Limacol CPL injected whopping US$166M into Region
Bandits rob West Dem man, visiting couple
Child severely burnt by rice water
European timber markets officially open to Guyana
US$2.5M in sawn timber heading to UK
Work on Sun and Sand Hotel to begin December
Meten-MeerZorg man dies reportedly after Police beating
BY JOMO PAUL
Alliance For Change Leader (AFC)
Khemraj Ramjattan has refused to budge on his position that the Government should employ the use of an auction in the sale of airwaves instead of its presently used method, whereby licences are granted for a fixed price.
The auction would involve a process in which Government employs an auction system to sell rights or licences to transmit signals over specific bands of the electromagnetic spectrum and to assign spectrum resources.
Developing countries, including the Caribbean, have however not gone the route of public auction.
Depending on the specific auction format used, a spectrum auction can last from a single day to several months from the opening bid to the final winning bid.
Despite the apparent success of spectrum auctions in developed countries, disadvantages in-
clude collusive bidding, in which the information and flexibility in the process of an auction can be used to reduce auction prices by tacit collusion.
When bidder competition is weak and one bidder holds an apparent advantage to win the auction for specific licences, other bidders will often choose not to the bid higher prices, hence reducing the final
revenue generated by the auction.
Ramjattan speaking to Guyana Times on Thursday made it clear that he has no intentions of going back on his word, even when asked about the implications his proposed method may have for those who cannot afford to participate in an auction.
The auction of airwaves can fetch hefty prices, and in the carrying out of an auction, a simple businessman may not have the chance to buy a radio operating licence.
In addition, frequencies for companies such as the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) and Digicel would have to be auctioned, and the cost of cable television, internet, radio broadcast and telephone usage could become prohibitive, with large multi-national companies dominating the market, much to the disadvantage of smaller or local companies.
One observer has noted that if such a method is employed regardless of
a man’s experience in the broadcasting industry, he may not be able to buy a licence given the fact that a person with more resources to spare may outbid him in the process.
Historically, auctions have never been conducted in favour of poorer classes of people, but rather those who had the money and could afford to spend.
Despite this, Ramjattan said he was standing his ground on the issue. He maintained that had the Government auctioned off the licences, more money could have been made by the Government.
Another news report stated that some observers are not particularly fond of this recent stance adopted by the politician. It was noted that developing countries rarely employ the use of auctions for spectrum licences, thereby ensuring affordability on the part of investors, while making room for a more broad-based participation in the communication sector.
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
It has become a norm for Georgetown residents – every time it rains, there is flooding. And the problem keeps repeating itself, year after year. A few days ago, the City’s residents were again confronted with the problem following heavy downpours, and as usual, the blame-game between the key stakeholders continued. And the issue remains unsolved.
While this was happening, persons, many of whom are poor, suffered losses because the lower flat of their homes were flooded, while some were forced to miss work as their personal belongings were affected. Not to mention the extensive cleanup some would have had to do after the water receded.
For some who have been enduring the experience for years, they have grown accustomed to it; others new to the problem are faced with the uphill task of coping with the occurrence, and as the situation now stands, there is no hope on the horizon that their agony will ease anytime soon.
If fact, they should be on guard as the rainy season is upon us, and the rainfall could be more than the amount that was experienced in the past. The problems of City residents are manifold and flooding is just one of their plights.
The indiscriminate disposal of garbage is another major problem, one that is a year-round phenomenon, which compounds the troubles of residents when it rains. Despite anti-littering regulations in place, where persons can face heavy fines ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, the problem continues.
It does not seem to register with some that the indiscriminate disposal of garbage, particularly in drains and canals, contribute to flooding when it rains since it impedes the smooth flow of water. This was again evident during the recent flooding, but quite astonishingly, with all the mess in the City, caused mainly by the illegal dumping of garbage, seldom or hardly, if ever, one hears of litter bugs being charged or fined.
The litter bugs are many and varied, and according to reports, they are mainly street vendors, but yet no one pays serious attention to them. Given that some are illegal vendors, it appears that collusion is involved, with City officials benefiting from kickbacks for allowing this problem to ride.
Aside from the garbage crisis contributing to the flooding, City Hall has been notorious for neglecting to clear key drains and canals, and as such, has always found itself in a compromising situation when it rains. This will not end unless City officials come to grips that from unlike what obtained in the past, today, the fixed rainy season has veered in the direction of an unseasonal weather pattern.
Given the amount of rainfall being experienced today, which exceeds the limit of the old Dutch-constructed drainage and irrigation system, it is important that all vital drainage systems be well maintained at all times. But in all of this, notwithstanding the negligence of City Hall, citizens are not without blame, since it would require a change in culture in the way they do things, more particularly in the way they dispose of refuse.
Undoubtedly, they can become their own agents of change, but the problem confronting City Hall is deeper since even if they fix most of the issues, it would not solve their problem in the not so distant future. The recent amount of rainfall recorded is yet another reminder that climate change is real, and should be noted by urban planners and policy makers as there is need for them to look ahead.
Scaling-up drainage and irrigation and relying on mechanical pumps would not work, and it is not that these investments are not vital now, but at some point in time, efforts should be made on moving the Capital to higher ground.
The problems confronting City Hall are turning out to be more than corruption and power struggles, and more of a deep approaching environment crisis.
Dear Editor,
I refer to a KN article on November 6, under the headlione, “The world is watching Police investigation – APNU”.
That part of the article in relation to “investigation” is reported to have been stated by Joseph Harmon, Attorneyat-Law and General Secretary of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
I hold no belief for the Attorney General. I am not a member of any political party and even through the language used by the Attorney General leaves much to be desired, as a practising Attorney-at-Law I think it is my duty to the public to give my opinion on what is and what is not a “threat” for the purposes of the law.
At Common Law in England which was received in British Guiana (now Guyana), there is no offence of threatening language or threatening behaviour. The use of a threat in England amounts to the offence of “assault” if certain elements are present.
For an assault to be committed in England there must be some act done or words spoken by the person accused. There cannot be an assault by omission in England.
To constitute an assault in England a threat must be issued by the accused to the victim and the victim must apprehend immediate and unlawful personal violence:
It follows, on the assumption that a threat was issued by the Attorney General (an assumption which cannot be validly made), it amounts to a threat that someone may do harm some time in the future and therefore cannot
amount to an assault at Common Law: Stevens -v- Myers (1830) 4 C and P 349. Further, the Attorney General did not say he would do any harm.
Since an assault is any act or words by which a person intentionally causes another to apprehend immediate and unlawful personal violence it cannot be committed on a person if that act or the words are not done or communicated to that other person directly.
Guyana’s Criminal Law does not recognize the offence of “battery”. In England “battery” is an offence. Instead, under Guyana two principal criminal statutes, chapter 8:01 and 8:02, the offence of assault is only committed where there is a physical contact, however slight, by the assailant upon the victim.
In Guyana the equivalent to the English assault is threatening language or threatening behaviour by virtue Section 141 (a) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:02. Threatening behaviour does not arise in Nandlall’s case.
It is obvious that for the offence of threatening language to be committed under sub section (a) there must be proof which would satisfy the ingredients of the offence of assault in England.
In other words the threat must be communicated to the person threatened directly and in his presence and not through a third person, in this case the reporter. It is clear that no threat was issued to Glenn Lall directly.
Additionally, as far as threatening language is concerned, the sub-section creates two distinct offences; firstly threatening language with intent to
provoke someone to commit a breach of the peace and secondly threatening language whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned.
My opinion is there cannot be a “provoking” unless the threat is issued to another in a “face to face” situation, neither can a breach of the peace be occasioned unless the threat is similarly issued. A threat to A through B does not amount to an offence.
