Guyana Times Daily - February 20, 2015

ExxonMobil’s Champion Oil Rig headed to Guyana

Executives of US giant oil company- ExxonMobil on Thursday updated Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud on activities that the company will undertake over the next few weeks before it commences of its US$600M oil exploration project.

The executives- Chuck Calavan, ExxonMobil Vice President of US and Latin America and Jeff Simon, Country Manager, ESSO updated Persaud on the deployment of the Company’s oil rig (Deep Water Champion) which was expected to depart from Louisiana, USA on Thursday to the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana where it is expected to commence drilling in mid-

March.

To further enhance this effort, Minister Persaud stated that Cabinet has recently approved a request from ESSO for geological and geophysical survey in the form of 3D seismic survey within offshore Guyana. A permit has been granted to CGG Service (UK) Limited to undertake this survey.

He also made reference to the Oil and Gas Policy which will give way to a modern oil and gas development framework. This is being done with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat and other partners. Additionally, in the Demerara Block, CGX has concluded 3D seismic survey and the data continues to be processed and a timeframe for delivery is to be sched-

uled. In the Berbice Block, ON Energy Inc. has completed an airborne geophysical survey and the data is being processed, Minister Persaud highlighted.

Guyana Times first reported that the company was heading here on Sunday. The area for exploration, known as the Liza Area or the Stabroek Block Area measuring some 26,806 square kilometres is said to be the target area and the company intends to drill 1750 metres in depths that reach up to 3000 metres. Officials from the company explained that while they are not yet sure if the prospect will be successful, they are still prepared to invest the money into the venture.

Simons had stated that it may take them seven or

more years to find oil in the country, explaining that the specialists just know the layout of the underwater area, such as where rocks and various obstacles are located, based on the seismic data gathered. The project is expected to be a 10-year exploration with three periods including two phases in each period while each period lasts for one to two years, with the strictest safety procedures expected to be followed throughout the project.

Erik Oswalk, Vice President of the Americas mentioned that they al-

ready trained a fleet of drivers they will be using for the venture while every other staff member has been trained with basic first aid procedure and contractors were encouraged to wear appropriate attire on the job. Exxon is the world’s largest publicly traded international oil and gas company that has existed for 130 years. Exxon replaced the Esso, Enco, and Humble brands in the United States on January 1, 1973.

Guyana’s offshore Guyana Basin and the inland Takatu Basin have attracted companies such as

Shell, Total and Mobil since the 1940s that have done much geological surveyance of the area and have drilled a number of wells.

As of 2008, there were four companies undertaking exploration work in Guyana. These were ExxonMobil, Repsol, Century Guyana Ltd and CGX. The Petroleum Division of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission has the responsibility of monitoring surveys in Guyana. The venture is expected to provide job opportunities to Guyanese in several areas when operations commence.

Lima man remanded for allegedly killing wife

A46-year-old Lima Sands man charged with killing his 34-year-old wife was remanded to prison on Wednesday.

Annirude, of Lima Sands village in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), made his first appearance for the capital offence of murder before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate Court.

Police said that between Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14, the labourer murdered his wife, Haimwattie, also

called “Katy”. The man was not required to enter a plea and was, therefore, remanded to prison until March 10 for the commencement of his trial.

The labourer stood in the dock stoically when the charge was read to him. Police, however, in an earlier statement said he had confessed to killing his wife. He claimed that he had told Police that he went home and was hungry, but did not get anything to eat, so he choked her.

Haimwattie was discovered dead Valentine’s morn-

ing in the backlands of Lima Sands. Relatives went and saw her after Annirude raised an alarm. He told relatives that she had been sick and vomiting blood. Neighbours, however, told the media that they heard the woman screaming the night before she was pronounced dead. The couple shared one child.

An autopsy performed by Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh on Monday at the Suddie Mortuary confirmed the mother of one died as a result of manual strangulation.

ESSO Country Manager Jeff Simon, ExxonMobil US and Latin America Vice President Chuck Calavan and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, February 20 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, February 21 – 05:30h-07:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, February 20 – 05:05h-06:35h and Saturday, February 21 – 05:45h-07:15h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings at 06:00h and 16:00h

WEATHER TODAY

AFC continues to implode following APNU pact

... another high-ranking member quits

B y M ichael y ounge

The Alliance For Change (AFC) appears to be going under as yet another Executive Member has resigned from the party citing allegations of corruption, rigging of internal elections, misappropriation of funds, and bullyism by the “gang of five”.

Businessman Balwant Persaud announced his resignation from the party on Thursday at his place of business in Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, in the presence of a room packed with journalists. Persaud said that the AFC has betrayed his trust and that of thousands of its supporters who believed the party when it promised never to align or join forces with the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

He explained that the party has also compromised the foundation upon which it was built and its founding principles which set it apart from the other two main political parties in Guyana. “But recently, the AFC has deceived the members of the party by aligning with the APNU… the AFC’s Executive are just selfish … the leaders of the AFC are just concerned about getting into Parliament and holding positions,” he said.

Persaud, who was on the AFC’s list of candidates during the last elections, alleged that the AFC’s members are now collateral damage as the gang of the five continue to pursue their aim for executive power. The gang of five, he refers to, comprises AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, Chairman Nigel Hughes, Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo, General Secretary David Patterson and Parliamentarian Cathy Hughes.

“They never consulted

the members of the party when they decided to form this coalition. They should have held a meeting or get a referendum or something from their members before they made the decision to collate with the APNU. It was very dictatorial,” he opined.

Improprieties

Persaud also alleged that the party’s internal elections were rigged back in 2012 and this year. “People who were not members were allowed to vote. People who did not satisfied the constitution by being a financial member for one year were elected to the Executive such as Moses Nagamootoo, Rajendra Bissesar and a few others,” he told media.

He also said the elections “were arranged”.

Persaud also challenged the accounts and financial statements given to the party members at the 2012 Conference, saying that “the constitution says only audited accounts must be given to the members”. He said that the accounts and financial records presented were vague, inaccurate and questionable in nature. They involved millions of dollars in donor funds and funds flowing from specific persons. The AFC owned no buildings, vehicles or big assets, but was putting deprecia-

tion in the records. “All of these things affected me to support the AFC,” he admitted.

The businessman said that the AFC did not even present a financial statement at its last conference where the “gang of five” influenced the entire process. He is also arguing that there is no list of National Executive Members that were elected at the Congress. “We cannot trust them to manage a country’s affair because if you trust them one day, the next day they will say something else.”

Throughout the press conference, Persaud maintained that the AFC’s Executive has shown disdain and disrespect for the will of its supporters. “You cannot go to a bottom house and talk to a group of five people and say that all of them have approved … that is not the way to do things in a well-run organisation ... Nagamootoo can say anything, but that does not mean that he is telling the truth,” he remarked.

Embarrassed

Persaud said that he was embarrassed as the hundreds he brought to the AFC with the promise of change were now either telephoning him or criticising him for the decision made by the party. He expressed uneasiness about the apparent tale of betrayal. “How I see things, the AFC was losing support. Most of the people I spoke to said that they will stay home. A few said that they are returning to the PPP/C

[People’s Progressive Party/ Civic],” he advanced.

Future Persaud vowed to do everything in his power to ensure that the AFC did not win the upcoming election following its decision to join hands with APNU. He made it clear that he was willing to join the ranks of the PPP/C if he was invited or asked to do so. Asked whether he was asked to do so or approached by the PPP/C, Persaud responded in the negative.

On Wednesday, the former AFC General Secretary Sixtus Edwards shared his experience with the party, making very similar claims about being sidelined and the mismanagement of the party.

Other members of the party have also spoken out about the infighting and corruption in the party. The party was slapped with a slew of other resignations in 2013 and 2014. Attempts to reach AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan for a comment proved futile. When contacted AFC General Secretary David Patterson did not confirm or deny any of the allegations made by Persaud. The only comment a seemingly agitated Patterson would offer is “youngster, I am saying that you can continue to report on the AFC like you have been doing. You can say whatever you want to say”. The AFC has been at best hostile to reporters of this newspaper.

Businessman Balwant Persaud

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

“Cleanup my Country”

There have been huge investments in garbage collection, public awareness campaigns, new landfills and to some extent ensuring that those found littering are prosecuted. The general appearance of the city continues to embarrass residents who are disgusted with the situation.

A similar situation also exists in other parts of the country, especially along the coastal areas where there are overgrown bushes and various encumbrances along the roadways, garbage pileup, and the list goes on.

Government has allocated $1 billion towards the “Cleanup my Country” initiative. Half of that amount goes towards sanitizing the capital city and other surrounding areas. In some areas, one could see a huge difference in terms of the general appearance of the surroundings when compared to what existed before.

This was indeed a good move on the part of the Administration to allocate these huge sums toward ensuring that our country, and more particularly the Capital City Georgetown, is clean. The idea behind the project was well intentioned, especially considering the fact that it created numerous jobs for hundreds of locals.

What happens after these monies are expended? What plans are there in place to ensure sustainability of the project? For example, will the City in particular get back to its usual state? Will the Government fork out another billion dollars to ensure that the country is cleaned up again?

More importantly, will citizens, especially those residing in Georgetown, change their attitude in relation to the way they dispose of garbage and they way they treat their environment generally?

Whatever the case might be, one thing we are sure of is that it would be unreasonable and perhaps unacceptable for tax payers to be taking on this huge burden again. These sums of money can be better spent towards improving other areas of social services, for example, education, healthcare, infrastructure etc.

While we have noted that some efforts are being made by the various sector ministries to ensure sustainability of the Clean up my Country project, there was nothing concrete so far presented to the public, either by the Government or the City Council on what happens next after these monies would have been expended and the life of the project would have come to an end.

All efforts must be made to ensure that the City and other areas which were cleaned do not return to the state they were in prior to the clean-up exercise. There is certainly a need for the authorities to reexamine the way in which solid waste is being managed in the country, more particularly the capital city.

The overall goal of solid waste management is to collect, treat and dispose of solid wastes generated by all population groups in an environmentally and socially satisfactory manner using the most economical means available. Specific emphasis must be placed on the markets as these undoubtedly are a source of a large percent of the garbage that is usually being dumped recklessly.

While support must be given to the various NDCs, they must also play their role in ensuring that villages which fall within their boundaries are taken care of adequately. More often than not this responsibility is handed over to Central Government, and this not be.

That said, citizens also have an equally important role to play. They need to be reminded on a regular basis about their own responsibility and benefits that could be derived from keeping the environment clean.

There are simple actions which citizens in various communities could take to beautify their own environment, for example, cleaning their lawns, drains and trenches regularly, cutting overgrown bushes and clearing all encumbrances that may be blocking up the sidewalks etc.

While it is hoped that the authorities will come up with an effective plan in terms of sustainability of the clean-up project, it would be very helpful if citizens were to adopt a more responsible attitude with regards to the manner in which they treat their environment.

There is no change on the political landscape in Guyana

Dear Editor, Someone wrote "the more things change the more they remain the same." This statement is ever so true when you look at the political scene in Guyana. What has taken place recently is a rehash of the old, a return of two political entities the PPP/C and the PNC/R, no change.

It is a two-horse race right from the very start. Why did I say this is as a result of verifiable proof in the woven thread of history of third party politics. Let us carefully examine the way third party politics played out in Guyana.

When the Working People's Alliance (WPA) was formed that party was to have become the third political force in our country. A third party then meant that the people of Guyana had a choice wherein they could break away from the monopoly of a two-party system.

The WPA under the charismatic leadership of Dr

Walter Rodney blazed a trail which saw thousands of supporters under his wings. He had the blessings of thousands who were hungry for change rallying behind him, "Rodney our hero, Rodney our hope."

This meant change was bound to come on the political scene. Now, we are well aware what this kind of challenge posed for the ruling PNC. It brought out the raw and unbridled wrath of Burnham hence at every opportunity the PNC under Burnham hounded that party. Lurking at every corner was danger, death and destruction. This ultimately lead to the brutal assassination of its leader Rodney - the Walter Rodney Commission of inquiry says it all.

Soon thereafter the WPA became a shadow of its former self, never to carry the clout they had when charismatic leader Rodney was alive. So, where did that leave us, a dead hero in Rodney and a bunch of liv-

ing cowards, chief of which was Rupert Roopnarine.

Then, that new leader did the unthinkable thing gave up his birthright for a mess of pottage, he sheepishly joined the PNC in a coalition that is called APNU. Unbelievable! There ended that third party.

We are now in February 2015 and the very same scenario confronts us. Here we have the AFC assuming the position of third party formed under the expressed assurance that they would be the party that can make a change in Guyana.

That was the operative word "change", and people took them seriously and jumped on the idea with their votes in the last election. This whole idea of a breakaway from the hegemony of the two major parties sat well with the people and moved them to give the AFC an unprecedented seven seats.

They even went so far as to categorically reject the

Stealing was not the aim of

Dear Editor,

It is most regrettable that in this country it is the norm to attack the messenger rather than the message and it is my fervent hope that the spate of break-ins and thefts at the RVC High School which I operate, is not politically motivated.

However, there are too many co-incidents to suggest that these are isolated incidents and that the motive is to steal.

As I had mentioned in a previous letter, the breakins coincided with my TV programme which sought to expose the lies and deception peddled on the AFC programme, “Alliance

on the Move”, and when I stopped the programme in July last year, the breakins ceased.

Two weeks ago I restarted the programme and the break-ins started again. On the last occasion a message on my desk warned me to get out of New Amsterdam. An identical message was scrawled on my desk last year.

On two occasions my entire office was vandalized and important documents stolen, in addition to soft drinks and snack items from the canteen.

The break-in reported was done on February 14, on Valentine’s Day.

However, on February 17, there was another break-in but this time there was no theft.

This time there was a clear attempt to burn down the school. In addition, the classrooms were vandalized and furniture thrown all over. Fortunately, the debris used to ignite the classroom fizzled out and only managed to scorch the wall and the cupboard which was placed next to the pile of ignited debris.

There was an attempt also to ignite the screen which was placed on the floor. The motive clearly rules out stealing and the true motive is becom-

idea of ever theming up with either of the two established forces, that is, the PPP/C or the PNC/APNU, further assurance for the people to like them and vote for them.

Well, the rest is history the AFC was forced to eat up those words like the proverbial "dog that ate his own vomit". They have cowardly surrendered their wills to the PNC/APNU. Again I repeat, there ended the third party system and any viable alternative to the people. Hopes were dashed and dreams became nightmares. This is the coalition mess they see which tells me that the people will speak in no uncertain terms come May 11. In it all only one party has stood the test of time, that is, the PPP/C. It is a bastion of unity, strength and goodwill towards the people of Guyana. They are the only ones worthy to govern this country.

Neil Adams

ing clearer. The matter was once again reported to the Criminal Investigation Department at New Amsterdam Central Police Station and they have launched an investigation with two persons currently being questioned. I will continue to expose the lies and deceptive statements peddled by the AFC and the attempt to ‘burn’ the truth will fail miserably.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf AFC Councillor Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne)

Final touches being applied to a monster truck which will hit the road on Mash Day (Carl Croker photo)

Modi's defeat could imperil economic reforms in India

Dear Editor, India's ruling party, BJP, suffered a humiliating defeat earlier this month in New Delhi state elections. I was in Delhi and was fortunate to be a part of the swearing in ceremony of the new Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, who himself was humiliated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last April in the city of Varanasi in parliamentary elections.

Kejriwal has returned the favour by trouncing Modi's BJP - although not of the same effect - one being national and the other being state assembly. Nevertheless, the defeat should be a cause for concern for Modi as it could impact on the pace of economic reforms that Modi has initiated in order to speed up development.

Many political pundits expressed shock at the Delhi assembly outcome (67-3) in favor of Kejriwal's Aam Admi Party (AAP). The Congress and other parties scored ducks. Some 100, 000 people showed up for the swearing in - a sea of people; getting to the site (Ramlila Ground) which I visited on numerous trips to Delhi was itself a major achievement.

Kejriwal gave a simple but magnificent speech appealing to the poor. My informal polling in Delhi

showed people were not surprised by AAP's victory but were shocked at the margin. I too was taken aback by the margin although I expected AAP to win, as I penned just before the election.

