Guyana Times Daily - January 12, 2015

monday, JanUaRy 12, 2015 | gUyanatimesgy.com

Road traffic Demerit Points System in coma

…authorities still working out implementation

By Vahnu Manikchand

The much-tout-

ed Demerit Points System aimed at punishing reckless drivers through the suspension of their licences is yet to get off the ground despite clearing the National Assembly since last May.

Amid escalating road accidents, citizens are at a loss as to why the system has not been implemented. The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2014 unanimously passed

in May last, paving the way for the implementation of the Demerit Points System. The Amended Bill was subsequently assented to by President Donald Ramotar in July.

The Principal Act had been amended immediately after Section 33, whereas if a person is convicted under the Third Schedule, the court shall, in addition to any punishment for the offence, implement the Demerit Points System. This system seeks to reduce the occurrences of road acci-

dents and road fatalities by disqualifying reckless drivers for specified periods.

If a person accumulates 10 or more demerit points, but less than 16, the period of disqualification from holding a driver’s licence is set at six months. If that person acquires 12 demerit points or more over a 12-month period, the period of disqualification then increases to one year.

However, if a person acquires a total of six or more but less than 10 demerit points due to traffic offences

committed, the Bill requires the Licensing Authority notify the driver in writing.

But the Demerit Points System will not be applied if the punishment imposed by the court includes an order that disqualifies the defaulter from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence.

The system will not be employed until a final ruling is imposed by the court. “A person who applies for or obtains a driver’s licence or drives a motor vehicle while he is disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence under the Demerit Points System is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for a period of 12 months, together with the disqualification from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for a further period of six months,” the new law stated.

The Demerit Points System seeks to reduce the occurrences of road accidents and road fatalities by disqualifying reckless drivers for specified periods

No implementation

Since the passage of the Bill, there has been no word on whether this new law was implemented. However, a senior officer attached to the Police Force’s Traffic Department told this newspaper that as far as he knows, the law has not been implemented.

The officer explained that even if it had been implemented, there was no plan or system in place on how it would have been enforced. According to the officer, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, the Demerit Points System would require a computerised mechanism that would allow the Police to keep track of each driver’s licence.

He further pointed out that currently the Police Force did not have any equipment that would allow them to enforce the system.

GRA’s role

Meanwhile, this newspaper contacted the licence issuing body, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and asked about the part it plays in the implementation of the Demerit Points System. Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur explained that for such a system to be applied effectively, it has to be done electronically. He noted that with the introduction of the electronic driver’s licence, the process will be easier.

The Commissioner General said that his office has been working on a model plan of how to introduce the system. He noted top priority has been given to this project and it was one of the projects at the top of his agenda for this year. However, Sattaur stressed that the Police were the main players in the implementation of the system.

“They are the ones who will have to introduce the points; they have to institute the charges. They are the

ones who police the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act. I am only responsible at my end for the issuing of the licence. But, together with the Police, we would want to ensure that there is a very well-run efficient system that can be most effective,” he outlined.

Sattaur emphasised that his agency was only concerned about coming up with a plan that will see records being easily accessible. The GRA head pointed out that the plan would include some sort of a control mechanism to ensure that a person was not granted a licence if they were defaulters. “If they are, for example, debarred from driving for five years that would be noted in our database… Already we have a system of barring transfers of vehicles of persons who would have committed offences… so it is not a difficult thing for it to be introduced within the system that already caters for quite a lot of data to be filed and stored electronically,” he highlighted.

While law enforcers are coming up with a plan to introduce the system, the drivers continue to use the roadways recklessly, endangering their lives and the safety of other. However, the Traffic Department of the Police Force has been ramping up traffic enforcement.

Earlier this week, the Police said during enforcement operations aimed at road safety over the period December 28, 2014, to January 3, 2015, a number of cases were made against motorists for breaching traffic laws. Some 249 speeding cases and 31 cases for driving under influence (DUI) were recorded last week alone. In addition, there were five cases made out against persons for careless driving, 12 for dangerous driving, 10 cases for failure to wear a safety helmet and seven cases for failure to wear a seat belt.

Another five persons were charged for using handheld mobile phones. For the offence of breach of conditions of the Road Service Licence, some 29 cases were filed against offenders.

The Traffic Department has been getting good reviews for the ‘name and shame’ campaign against drunk drivers. (vahnum@ guyanatimesgy.com)

JAnUARY 12, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, January 12, 2015 – 09:30h-11:00h

Tuesday, January 13, 2015 – 10:30h-12:00h

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

Monday, January 12, 2015 – 08:30h-10:00h

Tuesday, January 13, 2015 – 09:35h-11:05h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika departure – 06:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

Supenaam departure – 06:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers can be expected in the morning, and heavy rain showers in the afternoon, with sunny weather otherwise prevailing. Thundery showers are expected to return in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly between 4.02 metres and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 08:59h and 21:24h reaching maximum heights of 2.33 metres and 2.30 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:30h and 14:55h reaching minimum heights of 0.85 metre and 0.90 metre respectively.

Glenn Lall tax evasion case... Witnesses being threatened – GRA official

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it is anxious to settle the tax evasion matter with Glenn Lall and the US couple because a close relative the remigrants is allegedly threatening witnesses.

The relative incidentally works at the GRA. The two Lexuses caught up in the scandal were parked at his house when they were seized.

Guyana Times was told that since the matter was taken to court, the relative had been sending threats to the witnesses “that if they dare go on the witness stand they will face the worst exposure in their lives”.

Sources within the GRA are very concerned over this development and want the matter heard in court, as there is a fear that the witnesses may even be physically harmed as they are resolute about going to court irrespective of the threat.

On the other hand, since there have been major inconsistent decisions in the past on similar matters that were brought before the court for a resolution, and judging from the long prolonged resolution of such matters, usually reliable GRA sources are of the view that its lawyers are

not altogether ruling out an amicable settlement.

After bringing the remigrant couple, Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan, along with Glenn Lall and his wife, Bhena, to justice for allegedly defrauding the GRA of more than $100 million of import taxes, the tax regulatory body on Thursday announced that it was looking to have the matter resolved as soon as possible.

GRA’s Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur, told the Guyana Times previously that his agency will go through with the matter in Court. However, he hopes that the matter will be resolved in the judi-

cial system within a timely manner.

He said that while the matter is ongoing, GRA will not be entering into any negotiations outside of the Courts unless directed by the Courts to do so, but added the Authority is open to any settlement that is arrived at in the Court to put an end to the matter.

The Brijnanans and the Lalls are currently in Court facing tax fraud charges that alleged they defrauded authorities of several millions in customs duties for two Lexus luxury SUVs back in September 2013.

According to Sattaur, he has Government’s interest

in retrieving the taxes owed and protecting the two vehicles, which are currently in the Authority’s possession. He noted that GRA wants the condition of the vehicles to be preserved in case they have to be handed over back to the owners.

The Commissioner General emphasised that his main priority is to have the matter resolved so that he can know which course of action to take regarding the vehicles and the monies owed.

“I have a great interest and GRA is very much interested in the resolution of the matter because the vehicles are under our protections, and the taxes will have to be repaid, so I will do anything to ensure this,” he said.

Several months ago, the GRA went to great lengths to highlight the fraudulent activities. The tax regulatory body is claiming that the Brijnanans of Number 61 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, imported two Lexus LX 570 SUVs into Guyana under the Government’s Remigrant Scheme.

However, the two vehicles were not kept or used by the remigrants, which is a breach of the Customs Act and the conditions of the grant of the duty-free con-

cession.

GRA said investigations have revealed that the vehicles were being driven by Lall, and his wife. The authority has since seized the vehicles and filed six criminal charges against the four of them.

Guyana Times was previously told that a settlement deal may be in the making following discussions which Government officials have reportedly been having with Lall.

One such scenario could mean a portion of the duty being paid off in exchange for the case being stuck off. Last month, Sattaur had confirmed to this newspaper that about 15 other remi-

grants are now on the radar of the Auditor General and the GRA. The Auditor General also cited a similar figure. The audit exercises of the Remigrant Scheme appear to reveal that it may have been abused by many to import luxury vehicles and other items.

According to reports from the years 2010 to 2014, approximately 15 to 20 persons are under investigation after an initial probe by the Audit Office. This means that these persons could soon find themselves with a similar fate as that of the remigrant couple and the Lalls.

Gharbassi Brijnanan

Narootandeo Brijnanan

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur

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

Where’s the oil??

After a decade and a half, the scepticism of the average citizen about whether our predicted oil bonanza might ever be realised, can be excused. Back in 2000, the US Geological Survey (USGS) identified the Guyana-Suriname basin as having the second highest resource potential among unexplored oil basins in the world.

With recoverable oil reserves over 15 billion barrels and gas reserves of 42 trillion cubic feet, it exceeded the proven reserves in the North Sea, which gave such a stimulus to Norway and Britain back in the 1980s.

Paraphrasing the Ancient Mariner, however, it appeared to be a case of “oil, oil, everywhere, but not a drop to sell”.

Apropos extracting oil from Africa, one expert observed, that the three key variables were “geography, governance and geology”. The same could be said of our situation.

Geographically, our reserves are not in impenetrable jungles but offshore where drilling technologies are tried and proven. While not as easy to extract as Saudi Arabian crude, we should be able to match Venezuelan production costs.

As far as “governance” is concerned, there has been great consternation over revenues form oil and other minerals in Third World countries, such as Nigeria, ending up in the pockets of politicians and not going towards funding development of the country.

To address this concern, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) was launched back in 2003 to build institutional capacity for Governments and other stakeholders - including civil society - to monitor the spending of the private companies and the Government.

In Guyana, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, along with the consultancy firm, Moore Stephens International (MSI), has been engaged in local fieldwork in preparation Guyana joining EITI.

On the third variable, we share the same geological formations with West Africa, which had broken away from South America and “drifted away” so many eons ago. The theory had been explored by Tullow Oil after their Jubilee oil find off the Coast of Ghana in 2007 and their replication of their find off the coast of French Guyana across the Atlantic Ocean in 2011.

Unlike the Ghana oil fields that were brought into commercial production, exceeding 100,000 barrels per day in under four years, the French Guiana find did not lead to commercial production.

In Guyana, a newly formed, thinly capitalised Canadian company CGX began drilling for oil off the Corentyne Coast in 2000, but its rig was driven off by Surinamese gunboats. After Guyana in 2007 won the case it brought against Suriname in the World Court, drilling resumed.

But even though the undercapitalised CGX went into a strategic partnership with the much larger Repsol Exploracion, S A here, the hydrocarbons found were also not in commercial quantity. Tullow and Repsol in the meantime also abandoned a well they drilled in 2012 because of safety fears over gas pressures.

But the certainty that “there’s oil in them thar waters” has drawn the whale of the industry Exxon into exploitation and drilling in Guyana deeper waters, having committed some US$200 million towards this end. Recently, CGX, which parted not so amicably with Repsol after their failed well, has taken a bridge loan that has to be repaid in one year and has committed to continue drilling.

But the flow of Guyanese oil has just hit a new challenge - the precipitous plunge in world oil prices by more than half to below US$50 per barrel. This is caused by an oversupply of the commodity because of massive new shale oil production by the US, a drop in demand occasioned by a global economic slowdown and the refusal of OPEC to cut production, “even if oil falls below US$20 a barrel.

While it is uncertain whether small players like CGX can survive the present challenge, Exxon, Repsol and Tullow with their deeper pockets, should be able to bring home the “black gold” within the decade.

In praise of Guyana Times, Caribbean Times Int’l

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Times and its sister international edition, the Caribbean Times International, provide a wealth of information on progress and developments in Guyana.

The critical role of your newspaper must be put in a historical context for the benefit of your readers.

In 1960, the Argosy, one of the daily newspapers in British Guiana was bought by an Englishman, Peter Taylor, an ally of Forbes Burnham and fierce critic of Dr Cheddi Jagan and his PPP Government.

Taylor kept the Sunday Argosy, and discontin-

ued the Daily Argosy, and launched the Evening Post.

In 1962, the PPP established the New Guyana Company Limited and launched the Mirror newspaper to defend Government policies and programmes and counteract the flood of criticisms carried by the then Chronicle, Graphic, Catholic Standard, and Argosy newspapers.

To the credit of the PPP and against all odds, the Mirror continues to publish to this day despite Burnham’s moves in 1971 to strangle it by denying the newspaper to import a rotary offset press to upgrade its operations and subsequent-

ly starving it of newsprint.

That same year the Chronicle was sold to the PNC Government.

A year earlier in 1970, Burnham turned against his one-time ally Taylor, whose fortunes were now reversed by the PNC Government which forced him to relinquish the Evening Post.

Taylor eventually gave the company to his employees. Four years later in 1974, the Evening Post and Guyana Graphic were sold to the PNC Government.

The Guyana Times started in 2008 and ever since has carried comprehensive and well-researched local, regional, and international

news and events that conform to proper documentation and good journalistic standards and practices.

Mr Editor, readers abroad, through your wellcrafted columns, learn of progress in Guyana and the destructive forces trying to put the country back to the December 1964-October 1992 years. Some of your regular letter-writers like Vishnu Bisram and Sultan Mohamed, for example, provide comprehensive and thought-provoking information on a range of subjects, including geo-political, local political, as well as social and economic issues and events.

continueD on page 5

India’s PBDs and Indo-Caribbeans

Dear Editor,

The 13th global forum for interaction between resident (in India) and overseas Indians (PIOs and NRIs), and the Government of India (including state Governments) called Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), is being held in Gandhinagar, the capital city of the prosperous state of Gujarat. Indo-Caribbeans played a significant role in the launching of the PBD.

A handful of IndoCaribbeans that included New York based Ramesh Kalicharran, Dharamdatt Sukhai and yours truly lobbied Indian politicians and leaders of Indian organizations in America (Dr Mukund Modi, among others) for such an event prior to the BJP coming to power in 1997.

The group met Atal Vajpayee for a luncheon at a restaurant in Manhattan

in 1996. Ravi Dev, Vassan Ramracha, Baytoram Ramharack, yours truly and a few others had earlier interacted with BJP leader L K Advani in New York on strengthening relations between India and the IndoCaribbean diaspora.

When the BJP came to power, it established a commission on the diaspora led by eminent jurist Dr L M Singhvi that held discussions with leaders of overseas Indian organizations on how to strengthen relations between India and her diaspora.

The group met Guyanese reps in New York and also traveled to Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname interacting with prominent Indians. It was suggested that a diaspora conference be held to address issues impacting Indians in the diaspora.

This led to the holding

of the first PBD in January 2003 that has become an annual event. It was Dharamdatt Sukhai who suggested that prominent overseas Indians be honored for their contributions to the diaspora.

India recognized the importance of the diaspora to her development and sought to bring the diaspora and India closer.

India initiated the celebration after awakening to the reality that the large numbers of Indians who are settled overseas can be an asset to India in various fields, especially in investing in the land of their foreparents and India can provide critical resources for the diaspora countries to experience development.

The Indian Government is courting diaspora Indians to invest in India and or promote trade with the countries where they are settled

and Mother India. China had done the same with regards to her diaspora as did Ireland and Italy.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is held in recognition and appreciation of the constructive, economic and philanthropic role being played by the Indian diaspora (ethnic Indians living around the globe) in their host or home countries as well as for maintaining their links with India.

About 25 million Indians are based overseas in 110 countries. January 9 has been picked as the day of celebrating the PBD in a symbolic gesture to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa on that day in 1915. This year marks the centenerary return of Gandhi to India following his struggle against apartheid in South Africa.

Prayer warrior, Pastor Juanita Bynum ministers to thousands of worshippers at the Prayer Movement held at the National Park on

Saturday night (Carl Croker photo)

They can kill my body but they cannot kill my dream

Dear Editor,

“They can kill my body but they cannot kill my dream”. That was the poignant assertion by Malala Yousafzai, the iconic teenager who defied her countrymen to the point of risking her own life in the pursuit of her dream for universal girls’ education.

Her firm and persistent resolve in her active campaigns as a human rights advocate in the face of entrenched opposition from diehards in her country earned her the respect of the world and, among other acclamations, the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Malala’s courageous actions and profound state-

ments such as the one above resonate with similar ones associated with change agents in the past as well as many in our contemporary world.

However, this week’s senseless shooting spree in Paris aimed at curtailing freedom of expression reminds us of the fact that our world still has many other obstacles to overcome.

Right here in Guyana we are not insulated from the machinations of powerful forces that appear hell-bent on destroying the foundations of freedom and thwarting the dreams of decent, law-abiding, forwardlooking and progressive citizens.

India’s PBDs...

The PBDs have served a forum for an open discussion of key concerns and issues faced by overseas Indians allowing for a give and take relationship with the representatives of the national and state Governments of India.

Previous PBDs attracted top personalities from the Caribbean and the rest of the world as well as a large number of delegates of the Overseas Indian Community. Delegates have made demands from the Government which listened and even implemented some of the requests.

So far, the PBDs have led to the establishment of several programmes that have or will benefit Indians around the world such as the awarding of dual citizenship and the PIO card which makes it easy for Indians wanting to study or spend a lengthy time in India.

In terms of other benefits to the diaspora, there is a Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra to promote multi-dimensional welfare of the Indian Diaspora as well as a university for children of the di-

Witness for example the widespread indulgence in illegal, inexplicable enrichment, covert attempts to silence free expressions of thought and to curtail legitimate actions aimed at preventing further drifts away from the fundamental freedoms associated with a truly democratic society.

Clearly, all Guyanese need to be aware of overt and insidious attempts to further erode our inalienable rights and to take advantage of all current and future opportunities to safeguard our freedoms in order that our dreams for a better life can be realized.

