Bandit disarmed, tied up after attack on Brazilian
TT man surrenders after killing Guyanese woman
Prison Service awaits final list of pardoned convicts
Govt sounds warning to land grabbers
World hunger falls to under 800M
– gold production pegged at 50,000 ounces this year
Canadian based gold firm Guyana Goldfields Inc (GGI) has announced that it is on track of starting up its Aurora, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) gold project next month, and has projected to produce between 30,000 to 50,000 ounces of gold in 2015 and approximately 120,000 to 140,000 ounces in 2016.
In a statement, GGI announced that the mill commissioning process has commenced and the Aurora Gold Project remains on track for projected initial gold production in mid-2015. According to the company, overall project construction is approximately 85 per cent complete with GGI focusing on operational readiness training and commissioning.
GGI has commenced the commissioning of the following areas: SAG Mill; power plant generators, and water and air support systems. The company said it will continue the commissioning phase during the second quarter of this year and is in the process of completing the remaining piping, electrical and surface conveyor construction. “GGI is on track to start up the gravity gold and saprolite production circuits for mid-2015, which would allow for earlier gold production (pre-commercial production) through the processing plant. The commis-
sioning and start up of the hard rock crushing circuit is projected to be completed in the third calendar quarter of 2015,” the statement read.
According to the company the mining fleet is fully operational and all materials required for construction are on site. “All surface, onsite construction and bulk earthworks are completed, except for the river dike and runway expansion. The
company is currently operating at peak construction and manpower levels with over 1000 personnel at site. The operational readiness team has been hired and is undergoing initial training.” Guyana Goldfields said that initial open pit mining at Rory’s Knoll has defined the pit outline with excavation below river level with no inflow of water, as expected.
Expectation
Meanwhile, the company said it is expected to produce between 30,000 to 50,000 ounces of gold in 2015, and approximately 120,000
ounces to 140,000 ounces of gold in 2016. “GGI has approximately US$44 million as at March 31, 2015 of capital expenditures remaining to projected initial production.
The total initial development costs for all facilities as well as mining equipment, owner’s costs, indirect costs, etc., remains forecasted to be US$249 million. The project is tracking on budget with US$52 million available as an overrun facility, if needed,” the statement added.
Commenting on the operations, President and Chief Executive Officer of the company Scott Caldwell said, “The commissioning of the mill circuit is a major milestone which we’ve been able to deliver on schedule and brings us one step closer to initial production. I am proud of what our team has accomplished in just a little over a year.
The energy at site is vibrant and I would like to thank all our employees and contractors for their dedication and excellent work. At this stage in the game, we are so close to production that it has eliminated a large portion of capital overspending risk.
Our next focus is producing ounces at or above our target for 2015 gold production, and joining the ranks of producers.”
High Court Judge, Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire, on Wednesday handed down a 20-year sentence to a pensioner who was previously found guilty of murdering an acquaintance at a vulcanising shop two years ago.
Seventy-three-yearold Donald Mopp called “Chetty” of Tucville, Georgetown, was indicted with the murder of Winsel Roger Edwards, which he reportedly committed on February 15, 2013. The elderly man had pleaded not guilty to the capital offence and underwent a trial before a 12-member jury panel.
The case was prosecuted by State Counsel Stacy Gooding, during which she called 11 witnesses to testify against the accused, who was represented by Attorney Deborah Kumar. According to the State’s case, Mopp had gotten into a scuffle with Edwards on the day in question, during which the miner was stabbed.
The injured man was picked up and rushed to seek medical attention but later succumbed to the injury. In his defence back in April when he opted to give an unsworn statement, Mopp told the court that he could not recall what transpired between them.
“Myself and Roger were friends. I had no reason
Donald Mopp called “Chetty”
for wanting to kill him… I don’t remember what went on,” he remarked. However after some three hours in deliberation, the panel returned from the jury room informing the court that they had found Mopp guilty of murder.
Before sentencing was imposed, the defence Attorney requested that a probation report be compiled. The trial judge granted the request and deferred sentencing. On Wednesday, the matter was called up and the report was submitted to the court by a probation officer. It was not read since Attorney Kumar had no queries about the report.
Nevertheless, she did put forward a case of mitigating factors, asking the
court to consider her client’s age and health, explaining that the man is blind in one of his eyes.
Meanwhile, in handing down the sentence, Justice George-Wiltshire began with a base of 25 years and deducted two years for the time the man spent in prison. Another three years was also taken off as a result of Mopp’s ill-health. The man then sentenced to a total of 20 years imprisonment.
According to reports, on the day in question the two men were engaged in an argument, calling each other insulting names. After a while, Mopp left the vulcanising shop but returned sometime later. During his second visit, the two men entered into a scuffle during which they fell to the ground.
Edwards, 33, of GuyHoc Housing Scheme, Georgetown, began shouting that Mopp stabbed him. He succumbed while receiving treatment. Witnesses had testified during the trial that a blade was on the ground of the scene and Mopp was seen with a knife handle, which he disposed of in some grass. According to State Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, during his testimony, Edwards died of a perforated blood vessel due to a stab wound.
thursday, may 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from Thursday, May 28 – 13:30h-15:00h and Friday, May 29 – 14:30h-16:00h
The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Thursday, May 28 – 12:25h-13:55h and Friday, May 29 – 13:20h-14:50h
Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings on:
Thursday, May 28 – 05:00h, 10:00h and 16:00h Friday, May 29 - 05:00h, 10:00h and 16:00h
Thundery showers can be expected in the morning, with heavy rain showers dominating throughout the afternoon. Thundery showers can again be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.47 metres per second.
High Tide: 00:24h and 12:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.23 metres and 2.22 metres respectively.
Low Tide: 06:23h and 18:46h reaching minimum heights of 1.00 metres and 0.95 metre respectively.
By Gomatie GanGadin
Guyanese leader David
Granger has defended the 52 National Awards, which were announced on Tuesday at his inauguration ceremony and Independence Day celebrations at the Guyana National Stadium, saying that some of the persons were already nominated by the committee, while he nominated others as Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana.
In an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, President Granger said that the appropriate and required consultations were done by the board and committee, which is in place to make the recommendations for those who deserve National Awards.
According to the President, the recommendations were already made over the past years, but were not acted upon. As such, he disclosed that upon assumption of Office, he simply gave the necessary approval for the announcement to become a reality.
“I am Chancellor of the Orders. There is an Act which establishes the National Orders of Guyana. There is board; a committee which makes recommendations and many of those recommendations were made over the years and were never implemented by Mr Jagdeo or Mr Ramotar. It is my information that there were consultations before they were
sent to me and all I did was approve the recommendations,” Granger disclosed.
Immediately after the announcements were made, criticism came pouring in that the administration did not consult with any group, organisation or any other body before the awards were bestowed. When contacted by the Guyana Times on Wednesday for a comment on whether they had been consulted in the process, Lance Hinds, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), and Ronald Mc Garrell of the Inter Religious Organisation (IRO) said that
There are no recent major complaints of mistreatment of Guyanese people living in Barbados, Guyana’s Consul General in Barbados Michael Brotherson has reported.
Brotherson is reported in the Barbados Nation as saying that his office had received only “one or two” complaints but, for the most part, Guyanese living
in Barbados are content.
The establishment of the Consulate in Bridgetown is aimed primarily at working with the people and Government of Barbados, and the relevant agencies to have Guyanese nationals living there represented. “I daresay we have been collaborating well with the concerned agencies here,” he added.
they were never consulted in the process. They, however, admitted that they were not aware if the Constitution provides for them to be consulted in that process as a board is in place to make recommendations. There were also criticisms that several of the awardees have ties to the People’s National Congress Reform.
Among the awardees were Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, Senior Counsel Brynmor Pollard and Sister Mary Noel Menezes who have been accorded with the Order of Roraima - Guyana’s second highest National Award-when the list of awar-
dees was announced at the Independence Day celebrations at the Guyana National Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Green’s honour was a surprise to many, given his disastrous management of the capital city, but according to Eshwar Vevakanand Persaud, Protocol Advisor in the Ministry of the Presidency, Green was honoured for his long and outstanding involvement in the struggle for independence and his role in providing public service for three generations.
Meanwhile, Cacique Crown of Honour Award was also announced to several persons for their long, outstanding and dedicated service in the fields of politics, public service and community work.
Among them are: Edith Bynoe, former Minister of Government; Oscar Clarke, General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform; Yvonne Harewood–Benn, former teacher and Minister of Government; LLewelyn John, former Minister of Agriculture, Home Affairs and Local Government; Professor Winston McGowan; Eshwar Vevakanand Persaud, Protocol Advisor in the Ministry of the Presidency; Supriya Singh-Bodden, Founder of Guyana Foundation; Justice Donald Trotman; and Elsworth Williams, Apostle Full Gospel Fellowship.
Alone gunman was overpowered by a Brazilian national during a foiled robbery at a city hotel on Wednesday about 09:30h. He was tied up and handed over to the Police, along with an unlicensed .9mm pistol and five matching rounds.
According to information received, the gunman held up the Brazilian at the hotel and demanded cash, but the victim reportedly put up resistance and managed to overpower the man who was carrying the gun and ammunition. With the assistance of hotel management and others in the hotel, the foreign national restrained his would-be robber and the Police were summoned. The gunman is expected to be charged shortly for attempted robbery and possession of an illegal gun and ammunition.
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
It would be quite irresponsible if after this special 49th anniversary of our Independence from Britain, we do not engage in some kind of stocktaking - both in terms of ourselves and of our nation.
While there are nations with hoary pasts that extend into antiquity, our official beginning beginning are yet distant enough to offer a fairly disinterested perspective. There are at least two variables that we must grapple with.
First of all, there is the threshold issue of our identity itself and that of our “nation”. It has been said not only of us, but of the majority of ex-colonies that were granted independence in the post-WWII era that we were “states but not nations”.
The former were the easily bestowed name, map, constitution, membership into the UN etc that made the country a member of the Westphalian state system that had been created three centuries before.
But even older countries had discovered that a “state” was not necessarily a “nation”, which was the entity that identified their “oneness” according to descent, culture and other more emotional markers.
And while it was assumed that this dichotomy between state and nation would disappear or be made to disappear through assimilationist policies, the reverse actually happened resulting in a debilitating struggle within countries by self identified groups seeking greater autonomy of one kind or another.
Last year, Scotland, which was part of “Britain” since 1601, held a referendum which almost resulted in the Scots having their “own state”. Ironically, many of the overseers that played pivotal roles on the sugar plantations to socialise the slaves and indentured labourers into being “Guyanese” were from Scotland and Ireland - both now redefining their then “identity”.
In Guyana, while there are thankfully no moves for separation, it is widely believed by analysts that unless there is a more cohesive national identity, many of the goals that need everyone putting their shoulders to the wheel might continue to be problematical.
Another unsettled question that manifests itself under different guises to create problems over the last 49 years is that of the economic system that is supposed to deliver the “good life” to all Guyanese.
After independence, there was a continuation of the debate on this subject that had created much conflict with the excolonial power. “Co-operative socialism” was the PNC’s answer to the more traditional Marxist-Leninist centralised economy the Opposition PPP/C favoured. By 1989, however, the question was moot and both major parties, as well as the minuscule “third” parties, accepted the seemingly inevitable melange of neo-liberal policies dubbed the “Washington Consensus”.
Without rehearsing the path travelled since then, we would be even more irresponsible if we ignore the severe inequalities produced by that model in the emanating developed countries.
We are now assured by an economist, working from within the economic orthodoxy, Thomas Picketty - and accepted by most across the divide. Such as it exists nowadays - that while most ships will rise with the system’s economic tide, as we have seen in the US unless there are some severe regulations, severe inequalities can result.
More worrisome, is his demonstration by reference to the historical record, that the resulting inequalities becomes structurally entrenched and obviously very difficult to alter later.
The apparent relative rise of the lower classes in the developed countries in the post 1930’s depression era, was evidently a unique occurrence caused by conditions unlikely to be replicated again - such as a global war.
For a country like ours, with an ethnically divided polity that remains poor and politicians ever ready to attribute inequalities to the actions of their “racist” opponents, the policy implications of Picketty’s analysis must be considered seriously, and implemented, if we are to ever become really independent.
So while we have to acknowledge that there has been progress over the last two decades, we have to be cautious going forward of future inequalities.
Dear Editor,
The final 2015 Guyana elections results released on May 16 on the strength of which the APNU/AFC coalition was determined the winner and sworn in as the new government of Guyana have errors in the PPP/C votes for Region Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands) and the related totals and percentages.
Regrettably, since neither the preliminary nor final results are published on the GECOM website (at time of writing) – a deplorable lack of transparency and respect for public scrutiny in a democratic country – I am relying on the publication of “final” results as published by the Stabroek News, which stated at 13:53h on May 16:
“These are the final general results as provided by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on May 16, 2015”, as well
as, the said results posted on the Guyana News and Information site (www.stabroeknews.com and www. guyana.org).
Both these publications show that the PPP/C received 40,280 votes in Region Three, and a total across all regions of 202,694. As well, the total for all parties in Region Three is shown as 61,629 for a total of all regions for all parties of 412,012 votes.
According to my determination, assuming the 40,280 votes shown for the PPP/C is correct, the true numbers for the latter three figures should be 202,494 (not 202,694), 61,429 (not 61,629) and 411,812 (not 412,012) respectively.
As a result, the percentages associated with these faulty figures would also be faulty. On the other hand, if the published total figures are correct then the votes allotted to the PPP/C for
Region Three is incorrect.
In either instance, this state of affairs reflects a shocking failure by GECOM – more specifically the Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally and the Chief Elections Officer, Mr Keith Lowenfield – to apply fundamental organizational management controls of due diligence and a duty of care in serving Guyana’s population at the highest level.
This is not a mere allegation, but a documented fact of an egregious misstatement – plugged-in numbers, making the spreadsheet mathematically internally inconsistent.
The world can now witness either the unprofessionalism and inefficiency or the method (as some would say) in GECOM’s operations in the 2015 elections. In full display is published evidentiary matter of a flagrant falsehood regarding the 2015 Guyana elections,
which were used to install a new government. The logical question which follows is: What else underlies these false figures?
Given the numerous allegations of irregularities by the PPP/C (and the most glaring anomaly, to my mind, that the PPP/C lost in Region Eight [PotaroSiparuni] by a single vote without a recount), this incredible falsehood in the published final results of the 2015 elections makes a strong case for an immediate transparent forensic review by an independent international team of competent auditors.
For what it’s worth, this misstatement of 200 votes is a multiple of 10 (the PPP/C claims other multiples have been siphoned-off several of the PPP/C tally on SOPs and awarded to the coalition).
Veda Nath Mohabir
GECOM’s failure to gazette election results a violation of law, renders Govt illegal
Dear Editor, Incredibly, fate has dealt GECOM its fatal death blow. Its tardiness has jeopardised and possibly invalidated the legality of the entire elections. It renders the PNC coalition an illegal Government just because they failed to follow a critical law requirement.
Guyana is now in no man’s land with no legal roadmap. Why is this accurate?
Fifteen days after the close of polls on May 11, GECOM was required by
law to legally document the election results in the Official Gazette.
The deadline date of May 26 came and went without the critical legal rite of passage fulfilled. GECOM is not above the law to ignore it. Now heads must roll or they must all go to jail.
