Guyana Times Daily - January 22, 2015

Major Guyanese “backtrackers” on US radar

thursday, january 22, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Berbicians sceptical about AFC/PNC coalition

...but parties forging ahead regardless

By Andrew CArmiChAel

With the announcement by President Donald Ramotar that general and regional elections will be held on May 11, Berbicians, many of whom supported the minority, Alliance For Change (AFC) at the 2011 polls have rejected the proposal for a coalition between that party and A Partnership For National Unity (APNU).

At a public meeting on the Corentyne last Saturday, Presidential Candidate of the AFC, Moses Nagamootoo said the only way the current administration would be removed

from power at the upcoming elections was if a “united force” was formed as was done in Sri Lanka recently. “The only way to bring change is for all the forces to come together from all the political parties… and that is the only solution I have today. He told Berbicians that a “poll” that was allegedly conducted by the PPP/C shows that if elections are held tomorrow the incumbent will get 35 percentages out of the votes only. The ruling party’s support, he said, has fallen from 57 per cent in 1992, 53 per cent in 1997, 48 per cent in 2011 and now only 35 per cent of the elec-

torate want them in power. “And, therefore, any political campaign must be that only a united Opposition will be able to defeat the current Government.”

However, prominent opposition supporter, Carol Sinclair of Region Five (Mahaica/ West Berbice) said that what the AFC is now coming with is what the PNC has been saying since during its 2011 campaign.

“APNU has been proposing inclusive government...”

Sinclair said the parties are still taking and “I don’t want to say anything that would jeopardise the talks… but my personal view is that the

way the AFC is going about it as though they are the boss and we, I mean APNU

is just following is not right. They have to hold a big congress between the two parties and let members from both sides vote on it… if they don’t do that I don’t see it working because after the elections there will be problems...”

Ann Benjamin of New Amsterdam believes that the “idea has to be studied very carefully.” Benjamin said many of the AFC supporters are from the PPP “and like me I don’t want the party to tie itself to the PNC or APNU as they call it. I know that APNU has greater support than us and so if that happens I will be voting for the PPP. They haven’t asked us what we think. Some of us students were discussing the issue and some are not pleased with it. And this is mainly because we are not being told anything as to how it will work,” Benjamin said.

Godwin Allicock of Rose hall Town an APNU supporter said while he agrees with the formation of a coalition he does not believe in the “secret talks” arrangements that have been proposed. “Because they need to let us know where we as voters stand because we don’t want a last minute thing. If they do that maybe some voters will say that they are not informed and they don’t trust them. When I say them I mean both the AFC and APNU.”

Recently-inaugurated consultant of the AFC and literature scholar, Professor Daizal Samad had told this newspaper that while talks between the AFC and APNU should take place, he did not believe they would be fruitful. Samad said there was no harm in the two parties engaging in talks to form a coalition, but he did not foresee such a coalition coming to be. APNU Leader David Granger has already said that the prospects for talks between the AFC and APNU were good. Granger has also been quoted in another sec-

tion of the media saying that the parties have identified their negotiation representatives and will have their meeting shortly.

The proposal for a prodemocracy coalition between the two parties was first floated at the AFC’s Biennial Convention last year where re-elected leader Khemraj Ramjattan, announced that the party was willing to lead a broad pro-democracy coalition inclusive of the APNU to remove the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) from Government. He said, “The AFC is ready to enter, if necessary, into negotiations and to lead a pro-democracy alliance of progressive forces that is comprised of civic groups, workers’ unions, political forces – and by political forces here we are talking about even PPP/C members who have been disenchanted with the performance of the PPP/C thus far and even APNU.” This was volte face from Ramjattan’s previous statement that the “AFC would be dead meat” if they coalesced with the APNU.

However, one day later sidelined People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member Aubrey Norton said he did not support the move by the AFC to form any deal with the APNU in establishing a broad national alliance for the upcoming elections. He stressed that the two main political parties must rid the country of the PPP/C Administration. “The issue at hand is beating the PPP/C and getting rid of the PPP/C and the best approach to beating the PPP/C, in my opinion, the APNU has to continue to do its work in its constituency and the AFC has to continue doing its work with the aim of garnering more votes that were traditionally PPP/C,” Norton had told a small forum held at the Chritchlow Labour College.

Presidential Candidate of the AFC, Moses Nagamootoo

and Friday, January 23 – 05:00h-06:30h Parika and Supenaam departure –06:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

Thundery showers can be expected in the morning with light rain showers in the early afternoon. Sunny weather is expected to prevail in the later afternoon, with thundery showers in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 05:49h and 18:07h reaching maximum heights of 2.80 metres and 2.890metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:40h reaching a minimum height of 0.41 metre.

The above-normal high tide is in effect until Monday, January 26, 2015. Residents of coastal, ow-lying and riverine areas are advised to take necessary precautions against possible flooding

Major Guyanese “backtrackers” on US radar ...

Glenn Lall might be snagged

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is currently investigating major alien smugglers here, Charged Affaires of the United States Embassy in Guyana, Bryan Hunt, has disclosed. He said that there are several persons under investigations by the US for being involved in back trafficking activities.

Hunt’s disclosures come at a time when the US had noted in a cable some years ago that Publisher of Kaieteur News Glenn Lall was allegedly involved in ‘backtracking’ activities and since then several persons who were reportedly smuggled to other countries by the businessman have come forward with their stories. Hunt would not disclose the names of those being investigated, saying this could prejudice the investigations. “I don’t want to go into the ‘who and the how’ but yes we do have individuals who are of law enforcement concerns for helping individuals come through Guyana up to the United States,” he noted.

A few years ago, a leaked cable from the US Embassy in Guyana, had linked Lall to backtracking and other illegal activities here. The Wikileaks cable had described him as a man with a “sketchy past, who translated a shoe trading business (and rumoured involvement with alien smuggling) into a muckraking independent newspaper.”

The cable also stated that Lall: “has a finger firmly on the pulse of Guyana’s underworld, which serves his media enterprise well.”

Back in October 2013, some 750 Guyanese were deported from various countries. Several of them claimed that they paid huge sums of US dollars to the alleged backtracker, Lall, for arrangements to get them out of the country and were requesting a refund of their money. One

deportee was reported saying that her family and relatives overseas came together and reportedly paid US$20,000 to enable her to travel out of the country via “backtrack”. It was a horrendous journey, as she was seriously abused along the way, her passport was seized, and she was promised a Green Card and Social Security Number. The route took her through several Caribbean countries and eventually Puerto Rico, a US island territory, and Mexico before crossing the US border.

Major concern to US

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Times on Tuesday, Hunt explained that there are individuals who are of interests to law enforcement in the US for this sort of activities. Asked whether these persons are “well known” personalities, the Charge the Affairs reiterated that he cannot give the identities since they are still under investigations. On how soon could charges be made against the alien smugglers “It is difficult to project when charges might be brought and where those charges will ultimately be brought. We want to do a very thorough investigation to make sure that when we decide to either indict or

seek assistance from the Guyanese Government in indicting, that we have as full a picture as possible of who are involved in these kinds of things,” the Charge d Affaires stressed.

According to Hunt, backtracking is a major issue for the United States but he noted that not only Guyanese are engaging in this activity. He posited that Guyanese are more interested in flying to the US as such they defrauding the Embassy into believing that they are qualified for Visas when in actuality, they are not but use these “sophisticated” measures that sometimes allow them to succeed.

He added that persons often turn up at the Embassy with fraudulent documents and even attempted to change their identity because they are on the watch list and were previously deported. Others, he mentioned, submit fake letters of employment and guarantee, which is something prevalent in the Visa business. Hunt referred to a case earlier this year where someone attempted to purchase a visa from the Embassy. Fortunately, he noted, the Embassy worked along with local law enforcement personnel to arrest the individual and put together a case that is now before the court. Hunt remains hopeful that the matter will result in prosecution. He clarified that the Embassy often detects such cases but manages to resolve them internally and reject those persons.

Nationalities

Additionally, the Charged Affaires pointed out that there persons who are of different nationalities who use Guyana as a passport to the US “There are other nationalities that we have seen come through Guyana and attempt to use Guyana as a jumping off point for a trip up through Mexico and

onto the United States,” he said while adding the number of backtracking cases coming out of Guyana is not as high as other regions in the world such as China. Nevertheless, Hunt remarked that his Government has recognised the seriousness of this activity and as such has put in place law enforcement personnel to monitor the situation. He continued that the Customs and Border Office has raised concerns about various nationalities that often turn up at the US Southern border and declared that they began their trip in Guyana. These nationalities are mostly from South Asia and the Caribbean. The Charged Affaires also highlighted that majority of Guyanese who are granted short term visas such as Tourist Visa or Business Visa, usually comply with the time limit prescribed by the immigration officer and depart the US within that timeframe. He went onto say that Guyanese deportation statistics are very low figures.

Publisher of Kaieteur News Glenn Lall

United States Deputy Chief of Mission Bryan Hunt

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

Election scheduling

General Elections are never routine in Guyana and it appears that the one just announced for May 11, will not be any different. After 28 years of rigged elections under the People’s National Congress (PNC) every free and fair election, subsequent to the one in 1992, was challenged by that party for one reason or none.

In the instant promised elections by the PPP/C Government, there has been a long prologue to the expected election contretemps.

After a threatened no-confidence vote last June by the Alliance For Change (AFC), elections would have been precipitated in three months because, with the support of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Opposition had the majority to make good their threat.

But APNU vacillated on the issue, suggesting that the holding of Local Government Elections (LGE) might be a more critical event to schedule. As such they launched “nation wide protests” which boiled down to a scanty crowd desultorily showing up in front of the Office of the President (OP) at odd intervals.

While Leader of APNU Brigadier David Granger said that lack of finances were the cause of the scarce attendance, his Chairman Lt Col Joseph Harmon claimed that it was part of their strategy not to have too many persons showing up.

Be as it may, the August Recess for Parliament rolled around and consequently there was no “No-Confidence” Motion and no elections precipitated. The “August Recess” is actually a misnomer because while the similarly named recess for schools ends in the first week of September, the Parliamentary Recess extended into October 10 at the very best.

The AFC made it very clear that the first order of business if Parliament were to reconvened would be their No-Confidence Motion. By this time the APNU had become less equivocal on the issue and promised support.

Faced with the certainty of new elections when there were several important pieces of legislation, such as the Telecommunications Bill, which would finally liberalise the sector and introduce completion, the President used his constitutional power to delay reconvening the National Assembly, to give the Opposition time to reconsider their obduracy. The Opposition refused.

On November 10, the President decided to use a reserve power conferred on him by the Constitution, one which has been used by other Commonwealth Heads of Government to address the identical No-Confidence challenge he faced: prorogation.

In the Commonwealth tradition, the prorogation could not be of indefinite duration and absolutely not extend beyond six months. In 2008-2009, Prime Minister Harper of Canada asked the Head of State - who happened to be the representative of the Queen of England and the Head of the Commonwealth - to prorogue Parliament against a No-Confidence Motion.

In Guyana, President Ramotar followed this tradition and declared that he would announce the exact election date in the first quarter of 2015. He clearly articulated the rationale for the prorogation, similar to that of PM Harper in Canada - to give the combined Opposition with a majority in the Assembly time to dialogue and address the pressing challenges to the country.

The Guyanese Opposition unfortunately embarked on a hysterical campaign both domestically and internationally claiming that a “dictatorship” was being imposed in this country.

As with their spiteful stand against the passage of the AntiMoney Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, the Opposition was more than willing to expose their country to international opprobrium simply to score cheap political points. In this instance, they persuaded the lame duck, departing British Ambassador, to threaten Commonwealth sanctions if the prorogation were not lifted, for which he had no authority to do so.

And it is against this background that elections are scheduled. But the leader of APNU has just objected to the date: CXC exams are scheduled for that day. Maybe the President will now have to postpone the long demanded elections?

Kaieteur News in blatant violation of victims’ rights

Dear Editor, I was appalled to see in the Kaieteur News newspaper a clear photo of the 18-year old male rape victim in the Old Year’s Night alleged gang rape story, taken from his hospital bed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

This is an extremely serious violation of the rights of this young man –the survivor of an apparent vicious sexual assault.

Victims of sexual assault are in a great deal of pain and suffering, both physical and psychologi-

cal. They need care, compassion, and justice, not to be made public spectacles. Their dignity and personhood already having been violated once, all efforts should be made subsequently to ensure that they feel safe and respected, so they are able to regain their self-confidence and strength.

By publishing this teen’s photo, Kaieteur News has shown blatant disregard for all these things, and clear unconcern for this victim’s health and well-being.

Placing a thin white bar over the young man’s eyes is not enough; his identity is clear.

This is despicable, sensationalist, gutter ‘journalism’, pandering to the lowest in people’s natures, and putting profits over people’s rights.

The Editor of Kaieteur News and/or whoever made the decision to publish this photo should be ashamed of themselves.

I am calling for a public apology to this young man, along with a sincere commitment to respecting

victims’ rights in all future reporting of this nature.

Also disturbing is the fact that this picture was taken within GPHC. Patients are supposed to have privacy in times of illness and if any GPHC staff facilitated the taking of this photo, they also need to be disciplined. We can all do better; do not be part of the problem. Compassion and justice at all times – this is what we all deserve.

S Nageer

Aishalton concerned about illegal mining operations

Dear Editor, I wish to draw your urgent attention for public consumption that there are lots of illegal mining activities by small miners, including Brazilians, currently taking place on the property of Mulgravian Ventures Inc at Marudi in the Deep South of the Rupununi.

Aishalton residents are highly concerned because the unregulated and harmful operations of these illegal miners are supported and encouraged by a women’s activist who is a

staunch opponent of the PPP/C Government in Aishalton Village.

This women’s activist buys the raw gold from the illegal miners and smuggles it across to Brazil tactfully using someone to carry it for her instead of herself so as not to be detected by the relevant Government officials.

Is a declaration required at the Gold Board at Lethem and how much? It would be interesting to know.

Aishalton residents are

very concerned as well that the unregulated and harmful mining operations at Marudi are having an effect on our environment where slush water with mercury escapes into the creeks, which then enters the Kuyuwini River, causing residents to be very scared of using fishes (himara) and other wild life because of fear that they may be mercury-contaminated.

I am appealing for the GGMC and EPA officials to quickly visit the Marudi in the South of Rupununi to

conduct investigations so as to stop illegal gold mining activities which are having a negative effect on our environment.

Residents say it is a shame that illegal gold mining is being encouraged and supported by this women’s activist in Aishalton, who said that she is against gold mining. And that she is instead engaging in double-standards. What kind of women’s leader is this?

Melva Antone

Passengers of the MS Hamburg visiting Stabroek Market on Wednesday. The cruise ship with some 300 passengers has docked in Guyana for a second time (See story on page 17)

thursday, january 22, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Granger calls for new election date

...cites clash with CSEC,CAPE exams

By Jomo Paul

Opposition Leader David Granger has called on President Donald Ramotar to rethink the date that has been set for the hosting of General and Regional Elections, pointing out that it coincides with Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

Contacted on the issue, a senior Government official told the Guyana Times that all efforts would be made to ensure a smooth holding of the polls in conjunction with examinations.

The President on Tuesday in an address to the nation proclaimed that elections would be held on May 11 this year after Parliament was prorogued using a constitutional mechanism on November 20, last year.

Agricultural Science (Double and Single Awards); Theatre Arts; Electrical and Electronic Technology (Technical); and Food and Nutrition Paper 2.

With respect to CAPE, the subjects scheduled to be written on that day are Geometrical& Mechanical Engineering Drawing Unit 1 – Paper 2; History Unit 1 – Paper 2; Art & Design Examinations to begin for Unit 1, Papers 2 and 3, and Unit 2, Papers 1 and 2; and Communication Studies Paper 2.

was set by the executive. The Education Minister was part of the Cabinet meeting that decided on the date of the elections.

Polling places

The concern about the clash with exams scheduled in schools has been heightened given that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has requested that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) desist from using private entities as polling stations during this period.

the examination; in fact, the date has not been proclaimed, so he may still have time to change it,” Granger told reporters on Wednesday.