Nowrang Persaud

From page 4

aspora. A Pravasi university for Indians is in the works. This year, a contingent of Indo-Guyanese from Guyana as well as other Indo-Caribbean people (some from New York) is attending the conference. A few of them are scheduled to make presentations that relate to the Indo-Caribbean diaspora.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event on Thursday while President Donald Ramotar delivered the feature address. President Mukherjee will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards on Friday to distinguished Indians who based overseas and who have made significant contributions to the diaspora or to their home society.

Earlier, Ramotar met Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on strengthening relations between the two democracies. Previous recipients of the award included Rohan Kanhai, V S Naipaul, Basdeo Panday, Bharrat Jagdeo, Alvin Kalicharran, Yesu Persaud, Ashok Ramsaran, and Vice

In praise of

Indeed, the special qualities inherent in your columnists – specifically, their accessibility, willingness to share their experiences, passion for their craft and most importantly, their sense of humour – can be determined from reading the various pieces.

Your Sunday Times Magazine and the Caribbean Times International, a sister paper of the Guyana Times, circulated abroad, contain a range of properly structured and well-written pieces on Guyana, the region, and the wider world.

Guyana...

The feature articles and photographs of the interior that you carry give readers a good glimpse of the natural beauty of the country and are a boost to tourism, and travel and exploration in addition to guiding readers to historical places of interest.

I must say that over the years I continue to enjoy the “Eyewitness” column, the “Editorial”, and your comprehensive coverage of such key events like the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry.

From time to time, I cross-reference some of your pieces to the National

Aishalton is not divided regarding expulsion/transfer of teacher

Dear Editor,

I wish to respond to an article in another section of the press under the headline, “Aishalton divided by move to transfer ‘slapped’ teacher – petition politically-driven, says former Toshao”.

The statements or claims made by the former Toshao of Aishalton village Tony James in the article is not surprising, since he is anti-Government and a PNC/APNU activist.

The teacher John Adams from the Upper Mazaruni in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) is his acolyte who may have been misled to disrupt the President’s meeting with the Aishalton villagers while being under the influence of alcohol.

But the Aishalton village is not divided regarding the expulsion or transfer of the teacher, since those who are against this move by the village council are only Tony James and his small gang of PNC/APNU supporters who are well known by the majority of villagers and are in opposition to the current village

President Jules Ajodhia of Suriname.

Previous PBDs were a great experience with outstanding entertainment and lavish meals and this one is not much different. In addition to plenary sessions discussing issues impacting on the diaspora, various entertainments are lined up in the evenings and mega-dinners and luncheons with the Prime Minister, President, Opposition Leader and the Chief Guests – the most tasty Indian dishes are served.

A positive of PBD is the cultural and educational link with the diaspora and tracing roots.

Since the PBDs, the Indian Government has increased cultural links and scholarships to the poorer countries in the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa. A mechanism is in place to help overseas Indians (girmityas or descendants of indentured laborers) to find their ancestral relatives. So the diaspora has benefited enormously from the PBDs.

Vishnu Bisram

From page 4

Geographic Desk Reference and the New York Public Library Desk Reference and I can assure you that not once did I come across an error. Keep up the good work Mr Editor, and congratulations to your staff for bringing developments and progress in Guyana to the attention of the wider world.

Lal Balkaran, MBA, FCPA, FCGA, FCMA, CGMA Published Author and Risk Consultant lalbalkaran@rogers.com

council which is actively engaged in village development.

Any Amerindian village council, being the legal governing body of an Amerindian village, has the mandate to act at all times in the best interest of the village and to provide for the good governance of the village (Section 13 [3] [A] and [B] of the Amerindian Act 2006).

In this regard, the Aishalton village council is simply acting in the best interest of the village in the application of disciplinary measures against the teacher whose behaviour is that of a hooligan.

This is the opinion of many Aishalton villagers. I therefore reject Mr James’s position that a vote should have been taken from villagers for the transfer of the teacher to another region.

Mr James in the article said that he “asked that the accounts of the Aishalton village council be audited, but the council has refused to open their books”. Let me ask the former Toshao if he ever produced audited accounts of

the village council when he was a Toshao?

The former Toshao is an executive of the Amerindian People Association (APA). Can he say what constructive role is he currently playing for the development of Aishalton village? I am awaiting on a response.

The former Toshao in the article said “there are other pressing issues that need the attention of the council. He identified these as suicide, including an attempt by a teen recently”.

Can the former Toshao say the teen that attempted suicide recently was a school teacher secretly taken to Brazil, and by whom?

The former Toshao in the article asked, “Is it we who are embarrassing or is it the President who embarrassed us?” It seems that the former Toshao has ventured into senility for failing to recognise that it was his PNC/APNU acolyte who embarrassed the Aishalton village.

Peter Persaud

A question for GECOM

Dear Editor, I writing to find out how the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) can address this concern, or maybe to enlighten the public. ID cards registration was closed in December 2014. No date was announced for an election, so why shut it down?

If the election may take place in March or April of

2015, why not continue up to a month prior which will give GECOM and those concerned enough time to sort out discrepancies?

There are people who will reach the age by then who will require their ID cards, people who may seek work, or people who have a damaged or lost one.

Guyanese who could not have come back during the Christmas holidays due to commitments will very well appreciate an extension until a date and a new cut off deadline are announced. Just thought of seeking GECOM’s assistance on this issue.

Balbir Bahadursingh Canada

Page Foundation

BY LISA BENDALL

When flu season strikes, your children could be right in the line of fire. Children are usually the first in a community to get sick with influenza. They’re also more likely than adults to catch the flu when they’re exposed. And they’re usually the ones most to blame for circulating the virus. “Children play closely together, and they’re still learning hygiene,” says Dr Judy MacDonald, Calgary’s Medical Officer of Health. “They can easily spread germs from person to person.”

The flu can make your little one feel pretty lousy, with its typical symptoms of fever, aches and pains, coughing and fatigue. Children with flu can suffer additional complaints like stomach pain, earaches and even convulsions.

Want to prevent your children from catching the flu? Here are six steps that can help.

1. Get the flu shot

to wash properly: we’re talking soap and scrubbing, people. A few finger flicks under running water won’t do it. Get your child in the habit of washing before he eats, after the bathroom, and whenever his hands are dirty. Hand sanitiser is helpful on the fly, but young children need to be watched carefully to make sure they rub their hands

child just by doing your regular mom or dad duties: wiping noses, holding hands, changing diapers or preparing food. Try to keep the risk to a minimum by washing your hands frequently. Use household disinfectant to clean any surfaces like taps, door handles or toys that you or the flu-infested family member may have touched.

“My number-one advice is immunise your child against influenza,” says Dr MacDonald. This is your best bet in keeping your child flu-free: In healthy children the flu shot is up to 90 per cent effective, and more parts of Canada, like Ontario and Alberta, are offering the vaccine free. If your child is under age nine and it’s her first time getting the flu shot, she should have a second dose in four weeks. Keep in mind babies under six months of age can’t be vaccinated, so it’s a good idea to take your own shot in the arm to protect your little papoose.

2. Teach your child hand hygiene

Hand washing is another proven method of stemming the spread of germs. But it’s important to teach your child how

until they’re dry. Otherwise, they may be swallowing alcohol ingredients the next time they put their hands in their mouths.

3. Stay away from sick people

Your child is more likely to catch the flu in crowded places. You may not be able to keep her out of school or day care, but if you can avoid malls, performance halls and even public transportation, you’ll reduce her odds of picking up flu germs. Don’t allow close contact between your child and someone you know is sick.

4. Don’t be a carrier

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, children can often catch the flu from their carrier parents. If you already have one child who’s sick, you can unwittingly pass germs to another

5. Humidify your home

There’s a lot of scientific evidence that the flu virus survives best in low-humidity environments. That’s one of the reasons why it spreads in winter, when the moisture level in our indoor air is down. Now a new study at the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that humidifiers in the home may help to kill off the flu virus. More research is needed, but the study gives an ideal target range of 40 to 60 per cent relative humidity.

6. Encourage your child to exercise

If you want to help your child fight off the flu, make sure he gets regular exercise. That’s something that may slide in winter months, when children aren’t outdoors as often. But moderate physical activity has been shown to boost the immune system. “The healthier you are, the better able you are to deal with anything that comes up, including the influenza virus,” says Dr MacDonald. Look for opportunities for indoor activity, like swimming or gymnastics. If your child takes up outdoor winter sports like skating, do take coldweather precautions: He needs warm clothing, proper nutrition and hydration, and sunscreen. (besthealthmag.ca)

Continued from sunday

* Children this age are continuing to learn that their actions have consequences (and they will continue to learn this for some time to come). Your consistent, clear expectations for them are more powerful teaching tools than shouting at high volume.

* If your child understands that you will consistently respond to misbehaviour with a thoughtful discussion and temporary restrictions (for instance, no TV or computer games or a time-out in a quiet place), he or she will begin to connect actions with consequences.

* Peer pressure begins to be a powerful motivator at this age and becomes more so as your child matures. Find out if peer pressure played a part in the misbehaviour. If so, talk about the importance of thinking for oneself. Help your child reflect on what she was thinking and encourage her to believe in the value of her own good choices.

* Some children misbehave away from home to engage their parent’s attention. Resist the urge to react severely. Instead, ensure that appropriate consequences are enforced (either by you or someone else). Pay attention, however, to whether your child is getting enough positive adult attention. Provide your full attention as best you can, even if it means putting your own agenda on the back burner.

Parents with children ages 10 to 15

* Negotiate rules and consequences with your child for missed curfews, underage drinking, cheating, and so on before the situations arise. Then

consistently enforce the rules you’ve both agreed upon.

* Role-play conversations with your child that will help her or him make good choices and resist negative peer influence. You may have to help your child find new friends, minimise opportunities for contact with some, and exercise greater parental oversight when your child and another child are together so that you can be a positive influence in their relationship.

* If you get the “dreaded call” – from the parents of your child’s friend, a store manager, a teacher, or neighbour – just keep in mind that it doesn’t mean you have a bad child. Regardless of your initial reaction, do whatever works to calm yourself before dealing with your child, whether that means taking a brisk walk, screaming in private, or calling a friend to talk.

* It often helps to wait before jumping into disciplinary action or a full discussion about why the trouble occurred. It might be more productive to say “Let’s both think about this and talk after dinner,” since you will both gain some distance from the incident.

* Your reaction to the adult in charge when the problem occurred will teach your child another part of the “getting in trouble” lesson. Be sure to listen to both sides of the story before drawing any conclusions about what happened. Refrain from assessing blame or questioning someone else’s authority in front of your child. It’s often useful to set up a time to talk when everyone is calmer.

Parents with children ages 16 to 18

* Remember to review your expectations, rules, and consequences with teenagers at least annually. Some families write up the house rules, which everyone signs.

* Peer pressure continues to be strong at this age. Find out if it played a part in the situation, and strategise how to minimise it in the future. Be aware that telling your teen she can’t hang out with someone is probably not going to work. Enlisting the help of another adult close to the situation might be helpful.

* It is almost always a good idea to allow natural consequences to play out in the situation. Resist the urge to minimise or lessen a penalty resulting from your child’s behaviour.

* Be available and supportive, but let your child be the one to follow up on afterthe-fact requirements and actions (returning phone calls to authorities or rearranging work schedules for disciplinary appointments).

* Be honest about the negative consequences your own similar past actions, if any, have had on your life.

* Don’t overreact to bad news. Delay your response until you have had time to think clearly. You might write down what you hear, and brainstorm with your child a list of responses you both you can make to the situation.

(parentfurther.com)

Sri Lanka election... Unequal campaign contest, abuses dot poll – Jagdeo

The Bharrat Jagdeoled Commonwealth Observers Mission found that the recently-held election in Sri Lanka was marked by an unequal contest with extensive, largescale abuse of state resources during the campaign period.

The team also noted what they described as “the comprehensive bias of state media against the Common Opposition Candidate’s campaign; the use of military personnel and public officials to support the President’s campaign; the use of Government monies, gifts and other inducements; and, the widespread use of state-owned public transport by the incumbent”.

In a preliminary report, the Observer team stated that the Common Opposition Candidate’s campaign received little to no coverage in the state media in clear contravention of the provisions of the Constitution, the Presidential Elections Act and relevant guidelines issued by the Commissioner of Elections. “The high penetration of state-run radio, television and newspaper across the island, and especially in rural areas, increases the burden of responsibility on state media to take seriously its obligation as a public resource for citizens,” the Jagdeo-led team noted.

It pointed out that significant instances of violence in the campaign period had credible links to political

party office bearers and created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation with concerns about potential violence on Election Day.

“Sri Lanka’s election law disallowing the display of cut-outs, posters and campaign material for candidates in public spaces was systematically flouted outside of campaign venues or campaign offices; some local authorities had denied the Common Opposition Candidate use of public spaces for campaign venues, in contravention of Sri Lanka’s election law. The ability to campaign is a basic requirement for an electoral contest,” the preliminary report found.

Election Day

On Election Day, the group observed a peaceful and well-managed process with a high voter turnout. They found that: voters

appeared to exercise their franchise freely with the bulk of voters turning out in the first half of the day, allowing for a smooth and timely closing of the polls. Additionally, the group observed that election officials managed the polling process efficiently, including the opening and closing of the polls. There appeared to be no substantial challenges to the voter register at polling stations observed. “Polling stations were laid out as per instructions from the Commissioner of Elections; however, this layout did not in all instances guarantee that the secrecy of the ballot was provided for.”

The Observer group said that there was a visible Police presence on Polling Day and during counting.

Additionally, the group said vote counting was conducted transparently, with counting officials working

Captain, crew members released

The captain and two crew members who were arrested for the huge cocaine bust made on board a Cyprus-registered vessel, MV Delta Dies , were released on Friday evening, Head of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh stated.

However, the vessel remains impounded as investigations continue.

On Wednesday, Singh told this newspaper that the case file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice and was returned on Friday.

Singh added that both Suriname and Guyana have been exchanging information with the aim of finding the owner of the illicit substance.

He reiterated that the drug shipment had no links to Guyana, noting that it was clearly a case of transshipment from Suriname.

The cargo ship, which reportedly left Suriname destined for Europe, was intercepted by local authorities early Monday morning in the Demerara River with

approximately 192.42 kilograms of cocaine stashed away.

The drug was found concealed under the wooden flooring of a flat rack that is used as a bed for containers. The cocaine, with an estimated street value of $800 million, was in several rectangular shaped packages that were wrapped with black plastic.

According to reports, CANU was called in by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), which received a tip-off from the United

Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) about possible contraband goods on board the vessel.

MV Delta Dies was docked at a wharf in Linden where it uplifted a consignment of bauxite destined for Europe. Local authorities swarmed the cargo ship after the consignment was loaded and found the narcotics.

The vessel, along with the flat rack, was subsequently transported to Georgetown and placed at the John Fernandes terminal at Mandela Avenue, Greater Georgetown, on Tuesday last.

Further examinations were done by GRA’s Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) and Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), along with CANU.

Immediately after the discovery, the CANU head explained that his agency, along with the Guyana Police Force and GRA’s DEU, collaborated under the Container Control Programme to make the bust.

diligently and with dedication into the early hours of the morning. Domestic observer groups were allowed access to vote counting centres for the first time at this election. The Group commended domestic observer groups and civil society for the role they played in monitoring and reporting during the election period. Their robust and fearless work ensured that democratic processes were safeguarded.

The Jagdeo-led team also remarked that the efforts, integrity and determination of the Commissioner of Elections were deeply impressive throughout the election period, noting that all major stakeholders stated that they had faith in his ability to deliver, despite the limitations of the role.

“The outcome of the 2015 election reflected the will of the people of Sri Lanka. It is, however, the view of the group that the inadequate electoral and legal framework coupled with an unequal pre-electoral environment means that this electoral contest did not comply with all the key benchmarks for democratic elections,” the Commonwealth Group concluded.

Five held for alleged theft at NA supermarket

Asting operation set up by the Police in Berbice has resulted in the recovery of hundreds of thousands of dollars in articles which had disappeared from a supermarket in New Amsterdam, Berbice, as they probed the larceny of millions of dollars worth of items from the entity.

The articles which include cosmetics, electrical appliances, kitchen utensils, food stuff and confectionary items were removed from J’s Supermarket at Strand, New Amsterdam between December 1, 2014 and January 7, 2015. Five persons are now in custody while the one of the cashiers of the supermarket has disappeared as Police broke the network involving staff of the supermarket and others.

Two persons have confessed to the crime and have provided investigators with information as to how the employees formed a network and were able to get the items out of the building situated next to the New Amsterdam Market.

The articles were retrieved from the home of a male employee, who works on a Canter truck owned by the business entity. The Guyana Times understands that the employee’s wife approached investigators carrying a young baby and pleaded with them to release her husband after he was taken into custody. She claimed that he was innocent and was the father of the infant.

Ring of thieves

Investigators granted her

request, but set up a sting operation and nabbed the employee shortly after he had been released as he tried to remove some of the stolen articles from his home. He later told investigators that there was a network involving several of his colleagues that stole from the supermarket.

One of the methods used and in which he was directly involved was to get items from the bond and place them in the garbage produced by the supermarket.

The items were then sent through the back door unchecked and into the centre for disposal. He said the person who held the keys to the bond were also part of the scam.

Another method being used involved a close relative of a police Sergeant who would go to the supermarket and make purchases. The items were not checked by the cashier. That person also has a relative working at the supermarket.

Items were also being removed by the cashier not collecting money for items passing through the cashier counter and bills being issued which were not properly checked.

One employee has confessed to being part of the scam. When it was revealed how some of the items made it out of the building, the cashier vanished and has not been seen since. Among those in custody are two females, including the bond clerk. Two persons have also been released on station bail as Police continue to investigate.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

$800M cocaine bust

Some of the cocaine filled packages found by law enforcement in the flat rack

AFC leads APNU by the nose Sour grapes...

