Guyana Times Daily

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...PNC/APNU betrays PNC’s totalitarian mindset Roopnaraine demands GTimes be punished for expressing its views Prorogation of

Ramotar ready for talks with Opposition

At the Opposition "rally" at the Square of the Revolution to protest President Donald Ramotar's prorogation of Parliament to salvage the last hope of crafting a programme to move Guyana out of the politics of conflict, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine of the WPA called for citizens to boycott the Guyana Times

It appears that, from his comments, the onetime colleague of Dr Walter Rodney, who was reportedly assassinated because he posed a threat to the PNC – the party that Roopnaraine is now in bed with – is not pleased with the coverage of the Times. And it is clear that though the democratic tradition demands competing views be expressed through the press so that citizens can make informed decisions, Roopnaraine would now stifle views that differ from his.

This is a most ironic position to be expressed at an event organised by Roopnaraine's new political comrades to complain that the President's prorogation of Parliament stifled the Opposition's "democratic right" to express their views through their "no-confidence" motion. The few hundred supporters of PNC/APNU – and possibly some from the AFC – gathered under the shadow of our Republican National Hero Cuffy, cheered Roopnaraine's call to stifle freedom of the press. It should be noted that this freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution of Guyana, but such freedoms are applied selectively by fascists like Roopnaraine and the others in PNC/APNU. They were staunch in defence of this freedom of the press when another newspaper, which reflexively supports the Opposition, was embroiled in a tax fraud case. But because the Guyana Times has another opinion on several matters, it should be starved of funds, stifled and even killed.

We call upon all Guyanese to see the mark of the beast in the words of Rupert Roopnaraine and to stand as one to condemn him, PNC/APNU/AFC and the views that they represent. The essential meaning of democracy is summarised in the Latin phrase "auditur alteram pars" – the other side must be heard.

As citizens of this potentially great country, we have suffered grievous harm because we have had men like Roopnaraine and his cronies in PNC/APNU refuse to accept that if we are ever to achieve our greatness, then we must "let a thousand flowers blossom". Let freedom ring in Guyana.

Hundreds turn out to APNU’s rally

Hundreds turned out at the Square of the Revolution, Georgetown, on Friday evening as the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) held a grand rally in response to President Donald Ramotar’s

decision five days ago to prorogue Parliament for a maximum of six months.

APNU supporters travelled from West Demerara, East Coast and East Bank Demerara to be part of the occasion, but the majority

were from Georgetown.

From as young as under five years to the elderly stood up as they listen to what the members of the different Opposition parties had to say, shouting in agreement and cheering to

points made.

The speakers consisted of Opposition Leader David Granger, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Executives, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Basil Williams and Volda Lawrence; Head of the Guyana Action Party Sydney Allicock; Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman Nigel Hughes and General Secretary David Patterson.

The rally began with just over a hundred people but the gathering quickly grew after an hour, to the point where the Square of the Revolution was filled.

The crowd cheered and was hyped as the various speakers vented their frustration over what they called “the death of democracy” in Guyana.

Chair of the proceedings, APNU Chief Whip Amna Ally claimed that supporters travelling from the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara were stopped by Police and reportedly pre-

vented from showing up; however, they were subsequently allowed passage.

During the rally, while some persons were engrossed in the speakers, there were others who seemed to be in merriment as they carried on conversations with acquaintances, paying little or no attention to what the speakers had to day.

Meanwhile, there was entertainment at intervals throughout the rally with local artiste Alabama performing the “Prorogation” song. There were also drumming interludes at one time, with the crowd chanting the lyrics to the song “We Shall Overcome”.

The rally was a lively but peaceful event.

However, there were occasional uproars by everyone whenever a speaker made an important point that affected them personally. As time progressed, people got tired, but in spite of this, no one left, but relaxed on the ground as they listened to the speakers.

Speaker asks Commonwealth to intervene in dispute

The Speaker of the National Assembly on Friday urged the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat to intervene in the dispute spurred by the President’s decision to prorogue Parliament.

“The Guyana Parliament, as a Member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, urges you to use your good offices, together with the entire weight of the Association, to intervene so that we could have a return to normalcy,” Raphael Trotman wrote in a letter to Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma.

“I invite you to send a delegation to Guyana to engage all sides of this disagreement so that this unhealthy situation may be brought to a speedy and peaceful end,” Trotman continued.

President Donald Ramotar prorogued Parliament earlier this week, putting himself in a position to effectively run the country alone for the next six months.

Though Guyana’s Constitution gives the President the authority to prorogue Parliament, “the framers of our Constitution could never have intended that such authority would be used arbitrarily, or as a

shield by a … Government against the majority of the elected members of Parliament,” Trotman told the Commonwealth.

“There is grid-lock as the majority of Members of the National Assembly are indicating that there will be no dialogue with the Executive unless or until there is revocation of the prorogation and a resumption of sittings of the National Assembly,” the Speaker said.

He noted, however, that “the President has indicated publicly that he is prepared to re-convene the Parliament if accommodations could be arrived at; presumably after dialogue.” (Fox News)

Opposition Leader David Granger addressing the gathering

A section of the gathering at the rally at the Square of the Revolution on Friday

Speaker Raphael Trotman

BRIDGE OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

Prorogation of Parliament… Ramotar ready for talks with Opposition

– Granger says “no”, insists on reconvening Parliament to shut down Govt

By Svetlana MarShall and JoMo Paul

Within days

President Donald Ramotar will make an application to the Opposition for the commencement of much-needed dialogue.

The President made this disclosure on Friday at his Shiv Chanderpaul Drive Office as he shot down the many allegations peddled against his Administration since the prorogation of Parliament on Monday, November 10.

Despite political hostility on the part of the Opposition, Ramotar said he will approach both A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) to engage in talks, in a quest to move Guyana forward. Though the Opposition has made it clear that it will not engage in negotiations with the Government during the prorogation of Parliament, President Ramotar said he remained an optimist.

“I have been working on my negotiating team and in a matter of days I will be inviting the Opposition for us to begin the dialogue… I know they say they do not want to speak with us, but I will take this as their first position. Hopefully, when the emotions would have been removed, good sense would prevail,” he said.

Since Monday, President Ramotar has been engaging

stakeholders and members of civil society. According to him, there is a general consensus that negotiations need to occur. However, if the Opposition fails to heed the President’s request or talks do occur, but hit rock bottom before the end of prorogation, the Parliament will be dissolved and elections called.

No intention

“I have said that I have absolutely no intention of recalling the Parliament and prorogating it to extend the life of the Government. I will not be doing that!”

He added: “The prorogation has a maximum period it could last, so I hope the problem could be resolved long before … hopefully, we can find enough common ground to recall Parliament and deal with the urgent

business of the People.”

Although dubbing it the best of three options, he opined that the suspension of Parliament could have been prevented, but the Opposition was bent in its ways.

“Even though I had made pronouncements that the Opposition were being unreasonable to ask me to set a date for Local Government Elections when, at the same time, a Motion of NoConfidence was on the table. I did indicate that I was ready to go to Local Government Elections in the second quarter of 2015 … but the Opposition clearly indicated that they were going to suspend the business of the Parliament and vote for the No-Confidence Motion,” he explained.

The President emphasised that the Opposition should have been appreciative of the fact that he had set Local Government Elections for the second quarter of 2015. He added instead of pushing for debate on the No-Confidence Motion, APNU and the AFC could have joined hands with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in advancing the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, the Telecommunication Bill and the Education Bill, among other Bills.

Zooming in on some of the major criticisms that

have surfaced since the decision was taken to suspend Parliament, Ramotar said many are baseless and seek to mislead the nation.

Lot of misconception

“There seems to be a lot of misconception and misunderstanding, some of them deliberate…”

While rubbishing the argument that the prorogation of Parliament is an abuse of the Constitution, President Ramotar made it clear that he acted within the confines of the law. In Articles 69 and 70, provisions are made in the Constitution of Guyana for the President to prorogue or dissolve Parliament.

But despite this glaring fact, the Opposition is insisting that the Ramotar Administration is moving towards a state of dictatorship.

Opposition Leader David Granger

President Donald Ramotar

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Guest Editorial

Keeping Guyana calm

The situation in Guyana is one with which all nations in the region should be concerned. Guyana is an important trading partner. Trinidad and Tobago, for instance, exported an estimated $1.1 billion worth of products to the country over the period 2007 to 2010 and for that period imported $596 million in products.

Additionally, both Governments have recently partnered on initiatives and incentives to reduce the food import Bill and boost production, with plans to make large tracts of land in Guyana available to Trinidad and Tobago agriculturalists.

The announcement that Guyana’s President has prorogued the country’s Parliament has provoked strong reaction. President Donald Ramotar, 64, exercised his power under Article 70 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana to issue a proclamation proroguing the Parliament. The Parliament will therefore not sit for a maximum of six months, though Ramotar said he hopes to hold a sitting before that time if a consensus can be bridged with Opposition parties.

The move came in the face of a No-Confidence Motion tabled by a coalition of Opposition parties which would have been successful since those parties hold a slender one-seat majority in Guyana’s unicameral legislature.

Ramotar’s Government, the Indo-Guyanese-tied People’s Progressive Party, holds 32 seats, while the Opposition parties – including the Afro-Guyanese-tied People’s National Congress – hold 33. The President’s move was not altogether surprising as on November 4, he had indicated that if the Opposition went forward with its motion, he would have either prorogued the Parliament or dissolved it, triggering a fresh election. An election is due in 2016.

In announcing his invocation of his powers under the law, Ramotar said, “my decision to exercise this constitutional option was not taken lightly, but it was the sole recourse that was left to me to ensure that the life of the 10th Parliament was preserved”.

Ramotar said he made a “practical choice between an atmosphere of confrontation, as the No-Confidence Motion debate would fuel, or that of possible accommodation, as a prorogued Parliament can facilitate, if there is a genuine intent on all sides”.

There is merit in Ramotar’s reasoning, since in a highly charged environment which is fostered by political parties being perceived along racial lines, any move which maximises stability is most welcome. The prorogation has an utmost limit and Ramotar has assured that if no consensus is reached, he will hold an election. Such an election will, in any event, be inevitable as the Government will be forced to reconvene Parliament in order to pass a budget.

While the Opposition parties have cried foul and have said the latest move is undemocratic, we beg to differ. It instead represents the valid exercise of a provision of the Constitution of that country which must, at the end of the day, be supreme. At the same time, Ramotar will have to soon face the reality that his latest move, although well-intentioned, may in the end be nothing more than a delaying tactic. Elections must and will come.

In the meanwhile, the President has waged in favour of a situation where there is a chance of consensus, as unlikely as that might be. And a chance is better than none. It is better for Guyana as a nation to have as regular electoral terms as possible, rather than volatile Governments unable to implement changes.

Over recent years, the Guyanese economy has exhibited moderate economic growth. GDP has risen steadily, moving from US$5.9 billion in 2011 to US$6.5 billion in 2013. Still, the economy is heavily dependent upon the export of six commodities — sugar, gold, bauxite, shrimp, timber, and rice — which represent nearly 60 per cent of the country’s GDP and are highly susceptible to adverse weather conditions and fluctuations in commodity prices, such as the price of gold.

Inflation has been kept under control. Recent years have seen the Government’s stock of debt reduced significantly. But many chronic problems still exist such as debt and poor infrastructure.

Guyana must exercise caution and calmness in this current terrain and a mature approach to solving its problems must be adopted by all sides, respecting the law and balancing that with the need for expressions of the will of the electorate. To do otherwise will be an invitation to a return to the volatility that has characterised Guyana politics over the decades.

First published by Newsday, Trinidad and Tobago, November 14.

Dear Editor,

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations is organizing a three day international conference on “Indian Diaspora and Cultural Heritage: Past, Present and Future” in Delhi.

The conference offers a platform to researchers and scholars, particularly the younger generation, to share the Indian Diaspora experiences of preserving Indian cultural heritage and develop strategies for promoting it in the future as also strengthening their ties and linkages with India in a contemporary framework.

A release stated that the Indian Diaspora has conserved varied aspects of Indian cultural heritage that their ancestors had taken along with them during the 19th century. Today, “this heritage

is a part of living culture in many countries across the globe. In the former colonies, the Indian community had to struggle for the retention of its cultural heritage, and often faced different kinds of onslaughts. And yet, they jealously guarded their heritage which is now conserved and practiced with pride by the present generation”.

The organizers note that there is “a strong urge and need for strengthening the ties between the people of Indian origin in foreign countries and the present Indian generation”.

The conference organizers feel “in depth research into the way the Indians sought to preserve their natural environment and culture linked to their inherited religious or cultural beliefs will go a long

way in strengthening the existent bonds and ties for the future. In this regard, this conference will enable the researchers and scholars, particularly, the younger generation to share their history, experiences and efforts with scholars and researchers India and develop strategies for strengthening the ties”.

The conference will be inaugurated by Minister Sushma Swaraj and eminent scholars have been invited to deliver keynote addresses, including several Guyanese, Trinidadians and Surinamese.

A variety of sub-themes will be explored including indenture and forced migration, identity crisis and identity formation, adaptation to new environments, diverse colonial environments, conservation

and retention of cultural heritage, modes of resistance, the psyche of grief and longing for ancestors, search for roots and family genealogies, reviving memories and perceptions about each other.

The sub-themes also include religion and religious practices; festivals; customs and life-styles; cultural assimilation; dance, music and folklore over the years; cultural exchanges in performing arts, education, religion and philosophy; yoga and ayurveda; role of Indian cinema and sports; analyzing the present policies and identification of new areas; and retention and promotional strategies.

For queries or more information, email iccrconference@gmail.com.

Submitted by Vishnu Bisram

Int’l conference on “Indian Diaspora and Cultural Heritage” Holy Qur’an safe amidst blaze

The Holy Qur’an was virtually intact from the remains of a house that was burnt last week during a fire. The owners of the house, which is located behind a mosque (mas-

jid) at Calcutta Street, will clean the Holy Quran found. The Surinamese Muslim Federation (SMF) considers this a miracle (blessing) of Allah (God).

The sanctity of the Holy Qur’an, according to the Federation, has proven this.

Only the cover is damaged by fire, but the content of the Holy book is still completely intact.

Best regards, Moeen Nauth (Source: www.surinametimes.com)

Spreading goodwill: The Courts Santa and his supporting cast had fun entertaining the equally jubilant crowd (Carl Croker photo)

What is all the hullabaloo about the constitutional prorogation of Parliament? Install traffic lights at this junction

Dear Editor,

Allow me to firstly say congratulations to President Donald Ramotar for moving in the right direction in proroguing Guyana’s 10th Parliament. His decision, which is in the best interest of our country, is in keeping with our Constitution.

Moving on, I’m wondering exactly what the hullabaloo is about by the parliamentary Opposition on the constitutional prorogation of Parliament. The President’s prorogation of Parliament is soundly justified, since it is quite disgraceful that parliamentary meetings had become tantamount to a “street corner venue” for Opposition political meetings and decision-making.

