Guyana Times Daily - December 4, 2014

Amid the political turmoil here, Guyana Times Photographer Marceano Narine captured this scene in downtown Water Street, Georgetown as Guyanese prepare for the Christmas season

thursDAY, DeceMBer 4, 2014 | guYAnAtiMesgY.coM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

LOTTERY NUMBERS

Prorogation

fallout:

Int’l help useless in ending political stalemate – Granger

By Samantha Layne

Opposition Leader

David Granger is seemingly doubtful about the usefulness of international intervention into the current political gridlock, despite writing to several regional and international bodies requesting their involvement.

President Donald Ramotar last month issued a proclamation proroguing the National Assembly, hoping that the Government and the Opposition will engage in meaningful talks geared towards Guyana’s development.

However, Granger has since rejected dialogue amid calls by many prominent and influential Guyanese, for mediation to break the political stalemate.

Two weeks after President Donald Ramotar suspended the National Assembly, Granger issued letters to Caricom, the Organisation of American States (OAS), and Union of South American States (UNASUR), among other bodies, seeking their intervention, to put pressure on President Ramotar to lift the suspension.

Backpedalling

Granger said the aim is to notify and put pressure on the Government to comply with the Constitution in terms of Local Government Elections and to reconvene Parliament so that the voices of the majority could be heard

However, even after APNU has confirmed meeting with the American, British, Canadian and European envoys seeking their intervention, he now seems to be backpedalling

on his own initiative.

In an invited comment to Guyana Times, Granger said “foreign intervention is strictly academic, and that APNU’s position is that the solutions to Guyana’s problems lie right here with the Government”.

He further went on to say that the current political stalemate is not as a result of external problems.

The former Army Commander said even though external influence is meaningful, it is neither necessary nor sufficient to effect real change in Guyana’s current situation, no matter who intervenes.

“It is not a matter of who, but rather a matter of their usefulness, if since 2011, he (President Ramotar) refused to call a tri-party committee, what’s the sense of mediation now, foreigners won’t change anything,” said Granger.

Dialogue

There have been fresh calls for some form of dialogue between the Government and the Opposition to break the political impasse, which has dogged development here for years and caused the President to prorogue Parliament last month.

Guyana's Reparations Committee Chairman, Dr Eric Phillips, in an interview with Guyana Times said that “at some point they have to talk, both the Government and the Opposition have trapped the country in a no win situation, resulting in the country being caught in a standstill”.

He was careful to note however that “political lines have been drawn and if ei-

ther sides give in to the other their supporters will be up in arms”.

President Ramotar has formally invited Granger for talks, but the former Army Commander has refused, saying that any talks will happen after the reconvening of Parliament. Granger has also insisted that his coalition will continue to mobilise citizens in daily protest actions.

Deadlock

Many pressing issues of national interest, including the Amaila Falls Project, the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, the Procurement Commission, Local Government Bills, No-Confidence Motion, budgeting issues and the Telecoms Bill are now dead as a result of the deadlock.

Former Government Minister and Commentator, Dr Henry Jeffrey, in an invited comment, said:

“At the end of the day, discussions will have to take us forward so the Government, in order to show good faith, may unilaterally now wish to

state its intention to allow the establishment of the Procurement Commission on the terms required by the Opposition and to assent to the Local Government Bills that were passed in the National Assembly.”

Jeffrey said such independent action by the administration may then provide a sensible framework for negotiating some kind of political contact with the Opposition before Parliament is recalled.

However, the Opposition Leader is adamant that there was no need for the National Assembly to be prorogued in the first place, since prior to October 20, the Government and combined Opposition were in earnest and meaningful negotiations, which he felt were making headway, until the subsequent prorogation.

Granger said the feel of the current deadlock is like “sleep-walking into a crisis”, since he does not believe that the country was in such a bad state that prorogation of Parliament was necessary.

Granger, who said the Government is aware of his position, related that it is up to the Government to take up its position and demonstrate leadership, which seems to be mocking the fact that he is the one who has refused talks with the Government on the way forward.

Caricom Secretary General Irwin La Rocque recently defended the regional grouping’s silence on the political impasse in Guyana, stating that the request by Guyana’s Opposition for the regional grouping to get involved is being considered.

Opposition Leader David Granger

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

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Editorial

Granger’s grandstanding

The last hope of a political rapprochement between the Government and the Opposition has been dashed: David Granger sent a terse one sentence rejection of President Ramotar’s offer to “dialogue” in the window of opportunity presented by his prorogation order. In every society that has successfully transitioned from a dictatorship to a functional democracy, it was achieved in the wake of some sort of “democratic pact” between the warring parties or factions.

This was true with Argentina from one end of the polarization spectrum to South Africa on the other. While both these countries still have several challenges, they were yet able to move significantly forward on the backs of their pacts. From the moment Donald Ramotar took office after elections that took the country into “uncharted waters”, he has been experimenting with mechanisms to create ground rules for our conflict-prone political engagement, occasioned by Opposition angst. More modest than a “Democratic Pact” they at least suggested a path and process that might get us there.

Very early in 2012, within months of his inauguration, Ramotar initiated the “Tripartite Talks” mechanism that would allow the top leaders of the three parliamentary parties to meet specifically, but not exclusively, to discuss the upcoming Budget.

The Talks started off positively with Granger, leader of the PNC, APNU and Opposition, finding common ground with the Government on a most nettlesome issue that affected its traditional constituency in Linden. There were great expectations aroused at this meeting of the minds with the amiable “give and take” exhibited during the Talks.

The fly in the ointment, however, were the actions of the minuscule, but strategically important AFC (to APNU) which refused to participate in the Talks and forced APNU to renege its agreement with the President and adopt its extreme position. As the Americans would say: “Strike one!!” There was no opportunity for the President to expand the dialogue into a Democratic Pact during the Tripartite Talks.

Strike two occurred the second year, at the same time, before the second Budget. As baseball Manager Yogi Berra inadvertently once quipped, “It was déjà vu all over again”! Issues in the meantime, which could have been settled in negotiations around a table at the Tripartite Talks, had to be taken to the Courts - the arbiter of the Constitution delineating the powers of the Executive and Legislature.

Following the breakdown of the first round of Tripartite Talks, APNU had become more insistent on confrontation rather than consultation with the Government. With the Opposition controlling the Legislature by one seat, the President had signaled his appreciation of the new realities by his convocation of the Talks.

But it was clear that the AFC, driven by the twin goads of hatred of former “comrades” and the imperative of increasing its support base, had other ideas. By outflanking APNU in reference to its traditional constituency’s interest, the AFC, for all intents and purposes was now calling the shots for the entire Opposition.

This was clearly demonstrated following the almost accidental call for a Vote of No-Confidence by the AFC in June. Even though APNU under Granger had insisted on Local Government Elections as the issue to take on the Government - since most pertinently, this would have allowed them to mobilize at the grassroots for the eventual general elections - they were once again wagged by the AFC’s tail.

Trying to seize the initiative from the AFC with protests against the President’s prorogation, Granger is now grandstanding as the “extremist” against further Talks that might offer the Guyanese people a light at the 50-year old tunnel of internecine political warfare.

This was “strike three” and the chances of a Democratic Pact between Government and Opposition have evaporated: the only hope is for the PPP/C to show real leadership and be beneficent when they are returned with an absolute majority at the imminent elections.

Natural laws do not sanction power sharing

Dear Editor,

What may be “normal” for you reading this may not be the same “normal” for ‘I’m accustomed to souse’. Two wrongs cannot make one right. Can two rights make anyone wrong?

In Guyana’s body politic, rights become wrong even though they are constitutionally enshrined and within legal mandate. In a democracy, the right to disagree is fundamental. To be perpetually disagreeable is another matter.

Insisting all be judged by their race alone, and nothing else, sets up an insurmountable barrier most defining. Without any fault, everyone was blessed by their race and ethnic identity immutably predetermined by birth.

So what prequalifies the “other” to become automatically reprehensible and wrong by presupposition that race alone is the salutary solution? God does not

make mistakes being perfect. But humanity being imperfect and in possession of “free will”, believes otherwise.

Some of our militant “subsidiary gods” have become obsessed in their “race” mission, which has immolated Guyanese in racial bitterness. Who will best benefit with ongoing race conflict in Guyana is not in doubt.

Primordial fear is the strongest and most difficult to overcome. Its nurture among Guyanese unable to find compromise for a lasting resolution has also become wearisome. No justice, no peace is the cry.

Should our leaders remain adamant there cannot be any more dialogue and compromises, then general elections are imperative?

The laws of physics do not allow two objects to occupy the same space. It’s an impossibility. Even by democracy it cannot become reality.

The world’s first

Cooperative Republic was heralded to specifically “make the small man a real man”. The proletariat was to become proprietors, presumably by hard work. Why has economic success not been overflowing since?

Conceivably the best of PNC intentions for economic independence has been a miserable failure most disappointing. By its noble novelty it should not be grounds for mockery or condemnation.

Who failed us? The PNC leaders when in Government pleaded not guilty. Either all other Guyanese inclusive of Portuguese, Chinese and Indians and especially non existent white foreigners are seemingly always at fault.

The circle of blame and retributive violence continues to get repeated in circles.

How far apart have we drifted with no middle ground of compromise?

Continental geological drift resulted in India’s innocent

geographical breaking away eons ago from Africa to be found physically where it is today in Asia.

While Guyana remains geographically embedded in South America, its homegrown constant political “moving geological plates”, keep pushing Guyana’s races and culture anew and apart. While continental drift was natural, the race agitating industry in Guyana has been man-made and is constantly honed and refined by experienced elders of seniority.

Massive vintage Berlin brand Buxtonian race barriers were built, for example, ACDA, and operate within full constitutional rights in a democracy as the best solution for black people’s economic buoyancy. Is the resort to rebellion and violence now become yesterday’s norm?

Sultan Mohamed

APNU borders on insanity, hypocrisy

Dear Editor, What pomposity! “If the President fails to act, then the people of Guyana will have to take the necessary steps and… the entire Government should be asked to resign.”

This is one of the recent utterances of David Granger, a man of utter temerity, and who has a history of acting with impunity.

Let me revisit the notori-

ous 1973 slaying of the two Berbicians at the Number 64 Village Polling Station during the elections that same year. Granger was in the leadership of the Army at that time, and therefore he still bears responsibility for the horrific act of the two ballot box martyrs.

We need to remember (and inform the public too), that post-April 1970 saw Forbes Burnham subverting the Guyana Defence

Force (GDF) and making it into an entity, totally subservient to himself.

That was when he wickedly launched the Army “Education Corps”, so as to have a set of henchmen, to do his biddings. One of his leading abettors at this juncture was Granger, a fanatical member and leader in this Education Corps.

In Burnham’s own words, we have a synopsis of what was the invidi-

ous mindset behind this operation: “I do not share with the British, the concept that the Army is separate and distinct from everything else and loyal to the Government of the day. As Prime Minister, I expect you to be loyal to this Government … (and) as far as I am concerned, I don’t want any abstract loyalty.” Granger is from this school of thought.

Thai Royal Guards march in front of the Grand Palace, during a military parade as a part of a celebration for the upcoming birthday of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in Bangkok. The revered King, the world's longest reigning monarch, will turn 87-years-old on December 5 (Reuters)

Relevance remains the cornerstone of legal arguments

Dear Editor,

As night follows day, Christopher Ram has replied to Murseline Bacchus’s letter. Ram’s letter, “A voyage into irrelevance”, shows his uncanny obsession with the Attorney General.

Neither the response nor its contents should therefore be a surprise.

Mr Bacchus’s letter was an intellectual explanation of the state of the law in Guyana, vis a vis the recorded conversation.

Though not its intent, the letter clearly exonerated the Attorney General from any criminal liability. But, of course Ram’s fixation with the Attorney General cannot allow such a letter to go unanswered. I suspect that it must have caused him great agony and sleepless nights when he read it.

Rather than deal with the issues of law raised by Mr Bacchus, as that was his only focus in that letter, Mr Ram voyaged into his own “irrelevance”. This by itself is a demonstration of his inability to remain relevant in an argument. Relevance remains the cornerstone of legal arguments.

An avid illustration of his inability to deal with the legal argument presented by Mr Bacchus is Mr Ram attempts to rid-

icule Mr Bacchus’s reference to an old English case and his recitation of how the current law of threat in Guyana evolved through its English origin.

While I am not a lawyer, I know judicial decisions are a source of law and remain so unless and until overruled by another judicial decision or overtaken by statute. The fact that the cases are 184 years or 1084 years is completely irrelevant. First year law students must know this.

Mr Ram persists in a most “non-lawyer fashion” to contend that the AG “admitted knowledge of and possible direct involvement in some serious crimes and misdemeanors,” as expected, he didn’t list any of these “serious crimes and misdemeanors”.

I am sure that the readers would have expected at least one of these offences to be named and the section of the law violated, identified. Mr Ram did not do so and I am sure he cannot. I hope Mr Bacchus would offer a fuller response to Mr Ram’s rantings.

As for me, Mr Ram and his ilk seem to be confusing the position of the AG, Mr Nandlall, with that of the Pope. As far as I am aware Ministers of Government subscribe to

APNU borders on...

I recall the PNC and its perceived collaboration with the son of a Head of State, who according to revelations from WikiLeaks, supplied high-powered weapons to criminal elements, holed up in Buxton, during the 20022006 crime wave.

Where was Granger in all of this? Here is a man, who all the time was pandering to criminality, but is now making accusations against, and sending threats, to the PPP/C Government about crimes.

an oath of office. It reads:

“I (name), do hereby solemnly declare that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the People of Guyana that I will faithfully execute the office of (name of office) without fear or favour, affection or ill will and that in the execution of the functions of that office I will honour, uphold and preserve the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.”

I would like the wise men and women who are making pronouncements on this matter to show which aspect of that oath was violated by the AG.

My own view is that if you invade the sanctity of a man’s privacy, you record his conversation without his knowledge, you broadcast it publicly, thereby making every member of the public an eavesdropper to a private conversation, how can you and those who have eavesdropped complain that they are offended by what they heard?

The truth is that they were not supposed to hear it and if they did, they did so wrongly, and therefore whoever claims to be offended, they have to live by it. I honestly wish the AG had said more.

Yours truly, Richard Mendoza

Dear Editor,

In my last communication to you on this subject I issued a warning that you should not be fooled by the so-called peaceful protest by APNU. I intimated that the so-called peaceful protest action has all the trappings of a calm before a storm.

This “peaceful protest” by APNU is a precursor to many horrifying things yet to come, and the PPP/C Government needs to be aware of this.

The reason for me saying this is that there is a lot of behind the scenes activities taking place that would lead one to come to the inevitable conclusion that something big is on course that would play a major part in the outcome of the next general elections and the party that would form the new Government.

APNU, a superpower, as well as those at GECOM are all aware of this and they are working assiduously in putting things in place to achieve their goal. This scenario goes way back to the 2006 election when the plot to gain power should have come to fruition.

Everything was put in place for a rigged victory in that election, but the international scrutiny was too great for them to carry out their nefarious plan. A further dent was put in their plan when point man Winston Felix had to be removed from the helm of the Police Force.

I must pause here to say that there is much more to this story that cannot be revealed here because of the sensitive nature of the details. But suffice it to say that we are very much enlightened as to all the un-

dercover actions of the Opposition.

In this regard, since Gocool Boodhoo was sabotaged and removed from office, it now paves the way for their plans to go forward.

We are duty bound to safeguard our democracy and nothing of this nature would be allowed to take place in our country. We are fully well aware of the covert plans to seize power therefore, steps will be taken to address this.

I must tell my readers that there is much more sensitive information that is involved in this matter. I cannot divulge such information at this forum. However, I have since sent same by dispatch to the President himself for his perusal.

Neil Adams

The hidden agenda Congratulations to newly elected Uruguayan President

Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) joins with the rest of the world in congratulating newly elected President of Uruguay Tabare Varquez who recently won a presidential run-off by a comfortable majority.

