Guyana Times Daily - January 15, 2015

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Issue No. 2374

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, January 15, 2015

PRICE

AFC/PNC/APNU "coalition" negotiations…

‘Secret’ talks a scouting exercise Page 3

– no coalition will ensue

UG law students cry foul

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Teenagers P7 accounted for 1332 births at GPHC in 2014 US Judge P15 dismisses lawsuit against Indian Prime Minister over 2002 riots

Page 10

BK lashes back at Public Works Ministry – says not responsible for delayed EBD road project

P16

…about system picking Hugh Wooding 25 Guyanese students are in a wait-and-see mode for entrance into the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago

Govt will ramp up investment in social sector – Finance Minister

Page 7

Granger looking to duck Linden showdown – PNCR official

Page 2

Miners to P17 benefit from 10% diesel tax reduction

2 NEWS

thursday, JANUARY 15, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Granger looking to duck Linden showdown – PNCR official L

APNU Leader David Granger

eader of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), David Granger will likely opt to meet with around 15 disgruntled Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) party members rather than risking a showdown with Lindeners, one of the former military commander’s top aide has said.

Guyana Times was told that although Granger has agreed to meet to meet with the Sharma Solomonfaction to iron out their differences, that meeting will

likely take place at his office in Georgetown. “I don’t think the masses want to discuss what Solomon is proposing. Yes people want to meet the leader for various things, but it’s just around 15 people really creating the troubles here,” the official speaking under conditions of strict anonymity said. Granger was quoted in another section of the media acknowledging receiving Solomon’s invitation to meet and also saying that he will respond. Guyana Times was initially told

that the meeting could likely happen this week, but the Region 10 official said Granger would be out of town for two days this week and there is no possibility of that meeting.

This newspaper was also told that a meeting with Granger and Solomon was planned for some time last week, but the Region 10 Chairman did not attend. Guyana Times reported on Wednesday Lindeners are gearing up for a major showdown with Granger.

High on the agenda of the meeting are the suspension of Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon; the alleged rigging of last year’s Congress, which returned Granger as leader of the party; and a range of other issues, including the imposition of Sandra Adams as the party’s Region 10 Coordinator and the sidelining of key figures such as Aubrey Norton, Solomon and Kissoon, all of whom helped the party sweep the two seats in the region at the 2011 elections.

While Solomon had declined to disclose the agenda of the meeting with the Leader, Trade Unionist Leslie Gonsalves confirmed that issues surrounding Kissoon and Adams would definitely be placed on top of the agenda. Another key party official said that they would bring up the Congress fiasco as well at the meeting. Granger has so far managed to dodge from confronting the issues that have angered Lindeners since August last year. However, observers believe that he has finally realised the importance of meeting the key constituency with General Elections on the horizon.

When contacted by the Guyana Times on Tuesday, Solomon said he would only pronounce on the meeting after it was held, but Gonsalves said supporters would be calling on the Opposition Leader to address burning issues that have been placed on the table for more than a year. The imposition of Adams has been a burning issue, since her appointment early last year was greeted with major objection. Having served as the last Chairperson of the PNCR Linden arm in 2003, Adams was appointed by the Central Executive Committee (CEC) as the Regional Coordinator.

According to Gonsalves, Adams is an opportunist who will lead the regional arm of the party downhill.

“No one is prepared to work with her because of her arrogance…she is bullish, always giving instructions and want to talk up to people. We will not allow that,” he said during a recent interview with this newspaper. Gonsalves pointed out that the PNCR, which was the major partner in APNU

won the region in the 2011 Elections in her absence.

“Nothing she could say would make a difference.

She returned after seven years and wants to rule people, let her return to the US. She cannot command a place in Linden, because nobody is in support of her,” he emphasised.

On Thursday last, ranks of the Mackenzie Police Station were called in after Adams alleged that sections of the PNCR Linden Office were vandalised. It is alleged that Gonsalves and other disgruntled members broke into the office after removing a padlock from the door. But this allegation was shot down by Gonsalves who said Adams was attempting to create further strife in the region.

In addition to the imposition of Adams, Gonsalves said the issues surrounding Kissoon remained unsolved.

Kissoon’s relationship with the PNCR deteriorated following an altercation with

Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon

General Secretary Oscar Clarke at the party’s Sophia Headquarters early last year. She was immediately suspended – a decision which was rejected not only

by Kissoon but many of her Linden supporters.

Another longstanding PNCR member Maurice Butters confirmed that issues surrounding Kissoon and Adams would be addressed during the meeting with the Opposition Leader. “We need the matter involving Miss Kissoon to be addressed, in addition to that, you cannot make a decision that will affect the region without our input, so he (Granger) must address the imposition of Sandra Adams on the people of Linden,” Butters said.

He said too that the region wrote the PNCR Secretariat requesting a date for the holding of its long overdue regional conference, but to date the response was still pending. He said the conference would allow for new regional representatives to be elected for the party. While outlining those three main issues, Butters said meetings would be held with the various groups within the region before the agenda for the meeting was finalised.

NEWS

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thursDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, January 15 – 13:00h-14:30h Friday, January 16 – 14:00h-15:30h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, January 15 – 12:00h-13:30h Friday, January 16 – 13:00h-14:30h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika departure – 06:00h, 11:00h and 18:00h Supenaam departure – 06:00h, 11:00h and 18:00h

AFC/PNC/APNU "coalition" negotiations…

‘Secret’ talks a scouting exercise – no coalition will ensue

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers can be expected in the morning with heavy rain showers dominating for the remainder of the day. Thundery showers will return in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 4.02 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 12:01h reaching a maximum height of 2.29 metres.

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Low Tide: 05:27h and 18:08h reaching minimum heights of 1.00 metres and 0.92 metre respectively.

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presented for review and signature by the APNU. At his last press briefing at the end of 2014, Granger had said that the AFC had yet to state clearly what exactly its proposal for a pro-democracy alliance entailed. He noted that while APNU remained open to dialogue between the two parties and civil society, it would like to know what exactly would be on the agenda when the parties did meet for dialogue.

Granger was adamant

Professor Daizal Samad

By Jomo Paul

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further.

It must be noted that the AFC had planned to include members of civil society when it met for talks with APNU. Subsequently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was presented to APNU by the AFC for them to go into secret talks, it was unclear whether that MoU has been signed.

Last Friday, APNU Leader David Granger said that the prospects for talks between the AFC and

lliance For Change (AFC) consultant and recently-inducted member, Professor Daizal Samad has revealed that the minority Opposition party in actuality has no plans of coalescing with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

This is in stark contrast to the public position adopted by the party on December 6, 2014 when it stated that it would be open for dialogue with APNU on forming a broad alliance to compete in the upcoming General Elections.

Since that announcement was made, there were several delays and false starts with the talks between the two political parties, which the AFC insisted should be secret, yet to commence. Both parties have repeatedly indicated their interest in moving forward in this regard despite criticism from sections of society and the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). Samad himself had publicly spoken out against the coalition, saying on Monday that he did not see it happening.

In a telephone interview with the Guyana Times on Wednesday, Samad said the AFC has absolutely no plans of coalescing with APNU. According to the academic, “there are no such plans for a coalition.”

He was at the time responding to a question on the status of the talks between the two parties.

Samad had told this publication on Monday “as far as we are concerned, especially in Region Six, there’s no such thing [possibility of a coalition]…we are focused on winning”.

The former Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus indicated Wednesday that the talks

between the two parties would centre on post-election governance of Guyana should the AFC be voted into office not about a coalition. “For too long we have been talking at each other, as I said before, there is no harm in talking…we will be talking to each other”.

Samad underscored that at this juncture it was important that the major stakeholders were involved in a collective process to move Guyana forward. “We can’t keep sidelining people,” he said.

He again reiterated the AFC’s interest in enlisting the skills of “talented” persons who have some amount of moral integrity and would be willing to serve Guyana under an AFC Government.

Samad hinted that the planned meeting between the two parties may just be for the purposes of “talent scouting” from APNU. “We are trying to attract talent from any corner.”

Party denies Samad’s claim Calls placed to AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan for a comment proved futile; however, when the Guyana Times contacted AFC General Secretary David Patterson, he wasted no time in denying that the party had no plans to coalesce but refused to speak

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

APNU were good. Specific details on the way forward for the proposed coalition will be unveiled after the party meets for its shadow Cabinet. He could not reveal the details of the AFC‘s tabled non-disclosure agreement, which was

that as it stood what was being proposed by the AFC was something that would have already been part of APNU’s charter. This charter was published since 2011 when the APNU coalition was formed with five political parties.

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thursDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Views Works of art

Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Rains and hydrology I

t used to be that Guyana was known for its regularity of weather and climate. No fickleness here that would encourage the old English ruling class, with their obsessive inquiries about “the weather”.

Uniform hot weather all year long was moderated on the coast by the steady North-East Trade Winds. Two dry seasons, broken by the same number of “rainy” ones, completed the staid, if humid, picture.

But of recent, while the big picture on the climate continues unabated, the weather has become rather more skittish. Squalls were practically unheard of a few decades ago, but nowadays, they bear down with alarming frequency, blowing the corrugated “zinc” sheets off our roofs and even toppling the odd, decrepit or poorly constructed house.

And while we do not yet have the necessary long term records to make a definitive pronouncement, it would appear that our rainfall - at least on the coast - has increased quite significantly in absolute amounts.

Whether or not this is related to the changes in the overall world climate occasioned by the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has not been “proven”, we in Guyana have no choice but to deal with the consequences of the extra volume of water that now precipitates onto our land.

It is useful to remind Guyanese that the lands on our coast are quite an artificial construct. When the Dutch first tried to settle our “land” they not surprisingly went inland and set up their farms and plantations up river - whether the Berbice or the Essequibo. Cuffy, we would remember, staged his uprising 50 miles up the Berbice River at Magdalenenberg.

It was only when the fertility of those lands was exhausted that they were forced to consider moving either into the jungle, where dwelt unfriendly Amerindians or on the Atlantic Coast, that was covered by Mangrove swamps - but with rich alluvial soil. It was a serendipitous circumstance that it was the Dutch that had landed on our shores after being pushed out of Brazil. For any other nation the coastland would not have been an option.

The Dutch had drained large swamps in their own country starting in the 16th century and remained ahead of the engineering curve in this field. The draining of their Zuider Zee in the early 20th century has been declared one of the engineering wonders of the world.

Using slave labour extracted from Africa, the Dutch drained large swathes of the coast and modern Guyana was founded. To accomplish this task on land that was generally two meters below sea level, they constructed “sea dams” and later “sea walls” to prevent the Atlantic from rolling over the land at high tides.

And at the back of the flat coastal plain, they constructed “back dams” which prevented accumulated rainfall from behind to run off. These created artificial lakes or “conservancies” that were used for irrigating crops in the dry season via canals. The accumulated water on the cultivated land was drained off through alternate “drainage” canals that ended up at sluices or “kokers” on the sea-dam/sea-wall.

This amazing engineering feat will now be tested by the water from the increased deluges. But the Government has not stood still. In addition to expending countless billions on maintaining the sea walls, miles of mangrove have been replanted and nurtured to simulate the old, natural barrier to the rampaging Atlantic.

The Back Dams encircling the conservancies have been continuously upgraded and only this week the Minister of Agriculture described these efforts to a visiting Japanese delegation.

It is for this reason, also that we find the comments of the agriculture spokesperson of APNU, Dr Rupert Roopnarine that the newly constructed Hope Canal, which would drain the East Coast Conservancy of excess water, is an “unnecessary extravagance”. The Government must maintain its hydrological endeavours if the country is to remain viable.

The lobby of the National Cultural Centre hosts several spectacular pieces. In this Carl Croker photo, the stunning wooden pendant chandelier that dominates the foyer is offset by the colourful canvas in the background

India’s financial assistance and the Caribbean

Dear Editor, India has been very generous to poor countries helping them to transform their economies and raising the standard of living of their population. Since she became independent in August 1947, India has been working in solidarity with the poor countries to aid their development.

India has played a critical role in Third World countries, overcoming technological, financial and organisational challenges of development.

India, herself a poor developing country, has doled out the equivalent of tens of billions of dollars (in grants, loans, credit, technical assistance, scholarships, training, etc) to Third World countries.

The Caribbean, in particular, that enjoys a higher standard of living than India, has been the recipient of hundreds of millions of dollars in various forms of assistance including grants, loans, technical assistance and scholarships. It shows India’s willingness and generosity to share the little it has to lift the lives of others whether they are richer or poorer than India.

India supports and backs developmental goals of all subjugated nations kept down by imperialist designs.

Recently, India gave US$2

billion in aid to African countries. In November, Burma was recipient of several hundred million dollars of an aid package. Fiji got a handout of $10 million for farming projects from Prime Minister Narendra Modi with promises of more when the Fiji Prime Minister visits Delhi this year.

Three years ago, Kamla Persad Bissessar of Trinidad received a huge financial package when she visited Delhi.

And last week, President Donald Ramotar got a huge basket of goodies from Prime Minister Modi.

Antigua, St Vincent, Dominica, Grenada, etc have all received handouts from India. The various aid packages will help to transform all of these economies improving the lives of these people.

Such huge amounts of financial speak volumes about the nature of the Indian nation and Government – kind, loving, generous, helpful, caring and going out of their way to help others.

But not everyone appreciates India’s kindness and generosity. Some of the Caribbean people, including many right here in Guyana, who benefited from India’s largesse, have had no thanks for what India has done for them to improve

their lives.

They write and say the nastiest things about India, but they have their hands wide open accepting aid and scholarships to study in India to acquire the necessary skills to lift their lives.

They are the epitome of nimakharamism; no matter what is done for them they will never be grateful. But the Indian Government wisely ignores their ingratitude and continues to disburse grants and loans to several of these countries to help with their development.

Some Caribbean leaders cultivate close relations with India. They appreciate India’s generosity and are thankful for Indian. They are smart enough to know where their bread is being buttered and to ignore the racist detractors and those who feel the Caribbean should not engage India.

The financial package received in India by President Ramotar during last week’s state visit set off a huge furor in Guyana where the opponents questioned the grants and loans – they oppose just for opposing sake, unable to put aside petty partisan, racist politics in welcoming a grant that makes the life of everyone, regardless of race,

better.

Perhaps if the aid was coming from another country, they would have embraced it.

But which country would be so generous (so stupid some feel) as India in announcing US$50 million plus in aid to a small country like Guyana for which India would receive practically no benefit.

And there is more – India will provide technical assistance to Guyana to help fix its sugar plants and establish an IT center, the first of its kind in South America or the Caribbean, a grant of US$8 million for the acquisition of a ferry to ply the interior.

Can’t see that kind of money or technology coming from the US, Canada, England or any African country! Which leader of a Third World country is accorded a state visit in the developed world or by a developing country, feted and then handed over US $50 million?

If Guyana can get such assistance in another country in North America, Europe or Africa, then President Ramotar should forthwith commence a visit to every country on those continents to multiply the amount of aid the country can receive that is sure to expedite development.

Vishnu Bisram

There is no circumventing of Guyana’s laws by any logging company Dear Editor The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) refers to a recent article in another section of the media. This article is riddled with false accusations and misinformation. To ensure that stakeholders are provided with the undisputable facts, GFC is compelled to respond.

There is no circumventing of Guyana’s logging laws by

any logging company, or any other forestry sector based company. The GFC has very robust and functional systems, procedures and guidelines which all forest sector companies are audited against.

If there are any breaches to these, appropriate action is taken based on the findings of a thorough investigation and in accordance with the forest

law.

The statement therefore that “foreign corporations and Government officials are paying lip service to the accords” is simply ridiculous and is not based on any factual evidence.

Even more alarming is the suggestion that “companies like Bai Shan Lin likely pay bribes to key members of the country’s government to turn a blind eye to violations”.

This malicious statement is unsurprisingly, not supported by one shred of evidence. Another incorrect assertion is the pronouncement that “Bai Shan Lin (BSL) now controls about 1.4 million hectares in Guyana”. The undisputed and well publicized fact is that BSL has legal access to 627,072 hectares (ha). continueD on page 5

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thursDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

The war on terror

Dear Editor, It was former US President George W Bush who coined the term “war on terror” following the destruction of the World Trade Centre in September 2001.

That was some 14 years ago but the war appeared to be far from over. The main objective of the war was to dismantle terrorist networks throughout the world in particular the Al- Qaeda network which was blamed for the destruction of the World Trade Centre in which nearly 2000 persons perished including several Guyanese.

One of those who perished was a relative of mine whose workplace at that time was located at the World Trade Centre. I have vivid recollections of that Centre as I was taken on a visit to that imposing structure by my cousin who unfortunately perished in that inferno.

The war on terror led to regime change in two countries which it was believed aided and abetted terrorism and the terrorist attacks. The two countries were Iraq and Afghanistan both of which were actually invaded militarily by a US-led coalition.

The recent attack on a French newspaper by terrorists in which twelve persons died has once again brought to the surface the question of organised terrorism and the extent to which the terrorist network has been disabled by the US-led war on terrorism.

While there has been some success, the most notable of which was the killing of Osama bin Laden, believed to have been the mastermind of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network, there has been no letting up on terrorist activities globally.

In fact, that terrorist grouping has openly and boldly claimed involvement in the Paris attack, according to media reports.

The attack is seen as the French version of September 11 and has attracted worldwide condemnation. Over a million people and several world leaders participated in a massive rally in Paris in solidarity with the fallen journalists, the biggest seen in France and Europe for decades.

Terrorism is evil and must be condemned and eradicated. The question is by what means. One thing is clear.

There can be no military solution to a problem that is basically ideological, cultural and historical.

The war on terror for all practical purposes has failed to obtain the desired results, despite the billions of dollars that have been spent since the destruction of the World Trade Centre in 2011.

