Wayne Wesley, Executive Director of Jamaica’s HEART Trust, in welcoming delegates from the private sector, education, labour, and development agencies to the launch.

“CANTA recognizes the importance of this Strategy in guiding TVET apex bodies and policy makers as they introduce technical training throughout the education system and certify skilled workers with the CVQ, said Dr Wesley.

We are pleased to have developed the policy and to work on behalf of member agencies to support its im-

plementation, he added. Both the development of the Strategy and the launch were supported by the Caricom Education for Employment Program (C-EFE), launched in March 2012, and delivered in partnership with the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA) and the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions (ACTI).

Delivered by Colleges and Institutes Canada, key C-EFE activities to date have included sponsoring the development of the Strategy, working with ACTI to develop a leadership program for managers of institutions delivering skills training, and the establishment of 16 institutional partnerships between Canadian and Caribbean institutions. The program is active in twelve countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The C-EFE program is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada. Canadian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Gerald Latulippe, will bring greetings from the Government of Canada to the launch attendees.

Workers of GT&T planting a new pole at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (BK International photo)

Haiti’s leader urges vote for continuity at next election

Haiti’s President Michel Martelly over the weekend urged constituents to vote for people who will continue to implement programmes his Administration has initiated, as the Caribbean country prepares to hold crucial legislative and local elections before the year-end and a presidential ballot next year.

Criticising Opposition lawmakers who have refused, for apparent political reasons, to pass a series of important legislation, Martelly called on voters to elect, during the upcoming elections, people who will continue his social and development programmes and projects, now benefiting the population.

“I am asking you, if you like what we are doing, the thing is not to applaud, you need to vote for the right people so that such

programmes may continue since there will always be people who will oppose them,” said Martelly, sitting next to Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, dur-

ing a community meeting on the Haitian Island of La Gonave, on Saturday.

“There are people who want chaos because that’s when they will be able to steal, there are people who want unrest because they live in corruption,” said Martelly, blasting Opposition legislators he accused of trying to block his presidential agenda.

Martelly, a former music star-turned President, who remains popular in Haiti despite the hardships facing many Haitians, suggested earlier this year he would support Lamothe, as the next presidential candidate, during elections due for the end of 2015. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Caribbean Export supports joint investment promotions strategy for Haiti and The Dominican Republic

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) is to support the development of a joint investment promotions strategy (JIPS) for Haiti and The Dominican Republic that will focus on the mutual development of opportunities that will attract foreign direct investment (FDI).

This was announced by Deputy Executive Director for Caribbean Export, Escipion Oliveira at the inaugural “Invest in the DR”

summit hosted by the Export and Investment Centre of The Dominican Republic (CEI-RD) on September 4-5, in Santo Domingo.

Attracting some 250 investors from over 40 countries and 400 local investors, the Invest in the DR Summit is the first and most important investment event held in the country. It provided an excellent opportunity to generate important business contacts at both a local and international level, while acquiring key insights on in-

dustry trends and strategies through various conferences and dissertations for those in attendance. In addition a great wealth of knowledge was shared on how to carry out successful investment projects in The Dominican Republic.

Within the framework of “Invest in the DR”, Caribbean Export in cooperation with CEI-RD organised a conference on the “Bi-national Strategy of Investment Promotion”, with the participation of

Norma Powell, General Director of the Centre for Facilitation of Investment of Haiti (CFI); Juan Vicini and Fernando Capellan, representatives of the private sector of The Dominican Republic; Florance Van Houtte, representative of the European Union Delegation in the DR; and Lidia Encarnación, representative of the National Authority of the European Development Funds in The Dominican Republic (DIGECOOM). (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Barbados Government establishes Ebola Isolation Unit in St Michael

Government has announced that an isolation centre specifically designed to handle chronic infectious diseases is being established on the grounds of Enmore, St Michael.

Health Minister John Boyce made the announcement on Monday at a briefing with media managers at the Health Ministry.

The Minister said that the isolation centre, which is located in a refurbished building, would be ready by

Health Minister John Boyce

the end of this month, although work to fully outfit the building would continue.

This is part of a preparedness response to the Ebola disease which is currently affecting six African countries.

Boyce explained that the risk to Barbados remained low, but there was still a threat related to the movement of people.

Therefore, he said, Government wanted to assure the public that the health service was equipped to respond in case of an outbreak.

Acting Chief Medical

Colombian women’s network receives annual UN refugee award

AColombian women’s rights group, whose members put their lives on the line to assist survivors of forced displacement and sexual abuse, is this year’s winner of a prestigious award presented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The volunteers of the group, Red Mariposas de Alas Nuevas Construyendo Futuro (known in English as

“Butterflies” for short), are being recognised with the Nansen Refugee Award for their work in helping more than 1000 women and their families in Buenaventura, Colombia’s main seaport.

“These women are doing extraordinary work in the most challenging of contexts,” said High Commissioner António Guterres. “Each day they seek to heal the wounds of the women and children of

Buenaventura and in doing so put their own lives at risk. Their bravery goes beyond words.”

Colombia has more internally displaced people (5.7 million) than any other country aside from Syria, according to UNHCR, which adds that nowhere in the country is the devastation of the 50-year armed conflict felt as acutely as in Buenaventura. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Health Officer Dr Kenneth George told the briefing that the establishment of the isolation centre was only one of four pillars the Ministry was working on.

The others included the identification of well-trained staff to man the unit, the training of public and private sector stakeholders and ensuring that the quarantine units at the Grantley Adams International Airport and the Bridgetown Port were in a state of readiness. (Excerpt from Nation News)

New Jamaican Police Commissioner charts his course

Newly installed Police Commissioner, Dr Carl Williams says there will be no place in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), under his command, for corrupt cops and those who continue to violate human rights.

“I give you my personal commitment, that under my watch, the JCF will act decisively to remove any member who has chosen the path of corruption,” Dr Williams said to rousing applause from an audience of officials, well-wishers, and the large contingent of rankand-file officers attending the change of command ceremony held on Monday at the Police Officers’ Club on Hope Road, St Andrew.

With the usual spectacular parade and formali-

ties out the way, Williams – the country’s 28th Police Commissioner – wasted no time giving the assurance that, as head of the JCF, he will do everything possible to respond to concerns about the conduct of the police.

Dr Williams, at the same time, said the reorganised Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force will strengthen the police’s ability to root out and prosecute those who undermine the mission of the security forces and who tarnish the reputation of the JCF.

“We will ensure that there is accountability at all levels in the JCF, and our Police officers will be held to the highest standards of integrity,” he said, again to applause from the audience. (Excerpt

Brazil armed robbers seize Rio archbishop’s crucifix

The archbishop of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil has had his crucifix and ring stolen in an armed robbery. Cardinal Dom Orani Tempesta was on his way to an engagement in the city when his car was ambushed by three men.

One of the robbers, who pointed a gun at the cardinal, realised who he was and apologised, an aide said. However, the gang continued with the crime only holding back from taking his vehicle as well. The cardinal’s items were later recovered.

No-one was hurt in the incident, which happened on Monday evening in the

Santa Teresa district of the city. The BBC’s Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo says robberies are common in Santa Teresa – a bohemian area popular with tourists – and have been increasing this year.

A seminary student and a photographer travelling in the car with the cardinal were also robbed. Despite the ordeal, the cardinal continued on to his engagement while the student and the photographer went to the Police.

The ring and the cross were found, as were the archbishop’s mobile phone and the seminarian’s cassock. (BBC News)

Rowley warns of “creeping militarisation”

TT Opposition Leader, Dr Keith Rowley has expressed concern about the “creeping militarisation” of the Police Service by the “cavalier” National Security Minister and referenced the proposed purchase of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to be used by the Police and the previous “Soldier Bill”.

He also expressed con-

cern that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar now having the National Operations Centre (NOC) under her portfolio, which has the purview for clandestine surveillance, could be a possible area of abuse.

