Guyana Times Daily - January 19, 2015

Floodwaters suspend classes at Anna Regina Secondary School

Massive road project drive

Corentyne Chamber upbeat about bridge to Suriname

…urges control over backtrack route, smuggling

More steel pan bands for this year’s Mash contest

JetBlue flight almost collides with Caribbean Airlines' at JFK

Region 2 floods: Pump, dredging equipment deployed

AFC tries to sell PNC/ APNU coalition to Berbicians

2 NEWS

monday, JanUaRy 19, 2015 | gUyanatimesgy.com

Corentyne Chamber upbeat about bridge to Suriname

…urges control over backtrack route, smuggling

By Alexis Rodney

The Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce said it was pleased with the commitment given by Government to have a bridge built across the Corentyne River and would be doing everything possible to see it become a reality.

The construction of the Corentyne Bridge was among a host of issues raised by the Chamber’s President, Abraham Subnauth, as critically needed. He explained that the lack of such a facility was hindering progress in the Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) district.

President Donald Ramotar, during his New Year’s message, had promised that his Government would be working towards this venture.

“I would like to say that a proposal should be made to both Governments (Guyana and Suriname) that the funding of the bridge should come from citizens and the

diaspora from both countries by the selling of shares. Guyana is resourceful, both

in human and material resources,” Subnauth said at the opening ceremony of the

Guyana-Suriname Trade Mission Thursday night.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett assured the Chamber President that Government was currently working with the Surinamese Government and was also holding combined talks with the Chinese Government on the project.

“Our two Governments have already indicated our commitment to the physical connection which will make the entire South America physically connected,” Rodrigues-Birkett said.

She continued: “Guyana and Suriname have put the Corentyne River Bridge on the Council of Infrastructure agenda in UNASUR [Union of South America Nations]…”

The Surinamese Government has proposed the construction of the Corentyne Bridge as a possible project under the US$3 billion fund for the Caribbean announced by the Chinese Government. Guyana has already indicated to Beijing that it was in support of the proposal by Suriname. “I say to you let not your heart be troubled. The bridge is already a prior-

link across the Corentyne River. During his presidential campaign, Surinamese President Desi Bouterse had promised to build a bridge across the Corentyne River, should he be elected. Bouterse had said that it was necessary for technical assessments to be done.

Backtrack and smuggling

Other issues raised by the Chamber representative include backtracking, smuggling, and piracy which he related have become common activities of persons on both sides of the Corentyne River. “The word backtrack has become a household term for residents of Corentyne and Nickerie, Suriname, and has become a culture for the people. It is neither a nice word nor a healthy culture and needs to change.”

He said he hoped that the Governments would begin building the tools to replace the word “backtrack” with “open border”.

In terms of security, “the Chamber had met with the Commissioner of Police a few months and piracy was high on the agenda. I hope that we could begin working on

ity for our two Governments and we are moving forward in our discussions with the Chinese,” Rodrigues-Birkett assured.

The idea for a bridge across the Corentyne River was first articulated by former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Surinamese President Desi Bouterse, during a visit by Bouterse here in 2010. Back in 2013, Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon had said that some preliminary works have been completed and ground work will begin shortly on the bridge project. He had said that a final decision is yet to be made regarding the construction of the bridge, but discussions are continuing and officials are now looking to finalise preliminary studies to continue with the project.

Funding for the project has been deliberated on by Suriname and Guyana and international financial institutions. Dr Luncheon said the two countries have signalled strong support for the establishment of a land

a jurisdiction Memorandum of Understanding for law enforcement agencies very soon”, Subnauth said.

As it relates to smuggling, Subnauth said tax evasion was not something that Governments could pretend did not exist especially in today’s global communities. “That being said, I hope that smuggling could be replaced with free trade,” the Chamber president stated.

Minister RodriguesBirkett said discussions have already taken place between the two countries on backtrack and smuggling. However, in order for the issues to be addressed, they must be tackled by both sides, “because if one side fixes it and another doesn’t, it will not work”.

“It is a gradual process, but I could assure you that we are working. Who does the smuggling? It is the people who sell. So, that will also take efforts by Government and law enforcement as well as the businesses,” the Minister noted.

Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce

President Abraham Subnauth

Moleson Creek Stelling: Ferry departing Guyana for Suriname

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, January 19 – 14:30h-16:00h and Tuesday, January 20 – 05:00h-06:30h

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

Monday, January 19 – 15:30h-17:00h and Tuesday, January 20 – 16:20h-17:50h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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

WEATHER TODAY

and

Winds: East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 03:32h and 15:49h reaching maximum heights of 2.58 metres and 2.75 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:21h and 21:51h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.43 metre respectively.

19-year-old woman killed by jilted boyfriend

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Ateenage girl was stabbed to death by her jealous former boyfriend while in the company of a male friend at a Chinese Restaurant at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) Saturday night.

Dead is 19-yearold Shazien Mohamed, of Edinburgh Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). The incident occurred at approximately 19:00h on Saturday. Hours later, Police were able to arrest the suspect, who had fled the scene. The murder weapon has also been recovered.

Family members said

and Mohamed sat at a table outside the restaurant while his sister remained inside. “Then she call me because the food was too much and I get up and go inside, but just about four steps from the table Ah hear a hollering an when I turn around I see she holding she belly an blood… and the man running away.”

He said his friend, whom he had known for the past three months, fell to the ground before he could get to her. She tried to speak, but words did not come out of her mouth. She was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital and then transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

When this publication visited the Yang-Yi Restaurant, staff there

she ended a relationship and was stabbed about her body. She was admitted to the New Amsterdam

Mohamed left home to collect a cellular phone from a friend at Rosignol, who had been given it to repair.

An eyewitness to the events which resulted in the death of the former Vrymens Erven Secondary School student was Mitra Sukdeo of Rosignol. He told the Guyana Times that he went with Mohamed to collect the phone and took his sister along. “When we going back, me sister say that she hungry so we go in the restaurant and I buy the food.”

According to the 18-year-old Sukdeo, he

said they did not realise that someone was stabbed until after she was removed from the scene.

“The restaurant was full and I was inside and didn’t see anything,” one waitress said.

Police, in a release, said investigations revealed that Mohamed was involved in an argument with a man with whom

Hospital where she later succumbed. According to Sukdeo, the former sales girl was stabbed seven times to the upper body.

The suspect, Shazan Khali, was arrested at his Number Four Village, West Coast Berbice home at approximately 03:30h Sunday. A penknife believed to be the murder weapon was taken from

the accused.

Khali said that he and Mohamed had been friends and she had been trying to ditch him for her new boyfriend. However, Sukdeo said that he and Mohamed were just ordinary friends. At the time of his arrest, he looked to have had a swelling of the left eye. He said that he and Mohamed had a scuffle after she said that she was with her new boyfriend. He said she punched him in the eye. He added he would always carry a penknife.

According to the sugar worker, he had been giving her most of his earnings. He said he recently gave her a large amount of money for her sister’s birthday party.

Family members say that Mohamed and Khali became friends about six weeks ago and the relationship lasted for about one month. They say ever since he had been stalking her. According to them, he only visited their home once and that was on December 27 for Mohamed’s sister’s 16th birthday party.

Dead: Shazien Mohamed

The Yang-Yi Chinese Restaurant where the murder took place

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

The native informants

The British intervention into the President’s prorogation of Parliament is acting as a litmus test on the extent to which the Opposition has remained “native informants” for the departed colonial power.

That some younger members of the Opposition are exhibiting the same unfortunate crippled mindset is proof positive that the rot has become structurally embedded in their ranks. If control of the Guyanese state were to fall into the hands of this Opposition, it is clear that Guyana might as well not have struggled for, nor achieved, independence.

A week ago, referring to the prorogation, British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre announced: “Guyana is moving into a category of concern for the Commonwealth. That is quite clear from discussions that take place in London.”

He reiterated that the prorogation was “a clear breach of the Commonwealth Charter and of the Guyana Constitution”. The Opposition leaders Granger and Ramjattan and their media supporters went into overdrive trumpeting the dire straits, including “Commonwealth sanctions” Guyana could now find itself facing because of the British action.

When Guyana’s Foreign Minister Carolyn Birkett soon announced she had been in touch with the Commonwealth Secretary General Kamlesh Sharma - and that at no time had that body been contacted nor deliberated on Guyana’s prorogation of its Parliament, it was clear that that Ayre, in the kindest interpretation of his statement, had been guilty of “stretching the truth”.

How else could he speak so conclusively that “Guyana is moving into a category of concern for the Commonwealth”, but by implying that Britain had contacted the organisation? The Commonwealth, after all, is not the old British Empire for which Britain could “speak”, but a body of independent states in which Britain is not even its most geopolitically significant one.

Very predictably, the Opposition native informants rushed to save the “honour” of the British High Commissioner. In its Sunday Editorial, the Stabroek News referred narrowly to Ayre’s further statements that “Guyana could be subjected to a critical review…” but it was “not on the verge of being suspended from the Commonwealth” to assert that the “Tacuba Lodge is...seriously challenged in terms of comprehending the English language”.

With Tacuba Lodge headed by an Amerindian woman, apart from nastily invoking the standing libel that Amerindians are “uncivilised” and so bereft of “comprehending the English language”, the Stabroek News is being more than a little disingenuous in eliding the Foreign Minister’s fundamental misstatement. To wit, that the British were NEVER in touch with the Commonwealth Secretariat, but yet purported to speak on its behalf.

Cudgels were also picked up in defence of Ayre by Ralph Ramkarran in his Stabroek News column, which is sure to be regurgitated as a “news article” in a later edition. The irony of Ramkarran, who boasts of being a “Marxist Leninst disciple of Dr Cheddi Jagan”, defending the British High Commissioner and his London Minister, appeared lost on both Ramkarran and his newspaper.

Ramkarran indignantly claimed that all the good High Ambassador said was “that discussions were going on ‘in London’ about Guyana’s violation of the (Commonwealth) Charter. He never said that those discussions are engaging the Commonwealth”.

But notwithstanding Ramkarran’s pathetic parsing in his “legal” defence of the High Commissioner’s “honour”, the question of how the British could speak for the Commonwealth remains unanswered. This is if course, because it cannot be answered unless the High Commissioner and his defenders are willing to admit that he “misspoke”.

We wish the Opposition would understand that Britain is acting in its own interest, not for some “higher moral purpose” in threatening Guyana. Britain just announced it will build a naval base in Bahrain.

Even its own House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee report stated that the Foreign Office should rather have “bitten the bullet and designated Bahrain as country of concern” because of 2011 violent reprisals against its Shia community.

When will the Opposition put Guyana first?

APNU does not respect the rights of Amerindians

Dear Editor, Aishalton has been on national media these days and while there are separate issues to address, I humbly ask you to permit me to present my views on what I consider as the main issue affecting Aishalton.

In national media, Tony James, a resident of Aishalton and Executive of the APA, and his group of followers, including John Adams, may be perceived as those who stand up for the rights of their people and whose people hold them in high regards and vice versa.

More importantly they may be perceived as the true voice of Aishalton. However, let me make it perfectly clear that this group simply consists of the family and close friends of Mr James, and are the more vociferous ones, the more formally educated ones, and the more affluent in the village.

They are the ones who have access to the internet and information on media and have been the only ones to write and send information to the press. In a recent letter, Mr James claimed that “the PPP/C is further dividing our once united communities”.

However, Mr James himself, for the longest while, has been the source of division and abuse of his own Amerindian people by toying with their lack of formal education, poor command of oral and written English, their lack of thoroughness with the law, and the lack of access to internet and information on the media.

And in doing so have taken advantage of the people to challenge him on various issues. This is abuse of his own Amerindian people, and I condemn this as downright disgusting. This is why I write today - to speak for my people who

may fear intimidation and victimization by this group of people.

In Aishalton, it is no secret that Mr James, is a power- seeking individual; and by power-seeking I do not mean power for the people, but power for himself. However, over the years, the people have made it clear that they would no longer be oppressed by his leadership by not voting for him.

First, when he ran for Toshao-ship again after his 12 year tenure as Toshao, he did not gain majority votes. After that, his son Kid James, who was James and followers’ choice candidate, ran for the Toshao-ship.

That was the hardest campaign battle in the history of Aishalton that was won by Bernard Conrad, present Toshao of Aishalton. Ever since, they have been earnestly seeking to undermine Conrad’s leadership and even petitioned for his removal as Toshao.

But the majority of people stood up against them. The petition failed. The majority won. Conrad remains Toshao, Chief of Aishalton. What Mr James and his followers need to know is that we are no longer the people he once knew many years ago when he was Toshao, when we dared not oppose him due to our lack of knowledge and feared him as the one with knowledge.

Now let me speak a bit on culture. We as Wapishanas are a peaceful people. Peace and respect form the basis of our culture, which we uphold by respecting those in authority – our elders, parents, country leaders, church leaders and our village leaders.

What concerns me most is the lack of respect that this group of people have for our Village Council. Note that in

Amerindian villages, the Village Council headed by the Toshao, is the highest legal governing body.

At a recent meeting on January 11, Mr James, in reference to Toshao Conrad’s statement that “it is very shameful for Mr Adams to be disrespecting the public”, asked, “What is the disrespect that he (Mr Adams) has shown?”

If Mr James does not know, it is common knowledge in Aishalton that Mr Adams has a very disrespectful and arrogant attitude – his most outstanding attribute. At the meeting, a Village Councilor said that when she had spoken to Mr Adams about his misconduct and disrespect, he plainly told her that he did not respect Toshao Conrad, and some Councilors.

In being very disrespectful to the Toshao, Mr Adams and his supporters are in fact being very disrespectful to the people, since the people elected Toshao Conrad and Councilors. Mr Adams’ ‘misconducts’ that were in the Guyana Times were just the formal ones; but I am aware that there are others, and the people maybe too afraid to speak or write about those.

Also, at the meeting on January 11, Mr James and group made it clear that every Guyanese citizen has the right to settle wherever he wants and to send or transfer Mr Adams somewhere else would be discriminatory.

I know Mr James as one who constantly speaks on maintaining our culture, and when speaking of outsiders coming into our private lands to reside, would say that “outsiders who come in need to respect us, our, culture, and our rights as indigenous peoples”.

AFC had committed to replacing the fraudulent Burnham Constitution

Dear Editor,

One cannot disagree with Sase Singh’s letter, “Guyanese should reject all political parties which cannot commit to a new Constitution”, in another section of the media.

But may I remind Singh that his party, AFC, committed to replacing the fraudulent Burnham Constitution. Ten years later, it has made no serious effort in that direction and Singh is not holding his party accountable.

The AFC has not kept this simple promise it made to the population to amend the Constitution or replace it. Instead, it is delusional that it will win a plurality and govern the country as a minority that is dissimilar from what obtains now.

Whenever I met my AFC friends, I reminded them that they promised to completely abolish the Burnham Constitution,

and I got the same response every time – the PNC (APNU) would not agree to changing it. So why then has the AFC been collaborating with the PNC (APNU) over the last three years on various parliamentary issues, and now holding talks on coalescing to contest the elections?

As a precondition for supporting the PNC (APNU) on various measures, the AFC should have demanded legislative support to replace the Constitution. The AFC-PNC (APNU) had controlled a majority in Parliament, including the speakership, and chair of all committees.

So there is no hindrance to the alliance from passing legislation to replace the Constitution or amend it to curtail the powers of the executive.

In fact, it can legislate to return to the pre-Burnham constitution, which while not ideal, is far better than its succes-

sor in holding the Government accountable. Guyana would not have been in the mess it is today had the country been governed under the previous democratic Constitution.

Most Guyanese I spoke with are in full agreement with Singh that the Constitution must be replaced. Singh should pressure the leadership of his party to take steps to replace the Constitution, rather sleep with the PNC (APNU).

The AFC can propose a referendum of choices – Burnham Constitution, independence Constitution or a new Constitution to be drafted.

Yes, the powers of the Executive branch must be severely curbed so that it can be held accountable by the legislative branch.

Vishnu Bisram

Top: Pope Francis joins hands with children while students perform during a meeting with youth at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Below: Catholics attend a Mass led by the Pope at Rizal Park as a mass of over six million people gathered (Reuters)

Amerindians are part of Government’s national development agenda

Dear Editor, I read PNC/APNU MP Sydney Allicock’s letter, headlined “Let us break the back of intimidation”. Permit me to briefly respond to Allicock.

It was Mr Allicock in Parliament who called the Amerindian peoples of the Rupununi backward. Can you remember Mr Allicock? At least you never apologised to our indigenous peoples, which clearly reveal your eye pass.

But it is important for Allicock to recognise the importance of the

PPP/C returning to the seat of Government, since it was his party, the PNC, that discriminated, neglected and abandoned the Amerindian peoples when it was illegally in Government prior to 1992.

Today, Guyana’s indigenous people are a significant part of the PPP/C Government’s national development agenda, which Allicock is totally against, since he prefers Amerindians in Guyana to be marginalized, and to many Amerindians, he is known as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

But Allicock is a so-called poli-

tician at sea, since he is not even aware that the rights of Guyana’s indigenous peoples are respected in accordance with national law and international legal obligations.

Allicock’s PNC/APNU party does not respect the rights of Guyana’s indigenous people and is totally annoyed over the provision of development assistance the PPP/C Government continues to provide to Amerindian communities to correct the historic wrongs of utter neglect and abandonment done to Amerindian communities by the

PNC.

Allicock said in his letter that the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) is the Amerindian Division Fund. It is through the ADF that the Amerindian communities of Guyana are receiving development assistance upon the request by Toshao for the implementation of their community projects.

This is an outstanding demonstration that the PPP/C Government cares for the indigenous peoples of Guyana and vice versa.

Allicock is a ‘Judas’ to Guyana’s

Communities have to set up support nets for the elderly, vulnerable

Dear Editor,

Under a Facebook post of an elderly Guyanese woman, who committed suicide at Golden Fleece on the Essequibo Coast, another Essequiban asked, “Where is Annan Boodram?”

This question saddened us tremendously, if only because it seems to speak to the over dependence on overseasbased Guyanese individuals and entities to tackle social issues in Guyana, whereas the reality should be that a combination of state and community involvement should form the fundamental basis for structured and ongoing assistance.

The article stated in part, “Ramsamooj lately returned from the United States. Her entire family is said to be in New York. She was living with her sister at the time of her death”.

Questions abound. Was she simply visiting her family in the US and had returned home to Guyana? If so why was an elderly mother living in Guyana away from the rest of her family?

Was she legally living in the US and had opted to return to Guyana? If so why did the family allow such an elderly member to be so far away from them? Was she legally living in the US and had been sent back to Guyana by her family? If so would this not be tantamount to abandonment?

After all regardless of how her children would have been the mother never sent them away from her.

Whatever the scenario was, the fact remains that this was a lady in her 80s, who may have felt abandoned by her immediately family and, if she had been legal in the US, then she also would have had the emotional cushion pulled from under her and the scope for positive social life, one that she may have become accustomed to, reduced to almost zero.

Also she may have lost financial and material assistance provide by US/New York governmental agencies, and she definitely would have lost easy and fast access to first rate medical services that is available in the US.