One fact that cannot be dismissed is that the United States in particular and the western world in general is perceived by a significant body of opinion, especially in the Islamic world, as culturally biased against Islam.

It is this dislike for the

west that has given rise to extremist groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria which is opposed to anything western, more particularly western education. Boko Haram continue to wreak havoc on Nigerian society the most dramatic of which was the kidnapping of over a hundred female students some months ago and who until this day remain in captivity.

Another worrying development has been the rise of IS (Islamic State) which has captured large swathes of territory in Syria and other neighbouring countries. The declared intention of this fundamentalist group is to establish an Islamic state in the region.

As mentioned before, the solution to extremist actions among some segments of the Islamic community must go beyond military interventions which has proven so far to be ineffective in curbing the rise of extremism and violence in the world.

The United States need to seek new approaches to deal with this problem which should include new diplomatic initiatives to find a solution to the Palestinian issue which for decades have fuelled tension between itself and several Arab countries, some of whom at varying periods were even considered allies of the United States.

Indeed, it is this failure by the United States to take meaningful steps to support the recognition of Palestine as an independent state that has led to much scepticism if not animosity against the US administration which is perceived to be in support of the unjust actions taken by Israel against the Palestinian people.

The west also should avoid that tendency to view the world through the lens of western civilisation. There needs to be greater tolerance for ideological differences and for religious sensitivities.

There is no need to be provocative which could hurt the religious sensitivities of people, however irrational these may be from a western perspective.

The recent publication of a cartoon depicting the Holy Prophet Mohamed by the very paper that was attacked by muslim extremists is in my opinion unfortunate if not reckless and would not help the healing process.

One of the unintended consequence of the senseless slaughter of the Charlie Hebdo journalists is the possible rise in xenophobic tendencies especially against Muslims in France and other western countries with significant muslim populations such as Britain and Germany.

Fortunately, in Guyana we have come a long way in terms of respect and tolerance for cultural and religious diversity, something which the more developed countries can learn from our experience.

Hydar Ally

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Conflict in eastern Ukraine having horrendous impact Dear Editor, The Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine had a broad in-depth discussion on the political way ahead towards a peaceful settlement of the situation in Ukraine and a possible summit meeting in Astana in Berlin on January 12.

The Ministers affirmed their strong commitment to a swift and comprehensive peaceful solution of the current crisis, including a sustainable political process.

Ministers reconfirmed that the basis for conflict resolution are the Minsk agreements that have to be implemented by all sides in their entirety. They reiterated the necessity to fully respect the regime of quiet.

Ministers called on the contact group to meet in the coming days to make progress on the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, including the creation of the relevant conditions for an effective cease-fire, an agreement on modalities for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the continuation of the

release of detainees.

This would contribute to pave the way to the preparation of a successful summit meeting in Astana. They agreed that further work needs to be done to this end.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine is having a horrendous impact on as many as 1.7 million children, and hundreds of schools have been damaged or destroyed, according to the latest report by the UNICEF. Of one million people displaced due to the ongoing violence, at least 130,000 are children. Also, tens of thousands of kids are in the conflict zone.

Many of those who flee the violence come to Russia, and the latest statistics from the International Organization for Migration have demonstrated that Russia’s Government has spent over $100 million since April on about 900,000 refugees.

Also, almost 150 schools have been shut down because of the fighting in the Donetsk region, and about 50,000 kids haven’t been going to school since

September, as they were in ruins or closed for safety reasons, UNICEF said in its report.

The situation doesn’t look brighter in the areas controlled by the Kiev Government: 187 schools have been damaged or destroyed.

UNICEF stated that it needs $32.4 million to help 600,000 kids and their families: the weather in Ukraine is freezing, so the people urgently need warm clothes, shelter, hygiene supplies and medicine These days the humanitarian situation in Lugansk and Donetsk (regions of Ukraine) is catastrophic and continues to deteriorate. According to the latest figures from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number of victims and survivors of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine has been steadily increasing.

Denis Kopyl Press Attaché Russian Embassy

There is no circumventing...

The claims that BSL has “dubiously” acquired permits or rights to harvest timber in Guyana are simply therefore, another atrocious falsehood. The allegation that BSL has opted for joint “venture agreements” (JV) with other companies to circumvent the GFC requirements is also without merit.

GFC’s Board of Directors as part of its work plan holds regular meetings with stakeholder groups across the country. At these meetings, one of the major stakeholder concerns was the inadequate capacity of concessionaires (mainly locals) to beneficially occupy areas and produce sufficient quantities of logs/lumber for the local construction industry, as well as for the local added value manufacturers, and for export.

The main constraints documented by these logging companies were a lack of appropriate machinery/ equipment, and adequate financing.

The Concessionaires themselves proposed two short term measures to address this, namely: GFC to allow joint venture arrangements after the requisite due diligence was done, and GFC was satisfied that the JV had merit; and GFC to allow companies that lacked adequate and/or appropriate machinery to rent same from third parties in a structured and properly monitored/regulated manner.

Based on these requests by the sector, the need to improve log/lumber/added value production, and generate additional employment opportunities, and being assured by the GFC that its monitoring systems would ensure that the allowable harvest levels would not be exceeded, the GFC Board approved both requests.

GFC has since facilitated both requests in accordance with the legislation and a very transparent and organized procedure.

For example, it was collaboratively agreed (stakeholders/GFC/GFC Board) that the procedure for the review of joint venture requests would be as follows: 1. A request to enter into a joint venture arrangement needs to be made by the company/individual that has legal access to state forest.

2. A thorough background assessment would be done on the company that is seeking to joint venture with the one that has the legal access to the forested land 3. This assessment would be used to guide the GFC in making its recommendations to the GFC Board Technical Sub-Committee 4. The GFC Technical Sub-Committee after their review would submit a recommendation to the GFC Board of Directors.

5. The GFC Board then makes its recommendation as to whether to approve/disapprove the joint venture.

This is in keeping with Section 16 of the Forests Act 2009. BSL has entered into approved JVs following this process, contrary to the “landlording” and “dubiously” acquired permits assertion.

Government and the GFC have always emphasized the need to reduce log exports and maximize the in-country manufacture of value added forest products.

However, when the National Log Export Policy was being formulated, stakeholders stoutly resisted the GFC’s position to ban the export of logs.

They opted instead for a graduated increase in the export commission on log exports. Log exports are legitimately done in accordance with this policy.

Nevertheless, the GFC has impressed upon BSL and all other foreign and local companies, the need to accelerate meeting their stated commitments re the manufacture of added value forest products. In this re-

gard, work will re-commence very shortly on the construction of the wood processing plant of BSL. The article also refers to the potential destructive activities that may be caused by the opening up of new roads. It is very hypocritical for persons to try to stifle the much regulated and environmentally conscious forest development in Guyana, yet when requested to offer economic alternatives to forest utilization, very limited support is offered.

Guyana, however, with the support of progressive thinking partners such as the Kingdom of Norway, has shown that it is possible to have sustainable forest utilization along a low carbon development pathway.

Under this pioneering partnership, Guyana is still able to pursue regulated forestry, mining and other forest based activities and still have a deforestation rate that in 2013 was calculated using national level fivemetre satellite resolution at 0.068 per cent.

This is testimony to the fact that our systems for sustainable forest utiliza-

From page 4

tion are appropriate, robust and functioning; this has also been field verified by the numerous transparent and independent audits that have been done for the forestry sector in Guyana.

The article also alludes that GFC is taking a back seat in these matters; this is bordering on the ridiculous since the GFC takes its mandate of “ensuring sustainable forestry” very seriously; something that is recognized not only nationally, but regionally and globally.

GFC would again appeal to stakeholders, especially those in the public media, to verify the facts before publicizing erroneous information.

GFC also invites interested persons to visit the GFC, and the forest/logging operations to see for yourself that GFC and Guyana are practicing sustainable forest management on the ground, in a very transparent and collaborative manner with our direct and indirect stakeholders.

James Singh Commissioner of Forests, GFC

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By MARIE HARTWELLWALKER

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thursDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

t’s astonishing but true: Many children spend more of their waking hours with their teachers each weekday than they do with their parents. By the time parents get home from work and children get home from afterschool activities, there are only a few hours left in the day to get dinner, do homework, perhaps go to a child event, and get everyone to bed.

Yes, those are all important activities. Yes, parents can get some quality time in at dinner, while helping with homework, and in the car going to and from whatever is on the schedule. But meanwhile, there’s another adult who is teaching, influencing, and, I certainly hope, having some fun with our children for six hours a day – their teachers.

When we’re on the same team, our children usually do better in school. When we know and trust each other, our children can’t play one against the other when they find work challenging or want to avoid a task. When there’s good communication between us, accomplishments get acknowledged, little problems don’t tend to become big ones, big ones can be better managed.

I’ve been on both sides. As a junior high English teacher in the early part of my career,

Foundation

I had over 100 children a semester whose personalities and progress I needed to learn well enough so that I could respond to concerned parents.

As a mother of four children, at times I’ve been one of those concerned parents who wanted her children’ teachers to know their personalities and progress well enough to keep me informed. What I learned from both experiences is the importance of a strong parentteacher partnership, especially when a child is having a hard time.

Here are a few reminders of what we parents can do to build a positive and productive partnership with our child’s teachers.

Introduce yourself to the teacher.

Start the year off right. Don’t wait for a problem before making contact.

Find a way to say hello, to help the teacher attach your face to your name, and to make a cordial connection.

If the school limits contact immediately before and after school, email the teacher and ask if there’s a convenient time when you can just stop by. This isn’t the time to have a lengthy conversation. It’s a time to simply let the teacher know who you are and that you are a parent who is interested in your child’s education.

Introduce your child.

Elementary classroom teachers often have 20-40 new children to get to know each year. Help them out a little.

Write a brief note or email to the teachers telling them a little bit about your child’s strengths and interests. Add

a few goals and hopes you have for the year. If you have a particular concern or your child has a particular challenge, briefly describe that as well.

Include phone numbers and times when you prefer to be contacted.

Go to PTA meetings/level meetings. These meetings are a good place to get a sense of the teacher’s goals for the year and to learn about his or her approach. Most teachers spend hours preparing their classrooms and lessons. Take the time to really look around the room and to comment positively on what you see.

This is not the time to corner the teacher with your own concerns.

Other parents want time too.

Instead, make an appointment for a parent-teacher conference to discuss your child’s strengths and goals.

Go to the parentteacher conference prepared. Respect the teacher’s time. Get to your meeting on time and don’t overstay your assigned time.

Take the time to jot down things you feel are going well as well as concerns. Share the whole list with the teacher right away. Then go back to each item together. You are much more likely to cover everything you want to cover if you are both keeping track.

(psychcentral.com)

(CONCLUSION)

BY JANET LEHMAN, MSW

If you are setting realistic expectations and you still think there might be some acting-out behaviours that crop up, set limits beforehand. For example, if you’re going to go out to dinner, be clear with your children about what you expect of them. This will not only help the behaviour, but in some ways will help them feel safer.

They will understand what is expected of them and will know what the consequences will be if they don’t meet those expectations. If they meet your goals, certainly give them credit, but also if they don’t, follow through on whatever consequences you’ve set up for them.

Clarify the limits when things are calm When you’re in a situation where your child is disrespectful, that’s not the ideal time to do a lot of talking about limits or consequences. At a later time you can talk with your child about his behaviour and what your expectations are.

Talk about what happened afterward. If your child is disrespectful or rude, talk about what happened (later, when things are calm) and how it could have been dealt with differently. That’s a chance for you, as a parent, to listen to your child and hear what was going on with her when that behaviour happened.

Try to stay objective. You can say, “Pretend a video camera recorded the whole thing.

What would I see?” This is also a perfect time to have your child describe what she could have done differently.

Don’t take it personally One of the biggest mistakes parents can make is to take their child’s behaviour personally.

The truth is, you should never fall into that trap because the teenager next door is doing the same thing to his parents, and your cousin’s daughter is doing the same thing to her parents. Your role is to just deal with your child’s behaviour as objectively as possible. When parents don’t have effective ways to deal with these kinds of things, they may feel out of control and get scared – and often overreact or under react to the situation. When they overreact, they become too rigid, and when they under react, they ignore the behaviour or tell themselves it’s “just a phase.” Either way, it won’t help your child learn to manage his thoughts or emotions more effectively, and be more respectful. (Empowering Parents)

news

7

thurDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Govt will ramp up investment in Teenagers accounted social sector – Finance Minister for 1332 births at GPHC in 2014 A s Guyana prepares for the tabling of the 2015 National Budget, many are not unmindful of the stance taken by the political Opposition with regard to their voting to disapprove critically needed allocations.

However, Government is prepared for any eventuality, and will be guided in its actions by the law.

This point was reinforced when Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh was interviewed on the National Communications Network’s “Political Scope” programme on Saturday.

Referring to the political Opposition’s decision to cut the National Budget over the last three years, Minister Singh stated that the Constitution was “clear” on this issue. “The [acting] Chief Justice [Ian Chang] has ruled on this matter arising out of the 2012 budget cuts; that matter ended up before the court, and ... [he] handed down the ruling with us in 2013. It was quite clear that the National Assembly acted outside its institutional remits in imposing cuts to the national budget.”

Government will continue to be guided by the Constitution, the relevant legislation and the Chief Justice’s ruling, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported as it detailed the Dr Singh’s interview.

The Finance Minister shared the view that has been expressed publicly

by Attorney General Anil Nandlall on the current action brought before the court

by Opposition Leader David Granger as “frivolous and

without merit”, because the issue has been ventilated in the court already, and the court has pronounced. The Minister added that he was optimistic that the court would rule consistent to its previous decision, which stated that “Government acted entirely with the constitutional and legislative mandate and remit in managing the operations of Government” as it restored finances disapproved by the Opposition-led National Assembly.

With regard to the upcoming 2015 National Budget, it was noted by the Finance Minister that the Constitution prescribed the tabling of the national budget within the first quarter of the year under “normal circumstances and, of course, the Constitution is also clear about what happens, in relation to the presentation of the budget and the event the Parliament is dissolved before in the exploration of the first quarter of the year”. Government, he said, would be guided by the Constitution, as, “once the parliamentary provisions exist, we will be ready to table a budget in keeping with the constitutional prescriptions”.

Familiar cry

Responding to claims that the parliamentary Opposition was not considered during pre-budget consultations, Dr Singh said that cry about “no consultations is a familiar one”, noting that this year as in previous ones, “they refuse to make themselves available”.

The Opposition has historically shown a striking

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

unwillingness to engage with Government despite extended invitations, he said, adding that he was not surprised by the current posture.

Other stakeholders from the Private Sector, labour and other interest groups have offered their inputs, he revealed, and these have been of benefit.

“We have policies for each sector, all have benefited from stakeholders’ input with the highest level of integrity, feedback and input from nongovernmental stakeholders with policymaking functions. We remain positive to continue receiving feedback to inform the policymaking functions,” he said.

The actual budget will contain measures, which, the Finance Minister said, will continue to maintain the focus on preserving favourable economic conditions within a framework that will see continued growth.

“Without pre-empting what is actually contained in the

Final lap of “Clean-Up My Country” programme almost complete

T

he Government of Guyana “Clean-Up My Country” programme, which was commenced in July 2014, and implemented by the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, is nearing completion.

Four communities that are currently ongoing in Georgetown, and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) will continue general community clean-up by the end of January.

Initially, the “Clean-Up My Country” programme

was scheduled to be wrapped

by December 31, 2014.

However, the month of December saw a peak in the number of community cleanups still ongoing and late submissions of proposals for communities to be cleaned.

budget, whenever it is presented in the Parliament, I would say that there are a few things that Guyanese can certainly look forward to.

Our Government will continue to invest in our country’s infrastructure as we continue to believe that physical infrastructure is athletic to growth and prosperity.

We will continue to place emphasis on things like hardto-reach areas and the social sector, particularly in improving quality, and these are some things that one can look forward to in going forward,” the Minister disclosed.

Undermining

Commenting on the parliamentary Opposition parties’ actions in recent years, the Finance Minister said there should be no doubt in the minds of Guyanese that they have set about to undermine the strength of the economy. “They haven’t offered an apology for it, they have said openly that they have been taking actions designed to intimidate investors, to discourage persons coming into Guyana to delay and derail all projects … this has been their behaviour since the commencement of the 10th Parliament,” he noted.

Notwithstanding the Opposition’s behaviour, which the Minister described as a challenge and very unpatriotic, Government has been maintaining a significant degree of investors’ confidence and optimism in Guyana, “We will continue to do this, but it will be a challenge from an Opposition that is intent in undermining the economic gains of the country.”

G

The Maternity Ward, Georgetown Public Hospital

eorgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) said a total of 6085 babies were successfully delivered at the institution last year, 1332 of whom were born to teenage mothers.

In total, the hospital did 6179 deliveries; however, 94 of those deliveries were stillbirths.

The teenage mothers ranged from under 14 to 19 years old.

Annually, the GPHC delivers the highest number of babies compared to other hospitals since it covers the largest catchment area and it is also the national referral hospital, where mothers are directed to come during complicated pregnancies.

Deliveries at the hospital in December 2014 surpassed the other months, with a total of 610 babies being delivered. From December 24, 2014 to January 1, 2015, there was a spike in deliveries: 168 babies were born at the hospital during this period.

In 2014, the hospital had a total of 11 maternal deaths. Five of these deaths

were women referred from other health institutions.

Nineteen-year-old Marina Persaud was the last maternal death for 2014. GPHC’s maternity ward admitted 9735 patients for 2014.

Pregnant women are sometimes admitted to the hospital for observation though they may not necessarily be near delivery time, GPHC said in the statement.