He was speaking on Monday during a media conference at the Parliament Building in Port of Spain where he continued his call for an ex-

planation from President Anthony Carmona and the Prime Minister for the President’s proclamation of Section 238(1) calling out the Volunteer Defence Force from August 29 to January 7 to assist the Defence Force for parades and also to assist the Police for law enforcement activities leading into and during the Christmas season. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe (left) and President Michel Martelly in La Gonave

Cardinal Dom Orani Tempesta

Around the world

Obama to deploy 3000 troops as Ebola crisis worsens

Typhoon Kalmaegi hits southern China

The United States announced on Tuesday

it will send 3000 troops to help tackle the Ebola outbreak as part of a ramped-up plan, including a major deployment in Liberia, the country where the epidemic is spiralling fastest out of control.

The US response to the crisis, to be formally unveiled later by President Barack Obama, includes plans to build 17 treatment centres, train thousands of healthcare workers and establish a military control centre for coordination, US officials told reporters.

“The goal here is to search American expertise, including our military, lo-

gistics and command and control expertise, to try and control this outbreak at its source in West Africa,” Lisa

Monaco, Obama’s White House counter-terrorism adviser, told MSNBC television on Tuesday ahead of

the announcement.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it needs foreign medical teams with 500-600 experts as well as at least 10,000 local health workers. The figures may rise if the number of cases increases, as is widely expected.

So far Cuba and China have said they will send medical staff to Sierra Leone. Cuba will deploy 165 people in October while China is sending a mobile laboratory with 59 staff to speed up testing for the disease. It already has 115 staff and a Chinesefunded hospital there. (Excerpt from Reuters)

UN says US$1 billion needed to fight Ebola

Nearly US$1 billion is needed to fight the Ebola outbreak raging in West Africa, the United Nations said Tuesday, more than doubling the estimate it made less than a month ago.

UN humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos told reporters in Geneva there was a “huge funding challenge”, warning

that “if not dealt with effectively now, Ebola could become a major humanitarian crisis in countries currently affected.”

The response to the crisis will require US$987.8 million (763 million Euros), with about half needed for the worst-hit country, Liberia, the UN said in its response plan.

It stressed there were some 22 million people living in the three countries most affected by the outbreak.

The UN announcement came as the death toll from the worst-ever Ebola epidemic rose to 2461, out of 4985 cases in the three West African countries that have borne the brunt of the dis-

ease, according to fresh figures from the World Health Organisation.

The UN document estimates that some 20,000 people could be infected with Ebola by the end of the year, with Guinea accounting for 16 per cent of infections, Sierra Leone 34 per cent and Liberia a full 40 per cent.

Ukraine ratifies key EU association deal

Members of the Ukrainian Parliament have ratified an agreement with the EU, moving their country towards the West over half a year after its proRussian leader was overthrown from power as a result of mass anti-government protests.

Parliament has also passed a law that will give “special status” to the separatist eastern regions, including a degree of self-governance for a threeyear period, parliamentary deputies who attended Tuesday’s closed session told the Reuters news agency.

A second law that was passed would grant an am-

Free trade, the key element of Ukraine’s agreement with EU, has been postponed until 2016

nesty to separatists who were involved in recent fighting with Government forces, the deputies report-

edly said.

The development comes as a ceasefire agreement with pro-Russian separat-

American Sniper author

Chris Kyle shot dead in Texas

Iraq veteran and ex-US Navy seal Chris Kyle, known as the deadliest sniper in US history, has been shot dead on a Texas shooting range, reports say. His body was found at Rough Creek Lodge range on Saturday along with that of his neighbour, Chad Littlefield. Iraq war veteran Eddie Ray Routh, 25, has been charged with murdering both.

Mr Kyle, 38, wrote the 2012 bestseller American Sniper , about the psychology of a sniper, in which he said that he had killed more than 250 people. He served four tours of duty in Iraq and was decorated for bravery.

The gunman opened fire at about 15:30 local time (21:30 GMT) on Saturday, then fled in a pick-up truck belonging to one of the vic-

tims, local media reported. Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said Routh then travelled to his sister’s home, telling her what had happened before leaving.

She called the Police and Routh was arrested near his home in Lancaster, Texas, more than 70 miles (110 km) from the scene of the shooting, several hours later. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ists in eastern Ukraine, signed earlier this month in the Belarusian capital Minsk, has been riddled with violations from the start.

MPs in the Ukrainian and European parliaments ratified the 1200-page political and economic association agreement during a live video meeting that began at 10:00 GMT.

The two sides decided to bow to Russian pressure and delay applying the free-trade rules that pulled Ukraine out of a rival union being built by the Kremlin. Therefore, the key element of the agreement has been postponed until 2016. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Typhoon Kalmaegi has made landfall in China’s southern Hainan province, after barrelling past the Philippines and Hong Kong. Tens of thousands were evacuated ahead of the typhoon’s arrival around 09:40 local time (01:40 GMT), said Xinhua.

Schools were closed in Haikou city and dozens of flights were cancelled.

The typhoon had earlier caused strong winds to pound Hong Kong, where at least 29 people were injured, said the AFP news agency.

More than 500 flights were delayed and morning trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange was cancelled. The storm blew in

from the Philippines, where it cut power and soaked farmland.

At least six people are reported to have died when a ferry sank in the central Philippines on Saturday evening, after stalling in bad weather. In Manila, a ferry capsized in rough seas but all 15 crew members were rescued. But Philippine officials said the storm largely avoided heavily populated areas. In Hong Kong, a level eight cyclone warning was in place on Monday evening, on a 10-point scale. Schools and businesses were ordered to close until the storm warning was lowered. (Excerpt from BBC News)

India by-elections: Setback for ruling BJP

India’s Narendra Modiled BJP has suffered a setback in its first electoral test since its landslide win in May, as votes are counted in recently held byelections.

The party lost eight of the 11 seats in the key state of Uttar Pradesh and three of the four seats in Rajasthan. Polling was held last week for three parliamentary and 33 state assembly seats in nine states.

Twenty-four of the 33 assembly seats were so far held by the BJP. The BJP has won the Vadodara parliamentary seat vacated by Modi after he won two seats in May’s General Elections.

A candidate is allowed to contest a maximum of two seats in India’s parliamentary elections. Correspondents say Tuesday’s results are a cause for worry for the BJP with the party losing ground to its opponents in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. In Uttar Pradesh, the state’s governing Samajwadi Party has won eight of the 11 seats and the Congress party has won three of the four seats in Rajasthan. In the General Elections, BJP had swept the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh by winning 71 of the 80 seats and won all the 25 seats in Rajasthan. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Vietnam urged to tackle alarming rate of Police abuse

Abuses by Vietnam’s powerful Police Force are occurring at an alarming rate, a rights group said on Tuesday, and it urged the Government to rein in offenders and create agencies to investigate complaints of beatings, torture and killings.

Tracking four years of alleged abuse of suspects in custody, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Vietnam’s Communist Government needed to recog-

nise the scale of the problem and urgently initiate Police reforms.

“What we have uncovered is a human rights crisis in the daily operations of the Vietnam Police,” Phil Robertson, HRW’s deputy Asia Director, told a news conference in Bangkok.

“We’re convinced that what we’re presenting today is the tip of a much larger iceberg,” Robertson said, according to a transcript provided by

HRW.

The group said many victims of Police brutality were accused only of minor crimes like speeding or petty theft. It cited 14 deaths in custody –four unexplained, six alleged suicides and four from illness – and documented 31 cases of Police beatings, among whose victims were eight children. Robertson said the report was far from a quantitative survey and “more a snapshot of a serious situation”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Health workers bring a woman suspected of having contracted Ebola virus to an ambulance in front of a crowd in Monrovia, Liberia, September 15

Tuesday’s results will be seen as a test of Mr Modi’s popularity

Fear grows as Chikungunya spreads

… Health Ministry says 90 confirmed cases so far

By Alexis Rodney

Fear continues to grow, as suspected cases of the mosquito borne Chikungunya virus rock communities across Guyana. And while the Health Ministry says it is working with every available means to tackle the spread of the disease, locals say they fear the worst.