The PPP/C is confident that the new President will continue with the policies and programmes of his predecessor Jose Mujica aimed at upgrading the quality of life of the Uruguayan people.

The PPP/C has taken note of the fact that

the elections were peacefully conducted and the results accepted by the Opposition parties, which speaks well of democracy in that country. Uruguay has had a history of dictatorial and military rule, not unlike so many other Latin American countries, including Guyana under the former PNC regime.

The victory of Tabare Varquez in the presidential race has strengthened the position of the left forces in Latin America America and the hemisphere as a whole and could be seen as a rejection of neo-leberal and

right wing policies, which have served to impoverish the vast majority of the people in that country and the region as a whole.

The PPP/C calls on the Opposition parties, more particularly the APNU, to have the political maturity to accept the verdict of the people and avoid the tendency to cry foul when the results of General and Regional Elections do not go according to their wishes as happened in past elections.

PPP/C, Freedom House

His very accusation (and APNU’s by extension) is most criminally laced: “If the President fails to act, then the people of Guyana will have to take the necessary steps.” Joseph Harmon embodied the same kind of thinking, saying that “APNU is giving the President an opportunity to do what is right (and) if they fail to act, then the APNU will have no choice but to act in favour of the people and act on what is right”.

ultimatum, and if not acceded to, Granger and Harmon are effectively saying that President Donald Ramotar and his Government will pay a heavy price.

Let us put violence as something that APNU, particularly Granger, will resort to – it is like the only thing available. As mentioned before, there is the proclivity for violence, as was evident in the notorious 1973 slaying.

By implication, this is very violent talk; it is tantamount to giving the PPP/C an

Now we come to this ‘mixing and meddling’ with that Head of State’s son,

Yours truly, Justin Carmichael from page 4

who is now in jail, awaiting sentencing; it is something worth consideration.

I go back to the recent Wikileaked which noted that the individual organised a Surinamese soccer team trip to Buxton, a few years ago. It is believed that the team bus carried weapons to Buxton.

Later, the individual entered a plea deal with federal prosecutors, for a possible lower sentence in his trial. His plea deal came after he was arrested by US authorities on drugs, weapons and

terrorism charges.

I come now to last year, and proffer another case in point, showing the kind of person Granger really is.

The Opposition Leader and gunman Kevin Fields had their Facebook picture removed, after Fields was killed during a robbery. The picture told volumes as regards the kind of associates this man Granger has around him.

Should I add the utterance of Carl Greenidge? He wanted the President to take cognisance of King Charles. Why? King Charles was beheaded. Yet so many ‘good’ people did not rebuke him. Was Greenidge promising to kill President Ramotar?

I want to know of whom we should really be afraid. I want to know why civil organisations and legal bodies are not asking that Granger and his cohorts be investigated. Shame on those who are condoning the intent of APNU!

Page Foundation

World’s Ebola response slow, patchy and inadequate – Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins sans Frontières – MSF) has launched a scathing attack on the international community for its slow and patchy response to the effort to stamp out Ebola in West Africa.

It says the response risks creating “a double failure” because ill-equipped locals in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea have been left to run hospitals and treatment centres.

Three months after MSF called for international intervention, its International President, Dr Joanne Liu, said it was “extremely disappointing that states with biological-disaster response capacities have chosen not to deploy them”. She said people “are still dying horrible deaths in an outbreak that has already killed thousands” and urged the world not to be complacent. “We can’t let our guard down and allow this to become a ‘double failure’: a response that is slow to begin with, and then is ill-adapted in the end.”

MSF compiled its briefing three months after calling for countries to get involved in the Ebola response. Liu criticised the concentration of international efforts on the construction of Ebola treatment centres without also providing staff and training, transport and laboratories.

In rural areas of Liberia, where hopes had been raised that the Ebola infection rate had plateaued, there were still “active chains of transmission” and no transport facilities to test the patients. In Sierra Leone, the national Ebola response team was struggling, with callers to the emergency 117 helpline being told to isolate themselves at home.

“How is it that the international community has left the response to Ebola – now a transnational threat – up to doctors, nurses and charity workers?” said Liu.

“Far from under control”

MSF’s briefing paper on the three countries hardest hit by the disease comes a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it was optimistic about the region despite rising numbers of reported cases.

Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director General In charge of emergencies at the WHO, said

“there has been a real slowdown in the spread of new cases” in Sierra Leone, where the disease is on the rise, and that “across West Africa we are no longer seeing exponential growth and in some areas a steady decline”.

MSF said the situation was “far from under control” in Sierra Leone, that the “situation is alarming” in Guinea and, while progress was being made in Liberia, there was no room for complacency. “The outbreak is far from over, as a single case can start a localised epidemic,” it said, reporting infection chains starting in remote rural areas with no access to treatment centres or testing facilities.

MSF said case numbers had dropped in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, where there was now surplus bed capacity, but added that many international agencies “seem unable to adapt to the rapidly changing situation” with outbreaks in Bong, Margibi, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount and River Cess counties. In some areas, such as River Cess, patients must travel for up to 12 hours by road to reach a functioning laboratory and a community care centre, it said. (Excerpt from the Guardian)

How is the disease caught and spread?

People are infected when they have direct contact through broken skin, or the mouth and nose, with the blood, vomit, faeces or bodily fluids of someone with Ebola.

The virus can be present in urine and semen too.

Infection may also occur through direct contact with contaminated bedding, clothing and surfaces – but only through broken skin.

It is still unclear how long the virus exists on surfaces but there is some evidence to suggest it can last up to six days. Bleach and chlorine can kill Ebola.

The disease is not airborne, like flu. Very close direct contact with an infected person is required for the virus to be passed to another person.

How to respond to disrespectful children and teens Par t One

By Kim ABrAhAm And mArney StudAKer-Cordner

Achild’s disrespectful behaviour can be a parent’s greatest “button-pusher”. A dad recently shared his frustration about his 14-year-old daughter’s disrespect: “I told her she couldn’t go to a party until her room was picked up – it’s an absolute mess – and she just explod ed. She yelled, told me she hated me and slammed her door. I was so angry and shocked; I told her she was never going to another par ty until she 18!”

right defiant. Sometimes disrespect comes along with adolescence; other times a child may show disrespectful behaviour from an early age. Either way, it’s a behaviour that can push any parent’s emotional buttons!

“As hard as it is, remember: your child’s behaviour is a reflection of him – not you.”

There are several reasons a child may behave in a way that is “disrespectful.” First, he may not realise the behaviour is disrespectful. For example, questioning a parent’s decision may strike adults as rude, but to a child, it may simply be a way of getting his needs met: I want to go to my friend’s house. My mom said ‘No.’ I want to figure out if there’s any possible way I can change ally want

This dad isn’t alone. Ask any parent and they’re likely to have at least a few instances in which their child was disrespectful, rude or inconsiderate – even out-

child for more than an hour knows this often isn’t the case. So how can we reconcile our expectation of respect with our child’s need to test limits as they assert their independence? Just how far is too far?

question, I argue, I do anything I can think of as a way of getting her to say ‘Yes.’ That child is acting in the moment, focusing on getting what he wants, not really paying attention to the fact that his behaviour is actually backfiring and digging him a bigger hole. Children also have difficulty asserting or expressing themselves appropriately when feeling angry or frustrated. Adrenaline kicks in and eyes start rolling, voices raise, feet get stomped and doors get slammed. Ever find yourself saying, “Stop it right now, before you make things even worse for yourself!”?

Some children have difficulty managing the stress and emotions they experience when faced with a limit or being told “no,” and just can’t keep themselves from crossing the line. Add in adolescence and hormones and you’ve got the potential for emotions and irritability to escalate quickly.

Finally, in today’s world of television sitcom families, gone are the Beaver Cleaver families. Kids see disrespect and “talking back” modelled for them in the media all the time. In fact, most television shows send the message that the children are usually smarter than the parents!

(Excerpt from empoweringparents)

Guyanese to go to the polls soon

… President to announce the way forward on Saturday

BY ERICA WILLIAMS

Guyanese will likely go to the polls early next year, even as President Donald Ramotar prepares to make a formal announcement following the outright rejection by Opposition Leader David Granger to engage in talks outside of Parliament.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon told a news conference on Wednesday that in light of the refusal of Granger to facilitate talks with the President, elections may be on the horizon. “There can be no doubt that General and Regional Elections are gaining currency as a reasonable and acceptable alternative and option for talks among the parliamentary parties,” Luncheon said during his post-Cabinet media briefing at the Office of the President.

Dr Luncheon explained that Granger sent a written response to President Ramotar’s invitation for talks on December 2. In this letter, Luncheon said it is very clear that there will be no talks under any circumstances between the Opposition and the President. Ramotar’s invitation was dispatched on November 18.

Following the prorogation

Black

of the National Assembly on November 10, the President had said that his decision was taken to facilitate talks with the Opposition and to preserve the life of the 10th Parliament.

However, both Granger and leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan have refused dialogue. They have said that they will only speak to the President in Parliament after it is reconvened.

The Opposition parties did not budge from their decision despite calls from various sections of society for talks. APNU had vowed to organise countrywide protests until Guyana returns to political normalcy.

Bush

Luncheon said in the con-

text of a failed prorogation (in the sense of not meeting the objective of the prorogation), three questions have always consumed the President and his advisers.

Luncheon said firstly, the Government has addressed the prorogation in its entirety and has accepted that it has failed to deliver a desirable outcome. “It has failed to deliver the goods, a continuation cannot be justified and therefore, when will it end?”

Luncheon questioned.

He added that the options that were available on November 10 were looked at. These options included prorogation, which as of December 3, has been scratched out.

This essentially points to the superiority of holding early elections. As a result, the President, Dr Lunchoen said, has reflected upon Granger’s response and has responded to Granger’s letter expressing his level of disappointment in the Opposition Leader’s decision.

It is in this light that President Ramotar has decided to hold a media briefing on Saturday at State House with the aim of enlightening the Guyanese population on the decision he has taken following Granger’s letter. “There is no value in prolonging the prorogation,” Dr Luncheon added.

Polder businessman robbed of $2M

Armed bandits on Monday carted off $2 million in cash and jewellery from a Johanna, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice, businessman and his family.

At approximately 20:30h on Monday evening, Jainarine Singh called “Hardatt”, along with his wife and children were in their home when four masked men armed with guns and knives entered and attacked them. According to Singh, he was in the bottom flat of his home when two

men approached him pointing a gun and demanding cash and jewellery. He said at the same time, his wife Drupattie Singh was coming towards him and noticed the men and quickly locked the door. He related that as she did so, the men threatened to kill him if she did not cooperate.

Singh who wholesales vegetables at Bourda Market in Georgetown, explained that when the men entered the home, they placed him to lie on the floor and continued their

Suspected bandits

demand for cash. His wife handed over $1.5 million in jewellery in $500,000 in cash. The traumatised man said this is the second time he has been robbed, relating that on the first occasion, several garden tools were stolen.

He noted that the entire ordeal lasted a harrowing 15 minutes and his family was terrified. He added that the money taken was for him to purchase goods to sell and to pay workers. The Police are continuing their investigation.

arrested in canefield after foiled robbery

Two would-be bandits were arrested in a canefield at Canal Number One, West Demerara following an attempted robbery on a woman.

According to information received, about 05:30h on Wednesday, two men entered the home of Narine Dyal and attacked his wife who was in the kitchen.

The woman put up a fight

during which one of the men dropped an object that was in his hand and the two men ran out of the home. The brave woman immediately raised an alarm resulting in residents giving chase. The would-be bandits subsequently ran into a nearby canefield and hid. The Police were summoned and the men were found and arrested. Charges

“We've failed”

– GPSU admits failing the working class

During a heated argument with journalists at his Shiv Chanderpaul Drive office Tuesday afternoon, President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Patrick Yarde admitted that the Union he has been at the helm of over the last 13 years has been failing the people it represents.

The GPSU and Yarde have been under severe criticisms for the lack of efficiency and full representation of its members, usually failing to stick to the initial stand taken against the Government.

Having been established in June 1923, the GPSU had as its main objective, the innate interest in the working class, seeking to represent them in every possible area.

But since taking up office, critics say Yarde’s performance and that of the GPSU are more like a “toothless poodle”, saying that over the years Government has been carrying out its imposition and the GPSU has been accepting those offers.

Questions were posed by journalists who sought to ascertain what new the GPSU will be bringing to the table, especially since

the current situation has been recurring over the years. Yarde, in responding, said that the Union is not “hasty in its operations” while disclosing that there is so much that he and the Union could have done differently for public service employees.

“I must tell you that everyone – leader and members could have done better. There are things that I could have done better. We are dealing with a very peculiar situation in this country and sometimes that leniency that I have displayed I have regretted it,” Yarde told journalists.

Commentators say that the Union is based on talks only, with little or no ac-

tion. There is also talk too that with the usual charade being carried on every year, this year’s threat will bear no fruit.

The GPSU President said while there is no outline to the way things are done, in taking action there are things that must be traded.

“There is no blueprint where there is a processed way to deal with things. There are sometimes very difficult decisions. There are times that you must take a decision where there must be a cost. These are things that happen”, Yarde confessed.

The GPSU President continues to come under fire from sections of the populace, alleging that his real purpose as head of that Union is to work in concert with the Government to stymie development for Public Sector employees.

Questioned about these allegations against him, the GPSU President said he could not be bothered by them since such is being done the world over.

Yarde is also being called upon to disclose to the public what is being done with the hundreds of millions of dollars in union dues collected each year.

are to be laid against them shortly.

Police later confirmed that the “object” that was dropped by one of the suspects was a toy gun. A screwdriver was found in the possession of the other man. A Police source also confirmed that the two men are notorious in the area and might have been charged previously.

President Donald Ramotar

GPSU President Patrick Yarde

Push cart vendor on murder charge

Twenty-five-year-old Quincy Messiah of Lot 9 Camp and Durban Streets, Georgetown, was remanded to prison after being arraigned on a murder charge.

Messiah, push cart vendor, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before presiding Magistrate Ann McLennan, on Wednesday afternoon.

It was alleged that on November 28, at Lot 9 Camp and Durban Streets, Georgetown, within the Georgetown Magistrates’ District, he murdered Trevon Raghubir.

Messiah was not allowed to plea since the charge against him was a capital offence. Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones did not reveal the particulars of the case, indicating to the court that

the file is incomplete and that the weapon allegedly used to commit the act was recovered.

The defendant was remanded to prison until January 5, 2015 when the matter is slated to be recalled.

Duo accused of robbery under arms remanded

Aduo was refused bail after the prosecution’s objections took precedence over their attorney’s bail applications, on the robbery under arms offence that they are accused of committing.

Standing in the docks before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday afternoon were Andrew Pollydore, 27, a miner and 28-year-old security guard Keon Allen.

They both pleaded not

guilty to the charge which alleged that on November 27 at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, being armed with a gun, they robbed Rabindranauth Sukhram of one Toyota Premio motorcar valued $3.3 million. Representing them was Attorney George Thomas. Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones opposed the bail applications put forward by the defence attorney on the grounds of the penalty of the offence, conflicting addresses given by the defendants, the facts that person-

al violence was used by the parties and that closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage was used to positively identify the duo.

They were remanded and are set to return to court on January 8, 2015, before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

While Allen was making his way out of the docks, he was told by the Magistrate that he has another charge. Surprised at the Magistrate’s comment, he asked “which other charge?”

The charge alleged that on November 30 at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he had in his possession two grams of cannabis. Astonished, Allen shouted not guilty to the charge and said “I know nothing about that.”

There were no objections to bail by Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones but requested that bail be set in a substantial amount. Bail was granted in the sum of $50,000 and this matter will also be dealt with on January 8 before Magistrate Azore.

Eyew tness

Doublespeak...