President Ramotar scored a brilliant knock-out punch against the leadership of the combined parliamentary Opposition, and I am not certain if they have fully recovered from that blow which struck them like lightening and destroyed their anti-national No-Confidence Motion.

The reconvening of Parliament on November 10 was to have addressed the important business of the state or Government’s business as any sensible Guyanese would have thought.

However, the combined parliamentary Opposition’s plan was to use their one-seat majority dictatorship to suspend the standing orders of Parliament, so that the AFC’s No-Confidence Motion could have been prioritized, instead of more pressing matters regarding the continued development of our country.

The President’s prorogation Proclamation is absolutely not related to any constitutional crisis or dictatorship, which the Parliamentary Opposition wants the Guyanese people and the international community to believe.

This period of prorogation can quickly end, pro-

viding there is constructive dialogue between the Government and Opposition to address the issues confronting Guyana, thereby returning the country to a state of normalcy

The parliamentary Opposition is now claiming that their new Parliament will be on the streets, and there is nothing wrong with that, since it is well within their constitutional right to exercise their franchise to meet where ever they please.

Yours sincerely Peter Persaud

Dear Editor,

On the morning of November 12, there was another motor vehicle accident on the Railway Embankment road junction, with the road running south to north from Conversation Tree.

Because of the unusual angle of the junction, drivers of right hand

Aurora Police Station ranks did not treat anyone unfairly

Dear Editor, The Guyana Police Force is responding to a Letter to the Editor published in the Guyana Times on November 12, under the headline, “Unfair treatment at the Aurora Police Station”, which was written by one Anita Singh and dealt with a matter involving her son Amir Nizam.

The Police wish to clarify that on October 14, a report was received at the Aurora Police Station that Mr Nizam and two other men had damaged the gate to the premises of Omeshwar Misir of Aurora.

In conducting investigations into the report, initial efforts to contact Mr Nizam by the Police were unsuccessful. This included visits to the home of his mother, where the Police were informed that he was not at home, and the Police were unable to get any information concerning his whereabouts.

The Police later learnt that Mr Nizam was not living with his mother. The Police subsequently received information as to his place of employment

and went there on October 29, where Mr Nizam was informed of the allegation made against him.

He he was arrested and taken to the Aurora Police Station. At the station Mr Nizam gave a written statement to the police and was later that day placed on recognisance and released.

While at the station, Mr Nizam’s mother came there to enquire about him. However, the ranks who were on duty at the time have all denied speaking to her in an unprofessional manner, as claimed in her Letter to the Editor.

Mr Nizam and Khalil Jaitoon have been charged with damage to property in this matter. They appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court on November 7, where they were placed on bail in the sum of $10,000. The matter is ongoing.

Efforts are continuing by the Police to locate a third person allegedly involved in this matter.

Ivelaw Whittaker Police Public Relations and Press Officer

drive vehicles are blindsided to traffic approaching from the left. The danger is compounded when vehicles on the Embankment Road are traveling at a fast rate. This junction is proving to be an accident black spot as several motorists, including myself, have been involved in collisions here. Some have lost their lives there. I am appealing to the relevant authorities to install traffic lights at this junction so as to provide some safety for motorists who traverse this junction.

Colin Ming Prashad Nagar resident

It is ‘ok’ to augment one’s income, but do it honestly

Dear Editor, Information has surfaced where a man on the Guyana Police Force’s monthly payroll as a staff member (designtion provided) at the Aurora Police Station collects his salary regularly, but from his carefree conduct of not being around ever so often on the job, questions have been raised about his payment being obtained fraudulently.

Some residents within the community share the belief that he is obtaining money which he did not work for, with taxpayers’ money going down the drain.

The man, who is the son of former Policeman, lives in my home village at Suddie and I couldn’t believe on learning that he was perma-

nently employed there, as for most times during normal working hours, he can be seen elsewhere.

As a matter of fact, it was confirmed to me that he is a full time employee with a private security firm and out of curiosity to verify the situation, I personally saw him at a work site to which he was assigned just around 15:00h on November 3.

If the information is correct, well then it is an unfair situation to the Government, which is being taken for a ride from the lack of proper administrative work at the top level somewhere along the line.

Even with the workload there being negligible, with much idle time, it was all time necessary for someone

in a supervisory capacity to ensure that he stays on the job within the normal working hours, once his name is on the payroll. My own impression is that once he was not there all the time during normal working hours, his payment should be calculated for only the period he was on the job. A part time staff member from within the station area will definitely serve a better purpose as the present one lives some eight miles away. Nothing is wrong to work elsewhere to augment one’s income, but it must be done in a proper and honest manner.

Yours faithfully, Baliram

Persaud

The scene immediately after the accident on the morning of November 12

Page Foundation

– Ada Igonoh, the Doctor who contracted Ebola while caring for Patrick Sawyer, the first patient diagnosed with the virus in Nigeria, gives a powerful account of her treatment and recovery

Iwas the one who certified Patrick Sawyer dead. I informed the consultant immediately and she said that no one was to be allowed in his room. Later that day, officials from WHO came and took his body away. The test in Dakar came back positive for the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus. We now had the first official case of Ebola in Nigeria. It was a sobering day. We all began to go over all that happened in the last few days, wondering just how much physical contact we had individually made with Patrick Sawyer. Every patient on admission was discharged and decontamination began. We were now managing a crisis situation.

The next day, Saturday, July 26, all staff of First Consultants medical centre in Lagos attended a meeting with infectious disease experts. They said we were going to be grouped into high-risk and low-risk categories based on our individual levels of exposure to Patrick Sawyer, the “index” case.

Every day I would try to recall the period Patrick Sawyer was on admission – just how much direct and indirect contact did I have with him?

Each person would receive a temperature chart and a thermometer to record temperatures in the morning and night for the next 21 days. We were all officially under surveillance. We were asked to report the first sign of a fever for further blood tests to be done. We were reassured that we would all be given adequate care. The anxiety in the air was palpable.

The frenetic pace of life in Lagos, coupled with the demanding nature of my job as a doctor, means that I occasionally need a change of environment. As such, one week before Patrick Sawyer died, I had gone to my parents’ home for a retreat. I was still staying with them when I received my temperature chart and thermometer on Tuesday, July 29. I could not contain my anxiety. People were talking about Ebola everywhere – on

television, online, everywhere. I soon started experiencing joint and muscle aches and a sore throat, which I quickly attributed to stress and anxiety. I decided to take malaria tablets. I also started taking antibiotics for the sore throat. The first couple of temperature readings were normal. Every day I would try to recall the period Patrick Sawyer was on admission – just how much direct and indirect contact did I have with him? I reassured myself that the contact with him was quite minimal. I completed the anti-malarials but the aches and pains persisted. I had loss of appetite and felt very tired.

On Friday, August 1, my temperature read a high 38.7°C. As I type this, I recall the anxiety I felt that morning. I could not believe what I saw on the thermometer. I ran to my mother’s room and told her. I did not go to work that day. I cautiously started using a separate set of utensils and cups

from the ones my family were using.

I stayed away from my family. I started washing my plates and spoons myself

On Saturday, August 2, the fever worsened. It was now at 39°C and would not be reduced by taking paracetamol. This was now my second day of fever. I couldn’t eat. The sore throat was getting worse. That was when I called the helpline and an ambulance was sent with WHO doctors, who came and took a sample of my blood. Later that day, I started stooling and vomiting. I stayed away from my family. I started washing my plates and spoons myself. My parents, meanwhile, were convinced that I could not have Ebola.

The following day, Sunday, August 3, I got a call from one of the doctors who came to take my sample the day before. He told me that the sample which they had taken was not confirmatory, and that they needed another sample. He did not sound very coherent and I became worried.

They came with the ambulance that afternoon and told me that I had to go with them to Yaba. I was confused. Couldn’t the second sample be taken in the ambulance like the previous one? He said a better-qualified person at the Yaba Centre would take the sample.

A man opened the ambulance door for me and moved away from me rather swiftly. Strange behaviour, I thought I asked if they would bring me back. He said “yes”. Even with my symptoms, I did not believe I had Ebola. After all, my contact with Sawyer was minimal. I only touched his IV fluid bag just that once without gloves. The only time I actually touched him was when I checked his pulse and confirmed him dead, and I wore double gloves and I felt adequately protected.

I told my parents I had to go with the officials to Yaba and that I would be back that evening. I wore a white top and a pair of jeans, and I put my iPad and phones in my bag. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

By Dr Doug HaDDaD

Once you’ve established how your child feels at school, and provided there is time to ask the teacher another question, I would recommend asking: “What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses? How can I be of help to my child at home?” A parent will gather a tonne of useful information from asking this. You’ll find out not only what your child excels at, but also be tipped off to what he or she may be motivated to do in life and have a desire to pursue one day as a career. On the flip side, by recognising a child’s weaknesses, parents can offer support at home to strengthen these areas.

is happening at school and if they see any sudden changes or incidents take place. Ultimately, establishing an open, regular means of parentteacher communication – with the best interests of the child forefront in everyone’s mind –will only benefit your child in the long run.

Sometimes, after a parentteacher talk, a parent needs to take action on a particular front and give out some consequences. But beware, according to James Lehman when children are faced with

How often should I be contacting my child’s teachers?

Once initial connection with the teacher has been made, be sure to learn the class policies, expectations and curriculum and get a good handle on your child’s school profile. This, then, opens the door for back-and-forth conversations on an as-needed basis throughout the school year. I recommend that parents ask teachers which method of communication they prefer, email or telephone. Let the teachers know that you want to be kept informed about what

something unpleasant, they’ll often act like it doesn’t matter to them. When your child says, “I don’t care” or seems unaffected when you give him a consequence, what he’s really saying is, “You can’t hurt me.” That’s because receiving a consequence makes children feel powerless. Their sense of self almost requires them to respond by shrugging and saying, “Whatever,” simply in order to feel in control again. Focus on what you want your child to learn from the consequence – not whether or not he’s going to care Parents should not worry too much when their child appears not to be affected. Instead, I think you should focus on what you want your child to learn from the consequence – not whether or not he’s going to care. In fact, I think trying to get your child to care is a misdirected goal. Don’t put so much weight on making him “hurt” that you’re not thinking about trying to get your child to learn a new behaviour. If your child can stymie you by saying “I don’t care”, you’re giving him way too much power.

To put it another way, if you’re looking for your child to surrender, forget about it. A consequence is not designed to make your child say, “I’m sorry, Mom, I was wrong.” Rather, it’s there to help your child change his behaviour. Think of it this way: the consequence for not following the speed limit is that you might get a speeding ticket. You may shrug and say, “Whatever,” to the Police Officer when he pulls you over, but that won’t stop him from giving you that ticket. And if you say, “I don’t care,” he’ll say, “Well, here you go, sir. Have a good day.” He won’t argue with you; he’ll simply hand you the ticket and walk away. (Excerpt from empoweringparents.com)

Dr Ada Igonoh was part of the medical team that treated Nigeria’s index case of Ebola, Patrick Sawyer

Ramjattan, Nagamootoo decline to mount APNU’s platform

– Hughes, Patterson sent to give ‘critical support’ instead

The two main politi-

cal actors within the Alliance For Change (AFC) on Friday boycotted a “rally” organised by its new coalition partner A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), sending a strong message as to the type of “critical support” that it is willing to offer in the lead up to possible General and Regional Elections.

Instead, the AFC leadership thought it wise to send its Chairman, Nigel Hughes and General Secretary David Patterson to sit and join the APNU’s platform while the party strong men Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan stayed in the shade.

Other party members who were spotted by this newspaper at the rally in the crowd were Hughes’ wife, Cathy and Valarie GarridoLowe, who are current parliamentarians.

The party’s leader had

hinted earlier in the week that while the AFC supports the rally organised by the APNU, it played no part in the planning or organisation of the event.

The AFC also main-

tained that it believed that it was necessary to join the APNU’s platform which was organised to protest the President’s decision to prorogue the National Assembly.

In fact, the AFC has been sending mixed signals about its relationship with the APNU, but earlier this month, clandestine meetings started between the two groups. But the AFC continued to argue that it would not be part of any coalition with APNU.

Surprisingly, the two parties have admitted to forming an interim coalition to fight the President’s decision to prorogue the Parliament. They have also been strategising to cause the collapse of the Government through a series of parliamentary action and extra-Parliament advocacy.

Ramotar ready for...

“The accusation that this is creating a dictatorship or semi-dictatorship makes no sense because the prorogation does not give me a new power or new authority, nothing that would turn me into a dictator… I have no power, I cannot rule by decree, I cannot pass bills by myself,” he explained.

According to Ramotar, the “wild allegation” that he prorogued Parliament to have unlimited access to taxpayers money is fallacious. He explained that the Government will continue to be guided by the Constitution, noting that monies being spent will be within the budget. However, the Government is hoping to have the Parliament recalled before the Budget period creeps in.

Motion will be there

Meanwhile, Opposition and APNU Leader David Granger on Friday said

that whenever the National Assembly resumes, the NoConfidence Motion will be there to greet President Ramotar and the PPP/C Administration.

Granger was at the time addressing a crowd of hundreds of APNU and AFC supporters as he delivered the feature address at an APNU rally at The Square of the Revolution.

Time and time again, the Opposition Leader and the AFC have asserted that there will be “no extra parliamentary talks” on matters that are before the National Assembly with the Executive.

Addressing a crowd of supporters, this policy of the Opposition was again made clear and affirmed by Granger and AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes.

Granger, speaking at an APNU press conference earlier on Friday, said the PPP/C was preparing for General Elections.

New GPHC ward commissioned to ease overcrowding

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s staff examining the beds

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Friday commissioned the southern section of its $94 million new wing. The facility, which is equipped with 39 beds, will be used to house patients in the instance of overcrowding in the hospital.

This section of the unit was established at a cost of approximately $38 million and has separate areas for the housing of male and female patients.

GPHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Khan,

during the commissioning ceremony, noted that this section of the building will be utilised for patients from the general and orthopaedic wards. He also noted that the northern section of the unit, which is equipped with 57 beds, bringing the total number of beds to 96, has been identified for the housing of emergency patients when there is overcrowding at the Accident & Emergency (A&E) unit, along with other medical patients.

However, this section has not yet been commissioned, as part of it has been identified as the isolation unit set up by the hospital in preparation for the Ebola virus threat.

Also present at the brief ceremony were Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran and several staff of the hospital.

From page 3

“Well, we are all outside the chambers now, we have all been locked out,” said the Opposition Leader in referring to the National Assembly.

He reaffirmed that by proroguing the National Assembly, the President has closed the door on possible talks between the two parties.

The Opposition Leader said that the coalition has made itself available to the President for dialogue “even to the point of being criticised by some of our supporters – that we are bending over backwards and they warned us that it does nothing, but we persisted”.

“There’s nothing to do other than go on the streets,” Granger said, adding that “when we resume, Mr Ramotar will find that the same jumbie he has been running away from will greet him at the National Assembly”.