In the circumstances, there could be no allegation that an offence was committed by the Attorney General that the police should investigate nor can the Attorney General be questioned by the police since no offence is alleged to have been committed by him.
It is note-worthy that a person “invited” by the police to accompany them to a station is under no obligation to do so.
The Police can take a person to the station only by arresting him. For an arrest to be made, certain conditions, which do not exist in the instant situation, must be present. Otherwise, the arrest would be illegal.
No amount of partisan political aversion can render what is not criminally unlawful a crime, or, more particularly, an ominous warning of a criminal threat.
Those who are interested are referred to R v Zwicker [1938] 1 DLR. 461, Bryan v Robinson [1960] 1 WLR 506 and Kendall v Khan (1979) 26 WLR 433.
Sincerely, Murseline Bacchus
Dear Editor, Mr Granger wants the Police and Army to exercise constraint against peaceful picketers, which is understandable provided they remain peaceful.
Experience however has shown that it is a legitimate expectation for protestors to block roads, loot, burn, assault and sexually molest East Indians, evidenced more recently at Linden and Agricola, and currently playing out at Ferguson.
Now, Lurlene Nestor, a diehard PNC, who made some scathing criticisms against mothers who protested against
CN Sharma for sexual molestation, wants businesses to boycott the PPP/C Administration, or else. This is an implied threat amounting to political blackmail and a prelude of what to expect from protestors.
Businesses should take every precaution, including close circuit security cameras, to record and identify protestors in order to debunk claims of PPP/C infiltration, the usual tripe already indicated by Mr Ramjatan, an active participant in the Agricola protest.
Ms Nestor should ask her comrades to pin those slogans on their rear ends and
gyrate down Regent and Water Streets in keeping with their culture during PNC protests in the days of yore.
And, to add some colour, Ramjatan, Nagamootooo, Freddie, Ram and all those Indians supporting APNU should send their wives and daughters to do shopping downtown when the protestors are in full swing.
Who knows, they may benefit from some of the loot and at the same time be exhilarated through some free fondling.
Yours truly, D Singh
Dear Editor,
I received information from concerned Amerindian elders of the Rupununi that a PNC/APNU supporter (name given) of Aishalton village in South Rupununi is planning to mischievously and unjustifiably use the Amerindian LandTitling issue as a political and elections bargaining chip against the PPP/C Government for the next General Elections.
But it seems that the individual has a wicked agenda since the PPP/C Government’s Amerindian Land-Titling (ALT) project is already in its implementation phase, which is keenly monitored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to information received, the individual is trying to tell some village Toshaos (Chiefs) that they must only vote for the PPP/C Government if large and extensive acres of land, that amount to some 1.4 hectares, is given en bloc to Amerindian villages and vommunities of South and South Central Rupununi.
The Amerindian elders of the Rupununi are demanding clarification on this matter since the individual, who is not a Toshao wants to be a commander over the village residents and their lands, and they are getting frightened.
The elders have also pointed out that they are not in support of this individual’s political agenda for the PNC/APNU, since that party, when in Government prior to 1992 punished, neglected and abandoned the Amerindian peoples of Guyana.
The elders also said that they also will not be recognizing the AFC as well, since that party along with the PNC/APNU voted against the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) in Parliament, and now Amerindian villages and communities cannot receive badly needed funds for their development projects, including their presidential grants to assist community and village development.
The elders also advised that the individual, who is not a village Toshao, had a
meeting in the Karaudanau and Aishalton villages on November 20 and 21, where he fooled residents on the ALT issues which caused one Toshao to walk out from the meeting.
The elders were however angry that another Toshao was entertaining the lies by the individual and they will warn him to desist in the future.
I advised the elders not to accept lies on ALT matters, since the PPP/C Government fully respects and upholds the rights of Indigenous peoples to their lands which are sacred.
The current ALT project implemented by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs will effectively address demarcation and extensions according to the laws of Guyana. So this individual is carrying out a wicked political agenda for the Opposition.
The elders felt deeply relieved and promised to pass the message around to villages and communities as well as to provide me with further updates.
Yours sincerely Peter Persaud
The public should not be made to answer questions about UG’s convocation
Dear Editor,
I noted a letter in SN of November 25 in which Leon Suseran questioned the validity of UG’s 2014 Convocation.
He posed the question thus: “Is it correct that the University’s Act and Statutes state that it is only the Chancellor or ProChancellor’s duty to confer on the graduands at a convocation ceremony their respective diplomas, certificates, associate degrees and degrees?” (sic).
I am not sure that the Editor of a newspaper or the public at large is the authority to whom such a question should be posed.
Mr Suseran could have avoided me the task of writing this letter; the public the doubt about the University’s action; and the graduates any uncertainty about their status, had he in fact read the Act and Statutes of the University or simply called the University to acquaint himself with the facts.
The facts are:
(1) “Subject to these Statutes, the Academic Board shall have the following powers: (c) to award Degrees (other than Honorary Degrees)
Diplomas, Certificates and other distinctions.” (Statute 15(2) (c) University of Guyana Act and Statutes.) (2) “(i) The Principal and Vice-Chancellor shall be the academic and executive head of the University… in the absence of the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor, he shall perform the functions of Chancellor.” (Section 7, University of Guyana (Amendment) Act 1977.)
All for Mr Suseram’s edification and the public’s confidence in the University’s conduct of its business.
Editor, courtesies of the University, you are relieved of the task of researching and answering the question.
Yours sincerely,
Vincent Alexander Registrar University
of Guyana
Dear Editor,
During this long weekend beginning Thursday, Guyanese Americans, like other Americans, are observing the traditional Thanksgiving celebration with family reunions.
They use the occasion for helping the poor and less fortunate and praying for their good fortunes. Guyanese have good reason to give thanks to America which has been welcoming them for over fifty years.
Since their arrival in the US, Guyanese have been successful at not only attaining high levels of achievement in various fields and acquiring their own homes and vehicles, but they are also sharing their earnings with the poorer sections of American society.
This is their way of giving thanks for their success in the US that opened its doors to them during the period of the ethnic dictatorship. And as they do with all other festivals, Guyanese Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving festival in their own way with their own food cuisine and drinks as indeed all ethnic groups do in America.
Thanksgiving Day is a historical celebration in the US going back to the early 1600s since the early settlement of North America by Europeans. It is a national holiday with schools and businesses closed for an extended four day weekend.
The festival grew out of the harvest celebrations of England and is celebrated in the Fall, the end of harvest in the Southern US. The early English immigrants introduced it in the US, giving thanks for the harvest and the blessings of the past year.
Every wave of immigrants, including recent arrivals like Guyanese, has joined in the celebration by adding their own ethnic flavour giving thanks (with charities and prayers) and to the traditional cuisine (baked turkey), music, drinks and entertainment.
Guyanese have good reason to give thanks to
America. They have ‘made it’ in America, living a much higher standard of life here than in the Caribbean with many having their own homes and cars and possessing postsecondary education.
Once they land in the US, they shed the lackadaisical attitude of life in Guyana and quickly become hard working. Many even work at two or more jobs to purchase a home (vehicle, etc) or to send remittances to families back home. They are prized for their work ethic and for their contributions to the state coffers. They contribute a lot more in taxes than in the benefits they receive in America.
Guyanese, like other groups, view Thanksgiving as an occasion for family reunion and big dinners. Relatives normally take turn hosting lunch/dinner over a fourday period from Thursday to Sunday.
The Thanksgiving dinner normally includes the traditional baked or roasted turkey, pumpkin pie, sweet yams, corn, cranberry jelly, and salad (including sugar beets) with wine and other hard liquor.
They normally supplement the meals with their own traditional ethnic dishes including dhal puri, pachounie, phulourie, bara, fried rice, chowmein, and fried channa as snacks and their favorite drinks – mauby and sorrel for the children and lots of good Caribbean rum for the adults.