Since the early 1990s we have been privy to stories of Guyanese elders maltreated and abused by their family.

One such story told of a mother who was sponsored by her son. Not long after her arrival to the US, she was placed to live in basement of the son’s home, without any heat during the winter, and whatever financial assistance she received from governmental agencies, was seized by the son and his wife with almost nothing given back to the mother.

Eventually neighbours found out about the old lady’s plight and reported it to relevant agencies. Consequently she was taken away and placed in more caring circumstances, while the son and his wife were arrested and charged.

More recently, the Guyana media highlighted the case of an 83-year old, bedridden man beaten to death by his 53-year old, mentally unstable son. This case also spawns many questions. Were these two living alone? If not whey were they left alone?

If so, how could this be allowed, especially since, according to the article, the son was a patient at a clinic? One may even wonder whether the son was taking his medication on time or at all; whether he was keeping his medical appointments; whether he had access to any therapy – group or otherwise - as a patient and whether it was safe for that son to live at home.

Many of us grew up in Guyana where our elders were cherished and embraced in the bosoms of the family and their invaluable life experiences were the banquets

from which grandchildren and other youngsters feasted.

On the one had grandparents reduce the impact of negativity, often become confidantes of their grandchildren, can share tremendous experiences and knowledge to guide other family members, have more time to socialize with grandchildren and more concretely display care, compassion, concern.

On the other hand elders need to generally spend their last days knowing that they have nothing to worry about and that care and love underpins their daily existence regardless of what idiosyncrasies, whims and fancies they may exhibit.

Whatever the circumstances relating to that elderly woman, there was enough pain there to have led her to the agonizing decision to end it all. The Caribbean Voice therefore urges all –Guyanese overseas and at home – to let us get back to our innate qualities of family togetherness and its bequest of love, caring compassion and having each other’s back, regardless of what life throws at us.

Now back to the issues inherent in a call from domiciled Guyanese to those of us overseas when a situation like this arises. The simple fact is that overseas individuals/entities cannot make the kind of impact needed continually within communities.

Each community has to be able to identify and set up support nets for the elderly and vulnerable among them as a first step, and then identify state and private sector help that may exist.

There are many NGOs that do a great deal of work with limited resources, including but not limited to Monique’s Helping Hands (Dr Dawn Stewart), the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (Dr Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth), Help and Shelter and Red Thread,

the counseling center at Springlands on the Corentyne started by former Magistrate Krishnadat Persaud, Mibicuri Community Developers, Hindus for Selfless Service, the Bacchus and Sankar families on the Essequibo Coast, the Guyana Foundation, Nirvana Humanitarian Mission and the American University of Research (apologies for not being able to list all organizations).

On this issue of NGOs, The Caribbean Voice strongly believes that all organizations working on the social landscape should initiate working relations with all others as this would help to establish a network that can foster referrals and join operations whenever and wherever possible.

Such an approach would lead to greater reach and impact and maximization of resources. The socio-political realities of Guyana, in particular, do not make it easy for the ‘go-it-alone’ approach.

Thus the concept akin to community psychology –identifying social problems within communities and developing solutions in collaboration with all possible forces – needs to and must be applied.

In effect when the community cares, everyone learns to care and the effects snowball – less abuse, less suicide, less addictions and less crimes. We in The Caribbean Voice know that this is easier said than done, but that it is also practical not only because it happens elsewhere in the world, but also because it was a pervasive Guyanese reality some generations ago.

In effect collectively caring for society’s most vulnerable leads to an aura of care and compassion that becomes cyclic. And this cycle starts with individuals within communities.

Amerindians. But Allicock in his hypocrisy is calling on Amerindians to unite. The truth of the matter is that Amerindians stand in solid unity for a massive victory of the PPP/C at the polls for the continuation of their development programmes.

Finally, Allicock must know that in his capacity as a PNC/APNU MP that is a waste of tax payers’ money since he is practically useless to Guyana’s Amerindian peoples. Ask any progressive Amerindian.

Peter Persaud

Is Mr James now countering himself? Is he now saying that just about anyone, once a Guyanese citizen, can come and live and leave our village as the wish?

Is Mr James saying that the people and Village Council have no authority on this, considering that Amerindians as first peoples have certain rights that differ from the rest of other Guyanese citizens? Is that being respectful to us Amerindians? It is not surprising to me, however, since James is one of double standards based on my knowledge and experience.

In response to Mr Adams’ open disrespect to Toshao Conrad and Councilors, his addressing the President as “Donald” and his heckling during the President’s meeting, Mr Adams and group based their arguments on Parliament sessions and debates.

However, how can these people who so strongly advocate for preservation of Wapichan culture, base their arguments on a totally different culture to ours?

We know about the culture of others, but we will preserve our culture of peace and respect. I am not saying that we should not challenge our leaders, but we should respect their positions and address them appropriately.

Coming back to Mr James’ claim that “the PPP/C is further dividing our once united communities”, the APNU group, to which Mr James belongs, has been distributing fliers in support of the APNU. One of them reads, “APNU will respect the rights of all Amerindian citizens”.

My main concern is how

page 4

can they claim that the APNU, the party they represent, will respect the rights of all Amerindians when they themselves are already disrespecting us?

I am not condoning Adams being slapped, if that were so. I do not condone assaults and disrespect and these people claim not to either. Therefore, I am baffled as to why they, as villagers and APNU activists, have not been speaking against the misconducts that Mr Adams and some others did and are doing.

(I will not list these since my objective is to educate those who do not know the full story and not to tarnish anyone’s reputation.)

In closing, I would like to ask Mr James and group their reason for not speaking against the prevalence of illegal drugs in Aishalton. Why have they remained silent, too silent, on an issue that is affecting our village negatively? Why?

However, since we are now on par with them in knowledge, we can counter them effectively. And while we may seem to be complacent at the moment, Mr James and group may think they have won or are wining; and are taking full advantage of it for political reasons – for village, regional, and national elections, and knowing him, for his own interests.

We, however, unlike them, are a truly peaceful people and we do things in the right way and at the right time. And when that time comes, we will certainly stand up for our rights.

Leah Casimero Youth of Aishalton

The Caribbean Voice

More steel pan bands for this year’s Mash contest

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said there has been a marked increase in the number of steel pan competitors for this year’s Mashramani celebrations, signalling increasing interest in what was once a dying art form.

The Minister announced this while at a press conference on the year’s Mash activities, Friday at the Ministry’s boardroom. It has been the goal of the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry to revive the steel pan art form since 2006. From all appearances, Guyana is once again to benefit from the sweet sounds of steel pans at events where a Guyanese atmosphere is needed.

Steel pan enthusiasts have, over the years, been quite vocal about the need to revive the dying art form, stating that other countries, such as the United States of America, have taken the music and developed it to their own liking. Oliver Pross is just one such enthusiast who had spoken to another news publication about the stagnant state of steel pan in Guyana. With assistance from the National School of Music as well as Republic Bank coming on board to support the resuscitation of steel pan in Guyana, there has been real interest from schools and a number of groups. The Ministry has launched a number of workshops and activities.

The Parkside Steel Orchestra had come on board with the Ministry in late 2006 to put into effect this goal. They had performed at a number of what some would call unusual places, like Church’s Chicken to remind persons about steel pan in Guyana and the emotive sounds that emanate from the instrument. Other places at which the orchestra had performed were the Botanical Gardens Bandstand and the Kingston Seawall Tarmac.

Tremendous change

Tremendous change was seen in this area, however, when Republic Bank came on board in 2011 with $1.7 million for competitions and the National School of Music to encourage young people to learn the instrument. Also steel pan workshops were set up

in a number of the administrative regions where a number of young people from various schools were taught the fine art of playing steel pans.

Minister Anthony announced that only recently North Ruimveldt alumni donated a number of steel pans to facilitate the efforts to rejuvenate steel pan playing in Guyana, particularly after the North Ruimveldt Steel Orchestra had done so well in the last two years.

Head of the National School of Music, Andrew Tyndall announced at the conference that 10 school bands would be taking part in the Mash Panorama Steel Pan Competition this year, reminding that only three had taken part last year. He was quite impressed with this number of entries. Also, in a bid to continue the trend of growth in the steel

pan art form, Tyndall announced that currently the music school was working on a School Steel Pan Competition, where a number of schools compete annually for the title of best school band for the year. He explained that the funds garnered from the competition would go towards the development of steel pan groups in villages and schools. In this way, it was expected that steel pan bands would continue to grow around the country.

Tyndall remarked on the tremendous advances that a number of steel pan groups have made thus far like the Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra. This relatively new steel pan group has taken the prize at the 2014 Mash Panorama Steel Pan Competition. It is expected to do so again in 2015.

– ChildLinK’s vision is a Guyanese society where every child enjoys the right to a childhood in a safe and caring family, free from poverty, violence, and exploitation

For those readers who may not be acquainted with the name ChildLinK and it works, ChildLinK is a local NonGovernmental Organisation that aims to give children a chance to grow up in a safe and secure family or familytype environment.

ChildLinK’s origin dates back to 1995 with its registration in Guyana as a branch of the Christian Children’s Fund of Great Britain (CCFGB). In 2002, CCFGB merged with the European Children’s Trust to form EveryChild, and the local branch was renamed EveryChild Guyana. EveryChild Guyana has transitioned into a local autonomous entity named ChidLinK.

Over the past five years through its work, ChildLinK has been promoting alter-

by members within the said community who casually sit as spectators as the child and family continue to suffer. Children’s suffering should be not a spectator’s sport. We need to get up and make a conscious effort as society to help relieve their suffering. These situations in some cases lead to exploitation of the children, and separation of children from their families and communities to which they have formed attachment and have a sense of belonging. These situations leave emotional and sometimes physical scars on children. They strive and reach their full potential within a safe family environment.

ChildLinK’s team would like to take this opportunity to say special thanks to all the readers who have taken time to write, call and read the articles of the last year.

native childcare, which addresses social, economic, emotional, and mental problems that arise in the parentchild, family, and community relationship networks. It involves working with families and communities to support and supplement home-based care, and where necessary, substituting temporary or permanent alternative care arrangements for children in need. Alternative childcare services include guidance and counselling for children and their caregivers; parenting education and skills training; financial, day care, and other forms of psychosocial support.

As an organisation, we believe within our communities there are enormous resources that can be tapped into to ensure children have a safe family and community environment. As a society, we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the fact that children’s right to a safe environment is being violated daily. Too often, we look at and read news where children are being featured in some of what we consider the worst conditions of living.

Most distastefully, these conditions are often known

We must continue to impress upon your hearts the need for protecting children and ensuring they have safe families. We often hear children are our future, but this is not the only reason why we must ensure that they are safe; they cannot do it for themselves, they need you, they need me, they need us. We look forward for your support this year in building safer communities. Please look out for future articles on practical ways we can make this happen for children. For this coming year we at ChildLinK, in collaboration with you readers, hope to alleviate children’s suffering and prevent it from occurring any longer. Continue to call and write to us for support in relation to protecting children and ensuring that they have a safe environment. Please contact us on telephone number 231-7174 or at programmes.childlink@networksgy.com for any support you may need on parenting and any other challenges that you may be experiencing with your children. Or call the Child Care and Protection Agency on 227-4082.

The Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra performing in their hometown

North Ruimveldt Multilateral for A-list upgrade

The North Ruimveldt Multilateral School in Georgetown will be commissioned as an A-list school, early this year, even as work will continue to achieve Universal Secondary Education in Guyana. This was among announcements by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand over the weekend when she revealed plans for the first quarter of 2015.

Evidencing Guyana’ s progress as a country and particularly in the education sector, the Education Ministry will be declaring the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School an A-List School early this year. The school which began as a B grade has been achieving excellent performance from its students, at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) examinations, over a period of three consecutive years. This solid history has now qualified it to be an A-List school.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) statement the Ministry of Education is dedicated to ensuring that all citizens, are given the best possible opportunity, to achieve their full potential, through equal access to quality education. This is defined by the standards and norms outlined by the ministry and internationally, and the commitment to quality

and equity in education, with no barriers in access to anyone is clear in the new Plan.

The 2014-2018 National Education Sector Plan covers all levels of education except university. It consists of the detailed action plans of each unit or department that must be taken in order to meet the targets of the strategy. This plan continues the focus on improving the quality of education that was outlined in previous ones. However, it places much more emphasis on accountability, by continuously monitoring results throughout the plan’s period.

The ministry had undertaken to establish a draft professional standard for teachers and consequently it conducted countrywide consultations with all key stakeholders. More than 55 consultations were held, where teachers, parents, students and other stakeholders provided their views on the contents of the document. The reported that the consultations were extremely useful, in bringing personnel to the point, where they are preparing to officially publish, sensitise users and potential users, and implement the Professional Standards for Teachers, within a matter of a few weeks.

Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam noted that the professional

standard document was revised, to indicate the attitudes teachers should exhibit, adding that the appraisal system will now measure the overall structure.

Text Books

The Ministry continues to place emphasis on the eq-

workbooks, and that students would begin using them on a national scale, in September 2015. It is important to note too that these books were developed by a group of dedicated Guyanese educators.

The objectives of this project are to strengthen the capacity of secondary school

uitable provision of learning resources to students. Much effort has gone into creating and developing its own learning kits and packages and importantly, its own text and work books. In 2013 and 2014, the Roriama Readers Series and Atlantic Readers series were developed and written. During this quarter, it is anticipated that these books would be published with their accompanying

mathematics teachers nationwide, and to increase enrollment in general secondary schools in targeted regions. This is a US$10M project that is expected to be implemented over the next three years.

Approximately 800 secondary level mathematics teachers nationwide would benefit from in-service training. The direct project’s beneficiaries would be 2,600 students profiting each year, as long as the

schools are built, from new secondary school facilities in Regions Three and Four. The project would also benefit students at eight schools, with “Technology-assisted Learning in Mathematics” pilot programmes. In addition, the Ministry would benefit from improved capacity in Education Management and Information System (EMIS). This project will help to get the ministry closer to its goals, and this will be in keeping with the PPP/C manifesto’s promise, of obtaining Universal Secondary Education. It will be officially launched in the first quarter of this year.

Portuguese

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will be offering Portuguese at the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC), which will be written in nine territories for the first time in 2016. Portuguese will be eventually offered in all the territories. Additionally, CXC will offer Portuguese as a subject at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) in 2017. It was the Ministry which piloted Portuguese, formally in the secondary school’s curriculum, and its staff who developed Curriculum Guides, and resource materials to deliver this new, but increas-

ingly useful and important language. A team lead by the Education Minister had several meetings with the relevant authorities of CXC over the last year and a half, and made proposals for this subject to be included formally as a subject that is offered by the CXC.

In an effort to increase the information available to stakeholders, especially Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) and parents, about the status of their schools and the progress of individual children’s progress, and in order to increase the lines of communication and collaboration between parent stakeholders and the schools and the ministry will be instituting a National Report Card Day and a monthly Parent Day. Report cards offer insight into a child’s learning progress and also help parents ensure that their children are being challenged and assessed. Report cards also help parents to identify those areas, where a child may need additional support. This year, the ministry is designating the last Thursday or secondto-last day of every school term as National Report Card Day. Across the country, parents will be able to go into the schools and receive their children’s report cards, or children could receive them and take them home.

51% increase in vehicular traffic on Demerara Harbour Bridge last year

The Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) recorded a 5.1% increase in vehicular traffic in 2014, with a total of 11, 555 transited in one direction in December, which is the highest number ever recorded.

According to DHB’s General Manager Rawlston Adams, marine traffic saw a decline from 1,279 in 2013 to 1,191 in 2014, which is

while vehicular toll amounted to $462,446,099 in 2014, as against $412,270,181 in 2013. In the case of other revenues, the DHB saw a total of $50,517,283 being generated in 2014, as against $29,331,724 in 2013, which brings the overall total amount of income generated to $71,095,477 for 2014.

The total expenditure for the DHB was $437,070,603 in 2014, as compared with

a 6.6% decrease. Adams was at the time updating the media, on the agency’s accomplishments for 2014, which he described as outstanding. Marine toll for 2014 amounted to $20,266,000 as compared with $20,532,000 in 2013, a 1.30 percent decrease,

$369,468,166 in 2013, an 18.3 percent difference, according to Adams. He said that the DHB was contracted by the Works Ministry to conduct maintenance works on bridges on the railway embankment, Moleson Creek and the Essequibo coast. These contractual

works resulted in a 95.17% increase in the DHB’s income.

The harbour bridge expended a total of $337,324,874 on its capital works for 2014. These works include the fabrication of three pontoons and 10 transoms, servicing of 18 pontoons, fabrication of connecting posts ( 30 pairs ), supply of sheaves and shackles (120 snatch blocks ), fabrication of 60 buoys and the rehabilitation of one tug.

The bridge has expanded to incorporate the asphalt plant, which ran a total revenue of $1,776,868,981. Works executed at the asphalt plant, during the year 2014, include the refurbishing of the main office, guard hut, workers’ section and scale room; also the acquiring new backhoe and repairing front end loader, installation of a new generator, installing new totaliser and probe sensors on plant, the relocation of transformer, installation of communication tower, replacing asphalt plant trunnion tyre and roller, mixer fan, exhaust fan, flights and gear boxes and the servicing of all AC and DC motors.

There were also major components replaced for 2014; these include ropes to anchorage- 153; sheave-55; connecting posts-59; buoys, 68; pivots, 6; deck plates478; A frames-2; and transoms-7. A total of 48,408.88 tons of asphalt concrete was produced for the year 2014,

a 4,034.07 tons average monthly. For 2015, the ministry is hoping to rehabili-

tate cluster piles (high span north), supply wire rope; fabricate connecting posts; and supply chord bolts servicing of pontoons.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

The Demerara Harbour Bridge

GPL brightens Angoy’s Avenue with electricity connection

After weeks of fuming with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the administration of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) for not having electricity, residents of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam are now breathing a sigh of relief.

Guyana Times on Sunday revisited the community to find residents expressing gratitude for the much needed service.

“All we waiting for is we water and maybe landline phones”, one resident, who was extremely upset some weeks ago, said.

Originally, the community was scheduled to receive electricity before the Christmas season but the power company fell short on its promise after experiencing several challenges. The delay had sparked some degree of anger among residents who had been living without electricity for decades.

The provision of electricity to Angoy’s Avenue, also called Mount Sinai, is part of a package offered by the Housing Ministry to regularise the community.

Moves are also being made to provide potable water and landline telephone service to the community,

but electricity remains the most urgent need at this time.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who is also the minister responsible for energy, had made a promise to the more than 500 families living in Timmers and John Lewis Streets, to provide their homes with electricity before the Christmas holiday last year.

By the closing of 2014, the power company had begun planting poles in the community and residents were urged to begin wiring their homes. The process included assistance from the regional administration, which had begun the regularisation process. Chairman of the Community Development

Council (CDC) Zaberdally Armogan had told Guyana Times that residents have been allocated lot numbers for their homes and were awaiting further action from the housing ministry to complete the process.

The process of acquiring electricity saw residents receiving approval letters from the Regional Chairman David Armogan, which were then taken to GPL. The chairman had explained to Guyana Times that he was doing his best to facilitate the process, by providing the relevant documents residents needed to take to the power company.