Although it is not fatal, the Chikungunya virus has proven to be a major health threat to the populace, with numerous persons complaining of the difficulties endured during the illness and after recovery. Investigations carried out by Guyana Times found that regions across the country are crying out for help as hundreds of health institutions are flocked daily with patients manifesting symptoms of the virus.

In Region One, while no cases have been confirmed, there have been seven suspected cases.

Over in Region Two, officials said there are no reported cases of the virus in that region.

In Region Three, Guyana Times learnt that there were no confirmed cases there, but over 300 suspected cases.

While this publication could not obtain the official statistics on the confirmed cases in Region Four, based on information coming out of health centres and private health institutions, around

suspected cases in those areas.

Health officials from Region 10 told Guyana Times that there have been only four confirmed cases of the virus, and this publication has discovered that some 100 suspected cases have been reported. Government, through the Health Ministry, said it has been seeking to alleviate the spread of the virus in Guyana.

Official policy

700 suspected cases have been recorded.

The Chairman of Region Five, Bindrabhan Bisnauth, told this newspaper that there have so far been 11 confirmed cases of the virus there. Investigations further revealed that close to 130 suspected cases have also been found.

Health officials in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) have put the number of suspected cases at over 400, although information on confirmed cases has not been forthcoming. The first Chikungunya case in Guyana was found in Berbice.

Guyana Times was unable to gather any official information on Chikungunya in Regions Seven, Eight and Nine although reports claim that there have been a few

Head of the Vector Control Services at the Health Ministry, Dr Reyaud Rahman, speaking to Guyana Times on Tuesday, admitted that while the Ministry has so far received confirmation of only 90 cases from samples taken in all the regions, based on the number of suspected cases, that number could increase. “I must make it clear that with those confirmed cases, it does not mean that if you have suspected cases, you do not have the disease. But our official numbers is under 90, but It can be more,” Rahman said.

He explained that “a persons with a fever over 38 degrees Celsius, showing signs of joint pain, and rashes” is suspected of having Chikungunya.

He noted that the Ministry has adopted a posture not to carry out tests on too many persons with suspected cases of the virus, especially if those persons are

coming from areas where the disease is already widespread.

According to him, it is a waste of resources. “When persons come with these symptoms, we already have in the back of our heads that it is the Chikungunya virus and it makes no sense we go through with any tests and waste our resources, because the disease is treated symptomatically: if you have a fever, you get something for that; a headache, something for that; vomiting, something for that. By getting a positive or negative result is not something we desperately need to run after. So it’s best to maximise our resources in every way possible.”

Rahman explained that the Ministry’s official health policy in the diagnosis of Chikungunya is that samples must be sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) where they are tested and processed and await further diagnosis. According to him, that test is the only reliable test accepted by the Ministry, pointing out that private institutions here do not have the capacity to carry out such tests. “Even if they are using the rapid test , they still will need to take off a sample of blood, separate it and send it to the Health Ministry to confirm it. Because even if you confirm with a rapid diagnostic test, you still need to confirm the case, and we do not

do so in Guyana, it is sent to Trinidad.”

He said these private institutions have been reportedly charging exorbitant prices for tests. People, he urged, need to look at that and be very careful and not “pay a lot of money for a test that you don’t really need”.

Containment

CARPHA Executive Director, Dr James Hospedales said that while the organisation has been monitoring the virus since it came to the Caribbean some six months ago, regional governments have not been doing enough to control the mosquito that transmits it. He said even though the virus is not fatal, health officials are still concerned.

Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Director, Dr Carissa Etienne, speaking to this publication on Friday, reiterated the need for Caribbean nationals, especially Guyanese, to take all necessary steps to contain the spread of the virus.

She urged persons to seek to reduce the prevalence of the disease by sleeping under bed nets and undertaking controlled use of appropriate insecticides, along with widespread information, education and communication campaigns.

Dr Etienne also assured that there was a very low death rate for Chikungunya, despite the significant illness and disability it caus-

es. Dr Etienne said that Chikungunya has had a significant effect on productivity and the social and economic life of affected communities, and it was, therefore, critical to concentrate response efforts on vector reduction.

“It is a household mosquito (A aegypti) and all householders must become active in reducing the breeding sites inside and outside of their homes… garbage disposal, drainage of water, emptying of containers… We also have to ask people to sleep under bed nets so that you don’t get bitten, particularly an infected person… The treatment is mini-supportive, we give Tylenol, Paracetamol, Acetaminophen, and ensure fluid intake,” she had stated. She said multisectoral action was needed to ensure access to water and to avoid storage which encourages mosquito breeding. Adequate garbage disposal and activating communities to take better care of themselves at the community and individual levels were other critical responses, the PAHO Director proposed. The Caribbean Community (Caricom) is ramping up efforts to respond to the Chikungunya epidemic and formalising recommendations to deal with any possible incidence of Ebola virus, the Georgetown-based Secretariat of the 15-nation bloc said on Monday.

Ebola surveillance high at entry ports – officials

By Alexis Rodney

As the death toll of the deadly Ebola virus climbs, Guyana is putting all the necessary measures in place to safeguard citizens – fortifying ports and conducting surveillance on visitors coming from West African countries.

Ebola has since killed just over 2500 people in West Africa and over 5000 are infected. And although the likelihood of the virus reaching the Caribbean is very slim, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr James Hospedales, during an interview with Guyana Times last week, had warned that regional countries should not become complacent.

Health officials here have confirmed that heavy surveillance activities are being carried out at Guyana’s main ports of entry. Port Health Officer at the Moleson Creek Ferry Service Stelling, Adeola Craig told Guyana Times that information is being taken from passen-

gers coming from Suriname. She explained that if it was so required, persons would be quarantined. The reports, she said, are sent to the Health Ministry.

At Lethem, officials reported that the Port Health Office there has been carrying out surveillance for the Ebola Virus. It was noted that because people from around the world would visit Brazil and then come to Guyana through that port of entry, no chances are being taken. An official said information collected from travellers includes their history of travel within the last seven days. All information gathered is sent to the Health Ministry. Similar surveillance activities are being carried out at the Cheddi Jagan Airport as well as Ogle International Airport.

CARPHA‘s Dr Hospedales had disclosed that there was too much at stake for any amount of complacency at this time. “We judge that the risk of Ebola to the Caribbean is low, because we do not have the animals that carry the disease; we have limited contact with

Dr James Hospedales

those countries. However, there is no room for complacency,” he warned.

Dr Hospedales said that Caribbean countries have to be prepared, because “even one case here would be disastrous for our own health, especially for the tourismdependent economy in the Caribbean. That could be very, very bad.”

He related that officials have been meeting with all the health personnel in the Region trying to take charge of security within Caricom.

The Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) had urged the countries of the Americas earlier to be vigilant and prepared for a potential introduction of the Ebola virus in the Region. The recommendation followed a statement by WHO Director- General, Dr Margaret Chan that the outbreak in West Africa constitutes a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). The current Ebola Virus Disease

(EVD) outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013. Ebola was first discovered in 1976 in Central Africa and studies are still ongoing about its root cause. Studies show that bats play a major role in the spreading of the virus. Before the current situation in West Africa, the disease was always confined to outbreaks in forested rural areas where humans ate bush meat. The current situation in West Africa is different because Ebola is present in dense, urban areas.

Transmission through fluids

The virus may be acquired upon contact with blood or bodily fluids of an infected animal/person.

Transmission through the air has not been documented in the natural environment. Fruit bats are believed to be a carrier and may spread the virus without being affected. Once human infection occurs, the disease may spread between people, as well. Male survivors may be able to transmit the disease via semen for nearly two months. To make the diagnosis, typically, other dis-

eases with similar symptoms such as malaria, cholera and other viral haemorrhagic fevers are first excluded. To confirm the diagnosis, blood samples are tested for viral antibodies, viral RNA, or the virus itself.