AFC Executive Moses Nagamootoo

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes speaking at the meeting

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran along with GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Khan among staff of the facility cutting the ribbon to commission the unit

at the unit

saturDaY, november 15, 2014 | guYanatimesgY.com

Prison officer arraigned with Soesdyke taxi driver’s murder

Prison Officer Sherwin Stuart of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, was on Friday arraigned with the murder of Neil Anthony Narine when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on November 11, at Soesdyke/ Linden Highway Junction, he murdered Narine. Stuart was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

While the particulars of the matter were not detailed by the Prosecutor, it was reported that on Thursday

(November 4), Narine and the suspect were involved in a heated argument, which escalated into a scuffle. Persons around intervened and separated the men, but as Narine walked away, Stuart claimed to be a Constable and reportedly attempted to arrest Narine.

Narine, a former Police rank, resisted, and Stuart retaliated by repeatedly hitting him to the head and neck. Hospital reports confirmed Narine suffered damage to the brain and a ruptured blood vessel in the neck.

As a result of the injuries, he was hooked up to

a life support machine, but after a few days, doctors confirmed that he was brain dead. After much deliberation, the family thought it best to remove him from the machine. He took his last breath on November 11.

A post-mortem examination performed on Narine’s body was done on Friday by Dr Nehaul Singh who gave his cause of death as trauma to the head and neck along with brain haemorrhaging. Narine will be laid to rest on Monday.

Stuart will then make his next court appearance on November 22.

Man accused of wounding wife remanded

Martin McCalman who was charged with wounding his wife was remanded to prison when he appeared in the courtroom of the Chief Magistrate, Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, on Friday morning.

The charge read that on November 9, at Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Virtual Complainant (VC), Josephine Armstrong with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or to cause actual bodily harm. He was not required to plead, since the charge was deemed indictable.

According to the facts read by the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant, the defendant and VC are husband and wife who have been constantly embroiled in incidents of domestic violence. Grant told the court on the day in question around 18:30h, Armstrong was returning home when McCalman confronted her with a broken bottle. They had an argument, which further annoyed the defendant and he inflicted several stab wounds on the VC’s right hand and broke her left hand. She was rushed to the hospital where she received medical treatment and a report

was made to the Police.

However, the VC told the court that she did not know what the defendant had hit her with.

The Prosecutor objected to bail, citing the nature, gravity, and prevalence of the offence and the fact the parties resided in the same home, so there was a high risk of interference on the defendant’s part.

Bail was refused for the defendant. The matter will be heard again on November 24 before the Chief Magistrate.

Another home invasion suspect before the court

Twenty-seven-year-old Odinga Chase was remanded to prison on two counts of robbery under arms, on Friday afternoon.

The man, , of Lot 169 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine- Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that on September 10 at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, being armed with a gun, he robbed Sheniza Das of a generator valued $350,000, which belonged to Shawn Archibald.

It is further alleged that on the

same date and address, he robbed Das of $30,000 in cash.

The court heard that on the day in question around 16:00h, Das was at home when the defendant and others walked into the house through an open door. He pointed the gun at her while an accomplice relieved her of the aforementioned articles before making good their escape.

A report was made and the defendant was subsequently caught. He was identified by Das at an ID parade and she claimed to have known him for

three years.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant, objected to bail on the grounds of the offence’s nature, gravity and prevalence and the fact that a firearm was used while committing the crime. He also noted that Chase was charged for murder and was committed to stand trial at the High Court.

The prosecution’s objections were upheld and the matter was transferred to Magistrate Judy Latchman who set the next court date as November 28.

Y...protest

our Eyewitness is writing this a full eight hours before the promised Opposition’s “massive rally” against the President’s prorogation of Parliament at the Square of the Revolution. The AFC and the APNU are using the weasel word “rally” rather than “protest” to describe their gathering. Cuffy, who’ll be looking down on these jokers must be spinning in his grave. They’re desecrating his heritage.

So what the heck were the screaming and hollering like stuck pigs about “rape of democracy”, “presidential coup”, “dictatorship” and even stronger terms all about?? If they believed even a single one of those outrages was happening...you’d think they’d be “protesting”, wouldn’t you?? So it’s either they lack all conviction about their protestations (!) or they know damned well that it’s all drama. And the country’s tired of drama queens. They want leaders who “tell it like it is”.

And it’s this yawning chasm between rhetoric and action that’s going to make their “rally” into a damp squib. They’ll go out not with a bang – but with a whimper. The people know it’s hypocrisy to the max to be whining about the President “dissing” Parliament – when all they wanted to use Parliament for, was to stick it to the President and the Government. Shouldn’t they rather be working on things – like the Telecommunications Bill – that would actually do something for the country?

The Opposition’re all hung up on the “form of democracy” – their one-seat majority should trump the substantive imperative that it’s the lot of the people that must be improved. Apart from their die-hard supporters, the mood of the populace is “we don’t have time for this stupidness”!

Another factor creating the general disenchantment with the two Opposition parties is the AFC behaving like “guess who’s coming to dinner” with APNU. Ramjattan and Nagamootoo can talk to APNU behind closed doors, but not out in public. “They” might be seen!!

But the Government can’t just “throw back”. It’s quite apparent by now – if it ever was in doubt – that the Opposition’s PR machinery is much more well-oiled than theirs. They have to match the Opposition’s rhetoric not with words, but with action. Action on at least some of the programmes the Opposition’ve been holding up with their thuggish behaviour in Parliament brought on by the arrogance of their “one-seat majority”.

In the meantime, APNU and the AFC are on bended knees, praying for rain, so they can have an excuse for all the “no-shows”.

...“throw talk”

We wonder why Nagamootoo can’t come out of the closet with his resentment against David Granger. All he does is “throw talk” – as they say in Whim. Earlier this week, his venom slipped out when he snarled, “Ramotar is holding a “dagger” at the back of Parliament”. Now he knows full well that everyone in politics (and the army) knows Granger is known as “Dagger”. But he obviously thought the general public doesn’t know so he’d get away with the slur.

He didn’t count on your trusty Eyewitness, to spill the beans. Granger’s problem with Nagamootoo surfaced when the AFC (think Ramjattan) proposed his old drinking buddy to be the Speaker. Granger balked. Now this has nothing to do with “race”, as Ramjattan told the folks back in Berbice and all to do with Granger fearing whether Nagamootoo would be able to stay awake on the Speaker’s chair.

It’s not easy keeping your head from banging on the desk in front of you when you’re putting away a “large” routinely before lunch! Gravity can be a bitch to the inebriated!!

Wanna bet Granger nixes Nagamootoo from speaking at the ...ummm... “rally”??

Ramjattan’s threatening not to “approve” the budget when the President summons Parliament again. Didn’t he and the rest of the Opposition try that three times before... and were bitch-slapped each time by the Chief Justice?? Is he a masochist??

Dead: Taxi driver Neil Anthony Narine

Man impersonates Rohee to get phone, court hears

.... defence counsel says Digicel CEO should get acquainted with the Minister’s voice

Thirty-nine-year-old

Daymenod Bailey who allegedly pretended to be Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee to get a cellular phone was placed on $200,000 bail on Friday afternoon.

Bailey, of Lot 326 Craig Village, East Bank Demerara, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before the Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine- Beharry.

It is alleged that on November 13 at Barrack and Fort Streets, Kingston, Georgetown, he obtained a Samsung 5 cellular phone from Digicel after pretending to be Rohee.

The court heard that the defendant called the Digicel Chief Executive Officer (CEO) pretending to be the Minister and informed him that he was sending someone to uplift a cellphone on his behalf. The defendant later presented himself to the Digicel CEO, stating that he was there to collect a

phone with a three months’ data plan and it was for the Home Affairs Minister.

After the CEO gave the defendant the cellphone, the court was told, he called the Minister telling him that the phone had been collected, but the Minister denied sending anyone for the phone. Acting on this information, the CEO called the defendant telling him that he had forgotten the accessories for the phone. The defendant returned to the phone company’s headquarters to collect the accessories and was met with the CEO and the Police. He was arrested and taken to the station.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant noted that Cell Phone Shack also had a similar matter involving the defendant.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Leading Bailey’s defence was Attorney-at-Law Adrian Thompson, who said his client was a first-time of-

fender and was sent to pick up the cellphone. He noted that if ‘someone’ wanted to defraud someone or a place, they would not present their actual identification card, TIN and photos to Digicel as his client did. He added that his client made no arrangements or calls to get the phone, he just went to the store.

Thompson also pointed out that his client had worked with the Home Affairs Ministry for quite some time, was not well and was taking treatment; however, the defence could not produce a medical since his client was in custody. As it related to his client calling the CEO, he told the court that the CEO should get acquainted with the Minister’s voice.

The Police Prosecutor had no objections to bail. It was granted in the sum of $200,000. The matter was transferred to Magistrate Ann McLennan for December 22.

Bandit shot dead – two apprehended in shootout with Police

Aconvicted bandit was on Friday shot dead while two others were apprehended during a shootout with Police at Alexander and Thomas Streets, Kitty, Georgetown. The incident took place about 12:15h.

The dead man, identified as Royston Waldron, 42, of William Street, Kitty, was shot at least three times in the region of his chest. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment.

Hospital officials confirmed that the man was taken to the medical facility about 12:30h, but died a few minutes later.

According to information received, Police ranks intercepted a motor car at Alexander and Thomas Streets, Kitty with three men who were wanted for questioning in connection with a number of armed robberies and came under gunfire.

The Police retaliated by discharging a few rounds, hitting Waldron in the pro-

cess. The two other men have been arrested and are in Police custody assisting with the investigation. A .32 Taurus pistol, four spent shells, and one live round were retrieved at the scene.

The now dead man was the main suspect in the disappearance of St Stanislaus teacher Nyozi Goodman, who went missing a few months ago after leaving the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Goodman was at the Inter-Secondary School National Basketball Championships with a group of students, but after the game, she reportedly sent off members of the team with another teacher. She was subsequently collected by a male companion and was not seen since.

Six weeks later, the skeletal remains of a human female were discovered at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara suspected to be that of the school teacher, but due to the condition of the remains, DNA samples were sent overseas to confirm its identity. The results are not yet back with the local Police.

Cane Garden Leguan Project almost completed

The Cane Garden Leguan Project has seen some 750 metres of rip-rap completed to date and works are expected to end by December 2014.

According to Project Engineer Dennis Ramsingh, approximately 1000 metres of sea defence was subjected to severe erosion which resulted in the loss of all the mangroves within this stretch; therefore, the earthen embankment was fully exposed to the oceans.

Ramsingh further reiterated that all phases of the project are expected to be completed in December 2014.

Albert James, Chairman of the Neighbourhood

Police also stated that the now dead bandit was implicated in the disappearance of Police Constable Patriena Nicholson, 38, of 44 Austin Street, Campbellville.

The Police rank had reportedly left her workplace to go home on August 11, 2013, but was not been seen since.

Family members subsequently received a telephone call from Police headquarters enquiring about the rank’s whereabouts. Until that point in time, relatives were under the impression that she was at work as she never returned home.

The woman’s relatives reported that they subsequently received information that the Corporal was spotted at the Kitty Public Road waiting to use the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) at the Guyoil Gas Station.

She was reportedly unsuccessful in using the ATM and she left with the intention of using the ATM at the bank’s Water Street branch. In addition, Waldron was convicted of several charges of robbery under arms.

Democratic Council (NDC) of the Enterprise/Leguan area, said the project started at a slow pace, but made significant strides. “Initially, the contractor was progressing slow on the project, but to date, the residents are happier and would like to see the completion of the work in a timely manner”.

Some residents have expressed their gratitude to the Government for the improvement on the land since the project started. Sheik Ayube said that farming was made easier now that flooding did not occur.

“The water has eased tremendously and we can now have access to the land with-

out worrying about the water coming in, we would like to thank the Ministry of Works for assisting us in this regard.”

Meanwhile, another resident, Lachman Dwarkha, said the contractor on the project deserves a medal for the work done so far.

“We are very pleased and satisfied with the work completed to date, and the contractor truly deserves to be rewarded for satisfactory work: we now have dry land to work on and thanks to the Government of Guyana for their input.” This project is a Government of Guyana funded one.

APNU “disses” Courts Light Up ... politics trumps Christmas

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) on Friday sent a strong message which demonstrated its lack of concern or respect for Christmas and all of the other activities surrounding it when it chose to organise a political rally for the same time when the annual Courts Christmas Light Up event was set to be executed.

One of the sources close to the Courts Christmas Light Up activity explained that APNU would have certainly been aware of the event since it was an annual event that is heavily publicised.

But in spite of the significance of the event, the political party still went ahead with plans to host the rally in Georgetown, knowing too that most of their supporters usually turn out in their numbers to be part of the Light Up and show. It appeared that in this season of “goodwill to all”, politics trumped all for those who call the shots in APNU.

“We are still hoping that thousands of

Guyanese would turn out especially those who are not interested in politics. It was irresponsible for that party to go ahead and plan a rally on a day when we all know is set aside for ushering in the Christmas season,” the source said.

Each year, Courts Guyana would spend millions of dollars preparing for and executing the show which is attended by high-ranking diplomats, members of the Executive and Opposition, as well as other prominent persons in society.

“We had hoped that there would be no distractions from our event, but we were wrong,” the source concluded.

Many persons at the event said they were fearful of travelling in the capital city after they heard about “plans to protest, rally and march”.

Others told Guyana Times that they were more concerned about their security and getting home after the event.

Rip-rap works completed at Cane Garden, Leguan, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara)

Dead: Suspected bandit, Royston Waldron Missing school teacher, Nyozi Goodman

Missing Police Constable, Patriena Nicholson

West Berbice Chamber of Commerce elects new Executive

The newly-elected body

The West Berbice Chamber of Industry and Commerce had its elections on Wednesday last at the Boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice.

Those elected to the body are Shabeer Baksh (President); Alvin Chowramootoo (Vice President); Hardat Malchan (Secretary); Ewort Charles Samgster (Treasurer); and Pradeep Bachan (Public Relations Officer).

Presiding over the meeting was Republic Bank Manager and Berbice Chamber of Commerce President Imran Sacoo, who highlighted the importance of the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Regional Chambers of Commerce (ARCC) and the role they play in the business community. The ARCC comprises nine Chambers of Commerce in the various regions.

President Baksh stated that the West Berbice Chamber would be embarking on a number of projects which would include a West Berbice Trade Fair so that the business community can showcase their business.

He also has intentions to recommend that Rosignol be developed into a township because of the growth and expansion of businesses in that area. He thanked the businesses persons and business

representatives who were present at the meeting.

Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth thanked all those present

and gave his assurance that the RDC would be working in collaboration with the Chambers to further their success.

He also plans to iden-

tify members from the Chambers to sit on the different regional Committees as they move the region forward.

A reason fuh every ting

Old people seh it always gotta reason fuh de season. Soon Christmas gon be de reason fuh de season. It always gotta reason fuh every ting.

