Guyana Times Daily - December 22, 2014

Lethem spruced up under “Cleanup Campaign” P8

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2352

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, December 22, 2014

Granger defies WPA Page 3

...on calls for “aggressive” protest

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WHAT'S INSIDE: Robb & King Streets fire…

68-yearold man succumbs

P6

US Customs warns against undeclared bulk cash P7

Counselling P10 Centre commissioned in New Amsterdam

Corentyne robbery draws protest Page 13

...large gang flees with millions

Residents on the Corentyne on Sunday protested what they described as the lackadaisical approach to policing by officers at the Whim Police Station following a robbery in the area

Dynamic Airways Miner stabbed to death in passengers stranded at JFK Mazaruni Page 17

Page 7

US donates communication equipment P16 to GDF No funding for DNA lab in new US$15M IDB loan P17

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NEWS

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monday, DECember 22, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, December 22 from 05:00h -06:30h and on Tuesday, December 23 from 05:00h -06:30h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, December 22 from 16:35h-18:05h and onTuesday, December 23 from 05:05h -06:35h

FERRY SCHEDULE MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2014 Parika Departure - 16:00h and 04:00h Supenaam Departure - 16:00h and 04:00h TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 Parika Departure - 17:00h and 05:00h Supenaam Departure - 17:00h and 05:00h

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thundery showers can be expected in the morning and in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 4.91 and 5.87 metres per second.

High Tide: 04:31h and 16:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.66 metres and 2.82 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:18h and 22:48h reaching minimum heights of 0.55 metre and 0.38 metre respectively. The above-normal high tide advisory is in effect.

Granger defies WPA ...on calls for “aggressive” protest

R

etired Army General and now Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), David Granger continues to defy his main coalition partner’s call for more aggressive protests against the Government over the prorogation of Parliament.

Granger’s stance has virtually confirmed what several analysts have said: extreme divisions continue to eat away at the coalition. It is this scenario that presents the electorate with a skewed view as to the real motives of the two larger groups – APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC).

Since the Parliament was prorogued on November 10, APNU has staged several protests in front of the Office of the President on Vlissengen Road calling for the President to rescind the prorogation proclamation and “restore democracy”.

Granger, in response to questions by reporters on Friday at an APNU Press conference, said that while the Partnership believes in the people’s right to protest, it should not be done in a violent manner or in any way that breaches the peace.

been undertaken by the Partnership over the last weeks. He said “I am in contact with the majority of our supporters; I visit villages every week… I am obedient to the institutions of the party and the Partnership and my supporters are quite satisfied with the line that we have taken.”

Granger maintained that the actions taken have been results-oriented, contending that “if people want disorder, they wouldn’t get it from us”.

He was adamant that APNU

APNU Leader David Granger

According to the Opposition Leader, the protest action taken by the Partnership over the past weeks has been enough and has resulted in the Government returning to the electorate for a new mandate. “We have been very aggressive, we have been on the streets for eight weeks…. if you want disorder, then we are not in the line of creating disorder,” the APNU Leader said.

The former Brigadier contended that his supporters are satisfied by the mild protest actions that have

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WPA co-leader, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

will continue down its current path of resistance against President Donald Ramotar’s prorogation of the National Assembly, with hopes of bringing more pressure to bear on the Administration.

“They will get pressure; they will get aggressive behaviour; they will get decisive action, and we feel that the action that we have taken has been successful,” remarked the APNU Leader.

Momentum lost

However, Granger’s main coalition partner, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) does not believe that the protests have been yielding any results. In fact, the party’s co-leader, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who is Granger’s deputy, said: “Momentum is being lost and reaction to the Government’s

Daily Millions

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derailing of the NoConfidence Motion appears to be protest in slow motion.”

According to the WPA, when it comes to the protests against the prorogation of Parliament, there is need for a game plan to effectively tackle the issue. “What is not emerging is a definitive game plan, a meaningful action plan for implementing decisions relating thereto, and a clear conceptualisation of the end game that signals victory for the people and defeat for the usurpers of power.

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“There is urgent need for the Opposition to communicate to the Guyanese public, an action plan or road map for making the Government so uncomfortable that it would be forced to relent and reconvene Parliament any time soon,” the WPA said.

The statement added that there had been talk of taking the struggle to every city, town and village, but so far agitation has been confined to inner Georgetown.

However, APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon had said that the small crowds at the anti-prorogation protests were deliberate. He said that “from time to time…the attendance goes up or go down”, but insisted this was based on the message that was being sent to the President on the particular occasions.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, december 22, 2014

Views 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

Cuba and the US shift T

here were ecstatic local, regional and international reactions when President Barack Obama announced last week that the US would be resuming diplomatic relations with Cuba, which it had broken in 1961. The elephant in the room, however – the US economic and trade embargo instituted just a year later – was left intact. For the last 23 years, the UN General Assembly had unsuccessfully been voting for the US to end that embargo.

Two months ago, 188 of the193 members of the UN voted for the non-binding resolution, titled “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.” Just as in the previous year, only the US and Israel voted against, while three micro-Pacific Island states abstained. This meant that the US has been – and is – willing to ignore the entreaties of the overwhelming majority of the world’s population – including some of its closest allies, Britain and Canada – to lift its economic strangulation of Cuba.

While the US insists that the Cuban economic travails result from its socialist political system, critics argue that while there may indeed be some merit in that assertion, the US economic blockade has created most of the challenges to the generation of sustainable economic growth. Cuba, after all, lost not only its major markets in 1962 when the embargo was imposed, but also its major source of machinery and technology. The US-made 1950s vintage cars that are still on the roads in Cuba form only the visible tip of an iceberg of industrial technological obsolescence.

The resumption of diplomatic ties is mostly symbolic since the US diplomatic presence in Cuba already outnumbers most other countries’. It is probably a signal of the Obama administration’s possible intention to remove the sanctions, and is acting as a weather vane of what to expect from those that would oppose such a move. While the American President has great leeway in foreign relations, its Congress – which is now controlled by the Republicans – will have to sign off on any further deepening of ties.

From the early reactions, some members of Obama’s Democratic Party are also against the removal of economic sanctions and it is clear that this issue will be a lightning rod during the next presidential elections, scheduled for 2016.

Florida has proven to be a key battleground state in US presidential elections and with its huge anti-Castro immigrant Cuban population, which generally insists that the embargo be retained, it is highly unlikely that any shift in US foreign policy will go beyond the resumption of diplomatic ties.

In the opinion of many observers, the US has been very short-sighted in its Cuba Policy. It is felt that whatever change the US might want to have engendered in Cuba, resumption of full economic relations will be the most effective mechanism to achieve that goal.

That argument is based on the assumption that operating within a free-market driven environment will force changes in the behaviour of the Cuban populace and bureaucrats – it has done so in communist states as diverse as Vietnam and China.

Outsiders might be puzzled at the retention of the US economic blockade of Cuba when it has normalised relations with nations such as Vietnam, which not only has a Communist regime, but actually defeated the US in the field, forcing it into a humiliating evacuation. Part of the reason is historic: few would remember that with Cuba only 90 miles away from the US, at one time there were actually initiatives to make it part of that country.

The Castro regime, on the other hand, has been most magnanimous in not demanding an apology after the US had launched an invasion, hundreds of assassination attempts on Fidel Castro, and dozens of recent attempts at regime change. Guyana and the world can only salute the Cubans.

The Petting Zoo at the Zoological Park had a ‘soft’ opening on Sunday, and many persons took advantage of the opportunity to get close and personal with the animals (Carl Croker photo)

The aim is to reduce electricity losses

Dear Editor, Please allow me to respond to the article entitled, “Opposition urge PM to retract plain stupid statements on electricity theft”, which appeared on December 18.

I was addressing the issue of electricity theft, at the ceremony marking the end of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc’s Transmission Upgrade Programme, in light of my colleague Member of Parliament (MP) – A Partnership for National Unity’s Joseph Harmon’s call of “Find ways to reduce (electricity) tariffs – get off Guyanese backs”, and the ongoing considerations, at GPL Inc, with various multilateral consultants, which could see GPL Inc reaching for technological solutions that could add, eventually, up to US$200 million in investments in our distribution networks and metering (and about 10 per cent in electricity billings) for the most extreme technological solutions to counter what is largely a historical culture of electricity theft.

I am concerned that without the attendant cultural change, those investments would bring us little; with the cultural change, much less would be needed to be invested. But we cannot stand still and do nothing, for we are at a critical point.

We, in Guyana, need to review our views and attitudes toward electricity prices.

We, Guyanese, find it hard to accept that our electricity prices are at par with our circumstances. But do not take my word! Earlier this year, the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) informed us that in Caribbean countries, where electricity-generation

is based on petroleum products, the cost of generation and delivery run between 30 US cents and 40 US cents (G$63 to G$84) per kWh. He called for “bold and brave steps” toward renewable energies – Photo-Voltaic (PV) Solar, Wind, Hydro and Geo-thermal.

And where are we in Guyana? During last week, at a public presentation on a gold mine being built in Guyana, it was disclosed, on enquiry of the officials, that their electricity cost is being put at 33 US cents per kWh. This company would have made use of the best expertise and experience available, and would have considered the potentially lower cost of heavy fuel oil (HFO), and I am also aware that they commissioned two preliminary studies of hydro-power generation at Oko Falls, a few kilometres upstream on the Cuyuni River.

A number of important points should be recognised in this disclosure. Firstly, the gold company – a competent company – has come up with a self-generation solution at 33 US cents per kWh: this would not be an easy number to better.

Secondly, no doubt, they, like all of us, would have been happy to have had a ‘Trinidad situation’ of, say, 5 US cents per kWh for generation, but they are not in Trinidad; they are in Guyana, and they have accepted the 33 US cents per kWh, and are going ahead with their project on that basis.

Of course, they would always be keeping an eye out for, encouraging, and testing any emerging opportunity for, lower costs.

And where are we in GPL Inc.? Taking account of the

different, longer-term mandate of a utility, our new generators have been HFOfuelled, so that, today, GPL Inc’s generation is 85-90 per cent based on the lowercost HFO, giving a comparable all-in generation cost of about 24 US cents (G$50.40) per kWh, compared with 33 US cents (G$69.30).

What I am embarrassed about (in the Guyana circumstance) is not generation, but our losses, up to 45 per cent 10 years ago, and earlier. Reduction seems to have stalled a year ago, at about 30 to 31per cent: about 14 per cent technical, and 16 per cent non-technical.

The costs of generation have to be recovered against billings, so the generation component in billing cost is magnified by the losses to 24 US cents divided by (100 per cent minus 30 per cent) = 34.30 US cents (G$72.00) per kWh. Allowing for, and including, transmission and distribution, as well as commercialisation costs, the average total costs of providing electricity is about G$85 per kWh. And what is GPL Inc’s average charge? G$67.20 per kWh. Government, on the average, by a variety of mechanisms, has been subsidising electricity costs by about 20 per cent. No one is on the back of any Guyanese!

Indeed, Guyanese enjoy an average of 20 per cent ‘ease’.

A network could not run without some technical losses – the not-so-long-term target for GPL Inc is ‘total loss of eight per cent’ – five per cent technical, and three per cent non-technical.

With this target, the generation component in billing would have been 24/0.92

US cents –26.09 US cents, or G$54.78, per kWh, a potential reduction of G$17.22 per kWh, in reducing losses to the respectable target value.

We are known, embarrassingly so, as a country with high electricity losses – 14 per cent technical, 16 per cent non-technical – as stated earlier. I can bear the embarrassment of the high technical losses: it reflects that we have been doing the best we could with the money and other resources that we had.

We have been extending electricity to, say, 100 Guyanese households, with resources which betterheeled utilities would have extended electricity to only 50 customers. To get down to five per cent technical losses, from 14 per cent, we, roughly, have to double up our distribution networks (doubling the number of conductors, or sizes of conductors, and transformers). GPL Inc is getting on with this!

It is the embarrassment of the non-technical losses that I cannot bear. The non-technical losses need, most of all, a ‘culture change’. Barbados boasts a total loss of six per cent to eight per cent, with no more than one per cent to two per cent non-technical.

We should be able to match, and even better, the Bajans. In the course of GPL Inc’s work with multilaterals and consultants, meters and metering systems advocated to be impregnable were implemented, but these have brought little improvements, as ways were found to defeat them; often, it would appear, with the connivance of knowledgeable persons, including past and present GPL Inc employees. continueD on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, december 22, 2014

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A clear case of TT Prime Minister “a uniter” the kettle calling the pot black Dear Editor, I must commend these two gentlemen, Haseef Yusuf and Vishnu Bisram for their unwavering dedication and commitment to what they believe in.