Prevention includes decreasing the spread of the disease from infected animals to humans. This may be done by checking such animals for infection, and killing and properly disposing of the bodies if the disease is discovered. Properly cooking meat and wearing protective clothing when handling meat may also be helpful, as are wearing protective clothing and washing hands when around a person with the disease. Samples of bodily fluids and tissues from people with the disease should be handled with special caution. No specific treatment or cure for the disease is yet available. Efforts to help those who are infected are supportive and include giving oral rehydration therapy. The Ebola Virus continues to infect and kill more and more people in West Africa.

Head of the Vector Control Services at the Health Ministry, Dr Reyaud Rahman

IMF calls for reforms to unleash economic power of women

The global economy could be greatly boosted by unleashing the economic power of women, who remain the world’s largest excluded group, the head of the IMF told a high level gathering in Japan.

“Excluding women simply makes no economic sense – and including them can be a tremendous boon to the 21st century global economy,” the IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said in a keynote speech at the “World Assembly for Women” in Tokyo.

She identified three main ways to unleash the economic power and potential of women: change economic policies, change laws and institutions, and change attitudes and culture. At the symposium “Women’s Power as the Source of Growth” co-hosted by the Japanese government, Japan business federation (Keidanren), Nikkei, and the Japan Institute of International Affairs, Lagarde said “We will need all the economic growth, dynamism, and ingenuity we can get in the years ahead. A key part of the solution is unleashing the economic power of women. Bring the world’s largest excluded group into the fold.”

Economic policies

Countries can lift up women by adopting more pro-female, pro-family approaches, she said. Such policies include moving more from family to individual taxation; providing more affordable child care and parental leave and providing a flexible working environment. Lagarde cited examples of economic policies which have boosted female participation in the labour market.

She noted that in Sweden, the country devotes a full one per cent of GDP to

child care and pre-primary spending – more than most (and three times more than Japan). In the Netherlands, female labour force participation rose sharply over the past few decades as parttime work was given the same status as full-time work – the same social security coverage, the same employment protection, the same rules. In Chile, female labour force participation rose by 20 percentage points over the past quarter century fuelled by large increases in social spending, including on early childhood education, childcare, and longer maternity leave.

Laws and Institutions

Lagarde also cited ongoing IMF research showing that gender gaps are lower when men and women are treated equally under the law – in terms of inheritance, property, and economic opportunity. She noted that, among the issues that seem to matter most here, are “equal property rights for married women” and “women’s freedom to pursue a profession, get a job, or open a bank account – without prejudice or partiality.”

Eliminating gender gaps in labour force participation

can lead to big jumps in income per capita, Lagarde added. “This is true everywhere in the world, but especially in lagging regions like the Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia.”

In Japan, the female participation rate is 65 per cent, 20 percentage points lower than for males. This is better than the Asian average, but still low for a member country of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. IMF research suggests that raising Japan’s female labour force to the level of the Group of Seven advanced industrial countries would raise income per capita by four per cent – permanently. “The lesson is clear: if we want a strong and bright economic future, then we need strong and bright women to help drive it. That means all strands of society need to embrace inclusion.”

Empowering women

“Female empowerment has particular urgency in Japan, and Japan is growing older at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world,” Lagarde said. Its working age population will fall from a peak of 87 million in the mid-1990s to 55 million by mid-century, she added. “There is one obvious option for rescuing Japan from this harsh demographic fate – empowering women.’’ Lagarde went on to note that “We all know that Japan’s women are among the highest educated and most talented in the world. We all know that they have the ability, the potential, and the desire to contribute even more. “Thanks to the great leadership shown by Prime Minister Abe, he and his team have set ambitious targets for empowering women – and I am convinced that they can be met.”

IDB launches ideas lab to promote development through digital platforms

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched GobAPP.com, an ideas lab for new digital tools that brings citizens closer to their governments and promotes a more transparent and inclusive form of governing.

GobAPP.com has several initiatives already underway, including yoGobierno.org, SomosAfro.org and Gob247.org. The ideas on improving public sector management are rolled out and tested and, once consolidated, transferred to third parties. The ideas lab is supported by several Latin American governments: Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Chile and The Dominican Republic. The Organisation of American States (OAS) is also participating in the venture.

Public administrations

worldwide are beginning to experiment in forms of governing with participatory tools such as hackathons, online voting to propose and prioritise public investment projects, social media and the use of smartphones to help citizens communicate their needs to government officials.

“Citizens labs are a physical and virtual space where citizens and officials can generate new solutions to all types of social needs,” said Carlos Santiso, chief of the Institutional Capacity of the State division at the IDB, which created GobAPP.com in collaboration with the IDB´s Gender and Diversity division. “We seek to jointly find new solutions and room for innovation, so governments can be more efficient, effective and open.”

Latin Americans are the world’s most active users of social media that – togeth-

er with apps, mobile services and other information and communications technology solutions – are valuable alternatives to promote new ways of conceiving of development, modernisation of the state and improvements in the quality of citizen services.

The services that GobAPP.com offers to governments and civil society include the investigation, development and implementation of applications with high value added over several citizen participation platforms. Together with governments, GobAPP.com has launched yoGobierno.org (where citizens bring their ideas on how to improve government practices), SomosAfro.org (where inhabitants of afrodescendent communities present project ideas and priorities), and virtual collaborative manuals (Gob247. org), among others.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde

SUDOKU

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CAPRICORN CANCER

Jasper Renegades beat Guyana Media XI in close finish

Jasper Renegades prevailed in a tense finish over Guyana Media XI on Sunday last at the YMCA ground, Thomas Lands, winning a feature 20/20 hardball game by three wickets and eight balls to spare.

Playing in front of a small crowd, the Guyana Media XI posted 1177 after skipper John Ramsingh called correctly at the toss and immediately decided to take first strike on a woefully unprepared wicket offering

WICB congratulates Professor Sir Hilary on UWI VC appointment

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has congratulated Professor Sir Hilary Beckles who has been named the next Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire West Indies cricket family we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Sir Hilary on this auspicious appointment. We look forward to a further deepening of the relationship between West Indies cricket and regional academia and wish Professor Sir Hilary the very best in his new and esteemed role,” President of the WICB, Dave Cameron said.

Professor Sir Hilary served as a Director of the WICB for several years until 2013 and is the author and editor of several pub-

lications on the history of West Indies cricket. He is the region’s foremost cricket academic and historian.

Professor Sir Hilary will succeed Professor E Nigel Harris who will step down from the position in April 2015.

Professor Sir Hilary will be the seventh UWI Vice Chancellor. (WICB Media)

uneven bounce.

In reply, Jasper Renegades closed off a tough run-chase, achieving victory at 118-7 in 18.4 overs, with some useful contributions from the top and lower order.

Ramsingh and Shahrukh Imran, who opened the batting for Guyana Media XI, added a brisk 16 in three overs before the latter was caught on the extra cover boundary by Bobby Singh off the bowling of Akshay Rampersaud for five (1x4).

Ravi Persaud joined Ramsingh and they proceeded to add 19 runs for the second wicket, before Ramsingh pulled a long hop from his opposite number Fabian Ramdatt straight to Eric Sukram at short mid-wicket. Ramsingh made 16 (1x4).

Rajiv Bisnauth, who dropped down the order to number four after opening the batting the previous three games, and Persaud held the innings together with a fighting partnership of 46 as Jasper Renegades’ bowlers found

the pitch to their liking.

Bisnauth was the aggressor from the onset, opening his account with two boundaries over forward square, while Persaud was contented on playing the supporting role. As the partnership progressed, Persaud began to prosper, hitting three sixes and a four before he was caught by Sukhram off spinner Sunil Ramlall for 34 at 81-3.

Keon Blades (01), Bisnauth (13), Avenash Ramzan (01) and Jermaine Neblett (00) all fell within the space of 12 runs as the Media boys slipped to 937, with Ramlall running through the middle order.

It took an unbroken partnership of 24 between Ishaka Jackman (13*, 1x6, 1x4) and Clifton Ross (10*, 2x4s) to take Guyana Media XI to a fighting total, as Ramlall ended with 4-27 from four overs.