Should the PPP/C court appeal succeed and the Judiciary orders a recount by a neutral UN or international commission of jurists or some other agreed to group which then finds the PPP/C is indeed the winner,
what’s next?
The PNC must preempt that avalanche by quickly deciding:
1. Whether it wants to await the results of that court drama and face worldwide embarrassment, only confirming GECOM criminally rigged the elections to favour the PNC coalition;
2. Agree to truncate a few years from its five-year term in office like the PPP/C conceded in 1997; or
3. Immediately offer the PPP/C the Presidency and accept the Prime Minister’s
job conditional to remaining in power by a national unity coalition . Obviously if the court recount shows the PPP/C as the clear winner, they will be empowered with all the trump cards and the right to office. Whatever options the PPP/C or PNC coalition pursue, the racial and ethnic balance of the armed forces and civil service (at GECOM as well) must find conclusive resolution at this time.
Sultan Mohamed
The 68th World Health Assembly closed on Tuesday after approving three new resolutions: one on air pollution, one on epilepsy and one laying out the next steps in finalising a framework of engagement with non-State actors.
In closing the eight-day meeting, Director-General Margaret Chan said the Assembly had passed several “landmark resolutions and decisions.” The Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will analyze the resolutions adopted at the World Health Assembly when it meets in mid-June and will decide what their implications are for the Americas, what needs to be harmonized, and what should be promoted at the regional level and in the countries.
Delegates at the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to address the health impacts of air pollution – the world’s largest single environmental health risk. Every year 4.3 million deaths occur from exposure to indoor air pollution and 3.7 million deaths are attributable to outdoor air pollution. This was the first time the Health Assembly had debated the topic.
The resolution highlights the key role national health authorities need to play in raising awareness about the potential to save lives and reduce health costs, if air pollution is addressed effectively. It also stresses the need for strong cooperation between different sectors and integration of health concerns into all national, regional and local air pollution-related policies. It urges Member States to develop air quality monitoring systems and health registries
to improve surveillance for all illnesses related to air pollution; promote clean cooking, heating and lighting technologies and fuels; and strengthen international transfer of expertise, technologies and scientific data in the field of air pollution.
The resolution asks the WHO Secretariat to strengthen its technical capacities to support Member States in taking action on air pollution. This includes further building capacity to: implement the “WHO air quality guidelines” and “WHO indoor air quality guidelines; conduct cost-benefit assessment of mitigation measures; and advance research into air pollution’s health effects and effectiveness.
At the Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly, WHO will propose a road map for an enhanced global response by the health sector that reduces the adverse health effects of air pollution.
Delegates endorsed a resolution urging Member States to strengthen their ongoing efforts in providing care for people with epilepsy. Although affordable
treatment for epilepsy exists, up to 90% of people with the condition may not be properly diagnosed or treated in resource-poor settings. The resolution highlights the need for governments to formulate, strengthen and implement national policies and legislation to promote and protect the rights of people with epilepsy. It also stresses the need to reinforce health information and surveillance systems to get a clearer picture of the burden of disease and to measure progress in improving access to care.
Delegates emphasised the importance of training of nonspecialist health-care providers as key to reducing the epilepsy treatment gap. In low- and middle-income settings, strategies to improve access and affordability of antiepileptic medicines should be a priority. Countries are encouraged to undertake public awareness activities to reduce misconceptions about epilepsy and encourage more people to seek treatment. The research capacity of lowand middle-income countries should be built through expanded academic collaboration and establishment of centres of excellence.
The resolution calls on the WHO Secretariat to continue to lead and coordinate support to Member States in addressing the global burden of epilepsy so that people with epilepsy can receive timely treatment and can benefit from educational and occupational opportunities, free from stigma and discrimination.
The Health Assembly welcomed the fact that delegates had reached consensus on many parts of the draft framework of engagement with non-State actors, noting that it wishes to finalize the
framework by the next Health Assembly. Delegates requested the Director-General to convene an intergovernmental meeting as soon as possible and to submit the finalized draft for adoption at the Sixty-ninth World Health Assembly. They asked the Secretariat to develop a register of non-State actors for next year’s Health Assembly. Delegates acknowledged the importance of WHO engaging with non-State actors (nongovernmental organizations, private sector entities, philanthropic foundations and academic institutions) and of ensuring that risks of such engagement are managed ro-
bustly at global, regional and country level.
Other actions
A central concern of this year’s World Health Assembly was the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and other emergencies. Delegates welcomed WHO’s commitment to make important changes in its emergency response work.
WHO will establish a new emergency response capability based on all-hazards preparedness with an emphasis on adaptability, flexibility, accountability, humanitarian principles, predictability, opportunity and country ownership. WHO also plans to
establish a contingency fund of US$100 million to finance emergency field operations for up to three months. The contingency fund will initially operate as a two-year pilot program and will be evaluated after that time.
Other actions by the World Health Assembly included: agreement on a global plan of action that seeks to improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance, strengthen surveillance and research, reduce the incidence of infection, optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines, and ensure sustainable investment in countering antimicrobial resistance.
Patience . It’s something many of us in the Empowering Parents community wish we had more of. In a recent poll, we asked readers about how you respond when your children act out. An overwhelming number of parents expressed the desire to develop more patience with their children.
for the umpteenth time) and find yourself using a tone of voice that belies any sense of calm or composure. It’s Monday morning and you’re frantically trying to get yourself and everyone else ready and out the door on time. Or you’ve just gotten home after a long day; you’re trying to get dinner on the table while also refereeing a squabble between two of your children and help-
Every one of us has a limit to how much he or she can tolerate. This doesn’t make us “bad” parents. It makes us normal parents.
But what exactly is patience? For many people, me included, patience means remaining calm, even in the face of a child’s extreme acting out behaviour. It means being able to keep your emotions in check so you can respond in the most appropriate or effective way, rather than yelling, cursing, or saying things you will regret later. Honestly, though, is being that patient even possible? I mean, it’s possible some of the time, but is it really an achievable goal?
Let’s look at some typical situations when parents often wish they could be “more patient”. Your daughter asks you (for the umpteenth time) for something you’ve already said no to, causing you to bellow a “NO!” that resounds through the entire house. You ask your son to pick up his dirty dishes (also
ing another with his homework.
I think that when you take a step back from these situations you may recognise it’s not really more patience that’s needed. What’s needed is a plan – for how to address your child’s lack of motivation or for dealing with your overly full plate – so that you can be patient. With that in mind, here are four steps can you take towards increasing your ability to be patient.
Identify your triggers
As specifically as possible, try to clarify when are you most likely to lose your patience, where that is most likely to happen, and with whom are you most likely to lose patience. For example, I tend to lose my patience early in the morning, late at night, or whenever there’s a time
constraint. Being tired or hungry can also shorten my fuse considerably. I re-
my anxiety level increases. My thoughts veer towards all or nothing thinking,
and respond in a way that is less than effective. Don’t underestimate the power
member when my children were younger, I would say as a pre-emptive warning: “Mom’s getting tired, which means Mom’s getting crabby. Remember what happens when Mom gets crabby.” Once you have a clear understanding of your triggers, you can move on to Step Two.
Observe how you respond
Take some time to observe what goes on with you when you are triggered. What happens in your body: increased heart beat, sweaty palms, hard time breathing, feel yourself getting hot? What thoughts do you have: he never does what I ask him to do; she always pushes back when I say no; why am I the only one who has to deal with this? How do you respond in the moment? All of this information is like the pieces of a puzzle – each adds a bit more to the picture and helps you determine your tipping point. My breathing gets shallow when I’m being triggered, and I start to feel my pulse racing as
like “why does she always do this when we’re running late?” These are my clues that my patience is starting to wear thin.
Develop a plan
Now that you know your triggers, you can develop a game plan for when they occur. This can include preplanning (ie, having transition time between work and home to allow you some down time or establishing clear house rules and expectations, writing those down, and having clear consequences if they aren’t met), planning for in the moment when it’s happening (stepping away from the power struggle, taking space to calm down, doing deep breathing exercises, developing some calming mantras), and also planning for ways you can follow up after things have calmed down.
This can include taking time by yourself to review the situation, sitting down with your child and problem-solving his choices, or apologising if you do happen to lose your patience
Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.
– Joyce Meyer
Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come. – Robert H Schuller
Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy. – Saadi
Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better take things as they come along with patience and equanimity. – Carl Jung
Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. – John Quincy Adams
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. – Jean-Jacques Rousseau
of an apology. Contrary to
popular wisdom, it doesn’t lessen your authority with your child. It does role model how to take accountability when your response is less than stellar. It took me a long time to be able to do this because it can feel as if you’re admitting fault and your child will somehow use it against you. There is always a chance this could happen. In my experience, it has made it much easier for my daughter and I to move past disputes.
Build in time for self care
Another important piece to maintaining patience is making sure you’re taking care of you as well as you are taking care of everybody else. We tend to put ourselves on the back burner far too often, to the detriment of ourselves and our children. It can be almost impossible to stay on an even keel when you’re frazzled and running on empty.
Taking time to do things you enjoy – activities outside the home, a night out with friends or your significant other, or just taking time to put your feet up and relax – not only recharges your batteries, but also role models self care for your children. I will admit that this one is still a struggle for me. I find it so difficult to put time aside for me to do the things I enjoy. I’ve gotten better, but it’s still a work in progress. As odd as it may seem, losing your patience can be a positive too, in that it can help you recognise when you’re stretching your resources too far.
If you think about times in the past when your patience has worn thin, you would probably recognise that it usually happens when you’re feeling overwhelmed, overloaded, and possibly underappreciated. Just as a rubber band will snap when stretched too far, so too will a parent’s patience.
We are only human after all! Every one of us has a limit to how much he or she can tolerate. This doesn’t make us “bad” parents. It makes us normal parents. I came across a definition for patience the other day that I believe is much more suitable to what it is a parent does, day in and day out: steady perseverance. Coming back, time and again, trying to be more effective, trying to do our best to help our children grow and develop into successful adults, that’s steady perseverance. It’s a different, more significant kind of patience: hanging in and doing the hard stuff, even when we feel like giving up.
(Empoweringparents.com)
The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Wednesday returned the file in the Mohamed Feroze Khan murder case to the Police.
It is unclear what advice was given as Police Detectives provided no details. Guyana Times reported on Sunday that a former Assistant Police Commissioner and a Sergeant who were implicated in the murder of Khan are expected to face Lennox Wayne also called “Two Colours” – the murder accused who claimed that he was contracted to kill the now dead businessman.
The two former Policemen were detained last Friday evening, but were subsequently released on Saturday after denying any involvement in the businessman’s murder. The houses of the two men were also searched, but there were nothing substantial that could be tendered as evidence of the criminal act.
A senior Police source had told the Guyana Times that the two men will come face to face with Wayne who disclosed that he was offered $500,000 to get rid of the businessman back in July 2014. He added that the accusations made by Wayne are merely assumptions after he recalled seeing a vehicle similar to that of the former Assistant Police Commissioner parked obliquely opposite Khan’s home on the West Bank of Demerara.
The two men were arrested after tel-
ephone records showed that they were in contact with the now dead man, but based on reports gathered, the two men provided alibis for August 9, 2014 – the day the former MFK Trading boss disappeared. Those are being looked at presently for verification. The senior Police rank stated that after the confrontation today, and based on the outcome, a file will be sent to the DPP who will then make her recommendations.
The decomposed, headless corpse of Khan was found on September 22, 2014 at Old Road, Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown. The head was re-
portedly found by workers attached to the Public Works Ministry who were weeding in the area. It was reportedly in a black plastic bag and was being carried by a dog. Upon the discovery, the men went to the area from where the dog came and stumbled upon the body. The businessman who resided in Venezuela after selling his Hadfield business left that country on August 21, 2014 to visit his Guyanese attorney.
He was expected to spend five days in Guyana and return to his three children and wife. After his disappearance, his family members contacted several of his friends, but no one had seen him. After the discovery, relatives of the businessman turned up at the Lyken Funeral Home and positively identified the remains as those of Khan by the underwear and a belt that were found on the corpse. Investigators believe that the man was beheaded before his body was dumped in the area.
On July 9, 2014, the 54-year-old businessman was shot to his abdomen by a gunman at La Grange, West Bank Demerara in a failed execution attempt. It was reported that a business deal had turned sour. At that time, he claimed that he had sold a property, but the buyer wanted to rob him of millions and he thought that the execution attempt might have been orchestrated by the buyer. Khan left the business world about six years ago after he received death threats.
The Caribbean region will increase its resilience to climate change by enhancing the adaptive capacity across the region through a US$10.39 grant approved by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) through support from the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).
The project is to be executed by the Mona Office of Research and Innovation (MORI), University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica and will be co-implemented by regional organizations working on climate change in the region including the Caribbean Community Climate change Centre (CCCCC); Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Climate Change Studies Group of UWI, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM).
The project is the implementation of the Investment Plan for the Caribbean Regional Track of the Pilot Programme For Climate Resilience (PPCR), and it will help the Caribbean region improve regional processes of climate relevant data acquisition, storage, analysis, access, transfer and dissemination, and pilot and scale up innovative climate resilient initiatives directly in PPCR countries
– Jamaica, Haiti, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
However it is expected that the region as a whole will benefit from the improved capacity and increased information and services related to climate change.
The project will focus on:
enhancement of the downscaled future climate projections in the Caribbean in support of adaptation planning, decision making, and sector level modeling/projection efforts will be key activities ; and (iv) the application of adaptation initiatives utilizing the information gener-
al approach to addressing the impacts of climate change and strengthen adaptation efforts across the region, providing an example for other regions globally. The US$10 million grant is a five year program and will be supervised by the Climate Change and Sustainability Division
(i) Improving geospatial data and management for adaptation planning, sea level rise and storm surge impact analyses – the use of radar in bathymetric and coastal topographic analysis will be a key activity; (ii) Consolidating and expanding the regional climate network and global platform linkages – improvements in the acquisition of weather data and climate services will be key activities; (iii) Downscaling and expanded climate projection models and high resolution maps – improvements to and
ated as part of the project in the areas of health, agriculture, marine resources, water and climate change policies. There will be a strong emphasis on disseminating the lessons learned and information generated from the implementation of the project activities as well as the information related to the benefits of the PPCR approach in building climate resilience to countries in the Caribbean.
Thanks to this programme the Caribbean will build on its historical region-
Local drug enforcement officers are now forced to revisit their security arrangements at the Ogle International Airport (OIA) after a Guyanese woman managed to smuggle almost 1.7 kilograms of cocaine out of Guyana on May 25.
passed security checks in Guyana. A senior drug enforcement officer told the Guyana Times that they remained baffled as to how the illicit drug got past security checks at the OIA. He stated that based on his knowledge, there are members of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU)
Ronda Williams, 27, was arrested moments after arriving at the Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados via a LIAT Flight. According to information received, upon arrival at the airport in Barbados, Williams was interviewed by Police and was subsequently referred to Customs Officials for a search to be conducted on her luggage.
During this search, the cocaine was found in three packages stashed in false compartments of the woman’s suitcases. Williams was arrested and was charged two days after with possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and importation of 1.7 kilograms of cocaine into Barbados.
Barbadian authorities have since contacted drug enforcement officers here in Guyana to assist with investigations, since it was not sure how the cocaine
and the Police Narcotics Branch present at OIA, and he was not sure where the breach occurred. Nevertheless, he stated that moving forward, security will be boosted.