It does not appear that Mr Granger is aware that if the elections were to be held on a Monday, the next window of opportunity would be in June.

Forced election date

Meanwhile, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Executive Member Basil Williams said that the President was hasty to name a date for General Elections, particularly without dissolving the National Assembly.

Ramotar) probably named a date to ease the pressure”. According to Williams, a date for elections cannot be named without the dissolving of the National Assembly. However, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall told reporters that this was not the case. The Attorney General said that the President has up to three months before the announced date for elections to dissolve Parliament. This means that President Ramotar has until February 11 to dissolve the National Assembly

However, concerns had arisen after it was realised that the date named for the hosting of elections would coincide with the exams set for that particular day across the region.

While it must be noted that elections are generally held on Mondays, it should also be noted that throughout the entire month of May, CSEC and CAPE exams are scheduled. The next available Monday without an exam would be June 15.

According to a copy of the CSEC timetable acquired by the Guyana Times, subjects scheduled to be written on that day include

The concern was made known on social media by political observers and students alike who questioned whether or not the Education Ministry was consulted before a date

In the opinion of the Opposition Leader, the selection of May 11 as the date for Elections was obviously a mistake on the part of the executive. According to him, there is still enough time left to alter the date since it has not been proclaimed.

“It is obviously an error or I would say a blunder … they probably didn’t put enough thought into it … maybe the President had better announce a new date rather than try to change the date of

He ignored the point that the President had simply kept his promise to schedule elections by the first quarter of this year, and suggested that given the recent calls from the ABC countries for a date to be named, the President was influenced in the selection of a date for elections.

He told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that “the PPP is mortally afraid of elections …. he (President

The AG said that the President did not have any obligation under Guyana’s Constitution compelling him to dissolve the National Assembly simultaneously while announcing a date for the elections to be held. He also rejected the idea that the President was influenced in naming a date for elections. According to Nandlall, “the President acting in his own deliberate judgment fixed that date”.

An outmoded compensation system

Dear Editor,

This week the GGMC published a full page advertisement of the benefits it provides its employees who are on strike.

This expansive exposition of so-called fringe benefits provided by GGMC to prove that their staff are being treated fairly and caringly seem rather misplaced in the context of the apparent ‘bone of contention’ between GGMC and GPSU, which reportedly has to do with salary adjustments and increases.

I cannot comment on the negotiations, or lack thereof, because I am not privy to the details and nuances of the issues which led to the apparent breakdown, but I certainly share the views expressed in another letter that the lumping of all staff (managerial, supervisory, professional, technical, skilled, manual, security, etc) into one organization-wide category represented by one union is most unconventional and possibly quite counter-productive.

What I would like to draw attention to is GGMC’s apparent miscue mentioned above and more so to discuss the anachronism implicit in

GGMC’s misplaced belief that the paternalistic, antiquated benefits which are enumerated in their advertisement are still potent HRM instruments to attract, motivate, retain and win the loyalty of staff in this day and age.

Time was, emphasis on the past, when the benefits component of the compensation/ reward package was significant, perhaps as significant as the salary component.

However, with each successive wave of societal change (for example, graduations from the manorial or plantation stages to progressive individual/communal/national/socio-political advancements and self-determination in housing, education, health, national insurance, pensions and related welfare services , people preferred to make individual choices.

Hence, there is a greater attraction and preference for the flexibility facilitated by liquid, versatile cash which allowed them to make their own choices regarding the allocation of their earnings between benefits versus cash rewards.

The GGMC advertisement lists 31 items of allowances

and benefits ranging widely from monetary allowances to soap and toilet paper (sic)!

Besides its obvious outmoded, paternalistic nature which goes against the grain of current compensation management (including the cafeteria system, which allows employees to make individual choices between various combinations of cash and benefits items), most of the benefits are influenced by length of service.

In today’s reality of increasing knowledge workers, motivated by new challenges and career-growth opportunities within or outside any one corporation and in the further context of globalization, the virtual free and easy movement of human resources across national boundaries (for example, CSME and self-sponsorship to North America), increases in the number of rolls of toilet paper, travelling, vacation and retirement allowances, etc pale into insignificance. Similarly, training opportunities are not seen as perks for which employees must be grateful to the employer; they are self-serving employer imperatives not employee bene-

Freedom of expression has limitations

Dear Editor, In Guyana it is known both nationally and internationally that the Guyanese people enjoy freedom of the press and the freedom of expression.

Yet we have an anti-Government section of the press with the ridiculous claim on the basis of some bogus conversation-recording by one of its reporters, hence its merciful pleas for the Government to provide protection.

This is absolute balderdash since such pleas are based purely on anti-Government politics and can rightly be deemed po-

litical mischief-making, which the people of Guyana know fully well and cannot be bamboozled by the circle of the antiGovernment letter writers and columnists in the Opposition press that there is no press freedom and freedom of expression in Guyana.

But in their deception claims, this known circle of anti-Government letter writers and columnists need to be honest with themselves and ask, how is it my views are carried daily in the press and I am still existing?

What the Opposition press

in Guyana needs to abide with is responsibility and to desist from engaging in gutter journalism to fool its readership just to boost sales. This is total unprofessionalism.

But I am appealing to the Opposition press in Guyana to absorb Pope Francis’s teaching that the freedom of expression has its limitations.

Pope Francis is a highly respected world spiritual leader, who is the divine leader of over fifteen million catholic followers.

Peter Persaud

fit per se.

Relatively young, bright employees are not as motivated by the benefits which are more attractive to older, less versatile workers. These benefits are influenced by longevity in the organization (not necessarily by advanced, relevant competences) for example, pension, medical and retirement benefits, farewells, long-service

awards, death benefits, children education allowances, etc.

Besides, some raise critical issues of equity, for example, why should a childless person be denied his/her share of the company’s expenditure on children education allowance when she/he can use the cash equivalent for another pursuit of his/her choice.

Employers need to criti-

cally re-examine their compensation packages to ensure that every component of the package is better suited to the current and future needs of both themselves and the majority of their employees and that they get the best mileage from their expenditure on staff compensation/reward.

Nowrang Persaud

PPP/C in elections fever

Dear Editor,

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) welcomes the much anticipated announcement of Elections Day 2015. That date being May 11. The Party is ready and steady for these elections.

The Party’s machinery is well oiled and its members, supporters and well-wishers are in the mood. They are about to be afflicted by elections fever now that May 11 has been announced as “E” Day.

The Party will be going to these elections with a spirit of optimism and confidence.

The PPP/C will exert every effort to continue the longstanding Party tradition of achieving victory at the polls as it did since 1957 save for the period from 1968 to 1992, when the Guyanese people’s democratic right to elect a Government of their choice was stolen from them by the People’s National Congress (PNC).

The people won back that

right in 1992 and Guyana was once again placed firmly on the path to social and economic progress, coupled with the upholding of the political, civil and cultural rights of all Guyanese people.

The PPP/C calls on all its members, supporters, well-wishers and indeed all Guyanese to rally behind the winning symbol of the Cup.

PPP/Civic Freedom House

Opposition Leader David Granger

Pretend detective enters QC, seizes First Formers’ phones

Aman who gave his name to Police as Andrew Hackett was arrested early Wednesday morning, after he entered Guyana’s premier secondary institution, Queen’s College and seized the smartphones of some First Form students.

Hackett, who pretended to be a Police Detective attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), reportedly went past the guards posted at the gates and made his way into the wing of the building which housed the first and second formers.

According to reports, he first made his way to the 1C classroom around 07:30h, where there were only two students present at the time. After noting the number of students in the class, he moved on to the 1A classroom where there were more students.

It was at this time that

the man entered the class and captured the attention of the students before introducing himself as Andrew Hackett, a detective attached to the CID Headquarters at Eve Leary, Police Headquarters, a stone’s throw from the College.

He reportedly told the students that the Police Force and the Education Ministry were embarking on a new campaign aimed at seizing Android phones from schoolchildren.

Hackett then proceeded to inform the students that they would have to hand over their phones and sign their names on a sheet of paper he provided them. It was while the students were signing their names on the sheet of paper that he slipped out and returned to the 1C classroom.

As it was almost time for school to commence, the

classroom was almost filled with students and he repeated to them what he had told the students of the 1A class.

While his classmates had taken out their phones and were signing their names on the paper, one boy decided to call his father and inform him of what was related by Hackett.

The parent, who was not too far from the school, immediately went to the school where he informed a male teacher who was present what was related to him. Together, they both ventured into the classroom where Hackett was cornered and questioned before the Police were subsequently called in.

A source at the school told the Guyana Times that the students have indicated that Hackett was seen on the premises on several occasions before the incident.

“I would suggest that he came before to acquaint himself with the layout, see what time the teachers come in and so forth so that he can execute his plan,” the source added.

There have been calls for the security personnel at the institution to be replaced, since there have been many instances where persons were allowed to walk into the school’s compound without any proper identification.

Defiant child behaviour:

(Continued from Wednesday) Is your child’s bad behaviour escalating?

BY KIM ABRAHAM AND MARNEY STUDAKERCORDNER

3. Accept your child

Everyone has their own unique temperament (or disposition) and children are no different. Some kids tend to be cooperative while some seem to argue

is your child, right now, in this moment. Accepting your child doesn’t mean you accept his behaviour or agree with all of his choices. It does mean that you accept him at a basic level of being human– with his own feelings, flaws and struggles.

about everything. Some are easygoing while others have a low frustration tolerance and are quick to anger. There are kids who are quiet and shy, and those who want to be heard…. every moment of every day! With Oppositional –Defiance, it can be hard to accept a child’s basic personality. You could spend years trying to change your child into someone else, but the bottom line is: this

4. Continue to set limits and follow through with consequences… even though it’s hard It’s not easy to stand firm in the face of a tornado of emotion your child unleashes on you. It can seem easier to give in and sometimes it is… in the short run. But in the long run, if you can hang in there and remain consistent, your child will come to know that arguing, throw-

ing things and getting physical won’t change your mind or your house rules. Because it can be so draining – emotionally – to follow through with consequences, you may want to target the most serious behaviours you’re seeing with your child first and then work your way down the list. Don’t give a consequence if you know you’re likely to give in. Go with a shorter consequence or response you know you’ll be able to stick to, until you’re feeling stronger.

5. Think of parenting as a marathon…not a sprint

Parenting is for a lifetime. There’s no specific moment where you think, “Well, this is it. My job as a parent is done.” When you’re 50 and your child is an adult, he’ll still be your son. And you’ll still be parenting him (though hopefully in a different way). Your relationship may look different, but it’s still parent and child. Your goal is to help your child understand the world, how to live in it and what he can expect from others when he behaves in a certain way. Your home is the first place he will learn limits and rules that exist in our society. Parenting means being in it for the long-haul. Believe it or not, when you continue to consistently provide limits and consequences for your child, over the years he will learn what to expect from you – and from society. It can be very frightening and frustrating when a child’s behaviour continues to escalate. Sometimes we – as parents – go into fight-or-flight mode ourselves, reacting out of emotion rather than remaining calm and providing consistent consequences and limits. Your child has the ultimate control over his behaviour and choices. As a parent, you can provide discipline, love and guidance. You can support your child by offering positive alternatives to dealing with frustration and you can model those same techniques in the way you respond to your child’s behaviour. Remember to take care of your own emotional wellbeing during these times, as well –get support from friends, this website, other parents or even a professional if you find your strength is suffering in the face of your child’s behaviour. Parenting takes determination, pacing oneself and keeping an eye on the long–term goal. Remember, you are not alone in this marathon! (Empowering Parents)

Police officers speak to security guards at Queen's College on Wednesday

Govt unveils oil and gas policy

...as ExxonMobil set for March drilling in Stabroek Block

The Natural Resources Ministry on Wednesday launched its Upstream Gas and Oil Policy to ensure the sustainability of the nascent sector.

During a press conference held at Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown, Subject Minister Robert Persaud lauded the work done by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Canadian High Commission in the early stages to facilitate the initiative, thus allowing Guyana to secure the level of support it received.

Persaud stated that when the Ministry was launched in 2011, the development of an Oil and Gas Sector was anticipated and as such, the necessary steps to prepare Guyana were taken.

“We didn’t want to be caught off guard, we needed to prepare to prevent any negative consequences as a result of the country being ill-prepared for the sector,” Minister Persaud said.

Subsequently, the Ministry entered into a number of engagements with bilateral and multilateral partners on how Guyana could receive the support it needed to have a comprehensive overview of the situation and hence, the services of the Commonwealth Secretariat were secured.

Persaud related that it was found by the consultant and Commonwealth representative that there were many aspects that needed to be addressed. He said at present the Ministry was looking at steps in terms of implementation of findings.

“We started very quickly in terms of looking at the legislation because some of the legislation dates back to the 1980s,” the Minister said.

He further explained that even the model agreement needed to be updated. Persaud then made it clear that the Ministry had no difficulties with the recommendations, observations and proposals outlined in the draft policy.

Further, because of the number of ongoing activities in the sector, Persaud explained, “This is why

we have recognised there is a sense of wide urgency, not only in developing the policy, but also Human Resources Development. We have started the Mining School, where there has been some training, gearing Guyanese to work in the oil and gas sector.”

Transparency In addition to ongoing legislative changes to facilitate the sector, a number of employees of the Ministry are presently overseas pursuing advanced training and some are being supported by the oil companies as well.

One of the major aspects cited for development was the promotion of transparency in the sector and the Minister said transparency was very important and as such, areas for transparency improvement are being looked at by Extractive Agency Transparency Initiative.

Jeff Simon, Country Manager, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana, the local ExxonMobil subsidiary, on behalf of his company, expressed gratitude to the Government of Guyana for the initiative.

“We are really pleased the Government has supported the position of the industry and what we have seen today is well-aligned with our investment climate principles. We are encouraged by the repeated com-

mitment to transparency.”

The Upstream Gas and Oil Policy was developed by the Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission with technical assistance from the Governance and Natural Resources Advisory Services Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Work on the Policy started in 2012. Both the Private and Public Sectors were consulted on the document. The Policy was finalised and approved in the third quarter of 2014.

The Natural Resources Ministry on Tuesday said Guyana was currently a prime target for petroleum exploration. The country’s offshore Basin and, to a lesser extent, its inland Takutu Basin are currently attracting a great deal of interest from petroleum exploration companies.

The Policy envisions a strong, vibrant, and sustainable Private Sectordriven oil and gas industry, which will contribute significantly to Guyana’s socioeconomic development. The policy document represents Guyana’s first attempt at setting out specific policy objectives and implementation measures for the exploration and potential development of upstream oil and gas resources found here.

Atlantic Gardens shooting: Husband declares innocence, says he wanted to reunite with wife

The husband of the 45-year-old woman who was executed in front of her Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara home has spoken out, denying that he had a hand in the death of his estranged wife.

Patricia Sanasie, called “Patsy”, was gunned down on January 12, while attempting to open the gate to her house, moments after arriving home. The woman sustained five gunshot wounds about her body.

Her husband, auto spares dealer Deokaran Ram Sanasie was fingered in the woman’s death, because of the troubled past the two shared. Neighbours and relatives of the dead woman believed the man was somehow involved in the woman’s death.

However, when the Guyana Times made contact with Ram in the United States and he said that he did not know anything about his wife’s killing. He stressed that he has been in the US since early December and knew nothing of the shooting.

The businessman refuted allegations that suggested he was involved in his wife’s death given the history of the two. Last February, Ram was shot three times about his body while outside his business place on Fourth and Light Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown. The businessman had claimed that his wife and her younger brother were behind the failed attempt on his life, but this was

denied by the two siblings.

Speaking with this newspaper, Ram said that he and his wife have been separated since his shooting last year and he had ceased all contact with the woman. Nevertheless, he professed his love for the now dead woman, saying that he was waiting in anguish to get back with her. Ram said he left his wife alone so that she could figure out what she had to and find her way back to him.

“I tried to come back together, that’s what I was waiting on all the time. That’s why I never speak to her and I leave she to do what she want to do and I waiting to get back to her ‘cause we live for a long time and not leave one another,” the man told the Guyana Times over the phone.