The defeat (the margin of the victory for the Opposition) could be a setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In fact, people told me they don’t want market reforms. They want their basic needs to be met. They want better paying jobs and an improvement in their living conditions. Reforms are needed to create jobs. But Modi would have a most difficult time to sell his reforms.

The AAP has been working the ground since its crushing defeat last April in the general elections, whereas the BJP was in a non-stop celebratory mood not expecting that voters would turn against it.

BJP was only planning and not delivering and voters are impatient - they want quick action; Muslims switched from Congress and the small numbers who voted BJP went to AAP; and Christians and other minorities also switched from BJP to AAP.

The anti-corrupt voters went over to AAP although the BJP has not been found

tainted in corruption since it reclaimed power last May. A lot of young people (tens of thousands) like what happened in the BJP victory last April, volunteered for AAP and went house to house to campaign.

The BJP abandoned the successful strategy of the youths volunteering for it and it did not bother to appeal to the diaspora for assistance as it did in 2014 for the Delhi elections. BJP has only been talking and offering plans and not delivering; people want action not just talk and TV appearances,

The AAP engaged in grass roots politicking whereas BJP pursued television marketing campaigning. People want to actually see their MPs and local reps and to interact with them, not just to see them on TV or in the newspaper.

As in Guyana and Trinidad, voters could not find the reps until it was time to vote again whereas AAP legislators and projected reps were on the ground daily and virtually campaigning out with voters.

People wanted services and the BJP reps were found wanting. Last August, I told my friends in the BJP that voters would vote them out if they did

not service their constituents. Voters were grumbling that nothing was getting done – it was all talk and TV appearances.

My BJP friends did not take me on, saying voters would not move away from them. I also suggested that an early election be held, but in all fairness to the BJP it could not go for an early election because the price of tomatoes were very high and Indians are known to vote out Governments when prices for onions, chilli and tomatoes were high.

The BJP wanted to delay the election as long as possible so it could improve the economy and voters would swing towards it. The Supreme Court forced an early election ordering the election commission to dissolve the assembly after a year of its not meeting and the state under central rule.

And even under BJP central rule, the Government did not deliver on its promises in December 2013 election when it won the most seats. New Delhi voters were looking for small improvements in their lives and the BJP had eight months to deliver the most basic of needs.

The BJP focused on the big projects that brought no marginal improvements to the lives of the com-

Stop clutching at straws

Dear Editor

Clearly, the highly negative response to the news that AFC has dissolved itself into APNU has sent the AFC and its accolades into a frenzy to look for something to distract people and to find something it can view as positive.

The efforts by some of their media sympathizers to misread and misinterpret my highly critical statement a few days ago is merely clutching at straws. I am willing to accept that some merely misinterpreted what I stated. If, indeed, this is the case then they will end this matter by accepting my quite clear reiteration of the facts. The following are the facts.

First, I intend to vote early on May 11 for the PPP/C and Donald Ramotar. Unless I die before this, nothing will change this reality. Only death will stop me from doing this as my duty for my country.

This election is more than re-electing the PPP/C. It is about keeping Guyana on the trajectory of development and accelerating that development. Only the PPP/C can keep Guyana on this path, a pathway that we crafted.

I have to ensure that I do everything for us to accomplish this because APNU and the AFC will take Guyana down a different road, a road traveled before that brought pain, shame and sufferings for our people.

Second, I intend to campaign as hard as is humanly possible to ensure another PPP/C resounding victory. Our goal as the PPP/C is to win the 2015 elec-

tions with a significantly clear majority.

This majority is necessary to stop the AFC and APNU from blackmail politics and from punishing ordinary citizens just to take vengeance on the PPP/C. We need to regain the majority so that we can stop power-hungry politicians like those in the AFC from sacrificing Guyana’s development for their own obsession with power.

Third, the AFC leadership deliberately lied to the people of Guyana and most specifically their supporters. They unambiguously made a commitment to their supporters that they will never join a coalition with APNU and if for some reason there is an alliance it will be under their leadership.

They were as clear as I am that the only possibility to form a coalition was if the AFC was in the leadership. They barefacedly lied to the people. They betrayed their supporters and then abandoned them.

Ramjattan’s pitiful explanation that it was a negotiation ploy is every reason why their supporters should be even more upset. They were made pawns in a game of deception, a game that both APNU and the AFC are adept at.

It demonstrated that all they were interested in is to grab as much as they could get. Their supporters were expendable.

Fourth, the truth, known by many of us for a long time, is that APNU and AFC were engaged in a major game of deception for a very long time now. They deceived their supporters into believing that the coalition was born over-

night; but this unholy alliance was a reality since before the 2011 elections.

In 2011, they worked as separate but one. Then the strategy was that AFC will focus their entire attention to PPP/C areas of strength. That strategy did not defeat the PPP/C.

Now in 2015, they decided that the time to end the deception is now – from separate but one, they now will face the electorate with the veil lifted as one and the same. They are all where they belong – under the camp of the PNC.

Fifth, the AFC has self-imploded. The hunger for power has so blinded them that they walked into a cloud that has ingested them and end the AFC history. So Cummingsburg Accord is the AFC’s obituary.

These were the sentiments that I previously expressed and these are still my sentiments. To those who chose to use the social media to promote lies that I think there is even a slight bit of positive news in the move by APNU and AFC, let me make it clear that I do not see even for a fraction of a second any such positive news about the alliance.

The truth is that APNU, AFC or the APNU/AFC coalition are equally bad news for Guyana and the people will reject them on May 11.

Even if I were to accept that it was merely misunderstanding what I sated before, then hopefully now those who created an impression that I think anything good about this alliance would have no doubt about how I feel.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

mon man. Another reason was the BJP lost is the Congress supporters switched over the AAP.

In fact, Congress leaders, recognizing that their party could not win a seat, quietly encouraged their supporters to switch their support to the AAP to bring about a defeat of the BJP.

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of Congress and its star campaigner, was seen celebrating the victory of the AAP and was overheard telling others that he voted for the AAP. In looking at the percentage of the BJP support, the party retained its strength.

The BJP marginally lost a significant number of seats. And if the votes were split like what happened in December 2013, the BJP could have won a plurality if not a majority. The AAP went from 29 per cent in 2013 to 33 per cent in 2014 and 54 percent in 2015 – an impressive performance.

While the Congress has defeated the BJP, it may regret its short term strategy as it would suffer long term effect. The AAP could replace the Congress as the second strongest party in the next national election.

Already AAP has announced it will contest a round of state elections later this year and the Congress is not going to

put up a strong showing; people have not forgotten the corruption scandals of its last 10 years of rule when hundreds of billions of dollars were looted from the treasury.

Although the opposition party, AAP won a landslide, it is not likely to deliver to the people of Delhi state. It made unachievable promises. And it is not likely that Delhi would have full statehood under AAP as the party promised.

The ruling BJP would not cede full control to the AAP especially when it comes to security. And it is impractical that the AAP would give almost everything for free (water, electricity, housing, food, etc) to people – who would pay for it.

With so many things promised to be given to the people for free, the whole of India may move to Delhi – it will be a big problem and burden for the Government. The younger voters told me they are hopeful that AAP will deliver in spite of the hurdles of its limitless, impractical promises.

The older voters have no doubt in their minds that AAP will not be able to deliver so many things for free or at subsidized rates.

Vishnu Bisram

Page Foundation

5 ways to keep your toddler safe in crowded places

By Mo Cooper

Planning on a sum-

mer full of fun outings with your toddler?

Trips to crowded places like the zoo, the creek, and museums can be great experiences for toddlers… but also present dangers for young children who can’t yet memorise and recite vital info such as names and phone

of the more controversial ID methods recently discussed is temporary tattoos with names and phone numbers.

Michelle G likes the idea: “Knowing that toddlers can get separated from even the best parent, I think these are actually a good idea. Especially if you’re going to be someplace where you’re more likely to get separated from your child – Sesame

numbers. It only takes a second for children to disappear, and even the most careful and competent parents will admit to at least a couple frightening moments where their child ran off in a public place.

ID bracelets and tattoos

One solution many parents recommend is putting an ID on your children. One

Place and Disney World come to mind. If nothing else, it would give me peace of mind.”

On the other hand, Jackie is against washable tattoos, bringing up the fact that having the child’s name right there on their arm or leg could make the situation even more dangerous with a child predator: “I don’t want someone to know my child’s name and call her and then

my child to think that because they know her name it is safe to go with them.”

Chloe V suggests an alternative ID method for young children: “I’d imagine a different way to place the number would be best, like a bracelet. Or a card in their pocket. Something that only is visible if the child needs it to be.” The downfall is that they can get lost or fall off more easily than a temporary tattoo.

Child safety harnesses

If you thought temporary tats was a hot subject, wait till you hear what moms have to say about safety harnesses, aka leashes, for children! Using harnesses to keep toddlers safe in crowds has been a heated topic of debate for years.

Dawn H recently commented that she feels like a good mom for keeping her son safe: “My two-year-old is a runner. I put him on the harness for safety reasons. I would rather someone look at me and say, ‘oh my goodness she puts her child on a leash...how mean’ than my child running out in front of a car and getting hit, or him getting lost in a crowd. He doesn’t mind the harness at all.” Caterra P feels the same way about using the harness with her three-yearold son: “He is in the stage that running away from mommy is fun and a game to him. I fear for his safety at times so I take the precautions to protect him. Yes, I get those nasty looks too. I don’t care. I am doing what is best for my child to ensure his safety.”

On the other side of the fence, plenty of moms are against tethering children. Maggie W thinks teaching is more important than leashing: “I just think using a leash instead of teaching your child to behave is laziness on the parents part. It took weeks and tons of patience to teach my sons to stay with me. I had to be consistent and it was hard work but it’s so much better now because they know how to behave. What happens with the leashed child the day you forget the leash or it breaks?”

Games that teach safety skills

Work with your toddler way in advance can also make outings easier. Even before they can talk, children can play some basic games that will help them

learn to listen and respond. It’s not guaranteed that they will do what you want, but games such as Red-LightGreen-Light can help when you really need to get their attention.

It worked for Devon K: “Try playing the red light green light game at home a few times. Tell your child to walk or run and when you yell ‘red light’ your child needs to stop and then when you yell ‘green light’ your child can go. Do that a couple of times at home to see if your child gets the point. if so, then test it while taking a walk. I did that with my kids and it worked.”

Hand-holding

Iysha J simple solution with her daughter is to give her daughter only two strictly enforced options: “Hold

Mommy’s hand or sit in her stroller/shopping cart. If she fought me with the stroller/ shopping cart, I would let her cry for a couple minutes then ask her if she is ready to hold Mommy’s hand. When she said no, she would stay in the stroller/shopping cart. When she said yes, I would take her out and let her hold my hand. If she wriggled away, I would get her and tell her she was going to go back in the cart because she would not hold mommy’s hand. It takes quite a few times but stick to your guns. He will learn. [My daughter] doesn’t throw tantrums about it anymore. She knows she only has two options.”

Talking about stranger safety In the event that your child does get lost, having them know about “stranger danger” is vital. But it can be difficult to know what is age-appropriate... and you certainly don’t want your child to fear everyone (we do have to talk to the cashier, and there’s no need to scream if the mailman says hi). Cliffette N recommends watching Stranger Safety (available for purchase in a variety of formats here) with your child: “It breaks down the difference between strangers into ‘don’t knows, kinda knows and safety side adults’ It’s hard for children to understand the difference...”

Kate C also has some great advice on talking to very young toddlers about what to do if they get lost. Uniforms can be confusing, and it’s not wise to tell them NEVER to talk to a stranger, so she relies on other moms: “Here’s what I told my little girl: Never talk to a grown up unless mommy or daddy is there. If you get lost go find another mommy who has children with her and ask her for help. When children need help, they find a mommy. When grown-ups need help, they find a Police Officer.” (www.popsugar.com)

Talks ongoing on PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate – Rohee

Adecision is yet to be made concerning who will be the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Prime Ministerial Candidate, Party General Secretary Clement Rohee disclosed on Wednesday.

During a brief interview with the Guyana Times Rohee said talks on the matter were still in progress, and he was unsure of when the Party would arrive at a consensus, but he assured that much focus was being given in this regard.

Only recently, a petition signed by a group of Berbicians surfaced calling for former President Bharrat Jagdeo to be made the Prime Ministerial Candidate although he had indicated he had no interest in returning to politics.

Rohee said the Party was examining the document and would make an announcement soon.

When previously questioned on whether he was a potential candidate for the position, Rohee said, “Everything is possible. There is a possibility of [Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn] Rodrigues-Birkett, who is of Amerindian heritage being the Prime Ministerial Candidate.”

The Guyana Times understands that Junior Finance Minister Juan

PPP/C General Secretary Clement

Edghill could also be in contention.

Since the announcement that President Donald Ramotar will lead the Party into the May 11 General and Regional Elections, Party members have been discreet about those in the line-up for the prime ministerial post.

According to reports, it is likely that the candidate will be selected from the Civic component of the Party.

“Central and Executive Committees have always been involved in that process and that tradition of the prime ministerial post being filled by a member of the Civic was likely to be maintained.

“We believe in a PPPCivic alliance. If the PPP/C has the Presidential Candidate, traditionally the Civic component has had the Prime Ministerial Candidate and I don’t believe that would change,” Rohee said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who has held the position since the PPP/C came to power in 1992, is thought to have “called it a day” as Prime Minister, but there are strong sentiments that he should make one last run. He is widely respected as a very decent, credible and incorruptible individual. He is still the strongest candidate and since it is widely expected that the PPP/C is facing a very strong challenge in the upcoming elections, it has been suggested that he be the candidate. He has been the longest-serving Prime Minister within the Caribbean.

It, however, has been surmised that the PPP/C Prime Ministerial Candidate could come possibly from a wider cross-section of the Guyanese public, the Guyana Times understands, since the Civic is representative of any likeminded individual wanting to form an alliance with the PPP/C.

10 families receive homes from Food For The Poor

Proud recipients of Food For The Poor homes

Food For The Poor (Guyana) Incorporated General Housing Programme has put smiles on the faces of ten families from Regions Two, Three and Four after they were handed the keys to their new homes last week.

The two-bedroom homes were constructed with sanitation facilities which would definitely improve the living standards of the beneficiaries.

One of the recipients Antionette Blackman, a single mother of six who resides at 497, Hope Estate,

Chinese national to be deported, fined

Hai Bing Zhoa, a Chinese national was fined $30,000 for illegally entering Guyana on the December 10, 2014. He is expected to be deported to Suriname.

Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts was in an interesting pickle on Thursday when Bing Zhoa was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya

Sewnarine-Beharry. It was revealed that the defendant did not speak English. However, an interpreter referred by the University of Guyana (UG) Confucius Institute was on hand to facilitate communication with the defendant.

To justify his knowledge of English, the interpreter detailed that he is a naturalised citizen of

Guyana as he has lived here for 13 years. He stated that he also went to school for a brief period of time which was helpful in learning the English language. Currently, he hails from the village of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, however, he stated he is originally from China.

Acknowledging that the interpreter was ade-

quately adept at the language, Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry detailed the facts of the case. She stated that on the mentioned day the defendant entered Guyana through Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, without reporting to an immigration officer. The Magistrate stated that he is liable for 11-12 months imprisonment for

East Coast Demerara, said that the acquisition of her new home was the realisation of a dream.

“I am very grateful for this home. It was a birthday gift for one of my daughters and I. We are thankful to Food For The Poor”.

Vibert Vansertima, a father of six children, whose shack was inundated with water during the last rainy season, praised Food For The Poor for providing a home for his family while Karen Andrews, another single parent of seven children, said that her family had suffered tremendously

$30,000

this charge; however, she said that he has an option to pay a fine.

An official from the Guyana Police Force told media operatives that the Chinese national is expected to leave Guyana as soon as the fine is paid. This was done on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

during the rainy season. She noted that her children were unable to sleep many nights due to the lamentable conditions they had to endure, noting too that on numerous occasions she had to seek medical attention for them. The Vansertima and Andrews families resided in Sophia.