GPL has been reportedly working “round the clock” in the community, installing

pre paid meters to homes.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am for this,” said Sarita Seegobin. “My children are inside all the time now, they watching TV now, I am happy for this, really happy”, the mother of four told Guyana Times

Sitting on the eastern corner of the town of New Amsterdam, Angoy’s Avenue has always been considered a depressed community in the township.

While residents have been able to see major improvements in infrastructure over the last couple of years, Government said it remains committed to seeing an overall turnaround for the community known to be a haven for criminals in Berbice.

Red tape a major hurdle to Guyana-Suriname trade

The time taken for the processing of licences, necessary permits and other documentation for businesses to operate in Guyana and Suriname has been identified as one of the major hindrances to investments in both countries.

This was said to be the leading issue raised by those in attendance at the first-ever Guyana- Suriname Trade Conference, which began on January 15 and concluded on Saturday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday evening at the Park Vue Hotel, delegates from both countries pointed out that the issue of timely processing dominated the discussion at their meetings.

Private Sector Commission (PSC) Trade and Investment Chairman and Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) President, Ramesh Dookhoo told media operatives that in order for this to be achieved, there were many things which must first be addressed and harmonised in both countries.

“The Surinamese expressed to us that that they wanted open borders. When they say ‘open borders’, it means that we must harmonise our taxation policies, harmonise our standards, harmonise our products and

services offered, and all the regimes that go with manufacturing. Guyana is a very far way from harmonising its taxation policies and this is a major block in creating partnerships and that is why we need to push for action for these to be regulated,” Dookhoo noted.

Long and tiresome

Suriname Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Vice President Anilkumar Padarath explained that this was the biggest concern of the Surinamese business community and it was having an impact on the Guyanese economy as well.

“The timeline which we have to deal with in terms of getting our permits and other documentations ready is quite an issue to us in

Suriname, because we want to do trade here in Guyana, but the process is long and tiresome,” he related.

Several other trade barriers were discussed, including the importance of having the Guyana- Suriname Bridge (Corentyne River Bridge, since it will reduce the time taken to transport goods from one country to the other; the policies of vehicles crossing at the borders and the long associated checking process as well as the cost of energy.

On the list also was the issue of smuggling and according to the Vice President of the Suriname Chamber of Commerce, Guyana needed to open its borders to allow for a freer exchange of goods and services, since it was the country which stood to lose the most from smuggling activities.

“We also have to look at the policies to address smuggling. It is taking away from the Guyanese economy. If you have open borders, there will be no illegal anything,” the Surinamese official said.

Based on analysis, it takes 22 and 19 days respectively to complete Customs paperwork in Guyana and Suriname. The preparation of documents takes 10 days in Suriname and 11 in Guyana, while Customs clearance and inspections

Eyew tness Deadbeat...

...Opposition MP's

Did you notice the nasty spat that erupted between the AFC and the Muckraker over all the money the Opposition MPs were raking in during prorogation?? The Mook "named and shamed" some by explicitly stating the salaries of, among others, AFC's Kathy Hughes and APNU's Basil Williams.

They both raked in over $200,000 per month. Now apart from Budget time, these wankers show up only an average of THREE TIMES A MONTH at best - to "earn" that salary.

And Basil Williams said that it was "peanuts"!

Now don't forget that for each of those sittings, the MPs consume $1.7 MILLION in food and drinks!! And it doesn't end there - there's travelling allowance, entertainment allowance, phone allowance and most of all - duty free car allowance!

And it's for this reason the Opposition waited until three years were finished to complain about Parliament not meeting. They've just earned their first duty free car, worth as much as $40 million for the SUV's most of these wankers bring in.

So you can image why Mook Lall's going ballistic. Here he is, giving the Opposition MPs free publicity and columns, channeling campaign funds through FUCOP, and they collect all this money even through prorogation, while he's being hauled to court over his "duty free car scam"!!

He figures the Opposition freeloaders are pulling a bigger scam than he is - and getting away with it!! Nothing upsets a thief more than another thief doing better.

Now the AFC, as they tend to do, tried to get cuteto take their "doo-doo" and rub it on the Government MPs’ bamsees". But we all know that can't sell, right? Hey, while the Opposition MPs are raking in the dough and "throwing back", the Government MPs are still hard at work taking care of the people's business.

take four and five days respectively.

However, it was announced that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has put a system in place whereby businesses in Suriname no longer have to travel to Georgetown to have Customs paperwork processed as this can be done in Berbice.

Nonetheless, Dookhoo said the Private Sectors in both countries can help in getting the issues highlighted so that at the policy level, requisite changes can be made.

The officials informed the media operatives that they have made note of issues faced by businesses and have been mandated by their respective Governments to document these.

“We have been asked to ensure that all the issues raised are well-documented. After this is done, a team will be set up to assess the complaints and recommendations made and to see where the Governments can facilitate policy changes to ensure the desired outcomes are met.

“The Ministers and the President have promised that they are committed to seeing the issues raised resolved as best as possible in a timely manner,” Dookhoo disclosed.

Even those MP's who aren't Ministers - eight or so - have to get involved, like Seeraj with rice farmers, for instance. In fact, Granger's taken the Government to court for MPs like Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh to stop working - and draw free money like them.

That, of course, isn't the moral thing to do - and the Government's refused.

Kathy Hughes, however - that bastion of morality who took Fip Motilall's money while her party was dragging him through the mud - said it wasn't "moral" for any MP to collect monies during prorogation. And if the Government MPs refused their salaries, then so would Opposition's.

This is moral relativism as its basest and venal. Apart from the Government MPs working for their salaries, shouldn't the Opposition "do the right thing" - without watching others??

Poverty wants much, but avarice? Everything!

...two-faced mentally enslaved

Some people have such a deeply embedded colonial mentality, almost 50 years after independence, they're still singing "God save the Queen". Take the Opposition's reaction to Prezzie's prorogation of Parliament. In addition to jumping up and down, they reflexively clamoured for "outside" pressure.

Not only from the ABCs, but also from Caricom. One PNCite letter writer Lurlene Nestor wrote, "Guyanese want to hear from Caricom; Guyanese are waiting to hear from Caricom. The earlier we hear from this most important body, the less we will have to speculate. It is therefore time for us to hear from Caricom".

Now when the British High Commissioner weighed in and stretched the truth to threaten "Commonwealth sanctions", the entire Opposition fell on their knees and cried "Hallelujah"!!! But when Caricom said that prorogation is a legitimate constitutional power of the President, there were loud threats and gnashing of teeth - by the likes of Lincoln Lewis.

To the mentally enslaved, "Massa day never done".

...fears bitchslapping Poor Ramkarran. He complained he quit the PPP/C because "one female comrade verbally abused" him. Now he complains our culture's moving from verbal to physical abuse. He's obviously terrified he'll now be "bitchslapped" rather than being "tongue lashed" by his erstwhile comrade!!

GPL polls planted in Angoy’s Avenue with electricity

CAIC President Ramesh Dookhoo

Massive road project drive

…to anchor Guyana’s infrastructural landscape

By Vahnu Manikchand

Guyana’s infrastruc-

tural landscape is expected to undergo major transformation as Government embarks on several road projects across the country.

These include the East Bank and East Coast Demerara, the West Coast Demerara, Sheriff Street/ Mandela Avenue and West Coast Berbice road expansion projects.

At the Public Works Ministry’s yearend review presentation, Head of the Works Service Group (WSG), Geoffrey Vaughn, explained that despite facing several challenges including delays, works are still ongoing on those road projects that have commenced while arrangements are being made for the commencement of other projects. Vaughn disclosed that WSG received some $8.6 billion and has expended 88 per cent, that is, $7.6 billion on works during the course of last year.

As it relates to the East Coast Demerara road project, he noted that Government has completed preliminary works from Montrose to Good Hope for the four lane upgrade. The preliminary works, which included, the widening of the roads and installation of drainage facilities, formed part of Phase One. The project, however, is divided into seven lots which were awarded to different contractors.

Vaughn noted that residents from Better Hope to Good Hope will be the main beneficiaries of this project since the improved drainage has reduced the chances of flooding, which the area is susceptible to. Works on the concrete drains are 78 per cent completed while 99 per cent of the road embankment is completed. Additionally, the road revetment is 100 per cent completed. The works done thus far were to the tune of $2.1 million.

Vaughn explained that some of the challenges of ex-

WSG Head Geoffrey Vaughn

ecuting this particular project are the shortage of materials and delays. “The issues we dealt with throughout 2014 would be the shortage in supply of materials such as stones, cement and steel. We had delays in the relocation of utilities; delays due to property or encumbrances on the road reserves, and we also had the standing out issue of poor project management by some of the contracting firms.”

Going ahead this year, the WSG head said that the four lane expansion from Better Hope to Annandale and the two lane upgrade from Annandale to Belfield Village will see a total length of 16,998 kilometres of roads and 33,996 kilometres of drains being built.

Meanwhile, US$17.2 million was budgeted for the East Bank Four-lane Project, which runs from Providence to Diamond. This project is

CJIA collected in excess of $1B in revenues last year

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), for the third consecutive year, has collected revenues in excess of $1B. The CJIA income for the year 2014 was $1,017B. In 2013, the airport recorded income of $1,077B and $1,120B in 2012. Presenting the CJIA’s 2014 performance, during the Ministry of Public Works’ press briefing on Friday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramesh Ghir noted that the airport’s income collected in 2014 was almost double that of the last six years. In 2009, the airport collected $599M compared with the $1,017B collected in 2014. The airport collected $633M in 2010 and $748M in 2011. Ghir said that expenses for 2014 amounted to $678M as compared with the $588M spent for the same period in 2013. He explained that this was mainly due to the increase in staffing during 2014, from 146 to 171, and this pertained to recruitment in the Aviation Security Department.

He said that the international Passenger Arrivals for 2014 was 236,851 or 1 per cent higher than the 235,967 in 2013. The total number of passengers flown in 2014 counted 478,092. Imported cargo for the period under review amounted to 3,296,000 kg; this represents a 44 per cent increase over the previous year, Ghir said. He explained that 25 per cent of the cargo was industrial supplies, while 21 per cent was personal effects; another 21 per cent for hatching eggs and 33 per cent consolidated cargo. Meanwhile, exports amounted to 2,852,000 kg or a 16 per cent increase from that of the corresponding period in 2013. According to

CJIA CEO Ramesh Ghir

Ghir, 88 per cent of the cargo was agro-industrial products and livestock while 12 per cent was consolidated cargo. International Aircraft Landing was 3,696, and this was lower than what obtained in 2013. Ghir said. He noted however, that Jet Aircraft Landings increased from 2,523 to 2,933, due mainly to the introduction of additional flights from COPA, CONVIASA, FLY Jamaica, INSEL AIR and DYNAMIC Airways. Turbo Prop and Smaller type aircraft landing reduced due mainly to the reduction in LIAT’s flight.

According to Ghir, the following training sessions were undertaken to build staff capacity and capability in 2014: Health and Safety Training; Food Handlers Training; Fire Extinguisher Training; Basic Conversational Spanish Training; NIS Seminar; Customer Service training; HIV/AIDs seminar; and Financial Management for non-financial managers.

Meanwhile focus in safety saw a partial exercise held in December 2014, where the airport tested two compo-

nents of its ‘communications and response’ equipment from various other agencies, as was directed in the Airport Emergency Plan, Type of Exercise, 7.3, ii, Partial Emergency Exercises.

Further, a massive programme was also undertaken by the CJIA in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Works, in the setting up of facilities to administer health care to any passenger with Ebola. The CJIA also donated a number of items to the Port Health personnel at their office, attached to the airport. An Airside Vehicles Operator’s Permit (AVOP) training programme was also conducted by CJIA Operations Superintendent Manmohan Balram. It focused on a number of important aerodrome techniques that should be adhered to when operating on the aerodrome.

Other training programmes conducted during the period under review was a Driver’s Safety Training and a Refresher Instructor Training which reinforced the basic skills and competencies required by CJIA’s experienced instructors and exposed new personnel to the demands of instruction preparation, delivery and assessment. Other training focused on quality assurance, airport risk mitigation, self defence, airport risk assessment, narcotic recognition and traffic warden.

Ghir noted that focus on Security in 2014, saw the installation of 51 new cameras within and around the terminal building and Vito De Palma from Naan and Sergio Gonzalez, Manager for the South America Region (OnNet Surveillance System Inc On SSI), conducting a four day software training with

divided into three lots and works on these are way behind schedule.

Lot One has a total of 2.65 kilometres of road to be built but only 44 per cent has been constructed at the cost of US$3.4 million.

Approximately 80 per cent of the 1.55 kilometres of road in Lot Two has been completed to the tune of US$4.7 million. Works valued at US$2.2 million were executed in Lot Three, which has a total of 1.20 kilometres of road.

Along with shortage of materials and delays due to utilities relocation, some of the other challenges facing this project include cash flow, downtime of equipment, lack of human resources and construction methodology among others.

Vaughn noted that the Works Ministry will be working along with local contracting firms to improve areas such as project management to enhance their performance.

new and similar inventions implemented. The contract for this project was awarded to Jamaican company, Surrey Paving and Aggregate (SPA) Limited which will be partnering with BK International for the $9.2 billion project. This project, which is scheduled to commence this month, is expected to be completed within 36 months. Additionally, civil works on several other road projects have been undertaken. The feasibility studies on Phase Two of the East Bank Berbice road in Region Six have been completed. This road project stretches from Stanleytown to Everton, and according to Vaughn, the ministry is awaiting the IDB’s no-objection to proceed with tendering.

selected staff from CJIA and the Criminal Investigation Department. The training was conducted in the recently acquired IP CCTV room at the airport. The beginning of the year also saw the Aviation Security Department staff of 56 ranks being increased to 80.

Ghir listed among projects for 2015 as the completion of Emergency Operational Centre (EOC,) conducting a full scale emergency exercise is 2015 to test the Emergency procedures, upgrading of the executive lounge, crack sealing on the surface of Runway 11-29, resurfacing of the airport’s public car park, modifying and upgrading the water system and construction of new pump house, procuring and installing lighted aerodrome signs, the installation of additional perimeter fence lighting and the establishment of a modern training room equipped with computers to be used for internal training/online training.

Government is also looking to develop Sheriff Street and Mandela Avenue. Already, the evaluation report for the selection of contractor has been completed. The report, which was completed last year, was submitted to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for its no-objection on awarding the contract.

According to Vaughn, this project it expected to commence in the first quarter of this year once approval is granted by the IDB. It will see a two lane upgrade from Sheriff Street up to the National Cultural Centre and then a four lane expansion from thereon up to the end of Mandela Avenue at Banks DIH and Geddes Grant junction.

“Once that is completed, we will also have sidewalks and also we will have bicycle paths. One of the new interventions in terms of this project, you will see walkways especially where the schools are and we are still to confirm whether we will put one also where we have the post office coming down to Campbellville, where the senior citizens normally go to collect their pensions,” Vaughn disclosed.

He further stated that the West Coast Demerara road project will also see several

Feasibility studies are presently ongoing for the Canal Number 1, Canal Number 2 and West Bank Demerara roads. These are expected to be completed by next month. While the feasibility study on the East Bank Demerara Road from Grove to Timehri has been completed, it is awaiting final submission by Consultant CEMCO/ EXP. The contract for this project will be awarded sometime this year.

Additionally, Vaughn revealed that some $2.38 billion and $200 million were allocated under the Miscellaneous and Urban Road Programmes, respectively for 2014. He pointed out that at the end of 2013, a total of 240 miscellaneous roads and 13 urban roads were approved by the Finance Ministry as multiyear projects at an estimated $1.9 billion and $76.5 million respectively.

Some $125 million was spent on the construction of various bridges, most of which have been completed such as the Linden/Lethem Bridge and the Moleson Creek Acrow Panel Bridge. Contracts are yet to be awarded for the construction of a footbridge in Kaneville and Craig, East Bank Demerara. Additionally, a total of $40.2 million has been spent on the maintenance of bridges across the country. An additional, $880 million was spent on roads and bridges in the Hinterland following an allocation of $1 billion 2014.

Passenger, vehicle travel on Canawaima Ferry down

Fewer passengers and vehicles are using the Canawaima Ferry Service at Moleson Creek, Corriverton, Transport Minister, Robeson Benn has said.

The ferry service is jointly operated by Guyana and Suriname. The reason for the drop in travel is largely due to the many speedboats that provide “backtrack” service, which the Guyana Government has been trying to discourage. It has even moved last year to purchase a fast boat named “Manatee” to compete with the smaller vessels operated by private individuals along the Corentyne Coast.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday last, Benn said, with plans for a bridge across the Corentyne River, his ministry is looking at tackling the backtrack trade. But in the absence of the bridge, the ministry is hoping to put a dent in the trade with the use of the “Manatee.”

According to Benn, the vessel will provide safe and secure, as well as legal means of crossing the river to get to neighbouring Suriname. “It’s unsafe, it’s illegal (and) there are issues with respect to the security of passengers… so

that is why the Manatee was acquired,” he stated.

The minister pointed out that there are about two or three locations, unregulated crossings that persons used and have lost their lives due to river accidents. He added that there are other issues that need to be taken into consideration such as piracy, river theft and loss of revenues.

with a mere 132,625 recorded while the number of vehicles barely increased by one per cent to 13,172. However, the ferry service managed to secure an increase of $182,695,505 or US$64,163.

However, Manager of the Moleson Creek Terminal, Louise Williams, said based on projections, the number of passengers and vehicles using the ferry service will in-

gal crossings as an alternative to get to Suriname. M.V. Canawaima is expected to be docked sometime this year for approximately two to three weeks for the replacement of some plates. Nevertheless, the minister said that the authorities will be doing whatever it takes to clamp down on the illegal trade and crossing at that route, hence the acquisition of the Manatee

There was a drop in the number of passengers using that route in the 2014 records of the Canawaima Ferry Service.

The number of passengers that travelled, using that service dropped by eight per cent

crease by five per cent during the course of this year.

Moreover, Benn explained that one of the problems is the fact that the Canawaima Ferry Service has only one or two crossings per day, as such persons decide to use the ille-

to aid in providing faster and more frequent service.

Benn pointed out that while arrangements are being worked out with Suriname, as it relates to the new vessel servicing the route, the Manatee will be used by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the training of marine cadets.

Meanwhile, Benn said that the Public Works Ministry has been executing works on the roads that will lead to Corentyne River Bridge. He disclosed that works are ongoing to prepare some 2.5 kilometres of roadways on Guyana’s side. This includes the construction of three major bridges.

“So we will have those ready for the time when the bridge will land on our side,” he said while adding that the surveys and issues relating to land acquisition are currently being pursued. “We would want to be ready when those issues on the other side of

Nagga Man lookin fuh de impossible

In life yuh does meet some people who really bare face. And old people seh bare face people is people who ain’t got no shame. Dem would do tings right in fronta yuh face and yuh eye ball and still seh is not dem. Or play like if is not dem.

In Guyana, once yuh mention de word bare face, some people does come to mind right away. De other day Nagga Man been to a press conference and lawda mercy that was a bare face talkin some bare lies next to some bare stupid people at a head table.