Ram added that he had even tried to contact his wife’s family, friends and other persons to talk to her, to facilitate a reconciliation. “That’s all I wanted,” he stated. He added that relatives and close associates were rooting for the two of them to get back together.

Asked about the dispute he and his spouse had over the division of properties as a result of their separation, Ram acknowledged that there were some issues, but said his lawyers in Guyana were handling the matter.

He went on to say that the last time he saw the mother of his three children was some time last year, noting that the

news of her death shattered him.

“I ain’t must gotto feel it … I keep hearing Guyana news over and all kind of things they say. They don’t know who to blame, so they blaming me. I don’t know nothing...,” he protested.

Ram further told the Guyana Times that he was awaiting his wife’s funeral in the US before he could return to Guyana and deal with what has been happening locally.

Questioned about who might have wanted to harm his spouse or see her dead, the widower said he was at a loss and that was why he was waiting for her funeral to be over so that he can get back to Guyana and figure out what happened.

“I don’t know nothing at all, I don’t know who is the person maybe when I come back there, I will look into that … I’m just worried here about everything that’s going on,” he said.

The couple had been together for the past 28 years and share three daughters: ages 25, 22 and 14. One of the daughters, Romona, had witnessed her mother’s execution just over a week ago. She and her mother had returned home from church around 19:10h that night, when the 45-yearold woman exited the vehicle to open the gate so that her daughter could drive in the yard. Ram disclosed that since the incident, he has not had any contact with his daughter.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

5 deaths recorded for 2015 on Guyana’s roadways

The Guyana Police Force on Wednesday confirmed that there were five road fatalities for the year thus far compared to nine for the same period in 2014. Most of these deaths were as a direct result of speeding.

The most recent was that of 62-year-old Megnauth Seetaram, also called “Buzo” and “Bassar” of Lot 8 Section C Harban Pool, Cotton Tree Village, West Cast Berbice (WCB). He was struck down by a Tundra while attempting to ride across the public road at Number Eight Village, WCB. The vehicle sent Seetaram flying through the air and he landed several feet away.

Most recent traffic fatality: 62-year-old Megnauth Seetaram

Given the deaths, the Police Force said that it would continue with its traffic enforcement efforts in order to maintain road safety.

Several cases were made against errant motorists who have breached the traffic laws. The release stated that 284 cases were made out for speeding, 20 for driving under the influence of alcohol and 44 cases were recorded for breach of conditions of the road service licence.

In addition, four drivers were charged for careless driving, with another 11 charged for dangerous driving and 31 for failing to wear seat belts. Nineteen persons were also penalised for using mobile phones while driving.

Eyew tness

Boat gone a watah...

...Opposition cyaan turn back

There’s the old caution that this Eyewitness’d proffered to the Opposition: “Be careful what you ask for...you might just get it!” They didn’t listen and as we all know, “who don’t listen will feel”. The Opposition’s been jumping up worse than Chicken Little for the President to “call” elections - or else we’d become a dictatorship!!

And this, even though Prezzie’d promised he’d announce the election date in “in the first quarter of 2015”. But even as the AFC were “protesting” in front of the CariCom Headquarters - just because the organisation took the President at his word! - elections were announced by Prezzie for May 11!!

You’d think the wankers would be embarrassed about their ridiculous, over-the-top display, no?? But these are people with no shame.

And that’s why we fear for what’s gonna happen in the next three months. Projecting from their own warped and treacherous practice of politics, the AFC and PNC/APNU really believed the President would hang on to power via the prorogation route!! After all, if they were in Prezzie’s shoes (God forbid!!) that’s what they’d do!!

And that’s why they went on bended knees begging and the pleading with the foreign missions to intervene in our sovereign affairs. They thought they “had” the President!! But like the man said, all they got was “larwah”!!

So what can we expect from the Opposition camp, now that they’ve been caught with their pants down? Right off the bat we know they’ll play their strongest card - the race card. In fact it’s the only card they have...so it has to be played. How’ll they play it?? You just have to cast your minds to the scenario that played out after the last elections at Linden.

At that time it was a matter of making a rational decision for the good of the entire country on equalising the paltry rate Lindeners were paying for electricity to what the rest of us had to shell out.

The AFC cried “racial spite” just because Lindeners are predominantly African Guyanese. The APNU jumped head first into the fray and before you could say, “What the hell!!!”, three persons had been killed and billions went up in smoke.

This time we’re sure that even though all studies show that the entire country has benefited from the Herculean effort of the PPP/C to develop Guyana, the Opposition will filter everything through their race-coloured glasses to divide our peoples.

While we hope good sense will prevail and an issuebased campaign gonna be waged, because of the Opposition’s history, we’re not holding our breath.

...on Opposition secret PANTY

The Opposition’s political gamesmanship on race can already be seen in the intricate dance the AFC’s been playing with PNC/APNU on their proposed PANTY coalition. (Remember?? One name from each of the partner for “trust”?? Partnership Alliance for National Trust - Yes!)

First Ramjattan, the AFC leader protested he’ll be “dead meat” with his Indian supporters in Berbice if he were to even to THINK of coalescing with the PNC/APNU. Now why’d he have to say that?? If his party was the “multiracial miracle” he and Trotman boasted it was, after nine years wouldn’t they have convinced their Berbice supporters that African Guyanese were not “the enemy”?? But the problem with these hypocrites was that while taking the high road in public, Ramjattan and Nagamootoo were racist to the bone when it came to dealing with Berbicians.

And that’s why he’s insisted that the PANTY negotiations with Granger of the PNC be secret. But he still gonna be DEAD MEAT!! He can run - but he can’t hide!!

...with GECOM

At every election since 1992, the Opposition’s protested the elections in one way or the other. The last time, the Opposition liked a man with a “slow hand”...but not a slow count!!

Setting of election date in keeping with the Constitution – AG

Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

President Donald Ramotar has no obligation to dissolve Parliament before announcing a date for General and Regional Elections, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall said, as he poured cold water on criticisms made by the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC).

Hours after President Ramotar announced that elections will be held on May 11, GTUC issued a statement condemning the act, contending that the life of the 10th Parliament should have been dissolved before a date was set for elections.

“GTUC condemns the continued prorogation and the ignoring of this by the Donald Ramotar regime, which must know fully well that the life of Parliament has to end. What the president has done is unprecedented in post independent Guyana,” the trade union said.

But Minister Nandlall made it clear on Wednesday, that the summoning, prorogation and dissolution of Parliament are matters that the Constitution resides exclu-

sively with the President.

“These powers and discretion are largely uncircumscribed, except for certain time constraints, none of which are relevant in this context. Perhaps these are not matters about which one ought to speculate, they are specifically provided for under the Constitution,” he said.

Many things which have unfolded in recent times are unprecedented, the Legal Affairs Minister said as he pointed to the minority Government which came into power following the 2011 General and Regional Elections, the cutting of the National Budget by the Opposition although it was declared unconstitutional by the High Court, the voting down of important pieces of legislation which are vital to national interest and attempts to move a no-confidence motion against the Government.

“The terms ‘Constitutional crisis’ seems to be a phrase, frequently used to clothe irrational contentions which a veneer intellectually. So the breeze blows a little hard and there is a cry of Constitutional crisis,”

Minister Nandlall added, stating clearly that there can be no crisis when there is constitutional compliance.

GTUC had also said that until elections are held, the Ramotar Administration will continue to spend taxpayers’ money without the involvement, oversight and approval of the nation’s highest decision making arm – the National Assembly. According to the union, “this lawless and reckless behaviour must be condemned.”

But the Attorney General said no crime is being committed. He explained that Article 219 of the Constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, empower the Government to spend one twelfth of the budget of the preceding year until an Appropriation Act is passed.

“This position obtains, whether Parliament is in session or not, or whether there will be elections or no elections. Indeed, if Parliament was in session, the National Assembly

could not have prevented this constitutional and legal formula in relation to spending during this period from being applied,” he stated.

Minister Nandlall said too, that GTUC must consider the fact, that the Government had warned the Opposition of the consequences, if it had proceeded with a no-confidence motion.

He said President Ramotar not only warned the Opposition, but pleaded with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for

Change (AFC) not to proceed along that route, as he offered alternatives. A prorogued Parliament is the consequence, Minister Nandlall said.

“The Opposition therefore, is responsible for the state of affairs that we are in and all the ills and wrongs that the GTUC see associated with it. In my humble view they should focus their energies in the direction of the Opposition and not the Government,” the Legal Affairs Minister opined.

According to him, GTUC should not complain about the hosting of General and Regional Elections before the long overdue Local Government Elections.

He said when the Opposition had threatened to move a no-confidence motion against the Ramotar Administration, although a promise was made to hold Local Government Elections, GTUC remained silent. Minister Nandlall said if the no-confidence motion was passed during the November 10, 2014 sitting of the National Assembly, it would have also resulted in snap elections and further delays in the holding of Local Government Elections.

“These eventualities were made very clear publicly. Yet, the Opposition obstinately insisted on proceeding with the no-confidence motion, effectively therefore, killing any prospect of Local Government Elections in this matrix.”

He stressed that GTUC must acknowledge that it is the Opposition that is responsible for the delays in the holding of Local Government Elections, last held in 1994.

Couple viciously chopped in minibus over court matter

Aman and his wife were on Wednesday attacked and chopped about their bodies while in a minibus travelling along the Number One Road, Berbice by a man with whom they had an old grievance.

Meena Morrison and Glen Morrison, of Vryheid, New Amsterdam, Berbice, were reportedly on their way to Whim Village, Corentyne, Berbice when the suspect, Leon Thomas, carried out the brutal attack.

The couple were chopped several times to their arms and upper bodies and were rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where Meena was admitted

and her husband was treated and sent away. The woman is said to be in stable condition.

Based on information received, the suspect was recently charged for assaulting the couple and was due to make an appearance at the Whim Magistrate’s Court when he came into contact with them. He reportedly started an argument with the couple who initially ignored him, but as they responded to his statements, he reportedly whipped out a knife and attacked the couple.

At the first calling of the case, the couple reportedly took out a restrain-

Carpenter fined for verbally and physically abusing partner

Acarpenter was sentenced to two weeks imprisonment by Magistrate Annette Singh after being slapped with the charge for assaulting the mother of his seven children.

The court heard that on January 19, at Lot 36 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Randall Garnett unlawfully assaulted the Virtual Complainant (VC) Nicola Benjamin so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

On the same day, he also allegedly made use of abusive language towards the VC. Garnett pleaded guilty to both of the charges when it was read to him.

According to Police Prosecutor Adoni Innis, Garnett and Benjamin have

been in a common-law relationship for almost 19 years and they have seven children together. Innis told the court that the defendant has a habit of getting drunk and on the day in question, about 21:30h Benjamin was at home with their children when Garnett came home drunk and started to accuse her of having an affair. The court was told that he then slammed her on the bed and began choking her. The defendant bit her several times on her arm while cussing at her. The matter was reported and he was charged. Garnett was fined $5000 along with two weeks imprisonment for the assault charge and another $5000 for using abusive language.

Brothers threaten Police informer who implicates them in robbery charge

Two brothers, who appeared at the Sisters Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a break and enter charge, have threatened the life of one of their accomplices who pleaded guilty to the crime.

The Samaroo brothers – Ravin, 40, also called “Pony” and Alvin, age 36 –are accused of breaking into the dwelling house of the Victual Complainant (VC) Shirley Chesney of Lot 90 Palmyra Village, East Canje on January 17 and stealing more than $500,000 is cash and jewellery.

The first accused, Clifton Ramsarran, also called “Witch” pleaded guilty to the charge and was remanded for sentencing on Friday, even as the brothers threatened to take him out in prison for implicating them in the crime by calling their names to the Police.

one DVD player valued $30,000, a quantity of jewellery valued $100,000 and a blender valued at $10,000. According to Sheriff, most of the items were recovered from an empty plot of land at Palmyra Village next to a house Ramsarran would frequent. He said Ramsarran provided information which led to the arrest of the Samaroo brothers.

Ramsarran pledged guilty to the charge while both of the Samaroo brothers pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Sherdell Isaacs-Marcus remanded Ramsarran until Friday when he will attend the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court for sentencing.

ing order against Thomas which ordered him to stay more than 100 feet away from them.

After the attack on Wednesday, the suspect, who hails from Manchester Village, was apprehended by publicspirited citizens and was handed over to the ranks at Albion Police Station. He is expected to be slapped with several other charges, including unlawful wounding.

A Police rank close to the investigation told the Guyana Times that Thomas has been charged several times with assault.

Ramsarran told the court that he was beaten by the Police while in custody as they attempted to extract the names of the others involved in the crime. The Samaroo brothers were each placed on $75,000 bail and will return to court on Friday. The matter has been transferred to the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Phillip Sheriff told the court that along with Ramsarran, the brothers removed the hinges from Chesney’s back door and gained entry to the home. They allegedly stole one gas bottle worth $10,000, one BMX bicycle valued at $10,000, a quantity of beds sheets valued $300,000, two CD players valued $45,000,

The Samaroo’s told the court that they knew nothing of the items that were found on the empty plot of land. While in court, the duo referred to Ramsarran as a “Police kochure”.

Meanwhile Anthony Bristol 25, of Archie Street, Cumberland, East Canje also appeared before Magistrate Sherdell IsaacsMarcus on a related matter. Bristol is accused of receiving stolen articles. According to Prosecutor Sheriff, a party of Police Officers found a gas bottle behind a door at Bristol’s home. The Prosecutor added that the bottle was identified by the VC as the same one that was taken from her home on January 17.

Bristol was allowed his per trial liberty and bail was granted in the sum of $20,000. He will make his next court appearance on Friday when both matters are called again.

GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis

War on alcohol, tobacco smuggling... GRA awaits Cabinet decision on digital excise stamp

By Devina Samaroo

Given the rampant smuggling of cigarettes, the two major alcohol manufacturers here are impressed with the Guyana Revenue Authority’s move to implement an antismuggling stamp on alcohol and tobacco products.

The initiative is intended to clamp down on smuggling of these products, which not only affect local manufacturers, but also rob the state of millions in taxes.

GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur said that while the project was the investment was justified, given the enormous amount of taxes charged on alcohol and tobacco.

On that note, he highlighted that the Government of Guyana has been losing billions every year and the GRA has to invest tremendously in its enforcement activities and equipment. He said that in the end, the investment would pay off, since there would be a significant increase in the revenues collected.

GRA records show that in 2014 taxes on tobacco amounted to $1.3 billion, while $1.2 billion was garnered from imported alcoholic beverages and $3.2 billion from domestic alcoholic beverages – a grand total of $5.7 billion.

Millions lost in revenue

Sattaur told the Guyana Times that the GRA had advertised and received bids for the design and implementation of a digital excise stamping programme for alcoholic beverages and tobac-

co products. He said the bids were evaluated and were now awaiting a Cabinet decision.

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) estimates a loss of “tens of millions” annually as a result of the frequency of smuggled goods.

“It is difficult to quantify, but from the prevalence of smuggled products we see in the market, I can say that both our company and the Government of Guyana lose tens of millions annually,” Marketing Director Sharda Veeren-Chand disclosed.

She explained that the illicit trade was causing a reduction in the company’s production and consequently in its sales and profit. She noted that the illicit trade even had the potential to affect employment within the company. Veeren-Chand pointed out that aside from the wines and spirits, DDL continues to face challenges with several other brands it imports.

“We are the sole authorised agents for Gatorade and Ocean Spray in Guyana. However, this product continues to be sold by smugglers at a price that makes it evident that they do not pay the correct duties,” she added.

DDL stated that “the implementation of the tax stamp is definitely a step in the right direction. But like all good policies, it must be stringently enforced for it to work”.

The other major beverage company, Banks DIH Limited noted that the tax stamp was an internationally used technique, therefore it should be effective.

Banks DIH Limited had highlighted in its 2008 Annual Report that Guyana would experience a loss of jobs when foreign beers, liquor and other products enter the country illegally. “High taxed commodities are attractive to smugglers, as the savings derived by not paying taxes are huge.”