Food For The Poor Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kent Vincent reiterated that the organisation is always happy to assist those in need. He urged the families to take good care of their homes and promised that the organisation will continue to help whenever it is possible.

Food For The Poor has constructed over 3000 twobedroom structures, free of cost, for very poor families in the various regions of the country.

In June of 2014, 40 families benefitted from the organisation’s humanitarian project “Whitewater Community Development Project” when 40 homes were built, a community school was rehabilitated and a new library installed.

Rohee

Eyew tness Gearing up...

...for voting

Well, the Preliminary Voters List (PVL) is out. In most democracies this would’ve hardly earned a mention - but not in Guyana. With the PNC’s history of rigging elections during its 28 loooong years of the dictatorship, the list of electors looms large in our collective memories. Oldsters would remember horses and assorted farm animals grazing in yards where voters were supposed to live according to the 1968 list.

More recently, we’d remember it took the efforts of Caricom, Carter Centre, the UN and a phalanx of “interested Governments” - and an extra two years for the life of the Hoyte Government - to produce the list for the 1992 elections.

After that blessed event, which resulted in the ignominious defeat of the PNC - followed by four other defeats - we’ve had a permanent Elections Commission. It’s supposed to do nothing else between elections, but ensure that the list is “up to date”. Hundreds of millions of dollars are allocated annually to the autonomous agency for this task.

And what does this entail?? We’ll cut out all the names in the intermediate lists that culminates in the final “Official List of Electors” (OLE) - which is the one that’ll authorise folks to vote on May 11. Suffice it to say that the PLE’s extracted from the National Register of Registrants (NRR)a list of all Guyanese over 18. As we all know, this is updated by GECOM’s periodic “registration” exercises when they contact everyone over 14 and add them to the NRR.

The problem is they’re also supposed to subtract from the NRR all those who’ve passed away. And here it gets tricky. Even though it’s been 22 years since GECOM’s been in existence, before every election, thousands of dead people will appear on the list.

And the Mandarins of GECOM will intone in stentorian tones that they’re not getting the info on the deceased from the General Registrar’s Office (GRO). Now that the current size of the PLE was given as 567,125 compared to the roughly 492,000 in 2011, you can bet your bottom dollar that this cry will be heard once again - when the thousands of dead folks are identified in the “claims and objections” period.

Last year there was a preview of the coming cacophony when the PPP/C scrutineers found that even notable figures like former President Arthur Chung - who died in 2008still eligible to vote. But in addition to the “living dead”, the increase of 75,000 eligible votes in only three years is mind boggling for a country with only 750,000. And we have TV!!

Who says that voters’ lists are dull??

...for reporting on voting

The Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) has been reconstituted and the Media Code was duly signed. So right away, this Eyewitness has a complaint for the MMU to address. From what was reported, it’s not only the obligation of the media to give coverage to the political parties - the political parties must also make themselves available to the media for interviews or confirmation of information.

According to the Editors of this newspaper, for months now, Khemraj Ramjattan, leader of the AFC (sole leader now that Trotman has become “the Invisible Man) has been unwilling to talk to any of our reporters. Even your trusty Eyewitness in his Clark Kent guise.

To make matters worse, Ramjattan just doesn’t say “no comment” or “I don’t want to talk” and even, more credibly, “I can’t talk right now because I’m pissing drunk”. His standard riposte is “Haul yuh ass”, before hanging up. Now we know his pals over at the Muckraker concocts his “statements” for him.

The Editors should ask the MMU if they can do the same in the interest of equal treatment of the media!

...for J’Ouvert

OK, we stole “play Mas” from the Trinis...and they didn’t say nothing. But now we going for J’Ouvert?? Jeez!!! Are we only creative in rigging elections?

Trotman says won’t push for position

– will not get Speakership if coalition wins

Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman says while he will be campaigning with the Alliance For Change (AFC) in the upcoming elections, he is uncertain about an official role should the coalition wins.

He claims to be more inclined to focus on uniting young people across race and political parties.

Trotman had struck a similar note some years in the National Assembly, when he asserted that he needed time off to deal with an undisclosed illness and hinting back then that he was fed-up of the divisive politics. However, he campaigned with the AFC in 2011 and later accepted the position of Speaker after leader of the PNC David Granger nominated him over the AFC’s nominee, Moses Nagamootoo. Ironically, Granger has now accepted Nagamootoo as his running mate for the upcoming elections.

There has been much speculation on the political future of Trotman, one of the founders of the fledgling opposition party. Trotman in an interview with Guyana Times says the focus now should not be on positions and roles, disclosing his immediate plans are to campaign by way of management for the party he helped form in 2006. “I am Speaker, I am not likely to be Speaker after the elections, if the coalition loses of course I will not be chosen, if the coalition wins, I will not be chosen; so at least I know that for certainty that I will not be the Speaker,” he said. The practicing attorney expressed confidence that he could function in several capacities which the coalition will identify when the time comes. “Right now the greatest or preeminent objective is running a good campaign and of course winning an election and not to become bogged down

with or distracted by positions or offices,” he further stated.

He entered the field of politics in 1994 as a People’s National Congress councilor for the City of Georgetown and later a Member of Parliament up to 2006 at which time he parted ways with the Party after unsuccessfully vying for the leadership position against Robert Corbin. Trotman teamed up Khemraj Ramjattan, a former PPP/C Member of Parliament and Sheila Holder from the Working People’s Alliance to form the Alliance for Change (AFC); and contested the 2006 elections as their Presidential Candidate.

Better Guyana

However, the Speaker told this publication that the dream for a better Guyana is still very much alive and he has found ways of making such contributions without being the President of Guyana or holding another ‘high’ office. “What I really would like to see is national unity and healing, particularly amongst young people. In that regard, I am sure that in the next government I will continue to play a part in trying to bring not only the races but in a sense the political parties that they represent towards a better working relationship and a better understanding of each other,” he revealed. Asked whether this willingness is linked only to victory by the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity coalition, Trotman declared “I am a nationalist…I wouldn’t say I shall never do this or that but if I could find somewhere where Guyana wins and I can make a contribution, I will be a part of that”. On a more personal level, he may also be shifting some attention to further educational advancement.

Paedophilia allegations

Amidst his rise in the political arena to being elected Speaker, Trotman recently faced the sternest test of his character when Johnny Welshman accused him of sexually molesting him when he was just 12. The matter was investigated by the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled that there was insufficient evidence to charge Trotman. Again denying the allegations made by the now 23 year-old Welshman, Trotman told Guyana Times that he had come out of this ordeal stronger and his faith in God renewed.

“I’ve grown stronger; I made a deliberate effort through the process not to become hateful and I’m happy that at the end of it I am not consumed by hate but I have become far more wary and cautious of people,” he related, noting that he learned through the period those he could trust and can genuinely consider friends. “I literally had to go back to a fundamental principle and that is faith in God…it

(accusation) allowed me to examine my faith and find strength in God,”

Quit politics

In 2011, Trotman had hinted that he might have quit parliamentary politics, noting that he was unhappy with the present system of government which did not allow him to make a genuine contribution. “This most likely is my last budget presentation because I have resolved

for myself that I will not be involved in the business of ‘playing politics’ or being in the Chamber for the sake of being here,” he stated then.

He has said the structure of the National Assembly encourages the opposition to simply oppose and not make meaningful contributions to national development. On Tuesday, this publication reported Trotman as saying; the AFC/APNU coalition is “ac-

tually what Guyana needs.”

“Our democracy can’t develop if we don’t have a regular change of government; one term, two terms maybe but to have 28 years of one party and 23 of another is just not good enough,” he insisted, while explaining that a greater impact could be had if members of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic were to get onboard to ensure a genuine government of national unity.

Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman

Rodney Inquiry:

High drama as lone eyewitness revisits scene of assassination

The Commission of Inquiry on Thursday morning embarked on a visit to the scene of the 1980 explosion which had killed Political Activist Dr Walter Rodney.

The team comprised the Commissioners Sir Richard Cheltenham, Queens Counsels Seenauth Jairam and Jacqueline SamuelsBrown along with other stakeholders and attorneys with vested interest where Donald Rodney substantiated what he told the Commission on Wednesday.

Taking the party to the former residence of accused Gregory Smith, Rodney recalled that when he collected his brother, they drove to Smith’s home at Russell and Howes Street in Charlestown, and he left his brother in the car to collect the ‘walkie talkie’ to be tested.

He pointed out to the Commissioners the exact spot where he had parked the car, the direction in which it was parked and the direction in which he walked to meet Smith; subsequently relating that Smith told him that two tests would be conducted that night, one in Princess Street and the other in the vicinity of the Georgetown Prison.

He then proceeded to tell the party that “we were parked in Howes Street and I continued in Howes Street towards Adelaide Street, we turned left into Adelaide Street until we came to Princes Street, I went just over Princes Street and I parked in John Street near Princes Street.” Having parked there, Donald Rodney told the Commission that after turning off the engine they waited on the ap-

pointed time, at which point there was a flash from the package “and Walter remarked that it is okay”.

The visiting team then proceeded to John Street in the vicinity of Princes Street where they told Rodney to point out the exact location where he had parked and asked him to relate what transpired then.

He recalled that it was at this point in time that he indicated to his brother the

This is desperation time

These are desperate times and desperation does lead to all kinda problems. Is de last days and it gon be desperate times fuh a lotta people. Even de good book seh so. And when people desperate dem does be under pressure.

Then when people under pressure, dem does have to let out that pressure some how. It does come out in all manner, shape or form.

Rum Jhaat does let out pressure by telling people to haul dem a**. Never mind dem people in Berbice let out pressure by haulin he a** out de other day. That was steam, pressure and hot water all in one.

Now another man resign from de KFC and and Rum Jhaat start feelin de pressure from under he. A reporter call David who tink he is Goliath de giant, but he can’t even open he mouth to talk. Is de pressure got he so.

need to turn the knob on the box to the secondary location for the second test.

“As far as I could recall, he did it and we then drove off again north along John Street. We went up to Durban Street, across Durban Street continuing past the jail, continuing past Bent Street and we continued going onto Hadfield Street, at Hadfield Street I stopped the car,” he told the Commission.

The Commission and its following then proceeded to Hadfield Street where the incident had taken place.

There Rodney stood in the position where he had parked and said they waited for the second signal—a flashing light. He noted that Smith had indicated to him that there was a knob on the side of the box already in place for the second test when in the vicinity of the Georgetown Prison noting that they waited for the second signal but none came.

Donald Rodney testified that they waited for the second signal but none came. However, the silence was followed by a vibration and a loud thud.

According to Rodney, he soon realised that the loud noise was an explosion on his brother’s side of the car.

Rodney said that he recognized that his brother had been injured and realized that he could not have helped and so he made his way out of the vehicle and, ran along John Street towards the home of Dr. Omawale. The

By de time Nagga Man hear bout all this, he drop down. De pressure reach to he neck back. Some body seh Nagga Man give away he a** and now he got to do tings through he ribs. He is one man a** that can’t tek no more haulin!

A man was under a different kinda pressure de other day at de airport. As soon as dem airport people pat he down he start to pass out pellets like goat, and de airport people thought at first that he had too much channa to eat. Well, is two days straight he pass out like goat, and a doctor seh he still got more to come. Some body should do a DNA test to see whether he got goat blood.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! De man wid not one but two duty free Lexus let out pressure de other day pun de Tax Man. Well, de Tax Man get so bassidy that he let out all he pressure, not one but two times...one fuh each Lexus.

Commissioner visited that location as well.

Following the visit, crossexamination commenced with Attorney Selwyn Pieters who is representing the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) questioning the witness about claims he made in his statement to the Commission about the magistrate presiding over his trial being given a promotion two days after he was convicted for being in possession of explosives without lawful authority.

He had alleged that after he was convicted in February 1982, the following month then Magistrate N.W. Chapman was subsequently promoted as Commissioner of Titles. But under cross-examination the witness admitted that he did not know or see the process the magistrate had gone under. Rodney was asked “you have no evidence that the Magistrate was promoted as a result of the conduct of

your trial” and he responded saying “I have no evidence”. Attorney Pieters went on to grill the witness about his dismissal from his job as a Senior Quality Officer with the then People’s National Congress (PNC) Government, asking him whether prior to the bombing incident if he faced any retaliation from the Government or the Security Forces. Nevertheless, Rodney told the court that he was effectively interdicted from his job on June 13, 1980, because of the charge against him and was dismissed in February, 1982, after he was convicted. Chairman Cheltenham then asked the witness whether that was the procedure for a convicted person to be dismissed. Attorney Pieters referred to a 1960s case where a public servant was convicted for disseminating political materials that were considered subversive.

Husband who beat wife released on self bail

Forty-two-yearold Dexter Blue of 245 Independent Boulevard, West La Penitence, Georgetown, was released on his own recognisance on Thursday for the charge of assault.

Blue was brought before Magistrate Geeta Chandan-

Edmond at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in Court 10 to answer a charge of assault which was perpetrated against the Virtual Complainant (VC) Niebert Blue, who is his wife.

According to the facts, the defendant on February 16 while at West La Penitence, delivered several cuffs about the body of VC.

There was no objection to bail being granted and the Chief Magistrate released the defendant on his own recognisance. He is to return to court on March 2 for his trial.

Donald Rodney standing on the spot where the bomb exploded, killing his brother Dr Walter Rodney

Opposition coalition is boost for PPP/C – Dr Luncheon

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon said the coalition or pre-election alliance between A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) can very well give the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) the crown when elections are held on May 11.

Speaking at his post-Cabinet press conference on Wednesday, Dr Luncheon noted that while he could not speak on behalf of the Administration, it is his view that the coalition is a welcomed move since it makes the electoral competition less challenging. According to him, it gives the electorates clear choices.

“I am a bit pleased in a sense that the electoral challenges have been reduced and this is, of course, on the assumption of what is today will be on the appointed day, May 11, that there will be only two contestants,” he said.

Dr Luncheon added that even if other parties are planning to enter the election race, they are not seen as any threat since they are too small to compete with the two major parties; the APNU-AFC coalition and the PPP/C.

“The others do not add up to a whole one. I can’t believe that the merits of either or would not redound to the benefit of the incumbent,” the Cabinet

Secretary told media operatives. Dr Luncheon’s comments come on the heels of several political and social commentators expressing pessimism at the coalition’s chances of success at the May 11 polls.

Former Government Minister and Columnist, Dr Henry Jeffrey weighing in on the subject had told Guyana Times that he remains skeptical that the approach taken by the two parties was the best one yet.

“I think what they want to do is to get rid of the PPP/C. I am not certain that, that is the best option for doing so but I am not convinced that it’s the best option,” said Dr Jeffrey.

According to Dr Jeffrey, now that the AFC has coalesced with the APNU, whose major partner is the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), voters who would have seen AFC as a middle-ground party away from the two larger political organisations would stay away from the polls.

He had further explained that the coalition can also lead to the electorates making a clear choice to return to the PPP/C due to their mistrust for the APNU and AFC.

“They have removed the possibility of a middle-ground that people run to. If there is no middle-ground, people have an option they can stay home or they go

back and vote for whom they were voting and that is a great possibility that exists at the moment because the AFC joining with the PNC does not offer that middle-ground any longer,” he said.

On Monday, General Secretary of the PPP/C Clement Rohee told media operatives that the AFC will lose the supporters it had managed to accumulate during the 2011 elections, since it would no longer be seen as the middle-ground for those who distrust the PNCR/APNU.

He pointed out that with the coalition, the AFC would have no other choice but to follow the dictatorial rule of the PNCR/APNU.

With the coalition, the AFC trails APNU by 19 seats in the National Assembly pulling just about 10 per cent of the votes in the last elections compare to APNU’s 40 per cent. However, during the negotiations the AFC had insisted that it must lead the coalition and having not succeeded in wresting this from APNU, it was able to field the Prime Ministerial Candidate in the person of Moses Nagamootoo.

In addition to being assured of 12 seats in the National Assembly, the party will be allocated two Vice Presidents both of whom will be members of the Cabinet if they succeed.

Region 8 suffers shortage of qualified teachers – REO ... says situation actively being tackled

The Regional Education Officer (REO) of Region eight (PotaroSiparuni, Rabindra Singh has said the region is facing a shortage of trained teachers which is limiting the potential of its young people.