...with Opposition

Well, after two weeks, Granger’s finally replied to the President’s request for a “dialogue”. It took him two weeks to compose a one-sentence answer. Talk about the mountain labouring and finally producing a mouse!! This mouse didn’t even squeakmuch less roar!! Granger just repeat the inanity he’s been uttering for the past weeks. He ain’t “talking” unless it’s in Parliament - but he won’t give his word that the first thing on the order paper won’t be his junior partner AFC’s NoConfidence Motion.

So the President must end the prorogation immediately!! Is this fella for real??? Has he ever heard of “rational choice theory”?? Why the hell should the President be willing to offer himself as a lamb to a slaughter?? So after he pulled the rug out from under his Opposition-tormentors by proroguing Parliament - something that hadn’t even been a blip on their radar - he must now willingly offer himself up to the ignominy of being the first Government in the history of Guyana to fall on a No-Confidence Motion?? Thing is, Granger and the rest of the Opposition are in total confusion over the prorogation. The end game with both the No-Confidence Motion and the prorogation is General Elections in the very near future. The only difference - as the President pointed out - is prorogation offers an easing of the brinksmanship - to chart some common ground on the way forward. While No-Confidence is “Boom!!! Story done”.

The Opposition’s been hurt very badly because of their obdurate intransigence on the issue of simply talking. What most ordinary persons can’t understand is if both prorogation and No-Confidence can lead to elections, what’s the harm of talking?? Another way they’ve hurt themselves is due to their doublespeak - you know, callously saying one thing and meaning the opposite. Like the chant at their risible “protests” in front of OP: “No to dictatorship, yes to democracy.”

Who the heck can take the Opposition seriously when they’re so over the top. So it’s a “dictatorship” to prorogue Parliament to have dialogue and if not - elections in six months? But it’s a “democracy” for the Opposition to summarily vote the Government out of office and have elections in three months?? But the doublespeak doesn’t end there...listen to them on their “prorogation tactics”. Harmon says they’re deliberately keeping the protests “low key” - but have money issues. Granger says –“absolutely no money issues”! He could even go into elections this minute. Roopnarine says APNU and Granger aren’t “radical” enough.

And AFC?? Hell...they’ll have no truck with protests of any sort. They’ll stick to writing fervent letters to the press!!!

...for GPSU

Hamilton Green isn’t the only official to have a sinecure - that’s when you have a position giving you the big bucks with no work - that seems to extend in perpetuity. There’s also Patrick Yarde, of the hangdog expression and head of the GPSU, who folks would be forgiven if they assume that his name is “GPSU”. And now Yarde’s back in the news... and we all know that can’t be GOOD news.

Problem with fellas like Yarde is they just don’t know to quit while they’re ahead. Here it is, the most prosperous country in the British Caribbean – Barbados – has been told by the IMF to cut 3000 public servants from the rolls; Jamaica’s had a freeze on public servants. Trinidad’s keeping a low profile and Yarde’s rejecting a five to eight percent wage increase that the Government’ offered!! What’s going on??

Well, what else when Yarde and the Public Servants are concerned?? They’ll be joining the PNC in the streets to remove the PPP/C government!!

...by Sattaur

Our fearless head of the GRA was supported by this Eyewitness for putting his fiefdom first – not to press charges against Mook Lall. Wanted to stay out of the spotlight.

And he now takes time off to respond to Goolsarran??

Canje businessman found stabbed to death

The partly decomposed body of a businessman was discovered in his home at Canje, Berbice on Wednesday with suspected stab wounds. The discovery was made by his son Wednesday morning after he did not respond to telephone calls.

Dead is Terrence Mc Lean, 62, of Number Two Village, Canje. The discovery of the

floor with his head braced against a sofa.

The grieving son explained that the body had what appeared to be several stab wounds near the stomach and heart. “Deh had plenty blood. He had on a short pants and shirt,” he told this publication.

Mc Lean, who imported fibreglass boats and engines and sold them, formerly operated two jewellery stores in the New Amsterdam Market.

Police were summoned to the scene, but found no evidence of forced entry leaving many to believe that the elderly man would have opened the door to someone he either knew or trusted.

The younger Mc Lean noted that when he entered the house, the door bar was bracing on the wall next to the door. He said there were

body shortly before 08:00h sent shockwaves through the village as the news spread. Mc Lean, who lived alone, was last seen on Monday.

According to the dead man’s son, Frederick Mc Lean, he spoke with his father on Monday and tried to contact him on Tuesday afternoon via telephone, but his calls went unanswered. He said on Wednesday morning he received information that the lights at his father’s home were still on. “I know that something was wrong, because in the morning, he would turn off the lights and go out with his bicycle.”

He said he was also told by a neighbour that his father was heard groaning, but he dismissed the report knowing that the last time he spoke with his father he was well. The younger Mc Lean said he went over to his father’s home and called out, but got no answer. “I rip open the mesh from the window, but I couldn’t see him. All I could see was the phone on the ground and papers scatter.”

He added that there was a faint stench coming from the house, which is situated next to the Canje Bridge, and that made him more suspicious, so he took a piece of wood, which he used to force open the front door. His father’s bloated body was then found lying on the

$4.1M refurbished Anna Regina Market commissioned

By IndrawattIe natram

Vendors inside the Anna Regina Market in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) will now enjoy the comforts of selling in a more conducive environment now that the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry has commissioned several infrastructural projects valued $4.1 million. The projects were commissioned by Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker on Wednesday at the Anna Regina Market.

Projects included rehabilitation and construction of concrete drains, installation of security lamps and accessories, raising of the market floor by eight inches, and construction of a chainlink fence around the market environs.

According to Minister Whittaker, the projects were made possible through the India-Brazil- South Africa (IBSA) cooperation pact and the Guyana Solid Waste Management Improvement Project. He said the funds were provided by the countries for the execution of the projects at various markets countrywide.

Speaking to vendors inside the Anna Regina Market at the commissioning, Minister Whittaker said that the projects were aimed at improving as well as transforming the environment for vendors. “We are trying to collaborate, so as to improve the conditions under which vendors live and operate. We intend to improve the sanitation of communities and as such, we embark on projects of such nature,” the Minister noted.

More security

He called on roadside vendors to cooperate with the Anna Regina Market Town Council and stop blocking the main market entrance and Government reserve. It was also noted that the projects sought to address infrastructural issues faced by vendors in the past as well as provide proper security. The Minister said that the

Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) were given monies in the form of subventions in an effort to facilitate works. He said that the Ministry was trying to share its budget equally in all the regions.

Whittaker also encouraged vendors to clean drains whenever they become clogged and to not depend on the Government for assistance: “Simple things can be done internally, not everything Government will do.” He reminded them that a clean environment was a reflection of the persons who resided or worked there.

Meanwhile, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud urged vendors to abide by the rules of the market as well as to protect the projects. He said in the past he received many complaints of lack of security in the market and cautioned that the projects were done in an effort to eradicate the past issues. He said that the installation of the chainlink fence and lighting facilities was done to strengthen on-the-ground security. He called on the Anna Regina IMC to crack down on roadside vending, noting that the practice was bad for tourism in the town.

Anna Regina IMC Chairman Toolsie Narine thanked the Ministry for executing the projects. He said that there will be continuous monitoring of them.

papers scattered while next to his father’s body, there was a book with information on persons who had owed the businessman.

“When I go in the bedroom, he had his firearm right on the bed. Anybody could see it,” the young man noted. According to him, none of his father’s safes were apparently disturbed.

Neighbours said it was normal for the now dead man to take persons to his home to conduct business: persons would visit Mc Lean and leave shortly after.

Meanwhile, as Police continue the investigation, no arrests have been made.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Governance and Poverty Programme Analyst, Trevor Benn, in his remarks, said the UNDP was pleased to partner with the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry to help solve solid waste management problems throughout Guyana. He explained that US$1 million in funds was provided by countries such as Brazil, India and South Africa to help facilitate projects in various regions. Rehabilitation works of similar nature were done at various markets in Regions Two; Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Five (MahaicaBerbice); Six (East Corentyne-Berbice); Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Vendors were pleased with the projects and showered praise on the Ministry. Also attending the commissioning ceremony were Elford Less Flores, Engineer attached to the Local Government Ministry and Anna Regina Town Clerk Diane Critchlow.

Chef on possession of narcotics charge granted bail

A29-year-old chef was placed on $70,000 bail after pleading not guilty to a narcotic possession charge.

Travis Sobers made his appearance before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday morning. It was alleged that on

November 29, at Houston, Greater Georgetown, he had in his possession 10 grams of cannabis.

Sobers pleaded not guilty to the charge. His Attorney Adrian Thompson noted to the court that his client was travelling in a car with three other persons. He said that the drug was found in a bag

and not on Sobers.

Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones had no objections to bail but requested bail be granted in a substantial

amount. Sobers was granted bail and is said to return to court on January 19, 2015 before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Terrence McLean’s home in which he was found

Terrence McLean

Minister Whittaker interacting with a vendor at the Anna Regina Market

Lethem Airport to be upgraded to regional status

By Vahnu Manikchand

Government’s vision of building another regional airport, this time in Lethem, is coming closer to fruition, and industry officials are very optimistic about the project, saying that it will revolutionise the economy of the already rapidly developing community.

According to Transport Minister Robeson Benn, against the backdrop of the success of the Ogle International Airport (OIA), Government has decided to capitalise on the thriving aviation sector by expanding into the country’s hinterland in order to make travel easier and cheaper.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Minister disclosed that a team of engineers from the Transport Ministry is currently working on the project along with the specialists from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

vate partnership as was done with the OIA.

Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo))is one of the most rapidly developing regions in Guyana, propelled by the building of the Takutu Bridge, the emerging agricultural sector and the enhancement of the tourism sector. With the construction of the Lethem Airport, the region will see more growth in the various sectors and in the lives of the people living there.

Revolutionary

for a duty-free port to be established in the community. This, he stressed, will further boost the economy of Lethem and encourage more trading activities.

One of the stalwarts in the local aviation industry, Gerry Gouveia pointed out that building a regional airport at Lethem is probably one of the most “revolutionising thing in the development of Guyana” that Government has done.

Nagga Man and Green Jah write one line each

Wid all de noise whah de Nagga Man and Green Jah mekkin to become de Prezzi, none of de two of dem ain’t ready yet. Dem just ain’t fit a ting. As old people woulda seh, dem good, but dem damn good fuh nutten.

“So we’re doing a study; we have made visits (and) spoke to the stakeholders in the area. I think too they did a visit to Boa Vista (Brazil) in respect of this exercise to see what type of investment, what level of service is needed and how it will grow and all of these things, so as to do all the calculations, come up with the estimates, the type of building and architecture,” he stated.

The Transport Minister explained that a plan of the building has already been prepared as well as the architecture concepts. He added that the team should be able to finalise the figures for the construction of the airport within a year’s time and can then approach Government for funding or explore the possibility of having a public/pri-

Former President of the Lethem Chamber of Commerce (LCC), John Macedo, outlined that such a facility will contribute to the rapid development of the community. He noted that the airport would make travel easier and more cost-effective for residents of the region, as they can go directly from Lethem to their destination rather than having to fly to Georgetown and possibly have to overnight at a hotel, all of which can be very costly.

Macedo added that the airport will also encourage tourism in the region since persons will have easier access. Additionally, the former LCC President is calling

He said it needed to be done a long time ago and would definitely contribute to further development of the region’s economy as well as the tourism sector. Gouveia also reiterated that such a facility in the area will greatly enhance and encourage airlines to fly that route. He stated that with a port of entry in that part of the country, many opportunities particularly in trading will be available.

Guyana’s aviation sector is rapidly advancing with more regional and international airlines servicing the country. One contribution to the success of the sector is the dramatic transformation of the OIA over the past years. In March last, the country’s secondary port of entry in terms of air travel was certified as a regional airport.

Skeldon Estate woes GuySuCo, GAWU at odds over status of arbitration

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) are at odds once again, this time over the completion of the arbitration into the disciplinary

action taken against mill dock operator Daniel Stephen, who had an altercation with a senior Manager at the Skeldon Estate in September. Last week, GAWU wrote GuySuCo informing that the arbitration has ended,

and, as such, the company should facilitate Stephen’s return to work. However, on Wednesday, the Sugar Corporation issued a statement urging the Union to desist from encouraging him to return to work as the arbitra-

tion is still ongoing. GuySuCo pointed out that the worker will have to remain off the job until the Arbitrator, former Chief Labour Officer Mohamed Akeel, submits his award. It was explained that two days after GAWU had written GuySuCo, the Arbitrator reportedly advised the Union in another letter that “the Arbitration is NOT concluded until the Arbitrator presents his award to the Chief Labour Officer and the

That is exactly how old people woulda describe de Nagga Man and Green Jah. Imagine, one of dem tek a whole two months to write a No-Confidence Motion, and de other tek a whole two weeks to write a reply to de Prezzi.

Even if any body wanna excuse de Nagga Man fuh how long he tek to write a No-Confidence Motion, and Green Jah fuh how long he tek to write a reply, how dem gon explain that de Nagga Man write one line, and now Green Jah come and also write one line.

Both of dem got to be two one-line men. Is no wonder both of dem dealin in sheer one liners all de time. “I wanna be Prezzi.” Or “I gon protest and spoil de people Christmas.” Or, “I ain’t talkin wid de Prezzi.” Or, “I wanna another large.” Or “Shut yuh-so-and-so mouth.”

Now, every body know that de Nagga Man mek he own pickney do all he assignment when de had claim to be studyin law, which is unlawful. So while a bit understandable, it definitely well known that de Nagga Man gotta writin problem.

And this writin problem ain’t got nutten to do wid de larger problem of de couple of large whah he always got in he bag, claimin that is law books got he bag so heavy.

In de case of Green Jah, he is a historian, but it look like he is already history desperately tryin to mek history. But de only history whah Green Jah ever mek is gettin kick outta Plaisance by Au-bray and kick outta Linden by de Kiss Woman.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Not to mention de first ever shootin at Congress Place when he try to con de whole Congress wid a big time convict!

they last met. “The Arbitrator concluded his last arbitrational session on November 26, 2014”. He said: ‘“If we don’t agree to move forward by altering the Terms of Reference which I cannot force, my duty (which is) based on the Terms of Reference is finished, because there is no disciplinary action for me to inquire into, so the matter is concluded here.’”

According to GAWU,

the Terms of Resumption that was agreed upon by both parties to end the five-day protest action back in September. It states: “The dismissal of Mr Daniel Stephen will be amended to suspension without pay until the end of either conciliation or arbitration.” It was in accordance with this that the Union wrote the sugar company at the end of arbitration to reinstate the work-

parties”.

The Sugar Corporation further stated that GAWU was invited to a meeting to continue the process on Tuesday last, but the Union did not show up. “GuySuCo wishes to restate its position that since the arbitration is not concluded and there is no award, Mr Stephen‘s disciplinary action without pay will continue until otherwise ordered by the Arbitrator,” the Corporation reaffirmed in the statement.

Almost immediately GAWU responded on Wednesday, reiterating that the Mohamed Akeel Arbitration Tribunal came to an end on November 26, when

upon receipt of the letter on Monday last to attend a tribunal meeting the following day, the Union replied outlining that on November 26, the Arbitrator had stated unambiguously that the arbitration was at an end. This, GAWU said, was recorded in the notes that were received. The Union further pointed out that this position was taken by the Arbiter after it (the Union) had stated that it would not agree to an amendment of the Terms of Reference.

GAWU President Komal Chand had explained, in a previous interview with Guyana Times, that Stephen’s suspension is in keeping with

er. During the four meetings held, the Arbitrator was guided by the Terms of Reference, “to enquire into the disciplinary action taken against Mr Daniel Stephen and having regards to the evidence and submission by the parties, make an award as the Arbitrator deems fit”. Efforts by this newspaper to contact Akeel on the issue proved futile. The entire issue stemmed from an altercation between the mill dock operator and a senior Manager at the Skeldon Estate in September, which led to the dismissal of the worker and a subsequent five-day strike action.