The Demerara Tobacco Company (DTC) also vented its frustration over the trending issue of smuggled goods. Marketing Director of the Company, Maurlaine ArgyleKirton, pointed out that an estimated 12 per cent of the global cigarette market was illicit. On that note, she stated that the DTC had lost millions of dollars throughout the years.

Significant damage

“A review of the last three years, DTC lost 27 million sticks of cigarettes, with an estimated value of $288,000,000 in profit. Lost revenue for the Government in the form of excise and corporation tax was $60,000,000 and $ 155,000,000 respectively,” Argyle-Kirton said.

She also commented on the significant damage smuggling caused small local businesses and local communities, noting that it resulted in

disastrous social and economic consequences. “Tobacco smuggling is undermining small local shopkeepers who rely heavily on the trade generated by tobacco. The honest, hard-working owner of the local convenience store has to compete with criminals.”

“In the case of Guyana, we believe that tax stamps will not be a solution due to the type and size of smuggling we have seen in the market,” the Marketing Director said.

The DTC explained that it was ready and willing to work with Governments to find the right solution to its specific illicit trade issues or area of focus, but it did not believe any measure would ever be effective enough to tackle this issue unless it was supported by the necessary enforcement. “We believe that, any measure will not be effective if it does not come in conjunction with strong antismuggling laws and enforcement through special AntiIllicit Trade Task Force with enough capabilities and powers to effectively combat the smugglers.”

Sattaur had explained that the implementation of such systems would be costly but notably effective. He further stated that in its initial phase, the system would be most effective but as time progressed, he foresaw the development of new methods that would breach the system. The DTC believes that this will lead to the ineffectiveness of the system. Nevertheless, Sattaur believes that the technique is worth a try as tobacco and alcohol are the two main commodities that generate very high taxes.

Taxi driver sentenced to 36 months imprisonment for larceny

FFreedie don’t only go to walk pun de sea wall

Some people in de media in this country like talk bout freedom of speech. But dem is de same people who does abuse freedom of speech. Dem same people does wanna turn round and talk bout abusin freedom of speech, and dem is de biggest culprits.

That is de height of “do as I say and not as I do”. Dem wanna break de rules of freedom of speech and then turn a blind eye. But Adumb doin this kinda wuk since Burnt Ham days, so is nutten new.

Some politicans stay just like that too. Nagga Man does wanna tell people to “shut yuh so-and-so mouth” and Rum Jhaat does wanna tell people to “haul yuh *ss”. It look like these two politicians like to deal wid sheer mouth and sheer *ss.

De problem is yuh can never know de difference between mouth and *ss wheh these two *ss holes concern. Especially when ever dem down de road knockin down a large, which is largely every day if yuh ask dem fellas pun Station Street.

If dem only tek out de beam outta dem own eyes, dem gon start to see good enuff to tek out de mote outta other people eyes. But a lotta dem done blind arready, and that ain’t got cure.

That is why people like Freedie de man kisser can’t see any ting good in this country. De real problem is that de man kisser can’t see at all, except see when he wanna kiss another man pun de seawall, and instead tell every body at home he gone to walk.

A lil boy at U-Gee seh Freedie would walk any distance fuh a kissie. Not to mention de man kisser would say any ting to get pun Bis Ram poll any time of de day. Or night.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! As fuh de Ayre man, he hadda lotta air bout him. So he let out all he hot air just before he hit de air to go back to he cold air.

orty-three-yearold Gregory House was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment after he was found guilty of larceny. The taxi driver stood before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The charge read that on November 8, 2014 at Regent Street, Georgetown, he stole one gold chain valued $65,000 from Natasha Sheriff.

ning. He then got on a bicycle and attempted to flee.

The facts read that on the day in question, at around 14:30h, Sheriff was exiting a shoe store when House snatched the chain off her neck and started run-

Police Constable Petters who was in the vicinity and saw what happened, drove his car and braced the bicycle. Constable Petters testified telling the court that he saw everything that transpired. During the ordeal, Sheriff told the court that

nothing was blocking her view from seeing the defendant and there was no one else there.

Police Prosecutor Shellon Daniels told the court that when the defendant reached the Brickdam Police Station and a search was conducted, the chain was found on his person. She noted that the defendant did not deny that the chain was found on his person.

Before handing down her sentencing, the Magistrate noted that there was no need for confrontation or an Identification parade since he was caught red handed. Magistrate Latchman then noted her conditions which were the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, and the need to prohibit others from committing the same offence. In a stern voice, the City Magistrate said “Dare you ever snatch anyone’s chain again!”

Durban Street resident jailed for 24 months, fined $1M for using false number plate

Thirty-six-year-old

Leroy Holder of Lot 25

Durban Street, Werken-Rust, Georgetown was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment after being found guilty of using imitation identification plates.

The man appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

It was alleged that on July 5, 2013 at Camp Street, Georgetown, he used identification plate number PNN5687 on a vehicle registered with plate number PNN8438.

According to the prosecution’s facts, about 15:30h that day, ranks were on mobile patrol when they received certain information. They saw the motor car bearing registration plates PNN5687 and approached it. Holder was

identified as the driver of the vehicle.

Police Prosecutor Joel Ricknauth disclosed that at the time, Holder was being pursued as a robbery suspect. He said that the ranks made checks with the documents for the car and noticed that the number plate should have been PNN 8437 and not PNN 5687.

The defendant was represented by Attorney Basil Williams and the case was prosecuted by Inspector Shellon Daniels. During the case, the prosecution called four witnesses to testify.

Magistrate Latchman considered the seriousness, nature and prevalence of the offence, and the need to prohibit others from committing the act. Holder was then sentenced to 24 months and fined $1M.

GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur

Swine farming takes on integrated approach

$8.4 million invested to boost Guyana’s pig industry

BY: ANASTACIA CLEMENTSON

The Local Government and Regional Development Ministry and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) signed off on a G$8.4 million Swine Development Project under the Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED).

The multimillion-dollar agreement was signed on Wednesday in the Garden of Eden dam in Friendship, East Bank Demerara in a bid to boost Guyana’s pig industry.

This project will take on

West Berbice pedal cyclist died from multiple injuries

In his address to the farmers and officials from the Agriculture Ministry, CARILED National Country Coordinator Dhanraj Singh said the Swine Development Project is not just about pig farming but a combined effort by the private and public sectors to effect productive growth while building the economies of communities.

Singh said that with the involvement of the private and public sectors, the community will benefit from 15 per cent of the new stocks every month for the first three years. This will be given to random homes in

Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker as he declared opened the swine farm with the assistance of students from Craig Primary School, farmers and ministry officials

an integrated approach by using a bio-digestive technique to reduce the use of commercial feeds by 35 per cent. Additionally, it entails the development of a pig farm in Garden of Eden to complement other industries within the Agriculture Sector.

Garden Eden.

Alluding to the integrated approach, Singh emphasised that the bio-digestive strategy will reduce the cost of feed by 35 per cent. The bio-digestive strategy is a relatively new technique

CARILED Country Coordinator Dhanraj Singh, Region 4 Chairman Clement Corlette, Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker, Deputy Permanent Secretary Abena Moore and two of the beneficiaries (L-R)

that is successfully being used in Asia.

Parsram Persaud, one of the farmers who will benefit from the Swine Development Project, explained that the bio-digestive technique will be developed on the farm with the use of “duck weed” which will be grown in a pond. The weed will be used to feed the pigs due of its high nutritional value.

Persaud said the Private Public Partnership (PPP) will help to enhance the pig industry. According to him, statistical analysis conducted has indicated that farmers’ production will increase by 350 per cent.

As part of the agreement, the farmers will make the new swine facility available for training sessions every week for the next five years. Additionally seminars will be held to facilitate the training of potential farmers.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker

in expressing his gratitude said the facility will truly help to expand the industry.

Whittaker added that he is pleased that other agricultural industries are coming on stream at a time when the sugar and rice industries are facing challenging times. According to him, while specialisation has its advantages, it is never wise “to put all your eggs in one basket.”

On this note, he said the Government cannot solve all problems facing the Agriculture Sector but does its best to alleviate the major stumbling blocks.

Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette, in his address, recalled that in the 1970s Guyana had a thriving swine industry that exported to a number of countries in the Caribbean. The Regional Chairman said presently the swine industry is not making much of a dent but expressed the hope that the project help in this regard.

Cane cutter survives 4 stabs, one close to the heart

Police in Berbice are looking for a man who reportedly stabbed a cane harvester four times, almost killing the man.

The injured man, Rawl Park, age 35, of Whim Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is now a patient the New Amsterdam Hospital and is said to be in a stable condition. Park was removed from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the institution after doctors performed a life saving surgery.

According to Park, he was at his Lot 22 First Street, Whim home on Saturday when the incident occurred. According to the injured man, he was sitting in a hammock when a friend of his landlord visited. At the time, he said the he was clad in a pair of pants with shallow pockets. “I lef an go an bathe and leff he sitting down right there,” the cane harvester related. He said earlier, he had given the visitor a $1000 bill and after some time, the visitor left the yard and returned with alcoholic beverages of which he partook. “I did it fo apprecia-

tion of the landlord because is the landlord friend,” Park said. However, Park said that he discovered that $10,000 was missing from his pocket when he returned from the bathroom. He confronted the visitor stating that the money had to have fallen from

his pocket, adding that since the visitor did not have money earlier, it must have been he who picked the money up and used it to make purchase the drinks he bought. “I ask him about the money an he leff an go over in Jim yard an me wife say look he coming back with a spear.”

Parks said that he was able to take the spear away from his attacker and threw it some distance away. “I did know he had a knife an he pull it out an before I know is four juck he give me.” He explained that one of the stab wounds was in the vicinity of his heart and another in the chest. However one of the stab wounds punctured his kidney which required immediate surgery. The other one was in the vicinity of his intestine.

Park said he was not aware of what transpired immediately after he was stabbed. “I start seeing dark and they carry me to Port Mourant Hospital and then transfer me to New Amsterdam,” he recounted.

The suspect who is known in the community has since gone into hiding.

As Police continue their investigation into the death of 62-year-old Megnauth Seetaram also called “Buzo” and “Bassar”, of Lot 8 Section C Harban Pool, Cotton Tree Village, West Cost Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) who was killed while attempting to ride across the Number Eight Highway, the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident has been released on station bail.

An autopsy conducted on the body of Seetaram on Wednesday revealed that he died as a result of multiple injuries. The autopsy was

conducted by Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan.

A file on the case has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

Seetaram, who was struck on Saturday morning by a black Toyota Tundra that was heading in the opposite direction, pitched several feet into the air before landing some distance away. When the Police arrived on the scene, the motionless man was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Jilted lover remanded for stabbing teen to death

The West Berbice man who stabbed his girlfriend to death on Saturday evening had been remanded to prison.

Shazim Kaili of Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) appeared before Magistrate Rhondell Weaver at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday charged with the capital offence of murder.

He was not requires to plea to the indictable charge which stated that on January 17, at Rosignol, Berbice, he murdered Shazien Mohamed of Edinburgh Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Meanwhile, an autopsy conducted on the body of Mohamed on Tuesday revealed that the teen died as a result of shock and hemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds.

Magistrate Weaver remanded Kaili until February 17 when the Police are expected to present a report on the case. Police Prosecutor,

Inspector Grace Bristol is presenting the State’s case while the accused is still unrepresented.

Guyana Times had reported that on Saturday last, Shazien left home to collect a cellphone from a friend at Rosignol. She later went to a restaurant with a friend and his sister and while the sister was eating inside, Shazien and the friend stayed at a table outside of the restaurant. Her friend said he left her at the table for only a few seconds, when he heard Shazien scream and saw her holding her stomach, as blood soaked her clothing. The

suspect was seen running away.

According to the report carried in this newspaper, Kaili was later arrested and what is believed to be the murder weapon was recovered at his home.

Additionally, Inspector Bristol told the court that the Police are in possession of a confession statement which the accused allegedly made.

Shazim Kaili

Dead: Shazien Mohamed

Rawl Park

Bus drivers thankful for improved Linden-Lethem road

…. as rainy season continues

After much criticism and expectations of a deterioration of

As US scales back role...

Deputy Chief of Mission says Govt can sustain HIV fight

the repaired road was now about 10 hours, bus drivers said.

the newly-rehabilitated Linden-Lethem road during the raining season, the road has thus far proven critics wrong.

Speaking with the Guyana Times on Tuesday, a number of bus drivers expressed satisfaction with the current state of the road. Majid Khan said he was surprised how well the road has held up.

Khan added that the two badly deteriorated bridges among the some 33 along the road were expected to be repaired shortly.

“While they have finished one bridge, the other one is about 75 per cent completed,” he said.

In the past, it took al -

most 20 hours to traverse the Linden-Lethem road, which was in a poor state; however, travel time on

United States Deputy Chief of Mission Bryan Hunt on Tuesday expressed confidence in the Guyana Government continuing the battle to effectively control the spread of HIV/AIDS.

During an exclusive interview with the Guyana Times , Hunt said he believed that now was the right time for the United States Government (which has been a major partner in the fight) to step back and allow the Government of Guyana the opportunity of ensuring the well-being of Guyanese citizens.

“At first, from the Number 58 Mile Gas Station, which is between Linden and Mabura, it used to take five hours; now it takes about an hour and 45 minutes,” minibus driver Jules Fredericks added.

Drivers are also elated to be recipients of a 30 per cent reduction in gas prices, which will see gas prices at a six-year low.

“The price is excellent and we are very much grateful,” one bus driver volunteered.

“We are thankful to the Government of Guyana for this change,” the bus drivers said.

“I think it is better for us to step back and just provide technical assistance; things will move much more rapidly to better contain the disease.”

The Deputy Chief of Mission stated that at present the US was working with the Health Ministry and a number of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to procure the necessary drugs and test kits and provide training on handling these materials to workers.

He disclosed that the US Embassy was in the process of handing over procured items to the Health Ministry and the various NGOs.

Support for NGOs fighting HIV/AIDS

This new initiative is expected to assist these organisations in finding ways of ensuring the availability of funds to ensure their sustainability, to continue the fight against the dreadful disease.

As the US Government scales back its role in terms of assisting Third World countries such as Guyana in fighting the virus, Hunt explained: “We are gearing at moving ourselves into a technical assistance role, where we can provide support to laboratories, surveillance and

a better understanding of the interventions that are needed to keep the disease from spreading.”

When asked about the reduced funding to NGOs that are actively involved in the fight against the disease, Hunt said the reality was that funds set aside by the international community to combat HIV/ AIDS were decreasing.

He explained that the virus was no longer at an epidemic stage and, as such, excessive monies to fight its spread, as were allocated 10 years were no longer necessary.

However, Hunt said he believed it was not inevitable for NGOs to survive with international funding. He explained that while a number of these organisations have died since the international funding have dried, with better management, they would have been more sustainable.

“There are organisations that have survived very well without international funding, but, however, there are others that have not. This is because they were only forever living on the donation of the international community,” the Deputy Chief of Mission said.

Late last year, Lifeline Counselling, one of the or-

ganisations that have suffered as a result of the funding cut, revealed its plight.

The organisation, which provides counselling for the less fortunate, said its services to the poor have been gravely affected.

Director Gloria Joseph had expressed concern for the less fortunate Guyanese population in combating and preventing the disease. Joseph said the cut in funding, in some cases the cessation of funding, has grossly limited the institution’s capacity to provide counselling and support to persons infected and affected by HIV/ AIDS.

She explained that while most, if not all, of Guyana’s middle and upper-class persons who were infected would seek care and carry on with their lives, the poor were often times not able to do so.

Joseph said that the less fortunate persons were not only less knowledgeable on HIV and the ways it is transmitted, but were also many times not capable of dealing with the stereotypes the disease brings.

The issue of maintaining a healthy diet was a sore one when dealing with the less fortunate. Joseph explained that while the Lifeline Counselling support group would work with infected persons and advise them on the need for a healthy diet, “they can’t eat what we tell them to, if they can only afford carbohydrates”.

Children who grow up in less fortunate homes are also at a disadvantage in contracting HIV. Joseph explained that parents who have night-time occupations (security guards, etc) have to be very careful about where they leave their children, especially at nights.