Nagga Man so bare dotish that he seh he gon never answer a question whah a reporter ask he, and then he turn round and answer de same question wid a bare face all in de same sentence. So was bare b*lls at de press conference.

And these days it look like Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat don’t ever deh in de same place at de same time. Dem two got two different campaign goin on. Nagga Man is a presidential candidate fuh one party and Rum Jhaat is a prime minister candidate fuh PANTY.

Even Nagga Man tell somebody he never realise that a man who call he self a friend woulda set he up and leff he just so bare skin at de top. Nagga Man gon soon start to do some bare impossible tings to mek tings look at least barely possible fuh he.

Right now it impossible fuh he to be a prezzie, but he tryin to sound like if it possible. And he wish it was possible fuh he to crawl back to de Pee-P-P. But he still hopin that it gon be possible to mek impossible tings look possible all over again. But it look like that is barely a possibility.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! After all, it very possible fuh Nagga Man to do any ting any time, but some tings gon just never be possible wid he! Bein prezzi is just one!

the current river are resolved with respect to the funding and so on for the bridge,” Benn added.

On the issue of financing for the bridge, the Works Minister revealed that his Government is not privy to the current issues of financing since neighbouring Suriname is tasked with securing the finance. However, Benn noted that Government was ad-

vised by the neighbouring Government, that it is working assiduously to have financial closure.

He explained that the Surinamese Government is responsible for the financing of the bridge while Guyana is responsible for the paving of roads to the bridge. Several meetings were held last year between the two countries.

JetBlue flight almost collides with Caribbean Airlines' at JFK

Imagine taking off in a plane at full speed to all of a sudden have it stop just as quickly. That is what happened to passengers aboard JetBlue flight 1295 as it took off from JFK Airport Saturday night on its way to Austin, Texas.

“We were heading full speed down the runway, and the plane came to a screeching stop,” says passenger Brandon Card. Caribbean Airlines Flight 526 was right in the path of JetBlue’s plane

“The people came on the intercom and said ‘yeah, we almost collided with another plane,” said passenger

Krista Hollis, “when they said that collision would have been inevitable if we hadn’t braked, I was like, ‘what?!’” Radio transmissions between the tower and both planes show the tower contacted the Caribbean Airline pilot at least twice with no answer. There were tense moments as the JetBlue pilot aborted his takeoff moments before a potential deadly disaster could have taken place. Aviation expert JP Tristani tells Eyewitness News that the Caribbean plane should not have been on the runway.

“No aircraft that is taxiing has the right of way without clearance from the ground operator,” Tristani said. Passengers aboard the JetBlue flight eventually made it to Austin, Texas, several hours late, but more than happy to be safe. “They gave us a hundred dollar voucher, we had beer and wine and whatever we wanted on the plane,” added passenger Anna Greenwood, “free movies - it was fine, they took good care of us.” JetBlue says that Caribbean Airlines was NOT authorised to cross the runway at the time. JetBlue is not sure how close the two aircrafts got to each other. (WABCEyewitness News)

Few passengers now use the Canawaima Ferry Service

Times Notebook

Election madness

Its election season and the usual crazy times are here. Not only are the politicians engaged in reckless rhetoric, but diplomats from western countries are up to their usual game of trying to influence the results.

There are all kinds of players today who once aided and abetted dictatorship in Guyana who have become robust in finding ways to provide support for the Opposition in Guyana.

The irony is that those most active in electioneering are also being ingenious by condemning the Government for breaching the Constitution and for eliminating parliamentary democracy.

The present path to election was precipitated by the very Opposition when they submitted the NoConfidence Motion before the October 2014 resumption of Parliament. They further indicated that they will use their one-seat numerical advantage to put the motion as the number one agenda item when the Parliament resumed.

These were all legal actions in a democratic coun-

Region 2 floods

try. But so too is the use of the prorogation option that the President used to ask for dialogue. It was a very legal and Constitutional option that the President used.

It is an option that is found in every Constitution of a democratic country. Canada has used this option multiple times in the last decade. Other Caribbean countries have used this option. Sri Lanka, India, Australia and other strong democratic countries have used this option.

The President stated in opting to prorogue Parliament that he was invoking the prorogation for two reasons – to allow a cooling off period and permit sensible dialogue, and to allow an early election with a more convenient timing than the No-Confidence Motion would have forced. He wanted to ensure that early elections will not derail the holiday season. The dialogue did not occur and the holiday season is ended. The President has stated that he will soon announce the dissolution of the Parliament and set a date for election.

GECOM has ended its Seventh Continuous

Registration Session and has started to prepare the Preliminary List of Voters and is in full election preparation. It has begun to procure all necessary election material.

The political parties are in full election mode and have been out in the communities with traditional election activities. The AFC have had public meetings and both the AFC and APNU have had bottomhouse meetings.

APNU and AFC have

been going out into communities and they have been utilizing the printed media, radio and TV to spew misinformation and the usual anti-Government bashing. Their accolades in the TUC, individual political commentators, the media and others have also been out.

The PPP/C has also been in election mode. The only missing thing right now is the actual date for election, but everyone in Guyana is engaged in the usual election madness. In some cases, people have descended into nastiness.

This gives us an early indication that the election will be about insults, rather than issues. The AFC will not answer the simple question whether they will form a coalition with APNU on the excuse that they will not answer any question posed by Guyana Times

The western diplomats believe that they have a divine right to interfere in Guyana’s political affairs. Before independence, the British and the Americans collaborated to kick out Cheddi Jagan.

We all know that for almost three decades they

were silent as dictatorship took hold in Guyana and some of the world’s worst examples of rigged election took place while they watched in silence, with tacit support.

Since 1992 with the restoration of democracy, they have done all in their power to aid and abet the Opposition in suffocating development. They insisted that Guyana must pass the AMLCFT Bill, but they never called out the Opposition on their unreasonable position.

Instead, they kept harping on Government to pass the Bill, knowing very well that the Opposition made it clear that they will not allow Guyana to meet its international obligations.

But their position on the prorogation exposes their long-standing anti-PPP stance. The anti-PPP position of western diplomats since the 1950s persists today.

The British Diplomat tried to give the impression that the Commonwealth Secretariat met and would sanction Guyana for prorogation. Did it occur to him that his Government was

a key player in the crafting Guyana’s Constitution?

The Commonwealth Secretariat never met and never threatened sanctions on Guyana, as the British Diplomat implied. This is an indication of how low these diplomats would sink in order to achieve regime change in Guyana.

HPS Dr Roger Luncheon was correct when he described the British diplomat as a pariah in Guyana. The same diplomat should explain to us why Britain supported the removal of the Sugar Protocol that reduced the price of sugar and destroyed many sugar industries in the ACP.

He should also why they are not honoring the EU agreement for budgetary support with the Government. This anti-development record of the British Government is consistent with their anti-PPP position in Guyana.

But it is not a new position. It is as old as Guyana’s fight for independence.

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

Pump, dredging equipment deployed

Following President Donald Ramotar’s visit to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Saturday, a pump, along with dredging equipment, was deployed to the region to help stop flooding in the area. The equipment was immediately put into operation. The pump arrived Saturday night and was put

into operation at Windsor Castle/Devonshire Castle early Sunday morning to assist in draining water from flood-affected residential areas. A pontoon bearing two long-boom excavators has been deployed to Devonshire to help clear the outfall channel. The door of the Three Friends sluice is presently opened.

The pump, along with

the dredging equipment, was the fulfilment of a promise made by the President during his visit to floodaffected residents on the Essequibo Coast. During the President’s visit, residents express their concern over the high intensity of rainfall and the subsequent flooding.

National Drainage and

Irrigation Authority Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth, during his visit, also had indicated that dredging was crucial to clear outfalls and another pump was needed as well. Several persons, especially those living in the Capoey and Devonshire area, were affected by flood water.

The region has been experiencing severe flooding caused by heavy downpours since Thursday night; several communities were inundated with knee-high water. Several rice fields and kitchen gardens were affected by the floodwaters. Housewives from various communities were counting their losses as their electrical appliances, refrigerators and kitchen equipment suffered water damage.

Residents expressed gratitude towards the Government of Guyana for deploying the pump, which has helped to release water from flooded areas within the Devonshire Castle area into the Atlantic Ocean.

Workers sourcing fuel for the pump

HPS Dr Roger Luncheon

monday, JanUaRy 19, 2015 | gUyanatimesgy.com

Floodwaters suspend classes at Anna Regina Secondary School

RChairman Parmanand Persaud disclosed that he was forced to send home all the children who were housed in the dormitory of the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School at Cotton Field as floodwaters took their toll.

Persaud said after speaking with the Regional Education Officer, Bharamdai Seepersaud, it was decided that the school would be closed until the water receded. The Regional Chairman explained that the dormitory, especially the kitchen area, was under approximately four inches of water due to heavy downpours. The school compound, along with the auditorium, is presently filled with kneehigh water.

The Chairman emphasised that works will be done to assist in the drainage of water from the school. He noted that af-

Opposition Leader and A Partnership for National Unity Chairman, retired Brigadier David Granger has promised residents of the Rupununi serious restructuring of their local education system should he be elected President at the upcoming General and Regional Elections. Granger, leading a team of eight APNU Members of Parliament (MPs), is currently on a 28-community tour of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

In a release, Granger said he heard about the low performance of students at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) from villagers in Parishara, Nappi, Hiawa, Yupukarri, and St Ignatius. This, in turn, has led to a high

Meanwhile, Mashramani activities, which were scheduled for Monday at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, were postponed to a later date as a result of flooding as well.

During a visit to Essequibo on Saturday, President Donald Ramotar, along with a high-level team inspected several flood-affected areas, sluices, and outfalls. Many residents and businesses are counting their flood-related losses.

Poultry farmers particularly suffered tremendous losses as their chicken

and all her electrical appliances were damaged.

Another housewife, Indrawattie Persaud, echoed her words, as she lamented the struggle and great inconvenience of having to move her kitchen to the upper flat of her house.

The President assured residents that his Government would do everything in its capacity to bring relief to them. He also expressed that more dredges and pumps were needed, and he promised they would be soon deployed to various areas.

President Ramotar

ter the water was drained, a thorough cleaning would be done, which he suggested would take a few days. Persaud disclosed that the Secondary School would be reopened either Tuesday or Wednesday, but the Regional Administration was assessing the situation.

pens were inundated with knee-high water. Other residents lost refrigerators, televisions, and other household items to flood damage.

Daywattie Sundar told the President that her entire kitchen was flooded

and his team commenced his tour at the Devonshire Castle Sluice, and moved off to interact with residents in the area. The delegation then visited the Hampton Court Sluice, Anna Regina and Three Friends Pump.

$34M spent on traffic, highway lights installation in 2014

The Ministry of Public Works spent a total of $34 M for the installation of traffic lights and highway lights throughout the country in 2014.

Areas where lights were installed include, Moleson Creek which benefitted from seven, Number 44 to 55 Village on the Corentyne, 100 lights, the Abary Bridge, 41 lights and Mackenzie, Linden, 126 lights. Fifteen lights were refurbished at Republic Road, New Amsterdam and five at Century Palm Garden, Durban Backlands,

Georgetown.

In 2014, the Ministry incurred a cost of $4,653,107 on electricity for 46 traffic lights and a total of $493,986,540 on 5648 highway lights. The Ministry also installed 50 traffic signals, 46 of which are operational. Meanwhile what has become a major concern for the Ministry is the amount of damage incurred as a result of accidents. In 2014, six traffic lights, 49 highway lights and 16 sets of barriers were damaged as a result of accidents, all of which carry a cost of $19,254,386.

Elderly cyclist killed by speeding SUV

A62-year-old man lost his life when he attempted to ride across the road in the path of a speeding 4-runner at Number Eight Village West Cast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) on Saturday morning.

Dead is Megnauth Seetaram also called ‘Buzo’ and ‘Bassar’ of Lot 8 Section ‘C’ Harban Pool, Cotton Tree Village, West Cast Berbice. Eyewitnesses say Seetaram was hit by the vehicle that was heading in the opposite direction.

He was pitched several feet into the air before landing some distance away. He remained motionless. When police arrived he was escorted by the said vehicle to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Seetaram had been operating his cash crop farm for several years and was going to pick a bunch of plantains which a neighbour had ordered. According to his daughter Savitri Rangasammy on a daily basis Seetaram would

rate of dropouts from the region’s four secondary schools at Annai, St Ignatius, Sand Creek, and Aishalton. There has consequently been a high rate

of youth unemployment throughout the region.

He said too that parents complained of the high cost of transportation, overcrowding, inad-

equate staffing, and inappropriate official responses to social challenges facing secondary school students, including some living in dormitories. Many

secondary school students, even those with Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), subjects remained unemployed or ended up work-

cycle the six mile journey to attend to his farm. She explained that he was about to cross the road to enter his farm when the accident occurred.

Reports are that that two persons were in the vehicle at the time and after the accident they stopped and waited on the police to arrive. The driver was taken into custody. Seetaram had been living alone since his son migrated to Suriname one year ago.

ing as shop attendants in Lethem, the region’s administrative centre, or as farmhands, stewardesses or domestics in neighbouring Brazil. Granger reacting to the residents’ complaints promised that his Administration would remove the impediments in the primary education system, rectify the problems at the secondary level and restructure the education system in what is Guyana’s largest region. He committed to establishing a Rupununi Technical Institute and a Rupununi Agriculture Institute to give children an opportunity to pursue satisfying employment, become entrepreneurs and develop the economy of the region.

egion Two (PomeroonSupenaam)

Opposition Leader and APNU Chairman David Granger

The compound of the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School

The Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School is closed due to flooding

Dead: Megnauth Seetaram

Steady growth in trade between Guyana, Suriname – Minister Ali

As Government continues to work towards fostering trade and new business partnerships with its regional neighbours, acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali has highlighted that there has been steady growth in trade between Guyana and Suriname.

The Minister was at the time speaking at a meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Friday. This was part of the activities scheduled for the second day of the ongoing meeting of the Guyana-Suriname Trade Mission.

He pointed out that both countries depended on natural resources, noting that many investments were made in Guyana based on rising gold prices, but the current global situation meant the country must now move towards an efficient equilibrium of production. This would minimise wastage and inefficiency, and maximise productivity, to create the capacity to produce at a highly competitive price.

“For the past five years,

there has been a tremendous increase in business between Guyana and Suriname,” the Minister emphasised. In 2008, Guyana exported approximately 7000 kilograms of goods to Suriname. In 2012, this figure was almost tripled, to almost 26,000kg. The value of exports moved from approximately US$3.6 million in 2008 – $13.9 million in 2012, representing growth of almost 300 per cent.

Ali added that the two countries shared a good relationship, which could be seen in the growing number of tourists arriving in Guyana, through the crossing at Moleson Creek. In 2013, more than 28, 000 people visited Guyana through this port of entry, and close to 26,000 by the end of October 2014. Minister Ali expressed his disappointment over the fact that this information was not mentioned in any documentation used to promote trade between the two countries.

Further, emphasising the significance of this fact in the tourism industry, the Minister said, “At a mere minimum of each of those persons spending a minimum of US$300, you are

talking about US$8.3 million in 2013… it is equivalent to 63 per cent of the total export of goods and services.”

He added that as regards the benefits for Suriname, “whatever is coming here is greater in Suriname”, noting that almost 65 per cent of Guyanese living in the Diaspora who return home visit Suriname.

This market is important for tourism in Guyana, as most of the small hotels are filled by persons travelling from that country. It

is also important for access to markets such as Holland. Likewise, Suriname interests can access via northern Brazil. He added that the partnership should be based on cooperation, rather than competition given that the markets are “so small”. This would create a competitive edge against many other countries.

Growing economy

The Minister also highlighted the fact that Guyana was moving towards a knowledge-based econo-

my – one that was innovative, proactive, and positive. There has also been much interest in the country’s education sector. He pointed out that over the next three years, three new medical universities would be established. In addition, there has been a growing interest in biodiversity.

Ali noted that the size of the country’s economy has increased by over 25 per cent to $650 billion, attracting more than US$629 million in Foreign Direct Investment. He also said that credit must be given to the Private Sector, as it too has grown, increasing by 41.5 per cent to $190.5 per cent. Total deposits in the commercial banks have grown by 22.1 per cent to $334.6 billion.

Contributing factors to investments include adequate and expanding infrastructure, cost and availability of finance, and stable macroeconomic fundamentals. General incentives for investors include zero rates on customs duties and consumption tax on most plant machinery and equipment, as well as raw materials and packaging materials, and unlimited carryover of

losses from previous years. Despite all these successes, the Minister added, there were challenges which included Guyanese minibus operators taking passengers all the way into Suriname and vice-versa. He emphasised that this must be corrected and the markets be respected and any agreement that has been made must be honoured, in order to have a successful partnership. Another problem is the fact that many tourists from Holland visit Guyana through Moleson Creek without re-entry visas. This is very critical because there is no selling of re-entry visas and Guyana’s Suriname Embassy closes before 16:00h on Fridays. To curb this, the Minister proposed that the Embassy extended its hours on Fridays, to facilitate these visas or establish the selling of them at Moleson Creek.

Also in February, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) will be launching a training course in Dutch for the Customs and Immigration Officers working at this port of entry to facilitate a friendly welcome to travellers.

Clean-up campaign in final lap

The Government of Guyana’s Clean Up My Country Programme, which commenced in July 2014 under the auspices of the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, is nearing completion.

Four communities are currently undergoing cleaning in Georgetown, and the Linden region will commence general community clean-up by the end of January. Initially, the Clean Up My Country Programme was scheduled to be wrapped up by December 31, 2014. However, the month of December saw a peak in the number of community cleanups still ongoing and late submissions of proposals for communities to be cleaned.

Under the Georgetown aspect of the Clean Up My Country Programme, 63 communities from Agricola to Atlantic Ville engaged in community clean-up activities; a total of 75 groups signed on to the Capital City clean-up project, which saw 2239 Community Enhancement Workers employed for the massive clean-up programme.

According to Local Government and Regional Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Collin Croal, “due to the size of communities such as Albouystown; Meadow Brook Gardens; Alberttown; North East La Penitence; Kitty; Tucville, (Phase 1 & 2); South and North Cummingsburg, those areas were

divided into phases which resulted in multiple contracts been signed for community clean-up”.

The majority of the communities which submitted proposals for clean-up signed one contract each.

To wrap up the Clean Up My Country Programme, communities in Georgetown – where there is the critical issue of residents dumping garbage in public spaces and in waterways – will be provided with residential garbage receptacles and bags with the aim of encouraging persons to dispose of their garbage in a more responsible manner. In addition, skip metal bins will be distributed to the Georgetown Municipal Markets to assist with the maintenance of healthy sanitation and to encourage proper garbage disposal.

Under the regional aspect, Regions Two to Six, and Nine already benefited from the Regional Clean Up Programme which gave residents the opportunity to get rid of their bulk waste. Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) , particularly Linden, will experience similar benefits from the community clean-up and sanitation improvement programme by the end of January. Community clean-up activities for Region One (Barima-Waini) – Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, and Mathews Ridge and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) specifically Mahdia are being finalised.

