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monday, april 27, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, April 27, 2015 – 12:30h-14:00h and Tuesday, April 28, 2015 – 13:30h-15:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, April 27, 2015 – 11:15h-12:45h and Tuesday, April 28, 2015 – 12:20h-13:50h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings on:

Monday, April 27– 07:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

Tuesday, April 28– 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers in the morning will interrupt the sunny conditions expected throughout the day, with partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range from 24 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-easterly between 4.02 metres per second and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 11:29h reaching a maximum height of 2.09 metres.

Low Tide: 04:58h and 17:38h reaching minimum heights of 1.18 metres and 1.08 metres respectively.

PPP/C Stewartville Rally

New Bridge, roads and industries to transform Reg 3

....President Donald Ramotar

By Devina Samaroo

“Our Party has always been a party of change, we changed our country! We will continue to change Guyana to make it a developed country! We must protect our gains, we must protect our pride, and we must protect our dignity!”

Those were the words of Presidential Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Donald Ramotar to a massive crowd of supporters at a rally in Stewartville, West Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) on Sunday.

Charged by the tens of thousands in attendance, Ramotar told the gathering to remember all that the PPP/C has done for them throughout the years and ensure they vote for the Party on May 11.

“We must register our biggest victory ever…the PPP/C stood by you, every action we took was to protect and promote the welfare of our people! I ask you to stand by the PPP/C, I ask you to stand by us, I ask you to stand with me and let us work together to make Guyana one of the best places in the world,” Ramotar exclaimed as the gargantuan crowd roared in agreement.

Additionally, Ramotar related some of the developmental plans his Administration has in store to further enhance the region. Foremost among them is establishing call centres along the West Demerara

In his bid to promote Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Guyana, he disclosed that there was already a bill in Parliament to liberalise the industry in order to provide stiffer competition, which will eventually lower the cost of bandwidth and Internet services, ultimately benefiting the entire Guyanese population.

He also boasted about the major road projects scheduled to commence on the West Demerara and West Bank highways that will see the widening of the roads.

The road leading to Canal Number One and Canal Number Two was also on the agenda for upgrading. The biggest road project on in that region, Ramotar noted, is probably the opening of the old Del Conte Road leading to Riverview, opposite Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-

Mazaruni). He explained that through the opening of this road, many opportunities will become available, especially for farming lands.

On that note, Ramotar explored the possibilities of Guyana becoming a major exporter of food in the Caribbean and South America. In fact, he envisioned the production of new goods such as soya beans, corn, coconut and even bamboo.

Other projects in the line-up for Region Three include the extension of Versailles Drug Bond and purchasing of an ambulance, extension of Parfaite Harmonie Nursery School, maintenance of the several internal roads and streets, extension of Belle West Primary and the construction of a river sluice at Plantain Walk, Canal Number Two, Pouderoyen and Tuschen.

Ramotar also reiterated the priorities of the PPP/C

to build a new bridge over the Demerara River and ensure the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project becomes a reality.

He explained that these two projects will have a significant impact on the people of Region Three as it will improve their travelling experience by decreasing congestion, hence saving time. With Amaila, he preached about cheaper energy which will ultimately benefit the entire country, resulting in more savings for all Guyanese.

Ramotar urged the residents of Region Three to ensure their support for the Party is not limited to the turnout at the rallies. He urged them not to be intimidated by those who may try to instil fear. He urged them to come out in large numbers and cast their vote, next to the cup to bring the PPP/C Government back into power to ensure development and progress continue to reign in Guyana.

corridor which will create thousands of jobs.

President Donald Ramotar

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

ICT services for growth

The quest for growth should have been on the top of the agenda of both sides of political divide once the campaigns had been launched. Very sadly, however, just as it has done for the last three years, the Opposition promises "the moon and the stars" with nary a thought as to where the money will be coming from.

But while doling out money to the populace may garner some votes, it is ultimately a zero-sum activity: we are only redistributing a pie of fixed size. The question must be rephrased: “How do we increase the size of the pie?”

In our Sunday editorial we elaborated on the effect of transformative infrastructural projects as recommended by the World Bank and the IDB. We do not have to look at the just launched Manifesto to appreciate that the PPP/C Government will continue in this direction, once they remove the Opposition majority in the Assembly.

But another of the Government’s initiatives to increase growth rates is its thrust into ICT4D (Information and Communication Technology for Development) already launched. The domestic impact of the new infrastructure, comprising of fibre-optics linking the entire coastland and the hinterland which will improve e-governance and lower bandwidth costs for the internet savvy populated augmented with 60,000+ internet-ready laptops is massive.

But the potential to alter the structural foundations of our economy by opening up the export of services has been completely blanked by the Opposition.

The Opposition seems stuck in 19th century economic dogma that saw "development" as a transition from agricultural to industrial production, with manufacturing being the prime ‘engine of growth’.

Only material products are suitable for exports and services confined to the domestic market in this view. But the PPP/C is obviously au fait with the revolution in delivering services across borders via ICT.

As a platform for growth and development, the phenomenon was encapsulated as the “3Ts” – technology, transportability, and tradeability. “Outsourcing” of services became a catchword as billions of dollars flowed from the developed countries into the ICT-savvy developing nations.

Trade in services is becoming increasingly more viable, with many businesses now dividing their operations across the world.

The rapid growth of China and India, which have been driven along two different paths, has rekindled the debate on the drivers of growth and development. China’s growth is led by traditional manufacturing, while India’s growth focuses heavily on services – representing the two different paths towards rapid development.

And India has not been alone in exploiting the new opportunity: In the last decade, services have grown as a share of the world’s GDP, accounting for 70 per cent of global GDP; and service exports in developing countries have almost tripled between 1997 and 2007.

It is very unlikely that we can match the economies of scale to compete with behemoths like China in industrial exports but with our comparative advantage of English as our first language and a populace that still has a collective drive for education we can certainly carve out a niche in the ICT service exports.

These exports have primarily been in such areas as information technology, business-related, transcribing medical records, data services, call centres, education, entertainment production services, etc. These services differ significantly from the traditional services, which demand face-to-face interaction.

But we will not be in a position to exploit this new driver of growth unless we have both the human and infrastructural resources in place to be capable of offering the service. One recent World Bank study has shown that exports’ ‘quality’ in services is positively associated with growth performance: even one per cent involvement generated significant growth.

For countries like ours where businesses are stuck in a “trader mentality”, ICT based exports will also ensure that traditional service activities gain in productivity from the 3Ts.

The Opposition should debate ICT not just hand-outs.

Heed the lessons of history so as not to repeat them

Dear Editor,

History is a very important discipline and every major university in the world offers a degree in history. As a post graduate student of history, the subject of which I earned one of my doctorates, I learn that the past is a predictor of the present and the future.

The past is a continuum of the present and of the future. The past cannot be separated from the present. One studies the lessons and history of the past so as not to repeat errors, mistakes and atrocities. So why would anyone call on the Guyanese population, young people in particular, to forget the past?

And why do these politicians want us to forget some aspects of history? Some people have selective amnesia. What is there so terrible about our past that some (political) people want us to forget it? Why do they feel the past is irrelevant?

David Granger is a historian, like myself, and he produced a journal. Does he believe that the past is unimportant? One can readily forgive those who were involved in past transgressions and who were involved in our ethnic or political persecution.

And yes there should be forgiveness and perhaps closure on experiences of the past providing those who

committed atrocities first expressed remorse and contrition for their wrongdoings. But it is impossible to erase terrible experiences, history, from our memory.

Forgive, but never forget so as not to repeat the horrific experiences of the past. One must learn from the past so as to make correct decisions in the present so as not to repeat the past.

In examining our past, who can forget kick down door robberies? Or the ban on essential goods? Or spending time in jail for eating banned foods? Or election riggings? Or the cold brutal murder of the ballot box martyrs? Or the murder of Dr Walter Rodney, Father Bernard Darke, Edward Dublin, and so many others?

Or mandatory National Service in order to get an education? Or rape at National Service? Or denial of jobs because you were not of the correct ethnicity? And the robbing of people of jewelry based on ethnicity? Or the Wismar massacre? And so many other abuses, too many to mention here!

It is some mad people idiosyncrasy and misguided obsession to bury the past for a desired objective. Political power! Also, why the desperate efforts in fabricating the history of abuses during the ethnic

dictatorship? History will not be re-written in spite of revisionist efforts.

Would the Jews forget the holocaust? Would Africans forget slavery? Would Indians, Chinese and Portuguese forget indentureship? Would Amerindians forget their genocide from European introduced diseases and physical abuses? Will the Irish in America forget the history of their indenturedship? Never, they always brought it up.

Would the Italians forget the history of their experiences of prejudice when they came to America? No, they always reminded the American nation of their bitter experience at the hands of other ethnic groups who came before them.

So why should Guyanese be called upon to forget their history?

And if we are going to forget our history, why then even bother to write it or study it as a major discipline for a degree? I have spent considerable amount of my time and resources to write aspects of the history of Guyanese in America. Did I waste my time penning this history? It would have been much better for the transgressors of human rights to seek forgiveness and express regrets instead of appealing to the victims

or their children to forget what happened to them?

In South Africa, the victims were willing to forgive after the oppressors expressed regrets and sought forgiveness. But that has not happened in Guyana. And as such, Guyanese are not going to forget the history of their abuses.

The transgressors of human rights should express remorse and contrition before there can be any forgiveness. The advocates of ignoring history need to go back to school to learn some of the critical lessons of history. They should read George Santayana’s work on the critical importance of history.

What a shame! Historians have penned our history based on facts and now there are those pseudo-intellectuals and political opportunists who want to demolish the history by calling on the youths to ignore history and to accept myth.

Those who forget or refuse to heed the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it. The older folks lived the history. They can educate the youths about the past. And the youths should pay heed to what happened to their parents and grandparents. They will not want to repeat that experience.

Vishnu Bisram

A macaw flies over buildings with the Avila Mountain behind in Caracas, Venezuela March 31, 2015. On antennae, roofs and windowsills, blue-and-yellow macaws (or Ara ararauna) break the routine (Reuters/Jorge Silva)

The PNC-APNU leadership insisted on retaining the Presidency

Dear Editor,

My letters are not being published in other publications. Debating has lost its appeal in a democracy?

At the May 11 elections, the PNC-led APNU-AFC coalition platform will get endorsement from its supporters to historically validate equality by alternating Indians and Africans to become their party’s future Prime Minister.

All APNU and AFC leaders still within their coalition are in full agreement that this is their fairest and most democratic means of peaceful coexistence. The final APNU-AFC coalition agreement was crafted and signed in secret talks similar to the German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact of 1939, with their secrets also kept well hidden.

None within the PNC, APNU, or no other, neither any of their militant supporters have repudiated and denounced the APNU-AFC coalition or its agreements.

How blessed are PNC leaders in control of both APNU and the AFC, that in 2015 as in 1964, they get a similar colonial Duncan Sandys gift from the AFC’s ideal “Guyanese” who aspired, nay are convinced, they should have replaced their experienced PPP founder leader?

Freedom in Guyana does

permit free trade. Carving out 11 per cent Indians and gifting them to the PNC leaders of APNU will also get the AFC chieftains whatever they fully deserve. That exchange rate was by nearly four to one.

Ever confident that the PNC leaders of APNU can most definitely rely on Guyana’s African and mixed voters by 40 per cent, they count on becoming elected democratically by the negotiated and required 51 per cent majority.

In a democracy, the PNC has every right, as all others, to participate in elections. The evidence does not show, so far, that the APNU leadership forced the AFC leadership to join and deliver 11 percent.

The evidence also shows that the PNC and APNU leadership insisted on retaining the Presidency and by signed agreement what they required to win was only 11 percent Indian votes.

The final agreement shows the AFC leadership’s by its free will and by secret deal making gave APNU what it demanded. Since their most militant supporters on both sides are thrilled by the historic coalition agreement, all is cut and dried for market. Why shouldn’t it be cause for them to celebrate?

Granger is the ‘danger’?

Not anymore. When the APNU-AFC coalition has secretly signed and is in full agreement that the past must be forgotten, slavery has no validity for entitlements and ACDA and Caricom should cease all quest for reparations billions.

It means all approved Guyanese taxpayers expenditures must be promptly terminated which continues to pursue what no longer matters. Is Mr Granger’s pledge to build a monument to the unfortunate African victims of the Sun Chapman boat tragedy also skuttled? Go ahead. Place your bets.

Please consider Dr Jeffrey by what he publicly observed two weeks ago: “It must be something of a testimony to the injuring nature of our political condition that half a century later, this is still the type of reasoning at the heart of the hopes and fears of both the PPP and the current coalition as the current election looms.”

Win or lose the AFC believes the PNC will step up, honour and pay their debt owed of 12 seats for its promised barter of 11 percent of Guyana’s Indian voters. Is there some secret evidence which proves the PNC usually pay what it owes? The truth keeps marching on.

Sultan Mohamed

Aishalton residents concerned about behaviour of APNU-AFC candidate

Dear Editor,

It was brought to my attention from Aishalton village in the Deep South of the Rupununi that a regional candidate for the PNCled APNU+AFC coalition is forcing students against their will in the distribution of APNU+AFC coalition pamphlets.

The Aishalton village residents are highly con-

cerned over the political behavior of this candidate, who should not be forcefully using school children to do his political work. This smacks of child labour and exploitation.

And in this regard, it is indigenous child labour that is being exploited by the APNU-AFC coalition.

But does the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA)

know about this? If so, APA is also guilty of indigenous child labour exploitation and of serving the political interests of the APNU+AFC coalition.

It seems APA is a political front masquerading as an NGO both nationally and internationally.

Peter Persaud

What Dr Ramsaran did cannot be condoned

Dear Editor,

When Sherlina Nageer approached Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran at Whim, she was there asking questions about the healthcare system in Guyana. If she was so concerned about getting the Minister to answer her questions, she would ask a question and wait for an answer.

What I saw on the video was a protester who firing question after question and

not giving the Minister an opportunity to respond.