Many children may be sexually molested and in the process, contract HIV.

United States Deputy Chief of Mission Bryan Hunt

The roadway closer to Lethem remains intact

Bus drivers are thankful for the good condition of the roadway

A section of the Linden-Lethem road

ExxonMobil to start operations in March

...says Country Manager

United States based Oil Company

ExxonMobil

Wednesday revealed that it was on target to starting drilling operations in March of this year.

During a press conference held by the Natural Resources Ministry at Herdmanston Lodge, Georgetown on Wednesday, Jeff Simon, Country Manager, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana, made the disclosure.

He said: “Things are moving quite quickly, we are mobilising the rig next month; we will be drilling in March.” He added that the area is very large – approximately 26,000 square kilo-

metres – and further, drilling would be done in deeper water than has ever been explored in Guyana’s past –about 1750 meters down in 2000-3000 meters deep water.

Simon said the total depth of the area is about 5500 meters. He explained that the exploration level was highly risky, and there was about a one-in-four chance of success in the venture.

Last November during the launch of the activity, ExxonMobil revealed that a 118-foot wide vessel, with over 200 people onboard, would depart from the Gulf of Mexico to the designated area over 100 miles offshore

Shaddick is new UG Pro-Chancellor

Former Human Services and Social Security Minister, Attorney-at-Law Bibi Shaddick has been appointed the eighth Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, the institution announced in press release on Wednesday.

The new Pro-Chancellor succeeds Dr Prem Misir, the longest serving UG ProChancellor, who resigned in May 2014, more than one year ahead of the end of his term, to pursue other professional career goals.

Shaddick is a serving member of the University Council and Chairperson of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA).

The Pro-Chancellor is elected by the University Council from among members of the Council, to hold that office for a period of three years. In the absence of the Chancellor, the ProChancellor performs the functions of the Chancellor.

Shaddick began serving in her new post from January 20, 2015.

UGSSA accuses Vice Chancellor of dishonesty

The University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) said the Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi never indicated that the administration is currently discussing the increase of wages and salaries.

On Tuesday, the Vice Chancellor told reporters that the administration was considering a 60 per cent increase in an effort to meet the demands of the unions. It was also pointed out that $2.5 million would be needed to facilitate such an increase.

But on Wednesday, UGSSA President, Dr Melissa Ifill told Guyana Times that this information was never conveyed to the unions by the Vice Chancellor. According to Dr Ifill, this serious omission on the part of Dr Opadeyi has placed him in a bad light.

The UGSSA President

Guyana to dredge the unexplored area sometime this year.

One of the main goals of the company is to maximise the amount of hydrocarbon resources in Guyana. “There is a finite amount of hydrocarbon out on the ground and it’s our goal to optimise the amount that comes out at economic value,” Simon said.

Urgency

Natural Resources

Minister Robert Persaud said there were a number of activities taking place in the deep offshore areas, and reiterated that the start of the company’s drilling activities was much anticipated.

The Minister added that visible progress can also been seen by companies such as Repsol and CGX.

“This is why we have recognised there was a sense of wide urgency, not only in developing the [Upstream Oil and Gas] policy, but also Human Resources Development. We have

started the Mining School, where there has been some training gearing Guyanese to work in the oil and gas sector,” Minister Persaud explained.

Stressing on access to local content and the company’s mandate of employing locals, Simon said, “I really want to impress on everybody, the oil companies want as much local content as possible. That’s economi-

cally smart. We want the local Guyanese to be running the operations here and working through the development and exploitation of the resource.”

Simon stated that in any of the more mature affiliates of the company that have operated in Guyana, typically in excess of 95 per cent of employees would be local; however, some experts would come from other coun-

tries.

The area to be drilled is known as the Stabroek Block Area. The area is located on the maritime projection of the Orinoco Delta in Eastern Venezuela.

It is expected to be a 10year exploration project with three periods including two phases in each period, while each period lasting for one to two years.

Patrons were guaranteed the strictest safety procedures throughout the project.

Erik Oswalk, ExxonMobil Vice President of the Americas, noted that they have already trained a fleet of drivers they will be using for the venture.

Each staffer was also trained with basic first aid procedure and contractors were encouraged to wear appropriate attire on the job.

ExxonMobil is the world’s largest publicly traded international oil and gas company and has existed for 130 years.

said, the Vice Chancellor’s action is in keeping with an aged old trend that has resulted in the years of mistrust, the staff and students have for the administration and the council.

Dr Ifill reminded that UGSSA and UGWU have been in a prolonged struggle for years with the administration and the council. According to her, there has never been any true attempt by either side to address the issues affecting the university’s workforce.

Due to the continuous gridlock, Dr Ifill is now calling for the realignment of the council and the administration. According to her, only then better management will prevail.

She said too that the bodies must be 100 per cent autonomous and nonpartisan to ensure that challenges facing university’s workforce and the student population are dealt with objectively.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

Bibi Shaddick

US and Cuba meet for highlevel talks as part of thaw

The talks are part of a thaw in relations between the two rivals announced last month in simultaneous speeches by US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro.

Our correspondent says the US will be asking for an end to current restrictions on its diplomats so it can upgrade its interest section in Havana to a full embassy.

The Cubans have not made their agenda public, but talks were expected to focus on migration issues on Wednesday and fuller diplomatic relations today.

PM Stuart announces $7M initiative to deal with Barbados natural gas shortage

The Barbados Government has announced a seven million dollar (B$1.00 = US$0.50) initiative aimed at bringing relief to businesses on the west coast suffering from a shortage of natural gas.

It followed an outcry by customers, including several hotel and restaurant chains, that they were experiencing low gas pressure since last December.

already been or are in the process of being sought.”

thaw

They come only hours after Obama urged Congress to seize the chance to end the US trade embargo against Cuba. The talks will focus on migration and restoring full diplomatic ties. The US delegation will be led by Roberta Jacobson, the top US diplomat for Latin America. The last time someone of her level of seniority visited Cuba was 35 years ago.

On Tuesday, President Obama stressed the importance of the thaw in USCuban relations in his State of the Union address to Congress. He said his decision to engage with Cuba after decades of frozen relations had the potential to “end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere”.

BBC state department correspondent Barbara Plett Usher says the meetings feel like the beginning of a new era in relations between the two nations.

He also urged Congress to begin work on ending the US trade embargo against Cuba, which has been in force for more than five decades. (Excerpt from BBC News)

USVI to generate power from grass

Anew 7-megawatt anaerobic digestion biogas power plant will provide renewable electricity in the USVI. The majority feedstock is giant king grass developed by Viaspace Inc for Tibbar Energy USVI, which will sell power for 25 years with an additional five-year option to USVI Water and Power Authority (WAPA).

Anaerobic digestion is widely used as a source of renewable energy. The process produces a biogas consisting of methane, carbon dioxide and traces of other contaminant gases. This biogas can be used directly as fuel, in combined heat and power gas engines or up-

graded to natural gas-quality biomethane. The giant king grass to be used in the new power plant is a proprietary, high yield, dedicated biomass energy crop used as a low-carbon fuel for clean electricity generation; for environmentally friendly energy pellets; and as a feedstock for biomethane production and for green cellulosic biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials.

Tania Tomyn, Tibbar Energy CEO, stated, “We will have all of our pre-development permits in place. It’s been a long and busy three years of hard work developing the farms, the engineering for the biogas plant and working with so many

great suppliers and advisers around the world, and the different agencies of the US Virgin Islands government –we would not be here without them. Now the fun part starts when we actualize and begin construction. The giant king grass nurseries are ready to be transplanted to the new farms once cleared and irrigation is installed. The project should start construction second quarter of 2015. Our agriculture team likes the results from the giant king grass that has been growing on the island for over two years now and they see how well it fits in the US Virgin Islands as a tropical perennial grass for energy production.” (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

UWI students block gates in protest demanding 2014 grades

Students at the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) have blocked the gates to the institution demanding that they receive their grades from their exams last year.

Lecturers have refused to file the grades as they protest the non-payment of an estimated TT$87 million (One TT dollar=US$ 0.16 cents) in arrears owed to them.

The West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) has said that the non-uploading of marks’ is still in effect “until a satisfactory response from Campus Senior Management is received concerning the payment of arrears in salaries”.

Public Relations Officer with the Students Guild, Nikoli Edwards, said that the estimated 18,000 stu-

Lecturers have refused to file the grades as they protest the nonpayment of an estimated TT$87 million

dents have been caught in the middle of a dispute between the lecturers and management.

He said while the Guild had no issue with the payment owed to the lecturers “our issue is with using us as a bargaining tool. “Outside of this present situation, we support the lecturers and we have made that

clear to WIGUT,” he said, adding that the UWI administration “needs to do whatever they need to do to get the money to pay off these lectures.

“But to say we are standing hand in hand with the lecturers during this time that is not the case,” he said.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart told Parliament that the National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) has agreed that industrial users of natural gas should switch immediately to alternative fuels for the short term.

The new proposals followed a joint meeting between the technical subcommittee and boards of the Barbados National Oil Company Limited (BNOCL) and NPC.

Stuart said that NPC had discovered that the production of some wells had fallen below the economic threshold, but that two other wells had now been identified that would be connected to the BNOCL’s existing gas-gathering system.

“It is estimated that this work will be completed within two weeks, with two and three shift per day operations. Permissions for approval from the land owners and the Ministry of Transport and Works to lay the necessary pipelines have

Prime Minister said four small air mix plants are scheduled to come on stream by month end, while another plant would be set up. “One large air mix plant with built-in redundancy will be installed at Woodbourne after NPC has ensured the integrity of the pipeline to cope with such an installation,” he said.

The natural gas suppliers also agreed to transport compressed natural gas by trail-mounted vessels. Stuart estimated it would take three to four weeks to put the necessary infrastructure in place at the facility and import the necessary equipment. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Govt, Opposition still split on CCJ

After almost eight weeks of debate in the House of Representatives, neither the Government nor the Opposition seems willing to budge on whether the Judicial Committee of

25, insisted yesterday that her government’s efforts to switch to the CCJ, by way of a two-thirds majority in Parliament on three Bills she tabled in July to facilitate the process, was the right thing to do.

the Privy Council (JCPC) should be replaced by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as Jamaica’s final appellate court.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who opened the debate on November

“The Opposition is now being given three months to reflect collectively and individually, and do the honourable and logical thing of agreeing to support Jamaica establishing the CCJ as our final court,” she stated.

Simpson Miller was referring to the fact that the vote in the House on the Bills will have to be delayed until April 28, because of a constitutional requirement for a three-month break between closing the debate and voting on the bills.

But Opposition Leader Andrew Holness insisted that his side would only support a domestic court of appeal populated by local judges, and that a decision on the CCJ must be made via a referendum.

The three pieces of legislation in question are: an Act to make provisions for the implementation of the Agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice; an Act to amend the Constitution of Jamaica to provide for the replacement of appeals to Her Majesty in Council with new provisions for appeals to the Caribbean Court of Justice as Jamaica’s final appellate court; and an Act to amend the Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) Act. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Shock as Brazilian surfer Ricardo dos Santos shot dead

Friends, fans and surfing aficionados have been paying tribute to popular Brazilian surfer Ricardo dos Santos, who died on Tuesday in Florianopolis.

Dos Santos, 24, was shot dead by an off-duty Policeman outside his home. He was shot three times when he confronted the officer and another man. Dos Santos gained prominence after knocking 11time world champion surfer Kelly Slater out of an event

in 2012. He was known as a daring tube rider who had won international surfing awards.

He underwent four operations after being shot on Monday before dying in hospital on Tuesday afternoon. There are conflicting reports on why Dos Santos was shot by the Police Officer.

A witness reportedly said that Mr dos Santos had asked the men to leave after spotting them using drugs and playing loud music on

the beach outside his home, near the southern city of Florianopolis.

Other reports say he was shot while discussing a car they had parked at his property. The officer involved in the incident says he acted in self-defence. He has been detained, but has not yet been charged.

Kelly Slater called Dos Santos’s death a “truly a senseless loss of life”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Cubans in Havana have broadly welcomed the

in relations with the US

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Opposition Leader Andrew Holness

Around the World

Russia has 9000 troops in Ukraine – President Poroshenko

Russia has 9000 soldiers and 500 tanks, heavy artillery and armoured personnel carriers in eastern Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko has said.

ation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in March.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Poroshenko said the Russian troops in eastern Ukraine were backed by heavy weapons, including tanks and artillery systems.

“If this is not aggression, what is aggression?” he asked.

Poroshenko again called on Russia to comply with the ceasefire agreement reached in September in Minsk, Belarus.

Church backs Congo protesters, rights group says 42 killed

Democratic Republic of Congo’s powerful Catholic Church on Wednesday backed ongoing protests against reforms that could extend President Joseph Kabila’s rule, denouncing a Government crackdown which a rights group said had killed 42 people.

al census before the vote. The Opposition says the count would take years to organise in a poor nation the size of Western Europe, although the Government denies this.

As anti-government demonstrations in the capital Kinshasa entered their third day, the leader of Congo’s Catholics, Cardinal Laurent Mosengwo Pasinya, strongly criticised any attempt to postpone a presidential election due next year.

With more than 40 per cent of Congo’s 65 million people describing themselves as Catholic, the Church’s stance is likely to bolster popular resistance to the reform. Western powers, including France and the United States, have called for restraint and backed timely elections.

Russia has repeatedly denied claims its soldiers are fighting with the rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

He urged Russia to withdraw its troops and comply with a ceasefire plan, amid escalating fighting between Ukrainian troops and rebels in the east.

EU official warns of Jewish exodus

Atop European Union official has warned that Europe faces a “huge challenge” in persuading Jews not to emigrate in response to anti-Semitism.

European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans suggested the issue was as urgent as the euro’s troubles.

“In some [EU] states, the majority of the Jewish community is not sure they have a future in Europe,” he said.

France, with the EU’s biggest Jewish community, has announced sweeping anti-terror measures after Islamist attacks.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said 2680 new security-related jobs would be created, including 1100 in Police intelligence, over three years.

He pledged an extra €425 million in funds, saying 3000 people were under surveillance in France. In addition, 7500 French defence jobs due to be cut will now

be saved.

Speaking in Brussels, Timmermans said about Jewish fears: “I think this is a huge challenge to the very foundations of European integration.

“We can talk till kingdom come about the euro, about internal markets, about whatever initiative we take, but if this fundamental value in European society, which is that there is a place for everyone whatever your creed is, whatever your background is, your race is, the choices you make in society if that is challenged we have to answer that challenge by a policy that offers hope and prospect[s] for everyone in European society.”

Timmermans also said he wanted to see a swift decision on the sharing of passenger name records and reinforcing the outside borders of the Schengen area – the 26 countries that have abolished internal passport controls. (Excerpt from BBC News)

More than 4800 people have been killed and some 1.2 million have fled since rebels took control of parts of Luhansk and Donetsk regions in April.

This followed Russia’s annex-

Talks on de-escalating the crisis are due to begin in Berlin shortly. Foreign ministers from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany will take part in the meeting in the German capital.

That deal envisages the pullout of heavy weapons by both sides from the line of separation and the exchange of prisoners. It also stipulates that control of the Ukrainian-Russian border, parts of which are currently held by pro-Russian rebels, would be returned to Ukraine’s authorities.

Poroshenko is now cutting short his Davos visit and returning to Kiev in view of the worsening situation in eastern Ukraine.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Davos: Bosses “less

optimistic”

about global economy

Chief executives are less optimistic about the economy this year than last, a survey unveiled at the World Economic Forum suggests.

PwC’s annual survey shows that just 37 per cent think the economy will improve in 2015, down from 44 per cent last year.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Russia’s bosses have gone from the most confident to the least, due to problems caused by sanctions and the falling oil price.

In the UK, concern had risen sharply about the availability of talent.

The number of chief executives concerned about the skills gap rose from 64 per cent last year to 84 per cent this year. That is considerably higher than in Germany,

France or Spain.