De Prezzi done give a reason why he prorogue de Parliament. Is simply because he ain’t able deal wid dem rogues no more. One rogue does be a big problem fuh de Pullice, so imagine how hard it musbe fuh de Prezzi to deal wid 33 rogues.

Even Burnt Ham musta had some God in he when he allow that part of de Constitution to remain. After all, it got bad in de best of us and good in de baddest of us.

It musbe a reason why Lil Lohnny try to tek he own life de other day. And why he behavin like he is a troubled young man. It musbe that somebody trouble he when he was a lil boy and now he gon remain troubled fuh life. And now de man who cause all de touble ain’t want trouble wid he. If only de Cee-Jay could see whah touble he causin now, he probably woulda allow de troubled young man to talk out all he troubles.

It musbe a reason too why Joel rhyme with Jewel. Joel de headitor, who get jail in de You-K fuh de same ting whah de paper man doin right hey in Guyana, done deh in jail. And dem fellas done change he name from Joel to Jewel. Joel he self seh if he had only know de place was so nice, he wouldn’ta waste de court time.

Back hey in Guyana, it musbe a reason why paper man name rhyme wid hen and de headitor name rhyme wid madam. A reporter seh is a long time now one is a hen and de other is a madam.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! De reporter further seh that it is also no coincidence that Len deh in de same vein wid hen and Gl**!

Community leaders are servants, must act accordingly – Whittaker

Local Government and Regional Development

Minister Norman Whittaker has warned leaders of local communities across the country to take stock of their performance and understand that they were placed in those offices primarily to serve the interest of the people.

Whittaker was addressing a room filled with overseers and their assistants at a Superintendent of Works (SoW) training session at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) on Friday.

The workshop, which saw the participation of overseers from the 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) from the 10 administrative regions of Guyana, was held under the theme “Capacitybuilding and institutional strengthening of local authorities”.

In the eastern wing of the Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, Minister Whittaker pointed out that each employee placed in public office, while they were themselves impor-

tant, they had an even more important responsibility to the affairs of the people they serve.

Zooming in on the day’s theme, Whittaker noted that Local Government was critical to the management of the communities.

People are integral

“Local Government is premised on an appreciation of the need to involve people at the local level in decisions on what happens in their communities,” Whittaker told the Overseers.

He pointed out that integral to those decisions are the needs of the people, since it is they themselves “who define their needs”.

He explained that this was one of the reasons local authorities ought to be engaged in regular consultations with the members of the constituencies they serve. Another important factor, he said, was the proper and effective use of the available resources on the people.

“These resources are strictly limited and because of this fact, it is important that we involve the people in identifying,

defining and prioritising these needs, because we will never be able to satisfy all the needs of the people at the same time.”

Whittaker stressed that the authorities have the responsibility of administering the affairs of the communities and ensuring that the plans and programmes developed are executed.

Maximising resources

He said it was all about how the limited resources were used to satisfy “as many of the needs of the people as is possible”.

He reminded the office holders who treat residents as though they were being done a favour, that “we are servants of those people”. He noted that if there were no needs to be satisfied and Government decided that the people at the local level should be involved, “then I dare say there would be no need for us”.

Participants at the workshop were given a preview of a number of areas, including the use of charts in budget preparation, monitoring and evaluation, record keeping and personal administration,

minutes- writing at meetings and committee works and financial compositions.

Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) cover a small geographic area within each region and are tasked with responsibility for the management and administration of these areas within its boundaries.

Although the NDCs were established by an order under the Local Democratic Organs Act 12 of 1980, it was not until 1994 that they were actually set up.

Councillors are elected at Local Government Elections, which are held under the general supervision of the Guyana Elections Commission. The number of Councillors elected may range from 12 to 30 depending on the size of the population of the neighbourhood and its topography. These Councils operate under the Local Government Act, Chapter 28:02.

The Overseer is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the office and assists in the execution of the Council’s decisions.

The NDCs receive a subvention from Central Government every year to assist in the execution of developmental works within their boundaries.

Additionally, each NDC collects rates and taxes from the established revenue base; these are retained by the said Council and used to provide effective and efficient services to the residents.

Representatives at the training workshop presented their budgets to the Local Government Minister.

Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker

with Regional Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth

Body of Soesdyke man retrieved from Mowasie Creek

After close to two hours under water, divers were successful in re trieving the body of Stephen Culley, 23, on Friday morning.

He went missing on Wednesday evening after the vehicle in which he was trav elling fell into the Mowasie Creek, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

Information reaching the Guyana Times revealed that the young man’s body was sighted under a dredge in the area late Thursday even ing during a search by Police ranks, close friends, and family members. However, owing to the location, they were unable to retrieve the body until about 09:00h the next morning.

A close friend of the family told the Guyana Times that after the vehicle was pulled from the waterway on Thursday evening, the news of Culley’s body being found went viral, but it was just a rumour. He said that the family would have released information to the media that was at their disposal at the time.

The man stated that they were making arrangements for the body to be transported to the city over the weekend so that a post-mortem examination can be performed. The body is presently at the Mahdia Hospital Mortuary.

An aunt of the now dead man confirmed on Friday

morning that the body pulled from under the dredge was that of her nephew. She said she was misinformed on Thursday evening that he had been recovered.

Steve Culley, the young man’s father, left Soesdyke on Thursday for Mahdia since the Police said that a close relative has to identify the body.

The 23-year-old, also called “Buckman”, of Lot 10 Dr Charles Housing Scheme, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, was on his way to Kanawaruk when the vehicle he was travelling in toppled while crossing a bridge at Mowasie Creek.

Culley and two others were heading to a mining camp. The two others suffered minor injuries, but Cully went down with the vehicle. It is suspected that the young man might have drowned since he could not swim.

His father was at the time in the North West District when he received the devastating news and as such, immediately travelled home. The distressed man stated that it was only when he received the news of the accident, he became aware that his son had gone into the interior.

The elder Culley is trying to come to grips with the harsh reality of his loss, especially since his wife died about a year ago after a long battle with cancer.

Culley left home on Monday morning with his girlfriend and another friend for the interior. They were reportedly embarking on a business venture of providing meat to a mining camp in the area.

The now dead man attended the St Mary’s Primary School after which he was awarded a place at Covent Garden Secondary School where he sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

The Police have launched an investigation into the incident. The driver of the vehicle remains in custody.

Caricom nationals to benefit from greater information flow

Caricom nationals in six members states are to benefit from a greater flow of tailored information on the Caricom Single Market (CSM).

This is under a new project that aims to connect nationals with the information they need to work, travel and do business in participating Caricom countries.

Over the next five months, the groundwork for greater information flows and channels on the CSM is being established through technical assistance to Governments and training key stakeholders.

In partnership with focal point ministries for the Single Market in Belize, Jamaica, Guyana, Dominica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, the project will build Governments’ and stakeholders’ capacity to develop and sustain well packaged information on the single market to their nationals. This is expected to take place during and beyond the life of the project.

The project, which took effect in October, falls under Component 300 of the Caricom Trade and Competitiveness Project (CTCP). Funded by the Government of Canada, the project’s objective is to widen the scope of participation by

stakeholders and beneficiaries in the process of decisionmaking, implementation and operation of the CSM.

A robust information and communication infrastructure, which includes up-tothe-minute intra-agency information sharing along with sustainable and accessible public information channels, are vital if the intended benefits of the Single Market are to be understood and utilised by the average Caricom national. This project aims to set this foundation in place.

Among the immediate benefits to the focal member states are capacity-building through the development of national communication strategies and awareness plans in the case of Dominica, Grenada, Belize and Guyana. Additionally, in all six member states, there will be Caricom Single Market workplace sessions within agencies responsible for facilitating access to the five CSM Regimes namely free movement of skills, goods, services, people and right of establishment (of business).

Each member state will also benefit from training of spokespersons, media and teachers. Spokespersons training will equip select persons to effectively communicate their knowledge of

the Single Market, including how and where to access information, and how to seek redress if rights are challenged.

The media training aims to narrow knowledge gaps on the Single Market and to improve participants’ ability to initiate and mediate discourse on the Single Market. Educators’ training at the CXC and CCLC levels will seek to infuse information on the CSM Regimes into school curricula, ultimately sparking greater interest in regional integration among young people. This is also meant to encourage their steady pursuit of the opportunities accessible through the referenced five CSM Regimes. A Saint Lucia-based company, Right Angle Imaging, was contracted to work with the beneficiary member states to implement the Consultancy. The project is expected to conclude around mid-March 2015.

The Community Strategic Plan (2015-2019) identifies, among other areas for priority focus, the accelerated implementation of the CSME, building competitiveness and unleashing key economic drivers to transition to growth and to generate employment and the development of human capital.

saturDaY, november 15, 2014 | guYanatimesgY.com

After 25 years of occupation

– Amerindians can obtain land titles

“The Amerindian Act 2006: A Simple Guide” was launched on Thursday evening at the closing ceremony for the Justice Institute’s Amerindian CapacityBuilding Project.

The guide explains in detail what rights and responsibilities Amerindians have and puts the indigenous people in a better position to use the Amerindian Act of 2006, as it is written in simpler terms.

In addition to the guide, a Training Manual on the Amerindian Act was also launched, particularly for Toshaos and Council members.

“Putting words into legal terms has been a challenge to our people…. There was a request coming from the cross-section of the Amerindian communities that this document needs to be simplified,” former Toshao Clarindo Lucas stated.

He said these documents translate the legal terms into simpler language, and can now be used by the people to gain more knowledge on their rights.

Under land issues, the Act states Amerindians do not have to go to court to claim their land. They can simply obtain land title on

the basis of only 25 years of occupation.

“They use the Amerindian Act and claim the land based on traditional occupation and use, their culture and their spiritual relationship with the land,” Ambassador Kopecký said.

However, proving native or aboriginal title to traditional lands requires a community to show occupation going back to the time when the colonial powers first arrived.

Before Amerindian land rights were a complex and complicated issue. In the Eighth Parliament, the Amerindian Act was passed, allowing for a simpler method to claim land and to govern all the Amerindian communities as it relates to mining, Toshaos’ responsibilities, and the Ministry’s interventions, among others.

For example, as Melinda Janki of the Justice Institute explained, “a miner can cur-

rently obtain permission to mine on State land; the land belongs to the State, the State has the right to say yes to the mining if they want to. If an Amerindian community is on that State land, they already have remedies. There are things that they can do under the Mining Act; there are things they can do under the Environmental Protection Act. The Amerindian Act doesn’t kick in at this stage. However, if the community

then gets title to that State land, they have to respect the rights of the miners who were there before.”

Make claim

Because of this, Amerindians were urged to claim their lands before someone else did.

It was noted that the Amerindians are the second largest land owners in the country, with the state being the largest, lease holders had the third largest portion of land, and private property owners the least.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, with the help of Janki, piloted work on the draft document for the Amerindian Act.

However, even after the Bill was passed, many, if not all Amerindians, were still not clear on what their rights were.

“Having passed the Act, however, the challenge then is implementing it… one important thing [aspect is] human rights … is that they must know what their rights are; and as politicians sometimes … we take it for granted that the Bill has been passed, it has been publicised; therefore, everybody knows about it,” Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira stated.

The Amerindian Capacity-Building Project began in November 2010.

The project entitled “Empowerment and Capacity-Building of Amerindian Communities, Village Councils and Toshaos” was implemented by the Justice Institute and funded by the European Union to the sum of $38 million.

The project set out to explain the Amerindian Acts to the Amerindian people. Amerindians were educated on their mining rights, farm land rights, property rights, and responsibilities of Toshaos and Council members, among others.

Janki described the programme as the second-tolast stage of a process in allowing Amerindians to effectively manage their land and resources, manage accounting systems so they can use their resources for their best interests, and protect resources, noting that while the traditional ways of life are wonderful, they are not appropriate for the modern world.

The ceremony was held at the EU Ambassador’s residence and saw special attendees, including Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud.

EU Ambassador Robert Kopecký, former Toshao Clarindo Lucas, Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira and Melinda Janki of the Justice Institute

Digicel launches

$18M Christmas promotion

Digicel Guyana Inc on Thursday launched its highly anticipated Christmas Promotion titled “Gold Hunt” at Palm Court, Main Street, Georgetown, which will allow customers to win up to $18 million in cash.

In a festive atmosphere, patrons were treated to goodies and a live performance by Jackie Hanover, a theatrical presentation by the Merundoi cast and a few mob dancers, who thrilled those present.

In a room with lighted white Christmas trees, golden gift boxes and table decorations made out of chocolates, Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James said this year the company was giving back in a golden way.

She explained that 12,000 customers, who top up with $500 or more, will win $500 free credit for

the next six weeks. That is 2000 customers per week, she detailed.

In addition, she explained that apart from

winning the credit, lucky customers will also be given gold bars and once they collect three of these, they will have a chance to be part of the big prize draw.

From the grand prize draw, six lucky customers will be selected to be part of the “Gold Hunt” Television Show where they can win $6 million.

There will be three episodes over the next three weeks. The first grand prize draw will be being held on December 4.

The Television Show will be aired on the National Communications Network (NCN) after the drawing is held. Also, the selected six customers will win a Samsung S5 mobile handset. The Gold Hunt Promotion kicks off on November 14 and will end on December 28.

Both prepaid and postpaid customers are eligible to participate.

“Whether you chose to use card Top Up or electronic Top Up, you can be a part of the promotion,” James said.

She is encouraging customers to participate in the exciting countrywide promotion.

Six lucky persons from the audience won handsets at the launch of the promotion, while six others won fabulous prizes.

GWI offering free pass to disconnected, illegal customers

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has intensified its countrywide community outreach programme, GWI’s Community Connect, to encourage more disconnected and illegally connected customers to take advantage of the company’s current promotion, the GWI Free Pass.

Launched in October, the GWI Free Pass provides customers who were disconnected with the opportunity to reconnect their service without paying the usual penalty fee. Customers with illegal service connections can also regularise their service without paying tampering fees.

GWI’s Community Connect will include house to house visits by GWI Customer Services teams as well as information desks strategically placed at Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) offices and popular locations such as schools, community centres and supermarkets countrywide.

GWI customers can also utilise the Community Connect activities to pay bills, query their accounts,

report leaks and sign up for GWI’s Wallet-friendly Payment Plans.

“The response to the Free Pass promotion has been encouraging,” stated Customer Services Manager Jeanette Thomas. She added: Hundreds of customers countrywide have already signed up. However, we are urging every customer who can benefit from the programme to visit our offices or talk with our customer services teams before

we commence our countrywide disconnection campaign on December 1.” Community Connect will be held in Blueberry Hill, Linden on November 19; Good Hope, Essequibo on November 14; Yaracabra, Canefield and Timehri between November 10-28; Cane Grove, Mahaica NDC Office on November 14; Crabwood Creek, East Berbice on November 21; and Lacytown, Georgetown on November 29.

A full list of community outreach activities is available on the company’s website and social media pages. For more information on GWI’s Community Connect, customers can call the GWI Customer Services Call Centre on 227-8701/03/04 or e-mail customerservicescentre@gwi.gy Information is also available at www. gwiguyana.com or on social media: www.facebook. com/everydropcountsgy Customers are encouraged to send queries about community outreach locations via Blackberry Pin number 296185F9.