For desert, there is black cake, pumkin pie, sweet potato pie and Indo-Caribbeans throw in rasmalai, and gulab jamoon, etc. And it is not unusual for them to substitute the turkey with curried duck, chicken, mutton, and goat, etc.
All religious denominations observe Thanksgiving, including Muslims and Hindus. And giving is part of their culture. They donate food to shelters and or host dinners for the unfortunate. Christian churches also host dinners for the poor and homeless.
Although a small community, Guyanese nationals give a lot during Thanksgiving. Many use the Thanksgiving occasion to give generously to the charities of their choice, including the Red Cross and the American Cancer Institute in addition to their local mandir, masjid and church. Others send money to friends and relatives back home.
To give thanks, some bake turkeys and cakes which are donated to homeless shelters. Feeding the homeless has become an annual ritual. Others donate foods at pantries and offer services giving out food to the poor. Their assistance helps to ease social problems such as hunger, poverty and homelessness in the city.
Thanksgiving Day is usually celebrated with the largest parade in the nation on Fifth Avenue. The parade normally features all kinds of magnificent floats and balloons of cartoon characters and a host of Hollywood celebrities and sports stars. It normally attracts a large number of Guyanese. But most people tend to be glued to the television sets which will carry live broadcasts of the parade. By observing the festival, Guyanese are participating in a mainstream American celebration in the same manner that they celebrate their own traditional festivals such as Phagwah, Deepavalli, Eid, Qurbani, Christmas, etc.
They rightly give thanks for the progress they have made in America, the land that has given them the opportunity to realize their dreams. In so doing, they share their skills, talents, wealth and resources in making America a better place to live.
It must be known to the American society that Guyanese are generous in sharing their wealth and giving back to the society to which they owe their success. They are very thankful for being in America.
Sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram
By Michael younge
The Caribbean Community (Caricom)
has to do much more to ensure that its core objectives and principles are achieved and implemented if it is to successfully pave the way for a modern and effectively functioning regional integration movement.
This is the position of renowned diplomat, author, and former Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Shridath Ramphal.
Ramphal, speaking with the Guyana Times on Wednesday evening after the launch of his new book Glimpses of a Global Life explained that the regional integration movement has still not managed to gain "firm footing" to meet the high expectations of its founders.
“Caricom has fallen short of our highest expectations. The community exists and that’s a good thing, but it should have done more by now with regard to regional integration,” he opined.
Questioned further, the Guyana-born Ramphal said there was need now for urgent steps to be taken to address Caricom’s shortcomings. “And we must ensure that it does better and rises to the challenges of the Treaty of Chaguaramas,” he insisted.
Sir Shridath also explained that the regional body, which was established in 1973 to promote integration of key Caribbean countries and territories, was today still facing this essential challenge.
“No one can say the Caribbean is effectively integrated,” he noted during the interview.
He accepted that the face of diplomacy was changing and there was a simultaneous need for the Region to also embrace this wave of change if it was to be seen as a viable and strong movement.
“The face of diplomacy is changing to some degree,
because the Region is facing new possibilities, opportunities, and challenges,” he explained.
Sir Shridath pointed to the new possibilities for development in Guyana and its links with Brazil, Suriname and other South American neighbours, explaining that Caricom must also explore the creation of stronger ties with other Caribbean countries.
Sir Shridath’s new book covers a number of issues ranging from his diplomatic experiences and role in solving several major crises in the Commonwealth to his personal accounts of various historic developments.
Over the years, there has been major concern over the slothfulness and the inability of the Caricom integration movement to implement several key recommendations aimed at furthering its own development.
There have been much talk and less action.
Caricom has also been criticised for being unable to kick start the Single Market and Economy aspect of the regional movement. The regional movement has also failed to adopt specific and unified positions on several global phenomena time and time again.
At the Eighth Heads of Government Conference of CARIFTA held in April 1973 in Georgetown, Guyana, the decision to establish the Caribbean Community was brought into fruition, with the consideration by Heads of Government of the draft legal instruments and with the signing of the agreement by 11 members of CARIFTA (the exception being Antigua and Montserrat).
The Accord provid-
ed for the signature of the Caribbean Community Treaty on July 4 and its coming into effect in August 1973 in the then four independent countries: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Georgetown Accord also provided that the other eight territories –Antigua, British Honduras, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, Montserrat, St Kitts/ Nevis/Anguilla and S. Vincent, which signed the Accord would become full members of the Community by May 1, 1974.
The Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom) was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which was signed by Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago and came into effect on August 1, 1973. Subsequently, the other eight Caribbean territories joined Caricom. The Bahamas became the 13th Member State of the Community on July 4, 1983, but not a member of the Common Market.
In July 1991, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos became Associate Members of Caricom, followed by Anguilla in July 1999. The Cayman Islands became the fourth Associate Member of the regional grouping on May 16, 2002, and Bermuda the fifth Associate Member on July 3, 2003.
Suriname became the 14th Member State of Caricom on July 4, 1995.
Haiti secured provisional membership on July 4, 1998 and on July 3, 2002 was the first French-speaking Caribbean State to become a full member of Caricom.
Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque is slated to address the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association’s 19th Annual Presentation of Awards and Dinner (APAD) this evening in the Princess Hotel’s Ballroom, Providence.
LaRocque is expected to speak about the new growth trajectory he has crafted for Caricom since his appointment in 2012 and amplifying the Region’s unified approach to growing international terrorism, global unrest, epidemic diseases and the additional responsibilities that ostensibly have been placed on Caribbean states by developed countries to reduce the harmful effects of destructive carbon emissions into the world’s atmosphere.
APAD is an initiative by the Association to honour and acknowledge a number of manufacturing enterprises, service providers, and outstanding individuals who have given exceptional service to the GMSA. The ceremony will also extend recognition to host communities.
Some awardees have attained international quality and standards certification while others succeeded in penetrating new export
markets as far away as the Pacific Islands, and have introduced new products and services aimed principally at improving the competencies of small businesses.
APAD is the “high point” of the GMSA’s annual calendar of activities. The Association has been in existence for 51 years. In the past, it has been graced by esteemed personages of the ilk of the former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Basdeo Panday and former Prime Ministers of Barbados, Owen Arthur and the late David Thompson.
Twenty-eight-year-old
Delon Johnson, of Lot 111 Miles, Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), was granted $125,000 bail after being arraigned for robbery under arms on Thursday morning.
The pork-knocker appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before presiding Magistrate Ann McLennan.
It was alleged that on November 25, at 111 Miles, Mahdia, in the Essequibo Magisterial District, being armed with a weapon, that is, a knife; he robbed the Virtual Complainant (VC) Eleazar Javier of the following; one BLU cellular phone worth $7000, seven penny weights of raw gold valued $70,000, and $210,000 cash – totalling a sum of $287,000.
Johnson denied the charge laid against him. He told the court that on the day in question, the Police had arrested six men and he was told by someone (name unknown) that the Police was looking for him. He decided to go to the station voluntarily. When he arrived,
he was told that he was being charged for robbery under arms. He told the Police that he did not rob anyone. He further told the court that he requested that the Police have the VC identify the person who robbed him but they (Police) denied him that request.
The Magistrate asked Police Prosecutor Adonni Innis whether an Identification Parade was carried out to which she responded in the negative. The prosecution then objected to bail on the grounds of the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence. She also noted that the defendant was convicted in 2013 for a similar offence.
The objection was overruled and bail was granted in a sum of $150,000. However, Johnson pleaded with Magistrate McLennan to lower his bail, stating that he is the sole breadwinner of his family. Bearing this in mind, bail was reduced to $125,000. The matter stands adjourned until January 19, where it will be called again at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.