He said despite the progress that has unfolded in the education sector there, the lack of teachers has had a discouraging effect on students.

“We’re suffering tremendously from untrained teachers, if we do have trained teachers; we are going to do miracles there. The children have the ability and I believe every region will have students who can perform exceptionally well but if you don’t have the human resource to actually give them the foundation, they will not realise their dreams,” Singh said.

According to him, this situation is more widespread in the remote communities especially in the areas of Mathematics and English.

Singh disclosed that in the 2014 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations 5 students passed Mathematics and 15 excelled in English. “This is a great accomplishment compared to 2013, where we had none.”

This follows a shoring up of the teaching capacity in the region. Teachers from the coast would visit communities to facilitate workshops with students in neglected areas.

As a permanent solution, several teachers are being trained at the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter’s College of Education (CPCE) to return to the region.

According to Singh, efforts are also being made to have a CPCE training programme in the Paramakatoi Mountains to train the teachers so they can become qualified to enter the CPCE.

Facilities are also in place to accommodate teachers from the coastal regions desirous of moving to the hinterland to teach.

Discouraged youth

In relation to motivation for attending schools, Singh said most young people do not see the point.

“The children would say to you that they don’t need nine subjects to go into the backdam, so if we have something to tell them, you know you can go to the bank, or an office to encourage them to see the need to get their education…,” Singh explained.

He added that some students who finish schools with eight/nine subjects have limited options as most would not have gained passes in Mathematics or English.

However, Regional

Executive Officer, Ronald Harsaywack said there are opportunities available for students after high school.

“There are lots of opportunities available for young people in the region. Some can move up in the education sector, you can come back as a teacher, as a district education officer, there are opportunities in the health sector- but you have to have the minimum qualification… there are other opportunities to pursue further studies by scholarships provided by the government…,” Harsaywack said.

Harsaywack also highlighted some of the positive

aspects in the education sector.

He stated that students are increasingly benefiting from the hot meal project, on time delivery of textbooks, free uniforms and an abundance of furniture.

Nonetheless, he said that accessibility to the schools remains a problem.

“There are no streets, no paved roads, no cars or minibuses you can drive. To access some of these schools you need to go by ATV or aircraft.” Harsaywack assured that the Government through the respective ministries will continue to work to overcome these obstacles.

No arrests yet for execution of vulcanising

Dead: Randolph Singh

In light of the recent execution of the South Road businessman, Randolph Singh, the intelligence unit within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is checking the man’s background to determine the motive behind the shooting.

At about 22:00h on Wednesday, Singh, 41 of Lot 207 Charlotte Street, Georgetown was riddled with bullets while in the company of two employees. According to information received, as the men sat opposite the vulcanising shop, a man, who was armed with a firearm, approached them and discharged several rounds in their direction before escaping on a motorcycle.

From all indication, Singh was the target and would have received the blunt of the attack while another employee, Dilbert Mohamed, 33 was also shot on his right elbow. Both men were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where Singh was pronounced dead on arrival and Mohamed was treated and sent away.

A senior Police rank told Guyana Times that investigators have ruled out robbery and they are now trying to ascertain whether Singh had any enemies. The rank added that based on reports received, the businessman returned from the United States (US) less than a week

shop owner

ago thus pointing to “some deal that went bad.”

Information on the man’s background was not immediately available to the Guyana Times. The Police rank also disclosed that a statement is expected to be taken from Mohamed as they continue their investigations.

When this publication visited the man’s business place on Thursday morning, a few of his employees were sitting around as they turned away vehicles approaching the vulcanising shop.

At least four of them were there but all claimed that they were not too familiar with what took place, although one was heard recounting his experience when the alleged suspect pulled out the weapon.

Persons in the area stated that they were in their homes when they heard a barrage of bullets and as they looked out they saw a group of men running for shelter and another leaving on a motorcycle.

One woman stated that as she looked closer, she saw Singh lying on the roadway and Mohamed holding onto his hands. She went on to say that the boss’s vehicle was parked on the road and it was that the other workers used to take the injured men to the hospital.

At the home of the dead man, a relative sat on the verandah and upon enquiring, this publication was told that “no one was at home.” The young man who seemed hostile refused to answer any further questions posed to him. On the other hand, on the night of the shooting, relatives were left doubt founded upon hearing about the shooting while claiming that he had no enemies.

It is now up to the Police to arrest the gunman and have him say who paid him to execute the businessman. The man leaves to mourn his wife and children.

Region Eight REO Ronald Harsaywack

UGSSA,

UGWU strike action

UG lecturers accused of wanting more than they deserve

By: Erica Williams

Arecent study conducted on the University of Guyana (UG) has revealed that some lecturers are teaching less than ten hours per week.

This information, which the Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi alluded to, is being peddled across social media but President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA), Dr Melissa Ifill has discred-

cent spend less than 10 hours per week on research.

Dr Opadeyi told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the study was conducted by the University of the West Indies in 2014 with funding from the World Bank.

However, during a telephone interview with this publication, Dr Ifill accused the Vice Chancellor of peddling the information on social media; an allegation that Dr Opadeyi has since denied.

In contending that the information is fallacious, Dr Ifill pointed to the fact that lecturers are mandated to teach 360 hours per academic year.

“While some people may not reach the 360 hour quota, some reach that quota while others go way over,” she said.

The UGSSA President further argued that in some cases, lecturers, especially in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, would venture out of town on farm trips with students and dedicate the entire day. She added that there are other in-

UGSSA will ensure those out of town/out of country trips be cut out,” Dr Ifill added.

She said if this happens, the University will be forced to hire additional lecturers because the current batch will stick rigidly to the 360 mark.

With 12 to 13 weeks per academic year, it would mean that almost half of the lecturers on the University spend approximately 120 hours per semester teach-

ited the findings.

According to the information published, 29 per cent of the lecturers spend less than 20 hours per week on the job while 48 per cent spend less than 10 hours teaching per week.

It was further stated that 70 per cent of the lecturers do not publish research papers while 80 per

stances when lecturers are required to travel outside of Guyana with students.

For these trips, Dr Ifill said lecturers are often times not compensated but are rather given their “flat salary.”

“When he (Dr Opadeyi) is speaking, he is speaking of the minority and if he wants to insist on the 360 margin,

ing; under half of the stipulated classroom time.

But Dr Ifill said lecturers at UG teach more hours than other Universities in the Caribbean. “Ask him (Dr Opadeyi) how many hours he used to teach per week while at UWI and he would tell you three.”

In addition, Dr Ifill completely rubbished the sta-

tistics on the conduct of research by lecturers. “If he (Dr Opadeyi) wants to talk about research papers, he must first provide materials to do the research. He can’t want blood out of stones. There are some departments with no materials”.

Meanwhile, UGSSA and the University Workers’ Union (UGWU) are continuing with their industrial

action for increases in their wages and salaries among other benefits.

On Wednesday, members of the UGWU and the UGSSA assembled in front of the main entrance to the Turkeyen Campus from 8:30h to 11:30h to signal their dissatisfaction over the poor management of the University.

In light of the ongo-

ing industrial action, the University’s Student Society (UGSS) has vowed to put pressure on the University’s Administration and the unions to ensure classes resume sooner rather than later. During his post Cabinet press conference on Wednesday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon dubbed the protest illegal.

Two Guyanese nabbed in 50-lb ganja bust in Brazil

Two Guyanese were among four persons arrested on Monday last in Boa Vista, Brazil attempting to smuggle over 25 kilograms of compressed marijuana into the neighbouring country. The dried illicit plant was found stashed in the doors of the vehicle in which they were travelling.

The men were identified as Eric Eldon Bobb, 34 and Clyve Lloyd King, 38 of Guyana and Jose Rodrigues Montague 58 while the lone female is Magdalene Romao, 30 of Brazil.

According to reports, Brazilian Authorities say they received a tip that a quantity of drugs was expected to flood the market for

Carnival Celebrations which began on Monday. The drug was reportedly being shipped from Guyana and once it reaches Brazil, it is distributed to local drugs cartels.

Head of Custom Anti Narcotic Unit, James Singh in an invited comment told Guyana Times that they have been in contact with their Brazilian Counterparts and his unit is trying to determine whether the drugs originated from Guyana.

He explained that Boa Vista is quite some distance from the Guyanese border and the vehicle in which the drugs was found had to have passed several check points before arriving there. One of those points being the border town of Bon Fim.

The fact that two Guyanese were caught, he disclosed, does not determine that the drugs came from Guyana. They are however, continuing their investigations and are awaiting additional information from their Brazilian Counterparts.

The drug enforcement unit in that country is also of the belief that another shipment of the drug into the country is planned and as such, intends to step up their presence at strategic ports of entry.

Brazilian authorities maintain that the country is not a producer of cocaine or marijuana but the drugs enter the country through neighbouring countries. The authorities added that in order to combat this practice, they will be paying more attention to sale points there, the supply

and drug courier routes.

The four persons were charged for trafficking and association for trafficking. The men were remanded to the Penitentiary Agricultural Monte Cristo in Brazil while the woman was referred to the Public Women Jail.

Guyana’s porous borders have always been an issue of concerns for law enforcement officers since it is believed that many illegal activities are prone to be carried at the unmanned locations.

Only recent a submersible vessel was found in the Waini River, Region One.

The vessel was built for the sole purpose of transporting narcotics from Guyana across the Atlantic Ocean. The capacity of such a semi-submersible vessel is approximately four to six tonnes of cocaine.

Following the discovery, investigators believe that the vessel had been at the North West location for about five months given the condition of the camp and the construction works.

The vessel weighed approximately 18 tonnes and had a normal range of 15 to 18 nautical miles; however, this may vary depending on the weight it carries.

The distance it travels also depends on the amount of fuel it holds. The vessel has about seven onboard fuel tanks. The length of the vessel is 63 feet and at its widest point (the middle), it is 12 feet. Its height is about eight feet.

The four suspects moments after being taken into custody

UG Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi

UGSSA President, Dr Melissa Ifill

Demonstrators assemble in front of the University’s Turkeyen Campus gate

febrUary 20, 2015 | gUyanatimesgy.com

Health Ministry’s “Wellness Warriors” Mash Band launched

The Health Ministry’s 2015 Mash Band was launched on Wednesday under the theme “Healthy Living, Healthy Lifestyles.”

The launch was inaugurated with performances by the Wellness Warriors; an army of food that helps the body fights chronic diseases.

The Health Ministry’s

Permanent Secretary Leslie Cadogan expressed his satisfaction that the band would be used to promote healthy living during the National Costume and Float Parade come Monday.

Though Cadogan said winning is not an objective, member of the Mash Committee Neaz Subhan begged to differ. He said

members of the committee have gotten themselves quite excited over the chance of winning the Mashramani Costume Competition on February 23. He recalled that last year the Ministry had placed “reasonably well” in the competition, noting that it is currently working hard to cop the top spot.

Designer of the Wellness

Delivery of health services at GPHC under review

– records 10 maternal deaths in 2014

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon has announced plans by the Health Ministry to comprehensively upgrade the health services being offered at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Speaking at the post cabinet briefing on Wednesday, Dr Luncheon disclosed that there varying stakeholders have been engaged in the process.

“Work has to be done. There exist attitudes that need to be overcome. It is a work in process to provide health care at an acceptable standard,” the cabinet secretary admitted.

The expression follows the announcement of eighteen maternal deaths in Guyana for the year 2014, ten of which were recorded at the government run, GPHC. this information was presented to the Cabinet on Tuesday by Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsarran, following the completion of the Ministry’s 2014 Report on maternal and child mortality.

He related that the other 8 maternal deaths were recorded at private hospitals.

However, the Cabinet Secretary stated that Guyana has been able to reduce the incidents of maternal deaths and has consequently has achieved the Millennium Development Goal “to improve maternal health”.

“The expert Committee which was put in place to investigate these matters has found that some of the health professionals were complicit in the deaths of these 18 but they recognized that some of these deaths were unavoidable,” he told the media noting that there were three contributing factors.

“I would be hesitant to say that the fault is in the medical service provided. A number of fingers were pointed at institutional deficiencies, malpractices at the level of the professionals involved, that are the nurses and doctors and obstetricians who were looking after the women and

the records of the event itself not lending themselves to what happened. All of them, they attracted comments.”

Dr Luncheon disclosed that the government was looking at ways in which the recommendations that were made by the expert Committee can be strictly enforced, one of which would be to give said committee authority to enforce stricter measures and take actions against those found culpable of malpractice.

“Cabinet has started thinking of enforcement. The expert group cannot direct the Medical Council. They only make the recommendations. The recommendations need to be enforced, stricter and more forceful application of the law is needed and more power should be bestowed to the Expert group”, he shared.

Meanwhile, Dr. Luncheon also told media operatives that the Ministry of Health and the country as a whole have succeeded in keeping child mortality rates at a minimum.

While he could not provide figures or numbers, he related that the Report by the ministry has shown a significant reduction in that area notwithstanding the fact that the country was already dealing with a population of high mortality and low birth rates.

He related that this success is as a result of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, acquisition of improved equipment and training of health professionals.

Luncheon said that while the country has managed to have a reduction of mortality rates this area, the deaths which would have been experienced may not necessarily be due to the negligence of the hospital or the professionals. According to him, cause of death is rarely determined.

“I think it is a culture… no one wants to have a post mortem done on a small, innocent baby that is already dead. Unless you do it at gunpoint, it isn’t

Warriors’ costumes, Carol Fraser said she is confident that her designs will gain national recognition during the grand celebration.

Fraser explained that

Guyanese live healthier lives. Also, Fraser explained that the shields of the warriors protect persons from chronic diseases.

To paint a clearer pic-

united Wellness Warriors attacked a chronic disease that was attempting to seep through its rank. Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran indicat-

done… nobody wants to see you chop up the baby so this is a difficulty being faced. Post mortem is a part of the problem in the maintaining of statistics”, he related.

However, Dr Luncheon said the Ministry and the Cabinet were exploring solutions to this problem.

the costumes were designed to promote healthy lifestyles. She pointed out that the jaguar alludes to the fight that the Ministry is putting up to ensure

ture, several employees of the Health Ministry including nurses showcased Frazer’s costume designs.

It was of great delight to the onlookers when the

ed that he was quite entertained by the performance, stating that the warriors will fulfill their objective come Monday.

A 'chronic disease' trying to attack onlookers during the launching

Fundraising dinner to mark Chinese New Year in Guyana

Former Vice-President of the Chinese Association

Margery Kirkpatrick on Saturday will host a grand fundraising dinner to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

The proceedings earned from the event will go towards the renovation of the St Saviour’s Parish Church located on Broad and Saffron Streets, Charlestown.

The church was originally built to provide a place of worship for the newly introduced Chinese population in Georgetown. The word ‘Chinese’ was omitted from the name in 1939, hence its name St Saviour’s Parish Church.

In a brief interview with Guyana Times on Thursday, Kirkpatrick explained that the building desperately needs repairing and based on its original purpose to serve the Chinese population, she decided to use the money

earned from the dinner to rehabilitate the place of worship.

Kirkpatrick noted that only a few persons attend the church but she hopes upon its restoration, more will be encouraged to join the congregation.

The dinner will be held at Kirkpatrick’s residence at Lot 23 Jamoon Drive, Meadowbrook.

Persons can expect to experience a true Chinese atmosphere as they celebrate the Year of the Goat while supporting a good cause.

Guests will also be wowed with the spectacular ‘Lion Dance’, a well-known custom in Chinese tradition that is usually performed during the Chinese New Year.

Tickets cost $3000 and interested persons can contact Kirkpatrick on 227-2626.

Chinese New Year 2015 began on Thursday and

will end on March 5. The Chinese lunar calendar is associated with the Chinese zodiac, which has 12 animal signs: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, Rooster, dog, and pig. Each animal represents a year in a 12-year cycle, beginning on Chinese New Year’s Day.

2015 is a year of the “Goat” and according to the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle, if you were born in a Goat year you should be particularly careful in 2015, according to Chinese astrology.