GPSU threatens industrial action

– calls for establishment of Public Service Appellate Tribunal

Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) President Patrick Yarde has written President Donald Ramotar calling for the “timely” appointment of the constitutionally established Public Service Appellate Tribunal (PSAT).

The PSAT has been non-functional, since the resignation in 2004 of the Government’s nominee on the tribunal, the late George Fung-On. Yarde, who wrote the President on November 3, said the union previously wrote to the President on this subject on September 12.

On this occasion, apart from receiving an acknowledgement from the Office of the President, there has

been no positive or conclusive response.

“The absence of the PSAT has left a significant

void causing public officers to be denied the right to have grievances with decisions of the Public Service Commission redressed, other than through the High Courts. This in essence, is also a breach of the provisions of the Constitution of Guyana, which are intended for their protection.”

The union in a release said it wishes to point out that it was at its insistence that the PSAT was established in 1984.

The GPSU is calling on the President to look into the matter, noting that failure to do so will result in public servants being assured of some measure of justice and security of tenure.

Local singing sensation Jackie Hanover performing at the launch of the company’s Christmas Promotion at Palm Court, Georgetown

Digicel Head of Marketing, Jacqueline James speaking at the promotion

GPSU President Patrick Yarde

GWI Customer Services Manager Jeanette Thomas

Regional

Jamaica: Desperate shortage of blood attributed to Chikungunya outbreak

Acting Director the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Dr Veronica Taylor on Wednesday said the agency is in need of 12,000 units of blood. She noted that the crisis is as a result of several donors being turned away because they were infected with the Chikungunya virus.

Taylor explained that the current policy requires that individuals affected by the virus wait for at least 28 days before donating blood. She said the policy will remain in place until further information on the impact of the infection is available. She added that following an infection, traces of the virus remain in the blood for up

to 17 days and some people experience a relapse, which may involve a return of the fever and other symptoms usually within three weeks.

Meanwhile, the NBTS sought to quell concerns about blood donation amid the outbreak. “The NBTS understands public concerns about the safety of donating blood at this time and acknowledges that information regarding the impact of the CHIKV infection on blood donors and recipients of blood from a previously infected donor is not well understood,” the NBTS said.

“Under international screening guidelines adhered to by the NBTS, blood is only collected from individuals provided it is considered not to put the donor at risk of ill health and not to put the recipient at health risk,” it added (Caribbean360.com)

Cops get key info in TT family’s murders

Police say they have made a serious breakthrough in the kidnapping and now murder of members of the missing Brasso Seco family, after one of the five men in custody gave them information that may lead to the recovery of another body. According to a CNC3 news report last night, the suspect gave information surrounding the disappearance of the family and in particular one of the teenage girls. On October 26,

Irma Rampersad, 49, and her daughters — Felicia Gonzales, 17, a student of Malabar Secondary School, and Jenelle Gonzales, 19 — and her 14-month-old granddaughter Shania Amoroso, were abducted from their Brasso Seco home.

The following day they were reported missing by Felix Martinez, who said he awoke to find a kitchen window broken and the women and child missing. Two days later Martinez went missing but was believed to have

been hunting.

Martinez’ body was found along with that of baby Shania wrapped in a sleeping bag last Saturday. An autopsy on their remains on Tuesday revealed Martinez was strangled.

The autopsy on Shania was inconclusive because of the advanced state of decomposition.

On Tuesday, the body of Rampersad was found near a tree and she too was strangled according to her autopsy. (Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaican company commits $6.7 B to offshore oil exploration

The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) says it will ensure that Jamaicans benefit, if oil is found from the recently announced gas and oil exploration project. The exercise, which commenced on November 1, is being facilitated under a production sharing agreement (PSA) signed by the PCJ, and Tullow Jamaica Limited.

An exploration licence has been issued to the firm, which has committed some J$6.7 billion (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.0089) to undertake activities off the island’s south coast.

“We worked very hard to get someone like Tullow Oil on board and it is our earnest wish that as we go forward, it brings the benefits that we desire. The PCJ and its team will ensure that we commit all the resources that we do have to ensure that Jamaica gets the fullest benefit from the programme being implemented,” he said.

The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) says it will ensure that Jamaicans benefit, if oil is found from the recently announced gas and oil exploration project

Richardson said the project will have several phases. “In each of those phases, the explorer, Tullow Oil, will be looking to build on the knowledge of the past and continue to use their internal expertise, develop on that knowledge and hopefully point to a place where we could go on to a more detailed seismic work, using sound waves to investigate under the surface,” he added.

The PCJ executive said that a key component of

the project is the intellectual sharing and transfer of knowledge, noting that Tullow Oil will be collaborating with the Department of Geology at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies.

PSJ Group General Manager, Winston Watson, said the immediate benefits of the project will be mainly investments in the country and job creation on a small scale, as the company begins “to ramp up its activities here. (Caribbean360.com)

TT farmers count losses as flooding hits rural areas

Farmers suffered thousands of dollars in losses on Thursday after their crops were destroyed by floodwaters which also caused havoc in several communities and homes in Mayaro and environs.

Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation Chairman Hazarie Ramdeen said a team from the Corporation’s disaster management unit was out in the field helping residents.

In some places, after torrential rainfall, floods rose to waist-height. ViceChairman Glen Ram said the Corporation was also putting things in place to help some students of the Biche High School who were stranded. “It is bad,” he said, but added an assessment of the losses and damage could only be done when the water dissipated. Mayaro/ Guayaguayare Councillor Kyron James said: “There have been numerous instances of flooding, more than I have seen in a long while.” He said the Mayaro Secondary School was dismissed early after part of the road leading to the school caved in.

The Meteorological Office issued a flood bulletin around 11.30h, saying be-

Farmers suffered thousands of dollars in losses after their crops were destroyed by floodwaters which also caused havoc in several communities and homes in Mayaro and environs

cause of recent rainfall people would experience more prolonged and widespread street and flash flooding, as well as riverine flooding.

Reports from the Water Resources Agency said some small rivers, particularly in north-eastern and central Trinidad, have overspilled their banks, while water levels in the large rivers were significantly high and might

reach threshold levels as a result of expected run-off from the current rainfall. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) said it was in contact with all first-responder agencies (TT Fire Services, TT Defence Force and the municipal corporations) so that immediate assistance would be given if needed. (Trinidad Guardian)

Former Mayor charged in Mexico student deaths

Prosecutors in the Mexican state of Guerrero said Friday they have formally charged former Iguala Mayor Jose Luis Abarca in the disappearance of 43 students.

Abarca is described as the “probable mastermind” in the September 26 disappearance of the students. He is charged with six counts of aggravated homicide and one count of attempted homicide, the state attorney’s office said.

Authorities said the stu-

dents -- mostly men in their 20s studying to be teachers -- were abducted by police in September at Abarca’s direction. Police killed some students, and the rest are believed to have been turned over to gang members to be executed, Mexican Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam has said.

The men’s bodies were burned, and some remains were thrown in a river.

The students were traveling to Iguala to protest a lack of funding for their school.

Officials have said that Abarca ordered the city’s police chief to stop the demonstration out of concern it would disrupt one of his own events.

In all, at least 74 people have been arrested in connection with the disappearances and deaths, which have sparked huge protests across Mexico.

The Governor of Guerrero has taken a leave of absence after being criticized for failing to act quickly enough in the matter. (CNN)

Cuba, St Lucia deepen economic ties

Arecently passed new foreign investment law in Cuba has created a favourable environment for developing economic ties between Cuba and Saint Lucia, and by extension the Caribbean region.

The law has facilitated Saint Lucia’s Trade Export Promotion Agency’s (TEPA) successful introduction of a range of Saint Lucian manufactured products into the Cuban market.

Since the introduction of the law, TEPA has been working to introduce Saint Lucian products in a systematic and structured

manner into Cuba. This has involved working closely with Dr Charles Isaac, the Saint Lucian Ambassador in Cuba.

Recently, upon invitation from the government of Cuba, the minister for commerce, business development, investment and consumer affairs, Emma Hippolyte, attended the 32nd Havana International Fair held in Cuba from November 2 - 8.

The event displayed a variety of consumer goods, machinery, equipment, technology, raw materials and services across various sec-

tors. Entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries participated in the event. Hippolyte took the opportunity to deepen existing bilateral relations with Cuba and examined future actions to be developed between Saint Lucia and Cuba.

Several meetings were held with key stakeholders to access marketing information and identify opportunities for business and trade.

The event also allowed TEPA to present a selection of other products to major buyers in the market for potential export opportunities. (Caribbean News Now)

Desperate shortage of blood attributed to Chikungunya outbreak

Around the world

US planes spy on Americans' phones UN: ISIL committing war crimes in Syria

United Stated Federal law enforcement agents fly small planes loaded with gear to spy on Americans’ cell phone calls. On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, revealed the extent of the programme: Federal Government gathers the data from Cessna airplanes and can cover most of the US population.

These devices typically trick phones into sharing its location data and revealing the phone’s identity.

CNNMoney has independently confirmed that at least one federal agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has used this technology on planes since 2010, according to Government documents. The planes carry a box that serves as a dummy cell phone site. That device

mimics actual towers, duping nearby cell phones into connecting to it instead of a real phone company tower.

“This is a disturbing progression of the Federal Government’s use of this technology,” Nathan Freed Wessler, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney in New York told CNNMoney. “What’s different about this... is that it vastly increases the number of completely innocent bystanders

whose information is being swept up by law enforcement.”

An official at the Department of Justice would not confirm or deny the use of flying spoof cell towers. He said any discussion would let criminals and foreign Governments “determine our capabilities and limitations.” The official told CNNMoney that any tactics used comply with federal law. (CNNMoney)

Algeria’s President Bouteflika ‘hospitalised’ in France

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who suffered a stroke last year, was hospitalized in the Alpine city of Grenoble on Thursday, a French police source said. He was taken into care at Grenoble mutualist clinic on Wednesday,” the source told Reuters on Friday. He did not have details on why he had been hospitalised.

A veteran of Algeria’s independence war against France, Bouteflika suffered a stroke in early 2013, forcing him to be rushed to hospital in France. He has since returned to France for several check-ups.

One of the few remain-

ing veterans of the war of independence against France, Bouteflika came to power in 1999. The latest years of his rule have been dogged by ill health and more recently by corruption scandals impli-

Sweden has released sonar image

− says proof that a foreign submarine entered its waters

The grainy image shows underwater tracks allegedly left by the vessel. Several sightings of an unidentified object near Stockholm sparked a huge search and Sweden’s biggest military operation in years.

Naval vessels and planes searched waters near the capital but were unable to identify any intruding vessel or say which country was responsible. Suspicion fell on Russia, but its Defence Ministry denied any of its ships were involved.

“The military can confirm that a small U-boat breached Sweden’s territorial waters,” the head of Sweden’s armed forces, General Sverker Goransson, told a news conference. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven warned

against any further incursions. Soviet submarine sightings caused security alerts in Sweden during the Cold War in the 1980s.

In one incident, a Russian sub loaded with nuclear torpedoes ran aground near a Swedish naval base in 1981.The latest search was called off without finding or bringing any vessel to the surface. Sweden reportedly intercepted a distress signal in Russian, but Russia suggested it could have been a Dutch vessel, something denied by the Netherlands. The episode raised fears about Russia’s intentions in nearby states, following Moscow’s role in the Ukraine crisis.

Sweden is not part of NATO but has tightened ties with the alliance. It is also increasing military spending. (BBC

cating members of his inner circle.

On Monday, he met French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in Algiers to discuss bilateral relations between the countries. Algerian authorities were not immediately available for comment. (Reuters)

Massacres, beheadings, torture, sexual enslavement and forced pregnancy being carried out by group, investigators say.

Fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity on a large scale in areas under the group’s control in Syria, UN investigators say.

In its first report focused squarely on acts by ISIL, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria presented on Friday a horrifying picture of what life is like in areas controlled by the group, including massacres, be-

headings, torture, sexual enslavement and forced pregnancy.

“The commanders of ISIS have acted wilfully, perpetrating these war crimes and crimes against humanity with clear intent of attacking persons with awareness of their civilian or ‘hors de combat’ (non-combat) status,” the report said, using an alternate acronym for ISIL.

Based on more than 300 interviews with people who have fled areas under the control of ISIL, as well as photographs and video footage released by ISIL itself, the report paints a picture of life under the group’s rule.

ISIL, which has declared

an Islamic “caliphate” in an area spanning northern Iraq and eastern Syria, is seeking to “subjugate civilians under its control and dominate every aspect of their lives through terror, indoctrination”, the report found.

Massacres, beheading boys as young as 15, and amputations and lashings in public squares that residents, including children, are forced to watch figure on the list of crimes, as does the widespread use of child soldiers, stoning women to death for suspected adultery, and holding women as sexual slaves and forcing them to bear children for the fighters.

(Aljazeera world news)

Ukraine, Russia take centre stage as leaders gather for G20

Ashowdown between Western leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely at the G20 summit in Australia starting on Saturday, following fresh reports of Russian troops pouring into eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine accused Russia of sending soldiers and weapons to help separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine and launch a new offensive in a conflict that has killed more than 4,000 people. British Prime Minister David Cameron blasted

Russia’s actions as unacceptable on Friday, warning that they could draw greater sanctions from the United States and the European Union.

“If Russia takes a positive approach toward Ukraine’s freedom and responsibility, we could see those sanctions removed, if Russia continues to make matters worse then we could see those sanctions increased, it’s as simple as that,” Cameron told reporters in Canberra. Russia denies sending troops and tanks into Ukraine.

But increasing violence, truce violations and reports of unmarked armed convoys traveling from the direction of the Russian border have aroused fears that a shaky September 5 truce could collapse.

The G20 leader’s summit in Brisbane is focused on boosting world growth, fireproofing the global banking system and closing tax loopholes for giant multinationals. But with much of the economic agenda agreed and a climate change deal signed last week in Beijing between the United States and China, security concerns are moving to center-stage.

Ukraine has not been a top focus during a pair of summits in Asia this week, US Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said, although President Barrack Obama did raise it briefly with Putin when both attended the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in China. (Reuters)

world News)

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey (L) as Official Secretary to Australia’s Governor General Mark Fraser looks on, after arriving at the G20 Terminal in Brisbane in this November 14

The Federal Government flies planes like this Cessna to gather data on Americans’ phone calls, the Wall Street Journal says

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was sworn in for a fourth term on April 28 last in a wheelchair

saturDaY, november 15, 2014 | guYanatimesgY.com

Courts Christmas Light-Up transforms Main Street into jingle wonderland

– lucky shopper wins $2M

As thousands gathered once again to witness the flamboyant Courts Christmas Tree Light-Up on Main Street, Georgetown, a lucky woman, Latchmini Singh, grabbed $2 million for the holidays, compliments of Courts.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand did the grand honours of activating the switch that transformed the shadowy street into a luminous lane.