I know Mr Yusuf, who was an outstanding business teacher of Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary School at Port Mourant, Berbice. He has always displayed the courage to stand up for what he believed in.

He has really proven to be the “cat among the pigeons” in the AFC Berbice grouping. He has exposed Ramayyah for the latter’s questionable handling of the party’s finances.

Ramjattan has refused to address this matter. The irony is that this party is accusing the Government of a similar crime. This is a clear case of the kettle telling the pot that the latter has a black bottom.

Mr Yusuf is waging a lone battle to let the AFC Berbice group stop its corruption. I admire your courage, Mr Yusuf. Remember, many Berbicians and, by extension, Guyanese, are with you. Do not give up the fight.

Mr Bisram has also exposed Freddie Kissoon for the hypocrisy that the latter practises. Kissoon accuses the Government of “cussing out” its critics. Well, Kissoon is guilty of doing the same.

He attacks anyone who he perceives to be against him in his vindictive and malicious smear campaign.

Even Annand Persaud had to remind Kissoon that he attacks others and damage their characters yet he jumps to defend his mother.

Recently, the Prime Minister had to remind Kissoon that his attack on Ashni Singh was unwarranted and that Kissoon should retract his statement. Kissoon has not and I doubt he has the decency to

do so. Bisram regularly reminds Kissoon of his need to be respectful to everyone, including his critics.

He (Bisram) also challenges many of the misconceptions and lies that Kissoon peddles on a regular basis. Keep up the good work, Mr Bisram. We, Berbicians (and I am sure many other Guyanese), are with you.

Mr Bisram also informs Guyanese of the many wonderful activities happening in the Guyanese diaspora, especially in New York.

Keep informing us. We appreciate this regular update.

Finally, I must admit that I am disappointed with the recent utterings of Nowrang Persaud who I hold a lot of respect for.

Mr Persaud, in his December 13 letter entitled, “Guyana at the Crossroads” asked the following: “Given the imminence of General Elections, is it too late to form a new “leadership team” with someone of the stature and credibility of Mr Singh – Brigadier General (Retired) Joe Singh – at the helm or join the kind of gestation implicit in the new grouping being touted by the new AFC leadership?

Seriously, Mr Persaud?

Did you ever speak out against the double standards of Nigel Hughes who did not disclose that he was the company secretary of the Amaila Falls Electricity Project while his party (the AFC) voted against this project which would have solved our electricity woes?

This same Hughes also did not disclose that he knew the jury foreman in the Lusignan massacre trial! Are you talking about this AFC, Mr Persaud?

Your slip (Freddie Kissoon’s phrase) is showing!

Rakesh Singh

Dear Editor, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has beaten out competitors when voters were asked who among the political leaders would best unite all of TT. This is one of several findings of an opinion survey conducted by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) during early December in Trinidad. The poll shows Prime Minister Kamla overwhelms her political nemesis, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley on that and other leadership measures.

Persad-Bissessar also leads Dr Rowley on which leader is stronger in fighting terrorism. A NACTA poll after the PM’s UN visit last October also revealed similar findings with Rowley. But

the Opposition Leader is not out of the race as Kamla’s People’s Partnership trails Dr Rowley’s PNM in six key seats that will determine who becomes Prime Minister after the next general elections.

The poll reveals that Persad-Bissessar is viewed as a “uniter” by people from across all ethnic groups, genders and generations whereas Dr Rowley is viewed as “a uniter” largely among traditional PNM supporters.

The poll also finds the PM leading in approval and favourability (likeability) ratings. Former COP leader Winston Dookeran also scores well as “a uniter” among voters of all ethnic groups but faces near certain defeat in any re-election bid in Tunapuna.

The findings of the

December NACTA tracking poll were obtained from “in person” interviews with 500 respondents (44 per cent African, 37 per cent Indian, 18 per cent Mixed, and 1 per cent Other) reflecting the demographics of the population. The poll, conducted

by Dr Vishnu Bisram, has a four per cent margin of error.

Asked which leader is more capable of uniting TT, 54 per cent said Kamla; 24 per cent, Rowley; 11 per cent, Dookeran; 4 per cent, Jack Warner (ILP leader); and 7 per cent, no response.

The October poll (of 650 respondents) gave Kamla 50 per cent suggesting she is resurging in popularity having been down in 2013. Voters described Kamla as loving, kind, soft, gentle, compassionate, caring, humble, engaging and congenial.

The aim is to reduce...

In the course of studies, with consultants, of the losses, GPL Inc, about a year ago, disaggregated the average losses to its 39 feeders across the entire country.

This table was presented to Sectoral Committees of Parliament in late 2013 and early 2014.

The disaggregation shows up variations of the average losses on each feeder – some are low, at total losses of 10 to 12per cent, and some are large, the largest being feeder SF5 (south and west of Georgetown) with a total of 60 per cent loss – 20 per cent technical, 40 per cent non-technical.

No doubt, if we could disaggregate to smaller areas, we would find even wider variations in “losses”. The implication in smart metering proposals is disaggregation, down to each transformer with its, say, 20 customers.

We know that, in every location, there are people who do not engage in, or allow, any tampering with their meters – GPL Inc wants, and needs, everyone to get that way. We can readily recognise how we ar-

rived at the cultural position at which we are today – our history of being victims and being imposed upon, and hitting back whichever way we could.

The President of the CDB has been urging Caribbean leaders to urgently consider ‘renewables’. We have been pursuing the development of Amaila Falls for some 10 years now, following in the footsteps of the Government of the early 1970s.

With an average generation cost delivered at Sophia of 10 US cents per kWh over the 20-year BOOT (and 3 US cents per kWh, thereafter), total losses reduced to 8 per cent, and retaining G$13 per kWh for transmission, distribution and commercialisation costs, we could see

Her social welfare policies and handouts and her groundings with the poorer sections of society seem to be paying political dividends. People view Rowley as too combative. It is generally felt Dr Rowley needs to remake his image and inter-personal skills in order to make political gains, especially in attracting crossracial support.

Asked which leader is stronger on fighting terrorism, 51 per cent said Kamla; 37per cent said Rowley; and 4 per cent, Warner, with 8 per cent offering no opinion.

The October poll revealed similar findings.

The poll reveals almost everyone is deeply concerned about crime, the Achilles heel of the PP Government.

Vishnu Bisram

From page 4

average total cost of about G$36 (17.2 US cents) per kWh. We can get there – Joseph Harmon and David Granger should join with me to get there! Let us embark on Amaila! Let us challenge our Guyanese people to do even better than the Bajans, in this matter of non-technical electricity losses.

We need new attitudes today, in our 49th year of independence. Responsible leaders must lead their people in ways of doing right, and in attitudes that lead to success.

Statements, like those attributed to Mr Harmon, wittingly or unwittingly provide ‘cover’, or, worse, may be understood to be subtle encouragement for electricity theft, and there is

no basis for his statement.

My statements were building soundly, for ourselves, a steadily prosperous life in the not-too-distant future.

I call on my parliamentary colleagues, Mr Harmon and Mr Granger, and, indeed, all MPs, to join me in working to reduce electricity losses. Let us spread faith that through our honest, earnest and hard work, and through thoughtful, thrifty living, we shall reduce electricity losses.

Based on facts, there was no question of race!

Samuel Hinds, Prime Minister, Minister Responsible for Electricity

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monDAY, december 22, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Rohee, Hicken in Regent St walk-about A

mid rampant pickpocket robberies and other sensational crimes, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee accompanied by senior ranks of A Division (Georgetown) on Saturday visited several businesses along the main commercial centre, Regent Street, Georgetown.

The Minister told the media following the walk-about that the exercise was an enlightening one, and that the businesses have a lot to offer.

“What I can see in the stores that we visited so far… there are lots of things that are available, commodities of a wide range and everything is here in Guyana, you just have to be able to walk around and look and you will be able to find what-

ever you are looking for,” he noted.

In highlighting that the undertaking was welcomed by the business owners, Minister Rohee pointed out that they find such an activity to be very useful as it provides a level of comfort for them and the shoppers.

He said: “From a security point of view, they appreciate that.” Noting that there have been some complaints of minor robberies, the Minister said “our task here this morning is to give them the assurance of a permanent presence and that the patrols will be constantly patrolling… it’s to give that sort of comfort level, of course, they have a business to run and we have to ensure that they are protected.”

He further added that

A store owner speaking to A Division Commander Clifton Hicken as Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee looks on

the exercise, which is an annual one, allows the officers to become familiar with the

Robb & King Streets fire…

68-year-old man succumbs

C

yril Thomas, the 68 man who jumped out of a burning building to save his life on November has succumbed to his injuries after being resident at a local health care institution for 34 days.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, Thomas was primarily unconscious during his stint at the hospital.

The King Street blaze had left Thomas’ two teenage daughters Heresa Rosario, 12, and Clarissa Rosario, 15, a St John’s College student dead after they were trapped in the blaze.

The fire, which is suspected to be arson, started about 02:00h on Monday morning and quickly engulfed the entire building while threatening nearby businesses.

According to reports, the building is currently the subject of a dispute between Thomas and another individual who has only been identified as “Buddy”.

Buddy was since arrested by Police for questioning, but was released. To date, no other person has been arrested or charged with any offence relating to the in-

cident.

The building was once occupied by former People’s National Congress (PNC) Home Affairs Minister Jeffrey Thomas, brother of now dead Cyril Thomas, who is also reportedly involved in the dispute.

A few years ago, a fire of similar nature gutted the building; however, over the years, the building was restored. The building once housed the A-Z Scrap Metal and Crescent Cycle stores and up to the time it was flattened by the blaze; it had an ice-cream parlour and an electronics store.

business owners and also for the owners to do the same and keep in touch with each

other, which is important for the business community, as well as community policing.

A Division Commander Clifton Hicken noted that as highlighted in their Christmas presentation, the Guyana Police Force pointed out that its ranks would be patrolling Regent Street and the walk- about is linked to that as it ensures that there is strict supervision.

“The Minister chose to walk around with the Commander and his senior commands so that we can have a feedback from the shop owners and the business sector. Thus far, we are having a positive feedback in terms of the Police posture and incidence of crimes,” Hicken stated.

Earlier this month, the Police Force pointed out

that it had special plans for the season to prevent crimes that are likely to take place.

The objectives of the security plan are to minimise criminal activities, traffic congestion and make the city of Georgetown safe for visitors, citizens and shoppers during the Christmas season.

In this regard, the Force has increased its patrols using its motor vehicles and motorcycles, along with its various ranks, and strategically placed manned booths.

This traditional policing arrangement will span from November 15, 2014 to January 2015, when there will be increased commercial activities around the city and the inevitable increase in traffic congestion.

(GINA)

Kamarang youths, single parents benefit from BIT training

BIT graduates of Region Seven take a photo opportunity with Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, Permanent Secretary of the Labour Ministry Patrick Findlay and other BIT officials

T

he Board of Industrial Training (BIT) on Thursday drew the curtains on graduations for the 2736 persons trained during the year. The last graduation ceremony was held at Kamarang for 69 residents of Kamarang, Kako and Waramadong.

The youths and single par-

ents of the three communities were trained in various trades, including Home Economics, Information Technology, Clerical Services, Health Services and Engineering as well as Teacher Aide.

Speaking at the ceremony at the Kamarang Primary School, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline

Sukhai urged the graduates to capitalise fully on the initiative by BIT, and to use it as a stepping stone for further development. She told them that their skill and how they use it will influence development.

She commended them for staying the course in spite of challenges and urged that they think of starting their own businesses to create not only employment for themselves, but other youth as well.

The Minister pointed out that Government is emphasising education and training because these are critical to the development of human resources.

She also noted that Government started BIT in 2005 with $10 million and this year the budget touched $200 million. Also commending the graduands was Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Patrick Findlay, who told them that learning and self-improvement are critical because “once you learn, no one can take it from you”.

Several village leaders, including Toshaos from the beneficiary villages expressed appreciation for the programme being extended to residents of these areas.

In 2014, BIT trained 100 persons in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 349 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 641 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), 343 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 907 in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), 138 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 83 in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), and 175 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Of these, 434 were single parents.

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monDAY, december 22, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

US Customs warns against GAWU welcomes release of Cuban patriots undeclared bulk cash ...in light of Guyanese Pilot being busted T in Puerto Rico T

he United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has reminded Caribbean travellers of the need to declare currency amounts of US$10,000 or more when travelling to or from the US. The advisory comes in the wake of a Guyanese pilot who busted in Puerto Rico with US$620,000 stashed in his private jet.