This was partly put down to the high level of employment in the UK, which means that there is a smaller pool of workers to choose from, and partly due to concerns about the education system.

On a global level, the biggest worries that chief executives have are geo-political uncertainties, over-regulation and cyber security.

The report, which was launched at the World Economic Forum, in Davos, said that “concerns about cyber threats have shot up most compared to last year – and in light of the recent attacks on gaming and entertainment networks, the perceived risk will only increase”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Indonesia will not make public full preliminary

Indonesian investigators may release some initial findings next week into last month’s crash of an AirAsia passenger jet that killed 162 people, but the full preliminary report will not be made public, a Government official said on Wednesday.

The Airbus (AIR.PA) A320-200 vanished from radar screens on December 28,

AirAsia crash report

less than halfway into a twohour flight from Indonesia’s second-biggest city of Surabaya to Singapore. There were no survivors.

Data from radar and the aircraft’s two “black box” flight recorders is providing investigators with a clearer picture of what occurred during the final minutes of Flight QZ8501.

Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan on Tuesday told a parliamentary hearing that the plane had climbed faster than normal in its final minutes, and then stalled.

Three days after the crash, a source familiar with initial investigations had told Reuters the plane appeared to have made an “unbelievably steep climb” that may have

pushed it beyond its performance envelope.

Investigators are expected to submit a preliminary report to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) early next week, in line with ICAO regulations that the preliminary report must be filed within 30 days of the date of the accident. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Opposition supporters took to the streets on Monday to try to derail legislation that would require a nation-

The proposed change to the electoral code, approved by the Lower House of Parliament on Saturday, is expected to be voted on by the Senate on Thursday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Germany Pegida: Protest leader quits in ‘Hitler’ row

The head of German “anti-Islamisation” movement Pegida, Lutz Bachmann, has resigned after a photo of him apparently posing as Hitler emerged.

Bachmann stepped down just as tens of thousands of people were expected to rally in the eastern city of Leipzig for the latest Pegida rally.

Prosecutors are investigating insulting comments about refugees attributed to

plot against the movement’s leaders.

A spokesman for state prosecutors in Dresden, the east German city which has been the focus of Pegida rallies this winter, told Reuters news agency that preliminary proceedings had been opened over comments attributed to Bachmann.

“The suspicion is of incitement to popular hatred,” the spokesman said.

Bild and another news-

him by German newspapers.

A Pegida spokeswoman sought to play down the Facebook photo as a “joke”.

But the German Government condemned the photo. Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told Bild: “Anyone in politics who poses as Hitler is either a total idiot or a Nazi. Reasonable people do not follow idiots, and decent people don’t follow Nazis.”

Pegida focused on Leipzig after Police banned a protest by the movement in Dresden on Monday over reports of an assassination

paper said Bachmann had called asylum seekers “animals” and “scumbags”.

Bachmann has denied he is a racist.

Kathrin Oertel, a fellow founder of the Pegida movement, confirmed the resignation of Bachmann, saying it related to online comments and not the photo.

“Pegida will go on,” she added.

The movement has forced its way on to the political agenda in Germany with rallies that have attracted tens of thousands of people. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Clashes have raged along the front line for the past few days, causing heavy civilian casualties

Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told Bild: “Anyone in politics who poses as Hitler is either a total idiot or a Nazi. Reasonable people do not follow idiots, and decent people don’t follow Nazis.”

Now that Guyoil fuel prices have dropped, do you think bus operators should reduce fares?

Earl Paul – Driver

“I think that the fare should remain the same because of parts. Vehicle parts still high, still increasing everyday and dropping the price (fare) would just defeat the purpose of the gas price being dropped. So unless vehicle parts drop, that’s the only way I think the fare should drop…I think the fare should remain the same.”

Latoya Lutchman –Businesswoman

“Yes, of course. I think the fare should drop. I mean, if the gas price drop right, more likely the fare price should drop. It should, it really should.”

Rohit Singh – Bus operator

“No, when the gas raise, what gonna happen again? It easy to drop. The last time the gas drop and we drop the fare, it took eight years to raise the fare by $20 only. And gas keep going up all the time. We had to strike and all these things so gas will only drop for a month or two, then it gonna come again, so it don’t make no sense. And it’s not gas alone, the bus does work with, check the price for oil and tyre and them parts.”

Vijay Williams – Taxi Driver

“Obviously if the fuel price drop, then you have to drop it (fare) and I think the authorities have to look into that.”

Kevin Mohamed – Driver

“No, no. we don’t know how long, how long the gas would be like this for. So the fare should remain the same for now until further notice. If this price remaining the same for the next six months or so, then we could work something out with the fare.”

“Well, normally if the gas price drop, then the minibus fare should drop too. Yes, to accommodate the people, because you know, money got to circulate.”

Chatiram Balkissoon

– Bus Operator

“We have to work 16 hours at least a day. We start work this bus from 3 o’ clock and we have to go home until 8-9 o’ clock tonight. Then that’s just to make a day pay with $3500 or $4000 a day. That’s the hardship about the work. Hear what happen, if you check the money right, let’s say we fetch 180 passengers a day, and you calculate the fare, which will be about $3000 right and with gas price now, if you take out about $20, that won’t make sense.”

Florence Bayley

“That’s right. It should drop because it might cause a problem if it doesn’t.”

Shawn Francis –Bus Conductor

“No, because the cost to repair your vehicle is still the same. We all know that the world market for gas price is down and is now Guyana get it and it’s since before Christmas the world market price drop, you understand. So, we cannot drop the fare because the gas price drops now; vehicle price still expensive.”

“Yes, I think the

should drop as well, because if you getting the gas cheaper, then the fare should drop too because that would be better for all the people.”

Theresa Adams

“If the bus fare should drop? No, I don’t feel so, because I don’t know what to say. It’s like, even if they drop the fare, it won’t make a difference because it’s just a $20 or so.”

Charaz Deen – Security Guard

“Yes, they should do that, yes. And people job salary should raise too, so that people could get to assess themselves for properly ‘cause the money too small what the people them getting. So the drivers should lower the money, because it hard on people. Some people have five or six kids, that will be hard.

Taxi drivers up fare due to deplorable roads in Nabaclis

After more than three years of complaining about the deplorable roads in the village of Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara (ECD), taxi drivers have taken a decision to increase the fare.

The main access road in the village along with internal roads is riddled with potholes. Residents and taxi drivers have been complaining bitterly about the appalling state of the roads but to no avail. Due to the inclement weather, the roads have further eroded over the past two months.

As a result, taxi drivers, plying the route, are now demanding $500, an increase of $100.

According to a number of residents, several years ago, the main access road had undergone reha-

bilitation; however the contractor never completed the project. It was explained that “sand and bricks” were thrown on the road but it was never upgraded to an asphaltic concrete surface road as promised. It was also pointed out that in 2014, a section of the main access road that leads to the village of Golden Grove was repaired.

One resident told Guyana Times that, “Nabaclis people too quiet and that’s why the road nah fix.”

According to him, when the residents of Dazzle Housing Scheme, ECD complained about their roads, immediate repairs were executed.

When contacted, Walter Frank, Chairman of the Haslington/ Nabaclis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), said plans are in the pipeline for the rehabilitation of the main access road and other internal roads.

one of the many pothole-laden roads in

According to him, the NDC is in consultation with the Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Democratic

Council with the hope of accelerating plans for the roads in Nabaclis.

But the NDC’s overseer, when contacted, said a letter was dispatched to the RDC but a response is still pending. Simon had given this same response, when questioned about road repairs in 2014.

During a previous interview with this newspaper, the Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette said that the main access road in Nabaclis will not be executed under the RDC but rather under the Public Works Ministry.

He said although the road project was awarded since June 2014, the contracting firm has not commenced because it is completing other road projects.

R Ketwaroo

Ramona Kishun – Mother

price

Just

Nabaclis, ECD

Cruise ship visits Guyana twice in a month

With a brisk wind whipping at her stern, the Cruise Ship MS Hamburg , with 300 passengers on board arrived in Guyana for the second visit in less than a month.

The ship’s local Handlers, Dagron Tours, arranged for the passengers to go site seeing around Georgetown and to visit the Essequibo River and Kaieteur Falls, among other places.

Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Indranauth Haralsingh paid a courtesy visit to the ship’s Master, Captain Joao Simoes and extended

Haralsingh noted that it augers well for a destination when the turnaround

time between cruise ship visits is short, as is the case with the MS Hamburg ; the cruise liner previously docked in Guyana on December 23, 2014.

“We are happy to welcome you to Port Georgetown and we are delighted that you have chosen to return after less than 30 days. This tells us that you are pleased with the product and the experiences from the last visit. We can say that this is the fastest turn around visit that we have had,” the GTA Director explained.

The four-deck ship has a carrying capacity of 400, and brought 300 tourists

Region 2 Children’s Mash Competition off to colourful start

The town of Anna Regina in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) came alive on Wednesday with the hosting of the Education Ministry’s

Children’s Dramatic Poetry and Calypso competitions.

Decked out in colourful costumes, children from nursery, primary and secondary schools in the region, dished out stunning performances before a huge crowd at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground.

In keeping with this year’s Mashramani theme “One People, One Culture, One Celebration,” pupils in the nursery school categories for both calypso and dramatic poetry sent strong messages as they called on Guyanese to celebrate Guyana’s 45th Republican Anniversary in a clean and crime-free environment.

In total, 11 nursery schools participated in the dramatic poetry segment while three nursery schools competed in the calypso category. Maybel Sand, St Monica – Upper Pomeroon, Lima Sands, Reliance, Cotton Field and Anna Regina Nursery schools were among the competing schools which captivated the audience with their energy rich performances.

In the primary school segment, categories ranged from five to seven years and eight to 10 years for both the dramatic poetry and calypso competitions. Mainstay Lake, Hampton Court, Suddie and Charity Primary schools were among the competitors.

For the primary and secondary school entrance segment, nine schools participated in the dramatic poetry 11-13 years category, while only one school participated in the calypso competition.

In the 14-17 years secondary school category, four schools competed in both the dramatic poetry and calypso competitions.

The Mashramani school’s competitions in Region Two were declared open by Event Coordinator Shondelle Hercules. Hercules while encouraging the children to deliver their best announced that the winners from the various categories will represent the region at the national competition from February 11-14.

The regional competitions, however, come to an

from varying countries, including Germany – from where the ship originates –and the Philippines.

Haralsingh also presented the Captain with tourism packages and a plaque bearing Guyana’s new destination brand.

He also expressed the hope that the ship continues to make visits to Guyana and promote the country as a viable tourist destination.

The GTA Director reminded of the recent rebranding to ‘Guyana South America Undiscovered’, and noted that there are still many discoveries to be made in this ‘off the beaten path’ destination.

Over the past few years, the Government of Guyana has been aggressively mar-

keting the country as a destination of choice or transit point.

Guyana welcomed the first cruise vessel for 2014 with the return of the passenger ship Minerva to its shores. The 437 foot long 12,500 tonnage passenger ship, with its 350 passengers and crew of 174, of mainly Filipinos and Ukranians, took a two-day cruise in Guyana, under its 83 nights “Grand Faces of South America” tour, sailing from the Bridgetown round-trip. Additionally the MS Hamburg (formerly the Vista Mar), docked at the Demerara Sugar Terminal Wharf, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, for the third time on December 23, 2014.

Bus drivers thankful...

However, when asked if they intended to drop bus fares now that travel time to Lethem has been significantly slashed as a result of the better road and fuel prices have been significantly reduced, the drivers declared that prices would remain the same.

The owner of the Carly Bus Service, which services the Linden-Lethem route, Cindy Gomes explained that for the past five years, there have been endless and unbearable hardships for drivers.

Further, she said when gas prices went up continually, they were not allowed to raise their fares.

This state of affairs was compounded by the length of time it took to traverse the roadway which minimised the number of trips they were able to make per day. These two factors significantly decreased income. As such, bus drivers believe that they must make up for lost time and income.

end on Friday with the masquerade and dance competitions.

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn had said the Government, through the Hinterland Roads Programme, had been working on various roads in the hinterland areas of the

country.

He explained that it has been challenging working on the Linden-Lethem road. “We have been working at it and we have had problems with the rain, but it has pulled through,” he said. More than two dozen concrete culverts are expected to be constructed along the roadway, while bushes were cleared away by the Public Works Ministry recently.

It was reported that construction firm Metallica will grade and compact with laterite deteriorated sections along the Linden-Omai Turn-Off stretch (0 to 65 Miles). Likewise, Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) will maintain the road from Omai Turn-Off to Siparuni (65 Miles to 84 Miles).

Other companies such as Mekdeci Machinery and Construction, JR Ranch Company and V Dalip Enterprise have also been working on the road.

Over the years, rainfall has continually threatened the Linden-Lethem road, the main artery into the interior, and at certain times the road was even closed to traffic.

A Cotton Field Nursery School child promoting culture during the dramatic poetry category

One of the competitors from Lima Sands Nursery School, calling on Guyanese to keep Guyana clean as he dished out an unforgettable performance in the dramatic poetry segment

from page 12

a warm welcome on behalf of Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali.

MS Hamburg docked at TCL wharf, Georgetown

The GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh presents a branded plaque to the Captain Joao Simoes

Guyana Tourism Authority Director Indranauth Haralsingh (center), Dagron Tours Managers, and the ship’s officer during the visit

Your energy will lag if you don’t push yourself to get moving. If you make an effort to get out, you will be motivated to build momentum and reach your goals.

Turn down demanding or intimidating colleagues. Don’t let current events lead to confusion. Take a moment to re-evaluate the past and to look at the present. Honesty will be essential.

Focus on caring and sharing. Stay away from the battlefield and consider what you can do to make the people who are important to you feel more secure and comfortable.

You can make a difference by visiting or checking in with a friend or relative. Work at maintaining good relationships with family, friends and neighbors.

Rejuvenate the love you feel for someone. This is not the time to be shy and timid. Share your feelings and make plans that will enhance your personal and romantic lives.

Look after your health. A new aid or natural remedy can bring you peace of mind. Check out products that boost your comfort level and make you feel good about your appearance.

Love is on the rise. Host a gathering or attend an event outside the home. Surrounding yourself with friends and upbeat people will stimulate your romantic life.

Minor annoyances at home will have to be dealt with before the situation spins out of control. Don’t rely on others to help you out; you will get more done on your own.

An enjoyable excursion will provide inspiration for a unique venture. New experiences will heighten your instincts and spark ideas, so be bold and make things happen.

Visualize your ideal future. By pinpointing your aspirations, you will be able to strategize and implement what you need to be successful.

Don’t get carried away and exaggerate what you are capable of doing. Let your credentials speak for you, so you don’t face someone eager to make you look incompetent.

Stick to your plans, ideas and goals. Social mingling and group events will lead to petty arguments or hurt feelings. The more you can do on your own, the better off you will be.

DILBERT

CALVIN AND HOBBES

WICB/NAGICO Super50 tournament…

TT book semifinal date

The Bravo brothers engineered a spectacular recovery and Kevon Cooper unleashed a hostile late order cameo as Trinidad and Tobago roared to a 49 run win over Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the twelfth game of the NAGICO Super50 at the Queen’s Park Oval here Tuesday.

Dwayne Bravo, who later grabbed three wickets, and Darren Bravo shared a crucial 5th wicket stand of 62 to resurrect a precarious slump with the Red Force reeling on 45 for four wickets after they decided to bat first having won the toss.

Cooper slammed an unbeaten 62 to consolidate the recovery operation spearheaded by the Bravo brothers as Red Force soared to 206 all out in 50 overs before bowling out Leewards for 157.

Gavin Tonge inflicted early damage when he stunned the Red Force by removing openers Evin Lewis and Nicholas Sookdeosingh cheaply within the first 15 balls.

Dwayne scored 42 in-

cluding seven fours while Darren hit three fours in a knock of 36 to pull the home side out of trouble.

Cooper was the star of the late order rally featuring prominently in three important partnerships- a 21 run stand with Darren Bravo, a 32 run partnership with Captain Rayad Emrit and a last wicket stand with Sunil Narine that produced 26 runs.