Chasing a target of 118 on a tricky wicket, Jasper Renegades slipped to 23-3 within the sixover Powerplay with fast bowler Neblett removing

Ramdatt without scoring and seamer Blades following up with a double strike, trapping both Seon Bovell (05) and Karran Bissessar (00) leg before wicket.

Opener Kelvin Bovell and Dale LaRose stabilised the innings with a fourth wicket stand of 80, before Jackman disturbed the woodwork of LaRose for 18 (2x4s) at 53-4. Bovell contined to play well and found another able ally in Marlon Thomas, who made a quick-fire 18, including two fours and a six, in a breezy partnership of 27.

At 80-5 in the 13th over, the game was wide open, but Bovell and Sukhram (12, 1x4, 1x6) buckled down and added 21 for the sixth wicket in three overs to swing the momentum Jasper Renegades’ way.

With 18 needed off 18 deliveries, Blades conceded 11 runs off the 18th over, but removed the dangerous Bovell following a smart piece of stumping from Jackman, who donned the gloves in

the latter stages of the innings. Bovell made a fighting 33 that included two fours and a six.

Ramlall (06*) and Singh (01*) sealed the win off the fourth ball of the penultimate over, much to the disappointment of the Media supporters, who included sports enthusiast Elizabeth Sunich, who was seen waving a yellow flag with the slogan ‘Rally round Guyana Media XI.’ At the presentation ceremony which followed, Persaud was named best batsman for Guyana Media XI, while Blades was adjudged best bowler. For Jasper Renegades, Bovell copped the best batsman prize, while Ramlall was named best bowler. Jasper Renegades also received a trophy for their winning effort. Both teams have agreed to have a rematch soon. The teams would also like to thank the umpires, Arleigh Rutherford and Linden Matthews, for their officiating during the game.

Members of the Jasper Renegades team pose with their trophies and supporters at the conclusion of Sunday’s game

Ravi Persaud was named best batsman for Guyana Media XI

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles

Gerrard earns Liverpool late win

Steven Gerrard's stoppage-time penalty ensured Liverpool marked their return to Champions League football with a victory over Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad.

After a low-key first half, the Reds took the lead in the 82nd minute when Mario Balotelli held off two defenders and poked home his first goal for the Reds.

Substitute Dani Abalo appeared to have clinched a point for the visitors in the final minute when he rounded Simon Mignolet and scored.

But there was a further twist when debutant goalkeeper Milan Borjan fouled Javier Manquillo in the second minute of stoppage-time to give the Reds a spot-kick.

It was a fairytale ending reminiscent of the many glorious European nights that Anfield witnessed under Gerard Houllier and Rafael Benitez, who led the Reds to the fifth European Cup triumph in 2005.

Liverpool had reached the Champions League eight times in nine seasons but had failed to qualify for five years before Brendan Rodgers led the side to a second-place finish last season.

After a feverish build-up, Liverpool struggled to live up to the occasion in an underwhelming first half.

The hosts did not truly threaten until the 20-minute mark when Balotelli expertly turned his marker only for his goalbound shot to be blocked with Adam Lallana's follow-up drawing a save from Borjan.

Ludogorets, showing admirable composure on the ball for a side making their Champions League debut, had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Brazilian

midfielder Marcelinho went down under a slight push from defender Dejan Lovren.

Mario Balotelli scores his first Liverpool goal And, moments later, a corner found defender Cosmin Moti at the near post, but he failed to make clean contact with a header.

Liverpool's breakthrough almost arrived before half-time when the ball was worked swiftly from left to right by Coutinho and Jordan Henderson to Lallana. But the former Southampton man hesitated, allowing a visiting defender time to get his body between Lallana's shot and the goal.

The Premier League side's first clear sight of goal arrived soon after the break.

Virgil Misidjan's slip allowed Henderson's pass to slide through to Javi Manquillo but the Spanish right-back's dinked effort looped over the bar.

At the other end,

Ludogorets right-back

Junior Caicara fired a shot from distance that Mignolet had to dive full length to push aside.

And Liverpool had another scare when Gerrard allowed striker Roman Bezjak to drift in behind him from a throw-in and poke a shot, which sailed inches over the corner of cross and bar.

With the hosts looking increasingly vulnerable, Rodgers brought on Fabio Borini for the ineffective Lallana and the change almost brought an instant reward. Manquillo's cross picked out the Italian striker, whose header was tipped over by Borjan.

When Moreno sent over a similarly pinpoint delivery from the opposite flank, Henderson's flicked header drifted wide.

In between, Ludogorets wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead. Marcelinho threaded a pass through the legs of Mamadou Sakho to

Bezjak, whose shot rolled agonisingly on to the foot of a post.

With the Anfield crowd contemplating the possibility of defeat, Balotelli transformed their mood.

Moreno's cross picked out the Italian - a £16m summer signing from AC Milan - and he controlled the ball and turned in a single movement before steering it into the net with the outside of his right foot.

The Ludogorets riposte was swift and devastating. Younes Hamza's throughball found his fellow substitute Abalo, whose first touch took the ball past Mignolet before his second found the net.

But just when the visiting fans were celebrating what looked certain to be a point, Bojan's ill-judged lunge and Gerrard's unerring strike gave the home supporters the win they were craving. (BBCSport)

West Indies v Bangladesh, 2nd Test, St Lucia, 4th day...

Benn's 5, Chanders' ton...

Neither batsman was perturbed by playing for time. They spent 21 overs without a boundary and Tamim's 181-ball 64 was his fourth-longest innings in terms of balls faced and his count of two fours and a six was the lowest when he had played over 100 balls.

Strokeplay was not completely shelved though as Tamim slogged Benn to the midwicket boundary twice in the 28th over. Mominul hit straighter when the left-arm spinner overpitched, confirming a plan to only find boundaries when they are sure of a bad ball.

A passing drizzle forced an early tea and but both batsmen continued diligently on with Tamim

reaching his slowest fifty, off 146 balls. He followed it up with a drive that tore through the covers as Bangladesh recorded only their second hundred partnership of the series. It was also the second century stand between Tamim and Mominul, the first also coming in a rearguard action against New Zealand in October last year.

Mominul then reached his fifty, also his slowest, off 125 balls. Two overs later, Tamim threw it away and so would Mominul.

Bangladesh's troubles began in the first session after Ramdin declared with 75 minutes before the lunch interval. Shamsur Rahman's response to the task of batting out a mini-

mum of 169 overs was to go after the bowling, but his jaunt lasted just 38 minutes. He drove a couple of overpitched deliveries to the boundary before launching into Taylor's short ball barrage. He flicked a boundary then pulled another four a six off successive balls, taking 16 off the seventh over.

The only fielder Ramdin pushed back was Kirk Edwards to deep squareleg, who had to wait for four balls in Taylor's next over before Shamsur's outof-control hook landed in his lap. A 27-ball 39 at the top of the scorecard would stick out as a sore thumb when the situation of the match is considered.

Ramdin quickly swapped Taylor out

Trott keen to get back in England frame

Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott believes he is ready to resume his international career, 10 months since his last appearance for England.

The 33-year-old has addressed the stress-related condition which forced him out of last winter's Ashes tour.

"The ECB and I have had our final get-together. I've been signed off by the ECB," Trott told BBC WM.

"Whatever comes along with regards to selection, maybe. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself."

When the latest batch of central contracts were handed out by the England and Wales Cricket Board last week, Trott, whose last international appearance came in the first Ashes Test at Brisbane last November, was not included in the list.

But the Cape Town-born batsman, who played for South Africa Under-19s before qualifying to play for England, insists he has rediscovered his hunger for the game in English domestic cricket this summer.

After a false start to his

comeback in April, he has now made four centuries since June, two of them in the One-Day Cup, to help steer the Bears to their third Lord's final in five years.

Trott will return to the home of cricket when he plays against Durham in Saturday's final, as they look to complete a seasonal limited-overs double, having already won the T20 Blast.

"I've been feeling good for a while now. It's been great going back to Warwickshire. The last couple of months with Warwickshire have been fantastic."