“Individuals are permitted to carry any amount of currency or monetary instruments into or out of the United States; however, if the quantity is US$10,000 or higher, they must formally report the currency to CBP,” the body said in a statement. “If travellers have someone else carry the currency or monetary instrument for them, they must file a currency report for the entire amount with CBP,” it added. “Failure to report may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest.”

Robert Allen Smith, Area Port Director for Nassau Preclearance, said the easiest way for travellers to hold on to their currency is to “truthfully report it all to a CBP officer”. CBP said its preclearance operations allows for advance inspection of passengers and special coordination with law enforcement on arrival in the United States.

Through preclearance, the same immigration, Customs and agriculture inspections of international air passengers performed on arrival in the United States are instead completed prior to departure at foreign airports, CBP said. It said, currently, preclearance op-

Khemraj Lall

erations exist at 15 foreign airports in six different countries, benefitting air passengers, airports and air carriers in the United States and abroad. “To keep our borders secure, every traveller entering and exiting a CBP port of entry is subject to a CBP inspection,” the statement said.

On bail

Meanwhile, the pilot, a US-based owner of an executive jet service, Khemraj Lall, was nabbed back in November with the cash.

He has since been granted US$100,000 bail on a charge of bulk-cash smuggling in Puerto Rico. Lall was granted bail by Judge Marcus Lopez in Court 10 in the US District Court of Puerto Rico. However, he will not be allowed to leave that US dependency. His jet and the US$620,000 which was stashed inside the same aircraft will remain in the custody of Homeland Security.

Lall was arrested on November 22 after he allegedly declared to federal agents varying amounts

of cash that he had had in his possession. Authorities at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport have confirmed that a huge private hangar there was built with the approval of Cabinet to accommodate Lall’s planes for executive use and medical evacuations.

The hangar’s private entrance has raised concerns in some quarters about the ease of access without scrutiny by Customs, Police and the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU).

The plane had stopped in Puerto Rico to refuel and then continue with a trip to the city of Georgetown, in Guyana, according to information from the electronic file of the Federal Court. It was reported that Customs officers asked the detainee to declare the cash he was carrying. However, Lall, who was travelling with his father and the pilot of the aircraft, initially reported only US$5000 between him and his father, but in a second report said the two had US$12,000. However, a team of federal agents found that he had more cash on the plane. On closer inspection of the plane, officers found US$150,000 first “wrapped in plastic bags and a blanket near an exit”, according to the statement of the federal agent. Lall said he did not remember having that amount and said they were from his business.

Subsequently, in a compartment near a motor, several black garbage bags with another $ 470,000 were found.

Lall said that all the money was his. He said his father and the pilot knew nothing about the large amount of cash carried in the aircraft.

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said, like many statesmen, political leaders and numerous organisations around the globe, it was delighted the remaining three of the Cuban Five were released.

Antonio Guerrero, Gerardo Hernández and Ramón Labañino had been languishing in US prisons for several years.

In a release, the Union said, “The heroic five were exposing the terroristic actions and planned activities against Cuba with the coverage and support of the United States of America (USA). We all hail the sacrifice and fortitude of the Five.

They would inspire their families, the people and the revolutionary Government of Cuba who stood firmly behind them.

“The liberation of the Cuban patriots takes place

in a framework in which the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the USA and Cuba has been announced. This, we are told, will lead to the lifting of several sanctions imposed by the USA over the years against a sister Caribbean country Cuba.”

GAWU said in taking this historic and courageous move, US President Barack Obama has clearly signalled that the sanction regime against Cuba, maintained for some 54 years, did not bring the results that were expected.

Moreover, it is recognised worldwide that the ‘Cuba sanctions’ has been one of the few remaining relics of the Cold War which, it is generally acknowledged, came to an end at the beginning of the 1990s.

In this approach, GAWU believes, President Obama would have made a significant contribution to policies

that would define his presidency. “At the same time, we recognise there remain serious and unresolved problems and interference against Cuba and its sovereignty. We would hope that the measures taken will be the first significant step to full normalcy in the relations of the USA and Cuba.”

The Union added that it celebrated this victory for Cuba and looked forward to the other steps and measures that will assure full economic, trade, cultural and diplomatic relations for that nation as enjoyed by other countries of the hemisphere and the world over.

“GAWU also greets the five Cuban patriots while extending congratulations to the Cuban working people, as well as the Communist Party and Government of Cuba on this another victory scored in their rich and revolutionary history,” the Union concluded.

Miner stabbed to death in Mazaruni

A

miner was stabbed to death on Friday last at Middle Mazaruni after one of his colleagues had accused him of stealing a ‘kiddie’.

The dead man has been identified as “Killer Bean”, 27, of Moruca, North West District. According to information received, the stabbing stemmed from an old grievance which took place about three weeks ago when he was fingered in the disappearance of an apparatus that stores raw gold.

The now dead man re-

portedly denied being involved in the theft, but the suspect thought otherwise.

On Friday evening, “Killer Bean” left their mining camp with the intention of returning home for the holiday, but as he was walking along the trail, the suspect reportedly confronted him again about the stolen kiddie.

During an argument, the suspect reportedly pulled out a knife and dealt him one blow to the upper left shoulder. Upon receiving the stab, the now dead man fell to the ground while the

suspect reportedly contacted another colleague relating what he had done.

The Police were summoned and the body was transported out of the area.

It arrived at the Bartica Regional Hospital sometime after 01:30h on Sunday.

Hospital officials confirmed that the knife penetrated the man’s heart causing him to die immediately.

Up to late Sunday afternoon, the suspect was still on the run. Police are continuing their investigations into the murder.

8 NEWS

monDAY, december 22 , 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Lethem spruced up under “Cleanup Campaign”

BY ROYDEN JAMES

S

everal Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) communities inclusive of Lethem have been benefiting from the Government of Guyana Clean-Up My Country Campaign.

On Thursday last, a team consisting of 13 persons, along with a tractor and trailer was dispatched from the Ireng/Sawariwau Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to commence community clean up and removal of bulk waste placed by residents in front of their homes in Industrial Site, Tabatinga, Bon Success and Tabatinga Housing Scheme.

Ministry of Local Government and Regional Developmental Officer David Mootoo was tasked with monitoring the aesthetics of the community and the sanitation improvement programme in Lethem and its environs.

He noted that the team began clearing parapets of overgrown vegetation and

Bulk waste being removed as the cleanup campaign intensifies in Lethem

removing road side garbage along the Takutu Bridge to the Customs building. In addition, he said the Tabatinga Bridge was cleaned on Thursday.

Mootoo also disclosed that by Thursday last; communities within Lethem phase 1 and 2 were completely cleaned.

He noted that resident were in a state of shock when they saw the magnitude of garbage which was thrown along the road corridors.

According to Works Committee Chairman

Rodger King, during his interaction with residents of the Ireng/Sawariwau NDC, he assured that people are appreciative of the programme, noting that a lot of bulk wastes were removed from person’s home.

As a means of maintaining the aesthetics and sanitation of the communities within the NDC, the Chairman said much sensitisation will be done through the NDC’s quarterly public meeting where persons will be educated about the negative impact littering has on humans and the environment.

On this score, King noted that 90 per cent of the workforce carrying out the works in the area is made up of Amerindian women who came forward to assist with the community cleanup activities.

He noted that the income-earning-opportunity will give the women an opportunity to generate income which will allow them to prepare their homes and families for the festive season of Christmas.

According to member of the Regional Chamber of Commerce Inc Jacqueline D’Aguiar, the initiative is very timely, very good and very commendable on the part of the Government of Guyana for considering Region Nine under the “Clean-Up My Country” Programme.

The Ministry is advising that residents of Kumu/ Quarrie/Moco-Moco who are desirous of disposing of bulk waste must place the waste in front of their premises by 08:00h on December 22 for free pick-up.

Eyew tness

Culture...

A

...of "consensus candidates"

mong the quick fixes to Guyana's political logjam (we'll be kind – it's the season of goodwill!) has been the "consensus candidate". This would be THE candidate who'd be able to "represent the aspirations" of ALL the parties (generally in the Opposition) to take on the behemoth in government.

The term first gained currency in the waning days of the PNC dictatorship when the Opposition parties came together to demand "free and fair" elections – as the "Patriotic Coalition for Democracy" (PCD). But when the goal was reached and the PPP suggested they field a common slate under a "consensus candidate", the WPA balked when Cheddi Jagan's name was proposed. His backers pointed out that the PPP'd captured almost 50 per cent of the vote at the last free and fair elections.

The WPA, boasting they'd "solved" the politics of race in Guyana, protested, "That was then. Now WE are the majority party – and if the PPP comes with us, we'll give them the Prime Ministership!" And so it went until a group from the nascent Civil Society of Guyana rose up to speak for "the people". "Too Indian!!!" these power brokers screamed at Jagan, who'd jettisoned every shred of his ethnic identity as he lived out his vision of Marxist dialectical materialism.

"The all-African army and Police will stage a coup if he's President!" This group would never again in the next 25 years ever mention that the said Disciplined Forces being of one race might be problematical to the politics of Guyana. But that's grist for another mill on another day, isn't it? Anyhow, Cheddi replied, "OK...how about Roger Luncheon?? He's not "too" Indian, is he?" And the Kingmakers retorted laconically, "Too red!!" And that was that.

And the Civil Society group grew overnight like a Jumbie Umbrella, calling itself, "GUARD". And suddenly the locus of the "consensus candidate" shifted to that motley crew.

But several revealed their political ambitions soon enough and Dr Jagan asked one of the more reasonable ones – Sam Hinds – to be his running mate. And the rest, as they say, is history.

And so, as the APNU and AFC begin their Opposition courtship to join in union, there's talk about a "consensus candidate" from "civil society" who'll be able to transcend the mistrust, egos and ambitions that are sure to swell during the negotiations. The name of Yesu Persaud rose after he attended the Transparency International dinner and defined himself "an enemy of this (PPP) regime".

Then, of course, there's the fella who's been assiduously cultivating the need for the role and (of course) his suitability for the same – Ralph Ramkarran. Will Nagamootoo, however, still insist he's the anointed one??

...and power theft

How dare PM Sam Hinds say "thieving current" is now part of Guyanese culture. And if we're ever going to reduce our electricity rates, we'll have to change our "culture"??!!

To Opposition Leader David Granger this observation was so outrageous, he dubbed it, "stupid"?? Isn't culture what's in our head that tells us how to live our lives??

And isn't it a fact that every one of us knows someone (maybe including ourselves) – from all groups – who're stealing electricity?? C'mon now...let's be honest! And nobody's pointing a gun at our heads forcing us to steal, are they? So the truth is, we've developed a culture that makes us accept "thieving current" as the norm.

What must've annoyed Granger is that citing statistics that are available to everyone, the PM showed that South and West Georgetown show 40 per cent of the electricity being stolen. And this is PNC territory.

So rather than condemn the thieving, Granger implicitly encourages it! And Peter pays for Paul!

...and Christmas

While we take into advisement the notion, emphasised by some that Christmas was "imposed" on this multireligious society, even they have to concede that it has become "we thing". But let's be respectful of its roots, OK?

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monday, december 22, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, december 22, 2014

News

Counselling Centre commissioned in New Amsterdam

L

ocal Government and Regional D e v e l o p m e n t Minister Norman Norman Whittaker on Thursday commissioned Guyana’s first Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VTC) Centre in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The new facility is situated in the compound of the New Amsterdam Market, and has as its main focus reducing the spread of HIV/ AIDS. The project, which was a tripartite arrangement between civil society, the corporate community and Government through the Local Government Ministry and the New Amsterdam Municipality, was undertaken by the Youth Empowerment Inclusion and Reconciliation Project (YEIRP).

In expressing his appreciation for the initiative taken by YEIRP, Minister Norman Whittaker said while it was youths who conceptualised the project, adults have a role to play in ensuring that the investment is sustainable.

“The investment that we make must be spread over many years as possible. So that if 20 years down the line, we can still look back

extension the challenges of young people of the 20th Century differ from the challenges of the 21st Century and it is in this context we must see programs of this nature which target young people.”

At risk

Minister Norman Whittaker cuts the ribbon to commission the new facility while Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Chairman David Armogan, Vice Chairman Bhupaul Jhagroo, UNDP Project Coordinator Trevor Benn and a YEIRP representative look on

and find young people who benefited from this programme and who have become matured enough that they have gone on to expand what we developed here and to make the behavioural change among hundreds or thousands; that is the kind of multiplier effect that we are looking for.”