Additionally, the hospital said its Obstetrics and Gynaecology Antenatal Clinic saw a total of 10,813 women. These statics exclude Kitty Health Centre, Campbellville Health Centre, Industry Health Centre and Enmore Polyclinic managed by the hospital, which many pregnant women also attend.

“GPHC extends condolences to the bereaved families of all the women who passed away as a result of complications sustained during childbirth.

"The hospital reiterates its commitment to the public and looks forward to providing more quality service in 2015,” the release concluded.

8 NEWS

thursDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Badal not serious with offer to invest US$8M in Marriott – AHI A tlantic Hotel Inc (AHI), owner of the Marriott Hotel here, has said that Robert Badal, Chairman and Managing Director of Guyana Stockfeeds and owner of the Pegasus Hotel, is not serious with his offer to invest US$8M in the Marriott Hotel development in order to become a majority shareholder.

In a statement, AHI said advertisements inviting investors' expressions of interest to participate in the Marriott Hotel Project’s private equity were widely published since 2009, both locally and internationally, and were placed in all of Guyana’s Embassies and Consulates abroad.

“Yet not a single local investor, including Badal, had expressed an interest in investing in the Marriott Project.

On the contrary he has vehemently opposed this project,” AHI said.

According to AHI, in 2013, it announced it had secured an investor.

However, it was not until May last year that AHI and Republic Bank were able to release the name of the investor.

“AHI wishes to make it clear that it has not, at any time prior to or since Badal’s statement, received any expression of interest from Badal or any of his representatives in investing in AHI’s Marriott Hotel Project private equity,” the release said.

AHI added: “It is perhaps worth pointing out that both the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News, in October 2013, reported extensively on a statement issued by Badal attacking the Feasibility Study (major portions were released by AHI to the media) as “unrealistic assumptions”.

T The Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown

In his statement, Badal predicted “crippling operating losses” for the hotel, “with no cash flow being available to cover interest rate payments, as this outfit would not even realise 15 per cent occupancy”.

Badal went on to say that the hotel “would rapidly lead to bankruptcy”. He said that “it is no surprise that no credible investor showed any interest in this project”.

AHI pointed out that the terms and conditions for the investment and the incentives offered, including those which Badal is now reported to be finding so attractive, were a matter of public record since 2012 and have not changed from the inception of the project up to the time of the closing date of the public-

ly advertised "Expressions of Interest" for private investors for the US$8M on March 12, 2012.

“In fact all of the tax agreements were made public and widely covered in the media. On March 15, 2012, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh laid these agreements before Parliament, copies of which are in the Parliamentary Library.

"Badal cannot, therefore, credibly claim ignorance of these conditions and incentives when, in October 2013, he described the Marriott investment as “an indecent assault on the private sector and fraud on the taxpayer.

"Clearly, Badal’s sudden about face and declaration of interest in becoming a major investor is not to be taken seriously,” AHI said.

North Ruimveldt man accused of threatening ex-partner on self-bail

L

awrence Moore of Lot 35 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was released on self-bail after being accused of making threats to his ex-partner via telephone conversations.

The 25-year-old man appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya

Eyew tness Kvetching...

Sewnarine-Beharry on Wednesday morning.

His allegation read that on January 12 at Lamaha Springs, Georgetown, he made use of threatening language to the Virtual Complainant (VC) Natasha Haywood, via the telephone.

Moore denied this allegation through his le-

gal representative, Ronald Burch-Smith. His Attorney told the court that his client and the VC shared a common-law relationship.

Burch-Smith related that his client had prior matters and in currently the defendant for a preliminary inquiry matter which does not relate to the threaten-

ing language charge or with Haywood.

There were no objections to bail being granted by the prosecution. The Chief Magistrate then placed him on a bond to keep the peace, releasing him on his own recognisance.

The matter will be heard again on January 20.

Albouystown man charged with assaulting woman

T

wenty-one-year-old Anthony Carthe of Lot 154 Copper Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was placed on self-bail after being arraigned on an assault charge.

The man appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Annette Singh on Wednesday morning.

The charge alleged that on January 11, at Copper Street, Albouystown, he unlawfully assaulted the Virtual Complainant (VC) Karen Yearwood which caused her actual bodily harm. The defendant denied the charge.

There were no facts read to the court and the relationship between the parties was not stated. Police Prosecutor Adonni Innis had no objections to bail being granted to the defendant.

Bail was granted in a sum of $75,000. However, Carthe told the court that used his money to pay his station bail ($10,000) and does not have anymore.

Putting full faith in Carthe, the Magistrate released him on self-bail, allowed him to sign a document promising to return to court on his next court date which is scheduled for January 25.

...by WPA

he four old men making up the WPA continue to struggle for political relevancy. After all, how long can they sponge off the legacy of the late, great Walter Rodney? But politics is no vocation for old men: most of them just “remember” and don’t “think”. They get senile.

While this Eyewitness is quite sympathetic to the challenge posed by their degenerating grey cells, he’s getting a bit impatient with the outrageous outbursts of the “WPA 4”.

What are these geezers going to do next, just prove they’re still around?? Just last week, Rupert Roopnarine who jumped into bed with the PNC so fast to “cover” for them, he got skid marks on the sheets - exclaimed that the new Hope Canal’s “an unnecessary extravagance”!!

Can you believe this??

Here it is, ever since the abolition of slavery, the East Coast floods have devastated communities’ homes and farmlands and Roopnarine doesn’t think they should get relief?? Didn’t the 2005 floods teach him anything?? And to think he lives in Mahaica - one of the worse hit areas every time the Conservancy overtops.

Being constructed from ground level up, the Hope Canal’s designed to maintain the water level according to the “Goldilocks Principle”: not too high nor not too low. either of these contingencies spells disaster.

And just yesterday, Roopnarine’s co-leader of the WPA for donkey years - the equally ancient CliveThomas - accused (get this!!) Norway and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for being in a “conspiracy” with the PPP/C Government on the Amaila Falls Funding! Now as you get older, you also become more paranoid...but isn’t this the height of absurdity??

Let’s put this claim in perspective. Norway possesses the BIGGEST SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND IN THE WORLD over US$1 trillion and counting! That’s right ...bigger that the Saudi’s. And the IDB? Their “Triple A” common stock value alone’s over US$100 billion.

And these two financial behemoths would engage in a “conspiracy” with tiny Guyana for a mere US$80 million??

Pleeeeease!!!!!

But there’s a poignant side to the WPA’s desperation.

Now that the PNC’s eying the much younger and nubile AFC as a partner to enter the next elections, one has to understand the WPA’s hysteria. Who’ll take up with folks who’re all in their 80s??

This Eyewitness believes the WPA’s oldsters just can’t be thrown aside like sucked oranges. For taking all that flack to hide the sins of the PNC - even earning the scorn of the widow of Dr Rodney - the latter’s killers should at least give the four fogies a rocking chair each!!

...on cricket

Lots of folks are also kvetching about the omission of Dwayne Bravo and Keiron Pollard from our ODI World Series team. Now, dear reader, you know this Eyewitness views the members of the WICB as a life form not much higher than slime.

And let him assure you - only disease causing bacteria, rates lower!! And he also says loudly: the WICB would dearly love to stick it to Dwayne Bravo after his stunt in India.

But to pin the axing of Bravo and Pollard on those wankers is too much of a stretch. Clive Lloyd has made a very cogent case as to why they were dropped: the numbers tell that tale!! They just haven’t lived up to their hype of late. Take Bravo as a bowler. For too long he fancied himself as a “death bowler”.

But when given the captaincy, he indulged himself prodigiously - even though he was even more prodigiously carted over the boundary by even journeymen cricketers!

Polly?? Too much hit and miss.

...on election date

There’s an old caution the Opposition should heed: be careful what you ask for - you might get it!! We rather suspect Prezzie’s gonna call elections “any day now”.

When it’s over there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth in the Opposition’s camp.

news

9

thursDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

PSC wants more action to tackle cross border smuggling

Chairman of the Trade and Investment Sub Committee of the PSC Ramesh Dookhoo

W

hile the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has called on the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to do more to tackle the issue of smuggling, the organisation has said it has always had serious concerns over the issue and is working toward its total eradication.

In fact, the PSC is hoping to put some recommendations to the GRA, so as to lessen the rising incidence of cross-border smuggling.

GRA’s Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur had stated recently that the PSC was not integrally involved in the fight against smuggling, but the Commission on Wednesday said it has always been part of the combat against this practice.

Local businesses have overtime complained about being cheated by the system, which allows goods to enter Guyana unscathed from neighbouring Suriname.

Among the items frequented across the border are alcohol, fuel, motor cars and tobacco – goods that attract excise tax.

Chairman of the Trade and Investment Sub Committee of the PSC

Ramesh Dookhoo said while local businesses feel the brunt of the unlawful practice, manufactures are especially affected.

“We are unhappy, and the manufacturers are unhappy about cross-border smuggling. One side benefits from the smuggling which takes place and on the other side, we are not interested in buying smuggled goods or selling smuggled goods… Our manufacturers especially are very concerned about cross-border smuggling into Guyana”.

Lack of resources

While the GRA has been at the forefront battling this issue, Dokhoo said there have been major shortcomings because of the lack of resources.

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Kit Nacimento said, it really does not matter who benefits or loses out, smuggling is simply illegal and legal businesses are the ones affected.

“Smuggling is illegal and companies whether they are manufacturing or whether they are in the distribution of fuel or providing a service that is affected by smuggling, they suffer and that is what matters. The private commercial legal business activities suffer from smuggling,” Nacimento emphasised.

The PSC has found many reasons for the free passage of goods and services.

Among them, and considered probably the main one is the presence of a duty-free bond in Suriname.

“Suriname has not attempted to implement non tariff barriers and other goods going across, nei-

GRA’s Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur

ther has Guyana attempted to attach non tariff barrier to any goods coming into Guyana from Suriname.

Suriname is a lot more organised... There is duty-free bond at Nickerie where an exporter can store his goods and remove it whenever he is ready to make a sale.

Implement system

This serves as a major advantage to persons who smuggle their goods into the country. Dookhoo said the PSC will be exploring the idea where customs officials could be alerted whenever goods are uplifted from that bond. In so doing, those persons bringing in merchandise will have to give an account via invoices for the items imported. The PSC, he noted, will be pushing the GRA to implement this system.

Meanwhile, PSC officials have contended that Guyana remains at the losing end in the practice since Suriname has access to more concessionary importing from Europe.

The goods, originating from Europe, are illegally brought to Guyana and attract a very high duty, unlike those coming from the Caribbean Community

(Caricom).

The officials said the duty-free bond system in Suriname is much more organised than Guyana. Most of the goods that are smuggled in are actually aimed at the Guyana market. Apart from goods that attract excise tax, the other goods include textile materials, some food items and hardware items.

“So as the Private Sector and the Surinamese Chambers of Commerce we are both interested in legal trade and this is the message we want to sent to customs officials from both countries”.

The GRA had reported that it was working on a series of systems to minimise tax evasion and goods smuggling. Tobacco and alcohol are among the items particularly targeted for anti-smuggling, since the two items are said to be the highest paying in revenues.

Taxes on alcohol and tobacco can go as high as 100 per cent and over.

Sattaur said though current systems to combat smuggling are efficient, they are not fully comprehensive since the agency was not getting the results it expected.

He related that smuggling grabs millions of dollars in revenue from Guyana every year.

During the first quarter of 2014, the agency seized a large assortment of smuggled goods with a tax value of over $30 million.

The GRA boss revealed that the agency had enforced a public awareness campaign to inform citizens of the effects of goods smuggling. Enforcement officers work on a daily basis, resulting in a large number of seizures.

President Ramotar, CDEMA Head discuss Region’s Disaster Management Strategy

President Donald Ramotar is greeted by Ronald Jackson, Executive Director, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)

G

uyana’s role in the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) was the topic of discussion when President Donald Ramotar and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon met with the agency’s Executive Director, Ronald Jackson at the Presidential Complex on Wednesday.

In an invited comment, Jackson said it was his first opportunity to meet with Guyana’s president and he used the occasion to discuss the comprehensive Caribbean Disaster Management Strategy. This is a 10 - year plan to achieve disaster risk resilience in the region, he explained, “I also shared with the president the main priorities of Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency for the next three years and how those priorities are likely to support the people of Guyana and their programme for disaster risk management”.

The two also spoke about CDEMA’s management, he said, given that it is an instrument of the 18-member states of Caricom. There were also discussions on some of the global issues such as the post-2015 development agenda as he added that, “the global framework of action, which is a

global blueprint for disaster risk management and how those are likely to impact on Guyana”.

Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission (CDC) was described by Jackson as a one of the region’s “bright performers”, particularly over the last three years. The CDC has done a lot of work which he noted was a credit to its leadership, “in looking at its context a very strategic way and there have been various strides on both sides of the coin, looking at the prevention side and setting the fundamental groundwork to achieve that but also strengthening the response coordination” the Caricom official further added.

Jackson also said the Caricom region has to accept the fact that, especially in the areas of climate variability and climate change, that “the region is still going to have to be responding to adverse effects of disaster events, not here in Guyana, but supporting the regional response”. CDEMA draws on capacity across its member states and to respond to their needs, and since the CDC is building its capacity, he explained this is going towards supporting a regional response. The CDEMA head will meet with Caricom and CDC officials during his twoday visit to Guyana.

ing on disparaging our reputable international partners such as the IDB and Government of Norway – an ill-advised strategy that assumes that the Guyanese people and the world will choose to believe the picture painted by the Opposition verses the rigorous standards that these institutions abide by.”

WPA had contended that as it “welcomes the action by the British it wishes to place on record its dismay at the growing evidence that the Norwegian Government and the InterAmerican Development Bank are colluding with the Government of Guyana to violate the Constitution of Guyana and to participate in the unlawful spending of public funds.”

The party said the Constitution unambiguously requires that all moneys belonging to Guyana must be paid into the Consolidated Fund. It said this includes moneys received by Guyana under the five-year agreement between Guyana and Norway for Guyana to be paid to protect its forests.

The party concluded that the announcement that Norway recently asked the IDB to receive US$80 million as Guyana’s equity in the Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity Project is a flagrant violation of Guyana Constitution and the arrangement between Norway, the IDB and no doubt Guyana amounts to a conspiracy.

Govt demands WPA apologises to IDB, Norway ….says conspiracy allegation “ridiculous”

T

he Government is demanding that the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) issues an immediate apology to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Norway, after it accused the two of colluding to infringe on the Constitution of Guyana.

In a recent press statement, WPA accused Norway and IDB of being part and parcel of a conspiracy with respect to the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project. The party said Norway and IDB are moving ahead with financial arrangements for the project, although the National Assembly voted against the initiative on several grounds.

In a release on

Wednesday, the Government said the accusation is just another desperate attempt on the part of the political Opposition to destroy a project that would see Guyana developing in major ways.

“Even by the standards of the Opposition’s ever-increasing wildness in their accusations, this is quite something. The Government does not intend to lower itself to engaging with such a preposterous assertion as has been made, but calls on the Opposition to immediately apologise to Norway and the Inter-American Development Bank.”

The Government said Norway and IDB have long been supporters of Guyana especially with respect to the global fight against pov-

erty and the international community’s efforts to combat climate change.

“Their motivation in assisting the people of Guyana is purely honourable. Moreover, the idea that such a conspiracy could be concocted between the Government of Guyana, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Norway is simply ridiculous,” the Government said.

President Donald Ramotar had said that of the US$150 million received

by Guyana to date in payments for forest carbon, US$80 million would be invested as Guyana’s equity in the Amaila Falls Project.

According to the Government, this is the same position that has been

repeated for years, and which the Opposition previously supported. In August 2013, President Ramotar contended that self-serving political games attempted to destroy the project which is designed to benefit all Guyanese by providing them with affordable, reliable, clean energy.

It was pointed out too, that the Opposition refuses to acknowledge that more than four presentations were made on the Amaila Falls Project starting in March, 2012 through August, 2013. Additionally, the Government had shared the project’s principal confidential agreements with the Opposition.

“Instead, of constructive dialogue and engagement, the Opposition is now focus-

10

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

News UG law students cry foul ...about system picking Hugh Wooding 25

By Gomatie Gangadin

L

aw students of the University of Guyana (UG) are expressing concerns over the transparency and authenticity of the selection process which exists at the institution for determining who are automatically given places at the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), in Trinidad and Tobago.

This is even as the Government of Guyana is working to secure an agreement with the Council of Legal Education for the continuation of the automatic placement of the UG’s top 25 students law students at the HWLS. Speaking to Guyana Times in a telephone interview on Wednesday, Legal Education Reform Advocate and former President of the UG Law Students’ Society, Sherrod Duncan indicated that he received reports from several students, stating that they were unhappy with what they deemed a “secretive” selection process at the institution.

Selection

He noted that they have indicated to him that even though they possessed higher Grade Point Averages (GPAs) than some of their counterparts, it was their counterparts who were selected for entry at the HWLS to complete their Legal Education Certificate (LEC).

“I think the transparency of the list needs to be checked, because I do not believe it is the most transparent process … some students would have gotten a GPA of 3.1 or 3.2 while the student with a GPA of 2.7 or 2.8 was selected for entry at HWLS. "From what we know, the Council of Legal Education requires the top 25 students, so I don’t know what is going on,” Duncan said.

Meanwhile, another student who said she was currently being targeted and requested that her name be withheld for fear of further victimisation indicated that she was tired of the “running around” which she was required to do just to clarify the situation.

According to the student, she has a GPA of 3.0 but her counterpart who has a GPA of 2.7 was favoured for entry.

She noted that they underwent the same programmes, wrote the same exams and were given the same opportunities and as such, she was left to wonder what went wrong.

