Guyana Times Daily

86 graduate from IT programme in Berbice

Eighty-six young Berbicians are now fully equipped to meet the challenges which are being posed by advances in today’s technological world. This follows their successful completion of a six-month Information Technology (IT) training programme.

The programme was a joint effort of the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Albion Estate. Speaking at the graduation exercise on Friday last, Region Six Chairman David

Armogan said the current Administration acknowledges the need for the implementation of training in the area of Information Technology and decided to join forces with GuySuCo in edifying persons who sought to pursue studies in six subject areas of IT.

“Not so long ago, Guyana was considered a backward country when it comes to IT, but today this is not so, because the Government has invested heavily in ensuring that computer literacy is accessible by the masses through the One Laptop

Per Family (OLPF) initiative.

The Chairman also noted that many Berbicians have benefited from the State through training under the OLPF programme.

“Up to the 5th of August, 43,943 families throughout Guyana received laptops under the OLPF and in Berbice alone, 9581 persons were recipients,” Armogan boasted.

The successful participants of the programme received their certification on Friday, although the programme was completed in June.

Armogan charged the graduates to use education as a tool to remodel their behavioural patterns and professional approach to life.

“Wherever you go in this life, you should use your education to become better people. If you don’t, then you have learnt absolutely nothing.

"When you go out into the world of work, if your attitude is bad, then you will not be able to get along with people.

"Remember it is your attitude that will determine your altitude,” he said.

Manager of Albion Estate, Threbhowan Shiwprasad noted that social media presents many ills and called on the graduates to use their knowledge positively and to desist from that pitfall.

“In this technological age, almost everything that happens globally is known in every communi-

ing computer knowledge. I want you to be the agents of change,” he said.

Community Development Officer Orvin Mangru, in giving an overview, noted that the programme, which was run by Serojnie Permaul from Monday to Thursday, commenced in January and was completed in June.

ty through the social media I would like to urge you to use your newly-acquired skills to bring about positive changes and contribute to the development of your country.

"It is very easy for people to be trapped in the negative ‘web’ by abus-

“One hundred and twenty-four persons of various age groups started the class of 2014; however, 35 dropped out owing to the intense nature of the training programme,” he said. The advanced level of the programme is expected to commence this month.

Graduates of the training programme receive their certification at a presentation ceremony on Friday last

Region Six Chairman David Armogan presents the top award to the Best Graduating Student Chandrapaul Nathoo

OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

Global Technology launches

... “lightning speed” Internet service

Global Technology has selected the IP Easy satellite broadband service provided by Eutelsat Communications (Paris:ETL) to accelerate access to broadband across the Guyana, the company said in a statement.

Eutelsat operates IP Easy in the Region using the high performance EUTELSAT 8 West A satellite.

Through its licensed telecommunications provider, iNet Communications, Global Technology is now offering Internet connectivity with download speeds ranging from 512 Kbps to 10 Mbps.

iNet Communications has already deployed IP Easy for a number of key users, including in Government, defence and mining, as well as small businesses and residential consumers.

Remote locations

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) military bases have confirmed an order for terminals to be installed at four major remote locations in the Amazon Jungle – connecting them to the main base in order to provide Internet access for the first time to soldiers in remote locations in the Amazonian jungle, the statement read.

The first installation was successfully completed at the New River Triangle base, with the remaining installations to be shortly completed. A number of mining camps in the Amazon Rainforest have also been equipped with IP Easy.

The IP Easy service provided by Eutelsat uses Newtec’s Sat3Play(R) VSAT Broadband Platform including its broadband hub, MDM2200 IP satellite modems, antennas and interactive LNBs.

The service is ideal for customers operating in locations where satellite is the only route to connectivity and, despite heavy rainfall in the region served by Global Technology, has experienced no disruptions.

George Melville, Chief

Executive Officer of The Global Technology Group, is quoted by WSJ as saying:

“The agreement announced today [Tuesday] with Eutelsat equips us to contribute to bridging the digital divide in Guyana. Thanks to EUTELSAT 8 West A’s unique capabilities, we are really proud of being the only telecommunications provider offering the fastest broadband speeds in Guyana.”

Prime positioning

Michel Azibert, Eutelsat’s Chief Commercial and Development Officer, added:

“Global Technology’s choice of IP Easy, which follows the path chosen last year by Caribsat in the French West Indies and French Guiana, demonstrates EUTELSAT 8 West A’s prime positioning over the Region and the alignment of the service with user requirements.

"We are delighted to share our expertise with iNet Communications and to lift the obstacles to quality Internet experience faced by users beyond terrestrial broadband.”

The Global Technology Group is a privately held technology solutions provider that is the combination of three companies: iNet Communications (acquired in 2013), Global Technology Inc and Global Services Inc.

iNet communications is a licensed telecommunications provider in Guyana, specialising in designing, installing and actively managing large data networking solutions for

Government agencies.

iNet has recently started to offer similar networking solutions to corporations. Global Technology hardware sales division is currently Apple’s only authorised reseller in Guyana. Global Services maintains all of the Government and corporate networks that the group is responsible for.

Established in 1977, Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is one of the world’s leading and most experienced operators of communications satellites.

The company provides capacity on 37 satellites to clients that include broadcasters and broadcasting associations, payTV operators, video, data and Internet service providers, enterprises and Government agencies.

Eutelsat’s satellites provide ubiquitous coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, enabling video, data, broadband and government communications to be established irrespective of a user’s location. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat represents a workforce of 1000 men and women from 32 countries who are experts in their fields and work with clients to deliver the highest quality of service.

The Global Technology building

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

Food processing

The Guyana Government has given an indication that the local food processing industry will see massive development within the next seven years or so. This is indeed welcoming news, considering the fact that at the moment very little is being done, even by the private sector to capitalise on the numerous opportunities currently available to export processed foods, which are in demand by various markets in the Caribbean and beyond.

It is well known that Guyana is in an extremely good position in terms of its agricultural potential, meaning availability of land and labour, to take advantage of the extremely high food import bill of the Caribbean Community (Caricom). Presently, Caricom is home to approximately 16 million inhabitants in its 15 member states and has an annual food import bill of more than US$4 billion which is equivalent to G$800 billion.

We believe that the local private sector, acting with the support of Government can do much more to advance the food processing industry here. There is huge potential in the export market for processed foods. With the advancement of the industry, Guyana would be able to produce and export canned foods, such as sausages, corned beef, corn and a host of other food items used daily by consumers across the Region.

Also, this means that supermarkets and other distributers here would no longer have to import these items since this country would have had the capacity to satisfy local consumption needs.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy touching on the issue recently had said that the various interventions planned by the Government to transform the food processing industry would be done in conjunction with several other projects aimed at seeing a radical decline in Guyana’s overall food import bill and at the same time taking advantage of the huge Caricom food import bill.

The Minister at the time had indicated that Government was hoping to establish a large-scale dairy industry, with at least one dairy plant being operationalised, by 2020, which would not only reduce milk importation but also produce a host of other by-products. Other targets include a 50 per cent reduction in the importation of commodities such as carrots, commercial production of potatoes, and a 50 per cent increase in agro-process production. These are all achievable targets.

However, while the Government through the Agriculture Ministry is leading the way by providing the necessary technical support etc, the private sector also has an important role to play in terms of forging partnerships and making the necessary investments in ensuring the food processing industry achieves its full potential.

That said, Guyana must be commended for placing great emphasis on its agriculture sector and more particular in ensuring the country is food secure. This emphasis has been expanded within the last decade or so to cope with the ever increasing threat of global warming and changing weather patterns. Most of us would recall that these two natural phenomena have caused shockwaves to resonate in countries around the world.

In the 2008 global food crisis, we saw shortages of commodities, with concomitant high prices being filtered down to Third World countries, especially those in the Caribbean. By the mid-2008, international food prices had skyrocketed to their highest levels in 30 years. This, coupled with the global economic downturn, had pushed millions of people into poverty and deprivation.

While the Government here moved quickly to put measures in place to cushion the effects of the shortages of commodities and their attendant high prices, most other countries in the Region had to weather its full impact which severely had a negative effect on their economies.

Now that we are on well on our way to becoming foodsecure, the time has come for concrete action to be taken by all stakeholders to ensure that this country’s food processing sector is developed and placed in a position where it could realise its maximum potential.

Russia continues to increase assistance to SIDS

Dear Editor,

The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States opened on September 1.

Strongly supporting the agreed draft of the Conference Final document – Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Accelerated Modalities of Action (“Samoa Pathway”), the Russian Federation is a long-time and active partner of Small Island States.

It has been consistent-

ly increasing the level and range of mutual political and economic ties, and has been using the growing donor potential to increase expert, material and financial support to Caribbean and Pacific island states.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will soon start implementing, with Russia’s financial support, a project to set up an electronic repository of information on

GT&T needs better customer service at Anna Regina

Dear Editor,

Although my telephone bills have not been deducted yet from the system, I was very satisfied with the way it was dealt with by Ms Allison Parker and Ms Issacs at the head office in Georgetown.

These two ladies took their time over two hours on the telephone to go through my five months of paid bills and found all in their system.

It was amazing how the staff at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast couldn’t deduct these bills, which have caused me to lose time and money, and caused embarrassment to GT&T because of incompetence and gross negligence.

What I observed at this branch office is that there is no supervision of the staff and everyone seems to be doing their own thing here. When costumers go there to

transact business and query their paid and unpaid bills, the clerks do not have the time and patience to go through those bills.

These staff members are very lackadaisical in performing their duties and the management of GT&T should look into the functioning of this office.

Many customers from the outlying areas, like Charity and Supenaam, spend a lot of money for meals and transportation when they go to the office to do their business

Many leave unsatisfied, because the system is often down due to blackouts. GT&T is an international and well-recognised company and can afford a standby generator set, like Caricom Rice Mills Limited, to keep their business going 24-7.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan

sustainable energy for the South Pacific island states.

The project is to facilitate the exchange and use of scientific and technical information and innovative solutions with a view to strengthening energy potential of island states.

Together with the United Nations Development Programme, Russia is exploring the possibility of launching a large-scale, multimillion-dollar, longterm project to increase the disaster resilience of Pacific SIDS.

The use of multilateral formats and bilateral contacts is actively explored to strengthen cooperation with island states of Latin America, the Indian Ocean and Africa, including in such promising areas as tourism, fisheries, maritime navigation, and energy.

In early 2014, the Russian Federation supplied to Grenada, and St

Vincent and the Grenadines medical equipment for maternity wards worth of US$100,000.

Carrying out its foreign policy activities, Russia will continue to aim at strengthening its diverse relations with island states and maximising their practical effect. Being one of the key donors of the Conference, Russia contributed US$500,000 to the Special Purpose Fund. Over the last four years, the aggregate support to the SIDS from Russia totalled US$20 million.

These funds were used to implement the projects aimed at enhancing partner countries’ own potential. For certain SIDS, the Russian Federation introduced a preferential bilateral trade treatment.

Denis Kopyl, Press-Attaché Russian Embassy

Anna Regina office being assessed

Dear Editor, We thank Mr Khan for his letter. We have noted his comments on the functioning of our Anna Regina Office and wish to advise that we are currently doing an assessment of the overall operations of this office.

Our customers should be aware that given the historical, and, to some extent, continuing difficulties with power nationally, GT&T maintains in excess of 140 generators across the 10 re-

gions, including at our office on the Essequibo Coast.

We wish to advise that we have put in place a dedicated channel at gttpr@gtt. co.gy, and encourage our customers to write us on matters that have affected their quality of service. We do value your feedback.

Allison Parker, Public Relations Officer

GT&T

Enjoying delicacies in undersea tunnel. Tourists dine at the Tianjin Haichang Polar Ocean World in Tianjin, China (MSN)

Police have recovered stolen vehicle in South Ruimveldt

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Police Force is responding to an article published in the Kaieteur News of September 2 under the headline, “Bandits hijack car with over $1.5M in cash, goods.”

In the article, businessman Ramanand Jagdeo is alleging that on August 31, when he went to the Ruimveldt Police Station to make a report, the gate to the compound was padlocked and the Policewoman who subsequently took his report was unprofessional by doing so on a piece of paper.

The Police Force states that Ramanand Jagdeo went to the Ruimveldt Police Station at approximately 04:30h on August 31 to report an incident whereby he had been robbed of his motor car, PRR 4395.

At the time of his arrival at the station, the gate to the compound was closed, but not padlocked as alleged, and would have opened had it been pushed. However, Ramanand Jagdeo remained at the gate and

called out for the Police during which he resorted to the use of indecent language.

A female subordinate officer on duty went down into the compound and told Ramanand Jagdeo that the gate was open and he pushed it open and followed the rank upstairs into the Enquiries Office.

Some amount of discretion was applied and his use of indecent language was overlooked after hearing his report.

Ramanand Jagdeo reported that around 04:00h on August 31, he had stopped his motor car PRR 4395 on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, in the vicinity of GUYTRAC, when he was confronted by three men who had travelled in another motor vehicle and who pulled him out of his vehicle and drove away with it.

He said that cash and other valuables totalling $1.4 million were in his car.

This report was recorded by the subordinate officer in the appropriate station record book and not on a piece of paper as claimed by

Ramanand Jagdeo. He appeared not to be in a state of mind to give a written statement at the time and was advised to return to the station later in the day in order to do so.

On September 1, Ramanand Jagdeo gave a written statement in which he stated that one man had taken away his motor vehicle, contrary to his earlier report in which he had said that the act was committed by three men.

However, in response to the report, diligent investigations by the Police have led to the recovery of the stolen motor vehicle on September 1, at a residence in Sunflower Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Five men have been arrested and are in Police custody assisting with the investigations.

Ramanand Jagdeo has been informed of the developments in the matter.

Ivelaw Whittaker, Public Relations and Press Officer Guyana Police Force

A shameful display

Dear Editor,

The PNC had their biennial Congress August last and what a "great spectacle" that was, a bunch of bullies all jostling as to who was the bigger and better bully. At the end of the day, Granger and his team came out on top.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and sure it was, because what unfolded before my very eyes was nothing short of that sordid picture of a bunch of PNC members going at each other with enthusiasm. I was present at the Sophia hideout, so no one can question the validity of my report.

The whole saga began when Aubrey Norton – a discarded member – coming down from Linden with his entourage with a threat to hijack the PNC's rigging machinery. He was testing the PNC's rigging process with a raucous group.

They tried to get into the hall where they would have stuffed the ballot boxes to get their guy into office. However, the Granger group, having prior knowledge of this scheme, was well prepared for them.

Granger's faction counter punched with a "lock every one of them out" order from the grand bully. So, there you have it, Norton and team outfoxed at a rigging game they are all too familiar with, even when they tried to force their way in, they were met with stout resistance.

There was a backup gunman planted in the Granger camp to see to it that the

Linden party be kept out. They were not going to allow the Region 10 group to have its way. He fired two shots into the air when they tried to overpower security. The stark reality was that Linden had no vote and Granger and team went away fully satisfied that rigging by force pays off.