Speaking of the importance and relevance of the project, Norman Whittaker

said that in today’s society persons have a right to choose what kind of lifestyle they want to adopt without being discriminated against.

The challenges of today’s world are different to those of half a century ago, he added.

“The challenges of young people of the 1950s and 60s were different to the challenges of young people of the 80s and the 90s and by

Project Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Trevor Benn, speaking at the commissioning ceremony, which was held in the chambers of the New Amsterdam Town Council, said those who are being targeted are those who are most at risk. In Guyana, the most-at-risk population (MARP) include female sex workers and men who have sex with men, part of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) group.

Benn said recent reports indicate that HIV among the general population is decreasing, but among the MARP remains very high.

“So the project was formulated to assist those two groups in particular.”

In explaining why HIV/ AIDS infection is still high among that group, he said persons from that group are discriminated against when they go to access services at hospitals and police stations. “Many times when they go to the hospitals, they are made fun of and not given the kind of treatment they need and when they go to the police station, they are also made fun of.”

Benn recounted an incident where a member of the group went to one Police station in Berbice seeking help, but instead of receiving assistance he was made to strip naked and dance on the counter at the Police station while the officers made fun of him.

The UNDP’s involve-

Freedie got more poll problems

F

reedie de man kisser and Bis Ram had it out de other day again. Freedie and Bis Ram gotta long history.

Dem two does buse one another fuh every lil ting.

And some times fuh big tings.

As usual, dem always got it out over Bis Ram poll, which is a big ting in Guyana. Especially fuh de man kisser.

Bis Ram claim he poll never wrong every time he poll people. But de man kisser claim he don’t believe Bis Ram does poll anybody.

Now, de man kisser was always known to have a pole problem. When is not he G-Tea-an-Tea pole, is he G-PeeHell pole givin problems. That is why he always beggin some body to help he wid he pole.

De man kisser neighbour seh another pole givin problems too. But he was in chuch so he didn’t seh which one. Maybe that was why de other day, when de man kisser hear that G-Tea-an-Tea and G-Pee-Hell sharin poles, he show up de next day, tinkin that dem was sharing OUT poles.

But is every time Bis Ram put outta poll, Freedie does get jealous of the poll. Freedie get so jealous that he doubt that Bis Ram ever put outta poll. Then after that he doubt that Bis Ram poll ever exist. As if that ain’t enuff, de man kisser even doubt that Bis Ram exist.

Well, Bis Ram does behave just like he name some times. He does wanna play a ram and ram de man kisser every time de man kisser open he mouth. But this last time, Bis Ram getta next Ram to ram de man kisser. Some other ram name Ram Racha.

But whah Bis Ram ain’t know is that de man kisser like a good rammin. That is why he does provoke Bis Ram. De man kisser does only talk good bout one poll, which ain’t he own either, because he never poll any body.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! And was a man name Dick who do de poll whah Freedie like! ment with the project was to sensitise the two service agencies of the basic human rights all of us are entitled to as citizens so that they can encourage those who choose to live a certain way which we may not agree with but have a right to so do under the Human Rights Charter.

The sensitisation project lasted for nine months.

“We are hoping that through that sort of sensitisation that the incidence of HIV will be reduced among this group of people, and I must say that in the most recent survey in Guyana the numbers have reduced considerably in terms of incidence of HIV among this particular group.”

monday, december 22, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Times Notebook Much to celebrate at Christmas I

t’s Christmas time and Christians will celebrate the birth of Jesus wherever they live. In some countries the celebration of Christmas will be muted since the practice of Christianity is a risky business.

But Guyanese will celebrate with their families and friends and even strangers, whether they are Christians or not. Some will celebrate as Christians and others will celebrate a joyous holiday in our country.

Guyana will at least for a few days celebrate as ONE PEOPLE. We will find different ways to wish each other well and we will all celebrate as only Guyanese are able to.

Guyana is a country that sets an example of how religious harmony can be celebrated and how religion can be a healing and uniting force, not a force for polarization and conflicts, as in many countries of the world.

Christmas is a great reminder in Guyana that we can live as one people, as sisters and brothers in each other’s faith and culture.

Too often we ignore the lessons that our faith teaches us and we descend into unholy differences and hate.

We hope that Christmas 2014 could provide a great reminder that our differences in politics and our differences in ethnicity can be translated into a world of delicious harmony within the tapestry of great cultural and religious diversity.

We are grateful that the President of Guyana took a decision to avoid a political campaign for elections dur-

ing the Christmas holidays and to defer election matters to some date after the Christmas season.

We already have politicians talking about more fire and jailing, firing and frying their opponents. Christmas celebrations together might warm our hearts and instill greater tolerance so that during the coming elections we can discuss issues and a harmonious way forward in a development trajectory that brings better lives for all of our people.

There are parts of the world where Christians will either have to hide and celebrate Christmas or they would have to forego Christmas altogether.

Let us reflect on the fact that conflicts have led to too many circumstances like those in Pakistan where 142 children were slaughtered in senseless hate crimes.

There are people in West Africa living in fear and whose family members might have died because of Ebola who cannot celebrate Christmas in 2014. There are more than 800 million people who cannot celebrate Christmas because they do not have enough to eat on a daily basis.

Let us also remember millions of children around the world who cannot access education. Think of the millions of children and adults who die because they have no access to medicine to save their lives.

Remember the women who have been murdered by their male partners and the thousands who live with daily abuse in the pandemic of domestic violence. We

GDF warns soldiers against drug use

G

uyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips Sunday reiterated the military body’s zero-tolerance policy on drug use and trafficking.

His message came in wake of the Police‘s arrest of a soldier, found with some 400 grams marijuana Saturday.

Reports state that Police on Thursday arrested a GDF Private at the Ogle International Airport (OIA) as he was about to board a flight to one of the Force’s interior bases.

According to reports, the drug was found in his military kit.

Police were tipped off that soldiers are usually engaged in trafficking marijuana to interior locations.

The unidentified soldier has reportedly been dismissed without honour from the GDF. The Chief of Staff, in his message, reminded troops of the Force’s policy regarding such matters, warning that immediate action will be instituted against any officer who is found to be in contravention of the army’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

He said consumption of narcotics and trafficking are against the law.

must not forget the millions who die and who become disabled because of traffic accidents each year and the more than a million persons who commit suicide in the world.

But these dismal facts must not deceive us into thinking that the world is only capable of bad things.

The recent re-opening of diplomatic relations between Cuba and America shows us the potential for resolving conflicts by dialogue.

The best Christmas gift for more than 11 million Cubans and for more than 250 million Americans

and for millions around the world was made possible by a Christian Pope.

Guyanese workers have again benefitted from wages and salaries increases at a time when their counterparts in Caricom and other parts of the world have either been subjected to wage freeze or where the workforce is reduced, leading to losses of employment.

In 2014, our children made us proud by winning most of the CXC awards.

Guyana’s economy for the ninth successive year has grown by more than four percent. Sugar has rebounded with more than a 10 per-

cent increase in production and there was an almost 25 percent increase in rice production.

More than 2,000 new homes were constructed in 2014 and more than 10,000 new vehicles were imported into Guyana. Thousands of new small businesses were established and every bank and large company in Guyana reported huge profits. Unprecedented foreign direct investments continue to flow into Guyana.

For sure there are things that we must be concerned with. There continues to be high suicide, traffic accidents and domestic murder

rates in our country. There continues to be unwillingness among our politicians to talk in the national interest.

We have a media culture that spreads hate and intolerance rather than promote harmony and cohesiveness.

Let us take a moment to wish our brothers and sisters, all of our people, a blessed holiday season. No one can deny that Guyanese deserve to celebrate Christmas in style.

Children are excited.

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

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monDAY, december 22, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

news

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monDAY, december 22, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Corentyne robbery draws protest ...large gang flees with millions

cameras. The woman said she and her husband work very hard to live a comfortable live, and within minutes, so much can be taken away.

“Right now me nah think me can stay here, it too hurtful… me think it’s better we build a hut and live inside, we go be safe.”

The family purchases paddy from farmers, mill it themselves and sell the rice and by-products on the local market. They estimate their loss at over $4 million, three million in cash and over $1 million in jewellery. The cash was meant for payment of paddy that was supposed to be handed over later in the day.

By Nafeeza Yahya

R

esidents of Maida and nearby Whim on the Corentyne Coast, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) Sunday afternoon staged a peaceful protest in front of the Whim Police Station following an attack on a family by armed bandits earlier in the day.

The bandits escaped with over $4 million in cash and jewellery, but not before damaging the victims’ property in their bid to get in.

At approximately 02:30h, six men armed with guns, stormed the home of Businessman Pooran Latchman called “Anil” and his family, who reside at Maida.

The bandits gained entry by first breaking the concrete fence to get into the yard. They then broke a glass door to gain access to the Veranda and then using two pieces of wood to break the grille work on the windows, where they forced their way into the home.

According to the mother of the home, Noonawattie Pooran, they were alerted to loud noises coming from the back of the house.

She said when her husband went to see what was happening, he saw on the monitors four masked men making their way up the steps.

Then men then made their way up the stairs and broke a glass door on the enclosed back veranda, then a window before they began to pound the grillwork with two pieces of 4x4 by approximately five feet long wood which they brought with them.

“When they breaking the grille, me, meh husband and two children run and lie down on the front veranda and hide, them a shout open the f****** door Anil, we come to kill you s****, meh husband get scared and he jump down the veranda and jump over to the neighbour yard.”

She related that the grill took a while to break as two other men had to assist in breaking it. That was when her husband jumped down from the veranda. She related that he injured his legs and is unable to walk. He is currently hospitalised. She recalled that all the while the men kept shouting and swearing; they tried feverishly to get on to Whim Police Station, but were unsuccessful as the phone either rang out or was busy.

They eventually got through and related what happened; however, the Police showed up two hours after the entire ordeal which lasted about an hour.

The men eventually managed to gain access by smashing the grill out and three entered the house while the other three stood guard outside. When they entered, they started shooting and demanding that the

Protests

The ransacked house

family come out from hiding.

“When them come in them start shoot up and cuss up because them nah find nobody in the house, them eventually find we on the veranda floor.

“Them then drag me and them children in de house and put them big gun pun we, the men then put on all the lights in the house and demanded cash and jewellery.”

Demanding more

She related that she handed over a bag containing $2 million in cash but the men kept demanding more money. One of the bandits slapped her and demanded more while another shouted to “shoot she in she f****** eye”.

“Me fall ah them foot and beg them nah kill we and tell them fuh go in the wardrobe which had a bag with another million inside; them tek the money and tumble up the house looking for more.”

She related that she pleaded with the men to save their lives and directed them to the jewellery, telling them “that’s all we get, nah kill we, tek a house but na kill we”.

The men then took the money and jewellery and left, but not before locking the family in a room, firing several shots in the air and taking the security footage with them.

She added that one of the bandits went to the security room where they cut wires and remove the entire DVR. According to neighbours, the men left on foot heading in a westerly direction, turning into a street leading to the backdam.

The entire ordeal, according to the family lasted about one and an half hour.

The family is distraught and is very fearful, noting that this is the third time they were robbed within four years.

The previous two occasions were at their oth-

er home in Bushlot Village.

Pooran said they have invested significantly in the

security of the home with millions spent on grill work and installation of 12 CCTV

Meanwhile, neighbours and residents from four other communities on the Corentyne staged a protest at the Whim Public Road later in the day around 14:00h.

The protest was staged to express their disgust and dissatisfaction with the time the Police took to respond to the crime. They stated that the time the bandits were in the house, the Police could have apprehended the men had they arrived on time.

Among the protesters were AFC members Mark Ross and Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Verasammy Ramayah, who made it clear that it was not an AFC staged protest.

Some of the placards call for a change at the Whim Police Station and the intervention of the Minister of Home Affairs to drive out alleged corruption within the Police Force.

Another protest is planned for today in front of the Whim Police Station.

Residents of Number 51 Village had earlier this year staged a similar protest over Police inaction.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, december 22, 2014

Around the world

Tunisians vote in landmark elections

T

unisians went to the polls to freely elect their President for the first time in the country’s history, rounding off an attimes-bumpy four-year transition from dictatorship.

The runoff on Sunday pitted 88-year-old Beji Caid Essebsi, leader of the Nidaa Tounes party, against incumbent Moncef Marzouki, who held the post through an alliance with the moderate Islamist movement Ennahda.

The landmark secondround vote sets Tunisia apart from the turmoil of other Arab countries that went through the uprisings that started in 2011.

The vote, which took place amid tight security

Security was tightened for the election

and the closure of main border posts with strife-torn neighbour Libya, is the first free presidential election since independence from France in 1956.