By Jomo Paul
The Alliance For Change (AFC) has confirmed its refusal to be part of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) organised protests in front of the Office of the President on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.
Over the past few weeks, APNU has held a string of protests as the Cabinet Tuesday meetings are in session. Some days the attendance is dismal while on others, there are quite a number of supporters rallying to the call for the President to go.
Notably, the AFC, some of whose executives recently mounted an APNU platform at the Square of the Revolution, has refused to join in these protests, but has taken its protest to its stronghold regions such as Region Five.
When contacted on Thursday evening, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan made it clear that his party will not be getting involved in the APNU protest actions.
“We don’t want to go there,” he told this newspaper.
According to the AFC Leader, the party will continue to protest using other methods that do not require them to be on the streets rallying alongside fellow Opposition party – APNU.
“We have indicated that we will maintain our hardhitting press releases and comments in the press,” he said.
Regional action
However, the minority Opposition party may look to join with APNU in protests in the future, but at this point in time, it will continue protest actions at a regional level.
“At this stage, no; we are not going out there with APNU,” Ramjattan posited, adding that “we are going to the regional fight. We will do it in our areas where we have strength. We will do it where we feel we will have people to protest.”
The party has been protesting in front of the Regional Administrative Complex at Fort Wellington, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice). This protest action was not attended by any APNU supporters even though they were reportedly invited by the AFC or-
ganisers.
The two main political actors within the AFC had boycotted a rally organised by APNU sending a strong message as to the type of “critical support” that it was willing to offer in the lead-up to possible General and Regional Elections.
Instead, the AFC leadership thought it wise to send its Chairman, Nigel Hughes and General Secretary, David Patterson to mount the APNU platform, while the party strongmen, namely, Moses Nagamootoo and Ramjattan absented themselves.
Avisiting United States-based Guyanese couple are now traumatised after being robbed of all their belongings less than an hour following their arrival in Guyana. The West Demerara man who received the couple was also robbed and his car was taken away.
The robbery occurred around 03:00h on Thursday.
According to the Police, 58-year-old Rabindranauth Sukhra went to the airport to receive his brother, Balram Singh, and his wife, Indira, and upon their arrival at his Lot 77 Cogland Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara home, they were attacked and robbed by two men armed with handguns.
Current rice crop will end with more than 630,000 tonnes – export heading for 500,000 tonnes
The Ministry of Agriculture has not yet released its targeted rice production for 2015, but Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, offering an early take said that he does not foresee that the 2015 production will be less than 600,000 tonnes.
Guyana’s rice production, for the first time ever, surpassed 600,000 tonnes, a record that was broken on October 27, with just under 86 percent of the crop harvested.
Minister Ramsammy said that in terms of 2015, the industry is expected to sustain this production, despite the fact that the prices offered for rice and paddy in this second crop were not as high as those offered in the first crop and certainly below those offered in 2013.
“Many people have said that the cultivation will drop off, the indication that we have right now is that we will have the same amount of land under cultivation in the first crop of 2015 which would be somewhere around 95,000 hectares, which is over 200,000 acres, which means that the conditions, that include payment have not discouraged the farmers from going back,” Minister Ramsammy said.
“Given that we are about 5.5 tonnes (yield) per hectares, I would expect that the 600,000 tonnes that we exceeded in 2014 can again be exceeded in 2015,” he said. In fact, the Minister said that Guyana, with the conditions experienced now, without any extra land can in fact reach 800,000 tonnes, more so if agriculture practices continue to be improved. “We have gone from 2 tonnes per hectare in the late 1980s, early 1990s to 5.5 tonnes per hectare, and if we continue those improvements, that will make the difference,” the Minister said.
That the rice sector continues to experience an annual increase, is not only as a re-
sult of more land being put under cultivation, but also because farmers are being exposed to improved farming techniques and have access to better seed varieties. These in turn increase the harvest per hectare.
Minister Ramsammy pointed out that with the new rice variety, the GRDB 14 being introduced in this coming crop, then it is expected that yield would increase even further. “If we have just an increase in yield to 6 tonnes per hectare, it will take us to 800,000 (tonnes), and if we then have some increase in land, you are looking at Guyana being able to reach 1 million tonnes,” the Minister said.
“I am not saying that we should try to get there quickly, because we need to also build our market, but the market potential is available for Guyana. We just need to ensure we supply that,” he said.
Guyana has built an industry based on its boost of having the longest grain rice, but there are markets that also want medium grain rice, hence Minister Ramsammy explained that the country needs to look at what it is growing.
“Investigations revealed that the victims had arrived at their residence in a motor car, PPP 1862, and while at the gate they were held up by the two suspects who relieved them of the motor car, US$8000, two cell phones, their suitcases and other documents,” Police said.
Speaking to the Guyana Times, Sukhra related that his brother and sister-inlaw came to Guyana to do some charity work.
He noted that when they arrived at his house, he opened the car door and was about to exit to open the gate when a white Allion pulled up and two men exited.
“They come up to the car and pull me out and tell me be quiet then put me on the
ground to lie down. Then they do the same to my brother and his wife: they were still in the car. They empty all our pockets and take everything we had before escaping in my car,” he recalled.
Sukhra said that after relieving them of their belongings, one of the armed men jumped into his gold Primo motor car while the other went back to the white car, which was being driven by a third person, and they drove away with both cars.
Sukhra said that he and his relatives immediately summoned the Police who took statements and dispatched patrols; however, there was no word from the law enforcers. The Pouderoyen resident sus-
pected that the perpetrators might have tailed them from the airport; however, he did not notice them because they were driving without lights and it was “drizzling”, so he could not have seen properly behind him.
He noted that while the men were not masked, he could not see their faces because the lighting was poor, but said that they were very young.
At the time of the robbery, Sukhra’s wife was at home but was not aware of the incident until he alerted her after the men escaped. He said of his brother and sister-in-law: “They still in a bit of a shock and now this happen, they may not want to return to Guyana.”
Aprisoner who is currently serving three years imprisonment will be commencing an additional 60 months jail time for committing a similar offence of trafficking narcotics.
Troy Younge appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He made his first appearance on November 13 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Troy Younge
The allegation read that on November 9, at the Georgetown Prison, in the Georgetown Magisterial District, he has in his possession 154 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court heard that on the day in question, at around 11:20h, Police received a call revealing certain information about activities at the Georgetown Prison. It was reported that Younge was found standing at the back of the prison gate.
When the Police arrived, officers noticed the defendant acting in a suspicious manner and conducted a search on his person. While doing so, they found a plastic Fruita bottle in his hands. Inspecting the contents of the bottle, they found what appeared to be a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.
He was taken into Police
custody at the Camp Street Prison where the substance was weighted in his presence and amounted to 154 grams of cannabis. He was told of the offence to which he accepted and was arrested.
Before handing her sentence down, Magistrate Latchman noted her conditions for such a penalty – the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence were cited, the fact that the offence occurred while the defendant was incarcerated and that he is currently serving time for the same offence. Most importantly, the Magistrate noted the need to prohibit others from committing similar offences.
John Broomes was remanded to prison after being arraigned for an intent to commit a felony when he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday afternoon.
The court heard that on November 24, at Phase One, Wismar, Linden, with intent to commit a felony, he allegedly attempted to break and enter and commit the act of larceny in the dwelling home of Christoph Cerry, with the intent to steal therein. The man who is a mason by profession denied the charge but refused to say anything in his defence. Police
Prosecutor Adonni Innis objected to bail citing the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence. She noted that the defendant has no prior or pending matters.
Broomes was remanded until December 2. The matter was transferred to the Linden Magistrate’s Court.
