Guyana Times Daily

Ex-GDF Sergeant sets house on fire Crane murder suspect still on the run

Afather of two went berserk on Sunday evening and set his Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home on fire after threatening to kill his wife during an argument. He committed the act while his wife, son and daughter were in the house.

The arsonist, Rawle Glasgow, a former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant was subsequently taken into Police custody after he turned up at the Georgetown Public Hospital seeking medical attention.

The man’s wife, Dianne Nestor, who sustained lacerations to the body was also at the Georgetown Public Hospital, receiving medical attention and so were his daughter Shaneze Nestor and son “Rawlo” (only name given).

Rawlo, according to information gathered, received cuts to his hand inflicted by his father who was armed with a knife and cutlass. He reported had a scuffle with the man after the man advanced towards his mother in a threatening manner on Sunday evening. Shaneze, who is also the mother of a 10-month-old child received minor injuries to her right side.

Her condition has been listed as stable.

At the hospital, relatives of the man were very hostile to media operatives, accusing them of reporting the wrong news. One woman, who appeared to be a sister of the former Army official, said: “He bun down he own house and we proud.”

Guyana Times later leant that it was the same sister who harboured the arsonist after he escaped from the scene at Enterprise, Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara.

However, Tebojo Wintz, the father of the 10-monthold baby told this publication that he got home at about 00:30h and as a norm; he contacted the mother of his child to enquire about the baby. They spoke for a while but soon after, he fell asleep. Wintz recalled then hearing his mobile phone ringing.

Terrible news

As he looked at the number, he was a little hesitant to answer, but eventually did, only to hear the woman saying “call me back now”. As requested, he returned the call and was told by the mother of his child that she received injuries during a scuffle with her father who was threatening to kill her mother.

She then told the young man that she had to grab his

son and run out of the house and it was at this time that he realised the house was on fire.

He immediately rushed up to the area, but on his way, he stopped at the Vigilance Police Station where he made a report.

Wintz was accompanied by the Police to the area where he saw the mother of his child and upon enquiring, he was told that the arsonist walked away from the scene while Dianne and Rawlo ran to various neighbours homes seeking refuge since they were under the impression that the man was after them.

The young man went on to say that while talking to the mother of his child, he leant of what occurred.

“She tell me that she went in she room and Rawle Glasgow attacked his wife and she intervened…. she said that her brother was in the other room and hear the commotion and come out and the two of them had a small scuffle where Rawlo attempt to take away the knife and he get cut.”

After this, he went to the bond and collected the flammable content which he used to the set the house on fire. Wintz explained that even though the house was on fire, the man stood at the door, and as such, the occupants had to jump through the windows.

As the house went up in flames, he reportedly left the scene and went to his relatives in Enmore, ECD. On Monday morning, due to the injuries he received, he went to the Enmore Health Centre where he was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

One of the man’s sisters is now accusing Wintz of pulling a gun her on Monday morning. Wintz is a serving GDF member. Guyana Times understands that the jealous man would usually accuse his wife of being unfaithful.

The Police have since launched an investigation into the matter.

Almost one month after Candace Giddings-Rawlings of Crane Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara was murdered by her husband; the Police are still to arrest the suspect.

The suspect, whose name was given as Vidol Rawlings of Lot 4 Crane Housing Scheme, has not been seen since he committed the heinous crime.

Guyana Times understands that the man’s family might have been in constant contact with him. A cousin of the dead woman told Guyana Times on Monday that the man’s relatives have not been in contact with them, claiming that the only time they were contacted was when they wanted to collect his tools from the house.

He strongly believes the Rawlings might have absconded from the country and went to Suriname. The couple’s 11-year-old daughter, he added, still cries for her mother and would from time-to-time get nightmares, causing her to jump out of her sleep.

The cousin added that school will be reopened shortly and he was not sure how the child would cope. He is however calling on the public to assist the Police in finding his cousin’s murderer, while at the same time urging the Police to do their job professionally.

The 32-year-old woman

was found with her throat slit in the couple’s Lot West Coast Demerara home three weeks ago. She was found on the floor of the house by her daughter, bound with a stab wound to the neck.

On the other hand, the child reportedly told relatives that she was in her room and heard her mother and father playing “rough” as per normal, and suddenly she heard her mother scream, but she ignored it.

The child claimed that she did not hear her mother’s voice again and thought that she had fallen asleep since she heard her father watching television.

After awakening, 11-year-old said she called out to her mother, but there was no response, and it was then that the man tied her to the bed.

She managed to untie herself and found her mother lying on the floor with a

wound to the neck. The suspect reportedly went into the yard and looked after the chickens before he was seen leaving in a taxi.

A post-mortem examination performed on the body of Candace GiddingsRawlings proved that she was strangled manually and suffered an incised wound to the neck.

The family of the dead

woman was surprised at the manner in which she was killed, claiming that the couple lived what appeared to be a happy life together.

The woman, according to reports, lived a normal married life, full of vigour and excitement; hence, her relatives were not sure of the motive for her husband wanting to take her life.

Farmer dies while dancing at wedding house

An Affiance family is mourning the death of their father, Loaknauth Persaud, also known as “Lowa” after he collapsed while dancing at a wedding house on August 10. According to reports, Persaud collapsed and reportedly died on the spot. Relatives said he loved dancing, and died doing something he loved. They claimed that he was not intoxi -

cated and are baffled as to what may have caused his death.

Persaud is a rice farmers and a shop owner by profession. He was seen in jolly spirits earlier in the day and relatives say he had no illnesses. According to information reaching Guyana Times , the wedding house celebrations stopped after the tragic incident. Persaud was rushed to be Suddie

Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival by doctors. His death has sent the entire community of Affiance in a state of shock with many describing the farmer as a religious man, a role model, a jolly and cooperative person and a community-oriented individual. A post-mortem examination is expected to be performed on the father of three soon.

Dead: Candace Giddings-Rawlings

Murder suspect, Vidol Rawlings

Loaknauth Persaud (centre) embraced by his brothers at the wedding house

The house after the fire on Sunday evening

BRIDGE OPENINGS

At Cuffy250 forum…

African leaders charged to stop youth crime

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

WEATHER TODAY

Attorney Onassis Granville has called on the African community to address the economic challenges facing Afro-Guyanese youths, which she said is contributing to the rise in youth crime in Guyana.

Speaking on “Police Violence and African Guyanese Youth” at the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, Granville challenged Afro-Guyanese leaders to equip their young charges with the requisite skills and knowledge that would allow them to generate legitimate funds in a sustainable manner.

As the “get rich quick syndrome” takes prevalence, the Attorney contended that many Afro-Guyanese youths are falling victims to crimi-

Prison, killing a prison officer in the process. It was the beginning of a major crime wave in the country, resulting in a fierce battle between the Joint Services and criminal elements.

As she turned back the pages of history, some 14 years ago, Granville recalled that the escapees had seized

nal activities. Though many would challenge Granville, she argued these crimes have their genesis in the February 2002 jail break which resulted in mayhem in Guyana.

On February 23, 2002, Andrew Douglas, Dale Moore, Shawn Browne, Mark Fraser and Troy Dick escaped from the Georgetown Camp Street

villages along the East Coast of Demerara that were financially depressed – such as Buxton and Annandale – where they formed gangs. Equipped with guns and ammunition, the Attorney said the “recruits” were ordered to create havoc within their own society.

“In fact, many of the young men who were recruited were not going to

school, they were not working, and they were looking for someone to look up to. In fact, I think many of them would have lost all interest and all hope in our politicians and they were looking for somebody to provide them with what they had needed; power and money,” she argued. In response to the war zone that was created, Granville said the Police responded violently, resulting in the deaths of both the “guilty and the innocent”.

Jailbreak

Guyanese, she further contended, are still feeling the aftermath of the 2002 jailbreak. In a quest to prove her case, the Attorney contended that a high percentage of the young men facing the courts are AfroGuyanese. Similarly, she said the New Opportunity Corp and the Camp Street Prison are dominated by Afro-Guyanese.

But despite the facts, Granville said Guyanese should not underestimate the acts of violence meted out to the nation’s youths. Reference was made to 15-year-old Alex Griffith, who was allegedly shot in his mouth by a Police officer during a Russian roulettestyled interrogation. Cadet Officer Franz Paul and Police Corporal Baochan Singh, both attached to the Mahaicony Police Station

were jointly charged within conspiring to pervert the course of justice on May 1 and placed on $150, 000 bail each.

Mention was also made of 23-year-old Colwyn Harding who accused ranks of the Guyana Police Force of sodomising him with a condom-covered baton and physically assaulting him last November. At the time, the Afro-Guyanese youth was under arrest for robbery. But while Harding and Griffith have pleaded their innocence, Granville expressed disappointment over images that were posted on Facebook by now dead 21-year-old Kevin Fields also known as “Demon” of Titan Street, Agricola, Georgetown. As persons browsed through his Facebook page, a damning discovery was made. Fields brazenly displayed pictures of himself with guns and ammunitions in addition to reel of cash.

Fields was shot dead after robbing a businessman of some $1.7 million at Ramchand’s Auto Spares, Sheriff Street, Georgetown. At the scene, a .32 Taurus revolver with five rounds and a spent shell were discovered.

“This is madness! Any lawyer would say this is madness!” Granville said as she expressed her disappointment. She said in addition to teaching Afro-Guyanese youths how to generate legitimate finances; they must be taught how to love themselves. Granville was among several speakers who made presentations on the State of Black African in Guyana during the Cuffy250 Second Annual Forum. While the Guyana Police Force has not released data on youth crime for 2014, last November, it said violent crimes were being perpetrated by young men. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

attorney Onassis granville addressing afro-guyanese leaders at the Critchlow Labour College on Sunday

One of the many pictures that were displayed by the now dead Kevin Fields

Monday, August 11, 2014

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

When elephants fight

There is an old African saying that whether elephants fight or make love, the grass suffers. When applied to the international state system, fights or alliances between the “big” powers are usually to the detriment of smaller nations. However, in the present face-off between the Western and Russian elephants, there might be an opportunity for some smaller nations to improve their condition.

It started with Russia taking sides with separatists in Ukraine seeking to resume their unification that was sundered only a couple of decades ago. In the larger scheme of global affairs, this was not surprising since during the long period of unity as the USSR, there had been a heavy influx of ethnic Russians into the Ukraine.

In the Eastern part of that country abutting Russia, as in the Crimea, they were actually the majority – hence the referendum during the Ukraine turmoil, which successfully reincorporated it back into Russia.

Even though, the Cold War between the US and the USSR was supposed to have ended with the dissolution of the latter; tensions had remained as Russia under Putin sought to reassert itself – at least with the countries along its borders. The US had pushed its allies in the European Union to take a harder line against Russia as the situation in the Ukraine “deteriorated”.

When they balked, the top US diplomat for European and Eurasian affairs Victoria Nuland had exclaimed in exasperation to US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt, at the beginning of this year, “F**k the EU!!”

After Ukranian separatists downed a South Korean passenger jet last month, evidently using Russian-supplied surface-to-air missiles, the EU decided to make amends and squeeze the Russians by cutting off Russian Banks’ access to their capital markets, trade in arms and technologies in deep-water and Arctic oil drilling. The US, in what was a clearly orchestrated move, “followed suit” by also denying the Russian banks access to its financial institutions. These sanctions were to last for “three months”.

From the onset of the imposition of these sanctions, there were questions about their blowback on the economies of the EU and the US, since their trade in the restricted areas with Russia was very significant.

However, what was unexpected was that Russia would in turn, impose its own sanctions – which it did last week by banning for 12 months, the importation of foodstuff such as beef, pork, fruits and vegetables, poultry, fish, cheese, milk and dairy products, not only from the US and the EU but also some of their closest allies such as Canada and Australia. It also prohibited use of its airspace to flights from these countries.

Apart from the shock of the Russian move, the actual cut-off in imports has already began to bite the EU’s economy, especially its agriculturally dependent southern members, which never fully recovered from the 2009 financial meltdown that plunged them into a recession. But there will be three further damaging repercussions from the Russian gambit.

Firstly, the surplus created in the food-producing EU countries will soon drive down prices for the banned items and the rest of the world will benefit, while they will suffer.

Secondly and more significantly, most of the smaller and not so small countries that will pick up the slack to supply Russia with the banned items, should be able to maintains these markets and deepen their productive capacities. Latin America will definitely benefit and if Guyanese poultry producers had used their decade-old tariff-protected status to become more efficient rather than making monopoly profits, they could have also enjoyed this new opportunity.

Lastly, Russia will also be using the opportunity to incentivise its local producers which could not compete with the entrenched and more efficient producers in the west when its markets were “liberalised”. All of these moves will have profound effects in the evolving world order.

Violent removal of a legitimately elected Government is unacceptable

Dear Editor, I am deeply concerned about the statement made by my friend Moses Nagamootoo on expected (or threatened) violence in Guyana if the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) continues “to govern the way it has”, that is, spending money without parliamentary approval of expenditures.

The violent removal of any legitimately elected Government is unacceptable and it is hoped that such talk by Moses is idle chatter. Moses knows that the violent overthrow of our Government would not be supported.

Using threats of violence or actual violence to stop Government expenditure of funds violates the spirit of democracy, even if the Government lacks parliamentary approval to spend the money.

The two acts are not equal and countervailing to lead a balanced situation. One is a judicial matter and the other is an extra constitutional matter – a treasonous act. In fact, Moses’s statement is viewed as treasonous – threatening violence to topple a democratically elected Government and in a society like the US, it would lead to serious criminal charges.

While I will not venture to comment on whether the spending of funds without

parliamentary approval is unconstitutional, the PPP/C claims the Forbes Burnham Constitution allows it to spend money and that the court has empowered it to spend money even when the Parliament has voted down expenditures.

The court will have to decide if the Administration is in violation of the Constitution in spending money not authorised by the Parliament.

Nagamootoo is among the most respected politicians in Guyana and was enormously popular among supporters of the PPP/C when he was a member of the party. He has lost considerable support over the last two years for teaming up with the PNC and voting for or endorsing policies that hurt PPP/C supporters.

Moses ought to know better than to talk of violence. PPP/C supporters don’t view him as a person who would close his eyes to violence against a democratically elected Government.

PPP/C supporters love and respect Moses, generally referring to him as “Mo” or “Naga”. The PPP/C lost its majority in the 2011 elections because of the departure of Moses. Had Moses remained with the PPP/C, the party would easily have won a majority.

In fact, the election results bore out this

fact as NACTA poll had suggested prior to the election of November 2011. But Moses is hurting his image and the adulation people have for him in Guyana as well as in the Diaspora. Moses’ statement referring to violence worries members of the Diaspora because too many of them or their families had suffered from violence.

Nagamootoo knows that whenever there was violence in Guyana, one race of people beat up and rob another race of people. He should therefore have avoided talking about or promoting violence to remove a democratically elected Government.

In fact, he should condemn violence and urge people to respect outcomes of democratic elections. The way forward is for Parliament and or the court, not a mob, to address the violations of the Burnham Constitution and parliamentary traditions.

I believe the Opposition has power to sanction the Government for transgressions and it should use that power wisely to get the Government to follow the spirit of the law, if the court agrees that the Government has violated Burnham law.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

The power to change is with us; know your rights and demand them

Dear Editor,

This past Monday, I encountered first hand a problem that seems to be plaguing us. I was an unwilling participant in the kind of Police-citizen disconnect that has become common.

In fact, the very next day I penned a very detailed version of this letter to the press beginning the letter with, “Last night I was violated by pretenders of the peace, masqueraders posing as officers of the law. The Police violated me and so many more who could not tell this tale that I must.”

In that version, I gave a comprehensive summary of how I was forcibly subjected to an unwarranted search of my person and vehicle. I won’t do that now,

sufficing to say that while inside my parked vehicle surrounded by friends in South Ruimveldt, three Police officers in a grey pickup which bore no obvious markings related to the Police Force, exited with assault rifles in hand and demanded that we all exit the vehicle and submit to a search.

I asked why, the senior rank said it’s “routine” and they don’t have to give a reason. I disagreed, refused the search and made it known as loud as I can in the neighbourhood that the only reason was that we are young men standing in the street. I still do dedicate this article to those young men who must empower themselves to tell this story. And I do still

want to say that I am not a criminal.

In the intervening days I have told everyone who would listen about this ordeal and this is what I will focus on in this version of my letter. I was surprised to hear current and past Police officers with whom I spoke say “there is no such thing as an unwarranted search”. More shocking to me was to hear fellow civilians say “there is no such thing as an unwarranted search”. A family member who is a former member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) qualified his point by saying that it is not “unwarranted” because the Police could always fabricate some reason post facto. No! No! No!

Turn To page 4

All at your disposal: Patrons checking out products at the NEW GPC INC booth at the recently held Guyana Festival at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara

ECHO will raise awareness about integrity of the environment, resources

Dear Editor, The Environmental Community Health Organisation (ECHO) is very concerned about the continuous plunder of our natural environment. Extractive companies appear to show little regards for our environmental laws and regulations.