Tonge was the best bowler for the Hurricanes finishing with three wickets while Orlando Peters, Hayden Walsh Jr and Anthony Martin picked up two each.

Dwayne Bravo shattered Hurricanes dreams of an explosive start to the chase when he dismissed the first three batsmen.

Emrit compounded their problems by remov-

ing the next two wickets as the Leewards crashed to 76 for five.

Devon Thomas led the chase with a top score of 30, and got some help from Orlando Peters in a 37 run stand, the highest partnership of the innings.

Peters’ contribution of 21 included two sixes as the Red Force tightened the squeeze.

The Hurricanes were

completely outmatched as Sunil Narine wiped out the tail enders including trapping Hayden Walsh Jr lbw or 23.

Dwayne Bravo fin-

ished with top figures of three for forty, while Narine, Emrit, and Imran Khan ended with two scalps each.

SCOREBOARD

T&T Red Force

E Lewis c D Thomas

b G Tonge 4 N Sookdeosingh c A Martin

b G Tonge 0 Darren Bravo b O Peters 36

J Mohammed c J Hamilton

b H Walsh Jr 21 S Katwaroo+ b R Cornwall 8 Dwayne Bravo c D Thomas

b A Martin 42 A Hosein c D Thomas

b H Walsh Jr 1

K Cooper not out 62

I Khan c D Thomas b A Martin 5

R Emrit* c H Walsh Jr

b G Tonge 9 S Narine b O Peters 6

Total: 206 All Out ( 50 Overs)

Extras: (1nb 5w 6lb 0b 0pen) 12

Fall of Wickets: 1-3, 2-5, 3-34, 4-45, 5-107, 6-114, 7-135, 8-148, 9-180, 10-206.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes

Bowling: G Tonge 10-2-33-3, R Cornwall 10-2-21-1, Orlando Peters 8-0-39-2, H Walsh Jr 10-0-51-1, J Campbell 5-026-0, A Martin 7-0-30-2.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes (Target; 207) A Richards LBW Dwayne Bravo 0 S Peters c S Katwaroo b Dwayne Bravo 11 M Hodge LBW Dwayne Bravo 9 D Thomas* LBW R Emrit 30 O Peters c S Katwaroo

I Khan 15 H Walsh Jr LBW S Narine 23 G Tonge b

ICC to fast-track suspect actions during World Cup

Suspect actions during the World Cup will be evaluated within seven days in a fast-track commitment drawn up by the ICC. The evaluation process aims to limit the process to a minimum, ensuring that bowling actions are judged with alacrity to reduce disruption of the tournament to a minimum.

The Brisbane accreditation centre was opened only three months ago with the World Cup much in mind, offering the chance to either clear or suspend bowlers within six days. Previously, tests have taken up to three weeks after referral with the chance of another fortnight’s delay before a written report is received.

The ICC’s regulation for reporting bowlers with suspect actions now states, said an ICC spokesman,

that: “Independent analysis shall be carried out and the independent assessment furnished on an expedited basis. In this respect, every reasonable effort shall be made for the independent analysis to be carried out and the independent assessment furnished within a period of seven days from the date of receipt of the match officials’ report.”

The faster evaluation is part of ICC’s effort to eradicate suspect bowling actions and is bound to defeat any strategy by a team thinking of saving a bowler with a suspect action for later stages of the World Cup.

That would have worked under the Standard Regulations applicable to non-ICC Events where the bowler can continue to bowl in international cricket as

long as he is tested within three weeks of being reported. Although the relevant rule (2.1.5) states that an independent analysis would be carried out “as soon as reasonably possible”, a period of 21 days has been adopted as acceptable, bearing in mind logistical and operational issues.

The shift in policy was signalled by Dave Richardson, the ICC chief executive on Tuesday when he said: “The ICCaccredited testing centre in Brisbane is on stand-by so that if somebody is reported early on in the tournament, he can go straight off to Brisbane, get tested within five or six days, and we can have the report so that he can either continue bowling if he’s found to be legal, or if he’s illegal, then he will be suspended.”

The ICC, Richardson stressed, was unrelenting on suspect actions, an issue that had been dormant for a long time but having gained momentum with high-profile bowlers being reported both in international cricket as well as domestic cricket. Pakistan off-spinning pair of Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez were previously reported in international cricket while West Indies off spinner Sunil Narine was disqualified from bowling during the Champions LeagueTwenty20 final last year having been reported in two successive matches. Ajmal has expressed confidence that unofficial tests at Edgbaston have indicated that his deliveries are within legal limits again. (Cricinfo)

Dwayne Bravo and teammates celebrate the fall of wicket

Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake was suspended from bowling, but has since returned

Congo win first African Cup match in 41 years

Congo won their first game at an Africa Cup of Nations finals since 1974, beating Gabon to move top of Group A.

The Gabonese enjoyed the better of the first half but fell behind after 48 minutes when Prince Oniangue stabbed the Red Devils in front from a corner.

Charlton Athletic’s Frederic Bulot, who had a fine early volley saved, wasted Gabon’s best chance, missing an open goal midway through the second half.

A draw against Burkina Faso on Sunday would take Congo to the quarter-finals.

Whoever wins between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in Bata on Sunday

will also qualify for the last eight.

Gabon dominated the early exchanges, playing with confidence after their 2-0 win over Burkina Faso on Saturday.

Just four minutes in, Bulot tested Congo goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi with a blistering volley from the edge of the box, after Malick Evouna teed him up at the end of a fine move.

Fifteen minutes later, Evouna was played in by the influential Levy Madinda and was unlucky to see his effort hit Maffoumbi before ricocheting off Congo defender Dimitri Bissiki and rolling inches wide.

All eyes may have

been on Gabon’s Borussia Dortmund star PierreEmerick Aubameyang but as he struggled from a wide position, Madinda grabbed the limelight and the bustling midfielder almost gave the Panthers the lead.

Neatly flicking the ball over the head of one defender inside the box, he dragged wide just ahead of the break.

Congo were barely in the game but the half-time team talk delivered by veteran Frenchman Claude LeRoy, coaching at his eighth Nations Cup, galvanised a side contesting its first Nations Cup finals since 2000.

And when Gabon failed to clear a routine corner af-

ter the teams’ return, Congo captain Oniangue lifted the ball into an unguarded corner of the net.

Then midfielder Oniangue thumped an 18yard volley straight at a relieved Gabon goalkeeper Didier Ovono.

After Gabon’s Madinda failed with two chances in a minute, Bulot was left with a moment that may come back to haunt him - firing wide from inside the box with the goal at his mercy.

No coach has overseen more Nations Cup matches than LeRoy, who led Cameroon to the title in 1988, and he added to that record after Madinda squandered yet another Gabon chance late on. (BBC Sport)

Spurs reach semifinal of Capital One Cup

Andros Townsend’s penalty ensured Tottenham will go into the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final with an advantage over Sheffield United.

Spurs had been frustrated by the League One side before Jay McEveley’s needless handball in the 74th minute gave them a spot-kick, which Townsend converted.

Emmanuel Adebayor shot over, Townsend fired wide and Eric Dier also had a header saved for Premier League Spurs.

United created little and must win the second leg at Bramall Lane to advance.

Nigel Clough’s sideseventh in the third tier of English football - had defeated West Ham and Southampton in earlier rounds of this season’s competition but they never looked like beating Spurs.

However, the Blades had produced a resolute performance to restrict the hosts’ opportunities and looked on course to head to the second leg at Bramall Lane on 28 January with a hard-earned goalless draw.

But their hopes were wrecked when defender McEveley, under pressure from substitute Roberto Soldado, raised his arms and handled in the area for a clear-cut penalty.

Tottenham have not won a trophy in the last six seasons and manager Mauricio Pochettino will be relieved with the victory,

but annoyed by his side’s lack of creativity.

Harry Kane, with 18 goals this season, failed to make an impact in front of watching England boss Roy Hodgson, although Kane was not the only Spurs player to be frustrated by a well-organised away defence.

Kane’s strike partner Adebayor, captaining the

Real Madrid agree deal for 16-year-old Norwegian prodigy

Real Madrid have reached an agreement to sign 16-year-old Norwegian forward Martin Odegaard from Stromsgodset.

Odegaard will be presented to the media at a news conference today, the club said.

Real did not disclose the details of the financial terms but Spanish media reported that they had paid around three million euros.

Odegaard made his debut for Norway as a 15-year-old in August and had been linked with many of Europe’s top clubs.

He is expected to begin his career in the Real Madrid B team, which is

coached by France legend Zinedine Zidane and competes in the third tier of Spanish football.

Odegaard came to prominence last year when he became the youngest player to appear and score in the Norwegian Premier League.

He scored five goals and contributed seven assists in 23 appearances for Stromsgodset.

The teenager is left-footed and has drawn comparisons to Barcelona’s Lionel Messi for his style of play. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has previously described him as “a kid with talent and personality”. (BBC Sport)

Serena Williams & Novak Djokovic into third round at Australian Open

Serena Williams reached the third round of the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Russia’s Vera Zvonareva.

The American, 33, came through a tight first set to win 7-5 6-0 as the temperature reached 33C in Melbourne.

Top seed Novak Djokovic thrashed Andrey Kuznetsov 6-0 6-1 6-4 and defending champion Stan Wawrinka beat Marius Copil 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. Former world number ones Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki meet later on Thursday. (BBC Sport)

side on his first start since 2 November, was also ineffective and wasted his only chance when he shot over the crossbar after he collected Christian Eriksen’s ball over the defence.

Adebayor’s replacement Soldado also did not test goalkeeper Mark Howard, but helped force McEveley into the crucial error.

For the Blades, whose coach was stuck in London traffic causing a 15-minute delay to the match, they will be pleased to still be in the tie.

They only had 35% possession but did manage to create two notable chances.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who scored twice in the Blades’ 3-0 win against Premier League QPR in the FA Cup earlier this month, dragged his shot wide before Stefan Scougall also narrowly shot off target.

But McEveley’s mistake and Townsend’s calm finish from the spot mean a draw at Bramall Lane will be enough for Tottenham to face either Liverpool or Chelsea, who drew 1-1 in their first leg, in the Wembley final on 1 March. (BBC

Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0

Lionel Messi missed a late penalty, but converted the rebound as Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid in their Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg.

The Argentine’s 83rdminute spot-kick was saved by Jan Oblak, but the forward was quickest to react as Barca finally broke the deadlock.

The penalty was awarded after Sergio Busquets appeared to go down easily under a challenge from Gabi.

Earlier, Luis Suarez blazed wildly over from close range.

Barcelona dominated possession, but failed to create clear openings, with Suarez wasting the first stand-out opportunity of the game.

With the goal at his mercy, the former Liverpool striker’s rushed attempt was a world away from the clinical finishing that defined his time at Anfield.

Fernando Torres, who

scored twice against Real Madrid in the previous round, was withdrawn at the break, having seen an attempt on goal blocked by the legs of Gerard Pique. Atletico threatened when Antoine Griezmann headed over when well-placed in the penalty area after a Guilherme Siqueira cross, but again the final finishing touch was lacking.

A dull second half sprang to life when Busquets went down in the penalty area, with replays appearing to suggest any contact with Atletico captain Gabi was minimal.

From the resultant spotkick, Messi’s shot to Oblak’s left was well saved, but the 27-year-old was quickly on hand to convert the rebound for his 29th goal of the season. The two teams meet again at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon Stadium on Wednesday, January 28. (BBC Sport)

Action between Congo (red) and Gabon

Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor has only scored two goals in 14 games this season

Thursday, Janurary 22, 2015

Nadal battles cramps to reach third round of Australian Open

An ailing Rafael Nadal battled past qualifier Tim Smyczek in five sets to reach the Australian Open third round.

The Spaniard fought back to win 6-2 3-6 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 7-5 and avoid his earliest ever defeat in Melbourne.

Nadal, seeded third, required treatment from the doctor for stomach cramps in the third set and repeatedly doubled over in distress.

The 28-year-old was playing just his 10th match since Wimbledon because of injury and illness in 2014.

“At the end of the first set, I started to feel my body was very bad, very tired,” said Nadal. “I was worrying like crazy. Then I was serving for the third and almost threw up. It was a terrible feeling.

“I was close to not continuing because I felt that I was very dizzy.

“I was suffering a lot. Too much. Obviously it’s a very positive thing that finally I have the chance to win, but I hope to recover myself.”

Hampered by his physical issues, the usually miserly Nadal made 53 unforced errors over the course

South Africa had only four frontline bowlers, with the remaining overs shared between JP Duminy and Farheen Behardien, a balance that their World Cup opponents will have taken note of, but to take advantage of that vulnerability, West Indies had to build a position from where they could apply pressure.

Narsingh Deonarine briefly showed application until, out of character, he stepped to leg against Dale Steyn and tried to uppercut him over the off side, the resulting edge to first slip bringing Steyn his 150th ODI wicket. Steyn soon added Denesh Ramdin, who was undone by low bounce as he tried to run a ball that was not there for the shot.

There was much onus on Marlon Samuels to bat with discipline, but history sug-

of four hours and 12 minutes on a humid evening in Melbourne.

The 2009 champion had arrived in Australia playing down his chances of winning the tournament, but few expected him to struggle against his unheralded American opponent.

The world number 112 from Milwaukee came through qualifying and had only once before reached the third round of a Grand Slam.

His previous best performance was a victory over world number 19 Jurgen Melzer in Delray Beach three years ago - a far cry from facing Nadal at a Slam.

However, it was the Smyczek forehand and not Nadal’s fearsome topspin on that wing that proved the key shot for much of the contest.

The American recovered from losing the first set to break three times in the second, and Nadal looked in trouble early in the third when he called for the doctor, complaining of dizziness and stomach cramps.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion somehow managed to work his way to the brink of the set but failed

gests he can only do that for so long: he top scored with 26 from 38 balls before another loft into the deep against Imran Tahira shot that has become his calling card on the tourflew off a thick leading edge to long off.

From 53 for 5, Jonathan Carter, playing only his third ODI, and Andre Russell put up a semblance of a response: Russell summoned a front foot pull against Steyn, and Carter deposited Tahir onto the grassy banking at midwicket, but Russell’s heave at a length ball from Morne Morkel defied analysis.

Even the borderline decisions did not fall West Indies’ way. Carter must have fancied his chances of overturning umpire Johan Cloete’s lbw decision as he pulled a delivery bowled from wide of

spectacularly to serve it out, double faulting on break point.

Smyczek raced through the tie-break and an earliest ever Melbourne defeat loomed large for Nadal, who repeatedly slumped over behind the baseline in obvious discomfort.

Dark looks were exchanged with his family and supporters in the stands, and it took some loose play from Smyczek to bring Nadal back into the contest with a break midway through the fourth.

With 16 five-set wins to just two for Smyczek, there was not much doubt that Nadal had the benefit of experience on his side going into the decider.

The Spaniard saw three break points slip by, with Smyczek remarkably calm given the situation, but brilliant backhand and forehand strikes helped Nadal to the decisive break in game 11.

A generous let from Smyczek and three missed match points ensured drama until the very end, but a relieved Nadal sank to his knees after sealing victory at the fourth attempt.

the return crease by Imran Tahir but a review fell in South Africa’s favour, as it did when the same umpire refused Tahir’s appeal as Carlos Brathwaite misread a googly. Only a last-wicket stand of 28 took West Indies past three figures. With 16.2 overs left, it all ended with a charge, a slog and a stumping.

South Africa’s innings was inconsequential, but after Rilee Rossouw had malfunctioned trying to pull, Amla and du Plessis batted with pleasing order and skill. Holder took the only wicket, but as he watched catching chances spurned in the final stages by Sulieman Benn and Jerome Taylor, the man in the size 15s would have needed a big heart as well as big feet.

(Cricinfo)

Rafael Nadal during his battle with cramps

Woodpecker Products onboard with GSSF

Owner and Managing Director of Woodpecker Products, Luana Fernandes, on Tuesday generously donated to the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) several trophies for its upcoming Practical Pistol Competition to be held on Saturday at the Guyana Defence Force’s ranges at Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

At a simple ceremony at the entity’s location at Fourth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, Fernandes, who is well known for her contributions to the development of sport in Guyana, presented the trophies to GSSF President Vidushi Persaud.