Transport Minister Robeson Benn

The parties at one of the arbitration meetings

Umana Yana rebuilding pegged at $50M

Culture, Youth and Sport

Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on Wednesday said $50 million will be added to the Ministry’s 2015 budget for the reconstruction of the historic 55 feet cone-shaped benab.

“After the fire, we invited a

will go towards transportation of the materials from the Wai Wai Amerindian communities to Georgetown.

Reflecting in 2010 when the roof of the Umana Yana was being repaired, Minister Anthony stated that transportation consumed most of the

group from the Wai Wai community in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) to come down. They did an estimate for us and we have since incorporated that into next year’s budget,” the Minister said.

However, he noted that the project cannot commence until the budget is approved.

The Minister said most of the challenges and expenses

money allocated for the project.

“Bringing out the material was a substantial cost because they had to get trucks to bring them out of the interior, so I think that’s the main cost…”

Furthermore, he said the $50 million was calculated to cover the exact structural design of the benab.

“We’re aiming to have a similar structure. The esti-

Amazon songbirds compete in Guyana ‘races’

Men on the west bank of the Demerara River with their birds, ready for a whistling competition

As the sun rises over the Demerara River, a half dozen men gather on its west bank, tightly gripping small wooden cages.

Complementing the scenic beauty of the nearby palms and sugar cane fields, male finches chirp melodiously from within their coops, affixed twoto-a-post hammered into the marshy ground.

“Everybody be out here to exercise the bird, and sometimes we have a race,” said fisherman Eric Takchand, a participant in the centuriesold Guyanese tradition.

“We feed them, walk them, exercise them. They love that,” said Takchand, 54, who has been caring for chestnutbellied seed finches, locally known as “towa towa”, since he was a boy.

In competitions called “races”, the winner is the first bird to chirp 50 times. This takes just a few minutes, with bets ranging from token amounts to thousands of dollars.

The men-only custom transcends social and racial divides in the former British colony on the shoulder of South America between Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname.

For more than a half century, the country has been held back by ethnic and political tensions, primarily between descendants of African slaves and those of indentured Indian servants, in a hangover from European colonial rule.

mate we’ve done is really to replace what we had previously.”

Nevertheless, noting that persons usually complain about the uncomfortably heated under the benab, the Minister is hoping that the construction experts can improve the ventilation.

New and improved

“In its new form, we’ll try to address if that’s possible, to have better ventilation so that its cooler inside of the benab.”

Additionally, since it was believed to be an electrical fire that caused the destruction of the monument, Minister Anthony noted that they need to alter and improve the transmission of electricity from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) poles to the structure.

“The way that we bringing electricity in the building has to be different… the electricity was coming from the pole onto some structure at the Umana Yana and I understand that’s where the spark took place, so we’ll probably have to bring electricity from the GPL poles

into some other structure within the compound of the Umana Yana and then distribute it from there.”

Minister Anthony also suggested installing “breakers” in the event of power surges so it could prevent possible damages.

“But that’s for the electricians and technical people to look at,” he said.

Unfortunately, the chances of the Umana Yana being completed in time for Amerindian Heritage Month 2015 are very low.

The Minister again reflect-

ed in 2010 when the rehabilitation of the roof took approximately three months to be completed, noting that this project will take much longer.

Alternative locations

Nevertheless, he assured of the availability of alternative locations for the usual Amerindian Heritage Month activities.

He mentioned the Amerindian Village in Sophia is well equipped to hold the activities, noting that the only difference between the benab there and the Umana

Yana is that the Umana Yana was built by the Wai Wai Amerindians and the other one took the form of an Arawak benab.

The Umana Yana, which was built in 1972, was a historical structure and one of Guyana’s most famous landmarks having appeared on the cover of several magazines and publications.

During Amerindian Heritage Month 2014, on September 9, the iconic monument was completely destroyed by fire within a mere 15 minutes.

The fire was reportedly caused by an electrical spark that ignited the thatched roof of the benab, causing the flames to rapidly consume the building.

The structure was made from thatched alli banna and manicole palm leaves, and wallaba posts lashed together with mukru, turu and nibbi vines. The Umana Yana was constructed by a team of 60 Wai Wai Amerindians and was known to be the largest structure of its kind in Guyana.

“All backgrounds and religions come together, all because of one bird,” said naturalist Gajendra Nauth Narine, also known as “Andy” at his home across the river in Georgetown.

“The chestnut-bellied seed finch is one of the top songbirds in the world,” he explained, as macaws and parakeets squawked in the background.

Takchand is proud of having raised his birds, which he purchased in the country’s Amazon basin interior.

Some birdmen catch their own in the jungles of Guyana.

The practice, believed to have been brought over by indentured workers in the early 19th century, has also found its way to the sizable Guyanese community in New York. There, in Richmond Hill, Queens, finches are often found “racing” and exercising in Smokey Oval Park.

Birds from back home are prized among Guyanese in the United States and authorities occasionally catch people trying to smuggle them in through John F Kennedy Airport.

Back on the banks of the Demerara, Takchand and fellow birdman Ryan Boodho watch as their birds sing.

“This bird has become my best friend,” said Boodho, 34, an electronics importer. “I was offered lots of cash for this bird, but I have never sold it.”

(Times of India)

The Umana Yana before it was flattened by fire

The Umana Yana on fire

Glenn Lall illegal taping file not yet back with Police

EBD flooding… Providence residents want bigger compensation package

The file involving Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Publisher of the Kaieteur News Glenn Lall is still engaging the attention of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) made this disclosure after it was reported in another section of the press that the file had returned to the Police. According to the Police, this is far from the truth, emphasising that the file is still with the DPP for legal advice. The file was sent to the DPP on November 18.

Lall on October 27 filed a complaint to the Police,

alleging that the Attorney General had issued a series of threats during a telephone conversation with a journalist attached to the Kaieteur News. But though admitting that the one of the voices on the produced recording was his, the Legal Affairs Minister said the wiretapping of the private conversation was illegal. Nandlall would be testing the strength of the 2008 Interception of Communications Act as he takes legal action against Lall.

The gist of the conversation was evidently related to the $100 million duty-free scam in which Lall is presently enmeshed and before the courts. The Interception of Communications Act of 2008 prohibits the interception of communications unless a warrant is issued by a judge based on an application.

The law is also clear that any recording or tapping of citizens’ private communication must be authorised by the Chief-of-Staff of the Army, the Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). However, these officers would first have to apply to a judge for a 90-day war-

rant to intercept communication, which will be illegal otherwise. According to the law, anyone found guilty of illegal wiretapping would be liable to a fine of $5 million and a jail term not exceeding three years.

A judge, before granting the warrant, the law states, must be satisfied that the information obtained would likely assist the investigations. There is also a proviso vesting authority in the Home Affairs Ministry in the case of national emergencies. Additionally, personnel acting in good faith under the ambit of law would be immune from liability for their actions.

Man busted for smuggling 18 pounds of liquid cocaine

It is rum and coke – with a twist.

A man tried to dupe John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport security into thinking he was only bringing in a few bottles of South American booze after arriving in New York from Guyana — but it was actually liquid cocaine he was carrying, authorities said Tuesday.

Atlanta resident Wilton Sinclair, 35, thought he had officials completely fooled when he arrived in New York on November 17 with four big bottles of purported “El Dorado” rum in two duty-free bags.

Before boarding his flight to New York from Georgetown, Sinclair had allegedly secretly filled the

1.75 liter glass containers with nearly 18 pounds of liquidised cocaine, which officials later estimated to be worth more than US$300,000.

But his scheme fell apart when he presented the bags for inspection to US Customs and Border Protection agents, according to Anthony Bucci, a CBP spokesman.

Customs officers noticed that the liquid in the bottles had an unusual chemical odour and that it was a “thick syrup-like substance inconsistent with rum”, according to a criminal complaint.

The substance tested positive for cocaine – what amounted to eight kilos, or 17.6 pounds, with a street

value of approximately US$310,000, officials said.

Sinclair was arrested and charged with federal narcotics smuggling.

“Cocaine is a dangerous narcotic, and CBP does its part in keeping these drugs off the streets,” said Robert Perez, Director of Customs’ New York Field Operations.

Sinclair, who has dual American and Guyana citizenship, told authorities he was paid US$6,000 to bring the bottles into the country, according to court papers.

He was arraigned the day after his arrest by Brooklyn Federal Court Magistrate James Orenstein and freed on US$75,000 bond after surrendering both his American and Guyana passports, records show. (New York Post)

Residents of Providence Village, East Bank Demerara are criticising the Government’s decision to offer a total $11 million as flood relief, saying that it inadequate to meet their expenses incurred during the deluge, which occurred when a koker door broke recently.

Local Government Minister Norman Whitaker last week told Guyana Times that Cabinet had deliberated and approved some $11 million to assist resident, who were devastated after their homes were inundated with water, owing to a breakaway of the koker which services the Peter’s Hall and Providence communities.

That massive flood saw the more than two hundred families counting their losses as a number of electrical household items were damaged beyond repair. The announcement by the Local

Government Minister has left residents even more confused about Government’s real interest in their well-being.

“It was terrible,” said Joe Brown, a Providence resident, speaking about the early October flood.

“One hundred and thirty five-week-old chickens we lost in the pen. Up to now I don’t have money to buy back. It is a lot of things. And now Government promising we $11 million. That is not any money. Each person lost a lot of things. People lost washing machine and

fridge,” he complained. Joe, who is also a welder, told Guyana Times during a visit to the community on Tuesday that the “devastation was severe”.

Another resident said the “$11 million that what the Government say they are going to give us, we don’t want that because that don’t make no sense. If you calculate $11 million with 200 people, $10,000 and $15,000 cannot buy back nothing. These people have no interest for the living and the poor class people.”

“Affected me a lot”

Mohammed Ally, another resident said the flood “affected me a lot and inconvenience me. We lost almost everything because our place is very low. What we managed to put on the table was also destroyed. We buy back a lot of things” He continued: “Nobody ain’t giving us nothing. Everything damage... That $11 million is nothing. Its over 200 families suffer losses from the flood. We might barely get around $10,000. After two months, they saying they want give we mattress and those things, that is nothing,” the frustrated resident said.

A few days after the flood in October, Minister Whitaker had agreed to grant some assistance to the affected residents. The residents were required to sub-

mit a list of items destroyed to the Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). Whitaker said Government had kept the pact it made with the residents, hoping to bring some level of relief to them.

The Minister related to this publication that the relief has been divided into three categories, ranging from the least to the most affected.

He said that affected homeowners will be assisted by the Public Works Ministry, who will work with the NDC to facilitate a waiver of rates and taxes for residents.

Tenants on the other hand will have the option to say what household items they would prefer. Whitaker stressed that Government would not be replacing all the items damaged, noting that the move is an assistance rather than a compensation. According to him, officials of the Ministry are currently carrying out this exercise in the two communities. It was utter mayhem for Providence /Peters Hall residents when the door of the koker which services both communities collapsed under the pressure of the swollen wave. Engineers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) had to be summoned to contain the situation which was getting out control.

New LIAT flights between Barbados, Guyana

LIAT has added four new services per week between Dominica and Saint Maarten and three additional services between Barbados and Ogle in Guyana.

LI 331 is scheduled to depart Dominica at 11:05h on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in St Maarten at 12:05h.

The return service is scheduled to depart St Maarten at 15:05h, arriving in Dominica at 16:05h.

The three additional services between Barbados and Ogle will bring LIAT’s total

number of flights to Guyana to 10 per week.

LI 391 is scheduled to depart Barbados at 08:50h, arriving at Ogle at 10:50h.

The return flight, LI 390 de-

parts Ogle at 11:20h, arriving back into

at 13:20h. The flights operate on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

Barbados

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

A man tried to dupe JFK Airport security into thinking he was only bringing in a few bottles of South American booze after arriving in New York from Guyana – but it was actually liquid cocaine he was carrying

Flood victim Joe Brown said Government’s $11 million relief is not sufficient

Mohammed Ally

Trotman paedophile allegations...

Delay will not force Welshman to do a 'Sattaur'

Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur had backed down on a threatening language charge he brought against Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall, but Johnny Welshman, who has accused Speaker Raphael Trotman of sexually assaulting him as a child, said there will be no backing down.

With the file still at the Chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Welshman said he is not giving up the fight and intends to see his battle to its finality.

Welshman has accused his father, Trotman and another man of sexually abusing him as a child. Welshman told Guyana Times on Tuesday that he feels the course of justice is being deliberately affected, given the fact that almost three months after he came forward with his accusations, there has been no definitive action.

The young man explained that while the road to justice may be long, he is willing to endure in hope that his alleged rapists are held accountable for their acts.

“I still want justice,” said Welshman, adding that “I won’t bow out, why would I do that? I won’t!”

Since the allegations were made by the now 22-year-old Welshman back in September, Trotman has moved to the courts to attain a gag order and filed a $50 million lawsuit against his accuser.

Welshman had also indicated that he was no longer being represented by Attorney Peter Hugh. He indicated that he was awaiting the arrival of another Attorney from Trinidad and Tobago before he proceeds further.

Welshman, on Wednesday, November 12 attempted to take his own life in frustration over what he called the slothfulness and perceived wrongdoings in Guyana’s justice system. The 22-year-old was reportedly taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital after reportedly consuming a large amount of chlorine-based liquid.

He was treated and sent home. When contacted, Welshman confirmed that he did attempt to commit suicide. On November 11, acting Chief Justice Ian Chang had ruled to uphold an injunction filed by Trotman that prevented Welshman from repeating his allegations of sexual abuse until the conclusion of the matter, much to the anger of the alleged victim.

“I can’t take it anymore: I wanted justice and I am the one that is constantly harassed on the road. Well, live with yourself at my death… I know I will be in hell ‘cause I committed suicide, but I rather die than to continue living in pain… Uncle Raphael, my father

and Colin, I will never forgive you’,” Welshman posted on his Facebook page the day of his suicide attempt.

Grooming

Among other things, Welshman had accused the Speaker of pampering him with gifts during the alleged period of his sexual abuse.

“He started to sexually assault me when I was 12. It first started in his office, at that time I did not agree with it, but he offered to

expenses. He would also make sure that I wear the most expensive clothes and also buy me fancy sneakers and everyone in my class would usually tell me that I am rich with the amount of money I used to go to school with; all of that Uncle Raphael give me,” Welshman had noted.

Trotman has denied all the allegations, describing them as malicious and unfounded coming from “an unstable young man who, sadly, appears to have a troubled mind. I categori-

take me to Dairy Bar (formerly located on Croal Street) to buy me ice cream and then later that day, he took me to the House of Flavours and so I start to give into him,” the young man had alleged.

Welshman went on to say that after the assault continued, he complained to his father who turned a deaf ear, so he continued to collect the things which were offered to him by Trotman.

“Around school time he would usually take me to buy all my school things, telling my parents that he will take care of the

cally deny his wicked assertions”.

Trotman said unfortunately, Welshman seems to have been “conveniently encouraged by manipulative and diabolic political forces”.

“There is absolutely no truth in the allegation, and I am confident that the masterminds and supporters of this dastardly plot will soon be exposed. I call for a thorough and professional investigation into this scurrilous allegation. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” Trotman had said.

20-year-old on $150,000 bail for attempted murder

A20-year-old man was on Wednesday placed on $150,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at Whim’s Magistrate Court to answer a charge of attempted murder.

Derick David, of Fifth Street, Whim Village, Corentyne, was not required to plead to the indictable charge. The particulars of the charge read that on November 29 at 11:30h at Whim, David unlawfully and maliciously wounded Arnold Deosarran, 43.

Deosarran sustained a stab wound to his neck and was hospitalised for a few days. The incident allegedly stemmed from an argument between David and Deosarran who were at a barbecue in the village.

Preparations for Mashramani 2015 on track – Dr Anthony – draft calendar of events completed

The draft of national and regional activities for the anticipated celebratory period, Mashramani is already completed with tentative dates slated for the various events.