However, the effects of this action on the part of the company in question, and, in fact, many others that are involved in cutting our trees, in different parts of Guyana, include the following.

When forest areas are cleared, it results in exposing the soil to the sun, making it very dry and eventually, infertile, due to volatile nutrients such as nitrogen being lost. In addition, when there is rainfall, it washes away the rest of the nutrients, which flow with the rainwater into waterways.

Because of this, merely replanting trees may not help in solving the problems caused by deforestation, for by the time the trees mature, the soil will be totally devoid of essential nutrients.

Ultimately, cultivation in this land will also become impossible, resulting in the land becoming useless. Large tracts of land will be rendered permanently impoverished due to soil erosion.

Trees contribute in a large way in maintaining the water cycle. They draw up water via their roots, which are then released into the atmosphere. A large part of the water that circulates in the ecosystem of rainforests, for instance, remains inside the plants. When these trees are cut down, it results in the climate getting drier in that area. The groundwater tables are affected and soon get depleted.

The trees help in prevention of running off of water and help the soil absorb the flowing water. When there

are no trees, water just runs off, leaving no chance for the groundwater tables to absorb more water. This ultimately leads to reduction in water resources.

The unique biodiversity of various geographical areas is being lost on a scale that is quite unprecedented. Even though tropical rainforest make up just six per cent of the surface area of the Earth, about 80-90 per cent of the entire species of the world exist here.

Due to massive felling of trees, about 50 to 100 species of animals are being lost each day. The outcome of which is the extinction of animals and plants on a massive scale. The effects on animals are very sad. They not only lose their habitat and protective cover, they are pushed to extinction. Many creatures, plants and animals have vanished from the face of the earth.

It is now common knowledge, that global warming is being caused largely due to emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

What is not known quite as well is that deforestation has a direction association with carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

Trees act as a major storage depot for carbon, since they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is then used to produce carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that make up trees.

When deforestation occurs, many of the trees are burnt or they are allowed to rot, which results in releasing the carbon that is stored in them as carbon dioxide. This, in turn, leads to greater concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Really, the consequences are very unpleasant as every form of life on earth is interlinked with one another. Not

only do animals lose their homes, but humans dependent on the local ecology are also affected.

As a result, we are calling for more transparency and an effective legal system that will hold local and foreign companies accountable for the impact of their corporate activities on the environment. Also, we are flagging the need for an environmental court and perhaps, the competent authorities need to begin to contemplate the need for such a court, to deal quickly with environmental issues.

What is needed also is for companies to be ethical and demonstratively socially responsible to local communities in which they operate and to the natural environment.

It is clear, to us, at ECHO, that our natural environment appears to be under siege, threatened by the march to prosperity without real economic growth. Such prosperity is unsustainable. That our natural assets, that should be the lifeline by which many of our poor is removed from poverty is producing wasted opportunities to improve the standard of living of local people and to better the condition of their local communities.

We have already notified our partners about this and other issues affecting the effective protection and sustainability of the natural environment.

ECHO will take other steps to raise public awareness and draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the need for greater care, vigilance and surveillance to secure the integrity of the environment and its resources for the benefit of all Guyanese.

Royston King Executive Director ECHO

The power to change...

We have rights as citizens, and the State and its agents must uphold and protect those rights. Article 18 of Chapter 16:01 of the Constitution of Guyana mandates the stop search in particular circumstances, specifically, it says:

“Any member of the Force may stop, search and detain any aircraft, vessel or vehicle in or upon which there shall be reason to suspect that anything stolen or unlawfully obtained, or that any person suspected of having committed any indictable offence, may be found; and he may also stop, search and detain any person who may be reasonably suspected of having or conveying in any manner anything stolen or unlawfully obtained.”

The issue of reasonable

suspicion must be noted here. But let’s forget about the law for a minute and deal only with common courtesy, human being to human being, is it not just common sense and courteous to indicate the reason for a stop and search?

Back to the law – a citizen may also refuse a search as a core constitutional right and in such circumstances, this same article provides that the Police may then arrest such a person under conspiracy to conceal that which the Police have reasonable suspicion is indictable or unlawful. The court will then order the search and look harshly upon the citizen who refused a search which when conducted later confirms the suspicion.

This almost never hap-

Despite setbacks, Guyana’s economy continues to perform well

Dear Editor,

As our country makes rapid strides in its economic development, more overseas-based Guyanese and foreigners are also making visits to the “Land of Many Waters,” or to the “Land of the Mythical City of Manoa Del Dorado.”

Foreigners are attracted by the good prospects of investment – our country is endowed with an abundance of natural resources – as well as with the awesome natural beauty, including the stupendous Kaieteur Falls.

Despite the utterances of socialist rhetoric sometimes, Guyana hasn’t got a “control and command” economy any more. Its growth is guided by sound economic principles of the free enterprise system where market forces, for the most part, dictate supply and demand.

To the ordinary Guyanese, this is perhaps best reflected in the operations of the airline industry. For example, when there is more than one international airline carriers, prices tend to drop sharply.

When Dynamic Airlines began its inaugural flight a few months ago, it announced that the economy return airfare would be $499 and that pressured Vision-Travel Span to lower their fare to $499 for a while.

Prior to Dynamic Airline inauguration of return flights to Guyana, the cost for economy return airfare was about $680 and even more. Unfortunately, that competition didn’t last too long.

Dynamic Air encountered logistical problems and had to suspend operations until August 2014 just after a few flights. The immediate impact has been a steep rise in airfares to over $600. The price movement in the airline industry clearly illustrates the importance of competition in a free enterprise system.

It’s because of the free market system that Guyana has been making such good

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pens here and it is not acceptable to say “this is Guyana”. I will write to the Police Commissioner and the Home Affairs Minister asking that they show cause for the search.

It is possible that I was right that there was no other cause except that we were standing in the street. It may have been the issue of power. We have to address the deeper unresolved issue of power – its definition and role in the Guyana society.

Throughout our political history and particularly since self-government, our leaders have failed to redesign the State as a servant of the people and not of the upper class. Dr Ifill will tell you that the Police Force was established to maintain the plantocracy, not to serve the

interests of a democracy.

Today, we boast of our democracy which punishes the poor and working people with impunity. In this bizarre, twilightesque state of affairs even the Police are victims of the State.

It should be instructive to us young people following the Rodney CoI that, unlike the WPA, Jagan and the PPP had no trouble with the 1980 Constitution which the PPP/C has the longest time to use. It seems we will have to be the change that we seek.

The power to change is with us and we must recognise and own that power. Know your rights and demand them.

Best regards Norwell

Hinds

progress, averaging about five per cent annual growth rate over the last decade. The economic system has brought into existence an ever expanding middle class, which further propels growth.

Studies elsewhere have shown that the middle class is the engine of economic growth. New four-lane roads are being constructed, new sea defences, new bridges, new schools, new hotels and houses are being built, and new businesses are being established.

Over the 20-year history of the “Freedom Index,” Guyana has advanced “its economic freedom score by 10 points.” This overall increase has been achieved by enhancements in seven of the 10 economic freedoms, notably the management of public spending, freedom from corruption, and monetary freedom.” Guyana’s economy is the 121st freest in the 2014 Index. There is still much more work to be done here.

And yes, “Guyana is and remains the best performing economy in the Caribbean, outshining every single economy in the Region,” despite the tremendous loss over the past decades of skilled manpower due to net migration.

But economic growth does not suggest an elimination of poverty and unemployment (which is at 11 per cent). There are still pockets of poverty in various regions. It is estimated that over 20 per cent of the Guyanese population live below the poverty level.

The Government has a social impact amelioration programme to neutralise the harsh effects of poverty and it has also been increasing spending on the social services. The low inflation rate of 2.4 per cent also helps to ease the pressure. It’s true that the cost of living is high and many lower income families find it hard to balance their budgets.

And many can only accomplish this task with the remittances they receive from relatives overseas. It has been estimated that Guyanese remit over US$300 million annually to Guyana. The injection of this sum plays a huge part in the country’s economic growth, too.

Detractors of the Government point to a few apparent negative offshoots of development, that is, the prevalence of corruption, drugs and crime. However, it must be recognised that these negative forces have to be reduced and controlled.

When important funds are siphoned off into the pockets of racketeers, this does not only divert resources from much needed projects and causes (hurting especially the poor segments of the population), but also, taints the image of the country. Crime terrorises people; makes them anxious about their physical safety; and discourages investment and tourism.

Drug trafficking has become a huge problem in Guyana. There have been several drug busts in Guyana and also at the high seas. In a 2012 report, it was stated that 103.6kg of cocaine (valued at $93 million) and 111.5kg of cannabis (valued at $20 million) were seized by the Guyana authorities.

One of those measures, according to Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, that could reduce the drug trade is the implementation of the “Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill.” Rohee claims that drug trafficking is linked to money laundering, drug running, etc.”

It’s difficult to tell how many drug users there are in Guyana, but there is some indication that its use among the younger population is increasing. However, the drug usage rate would have been higher had it not been for the ready availability of a wide variety of hard liquor at relatively cheap prices. The Government will soon announce a new master drug strategy, the last one having lapsed in 2009.

If the Opposition can only work with the Government on a few national issues, progress will be stronger and the country’s future more promising. Constant political haggling and dissent are hurting the country’s image and detracting from its true potential. Guyanese of all walks of life, including political leaders, must put country first. Guyana belongs to all Guyanese. The country is not owned by any government or political party or by the Parliament.

It’s gratifying to know that many gaps in the social system are being filled by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) both local and overseas. Guyana’s stable economy with a good investment climate is attracting these groups also. Medical and humanitarian teams go to Guyana regularly to offer assistance. The message from these groups is simple; “you are not alone, we are with you; we understand your problems and we will continue to help” The expansion of charity in Guyana is an amazing development. This trend also shows that Guyanese are a caring people filled with compassion, and what is being played out in Parliament does not represent the country’s mood, psyche or principles. It is this spirit of compassion that Guyanese have to nurture and strengthen, and if we Guyanese, can only apply these to our thoughts and action, our country will be a much better place for all. And we do have the capability. A good manifestation is reflected in the just concluded and exciting Guyana Festival.

Respectfully, Dr Tara Singh

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Page Foundation

Page Foundation

Steps to a stress-free home

After a particularly trying day (a late bus, an unexpected downpour, a coworker who insisted on listening to “Thriller” on a continuous loop), who really wants to play a game of house wares Jenga to get a pan out of the kitchen cabinet? It might just be enough to bring your simmering blood pressure to a rolling boil.

Your home should be the ultimate place of restoration, not a field of stressinducing booby traps or reminders of tasks left undone. “When you walk through the front door, you should feel as though you are stepping into a clearing,” says Gail Blanke, motivational speaker and founder of Throwoutfiftythings. com. “Stress-free living is not about decorating or spending money to live up to someone else’s idea of Zen design. It’s about revealing the good stuff and being free of anything that weighs you down.”

And while it’s true that what soothes one person might grate on another, experts swear there are universal ways to boost a home’s good vibes in just minutes – no feng shui makeover or sage-burning required. To rid your home of stressful energy, just follow these 10 easy steps to serenity.

Create a happy zone

Whether it’s a whole room, a nook, or just a chair, make one spot in the house your personal place for peace and joy, Blanke says. Everyone in the family

should know that when you are there, you are not to be disturbed. On the flip side, save one area, like a desk or a corner, for the not-so-fun stuff – bills, papers to file, to-do lists – and the stress that comes with them.

Make your bed every day

“The state of your bed reflects the state of your head,” says Zen Buddhist priest and author Karen Maezen Miller. Forget hospital corners – just take a few minutes to smooth the covers out.

Let the natural light be your morning alarm clock

Trade the blackout shades in the bedroom for more translucent ones; it’s a gentler wake-up call. “When your alarm goes off, your first feeling is resistance, which creates stress,” Miller says. “The rest of the world awakes with the sun –- why don’t we?”

Declutter using emotion as your guiding principle

Consider how each possession makes you feel. Don’t keep things with negative energy, like gifts from people you had a falling-out with, photos from unhappy times or failed relationships, unfinished projects, clothes that are too small, or medicines from an old ailment, Blanke says. Make room for things that have a positive association.

(Tip: If you have to mull over whether to toss a particular item, you probably don’t need it.)

End each evening by performing a completion ritual

Make it something you know you should do but don’t always get to – like washing all the dishes in the sink or hanging up clothes. It will help your mind recognise that the day is finished.

Keep houseplants or flowers

Norma Lehmeier Hartie, author of Harmonious Environment, says greenery reduces stress. Studies have shown that the presence of plants significantly eases the recovery of hospital patients and lowers the blood pressure of office workers. Got a black thumb? Pick a hardy philodendron, hoya, or aspidistra (often referred to as the “cast-iron plant”).

Use a kitchen timer for tasks that make you cringe

Whether it’s a mountain of laundry waiting to be folded or weeks of mail and magazines to sort through, seemingly insurmountable tasks can be paralysing.

lease you – allowing you to move on to something else. (Hey, it’s how monks have kept time in monasteries for centuries.)

Set up a landing strip

If you have an organised place (like a basket and a few hooks) for keys, sunglasses, mail, and all those other things you dump right after you walk through the door, you’ll put the kibosh on frazzled mornings.

Unplug electronics when not in use

All the humming turns your home into a “temple of electronic stimulation,” Miller says. Better yet, keep televisions and computers out of the bedroom entirely, for sounder sleep.

Surround yourself with calming colours

Hotter tones, like yellows, oranges, and reds, can actually raise your blood pressure. For rooms where you’ll want to relax, opt for walls and furnishings in

BY MARIAN WILDE

Teaching students to regulate stress

A number of strategies are available to help navigate the stresses of school. Parents can start by listening to their children. If a child complains of stress, anxiety, depression or hopelessness, parents should pay attention. There are many children, however, who do not or cannot verbalise their stress. In these cases, parents need to be on the lookout for other signs. Some children may not want to stop or slow down their schedules for fear of disappointing their parents.

Strategies for parents of younger children

* Listen and notice any expressions of anxiety

* Talk with them about their feelings

* Brainstorm with them to find things they can do to feel better

* Make sure they are getting enough sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 9-11 hours for children five to 12 years old.

* Make sure you are not over scheduling them

Strategies for parents of older children

* Make sure they are not over scheduling themselves

* Make sure they are getting enough sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends 8.5 to 9.5 hours a day for adolescents

* Look at your assumptions about what constitutes a good college and what you are communicating, perhaps unknowingly, to them

Strategies for parents of children of all ages

* Look at how you define success and how you communicate that to your children

* Limit media time

* Increase family time, especially eating meals together as a family

Strategies for students

* Think about how you define success and make the appropriate changes to your attitude

* Root out any tendencies to perfectionism

* Be aware of tendencies to be overly competitive

* Ask yourself whether you are being less creative and open to exploration in exchange for high grades and test scores

* It goes without saying that schools have a part to play in reducing stress.

Strategies for schools

* Examine the testing, homework and final exam policies

* Stop publishing the honour roll in newspapers

* Stop listing where children are going to college in community newspapers and in graduation ceremonies

* Look at teaching and assessment policies

Parents need to set rules for their children that enforce moderation. They must strive to keep time free for family meals and activities.

Driving children from one activity to another, day after day, while cramming homework into whatever time is left over, teaches children to over schedule themselves. On the other hand, if parents have personal goals for themselves – that they can realistically achieve – are comfortable with their own stress levels, and know how to relax, and then their children will grow up learning to do the same.

These are the signs that a student has a healthy level of stress:

* She is excited about learning.

* He doesn’t feel that he needs to cheat to get ahead.

* She feels healthy.

* He feels he is determining his own future.

(www.greatschools.org)

(Continued from Sunday)

Rohee urges US to intervene in Israeli/Palestinian conflict

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is calling on the US to intervene in Israeli/Palestinian conflict which has left approximately 2000 persons dead since it began on July 8.

On Monday, several PPP/C supporters led by the party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee picketed the US Embassy here, calling for the US’ intervention.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Rohee condemned the attacks launched on the people of Palestine by the Israeli military, saying that the International Human Rights Convention has been violated.

“We do not support the atrocities that are being committed, the killing of innocent mothers and children in the Palestinian territory,” he said.

According to him, the US should use its influence to bring an end to the war.

“The US is a major stakeholder in the Middle East process and we believe it has tremendous influence over the Israeli Government. That influence should be used to end the war,” the PPP/C General Secretary posited. This is the second time in

one week that the PPP/C has picketed the US Embassy as it joins thousands across the world in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

Reports indicate that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have begun discussions in Egypt with the aim of developing a longterm solution to the conflict in Gaza.