Chinese New Year is a time for families to be together. The New Year’s Eve dinner is called Reunion Dinner, and is believed to be the most important meal of the year. Big families – families of several generations sit around round tables and enjoy the food and time together.

Masjid Waheda opens at No 76 Village

The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) participated in the commissioning of the Masjid Waheda on Sunday, January 15 with a massive audience of over 1000 persons in attendance.

The Masjid, located at Number 76 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was constructed on a plot of land donated by the Government of Guyana. The initiative to construct this Masjid was undertaken by the children of the late Haji Sultan Akbarally of Number 70 Village. The Masjid will serve as a place of wor-

ship, and provide counselling, training among other social services to the residents. The facility can accommodate approximately 300 worshippers. In addition, the Number 76 Village Housing Scheme saw approximately 1000 house lots distributed. There are 30 Muslim families residing at this new housing scheme.

The individuals responsible for this project are Brother Zakir Ally of Zakir’s Auto Sales, Sister Waheda and other family members and friends residing in Corentyne and Toronto,

Coalition will not eliminate racial tension – Dr Roopnaraine

By Erica Williams

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine says he does not believe the coalition with the Alliance for Change (AFC) will eliminate racial tensions but it could provide some healing on both sides.

Commentators have already raised the issue of the AFC appearing to concede that it was an Indian party boasting that it could guarantee the APNU the 11% it needed to clinch a majority at the polls. This, observer say, was a dangerous ploy if the party is committed to its multi-racial creed. Only recently the party two top East Indian leadersKhemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo shunned a public meeting hosted by the APNU and send two of their African leaders as representatives.

Speaking with Guyana Times in a telephone interview on Thursday, Roopnaraine said “I don’t think it will end racial tensions but it will lower it.” He added that APNU/AFC Coalition plans to push vigorously for racial reconciliation during its campaign for the upcoming Regional and General Elections. Further, Roopnaraine said the coalition is presently in discussion to possibly form a committee to address and fight racial discrimination in Guyana in the event it wins at the upcoming polls.

However, he feels it would be challenging to completely eradicate racial tension in Guyana as the coalition aims at reach its quest for a Government of National Unity. “I don’t think a behaviour of over half a century will just instantly go away but it will certainly be lowered,” Roopnaraine said. Former Speaker of the National

Assembly Ralph Ramkarran earlier this week told this newspaper in an interview that many Indo-Guyanese are still concerned about the history of “rigging and food shortage” that accompany the PNC, now the largest party in APNU and as such, the AFC would have to convince its supporters many of whom are originally PPP/C supporters.

The AFC and the APNU had on Saturday last, signed the ‘Cummingsburg Accord’ signaling the consummation of the pre election coalition partnership following talks during which the AFC was given the Prime Ministerial candidate, two Vice Presidents and a guaranteed 12 seats in Parliament should the coalition succeed at the May 11 polls. This would be approximately 36 per cent of the combined seats by the two parties in the 10th Parliament.

Coalition

Regarding the coalition, Roopnaraine said this is a first step in achieving a national unity government, which he said the WPA has been championing for years. “The WPA feels

a Government of National Unity is ideal to destroy racial discrimination in Guyana,” Roopnaraine said. He added “as a member of the WPA I am pleased along with the rest of our members to see the possibility of the long awaited quest shifting much closer to becoming a reality. We are happy that we are closer to seeing a Government of National Unity realised,” Roopnaraine said. He believes that such an arrangement will aid in the reconciliation of the Guyanese population after the effects of an election. “During elections there is a lot of racial discrimination and we will need a period where we can recuperate following that period,” Roopnaraine explained.

Removed as PM candidate Meanwhile, asked about having to make way for Moses Nagamootoo as the prime ministerial candidate Dr Roopnaraine said he sees whatever concessions he made as a step closer to realising a goal of racial unity in Guyana. He added that he was well aware that once expansions are being made there will be changes and he felt that the changes were beneficial. Roopnaraine who also served as the shadow Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture could not say if he would remain in the post in the event the coalition wins the General Elections. He explained that the coalition is still finalising specific functions. “We still have to decide how we are going to distribute seating in the National Assembly and cabinet positions,” he said. The WPA Co-leader said he has no reason to object to the recent changes in the APNU since “anyone who wants to see a Government of National Unity will agree.”

Cocaine mule excretes another 23 pellets

After confessing to swallowing 45 cocaine pellets in an attempt to smuggle drugs out of Guyana, Stephon James Watson has now excreted 83 pellets totalling some 933 grams of cocaine.

Canada respectively.

The Government of Guyana, the CIOG and the Guyanese Muslim community congratulated the Executives and members of Masjid Waheda on this remarkable achievement in memory of Haj Sultan Akbarallly.

The CIOG was represented by Shaikh Moeen ul Hack, (Director of Education); Shaikh Abdul Hafeez (Regional Coordinator – Berbice); and Haji Alvin (CIOG’s representative in Upper Corentyne).

This was according to a senior Police rank who claimed that investigators believe that he still has a few other pellets in his intestines. The senior rank stated that initially, he told investigators that he had swallowed 45, but based on the evidence, they did not believe him.

Up to Wednesday, Watson reportedly excreted 60 pellets, but after an x-ray was done it was recognised that he had several others in his body. He is expected to make his court appearance today, once he passes all the pellets.

He will be slapped with a trafficking in narcot -

Drug mule, Stephon James Watson

ics charge and if he pleads guilty, he is likely to be sentenced to four years’ imprisonment along with a fine based on the magistrate’s discretion.

On Monday last, the young man was arrested as he was about to board a LIAT L1 512 Flight to Antigua and Barbuda. Police also con-

firmed that he was a frequent flyer and that would have been his fourth visit to the Caribbean island.

After his interception at the Ogle International Airport, Watson confessed to ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch that he swallowed several cocaine pellets.

According to information received, Watson was seen acting in a suspicious manner thus drawing the attention of Police ranks who were nearby. As the Police ranks approached him, he started to sweat profusely. He was questioned, but initially denied carrying any drugs. The Police then threatened to arrest him and it was then he reportedly admitted to swallowing the pellets. He was immediately taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was placed under guard and given laxatives to excrete the pellets.

APNU MP and former Prime Ministerial Candidate Rupert Roopnaraine

A traditional Chinese performance at the National Park last year

Masjid Waheda, located at Number 76 Village, Corentyne, Berbice

DNA samples match – Forensic Analyst

By Vahnu Manikchand

When the trial into the murder of 16-year-old Neesa Lalita Gopaul continued on Thursday, Barbadian Forensic Analyst Lorraine Alleyne testified via audio/ visual link (Skype) that the samples she received from the Guyanese Police Officer back in 2010 had matched in terms of the DNA.

Lorraine, the Deputy Director of the Barbados Forensic Sciences Centre, gave her evidence in chief from the Guyana Honorary Consul Office on the island, during which she conducted a DNA profiling test on a lung sample purportedly taken from Neesa Gopaul and matched it to buccal (mouth) swab samples from one Bibi Shareema Gopaul, Gopaul’s mother who is currently on trial with her former lover Jarvis “Barry” Small for the murder.

The analyst noted that the test revealed 99.98 per cent of the DNA bands from the lung sample of Neesa Gopaul were matched to the swab samples taken from her mother. However, under crossexamination by Attorney Glen Hanoman, the expert explained that while the samples she received matched, she cannot say for sure whether those were indeed taken from the two individuals as stated on the labels.

Superintendent of Police Stephen Greaves of the Police Forensic Laboratory at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, Eve Leary, testified on Wednesday that he witnessed the PostMortem Examination of Neesa Gopaul on October 6, 2010, during which he was given samples for DNA testing.

Greaves recalled that he took the samples back to the lab where he stored them in the refrigerator and on a later date travelled to Barbados with the samples for a DNA test to be done. According to Alleyne, she received pieces of lung and liver purportedly taken from Neesa Gopaul as well as three sets of swab samples taken from her mother; younger sister Mariam Gopaul; and maternal grandfather Mohammed Kayum.

Indictment

Bibi Gopaul and Small are indicted with the teen’s murder which they allegedly committed between September 24, and October 2, 2010. The teen’s body was discovered at the Emerald Tower Resort, Madewini Creek, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

The analyst went on to explain the procedure she undertook to get the results. The witness said that she ran tests to ensure that the samples were not con-

taminated, after which she extracted the DNA from both the lung and swab of Bibi Gopaul (separately) and amplified them which produced specific patterns. These patterns, she noted, created DNA profiles from the respective samples.

She disclosed the profile of the lung obtained a result of 34,100 or 99.98 per cent probability that it

rectly onto the child. “The mother’s sample was the highest probative value,” she stated.

Alleyne further told the court that she had used the lung samples as opposed to the lung because it is 34,100 times more likely to observe a DNA profile from lung samples. She added that while the DNA was the same in all parts of the

originated from the female biological offspring of Bibi Gopaul. The analyst pointed out that she opted to use the swab samples from Bibi Gopaul instead of the others since it is scientifically best to use samples of the nearest transmission such as a mother whose DNA would be passed di-

body, the lung tissues were selected for the test on account of the high probability of obtaining a DNA profile from it. Following the test, the Forensic Analyst recalled that she prepared a Certificate of Analysis with her findings. She was shown a copy of the Certificate, which was ten-

dered as evidence, and identified it as the one she had compiled and subsequently tendered in evidence at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts during the Preliminary Inquiry in February 2011.

Under cross-examination by Attorney Hanoman, who in association with Attorney Lyndon Amsterdam and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, is representing Small, she was questioned about the Lab being closed down a few years ago. The witness confirmed that indeed the Lab was shut down in early 2010, but it was due to a mould issue and not contaminants as the Attorney suggested. This situation, she noted, was resolved. She, however, agreed when he suggested to her that she cannot definitely say whether the samples given to her were indeed taken from the individuals the Police claimed they were taken from. The Forensic Analyst went on to explain, based on questions asked, that DNA samples can be damaged d if they are improperly stored. She added that body organs need to be stored in a special container that would prevent the fluids from leaking out while buccal swabs have to be stored in a different type of containers.

Alleyne ruled out plas-

tic containers for storing the swabs, stating that it was important that the sample stayed dry and plastics developed moisture which causes bacteria that can damage the DNA issues. However, she did say under re-examination that the samples taken from Guyana were stored in the required way in order to preserve the integrity of the samples.

On the other hand, while being cross-examined by Attorney George Thomas, who is representing Bibi Gopaul, the analyst outlined that “muddy water” contains bacteria that can destroy DNA. Thomas then asked the witness whether she cleaned an object (sample) before testing it to which she responded in the positive. He continued asking her a series of questions on the equipment and procedures she used before conducting the actual DNA test.

Alleyne was deemed an expert in Forensic DNA Analysis by the court after she detailed her qualifications which include a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology, a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology and a Master of Science in Forensic Science. She is also the chairperson of the Caribbean DNA Group and sits as a member of Interpol DNA Expert Monitoring Group.

Guyana’s inflation kept low

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) said that the Bank of Guyana has tightened its monetary policy settings contributing to very low inflation rates here, but liquidity conditions remained adequate for supporting the ongoing credit expansion and economic growth.

In an interview with this newspaper late last year, Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga said this year the Bank would roll out a three-year strategic plan, designed to scale-up monetary regulations to maintain and enhance the soundness of its financial system. The visionary document, put together by staff of the bank, with the input of the Directors, and Dr Ganga, who played an instrumental role in the process, is results-based. Dr Ganga said Guyana has enjoyed a stable financial system, and for the banks, it has been one that is highly liquid, profitable and solvent, and the new plan will build on these positive indicators.

This aside, the plan also addresses issues relating to antimoney laundering and financing of terrorism, but notwithstanding, the Central Bank Governor urged parliamentarians to arrive at a consensus, sooner rather than later, allowing for the passage of the legislation currently before the

House. This, Dr Ganga said, is imperative in protecting Guyana from being blacklisted, noting that the global reputational risk would significantly impact national growth, balance of payment, exchange rate and transacting business both within the economy and externally.

Two per cent growth

Meanwhile, the CDB is projecting regional economies to grow by an average of two per cent this year with expansion expected in all 19 Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs). As was the case last year, most are set to grow by one per cent to three per cent, with the strongest performances expected in tourism and construction, along with some improvement in commodity exports.

The Bank’s preliminary forecast also reflects an anticipation of moderate improvements in the economies of the Region’s major trading partners, officials told a press conference in Barbados recently. According to the Bank, while its preliminary estimate of regional growth in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 1.3 per cent for last year was slightly lower than the revised figure of 1.7 per cent for 2013, there is cautious optimism of further strengthening of the regional recovery.

Fastest growth rates for 2014 were estimated for the more tourism-dependent economies. St Kitts and Nevis and the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) for example, each experienced accelerated growth of around four per cent, based on the strengthening recovery in tourism and continued investment inflows for mainly tourism and real estate-related construction. In fact, the CDB said almost all regional destinations for which data were available recorded in-

creased visitor arrivals last year. Meanwhile, despite falling commodity prices and other challenges that impacted mining and quarrying activity, some large commodity exporters were also able to grow quite rapidly, although driven by the services sector.

There were a few exceptions to the overall economic recovery, however. Trinidad and Tobago, which accounts for nearly a third of the Region’s total GDP, slowed considerably to record modest growth last year. The CDB said this came in the wake of operational challenges and the significant drop in oil prices during the year which suppressed petroleum output, thereby driving a decline in the mining and quarrying sectors.

In a few other BMCs, continued underperformance in key sectors contributed to flat or declining economic activity. Barbados and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) stagnated for the seventh consecutive year in 2014. Marginal growth was estimated for Barbados, as weak performances in tourism, international business and construction were not enough to compensate for declines in manufacturing and agriculture. Elsewhere, sizeable economic contractions in St Lucia and

St Vincent and the Grenadines in 2014 partly reflected the impact of a severe storm just before the start of the year, which worsened pre-existing, chronic weaknesses in critical sectors.

Referring to the other major sector contributing to the regional recovery, the CDB said continued expansion in construction activity in most BMCs was primarily led by the Private Sector. Much of this was related to tourism and other commercial development, as well as strong growth in residential building in some territories. Growth in the sector was also stimulated by Public Sector capital investment in several countries. The CDB reported mixed performances in manufacturing, with three of the top five regional manufacturers showing moderate-to-strong growth and two declining. Solid expansion in the non-petroleum segment of the sector in Trinidad and Tobago was boosted by the economic recovery in the rest of the Region. This heightened demand for its export products, including food, beverages, chemicals and especially cement, consistent with the upward trend in construction. Haiti and Guyana were the other two major manufacturers that posted growth.

Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga

Neesa Gopaul trial:

Neesa Gopaul

Barbados’ international stand-up comedian Trevor “Dynamite” Eastmond is expected to arrive in Guyana today, one day ahead of the highly anticipated Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam, slated for the Garage Bar and Grill, Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown, on Saturday evening.

He will clash with the best Guyana has to offer, such as Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine, Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones, Odessa Primus, Chris Gopaul, “Mr Max” and Michael Benjamin. Patrons are asked to be prepared for non-stop laughter.

Also on show will be singers Fabian Gopaul and Illaman, with special host Malcolm “Wickede Boss” Ferriera.

As the saying goes, where all shoes point, all roads lead to Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam for what is touted to be the biggest open air comedy show to ever hit our shores. Trevor “Dynamite” Eastmond

has been in the game of stand-up comedy for over 40 years. He has performed in every Caribbean country except Guyana and he is extremely hyped over his first performance here.

The “Dynamite” has actually let go of dates that he had been booked for in Trinidad to come to Guyana, to teach Chow Pow and Jumbie a lesson in standup comedy. While he is familiar with Chow Pow, having performed with him in Barbados at last year’s “Laff It Off Show” we are sure he is not quite prepared for the “Jumbie”.

This is one show that should not be missed. There will be no repeat of the show, so fans are encouraged to head down to Giftland OfficeMax and the Garage Bar and Grill and get your tickets. Advance tickets cost a measly $1000. The show starts at 20:00h and the early bird fans will benefit from promotional giveaways from sponsors.