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has already predicted that Guyanese will have a “very good Mashramani Celebration 2015”.

He noted that the Organising Committee is doing a superb job in planning the events leading up to the 45th Republic Day celebrations on February 23.

Mashramani 2015 was officially launched on October 10 under the theme “One people, One Nation, One celebration”.

At the launch, Minister Anthony was hopeful that there will be 45 bands on the road come next year.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday 3, Dr Anthony was still very optimistic in this regard.

He said talks have already begun with “traditional” and “non-traditional” companies to get them onboard for the grand parade.

all the other television stations would normally cover the Mashramani events.”

Moreover, the Minister stated that the international press such as BBC and French Television usually cover the event and it would be a great opportunity for companies.

“We’re very hopeful companies will see the wisdom in coming onboard and contributing to this national festival, but also it’s not like they’re giving to charity. They’re also going to gain by advertising their products and enhancing their company’s brand.”

He was also excited about the fact that an increasing number of private promoters are coming out in trucks to add to the celebrations.

Some of the activities lined up for Mashramani 2015 include steel band concerts and competitions, Calypso Competitions, Road March Competitions, Chutney Competitions, the Carib Soca Monarch Competition, Art Competition, Masquerade Competitions, Essay Competitions, workshops, exhibitions and fairs.

Additionally, various activities are lined up in the various regions.

During the heated argument, David allegedly broke a glass bottle and stabbed the Virtual Complainant (VC). He was subsequently arrested and charged.

The Minister urged all companies to indicate their interest in participating in a timely manner so that everything can continue to be executed smoothly and on track.

The matter was adjourned to December 20 when the defendant will make his second court appearance.

Additionally, he encouraged more companies to participate, noting that they can use the opportunity for successful advertisement.

“It is a very easy way to advertise a product with over 80,000 people on the road, and in addition to that,

At the Mash launch, the Minister had pointed out that there has been an increase in steel pan participation due to the generous intervention of Republic Bank. He noted too that the Calypso Competition, which has been sponsored by Banks DIH, has been on the rise, which has brought to the fore much talent.

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Speaker Raphael Trotman

Johnny Welshman

Wage increase fallout: GPSU threatens action in “next few days”

The political and social atmosphere over the remaining days of this year is entirely dependent on Government and its course of action as it relates to the ultimatum it was given, President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Patrick Yarde has warned. He said that “whatever happens over the next few days will totally depend on government’s choice”.

The Union’s president on Tuesday had dispatched a strongly worded letter to President Donald Ramotar, expressing the organisation’s disappointment over the decision to impose salary increases for public servants without first consulting with their representing body. The letter also gave the Head of State and Government officials 48 hours to commence consultation with the Union, something they have been accused of not doing over a number of years.

Yarde told the Guyana Times on Wednesday that given the fact that there has been no consultation between the two parties in this regard, Government now has an opportunity to redeem itself and do the right thing and meet with the Union leaders to iron out the issues.

Slap in the face

At a press conference on Tuesday, Yarde had told journalists that the Union was not accepting the im-

posed five per cent and eight per cent increases for Public Sector workers since they were slaps in the face and an insult to Guyana’s working class. He said that while it was not permanent, if such should be the case then the Union will agree to an interim eight per cent increase across the board for all employees until an agreement could be reached between the two bodies.

Yarde told this publication that he was prepared to lead and that the Union is prepared for any eventuality, citing the possibility of major strike action if Government did not give a favourable response.

“Based on the feedback I have been getting, members are pleased with the action taken by the Union,” Yarde told Guyana Times, relating that members are requesting that the Union take every necessary step to fully represent them.

If the Union goes ahead with its protest, it could be a cumbersome time for Guyana, since the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is currently on daily protest actions, calling for President Donald Ramotar to reconvene Parliament which has been prorogued.

Since the announcement was made by the Head of State early last month, the main political Opposition has been picketing the Office of the President (OP),

Colombia leader Santos warns armed forces of disloyalty

olombian President

CJuan Manuel Santos has warned the armed forces that he will not tolerate any acts of disloyalty among them. “Any officer, doesn’t matter how important, showing the slightest sign of disloyalty or lack of discipline will be out of the military,” he said.

The warning came a day after General Ruben Alzate announced his resignation.

The General was kidnapped by FARC rebels while he was travelling along a river in breach of security protocols.

General Alzate was released by the left-wing rebels on Sunday after two weeks in captivity. He resigned the following day. He is the highest-ranking officer ever to be held by the rebels.

His abduction alongside lawyer Gloria Urrego and

Corporal Jorge Rodriguez prompted the suspension of peace negotiations between the Government and the guerrillas.

It was the most serious crisis in the talks since they started more than two years ago in Cuba. Government and rebel negotiators are currently discussing a resumption of the negotiations.

General Alzate, who has more than 33 years experience, said he decided to ignore security protocols because of his “love for the people of Choco”, the province where he was seized.

He boarded a small boat and, accompanied only by one soldier, the Corporal and the lawyer, he travelled down the Atrato River, which is known to lead into rebel-held areas. (Excerpt from BBC News)

calling the President’s move undemocratic. Yarde said all these things could be avoided simply if Government did what it had to do. The consequences, he stressed, lie in its control.

Meanwhile, Yarde told this publication that the Union continues its fight for all contract workers to be taken within the normal security or tenure of performance perishable employment. While contract workers are to also benefit from the salary increase, they are at a disadvantage particularly where the certainty of their employment is concerned. He explained that his office has been flooded with persons who have complained about losing their jobs after just one year of employment.

Officials said that 41 per cent of contract workers are slated to benefit from the eight per cent increase. According to Yarde, this is so because these persons are earning below $50,000. The GPSU President said the Union is fighting for an equal distribution of the wage increase for all workers because the current proposal will see some inequality.

He explained that it was possible that persons, who earn less than $50,000, could earn more than persons earning over $50, 000 with the eight per cent increase.

In a release to the press,

the Office of the President had declared that public servants and members of the Disciplined Forces earning above $50,000 monthly wages and salaries as of December 31, 2013 are being granted an across-the-board increase of five per cent.

Those earning less than $50,000 monthly as at December 31, 2013 would be receiving an eight per cent across-the-board increase.

Meanwhile, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said that unlike the notion peddled by the GPSU President, Government has over the years been in consultation with the organisation.

He said the problem has not been about consultation, but about being able to come to an effective decision. “I think where the breakdown has occurred over the years is that the negotiations have failed to produce a response that enjoys the support of the Government and the Union and I think this is one of the more recurrent aspect,” Luncheon said at his post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday

He said Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford will continue the engagement with both the labour and Public Service Union. According to him, any planned action by the GPSU will not be necessary. “I can’t see that being of significance.”

AG on surgery to remove cocaine pellets: Medical Board launches probe

The Medical Board has launched an investigation into a surgery at a private hospital last January to remove 17 cocaine pellets from the stomach of an Arouca man. So said Attorney General Anand Ramlogan in a brief interview at the Carlton Savannah Hotel, on Tuesday. The issue has been the subject of much debate.

Ramlogan said he was “happy to say that I have received correspondence from the Medical Board of TT that has confirmed they have launched an investigation in the matter.” He said the board’s letter was in response to a letter he sent to it requesting the investigation, “so

therefore that matter is the subject of an on-going investigation by the Medical Board.” He said the police were also probing the incident. Responding to questions on last weekend’s deflation of some 10 car tyres and the placement of racial flyers on the vehicles at MovieTowne Entertainment Complex, Invaders Bay, Port of Spain, Ramlogan said they were “acts of criminal vandalism that I condemn outright.”

He hoped the CCTV cameras would assist in identifying those who committed the acts. The AG also said shopping malls in TT should do more to assist in the fight against crime.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Double trouble for Trinidad energy sector

Energy economist Gregory McGuire says the Trinidad and Tobago economy is facing a double jeopardy, precipitated by the fall in oil prices from US$110 a barrel in June to US$65 on Friday.

“The imminent danger posed by a sustained decline in oil prices was compounded last week by the news that a leak in National Gas Company’s (NGC) 56-inch pipeline aggravating an already tight gas supply situation and interrupting electricity generation at TGU,” he observed.

“While these developments are completely unrelated, their joint impact on the economy could be devastating,” he noted. McGuire said it is “obvious” that the fall in oil prices will have a negative impact on government revenue.

“The Minister of Finance has indicated a loss of TT$1879.4 million on an annualised basis. He further

expects the reduction in fuel subsidy of TT$507 million thereby mitigating the overall increase in the deficit to TT$1372 million. In seeking to calm our fear, Minister Howai reiterated that TT is more of a gas economy, producing approximately 800,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, only 10 per cent of which is oil. One is left with the distinct impression that gas will supplant the loss in oil.”

McGuire criticised Howai’s hope for “better than projected gas prices are mitigating the fall in oil prices”.

“Minister Howai is aware of the prognosis that gas prices will fall in tandem with oil. This is because in major markets of Europe, South America and the Far East, LNG prices are indexed to oil. For example, LNG prices in Asia have already dropped from US$20/ mmbtu in January 2014, to US$10/mmbtu in October. (Excerpt from

Bahamas plane crash kills one, injures 10, including infant

Aplane crash in Bahamian waters off the coast of New Providence claimed the life of a 77-year-old American and injured 10 other passengers. The plane, a twin-engine Piper Navajo aircraft, crashed in waters off Clifton Pier in western New Providence around 08:30h early Tuesday.

Authorities at the scene confirmed that 11 people were onboard the aircraft and according to a Reuters report “the plane, operated by Ferguson Air, may have lost an engine”.

Bahamas Police indicated that the pilot notified air traffic controllers that he was experiencing difficulties before bringing the plane down on a area of water in the Clifton Pier area, just short of the Lynden Pindling

International Airport. Reuters said “the 10 survivors, six Americans and four Bahamians, were rescued by staff from a nearby diving business and taken by ambulance to hospital in Nassau”. The crash is the second fatal plane incident in a month in The Bahamas.

Last month, the prominent pastor, Dr Myles Munroe and his wife Ruth along with eight others died in an accident believed to have been caused by poor weather conditions.

Munroe was travelling to Grand Bahama to attend the 2014 Global Leadership Forum that he organised. As the pilot attempted to land in Freeport, the aircraft hit a dockyard crane, causing it to crash into a garbage dump, killing everyone on board.

(Caribbean360)

Pilot Rufus Ferguson and the twin engine Piper Navajo plane

Around the world

World on course for warmest year

This year is in the running to be the hottest globally since records began, early estimates show.

In the first 10 months of 2014, global average air temperature was about 0.57 Celsius above the long-term average.

And the first 11 months in the UK have produced an average temperature 1.6C above the long-term.

A separate study by the UK Met Office says the observed temperatures would be highly unlikely without the influence of greenhouse gases produced by humans.

The global figures come in estimates from the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

In unusually strong language, Jarraud highlighted the impacts of the weather extremes.

“Record-breaking heat combined with torrential rainfall and floods destroyed livelihoods and ruined lives. What is particularly unusual and alarming this year are the high temperatures of vast areas of the ocean surface, including in the northern hemisphere.”

Iran denies bombing ISIL targets in Iraq; US says strikes working

Iran has denied it conducted air strikes against ISIL targets in eastern Iraq, after Al Jazeera ran footage of what appeared to be an F-4 fighter jet, similar to those used by the Iranian air force.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Iranian official told Reuters news agency on Wednesday that “Iran has never been involved in any air strikes against the Daesh targets in Iraq”.

in the province of Diyala, prompting media reports that Iran was involved in the US-led coalition against ISIL.

The Pentagon on Tuesday said it had no reason to doubt reports that Iranian fighter jets had bombed ISIL targets in Diyala.

If this year’s current global trend continues for the next two months, the previous record years of 1998, 2005 and 2010 will be overtaken by a narrow margin.

with what we expect from a changing climate.”

In comments released with the new figures, he said:

The Secretary General of the WMO, Michel Jarraud, said the preliminary data for 2014 was “consistent

Hong Kong ‘Occupy’ leaders surrender as pro-democracy

protests appear to wither

Leaders of Hong Kong’s Occupy Central movement surrendered to Police on Wednesday for their role in democracy protests that the Government has deemed illegal, the latest sign that the civil disobedience campaign may be running out of steam.

Three founders turned themselves in a day after calling on students to retreat from protest sites in the Asia financial centre amid fears of further violence, just hours after student leader Joshua Wong had called on supporters to regroup.

Pro-Beijing groups taunted Benny Tai, Chan Kin-man and Reverend Chu Yiu-ming as they entered a

Police station just two subway stops from the main protest site in Admiralty, next to the Chinese-controlled city’s financial centre.

The three, accompanied by Cardinal Joseph Zen, 82, former Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong, filled in forms, giving personal information, and were allowed to leave without facing any charges.

“I hope we can show others the meaning of the surrender. We urge the occupation to end soon and more citizens will carry out the basic responsibility of civil disobedience, which is to surrender,” said Benny Tai, the most prominent of the Occupy leaders, after he left the police station. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“The provisional information for 2014 means that 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all occurred in the 21st century.”

And he asserted that the new figures confirm the key trend in climate change: “There is no standstill in global warming.”

This is a reference to the hotly-debated “pause” in global warming which has seen no major increases in temperature since 1998. (Excerpt

The official was using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the armed group which controls large expanses in Iraq and Syria.

“Any cooperation in such strikes with America is also out of question for Iran,” the official said.

The Al Jazeera footage of the alleged F-4 fighter was filmed on November 24 as the jet struck ISIL targets

“I have seen those reports. We have no indication that the reports are not true that Iranian aircraft have conducted air strikes, in the last several days, against ISIL targets in eastern Iraq,” John Kirby, the Pentagon Press Secretary, said.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the momentum of ISIL has been “halted” by the airstrikes that the coalition of Western and Arab states has launched against the group. (Excerpts from Al Jazeera)

Sweden heads for polls after Lofven’s Parliament defeat

Sweden’s left-of-centre Prime Minister Stefan Lofven says he will call snap elections after his minority Government lost a budget vote less than three months after coming to power.

He said a new poll would take place on March 22.

The Government failed to push its budget through Parliament, when the farright Sweden Democrats sided with the Opposition.

The Sweden Democrats emerged as a power broker after September’s elections.

The party now holds 49 seats and, voting with the centre-right Opposition on Wednesday, defeated the Government’s budget by a margin of 182 to 153.

At a hastily called news conference after the vote,

UN begins inquiry into attacks and weapons in Gaza

The United Nations has begun investigating Israeli attacks that hit United Nations facilities during last summer’s Gaza war and how Palestinian militants came to store weapons at several UN schools, officials said on Wednesday.

A team of UN investigators arrived in Gaza on Tuesday to conduct the inquiry, three months after the war ended. They had already met with Israeli representatives in Jerusalem. The investigation is expected to last three weeks.

“They are visiting the affected sites, they are conducting meetings and in-

United

terviews with people who were involved,” Robert Turner, the Director of Operations for the UN Relief and Works Agency in Gaza told reporters. “It is specifically to look at vio -

lations of neutrality of UN installations.”

During the July-August conflict, Israeli artillery and tank shells hit at least six UN-run facilities, killing around 30 Palestinian civilians who were sheltering there, according to Palestinian officials. Israel said it believed militants were using the facilities as cover to fire rockets into Israel.

At the same time, several UN schools, all of them closed during the war, were found to have been used by Hamas militants to store rockets, prompting heavy criticism from Israel. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Lofven told reporters that new elections would enable voters to “make a choice in the face of this new political landscape”.

Under the Constitution he cannot officially call a national poll until December 29. Accusing the centreright parties of failing to engage constructively over the budget, Lofven complained that the Opposition had allowed the far right to dictate terms.

“We have formed a government, we have a budget, and we will go into the elections with that,” he said, standing alongside a spokesman from his coalition partner, the Greens.