This got Dr Ramsaran very irate, which elicited an unsavory reply. The funny thing about constant badgering or pestering is that the person so affected can easily lose his or her cool, and lose his cool, the Minister did.

But it does not matter how serious the attack, what Dr Ramsaran did cannot be condoned and as such we chide him for his actions.

APNU-AFC Manifesto lacks substance that will improve Guyana

Dear Editor,

The APNU-AFC Manifesto demonstrates a lack of an integrated approach to Governance and economic stimulus. There are no significant infusions of new ideas that can stimulate further growth of our nation.

It seemed like someone developed a “laundry list” of items under key headings in order to present a plan for the 2015 election.

The PPP/C has revealed its Manifesto, which includes building on the foundation established in infrastruc-

I

My advice to the Minister is to allow the crowd around you to hush her up.

I am sure there were persons there who would have done a pretty good job for the Minister. The point I am making is that in such circumstances, you allow the crowd to do the job. When you have an agitator and you cannot get a word in, then adopt the silent approach.

Neil Adams

ture to include the paving of the road to Brazil and the completion of a deep water harbour, in addition to significant additional road corridors connecting the East Bank to the East Coast.

The APNU-AFC Manifesto states that they will alleviate poverty by rapid growth, but failed to list a single programme that can accomplish a measurable result.

Compare that to the new jobs that the PPP/C has outlined in its Version 2.0, such as the technology centres, which have already seen thousands of real jobs created and an additional 5000 to be realized throughout all regions, to new jobs in the transport and maritime areas, such as the deep water harbour and additional areas in manufacturing of value-added products in the rice and sugar industry.

The APNU-AFC Manifesto seems to be written as a research paper, not as a plan to continue to develop our nation to the next level.

Dr Peter Ramsaroop

support speaking out against abuse coming from a Minister

Dear Editor, The Humanitarian Mission of the New Jersey Arya Samaj condemns the recent incident with the Minister of Health that took place at Whim Village recently.

I would like to support President Donald Ramotar, the many Ministers and the diplomatic community in speaking out against abuse coming from a Minister of Government and moreso a high ranking official.

Such acts must at all times be condemned and dealt with accordingly. The Government and many NGOs have implemented programmes on violence and abuse to help the citizens of Guyana.

I know that the woman may have been wrong in what she did, but moreso as a Minister he should have known better and should never bring himself down to that. I hope that the President and others in authority will put an end to this.

Many have suffered from this kind of abuse and it went under the carpet for too long. An incident of this nature could have happened in Trinidad, the United States or elsewhere, but the Minister would have been fired or asked to resign on the spot.

As members of our community it’s time we speak up against such distasteful acts. Many women have suffered in various kinds of

abuse and I hope what happened here will bring an end to verbal or any other kind of abuse coming from a high ranking official. I hope President Ramotar will deal this and send a message that his Administration has no room and is zero-tolerant where abuse of its female citizens of Guyana is concerned. We have gone a far way with education of our womenfolk in Guyana and standing up for their rights. We need to respect each other and work in harmony and love for a better Guyana.

Pandit Suresh Sugrim President Humanitarian Mission New Jersey Arya Samaj

Hundreds pay tribute to Swami Vidyanandaji at book launch

Sunday was a day of honour, tradition and literature at Cove and John, East Coast Demerara at the Guyana Sevashram Sangha where the book “Journey of the Guru” by Richard B Mahase was launched.

The book honours the memory of the founder of the Sangha, Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj who came to Guyana from India decades ago with the sole intention of opening a school here. The story is told by one of his followers and the first Swami to come out of the Caribbean, Swami Vidyanandaji Maharaj, who gave attendees and devotees a firsthand insider’s peek into what the book is all about.

He told of the vision of Swami Pranavanandaji for all to be educated and his belief that education was the solution to the oppressive state that he had found most East Indians in upon coming to Guyana around the 1950s. Former Finance

Minister Sasenarine Kowlessar, who chaired the event, told those in attendance that the book appeals to the historian, the theologian, the storyteller and one’s spirituality. He said that it tells the story of how Swami Vidyanandaji met the Indian migrant Swami

Pranavanandaji and aimed to become just like him in devotion and zeal.

He said that the book sends a strong message of peace, love, unity and service, aiming to uplift the people – particularly those in the Guyanese Diaspora. These messages of peace

grown tremendously due to the work of the Swami. He said that his migration to Guyana was “the turning point of Hinduism in Guyana”. He said that the book will be a tremendous addition to educating Hindus about who they are and their history. However, he added that it carries a message for all who wish to read it.

Swami

Shiveshwaranandaji Maharaj, from the Unites States, stated that it was the practice of the Swami to test the mettle of his followers, sharing a few stories with the devotees of Swami Vidyanandaji about instances when he bestowed his bountiful wisdom.

as well. He stated that a tendency arises in the reader to compare the Swami in the book to that of Mahatma Gandhi as they both challenge their body and mind. Over all, Petamber told the devotees, the book was very well-researched and beautifully written. He particularly pointed out the dedication. He said that page connected all Hindus to the Swami and what he symbolised for Hindus.

Dignitaries were on hand too to observe the launching as well as paying tribute to the founder of Guyana Sevashram Sangha. This included President Donald Ramotar, former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica)

and love were repeated by the followers of the Swami who came in honour of the occasion and at the same time to pay tribute to the nobility of Swami Pranavanandaji.

Swami Aksharanandaji Maharaj stated that Hinduism in Guyana has

Swami Bhajananandaji said that the “point of this is that his life (Swami Pranavanandaji’s) was governed by discipline and that is the quality he imparted in his spiritual followers”.

The Guyana Times learnt that the 556-page “Journey of the Guru” was reviewed by Dr Prem Misir and Peter Petamber. Dr Misir, former Pro Chancellor of the University of Guyana, shared that the book explained the early years of Swami Vidyanandaji. He stated that it illustrated the struggles of the Swami as a young Guyanese from Albion, stating that it perfectly epitomises the struggles before the successful establishment of the school, particularly with the presence of the many Christian schools and the small Hindu population.

In the whole, Dr Misir said the book was a good read and would go a long way in educating young Hindus. Book enthusiast, Petamber reiterated this. However, he elaborated that although the book portrayed the “timeless spirit of Hinduism”, it can be read from a secular perspective

Chairman, Clement Corlette. Of particular interest to President Ramotar in the book was the sentence – “an African or an Indian who aspires to be a good Guyanese must first be a good African or Indian, he must first be proud of his racial origin, not only selfrespecting but respecting others of their own groups”. He elaborated on this, stating that it is necessary to be proud of who you are in order to build the Guyanese culture, not only from a mechanical fusion but a dynamic fusion. He said the Swami’s book will go a long way in doing just that. The book’s contribution to history was elucidated by former President Jagdeo.

He spoke to the fact that the country was in the middle of election campaigning and his belief that the book has cleared the air on what happened during the late 1950s, early 1960s. Jagdeo said the book was a testament to the struggles of the people, adding that it was heartening to have proof that “we did not make up this history, many people sacrificed a lot”.

Swami Vidyanandaji (front) with President Donald Ramotar and former President Bharrat Jagdeo

The book, “Journey of the Guru” by Richard B Mahase

Devotees of the Swami Vidyanandaji pay tribute to the founder of the Cove and John Ashram

Guyana facing “revolution”

...not just an election – Nagamootoo

Prime Ministerial Candidate of the People's National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for change (APNU/AFC) coalition, Moses Nagamootoo told supporters on the East Coast Demerara Saturday evening that May 11 is a revolution, not just an election.

The comment about “revolution” was first made by Dr Rupert Roopnaraine when the coalition held its rally in Essequibo. Roopnaraine repeated the call at another rally at the neighbouring village of Plaisance. Delivering his address at the Golden Grove Community Centre Ground, Nagamootoo said the coalition wass made up of a number of persons with different ways of thinking and different goals. However, he stated that they were united in one purpose and that was

uniting Guyana. He told the people that it was a new era when “six political parties can come together and form a joint coalition and enter this election on a common platform with a joint manifesto and united leadership”.

The Prime Ministerial Candidate stated that such a coalition has never been seen in Guyanese history. He said that it was evidence that the two parties APNU and AFC “have attained …political maturity,” as they are “the best of Guyana’s talent, the best of Guyana’s intellect (and) the best of Guyana’s integrity.” Nagamootoo’s old comrades from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) have been consistently claiming that Nagamootoo is bombastic and has a large ego. He told the crowd it was necessary for them to come strong for this year’s elec-

tions as it is not just an election but “a revolution that has …brought together the hope, aspirations, dreams, sacrifices and the struggles from all of our ancestors since slavery through indentureship for the struggle for independence”. With this the Prime Ministerial Candidate stated that all must be conscious “of the great responsibility on our shoulders to change the old, the corrupt, the bankrupt (and) the negative that have affected all our lives”.

Nagamootoo told the people that “we ourselves must lead by example; we must not have any part of violence”. He said that persons may want to “silence us”, “bribe us”, “come after us”, “drown us” but he urged supporters not to be provoked. He said that they have to be disciplined and show that

“we deserve this revolution and we cannot afford to play into the game of those who want to attack us…”

This talk of “revolution” resonates very strongly on the East Coast of Demerara where the revolutionary tradition of 1823 has been nurtured recently with several well-publicised activities. The language that Nagamootoo deployed was coded with words like “attack”, “silenced us”, “drown us” and “provoked” which are all designed to stimulate very strong responses. Combined with the PNCled APNU/AFC’s description of the voters’ list as “dirty”, analysts fear that the coali-

tion’s supporters might be primed for action after the elections.

Meanwhile, Presidential Candidate David Granger urged the people of the East Coast of Demerara to be vigilant and be watchdogs for their democracy come May 11. The leader of the six-party coalition told the gathering that the power to change their lives lay in their hands, as they needed to mobilise their neighbours, friends and family. “You cannot afford to be complacent as history might repeat itself”. He was also using the coded stimulators words to his audience.

He challenged the sick, the lame and even “the lazy” to come out in their numbers on May 11 and make their mark that will “transform” their lives. Granger reminded the crowd that a quarter of their numbers in Region four did not vote at the last elections, reiterating that 56,000 chose not to use their constitutional right to choose who governs them. Granger emphasised that their right to vote and choose their Government is one thing the PPP/C “cannot take …away from you," adding that they have the last word and should not throw away such an opportunity.

PNC-led APNU/AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo greets his supporters

Presidential Candidate David Granger delivering his address

US citizen nabbed at CJIA with cocaine in photo album

AUnited States citizen was on Friday evening nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) while attempting to smuggle out over two kilograms of cocaine in a photo album.

The man was about to board a Dynamic Airlines Flight destined for the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York, USA.

The operation was carried out by members of the Police Narcotics Branch during routine profiling at the main port of entry on Friday.

According to information received, the man was in the process of checking in when members of the Police Narcotics Branch requested that a search be conducted of his suitcases.

During the search, there were no signs of false walls or additional com-

partments, but they came across several small albums that were at the bottom of the suitcases.

During a closer inspection, the ranks detected a quantity of whitish substance which roused suspicions.

The man was cautioned and taken into custody where the substance was tested and proven to be that

of cocaine. When weighed, it amounted to 2.3kg. The man was taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters where he is currently being grilled.

Charges are expected to be laid shortly.

On Wednesday last, ranks of the Guyana Police Force’s Narcotics Branch

intercepted a foreign national with 837 grams of cocaine in footwear. According to information received, the bust was made around 13:10h at the Ogle International Airport.

Reports revealed that the ranks were conducting routine checks when they unearthed the illicit substance in a pair of footwear. The foreign national was taken into custody and was assisting with the investigations.

In addition, on Monday last, Police arrested an outgoing American citizen after discovering a quantity of cocaine in her suitcase at the CJIA. The interception was made about 15:10h. The Police disclosed that some 937 grams of cocaine was found in the woman’s suitcase. She was subsequently charged for trafficking in narcotics.

Clairan’s son injured in accident

The son of Claire and Anthony Pires, the principals of popular business place Clairan’s Enterprise, was among four persons injured in an accident just after midnight on Saturday in the vicinity of Conversation Tree, Greater Georgetown. Anthony Pires is listed in stable but serious condition at a private medical facility.

He reportedly lost a substantial amount of blood following the accident which rendered him unconscious for a while. According to information, Pires was in the company of three other persons when he lost control of his

convertible motor car.

Based on eyewitnesses, the car flipped about three times before landing on the roadway with its four

wheels in the air. Pires, another man and two female companions were rescued by passersby who flipped the car back onto

its wheels.

The other man fainted several times reportedly as a result of shock, while the two females would have sustained minor injuries.

Guyana Times understands that Pires and his friends were reportedly at a popular night spot on Sheriff Street, Georgetown and was heading to another popular drinking spot on the East Coast of Demerara when the accident occurred.

The four occupants of the car were rushed to the private hospital where Pires were admitted and the others were treated and monitored before they were discharged.

Eyew tness

IWolf...

...in sheep's clothing

f old Shakespeare's to be believed, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" but it seems that Granger would have us believe the PNC by any other name wouldn't be as treacherous.

But this subterfuge didn't begin with Granger. Hoyte, however, was a bit more coy with his "PNCR" and the Freudian "PNC-R1G". Granger decided to go the whole hog by bringing in a few "paper parties" and baptising the PNC as APNU!

But now that he's taken to quoting Obama, he should know the great man's take on such cons: "You can put lipstick on a pig - but it's still a pig!" The whole point of the renaming of the PNC, of course, is part of the frantic effort to "rebrand" the party in such a way that folks wouldn't associate its past atrocities with the present incarnation.

Another tact by Granger towards the same end was to have his newfound soul mates Nagamootoo and Ramjattan plead with Guyanese that they have to "forget the past". As with all good PR feints they don't spell out exactly which parts of the "past" they want folks to "forget". Cause you're not supposed to repeat that which you want to bury. In this instance the PNC's atrocities from the 60s to the 80s. Ramjattan and Nagamootoo have their own reasons for wanting that that particular slice of history to be forgotten: they'd spent decades stridently lambasting the PNC for "rigging" "assassinations" and other thuggish behaviour. Wouldn't do much for any shred of credibility still remaining, would it? Hypocritical opportunists!