Persaud thanked Fernandes for the support Woodpecker Products has

given to local sports, especially shooting.

The GSSF head commented that she has known Fernandes for most of her life and has always been enthused by the encouragement and support for sport Fernandes has continuously given. Persaud is hopeful that other businesses in Guyana will emulate Woodpecker Products by making similar contributions to sport.

Board Member Captain Roul Bhudu and Treasurer Rohandev Persaud joined in thanking Fernandes for her unhesitating support and encouragement towards the GSSF, which is dedicated towards encouraging and promoting sport shooting among Guyanese.

The GSSF started its shooting calendar last

Saturday by organising a pistol practice session for members at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Ranges.

Match Director Ryan McKinnon noted that the divisions, which will be recognised, are Standard and Production, which will see prizes being handed out for the top three overall in each division.

Fernandes conveyed her wishes for success for the Federation and a successful event on Saturday.

McKinnon went on to indicate that the three stages for the match will be open to all experienced Practical Pistol shooters of Guyana and advised competitors to pre-register. Interested competitors desirous of participating can contact any board member of the GSSF, or visit www.guyanasportshoot-

ing.com for further details or simply send an email to info@guyanasportshooting. com indicating their interest.

Practical shooting is regarded as any type of sport shooting that involves engaging targets while having to move with the firearm. The handgun element of sport shooting simultaneously measures the ability of the competitor to shoot rapidly and accurately with a full power (9mm/higher calibre) handgun in a fun, fair, safe, and competitive environment.

Scoring takes into account three elements –speed, accuracy and power. Each match is made up of stages that seek to measure a shooter’s ability in all three elements and coordinated under strict safety guidelines.

“Road to Mecca II” set for first week in February

The Road to Mecca II National Club Championships is confirmed for the first week in February.

The confirmation came via email from Vice President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Michael Singh.

Teams are asked to register as early as possible since 16 teams will be the maximum number allowed by the GABF for the national championship which was highly successful last year.

According to the press release from Singh, the GABF is currently finalising details for the organising of the tournament, which will also be used

WICB/NAGICO Super50 tournamnet…

Jamaica stroll to easy win

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Under-19

S Hetmyer c H Miller

b M Mindley 0

T Chanderpaul c H Miller

b N Miller 25

K Carty c J Campbell

b M Mindley 4

R Cato c J Campbell b D Green 0

K Paul c H Miller b D Green 0

S Springer c and b N Miller 25

J Clarke+ LBW D Jacobs 4

M Frew c H Miller

b D Bernard Jr 33

R Lewis* LBW D Jacobs 6

C Williams c D Bernard Jr b N Bonner 11

O Smith not out 7

Total: All Out 137 Extras: (1nb 12w 8lb 1b 0pen) 22

Fall of Wickets

Jamaica strolled to an easy nine wicket win over West Indies Under 19 in the 11th game of the NAGICO Super50 match at the National Cricket Centre here Tuesday.

Solid half centuries from opener John Campbell and Jermaine Blackwood steered the Jamaicans to victory after West Indies Under 19s were dismissed for 137 in 47 overs.

Jamaica lost opener Nkrumah Bonner in the fifth over when he was caught for ten after hitting two fours.

But Campbell and Blackwood came together to dominate the bowling as Jamaica completed a comfortable victory.

Campbell was not out on 61 hitting five fours and a six while Blackwood was unbeaten on 53 collecting three fours and a couple of sixes.

The young West Indians, sent in to bat after Jamaica won the toss, were in trouble from the start plunging to 24 for four before Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Shamar

Springer attempted to stabilize the innings.

Chanderpaul and Springer carved out a defiant 38 run partnership for the eighth wicket but their progress was short-lived.

Both batsmen fell victim to the Jamaican captain Nikita MillerChanderpaul caught for 25 while Springer was caught and bowled for the same score.

The end of their partnership signaled another batting collapse as wickets tumbled including three with just 17 runs added as the young West Indians lost momentum.

However a courageous late order fight back between Chad Williams and Michael Frew brought some respectability to their total.

Frew led the late rally smashing two fours and a six in a top score of 33 and in the process compiled an impressive 41 runs for the ninth wicket with Williams who contributed 11. Miller, Derval Green, Marquino Mindley and Damion Jacobs each grabbed two wickets for Jamaica.

From left: GSSF Director, Captain Roul Bhudu; Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Ryan McKinnon; President Vidushi Persaud; Woodpecker Products Owner/Managing Director Luana Fernandes and GSSF Treasurer Rohandev Persaud with the trophies at stake on Saturday

shortlist the Guyana National Men’s Basketball Team for national duty in

Flashback! Ravens celebrate after winning the first edition of the Road to Mecca National Club Championships last year

Golden Jaguars begin encampment today

With a view to getting in condition for the highly-anticipated friendly clash with hosts Barbados on February 1, the Golden Jaguars, Guyana’s senior men’s national football team, will today commence a one-week encampment under the guidance of the Technical Team.

This publication understands that the players will assemble at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, as they work on key aspects of their game ahead of the Jaguars’ first match since November 2012.

The players will be led through their training by Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz, who is on his third stint with the national team; Assistant Coach Wayne “Wiggy” Dover and newly appointed Technical Director, Claude Bolton.

The three overseas-based players: Christopher Nurse, fellow centre back Jamaal Smith, and

Emery Welshman, whose parents are Guyanese, are expected to arrive in Guyana today and Friday to link up with the local players

who have been named as part of the preliminary squad.

The game is the Golden Jaguars’ first on a path to upward

mobility in the FIFA rankings after they would have dropped from an all-time high of 86 in November 2010 to their current position of

GRFU announces new Technical Director

− Green challenges female ruggers

By TreisTon Joseph

Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) President Peter Green named a new Technical Director in Angus Thompson on Wednesday during a press conference held at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) headquarters in Kingston.

Thompson is expected to arrive in Guyana four weeks ahead of when the national seven’s team leaves for Hong Kong on March 27.

Thompson will be expected to work along with Head Coach Theodore Henry in an effort to pinpoint areas where Guyana can improve their style of rugby.

Guyana will also be a part of the Olympic qualifiers from June 13 to 14 and will need to finish first in order to qualify for the Olympics.

However, if they place second or

third, they will be eligible to play in a one-off tournament to qualify for the Rio Olympics in early 2016.

Green was confident that the men’s team will qualify, but threw out a challenge to the female ruggers who are in limbo in terms of going to the Olympic qualifiers.

“I am extremely confident that this men’s team will qualify for the Olympics, I am throwing out a challenge to the women’s team … the time is now, I’m calling them up for training with immediate effect; when I go to the Park, I must see them,” Green urged.

He also made it clear that the women would have to prove themselves if they were to leave the shores of Guyana.

“The females will have to prove to me, the exec and the public that they are a quality side because as President I will not throw away funds, I rath-

er use it towards the development of 2020 Olympics,” Green mentioned.

Meanwhile, the men’s seven’s team will also be a part of the Pan American games in July, while the men’s 15’s squad will defend their NACRA 15’s title during the month of April.

The GRFU will also be aiming to rekindle rugby in schools while ensuring that their pool of young ruggers has depth so that the talent pool will always be overflowing.

Further, Green, who revealed that the overall cost for both the women’s and men’s team to participate in the international competitions over the next few months will be approximately US$100,000, believes that because of the team’s success last year, they will be able to access the necessary funds when needed.

Guyana are expected to host Barbados here on March 7 during the NACRA 15’s tournament.

GBCA to coaches: Register please

The Guyana Basketball Coaches Association (GBCA) is recommending that all coaches register for the 2015 basketball season.

The registration fee will be $1000 while a subscription fee of $2000 is also payable to the Association. Two passport-size photographs as well as a

first aid certified document and a colour copy of the coach’s bio page on his passport will be needed to complete the registration. While no closing date for the registration

has been set, with the basketball season expected to start in February, being registered before the first game of the season will more than likely have less ramifications.

167.

The preliminary squad reads: Christopher Nurse, Jamaal Smith, Emery Welshman, O’Neil Carter, Oswald Cornett, Omallo Williams, Travis Henry, Solomon Austin, Kris Camacho, Quincy Madramootoo, Trevon Lithcott, Dwain Jacobs, Amos Ramsey, Daniel Wilson, Keron Solomon, Sheldon Holder, Clive DeNobrega, Colin Nelson, Dwight Peters, Tishard Joseph, Dwayne Lawrence, Domini Garnett, Travis Hillman, Rawle Gittins, Denver Dennis, Calvin Sheppard, Joshua Brown, Eusi Phillips and Vurlon Mills.

Members of the Technical Team include Trevor Burnett (Manager – Equipment); Faizal Khan (Manager – Commercial and Administrative); Mark Xavier (Manager – Operations); Anson Ambrose (Trainer); Andrew Hazel (Goalkeeping Coach); and Debita Harriprashad (Physiotherapist).

BVA rolls out packed year of activity

The Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) has rolled out a packed programme for 2015 with activities billed for every month of the year.

The schedule was agreed upon after last Sunday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections at the GuySuCo Training Centre Hostel Compound in Port Mourant.

The incumbent, Gregory Rambarran, was returned unopposed as President for the period 2015-2016.

The season will serve off on February 8 with the BVA Open Competition at the Port Mourant Training Centre, with teams vying for the Arriana Bacchus trophy, while on February 22, the Mashramani tournament will swing into effect at the GTM courts with teams competing for the Krishna Jagdeo trophy.

During the month of March, there will be two competitions – the Banks DIH Beach Classic and the start of the BVA League – with the latter tournament having the Reggie Goberdhan Memorial trophy at stake.

In April, the BVA will host the Number 52 B Division competition, as well as an Open tournament, while in May, there will be another Open tournament, a referee’s seminar and a family fun day.

The BVA Male and Female senior trials are slated for the first two weeks of June, while there will be a Beach competition in July, followed by the completion of the BVA League in August. The Inter-Secondary Schools Competition is billed for early September at the Port Mourant Secondary School, while in October, the BVA will stage the Dilip Budhram Memorial Tournament.

The year will conclude with the Rollers Old Boys Competition in November and the Balram Shane Memorial in December, at venues to be decided.

According to correspondence from President Rambarran, the deadline for the payment of affiliation fees is February 15. He also stated that statutory meetings will be held on the last Sunday of every quarter.

Flashback! The Golden Jaguars won the hearts of Guyanese during the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers. They embark on a similar journey for the 2018 World Cup, starting with a friendly contest against Barbados on February 1 ahead of the Qualifiers set to start in June

New Technical Director Angus Thompson

Gregory Rambarran

GCB elections saga… Sport Minister awaiting WICB’s response on date

Guyana’s Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony is awaiting a response from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) with regards the setting of a date for the elections of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

The minister made the revelation during an interview with this publication on Wednesday evening, even as the GCB is forging ahead with its planned elections on Sunday.

“We have to go with the law, and what the law is saying is that for the first election under the new act, the Minister will have to name the date. But before the Minister names the date, he has to consult with the West Indies Cricket Board,” Dr Anthony said.

He added, “I have writ-

ten the WICB and I have proposed a date for the elections and I have given them 21 days in which to reply and then set a date.”

Dr Anthony confirmed that the letter was dispatched to the WICB this

week, and should the Dave Cameron-led body not respond within the stipulated timeframe, he will go ahead and set a date for elections.

This would mean that the GCB planned elections would be null and void, as outlined by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, in an interview with this publication last week.

“The elections would be illegal, unlawful, null and void and of no effect,” Nandlall said.

Despite this, GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie was quoted in another section of the press earlier this week as saying that the GCB will go ahead with the elections.

The Berbice Cricket Board, which had its AGM earlier this month when Anil

Beharry was elected president, has since pulled out, citing Nandlall’s utterances and the fact that only Dr Anthony can call elections.

The Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) had its election a fortnight ago, but that was

riddled with controversy, as challenger Prince Holder deemed his battle against the incumbent Fizul Bacchus just a “formality” as the process was fixed in such a way to have Bacchus reinstated.

The ECB has since indicated its willingness to attend and vote on Sunday.

It is unclear whether the county Demerara, which has two factions led by Bissoondyal Singh and Raj Singh, will participate at the elections.

Meanwhile, Dr Anthony stated that the period of time given to the WICB to respond to his letter will allow the newly appointed Cricket Ombudsman, Dr Winston McGowan, to iron out whatever problems exist at the county boards to ensure a smooth electoral process at the GCB level.

And in keeping with the act, the Minister said he had also written to the WICB with regards the appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman, but the governing body for the sport in the Caribbean did not respond.

Feeble Windies lose ODI series to SA

With every day they remain in South Africa, West Indies’ chances of pulling together a respectable World Cup challenge falters before our eyes. They made only 122 at Buffalo Park in the third ODI, a spiritless and, at times, irresponsible display full of ghastly, illjudged shots and glum expressions. A nine-wicket defeat later revealed itself much as expected.

Three days earlier, the crowd in Johannesburg had feasted on an AB de Villiers world record; in what was only Buffalo Park’s third ODI in nine years, the townsfolk of East London had to suffer a mismatch, concluded in spots of drizzle. Truly, the big cities get all the fun.

East London took their pleasure in Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, lording it over the West Indies attack for unbeaten half centuries as the match was wrapped up with more than 41 overs unused, not so long after some had come in from work.

At 2-0 down in the series with three matches remaining, West Indies needed to win to keep the series alive, but Buffalo Park’s slow, low

surface demanded discipline - a challenge far removed from the joyous batting surface at the Wanderers on which de Villiers had struck the fastest ODI hundred in history - and West Indies did not show enough of it. With turmoil and ill will rife in West Indies cricket, Jason Holder, a new, young captain needing to imprint his style, must feel the job is a lonely one. Rarely has this affiliation of nations looked

less unified; rarely has mistrust between the generations been so apparent; rarely has the talent base looked so shallow. To some extent, it was an experimental XI; it was a rum time for experimentation, one best witnessed by West Indies fans through a large glass of Mount Gay.

As for South Africa, far from wallowing in the satisfaction of a won series - 3-0 up with two to play - they

will have a sneaking feeling that West Indies are not putting them under the sort of pressure they would relish ahead of the World Cup. They are likely to respond by giving game time to backup players. The lengthy group phase of the World Cup gives them time to get their big guns firing.

It took seven balls of the innings - Vernon Philander’s first delivery - for West Indies to hit trouble. Philander was

(Deonarine, 9), 4-43 (Ramdin, 12.3), 5-52 (Samuels, 16.5), 6-83 (Russell, 24.2),

on the money immediately and slight away movement was enough to draw a wicketkeeper’s catch. Dwayne Smith had been dislodged by a decent delivery: others could not claim the same.

Chris Gayle has scraped one half-century in 15 ODI innings for West Indies since a century against Sri Lanka in Jamaica 19 months ago,

7-87 (Carter, 25.2), 8-95 (Brathwaite, 28.5), 9-96 (Taylor, 29.2), 10-122 (Benn, 33.4)

Bowling: Morkel 7-0-261 (w1), Philander 8-2-273, Steyn 6-1-21-2, Duminy 3-0-11-0, Behardien 2-0-50, Imran Tahir 7.4-0-28-4. SOUTH AFRICA

R Roussouw c Deonarine b Holder 7 H Amla not out 61 F du Plessis not out 51

Extras: (lb3, w2) 5 TOTAL (1 wkt, 24.4 overs) 124 Did not bat: *+AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, D Miller, F Behardien, V Philander, D Steyn, M Morkel, Imran Tahir Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Rossouw, 5.4 overs). Bowling: Taylor 5-0-28-0 (w1), Benn 3-0-23-0, Holder 5-114-1, Russell 5-0-15-0 (w1), Deonarine

his reputation now largely protected by T20 exploits and the cult of personality. That sequence was extended by a languid drive on the up and a second catch for de Villiers. He fulfilled his fielding duties with a heavy air. Holder gave him an over at the end (or half a one anyway) to cheer him up.

Andre Russell falls to poor shot selection as the Windies batsmen failed to gain any momentum

Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall Anand Sanasie