The young lady disclosed to this publication that after she was overlooked, she began to ask questions and was told that the selection

Freedie ain’t got nutten to show

A The University of Guyana Library

process was no longer done as per the highest GPA but via a classification process.

“They said that they are working with the classification process and not by the highest GPA process.

"This was never done before, so I don’t know how it has suddenly become the selection process used,” the student said.

She noted that after this concern was raised, it was then that the victimisation began.

“All of a sudden, my grades were being reviewed without any proper explanation or notice and then next thing you know, my GPA has dropped and keeps dropping. What does that say?

"The list has never been done like this before and when questions are raised, this is what happens,” she said in a frustrated tone.

Favouritism

She noted that there was no transparency in the process and was of the strong belief that there was some amount of favouritism evident at the University.

“The sad reality is that the students who have parents in certain positions, regardless of their GPAs, are placed before us who do not have parents in the high places,” the student said.

Another student, who also asked for her identity to be kept secret, echoed similar sentiments.

The HWLS hopeful conveyed that while she had no evidence to support her claims at this point, it was a known fact in the school that the process was biased.

“We have seen instances where students fail and are still promoted despite that. I know something is going on with the selection process, there are secretive happenings.

"I don’t have evidence, but, as students we know, we know what is going on.

Out of 60 students, only 25 are chosen so all kinds of unscrupulous things hap-

pen. I can’t provide evidence, but I can’t sit here and deny it,” she said.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, when contacted to comment on the issue, told the Guyana Times that while he was aware of the allegations, having heard several complaints, there was nothing he could do to address the issue at this present time.

“The selection of the 25 students to enjoy automatic entry is done exclusively by the University of Guyana’s administration.

"It is complied and transmitted directly to the Registrar of the Hugh Wooding Law School from the University of Guyana.

I am not unaware of the allegation, but I cannot and do not speak for the University,” the Minister said.

Malicious

However, when UG's Vice Chancellor of the Jacob Opadeyi, was contacted, he told the Guyana Times that he was not aware of any such matter at the school and suggested that the students were being malicious.

“This is not true. It is not true. I am not aware of this and if they have a complaint, they should file it to me with their names attached. The students are just being malicious,” Opadeyi related.

New York poll man, who happen to also be a ram, does expose Freedie de man kisser a lotta times in de press. Freedie like to tink that he bright and that he can poll more than de New York poll man.

But Freedie seh he gotta poll, but he never show he poll yet, and he does wanna see plenty people poll.

Now when some body seh dem have some ting and dem ain’t wanna show it, it could be that dem ain’t got de ting in de first place. Or it could be that dem have it, but it ain’t good. So wid Freedie poll, yuh can never know is which one of de two, because he never show it.

Now some lil boy who does write one and two tings to de Editor mek Freedie look like a lil boy too. Up to this day, Freedie can’t show whah ever research he ever do, and de lil boy ask Freedie to show it.

Is now people realise that it look like wid all dem books whah Freedie thief, he don’t even read dem. De Misirable man should just give one of he books to Freedie and hope that he read it. After all Freedie love freeness.

So again, it could only mean that Freedie never do any research, or if he ever do any, it ain’t good. At least one research whah he do on de Misirable man was wrong. So Freedie mek de boss man had to seh sorry not once, but two times.

Now Freedie boss man accustom to sayin sorry and beg pardon. Whole year last year he had to be tellin people sorry and beg pardon, but he been hopin fuh a different year this year. Or to simply beg fuh other tings, like Lexus and so on.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! At least so far, Freedie boss man was hopin that this year he woulda only have to beg de Guvament and GRA. Now he got to beg to save Freedie too!

5 bullets recovered from slain businesswoman’s body F ive bullets were extracted from the body of slain Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara, businesswoman, Patricia Sanasie, who was gunned down on Monday night in front of her home.

State Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh removed the bullet fragments while conducting an autopsy on the body of the businesswoman at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) Mortuary.

The cause of death was listed as multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

One day after the shooting, Crime Chief Leslie James told Guyana Times that, investigators secured footage from the area with the hope of getting clues that would lead them to the shooter. However, thus far the footage has not been useful.

James also pointed out that the police have not identified a suspect. A police source close to the investigation, told this newspaper that they have ruled out rob-

bery since the intention was clearly to kill the 45-year-old woman.

The source further posited that the police have their hands tied since the husband, with whom the dead

times last February outside of his business place in Alberttown, Georgetown.

The businessman survived the injuries but blamed his wife and her younger brother for plotting

Patricia Sanasie

woman had a violent history, is out of the country.

The husband, an auto spares dealer, Deokaran Ram Sanasie called “Monkey Ram”, was shot three

the failed attempt on his life.

However, the woman had refuted the allegations, claiming that her husband was mentally ill. Since that incident, the couple who were

together for some 29 years has been separated. Shorty after the shooting, the husband migrated to the United States (US).

This newspaper was told that the woman and her three daughters were in the U.S. for a while, but she and her eldest daughter returned recently. The woman reportedly returned to sell some of her properties including the building that once housed the Academy of Professional Studies, located in Mc Doom, Greater Georgetown.

Sources close to the family claimed that Sanasie was selling out her properties because she wanted to migrate to the US. Persons said that the woman had constantly expressed fear for life, as such her daughter returned with her. The daughter, Romona, was in the car and witnessed her mother’s execution.

They had just arrived home when the lone gunman riddled Sanasie with bullets.

At the time she was attempting to open her gate.

thursDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Private Sector LIAT sends condolences to people concerned about of St Vincent & the Grenadines political stalemate

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he Private Sector Commission (PSC) has expressed concern that the current political atmosphere created by the stalemate between the three main political parties is impacting the country on every level.

Dubbing the system “obstructionist politics”, PSC members on Wednesday lashed out at Government and the Opposition for failing to come to a reasonable consensus on the way forward for Guyana.

Since the prorogation of Parliament on November 10, political players have been at the crossroads.

President Ramotar had opted to prorogue the National Assembly, with the hope that the Opposition would come to the table for talks.

However, the Opposition maintained that it would not be engaging in any consultation with Government outside the walls of Parliament.

The PSC said while the situation was impacting the country as a whole, local businesses were particularly affected.

“We have suffered from the obstructionist politics over the last year in Parliament. As a Guyanese, as a private person, I’m ashamed that politicians cannot find it in their heart to work together for you and me to have a better Guyana,” said Ramesh Dookhoo of the PSC. He continued, “The Private Sector hates elections; we do no business

before or after elections.

Having elections before the five years is up is a huge disincentive on the Private Sector.”

The Tourism and Hospitality Association (THAG) President Kit Nascimento said: “Once elections are known to be pending in any country, it tends to establish a wait-and-see attitude.

Businesses like to invest in a predictable situation, one that is relatively stable. Once an election is about to be held, it is going to cost the business community and even have an effect on tourism.

He said it creates a “stand and wait and see the result” atmosphere.

“It is not an environment where businesses can progress very comfortably.”

PSC executive member and businessman Edward (Eddie) Boyer related that there were a number of issues that must be examined. “It is true that no business can plan until after election so we are really in the mode of waiting”, he said.

The PSC said it has had numerous consultations with Government and all political players on issues ranging from money laundering to the prorogation of Parliament. It said much has not been initiated in this regard.

The Donald Ramotar Administration has come under fire for failing to name a date for General and Regional Elections, which have come a year before the constitutional deadline.

Soldier gets bail for wounding wife

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ennie Munroe, 30, of La Penitence, Georgetown was granted $75,000 bail after being arraigned on a wounding charge. He appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Annette Singh on Wednesday afternoon.

The charge alleged that on December 28, 2014, Munroe, who is a member of the Guyana Defence Force, unlawfully and maliciously wounded his wife, the Virtual Complainant Tamika Monroe.

The court heard that the VC and the defendant are married with on-going problems. On the day in question, Tamika wanted to move out of the house, when an argument ensued and the defendant got angry. The defendant cuffed his wife to the mouth and

started to chock her, when he noticed that she was fainting.

He let go and she fell to the ground.

Tamika got up and ran out of the house towards the police station. She reported the matter and the defendant was subsequently arrested and charged. According to a medical report, Tamika received lacerations to her mouth and abrasions to her neck.

Police Prosecutor Kerry Boswick objected to bail stating that Tamika is the mother of the defendant’s children and that she is the main witness for the prosecution.

The objections did not satisfy the Magistrate and the defendant was granted bail in the sum of $75,000. The matter will be heard again on January 21.

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egional airline LIAT has extended condolences to the people of St Vincent & the Grenadines on the tragedy that befell a busload of students when the bus they were travelling in plunged off a seaside cliff, leaving five dead.

The Board of Directors, Management and Staff of LIAT Ltd in a statement said it “heard the tragic news concerning the loss of a number of lives, including school children, following the tragic accident in St Vincent & the Grenadines on Monday”.

Chief Executive Officer David Evans said everyone at LIAT joined in extending deepest sympathies to the Government and people of St Vincent & the Grenadines following the tragic accident.

Remnants of the passenger bus plunged into the sea in St Vincent (Photo: nationnews.com)

“It was with a deep sense of sadness that all of us at LIAT learnt of Monday’s ac-

cident. As you deal with this tragedy, please be assured that the entire nation in

general, and those who were affected in particular, are in our thoughts.”

12 News

thursday, JANUARY 15, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Kitty Market rehabilitation Children’s Competition to kick off Mashramani still on agenda – Sooba celebrations in Region 2

The dilapidated Kitty Municipal Market

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he Local Government and Regional D e v e l o p m e n t Ministry is currently awaiting a budget estimate for the rehabilitation of the dilapidated Kitty Municipal Market.

In a recent interview with Guyana Times, subject Minister Norman Whittaker said while a decision has been taken to rehabilitate the age old market in phases, the project estimate is yet to be submitted by the engineer attached to the

Georgetown Mayor and City Council.

“I am hoping that he will send it by the end of this week so I can take it to Cabinet to be discussed and then be placed in the budget,” Whittaker said.

The rehabilitation of the historic Kitty Market has been on the table for more than three years. In 2013, the then Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud had said that his Ministry was awaiting a proposal from the City Council on the

rehabilitation of the market.

Persaud had made the statement shortly after the City Mayor Hamilton Green sought the Government’s invention. Although signalling the Government’s support, he had expressed disappointment that the Council was unable to execute its mandate.

Under the Urban Development Programme (UDP), the Ministry secured a loan from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for munici-

pal governance and municipal infrastructure. The Stabroek Market was identified for rehabilitation under that programme with the Council committing to execute extensive repairs to the Kitty Market.

But Persaud said while Government upheld its side of the bargain, City Hall had failed to make good on its promise.

It was also in 2013, that the acting Town Clerk Sooba told this publication that the city engineer was evaluating the facility to determine the areas to be rehabilitated. She had said that following the evaluation, the Council would have arrived at an estimated cost to save the building.

Approximately two years after, City Hall is still in the processing of providing a budget estimate for the rehabilitation of the market.

Some stallholders are now of the opinion, that despite paying their market fees, provision is not being made for the restoration of the facility. But when contacted on Tuesday, Sooba dismissed the claim contending that the market is next on the Council’s agenda.

In 2013, Kitty Market was identified by the Guyana Fire Service as a derelict building. It was also tagged a fire hazard.

President Ramotar visits Valsad Sugar Factory – impressed with operations

overseas Indians and people of Indian origin (PIOs).

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on January 9 every year in India. The event is also known as ‘Non-Resident Indian Day’ as it marks the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa in the year 1915 on January 9, and acknowledges the contribution of the Indian community living abroad in the development of India. (GINA)

Flashback: A student of Region Two took to the stage in the dramatic poetry segment at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground during the Children’s Competition last year

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he town of Anna Regina will come alive on Monday January 19 as the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Department of Education officially kicks off the Children’s Competition at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

Leading off the programme of activities will be the dramatic poetry and calypso competition followed by the dance and masquerade contests on Wednesday, January 20.

The Department of Education’s competitions will conclude on Friday, January 22, with costume and physical display. The competitions will be held under the theme “One People, One culture, One Celebration”.

Nursery, primary and secondary children are expected to flock the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground to participate in the various categories of events.

The winners of the various events will represent Region Two at the national competition in Georgetown.

According to Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud, who is all excited over the planned

Mashramani activities, this year’s celebration will be bigger – an explosion of colours.

Persaud said that it was his desire for all Essequibians to celebrate Mashramani in high spirits.

Giving a brief glimpse into the other activities planned in celebration of Guyana’s Republic Anniversary, Persaud said the finals of the National Chutney Competition will take place on January 31 at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

The Chairman explained that Region Two was ready to host the event, which will feature several overseas artistes, some hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, the land where chutney was born.

He said a planning meeting was held with stakeholders and it was decided that adults would pay $500 for admission at the gate and children, $300.

Persaud said that other activities include the usual float parade and road show and the decorated buildings competition. A flag-raising ceremony will also be held on the morning of Republic Day.

President Donald Ramotar gets a red carpet welcome on his arrival at the Valsad Sugar Factory in Gujarat, India

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resident Donald Ramotar, during his six-day official state visit to India to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebration, paid a visit to Valsad Sugar Factory in the state of Gujarat on Friday last.

The Guyanese Head of State was given a red carpet welcome and was eagerly greeted by staff on arrival at the factory. He was impressed with the factory and lauded the officials there for the use of

state-of-the-art technology to crush the sugarcane in order to make the sugar crystals. Officials at the plant briefed the Guyanese President and his team of officials regarding the sugar production technology they have adopted.

President Ramotar was given a tour of the entire factory where he witnessed from testing, crystallisation and bagging of Valsad’s white crystal sugar. Before leaving Gujarat, he was entertained by

Gujaratis in one of their traditional dances and was encouraged to join in by the colourfully attired dancers.

President Ramotar was the Chief Guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas ceremony, which was held at Gandhinagar, India from January 8 to 9. Also during his visit, the President was bestowed with the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Samman’ award, which is the highest honour conferred on

Workers of the Valsad Sugar Factory eagerly greeting President Donald Ramotar

news

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thursday, JANUARY 15, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Public Works Minister reiterates Temporary arrangement need for CJIA expansion to continue for UG’s law students – Attorney General M

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ttorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said the temporary agreement which was made between the Council of Legal Education (CLE) and the University of Guyana in 2014 after the impasse on automatic placement of the University’s top 25 students is valid until a legal education review was undertaken in the region.

Nandlall made this statement on Monday following a meeting with students from the University of Guyana’s Law Society (UGLS) during which he listened to concerns as to whether the current batch of the top 25 graduating students would be given automatic entry into the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) this year.

The Attorney General told the students gathered that at the level of the CLE, of which he was an executive member, the issue was being addressed as a fundamental matter and a decision was taken at the level of the Caricom Heads of Government to write to the CLE and address the issue.

He noted also that a comprehensive review of legal education in the region was to be undertaken with specific emphasis on revising the syllabus and revising the role of the Council – deciding whether it should continue to be the provider of legal education in the region, or if it should reassess its role as simply administering a system that would deliver legal education in the region.

The revision committee will also be tasked with determining whether there is adequate accommodation at the law schools in the region for the continuous increase in the

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

numbers of students who are inclining towards studies in the area of law.

However, for the comprehensive review to be undertaken, the Minister disclosed that a source of funding will have to be identified since it was a costly venture. “To undertake what the Heads of Government were recommending, which is a review of the system, is a very costly exercise and an estimation of the cost was submitted to the Heads of Government with discussions on raising the money,” he expanded.

It was explained by the Minister that the cost would be borne by the entire region and Guyana remained committed to contributing fairly and equitably in meeting this expenditure.

He admitted though, that the review process would be a long and protracted one, which was more suited as a longterm goal to rectifying the issue at hand.

However, Nandlall assured and indicated to the students that from a short-term per-

spective, the 25 law students would continue to gain entry at the HWLS on the basis of automatic entry, while their colleagues will have to continue writing the entrance examinations if they want to attend the HWLS. He went on to further state that UG had put forward some proposals to resolve the issue and these were currently being considered by the University of the West Indies (UWI). He expressed optimism that the two universities would arrive at a solution, which was mutually acceptable and which can be brought to the CLE for its approval.

“We are hoping that that would be done within the shortest possible time,” expressed the Minister. The AG noted that the Government was working assiduously to ensure that the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme at UG remained associated with that of UWI. “I believe that it is important for the integrity of the degree programme and it is important for the quality control mechanism to continue to be in place to ensure that there is no dilution of standards at the University of Guyana.”

Accommodation continues to be a problem at the CLE due to the proliferation of new institutions which are offering LLB programmes within the region. Those new facilities coupled with the older bodies are producing many law students who are expected to be accommodated at the HWLS. The Attorney General is scheduled to attend a meeting with the CLE in Grenada on February 6, where the matter is expected to be deliberated on and a decision taken on a way forward.

inister with responsibility for the country’s transportation sector Robeson Benn has once again reaffirmed the importance for the upgrade of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Speaking on the National Communications Network’s “Political Scope” on Monday, Minister Benn yet again underscored that the upgrade is in response to the growth in international air travel.

With this rapid growth in the international aviation sector, the Minister pointed out that there is need for an expanded runway, more terminals and other structures.

He added that with larger aircraft now tapping into the local market, there is the need for a longer runway, as he pointed to the incident, when a Caribbean Airlines plane overshot the runway at the CJIA in July 2011.

“Even though we spend monies on expanding outgoing areas that are now too small and inefficient, when you have two or more aircraft on the ground, we have to expand … it is important.”

Speaking of instances, when members of the opposition were criticising the project, he said their proposed idea was still not feasible.

Former Alliance For Change (AFC) Member Gerhard Ramsaroop, while criticising the initiative had suggested that the Government altogether abandon the CJIA project and begin construction on a new state-of-the-art airport, on the

An artist’s impression of the new Cheddi Jagan International Airport along with runway West Bank of the Demerara River.