In Trott's absence, Gary Ballance has established himself in the number three position in England's Test side, but in the short-term, the right-hander is content to focus on his county career.

"I'm doing my best to play as much good cricket as I have got left in me and to win stuff for the team," he added.

"We've got a big final on Saturday, then another game against Durham, which is important, which we may have to win to stay second." (BBCSport)

SCOREBOARD

West Indies 2nd innings

KC Brathwaite c Shamsur Rahman b Mahmudullah 45

LR Johnson b Taijul Islam 41

KA Edwards c Shamsur Rahman b Shafiul Islam 2

with Suleiman Benn and gained immediate reward. Anamul Haque followed one that turned and bounced to nick off for a duck.

West Indies' control of the Test at the decisive stage comes courtesy of Shivnarine Chanderpaul's 30th Test hundred. When he tucked away his 134th ball round the corner for a single, he not only went past Sir Don Bradman's 29 centuries, he became only the second batsman to remain undefeated throughout a Test series (minimum of three innings) and scored 200-plus runs. He has made 269 runs with two fifties and the century. Jacques Kallis was the first to do so, against Zimbabwe in 2001.

DM Bravo b Mahmudullah 7

S Chanderpaul not out 101

J Blackwood not out 66

Extras (lb 5, w 2) 7

Total (4 wickets dec; 77 overs) 269

(3.49 runs per over)

Did not batD Ramdin*†, JE Taylor, KAJ Roach, SJ Benn, ST Gabriel

Fall of wickets 1-76 (Johnson, 19.3 ov), 2-81 (Edwards, 22.5 ov), 3-97 (Bravo, 34.2 ov), 4-100 (Brathwaite, 36.2 ov)

Bowling O M R W Taijul Islam 28 5 81 1

Al-Amin Hossain 4 0 18 0

Robiul Islam 12 3 42 0

Shafiul Islam 13 1 42 1

Mahmudullah 16 2 64 2

Mominul Haque 4 0 17 0

Bangladesh 2nd innings (target: 489 runs)

Tamim Iqbal c Gabriel b Benn 64

Shamsur Rahman c Edwards b Taylor 39

Anamul Haque c †Ramdin b Benn 0

Mominul Haque c Gabriel b Benn 56

Mahmudullah lbw b Gabriel 0

Mushfiqur Rahim*† b Taylor 11

Nasir Hossain lbw b Benn 2

Taijul Islamc & b Benn 4

Shafiul Islam b Roach 14

Robiul Islam

Gerrard found the net in front of the Kop to send the crowd into raptures and give Liverpool a winning start to their Group B campaign.

Jonathan Trott

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Clinical Knights knock out Mumbai

Asubstandard batting performance from defending champions Mumbai Indians led to their elimination from the Champions League as Northern Knights won their third qualification game in a row. An all-round display from Knights handed Mumbai their second loss in three matches, a six-wicket defeat that ensured Knights and Lahore Lions qualified for the main tournament.

All three teams were in the fray to advance to the next stage and Mumbai had to win the match, by any margin, to qualify. But once they were put in to bat, their task became an uphill one when they were reduced to 46 for 5 by the Knights seamers in the 11th over.

The lower order helped them recover, but the chase of 133 was made easy by the Knights openers who

Mumbai were crumbling at 46 for 5. Outstanding fielding complemented the bowling, cutting off singles and not allowing Mumbai to rotate the strike under pres-

steered them to another convincing win.

Desperate to get a strong start, Mumbai never got in the groove as Trent Boult and Tim Southee stifled them with their nagging line outside off, conceding only 11 in the first four overs, and accounting for Michael Hussey.

sure. Mumbai nearly tripled the score from there, in two stages. Kieron Pollard and Harbhajan Singh stalled the fall of wickets for nearly five overs, and after Harbhajan fell for 10, Pollard started the fightback by striking three boundaries to push the score to 89.

Lasith Malinga then struck three fours and a six off successive deliveries, two of them off the edge, and Shreyas Gopal topped it by making room and collecting 16 from the last over to lift the total to 132.

Knights were hardly bothered in the chase, despite losing four wickets, as their openers put on a domineering stand of 83. Anton Devcich took charge initially and a calm Kane Williamson rotated the strike from the other end. They added 49 runs in the Powerplay, mostly striking the ball around the ground, finding gaps regularly, and converting the loose deliveries on offer.

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First-change Scott Kuggeleijn conceded 15 in the fifth over, but Scott Styris ensured Knights retained suffocating control over proceedings, running through Mumbai's batting with three wickets. He got rid of Jalaj Saxena, Lendl Simmons and Aditya Tare, with all three batsmen dismissed while making room to target the off side.

Saxena handed a low catch to short cover, Simmons missed completely and lost his off stump and Tare looked to cut late but the ball bounced a tad extra and took an edge to land in BJ Watling's gloves.

Boult then came back for his second spell to account for Ambati Rayudu and

Mumbai Indians innings (20 overs maximum) LMP Simmons b Styris 13

MEK Hussey c Kuggeleijn

b Southee 7

Jalaj S Saxena c Williamson

b Styris 10 AT Rayudu c †Watling b Boult 6 AP Tare† c †Watling b Styris 7 KA Pollard* c Harris b Southee 31

Harbhajan Singh c Devcich

b Kuggeleijn 10

S Gopal run out (Boult/†Watling) 24

SL Malinga b Southee 20

PP Ojha not out 1

Extras: (lb 1, w 2) 3

Total: (9 wickets; 20 overs) 132

Did not bat: JJ Bumrah

Fall of wickets 1-10 (Hussey, 3.1 ov), 2-27 (Jalaj S Saxena, 5.3 ov), 3-34 (Simmons, 7.3 ov), 4-44 (Tare, 9.4 ov), 5-46 (Rayudu, 10.5 ov), 6-75 (Harbhajan Singh, 15.3 ov), 7-89 (Pollard, 16.6 ov), 8-116 (Malinga, 19.1 ov), 9-132 (Gopal, 19.6 ov)

Bowling: TA Boult 4-0-21-1, TG Southee 4-0-24-3, SC Kuggeleijn

4-0-40-1, SB Styris 4-0-21-3, IS Sodhi 4-0-25-0 Northern Districts innings (target: 133 runs from 20 overs) AP Devcich c Pollard b Harbhajan Singh 39 KS Williamson c Pollard b Bumrah 53 DR Flynn* c Harbhajan Singh b Ojha 13 BJ Watling† c Harbhajan Singh b Bumrah 0 DJ Mitchell not out 16 SB Styris not out 3

Extras: (b 1, lb 2, w 5, nb 1) 9 Total: (4 wickets; 17.2 overs) 133 Did not bat DJ Harris, SC Kuggeleijn, TG Southee, IS Sodhi, TA Boult Fall of wickets 1-83 (Devcich, 9.4 ov), 2-103 (Williamson, 12.5 ov), 3-113 (Watling, 14.3

Anton Devcich guides the ball towards the leg side

BJ Watling clings on to a catch to dismiss Aditya Tare

ECCB/Elizabeth Styles first-division Final…

Ogle edge Lusignan in thriller

Contrasting half-centuries from openers

Chris Pattadin and Andre Gomes have guided Ogle to a thrilling fourwicket win over Lusignan in the final of the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) sponsored Elizabeth Styles first-division tournament on Sunday last.

Chasing a target of 238, Ogle started aggressively to reach the hundred landmark in the 19th over with Pattadin reaching his halfcentury.

The pair batted sensibly, and while the boundaries were leaking the duo was equally looking for singles to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard at a controllable run rate. Batting on 41, Gomes suffered a minor injury and retired hurt.

However, Azimul Hanif joined Pattadin, but the latter was dismissed shortly after for 54.

Brian Sookram blasted

three sixes in his 10-ball 22-runs before he too was removed. Gomes resumed his innings and together with Hanif took Ogle close to the winning target.

With 40 required from 32 balls, Hanif (45), Khemraj Dindyal (9), Tulsiram Balkarran (0) and Anand Persaud (5) were dismissed in quick succession.