These discussions are unfolding amid a new three-day ceasefire agreed between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas. According to the BBC, “the truce is holding so far, with signs of normal life returning to the streets” of Gaza. Since July 8, approximately 2000 have been killed. According to the United Nations, those killed include more than 1900 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Sixty-four Israeli soldiers have been killed in the fighting and three civilians in Israel have also died.

TravelSpan back in operations … after grounding hundreds in NY, GT

Travel Span resumed operations on Monday after being grounded for several days, resulting in hundreds of passengers being stranded both in Guyana and New York.

In a statement issued on Monday evening, Vision Airline and TravelSpan extended “sincerest and heartfelt apology and regrets the extensive delays have caused our travelling public.” The airline said “This extensive and unforeseen debilitating delay was due to both its dedicated and back-up aircraft encountering mechanical related issues over the weekend. The 767/300 is back in the air and has resumed flying while the maintenance team continues to work around the clock on getting the second aircraft back in the air.”

According to the airline, while this is taking place “we are making major effort to look for an alternative carrier to use as subservice, in order to airlift all passengers to their destinations, our number one priority is passenger safety and we will never compromise on equipment. We are pleased to announce that passengers were flown out for Guyana at 16:00h on Monday and additional flights are scheduled for today and Wednesday.”

The airline said it will continue its efforts and commitment to rectifying the situation with urgency. “We have been working with all affected passengers since the first delay, we have given out meal vouchers at the airports where passengers were already checked in, we have placed out of town passenger into hotels, we are additionally extending stays on trips for those that can, at no cost to passengers, based

on space availability and in more severe cases, we have been processing refunds for passengers that can no longer travel or choose not to travel. Vision has assured that they are working diligently to get back on schedule.”

Meanwhile, more than 400 passengers who booked with TravelSpan Airways were forced to make alternative travelling arrangements following several flight cancellations over the past two weeks. Guyana Times was told that passengers were left stranded in the US as well as in Guyana.

A source had told this publication that the two aircraft leased from Vision Air are experiencing major mechanical problems and the TravelSpan team is making every possible attempt to transport its stranded passengers to their destination.

The delays, according to reports, have resulted in persons losing their jobs in the US since they could not have gotten back on time. A CJIA official confirmed that there was another cancellation on Sunday evening which left passengers furious.

The official said that it will take some time to get back into real scheduling due to the number of passengers to transport. As a result of the disruptions, the official noted that Caribbean Airlines has been taking up the slack.

Guyana Times was told that a return ticket to the US is now climbing to US$1000, and is expected to increase further if the situation is not corrected. In addition, there have been reports that passengers to other connecting flights are also affected.

Ever since it re-entry into the Guyanese market

1000 mining blocks auctioned

An auction to make more medium scale mining properties available to miners and new entrants to the mining sector saw an overwhelming turnout at the Guyana Girl Guides Association building, Upper Brickdam, Georgetown.

According to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), 1000 mining blocks went to auction while noting that the process will continue today.

in December last, there has been smooth flow but of recent, the airline has been facing major challenges with respect to the aircraft used. There have been speculations that the aircraft are too old to serve the USGeorgetown route. Apart from the delays, the airline has been hit with high fuel prices that have forced it to charge for in flight services at a minimum cost. Nevertheless, the airline remains committed to serving the travelling public.

Only recently TravelSpan applied to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for permission to operate a scheduled service, moving away from the charter service it is licensed to provide. Officials at the airline had told Guyana Times that the move to acquire such a licence basically indicates that TravelSpan is here for the long haul. “A charter service is basically to operate seasonal, but with this Scheduled Licence we have applied for is indicating that we are here for the long haul,” the airline official said.

Most international airports serve as hubs, or places where non-direct flights may land and passengers switch planes. International airports often have many airlines represented, and many of these are foreign. Passengers connecting to domestic flights from an international flight generally must take their checked luggage through Customs and re-check their luggage at the domestic airline counter, requiring extra-time in the process. In some cases in Europe, luggage can be transferred to the final destination even if it is a domestic connection.

“Due to the large attendance by miners, new entrants to the sector and other interested person; the Commission anticipates that there will be a full allocation of the blocks listed for auctions.

“Additionally, due to the overwhelming response to the auction, it has been extended to accommodate all miners and other interested

persons,” a release from the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry said.

Meanwhile, in an effort to make more mining properties available to small miners and new entrants, a lottery of medium scale mining parcels in each of the six mining districts will be held on August 18 at 10:00h.

Interested persons may consult the relevant maps which are on display at the GGMC Head Office and mining stations to ascertain their area and zone of interest.

Persons can acquire copies of the lottery maps at the cost of $3000 per sheet. The closing date for receipt of applications is August 14.

According to the release, the auction on Monday was made possible following discussions with the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry, the

Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the mining sector regulatory agency, the GGMC.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud had mandated the Closed Area Committee to identify mining properties for lottery/ auction, thereby making more mining properties available to miners and new entrants to the mining sector.

The Committee is broadbased and its work is guided by statutes. The transparency and openness of the award of blocks for the auction was witnessed by the GGMC and the GGDMA, among other stakeholders.

Also present at the auction were GGMC Chairman Clinton Williams and GGDMA President Patrick Harding.

A section of the gathering at the auction held at the Guyana Girl Guides Association building, Upper Brickdam, Georgetown

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

tuesday, august 12, 2014|

Over $829M spent in agriculture sector at mid-year

The Government of Guyana spent $829.4 million of the allocated $1.5 billion in the 2014 National Budget, in the agriculture sector within the first half of the year.

The Government’s midyear report states that as part of ongoing efforts to ensure food security and deepen the agriculture diversification agenda, several initiatives progressed during the first half of this year. The Canje Basin, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector, Local Dairy and Livestock Industry, and the area of hydro meteorological services were amongst the agricultural projects looked at by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The report said the Ministry continued to promote fisheries and aquaculture development in the inland regions and in addition, continued to offer technical support to fishermen in rebuilding their coopera-

tives through its various extension and outreach programmes, thus simplifying the licencing system for artisanal fishing.

Also, a research oversight committee, which has developed a national agriculture research agenda and plans to hold a national research conference in October 2014, has also been established, and will aim at the implementation of a national agriculture research agenda.

With the aim of promoting food security and reducing the dependency on imported milk, a number of key initiatives were undertaken during the first half, that is to say, the importation of 18 A-Nucleus breed of dairy cows and dairy equipment, the appointment of the Veterinary Board under the Veterinarians Act 2003 and the completion of a national consultation with dairy farmers and stakeholders, the Ministry said.

Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy earlier said one of the strategies of this imitative is to ensure agriculture continues to be a catalyst for building the country’s export portfolio beyond the export of sugar rice and rum and also targets the reduction of the importation of goods into Guyana.

In addition, the report said, to enable the expansion of production of the ‘other crops’ sub-sector, experimental plots for carrots and garlic were established while the Guyana Shop extended its services to include Region Six in Port Mourant in May.

It was also stated that an agro-meteorological automatic weather station, which transmits real time data hourly, was installed at La Bonne Intention to aid in the enhancement of Early Warning Systems (EWS), while a satellite receiving system was commissioned at the National Weather

Watch Centre. Towards drainage and irrigation, a total of $2.2 billion was spent in the first half of 2014. “Construction and rehabilitation works started and continued on sluices, revetments, pumps and pump stations. Works are ongoing at the Northern Relief Channel Project and its related structures.

The Hope/Dochfour public road high bridge is completed and was commissioned in February. Moreover drainage pump stations at No. 66 Village and Paradise have been completed while works are ongoing at the Windsor Forest, Canal Polder and Pine Ground pump station’s and designs have been completed for pump stations at Eversham, No. 43 Village, Gangaram and Lima.” Designs have also been completed for intake structures and sluices at Ann’s Grove, Hope, Annandale and Nancy.

Seventh Homecoming underway at Danielstown

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

The Concerned Citizens of Danielstown Inc has planned several activities to coincide with its 14th anniversary and Seventh Homecoming, aimed at showcasing the predominantly African communities of Danielstown, La Belle Alliance and Windsor Castle, all on the Essequibo Coast.

Daneilstown was bought in 1840 by freed slaves, and the current homecoming is being held under the theme “Together we will achieve”.

According to Treasurer Diane Critchlow, several calendar activities were planned for the group’s an-

niversary commencing on August 9 and running until August 16.

Speaking to Guyana Times, Critchlow said some 30 overseas-based Guyanese are expected to return home for the celebrations. She said currently, 20 persons from overseas are in the community and others are expected to come in from the Diaspora by Wednesday.

Critchlow said a welcome home bar-b-que was held on August 9 to kick off the weeklong Homecoming activities.

On Sunday, August 10, a church service was held at the Coffee Grove Wesleyan Church followed by a family fun day which was held

at the Walton Hall ground and a Princess Pageant at the Daneilstown Community Centre.

Meanwhile, a two-day domino competition which began on Monday will conclude today, followed by a cancer walk and children’s party on the same day.

On August 13, a rededication service has been planned at the St Agnes Church and the next day, a feeding programme and flambo parade will be held, starting from La Belle Alliance and ending at Windsor Castle.

The Concern Citizens Group will also host a corn house breakfast on August 15. The Homecoming activi-

ties will culminate on August 16 with a senior citizen’s party, road race and social get together.

Most of the activities planned by the organisation will be at the Danielstown Community Centre, with admission free, so as to bring people in the community together.

The Concerned Citizens of Danielstown Inc, which receives support from persons in the US, operates within the Danielstown, La Belle Alliance and Windsor Castle communities.

Critchlow noted that over the years, the Homecoming activities have been receiving full support, and thus far

Painter remanded for trafficking in narcotics

Appearing before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday morning was a 54-year-old painter after he was charged for being in possession of narcotics.

The charge, which was read by Magistrate McLennan, alleged that at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, on August 8, 2013, the defendant was found with 7.148 kilograms of cannabis

Minibus

for the purpose of trafficking. He was said to be on an outgoing flight when the cannabis was found in custard powder, achar and milk powder packages.

The defendant who told the court that he resides at Lot 42 Good Banana Land, East Berbice, Corentyne, pleaded not guilty to the charge laid against him. His Attorney Paul Fung-AFat did not say much on the matter itself.

The Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor Oswald Massiah objected to one detail about the case that was being presented by Attorney Fung-AFat. According to him, the address that the defendant gave was inaccurate, since the address the prosecution has was given as Lot 1 Palmyra Village, Berbice.

Fung-A-Fat defended this, telling the court that the address which the State

Prosecutor has is a “family lot” where he used to live and make chicken cans “for a certain Magistrate” whose name he did not mention. The defendant’s lawyer did not have any special reasons why bail should be granted.

No actual facts or details were disclosed on this matter. However, Persaud was remanded until September 15, where he is said to face Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

driver on bail for causing death by dangerous driving

On Monday morning, a 26-year-old minibus driver appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after being charged with the offence of causing death by dangerous driving. The charge was read by the Magistrate McLennan.

It was alleged that on August 2, at Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, the defendant, Sukhraj Permaul, drove minibus BNN 6492 in a manner dangerous to the public and that caused the death of Roy Albert Mendonca.

The defendant was represented by Attorney

Omeyana Hamilton. She requested that if bail is given to her client, it must be granted at a minimum amount. She also placed on the table that her client has no prior convictions. Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones did not oppose bail. At first, Permaul was placed on $1,000,000 bail. Hamilton

told the court that her client is in a common law union and has a nine-year-old child to take care of. Taking this into consideration, the Magistrate reduced bail to $800,000. He is scheduled to return to court on September 11, where he will be appearing before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Eyew tness

Home truths...

...on rebuilding

Slowly maturity arrives in the PNC leadership –sadly, however, when they’ve evidently left the diehard riggers in charge of the party. Addressing a gathering of African activists under the auspices of the Cuffy250 grouping, Ex-Chairman of the PNC Vincent Alexander advised that African-Guyanese must take more responsibilities for rebuilding their communities.

Alexander, of course, had been rigged out of the party by Robert Corbin a couple of years ago. A lifelong “socialist” – who struggles like Sisyphus to keep Burnham’s flame going – he appears to have used his time-off from the party to re-examine his Marxist premises.

Back in the 1970s, Jagan had raised the issue of IndianGuyanese being victimised – as Indians – by the PNC regime. Feigning shock, Burnham enquired of his interlocutor, “What’s the socialist content of “race”?”

This Eyewitness will not so enquire of Alexander, who’s now defined Guyana as a “plural society” in which African Guyanese, drawn from all over West Africa, are an “ethnic group”. But he will wonder why Alexander took special care to do so by claiming they became so “by exclusion from other ethnic groups”.

If ethnicity is defined by origin and culture, surely Alexander couldn’t be claiming our people were brought from different “countries” of Africa?? He’ll be legitimising the imperial chopping up of Africa, no??

But more worrying, he’s also giving the said imperialists a free pass in their brutal beating out of the original African cultures of the slaves during slavery on the plantations, and imposing the deranged, dysfunctional – but uniform modes of belief and actions dubbed “creole culture”. If he’s categorising the Europeans as the “other ethnic groups” that excluded the Africans and pushed then to become a “single ethnic group”, it’ll be all right.

But this Eyewitness doesn’t think he is. And by blaming the present groups, who went through a similar – if less physically brutal – process, he’s perpetuating the old blame game played by the PNC. And which continued the “divide and rule” ploy of the imperialists. If the truth be told, Alexander just has to tweak his Marxist categories a bit to fit in “ethnicity” – as those great Marxist Pan Africans Walter Rodney and CLR James did.

All of us are defined by exclusion...in one form or another. Ain’t nothing we can do about it or should do, unless the exclusion is to keep, or make, us “inferior”. Each group has positives to bring to the table around which all groups sit. It’s to the credit of Africans that after all they went through, they kept aspects of their original cultures alive.

And this is what makes them a unique ethnic group.

...distorted

The Cuffy250 movement, of which we don’t think Vincent Alexander’s a member, sends out some discordant signals, on several fronts and on the whole issue of “reparations” behind which, we believe, every man, woman and child in the country should be. It maintains that the Reparations Movement should only involve “African Guyanese”. Are they saying that non-Africans can’t understand the notion of “equality and justice for all” and fight for it??

Does the experience and example of Mandela in South Africa mean nothing? Cuffy250’s also “uncomfortable” since the present Government, overseeing the reparations process is “Indian Guyanese dominated”. That only African groups are on the National Reparations Committee cuts no ice??

Then there’s the continuous assertion that “nobody” was here before the Africans. So following Columbus and the myth of “discovery”, we’re also to pretend that the Amerindians were “nobody”? Abused children...?

But we could see where that group was headed after they exclusively appropriated “Cuffy” – our national hero – couldn’t we??

...on Guyanese foods

If it’s one thing the Guyana Festival proved, it is we have some of the best, tastiest and nutritious foods in the world. So why are we importing all those fat-laden US fast foods joints?

4 dead in interior incidents

Four persons, all males, are dead following separate incidents in the interior on Sunday and Monday. According to Police, two of the men died on Sunday while the other two died on Monday.

Reports revealed that miners Clifton Rodrigues, 55, of Aishalton and Leon Mootoo, 20, of Berbice, both

lost their lives after the mining pit they were working in caved in, trapping them.

The pit is located at Marudi Mountain, Aishalton, Region Nine.

The bodies of the two miners were subsequently retrieved and the Police are currently investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, around

05:30h on Monday, a man was found in an unconscious state at the Baramita Health Centre. He later succumbed while being treated at the medical institution. The Police in a release said the man is believed to be Ryan Kawall of Mosquito Hall, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara; however, they are yet to confirm these re-

ports. Investigations are continuing.

Also on Monday, sometime around 13:00h, Richard Kanhai, 19, of Pomeroon, Essequibo, was killed after a tree fell and pinned him.

This incident took place somewhere in the Arakaka Backdam, North West District. The Police are also investigation this incident.

CXC results to be unveiled today

The Education Ministry will today unveil the results of this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

The announcement will be made at a news conference scheduled for 11:00h by Education Minister Priya Manickchand. The press conference will be held in the auditorium of the National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD) and will be streamed live on the Ministry’s website www.education.gov.gy.

Thirteen thousand, seven hundred and twenty-one (13,721) students were enlisted to sit the CSEC examinations this year. Some 12,366 candidates would have written Mathematics and 11,484 English.

At the examination, one student wrote 20 subjects; two wrote 19 subjects; four wrote 18 subjects; 16 wrote 17 subjects; 18 wrote 16 subjects and 2500 students wrote between seven and eight subjects.

CSEC subjects are examined for certification at the General and Technical Proficiencies, which provide

students with the foundation for further studies and entry into the workplace.

CSEC uses a six-pointgrading scheme, which is used to report on the performance of the candidate under six overall and profile grades as follows: Overall grades - I, II, III, IV, V, VI. Profile grades - A, B, C, D, E, F. Meanwhile, 795 candidates wrote CAPE. The highest subject entries were Caribbean Studies with a total of 365 entries and Communication Studies with 400 entries. CAPE is designed to provide certification of the academic, vocational and technical achievement of students in the Caribbean who, having completed a minimum of five years of secondary education, wish to further their studies.