There are a few points I would like to forcibly bring to the public's attention. The Linden posse demonstrated to the world who they really are, a group of out-ofcontrol individuals. This is something that was evident in the Linden uprising when they were asked to make a little contribution into the national coffers for their electricity consumption. They responded with days of looting and burning with cases of grave vandalism to public property. They even fired at the Police who were there to maintain law and order. This is the Linden we know of and a people who Granger stoutly defended when the Linden Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was commissioned. So, why cry foul now when the very Lindeners came to their own PNC Congress to assert "their rights". Granger and team must also hang their heads in shame for rigging their own election. Are these the same individuals who denied that rigging ever occurred, far less something that should be mentioned among themselves? The facts speak for themselves, rigging is alive and well within the PNC.

Baishanlin has issued several responses about company’s operations

Dear Editor, Baishanlin International Forest Development Inc has issued several responses regarding concerns that have been recently raised in the media about the company’s operations.

On August 13, a detailed press release was sent out by the company outlining its operations and the various activities that have been undertaken since the company came to Guyana in 2007.

This statement was carried by at least three of the four daily newspapers and several online and television news services.

Since that time, the company has responded on multiple occasions with additional press releases, full-page advertisements and television commercials.

As recent as August 31, the company dispatched an update to the media on its collaborative work with Region 10 loggers on road repairs in Kwakwani.

that the media outlet that has led the reports questioning the company’s operations has neglected to carry many of our press statements such as the one issued on August 31, outlining the ongoing roadwork in Kwakwani of which Baishanlin is playing an integral role.

Baishanlin recognises it has a responsibility to the Guyanese people at large, and believes it has an even greater responsibility to those who live in the communities in which it operates.

As such, Baishanlin, at the highest level of management, has been meeting with members of the various Region 10 logging associations and the newly-constituted Linden Kwakwani Road Users Association over the last several weeks. These meetings have been extremely productive and have helped to craft new ways in which the company can further assist in community development.

Norton has been suckerpunched for the third time in a row, first by Hoyte, then Corbin, and now, Granger. Certainly, it is time for him to call it quits. A house divided cannot and will not stand – the violence, the rigging, that so epitomises the PNC/APNU. It is such a vital part of their DNA that even among their own kind, they cannot control themselves. Are these the people who want to rule over us? Are they serious?

Finally, the PNC made a lame effort at mitigating their pathetic circumstances with statements that the PPP/C was to be blamed for their vulgar display last Congress. Before I even try to figure out their mess, I would like Norton and Granger to sober up to the fact that nothing close to such wanton lawlessness ever occurred within the ranks of the PPP/C.

The PPP/C is a party of dignity and decorum. I have never witnessed rigging nor have I seen any gun play at a PPP/C Congress. Rigging, gun play, and violence of all sorts are synonymous terminologies when you look at the PNC.

Ironically, when they were locked in a cesspool of lawlessness, the PPP/C were happily engaged in a fun day at Freedom House. What the PNC/APNU grouping needs to do is consider how ready they are for an election after that shameful display.

Sincerely,

Neil Adams

The company’s Chairman, Chu Wenze, in that letter also reiterated Baishanlin’s commitment to logging communities and to Guyana.

It is also noteworthy

The company has, therefore, found it even more necessary to highlight such information by way of paid full-page advertisements and television commercials.

Baishanlin would like to restate that all of its operations are in keeping with the regulations of the forestry sector and laws of Guyana and the company looks forward to making further investments in the country that would help to create even more jobs and contribute to the Guyanese economy.

Chu Wenze, Chairman Baishanlin International Forest Development Inc

Chu Wenze, Chairman Baishanlin International Forest Development Inc

Page Foundation

Disrespect, bad attitude and talking back

It seems that many parents of preteen and adolescent children complain of disrespect. Yet, in many cases this behaviour develops, then, in certain families, quickly fades away.

The degree to which children persist in displaying disrespectful behaviours and attitudes rests primarily in how we as parents respond.

How often have you heard a parent say, “You’re not going to talk to me like that.” Then, less than five seconds later, the child or adolescent speaks with disrespect. The parent then again repeats the demand. The child becomes even more disrespectful. It’s as if the parent is trying to control the child’s thoughts and words, when in reality they do not have control over this behaviour. In other words, it is impossible to force your children to be respectful.

What is possible, however, is to teach them that respectful behaviour will serve them… and that disrespectful behaviour will not serve them.

How do you do this?

First, your attitude and philosophy is an essential ingredient, if you hope to change or modify your child’s actions and words. If your child speaks to you with disrespect, and you expend the energy to try to get them to change their attitude, you are, in essence, teaching them that the world will really care about their attitude.

their boss, they will lose their job. If they treat their customers with disrespect, the customers will not come back. If they are disrespectful and rude to their friends, they will lose quality friends. It is essential that you model for your children what life will ultimately teach them.

NO! You want your children to learn early in life… such disrespect is not worthy of my energy and attention. That’s the first, most fundamental lesson to learn.

Yet, I’ve got news for you: The world doesn’t care about their attitude. If they are disrespectful to

Disrespectful behaviour is not worthy of your attention

* Will the rest of their world invest in such dis- respect? NO!

* Will good friends invest their energy in disrespectful peers? NO!

* Will an employer invest in disrespect? NO!

* Will their college professors invest in a disrespectful student?

“Is that all there is?” No, there is more to it…, and here are the basics.

Teaching respect requires more from parents than children

It is essential to have the attitude and perspective that you cannot force compliance, you cannot force respect, and you cannot force agreeable behaviour. Thus, in this moment of disrespect, you must be able to accept that this is happening, even though you don’t approve.

What you can do is teach your child that disrespectful behaviour will not get them what they want (ie, a person’s interest and attention). In other words, you will ignore every word spoken in a disrespectful fashion. The only way that you will engage your child is when they speak respectfully to you. Don’t ever give in to the temptation of correcting their disrespect. The more you do so, the more disrespectful they will become.

Immediately engage your child for respectful, calm, and

appropriate interactions. Smile, look at them, and compliment them from time to time on their mature behaviour.

Make certain that disrespectful behaviour is never rewarded with children getting what they want. This may mean they miss a football practice, they miss a movie with their friends, or they don’t get to take out the car. Do not give in just because your teenager relentlessly pursues you to change your mind. Make certain that you stay the course.

Depending on the years of history behind you and your child, your child may have learned that whining, complaining, and being sassy with you has been rewarded by your willingness to try to correct them or get them to change their behaviour. The longer this has been happening, the longer it will take for your child to learn that disrespect will no longer serve them. The older the child, the longer the learning curves. Keep in mind, however, that all children will eventually learn, provided that you hold the course.

Remember: Disrespect… Bad attitude… Demanding… Talking Back… is not worthy of your energy. However, you will notice that this simple change will help with many young children, and even confuses the older child. (terrificparent

ing.com)

What child discipline is and what it isn’t

(continued

BY KATHERINE LEE Cooperation

Child discipline is not about parents dictating their child’s every move or imposing their will like a dictator over his country. Parents can sit down with a child – even a child as young as five years old – and get her opinion on what she thinks about certain rules and consequences in your household. This is a very important way of showing your child that you care about her opinions and feelings, and teaches your child that what she thinks matters. It also teaches her the importance of having rules and helps her understand why some rules exist and why they are beneficial for her.

What child discipline is not about Punishment

When you set boundaries and expectations for good behaviour, you are laying down the foundation and giving your child the tools to work toward selfcontrol and self-regulation. Child discipline is not about punishing bad behaviour; it is about guiding your child toward positive behaviour. That does not mean that bad behaviour should be ignored. If a child breaks the rules, there must be clear and consistent consequences. What’s important is that those consequences –be it a time out or loss of privileges or other repercussions – are used as tools to calmly correct behaviour rather than punish a child out of anger.

Expressing anger

Few parents can say they’ve never lost their temper in the heat of the moment when a child is being defiant or difficult. That said, it’s important for parents to keep in mind that keeping a cool head is an important part of correcting bad behaviour.

By staying calm, parents can better explain to a child why disciplinary action is being taken, what exactly they are disappointed about, and what a child can do in the future to avoid making the same mistake.

And when parents explain things in a loving manner, children will understand that their behaviour may have been wrong but that their parents love them, no matter what.

Controlling Setting boundaries does not mean not letting your child make choices or giving him room to make mistakes. Children who are disciplined in a positive manner know that their opinions will be heard and that their parents respect them even when they don’t agree with them. This will give them selfconfidence as they explore and grow, even as they learn what choices are wrong and harmful and what choices are positive and healthy. (About.com)

EU unveils $9.2B in aid for Guyana

The European Union (EU) has signed off €339 million in Developmental Programmes for 21 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of Countries, with Guyana receiving €34 million (G$9,184,523,567)

On Tuesday, the European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs and Country Representatives from the 21 ACP Countries, co-signed the National Indicative Programmes (NIP) under the 11th European Development Fund in Apia (Samona). The approved €339 million will be utilised for developmental programmes during the period 2014-2020.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett signed on behalf of the Government of Guyana during the ceremony, which took place on the margins of the United Nations Third International Conference on Small Islands Developing States.

Guyana’s allocation will be channelled towards climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction which includes sea defences.

Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, and St Lucia were among the other Caribbean countries that signed the agreement, in addition to 10 Pacific territories: Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Timor Leste, Tonga, and Tuvalu; and one African country: Cape Verde.

“Today’s signatures mark the official go-ahead to contin-

The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) has once again been attacked, as armed bandits targeted the postal company’s Training Centre located at Carmichael and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown.

Based on information reaching Guyana Times, the robbery occurred around 09:30h on Tuesday. Initial reports indicated that the armed men approached the security guard and struck him with an object.

The men then proceeded into the building where they held up the staff and relieved them of approximately $4 million before making good their escape. The stolen cash was money to be used for the payment of Old Age Pension. The Police were summoned and are conducting investigations.

The security guard, who is attached to the Sentinel Security Services, was taken to seek medical attention for his injury and has been hospitalised.

When this newspaper visited the scene, staff there were tight-lipped and visibly traumatised by the incident. However when contacted, Postmaster General Henry Dundas said the incident was being investigated by both the Police and the GPOC.

Dundas could not confirm how much money was stolen, stating that they were still de-

ue strengthening our development cooperation with thee concerned countries.

"These documents lay down the priorities for our joint work for the next seven years and will allow us to move ahead with the preparations of the concrete projects and programmes,” Commissioner Piebalgs said during the signing ceremony.

He added, “For the European Union it is essential that our programmes are drawn up in close cooperation with our partner countries, based on Governments’ own policies and strategies and reflecting their stated needs. This is how we ensure that programming documents really support areas where the EU can add value.”

The establishment of NIP is a critical step taken by the EU to offer assistance to ACP countries. In 2013, EU Member States agreed that €30.5 billion was needed for

developmental cooperation among 78 ACP Countries under the 11th European Development Fund during the financial period 2014-2020.

The NIPs that have been signed are clear indications of the EU’s strategy and priorities in each particular country. These preparations are done in close cooperation with the partner countries so as to ensure that NIPs support national priorities and reflect the local context.

This is in line with the EU’s vision for future development cooperation, the “Agenda for Change”, which calls for resources to be targeted where they are most needed and can be the most effective.

It is anticipated that by 2015, the remaining NIPs will be finalised and signed. However, work on preparing concrete projects and programmes has commenced in all of the countries.

termining the amount missing.

He said investigations are ongoing and he was yet to receive a full report on what transpired earlier in the day.

The Postmaster General noted that he was concerned about the frequency of such attacks on the Corporation.

He disclosed that following the incident on Tuesday morning, he engaged the heads of departments in a meeting where they discussed implementation of additional security measures to prevent such recurrences in the further.

When asked whether the increased attacks executed at various branches have caused him to suspect that they might be inside jobs, Dundas refused to comment.

In a release from the GPOC, Public Relations

Sea piracy scaring away yachters – Nascimento

President of the Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), Kit Nascimento said the constant attacks on fishing vessels by armed sea pirates are scaring away yachters from coming to Guyana.

Nascimento made the comments while addressing the Annual General Meeting of THAG on Monday. Sea bandits have been on a rampage for some time now, beating and robbing their victims in vicious attacks. Only recently a number of fishermen were killed during attacks on the Corentyne Coast.

“An ongoing and persistent concern for our industry is the security and safety of Guyana for our visitors. If Guyana is perceived as a dangerous place to visit, no amount of promotional marketing will cause visitors to come,” Nascimento told the AGM.

He told his members that THAG has maintained a cordial and collaborative relationship with the Home Affairs Ministry, but the escalating reports of crime and banditry and offshore piracy, “of our fishing boats do nothing to make us comfortable and less to improve our international image”.

Nascimento told the meeting that when reports appeared recently in the media of passengers travelling from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport being attacked by bandits in Police uniform, THAG sought a meeting with the Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

“We met with Minister Rohee and senior Police Officers on 6th August and I am pleased to report that the Minister afforded us the op-

portunity of a free and frank discussion on the matter and we were sufficiently satisfied that the Police have instituted measures to counter this threat.”

Nascimento said headlines in the media on piracy on the Coast are equally disturbing.

"Unfortunately, these reports are interpreted on international websites as being dangerous to yachts visiting Guyana. When I joined the GTA [Guyana Tourism Authority] team in Trinidad and Tobago on 15th August, to brief some 50 yachtsmen and women on the International Rally, to which I have already referred, and to encourage the massive yachting community in Trinidad to visit Guyana, I was at pains to explain that the piracy off our shores is not targeted to yachts.”

Promote development

The THAG President said that as the private sector umbrella organisation for tourism, clearly their task is to promote and develop tourism and to advance the interests of its members.

In doing so, he said, THAG serves best in collaborating through participation and advocacy with Government on behalf of our industry.

"We have met on a regular basis with Minister of Tourism, with the Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority and with the staff of the Ministry and the Authority.

"We have pursued a consistent and strong lobby with our Government for legislative action favourable to the industry and for Government to invest in a marketing programme for Guyana,” he said.

He said they have worked closely with the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in advocating the legislation of incentives for inclusion in the Budget essential to make the industry competitive.

“At our President’s Awards Dinner, I spoke strongly and frankly in support of the recommendations made in the Cecil Miller Report; a Report from a Consultant engaged by the Government. We took the Miller message to our Minister of Finance in his pre-2014 Budget meeting with the Private Sector Commission.

“We urged legislation providing a preferred rate of VAT be applied to hotels and tourism resorts in line with preferred treatment which our competitors across the Caribbean, Central and South America enjoy.

"Though we were disappointed that our recommendations were not reflected in this year’s Budget, both the President and the Minister of Tourism have since given public undertakings to implement these incentives,” Nascimento said.

At the meeting with the Finance Minister, THAG addressed him directly on the urgency of budgeting sufficient funds to clean-up our national environment and we should all be enormously pleased that the sum of $1 billion has been provided in the budget for that purpose. It remains now to see whether an effective, efficient and sustainable use of those funds will be forthcoming. “We must play our part in collaborating where we can and where we should with the Government,” Nascimento told the AGM.

Officer Telesha Whyte advised customers that the branch would be closed until further notice and urged them to conduct all transactions at other Post Office locations in the interim.

There have been several attacks on various post offices across the country so far this year, with the second most recent being in June when bandits carted off some $1.3 million from the Campbellville Post Office. Around 08:35h on June 12, a gunman entered the Post Office posting as a customer.

He subsequently pulled out a firearm, and kicked down the door which gave him access to the area where the money is being kept.

He took possession of the money and subsequently escaped on a waiting motorcycle nearby.