But recently, new columnist (and old letter writer) Rakesh Rampertab's brought out a concrete instance of the duplicity of Granger on this matter of the PNC name: Granger doesn't want folks to forget ALL of the PNC's pastjust the sordid sections.

In a grandiloquent and otiose echo of his hero Burnham's "Declaration of Sophia", Granger came up with his own "Declaration of Vreed-en-Hoop" in which he exhorted the faithful to remember the "many accomplishments of the PNC in Government".

So the "good" must be remembered but the "bad" forgotten?? Even when the "bad" such as rigging elections is practiced by the leader of the PNC Granger against his own people? Ask Aubrey Norton!

But even more chillingly, Granger declared explicitly: "The experiences of our history...have refined and revived our Party’s ideology." And that's precisely the point being made by those who point out you just can "forget history".

Here, Granger's assuring us that those "experiences of PNC's history" - including rigging, murders, arson, assassinations, etc have "refined...PNC's ideology".

By whatever name it's called.

...in wolf's clothing

Say what you want about Nagamootoo and Ramjattan, they've never hidden their ambitions. That they just couldn't because of "over vaulting" is neither here nor there. These fellas lust for power and make no bones about it.

It was so when they were in the PPP/C and Jagdeo eclipsed their presidential ambitions. It was was so when they pushed out Trotman from the AFC. And it was so when they abandoned their "dead meat" fears and bargained their assumed "11 pert cent" for the Presidential spot with APNU.

We all knew they didn't get it - but Granger would have to be deaf, dumb, blind and dumb (like in daft!) to think they've given up on being President. Like Burnham who lost out to Jagan in 1955...Ramjattan and Nagamoottoo are just biding their time. And plotting and scheming.

When the split finally happened in 1957, Burnham revealed he'd been lining up allies like Latchmansingh as far back as 1952.

Yon Nagamootoo and Ramjattan have a mean and hungry look!! Beware May 11!!

...as mosquito

There's a new species of mosquito in Guyana. If bitten, it introduces a disease that makes you become a wastrel, avoid responsibilities and spew filth all the time.

A replica of the album used by the man

Anthony Pires

Fire ravages Govt building in Region 8

Afire of unknown origin Sunday afternoon completely destroyed two of four Government apartments in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

Several persons have been rendered homeless and millions in household items and other materials have been destroyed. Region Eight Executive Officer (REO)

Ronald Harsaywack said that at approximately 14:22h on Sunday, the Regional Administration received a fire call and immediately dispatched its fire tender. The tender arrived within four minutes of the initial call. The tender was driven by Harsaywack and another staff, who were both in the administrative compound at the time of the call.

Harsaywack said on arrival two of the four apartments of the wooden and concrete structure were well ablaze aided by a heavy wind. This building housed staff of the

Health, Administrative and Public Works Departments of Region Eight. Additional ranks of the Mahdia Fire Auxiliary Brigade later arrived to provide back up.

Harsaywack said the 450-gallon water tank was exhausted within three minutes of operation. At that time, the fire was initially contained until gas cylinders exploded, sending flames throughout the entire structure. He noted that at this point, efforts were made to access water from an overhead reservoir from a nearby gas station; however, this proved futile. The tender then proceeded to a nearby creek to replenish its supply.

According to the REO, two of the now homeless victims collapsed at the roadside and immediate medical attention was rendered by the doctors on site. They were subsequently treated at the Mahdia District Hospital for elevated blood pressure and smoke inhalation.

The REO added that an adjoining building which houses the doctors was saved with only minor damage to its windows.

He said members of the Mahdia Fire Brigade and staff of the Regional Administration manned the operation while assistance was rendered by public-spirited citizens. The Guyana Police Force was also instrumental in keeping the large crowd away, the REO said, adding that 12 persons from four families completely lost all of their belongings.

The Guyana Fire Service is expected to launch an investigation.

Harsaywack said the Regional Administration has made alternative arrangements for housing and other related needs for the victims.

“The Administration would like to thank members of the public for their support,” he said.

EAB cancels limited test to voters’ list

…urges parties’ agents, polling staff to be vigilant

The Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) is appealing to party agents and Polling Day staff to be on the lookout for persons who might have registered twice and also expressed concerns over claims that the voters’ list is bloated.

In a statement last week, the EAB also announced that it would no longer conduct a “limited voters’ list test. The EAB said that at the time of the announcement, it did mention that “Given the limited time available, EAB will need the support of the two main contesting groups, and GECOM, for this test to be done quickly and with quality”. However, the body said each passing day reduces the quality of an exercise as complex as a voters’ list test.

“Unfortunately, the needed information was not provided in sufficient time to permit the announced test to be completed. It is, therefore, with regret that EAB announces the cancellation of its planned testing of the 2015 voters’ list. EAB wishes to thank all those who pledged their time and financial resources, which would have permitted the test to be conducted at a significantly reduced cost.”

According to the EAB, the missed opportunity to independently test the voters’ list deprives the electorate and political parties of added assurance regarding the level of integrity within this critical element of the electoral process. “Notwithstanding this missed opportunity, EAB observes, reminds and queries as follows: institutions that possess a view that there are

discrepancies with the list should provide its evidence to GECOM so that the appropriate actions could be taken by the Commission and concerns could be addressed.”

The body said that it was essential for all political parties and GECOM to remain vigilant and observe all protocols for the integrity of the elections process. “Therefore, at this stage, the EAB is reminding all parties involved that the registration process included Scrutineers from the political parties whose role was to ensure that everyone who registers is verified. And further vigilance is required to ensure that no one person can vote twice or the information for dead or migrated people are not used to vote in their stead.”

According to the EAB, multiple sources allege that the current list appears bloated with the names of persons who have either died or migrated. “All parties, GECOM and stakeholders are aware

of this. We understand that GECOM has been working to improve its methodology to easily remove persons who have died from the list. The difficulty lies with those who are no longer resident in Guyana. GECOM and the parties in the National Assembly should commit to solving this challenge after May 11.”

Regarding fingerprint matching, EAB said the Cogent exercise results should be disclosed, noting that it has been alleged that the list is padded. “One possible way of padding a list is through multiple-registrations. However, GECOM should have conducted an exercise with the company Cogent, where fingerprints are electronically cross-checked to ensure that no fingerprint is on the list more than once. GECOM can usefully disclose to the public the results of the fingerprint matching exercise for 2015.” However, the EAB said party polling agents can deter and detect fraud on Election Day, noting that notwithstanding all of the above, “it is the duty of polling officials to comply with the polling regulations and for party agents to ensure that they do so. Adherence to Polling Day procedures is the best defence against any attempt to abuse the voters’ list. The onus is on political parties to recruit and train their agents early and to the highest standards, sufficient to cover 100 per cent of the polling stations, so that the potential for impersonation, multiple voting and other electoral crimes are minimised.”

EAB Chairman, Father Malcolm Rodrigues

The building on fire

Times Notebook

History is important, so too are plans for development

Guyana goes to elections in two Mondays from now. This will be another election in which people will have a genuine choice, a genuine choice because since 1992, every election has been free and fair.

Unlike elections before 1992 when people’s votes did not matter because the ruling dictatorship led by the PNC rigged the elections, people know that their votes will count in the 2015 elections. In making their choice, people should consider the records of the political parties, the character and integrity of their leaders and their development plans of our country.

APNU+AFC has demanded that people forget the past. But this is one of the most critical parameters for people to consider in making their decision. While people could accept that persons can change and learn from their past, consideration of one’s record will allow us to decide whether we can trust them.

We were flabbergasted and totally perplexed when we heard David Granger urging people to forget the past. Granger himself is a very integral part of the past he wants us to forget. He knows that murder was committed to silence political opponents.

But the most demeaning of all these sins is that Granger lists himself as a historian. A historian allows us to remember and learn from the past. But this historian would rather the Guyanese people forget the past.

Some of Granger’s partners, like Moses Nagamootoo, were eyewitnesses and victims of that sordid past that they too demand we forget.

Khemraj Ramjattan’s father was a headmaster at Tagore Secondary School, a stone’s throw away from where two young men were shot and left to bleed to death. All they wanted was for their X on the ballot paper to be counted.

Granger tells the nation that the young men were gangsters, deserving of what they got

from a “professional” Army. Nagamootoo and Ramjattan stay silent even, though they were eye witnesses to some of that sordid past.

This brings us to the second criterion – character and integrity. Granger is right when he said that the Head of the List of Candidates had to be a man of character and integrity. The Guyanese people must demand no less.

When a man who was very much part of the ugly power that destroyed Guyana, that left heinous scars on our psyche and a legacy of poverty, hunger, imprisonment and murder today tells us that he and his party have nothing to apologize for, that they did nothing wrong, that those are things they are proud of, what kind of character and integrity does such a man possess?

No wonder then that Nagamootoo, Ramjattan, Hughes, Patterson and others would not trust Granger to be the Head of the List.

When an eyewitness like Nagamootoo who not only saw, but experienced and wrote of these matters today deny that such things happen, we are forced to ask what kind of character does this man possess? No wonder too that Granger does not trust Nagamootoo to be the Head of the List.

Neither of them trusts Rupert Roopnarine either. Rupert was the soul brother of Walter Rodney and he knows who murdered Walter. Today he sits with them, even though they refuse to even acknowledge and say they are sorry. No wonder then that Rupert could not qualify for that position!

These same people who had a chance in Parliament to allow Guyana to have hydro-electricity and to prevent Guyana from being blacklisted because we could not enact the AML/ CFT Bill which we agreed to at the UN voted more than once against these things in Parliament within the last two years.

Now they say they will do these things as priorities in their Government

should the people elect them! When they had the chance to do good for Guyana, they rejected Guyana, they thumb their noses on our people. How can anyone trust them?

The political parties, at least the main ones, have now revealed their plans for the future. In the case of APNU+AFC, their manifesto reveals some startling and frightening things. For one, they pre-

dict they will lead Guyana to an annual growth rate of seven per cent, something no Latin American and Caribbean countries have been able to do.

But they admit they do not yet have a plan and they will develop one within 100 days of being in Government. Their manifesto plagiarizes large sections of the PPP/ C’s strategies and plans. For example, their sug-

ar plan is taken from the GuySuCo Business Plan; the Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Plans are taken from the PPP/C’s Land Use Policy. People must not be afraid to make sensible judgments. Record (history), character and integrity and plans for the future are the fundamental criteria for judging the people who want to serve us.

For those who demand of us to restrict our decision-making process to only some of these fundamental criteria, we must say to them that we are a free people and we will utilize the full arsenal of facts before us to make the judgment we must make for the future of our country. Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times. notebook@gmail.com.

monday, april 27, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Major plans proposed for UG upgrade

Guyana’s premier tertiary institution, the University of Guyana, is expected to undergo massive transformation in order to make it a state-of-the-art learning centre, attractive to both local and international students.

This is the vision outlined in the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Manifesto to be achieved in the next five years, should it be re-elected to government at the May 11 polls.

The Party’s Manifesto, dubbed “Vision 2.0”, lays out detailed plans to thrust Guyana into the modern era where unlimited possibilities for self-enhancement and higher quality of life exist. One of the key pillars to building a strong economy, as recognised by Party officials time and time again, is the provision of a sound education.

With that concept in mind, the leaders presented in their Manifesto, several projects they intend to embark upon to transform Guyana’s University.

In no particular order, the PPP/C plans to implement teleconferencing facilities between the University of Guyana Turkeyen and Tain campuses to allow for remote access to lectures by students in Berbice and Georgetown.

As stated in the Manifesto, the Party intends to build a new and modern library for the University.

In a nutshell, the current Government pledged to continue to work with UG’s Council to expand and improve the quality of education being offered at all the campuses in the country.

Only recently, Cabinet had announced that works were underway for the establishment of a Business Development Unity and Research Innovation Fund on the campus.

A Business Development Unit is concerned with building the capacity of practising and aspiring entrepreneurs, through train-

ing in short courses.

A Research Innovation Fund is designed to advance the research community’s capacity to develop innovations that can be commercialised and have an economic impact.

In addition to those developments, the various faculties, including Agriculture, Forestry, Technology, Natural Sciences and the School of Earth and Environmental Science, will undergo rehabilitation works.

Also on the agenda is establishing a brand new University campus on the Essequibo Coast. But, in the meantime, the PPP/C promised to extend university classes there through the provision of extra-mural classes.

There are also plans to expand the online programmes especially for those in the rural and interior regions.

Primary schools

In its bid to further promote Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the current Administration pledged to strive to ensure all primary schools are equipped with computer laboratories.

The Administration noted that having attained the status of universal prima-

ry education where all children can go to a primary school, it would continue to work towards attaining universal nursery and secondary education.

Vocational education

In relation to opportunities in Technical and Vocational Education, the Manifesto detailed that investments will be made to achieve a parallel assessment/certificate pathway that removes the pressure of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations from those who opt for this channel; achieve greater streamlining of the offerings at the secondary and post-secondary levels in all of the technical areas; create the environment for direct and seamless linkage to the University of Guyana as a defined pathway; allow for acceleration of approval to offer Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) in Guyana; and to operationalise the centres to assess and certify individuals based on their prior skills and knowledge.

The Party also plans to establish Centres of Excellence for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), the arts and modern languages.

IAC unveils plans for grand melas

The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) has once again embarked on its grand cultural concerts that will be held in Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice.

The theme under which this year’s festivities are being held is Hamara Guyana translated as “Our Guyana”. Members of the IAC, as they do every year, would strive towards ensuring that the reflection of the arrival of the Indian indentured labourers in Guyana is brought out to the public as they progress towards fostering togetherness among its people as they observe this significant occasion.

At a press conference held on Friday at the Aagman Indian Restaurant, founding member of the IAC, Raymond Azeez highlighted that this year will see the IAC hosting three grand cultural concerts. The first will be held on May 1, 2015 at the National Stadium, Providence inclusive of a Choker Fest and the other two will be held on May 2, at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, Essequibo followed by the final event, which will be held on May 5 at the Albion Sports Complex in Berbice. Admission is $500 for adults and free for children; all activities will commence from 15:00h.