There will also be a half-time giveaway of a pair of gold earrings, compliments of Creative Jewellery and Pawn Shop and items from Gizmos and Gadgets. Security will be provided for patrons’ vehicles and traffic ranks from the Guyana Police Force will be present assist ing with the free flow of traffic.

Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam is for mature audienc es and is sponsored by Carib, LIAT, Giftland OfficeMax, Creative Jewellery And Pawn Shop, HJTV, Star Party Rentals, The Garage Bar And Grill, Butsy Pool Bar, Gismos and Gadgets, Craft Creations and L Kanhai Electrical.

Jouvert

The Demerara Cricket Club ground is the place to be on Sunday evening as Next Level Entertainment present Ivanoff Jouvert Party. It will be the first time the party will be held at a ground and it is expected to be off the hook. Bring your pow er, water paint and glitters as we party into the morning of Guyana’s 45th Republic Anniversary on February 23. The party will see live performance by Trinidad’s soca sensation Skinny Fabulous who is known for his hyped performances. He is no stranger to Guyana and he intends to ‘mash up de place’ with his sweet soca vibes. Those who wish to be part of the session can buy and customise their Ivanoff Blue Vodka T-shirts at Dazzel Customs Apparel located in the Ashmin’S Building and get free entry into the ground as well as gifts, complements of

This is one jouvert party you don’t wan na miss. Admission to the event is easy and there will be tanks at the venue for all your water needs. The event is sponsored by Starr Party Rental, Boom FM, Publik, Hot and Spicy, Electronics City, Brand IT and Ivanoff Blue. Come out as we party into the morn ing… Patrons are ad vised “Don’t dress to impress”.

Pulse Entertainment will be moving full steam ahead of its grand Mash showdown on February 23 with a fabulous party at 704 Lounge on Saturday evening which will see Trinidad’s Olatunji performing live.

No stranger to Guyana, the soca sensation has been performing at most of the events promoted by Pulse Entertainment.

The party will be one of the grooviest soca events of the season that will also feature Trinidad’s Shal Marshal. Just out of Trinidad’s Carnival, the two soca artistes are expected to set the 704 Lounge on fire this Saturday evening with the best in soca vibes.

For the partyholics, Deejay X-Bass will set the tune for the evening as he mixes the music to tease their party appetite. At the event as well, patrons will get a sneak peak of the costumes that will be on the Pulse Party Truck on Mash Day.

The sexy models will in deed tempt you to get a ticket to be a part of the action as hundreds ready themselves to revel with Pulse. Again, on the trucks, there will be live performances by the two soca sensations. Admission to ‘Olatunji live’ is $2000 and ladies will be admitted free before 23:00h. For more information, contact the Pulse Office on tele phone number 223-8998.

Trevor Jumbie Jones

Chow Pow

Skinny Fabulous

Jouvert

Shal Marshal

Olatunji

Beverage Giant Banks DIH is pre-

paring to welcome thousands to celebrate Mashramani after a year of hard work when it stages “Wet Fog and Jouvert” on Sunday under the brand, GT Lager Beer.

There will be live performances by Guyanese own, Jackie Jaxx with her versatility. Patrons can also expect an energetic perfor- mance by Reigning Carib Soca Monarch, Jumo ‘Rubber Waist’ Primo who is bound to perform his tune, “unruly” among others.

Apart from the live performances, there will be several high class deejays and selectors on the cards. These include Deejay Breeze from King Scorpion, Deejay Papa from Evolution, Deejay Puffy and Selecta Papa.

The first 400 persons at the event will receive one free GT Lager Beer but there will be GT specials all night. Admission to “Wet Fog and Jovert” is absolutely free.

The night before Mashramani, 2014 was dubbed ‘madddddd’ when Banks DIH held its ‘Jouvert’ Party at the Demerara Park (Thirst Park) which saw thousands in attendance. After a night of partying to live performances, they took to the street for the Annual Costume and Float Parade.

Member of the public are invited to view the Bollywood classic “Tarana” on Saturday, February 21 at the Indian Cultural Centre at Lot 67 New Haven, Bel Air, Georgetown.

This 1979 film was directed by Deepak Bharry and stars Mithun Chakravorty and Ranjeeta as “Shyam” and “Radha” who are in love but are from different backgrounds.

Radha’s father tries to organise a marriage with the rich Thakur who is Shyam’s guardian, but there is no agreement.

However, the story has a twist. The music is by Raam Laxman with playback sing-

ers Shailendra Singh and Usha Mangeshkar and songs including the hit ‘Sultana Sultana’. Admission to the event is absolutely free. Persons are asked to be seated by 17:30h.

Jamaican Dancehall artiste, Tony Matterhorn is expected to grace Berbice with his presence on February 28 when the Ancient County holds its annual Mash tramp in New Amsterdam.

The dancehall reggae deejay will perform some of the songs which have made him popular in the Caribbean, North America and Europe.

Dufton Taylor Jr who adopted the nickname “Tony Matterhorn” which comes from Matterhorn, a brand of cigarettes sold in Jamaica, will perform at the New Amsterdam Stelling Road (Mathew Allen Road) before an anticipated huge audience since it will be the first time he will be in the Ancient County.

For the automobile lovers on the East Coast of Demerara who have held their breath in anticipation of a riveting car and bike show can finally ex hale and relax as Westsiderz Entertainment promises the best expo ever held in that part of the country.

The East Coast EC Auto Expo and Vehicle Sound Off is set to sizzle on February 28 at the Better Hope Community Centre ground, East Coast Demerara.

will be

Promoters revealed that the idea to host the show at the Better Hope Community Center ground, came about after receiving positive feedback from fans of the Westside Auto Expo and Vehicle Sound Off held at Parika last November.

Over 30 vehicles will be on show, competing for cash and trophies in several categories including Best Graphic, Best Lights, Best Theme, Best Interior, Best Engine, Hardest and Xtreme Sound (Car, Bike, SUV and Bus.)

The moderator for the event will be

by Candy Shop

and Big Life Sound System. There will also be musical clashes between Star Cars, T rex, Avengers, Red jet, Wreaker, Massive and others.

Formidable competitors such as The Avengers, Red Jet Darksiders, Wreaker, Star Cars, T Rex, Xklusive and Massive are among the show stoppers who have already confirmed their participation for the first of three Auto Expos planned for 2015.

The action will commence at 16:00h and the sound off starts at 20:00h.

Mash Committee.

The show will also

Entertainment in collaboration with the Region Six, (East Berbice-Corentyne)

Organiser of the event Tito Sancho says that Berbicians deserve a good concert. “Most of the foreign artieste come to Guyana and perform in the city. They don’t come to Berbice. So we thought it is time to give Berbicians a good Mash and have Tony Matterhorn come here and perform”.

Berbicians will be entertained by Matterhorn for a fee as low as $2000.

Matterhorn got his start in the sound system arena in the early 1990s, on Inner City Sound System, before landing on King Addies in Brooklyn, New York alongside selector Babyface.

After leaving Addies in 1998 to form his own sound,

Admission is $1000 while vehicle passes cost $1000. Those who wish to participate in the competition can pay $3000 as a registration fee.

Tickets and entry forms are available at Westsiderz Entertainment Centre, Vreeden-Hoop; Mobile Solution, Mon Repos Market; Deals on Electronic, Strathspey; and Dharmin BlueBerry Shop, Better Hope.

Following the East Coast Expo, there will be the Westside Auto Expo number four and then the first ever Georgetown Auto Expo. The proud sponsors of this event include Carib Beer, Sky Vodka, Trans Pacific Motor Spares and Auto Sales, Deals on Electronic, Mobile Solution, Seeta’s Bar, Miracle Auto Accessories, Royal Taxi Service, Tony’s Auto Spares, Clear Water, Star Cars Auto Sales and Westsiderz Furniture Store.

he went on to win several international clashes, including World Clash Jamaica and the UK Cup Clash.

His first hit song was “Dutty wine’’ which was released in 2006. Shortly after that, Matterhorn released “Goodas” which became another hit. The following year “Sidung Pon It”, also by Matterhorn topped Caribbean charts as he continued to release several popular songs. It was until 2010 that Matterhorn was able to top the charts again when he sang “BlackBerry Pin”.

DJ Golden Chyld while music

provided by #TRS

feature Berbician Calvin

Burnette and chutney singer Bunty Singh. The Mash tramp is promoted

Tony Calvin

Fruta Conquerors, Massy launch U-15 football tournament

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Fruta Conquerors Football Club (FCFC), in collaboration with Massy United Insurance Company, officially launched the inaugural Under-15 football tournament on Thursday at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) headquarters in Campbellville.

The event, which is slated to commence on March 7, will feature 12 teams affiliated to the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), and is set to be played in a league format. The tournament is scheduled to conclude on April 4 at the Tucville ground in Georgetown.

The competing teams will be divided into two groups and the top two from each group will advance to the knockout round.

Outside of the tournament hosts, the other participating teams are Western Tigers, Georgetown Football Club, Renaissance, Riddim Squad, Santos, Houston Stars, Beacon FC, Sunburst Camptown, Pele FC, Black Pearl FC and Order and Discipline FC.

President of the FCFC, Wayne Forde, during a brief address, expressed sincere gratitude to the sponsor for

its support towards the development of football. The FCFC boss pointed out that the club’s intention is to develop youth football and this is one of the mechanisms.

“Over the years the club has paid tremendous emphasis on youth football, so this tournament is definitely a timely one,” Forde said.

He further noted the club is known for producing some of the better players locally, declaring several of the nation’s stronger clubs currently field players that came through the establishment’s youth academy.

GFF Technical Director, Claude Bolton, pointed out that tournaments of such nature are definitely the future of the game.

“While I am very impressed with the vision of Fruta Conquerors, this tournament is important towards youth football,” he revealed.

Bolton further declared league football is the best vehicle for youth development, while commending the club for its continued emphasis on grassroot and youth football initiatives.

GFA Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer, Charmaine Wade, said that the GFA was definitely pleased with the initiative by Fruta

Conquerors, since according to her, the tournament falls within the GFA plans.

Chairman of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee, Clinton Urling, also extended congratulations to the organisers, noting that the tournament aligns itself with the Committee’s desire to see more football being played.

“Just let football play; that’s the objective of the Normalisation Committee over the period that we run and manage football in Guyana. We want to stay away from all the controversies, politics, all the negative stuff that comes with football. We want to see football play, we want to see the development of the sport,” Urling said.

Customer Service Representative of Massy United Insurance, Safraz Sahid, said the company recognises the important role sport plays within a nation. Sahid further said the company is no stranger to the sport arena, while noting the possibility exists for the two entities to build on the event going forward.

He added that the company will continue to support not only football, but other sporting disciplines.

“Caribbean Collision” boxing card…

By avenash Ramzan

Afiery press conference will be followed by the weight-in this evening as the highly anticipated “Caribbean Collision” five-fight boxing card is now just a matter of hours of away.

Billed for the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the home of boxing in Guyana, several of the region’s top pugilists are slated to hit the proverbial “square jungle” with victory the only thing on their minds on Saturday night.

The usual thrash talk is expected to dominate this morning’s pre-fight press conference, which will take place in the

boardroom of Banks DIH Limited, one of the major partners for this the first card by the Guyana Boxing of Control in 2015. Jamaican boxing sensation, Sakima Mullings, was expected to arrive in Guyana last evening via a Fly Jamaica flight, along with his team and International Judge, the Jamaican Clifford Browne.

Mullings will no doubt look to get under the skin of his rival, Dominicabased Guyanese Clive “The Punisher” Atwell, when the two come faceto-face at the press conference. Words are expected to fly like punches and the boardroom could potentially be transformed into a battle ground.

Atwell is not one known to run from banter, and the verbal exchanges may very well shape the way the boxers view each other ahead of the main contest.

Top sportsmen/women to be known today

Apanel of judges assembled by the National Sports Commission will decide on the country’s top sportsmen and women for 2014 when voting takes place at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 10:00h.

The panel will be led by Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Conrad Plummer, and Director of Sport, Neil Kumar.

The various associations would have sent in their nominations for the different categories, taking into consideration the performances during the 2014 calendar year.

Motor-racer Kristian Jeffrey is a favourite for Sportsman-of-the-Year, with the other nominees being athletes Winston George and Cleveland Forde, bodybuilders Kerwin Clarke and Devon Davis, cricketer Veerasammy Permaul, rugby captain Ryan Gonsalves, squash player Sunil Seth, rifle shooter Ryan McKinnon and draughts player Khemraj Pooranmall.

Athlete Alisha Fortune leads the group for Sportswoman-of-the-Year, with Jenille Ifill, Tremayne Smartt, Mauress Skeete, Nicolette Fernandes and Cassie George being the other nominees.

Below are the other categories and the nominees in bracket

Sport Journalist/

Photographer (Edison Jefford, Orlando Charles, Sean Embrack); Sport Journalist- Non-Print (Avenash Ramzan, Esan Griffith, Stephan Sookram, Travis Hopkinson, Mark Young); Sport JournalistPrint (Emmerson Campbell, Treiston Joseph, Michael Benjamin, Calvin Roberts); Sport Association (Squash, Rugby, Cricket, Judo, Table Tennis, Sports Shooting, Volleyball); Most Improved Association (Rugby, Swimming, Sports Shooting, Squash, Rugby, Tennis, Volleyball); Female Sport Personality (Vidushi Persaud, Lavern Fraser, Dr Karen Pilgrim); Male Sport Personality (Phillip Fernandes, Raoul Archer, Peter Green, Wilton

Spencer, Steve Ninvalle); Coach-of-the-Year (Theodore Henry, Raoul Archer, Carl Ince, Gokarn Ramdhani); Sport Team (Junior Squash, Rugby Men, Under-19 Cricket, Male Cycling, Under-15 Cricket); Junior Sportswoman (Priyanna Ramdhani, Larissa Wiltshire, Phaffiana Millington, Akeila Wiltshire, Cassie George, Nicola Ramdyhan); Junior Sportsman (Jason Yaw, Narayan Ramdhani, Shemron Hetmyer, Delroy Murphy, Shemar Britton, Nyron Joseph, Alanzo Ambrose, Jordan Beaton); and Special Award for Person with Disability (Calvin Thomas). A date and venue for the award ceremony will be announced following the completing of voting today.

Pre-fight weight-in set for Regency tonight

But the boxers are fully aware that all the thrash talk would count for nothing if their execution is not spot-on on fight night. The stakes are high in the feature contest, with either of Mullings or Atwell slated to become the new CABOFE Junior Welterweight title holder.

Later on in the day, at 19:00h to be specific, the pugilists will journey to the Regency Hotel and Suites on Hadfield Street for the weight-in.

The card, the first for 2015 in Guyana, will start with a clash between debutants Travis Fraser of Guyana and Charwin Estwick of Barbados in a Junior Middleweight six-rounder, and will

also see an eight-round Middleweight rematch featuring Edmond DeClou and Dereck Richmond.

The last time these two met, DeClou suffered a broken jaw and has not

entered the ring since. In the other two fights, Quincy Gomes will face debutant Keeve Allicock in a four-round Lightweight contest, while Dexter Gonsalves will match gloves Mark Austin in an eight-round Welterweight rematch.

The action will start at 20:00 hours at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and admission to the venue is $3,000 (Ringside) and $1500 (Stands). Patrons are also in for a treat as there will be three door prizes up for grabs. These are two tickets to any of three Fly Jamaica destinations, a gold cricket bracelet from Kings Jewellery World and two cases of Banks DIH beverage.

Clive Atwell

Sakima Mullings

Kristian Jeffrey Veerasammy Permaul

ESPNcricinfo Awards 2014... Test awards for McCullum and Johnson

Brendon McCullum’s match-saving 302 against India in Wellington has been voted the top Test batting performance of 2014 at the eighth annual ESPNcricinfo Awards, announced on Thursday. The Test bowling award went to Australia’s Mitchell Johnson, for his 7-68 against South Africa in Centurion.

Rohit Sharma, who broke a world record with his monumental 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, took the award for the best ODI batting performance. The top ODI bowling performance was Lasith Malinga’s 5-56, which helped Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Mirpur.