Last year, Guyana dominated the CSEC exami-

nations, picking up five of the eight top awards.

Topping the list of awardees was Yogetta Persaud of Anna Regina Secondary School, who was presented with an award for Overall Outstanding Achievement.

Rafeena Mohammed from the Saraswatie Vidya Niketan School copped the award for Most Outstanding Student in Humanities; Cecil Cox of Queen’s College for Most Outstanding Student in Sciences; Sasha Woodroffe of Queen’s College for Most Outstanding Student in Business Studies; and Zimeena Rasheed of Anna Regina Secondary School for Most Outstanding Student in Technical Vocational Studies.

The other awards were in the areas of Visual Arts–Two-Dimensional Work, Visual Arts–ThreeDimensional Work and Short Story Writing.

Butters urges reinstatement of male nurse at Linden Hospital

Region 10 Health

Committee Chairman Maurice Butters continues to lobby for the reinstatement of the male nurse at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), who was last year implicated in a matter of misappropriation of funds at the health institution.

The nurse, along with another employee was charged in connection with the incident, however, while the other employee was further implicated, the case against him was dismissed.

Butters, who also serves as Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Region 10 representative, said the move by management of the LHC not to re-instate the employee is an unfair one.

“At the last Board meeting, the Board would have taken the position that the nurse should be re-instated since the matter was dismissed in court, and this would have happened over six months now. The question which is being asked is ‘why is it taking so long?’”

He added: “We know for a fact that when an employee is relieved from duty, in

such cases, and is set free from an accusation, it’s an automatic re-instatement. But now this whole matter is being prolonged. We are continuing the call for the immediate re-instatement of the employee.”

The Heath Committee Chairman said while the LHC Board has given the green light for the employee to be re-instituted, its management refuses to follow instructions of the Board due to suspicions that it may be an illegitimate body.

Butters recently questioned the legality of the 13-member LHC Board, claiming that it was never legally established and complained that the body was finding it difficult to manage the affairs of the institution.

Names deleted

He added that he made some enquiries regarding the matter, during which he was told by the LHC management that the Secretary to the Treasury of the Finance Ministry had deleted the names of the two employees who were implicated in the matter from its payroll.

Region 10 Health Committee

Chairman Maurice Butters

He said further enquiries revealed that the employees were eventually taken off the payroll. Butters further related that such action, in his belief, meant that the employees were dismissed from duty. He related further, however, that when he made further checks with the Finance Ministry, he was told that the Ministry does not interfere with employees’ payroll, unless so instructed.

“So the management is saying that it’s the Ministry of Finance, but the Ministry

of Finance is saying that we cannot act on our own... it means therefore, that someone is being dishonest in the whole arena,” he said.

Butters related that when inquiries are made with the LHC Board, it is only being pushed around. Additionally, he made reference to a recent enquire by himself to some members of management within the health institution.

“... Only to be told by the Senior Personnel Officer and the Administrative Manager that they would have sent the court documents which were requested and provided to the management of the hospital. They would have taken those documents, and sent them to the Ministry of Legal Affairs seeking advice,” Butters said.

He noted that the nurse would have dedicated his life towards his profession and deserves a second chance since his name has been cleared of the offence.

Butters is calling on the relevant authorities to look into the situation so that the matter can receive some closure.

Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat talk a piece of dem mind

Old people seh when a man gotta few drinks in he head he does talk a piece of he mind. Or some times he does talk he mind in pieces till he talk out he whole mind. Most times by de time he done, he does fall to pieces and then fall down.

Well, that is whah happen to de Nagga man de other day. A reporter on he day-off, who was not too far from Nagga in one of dem regular Nagga-style bottom house rum shop down de road, see Nagga man tekkin a few –which turn out to be more than just a few within only a few minutes.

But that was early in de day, so de reporter thought it mighta been de Nagga man birthday. When he try to find out from de barman if was Nagga birthday, de barman seh, well if that was so, it mean that de Nagga man got birthday every day.

When Rum Jhaat walk in a few minutes later, de reporter tell he pardna that it definitely musbe Rum Jhaat birthday, because is only when a man celebratin birthday that he does be allowed to do certain tings, like drop he pants and so on.

That is when de reporter and he pardna conclude that this ‘drop-pants’ behaviour is like a KFC party trademark behaviour, given whah de man from Essequibo Coast do de other day right pun de public road fuh all to see.

Just that both Rum Jhaat and de Essequibo man ain’t got nutten much fuh any body see. And as dem talk out dem mind, de Nagga man and Rum Jhaat decide that since de Pee-P-P ain’t had confidence in dem and kick dem out, is time fuh dem to do de same ting back to de Pee-P-P. Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! And that was how de no-confidence motion was born... right down in a rum shop wid two drunk men.

Foetus found near trash can in Corriverton

Workers attached to Church’s Chicken Corriverton Branch were shocked to discover a dead foetus at the side of the building where the garbage bin is located.

The discovery was made on Monday around 07:00h.

According to one of the employees, they were in the process of opening the fast foot outlet when the discovery was made. The woman, who was moved to tears, stated it was a sad sight to witness as rodents had already started eating the foetus.

The foetus of the male child appears to be of East Indian descent and is believed to be around seven months in gestation.

“We were packing and getting ready to open when we notice the baby, at first we didn’t know was a little baby after we notice all the parts we realise it was and we quickly contacted the Police,” the employee said. She went on to explain that “a woman who appeared pregnant came by early yesterday (Sunday) morning to use the washroom, but we were closed so she left. A while after we saw her again but her tummy appeared to be smaller and she was with another woman and she had a plastic bag in her hand and she was signalling to the other woman the garbage,” the employee stated. The Police are investigating the discovery.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

Guyanese diplomats briefed on country’s foreign policy push

The biennial Conference of the Heads of Guyana’s Missions overseas opened on Monday at the Guyana International Conference Centre with President Donald Ramotar calling on them to be “advance scouts” for Guyana’s development.

The President also commended their work in representing Guyana in the international community.

According to a release from Foreign Affairs Ministry, President Donald Ramotar in his discussions with the heads spoke at length on specific global developments which struck at the heart of international relations.

Key among these was what the President described as “the dreaded situation facing the Palestinian people and the unspeakable atrocities committed against them on a daily basis.”

President Ramotar referred to the recent attacks on Gaza which have not spared innocent lives of children, women, the elderly, sick and maimed. He said this action was a stain against humanity and one of the worst committed against unarmed civilians. According to the release, the President reiterated that the Government of Guyana was in total solidarity with the Palestinian people who deserved the right to a homeland and an end to occupation. He saluted their heroism in facing a powerful army.

Touching on other conflict areas in the Middle East, in particular the instability in Iraq, Libya and Syria, President Ramotar commented on the growth of extremism and the fact that events in those and other affected countries demonstrated that the imposition of any system from outside causes internal problems. Even if this helped in the change of governments, it did not

contribute to the building of democratic societies. He opined that the principle of self-determination was the best guide.

With regard to the situation in the Ukraine, President Ramotar pointed out that it was necessary for both sides to engage in dialogue towards a resolution of the issue. In terms of the dispute over the South China Sea, the President said that a peaceful solution needed to be found through dialogue and by observing international law. Touching on the influence of China in the world, the President paid recognition to that country’s ability to provide much needed assistance to many developing countries. He lauded the establishment of a development bank by the BRICS nations recently at their Summit in Brasilia, which offered another source of financing.

Offer

In an accelerated programme to assist the Latin American and Caribbean Region, China had also offered to the CELAC countries a total of US$10 billion in soft loans and 6000 scholarships over the next five years and was ready to expand its international trade using local currencies.

On the issue of regional mechanisms, President Ramotar noted that there had been many criticisms of Caricom, but stated that he is very optimistic about Caricom since there were some favourable developments – more countries were joining the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Caribbean Development Bank was making a greater impact in the development of countries of the community.

President Ramotar suggested that if Caricom countries could embark on more bilateral projects and improve trade between and among themselves, this

Granger cagey on whether APNU

can fund polls ... but says campaign machine well oiled

BY JOMO PAUL

With the advent of General and Regional Elections a distinct possibility in early 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is insisting that its campaigning machinery is well oiled and hard at work, but refused to say how it will fund the operation.

Party leader, retired Brigadier David Granger on Monday refused to state explicitly whether the party was financially sound to campaign for elections.

PNCR Leader David Granger

President Donald Ramotar is constitutionally mandated to dissolve the National Assembly and set a date for the holding of General Elections within three months.

Leading private sector officials said they are prepared to “wait and see” the outcome of a proposed noconfidence motion against the Donald Ramotar Administration, although warning that early elections would slow down economic growth.

could help to promote Caricom integration even further. The President also said that Guyana was continuing to participate actively in the Union of South American Nations and strengthen relations within that mechanism.

President Ramotar informed the conference that with regard to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Government will continue to ensure that unresolved issues pertaining to its borders were addressed within the context of international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

On Guyana’s foreign policy focus, the President said his Government will continue to preserve and extend the country’s relations with its traditional partners Canada, the US and Europe, and also expand relations with developing countries and promote South-South cooperation.

In addressing diplomatic representation, he alluded to Caricom’s call for exploring shared diplomatic space and said that Guyana should take advantage of this.

The President also acknowledged the Diaspora as a valuable asset in the development process and encouraged the Foreign Ministry and its representatives abroad to concretise policies aimed at tapping the resources and skills of the Diaspora. The Heads of Mission were fully briefed on the political and economic situation in the country.

President Ramotar encouraged the Heads of Mission to see themselves not only as executing foreign policy but also contributing to its formulation.

He further urged them to be greater “advance scouts” for Guyana’s development thrust and to continue their commendable work in representing Guyana in the international community.

Granger said the APNU “will continue to campaign and will continue to campaign to raise money in so doing” in response to questions posed by Guyana Times on whether the party was financially able to commence campaigning.

Granger further posited that the APNU has commenced campaigning for polls, but the initial phases had been for Local Government Elections.

He said that given the new developments in the parliamentary sphere, the party will be using the momentum from Local Government Elections campaigning to campaign for General and Regional Elections.

Granger, who is also the leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the largest party in the APNU coalition, had told this newspaper earlier this year that the PNCR was enjoying a “healthy financial status” going into the next General Election.

“We have regular general Councils, which means transporting delegates from all over the country, we have employees, we pay our bills and wages, so I would consider our financial status to be healthy,” Granger said confidently.

Questions arose recently over the party’s financial status after talks got underway about its plans to

sell parcels of land from its large Sophia Headquarters estate. Reports are that the party has tied up an agreement with a major company to sell the property for close to $80 million. Reports are too that the party had exhausted all of its funds during the 2011 General Election.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has submitted a motion of no confidence against the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration led by President Donald Ramotar. However, as of Sunday, the National Assembly proceeded into parliamentary recess and the motion will not be debated or placed on the Order Paper until the House resumes sittings in October.

Diaspora Granger pointed out that this period will be used by the Opposition to intensify its campaigning efforts across Guyana’s Diaspora. He said that the campaign efforts will not be concentrated too on any area in particular, but will be spread out across the country as the party gears up for elections.

If the no-confidence motion which has received the endorsement of the APNU is passed in the National Assembly, Guyana’s Executive,

However, while the private sector officials remain adamant that elections will have a negative impact on the business sector, they said they are also aware that democracy must run its course.

“No-confidence motion and snap elections are a part of that course then the elections must be held,” Private Sector Commission Secretary Ramesh Dookhoo said.

Speaking to Guyana Times in an interview last Thursday, Dookhoo, who is also President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), said elections are an integral part of any democratic regime and therefore they must be held.

He said that if the proposed vote of no confidence by the AFC is carried successfully in the National Assembly, then it is not for any private sector body to say elections cannot be held at any specific time.

“If it has to happen, it will happen, the process of democracy must take place… no one can stop it.”

Further, the CAIC President acknowledged the expected slump in business for the sector, but noted that this must not be considered as a reason for elections not to be held.

He said that the process of democracy has to “prevail”.

Labourer on remand for illegal possession of ammunition

On Monday afternoon, Andre Walcott appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, facing a charge of being in possession of ammunition without being the holder of a licence.

It is alleged that Walcott, a 21-year-old la-

bourer on August 7 at Wismar, Linden, was caught with 10 live rounds of .32 ammunitions without being the holder of a firearm licence.

The defendant who was unrepresented pleaded not guilty to the charge and did not choose to address the court at any

time. He has no prior runins with the law. There were no concrete facts given for this case. The Magistrate remanded the defendant until August 20. This matter was transferred to the Christianburg Magistrates’ Courts.

Heads of Mission with President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Foreign Affairs Ministry Director General Elizabeth Harper at the opening of the conference

tuesday, august 12, 2014 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fourth Guyana debt arrangement written off under PetroCaribe deal

Guyana’s Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, said that under the PetroCaribe deal with Venezuela, the fourth debt compensation arrangement has been written off by Venezuela for rice supplied to the neighbouring country.

Responding to questions about the future of the PetroCaribe deal at a press briefing on Saturday, the Finance Minister said thus far, the deal has worked well for Guyana.

“I would say PetroCaribe has worked well for Guyana,

we have been extremely prudent in how we manage that mechanism, as you know in Guyana the project has not only resulted in making available financing through our oil purchases from Venezuela, but very importantly has provided a market for rice produced in Guyana,” he explained.

When asked, whether the Administration is concerned about the PetroCaribe deal given the political situation in Venezuela, Singh said the Government remains hopeful that Venezuela recog-

nises the significance of the deal and its benefits for both nations.

While acknowledging Venezuela as an important partner under the PetroCaribe deal, Dr Singh said the Administration continues to seek out other viable markets for its rice.

PetroCaribe is an alliance of many Caribbean states with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment. The alliance was launched on June 29, 2005, in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.

Ministry focused on reducing food import bill – Dr Ramsammy

With Guyana spending some US$300 million every year on food imports, Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said his Ministry has been focused on bringing this figure down.

The Minister said he is trying to reduce the importation cost from US$200 per capita to a smaller sum. Last Friday, Dr Ramsammy rolled out the calendar of activities planned for Agriculture Month in October, which will be focusing on having Guyanese utilise more local produce rather than imported ones.

According to Dr Ramsammy, this initiative will be promoting a healthier population while at the same time keep the country’s revenues within its border and support the local food sector in order to develop the economy.

He explained that every time Guyanese uses products that are imported, they are supporting employment in other countries while making it difficult for people here to be employed.

“I ask you to join us in ensuring that every day you eat Guyanese products and every time you do so, you can smile and say I’m helping our farmers, I’m helping our entrepreneurs, I’m helping to create jobs for our own people,” he added.

The Agriculture Minister

said that the aim of his Ministry is to one day have Guyanese prepare meals with no imported products, as such; come this October, it will be focusing on this.

The Ministry began this initiative with a Cook-off Competition last Friday which saw participants preparing meals with little or no imported products.

World Food Day will be observed on October 16, and Dr Ramsammy has announced that from this year on, it will be an annual day for citizens to eat whatever has been produced in Guyana.

He stated that all Guyanese, along with restaurants, big and small, and hotels will be encouraged to stand by this theme.

The Minister went on to say that surveillances will be conducted to test what percentage of meals are prepared with local products and these records will be

kept for further reference as they monitor the reduction of imported products.

Also in the works for Agriculture Month is the publication of a recipe book which will contain recipes for dishes made mainly with local ingredients. Guyanese will have the opportunity to have their specials published in the book.

Another feature will be the annual Agro-Processors Day, which will be observed on the last Saturday in October. This event will see agro-processors, particularly the small ones, being recognised and their products being marketed to foster the growth of their businesses. Reports revealed that the Caribbean Community (Caricom) spends approximately US$5.2 billion on importing food every year; however, only 17 per cent of this is generated from trades among the member countries.

It has been disclosed that some 83 per cent of the US$5.2 billion, is being spent on food that comes from outside the Caribbean, particularly the US.

Earlier this year, Dr Ramsammy estimated that over US$5.5 billion will be spent on the importation of food into the Region for this year, compared to the US$1.5 billion that will be exported in food products out of the Region.

As it relates to Guyana, the Agriculture Minister stressed that this country, considered the giant of agriculture in the Region, will spend millions of US dollars on the importation of food. For this year, at least three countries will import more than US$1 billion in food: Jamaica, The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago.

Last year, the Region spent over US$300 million purchasing milk from New Zealand, America and Argentina. The Caribbean Region last year imported millions of US dollars in carrots and beet, vegetables that could have been grown right here in the Caribbean.

Three years ago, Jamaica imported 90 per cent of the potato its people and visitors ate. Last year, Caribbean islands produced 90 per cent of the potatoes it ate. Guyana recently harvested, for the first time, Irish potatoes.