Meanwhile, 44-yearold Danpaul Singh, who lives at Industry Hall, St Philip, Barbados, was also charged by drug enforcement authorities with two counts each of possession of cannabis, possession with intent to supply, and trafficking.
It was reported that on Saturday last, Singh, who vends at the Cheapside Market in Bridgetown, was searched by Police and a total of 250 grams of cannabis were found in his possession.
Upon the discovery, ranks subsequently secured a warrant to search Singh’s house where an additional 34 grams of marijuana were found. The man was arrested and charged.
within the Infrastructure and Environment Sector Department of the IDB. The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of longterm financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.
Aman was on Friday placed on $125,000 bail for a charge of unlawful wounding at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Claude Couchman, a 49-year-old mechanic of 442 Caneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on May 23 at Winnie Pool Backdam, he unlawfully and maliciously injured Virtual Complainant (VC) Roger Gonsalves with intent to maim, disable and disfigure.
In addressing the court, the defendant said that he
was eating with a cutlass close at hand when the VC attacked him, so he raised the cutlass in defence causing the VC to acquire the injuries. The Magistrate immediately cautioned Couchman, telling him to be careful as to not say anything to further incriminate himself.
Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru informed the court that the VC was in stable condition at the hospital and made no objection to bail.
The matter was transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for July 13.
An elderly man collapsed several times in court on Wednesday as a charge of damage to property was read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Anthony Forde, of 25
George and Princes Streets, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on February 18 at Princes Street, he unlawfully and maliciously damaged one front windscreen valued $40,000 and a tyre valued $5000 of
motor car HC 5636, property of the Virtual Complainant (VC) Cecil George.
The prosecution made no objection to bail and the Magistrate released the elderly man on his own recognisance after which she
transferred the matter to Court 11.
In Court 11, Magistrate Annette Singh who presided over that court told the defendant that he shall have to undergo trial which she scheduled to begin on June 17.
Aprima facie case has been established against Balgobin Persaud who has been charged with causing the death of Latchman Sukhdeo.
The charge which was read to him by Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts stated that on August 6, 2014, at Dennis Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, he drove a forklift in a dangerous manner causing the death of Sukhdeo.
The Magistrate told the defendant that based on the evidence, it is clear that he drove the vehicle in a dangerous manner resulting in the death of the deceased
and a prima facie case has been made out.
Persaud, who is a forklift operator associated with Crown Mining Supply and resides at 155 La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank
Demerara, offered his defence in an unsworn statement. The defendant, who is currently out on $1 million bail, claimed that he was driving from Crown Mining Supply’s building and while approaching Dennis Street, he stopped on the parapet. The man said he looked both ways when he noticed a motorcycle riding towards him. He said when the motorcycle got close to where the forklift was situated, the driver swerved away from a pothole causing him to swerve into the lane in which he was driving the forklift. He said after the incident, public spirited persons took the cyclist to the hospital.
The defendant said that a short while later, he went to the Kitty Police Station where he made a report. The matter has been adjourned for June 2 when a decision will be made.
A21-year-old construction worker was on Wednesday remanded to prison after he was charged with simple larceny by Magistrate Annette Singh in Court 11 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Omar Stevens, of Lot 28 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which
read that on May 25 at East Street, Georgetown, he stole one black RCA tablet valued $15,000 from the Virtual Complainant (VC), Jermaine Pilgrim.
According to Police Prosecutor Aduni Innis, on the day in question, the VC, who is an 11-year-old student of Winifer Gardens Primary School, was walking
along East Street with the tablet when the defendant snatched it and made good his escape. The young boy then raised an alarm and the defendant was apprehended by public-spirited citizens. A report was made to the Police and the defendant was arrested and charged.
The prosecution objected to bail based on the se-
riousness and prevalence of the offence. The Prosecutor also stated that it was likely that if granted bail that the defendant would not return to court as he gave the court and Police differing addresses. Bail was refused and the defendant was remanded to prison. The matter will return to court on June 15 at 13:00h for trial.
T...to the madness
o a lot of folks out there, the new APNU/AFC administration seems to be making it up as they go along. The “it”, of course, has to do with practically everything they’ve done since the Chief Elections Officer declared them the winner of the May 11 elections.
We’ve already talked about the slicing, dicing and puréeing of the Ministries of Government to cast them into completely new moulds that the populace is still trying to figure out.
Surely the power-that-be (since we’re still in the honeymoon period, like Lord Voldemort, we won’t mention his name! We’ll refer to him as “PTB”) couldn’t possibly have intended to bring most of his government to a halt because they can’t access funding because of the change of names, could he?
Nah!! So the only conclusion the man in the street can reach is that PTB’s playing it so close to his chest even his closest advisers didn’t get to warn him about unintended consequences and even possible “blowback”.
Now take this announcement of “national awards”. PTB did say he wanted to bring back this inherited practice. And there’s nothing wrong - and everything right - about recognising folks who’ve contributed to our national weal and welfare. That’s what the awards are there for! But there’s also a system in place for giving out the awards.
According to the Constitution of the Orders of Guyana, the President is the “Chancellor of The Orders of Guyana” and custodian of the insignia, ribbons and records of the orders.
There’s an Advisory Council which is supposed to submit a list of persons whom they believe is worthy of receiving one of the Orders. This Advisory Council comprises a Chairman, who’s the Chancellor of the Supreme Court of Judicature, and between five and seven other members.
Up to four of these members can only be appointed after the PTB “consults” with his PM. So did PTB actually consult with Nagamootoo about Hamilton Greene receiving an “Order of Roraima” - the second highest award in the land?
Also pertinent is that another member of the Council must be named after “consultation” with the Opposition Leader. Seems that would be kind of tricky seeing that we don’t even have an Opposition Leader yet!!
But what bothers this Eyewitness to no end...is the willingness of the members of the new order to flout the rule of law. It’s like the illegality that Hamilton Green, OR, just committed on Sooba - the Municipal Act is clear that he and the Town Council can’t discipline her.
And while PTB might have all good intentions in rehabilitating Hamilton Green, surely he shouldn’t go outside the law to do so.
Vincent Alexander’s one of the saner (old) heads in the political realm. Your Eyewitness was going to say “in the PNC”...but neither he nor Alexander knows where that relationship stands.
But be that as it may...Alexander obviously takes his role as the PNC-appointed GECOM Commissioner very seriously.
Your Eyewitness ploughed through Alexander’s 1500 word missive (almost Greenidge-like in its prolixity - but not quite!) and wondered what the heck he’d just read. Is he bucking for the Chair in Circumlocution now that Luncheon’s off the scene?
But in trying to counter the PPP/C GECOM Commissioner’s claims, all he said is that the PPP/C never provided their copies of the SOP’s for the boxes they wanted recounted.
Maybe so. But what was the harm in actually counting the ballots in a lousy 22 boxes (Alexander says 30) since the PPP/C’s said they’d accept the results if no discrepancy from the GECOM count was revealed?
Makes you wonder what they’re hiding doesn’t it?
The APNU/AFC coalition swore they’d achieved “national unity” with the AFC’s 11 per cent promise.
But from the crowd at the inauguration, it all appeared to be “Promises! Promises!” it?
The Ecuadorian Government will soon be establishing an Ecuadorian Embassy in Guyana.
This disclosure was made by the Ecuadorian non-resident Ambassador to Guyana, Dr Rafael Quintero Lopez during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times following his first visit to Guyana.
“The decision has [been] taken that we will establish an embassy right here in your country in the capital of Guyana,” he said. This move can be seen as another defining moment in strengthening Guyana’s relations with its South American neighbours.
Ambassador Quintero Lopez, who is also the Ecuadorian Ambassador to Venezuela, explained that his Government aims to improve on the diplomatic relationship the two countries have developed over the past 41 years.
“We have diplomatic relations with Guyana for more than 40 years but we never had an embassy, a physical embassy here,” he lamented.
The Ambassador revealed that the idea is to establish an embassy within the coming months and to dispatch a Charge d’Affaires during the first month of the embassy’s establishment in Guyana.
“This person will come and arrange everything and it prepares the establishment of the embassy with an Ambassador resident in Georgetown,” he said.
The Ambassador explained that the Charge d’Affaires will be dispatched to Guyana within the coming months and will remain until the Government of Guyana grants its agreement to Ecuador’s chosen Ambassador to take up residence in Guyana.
In the meanwhile, Quintero Lopez will remain as the non-resident Ecuadorian Ambassador to Guyana.
The Ambassador explained that, at this moment, he is unable to pronounce on which specific areas the countries would focus on developing and strengthening.
“This is a matter of discussion and agreements be-
tween the two parties because the relations that we always have in our foreign policy are a relation of ‘winwin’ to be complementary,” he explained.
He further disclosed that focus could be directed towards environmental protection, socioeconomic policies, science and technology, and the area of trade and commerce which can definitely see both nations learning and benefiting from each other in various ways.
Ambassador Quintero Lopez explained that Ecuador works on several infrastructural projects in other Caribbean countries and the same could be done in Guyana. However, he pointed out that everything needs to be discussed before it could be pronounced upon.
“This is a subject of discussion… I cannot announce which will be the areas of that cooperation if we haven’t discussed,” he stated.
Nonetheless, he noted that stronger bilateral cooperation can be beneficial to both nations regardless of which area.
“Having an Ambassador, woman or man here in Georgetown, will facilitate the linkages in our economy with our societies, with our cultures which are all complementary,” he noted.
Currently, Guyana and Ecuador share a relationship where Ecuadorians can travel to Guyana without a Visa and vice versa.
Meanwhile, other South American countries that already established their presence in Guyana are Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Venezuela.
Apair of housemates from 687 Pattensen, Turkeyen, was brought to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning after having a fight on the roadway near their home.
Fifty-nine-year-old Williams Giddings and 42-year-old Rita Khan were arraigned on several charges of assault and damage to property.
Giddings was charged for unlawfully assaulting Khan on May 20 in the vicinity of Pattensen and for unlawfully and maliciously damaging a Samsung Galaxy S3 valued $120,000.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge. His lawyer, Onika Archer, told the court that he has no pending matters and has four children.
Khan, on the other hand, was charged with
unlawfully assaulting Giddings. She pleaded not guilty to the offence. Her Attorney gave her details to the court, explaining that she was a housewife with four children and has had no previous court matters.
When he addressed the court, Police Prosecutor, Inspector John Singh expressed surprise that neither defence attorney told the court that the complainants/ defendants live together although in separate rooms. He stated that they have had this arrangement for six months now.
Prosecutor Singh did not detail if the four children were of their union or if they had a relationship, but this publication understands that the Khan sometimes goes by the name of Giddings.
The Prosecutor told the
court that on the day in question around 21:00h, Khan was driving in the Pattensen vicinity with others when Giddings confronted her and started an argument.
It was during this argument that Giddings removed his belt and Khan took out her cellular phone to capture him on video. He got upset at this, so he took the phone away and threw it to the ground.
Magistrate Zamina Ali sent both parties to receive counselling and placed them on a bond to keep the peace, else they would be imprisoned for two months.
She released them on self-bail, stating that she would not make a decision on the case until a probation report has been made up on both parties. The Probation Officer said this will be finished on July 13.
thursday, may 28, 2015
Hours after a Trinidad and Tobago national allegedly murdered his former employer’s common-law wife, Ashanti “Nicky” Debidin, out of jealousy, he surrendered to law enforcement authorities on Saturday evening last.
According to reports coming out of the twin-island republic, the 21-year-old man of Garth Road, Princes Town, contacted CNC3’s “Crime Watch” host who arranged to meet him outside the San Fernando Teaching Hospital.
After meeting the host, he was encouraged to surrender and complied. He was then taken to the Homicide Bureau Region Three at the San Fernando Police Station where he provided a detailed statement about the incident.
Debidin, 26, was found dead by her fiveyear-old son at their Garth Road, Princes Town home on Saturday.
It was reported that Debidin was murdered after lunch on Saturday. Her body was found in a sitting position propped against a wall in the kitchen.
Both wrists were slit and there was a gaping wound on her forehead. Her mother-in-law, Nazmoon Siewnarine, was reportedly in the upper flat of the house when the incident occurred. There were no signs of forced entry, and robbery as a motive for the murder was ruled out since nothing was stolen.
Two days after the gruesome murder, the dead woman’s common-law husband, Imray Siewnarine said the suspect reportedly told others that he chopped the woman after he ended their relationship.
The businessman reportedly told investigators that the suspect said he wanted him to feel the way he felt when he was dumped.
The murder suspect was employed by Siewnarine who even gave him money to take care of his seven-month-old baby and could not understand the motive for hurting his wife. Debidin and Siewnarine have been together for the past eight years and have a son. The last time Siewnarine claimed he saw the suspect was a few weeks ago in a fast food outlet where he was verbally abused. Siewnarine told Trinidadian media operatives that he was at work when the incident occurred. He said he left Debidin and their son at home and went to Chaguanas to complete a job.
“I got a phone call saying that Nicky dead. When I came home, I saw her body. I know someone killed her because she wouldn’t do this to herself,” Siewnarine said. Family members of the dead woman are still in shock, saying that they last spoke to the woman on Mother’s Day but at no point in time did she complain of any issues.
Acharge of attempted murder was reduced to a charge of unlawful wounding against a father of two on Wednesday when the case was called at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Zamina Ally.
The charge against the defendant, Albert Gardener, alleged that on December
21, 2014 at B Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously injured Jamal Laundry with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector John Singh had no objection to bail.
Magistrate Ally granted Gardener $40,000 bail and ordered him to return on June 19 for statements. A date for trial is expected to be set then.
Gardener pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was not represented by an attorney but told the court that he has never been accused of an offence before and has two children who depend upon him.
thursday, may 28, 2015|
Andrew CArmiChAel
Berbicians were appalled at utterances made by newly-appointed Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, as he wished them Happy Mashramani and otherwise fumbled during his feature address at a flag-raising ceremony Monday evening in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) to usher in Guyana’s 49th Independence Anniversary.
After boasting that only one new Ministry was added under the new A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government, Felix thanked Berbicians for their support at
the “May 15” Elections. A few sentences later in his presentation, the Minister corrected himself and said, “the May 11 Elections”, after being corrected by persons sharing the stage.
He said 49 years ago the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the United Force (UF) combined and put the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) out of office and the Party claimed it was cheated but not defeated back then.
He noted that today the PPP/ Civic was picketing and calling for a recount of ballots cast at the May 11 Elections. “What the PPP had not heard is the voice of the people,” he said. Many in the audience
were astonished and wondered at the relevance of his topic to Independence.
“The PPP go and give residents of Angoy’s Avenue light just before election; what happen to all the years before. They wanted you to vote for them, but you did the right thing – you vote them out –under this administration, there is widespread corruption….” There were shouts from the crowd that he should have said the previous administration. He continued: “All the PPP is doing shouting for recounts; they should recount the suffering they have brought the people of this land. That is what has been happening all over this country. You see that East Canje Road – the road going in from Islington to Sisters, in all those years, the PPP/C had not done that road. That road is always a problem.”
While the location he mentioned cannot be found in Guyana, he may have been referring to the East Bank Berbice Road and not the East Canje Road. “I want to tell you that your Government will not wallow in corruption. Your Government will make sure that taxpayers money don’t go on pet projects…,” the Minister added.