But with nine needed from 12 balls Gomes, who was dropped on 80 was joined by Devindra Ramtahal and took their team home with three balls to spare.

Gomes remained unbeaten on 88. He smashed six fours and 6 sixes.

Bowling for Lusignan , Gaganand Suknanand (235), Narvan Singh (1-26) and Kumar Bishundyal (133) were the most successful bowlers.

Earlier, Lusignan decided to bat first saw openers Brian Sattaur and

Steve Ramdass put together 51 for the first wicket before Sattuar was run out for 26.

Somnauth Bharrat joined Ramdass and batted brilliantly, smashing six sixes and one four before he was caught by Chris Pattadin of the bowling of Andre Gomes for 54.

Ramdass, who played a supporting role, was eventually dismissed for 36.

Leon Morgan arrival at the crease saw some explosive batting from Ramjeet, who belted six sixes and two fours before he was removed for 64. Morgan (26) and Kumar Bishundyal (2) were the other batsmen dismissed. Bowling for Ogle Sports Club, Anand Persaud (3-48), Sahadeo Ramkellawan (1-35) and Andre Gomes (1-25) were the best bowlers on show.

Gomes was declared Man-of-the-Match. Meanwhile, President of the East Coast Cricket Board Bissoondyal Singh at the presentation ceremony congratulated both teams for reaching the final and for playing goodcompetitive cricket.

He also thanked the sponsor Elizabeth Styles of Port Washington, New York and Miami for their continued support for the game throughout Guyana. The announcement that the company will be renewing the sponsorship was greeted with a loud applause from the players and spectators.

Victor Macedo memorial cycling set for Sunday

The country’s top riders will look to outdo each other on Sunday when Flying Stars Cycling Club stages the 12th annual Victor Macedo memorial road race from 07:30 hours. According to race official William Howard, the event will have a roll start at Peter Rose Street in Queenstown and head to Homestretch Avenue for the official start.

The Senior and Junior riders will proceed to Long Creek (by the antenna) on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway and return to the point of origin for the finish, while the Veterans, Juveniles and Mountain Bikers will turn at Splashmin’s Fun Park and Resort on the upward journey and return to Homestretch Avenue for the finish.

The top eight finishers in the Senior division

William Howard

will be rewarded, as well as the leading four riders in the Junior category. The top three in the Veterans, Juveniles and Mountain Bikers will also be presented with prizes, all of which will be cash.

Apart from those incentives, there will be 12

Letter to the Sport Editor

Drastic changes needed in football

Dear Editor, My passion, the game I have fought long and hard for its betterment in my country “Football.” I have devoted 17 years (19962013) of my football career to the national programme and I have seen it all.

Today, it’s clear to see that the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is uncertain about the way forward for Guyana’s football. It is extremely saddening, that things we as players- Kayode McKinnon, Howard Lowe, Richard Reynolds, Gregory Richardson, Collie Hercules, Christopher Nurse, and the numerous other players that I have not mentioned have fought for over the years have not beentaken seriously.

No matter what sport you play, the principles that make a successful team are universal. It’s a strong foundation, development and preparation. The current leadership of the GFF lacks the philosophical view of

these three components; to drive the organisation forward and transcend expectations.

The youths are the future of tomorrow. However, how can we comprise a national team in two weeks with 99% youths (not coming from any national development programme) and expect success? However, I commend each one of these players for their efforts under the circumstances.

But GFF let’s be real.

The key part of a successful national programme is building a strong foundation and it is the area that the GFF has pushed aside. The future of the national programme lies within our youths and one can only expect long term success by developing strength in its foundation. It is important in the transitioning phase to have a good blend of players to allow the experienced players to pass on their knowledge before their exit out of the national programme.

I have learnt in life when someone doesn’t

know something you cannot get annoyed with them. However, I cannot stand by and say nothing. We need to acquire the services of football oriented personnel to run the affairs of football in Guyana. Personnel that will build a strong foundation, and put proper structures in place for continued development and success of football. For too many years football has been played in the office and not on the field. The game of football is a doing thing and not a talking thing.

The GFF had an opportunity to maximise on the hype from the Golden Jaguars quest for qualification in the recently concluded 2014 World Cup, however, they let it disintegrate.

A drastic change is needed in football in my beloved country of Guyana one which I hope comes soon for the benefit of the sport I love.

Sinserely, Charles “Lily” Pollard

WDCA 40-over cricket competition…

Cultural Cricket Club, Independence SC record wins

The West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA) 40-over cricket competition continued last Sunday with Cultural Cricket Club and Independence Sports Club recording convincing victories to move deeper into the tournament.

prime prizes up for grabs for the Senior and Junior riders and six for those in the Veterans, Juveniles and Mountain Bikes categories.

Howard said the club is expecting a good turnout of riders, as well as a competitive day of racing. He is also encouraging members of the public to come out and witness the race pass through their respective villages, as leading riders from the various clubs countrywide will be on show.

Last year’s winner was the experienced Marlon “Fishy” Williams, who finished the course in a time of three hours, 16 minutes, 35 seconds (03h: 16m: 35s).

Shaquille Agard was the leading Junior rider, while Stephen Fernandes and Jude Bentley were winners of the Veteran and Mountain Bike categories respectively. (Avenash Ramzan)

Cultural Cricket Club defeated Jasper United by 66 runs, while Independence Sports Club outplayed Canal Number Two Sports Club by 86 runs.

At the Cultural Cricket

Club ground, the hosts were routed for 188 in 34.3 overs with F Karrimullah hitting 43, G Mahabal 37 not out, R Rasheed 31 and B. Doodnauth 30.

M Richard and S. Raghubir were the pick of the bowlers with 3-23 and 2-38 respectively. Jasper United in reply made 122 all out with J Cupidor getting 37 and L Andrews 37. Bowling for Cultural Cricket Club, S Persaud snared 4-17 and L Ramkissoon 2-12. Over on the Joe Vieira

ground, Independence Sports Club posted 202 all out in 34.3 overs with E. Samuels topscoring with 56 and D Mohabir 30.

C Ramcharran, N Persaud and D Roopnarine all had two wickets for Canal Number Two Sports Club, who could muster 116 all out in 28.3 overs.

P Parmanand 28, M Pratabji 24, D Roopnarine 15 were the leading scores, while M Dhanpaul bagged 4-11 and R Benjamin 5-31.

tiffany porter sets new british 100m hurdles record

Tiffany Porter has set a new British record in the 100m hurdles at the IAAF Continental Cup in Marrakech.

The 26-year-old clocked a time of 12.51 seconds to break Jessica Ennis-Hill's previous mark of 12.54 achieved during the heptathlon at London 2012.

The European champion, representing Europe in the two-day event, finished second behind Dawn Harper Nelson who won in 12.47 for the Americas.

British European silver medallist Will Sharman was

Porter

Europe team athlete Sergey Shubenkov who crossed the line first in 13.23. The points-based event in Morocco, formerly known as the World Cup, features teams from Europe, Asia/Pacific, Africa and the Americas. Each team is represented by two athletes in every event.

Europe finished the first day on top of the standings with 222.5 points after 20 events, with the Americas second on 191 points. Africa were in third with 164 points. (BBCSport)

Andre Gomes collects his Man-of-the-Match trophy from ECCB Vice-President Raymond Barton

third in the 110m hurdles. He finished behind fellow

Tiffany

Senior Inter-County 4-Day Tournament….

Berbice Coach confident of double success

– Ramoo, Ivan make way for Royston Crandon, Latcha

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Berbice hope to take advantage of fresh legs to build on their one-day success when the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Inter-County tournament bowls off on Thursday.

Allrounder Royston Crandon and off-spinner Steven Latcha are the two newcomers to join the squad. Krishendat Ramoo and Rajiv Ivan were the two players omitted from the one-day tournament, which Berbice won on Saturday by 10 runs.

Crandon is among the most experienced players in the squad having represented the West Indies in a One-Day International in 2009 against India. He also represented Guyana in 24 first-class matches, 26

list A games as well as 26 Twenty20 games.