But the Mminister rubbished this suggestion, stating that it would cost the Government more to start a new airport.

Minister Benn explained that given the location, that Ramsaroop suggested, would mean that a new bridge would have to be constructed across the Demerara River.

Speaking of financing for the project, Minister Benn said the question of the loan revolved around those who were willing to grant Guyana ‘lines of credit’ at advantageous rates in terms of interest for the project.

“We had, just about that time in 2012, a ChinaCARICOM Summit, which was a time-bounded event, having to put project towards the delegation, to be able to access funds for projects-the level of financing required for

this project only existed under the line of credit, which we were getting from China.”

With the sums of money and the timing of great urgency, Minister Benn said the source of the funding from China was the best option.

Further, he said that it is ironic that the parliamentary combined Opposition parties are not lending their support to the project, given the fact that in 2013, they voted to release funding for initial works.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament and General Secretary Joseph Harmon recently acknowledged that Guyana needs an expanded CJIA, contrary to his party’s position.

Minister Benn also dismissed claims that details about the project have not been made available to the Opposition parties.

Lions Clubs host fundraising dinner in memory of Melvin Jones

Pawnshops making 'a killing' from citizens … GRA notes high interest rates

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fter a number of persons have complained of exceedingly high interest rates by private lenders, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) promises to look into the matter.

After being appointed as the entity in charge of supervising pawn brokers, betting shops, car dealers and real estate agents last year, the organisation says there are penalties for registered money lenders who capitalise on the needs of innocent citizens, by charging them exorbitant interest rates as a means of earning a significant amount of cash in a short period of time.

GRA now monitors these businesses under the instruction of Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, which is catered for under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Persons have complained of being charged interest rates as high as 90 per cent per annum on monies borrowed.

While it is advised that persons borrow money through recognised financial institutions, such as commercial banks, persons are often times

faced with situations that only provide the option/alternative of rendering the financial services of private money lenders.

Most times persons chose to render the services of these money lenders because they may be in a situation of dire urgency for money or they may not have established a relationship with a commercial bank of their choice, allowing them to acquire the amount of money they need.

However, the GRA stated that according to the Laws of Guyana, the Money Lender Act Chapter 91:05, Section 12, the interest charged by a money lender should not exceed three specified amounts.

In the case of secured loans other than loans secured by bills of sale, an interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum is allowed, while in the case of loans secured by bills of sale, a simple interest rate of up to 18 per cent per annum can be charged.

The laws have also stated that in the case of unsecured loans, a simple interest at the rate of up to 32 per cent per annum can be charged.

GRA also advised that it is restricted for private money lenders to charge compound interest rates. They are only allowed to charge simple interest rates on monies lent; this means that the per cent of interest is calculated on the amount of money lent.

The figure arrived at remains the same until the person has completed the repayment of the loan. However, compound interest rates are only allowed by commercial financial institutions in the event of home mortgages and other similar transactions.

With compound interests rates, the interest rates increase every month, since the interest is continuously added to the amount of money borrowed, according to GRA. GRA plans to look into persons who may be performing money lending services as a business and are not registered under the GRA. In order for a person(s) to be qualified to lend money, they must first acquire approval from the judicial court, obtain a business registration and then complete the application.

The Fundraising Dinner and Award Ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel

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he Lions Club of Grove-Diamond in collaboration with the Georgetown-Stabroek Branch on Tuesday held a Fundraising Dinner and Award Ceremony to celebrate the birth anniversary of its founder, Melvin Jones.

The event which received overwhelming support was held in the Savannah Suites of the Pegasus Hotel.

Former President of the Lions Club of Grove-Diamond Petal Ridley said the dinner was the first of five activities planned for the week. She explained that the funds will be used to support the children of Tiger Bay, Georgetown.

“We will be assisting them in getting their school supplies, so they will be more regular at school, because we know how it is in that commu-

nity,” She said.

President of the Lions Club of Grove-Diamond Ivan Waithe said the club has been feeding children countrywide.

Additionally, it continues to donate to other non-governmental organisations and charitable homes.

When asked about the organisation’s plans for 2015, Waithe said the club is hoping to expand its services to far flung regions. “Well for 2015, there are a lot of things we have planned; the main one is to offer our services in regions where we are not yet accessible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Odessa D’barras, President of the Georgetown-Stabroek Branch, said the Private Sector’s support has been tremendous.

“We have been getting great support from the Private

Sector to fund our projects.

Supermarkets and hotels have been coming on board in abundance, take for example tonight we were sponsored

by Nigel’s Supermarket as well as the Pegasus Hotel, but not just for tonight, they have been with us over the years funding out outreach programmes, giving us items to donate and so,” she explained.

Lions Clubs International (LCI) is a secular, non-political service organisation founded by Melvin Jones in 1917. As of May 2013, it had over 46,000 local clubs and more than 1.35 million members in over 200 countries around the world.

Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States, the organisation aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and global scale.

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guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

Regional

Veteran journalist previously held trini wins uk youth hostage in attempted coup dies leadership award

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aoul Pantin, one of the journalists held hostage at the Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) station when a group of Muslim men sought to overthrow the Government in 1990, has died. He was 71.

Relatives said Pantin, who began his career in 1962, died in his sleep.

The former Editor of the Trinidad Express newspaper, also worked at the Trinidad Guardian and is the author of three books including Black Power Day, an account of the 1970 Black Power upheaval in Trinidad and Tobago and Days of Wrath, an eye-witness ac-

Raoul Pantin

count of him being held hostage at TTT by members of the Jamaat al Muslimeen group.

“I used to drink but I became a heavy drinker after.

I became an alcoholic. I used alcohol as a sort of suppressant,” he wrote after his release. Pantin said he became angry very easily and wondered how he would re-

act when he would have met Abu Bakr, the leader of the Jamaat al Muslimeen group.

In the book, Pantin said he could not understand how the local judiciary could uphold the amnesty granting the Muslimeen pardon and is aghast that Bakr was awarded TT$3.4 million (One TT dollar=US$0.37 cents) by the courts for damages to his property during the coup d’etat.

Pantin is also the author of the screenplay, BIM, and has written six plays, including Hatuey, an Amerindian tale, which have been staged at various venues throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

St Vincent Parliament postponed again following tragic accident

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he formal opening of Parliament in St Vincent and the Grenadines has again been postponed until a day to be determined next week following Monday’s tragic vehicular accident in which at least five schoolchildren were killed.

A new parliamentary session was due to begin on Monday morning; however, it was initially pushed back to Tuesday afternoon following the accident.

Tragedy struck early Monday morning when a minivan owned by the Apostolic Faith Church veered off the road and plunged into the raging sea in the Kamacrou area (between Owia and Fancy) in the North-East of mainland St Vincent.

Five persons are confirmed to have died, while 14 were being treated for their injuries – two of them at the

Georgetown Health Facility and 12 at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in the capital Kingstown.

casualty emergency plan.

On Monday, students of the North Union Secondary School, where most of the

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2 6 - y e a r - o l d Chevening Scholar from Enterprise, Chaguanas has won a Youth Leadership Award endorsed by the Queen of England.

Meet Teocah Arieal Anika Dove, a former Valedictorian at the Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive, with close to 10 years of volunteerism, advocacy and activism experience. Dove is among 60 young leaders from across the British Commonwealth to be awarded with The Queen’s Young Leader Award. She is one of the first young women to receive the award, which recognises exceptional youth who demonstrate leadership in the area of community development.

After graduating from the College of Science Technology and Applied Arts of TT’s Associate of Applied Science degree programme in Journalism and Public Relations, Dove completed her Bachelor of

Arts degree in Media and Communications at the School of Business and Computer Science (SBCS), then pursued a Master of Sciences degree in Gender and International Relations as a Chevening Scholar at the University of Bristol.

A statement released

Teocah Arieal Anika Dove

by Dove after news broke of the award names SBCS Academic Administration Manager, Abbigail Ajim, as “the only person I call my

role model!”

At the core of her success, she said, is a heart for volunteerism and service to humanity. “I would like my generation to know that while work for monetary gains is a good incentive, volunteering adds a wealth of knowledge and experience to your life which will last your lifetime, beyond finances earned.”

The compelling beauty of Teocah Arieal Anika Dove’s story is not in her past but her future. In June 2015, she will receive the award from Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace. And it is after that that her real work will continue, as she will be expected to continue her praiseworthy vocation of transforming communities and changing lives.

One big difference? She will now be able to use the prestige, training, mentoring and network that come with an award endorsed by the Queen! (Trinidad Guardian)

Honduras Police find human remains in youth jail

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Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves (left) chats with Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace and Senator Vynnette Frederick at Rock Gutter on Monday

The search continued on Tuesday for two occupants of the ill-fated minivan who remained missing. Crisis centres remained open at the Fancy Seventhday Adventist Church and the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, as part of the mass

children involved in the accident attended, collapsed on hearing the news.

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves returned to the area early Tuesday morning to console grieving family members. (Excerpt from

olice in Honduras have uncovered a makeshift grave containing human remains at a jail for young offenders.

They said it contained the remains of at least two inmates.

Officials said they had assumed the two had escaped six months earlier but now thought they had been killed by rival gang members. Honduras has the highest peacetime murder rate in the world and its prisons are notoriously over-

crowded and violent.

Renacimiento prison, about 20km (12 miles) North of Tegucigalpa, holds 120 inmates between 12 and 18 years of age, the majority of them gang members.

The bodies were found after a tip-off about a grave triggered a two-day search by security officials. Police said they thought the grave might hold six more bodies of people reported missing last year.

“We thought these youths had escaped six months ago

but they could have been killed, dismembered, burned and buried over a personal dispute,” Police Chief Gustavo Paz said.

Local media reported that the inmates more or less ran the prison from the inside as guards were too afraid to enter the premises and only controlled the perimeter.

By law, guards in Honduras are not allowed to carry firearms inside youth offender jails. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Caribbean News Now)

Brazil approves marijuana Political uncertainty in Haiti derivative for medical treatment as Parliament is dissolved

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arliament in Haiti has been dissolved after the failure of lastditch negotiations over a new electoral law. President Michel Martelly had been trying to secure backing for a US-sanctioned plan to postpone elections again.

He now effectively rules the country by decree but his term of office runs out next year. Haitian Opposition groups say they will continue months of street protests to try to force his resignation.

The political deadlock is centred on a dispute over a new electoral law, which Opposition lawmakers have refused to approve. On Sunday, President Martelly said he had reached a last-minute deal with the Opposition to hold the elections.

But key left-wing

President Martelly has the backing of foreign donors and the UN

Opposition party Fanmi Lavalas, which has been at the forefront of anti-government protests, was not part of the deal. “Martelly will not be able to hold onto power. He is not going to be able to remain. We’re not going to stop until he leaves,” said Andre Michel, a lawyer and Opposition figure.

Mid-term Senate elections had been originally

due in May 2012, while local polls are three years behind schedule. Now Haitian Opposition activists say they will continue the protests to try to force Martelly’s resignation.

They have accused him of corruption and abuse of power and say he wanted to derail the election deal to rule by decree. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

The Medical treatment

B

razil has approved the use of a marijuana derivative to treat people suffering from severe seizures. Directors of the country’s Health Surveillance Agency on Wednesday recognised the therapeutic properties of cannabidiol, saying it is now a “controlled” sub-

stance and no longer illegal.

It can now be used to treat epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia among other disorders. Cannabidiol is not produced in Brazil and the agency said it will draw up legislation permitting it to be imported.

Last month, the Federal Medical Council that regulates the medical profession in Brazil authorised neurologists and psychiatrists to prescribe cannabidiol to treat epileptic children and teenagers who do not respond to conventional treatment. (Jamaica Observer)

thursday, JANUARY 15, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the world

US Judge dismisses lawsuit UN mediates Libyan talks in Geneva against India Prime T Minister over 2002 riots

I

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not have to face a US lawsuit claiming he failed to stop anti-Muslim rioting in 2002, a federal judge in New York ruled on Wednesday.

US District Judge Analisa Torres upheld the US Department of State’s determination that Modi is entitled to immunity as a sitting Head of Government from civil lawsuits filed in US courts.

The lawsuit, filed in September by an obscure human rights group on the eve of Modi’s maiden visit to the United States, made international headlines at the time, though offi-

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

cials from both countries brushed it off as a distrac-

tion.

Joseph Whittington, the President of the human rights group American Justice Centre and a city council member in Harvey, Illinois, acknowledged in September that the case had little chance of succeeding, but said there was victory in “symbolism.”

Babak Pourtavoosi, a lawyer who represented the centre, and Whittington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The judge’s decision comes ahead of a planned visit by President Barack Obama to attend India’s January 26 Republic Day celebrations at Modi’s invitation. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Floods kill scores in Malawi, Mozambique

H

eavy flooding has killed scores of people in the east African country of Malawi, where nearly a third of the country was declared to be in a state of disaster.

Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika said on Tuesday that at least 48 people were killed and 23,000 others displaced in flash floods that have wreaked havoc in 10 out of 23 districts in his country.

Some of the victims died when villages were flooded in Malawi’s southern Mangoche

district, about 100 kilometres south of the commercial capital, Blantyre, according to Grey Mkwanda, a district planning officer.

Livestock, crops and homes were swept away by floodwaters, with some homes completely submerged.

“People have fled into schools and churches on the higher ground, others are in the open because there is not enough space,” Mkwanda said.

Others died in Blantyre

when their homes collapsed, according to Mkwanda.

“In some cases, you cannot believe there was a house here,” said Allan Ngumya, a Member of Parliament who represents the area.

Police are also looking for two children who went missing in Blantyre, police spokesman Elizabeth Divala said.

Mutharika has appealed to the international community for assistance for the impoverished country. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Al-Qaeda in Yemen claims Charlie Hebdo attack

alks between rival Libyan factions have started in Geneva with the aim of reaching a peace deal that could lead to the development of a unity Government.

The UN is hosting the talks in the Swiss city amid warnings they could be the last chance for peace in the oil-rich North African nation.

Bernadino Leon, UN Special Envoy for Libya, said at the outset of the talks on Wednesday that he hoped armed factions would observe a ceasefire to support the process.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Geneva, said several “important players” were not yet in attendance at the talks.

The talks are supposed to bring together delegates from the self-declared Government which took over the capital Tripoli last year, as well as the internationally recognised Government of Prime Minister Abdullah alThinni – and the armed forces allied to the rival administrations.

The new rulers of Tripoli said their legislature have postponed a decision over joining the Geneva talks un-

til Sunday because of concerns about how the negotiations were organised.

Leon said the door would stay open and he was encouraged that several municipalities allied to Tripoli had decided to come.

The initial talks may last until Friday and could resume next week if the Tripoli faction decides to join, he said.

“We are proposing an agreement and we are proposing a new unity Government to start solving their political differences,” Leon said at a news conference. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

10 dead as Texas prison bus collides with train

A

t least 10 people have been killed after a bus carrying prisoners lost control on an icy motorway and collided with a train in Texas, officials say.

Sheriff Mark Donaldson said the bus skidded off an overpass and slid down an embankment before hitting the train.

Texas officials said the bus was carrying 12 prisoners and three corrections officers from one prison in Abilene to another in El Paso.

A local hospital said they were treating five patients.

But their conditions were unclear.

A Union Pacific spokesman said there were no injuries on the train, but the railcars have not moved since the crash.

Five people are being treated in hospital following the fatal crash

In a statement, the Texas criminal justice department said eight prisoners and two corrections officers were killed.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of

those killed and injured this morning in a tragic accident,” executive director Brad Livingston said.

“Their loved ones will be in our thoughts and prayers.” (BBC News)

Pope canonises Sri Lanka’s first saint

All copies of the magazine were sold out by Wednesday morning, as queues of people waited for kiosks to open to buy the magazine

A

top leader of Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch has claimed responsibility for last week’s attack on Paris satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo when two masked gunmen killed 12 people, including much of the weekly’s editorial staff and two Police Officers.

Nasr al-Ansi, a top commander of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP as the branch is known, appeared in an 11-minute video posted online on Wednesday, saying that the massacre at Charlie Hebdo was in “vengeance for the Prophet”.

Al-Ansi said that France belongs to the “party of Satan” and warned of more “tragedies and terror”. He

said that Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch “chose the target, laid out the plan and financed the operation”.

The paper had published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which is considered an insult to Islam.

“We, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, claim responsibility for this operation as vengeance for the messenger of Allah,” Ansi said in the video entitled “A message regarding the blessed battle of Paris”.

AQAP was formed in January 2009 as a merger of the Yemeni and Saudi branches of al-Qaeda.

Washington regards it as the network’s most dangerous branch and has carried

out a sustained drone war against its leaders. “... It was following orders by our general chief Ayman al-Zawahiri,” Ansi said. “The heroes were chosen and they answered the call,” he said.

Speaking over footage of the attack that killed 12 people, Ansi said: “Today, the mujahedeen avenge their revered prophet, and send the clearest message to everyone who would dare to attack Islamic sanctities.”

Meanwhile, the magazine published its latest edition with a cartoon of the Prophet on the front on Wednesday, increasing the print amount amid strong demand. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Pope Francis arrived early on Wednesday for the Mass in Colombo

H

undreds of thousands of Sri Lankans crowded the Colombo seafront as Pope Francis canonised the island’s first saint in one of the biggest public gatherings the city has ever witnessed.

On Wednesday, Francis conducted a Mass on Colombo’s Galle Face Green before canonising Joseph Vaz, a 17th century missionary who disguised himself as a beggar, in the first papal visit to the island nation in two decades.

It is the highest-profile celebration at the landmark site since former President Mahinda Rajapaksa led a victory parade in 2009 after the end of the country’s brutal decades-long civil war with Tamil rebels.