LIAT reorganises commercial structure to increase revenue generation

LIAT has announced changes to its commercial structure in order to bring a much sharper focus on revenue generation.

Lloyd Carswell, an internationally experienced Chief Commercial Officer is being appointed in this role on an interim basis for three to four months.

Reporting to him will be an interim Director of Commercial Operations (DCO) with responsibility for Revenue Management,

Network Planning and Scheduling, Distribution, and Global Sales, and a Director of Commercial Delivery (DCD) with responsibility for Sales and Marketing, Customer Experience and Cargo.

The DCO will be based in Antigua and the DCD in Barbados.

These changes will entail the move of six positions from Barbados to Antigua, although only five of these positions are currently oc-

Miss World Guyana to be coached by Philippines company

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

Miss World Guyana Rafieya Husain has achieved yet another milestone in her pageantry career, this time she will be coached by renowned Philippines pageant company Gouldian. This disclosure was made on the Missology Guyana website. According to Husain’s mother, Salena Khan, the latest development is a great “push” for the Guyanese queen as it will assist her in getting closer to realising her dream.

Husain, who copped the Miss World Guyana title on May 26 at the National Culture Centre, will receive training by Gouldian, a pageant training company in the Philippines with renowned experts in pageant leadership.

Rafieya will represent Guyana on the international stage for the annual Miss World Pageant slated for London on December 14.

The queen is expected to receive specialised pageant training from August 26 to September 6 in Manila, Philippines.

Miss World Guyana in her grooming for the pageant will be given one-onone training and will have the opportunity to interact with former winners and other beauty queens.

cupied by LIAT staff in Barbados.

The roles of Sales and Marketing, Customer Experience, and Cargo, under the leadership of Leesa Parris-Rudder, will remain in Barbados. Total staff numbers in these roles are 275 who work throughout the Region.

In order to strengthen the airline’s airport delivery organisation, a new role of Customer Service Manager is being created. This role will be based in Barbados.

The pageant trainers are expected to provide proprietary coaching techniques that will enable Rafieya to enhance her overall approach and technique in mastering the critical processes and demands of the pageant.

Gouldian is one of many expert presenters on the international roster of presenters and leaders in pageantry preparation for the 2014 session, in which over 120 outstanding, beautiful women between the ages of 17-24 are given an opportunity to represent their country at the Miss World event.

The company aims to give young women the opportunity to learn what it takes to succeed as a titleholder, while gaining valuable life skills that transcend the world of pageantry.

Miss World is the largest and longest running international beauty pageant. Launched in 1951, it has become one of the world’s most watched annual events worldwide with a viewing audience of over one billion people.

It is the only pageant that has a Beauty with a Purpose competition, which is the name of a special annual award programme that singles out and recognises the Miss World contestant who has shown, through charitable works, to have made a real difference in the lives of the people of her country.

The World Guyana organiser focuses on raising money for charities and mirroring the role and spirit of Miss World at a national level. Under new directorship since 2013, Miss World Guyana holds its annual pageant to identify young Guyanese women who exemplify beauty, talent, intelligence and compassion.

The organisation aims to create and empower role models who will serve as regional ambassadors, charity representatives, enrich the perception of beauty as well as to enhance a new strength, energy and spirit for the advancement of women.

Miss Guyana World in her fight to stop domestic violence and support her platform, held a fundraising in Washington, DC, last weekend and has planned several more fundraising events in New York, Canada and Guyana.

She has already acquired a plot of land as well as a building from the Region Two administration to tackle domestic violence.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Miss World Guyana Rafieya Husain

“Generation Next” concert wows large audience

The curtain came down on the inaugural Guyana Festival on Sunday evening with the grand “Generation Next” concert that saw thousands in attendance, dancing to the vibes of the various genres of music dished out by pure Guyanese artistes.

The night can only be

so old thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The concert started with Guyanese music icon, Sammy Baksh and his band serenading the crowd with some music of yesteryear, which undoubtedly brought back memories to the older folks who were at the venue.

He dished out several

dubbed as “magnificent” since those who flocked the event definitely got their money’s worth. From old folk songs to reggae and soca to culture and dancehall, the young, old and not

classic pieces which set the tone for a fabulous event.

While some patrons were swaying to the magical voice of Baksh and his band, some were busy visiting the booths that were

within proximity.

After a splendid performance from the member of the “old school”, another icon Terry Gajraj, took the stage by storm after dominating the “Night of the Legends Concert” the previous night. With style and hype, he had the crown singing along as he belched out the best of Guyana’s folk songs.

Surprisingly enough,

wind with the energetic performances by the members led by Jackie Hanover and Calvin Burnette.

Their performances sent all those present into a frenzy with some of the most popular soca music.

As usual, the Heatwave Band caters for all with the aim of creating the right atmosphere. From there on, the night was fantastic as the other perform-

the younger people in the audience knew the words. It was indeed a wonderful atmosphere that brought out the unity among the people through music. The venue was electrifying as “Terry G” performed.

The crowd went into full party mode when the Heatwave Band took to the stage, creating a whirl-

ers kept the stadium alive with their steamy performances.

Another performer who brought the audience to their feet reigning Carib Soca Monarch, Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson, who dished out several of his top tunes which had the crowd going.

The audience, however, went into an uproar

as Charmaine Blackman took to the stage with her tune “Give Them More Fuh Talk”.

She delivered as expected and the crowd was behind her 100 per cent.

Leaving no stone unturned, she showed that indeed, the next generation is ready to take on the world with their superb musical talents.

performed in the competition, the crowd went wild, cheering and screaming in delight.

In a designer outfit, she looked absolutely stunning as the lights on the stage did justice to her presentation. With close to 20 minutes on stage, she delivered as expected. As she performed, she intermittently thanked the Guyanese

By this time, time was ticking away and so were patrons, but those who stayed witnessed mindblowing performances by First Born and Alabama.

“Lisa Punch”, who was a contestant on the ABC Network’s singing competition Rising Star, created quite a stir as she took to the stage just before midnight. Singing songs she

populace for the tremendous support she received during the competition.

The final act of the evening was that of X2 member, Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo. With his energy, he brought the house down. He dished out some of his recent hits as well as some that were sung by X2. Without a doubt, he was having a grand time on stage and had the crowd on their feet as they partied to sweet soca music. The seasoned performer also dished out a few dancehall songs.

There were also saucy performances by reigning Chutney King Pooran Seeraj, Rajesh Dubraj, Vanilla, Jonathan “Lil Red” King, Geneses and Roger Bowen, among others. The main aim of the “Generation Next” concert was to provide a platform to showcase local talents to the rest of the world. Now, with the successful hosting of the inaugural Guyana Festival, there might be plans to take it to another level in 2015.

Sammy Baksh in action on stage

Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo doing his thing on stage

“Lisa Punch” enjoying herself on stage

Charmaine Blackman was simply unstoppable, dishing out hit after hit as the crowd screams for more

Even this young man was trying to get in on the action The massive gathering at the “Generation Next” concert

Antigua’s PM woos investors in Italy

PHaiti gang raids jail and frees inmates

“The level of Foreign Direct Investment has declined steadily, leading to very little construction, no new jobs and no increase in revenues.

The ABLP (Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party) Administration intends to reverse this trend, that is why I am vigorously engaging potential investors…,” Browne said in the release.

rime Minister Gaston Browne and Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy Minister Asot Michael, are currently in Italy where they are scheduled to hold four days of talks with potential investors. The trip, a Government release noted, is a followup to numerous meetings Browne held with prospective foreign investors during the election campaign, with the expectation that he would meet with them later.

While in Italy, Prime Minister Browne is set to meet with investors for solar and wind energy, offshore and onshore natural gas explorations, and highend hotel development. The country’s leader will also tour a number of the properties and businesses of the prospective investors.

In his absence, Attorney General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin is the Acting Prime Minister. (Antigua

Chiquita subject of US$611M bid to rival Fyffes merger

Two Brazilian companies have made a US$611 million (£363 million) bid for US banana group Chiquita.

Juice maker Cutrale and conglomerate Safra have offered US$13 a share, a 29 per cent premium to

Chiquita’s closing share price on Friday. Chiquita shares jumped 31 per cent in New York after the bid was announced.

The offer rivals the proposed merger between Chiquita and Irish fruit firm Fyffes, announced in March.

Shares in Fyffes fell 15 per cent in London.

The merger would create the world’s largest banana company worth US$1 billion.

But the two Brazilian companies said their offer “is clearly more favourable

to the Chiquita shareholders than the proposed merger with Fyffes”.

The global banana market is currently controlled by four firms, Chiquita, Dole Food Company, Fresh Del Monte and Fyffes, according to the United Nations.

(BBC News)

Jamaica confident IMF will deliver positive review in latest assessment

Jamaica’s Finance Minister, Dr Peter Phillips says he is confident that Jamaica will get a positive review when a team from the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) visits the island on Wednesday to assess the country’s economic performance.

In May 2013 Jamaica entered into a four-year US$948.1 million extended fund facility agreement with the IMF and in June, the IMF said Jamaica had passed its latest test and approved the latest disbursement of US$71 million.

The IMF team will also hold consultations with officials of other ministries and departments of Government

Phillips, who will have his first meeting with the review team on Wednesday, said “they will go through the usual process, reviewing

Jamaican Police seize cocaine at airport, 3 Americans arrested

The Jamaican Police have seized more than 7.4 pounds of cocaine and charged four persons with various breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act during a two-day operation at the island’s two major airports. Among the four charged are three female American citizens, who were arrested on Friday, at the Norman Manley International Airport for possession of cocaine weighing a combined total of 2.72 kg (six pounds).

An armed gang has attacked a prison in Haiti freeing an unconfirmed number of inmates. The Croix-desBouquets jail held more than 800 prisoners before the Sunday morning attack.

The action caused panic in the area around the capital Port-au-Prince where the prison is located. “We heard a lot of gunshots, and we saw people running in every direction,” a nearby vendor told the AFP news agency.

Among those who escaped is Clifford Brandt, who comes from a wealthy Haitian family and faces

charges of kidnapping. “It was a spectacular escape. There was no battle. A hundred inmates fled the prison,” a Haitian lawmaker told journalists.

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe visited the area after the raid but made no comments. The Croix-desBouquets prison was built in 2012 with reconstruction money donated by Canada. Haiti was devastated by an earthquake in 2010. According to the World Bank, Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and one of the poorest nations in the world. (BBC News)

Dominica Police questioned after prisoner found dead in cell

the numbers. The IMF team will also hold consultations with officials of other ministries and departments of Government, he said.

“We feel confident about the June 30 numbers, which is what they are coming to review, and then we are focusing our sights on September 30 (end of the next quarter)” he asserted.

The Finance Minister said he is also satisfied with the pace of the fiscal reforms being undertaken by Government, in concert with the IMF. But he pointed out that there are more complex challenges yet to be confronted by the government.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Four Police officers are being questioned in relation to the death of Joshua Etienne, whose body was found in his cell at a Police station in Portsmouth, north of Roseau on August 5.

The four officers were detained last week after an autopsy was done on the body of Etienne, who had been arrested on August 4, for the alleged possession of ammunition.

Lawyers for the four unidentified Police officers, who left the Police station late on Sunday night, would not comment on the situation regarding their clients given the fact that the men

had been in Police custody for more than 72 hours. Last week, Police Commissioner Daniel Carbon described the death of the man in police custody as a “very serious incident” and “a homicide”. “This incident where Joshua Etienne was found dead has always been treated as a very serious incident. From the offset of the investigations, we’ve been treating it as a homicide,” he said on the stateowned DBS radio, adding “I can assure the general public that there is going to be no cover up, the investigation is going to very transparent.” (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Debate on the Constitution Amendment Bill

2014 in TT begins

IThe fourth person – 26-year-old Dominic Brissett of Cornwall Court, St James – was arrested at the Sangster International Airport on Saturday after he was found with 0.64 kg (1.4 pounds) of cocaine on his person. He is scheduled to appear in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate Court on Thursday, August 14 where he too will answer to charges of possession of and dealing in cocaine and attempting to export cocaine. (Jamaica Observer)

They are 32-year-old Tamesha Filmore, 31-year-old Jennitta Robinson and 26-year-old Lory Filmore. Tamesha Filmore and Jennitta Robinson are scheduled to appear in the Corporate Area Criminal Court on Wednesday, while Lory Filmore is scheduled to appear on Friday, August 15 to answer to charges of possession of and dealing in cocaine and attempting to export cocaine.

n anticipation of a showdown both inside and outside of Parliament, Police boosted land, sea and air patrols as the TT Government and Opposition forces were expected to gather at the Waterfront for the debate on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2014 on Monday morning. Sources said supporters from United National Congress (UNC) strongholds were being mobilised to gather outside Parliament to show support for the Bill. Opposition People’s National Movement forces as well as social groups such as

Fixin T&T and Advocates for Change, other political parties the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ), the Independent Liberal Party (ILP), were also planning to have an all night vigil outside Parliament building while the debate is ongoing.

Off-duty law enforcement officers from Central Police, Traffic Branch, Besson Street and Port of Spain CID have been called out to duty in anticipation of the protests, sources said. In addition to the Court and Process Branch Police officers who are assigned to Parliamentary duties, a team of Special Branch officers were also assigned to Monday’s hearing.

“We expect to have plain clothes officers mingling with the crowds and we are also monitoring mobilisation from Opposition and Government constituencies,” a senior Police officer said on the condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak on security plans. Another social group Democracy Watch, an organisation aligned to former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj as well was also last night discussing their intentions to join the vigil. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Observer)

Prime Minister Gaston Browne

Maliki spurned in new Iraq PM choice

Iraq’s President has asked the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Haider al-Abadi, to form a new Government.

Abadi had previously been nominated Prime Minister by Shia parties, instead of the incumbent Nouri Maliki.

But Maliki said Abadi’s nomination was a “violation of the Constitution”. Maliki has made it clear he wants a third term in office.

US President Barack Obama is due to give a statement on the issue at 20:45 GMT.

Meanwhile, the jihadist insurgency in the north of Iraq continues to cause in-

ternational concern.

Fighters from the Islamic State (IS) group have made substantial gains in northern Iraq in recent months, forcing tens of thousands of people from religious minorities to flee their homes.

The US has begun supplying weapons to the Kurdish Peshmergas, who are fighting the militants, senior US officials have told the Associated Press.

Iraq’s security Forces are also supporting the Kurdish fighters, and have already delivered three plane-loads of ammunition, a US official told the BBC In Baghdad, Iraqi

Fuad Masum said in a television address that he hoped Abadi would succeed in forming a Government that would “protect the Iraqi people”.

“The country is now in your hands,” Masum told Abadi, according to the French news agency AFP.

Following his nomination, Abadi called on Iraqis to unite in the fight against the IS militants.

Analysts say the nomination and subsequent endorsement by the President of Abadi is a public snub for Maliki, whose State of Law coalition won the most seats in April’s elections. (Excerpt from

India star’s ‘Police dance’ slammed

Acontroversy has erupted after an Indian Policewoman danced on stage with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan at a Police gala in West Bengal state.

Opposition politicians criticised the performance, saying that allowing the officer to dance in uniform undermined respect for the Police.

West Bengal’s leader Mamata Banerjee, who attended the event, was also targeted for allowing it to take place.

The Policewoman and Shah Rukh Khan are yet to comment.

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan scooped up the Police officer in his arms during the performance

The dance took place at an annual state Police cultural extravaganza on Saturday. Shah Rukh Khan, one of India’s most popular film stars, was recently declared brand ambassador for West Bengal by Banerjee.

The President of the Opposition Congress Party in the state, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury , accused Banerjee of defying India’s Constitution by allowing the officer to dance in uniform.

“The Constitution doesn’t allow any person to dance like that in uniform. It’s a shame that the sanctity of Police uniform was allowed to be violated. By allowing the officer to dance like that, she [Banerjee] violated the Constitution of India,” he is quoted as saying. (Excerpt from BBC News)

China convicts corporate investigators

An expatriate corporate investigator has been sentenced to two and a half years in a Chinese jail after being found guilty of stealing and selling personal information for profit, Chinese state media has reported.

His wife and business partner was also found guilty of the same charge and was handed a two-year prison sentence.

Briton Peter Humphrey, who has been in detention since July 2013, appeared in a Shanghai court on Friday at the same time as his wife and business partner Yu Yingzeng. Yu is a Chineseborn US citizen.

According to a court statement quoted by official news agency Xinhua, the pair confessed to obtaining private information about Chinese citizens by “illegal

Hillary Clinton pummels Obama foreign policy

Yes, Hillary Clinton is running for President, and she is running away from President Barack Obama’s record on foreign policy.

That is a very clear message from the interview just published in The Atlantic in which she drew sharp distinctions between her view of America’s role in the world and those of the President, while also expressing significant disagreements with him over the right approach to ongoing crises in the Middle East.