...from ignorance
Henry Jeffrey’s as much a hater of the PPP/C as is Ramjattan and Nagamootoo. And for very much the same reason - their ride on the state gravy train was stymied by folks from that party. Hisssss!!! He’ll hath no fury like fellas whose runnings been cut short! It’s rather instructive to witness Jeffrey’s suave mask of bonhomie morph into the sly, hate-filled anti-PPP/C rants that typifies his Stabber column nowadays.
Even when he wants to slap his Opposition soulmates on the wrist for bumbling, he just can’t bring himself to acknowledge the PPP/C could’ve outthought the suckers. Take this prorogation power that the President used to checkmate the AFC-driven “No-Confidence” vendetta to embarrass the Government. He concedes the point this Eyewitness has made ad nauseum - that Moses Nagamootoo basically pulled the “No-Confidence” gambit from his back pocket.
It was never a well thought out tactic - where all the ramifications were considered and addressed. But this has been standard operating practice for the Opposition in general and Nagamootoo in particular. These fellas get most of their “ideas” in some rum-shop or other - and write them down on paper napkins that’ve stuffed into their back-pockets.
But Jeffrey’s absolutely wrong about the claimed “unawareness” by Government - and even the Opposition - about the latter’s No-Confidence power after November 2011. What the hell did he think Finance Minister Ashni Singh’s “un-chartered waters” comment was all about. The Opposition didn’t even have to bring a formal motion - all they had to do was NOT pass a major Bill (like the Budget for instance) and Government would’ve fallen!!
But the Opposition were scared shitless about going back immediately into another election - and basically caught a tiger by the tail after Nagamootoo’s throwaway comment. The suckers never expected it to be taken up!! Jeffrey shamelessly pulls the “false equivalence” BS and refuses to concede the President always knew about his prorogation power. It’s the Opposition that’s been caught with their pants down (and skirts up) on this one.
And this had nothing to do with all the fancy razzmatazz Jeffrey tries to pull about “globalisation” and faster information flow and feedback. It has everything to do about the wankers being so caught up with their own BS, they never realised that two could play that gameand payback’s a bitch!!
So when the President dared the Opposition to “bring it on!”, why did they think he could only respond by “dissolving” Parliament?? It’s because these wankers can never think outside the box.
And never bothered to actually read the actual twoline Constitutional article with BOTH the “dissolution power” and the “prorogation power”!!
...by Ombudsman
There were so many expectations about this new Ombudsman. Just consider even the name...of Norse origin and invoking images of austere Gods like Thor dispensing justice against the governors on behalf of the poor and the powerless. Heady stuff, eh?? From the beginning of our State system, we’ve been rightfully concerned about the Leviathan acting against the citizenry, who ironically willed it into existence in the first place.
Our new Ombudsman, however, is a former Judge and it appears he’s either forgotten that he can only investigate charges against members of the Government and its bureaucracy or else he’s wilfully (and illegally) extending his jurisdiction without any authority.
For abuses of private offices by other folks, there’s always the courts. In the NBS case that’s roiling the system and the country, the Ombudsman’s office is in danger of being permanently scarred. The Ombudsman not only took on a complaint against a private institution that’s not the Government’s, but one where the complainant’s still actively pursuing in the courts.
There is an old Latin expression, Quis Custodiet, ipsos custodes. It simply asks, in the colloquial “Who will watch the watchmen??” In this case, who will protect us from the Ombudsman??
The 2014 Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) T20 Tournament has injected a whopping US$166 million into the Caribbean, an independent Economic Impact Study has found.
This represents a 58 per cent increase when compared to 2013’s figure. Host country for the finals, St. Kitts and Nevis, reaped significant benefits, raking in a whopping US$26.3 million, but it was Barbados which benefited most with the largest local impact –US$28.7 million.
Jamaica came in third with US$25.1 million followed by Guyana with US$24.5 million, Trinidad and Tobago US$21.1 million, St Lucia US$13.9 million, Antigua and Barbuda US$13.8 million and Grenada US$13.3 million.
According to the independent Economic Impact Study, incremental spend by regional and international fans amounted to a massive US$47.4 million excluding accommodation and airfares. Based on the study, it is estimated that 217,176 regional and international spectators watched LCPL 2014 live while the international television audience
jumped from 36 million in 2013 to 65 million in 2014, with 29 broadcasters from around the world airing the games live, with Television Guyana (TVG) being no exception.
The tournament’s highprofile international broadcast media campaign generated US$4.47 million in advertising value.
It is said that more than 21,500 international visitors (approximately 10 per cent of total spectators) visited the participating countries during the LCPL games, spending US$7.9 million.
The LCPL Tournament since its launch was highly associated with the creation of jobs across the Caribbean, and this year was no different with thousands of new jobs created in the tourism and travel industries. It is estimated that more than 156, 000 jobs were positively impacted.
Reflecting on the data
European timber markets officially open to Guyana
provided, LCPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Damien O’Donohoe said it was a true reflection of the positive impacts that have befallen the Region during the tournament. “These results are fantastic and are a testament to LCPL’s significance as an economic driver in the Region. While we have always said that the Caribbean is without doubt the natural home of T20 cricket, we are very proud to say that LCPL is now a truly international event – appealing to fans and players from around the world– and one that the people of the Caribbean should be very proud of.”
He added, “With next year’s players’ line-ups close to being announced, we are very excited by the prospect of smashing these records in 2015 and further cementing LCPL’s position as the most entertaining and exciting cricket tournament in the
world.”
With an investment of over US$25 million to date, the LCPL is the world’s second biggest T20 cricket tournament – behind the Indian Premier League – and is set to continue growing in 2015 and beyond. LCPL, in partnership with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), continues to invest in the development of the game, providing opportunities for players and fans to access world-class cricket in the Caribbean.
The independent Economic Impact Study was conducted by SMG-Insight/ YouGov. In a quest to garner the requisite information, SMG-Insight/YouGov hosted an online survey at http:cplt20.com where cricket fans had access to an online questionnaire. To incentivise participation in the survey, cricket fans had a chance to win an exclusive signed shirt and 1809 re-
spondents from across the Caribbean took part in the survey. During the survey, 91.5 per cent of the respondents surveyed were “very interested” in cricket while 70.4 per cent said they were “very likely” to revisit the area for leisure in the future based on their experience of LCPL T20.
Approximately 62 per cent of the respondents opined that the tournament was “very important” to the local Caribbean economy. The assessment also found that LCPL T20 has strong appeal to both male (65 per cent) and female (35 per cent) cricket fans where the biggest following amongst those surveyed was between the ages of 25 and 34. Domestic spectators surveyed said they spent on average US$53.25 and international spectators said they spent US$138.45 per day.
US$2.5M in sawn timber heading to
The first shipment of local value-added timber destined for the United Kingdom (UK) is currently being loaded for shipping, signalling Guyana’s entry into the European timber market.
Over one million Board Measure (BM) of processed greenheart worth some US$2.5 million is being exported in this shipment. Five suppliers had to combine in order to achieve the desired quantity and quality in a timely manner.
At the John Fernandes Wharf in Stabroek on Thursday, workers were busily loading the timber off trucks and onto a vessel under the watchful eyes of officials from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).
Speaking to the media during the loading process, Managing Director of the timber buying company, Howard and Aitken Limited (UK), Roderick Aitken emphasised that indeed it should be a great deal for local timber producers, given the quantity of wood being shipped on the first shipment to the UK.
He explained that greenheart timber is primarily used in large engineering projects throughout the UK and Europe, ranging from bridge construction and marine defence projects to oil industry projects.
It was noted that Aitken and Howard’s stated buying policy is for suppliers to do as much downstream processing in-country as possible. This would enable the local suppliers to see higher profit margins while generating more employment in the associated industries.