According to IAC Executive Member Aditya Persaud, the Hamara Guyana Concerts will feature a number of international artistes as well as overseas-based Guyanese who are returning specifically to perform at these concerts. He noted that these artistes include our very own Terry Gajraj and Marissa

Deodat along with top local singers and dancers who include Nachgana Dance Academy, Shelita Dance Troupe, and Roshini Boodoo and her dance troupe.

Also expected to perform is KI and his full band, along with Sally Sargam out of Trinidad and Tobago as well as Ravi B and Neval Chatelal. Persaud went on to speak about other features of the event such as face painting and mehindi.

No alcohol

He further announced that there would be various booths selling seven curry, special delicacies out of India and a wide range of sweetmeats. It was noted that there will be exhibits to showcase the three major religions of Guyana as well as various aspects of the Indian culture including a yoga demonstration. Persons are urged not to take any alcoholic beverage into the venues as it is a religious programme and there would be other drinks and juices on sale.

Representatives of the IAC stressed that there is a number of companies that have always supported the organisation dur-

ing activities like these, including Coca-Cola, Aagman Restaurant, and New Thriving. They also stated that as usual it would be a rich cultural programme and a number of games would be there for the children, so families can bring them out and have a merry time as they enjoy the various entertaining activities that will be featured.

IAC Member Evan Persaud emphasised that in promoting a sense of unity for the upcoming May 11, 2015 elections, the IAC “will stress at every Mela to the audience that they must behave with decorum leading up to the elections, which is only a few days after these Melas, that they must obey the laws of Guyana and must remain peaceful”.

The IAC is a non-profit, Non-Governmental Organisation that was established in 2003 to deal with issues and concerns of persons of Indo-Guyanese origin and promote the Indian culture in all its aspects throughout Guyana. It has also championed the efforts to have May 5 recognised and declared a national holiday by the National Assembly of Guyana.

Mexican Govt opens 2016 Scholarships Programme

Following the recent posting of the 2015 Call for the Special Programmes of the Mexican Government Scholarships, the Embassy of Mexico in Guyana is further pleased to inform of the launching of the 2016 Call for Mexican Government Scholarships for International Students which will remain open until August 31, 2015.

This particular programme opens the opportunity to candidates from 180 countries, including

Guyana, to study a specialisation, master or doctorate, or take part in an academic mobility programme in Mexico, a release from the Embassy said. Additional benefits apply for candidates from Guyana when enrolling in Engineering, Health, Biotechnology, Genomics, Mechatronics, Nanotechnology and Environment, or a Spanish preparatory course.

The Embassy said for this edition, 71 top Mexican universities and research centres have partnered with AMEXCID, the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation, to offer a whole array of academic programmes which will allow international students to benefit from the progress achieved by Mexico in many areas of science and humanities. Information on the programme as well as participating universities and research centres is available at: http://www.amexcid. gob.mx/index.php/es/ofertade-becas-para-extranjeros/

PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar and Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper at the Party’s manifesto launch at the Marriott Hotel Guyana on Saturday

Flashback: A dance troupe that featured at one of IAC’s melas strike a pose

PPP/C Stewartville rally:

Jagdeo urges observers', supporters’ vigilance ....Armed Forces "wise choice" on E-Day

ormer President

FBharrat Jagdeo has delivered a stern warning to the international observers participating in this year’s General and Regional Elections, to pay keen attention to the events that will unfold on Election Day particularly at the various polling stations.

He has urged them to guard against the usual sabotage – which he said is a known ploy of the

tions in some areas in the afternoon. They will make an attempt to storm the polling stations as soon as it becomes dark to stir up confusion,” he warned.

He called on the international observers, among whom are former United States President Jimmy Carter and his team from the Carter Centre, to pay keen attention to this.

“The observers have to pay attention to that, because they will spare no means to try to have political power. They have tried it in the

terms associated with such crimes.

Military

Meanwhile, speaking to the military, Jagdeo urged the men and women in uniform to make the wise choice when they cast their ballots on Saturday.

“How could they say they love you today and treated you with such disdain, when soldiers did not have enough to eat, they didn’t have enough equipment, they did not even have enough clothing to

about this before you vote.” Jagdeo said the PNC has been the major player in capturing the hearts and minds of soldiers.

According to him, it has done it again with the inclusion of ex-military people in the campaign. He urged soldiers to make the right choice when they vote, taking into consideration their “real supporters”, over the years. He spoke again of the meagre salary soldiers had received and their poor living conditions, under the

People’s National Congress (PNC). The former Head of State was at the time delivering his speech at a massive rally in Stewartville, West Coast Demerara on Sunday evening.

He took the opportunity to also urged members of the disciplined forces, particularly those in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), to take stock of the development they have had so far, inviting them to make the “wise “choice on their polling day. The Joint Services will vote on Saturday.

Jagdeo told the thousands of PPP/C supporters that they too needed to be “vigilant”, and be on the alert for such actions. He recalled that back in 2011, some polling agents were put out of the stations after which the votes were tampered with.

“We have to guard against that happening again, in those villages where we did not have polling agents,” Jagdeo told the cheering crowd.

“We know, they often try to invade the polling sta-

past through the rigging and they will do it again,” Jagdeo said.

He said PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Presidential Candidate David Granger was already making excuses in this regard when he raised concerns that the list was flawed. He said Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had three years of continuous registration and claims and objections and the party has never “uttered a word” about any flawed list.

“As they see our campaigns rolling out, as they see you in your large numbers coming out, they are growing afraid and are preparing an excuse for their defeat,” Jagdeo told the crowd.

He said too that GECOM still needed to publish every instruction for Presiding Officers in the newspaper, so that they “do not act capriciously” and if they do, the elections body must publish the penalty or jail

wear and you say that you love them today, simply because you are ex-military men?”

“I say to the soldiers, I say to the Policemen, do

PNC Administration.

“Comrades, we need to be vigilant, we need the military and Police to understand the mind game being played by the APNU,”

don’t win elections, votes do,” Jagdeo said to loud applause.

Political consciousness

Speaking directly to supporters, the former President said he was always impressed with the political consciousness of the people of Region Three. “We don’t need to tell you the messages; you have lived here and seen the changes in Guyana.”

He said the PNC has created a name for itself over the years, pointing out that the PPP/C does not have to go back to the “28 years of PNC thuggery to get that message across

ing “change”, its most recent action just a few years ago, reveal that it was the same party that existed under the Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham Administration.

“If you remember October 12, 2012, the AFC gave the President an ultimatum, telling him to remove Minister Clement Rohee because of the riots that they had instigated in Linden. They threatened that if they did not heed, they would see consequences. And guess what were the consequences: they blocked the road in Agricola and put out their thugs on the streets,

not listen to their rhetoric, they are playing on your fears. I am urging all soldiers and Police, think

Jagdeo cautioned. “Never mind the intimidation, never mind the tearing down of posters, posters

....We know what’s going on.” He said while the Party has been preach-

B y A lexis R odney

drag

the women from the vehicles, beat them up, babies were crying, and today they talk about change?”

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the thousands gathered at Stewartville

A section of the massive gathering in support of the PPP/C

PPP/C candidates on stage at the rally

South Korea, Caribbean strengthen investment, trade ties

The investment and trade ties between Latin America and the Caribbean and South Korea have grown stronger in recent years, according to a new publication by the Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The study says the Republic of Korea has become a significant source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the region, even surpassing China between 2000 and 2011.

Between 2003 and 2012, the FDI flows originating in that Asian country grew from US$4 billion to US$27 billion, said the study, entitled “Economic relations between Latin America and the Caribbean and the Republic of Korea: Advances and Opportunities”.

At the same time, the study said South Korea’s participation in the Region’s exports rose from 1.1 per cent in 2000 to 1.3 per cent in 2013, while its weight in terms of imports went from 1.8 per cent to

3.1 per cent.

According to ECLAC’s document, the Republic of Korea went from being one of the world’s poorest countries in the early 1960s to being, by 2014, a high-income economy, an industrial, exporting and scientific power, and a society with high levels of social cohesion and educational achievement. Today, it has a market of 50 million inhabitants and per capita income that tops US$28,000, the study said.

South Korea’s experience, spanning six decades, offers numerous lessons for Latin America and the Caribbean and for developing nations in general, according to the report.

The study indicated that the main lesson to be gleaned from the Korean experience is that, regardless of the global economic context’s ups and downs, achieving development depends on the quality and coherence of a country’s public policies. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Tackling economy is top priority for new Anguilla Govt

Anguilla’s Opposition Anguilla United Front (AUF) handed a heavy defeat to the incumbent Anguilla United Movement (AUM), taking six of the seven seats in Wednesday’s general election in the tiny British overseas territory.

The AUM won no seats – the seventh was taken by independent candidate, lawyer/businessperson Pamovan Webster, who defeated the man who led the incumbent party into the election – medical practitioner Ellis Lorenzo Webster.

Outgoing Chief Minister

Hubert Hughes was not a candidate in the election but had predicted a landslide for his AUM.

“I now have reserves of $30 million in the fund. I have a surplus situation. I never had to borrow to pay my civil servants... I have a situation where Anguilla is growing faster than any other state in the region,” he said.

Chief Minister-elect Victor Banks, a former Finance Minister, speaking to WINN FM on Thursday, dismissed the claim that the economy was doing well under the Hughes administration.

Venezuela mango-thrower gets flat from President

AVenezuelan woman has had her wish for a flat granted by President Nicolas Maduro after she made her point by hitting him on the head with a mango.

Marleny Olivo threw the fruit at the President while he was driving a bus through the central state of Aragua.

It had a message on it, in which she pleaded for his help.

Maduro displayed the mango with her telephone number on it during a live television show afterwards. He said he had agreed to her request for a flat.

Chile

volcano

The move, he said, was part of the “Great Housing Mission of Venezuela”.

Olivo had written a message on a mango – “If you can, call me” – along with her name and phone number. She got as close to the bus as she could when it passed and then tossed the fruit at him.

In a video that has gone viral in Venezuela, the President can be seen lowering his head when he is hit just above the left ear.

He then calmly picks up the mango and displays it to the crowd.

Later, the President discussed the incident in one of his regular live TV

broadcasts in which he displayed the infamous mango.

“She had a housing problem, right? And, Marleny, I have approved it already, as part of the Great Housing Mission of Venezuela, you will get an apartment and it will be given to you in the next few hours.

“Tomorrow, no later than the day after tomorrow, we will give it to you.”

Ms Olivo said that there was “no evil intent” behind the incident only a desire to fulfil her dreaming of owning a home before she dies. (Excerpt

ash causes cancellation of international flights

International flights are being delayed or cancelled because of concerns over the ash cloud created by the Calbuco volcano in Chile.

The eruption on Thursday created a cloud of ash that went up 20 kilometres (12 miles) into the air.

Volcanic ash can be extremely dangerous to aircraft as the fine particles can damage engines.

Many international flights have been affected in the last few hours, with one forced to turn back to Australia.

Qantas flight QF27 was five hours into its journey to Santiago when it had to turn back to Sydney late on Friday.

A Qantas spokeswoman in Sydney said it returned because of concerns over the ash cloud.

Two flights from the United States to Buenos Aires, one with Delta Air Lines and one with American Airlines, had to return to their departure airports.

One Air France flight from Paris to Santiago had to land in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and another des-

tined for Buenos Aires landed in Rio de Janeiro. Flight cancellations depend on the density of the ash emitted by a volcano.

Dense ash can clog a jet’s fuel and cooling system and lead to the failure of an engine. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ice cream recall extended to Caribbean

B“There’s definitely been no growth of significance for the past five years, so the economy cannot be doing well.

We have a situation where there are a number of non-performing loans in banks. It has increased over the years because people can’t meet their commitments.

Many people have been out of work for years, and many people have been underemployed, working two or three days per week rather than [working for] a living wage,” he said. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

lue Bell Creameries of Brenham, Texas, has voluntarily expanded its recall to include all of its products currently on the market because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

This recall includes ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks made at all Blue Bell facilities. The recalled products have been distributed internationally to several countries in the Caribbean region, including Anguilla, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Consumers should not eat any of the recalled prod-

ucts. If these products are in your freezer, they should be thrown away or returned, even if some of them have been eaten without anyone becoming ill.

The Centres for Disease Control (CDC) reported that, as of Monday, a total of 10 patients infected with several strains of Listeria monocytogenes were reported from four states: Arizona (1), Kansas (5), Oklahoma (1), and Texas (3). Illness onset dates ranged from January 2010 through January 2015. All ten patients were hospitalised.

Three deaths were reported from Kansas within the last year. Three strains associated with these case patients have been identified in products manufac-

tured at either the Blue Bell production facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, or Brenham, Texas.

Listeriosis is a rare but serious illness caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes

Anyone who experiences fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhoea or other gastrointestinal symptoms, or develops fever and chills after eating the ice cream should seek medical care and tell their health care provider about any history of eating the ice cream. Symptoms can appear from a few days up to a few weeks after consumption of the contaminated food.

South Korea’s experience offers numerous lessons for the Caribbean

The ash cloud has led to delays or cancellations to flights from Europe, Australia and the United States

The new AUF Government: (L-R) Evans McNeil Rogers, Curtis Richardson, Chief Minister Victor Banks, Evalie Bradley, Cora Richardson-Hodge, Cardigan Connor (Anguilla News photo)

Chaos mars Nepal quake relief operations

Thousands of displaced residents in the Nepali capital have expressed anger towards the Government, as they face food and water shortage, a day after a magnitude 7.8 quake hit the country and killed more than 2500 people.

As rescuers continue to dig through the rubble on Sunday, the densely-populated capital Kathmandu faces a “chaotic situation” with hospitals running out of medical supply, and thousands of people, who are camped in open air areas, are left hungry and thirsty, according to Al Jazeera reporters on the ground.

“A lot of people taking shelter outside in open spaces are without food or water,” Al Jazeera’s Subina Shrestha, who is in Kathmandu, said.