APartnership For National Unity (APNU) has denied being led by its junior partner Alliance For Change (AFC), despite on numerous occasions the party with 26 Parliamentary seats had been forced to go along with the one with seven.

The issue of AFC’s supposed influence over the David Granger-led coalition has come to the fore with the AFC recently declaring that it wants any negotiations for a possible alliance to be done in secret. Already the decision by the AFC to force APNU to agree to talks in secret, as a prerequisite for moving negotiations forward on its proposed prodemocracy alliance, is being seen as a slap in the face of internal party democracy.

The move is also being widely viewed as an attempt to deprive the grassroots supporters of both parties of the right to know what deals are being struck, and to also criticize the path chosen by their elected representatives to move negotiations forward as far as the coalition is concerned.

A sitting AFC Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

Councillor Erwin Abdulla said that he was not in support of any talks under secrecy. He claimed when contacted by the Guyana Times

on Saturday that he was not informed as what talks were taking place amongst the Executive members of his party and the APNU. “How can I support talks under secrecy? The talks are under secrecy so I do not know what they are talking about,” he stated before declining to comment further.

Pressed as to whether the Executive members of the party had discussed the pro-democracy alliance with other stakeholders and leaders in the Region, Abdulla responded in the negative. He reiterated that he is unable to say anything further until he receives clarity from his party.

“The AFC understands that it cannot negotiate the terms and conditions of any

alliance with the PNC-led APNU in the public domain. It is too risky. It knows fully-well that it is bound to lose critical support from its membership across the country especially if they are in disagreement with aspects of the proposal,” a political analyst told this newspaper on Saturday during an interview.

Commentators have pointed out that in several other occasions, the AFC was able to force the hand of APNU. The minority opposition demanded the Speakership at the

commencement of the 10th Parliament and got it despite APNU had wanted the late Debra Backer as the Speaker. Secondly, in 2012 after meeting with the administration and agreeing on several measures including a hike in tariff for electricity in Linden, APNU reneged and followed the AFC in rejecting the proposal.

The AFC later called protest actions in Linden and received the support of APNU. Three people were killed in the demonstrations and several others injured. A number of government buildings and a school were also destroyed by fire.

Then last year without consulting with its constituency APNU went along with the AFC – sponsored No-Confidence Motion against the Government. It turned out that President Donald Ramotar prorogued Parliament, killing the motion in the process. APNU in reacting to the President’s action launched a series of marches, but the AFC boycotted them, saying that it does not want to be seen with APNU supporters and that it will protest by “issuing hard hitting press statements”.

The issue had become so glaring that the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) –a key partner in the APNU coalition – issued a statement condemning the AFC’s non-support of the protest. The AFC as recent as last month was the one to propose the “pro democracy alliance” with APNU, but made it clear it has to lead the co-

alition.

Not following AFC Granger was previously asked about APNU’s tendency to “follow AFC” but he denied this. “We are not following the AFC, we have taken a line to support the No-Confidence Motion. There were four courses of action and the No-Confidence Motion was only one. The matter of the Financial Paper One of 2014 was responded to by APNU by having a motion brought in the National Assembly for the Finance Minister to be taken to Committee of Privileges and we did take action due to the financial papers,” Granger told Guyana Times According to him, the

third course of action was to have the No-Confidence Motion, and that was agreed upon by the two sides. He pointed out that the motion belongs to the AFC, but APNU will maintain its commitment to the Motion.

Asked if his coalition had ever before on its own, consider such a motion against the current Government, Granger responded in the negative, however, he was sure to point out that the party had taken its own actions in the National Assembly. These actions included the No-Confidence Motion set against Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee in 2012 and the case against Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh...”

...from snide "Ralphie"

Ralph Ramkarran's worked very hard over the years to cultivate an avuncular image. Fella who's "above the fray" and "even-handed" and all that. So that's why this Eyewitness is so taken aback, in his latest column in the Stabber he so snarkily rips into lawyer Saphir Hussain Subedar for daring to announce he'll contest the next elections!!

He first mocks Hussain for adding "Subedar" to his name. So what?? At least it's not as pitiful for Ramkarran to insist his first name is "Ralph" - when it's actually "Harinarine". Ralphie comes off as a wannabe brown-noser who's ashamed of his Hindu name. At least Subedar's a word associated with India and Pakistan - as a rank in the army taken as a name by many.

"Ralphie" then goes after Hussain's National Independent Party's symbol - the tiger. He backhandedly compliments Subedar for "roaring" while the ROAR of Ravi Dev "slunk away after being thrashed into oblivion". While he's absolutely spot on about ROAR's ignominious disappearance, Hussain started before Dev in 1997 and has outperformed that wanker in practical help to all Guyanese.

After all, "Ralphie's" unkindest cut of all was to mock Hussain's poor grammar in his ads where he told folks to "remain calm and collective” and to “avoid confrontation and be restraint". What has "Ralphie" and Ravi Dev with all their spelling and grammatical skills, ever done for ordinary Guyanese more than Hussain's getting Government to back down from the six month birthcertificate requirement for getting new passports??

"Ralphie" was avuncular when he was a big one in the PPP/C, receiving an ever-increasing lucrative stream of governmental legal business. He lived so high off the hog - even refusing "Minister wuk" - dubbing the pay "a pittance" compared to the millions he was raking in. But you get to know the real nature of a man during adversity. And ever since he quit the PPP/C - because he couldn't become their Presidential candidate - it's been one long downward spiral for "Ralphie". He exposed himself to be a quivering, quaking, gelatinous invertebrate on Hussain.

What would "Ralphie" be if his dad wasn't the charismatic PPP leader Boysie?? Based on his meltdown when he slunk away from the PPP/C after being literally bitch-slapped by Gail Texiera, the resounding answer is, "a whining whinging failure"!! Democracy's built by men standing up for their beliefs.

For "Ralphie" to mock Hussain's effort and idealism today is the ultimate act of cynicism and betrayal.

Especially from a man who now spends his time calculating how many angels can gyrate on the tip of a pin with his constitutional masturbation!!

...among the minnows

With the talks between PNC/APNU and the AFC to form their "secret" coalition - Partnership Alliance for National Trust - Yes!" (PANTY) - heating up behind closed doors, the bad blood between the AFC and the WPA's being exposed. The WPA up to now had been providing the largest fig leaf to hide the sins of the PNC from within the belly of the APNU beast.

But if the AFC were to go ahead with the nuptials, WPA would then become the "second, older wife". To be used and discarded.

The whining from WPA's already started. The other nine smaller parties that'd been dominated up to now by them in the marriage with the PNC aren't saying much. They were already bitchslapped into quivering silence by the WPA. Elder Clive Thomas started the kvetching last week when he demanded one night every month for the WPA with the PNC.

When the "secret talks" are over, it'll be either the AFC or the WPA in bed with the big kahoona!! Can’t have TWO girl-crabs in the same hole!

...into good wine??

There's been so much venom spilled in Guyana's cricket administration, this Eyewitness wonders if the new Ombudsman'll be able to get the raging egos to work together for the good of cricket.

APNU Leader David Granger

APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

AFC General Secretary David Patterson

Works being done to strengthen EDWC dam – Ramsammy

Guyana’s ability to implement adaptation measures to deal with climate change were applauded by Japan’s Vice Foreign Affairs Minister, Takashi Uto, who along with Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy and National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth visited the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) on Friday.

The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding the Guyana Conservancy Adaptation project which will aid in better management and operation of the conservancy, thus, tackling climate change adaptation and mitigation. The project is being done in two phases. Under phase one, eight excavators and two pontoons were procured, while under phase two, US$3.8 million was provided for the rehabilitation of six structures within the EDWC, which including at Sarah Johanna, Nancy, Annandale, Hope, Shanks and Maduni.

These works will complement the Hope Canal project for which Government is investing some US$15 million. According to Minister Ramsammy, the Ministry is currently engaging in a maintenance programme within the conservancy. He said that the equipment which was procured was being used on safeguarding of the 45-mile long dam and the inlets and outlets within

the conservancy canal.

The Minister explained that the conservancy was an important irrigation source for all the villages along the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara.

“This conservancy has never been in the condition it is in right now … it is well maintained and we are very proud of the works being done here with the

Channel (Hope channel),

Minister Ramsammy explained that the doors of the head regulator (a sluice system that allows water from the conservancy to enter into the relief channel), were completed.

He said that the next step is to break the dam, which will be done in about two weeks. Currently, the dam is being strengthened

support from the Japanese Government; the IDB [InterAmerican Development Bank]; and the World Bank.”

Minister Ramsammy further noted that under the Guyana Conservancy Adaptation project, which is supported by the World Bank, four pump stations will be constructed along the East Coast this year. During a visit to the Northern Relief

at both ends. “We want to make sure that the water level in our conservancy doesn’t go below 53 GD [Georgetown Datum], which is our dead space, because if it does so, the dam’s integrity is affected, and we want to make sure that it doesn’t get above 57, because if it does, the dam will be compromised with overtopping,” he further noted.

Jagdeo praises Sri Lankans for good election spirit

The Commonwealth Observer Group that monitored the recently-held elections in Sri Lanka has commended the people of Sri Lanka for the spirit in which they participated in last week’s election.

The high voter turnout of 81.52 per cent reflects positively on the Sri Lankan people’s strong commitment to the democratic process, the group – led by former President Bharrat Jagdeo –said in a statement.

The observers further commended the key political actors for accepting the results of the election and for reinforcing in their public statements the need to respect the rule of law in the days to come.

The Commonwealth Observer Group has been present in Sri Lanka since January 2, 2015. The Group’s mandate was to observe and consider all aspects of the electoral process and assess compliance with the standards for democratic elections to which Sri Lanka has committed itself. Where appropriate, the Group will make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral process.

The Group was also tasked with considering, among other things, whether conditions existed for credible elections, including a fair pre-election environment, the transparency of the entire process, whether voters were free to express their will, and whether the counting and results process was transparent.

“Over the next four days

and before our departure, the Group will complete its Final Report for submission to the Commonwealth Secretary General. Following this, he will send it to the Office of the Commissioner of Elections, the Government of Sri Lanka, political parties, relevant stakeholders, and eventually to all Commonwealth Governments. The Final Report will, in due course, be made available to the public,” Jagdeo said in the preliminary statement.

Upon arrival in Sri Lanka, the Group had held meetings with the Commissioner of Elections; domestic observers; representatives of political parties and civil society; media monitors; the Police; legal and constitutional experts; Commonwealth High Commissioners; Ambassadors resident in Sri Lanka; the United Nations Resident Coordinator; and international observers. The Group also attended two rallies at the end of the election campaign. Observer teams were deployed in Colombo, the Northern, North Western, East, and Southern Provinces where they also met local officials and domestic observers.

Abuses

During these meetings, concerns were raised about a number of factors during the campaign, notably: the widespread abuse of state resources, including the comprehensive bias of state media against the Common Opposition Candidate and his supporters; the use of military personnel and pub-

lic officials to support the President’s campaign; the blatant use of Government monies, handouts and gifts to induce voters; and, the extensive use of state-owned public transport for campaigning by the incumbent.

Additionally, the Group said the use of violence, mainly targeting supporters of the Common Opposition Candidate, or at his campaign offices and rallies were noted. Complaints were also made regarding attacks on the supporters of the incumbent President and a reported assault on two election officials on January 5 in Trincomalee.

The Group mentioned that there was violation of the election law with regard to promotional material and the denial of campaign rally venues to the Common Opposition Candidate.

Other major concerns raised were: the potential role of the armed forces and that of private security personnel formerly employed by the armed forces to disrupt the election or to intimidate voters; security arrangements around the transmission of ballot boxes to the counting centres and integrity of the counting process and transmission of results; the selective disruption of public transport on Election Day, thereby disallowing people to cast their votes; the lack of power vested in the Commissioner of Elections to enforce electoral law and the non-independence of key public institutions and the lack of an established Elections Commission.

National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth explaining works ongoing at the Northern Relief Channel (Hope Canal), East Coast Demerara, to Japanese Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Takashi Uto and team during a visit

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy during a brief discussion with the Japanese Vice Foreign Affairs Minister and team during a visit to the Northern Relief Channel

Works ongoing at the Northern Relief Channel

Police shake up Traffic Dept as road accidents soar

The Guyana Police Force has removed the head of the Traffic Department, Hugh Denhert, as it seeks to take decisive steps to bring under control the rampant traffic situation in this country.

D Division (West Demerara) Commander Ian Amsterdam will take over from Superintendent Denhert as Traffic Chief during this week. The Senior Police Superintendent’s appointment comes at a time when road fatalities are at their highest level and more importantly, a time when the Traffic Department within the Guyana Police Force has launched several campaigns with the aim of prosecuting offenders.

According to statistics, for the first 10 months of 2014, there were 110 deaths on Guyana’s roadways. This figure is slightly below the country’s murder toll –119. The traffic deaths were as a result of 104 traffic accidents. Since November, the number of deaths has continued to rise as a result of vehicular accidents; the total to date stands at 139. Over the past two days, several persons lost their lives as a result of the actions of drunk and speeding

drivers.

In addition, statistics show that from January 2010 to mid November 2014, Guyana recorded a total of 574 road deaths, which is an all-time high for Guyana in any fiveyear span. According to online reports, 209 of those persons killed were pedestrians, 97 were motorcyclists, and 85 were pedal cyclists.

‘Name and shame’

The Police have rolled out an extensive name and shame campaign, which has seen several persons being prosecuted for driving under the influence of alcohol, another sore issue that has resulted in several fatal accidents.

Between December 28, 2014, and January 3, 2015, 249 drivers were charged for speeding while 31 were charged for driving under the influence of alcohol. Sixtyeight others were charged with other traffic related offences.

Meanwhile, Denhert will take over from Second In Command of B Division (Berbice), Assistant Commissioner of Police Carl Chapman, who will now head D Division (West Demerara).

The transfers came days after the Police announced

their list of promotions headed by Crime Chief Leslie James; A Division (Georgetown) Commander Clifton Hicken and Chapman who were all promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Only recently, Denhert told the Guyana Times in an interview that his Department could not sit back

and watch mass carnage on the country’s roadways. “We had to do something, and we are (doing things),” he said. According to him, there are several initiatives that are in place to better policing of

Superintendent Hugh Denhert

the roadways and regulation of the manner in which they are being used, especially by errant drivers. Denhert noted that his Department was big on enforcement activities, particularly targeting motorcyclists and drunk drivers.

He explained that Police would be clamping down on motorcyclists who did not adhere to the relevant safety regulations in place such as wearing helmets (the appropriate type) and having them strapped on. As it relates to drunk drivers, the Traffic Chief mentioned that with the implementation of the ‘name and shame’ campaign, they were hoping it serves as a wake-up call for those delinquent drivers on the roadways. Additionally, Denhert outlined that the Force has employed a “tow-truck” initiative, whereby a crash truck patrolled the streets removing vehicles that are wildly parked.

The Police are also on the lookout for public transport vehicles, particularly minibuses, that are usually overloaded.

Camp Street waitin fuh a Dr Dr Dr

In de days of de Pee-and-See, a lotta tings used to be short. De whole country used to be short of almost every ting. It had water shortage, power shortage and even people shortage after every body start to cut and run.

It hadda short man in charge of de economy in dem Pee-an-See times and he used to keep every ting short. Some body seh he was short and like he had believe every ting had to be short too.

A old woman who was a young woman back then seh every ting was short fuh de short man. Nowadays every ting still short fuh he, except he gotta long tongue wid how much he does talk. But de old woman seh she ain’t blame he fuh havin a long tongue wid every ting else short.

It also hadda money shortage. Foreign money and local money was short. De Pee-an-See even shorten de sugar people money and fatten dem party people. Thank de Almighty de short man who runnin de economy nowadays is de opposite of de previous short man.

And talkin bout money shortage, when people run outta money dem does start to look fuh friends and family or start to beg. Some does start to wuk more hard, but some people does start to thief.

Some like Rum Jhaat and de Nagga Man does run to FUCOP. Lalloo start doin free lawyer wuk hopin that he gon get plenty more wuk. Some does try to beat de tax system and bring in Lexus. Not one but two. And even use old people to do dutty wuk.

Dr Dr Dr Flip MoFart Thomas gotta different kinda money shortage. He try to fool people wid a fancy cheque. And now de people who supposed to bail he out turn dem back pun he. Soon MoFart gon have to getta different kinda bail.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! And if he still got money shortage, MoFart ain’t gon even be able to fart when dem fellas at Camp Street don wid he!

Berbice sugar estates performed creditably in

Despite a shortfall of the projected target by the Skeldon Sugar Estate, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) did well in surpassing the region’s projected target for sugar production during 2014. Together with the Blairmont Estate in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), which also surpassed its target, this resulted in the entire Berbice region having a sweet 2014.

Region Five Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth says the Blairmont Estate had a projected target of 29,312 tonnes of sugar, but was able to produce 33,499 tonnes.

Speaking of Region Six, Chairman David Armogan noted that the Skeldon Estate was the only one which did not make the projected target. That estate produced 21,813 tonnes of sugar which represents a shortfall of 5449 tonnes. However, the other two es-

2014

tates in the region – Albion and Rose Hall did excellently. “Albion was the estate with the highest production surpassing the target of 33,516 tonnes by 681 tonnes. Rose Hall recording 22,214 tonnes or 808 tonnes above the target set,” Armogan said as he gave a review of the region’s sugar performance. He added that the attitude of workers may have led to the Skeldon Estate underperforming. “I know there was a strike at Skeldon Estate as a result of the altercation between the Manager and a worker, and that might have led to the underproduction, because it was prolonged for a week.”

The Skeldon factory, which is the newest in Guyana, has been under the microscope since its commissioning in 2009. Apart from the shortfall of its projected target, Armogan said, the estate has been show-

ing progress in reducing its TCTS (tonnes of cane to tonnes of sugar) ratio. “In the case of Skeldon Estate, it took sometimes 20 tonnes of cane to make one tonne of sugar, so they had some serious problems in regard to extractions and factory problems—mechanical problems.”