Almost 5.3 million Tunisians were eligible to vote, starting from at 8am

(0700 GMT) until 6pm (1700 GMT).

Concerns about low voter turnout persisted, however, after the first round which had a low number of young voters.

This was widely blamed on the political parties,

which remain unable to engage the youth and address their issues.

A first round, held on November 23, saw Essebsi win 39 per cent of the vote, six per cent points ahead of Marzouki, a 69-year-old former rights activist installed by Parliament two months after December 2011 polls.

Election Day was marred by violence as Tunisian troops killed a gunman and captured three others after they attacked soldiers guarding ballot papers, the Defence Ministry said.

The pre-dawn attack targeted a school in the central region of Kairouan where the ballot papers had been stored under army guard.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Cuba “will not change” communist system, despite thaw with US

C

uban President Raul Castro has hailed a recent move by the United States to normalise bilateral relations, but stressed Havana would not change its political system.

Castro also warned Cuba faced a “long and difficult struggle” before the US removed its economic embargo.

He said he would at-

tend next year’s Summit of Americas in Panama, where he could meet US President Barack Obama.

On Wednesday, Obama announced a “new chapter” in US ties with the communist-run island.

The changes, he said, were the “most significant” in US policy towards Cuba in 50 years.

US-Cuba relations have remained frozen since the early 1960s, when the US broke off diplomatic relations and imposed a trade embargo after Cuba’s revolution.

Speaking in the National Assembly in Havana, President Castro said this week’s announcement by Obama removed an “obsta-

cle” in bilateral relations.

The Cuban leader said he was open to discussing a wide range of issues with Washington, but stressed that Cuba would not give up its socialist principles: “In the same way that we have never demanded that the United States change its political system, we will demand respect for ours.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Health Minister named as Haiti’s new interim PM

Florence Duperval Guillaume has played a key role in rebuilding Haiti’s medical services and combating a cholera epidemic (AP)

H

aitian Health Minister Florence Duperval Guillaume was named interim Prime Minister on Sunday to replace Laurent Lamothe, who resigned a week ago following several weeks of protests.

The announcement is part of an effort to resolve a mounting political crisis over long-delayed elections.

Under Haiti’s Constitution, Guillaume can hold the interim position for up to 30 days before a permanent choice is nominated for approval by Parliament.

Lamothe was forced to resign after President Michel Martelly accepted the recommendations of a special commission appointed to defuse the crisis, including calling for the Prime Minister to go.

It also came after international warnings from the United States and the United Nations that the impoverished Caribbean nation was on the brink of political cha-

os again.

Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, is still recovering from an earthquake five years ago that levelled much of the capital, Port-au-Prince. In recent weeks, demonstrators in several cities have accused the Government of corruption.

If elections are not held before January 12, the fifth anniversary of the earthquake, Parliament will shut down, leaving the country without a functioning government until presidential elections in late 2015.

A career health worker whose official title is Minister of Public Health and Population, Guillaume is seen as close to Haiti’s First Lady Sophia Martelly, and has overseen efforts to rebuild the country’s fragile medical services, including by starting new hospitals and handling a cholera epidemic and longrunning HIV-AIDS treatment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US urges China to curb NK hacking

P

resident Barack Obama has said the US is considering putting North Korea back on its list of terrorism sponsors after the hacking of Sony Pictures.

A decision would be taken after a review, he said, calling the attack an act of cyber-vandalism, not of war.

North Korea denies the attack over “The Interview”, which depicts the fictional killing of its leader Kim Jong-Un. Sony cancelled the Christmas Day release after threats to cinemas. It

is considering “a different platform”.

In a CNN interview, President Obama described the hacking as a “very costly, very expensive” example of cyber-vandalism.

He said US officials would examine all the evidence to determine whether North Korea should be put back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

“I’ll wait to review what the findings are,” Obama said, adding that he did not think the attack “was an act of war”.

North Korea had been on the US list for two dec-

ades until the White House removed it in 2008, after Pyongyang agreed to full verification of its nuclear sites.

On Saturday, the US also asked China to curb North Korea’s cyber-attacks.

So far there has been no response from Beijing – North Korea’s main ally.

North Korea’s communications run through China.

The FBI said on Friday that North Korea had carried out last month’s cyber-attack, in which script details and private emails were leaked. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Australia: Cairns mother charged with eight murders

A

ustralian authorities have charged a woman in the northern city of Cairns with the murder of seven of her children and her niece.

Mersane Warria, 37, was charged while in hospital where she is being treated under guard for self-inflicted knife wounds, police say.

Post-mortem examinations are being carried out to determine the exact cause of the eight victims’ deaths.

The four boys and four

girls were aged between 18 months and 14 years. Police found a number of weapons at the scene, including knives, which are being examined. Officers said they were looking at various possibilities for the deaths, including suffocation.

The bodies were reportedly discovered by the mother’s 20-year-old son arriving at the home on Friday morning.

Police have dismissed reports the family had been in-

vestigated by social services saying it was “not a problem house”.

Memorials have sprung up outside the home in the Manoora district of Cairns .A church service was held on Sunday morning to remember the children.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a statement it was an “unspeakable crime”. These were “trying days for our country”, he added. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

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monDAY, december 22, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

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news

monDAY, december 22, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

US donates communication AFC’s Williams says miners need direction equipment to GDF A s gold prices internationally continue a downward spiral, Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Trevor Williams said that calls for miners to aggressively cut production costs will fall on “deaf ears”.

According to the AFC MP, officials are calling for cost cuts without actually showing the miners how they can go about achieving it. He explained that at present, min-

US Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Bryan Hunt presented Army chief, Brigadier Mark Phillips with the communications package at Camp Ayanganna

T

he United States, via its Embassy’s Security Cooperation Office, on Friday donated the second of two shipments of communication equipment to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

In a short ceremony held at Camp Ayanganna, US Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Bryan Hunt presented Army chief, Brigadier Mark Phillips with the communications package.

The package, consisting of hundreds of car-mounted and handheld Motorola radios and accessories, was donated to the Defence Force and the Government of Guyana. The value of the first shipment donated in September was US$250,000 and this donation was triple that value at US$750,000, bringing the total value to US$1 million.

In brief remarks, Hunt expressed his strong desire to continue building on the

excellent bilateral security relationship the US shares with Guyana, and he hoped that the communication equipment could be used in a wide variety of ways, including in the battle against drug trafficking.

Brigadier Phillips graciously accepted the equipment, thanking the US Government for its continued support to the country and the GDF as they continue to improve and enhance their capabilities. He cited the possible use of the equipment in next year’s elections and was confident it would help the communication process.

This presentation is one in a long list of activities demonstrating the strong relationship between the GDF, the US Embassy’s Security Cooperation Office, and the Florida National Guard State Partnership Programme. This particular equipment was donated

by the St Augustine Police Department and St John’s County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. The past year has featured multiple engagements between the Florida National Guard State Partnership Programme and the GDF on a number of areas.

US Army Captain Lawrence Fischer, the State Partnership Programme Manager for Guyana, was highly instrumental in securing the communications equipment. He stated that the Florida National Guard continued to support efforts in Guyana and looked forward to more opportunities in the near future.

The US and Guyana continue to seek ways to enhance bilateral security and create a partnership that develops strong security institutions in Guyana, and advances the safety and security of the citizens of Guyana.

AFC Member of Parliament Trevor Williams

ers are dependent on several sectors including transportation and food costs and the price for these commodities.

“You cannot cut much cost when prices are not falling. If food remains the same, fuel remains the same, transportation remains the same, the roads are not built and properly developed, the truck drivers call for heavy prices to transport, air transport is also a challenges, malaria and other illnesses all challenges,” said Williams during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times.

He added: “So if the areas of costs cutting could be identified, then we can see them progressing.”

With a year-long low in gold prices, miners have been mounting calls for more support from the Government,

including more duty-free concessions for both small and medium-scale miners.

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Chairman (GGMC) Clinton Williams had said that miners should begin seeking ways to cut production costs to ride the price shocks for the precious mined commodity on the international market.

This call has also been sounded by recently confirmed Chairman of the Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga.

Williams went on to indicate that because of the many issues affecting the sector, the Government should take steps to conduct periodic reviews to ensure a smooth running of the mining sector.

“Mining touches everybody in Guyana; it’s really the largest in our sector… the sector needs a periodic review on how to make adjustments to miners,” remarked Williams, adding that “it’s a volatile sector and we have to have periodic review to address arising concerns”.

He pointed out that presently miners are operating and producing gold at the same expense for less value on the market.

Williams contended that “the calls of the miners are very clear and fair and I would like to see the State putting a lot of thought and effort into this… we need to see more effort and action being put in place.”

The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) on Saturday confirmed that gold is projected to fall short of its declaration target for 2014.

In a release to the media, the GGB said that total gold declaration as at December 20, has decreased by 22.61 per cent when compared to 2013, while gold purchased by the GGB has decreased by 41.24 per cent for the same period. In 2013, the gold industry declared a total of 481,087 ounces of gold which represented a 9.7 per cent

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Chairman Clinton Williams

increase over the previous year’s figure.

This, according to the GGB, was a historic performance – the highest level of production, exceeding the production levels of Omai Gold Mines when it was at its peak.

The GGB said the quantity of gold dealers exported has increased by 10.16 per cent, while the quantity of gold exported by the GGB fell by 40.26 per cent.

Thus, the overall quantity of gold exported for the two periods being compared are down by 22.73 per cent.

Additionally, the value of gold exported by dealers has increased by 10.86 per cent, while the revenue garnered by the GGB decreased by 43.48 per cent during the comparative periods. The total revenue for the two comparative time periods fell by 23.45 per cent.

Gold exports for the 2013 fiscal year amounted to US$648.5 million, a 9.5 per cent decline compared to 2012. The sharp decline was linked to the average price of US$1344 per ounce compared to US$1575 in 2012, negating the six per cent increase in export volume, which amounted to 482,527 ounces.

Global wood production grows for the fourth year G

lobal production of all major wood products continued to show steady growth in 2013 for the fourth consecutive year, according to new data published by FAO today.

While the production of industrial roundwood, sawnwood, wood pellets and woodbased panels have fully recovered from the economic downturn in 2008-2009, global production of pulp and paper stagnated in 201213 largely due to a decline in consumption in China, where electronic publishing is increasingly being used instead of traditional printing processes.

Wood production in 2013 exceeded the pre-recession level of 2007 in all product groups, except for sawnwood.

Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Caribbean and Northern America have seen the fastest recovery in wood production.

Recovery in Europe slowed down in 2012 and has yet to recover especially in western and southern Europe where production and consumption fell in 2012-13 for some products such as industrial roundwood and wood-based panels.

Wood pellet production soared to an all time high in 2013, mainly driven by bioenergy policies and consumption targets in Europe, according to FAO’s latest data.

Global production of wood pellets grew by 12 percent in 2013, reaching 22 million tonnes. Over half of this (13 million tonnes) was traded internationally. Markets for

wood pellets are dominated by Europe and Northern America, which accounted for almost all global production (62 percent and 34 percent respectively) and consumption (81 percent and 15 percent respectively) in 2013. Trade in pellets from Northern America to Europe, mainly the UK, also doubled in 2013 from the previous year.

Paper markets

In China, production of paper and consumption of pulp and wastepaper - the two main products used to manufacture paper - declined slightly (by one percent) in 2013 for the first time after 38 years of uninterrupted growth. The downturn in the world’s largest producer and

consumer of paper was largely responsible for the stagnation in global pulp and paper production in 2013.

“The developments in Chinese paper consumption are worth noting for the future,” said Adrian Whiteman, FAO Senior Forest Economist. “If people in China are switching to electronic media as so many of us have in the West, this will be the end of one of the few remaining centres of growth in printing and writing paper consumption”.

In contrast to this, China continues to increase in importance as a producer and consumer of other forest products. In 2013 the country overtook a number of other major countries in different product groups, for example,

Canada in sawnwood production and the United States of America in sawnwood consumption. China’s imports of industrial roundwood and sawnwood also surged by 18 percent and reached record levels in 2013.

Production and consumption of wood-based panels and sawnwood appears to be growing strongly in most regions. In 2013, global sawnwood production totalled 421 million cubic metres, representing an increase of 4.6 percent compared to 2012 and an increase of 22 percent from 2009.

Sawnwood production has been recovering gradually over the period 200913, largely due to production growth in three regions: Europe, Northern America

and Asia-Pacific. In contrast, production in Africa and Latin America and Caribbean remained modest over the same period.