To assist in the Ministry’s Regional Solid Waste Programme, Regions One, Five, and Six benefited from the construction of access roads while Region Nine will benefit from construction of a fence around the landfill site, which has been awarded through the Regional

Tender Board. Moreover, 45 tractors and trailers will be handed over to various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to aid in community maintenance work and maintaining the aesthetics of public spaces across the regions.

NDCs.

Metal bins will be distributed to specific locations within the NDCs in an effort to address the issue of indiscriminate dumping of waste. In 2014, 11 standard fogging machines were handed over

Mini excavators will be handed over to the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) of Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine, and 10 with the expectation that they will be deployed within the regions wherever the need arose, with a priority being use by their respective

to each RDC and the Georgetown Municipality to aid in their fogging programme to eradicate mosquito-borne diseases. According to Croal, “the tender and procurement process is completed, and full delivery of all items is expected in January”.

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali

Sanitation workers determined not to leave any debris behind during the cleanup exercise

Workers moving waste during the clean-up exercise

Brazil outraged by Indonesia drug trafficking execution

Brazil says it is “outraged” by the execution of one of its citizens in Indonesia for drug trafficking.

Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira, 53, was arrested in 2003 after Police at Jakarta airport found 13.4 kilograms of cocaine hidden in his hang glider.

Brazil says he was the first Brazilian national to be executed abroad and has warned it will damage relations.

Five other convicts from Indonesia, Malawi, Nigeria, Vietnam and the Netherlands, were executed on Sunday.

Convicted of drugs charges, they faced a firing squad in Central Java province shortly after midnight local time.

Five were executed on the island of Nusa Kambangan and the other one, a Vietnamese woman, was executed in the small central Javanese town of Boyolali.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said in a statement that she was “outraged and dismayed”.

TT: Former Life Sport Director attacks

Govt online

Aformer Life Sport Director, Ruth Marchan has now taken to making a stream of serious allegations against the Government online and in a letter to Jack Warner. Marchan disappeared last June, going to a ‘safe house’ provided by the former National Security Minister and Independent Liberal Party leader.

Weeks later, she allegedly fled the country amid threats on her life. She remained under the radar for the better part of seven months, but resurfaced on social media sites in the first week of the new year making incriminating comments about the Government, the unsolved assassination of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal, and the TT$34 million paid to a single contractor under the now defunct Life Sport programme.

Marchan also emailed

Warner last week from her hiding place to warn of an underworld plot to assassinate him. Warner, in a brief interview with the Sunday Guardian, confirmed that he had received the email from Marchan and that he was convinced it was her and not some electronic ploy.

“She has pleaded with me for assistance both in terms of additional security and finance. I did this for her before and I am prepared to do so again because of what she is going through is wrong,” Warner said.

Marchan’s letter to Warner, which was sent from her new email address on January 10, asks for the assistance, lists details of Seetahal’s murder plot, and alleges one very tech-savvy former Life Sport contractor was retained to conduct electronic spying and set up foreign accounts for some clients. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

“Relations between the two countries have been affected,” said Rousseff. “The Brazilian ambassador to Jakarta has been recalled for consultations.”

The Netherlands has also recalled its ambassa -

dor, after Foreign Minister Bert Koenders called the execution of Dutch citizen Ang Kiem Soe, 52, “an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity”.

Indonesia has some of the world’s toughest drug laws. The country resumed executions in 2013 after an unofficial four-year moratorium.

The country’s Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said “hopefully, this will have a deterrent effect”.

President Joko Widodo has said that he will show no mercy towards drug criminals because they have ruined the lives of so many.

Rousseff had made a plea for clemency on Friday, but it was rejected by Widodo. (Excerpt from BBC News)

St Vincent’s geothermal project gets US$15M loan

St Vincent and the Grenadines has been granted a loan of US$15 million to help fund the development of a 10 to 15 megawatt geothermal project, expected to come on stream by 2018.

The funds are part of US$57 million in concessional loans for five renewable energy projects in developing countries financed under the second cycle of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).

The loans, announced on Sunday during IRENA’s Fifth Assembly, will also go to projects in Cuba, Argentina, Iran, and Mauritania.

“The geothermal project in St Vincent and the Grenadines will connect to the energy grid to pro -

vide a consistent power source for the entire country and will influence the deployment of additional geothermal projects in the Caribbean,” IRENA said.

“The implications are massive and game changing. It is a word that the Prime Minister (of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves) uses, and it is a word that you also heard the Director General of IRENA [Adnan Z Amin] use,” Foreign Affairs Minister Camillo Gonsalves told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) after the announcement.

He noted that US$15 million is the most that IRENA-ADFD lends for a single project, and this is the second time in its two cycles that it has awarded such an amount. (Excerpt from CMC)

US-Cuba thaw: Congressional delegation arrives in Havana

An American Congressional delegation has arrived in Havana in the first such visit since the United States and Cuba agreed to restore ties severed in 1961.

The Democrat politicians plan to meet Cuban officials and civilian leaders to discuss practical measures required for the normalisation of relations.

The thaw in relations was announced on December 17 by President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro.

Earlier this week, Cuba completed the release of 53 political prisoners.

The measure was agreed as part of the agreement.

“We have all been to Cuba before, and we strongly support the presi-

dent’s new direction for our policy towards Cuba,” said Senator Patrick

and

fect on Friday, also as part of the historic deal.

Americans will be able to take home up alcohol and tobacco from Cuba up to the value of $100 (£66).

US credit and debit cards can be used there and there will be no more limits on how much money US citizens can spend in Cuba each day.

While ordinary tourism is still banned, the new regulations will allow US citizens to travel to Cuba for any of a dozen specific reasons without first obtaining a special licence from the Government.

Although the latest moves put a large dent in the US trade embargo against the island’s communist government, only Congress can lift it completely. (Excerpt from BBC News)

St Lucia: Police receive “unreserved” apology following corruption accusations in Gobat murder

The investigation into the murder of the St Lucia-born British hotelier Oliver Gobat in April last year is creating a furore in St Lucia with his family offering “a full and unreserved” apology to the Police for statements alleging corruption in the ongoing inquiry.

“The Gobat family would like to offer a full and unreserved apology to the Royal St Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), to the Commissioner and officers working on the Oliver Gobat murder case, for the comments made in the recent article in the Daily Mail Online,” said a statement released by the family.

“Up to this point, we have been working well with the RSLPF and we have every confidence that the officers involved in the investigation will solve this

dreadful crime,” it added.

Police Commissioner Vernon Francois on Friday demanded an apology from the family after reviewing an article captioned “Death in Paradise: Parents of millionaire hotelier found ‘executed’ in his burned out Range Rover fear corrupt St Lucia Police were in on murder mystery” appearing on the Mail Online website on Thursday.

“The St Lucia Police Force calls upon the Gobat family to provide evidence of the probability of Police corruption in this matter.

“Alternatively, they should publicly retract their allegations and proffer an apology to the Royal St Lucia Police Force,” the Police statement noted. Francois said “our investigators have diligently investigated this matter and continue to pursue all possible leads”. (Excerpt from CMC)

Bahamas shark attack victim faces further surgery for lifethreatening injuries

When Texas resident Lacy Webb Martin flew to the Bahamas for a New Year snorkelling vacation with her husband and parents, little did she know that she’d be returning home by air ambulance with lifethreatening injuries.

Martin, 34, was flown to South Florida after a shark, estimated to be about 10-feet-long and believed to be a tiger shark, attacked her in the water off Elbow Cay.

According to the victim’s husband Britt Martin, who saw the full extent of her injuries when she was back on board the boat, the shark bit off part of the right side of his wife’s body.

“I was looking, and just a huge piece of her was missing, and so I grabbed a towel, I just started wrapping it around her, trying to stop the bleeding,” Martin said at a news conference.

The badly injured woman was rushed to the airport, flown to Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, and taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, where doctors have since performed at least two surgeries, one of which included the removal of a shark tooth from her body.

Martin still faces three to five additional operations over the next several weeks before she can return home to Dallas.

While doctors said her prognosis was good, they indicated that she will have some lasting physical damage.

“You have to see some of the pictures of her wounds to really appreciate the size of this shark,” said Dr Andrew Rosenthal of Memorial Regional Hospital. “I mean, the mouth bite. I have a feeling that the shark could have swallowed her whole.”

(Excerpt from caribbean360)

Marco Moreira was sentenced to death by an Indonesian court in 2004 for drug trafficking offences

Lacy Webb Martin

Leahy.

New travel

trade rules between the US and Cuba came into ef-

The Congressional delegation is being led by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy

Mali declared free of Ebola

Mali’s Government and the United Nations have declared the West African nation free of Ebola following a 42-day period without a new case of the deadly virus.

“I declare on this day, January 18, 2015, the end of the end of the Ebola epidemic in Mali,” Ousmane Koné said in a statement in which he thanked the country’s health workers and inter-

national partners for their work to halt the outbreak.

The country “had come out” of the epidemic, confirmed Ibrahima Soce Fall, the head of the Malian office of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER).

Countries must report no new cases for 42 days –two incubation periods of 21 days – to be declared Ebolafree.

Mali recorded seven deaths caused by the Ebola outbreak that began just over a year ago

According to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, the worst epidemic of the viral haemorrhagic fever on record has killed more than 8400 people, mostly in neighbouring Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

At least 21,296 people have so far been infected with the virus, the WHO has said.

Mali’s last infected patient recovered and left hospital early last month. At one point, health officials had been monitoring more than 300 contact cases.

Mali became the sixth West African country to record a case of Ebola when a two-year-old girl from Guinea died in October. It was close to being declared Ebola free in November before a second wave of infections. (Al Jazeera)

Ukrainian troops retake most of Donetsk airport from rebels

Ukrainian troops recaptured almost all the territory of Donetsk airport in eastern Ukraine they had lost to separatists in recent weeks, as thousands gathered in Kiev for a state-sponsored peace march on Sunday.

The offensive brought fighting close to the industrial city of Donetsk, centre of a pro-Russian rebellion, while shelling intensified in other parts of the region known as “Donbass”.

With attempts to restart peace talks stalled, pro-Russian rebels have stepped up attacks in the past week and casualties have mounted,

including 13 civilians killed in an attack on a passenger bus, which Kiev blamed on the separatists.

Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the army’s operation had returned battle lines near the airport to the previous status quo and thus not violated the 12-point peace plan agreed with Russia and separatist leaders last September in Minsk.

“We succeeded in almost completely cleansing the territory of the airport, which belongs to the territory of Ukrainian forces as marked by military separation lines,” he said.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was concerned by what he called an escalation by Ukrainian forces that did not contribute to peace efforts.

He later said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had rejected a peace plan contained in a letter Russian President Vladimir Putin sent him on Thursday.

“In recent days, Russia has consistently undertaken efforts as an intermediary in regulating the conflict,” Peskov said, according to the ITAR TASS news agency. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Around the world

Pope Francis in Manila: 6 million attend outdoor Mass

Pope Francis has celebrated an outdoor Mass in front of unprecedented crowds in the Philippine capital Manila on Sunday.

Six million people attended the ceremony or lined the Papal route to Rizal Park, city officials estimated.

That would be a record for a papal event. About five million welcomed Pope John Paul II in Manila in 1995.

The Vatican said Pope Francis had dedicated the service in part to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the country in 2013.

The Mass was the Pope’s final full day in the Philippines, where there are 80 million Catholics, concluding his six-day tour of Asia.

Pope Francis arrived in a “popemobile” based on the design of the local minibuses, known as jeepneys. Crowds sang and cheered as the Pope stopped at various points to greet worshippers.

Some people had camped outside the park overnight to be the first ones admitted when the gates opened early on Sunday morning.

“It’s such deep joy – so much hope for our country –

we really need his message – we need transformation among us and that is what he told us,” one of the worshippers, Chad Soniko, told the BBC, adding and wiping away tears: “Really, really, really touched.”

Thirteen-year-old John Paul Jones said: “I saw God in his eyes.”

Before the final Mass, the Pope held morning meetings with religious leaders and young people at the University of Santo Tomas which is the biggest Catholic university in Asia. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Libyan Government army declares ceasefire

Libya’s internationally recognised Government has declared a ceasefire, with United Nationsbrokered peace talks set to resume in Geneva next week.

Sunday’s announcement by the Tobruk-based Government, operating out if the east of the country, came two days after rival factions agreed to a truce.

“We declare a ceasefire from midnight (22:00 GMT) Sunday,” the Army said on Sunday, adding that it would

Shots fired outside US Vice President’s home

M ultiple gunshots have been fired from a vehicle near the home of US Vice President Joe Biden in the US state of Delaware, the US Secret Service has said. Biden and his wife were not at home at the time of the shooting on Saturday night and no injuries caused by the incident were reported. His home in the city of Wilmington is several hundred metres from the main road where the shots rang out. Authorities were searching outside the Biden residence and nearby houses to deter-

mine if any rounds hit anything.

US Secret Service

Spokesman Robert Hoback said the shots were fired around 020:25h on a public road

flee the scene.

About 30 minutes later, an individual in a vehicle tried to pass a county police officer securing the outer perimeter of the area. That person was arrested for resisting arrest and was scheduled to be questioned regarding the shooting incident.

Local police chief Jacob Andrews said it appears the man was not involved in the shooting.

Young Cho, who lives two houses up from the Bidens, said that he heard four gunshots just before 20:30h on Saturday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

continue to pursue “terrorists”.

Operating out of the north west of the country, in Tripoli, the rival self-declared Parliament known as the General National Congress (GNC), which was reinstalled by faction Fajr Libya (Fajr Dawn), added a clause to their truce saying on Sunday they would not attend the talks unless they are held in Libya.

The GNC said, however, that they were willing to ne-

gotiate.

Omar Hmeidan, Spokesperson for the GNC, said: “Talks must be in Ghat, not in Geneva.” Abduqader Hawaili, another GNC member, said 100 of the 110 members attending Sunday’s session of the GNC had voted in favour of the proposal.

The opposing factions have been meeting in Switzerland in what has been touted as a last chance for peace in the country. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Palestinians throw eggs at Canadian Minister

Palestinian protesters have thrown eggs at Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird as he was visiting the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Baird was not hit, though some eggs struck his motorcade.

Canada is considered one of Israel’s closest allies. It voted against the Palestinians’ successful UN bid to become a non-member state and has opposed their recent move to join the International Criminal Court.

Baird was in Ramallah to meet Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki, during a five-day trip to the region. His visit came a day after the ICC said it was opening a “preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine”.

Baird said he and Malki had held “cordial and constructive” talks that included “candid and frank exchanges on areas where we differ in opinion”.

“I asked that the Minister strongly reconsider the consequences of moving forward with any action that may be counterproductive to a negotiated solution with the state of Israel.”

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, who did not meet Baird, issued a statement expressing his anger at Canada’s backing for Israel.

“We regret the Canadian Government’s decision to stand on the wrong side of history by blindly supporting the Israeli occupation and its apartheid policies,” he said.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Braving the rain, and holding statuettes of the Child Jesus, they turned out in force to attend the Mass

China has dispatched a medical team to help Liberia combat its Ebola outbreak [AFP]

US Vice President Joe Biden planned to speak today at an Organisation of Minority Women’s event in Wilmington (AP)

PUBLIC OPINION

POPULI I SAY...

When should the President announce a date for elections?

Kevin Raye – Self Employed

“Well, it should be like any time before now to February, before Mashramani probably, because that will be the best time to announce it. Basically as soon as possible. I don’t think Mashramani plans will be ruined, because people need to know now, as soon as possible so they can be prepared. No one likes to be in the dark, especially [for] something this important.”

Christopher Hing –Gafoors employee

“As soon as possible. I think it’s a waste of time. I don’t know why he prolonging it. Mostly, people wouldn’t be awaiting something that supposed to happen. Everybody excited for election but it’s when? That’s the question everybody wants to be answered.”

Alyta Allen – Student

“I think, let’s say maybe August. I think August should be the date for elections, but when he announces it, it’s up to him. But you know, people will want to know as soon as possible. But what’s important is when elections will be and it shouldn’t be when it will cause too many complications.”

Utilities relocation a concern for both ECD and EBD road projects

The Ministry of Public Works has identified a number of issues affecting the fourlane upgrade, to the East Coast Demerara Public Road.

The list includes shortage of supply of materials, such as stones and cement; delays in the relocation of utilities and property or encumbrances on the road reserves; and poor management by the contracting firms. Addressing the ministry’s 2014 performance review, at the Ministry of Public Works, Work Services Group (WSG) Coordinator, Geoffrey Vaughn noted that the project, which is in Phase One (preparatory work), has still progressed significantly, with a total of $2,139,712,667 already expended. The preparatory work focuses on the widening of the concrete drains, road embankments and revetments, before the upgrading of the road from two to four lanes.

To date, work has been completed on 78 percent of the concrete drains. Vaughn explained that out of a contract total of 10,280 concrete drains, 8,015 have been completed. Meanwhile, 99 percent of the road embankment has been completed. Out of a contract total of 10,630 drains, 10,565 have been completed, and

the revetment is 100 percent completed (the contract total being 350).

The four-lane upgrade to the East Coast Demerara Public Road-Phase One’s preparatory work is divided into seven lots, from Montrose to Good Hope. Vaughn explained that the ministry’s projection for 2015 includes the four-lane widening from Better Hope to Annandale (7,400m of road improvement and 14,800m of drains) and twolane upgrade from Annandale to Belfield (9,598m of road improvement and 19,196m of drains).

Meanwhile, with regards to the expansion of the East Bank Demerara Public Road, (Providence to Diamond), the three lots to date are 56, 90 and 65 percent completed respectively. Lot One caters for a length of 2.65km of roads; Lot two, 1.55 km; and Lot Three, 1.20km. Vaughn listed the issues affecting the project as shortage of material, delays in the relocation of utilities, procurement of material, poor management by the contracting firm, cash flow, down time of equipment, shortage of human resources, poor planning and construction methodology.

Lorex Pellew – Soldier

“Well, I think sometime in April because April is when everybody will be out. Well, no, I think the date should be in April, so whenever he announce it, it should be soon. But I think elections should be in April, because it’s holiday and everybody will be out and they will get to vote and such.”

Troy Smart – Mason

“As soon as possible, so people will know how they stand and how to prepare, so they could start assessing things, you know. The earlier the better. You need to know how you gonna start budgeting yourself; you will have to save lil’ money because elections will be just around the corner. Plus, the other parties need to know soon, so they could prepare for campaigning and so.”

Brittany Isaacs –Qualfon Employee

“As soon as possible, I guess, I don’t have a direct date, but once the elections are done, I think everything will be better. But if I am to say, I think it should be before Easter, sometime during the Mash period. I don’t have a direct reason, but basically as soon as possible.”

Pauline Joseph – Mother

“It should have been announced ever since, ever since he prorogued the Parliament, because everybody just hoping for a date: they on the edge of their seat waiting for a date to be announced. It’s something important and I don’t think we should be waiting this long.”

“Whenever he

It’s up to him, he’s the President. Well, they have to decide that, we can’t say. We’re not in a hurry for that.

Donnette DaSilva

“Well, I think they should announce it like in July, like when school close so they won’t disturb the schoolchildren, because you know how times does be around elections and I don’t think during school time is best to make such an announcement.”