The Pope, who has focused on post-war reconciliation during his visit, said Vaz had shown “the importance of transcending religious divisions in the service of peace”, ministering to those in need regardless of their creed.

Sri Lanka is a mainly Buddhist country but has significant Hindu, Muslim and Christian minorities, and has witnessed a rise in religious violence in recent years.

“Religious freedom is a fundamental human right.

Each individual must be free, alone or in association with others, to seek the truth, and to openly express his or her religious convictions, free from intimidation and external compulsion,” said the pope.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16

news

thursDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BK lashes back at Public Works Ministry – says not responsible for delayed EBD road project reportedly at a depth of 29 inches making work in the area a “potential jeopardy,” of the cable being damaged again.

BK International said it has been registering its concerns on a weekly basis to the project consultants, contending that the Public Works Ministry and GT&T are fully aware of challenges faced.

“The delays have been a significant financial burden to BK International and it is in our interest to have the project complet-

as a result the work is constantly being delay after delay.”

In response to Vaughn’s statement, Tiwarie said “if the coordinator of the Works Services Group had spent the time to iron out the problems between the contractor and GT&T the construction work could have been finished two years ago and there would be no need for him to now be spending time in the media making accusations.”

The construction

western carriage way in order that additional sections of the road could be opened before the traffic rush at Christmas.”

The multimillion-dollar road project which stretches from Providence to Diamond on the EBD is being executed in three lots; Providence to Prospect, Prospect to Little Diamond, and Little Diamond to Diamond Intersection.

To date, Lot One is approximately 56 per cent completed while Lot Two is 90 per cent completed.

A section of the four-lane road in the vicinity of Diamond, EBD

B

K International laid the blame at the feet of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company, as it debunked claims by the Public Works Ministry that it is responsible for the slow pace at which the East Bank Demerara (EBD) four-lane road is being built.

In a recent interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), the Public Works Ministry Coordinator of the Work Services Group (WSG), Geoffrey Vaughn said the US$22 million Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) road project is experiencing significant delays due to poor management on the part of the contracting company. According to him, the company is displaying poor organising skills and construction

methodology even as it battles with a lack of human resources.

But on Wednesday, BK International debunked the claims made by Vaughn, contending that he failed to address the root cause of the problem.

The contracting company said while the WSG coordinator acknowledged that GT&T cables have been the primary reason for all the delays in Lot Three, he fell short of pointing out that it took the telephone company three years to remove all of the cables. In a letter addressed to Vaughn on December 20, 2014, GT&T indicated that the exercise was completed on December 22, 2014.

“In the same letter…

GT&T indicated to the coordinator that there is still a buried cable (50 pairs) comprising of part of Demerara Distillers

Limited’s (DDL’s) internal network cable that has to be removed,” BK International pointed out.

In the letter, the telephone company also indicated that there is “potential jeopardy” of the cable being damaged again.

“As of today’s date the discovered DDL underground internal network cable, located from the Diamond bridge to DDL’s Administration Building, is delaying the completion of road, bridge, kerb and drain works that will facilitate the free flow of double lane traffic on the right hand side of the western carriage way,” the construction company complained.

It was appointed out that there is an additional cable that is located across the road between one of DDL’s installations and GT&T tower. The cable is

A section of Lot Three (in the vicinity of Demerara Distillers Ltd) that is yet to be completed

ed in the shortest possible time,” the company said.

In September 2014, BK International Managing Director Brian Tiwarie had said that “the problem with this East Bank Expansion Project is that the Ministry of Public Works is not doing a good job of management and supervision and

company said too that Vaughn’s contention that it failed to effectively manage the project, contradicts the facts.

“As recently as December 2014, BK crew worked nights, early morning before sunrise, and Sundays to complete the crossings and paving of the

Lot Three is approximately 60 per cent completed.

Lots One and Two were expected to be completed by December 31, 2014, but due to challenges faced Lot Two is now expected to be completed shortly while Lots One and Three are expected to be completed by March.

Brothers win MACORP End-of-Year Promotion

L

ennox and Wendel Wade are the two lucky winners of a trip to Aruba as a part of the Machinery Corporation of Guyana Limited (MACORP) End-of-theYear promotion.

The promotion was launched in September last year under the theme “Lowering your operating costs…buy genuine Caterpillar parts”.

The brothers will enjoy a one-week stay in the beautiful island with hotel and airfare expenses being covered by the company.

Additionally, MACORP will provide an undisclosed amount of cash to the winners for miscellaneous purposes.

Meanwhile, five MACORP employees were certified in various areas of training, which will aid in

Macorp employees displaying their certificates

developing their skills and hence improve the services available for customers.

Arlington Paez and Marco Atencio received certificates in the Caterpillar online University Prominer Certification.

Satranie Lakram and Perry Yhap both received Machine Sales Manager certifications and Product Support Sales Representative (PSSR) certifications while Suresh Jagdeo received a Machine PSSR Machine Fundamental Certificate and Satraine Lakram received a Parts Counter Personnel certificate.

Through all its years of operation in Guyana, MACORP has been very active in the country’s development, contributing directly with technical support and equipment supply

to the most important productive sectors – mining, agriculture, road construction, basic industry, marine, forestry and electrical power generation.

MACORP has established locations at Bartica and Port Kaituma with their head office located at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara.

For 20 years, MACORP, the only authorised Caterpillar dealer has been leading Guyana’s development, and fuelling the success of stakeholders by directly providing integral equipment and product support solutions.

MACORP has been rewarded for its outstanding performance and contributions to the development of Guyana and for the professional training of its employees.

news

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Region 2 Health Department taking residents to court for unsanitary surroundings

Miners to benefit from 10% diesel tax I reduction T

he mining sector will benefit from a 10 per cent reduction in diesel taxes, which was recommended by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud and approved by Cabinet, on December 30, 2014, in recognition of the burden fuel prices have placed on the sector.

“The Cabinet … received a memorandum that was submitted by me making a recommendation that there will be a reduction of 10 per cent in taxes associated with fuel, primarily and only diesel in this regard,” the Minister announced during his meeting with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) on Tuesday.

He said a letter was dispatched to GGDMA President Patrick Harding in which Government acknowledged it granted a 10 per cent reduction in the taxes associated with the purchase of fuel for use in the mining sector, but only through the GGDMA Trading Inc. Minister Persaud noted that this significant reduction in the taxes would result in miners saving millions of dollars annually.

“This, I think, and you will agree, with the substantial intervention and relief for the sector…and the savings to the mining sector would be millions of dollars annually.”

The Minister explained that reducing the cost of fuel would also reduce the cost of production both substantially and immedi-

throughout the previous year, intervened in the mining sector to help cushion the impact of the plummeting global prices for gold.

Concessions, tax reductions and waivers, and duty-free access were offered to the mining sector in light of low gold prices.

Gold prices

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

ately and the impact would be felt as an encouragement to the sector.

GGDMA President Harding hopes the tremendous savings, which will result from the tax reductions will greatly assist the miners in increasing and improving their operations.

He acknowledged that it was a good move for the industry and should benefit approximately 15,000 persons who are directly employed and over 100,000 who are indirectly employed.

Harding also highlighted the falling price of fuels on the global market and hoped the entire public could soon benefit from the massive reductions.

“We haven’t seen that price passed on to the public, not only the miners but to the public and we’re hoping that price, hopefully, it’s passed on.”

With regard to plans for 2015, Harding said he was aiming to achieve lower costs of production in the industry.

The Ministry has,

Nevertheless, the Minister pointed out that the gold prices were slowly moving upwards, signalling a positive indication for the sector once again.

The GGDMA President was also optimistic about this revelation and hoped the prices would continue to increase.

W

while not getting into too many details for safety reasons, told this publication that Guyana’s case, which was being strongly represented by an esteemed lawyer, John Wilson of McKinney Bancroft & Hughes, was yet to be heard in the Bahamas.

CLICO Guyana had transferred some US$36 million to CLICO Bahamas. And while the investments were said to be “liquid on paper”, investigations carried out revealed that the sum had been tied up in several investments, including real estate which CLICO Bahamas had in Florida through subsidiaries. When CLICO Bahamas was ordered liquidated on February 24, the local company was subsequently placed under judicial management.

Guyana was then forced

Baksh said that officers from the Department have commenced vigorous onthe-spot inspections of farmer’s pens and surroundings.

She noted that if a farmer did not have proper sanitation in place, he or she was warned after the inspection before they are taken before the court.

Baksh explained that pen inspections will be an ongoing project for 2015 and urged poultry and swine farmers to keep their surroundings as well as pens in hygienic conditions. “ We want to create a better environment avoiding obnoxious smell from chicken, duck, swine pens; we are taking persons to court

once we find they are not following the requirements of a hygienic surroundings” Baksh reiterated.

She also called on persons from the community to report unhealthy surroundings and assured that the Public Health Department will visit and conduct inspections before proceeding to the court.

The Department of Public Heath also continued its fogging exercise throughout the Essequibo Coast to minimise the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

The inspection team consists of Environmental Officers Eashwin Persaud and Faneeza Amin.

Gender equality should be a cross-cutting issue on 2015 agenda

T

GGDMA Harding

President

Patrick

Given the strategic importance of gold to the economy, the Minister said the Government would continue to provide support wherever it would to reach out to the sector to ensure its survival and continued growth and contribution to national development.

CLICO, Guyana await day in court for US$36M Bahamas investment

hile some 350 policyholders in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago are poised to benefit from a $500 million payout from the collapsed Colonial Life Insurance Company limited (CLICO), Guyana’s case in The Bahamas, to recover its multimillion dollar claim, is still to be called in the courts there.

CLICO policyholders’ legal adviser in Trinidad Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj on Monday said the company has some $17 billion (US$2.68 billion) in cash which should be used to pay its policyholders. That matter, he said, is expected to be heard before the Privy Council in London, England, by July or August later this year.

Guyana’s Central Bank Governor Dr Gobind Ganga,

n an effort to maintain a healthy environment, the Department of Public Health in Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) has began prosecuting persons for unsanitary surroundings.

According to Senior Environmental Health Officer Shaleena Baksh, the Department moved to prosecute persons after several warnings to poultry, swine, chicken, duck and cattle farmers about unsanitary conditions went unheeded.

Several persons from Anna Regina, Lima and Queenstown were charged under Chapter 145 of the Public Health Act and appeared in court.

to retain lawyers to help recover its money, some 53 per cent of the assets of CLICO Guyana. That matter was filed in the Bahamas court after the CLICO Bahamas’ liquidator “rejected” Guyana’s claims. According to Ganga, it is obvious that Guyana’s case has been “put for last”, on the list of cases filed by other Caribbean countries against the group. Suriname is such one country, which is claiming a mere $15.5 million from CLICO Bahamas.

CL Financial collapsed in January 2009, following the global financial crisis in 2008. The global recession exposed the company’s inability to meet its commitments to pay maturing investments at CLICO and CLICO Investment Bank (CIB).

he Post-2015 development agenda should not only include gender equality as a specific objective, but also as a cross-cutting perspective to increase women’s economic autonomy. This was the consensus of representatives of the Governments of Chile and Norway and senior officials from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) at a high-level dialogue held on January 12.

The meeting, which was held at the headquarters of this United Nations Commission in Santiago, Chile, was attended by the Minister of Chile’s National Women’s Service (SERNAM), Claudia Pascual; Norway’s Ambassador in Chile, Hege Araldsen; and Norway’s former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ansgar Gabrielsen.

Representing ECLAC were the Director of the Programme Planning and Operations Division, Raúl García-Buchaca, and Director of the Gender Affairs Division, Sonia Montaño.

The dialogue, “Challenges for Equality: Women’s economic autonomy on the post2015 development agenda: building new responses from Latin America and Europe” is part of the debates on the new agenda that will be taking over from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) once the period set for achieving them expires this year. In this context, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been proposed, including one aimed at achieving gender equality and autonomy for all women and girls.

In his address, GarcíaBuchaca stated that “Gender equality and women’s economic autonomy should be at the heart of the development agenda”, adding that almost one in three women (30.8 per cent) in Latin America did not have her own income. Of

Chile’s National Women’s Service (SERNAM) Minister Claudia Pascual: “The post-2015 agenda faces the challenge not only of ensuring that more women enter the labour market, but also that they join sectors in the economy that have traditionally been male dominated”

these women, 51.6 per cent attribute the situation to having to carry out domestic and care tasks. This results in high poverty rates among women: there are 117 poor women for every 100 men in the same situation.

Minister Pascual said that the female labour participation rate in Chile was 48.6 per cent in mid-2014, while the Latin American average according to ECLAC data was 52.8 per cent, and an average of 63.8 per cent in countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Furthermore, most female workers in Chile are employed in sectors that provide lower quality jobs with less social protection.

Gender parity

According to the Chilean Minister, “The post-2015 agenda faces the challenge not only of ensuring that more women enter the labour market, but also that they join sectors in the economy that have traditionally been male dominated.” She added that access to quality employment was one of the five cornerstones of the gender agenda devised by the Government of President Michelle Bachelet.

Norway’s Ambassador in Chile, Hege Araldsen, agreed that “women’s access to de-

cent jobs, wage equity, equal distribution of domestic tasks, equal rights to property, land and inheritance, and the right to participate fully in politics and the economy are elements that should be priority items on the post-2015 agenda”.

As an example of public policies that promote parity, Norway’s former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ansgar Gabrielsen, described how in 2003 Norway became the first country to impose a gender quota to ensure that 40 per cent of the board of companies listed on the stock exchange were women. When the law was adopted, female participation at that level was around seven per cent.

In this regard, Director of the ECLAC Gender Affairs Division, Sonia Montaño, declared that many Latin American women (even welleducated and affluent ones) cannot enter the labour market because they have to carry out domestic work. This required such work to be shared out equitably, as well as a redistribution of social protection benefits. She pointed out that unpaid domestic work can account for between 23 per cent and 36 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the region’s countries.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

ARCHIE

You will shine at social activities. Schedule an event or (March 21- gathering that will allow you April 19) to display your attributes and stand out in the crowd. Lady Luck is on your side today.

ARIES

Lasting memories will be TAURUS made if you take a short trip (April 20- with family or friends. This May 20) is a good time to look into investment opportunities and increase your assets.

dilbert

Your home provides the GEMINI (May 21- backdrop for your daily life.

June 20) Avoid frustration by keeping on top of small repairs and necessary improvements. You will perk up if you feel comfortable in your surroundings.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

An unforeseen opportunity to use your teaching skills will impress those around you. Your talent for sharing your ideas and insightful problem-solving tactics will be admired and rewarded.

An ill-considered idea will LEO leave you in a quandary. Get (July 23- all the facts before you make Aug. 22) an irreversible decision. Time is on your side, so do the appropriate research.

Calvin and Hobbes

Holding a grudge will cause

VIRGO unhappiness and lead to un(Aug. 23- happy events. Someone may Sept. 22) disappoint you, but that doesn’t mean you have to treat them poorly. Let bygones be bygones and move on.

Springing your ideas on unLIBRA suspecting family members will (Sept. 23invite discord. You can elimiOct. 23) nate problems by letting everyone know your intentions in advance and by asking for support and approval.

SUDOKU

Stay in touch with elSCORPIO derly or distant relatives (Oct. 24and friends.

Time tends to Nov. 22) fly by, making it easy to neglect someone or something that needs your attention. Be thoughtful and avoid regret.

A mental or physical chalSAGITTARIUS lenge will energize you. Plan (Nov. 23- an activity that includes stimDec. 21) ulating conversation and recreation with friends. The more you do, the better you will feel.

Wednesday's solution

Community services or CAPRICORN events will provide great oppor(Dec. 22- tunities for leadership and charJan. 19) itable acts. Your involvement will benefit your neighborhood, give you a sense of pride and lead to new friendships.

AQUARIUS

Practice patience and do (Jan. 20- your best to avoid impulsive Feb. 19) moves or hasty actions if you want to avoid error or injury.

Take your time and do things right the first time.

PISCES Your energy will wane.

(Feb. 20- To remain motivated, plan a March 20) small reward or incentive to get your juices flowing so you feel able to take care of your responsibilities.

thursday, january 15, 2015

19

Kanden re-elected President Cycling to pedal off Berbice of Albion Cricket Club season opener on Jan 25

Lloyd Kanden

L

loyd Kanden was on Wednesday evening re-elected unopposed as President of the Albion Community Centre Cricket

Club when that entity held its Annual General Meeting at the Albion Community Centre, Main Hall.

Kanden will serve for his 13th consecutive term and will have Imtiaz Bacchus, a Senior Factory Laboratory Technician at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Albion Estate as his Vice President.

Current Human Resources Manager of GuySuCo’s Albion Estate, Vemen Walter, returned as Secretary while Dhandraj Singh Budoo will serve as Treasurer. Fredrick Hussein is the Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer.

The five Committee Members are Tularam Singh, Muniram Lalbeharry, Romeo Singh, Totaram Harricharan and Aslim Ameerally.

Guyana begin quest... nament.

All nine matches from the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad will air live on the ESPN Caribbean and ESPN 2 Caribbean television networks, as well as on ESPN Play (www.espnplay.com or http://www.espnplay.com ) – ESPN’s multi-screen live and on-demand broadband service.

Matches will also be available to cricket fans live and on-demand in the United States via ESPN3,

T

Vemen Walter

The new Executive will meet shortly to name the Captains, Vice Captains and Managers of the respective teams, together with the Sub-Committees. from back page

The 14-member squad reads: Rajendra Chandrika; Trevon Griffith; Shivnarine Chanderpaul; Vishaul Singh; Christopher Barnwell (Captain);

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Further, ESPN Caribbean has picked up the live broadcast rights.