Aitken emphasised that it was largely due to the
Wood Tracking System (WTS) that they were able to import the timber into the European market. “The WTS gives us and our customers a very high degree of confidence that the lumber is all traceable and the logs have been felled in accordance with the GFC code of practice. It cannot be underestimated how important these traceability schemes are to the end customer and are a part of the requirements to export to Europe.”
ment of timber.
“We can actually tell you where the stump is for every piece of timber we have cut for this market,” Habidullah boasted.
Another exporter lamented that it took his company just over two months to produce its share of the timber. The representative of Sustainable Forestry Inc noted that this shipment signalled an increase in buyers’ confidence in the Guyanese market.
Deputy Commissioner of Forests, Tasreef Khan noted that the shipment was unique in that it is only taking processed, sawn timber to the UK.
Government, in the past, emphasised that these resources must be accessed in keeping with the legal framework, and sustainably harvested in keeping with social and environmental global best practices, adapted to the local situation.
Direct and indirect stakeholders in the Forestry Sector have been provided with extensive training to fully understand the concept and content of the guidelines, and be better equipped to use them.
Also on hand at the loading were two of the suppliers who briefly spoke to the media on what the shipment meant for them as timber producers and exporters.
Justin Habidullah of Parika Saw Mills noted that this shipment has propelled his company onto the international scene. He also made mention of the fact that there was enhanced traceability on this ship-
He noted that in the past there had been shipments of processed timber leaving Guyana, but they would have been mixed with logs.
In Guyana’s National Forest Policy and other relevant policy documents, it is articulated that State Forest resources are part of the patrimony of all Guyanese. The
Over the past decade, the Government of Guyana working collaboratively with Private Sector Groups such as the Forest Products Association (FPA); the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and the Community Forestry Associations (CFAs) have been able to implement several initiatives that have led to a more enabling environment for the manufacture of in-country value-added forest products.
The Tourism Ministry has noted with concern the outpouring of negative reviews in relation to a video production for Guyana Homecoming 2015.
The Ministry in a release said while it remains tolerant and respectful of everyone’s opinion, the recent comments/posts on the Tourism Guyana Facebook page are shocking and point to a troubling trend.
“As a society, not only are we encouraging unpatriotic thinking but we are descending into an abysm of negativity that will have lasting effects,” the Ministry said.
It added: “As a nation, we need to be more responsible in our actions and we need to recognise that negative publicity about Guyana is eroding the strides made in marketing and promoting the country as a premier tourist destination.
“Moreover, we need to open our eyes to the fact that once negative comments and stories are written, we cannot retract then and they are available for the world to see.
“Over the last decade, we have witnessed unprecedented levels of investment (locally and internationally) in the Tourism Sector, we have seen record-breaking arrival figures (Guyana has been leading the 34 Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) member countries in tourist arrivals), more reputable international Airlines are flying to Guyana, more international companies are selling Guyana as a birding destination, more filming and documentary crews are interested in Guyana and Guyana is being featured in publications internationally, more than any other time.”
The Ministry said these are just a few tangible results of an industry under transformation, and renewed thrust and energy is being placed on the promotion, marketing and development of Tourism in Guyana.
The Private Sector continues to work overtime together with Tourism Ministry officials and stakeholders in the industry to help reposition Guyana, and quite recently it had undergone a rebranding of the destination.
Time and energy have been invested into the growth of this fragile sector and
The Tourism Ministry has noted with concern the outpouring of negative reviews in relation to a video production for Guyana Homecoming 2015 try’s positive attributes and strengths are aware of the hurdles that we have overcome to gain our current positioning. Why then try to relegate the country’s image? Are you not Guyanese? Have you no pride in who you are?” the Ministry said.
along the way, the Ministry continues to encourage all Guyanese, irrespective of political affiliation, religion or creed to recognise the role they play as individuals, not only in promoting their country but in Protecting the image of Guyana, as Guyanese citizens and to become better salesmen/women for Guyana.
Ambassador Programme
In recognition of the destination’s potential of becoming a leading sustainable tourism destination, the Ambassador Programme was recently launched.
The programme aims to widen Guyana’s tourism reach through designated ‘celebrities’ so that potential travellers around the world can identify with them and increase travel interest.
Prominent, accomplished, world renowned Guyanese sportsmen/women, singers and media personalities have agreed to be a part of this programme, and have taken on a patriotic role of telling the rest of the world what they believe to be true, that Guyana should be the destination of choice with its diverse tourism product, the Ministry said.
“Again, the perpetrators of these dastardly acts cannot fathom the gravity of this situation and do not understand the irreparable damage they are causing; the very same individuals/groups who are quick to denounce do not offer any solutions to the problems that exist.
“What is more troubling is that these persons/groups who openly condemn efforts to highlight the coun-
A week ago, Barbados Tourism Minister and Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Chairman Richard Sealey delivering the feature address at the Tourism Awards Ceremony, acknowledged that even war torn countries and destinations marred
by civil unrest are promoting their countries at World Travel Market and popular trade shows; though locked in turmoil, their belief in their country’s potential is unwavering and they try, not to hide the facts, but to highlight that their destination is more than just the sum of the exiting problems.
“We have come so far from the days when a potential visitor would Google Guyana and see a story about the tragedy at Jonestown, and yet, there are still those among us who are intent on destroying any opportunity that we have uplift our image as a country; they are intent on hiding behind their diatribe on social media and their biased personal attacks.
“At the Ministry of Tourism, we will continue, with unfailing commitment, to work with the Private Sector, stakeholders and investors, in the interest of national development, to ensure that Guyana’s tourism brand is associated with positive messages, images and attributes that define the destination.
“Let us all remember that we are Guyanese and Ambassadors and it is our role to protect the image of our country; it is not our right to tear it down,” the release concluded.
Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat ain’t know whah dem want
Old people seh when yuh don’t know whah yuh want in life, yuh does end up holdin wood. Now holdin wood can be a good ting or a bad ting dependin on how yuh look at it, who is de person holdin de wood, and who wood gettin hold.
Some young people does end up holdin wood fuh life. That is because, just like old people seh, dem never know whah dem want in life. One time is one ting and another time is another ting. By de time dem could ketch dem selves, dem done end up holdin wood fuh life.
Lalloo end up holdin wood late in he life, but he holdin on strong fuh de rest of years whah he got. It look like Bencock holdin fuh all he life. Well, man kisser been holdin in he past life, he holdin now, and he gon fetch wood fuh hold even in he grave.
De Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat find dem selves in a serious wood situation these days. First of all, neither of dem look like dem know whah dem want. Or it could also be that dem know whah dem want, but dem ain’t comin out and sayin whah it is dem really want.
So one time dem wid Green Jah, and next minute dem not wid Green Jah. One minute dem gon support de protest, next minute, dem invisible when Green Jah start up any ting
That is some ting like whah happen to Khurshi* de other day. One time he friken some body and another time he ain’t friken. One time he want de Pullice to protect he, and next time he ain’t want de Pullice to do any ting.
Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! At de end, he end up wastin every body time, so de Pullice should move he office a few blocks down de road pun Camp Street. That way he gon surely end up holdin wood.
With approximately 200, 000 children in the public education system already reaping the benefits of the “Because We Care” $10, 000 cash grant, the Government of Guyana through the Education Ministry is wrapping up distributions in outlying communities.
In an interview with Guyana Times on Thursday, Education Minister Priya Manickchand confirmed that the distribution process is still ongoing, but to a lesser extent.
Though there will be no extension for those parents who would have missed the distribution, a high percentage of the target group would have benefited.
According to Education Minister Priya Manickchand, the Ministry is in the pro-
cess of tallying the data on the number of students who would have benefited per region.
In Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), preliminary data shows that more than 11, 000 children would have received their $10,000 voucher, amounting to a whopping $110 million.