The Minister joined First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar in wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas,

and thanked Courts for signalling the beginning of Christmas in Guyana.

Manickchand encouraged the gathering, particularly the children, to share love throughout the holidays and to give and keep giving for good things will come their way.

With spectacular performances from Timeka Marshall, Ryan Hoppie, Esther Osborne Y3K, the National School of Dance, and much more, one could not help but be in a jovial atmosphere.

Also, a very ecstatic

Diamond-Grove community to get playfields by 2015

Residents of the Diamond-Grove community have long been promised a playfield, but never received one.

Of course, there was the lot allocated on 11th Avenue, but no work ever began to develop the piece of land into a serviceable playground.

Overseer of the Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Parmanand Babulall, said the 2015 budget already covers expenditure to develop two playfields within the scheme.

The first one will be located in the Diamond area on 11th Avenue and the other in the Grove half in Section A.

For the field in Diamond, work is expected to be done in the April-June period while the field in Grove will be done during OctoberDecember.

Babulall explained that the only work the budget will allow for the year is the landscaping of the fields, as there are other items on the NDC’s agenda.

“We need to buy tractors, to have continuous road patching and other things,” Babulall said.

Nevertheless, the other improvements will be cov-

Singh, who is the first winner of the several $2-million prizes Courts is giving away for the holidays, came all the way from Clonbrook, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) to be a part of the celebrations.

Courts Managing Director Clyde DeHaas thanked all Guyanese, particularly customers, and encouraged them to continue to shop at Courts for a chance to receive the grand prizes

the superstore has to offer for the holidays.

The Annual Road Show will hit the streets today in Mahaica to spread the Christmas spirit. With massive deals storewide, anyone can shop and snatch a chance to spin the wheel to win amazing prizes, even a chance to win 100 per cent back of their purchase.

Customers can spend as low as $5000 and enter for

a chance to win $2 million, just like the lucky lady from Clonbrook.

Spend more than $30,000 and get instant cash back up to $12,000. Customers can also win a deep frozen pepper-pot package for the holidays.

These great deals kept echoing all throughout the amusing Christmas extravaganza, in the midst of children from Special Needs

Gifted Hands and Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, loyal customers, and other beautiful Guyanese.

The delightful Christmas experience, a fantastic float with Santa Claus, Mrs Claus, Mickey Mouse, and other popular cartoon characters were awe-inspiring to the massive crowd of children, with confetti filling the air and cheerful Christmas melodies.

Shaheed Orphanages purchase bus for children

– building playground at Oleander Gardens location

Tered in the following year’s budget. Babulall stated that the NDC wants to make the playfields recognised for high standards, by constructing washroom facilities, drinks and food bars, among other amenities. However, everything cannot be done all at once.

Babulall explained that the NDC took control of the scheme in 2008. While he was not exactly sure why the field at 11th Avenue was never developed, he suggested it was probably owing to financial difficulties at the level of the Council.

The Overseer said there were two groups who were battling for control of the land, but the NDC decided to take control to avoid potential problems.

He said the new Council only came into being some two years ago and will work to give the residents their long-waited playfield.

Babulall also hopes for community involvement in the development of the playfields. He suggested residents help in any way they can, even if it is by assisting with transportation.

He also said Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker will come onboard to give muchneeded assistance.

he Shaheed Boys and Girls Orphanages, in a bid to make life easier for orphans, have purchased a bus to be used to transport the children to and from their schools and other activities.

The orphanages, with locations at Alexander Street, Kitty, Georgetown and Oleander Gardens, East Coast Demerara, were established in the 1950s as institutions to provide care, home and facilities for orphaned, vulnerable and destitute children.

They have remained legitimate institutions in the Muslim and wider Guyanese community for the provision of care, facilities and services to the orphans and vulnerable children of (mainly) the Muslim community.

The Shaheed orphanages are landmark institutions not only to the Muslim community, but to the Guyanese nation. They remain a beacon in the care of orphaned and vulnerable children in the society and in their decades of existence, provided care and facilities to thousands of children.

These institutions have provided wonderful support to successive Governments over the decades as a valuable social sector contributor to the country.

The Board is in the process of creating a play-

ground for these children at the Oleander Gardens location. Towards this, over $2 million has been spent in preparatory works and funding for the completion of the facility, which will be equipped with floodlights, is expected to materialise shortly. When completed, the facility will allow the children to enjoy outdoor sporting and recreational activities and the staging of the Orphans’ Fun Day and other recreational activities.

Board Chairman

Badrudin Hassan expressed his thanks to the Government, especially Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur for their respective roles in the granting of the duty-free concession for the bus.

The vehicle has arrived in Guyana and documents are currently being processed for clearance of same.

Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited was also thanked for releasing the funds for the bus to be acquired. The bus will carry the name of the Shaheed Orphanages prominently displayed on all sides. Hassan also disclosed that as of September last, the Board has placed the children of these institutions in a private school to provide the best possible educational opportunities and in keeping with the Mission Statement of these institutions.

Santa Claus in action at the Christmas Tree Light-Up on Friday

Work being done on the ground at the Oleander Gardens location

GIS, an essential tool for Governments

– seminar to mark International GIS Day reveals

table legislation in the National Assembly

Permanent Secretary of the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry, Joslyn McKenzie said the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is increasing rapidly worldwide, and Governments have acknowledged their importance.

The remarks were made during a seminar hosted by the Ministry as part of observances for International GIS Day under the theme: “Discovering the world through GIS”, and which was held at the Guyana Forestry Commission building, Kingston.

Participants were drawn from several sectors and were focused on the use of GIS and its use to gather data for development and monitoring their sectors.

He noted that the Natural Resources Ministry has dealt with conflicts which have occurred and pointed to the need for a clearing house of information.

McKenzie stated that the Ministry is headed towards establishing a single clearing house and has developed a policy regarding GIS, while at the same time is preparing to table legislation in the National Assembly.

Dr Earl Edwards, speaking on geo-enabling

Government organisations, noted that the system is critical to decision making. He pointed out however, that the fact that good access is essential for the gathering of information is accepted globally.

Dr Edwards observed that there is a need for more sharing within the agencies in the Caribbean region, but challenges exist which include copyright ownership and ownership and data.

Describing the process of GIS, Dr Edwards noted that it has moved from the desktop to web sources. He described the meaning, the users and the challenges of the system. Dr Edwards also suggested the mechanisms which should be used and set up by users. This, he pointed out, would require the need for a high-speed backbone net and good protection.

Valerie Grant, Consultant on GIS noted that spatial data infrastructure (SDI) is important for the development of Government’s infrastructure. She pointed to recommendations which are being followed coming out of the last Rio+20 Summit, noting that GIS provides helps Governments across the globe to unlock their po-

tential. Pointing to the size of the systems in China and Britain, Grant observed that it serves to update those who need updating. She also pointed to the fact that the systems themselves need constant updating.

Observing that Guyana is involved in the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), she pointed to Government’s needs towards addressing the issue. Highlighting the use of GIS in the mangrove restoration project, she indicated that it is used to gather knowledge.

Other topics covered by the seminar included the use of GIS in public health, agriculture, census data and crime analysis. It also looked at the monitoring of the Chikungunya outbreak.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage, and present all types of spatial or geographical data. The acronym GIS is sometimes used for geographical information science or geospatial information studies to refer to the academic discipline or career of working with geographic information systems and is a large domain within the broader academic discipline of geoinformatics. What goes beyond a GIS is a spatial data infrastructure, a concept that has no such restrictive boundaries.

In a general sense, the term describes any information system that integrates, stores, edits, analyses, shares, and displays geographic information. GIS applications are tools that allow users to create interactive queries (user-created searches), analyse spatial information, edit data in maps, and present the results of all these operations. Geographic information science is the science underlying geographic concepts, applications, and systems.

Nebraska hospital prepares for new Ebola patient

Asurgeon infected with Ebola will be transported from Sierra Leone to The Nebraska Medical Centre for treatment, a US Government official familiar with the situation said.

The doctor, a Sierra Leone national and legal permanent resident of the United States, is expected to arrive this weekend, most likely Saturday, the official said.

The official said it’s not known whether the doctor was working in an Ebola

treatment unit or some other type of hospital. The surgeon is married to a US citizen and has children, the official said.

Sierra Leone has seen more than 5,300 cases of Ebola and more than 1,100 deaths in this year’s outbreak of the deadly virus, according to figures from the World Health Organisation.

The Nebraska Medical Centre in Omaha is one of four hospitals in the United States that have biocontainment units and years of preparation in handling

highly infectious disease such as Ebola.

In a statement Thursday night, a spokesman said the hospital is still awaiting official confirmation about whether it will treat another Ebola patient. First, hospital spokesman Taylor Wilson said, air ambulance crew members will evaluate the patient when they arrive in Sierra Leone.

So far, the limited number of Ebola cases treated in the United States has shown a higher survival rate than cases treated in West Africa. (CNN)

saturday, november 15, 2014 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wildlife Regulations strengthen EPA’s capacity to protect wildlife

The Wildlife Management and Conservation (WMC) Regulations (2013) being implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, seek to regulate the local wildlife trade in Guyana by managing wildlife hunting, trapping and associated commercial activities. The WMC Regulations will strongly assist the EPA towards meeting its mandate to protect, conserve and en-

in the country.

Additionally, if a particular wildlife species requires special protection, the WMC Regulations allow for the establishment of ‘conservation sites’ to aid in the protection of the particular species and to facilitate the protection of its habitat.

WMC Regulations and Licensing

The WMC Regulations allow for the licensing of individuals engaged in collecting and selling wild-

Interesting to know!

Among the many species of wildlife protected in Guyana, are the Jaguar, Puma, Arapaima, Giant River Otter, Leatherback Turtle and Harpy

sure the sustainable use of wildlife in Guyana.

Prior to the WMC Regulations, the only existing legislation to regulate wildlife was the Species Protection (SP) Regulations (1999) which primarily addresses international wildlife trade ie its export and import. The WMC

life locally. This will help to ensure that wildlife harvesting is done in a manner that will allow the species to continue to exist in healthy numbers in the nature. Licences will state the specific number (quota) of a particular wildlife species that its holder is allowed to harvest. This will vary depending on the type of li-

- Respect the CLOSED SEASON for hunting wild birds (January 1-May 31) and mammals (May 1-July 31).

- Do NOT kill for fun. Unfortunately, ‘non-target’ species such as wildcats, savanna foxes, and birds of prey are often killed or wounded intentionally by hunters who shoot at them.

Everyone has a role to play!

- Report any wildlife hunting or trapping activities that you think may be questionable to the EPA. Hunters should have the relevant permission to enter private property/lands for example.

- Local demand for bushmeat will influence hunting activities. Does your demand conflict with the established closed seasons when no hunting should be occurring?

- From time to time, conflicts between humans and wildlife do arise. You are encouraged to share such

Regulations aim to safeguard our country’s rich biological wealth through careful management to prevent over-harvesting and degradation of natural habitats. As such, sports hunting and fishing or trapping activities for the bush meat or the pet trade will be regulated to promote the sustainable use of our wildlife.

WMC Regulations and protected species

The WMC Regulations classify selected species as protected and, in fact, list over 100 such species of wildlife. Such protected species cannot be hunted, trapped or traded anywhere

cence and the type of species being harvested.

The WMC Regulations (2013) also call for closed seasons to be established and licence holders must comply. Also, certain devices and methods are prohibited for hunting and trapping under the WMC Regulations, eg use of automatic firearms which are deemed liable to cause mass destruction of wildlife.

Tips to help conserve and protect wildlife!

Hunters/trappers should:

- Avoid over-hunting and catch only what you need.

scenarios with the EPA, so that, whenever possible, a solution could be found that may not necessarily require the killing of the wildlife causing the nuisance.

- Finally, you can help to raise awareness with others about Guyana’s wildlife and emphasise the importance of protecting and conserving them for future generations.

ou can share ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/o EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown or email eit.epaguyana@ gmail.com.

Government is headed towards establishing a single clearing house and has developed a policy regarding GIS, while at the same time is preparing to

TUESDAY'S WORD

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER

This is a good time for you to talk to potential partners, whether they be for business, romance or pleasure. Be careful not to overspend on entertainment.

Difficulties with the finances of your family or those you live with will be unnerving. Figure out a way to deal with fiscal uncertainty. Your energy will be low, so get plenty of rest.

Your conscious and subconscious minds may be at odds with one another. Do some soul searching in order to discover which path you should follow. Solitude will be beneficial.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Avoid financial ventures of any kind today. A friend or youngster in your life may take drastic measures to get your attention. Try to understand what’s behind it.

Disruptions beyond your control may ruin your regular routine. Be prepared to accept things as they unfold. Physical fitness programmes will ease your tension.

You may not be able to handle the innuendos that a friend or relative is making. Ignore what he or she is saying and focus your attention elsewhere. You can accomplish great things.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Empty promises are evident. Don’t quit your present job unless you have another one in the bag. Contracts will not be as lucrative as they appear. Read the fine print.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Stay out of the limelight. Someone may be trying to make you look bad. You need to regroup and consider who your friends are. Ferret out the information you need.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t worry too much about a friend or relative who insists on meddling in your affairs. Just tell this person to mind his or her own business. You must respect yourself and your goals, and not allow anyone to interfere.

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

Your need to make changes may appear to be out of character to your loved ones. Follow your heart. If you make your actions and motivations transparent, those around you will be able to understand you much better.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

A child or lover may demand special attention. Don’t give in too readily if you have made a prior commitment. You must respect your needs as well. Postpone the purchase of luxury items at this time.

Be careful with some of your health problems. Make an appointment with your doctor to check things out. Rest and relaxation will be in your best interest. If you have the wherewithal to take a vacation, do so.

PeanuTs

Calvin and Hobbes

dilberT

arCHie

Haynes wants end to WICB spat with players

Legendary former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes wants an end to the bickering between the West Indies Cricket Board and its players, the Barbados Today online newspaper has reported.

The 58-year-old Haynes, whose illustrious career marked the highpoint of West Indies cricket during the late 1970s and 1980s, said stakeholders

needed to stop the “blaming game” and get the matter resolved as quickly as possible.

“I would like to see some unity. I would like to see us get it sorted from all angles,” said Haynes.

“I would hope that we as a people would not look at a blaming game, but look at trying to find solutions.”

The Barbadian finished his career with 7487 runs from 116 Tests and 8648

runs from 238 One-Day Internationals. He is regarded as one of the finest openers to have played the game in either format.

Haynes, who recently served as a batting consultant to the West Indies team, said the regional side could return to the top of World cricket but warned the process would be a long one.

“I would like to see us back on top most definitely,

number one in the world… but it’s going to take some time,” Haynes acknowledged.

West Indies players, the WICB and players union, WIPA, have been locked in a dispute ever since the one-day players abruptly quit the tour of India last month over a contracts row.