In a dramatic dismissal of the Obama Administration’s self-described foreign policy doctrine of “Don’t do stupid stuff,” Clinton declared, “Great nations need organising principles and ‘Don’t do stupid stuff’ is not an organising principle.”

Clinton clothed her criticism in respect of her “incredibly intelligent” former boss, but Obama may have clenched his jaw with irritation when he read the polite pummelling from his former Secretary of State. Clinton promptly explained that even she did not think that Obama really meant that is his foreign policy doctrine. (The name Obama used to describe the policy, incidentally, uses a four-letter word instead of “stuff.”)

She claimed that the catchy phrase was an effort to convey to Americans wary of US misadventures in faraway lands that he was not about to do “something crazy”. Still, Clinton articulated a vision for a much more assertive US role in the world, one that contrasts sharply with Obama’s. In doing so, she brandished a lacerating analysis of the administration’s foreign policy. Most troubling for Obama was her intimation that some of the most difficult, dangerous and deadly problems raging in the Middle East today might have been avoided if Obama had acted more promptly and less hesitantly. (Excerpt from CNN)

Ebola outbreak ‘started by 2-year-old’

The worst outbreak of Ebola, which has killed 961 people and triggered an international public health emergency, may have started with a two-year-old patient in a village in Guinea.

About eight months ago, the toddler, whom researchers believe may have been Patient Zero, suffered fever, black stool and vomiting. Just four days after showing the painful symptoms, the child died on December 6, 2013, according to a report published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Scientists do not know exactly how the toddler contracted the virus. Ebola is spread from animals to humans through infected fluids or tissue, according to the World Health Organisation.

“In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines,” the World Health Organisation (WHO) says, though researchers think fruit bats are what they call the virus’s “natural host”.

Researchers who published the paper this year found a chain of illnesses in the toddler’s family. After the child’s death, the mother suffered bleeding symptoms and died on December 13, according to the report. Then, the toddler’s three-year-old sister died on December 29, with symptoms including fever, vomiting and black diarrhea. The illness subsequently affected the toddler’s grandmother, who died on January 1, in the family’s village of Meliandou in Guéckédou. (Excerpt from CNN)

Human Rights Watch director barred from Egypt

The Executive Director of Human Rights Watch and another senior staff member have been denied entry to Egypt.

Kenneth Roth and Sarah Leah Whitson were in Cairo to launch a report by the group on mass killings last year.

Hundreds of people were killed on August 14, 2013 after security forces broke up protests against the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi.

means”.

They said they would write reports based on this information and sell them to multinational companies.

In court, Humphrey said that he had conducted a twomonth investigation on behalf of GlaxoSmithKline’s China management into who had filed formal allegations of bribery against the company, Xinhua reported. (Excerpt from CNN)

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who was elected Head of State in May, was the army chief at the time of the killings.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is one of a number of rights groups that have expressed alarm at a broad crackdown on dissent by authorities since the army’s overthrow of Morsi in July 2013.

Kenneth Roth had hoped to discuss the report with the Government

After arriving at Cairo International Airport, the pair were detained by officials for 12 hours before being put on planes out of the country.

Whitson, the head of HRW’s Middle East and North Africa division, said Egyptian officials told her they were being deported for “security reasons”.

In a statement, HRW said it was the first time that Egyptian authorities had denied its staff members entry to the country, including

during the rule of ex-President Hosni Mubarak.

The group said its report, due to be released on Tuesday, “documents how Egyptian Police and army methodically opened fire with live ammunition on crowds of demonstrators” after Morsi’s removal from power.

At least 1150 people were killed at six demonstrations in July and August 2013, according to HRW. The worst incidents were at Rabaa alAdawiya mosque and Nahda Square in Cairo.

Tweeting from Cairo’s airport, Roth said the “Rabaa massacre numbers rank with Tiananmen and Andijan” but the Egyptian Government “wouldn’t let me in to present a report on it”.

He said the group had shared its findings with President Sisi’s Government and had hoped to discuss the report with the authorities. The Government is yet to comment on the incident.

(BBC News)

President

BBC News)

The President (second left) has asked Abadi (right) to form a Government

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

1 dead, several injured in separate shootings Mrs Doubtfire star commits suicide

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

One man was shot dead and at least three others wounded during separate shooting incidents in and around Georgetown late Monday night.

The dead man has been identified as Marvin Cumbermack, an employee of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) Water Treatment Plant in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

One of the injured in another incident was identified as 32-year-old Kwame Smith, a shoemaker of Lot 411 Fifth Field, Sophia.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, Cumbermack was riding his CG motorcycle along Joe Singh Street, Sophia Georgetown, when he was shot and robbed.

The incident occurred sometime around 20:00h. Information reaching this newspaper revealed that the man was on his way to his girlfriend’s house when he was approached by a man on a bicycle.

The man reportedly pulled out a firearm and shot Cumbermack several times about the body and took away his motorcycle, escaping, leaving behind the bicycle.

This newspaper understands that medical assistants arrived at the scene and pronounced him dead. They then picked up the body and placed it into the ambulance; however, as they were driving off the scene, the Police arrived and ordered them to put the body back at the scene, claiming that it is a crime scene and they have to conduct investigations before the body can be moved. The medical assistants complied and subsequently left the scene.

Friends and relatives of Cumbermack gathered at the scene as news of the death spread. The relatives were too distraught to talk to the media. Cumbermack’s body was removed from the scene some two hours later by undertakers from the Lyken’s Funeral Parlour.

Meanwhile, around 20:15h, Smith was at riding his bicycle along a desolate area on Eping Avenue, Bel Air, Greater Georgetown, when a car pulled up next to him and open fire. The man sustained gunshot injuries to his right side neck. Persons in the area said they heard a loud

sound and thought a vehicle tire blew out; however, when they checked, they saw the injured man lying on the roadway.

Smith was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he immediately taken into theatre.

A friend of the injured man told Guyana Times that he received a called sometime around 20:30h and rushed to the scene, where he saw the 32-year-old man lying on the ground but in a conscious state.

The friend, who is also a shoemaker, claimed that Smith might have been shot two times as he had two “holes” in his neck. His wife, Alicia Henry said she was at home when she received a call and rushed to the hospital, but when she got there, her husband was already in the theatre. No one could say whether Smith had issues with anyone or why would anyone want to hurt him.

Then around the same time, ranks from the Beterverwagting Police Station had to swoop down on Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara and arrest a businessman who had discharged several rounds in the air.

Based on reports reaching this newspaper, the man and his wife have separated and he had attempted to kidnap his children. However, his plans were foiled and he opened fire in front of his ex-wife’s home. Also there were reports of another shooting incident on Monday evening, this time in Eccles, East Bank of Demerara. Unconfirmed reports stated that Police are investigating reported gunshots that were fired in the East Bank community around 20:00h.

Comedian Robin Williams, known for his rapid-fire comedy, died Monday morning in his residence in Tiburon, California, in an apparent suicide, according to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s Coroner Division suspects the death to be a “suicide due to asphyxia,” but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made, according to a press release. Williams, 63, was found in the home he shared with his wife shortly before noon (3 p.m. ET), the Sheriff’s Office said. He had last been seen alive on Sunday at 10 p.m., according to a Sheriff’s Office press release.

“This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings,” his wife, Susan Schneider, said in a statement. “I am utterly heartbroken. On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”

The comedian’s publicist said he had been battling “severe depression of late.” “This is a tragic and sudden loss,” Mara Buxbaum said in a statement. “The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”

Williams, who struggled with alcohol and cocaine addiction was sober for decades but relapsed in 2006 and returned to rehab. Last month, Williams entered rehab for a short stay “to fine-tune and focus on his continued commitment, of which he remains extremely proud,” according to a statements his representative made at the time.

In an interview with The Guardian in 2010, Williams attributed his need to self-medicate to his unrelenting “fear and anxiety” and said that although he was in a happier place, he also was “not afraid to be unhappy. That’s OK too. And then you can be like, all is good. And that is the thing that is the gift.” The fast-talking comedian last communicated on social media two weeks ago when he shared a photograph of his daughter as a baby on her 25th birthday. A passionate gamer, Williams named his daughter Zelda.

Williams first came to prominence in 1978 as a naively sweet and zany alien in “Mork & Mindy,” playing a character he’d originated in an episode of “Happy Days” with actress Pamela Dawber as his love interest. Dawber and Williams were reunited last year on CBS’

“The Crazy Ones,” when Williams returned to the medium that made him a star, playing an ad executive and father to a character played by

Michelle Gellar.

a homeless man seeking the Holy Grail in 1991’s “The Fisher King.” Williams also spearheaded the non-profit Comic Relief — concerts and variety shows — to raise money to help the homeless with Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg. San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee issued a statement saying the city was mourning a man who inspired with his comedy and his art. His legacy has had a deep and inspiring impact on our City and on our residents,” Lee said. “His ties to San Francisco were deep, having found early success in our city’s comedy clubs with his popular stand-up routines and where he was destined to launch a successful career that included starring roles in classic television shows and big screen success including an Academy Award. Despite his success, he has never forgotten San Francisco. He was a philanthropist who gave generously, and he was a friend of the City. San Francisco is heartbroken by

“I am completely and totally devastated. What more can be said?!” Dawber said in a statement Monday. “Our world has lost a comic genius, a gifted actor and a beautiful man,” CBS said in a statement.

“We will remember Robin Williams as one of the unique talents of his time who was loved by many, but also as a kind, caring soul, who treated his colleagues and co-workers with great affection and respect. Our heartfelt thoughts and sympathies go out to his family, loved ones and friends.”

Williams, who was as successful in stand-up as he was in TV and the movies, won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dr. Sean Maguire in the 1997 film “Good Will Hunting.” He was nominated for Best Actor for his roles as an authority-bucking deejay in 1987’s “Good Morning, Vietnam,” as an inspirational teacher in 1989’s “Dead Poets Society” (1989) and as

the tragic loss of Robin Williams who forever changed the world with laughter and joy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time of mourning.” In April, Williams was reported to be planning to star in a sequel to his 1993 smash hit movie “Mrs. Doubtfire.” News of Williams’ unexpected death shook up William’s close friends and the Hollywood entertainment community. When he appeared at a press event for his CBS comedy last year, Williams was in the wacky, frenetic state he was known for. All a journalist had to do was mention “sad clown” in a sentence and he was off: “Sad clown? What are those big feet doing in the bed!” he joked. “Wait, I’m getting a text from Carlos (Danger). Even the phone says no more!” Flowers will be placed on Williams’ star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday morning, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said. (MSNBC)

ECLAC proposes strengthening of regional financial integration

Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Antonio Prado, called for countries to prioritise the strengthening of the region’s productive integration, during the 4th South American Economy and Finance Council (CSEF) held in Buenos Aires recently.

The senior United Nations official took part in the opening, along with the Argentine Minister of Economy and Finance, Axel

Kicillof, and President of the Central Bank of Argentina, Juan Carlos Fábrega. The meeting brought together ministers of finance and economy, presidents of central banks and other authorities from member countries of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), who discussed the region’s efforts in terms of financial integration.

Antonio Prado highlighted the role of value chains in the world context, as a means of organizing international trade and production. He declared

that intensifying the regional market is essential to gaining an international standing that will make it possible to consolidate a structural change with equality.

According to Mr. Prado “It is vital to begin with a modern notion of integration, based on the competitive creation of value chains”. He also stated that the region’s enterprises needed to have guaranteed full access to the broader market - not only through the removal of traditional trade barriers, but also

through a regulatory rapprochement in the areas that have the most impact on trade and investment flows.

He affirmed “Promoting competitive regional and subregional value chains requires a free-flowing dialogue with business and labour sectors - the main actors in these chains”. According to the Deputy Executive Secretary of ECLAC, deepening regional integration requires a Financial Security Network for Development to enable countries to tackle the ad-

verse effects of external volatility on the business cycle (as well as affecting longterm productive development and growth).

ECLAC proposes that this Network should be based on: countercyclical financial provision to fund the balance of payments; mobilization of resources for productive development and investment; and support for intraregional trade.

Antonio Prado explained “We must progress towards a regional reserve fund, which would make a significant contribution to provid-

ing the public good that is financial stability”, while also underscoring the rapid-response capability of the Latin American Reserve Fund (FLAR) vis-à-vis countries’ liquidity requirements. At the meeting, the senior United Nations official referred to the United States Supreme Court decision to hear the case between Argentina and a minority of “holdouts”, and stressed the need to set up an international mechanism to resolve conflicts of interest arising from sovereign defaults.

Sarah

Dead: Marvin Cumbermack

Comedian Robin Williams

Flowers were placed on Robin Williams’ star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California on Monday

Govt actively considering snap elections – Rohee

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)

General Secretary Clement Rohee on Monday told the media that Government has “snap elections as one of its cards” while hinting that it might pull this card out before the debates on the Opposition’s no-confidence motion begins.

According to Rohee, in light of the no-confidence motion, the only option left with Government now is setting a date for snap elections.

“(Snap elections) remain an option under active consideration… We have that card in our hands that we can pull out on the table at any given point in time,” he said.

Questioned about some of the factors that Government will consider in calling the elections, the General Secretary said they are looking at some political and other factors, which he refused to divulge. However, he pointed out that the mood of the people should be one of the major considerations in Guyana since it is in other countries.

On the other hand, the

General Secretary noted that he has been working along with the Guyana Elections Commission to iron out whatever issues they have hanging in the air about the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) readiness and preparedness to host the elections.

He said that there has been an exchange of correspondence between himself and GECOM’s Chairman Keith Lowenfield, noting that the relationship is likely to intensify over the next few days.

Rohee explained that given the dynamics of politics, GECOM’s involvement and the fact that PPP/C is the ruling party, they will leave no stone unturned to ensure that all preparations are made in the event general election is called, given the party’s experience of witnessing the People’s National Congress’s (PNC) hand in rigging elections.

“We have a lot of experience on the role and place of GECOM in elections and we intent to invoke all the experiences, all the knowledge we have to ensure that these elections are above par,” he stated.

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee

The General Secretary added that his party is also keeping watch on the reforms that GECOM is making, stating that they welcome any administrative or internal measures that are aimed at enhancing the process of free and fair elections in Guyana.

Rohee, in his statement, disclosed that in light of the no-confidence motion, the party’s Central

Executive Committee met last week and one of the main topics on the agenda was the strengthening of the party’s electoral machinery while at the same time ensuring that both the National Register of Registration (NRR) and the Preliminary list of electors are thoroughly checked by party activists.

He said this is to ensure that the lists include all eligible voters and that there is no padding of the list by the inclusion of names that fail to meet the eligibility criteria.

He continued that there are a lot of measures that need to be in place to educate the public on the history of misdemeanours surrounding the rigging of past elections.

“When you look at the two congress elections, you could see that those guys haven’t given up on this predisposition. If they can attempt rigging elections at two congress, they may very well be tempted to used whatever influence they might have unduly to go back to olden times and that is what we have to be vigilant about,” he stressed.

Hundreds receive laptops in Regions 3 and 5

Hundreds of residents of both Regions Three and Five received laptops through the Government One Laptop Per Family Project (OLPF) during last week and Monday. Some 80 laptops were distributed at Good Faith and Champagne in Mahaicony, Region Five while on Monday, 341 were distributed at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. The residents, like so many others, were very appreciative for receiving the devices, a Government Information Agency (GINA) release stat-

ed. Mahaicony resident, Rojindranauth Indar explained that the laptop will benefit mostly the children in his family as most of the work which will be done with the use of the laptop will be school assignments.

Meanwhile, Dale Khan Hardat highlighted that this laptop will greatly assist his son who is a student of the University of Guyana.

Dhanpaul Samaroo, after receiving his laptop emphasised that Government’s plan to ensure that every household has a laptop is

a wonderful initiative. He added that he now has the chance to learn to use a computer even though he is a grandfather. Grantley Mckenwright, another resident of Mahaicony urged all beneficiaries to use the laptop correctly and take care of it.

Meanwhile, on Monday at the Tuschen Primary School, Bibi Rehanna Hussain after receiving her laptop said she was very happy since it will benefit her family.

“I am so happy, I have a daughter, she will write CXC next year and she loves

Telma Williams said “I’m very happy, at least I will have access to the Internet and I will improve on my knowledge. At least I will be able to benefit from it and be computer literate.” While persons were eagerly collecting their laptops at Tuschen Primary School, those who already received theirs were under training two rooms away on how to use the instrument.

The next distribution exercise will be in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara. The OLPF distribution programme has been ongoing since October 2011 and will

computers, so she will appreciate and feel so good and proud when she studies… it will encourage her more.”

Another beneficiary,

Youths and the environment

The involvement of today’s youth in decision-making and programme implementation for environment and development is critical to the long-term success of a country.

Globally, youths have both special concerns and special responsibilities in relation to the environment. In today’s world, a number of environmental risks and hazards disproportionately affect young people, who have to live for an extended period with the deteriorating environment bequeathed to them by earlier generations. As such, young people will be compelled to engage in new forms of action and activism that will generate effective responses to ecological challenges.