Key meeting to advance Aid for Trade initiative set for this week

International trade experts will meet this week to advance a ground-breaking Aid for Trade initiative aimed at boosting economic growth and reducing poverty in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

The Global Network meeting in Mauritius will strengthen the implementation of the innovative Hubs and Spokes II Programme, which was launched in 2012 and has been recognised for its effectiveness in enhancing the trade capacity of ACP states.

The project, which is sponsored by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the European Union (EU), the Organisation Internationale de la Fracophonie (OIF) and the ACP Group Secretariat, provides support and technical assistance through the deployment of experienced Regional Trade Advisors (Hubs) and National Trade Advisors (Spokes) to organisations and government ministries.

Andie Fong Toy, Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, described how the project had been “instrumental in supporting the Pacific ACP region’s engagement in Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations”.

The technical support provided by the programme has also

contributed to a Micronesian Trade Treaty in the Pacific. Representatives from businesses, academia, civil society and key international bodies, including the World Trade Organisation, will attend the conference on 19 – 23 January to assess its impact and decide on the 2015 agenda.

Deodat Maharaj, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, has stressed the importance of helping ACP countries improve their international trading links, through the forging of strategic partnerships and the strengthening of regional networks. He said: “In addition to €12 million from the European Union, the Commonwealth and OIF have contributed €2.5 million and €1.2 million respectively to the new Hubs and Spokes programme.

“This investment is evidence of our commitment to ensure that ACP countries are able to manoeuvre through persisting global financial challenges, by creating sound and effective trade policies and reaping the full benefits of regional and international trade opportunities.” He noted that the support to ACP countries was further boosted by the Secretariat’s vibrant in-house trade work programme. Mr Maharaj added: “We thank the Government of

Mauritius for hosting this important meeting, which will ensure our strategy for 2015 is strong, effective and tailored to regional priorities.”

The Hubs and Spokes II programme builds on the successes of the previous €29 million Hubs and Spokes project, which ran from 2004 to 2012 and supported ACP countries through international trade negotiations and with the implementation of trade agreements. During the programme, more than 15,000 individuals and groups from the public and nongovernment sectors were trained on trade policy issues. An independent evaluation of the project by Dr Stephen Woolcock of the London School of Economics and Political Science, concluded it “had made a real contribution to the negotiating capacity of the regions and countries where Hubs & Spokes have been located.”

Mr Maharaj said the Hubs and Spokes II Programme will help the Commonwealth realise its ambition of fostering economic development, given the absolute importance of trade in stimulating and generating sustained development. He added that trade on equal terms is “good for growth, good for jobs and good for the Commonwealth.”

Dhanmatie Ramrup – Housewife

ready.

AFC tries to sell PNC/APNU coalition to Berbicians

...Nagamootoo unilaterally selected as Presidential Candidate

By Andrew CArmiChAel

The Alliance For Change (AFC) on Saturday evening tried to sell the idea of a coalition with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to Berbicians, although a top member of that party from Berbice already said the proposal would not work and the party was merely on a “talent scouting” exercise with the main Opposition.

The AFC also unveiled Moses Nagamootoo as its Presidential Candidate for the upcoming elections, confirming that the former Whim, Corentyne, Berbice resident was handpicked by the party’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, months ago. This was done even though at the AFC’s convention last month, he had promised that a special convention would be arranged to vote on the AFC’s Presidential Candidate.

The announcement was made during a public meeting hosted by the party in Corriverton where Vice Chairman of the AFC, Nigel Hughes introduced Nagamootoo as the Presidential Candidate. Ramjattan had also handpicked Hughes as Nagamootoo’s running mate. Observers say that the move to select Nagamootoo without any vote by the party members is a slap in the face of democracy, which that party has so often trumpeted.

The AFC had avoided electing its Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates at its recent National Convention, after persistent calls by party members, several of whom had indicated their interest in the post. For several weeks, the General Secretary of the minority parliamentary Opposition party, David Patterson, and Member of

Parliament Trevor Williams had expressed interest in the position after Ramjattan had broken with the party’s norms and rules and publicly declared that Moses was “his man”. He had also announced then that Hughes would be Nagamootoo’s running mate.

The unilateral decision by Ramjattan had drawn sharp criticism from the rank and file of the party, but these were hushed up as the party desperately tried to present a united front to the public.

Promise not kept Meanwhile, the announcement of Nagamootoo as the Presidential Candidate also represents a departure from what the party had promised when it avoided the election of a candidate at the convention. Patterson himself had told this newspaper that the Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates would be elected at a special conference.

The party’s conference saw the re-election of Ramjattan as Leader; Nigel Hughes

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) said that the Administration’s branding of outgoing British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre as a “pariah” was not surprising, and again called on President Donald Ramotar to announce the date for General Elections.

Deputy Speaker Basil Williams, at an APNU press conference last Friday, said that the upbraiding of Ayre was part of the Government’s strategy, pointing out that it was something that has been done before.

“High Commissioner Ayre is terribly dishonourable, knowingly misrepresenting prorogation in Guyana as a crime,” Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said on Thursday. “He needs to be accorded the status of pariah, and his departure is eagerly awaited by the Government.”

Dr Luncheon added that the threat to withdraw aid was “dastardly”.

“Is that strange or unusual,” Williams queried when questioned by journalists on Friday.

According to Williams, APNU is pushing for the President to heed the calls of both UK and US envoys and name a date for the hosting of General and Regional Elections.

“What they try to do is to attack whenever these things happen, they tend to go on the defensive, but you know no one is fooled by it…and I don’t know why they want to adopt such an approach when they accept hundreds of millions from these countries,” Williams pointed out.

He underscored that APNU was prepared for elections, given that it would have begun its campaign. Similarly, the Alliance For Change (AFC) in a statement said it appreciated the steps taken by the High Commissioner to remind the Government and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration of it democratic obligations.

as Chairman, Nagamootoo Vice Chairman, and Dominic Gaskin Treasurer.

The AFC had claimed that the date of its conference, which was previously scheduled for October 26, was dependent on the passage of the No-Confidence Motion that the party brought against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Donald Ramotar-led Administration. But ostensibly, on account of the non-passage of the NoConfidence Motion, the party suddenly abandoned the late October date and rescheduled its biennial congress. It was only until after the prorogation of Parliament that the December 6 date was set for the conference.

Small crowd

Meanwhile, Nagamootoo took the podium to applause from the less than 200 attendees some of whom arrived on buses hired by the AFC to ferry persons from neighbouring villages.

Nagamootoo said the only way the current administration would be removed from power at the upcoming elections was if a “united force” was formed as was done in Sri Lanka recently. “The only way to bring change is for all the forces to come together from all the political parties… and that is the only solution I have today. A poll that was conducted by the PPP/C shows that if elections are held tomorrow and you had a free and fair process of selection, the PPP/C will get 35 percentages out of the votes only,” Nagamootoo told the gathering.

The ruling party’s support, he said, has fallen from 57 per cent in 1992, 53 per cent in 1997, 48 per cent in 2011 and now only 35 per cent of the electorate want them in

power. “And, therefore, any political campaign must be that only a united Opposition will be able to defeat the current Government.”

Hughes, in his address, said the Alliance planned to change the current Constitution should it be given a chance in government. According to the party’s Chairman, the current Constitution of Guyana allows for the President to have executive power which the party believes is discriminating against the ordinary citizens.

Touching on the issue of crime, Hughes said that the Guyana Police Force was not doing enough to protect citizens. “Under a new AFC Constitution, the Minister will be responsible to the National Assembly and if the National Assembly says we have no confidence in you, you are going home.”

Addressing the issue of elections, Hughes told the disappointingly small crowd that they should not vote along racial lines when they go to the polls. “Apart from the aspects of the power of the President, we want to change the system where the head of the party decides who sits in Parliament. You have to have your local representative here in Corriverton sitting in Parliament, you have to vote for him or her directly and if he does not deliver to you, you vote him out,” Hughes added.

Among those who spoke were columnist Freddie Kissoon, who told Berbicians that he would not be part of any political party; and AFC Executive Member Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who asked party supporters to stand up for what is right.

Newly-inaugurated member Daizal Samad, who had said that coalition talks with the People’s National Congress/A Partnership for National Unity (PNC/APNU) were a “sham” also spoke at the meeting.

“Instead of crucifying the messenger, the PPP Government should pay attention to the intent of the High Commissioner’s statement,” AFC Member of Parliament Trevor Williams said.

A release from the Foreign Affairs Ministry made it clear that Guyana was not in breach of the Commonwealth Charter. According to the release dated January 15, after contact was made with the Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma, it was confirmed that there were no “Commonwealth discussion on Guyana’s state of affairs”.

The Secretary General also confirmed that there has been no discussion about the situation in Guyana with the British Government or its High Commissioner in Georgetown or by any other Commonwealth body for that matter. The release said that as such, there has been no conclusion by the Commonwealth that Guyana was in breach of the Commonwealth Charter.

Gratitude

Gratitude means being thankful for what we have. It means being thankful and counting our blessings whether that is just a simple pleasure or basically accept everything that we receive.

Having said that, there are a few things we can do to embrace gratitude. Instead of criticising other people, it is best show gratitude, because if we constantly criticize other people, our relationship with them will surely weaken.

Narine Dat Sookram

I don’t know of too many people who like to be criticized all the time, but it’s important to be able to talk about our challenges. Whenever we feel to criticize other people, it’s probably a good idea to think it through well and take the time to calm ourselves down and instead think about something positive about that person and take the opportunity to share that gratitude right away, because it’s a good healing process.

A simple act of such can easily make any relationship becomes stronger and that person can in return learn from our own example as well.

It is also important to look at challenges as an opportunity to change things around. Many of us are accustom see difficult situation as something bad, because for some people it is just another reason to complain about life again.

However, we have to keep in mind that complaining won’t take us anywhere.

Rather than spending our time to complain, I encourage every to learn to be grateful for even the challenges in life, because as mention it’s an opportunity for all of us to grow and become better individuals.

These kinds of attitude will sure to transform anyone from being a complainer into a much more positive person.

I have seen many people complain about their own children rather than being grateful to have them. It is not uncommon for people get frustrated with children, because they are not getting it that children will do things different than us as adults.

And it’s too sad that adult do continue the same routine over and over. As a parent with a toddler myself I understand and to me these kinds of behavior are just bad parenthood.

There are certainly a lot better ways to do things from a parent view. For example thinking of reasons to be grateful to have children and better yet share these reasons to the children will sure to bring better outcome.

Another thing I would suggest is that we if know that our children are not doing the right thing, then it’s probably a good idea to take some responsibility to teach them that ‘right thing’, rather than criticizing them.

Gratitude is important because it’s a different way to look at the bigger picture. For example if we really stop and think about it, then we will probably focus on what’s really matter in life like love, health and just being thankful that we have the opportunity to experience life itself.

It’s an opportunity for us to allow ourselves to see what we have in life and be thankful for it every day.

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

The United States Government unveiled a new plan last Friday to fight drug trafficking in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands amid concerns that the flow of cocaine from the Caribbean to the U.S. has more than doubled in the past three years.

It is the first federal plan of its kind that outlines the steps federal authorities are taking and will take to crack down on drug trafficking specifically in both U.S. territories. It outlines six strategies, including sharing more intelligence, collaborating with local law enforcement and reducing drugrelated violent crimes in the two territories.

Some 100 tons (91 metric tons) of cocaine passed through the Caribbean in 2013, far above the 42 tons (38 metric tons) of 2011, the plan said. It was the highest documented cocaine flow since 2003, according to the 2014 Caribbean

Border Counternarcotics

Strategy. “We were not paying the attention we should have been paying,” U.S. Rep. Jose Serrano of New York told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “I kept saying, we have another border... it’s our territories.”

Serrano, along with Puerto Rico’s non-voting congressional delegate, Pedro Pierluisi, pushed for a bill that became law last year requiring the creation of the federal plan that will be updated every two years. “We have always been an afterthought when we shouldn’t be,” Pierluisi said, adding that at least 90 percent of the drugs that enter Puerto Rico end up in the U.S.

Officials attributed the increase in cocaine trafficking partly to tougher surveillance along the U.S.-Mexico border, a decrease in the use of planes following tighter air control in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, and the success of go-

fast boats from South America to the Caribbean. Officials found that Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are the main distributors of cocaine in the region, with suspects relying on go-fast boats, ferries, yachts and even cruise ships to transport drugs. Financial crimes also have increased in the Caribbean as a result of the spike in drug flow, authorities said. Cash seizures at Puerto Rico’s main international airport are at an all-time high, according to the plan. The Drug Enforcement Administration seized nearly $2.9 million in fiscal year 2013, compared with $1.5 million the previous year. It is unclear how much cash the DEA had seized all across the U.S. territory in recent years. Drugs are blamed for more than 80 percent of killings in Puerto Rico, where about 300 of the 333 public housing projects are controlled by traffickers, officials said. (Associated Press)

AFC Presidential Candidate Moses Nagamootoo

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Don’t get discouraged. Finding what you want takes time. Someone you count on will let you down. Reconnect with an old friend who at one time meant a lot to you.

Embrace an unexpected change. If you want a project to be done right, you will have to do or oversee everything yourself. Placing your trust in the wrong people will have negative repercussions.

Don’t allow anyone to goad you into doing something underhanded. Emotional issues will escalate. Use your special flair to make your mark on a new project.

You will find yourself in a vulnerable position if you have neglected to take care of a financial situation. Take care of business before you move on to more pleasurable pursuits.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

A romantic opportunity is apparent. Steer clear of anyone with a jealous streak. Damaging rumors may circulate from an unhappy or jealous rival. Play fair and avoid unsavory repercussions.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

AQUARIUS

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

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Love is on the rise. Your helpful nature will solve a puzzle for someone close to you. A minor incident will introduce you to an intriguing personality.

You are in a high-energy cycle. The people you live with will not see things your way. To avoid discord, you should travel, get out with friends or attend a cultural or sporting event.

Be true to your beliefs. A casual friend will be looking for a more meaningful relationship. Honestly address your feelings to avoid a costly emotional mistake.

If you are confused about the status of a partnership, discuss your concerns. Once you know where you stand, it will be easier to determine what to do next.

Money is heading your way. Pick up the pace so that you can stay on top of a rapidly changing situation. Don’t miss out on a chance to participate in a new project.

Stick to the rules. Trying to keep a private situation secret will cause controversy. Listen and observe what others are doing instead of taking the helm. Show how much you care. Young children should not be left out of your plans. Activities that will include all of your friends and loved ones will bring you closer together.

GEMINI

PeanutS

Calvin and HobbeS

dilbert

arCHie

World Cup Flashback… ‘Six star’ Roach

Kemar Roach claimed 6 for 27 against the Netherlands in a Group B game in a fiery spell of fast bowling that also included a late hattrick.

Roach’s performance on that night in New Delhi were the best individual bowling figures in 2011.

The West Indies, after a seven-wicket defeat in the hands of South Africa in its opening match, was desperate to resurrect its World Cup campaign. And the Netherlands bore the brunt of the backlash at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, the same venue where the West Indies had been humiliated by South Africa four days earlier.

Sent in to bat by Peter Borren, the Netherlands captain, West Indies got off to a great start courtesy a hundred-run opening partnership between Dwayne Smith and Chris Gayle (80). Once Smith (53) departed in the 17th over, Dwayne Bravo (30), Ramnaresh Sarwan (49) and Kieron Pollard (60) all chipped in with quick-fire knocks to help the West Indies post 330 for 8 in its 50 overs.

The Moment

Sulieman Benn, the leftarm spinner, started proceedings in the Dutch innings with a tidy first over,

giving away just a run. But the drama started to unfold in the over that followed.

Roach found his first victim in Wesley Barresi, who edged the fourth delivery of the over – a length ball – to first slip, where Gayle lunged to his right to complete a brilliant catch.

Eight overs later, Roach went past Bas Zuiderent’s defence with a seriously quick delivery pitched on good length. Sandwiched between this and Roach’s first scalp were two wickets by Benn, and the Netherlands found itself tottering at 35 for 4.

Then, once Benn and Darren Sammy removed two more Dutch batsmen, the tail was exposed.

Sammy, with the intention of finishing the match as quickly as possible, tossed the ball to Roach, and he responded by bowling Mudassar Bukhari, the No. 8 batsman, in the 30th over.

Then, in the 32nd over of the innings, Roach was irrepressible. He trapped Pieter Seelaar lbw first ball and then sent Bernard Loots back the same way. This brought Berand Westdijk to the crease, and he was surrounded by fielders waiting to pounce on any possible chance that could make Roach become the sixth to grab a hat-trick

in World Cup history. But Roach did it without anybody’s help, splattering the batsman’s stumps to register the first hat-trick in the 2011 edition.

“I am very proud of myself, the hat-trick is most memorable. When I took my fifth wicket, the captain (Darren Sammy) told me that I have a chance to take a hat-trick. I just concentrated on the job. Dwayne Bravo inspired me in the morning with his talk. He told me to enjoy myself and be confident of what you do. I am picked for a job and I am not under any pressure. My goal is bowl fast.”

– Roach at the post-match press conference

What happened next Roach was named Man of the Match for his heroics, and West Indies went on to beat Bangladesh and Ireland in its next two matches to manage a berth in the quarterfinal.

“It was not a fast pitch but Kemar bowled really well. He is a quick bowler and he wiped out the tail in no time.” Peter Borren at the post-match press conference

But a ten-wicket clobbering at the hands of Pakistan in the first knockout match at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka put an end to its World Cup campaign. (Windies Cricket)

Leewards crumble to Jamaica’s spin duo

The spin tandem of captain Nikita Miller and Damion Jacobs was too hot to handle for the Leeward Islands batting order to handle in a nine-wicket win for Jamaica at Queen’s Park Oval on Friday. Leewards won the toss and elected to bat which drew no complaints from Miller, who stated at the toss he would have definitely bowled first had the coin fell his way.

Miller backed up his words by teaming with Jacobs to wreck the Leewards lineup. The Jamaica captain started the slide by drawing open-

er Austin Richards out of his crease for an ill-fated slog only to be stumped before the legspin of Jacobs created a bigger hole in the middle order. Jacobs had Devon Thomas caught behind attempting a cut and in his next over pinned Steve Liburd in front after the batsman misjudged the line of a full delivery.

Jahmar Hamilton topedged a sweep to square leg off Miller in the 18th and three balls later Jacobs capped the slide by tempting Rahkeem Cornwall into a failed attempt to clear mid off. Leewards had gone from 43 for 1 to 56 for

SCOREBOARD

Leeward Islands innings (50 overs maximum) MV Hodge c Campbell

lbw b Jacobs 7

DC Thomas* c †H Miller

b Jacobs 5

O Peters c Green b Lambert 20

JN Hamilton† c Mindley

b NO Miller 4

RRS Cornwall c Bernard

b Jacobs 0

HR Walsh b Bernard 14

JS Louis b Bernard 8

GC Tonge b Bernard 16

A Martin not out 0

Extras: (lb 2, w 11) 13

Total: (all out; 40.1 overs) 115

Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Hodge, 4.5 ov), 2-43 (Richards, 9.2 ov), 3-50 (Thomas, 12.1 ov), 4-51 (Liburd, 14.2 ov), 5-56 (Hamilton, 17.5 ov), 6-56 (Cornwall, 18.2 ov), 7-81 (Peters, 29.1 ov), 8-95 (Louis,

de Villiers’ record breaking ton...