A definitive resolution to the crisis is yet to be announced. (CMC)

Australia survive against South Africa in first ODI

It was a tale of three captains at the WACA, where Michael Clarke was injured while batting, his deputy-cum-replacement George Bailey rebuilt Australia’s innings, and their South African counterpart AB de Villiers threatened to pull off a record chase. Ultimately the difference was in the fortunes of Bailey and de Villiers: Bailey was dropped four times on his way to 70; de Villiers made a chanceless 80, then was run out in a mix-up with a tailender.

The loss of de Villiers ended any hope South Africa had of overtaking Australia’s 8 for 300. Never before had a team made that many to win a one-day international at the WACA, and in the end South Africa didn’t get especially close. A 46-run last-wicket stand could not disguise the lower-order collapse - the previous five wickets fell for 20 runs - and South Africa were dismissed for 268, giving Australia a 32-run win and a 1-0 lead.

The target was always going to be a challenge, and especially so after Mitchell Johnson’s pace accounted for Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla in the first five overs of the chase. Farhaan Behardien was caught for 20 pulling to deep midwicket off Nathan Coulter-Nile, who finished with 4 for 48, and Faf du Plessis received a send-off from bowler Shane Watson after he pulled to fine leg for 31.

But de Villiers and David Miller then put on 126 for the fifth wicket, first steadying South Africa and then steering them into a position from which they could have dreamt

of victory. Miller was strong through midwicket and struck five fours, plus one six that he launched over long-off from the bowling of Watson.

As usual, de Villiers scored all around the wicket. He was given lbw off Mitchell Marsh for 13 but had the decision overturned on review - it was clearly missing leg - and went on to bring up his half-century from his 53rd delivery with a six over midwicket off Glenn Maxwell. But the partnership ended when Coulter-Nile had

and Josh Hazlewood had Vernon Philander caught behind in the next over.

some problems.

Warner crunched three sixes, including two off the fast men, on his way to a rapid 46 from 49 balls, and Finch found or cleared the boundary five times during his 35 from 40. But Philander had them both within the space of three balls, Warner caught off a pull to deep midwicket and Finch caught behind off a tentative push outside off.

Miller caught at mid-on for a run-a-ball 65.

South Africa were by then 5 for 202 in the 37th over, and with a required run-rate of 7.07 and de Villiers at the crease on 70 from 67, it could have gone either way. But the wickets started to tumble. In the same over, Coulter-Nile bounced Ryan McLaren and flicked the glove on the way through to Matthew Wade,

Then came the crushing blow for South Africa, as Dale Steyn pushed to the off side off Hazlewood and took a couple of steps; his partner de Villiers overcommitted, turned back and was caught short by the direct hit of substitute Steven Smith. Coulter-Nile dismissed Steyn and then Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir showed some fight, but it was all over in the 49th over.

It was not what de Villiers had in mind when he won the toss and sent the Australians in. Two partnerships did the job for Australia: a 94-run opening stand from Aaron Finch and David Warner, and then a 92-run rebuilding effort for the sixth wicket between Bailey and Wade. Between those, Philander and his bowling colleagues caused

Clarke had scored only 11 when he tried to hook Steyn but was through his shot early and gloved the ball through to de Kock, and Watson was caught at short fine leg off Tahir for 13. Bailey was challenged from the outset - first ball he ducked a searing bouncer from Steyn that grazed his shoulder and flew over the head of the wicketkeeper.

South Africa’s bowlers made life difficult for Bailey in the early stages but the team’s catching left him off the hook. Twice Bailey was dropped on 2, first when he cut hard off Morkel and Miller at point spilled an easy chance, and then when a leading edge off Tahir lobbed back to the bowler, who grassed an even simpler opportunity.

The Bailey let-offs cost South Africa. After Marsh was bowled for 10 by a lovely Philander delivery that seamed back in, Bailey and Wade combined for a partnership that was initially scratchy but ultimately importantly steady. They came together at 5 for 144 in the 30th over and pushed the ball around for a while, happy to rotate the strike and prevent any further collapse.

It took Bailey until his 50th ball to strike his first bound-

ary, when he lofted Morkel back over his head for four during the batting Powerplay, and the runs began to flow a little easier. But there were two further lives for Bailey: on 39 he slogged McLaren high and Philander running back to long-on failed to cling on, and on 47 he pulled Philander and was dropped in the deep by Farhaan Behardien.

Bailey’s half-century came

from his 69th delivery and he then started to go after the fast men, thumping McLaren for two sixes down the ground in one over, before also depositing a Steyn slower ball over the long-on rope. His luck ran out on 70 from 75 balls when du Plessis took the hardest of Bailey’s chances, running back from mid-off and taking the catch while falling down.

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Australia innings (50 overs maximum)

DA Warner c McLaren b Philander 46

AJ Finch c †de Kock b Philander 35

SR Watson c Morkel b Imran Tahir 13

MJ Clarke* c †de Kock b Steyn 11

GJ Bailey c du Plessis b Steyn 70

MR Marsh b Philander 10

MS Wade† c sub (RR Rossouw) b Philander 35

GJ Maxwell c du Plessis b Morkel 29

MG Johnson not out 13

NM Coulter-Nile not out 9

Extras (b 1, lb 14, w 13, nb 1) 29

Total (8 wickets; 50 overs) 300 (6.00 runs per over)

Did not bat JR Hazlewood Fall of wickets 1-94 (Warner, 14.2 ov), 2-94

45.4 ov), 8-276 (Maxwell, 47.5 ov)

Bowling O M R W

DW Steyn 10 0 62 2

VD Philander 10 0 45 4 M Morkel 10 1 56 1 R McLaren 9 0 63 0 Imran Tahir 10 0 54 1 F Behardien 1 0 5 0 South Africa innings (target: 301 runs from 50 overs)

George Bailey

Desmond Haynes

Djokovic easily reaches final four at ATP World Tour

Novak Djokovic

brushed aside

Tomas Berdych to reach the last four at the ATP World Tour Finals and secure the year-end number one ranking.

The Serb, 27, won 6-2 6-2 to extend his unbeaten run indoors to 30 matches stretching back to 2012.

He tops Group A in London with three wins and will play Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Stan Wawrinka will play Roger Federer in the second semi as he won the three games required against Marin Cilic.

Wawrinka, the Australian Open champion, took only 13 minutes to move 3-1 ahead and so ensure he could not be overtaken by Cilic in any of the qualification scenarios.

The Swiss number two went on to win 6-3 4-6 6-3 and return to the last four after his debut appearance 12 months ago.

Czech player Berdych, 29, suffered a 17th defeat in 19 matches against Djokovic

but made more of a mark than in their last meeting, when he trailed 6-0 5-0 in Beijing last month before grabbing two games.

A similar drubbing appeared on the cards when the Serb raced into a 4-0 lead with two breaks of serve.

After a week of one-sided matches at the O2 Arena there was relief all around when Berdych recovered from 15-30 to get on the scoreboard in game five, but it was hardly a signal of intent.

Djokovic continued to dominate, rolling through the first set in 31 minutes and making it five games in a row as he moved 4-0 clear in the second.

Berdych slowed the twotime champion’s progress sufficiently to take him past the hour mark, but Djokovic sealed victory after 69 minutes, and with it the end-ofseason number one ranking for the third time in his career.

“Definitely one of the best,” Djokovic said of his

performance. “Obviously I hoped I could continue the way I played in the first two matches.

“It’s been a long year, a long season, it’s an incredible achievement and I want to thank my team and my family and all the people who supported me.

“I’m aware that being number one in the world is the biggest challenge a tennis player can have. It’s an incredible feeling and I’m very happy.”

Meanwhile, Wawrinka was left to look ahead to Saturday’s second semi-final where he will face compatriot Federer.

“I hope I can get a little bit of support because I know people love him here. It’s going to be tough for me, but I need to trust myself and go for it,” said Wawrinka.

“It was a tough match tonight, it’s never easy to play against Marin, he’s been having an amazing year. It was not easy, trying to be aggressive. I was trying to serve and volley.” (BBC Sport)

Scotland needle republic of Ireland

Asuperb Shaun Maloney goal earned Scotland a precious and hard-fought victory over the Republic of Ireland.

From a short corner, Maloney squeezed the ball into the feet of Scott Brown, whose back-heel allowed the winger to curl an exquisite shot home.

There was a late scare for the Scots as Grant Hanley’s header hit his own bar.

But the win draws Scotland level with the Irish and Germany on seven points after four games in Group D - with Poland three points clear of the trio.

Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill had spoken of his belief that his Irish side could win on his return to Celtic Park. Instead, it was his successor at the club, Gordon Strachan, who enjoyed the happier homecoming.

Another of the prematch talking points was the expected booing of the

Scots-born Ireland winger

Aiden McGeady and his reception was suitably hostile - he was treated by the home fans as the pantomime villain.

From the outset, the pace of the game was frenetic. The tackling was tenacious and, at times, downright careless, leading to early bookings for Hanley, McGeady and his Ireland team-mate, Jeff Hendrick.

The passion on show almost made up for the dearth of football, with precious few chances created in the opening halfhour.

Jon Walters and Darron Gibson did force David Marshall into saves, but there was little to worry either goalkeeper.

Scotland’s play under Strachan has come to be typified by slick attacking play and it was one such passage that almost brought about the opening goal.

Steven Naismith foraged away before picking

out Maloney on the right. The winger’s cross was whipped in for the charging Charlie Mulgrew, but his header flew wide. That was the cue for some concerted Scots pressure, which should have been rewarded only for Steven Fletcher to somehow fail to connect with another Maloney cross.

O’Neill’s side lifted their game at the start of the second period and Marshall saved a closerange Shane Long header before brilliantly turning away a McGeady volley. Fletcher’s replacement, Chris Martin, almost made an instant impact, firing just wide after good play again by Maloney and Naismith.

However, just as the visitors had tried to shut up shop by taking off Long and adding a fifth midfielder, Scotland made the breakthrough. It leaves Group D very open as the qualifiers come to an end for 2014.

Gasol drops season high to lead Bulls in win

Pau Gasol had a season-high 27 points and 11 rebounds, Derrick Rose scored 20 points before leaving with a sore left hamstring, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Toronto Raptors 100-93 on Thursday night.

Jimmy Butler scored 21 and Mike Dunleavy had 14 as the Bulls won for the sixth time in seven games and snapped Toronto’s fivegame winning streak in the matchup of teams with the best records in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are 7-2.

Rose stumbled on a drive to the basket late in the fourth and was replaced by Dunleavy with

1:53 left, taking a seat at the end of the bench.

Kyle Lowry scored 20 and James Johnson had 16 against his former team, but the Raptors lost for the first time in six home games this season.

MAVERICKS 123, 76ERS 70

Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points while playing only 20 minutes and Dallas had its largest victory ever while keeping Philadelphia winless.

The 53-point margin for Dallas surpassed its 50-point win over the New York Knicks in January 2010.

At 0-8, Philadelphia is the only NBA team without a victory. The only time

the 76ers have gone deeper into a season before winning a game was 1972-73, when they lost their first 15 games, according to STATS.

The 76ers, who scored the last five points to avoid their largest loss ever, matched Utah’s 0-8 start from a year ago. The last NBA team with a longer losing streak to begin a season was the New Jersey Nets during their record 0-18 start in 2009-10.

GRIZZLIES 111, KINGS 110

Courtney Lee scored on a lob pass as time expired to cap a furious fourthquarter rally, and Memphis came from 26 points down to beat Sacramento.

The outcome wasn’t decided until after a lengthy review by officials who were trying to determine if the inbounds pass from Vince Carter with less than a second left was tipped by the Kings, and also to determine if Lee got the shot off before the horn sounded.

Mike Conley led Memphis with 22 points and 11 assists, while Marc Gasol had 20 points. Lee’s reverse layup gave him 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Rudy Gay scored 25 points, while DeMarcus Cousins added 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings, who lost their third straight.

(Herald Sport)

Novak Djokovic

NBA Roundup…

The winning goal for Scotland

Paul Gasol

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Deokie prepared for Sunday’s Caribbean motor racing championships

Group One driver, Daniel Deokie is prepared for the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships on Sunday at the South Dakota Circuit.

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Deokie also pointed out that is his car is in shape for Sunday’s meet, “preparation is going fine presently, the guys are working on the car getting it fit for Sunday… as for me I’m physically and mentally prepared for this event on Sunday,” he mentioned.

Further, Deokie expects top competition come race day, “there is no competitor we should put on the back burner because every car has

the same amount of power, it’s all about who turns up to race,” he stressed.

The highly skilled driver, also noted what will be very crucial in determining the winner, “We are looking to get a good pool position, so we want to qualify with a good position,” Deokie said.

Deokie also thanked his

sponsors, August Beverage Enterprise, K&A Indoor Fashion, Robbie’s Jewelry, Precision Mining and Imran and Rayman General Automotives for the continued support. The event is slated to start from 10:00h. (Treiston Joseph)

Albion win Carib Beer T20 Final

Albion Community Centre spun a web around the Universal Solutions Bermine batsmen on Sunday evening in the final of the Carib Beer firstdivision T20 competition to notch the title.

Playing on their home ground, Albion, led by opening batsman Kandasammy Surijnarine, chalked up a challenging 145-7 off their allotted 20 overs.

Surijnarine played an excellent knock to register 72 not out (seven 4s and two 6s), taking a liking to the bowling of Devon Clements who bowled the last over for 19 runs.

Surijnarine struck him twice to the boundary in that over and once for a maximum.

The hard-hitting batsman received good support from Devendra Bishoo (25).

Apart from those two,

none of the other batsmen were able to make any serious impression on the scorecard. The bowling attack for Bermine saw Romario Shepherd taking 3-27 off four overs.

The visitors found batting difficult as the opening pair of Essequibo batsman Kevon Boodie and former Guyana Under-15 batsman Leon Williams were forced to play spin early in the innings.

West Indian left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul utilised one end while Balchand Baldeo plied his trade from the other.

After three overs, Albion had Bermine reeling on 12 for two, with Williams and former Guyana Under-19 all-rounder Joemal La Fleur back in the pavilion after the latter was bowled by Permaul for naught.

The introduction of

Devon Clements to the batting crease brought some hope to Bermine as he went after West Indian Under-19 and Berbice left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who replaced Permaul, hitting him for two boundaries in his first over. Motie, however, got Boodie out via LBW. Clements’ heroic knock of 54 would only result in the team being dismissed for 125 off 19.5 overs.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Marketing Assistant Khemraj Tagekam noted that it was the second year that ANSA McAL had sponsored the competition, but was disappointed that the product, under which the tournament was sponsored, was not featured more.

Team members of all four of the teams that reached the semi-finals were presented with caps. (Andrew Carmichael)

Guinea to host Africa Cup of Nations

Equatorial Guinea have been named as the hosts for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, the Confederation of African Football has confirmed to the BBC.

Caf selected a replacement for Morocco after rejecting their request to delay the 17 January to 8 February finals.

Morocco were concerned over the spread of the outbreak of the Ebola virus.

Caf subsequently expelled Morocco from the relocated tournament, which will now be held in the country which co-hosted with Gabon in 2012.