The GPOC Office and Training Centre located at Carmichael and Lamaha Streets

Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett and European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs after the signing of Guyana’s NIP

Helena man hacked to death by “junkie”

A52-year-old man on Tuesday bled to death after he was chopped by an alleged drug addict at Middle Walk Dam, Helena, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

The incident occurred sometime around 12:30h. The dead man has been identified as Balkissoon (only name given), a farmer of Lot 107 Helena #2, Mahaica. Information reaching the Guyana Times revealed that the farmer was suddenly attacked by a person known only as 'Dhanpaul'.

Speaking with this newspaper, the eldest son of the farmer, Hemchand Balkissoon, related that his father was attacked by a “junkie”

He recalled that his father had gone home for lunch and left shortly after midday to return to the back dam. Hemchand said his father was carry-

ing a “motor blower” and a pump on his bicycle when the “junkie” confronted him.

“He was riding in and the man just jump out and pull the cutlass from the bicycle and give he one chop,” the son said. The son disclosed that his little brother and a friend of

his father were nearby and witnessed the gruesome ordeal. He noted that after he was informed of the incident he rushed to the scene but it was too late.

“Is far in so by the time meh run and reach deh, he was dead… he bleed to death so we couldn’t get to do anything to save him,” the son stated.

Hemchand noted that

the assailant is a very “troubled person” and would usually get into fights with residents.

However, he explained that his father and the man never had any problems. "If you go check the police station, it get numerous reports there from a set a people. He does get lock up steady, steady but the police does loose him back,” he said.

A release from the police said Balkissoon was involved in an argument with another man on Middle Walk Dam during which he was chopped to his neck.

The police further stated that the man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The murder suspect was arrested and taken into police custody to assist with the investigations.

Captured fugitive appears in court

Wanted man Colin O’Neil Blair, for whom the Guyana Police Force last year issued a wanted bulletin for questioning in relation to the murder of Royston Sylvester Greenidge appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday afternoon. It is alleged that the 21-year-old, also known as “Bow Foot”, murdered Greenidge, also called “Roy”, in furtherance of a robbery

at Far Backdam, Cuyuni River on June 18, 2013. Greenidge aged 38, of Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke, was killed during an argument with another man. It was reported that the two men were imbibing when an argument broke out, resulting in the suspect picking up a piece of wood and lashing the victim to the head and other parts of the body. The man was rushed to the Bartica Hospital Complex where he was pronounced

dead on arrival.

Since the day in question, O’Neil Blair had been on the run; however, his luck ran out when he was apprehended by the Police on August 30 at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River.

O’Neil Blair was not required to plead since the matter is indictable. He was remanded to prison until September 10 when the matter will be heard again at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Kitty teen girl slapped with three charges Man remanded on break-andenter charge

Ateen girl was granted her pre-trial freedom on $95,000 bail when she appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday charged with unlawful assault, assault causing actual bodily harm, and use of abusive language.

Leanna Hopkinson, 18, of Lot 179 William Street, Kitty, is accused of unlawfully assaulting Ashoda James on August 28 at 79 William Street, Kitty. The following day, at Lot 68 William Street, she allegedly assaulted Elisha Beharry causing actual bodily harm and on the next day, at the

address mentioned in the first charge, she made use of abusive language to Tilesha Altio.

Hopkinson denied all the allegations against her. There were no objections to bail.

Magistrate Judy Latchman granted the defendant bail in the sum of $10,000 for the charge of unlawful assault, $80,000 for the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm and finally $5000 for the abusive language charge.

The young woman will return to court on September 10 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

AKitty resident was remanded for break and enter and larceny on Tuesday after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Clinton Kissoon, 49, of Lot 85 William Street, Kitty, allegedly broke and entered the bond of Alfa Imports and Exports between August 28 and August 29 at Second Street, Alberttown. Among the stolen items were: one Toshiba laptop valued $140,000, one Kindle val-

ued $25,000, and a quantity of perfumes and soap powder worth $835,000, all valued $1 million, property of Denbeigh Rickford. The unrepresented defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant objected to bail on the grounds of the prevalence, gravity and nature of the offence. He also made mention of the quantum of the articles.

The defendant was remanded until September 10 when he will appear before the Chief Magistrate.

Eyew tness

Different strokes...

...for PNC

It’s an object lesson in media bias to observe the different standards being applied to the PPP/C Government’s calls for the voters’ list to be “sanitised” versus what prevailed when the PNC and the rest of the Opposition demanded the same before the 2006 elections. Then, the PNC – with the other smaller Opposition parties in tow, made a “non-negotiable” demand that they wouldn’t go to the elections unless the “padded” voters’ list was cleaned up.

The media were all in sycophantic support – carrying on about the “sanctity” of a clean Preliminary Voters List (PVL). The PNC claimed that through their “statistical analysis” there was no way the numbers on the list could’ve jumped so high so quickly. By June they had their scrutinisers file thousands of objections to names on the list. GECOM accommodated all their objections and claims without a squeak.

Yet today, when the PPP/C makes the identical assertions on the present PVL, not only are they dragged over the coals about their “motivation” (which has to be “sinister” of course) by the press and the Opposition (are they different?), but GECOM itself rejected the assertions as “malicious”!!!. Somehow the Eyewitness gets a feeling that there are wheels within wheels spinning to get rid of the PPP/C Government.

We wonder whether foreign elements are once again “advising” their proxies that they’ve cultivated and sponsored over the years. After all, on this matter of padded voters lists, the PNC invented the whole scam when they rigged the 1968 elections with the knowledge and connivance of the US Government – which was convinced the PPP were “commies”. The PNC invented the mechanism of the National Register, which was compiled by their people. From this NR, the Elections Commission they controlled would extract the PVL. This is still the mechanism being used.

With the PNC’s 1968 list, the numbers had jumped 21 per cent in the four years since 1964 – as opposed to 19 per cent in the eleven years 1953-1964! Most of the increases were in traditional “PNC constituencies”. The Elections Commission back in 1968 didn’t listen to the PPP then – and it sure looks like they’re not going to listen to them 46 years later.

The point that must be made is that it doesn’t matter that we are going to have a “snap elections” – all Guyanese must insist that it should reflect the will of the people. And it can’t do this if we have so many dead persons voting.

Guyana may once again become “a night of the living dead” – as it was during the PNC dictatorship.

...for Baishanlin

As with the PPP/C and the PVL, we see a similar bias against the Chinese in general and Baishanlin in particular, when it comes to our forestry sector. As this Eyewitness has emphasised, there’s nothing wrong in this country insisting forestry reaps as much benefits as it can for its citizens as we try to move upwards from being producers of primary goods. But Jeez...we have to be consistent in how we treat all players in the field, no??

Some 20 odd years ago (some would say some VERY odd years!) the PNC under Desmond Hoyte had brought in the Malaysian company Barama. Their logging activities and sales were supposed to have been matched by their plywood production. Value added!!! But while the latter has dropped precipitously to a mere fraction from the levels of previous years, their logging has continued its upward trajectory. Without comment!!

In fact, they received a medal a year or so ago for being able to identify the logs being shipped out in some voluminous quantities!!

...for Ferguson??

The Muckraker expatiated on the “lessons” of majority black Ferguson, Missouri, where a white officer from a Force with three black officers among 50 white ones, killed a black kid. No lesson on the need for the Force to be more representative. Go figure!!

Wanted man Colin O’Neil Blair

Dead: Balkissoon

AK-47 bandits chainsaw their way into house

... escape with $5M

By Nafeeza yahya

Three men armed with an AK-47 rifle, a chainsaw, and cutlass robbed a Port Mourant family of close to $5 million around 01:00h on Monday.

The bandits gained access to the premises of Michael Ramiah by cutting their way into the right side wall of the home. Ramiah operates a grocery shop on the lower flat of his property located at 170 Well Street, Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant. At the time of the incident,

the owner and his wife were out of the country on vacation and a relative was left to overlook the business.

The relative, Marvin Ramiah, along with his cousin and a workman, would usually sleep upstairs. Ramiah related to this publication that they were upstairs looking at television when he heard a loud noise outside and as he ventured to see what caused the noise, the men shouted “Police” and demanded that they open the door.

The terrified young man

Govt partnering with IAC in suicide prevention initiative

The Guyana Government says it has developed a “strategic partnership” with the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) to heighten awareness on the need to prevent suicides in the country.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said the Health Ministry has been involved in several plans aimed at curbing suicides, including the training of persons. Dr Ramsaran met with the IAC which presented its initiative and explored the possibility of a meaningful collaboration.

The Health Minister said there was a need for all stakeholders to be involved in the fight against suicides, reiterating the Ministry’s commitment to working with organisations that have expressed an interest in dealing with social issues. The IAC, in the past, had demonstrated its willingness to lead and support any intervention regarding this issue and, based on the magnitude of incidents, called for suicide to be declared a national priority. Further, the organisation pointed out that due to the high rate of suicide, a major international news network visited Guyana and pro-

duced a story highlighting this distressing trend.

The IAC believes that much more can be done and has called for meaningful collaboration among the various Government Ministries “to derive a plan of action which will lead to the provision of education through awareness and related counselling with the aim of reducing and hopefully, eliminating incidents of suicides”.

Earlier this year, the Government said a multisectoral approach was needed to deal with the number of suicides in the country. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Guyana has, by far, the highest suicide rate in the Caribbean. It has also been listed among the top 10 most suicidal countries globally.

So far this year, more than 30 people have committed suicide, while several others are recovering from failed attempts.

The IAC said it will stage a walk on September 14 to highlight the issue and was urging all nationals, religious and Non-Government Organisations to support the initiative “to heighten awareness about the need to prevent suicide”. (CMC)

He went on to say that the bandits then ordered them to hand over all the money.

“One of the bandits placed the gun at me and kept shouting for the money, he took me downstairs to the shop where the money was, I gave him all,” Ramiah said.

During the less-than10-minutes ordeal, the two other occupants were held at gunpoint. The Police were contacted, but, by the time they arrived, the bandits had made good their escape.

This is the second time that the business has been robbed; in 2004, the family was attacked and robbed of an undisclosed sum of money.

related they were all afraid and did not open the door, so the bandits used the chainsaw to cut a hole in the wall, while firing several shots.

According to information received, five persons are currently in custody and a number of warheads matching those used by AK-47 rifles, along with pellets for a shotgun, were recovered. The Police in B Division are continuing their investigation.

The business place that was robbed

One of the robbery victims inspects the hole made by the chainsaw of the bandits

Chinese Govt donates medical equipment to GPHC

Medical equipment valued some $15 million has been donated by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation on Tuesday.

The donation is part of the 11th Chinese Medical Brigade’s visit to Guyana and will assist the Chinese doctors in performing effective and efficient services for the Guyanese public.

Receiving the equipment, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said that this was an indication of the strong and ongoing relationship between the two countries, while showcasing an international approach to the medical services. He noted that the equipment will go a long way in im-

proving services provided to Guyanese.

“Not only must we have skills and brain power, but we must have equipment and good equipment… to-

day we received a small but significant gift from the Chinese medical team in Guyana… we have noted the good quality of the Chinese product, their lon-

gevity, their durability and, of course, their good performance,” the Minister stated.

Welcome tradition Ramsaran pointed out that such donations are customary by Chinese medical teams that visit Guyana, noting that it is a welcome tradition. He disclosed that the Chinese Health Minister is expected to visit Guyana later this month. He is hopeful that the visit will pave way for the relationship between the two countries to expand.

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin, also recognised the strong relationship between the two countries. He explained that China believes in developing the social and health sectors in countries. He noted that over the years Chinese doctors have committed themselves to providing sincere Guyanese people.

“All these donations and dispatching of equipment are good examples of the good friendship between the two countries… I believe the team members of this 11th brigade will do their best to serve Guyanese people,” the

The loaded question

Satiricus was left with his mouth open in admiration at the Editor of the Stabber News. Here it was, he’s been wondering when the Stabber would get around to writing about this “re-migrant scam” story. He’s known about the “Blue Wall” that Police the world over throw up when one of their own is fingered. The omertà or Code of Silence of the Madia is the guiding principle of the Blue Wall.

But even though he’d been in the newspaper business since he was wet behind the ears, he hadn’t realised how strong the code was in his business also. The Black Wall??? (Think of the Black ink....jeez!!!) The entire media of Guyana were all agog when that crusader for truth, justice and the right to steal electricity, Mook Lall, was fingered at the centre of a re-migrant scam that would’ve robbed the Government of $100 million – but not a squeak from the Stabber!! Not even a line!

Thing was – even the Muckraker had carried the story. That the Mook’s slave Editor had put a spin that the Mook had “borrowed” the duty-free hundred million-dollar SUV’s to drive around for “protection” was understandable. Satiricus was very sympathetic that the Mook needed protection. His “friends” hadn’t forgiven him for snitching on them to the US Ambassador to get back his visa. People don’t taken lightly to their visas being pulled.

So why didn’t the Stabber print all this?? There was no reason to put up the Black Wall. So what if most persons who did maintenance work (that’s what the re-migrant did in the States) couldn’t afford such vehicles in two lifetimes?? Maybe they’d won the NY lottery. So what if the wife couldn’t drive? This isn’t Saudi Arabia, was it?? Women could own vehicles here, whether they could drive or not.

And if the re-migrant couple could list the Mook as closer to them than their own flesh-and-blood son, why wouldn’t they lend the Mook to use of the SUVs all the time ever since the vehicles landed in Guyana? What the heck would the re-migrants do with such vehicles in Berbice, anyway? Too much cow doo-doo on the roads. While those luxury SUV’s came equipped with snow tires, they weren’t equipped to handle cow doo-doo.

But what stuck Satiricus’ admiration when the Stabber finally carried the story was the headline: “GRA boss denies using re-migrant probe to retaliate against KN publisher”. Satiricus had heard about the “loaded” question. You know...where whether you answer “yes” or “no” you’re a goner. Like: “Have you stopped beating your wife??” See???

Satiricus wondered how could the “GRA boss” respond?? More to the point he wondered why his own Editor didn’t put such (loaded) headlines over his stories.

Chinese Ambassador said. Director of Medical and Professional Services of Georgetown Public Hospital and Surgery Consultant, Dr Sheik Amir, added that the size of the Chinese delegation has increased over the years. He commended the work of the current brigade, noting that he was im-

pressed with the way they were working.

Amir pointed out that the equipment donated covers areas beyond what the doctors in the Chinese brigade are specialised in. “A lot of the supplies do not necessarily fall into the area of the hospital services that we have the Chinese medi-

cal personnel in, so it’s just not where they are working, but it’s looking at the hospital as a whole and that, for me, is very significant,” he mentioned.

The equipment donated includes ophthalmic micro units, manual dermatome, embryocardia, and electric aspirator.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin handing over the Certificate of Donation to Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran in presence of GPHC CEO Michael Khan

Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran examining the equipment donated by the Chinese Government

Amerindians urged to preserve culture … as Heritage Month launched

nder the theme

U“Traditional Embodiment for Amerindian Development”, Amerindian Heritage Month was launched Monday evening at the Heritage Village, Sophia Exhibition Complex, during which the country’s indigenous people from all nine tribes were called upon to sustain their culture.