Young people constitute a large part of the world’s population. Unfortunately, in some parts of the world, many, especially young children, are particularly vulnerable to environmental risks associated with, for example, access to clean and safe drinking water. It is also recognised that young people will have to live longer with the consequences of current environmental decisions than will their elders. Future generations will also be affected by these decisions and the extent to which they have addressed concerns such as the depletion of resources, the loss of biodiversity, and long-lived radioactive wastes.

Aside from having a greater stake in the more distant future, young people are especially well-placed to promote environmental awareness simply because they often have better access to information about the environment than do their elders. In part, this is a matter of having been exposed to more environmental education in schools or clubs.

Aside from exposure in formal education, youths have lived all their lives in an era in which environmental issues have loomed large. Also, established anti-ecological ways of thinking and behaving are not ingrained in young people, and they can introduce fresh ideas and outlooks to issues.

Environmental education has an important role to play in the promotion of environmental awareness. It should be emphasised that environmental education, in its broadest and perhaps most important sense, is not formal schooling. Rather, it is a process of social learning in which young people and others are engaged in generating and transmitting knowledge as well as receiving it.

We all can take simple steps by being “eco”. We can reduce waste by ordering the right amount of food since much food is wasted each year. We can also reuse by transforming waste materials into practical and sustainable products and we can also recycle to reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal and conserve our natural resources.

LET’S TAKE THE STEP!

Sources: http://yed.sg/#/ http://www.un.org

continue throughout 2014 and 2015. The programme targets the distribution of 90,000 laptops to Guyanese by the end of 2015.

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

Proud laptop beneficiary, Mahaicony resident Dhanpaul Samaroo heads home after collecting his laptop

Residents of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo at the Tuschen Primary School waiting to receive their laptops

SUDOKU

It’s time to wrap things up. People will lose interest if you drag matters out for too long. Perfection is a fine quality, as long as you know when to move on.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

A past partner will let you down. Don’t use disappointment as an excuse to delay your plans. Concentrate on your own ideas, hopes and dreams.

Adaptability is the key to getting ahead. You can’t be in control of every situation, but you can make the most of whatever comes your way. The possibilities are endless.

Investments should be considered. You can achieve good returns if you put some effort into personal assets. Check out your options and an endeavor that could bring in added cash.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)

Some people will be baffled by your originality and spontaneity, and others will be very impressed. Your financial problems will turn around if you form alliances with people who have something to contribute.

(March 21-April 19)

If you want to move on to more exciting challenges, you will have to clear your slate of all unfinished business. An interesting relationship with an unusual someone will develop.

(April 20-May 20)

Follow your heart. Take a unique approach. You are the one who will reap the benefits from the lifestyle changes you make, so don’t worry about what others do or say.

(May 21June 20)

Talk to friends and relatives about increasing the level of comfort in your home. The more favorable the environment, the more work you will be able to accomplish.

You will get ahead if you are up-front with your intentions and feelings. Trying to avoid dealing with troublesome issues will only add more pressure to the situation.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Look at your career options. Don’t hesitate to send out your resume or set up an interview. Don’t rule out marketing your skills by starting your own small business.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

It could be a good day for making new connections. Your creative ideas are ready to be showcased. Incorporate travel and networking events into your schedule to find useful forums for drumming up business.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t make assumptions. You will anger someone who has a different opinion. Work quietly toward your goal, and you will have a much better chance of success.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

arCHie

dilbert

Beefy’s Bash features leading lights from the worlds of cricket and entertainment

Featuring an all-star line-up, the worlds of cricket and entertainment will come together for a good cause in the form of Beefy’s Bash charity cricket match.

Hosted by English cricketing giant turned commentator, Sir Ian “Beefy” Botham in tandem with the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, the T20 cricket match bowls off at 19:00h on Tuesday August 12 at the Warner Park stadium in St Kitts and the proceeds will go to Special Olympics St Kitts and

Nevis, St Kitts and Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities and the Creative Youth Academy.

With the opening ball of the match being bowled by the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Denzil Douglas, the teams will be captained by Brian Lara and Piers Morgan.

Suiting up for Botham’s team are the likes of Marcus Mumford (frontman for folk rock band Mumford and Sons), Darren Gough, Matt Maynard, Mickey Arthur and Danny Morrison while West Indies batting

legend, Brian Lara’s team features cricketing greats like Courtney Walsh, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge, Roger Harper, Ian Bishop and Graeme Swann.

Botham is delighted to be in St Kitts and Nevis to combine his twin passions of cricket and giving back, commenting; “We’ve got some fantastic talents taking the field on Tuesday night and I would like to thank them for getting involved for a great cause. Nothing beats cricket in the

Caribbean and the party cricket vibes are guaranteed to keep the runs and the rums flowing.”

Commenting on the prospect of facing down the legendary West Indies bowling attack, Piers Morgan (fresh from a bruising encounter with Brett Lee in a charity match in the UK), said; “These giants of cricket are some of my all-time sporting heroes so it’s a dream come true to be taking the pitch with themeven if it does result in some damaged egos and limbs on my part.”

Jumbo Jet $25M record breaking horse race meet set for August 24

The annual Guyana Cup horse race meet this year has a mammoth $25M and over sponsorship package which by far dwarfs all other sport events for the holiday. The event set for Sunday August 24 will be held at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

Organized by business conglomerate Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables which has establishments at Bush Lot and Chester Villages West Coast Berbice, East Bank Demerara and Georgetown, Guyana Cup 2014 horse race meet is being held in collaboration with the Port Mourant Turf Club.

– global cricket legends join Piers Morgan and Marcus Mumford to raise funds for St Kitts and Nevis charities The

Nine races are carded for the day with the feature being the C1 and lower race. A total of $7.5M will be up for grabs in that race. The winning prize is a whopping $4M and the Guyana Cup trophy. The race will be contested over a distance of 1,800 metres.

Other races on the day’s card include the E and lower, G, H and ‘I’ class horses, along with the J and lower race.

In the C1 and lower race, the second prize is $2M. The third place finisher gets $1M while half that amount goes to the animal finishing fourth.

Three-year old horses bred in Guyana and the

West Indies will race over a distance of 1,600 metres with the first to end the race receiving $2M while the two-year old West Indies bred horses will race over a distance of 1,000 meters for a first prize of $1.5M.

The E class and lower 1,400 metre event has a first prize of $800,000 and the G1 and lower $600,000. That race will be over a distance of 1,200 metres.

There will be a ‘two-year ‘old event for Guyana bred

horses over a distance of 1,000 metres. The top prize in that race is $600,000.

The H & lower 1,000metre race guarantees the winning horse a purse of $450,000 while the ‘I’ and lower race also goes the

same distance with the winner receiving $350,000. The J and lower race will be 1,200 metres with the winner getting $250,000. The top jockey, along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer, will be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the organisers.

Entries close on Saturday August 16. The organisers have also have put together some interesting incentives for lucky patrons and participants that will be unveiled later, especially for those early entrants and patrons on race day. The event will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority.

Interested persons can contact Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063 or 232-0633), Kris Jagdeo (624-6123; 3220369), Rajendra (Jim –Jo) 618-7278, Ramnauth 3375311, Romel Jagroop (6241798) and Sancho 690-0569. Race time is 12:30h. The event is being coordinated by Nasrudeen ‘Jumbo Jet’ Mohamed. (Andrew Carmichael)

Nyumbu’s five limits deficit to 141

The Harare crowd had to resort to song and dance to amuse themselves for large parts of the day and was grateful to offspinner John Nyumbu when his five-wicket haul, the second by a Zimbabwean on debut, ended a decidedly slow South African innings. Faf du Plessis’ marathon ended two short of a hundred and Quinton de Kock displayed mettle for his 81 as South Africa pulled into the lead, but after both batsmen were dismissed, the activity on the field paled to that off it.

The second session yielded 56 runs in 30.4 overs as Zimbabwe continued with their ploy of playing on the batsman’s patience. The seamers preferred discipline over variation. There were no bouncers, perhaps they thought they didn’t have enough pace. The pitch was worn enough to offer variable bounce but Brendan Taylor’s host of short midwickets and short covers were kept waiting as the batsmen stuck to stonewalling. Against Nyumbu, however, the close catchers were in play. He cajoled the rough to yield turn and bounce to threaten both edges of the bat. He lured Du Plessis into a leg-side trap, forced JP Duminy to mistime a reverse sweep to slip and bested Dale Steyn’s intent to attack.

Zimbabwe had to negotiate a tricky 13 overs before stumps and Morne Morkel, who was not shy of targeting the batsman’s throat, had Hamilton Masakadza fending to third slip to further South Africa’s reputation as the past decade’s most successful touring team.

To that effect, consolidation was paramount when the day began. Du Plessis

progressed in typical fashion, waiting as long as necessary for the bad ball. He ventured outside off only when it was short and wide - Tiripano was slashed over the cordon - or when it was too full - Nyumbu was caressed through extra cover. He was South Africa’s anchor at No.3 and he would not budge from that role until a little extra bounce became his undoing. He nipped down the track and tried to smother it, but the tickle reached Regis Chakabva at backward short leg to end his 356-minute stay.

De Kock’s nemesis was spin, specifically his inclination to close the face and hit against the turn when Nyumbu tossed the ball up, but he was able to put the threat aside and be the instigator. He was nimble on his feet and raced down to lift Nyumbu for a six, his first boundary of the morning, to reach his fifty. A less certain inside edge to the fine-leg boundary took South Africa ahead of Zimbabwe’s 256. Spin threatened for 12 overs after lunch, but cost 41 runs. De Kock favoured the back foot and put aside

the balls that misbehaved until he skewed an insideedge to short midwicket to hand slow left-armer Sean Williams a first Test wicket. There was enough help for Taylor to persist with spin, but Zimbabwe did not like the pace of scoring.

They dragged South Africa back by employing Tinashe Panyangara, who did not concede a boundary in his 30 overs for 39 runs, and Tendai Chatara who was equally miserly with 27-12-34-1. JP Duminy, newly saddled at No. 7 and with six runs off 123 balls in his last Test, did little to put them off as South Africa scored 15 runs in the 18.4 overs leading to tea.

Steyn’s two sixes broke the monotony and helped South Africa to 30 runs in five overs after the break. Duminy updated his resume with his sixth half-century and tried to push on but an ill-advised reverse sweep gave Nyumbu his fifth wicket and a slice of history.

Summarised scores: Zimbabwe 256 and 28 for 1 trail South Africa 397 (Du Plessis 98, de Kock 81, Nyumbu 5-157) by 113 runs

SCOREBOARD

South Africa 1st innings

D Elgar c †Mutumbami b Tiripano 61

AN Petersen c †Mutumbami b Nyumbu 32

F du Plessis c Chakabva b Nyumbu 98

HM Amla* c Sibanda b Chatara 4

AB de Villiers c Sibanda b Nyumbu 7

Q de Kock† c Sibanda b Williams 81

JP Duminy c Taylor b Nyumbu 55

VD Philander b Williams 17

DW Steyn c Tiripano b Nyumbu 19

DL Piedt lbw b Tiripano 13

M Morkel not out 2

Extras (b 3, lb 4, nb 1) 8

Total (all out; 158.3 overs; 639 mins) 397 (2.50 runs per over)

Fall of wickets 1-57 (Petersen, 22.2 ov), 2-132 (Elgar, 47.4 ov), 3-146 (Amla, 57.5 ov), 4-157 (de Villiers, 68.4 ov), 5-276 (du Plessis, 110.3 ov), 6-292 (de Kock, 115.6 ov), 7-334 (Philander, 143.4 ov),

Germany’s all-time leading goalscorer

Miroslav Klose has announced his retirement from international football. The 36-year-old Lazio striker helped his country win the World Cup in the summer, becoming the record scorer in the tournament’s history.

Klose, who totalled 71 goals in 137 internationals, became the third player to score at four World Cup fi-

nals. “I am happy and proud to have contributed to this big success for German football,” said Klose. Poland-born Klose, who scored twice in the tournament in Brazil to surpass Brazilian Ronaldo’s competition record of 16 goals, said the time was right to end a 13-year career with the German national team. He is the second member of the German team to quit af-

ter the tournament following captain Philipp Lahm last month.

“Winning the title in Brazil was a childhood dream come true,” added Klose in a statement released by the German Football Association.

Klose made the first of his 137 international appearances in 2001 and broke Gerd Muller’s 40-year-old record of 68 goals in June.

Sangakkara regains No. 1 ranking

8-367 (Steyn, 148.5 ov), 9-395 (Piedt, 157.4 ov), 10397 (Duminy, 158.3 ov)

Bowling: T Panyangara

30-12-39-0, DT Tiripano 268-65-2, J Nyumbu 49.3-7157-5, TL Chatara 27-12-341, SC Williams 26-2-95-2 Zimbabwe 2nd innings H Masakadza c de Villiers b Morkel 19 V Sibanda not out 8 DT Tiripano not out 1

Extras 0

Total (1 wicket; 13 overs) 28 (2.15 runs per over)

To bat: MA Vermeulen, BRM Taylor*, SC Williams, RW Chakabva, R Mutumbami†, T Panyangara, TL Chatara, J Nyumbu Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Masakadza, 9.1 ov)

Bowling: DW Steyn 4-1-8-0, VD Philander 3-0-10-0, M Morkel 3-3-0-1, DL Piedt 3-0-10-0

Kumar Sangakkara is once again the No. 1 Test batsman in the world, following his double-century in Galle. His 221 helped Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the first Test.

Sangakkara overhauled AB de Villiers and returned to the top of the rankings for the first time since November 2012. He has now spent a total of 81 Tests and 671 days as the top-ranked Test batsman.

Sri Lanka’s captain, Angelo Mathews, has also moved up the rankings following his 91 and dashing 25 not out which won the Galle Test. Mathews, who has enjoyed an excellent run of form in Test cricket, has moved up to No. 5 - the highest ranking of his career.

But the Galle victory was

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over a suspected illegal bowling action. The 36-year-old raised concerns of match officials during the seven-wicket first Test de-

feat by Sri Lanka. He is required to undergo testing within 21 days and is permitted to bowl in international cricket until the results are known.

Ajmal has taken 174 wickets in 34 Tests at an average of 27.79. He is the

set up by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath who ran through Pakistan on the final day with 6 for 48. The performance pushed him up to No. 6 in the Test bowling rankings. England’s bowlers have also crept up the rankings following their hammering of India at Old Trafford. James Anderson’s five wickets moves him to No. 5 and Stuart Broad’s Man of the Match 6 for 25 in the first innings propels him back into the top 10 at No. 9. Broad is also back ahead of Mitchell Johnson in the allrounder rankings, which are now topped by India’s R Ashwin, who replaced Vernon Philander after scoring 40odd in both innings at Old Trafford.

leading wicket-taker in the County Championship this summer, having taken 63 wickets in nine matches for Worcestershire before joining up with Pakistan last month.

In February 2012, the Pakistan Cricket Board was forced to clarify Ajmal’s claims that he had been given special dispensation to straighten his arm 23.5 degrees in his bowling actionmore than the ICC’s 15-degree limit.

After he took 24 wickets as Pakistan whitewashed England 3-0 in a Test series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Ajmal said he was allowed more leeway because an accident left his arm with a resting position of an 8.5-degree bend. At the time, thenICC general manager Dave Richardson, now the chief executive, said that Ajmal’s action had “not been cleared for life”. The second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Colombo begins on Thursday.

Debutant offspinner John Nyumbu took 5 for 157 to limit South Africa's first-innings lead to 141 in Harare © AFP

Kumar Sangakkara

Klose has scored the most World Cup goals in history

tuesday, august 12, 2014

Treacle digs deep for fifth win this year

– champion horse pulls off thrilling victory at Rising Sun Turf Club

It may not have been the biggest horse race meet in Guyana but the feature event will be on the lips of many horse racing fans for years to come.

On Sunday, Treacle- classified as a D3 class horse and of Mahendra Dookie stablegave everything to emerge winner in the feature race at the Rising Sun Turf Club one day meet.

In the feature D and lower 1400 metres race, the Fazal Habibulla trained animal being ridden by Rad Dreapul sent Church House back to Sunday school after pulling off a trilling victory.

Both animals were out of the starting gates in an even break with Church House setting the early gallop and the rest of the field in close order. Settle in Seattle, which had been out of racing

of the pace setter and the horses were neck-and-neck with five furlongs to go.

And then the theatrics started to unfold.

Settle In Seattle went clear, her lead building with every powerful stride and then it happened. With one breathtaking surge over the final two furlongs, Treacle with Jack In My Style and Run Na Na Run on her hip seemingly never tired, displayed her superb sprinting speed and drew off on the home straight to claim the $1M first prize just ahead of Jack In My Style.