In Guyana, the average TCTS is 12:1. “I don’t believe that the problem is low-quality cane, because if you take the same amount of cane and give it to Albion (Estate), you probably would have made more sugar, because Albion (Estate) TCTS average has been about 11.5 -12, whereas in Skeldon (Estate), it is about 15 and 20.”

Meanwhile on March 2, 2014, the Albion Estate started testing its BioEthanol E-10 fuel as the project was formally launched for a trial run in a number of vehicles.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Ian Amsterdam

Times Notebook

Wicked games to promote regime change

When a Parliament is held hostage by an Opposition to serve its narrow interest and not the interest of the nation, what is a Government supposed to do? The sensible thing to do is to let the people of Guyana determine what they want through a new general election.

President Donald Ramotar has stated very clearly that he intends to dissolve Parliament and call an election. Now it is for all of us to do our parts to ensure that Guyana follows a tradition established since 1992 of holding free and fair elections.

Before 1992 when elections were routinely rigged and the people’s democratic rights were denied, the British Government was silent. Given their special relationship with Guyana, where they were our colonial master for more than two centuries, their silence made them a tacit participant in the denial of our democratic rights.

They may not have personally rigged the 1968, 1973, 1980 and the 1985 elections and the 1978 Referendum in Guyana, but through their silence, they aided and abetted the virtual dictatorship in our country. That shame will

forever be an albatross they carry.

Britain conveniently lost her voice between 1968 and 1992, but today has discovered self-righteous indignation at the fact that Guyana’s President used his constitutional authority to prorogue Parliament for a short period of time to allow dialogue among the political parties.

The Opposition parties have declared unambiguously that they have a parliamentary agenda – a NoConfidence Motion which will lead to an immediate dissolution of Parliament. The prorogation was intended to allow the different political parties in Guyana to dialogue for a more appropriate way forward for our country.

Having not been able to persuade the Opposition parties that such a dialogue is a mature way to serve our people and act in the interest of the nation, the President has announced that he will dissolve Parliament and call the elections.

The Opposition has stated that they will not allow a budget to come to the floor and they have no intention of passing the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism

Bill and any other Bill that the Government has on Parliament’s agenda.

What is the British Government’s motivation in calling on the President to reconvene Parliament?

Whether for good or bad reasons, the political parties are agreed that we must go to election, although the approaches might be different.

Clearly, the British has taken a side in this dispute between political rivals in Guyana. They have always been on the side of those who promote dictatorship and disharmony

The Americans have not been quiet on the sidelines either. They too are busy trying to influence political outcomes in Guyana. The LEAD Project is just

one example.

Someone provided funds for a civil society alliance to come forward in a clearly political strategy. The chief bottle washer was a Dr Phillip Thomas. Who promised to fund him? He clearly did not have funds to do this on his own. Now he is abandoned with a trail of debts.

A a free choice and the expression of the free will of the Guyanese people is not a priority for these stakeholders – they want regime change. But they thought it was interference in Guyana’s sovereignty before 1992 to say anything about the rigged elections.

When our economy was being destroyed, our infrastructure falling apart, our

Guyana’s emergency medical response profile on the rise – Dr Bux

The Caribbean region is looking to Guyana as it pioneers the establishment of emergency medical response services. Guyana has been contacted by a number of countries to facilitate these services in their health-care systems.

Dr Zulfikar Bux, Head of Accident and Emergency (A&E) services at the Georgetown Public Hospital, shared with this publication that Guyana has become known as the pioneer of emergency medical response for the Caribbean. This is so as Guyana has successfully established this service at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

He stated that Guyana has been developing its emergency medical response services since 2010, with the initiation of training for Emergency Medical

Specialists. In 2013, these specialists graduated and have been functioning at Georgetown Public Hospital since.

The doctor explained that an Emergency Medical Specialist can be compared to a heart specialist or a bone specialist

whose work is quite specific to one area of the body, but an Emergency Medical Specialist area of work is the A&E, where all possible emergencies are considered.

The Emergency Medical Specialist attends to patients who are rushed into the A&E after fires, road accidents, shootings and other emergencies. Dr Bux explained that special training is necessary for such doctors to ensure a high survival rate of patients that come through the hospital doors daily.

He told the Guyana Times that he had done the training with another Emergency Medical Specialist who works in the A&E, Dr Tracey Bovell. Another doctor from Antigua and Barbuda had benefited from the emergency specialist training, Dr Straker. Dr Bux stated that

Dr Straker undertook part of the training in Guyana and was able to develop the emergency medical response service in Antigua and Barbuda as well.

Countries such as St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and others have already approached the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for assistance in developing their emergency response teams. Nevertheless, Dr Bux stated that the emergency services would not have been possible if it were not for the collaboration of the Health Ministry, the Vanderbilt Medical Centre in the United States and the Morris Foundation also in the US.

He informed that these organisations have been sponsoring the development of the new service in Guyana’s healthcare system and have plans in place to expand it to other areas.

people living in increasing poverty, child and maternal deaths rising, the national debt rising into one of the worst in the world before 1992, our people starving, national accounts abandoned and elections routinely rigged, their tongues were tied.

Today, when our country’s debt has been controlled, the economy growing faster than their own, national accounts vigorously scrutinized by the Parliament and the public, people’s standard of living improving daily, the infrastructure developing by leaps and bounds, the UK, America and Canada want to promote regime change.

Guyana deserves better from those who stood si-

$185M

lent as the PNC plundered Guyana. We welcome their thought and support, but they should allow democratic processes to work.

The Opposition threatened a parliamentary action, in keeping with their constitutional rights, and the President responded with an authority granted to him through that same Constitution.

The process which the British themselves help to craft for their former colony is in motion. It has a natural democratic outcome –an election. Elections will bring the best result for the people.

Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times. notebook@gmail.com.

spent

in 2014 to upgrade hinterland airstrips

The Ministry of Public Works was able to carry out major rehabilitative work on four airstrips in 2014, despite the combined Opposition cut the ministry’s budgetary allocation.

These airstrips are in Region One; at Matthews Ridge ($74 million) and Port Kaituma ($50 million), and in Region Seven, at Kamarang ($35 million) and Imbaimadai ($26 million). Resident contractors, who were paid on a quarterly basis, did all routine maintenance works.

According to information from the Ministry, the Aerodrome Division was successful in achieving most of its objectives for 2014, with regard to routine and corrective maintenance at hinterland airstrips for the year. Further the ministry noted that there were no adverse reports from aircraft operators, nor members of the various communities, in relation to works carried out on these airstrips.

Site visits by the aerodrome inspection team were done to ensure that all works were carried out, in keeping with the required standards of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority. Meanwhile in going forward, normal routine and corrective mainte-

nance to all 46 government aerodromes, in Regions One to Ten, and any other related works, which may be required will continue. With an estimated budget of $205 million, in 2015, capital works will be undertaken for the rehabilitation of four airstrips in Regions Seven, Eight and Nine. These will include the airstrips at Eteringbang, Mahdia, Annai, and Kurupung.

In April of 2014, when Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh presented the National Budget, the Combined Opposition voted against funding for the rehabilitation of several hinterland airstrips. This saw Amerindians, from some remote locations, staging protests, declaring that their developments were being stymied and it was a move to cut them off from the coastland.

However, in keeping with the constitution, some of the money was restored, and this was used for the hinterland airstrips, and other developmental projects. Many remote communities in the hinterland depend heavily on domestic flights to shuttle food and other critical supplies to their communities, most of which are also hubs for gold operations.

Dr Zulfikar Bux

President Donald Ramotar

Oil price plunge should not stall hydropower pursuit – Nandlall

In reaffirming government’s position on the importance and urgency for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall is of the view that no country with the ambition to achieve first class status for it citizens can continue to place reliance on fossil fuel for electricity generation.

According to the AG, while there has been a decline in the price of fuel internationally, which is good, it cannot be the basis for the reduction of the significance of hydropower to the developmental equation of Guyana. “Hydropower and every source of power alternative to fossil fuel are essential in today’s world from every conceivable perspective; one from an environmental perspective, from an economic perspective in terms of the fluctuating, and highly unpredictable fluctuation of the price of fuel internationally.”

He pointed out that the quantity of fuel that is available in the world and the fluctuation of price are factors that lead to the conclusion that reliance on fossil fuel as the source of electricity generation for a country cannot be the modern way to go, “…and Guyana perhaps in the last country to have recognised this. Throughout the Caribbean small countries such as Dominica, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts, they have hydropower.

“Where a waterfall does not exist, one is created to

AG and Legal Affairs

Minister Anil Nandlall

ensure that there is an elevation from which water falls to move the turbine.”

He stressed the fact that Guyana is gifted with perhaps the best potential for hydropower in the region, having regard to the number of waterfalls it has. “… therefore hydropower is indispensible to the developmental equation of our country, hence the president reiterating despite the opposition’s rejection of this, the government will continue to preserve with making that project a reality.”

Minister Nandlall added that while the combined opposition has rejected this project, to date they have not intelligently outlined to the Guyanese what issues they have with it. He noted that every possible document pertaining to the feasibility of the project was submitted to the opposition members, but nothing has been forthcoming about the

rejection of the project.

Nonetheless, the AG stated that government will continue to pursue this initiative with the aim of making it a reality. In his new year’s message, President Donald Ramotar announced that, “Norway has transferred earnings from our partnership of approximately US$80 million to the Inter-American Development Bank to fund part of Guyana’s equity share in the project. This is a significant accomplishment.”

The realisation of the transformational project, he said, is high amongst government’s priorities, “to ensure the achievement of more affordable and more reliable energy.” President Ramotar said that for too long, Guyanese have looked forward to harnessing the country’s vast hydropower potential, “The time for realising this dream is long overdue”.

Unreliable and unaffordable electricity, he explained, continues to be the biggest impediment to investment and job creation in Guyana. The project involves the construction of a hydropower plant in the area of west-central Guyana, where the Amaila and Kuribrong rivers meet.

Electricity produced at the plant will be delivered to Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, and its second largest town, Linden, by an electric transmission line. Once operational, approximately $9 billion will be saved annually from fuel import.

GRA to examine DDL, Guyana Beverage Inc, three other companies’ containers

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Friday conducted its second “Random Selection of Imports for Examination” exercise for the year at its headquarters on Camp Street, Georgetown. This system was introduced in February last year where five random members of the public were asked to select consignments of commercial imports for examination by the Revenue Authority. The consignments were chosen by random pulls from a ticket cage that contained the names of companies that lodged declarations of consignments at the Customs and Trade Administration days before. Friday’s draw saw members of the public randomly selecting five companies namely: Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL);

Guyana Beverage Company Inc (GBCI); Torginal Paints Inc; Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited; and R May Hardware Guyana. The draw was done in the presence of GRA’s Public Relations Officer, Internal Auditor and Customs Broker.

After the names are selected, GRA would pass them onto the Customs Office who will then inform the companies and set a date, mutually convenient to all parties, for the examination to be done. The examination requires a thorough search of each company’s consignments/cargo at the wharf.

It was explained that due to the meticulous nature of the examinations only five consignments are selected per drawing. Friday’s exercise was the second for the

19 mining equipment suppliers getting duty-free waivers

Amid criticisms that it is not doing enough to cushion the impacts of the slump in gold prices on local miners, Government has disclosed that it has implemented a range of measures, including the granting of tax waivers to mining equipment suppliers.

In a statement, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said that Guyana’s gold mining sector has a sound footing and continues to grow.

However it noted that the sector is vulnerable to international market conditions.

Noting that the gold mining sector has been the catalyst for economic growth and has improved the economic wellbeing of citizens of Guyana, the ministry said this has been achieved because of the consistently rising levels of gold declaration over the last decade. “The importance of the gold mining sector to our economy cannot be over emphasized since gold has been the largest earner of foreign revenue for the last seven years.”

waivers on spares and equipment.

The ministry said it supported the request for the waiver of tariffs and duties on equipment and spares and this was granted by the Government and implemented by the Guyana Revenue Authority. “A list of nineteen (19) suppliers of mining equipment and spares was approved for tax waivers on the importation of said equipment. This will reduce the cost of spares and critical supplies for miners and is an addition to the items that are currently imported duty free, such as Pumps, Flexes, and Matting etc.”

Additionally, the ministry said given the request and appeals of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association regarding the high cost of fuel as a main input into the production process, a fuel importation Licence was granted to allow for the cheaper importation of fuel.

Development Fund

The statement said too that Government, Ministry and stakeholders of the sector, most importantly GGDMA, are aware of the need to increase gold recoveries and eliminate the use of mercury in the gold extraction process.

The adoption and use of mercury free and improved recovery technologies is even more critical now given the low gold prices experienced by the sector. In this regard, the Government and GGDMA agreed and established a Mercury Free Mining Development Fund of GYD1B

maintenance of hinterland infrastructure and ensuring that value for money expended is achieved. In pursuit of this, a combination of approach was undertaken. GGMC is currently reviewing feasible road designs and construction methods that can be adopted bearing the constraint of financial resources in mind. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to implement Road Users’ Agreement for specific heavily traversed roads that are prone to destruction, since it is recognised that heavy usage of the road in wet conditions lead to damage and require continuous rehabilitation at significant cost.”

More importantly, the ministry said expenditure of funds on hinterland infrastructure is as a result of a collaborative effort with the relevant Ministries and the key stakeholder, GGDMA. In 2014, GGDMA provided a list of hinterland infrastructure for rehabilitation that it deemed critical. These roads/bridges were rehabilitated and the same approach will be undertaken in 2015 whereby GGDMA will provide its considerable insight on areas for special focus.

Further, it must be recalled that Minister Persaud had said earlier that the sustainability of the mining sector is critical to the long term prosperity of our nation. This sector should not be drawn into partisan politics, but remain in the domain of unified national development.

The ministry underscored that a thriving and vibrant mining sector is the

year, with the first done on Wednesday.

Since the introduction of this system, there have been some 92 exercises, with two being conducted per week. The Random Selection System was designed to rule out speculation of partiality and restore the public’s confidence in the system, and ultimately the GRA.

The tax regulatory body is heartened by the assistance of the public to do the draw. Participants along with other members of the public are invited to witness the examinations being carried out by the GRA on the consignments.

Prior to the date of the draws and the examination exercises, the Revenue Authority would issue invitations to the public to witness the exercises on all its social media platforms.

It is in this light that given the low gold prices on the international markets and the resulting impact on the mining operations and the mining sector, the Government of Guyana (GoG), through the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), engaged the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and identified areas of concern and implemented measures aimed at ensuring that the sector remains viable.

In this regard, specific interventions were made and are continuing, to support the sector and ensure its survival, continued growth and contribution to national development.

According to the ministry significant progress has been made through constructive dialogue at the level of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force that was formed to undertake specific interventions aimed at supporting and streamlining the sector.

To date, the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment have succeeded in completing several interventions in support of the sector. Among them, the ministry said is duty free

aimed at promoting the use of mercury free and improved recovery technologies.

Collaborative work between GGDMA and GGMC are ongoing to identify and test the various technology available so that these processes can be adopted by mining operations and thus ensure greater recoveries, reduced costs, increased revenues and ultimately a sustainable gold mining sector.

With regards infrastructure, the ministry said it continues to undertake the rehabilitation of hinterland roads and infrastructure to ensure that mining lands are easily accessible. “Discussions are continuously ongoing as it regards the

goal of the Government and all miners/stakeholders and as such the administration remains steadfast and reiterates the commitment of the Ministry and GGMC to work in partnership with GGDMA and all stakeholders in dealing with the challenges of the industry.

“The Government and its Ministries/Agencies will continue to work to ensure that the sector achieves its full potential, while contributing significantly to the growth and development of Guyana. The Ministry and GGMC will continue to work with the GGDMA and all other stakeholders for benefits of the sector,” the statement concluded.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert persaud

The adoption and use of mercury free and improved recovery technologies are even more critical now given the low gold prices experienced by the sector

Discussions ongoing for rehabilitation of the Kitty Market

Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker says talks are ongoing to rehabilitate the decrepit Kitty Municipal Market.

In December 2014, Whittaker along with the City Engineer, the Ministry’s Engineer, and

the Ministry’s Municipal Service Officer visited the market to have a firsthand view of the condition within which the vendors operate.

During the visit, the vendors requested that the building be rehabilitated in phases and that

they be allowed to continue to vend in other sections of the building while the rehabilitation works were in progress. Whittaker invited the City Engineer to put forward a plan on the way forward along with a report with a detail estimate for re-

Developing countries to cash in on oil price slump – World Bank Group

Gains from low oil prices can be substantial for developing-country importers if supported by stronger global growth, says a World Bank Group analysis of the oil price decline, contained in the latest edition of Global Economic Prospects.

The decline in oil prices reflects a confluence of factors, including several years of upward surprises in oil supply and downward surprises in demand, receding geopolitical risks in some areas of the world, a significant change in policy objectives of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and appreciation of the U.S. dollar. Although the relative strength of the forces driving the recent plunge in prices remains uncertain, supply related factors appear to have played a dominant role.

Soft oil prices are expected to persist in 2015 and will be accompanied by significant real income shifts from oil-exporting to oil-importing countries. For many oilimporting countries, lower prices contribute to growth and reduce inflationary, external, and fiscal pressures.

However, weak oil prices present significant challenges for major oil-exporting countries, which will be adversely impacted by weakening growth prospects, and fiscal and external positions.

If lower oil prices persist, they could also undermine investment in new exploration or development. This would especially put at risk investment in some low-income countries, or in unconventional sources such as shale oil, tar sands, and deep sea oil fields.

“For policymakers in oilimporting developing countries, the fall in oil prices provides a window of opportunity to undertake fiscal policy and structural reforms as well as fund social programs.