The call was made by Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai, who urged her fellow Amerindians to work in a cohesive manner to preserve their culture by proactively engaging in a wave of cultural enhancements. The Minister stated that already some Amerindian villages are placing much emphasis on the revival of their culture and heritage. She specifically made references to the languages, songs, and dances, noting that “increasingly we are raising the bar by believing in ourselves and recognising our “Amerindianness” as beautiful”. The Minister called on the Arawak and

potential for us to achieve a high point in cultural development,” she said.

The Amerindian Affairs Minister explained that indigenous people have been known as resilient, and, as such, she beseeched Amerindians to rediscover this trait so that they can develop themselves further and advance in all sectors in the country.

Proud people

She proudly stated that today Amerindians are walking the corridors of decisionmaking and enjoy vast opportunities; however, she warned that there was still much more to be done. “This does not mean that the stars have been attained, what it meant is that as we are provided with support, we owe it to ourselves to make the correct choices, to set and achieve our goals which will, in turn, serve to close existing gaps that challenges us,” the Minister noted.

“I encourage you to con-

disappointment that the programme could not see fruition since it was funded in the 2014 National Budget under the subject ministry, which the combined parliamentary Opposition voted down.

He continued by highlighting the many projects Government has invested in to ensure the development of Amerindians and their communities. The President spoke about the strides made in the educational sector, reflecting on late President Dr Cheddi Jagan’s vision to have every Guyanese educated in order to gain the best job opportunities available.

Ramotar also mentioned the active housing drive in the interior under the Low Income Housing Scheme initiative. He further stated that Government partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and implemented a pilot project, which saw some 208 families benefiting from housing projects in Regions One and

Warrau tribes to be more proactive in preserving their languages, as she pointed out that the loss of languages affects the individual identity of Amerindians.

“It must be underscored that if Guyana does nothing about saving the indigenous languages, we will, at some point in the future, cause a disservice to ourselves,” she stated. She assured that Government has remained steadfast by policies that seek to develop the lives of indigenous people and advance their culture.

Sukhai went on to say that international rights activists have blamed the loss of land for the erosion of indigenous culture and traditions; however, she pointed out that Amerindians in Guyana have the upper hand in this.

“If we follow this conclusion, then Guyana’s Amerindians’ strongest position for protecting and advancing culture remains in the hard facts that we command collective ownership over a sizeable land mass in Guyana and this, if used as a benchmark, offers great

tinue to exhale and unshackled the uncertainties and thereby remain proud Amerindians with values of working together for the common cause of a better place,” she encouraged.

In delivering the feature address, President Donald Ramotar said that in over two decades, Amerindians are now in a better place than they ever were. He said that Amerindian Heritage Month should be used as a time for reflection so that they can anticipate the challenges ahead as they navigate the path to better economic and social progress. The President also reiterated the sentiments of the Minister for the country’s indigenous people to ensure the preservation of their culture, specifically their various tribal languages. The President went on to praise the work of Amerindians in assisting Government to compile and publish a dictionary of Amerindian words and languages, and mentioned that the Amerindian language revival programme that Government had embarked on. However, he noted with

Bartica youth group denounces AFC’s no-confidence motion

Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG) has denounced the move by the Alliance For Change (AFC) to table a no-confidence motion against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.

On Tuesday, the BUYDG said snap elections would not solve the issues facing the people of Guyana. President of the group, Micah Williams said if the no-confidence motion is successfully debated and passed in the National Assembly, there is a high possibility that a Minority Government could return to power after elections are held. According to Williams, “cooperation” is the ingredient needed to move the country forward.

“How long more do the AFC, APNU [A Partnership for National Unity] and the PPP/C Government plan

Nine.

Also addressing the gathering was Chairman of the National Toshao Council, Derrick John, who spoke about vast transformation and developments happening in Amerindian communities across Guyana.

He noted that Amerindians always stood together in face of many challenges, and he called on them to continue working together for their betterment while at the same time being proud of their culture and heritage. John also echoed the need for Amerindians to preserve their culture and heritage.

During the launching ceremony, there were cultural presentations by various groups, including those from Masakenari, Moraikobai, Waramuri, Surama and Whyaka.

The launching of Heritage Month also saw Amerindians from across Guyana putting their art, craft, food, and many more items on display. The exhibition began on Tuesday and will run until Saturday from 10:00h daily. There will also be a cultural presentation every evening.

to work against each other?...How much more millions of taxpayers’ dollars the parties plan to spend on non-productive sittings in Parliament?”

Those were just a few of the many questions the local organisation asked in frustration over the current political climate which has resulted in several projects being stymied.

According to Williams the blame game should come to an end, as all of the political parties have failed in their promise to the people of Guyana.

It was pointed out that three years after winning the 2011 Elections, the PPP/C has failed to make good on its promise to create 2000 jobs in Linden, Region 10.

Damaging effect

The promise of hosting the long-awaited Local Government Elections and the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) are unresolved issues, Williams said.

Despite pledging to develop all sectors in Guyana, he said, the APNU and AFC have voted against projects such as the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project and the modernisation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) had also spoken against the no-confidence motion, contending that it could have a damaging effect on the nation’s economy.

“The PSC believes that it will be very unfortunate if such a motion is passed, as it would signal political instability to our foreign investors, financers, customers and suppliers. This will further increase the political risk premium added to the cost of capital when overseas funding is sought by private entities and can negatively impact our economy,” the Commission explained.

Like the BUYDG, the PSC opined that the political parties at the level of the National Assembly should work in the interest of Guyanese. Dialogue, compromise and patriotism are needed, the Commission stressed.

“This culture has been very much absent since our last general elections in 2011, as both sides of the house have exposed their limitations in dealing with such a dispensation. The calling for elections prematurely is signalling that only in a “winner-takes-all” environment can progress be made. This does not augur well for a plural society such as Guyana.”

On August 7, the AFC submitted the no-confidence motion against the Donald Ramotar Administration to the National Assembly. According to reports, the Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman has accepted the motion.

It is anticipated that the political parties in the House will debate the motion, when the parliamentary recess ends in October.

Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG) President Micah Williams

President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai and Human Services Minister Jenifer Webster join in the celebration at the launch of Amerindian Heritage Month

CH&PA investigating several housing scams

The Housing and Water Ministry on Tuesday warned against the illegal sale of land. According to the Housing Ministry, several scams have been unearthed in recent days, positing that investigations are currently being conducted.

It warned that persons who are involved in scams of this nature are equally culpable, since they have willingly participated in these illegal activities and must have known that the transactions could not have been authentic.

“We would like to urge the members of the public to report any case in which they would have paid or were requested to pay or enter into any transaction in relation to any business of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).”

Persons are being reminded that the Housing Authority is the only authorised agency responsible for the allocation and receipt

of payments with respect to house lots purchased from the Authority, for which official receipts are issued.

“No one is authorised to collect money for house lots on behalf of the Central Housing and Planning Authority. All transactions related to house lots are conducted at the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s offices. No official business with the

Authority is conducted in the field or at private premises,” the Ministry emphasised.

There, the transfer of any lot bought from the Housing Authority must be approved in keeping with the terms and conditions of the Agreement of Sale. Unauthorised or illegal transactions would not be recognised by the Housing Authority.

More fogging exercises to begin

today

… as Chikungunya fight intensifies

As the Chikungunya epidemic continues to ravage Guyana and the Caribbean, the Health Ministry’s Vector Control Department is intensifying efforts to combat the disease.

The Department is set to conduct several fogging exercises in different parts of Georgetown commencing today. The areas identified for fogging are Kingston, Cummingsburg, Lacytown, Bourda, Alberttown, Queenstown, Bel Air Park, Lamaha Gardens, Newtown, Campbellville, Kitty, Subryanville, Bel Air Gardens, Prashad Nagar, Bel Air, and Bel Air Springs.

These fogging exercises will be undertaken to terminate the adult mosquitoes which carry mosquito- borne diseases and will commence at 17:30h daily in the following areas and will be completed on Friday, September 5. A release from the Ministry said that “to ensure that the fogging exercise is most effective, residents in the targeted communities are reminded to open their windows to allow the fog mist into the buildings to kill the adult mosquitoes”.

Residents are also being asked to cover all drinking water and secure all food, both raw and cooked, to prevent possible contamination.

Chief Medical Officer

(CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud recently confirmed that Guyana has recorded a total of 76 cases of the Chikungunya disease from approximately 250 samples that were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago. The disease is not associated with a high fatality rate, as overall, there have been only three Chikungunyarelated deaths recorded in the Caribbean.

The CMO said that based on reports coming from health facilities across the country, there are 580 suspected cases. However, there may be milder forms

New $17M nursery school opens at Albion

Children on the Lower Corentyne on Monday commenced the new school year at the new Albion Front Nursery School.

The $17 million project officially came into use on the first day of the new school year. The new Albion Front Nursery School building officially opened its doors to students on Monday. For more than a decade, parents of students who attended that school when it was located at the Albion Sports Complex had been seeking to get a new building to house the students.

Head of the school, Vanda Crandon, explained that one of the main reasons for the new building is that the old building was too small. “We have more space,” she said. Currently, the school has in excess of 120 students. The former building catered for less than 100 students.

“The other building was smaller. We had no win-

dows and whenever there were activities at the Albion Sports Complex, school was disrupted: even though we would be in school, we couldn’t really [work], be-

cause the noise was too much,” the Headteacher said.

The Albion Front Nursery School’s new build-

ing was completed earlier this year. Students were scheduled to move from the old building at the beginning of January this year. However, the new structure was condemned by parents as inadequate and they made a 15-point list of demands before agreeing to let their children utilise the building. The demands were met except for the building of a bridge across a GuySuCo canal in the area. This would have given some students easier access to the school.

According to Region Six Chairman David Armogan, the administration spent millions of dollars to upgrade roads leading to the nursery school, which can accommodate 150 students. “I am very glad that the controversy which surrounded that school since its inception has now been resolved and we can now use the school for the purpose for which it was built.

Tradesman accused of intent to commit felony

Nof the disease in some areas. Some of the samples sent to CARPHA are still to be tested (the laboratory conducts testing for other Caribbean countries as well). While the prevalence of Chikungunya has been more pronounced in Regions Six and Five and to some extent, Region Four, there have been three reported cases in Region 10, but these are associated with travelling, not active transmission.

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is also known to spread viruses such as dengue and yellow fever.

ineteen-year-old Omar Williams appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday before Magistrate Judy Latchman to answer to intent to commit a felony charge.

He was allegedly found waiting for an opportunity to commit a felony, that is to say he was found waiting with a toy gun to commit a robbery under arm offence on August 30 at London Street, Georgetown.

Williams, of Lot 177 Albouystown, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was represented by Attorney Mark Conway, who requested that his client be released on self-bail or reasonable bail.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant had no objections to bail, and the defendant was granted $30,000 bail. Williams is expected to return to court on September 10 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Carpenter jailed for stealing wood spray

A38-year-old carpenter was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to a simple larceny charge on Tuesday afternoon at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Magistrate Judy Latchman read the charge, which stated that on September 1 at 173 Sheriff Street, Georgetown, Juman Narine stole one wood spray valued $1595, property of Survival Supermarket.

According to the facts of the matter, on the day in question, Narine entered the

store and was seen by the security guard picking up the wood spray and putting it into his pocket.

The security confronted him when he exited the supermarket and told him of the offence after which the Police came and arrested him. In Narine’s defence, he told the court that he was drunk and was not fully aware of his actions.

With this, Police Prosecutor Michael Grant said the bottle of wood spray is at the Police Station. Narine was then sentenced.

Students seen relaxing in their new school building

Headteacher Vanda Crandon

The Health Ministry’s Vector Control Services Unit carrying out a fogging exercise

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali

RGI Announcer, NEW GPC INC cop GBCHA awards

Radio Guyana Inc (RGI) Announcer

Richard Pitman and the NEW GPC INC last Friday copped separate awards when the Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/ AIDS hosted their annual awards ceremony at the Pegasus Hotel.

Pitman’s award was in honour of his outstanding work in the media to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and the reduction of stigma and discrimination, while the Farm, East Bank Demerara-based NEW GPC’s award lauded its efforts in the fight against the pandemic at the workplace.

Pitman told Guyana Times that he was elated to win the award after only being an announcer at Radio

tives of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) who provided very vital information to the pub-

nity. Companies and individuals were awarded for programmes conducted in workplaces and communi-

Scotiabank received two Awards for the Community Investment and Workplace Programme Categories. Jannis London of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited and Richard Pitman of Radio Guyana Inc were honoured for Advocacy and Leadership and Media Action respectively. Other companies which received commendation were ANSA McAL, King’s Jewellery World, and NEW GPC INC.

Dr Nicole Giles, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, in brief remarks, praised the work of the GBCHA in the fight against HIV/AIDS and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). “I have come to respect and admire GBCHA’s mission and dedi-

mended the GBCHA for the successes achieved through its “strategic partnerships”, and urged that the model be

Guyana Inc for just six months. “It is certainly an encouragement to keep using my voice to highlight the topics that will serve to inform the public about health problems affecting our country.”

Pitman said Radio

Guyana Inc has given him the privilege of connecting with thousands of people daily which provides a platform for interaction and feedback. “I have interviewed several representa-

lic as it relates to HIV/AIDs and I’d like to thank the organisation for the nomination and GBCHA for the award. I believe that our health is very important and we should make every effort to live a healthy life daily,” Pitman said.

In a statement, the GBCHA said the annual event was organised to promote the unique and vital contributions made towards health and wellness by the business commu-

ties, which address HIV and other health and wellness issues like cancer, tuberculosis, healthy diets, and gender-based violence.

In addition to Pitman, awards were presented to Edward B Beharry and Company Ltd for the Workplace Programme and their Peer Educator Rohini Ramkumar. Jaunelle Marks of Guyana Revenue Authority received honourable mention in the Peer Educator Category.

cation to support the national programme to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS, and have been impressed by their innovative approach to a complex issue,” Dr Giles said.

She also highlighted the continued support given by Canadian-based companies like Scotiabank, Guyana Goldfields, and Guyana Lottery Company in community investment efforts.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran also com-

followed to deal with chronic illnesses. Dr Ramsaran encouraged partners to join the efforts of the Coalition and emphasised the need for the organisation to continue to reach out to the Health Ministry as GBCHA broadens its mandate.

Also present at the event were Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster; US Embassy Charge D’Affaires Brian Hunt; Centre of Disease Control, Dr Yoran Green, Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) Dereck Springer, and other international and local partners. Veteran broadcaster and Merundoi Executive Director Margaret Lawrence chaired the programme, and patrons were entertained by Classique Dance Company and Candace Field.

RGI Announcer Richard Pitman (left) receives his award from Banks DIH Media Manager Troy Peters

Olivia Brown receives the certificate on behalf of the NEW GPC

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles delivering remarks at the ceremony

The awardees are all smiles after collecting their plaques

Regional

Tourist wins settlement after “nightmare” holiday in The Dominican Republic

In October 2009, a British tourist’s dream holiday in The Dominican Republic turned into a nightmare when he fell seriously ill just five days into a two-week stay at the four-star Bahia Principe Hotel in San Juan.

Mark Bidwell, a builder from Bristol, suffered diarrhoea, abdominal pain and lethargy during what was intended to be a relaxing getaway with his pregnant partner Nicola Greathurst before the birth of their first child.