Several hundred New Amsterdamers and persons living in nearby communities had turned up at the flagraising ceremony at State House. The turnout was one
of the largest in recent times at a flag-raising ceremony in the town. When it was announced that the former Police Commissioner would be arriving to deliver the feature address, there was loud applause. Felix had previously served in New Amsterdam as Commander of B (Berbice) Division in his earlier days in the Guyana Police Force.
As he got deeper into his address, slowly persons started to leave and did not wait for the fireworks which traditionally follow the hoisting of the flag, at flag-raising ceremonies in New Amsterdam. “We want you to live in communities, there must be no racial issues and if there are, they must be settled amicably. People must live in peace. Guyanese must respect Guyanese. Guyanese must treat Guyanese as brothers of this land. That is what we campaigned for: peace in this land and unity among all people,” he added.
As he ended his presentation, Minister Felix made a call for peace. “Let peace reign in Guyana. I want to wish you a happy 49th Mashramani…” Most of those in attendance were aware that Guyana was about to celebrate its 49th Independence Anniversary and burst out into laughter.
Preserving the spirit of Independence
Meanwhile, Region Six Chairman David Armogan, who addressed the gathering earlier, noted that prior to Independence everything in Guyana revolved around the
Bookers brothers, noting that they owned the shops, stores, ships and sugar estates. In those days, he said, life was difficult and many organisations were formed in the late 1950s to carry the fight to the British since as a people, Guyanese could no longer take the suffering. “It was during the 1950s that [Dr] Cheddi [Jagan] and [Forbes] Burnham mobilised people to fight the British for our inde-
Burnham, the then Prime Minister after he accepted the instrument of independence, ‘the days ahead are going to be difficult. Tomorrow, no doubt, we as Guyanese will indulge in the usual political conflicts and differences in ideology. But today, to my mind, is above such petty matters. For today Guyana is free.’”
According to Armogan, the British thought us Guyanese would always be dependent
pendence. It was not given to us on a platter; we had to fight for it.”
He said when the Union Jack was lowered and the Golden Arrowhead was hoisted for the first time on May 26, 1966, there were loud cheers for the two men who took Guyana to independence. “I still recall the words of Forbes
and always look to others for assistance. “That is the theory of dependence and it is something that we Guyanese have to work towards eradicating. We have to learn to stand up on our own. We have to learn to do things on our own. We cannot continue to be depending on others…”
The Ministry of Presidency is yet to present the final copy of the list of prisoners who were granted pardons by President David Granger earlier this week as part of the country’s 49th Independence celebrations.
The President, in granting this gesture, outlined that only those persons who met the criteria set out by him would be eligible for pardoning. The criteria include prisoners who are facing short sentences; those who are incarcerated for petty, non-violent offences; and those prisoners between the ages of 18 and 24. This pardoned gesture applies to both female and male inmates.
During his feature address to the nation after being officially inaugurated on Tuesday, President Granger said he is determined more than ever to refashion society, and as such, granting pardons to some 60 convicted prisoners will afford them the opportunity to reintegrate themselves back into society and have a better life.
The President outlined that the list will feature mostly youths and women who were locked away on shortterm sentences for petty, nonviolent crimes.
“We shall allow them to leave prison to rejoin their
families, to get back to school and to take their place in society as citizens, not as denizens of prisons,” he stated. Granger outlined that his amnesty gesture is aimed at providing the opportunity for young people to access higher education so that they can have the opportunity to acquire satisfactory jobs after school.
“Too many of them start at the Onderneeming Primary School then graduate to the Camp Street Secondary School and matriculate at the Mazaruni University. Their time and talent are wasted in the penal system instead of in gainful employment,” he declared.
Furthermore, President Granger noted that the place for women is not in prison but out in society where they can build their lives. “We want them to be able to look forward to working for ‘living wages’ to enable them to cope with the cost of living… we will build a country in which women and girl children can look forward to living in safety and to being protected from abuse and violent crimes,” he added.
Earlier this week, the President told media operatives that the initial plan was to grant pardons only to females, however, there are not enough such prisoners to meet his criteria. “I particu-
larly asked for females, but apparently the females have been misbehaving at the same rate as the males… It turned out that there were a very small number of females who had actually committed minor offences,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Guyana Times was told by a senior official from the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) that the agency is prepared to carry out the official order by the President whenever they are in receipt of it. The official noted that once the Prison Service receives the list from the President’s Office, it intends to release the prisoners the very same day.
The pardons are expected to be granted to those prisoners who are convicted for minor offences such as common assault, assault causing actual bodily hard, possession of narcotics and larceny cases.
According to the newly inaugurated President, this pardon gesture is expected to be a yearly feature. The President has the constitutional powers to issue pardons to convicted criminals in accordance with Article 188 of the Constitution. Under Article 188 1 (A), the President has the power to grant any person concerned in or convicted of any offence under the law of Guyana a pardon either free or subject to lawful condition.
The A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)
Government has once again warned the defiant land grabbers against their unlawful activity as it urged those persons to simply apply for house lots, warning that lands squatted on after January 1, 1998 would not be regularised.
Since the announcement that the APNU+AFC Government has won the 2015 General and Regional Elections, hundreds of Guyanese strangely began combing their areas for unoccupied lands to start squatting.
The defiant land grabbers have already declared their reluctance to stop, claiming that the Government, particularly new President David Granger, promised to represent the rights of the poor people; therefore, they believe claiming these unoccupied lands would mean the new Administration will have to allow them to keep it if they truly intend to fulfil their promises.
But the Administration explained that residents will not be legally allowed to own the lands thereafter this bizarre, “systematic” land grabbing exercise.
The Government reiterated that squatting is an illegal act and as such, persons may be liable for
prosecution under the relevant Act.
The Granger-led administration has since been assuring residents that there was no need for such illegal activities as it assured all Guyanese that everyone will have fair and equitable access to lands.
The Government pleaded with the disenchanted citizens to simply apply to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) for house lots.
“Guyanese will be given fair and equitable access to land under Government’s land distribution policy. As such, CH&PA is requesting persons to desist from squatting and have patience as Government implements its policy,” the
P& P Insurance Brokers recently donated 17 pairs of complete uniforms to the football team of the Lodge Secondary School in Samaan Dr, Georgetown, to assist in their preparation for the Digicel Inter Secondary Schools Competition.
In brief remarks, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
P&P Bish Panday said he was happy to make the presentation and wished the team every success. In response, Leon Bishop, Sports Coordinator of the school, thanked the CEO for the timely gesture in donating to the football team. He assured that the donation will benefit them, immensely.
warnings against the instances of squatting, the Government also embarked upon other measures in an effort to bring an immediate halt to the exercise.
“Behind Diamond Housing Scheme, where there is empty land, has been the most sought area for land grabbers. CH&PA has since placed a sign board on the open space notifying the public that trespassers will be prosecuted,” the statement noted.
CH&PA will also be closely monitoring certain areas to ensure persons do not unlawfully occupy the lands.
The areas targeted to be
monitored are Government reserves and leased lands in villages like Sophia, Mon Repos, Enmore, Haslington, Nabaclis, Hope, Experiment and Bush Lot.
Meanwhile, the Ogle Airport also joined in the call to bring an end to the sudden grabbing of lands across Guyana.
The land grabbing escalated to the extent that defiant residents began marking their territories on airport owned lands.
Citizens particularly along the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara as well as Berbice are actively involved in this gross conduct.
The flows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the Caribbean sub-region shrank 4.7 % in 2014 to total US$6.027 billion dollars, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean said on Wednesday in its annual report Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2015. However Guyana has recorded a 19% growth with figures showing US$255M (GYD 52,836,704,490) last year comparing to US$214M
tion of 16 Member States in the Caribbean. Tourism is the sector that receives the most FDI in countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, while in other nations natural resources predominate (Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago). In Haiti and Jamaica FDI is principally aimed at the transportation and telecommunications sector.
in 2013.
The report was presented during a press conference at the organisation’s headquarters in Santiago, Chile. This nearly 5% decline in FDI directed towards Caribbean countries is less severe than the 16% drop registered in Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole, where flows fell to US$158.803 billion dollars in 2014 from US$189.951 billion dollars in 2013. Nevertheless, since 2008 FDI inflows into the Caribbean have fallen 37%.
The percentage of Foreign Direct Investment as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is relatively high in the Caribbean compared with other regions of the world, the study indicates. On average, these flows represent 4% of the sub-region’s GDP, and more than 10% in some of its economies, while in the rest of Latin America that percentage is fewer than 3%.
This dependence, combined with the concentration in terms of the receiving sectors (tourism and increasingly natural resources) and the countries of origin (mainly Canada and the United States), means that Caribbean countries are highly vulnerable to variations in FDI flows, the document stresses. ECLAC’s report analyzes the situa-
The Dominican Republic is the biggest economy and the top recipient of FDI in the sub-region (21% of flows go to natural resources, 26% to manufacturing and 23% to tourism). In 2014 it received US$2.209 billion dollars, up 11% from 2013 but still a far cry from the over US$3 billion dollars tallied in 2012. This country was followed by Trinidad and Tobago, which had inflows of US$1.394 billion dollars in 2014 (down 30% from 2013), Jamaica, which registered US$699 million dollars (an increase of 7%), and the Bahamas, with US$374 million dollars (9% less than in 2013).
Barbados jumped from US$5 million dollars in 2013 to US$275 million dollars in 2014 and Guyana rose 19% (to US$255 million dollars in 2014 from US$214 million dollars in 2013), while Antigua and Barbuda received US$167 million dollars (up 66% from 2013), Belize US$141 million dollars (48% more), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines US$139 million dollars (down 13%), and Saint Kitts and Nevis US$120 million dollars (down 13%).
Countries that had inflows of below US$100 million dollars in 2014 include Haiti (US$99 million dollars, down 47% from 2013), Saint Lucia (US$75 million dol-
Nlars, down 21% from 2013), Grenada (US$40 million dollars, 64% less than the previous year), Dominica (US$36 million dollars, equivalent to a 36% increase), and Suriname (US$4 million dollars, down 97%).
Meanwhile, Cuba updated in 2014 its legislation regarding foreign investment with the objective of improving the country’s allure in this area and giving greater protection to investors. Currently the biggest investments in that country are co-financed by the State, although improving diplomatic relations with the United States are being watched closely, along with other factors.
According to the study, the reason for the significant amounts of Foreign Direct Investment going into the Caribbean lies in the active promotion policies applied by countries in the subregion. These policies range from actions to improve the overall business climate to the use of financial measures to stimulate FDI inflows, such as exemptions on income tax and customs duties. Upon analyzing the available evidence regarding the impact of these incentives, the organization recommends that Caribbean countries revise their usefulness, taking into account the high fiscal costs that these measures imply for their economies and the competition generated between countries in their bid to attract projects. One aspect to take into consideration is the fact that, on average, the repatriation of profits derived from Foreign Direct Investment is equivalent to more than three-quarters of the FDI inflows into the Caribbean, especially in countries such as Barbados, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Currently, in the framework of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), proposals have been made to align these benefits, which could be useful for taking full advantage of the potential of FDI, including the possibility of improving economies’ competitiveness, the text emphasises. In this sense, ECLAC encourages countries to advance towards a coordinated policy of FDI promotion, based on the concept that attracting bigger flows is less important than their impact on productive diversification and their convergence with long-term national development plans centered on equality of rights and environmental sustainability.
ewly inaugurated President David Granger has promised that his administration will be offering its full support to the Caribbean Community (Caricom), noting that his Foreign Affairs Ministry has been exclusively tasked with this responsibility. The Head of State was addressing thousands during his inauguration speech at the Guyana National Stadium on Tuesday Afternoon.
The President said his administration will strengthen ties with Guyana’s neighbours, beginning with the Caribbean. He said the new Foreign Minister, Carl Greenidge, has been tasked with “working tirelessly with every single state of the Caribbean Community and the wider Caribbean to ensure complete compliance with the Treaty of
Chaguaramas, which established the regional grouping.
Just last month, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that while countries across the region have been successful at the Caricom Single Market Economy (CSME), they are yet to reach the “economy” aspect of that accord. Gonsalves said that more still needs to be done by regional countries in terms of their tenacity and speed to see the full realisation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy.
Guyanese over the years have been humiliated by immigration officials in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Similar treatment has been meted out to citizens of Jamaica and some of the smaller Caribbean islands. Gonsalves, while
acknowledging this, said Guyana remains a pillar in the community of the CSME. CSME is an integrated development strategy envisioned at the 10th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, which took place in July, 1989 in Grand Anse, Grenada.
The Grand Anse Declaration has three key features including the deepening of economic integration by advancing beyond a common market towards a single market and economy, the widening of the membership and expansion of the economic mass of the Caribbean Community and the progressive insertion of the region into the global trading and economic system by strengthening trading links with non-traditional partners.
The Guyana Reparations Committee (GRC) is still to have an official meeting with the new Administration, the Committee’s Chairman, Dr Eric Phillips, has said. Phillips stated that while he has already spoken to the President via telephone, they are still to have an official meeting to lay out their plans and programmes for the Committee. This, he said, should be done in a month’s time.
The meeting will also brief the Head of State on the policies and expectations of the Committee, particularly because reparations are on the agenda for the Caricom Heads of Government meeting next month. Phillips said the Administration, while it was in the Opposition, was always briefed on developments in equal proportion as the then Government.
In January 2014, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) issued a 10-point programme for “Reparatory Justice” that framed their reparations demands as a “development strategy”. The transatlantic slave trade brought over 10 million captured Africans to work as chattel slaves in sugar and cotton plantations throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. It was the largest forced migration in human history. Today, Caricom nations have a population of 16 million, and the Diaspora in the United States, Canada and Europe is about four to five million people.
Just last month, Guyana’s participation in the International Conference of Reparations held in the United States on April 9-12, yielded much success, GRC, Dr Eric Phillips said. Among those successes were the establishment of a Global
Reparations Committee and the decision by the United Nations General Assembly to declare 2015-2024 as the Decade for People of African Descent.
Phillips, who was accompanied by Dr James Rose to the event held at York University, told Guyana Times that the Conference had over 12 delegations from Caribbean countries. This is the first time the United States has also established a reparations committee, and so have numerous countries around the world.
The three-day conference, hosted by the Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW), also ended with a call for Caribbean Governments to move ahead with the recommendation that the slave-owning and slave-trading European nations be invited to attend an inter-governmental reparatory justice summit in 2015.
An objection to bail was overruled on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for a woman suspected of trafficking narcotics, when the defence’s special reason of innocence was accepted.
Both David Cole and Fay Jones, 37, were brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, for the second time, after seeking advice on the case from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
On the duo’s first appearance in court on May 25, they were read charges of narcotics possession with the intent to traffic on May 22 while in Mckenzie, Linden. The Chief Magistrate had then ordered that the matter be taken to the DPP for
advice.
The Police Prosecutor had reported that the accused were found with 850 grams of marijuana at about 15:00h, after a search was conducted on a route 72 minibus (GeorgetownLethem) they were travelling in. However, some confusion remained over who actually had control of the bag, as the bag was being carried by both Cole and Jones. Therefore, both were charged for the offence.
However, Jones’s Attorney, Gordon Gilhuys stated that this was not the case; stating that the bag belonged to Cole. He further detailed that his client was a reputable businesswoman in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) where several persons usually travelled to receive her business services. It was also mentioned that she has two children. Cole, on the other hand, was not represented by counsel. He told the court that he is from Campbellville, Georgetown, but works as a pork knocker. He also admitted to once being charged with assault, but said he was never convicted of it.