In 2013, global woodbased panel production surged to a new record high of 358 million cubic metres up 7.8 percent from 2012 and 35 percent from 2009. Woodbased panels were the only product category that did not contract during the recent recession and their production has been growing steadily.

This is due to rapid and consistent growth in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America and Caribbean regions, where production has increased by 59 percent and 23 percent respectively over the period 2009-13.

news

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monday, december 22, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Dynamic Airways passengers stranded at JFK uled to depart the JFK at 01:00 as usual and arrive at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at 07:00h this morning.

Another flight is scheduled to leave Timehri at 17:00h, heading back to the JFK Airport. Gouveia stated that while the airline is sorry for any inconvenience caused by delay, he pointed out that safety is always the first priority.

Guyana Times understands that when passen-

This recent delay has caused public outbursts, particularly on social networks, about the continuous inefficiency of the airline.

One man, Nigel Saul, posted on his Facebook page warning passengers not to use the airline. “Guyanese... don’t fly with Dynamic Airways... it’s a s*** show and everyone is just stranded with no one to talk to,” he vented on the social media.

Meanwhile, another woman Jasodra

Captain Gerry Gouveia

S

cores of passengers travelling back to Guyana for the Christmas Holidays were left stranded at the John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport, New York after yet another Dynamic Airways flight was delayed for 24 hours.

This time the fault is said to be maintenance related, according to a Facebook post by local representative, Captain Gerry Gouveia.

“Due to an unanticipated maintenance delay, the additional flight that was added

by Dynamic to handle holiday passengers is delayed by 24 hours. To alleviate the inconvenience, passengers are being accommodated with hotels, meals, and transportation,” he mentioned in the social network post.

The flight was resched-

This recent delay has caused public outbursts, particularly on social networks

gers on the flight showed up on Sunday morning around 03:30h at the JFK to checkin, there was no one at the Dynamic counter. Calls made to the airline went to an automatic system, which related that the flight was rescheduled as a result of maintenance issues. This situation frustrated the passengers as there was no person for them to talk to about the situation.

Jagessar was quoted saying “Dynamic, please get it right. When in the world are you going to have a flight that is not being delayed or cancelled for days?”

Only in November last, Dynamic Airways resumed operations in Guyana after being out for several months owing to a number of issues, including problematic ground handling personnel.

Gouveia had told this news-

paper last month that the local aviation authorities had given the greenlight after the airline would have provided some additional documents requested.

He was optimistic that with the return of the airline, there will be better and improved service; however, this is the second time since the flights have been delayed.

Based on the approval granted by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Dynamic Airways has up to June 9, 2015 to operate in Guyana and is allowed to only sell tickets for the approved period (November 22-June 9).

However, Gouveia had indicated intentions of applying for another approval package.

The airline will be plying the route on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Dynamic Airways entered the Guyanese market in June, but after a few flights, it suspended services after it was unable to operate out of the JFK. The service was expected to resume on August 18, but more challenges surfaced. According to the airline, this suspension would have allowed it to secure time slots at the JFK, organise better ground handling and check-in processes, as well as secure schedule integrity.

No funding for DNA lab in new US$15M IDB loan

F

unding for the much anticipated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) laboratory is not included in a new US$15 million loan granted by the InterAmerican Development Bank to Guyana (IDB) to bolster this country’s security sector.

Government is hoping to secure additional financing from the bank to have such facilities at its $1.49 billion forensic laboratory at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. The administration has been severely criticised for building such an expensive lab without DNA capabilities. The Guyana Police Force in recent times has had to rely on sister countries for assistance in DNA testing.

Only last week in a telephone interview with Guyana Times, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said Government is currently engaging the IDB to have this component in the near future. “Why build a lab if DNA testing won’t be done? It is one of the main components of solving a crime,” Omah Benner remarked.

Benner stated that considering the situation, it exemplifies a lack of prioritising in the security sector.

Furthermore, a handful of persons have vented their frustration over the fact

ternational best practices as well as an instrument to deterring would-be criminals and their activities in our country, all aimed at reducing the level of crime and I have no doubt that this laboratory will have a significant contribution in that respect”.

New IDB loan

The Forensic Science Laboratory at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown

that it takes “too long” for DNA samples that are sent for testing in Trinidad and Tobago to return to Guyana.

Pointing out to the Nyozi Goodman’s situation, Sonya Mohamed noted that it took well over five months before the results were known.

Moreover, she stated that the results were available but the Police took a while before it was collected.

She pointed out the need for the speedy availability of DNA testing facilities in Guyana to ensure such delays will not hinder investigations within the nation.

However, although the laboratory is not equipped with DNA testing, it has a highly specialised evidence recording system for information management. It also

specialises in the analysis of toxic substances, narcotic drugs, pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol, forged documents and biological fluids.

The two-story facility is located in the compound of the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, and occupies an area of 12,000 square feet. The ground floor contains the administrative offices, the library and research area, conference room, security monitoring, evidence submission and washrooms.

The top floor houses the chemistry, toxicology, documents and evidence trace departments. Rohee, in remarks at the commissioning, said “these new techniques are all part of modernising a system in keeping with in-

Meanwhile, in a statement on Friday, the IDB said Guyana has secured a US$15 million loan for its Citizen Security Programme that helps communities better resolve conflicts in nonviolent ways, improves Police effectiveness and availability of crime data, and provides opportunities to rehabilitate and reinsert prisoners back into society.

In the statement, the IDB said Guyana´s homicide rates have nearly doubled since 2000, to 20.7 per 100,000, and the country suffers from high rates of robberies and domestic violence, with one out of every six women reporting physical abuse in the past year.

According to the IDB, the project will focus on 20 communities that have the highest rates of homicides, robberies, burglaries and domestic violence. The operation will finance a series of surveys to measure changes in levels of crime victimisation and citizens’

Family F

amily values may be defined differently to different people, but basically family values are rules we set for ourselves, whereby we try our best to follow.

Perhaps one of the biggest family values is belonging, because it is important that everyone in the family feel that he/she is loved and that their opinion matters. And speaking of belonging, people feel a sense of it when they come together for special occasions or Narine Dat Sookram even just spending time together.

We do not necessarily have to be spending all of our spare time together, but for some people this may be a normal practice. Generally speaking, people do not have a problem to take chances if they know that they have a safe place to call home, coming back to their family that is, when things are not working out that well.

It is a great thing to create a strong family bond, as long as every member has the opportunity to have the freedom to explore the activities that they enjoy.

Every family should avoid too much structure, because it can cause a lot of unwillingness and can result in a lot of unhappiness including anger. The truth is, the more flexibility there is in our family in decision making, it is more likely our family will be much happier.

Just imagine if there is one member of the family who is always thinking that he/she is always right and always tries to enforce his/her ideas of doing things. In such a case, this will certainly lead to much unhappiness within the family.

Respect is probably a big challenge in most family units.

That’s is why it is important to respect every member’s feelings and needs when making any decision that will affect everyone in the family.

This can be done by acknowledging and valuing everyone’s input in the family. I know of an old saying that respect is usually earned which is probably true in most cases that is why most people might say that the only way to earn and keep respect from someone is to first show them respect. This can actually extend out of the home and into school, work or other social settings as well.

Honesty is also very important in any family unit, because in a sense it is the basis of any relationships if we are looking for long term relationship with family members. It is very tough to build a deep connection if we are not honest with each other.

That is why it is important to encourage honesty through the everyday practice of understanding and respect when someone tells us something he/she is not proud of for example.

And last but lease is forgiveness, forgiving people who did us wrong is very hard to do and it is an important choice to make. Let’s keep in mind that we all make mistakes.

For example occasionally we may say things that we totally regret, because none of us are perfect.

So my advice is to have an open mind to discuss issues to gain a better understanding and move on, because the bottom line is life is too short to keep grudges.

For questions, comments and feedback, send them to mcnarine@rogers.com. perception of security, a national survey to understand the extent and causes of domestic violence and violence against women as well as a crime and violence study in Amerindian communities.

The programme aims to certify 8400 individuals in vocational training and conduct 240 training workshops to community members, ranging from mentoring programmes to job placement.

The project will set up an evidence-based community policing model that includes training, technological improvements, and crime and violence surveys to improve data availability. About 3400 officers are to receive

community engagement training and 1700 in will attend courses on forensic and investigation techniques.

Actions to improve rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners include a prison census in five prisons and the design a new case management system, among other outputs.

Half of the $15 million loan is financed from the IDB´s Fund for Special Operations, which carries a 0.25 per cent interest rate and a 40-year amortisation period. The remainder is financed from ordinary capital with a fixed interest rate and a 30-year amortisation period.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, december 22, 2014

ARCHIE

An interesting offer will come with delays. Keep all of (March 21- the details on hand so you can April 19) act when the timing is right.

Take extra precautions while travelling.

ARIES

Preparation when applied TAURUS to an innovative idea will (April 20- prove profitable. Brush up May 20) on marketing and sales techniques in order to find a way to make your plans come to life.

dilbert

The hectic pace that acGEMINI (May 21- companies the end of the June 20) year will take its toll on your health. Take some time for personal pleasures and pampering and you will feel ready to take on the world.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

You will run yourself ragged trying to find the perfect gift for someone you love.

Giving your time and attention to someone special is more important than anything you could buy.

Get together with friends LEO to enjoy the spirit of the sea(July 23- son. When planning group Aug. 22) events, remember to include elderly or ailing relatives whom you don’t see very often.

Calvin and Hobbes

You and a loved one are VIRGO likely to feel stressed and (Aug. 23- emotional. Devote time for Sept. 22) just the two of you to reconnect and reflect on your relationship.

Your home environment LIBRA will not be relaxing today.

(Sept. 23Getting out and keeping busy Oct. 23) will provide some time away from the tension building up between the people you reside with.

SUDOKU

Plan to have fun with SCORPIO friends and neighbours. Your (Oct. 24busy schedule must not stop Nov. 22) you from taking part in activities that could help you form a closer bond with the people you value most.

Don’t take on too much; SAGITTARIUS stick to what you do best.

(Nov. 23- Stay on track by keeping up Dec. 21) on the latest trends in your field. Your dedicated efforts will lead to success.

SATURDAY'S WORD

Saturday's solution

You will be considered for CAPRICORN a new opportunity in the new (Dec. 22year. Give the matter a lot of Jan. 19) thought. It will be the challenge you have been looking for.

AQUARIUS

Keep a close watch on your (Jan. 20- finances. This is not a good Feb. 19) time to lend or borrow money. You will regret it if you allow anyone to take advantage of you.

PISCES It’s OK to take part in fes(Feb. 20- tivities, but remember to keep March 20) your professional aspirations in mind. It’s possible that you will meet someone who could give your career a boost.

monday, december 22, 2014

19

Guyana Cup Rematch…

Curfew Tower upsets Treacle Holder aiming to build trust and CP Got Even

Action during the day’s proceedings

By Andrew Carmichael

C

urfew Tower has joined the group of elite horses in Guyana.

The animal made the big move by winning the feature event at the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales’ ‘Guyana Cup Rematch’ held Sunday at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

With a field of some of the best horses in Guyana, they were out in an even brake in the one-mile long race, Got To Go took an early lead with Princess She Is Not at her heals.

With the final 500 meters left and $1.5 million at stake for the winner, Curfew Tower took the lead but Princess She Is Not did not let up and after a few strides went back in the lead.

Jockey Sohan continued to spur the animal on into the final turn and Curfew Tower came around the final turn with her nose ahead as Treacle made a move on the inside, first getting past Got To Go, then moving up with the two leaders.

However, Jockey Sohan, realising the urgency, pushed Curfew Tower into making a final desperate move to the flag pole with Treacle at her heels. CP Got Even made a late move to finish in third place and the promising Grande Roja was fourth.

Meanwhile, another upset came when Spit Fire won the 3-year-old West Indian bred race for the $1 million first prize.

Amazon Warrior of the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables

took the two-year-old Guyana bred 1000 metre race ahead of Miss Massiah and Slim Shady.

The Jumbo Jet Racing Stables was also jumping for joy when Keep On Swinging won the two-year-old West Indian bred 1000 metre race.

In second place was Its My Choice from the same stable with Settling Star third and Midnight Blue fourth.

The G1 and lower class race was won by Appealing Harvest ahead of Damascus Dream, War Craft and Rosetta while the H1 and lower class race was won by She So Special.

The second place went to Marry Ann ahead of Royal Champion.

Several of the big names in horse racing faced the

starter for the E1 and lower class race which saw Captain Crook of the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables out-smarting the other animals to reach the flag pole first and claim the $600,000 first prize.

In second place was the Right To Rule while Appealing Harvest placed third and Swing Easy, fourth.