Bidwell, 33, also experienced weight loss as a result of falling ill at the four-star hotel, and claims he is suffering ongoing health problems. According to Bidwell: “The holiday was a nightmare for both of us. The food was awful and we have both been put off travelling to The Dominican Republic ever again.

Dominica to experiment with virtual currency

Dominica is poised to become a cryptocurrency community and other Caribbean countries, like Antigua and Barbuda may want to get in on the action.

Digital currency company Bitcoin is launching a campaign called “Let the Bit Drop” in Dominica in March of 2015. The campaign will give 70,000 Dominicans a specified number of Bitcoins via their mobile phones to spend however they wish. The decentralised form of payment can be traded for regular currency, or spent online.

vices, just as they would with “real” money. It functions based a sophisticated mathematical algorithm. Each user that signs up for a Bitcoin wallet is issued an address and becomes part of the network.

All Bitcoin transactions are entered into a shared public ledger called a block chain allowing users to keep track of their spendable balance and verify new transactions. It also ensures that the entire supply of Bitcoins remains within the network.

“I feel as though my life has completely changed and it will never be the same again,” he added. Bidwell sued

“I regret ever staying at the hotel. It was a terrible experience for us and I am still suffering the consequences today as I am still experiencing ongoing symptoms.

tour operator Thomas Cook, and last week, a fortnight before the case was to go to trial, a £20,000 pay out was agreed. Ms Greathurst received a sum of money from Thomas Cook at an earlier date.

Tough task to fix operations at local lock-ups, says Jamaican Govt

The Jamaican Government says it’s facing significant challenges in its efforts to satisfy international human rights standards in the operation of Jamaica’s lock-ups and correctional facilities.

The National Security Ministry made the admission in a statement this afternoon, while updating the country on the work of a committee formed in the aftermath of Mario Deane’s controversial death in custody last month.

The committee was established on August 18, 12 days after Deane was brutally beaten under disputed circumstances at the Barnett Street lock-up in St James. He was detained for possession of a ganja spliff.

The Office of the Prime Minister said the 20-member committee was tasked with developing a strategic response to the issue of treatment of persons in lockups and correctional facilities.

However, the National

Security Ministry has now indicated that getting the job done is not going to be easy. National Security Minister Peter Bunting listed three major hurdles he claims are affecting the work of the committee to bring Jamaica’s detention system up to international standards.

The problems include what he calls outdated physical infrastructure of the lock-ups and prisons, inherited from when Jamaica was colony. (Excerpt from Jamaica Gleaner)

Brazil squanders oil bonanza even as Rousseff declares victory

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has put her Government’s oil policies front and centre in her re-election campaign.

TV ads show dramatic views of giant, floating oil platforms and new refineries under construction. The message: her leftist Government is turning an offshore oil bonanza into schools, hospitals and jobs, propelling Brazil into the ranks of developed nations.

But there’s a problem. Brazil’s oil industry may be large and growing, but little of what Rousseff promised when elected in 2010 – or be-

fore then as Energy Minister or Chairwoman of state-run energy giant Petrobras –has come to pass.

Instead, industry experts and Rousseff’s election rivals say her policies have led to stagnant oil output, increased dependence on imports and waning investor confidence despite Brazil’s huge potential.

“When Dilma talks of oil she talks of success, of patriotic destiny, but she’s failed to deliver,” said John Foreman, a former Director of the ANP, Brazil’s oil industry regulator. “She’s delivered very little consider-

ing all the money spent.”

Oil nationalism runs deep in Brazil and Petrobras is a source of pride so Rousseff’s campaign has sought to tap into that, focusing on Brazil’s potential as an oil giant.

Realising that potential, however, has proven difficult. Despite more than US$200 billion in investment since 2009, output at Petrobras, responsible for nearly 80 per cent of Brazil’s oil production, has fallen in the last two years and was stagnant in the previous three. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Relative of PM Gaston Browne shot to death

Prime Minister Gaston

20:45h

night while

Albert

Bitcoin is a type of virtual currency that allows people to trade money for digital tender and exchange it online for goods and ser-

Local technology enthusiast and proprietor of Pegasus Technologies, Yves Ephraim, noted that the thrust Bitcoin has seen could lead to countries adopting it as a national currency in future.

Nicaragua miners: Search for missing men suspended

Rescue teams in Nicaragua have suspended their efforts to locate seven men trapped by a cave-in at a gold mine on Thursday. Government officials said that a new landslide has made it unsafe for the rescue work to proceed.

Twenty-two men survived the accident with minor injuries.

The El Comal mine was closed, but freelance miners had ignored safety warnings and continued to dig for gold underground. The cave-in happened under heavy rain on Thursday morning near Bonanza, a town 420km (260 miles) North-east of the capital Managua.

Two men managed to dig themselves out of the rubble hours later and 20 others were pulled out alive by rescue teams. But another landslide on Sunday night led to the suspension of the search for the seven missing men.

“The experts had to accept that it was impossible to carry on with the search,” said Nicaragua’s First Lady and Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo.

“Continuing with the work would mean risking the lives of so many people,” she added. The mine was previously operated by Hemco, the Nicaraguan subsidiary of Colombian miner Mineros SA. Hemco said it had condemned the area where the miners became trapped after inspectors recently found it to be unsafe. (Excerpt from BCC News)

St Lucia and New Zealand sign geothermal energy contract

St Lucia has signed a contract with New Zealand that it says will help define the prospects for advancing geothermal development on the island.

times in Boobey Alley, residents on the scene reported. The dead teen’s father said his son, who is the 10th person killed so far this year, went to the area about an hour before being shot to death.

I heard the shots. I got up and went to check, and saw him lying on the ground in the alley. He never said anything to me,” the father reported.

“I came over to Point after him and was sitting around the corner near the alley when

He said his son was shot in the chest, and he had no idea who did it or why. The teen resided in Villa with his father. (Antigua Observer)

Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology Minister, Dr James Fletcher signed a Geothermal Support Partnership Framework Agreement with New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully, on the sidelines of the Third International Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference now underway in Somoa.

“The Partnership Agreement is designed to

provide key technical assistance to support geothermal exploration, and help define the prospects for advancing geothermal development in St Lucia.

“The Agreement is also designed to support training opportunities in geothermal energy through New Zealand Development Scholarships, and facilitate where possible, practical skills development opportu-

nities,” according to an official statement. It said the agreement represents the culmination of a series of discussions between the two countries “on the advancement of geothermal development, which is a critical component of the Government’s plans to transition St Lucia away from its dependence on expensive diesel fuel for the generation of electricity”.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360 )

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Gran Bahia Principe Ambar, Punta Cana, The Dominican Republic

The miners were approximately 200 metres (650 feet) underground when the cave-in happened

Browne’s 18-year-old nephew was gunned down at about

on Monday

hanging out with friends in the Point area.

“Pressureman” Browne, son of Glen Browne was shot multiple

Islamic State ‘beheads second US journalist’

The Islamic State has released a video of the purported murder of the US journalist Steven Sotloff, days after his mother pleaded with the group’s leader to spare his life.

The armed group released the video what it said was the 31-year-old’s death on Tuesday. Internet monitors who have seen the video confirmed its content. Sotloff had been held hostage in Syria by the group since August 2013.

In the new video the group also threatened to kill another captive David Cawthorne Haines, a Briton. A US spokeswoman said Washington was trying to authenticate the “sickening” footage. British Prime Minister David Cameron

said it depicted an “absolutely disgusting, despicable act.”

The death comes two weeks after the group released a video showing the murder of James Foley, an-

other US journalist, which a masked member of the Islamic State claims was revenge for US attacks on its fighters in Iraq.

In that video, Sotloff was pictured, with the fighter saying his life depended on US President Barack Obama’s next move.

The killer appears to be the same man in both videos – a British-accented man dressed in black fatigues and balaclava. Internet monitors who have viewed both videos said that Sotloff’s hair was longer in the second.

Less than a week ago, Sotloff’s mother, Shirley, directly addressed the group’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in an appeal for his release less than a week ago.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Acid victims’ photo shoot draws attention in India

Afashion photo shoot featuring five victims of acid attacks is drawing wide attention in India. While the country keeps no official statistics on acid attacks, there are regular reports in the media of attackers targeting victims to disfigure or blind them, often because of spurned sexual advances.

The 41 photos show 22-year-old Rupa and four

friends laughing and striking playful poses while wearing some of her fashion designs.

“I told them to be natural. I didn’t do any makeup or editing. I told them, you look beautiful and you have to be the way you are,” said the photographer, Rahul Saharan, who volunteers with the Stop Acid Attacks charity and is working on a documentary about acid vic-

tims. “They are very confident, so it was not too hard for me.”

The photos have been shared widely since being posted Aug. 8 on the Facebook page run by the group, and have also been picked up by TV stations and newspapers.

The joy and confidence the five women display defy the horrific stories they tell. Rupa’s face was doused with acid when she was 15 years old by a stepmother unwilling to pay her marriage expenses. The wedding was called off. The photo shoot has brought in funding that will enable her dream of opening a boutique to come true.

Laxmi, now 22, was also 15 when she was attacked by her brother’s 32-year-old friend after she refused his marriage proposal. Earlier this year, US first lady Michelle Obama presented her with the International Women of Courage Award for campaigning against such attacks. (Excerpt from MSN)

Landmine kills four UN soldiers, wounds 15 in northern Mali

Four United Nations soldiers were killed on Tuesday and a further 15 were wounded when the convoy they were travelling in struck a landmine in an area of northern Mali where attacks are on the rise, a spokesman for the country’s UN mission said.

The contingent had left a UN base in the town of Aguelhok and were traveling south when the blast occurred at around noon local time (08:00h EDT), about

30 km (19 miles) North of Kidal, the spokesman said.

He had earlier said the convoy was travelling North from Kidal when it struck the mine. “The toll is four dead and 15 wounded, including six very seriously,” Olivier Salgado told Reuters. “This is only a provisional toll because we do not know what will happen with six of the very seriously wounded.”

Salgado said the mission, known by its acronym

Around the world

Ukraine conflict: UN says 1 million people have fled

More than a million people have left their homes because of the escalating conflict in eastern Ukraine, a UN official says. In the past three weeks alone, the number of people displaced inside Ukraine itself has doubled to at least 260,000, according to the UN’s Vincent Cochetel in Geneva.

Another 814,000 people have crossed the border into Russia this year, he says.

Pro-Russian rebels have been fighting Ukrainian

forces since April.

Separatists in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.

Since the violence erupted, some 2600 people have been killed and thousands more wounded. The city of Luhansk has been under siege by Government forces for the past month and is without proper supplies of food and water.

But the Ukrainian army has been forced to retreat

as pro-Russian rebels gain ground, and said they had withdrawn from the city’s airport after coming under attack from “Russian tanks”. Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said sappers had blown up the airport’s runway so that it could not be used by rebel forces. Rebels have also advanced in Donetsk region, around the city of Donetsk and further South near the port of Mariupol. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ebola response lethally inadequate, says MSF

Aglobal military in-

tervention is needed to curb the largest ever Ebola outbreak, according to the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.

In a damning criticism of world leaders, it says the global response has so far been “lethally inadequate”.

The charity said countries were turning their back on West Africa and merely reducing the risk of Ebola arriving on their shores. More than 1550 people have died in the outbreak which started in Guinea.

At least 3000 people have been infected with the virus, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that more than 20,000 people are likely to be infected.

In a speech to the United Nations, the international president of MSF, Dr Joanne Liu, said repeated calls for help had been ignored. She said: “Six months into the worst Ebola epidemic in history, the world is losing the battle to contain it.

“Leaders are failing to come to grips with this

transnational threat.

“The WHO announcement on August 8 that the epidemic constituted a ‘public health emergency of international concern’ has not led to decisive action, and states have essentially joined a global coalition of inaction.”

MSF said military and civilian teams capable of dealing with a biological disaster were needed immediately as the spread of Ebola “will not be prevented without a massive deployment”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Canada, China quietly hold toplevel meeting on strained ties

MINUSMA, was investigating the incident but could not immediately say who was responsible for the attack.

The soldiers were part of a contingent from Chad, said a UN official who asked not to be named. UN peacekeepers continue to be targeted in sporadic attacks despite a successful French-led intervention last year that drove back Islamists who had taken advantage of a separatist uprising to seize Mali’s desert North. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Senior officials from Canada and China met quietly in Ottawa last week to discuss relations that have deteriorated so badly that they could threaten Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s planned visit to China in November.

Canada sees China as an important trading partner and in early 2012 Harper went to Beijing to pitch the idea of Canada as a potential oil supplier. The closeness of the ties are in question after two high-profile

incidents.

In late July, Canada accused Chinese hackers of being responsible for an attack on a Government computer. In early August, China detained a Canadian couple, Kevin Garratt and Julia Dawn Garratt, on suspicion of spying.

A statement posted on the Chinese embassy’s website said a delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang met a series of senior Canadian officials for talks on August 26.

“The two sides exchanged views on China-Canada relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern,” the statement said.

Canadian officials had not mentioned the meeting to reporters.

The embassy and the office of Foreign Minister John Baird were not immediately available for comment. A spokesman for Harper, who flew to Europe on Tuesday, did not respond to a request for comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Islamic State ‘beheads second US journalist’

Nurses helping man with Ebola

In this August 4 photo provided by Rahul Saharan, Indian acid attack victim Laxmi, 22, poses during a fashion photo shoot in New Delhi, India

wednesdAY, september 3, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

Guyana to participate in Caricom consumer protection drive

Guyana is participating in the timely move by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) as it moves towards the promotion of a rapid consumer protection alert system throughout Caricom member states.

During an in-country promotion and sensitisation session on Tuesday stakeholders were informed that the move was timely and much needed throughout the Region. The Caricom Rapid Alert System on the Exchange of Information on Dangerous (non-food) Consumer Goods, CARREX, is a major initiative aimed at protecting consumers via quick and efficient information-sharing on harmful products in the market.

At today’s session, Executive Director of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Evadnie Innis focused on the issue which she described as critical for the Region. Innis, speaking on behalf of the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry, as well as the GNBS, pointed out that standardisation would play a critical role in the process, since this is the benchmark against which quality and safety of goods will be measured.

“The timeliness of this initiative cannot be overemphasised,” she noted, pointing to the period of globalisation and free market which currently exists around the world. Innis observed that with the wide trade of goods, it is the onus of the country into which these goods are

traded to ensure that the goods are good.

She noted that the freemarket and conventions to which countries are signatory, prevent countries from setting up technical barriers to trade. As a result, justifiable reasons have to be found to prevent certain products from entering countries, as such, standards have to be used.

“When you are going to make judgment, standards must play a role, because that is the benchmark against which those goods will be measured,” she declared.

Regarding the testing of goods, a verifiable means should be found through which proof could be provided of bad products. Innis pointed to a proposal by the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry for a national state of the art laboratory for this purpose. She stated that a consultant is

currently working to determine whether Guyana needs such a laboratory accredited to ISO 17025 to conduct testing. She is hopeful that such a laboratory would be put in place to conduct tests for which results would not be questioned since the laboratory would be accredited to international standards. This she noted would help Guyana to protect consumers against bad products which have entered the international market.