The ESPNcricinfo Awards honour the best batting and bowling performances across the interna-

tional formats of the game for the calendar year. They were decided by a jury of former players - among them, Ricky Ponting, Ian Chappell, Martin Crowe, Michael Holding, Graeme Smith, Daryll Cullinan and Mark Butcher - and ESPNcricinfo’s senior writers and editors.

McCullum became the first New Zealander to score a triple-century in Tests, which came when New Zealand looked in danger of surrendering their 1-0 lead in the two-Test series. McCullum, in partnership with BJ Watling (124) and Jimmy Neesham (137) ensured the series stayed with the hosts, following a highscoring draw.

Johnson’s spell against South Africa came straight after the Ashes in Australia, the series in which he rediscovered himself as a

GCB U-15, Inter-county cricket tournament…

Demerara, Berbice to clash in Saturday’s final

Defending champions Demerara will clash with Berbice in the final of the 2015 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-15, Intercounty 50-over competition on Saturday at the Wales Community Centre ground.

Both teams recorded convincing victories in their respective preliminary round game on Thursday.

Berbice whipped the GCB’s President XI by 82 runs at the Everest Cricket Club ground, while Demerara accomplished a seven-wicket victory over Essequibo at the Wales Community Centre ground.

Openers Junior Sinclair and Brandon Mangal shared in a 138-run partnership to guide Berbice to 196-4 off their 50 overs.

Sinclair, who was later named Man-of-the-Match, finished on 70 off 120 balls with five boundaries, while Mangal stroke 62 from 130 deliveries, inclusive of three boundaries. Garfield Benjamin contributed 26 to the total.

In reply, the GCB’s President XI were bowled out for 114 in 44.5 overs with only Sachin Persaud

(46) offering any resistance.

Nivendra Persaud (4-25), Kevlon Anderson (2-10) and Haife Walters (2-10) were the main destructive forces. Meanwhile, Essequibo reached 78-6 in 25 overs after early morning showers delayed the start of play by almost four hours.

Demerara captain Ashmead Nedd (4-12) was the chief destroyer. In reply, Demerara reached 79-3 in 19 overs with Adrian Hinds (34 not out) and Robin Williams (25) being the principal scorers.

Nedd was adjudged Manof-the-Match. The final will commence at 09:00h.

fast bowler. His savagery in Centurion bundled out South Africa for 206 in the first Test and set Australia on the path to a Test and series win. It was his second ESPNcricinfo Award in the category in consecutive years.

Rohit’s innings in Kolkata came in his return match from injury. He began cautiously, was fortunate to be dropped in the outfield early in his innings, and went on to score his second ODI double-hundred, smashing 33 fours and nine sixes. Incidentally, his first double-hundred in the format won the ODI Batting award for 2013. Malinga too is a former ESPNcricinfo Award winner. Other previous winners include Dale Steyn, Virender Sehwag, Shahid Afridi and Kumar Sangakkara.

Mario Balotelli scored a late penalty to give Liverpool a narrow Europa League

lead over Besiktas despite a row over whether he should take the kick. Liverpool were awarded

the spot-kick in the first leg at Anfield after Jordon Ibe was fouled by Ramon Motta. Balotelli and Jordan

In the T20 category, England’s Alex Hales took the award for the best batting performance with his unbeaten 116 against Sri Lanka in the World T20 in Bangladesh. In the same tournament, Rangana Herath’s 5-3 against New Zealand was the jury’s choice for the best bowling performance.

Sri Lankan players have figured prominently across award categories in 2014, including the Statsguru Awards, which recognises consistency in performances. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews swept three awards - Batsman of the Year, Best Test Batsman and Most Consistent Test Batsman. It was reward for aggregating more than 1200 runs each in Tests and ODIs. Herath was named the Best Test Bowler. (Cricinfo)

Henderson argued over who should step up to the spot before the Italy striker grabbed the ball and confidently converted.

Demba Ba went closest for Besiktas but saw his shot saved by Simon Mignolet.

Balotelli has endured a difficult time on Merseyside since his £16m move from Inter Milan last summer, and last month Liverpool Brendan Rodgers told him to lift his performances in training.

However, the 24-yearold appears to have turned something of a corner having now scored in consecutive home games for the Reds, even if the manner of his penalty winner provoked a dispute with his team-mates. (BBC Sport)

Marussia may return to F1 in 2015

The former Marussia team have taken a step towards returning to Formula 1 by finalising an agreement to come out of administration.

Having reverted to their original name of Manor, the team completed a company voluntary agreement (CVA) on Thursday, giving back control to the directors.

Manor has succeeded in finding new investment, with ex-Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King reportedly part of the consortium involved.

But Manor still face some hurdles.

They either need unanimous agreement from the other teams to be allowed to race their 2014 car for a limited period at the start of the season.

Or they face a race against time to build a new car to the 2015 regulations, which feature safety chang-

es, so they can take part in the fourth race of the season in Bahrain on April 19.

Teams are allowed to miss a maximum of three races in a season under the terms of their contracts with Formula 1. Geoff Rowley, joint administrator at FRP Advisory, said: “We are pleased that the financial restructuring of the compa-

ny has been progressed after creditor approval of the CVA.

“With new investment and a continuity of the respected management, the business has the ideal platform from which it can accelerate the operational rebuilding already underway to get a team back racing.

“We shall complete our statutory duties as admin-

istrators with the necessary filings needed in order to formally exit the company from administration over the next few days.”

Manor have so far not revealed details of the identity of the new investor, although King is reportedly involved.

Last week, Force India blocked Manor’s return, saying their application “lacked substance”.

Manor retaliated by saying they had not been asked to make a presentation to the meeting in question and had already secured agreement from the F1 rule-making strategy group to run their 2014 car on a limited basis. The situation remains unresolved.

Marussia collapsed after last October’s Russian Grand Prix with £31m debt. By far the largest creditor was engine supplier Ferrari. (BBC Sport)

Brendon McCullum’s 302 helped New Zealand retain their series lead against India

Ashmead Nedd

Mario Balotelli has scored 27 of his 29 penalties in his professional career

The former Marussia team have taken a step towards returning to Formula 1

UAE v Zimbabwe, World Cup 2015, Group B, Nelson...

Williams, Ervine ruin UAE’s spirited comeback

It’s often hard to tell between Sean Williams and Craig Ervine. Both are lean, tall, white, lefthand batsmen who bowl a bit of part-time spin. Even their faces have similar proportion. They are also two of the more sensible Zimbabwe batsmen, less likely to throw their wickets away than other batsmen who get to play as little top-level cricket as Zimbabwe batsmen and ones from other teams in the same category.

Playing their first World

lar wickets, fielding with energy until the left-hand twins came together with 119 required in 17.2 overs.

Clinically and ruthlessly, the two broke the deadlock with a partnership of 83 off 62 balls to deny the World Cup its first real thriller, cruising home with two overs to spare.

This was expected to be the most low-key match of the World Cup so far, but turned out to be the closest yet. A lot of credit has to go to UAE, who are only

SCOREBOARD

United Arab Emirates Innings

Ali c C Ervine b Chatara 7

Berenger c Taylor b Mire 22 Chandran c Chigumbura b Mire 34

Khurram Khan c Williams

b Chatara 45

Patil c Chakabva b Williams 32

Anwar c C Ervine b Williams 67

Mustafa c Taylor b Chatara 4

Javed not out 25

Naveed not out 23

Extras: (1-nb, 15-w, 4-b, 6-lb)26

Total: (for 7 wickets; 50 overs) 285

Bowling: Panyangara 9-0-660, Chatara 10-1-42-3, Mire

8-0-39-2, Kamungozi 10-053-0, Chigumbura 1-0-12-0, Williams 8-0-43-2, Raza 3-011-0, H Masakadza 1-0-9-0

Fall of wickets: 26 (Ali), 40 (Berenger), 122 (Chandran), 134 (Khurram

Cup match in 19 years, UAE, a team primarily built of middle-aged amateurs, matched Zimbabwe blow for blow, registering their highest ODI score, taking regu-

Khan), 216 (Patil), 230 (Mustafa), 232 (Anwar)

Zimbabwe Innings Raza c Chandran b Tauqir 46 Chakabva hit wicket b Tauqir 35

H Masakadza lbw b Javed 1

Taylor lbw b Aziz 47

Williams not out 76

Mire c Patil b Naveed 9

C Ervine c and b Chandran 42

Chigumbura not out 14

Extras: (10-w, 6-lb) 16

Total:(for 6 wickets; 48 overs)286

Bowling: Naveed 10-1-60-1, Javed 9-0-49-1, Aziz 10-0-531, Tauqir 9-0-51-2, Chandran 9-0-59-1, Mustafa 1-0-8-0

Fall of wickets: 64 (Raza), 72 (H Masakadza), 112 (Chakabva), 144 (Taylor), 167 (Mire), 250 (C Ervine)

remembered for their 1996 captain Sultan Zaravani going bareheaded to face Allan Donald and wearing one.

Nineteen years later, a team more spirited and

Australia’s Clarke will return against Bangladesh

Australia captain Michael Clarke will return from injury in Saturday’s World Cup match against Bangladesh.

Clarke had surgery on his hamstring less than two months ago and was set a deadline of this weekend if he was to take any part in the World Cup.

He has come through two warm-up matches, scoring 98 runs, and coach Darren Lehman confirmed the news.

Clarke 33, will replace George Bailey, who led

Australia to victory over England last week.

He suffered two injuries to his left hamstring in 2014 before tearing his right hamstring while fielding in the first Test against India on December 13.

He even went so far as to suggest that the injury may have ended his career.

But, by December 24, he stated his desire to be fit for the World Cup and returned to action in grade cricket on January 31. (BBC Sport)

more suited to the challenge came back to the event although it didn’t show at the start. It was only some good fortune that kept them from losing their openers with fewer than 40 on the board, but after that Khurram Khan and Shaiman Anwar made sure UAE didn’t simply fold up.

The 43-year-old Khurram, UAE’s talisman and an airplane purser in his life outside cricket, is older than their coach Aaqib Javed and one of the commentators at the match, Shaun Pollock. The 35-yearold Shaiman handles loads on cargo flights.

Between them, they made sure this airport was in order through two 82-run stands. Khurram shepherded Krishna Chandran with a 55-ball 45 in the third-wicket association, and when the two followed each other to the pavilion Anwar dominated the fifth-wicket stand with wicketkeeper Swapnil Patil with 67 off 50.

Khurram broke the shackles UAE found themselves in with four fours in the first 14 balls he faced. Then he settled down. This was a flat pitch with a small outfield so Zimbabwe didn’t look too concerned with runs at around four an over. With the Powerplay approaching, Elton Chigumbura went to his strike bowlers, and both produced wickets with the first ball back. Solomon Mire accounted for Chandran, Tendai Chatara took out Khurram.

Anwar and Patil made

sure the Powerplay didn’t go to waste, taking 48 runs without losing a wicket. Anwar didn’t begin as smoothly as Khurram, reaching only 7 off 12, before getting stuck into the Powerplay bowling. Even though the two fell in quick succession, Mohammad Naveed and Amjad Javed added 53 off the last 5.5 overs to remind Zimbabwe of their horror finish against South Africa.

Thrilling chase

The two responsible for taking the target into the uncomfortable category then made it even more uncomfortable, conceding just 18 off the first six overs. Sikandar Raza then cut free with a flurry of boundaries but he felt the pressure with his opening partner Regis Chakabva piling up dots. Raza went to cut in Mohammad Tauqir’s first over, and fell just short of a fifty. Hamilton Masakadza soon fell to Javed’s swing and seam. Another partnership began to brew with Chakabva about to break free in the company of Brendan Taylor, but a freak dismissal brought UAE back.

As Chakabva went back to work a shortish off-break to leg, his toe slipped under him and he disturbed the wicket to become the first man since Vusi Sibanda in 2007 – another Zimbabwe opener – to be out hit-wicket in a World Cup. Taylor threatened to take the game away, but he fell lbw

to a natural variation from Nasir Aziz, an off-break that didn’t turn as much as expected. An experiment with promoting Mire didn’t end well, and UAE would have fancied themselves just before the Powerplay began.

moved inside the line of Chandran’s gentlepace and dropped him over square leg for six. Williams skipped to Aziz and lofted him straight for four. Ervine hit another leg-side six. Williams hit another four down the

Now came the most assured period of play from Zimbabwe. Williams had already looked good in reaching 16 off 20 by the time Ervine joined him, and there was something reassuring about how he cover-drove the second ball he faced for three. The two began to run UAE ragged with aggressive running and calculated risks in the Powerplay. Ervine

ground. Even before people learnt how to differentiate between the two, the ask had come down to 64 in the last 10 overs.

Ervine’s wicket for 42 off 32, with 36 still required created some excitement, but Williams stayed unbeaten with 76 off 65 to see them through to their fourthhighest successful chase in ODIs. (Cricinfo)

Morgan can handle World Cup pressure, says Ramprakash

England batting coach

Mark Ramprakash

says Eoin Morgan’s strength of character will see the captain come good at the World Cup.

England face New Zealand in Wellington on Friday having lost their opening match against Australia by 111 runs.

Morgan’s captaincy was criticised and his form came under scrutiny following four ducks in his last five matches.

“In terms of handling the pressures you couldn’t ask for a better character to be able to handle it,” said Ramprakash.

“He’s had this amazing run where he’s found different ways to get out. If it was another person, another character, then I might have real cause for concern because I think it would weigh

heavily on their mind.”

Ramprakash, who played 52 Tests and 18 one-day internationals, praised the way Morgan has responded to taking over as one-day captain from Alastair Cook.

“I’ve been hugely impressed with the way Eoin’s dealt with taking over the group but also the way he manages to differentiate between the captaincy and the leadership role with his own game,” said Ramprakash.

“I would never say ‘I think you should do this’. It’s more throwing in the odd question and seeing how he feels.

“He thinks about his own game. He knows his strengths. So the onus of responsibility is on him because of his experience.”

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who has played alongside

Morgan with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, described the left-handed batsman as a “champion player” and a “tough bloke”.

“I caught up with him last night but we didn’t talk about it,” said McCullum.

“He’s one of my better mates from around the world in terms of cricket. He’s going through a bit of

a tough time at the moment, but tough times don’t last, tough blokes do.

“Hopefully tomorrow we’re able to keep him quiet but I am very confident at some point he’ll bounce out of it because he’s a quality player and a tough bloke too.”

McCullum, meanwhile, said the co-hosts would be unchanged for their third group game following wins over Sri Lanka and Scotland. They have won 10 of their last 12 matches and are one of the favourites to lift the trophy on 29 March.

“The guys have performed well so far,” he said. “We want to give them the same opportunity again. We think that the balance of the team that we’re going in with will suit us well on this ground.” (BBC Sport)

Sean Williams unbeaten 76 sealed the win for Zimbabwe

Eion Morgan

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FIFA candidate wants World Cup with 48 teams

Luis Figo would consider a bigger World Cup if he is elected to replace Sepp Blater as FIFA’s president.

Releasing his manifesto at Wembley Stadium, the legendary Portugal midfielder said he would look at increasing the number of teams from 32 to 40 or even 48.

Figo, 42, is one of three candidates challenging Blatter in the election on May 29.

He also proposed sinbins and reverting to the old offside rule interpretation.

Dutch federation president Michael van Praag and Jordanian Prince Ali bin Al Hussein are also in the running to become head of football’s world governing body.

Former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan winger Figo, who played at two World Cups, said on Thursday that the current format could be increased to 40 teams or FIFA could stage two 24-team competitions simultaneously on two continents, followed by a knockout phase in one nation.

He said: “Both these options are feasible with an extra three to four days of tournament play. If this expansion were to take place

I believe that additional teams should come from non-European nations.

“We not only make sure that we include more countries from across the world, but also enable FIFA to raise significant increased revenues that can be used to invest in the growth of the game globally.”

Figo, the 2001 FIFA world player of the year, also proposes: (1) Spreading half of FIFA’s $2.5bn revenue over four years to associations to fund grassroots football (2) Redistributing $1bn of FIFA’s $1.5bn cash reserves to the 209 national federations (3) Increased

use of technology in the game, using sin-bins for unsporting behaviour, and (4) Reverting back to the previous interpretation of the offside rule, “where a player is judged offside whether directly involved in the play or not.”