The vouchers were distributed to eligible parents at 12 locations within Linden, including the Bamia Primary, Mackenzie Primary, Amelia’s Ward Primary, Coomacka Primary, Linden Foundation Secondary, Bay Rock Community Centre, New Silvercity Secondary, Harmony Secondary and Wismar Hill Secondary Schools.
Some 7,671 children across the East Coast and the East Bank of Demerara would have cashed-in on this
new initiative. Parents have until November 30 to cash their vouchers at any Western Union or Bill Express location.
The distribution process commenced on October 11, targeting 188,406 families of students of the public nursery, primary and secondary schools.
But before that process commenced, the Government engaged in widespread consultation on this new initiative in keeping with Article 13 of the Constitution of Guyana, which speaks to inclusionary democracy. Approximately, 55 public consultations were held across Guyana.
The announcement of the $10, 000 Education Cash Grant was made by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh during the delivery of the 2014 Budget. Initially, $2 billion was set aside by the
Government to facilitate this initiative.
Minister Singh had said that the grant can be used to meet such costs as transportation and will provide added impetus to raising enrolment and attendance rates, in addition to having the effect of increasing the disposable incomes of the parents of schoolaged children.
It will complement the National School Feeding Programme and the National Uniform Programme which have contributed significantly to the students’ attendance rates increasing.
According to Dr Singh, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government will continue to invest in the Education Sector as it seeks to achieve universal access to education and simultaneously raise both the quality of delivery and attainment rates.
Govt says it has done a lot
Aminer last Wednesday approached acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali while he was in Bartica, complaining that small local miners are being squeezed out of operation by large foreign companies.
Judith David Blair, a former Peoples’ National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament (MP) told the Minister that all is not well in the town.
Blair told Guyana Times that she has been a miner for 10 years but yet is unable to own her own land to mine and with the gold price crisis, things are not looking good for the mining community.
She said Barticians are fed up of persons talking of the town as if it is thriving when it is not. The miner reiterated that Bartica has problems, huge problems and these need to be addressed.
The former Parliamentarian, using the community of Issano as an example, said persons there have been working in the area for decades, then a foreign company moves into the area and the people have to move out, with their shops and businesses.
“People’s livelihoods are being taken away,” she said.
Judith said she is unable to get land to mine, contending that small miners in Bartica are being ignored for big mining companies.
She said small miners usually have to mine land owned by others. This, she said, is a problem as these landlords charge huge prices for the use of their land for mining.
The woman stated that she was told she needed to pay six oz of gold “just to go on the land”.
Blair wonders if such mining outfits or land owners have to even pay taxes for
what they have been charging small miners as “we’re being raped and ripped off by these landlords… we need land to work.”
In addition, Judith told the media that the big names in the mining town do not give quality lands to mine.
She said mining does not seem to be for small miners anymore, remarking that the politicians need to tell the people if that is the case.
She emphasised that politicians need to be truthful and tell the miners what is happening so they can be prepared, so they can survive through other means.
Should go in the field
Blair challenged Parliamentarians to get off their seats and go into the backdam with the miners and see what they go though and how they live.
In this way, they will make decisions that will not affect small miners, she said.
Blair, while acknowledging that moves have been made by the various Government Ministries to ensure young people are trained in the technical field, she was not certain where they would be getting jobs.
“Would we flood the market with excavator operators?” she asked.
Jobs are not available in Bartica, Blair explained.
“We have a dark cloud hanging over us and nothing is being done.” She said last week alone, she had to turn away four operators who were looking for jobs.
Several residents have cried out about the situation including taxi drivers, who say they hardly get jobs.
Judith is calling on the Government to look into these problems, but moreso the plights of small miners. In light of low gold prices on the global market and the re-
sulting impact on the mining sector, the Government of Guyana (GoG) through the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commissions (GGMC) have implemented measures with the aim of ensuring Guyana’s mining sector remains viable.
“Specific interventions were made to support the sector, ensure its survival and continued growth and contribution to national development,” a release from the GGMC had stated.
The gold mining sector has proven to develop Guyana’s economy and improve the economic well-being of citizens of Guyana.
Waivers
First of all, for small and medium-scale operations, All Terrain Vehicles (ATV), excavators, bulldozers and other machinery used in the mining sector will benefit from duty-free access. The waivers are available for new entrants and for current miners based on production levels, the GGMC said.
Additionally, double-cab pickup trucks will be granted waivers based on the production levels of miners. Three categories were established: Declarants with 5000 ounces and more annually, declarants between 2000 and 4999 ounces annually and declarants between 500 and 1999 annually.
The GGMC said 19 suppliers of mining equipment and spares will also receive tax waivers on the importation of equipment.
“This will reduce the cost of spares and critical suppliers for miners and in addition to the items that are currently imported duty-free, such as pumps, flexes and matting…” the GGMC said.
Considering that fuel is
Passengers on the Essequibo Coast who utilised the vessel Sabanto on Wednesday night have criticised the captain and crew members for not conducting routine checks before commencing operation.
Some 200 of them were stranded for almost two hours at the Supenaam Stelling after the door of the vessel experienced some problem opening.
The delay drove frustration and fear into many as only recently, the vessel ran aground on an Island close to Wakenaam after the captain lost control of it.
The passengers were a bit apprehensive since the repairing of the door took
some time to fix.
The vessel departed Parika, Region Three (Essequibo Island-West Demerara) around 19:00 hours and reached its destination, the Supenaam Stelling, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) about 21:30h.
According to one passenger, the journey was very calm but “eye brows” were raised after passengers were informed that the door of the vessel at the main entrance was not opening.
The captain and crew members desperately tried to fix the door, but unfortunately, their efforts proved futile.
The captain was forced to turn the vessel around so
that passengers can come off from the back.
Some passengers who did not have patience jumped through the windows and got to the stelling through a narrow bridge.
The vessel had some 25 vehicles onboard when the incident occurred.
“We had a ruff night, I had a taxi waiting for me, I had to pay extra, the rain was pouring heavily, that was a great inconvenience,” one passenger Mickey Singh said.
Passengers finally disembarked the vessel at 23:00 hours. They are calling on the Transport Ministry to investigate the incident to avoid a future recurrence.
a major input in the mining process and is extremely costly, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Mining Association (GGDMA) requested fuel importation licences which would lead to the reduction of the cost of fuel for miners. The licence was granted to the Association under its name GGDMA Trading Inc.
“Miners also have a concession on fuel where it only attracts 10 per cent CIF (cost, insurance and freight) excise tax. They also have access to 10 per cent of their gold sales available in US dollars to assist in retooling, capital acquisition and diversification of investments,” the GGMC said.
In addition, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) proposed to the GGMC and the Natural Resources Ministry the reduction of rental paid on mining properties and lowering royalty payments from the current five per cent.
The Association agreed to submit a proposal recommending the rates for royalty and rental payments which will be review by the Ministry and the Commission.
An 18 month-old-child from Walton Hall Village, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was on Thursday rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital after suffering se-
vere burns about the body.
The toddler, whose name was given as Avishkar, but is also known as “Alex”, reportedly pulled down a bucket with the hot rice “mar” (rice water).
Reports reaching Guyana Times suggested that the child was alone and playing unsupervised when he saw a bucket and pulled it down. He was severely burnt about the body, including the belly, feet and hands.
The child was said to be wearing pampers at the time and that saved him from further burns. The child was discovered by his parents and was taken to Suddie Public Hospital but was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Goodman’s family hoping for DNA results before year-end
Carol Greene, the mother of missing teacher Nyozi Goodman, is desperately hoping to receive the DNA results from the Police to confirm whether the corpse at Lyken’s Funeral Home is her daughter’s.