“People are very angry with the Government for being left in the lurch.”

Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons, who is also re-

porting from Kathmandu, said “there’s a great worry about how people are going to get by”, with many infrastructure destroyed and the power out.

He also reported that the frequent aftershocks, including one at magnitude 6.7 on Sunday morning, have rattled the already jittery survivors.

Kathmandu “is going through an absolute trauma of extraordinary proportions” following the worst disaster to hit the

Himalayan nation in more than 80 years. At least 1152 were reported killed in the capital.

Relief agencies have already warned that as many as six million people might be affected in Nepal by Saturday’s disaster.

Hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley, the quake-affected region with 2.5 million people, were overcrowded, running out of emergency supplies and space to store corpses, the UN said in a statement.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Baltimore Freddie Gray death protest turns violent

More than 1000 protesters have marched in Baltimore over the death of a black man in Police custody a week ago.

But after hours of peaceful demonstrations, some protesters smashed Police windows and shop fronts. At least 12 people were arrested.

Freddie Gray was arrested by Police on April 12 and

then suffered spinal injuries leading to death a week later.

His twin sister, Fredricka Gray, appealed for calm, saying her family wanted the violence to stop.

As clashes began on Saturday evening, she said: “Freddie Gray would not want this.”

The Baltimore Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, speaking alongside Gray,

said she was “profoundly disappointed” by the unrest, blaming it on “agitators”.

Six Police officers have been suspended following the death and an internal Police investigation is under way.

Gray, who was 25, is the latest of a series of black Americans to die in Police custody in recent months, triggering angry protests accusing the Police of brutality.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

South Africa xenophobia: Anger over Nigeria envoy recall

South Africa has condemned Nigeria’s decision to recall its Ambassador over a spate of attacks against foreigners.

It called the step “unfortunate and regrettable” and said it “would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode”.

At least seven people have died over a month of attacks on foreigners and foreign-owned property in South Africa.

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has been blamed for sparking the attacks with comments about foreign workers.

Soldiers were deployed to flashpoints last week to prevent more violence.

Some blamed the attacks – which centred on Durban and Johannesburg – on unemployment and poor political leadership.

Thousands were displaced, with many Zimbabweans,

Mozambicans, Malawians and others returning home and others taking refuge in temporary Governmentoperated shelters.

Some Governments complained that South Africa was failing to do enough to protect foreign nationals, though it now insists it has quelled the violence.

Nigeria has summoned Acting High Commissioner

Around the World

Air raids and ground clashes rage in Yemen

Warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition battling Shia rebels in Yemen have struck targets in several provinces, including the capital Sanaa, security officials said, as fighting raged across the country.

The Sunday airstrikes began just after midnight, officials said, hitting a military base known to be an arms depot on the outskirts of Sanaa, as well as sites near the presidential palace where weapons were being moved.

There were at least five airstrikes on military positions and an area near the presidential palace compound in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa at dawn, while foreign warships shelled the rebels’ positions near the main commercial port of the southern city of Aden, residents said.

Martin Cobham along with Deputy High Commissioner Uche AjuluOkeke. “for consultation” over the “ongoing xenophobia”, Foreign Affairs Minister Aminu Wali said in a statement carried by media on Saturday.

The statement acknowledges that South African President Jacob Zuma has condemned the attacks.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Air raids also targeted the rebels in Aden as street fighting between Houthis and forces loyal to exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi continued.

Meanwhile, Iran’s navy chief said on Sunday that it would keep warships in the Gulf of Aden for at least several months, a stance that could boost US concerns about Tehran trying to supply advanced weapons to the Houthis. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

“The explosions were so big they shook the house, waking us and our kids up. Life has really become unbearable in this city,” a Sanaa resident who gave his name as Jamal told the Reuters news agency.

Deadly Burundi protests after President seeks 3rd term

At least two people have been killed in violent clashes in Burundi, a day after President Pierre Nkurunziza launched his bid for a third term in office.

Thousands defied a ban to take to the streets of the capital Bujumbura. Police shot live ammunition in the air to disperse them.

President Nkurunziza was nominated to run by his governing CNDD-FDD party.

Opponents say it is unconstitutional and threatens a peace deal that ended the 12-year civil war in 2005.

More than 300,000 people died in the war.

Angry protesters on Sunday threw rocks and lit tyres. Police responded with tear gas, water cannon and live ammunition, blocking access to the centre of the capital.

The Burundian Red Cross spokesman Alexis

Manirakiza told the BBC that at least five protesters were injured in the clashes and that one was in a coma. Many demonstrators have been detained.

Police also threatened to shut down a private radio station unless it stopped live broadcasts about the protests.

At his nomination by a special party congress, President Nkurunziza said: “I call people to go to the election in peace.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Helicopters have ferried injured people from Everest Base Camp, which was also affected

The attacks were blamed on rivalry for jobs – and controversial remarks by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini

18 children to undergo heart surgeries at GPHC

Eighteen children from across the country will be undergoing heart surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) under the tutelage of the International Children’s Heart Foundation (Baby Heart).

The surgeries are slated to commence over the next two weeks. Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran assured that his Ministry will continue to give the maximum support to this initiative while noting that this is a big step forward for Guyana. Children will now be treated in Guyana and would not have to be sent abroad, away from their families at high expenses.

“It was a cut from our budget to send children overseas, because we did not have the

capacity to treat them here, but we will now address the issue,” he said.

The International Children’s Heart Foundation (Baby Heart) recently donated a Heart Lung Machine to the GPHC which is very essential for the surgeries.

Minister Ramsaran said that this equipment will not only benefit the Guyanese children who will be undergoing surgery, but hopefully patients who are suffering from other jurisdictions.

The Minister also lauded the work of the team from Baby Heart Foundation, as well as the doctors at the hospital who have contributed tremendously in making this programme possible. Dr. Rodrigo Soto, Chief Executive Officer of Baby Heart Foundation said the organisation has been

around for over 20 years and has successfully completed 7,500 surgeries in 32 countries.

He said its mission is to teach the local health care practitioners, so that in the future they can conduct these surgeries. “We are here to train Guyanese doctors so they can do assessments, surgeries and take care of the patients after surgeries… and so we will be successful when we do not have to come here anymore, and that mean the local team is able to perform after we would have taught them,” he said. A special Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is under construction at the GPHC to accommodate the patients that will be undergoing the heart surgeries, to provide better post-surgery care. (GINA)

102 graduate from Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre

“Success comes with hard work and perseverance; it is not an easy road to success.” That was the message Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh gave to the 102 students who graduated from the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre last week.

The students graduated in nine disciplines namely: Automotive Electrical, Heavy Duty Machinery, Information Technology, Metal Work Engineering, Carpentry/Joinery, Motor Vehicle /Mechanic, Welding and Fabrication, Supervisory Management, Electrical Installation and Refrigeration.

The programmes were offered through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment. Under this programme, young persons are equipped and empowered with the requisite skills to enter the work force.

Dr Singh went on to use

Keisha Fraser is Linden Town Week 2015 queen

Keisha Fraser, delegate number five who represented Victory Valley, is the newest Linden Town Week queen, winning handsomely this year’s competition, which was held on Saturday evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground. This year’s pageant was put on by Vybz Entertainment. As the 2014 queen, Luella Figeira said goodbye to her year- long reign, the new queen was crowned in the wee hours of Sunday.

Fraser, a teacher by profession, was an obvious crowd favourite when she made her appearances. Miss Retrieve Carletta Johnson (delegate number six) claimed the first runner-up spot; Miss Watooka Nickita McFarlane (delegate number nine) copped the second runner-up place and Miss Christianburg Shenell Browne (delegate number seven) was awarded third runner-up.

Apart from the evening’s event which included talent, swimsuit and evening gown segments, the delegates were also judged based on their performances at a recently-conducted intelligent segment. Fraser was also awarded the Best Talent for a dramatic piece which she performed on Saturday evening in addition to copping the Most Intelligent Award.

The Miss Congeniality

Prize was awarded to Miss Central Mackenzie Irie Cadogan (delegate number four).

Other competitors in this year’s pageant included Manouska Vyhuis (delegate number one), Miss Nottinghamshire; Keisha Lewis (delegate number two) – Miss Silvertown; Lurlee

Stephens (delegate number three) – Miss Aroaima; and Shellon Massiah, (delegate number eight) – Miss Amelia’s Ward.

Stephens was awarded the Best Gown Prize.

This year’s queen will receive a trip for two to Jamaica, along with other prizes. Additionally, there will be prizes for the second runner-up, while the first runner-up will receive a full university scholarship. Best Smile, Miss Congeniality and Best Gown prizes will also be awarded.

This year’s queen will automatically enter into the Miss Guyana World pageant and will be a Vybz Entertainment Ambassador, tasked with travelling and inspiring positive change. The crown which was awarded to this year’s winner was donated by the Linden Dream Team (LDT), an overseas-based organisation tasked with giving back to the Linden Community. Prizes for the competition are set to be handed over at a later date.

the example of Usain Bolt to show how on the surface you see only his success but what is not seen is the early morning runs and hours of intense training daily. He commended the students for taking the initiative to do the courses and successfully acquire a skill that can be used to help generate an income and create an individual’s own wealth.

He lauded the efforts of the Institute which to date has graduated over 1000 students in various disciplines who are earning a living for not only themselves but for their families and helping to develop their various communities and ultimately the country as a whole. This, he says, shows the commitment of the Government towards the education sector to not only finance the institution, but also that the success of the Institute is part of the national policy on education. “The organising and delivery of this training course is not a random or accidental occurrence, but instead it is in fact part of a comprehensive agenda that we have in respect in developing the human resource capability of the country and with respect of creating opportunities for all the people of Guyana.”

“We try to make sure we create an opportunity for each and every person emerging from these programmes [who] has the skills that are needed to prepare them for the world of today and the modern world so we have devoted effort and resources ensuring that our schools deliver the better quality education and we have seen the results of this…”

Dr Singh went on to give the Government’s commitment to the continuation of the funding and development of the technical institutes like the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre, the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI); the Port Mourant Training Centre (PMTC); and the Government Technical Institute (GTI), etc. He noted that in each of these institutes, the Government

wanted to deliver more competent training programme that will equip the trainees, with skills that will enable them to succeed and prosper in today’s world. He said it is because of the vision of the current Administration which understands that not everyone can become a doctor or lawyer or have an office job that these opportunities were provided, so that every young person in Guyana has an opportunity to apply a skill. He said Government believed that would go to the core of improving quality of life because there can be no better way to prepare persons to be independent, to empower themselves and to equip themselves with a skill that will enable them to earn an income to take care of themselves and family and to contribute to the prosperity of their country.

Persevere for success He went on to commend the graduates for their perseverance for not only taking part in the various programmes but for staying the course and completing them which showed their interest in taking care of themselves. He also noted that this was just the beginning as there was only so much the Government or family could do, the rest depended on the individual to harness, mobilise and apply the skills acquired for the purpose of their improvement, upliftment and well-being, while understanding the reality that success would not come easily. “Nobody who has achieved real success has done so by strolling down the easy street, so you have to persevere…”

Labour Ministry Permanent Secretary Patrick Findlay, who spoke on behalf of Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul, spoke of Government’s commitment to youth empowerment. He boasted that in the past five years, the Labour Ministry, through the BIT, has graduated and released into society over 12,000 young persons.

continue to page 17

A section of some of the graduating students

Bio-Medical Engineers along with the children who will be undergoing surgery and their parents

Miss Linden Town Week Keisha Fraser

Hindus observe Sita Jayanti

Today, Hindus all across Guyana celebrate Sita Jayanti. Sita Jayanti, sometimes called Sita Navami, marks the birth anniversary of Devi Sita. Sita is considered an avatar of Ma Lakshmi and was born in the kingdom of Mithila on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Vaishakha. Ma Sita is the consort of Lord Rama (avatar of Lord Vishnu) and is one of the main characters, also known as the silent pillar of strength in the Ramayana

She is considered to be one of the chastest women and is respected as the epitome of all womanly virtues for Hindu women. Devi Sita is indeed the ideal example of a woman and possesses all the good qualities that a traditional Hindu woman is expected to possess. She was the ideal daughter to her parents, ideal wife to her husband, Rama, and the

ideal mother to her twins, Luv and Kush.

Sita had to undergo many trials and tribulations in her marital life and it was her courage, chastity and adherence to Dharma (righteousness) that finally made her emerge the ultimate winner. Through her life story, Sita showed how a strong wom-

an should be and that she should never let go of her principles in life. Probably, the whole mission of Sita’s birth on Earth in human form was to destroy the arrogant Ravana, the demon King of Lanka.

Sita is also said to be the daughter of Mother Earth, produced as a result of the

holy union between the king and the land. Hence, Devi Sita is a personification of the Earth’s fertility, abundance, peace and prosperity.

Some believe that Devi Sita may have been named after a very ancient Vedic Goddess, Sita. This deity has been mentioned in the Rigveda as the Earth Goddess, who blesses the land with fertile soil and good crops. During the Vedic era, Sita was one of the goddesses associated with fertility.

Sita’s life was filled with trouble and turmoil and yet, she maintained her calm and dignity throughout. Her story has been narrated in entirety in the book, Sitayanam. The values that she adhered to and represented at every point in the course of her arduous life have now translated into the values of womanly virtue, held sacred by all generations, past, present and future.

Cricket legends meet Caricom Heads of Government

West Indies cricket legends Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Wesley Hall, Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Andy Roberts, Deryck Murray, Gordon Greenidge and Michael Holding met in Grenada with the Caricom Cricket Governance Committee to have a discussion on the Governance of Cricket.

The Governance Committee comprises the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr Keith Mitchell as Chairman; the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Brown and the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves. The meeting, which took place last Monday at the Spice Island Beach Resort, was also attended by Caricom Chairman Perry Christie, Prime Minister of the Bahamas; and Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque.

The Committee was es-

tablished by the Heads of Government to, among other things, undertake a review of the administrative and governance structure of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), with a view to involving greater stakeholder participation.

The legends welcomed the engagement with the Heads of Government, and Prime Minister Mitchell noted the “historic importance” of the session. The meeting examined the current state of West Indies cricket in comparison to the “glory days” when the “legends” were at the top of the game. Discussions focused on the governance structure for the management of West Indies cricket and were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere.

Among the issues raised were the fact that cricket, which is a public good, is run by a private limited liability company; how to effect change in the status quo

Greenidge of the management of West Indies cricket; and the development of cricket at the school and community level.

A number of ideas and suggestions were put forward by the legends, for expanding the stakeholder base and their own role in the management of the West Indies cricket.

Later on Monday, the Governance Committee, the Chairman of Conference and the Secretary General met with a delegation comprising the management and members of the WICB, led by its President, Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron, to have further discussion on governance issues.

Finding your niche

Successful people are really good to determine what they are good at which is a good advantage towards their success. These leaders certainly built their careers around their own niches.

There is no doubt that when we start out right, it is much easier for us to make a long-term advancement. Though I said it many times that the simplest thing in life is usually the most important, when it comes to career I make a little exception. Meaning that Instead of committing myself to a “simply” job, I try to look for that “perfect” fit or that niche.

One thing that helps for sure is when we are able establish our personal values and goals, because once we have those, it is easy for us to know where we want to go. It’s like having a personal plan in life.

When we have this in place we can see opportunities that come along the way, something that fits with our goals and values. It certainly helps to put us on the right track.

When it comes to finding our niche, another thing we have to keenly think about is something that we are very much passionate about. For example, we have to think of things that motivate and empower us rather than things that bring no motivation in our lives.

The key point is for us to develop our own style. For example we have to figure out the things we are good at and create ways to come up with our own style as long as it’s lining up with our values and goals that I mention about earlier.

One of the worst things we can do is to try to follow exactly what other successful people have done to achieve their goals. It’s probably a good idea though to ask people who we know to give some feedback about our own leadership styles, especially if we are unable to identify them ourselves.

Another thing we have to keep in mind is that in order to find our own niche, it is also important to try to figure out the things that we are not so good at. This way once we have that awareness we can try to find ways to improve it or just accept it and don’t try to pretend that we know it all.

Because if we try to fake it; it might come back to haunt us later on in our lives or it might even hold us back from succeeding. I can say one thing for sure and that is these kinds of behaviour doesn’t last for too long.

So to come back to this niche that I am talking about, if we are able to figure out some things that we can do more of in our career that fits with our goals and values, something that we are really good at, then we have found our niche.

And keep in mind that these are the things in life that will likely to make us much happier in life.

For questions, comments or feedback, send them to mcnarine@rogers.com.

102 graduate from Upper...

In 2015, Findlay highlighted that over 2700 persons have been able to empower themselves and enhance their lives with the training received. “The Minister wanted the message to be registered: the Government has seen the opportunity, invested and put the money where it’s going to have more value and resources, because today our Government is pushing for value for money … We at the BIT have

not shuddered … I want to commit from the Ministry of Labour, through the BIT, our continued input to the training programmes that are offered here.”

He also stated that these programmes are offered countrywide. Findlay implored the youngsters to make the best use of the opportunities provided and use the certificates to earn an income. “If I may offer any-

From page 16

thing to you I want to tell you to use this skill training, this opportunity, to use this certificate and not lay back and wait on someone to employ you, but to create an environment become entrepreneurs where you in turn would be able to create employment for someone else … I think it would be noble for a number of you here to get together and band yourself together to create an avenue and opportunity to

become entrepreneurs so that you can be able to employ others who would have come through this programme after today.” In closing, Findlay cautioned the graduands to be “the architects of your own destiny, how high you go depends on you, and how low you remain depends on you”. A quote which moved the graduands to pledge to excel in every area they endeavour.

Narine Dat Sookram

Devi Sita and her sons, Luv and Kush

Meeting of the Caricom Cricket Governance Committee with WI cricket legends. From left to right: Sir Viv Richards; Sir Wes Hall; Deryck Murray; Sir Andy Roberts; Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines; Dr Rudy Webster; Caricom Chairman and Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Perry Christie; Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; Dr Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada; Sir Garfield Sobers; Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque; Gordon

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Love and romance are in a high cycle. You will be the life of the party, so get out with friends and enjoy yourself. A new connection will intrigue you.

Conservative investments or proven formulas will help to improve your financial situation. Be prudent. Unproven or risky purchases can do lasting damage to your reputation and personal life.

Don’t rely on others to tell you the truth. All decisions must be made on your own terms. Research will be imperative. Family tension will escalate if not dealt with quickly.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Strive to bring attention to social issues that you care about. You will gain support, but also face detractors. The better prepared you are, the more favourable the response will be.

Bottling up your emotions will result in tension and frustration. Even if the matter is a sensitive one, you must honestly acknowledge your feelings if you hope to move forward.

Deception is apparent. Trust your intuition. Someone will withhold vital information in order to further his or her interests. Don’t let anyone pressure you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

A change of scenery will provide clues to the solution of a current dilemma. At first you may question what unfolds, but as the day progresses, everything will fall into place.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Stimulate your imagination by trying something amusing or entertaining. This will also help to serve as a diversion from a troublesome situation that has been hovering in your thoughts.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

You will have to dig deep if you want to find the answers you are looking for. Friends or family will tell you what you want to hear, not what you need to know.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

This is not the time to lend or borrow money. Be open about business matters. Your reputation will suffer if you make secretive arrangements or deals.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

A change in the way you earn your living is apparent. You will meet someone who offers important information about a career opportunity. Weigh the pros and cons before you make a move.

Fluctuating health issues should be investigated. Something that seems minor will get worse if it’s not dealt with in a timely manner. Keep accurate records of your medical history.

GEMINI

PeanutS

Calvin and HobbeS

dilbert arCHie

YBG Berbice Regional Conference…

Neil Wills was almost unstoppable on Friday at the Smythfield Drop-in Centre Court in New Amsterdam, Berbice in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) when he scored 62 points for his school in the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG)organised Berbice Regional Conference.

Wills ensured that New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) recorded the biggest win in the competition when they obliterated Vryman’s Ervin Secondary (VESS) by 119 points.

At half time the score was 60-6. Wills who also had eight rebounds and was supported by Ramone Fogenay, who had 22 points,

Ramdin: Windies paid the price for 1st session collapse

Snine assists and eight steals. Tafawa Daly had 20 points with 11 rebounds for VESS.

When the competition opened on Tuesday, Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) defeated VESS 3120 and NAMS beat New Amsterdam Technical institute (NATI) 34-24.

In the first game, Shemar France scored 22 points and grabbed four rebounds for BEI, while Mark Wilson scored eight points with five rebounds for VESS.

Wills’62 points help NAMS destroy VESS 125-6

kipper Denesh Ramdin says West Indies have paid the price for losing six wickets in the first session of play on the final day of the second test match against England at the national stadium here on Saturday.

his departure in the seventh over of the morning with the score on 224, was followed by six wickets tumbling for 62 runs in quick time.

“Having partnerships and going on should have been very important but

The homeside mustered 84 runs in that unlucky first session when wickets stumbled and they never recovered in the face of a devastating new ball spell from seamer James Anderson.

In the end, Ramdin’s men suffered a heavy nine wicket defeat to the Englishmen who now lead the three match series one nil.

“I believe that losing six wickets in one session that is where we fell down,” declared Ramdin in the postgame news conference.

“I think we fought hard for the first four days. Some tough days at the office but losing six wickets and this spell with the new ball really cost us today”.

Resuming the final day on 202 for two – a lead of 37 runs overall – West Indies lost their last eight wickets for 105 runs, to be all out for 307, shortly after lunch.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite, unbeaten overnight on 101, fell for 118 and

they keeping coming at us,” said Ramdin, a wicketkeeper batsman.

“They have a good bowling lineup.. but we can’t take it for granted but we should have just carry out and score more runs and not let the game get away from us”.

West Indies and England play each other in the third and final test at Kensington Oval in Barbados starting May 1.

Ramdin is hoping the pitch at the oval will be helpful to both batsman and bowler.

“So far we got two good pitches that went right down to the last days as the test match went. Hopefully the grounds man could give us something like that that could bounce and spin more or something,” said the Windies captain.

“That’s is quick and fiery and both teams will have good use of it because both teams have good fast bowlers as well”. (CMC)

In the second game, Neil Wills had 17 points and six rebounds for NAMS and David Hope scored six points with seven rebounds for NATI.

Meanwhile in action on Wednesday, NAMS defeated BEI 88-22. At half time, NAMS were leading 34-13, as NAMS’ Shamar Simon scored 24 points with eight rebounds, while Tafawa Daly scored 16 points with five assists and 10 rebounds. Shamar France scored 17 points for BEI.

In the second game on that day, NATI defeated Berbice High School (BHS) 63-28 after leading 16-13 at half time.

Scoring for NATI came frome Rayon Emanuel with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Nicholas Patoir led the way for BHS with 10 points.

Only one game was possible on Thursday due to rain. BEI defeat BHS 74-40 after leading 41-15 at the interval.

For BHS Laurindo Prince scored 24 points with 17 rebounds, while Gerod Humphrey supported with 20 points and six rebounds.

Action continues on Tuesday in the zone when NATI take on BEI and BHS come up against VESS.

NAMS is leading with nine points, followed by NATI, BHS and BEI - all on three. VESS is yet to record a point.

The tournament is being played on a league basis with each school playing

each other twice. Teams receive three points for each win and the team finishing with the most points will earn the right to play against the winner of the Corentyne Zone for the Berbice Championship on June 28.

Meanwhile, the Corentyne Zone kicked on Friday afternoon at the Area ‘H’ Ground at Rose Hall Town with two games.

In the first game after losing on points, GuySuCo Training Centre (GTC) was awarded the game after Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary (CCS) used a player who attends another school.

Foo’s cameo helps...

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as runs were hard to come by. Captain Veerasammy Permaul kept switching his spinners around and made it difficult for the dangerous Hicks to score.

With the score on 95-5, Permaul introduced himself for over number 24 after Hicks had hit two more boundaries in the previous over.

The right handed batsman only navigated three deliveries from the Captain before holding out to mid-on. His 45 included 4 boundaries and came off 71 balls.

The dismissal of Hicks saw the entrance of Skipper Shawn Perierra who immediately made his presence felt.

But Permaul was back in his next over to remove Troy

Matterson for 9, and eventually finished with 4 for 17 off 8 overs. He received good support from Motie-Kanhai with 3 for 24 off 7.4 overs.

Joshua Dhani took 1 for 23 and Baldeo 1 for 21 as Albion used eight bowlers including wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble.

Earlier Albion had raced to 73 before Kandasammy Surgnarine was caught by Crandon off the bowling of Fudadin (73-1) for 35 (2x4s, 1x6). Fudadin then removed Balchand Baldeo for 25 to peg Albion back at 76-1.

Anthony Bramble soon followed after being adjudged LBW to Perierra and Albion were reduced to 81-3.

However the hard hitting Jonathan Foo was joined by David Latcha and the two took the bowlers apart. Latcha departed in the 39th

over for 66 off 62 balls (5x4s, 3x6s). Foo was left not our on 88 (6x4s, 3x6s) off 89 balls and was later named man-of-the-match.

Fudadin with 2 for 47 and Pereira with 1 for 42 were the only successful bowlers.

Rose Hall was attempting to claim its 10th Busta title, while Albion was playing their fourth final.

After the game Country Manager for the Guyana Beverage Company Robert Selman was high in praise for the two teams that reached the final. He noted that the company had been receiving tremendous support from its supporters especially through its Buster brand of products.

“Thanks to all our supporters in the country. By sponsoring this Busta

Prior to the start of the game, CCS was warned about the players that they had listed.

In the second game of the double header, Lower Corentyne Secondary (LCS) went down to JC Chandisingh Secondary (JC) 16-52.

For JC, Kewaujan Cort led the way with 29 points and got good assistance from Leroy Latcha with 13 points. The Corentyne Zone is being played on a round robin basis, with Manchester Secondary being the other school participating.

Matches will be played on Fridays. (Andrew Carmichael)

from back page

Champion of Champions cricket, it is our way of giving back,” Selman said. The winning team received the Busta Champion of Champions trophy and $100,000, while the losing finalists received $50,000 along with a trophy.

During the presentation ceremony, tournament organiser and Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Hilbert Foster donated $50,000 to Guyana Chronicle Sports Journalist Calvin Roberts to assist with his medical bills.

Foster noted that the sum represents 25 per cent of gate receipts. In another kind gesture, the Albion Cricket Club also donated 25 per cent of their match earnings to Roberts.

Denesh Ramdin

Some of the action during the game

RCB seamers rout DD for 95 in big win

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s fast bowlers dismantled Delhi Daredevils for 95 at Feroz Shah Kotla, setting up their eighth consecutive win over the hosts. Virat Kohli went for the extra fast bowler in Varun Aaron following a finger injury to legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal, and Daredevils never recovered from 39 for 4 after the India quick dismissed Yuvraj Singh and Angelo Mathews off successive balls.

Generating sharp pace and bounce, Mitchell Starc and Aaron were too much for the Daredevils top order, and the match soon descended into a no-contest as David Wiese’s variations provided

little release on a two-paced pitch.

Daredevils went downhill right from the start. Their leading run-getter of the season Shreyas Iyer got a golden duck courtesy a Starc inswinger, although the leg-before decision was marginal at best.

JP Duminy and Mayank Agarwal took the score to 36, but the former tried a big drive against a Wiese delivery that did not quite come on, and feathered it behind.

SCOREBOARD

Delhi Daredevils innings

(20 overs maximum)

MA Agarwal st †Karthik

b Iqbal Abdulla 27

SS Iyer lbw b Starc 0

JP Duminy* c †Karthik b Wiese 13

Yuvraj Singh c †Karthik b Aaron 2

AD Mathews c de Villiers b Aaron 0

KM Jadhav† c Starc b Patel 33

NM Coulter-Nile lbw b Wiese 4

A Mishra b Starc 2

S Nadeem b Starc 2

Imran Tahir not out 3

DJ Muthuswami run out (de Villiers) 1

Extras:(lb 2, w 6) 8

Total: (all out; 18.2 overs) 95

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-36, 3-39, 4-39, 5-67, 6-72, 7-85, 8-90, 9-92, 10-95.

Then came the knockout blow from Aaron. Yuvraj lasted five balls and went to his first one of express pace. Aaron produced a lifter outside off, Yuvraj prodded at it from the crease, and nicked it to the keeper. Angelo Mathews got a waist-high short ball but in looking to work it away, only popped it up for a simple catch to midwicket.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Bowling: MA Starc 4-0-20-3, VR Aaron 4-0-24-2, HV Patel 3-0-14-1, D Wiese 3.2-0-18-2, Iqbal Abdulla 4-1-17-1.

Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (target: 96 runs from 20 overs)

CH Gayle not out 62 V Kohli* not out 35

Extras: (w 2) 2

Total:(0 wickets; 10.3 overs) 99

Did not bat: AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, KD Karthik†, SN Khan, D Wiese, HV Patel, MA Starc, Iqbal Abdulla, VR Aaron Delhi Daredevils Bowling: NM Coulter-Nile 3.3-0-300, DJ Muthuswami 1-0-140, Imran Tahir 2-0-20-0, JP Duminy 1-0-7-0, A Mishra 2-025-0, AD Mathews 1-0-3-0.

Agarwal had been edging and missing against the fast bowlers but scraped his way to 27 before he charged out and was stumped off Iqbal Abdulla.

Nathan Coulter-Nile soon missed a heave at Wiese and was trapped plumb in front.

Kedar Jadhav’s 33 dragged Daredevils to the joint-lowest score of the season so far but to sum up their night, he pulled a Harshal Patel half-tracker straight to deep midwicket.

Starc ran through the

tail to end with 3 for 20 as Daredevils were dismissed in the 19th over with a runout off an overthrow.

Openers Chris Gayle and Kohli took 10.3 overs to seal the win. Gayle took the lead smashing six fours and four sixes in his 62 off 40.

Kohli was on 6 off 9 after six overs but got some strike and hit a few boundaries thereafter to end on 35 off 23.

Bowling first and strangling the opposition had worked for the second time on the trot for Royal Challengers after their win over Rajasthan Royals, and damningly, it was the sixth time Daredevils had been dismissed for a sub-100 score, the most for any team in the IPL. (Cricinfo)

Sunrisers support cast fails in small chase

Two teams with ordinary investments in Indian domestic batsmen came up against each other in Mumbai, and it all came down to which team’s weaker batsmen would do worse.

Mumbai Indians’ Parthiv Patel, Unmukt Chand and Ambati Rayudu scored 29 off 28, which was more or less evened out by the collective 50 off 46 scored Sunrisers Hyderabad’s KL Rahul, Naman Ojha and Hanuma Vihari. In a small chase, though, with the youngsters struggling, the experienced but one of the

least evolved international cricketers over the last eight years, Ravi Bopara made the telling contribution, scoring 23 off 27 on a flat pitch as Sunrisers saw all the good work with ball undone.

With Mumbai refusing to put their best batsmen in the first half of the top six, Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard again had to bat under immense pressure. On a pitch that 180 was chased easily, Mumbai managed just 157 against the fourpronged swing attack of Dale Steyn, Trent Boult, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and

Praveen Kumar. Sunrisers, though, rely heavily on their openers - Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner - but despite a start of 45 for 1 in five overs, the rest contrived to lose by 20 runs.

Mumbai did enjoy some

good fortune against the rampaging Sunrisers openers, who first dismantled Harbhajan Singh, the first bowler used by Mumbai, and then looked like running away with the game.

SCOREBOARD

Mumbai Indians innings (20 overs maximum)

LMP Simmons b Steyn 51

PA Patel† c Vihari b Steyn 17

UBT Chand c Dhawan b P Kumar 5

RG Sharma* c B Kumar

b Sharma 24

KA Pollard b B Kumar 33

AT Rayudu c Boult b B Kumar 7

Harbhajan Singh c B Kumar

b P Kumar 0

J Suchith not out 9

R Vinay Kumar c †Ojha

b B Kumar 0

MJ McClenaghan not out 1

Extras: (lb 1, w 9) 10

Total: (8 wickets; 20 overs) 157

Did not bat: SL Malinga

Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-49, 3-100, 4-108, 5-126, 6-128, 7-149, 8-149

Sunrisers Hyderabad Bowling: TA Boult 4-0-27-0, B Kumar 4-0-26-3, DW Steyn 4-038-2, P Kumar 4-0-35-2, KV Sharma 4-0-30-1.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

McCullum, spinners take CSK to number 1

Brendon McCullum was at the forefront of a cavalier batting approach, the Kings XI bowling and fielding withering under his charge, as Chennai Super Kings posted a total substantial enough to take them to No. 1 in the league. The 97-run victory brought them level with Rajasthan Royals on ten points, but ahead on net run rate with a game in hand. Kings XI, on the other hand, slipped below Mumbai Indians to the bottom of the competition.

These two teams had played each other three times in the 2014 season and on every occasion Kings XI had made more than 200 to beat Super Kings. This time, however, without Glenn Maxwell who was dropped

by Mitchell Johnson on 21, and made Kings XI pay, slashing and pulling to 66 off 44 balls. He had got to his fifty - 32 balls - with two pulls off Johnson: the first not perfectly timed to the midwicket boundary, the second superbly pulled over deep square leg. By the time he was dismissed, Super Kings had got to 116 in 12.1 overs.

McCullum had added 66 for the second wicket with Suresh Raina, who had two bits of good fortune. The first was on 8 when umpire Johan Cloete didn’t see an edge to the wicketkeeper, and the second was on 13 when Johnson put down another catch. Raina didn’t punish Kings XI as severely as McCullum did, but after his

because George Bailey returned as captain, Kings XI were restricted to their second lowest 20-over score in eight IPL seasons. They stumbled to 95 for 9 as the Super Kings’ rejuvenated spinners Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin shared five wickets for 36 runs in eight overs after an ordinary start to the tournament.

From the moment Dwayne Smith flayed the first ball of the game from legspinner Karanveer Singh to the cover boundary, Super Kings were always on top of the contest. It was the beginning of an opening stand of 50 in 4.4 overs, during which Smith waylaid Karanveer for 22 in an over and McCullum smacked Sandeep Sharma around.

McCullum was dropped

innings (target: 158 runs from 20 overs)

S Dhawan c Malinga

b McClenaghan 42

DA Warner* c Rayudu b Malinga 9

KL Rahul c Rayudu b McClenaghan 25

NV Ojha† c Pollard b Suchith 9

RS Bopara c sub (HH Pandya)

b McClenaghan 23

GH Vihari c †Patel b Malinga 16

KV Sharma not out 2

P Kumar b Malinga 0

DW Steyn c Pollard b Malinga 0

B Kumar not out 6

Extras:(lb 2, w 2, nb 1) 5

Total: (8 wickets; 20 overs) 137

Did not bat: TA Boult

Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-52, 3-68, 4-104, 5-126, 6-127, 7-127, 8-127. Mumbai Indians Bowling: Harbhajan Singh 4-0-36-0, MJ McClenaghan 4-0-20-3, SL Malinga 4-1-23-4, J Suchith 4-025-1, R Vinay Kumar 4-0-31-0.

Chennai Super Kings innings (20 overs maximum) DR Smith b Anureet Singh 26 BB McCullum c Miller b Patel 66 SK Raina run out (Karanveer Singh) 29

MS Dhoni*† not out 41 RA Jadeja not out 18

Extras: (lb 2, w 10) 12

Total: (3 wickets; 20 overs) 192

Did not bat: F du Plessis, DJ Bravo, R Ashwin, MM Sharma, IC Pandey, A Nehra

Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-116, 3-144.

exit MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja, who were sent in ahead of Dwayne Bravo and Faf du Plessis, finished the innings with a 48-run stand in 28 deliveries. Super Kings had looked on course for more than 200 at one stage, but their total of 192 was a formidable one. The Kings XI chase was a procession. Virender Sehwag chipped Ishwar Pandey to mid-off in the first over, and Shaun Marsh was trapped lbw by Ashish Nehra in the sixth. With the score 39 for 2, Dhoni brought on his spinners after the fielding restrictions and Jadeja and Ashwin ended the contest. Jadeja dismissed Bailey and Miller in single digits in his first two overs, and Ashwin got M Vijay and Axar Patel in his second and third. (Cricinfo)

Kings XI Punjab Bowling: Karanveer Singh 4-0-430, Sandeep Sharma 4-0-320, Anureet Singh 4-0-40-1, MG Johnson 4-0-40-0, AR Patel 4-0-35-1. Kings XI Punjab innings (target: 193 runs from 20 overs) M Vijay

(9 wickets;

Chirs Gayle pulls for four during his half century

Dwayne Smith lines up to smash the ball

Kieron Pollard swipes on his way to 33 off 24 balls

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Shakib, Sabbir 50s crush Pakistan

Amaiden ODI series win, and whitewash, over Pakistan. And now a maiden T20 triumph against the same team. Bangladesh have dominated the limited-overs leg of this tour, and added to that narrative with a seven-wicket thrashing in Mirpur.

A haphazard batting performance left the onus on the Pakistan bowling again. With only 141 to defend though, all Bangladesh needed was one partnership. That need increased a touch when the score slipped to 38 for 3, but Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman steadied ship and shut Pakistan out with a 105-run stand. Both batsmen collected half-centuries and were around for the winning runs to be scored. Their strokes were crisp and both batsmen imposed themselves on the bowlers despite reputation. Umar Gul’s two overs went for 23. Wahab Riaz was clattered for seven fours in four overs and nursed an economy rate near 10. Shakib

and Sabbir were together for over 10 overs and the partnership run-rate was 9.84.

“They are in such a great momentum,” Shahid Afridi conceded after the match. “We have to learn from the way the Bangladeshi players played”

It wasn’t mere generosity either. After Pakistan had decided to bat, the cricket was so ordinary that it appeared the broadcasters had switched from the live feed to a blooper reel. Ahmed Shehzad, beset by rust, spent 10 balls on zero. He went hands first at the ball but could not find it. The defensive bat not working, he decided to hit his way out of trouble. Cue inside and outside edges. Finally, and ironically, the first promising stroke he played led to his downfall. A crisp lift, the elbow high and the head still, ended up in the hands of long-off.

Shehzad, a man who hasn’t played for Pakistan in a month was paired with a man playing for Pakistan for the first time. Mukhtar Ahmed ap-

pears a power hitter, and despite trying a slog every other ball he walked back with 37 off 30 balls.

two cents to a first hour of cricket that left much to be desired. Afridi even signaled for a review, and was told DRS wasn’t being used for the match.

Mushfiqur Rahim evened the scales by missing a straightforward stumping off Mukhtar in the sixth over. There were multiple run-out chances that weren’t converted. The saving grace, though, was Bangladesh’s newball bowlers.

Mustafizur Rahman, a 19-year old left arm seamer, got the ball to jag around quite strikingly and tormented Shehzad10 balls faced, only one run scored. Mashrafe Mortaza hit the off-stump corridor. Shakib’s darts around leg stump frustrated a set of batsmen, who wanted to

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan innings (20 overs maximum)

Mukhtar Ahmed st †Mushfiqur

Rahim b Arafat Sunny 37

Ahmed Shehzad c Mashrafe

Mortaza b Taskin Ahmed 17

Shahid Afridi* c †Mushfiqur

Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 12

Haris Sohail not out 30

Mohammad Hafeez lbw

b Mustafizur Rahman 26

Sohail Tanvir run out (Sabbir

Rahman/†Mushfiqur Rahim) 8

Extras: (b 2, lb 5, w 4) 11

Total:(5 wickets; 20 overs) 141

Did not bat: Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal

Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-64, 3-77, 4-126, 5-141

Bangladesh Bowling: Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-20-2, Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-17-0, Mashrafe Mortaza 4-0-29-0, Arafat Sunny 2-0-23-1, Taskin Ahmed 4-0-29-

Afridi hiked himself up to No. 3, for the first time in T20Is since November 2013, missed two balls, and was judged caught behind off when there was ample daylight between bat and ball. The umpires’

Sunrisers support...

When Warner went to ramp a Lasith Malinga bouncer it came off the pitch a little slower, which meant he ended up guiding it squarer than he wanted and gave third man a catch. In the sixth over Dhawan absolutely crunched a pull off Mitchell McLenaghan, but straight to midwicket.

Now, with the asking rate not steep, with a flat pitch and a quick small outfield on offer, it was a good chance for Sunrisers’ lesser batsmen to finish the chase off and boost their confidence. However, Dhawan’s wicket brought six overs of no boundaries courtesy Rahul, Ojha and Bopara.

They struggled to score even at a run a ball. Ojha perished, Bopara absorbed dots, and the first boundary came came via a top edge when Rahul played a desperate slog sweep. That, though, proved to be an exception to the rule as J Suchith and Harbhajan pushed in another tight over to make it 59 required off 36 balls.

This was still a regulation chase with seven wickets in hand at the Wankhede, but Rahul and Bopara were in an almighty struggle, almost as if in quicksand.

The harder they tried the worse they timed the

1, Nasir Hossain 2-0-16-0. Bangladesh innings (target: 142 runs from 20 overs)

Tamim Iqbal c Mohammad Hafeez b Umar Gul 14

Soumya Sarkar run out (Saeed Ajmal) 0 Shakib Al Hasan not out 57 Mushfiqur Rahim† b Wahab Riaz 19 Sabbir Rahman not out 51

Extras:(lb 1, w 1) 2

Total:(3 wickets; 16.2 overs) 143 Did not bat: Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza*, Arafat Sunny, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-17, 3-38. Pakistan Bowling: Mohammad Hafeez 1-0-14-0, Sohail Tanvir 3-0-16-0, Umar Gul 2-0-23-1, Saeed Ajmal 3.2-025-0, Wahab Riaz 4-0-39-1, Shahid Afridi 3-0-25-0.

cane the ball more than hit the gaps. What would hurt Pakistan was despite their constant slogs, there were 52 dot balls in the innings and only one boundary in the final four overs. (Cricinfo)

from page 20

ball. Eventually Rahul fell to a McLenaghan slower ball. Bopara hung on till the 18th over but managed to hit only one boundary before another McLenaghan slower ball accounted for him.

Malinga then finished the game off with style, picking up three wickets off a single over, but Sunrisers’ middle order should know it should never have come down to the tail. If it was the Sunrisers’ middle order that bumbled, Mumbai continued to be stubborn with their top order. Parthiv and Chand struggle to hit boundaries, and Simmons tends to slow

down considerably once the field is spread, which leaves Rohit and Pollard an almighty task in the end. Simmons, though, didn’t struggle as badly as Bopara did, which proved to be the difference.

Despite the Simmons half-century, at a little better than a run a ball, the three added just 73 off 63 balls, in response of which Rohit had to take risks too early and perished. Pollard tried for the big explosive finish, which didn’t materialise. It turned out his 33 off 24 gave Mumbai enough, but against better batting line-ups such efforts won’t be enough. (Cricinfo)

Mustafizur Rahman enjoyed an eye-catching debut with a haul of 2 for 20

McKinnon, Hugh top GSSF Steel Challenge Match

Ryan McKinnon and Peter Hugh emerged as winners of their respective categories when the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) hosted another Steel Challenge Shooting Match at the Guyana Defence Force’s Timehri Ranges recently.

The shooters were judged on their times in two categories: Limited and Wildcat.

In the Limited division, McKinnon finished with the best time of 66.82, followed by Pravesh Harry in a distant second position on 80.25 and Vidushi Persaud third in 91.74.

Hugh took top honours in the Wildcat division, ending on 104.19. Roul Bhudu (176.04) and Roberto Hochand (276.05) occupied second and third spots respectively.

The day’s event attracted a diverse group of local handgun shooters, comprising criminal attorneys-at-law, civil attorneys, businessmen, civil engineers, IT consultants, farmer, dentist, pilot and psychiatrist.

The competition consisted of three sanctioned SCSA stages: Accelerator, Five to Go and Smoke and Hope. In every stage competitors were required to

shoot five different steel targets set out at various angles and distances, one of which is designated as a “stop plate” which is shot last.

Registering a hit on the plate stops the time. The total time it takes to hit all five plates is used for the score (the shooter’s time is his/her score).

Misses and penalties add three seconds to the time for each, and scoring

is recorded on an electronic timing device. The competitor’s best four scores out of five strings of fire on each stage will then be added together for the collective score.

The lowest total time/ score for all stages wins the overall match. Accuracy and speed are thus an essential mix in order to be on top of the competition.

Before the Match started, Match Director Ryan

McKinnon welcomed members who came out to compete in the event and encouraged shooters to have fun while keeping safety paramount throughout the Match.

As the event unfolded match, favourite McKinnon would have given music conductors a challenge with the melodic efficiency at which he delivered the pings and rings on hitting the steel during his strings.

The other competitors attempted to follow his speed but alas, a lot of extra rounds were needed as several seasoned competitors relentlessly strove to match his time or set better benchmarks.

Trophies were presented by GSSF’s Board Member Dr. Bhiro Harry to the top three overall in each division.

The GSSF wishes to thank the Chief-of-Staff of

the GDF, Brigadier Mark Phillips, the Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, the Guyana Police Force, the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and the members of the GSSF for their usual support.

The Federation also expressed sincere thanks to the management of Ken’s Mufflers on the East Coast of Demerara for making their workshop open on Easter Sunday for members of the GSSF to demonstrate their skills off the range, as they cut and welded steel needed for the match.

Sincere thanks are also expressed to members Nicholas Deygoo of National Hardware and Mohamed Qualander of Queensway for provision of Armscor Precision ammunition.

The GSSF, an affiliate of the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA), continues to pioneer this simple, yet action-packed shooting sport to local pistol shooters by organising such matches on a regular basis.

More on the GSSF can be found on its website www.guyanasportshooting. com

Busta Soft Shoe tournament… Round of 16 kicks off with exciting action

Four teams have booked their places in the quarterfinal round of the Busta Soft Shoe Tournament when the first leg of the Round of 16 was held on Friday evening at the Georgetown Football Club ground.

Queen Street Tigerbay demolished Ballerz on their way to the quarterfinal round of the tournament with a 6-2 win.

James Meredith (18th and 19th) and Deon Alfred (seventh and 29th) scored doubles for Queen Street while Darren Harris and Godfrey Powers scored a goal apiece in

the fifth and 14th minutes respectively to ensure the win.

Scoring for Ballerz came from Sceyon Hope in the 11th minute and Dorville Stewart in the 27th minute.

Cross Street also made their way to the final eight with good team football, topping Alexander Village 3-1.

Samuel Hunte, Ronaldo Dover and Dellon David were the three scorers for Cross Street in the fifth, ninth and 11th minutes respectively while Jermin Junior had the lone goal for Alexander Village.

Game three of the evening provided some tense mo-

ments, however, West Front Road prevailed over North East La Penitence with a 2-0 win.

Two late goals were scored by Michael Oie in the 25th minute and Randolph Wagner in the 28th.

Meanwhile Festival City was the fourth team to book their place in the last eight with a 1-nil win over Albouystown with Dwayne Lawrence scoring the game’s only goal one minute before the final whistle.

The final stage of the Round of 16 will continue on Sunday evening at the GFC ground.

The top performers of the GSSF Steel Challenge Match pose with their prizes

Some of the action during the tournament

Lens Craft Optical/EBFA U-13 league...

Wins for Diamond, Grove; Warriors & Mocha draw

Diamond United sprung the biggest surprise yet on day three of the inaugural Lens Craft Optical sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-13 league, which continued at the Grove Playfield on Sunday with three matches.

A Diamond United unit led by Captain Teon Forde handed Herstelling Raiders their first defeat of the league by a 2-0 margin with

goals either side of play.

Grove Hi Tech cruised their way to a 5-0 drubbing of Craig, while the day’s opening game produced an exciting 2-2 draw between Kuru Kururu Warriors and Mocha Champs.

Diamond, improving with every match, played a solid game marshalled by Forde who scored the sealer in the 38th minute. The opening goal was converted by Joshua Lynch in the

He let me down, he let the sport down

– Bolt blasts Gay

Usain Bolt has branded Tyson Gay’s yearlong doping ban “the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard”, and called for him to be banned indefinitely.

Usain Bolt has blasted Tyson Gay’s use of steroids, as well as the authorities that banned him for just a year over his drug use, claiming his sprint rival should have been kicked out of the sport.

American sprinter Gay

- officially the second fastest man of all time behind the Jamaican great - was given a year-long ban in May 2014, the backdating of which saw him stripped of his 100-metre silver medal gained at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Gay returned to the track last year, but is yet to race against the six-time Olympic gold medal winner.

And Bolt has candidly revealed his new-found disdain for Gay – a rival he claims to have previously respected.

“I was really upset about

that,” Bolt said in an interview with Runners World, released by The Times.

“He got a year just because he talked to the authorities about how it was done and who helped him.

“That sends the wrong message: ‘If you do it and get caught, just tell us all you know and we’ll lower your ban’.

“It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. The message should be: ‘If you cheat you’re going to be kicked out of the sport’.

“It really bothers me.

“I’m not worried about him beating me, I think it’s because I respected him so much over the years. He was a competitor, kept me on my toes and he pushed me to always do my best.

“Then to find out that he was on drugs - it’s a bit like I think parents must feel when they have a kid who does something bad and lets them down.

“I feel like he let me down and he let the sport down.”

(Digicel SportsMax)

guyana name...

On the managerial side of the ball, Marlon Rodrigues will serve as the Assistant Coach while Troy Green and Dennis Clarke will hold the posts of Team Manager and Statistician respectively.

GABF President Nigel Hinds will also be a part of the travelling contingent alongside referees Dexter Douglas and Rawle Toney.

Guyana will play their first game against their Dutch counterparts who are a part of their CBC group at 21:00h local time on May 1 at the Anthony Nesty Indoor Stadium.

22nd minute, a shot that beat goalkeeper Kandoo James from about 30 yards out.

Herstelling, though, created many chances, but were miserable with their shots on goal which went wide of the target.

Even their inspirational scorer, Shoran James, couldn’t save them on the day from losing their first game in three matches.

Grove Hi Tech were led to a comprehensive win over Craig by a pair of goals each from Akeem Williams in the 30th and 60th and Devon Padmore who hit the network in the 45th and 48th minutes. The other was an own goal that was scored in the 41st minute by Craig’s Emanuel Dey.

The day’s action got off to an exciting start with Kuru Kururu Warriors and Mocha Champs battling to a 2-2 draw.

The Warriors opened

Ian Mars on

the scoring in the first minute of play through an Oric Austin goal. It took some time for Mocha to get their length and they did so after a lengthy period of domination in the 24th minute,

thanks to the first of a double from the nippy Ian Mars. Kevon Scott restored the advantage for the Warriors in the 39th minute, but that joy was short lived as one minute later Mars was

again on target with a stinging left foot shot that sealed an even share of the points for his side.

Three more matches will be contested on Saturday as the action heats up.

They will next feature in back-to-back games on May 2 and 3 to cap off the threegame series.

Guyana is positioned in group A of the CBC Championships alongside Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas and Bermuda.

Guyana defeated Bermuda earlier in the year in a three game series that was played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The two top teams in the group will qualify for the final four. Guyana finished fifth at the 2014 edition of the CBC Championships.

the attack for Mocha Champs

Usain Bolt

Tyson Gay

WICB, Caricom to establish panel to review structure

The governance structure of the West Indies Cricket Board will come under review once again, this time as a joint initiative of the WICB and Caricom.

In a joint statement on Saturday, the two entities said they had agreed to set up a panel comprising eminent Caribbean persons, to examine the problemplagued structure with the view of “reversing the current negative trends in the sport and its governance.”

The move is the latest attempt to arrest a worrying trend of crises in the regional administration of the game, and was agreed upon during last Monday’s high level meeting between the WICB and the Caricom Cricket Governance Committee held in Grenada.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves

ed the meeting along with vice-president Emmanuel Nanthan, chief executive Michael Muirhead, corporate secretary Verlyn Faustin and the board’s directorship.

Cameron, who fended off heavy criticism of his leadership to gain re-election last month, said there was a mutual understanding of what was required to address the issues in West Indie cricket.

“I think the meeting was very productive and very positive. We have agreed on a way forward,” the Jamaican said.

“I think we have a shared vision and all of us want to see West Indies perform at the highest standard. We are committed to making this happen.”

will consult on the relevant individuals to fill these roles and will also ratify the panel’s terms of reference when they are drafted by La Rocque.

The panel will have a lifespan of three months from the start of the review and is expected to submit its findings within that time.

“Upon receipt of the report, both sides are intent on collaborating with each other with a view to reversing the current negative trends in the sport and its governance,” the joint statement said.

The WICB has come under fire in recent months for their handling of the abandoned tour of India, which saw the Windies one-day team walk out of the sixmatch limited overs series last October.

That meeting was attended by Caricom chairman, the Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin La Rocque and three Prime Ministers – St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Grenada’s Dr Keith Mitchell and Antigua and Barbuda’s Gaston Browne.

vancing cricket in the region.

which will chart the way forward,” Dr Mitchell said.

Dr Mitchell, who chairs Caricom Cricket Governance Committee, said the latest move was important in ad-

“We were able to meet with the Directors of the WICB to express the view of the necessity for change and I think we have reached a conclusion in that respect…

Guyana name final 12 for Suriname clash in May

T

he Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has officially shortlisted their final 12-player roster to face Suriname in a three-match international friendly series from May 1 in the Dutch nation.

Guyana’s first team will be headed by Head Coach Darcel Harris and will consist of the following play-

ers: Captain Akeem Kanhai, Ryan Gullen, Shelroy Thomas, Travis Burnett, Royston Siland, Dominic Vicente, Dave Causway, Jason Squires, Jermaine Slater, Nikkoloi Smith, Harold Adams and Rudy James.

The tour is slated to commence from May 1 to 4 and is being used as part of preparations for the upcoming

2015 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship slated for June in the British Virgin Islands.

The players on the reserve squad will include Chris Williams, Randy Richardson, Terron Welch, Amoniki Archibald, Stephon Gillis, Fabian Johnson, Curt Elias and Niko Fraser.

“We will be working together with the WICB and all concerned to move West Indies cricket forward.”

WICB president Dave Cameron also attend-

According to the joint statement, the panel will comprise a member of the legal profession, a legendary West Indies cricketer, a regional academic, someone from within the private sector and an individual with a keen understanding of the WICB.

Dr Mitchell and Cameron

That action forced the cancellation of the subsequent three-Test tour and resulted in the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) lodging a US$42 million compensation claim, while also threatening legal action. (CMC)

Foo’s cameo helps Albion to Busta Champion of Champions title

Albion Cricket Club (ACC) continued their good form to claim their first Busta Champion of Champions title on Saturday when they beat Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets by 93 runs in the final of the competition at the Albion Community Centre, Berbice in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne).

Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets, batting under

lights, never threatened the 239 made by Albion and were dismissed for 146 in the 38th over despite a fighting 40 from Captain Shawn Perierra.

Set 240 to win of the allotted 40 overs, Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets lost their first wicket in the first over when Vidal Crandon cut Balchand Baldeo to backward point and was caught by Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai for 0.

Delbert Hicks then joined the experienced Assad Fudadin, but when the latter was bowled by Joshua Dhani for 6 (19-2), the writings were on the wall.

Ashkay Homraj stayed around for a while, making 22, while Hicks kept the score board ticking, but when he skied a short ball from MotieKanhai to long on, the visitors were in deeper trouble.

WICB president Dave Cameron is flanked by Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell (left) and St Vincent’s

The Guyana squad after defeating CBC rivals Bermuda

The winning Albion Cricket Club pose after their championship win