“In oil-exporting countries, the sharp decline in oil prices is a reminder of significant vulnerabilities inherent in highly concentrated economic activity and the necessity to reinvigorate efforts to diversify over the medium and long term,” said Ayhan Kose, Director of

Development Prospects at the World Bank.

The analysis on oil prices in Global Economic Prospects is complemented by two special features on how trends in global trade and remittance flows are impacting developing countries. Global trade expanded by less than 3.5 per cent in 2012 and 2013, well below the pre-crisis average annual rate of 7 per cent, holding back developing country growth in recent years.

Weak demand, mainly in investment but also in consumer demand, is one of the main causes of the deceleration in trade growth. With high-income countries accounting for some 65 per cent of global imports, the lingering weakness of their economies five years after the crisis suggests that weak demand continues to adversely impact the recovery in global trade.

However, long-term trends have also slowed trade growth, including the changing relationship between trade and income. Specifically, world trade has become less responsive to changes in global income because of slower expansions of global supply chains and a shift in demand from tradeintensive investment to less trade-intensive private and public consumption.

The analysis finds that these long-term factors affecting trade will also shape the behavior of trade flows in the years ahead – in particular, that the expected recovery in global growth is not likely to be accompanied by the rapid growth in trade flows observed in the precrisis years.

A second special feature reports that remittance flows to many low- and middle-income countries are not only significant relative to GDP but also comparable in value to foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign aid. Since 2000, remittances to developing countries have averaged about 60 percent of the volume of total foreign direct investment flows.

For many developing countries, remittances are the single largest source of foreign exchange.

The study finds that, in addition to their considerable volume, remittances are

more stable than other types of capital flows, even during episodes of financial stress. For example, during past sudden stops, when capital flows fell on average by 14.8 percent, remittances increased by 6.6 per cent.

The stable nature of remittance flows, the analysis concludes, means that they can help smooth consumption in developing countries, which often experience macroeconomic volatility.

habilitation works to be done as per sections which will be used to present to Government for Funding.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report the City Council has not

been proactive in addressing this matter. After numerous reminders and urges, the Hon. Minister Whittaker has received neither the report nor the estimates to date. However, initial estimates

shows that the total rehabilitation cost would be in excess of one hundred million Guyana dollars (G $100M). This matter will be engaging the Ministry over the ensuing weeks.

Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker visiting the Kitty Market

Haiti: Protesters clash with Police in anti-Martelly march

Protesters in Haiti have clashed with Police in a demonstration calling for the resignation of President Michel Martelly over long-delayed elections.

Police in the capital, Port-au-Prince, fired tear gas and sprayed water on hundreds of demonstrators.

Haiti is facing a major political crisis, as the mandates of its lawmakers expire at midnight today.

If there is no agreement to extend their mandates, Haiti will be left without a functioning government.

Martelly would then have to rule the country by decree. The Opposition ac-

cuses him of abusing his powers.

Two weeks ago, Martelly announced he had reached a deal with the Congress to solve the crisis.

Under the agreement, Haiti’s deputies would keep their seats until April 24 and senators until September 9.

But the Senate is yet to vote on the proposal.

The Haitian Government has faced months of protests over the delayed elections.

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe resigned on December 14 and was replaced by Evans Paul, a former radio journalist.

But street protests have

continued, with renewed calls for Martelly’s resignation.

Mid-term Senate elections had been originally due in May 2012, while the municipal poll is three years behind schedule.

They were postponed again on October 26 – the day they were due to be held – because of an ongoing stalemate between the Government and a group of Opposition senators over an electoral law.

Today, Haiti marks the anniversary of the earthquake that left much of the country devastated in 2010. (BBC News)

Passenger on Jamaican flight nabbed at JFK Airport with cocaine in suitcase

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it has detained a passenger arriving at the John F Kennedy International Airport for trying to smuggle 2.5 pounds of cocaine into the United States.

CBP said that Chevelle Rusheen Nesbeth, who boarded a flight from Montego Bay, Jamaica, tried to smuggle the drugs in the handrails of her suitcase.

“Fortunately, US Customs and Border Protection officers were there to derail her attempt,”

the CBP said in a statement.

It said during the course of the inspection, CBP officers felt an “unusually dense hand rail in each suitcase.

“Ms Nesbeth was escorted to a private search room where CBP officers probed the hand rails and discovered a white powdery substance which tested positive for cocaine,” it said.

CBP said Nesbeth was arrested for the importation of a controlled substance and was turned over to US Homeland Security Investigations.

The total weight of cocaine seized was about 2.5

Antigua: Time to repair poor Government finances

The World Bank has told Antigua and Barbuda, and all Caribbean states, that low oil prices present a timely opportunity to repair poor Government finances.

A report from the Washington-based financial institution says, faced with weaker export prospects, Caribbean countries need to rebuild what it called “fiscal buffers”.

World Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu says with oil likely to remain cheap for some time, countries should lower or even eliminate fuel subsidies.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Government has offered fuel subsidies to bus drivers and fishermen.

The World Bank economist also advised Governments to invest in infrastructure and support social schemes vital to poverty reduction.

Basu says such policies can raise future productivity and reduce the fiscal deficit in the long run.

The report notes that after 2008 many developing countries increased debt levels substantially to manage the global financial crisis.

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Trinidad’s Attorney General: Help us bring hangman back

As the country grapples with a murderous start to 2015, Government is seeking to bring back the hangman by once again returning the death penalty legislation to Parliament.

There have been 16 murders in the country in the past 10 days.

In February 2011, the controversial “Hanging Bill” failed to secure a majority vote in the House of Representatives as the Opposition raised concerns over provisions in the legislation.

The bill was defeated as 29 Government members

voted for the Bill and 11 members of the Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) voted against it.

As the People’s Partnership’s tenure of office comes to an end this year, the ruling party intends to once again make another effort to ensure the death penalty is carried out in the country.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had signalled last year her Government will again try to work with the Opposition to make this a reality, given the high murder toll.

At the Parliament sitting last Friday, at

Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan handed Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley a letter, requesting the PNM make proposals to ensure the Constitution (Amendment) (Capital Offences) Bill, 2015 is passed this year.

Ramlogan stated in his letter the intention of this Bill is to allow the State to carry out the sentence of death imposed by the courts on convicted murderers, regardless of how long they take to exhaust the various appellate procedures. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

UN immune from Haiti cholera lawsuit

lbs with an approximate street value of more than US$45,000, CBP said.

“This latest seizure demonstrates the vigilance of our CBP officers, and their excellence in detecting those who would try to smuggle these illegal substances,” said Robert E. Perez, director, Field Operations New York.

He said Nesbeth now faces US federal narcotics smuggling charges and will be prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office in the US Eastern District Court of New York. (CMC)

Scientific

The United Nations is immune from a lawsuit seeking compensation for victims of a deadly cholera outbreak in Haiti, a US judge said in dismissing a case that Government lawyers said could open international bodies to an onslaught of litigation.

US District Judge J Paul Oetken noted on Friday that the UN’s charter provides broad legal immunity and that the international body

Earthquake off Trinidad

The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre has reported that an earthquake occurred east of Trinidad on Saturday. The event took place around 01:17h. at 10.54°N and 62.10°W. The magnitude was 4.4 and the depth was 10 kilometres, according to preliminary results. There were no reports that it was felt by residents.

(Barbados Nation)

has not waived it.

The suit refers to an outbreak that has killed more than 8000 people and sickened more than 700,000 since human waste was dumped into Haiti’s principal river in October 2010.

Scientific studies have shown that cholera was likely introduced in Haiti by UN peacekeepers from Nepal, where the disease is endemic.

The lawsuit, filed by hu-

man rights groups and others, argued the UN had not screened the peacekeepers for the disease and was responsible for poor sanitation and waste disposal practices that spread it.

Seeking unspecified damages, the suit said the UN sacrificed its immunity by not giving victims any avenue for compensation.

“Where such an express waiver is absent, the UN and [its operation in Haiti] are immune from suit,” Oetken wrote.

Lawyer Beatrice Lindstrom said the rights groups plan to appeal the ruling. Two other similar federal suits also are ongoing.

“The court’s decision implies that the UN can operate with impunity,” Lindstrom said in a statement. “We don’t think that is the law.” US federal prosecutors argued against the suit at a hearing last fall. The US Government was not named in the suit, but federal prosecutors said they got involved because the US is the UN’s host nation. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ontario judge doubts couple’s 2010 slashing story in Jamaica

Ajudge in a Canadian court says he cannot determine whether Paul Martin, a schoolteacher, slashed his wife’s throat while on vacation in Jamaica in 2010, or whether she attacked him first and ended up injured.

In a decision dated December 30, Justice Roger Timms ruled that as a result, Martin should get equal and unsupervised access to the couple’s two children, aged 9 and 6 years.

In response to the ruling, Cathy Clayson, 38, Martin’s estranged wife, has retained

a high-profile lawyer to argue an appeal. Clayson alleged that on December 23, 2010, on the last day of a Jamaican vacation, Martin drove her to a spot along a deserted road and slashed her throat with a hunting knife. Martin first told Police in Jamaica that the couple was robbed, he later changed his story and alleged she attacked him first and in the struggle injured her own throat. Martin was acquitted by a Jamaican jury in 2011. The knife was never found.

(Antigua Observer)

The Haitian government has faced months of protests over delayed elections

studies have shown that cholera was likely introduced in Haiti by UN peacekeepers from Nepal, where the disease is endemic

The location of the January 10, 2015 earthquake off Trinidad (UWI Seismic Research Centre)

Around the world

After attacks, world leaders join massive Paris march

French

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Switzerland’s President Simonetta Sommaruga as they attend the solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris on January 11

World leaders, including Muslim and Jewish statesmen, linked arms to lead an estimated million-plus French citizens through Paris in an unprecedented march under high security to pay tribute to victims of Islamist militant attacks.

Paris Police said the turnout was “without precedent”, but too large to count. One organiser said he had

indications it could be between 1.3 and 1.5 million people. Some commentators said the last street presence in the capital on this scale was at the Liberation of Paris from Nazi Germany in 1944.

President Francois Hollande and leaders from Germany, Italy, Israel, Turkey, Britain and the Palestinian territories among others, moved off from the central Place de la Republique

AirAsia QZ8501: Black box flight recorders found

Indonesian divers may have located the flight recorders of missing AirAsia flight QZ8501, the head of the search and recovery operation has said.

Bambang Sulistoyo said he believed they had been found – and divers would try to retrieve them today.

They are buried on the seabed underneath the aircraft’s debris, officials say.

The possible discovery comes amid intense efforts to find the main fuselage of Flight QZ8501.

It disappeared in bad weather on December 28 with 162 people on board.

The aircraft was flying from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore and is lying 30 metres (98 feet) below the surface of the Java Sea.

Three Indonesian ships had detected signals from two different locations about 3.5 kilometres (two miles) from where the aircraft’s tail was discovered, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyono Soesilo said.

“The two are close to each other, just about 20 metres [apart],’” Soesilo said. “Hopefully, they are the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder.”

AirAsia Chief Executive Tony Fernandes tweeted on Sunday that he had been “led to believe” that the recorders had been found.

But Fernandes said that his “main concern” was recovering bodies from the aircraft’s fuselage. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ahead of a sea of French and other flags. Giant letters attached to a statue in the square spelt out the word Pourquoi?” (Why?) and small groups sang the “La Marseillaise” national anthem.

Some 2200 Police and soldiers patrolled Paris streets to protect marchers from would-be attackers, with Police snipers on rooftops and plainclothes detectives mingling with the crowd. City sewers were searched ahead of the vigil and underground train stations around the march route are due to be closed down.

The march mostly went ahead in a respectful silence, reflecting shock over the worst militant Islamist assault on a European city in nine years. For France, it raised questions of free speech, religion and security, and beyond French frontiers it exposed the vulnerability of states to urban attacks.

Two of the gunmen had declared allegiance to al Qaeda in Yemen and a third to the militant Islamic State. All three were killed during the Police operations in what local commentators have called “France’s 9/11”, a reference to the September 2001 attacks on US targets by al Qaeda.

“Paris is today the capital of the world. Our entire country will rise up and show its best side,” said Hollande.

At least 700,000 more persons joined vigils in other cities across France. (Excerpted from Reuters)

India on brink of quantum leap, Modi tells investors

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised on Sunday to pursue predictable policies and ensure stable taxes, in a speech that sought to address concerns for foreign investors in Asia’s thirdlargest economy.

US Secretary of State John Kerry led a roll call of leaders, including United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank head Jim Yong Kim, converging on Modi’s hometown of Gandhinagar for the Vibrant Gujarat business summit.

US President Barack Obama visits India later this month.

At least six people have been killed after two suspected child suicide bombers blew themselves up in a market in northeast Nigeria, witnesses say.

Sunday’s assault was the second attack involving young girls strapped with explosives.

The blasts struck around mid-afternoon at an open market selling mobile handsets in the town of Potiskum in Yobe state, one of three north-eastern states after Adamawa and Brorno that have been hit by the armed group Boko Haram.

A trader at the market, Sani Abdu Potiskum, said the bombers were about 10 years old.

“I saw their dead bodies. They are two young girls of about 10 years of age ... you

Dozens die in bus crash near Pakistani city of Karachi

More than 50 people have been killed and more injured after a bus collided with an oil tanker near the Pakistani city of Karachi, doctors say.

The tanker was reportedly speeding and travelling on the wrong side of the road when it hit the bus headon. Both vehicles burst into flames.

The driver of the tanker is said to have fled the scene after the incident.

The bus, which was carrying more than 60 passengers, was travelling to the town of Shikarpur when the incident happened about 50 kilometres (31 miles) outside of Karachi.

Dr Seemi Jamali, who

Some passengers travelling on the roof of the bus were able to jump to safety, but many of those inside were trapped.

heads the emergency department at Jinnah Hospital in Karachi, said they had received 57 bodies.

He said some of the victims were charred beyond recognition and warned that the death toll could rise.

Pakistan has a high number of fatal traffic accidents, with nearly 9000 crashes and an average of 4500 deaths on the road each year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

only see the plaited hair and part of the upper torso,” the trader said.

The town was hit by a suicide bomber in November when at least 48 people, mainly students, were killed during a school assembly.

On Saturday, a bomb exploded at a Police station in Potiskum.

Sunday’s explosions came a day after a bomb strapped to a girl aged around 10 years old exploded in a busy market place in the Nigerian city of Maiduguri, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 20, security sources said.

Boko Haram, which opposes Western influence and education, has been fighting since 2009 to establish an Islamic state in the northeast of the country. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Sri Lanka elections...

“We’re trying to complete the circle of economic reforms speedily,” Modi told the event that he founded when he was Chief Minister of the industrial state.

“We are also keen to see that our policies are predictable. We’re clear that our tax regime should be stable,” Modi said, speaking in English but making the occasional aside in Hindi.

Along with speakers from Japan, Canada and Singapore, Kerry praised his host and avoided direct criticism. But he hinted at the need to cut back India’s stifling bureaucracy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Eight months into Modi’s rule, his failure to lift the economy from its longest growth slowdown in a generation has raised questions about how much substance there is behind his promise of “red carpet, not red tape”.

Deaths in Nigeria suicide bombings Sirisena govt to probe Rajapaksa’s coup bid

Sri Lanka’s new Government will investigate a reported attempt by Mahinda Rajapaksa to stay in power after it became clear he had lost last week’s presidential election, according to a spokesperson.

“People think it was a peaceful transition. It was anything but,” spokesman Mangala Samaraweera said on Sunday.

Rajapaksa stepped down only when the “Army Chief and the Police Inspector General refused to go along with him”, the AFP news agency quoted Samaraweera as saying.

Rajapaksa had been widely praised for conceding defeat early on Friday, even before the last votes in Thursday’s election had been counted, when

he realised that his rival Maithripala Sirisena had an unassailable lead. But Samaraweera said that the 69-year-old, who had ruled the country since 2005, tried his best to annul the poll and cling to power. He said Police Inspector General N K Illangakoon was “very vocal and did not want to be a party to this”. Army Chief Daya Ratnayake stood by the Police and refused to deploy troops for Rajapaksa to seize power, while the State Attorney General’s department warned of dangerous consequences, the spokesman said.

CA Chandraprema, a political analyst speaking to Al Jazeera from Colombo, dismissed the allegations as “absolute nonsense”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

La Dolce Vita star Anita Ekberg passes away

Anita Ekberg, the Swedish actress whose walk through Rome’s Trevi fountain in Frederico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” made her an icon of cinema, has died aged 83 at a clinic near the Italian capital, according to her lawyer.

Patrizia Ubaldi said on Sunday Ekberg’s funeral will be held in the Italian capital this week, her body

will be cremated and her ashes sent to Sweden.

In 2011, the Turin daily La Stampa reported that at the age of 80 Ekberg asked for financial help from the Fellini Foundation. She lived in a residence for elderly people near Rome after breaking her hip.

Ekberg spent most of her adult life abroad, first in the US, where she quickly emerged as one of a 1950s

generation of pin-ups and starlets, and then in Italy. The sixth of eight children, Ekberg was born in 1931 in the Swedish port of Malmo where her father was a docker. She first attracted attention as a teenager, winning a beauty contest to become Miss Sweden in 1950. Her success quickly took her to the US, with hopes of becoming Miss Universe. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

President Francois Hollande is surrounded by Heads of state including (from left) Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Council President Donald Tusk,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he speaks at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Gandhinagar in Gujarat on January 11

PUBLIC OPINION

POPULI I SAY...

When should parents start talking to children about sex?

Onika Stellingburg – Habitat

For Humanity Employee

“There isn’t one specific time since children all mature differently. It all depends on the child. It doesn’t necessarily have to be when they reach puberty. But children are becoming more and more aware of these things earlier in life, so parents will have to be more alert and understanding and have a talk when their child is ready and will understand the talk.”