Ronsford Beaton

Devon Smith

Liam Sebastien

The regional broadcaster will air matches on an exclusive basis until 2018, starting with this year’s edition of the Super50 tour-

ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Highlights will also air the following day on ESPN networks, Caribbean Media Corporation partner stations and www.windiescricket.com.

Raymon Reifer; Anthony Bramble; Veerasammy Permaul (Vice Captain); Devendra Bishoo; Ronsford Beaton; Paul Wintz; Steven Jacobs; Royston Crandon; and Jonathan Foo. Windward Islands Super50 squad reads: Liam Sebastien (Captain); Sunil Ambris; Miles Bascombe; Alston Bobb; Johnson Charles; Craig Emmanuel; Andre Fletcher; Tarryck Gabriel; Delorn Johnson; Keddy Lesporis; Mervin Matthew; Kenroy Peters; Shane Shillingford; and Devon Smith.

The other Group A game will see Barbados Pride playing the Combined Campuses & Colleges at the National Cricket Centre.

he 2015 cycling season will open in Berbice on January 25, one day after it opens in Georgetown when the third annual Benjamin Sports Inc 50-mile race is held on the Corentyne.

The Benjamin 50-mile road race was officially launched on Tuesday when the business entity handed over the sponsorship cheque to the Treasurer of the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC), Randolph Roberts.

The race will pedal off from outside the store and proceed to the Number 51 Police Station before heading back to the point of origin for the finish for a top prize of $40,000.

The first six cyclists to complete the race will receive prizes while eight sprint point prizes will be up for grabs.

Veterans, beginners and females will, howev-

Benjamin Sports Inc Sales Representative Latoma Drepaul (left) hands over the sponsorship cheque to Flying Ace Cycle Club Treasurer Randolph Roberts

er, not ride the entire distance: they will all start at the same point, but turn back at Tain Village in front of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus.

The first three veterans, first four beginners, and

first three females to finish their individual races will be awarded.

Last year, the race attracted 42 starters and was won by Orville Hinds in a time of one hour 59 minutes and 27 seconds (1:59:27).

Windies fall to Proteas...

from back page

The 35-year-old, who has been recalled to the team because of an injury to Quinton de Kock, smashed 114 not out off 70 balls with seven sixes and nine fours.

Van Wyk and Reeza Hendricks (42) got the innings off to a rousing start with an opening stand of 111 in just under 13 overs.

David Wiese made 21 off 16 balls but the innings lost a bit of momentum during the latter overs and Rilee Rossouw was caught behind first ball.

However, having reacted jubilantly after reaching his ton off the second ball of the final over, Van Wyk celebrated in style with two sixes off Dwayne Bravo.

And JP Duminy (7 not out) also cleared the ropes as the final over of the innings went for 23.

The West Indies reply started well, Lendl Simmons doing a reasonable impression of Gayle as he hit 49 off 31 balls.

But it all started to go wrong when Dwayne Smith (5) was bowled by Aaron Phangiso with the first ball of the sixth over.

And medium-pacer Wiese then took a string

of key wickets, having Marlon Samuels (6) caught by Ontong, before Simmons holed out to Duminy at long-on trying to hit his third six of the innings and Bravo (12) was caught behind.

At 84-5, Kieron Pollard (20 not out) was left facing mission impossible and Wiese’s great night continued as he removed Windies

skipper Darren Sammy (8) and Carlos Brathwaite.

His final bowling figures were the second best in Twenty20 internationals for South Africa.

However, it was Marchant de Lange (2-26) who finished things off, hitting middle and leg to bowl Sheldon Cottrell for a golden duck to wrap up the victory. (SkySports)

SCOREBOARD South Africa MN van Wyk+ not out 114 R Hendricks c Smith b Pollard 42 D Wiese b Bravo 21 R Rossouw c †Fletcher b Cottrell 0 JP Duminy not out 7 Total: for 3 wickets 195 Extras: (lb 1, w 9, nb 1) 11 Did not Bat: J Ontong*, F Behardien, W Parnell, K Abbott, M de Lange, A Phangiso.

Fall of Wickets: 1-111 (Hendricks, 12.4 ov), 2-158 (Wiese, 17.6 ov), 3-171 (Rossouw, 18.5 ov).

West Indies Bowling: S Cottrell 4-0-33-1, C Brathwaite 3-042-0, A Russell 2-0-24-0, A Nurse 2-0-22-0, D Bravo 4-0-38-1, M Samuels 3-022-0, K Pollard 2-0-13-1.

West Indies (Target; 196) D Smith b Phangiso 5 c Duminy b L Simmons

Wiese 49 M Samuels c Ontong b Wiese 6 A Fletcher+ c Abbott b Parnell 2 D Bravo c †van Wyk b Wiese 12 K Pollard not out 20 A Russell c Ontong b Parnell 12 D Sammy* c Ontong b Wiese 8 C Brathwaite c Hendricks b Wiese 1 A Nurse c Duminy b de Lange 3 S Cottrell b de Lange 0 Total: All Out (19 Overs) 126 Extras: (lb 1, w 7) 8 Fall of Wickets: 1-48 (Smith, 5.1 ov), 2-60 (Samuels, 6.6 ov), 3-68 (Simmons, 8.4 ov), 4-71 (Fletcher, 9.3 ov), 5-84 (Bravo, 12.2 ov), 6-100 (Russell, 13.6 ov), 7-114 (Sammy, 16.3 ov), 8-116 (Brathwaite, 16.6 ov), 9-125 (Nurse, 18.4 ov), 10-126 (Cottrell, 18.6 ov).

South Africa Bowling: K Abbott 3-0-14-0, M de Lange 4-026-2, W Parnell 3-0-33-2, A Phangiso 4-0-23-1, D Wiese 4-0-23-5, J Duminy 1-0-6-0

20

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, january 15, 2015

Cross-country event for this weekend put off – Hutson aiming for prosperous 2015

By Treiston Joseph

A

thletics Association of Guyana (AAG) President Aubrey Hutson has confirmed that the upcoming cross-country run which was scheduled for this weekend will be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.

However, Hutson believes that the AAG will have a successful 2015 year as the Association aims to expose athletes to more competition especially at the South American level.

“With the success we had last year, a lot of the South American countries have committed to us and we have been promised tickets to the Argentine Grand Prix, the Brazilian Grand Prix, and we have also been promised two tickets to the Pan American Youth Games…a games we were never really invited to before,” Hutson noted.

Further, Hutson believes that with the soonto-be-completed synthetic track, the year might pro-

Aubrey Huston

vide more successful for athletics in Guyana.

“We want to host our National seniors as an invitational meet, where we can invite athletes from Trinidad and Suriname who we have a good rapport [with] to come and compete with us for more competition,” Hutson highlighted.

In addition, Hutson will be aiming to expose junior athletes such as Jason Yaw, Cassey George, Natricia Hooper, Tevin Garraway

and Jevina Sampson to more competition, in hope that they can perform.

“My hope is to really get a 4x4 team at World Junior so we will be looking at a number of the athletes that did well last year,” Huston stated.

Meanwhile with regard to Guyana continuing their relationship with global sponsor Nike, Hutson mentioned that there were a few options on the table that he and his council would weigh in due time before deciding on the path to take concerning any future deals with Nike.

While Huston did not relay many of the specifics, he revealed that there was a company willing to outfit the whole of South America and it would more than likely do a bit more than Nike.

However, Hutson will be heading off to the South American AGM slated for later this week. He wished the athletes a prosperous 2015 and stressed that he hoped for “better” results from his senior athletes.

Defoe closer to Sunderland move after passing medical

T

oronto FC and England striker Jermain Defoe has passed his medical with Sunderland before a proposed return to the Premier League.

Black Cats manager Gus Poyet is keen to strengthen his attacking options.

Sunderland are 16th in the table, one point above the relegation places, and only Aston Villa have scored fewer than their 18 goals.

The deal could depend on a return home for United States forward Jozy Altidore being ratified by Major League Soccer.

Defoe, 32, has been training with former club Tottenham during the MLS close season, but the move to Sunderland would be permanent rather than any loan agreement with Toronto.

After leaving English football last summer, he has scored 11 goals in 16 games during his debut campaign for Toronto.

He is 14th on the list of all-time Premier League goalscorers, with 124 during spells with West Ham, Spurs and Portsmouth.

Jermain Defoe

Sunderland have won only three of their 21 league matches this sea-

son and collected just one point from their past four games. (BBC Sport)

Pacquiao agrees to terms of Mayweather bout – Mayweather yet to agree

T

he fight the world has wanted to see for the better part of six years – a long-awaited summit meeting between welterweight champions Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, the two top boxers in the world – is not done, but it has cleared a major hurdle.

Pacquiao and Top Rank, his promoter, have agreed to terms for a May 2 bout, Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.com on Tuesday night, although Mayweather has not yet agreed to terms and it remains to be seen if he will.

"Top Rank and Manny have agreed to the terms on our side. I don't know about the other side," Moretti said.

Nobody from Mayweather's camp could be reached for comment.

Yahoo! Sports initially reported the development.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum has been negotiating the bout for the past couple of months through Leslie Moonves, the president and CEO of CBS, which has two fights left on a six-fight contract CBS and subsidiary network Showtime signed Mayweather to in early 2013. Moonves, according to Arum, has been acting as a go-between in trying to hammer out Mayweather's end of the deal with adviser Al Haymon.

According to a source involved in the negotiations, Pacquiao has agreed to a 40 percent cut of the revenue, leaving Mayweather with the remaining 60 percent of a fight most believe will shatter every boxing box office record, including the all-time pay-perview buy record of 2.4 million (Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya), the pay-per-view revenue record of $150 million (Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez) and the all-time gate record of $20 million (Mayweather-Alvarez).

If the fight is finalized, it would take place May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Moretti said. Mayweather has had his past 10 fights there, and

The long-awaited summit meeting between welterweight champions Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao is not done, but it has cleared a major hurdle

Pacquiao has had five of his past seven bouts there.

The Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas made Mayweather a minus-275 favorite over the underdog Pacquiao (plus-235). The sports book stipulates that the fight must occur anytime in 2015 for bets to count.

Top Rank initially wanted to go in June to leave May 2 open for another major fight it is trying to finalize -- middleweight champion Miguel Cotto against former junior middleweight titlist Alvarez, a date Alvarez desperately wants to fight on because it is Cinco de Mayo weekend and he is Mexico's most popular active fighter.

But Top Rank gave in on the date, one Mayweather has insisted on, along with a host of other aspects of the fight.

The sides are so far along that they have drafted contracts, according to the Pacquiao side. While the Pacquiao camp agreed to terms, the attorneys on Mayweather's side indicated there were still open issues, although what they are is not clear, according to a source.

According to the Pacquiao side, everything was agreed to, including the gloves and drug testing. As far as the gloves go, each fighter would be able to select his own brand of 8-ounce gloves. Mayweather typically wears Grant gloves and Pacquiao fights in Cleto Reyes.

The drug testing proto-

col was the one open item that caused the fight to fall apart when it was first negotiated in late 2009 and early 2010. Mayweather wanted Pacquiao to submit to random Olympic-style drug testing, and he declined to do the kind of testing Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs), who turns 38 in February, wanted.

However, Moretti said Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), 36, who has subjected himself (and his opponents) to random testing by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association for his recent bouts, has gone so far as to agree to use the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which has randomly tested Mayweather (and his opponents) for years.

"I think that Manny agreed to USADA testing shows you his eagerness to make this fight," Moretti said.

Mayweather and Pacquiao have been on a collision course since late 2009.

Mayweather ended a nearly two-year retirement to easily outpoint Juan Manuel Marquez in September 2009, and two months later Pacquiao knocked out Miguel Cotto in the 12th round to win a welterweight title. Everything had been agreed to but the drug testing, including a 50-50 revenue split.

There have been various attempts over the years to try to make the fight, but it has never been as close as it was in 2009 as it is now. (ESPN)

Tottenham come from behind to down Burnley

T

ottenham fought back from 2-0 down to beat Burnley and set up an FA Cup fourth-round tie with Leicester City.

Marvin Sordell's firsttime strike and Ross Wallace's deflected freekick gave the Clarets an early advantage.

But Paulinho pulled a goal back for the hosts from close range before Etienne Capoue equalised with a firm strike from 20 yards before half-time.

Vlad Chiriches forced in Paulinho's corner and Danny Rose converted Roberto Soldado's low cross

to make it 4-2.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino made seven changes to the Spurs team who were beaten 2-1 by Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday and it looked to have backfired as Burnley took advantage of some poor defending to take a third-minute lead.

Captain Younes Kaboul started only his second match since November and he and central defensive partner Jan Vertonghen were guilty of poor positioning when a long pass from Burnley defender

Kieran Tripper was allowed to reach Sordell and the England Under-21 striker struck an instinctive shot beyond Michel Vorm from 18 yards.

The Clarets benefited from a slice of fortune when they doubled their advantage four minutes later.

Benjamin Stambouli brought down David Jones 25 yards out and Wallace's free-kick took a significant deflection off Soldado in the defensive wall on its way into the net.

Andros Townsend caused Burnley plenty of problems in the first half

and he helped get the home team back into the match.

The England winger's cross was flicked on by Soldado and Paulinho controlled the ball on his chest before volleying beyond Tom Heaton from six yards.

Soldado missed a chance to make it 2-2 when he hit the bar from five yards after swapping passes with Townsend in a swift Spurs counter-attack.

There was a reprieve for Soldado when the equaliser arrived in the 45th minute.

Paulinho failed to control Ben Davies's cross from the left but Capoue arrived

from midfield to fire in a fierce shot from 20 yards.

Paulinho was again involved as Tottenham seized control of the match with two goals in four minutes early in the second half.

The Brazilian's corner to the back post was too high for Heaton and Chiriche? used his chest to force the ball over the line at the back post.

Tottenham made it 4-2 when Stambouli's crossfield pass released Soldado and his low ball across the face of goal was perfect for Rose to meet first-time. (BBC

Sport)

SPORTS

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21

Djokovic, Williams seeded No 1 ahead of Australian Open B

ritain’s Andy Murray, a three-time finalist, will be seeded sixth for the Australian Open, with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic the number one seed.

Five-time champion Serena Williams is top seed for the women’s event while Britain’s Heather Watson will have no protection in Friday’s draw.

Former champion Victoria Azarenka, who is ranked 41st in the world after an injury-hit 2014, is also unseeded.

The tournament, the first

Serena Williams

Grand Slam of the year, begins on Monday.

The seedings mirror the world rankings.

Spain’s David Ferrer is the ninth seed in the men’s draw after the withdrawal of US Open champion Marin Cilic, while world number 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s absence with a forearm strain means Ernests Gulbis moves up to 11th seed.

Britons Kyle Edmund and Liam Broady are two matches away from reaching the main draw after wins in the first round of qualification. (BBC Sport)

Novak Djokovic

Man City sign Wilfried Bony for £28M M

anchester City have completed the signing of Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony for £28M. Bony has agreed a fourand-a-half-year deal at Etihad Stadium through to 2019 and will wear the number 14 shirt.

“It’s a great feeling for me, it’s a big honour to be here and it’s a great challenge,” the 26-year-old said.

Bony joined Swansea for £12M from Vitesse Arnhem in 2013 and was the Premier League’s top scorer in 2014 with 20 goals.

The two clubs agreed the terms of the transfer at the weekend, with £25M cash up front and a further £3M in performance-related addons.

The deal makes Bony one of the most expensive African footballers in history.

Bony is on international duty with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations and could potentially have to wait until mid-February before he can make his City debut.

“As a player it’s always good to be part of one of the biggest clubs in the world and it’s a good opportunity for me to be in that situation now - I’m really proud,” Bony told Manchester City’s website. “I felt excited to wait for this moment and now it’s come, it’s fantastic.

“I think it’s a great decision for me - Manchester City are in the Champions League. It’s a motivation for me to give my maximum to be in that place.”

City boss Manuel Pellegrini added: “He is an intelligent footballer who has skill and power. His goals record has been excellent since he came to

Wilfried Bony

England.

“He adapted very quickly to the game here and I think he will settle in at City quickly. We now have four top-class strikers and I am looking forward to seeing them work together.”

Swansea earlier crit-

icised the Ivory Coast Football Federation for claiming the deal had gone through before either club had announced it.

The Ivory Coast Football Federation said: “Bony has signed with Manchester City this Wednesday, 14 January.”

But a Swansea spokesman said the Ivory Coast “have no right to comment”.

Swansea later confirmed the deal in a statement that thanked Bony “for his superb service to the club”.

Bony scored 25 goals in all competitions in his first season at the Welsh side and has scored nine goals so far this term.

The fee for Bony, who has also scored 11 goals in 32 games for the Ivory Coast, is almost double Swansea’s previous record sale of Joe Allen to Liverpool in August 2012. (BBC Sport)

Steve Harmison: Kevin Pietersen has no chance of England recall K evin Pietersen does not have “a cat in hell’s chance” of an England recall, according to Steve Harmison.

Pietersen was sacked by England in February 2014 following the 5-0 Ashes defeat

by Australia.

But the batsman has since said he has not given up hope of a return, and suggested that one-day captain Eoin Morgan wanted him in the team.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 live, ex-England bowler Harmison said he believed “the ship has sailed”.

Harmison added: “I would be very, very surprised if Kevin gets anywhere near the England cricket team again.

“Even though I think the world of Kevin and he is a fantastic player - he can start making noises and scoring runs but the reality is there is too many people involved with this decision to sack Kevin.

“I think a lot of people would like Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen (left) and Steve Harmison during their time as teammates

to be in an England dressing room, [but] the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] have not wanted Kevin for a while.”

Pietersen said while commentating on the Australian Big Bash Twenty20 on Monday: “I know that the current [one-day] captain would love to have me in the

England team.”

He added: “I want to play for England. I honestly believe I am batting as well as I have ever batted at the moment.”