The day’s proceedings concluded in almost total darkness when Royal Cash won the I3 and lower race and carry away $300,000.

The second place went to Affinity while Red Jet rounded up the winners.

The Jumbo Jet Racing Stables was adjudged the best stable while Jockey Colin Ross with two wins the best Jockey.

Afridi to retire from ODIs after World Cup

F

ormer Pakistan Captain Shahid Afridi has announced he will retire from one-day internationals after the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The 34-year-old all-rounder, who has played 389 ODIs, said he wanted to choose his own time to step down.

Afridi said: “I want to go out of ODIs with self-respect and with my fans wanting more from me.”

He will continue as Pakistan Twenty20 captain and wants to focus on winning the T20 World Cup in India in 2016.

Afridi has an average of 23.49 and a strike-rate of 116.29 in ODIs, and has also taken 391 wickets at 33.89 and an economy-rate of 4.62. am the first Pakistan player to be able to announce his retirement proper-

Shahid Afridi

ly,” added Afridi, who led his team to the 2011 World Cup semi-finals.

“I always wanted to do this having seen the problems faced by other bigger players in the past. It was not an easy decision to take and I think many of my seniors also found it difficult to go out at the right time.”

He made his ODI debut as a 16-yearold in October 1996 against Sri Lanka in Nairobi and set a record for the fastest 100 off 37 balls. The record stood for 17 years until New Zealand’s Corey Anderson took 36 balls to reach a hundred against West Indies in January.

Afridi had retired once before from Pakistan’s ODI side in May 2011 in protest at the Pakistan Cricket Board, following a public row with coach Waqar Younis, but made himself available again just five months later. (BBC Sport)

Jason Holder

G

aining the trust of his players and building a good relationship with them is one of the top priorities for newly-appointed West Indies One-day International skipper Jason Holder who takes over the captaincy from Dwayne Bravo.

The 23-year-old Barbados all-rounder Holder was pleased to be appointed Captain and is well aware he has a huge task ahead of him in leading the West Indies team in the upcoming ODI series against South Africa.

“I am obviously very happy to be appointed in this post. It is something I have always been looking forward to from a youngster. Taking up the mantle from Dwayne Bravo is obviously big boots to fill...I will just try to move the team forward,” Holder told WICB Media.

“My biggest task at the moment is to build trust and build relationships with my players and try to get the best out of them in key situations and in games,” he added.

“It is a huge task. We are down the pecking order in terms of the rankings so it will be about getting the guys together a best as I possibly can and try to move up the rankings.

"It is about us starting well here (in South Africa) and taking that into the World Cup,” said Holder.

But the new skipper is not really looking as far the World Cup just yet.

“I just want to take it step

by step. I think the key now is that we build some momentum,” Holder explained.

Being named ODI skipper also gives the young Bajan motivation to lift his game.

“I have been in and out of the side since I started playing international cricket. I have not done too badly, obviously I am eager to keep pressing forward and improving,” he said.

“I see this now as more motivation to do well and continue to make West Indies cricket proud and build a legacy for myself. Obviously, being the Captain is a huge step for me but I am quite willing to take it on and welcome it with open arms,” Holder added.

He also noted that getting the support from the West Indies support staff and the senior players in the side will be crucial in the early days of captaincy.

“The support is key at this present time being a young leader in this form. It has good support staff around the team in terms of the management team and obviously the senior players who I get along well with. It is just about me trying to gel everybody together and move in the right direction,” he explained.

“I look up to a lot of the senior players in the squad and I think I will be supported by the guys and it is all about moving West Indies cricket forward,” Holder added. (Trinidad Express)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

monday, december 22, 2014

Uncapped Arsenal, Liverpool draw in a thrilling contest Kenroy Peters M replaces Roach

L

eft-arm seamer Kenroy Peters has been called up to replace Kemar Roach in the West Indies Test squad.

Roach, who injured his ankle on the first day of the first Test against South Africa in Centurion, will fly home to rehabilitate.

Peters, 32, has taken 190 wickets in 62 firstclass matches at an average of 20.21. He was the top wicket-taker in the 2013-14 Regional Four Day Competition, with 40 wickets for Windward Islands at an average of 12.75. This season, he has picked up 13 wickets in four matches at 19.38, including a five-wicket haul against Guyana last month.

Roach pulled up with an ankle strain while running up to bowl the final ball of his 16th over in South Africa’s first innings, and left the field. He did not

Kenroy Peters

bowl thereafter, nor did he bat in either of West Indies’ innings in their defeat by an innings and 220 runs. While it was initially reported that his ankle suffered no major damage, Roach’s condition worsened and he was ruled out of the Boxing Day Test in Port Elizabeth. (Cricinfo)

Muhammad Ali hospitalised with pneumonia

artin Skrtel’s equaliser seven minutes into stoppage time gave Liverpool a fully deserved point against Arsenal at Anfield.

Referee Michael Oliver had added nine minutes on after a lengthy second-half delay when Skrtel required treatment for a head wound sustained in an accidental clash with Olivier Giroud.

Giroud looked to have sent Arsenal on the way to avenging their 5-1 thrashing at Anfield last season when he put them ahead, Mathieu Debuchy having equalised seconds after Philippe Coutinho gave Liverpool the lead on the stroke of halftime.

But Skrtel, heavily bandaged and with Liverpool reduced to 10 men after substitute Fabio Borini was sent off late on, rose to meet Adam Lallana’s corner in the 97th minute and power a header past Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny in front of the Kop. Arsenal were desolate but it would have been a real smash-and-grab had they hung on for three points after Liverpool showed most of the ambition and moments of quality in a game high on drama but short on class.

Liverpool supporters rose to acclaim their team’s resilience at the final whistle, but they may actually feel disappointed not to claim all three points against an Arsenal side that were desperately poor for long periods.

Brendan Rodgers’s team moved into the top 10 in the

Liverpool finds the net during the game

Premier League table, but they are nine points adrift of West Ham in fourth place, while Arsenal are sixth.

What was clear, however, was that these are two sides who will prove an irrelevance when it comes to the title race. Their main business will be contesting a topfour place and trying to ensure they are in next season’s Champions League.

Liverpool kept Raheem Sterling in a central role, from where he scored two goals in the midweek Capital One Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth, but it was the lively Lazar Markovic who had the best opportunities during a first half in which chances were in short supply.

Szczesny blocked with his legs when the £20m summer signing from Benfica was played in by Steven Gerrard and he should have hit the

target from the edge of the area after being set up by Sterling.

Liverpool had been much improved without carving Arsenal open, but the breakthrough finally came on halftime when Coutinho made space in the area before drilling home a low right-foot shot off the post.

It would have given Liverpool a deserved lead at the break, but the defensive frailties that have haunted them this season meant they could not protect their advantage even for a few seconds until half-time.

Liverpool could not clear Alexis Sanchez’s free-kick and, when Mathieu Flamini nodded on, Debuchy got the better of Skrtel to head past the flat-footed Brad Jones.

There was a delay after the break for Skrtel’s head injury, before Lucas fired over the top and Gerrard headed off target

from Sterling’s cross, although replays confirmed he had handled the ball around the onrushing Szczesny.

Arsenal showed greater ruthlessness in front of goal to go ahead after 64 minutes, Giroud sweeping a finish past Jones at the near post from Santi Cazorla’s cross.

Rodgers had introduced Rickie Lambert and Borini to give Liverpool the cutting edge they lacked, and it needed an athletic save from Szczesny to turn the Italian’s header over the bar.

But Borini, out of favour with Rodgers, blotted his copybook further with two yellow cards, first for hurling the ball away then lunging at Cazorla.

Despite Arsenal’s numerical advantage, Liverpool continued to press and Skrtel delivered a result that was the least they deserved. (BBC

Sport)

ICC announces World Cup opening events

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Muhammad Ali (centre)

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oxing great Muhammad Ali was hospitalised with a mild case of pneumonia that was caught early and should result in a short hospital stay, an Ali spokesman said Saturday night.

The three-time world heavyweight champion, who is battling Parkinson’s disease, is being treated by his team of doctors and is in stable condition, said his spokesman, Bob Gunnell.

“He went into the hospital this morning,” Gunnell said in a phone interview.

“He has a mild case of pneumonia and the prognosis is good.”

Gunnell declined to say where the 72-year-old Ali is hospitalised. He indicated that Ali’s bout of pneumonia was caught quickly.

“This all came about this morning,” Gunnell said.

No other details are being released due to the Ali family’s request for privacy, he said.

Ali’s public appearances have diminished in recent years as he continues to battle Parkinson’s disease, but he still enjoys getting out and watching sports and vis-

iting friends.

Ali appeared in public in September at a ceremony in his hometown of Louisville for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards. Ali did not speak to the crowd but posed for photos with award winners, including former NFL great Jim Brown.

Brown leaned over and whispered to the seated Ali during the photo session.

Later, Brown said he told Ali: “You’re the greatest of all time.”

Ali retired from boxing in 1981 and devoted himself to social causes. He travelled the world on humanitarian missions, mingling with the masses and rubbing elbows with world leaders.

Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W Bush in 2005.

The Muhammad Ali Centre, in Louisville, is dedicated to Ali’s humanitarian causes and showcases his boxing career.

Ali and his wife, Lonnie, have homes in Paradise Valley, Arizona; Berrien Springs, Michigan; and in Louisville. (Jamaica Observer)

he Melbourne celebration will involve World Cup players and legends, cultural and music performances, a spectacular fireworks display and a yet to be revealed “special moment”.

It will reflect the diversity and excitement of the 14 competing nations and include some icons in Australian entertainment Meanwhile in New Zealand, the event will feature an appearance by opera-trio Solo3 Mio, songstress Ginny Blackmore and classical music star Hayley Westenra. Cricketing legends

Sir Richard Hadlee, Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum will also be on hand.

Both events will form part of a broadcast package to be televised around the world

by Star Sports and its licensees. In Australia it will broadcast by FoxSports and the Nine Network. In New Zealand, it will be broadcast on Sky Sports and free-to-air on Prime.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 chief executive John Harnden said: “Melbourne will welcome the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to Australia

for the first time in 23 years with this Opening Event.

“The Victorian Government along with Victorian Major Events Company are giving us great support to put on this show for the tournament in Australia and I’m sure it will get us off to a great start.”

Head of New Zealand for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Therese Walsh said: “We’ve planned an opening event that will appeal to all ages and one which provides a chance for the people of Christchurch to come down to Hagley Park and celebrate their city’s important role in

the tournament.”

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Opening Event in Australia is a free event, which will be ticketed. Tickets will be available to the public on a first come, first served basis. Members of the public interested in attending should go to www.cricketworldcup. com from midday Australian Eastern Summer Time on January 12, 2015 and follow the prompts. Each applicant can request up to four tickets.

The Christchurch event is also free, but will not be ticketed. (Windies Cricket)

Armstrong associates settle Lightning strike in suit with Landis Florida sends fans to wo of Lance Landis sued Armstrong hospital after NFL game Armstrong’s longtime and others in 2010, accusing

A

lightning strike in a parking lot outside a stadium in Tampa, Florida, after a National Football League game on Sunday landed about a dozen people in the hospital, an emergency response official said.

Seven people were taken by paramedics to a hospital and reported to be in stable condition after being injured in the strike at Raymond James Stadium, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

had played the Green Bay Packers, said Jason Penny, spokesman for Tampa Fire Rescue.

Another four or five people decided to go to the hospital on their own, he said.

“It appeared that no one person had gotten struck by lightning, they were just near a lightning strike that knocked some of the people down,” Penny said.

One person lost consciousness but regained it before paramedics arrived, he said.

(Reuters)

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business partners have agreed to pay the federal government US$500,000 to settle a whistleblower lawsuit filed by former teammate Floyd Landis.

Notice of the agreement with Bill Stapleton, Armstrong’s longtime agent, and Bart Knaggs, one of Armstrong’s business partners, was filed this week in federal court documents.

They also have agreed to pay Landis’ attorney, Paul Scott, US$100,000.

them of doping offences and defrauding the Government over the US Postal Service’s sponsorship of Armstrong’s team. The Government in 2013 joined the lawsuit against Armstrong and is seeking up to US$100 million in penalties, but hadn’t joined the case against Stapleton and Knaggs.

The Government must still approve the proposed settlement. The lawsuit against Armstrong continues. (ESPN)

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GFA Banks Beer Cup...

monday, december 22, 2014

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estern Tigers played a hard fought game to top Fruta Conquerors 1-0 when the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Banks Beer Cup continued on Saturday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground.

With much at stake for both sides, the game was physical as both teams defended and attacked relentlessly.