On Wednesday afternoon, the prosecution reported that the DPP was unable to look at the case due to lack of time. Thus, Chief Magistrate SewnarineBeharry ruled that there is no evidence pointing to Jones in relation to the joint charge against the duo. With this, the Chief Magistrate granted Jones bail in the sum of $100,000.
The West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) serves as the referral hospital in Region Three, offering medical service to thousands of people residing on the West Coast, West Bank, as well as the Essequibo islands including Leguan and Wakenaam.
However, while the hospital offers similar services to the country’s main referral hospital – the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) – there is need for some additional services. According to newly appointed Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, the new A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government will ensure key services, such as a 24-hour theatre, are put in place shortly.
“The West Dem Hospital should be of a quality not too different from the Georgetown Hospital, how-
ever, no doubt more resources need to be available to this hospital,” Minister Norton said during a visit to the West Demerara Regional Hospital on Wednesday. The staff of the hospital were applauded for their hard work and dedication, and especially for the hygiene of the entire facility. The Minister noted that “the staff know exactly what they want, understand their limitations, conscious of their challenges and give the impressions that they want to overcome those challenges.”
Minister Norton also interacted with the staff and a number of concerns were raised, including the shortage of drugs and the unavailability of key equipment which forces them to refer patients to the GPHC. The Minister said “Like so many other areas that affect, the health sector in general, like the on and off availability of drugs, medical equip-
NA Deputy Mayor to be laid to rest today …will
New Amsterdam
Deputy Mayor Harold Dabydeen will be missed by the town. So says Mayor Claude Henry. Dabydeen passed away on Friday and is expected to be laid to rest today. His funeral service will be held at the New Amsterdam Anglican Church.
The late Dabydeen died at the New Amsterdam Hospital less than one hour after going there seeking medical attention. A postmortem performed on the body on Wednesday gave the cause of death as myocardial infarction which resulted from coronary thrombosis (heart attack).
Mayor Henry said Dabydeen was a people’s person and had a lot of influence as he dealt with municipal matters in a fair way.
“Even though sometimes we don’t see eye to eye, we always come to a compromise and do what has to be done in the interest of the people,” he said.
ment or materials, it is plaguing this hospital, the issue of catheters, or proper sutures and some essential medications. It’s happening all around. I get that while the authorities (the staff) are conscious of this, they are always willing to do the necessary things to correct the situation.”
As it relates to the neonatal unit, while there is adequate equipment, there is a shortage of staff. “That unit is not functioning and many of times premature babies have to be transferred to Georgetown, we have a shortage of foetal monitors and so on, and those are things we need to put in place as early as possible,” the Minister emphasised.
Dr Norton was also concerned about the maternal unit, which he said needs to be extended and some additional equipment put in place. The dental unit also needs an extension and additional equipment. “The mere fact that your den-
tal surgeons can say that they need three more chairs and I know where I am going to place them, tells you that they are quite familiar with their work,” Minister Norton said.
Another issue raised was the fact that nurses who
sue immediately needs to be corrected because frustration can prevent the nurses from performing at their maximum.
Meanwhile, a visit was also made to the Versailles Health Centre. This facility was constructed in
be rectified shortly, he said. He said that with proper accountability and maximum utility, health services provided to the citizens of Region Three can be greatly improved. The Minister was accompanied by the Regional Health Officer
were trained four years ago have not been appointed by the region, and as a resulted are not remunerated in the correct scale. Minister Norton stressed that this is-
2010 on a wide expanse of Government land, and according to Minister Norton, yet it’s cramped for space, which causes the staff some discomfort. This issue will
His passing came as a shock to municipal workers, the Mayor said. “Knowing that we spoke and he showed no signs of illness, it was a shocker for me. We were last together on Friday at the municipal dumpsite at Esplanade. He seemed to be okay; we visited the dumpsite and other areas where we have problems with persons dumping solid waste in the pathway of the dump site and we learnt that there are a lot of persons coming from the Corentyne and misusing the dumpsite. We are asking them to refrain from doing,” Henry said.
“His death will affect the town of New Amsterdam, because on all of the occasions when I am not there he fills in for me, so it means in this point in time it means that we will have to get another person to fill that position, but I know that I could have counted on him to be where I am supposed to be and to do whatever I am supposed to do.”
Trinidadian politi-
cian and former FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) official Jack Warner is among several powerful figures in global football facing charges over widespread corruption over the past two decades, the New York Times reported. In a media release this morning Warner disassociates himself from the investigations stating that he has left FIFA and international football more than four years ago.
“My name is being reported by international media as being one of those persons sought in connection with the probe...The people of Trinidad and Tobago
know that I quit FIFA and international football more than four years ago and that, over the past several years, I have recommitted my life to the work of improving the lot of every citizen of every creed and race in this nation,” Warner said.
Reaffirming his innocence, Warner stated that
Aformer Petrobras Executive was sentenced in Brazil to five years in prison for money laundering. Federal Judge Sergio Moro said that prosecutors’ evidence suggested that Nestor Cervero spent bribes on an apartment in Rio de Janeiro.
Cervero is the second Petrobras Executive to be convicted amid an ongoing investigation. He was fired in 2014 and arrested in January. More than 100 people have been indicted and 50 politicians are under investigation for taking bribes.
Paulo Roberto Costa, former Petrobras Director of refining and supply, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison last month. He signed a plea bargain agreement with prosecutors and will serve one year, under house arrest.
The authorities have accused former Petrobras Executives and a handful of engineering firms of inflating the value of service contracts and banking the excess funds.
Cervero’s lawyer, Edson Ribeiro, denied the charges at the time and did not im-
mediately respond to a request for comment, according to the Reuters News agency.
Last month, Petrobras took a US$2 billion charge for costs related to corruption and published accounts for last year showing an overall loss of US$7.2 billion. The company’s results also bore an impairment charge of US$14.8 billion reflecting the decreased value of its assets. (BBC News)
he was afforded no due process and was not questioned on the matter.
He further stated, “I reiterate that I am innocent of any charges. I have walked away from the politics of world football to immerse myself in the improvement of lives in this country where I shall, God willing, die.” he said.
Warner claimed that FIFA matters no longer concern him and added that his sole focus is now on the people of Trinidad and Tobago and he will continue with his political life. “That is no longer my concern. My sole focus at this stage of my life is on the people of Trinidad and Tobago…,” he said. (See stories on pages 20 and 24) (Excerpt from the Guardian)
About 300,000 people from Haiti’s choleraaffected rural areas and small towns will benefit from increased access to clean water and sanitation as a result of a US$50 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) approved on Wednesday by the Board of Directors of the World Bank.
The sustainable rural and small towns water and sanitation project aims to save lives by preventing cholera and waterborne diseases in high prevalence zones, and strengthen the capacity of local agencies to
Twelve years after finding the first traces of pesticides used by the pineapple industry in the rural water supply, around 7000 people from four communities in Costa Rica’s Caribbean region are still unable to consume their tap water.
The communities of Milano, El Cairo, La Francia and Luisiana are located in the municipality of Siquirres, 100 kilometres North-East of the capital, San José, in an agricultural region where transnational corporations grow pineapples on a large scale. For years the four towns have depended on tanker trucks that bring in clean drinking water.
“It’s hard,” the Head of the Milano community water board, Xinia Briceño, stated. “And while the truck used to come every day, now it comes every other day. And when it breaks down, or there’s an emergency in some other place, or it’s a
holiday, people go without drinking water for up to four days.”
Briceño, the President of the community association that runs the rural water system in Milano is frustrated with the delay in resolving the situation. “As of next August we will have been dependent on the tanker truck for eight years.”
Since August 22, 2007, these rural communities have only had access to water that is trucked in. They cannot use the water from the El Cairo aquifer because it was contaminated with the pesticide bromacil, used on pineapple plantations in Siquirres, a rural municipality of 60,000 people in the Caribbean coastal province of Limón.
“Chemicals continue to show up in the water,” Briceño said. “During dry periods the degree of contamination goes down. But when it rains again the chemicals are reactivated.”
(Excerpt from Caribbean 360)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is launching a special project aimed at building capacity for dietary salt reduction in the Caribbean.
The Health Organisation said the project, which begins on June 1, is a joint effort of American Heart Association, Healthy Caribbean Coalition, WHO Collaborative centre for social marketing at University of South Florida and Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).
The project will be applied through civil society coalitions in five countries – The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, St Vincent and Grenadines, and Antigua – and is aimed at preparing countries for their work in changing a social norm around salt/sodium consumption.
Meanwhile, a survey that will compare and contrast salt content of children’s meals both within and between countries for different restaurant chains, to understand the market
in order to negotiate with manufacturers to reduce salt, will be undertaken soon.
The organisers said that in line with previous “International Food Products” survey product protocol, they have collected product data on children’s meal for children aged four to six years served in over 30 different countries from international restaurants and fast food establishments such as Burger King, KFC, McDonald’s and Subway. (Antigua Observer)
deliver water and sanitation services in rural areas and small towns.
Haiti has made progress in controlling the cholera epidemic since the 2010 outbreak, with reported case numbers decreasing from a monthly average of more than 30,000 in 2011 to about 2200 cases per month in 2014. However, due to heavy rains, cases rose sharply in the first quarter of 2015, to a monthly average of 3400 cases.
While deaths from cholera and waterborne diseases declined last year and remain below one per cent of cases, cholera resurgence
remains a threat and water borne diseases are one of the leading causes of infant mortality in the country.
“We hear a lot in Haiti that ‘Water is life.’ With this project we have an opportunity to make this a reality for hundreds of thousands of Haitians,” said Benito Dumay, Director General of the National Water and Sanitation Directorate –DINEPA. “This project supports the Government’s 10year cholera elimination plan and aims to prevent thousands more Haitian children from dying from waterborne diseases.” (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)
Vincentians desirous of pursuing degree courses from the University of the West Indies (UWI) will be able to do so without having to spend a number of years on campuses overseas. This, when the UWI Open Campus of St Vincent and the Grenadines located in Kingstown is upgraded by September 2016, will provide students with “comfortable learning commons to accommodate them with modern facilities”.
The news was disclosed by Dr Luz Longsworth, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the UWI Open Campus, during the launch of the UWI Open Campus Development Project. Dr Longsworth highlighted the role of the Open Campus, citing that it “has begun a transformative process that will mesh our virtual and physical presence to bring UWI to you wherever you are.”
The Project is supported by national, regional and international donor organisations, in-
cluding the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Government of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Development Strengthening Distance Education in the Caribbean project.
According to Dr Longsworth, more than “40 continuing and professional education programmes and courses in areas as diverse as real estate management, security studies, journalism and financial management” will be accessible in the new building.
Michelle Cross Fenty, Director of Projects at the CDB, expressed profound satisfaction with the bank’s involvement with the expansion of the Open Campus facility. She looked at investment in education as “imperative” in the fight to stop or reduce the incidence of crime, and expressed concern about the “risks” the society faces from “drop-out and disconnected youths”.
(Excerpt from the Vincentian)
Ethiopia’s ruling party and its allies have won a landslide victory in the country’s Parliamentary Elections, based on preliminary results from the weekend polls, the country’s electoral board has said. In results announced by the board on Wednesday, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and its allies have so far won all of 442 seats declared, leaving the Opposition empty-handed. The results of voting in the remaining 105 seats are yet to be announced.
The charges of abuse were dismissed by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, EPRDF’s Leader, which has been in power for almost 25 years. The party was widely expected to sweep the vote.
Lines could be seen forming in front of polling stations on Sunday in what appeared to be a relatively high turnout. More than 36.8 million voters had reg-
istered for the elections; a 26 per cent increase compared to 2010.
Most of the voters indicated that they voted for the ruling party, but also reported that, on Sunday afternoon, ruling party members were conducting door-todoor campaigns to ensure voters attended. “In my area, the EPRDF supporters went from house to house. They knew if you had voted or not,” said a voter who re-
fused to give his name.
The lead-up to the elections was marred by allegations by the leading Opposition parties over intimidation of Opposition members as well as obstruction of the campaigning and voter registration process. ”It was not an election, it was an organised armed robbery,” Merera Gudina, who ran under one of the opposing parties, stated. (Excerpt from BBC News)
The European Commission has called on European Union (EU) member states to take in 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea who will land in Italy and Greece over the next two years.
The idea of using quotas to resettle those who have made it to Europe has caused controversy in some EU states. The United Kingdom (UK) Government says that it will not take part in such a system. France, Spain, Hungary, Slovakia and Estonia have also all voiced concerns. Denmark has the right to opt out of the plan, while Ireland and
the UK can decide whether they wish to opt in.
The plan applies to Syrian and Eritrean nationals who arrive in Italy or Greece after April 15. The Commission said it could also apply to Malta if it also faced a sudden influx of migrants.
This is in addition to moves announced earlier this month by the EU for a voluntary scheme to settle 20,000 refugees fleeing conflict who are currently living outside the EU. Of the 40,000 migrants considered “in clear need of international protection”, the Commission says Germany
would take in 8763 migrants, France would take in 6752, and Spain would take in 4288.
Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Home Affairs Commissioner, said it was not proposing “the fixing of quotas...for migration in general” and but it was “up to each member to decide how many refugees they will grant refugee status to”. “We only propose – and we insist on that – a fair distribution of a concrete number of migrants in clear need of international protection across the European Union,” he said. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Pakistani investigators have detained the head of a global Internet technology firm suspected of an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud selling fake university degrees online. Axact’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shoaib Sheikh and his deputy, Waqas Atiq, were taken into custody after a raid at their Karachi offices on Tuesday night.
Officials said hundreds of thousands of blank degree forms, student cards and authentication documents were found. Axact has called the claims “baseless”. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Chief for Sindh province, Shahid Hayat, told media that the agency had enough evidence to proceed against
Sheikh on charges of fraud, forgery, money laundering and violation of electronic transactions law. Sheikh was taken into custody 10 days after the International New York Times published allega-
Aheat wave in India has killed more than 1100 people this week as temperatures soar above 47 degrees Celsius (116.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and doctors’ leave have been cancelled to help cope with the increasing sickness.
May and June are India’s hottest months, with temperatures regularly pushing above 40 degrees Celsius. But meteorologists say the number of days when temperatures approach 45 degrees Celsius has increased in the past 15 years.
The death toll in the worst affected states of Andhra Pradesh in the
South-East and nearby Telangana is more than double the toll from a shorter hot spell there last year, officials said, with most of those killed elderly or labourers suffering sunstroke or dehydration. The toll in Andhra Pradesh alone is 852.
Authorities have cancelled doctors’ leave and advised people not to head outside in the middle of the day to avoid the worst of the heat, but for many Indians, staying indoors is not an option. “I get headaches, fever sometimes. But (if I stay indoors) how will I make money?” scrap collector Akhlaq,
28, said in the capital Delhi, where temperatures touched 45 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. The heat wave entered its sixth day in parts of the south. That’s double the time they generally last, according to YK Reddy, a Government meteorologist in Hyderabad in one of the worst affected regions.
Blamed on dry continental air blowing in from Iran and Afghanistan, the heat wave is forecast to subside later this week before monsoon rains bring relief to parched areas of the east and south. (Reuters)
Tony Blair is to step down next month as special representative of the Quartet of international powers seeking a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, after making little headway for nearly eight years and amid near-constant controversy about his role.
Officials in Jerusalem said the former British
tions that the software firm based in Karachi was running a worldwide degree scam. Raids took place at Axact offices in Karachi and Islamabad. Equipment was confiscated, records impounded and dozens of Axact employees were briefly detained for questioning.
Axact has strenuously denied the allegations against it. On its website it said, “Axact provides a comprehensive education management system that benefits diverse bodies of students and caters to all types of educational institutions – online and traditional.
All 10 business units of Axact are completely legitimate, legal and committed to enhancing the quality of IT services across the world.” (Excerpt from BBC News)
Prime Minister had written to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Kimoon, to confirm his resignation.
Quartet representatives met late on Wednesday in Brussels to discuss the implications of Blair’s departure, including whether he would be replaced. But sources close to the grouping insisted that he would not be “disappearing from the scene” and would con -
tinue to work in a personal capacity to foster peace.
Blair took on the Middle East job shortly after he left Downing Street in June 2007, and was given the task of helping develop the Palestinian economy and improve governance. But he struggled from the start.
Critics in Britain in particular focused on his responsibility for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and while Palestinians initially welcomed the appointment of such a high-profile figure, he quickly became seen as being too close to the Israelis, who were then, as now, far more powerful than the Palestinians still living under occupation.
The Quartet, founded in 2002, is composed of the US, EU, Russia and the UN. It became a byword for sluggish and incremental diplomacy that rarely challenged the status quo. It was overtaken by efforts led by the Obama administration to achieve a peace agreement that also failed.
(Excerpt from The Guardian)
The United States (US) urged international creditors to show more flexibility in negotiations with Greece’s cashstrapped Government to avert a possible Greek default and exit from the euro zone with incalculable consequences.
US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew issued the warning on Wednesday in a stopover in London on his way to a meeting of Group of Seven Finance Ministers in Dresden, Germany. “My concern is not the goodwill of the parties – I don’t think anyone wants this to blow up – but... a miscalculation
could lead to a crisis that would be potentially very damaging,” Lew told students at the London School of Economics. “The challenge for the Europeans, the political and economic institutions – the IMF (International Monetary Fund) – is to show enough flexibility,” he said.
Washington is the dominant shareholder in the global lender and also sees strong geopolitical grounds for keeping Greece firmly anchored to the European Union. Finance Ministers from the US, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Britain and Canada are
meeting in Dresden today and Friday, and although Greece is not formally on the agenda, it will be discussed on the sidelines.
Greece’s Government has said it does not have enough money to repay loans from the International Monetary Fund without further help from Europe.
A senior European Union (EU) source said behind the scenes, the United States was leaning heavily on the IMF and on Germany to be more conciliatory towards Greece to permit a deal, if Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also makes a significant move. (Excerpt from Reuters)
thursday, may 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
Guyanese on Wednesday shared their views on the contentious sacking of veteran Test batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the West Indies ahead of the two-Test match series against the visiting Australians.
Stephen Veerasammy
I think it shows the disrespect the WICB and selectors have for their players. If administrators can have no sentiment for one of the most loyal servants to West Indies cricket and the second highest run getter how can you blame cricketers for choosing T20 cricket over West Indies matches? Look at India who planned an entire series just to give Tendulkar a sendoff…the West Indies board needs to care more about its players.
Halvard Seamey
I think that the decision to drop Chanderpaul is a very poor one made by the relevant authorities. The work that he has been doing over the past years is commendable and I must say that he is a great cricketer. I hope these views reached the ears of those who are part of the West Indies Cricket Board and after listening to the views, they will be forced to alter their decision.”
Natasha Morrison
I am very saddened about what has happened. He is a very admirable and hardworking cricketer who has made tremendous contributions to our team. His efforts are recognised in the many matches that have been occurring over the past years and I am sure that a majority of the nation is displeased with this decision.
Akshaya Persaud
“Dropping a person of such high calibre is a really tough decision to make. Shiv deserves a better send-off. If West Indies team is rebuilding a young squad they surely need Shiv in it because he’s a man with great experience and any team rebuilding would need Shiv’s service and inputs. Also, the selectors should have given Shiv a notice since before the England home series in the Caribbean that they will not include him in the team anymore. Shiv being one of the greatest servants to West Indies and Guyana cricket deserves a better send-off. A person with more than over 20 years experience and who has played cricket throughout the cricketing world whether Test cricket, One Day cricket or franchise cricket should be given a home series to mark his last series before retiring.”
Errol Williams
I felt really bad about the decision. As everyone knows, he is a man that stood by the team during the good and bad times and age has nothing to do with this. For the past eight years now he has been thriving and working along to ensure that his status is maintained. Just a few more runs apart he is from Brian Lara and to take out a man of that status is something anyone will be surprised about.
Tony Mohammed Words cannot describe the feeling I got when I heard that our own Chanderpaul was dropped from the West Indies team. In my view this is a very poor decision and I honestly think that he should have been given a chance to further enhance his work and continue to make the nation proud. I am of the hope that this decision will be changed and our cricketer will be able to get back on the field.
Brian Makenson
I was very shocked when I got the news that Guyana’s senior cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been dropped from the West Indies team. Over the past years he has done a very great job for our nation and the status he was able to attain I honestly do not think anyone can achieve that. Chanderpaul has been with the West Indies team for quite a while now and no matter what one cannot deny his significant contributions especially in the time when the team needed him the most.
Debra Payne This is totally unfair and the relevant members on the West Indies
Board should have given him a chance to at least play the last two Test matches against Australia and then if he wanted to resign, he would have taken it up from there. They should have given him a chance to make the rest of the runs so that he could have broken Brian Lara record. He was one of the mainstays in the West Indies team when the other players failed and I do not think that they will ever be able to replace him with anyone else to play the role that he has played.
is an extremely great
and I love his work.
Anuradha Ramdeholl Devastating news fills the air as it regards the dismissal of Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the West Indian team. Over the years Chanderpaul offered a great deal of long time service and contributed outstanding skills and expertise towards cricket in his years of services and was seen as an iconic role model by many within the cricket fraternity. The West Indies Cricket Board should reconsider their absurd action of letting him go and I strongly believe that it will only serve as a detriment on their behalf.
Anumber of rice farmers are up in arms against the SAJ Rice Group Inc Burma Mill over the delay in payments for paddy supplied to the company.
The farmers, who asked not to be named, contacted Guyana Times on Wednesday disclosing that they have not been receiving their full payments for the past two months and, as such, they are in an awful financial crisis. Their main source of income stems from their operations at the mill and due to this situation they are unable to repay their debts. The farmers also stated that they have taken loans from the various commercial banks to offset their expenses and are worried, because of current unemployment and
having no back up jobs, that they will not be able to sustain their homes.
Some of farmers highlighted that the issue of late payments has been a sore subject. From their experience they can tell that when all the farmers get paid at once, there is massive confusion at the mills since everyone goes out into the fields to conduct their operations at the same time. This results in long lines to offload the paddy, and slows down the process.
Others lamented that when they do business with the rice complex at Burma, they are told that they would be paid for their paddy within a month, but most times are forced to wait until they harvest another crop before they can receive payment for the pre-
vious one. In addition, the farmers stated that they were advised by their fellow workers that the final declarations on the same amount of paddy, when taken to other rice milling entities in other parts of the country, sometimes exceeds their estimations. On this note, the farmers explained that they are paid $2665 per bag of paddy as compared to the other entities, which pay $3000 per bag.
Commending the efforts of Hack and Nand Persaud Milling Companies, the farmers at SAJ Rice Group Inc said that that they admire those companies because they are consistent in their payments; when the farmers supply the paddy they get pay at the set time or at a very timely date. One of the famers stated that
they had previously raised their concerns with the General Manager of SAJ Rice Inc, Carlos Carbos, who assured them that he and the other employees will get their payments for the tons of paddy supplied to the company. However, it has reached two months and no comments have been given regarding this issue. When the farmers tried to contact the company on a follow-up, they were told that they will get their payments soon enough. However, the frustration has reached to the level where the farmers are in an uncontrollable state and is extremely dissatisfied with the conditions they have to work under.
In an interview with Carlos Corbos on Wednesday, Guyana Times
was able to understand that the unavailability of sustainable export markets for rice and its by-products has severely hampered the payment payouts. Carlos explained that if the markets were sustainable, the millers would not have a problem paying rice farmers promptly. He said that if the millers are unable to sell the rice, it would be expected that they would be unable to pay the farmers. He sought to emphasise that both parties need to be fair with each other.
The General Manager further explained that the payment delays have coincided with the tensions during the pre and post election period and, as such, the company was not able to secure its usual operations and pay their employees in
a timely manner. However, he explained that almost 40 per cent of the payments were made to a few employees because he understands that they highly depend on their income to carry out their operations.
Taking note of the issues that have risen over the past weeks, he maintained that SAJ Mill is taking all possible steps to ensure that the farmers receive the monies owed to them. However as of now, he is requesting that they understand the current position of the company as they progress towards ensuring that their employees are treated appropriately, and seeking to enhance and strengthen the employer and employee working relationship.
thursDAY, mAY 28, 2015 |
Moments before a businessman and his wife were slated to depart Guyana, they were attacked and robbed by two armed bandits along Brickdam, Georgetown on Wednesday. Singh (only name given), who was visible shaken, was relieved of $800,000 by the two men who were on CG motorcycles.
Based on information received, prior to the robbery, the couple withdrew the money from Demerara Bank located at the corner of Camp and South Road, Georgetown. According to investigators, the men might have been monitoring the businessman’s movements.
As the couple continued their journey, they made a stop at a store in Brickdam with the aim of collecting some items to take with them on the trip. As Singh stopped the car, the two men appeared at the front passenger window and discharged a round, shattering the window.
The perpetrator then ordered the man and his wife to hand over the bag with money, threatening to shoot them if they resisted. Out of fear, the woman who was holding the bag containing the money handed it over to the two men, who then made good their escape. By this time, persons who were in the vicinity and witnessed the robbery, immediately alerted ranks at the Brickdam Police Station who subsequently arrived at the scene.
At the scene, ranks retrieved one spent .9mm shell and an investigation was immediately launched. A Police Officer stated that the Force is presently acquiring surveillance footage from nearby buildings to get a clear understanding of what occurred and more so, to determine if the two men are known to the Police.
A description of the two men who are reportedly in the late teens wase given to the Police as they continue their investigations.
Awoman was released on her own recognisance on Wednesday after being brought to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charge of damage to property.
The accused, Abina
Hudson, was charged with maliciously damaging six window panes valued $3000 on March 7 at Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara. The windows are the property of one Joan Richmond.
Hudson was also charged
for unlawfully assaulting the Virtual Complainant (VC) with intention of maiming, disfiguring, disabling or causing grievous bodily harm. She pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The court was also told
that the defendant has other matters ongoing at the court at the moment.
Nevertheless, Magistrate Zamina Ali placed her on self bail. She was told to return to court on June 19 for statements.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) launched the call 2015 “Civil Society and Legal Identity” to find innovative solutions that contribute to support efforts to reduce the number of people without registration or identity in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The call is addressed to civil society organisations in member countries of the IDB. This initiative, led by the Vice President for Countries (VPC) through the “Civil Society for Innovative Solutions” programme, and supported by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the IDB Group, and the NEXSO platform, seeks finding innovative solutions with regards to the problem of legal identity in the region.
The proposed solutions should promote the process of legal registration of persons through activities
or sectors such as sports, technology, health, creative industry and educational processes. A committee of experts will evaluate the proposals, taking into account the level of innovation, scope and implementation of solutions.
The call will be open until July 27. Proposals must be submitted through the NEXSO platform’s online form. The winners will be announced on September 16, and the list will be published on the Civil Society website and the NEXSO platform. The three winning organisations will receive the support of the Vice Presidency for Countries to present their solution to an audience representing 26 countries in the region and specialists during the IDB Group-Civil Society Regional Forum to be held in Honduras in October 2015, as well as promotion and visibility in the NEXSO platform.
The number of hungry people in the world has dropped to 795 million – 216 million fewer than in 1990-1992 – or around one person out of every nine, according to the latest edition of the annual UN hunger report (The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015 - SOFI).
In the developing regions, the prevalence of undernourishment – which measures the proportion of people who are unable to consume enough food for an active and healthy life – has declined to 12.9 per cent of the population, down from 23.3 per cent a quarter of a century ago reports SOFI 2015, published on Wednesday by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
A majority – 72 out of 129 – of the countries monitored by FAO have achieved the Millennium Development Goal target of halving the prevalence of undernourishment by 2015, with developing regions as a whole missing the target by a small margin. In addition, 29 countries have met the more ambitious goal laid out at the World Food Summit in 1996, when Governments committed to halving the absolute number of undernourished people by 2015.
“The near-achievement of the MDG hunger targets shows us that we can indeed eliminate the scourge of hunger in our lifetime. We must be the Zero Hunger generation. That goal should be mainstreamed into all poli-
cy interventions and at the heart of the new sustainable development agenda to be established this year,” said FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva.
“If we truly wish to create a world free from poverty and hunger, then we must make it a priority to invest in the rural areas of developing countries where most of the world’s poorest and hungriest people live,” said IFAD President Kanayo F Nwanze. “We must work to create a transformation in our rural communities so they provide decent jobs, decent conditions and decent opportunities. We must invest in rural areas so that our nations can have balanced growth and so that the three billion people who live in rural areas can fulfil their potential.”
“Men, women and children need nutritious food every day to have any chance of a free and prosperous future. Healthy bodies and minds are fundamental to both individual and economic growth, and that growth must be inclusive for us to make hunger history,” said WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin.
Striking advances, given challenging environment
Progress towards fully achieving the 2015 food security targets was hampered in recent years by challenging global economic conditions. Extreme weather events, natural disasters, political instability and civil strife have all impeded progress – 24 African countries currently face food crises, twice as many as in 1990; around one of every five of
the world’s undernourished lives in crisis environments characterised by weak governance and acute vulnerability to death and disease.
SOFI 2015 notes that over the past 30 years crises have evolved from catastrophic, short-term, acute and highly visible events to protracted situations, due to a combination of factors, especially natural disasters and conflicts, with climate change, financial and price
Asia and very fast progress was posted in Latin America and the Caribbean, southeast and central Asia, as well as some parts of Africa, showing that inclusive economic growth, agricultural investments and social protection, along with political stability makes the elimination of hunger possible. Above all, the political will to make hunger eradication a paramount development objective has fostered pro-
FAO
crises frequently among the exacerbating factors. Hunger rates in countries enduring protracted crises are more than three times higher than elsewhere. In 2012 some 366 million people were living in this kind situation – of whom 129 million were undernourished –19 per cent of all food-insecure people on the planet.
Yet, alongside these challenges, the world population has grown by 1.9 billion since 1990, making reductions of the number of hungry people all the more striking, the report says.
Large reductions in hunger were achieved in East
gress.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest prevalence of undernourishment in the world – at 23.2 per cent, or almost one in every four people. However, African nations that invested more in improving agricultural productivity and basic infrastructure also achieved their MDG hunger target, notably in West Africa. The proportion of hungry people in Latin America and the Caribbean has dropped from 14.7 per cent to 5.5 per cent since 1990, while the share of underweight children (below five years of age) also
declined sharply. A strong commitment to hunger reduction was translated into substantial social protection programmes which, coupled with strong economic growth, drove continentwide progress.