Ato Greene

“I think it should be like at about age 9-10, since those are the ages when you start becoming curious. At these stages of life, most kids hear about it in school, but are afraid to ask mommy or daddy, because they are afraid they might get into trouble and that fear might cause them to do the wrong thing three to four years later in high school. Explaining to them at that early stage enhances their knowledge on it and allows them to make better decisions most times. At the end of the day, you make a child and not their minds, so all you can do is your part and educate them.”

Randy Williams

“My parents spoke to me when I was about five. It all depends on the relationship you have with your children and how you put the information forward to them. Most likely, once they reach the age when they are developing – girls mostly when they start menstruating and so.”

Cindy Kishun – Student

“I think as soon as they start asking questions, because you shouldn’t avoid answering them or else it can impact them in a way. But if they reach the age of, let’s say, seven and they never asked, then they are getting their information from somewhere else, so you have to sit down with them and talk with them. It varies a lot depending on your child, what they are exposed to, but the main thing is, when they start asking, provide answers –do not avoid them.”

Divina Singh – Student

“Basically as early as possible, when the mind is mature, let’s say age 13 or 14 or perhaps earlier, because we have girls getting pregnant and falling prey to older men, from ages as low as 9 and all these things happening. So, the earlier is indeed better, so the children can be more informed so they will be able to make better decisions.”

Davendra Persaud –Employee at IMEX

“As soon as possible, to get them more opened up to society and the times, because the world moving more faster and it will make them more knowledgeable and they will be more open to the world and people won’t take advantage of them.”

Ramesh Kissoon – Engineer

“Maybe during puberty or some time before; it all depends on your child. Some children develop faster –mentally that is, so you need to know your child and the capacity and how much information you think they need to know at a specific stage. But parents sometimes wait too late, so the earlier the better. They should start small and then progress as the child grows.”

Astell Collins –Motivational Speaker

“I believe the conversation should start when they begin to ask questions about it. I don’t believe there is a specific age, because different children develop at different rates and it depends on what they are exposed to.”

Job Bender – Student

“Well, I think as soon as they start high school, or just before. Because, you see, high school exposes children to a lot of new things, especially in the area of sex. So you have to educate your child and just hope what you teach your children stays with them and they make wise decisions.”

Bibi Ahamad – Mother

“Well, for me, I started since my daughter was five years old and it has been continuous. The discussion on sex has to do with the level your child can comprehend. Also, it’s the way in which you have the discussion has a lot to do with whether he/she can understand. Sex education normally starts from school and parents can then go into more details as time goes by. Today’s generation needs to be fully au fait with all the dos and don’ts about sex.”

Akeem Thomas – Photographer

“Well, it should be like around six, because a lot of children at that age are influenced by television, the music they hear, the children and schoolchildren they lime with and so on, so the earlier the better.

Denise McKenzie – Mother

“They are teaching it in school, so it takes away the awkwardness most parents endure. But once they are exposed to the topic, then it’s your cue to come in and guide them. They start as early as elementary now and it’s a good idea because waiting until teenage years would be a bit hectic. You should start to mould your children’s mind as early as possible. Let them grow up with the morals you teach them.”

Digicel launches data storage app

Digicel is making it easier for its mobile customers to store more photos, music, videos and other data with the introduction of Digicel Space, a new mobile data storage application.

In addition to these popular and most used file types, customers will have the ability to store contacts and calendar information on this personal cloud based application, which is compatible with smartphones, tablets and personal computers. Using Digicel Space, smartphone users will be able to store the files which are important to them all in one secure location, while allowing them to access

them from multiple devices. This means that even when a user changes their device or loses it, they would still be able to access this information from a personal computer or a new mobile device.

Marketing executive with Digicel (Barbados) Limited, Randy Howard, said the new application gives customers the freedom to use their devices to their fullest potential, without having to worry about running out of storage space: “Today’s smartphone customer uses their device for much more than making phone calls, messaging, or staying connected via social media. The majority now

use them to record extraordinary moments in their lives by taking photographs and videos, in addition to entertaining themselves by using them as music storage devices. The use of more mobile devices and online sites results in a 'splinternet' of your digital life and having your own personal cloud makes it easy to access this life from smartphones, tablets and computers whenever and wherever. With Digicel Space users can continue to capture these moments without fear of having to delete older files to make space for them, while also giving them the ability to access them on the go.”

Digicel Space currently supports devices running

Android, Windows Phone, Windows PC and Mac OS, with plans already in progress to roll out to others, such as iOS/ iPhone and BlackBerry. Customers wishing to sign up for the service can do so by visiting http://register.digicelspace.com on their mobile phones, or www.digicelspace.com using their personal computers. All customers will be automatically placed on the 10GB Premium plan, which is free until January 31, 2015. For those looking for more storage, Digicel offers several tiers of storage, ranging from 1 Gigabyte to 30 Gigabytes, which will available from February 1, 2015. (PR)

Teachings of Prophet Muhammad very pertinent today – ACIC officials

“The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAS) are very pertinent in the society that we live in today” was the message expounded on, as the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) held its annual Eid Milad un Nabi (Youman Nabi) Programme.

To a packed lecture hall on Wednesday, ACIC Imam Abdool Fazeel and President General Hakeem Khan, as well as all other speakers, explored the similarities between the teachings of Islam and the other major religions with special references to their application in society today.

Imam Fazeel, in his well-researched speech, quoted from several historians and historic individuals, as well as the other religious scriptures. He stated that the values Islam lent to the society have been recognised throughout civilisation. The Imam cautioned that these values brought to society by the Prophet Muhammad cannot be taken for granted and must be consistently taught to soci-

ety and vigorously protected or else they will be lost.

Citing Guyana’s multireligious and multicultural

society as reflective of some of the values, he charged the gathering to help protect the basic values from even persons purporting to be Muslims.

Referring to the atrocities committed by so-called Muslims under the banner of Islam, he called on the large audience (by far the largest crowd at the Mawlid celebrations in Guyana) to protect the religion from the perverted ideology of these corrupted few.

The programme, which was held under the theme “Celebrating Mercy –the universal Messenger of God – Prophet Muhammad (SAS), saw recitation of Quran passages, renditions of qaseedas by young and old, as well as short messages.

During the event, honorary membership to the ACIC was conferred on Brother Wazir Sheriff and Sister Sharon Sheriff of Toronto, Canada for their consistent support of the activities of the Complex.

Search for missing plane likely to be called off this week

After 16 days of continuous searching for the missing Britten Norman Islander belonging to Air Services Limited (ASL) without any success, authorities are now contemplating halting search operations.

A senior official within the search operations told the Guyana Times that they had exhausted all possible avenues to look for the missing aircraft and there had been no sight of the wreckage.

The official stated the last search party went to an area where the plane was reportedly spotted and was due to return to Mahdia on Tuesday afternoon when they will give a comprehensive report with recommendations on whether to continue the search.

“If they come out emptyhanded without any positive news, we will make the final decision… also, Minister [Robeson] Benn is expected to update Cabinet on the progress of the search mission… a decision is likely to be taken there,” the official added.

He said a lot was being spent on accommodations for ground staff, fuel and food. Annette ArjoonMartins of ASL had stated that while they would not put a price tag on the lives of missing pilot Nicky Persaud and cargo loader David Bisnauth, reality has started to kick in, leaving no alternative but to conclude that they did not survive the crash.

Arjoon-Martins stated that her company will continue the search mission as long as possible, noting that the staff of ASL was a family and to lose two excellent workers was unbearable.

During a recent press conference at the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC)

at Timehri Control Tower, the ASL representative had stated that they were confident that the two men were alive. Once the Government of Guyana pulled out of the search mission, ASL said it would continue the search until the aircraft was found.

Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director General Zulficar Mohamed had stated that the first 72 hours after the crash were crucial, since the aircraft was only equipped with three days of medical supplies in case of injuries.

On Sunday, December 28, 2014, the Timehri Control Tower lost communication with the Britten Norman Islander that was flying between Mahdia and Karisparu, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). Based on records, the aircraft took off from Mahdia about 11:42h

on a routine local cargo flight. Its last known position was marked by “Spot Tracker” at 11:44h.

Moments after the aircraft was reported missing, two ASL Cessna 208 Caravans flying within the area were vectored to commence a search operation and were later joined by three Belle helicopters. After the first few days with no success, Surinamese aviation experts, as well as those from the United States Mission Coordination Centre, were contacted.

The Surinamese and the Canadians also joined the search and rescue mission with high tech detectors, with members of the Guyana Defence Force’s Special Forces trekking the dense jungle for the past 16 days without success.

Falling in love

Love can certainly help us feel understood and secure. What I mean by this is that when we love someone and in return we are being loved as well, it adds richness to our lives. And I am sure most will agree that people feel much closer to each other, because it gives that sense of happiness.

Narine Dat Sookram

We have to keep in mind though that each kind of love has its own individual feel. For example the kind of love we feel for our parents will be different from the love for our children or a friend. And of course relationships have their own kind of feel, a romantic feel, that is.

There are a few ways that people can learn to give and receive which can help to bring people closer together, because a good relationship is about both parties. It’s not how much one person can get from the other person.

Listening and supporting each other is also important, because when two people really care for each other, there is that possibility for them to offer support to each other. In doing so, none of them will really feel afraid of each other, because it’s not a good thing to put down our partners, even when we are in situations when we disagree with each other.

Sometimes people wonder why relationships end, but the thing is, love itself is a very delicate thing. There is a reason why I wrote a whole book about love in a poetic form. Love is a thing that needs to be nurtured if we really want it to last.

It is just like any other relationship. A friendships for example can fail if we don’t spend enough time with them. And so too in an actual love relationship (boyfriend/ girlfriend) kind of thing a relationship might not last, because if one partner is too busy with school or work, it means he or she has less time for the other.

Though breaking up can be painful, we must move on. There is no question that the feeling of loss can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s someone’s first love. In a situation as such people will need support, because this is not something people are usually prepared for, which makes it hard to cope with.

Coming from a social work background, I know that it definitely can help to have trustworthy family friends for support. It’s important to take the advantage of these resources if possible, because we just can’t “get it over with” just like that.

So finding someone trustworthy to talk, but most importantly someone who really understands is key. Depending on everyone’s situation, the amount of time and emotions that were put into the relationship, it sometimes can seems very difficult to even believe that there is an actual ‘cure’ for when someone is heartbroken, but people eventually learn to move on to different relationship along with their experiences as well.

I think that love is a very fulfilling thing in our lives. That is why one of my quotes in my book, “The Teenage Years”, is “life is nothing without love”.

Relationships are an opportunity to experience love, regardless of how long we have been in it, because it is during those times we get the opportunity to actually learn how to love and at the same time we learn how to be loved as well.

Sometimes it’s worth the wait to find romance if the ‘right’ person hasn’t been found as yet.

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

Miner killed over pack of cigarettes

Aminer was stabbed to death during a row with another man over a pack of cigarettes on Saturday evening at a mining camp at Issano, Region Seven (Cuyuni Mazaruni). The dead man has been identified as Quincy Jones, 37 of Essequibo Coast. Police in a release said that about 21:00h Saturday Quincy Jones was imbibing when he became involved in an argument with another man over a pack of cigarettes in a shop at Honey Camp, Issano, Mazaruni River, during which he was stabbed to his chest. He was pronounced

dead on arrival at the Bartica Hospital. The suspect has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.

According to information received the now dead man and the suspect were involved in a heated argument which led to a scuffle. Persons in the mining camp reportedly attempted to separate them by it was this time the suspect pulled out a knife and dealt Jones at least two blows to his chest. The injured man reportedly fell to the ground and died almost immediately. Guyana Times understands that a

team of police ranks travelled into the area on Sunday morning to investigate the incident.

The body of the dead man was transported to the Bartica Regional Hospital. It was further transported to the Lyken Funeral Home where it will await a post mortem examination. The killing comes on the heels of another one where Noel Clementson, 47 of Bartica was stabbed to death at Arimu Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni Mazaruni) by one of his employee who attempted to steal gold.

It was reported that

Clementson and a female companion were in their mining camp when he heard a commotion close to the mining pit. This prompted him to check and on doing so, he saw the suspect trying to retrieve something from a pipe. At this point, Clementson reportedly realised that the suspect might have hidden gold in the pipe following a ‘washdown’ earlier in the day and confronted him.

That led to an argument and then a scuffle. The Guyana Times was told that during the scuffle, the suspect pulled out a knife and dealt Clementson several

stabs to his body. The woman in the camp heard his screams and went to his aid, but she too was stabbed to her nose and hands as she attempted to prevent the suspect from further stabbing Clementson. She immediately raised an alarm and the other workers ran to the injured man’s rescue. By this time, the suspect had fled the scene. One woman suspected to be an accomplice to the murder suspect has been arrested and is expected to be charged shortly as the police continue their hunt for the suspect.

Missing Pilot Nicky Persaud

Brother Wazir Sheriff of International Muslim Organisation (IMO) Canada making brief remarks

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

You will face someone who isn’t likely to agree with you. Rather than continue the conflict, direct your effort into your pursuits. Success will be the best way to handle adversity.

Rather than share private information, look for a solution to your issues on your own. A promising partnership is in your future, provided you make a reasonable concession.

You are at your best when you are relaxed. Don’t let work pressures build up. For your downtime, plan a new form of amusement that includes your closest friends.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Search for an isolated location and complete unfinished projects or business. Family members may be difficult to deal with, so minimise your contact until things settle down.

Follow your heart. Others may not be aware of the hard work you do, so don’t be surprised if someone is envious of the rewards you receive. Being humble will alleviate the jealousy of others.

Romance is in the picture. If you make the first move when you meet someone new, you will open the door to a permanent connection or strengthen a current relationship.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Do your best to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest and consider how to make adjustments that will bring you significant returns.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Some improvements to your living quarters will be most gratifying. Make changes that will not only add to your comfort and tranquillity, but will be convenient as well.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

An unexpected event will upset you. Don’t make the mistake of compounding the problem by taking out your dissatisfaction on someone who doesn’t deserve to be treated poorly. Be mindful.

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

Frustration will result if you resist all of the changes going on around you. Ease your struggles by adapting and going with the flow instead of against it.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Keep looking ahead. You should question the connection with anyone who tries to stand in your way or curtail your freedom. You have what it takes to excel.

Confusion will set in if someone from your past attempts to reconnect. Examine your history with this person before you consider reviving what you left behind.

GEMINI

PeanutS

Calvin and HobbeS

dilbert

arCHie

Banks

NA Warriors top Smithfield Rockers to win title

New Amsterdam Warriors successfully defended their Banks DIH Classic Basketball title with a convincing 41-32 win over arch rivals Smithfield Rockers in the final of the competition at the Vrymens Erven Court in New Amsterdam on Sunday.

Led by Most Valuable Player (MVP) Randy Caesar with 10 points, the Warriors avenged their defeat in the Legend Classic Tournament.

Leroy Edwards dropped a team-high 12 points for the Warriors and had the Rockers on their heels during the course of the game while Carlos Crandon contributed eight points.

Edwards had initially taken the Warriors ahead from the start of the game after a Crandon steal followed by an outlet pass to Edwards, who made no mistake in converting the fast break points.

Trailing 6-4 in the

opening quarter, Rockers’ Michael Bowen swished a three-point bomb to give Rockers their first lead of the game as the first quarter ended 12-9.

However, by halftime the Warriors increased their lead to 22-15 as the Warriors held Bowen to two points in the last 20 minutes of the game as he finished with nine after scoring his first seven in the first quarter.

At the presentation ceremony, Banks DIH Limited

Gayle, Narine refuse WICB contracts

Berbice Branch Sales Manager Joshua Torrezao congratulated all of the players for the high level of competition displayed throughout the tournament.

“I am very impressed with what I have seen. A few years ago when I played the game, the standard was very high, but what I have seen here today is even of a higher standard,” he noted.

Second-placed Smythfield Rockers were praised for reaching the final of the competition.

Torrezao noted that the company had good things in store for basketball in Berbice.

This is the second year that Banks DIH has sponsored the tournament.

Meanwhile organiser Vibert Garrett, in thanking the sponsor, said that although the tournament has come to an end, players will soon have the chance to be involved in another tournament.

The second edition of the Anamayah Memorial Basketball Tournament is slated to commence before the end of the month. Smithfield Rockers are the defending champions of that tournament. (Andrew Carmichael)

Chris Gayle and Sunil Narine have refused the annual retainer contracts offered to them by the WICB, while it would appear Kieron Pollard wasn’t offered one by the board. The contracts are for the period between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015.

Dwayne Bravo, who along with Pollard was left out of West Indies’ squad for the 2015 World Cup, is among the 12 contracted players. The contracts were approved at a WICB board meeting in Antigua on Saturday.

“Selection for central retainer contracts was done on the basis of player performance in the various

formats, with Test cricket being the premier format followed by one-day internationals and twenty20 internationals,” the WICB said in a release.

Gayle had accepted a WICB contract in 2014 for the first time in three years, though Pollard had not been given one last year either. In 2010, Gayle, Bravo and Pollard had refused retainer contracts.

List of contracted players: Sulieman Benn, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jason Holder, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor

Gasol career night lifts Bulls over Bucks

Pau Gasol had a career-high 46 points to go along with 18 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls bounced back from two ugly losses with a 95-87 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.

Gasol was 17 for 30 from the field and 12 for 13 at the line. Kirk Hinrich added 16 points for Chicago, and Jimmy Butler had nine points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the opener of a three-game homestand.

The Bulls were coming off a pair of bad losses to Utah and Washington, when they shot a combined 36 percent from the field. They weren’t much better against Milwaukee, finishing at 40 percent (35 for 88), but Gasol’s big performance was enough to hold off the Bucks.

Gasol helped the Bulls close it out in the final period.