Blatter, 78, has been FIFA boss since 1998 and said in June 2014 that he intended to run for a fifth term. He was criticised for FIFA’s handling of Michael Garcia’s report into alleged corruption during the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. (BBC Sport)

Beating Mike Tyson was “a dream come true”

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James “Buster” Douglas has spoken about the greatest accomplishment of his boxing careerbeating the seemingly invincible Mike Tyson in 1990.

Douglas recorded a 10thround knockout against the then undefeated heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the fight, Douglas gave an in-depth interview to BBC Radio 5live.

“It’s something I will always live with for the rest of my life - a great accomplishment,” Douglas reflected.

Douglas went into the fight in Japan’s Tokyo Dome as the 42-1 underdog, and the result is widely regarded to be one of the greatest upsets in sporting history.

The build up to the bout had not been a smooth one

for the man from Columbus, with personal problems dominating his preparation.

But the man nicknamed ‘Buster’ says he used the build-up as inspiration: “My wife and I were going through some things, we were separated, and then the biggest thing was my mum passed 21 days prior to the fight.

“My dad and I weren’t really seeing eye-to-eye with my decisions in my career.

“There were a lot of things swarming around, but do you know what? I was able to see beyond that, and say ‘Man, with all of these things going on in my life, this has to be my time.’

“It really made me focus and buckle down even more, because I just felt that I’d seen beyond it, that there was something bigger on the

horizon for me giving me the title shot at this time,” he added.

Despite Tyson’s fearsome reputation, Douglas traded blows with the champion from the first round. Tyson eventually knocked the challenger down in the eighth round, but Douglas narrowly beat the count and found the strength to launch a counter-offensive.

Halfway through the 10th, a Douglas combination put Tyson on the canvas for the first time in his career and the fight was stopped.

Contemplating his win, and how he shook the boxing world, Douglas said: “That was a dream come true. It was like I’d achieved the ultimate goal - becoming the heavyweight champion of the world.”

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James “Buster” Douglas on beating Mike Tyson: “It’s something I will always live with for the rest of my life - a great accomplishment”

Friends of Malteenoes donates grasscutter to club

The already immaculate and picturesque outfield at the Malteenoes Sports Club is expected to maintain such qualities with the club’s acquisition of a mechanical grass cutter, donated by the Friends of MalteenoesU.S.A Chapter.

The simple presentation was made at the club’s facility on Thomas Lands on Thursday morning. The piece of equipment was handed over to president of the Malteenoes Sports Club, Neil Barry, by Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony in the presence of other members of the club.

Barry, a former national cricketer, said the donation was made possible through the kind support of members of the U.S.A Chapter, who saw the need for such equipment at the facility.

“This equipment, as you see it here, will of course enhance our ability here

at Malteenoes to provide a venue where sports can be played, predominantly cricket,” Barry said.

He added, “We’re appreciative of this offer and would like to say thank you very much to the Minister of Sport and his team, who have not just facilitated us with the clearance and the inland logistics of getting the cutter here, but they have also played an instrumental role in [the development of] our ground.”

Dr Anthony said he was pleased to assist the club in its developmental drive. It was noted that Malteenoes was among the first set of clubs to tap into the government’s grant of one million dollars each for the upgrade of venues across the country.

“We see that they have very leadership here and over the years they have been very strong in developing young cricketers through their academy and

that is something we want others to emulate,” the minister pointed out. “Not only have they been building capacity and producing cricket players through their programme, but they have also embarked on a drive to improve the improve the infrastructure and facilities here at Malteenoes.”

Life Member of the Malteenoes Sports Club, Claude Raphael, spoke on behalf of the U.S.A Chapter, noting that more such donations will be made to the club in the future.

He said Malteenoes Sports Club has been thriving in its effort to not just produce quality cricketers, but also work on improving its infrastructure, and this is just another step in that regard.

Barry promised that the club will ensure that the equipment is utilised for its intended purpose. (Avenash Ramzan)

Simmons set to be named...

The 51-year-old Simmons currently serves as Ireland head coach and only last Monday inspired his side to a shock four-wicket defeat of West Indies, in their opening game of the Cricket World Cup at Saxton Oval.

He is in his eighth year as Ireland coach, having signed a two-year contract extension in December, 2013.

Trinidadian Simmons, who has coached Zimbabwe in the past, fills the post made vacant by another former West Indies player, Ottis Gibson, who parted ways with the West Indies Cricket Board last August, just days prior to the start of the Bangladesh tour of the Caribbean.

Ever since, assistant coach Stuart Williams, team manager Sir Richie

Richardson and bowling coach, Sir Curtly Ambrose, have assumed technical duties with the side.

Several names, including that of South African Mickey Arthur, were last year bandied about but the WICB quashed speculation by saying that there would be no rush to fill the vacant post. And only last September, WICB president Dave Cameron said the board was hoping to make an appointment “within the New Year.”

Simmons has had exceptional success as Ireland coach since succeeding Adi Birrell back in 2007. During his tenure, he has overseen the capture of two Intercontinental Cups while ensuring qualification for four successive World

Sukhpaul Business Enterprise supports YWCC Mash Cup

Sukhpaul Business Enterprise has thrown its support behind the 2015 edition of the Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) annual fundraiser, the Mash Cup.

The tournament will be played on Monday, a national holiday, and will involve 11 second division teams from the Number 19/Canje area.

At the presentation ceremony, Managing Director of Sukhpaul Business Enterprise, New Amsterdam Branch, Raj

Sukhpaul, said that as a company they are happy to be a part of the tournament for the third time.

He added that the entity is impressed with the work of the cricket club, and is satisfied that his investment is for a good cause. Receiving the cheque on behalf of the cricket club, senior coach Hubern Evans, thanked the sponsor for his kind gesture.

The championship will begin at 09:00h, with the host YWCC taking on Gangaram, followed by

Buski XI versus Kendall’s Union.

Seawell will then play Canefield, followed by Rose Hall Community Centre opposing Betsy Triple Star and Number Seven playing Goed Bananen Land. Defending champions Young and Restless have drawn the bye. Cash, trophies and medals, valued over $150,000 will be up for grabs. Proceeds from this event will be donated to aid small projects of a mandir, mosque and church within the area.

Jumbo Jet Sprint Classic reduced

to 7-race programmme – close to 70 horses confirmed to participate

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Ofrom back page

Twenty20 campaigns.

In 2013, Ireland – an associate ICC member – became the first team to win the Associates’ treble of the Intercontinental Cup, World Cricket League and Twenty20.

Simmons’ first series in charge of West Indies will be against England, who tour the Caribbean from April 6 to May 5 for three Tests.

In a career spanning 12 years for West Indies, the former right-handed batsman and right-arm seamer played 26 Tests, scoring 1002 runs at an average of 22 and grabbing four wickets.

In 143 One-Day Internationals, he managed 3675 runs at an average of nearly 29, while picking up 83 wickets.

rganisers of this Sunday’s Jumbo Jet Sprint Classic horse race meet have made two changes to the original programme. The one-day meet is slated for the Rising Sun Turf Club, and is being organised in ollaboration with the Jumbo Jet Business Enterprise and Racing Stable.

Information reaching Guyana Times Sport on Thursday revealed that the race for the Four-year-old horses and H1 and Lower were taken off the programme because of the limited entries received. The meet will now be a sevenrace programme with all the races set to compete over a distance of 1100 metres.

With the registration process now closed, organisers have been able to confirm that close to 70 horses have registered to partici-

pate.

The feature event is now for animals classified D1 and Lower, and not D3 as was previously advertised. The winning prize is $1 million and a trophy. The Shariff Racing Stable heads the feature line-up with three entries; the likes of California Strike, Spit Fire and Swing Easy.

The Jumbo Jet Racing Stables has Appealing Harvest and Jack is my Style, while the Jagdeo Connection, from all indications, will be going with Right to Rule and the fit again Country Armage. Others, such as Red and Lovely, Passion for Song and Money in Return, will be looking to make their name.

However, all eyes will be on the newly imported and highly rated Piz a Holiday of the Elcock/Poonai Stable as it makes its debut on the local arena. Other races include the Three-year-old

Guyana and West Indian bred race, which will fetch a winning take of $500,000 and a trophy.

The E Class event will now be for E2 animals, and not E3, with the winner set to race away another $500,000 and a trophy. The G1 and Lower animals have a $400,000 winning money and trophy to aim for.

The Three-year-old Guyana bred animals will gallop for a winner’s pocket of $250,000 and a trophy, while the event for I3 and Lower animals will see the winner taking home $200,000 and a trophy. The final event is for animals classified J3 and Lower for a pole position prize of $150,000 and a trophy.

The day’s activities will be conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and, according to organisers, those rules would be rigidly enforced. Race time is 12:30h.

Managing Director of Sukhpaul Business Enterprise, New Amsterdam Branch Raj Sukhpaul (right) hands over the sponsorship cheque to YWCC Senior Coach Hubern Evans

Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony (third right) presents the equipment to MSC President Neil Barry in the presence of other members of the club (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

Road to Mecca II...

Colts offensive outburst cages Falcons

By TreisTon Joseph

The Bounty Colts put on the best offensive show of the Road to Mecca II National Club Championships on Wednesday evening with a 98-68 win over the Bankers Trust Falcons at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Falcons just could not hold onto the basketball, often committing unforced errors throughout the game that allowed the Colts to get into the open court where they are most dangerous.

Dave Causway was often a pest with his defence, coming away with seven steals while dropping 19 points and seven assists.

Shelroy Thomas was the

beneficiary of fast break points, netting 19 points of his own, while Rayon Cummings was splashing it home from beyond the arc to end with 15 points, nine of which came from the threepoint line. Shane Webster also had 14 points in the win for the Colts Marlon Persaud led the way for the losing side with 18 points, while Devon Thompson and Thornton Wilson had 13 and 12 points respectively.

Meanwhile, in the second game of the evening, bricks were laid as both the Retrieve Raiders and New Amsterdam Warriors struggled terribly to score the basketball. However, the Raiders were able to pull off

a close 48-44 win.

The Raiders started hot with star player Neil Marks draining two three's to get the game rolling as a blowout seemed on hand with the Raiders ahead 16-8 at the end of the first period.

With Raiders coasting midway through the third with a 17-point lead, the game seemed all but over.

The Warriors then made an 8-0 run late in the third to cut the lead to nine.

The run continued into the fourth period as the Warriors came within one point of tying the game with three minutes to play. However, key defensive stops would allow Raiders to hold off the surging Bernice side to end the night's action.

All set for GFSCA Mash softball on Saturday

As Guyana celebrates 45 years as a Cooperative Republic on Monday, the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) is marking the occasion by staging its first event of 2015- a Mashramani one day softball tournament. The day/night tournament will be held on Saturday at the Demerara Cricket Club ground on Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown. Matches will start at 14:00 hours and will

conclude at 23:30 hours.

Fourteen teams will be accepted to compete in the competition. Eight teams will play in the Open category (male of any age) and six teams will contest the Masters category (40 years and over).

The Male Open will be 5/5 overs, while the Masters will be 10/10. Matches will be played on two pitches simultaneously.

Entrance fee for the Open category is $15,000 and the Masters is $20,000.

Flying Ace stages annual Mashramani races on Monday

The Flying Ace Cycling Club of Berbice will on Monday stage its annual 40-mile cycle road race as part of activities to celebrate Mashramani.

According to coordinator Randolph Roberts, the race, which is open to all registered cyclists, will pedal off at 10:00h from in front of the Shaveh Restaurant, Night Club and Bar at Rose Hall Town, proceed to the Number 51 Village on the Corentyne Coast, before turning back in front of the Police Station and returning to its place of origin.

The cyclists will compete in four categories, namely open, junior, veteran and

female. The veteran and female riders are expected to turn back in front of Nand Persaud and Company Limited after covering a distance of 25 miles.

The first six finishers will be rewarded with lucrative prizes, while there will also be accolades for the first three riders to cross the finishing line in the junior category, the first three females and the first three veterans. There will also be eight prime point prizes up for grabs.

Meanwhile, an athletics road race is also on the card with the males set to cover a distance of five miles, starting at Manchester Village,

Corentyne, while the females are expected to start at Bloomfield, covering a distance of three miles. Both races are expected to finish in front of the Shaveh Restaurant, Night Club and Bar. Prizes will be awarded to the first three finishers. Also on Mash day, a number of 100-metre sprint events will be staged with the top three finishers in each category being rewarded.

The day’s activities are being sponsored by Shaveh Restaurant, Night Club and Bar at Rose Hall Town in collaboration with Benjamin Sport Store of Fyrish.

The champion team of each category will receive $50,000 and the runner-ups will receive $15,000 each. The yellow floodlight ball will be used, and teams can purchase them at Mike’s Pharmacy on Sheriff Street. Teams interested in competing can call GFSCA organiser, Wayne Jones, on 650-1790 or 685-6908 to book their spot. The day/ night softball 14-team tournament will be held on the last Saturday of every month at the DCC ground.

The GFSCA first tournament of the 2015 season is on this weekend

Part of the action during the Colts offensive onslaught on the Falcons (Treiston Joseph photo)

A representative of the Shaveh Restaurant, Night Club and Bar of Rose Hall Town hands over the sponsorship cheque to organiser Randolph Roberts (left) of the FACC. Former national Cyclist and overseas-based Guyanese and Co-sponsor Wilbert Benjamin shares the moment

Windies aim to revive campaign against Pakistan

Two teams, considered highly unpredictable and dangerous, West Indies and Pakistan, clash in a potential cliffhanger in the 10th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup at the Hagley Oval this evening (Caribbean time).

West Indies and Pakistan are both seeking their first win after suffering moral bashing opening round defeats against Ireland and India respectively. Jason Holders men had a full training session on Thursday afternoon and all players participated in the session.

“We are ready to turn the corner and go ahead as far as we can in this World Cup,” announced left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn.

“We have a very important and difficult game against Pakistan and we are looking forward to that. We got to take things into perspective. We got to see how good the pitches are and how small the outfields are”.

Meantime, legendary left-arm

Qasim said the leg-spinning

Fruta Conquerors, Massy launch U-15 football tournament

“Cricketers from the Caribbean islands had always shown their traditional vulnerability against quality leg-spinners,” Qasim said. “Afridi and Yasir Shah can capitalise that weakness if they bowled smartly. Remember Afridi bulldozed the West Indies batting in 2011 World Cup quarter-finals in Dhaka with a four wicket haul.”

West Indies aim to rebound after failing to defend 304 against Ireland although the structure of the World Cup draw means that the Caribbean side is far from out of quarter-final contention.

But a win over Pakistan in Christchurch on Saturday would put their campaign back on track in Group B from which four teams will make the last eight.

“We are not hoping at the moment, we are just putting in some hard work .We are trying to build from strength to strength and go as far as we can,” said Benn. “Spinners have a part to

play in any cricket game regardless of how the pitch is .You just have to be smart about what you are doing and use your variations and you should be ok.”

Benn missed the Ireland match with an injury, but is fit again and available to face the Pakistanis.

The 33-year-old Bajan is playing in his second ICC Cricket World Cup.

“Once my team plays well and I do the basic well. We are going to be fine. It’s a team effort. We are going out there to executive our plan as bests we can,” said Benn.

“We still have a day and a half to decide what the team plan would be but in the eventually I am playing I am good to go.” The last time the two times met was in the 1999 World Cup at Bristol, which remains the only occasion when Pakistan won in the battle between the two sides in World Cup history.

First ball is at 18:00h today.

Simmons set to be named new WI coach

ormer West Indies allrounder Phil Simmons is to be appointed the new head coach of the embattled Caribbean side, and is set to take over following the ICC Cricket World Cup.

A source with intimate knowledge of the recruitment and selection process confirmed to CMC Sports that Simmons’ appointment was virtually “a done deal”, and would formally assume duties once the ongoing showpiece in New Zealand and Australia wrapped up next month.

CMC Sports understands he was one of seven candidates being considered for the post.

spinner Iqbal

duo Shahid Afridi and Yasir Shah can play crucial role for Pakistan against West Indies.