Latcha, on the other hand have played three List A games. He was a member of the West Indies Under-15 team in 2005 and represented Guyana at the Under-19 level in 2008.

“Definitely the guys coming in who were not involved in one-day tournament makes a big difference,”

Coach Hubern Evans told this publication on Tuesday.

“It’s a different game so we have to be more patient,” Evans pointed out.

Evans believes they have the momentum and confidence to win the tournament, having achieved a hard-fought, title during the one-day version.

“We have a great mix of experienced players and youngsters, so I want to urge the guys to continue

the good work,” Evans concluded.

Replacement Meanwhile, after a poor showing during the preliminary rounds of the oneday tournament, the GCB has replaced the National

Under-19 squad with a GCB Development Squad.

Thirteen Under-19 players have been retained in the squad. Akel Wallace is the only player who was omitted.

Steven Jacobs, Chanderpaul Hemraj, David

Latchaya, Yatesh Dhanpaul and Renaldo Ali Mohamed make up the 18-man squad.

In the first round, the 50-over champions Berbice, will clash with Demerara at GCC, while Essequibo will meet the GCB Development Squad at DCC.

The second round will begin on September 24 when Essequibo take on Berbice at DCC, and the GCB Development Squad go up against Demerara at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

The third round will get underway on September 30 as the GCB Development Squad will battle with Berbice at the Wales Community Centre ground, and Demerara and Essequibo will meet at GCC.

The squad reads:

Kandasammy Surujnarine, Seon Hetmyer, Narsingh Deonarine (Captain), Devon

Afridi to lead Pakistan in Twenty20s again

Shahid Afridi has been appointed Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain until the 2016 World T20 in India. He has succeeded Mohammad Hafeez, who stood down in April following Pakistan’s early exit from the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh.

ESPNcricinfo understands the choice was between a young player and an experienced hand, but it was decided that none of the youngsters in the team were ready for such a responsibility. The decision was taken with the consent of the selection committee, head coach Waqar Younis and the PCB cricket committee, and it was approved by the PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, who has the final say in such matters.

“Whatever happened in the past is over and now I have started a new beginning,” Afridi said of his relationship with Waqar. “I will develop a fearless approach in the players and eradicate the fear of loss as a captain. This format is not for the chicken-hearted player”

Afridi, 34, had captained

Pakistan in 19 Twenty20 internationals between August 2009 and April 2011. Pakistan won eight and lost 11 matches under his leadership. Afridi has not led Pakistan in any format for more than three years and will have one match against Australia and two against New Zealand before the year ends. Over the last 12 months, Afridi has taken 10 wickets at an average of 26.80 in 11 T20 internationals, and scored 173 runs at a strike rate of 150.

Misbah-ul-Haq is Pakistan’s Test and one-day

international captain and he is expected to continue in the 50over role until the 2015 World Cup, the PCB reaffirmed while announcing Afridi’s appointment.

“In line with my policy of taking decisions democratically I consulted the Cricket Committee and my board members before announcing these decisions,” PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said. “I wish both Afridi and Misbah very good luck in their upcoming assignments.”

Afridi’s previous stint as

captain ended on a bad note in May 2011. He had a public falling-out with the coach Waqar Younis, who was also in his first term at the time, and an outburst against the then PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. The PCB issued him a showcause notice for the breach of discipline and stripped him off the captaincy thereafter.

The board also excluded him from the list of contracted players and refused to issue noobjection certificates (NOC) to allow Afridi to play in domestic Twenty20 leagues. Afridi, however, took the matter to court and both sides eventually came to an agreement: Afridi pleaded guilty to misconduct and paid a fine of Rupees 4.5 million, and the PCB allowed him to play domestic Twenty20 cricket in England.

Afridi then announced a conditional retirement, saying he would return if there were changes in the PCB and the team management. He made himself available for selection again in October 2011, after Waqar quit as national coach and Zaka Ashraf replaced Butt as PCB chairman. (Cricinfo)

Clements, Royston Crandon, Jonathan Foo, Anthony Bramble, Jason Sinclair, Veerasammy Permaul (Vicecaptain), Steven Latcha, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Raun Johnson, and Keon Joseph. The Manager is Albert Smith. GCB Development Squad: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Kemo Paul, Sheraz Ramcharran, Akshay Homraj, David Latchaya, Damion Waldron, Steven Sankar, Daniel Basdeo, Nial Smith, Keon Morris, Steven Jacobs (Captain), Kemol Savory, Yatesh Dhanpaul, Brian Sattuar, Balchand Baldeo, Renaldo Ali Mohamed. The Coach is Adrian Amsterdam, Assistant Coaches are Julian Moore and Michael Hyles, and the Manager is David Black.

Briton makes early exit at Korea Open in Seoul

Britain's Heather Watson has been knocked out of the first round of the Korea Open by qualifier Nicole Gibbs. Watson, 22, was seeded eighth in the tournament but lost 7-5 6-2 to the world number 101 in Seoul. The British num-

ber one, ranked 46 in the world, converted just one of seven break points in the first set and the American dominated the second set. Watson's early departure comes less than a month after her first-round defeat in straight sets at the US Open. (BBCSport)

Steven Jacobs

Chanderpaul Hemraj

Yatesh Dhanpaul

Renaldo Ali Mohamed Royston Crandon

Steven Latcha

David Latchaya

Hubern Evans

Shahid Afridi will lead Pakistan once again © AFP

Heather Watson

Benn's 5, Chanders' ton sink Bangladesh

Sulieman Benn snuffed out Bangladesh's resistance with his sixth five-for to ensure West Indies won their 500th Test emphatically and complete a 2-0 series whitewash.

Bangladesh conceded their last eight wickets for 34 runs, emblematic of their fortunes in 2014. Ultimately the fight from Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque for nearly three hours ended up a footnote.

Benn posed a constant threat, questioning them with some turn and uneven bounce. With only the lunch break to refresh himself, he bowled unchanged from the 10th to the 50th overs. His perseverance was rewarded when Tamim was lured by the swathes of space on the leg side and top-edged a slog sweep into Shannon Gabriel's waiting hands. This was 3.42pm and by the next 23 minutes, Bangladesh's middle-order was ripped open.

Mahmudullah fell in the next over, the 60th, trapped lbw by an indipper from

Gabriel. His review only confirmed the fact that the ball would have hit leg stump. Mominul struck the first ball of the next over, a full-toss from Benn, down midwicket's throat. He and Tamim had ground 110 runs in 47.1 overs to inspire hope in the dressing room. But when Nasir Hossain fell for 2, the collapse had reached its crescendo and ultimately turned the day into an anti-climax.

Bangladesh had been 158 for 2 and lost four wickets for nine runs.

Taijul Islam was sent in at No. 8 once again, possibly for being a left-handed batsman. But he hardly looked a better choice than Shafiul Islam, who followed him to the crease in the 69th over.

Taijul's wicket was Benn's fifth, as he became the fifth West Indian spinner to take seven or more five-wicket hauls. Jerome Taylor became the 20th West Indian to 100 Test wickets by bowling Mushfiqur Rahim, for a second time in the match, and Robiul Islam'. The innings

ended when Shafiul's stumps were splayed in the 78th over by Kemar Roach. Jerome Taylor got through Mushfiqur Rahim's defenses for a second time in the match, bowling him with a delivery that nipped through bat and pad. This was his 99th Test wicket and four balls later, he made it 100 by clean bowling Robiul Islam, and became the 20th West Indian to reach the milestone. The innings ended when Shafiul moved away to cut a ball, but Kemar Roach was too quick for him, ending the innings in the 78th over.

The collapse soured some dogged batting from Mominul and Tamim. They got together at 48 for 2 with lunch only a few minutes away. They got through that tricky period and progressed cautiously to tea - making it the second session of the tour that Bangladesh hadn't lost a wicket. There had been an opportunity though but Darren Bravo dropped a regulation chance of Mominul at first slip.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored his 30th Test century in the West Indies second innings