The left-handed Rossouw, 25, was the first to his hundred with a single to deep mid-wicket off the last ball of the 34th over bowled by seamer Andre Russell, also raising the 200-run mark.

Amla followed him three balls later in the next over from Dwayne Smith, carving the slow medium bowler to backward point for four.

Rossouw was really raising the tempo of the innings when he punched a Jerome Taylor half volley to Sulieman Benn at mid-off in the 39th.

Any hopes of a further breakthrough were quickly erased as de Villiers set about the Windies attack with relish, posting 192 for the second wicket with Amla.

De Villiers smashed Russell for two four and two sixes in the 40th over which

cost 22 runs and ripped into Holder in seamer’s eighth, the 42nd of the innings, which cost 24 runs and included three successive sixes and a four.

The over lifted de Villiers to his half-century off 16 balls and pushed South Africa beyond the 300-run mark.

Remarkably, he needed only a mere 15 balls more to complete his hundred, the landmark coming in Holder’s ninth over which cost 23 runs, as the Proteas plundered an incredible 163 runs from the last ten overs.

Smith and Gayle then started brightly, gathering 36 for the first wicket at close to the required run rate.

Gayle seemed to be warming up when he lifted Philander for four to long on and then cleared the ropes in the same area off successive deliveries

in the fourth over.

However, he holed out in the deep off Morkel in the next over and the Windies were further set back when left-hander Leon Johnson struggled 15 balls over one in adding 27 with Smith, before falling lbw to Philander in the tenth over.

West Indies then flourished through two half-century stands. Firstly, Smith put on 59 for the third wicket with Samuels who faced 48 balls and struck three fours and a six.

Smith, who consumed 65 balls and hammered nine fours and a six, played freely before finding JP Duminy running around from long off, as he tried to clear the boundary with seamer Farhaan Behardien in the 22nd over.

Three overs later, Samuels drove Philander for

Behardien at cover to take a leaping catch, paving the way for an enterprising 83run stand between Ramdin and Carter.

Ramdin fashioned only his sixth one-day half-century off 55 balls, cracking four fours and a six while Carter, in only his second ODI, played bravely with three fours and a six in a 39-ball knock.

They were separated when Carter tried to pull one from fast bowler Dale Steyn and was caught at mid-on by substitute Wayne Parnell in the 37th over to leave the Windies on 231 for five.

And any hopes of a miracle disappeared two balls later in the next over when Russell found the lap of deep midwicket with leg-spinner Imran Tahir’s long hop, to depart without scoring of the first ball he faced.

(Windies Cricket)

32.2 ov), 9-108 (Walsh, 38.4 ov), 10-115 (Tonge, 40.1 ov)

Bowling: MJ Mindley

5-1-16-1, DC Green 5-1-28-0, NO Miller 10-3-13-2, DK Jacobs 10-0-24-3, TL Lambert 5-022-1, DE Bernard 5.1-110-3

Jamaica innings (target: 116 runs from 50 overs)

NE Bonner not out 52

JD Campbell c †Hamilton

b Cornwall 26

TL Lambert not out 30

Extras: (b 4, w 3, nb 4) 11

Total: (1 wicket; 32.3 overs) 119

Did not bat:NO Miller*, DE Bernard, H Miller†, J Blackwood, DK Jacobs, MJ Mindley, AM McCarthy, DC Green

Fall of wickets 1-57 (Campbell, 19.3 ov)

Bowling: GC Tonge 4-1-10-0, A Martin 7-0-32-0, O Peters 1-0-5-0, RRS Cornwall 9.33-18-1, HR Walsh 10-133-0, JS Louis 1-0-17-0

6. From there, medium pacer Dave Bernard took care of the tail by clattering the stumps three times on his way to 3 for 10 off 5.1 overs as Leewards were bowled out for 115 in 40.1 overs.

John Campbell and Nkrumah Bonner reached 40 for 0 in the 13 overs Jamaica batted before lunch was taken but struggled to regain momentum after the break in play. Campbell eventually was removed by Cornwall for 26 after a mistimed sweep popped up to the wicketkeeper.

Bonner teamed with Lambert to take Jamaica the rest of the way in an unbroken 62-run stand. Bonner ended the 31st over on 48 with the scores level and Lambert generously batted out a maiden in the 32nd to ensure Bonner had an opportunity to bring up his half-century and finish the match in the same shot, which finally happened with a slog to square leg three balls into the 33rd over.

In a match reduced to 21 overs at Shaw Park in Scarborough, Trinidad & Tobago clinched a five-wicket win over West Indies U-19. More than 80% of West Indies U-19’s runs came in the 79-run opening partnership between captain Shimron Hetmyer and Tagenarine Chanderpaul after the junior side was sent in to bat. Hetmyer made 50 and Chanderpaul 31, the only two players to reach double-figures. Ravi Rampaul claimed 3 for 11 in four overs while Sunil Narine claimed 2 for 13 in five to hold West Indies U-19 to 97 for 7. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

South Africa

H Amla not out 153

R Rossouw c Benn b Taylor 128

AB de Villiers*+ c Carter b Russell 149

D Miller not out 0

Total: for 2 wickets (50 Overs) 439

Extras: (lb 4, w 4, nb 1) 9

Did not Bat: F du Plessis, JP Duminy, F Behardien, V Philander, D Steyn, M Morkel, Imran Tahir.

Fall of Wickets: 1-247 (Rossouw, 38.3 ov), 2-439 (de Villiers, 49.4 ov).

West Indies Bowling: J Taylor 10-0-95-1, J Holder 9-091-0, S Benn 10-0-49-0, A Russell 10-0-78-1, D Sammy 4-0-26-0, M Samuels 3-028-0, D Smith 4-0-68-0.

West Indies (Target; 440) D Smith c Duminy b Behardien 64

C Gayle c Behardien b Morkel 19

L Johnson LBW Philander 1 M Samuels c Behardien b Philander 40 D Ramdin+ c du Plessis b Morkel 57 J Carter c sub (WD Parnell) b Steyn 40 A Russell c du Plessis b Imran Tahir

Sammy not out

J Holder* not out

Total: for 7 wickets (50 Overs)

Extras: (b 4, lb 8, w 10, nb 2)

Did not Bat: J Taylor, S Benn. Fall of Wickets: 1-36 (Gayle,

Pink ball undergoes broadcast trial

The seemingly inexorable push towards playing a day-night Test this year continued at the MCG on Sunday, when Channel Nine and Cricket Australia conducted a broadcast trial with pink balls. Australia appear almost certain to host the inaugural day-night Test against New Zealand in November, with Adelaide Oval and Bellerive Oval in Hobart the most likely venues.

A day-night round of Sheffield Shield matches was played in November with pink Kookaburra balls,

over balls were used in the different light conditions in an attempt to replicate the progression of a day-night Test.

“We have conducted several broadcast trials in recent years which identified the pink ball as the most suitable for use in a day-night Test,” James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia CEO said.

“However as we move closer to scheduling a match, we felt this was a good opportunity to take advantage of Nine’s full-camera set up and help it adequately prepare for a potential day-

following on from a similar round near the end of last summer. Cricket Australia is confident the pink ball will be able to stand up to the rigours of Test cricket, but Sunday’s trial in Melbourne was intended to assess how the ball shows up on television.

Channel Nine used their full setup of cameras in place for the AustraliaIndia one-day international and club cricketers took part in the pink-ball trial before play, during the innings break and after the end of the match. New balls, 40-over balls and 80-

night Test later this year.”

The ICC approved daynight Test cricket in 2012, leaving the finer points up to the participating boards.

Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket last year discussed the prospect of playing a day-night Test during New Zealand’s tour of Australia in the 201516 season, and Cricket Australia has also reportedly raised the possibility with West Indies, who are also touring next summer.

The traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests in Melbourne and Sydney will remain unaffected and

Perth is also considered an unsuitable venue due to its three-hour time difference from the east coast during summer. There were some issues with visibility of the pink ball at the Gabba during last season’s Sheffield Shield trial, leaving Adelaide and Hobart as the most suitable venues.

Cricket Australia is keen to bring Test cricket into the prime-time television schedule on the east coast, which already occurs during WACA Tests and brings a spike in ratings. However, Sutherland has often stressed that he did not consider day-night Test cricket as simply a moneymaking venture, but rather a way to revitalise the Test game around the world.

“The option to timeshift Test cricket into the evening will only strengthen the position and possibilities for Test cricket in many parts of the world,” he said. “There are many Test matches played during non-holiday periods when adults are at work and kids are at school. That’s not an ideal way to promote the highest form of the game. In fact there isn’t a major team sport in the world that schedules the majority of its premium content during the working week.

“We’re not talking about playing the Boxing Day or New Year’s Test at night. The summer holiday period in Australia really lends itself to Test cricket, but at other times of the year it can be difficult for fans to attend or watch Test matches, be it here or in other parts of the world. That’s really at the heart of the issue. The challenge is to try to make Test cricket more accessible for fans around the world.”

(Cricinfo)

Arsenal’s win dampens Man City title hopes

Santi Cazorla scored a goal and created another as Arsenal ended Manchester City’s 12-match unbeaten league run and damaged their title hopes.

Spain playmaker Cazorla converted a first-half penalty after Vincent Kompany fouled Nacho Monreal.

Arsenal added a second after the break when Cazorla’s free-kick picked out Olivier Giroud and the France striker headed in from close range.

The result left City five points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

City and Arsenal played out a thrilling 2-2 draw when they met at Emirates Stadium in September but this contest was not as freeflowing as that encounter.

Beforehand the focus had been the influence of Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero for Arsenal and City respectively.

Aguero had only returned from a month out with a knee ligament injury as a substitute in City’s 1-1 draw with Everton a week ago, and the Argentina international was relatively subdued by his standards.

Chile forward Sanchez,

who has scored 12 goals for Arsene Wenger’s side this season, was well shackled by the City defence.

Instead it was Cazorla, 30, who was the game’s outstanding attacking player and it was fitting that he was to have such an influential role with both goals.

The pressure was on City to beat the Gunners after leaders Chelsea beat Swansea 5-0 in such imperious fashion at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

But without Yaya Toure, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, they lacked a player to orchestrate and dictate the game in midfield.

Arsenal went close when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain escaped down the right flank and picked out Giroud but his header was deflected wide by Kompany.

The chance served notice of Arsenal’s intent to hit City on the counter-attack and shortly afterwards they won a penalty.

Monreal played a onetwo with Giroud and the Spain left-back went down after his run was blocked by Kompany, who looked rusty in his first match since 13

December having recovered from a hamstring injury.

Cazorla sent the spotkick low to Joe Hart’s left and even though the City goalkeeper dived the correct way he was unable to get a hand on it.

Arsenal packed men behind the ball in the remainder of the first half, which stifled City’s creativity with Aguero frequently outnumbered and rarely having the chance to run at players.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini replaced James Milner with Stevan Jovetic at half-time and his side had more impetus immediately after the interval with two up front.

An angled shot from Jesus Navas was beaten away by Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina, and the Spain winger teased a cross into the box on the hour mark but Laurent Koscielny made a crucial interception.

Despite City’s pressure, it was Wenger’s side who scored next when Cazorla lifted a free-kick into the penalty area and Giroud escaped his marker and took advantage of a disorganised City defence to head past Hart. (BBC Sport)

Murray ready for Australian Open despite tough draw

Andy Murray will begin his Australian Open campaign in confident mood on Monday despite a draw he says is “challenging”.

The Briton, seeded sixth, will play Indian qualifier Yuki Bhambri in his opening match at around 02:00 GMT.

Should he progress, Murray could find Grigor Dimitrov, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal standing between him and a place in the final.

“It’s obviously a very difficult draw,” the three-time Melbourne finalist said.

“If you have to play all of those players, it’s going to be extremely difficult to come through that. I’m aware of that. That’s fine.

“But often in these

events there are upsets. It will be interesting to see how it goes but definitely it’s very challenging.”

Murray can at least take comfort from an encouraging start to the season, with an exhibition win over Rafael

Nadal followed by three victories at the Hopman Cup in Perth.

Coach Amelie Mauresmo and fitness trainer Matt Little took charge of the Scot’s winter training block in Miami, following the de-

parture of Dani Vallverdu and Jez Green, and Murray is relishing the new set-up.

“It was a slightly different set-up, with different people working on each part of my training, and it was good,” Murray said.

“It was fresh, new ideas, and we worked on a lot of things. We had a good time which makes the work a bit easier. I feel good.”

He added: “I’ve read a lot about how you should divide your time between working on strengths and weaknesses.

“When I move well I tend to play well. I worked a lot on my speed and I think it’s showed in the first few matches of the year.

“That’s one of the things I’ve been most happy with so far.”

Murray will be among the earlier starters to this year’s tournament as he is scheduled second on Margaret Court Arena, at around 1pm local time.

He came through three rounds to qualify for his first senior Grand Slam, having lost in the first round of qualifying for the past three years.

Bhambri was heading to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday to watch India play Australia, before taking centre stage himself on Monday.

“I think it’s a great experience,” he said. “It’s going to be fun, I’ve got absolutely nothing to lose, so I’m going to try and give it my best.

“I’ve got to serve great and try and stay with him.

Hopefully he’s a bit rusty, a bit nervous, and I can use that to my advantage.” (BBC Sport)

Bhambri, 22, is a former world junior number one and Australian Open boys’ champion, ranked 314 in the world.

The pink ball

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has now scored six Premier League goals in this campaign

Andy Murray

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Starc, Finch set up second Australia win

On a day when Australia and India each had a dominant opener - Rohit Sharma made 138 and Aaron Finch 96 - the difference between the sides was Mitchell Starc. For the second consecutive game, Starc broke through in the first over of the match. For the second straight time he was Man of the Match in an Australian win. In Sydney he took four wickets against England; here it was six against India.

Starc's 6 for 43 was the second-best return ever in an ODI in Australia, and his efforts cannot be underestimated. Both of Australia's wins to begin this tri-series have occurred in good conditions for batting. At the MCG, India chose to bat first and Rohit's 138 could have been the catalyst for a huge total, but Starc ensured that Suresh Raina's 51 was the only other contribution of significance.

India finished on 8 for 267, leaving Australia to chase exactly the amount they successfully pursued against South Africa at the same ground in November. That win came with exactly six balls to spare, and James Faulkner at the crease. Remarkably, this victory also came with exactly six balls to spare and Faulkner at the crease. His finishing ability was again on display as he and Brad Haddin took 16 off the 49th over.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the bowler, and had just delivered a wicket-maiden. But in the 49th, Haddin struck one boundary and Faulkner two, including the winning runs, a sweep past fine leg for four. Australia's four-wicket win was complete. India's problem had been a lack of incision from their bowlers earlier, allowing Finch to compile half-century stands with David Warner and Shane Watson, and a 101-run partnership with Steven Smith.

The wickets for India

came sporadically. Warner skied a catch off Umesh Yadav for 24, Watson entertained with 41 from 39 balls before he was bowled trying to sweep Akshar Patel, and Smith struck a slower bouncer from Mohammed Shami to midwicket on 47. There was no sense of momentum from India in the field, and Australia easily milked runs through the middle of the chase.

Finch was not required to play the ultra-aggressive game he sometimes does, striking his 96 from 127 deliveries with five fours and two sixes. He did not always get the ball out of the middle of the bat, but worked it around adequately enough to cause India problems. He edged behind off Yadav with 49 still required off 59 balls, but it would have taken a collapse for Australia to muff their lines.

There nearly was one, as George Bailey was stumped off R Ashwin for 5 and Glenn Maxwell caught and bowled for 20 in Bhuvneshwar's wicket maiden. But Faulkner and Haddin were good enough to get Australia home from a position of 20 runs needed from 17 balls.

The day had started per-

33-0, GJ Maxwell 2-0-14-0

Australia innings (target:

268 runs from 50 overs)

AJ Finch c †Dhoni b Yadav 96

DA Warner c Raina b Yadav 24

SR Watson b Patel 41

SPD Smith c Ashwin

b Mohammed Shami 47

GJ Maxwell c & b Kumar 20

GJ Bailey* c †Dhoni b Ashwin 5

BJ Haddin† not out 13

JP Faulkner not out 9

Extras: (lb 3, w 11) 14

Total: (6 wickets; 49 overs) 269

Did not bat: MA Starc, PJ Cummins, GS Sandhu

2-33 (Rahane, 7.2 ov), 3-59 (Kohli, 12.5 ov), 4-185 (Raina, 34.6 ov), 5-237 (Dhoni, 44.2 ov), 6-237 (Patel, 44.4 ov), 7-262 (Sharma, 48.4 ov), 8-262 (Kumar, 48.5 ov)

Bowling: MA Starc 10-2-436, PJ Cummins 10-0-52-0, GS Sandhu 10-0-58-1, JP Faulkner 10-0-63-1, SR Watson 8-0-

Fall of wickets 1-51 (Warner, 9.1 ov), 2-115 (Watson, 22.4 ov), 3-216 (Smith, 39.4 ov), 4-219 (Finch, 40.1 ov), 5-230 (Bailey, 43.2 ov), 6-248 (Maxwell, 46.3 ov)

Bowling: B Kumar 9.5-044-1, UT Yadav 10-1-55-2, Mohammed Shami 8.1-0-44-1, AR Patel 10-0-45-1, R Ashwin 9-0-54-1, SK Raina 2-0-24-0

fectly for Australia after MS Dhoni chose to bat. Starc had broken through twice in the first over of the match against England in Sydney on Friday and here he again struck in the opening over, albeit only once, when Shikhar Dhawan edged to slip. The total became 2 for 33 when debutant Gurinder Sandhu's extra bounce had Ajinkya Rahane caught behind.

Virat Kohli was unable to immediately transfer his Test form to the ODI series and top-edged a catch off Faulkner, which left India at 3 for 59. But Rohit and Raina then steadied the innings with a 126-run partnership that carried India out of danger and into a position from which they could have pressed on to a hefty total. Then came Starc's second wind.

He had Raina caught at mid-on for 51 off 63 deliveries, Dhoni chopped on for 19 and two balls later Patel was lbw for a duck. Starc completed his five-for by picking up Rohit, caught off a full toss searching for some quick runs in the dying overs, and it was the fourth time Starc had taken an ODI five-for.

Only Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath have done that more times for Australia, even though Starc has played only 30 games.

By bowling Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a golden duck next ball, Starc also became the sixth Australian to take at least six wickets in an ODI, and the first to do it in Australia. His red-ball work over the past year might have been mixed, but with the white ball Starc is approaching unplayable levels. Only Ajit Agarkar has ended an ODI in Australia with better figures than Starc, and then by only one run. By comparison, Pat Cummins, Faulkner and Sandhu struggled to contain India in quite the same way. Sandhu, who became Australia's 206th ODI cricketer, bowled with tight lines early but later in the innings was wayward. Rohit enjoyed batting against Sandhu, Faulkner and Cummins, and continued his habit of taking the Australians apart in limited-overs cricket. (Cricinfo)

Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-

Mitchell Starc strikes for Australia

We’ve got a problem!