He had a driving layup that made it 87-75 with 4:01 remaining. He finished with four straight free throws, surpassing his previous career best of 44 points for Memphis against Seattle on March 28, 2006.

The Bulls played without starters Derrick Rose and Mike Dunleavy. Rose, who missed much of the last 2 1/2 seasons due to a series of injuries, was sidelined by left knee soreness, and Dunleavy missed his fifth straight game with a right ankle injury.

Brandon Knight scored 20 points for Milwaukee, which had won its last five road games. Jared Dudley had 15 points, and fellow reserve O.J. Mayo finished with 12.

Hornets 110, Knicks 82

Kemba Walker scored 28 points and streaky Charlotte extended New York’s losing streak to 15 games.

Charlotte won its fifth in a row and did it so easily that Walker played only three quarters.

Walker has played a big role in the five-game winning streak. He had 30 points in a victory over Orlando, 33

against Toronto on Thursday night.

Bismack Biyombo added 14 points, tying a career high, and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, the latest team to enjoy a laugher at the expense of the NBA’s worst

against Boston, 31 against New Orleans — when he made the go-ahead basket with 1.4 seconds left — and 29

team — and maybe the worst Knicks team ever.

The Knicks fell to 5-35 with their 25th loss in 26

games. Quincy Acy led them with 18 points.

New York reaches the midway point of its schedule Thursday when it plays Milwaukee in London. The Knicks are on their longest single-season skid ever and free-falling toward their worst finish, which is 23-59 in the 82-game schedule.

Clippers 120, Mavericks 100

Blake Griffin scored 22 points, Chris Paul had 17 points and 13 assists and Los Angeles beat Dallas for its sixth win in eight games and second in a row.

Jamal Crawford added 19 points, Matt Barnes had 18 points, J.J. Redick 16, and DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 15 rebounds in the Clippers’ eighth win in their last 11 games against the Mavericks.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 25

points and Monta Ellis had 15 of his 23 in the first half for Dallas, which had its threegame road winning streak snapped. Rajon Rondo was held to two points and eight assists in 27 minutes after going scoreless in the first half.

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was ejected midway through the third after picking up his second technical for arguing a foul on Tyson Chandler.

Spurs 108, Timberwolves 93

Austin Daye scored a season-high 22 points and had 10 rebounds to help San Antonio hand Minnesota its 15th straight loss.

Patty Mills scored 19 points and Tim Duncan added 13 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes for the Spurs (23-15), who were missing Manu Ginobili and Marco Belinelli with injuries. (The Blade)

DIH Classic Basketball Tournament...

Carlos Crandon rises for a dagger from downtown

Chris Gayle Sunil Narine

Pau Gasol

New Zealand battle past Jayawardene ton

Sri Lanka discovered that at Hagley Oval what goes for New Zealand’s Test team goes for their ODI outfit as well: the hosts’ seamers are deadly dangerous in the early overs, and while the New Zealand top order is daunting, their lower-middle order can turn matches on their own too.

Brendon McCullum’s fast bowlers made Sri Lanka regret choosing to bat on a pitch sporting grass, reducing the visitors to 82 for 4 in the 23rd over. Mahela Jayawardene held the bones of a lethargic batting effort together with his masterful 104 off 107 balls, but a total of 218 always seemed at least 30 runs too light.

Then, although Sri Lanka had New Zealand by the collar when the chase slipped to 101 for 5, Corey Anderson showed he had composure to go with his cow-corner clubs. He composed a steady 81 off 96 balls, enlisting the help of Luke Ronchi and Nathan McCullum to take his side to within 10 runs of victory. Anderson’s dismissal made for some late jitters, but the hosts got home with seven overs and three wickets unused to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

While New Zealand lost four top-order wickets for 38 runs, at no stage were they under pressure to score quicklypartly because Sri Lanka had made so few, but also thanks to McCullum’s 22-ball 51 to kick off the chase. He smote three sixes and six fours in his in all, targeting the square boundaries in particular.

McCullum was also fond of launching the offspin of Sachithra Senanayaka down the ground and equalled his and Ross Taylor’s record for fastest New Zealand fifty, when he deposited Senanayake high over long-on off the 19th ball he faced.

McCullum, though, fell on his sword in the same over as Senanayake continued to flight the ball, made it dip and turn sharply to have the New Zealand captain stumped. Tom Latham and Kane Williamson were undone by spin too, and Grant Elliott was bowled by a Nuwan Kulasekara indipper, but Anderson worked his way steadily into the innings.

Playing out plenty of dot balls before attempting to even begin collecting the singles, he slammed Kulasekara through cover to collect his first boundary off his 17th ball. He remained choosy with the expansive strokes and the heave across the line that sent Thisara Perera to the bound-

ary, or the mighty pull off Shaminda Eranga that deposited the ball into the crowd were in contrast to the riskfree innings Anderson strove to play.

Anderson added 48 runs for the sixth wicket with Ronchi and an additional 60 more with Nathan McCullum. Neither of his sidekicks looked comfortable at the crease, but they did enough to support a largely-secure Anderson. Nathan McCullum remained unbeaten on 25, hitting the winning run with Adam Milne at the other end.

It was fitting that Milne was at the crease to see the match won, because it had been he who cut the Sri Lanka top order open in the morning. He bent the ball in to strike Dimuth Karunaratne’s front pad in the fourth over, then dismissed Kumar Sangakkara in the eighth, as his full, seaming delivery collected the outside edge and flew to point. Milne occasionally pipped 150kph on the speed gun, but it was the movement he gleaned off the seam that made him threatening.

Those early gains were not squandered by New Zealand, who were rarely

loose with the ball, and kept attacking fields to every batsman throughout the game. Mitchell McClenaghan began a little waywardly, but was quickly hitting the backof-a-length that Sri Lanka’s batsmen found difficult to score off, and he and Nathan McCullum controlled the run rate through the middle overs.

McClenaghan was rewarded for his economy in the 47th over, when he claimed three wickets in four balls. Jeevan Mendis and Jaywardene were both out trying to lift short deliveries over the leg side, and Thisara Perera was snaffled at slip for a golden duck. McClenaghan finished with 4 for 36 from his 10 overs, while Milne claimed 2 for 37.

Jayawardene overcame early-innings inertia with an upper cut over the slips, followed by a breezy drive through the covers off successive McClenaghan deliveries, but then settled into a rhythm of singles and twos into the outfield, while wickets continued to fall at the other end. He didn’t hit a boundary between the 19th and 32nd over, but rarely did his strike rate dip below 85. The fours resumed with a ramp over the keeper that took him past fifty, and Jayawardene began to look for the boundary more often as the death overs approached.

Lahiru Thirimanne had been a firm ally, after Angelo Mathews had been run out, but did little for the run rate during his 50ball 23. Jayawardene, meanwhile, was lofting the quicks over cover and mid-off, as McCullum kept the field in, and it was only his positivity that prevented New Zealand from crowding the bat even further. He completed his 18th ODI ton in the 46th over, but was out shortly after, effectively sinking Sri Lanka’s hopes of eclipsing 240. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka innings (50 overs maximum)

FDM Karunaratne lbw b Milne 5

TM Dilshan st †Ronchi b NL McCullum 19

KC Sangakkara† c Williamson b Milne 4

DPMD Jayawardene c Anderson b McClenaghan 104

AD Mathews* run out (BB McC ullum/†Ronchi) 15

HDRL Thirimanne c Williamson b McClenaghan 23

BMAJ Mendis c BB McCullum b McClenaghan 23

NLTC Perera c †Ronchi b McClenaghan 0

KMDN Kulasekara not out 6

SMSM Senanayake c †Ronchi b Anderson 7

RMS Eranga not out 5

Extras (w 7) 7

Total (9 wickets; 50 overs; 214 mins) 218

Fall of wickets: 1-10

(Karunaratne, 3.2 ov), 2-16 (Sangakkara, 7.2 ov), 3-51 (Dilshan, 14.3 ov), 4-82 (Mathews, 22.5 ov), 5-155 (Thirimanne, 39.2 ov), 6-200 (Mendis, 46.2 ov), 7-200 (Jayawardene, 46.4 ov), 8-200 (Perera, 46.5 ov), 9-213 (Senanayake, 49.2 ov)

Bowling: TA Boult ( 10-146-0); AF Milne (10-1-37-2);

MJ McClenaghan (10-1-36-

Misbah-ul-Haq to retire after World Cup

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said that he will retire from ODI and T20 cricket after the 2015 World Cup, but will continue playing Test cricket.

“Seven days back, I informed the PCB that it was the right time to quit the ODIs and T20s, but I will continue playing Test cricket,” Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “I’ve thought about this for a long time. The World Cup is an important event and I want to play it well and then quit.”

Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, told Reuters the board had accepted Misbah’s decision and credited him for being a source of inspiration.

“He has been a big source of inspiration for the Pakistan team since the spot fixing scandal and it is his personal decision to retire from ODIs after the World Cup,” he said.

Since his debut in April 2002, Misbah, 40, has played 153 ODIs for Pakistan, scoring 4669 runs at an average of 42.83 with 37 fifties. He currently holds the record for most ODI runs without a century. After being dropped from the side in October 2004, Misbah made a comeback three years later, in October 2007. He faced exclusion from the ODI squad again between October 2009 and 2010.

Misbah took over as ODI captain from Shahid Afridi in May 2011, following a feud between the thenchairman Ejaz Butt and the allrounder. Including the one game that he captained in 2008, Misbah has led Pakistan in 78 matches and won 41.

Misbah played 39 T20s

Misbah-ul-Haq

for Pakistan, leading the side in eight of them. His last T20 for Pakistan was in February 2012, after which he stood down as captain and was subsequently dropped from the shortest format. He continued to play domestic T20 cricket and also had stints in the Indian Premier League, and the Caribbean Premier League.

Misbah’s poor ODI form was in focus last year, when he scored 285 runs in 12 matches at an average of 23.75 in 2014. The poor form also affected his captaincy and in October, Misbah had admitted that the prospects of captaining the side in the 2015 World Cup depended on his return to form. The PCB, however, continued to back Misbah and asserted that he would remain the side’s ODI captain until the World Cup.

The Test series against Australia that followed the ODIs marked a turnaround as Pakistan flattened their opponents. Misbah also scored the joint-fastest Test hundred, off 56 balls, equalling Viv Richards’ record. A

hamstring injury forced him out of the last three ODIs of the five-match series against New Zealand in December and Afridi led the side in his absence. Misbah is expected to be fit for the World Cup. The debate on Pakistan’s limited-over captaincy has been raging for last two years but the PCB had continued with Misbah, partly because of a lack of options.

Sohaib Maqsood is one of the contenders being seen as a potential captain by the PCB but his prospects depend on performance and impact during the 2015 World Cup. Maqsood led Pakistan A on a tour of the UAE in October last year and is seen as one of the respected players in the dressing room.

Earlier, Afridi had also announced his retirement from the ODI cricket after World Cup. The allrounder, however, will continue playing T20 cricket, the format in which he leads Pakistan, and wants to win the 2016 World T20 in India before quitting international cricket. (Cricinfo)

4); CJ Anderson (10-0-61-1); NL McCullum (10-1-38-1)

New Zealand innings (target: 219 runs from 50 overs)

MJ Guptill c Dilshan b Kulasekara 0

BB McCullum* st †Sangakkara b Senanayake 51 KS Williamson c Jayawardene b Senanayake 15

TWM Latham st †Sangakkara b Dilshan 15

GD Elliott b Kulasekara 1 CJ Anderson lbw b Dilshan 81 L Ronchi† c Mathews b Eranga 17

NL McCullum not out 25

AF Milne not out 7

Extras (lb 5, w 2) 7

Total (7 wickets; 43 overs; 186 mins) 219

Did not bat: MJ McClenaghan, TA Boult

Fall of wickets 1-0 (Guptill, 0.3 ov), 2-63 (BB McCullum, 6.4 ov), 3-76 (Williamson, 10.1 ov), 4-77 (Elliott, 11.1 ov), 5-101 (Latham, 18.3 ov), 6-149 (Ronchi, 26.4 ov), 7-209 (Anderson, 40.2 ov)

Bowling: KMDN Kulasekara (10-1-43-2); RMS Eranga (60-49-1); SMSM Senanayake (10-0-43-2); AD Mathews (2-0-17-0); TM Dilshan (7-028-2); NLTC Perera (7-0-290); BMAJ Mendis (1-0-5-0)

Messi inspires Barca win with late goal

ALionel Messiinspired Barcelona remain a point behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid after easing the pressure on boss Luis Enrique with a win over champions Atletico.

A dominant Barcelona took the lead when Luis Suarez Lionel Messi combined for Neymar to convert from close range.

Messi played Suarez in

to double the lead before adding a late third.

Mario Mandzukic had pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Messi fouled Jesus Gamez.

But, despite an improved second-half display and the introduction of Fernando Torres, Atletico were limited to just one shot on target from open play.

Media reports in Spain this week claimed Enrique

would be sacked following a rumoured rift with Messi - who has been linked with a move to Chelsea - after Barca suffered a shock defeat to Real Sociedad in their previous La Liga outing.

But Enrique watched a stunning team first-half display overpower Atletico as they moved three points ahead of their third-placed visitors. (BBC Sport)

Mahela Jayawardene was at his calculating best, but his 107ball 104 was in vain

Lionel Messi celebrates critical win

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Gayle slams selectors over Bravo, Pollard omissions

After hammering a match-winning 90 that helped West Indies win the Twenty20 series against South Africa, Chris Gayle launched a scathing attack on the West Indies Cricket Board and the Clive Lloyd-led selection panel for dropping the senior pair of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the ODI series and the World Cup. Repeatedly labeling the move as "ridiculous", Gayle felt it was a case of "victimisation" against the two Trinidadian allrounders.

chasing big totals in successive matches, including the highest successful Twenty20 chase on Sunday, said he was glad he could dedicate the series victory to Bravo and Pollard.

'It's a ridiculous selection' - Gayle

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"There is no way you can come to me how can those two guys not be in the team," Gayle said during the post-match media conference at Wanderers. "To me it got to be like victimisation when you look at it towards those two guys. Come on, guys. It is just ridiculous. Come on. Ridiculous. Really hurt. Ridiculous. Honestly, it throw me off. We can only talk. We can express our feelings which I'm doing at this point in time. The squad already is announced. It is just sad.

"It is a big batting line-up when you look at our team. But it's just disappointing when you look at the 50-over format - we won't be at our strongest," Gayle said. "We don't have our strongest team without Pollard, nor Bravo. So that is actually sad for us. It is a really a big blow for us to actually lose two key players, two key allrounders as well, very good in the outfield. I don't know what's the history behind it, but it is ridiculous selection from my point of view."

On Saturday, the WICB announced the 15-man World Cup squad to be led by Jason Holder with Marlon Samuels as the vice-captain. There was no mention about Bravo and Pollard, who had been earlier been ignored for the ODI series against South Africa, starting January 16. Gayle, whose blazing starts were instrumental to West Indies

After hammering a matchwinning 90 that helped West Indies win the Twenty20 series against South Africa, Chris Gayle launched a scathing attack on the West Indies Cricket Board and the Clive Lloyd-led selection panel for dropping the senior pair of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the ODI series and the World Cup. Repeatedly labeling the move as "ridiculous", Gayle felt it was a case of "victimisation" against the two Trinidadian allrounders.

"There is no way you can come to me how can those two guys not be in the team," Gayle said during the post-match media conference at Wanderers. "To me it got to be like victimisation when you look at it towards those two guys. Come on, guys. It is just ridiculous. Come on. Ridiculous. Really hurt. Ridiculous. Honestly, it throw me off. We can only talk. We can express our feelings which I'm doing at this point in time. The squad already is announced. It is just sad.

"It is a big batting line-up when you look at our team. But it's just disappointing when you look at the 50-over format - we won't be at our strongest," Gayle said. "We don't have our strongest team without Pollard, nor Bravo. So that is actually sad for us. It is a really a big blow for us to actually lose two key players, two key allrounders as well, very good in the outfield. I don't know what's the history behind it, but it is ridiculous selection from my point of view."

On Saturday, the WICB announced the 15-man World Cup squad to be led by Jason Holder with Marlon Samuels

as the vice-captain. There was no mention about Bravo and Pollard, who had been earlier been ignored for the ODI series against South Africa, starting January 16. Gayle, whose blazing starts were instrumental to West Indies chasing big totals in successive matches, including the highest successful Twenty20 chase on Sunday, said he was glad he could dedicate the series victory to Bravo and Pollard.

"I don't know where our cricket is actually going to … where we are heading with this sort of situation. But it is really sad. Actually we won the [Twenty20] series with our best team and now there will be changes, with two of our biggest players in ODI cricket not involved in the 50-over format and the World Cup. It really hurts but I'm really, really glad that we won the series for Pollard and Bravo."

Gayle's blunt attack comes a day after the WICB released a list of 12 players granted central contracts. That list does not include Gayle, who said he could only express disillusionment at this stage on the omissions, but smelt Bravo and Pollard were paying a price. Although Gayle did not mention it, he was indirectly referring to the India tour last October when Bravo, as ODI captain, led the boycott against WICB and West Indies Players Association over a contracts dispute and pulled out of the tour. What astonished Gayle further, he revealed, was when Bravo told him that the selectors' vision was focused on re-building the team. "Bravo said to me, to be honest with you, the team they selected for the World Cup is actually to re-build for the next World Cup, which I can't understand. Basically what they are telling us: we are not going to win the World Cup [but] build for the next World Cup which is really ridiculous." (ESPNcricinfo)

Windies slay mammoth...

When Darren Sammy joined Denesh Ramdin, West Indies needed 23 off 14 ballswhich set the scene for the captain to play a knock like the ones he had in the World T20. He kept his cool while neither Abbott nor de Lange held theirs and secured the victory with four balls to spare.