Diverse trends were observed in different parts of Asia. Countries in Eastern and Southeast Asia have achieved steady and rapid reduction in both malnourishment indicators, buoyed by investment in water and sanitation infrastructure as well as favourable economic prospects. In southern Asia, the prevalence of undernourishment has declined modestly, to 15.7 per cent from 23.9 per cent, but much greater progress was made in reducing underweight among young children. Severe food insecurity is close to being eradicated in North Africa, with the prevalence of undernourishment below five per cent, while dietary quality is of growing concern in the region, where there is a rising prevalence of overweight and obesity.
In West Asia, where hygiene conditions are generally advanced and child underweight rates low, the incidence of hunger has risen due to war, civil strife and consequent large migrant and refugee populations in some countries. While there is no one-sizefits-all solution for how to improve food security, the SOFI report outlines several factors that played a critical role in achieving the hunger target. First, improved agricultural productivity, especially by small and family farmers, leads to important
gains in hunger and poverty reduction. High performers on that front in Africa met the MDG hunger target while those that made slower progress did not. Second, while economic growth is always beneficial, not least because it expands the fiscal revenue base necessary to fund social transfers and other assistance programmes, it needs to be inclusive to help reduce hunger. Inclusive growth provides a proven avenue for those with fewer assets and skills in boosting their incomes, and providing them the resilience they need to weather natural and manmade shocks. Raising the productivity of family farmers is an effective way out of poverty and hunger. Third, the expansion of social protection – often cash transfers to vulnerable households, but also food vouchers, health insurance or school meal programs, perhaps linked to guaranteed procurement contracts with local farmers – correlated strongly with progress in hunger reduction and in assuring that all members of society have the healthy nutrition to pursue productive lives.
Some 150 million people worldwide are prevented from falling into extreme poverty thanks to social protection, according to SOFI – but more than two-thirds of the world’s poor still do not have access to regular and predictable forms of social support. Transfers help households manage risk and mitigate shocks that would otherwise leave them trapped in poverty and hunger.
ARIES (March 21April 19)
TAURUS (April 20May 20)
GEMINI (May 21June 20)
CANCER
Quibbling with those who don’t see your vision will be a waste of time. Go with the flow, but keep your goals and ideas a secret. Your success will give you the final word.
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LEO (July 23Aug. 22)
VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)
LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)
SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 23Dec. 21)
CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
PISCES
(Feb. 20March 20)
Diplomacy will be necessary when dealing with moody individuals. Make positive suggestions. If you avoid being critical or demanding, you will get your way in the end.
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By AvenAsh RAmzAn
With the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2015 fast approaching, excitement among the fans is gaining momentum with thousands across the country anxiously awaiting the moment to pocket their tickets for the matches in Guyana.
The OPCO Office on Middle Street, Georgetown, which usually houses the central Ticket Centre, will become operational on June 15.
In the meantime however, tickets for the four games in Guyana and all other matches across the region can be snapped up online by visiting the official site: www.cplt20.com.
According to the website, family packages are available where two children will be admitted free, while there will also be 15 percent off for four-match season ticket.
The National Stadium at Providence will host four games in July with the Guyana Amazon Warriors involved in all the matches, against 2013 champions Jamaica Tallawahs on the 15th at 18:00h, St Lucia Zouks on the 17th at 20:00h, defending champions Barbados Tridents on the 18th at 16:00h and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on the 21st at 18:00h.
Tickets for the highly anticipated semi-finals and grand final are also on sale, and those can be bought online at the CPL site. Prices start at US$12.50 for the semi-finals, and US$15 for the final.
Damien O’Donohoe, Chief
Tickets will go on sale in Guyana on June 15
Executive Officer of CPL, said: “CPL is always the hottest ticket in town. We know that all three games will be a sell out at the Queen’s Park Oval, so I urge fans to book early to avoid disappointment. We can’t wait to see who will be battling it out in the finals in front of what is bound to be a fantastic crowd at one of the Caribbean’s most iconic venues.”
Global superstars including Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis and Shahid Afridi will join the Caribbean’s finest cricketers, like Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine and exciting up-andcoming local talent.
Last year’s tournament attracted a global audience in excess of 65 million and this year is set to be even higher as fans across the world continue to be drawn to the high quality action on the pitch and the unique party atmosphere off it.
The tournament will run from June 20 to July 26.
Parmanand “Max” Persaud, produced some fascinating golf performance last Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Club as he outgunned the competition, posting a personal best net of 61 off his 20 handicap in the El Dorado fourth annual golf tournament.
The competition saw very keen and exciting play as more than 10 golfers of the day all brought in net scores of 72 or less. “This is a very encouraging and positive indication that the competitive play is becoming greater and that players are soon likely to be breaking and setting records,” a release from the club stated.
After the win, Persaud
Minister of Education with responsibility for Sport, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, has described the sacking of veteran Guyanese batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul from the West Indies cricket squad as distressing.
“The manner of his going really does no justice to the manner of his performance over the years, and what he has meant to us,” Minister Roopnaraine said of the unceremonial and abrupt end to the cricketing career of Chanderpaul, who spent over two decades playing for the West Indies.
“I think that the response of the Guyana Cricket Board was heartedly robust. It clearly is a decision that we in Guyana feel distressed about. Chanderpaul has for so long been a titan on the cricketing scene in the Caribbean and it is difficult right now to even imagine a West Indian team without Chanderpaul,” Minister Roopnaraine said.
“…we recognise, we notice in his last two series that he has not been himself, he has scored less than he normally does, he has been far less reliable, people were getting him out, which was always a great feat when he is playing well,” Minister Roopnaraine acknowledged. The Minister noted however that if the West Indies selectors felt that Chanderpaul was coming to the end of his career, then some appropriate arrangement should have been made for his “final bash.”
“If you identify, if you say look, ‘Tiger has had a great run,
Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine: “The manner of his going really does no justice to the manner of his performance over the years, and what he has meant to us”
we are going to miss him, but we know he has to go’, let him leave in a dignified way… make a good preparation for what should have been his final match, so that the West Indian people would have had a chance to salute him in a final farewell. We needed to design something very appropriate, when someone of Chanderpaul’s value leaves the scene; that was not done, and that is what has been most distressing,” he added.
The Minister also said that he does not share the view that Chanderpaul should have simply been kept on to overtake Brain Lara’s record.
“I think that Clive Lloyd has been right about that; that is not a good reason. You want to pick your best team to play against
Australia, and beat them if you can, at the moment on his current form, he doesn’t make it, but my own feeling is that he should have been sent off on the twilight really in a far more dignified way that pays tribute to what he has contributed,” he said.
“What he has contributed has just been gigantic and that should have been acknowledged, recognised and dealt with appropriately. It has not been dealt with appropriately,” he added.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 40, was unexpectedly dropped from the West Indies squad for the upcoming home series against Australia. Chanderpaul has 11,867 runs to his name, including 30 centuries and 66 fifties in 164 Tests. He is also just 86 runs short of Brian Lara’s record for the most ever Test runs for West Indies.
Brian Lara himself has berated the West Indies selector and the WICB for seeking to deny Chanderpaul the chance of a final Test series against Australia and a fitting farewell from the world of cricket.
“This has absolutely nothing to do with runs or number,” Lara told the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. “It has to do with respect and Chanderpaul has earned the right to say goodbye in an acceptable way. In fact, he should be allowed to do it in his own way.”
Lara also contrasted Chanderpaul’s fate with that of retired veteran Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, who was granted a specially scheduled Test series at home against West Indies to end his glorious career. (GINA)
said, “Considering the weather and ground conditions I had to stay focused. I tried my best not to play too hard to win, because in previous games that affected my play. So I played carefully and without tension, and that gave me a good game.”
While the top four best net scorers were Parmanand Persaud- 61/20, Patanjalee “Pur” Persaud- 64/24, Kishan Bacchus- 66/17, and Troy Cadogan- 66/24, other very good net scores were returned from Sam Harry67/11, Haresh Tewari- 67/18, S. Ramroop- 67/19, David Mohamad- 70/17, Kashim Khan- 71/9, Fazil Haniff71/12, Dr Philbert London71/26, Mike Mangal- 72/8,
Mahendra Bhagwandin72/23 and Rabindranath Persaud- 72/24.
The best gross of 78 was recorded by Sam Harry, while Nearest-to-the-Pin was William Walker. El Dorado Brand Manager, Larry Wills who was, as usual, on hand to congratulate the winners, expressed his appreciation for the support of the 35 golfers, who braved the weather conditions and competed so keenly. He also expressed the willingness of DDL, who had been sponsoring golf tournaments for many years at the Lusignan Golf Club, to continue supporting golf in Guyana through its El Dorado brand.
Former Minister of National Security
Jack Warner was granted $2.5m bail on 12 charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering.
Warner appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port-ofSpain Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon.
He was represented by Fyard Hosein, Rishi Dass and Nyree Alfonso.
He was ordered to surrender his passport and report to the Arouca police station twice weekly. The matter was adjourned to July 9.
According to reports, Warner had earlier surrendered to officers attached to the Fraud Squad, after a provisional warrant was issued for his arrest on Wednesday.
He is one of several FIFA officials facing charges over widespread corruption over the past two decades. FIFA is the organisation responsible for the regulation and promotion of football worldwide.
According to sources, Warner went to the Office of the Fraud Squad on the corner of Richmond and Park Streets, Port-of-Spain to surrender himself on Wednesday afternoon.
A release from the
Ministry of the Attorney General issued on Wednesday said that the Central Authority had been cooperating with the United States Department of Justice for about a year regarding Jack Warner.
“Today, the United States of America formally requested the assistance of the Central Authority for the issuing of a Provisional
amaica Tallawahs
Jbowler Krishmar Santokie says he will use the disappointment of the Player Draft to take his performances to new heights in this season’s Caribbean Premier League.
The left-arm seamer, who is the leading wickettaker in the history of the CPL with 33 scalps, was surprisingly not picked until the ninth round of February’s Draft, with his home franchise the ones to secure his services.
Speaking to cplt20.com, Santokie said: “I was very surprised and a bit disappointed with what happened in February. I’m the leading wicket-taker in the history of the CPL so I thought I would be taken higher.
“As a player you always want to do your best. There’s nothing I can do about what happened but
I will use this to spur me on to better things in this year’s competition.
“I always enjoy the challenge of bowling at the big hitters like (Kieron) Pollard, (Shahid) Afridi and (Dwayne) Smith. There are certain players I am looking forward to bowling at but for now I am going to keep those close to my chest.”
Santokie’s selection, by the Tallawahs, means that the 30-year-old will represent his home island for the first time in the franchise competition, having spent the previous two seasons with the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
“I’m very excited for the competition to start in a month’s time and it’s great to be going back home,” he added. “My parents and family have brought tickets and will be at the games in Jamaica.” (www.cplt20.com)
The Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) recently took time out to recognise those who have been making sterling contributions to the development of the cricket facility.
GCC recognised the Guyana Cricket Board for its generous donation of a four-inch industrial pump, which will be used to tackle flooding at the GCC ground, Bourda. The state-of-theart pump is worth over $500,000.
Long time contributor to the club’s develop-
Arrest Warrant for Warner, pending the commencement of extradition proceedings.”
The release said that Warner is entitled to a fair extradition process and both the requesting and requested states intend to ensure that his rights are respected. The request was made according to the extradition treaty between the U.S. and T&T governments. (Trinidad Guardian)
ment, Richard Jodah, was also recognised for his contributions, particularly that of one mechanical roller. Receiving a plaque on behalf of Jodah was his daughter, Riasoya Jodah. The Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) was founded in 1858 during Guyana’s colonial era. The ground has always been prone to flooding; requiring pumps to drain the area after heavy rainfall.
The 2015 New Building Society (NBS) Second Division 40-over cricket competition, organised by the Berbice Cricket Board, continued recently with Videsh Singh becoming the fifth centurion when he blasted 145 for Canje Pathfinders.
His knock included 17 fours and seven sixes and propelled his team to 326 all out in just 28.5 overs against Gangaram Strikers, the highest team score in this year’s competition so far, edging the 316-7 in 30 overs made by Courtland All Stars against Number Seven in an earlier round. They went on to win by 164 runs.
Elsewhere, Deoprakash Ramdat hit 58 to see last year’s losing finalist Corriverton to 186-8 in 35 overs against Number 69 Vikings. Off-spinner Eric Phillips then took 5-22 from seven overs, which together with 2-16 from Ramdat, restricted their opponent to 147-9 in their allotted 35 overs.
Number 48 Challenger’s opening pacer Joseph Brijbilas’ 5-23 from five overs, backed up by 3-6 from 2.4 overs by leg-spinner Balram Samaroo, saw Number 59 being bowled
out for 100 in 20.4 overs. Challengers went on to win by seven wickets.
Number 71 did well to register 167-7 in their allotted 25 overs against Number 72 All Star, but when the latter team replied, Parmashwar Chatterpaul blasted 79 to see his team to victory in 21.4 overs. Also scoring a half-century, but in a losing cause, was Veerasammy Latchana of Toopoo Rising Stars.
Below are the summarised scores from the games played.
At Goed Bananen Land: Canje Pathfinders beat Gangaram Strykers by a massive 164 runs. Canje Pathfinders 326 in 28.5 overs (Videsh Singh 145, Imran Harrinandan 43, Brian Pydanna 3-50, Vishaun Karran 3-60) Gangaram Strykers 162 in 22 overs (Kevin Dhanraj 48, Krishna Singh 28, Reagan Reece 3-24).
At Number 69: Corriverton beat Number 69 Vikings by 39 runs. Corriverton 186-8 in 35 overs (Deoprakash Ramdat 58, Amzaan Applesammy 39*, Anthony Seeraj 33, Yoad Prahalad 3-17, Imran Khan 2-35) Number 69 Vikings 147-9 in 35 overs
(Wadekar Ramrattan 46*, Viendra Gooniah 25, Eric Phillips 5-22, Deoprakash Ramdat 2-16).
At Number 48: Number 48 Challengers beat Number 59 by seven wickets. Number 59 made 100 in 20.4 overs (Joseph Brijbilas 5-23, Balram Samaroo 3-6) Number 48 Cavaliers 1073 in 14.1 overs (Balram Samaroo 40, Balram Persaud 32).
At Number 72: Number 72 All Star beat No 71 by four wickets. Number 71 made 167-7 in 25 overs (Deomangal Deodharry 43*, Krishna Chatterpaul 2-22, Amardeo Hemchan 2-29) Number 72 All Star 171-5 in 21.4 overs (Parmashwar
Chatterpaul 79, Amardeo Hemchan 32, Krishna Chatterpaul 25, Mohamed Khan 2-43).
At Belvedere: Belvedere United beat Toopoo Rising Star by 50 runs. Belvedere United 174-9 in 35 overs (Majid K Mohamed 4-25) Toopoo Rising Star 124 in 20.4 overs (Veerasammy Latchana 54). At Paradise: Golden Elparabell beat Hopetown United by five wickets. Hopetown United 95 in 21.1 overs (Corson Saul 3-20) Golden Elparabell 96-5 in 16 overs (Enoch Carmichael 41*, Kenje Sedoc 4-18).