The Sweden Democrats became the country’s third largest party, with 13 per cent of the vote, and is demanding a reversal in Sweden’s liberal immigration laws, which party spokesman Mattias Karlsson has condemned as an “extreme immigration policy”.

Sweden has offered permanent residence to all Syrians fleeing the conflict and has the highest rate of asylum applications per capita of any European Union country. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Israeli leaders vote to dissolve Parliament

Israeli politicians have voted to dissolve Parliament, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked two key Ministers critical of his policies, paving the way for early elections.

The current Government, which took office in early 2013, has been riven by divisions from the beginning over major issues facing the country.

Wednesday’s vote in the 120-member Knesset, which passed 84-0 with one legislator abstaining, was

an initial step. Further votes are expected next week that will officially dissolve Israel’s Parliament and usher in new polls. If the votes pass as expected, the current Parliament will have served for one of the shortest periods in the country’s history.

Yuli Edelstein, the speaker of Israel’s Parliament, said party representatives had agreed on March 17 as the date for the early elections.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu fired Finance Minister Yair

Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and called for elections, plunging the country into a bitter campaign set to culminate in polls early next year.

In a procedural step, the date for new elections must still be approved by each party.

“The coming elections are about one question: who will lead the Government amid the huge challenges that Israel faces?’’ Netanyahu told a meeting of his Likud party. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The Swedish Prime Minister accused the opposition of allowing the far right to dictate terms

Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon

Guyana’s anti-corruption score improves

Guyana is making progress up the transparency ladder, ranking 124 out of 175 territories with a score of 30 on the Transparency International (TI) 20th Annual Corruption Perception Index. Last year, Guyana had scored 27, after scoring 28 in 2012.

This year’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) shows that corruption remains a serious international problem in more than two thirds of the countries in the world.

“Bribes and backroom deals don’t just steal resources from the most vulnerable – they undermine justice and economic development and destroy public trust in Government and leaders,” TI said.

Transparency International Guyana Incorporated (TIGI) said Guyana’s ranking of 124 once again places the country at the bottom of the Englishspeaking Caribbean.

“The ranking of Guyana on the 2014 CPI is just another international indicator, which, taken together with the local reality, simply increases the public perception that corruption remains a chronic problem in Guyana of crisis propor-

tions,” TIGI said.

Quoting TI’s Chairman Jose Ugaz, TIGI said, "Countries at the bottom need to adopt radical anticorruption measures in favour of their people."

According to TIGI, Guyana, through the Government, should take the requisite steps to remove the country from the bottom of the scale.

The organisation is, therefore, calling for the “urgent” appointment of members of the Integrity Commission and the yetto-be-established Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

The Government and the Opposition have been at loggerheads over the establishment of the PPC.

The Alliance For Change (AFC), in particular, has been at the forefront, pushing for the PPC, but Government said it must maintain its no-objection powers on large contracts.

Though not reneging on its position that Cabinet’s no-objection powers should be removed, the AFC had prepared drafted amendments to Section 54 of the Public Procurement Act that would give Cabinet the opportunity to file complaints

to the PPC concerning contracts awarded. However, the party maintained that the PPC should be established and fully financed.

In addition to the establishment of the Integrity Commission and the PPC, TIGI called for the implementation of laws to regulate election campaign financing and simultaneously the implementation of modern anti-corruption and whistle blowing legislation.

Chairman of Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally said a cap must be placed on campaign financing, lest the country run the risk of becoming a narco-state.

According to him, if the financing of election campaigns remain unlimited, the state can be infiltrated by drug lords or criminal elements.

Though the battle would be a rough one, Dr Surujbally stressed that a system must be institutionalised to put brakes on campaign financing.

In a quest to improve Guyana’s status, TIGI said anti-corruption laws should be enforced by investigating and prosecuting the corrupt.

PPP/C apologises for calling Shaquille Grant a criminal

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has apologised to the mother of murdered Agricola youth Shaquille Grant for calling him a criminal in a statement it issued last week.

In a statement Wednesday evening, the party said it had noted the call for an apology by the mother of Grant con-

cerning a statement issued in the name of the Party in which Shaquille Grant was wrongly deemed a “criminal” According to the PPP/C a clarification was sought at the Weekly Press Conference of the Party where the General Secretary, Clement Rohee in response had promised to ascertain the veracity of the con-

tents of the statement. The party said it has since done so and has determined that there is no justification in describing Grant as a criminal. “In the circumstances, the party offers an unequivocal apology to the mother of Grant for this unfounded assertion and for any hurt and harm caused.”

Bosai Operator murdered

An Excavator Operator attached to the Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc was found dead on Wednesday morning in the vicinity of Washer Pond Road, Linden with his hands bound behind his back.

Edgar Trotman, 46, of Lot 690 Block 22, Wisroc Housing Scheme, Linden was reportedly found about 06:30h by a serviceman who had gone to perform daily servicing of the machine. The body was partially in a nearby drain.

After the discovery, closer checks were conducted and it was discovered that the computer box (black box) was missing from the excavator. Several persons have been questioned by Police as they launched an investigation.

A worker told the Guyana Times that the man was last seen on Tuesday evening about 19:00h having dinner in the Crusher Room.

The man who asked to remain anonymous explained that Trotman was scheduled

to work that night’s shift and would have reported for work as normal.

The worker disclosed that every morning the service man would attend to the machines to make sure they were in working condition for the next shift. As he approached the machine that Trotman operated, he

Engineer producing cheap drum incinerators

In a bid to facilitate waste management and reduce the cost of going to garbage sites, Engineer Andy Moore has developed and redesigned the drum incinerator to ensure easier use and longevity.

Andy Moore, who has been working on incinerators for the last 32 years, told this publication that he has been working on the drum incinerator since 2012.

The Engineer said he was approached in 2009 by the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) to build drum incinerators for outlying hospitals that have to go far distances to dispose of medical waste.

The drum incinerator reduces the cost of transporting the medical waste to the garbage dump as well as saved space.

made the discovery and alerted his superiors who in turn contacted the Police.

Investigators are working on the theory that the murder might have been an inside job.

Meanwhile, the man’s family members remain in a state of shock and mourning over his death, noting that he was a very jovial person. Family members also said that they were unaware of Trotman having any grievances with anyone. His brother, Orrin Trotman, said he did not know of any reason anyone would want his brother dead.

His mother, who returned to Guyana recently to attend her brother’s funeral, said she last saw her son when he left for work at the bauxite mining company on Tuesday evening.

Trotman leaves to mourn his wife and six children. His body was taken to the Wismar Hospital Mortuary where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Moore told Guyana Times that he had finished the incinerator in 2012, however, he saw more could have been done to make it more user-friendly and long-lasting by substituting the parts for more thicker and different kinds of metal that can withstand heat.

Thus, the Engineer did just that. He reduced the number of jigs on the base of the drum incinerator from 18 to eight, which reduces the amount of metal needed but not the effectiveness of the tool; while also changing the metal internal structures (those within the drum).

Moore informed that the parts in the drum can last three years while the drum itself, with proper maintenance can last for over a year, even with continuous heat being administered.

However, it should be noted that water can enable rusting of the drum which will take away from its effectiveness, thus he advises proper care is essential. In addition to the advantages of this new and improved drum incinerator, Moore remarked that the garbage removal tool gets rid of 90 per cent of the bulk of garbage; leaving only 10 per cent ash to spread that can be used as landfills.

The Engineer explained that an “updraft is seen immediately” from the funnel of the drum incinerator once it is lit, thus, it has to be used in wide open spaces to allow such movement of the air. Moore explained that the original incinerator from 2009 was built for burning medical wastes but anything “combustible” can be burned within the equipment.

The Engineer indicated that he has plans to go into the business of supplying various institutions with drum incinerator if they should need one. He said he can make 10 of the drum incinerators within a week. He emphasised on the advantages those in the interior can benefit from upon using the drum incinerator.

Alleged rapist walks free – after victim refuses to give evidence against him

Rape accused Surishchand Latchman, 47, walked out of the Berbice High Court a free man on Wednesday after the Virtual Complainant (VC) refused to give evidence against him for an act he alleged committed on her when she was 10-years-old.

Latchman was indicted on two counts of carnal knowledge charges. It was alleged that between May 1 and 8, 2001 at Number 79 Village, Corriverton, he had carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 12.

He was also indicted on

another charge which said that he had carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 12 years without her consent.

When the matter was called at the Berbice Assizes on Wednesday before Justice James Bovell-Drakes, the VC said she had no interest in pursuing the matter.

“I don’t want to go on with this story. I got three sons and I want to move on with my life. I want to finish this story today,” she told the court.

It was alleged that the VC was climbing the step

to get into her house when Latchman entered the yard and held on to her hand and covered her mouth with his hands. He then lifted her and took her to the back house and put her to lie down on the ground and committed the act. She was able to escape by pushing him off, and after she did, she told one of his relatives of what happened.

Latchman was later arrested. Back then, he reportedly told Police that he did not have sex with the child but fingered her.

The internal structure of the drum incinerator

A drum incinerator made by Engineer Andy Moore

Edgar Trotman

Guyana making big strides in reducing HIV/AIDS stigma – Desiree Edghill

Director of Artistes in Direct Support (A.I.D.S.) Desiree Edghill said that Guyana has come a far way in reducing stigma and discrimination against persons living with and affected by HIV/ AIDS.

During a recent interview with Guyana Times, Edghill disclosed that stigma and discrimination still exist, but Guyana has seen a tremendous reduction. She explained that when Guyana first started testing for HIV, people were fearful of being caught entering or coming out of a testing site.

“They were afraid that people would think they have HIV and shun or isolate and discriminate against them, but more and more people are getting to know people who have HIV

and finding out that people close to them are also HIV positive. And we find, too, that more people are disclosing their statuses to family and friends,” Edghill pointed out.

According to Edghill, Guyana is still at a point where people feel that HIV is someone else’s problem, and said this is because people can hardly put a face to HIV. The renowned theatre personality praised the Health Ministry for reducing stigma and discrimination by making it mandatory that its policy and code of ethics be displayed at testing sites, clinics, and health centres.

Edghill disclosed that there was a mechanism in place and trained personnel who can aid persons in the disclosure process. While

disclosure can lead to stigma and discrimination; conversely, stigma and discrimination can prevent early disclosure. “There are persons, who disclose at seminars and workshops and would even leave Guyana to disclose in other countries, and so there is still a lot of work left to be done, but we have to make people feel comfortable and help that process.”

On the other hand, Edghill said that she was hoping that the A.I.D.S. can be around for a long time, pointing out that funding for the organisation has been drying up.

When asked about the Government’s involvement with the organisation, Edghill said that the Health Ministry and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) have been major contributors, providing all the necessities needed for the campaign against the virus.

The Director was speaking against the background of the recently commemorated World AIDS Day, which is held on December 1 each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first-ever global health day and started in 1988.

This year’s observance was held under the theme “Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation.”

Police intensify investigation into Corriverton murder

Ranks at Springlands Police Station are still to make an arrest for the murder of Outar Ramphal, 50, of Lot 46 Princetown, Corriverton, Berbice, who was chopped to death during an alleged robbery on Sunday evening.

A source told the Guyana Times that the Police were looking at all possible leads at this time and hoping to crack the case shortly. They are, nevertheless, focusing on the theory that the incident might have stemmed from a family dispute over land.

A post-mortem performed on the body of Outar on Wednesday gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage due to multiple lacerations. The postmortem was performed by Dr Vivekanand Brijmohan at the Skeldon Hospital Mortuary.

The physically challenged man was on Sunday

evening chopped to death while his mother, 74-yearold Phamphattie Ramphal suffered a stab wound to her chin and lacerations to the head following the alleged robbery at their home.

According to reports re-

Guyanese sample Argentine wines … at

promotional event

Argentina Ambassador to Guyana Luis Alberton Martino on Tuesday hosted a winetasting event to promote the wines of Argentina in a bid to capture more of the Guyanese market and promote the growing culture of that South American country here.

Ambassador Martino came up with the initiative that will allow Argentina to showcase more of its record-holding wine while increasing further collaborations or partnerships with

Guyana’s market is not huge, much attention would not be given to importation.

Even so, the Demerara Distillers Limited and Pegasus are two buyers in Guyana that have been able to persuade the Trapiche and Trivento wineries to sell their products in Guyana.

Ambassador Martino said he aims to improve on this and has already made headway as the Pegasus Hotel has bought barrels from the new Argentine winery Cavas Del 23. The shipment is expected in ear-

ceived, four men, three of whom were armed with firearms, invaded the Ramphal house and demanded cash and jewellery. During the attack, Outar was chopped three times to the forehead and once to the back of the head.

His elderly mother was stabbed once to the chin resulting in her receiving two stitches and beaten in the head.

Based on reports received, the attempted robbery occurred about 20:00h, but it was not until the woman’s grandson returned home about 01:00h that the community became aware of the incident, as he raised the alarm after seeing his grandmother and uncle lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

Both mother and son were taken to the Skeldon Hospital where the man succumbed to his injuries.

Guyana.

Guyana is already a buyer of a couple of Argentina’s wines; however, Ambassador Martino said the small market for it prevents the wine companies in Argentina from putting much emphasis here.

He said wineries make targets about selling as they are able to sell their goods at a host of markets, but due to the fact that

ly 2015. The diplomat said his country has some of the best internationally- recognised wines. However, he acknowledged that Argentina is not the best at wine-making or production, noting that the title is mostly taken by the “old world countries” such as Italy, France, Spain, the United States of America (California wines), Argentina, Australia, Chile,

South Africa, Portugal, Rome and Greece, among others.

However, he explained that it is due to one such “old country” – Spain that Argentina has the capacity to produce quality wine as Spain was the mother country of the state when the first batch of “vits vinifera” was introduced to Argentina by Spanish priests.

Ambassador Martino shared that the wine industry never truly took off until Domingo Fanstino Sarmiento; an Argentine politician took it in hand that it may boost Argentina’s economy.

It is due to him, the Ambassador continues, that there is even an international day for wine, World Malbec Day on April 17. He said on this day, 15 towns around the world celebrate, in a number of ways, and one must expect wine to be a part of the celebrations.

The Ambassador emphasised that Argentina’s Malbec is usually “centre stage” in such celebrations. Therefore, Argentina’s rich history in wines has enabled it to be among the five largest wine producers in the world, which includes a few of the old countries.

He elaborated that Argentina has the honour of being the eight wine producing country with a massive cultivated space of an estimated 504, 000 acres of vineyards.

The wines offered at the wine-tasting even were Torrontés, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.

Albouystown man shot, robbed of $2800

Joel Kirpaul, 45, of Hogg Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was shot during a robbery, which occurred about 06:20h Wednesday. Kirpaul was reportedly

walking along High Street, Georgetown, when he was confronted by a man who held him at gunpoint and demanded his valuables. The now injured man resisted, and the gunman discharged a round hitting him in his right foot.

The gunman then re-

lieved the injured man of $2800, which he had in his pocket and escaped on a bicycle. Kirpaul was assisted to the Georgetown Public Hospital by a public-spirited citizen. The Police are conducting an investigation into the incident.

AIDS Director Desiree Edghill

Invitees at the wine-tasting event grading the wines according to their varietals, smell, taste and appearances

Argentine Ambassador to Guyana Luis Alberto Martino as he talks about the variety of wines and the vineyards of Argentina

Dead: Outar Ramphal

WEDNESDAY'S WORD

SUDOKU

Wednesday's solution

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Don’t expect everyone to agree with you. Work diligently to get everything in place before you share your plans. The more prepared you are, the less opposition you will face.

Financial and personal disappointments are likely if you don’t keep your emotions in check. Consider the motives of anyone who is soliciting a donation, making questionable demands or asking for assistance.

Your stress level is on the rise. Altering your surroundings or moving to a new location will change the dynamics of your current problem or situation. Devote time to something you enjoy doing.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Others may not agree with your plans, but you have the expertise and intelligence to make your dreams come life. Let everyone know that you intend to move forward.

Take a step back before you make an irreversible decision. Observe what’s going on around you and determine the extent of the situation and the consequences that lie ahead should you make a move.

An unfortunate misunderstanding between you and someone close to you is apparent. Choose your words carefully and be aware of the pressures that both you and those around you are facing.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Love is on the rise. Your creativity level is high, allowing you to come up with solutions to any challenge you face. A short trip will provide inspiration.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

With your abundance of energy you will breeze through your tasks. Taking on additional duties will boost your reputation, but be sure to leave some time for more enjoyable pastimes.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Education is an ongoing search for knowledge. You will outmanoeuvre the competition if you continue to hone your skills and expertise. Don’t overexert yourself while exercising or doing physical or laborious chores.

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

Whether decorating your home for upcoming festivities or renovating to better suit your needs, comfort and convenience should be scheduled. Get everyone you live with to chip in and help.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Overemotional or irrational outbursts will cause others to alienate you. Prevent hurt feelings or angry confrontations by thinking matters through before you act or speak. Limit your consumption and your spending.

Turn something you enjoy into a moneymaking venture. Extracurricular activities will help round out your social life and lead to a more diverse and interesting lifestyle.

GEMINI

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

dilbert

arCHie

50 athletes to compete at Flex Night International

Atotal of 50 male and female athletes will hit the National Cultural Centre stage on Sunday for the second edition of Flex Night International, which will sign off the 2014 bodybuilding season.

In giving an update to this publication on Wednesday, Managing Director of Flex Night Inc., Donald Sinclair,

athletes are from Guyana, while the others are from Suriname, one of whom has Brazilian roots.

Representation at the final bodybuilding event of the year will come from Buddy's Gym (2); Extreme Fitness (2); Fitness Paradise (9); Fitness Zone (2); Genesis Fitness (2); House of Pain (1); Precision Body Max (4); Republicans Flex-In Gym (8); Skeldon Community Centre (1); Tej Mohall, Skeldon (9); Top End Fitness Centre (3); Universal Barbell Club, Linden (1); and Suriname (5).

Sinclair said the team of organisers is approaching the climax of the preparation phase, concluding arrangements with the National Cultural Centre management and responding to the numerous requests for tickets.

This year, the Flex Night International event has received overwhelming sup-

port from corporate Guyana in the form of sponsorship and Sinclair said it is indicative of the success the programme has had in a short period of time.

He added that the Flex Night brand has truly gained traction, both in the bodybuilding community and among the sponsors, hence the influx of support from the business community. Sinclair also pointed that there would be no guest poser at the event, but rather an overseas bodybuilder who will deliver remarks at the event.

Meanwhile, the males will compete in the Men’s Physique, which will be an open category; the bodybuilding segment would see competition in the following weight classes: Under-143 lbs, Under-154 lbs, Under-165 lbs, Under-176 lbs and Over-176 lbs.

On the distaff side, there will be the Miss Bikini for the ‘short’ and ‘tall’ classes of athletes, with the benchmark being 5’4”. There will also be the Miss Best Legs, which is an Open division.

Bikini contest heating up

Meanwhile, the Miss Bikini contest has now emerged as a straight clash between the ladies from Guyana and those from visiting Suriname.

Last Sunday at Congress Hall in Paramaribo, Suriname held its first Miss Bikini Fitness contest. The event attracted six competitors and Suriname is sending the top three finishers to compete in the Miss Flex Night Bikini and one other to the Miss Best Legs contest.

The quality of the female physiques was noted by afi-

cionados of the sport, es pecially given the fact that the event was the first of its kind. Also the number of competitors– six– was seen as a very positive and encouraging development, given the efforts made for years by that country’s Bodybuilding Federation to attract females to the com petitive stage.

Holding off the Suriname challenge will be seven of Guyana’s best, drawn from two gyms– Fitness Paradise Gym (5 females) and Genesis Fitness (2 females).

For Genesis Fitness, it will be their debut on the Miss Bikini stage, and they are making that debut in fine style, sending the stat uesque twins Marissa and Marise Jordan to represent the gym and the country.

WADA signs new deal to spread drug awareness

The World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) and Pfizer Inc signed an agreement on Wednesday that will see the U.S. drugmaker share information on products that could be used as performance-enhancing substances by athletes.

As part of the agree-

ment, medicines in development will be reviewed by Pfizer scientists to identify substances with a probable or high risk of abuse in sport.

“A central aspect of WADA’s strategy is to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies so that medicinal substances of

interest to dopers can be identified,” WADA director general David Howman said in a statement. “In turn, this will allow us to develop detection methods at a much faster rate.”

Scientists will look for any similarity to the pharmacological characteristics of existing performance-en-

hancing substances and assess how they work in the human body.

WADA, expected to introduce a revised World Anti-Doping Code in the coming weeks, will also exchange information with Pfizer on substances that are being abused by athletes. (Reuters)

In the 1940s, the Bacchus sisters competed in

Powerlifting, but those were not twins.

Building upon a long tradition of female participation in bodybuilding events, Fitness Paradise

Gym will be sending five of its best to the Miss Bikini stage. Fiano Spencer, dance aerobics instructor and winner of the 2014 Fitness Paradise Miss Bikini contest, joins her colleagues Shawnell Warner (Miss Flex Night Bikini 2012 winner), Marissa Lowden, Sonia Cummings and Mahaila Goodluck on stage on Sunday night. Tickets are on sale at $1500 each and the show will commence at 18:00 hours.

This marks the first time that twins of any gender will be competing on the bodybuilding stage in Guyana.

Suriname’s Miss Bikini trio! From left: Melitia Galimo, Vanety Bouoe and Suelle Shepperd

Managing Director of Flex Night Inc, Donald Sinclair

Marissa Lowden

Shawnell Warner

Phillip Hughes gets emotional send off

Australia cricket captain Michael Clarke broke down in tears as he paid tribute to friend and team-mate Phillip Hughes at the batsman's funeral. Hughes, 25, died last

"We must listen to it. We must cherish it. We must learn from it. We must dig in and get through to tea. And we must play on.

"So rest in peace my little brother. I will see you out in

week after being hit by a ball during a match in Sydney.

His death stunned Australia and the funeral was broadcast live to millions of people on national television and on big screens in major cities.

Around 5,000 people attended the service in Hughes's home town of Macksville, New South Wales.

the middle."

Around 1,000 people attended the funeral at Macksville High School, which Hughes attended, as thousands more watched on screens in the baking heat outside.

Joining the parents of Hughes, Greg and Virginia, and his siblings, Jason and Megan, were Clarke and Sean Abbott, the bowler

the world, including former New Zealand all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee and West Indies batsman Brian Lara.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland told mourners: "I imagine Phillip has already taken guard up there and is currently flaying his trademark cut shot behind point.

"Cricket's heart has been

fatally injured - has become inextricably linked with Hughes, as has the social media campaign that urged people to remember the batsman by placing cricket bats outside homes, workplaces and at sports grounds.

Macksville, with a population of just 2,500, lies on Australia's east coast in the state of New South Wales.

Father Michael Alcock

pierced with pain, but it will never stop beating. Phillip Hughes... forever unconquered on 63."

Jason and Megan Hughes also read letters to their brother.

"I couldn't have asked for a better little brother," said Jason. "From a very young age, you were destined to be our rock star.

"I miss you, I'm so proud of you and thank you again for all the memories. I'll love you now and forever."

Megan added: "I want to thank you for being the most amazing brother I could ask for. You have certainly changed the way I look at and appreciate life. I will certainly take every opportunity that comes by."

Hughes, who would have been 26 on 30 November, was in line for a possible recall to the Australia Test side for the forthcoming series against India - which

The service was also shown at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Hughes suffered the injury during a state match on Tuesday, 25 November. He died two days later.

During the 80-minute service, Clarke said: "Phillip's spirit, which is now part of our game forever, will act as a custodian of the sport we all love.

whose delivery caused the fatal injury to Hughes.

Former Australia internationals Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh and Justin Langer were also among the mourners.

They were joined by

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and cricketing legends from around

was rescheduled following his death.

The left-handed batsman, who also played for English counties Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire, had already played 26 Tests for his country, after making his Test debut at the age of 20 against South Africa in 2009.

The number 63 - the runs he had scored when he was

told mourners: "We gather to celebrate his 26 years of life. That is what we are doing here this afternoon.

"To those both near and far whom his life has touched, we pray that today we will feel some consolation as we celebrate his life."

Among those to send their condolence messages was West Indies great Sir Viv Richards, who tweeted: "My heart goes out to the family, friends & the people of Macksville honouring their favourite son Phillip today. Viv."

Ramdin urges young batsmen to step up

Denesh Ramdin has reason to want to forget the last time West Indies played Tests in South Africa. He was going through a rough patch and scored only 109 runs in the three-Test series, which was sandwiched between rubbers against England and Sri Lanka where he didn’t manage much more.

But Ramdin is forcing himself to remember the summer of 2007 because it was a season when West Indies enjoyed a rare success.

They beat South Africa in Port Elizabeth - their only win in the country - in the series opener and were dreaming of much more. “The last time we were here we won the first Test match but then we didn’t show the fight and determination for the rest of the series,” Ramdin said. “This time we will let that motivate us and we will try and go one step further.”

If Ramdin is talking literally, he is asking his men for two victories which will see them take the Sir Viv Richards trophy off South Africa and topple the World No.1s. That West

Indies, who are ranked 8th with only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe below them, have allowed themselves to think that far seems admirable. That they are doing so while missing two headline batsmen in Chris Gayle and Darren Bravo appears nothing more than wishful. But Ramdin is lining his fantasy with reason.

“Of course for any team that loses Chris Gayle, it’s a blow for them and everyone would have loved to see Darren here batting - he is a free stroke-playing guy but he’s got personal issues,” Ramdin said. “So hopefully a young player can take

the opportunity to do well for himself and the team. There are a couple of young players in the mix but then a couple of senior players[Shivnarine] Chanderpaul, myself, Marlon Samuels - who will guide them through.”

Batting big is going to be West Indies’ priority and it may be why they arrived in the country with more than two weeks to go before the first Test. “We are trying to acclimatise to the pitches as quickly as possible,” Ramdin said. West Indies have one three-day tour match against an Invitation XI next week but will be based up country where they can enjoy the spicy surfaces at grounds like the Wanderers and SuperSport Park as they prepare. Their focus will be on readying the top-order for resistance against Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel. “They have a very strong bowling line-up but we have to bat really long and not give them opportunities with the new ball to get the middle and lower order in,” Ramdin said. (Cricinfo)

Denesh Ramdin

The service opened with the song Forever Young and closed with Elton John's Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.

The local community also took part in a public procession that followed the hearse at the conclusion of the service. (BBC Sport)

Bats and helmets were lined up as a tribute outside his school, Macksville High School, the stadium of which hosted his funeral service

His baggy green and state caps were displayed on a hat stand at the funeral service

Amid several expressions of grief elsewhere, flowers were placed at the Adelaide Oval

Sean Abbott received plenty of support at the funeral

Former West Indies batsman Brian Lara arrives with ex-Australian bowler Shane Warne

The funeral procession set out from the Macksville High School stadium and wound its way through the town

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Barcelona to appeal Messi’s yellow card

Barcelona have decided to take their appeal against Lionel Messi’s yellow card for time wasting after he was apparently hit on the head by a plastic bottle in Sunday’s La Liga game at Valencia to the next level.

Barca’s initial appeal was rejected by the Spanish football federation’s (RFEF) competition committee on Wednesday and the club responded by saying they would lodge a second challenge with a higher committee.

Messi was celebrating Barca’s 94thminute winner with his team mates near the corner flag at the Mestalla stadium when the bottle was thrown from the stands.

He was examined by a member of Barcelona’s medical staff after the final whistle and did not appear to be injured, giving the thumbs-up as he walked off the pitch.

It was not clear if the bottle or another object, such as a coin, had struck the Argentina captain and he has made no public comment on the incident.

“In response to the verdict (on Wednesday), FC Barcelona has decided to go to the Appeals Committee and request the booking be withdrawn,” Barca said on their website.

The referee said in his match report he showed the card because Messi “delayed his return to his half of the pitch after the goal was scored with the intention of wasting time”.

Valencia vowed to ban the bottle-throwing fan from the Mestalla for life once the

person had been identified.

Barca’s 1-0 win kept them hard on the heels of leaders Real Madrid who are two points clear of their arch-rivals after 13 matches thanks to Saturday’s 2-1 victory at Malaga.

Messi and a host of other regulars including Neymar and Luis Suarez have been rested for Barca’s King’s Cup last-32, first leg at third-tier Huesca later on Wednesday. (Reuters)

Lord Coe outlines his IAAF presidential manifesto

Lord Coe has launched his manifesto for election to the IAAF presidency, promising to transform the athletics calendar and attract more young people into the sport.

Coe, a vice-president of athletics’ world governing body, is bidding to succeed Lamine Diack in 2015.

The proposed reforms were outlined by Coe, 58, in London on Wednesday.

He said the plans were designed to increase the appeal of athletics “in a world that is rapidly changing”.

“To many within and outside our sport, our calendar seems disjointed, lacks a narrative and the essential glue to build excitement and a loyal and passionate following,” the two-time Olympic 1500m champion said.

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“We need to be more innovative in how we project and present our sport to the world, both in venue and on screen, give serious consideration to an

‘IAAF Street Athletics’ circuit to help reach new audiences, and create a new IAAF division that has the sole purpose of focusing on youth engagement, especially via social media.

He has made no secret of his desire to succeed Senegalese Diack, 80, in charge of the International Association of Athletics

Federations but is expected to be challenged by fellow vice-president Sergey Bubka, Ukraine’s world pole vault record holder.

The deadline for candidates to register as candidates for the presidency is May 2015. The election will take place at the IAAF Congress in Beijing in August. (BBC Sport)

Player banned after confrontation with referee

ABulgarian player who tried to hit a referee with a bottle after being sent off has been banned for 10 games by his country’s football association.

Lokomotiv Plovdiv defender Diyan Moldovanov, 29, confronted referee Stanislav Stavrov after the

final whistle.

The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) also fined the player £3,200 (8,000 levs).

The incident occurred in his team’s 1-1 league draw with Cherno More Varna on Saturday.

Moldovanov had been substituted earlier but ran onto the field at the end of the game to confront the official.

According to Reuters news agency, he was shown a red card but then threw a bottle at the referee and verbally abused him. Lokomotiv are to appeal against the ban. (BBC Sport)

Lionel Messi

Lord Coe

Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival… 10th annual tournament gets underway this evening

The 10th annual Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival will begin today in Georgetown. The festival is one of the largest and most popular in the Caribbean, and over the years has attracted top teams from the Caribbean region and North America.

This year’s festival unfortunately falls on the heels of the recently concluded Central American and Caribbean Games in Vera Cruz, Mexico, and has had an impact on the participating teams. According to festival coordinator, Philip Fernandes, teams had indicated an interest up to recently, but with their top players all now returning from Mexico, it would be difficult for them to travel again.

Fernandes indicated that the festival usually attracts the top regional players and that teams are often reluctant to attend with substandard selections. Meanwhile, the players from Toronto had committed since earlier in the year

The winning team will earn $1 million, while the runner-up will pocket $500,000. The third and fourth place finishers will get $300,000 and $200,000 respectively. Individual prizes for the Most Valuable Player, highest goalscorer and best goalkeeper will be at stake.

The clubs slated to do battle are Beavers, Young Achievers, Slingerz, Stewartville, Pouderoyen, Den Amstel, Uitvlugt, Eagles, Wales and Bagotsville.

It was also revealed at the launch that the tourna-

to a tour of Europe in preparation for the Indoor World Cup in February.

making a name for itself on the international stage resulting from its recent silver

Although mostly local teams will be on show for this year’s festival, the standard is still expected to be high as Guyana has been

ment will be held in memory of the late Assistant Police Commissioner Derick Josiah, who died by accident in December last year. During his time, Josiah played the game and was also an active administrator in the West Demerara area.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Eon Amsterdam, who attended the launch, lauded the organisers for a fitting tribute to Josiah, noting that the Force was planning its own tournament to honour the late rank. Amsterdam promised that the Force will be working

medals by the Guyana Men’s national indoor team at the PAHF Cup in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Top nationals, Jamarj

along with the WDFA to ensure the competition is held annually in memory of his late colleague.

Aqua Mist Brand Manager, Errol Nelson, labelled the launch of the tournament as “groundbreaking” since it was the first time the company has invested in such a massive way in football in the West Demerara area.

He made reference to Banks DIH Limited’s sustained investments in football, highlighting the Pee Wee Under-11 tournament, the Guinness Greatest in the Streets and the GFA

Assanah and Aderemi ‘Dove’ Simon, along with their many national counterparts are certain to put on a highly quality and entertaining show for the spectators. The Men’s division is expected to be particularly competitive with any one of the contesting sides appearing to have the ability to take the prize. Local favourites, the Pepsi Hikers, will be challenged by a strong and resurgent Old Fort, perennial arch-rivals, GCC, and a fast improving Under-19 squad, along with a wild card team in Renegades.

The Digicel Ladies competition will see defending champions, the GCC Tigers, in action against the Hikers Ladies, Spice and Old Fort. Carib Hockey Club of Trinidad has entered a competitive Carib Veterans Challenge against defending champs, the Hickers, national champions GCC and Old Old Fort.

Cash prizes and trophies will once again be awarded to the winners and runnersup in the male, female and veteran categories. The winning teams in both male and female tournaments will each receive US$1000, while the runners-up will cart off US$500. The winner of the veteran tournament will receive US$500 with the second place teams receiving incentive prizes.

This year’s festival is also being complimented by the hosting of a coaches and umpires’ course, funded by the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF).

PAHF Coach, Anthony Marcano, of Trinidad is conducting the coaches’ course, which commenced on Tuesday and will run until Saturday, while Gus Soteriades of the USA is facilitating the umpires’ course, which started on Wednesday and will also conclude on Saturday.

England boosted by successful run chase

England have earned themselves a lifeline in the ODI series against Sri Lanka - and gained some encouragement ahead of the World Cup - with a nerve-wracking five-wicket victory in Hambantota with eight balls to spare.

It was not just that England claimed a muchneeded victory that sees the series balanced at 2-1 to Sri Lanka with four games to play. It was that the architects of the victory were the younger, less experienced players who showed a skill and composure that their senior colleagues have so obviously lacked.

If an explosive half-century from Moeen Ali - who with five sixes equalled his own record for the most by an England opener in an ODI innings - set the platform for the England chase, the unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 84 in 64 balls between Joe Root and Jos Buttler was almost as impressive.

This was not an entirely positive day for England, though. Their slow over-rate during the Sri Lanka innings - they took 18 minutes more than their allowance -

may well result in the match referee taking action against their captain, Alastair Cook. Cook has received a warning previously and faces the prospect of a one-match ban. Cook’s own form continues to provoke debate, too. England made the controversial decision to drop Ian Bell, the most experienced man in their squad, ahead of this game despite his record of late being somewhat better than Cook’s. Bell averages five more than his captain in ODIs this calendar year and has a strike-rate about 20 runs higher than Cook’s in the same period. Cook was unable to take advantage of the extra opportunity. He looked in better touch in driving Angelo Mathews for a couple of sweetly-timed boundaries and late-cutting Ajantha Mendis for another. But his familiar dismissal - pushing at one angled across himprovided a reminder of his struggles and it is now 43 ODI innings and 30 months since he reached 80. There will be many concluding that Cook receiving an ICC suspension for a slow overrate would be nothing less than a blessing to England. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka innings (35 overs maximum)

TM Dilshan c †Buttler b Finn 23

MDKJ Perera c Morgan b Woakes 0

KC Sangakkara† c Ali b Jordan 63

SHT Kandamby c Jordan

b Woakes 0

AD Mathews* c †Buttler

b Jordan 37

HDRL Thirimanne not out 62

BMAJ Mendis c Finn b Root 12

Banks Beer Cup. Banks DIH NonAlcoholic Brand Manager, Clayton McKenzie, echoed similar, adding that Vita Malt Plus, which has a blend of Ginseng, Royal Jelly and Aloe Vera, is the perfect beverage for players competing in the competition, as it has all the ingredients to allow for success on the field.

Also attending the launch were Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters, WDFA Vicepresident Orin Ferrier, WDFA Treasurer Denise Lovell and representatives of the participating clubs.

NLTC Perera c Ali b Woakes 8

KTGD Prasad st †Buttler

b Bopara 21

HMRKB Herath not out 2

Extras: (lb 4, w 10) 14

Total: (8 wickets) 242

Did not batBAW Mendis

Fall of wickets 1-6 (MDKJ Perera, 1.5 ov), 2-30 (Dilshan, 4.5 ov), 3-31 (Kandamby, 5.5 ov), 4-118 (Mathews, 20.1 ov), 5-150 (Sangakkara, 25.4 ov), 6-175 (BMAJ Mendis, 28.4 ov), 7-202 (NLTC Perera, 31.4 ov), 8-233 (Prasad, 33.6 ov)

Bowling: ST Finn 7-0-42-1, CR Woakes 7-0-41-3, MM Ali 7-036-0, CJ Jordan 7-0-46-2, RS Bopara 3-0-24-1, BA Stokes 2-0-

28-0, JE Root 2-0-21-1 England innings (target: 236 runs from 35 overs) AN Cook* c †Sangakkara b Prasad 34 MM Ali run out (Herath/†Sangakkara) 58

AD Hales c BAW Mendis b Mathews 27 JE Root not out 48 RS Bopara c †Sangakkara b Herath 6 EJG Morgan c NLTC Perera b Mathews 1 JC Buttler† not out 55

Extras: (lb 1, w 5, nb 1) 7 Total: (5 wickets) 236 Did not batBA Stokes, CR Woakes, CJ Jordan, ST Finn Fall of wickets 1-84 (Cook, 11.4 ov), 2-103 (Ali, 14.5 ov), 3-144 (Hales, 21.5 ov),

Jamarj Assanah

Aderemi ‘Dove’ Simon

Jos Buttler guides England to crucial win

McKinnon wins GSSF Steel Challenge

On Saturday last, the newly formed Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) hosted another Steel Challenge Shooting Match at the GDF Timehri Ranges.

In spite of the heavy downpour, local handgun shooters made their way to the Range to hear the melodic pings of lead impacting steel.

The GSSF, through its affiliation to the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA), continues to pioneer this area of sport shooting to members by organising such matches on a regular basis.

Steel Challenge is considered one of the fastest shooting competitions in the world. The competition on Saturday consisted of two stages. In a stage competitors were required to shoot five different steel targets set out at various angles and distances, one of which is designated as a “stop plate” which is shot last.

Registering a hit on the plate stops the time. The total time it takes to hit all five plates is used for the

Mackeson

score (the participant’s time is his/her score.) Misses and penalties add three seconds to the time for each competitor. Competitors are scored using an electronic timing device which records the time that every shot is fired. The shooter with lowest time wins.

As it turned out on Saturday, Ryan McKinnon was the overall winner with a time of 50.47, leaving Pravesh (65.98) and Ray

Beharry (72.04) to settle for second and third positions respectively.

The scores were combined from two stages. Stage One (Speed Option) was won by McKinnon on 26.9, followed by Harry on 37.03 and Beharry on 48.77. Stage Two (Roundabout) sawBeharry claiming the top spot with 23.27 with McKinnon in second on 23.57 and Harry on 28.95.

Earlier, in opening re-

‘King of the Rim’ tournament...

Raptors go undefeated

to

start their campaign

– underdogs play validates name

The Raptors survived a scare to their unblemished record when the second night of the Mackeson ‘King of the Rim’ 3-on-3 basketball continued on Tuesday evening in Plaisance.

With 14 seconds remaining and the game at 9-8 in favour of the Raptors an excellent defensive play followed by a two pint bomb from beyond the arc by

Floyd Arthur that sealed the fourth consecutive win of the evening for the Raptors against Venom while preserving their undefeated streak.

Arthur had six points in the 11-8 win as Raptors improved to four wins and no losses.

Some of the action during the night’s action

marks, Match Director, Dr. Pravesh Harry, welcomed the members who came out to participate in the event through the inclement weather and encouraged shooters to have fun while keeping safety paramount throughout the Match.

Range Master, Ryan McKinnon, reviewed the Rules of Steel Challenge and reminded everyone of the safety rules.

The competition require-

ments were as simple as the scoring. The shooter would assume his/her position in the shooting box with hands up above their shoulders; upon the audible beep of the timer, draw their firearm and shoot at the targets, timer stops when the shooter hits what is designated to be the stop plate.

The challenging first stage named ‘Speed Option’ saw the stop plate being located some 35 yards away. Hitting this was made easylooking by match favourite McKinnon, who set the bar high, causing the other competitors to follow, sometimes doubling and even tripling his time total.

Needless to say, a lot of extra rounds were needed as several seasoned competitors relentlessly strove to secure hits on the steel plates thus causing them to ring with that ‘ping.’

The second stage named ‘Roundabout’ saw targets set at closer distances, but in somewhat of a tricky arrangement. This caused shooters to engage them in random orders as they each felt best. Beharry won this

stage by showing resilience and not backing down from the challenge of the dominating McKinnon.

The competitor’s best four scores out of five strings of fire on each stage will then be added together for collective score. The lowest total time/score for all stages wins the overall match.

GSSF President, Vidushi Persaud, presented copies of ‘Front Sight’ Magazine’, the official journal of the United States Practical Shooting Association to the new members for participating.

She said, “Steel Challenge is the perfect way to introduce newer shooters to competitive shooting because of the easy way to understand rules and the instant audible feedback of the bullet hitting the plate is encouraging and satisfying.”

Meanwhile, the GSSF wishes to thank the Chiefof-Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Mark Phillips, Director of Sport Neil Kumar, the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and the members of the GSSF for their usual support.

Sign of the end for Gayle

Chris Gayle’s withdrawal from the West Indies imminent series in South Africa through a persistent back injury is a likely signal of the end of the lefthanded opener’s long, chequered and prolific Test career.

The West Indies’ next Test series are in the Caribbean, against England in April-May and against Australia in May.

In a brief statement on Monday, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) confirmed that Gayle would be “replaced due to injury” by another left-hander, the Windward Islands’ Devon Smith who is the leading scorer after three rounds of the new Professional Caribbean Premier League (PCL).

How the selectors view Gayle’s future in short-format cricket is also open to question.

Chairman of the selection panel, former captain Clive Lloyd, has stressed a “West Indies first” policy for players. Gayle has been turning out for Highveld Lions in South Africa’s domestic Ram Slam T20 over the past month.

ond blow to West Indies’ already fragile batting against opponents ranked No.1 on the Test standings by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Darren Bravo, the elegant left-hander with the stamp of his cousin Brian Lara in his style, quit for unexplained “personal reasons” after he was originally selected. He has filled the No.3 or 4 spots since his Test debut four years ago against Sri Lanka in Galle.

managed a solitary hundred. He averages 24.71. He is proficient against pace, and in the words of Johnny Moyes, the late Australian commentator, he has “only a nodding acquaintance with spin”, especially off-spin.

Fudadin, 29, had one Test in England and two against New Zealand in the Caribbean in 2012.

The Raptors were also able to defeat Belladrum Lions 14-9 and Extreme Underdogs 13-8 that guaranteed them a spot in the next round.

Meanwhile as Raptors tore through their opposition, Extreme Underdogs were busy fulfilling the

Raptors also had a hard fought game against Plaisance Guardians, winning the encounter by one point with the final score on 9-8. The match was very physical as both sides attacked the rim on almost every possession; however, Ashton Adams two-point play in the final minute sealed the deal for the Raptors.

meaning of their name as they were unable to win a single game in the night’s action, losing four straight games.

The Extreme Underdogs lost to Raptors 8-13, Team Venom 7-14, Plaisance Guardians 7-9 and Belladrum Lions 8-10.

In other results; Plaisance Guardians, Team Venom and Belladrum Lions won two games apiece while losing two as well.

Action in the tournament will continue this evening at California Square.

He is the third highest scorer in the tournament, with 242 runs at an average of 40.33; he hit a typically powerful unbeaten 108 off 55 balls, with ten fours and seven sixes, sharing an opening partnership of 150 with South African Test opener Alviro Petersen, who scored 29, that carried the Lions to victory over the Warriors.

Gayle, 35, has established himself as one of the most destructive batsmen in the game. His 7,214 runs at an average of 42.18 in 103 Tests include two triple hundreds along with a double and 12 singles – and 98 sixes.

His absence is the sec-

Of contemporary West Indians, only Gayle and the evergreen Shivnarine Chanderpaul (30) have more than his six Test hundreds; only Chanderpaul has a higher average (53.10 to 43.6).

Their stand-ins, Smith and Asad Fudadin, both lefthanders with modest Test records, face a daunting challenge. Smith has played only white ball matches in South Africa, this is Fudadin’s first trip.

In 33 spasmodic Tests from his first against Australia in 2003 to his last against Pakistan in 2011, both in Guyana, Smith has

Gayle missed West Indies’ three Tests in New Zealand last December because of his back problems. They first flared, he said, after the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh and again in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Dubai.

“I could not bat properly and bending was a problem and sprinting between the wickets was a problem,” he explained.

Treatment by a specialist in Germany allowed him to return for the three Tests against New Zealand in the Caribbean in June; he again withdrew from the second of two Tests against Bangladesh in September and missed the ill-fated tour of India in October that was abandoned when the players quit. (Trinidad Express)

Prize winners (from left): Ray Beharry, Pravesh Harry and Ryan McKinnon with their trophies

Floyd Arthur

Chris Gayle

WDFA, Banks DIH partner for year-end tourney

The West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) in partnership with Banks DIH Limited, under its Aqua Mist Pure Artesian Well Water and Vita Malt Plus brands, will stage a year-end football tournament for its affiliates, set to kick off on Sunday.

Ten clubs affiliated to the association will begin the quest for supremacy with two qualifiers at the Den Amstel ground, the venue for all the matches. The winners from those two games will join six other teams in the tournament proper, set to kick off on December 12. Matches will also be held on December 14 and 20, with the grand final on December 26. It was also disclosed by the WDFA President Nigel Garraway at the launch on Wednesday that the top four teams will earn the right to compete in the Georgetown Football Association’s fourth annual Banks Beer Cup from the knockout stage after an invitation was extended to the association to send representatives to that tournament.

Phillip Hughes gets emotional send off

In Macksville, Clarke, Aaron Finch and Tom Cooper were among pallbearers

Guyana dominate first day of NACRA 7’s Championships

Guyana had three games to finish on top of their Pool ‘C’ group of the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association’s (NACRA) championships on Wednesday in Mexico and in nostalgic fashion destroyed their opponents to go unbeaten in their group.

First up was host nation Mexico and in a grinded and gutted effort, Guyana topped the powerhouse Mexico 19-7 to make a loud statement after a year’s absence from the tournament.

During the day’s play some of the scorers were Avery Corbin, Ronald Mayers, Richard Staglon and debutants Patrick King and Isiejah Allen.

Guyana will now have to wait their ranking which will definitely be in the top three teams before proceeding to the quarterfinal round and hopefully the finals that starts and ends today.

It did not get any better for their opposition, for with every game Guyana played they only scored more tries as they whipped the Cayman Islands for a 38-12 win. The Guyanese ruggers soon followed up that performance in their final match of the day with a 47-nil drubbing of St Vincent to go unbeaten.

Banks DIH Communications Manager, Troy Peters (third right), presents the championship trophy to WDFA President, Nigel Garraway. Other officials of Banks DIH Limited and the WDFA share the moment (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

Patrick King

Richard Staglon