Innis also observed that consumer education would be needed and noted that this would be done in part through social media to make the system effective. She cautioned about dumping which is conducted by some companies and products end up in the Region. Innis also expressed concern about Guyana’s open borders which could allow unsafe products into the coun-

try. CARREX focuses on the development of a comprehensive framework, including a computer based platform for the administration of a regional information exchange and response system. It is aimed at strengthening Member States’ market surveillance capabilities in the respect of non-food, non pharmaceuticals which pose a serious risk to consumers’ health and safety.

The clearing house for information will be the Caricom Secretariat and is designed as a web-based portal for information sharing among national consumer protection agencies and other related bodies. National contact points from respective member states are expected to use the system and interface with their counterparts as they send and receive alerts regarding unsafe items that may be in the market.

Meanwhile, Consumer Health and Safety Officer, Hilda Kelshall of the CSME in Barbados pointed to the importance of today’s seminar. She noted that it is aimed to operationalise and activate the CARREX system in the Caricom member states by providing national contact points and national authorities full access to the network. It would also raise public awareness through national consultations with all stakeholders and sharing information through the media so that Caricom nationals would become fully sensitised and better informed about the CARREX. (GINA)

World Bank to hike climate disaster assistance to small islands

The World Bank Group has announced that it will increase its support for disaster and climate resilient development in small island developing states from US$145 million per year to about US$190 million and work with partners towards a Small Island States Resilience Initiative.

The initiative is designed to serve the unique needs of small islands with tailored

technical expertise and funding to build resilience and deal with the impacts of climate change. It builds

Overtopping at the Georgetown sea wall

on the World Bank Group’s existing small islands programme, and is about finding ways to cut through the red tape.

The announcement was made during the UN Conference on Small Island Developing States, taking place in Apia, Samoa. Making the announcement in Apia on Tuesday, Rachel Kyte, World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change, said, “As some of the most threatened people and places on the planet, small island nations are stepping up

their efforts to deal with climate change. This Initiative is designed to address the specific needs of small islands and make it easier, faster, and simpler to access funding to deal with resilience and climate change.”

The Small Island States Resilience Initiative is a response to requests of island leaders who have asked the international community for increased and improved assistance in the face of mounting disasters and climate change – which stifle growth prospects and can sometimes threaten their

Ebola outbreak puts harvests at risk in West Africa

... food prices shoot up

Disruptions in food trade and marketing in the three West African countries most affected by Ebola have made food increasingly expensive and hard to come by, while labour shortages are putting the upcoming harvest season at serious risk, FAO warned today.

In Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, quarantine zones and restrictions on people’s movement aimed at combating the spread of the virus, although necessary, have seriously curtailed the movement and marketing of food.

This has lead to panic buying, food shortages and significant food price hikes on some commodities, especially in urban centres, according to a special alert issued today by FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS).

At the same time, the main harvest season for two key crops – rice and maize –is just weeks away. Labour shortages on farms due to movement restrictions and migration to other areas will seriously impact farm production, jeopardising the food security of large numbers of people, the alert says.

Generally adequate rains during the 2014 cropping season had previously pointed to likely favourable harvests in the main Ebola-affected countries. But now food production – the areas most affected by the outbreak are among the most productive in Sierra Leone and Liberia – stands to be seriously scaled back.

Market the price of cassava went up 150 per cent within the first weeks of August.

“Even prior to the Ebola outbreak, households in some of the affected areas were spending up to 80 percent of their incomes on food,” said Vincent Martin, Head of FAO’s Dakar-based Resilience Hub, which is coordinating the agency’s response. “Now these latest price spikes are effectively putting food completely out of their reach. This situation may have social repercussions that could lead to subsequent impact on the disease containment.”

The depreciation of national currencies in Sierra Leone and Liberia in recent months is expected to exert further upward price pressure on imported food commodities.

very existence.

Two thirds of the countries with the highest disaster losses relative to GDP are small island states – with average annual losses between one and nine per cent of GDP. These averages hide extremes – sometimes a single disaster can overwhelm an island’s entire economy. Losses of this magnitude are an enormous burden on a country’s budget and fiscal position, with serious consequences for growth and development prospects.

In addition, island nations often have to deal with fragmented donor support that creates an unnecessary burden on government capacity. Samoa, for example, is currently managing 14 different projects on climate and disaster resilience. The Solomon Islands is managing 22. “Our hope is that this Initiative will help pool donor resources available now, reduce transaction costs, allow for economies of scale across countries, and, above all, lay the ground work for direct country access to global climate funds,” said Kyte.

Likewise, production of cash crops like palm oil, cocoa and rubber – on which the livelihoods and food purchasing power of many families depend – is expected to be seriously affected. “Access to food has become a pressing concern for many people in the three affected countries and their neighbours,” said Bukar Tijani, FAO Regional Representative for Africa.

“With the main harvest now at risk and trade and movements of goods severely restricted, food insecurity is poised to intensify in the weeks and months to come. The situation will have longlasting impacts on farmers’ livelihoods and rural economies,” he added.

Major spikes in food prices

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are all net cereal importers, with Liberia being the most reliant on external supplies. The closure of some border crossings and the isolation of border areas where the three countries intersect – as well as reduced trade from seaports, the main conduit for large-scale commercial imports – are resulting in tighter supplies and sharply increasing food prices. In Monrovia, Liberia, a recently conducted rapid market assessment indicates that prices of some food items have increased rapidly – for example, in Monrovia’s Redlight

Response efforts To meet short-term food relief needs, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a regional emergency operation targeting some 65,000 tonnes of food to 1.3 million people. At the same time, FAO’s special alert says that “rapid assessments are required to identify the type of measures that are feasible to mitigate the impact of labour shortages during the harvesting period and for related post-harvest activities.” And measures to revive internal trade are essential to ease supply constraints and mitigate further food price increases, it notes. Preventing further loss of human life and stopping the spread of the virus remain the top priorities at this time. FAO has joined the coordinated UN effort to support affected countries, is in daily communication with WHO and other key actors, and has personnel in West Africa aiding technical and logistical efforts.

It is critical that rural communities understand which practices pose the highest risks of human-to-human transmission as well as the potential spill-over from wildlife. Toward that end, FAO has activated its networks of local animal health clubs, community animal health workers, producer organisations, forestry contacts and agriculture extension and rural radio services to help UNICEF and WHO communicate risk to affected populations.

FAO Regional Representative for Africa, Bukar Tijani

Rachel Kyte, World Bank Group Vice President

Executive Director of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Evadnie Innis speaks to stakeholders about the Caricom Rapid Alert System on the Exchange of Information on Dangerous (non-food) Consumer Goods, CARREX

Major regional tourism confab opens today in Barbados

More than 100 delegates are expected to attend a two-day international conference that will open today in Barbados to discuss the importance of the tourism industry as an essential element of socio-economic stability in the Region.

The September 3-4 22nd Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High-Level Authorities of Tourism will bring together representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean and is the first time it will be held in an English-speaking Caribbean for more than two decades.

“It brings together ministers and high level tourism authorities from the hemisphere as well as representatives from the private sector and civil society. It is one of the oldest instruments for tourism cooperation and constitutes the principal forum for hemispheric dialogue and the formulation of tourism pol-

icy in the Americas,” said a Barbados Government statement.

It said that the Congress serves as a platform for the exchange of experiences and best practices to strengthen communication between Government agencies and the private sector and to consider technical cooperation proposals to support member states in their efforts to

Haiti launches cholera vaccination campaign

Haiti launched a cholera vaccination campaign last week that seeks to reach 200,000 people in three departments. The campaign is being led by the Health and Population Ministry (MSPP) with support from the United Nations and a coalition of strategic partners, including the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO).

The campaign has financing from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and is using vaccines from a global stockpile created at the request of the 2011 World Health Assembly as a tool to help control cholera outbreaks worldwide. WHO serves as secretariat for the global stockpile, which is also supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Doctors without Borders, and UNICEF.

Last week’s campaign was carried out in Artibonite (Gonaives and Ennery), Central (Lascahobas, Saut d’Eau, Savanette and Mirebalais), and West (Arcahaie) departments, which are considered highrisk zones. A second phase is planned for mid-September to deliver a second dose of the vaccine.

“Preventing and controlling cholera transmission is a priority and requires sanitation and hygiene meas-

ures,” said PAHO/WHO Representative in Haiti JeanLuc Poncelet. “Vaccination is one more tool in the fight against this disease.”

The vaccination campaign complements efforts by Haitian health authorities to improve access to safe water and sanitation, promote hand washing, and encourage community participation in cholera prevention. “The long-term goal is to eliminate cholera from Haiti,” said Poncelet. From January to August of this year, Haiti reported 7718 cholera cases, a significant decline from the same period in 2013.

For the current campaign, PAHO/WHO provided strategic support for Haiti to purchase, warehouse and distribute cholera vaccines and to finance, train and equip 370 vaccination teams made up of 1222 health workers and community agents led by 145 departmental supervisors. PAHO/WHO, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Haitian Institute for Statistics and Information will undertake an evaluation of the campaign. PAHO, founded in 1902, is the oldest international public health organisation in the world. It works with its member countries to improve the health and the quality of life of the people of the Americas. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of WHO.

More than 748 million people lack access to potable water – World Bank

Water is needed in almost all energy generation processes, from hydropower production and energy extraction, to cooling in thermal power plants. At the same time, the water sector needs energy to extract, treat and transport water.

These inextricable connections between water and energy – and how best to manage them for the benefit of the poor – will be the focus of this year’s World Water Week, the annual focal point for the globe’s water issues.

develop the tourism sector.

The two-day Congress will be held under the theme “ Tourism Competitiveness: An Essential Element of Sustainability” and will allow delegates to discuss matters including tourism and inter-sectoral linkages, sustainable destination management as well as the importance of tourism infrastructure.

“Today the process of urbanization, decentralisation of the nation state, addressing the challenge of fragility of nations, linkages into challenges of energy for all or food security – all of these development challenges will require us to understand how to manage water in global and inter-sectoral contexts,” said Junaid Ahmad, Senior Director, Water, World Bank Group.

More than 748 million people lack access to potable water, 2.5 billion lack access

to sanitation, and over 1.2 billion people lack access to electricity. Geographically, most of those living in water poverty are the same people who live in energy poverty. They are among the world’s poorest people and the most underserved in basic services.

“One statistic that challenges me every day in my job is the fact that, with business as usual, the number of Africans without access to electricity will grow,” said Anita George, Senior Director, Energy and Extractives, World Bank Group. “With the scale of unmet need for electricity and the mounting water scarcity facing countries, we need to focus on areas where water and energy meet – ensuring sustainable hydropower, reducing harmful energy subsidies, and improving wastewater treatment and management.”

Water constraints have already adversely impacted the energy sector in many parts of the world. In the United States and Europe,

power plants have had to temporarily shutdown or reduce electricity generation due to low water flows or high water temperatures.

Despite these concerns, current energy planning and production is often made without taking into account existing and future water constraints. Earlier this year, the water and energy units of the World Bank jointly launched the Thirsty Energy Initiative to promote more sustainable management of water and energy resources in our work with governments throughout the world. With the energy sector as an entry point, Thirsty Energy quantifies tradeoffs and identifies synergies between water and energy resource management. It is these types of crosscutting solutions that are critical for developing innovative technical tools and approaches and policy-oriented guidance to help countries develop and manage their energy and water resources in a sustainable way.

A man receiving treatment for cholera in Haiti

Barbados Tourism Minister Richard Sealy and OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza in Washington (OAS Photo/Maria Patricia Leiva)

Let cricketers run cricket – Basil Butcher

Former West Indies

middle order batsman

Basil Boucher is calling on Government to leave the administration of cricket in the hands of those who have on field experience.

The 80-year-old Butcher made the comment in the presence President Donald Ramotar. “Mr President we want the cricket to run right. Let cricketers run the cricket and let the other people go to where they want to go to,” he said.

Boucher who played 44 tests and scored 3,104 runs was at the time a guest of honour as the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) honoured several past and present test players and cricket administrators.

“I hope that President Ramotar will look at the situation in Guyana with our cricket.

"If our cricket is going good the Government is going good and if the Government is going good our cricket is going well,” he said.

President Ramotar said that his Government will continue to support the development of cricket and alluded to the large sums which are being spent on developing community grounds countrywide.

The President, him-

Tendulkar autobiography on November 6

Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography, Playing It My Way, will be released in the UK on November 6. Tendulkar retired in November 2013, bringing an end to a 24-year international career during which he became the highest runscorer and century-maker in Tests and ODIs.

“I knew that agreeing to write my story would need me to be completely honest, as that’s the way I have

always played the game,” Tendulkar said. “It would require talking about a number of aspects I have not shared in public before.

“So here I am, at the end of my final innings, having taken that last walk back to the pavilion, ready to recount as many incidents as I can remember since first picking up a cricket bat as a child in Mumbai thirty-five years ago.” (Cricinfo)

self an ardent cricket fan, stressed the need for corporate Guyana to support cricket. He noted that cricket is part of the nation’s life.

Re-emphasizing the importance of cricket to Guyanese, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie

Ramsammy noted that cricket to Guyana is as rice or sugar.

Culture Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony called on current players to develop a passion for the game as did players of the past.

“Take a page out of the page out of the past when people played because of the passion of cricket and not because of money,” he urged.

The administration of cricket in Guyana has been making headlines since 2013.

The lack of a Bill that adequately deals with the administration of the game is the key issue.

President Ramotar in June said he is ready to sign the recently passed Cricket Administration Bill into law.

“I am going to sign the Bill as soon as it comes on my desk.

"If there is any kind of joint agreement by anyone in the place they can do an amendment if they want but we are going to sign the bill into law.

"We are going to move ahead with our legislation,” he had told the media.

However, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has expressed serious reservations that the Bill, which was passed in the National Assembly in May, would thrust the administration of cricket in Guyana from an independent body to the Government of Guyana. The WICB had viewed as undesirable and inconsistent with International Cricket Council (ICC) tenets.

US Open 2014… Peng Shuai beats Bencic to reach semis

China’s Peng Shuai reached her first Grand Slam semifinal with a dominant 6-2 6-1 victory over Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic.

The 28-year-old world number 39 played a superb opening set, breaking her 17-year-old opponent twice.

She broke Bencic, ranked 59 in the world, again in the second game of the second set as she eased to victory.

Peng will face either 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki or 13th seed Sara Errani in the last four.

Bencic, who beat sixth seed Angelique Kerber and ninth seed Jelena Jankovic on her way to the last eight, had two break points in the third game of the match.

But Peng saved those, broke for the first time to go 3-1 up and continued to

put pressure on her opponent with better serving and movement.

Bencic was broken twice in succession at the

start of the second set and was also given a violation for coaching.

As the Swiss player’s composure left her, Peng

continued to play solidly and another error by Bencic allowed her to wrap up the match in 64 minutes. (BBC Sport)

President Donald Ramotar

Basil Butcher

Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography will come out a year after his final Test

China’s Peng Shuai reached her first Grand Slam semi-final

Senior Inter-County cricket…

Evans eager to recapture one-day title

− urges Berbice youngsters to make full use of opportunity

B y R ajiv B isnauth

Berbice Senior Cricket Coach

Hubern Evans on Tuesday expressed his

confidence that the County can reclaim the senior Inter-County one-day title despite the absence of Test players Devendra Bishoo, Assad Fudadin and Sewnarine Chattergoon from the line-up.