Equatorial Guinea will

now take on sole responsibility for holding the 16-team event.

Caf said the decision was made after a meeting in Malabo on Friday between Equatorial Guinea’s president Teodoro Obiang and Caf president Issa Hayatou. African football’s governing body also announced that Equatorial Guinea will play in the tournament - despite the team being disqualified in July for fielding an ineligible player in a preliminary qualifier against Mauritania on 17 May.

Hayatou said in a statement: “The head of state of Equatorial Guinea agreed to host the competition.

“As a result, the Caf executive committee confirms that the tournament will go ahead and Equatorial Guinea will compete as the host nation.

“Caf wishes to express its sincere thanks to the Equatorial Guinean people, its government and particularly president Obiang.” Matches will be held at four venues in Bata, Ebebiyin, Mongomo and the capital Malabo. In 2012, only Malabo and Bata were used.

The draw for the finals will be in Malabo on 3 December.

Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD,

L Da Silva

Da Silva

Daniel Deokie’s car strapped and ready for qualifiers today

Health 2000 Inc supports Under-11 girls’ football tourney

Health 2000 Inc is hoping to boost the level of Guyana’s future women soccer players by donating a quantity of multivitamins to the Petra Organisation on Thursday. The Under-11 girls’ tour-

nament being organised by Petra will kick off today at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue,

Better Hope, Enterprise set for Under-19 final clash on Sunday

After a hectic season of outstanding youth cricket competitions on the East Coast of Demerara, which saw many youngsters excelling, Better Hope Sports Club will clash with Enterprise “Busta” Sports Club on Sunday, November 16 at the Better Hope Community Centre Ground in the final of the 40-over Under-19 tournament.

A large crowd is expected since both teams have been unbeaten in the competition. Also both teams possess a number of upcoming quality players and received good support throughout the tournament, so this match is expected to be a thriller.

The Enterprise “Busta” Sports Club team will be chosen from Vivian Albert (Captain); Baskar Yadram (wicket-keeper); Sewchan Gangadin; Andy Dowlatram; Afzal Rohoman; Shivnarine Gobin; Pradesh Balkaran; Satyanand Ramkumar; Troy Mangal; Zaman Rasheed; Danesh Ally; Besham Khemraj; Arafat Khan; Bashkar Deodat; and Navin Chand. The manager is NK Omar and the coach is Latchman Yadram.

The Better Hope Sports Club team will be chosen from among Jai Dev Mannu (Captain); Reaz Mohamed; Prakash Debidayal; Sulvan Roopaul; Kishan Sukhram; Chandra

Mohan; Randy Singh (wicket-keeper); Vickram Paul; Alexander Persaud; Tichand Gopaul; Kishan Badal; Anand Samaroo; and Nashta Persaud. The manager is Clive Rampersaud and the coach is Mustapha Azimulla.

The umpires are Robert Adonis and Dhand Raj, with the match referee being Judister Rampersaud. Play is expected to start promptly at 10:30h.

For further information, the Chairman of the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) Competitions Committee, Raymond Barton can be contacted via phone on 2201636 or 626-0223.

shah affected by spot fixing probe

Former England batsman Owais Shah says he is “very distressed” to be implicated in a corruption probe.

Shah, 36, was inadvertently named in India’s Supreme Court among those being investigated over alleged spot-fixing in the 2013 Indian Premier League.

“I had no knowledge that I was under investigation,” said Shah, who played six Tests and 71 one-day internationals for England.

Other players and senior officials are also under investigation.

Shah played two games for Rajasthan Royals in the 2013 IPL.

“I have no idea what allegations have been levelled at me or what case, if any, I am expected to answer,” he added.

“I would have hoped to have received some expla -

nation from the Court that named me, but they have said nothing and made no attempt to explain themselves or to contact me, which is disappointing.

“I will be making no further statement until I have established exactly what is going on and why I have been named.”

Shah made his England debut against Australia in a one-day international in

Georgetown.

Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca was grateful for the contribution from Health 2000 Inc, noting that the event was “just the beginning of things to come”.

Mendonca explained that there were plans in place for the tournament to grow in years to come.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of Health 2000 Inc, Maliaka Persaud, was pleased to be associated with a tournament of such nature, stressing that young girls need these types of activities.

Persaud further said that Health 2000 Inc was hoping that the tournament grows and becomes a main staple in Guyana’s sport diet.

Germany got their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign back on track with a comfortable win over minnows Gibraltar.

Victory lifted the world champions, who had lost and drawn their previous two games, from third to second place, level on points with Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Thomas Muller scored twice before Mario Gotze

and a Yogan Santos own goal sealed a comfortable win in Nuremberg. Liam Walker went close for Gibraltar with a dipping shot from 35 yards.

Gibraltar, Uefa’s newest member nation, have lost all four qualifiers and conceded 21 goals without scoring. Poland won 4-0 in Georgia to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the group. (BBC Sport)

2001. He played 17 Twenty20 internationals and appeared at the World Twenty20 in 2007 and 2009.

Shah began his county career at Middlesex before moving to Essex in 2010. He retired from first-class cricket at the end of the 2013 season but played for Hampshire in the T20 Blast this year. (BBC Sport)

At the interval, the Guyana Jaguars reached 53-1, with Chandrika on 30 and Johnson on 17.

Despite two boundaries from Johnson soon after the interval off left-arm spinner Yannick Leonard, the Jaguars lost both batsmen in quick succession.

Chandrika added just one run after the break, before he was run out in bizarre fashion. Deonarine then joined Johnson and played with characteristic flourish upfront.

However, just when Johnson, one of two Guyanese in the West Indies Test squad to tour South Africa next month looked like anchoring himself, Tonge induced a faint edge to have the left-hander caught behind for 30.

Deonarine was then accompanied by fellow left-hander, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and the pair used what looked like a gentle-paced wicket to

their advantage on the cloudy afternoon as a light breeze wafted across the venue for added batting comfort.

The two left-handers literally batted with crisp assurance, mixing sound defence with rasping strokes, taking the Jaguars to 1403 at tea.

Deonarine was batting on 48 with Chanderpaul on 23. After the break, Deonarine reached his 50 from 100 balls, with seven fours.

However, Chanderpaul, West Indies’ most capped Test player, went about his business until Taylor got a delivery to grip and spin, inducing an edge from Chanderpaul, who was caught by the skipper, Devon Thomas. Barbadian all-rounder Raymon Reifer (18) was trapped leg before to Tonge. After which, both Deonarine and Barnwell negotiated the new ball

minutes before the scheduled cut-off time. The match continues today at 10:00h and admission is free.

Health 2000 Inc Managing Director Maliaka Persaud hands over the multivitamins to Troy Mendonca

Owais Shah

of Germany’s many strikes on target

Shivnarine Chanderpaul made a fighting 45

Pacquiao wants Mayweather fight to happen

Welterweight ti-

tleholder Manny Pacquiao is in the final preparations for his upcoming defense against junior welterweight titlist Chris Algieri, but he made it clear what he wants next should he be victorious.

“I do have one specific goal, and that is to give the boxing fans the fight they have always asked for,” Pacquiao said this week. “I want that fight [with Floyd Mayweather Jr.], too.”

Pacquiao, who regained his 147-pound title from Timothy Bradley Jr with a resounding unanimous decision in their rematch on April 12 – two years after Bradley claimed the belt via highly controversial split decision – will face Algieri on November 22 (HBO PPV, 9 pm ET) at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian Macao in Macau, China.

As Pacquiao and Mayweather wind down their careers, Pacquiao reiterated his desire to make the fight the world has wanted for several years. However, it has gone unmade despite multiple attempts to put it together. Lately it has been Mayweather who seems ambivalent about making a deal.

lieved Mayweather was serious.

“I believe good-faith negotiations could produce that fight,” Pacquiao said. “But it is impossible to negotiate when you are the only one sitting at the table. Two fighters who want to fight each other have never been kept from fighting each other.”

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, voiced similar sentiments on a teleconference this week promoting Pacquiao-Algieri.

National School Championships launched

By TreisTon Joseph

The National School Championships were officially launched on Friday in the boardroom of the Ministry of Education at 26 Brickdam, Georgetown.

The event sees the congregation of over 1500 youth and junior athletes battling for supremacy, recognition and to give their respective districts a chance at winning the 2014 title.

a successful event,” Lyte noted.

Chief Education Officer (CEO) of the Education Ministry, Olato Sam, concurred with the GTU head about the preparations and urged stakeholders to contribute to the development of Guyana’s youth.

“I don’t even think about Pacquiao,” Mayweather said. “I don’t even know him, actually. But I wish him nothing but the best. But that’s not my focus. I could care less about what Pacquiao does. I don’t wish anything bad on the man. I try not to focus on no one else’s business.

“If it happens, it happens. You guys can keep

After Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs), 37, who has won titles in five weight divisions, outpointed Marcos Maidana for the second time this year in September, he was asked, as usual, about fighting Pacquiao at the postfight news conference.

School table tennis tournament billed for today in Berbice

Over 40 passionate Table Tennis Players have so far entered for the much anticipated New Amsterdam/ Canje Schools Table Tennis competition which is slated for the Berbice High School Auditorium today.

Racquet wielders in the New Amsterdam/Canje district which includes New Amsterdam, East and West Canje and East Bank Berbice areas will hope to score wins at the one day occasion.

The competition is being sponsored by overseas based GuyaneseBerbician, Souvenir Ranmdyal a 2009 Hall of Fame Realtor of Queens New York.

This is the third year that Ranmdyal is sponsoring the tournament that is expected to serve off from 09:00h with this year mainly focusing on school children and C class players.

A number of categories will be contested including under-11, 13, 15, 18 and a special category will be played for C class players which should produce most of the best Berbice racquet

wielders in the country.

However the top four finishers in the uner-15 category and 58 year and over will be allowed to compete in the C class event.

Play is expected to be for both male and female in all the categories.

While the tournament is restricted to the New Amsterdam/Canje catchment area a special invitation has been sent to the Guysuco Training Centre while students from the University of Guyana and recruits from the Guyana Police Force living in the catchment area among others are also expected to participate.

The Sponsor along with members of his family and company are expected to be on hand to meet the players, declare the competition open and distribute the prizes at the end of the competition.

Interesting persons can make contact with any of the following persons- Floyd Conway, Richard Thompson, Desiree Lancaster and Levi Nedd and Alton Holder Straker for more information.

asking the same questions over and over. I move when I want to, where I want to and how I want to. Hopefully, it’s next.”

However, the Filipino legend Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs), 35, boxing’s only eight-division titleholder, did not sound as if he be-

“How can I talk for Mayweather? As far as the Pacquiao fight is concerned with Mayweather, as much as a lot of people surrounding it would want it to happen, myself included and Manny included, Floyd is reluctant to fight Manny Pacquiao, period,” Arum said. “If people don’t see that by now, they are never going to see it.” (ESPN)

At the launching, President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Mark Lyte, was confident that all the preparations for the event were in place for it to run off successfully.

“GTU is pleased to be playing a significant role and to work with the Ministry… all the districts are ready to compete; all preparations are being put in place with the various stakeholders to have

‘I’m quite pleased to see the sponsors recognising that this event can help mould our young athletes … we expected that this year is even better and at the end of this cycle, we will meet with all relevant stakeholders to see how we can better the event in the coming years,” Sam stressed.

The sponsors in attendance, more particularly Banks DIH and Gatorade, were enthusiastic about the event, stressing that the athletes deserve the best type of hydration and refuelling.

Manny Pacquiao

Deonarine’s unbeaten half-century defies Leeward Islands

By raJiv BisnauTh

Discarded West Indies middle-order batsman

Narsingh Deonarine was holding the Guyana Jaguars innings together with a defiant unbeaten half-century after the hosts lost five wickets at the end of the opening day on Friday in round one of the 2014/15 West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League (WICB PCL) Franchise Four-Day Tournament against the Leeward Islands at the Guyana National Stadium.

The Guyana Jaguars were 230-5 when play ended. The lefthanded Guyanese has so far faced 191 balls and struck eight fours in his unbeaten 73. Christopher Barnwell is the other not-out batsman on 24, with four boundaries.

Deonarine added an enter-

taining 83 for the fourth wicket with West Indies veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who made a workmanlike 45, with three fours from 106 balls, after the hosts were 86-3 at one stage.

Bowling for the visitors, former West Indies pacer Gavin Tonge snared 2-39, while Orlando Peters (1-31) and Jacques Taylor (1-53) were the other two bowlers to make inroads.

The hosts after deciding to bat on what looked like, and later proved to be, excellent batting conditions, omitted opener Trevon Griffith and middle-order batsman Vishual Singh from the playing 11.

When play began 15 minutes late due to some passing showers, openers Rajendra Chandrika and Assad Fudadin were watchful in their approach before Fudadin’s wicket was Leeward Islands’ first

success of the match.

With a plan to bowl straight to the left-hander paying dividends, medium-pacer Peters created the early breakthrough when he trapped the Berbician leg-before in his first over within the first hour of play for six.

At 14-1, skipper Leon Johnson joined forces with Chandrika, and despite a few boundaries, the duo made pedestrian progress for the remainder of the session.

Johnson, who faced 23 balls without scoring a run, opened his account with a delightful cover drive for four.

He then provided a chance on five when short cover spilled a fullblooded drive off Tonge, but apart from that blemish, hardly anything troubled them, except a few missed flashes and the odd ball from the spinners that jumped.

Ninvalle named to AIBA Exec

− becomes first member from English speaking Caribbean

By TreisTon Joseph

resident of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninavlle is now the first official from the English speaking Caribbean to be named to the executive body of the World Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA).

The world body of boxing had its congress over the past two days in Jeju, South

Korea where Ninvalle was elected.

Ninvalle’s election was viewed by the Caribbean as a huge victory for the sport, “the holding today was an extremely proud moment for us in the Caribbean, we are happy that Steve has won a major victory and the boxing federations and associations should be proud because this in itself starts a new trend for boxing in the Carbbean and it will certainly take us further in the game,” President of the Grenadian Boxing Association Ralph James toll Guyana Times Sport.

Vice President of the Bahamas Boxing Association Alwin Sergeant also played up the importance of Ninvalle’s election.

“This has been a tremendous victory for the Caribbean, in fact the Americas have finally decided and realised that without the Caribbean they can’t go forward, so Steve’s victory is a victory for Caribbean boxing… I think it goes beyond boxing; it’s a victory for Caribbean sport… I will put it this way, round one; mission accomplished,” Sergeant stressed.

Meanwhile Ninvalle highlighted that his election to the executive body simply means that “the voice of the Caribbean will be heard in the inner chambers”.

The AIBA executive body is made up of 20 persons from around the world and makes most of the decisions for boxing.

National School Championships launched

Steve Ninvalle

Narsingh Deonarine remains unbeaten after day one

From left: Banks DIH representative Feral Nelson, GTU President Mark Lyte, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, School Nationals PRO Edison Jefford and Gatorade Brand Manager Larry Wills at the press conference