– Windies hobbled by failure to keep momentum

New One-Day International captain Jason Holder says the West Indies urgently needs to address a problem of retaining momentum as they prepare to battle South Africa in the second ODI here today.

West Indies relinquished favourable positions on several occasions to lose the rain-hit opening ODI against South Africa by 61 runs under the Duckworth/ Lewis Method Friday.

Windies had the Proteas reeling at 16 for two in the fifth over only for A B de Villiers to revive the innings by anchoring two excellent stands, and on the chase the Caribbean men faltered after an enterprising 51-run opening stand.

“I was disappointed.

We lost wickets in clusters, which didn’t help the cause,” declared Holder following his first outing as leader of the team.

“We were in pretty decent positions, but every time we got ourselves a little bit of momentum we just fell away with the wicket.”

Holder suggested that the West Indies would attempt to address the problem as part of their preparations for the second ODI at New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

“So I think it is a serious area we need to address,” said the young captain, who was credited for effectively rotating his bowlers causing South Africa to lose five wickets for 61 runs in the first ODI.

“Once we address that,

we would be in a much better position for the second One Day,” he said.

West Indies are likely to replace Leon Johnson with Lendl Simmons, who was not included in the side for the opening fixture.

Johnson was drafted in to bat at number three in Durban, but was out for a duck.

Holder’s men are expected to rely on flamboyant opener Chris Gayle to give them momentum after he cut loose again with 41 off 24 balls in the first ODI.

But the captain, while justifying the reliance on Gayle, says he is confident that other batsmen are capable of stepping up.

“We have quite capable batsmen. Marlon Samuels has done well for us over the past two years. We have got Dwayne Smith, who has been in rich form coming off the last tour of India,” Holder said.

“So we have got guys who are capable of scoring runs, but at this present time Chris seems to be in a very good form so Chris has to be depended on in terms of taking up the mantle.”

West Indies cannot boast an impressive record at Johannesburg, winning two out of the eight matches played on the ground.

Their last victory at Wanderers was in 1993 when they defeated Pakistan by five wickets.

The weather predictions indicate a sunny day at Wanderers today, a contrast from Durban, where play was disturbed by rain. (Jamaica Observer)

Williams keen on making up for 2014

Top seeds Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are determined to make up for early exits last year when the Australian Open starts next week.

Number one seed Williams, 33, lost to Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic last year and struggled at the Grand Slams until she won an 18th major title at the US Open.

She looked unconvincing at the recent Hopman Cup but is focused on a sixth Australian title.

“I’ve been going for number six for a number of years now,” said Williams.

“It would be really special for me. I want it I think more than anyone else here but that doesn’t mean I’m going to get it, so I’ll have to fight hard.”

Williams has won the Australian Open five times but not since 2010, and has suffered with injuries on more than one occasion in the opening Slam of the season.

“I remember last year I felt really good, was playing well,” she said.

“I was feeling amazing on the court. This year I feel a little off. But I feel off in every Grand Slam - except for last year. That didn’t work out for me, so maybe this is different.”

Second seed Sharapova, 27, won her only Australian title in 2008 and last year went out to Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova in the last 16.

However, the Russian won her fifth major title at

Just not cricket, Chris

Chris Gayle’s open denunciation of the omission of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the World Cup squad last week was the latest in an extensive list of such forthright comments he has directed against the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), its chief executive, its selectors and its head coach.

He saw the selection as “victimisation”, a reference to Bravo’s role as captain and chief spokesman for the players on the abandoned tour of India in October and Pollard’s perceived connivance. He called the selection “ridiculous”, a word he used four times. Without the two, the team would not be at its strongest, he added.

Such opinions are widely held and expressed, by a prime minister and a cabinet minister of two separate Caricom states and, in print in this column among many others as well as on radio and television programmes by a media and a public just as disgruntled by the exclusion of the two.

The significant difference is that those who share them are, unlike Gayle, not members of a team that, whatever its deficiencies, faces a tough ride in the game’s most prestigious, globally followed tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Sir Viv Richards has recognised the probable effect. “It is plain to see from Chris Gayle’s reaction in South Africa that players are disgruntled and I am unsure how unified they are,” the celebrated icon of the glory years of West Indies cricket, wrote in his World Cup column on the ICC website last week. As a result, he was concerned that the dressing room “will not be a comfortable place to be in.”

Gayle made his position unambiguously clear after his first serious run-in with the WICB two weeks after his first appointment as captain for the ODIs in England seven and a half years ago.

Once he had castigated the administration on his website for failing to get the ODI players in England in time for the warm-up matches, requiring the hurried call-up of stand-in West Indians from the leagues, WICB president Ken Gordon demanded an apology. Gayle refused, stating he had nothing to apologise for.

and nothing more was heard of the matter.

There have been other contentious issues throughout Gayle’s career as the most consistently controversial and, at the same time, most universally popular of West Indies players. Given his present status as the most experienced and solitary star attraction in the team, he may recognise that consequences for him to stand up and deal with as a man are no longer likely.

During the 2008 home series against Australia, Gayle publicly complained that there were “a lot of things happening” with selection of the ODI team that he didn’t know about.

“The majority of the time we discuss about selection and sometimes I get something totally different,” he said at the time.

ground. Ironically, Clive Lloyd, now the head of the selection panel that dropped Bravo and Pollard, was then a WICB director. In his judgment, it would have been “the intelligent thing to do” for Gayle to comply to get the issue resolved.

Lloyd added a sentence then that he could make now: “We need senior players to be in the set up to drive the progress forward and any team would love to entertain Gayle in their set up but under the right circumstances.”

It eventually took 18 months before Gayle was cleared for selection.

A joint statement announcing the settlement read: “Both sides admit that their respective shortcomings contributed to the debilitating impasse and its

It led to him sending his letter of resignation as captain to the WICB; it was subsequently withdrawn after persuasion from Hunte.

Gayle’s most intense clash with the WICB followed head coach Ottis Gibson’s comments on the senior players at the 2011 World Cup when they were knocked out at the quarterfinal stage.

“When we left home we said our success would be built around our senior players performing and they haven’t,” Gibson charged. “This is not criticism, it is fact. The senior players have not performed. When the going got tough, we didn’t stand up to it.”

prolonged nature…(and) agree that there are lessons to be learnt from this episode by all concerned, which ought to redound to the benefit of West Indies cricket.” The latest conflict contradicts such intentions.

The examples of Richards and the current Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy are worth noting.

While Richards acknowledged that any limited-overs’ team would be “happy to have two players of the calibre of Bravo and Pollard”, he added that “at this stage, we also must respect the people who select the team and it is not for me to say whether this decision is right or wrong.”

the French Open, ended the year as the world number two and began 2015 with victory at the Brisbane International.

“I thought I did many things well but I’m not going into next week throwing flowers at myself or anything,” said Sharapova.

“I’m starting from scratch. I’m hungry. I’m determined to do better. I lost in the fourth round here.

That’s not a result I want. I want to do much better. I’m here to try to win the title.”

(BBC Sport)

“I always stand up for what I believe in and when I’m wrong, I’m wrong and when I’m right, I’m right,” he told the media. “If there are any consequences you have to stand up and deal with it as a man. I’m always ready for anything.”

Just in case there was any lingering doubt over his relationships with the WICB, he added: “There is no love lost between myself and the board.”

Gordon was replaced as president by Julian Hunte shortly after Gayle’s rejection of the call for an apology

It didn’t need an understanding of semantics to know who Gibson was referring to. They were substantiated when Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul were dropped for the home ODIs against Pakistan a month later.

Gayle responded by labeling Gibson “a loser”, accusing him of undermining players’ confidence. The upshot was that the WICB told him he would have to retract such statements before he could be once more selected on the West Indies team. Predictably, Gayle stood his

After declining to be drawn into the debate “because that has never been me”, Sammy took a similar line.

“We would have liked to have a lot of players in our one day team but I am not in charge of who selects teams,” he said. “I know with all the controversy, guys will bounce back. That’s just cricket.”

What is just not cricket is for a senior member, however strong and justified his feelings, to openly and harshly criticise the selection of the team he represents. (Trinidad Express)

Jason Holder

Chris Gayle

Serena Williams

GTTA to host 2 major tourneys in February Singh not seeking reelection as GABA boss

The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) will continue its 2015 season with two events in the month of February.

After starting the year on a high note with a one-day season opener on January 11 that saw young Shemar Britton emerging as victor of the tournament, the GTTA will go straight into its qualifying tournaments.

The GTTA will host its cadet and junior championships from February 1 at the Cliff Anderson Sports

Hall (CASH) from 09:00h.

The tournament will be used as the benchmark for selection to national squads especially for the upcoming

Caribbean cadet and junior championships slated for later this year.

In addition, the tournament will be divided into two parts as the players will have to battle through a group stage before the top two in each group advance to the knockout stages.

The GTTA is inviting all cadets and juniors to sign up for the tournament, espe-

cially since the closing deadline for all registration is already set for January 30.

Meanwhile, the GTTA, in conjunction with the National Sports Commission (NSC), will also be serving off its annual Mashramani tournament from February 13 at the CASH.

Allenby survives kidnapping

Australian golfer

Robert Allenby says he was kidnapped from a bar in Hawaii, robbed and beaten, before being dumped in a park.

Mr Allenby, 43, says he may have been drugged before he was taken from the bar on Friday. He was helped back to his hotel by a retired military man.

“I didn’t think I was going to survive this one,” he told the AAP news agency.

The golfer had been planning to fly out of Hawaii after missing the cut at the US PGA Tour’s Sony Open.

Local television said the incident was being investigated as second-degree robbery.

“I was separated from my friend in the bar after we had paid the tab at 22:48 (08:48 GMT) and he went to

the bathroom and next thing you know I’m being dumped in a park miles away,” he said.

He said a homeless woman spotted him being dumped from a car, after being robbed of his phone and wallet.

The military veteran paid for a taxi for him back to the hotel, he said.

Pictures shown on the Golf Channel showed Mr Allenby with cuts on his nose and forehead and bruising around his eye.

His caddie Mick Middlemo told the channel Mr Allenby woke up groggy with no initial recollection of what happened to him.

Allenby is ranked 271 in the world and has won four titles on the elite PGA [Professional Golfers’ Association] Tour. (BBC Sport)

The competition will be held across two weekends, with the mini cadets and the juniors competitions running from February 13 to15 while the seniors’ will run from February 21 to 22.

The closing date for registration will be on February 11. The Director of Sports, Neil Kumar is expected to head the opening ceremony of the tournament on February 14 from 10:00h.

Some of the top players expected to participate in both tournaments are Chelsea Edghill, Shemar Britton, Joel Alleyne, Edinho Lewis, Paul Meusa, and Kristi Lopes and many more of Guyana’s budding stars. (Treiston Joseph)

– elections set for January 25 at Duke Lodge

The Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) will host its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections on January 25 at Duke Lodge from 12:00h.

A new President of the Association is assured as current President Michael Singh will not be seeking reelection.

“I just wanted to do one term and then allow someone else to have a chance,” Singh told Guyana Times Sport in an invited comment.

Singh has been President

of the Association for two successful years, more times than not utilising his own resources to ensure that basketball was played at both the city and national level.

The new President will have large shoes to fill, in the wake of Singh’s absence from the Association.

However, Singh has confirmed that he will continue to serve as the Vice President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) in the hope of bettering the sport at the national level. (Treiston Joseph)

John Lewis returns as FACC President

John Lewis returned unopposed as the President of the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) when the Club held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

First Vice President Darrel Toolsie has been replaced by Marceline Bacchus, while Randolph Roberts is now the Club’s Second Vice President.

Ganesh Roberts was retained as the Club’s Third Vice President.

Margaret Kuma was re-elected Secretary and Randolph Roberts was appointed as the new Treasurer.

Cyclist Neil Reece continues to be the Club Team’s Captain while Wasim Hassnu was replaced by Syborne Fernandez as the Vice Captain of the team.

Five committee members were also named at the meeting: Rawl Felix, Fizal Ally, Lloyd Joseph, Pearl Arokium, and Darrel

Ronda Russell was named honorary member while Errol Alphonso continues to be the Club’s patron.

Lewis congratulated all of the cyclists who participated in the Club’s activities last year while wishing them well for 2015. In 2014, the FACC held a total of 23 events, with six of them being national races. The others were only for Berbice cyclists. (Andrew Carmichael)

Messi scores 30th career hat-trick in Barca win

Lionel Messi scored the 30th hat-trick of his Barcelona career as his side beat Deportivo La Coruna to move one point behind leaders Real Madrid.

The Argentina forward, who missed out on winning the Ballon d’Or to Real’s Cristiano Ronaldo on Monday, opened the scoring with a looping header.

He netted again when he collected Neymar’s pass and dinked the ball over home goalkeeper Fabricio Agosto.

Messi grabbed his third with a low shot, before an own goal from Sidnei.

Ex-Barcelona winger Isaac Cuenca had a chance for Deportivo but shot over when the score was 2-0, although the hosts were comprehensively outclassed.

It was a dominant performance from Luis Enrique’s Barca, who had 68% possession and 14 attempts at goal with the only surprise being that they scored only four.

The future of Messi, La Liga’s all-time record goalscorer, has been questioned recently after he said “I don’t know where I’ll be next year”, although

Enrique then insisted he would not sell the 27-yearold.

Messi has now scored six of his side’s last eight league goals and Barcelona’s victory was their 14th in 19 league matches this season. He could have opened the scoring early on, but his low effort from 12 yards was scooped on to the crossbar by Agosto.

Nevertheless, Messi got his first a minute later, heading in Ivan Rakitic’s fine cross, before it became 2-0 when Messi showed great control and composure to lift the ball over the advancing Agosto.

He secured his 22nd La Liga treble - and his 30th in all competitions - when Deportivo lost concentration, enabling Rakitic

to take a short corner to Messi, who sprinted into the penalty area, cut inside on to his left foot and arrowed a shot into the bottom corner. It had been a miserable day for the hosts and it got worse when Alberto Lopo’s clearance bounced off helpless team-mate Sidnei and into his own net for Barcelona’s fourth. (BBC Sport)

Michael Singh

Neil Kumar

Chelsea Edghill

Edinho Lewis

Toolsie.

Lionel Messi scores easily

Robert Allenby

de Villiers’ record breaking ton too good for Windies

AB de Villiers struck the fastest ever one-day hundred and led three other batsmen in triple figures as South Africa inflicted a severe 148-run drubbing on West Indies in the second One-Day International here Sunday.

Opting to bat first, the Proteas ruthlessly pounded the Windies bowling to amass 439 for two off their 50 overs, with opener Hashim Amla (153 not out), captain AB de Villiers (149) and Rilee Roussouw (128) all compiling centuries.

The total was a record for South Africa, narrowly surpassing their 438 against Australia in 2006, and was just four short of the world record of 443 set by Sri Lanka against Holland also nine years ago.

De Villiers grabbed the

opportunity to also rewrite the record books, racing to a phenomenal hundred off a mere 31 deliveries to eclipse the old mark set by New Zealander Corey Anderson who reached his landmark off 36 balls, also against West Indies last year.

Requiring to score at nearly nine and over, West Indies were never really in contention when they chased, especially after big-hitting talisman Chris Gayle fell cheaply for 19 with the score on 36 for one in the fifth over of the innings.

His partner Dwayne Smith top scored with 64, wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin hit 57 while Marlon Samuels and Jonathan Carter both struck 40.

Darren Sammy chipped in with an unbeaten 25 down the order and captain Jason

Holder, 21 not out, with the match long gone.

Seamers Morne Morkel, with two for 43, and Vernon Philander, two for 69, finished with two wickets apiece. Amla and Rossouw took command of the game for South Africa with a record opening stand of 247, as West Indies leaked runs at five an over through the first 20 overs.

The right-handed Amla faced 142 balls and hit 14 fours in compiling his 18th ODI hundred while Rossouw counted 11 fours and two sixes in a 115-ball knock, that brought him his maiden oneday century.

Even then, their stand never hinted at a total beyond 400 as South Africa eased to 142 without loss at the half-way point of the innings.

New training pool to be opened in February

– synthetic track to be commissioned in first quarter of 2015

By Gomatie GanGadin

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has announced that a new 25-meter training pool currently under construction at the National Aquatic Centre is expected to be opened by the end of February.

The Minister made this announcement during an interview on the “Political Scope” programme on the National Communications Network (NCN) on Friday evening.

In addition, Dr Anthony noted that the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry and Government recognised that in order for sports to be developed in Guyana, topclass facilities were a requirement. As such, they were working to ensure that this became a reality.

“Facilities of international standards are important. They are important for our athletes to be able to compete on the international arena and so we have added a new pool, a 25-meter training pool at the Liliendaal facility and very shortly, in another month or

so, we will be opening this pool,” Dr Anthony said.

He also noted that the pool would host an internationally trained swimming coach from Cuba.

According to the Minister, the need for the training pool stemmed from the fact that Guyana’s national swimmers many times despite having the potential to come out on top are unable to compete on the international stage owing to a lack of facilities to prepare them for international competition.

Developing sport facilities

“The Government has been focusing on the development of sport facilities in Guyana. If you are going to swim internationally, you have to meet certain standards and the pools we would have had in Guyana were very short. They were not of the length required by the international associations and organisations.

“We didn’t have a 50 meters pool in Guyana so when our swimmers go out to a competition, they are placed at a disadvantage. They may swim the 25 metres quite

comfortably, but they have difficulty swimming the other 25 and while we have already built a 50 meters pool at Liliendaal, we are putting in a 25 metres training pool for the swimmers. We want to change that. We felt that if we create an environment, create the facilities conducive for sport, we can better our sportsmen and women’s performances,” Dr Anthony said.

Both of the pools will meet international standards as a computerised system will be installed to monitor the chlorine and chemical content of the water to en-

sure that it is always swimmer friendly.

“The pools we are having are computerised. It is computerised so that if the chlorine drops in the pool, it automatically adds chlorine and other things that are needed to keep the water up to standard. We want to ensure that the health and safety of our users are protected,” Minister Anthony pointed out.

Meanwhile, the Minister also added that the athletics track would be opened during the first quarter of this year so that the athletes can begin their training for

all the major games in the year.

He noted that the Ministry and the Government would continue to ensure that all of the facilities here in Guyana are constantly upgraded and kept to international standards, especially in the areas of cricket, tennis, squash, swimming and athletics so that every sportsman and woman can perform at their best and excel when placed on the international stage.

“We have added parking facilities at the National Stadium; we have installed lighting facilities so that we can be given international

matches. We have opened two courts at the Squash Centre on Woolford Avenue; we have upgraded our lawn tennis facilities. We have built an internationally accredited athletic track with a field which can be used for football matches among so

Culture,

and

many other things, so we are working to ensure our facilities are top quality.

“It is costing us substantial amounts of money, but these are investments that would lay the foundations for the development of sports in Guyana and we want to continue to make those investments,” Anthony said

AB de Villiers displayed a full array of shots during his clobbering of the WI bowlers

The National Aquatic Centre

Youth

Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony