Guyana Times Daily

FITUG flays Glenn Lall for “spying”

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) said it was alarmed at the illegal recording of a private conversation between a reporter of the Kaieteur News and Attorney General Anil Nandlall by the owner of the news outfit, Glenn Lall.

The gist of the conversation was evidently related to the $100 million duty-free scam in which Lall was presently embroiled before the courts. Lall has since admitted being in the habit of recording his reporters’ conversations.

Observers have charged that Lall was in breach of the Interception of Communications Act. The 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 communications 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 warrant to intercept communications. Only under these conditions does the Act allow the monitoring and recording of transmissions conveyed by fibreoptic cable or any other form of wire line, by wireless telegraphy, Voice Over Internet Protocol, Internet satellite and all other forms of electromagnetic or electrochemical communication. 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.

Grave implications

FITUG said it has been following, in a general way, the public brouhaha which have stemmed from the taping of the conversation and many of those views focused on the content of the purported tape, which, seemingly, is providing a grand opportunity for essentially the politically-inclined to do some personal bashing.

“But those who are hastening to take a passing advantage at this turn of events should not be short-sighted

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

nor should they allow any exultation at this act obscure to its graver implications.”

For FITUG, certain concerns have come up. The Union said there was the disgusting and illegal nature of the taping of a private conversation by two persons, in this case, school chums. “It is scary to know that in our midst are persons who will not hesitate to violate our right to privacy, in this instance, that of our AG. It may be germane to ask:

If the Attorney General of our country can be so easily targeted and illegally taped, who else within the higher echelons of our state apparatus –Government and/or Security forces – are being targeted at this time and so on?”

FITUG said it found it instructive that the voices shunning intrusion of privacy were not as strong as “one should expected”. “It is also a learning experience to hear quarters who justifiably consistently condemn criminal activities in our society are so silent in the illegal eavesdropping and taping of our AG.

“Over the generations,

many values have evolved that determine our humanity. Respect of privacy is one such and a value and human right highly cherished. To feel secured in our today cannot be limited to protection from physical harm and of our personal property but extends to communication with our family, neighbours, friends, workmates, clients, patients, etc. Violation of such private interactions undoubtedly becomes a threat to our democratic culture, which is still being consolidated.”

“As we read in recent times, instances of such type of illegality and surveillance

have had their unwanted repercussions and ugly backlash. We are not unaware that the AG episode comes close on the heels of another semi-sensational issue pivoted around the Speaker.

“Clearly, new challenges have emerged in our society. As a people, we need to take heed of such. Falling standards cannot be left unattended. FITUG holds the view that the hype around the AG at this time really reveals how our right to privacy is being undermined and that our democratic thrust as a country can very well be in jeopardy.”

Govt still to clear Dynamic Airways return … Gouveia says airline better prepared

By Jomo Paul

Dynamic Airways is set to return to the Guyanese market – this time reportedly better prepared than its disastrous first attempt. However, the Guyana Civil Aviation

Authority (GCCA) is yet to give the clearance despite the US-based airline submitting all of the requisite documentation.

When the airline was launched back in June, it was immediately hit by a spate of issues including lengthy flight delays, the unavailability of a ground handler at the John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York, and shuttling of passengers from one airport to another.

The false start was due to operational difficulties with securing time slots at the JFK Airport for the month of July. This had led to Dynamic Airways suspending flights until August 8. In mid-August, the US aviation authority, the Department of Transportation (DoT) published its list of public charters for 2014 and Dynamic Airways’ operation on the Georgetown/New York route was listed as cancelled, effective August 6, two days before it was scheduled to reenter the Guyanese market. This cancellation has since been lifted.

Local representative Captain Gerry Gouveia on Tuesday told Guyana Times that the airline was now awaiting approval from local authorities, including the GCAA, before restarting operations out of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

“In July, the Civil Aviation Authority wrote very clear instructions to Dynamic; when you want to return, when you want to resume your operations, you have to produce these documents: the contract with the ground handler, the contract with the airport and so on …. make sure they have all the approval. Civil Aviation was not prepared to take another chance,” Captain Gouveia said.

He went on to indicate that no official date has been approved for Dynamic Airways to return to Guyana by the Government, “but as I sit here now Dynamic has submitted all the required documents to Civil Aviation…and the documents are being processed”. However, Gouveia said despite the lack of approval as yet, the airline is gearing up for a November month-end restart.

Asked how the collapse affected his reputation as a successful local aviator, Gouveia said he was “proud and hon-

oured to be the Guyanese partner for Dynamic Airways”, adding that “we can make all sorts of excuses, it doesn’t matter. It was a service failure (the false start)”. Gouveia said as a result of the past failure, he and his wife are now “embedded in the operations” of Dynamic Airways and all of this is being done in a genuine effort to add some Guyanese flavour to the air service.

Gouveia also spoke of plans for Dynamic to become a major cargo carrier whereby the company would commence transporting fresh agricultural produce such as fruits and vegetables to the US. He also said that he was pleased that TravelSpan and Dynamic Airways were now working together.

TravelSpan recently announced that a Block Seat Agreement to serve Guyanese travelling to and from the United States has been reached with Dynamic Airways. TravelSpan Chief Executive Officer Nohar Singh said: “The Block Agreement will give the company the additional seats for the holidays, and Air and Hotel Packages for its valued customers. With over 19 years in business, TravelSpan has always fought to secure affordable travel options for the travelling public and for the people of Guyana, Singh said. He added that the TravelSpan staff and management will continue to operate at full capacity, with its Queens, New York Office being open seven days a week to offer a much-needed solution within the market using this new block seat arrangement. With the new arrangement, the company is offering a special fare for the first flight –$499 round trip, tax included.

Captain Gerry Gouveia

BRIDGE OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery showers can be expected, with cloudy conditions otherwise prevailing in the morning hours. Thundery showers are also expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius along the coast and between 18 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius in the hinterland.

Winds: North-easterly at 2.68 to 3.12 metres per second.

High Tide: 15:18h reaching a maximum height of 2.78 metres.

Low Tide: 08:51h and 21:17h reaching minimum heights of 0.55 and 0.41 metres.

The above-normal high tide advisory is in effect until Tuesday, November 11, 2014. Residents of coastal, low- lying and riverine areas are advised to take necessary precautions against possible flooding.

President reverses stance on LGE ....schedules poll for next year

Just days after declaring that it would be “foolish” of him to call Local Government Elections, President Donald Ramotar Tuesday night declared his intention to hold those polls "in the second quarter of next year."

However, he said this is contingent on whether the opposition rams through its No Confidence Motion against his administration. In that eventuality, he would use his powers to prorogue or dissolve Parliament, paving the way for fresh General elections. While both options would precipitate General Elections, in proroguing Parliament the President would be avoiding his party be the first to fall on an Opposition no-confidence motion.

Ramotar made the comments during an address to the nation aired on State broadcaster, National Communications Network (NCN) Tuesday evening. Government had up to then been resisting holding local government elections, citing a range of reasons why it was not feasible. The main Opposition-A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), however, which is currently engaged in countrywide protest actions, had demanded that the Head of State set a date for the poll.

In fact APNU had made the local government election issue the centrepiece of its struggle; giving lip service to the Alliance For Change- sponsored No Confidence. The President would appear to be calling APNU's bluff and would be forcing the latter to take a stand. Observers say APNU would be in a “most uncomfortable” place when Parliament reconvenes on Monday as the President effectively gives it two op-

tions: one of going ahead with the AFC-sponsored no confidence motion and face the fresh general elections or supporting its own agenda, which would see its hard fought campaign for local government elections being realised. Opposition Leader, David Granger in reacting to the President’s statement said that the opposition will not be threatened or intimidated.

“A Partnership for National Unity –APNU is extremely disappointed by the views expressed by President Donald Ramotar in his address to the nation... It is clear that President Ramotar is trying to intimidate the opposition by threatening General and Regional Elections and putting Local Government Elections far into the future. APNU will not be threatened or intimidated,” Granger said. He said after deliberately delaying the post –recess sitting of the National Assembly by several weeks, “APNU feels strongly that the President’s new found urgency to bring to the floor of the National Assembly “urgent matters… in the interest of the people of Guyana” to be disingenuous. “ He said APNU views the President’s ‘threat’ to prorogue or dissolve the Parliament as cowardly. “The Parliament is intended to be a place for debate. President Ramotar is choosing to dissolve Parliament instead of facing up to a debate on the PPP/C’s abysmal record in office,” Granger charged.

Importance of Parliament

Meanwhile, stressing the importance for the National Assembly to recommence following the end of recess on October 10, President Ramotar said both sides of

the House should use the opportunity to address critical matters that were on the Order Paper prior to recess. These matters include: the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, the Telecommunications Legislation, the Education Bill and Financial Papers. “These matters will allow us, all our people, to build a better society and a more resilient economy.”

However, the President warned against opposing

forces that may seek to disrupt the current standing order. “I also wish to declare that were this not to be so, and I am provided with reasons to believe that the Parliamentary Opposition intends to disrupt Government’s business by forcing a debate on their No Confidence Motion, I resolve to respond immediately by exercising my Constitutional options to either Prorogue or Dissolve Parliament paving the way for holding of General Elections.”

President Donald Ramotar and Opposition Leader David Granger during one of their meetings at the Office of the President turn to page 8

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

The education grant

The “Because We Care” $10,000 grant has been hailed as a welcome and timely support by parents as it is being rolled out across the country.

The initiative is the latest of a series of programmes implemented by Government to lessen the burden on parents, particularly poor parents, in sending their children to school.

It is in keeping with the vision to ensure children receive a sound education, and in turn become meaningful contributors to society, aiding in the development of their country.

Undoubtedly, the ruling administration has prided itself on investing in youth, and this is evident in the allocation to education in the annual budget, which year after year receives the lion’s share.

The support to parents is more than satisfactory as it comes in the form of examination subsidies to students writing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), as well as the school feeding and uniform programmes.

These are just to name a few, which of course, are well complemented by the “Because We Care” Programme, which is being implemented across the board.

There has been no study to measure the impact of these programmes in the education system, but notwithstanding, they have contributed to changing lives; whether to the desired level is a matter for debate.

Regular evaluation and studies on the impact of these initiatives will position the Education Ministry to better maximise the benefits, ensuring value for money.

It is in this light that the recent announcement by Education Minister Priya Manickchand that the “Because We Care” Programme will be assessed after the first year is most welcome.

Equally encouraging is the hint that student attendance will be a requirement for the grant, currently granted to all and sundry in the public school system.

Ideally, this should have been done in the first place, but the current method of distribution perhaps is an indication that the Government is genuinely trying to reach out to hardpressed parents who have their children’s education at heart.

It is hoped that this interest will serve as an encouragement to parents, not only to keep their children in school, but to ensure they perform well.

Here is where the Ministry should also strongly consider tying students’ performance to the scheme, and focus on building strong parental involvement in the children’s education so that the money invested will be well spent.

Also, the across-the-board distribution might not be the ideal approach if the Ministry is looking for some impact on students in depressed communities.

Under the current system, the grant is distributed equally, where both the rich and the poor are at the same level.

The purpose of the programme is to support parents and $10,000, though welcomed might not be enough for poor single-parent mothers.

Perhaps what can be done is to channel the money where it is more needed, excluding those who can live comfortably without it, and increasing the amount based on the vulnerability of the child.

But the child must be both regular and punctual at school and perform satisfactorily or demonstrate an interest in learning, driven by strong parental support.

These steps would be necessary if the Government is to reap any meaningful benefit from the programme, lest the initiative be seen as a handout to buy favours.

The grant must also be strategic in focus, since it can also be a useful tool in stemming the high dropout rate in the school system, particularly at the secondary level.

Though this problem is linked to economic and other family issues, the chief cause is poor grounding at the primary level: enough is not being done to correct students’ weaknesses at an early stage.

It is within this context that the “Because We Care” grant must be brought to bear, working as a support to existing programmes to improve students’ welfare and performance.

News outfits should not confuse “the right to publish with what’s right to publish”

Dear Editor, The exigency of the Trinidad-based Newspaper Trinidad Express, to qualify, in its editorial dated November 1, 2014, under the caption, “Perilous times for Guyana free press”, a biased disposition which in its entirety does not address the crux of the issue at hand is, indeed, quite perplexing.

It was with great trepidation that I read the editorial emanating from the Trinidad Express, that was used by some local media outlets in Guyana as the precipice of justification for the unethical/illegal transgressions by the Kaieteur News and its Publisher, to make available and public in a manipulated form, a recorded/wiretapped private conversation between a senior reporter of Kaieteur News and the Attorney General of Guyana.

Not once did the Trinidad Express in its editorial –which conveyed the impression that the Government of Guyana is not supportive of a free and independent press, and even went further to suggest that the Government of Guyana was somehow linked to the 2006 murder of the Kaieteur News pressmen – address the elephant in the room.

That elephant is the highly unethical and presumably illegal subversion of the privacy of the Attorney General by releasing without his consent, a recording/ tape of a private conversation, not an interview, that he had no knowledge was being tapped. Beyond that, is the fact that the published recording/tape which was attributed to the Attorney General was in its entirety,

tampered, manipulated and contextualised to the benefit of Kaieteur News.

I am perplexed, as to how and why, the editorial did not see it necessary to address this issue, it would mean that they are not au fait with the issue at hand or they choose to neglect that aspect entirely. If the latter is the case, should one then interpret the stance taken by the Trinidad Express to mean that they too subscribe to the illegal invasion of one’s privacy.

Indeed, in the editorial by the Trinidad Express, it was stated that “Kaieteur News took the extraordinary step of releasing the recording of a private conversation between a Kaieteur News reporter and the Guyana Attorney General.”

That “extraordinary step” is indicative of a newspaper lacking the ethical foundation of journalism, a newspaper that prides itself on the demoralisation of public and private officials and a newspaper steeped in journalism intended to promote sensationalism.

Is the Trinidad Express certain that was the conversation which actually took place? My understanding is that the Attorney General has, since the publication of the recording, filed legal proceedings against Kaieteur News, with the intent to determine the legality and authenticity of the recording as well as the liabilities, if any.

He has also expressed optimism that a proper forensic analysis will be conducted by the Guyana Police Force, which is also investigating the matter, since the recording was presented to the Police by the Publisher

of Kaieteur News. The International Libel and Privacy Handbook, a Global Reference for Journalists, Publishers, Webmasters, and Lawyers, the second edition, which has contributions from professionals from over 24 developed countries have posited that news outfits should not “confuse the right to publish with what’s right to publish”.

In the preface of the book, it was outlined that “common sense and good taste will almost never steer you wrong… a reporter’s job is not to gratuitously inflict damage. Nor is it to be ‘hard-hitting’. It is to “see truth and report it”. In order to do that, the truth has to be contextualised, and presented in a fair manner.

The fact that some details may be true is not always by itself an ethical justification for publishing. The more sensitive the fact, the closer reporters and editors must look at whether the public truly needs to know that fact…asking these questions helps guide us to “a more ethical outcome that also serves the public interest”.

Page 15 of the same book addressed the issue of recording tapes and broadcasting those tapes without the permission of the person being recorded, where it said, “even in areas where it is permissible for reporters to tape-record their telephone interviews without the other person’s consent, that is not a guarantee that such tapes may be broadcast without consent. The act of making the tape is separate from disclosing the tape (or its contents), which might

be a violation under statutory privacy laws, or broadcasting regulations.”

In the case of Guyana, the Interception of Communications Act, Chapter 47:03, outlines who are the persons vested with the power to intercept communications and the consequences for entities or persons that do so illegally. The Constitution of Guyana, in addition to international covenants, such as the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration on human rights, clearly outline the entrenched provisions for the protection of one’s privacy.

In fact, Article 12 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights says, “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of law against such interference or attacks.”

It is granted, that an editorial is an opinionated piece, but the necessity for fairness and balance is paramount within the context of journalism.

It is also unquestionably obvious that the kind of journalism the Kaieteur News subscribes to is devoid of any fairness or balance. Within the course of one year, 50 lawsuits have been filed against this newspaper, and it is internationally recognised that the Kaieteur News is the most sued news outlet in the world. Is this not an indication of the type of journalism being practiced by this news outfit?

Continued on page 5

The Italian Air Force aerobatic unit Frecce Tricolori spreads smoke with the colours of the Italian flag over the Piazza Venezia in Rome as Italy celebrates National Unity Day and Armed Forces Day (BBC News)

Kaieteur

News article about spraying of herbicides in Le Repentir inaccurate

Dear Editor,

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) would like to notify the public that an article published in the Kaieteur News on November 3, headlined, “GuySuCo [Guyana Sugar Corporation] contracted to spray herbicides in Le Repentir” contains several inaccuracies.

The article states that “staffers from the GuySuCo have been contracted to apply herbicides in the Le Repentir Cemetery, as part of the $100 million project to clean the area”. This statement is inaccurate, and the Ministry has not nor intends to contract GuySuCo to apply herbicides to the weeds in the Cemetery.

Moreover, the article states that “an agronomist from the company (Caribbean Chemicals), Martin Lopez, has been retained by the Ministry of Local Government”.

This statement is grossly inaccurate, and the Ministry will like to state that there is neither a contractual nor an informal arrangement between Martin Lopez and the Ministry of Local

Government and Regional Development to retain his services for the “Clean-Up My Country” Programme.

During an inspection of the de-bushing exercise of Le Repentir, on October 16, Caribbean Chemicals was invited to inspect the growth of new vegetation and make recommendations as to the best suited herbicide to treat the tree stumps and to curtail the new growth of vegetation.

On that visit, Mr Lopez, along with another representative from the company, conducted the inspection and made several recommendations to the Ministry’s team.

Furthermore, the Ministry would like to inform the public that Mr Lopez is not authorised to speak nor make claims on behalf of the MLGRD under any of the programmes which are being implemented by the Ministry, particularly the cleanup of Le Repentir, as purported by the writer in the article.

Submitted by, Clean-Up My Country Programme MLGRD

A clear indication of low moral standards in our country

Dear Editor, The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) was astounded by the news report of robbers violating the sanctity of the church and those who worshipped there.

CIOG wishes to express to Father Oswald Barnes and the parishioners of St Philip’s Anglican Church who were, traumatised by this awful act, our most sincere regrets, and trust that Almighty God will grant you comfort from the experience.

This act was a clear indication of the low moral standards that prevail in our country, and people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds should condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

The time is ripe for all leaders, be it religious or political, to act; words of con-

demnation are insufficient, we need to review actions that can be taken to ensure that respect and morality are restored in our society. Those who perpetrated this dastardly act have neither love nor respect for God and His creations.

The CIOG calls on all stakeholders to demand religious education be done at our schools, advising young minds of their moral, religious and civic duties. The dissemination of this information must be complemented by the efforts of parents and guardians who have the responsibility to inculcate these positive attitudes of love, tolerance and contentment within the home environment.

Shahabudeen Ahmad Acting President

Cure diseases through self-healing

Dear Editor,

Our organisation applauds the President, Health Minister, the Government and health officials for holding a public consultation on October 30 at the Office of the President on how to address the dreaded Ebola disease and other health-related matters afflicting the nation or could potentially impact upon the population.

People are increasingly expressing serious concerns relating to this dreaded disease and how to cure or contain it should cases be reported in Guyana. Countries have been struggling with how to protect their population from contagions of Ebola virus and other debilitating contagious and non-contagious diseases.

Our organisation can and is willing to provide the Government and the population at large with assistance on how to overcome healthrelated issues (diseases) with simple self-healing practices and have so conveyed the organisation’s offer to both the President and the Health Minister.

As I indicated to the President and with which he was in agreement, one should consider various forms of (alternative) treatment for Ebola and other diseases rather than rely exclu-

sively on modern medicine which seems to fail to cure many ailments. One does not need expensive medications to cure most illnesses – the body can heal itself once people are coached on how to apply self-healing principles to diseases.

I am testament to that practice, which I mastered from a self-healing expert, Dr Chandra Shekhar of India, as I used to be on various medications daily; today, I am cured of my ailments taking no medication as all of my illnesses have disappeared from self-healing practices.

Dr Shekhar was also cured of ailments, including cancer and Hepatitis C. Doctors gave up on his life and he pursued self-healing and in the process completely cured himself. He has been travelling worldwide sharing his skills on self-cure earning the respect and admiration of thousands.

Some time ago, I held a discussion with the Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran and conveyed an offer from Dr Shekhar, the leading expert on self-healing or, psycho-neurbics, to help Guyanese overcome health problems through self-healing.

Dr Shekhar has been doing same in India and neigh-

News outfits...

Witnessing the stance taken by the Trinidad Express in its editorial outlined above, I would like to posit a few questions. Would the Publisher of the Trinidad Express use his paper as a personal tool to exact revenge, and pervert the court of justice, if he was charged for defrauding the Government in taxes?

Would the Publisher of the Trinidad Express use the paper to attack public figures, simply because they are discharging their duties? Would the Publisher of the Express tape a private conversation of a Government Minister without his consent or knowledge, knowing the act to be illegal, immoral and unethical and publicly release the recording, knowing also that the contents could be damaging to the honour and reputation of the person?

If it is, indeed, a position where the Trinidad Express would not engage in such unprofessional acts, then why would they attribute support to such? If it is that the Trinidad Express does not know the sullied disposition of the Kaieteur News, then it should refrain from pronouncing on issues that it does not

bouring countries with exceptional results – people afflicted with common diseases have been cured. He twice visited Guyana – once this year and once last year and demonstrated to the population how they can cure themselves through simple focused steps.

I have been continuing his work in Guyana. Hundreds turned out for his practice sessions throughout the country (involving cure of body areas and diseases through the mind), and they all reported incredible results – curing themselves of various ailments. It was a medical miracle. They said they no longer needed tablets to regulate high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and other ailments.

They reported that back pains, blurred vision, and several other common ailments simply disappeared after practicing self-healing illustrated by Dr Shekhar who guaranteed results. Doctors and other medical practitioners who tried self-healing exercises were amazed at the results and recommend the exercises.

Dr Shekhar did the same demonstration in Trinidad and Suriname, and practitioners repeated same results.

From page 4

fully understand.

Yours sincerely, Faruk Mohamed

He said he has a cure for Ebola, and he has offered to share it with the world. He would be willing to share his proposal for a cure of Ebola to ward off the disease as well as how to overcome it should any member of our population becomes affected.

Dr Shekhar, who has a

very busy schedule, has been invited in Canada and the US to share his self-healing cure, and has conveyed his willingness to come to Guyana as early as the ending of November to address Ebola virus and other diseases.

Insulating people away from others is a short-term solution and not a cure for Ebola. We need to engage him on his ability to cure people of the disease. He cured many of Dengue in India as well as other diseases, and he has shared his self-healing exercises on how to cure Chikungunya, which is a major health problem in Guyana.

Thus, Dr Shekhar can help Guyana with fighting both Chikungunya and Ebola. But the Health Minister has not found time to address the offer made by SIGFA and Dr Shekhar. Lives are at stake and the cure being offered by Dr Shekhar is relatively inexpensive that does not involve costly medications and or unaffordable hospitalisations or placing people in long periods of confinements for certain diseases except in rare cases.

I urge Minister Ramsaran to give serious consideration to the offer to help Guyana avoid an epidemic of and cure people from Chikungunya, Ebola, and other diseases that have burdened our health care system.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bandhu International President Int’l Sigfa Health Organisation

Page Foundation

Bill Gates says there are many lessons to be learned from the Ebola epidemic raging in West Africa. The biggest, he says, is that the world has far to go before it is prepared to combat an evenlarger disease threat.

“The world as a whole doesn’t have the preparedness for epidemics, and we’ve had a few flu scares that got us to do some minor things, but not enough,” he said in an interview at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in New Orleans. “If this thing had been twice as transmissive, we’d be in a lot of trouble, and there are agents that have a real chance of coming on in the next several decades that are far more transmissive than this is. What’s to stop some form of SARS showing up?”

Or “SARS II,” he said — a contagious new disease that emerges in an impoverished country.

The billionaire philanthropist came to the conference mostly to speak about malaria — a disease the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation says the world must eradicate and on which it is spending more than US$200 million this year.

But the foundation is also contributing US$50 million toward fighting Ebola, making it one of the largest donors to the response. It is spending money on efforts including experimental drugs for Ebola and having engineers devise a way to cool protective suits so

medical staff in West African Ebola treatment units can wear them longer.

Ebola is a topic of discussion at this conference, both scientifically and because Louisiana officials last week asked people who had registered not to come if they have been to Guinea, Sierra Leone or Liberia or been in contact with an Ebola patient within the past 21 days.

Threat to health systems

Gates appeared moved after a 90-minute meeting at which two doctors who survived Ebola spoke. The epidemic is a key moment for global health, he said. “I think there’s a lot of lessons for future epidemics.”

Discussing the foundation’s reasons for getting involved, he said, “This disease, not only does it kill directly, it also shuts down health systems. If this thing had spread throughout West Africa, among other things you could throw out the window is the incredible progress we’ve made on polio.”

Most needed, Gates said, is a better system of global disease surveillance. While the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the Gates Foundation have invested in helping countries build capacity for monitoring for outbreaks, and while surveillance for new flu strains is well developed, far more is needed for existing and emerging diseases, he said.

“With new tools, doing

broad disease surveillance that’s better than we have been doing is it a very doable thing,” he said. “You can do a pretty good job literally for hundreds of millions, not billions of dollars a year.”

“You have to gather samples on a systematic basis and send them to genetic analysis,” he said. “You have to take respiratory samples, diarrheal samples, on a regular basis and whenever you see elevations in death rates, then you have to have the capacity to oversample in those places.”

Primary health-care systems must also be strengthened, Gates said, noting that countries such as

Ethiopia and Rwanda have shown that can be done at a modest cost.

And more money needs to go into researching and developing new tools such as drugs and vaccines to fight Ebola, he said.

The foundation is considering giving funds to Chimerix Inc. to help it boost production of brincidofovir, an antiviral drug that has shown potential against Ebola. It has also given funds to GlaxoSmithKline for work on an Ebola vaccine, he said, and is exploring other interventions.

Ebola spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact

(through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (eg bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Preventing Ebola: Avoid direct or close contact with people with Ebola symptoms, particularly with their bodily fluids. Regular hand washing is required. Do not travel to West Africa countries where Ebola is prevalent. Gloves and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment should be worn when taking care of ill patients at home. (Excerpt

By Brooke Hampton

Holding onto self: My identity is not wrapped up in my children. I am here to be their mama and I have given myself to that work – given, but not lost. I am my own person, a person with a whole host of things that I am meant to do in this life. My children are part of who I am, but they are not all that I am. I don’t believe we can be of any service to anyone if we put our happiness and identity into the hands of anyone other than ourselves.

Treat them as equals: Parenting has been about constantly learning and finding new ways to communicate with my children as to avoid ever having to cave into the use of phrases like “because I said so” or “I am the parent and you are the child so just do as I say.”

It’s the knowing that in this role as mama or caregiver my voice and actions toward these little ones have staying power and my voice and the energy I put toward them can be a confidence building tool or a great weapon. I take that very SERIOUSLY. Just because I’m the mother, that doesn’t automatically give me some justified right to be mean.

Breathe: Parenting will test every ounce of inner strength you have. I think birth was perfectly designed to help us prepare for being mamas. I remember leaving the birthing centre after having our first child with this knowing that I had more courage and endurance than I had ever dreamed. I had found this powerful and intuitive woman in me that I didn’t know was there.

Dig deep and find your inner strength. Stay grounded, take time to listen and get in that Holy Flow. Seek out and give thanks for the beauty in each day as a caregiver to the little ones in your life, because beauty is always there. Some days we just have to look for it harder than others... ha ha!

Let go of pride: The ability to admit I’m wrong has been one of my greatest gifts in helping me find ways of reaching my kids that did work. We are all human and sometimes it comes down to being able to let go of pride to say we are sorry and admit that we are wrong.

Listen to yourself:* There is no book on parenting for you and your children, there is only you – you getting in touch with you, your inner compass and your children.

Parenting is about being brave enough to challenge everything we’ve been taught or shown about parenting so that we can find what works best for our children. It’s about pushing ourselves forward as individuals, changing when needed, tuning into and listening to our hearts so that we can each find our own perfectly unique version of

Man killed on birthday in early-morning crash

By Vahnu Manikchand

ome three hours af-

Ster turning 26, an East Coast Demerara (ECD) man was tragically killed after his vehicle slammed into the roadside guardrail along the Rupert Craig Highway.

Dead is Gavin Bachan, an Assistant Registration Officer at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), of Lot 181 Hope-West Enmore, ECD. Bachan was reportedly on his way home when he allegedly lost control of his Altezza motor car, bearing registration number PNN 7981, and crashed into the rail at the Kitty Seawall, a short distance away from the Celina Resort.

The accident occurred around 03:45h on Tuesday morning. According to a nearby resident, Tyron Seaforth, he was awakened by a loud

immediately called the Police and for the ambulance; however, no answered at the ambulance service. Seaforth said that his friend then went to the Kitty Police Station, but upon arrival was told that an officer had already left for the scene.

Seaforth estimated that

crash and went outside to investigate. Seaforth told the Guyana Times that when he went outside, his friend was already there and they found the wrecked car which they examined, but no one was inside.

“I told him to check in the gutter and he went for a light and checked, that is when he see the boy. He called another man, they take the boy out and put him to lie on the corner of the road,” he recalled.

Seaforth added that Bachan was still alive at the time, but his breathing was very faint.

The man noted that they

the Police arrived on the scene about 30 minutes after they made the report, but, by then, the young man had died.

The ambulance subsequently came and one of its personnel examined the injured man, confirming his death.

The Kitty resident said that Bachan was the lone occupant of the vehicle at the time of the accident. Based on his observations, the car was badly damaged and it appeared as though Bachan went through the back windshield.

“From his one side (driver

side) it was good, but the passenger side tear off…the two doors rip off. It looked like he hit the rail and the car spin around and that one side rip off from the rail cause the back of the car was down in the drain and the front was on the road,” Seaforth said.

He noted that the impact of the crash was so severe that fragments from the car flew through the air and broke the glass of a window in the upper flat of his house.

At the scene of the accident, fragments of the dark blue motor car were on the ground, although the wreckage had been removed to the Kitty Police Station.

Meanwhile, Police issued a release stating that “investigations have revealed that Gavin Bachan was allegedly driving a motor car at a fast rate, when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a metal guardrail along the roadway.”

Contrary to Seaforth’s account, the Police said that the injured Bachan was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

When this newspaper visited the home of the GECOM employee, co-workers, relatives and friends had gathered to express their condolences. While the family was not sure what transpired, the dead man’s cousin, Satanad Gopie, related that he received a call around 04:30h, informing that his cousin was involved in an accident.

The 26-year-old man had left home on Monday afternoon and was last seen around 23:00h when he left his cousin’s house. Gopie told this newspaper that the family did not know where Bachan was before he was involved in the accident; and, a co-worker claimed to have called him around 01:30h on Tuesday, but could not get through.

Bachan leaves to mourn his parents, two brothers, and three sisters. The body of the young man is at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination.

Beheaded Jiffi Lubes owner family wins $200M insurance claim ... Clico

granted stay of execution

The High Court on Monday ordered Clico to pay Nariman Kalamadeen, the wife of murdered Jiffi Lubes owner, Mohamed Kalamadeen, the sum of $200 million – a claim she had made on the company following the beheading of her husband.

The judgement was made by Justice Rishi Persaud, sitting in the Commercial Division of the High Court. The action was instituted on February 20, 2009 by Nariman Kalamadeen, in her capacity as the Administrator of the estate of Mohamed Farouk Kalamadeen.

At the time of his death, Mohamed Farouk Kalamadeen held a life insurance policy with CLICO Life and General Insurance Co (SA) Ltd, and the company refused, without explanation, to honour the claim made by the estate of Kalamadeen, despite all the requirements of the company being complied with.

Nariman was represented by Senior Counsel Edward Luckhoo and Attorney Sase Gunraj, while Clico was represented by Senior Counsel Ashton Chase. Several witnesses, including a representative of CLICO Trinidad and the former local Chief Executive Officer Geeta SinghKnight, testified on behalf of the company.

According to Gunraj, the judge found, among other things, that: the evidence led by the company fell short of establishing material non-disclosure and fraud, as was alleged; that there was no proof of materiality; that the issue of non-disclosure on the part of the deceased was not pleaded by the defendant and that the defendant never rescinded the policy or returned premiums, but instead affirmed same.

As a consequence, judgment was granted to the plaintiff in the sum of $200,000,000

with costs in the sum of $500,187. However, upon an application by the defendant, execution of the judgment was stayed for four weeks.

Back in 2009, the collapse of Clico Guyana had caused a holdup in the case just over a month after the company challenged an attempt to collect on the policy. Clico had filed court proceedings to bar the Insurance Arbitration Board from arbitrating a complaint by Kalamadeen’s family in January and was granted an interim order by Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang that restrained the Board from hearing the case.

Justice Roxanne GeorgeWiltshire then heard the case when it was called and was informed of Clico’s financial troubles and of the High Court order placing the company under judicial management. As a result, the case was put on hold.

Court documents revealed that the Jiffy Lubes owner had taken out the $200 million policy of insurance with Clico payable on his demise. His estate was named as beneficiary under the policy and he was also entitled to an accidental death benefit of $1.2 million at the time of his death.

Kalamadeen’s beheaded body appeared on Cowan Street, Kingston on the morning of April 30, 2008 and almost a month later the fami-

ly attorney, Bibi Shaddick had written to Clico informing of his demise and provided a copy of the death certificate. Shaddick had also sought to have a perfect inventory of the assets of Kalamadeen’s estate and requested that Clico provide her with a full statement of all benefits due to the estate under the policy of insurance to facilitate her application for a grant of letters of administration.

Clico subsequently wrote to Shaddick, asking her to note that payment of benefits would be based on formal submission of the requisite claims documents and subject to satisfactory proof of entitlement to receive payments in keeping with the terms and conditions under the policy. Clico later wrote to Kalamadeen’s widow, informing her that the estate’s death claim had been denied.

The family lawyer responded by writing to the Commissioner of Insurance to complain of Clico’s denial of the claim and requested that the matter be referred for arbitration. The Commissioner of Insurance then wrote to Clico stating that she was in receipt of the complaint and asked for the company to respond.

According to reports, Kalamadeen disappeared on April 2, 2008 while jogging on the Houston, East Bank Public Road, not far from his home. About a month later, his headless body was found in Cowan Street, Kingston. The head appeared to have been clinically removed. The head was later found in the North Road canal.

Police had said that a postmortem examination showed that Kalamadeen may have died from possible decapitation. A pathologist’s examination of the partly decomposed head later revealed that Kalamadeen had suffered blunt trauma to the back of the head and injuries to the mouth.

Mohamed Farouk Kalamadeen

The wrecked motor car at the Kitty Police Station

Dead: Gavin Bachan

wednesdAY, november 5, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

Gold price hits “rock bottom”

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry along with the Guyana Gold Board continues to monitor the trade of gold and the movements in prices over the last couple of weeks.

Gold held near the lowest since 2010 on expectations the Federal Reserve is preparing to raise interest rates while other central banks add stimulus, boosting the dollar and hurting bullion demand.

Gold is heading for the first back-to-back annual retreat since 2000. The European Central Bank sets policy on October 6 after the Bank of Japan unexpectedly added to stimulus last week.

The Fed is moving closer to its first rate increase in eight years after ending a bond-buying programme on schedule last month.

Gold futures were little changed in New York as a decline in US equities boosted demand for the precious metal as an alternative investment. Gold tumbled almost five per cent last week, dropping to the lowest since 2010 on October 31. The weakness in the equity market is providing some sup-

port to gold. Also, the dollar is taking a breather, and that is helping gold.

The metal swung between gains and losses, dropping as much as 0.5 per cent and climbing 0.4 per cent earlier on the European Commission’s cut to euroarea growth forecasts.

The bullion is heading for the first back-to-back annual retreat since 1998 as the dollar surged after Japan expanded monetary stimulus last week and the Federal Reserve moved closer to its first interest-rate

increase in eight years.

The precious metal dropped to US$1,160.50 on October 31, the lowest for a most-active contract since July 2010.

Gold just holds above US$1,158, the 61.8 per cent retracement level of the move from the October 2008 low to the September 2011 highs. The gold bears remain in firm technical control as prices trade not far above the recent four-year low. The key “outside markets” remain in overall bearish postures for the precious

metals—a stronger US dollar and slumping crude oil prices.

The “outside market” feature was the drop in crude oil prices to a threeyear low of US$75.84. Combined with the appreciating value of the US dollar, these two outside markets have been a major influence on other markets the past few weeks—and especially a negative force for the raw commodity sector, including gold and silver.

The other feature was the Japanese yen which has slumped against its world rivals following the Bank of Japan move on Friday with a new batch of monetary stimulus. While the European stock markets were under selling pressure following news the European Commission reported it expects European Union gross domestic product to rise by just 0.8 per cent in 2014.

That is down from the 1.2 per cent growth-rate forecast the agency issued in the spring. The Commission cited the Russia-Ukraine tensions as a major contributor to the slowing EU growth the past few months.

Linden man commits suicide after chopping reputed wife

Police in Linden are presently investigating the circumstances surrounding the apparent suicide of Lindener Floyd Hollingsworth, whose body was found hanging from a tree at a farmland located at Victory Valley, Wismar on Tuesday morning.

The man allegedly injured his reputed wife

Melissa McLennan during a chopping incident which occurred on Saturday evening and was wanted for questioning by Police in relation to the crime.

The discovery of the body was made by passersby, who were on their way to a nearby farm. The body was clad in a long black pants and white shirt at the time of the

gruesome discovery.

It is unclear how long the body was at the location before it was actually discovered; however, persons in the area have speculated that Hollingsworth may have intended to kill both McLennan and himself.

Reports indicate that the woman and her friends were hanging out at the popular

Fox Disco in Linden when Hollingsworth became annoyed after seeing her there. He reportedly dealt her several chops about the body with a cutlass. The woman is currently a patient at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) while Hollingsworth’s body was taken to the Wismar Hospital Mortuary. Investigations are ongoing.

Duo charged with $6M armed robbery

Aduo charged with a multimillion-dollar robbery was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Mark Anthony, 27, of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, and Jamice Watson, 26, of Strathspey, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It is alleged that on October 29 at Middle

Mazaruni River, being armed with a gun, they robbed Manael Be Araujo of $4,081,000 in cash and two ounces of raw gold valued $2 million – a total value of $6.081 million, property of Anderson Batista.

Both men were represented by Attorney- at- Law Peter Hugh, who in his application for bail, told the court that his clients were not at the location on the day in question.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that the Virtual Complainant (VC) was a businessman and the two defendants were known to him.

He explained that on the day in question around 12:30h, the VC was conducting business at his business place when both men entered, posing as customers, and attempted to sell him raw gold. The duo subsequently dealt the VC several

from page 3

President reverses...

Nevertheless, he said if the No Confidence Motion against his Administration is passed, it will lead to General Elections. The NoConfidence Motion was filed just before the beginning of recess by the. Based on advice received, President Ramotar said the Guyana Elections Commission will require six months to gear up for the long awaited Local

Government Elections under the new Local Government Electoral System. “Pending further consultations with the Guyana Elections Commission on its preparations, I also now announce my intention to hold Local Government Elections in the Second Quarter of next year, 2015.”

With this announcement, President Ramotar

is hoping that “post recess sittings of the National Assembly would proceed uninterruptedly,” thereby deliberating on urgent matters that have been identified by Government. According to Ramotar, there are negative forces "which seek to divide the nation", but Guyanese he stressed must work together to achieve a common good that would allow for

blows about his body with a gun before robbing him.

The Prosecutor objected to bail, citing the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence, the quantum of money involved, and the possibility of the defendants being flight risks or them interfering with the VC, since they are known to him.

Bail was denied and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for November 13.

nation building.

“Guyana deserves better than political games that serve to only benefit a select few while damaging the welfare of the people of Guyana. Your Government remains committed to forging partnership and taking appropriate actions in the interest of the stability, unity and prosperity of our dear country,” he added.

Eyew tness

Different strokes...

...for Felix

It was kinda surreal to read about Winston Felix virtuously proclaiming that the "AG was obligated to report knowledge of any crime" that he spoke about in his taped conversation with the Muckraker's Gildharie. Wasn't this the same fella who'd been taped with his pants AND bukta down when he let it all hang out with PNC's Basil Williams.

And this was Felix, the Commissioner of Police – the Big Enchilada!!

So the Eyewitness decided to check as to how this paragon of virtue conducted himself on this vital question of not holding back on the Police. Right off the bat, Williams informed Felix that he'd just returned from settling a client's case with Glenn Lall, owner of Kaieteur News. Lall had to shell out $100,000. Felix thought it shoulda been "$100 MILLION"!!

But apropos the present context where Lall's accused of having "the goods" on any number of people – from tapes and otherwise, Williams revealed to Felix that Lall blackmailed him. Lall told Williams that some Policemen had given him some info on a "gun story" about Williams! Did Felix tell his Police about this blackmail to subvert the course of justice?? When Williams then wonders "who Police coulda do da, boy??" – that is, rat on him to Lall –Felix answers, "Bannuh, is anything dem people (Kaieteur News) tekking and write. Police get a $5000 - $6000 and deh feel nice." Did Felix report to the Police Complaints Authority about his knowledge of Police taking bribes from Glenn Lall?? Did he even launch an internal investigation?? Not in this life??

Referring to the massacre of eight persons at Agricola, Williams thanked Felix, "You help me out when you said is Ashmin them" did the killing. Felix, however, confesses, "I deliberately turn the thing away. But now I can't do duh because the facts coming out."

Here's the top law enforcement officer taking facts his ranks must've brought to him about eight murders and he DELIBERATELY "TURNS THE THING AWAY"?? Forget about "reporting" to the Police – this is THE Police chief pulling a red herring on the trail of the murderers.

Finally, we hear why the massacre was perpetuated: to force the 2006 election and have it conducted in an atmosphere of fear. "Is certain if you want an atmosphere of fear to attend the election, it certainly is there." To which Felix responds, "Once you want to play wid violence, violence will surround you."

Elections were announced a few months later...and we did have the further massacres of Lusignan and Bartica.

But is Felix blamed for those ACTUAL murders?? Not in this life!!

...on privacy

Right now we have everyone and their uncle pointing out that back in 2006, Anil Nandlall argued Guyana had no "right to privacy" that could protect against the recording of Felix’s and Williams' conversation. Yet he's taken the Muckraker's Lall to court for recording his own conversation with his old school friend!! (With friends like these, the AG is in no need of "enemies"!!)

But no one's quoted another prominent Guyanese – Eusi Kwayana – who then argued AGAINST Nandlall to show interceptions and tapings were FORBIDDEN by our Constitution itself!! We wonder why he's silent now?? Why shouldn't his argument protecting Felix’s privacy be used to do the same for Nandlall??

Kwayana argued then, "Article 146 lays down that individuals are guaranteed freedom from interference with their correspondence, and freedom to hold opinions and communicate them without interference."

So since Nandlall was just having a gyaaf with his erstwhile friend, a missive from Kwayana is imminent?? Sauce for the goose and gander and all that??

...on protest?

After weeks of making his columnists call daily for Guyanese to rise up and "come defend him" against attacks from the big, bad Government, Glenn Lall struck gold. Unfortunately, only one solitary "supporter" showed up!! Even his house slave refused to carry a placard!

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the Guyana Gold Board continue to monitor the trade of gold and the movements in prices over the last couple of weeks

Alleged rape victim

Johnny Welshman on Tuesday demanded that the Opposition parties A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) fire Raphael Trotman from his position as Speaker of the National Assembly.

In an interview with the Guyana Times on Tuesday, Welshman said that he was frustrated by the manner in which his most recent court appearance played out.

He said that the courtroom practically turned into a spectacle with a lot of banter between AFC members Khemraj Ramjattan, Cathy Hughes, Raphael Trotman, and David Patterson.

Welshman has accused Trotman of sodomising him as a 12-year-old child and has disclosed that he was seeking international assistance to get justice, even as investigations were continuing here.

“I, Johnny Anthony Welshman, am letting Guyana know that I am ready to go to jail 10 years, 20 years because what Uncle Raphael, Colin and my father did to me is wrong. They are saying I must come to mutual understanding and go back to Trinidad and Tobago. I was born in this country; I am not going back to no Trinidad and Tobago,” said a very emotional Welshman. He said he was giving the political Opposition three days during which time they must take steps to have Trotman replaced as the Speaker of the National Assembly.

The young man has declared that he was prepared to take the matter further if it falls through in Guyana. He had said he was confident that the law would rule in his favour, given the overwhelming evidence he possessed.

In the meantime, Welshman stated that he was concerned about the continued sloth of the investigations.

On September 21, Trotman had secured an injunction restraining Welshman (Junior) from making any statements or publishing any materials about the issue.

Welshman, however, has since challenged this decision and since then, there has been a back-and-forth with Trotman’s Attorney, Nigel Hughes delaying the

Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman

process in court.

However, when the matter was last called up in chambers before Justice Chang, Attorney Hughes requested and was given time to respond to the documents filed by the defendant. The matter has been scheduled to be called up again on November 4, when arguments are expected to commence.

GDF kicks off 49th Anniversary celebrations with church service

In observance of its 49th Anniversary, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Tuesday held a church service at Base Camp Ayanganna headquarters.

The event was attended by Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips and hundreds of senior and junior GDF officers.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief-of- Staff encouraged the soldiers to commit themselves to safeguarding the democracy of Guyana. This year’s celebration is being held under the theme, “Towards greater operation readiness for national defence and security”. Phillips said the theme was appropriate as the Force prepared to usher in its 50th anniversary which is expected to be launched next month.

“We have completed 49 years with a mission statement which reads, “To defend the territorial integrity

of Guyana, to assist the civil power in the maintenance of law and order, and to contribute to the economic development of this country,” he added.

The Chief-of-Staff explained that despite the many challenges faced by the Force, officers must work to earn the respect of Guyana.

“As we serve, we must uphold and live the values and standards of the Guyana Defence Force, since discipline is the mark of intelligent living. Our performance, our professionalism, and compliance with our Standing Operating Procedures will enhance our service,” Phillips said.

He said too that the Force must lead in the defence and security sector and contribute to the development of Guyana as well as collaborate on diplomatic initiatives, since diplomacy remains Guyana’s first line of defence.

He further added that the professionalism and compliance of the ranks will definitely enhance the service of the nation. Similarly, he said, officers must be responsible and accountable when performing their duties.

The Chief-of-Staff, in his closing remarks, reiterated that as a Force they must continue to improve their operational readiness, noting that the Army Headquarters will continue to facilitate improvements to health services and facilities as well as the wellbeing, welfare and quality of life on all bases and locations.

He added that special attention will be placed on the training and professional development of all ranks, including civilians. And for the 50th year of service, the Army is expecting to renew its focus on the empowerment of female soldiers and civilians.

AZes Kinderen, Mahaica, East Coast

Demerara businessman is now traumatised after he was robbed on Monday afternoon on his way home from making a trip to the bank.

Lawrence Patterson told the Guyana Times that he received a cheque on Monday and went to the bank in Rosignol, West Bank Berbice around 12:30h to have it changed. The man said, with about $230,000 in a bag on the front passenger seat, he proceeded over the Berbice River Bridge to the gas station at Palmyra, Corentyne, Berbice.

Patterson noted that after he left the gas station, he drove onto the Number 19 Public Road when he observed a car behind him swerving in and out of the lane. The businessman said that he pulled off the road to

allow the car to pass, since he believed that a drunk driver was at the wheel.

However, the silver-grey 212 Carina motor car pulled up alongside his car and a man exited the front passenger seat, pointing a gun at him.

The armed man walked around Patterson’s car and took the bag containing the money before returning to the car, which then turned around and sped away in the direction of the bridge.

The businessman recalled that there were about three persons in the car, adding that another car was behind him and also followed the 212 motor car. Patterson noted that he reported the matter to the Police Outpost on the Number 19 Road, and about 20 minutes later, the Police stopped a vehicle that was used in another robbery.

Patterson said he was surprised that the men knew he had money on him, since he did not notice anyone following him or any suspicious activity during his journey. He disclosed that this was not the first time he had been robbed.

He noted that about four months ago, he was heading to Berbice and had stopped to assist some men whose vehicle had apparently broken down. Patterson recounted that when he stepped out of the car, the men held him up and took away the contents of his pocket, which included $84,000 in cash.

The businessman said he would now have to change his routes, since it appears as though he is being targeted. He stated that the Police advised him that robberies are more prevalent in the region on Mondays and Fridays.

GDF personnel and other guests during the church service

Johnny Welshman

Rodney CoI

PNC members had weapons but were never caught – Ramson

Former Attorney General Charles Ramson disclosed that Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Member Tacoma Ogunseye was among a few other members of the party who were actively engaged in the making of bombs before and after the death of Dr Walter Rodney.

The claim made by Ramson contradicts earlier denials by Ogunseye and other WPA Executives during their testimonies at the Commission of Inquiry earlier this year.

The WPA considered the victim under the People’s National Congress (PNC) led by Prime Minister Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham had been accused of gathering arms and am-

munition during the days of oppression.

Former Police Constable Alan Robert Gates, during his testimony a few months ago, had told the Commission that both Dr Roopnaraine and Dr Rodney, along with other WPA members were engaged in the acquisition of arms and ammunition.

He stated that they were seeking to protect themselves from the threat which loomed from the State. Ogunseye, when grilled on this point, said though the party had acquired arms during the fight against the PNC “dictatorship”; it never did so on a large scale. He said he was unaware how the weapons were acquired.

But Ramson said that many of the WPA members, including Ogunseye were

tried and sentenced for being in possession of bombs, explosives, arms and ammunition. Ramson said he was not surprised that soon

after Dr Rodney’s death, Ogunseye was found making bombs. He related that the WPA Executive was engaged in the practice before and after Dr Rodney’s death.

Had to be trained

“Well you don’t just start making bombs. And it’s not just on the very first occasion you get catch. You have to be trained in the business,” Ramson told the Commission.

Other members included Kwame Appata, who was found with a bomb in the East Coast village of Buxton. Another member Arnold Apple was intercepted while on his way to Linden. Other members were found with bomb making materials, high-powered rifles, detonators and bombs and were convicted. All these took place during the 1978 -1981 period.

This information was extracted from Ramson, while under cross -examination by PNCR Attorney Basil Williams. Williams said it was clear that the WPA members had access to weapons and bombs.

“Those who were caught,” Ramson remarked, pointing out that PNC members also had weapons but were never caught.

He said the WPA had declared war on the Government of the day, explaining that anybody who was found with SLR guns, bombs and detonators entering into one of the Government’s demographic strongholds, must have an intention of bringing down the Government.

Questioned by Williams about the role of the State’s security forces under such circumstance, Ramson said in light of the activities of the WPA, it would be “remiss of the security forces if they did not respond in an appropriate fashion with the political temperature being so high… it would be remiss of them not to act commensurably”.

While not justifying the

Case of the purloined mace

As a kid in short pants, Satiricus had been a great fan of the Hardy Boys mysteries. If the truth be told –even if he never told – he also devoured the Nancy Drew mysteries. Ahhh... He still got a tingle up his spine when he remembered such classics as, "The Yellow Feather Mystery". He'd always dreamt about solving one of these mysteries himself, but sadly, the occasion never arose.

Somehow, mysterious goings on in old, creaky houses never took place in his dull and dreary Guyana. Until now, that is! So what if he was now a grizzled fella in his 40s?? He couldn't have possibly forgotten all the detective skills he'd picked up after getting himself almost blind with all that late-night reading, could he??

Satiricus had even bought the "Hardy Boys Detective Handbook"!! He'd told his irate father – carrying on about the light bill – that the Hardy Boys would come in useful one day!!

What galvanised Satiricus into action was an item in his own newspaper. The Speaker of Parliament had issued a Press Statement that the Mace had disappeared!! "The Mystery of the Purloined Mace" immediately flashed into Satiricus' mind – small as it was. Satiricus immediately felt that "Hardy Boys' tingle". The Mace couldn't just disappear, could it?? And it wasn't as if someone could just saunter off with it. There were all those Police fellas marching around Parliament.

Satiricus remembered the Handbook had advised that once you figured out the MOTIVE for the crime, you had the case cracked. Why the heck would anyone filch a Mace?? It's not as if you could swat those pesky Chikungunya mosquitoes with it. The darn thing was too unwieldy. And unlike the Maces in England which it imitated – that was the key word – IMITATED, it didn't have any rubies or diamonds or such stuff. It wasn't valuable.

Then a stroke of genius hit Satiricus, who was very modest. He remembered that a CrackPot named Tiny Veera had advised the Opposition to "call Parliament" under some bottom house so that they could throw out the Government with their one-seat majority. But Satiricus realised that Parliament wasn't Parliament if there were no Mace!! Tiny Veera had to have snucked out with the Mace to carry out his dastardly plan!!!

But just as Satiricus was ready to swoop down on Tiny Veera's shack where he'd been holed up, he heard the news. The Clerk of Parliament had been cleaning the Mace!

death of Dr Rodney, Ramson said the Historian had taken a major risk when he sought to acquire the walkie-talkie devices. He said such communication devices were strictly prohibited by the Government of the day. “No private individual was ever allowed to be in possession. He took a risk that resulted in his death,” Ramson told the Commission.

He recalled the serious times back then, noting if any person was found with any device of transmission, they would be placed in the lockups.

According to him, the Special Branch Unit had responsibility to increase its surveillance after the rise in these activities, including the threat issued to Burnham by Dr Rodney. Dr Rodney has reportedly said that Burnham should leave office by December 31, 1980.

That, the former Attorney General said would warrant all surveillance. He explained that Dr Rodney had always been under surveillance while he was in and out of Guyana.

He said the WPA had also infiltrated the Army

with the publication and distribution of the “Yam Vine”, a paper of the party. He said the political party was moving stealthily through the GDF.

Ramson sought too to defend the socialist ideology embraced by the PNC Government and the effects it had on the country. Attorney Williams said all three parties were pursuing the socialist philosophy at the time, although they used their own strategies. The PPP had embraced the Marxist/Leninist strategy and the PNC Cooperative Socialism Marxist/Leninist, but Burnham did not tell the Western countries of his beliefs.

When his “true colours” were shown, Guyana came under scrutiny by the Western capitalist countries, Ramson said.

“So the position taken by Burnham, clamping down on the importation of food items was such an example,” he said, noting that the situation had arisen out of an internal, domestic issue, saying that Prime Minister Burnham was not an effective manager.

A section of the audience during the Rodney CoI

WPA Executive Tacuma Ogunseye

Glenn Lall's illegal recording:

Nandlall feels betrayed

...says nothing but friendly chat

Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General

Anil Nandlall said the contents of “selective portions” of a private conversation he had with a senior reporter of the Kaieteur News have been “manipulated and distorted” in the public.

Over the past few days, Nandlall has found himself in the middle of a controversy after a recording was made public of him having a telephone conversation with Leonard Gildharie of Kaieteur News.

In a statement issued by the Attorney General on Tuesday, he explained that the conversation was nothing, but a friendly banter; however, he was betrayed after it was recorded and made public without his knowledge.

He noted that he is very ashamed of some of the remarks made, stating that it caused him and his family great embarrassment, personal distress and tremendous pain. On this note, he expressed sincere apologies to the public and his political colleagues, who have had to endure the ordeal.

The Attorney General pointed out that he has filed legal proceedings with the hope that the recordings will be examine to determine its legality and authenticity, along with any liabilities that may arise.

Nandlall also stated that he is hopeful that the recording will be sent for proper forensic analysis. The Legal Affairs Minister acknowledged that the content of the recording has been deliberately engineered and manipulated, raising issues to divert attention from more pressing and substantial matters that focuses on the development of the country. He went on to ventilate some of those issues that have been raised from the recorded conversations.

Nandlall firstly spoke on the issue of freedom of the press, noting that he shares the view of his Government, which reiterated that it embraces and actively promotes press freedom in all

facets.

“It is also my firm belief that while the State has the sacred responsibility for creating and nurturing an enabling environment for a free press, the free press has an equally sacred responsibility to the highest ethical standards as they operate in that free environment,” he pointed out.

Unprincipled newspaper

The Attorney General stated that both himself and the Guyanese public have been victims of what he calls “an unethical journalist and an unprincipled newspaper” that is operating in a free environment.

He said clearly and unequivocally that he has no knowledge of any planned violence or extra-judicial sanction against any individual journalist or newspaper entity.

“Indeed, in my own case, I have filed legal proceedings and have every confidence in our judicial system to conduct a fair and open hearing and to deliver justice at the end. Our government does not condone or promote violence in any form or at any level.”

Nandlall stressed that his Chamber has worked tirelessly in order to ensure that leadership and guidance is given so that a legislation can be developed to tackle violence in all forms and at every level, including the protection of women and children from domestic violence.

On this note, he turned his attention to the issue that was raised regarding his derogatory comments about women. The Legal Affairs Minister disclosed that this has caused him grave personal distress as he was judged harshly by both the general public and by women’s groups and activists. However, he added that the most severe judgments came from the women in his life – his wife and mother.

“I wish to assure all women in Guyana of my highest respect and to promise that

I will continue to struggle for their rights and respect wherever there remain gaps in the treatment of women

in our society,” he pledged. The final issue the Minister clarified is that relating to a financial transac-

tion that was mentioned in what he calls the “impugned recording”, which has been interpreted to implicate him in financial impropriety.

Nandlall explained that the money referred to was reimbursement he received for monies that were expended on medical treatment.

“This reimbursement was approved by Cabinet in a written Cabinet decision dated 20 June, 2013. This is, and historically has been, an entitlement of every member of Cabinet long before my appointment,” he stressed.

Nandlall, nevertheless, commended the work of his

Chamber in its fight to develop Guyana. He referred to the recent accomplishment of securing additional time for Guyana to meet its obligations under the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and Financial Action Task Force (FATF). This, he noted is very significant and noteworthy.

“I am proud to be leading these Chambers and this team of professionals at this unique time in our history, but nothing that I have achieved would have been possible without your efforts and I am indeed personally indebted to you,” he said.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall addressing staff members of the AG Chambers on Tuesday

New destination brand Guyana, South America Undiscovered unveiled

Guyana, South America

Undiscovered, the country’s new destination brand was unveiled at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London during a cocktail reception at the Guyana booth on Monday.

The WTM is being held from November 3-6.

According to Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Director Indranauth Haralsingh, the first day was a tremendous success.

Haralsingh is heading the delegation to WTM, which also includes Senior Tourism Development Officer Sanchia Persaud and Research and Planning Analyst Tosheika Logan.

“Day one was an excellent day for Guyana. Everyone likes the brand and logo, the launch was a tremendous success if you take into account the massive reach that this event has,” he said.

While there, the team will attend key meetings with several tour operators, travel agents, media and publications.

As to the benefits of Guyana’s continued participation in the event, the GTA Director explained that the “WTM is the perfect opportunity for us to continue our outreach to international tourists, not only will we reach the UK market, but also buyers from countries all over the world”.

Guyana is also being represented by Wilderness Explorers, Rupununi Trails and Iwokrama at WTM, which is one of the leading travel and trade shows, attracting influential fig -

ures in and around the travel industry who offer the latest insights, trends and invaluable knowledge to all who visit.

Guyana’s booth will host a number of events and meetings, including the launching of the “Guyana South America Undiscovered” destination brand, hosting of the ATLAS travel group and the launching of the

Explore Guyana Magazine 2015.

The GTA recognises this trade show as a very important aspect of its marketing strategy and has continued to attend over the last 13 years.

This has resulted in placing Guyana’s tourism product on the world map in the eyes of consumers and international travel operators.

The main purpose of the destination’s rebranding and the accompanying marketing strategy is to help Guyana meet its aspiration of becoming a

Boy, 13, emerges as CXC top Math performer

A13- year-old St Lucian – Dion Recal has emerged as the top performer in Mathematics at the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) level, sharing the distinction with five other Caribbean students.

Recai, of St Mary’s College (SMC), who is also the National Schools’ Chess Champion, wrote Mathematics and English in May according to Principal of SMC, Rowan Seon.

“He did the Math paper so well as a third former that he is among the very best in the entire Caribbean, bearing in mind that Math is written by about 90,000 students

around the region, most of whom are fifth formers.”

The SMC Principal disclosed that the school tries its best to encourage the development of individual students.

“No boy coming into this school is like any other boy,” he told reporters.

Seon noted that although SMC has a system in place that an individual may write eight CXC subjects, there is no stipulation that it must apply to everyone.

He said the system whereby students are only supposed to write a particular number of subjects is designed to achieve an expected overall average.

“But that is not our concern,” Seon asserted, adding that SMC’s objective is to encourage every student to do his best and to provide them with the needed support and encouragement.

(Caribbean360)

World’s hottest peppers produced, sold by CARDI

leading sustainable tourism destination in the region.

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali has noted that Guyana offers the opportunity to travel to an ‘off the beaten path’, conservation-minded destination, to see exceptional nature, experience wildlife and birds in a remote and pristine environment with thriving indigenous and multi-ethnic communities.

“It offers visitors many benefits: exploring an English-speaking South American destination; discovering our natural attractions travelling by land, river and air across a never-ending stretch of rainforest to see birds, wildlife and giant species; interacting with Amerindian people and enjoying multi-ethnic festivals, music and cuisine; and learning about the country’s rich heritage. It is an opportunity to experience vast virgin rainforest, rolling savannahs, mighty rivers and the lively Caribbean coast, all in one trip,” he revealed.

The brand essence and personality is expressed through a new logo and tagline, which was developed after extensive consultation with tourism stakeholders, operators and businesses and which will be used in all promotional and marketing material, both locally and internationally.

“The opportunity to confirm Guyana’s commitment to the development of tourism in Guyana must be fully exploited,” the Minister said.

The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has been supplying Caribbean farmers with quality hot pepper seeds for the past 20 years.

Currently, four main varieties are produced by CARDI and supplied through its distributor, Caribbean Chemicals and Agencies Limited, to agroretail outlets from Belize in Central America; Cayman Islands and Jamaica in the North-Caribbean through the Windward and Leeward Islands; Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago in the Southern Caribbean; and Guyana and Suriname in the South American Continent under the CARDI Quality Seed and Cari Seed Brand.

This activity is led by CARDI’s Revenue Generating Unit, which was established in 2013 to supplement the institute’s operating cost. The unit has since established 11 revenue centres in its first phase.

Four revenue centres have been generating revenue from authentic and purified hot pepper seed production through sale of the CARDI varieties: Scorpion, Moruga Red, Yellow Scotch Bonnet and West Indies Red from its seed production centres in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize and Trinidad and Tobago, in over 2000 acres.

In February 2014, CARDI launched the sale of purified and authentic Scorpion Hot Pepper seed, the world’s second hottest pepper recorded at 2,000 000 Scoville units through its distributor.

CARDI Quality Seeds are produced in the most isolated and protected areas of Antigua and Barbuda and Belize, where selection of seeds by breeders is done through a rigorous selection process to keep out Gemini viruses, phytophthora root rot, anthracnose and other pepper diseases.

Rigorous rogueing is done to get seeds only from true to type mother plants. Rapid extraction and seed processing methods ensure high germination rates and viability. In addition, seeds are treated against viral particles, fungi and pests and all micro-organisms.

The world-renowned improved yellow Scotch Bonnet variety (300,000 (SHU) Scoville Heat Units) with parent lines bred in Jamaica for higher tolerance to Gemini and Poty Viruse, is a super-hot quality Caribbean Scotch Bonnet type pepper that has a bright yellow berry

colour when mature and can also be marketed as a smooth skin dark green pepper.

The fruit has a distinct bonnet shape and is suited for fresh fruit export and hot sauce production; the flavour is mild, but pungent and is also hotter than Habaneros. It is an ideal variety for yellow pepper mash production, drying into flakes, roasting, and production of jelly, chutneys, jerk seasonings, or fresh chops.

The Revenue Generating Unit expects to assist CARDI in achieving its mandate, primarily by increasing the availability and usage of Caricom’s member states’ indigenous planting material to the wider Caribbean farming community; and providing sustainable technology, technical support and monitoring systems developed by CARDI to the region’s agribusiness sector.

Dion Recal

The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has been supplying Caribbean farmers with quality hot pepper seeds for the past 20 years

Visitors at the Guyana booth at the expo in London

GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh

“History will judge us”

– US Ambassador tells PANCAP 13th AGM official opening

In what could only be described as a most memorable opening, the 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) got underway in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe on Wednesday.

The AGM was held under the Chairmanship of PANCAP Coordinating Unit Director Dereck Springer.

Speakers from Guadeloupe, international development partners and global leaders in the fight against HIV and AIDS were all united in their call for continued cooperation and collaboration, as the region works towards an ‘AIDSfree Caribbean’.

Keynote Speaker for the evening, United States Ambassador-at-Large and Global AIDS, Dr Deborah Birx told the more than 100 invitees that “history will judge us”, ... people will ask us, did together we seize this moment”?

The Ambassador alluded to the “dark cloud of stigma and discrimination”, which still remained, but said, “it warms her heart” to see this (stigma and discrimination) as an important item on the meeting’s agenda”.

“Although we are still losing a significant number in this region to HIV and AIDS, there is incredible hope and incredible possibility,” she noted.

Continuing on the issue of stigma and discrimination, Caricom Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan emphasised the need for the “Justice for All Programme” in order to tackle this burning issue.

General Director of the University Hospital, Guadeloupe Christian Delavaquerie in his welcome reminded the meeting that “alone, one can achieve nothing” and wished the participants a meeting “rich in projects”.

Dr Jacques Bangou, Mayor of Pointe-à-Pitre, who gave a short welcome on behalf of the city, said “we [the Caribbean] are now more united and working together across the region”.

He added: “It is always the neediest populations who suffer” from lack of access to health services, and hopes the partnership will continue to address this.

During her remarks, Committee for Cooperation, Regional Council of Guadeloupe President Thérèse Marianne Pépin reminded the group that there is efficiency when there is a joint response and the exchange of best practices.

According to the representative of Marcelle Pierrot, Préfète of the re-

Culture Ministry to hold indigenous song festival

The Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport will host the indigenous song festival with the aim of preserving indigenous languages and raising awareness.

gion of Guadeloupe, who delivered remarks on her behalf, HIV is an essential issue and France is very proud to have PANCAP in Guadeloupe.

Kofi Annan of the Kofi Annan Foundation in a video message, expressed his regret at not being able to attend, but encouraged the meeting to continue its work towards ending HIV in the region.

The evening was also one of recognition for the tireless fight to reverse the spread of HIV in the Caribbean and to eliminate the sub-epidemic of stigma and discrimination.

Dr Marie-Thérèse Georger-Sow, a driving force behind the HIV response in Guadeloupe for many years, who also gave a brief welcome on behalf of the Interreg Caraibes Project and the Centre Hospital of Guadeloupe, was presented with a special award from PANCAP for her years of untiring work in the fight against HIV.

This year, PANCAP Awards were conferred on Julie Frampton and Dr Gerardus van Osch for their dedication and commitment to the HIV response.

Valerie Wilson, Executive Director of the Med Labs Foundation, who gave the Vote of Thanks, brought the curtain down on an evening which, though profound and sober, was unforgettably punctuated with enchanting performances by the youth performance group Company K13DKA, that were rich in the celebration of Guadeloupian culture and messages of humanity and equality.

The 13th AGM of the partnership ends on November 5 and is expected to come up with important decisions on positioning the partnership Post-2015.

The AGM is the highest decision-making organ of PANCAP and is the principal forum of expression for its broad membership of 62 formal partners.

Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony at a press conference on Monday, stressed that it is important to preserve indigenous languages. “The language speakers are dwindling, and if we do not do something we will lose these languages and some of these languages are unique to the world and if we lose them, the world will be short on languages.”

He added that the Ministry has been looking at bringing forth an event such as the language festival because it noticed that the indigenous languages are being overlooked. In keeping with the aim of preserving the indigenous languages, the ministry has also published seven dictionaries and is currently working on similar publications for the other two languages.

In addition, Grammar books for the indigenous languages are also being worked on.

The minister said the initiative is a start, but in order for the festival to blossom, partnerships are needed. Festival Coordinator, Ovid Williams, a Patamona, who gave a taste of an indigenous song said for Region One (Barima-Waini) performances, will come from the Arawaks and Warraus. From Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

the Arecunas will provide religious gospel, as well as a rapper to show their awareness of popular culture. From Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), performances can be expected from the Macushis and Wapishanas and from Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne), the Warraus from Orealla and Siparuta. The North Pakaraimas festival, to be held on 22 and 23 November by Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, will be

used to judge the Patamonas’ performances so they can take part in the festival. The Lokono tribe

Mission will also perform. Andrew Tyndal, Administrator, National School of Music said indigenous language is being threatened by extinction. He added that music being a universal language is thought to be the most effective way to showcase the varying indigenous languages.

United States Ambassadorat-Large, Dr Deborah Birx

from St. Cuthbert’s

Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Coordinator of the Indigenous Song Festival Ovid Williams and Administrator of the National School of Music Andrew Tyndal

Fugitive Mexican mayor suspected in abduction of 43 students captured

Mexican Police on Tuesday captured a fugitive former mayor and his wife suspected of being the probable masterminds behind the abduction of 43 student teachers feared massacred in September, officials said.

Police working with a local drug gang in the southwestern city of Iguala abducted the students after clashes there on the night of September 26, seriously undermining President Enrique Pena Nieto’s claims that Mexico has become safer on his watch.

Jose Luis Abarca, who at the time was Mayor of Iguala, and his wife, Maria de los Angeles Pineda, were captured by federal police in

a house in Mexico City early Tuesday and were being questioned by Prosecutors, a Government official said.

The run-down concrete house, its windows blacked

Venezuela’s Maduro to raise minimum wage

enezuelan President

VNicolas Maduro says he will increase the minimum wage by 15 per cent starting in December.

The raise, the third this year, comes amid an annual inflation rate of 63.4 per cent. Maduro said the measure and other benefits meant workers would be better off despite the inflation, which he blamed on an “economic war” the Opposition were waging against him.

The new wage will be 4889 bolivars per month (US$776).

Under Venezuela’s strict currency controls, people and businesses can receive US dollars at the official rate only by applying to a government currency agency, and then only for specific purposes such as importing goods or paying for foreign travel.

The amount of dollars available at the official rate is restricted, but the demand remains high. This has

caused the black market to flourish.

To applause from party members and workers gathered at an official event, President Maduro said he had “decided to accept the proposal from the workers to decree a 15 per cent rise in the minimum salary from 1 December”.

Last week, the President announced that he would raise the salaries of the members of the Venezuelan armed forces by 45 per cent, a move which was heavily criticised by the Opposition.

Maduro said the increase was “just” and “well deserved”.

“The armed forces are made up of workers who guarantee peace, stability and protection for our country,” he said.

“All year round, at all hours they are guarding our borders, and that’s why I get indignant when they are attacked by the oligarchy,” he added. (Excerpt from BBC News)

out with cardboard, was in the eastern district of Iztapalapa, one of the most crime-ridden parts of the capital, and a far cry from the comfortable lifestyle

they had led before.

Housewife Elia, 46, who lives opposite the building and declined to give her last name for fear of reprisals, said she was glad the couple had been captured.

“I have children who are students and I just think of the parents (of the missing students) and what they must be feeling,” she said. “They have to say where they have them and if they’re still alive.”

Mexican media said the couple had been hiding out in Iztapalapa for several weeks.

“I hope this arrest makes a decisive contribution to clearing things up,” said Pena Nieto in a speech. (Excerpt

Regional security chief shot dead in Mexico

AMexican securi-

ty chief has been shot dead in the north-eastern state of Tamaulipas, officials have confirmed.

They said Ricardo Nino Villarreal and his wife were killed on Saturday as they drove in the neighbouring Nuevo Leon state, but their bodies were only found by passers-by the following day.

He was one of several men sent by the Federal Government to stem a wave of violence in Tamaulipas. The state has been the scene of turf wars between drug-smuggling cartels.

The local officials said Nino Villarreal, a former general, was killed as he drove on the road linking the cities of Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo.

Nino Villarreal – who was security chief for the Nuevo Laredo area – is believed to have been ambushed by the attackers, who fired more than 100 shots according to officials.

The Army took full control of security in Tamaulipas in May after scores of people died in a series of clashes between rival Zetas and the Gulf cartels.

The cartels smuggle large amounts of drugs over the border into the US state of Texas and beyond.

It is not the first time a high ranking member of Mexico’s security forces has been killed.

In May, Tamaulipas’ chief of intelligence, Col Salvador Haro Munoz, was shot dead along with his two bodyguards. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Independence boycott by Antigua Opposition described as “an act of treason”

Antigua and Barbuda

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has described as “an act of treason” the decision by Opposition legislators to boycott the independence ceremonial parade on Monday.

Antigua and Barbuda normally observes the anniversary of its independence from Britain on November 1, but the occasion this year fell on the weekend.

Opposition Leader Baldwin Spencer and key members of his United Progressive Party (UPP) did not attend Monday’s ceremonial parade and awards ceremony where former Prime Minister Lester Bird was knighted and named a

bestow. Efforts by the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) to obtain a comment from Spencer and UPP Chairman

Harold Lovell, were unsuccessful.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne chastised Spencer for the no-show, adding that there was no other celebration more important than

independence.

“To boycott our independence celebrations is to disrespect the 400 years of toil, the 400 years of sacrifices that were made by our forefathers to ensure that Antigua and Barbuda ends up as a sovereign nation. It is just to abandon, to disrespect that contribution, that commitment of our forbearers,” Browne said.

“I’ll go as far as saying that I think it’s really an act of treason against the commitment of our forbearers and it’s very unfortunate that the leader of the opposition and his followers that they do not understand that our independence transcends partisan, political differences,” he added. (Excerpt from CMC)

Manhunt underway in Jamaica for gunman who killed mother and two children

Jamaican Police were searching for an unknown gunman who shot and killed a woman and her two sons on Monday.

Police have not released the names of those killed, but the incident occurred at May pen in Clarendon.

Residents said they heard the loud explosions and the woman screaming

that she had been shot. A man was later seen running away from the premises.

In September, law enforcement authorities said that there had been an 18 per cent reduction in murders for the period January 1 to September 24.

A total of 714 murders were reported, compared to 871 for the same period last year. (CMC)

PAHO/WHO mobilise Ebola preparedness teams in the Caribbean

The Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) say they are mobilising teams of experts in outbreak alert and response to help member states in Latin America and the Caribbean ensure they are prepared for any potential introduction of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

PAHO/WHO missions will visit member countries over the next two months to assess countries’ levels of preparedness to detect, treat and control the spread of any potential imported case of Ebola.

A PAHO/WHO statement said the missions, in coordination with national health authorities, will assess gaps and make recommendations for addressing them, and PAHO/WHO will provide follow-up technical cooperation based on individual countries’ needs.

In addition, PAHO/ WHO experts and experts from the Global Outbreak Alert and Response

Network (GOARN) will be deployed if an imported case of Ebola is identified in any member country, to assist national health authorities in implementing their EVD response plans. No cases of Ebola have been reported in Latin America or the Caribbean to date. However, “the risk of an imported case in the Region is real,” said Dr Marcos Espinal, Director of PAHO/WHO’s Department of Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis.

“It is important that our countries’ health systems be prepared to respond quickly to cases of Ebola and make sure it does not spread.”

The PAHO/WHO said that to be prepared for a potential case of Ebola, countries need to have the ability to detect a patient with symptoms.

They said health-care workers must be familiar with screening criteria, including symptoms and history of travel/exposure, and know when to isolate patients. (Excerpt from CMC)

Jose Luis Abarca and his wife went on the run two days after the September 26 attack by Police on the students (AP)

national hero – the highest honour the country can

Prime Minister Gaston Browne

A Jamaica Police officer

Around the world

Ukraine crisis: Poroshenko orders troops to key cities

kraine’s President Petro

UPoroshenko has ordered army reinforcements to key southern and eastern cities in case of a new rebel offensive.

Poroshenko said the units were to protect Mariupol, Berdyansk, Kharkiv and the north of Luhansk region. He spoke after meeting security chiefs in the wake of disputed polls in rebel-held areas of Donetsk and Luhansk.

He said he was still committed to the current peace process but has proposed cancelling a key plank of the plan. The peace process was laid out in a September 5 ceasefire deal agreed in Minsk, Belarus.

Angered by the elections, Poroshenko has proposed scrapping a law that gives special status to Donetsk and Luhansk. Both regions staged swearing-in ceremonies for their proRussian leaders on Tuesday, following the elections there on Sunday.

Alexander Zakharchenko was inaugurated President of the Donetsk People’s Republic while Igor Plotnitsky was sworn in as President of the Luhansk People’s Republic.

The polls were held against the background of a conflict that has killed more than 4000 people in eastern Ukraine since April.

Ukraine accuses Russia of arming the rebels and sending Russian regular troops across the border – a claim denied by Moscow.

Republicans set for gains in US midterm polls

Polls have opened in the United States with the Republican Party poised to make major gains and possibly recapture control of the Senate, in midterm elections seen as a referendum on the policies of President Barack Obama.

Millions of Americans are expected to cast their ballots on Tuesday to elect 36 senators, 36 governors and all 435 members of the House of Representatives.

gain the six seats they need to control the 100-member chamber for the first time since the 2006 election.

Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington DC, said that there has been a lot of “dissatisfaction” among voters. The battle for control of the Senate also could extend beyond Tuesday night.

Senate races with multiple candidates in Louisiana and Georgia, where the winner must get more than 50 per cent of the vote, could be forced into run-offs in December and January, respectively.

Both the government and rebel sides have repeatedly violated the ceasefire. Ukraine and its Western allies have condemned the elections in the east.

While Obama’s name is not in the ballot, the campaigns have been influenced by his low job-approval rating, partisan gridlock in Washington and a US economy that is widely seen as not growing enough to help many in the middle classes.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said on Tuesday that the polls were “illegitimate and risk putting in serious danger the path of dialogue and peace”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Pakistani mob kills Christian couple over ‘blasphemy’

AChristian couple in Pakistan have been beaten to death by an angry crowd after being accused of desecrating a Quran, Police say.

Their bodies were burned at the brick kiln where they worked in the town of Kot Radha Kishan in Punjab province. Police identified the victims only

as Shama and Shehzad, AFP reports.

Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue and critics argue the laws are often misused to settle personal scores and that minorities are unfairly targeted.

“Yesterday an incident of desecration of the holy Quran took place in the area and today the mob

India moves two warships away from Kolkata port after terror alert

India’s navy withdrew two warships from the eastern port of Kolkata on Tuesday after intelligence agencies warned of an attack on the port and the city, Police and navy officers said.

The rare move came two days after a suicide bomber killed 60 people on the Pakistani side of the main border crossing with India hundreds of miles to the west, deepening fears that Pakistan’s internal strife was spreading into India.

Two naval warships, INS Khukri and INS Sumitra, that had docked in Kolkata on Monday were ordered back into sea for “operational reasons”, Navy Spokesman

Captain DK Sharma said.

The ships were meant to be in port until Friday for public viewing as part of ceremonies in the run-up to Navy Day next month, he said.

Two officers in the control room at the Police headquarters in West Bengal where Kolkata is located said they had received a message from federal intelligence agencies on Tuesday warning of the possibility of an attack on the port.

“The alert is for the port area. We have taken security measures following the alert,” the Inspector in charge of the state control room said, asking that he not be named in line with state police policy.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

first beat the couple and later set their bodies on fire at a brick kiln,” local Police station official Bin Yameen told the AFP news agency.

A security official told the BBC that local Police had tried to save the couple, but they were outnumbered and attacked by the angry crowd.

Senior Police officials and Government ministers have now arrived there to investigate the killings. In May, gunmen in the city of Multan shot dead a lawyer, Rashid Rehma, who had been defending a university lecturer accused of blasphemy.

And last month a Pakistani court upheld the death penalty for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman convicted of blasphemy in 2010 – a case which sparked a global outcry. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Republicans are expected to pick up seats in the Senate, but polls show eight to 10 races are still tossups and it is unclear whether the Grand Old Party can

Seizing the Senate would give Republicans complete control of both chambers of Congress, complicating Obama’s last two years in office. That would constitute the most dramatic political shift since Obama entered the White House in early 2009. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UK loathe to pressure China over Hong Kong because of trade – former Governor

Britain is not putting enough pressure on China to stick to its side of an agreement on the transfer of Hong Kong’s sovereignty because it is worried about damaging trade links, former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten said on Tuesday.

China took back control

Burkina Faso army says it will cede power

Burkina Faso’s army will cede power to a transitional government and appoint a new head of state, Lieutenant-Colonel Isaac Zida, the country’s interim President, has said.

“We are going to move very fast, but be careful not to commit a mistake that might damage our country,” Zida said on Monday.

“We are not here to usurp power and to sit in place and run the country, but to help the country come out of this situation,” Zida said, adding that a new head of state would be chosen following broad discussions with various groups.

His announcement came in the wake of crisis meetings late on Sunday and Monday

between Zida and Opposition Leaders after thousands gathered to denounce his appointment in the central Place de la Nation – the scene of violent protests last week during which the Parliament was set alight.

Al Jazeera’s Malcolm Webb, reporting from the capital Ouagadougou, said that the country’s neighbours wanted to see a swift transition to civilian rule “because they don’t want a precedent to be set”.

Our correspondent added that it was still unclear if the proposed leader would be a civilian but that protesters remained adamant they did not want military rule. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

of the former British colony in 1997 through a “one country, two systems” formula which allows wide-ranging autonomy and specifies universal suffrage as an eventual goal.

But Beijing said in August it would effectively screen candidates who want to run for city leader, a de-

cision which has prompted weeks of street protests by pro-democracy activists who said it rendered the notion of democracy meaningless.

Last month, British Prime Minister David Cameron said it was important the people of Hong Kong were able to enjoy the freedoms promised to them, drawing criticism from China.

But Cameron has not directly criticised China publicly, however, and the Foreign Office has not escalated the matter.

“When China asserts that what is happening in Hong Kong is nothing to do with us, we should make it absolutely clear publicly and privately that that is not the case,” Patten told a committee of British lawmakers who are holding an inquiry into Hong Kong’s progress towards democracy. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Deadly security raid in Saudi after shooting

Two Policemen and two suspected gunmen have been killed in the Saudi town of Buraida, north of the capital Riyadh, in a security operation linked to an earlier shooting in the east of the country.

Six people were also arrested on Tuesday in several other raids across the country, hours after five people were killed and nine others injured late on Monday in the Eastern Province.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said security forces raided several places in the cities of Riyadh, al-Ahsa, alKhobar and throughout the Eastern Province, and apprehended those suspected of being involved in the shooting.

Referring to Monday’s attack in the town of al-Dawla in the city of al-Ahsa, Major General Mansour Al-Turki said:

“As a group of citizens was leaving a building ... three masked men opened fire at them with machine guns and pistols.”

The official did not provide further details. Activists on social media said the shooting targeted Shia Muslim worshippers as they were leaving a shrine.

The attack coincided with the annual commemoration of Ashoura, the most revered religious day in the Shia calendar. Footage posted online showed corpses lying in pools of blood after the attack in the oil-rich eastern region. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ukrainian troops in Mariupol will be among those reinforced

People wave luminous sticks as they take part in an anti-Occupy Central rally at Hong Kong’s financial Central district on November 4

Previous attacks on minority communities over blasphemy allegations have led to protests

wednesdAY, november 5, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

ICAG yet to confirm if Sattaur is under investigation

Close to two weeks after Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)

Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur had written the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana (ICAG) “demanding” that it confirms whether he is under investigation, the institute is yet to respond.

In the letter sent by Attorney Mahendra Satram on behalf of Sattaur, the head of the tax regulatory body is asking the institute to confirm whether an investigation is indeed ongoing into his conduct.

The Commissioner General had also requested the ICAG to state if it has communicated with the Kaieteur News based on contents published in an article on October 22.

Additionally, Sattaur wants the institute to issue a “clear and unequivocal” statement condemning what he calls “unsubstantiated and malicious attacks” that are designed to smear his character as head of GRA and at the same time avert the execution of statutory duty and mandate.

The letter further calls for the ICAG to publicly articulate their position on the illegally obtained taxpayer information, that is, emails purporting to show that Sattaur had sent tax details of several private media entities to former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Sattaur, who is also a member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants for over 31 years, had expressed disgust and concerns at reports in the media that suggest the ICAG or its representatives have commenced investigations into his conduct and may have already formed opinions on the matter.

The GRA head pointed out that he has caused

criminal charges to be instituted against Publisher of Kaieteur News Glenn Lall, and others for defrauding the authority. These charges, he said, carry significant penalties including the forfeiting of the two Lexus luxury vehicles, along with fines and imprisonment.

Sattaur explained to the ICAG that subsequent to and as a consequence of those charges, Lall commenced a campaign in his daily newspaper to smear and blemish his character.

“It appears that the institute is an unwitting participant in the malicious and vindictive campaign by Glenn Lall and Kaieteur News to malign and disparage the character of Mr Sattaur and to bring the GRA into disrepute,” he claimed in his letter.

The Commissioner General noted that legal actions have been filed against Lall, the Editor of Kaieteur News and the publishing company for defamation and he has successfully secured an injunction against the parties from further publishing any further libelous

statements in the newspaper.

However, he stressed that the defendants have been in contempt of court for their flagrant disregard of court order, and as such, appropriate actions against them are imminent.

Unfounded statements

According to Sattaur, the defendants have since published several “unfounded and unsubstantiated statements” that suggests he has committed gross professional misconduct. Additionally, they have published statements purported to be made by executives of the ICAG. This, the Commissioner General pointed out is disturbing since he was not informed of any allegation or investigation.

“It is highly irregular for the Association to commence or conduct an investigation or inquiry without notifying the affected member. For this reason, it is suspected that these publications may be fabrications on the part of the aforementioned persons, however, the silence of the Association and its

Executives leave room for speculation,” he highlighted.

In addition, the GRA boss urged the institute to consider the many public statements issued by the GRA and himself, challenging the authenticity of the emails and questioning the manner in which Kaieteur News and its Publisher have been able to obtain confidential taxpayer information.

He noted that official reports have been made to the Police regarding this issue, along with other pertinent facts.

“The fact that the information purportedly ‘leaked’ surprisingly did not disclose any information pertaining to the persons making the allegations and there being no nexus between the Publisher and the information disclosed, should indicate to the institute that these parties are attempting to avoid and stultify an impending audit,” the letter stated.

Sattaur went on to say that those statements and allegations are designed to force him and the GRA to abandon any investigation into the tax affairs of the aforementioned individuals.

On another note, he questioned whether the ICAG has considered that Lall unlawfully obtained confidential taxpayer information and published same in a nationally distributed newspaper.

“How he came into possession of such information, what other confidential taxpayer information he has illegally obtained? My clients find it surprising that the institute has failed to publicly address these issues and have not called for a comprehensive and exhaustive investigation of Lall and others and the institution of criminal charges where necessary,” the Commissioner General opined.

Community worker remanded on simple larceny charge

Trevor James, a resident of Norton Street, Lodge, was Tuesday remanded to prison on a charge of simple larceny.

Guyana’s greatest asset is our children – Attorney General

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs

Anil Nandlall addressed parents and guardians of Hope Secondary School on Tuesday, as some 800 of them turned out to receive the Government of Guyana “Because We Care” education grant at that location.

“Every policy which we promulgate, every initiative that we implement, is designed to impact and improve the lives of our young people,” Nandlall told the gathering.

The Attorney General cited the paramountcy given to the “welfare” of the child in Guyana’s

bution of resources in the education sector to guarantee every child equal access to all resources that are available in every region.

The Government, he said, has seen tremendous success from this policy.

“You know, that 20 years ago, only a few schools in certain urban communities were producing the top students at Common Entrance; at CXC; and at CSEC.

“But in recent years, more and more students from the rural areas such as Anna Regina, Linden and Berbice are topping the entire Caribbean at CSEC.

“This year,a student from Cotton Tree on the

Constitution.

“Over the years the Government has designed and initiated policies which are intended to target the young people of our country, with a view to better prepare them to meet the challenges of a more advanced, technological world than the one we now live in,” he said.

West Coast of Berbice, topped the entire Caribbean in Technical Vocational Education. We must be doing something right!

“These are significant indicators that our policy, backed by significant investment in the education sector over the years, are producing tremendous results.

The man, who is a community worker, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. It is alleged that on October 20 at Lot 338 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, he stole a bicycle from Elena Emanuel valued $10,000.

Emanuel had parked the bike at the said address mentioned in the charge; however, upon her return, she noticed the said item missing. She did her own investigation and found the defendant with the bike.

The Court heard that

The unrepresented de-

fendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. Police Prosecutor Michael Grant objected to bail on the grounds that the bicycle was recovered in James’ possession and he was previously convicted of simple larceny.

Lethem man accused of simple

larceny, narcotics possession denied bail

Lethem construction worker Allen Cartel was Tuesday remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for simple larceny and possession of narcotics.

On October 29, at St Ignatius, Central

Rupununi, it is alleged that he stole a bicycle valued $45,000, which belonged to Richard Gomes. The other charge alleged that on August 1, he had in his possession four grams of cannabis, to which he pleaded guilty. No facts about the matter were disclosed in court. However, the Police

Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant told the court that the defendant had missed three court dates for matters he had pending. The construction worker will return to court on December 1 at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court where the matter was transferred.

In this regard, he said Government continues to build new schools and increase the capacity of others, expand Technical Vocational Education (TVET) throughout Guyana, ensure that students attending the University of Guyana (UG), have access to student loans, and that “every child, irrespective of where he or she lives”, has equal access to education.

“Education has been identified as the surest vehicle to transport a people out of the vicious cycle of poverty,” said Nandlall.

The AG emphasised that Government has a policy of even and equitable distri-

“And so, it is in this context of our investment in education, and the equity of distribution of resources, that this $10,000 Education Grant must be viewed, because we care!” he added.

The disbursement of the grant continues tomorrow at 13:00h at the following locations: Grove Primary, Diamond Secondary, New Diamond/Grove Primary, Golden Grove Primary, Golden Grove Secondary, Enmore/Hope Primary, Enterprise Primary, Paradise Primary, Bladen Hall Secondary, Friendship Primary, Buxton Secondary, Annandale Secondary, and Lusignan Primary.

GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur

Attorney General Anil Nandlall hands over the "Because We Care" $10,000 education grant to one of the recipients

Membership update non-existent at No 40 Rice Farmers Cooperative Society

Dear Editor, The Cooperatives Department of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security wishes to respond to a correspondence published by Guyana Chronicle Newspaper on October 31, headlined, “An open letter to the President of Guyana”, penned by Patrick Hamilton of the No 40 Rice Farmers Cooperative Society Limited.

The Administration

of the Department of Cooperatives has written to this Cooperative Society in July 2014 requesting copies of their mandatory records to be submitted to the Department since the Society was not audited for a number of years. Additionally, elections have not been held and the membership update is non-existent. To date, the Department is not in receipt

of any of these records. In the absence of these records, the Department was not able to respond in a meaningful way on behalf of the Cooperative Society because of its lack of accountability.

It may be important to note that Mr Hamilton had sent a correspondence to President Donald Ramotar, dated September 5, on this very issue and the Ministry provided an update on the

failures of the Society to the Office of the President.

Another Society which may be similarly affected because of non-compliance is the Seafield Land Cooperative Society Limited.

Carol Valz Chief Cooperatives Development Officer Ministry

Human

of Labour,

Services and Social Security

GWP-C loses a founding father

Dear Editor,

The Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) has lost one of its founding fathers, Navin Chandarpal, who passed away recently ending a long battle with stomach cancer.

Chandarpal was a distinguished Guyanese politician who, at one time, served his country as the Minister of Agriculture and up to his passing, was the Adviser to the President of Guyana on Sustainable Development.

He served his country well and made stellar contributions to the Caribbean Region. To the GWP-C Network, he is regarded as one of the organisation’s pi-

oneers, being the first Chair of the organisation from its establishment in 2004 until 2006.

Under his stewardship during that period, the GWP-C grew extensively forming many partnerships in the Region with other organisations that had an interest in water sustainability.

Through his efforts and guidance, GWP-C moved steadily into executing its mission to support Caribbean countries in the development and management of their water resources through the promotion of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the

Caribbean. His desire and optimistic legacy was for Guyana to enact new water legislation embodying IWRM.

Following his term as the Chair of the GWP-C from 2004 to 2006, Chandarpal remained committed to pushing the mission of the organisation, never failing to provide guidance and technical knowledge whenever needed in support of the vision for a water-secure Caribbean.

According to Judy Daniel, Chair of the GWP-C, “Navin was a true Caribbean man, ready to guide and support the advancement of all the Region. To the end he was

self-sacrificing and eager to serve with humility and the greatest commitment. We have lost a noble and visionary leader. I have lost a true friend and so long as I live, I will do what I can to learn from him. ”

The GWP-C salutes a true leader and stalwart of the Region but more over, one of its founding fathers. We extend our deepest sympathy and gratitude to his family for sharing this remarkable person with us.

Submitted by, Gabrielle Lee Look Communications Officer GWP-C www.gwp.org

Let’s end gender-based violence

Dear Editor,

November marks a special focus on violence against women and girls – domestic violence. Over the years, this month has provided a rallying point for commitment to end GenderBased Violence (GBV).

We can all take action to end GBV. Preventing and responding effectively to GBV are core values we hold in Guyana.

The NGO Sector has provided frontline response to GBV, pro-

St

viding that comforting shoulder in times of crisis, counselling, shelter and support for survivors. NGOs have also helped law enforcement better understand the laws governing domestic violence and discrimination, so that they can protect the rights of women, girls and survivors of GBV.

The business sector can support this effort too. You can help reduce the fear and isolation survivors feel by supporting the NGOs on the front-

Ignatius Government

line. You can promote safety and protection for survivors by supporting community organisations that protect survivors. Be the company that takes a stand against GBV. To find out more about how your company can take a stand against GBV, see www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Z2PcgLJdUJw.

Submitted by, Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS

Secondary School

was established in September 1967

Dear Editor, This letter is to correct a statement made in a letter written by Peter Persaud and published on September 11.

The first wrong statement Persaud wrote was: “Under the PNC, there was no secondary school in Region Nine (Upper Takatu/Upper Essequibo). St Ignatius was a Community High School.”

That statement is not true. The St Ignatius Government Secondary School was established in September 1967. The Principal was Howard London and there were four staff members: William Marshall and his wife, Pat Marshall, both white Americans and members of the Peace Corps and there were Eugene Dextrase and his wife, Elaine Dextrase, both French

Canadians and members of Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO).

When the school opened in September 1967, there were 12 students at the school, including Carol and Murphy Caesar; Tommy Kenyon; Pauline and Clifton Li; Pauline, Patsy, Margaret and Lesley Thomas; Joseph Orella; Peter Gorinsky; and a boy whose last name was Rufino.

The other incorrect statement is: “Under the PNC, green water from the Takatu River used to be pumped into Lethem and all the pipes released green water in the homes of the residents.”

That is not true, there was no green water coming out of the taps in any of the homes in Lethem. Even if the Guyanese who lived there would have remained silent at such a horri-

These depraved souls

Dear Editor, When armed robbers could invade a church and violently rob the worshippers there, then it behoves me to believe that we have totally lost it. We have totally lost the values of respect and reverence for a house of worship and for the sanctity of human life. As members of any community, we are entitled to live and worship in peace and freedom.

However, with the latest armed attack on the parishioners of the St Philip’s Church, this freedom is under severe threat. These parishioners were there to worship, and to do so in peace and quietude, not be violently robbed by a bunch of lowlife individuals.

Guyana was destined for such a state ever since the PNC-led Administration left us a legacy of glorified criminals. Today, this party sits in the Opposition, but they are still in the habit of defending them even when they are caught. This is the pattern of their terroristic behaviour.

Another distressing part of their destructive and destabilising plan is the fact that many guns were handed out to criminal elements. This is evident from damaging testimony coming out of the Rodney CoI, where claims of arms and ammunition distribution to party

supporters were evident. Granger cannot hide from these damning revelations because he was a member of the armed forces that was fingered in these ghastly schemes.

Granger cannot make the ridiculous claim that the boys cannot get jobs because as we speak there is a massive short-term employment programme on in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). All these have to do is cash in on the programme and get themselves gainfully employed. There is no way these guys can get away with that excuse of not finding anything to do.

The point I am making is Granger and his PNC/ APNU colleagues need to hang their heads in shame as to the horrible place we’ve found ourselves. With each despicable act of robbery under arms, an indictable rap sheet is written up against that party. When such notorious crimes are taking place in a region you claim overwhelming support, then, your stewardship as a political party comes in for dishonourable mention. The people of Guyana are taking notes on this party and we will speak come next election.

Sincerely, Neil Adams

Unions have sole authority to represent workers

Dear Editor, The two unions with sole authority to represent workers at the Guyana Power and Light Inc are the GPSU which represents the junior and senior management staff along with the NAACIE which represents the junior and senior staff workers of GPL. We have made all attempts to meet with the management jointly to negotiate salaries and wages along with conditions of work for members of both unions.

ble sight, never mind insanitary sight; there would definitely have been complaints from the community of white people who lived in Lethem at the time.

There was the Swedish doctor, the white American doctor, the white nurse from England, there was a hospital and the District Commissioner, who was Guyanese but definitely would not remain quiet about green water coming out of the tap in his home (what nonsense).

This Peter Persaud really needs to fact check his information before writing. He was not living in Lethem in 1967 when the St Ignatius Government Secondary School was established or he would not write such nonsense.

Sincerely, Murphy

Browne

After one year this request is still to be agreed on by the company. We have explained our reason for this action, but the GPL continues to refuse our demands. Their only reason is that the two Unions represent categories of workers.

At our second meeting with the company held on October 24, at the level of your Ministry, we were told that there is no intention to agree to our request even after being advised by Senior Labour Officer, Mrs Karen Vanslytman-Corbin and Mr Francis Carryl.

This leave us with no other alternative but to

inform you that our two Unions have indicated to the chairman of the meeting and representative of GPL, Bal Persaud, our intention to take industrial action if the company refuses to negotiate with the workers’ representatives of GPL collectively. Please recognise this as an ultimatum served on the management of GPL in keeping with the provisions of the Public Utility Undertakings and Public Health Act, Chapter 54:01 that should the company, GPL – refuse to negotiate with our Unions (the GPSU and NAACIE) for wages/salaries and other conditions of employment, for 2013, no later than 31 days after receipt of this letter, we will be forced to take whatever action we feel necessary according to the Act, which could include but is not limited to taking strike action.

Yours sincerely, Kenneth Joseph/ Patrick M Yarde NAACIE General Secretary/GPSU President

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER

Your earning potential can increase if you are willing to learn new skills. Take a close look at the qualifications you need to land a top position and start the ball rolling.

Difficulties while travelling will be aggravating. Keep a level head during traffic delays or poor weather conditions. It’s best to slow down and let everything around you unfold naturally.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

AQUARIUS

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

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Don’t be tempted to reveal your personal secrets. Deal with unfinished projects and chores. You will accomplish all you set out to do and still have time left over for relaxation.

The key to a current situation can be resolved if you discuss your dilemma with someone you trust and respect. The expertise offered will ensure that you are on the right path.

Decisions regarding your financial future should take top priority. Make a list of everything you already have in place and set realistic goals to achieve your desired outcome.

Deception is evident. Someone will keep important information from you. Don’t believe everything that you are told or shown. Get the facts firsthand and you won’t make a costly mistake.

Get out and interact with people who appreciate your attributes and stimulate your senses. Beneficial personal and professional connections will be made if you network. Share what you have to offer. MONDAY'S WORD

Business and pleasure will go hand-in-hand. You will make a favourable impression on your peers with your friendly and relaxed manner. Useful advice will come from an unexpected source. You can reduce your stress level if you refuse to let others take advantage of you. Following your intuition will enable you to make the best choice.

Keep anyone trying to persuade you to do something that goes against your morals or beliefs at arm’s length. Don’t give in to temptation or you will damage your reputation and confidence.

You will be overtly emotional to remarks or gestures made in your presence. Step away from the situation before a heated discussion breaks out. It’s better to retreat than to have regrets.

Take time to have some fun. Spend the day at a spa, take a hike or listen to music. Time spent alone or with someone you love will ease your jangled nerves.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

dilbert

arCHie

Normalisation Committee reviewing apps for yearend tourneys

By TreisTon Joseph

With the Christmas season in the air, it also means that football is looming somewhere in the atmosphere as well.

However, with the recent installment of FIFA’s Normalisation Committee in an effort to stabilise Guyana’s football, questions have arose surrounding the hosting of popular year end tournaments, more specifi-

cally the Kashif And shanghai tournament as well as the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Banks Beer Cup.

For the ardent fans of the sport in Guyana, Kashif and shanghai had to resort to hosting a school tournament last year due to the organisers failing to meet some of the requirements handed out by the previous Guyana Football Federation (GFF) administration while the GFA tournament was

NBA Roundup…

played with no hiccups.

Guyana Times Sport caught up with the chairman of the Normalisation Committee Clinton Urling who spoke on the matter.

“There is no position of the NC (Normalisation Committee) at the moment, we are reviewing all applications and we will make decisions on a case by case basis.

“We will issue the prerequisites to all the applicants and take it from there… pretty soon you will be hear-

Real Madrid needle Liverpool

Amuch-changed

ing from us as we review the applications we will make it public,” Urling stated.

Both tournaments are seen as Guyana’s premier club tournaments with the Banks beer Cup rising to prominence over the last couple of years.

However, the Kanshif and Shanghai tournament has been around for over a decade but was unable to host their tournament last year.

Nets outgun Thunder

Brook Lopez scored 18 points in his first regular-season game in about 11 months, and the Brooklyn Nets routed the injury-depleted Oklahoma City Thunder, 116-85, on Monday night in their home opener.

Alan Anderson added 18 points and Deron Williams had 17 points and nine assists for the Nets, who got their leading scorer back on a night the Thunder, already without Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, lost yet another player to injury.

The Grizzlies, off to a franchise-best 4-0 start, got three double-doubles. Randolph had 11 rebounds to give him a double-double in each of the team’s four games. Gasol (11 rebounds) and Tony Allen (12 points, 11 rebounds) also finished with double-doubles.

Tyreke Evans led the Pelicans with 21 points.

Rockets 104, 76ers 93 — James Harden had 35 points and nine rebounds and Dwight Howard added 11 points and 14 rebounds to lead Houston in Philadelphia.

game.

Kings 110, Nuggets 105 — Darren Collison scored 21 points, including three free throws in the final 16.2 seconds, and Sacramento held off host Denver.

DeMarcus Cousins added 19 points and Reggie Evans grabbed 14 rebounds as the Kings started the season 3-1 for the first time since 201011.

The Nuggets were led by Arron Afflalo and JaVale McGee with 16 points apiece.

Liverpool fought hard but came up short against Real Madrid as Karim Benzema scored the only goal in their Champions League match.

The Frenchman turned in Marcelo’s low cross after Simon Mignolet had done well to keep out efforts from Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez.

Liverpool threatened briefly after the break as Adam Lallana fired just wide.

But Real remained in control and Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling’s arrival off the bench could not turn the tide.

Despite the slimmer margin of victory, the game petered out in a similarly low-key style to when Real enjoyed a 3-0 win in the reverse fixture at Anfield a fortnight ago.

In possibly the biggest

Rodgers’s second string will not alter the maths of Group B, in which Liverpool find themselves three points behind second-placed Basel with two games to play.

Their line-up may have seemed more in keeping with the Capital One Cup than the Champions League, but the changes initially appeared to unsettle in-form Real.

Liverpool made a similarly promising start at Anfield, though, and Mignolet was still required to make sharp stops from Rodriguez and Ronaldo.

The Merseysiders held out only four minutes longer than they managed on home turf before Marcelo stole a march on Lazar Markovic on the left to set up Real’s opener.

The full-back’s measured cross was met by Benzema as he darted in front of Toure and the visitors appealed in vain for an offside flag.

Grizzlies 93, Pelicans 81 — Marc Gasol scored 16 points, Zach Randolph had 15 and Tayshaun Prince added 14 as Memphis extended its home winning streak to a franchise record 16 straight.

Reggie Jackson scored 23 points in his season debut after missing the first three games with a sprained right ankle, but the Thunder left just as shorthanded as they entered when starting guard Andre Roberson sprained his left foot. He played just 11 ½ minutes of the first half.

Trevor Ariza hit six 3-pointers and scored 24 points to help Houston improve to 4-0.

Tony Wroten led the winless Sixers (0-4) with 20 points and K.J. McDaniels had 14.

The Sixers had one lead all

Clippers 107, Jazz 101 — Blake Griffin scored 31 points and Jamal Crawford added 19 to go over 15,000 in his career to lead Los Angeles over visiting Utah.

Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 27 points. (Boston Globe)

St Vincent’s Gonsalves marshalling support for WICB

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves says he has been rallying support to help the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) settle a US$42 million bill with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The Vincentian leader made his disclosure in Kingstown on Monday after WICB President Dave Cameron appealed for assistance from Caricom Countries to satisfy the claim.

BCCI suspended bilateral tours to the Caribbean and initiated the multi-million dollar claim for dam-

Ralph Gonsalves

ages after the one-day team quit the tour of India last month over a contracts row with their union, the West

Indies Players Association.

“I have been talking to several persons at home and abroad to respond to the plea by the president of the Cricket Board to see how we can help them with the 42 million dollar US claim that the Indian cricketing authorities have made against our team,” Gonsalves said.

“I will help in whatever way I can because of the importance of cricket to our civilisation — our Caribbean civilization”.

It appears that a meeting in Trinidad on Friday, brokered by Prime Minister Gonsalves and his Grenadian counterpart Keith Mitchell, with WIPA,

has reached a resolution.

The meeting agreed to setup a three-man task force to look at the BCCI lawsuit.

“I fully expect that the team for South Africa will be selected without any discrimination, without any victimization against the India 14, both for the tests and for the One Days which will come in January,” Gonsalves explained.

“I expect it to be done in fairness and transparency and there are other elements which we have settled upon”.

West Indies are to play a tough three-Test series against South Africa starting next month. (CMC)

gamble of his managerial career, Brendan Rodgers made seven changes to the starting XI that lost to Newcastle at the weekend, with Mario Balotelli and Jordan Henderson joining Gerrard and Sterling on the bench.

Instead, Kolo Toure, who has seen less than a minute of Premier League action this season, started in defence, behind a midfield trio of Emre Can, Lucas and Joe Allen, with the willing Fabio Borini in attack.

Liverpool’s line-up seemed to suggest damage limitation, rather than a revenge mission, at the Bernabeu.

If minimising their losses was Rodgers’s aim, he succeeded, but some will struggle to understand his approach to such a big game.

The result, and team selection, will be thrown into even starker light should Liverpool fail to get a result at home to Chelsea on Saturday, when some of their rested first-choice players are likely to return.

And promising performances from several of

Liverpool reached halftime without registering a shot on goal but, more importantly, despite being penned back on the edge of their own box, survived without conceding a second.

The Reds emerged for the second half to a rousing chorus of You’ll Never Walk Alone from the travelling fans, and they responded with more attacking endeavour.

Alberto Moreno and Lallana both caused moments of alarm with snap-shots, before Borini saw a free-kick deflected wide.

But it was the hosts who created more openings, with Benzema side-footing over on the stretch and Gareth Bale hitting the bar after being introduced on the hour.

Gerrard, Sterling and Philippe Coutinho came on soon after, but a late sucker punch never arrived.

Instead it took a timely foul from Moreno to stop Bale as he shaped to let fly with his left foot and Real probed at the growing defensive gaps.

Brook Lopez

Karim Benzema celebrates his winning goal

Bangladesh tear through Zimbabwe’s bowling

Anuggety Tamim Iqbal century was complemented by a strokefilled one from Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh cashed in on the painstaking foundation they had laid in Khulna to make 433.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers struggled to reprise the discipline they had shown on the opening day.

The pitch had nothing for them and the onus was now on their batsmen to combat an immense amount of pressure. Hamilton Masakadza and debutant opener Brian Chari had to face variation in bounce and the odd ball turning, but were able to take their side to stumps with one batsman down.

Taijul Islam, fresh from an eight-wicket haul, was handed the new ball and derived just enough turn to make the arm ball a threat. One of those sliders thudded into Sikandar Raza’s pads. It had looked marginal and the batsman had a right to opt for a review.

However, the original call of umpire Billy Bowden was upheld when HawkEye revealed the ball would have tickled leg stump.

Zimbabwe’s best period of play on the second day was when they strung a tenover spell after lunch that produced only six runs and a wicket.

Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara whittled down the percentage of loose balls. A tight ring of fielders on either side of the batsman limited the chanc-

Britain’s Andy Murray has been drawn in the same group as Roger Federer for the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Murray, 27, has won three titles in the past six weeks to qualify for the eight-man season-ending tournament, which takes place from 9-16 November.

The Scot is in Group B along with Swiss second seed Federer, Japan’s Kei Nishikori and Milos Raonic of Canada.

Top seed Novak Djokovic, Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka, Czech Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic of Croatia are in Group A.

Murray will open play at the O2 at 14:00 GMT on Sunday against Nishikori, followed by Federer against Raonic at 20:00.

Wawrinka and Berdych begin proceedings on Monday, with Djokovic and Cilic in the evening session.

The top two players in each group will progress to the semi-finals, with the standings based initially on match wins, although it can come down to the percent -

es of rotating the strike. Shakib attempted to take a single, only for Raza to swoop in from cover and run Mushfiqur Rahim out.

The Bangladesh captain had raced to 11 off 5 balls before lunch, but could not find a run in the next 31 balls before he was caught short of his ground.

Zimbabwe would have been desperate to ex-

tend that stranglehold. Especially with Shakib looking rather anxious. He had been the primary reason for Bangladesh whisking 123 runs in the first 30 overs of the day.

But stuck in the nineties, he preferred caution. Perhaps excessively so, but his last century was in 2011. He did not want that drought to stretch.

age of games won or even world rankings as the final tie-breaker.

Murray has avoided defending champion Djokovic, who beat him at the Paris Masters last week to end his 11-match winning run.

But the 2013 Wimbledon champion will face Federer, who is attempting to regain the world number one spot and win this title for a seventh time.

Three-time semi-finalist Murray and Federer have each won 11 of their career meetings.

The Briton has a 3-0 winning record against Nishikori but trails Raonic 3-1 in their head-to-head.

US Open champion Cilic, meanwhile, will be

An on-drive against Panyangara took him to the landmark, after which Bangladesh refused to be bogged down. The three overs after drinks in the post-lunch session were carted for 26 runs. Tired bowlers, a helpless pitch and the total ballooning towards 400 meant Shakib becoming Malcolm Waller’s maiden Test wicket barely made a dent.

The tail came in with a license, which Taijul Islam used as he survived a chance and demoralised Zimbabwe further during a 43-run eighth wicket stand with Shahadat Hossain.

There were barely any chances in the morning though, and when the breakthrough did come - a mistimed drive from Tamim found gully with lunch only 2.3 overs away to end a 132run stand - Zimbabwe would have felt relieved more than anything.

Their bowlers had been able to strangle Bangladesh on the first day, so much that Elton Chigumbura believed honours had been even. There had only been 18 fours yesterday, one session’s play today produced 13, and three sixes. It was almost as if Bangladesh were telling the opposition they could have upped the ante any time they wished, but had chosen not to.

Brendan Taylor saw nothing in the pitch to encourage the seamers. He resorted to the part-time spinners to lull a mistake from

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh 1st innings

Tamim Iqbal c Ervine

b Masakadza 109

Shamsur Rahman lbw

b Chigumbura 2

Mominul Haque c &

b Panyangara 35

Mahmudullah lbw

b Panyangara 56

Shakib Al Hasan b Waller 137

Mushfiqur Rahim*† run out (Sikandar Raza) 11

Shuvagata Hom c Chari

b Waller 15

Taijul Islam c Masakadza

b Chatara 32

Shahadat Hossain c M'shangwe

b Chatara 18

Jubair Hossain lbw

b M'shangwe 1

Rubel Hossain not out 0

Extras: (b 6, lb 6, w 2, nb 3) 17

Total: (all out; 158.5 overs) 433

Fall of wickets 1-6 (Shamsur Rahman, 7.2 ov), 2-78 (Mominul Haque, 37.3 ov), 3-173 (Mahmudullah, 82.5 ov), 4-305 (Tamim Iqbal, 118.4 ov), 5-322 (Mushfiqur

the batsmen. Bangladesh did display a greater inclination to hit out and enjoyed success quite regularly.

Shakib welcomed Waller by running at him and depositing him over long-on. He had realised a softer ball would not afford much spin and used his swift and decisive footwork to unsettle them.

Rahim, 130.5 ov), 6-376 (Shakib Al Hasan, 141.1 ov), 7-383 (Shuvagata Hom, 143.2 ov), 8-426 (Taijul Islam, 153.6 ov), 9-433 (Shahadat Hossain, 157.2 ov), 10-433 (Jubair Hossain, 158.5 ov)

Bowling: T Panyangara 2910-49-2, E Chigumbura 22-5-60-1, TL Chatara 277-61-2, N M'shangwe 40.57-127-1, MN Waller 23-4-652, Sikandar Raza 11-2-31-0, H Masakadza 6-1-28-1 Zimbabwe 1st innings Sikandar Raza lbw b Taijul Islam 11 B Chari not out 21 H Masakadza not out 15

Extras:(b 1, lb 5) 6

Total:(1 wicket; 19 overs) 53 To batBRM Taylor*, MN Waller, CR Ervine, E Chigumbura, RW Chakabva†, T Panyangara, N M'shangwe, TL Chatara Fall of wickets 1-17 (Sikandar Raza, 5.6 ov)

M’shangwe’s legbreaks finally made an appearance after 17 overs of play. He had better control of his flight later in the day and picked up the final Bangladesh wicket with a googly. But M’shangwe had begun his second over with a loopy full toss that Shakib tonked to the midwicket boundary. Two balls later, Tamim nailed a drive wide of longon to savour his first Test century in four years and acknowledged the landmark with a broad smile while his team-mates leapt to their feet. Mushfiqur was seen pumping his fists. Those smiles are likely to have got broader at stumps. (Cricinfo)

Toure distraught over social media abuse

making his debut in the tournament at the O2 Arena.

“It is going to be very difficult but very exciting,” he told BBC Radio 5 live. “I hope it is going to be an absolutely amazing experience.

“I have watched it on TV for so many years so it is going to be very exciting, especially knowing it’s played in front of full crowd, with big entertainment.

“Any of the matches could be a Grand Slam final so it is satisfying to play in it.”

World number three Rafael Nadal will miss the tournament after having appendix surgery on Monday. (BBC Sport)

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure says the abuse he has been subjected to on social media is “a disgrace”.

Police are investigating claims that Toure was racially abused on Twitter, only hours after he reactivated his account following a five-month absence.

“For me, it’s a disgrace to be honest,” Toure, 31, told BBC Sport. “We need to do something to try to tell people those kinds of behaviour have to stop.

“I want those people to understand what they’re do-

ing is wrong.” Toure called on the football authorities to do more to combat the problem of racism in the game.

“I’ve been trying to say to [world governing body] Fifa that they are on the wrong way and what they are doing is not good,” he said.

Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out on Monday said it had received complaints about two tweets of a “racist nature” and had informed the police.

It added Toure had been back on Twitter “for a matter of hours” when he “re-

ceived abuse of an appalling nature”.

The Ivory Coast international was also the target of racist abuse last season when City beat CSKA Moscow in Russia.

“To have such aggression in sport, I can’t understand that,” he told BBC World Service’s John Bennett. “That’s why I’ve been trying to fight it.

“Football doesn’t have a colour. We’re just people from all over the world trying to enjoy the game.

“I never see this in rugby, I never see that in tennis or anything else. I don’t know where it’s coming from.

“Sport is sport. Sport is not violence. Sport is not about being bad with people. Sport is about being healthy and proud of what you are doing.”

Toure fears failure to stamp out online abuse will force other footballers to steer clear of social media.

“For me, it’s OK because I have experience, but for young lads who will maybe go on Twitter and find that... first, they’ll be afraid; second, they’ll close their account,” he said. (BBC Sport)

Shakib Al Hasan on the attack against Zimbabwe

Yaya Toure

Murray, Federer set for clash

Andy Murray (left) set to meet Roger Federer

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Jeptoo tested positive of EPO

Two Kenyan athletics officials say marathon runner Rita Jeptoo’s positive doping test was for erythropoietin (EPO).

David Okeyo and Jackson Tuwei, who are vice presidents of Athletics Kenya, say Jeptoo’s “A” sample taken in an out-of-competition test on September 25 showed traces of the blood-boosting drug.

It’s unclear if the Boston and Chicago marathon champion will ask for her backup “B” sample to be tested.

Okeyo says Kenya’s athletics federation will meet Tuesday to discuss the case. Jeptoo is one of the highestprofile Kenyan athletes to fail a doping test.

Jeptoo has won back-

to-back titles at both the Boston and Chicago marathons. She was about to be crowned winner of the World

fore it was revealed Friday that she had failed a doping test.

Arsenal move to Champions League’s

last 16 despite blowing 3-0 lead against

Anderlecht

Mikel Arteta’s penalty put the Gunners ahead after Danny Welbeck was fouled by Chancel Mbemba.

Alexis Sanchez doubled the lead with a stunning 20-yard volley before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain added the third.

Anthony Vanden Borre reduced the deficit from close range before scoring a penalty, with Aleksandar Mitrovic equalising in the last minute.

Arsenal were set to book their place in the knockout stages when substitute Mitrovic headed Andy Najar’s 90th-minute cross past Wojciech Szczesny from close range.

The Londoners still need one point from their two remaining games - at home to Borussia Dortmund on 26 November and at Galatasaray on 9 December - to advance.

But with Dortmund five points clear, their hopes of finishing top of the group and heading into next

month’s draw as one of the seeded teams are fading.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger looked furious at the end.

Though Vanden Borre was clearly offside when he scored his first goal, there can be no excuses for the lapses of concentration that allowed the Belgian champions to take a point.

Indeed there was no evidence of the drama to come at a rain-lashed Emirates when two goals in the space of four first-half minutes put the Gunners in control.

Chile international Sanchez had already been denied by a post when Mbemba felled Welbeck to gift Arteta his first goal in the competition, the Spaniard coolly chipping his 25th-minute spot-kick down the middle.

It was 2-0 four minutes later, the tireless Sanchez finding the net with a sublime low 20-yard volley after his free-kick cannoned off the visitors’ wall.

Anderlecht battled

throughout but they looked beaten when OxladeChamberlain put Wenger’s side 3-0 ahead by drilling home after a powerful 58th-minute run.

Vanden Borre was at least a yard offside when he began Anderlecht’s amazing fightback from close range in the 61st minute.

Nacho Monreal’s clumsy foul on Mitrovic then allowed Vanden Borre to make it 3-2 from the penalty spot.

And, just as Arsenal appeared to have weathered Anderlecht’s late flurry, the dangerous Mitrovic headed home to the delight of the 3,000 travelling fans.

Anderlecht manager Besnik Hasi:

“Maybe Arsenal thought that they were superior at 3-0 and they could have fun with the public.

“But I’m very very proud of my team and they showed their character and their quality. They did fantastic.” (BBC Sport)

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Marathon Majors series be-

Rita Jeptoo

Liverpool players in dismay after blowing lead

Persaud, Hutson comfortable with FIFA’s Normalisation Committee

Members of the Guyana Football Federation that led the no-confidence vote against former president of the federation Christopher Matthias feels comfortable with the decision made by the world governing body of football in to install a Normalisation Committee.

Ivan Persaud the former Vice-President of the federation, highlighted that FIFA’s decision should be respected.

“Whatever decision they (FIFA) make is what we will have to work with and I just hope that the decision they have made works out for football.

“I wish the Normalisation Committee the best and hope that they follow the mandate of FIFA…FIFA made a decision and we should respect. They (FIFA) are doing probably based on experience and it might have worked before so I wish the best for football in Guyana,” Persaud stated.

Meanwhile Aubrey Hutson who is the President of the East Demerara

Football Association (EDFA) and led the noconfidence vote against Matthias shared his views on FIFA’s decision.

“I was at first a little concerned about the persons selected in terms of them not having background in football but after careful thought I thought it best that it is better that the committee is made of persons for a want of a better word not tainted.

“They are sports persons I have worked with a few in Stuart May who does

the AINLIM and 10 ad well as Dr Pilgrim who is well versed in sports but the proof of the pie would be in the eating and at the end of the day we will not how bad or good they did,” Hutson lamented.

The Normalisation Committee was put in place by FIFA to take over Guyana’s football as well as reforming the constitution in a last ditch effort to solve the many issues after two failed congresses that ended in walkouts. (Treiston Joseph)

Prosecutors file appeal against Pistorius' sentence

South Africa’s prosecutors have filed an appeal against the “shockingly light” sentence given to athlete Oscar Pistorius, court papers show.

Last month, Pistorius began serving a five year prison sentence for the culpable homicide of Reeva Steenkamp, although he could be out in 10 months.

The sentence failed to consider the “horrendous manner” in which Ms Steenkamp was killed, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors are also appealing against Pistorius’ murder acquittal.

The double-amputee Olympic sprinter was charged by the prosecution with the pre-meditated murder of Ms Steenkamp, a model and law graduate.

He was acquitted of this and the lesser murder charge of dolus eventualis by High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa on 21 October.

In South African law, this charge - also known as common-law murder - applies if the accused knew they might kill someone but still went ahead with their course of action.

‘Gruesome’

“The appeal on conviction is based on the question of law,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Nathi Mncube in a statement.

In papers filed with the North Gauteng High Court and published by South Africa’s Eyewitness News on its website, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said Judge Masipa “erred in over-emphasising the personal circumstances of the accused and the fact that the accused was suffering from posttraumatic stress, was anxious and ‘seems remorseful’.

“Not enough emphasis was placed on the horrendous manner in which the deceased died coupled with the gruesome injuries she sustained when the accused shot and killed her,” he said.

Pistorius’ sentence was “shockingly light, inappropriate and would no have been imposed by any reasonable court”, Mr Nel added.

Ms Steenkamp died af-

Ramdin alleges victimisation as Emrit named T&T captain

West Indies' Test captain Denesh Ramdin believes he has been axed as captain of the Trinidad & Tobago squad for the forthcoming domestic four-day tournament and has alleged, in an interview with Trinidad Express, that he is being "victimised". Allrounder Rayad Emrit has been named captain of the T&T side. Patrick Rampersad, a vice-president of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), has denied Ramdin's allegation.

Ramdin said he had met the TTCB executive on November 3 to discuss the forthcoming season and admitted the move had come as a shock as he had anticipated continuing his tenure as captain.

"It [the meeting] was to talk about playing for Trinidad so I told them [TTCB], 'Yes I will be available for Trinidad,' and I said, 'Yes, no problem, I will be at training tomorrow [November 4],' and then they said I am no longer the captain," he said.

"So I said how could I be West Indies captain and play for T&T under somebody else. When I was captain for the four-day and the 50-over teams and Dwayne [Bravo] was captain for West Indies' one-day squad, the guys said because he is one-day captain, it would look bad if he comes back to play for T&T under somebody else, so he captained the team for the Super50.

Now it is the same situation, if I am captain for West

Indies and have to come back to play under somebody else."

Ramdin alleged he was being victimised and said that he had been asked about the abandoned India tour during the meeting with the TTCB. Ramdin believed the team was moving in a different direction, but said that his removal served as a motivating factor.

"In moving forward they are trying to go in a different direction," he said. "I am axed as captain and they announced Rayad Emrit will be captain going forward for Trinidad & Tobago.

I think it is more victimisation because they were asking me questions about India and my lawyer said not to talk about it so I think they were trying to get more information on that aspect.

"I think they are trying to victimise me and some of the other players, but I am not going to let it disrupt me mentally. I am just trying to

Springlands and Albion Community Centre have advanced to the play-offs of the Berbice Cricket Board sponsored New Building Society Limited second division 40 over cricket competition.

ter Pistorius fired four shots through a door at his upmarket home in the capital, Pretoria, in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year, fearing there was an intruder in the house.

The athlete was also given a three-year suspended sentence for firing a gun in a restaurant.

The prosecution had called for him to be given the maximum 15-year sentence for culpable homicide, or manslaughter.

Pistorius is currently serving his sentence in the hospital section of Pretoria’s Kgosi Mampuru II jail.

He can apply to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest after 10 months in prison.

After the verdict, his family said that he would not appeal. (BBC Sport)

Springlands defeated No 71 ‘B’ to emerge as the top team of Zone O (Upper Corentyne/Central), while Albion Community Centre won their final Zone J (Lower Corentyne/Central) preliminary match to remain undefeated in that zone.

See below summerised scores from the recent matches played:

At No 71, Springlands beat No 71 ‘B’ by 267 runs. Springlands 369-5 in 25. (Trishan Ramdass 131, Deoprakash Ramdat 57, Soomdat Singh 44, Michael Kendall 35). No 71 B 102 in 11.5 overs. (George McCalman 5-22, Wayne Garnett 4-36).

At Albion, Albion Community Center beat Tamarind Root by 80 runs. Albion Community Center 174-5 in 35 overs. (Verapen Permaul 65, Adrian Sukhwa 39, Ritesh Umroa 25, Dilip Ramsammy 3-25, Adrian

Singh 2-46). Tamarind Root 94 in 26.3 overs. (Asif Abrahim 28, Suruj Dookna 4-18, Satesh Dwarka 3-23).

At Bush Lot in West Berbice, Bush Lot Challengers beat Bush Lot United by 26 runs. Bush Lot Challenger 188 in 29.5 overs. (Asgar Matabeek 64, Asif Khan 43, Winston Joseph 4-24, Navendra Mahadeo 2-15, Gerald Moonsammy 2-25). Bush Lot United 162 in 30 overs with Terrence Dhanraj 33, Shawn Smith 31, Fizal Hera 5-33).

At Fyrish, Fyrish beat No 1 Road by 141 runs. Fyrish 264 in 35 overs. (Yuvindra Chinapen 54, Javed Mohamed 35, Munilall

get back into the right frame of mind to play and I know we [T&T] have a couple of games before going to South Africa so I will just try to get myself mentally prepared. We have a game against Barbados at the Oval so that is my main focus right now, to get out there and be playing cricket again."

Rampersad reportedly told Trindad Express that the executive could not have removed Ramdin as captain without a recommendation from the selectors. Alec Burns, head of the selection panel, told the paper that the panel had made recommendations but could not reveal them.

He said the panel could only make recommendations and that the final decision rested with the TTCB executive. Azim Bassarath, the board president, also said that players "cannot be victimised" for abandoning the India tour. (Cricinfo)

Shivdyal 26). No 1 Road 123 in 20 overs. (Shivdyal 5-25). At No 70, Corriverton beat No 70 Young Star by 94 runs. Corriverton 240 in 38 overs. (Eric Phillips 46, Anthony Seeraj 39 Jeremy Moore 35, Imran Jabbar 26, Alim Haniff 3-29, Thameshwar Kumar 2-48). No 70 Young Star 146 in 28 overs. (Alim Hanif 25, Eric Phillips 4-9, Jermain Reid 3- 25, Faoud Bacchus 2-38).

At Rose Hall Town,

Denesh Ramdin

Aubrey Hutson

Ivan Persaud

Tamarind Root beat Rose Hall Town Guns and Cannons by eight wickets. Rose Hall Town Guns and Cannons 71 in 23.2 overs. Dilip Rengasammy 3-7.) Tamarind Root 72 for 2 in 11 overs.

Deoprakash Ramdat

Trishan Ramdass

Oscar Pistorius

Urling calls for united approach to repair football

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Chairman of the Normalisation Committee installed to run the affairs of Guyana’s football, Clinton Urling, has underlined the importance of having a united and collaborative approach in helping to restore the game to some semblance of stability.

Speaking at the Committee’s first media briefing last Friday, Urling, in the presence of a few representatives of the fivemember unit, outlined the vision of the FIFA appointed body.

The articulate businessman and former president of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry said the mandate of the Normalisation Committee can only be accomplished with the full involvement of all stakeholders.

“We have to try to work with all the players, grassroot specialists, associations, referees, coaches, business leaders, sponsors, FIFA, CFU, CONCACAF and every stakeholder everywhere and develop a system and support structure to ensure that sporting excellence in football is achieved,” Urling said.

He added, “I look forward, and I think I can speak for the entire Normalisation Committee, for a bright future for football in Guyana.”

Urling added that the Normalisation Committee will be guided only by the

world governing body, FIFA, to which it is mandated to report to. As he puts it, the Committee is answerable to FIFA only.

“We’re the temporary custodians; our mandate though derives from FIFA. We’re only answerable to FIFA, because this is not a normal situation,” he explained.

Urling went on, “The normal situation is the associations were going to Congress and electing their executive, which is answerable back to them. In this scenario, we’re answerable to FIFA. If we’re not clear on any issue, we will seek guidance from FIFA. FIFA will write us and inform us of the most appropriate strategy if we can’t decide on any issue; if we could we don’t need to.

But I think in the early stages we will seek enormous guidance from FIFA and also seek guidance again from member associations and all the stakeholders involved.”

The Normalisation Committee was appointed by football’s world governing body, FIFA, to lead the process of revitalisation of Guyana’s football after two failed Congresses by the Guyana Football Federation, led by Christopher Matthias.

The five-members had no previous involvement in the game. Urling apart, the others are Dr Karen Pilgrim, Stuart May, Robin Chandarpal and Tariq Williams.

Hetmyer, crandon put singh’s X1...

Earlier, Vishual Singh’s X1 took a slight advantage at lunch by negotiated some quality bowling before reaching the break on 76-1.

Opener Kandasammy Surujnarine was not out on 39 and Shimron Hetmyer was not out on 13 at the break.

National opener Tagnarine Chanderpaul was the only wicket to fall in the first session. The righthanded, Surujnarine was more intent on defending for most of session although he did hit a few boundaries. He found an able ally in Hetmyer as they trudged along at a decent pace up to the break.

The Albion player played the new ball well enjoying a crucial first wicket partnership of 40 runs with

GSCL Inc to host President’s Cup T20 competition

Following a break in organising softball cricket in Georgetown due to the playing of several tournaments, including the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association’s Guyana Softball Cup 4, the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. (GSCL Inc.), is back at it again.

The GSCL Inc. Organising Committee, led by the hard working Samuel Kingston, has organised a President’s Cup T20 competition using the ‘big ball’, with the aim of keeping softball teams affiliated to the League, active year round.

Samuel Kingston

The upcoming GSCL Inc. President’s Cup will be facilitating the first six teams to register in the Open and Over-45 categories, with the entrance fee set at $50,000 per team in each category. The winning prizes will be $300,000 for first place and $100,000 for second in both categories, along with trophies. According to Kingston, the closing date for the payment of the entrance fee is November 10, with the

launching and drawing of the tournament taking place two days later at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) Sports Club, Woolford Avenue.

The playing dates for the tournament are November 15-16 for preliminary round matches, while the finals for both categories will be held on November 22 at a venue to be named, along with a female exhibition clash.

Grounds identified to be used for this competition so far are GNIC, Demerara Cricket Club, Queen’s College and Georgetown Cricket Club.

Apart from the team accolades, the Man-of-theMatch in the two finals will also receive trophies. Interested teams are asked to contact Kingston on 6149536.

his partner Chanderpaul (16), but the latter squandered his chance of scoring some runs on a good strip. He was trapped leg before wicket to left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who was the most successful bowler to finish the day with 5-75 off 25 overs.

However, despite losing two quick wickets in the middle session, Singh’s X1 remained in the ascendancy.

Surujnarine added just five runs before he was bowled by Permaul for 44. After the 63 runs partnership between Surujnarine

West Indies ODI player, Royston Crandon, came together and batted through the session.

The pair overcame some early anxious moments, but remained in control of the proceedings. The duo, however, settled and set about building the foundation for a long innings and looked ominously at ease at the interval.

The left-handed, Hetymer enhanced his reputation, smashing six fours and a six off Motie to reached his half-century, while Crandon also

milestone off a swift single through mid-wicket off Deonarine in addition with five more boundaries in the process.

Medium-pacer Christopher Barnwell the removed Hetymer before Permaul managed to sneak one through the gates and comprehensively knocking over Crandon . At 306-5 and nearing the close of play on day one, Vice-Captain Steven Jacobs (0) who scored a half-century last match became the fifth victim for the left-arm spinner after

and Hetmyer was broken, skipper Vishual Singh, who scored a match winning hundred in the first practice game, joined the West Indies under-19 opener.

But his stay at the crease was short after he was caught at short long-on off Permaul for four.

Hetymer and former

showed his class, hitting similar amount of boundaries to underline Singh’s X1 dominance by the interval, with Hetymer on 79 and Crandon on 48 respectively. Upon resumption Crandon reached his fifty off a single down the ground. Soon after, the 17-year-old reached his

attempting a wild sweep shot and was trapped leg before wicket.

Both Hemraj and Adams got Singh’s X1 through to stumps without many more alarms. Play will resume today from 09:30 hrs and admission to the venue is free.

Shimron Hetmyer on the attack

Royston Crandon drives powerful down the ground

Petra Organisation breaks new ground

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

“This is another groundbreaking day for the Petra Organisation.”

Troy Mendonca’s opening remarks aptly summarised how significant an achievement it has been to launch the first-ever Girls’ Under-11 schools football tournament for teams in Georgetown.

The co-director of the Petra Organisation joined representatives of Ansa McAl Trading, the Education and Health Ministries and Health 2000 (Guyana) Inc. on Tuesday afternoon at the Girls Guide Pavillion at Brickdam to unveil plans for the 12-team competition.

“We’re all about youth development and this follows the successes we’ve had with the Courts Pee Wee Under-11 and the Milo Under-20 competitions,” Mendonca remarked.

The Petra Organisation has had tremendous success with its competitions for school boys, and Mendonca is confident the upcoming event will be equally trium-

phant.

Girls’ U-11 schools football competition

The former Georgetown Football Association president said the launch is the direct result of the many requests they would have received to host a competition for girls. According to Mendonca, a dozen schools have been invited and they will be placed in three groups of four to play a round-robin format.

The top eight will then move forward to the knockout stage, but the other schools will also remain in the competition to vie for the remaining spots. Action will kick off on November 14 and conclude on December 13 with all matches slated for the Girls Guide ground, Brickdam.

Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, said the launch of the tournament is indicative of the seriousness with which the Petra Organisation treats the development of football and youths. Sam highlighted that the event was conceptualised at the end of the last term, and he is enthused that it is one step closer to

of Petra Organisation and other stakeholder bodies share a moment with some of the young ladies who would be competing in the tournament. The trophies up for grabs are also on display (Photo:

becoming a reality.

Public Relations Officer of Ansa McAl Trading, Darshanie Yussuf, said her company is “excited” be on board, noting that the investment in female football is a welcomed one. Ansa McAl Trading is sponsoring the competition under its Smalta brand, and Yussuf said she is looking forward to a “competitive” tournament.

Hetmyer, Crandon put Singh’s

X1 in strong position

By RAjiv BisnAuth

AShunet Crandon, the Administrative Assistant of Health 2000 (Guyana) Inc., and Dr Janice Woolford, the Maternal and Child Health Officer of the Health Ministry, were also present at the launch and both expressed their entity’s pleasure at being aligned with the tournament. Dr Woolford revealed that the Health Ministry will be holding parenting sessions on playing days.

The primary schools that have been invited to participate are St Margaret’s, West Ruimveldt, Tucville, North Georgetown, South Ruimveldt, St Pius, Marian Academy, F.E. Pollard, Enterprise, East La Penitence, St Stephen’s and Stella Maris. Smith’s Memorial is on standby.

WICB to examine BCCI claim

Billy Heaven, head of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) and director of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), is hoping that today’s (Wednesday) emergency board meeting of the regional body will yield tangible solutions to the ongoing crisis affecting West Indies cricket.

was sent by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).”

Heaven, who will be participating in the discussion, along with Jamaica’s other nominated representative on the WI board, JCA first vice-president Dr Donovan Bennett, also expressed hope that the discussions will be fruitful.

Hinds and a return to negotiations as it relates to the recent signing of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between WIPA and the WICB.

runs

chanceless century by Shimron Hetymer and half-century from Royston Crandon, who put on 119 for the fourth wicket steered Vishual Singh’s X1 into superior position at the end of the opening day of the Guyana Jaguars second practice game against on Tuesday at the National Stadium.

Captain Vishual Singh won the toss and opted to bat.

Hetymer notched up an even hundred, while the more experience Crandon stroke an attractive 97 to help Singh’s X1to an imposing 311-6 at close after

The pair came together at 113-3, soon after lunch and was separated mid-way through the final session.

At the close left-hander Chandrapaul Hemraj was on 39 not out and Ricardo Adams is yet to score.

The meeting, which is set to be held via teleconferencing, is largely expected to deal with issues surrounding a special meeting that was held in Trinidad and Tobago last Friday between WICB president Dave Cameron, West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president Wavell Hinds and West Indies one-day captain Dwayne Bravo.

“I am anticipating that we will look at the different issues that the board is facing at this time,” Heaven told The Gleaner.

“This includes the recent meeting that was held in Trinidad, as well as the damage-claims letter that

“I cannot anticipate what the mood of the board will be like, but I do hope that we will all go in with a frame of mind of finding solutions,” he said. “It is critical matter, not only for the WICB, but also for the people of the Caribbean.”

The special meeting in Trinidad, which was convened by St Vincent Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and his Grenadian counterpart, Dr Keith Mitchell, is said to have created a ‘road map’ for the way forward.

This includes non-victimisation of the players involved in the India tour boycott, the non-resignation of WIPA President Wavell

It is also understood that a Task Force, headed by former West Indies fast bowler Sir Wes Hall and former Barbados Prime Minister David Simmons, was to be established to deal with the impending issues, as well as the claims letter sent by BCCI.

In the letter, the BCCI has asked for compensation of approximately US$42 million to address losses as a result of the West Indies failing to complete their tour of India early last month.

The West Indies were slated to play three Tests, a one-off Twenty20 International and five onedays. However, the players pulled out of the tour after playing only four one-day matches, contending that the recently signed CBA resulted in a loss of income.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

Representatives

Avenash Ramzan)

Shimron Hetmyer and Royston Crandon pile on the