Harmison criticised Pietersen’s reference to Morgan, saying: “I think he has been a bit naughty to his friend here in Eoin Morgan.”

At the time of Pietersen’s sacking, ECB managing director Paul Downton said: “The time is right to rebuild not only the team but also the team ethic.”

Pietersen subsequently accused former England team-mates in his autobiography of creating a “bullying culture”. (BBC Sport)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

wednesday, january 15, 2015

GBBC concludes deal GTA hails P&P Insurance to have “Caribbean contribution to tennis Collision” here – “Six Heads”, Mullings to headline 5-fight card

By Avenash Ramzan

T

he undercard for the Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis and Sakima Mullings title fight on February 21 has been finalised after the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) was able to seal a deal to have the event held in Guyana.

Dubbed “Caribbean Collision”, the card will feature five fights, starting with a clash between debutants Travis Fraser of Guyana and Charwin Estwick of Barbados in a Junior Middleweight six-rounder.

This will be followed by a six-round Catchweight contest between the Guyanese pair Dexter Marques and Quincy Gomes, and an eight-round Middleweight rematch featuring Edmond DeClou and Dereck Richmond.

DeClou has not entered the ring since the last time these two met, and he suffered a broken jaw. The other fight is a female showdown between Lorissa Rivas of the United States against Guyanese veteran Sharon Warde.

He will make a return to boxing after being out of action since October 2013. He would look to improve on his record, which currently reads 14 wins, two losses and one draw For the main bout, which will be for Mullings’ WBC CABOFE Welterweight belt, both fighters have been intensifying their preparations. The marquee fight is

Dexter Marques

Edmond DeClou

expected to attract a large crowd, given Lewis’ profile as a former world champion and Mullings’ tag as a potential world title holder.

Lewis, who turned 44 on December 14 last, has a record of 30 fights, 23 wins, 20 by way of knockout, with four losses and two drawn encounters. He defeated James Page in 2001 to capture the vacant WBA Welterweight title. Due to his exciting style and power in both hands, Lewis quickly became a popular fighter on HBO. After successfully defending the title against Larry Marks, he took on Ricardo Mayorga and the bout ended in the second round and was ruled a NoContest due to a nasty cut on Lewis, caused by an accidental headbutt. Lewis lost the title in a rematch to Mayorga in 2002 via fifth round TKO. In 2003, “Six Heads” challenged WBO Welterweight Champion, Mexican Antonio Margarito, but was knocked out in round two.

From 2005 to 2007, Lewis battled Denny Dalton in a series of three fights for Guyana’s Light Middleweight title, which he eventually won. This would prove to be the final victory of his early career, which came to a standstill in October 2008 when he dropped a split decision to Howard Eastman.

On the flip side, Mullings is an up and coming fighter, enjoying tremendous success that culminated in victory in the Contender Series in Jamaica last year. After 18 fights, the 32-year-old Mullings has an enviable record of 17 wins with 12 knockouts and one defeat.

Of note is the fact Mullings has never lost to a Guyanese fighter, defeating Winston Pompey, Howard Eastman, Revlon Lake and Dereck Richmond within the last three years.

The action will start at 20:00h at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and admission to the venue is $3000 (Ringside) and $1500 (Stands).

YWCC Mash Cup receives timely boost

F

or the third time, Ray Jahoor, of Ashiek and Son Motor Supplies and Auto Sale, is on board with the Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) for the Club’s third Mash Cup tournament.

The sponsorship will cover the second prize of $30,000. At the presentation held recently, Jahoor, who was also a member of the Club, said he was pleased with its progress over the years and would always support any project the club wished to undertake.

Receiving the cheque on behalf of the club was First Division skipper and tournament coordinator Ishwar Singh, who thanked the business entity for its continued support.

Singh called on the public to support Ashiek and Son Motor Supplies and Auto Sale so that it could continue to make meaningful contributions to the

A representative from Ray Jahoor of Ashiek and Son Motor Supplies and Auto Sale hands over the sponsorship cheque to Young Warriors Cricket Club First Division skipper and tournament coordinator Ishwar Singh

community.

He also encouraged cricket fans to bring their

families and enjoy an action packed day of entertainment.

GTA President Grace McCalman (second left) presents a plaque to Bishwa Panday of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited. Looking on are ITF Development Officer for the Caribbean, John Goede (left), and GTA Treasurer Elizabeth Persaud

P

&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited, headed by former Guyana Cricket Board Secretary Bishwa Panday, was recently recognised by the Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) for its longtime and consistent support to tennis.

In a brief statement, GTA President Grace McCalman lauded the establishment for its unstinting support to lawn tennis in Guyana. She said P&P has been consistently spon-

soring one of the major tennis camps for over 10 years.

McCalman said the input and contribution of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited towards the hosting of the camps have been a major conduit/pathway through which new players have been exposed to the sport.

The GTA head further stated that the company’s continued sponsorship on an annual basis reflected its confidence in the Association’s initiatives and

operations.

“His [Panday’s contribution in this way has significant positive impact on cultural synergies through the high number of children from various backgrounds who come together for this activity,” McCalman said.

In response, Panday said his company was happy to partner with the GTA and commended the executives of the Association for their professional approach to managing the affairs of the sport.

TTCB backing WICB selectors T

rinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) first vicepresident Dr Allen Sammy confirmed that the local body was disappointed with the omission of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the West Indies World Cup side but said the territorial board had full confidence in the choices of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) selectors.

During the official launch of the NAGICO Super50 series at the TTCB headquarters in Balmain Couva yesterday, Sammy read a prepared statement from TTCB president Azim Bassarath which outlined the roles of the TTCB directors on the WICB in regard to the team selection.

The statement said that the directors are independent directors and not territorial representatives of the TTCB on the WICB. It also stated that the WICB is mandated to appoint a senior selection panel and an exhaustive process involving territorial boards is undertaken before directors vote on the final appointments to the said panel.

The Board then pro-

vides guidelines and criteria for appointments to a squad in the three different formats of the game and when squads are selected, they are submitted to the Board for noting and that it is not within the remit of the directors to make any changes to selected teams as this is the full responsibility of the selectors.

The statement said that: “While the TTCB has full confidence in the ability of Messrs Bravo and Pollard to represent the West Indies in the 50Over format of the game, it would be a violation of the practice to question the selectors on the omission of these names for the February/March World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.”

Sammy also insisted that the TTCB was not adopting a hands-off approach.

Asked if the local board was in support of the reasons given by chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd over the omission of Bravo and Pollard from the World Cup squad, Sammy said: “The TTCB has not met to discuss what Lloyd said.”

“This statement makes

absolutely clear our position and this is not only our position, it is the position of all the territorial boards with respect to questioning the wisdom of the selectors,” Sammy explained.

“You are aware that if there were 20 different people in a room, they will pick 20 different squads. Those people are all former Test cricketers and we place a lot of faith in them and we will not normally question, at least publicly, the choices they make,” he added.

Asked if the TTCB was disappointed with the omission of Bravo and Pollard, Sammy said: “The TTCB would have liked to see Bravo and Pollard on the team.

“Any territorial board where there is an omission of people who are considered high-class players, naturally the territorial board will be disappointed.

“We are disappointed too but we are guided by certain codes of ethics and practices and we will not want to be a maverick and break away and make comments contrary to the codes and practices that are in existence” Sammy added.

(Windies Cricket)

thursDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015

guyanatimesGY.com

Lloyd outlines vision for selection panel

– defends appointment of Holder as ODI skipper

By Avenash Ramzan

C

hief Selector of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Clive Lloyd, has outlined his panel’s vision for West Indies cricket, noting that the ultimate aim is to return the Caribbean side to the pinnacle of world cricket.

During a wide-ranging interview with ESPNCricinfo earlier this week, the 70-year-old Lloyd was forthright about his panel’s desire to lift West Indies cricket from the “bottom rung” of world cricket’s ladder.

“My vision is to get our team right back up that ladder in ODIs and Test cricket. Getting people interested in playing for West Indies and who want to show their loyalty there,” Lloyd mentioned.

“I want to see a better West Indies performance all around. West Indies cricket means quite a lot to me.

I love it dearly. And I want people to do the same thing.

Now cricketers are being

Chief Selector of the WICB, Clive Lloyd

playing anywhere. The point is, we want you to play for West Indies as often as possible, to make yourself available. I don’t think it is right for any captain to be deprived of the best players at all times. It is not fair on a captain. We don’t want to stop you going to different parts to earn money, but you must be ready to play for us whenever we have our cricket. And I don’t see that as

Jason Holder

you will not be encouraged to play cricket if you are way down at the bottom. That is our batting aim. We have been given a job to try and change West Indies cricket and change all aspects of it and that is what we are trying to do,” Lloyd explained.

Notable changes

Among the notable changes of Lloyd’s tenure so far are the omissions of seasoned campaigners, allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, from the up-

dedicated sort of a player.

Not saying that the others are not, but he is an intelligent young man. And I think he has leadership qualities that will show soon. It is not Clive Lloyd thinking so. It is the selectors thinking so,” Lloyd, who led the Windies to World Cup success in 1975 and 1979, divulged.

When quizzed on the possibility of handing the captaincy to a more senior player, like Gayle or Marlon Samuels, Lloyd said, “They have had their chance.”

Dwayne Bravo

well paid, very well paid.

I only want those people to make our cricket important.”

The former West Indies Captain pointed out that while the panel, which also comprises former fast bowler and world record-holder Courtney Walsh and former wicketkeeper Courtney Browne, was not against players plying their trade in overseas-based T20 franchises, priority must be given to West Indies cricket.

Play for West Indies

“We have been in the same place with the same players. We want players interested in West Indies cricket and make sure West Indies cricket is important.

West Indies cricket is important to me – it has given me my upward mobility. These guys are doing well. We are not stopping anybody from

difficult.”

West Indies players have gone for big sums at auction in almost all of the domestic T20 leagues that have been popping up across the globe, chief among them the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash in Australia.

Very often, the West Indies team have suffered due to the absence of these players, with the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine giving priority to franchise duties rather than international commitments.

“We were champions for 18 years or more. And we haven’t moved [from] that bottom rung other than having won that Twenty20 [World Twenty20]. We want people now to be interested in our cricket. We want them to watch our cricket, more people to play it. And

Kieron Pollard

coming ODI series against South Africa and the 50-over World Cup next month, and the appointment of Jason Holder as ODI skipper, replacing Bravo.

While Lloyd pointed out that the sacking of Bravo and Pollard were due to a lack of “exceptional performances” while in West Indies colours, he highlighted that Holder has shown “leadership qualities”, hence his appointment as captain.

“This was something that happened before in the sense that I have spoken to him when he was quite young. And I liked his vision and what he stood for. This guy has left IPL and come and played for West Indies, and Barbados. So, he is a

He added, “Marlon has just come back into the side. We started about five months ago. We are picking up the pieces from the last set of selectors. Marlon Samuels is the Vice Captain to Jason Holder. It is quite all right. I do not think they find it any difficult because most of the players do like Jason and the way he approaches his game. He is a very likeable young man.

And that is what you need as a leader.”

Holder’s first assignment will be the five-match ODI series against South Africa, starting on Friday in Durban, followed by the World Cup, beginning on February 14 in Australia and New Zealand.

23

The Cricket Ombudsman will be asked to probe ECB elections Dear Editor, I read with gross astonishment sections of the Guyana Times Newspaper January 13 edition under the headline, “ECB elections held within constitution – Bacchus”.

This is the most opportune time, therefore, to set the record straight by highlighting a few points relevant to the ECB [Essequibo Cricket Board] Biennial General Meeting held on January11 at the Board’s Hostel: 1. The North Essequibo Cricket Committee is on public record supporting the holding of Area Committees’ AGM [Annual General Meetings] before the ECB elections. Only North Essequibo, East Bank and South Essequibo complied.

It is worthy to note that the clubs of the Pomeroon Cricket Committee wrote to Fizul Bacchus to convene elections, but he refused, fearing that he would have been rejected and embarrassed.

Prior to any elections, the ECB Constitution under Article 8 (L) states: Each Area Committee shall be required to register with the Board yearly by giving not only the name, address and telephone number of the Secretary, but also the Office Bearers of the Committee and a list of the clubs affiliated to that Committee.

This article of the Constitution has been breached and flagrantly violated by two-thirds of the Committees.

2. Treasurer of the North Essequibo Cricket Committee (NECC) Hakim Khan was verbally assaulted by a senior official of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), whose credibility must have been further diminished by the manner in which he conducted himself and also his duty-bound imposition to serve during the elections. Why? Even worse was the behaviour of another senior GCB official, who not only verbally assaulted Mr Khan but physically assaulted him as well. A complaint has since been lodged at the Anna Regina

Police Station by Mr Khan.

The two GCB officials were not happy with what Mr Khan wrote in one of the daily newspapers in which he appealed to the ECB to ensure that Area Committee elections were held while exposing the poor state of cricket within the county.

3. The newspaper reported, “However, according to information received, Holder reportedly came to the meeting with a cutlass and attempted to disrupt the meeting and threatened to physically assault the GCB President”.

Certainly, such a report is a figment of someone’s imagination especially in an attempt to deviate from the embarrassment caused by the two GCB officials.

I was never in the possession of a cutlass; instead, I was only equipped with a diary and a pen to record notes of the meeting.

My only confrontation with a GCB official was after his physical assault against Mr Khan where some heated words were exchanged by both parties. I am challenging those present to prove otherwise, including the Secretary of the ECB, who is also a Pastor.

The NECC has since expressed its grave disappointment in the manner in which its executive member has been humiliated.

It was indeed a sorry day for cricket and if the future administration of the game has to rest in the hands of these individuals, it will be a catastrophe!

I will be writing to the constitutionally appointed Cricket Ombudsman regarding the conduct of the ECB elections since I believe that the true representatives of the various Area Committees were robbed of exercising their right to vote as a result of not having elections.

The Ombudsman will also be asked to investigate the conduct of the GCB officials at the meeting.

Prince Holder President, NECC

thursday, january 15, 2015

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

Windies fall to Proteas but captures series

W

icketkeeper Morne van Wyk smashed a maiden international century as South Africa beat West Indies by 69 runs in the third and final Twenty20 international at Kingsmead.

The Proteas scored 1953 after being put in to bat and David Wiese then took 5-23 as they restricted the tourists to 126 all out and claimed a convincing consolation victory, West Indies having already clinched the series.

West Indies opener Chris Gayle was man of the match in the first two games but sat this one out with a back injury while South Africa rested captain Faf du Plessis ahead of the upcoming one-day international series.

Justin Ontong led the South African team but was not required to bat as Van Wyk produced a superb knock. turn to page 19

Pacquiao agrees to terms of Mayweather bout – Mayweather yet to agree Page 20

Morne van Wyk drives through the covers in the 3rd T20 South Africa v West Indies

Manny Pacquiao

Guyana begin quest for 10th regional one-day title today

By Rajiv Bisnauth

G

uyana’s senior cricketers will begin their hunt for a 10th regional one-day title when they play the Windward Islands Volcanoes in game two of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) NAGICO Super50 Tournament today.

The day-night encounter will be played at the Queen’s Park Oval from 13:00h.

Under the leadership of all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, Guyana come into today’s opening game as a well-oiled unit.

The Guyanese are still a formidable force despite the absence of batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan, Leon Johnson, Assad Fudadin, and Narsingh Deonarine.

They have a capable batting line-up led by the veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is a proven matchwinner; openers Rajendra Chandrika and Trevon Griffith; middle-order batsman Vishaul Singh; the hard-hitting Jonathan Foo; and Barnwell, along with his fellow all-rounders Royston

Crandon and Barbadian Raymon Reifer are expected to play crucial roles should Guyana land the title.

Wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble is also expected to play a crucial role with the bat.

Guyana’s bowling will be spearheaded by legspinner Devendra Bishoo, leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, and pacers Ronsford Beaton and Paul Wintz. Bowling all-rounder Steven Jacobs is also a key player in both departments.

Guyana’s last title at this level was back in 2005 when they defeated Barbados in near darkness in the KFC Cup final at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda, on the strength of Sewnarine Chattergoon’s career-best hundred.

On the other hand, Windward Islands Volcanoes have stepped up their competitiveness in regional competitions over the

last decade, shaking off the perennial Cinderella tag that had been their calling card.

The subregional side, which w i l l play alongside t h e Combined Campuses & Colleges, Guyana Jaguars and reigning champions Barbados Pride in Group A, are strong as a bowling unit but batting depth will be critical for them to succeed in this year’s tournament.

The bulk of Guyana’s runs are expected from Devon Smith, Keddy Lesporis and Sunil Ambris, along with the likes of Miles Bascombe, Craig Emmanuel, Liam Sebastien and lower-order hitters like Shane Shillingford, Mervin Matthew and Delorn Johnson.

Matches will be played at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and the National Cricket Centre as the teams vie for the coveted Clive Lloyd Trophy, named after the revered batsman and former West Indies skipper.

Broadcast live

The first stage of the Tournament will be the group stage comprising a series of non-elimination matches in each group – each team will play every other team in its group – with two matches being contested daily.

Following the group stage, the top two teams in each group will progress to the semi-finals at the Oval, where the group winners play the runners-up from the opposite group in a oneoff match for a place in the Grand Final on Sunday, January 25 at the same venue.

Caribbean Super Station (CSS) will broadcast live radio coverage for the entire tournament. All 15 matches in the tournament will be broadcast live by the CSS/

Christopher Barnwell

GEM Radio network of stations, as well as independent broadcasters in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica,

Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and US Virgin Islands, and stations in the host country.

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, Tel: 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230, 223-7231, Fax: 227-0685 - SALES AND MARKETING - sales@guyanatimesgy.com PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

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