Bishoo and Fudadin, along with Essequibo pacer Ronsford Beaton and

National Captain Leon Johnson, left for a onemonth camp in Barbados with the West Indies ‘A’ team as they prepare to tour Sri Lanka next month. Chattergoon was over looked by the selectors. The Berbicians re -

linquished the title to Demerara in the last tournament, but Evans says his squad is not short of talent and feels that his charges are primed to succeed in the tournament.

Goal

“Our realistic goal is to reclaim the title,” Evans outlined.

He added “We will definitely missed Bishoo and Fudadin but we have a bunch of good guys who are keen and excited on participating in this tournament and are keen on winning the tournament”.

Evans stated that with the deficiency of the trio it will give the county’s tal -

ented young players an opportunity to showcase their talent.

“They are a number of youngsters who are knocking at the door and with a few of them in the squad it’s an opportunity they must make it count. It’s an opportunity for them to come out and prove themselves and showcase their

talent,” Evans expressed.

Berbice will be spearheaded by Test players Captain Narsingh Deonarine and his deputy Veerasammy Permaul.

The squad also includes First-Class players Anthony Bramble, Keon

Straker talks training in America

By tReiston joseph

Three time gold medalist at Carifta, Jevina Straker who received a scholarship in America is back home for the August holiday and is ready to make an impact in the middle distance world.

Straker who ran at the AINLIM 10k on Sunday and finished fifth, took some time off to have a chat with Guyana Times Sport, relating some of the adjustments she had to make… her biggest coming in the form of changing her technique.

“It was a difficult transition because I had to correct my formation and with my formation I had to improve my arm action… I had to learn to run on my toes, I had to get accustomed to coming out quick with that quick start, holding with the pack and finishing.

“So it was challenging because the training I received here was tougher but when I reached over there I had o change my form and technique,” Straker highlighted.

The three 1500 metres Carifta gold medalist revealed the where her focus has been in training, “My training overseas was mostly based on sprints… I have been training mostly for the 800 metres instead of the 1500 metres, over distance wasn’t really included, it was basically the 800m and the 4x400m.

“This was so because they said my times were much closer to qualifying for the indoor and outdoor nationals,” Straker told this publication.

Further, Straker who has received scholarship offers for Universities, shared why her growth was stalled in the sport, “after the first couple months I was really improving but then I suffered an injury didn’t really catch myself after.

“So what I’m trying to do here in Guyana is to get back all the mileage and endurance work that was cut so when I go back I can improve because I have already received scholarship offers from Universities,” Straker noted.

In addition, Straker was able to adapt to the climate in an effort to become a better athlete, “at first the breathing conditions for the indoors was really difficult, when I went there was straight into competition so I had to adapt on the fly but it was really difficult at first,” Straker stressed.

With the top middle distance athlete looking to make a bigger impact in the sport come next year, Straker was clear on the fact that there was no sup-

port from any local entity while on the scholarship.

“We receive money from the college but to say that we get anything from anybody here in Guyana, no we don’t… all we get is back and forth communication to see how and what we are doing,” Straker stated.

However, Straker seems focused on achieving, noting that she has passed all her subjects so far while mentioning that it takes desire to get where she is.

“You have to have the mind, determination and the desire, if you don’ have the desire along with the determination to do it every day then you won’t be successful.

“You have to realize that you are here for a purpose and do what you do best as an athlete, prepare mentally and physically and always represent yourself with that desire,” Straker quipped.

Straker will be heading back to America to continue her scholarship and is expected to be back at the ASA College later this month.

Joseph and Raun Johnson, along with the in-form Jonathan Foo, who has played three List A games for Guyana and Rajiv Ivan, who represented Guyana in two List A games.

The other players are: Kandasammy Surujnarine, Seon Hetmyer, Devon Clements, Jason Sinclair, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Krishendat Ramoo.

Fixture

Meanwhile, Berbice will face the National Under-19 team in their first round fixture on Thursday at the Demerara Cricket Club ground while Demerara oppose Essequibo at Wales

in the other round one fixture. Round two is billed for September 6 with the National Under-19 team playing Essequibo at DCC and Berbice face Demerara at Everest.

The third and final round is scheduled for September 8 with Berbice

taking on Essequibo at Everest and Demerara challenge the National Under-19 team at GCC. The final is set for September 13 with the following day been the reserve day. The Four-Day format will get going on September 18.

Johnson, D’andrade dominate 25k race in T&T

Trinidad based Guyanese Kelvin Johnson and Lionel D’Andrade spared no one on their way to first and second finishes to win the Rio Claro Centenary 25K on Monday in Rio Claro, Trinidad and Tobago.

The athletes facing a menacing terrain, watched as both Guyanese crossed the finished line easily ahead of their competitors with Johnson topping the field in 1hr 30mins and 48s.

D’Andrade followed closely with a time of 1hr and

33mins to take second ahead of Trinidad’s Curtis Cox who was third in a time of 1hr 33mins and 23s. Guyana Times Sport was able to interview D’Andrade via email. He said “It was a hilly and tough race. I started cramping up at the 20K mark. But I am feeling good,” the tall lanky distance athlete related to this publication. Meanwhile both D’Andrade and Johnson are expected to be a part of the Venture Credit Union 5K scheduled for September 14 in Trinidad.

Hubern Evans

Gudakesh Motie

Veerasammy Permaul

Assad Fudadin

Devendra Bishoo

Sewnarine Chattergoon

Narsingh Deonarine

Jevina Straker poses with one of her Carifta gold medals

Lionel D’Andrade Kelvin Johnson

Rahane, Dhawan power India to series win

India sent England to a humiliating nine-wicket defeat to win the fourth one-day international at Edgbaston and clinch the five-match series 3-0.

Set only 207 to win, Ajinkya Rahane made 106 and Shikhar Dhawan 97 not out as India won with 117 balls to spare.

England never recovered from slumping to 23-3 after being asked to bat.

Only Moeen Ali, who made 67 from 52 deliveries, showed any sort of fluency and England’s 206 all out always looked way short of being competitive.

Three inept performances have sent Alastair Cook’s side to defeat in their final home series before the World Cup, with seven matches in Sri Lanka and a tri-series against Australia and India to come before the tournament begins on 14 February.

Cook reacted angrily to former off-spinner Graeme Swann’s suggestion that England cannot win the World Cup - claims that came before a ball was bowled in this series - but results have only supported Swann’s theory.

This latest dismal display saw the majority of England’s batsmen incapable of scoring runs when faced with accurate, but not devastating, bowling, while the home attack was then decimated by Rahane and Dhawan.

It was only the brilliance of Moeen that gave England any crumb of comfort, as the left-hander’s confidence and aggression provided his team-mates with a lesson in limited-overs run-scoring.

In the side for James Tredwell as one of three changes - Gary Ballance and Harry Gurney also replaced Ian Bell and Ben Stokes - Moeen arrived at the crease with the score at 114-5 and dragged England towards respectability.

Whereas the rest of England’s middle order were rendered shotless against India’s trio of slow bowlers, Moeen was prepared to use his feet in hitting down the ground and square of the wicket for three sixes.

If Moeen impressed,

then the England top order had earlier been static in immediately surrendering the initiative.

With Bhuvneshwar Kumar moving the ball in the air, a flat-footed Alex Hales was bowled by an inswinger and, in the same over, the under-pressure

Cook cut to gully.

Soon after, Ballance presented a leading edge off Mohammed Shami to cover and, even as early as the eighth over of the match, England looked beaten.

All in all, the opening 10over powerplay contained four maidens and, though Joe Root and Eoin Morgan attempted to rebuild, their 81-run stand took 21 overs to be compiled.

Both fell to spinMorgan tamely guiding Ravindra Jadeja to leg slip and Root reverse-sweeping Suresh Raina to point - before England were hampered by Jos Buttler being harshly adjudged leg before to Shami.

Moeen dragged them past 200, but England were bowled out with three balls to spare and were then embarrassed by the way that Rahane and Dhawan set about the chase.

Taking only four singles from the first four overs, the

opening pair then sprung into life, firstly with orthodox strokes, then some brutal hitting.

Strong through midwicket and down the ground, both cleared the ropes regularly. Rahane took James Anderson, Steven Finn and Moeen for maximums, with Dhawan doing the same to Gurney and Chris Woakes, whose four overs cost 40 runs.

By the end, it was barely a contest, as Rahane and Dhawan scored all around the wicket at will. Rahane completed his maiden ODI hundred from 96 balls, before surprisingly guiding a Gurney full toss to Cook at cover.

It was left to Virat Kohli to accompany Dhawan, who won the match with another six, as India showed Cook’s men just how far away they are from succeeding them as World Cup winners. (BBC Sport)

Anderson 6-138-0, Gurney 6.3-0-51-1, Finn 7-0-38-0, Woakes 4-040-0, Moeen 7-0-40-0 Fall of wicket: 183 (Rahane)

ivory coast get go-ahead to host tie

Ivory Coast will play their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone in Abidjan on Saturday after the government made a late U-turn.

The Ivorian government had initially ruled the game could not be played in the country because of fears over the outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone is one of six African nations with cases of the virus and has banned football in its own country.

Ivory Coast has been concerned Ebola could be imported by visitors.

In an attempt to prevent Ebola getting into Ivory Coast the government ruled that it would not be hosting any international sporting events.

But since the ban it has allowed a Confederation Cup match and African

Under-20 Championship qualifier to be played in Ivory Coast.

And it has now made another exception for the Nations Cup qualifier.

To minimise the risk of spreading the virus, Sierra Leone have named a squad of players based outside the country and given assurances that the coaching staff would be screened before travelling.

Last week Ivory Coast said they were looking at neutral venues or even the possibility of forfeiting the match.

However, the Confederation of African Football had said that if Ivory Coast had forfeited the match they would have been disqualified from the Nations Cup qualifying campaign.

DR Congo and Cameroon are the other two teams in Group D. (BBC Sport)

Ajinkya Rahane brought up his maiden ODI hundred during the chase

The match will go ahead despite fears over the outbreak of Ebola

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Mitchell Marsh almost single-handedly took Australia into the tri-series final, first by plundering 86 off 51 balls, including 21 off a single Dale Steyn over, and then with two wickets to dent South Africa’s chase.

The bonus-point victory has guaranteed Australia spot in Saturday’s showdown but put South Africa’s in some danger. If they lose to Zimbabwe by a massive margin, so much so that the hosts gain a bonus point and improve the net run-rate, South Africa could be on an early flight home.

Marsh’s blitz injected life into an Australian innings that was solid at the start but became stuck through the middle periods against a stranglehold of spin. He shared in a 71-run stand with Brad Haddin for the sixth wicket, which included taking 60 runs off five overs from the 44th over, as South Africa struggled for a deathbowling option. Those runs ultimately proved the difference between the two sides on a scruffy, sluggish surface on which run-scoring was laboured.

Less than a week after they gunned down a target of 328 against Australia, South Africa stumbled in search of a significantly smaller target. Only Faf du Plessis had some measure of what was required and only he managed a score more than 24. Du Plessis’ second ODI century came six days after his first, but in much more trying circumstances because he lacked support.

South Africa’s middleorder was untested thus far but in their first stern examination were exposed against pace and pressure, as they have been in the past. JP Duminy, David Miller and to a lesser extend Ryan McLaren left South Africa’s long tail with too much to do and threw the spotlight on whether they were a batsman light or whether their bowling was

For nine-tenths of their time in the field, South Africa operated with discipline, from the opening passages where JP Duminy shared the new ball with Steyn, during the Phillip Hughes-Steven Smith stand of 85 for the second wicket and through the batting Powerplay in which they conceded only 20 runs and took two wickets.

South Africa’s specialist spinners, Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso, gave away just 81 runs in 20 overs and contributed to a boundary drought that had the rope being breached just once in 10 overs. They limited Hughes and Smith to collecting runs judiciously rather than freely and only Hughes’ sprightly start ensured his half-century was achieved at almost a run a ball, off 51 deliveries. They also snaffled three wickets to leave Australia in danger of a posting a total be-

Australia innings (50 overs maximum) AJ Finch c Duminy b McLaren 16

PJ Hughes c Miller b Phangiso 85

SPD Smith c †de Kock b Imran Tahir 36 GJ Maxwell c †de Kock b Steyn 2 GJ Bailey* st †de Kock b Phangiso 32

MR Marsh not out 86 BJ Haddin† c Phangiso

wickets: 1-46 (Finch,

ov), 2-131 (Smith, 29.2 ov), 3-136 (Maxwell, 30.6 ov), 4-152 (Hughes, 34.4 ov), 5-187 (Bailey, 41.2 ov), 6-258 (Haddin, 48.3 ov), 7-281 (Johnson, 49.5 ov)

Bowling: DW Steyn 9-0-64-1, JP Duminy 4-0-24-0, M Morkel 9-1-51-1 (2-nb, 1-w), R McLaren 8-0-56-1 (2-w), Imran Tahir 100-42-1, AM Phangiso 10-0-39-2

South Africa innings (target: 283 runs from 50 overs)

But Marsh changed that when he switched from spectator to instigator as the innings neared its end. He tested the water when he drove Steyn through the covers for four and charged Tahir for six. What followed had not been done in ODI cricket before today. Marsh hit Steyn back over his head for six three times off three deliveries.

In a single over, Marsh’s took his own score went from 29 to 50, off just 37 balls, which forced de Villiers to look elsewhere for a death bowler. McLaren offered little better. He missed the yorker on too many occasions and then relied on a short ball. Marsh punished all of it to give Australia a score they would have thought defendable, especially after they removed both South African openers inside ten overs of the reply. (Cricinfo)

HM Amla c †Haddin b Marsh 17

Q de Kock† c Smith b Maxwell 1 F du Plessis

WaNteD

Driving School

Mitchell Marsh’s blitz injected life into an Australian innings that was solid at the start but became stuck through the middle periods

Caribbean Cup Qualifiers 2014…

Revamped Golden Jaguars face Dominica today

Cricket foundation to be launched in Florida

After a two-year hiatus, a revamped Golden Jaguars unit, Guyana’s senior national men’s football team, will swing into action today in the Caribbean Cup Qualifiers in Basseterre, St Kitts.

The Golden Jaguars last played as a unit on November 16, 2012, losing 2-1 to Grenada. Since then, the team has been dormant as a power struggle at the administrative level of the game meant that little or no football was being played.

In fact, the team was only recently selected and has been completely overhauled with strictly locally based players making up the travelling contingent for the three games that will spread over the next five days.

Previously, the Golden Jaguars had a high percentage of foreign based Guyanese players, but

President of the Guyana Football Federation, Christopher Matthias, said the move did little to help in the development of local football, and as such, his administration is keen on harnessing home grown talents.

The Guyanese, drawn in Group Six, are down to face Dominica today from 17:30h, St Lucia on Friday at 17:30h and St Kitts and Nevis on Sunday at 20:30h.

The squad includes two goalkeepers, six defenders, five midfielders and five forwards. Defender Walter Moore is the most experienced player in the squad, having previously represented Guyana at the highest level.

The squad is Oswald Cornette and Dorville Stewart (Goalkeepers), Steffon Ramsay, Walter Moore, Quincy Adams, Adrian Adonis, Joshua Brown and Trevon Lythcotte

DCB confirms squad for senior Inter-

County cricket

− Barnwell named skipper

The Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) has named a strong 14-man squad to contest this year’s senior Inter-County tournament, commencing Thursday.