However, Darren Benjamin took advantage of an opening to score in the 29th minute – that was the eventual game winner for the Western Tigers.

The game continued with a number of anticlimactic moments as both sides threw away chances that could have gone either way.

Meanwhile the GFC whopped the Houstan Stars 12-nil.

The Bourda based side

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Scoring doubles were Keiron Solomon in the 10th and 38th minutes and Terrence Lewis in the eighth and 58th minutes.

Completing the lopsided win with solo strikes in the 36th and 37th minutes were Sherman Anthony and Delon Cadogan respectively.

Foo helps Titans to Universal Solutions T20 title

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The winning Berbice Titans pose for a photo

By Andrew Carmichael

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Western Tigers eliminate Fruta Conquerors

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SPORTS

Phone: 227-0704,

late hitting 35 by national all rounder Jonathan Foo helped Berbice Titans to secure a 25 run victory over Universal President’s XI in the final of the Universal Solutions T20 Festival on Saturday at the Albion Community Centre.

Foo, who had earlier been struggling to get the ball away took 22 runs off the final 10 balls of the innings including 14 off the last over which was bowled

by Krisendat Romeo to complete a 34-ball innings.

Foo’s effort helped Berbice Titans to reach 128-3 off their allotted overs.

Earlier, Kandasammy Surujnarine, batting at the top of the innings, hit 40 off 32 balls as the Berbice Titans threatened to post a big total.

While Surujnarine was going, Devendra Thakoordeo with 36 off 38 balls lent good support.

However, amid a run spree, Sharaz Ramcharran was introduced into the bowling and immediately runs started to dry up.

Romeo then replaced opening bowler Sugesh Dhani

and conceded just one run off his first three overs as Foo found it difficult to score until the last over.

Set 129 to get, the Universal President’s XI found the going tough against the pace of Raun Johnson and Ramario De Jonge, who was too much to handle, and were struggling at 40-3 after 10 overs and eventually reached 1039 when the 20 overs ran out.

Former West Indies U-19 spinner Gudakesh Motie (3 for 23) was the chief wicket taker with good support from Eugene La Feur (2 for 15). Foo grabbed one off a solitary over.

Earlier in the playoff for third place Universal Warriors defeated Universal Solutions by 21 runs.

Batting first, Universal Warriors posted 116-4 with David Latchaya hitting 32 off 33 balls and Damein Vantul 20 off 14 balls.

In reply, Universal Solutions were dismissed for 96 in 19.3 overs. Shawn Pereira did most of the damage with 4-20.

Berbice Titans received the Universal Solutions T20 trophy along with

$200,000, while Universal President’s XI pocketed $100,000 and the runnerup trophy.

Universal Warriors collected the third place trophy and $50,000 while Universal Solutions also received $50,000 for their efforts.

Eugene La Feur was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament while Shawn Pereira copped the man of the match for the third place play off.

Earlier, in the day, two teams led by West Indies female players were involved in a 20/20 game.

Universal Fire Birds led by Tremayne Smartt defeated Universal Mean Girls, which was led by Shemaine Campbelle.

Batting first, Universal Fire Birds posted 66-7 off 20 overs and in reply, Universal Mean Girls scored 69-1 off 16.5 overs with Melanie Mangru (25 NO) and Latoya Smith (26 NO) taking the team to victory.

The event was sponsored by CEO of the Universal DVD Club and cricket enthusiast, Vicram Seubarran.

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guyanatimesGY.com

monday, december 22, 2014

ECCB, GFLSCA make monetary Ramdin: We didn’t donation to Better Hope Sports Club adjust well

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he West Indies were blown away by South Africa by an innings and 220 runs.

They have lost key pacer Kemar Roach to an ankle injury which will keep him out of the second Test starting on Boxing Day. And they have lost middle-order batsman Assad Fudadin to a hand injury.

Despite all of that, the West Indies skipper Denesh Ramdin maintained his confidence in his team to bounce back and put up a better fight in the second Test.

At the post match press ECCB President Bissoondyal Singh hands over a cheque to a representative of the Better Hope conference, Ramdin did not Sports Club use Roach’s injury as an excuse for their poor first infforts to enhance the masters of yester year and ed to contribute to the posi- nings bowling effort which capacity in which the talented youths of today tive cause. effectively gave their hosts the youths are en- in some exhibition games Ricky Deonarine, on be- the upper hand. gaged in sports in the East with the masters in a soft half of the GFLSCA stressed “I just don’t think we adCoast community were well ball cricket match while the that the development of the justed well enough to the supported at a fund rais- youths decked in their col- youths is important and is pitches here,” said Ramdin. ing event held at the Better ourful outfits participated in happy to be associated with “We bowled too short,” Hope Community Centre on a T20 exhibition match. the event. he insisted. “The first couple December 14 by the East President of the ECCB The management and wickets we got on the first Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) Bissoondyal Singh in his re- members of the Better Hope morning, the guys got caught and Guyana Flood Light marks lauded the manage- Sports Club wish to extend behind. If we look back now Softball Cricket Association ment of the Better Hope heartfelt gratitude to all for we can see we bowled too (GFLSCA).

Sports Club for its hard making this event a success. short to AB de Villiers and The event showcased the work and was very delight-

E

Denesh Ramdin

Hashim Amla who scored many runs square of the wicket.”

The Windies picked up three South African wickets with the score on 57 before Amla and de Villiers put on over 300 runs for the fourth wicket with the South African skipper Amla going on to score a double hundred.

Asked if he felt that the tourist had the firepower to take 20 South African wickets, Ramdin said “We do believe we have the resources to take 20 South African

wickets.

“Hopefully after this game we can refocus and in Port Elizabeth, we create some more chances,” he said.

“We’ll take the positives from this game and the memories of our last win in Port Elizabeth which will give us some confidence, but having said that cricket is played on the day. Everyone has to bring their A-game being 1-0 down in this series. It’s tough to beat this number one South African team but hopefully we can give them a fight,” said Ramdin.

Speaking about their batting, Ramdin said: “We need to be more disciplined in the batting department and not go after wide balls and be smart.

“We know they’re a very good bowling lineup and we shouldn’t have given them any opportunities. We need to bat for longer sessions.

It’s important for guys that get starts to carry on and get a big hundred. No one did that,” the West Indies skipper lamented. (Trinidad Express)

Woodpecker Products Badminton Christmas tournament…

Ramdhani siblings cart off most titles B

adminton prodigies Narayan & Priyanna Ramdhani won all but one title when the 2014 Woodpecker Products Badminton Christmas tournament concluded on Saturday at the Queen’s College Courts.

Priyanna Ramdhani walked away with the girl’s under-13, 15 and 19 titles while her brother Narayan won the boys under-19 and men’s open titles.

The only other person to win a title was Tyrese Jeffrey in the boy’s under-15 category.

Quanli Yang of China Harbour Engineering and parent of one of the competitors was also on hand to do the presentation of prizes while the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) thanked the sponsors for their support.

In action on the final day of the tournament, Narayan Ramdhani won three matches to secure his title in the men’s open tournament while little sister Priyanna was in action once, defeating Abosaide Cadogan for the under-19 title.

All the winners of various prizes pose with their trophies after the presentation ceremony

guyanatimesGY.com

monday, december 22, 2014

23

PGL Memorial basketball tournament…

Raven rout Nets to 3-peat

Akeem Kanhai rises for a one handed slam

By Treiston Joseph

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he Dyna’s Ravens completely dominated the Republic Bank Nets to win their third Phillip George Legacy Memorial basketball tournament on Saturday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Ravens led from start to finish as they out ran the Nets for a 7260 win, which was their third in a row.

Employing their patent zone defence, the Ravens did not allow easy buckets at the rim and with every rebound looked to push the pace of the basketball which resulted in a number of easy fast break points especially in the first seven minutes of the game as the first quarter ended 22-12.

The Nets, a team that thrive on penetrating the lane, simply could not against the Ravens and even when they did, they were unable to convert due to the amount of defensive pressure.

Meanwhile, the Ravens continued to run the ball, punctuated with a one-handed dunk from Jermaine Slater as the half ended with the Ravens up by 18 points (42-24).

Jermaine Slater skies for a left-handed dunk

The quarter was even worse for the Nets as they continued to struggle offensive, seemingly finding no rhythm.

Mortimer Williams, who is normally a go-to player for the Nets was completely shut down by the Ravens defence, his ability to drive and score was neutralised by the intense zone defensive sets of the Ravens.

However, the Ravens continued to run the ball offensively, and were up by 22 points at the end of the third period.

The Nets would go on a run in the fourth period outscoring the Ravens 2313 in the period, but were never able to cut the lead to single digits even with many easy opportunities at the rim as Akeem “The Dream” Kanhai punctuated the game with two onehanded slams that got the crowd into the ball game.

Kanhai ended with a game high 20 points while Ryan Gullen, Ryan Stephney and Dominic Vincent had 14, 12 and 11 points respectively to complete and all-round offensive attack. Slater had six points but was a glass eater with 12 rebounds.

Drumson McCauly was the leading scorer for the Nets with 15 points while Pellew Doris contributed

Bravo, Sammy, Pollard out ...

from back page

The ODI side has only one specialist spinner in Sulieman Benn, with Jerome Taylor, Sheldon Cottrell and Holder leading the pace attack. Kemar Roach had earlier been identified for selection but following his injury in the Centurion Test, the West Indies selectors have decided to name a replacement for him at a later date.

Offspinner Ashley Nurse,

who last played an international game in June 2011, was selected for the T20s . Krishmar Santokie and legspinner Samuel Badree were ruled out due to injuries while Chris Gayle’s availability for the limited-overs games is subject to a fitness test. The threematch T20 series starts on January 9. (Cricinfo)

14 points in the loss.

Meanwhile, The Eagles defeated the Colts to win the third division

title in a fast paced game that ended 61-56.

Travis Belgrave led the way for the Eagles

with 14 points while former national long jumper Japheth Hackett and Lyndon Wilson had 13

points apiece in the win.

Dellon LaRose was the only player to score in double digits for the Colts.

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

monday, december 22, 2014

PGL Memorial basketball tournament…

Ravens rout Nets to 3-peat Page 23

The successful Ravens team celebrate their third straight win of the tournament

Tutorial Secondary top Queenstown Bravo, Sammy, Pollard out of ODI side to win under-17 title

A joyous Tutorial team celebrate their title after the presentation ceremony

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utorial High School displayed fortitude to top Queenstown Secondary 3-2 to win the inaugural Premiership Group under-17 Secondary School football tournament on Sunday at the Ministry of Education ground.

From the blast of the opening whistle, Tutorial showed attacking intent that resulted

in a goal from David Coates in the fifth minute of the game.

With both teams unable to keep possession of the ball, Coates took a shot from approximately 26 yards out that rocked the right hand corner of the net in 25th minute to the dismay of the Queestown players as the half ended 2-0.

Not long after the resump-

tion of the second half, Ronel Bradis would find the back of the net to put Tutorial High School up 3-0 as the game was beginning to seem one sided.

Meanwhile, a goal from Kelsey Benjamin in the 65th minute would put a pep in the step of the Queenstown players as they began to attack

with more purpose.

Queenstown was rewarded again with a goal from Emmanuel Harper in the 70th minute as Queenstown seemed on a thrilling comeback, stringing passes together in the final minutes.

However, Tutorial held their nerve by playing most of their men back in order to defend their one goal lead to secure the title.

Tutorial High will receive the championship trophy and $200,000 towards the funding of a school project, while Queenstown will collect the runners-up trophy and $150,000 towards the funding of a school project.

In the third place playoff, North Ruimveldt defeated St Georges Secondary by a 4-2 margin on penalty kicks after regulation time ended with scores on 0-0.

North Ruimveldt received the third place spot and $100,000 towards the funding of a project while St. Georges walked away with the fourth place trophy and $75,000 towards the funding of a project.

In the individual section of the awards, Coates received the most valuable player and highest goal scorer award with seven goals. (Treiston Joseph)

D

wayne Bravo, Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard have been left out of the West Indies side for the five-match series against South Africa.

All three, including Bravo – who was replaced as ODI

ing banned during the Champions League T20 due to a suspect action, does not feature in either squad.

Jonathan Carter received a maiden overseas tour callup for the ODIs, while batsman Narsingh Deonarine

Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy out of WI squad

captain by Jason Holder – retain their places in the T20 squad. Sammy remains the T20 captain.

Offspinner Sunil Narine, who was withdrawn from the India series after be-

was picked following good performances recently, including two successive firstclass hundreds for Guyana in the Professional Cricket League.

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