South Africa would not have expected that after they were treated to a show by their own leader. Du Plessis was called on in yet another mini-crisis, after the first two wickets went cheaply, and was joined by David Miller, promoted to No. 4. They posted 105 runs for the third wicket at a run rate of 12.85 - a fraction more than the GayleSamuels stand of 12.84 - and took advantage of a West Indies attack who could not find their lengths.

Sulieman Benn was either too full or too short and Sheldon Cottrell offered too many low full tosses. Their stand could have grown into something of even more substance but Miller was run out thanks to good footwork from Russell before he could reach a half-century, leaving du Plessis on his own. The middle order did not contribute enough around the captain’s

could have enjoyed what West Indies did. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

South Africa innings (20 overs maximum)

RR Rossouw c †Ramdin b Holder 15

MN van Wyk† c Pollard b Benn 4

F du Plessis* c Bravo b Holder 119

DA Miller run out (Russell) 47

JL Ontong c Holder b Bravo 19

F Behardien not out 8

D Wiese c Smith b Bravo 6

KJ Abbott run out (†Ramdin) 2

Extras (lb 2, w 7, nb 2) 11

Total: (7 wickets; 20 overs; 108 mins) 231

Did not bat: M de Lange, Imran Tahir, AM Phangiso

Fall of wickets: 1-5 (van Wyk, 0.5 ov), 2-21 (Rossouw, 2.2 ov), 3-126 (Miller, 10.3 ov), 4-156 (Ontong, 13.3 ov), 5-222 (du Plessis, 18.6 ov), 6-228 (Wiese, 19.2 ov), 7-231 (Abbott, 19.6 ov) Bowling: SJ Benn (3-0-421); SS Cottrell (3-0-47-0); JO Holder (4-0-40-2); AD Russell (4-0-39-0); DJ Bravo (4-032-2); DJG Sammy (1-0-17-

0); KA Pollard (1-0-12-0) West Indies innings (target: 232 runs from 20 overs)

DR Smith lbw b de Lange 17 CH Gayle c †van Wyk b Wiese 90 MN Samuels c Behardien b Wiese 60 KA Pollard c Behardien b Wiese 7 AD Russell c Miller b Abbott 14 DJ Bravo c Ontong

hundred, which came off 46 balls, one more than Richard Levi’s record in T20 internationals. In the end, he would

probably

Woods ready for season debut

ormer world number

Fone Tiger Woods says he is “ready to go” ahead of his 2015 season debut at the Phoenix Open.

The 39-year-old 14-time major winner played in only nine tournaments last year because of a back injury.

As well as confirming his place for the start of the Phoenix Open on 26 January, Woods announced

that he would play in the following week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.

“I’m ready to go. Should be a lot of fun,” Woods said on Twitter.

Fellow Americans Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson are among those who have already committed to playing at the tournament in Arizona. (BBC Sport)

Chelsea to oppose Cahill from attending England team meeting

Chelsea are likely to prevent defender Gary Cahill from attending an England meeting this month, BBC Sport understands.

The players will meet at St George’s Park, probably on a Thursday, to discuss the 2015 schedule.

Chelsea are thought to be opposed to the idea because they play Liverpool in a twolegged League Cup semi-final on Tuesday 20 and 27 January.

Tottenham face Sheffield United in the other semi-final on 21 and 28 January.

According to the Daily

Sanchez leads Arsenal to 3-0 win over Stoke City

Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Arsenal climbed above neighbours Tottenham and into fifth place in the Premier League with a dominant display against Stoke.

Laurent Koscielny took advantage of slack marking to head the hosts into an early lead from Sanchez’s cross.

The Chile international then finished off a neat move with Tomas Rosicky to double Arsenal’s lead before half-time.

Sanchez, 26, added his second goal of the game and 18th of the season from a free-kick shortly after the break.

It proved a relatively routine victory for an Arsenal side and for David Ospina, who retained his place after the 2-0 FA Cup third round win over Hull.

It was the 26-year-old Colombia international’s first Premier League start, with Wojciech Szczesny dropped to the bench following reports he was caught smoking in the showers after the New Year’s Day defeat at Southampton.

Stoke were given early warning of Arsenal’s intent when Sanchez and Tomas

Rosicky forced goalkeeper Asmir Begovic into saves in the opening five minutes.

And within 60 seconds Koscielny took advantage of Arsenal’s third corner of the match by heading in Sanchez’s delivery.

Arsenal were forced to substitute defender Matthieu Debuchy when he dislocated his right shoulder in a challenge from Marko Arnautovic and collided with the advertising boards behind the goal.

Stoke created little throughout the game and

their first real chance came when Glenn Whelan blazed a smart free-kick from Bojan over the bar on 25 minutes.

Peter Crouch also headed a tame effort wide from an Arnautovic cross.

Sanchez then stretched Arsenal’s lead with his 17th goal of the season - a low shot in to the bottom lefthand corner after a smart one-two with Rosicky on the edge of the area.

Soon after the break, Sanchez was among the goals again. His free-kick

squeezed through the wall and Begovic was unable to stop the ball crossing the line via his body and a post. By then, the game was over as a contest but Stoke rallied.

Geoff Cameron had a goal ruled out for offside when he strayed ahead of the Arsenal defence from Crouch’s flick-on.

And, as full-time approached, substitute Stephen Ireland forced Ospina into his only real save of note with a low right-foot effort. (BBC Sport)

Federer secures 1000th win

Top seed Roger Federer secured the 1,000th victory of his career as he beat Milos Raonic to win the Brisbane International title.

Swiss Federer, 33, beat the Canadian, 24, 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 on Pat Rafter Arena to clinch his 83rd career title.

The world number two becomes the third man, after Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl, to secure 1,000 ATP wins.

“I’ve played a lot of tennis over the years so to get to 1,000 wins means a lot to me,” said Federer.

“It’s a special moment, no doubt about that. I will never forget this match.”

The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who lost to Lleyton Hewitt in last year’s Brisbane final, is the first player since Lendl in 1992 to reach the milestone.

He has now won at least one tournament every year since 2001, an unbroken run spanning 15 seasons.

Federer now heads to Melbourne to begin preparations for the Australian Open, which begins on 19 January and is a Grand Slam he has won four times.

The Swiss has been in fine form in Brisbane, brushing aside Australian

qualifier James Duckworth in 39 minutes and then beating Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in 53 minutes to reach the final.

Federer began strongly in final, breaking Raonic’s serve in the third game before going on to take the set 6-4.

He broke in the opening game of the second set, but Raonic broke back for 2-2 and then dominated the tie-break, winning seven successive points to seal

the set and level the match.

Federer was under pressure early in the third but Raonic failed to capitalise and the Swiss recovered to break in the 10th game and secure victory in two hours and 13 minutes.

Raonic said: “We all know today is a significant milestone for Roger. When we came out and they listed all the things you’ve won, I thought you must have been playing for 2,000 wins.” (BBC Sport)

Telegraph, England manager Roy Hodgson hopes to persuade clubs that players will be required for only a few hours and would be free to leave by 22:00 GMT.

England have won the six games they have played since being eliminated from last summer’s World Cup at the group stage.

They beat Norway and Scotland in friendlies either side of four Euro 2016 qualifying victories.

England face Lithuania in a qualifier at Wembley on 27 March, before playing a friendly in Italy four days later. (BBC Sport)

Boston to bid for 2024 Olympics

Boston has been selected by the United States Olympic Committee as its candidate city to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Boston beat domestic competition from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC to be put forward.

“Our goal is to host Olympic and Paralympic Games that are innovative, walkable and hospitable

to all,” said Boston mayor Marty Walsh.

The deadline for cities to apply to host the Games is 15 September.

The International Olympic Committee are due to make a decision in 2017.

The last time the USA hosted a summer games was in Atlanta in 1996, although Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002.

“I very much want to bring the games to the

United States to share the incredible spirit of the games with another generation of Americans, and advance the Olympic and Paralympic movements,” said American IOC executive board member Anita DeFrantz.

The US is the third country after Germany and Italy to officially launch a bidding process.

At an IOC meeting in Monaco in December, a 40-point action plan was voted on to revamp the sporting

showpiece. Potential hosts will find it easier and cheaper to bid under the “Olympic Agenda 2020” reforms and events can be held outside the host country or city.

The 28-sport cap for future summer Olympics has been removed - although there will be no changes to the Rio 2016 schedule. Instead of a 28-sport limit, each summer Games will be restricted to 10,500 athletes and 310 events. (BBC Sport)

Tiger Woods

Gary Cahill

Alexis Sanchez scores twice for Arsenal

Roger Federer celebrates his 1000th career win

Bacchus returns unopposed as ECB President...

Holder further indicated that an official complaint will be made to Cricket Ombudsman, Dr Winston McGowan, regarding the issues surrounding the ECB elections.

On Saturday, Dr McGowan told Guyana Times Sport that he has no problem with the ECB going ahead with its elections, but indicated that should there be any objections coming out from the process, he will intervene thereafter.

Dr McGowan is responsible for calling the elections of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB), Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) and Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) in accordance with the provisions of the Cricket

Administration Law.

This Law was assented to by President Donald Ramotar in August after the Cricket Administration Bill was enacted in Parliament on June 20.

Assault Meanwhile, prior to the elections, Treasurer

of the North Essequibo Cricket Committee Hakim Khan had accused GCB President DruBahadur and Sanasie of verbally assaulting him.

According to Khan the assault came after Sanasie accused him of writing a Letter to the Editor, regarding the ECB elections.

“As soon I walked in Sanasie began to verbally abuse me,” Khan told Guyana Times Sport.

Further, Khan stated that DruBahadur then joined Sanasie and he too continued the assault.

Khan said the attack is an extremely irresponsible move and an ugly signal for the game in Essequibo.

PMCC defeat West Berbice in friendly contest

Asolid all-round performance from Devendra Thakurdeen led hosts Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) to a 29-run victory over West Berbice in a specially organised 45-over cricket match at the PMCC

ground on Sunday. Batting first, PMCC scored 156 all out in 42.4 overs, with Parmanand Narine topscoring with 46 (6x4s). Thakurdeen made 24 (4x4s), while Lloydel Lewis and Joshua Ramsammy

both made 16.

Rendell Bobb snared 3-32, Krisendat Ramoo 2-25 and Sherwin Peterkin 2-34 for West Berbice, who in reply were limited to 127 all out in 37.3 overs.

Brentnol Woolford –28 (2x4s, 1x6); Quacey McPherson –25 (2x4s, 1x6); Andrew Dutchin – 14; and Rafael Estriado –11 led their batting effort.

Troy Gonsalves took 4-14, Thakurdeen 3-26, and Lewis 2-20 for the victorious PMCC team, who were rewarded with a trophy for the win.

Meanwhile, the management committee of both the PMCC and West Berbice promised to continue playing matches of such nature, in the off-season of the Berbice Cricket Board.

Executives

The ECB consists of the Bartica, Wakenaam, Leguan, Pomeroon, East Bank, North, South and Central Essequibo Cricket Committees.

Wakenaam school teacher Totaram

Ramnarine was elected Vice President unopposed, while Aotto Christiani was returned as Honorary Secretary, also unopposed. Andy Ramnarine of South Essequibo was elected Assistant Secretary unopposed.

Viren Chintamani of Leguan will serve as the Honorary Treasurer, while former GCB Vice President Alvin Johnson of East Bank Essequibo was elected as his Assistant.

The other positions, all unopposed, were won by Pomeroon’s Verna D’Aguiar (Competitions Chairperson), Nazeer Mohamed of Wakenaam (Public Relations Committee) and Anthony Murray of Bartica, who returned as Marketing Manager. Stacy Williams and Shastri Mangal were elected as the Board’s Trustees and Travis Simon was elected as the Auditor.

Kenya issues new doping rules

Sports authorities in Kenya have announced a wide range of anti-doping measures, after a number of prominent Kenyan athletes failed drugs tests.

Governing body Athletics Kenya will conduct more doping tests, including out of competition checks.

President Isaiah Kiplagat told the BBC agents and coaches could be banned for life and face criminal prosecution should their athletes fail tests.

At least 38 Kenyan athletes are believed to have failed drug tests.

The new rules have been released ahead of three-time Boston

Marathon champion Rita Jeptoo’s appearance before an Athletics Kenya Doping commission.

Jeptoo, 33, failed an out of competition test in September and is among a dozen Kenyan athletes under investigation for doping. Her case will be heard in Nairobi on Thursday.

Kiplagat said moving forward, no athlete would be allowed to compete in any event without proper registration with the federation.

“If an athlete is found culpable, they will be banned in accordance with the new rules - which extend to four years,” he said.

“Agents will also be re-

moved and they must be sanctioned.

“In fact for agents it’s easier, because if you’re the one who injected or found to have been contributing towards persuading the athletes to take banned substances, that’s a criminal offence.

“While athletes can be banned for four years, agents can go to jail.”

Elite athletes will also be issued with biological passports to test their blood and urine samples monthly.

Agents, managers and coaches will also be required to register with Athletics Kenya and provide a list of all athletes they manage or coach. (BBC Sport)

Britton opens season with tough win

Table tennis ace Shemar Britton got his 2015 season rolling positively with a win in the Senior Open Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Britton overcame a tough Kyle Edghill to win the tournament in seven sets.

Britton and Edghill battled in the first set that ended 11-8 before Edghill levelled the game at 1-1 with a set win of 11-8.

The two would then put on a show in the third set with numerous rallies before Britton prevailed with a 14-12 set win.

Edghill continued to display determination and an improved array of shots as he battled for a 12-10 set win to level the game once again at 2-2.

However, Edghill’s level of fitness was what failed him as Britton took full advantage and won the next two sets easily at 11-3 and 11-4.

A number of top players started their 2015 season at the tournament, with seasoned veterans Paul Meusa and Joel Alleyne sharing the third position.

(Treiston

Dr Winston McGowan

DruBahadur

Annad Sanasie

Devendra Thakurdeen Troy Gonsalves

Joseph) The winners of the tournament pose with their trophies

South Africa v West Indies, 2nd T20…

Windies slay mammoth target behind Gayle storm

The Wanderers is home to what it calls the greatest ODI of all time - the 438 game - and now it is also home to what could become known as the most thrilling T20: the 236 game. West Indies pulled off the highest successful run chase in the shortest format, propelled by Chris Gayle’s 90 off 41 balls, held together by Marlon Samuels’ seventh T20 half-century and finished by Darren Sammy, who led his side to a series win with a game to spare.

South Africa could be forgiven for being shell-shocked. They would have thought their chances of squaring the series were strong after Faf du Plessis became the second South African to score a T20 hundred, helping them post their second-highest score in the format, and with the knowledge they had never lost a T20 defending a 180-plus score before.

There was one man who could change that and change it he did. Gayle scored his only international T20 century at the Wanderers - against South Africa in 2007 - and seemed set to bring up his second with a bruising batting performance. He could not quite repeat the feat but his teammates ensured his efforts did not go to waste.

It began in the third

Bacchus returns unopposed as ECB President in controversial fashion

– Holder to launch official complaint to Cricket

Fover, after West Indies got off to the start they needed but lost Dwayne Smith, who drove down the wrong line to a full, straight, Marchant de Lange delivery. Gayle faced a situation he relished: his team needed quick runs and aggression, someone who was willing to take on the bowlers no matter where they landed the ball.

Luckily for Gayle, Kyle Abbott insisted on going full - perhaps after seeing what happened to West Indies’ bowlers, who erred by doing the opposite - and presented five full tosses in succession. Gayle let the first one go, took four fours off the rest and when Abbott held his length back to end the over, carted him over deep midwicket for six.

Twenty-two runs came off that over and it was the sign everything was going to go. The next three overs cost 46 as David Wiese and de Lange also searched for the yorker but ended up offering runs. West Indies scored the second-highest number of runs in the Powerplay, 86, and Samuels cashed in as well.

Aaron Phangiso and Imran Tahir bowled the first two overs that did not go for double figures but even their luck was short-lived. After Gayle brought up his fifty off 20 balls - three slower than

at Newlands on Friday night - with a six off Tahir, he grew even more hungry. Phangiso was hit to the grass embankment, Tahir to the top tier of the stand and Justin Ontong, turned to perhaps because du Plessis had run out of options, flat out of the ground. While Samuels played a supporting role, the second-wicket stand grew to 152 off 11.5 overs.

The required run rate was whittled down to under 10 runs an over when Tahir bowled the first boundary-less over of the innings and the pressure started to mount again. Gayle was desperate to see his team through and went after Wiese but the bowler took pace off the ball and had the Jamaican caught behind. That was where it could have all gone wrong for West Indies. On Friday, they lost five for 50 when Gayle departed and this time they threatened to unravel similarly. Tahir had another tight over, with just five runs coming from it, then Samuels holed out and Kieron Pollard was also deceived by a slower ball. Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo enjoyed two big hits each and fell attempting a third but the important thing was that even as wickets fell, West Indies kept adding runs.

Ombudsman

elections.

izul Bacchus was returned unopposed as President of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) in controversial fashion on

its

when the body

General Meeting and Elections at the Board’s hostel at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast.

However, Bacchus’s challenger Prince Holder is questioning the credibility in the manner Bacchus was reelected.

Holder is contending that the elections were not held according to the ECB constitution, which states that before an election is held, each Area Committee must complete their respective internal

However, in this case only three of the eight Area Committees had their internal elections, according to Holder.

“Bacchus’s victory was well planned out,” Holder pointed out.

He is also questioning the credibility of the Returning Officer Anand Sanasie,

Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

“Sanasie over the years has constantly been interfering in the internal affairs of the Essequibo Cricket Board, thereby creating much confusion and disharmony, and therefore he should not have been the Returning Officer,” Holder opined.

Chris Gayle on the attack during his quick fire 90

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Sunday

held

Biennial

Fizul Bacchus Prince Holder