All-rounder Christopher Barnwell will lead the squad in the absence of national skipper Leon Johnson. The right-hander has Paul Wintz as his deputy. The side has both young and experienced players in Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shemroy Barrington, Andrew Lyght Jr, Rajendra

Chandrika Robin Bacchus, Trevon Griffith and Steven Jacobs in the batting department.

The bowling is expected to be spearheaded by the seasoned Wintz while pacer Seon Daniels along with spinners Raj Nannan, Amir Khan Zaheer Mohamed and Yatesh Dhanpaul.

The Demerara team will be coached by former firstclass spinner Garvin Nedd while the experienced Clive Grimmond will be his deputy.

(Defenders), Eusi Phillips, Jahall Greaves, Eon Alleyne, Mark Jhalu and Jamaal Harvey (Midfielders), Delwin Fraser, Delroy Fraser, Shaquille Agard, Clarence Huggins and William Europe (Forwards).

The management team comprises Manager Carlos Bernard, Head Coach Denzil Thompson, Physical Trainer Germin Craig, Assistant Coach Dwain Babb and Physiotherapist Lacretia Abiola Blair.

Currently, Guyana is ranked 153 in the world, and a good showing over the next five days will guarantee a move up the ranking.

While Guyana has been dormant for close to two years, Dominica, ranked 168, has played five matches in 2014, but has an unflattering record of four losses and a draw.

In a move to continue the trend to have more Berbicians in the West Indies team, a popular cricket lover/administrator and attorney has announced that he will set up a foundation in Florida to realize funds to train very young cricketers.

In thanking the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) officials for naming him an honouree at the Board’s 75th anniversary, Oscar Ramjeet said that he wants to play an important role to continue to develop cricket in the county of his birth.

Ramjeet, who now lives in Florida, served as Secretary of the BCB beween 1965 and 1966 and was believed to be the man who made moves

for Berbice to have more representatives in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

His move was supported by the then Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) representatives senior counsels Fred Wills and Rex Mc Kay.

President Donald Ramotar, Minister of Sports Dr Frank Anthony, and Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy were present at the function when Ramjeet made the announcement, which was well received by the enthusiastic gathering at Port Mourant last Sunday.

“I will get support and assistance from Dr Tulsi Singh who has contributed significantly

to cricket by sponsoring under-17 tournaments for five years,” Ramjeet said, adding that he will contact former national cricketers, businessmen, and others for their assistance in the venture.

His aim is for Berbice to continue to have test and international players on a regular basis, and said that he has already contacted a former West Indies cricketer to travel to Berbice to conduct coaching sessions.

Regional Chairman, Region Five (East Berbice/Corentyne) David Armogan and BCB officials pledged to work along with the Ministry of Sports to assist. Berbice has so far produced 15 Test and international cricketers.

usain bolt wows bangalore crowd in cricket contest with yuvraj singh

Bangalore: Sprint superstar Usain Bolt on Tuesday wowed his Indian fans in his trademark style in a brief exhibition cricket contest against Yuvraj Singh in his maiden trip to the country. (See more pics here)

Bolt showcased his cricketing talent in front of an enthusiastic 6000-odd crowd who turned up at the Chinnaswamy Stadium to have a glimpse of the 'fastest man on earth' as his team beat Yuvraj-led side in seven-a-side cricket match. (Bolt Wants to compete With a Cheetah)

Team Bolt clinched a thrilling last-ball victory over Team Yuvraj in the match which had four overs for each team. The Jamaican, the first man to win six Olympic sprint gold medals, blasted his way to a 19-ball 45, studded with five sixes including three off Yuvraj, as his team chased down the 59-run target in the last ball off the match. (See in Pics)

Though the crowd was small by the standard of a Bolt event, the spectators showed their enthusiasm as they cheered at every shot the showman from Jamaica made, though the contest was meant for entertainment and not for any cricketing ability. (Bolt Says his Records Are Out of Reach)

Yuvraj though had his 'sweet revenge' as he 'defeated' Bolt in the 100 meter sprint on the track, which

culminated the spectacular event which was played in an electrifying atmosphere.

Bolt, who holds both the world records of 100m and 200m, 'allowed' Yuvraj to win the race. As he went past the finishing line, Yuvraj celebrated the 'victory' in mobotstyle which Bolt had done during 2012 London Olympics by imitating celebrated British long distance runner Mo Farah. (Will Consider Cricket After Leaving Athletics: Bolt)

Team Bolt comprised his best friend Nugent Walker Junior and Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh among others while India's 2011 Cricket World Cup winning hero Yuvraj had pacer Zaheer Khan among others in his team for the face-off titled 'Bolt and Yuvi - Battle of the Legends'.

They required 10 runs off the last two balls and the very first ball Bolt hammered part-time off-spinner Aditya Tare for a six straight over his head.

With four runs required off the last ball, Bolt tried a massive heave but missed. Just when Yuvraj and his team started to celebrate, Ajay Jadeja, who hosted the match, played his part to the script of the entertainment value of the contest. He called a no-ball much to the delight of Bolt, who did not lose the opportunity to whack the free-hit out of the park for a six, helping his side pull off a win in the contest organised by sportswear giant PUMA. Both Bolt and Yuvraj are PUMA ambassadors.

Batting first, Team Yuvraj

made 58 in the stipulated four overs with Yuvraj and Tare scoring 24 off 14 balls and 30 off 11 balls respectively. Yuvraj blasted four boundaries and one six and Tare five fours and a six. Though Yuvraj was stumped early on, he continued to bat, courtesy the format where captains of the sides were allowed to play throughout their respective overs.

Earlier, in the bowl-out contest, both Team Yuvraj and Team Bolt, drew each other, gaining three points each. But Bolt prevailed over Yuvraj in big six contest, clearing a good 70 meters mark, much to the delight of the Jamaican who could not believe to have beaten one of the biggest six hitters in cricket. (BBC.com)

Christopher Barnwell

Jamaican Olympic Champion sprinter Usain Bolt and Indian cricketer

Yuvraj Singh pose for photographs after the match

Buxton United cops title on goal difference

Buxton United needed to win by a margin of two goals or more to lift the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) Under-13 League and they did just that, beating Mahaica Determinators in the final round on Saturday at the Beterverwagting ground, East Coast Demerara.

The eventual champions defeated Determinators 2-0 to cop the beautiful Aaron Blackman trophy and title of champions of the League. The eight teams in the competition played seven games each, with Buxton United and BV/Triumph United ending on 17 points apiece after chalking up identical records of five victories and two draws.

Buxton United won by virtue of having a superior goal difference of +10 as against BV/Triumph United, who ended on +8. Buxton United and BV/ Triumph United were undoubtedly the two most dominant teams in the tournament, as the next four teams- Buxton Stars, Golden Stars, Buxton Youth Developers and Mahaica Determinatorsall mustered seven points each from their lone victory, four losses and two drawn encounters.

Sparta, with one win, two defeats and four draws, ended in the penul -

timate spot on five points, while Paradise gained the same number of points, but failed to win a game, losing five and drawing two.

In the game to determine the outcome, Buxton United took the lead 10 minutes into the second

half before they stitched in another goal in the final minute to pip BV/Triumph United on goal difference.

At the presentation ceremony, the top three teams were all rewarded, while several players received individual awards. Kebo

Durant of Buxton United was named Most Valuable Player, Omari Glasgow of BV/Triumph United was the highest goalscorer with six, while teammate Tony Ogle was adjudged the best goalkeeper. (Avenash Ramzan)

Stag Beer quarter-final action set for tonight

Eight teams will play tonight, but only four will progress as the Ansa McAl Trading/Stag Beer ‘West Side’ 5-a-side football tournament touches the quarter-final stage. The Vergenoegen Rice Mill Tarmac will once again play host to the event, which will see the eventual winners of the tournament pocketing $200,000.

From all indications, the scores of persons who have been turning up nightly at the venue will be happy with the match-up that was made by virtue of how the teams performed and are seeded at the end of the preliminary round.

In the opening game tonight, one of the tournament’s two undefeated teams, New Road Eagles, will come up against Broad Street, the lone Georgetown team left in the competition.

Even though they played undefeated, New Road Eagles have not really impressed the masses like their foes in tonight’s quarter-finals.

Broad Street seems sturdy and seasoned to this format of the game and can upstage the undefeated New Road Eagles team. It will be interesting to see if Showstoppers can create an upset when they clash with pre-tournament favourites Tuschen Up-Top-Youths in game two.

Behind Devon Millington and the entertaining John ‘Brown Boy’ Waldron, the side established themselves as the ‘team to beat’ in the inaugural tournament on the ‘West Side.’

The duo is undoubtedly the backbone of the Tuschen team and if they continue to improve in-form, Showstoppers will be in for a long night.

The Uitvlugt and Stewartville Gunners game will ignite a rivalry that’s beyond football itself. Stewartville never failed to impress and have silently planted themselves as one the teams to watch for in the tournament.

Uitvlugt on the other hand, loaded with the Bobb brothers will do their best to ensure that they remain in the money hunt, but the anticipation is that it will be the biggest game of the evening.

Vergenoegen All-Stars, the tournament’s other undefeated team, and DeKinderen feature in the night’s final game. Both sides have unpredictably slipped their way to the knockout stage and have established themselves as legitimate contenders.

The semi-finals are set Friday and the final on Sunday at the Vergenoegen Rice Mill Tarmac.

cook will not quit as england odi skipper

Alastair Cook says he will not stand down as England one-day captain despite their series defeat by India.

Title hopefuls Grove Hi Tech and Soesdyke Falcons both secured full points when they engaged in second round action of the Stag Beer sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Division One League played at the Grove Playfield on Sunday last.

Grove eased to their 10th win of the season, a comfortable 5-2 result against Kuru Kururu Warriors, halting the excellent run of the Linden Soesdyke Highway based side, who previously recorded back-to-back wins.

The result was never in doubt for the Grove boys, who have been very clinical as they continue to

strengthen their claim for the top prize of $300,000 and the Stag Beer trophy. The Warriors stood up for the opening 28 minutes before their defence was breached compliments of a Moses Fraser strike.

Colin Lancaster tucked in the first of his double two minutes after the opening goal, to double the advantage, while inspirational captain and forward, Domini Garnett, stretched the lead to 3-0 in the 40th minute.

The Warriors were able to reduce the deficit two minutes before the break when Ryan Scott found the back of the nets. As was the case in the first half, Grove continued their dominance of proceedings.

Lancaster achieved his double in the 53rd minute as Grove restored the three-goal advantage, 4-1. The icing was put on the cake 67 minutes on when John Matthews added his name to the score sheets.

Kuru Kururu added another goal to their tally on the stroke of fulltime, Cordell Johnson the scorer, his third goal in as many matches.

Sunday’s opening encounter saw Soesdyke Falcons running away easing victors over Diamond United with goals either side of play to win 2-0.

Troy Austin netted in the 10th minute, while John Gordon completed the win in the 53rd minute.

Tuesday’s nine-wicket loss was the latest of three heavy defeats only five months before the World Cup, while ex-players such as Graeme Swann feel Cook should give up the one-day game.

“At this precise moment, I’m still hungry to do it,” 29-year-old Cook told BBC Test Match Special.

“If the management say they don’t want me, that’s a decision they make.”

Cook’s position as Test captain came under scrutiny when India took a 1-0 lead in the Test series earlier in the summer, only for England to complete a 3-1 victory.

“The frustrating thing is that, every side I seem to play in for England, there’s a question about my place,” added opening batsman

Cook. “That’s a hard place to work from.

“I went from 1-0 down to 3-1. It changes very quickly in sport. My credibility is not for me to comment on.”

Cook took charge of the one-day international side in 2011, leading England to the top of the ODI world rankings in 2011.

However, England have won only one series against another Test-playing nation since 2012 and have lost their last four at home, though they did reach the final of the Champions Trophy on home soil in 2013.

Overall, Cook averages 40.29 as ODI skipper, though that figure was as high as 47.35 in 2012, and has since dropped to 29.83 for 2014.

“I know I have to score more runs,” said Cook. “I’ve done that in the past and I will in the future.

“I’ve had three-and-ahalf years of one-day cap-

taincy experience. We’ve done some really good stuff in that time, but we’re having a heavy blip at the moment.”

The latest heavy defeat by India came after the hosts were bowled out for only 206 at Edgbaston, with the tourists chasing down their target with 117 balls to spare. The final game at Headingley on Friday is England’s last home ODI before the World Cup in Australia in New Zealand, which begins in February.

“We haven’t played very well, nowhere near our potential,” said Cook. “That’s the most frustrating thing. The players have to look at themselves and turn it around.

“The guys are hungry to succeed, we’re just not delivering at the moment. If anyone thinks their place is safe, then they are wrong.” (BBC Sport)

The Buxton United players and coaching staff pose with the trophy after winning the EDFA Under-13 League on goal difference

Devon Millington

Revamped Golden Jaguars face Dominica today

Cricket foundation to be launched in Florida

Oldest Test cricketer dies aged 103

Norman Gordon, the former South Africa fast bowler who was the world’s oldest Test cricketer, has died aged 103. Gordon played all five Tests against England in 1938-39, including the famous Timeless Test in Durban that ended in a draw despite stretching for ten days.

Gordon, the first Test cricketer to have lived to the age of 100, died at his home in Johannesburg, where he has lived for over sixty years. He had spent parts of the last year in and out of hospital with renal problems but was in good health otherwise.

He was renowned for his fitness and athleticism during his playing days. He bowled 92.2 eight-ball overs during that timeless Test. He could play only five Tests because his career coincided with World War II. Gordon was the last surviving Test cricketer to have played before World War II.

Ali Bacher, the former CSA chief executive and Test player, paid tribute to

Gordon. “He always had a smile on his face,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “He had one common theme about his life: he always enjoyed the people he met, through cricket and through golf. He lived life to the full.” Gordon was an honorary life member of the Houghton Golf Club and a regular visitor there for lunches and suppers.

Gordon lived in Hillbrow, close to the Johannesburg City Centre, which was a plush area in the 1970s and 1980s but had suffered neglect in the following decades. Despite the changes in the area, Gordon remained a popular figure among the residents.

“When I went to visit him I asked him whether he had ever been bothered by living there or felt unsafe,” Bacher said. “He said no. He said there was only one occasion when he was bothered by someone at night but in general everybody knew him there and everybody loved him.”

Bacher also recalled his

memories of visiting Gordon’s sports shop as a child and said the former fast bowler was popular with female fans.

“In the 1950s, Norman owned a sports shop in Eloff Street,” Bacher said. “Every year my mother would take me there to buy a new bat. I used to look forward to those visits so much.

“Norman was very goodlooking; he always had ladies after him. When I was interviewing him for SuperSport a few years ago, my motherin-law, who is 98, fairly conservative and of very sound mind, went to my wife with a confession. She said that when she was 17 she had a crush on Gordon. So when I interviewed him I had to ask him whether he knew how popular he was with women. When I put it to him that the ladies seemed to really like him, he said, ‘Oh yes, I know.’”

After his demise, another former South Africa fast bowler, Lindsay Tuckett, has become the oldest living Test cricketer. (Cricinfo)

Norman Gordon was the first Test cricketer to have lived 100 years

Members of the Golden Jaguars team pose for a photo prior to a training session last month