At Albion: Tamarind Root beat Albion Community Centre by 10 runs. Tamarind Root 116 in 27.1 overs (Avinash Looknauth 27, Joshua Harrichand 4-18, Kelvin Umrao 3-4, Sharaz Ramcharran 2-34) Albion CC 106 in 35 overs (Ajai Ramsammy 3-19, Dilip Rengasammy 2-13). At Skeldon: Skeldon beat Crabwood Creek Rising by seven wickets. Crabwood Creek Rising 126 in 34.2 overs (Naresh Deo 46) Skeldon Community Centre 127-3 in 23 overs (Sherwin Murray 45, Parmanand Narine 27, Rayon Yakub 26*, Darshan Chalitar 2-24).
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“This is the beginning of our effort, not the end,” said Kelly T. Currie, acting United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Indeed, the indictment refers to 25 unnamed co-conspirators, from FIFA officials to a South Africa World Cup bid committee official. “We are looking into individuals and entities in a variety of countries,” said Mr. Currie, who noted that the investigation would also look at financial institutions that handled the tainted money to see if they knew of the fraud.
The government is pursuing a “very aggressive prosecutorial response in order to change behavior,” James B. Comey, director of the FBI, said.
Some of the payments were funneled through intricate schemes. After committing fraud, bribery and money laundering, prosecutors wrote, defendants covered up those payments in various ways: using fake consulting contracts to funnel illegal payments; sending money through associates working in banking or currency dealing; creating shell companies in tax havens; hiding foreign bank accounts; using safe deposit boxes; and “bulk cash smuggling.”
involved Mr. Warner. An unnamed co-conspirator, identified as “a high-ranking official at FIFA and AFC” who was running for FIFA president, reached out to Mr. Warner. The coconspirator said he wanted to address soccer officials about his candidacy, and asked Mr. Warner to assemble those officials. The co-conspirator wired Mr. Warner $363,537.98.
to use accounts that were not in their own name, and using currency dealers to hide the payments. His was apparently a lucrative job: in 2014, he offered to handle a bribe for a sports-marketing company he had not worked with before. His charge for his services: $150,000 annual fee and a two percent commission per payment.
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And some payments were old-fashioned bribes, like one involving South Africa’s bid for the 2010 World Cup. Mr. Warner, then a member of the FIFA executive committee, directed an associate to fly to Paris, accept a briefcase full of cash in $10,000 stacks from a South African bid committee member in a hotel room, and return the briefcase to Mr. Warner in Trinidad.
Later, a Moroccan bid committee member offered Mr. Warner $1 million in exchange for his vote, but that person was outmaneuvered: the South African bid committee had arranged a $10 million bribe in exchange for the votes of Mr. Warner and two co-conspirators on South Africa’s behalf. All three ultimately voted for South Africa, the indictment says.
The plan involving the 2011 FIFA election also
At a May 2011 meeting that Mr. Warner called with Caribbean Football Union officials at the Hyatt Regency in Trinidad, the co-conspirator addressed the officials, then Mr. Warner told officials to pick up a “gift” in a certain conference room. The gift was $40,000 in cash, delivered in envelopes.
The next morning, Mr. Warner called the C.F.U. officials to another meeting, angered that one of the C.F.U. officials had alerted CONCACAF to the payments. “There are some people here who think they are more pious than thou,” he said. “If you’re pious, open a church, friends. Our business is our business.”
Lucrative bribes
Even facilitating the bribes was lucrative: José Margulies, who ran two soccer broadcasting companies, helped funnel money between officials and those seeking officials’ favour. He covered up his payments, shredding papers, telling soccer officials
Swiss authorities, working in conjunction with United States officials, conducted an extraordinary early-morning operation in Zurich on Wednesday to arrest several top soccer officials and extradite them to the United States on federal corruption charges.
As leaders of FIFA gathered for their annual meeting, more than a dozen plainclothes Swiss law enforcement officials arrived unannounced at the Baur au Lac hotel, an elegant five-star property with views of the Alps and Lake Zurich. They went to the front desk to get room numbers and then proceeded upstairs.
The arrests were carried out peacefully. One FIFA official, Mr. Li, was led by the authorities from his room to a side-door exit of the hotel. He was allowed to bring his luggage, which was adorned with FIFA logos.
The charges, backed by an F.B.I. investigation, allege widespread corruption in FIFA over the past two decades, involving bids for
Several hours after the soccer officials were apprehended at the hotel, Swiss authorities said that they had opened criminal cases related to the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups — incidents that, more than any others, encapsulated FIFA’s unusual power dynamic. “In the course of said proceedings,” the Swiss officials said, “electronic data and documents were seized today at FIFA’s head office in Zurich.”
The arrests were a startling blow to FIFA, a multibillion-dollar organisation that governs the world’s most popular sport but has been plagued by accusations of bribery for decades.
The inquiry is also a major threat to Mr. Blatter, who has for years acted as a de facto head of state. Politicians, star players, national soccer officials and global corporations that want their brands attached to the sport have long genuflected before him.
An election, seemingly preordained to give Mr. Blatter a fifth term as president, is scheduled for Friday.
A FIFA spokesman insisted at the news conference that Mr. Blatter was not involved in any alleged wrongdoing and that the election would go ahead as planned. (NY Times)
Lara noted that most of the other cricketing nations ensured an honourary farewell to their heroes and reflected on India when Sachin Tendulkar retired.
He asked: “What did they do? They organised a Test series in his honour and gave him a farewell in keeping with his contribution to the game.”
Lara described Chanderpaul as an extremely competitive individual for whom cricket was his life.
“From Guyana in 1994 when he made his debut to his last Test innings he gave his
heart to West Indies cricket and what do we do... drop him and that’s it,” he noted.
Lara said it was time the WICB started respecting the contribution of its great players.
“The manner in which they deal with their players is despicable and should no longer be tolerated. When you look back to so many of our heroes and the manner in which they were dumped, it makes you shudder.”
Lara called for Chanderpaul to be reinstated for the two Test matches against the Australians and
the series be established as his final series.
“In that way, there will be no hostility and whether he makes a double century or a duck, it doesn’t matter, it will be his farewell series and the entire cricketing world will know that,” he added.
Lara said he would be pleased to be at the grounds when Chanderpaul played his last innings.
“He deserves it. The WICB and the Caribbean owe it to Shiv to send him off with dignity and respect. He has earned it,” added Lara.
(Trinidad Guardian)
Sir Garfield Sobers is regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders to have ever played the game. In recent times he has been an avid supporter of the Caribbean Premier League and enjoyed his home island Barbados winning last year’s competition.
We caught up with the 78-year-old to chat about the CPL and get his thoughts on Twenty20 cricket.
Q: What excites you about the CPL?
A: It’s a great competition for the Caribbean. It’s getting people out to watch the cricket. It’s attracted a new audience by playing it at night. You can take your family out for the evening. It’s great entertainment.
Q: What impact is the tournament having on Caribbean cricket?
A: The competition won’t develop Test players, but it encourages players to be positive and play shots, which they can introduce to the longer format. There’s no harm in players playing both short and longer formats. It allows them to learn about their strengths and weaknesses. Like I said there’s a new audience watching the games too so hopefully it will make people go back and watch Test cricket.
Q: You never had the chance to play T20 cricket. Is there anyone you played with who you think would excel in now?
A: They all would have been great players! The likes of Everton Weekes, Rohan
Kanhai and Sir Clyde Walcott were all very attractive players and they could play any type of cricket. They wouldn’t have had to change their game either because they could score quickly and were naturally attacking players.
Q: What do you make about the invention in the game today with reverse hits, sweeps etc.?
A: I think they are a little bit overdone. I am a fan of them but I don’t think you would have seen them much in my day when players didn’t wear helmets. Protection means players feel more fearless.
Q: Who are you excited to watch in this year’s
A large group of referees graduated from the programme
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) successfully concluded a three-day referee beginners course, making it the first initiative by the Federation in 2015 to increase its pool of Referees. The course, which ended on Monday, had 27 participants of which 16 were females.
It was reported that there was a 95 percent pass rate in the written examination. The top female is Ronecia Lewis out of Linden with 80 percent and the top male and over all top marks was achieved by Robert Christiani of West Demerara with 84 percent.
Those persons who indicated their interest in becoming a ref-
eree will have another chance when the GFF holds another beginners course in July.
“The GFF would like to thank all of its participants. Intense training will commence this Thursday 28th May, 2015 and will continue on a weekly basis at the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue in
Georgetown, Wisburg Secondary school in Linden and in Berbice at Number Five Community Ground, 17:00h sharp. These courses are part of the continued development plans of the GFF for the sport of football with training sessions for coaches, referees and players,” the GFF said in a statement.
tournament?
A: Jacques Kallis is one of the great players of alltime. People in the Caribbean haven’t seen a lot of him and he is the type of player people will want to come out and watch. He’s sheer class and I can’t wait to see him play for the Red Steel.
Q: Who are you tipping for this year’s tournament?
A: I think Barbados can defend their title. All of the islands are strong and with the likes of Kallis it will be a good competition. The CPL is only getting stronger and with the calibre of player in this year’s tournaments I am expecting crowds to grow and grow. (www.cplt20.com)
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President’s XI closed the opening day of their three-day warmup against Australia on 2885. Rajendra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich and Roston Chase made half-centuries as the President’s XI batsmen kept the Aussies at bay at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
The new club licensing system that has been established by CONCACAF in the confederation has made a smooth transition in Guyana with eleven clubs already making the mark and have been duly granted their licenses by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) following the verification process.
Of the eleven clubs, eight have been selected to be part of the inaugural GFF Elite League, which will take flight later this year, according to GFF Technical Director, Claude Bolton.
On Monday last at the Water Chris Hotel, Quamina Street, the eight elite clubs were privileged to be part of a seminar with CONCACAF Club Licensing Manager Andres Portabella and FIFA Consultant Michael Gandler.
The eight elite clubs are Alpha United FC, Guyana Defense Force, Slingerz FC, Monedderlust FC, Fruta Conquerors, Georgetown Football Club, Pele FC and Buxton FC.
The activity sought in the first instance to congratulate the clubs on their selection for the GFF Elite League, while Portabella took the opportunity to walk the club through the intricacies of embracing the new concept of club licensing and what it entails with a view to making Guyana’s structure more efficient.
“The main objective is to improve the quality of all football clubs, all futsal and beach soccer clubs in the CONCACAF region, both men and women.”
Each of the 41 members association in CONCACAF is being assisted to imple-
ment the club licensing system. Portabella informed that the club licensing system sets minimum criteria for clubs to participate in their leagues at the domestic level which is now kicking in 2015 and 2016.
“In 2017 we’ll set a regional criteria that will establish minimum criteria to participate in CONCACAF Club competitions. So basically in this first stage what CONCACAF has done is grab the FIFA club licensing regulations and we have adapted them to a set of CONCACAF club licensing regulations which every single federation in CONCACAF has to adapt to a federation set of club licensing regulations,” he said.
It was pointed out by Portabella that CONCACAF has brought down the level of criteria to a basic level so that the system can be inclusive, including all clubs in the region whether they are super professional or very amateur.
“Basically, we gave set
the requirements for clubs to fill out four forms and to be able to fulfill 11 additional requirements which are extremely simple. So in this way we are guaranteeing that all clubs are included into this new system and that we set a long term foundation for development of all clubs.”
He noted that in this first phase CONCACAF will get to know each club within the confederation from who owns and manages the club to who finances the club, which players play with the club as well as their youth outfits and training facilities among others.
“This will allow us to in the future set even more criteria gradually that will allow the whole region to grow together in the long term.”
The CONCACAF Club Licensing project has already touched down in other countries; Portabella’s last stop was Bonaire, one of the smallest affiliates in the confederation.
“We’ve had a great reaction from the clubs there.
team every success.
remarks, Bish
In response, Leon Bishop, Sports Coordinator of the school, thanked Panday and his company for the timely gesture in donating to the football team. He assured that the donation will benefit them considerably.
They have embraced us and the system and are ready to take on this new project and the movement to develop their clubs.”
More developed federations would have also been visited by Portabella including Costa Rica and Panama which have more developed systems.
“They have already increased the domestic criteria; CONCACAF has set basic criteria at the domestic level but each federation is allowed to increase the criteria a little bit. So for example Costa Rica has increased a little bit that criteria and its working well for them because their clubs are much more advanced than the average club in the
CONCACAF region.”
Jamaica has also been visited and they have been doing well according to Portabella with regard to embracing the system.
Zooming in on CONCACAF’s Mission Statement: “To develop, promote and manage football throughout the region with integrity, transparency and passion in order to inspire participation in the game”
Portabella stated that inspiring participation is key: “So we want to inspire more clubs, we want to inspire more leagues, more administrators, and more coaches to take their organization o the next level.”
Also established by CONCACAF is a new set
of guides for leagues and clubs. The confederation is also doing documentaries on leagues, clubs and infrastructure throughout the region; case studies on different clubs and leagues with a view to providing examples and best practices from the region and to share this information to clubs.
“If we are able to share knowledge we’re doing our job the right way. We’re becoming a sort of information facilitator at CONCACAF. It will allow someone in Bermuda to learn what somebody in Nicaragua is doing and somebody in Nicaragua to learn what somebody in Canada is doing.”
Legendary West Indies batting icon Brian Lara has described the axing of Shivnarine Chanderpaul as shameful and has called on the West Indies Cricket Board to give the left-handed Guyanese an honourary send-off by selecting him for the two-Test series against Australia.
The 40-year old Chanderpaul was left out of the West Indies 12-member squad for the first Test against the Australians which starts on June 3 in Dominica, effectively ending an illustrious career in which he scored 11,867 runs at an average of 51.37.
The selectors, led by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, justified their decision by pointing to the plunge in his form over his last 11 innings in which he averaged 16.
But Lara, who scored 11,953 Test runs, which
Chanderpaul is just 87 runs away from passing, said the decision was another example of the way the WICB disrespects its players.
“This has nothing to do with numbers or averages. What are they saying that Chanderpaul was given the last 11 innings to get the desired number of runs to
break a record?
“This has absolutely nothing to do with runs or numbers. It has to do with respect and Chanderpaul has earned the right to say goodbye in an acceptable way. In fact, he should be allowed to do it in his own way,” he added.
United States law enforcement officials declared in forceful terms on Wednesday that their broad investigation of FIFA had only begun and pledged to rid the international soccer organisation of systemic corruption.
The Justice Department, F.B.I. and I.R.S. described soccer’s governing body in terms normally reserved for Mafia families and drug cartels, saying that top officials treated FIFA business decisions as chits to be traded for personal wealth. One soccer official took in more than $10 million in bribes, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said.
The schemes involving the fraud included the selection of South Africa as the host of the 2010 World Cup; the 2011 FIFA presidential elections; and several sportsmarketing deals.
“These individuals and organisations engaged in bribery to decide who would televise games, where the games would be held, and who would run the organisation oversee- ing organised soccer worldwide,” said Ms. Lynch, who
money laundering conspiracy. In addition to senior soccer officials, the indictment also named sports-marketing executives from the United States and South America who are accused of paying more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for media deals associated with major soccer tournaments.
Nine charged The soccer officials charged are Eduardo Li, Jeffrey Webb, Eugenio Figueredo, Jack Warner, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Rafael Esquivel, José Maria Marin and Nicolás Leoz.
The promise that the investigation would continue raised the specter of more arrests, but officials would not comment on whether they were investigating Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president and the man widely regarded as the most powerful person in sports. One federal law enforcement official said Mr. Blatter’s fate would “depend on where the investigation goes from here.”