Run Na Na Run, owned by the Simply Royal Stable, was guided by Randolph Richmond to a hard fought third place finish, six lengths back while Shariff Stable’s Settle In Seattle finished fourth after tiring on the

first prize of $400,000. Bring up the rear were Miss Doubt Fire and Cat Messiah. The Two-Year Old Open Guyana and West Indies Bred animals, was won by Settling Star of the Shariff Stable with Paul Delph as jockey. The win was worth $400,000. Other winners were Keep On Swing, Midnight Blue and Goldikova in that order.

Royal Cash of the Mohabir stable took the J and Lower event and $200,000. In second place was Smarty Light ahead of Famous Pride and De Gump.

Battle Hymn of the Sooklall Stable won the G and Lower event to pocket $400,000. In the second position was Marathon Man followed by Red Cloud and Caisse.

Mary Ann took the I and

for some time, soon took the lead. Down the back stretch all guns were firing as Treacle came up to challenge Settle in Seattle for the lead.

Pre-race favourite Church House then re-took the lead and set a blistering pace, while Settle In Seattle lurked and jockey Drepaul waited for the right moment to go. Around the first turn, Drepaul angled the champion race horse to the outside

stretch.

It was Treacle of the Dookhie Stables fifth feature race win of the year.

In the J3 and Lower race, Smarty Light claimed the $150,000 purse with Dance For Gold, Royal Stallion and Sunny Silence finishing in that order.

Campadoor ran in ahead of She’s So Special to claim the Three-Year old Guyana and West Indies Bred horses’

Lower $260,000 first prize with Easy To Win not representing its name after having to settle for second place ahead of Famous Pride and I’ll Get Another. The champion jockey was Paul Delph.

Meanwhile, Jockey Colin Ross is now a patient at the Fort Wellington Hospital after falling when he tried to negotiate a turn during one of the races.

Yasmin Shariff of the Shariff Stable collects the 2-yr-old trophy from Ishan Bacchus Jr for Settling Star’s win

What a finish as Treacle, on the outside, gets her fifth win this year!

GCB congratulates Lloyd on WICB appointment

The members and executive of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) have extended congratulations to Clive Lloyd on his recent high profile appointment as the Convenor of the West Indies Selection Panel.

The GCB, in a press release, said it strongly feels Lloyd’s appointment is highly justified since he possesses all the requisite credentials necessary for the execution of this mandate from the Directors of the WICB.

It further said West Indies cricket is poised for very exciting times with several new initiatives now being implemented by the Board. The most important of which, the GCB continued, are the new Franchise system for First Class cricket within the Territorial Boards and the extension of the season to 6 months with double rounds of cricket both home and away.

Clive was directly instrumental in elevating the level of our cricket in the decades during the late 70s, 80s and 90s by developing and moulding an unbeatable unit that ruled the world of cricket during that golden era. Prior to that era, the WI team had experienced rather mixed fortunes and was literally in the doldrums for some time after being obliterated by the Aussies in the 1976/77 series. “It may very well be coinciden-

tal that this appointment by the WICB comes at an opportune time in our resurgence where Clive has been charged with building and moulding another successful unit from the abundance of rich human resources that our region possesses.”

“We would like to take this opportunity to also congratulate the remaining members of the selection committee, namely, Courtney Walsh, Courtney Browne and Eldine Baptiste. These are a group of former players that all experienced a slice of that golden era period and are now strategically positioned to influence and instill that pride and justification into our players so that they can once again make the West Indies cricketing public proud,” the GCB stated.

Shiv, Roach lose ground in ICC rankings

Veteran West Indies left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul has slipped one place in the International Cricket Council Test batting rankings. Chanderpaul, who turns 40 next Saturday, is now sixth but remains the highest ranked West Indies batsman and the only one in the top 20.

Left-handed strokemaker Darren Bravo lies 22nd while opener Chris Gayle, who recently played his 100th Test, is 27th.

Chanderpaul has the chance to improve his ranking when West Indies square off with Bangladesh in a two-Test series in the Caribbean starting next month. He has already played 156 Tests and scored 11 414 runs with 29 centuries.

The batting rankings are headed by Sri Lanka left-hander Kumar Sangakkara who has regained the number-one spot following his double century in the first Test

OSCL President’s Cup…

East Division make it four straight wins

East Division made it four years in a row when they emerged winners of the President’s Cup in the annual 20-over softball game, played as part of the annual Family Day, staged by the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) at the Ashtonbee ground in Scarborough last Saturday.

Watched by a fair-sized crowd, which included several children of executives, members and players of the OSCL, East Division made light work of their West Division counterparts, defeating their opponents by five wickets.

East Division’s victory

shoulder injury which required surgery.

against Pakistan last week.

South African AB de Villiers, the previously top-ranked batsman, has

He burst back onto the scene with a 15-wicket haul against New Zealand in the Black Caps’ three-Test tour of the Caribbean earlier this

Chanderpaul

fallen to second. Meanwhile, fast bowler Kemar Roach – the highest ranked West Indies bowler – has also slipped one place to 11th in the bowling rankings. The right-armer recently made a comeback to international cricket after being ruled out by a

year. Like Chanderpaul, he will have the chance to improve his standing when he suits up against Bangladesh.

South Africa speedster Dale Steyn continues at the top of the bowling rankings. (CMC)

was engineered by a superb unbeaten even half-century from veteran Jai Singh, whose knock was decorated by four massive sixes and two fours as his side reached 92-5 in 17 overs after dismissing West Division for 88 in 17.2 overs. Sukhdeo supported with 14, while there were two wickets each for Frank Parsram and Richard Suknandan.

Earlier, West Division could only muster 88 after taking first strike with only Morrison Edwards (20) providing any impetus to the innings.

For East, Ashok Ramjas took three wickets for five runs, Kevin Boodram 2-15

and Anand Balwant 2-5.

Jai Singh and Edwards were awarded prizes for being the Most Valuable Players for the East and West respectively.

Treasurer of the OSCL, Vish Jadunauth, was once again the successful manager and was full of praise for the performance of his charges.

OSCL president Albert Ramcharran and Vicepresident Terry Mathura were also among the executives who witnessed the day’s proceedings, which also featured the 10/10 final between Dant and Rems.

Popular proprietor of Trophy Stall (Guyana),

Ramesh Sunich, was also in attendance and has pledged his assistance to the OSCL in the upcoming season. He also handed over the winner’s trophy.

Fly Jamaica Airlines also played a big role in sponsoring t-shirts for the players and children, who participated in the day’s programme, while Twilite and Starlite provided the same for the executives of the OSCL.

Not to be outdone was Norman Sue Bakery, who through Treasurer Kim Sue, was responsible for the preparation of the tasty snacks.

Police Sports Club confident ahead of Boyce/Jefford Classic

By TreisTon Joseph

The most anticipated track and field meet in Guyana- the Boyce/ Jefford Track and Field Classic- is a week away and the Police Sports Club is confident of “arresting” the title when the event is held on August 16 and 17 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden.

The two day event will see some of Guyana’s top athletes representing various clubs matching strides with each other for the top prize of $600,000.

Coach of the Police Club, Mark Scott, related the feeling of his athletes heading into the event that is set for a 12:00h start on Saturday.

“Well they are very confident that they can go out there, get the job done and reclaim the title that we lost last year,” Scott told Guyana Times Sport.

So serious is the focus of the club, Scott revealed how extensive preparation for the lucrative meet has been.

“We have been preparing for this meet since before the Police Championships and everybody is looking in tip top shape for the event and I believe the athletes are ready to perform come Saturday,” Scott told this publication.

Boasting some of Guyana’s top athletes in Olympian Winston George, Alita Moore, Julio Caesar,

Shawn Semple, Natasha Alder and Kevin Bayley, Scott was quick to note that while these athletes might be at the top of their game, there might just be a few surprises.

“We have really good athletes that will perform but we have some surprises like Tevin Garraway, Jonella Jonas and Leota Bobb, they are looking really good,” Scott mentioned.

However, the top coach noted the course of preparation for his team in the final week before the high profile meet in Linden.

“We are toning down right now, this week is to mainly look at our relays and baton passes… we are toning down and raring to go,” Scott stated.

Police have won two out of the last four editions of the track and field classic and will be looking to add yet another title to their name when the fifth edition of the event rolls off this weekend in Linden.

Shivnarine

Clive Lloyd

Ramesh Sunich (left) of Trophy Stall (Guyana) hands over the winning trophy to the East Division winning skipper, Anand Goordial, in the presence of executives, members and players of the OSCL

Mark Scott

Stag Beer /EBFA Division One

League…

Grove edge Timehri in tough clash

– Agricola beat Diamond

ome team Grove

HHi Tech further strengthened their push for championship honours in the Stag Beer sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Division One League with a heart throbbing come from behind 3-2 win over Timehri Panthers with one player less on Sunday afternoon.

The very physical encounter, which saw Referee Wilton Bobb having to pull out all the stops to maintain control and keep the players focused, was decided in the final 25 minutes following a 0-0 first half.

Even before any goal was scored, Grove, current points leaders, found themselves on the back foot when Delroy Dodson was booked for the second time in the game and had to leave the playing area in the 66th minute.

At this juncture, the boys

from Timehri, who were holding their own and playing on an even keel with Grove, fancied their chances of pulling off a win to reverse what transpired in the first round when they lost 3-0.

Timehri backed up that belief when they broke the deadlock in the 68th minute when Collis Messiah’s well placed shot to the right of custodian Michael Matthews found the back of the nets.

Many of the Timehri fans were fancying their team’s chances of a win, but even as the Grove supporters went silent, the boys from Grove had other ideas. They (Grove) were awarded a free kick from about 25 meters out, defender Clive Matthews Jr stepped up to take the shot.

One of the Timehri supporters shouted out, “He can’t bend it like Beckham”, but that is exactly what

Youth Olympic team to depart today

All systems are a go for team Guyana to participate at the Youth Olympics set to begin from August 16 in Nanjing, China.

The four member squad is scheduled to fly out today and is expected to depart the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) head office in Kingston from 10:30hrs.

Speaking with Chef de Mission of the team, Dr

Karen Pilgrim, she related that the team is ready to compete at the event.

“Hannibal (Gaskin) is not too well but he doesn’t have to swim right away which should give him some days to recover, Chelsea (Edghill) I think is in good shape because she has been competing and she still has not returned to Guyana.

“It might be a bit difficult for Yaw because he is going without a coach and I don’t know how good he is at working alone but I might just have to get a coach to watch him, but I think the team is ready and all systems are in place,” Pilgrim assured.

The four-man squad is made up of Olympic swimmer Britany Van Lange, swimmer Hannibal Gaskin, Carifta 400 metres bronze medalist Jason Yaw and Guyana’s top racquet wielder Chelsea Edghill. (Treiston Joseph)

Matthews did as his curling shot from right to left, eluded the hands of 17-year-old goalkeeper, Clitus Johnson who otherwise, had an excellent game.

Grove equalized in the 70th minute much to the delight of their fans. Johnson, brought off some acrobatic

saves as the rampant Grove forward line led by Captain Domini Garnett never relented even though they were a player less.

Grove took the lead in the 79th minute when Garnett netted the first of his double as he took matters into his own hands. The solid and

cool tempered Garnett led the challenge for his side, admirably.

But the action wasn’t yet over, Timehri equalised in the 81st minute through Hilton Baptiste to bring back balance to proceedings, but the home team wasn’t satisfied with sharing points. Captain Garnett, who had the Timehri defenders focused on him, once again outfoxed them with six minutes to full time, blasting in the winning goal in the 84th minute.

The day’s opening game produced a 2-1 win for Agricola Red Triangle over Diamond United, when the two sides met in the first round, the game ended in a draw.

Agricola took the lead in the 4th minute through Gordon Grant but Diamond balanced the scale in the 28th minute, Tshawan Blackman the player on target. The outcome of the encounter was settled one minute to half time when Agricola’s Kacy John rocked the back of the nets. Competition will continue on Sunday at the same venue.

Seven Seas 11-race cycling set for Saturday

Local cyclists will hit the inner circuit of the National Park on Saturday for the 11th annual Seven Seas 11-race cycling programme, sponsored by Geddes Grant (Guyana) Limited.

The day’s activities are being organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, who said a highly competitive day of racing is anticipated.

“This is the second of a set of races we have planned

for consecutive weekends, so we can expect a high level of competition as the riders get in preparation mode for other major events this year,” Mohamed said.

The annual ‘Ride for Life’ Five-Stage is usually held in the second half of the year and that is one of the activities that riders will be aiming to get fully prepared for.

Last year, the Seven Seas featire 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race was won by

Hamzah Eastman of United Bikers Club, but he will be hard pressed to retain the title since most of the top riders are expected to face the starter’s order on Saturday.

Among them will be Alanzo Greaves, Robin Persaud, Marlon Williams and Paul DeNobrega. Eastman clocked one hour, 18 minutes, 55.56 seconds in 2013.

Other defending champions of the various categories are Michael Anthony

Stephano Husbands (Mountain

and Junior Niles (Veterans Under-50).

Geddes Grant is expected to be represented by Karen Cornell, the Product Specialists of Seven Seas and Joint Care, who is slated to witness the races and assist in the presentation of prizes after.

Action will pedal off at 09:00h. (Avenash Ramzan)

(Juveniles),

Bikes)

Action between Grove Hi Tech (gold & black) and Timehri Panthers in the Stag Beer EBFA League, yesterday

A Timehri Panthers defender get his head first to the ball in front of goal to deny Grove Hi Tech a header Hi Tech Captain Domini Garnett (airborne) challenging for the ball in the attacking third

Dr Karen Pilgrim

Flashback! Feature race winner Hamzah Eastman (extreme left) pose with other winners and representative of Geddes Grant, Karen Cornell (fourth left), at the conclusion of the 2013 event

Confident Guyanese aiming for fifth straight win

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Buoyed by four consec-

utive wins and sitting firmly on top the points table, a confident and unbeaten Guyana team will hunt victory number five today against the Windward Islands at the Albion ground in East Berbice.

The Guyanese lead the points table after five rounds after victories over the Leeward Islands, ICC Americas, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica and drawing the bye for round four.

The hosts are on 24.2 points, followed by Jamaica on 21.8 and the Windward Islands on 14.8. Barbados (14.5), Trinidad and Tobago (7.3), Leeward Islands (4.8) and ICC Americas (3.3) complete the points table.

Berbicians are expected in their numbers at the premier venue in the Ancient County to cheer on the youngsters, who are hunt-

ing the elusive ‘double’ after carting off the three-day title a few weeks ago. Once again, the Guyanese will depend on their strong batting line-up to click, while the primarly spin-based attack will look to continue reaping success this season.

West Indies Under-19 openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Shimron Hetmyer have shown

glimpses of their talent throughout the season and would look to give the Guyanese a solid foundation on which to build.

Skipper Brian Sattaur has had a wretched tournament by his standard, but he did show signs of turning the corner with a solid 41his highest score all seasonagainst Jamaica in the last round at the GCC ground,

Limacol CPL 2014...

Bourda, on Sunday.

Kemo Paul has undoubtedly been the star for Guyana throughout the three-day tournament and now 50-over competition, impressing all and sundry with his brilliant strokeplay, subtle variations with the ball and athletic fielding.

He started the 50-over segment with three con-

secutive half-centuries before making seven against Jamaica and would no doubt look to be back among the runs on an Albion track that is expected to favour the batsmen.

Paul will also have a part to play in the bowling department as there are bonus points for fast bowlers taking wickets.

Paul apart, the bowling will hinge around spinners Sharaz Ramcharran, Balchand Baldeo and Steven Sankar, who have done the bulk of the work for Guyana.

The Windward Islands have had a mixed bag with two wins, a defeat and a noresult from four games, but they have been able to capitalise on bonus points (0.8). They are aiming for a third win against a Guyana team that has gelled beautifully and has executed all aspects of their game with a fair degree of consistency.

Action will bowl off at

09:30h and admission to the venue is free.

Guyana squad reads: Brian Sattaur (Captain), Sharaz Ramcharran (Vicecaptain), Balchand Baldeo, Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shimron Hetmyer, Askay Homraj, Keon Morris, Kemo Paul, Steven Sankar, Kemol Sevory, Niall Smith, Daimon Waldron and Akel Wallace.

Windward Islands squad reads: Roland Cato (Captain), Kershaskie Jno Lewis (Vice-captain), Doran Edwards, Melvin Gordon, Kharmal Hamilton, Sherman Hooper, Deron Hypolite, Ryan John, Anson Latchman, Sherman Lewis, Obed McCoy, Craig Phillip, Gidron Pope and Tonis Simon.

The other games on today are ICC Americas against Leeward Islands at the National Stadium and Trinidad and Tobago versus Barbados at Everest.

Shimron Hetmyer

Tagenarine Chanderpaul Kemo Paul

From left: Danny Morrison, Piers Morgan and Darren Gough are confident in the face of the legendary West Indies bowling attack