She is hoping that the results will be disclosed before year-end.
“As it is right now, I am just hoping and praying that one good day they would call and say Miss Greene, I have the results,” the sorrowful mother told Guyana Times
She said she stopped contacting the Police a while ago because prior efforts were futile. Greene explained she has the contact number for the Policeman in charge of the investigation and would constantly call him, but the calls always went unanswered. She also stated that she has him on Whatsapp but he never replies to her messages.
Referring to herself as “a mere citizen of this country”, she said there is no point in being aggressive as it will still not help the situation.
She said she interacted with the Police when they finally called to inform her that the prime suspect in the investigation is dead.
Upon reception of the tragic news, Greene noted she lost hope because now they can never hear the suspect’s perspective.
“The man is dead. Whatever he knows is dead with him. A dead man tells no tales.”
Royston Waldron, the
main suspect in the disappearance of Goodman, was recently shot and killed at Alexander and Pike Streets, Kitty, during a shootout with the Police.
Furthermore, she noted that during the conversation with the official, he told her he ignored her calls because he did not want to disturb her.
Seeking closure
Greene stated that St Stanislaus College, the high school where the Goodman was employed, desperately yearns to host a memorial service for her as students and colleagues need closure.
The weeping mother also expressed her family’s need for closure. She said they cannot get the body from the funeral home unless the results are confirmed. She also stressed that nothing else can be done as it relates to banking, because a death certificate is needed.
Even though the family longs to have a memorial service for Goodman, they remain adamant that they need the results before they do so.
Goodman’s sister, Niketa Greene said from all indications, she is slowly losing hope in the Police.
Family members remain confused as to why the results could not be easily faxed or emailed.
The 36-year-old Goodman was last seen on July 6 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, sending off with another teacher her school’s basketball team which she had accompanied to the National Schools Basketball Championships.
On July 24, a female body suspected to be that of the missing teacher, of William Street, Kitty, was found in an advanced decomposed state.
As a result, local Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh had to be taken to the scene to perform the post-mortem examination, but after more than 30 minutes of examining the remains, he declared that the cause of death was inconclusive. However, he reportedly found signs that the woman might have been stabbed. Owing to the state of the body, relatives could not positively identify the body as Goodman’s; hence, DNA samples were taken.
One of Goodman’s brothers had told reporters that there was no flesh on the body and the only way the woman could be identified was by a bad tooth in her mouth.
(MACORP) on Wednesday expanded its operations by formally opening shop in Bartica.
The store will be of great benefit to contractors, farmers and a number of businesses, bringing the company closer to its goal of being the sole supplier of machinery equipment.
MACORP’s General Manager Jorge Medina told reporters that the company has made a wise move in establishing roots in Bartica as the economy is growing and the demand for their products is great and continues to grow.
He informed that the demand was great in Bartica and customers have complained of being unable to get the parts they needed for their machines.
Medina said the new branch has taken the company a bit closer to their goal of being the leading supplier of machinery in Guyana, adding that “sustainability” is the way to accomplishing such a goal.
MACORP has been providing the people of Bartica with top of the line equipment for the last 10 years.
Product Support Manager Guillermo Escarraga explained that
the company does not only supply machinery to its customers, but also offer technical support to customers.
He noted that customers need advice on the right machinery for their businesses, but many of them are una-
ware of how these machines operate or can be used advantageously.
Escarraga stated that these services are necessary for the survival of mining businesses, and the success of the customer is the success of the company.
“Our customers are hardworking people that undertake a mission to be successful in their various endeavours, so MACORP’s only wish is to help with this.”
Parts and Production Manager Asif Sahid said the new branch will contribute to the economic boom in Bartica, noting that three persons are stationed there.
They are expected to train a number of Barticians who have recently graduated or have passed through the Labour Ministry’s train-
ing programme.
Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali had boldly proclaimed Guyana a country that is unquestionably moving forward, this being indicative in the number of investors that continue to show interest in Guyana’s market and steadily growing economy.
Minister Ali was in attendance when the technical equipment provider, Machinery Corporation (MACORP) officially opened an all new branch within the bustling town of Bartica.
The Minister was elated with MACORP’s decision, stating that Guyana is “a country that is on the move” when it comes to development, opportunities, jobs and growth.
The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Thursday met with representatives of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) where they discuss the prorogation of Parliament, among other issues.
The meeting was held at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, and provided APNU representatives the opportunity to brief the CCWU on the “current constitutional crisis brought about by the Proclamation of Prorogation of the Parliament of Guyana by President Donald Ramotar,” a release said.
The CCWU representatives took the opportunity to brief the Opposition Leader and his team on critical challenges affecting labour in Guyana. The main focus of the discussion centred on matters pertaining
to the Prorogation of Parliament, the No-Confidence Motion and Local Governance.
“APNU iterated its position that there would be no negotiations with the Peoples Progressive
Party/Civic administration unless the Presidential Proclamation of Prorogation is reversed and Parliament reconvened,” the release said.
The CCWU team was led by President Sherwood Clarke, and included General Secretary Ann Anderson, Treasurer Dexter Jones and several Executive members. APNU team was led by Opposition Leader (retired) Brigadier David Granger and included APNU Deputy Chairman, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, Shadow Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon, Shadow Local and Regional Development Minister Ronald Bulkan and APNU Director of Communications Mark Archer.
There were tense moments at Jamaica House Wednesday as Minister with responsibility for Information, Sandrea Falconer, defended the decision taken by Cabinet regarding the embattled board of the National Housing Trust (NHT).
It appeared that the Minister came prepared to answer questions on Government’s islandwide clean-up efforts in relation to the Chikungunya virus, but journalists would not have it, as the first question to the Minister concerned the ongoing Outameni controversy.
The Jamaica House post-Cabinet press briefing teetered on the brink of a
firestorm as a television reporter insisted on getting answers from the Minister over what he said were conflicting reports from the Prime Minister and Chairman of
the NHT board over the J$180-million purchase of the property which houses the Outameni Experience attraction.
The Minister insist-
Thirteen inmates have died after breaking into a Venezuelan jail's infirmary and ingesting medical products including pure alcohol and antibiotics, the Government said on Thursday, in the latest outbreak of unrest in the country's turbulent prisons.
A total of 145 prisoners were intoxicated during a revolt in the David Viloria
penitentiary centre in the western state of Lara on Monday, the Government said in a statement.
Inmates had launched a hunger strike to demand the dismissal of an official, and the protest quickly spiralled.
"Around 8:30 am, they became violent and started to break the walls and the doors of the confined areas, so the National Guard was
called in for support," the statement said.
Hours later, "some prisoners were in a state of overdose after violently entering the infirmary area, robbing the pharmacy ... and ingesting, without prescriptions, multiple pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics, antihypertensives, aspirin, absolute alcohol, among other things." (Excerpt from Reuters)
ed, however, that she could only speak on behalf of the Cabinet.
But when the reporter, intent on probing for more answers, sought to continue his line of questioning, as he said this was the first chance the press has had to ask the Government about the contentious national issue, the microphone was abruptly taken away from him mid sentence by Director of Communications and Public Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister, Huntley Medley.
This did not sit well with other members of the media, who reminded the Information Minister that it is National Journalism Week. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
The British Royal Navy says it has dealt a blow to smugglers after seizing more than 850 kilograms of cocaine in a high-speed chase across the Caribbean.
The Royal Navy said it was the third drug bust for HMS Argyll in as many months with this latest haul having a wholesale value of £36 million (one British Pound = US$1.57 cents). It said that the HMS Argyll has now seized 1600kg of cocaine with a combined value of more than £68 million.
“HMS Argyll has had phenomenal success in disrupting the drugs trade which continues to blight the UK (United Kingdom), said UK Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon.
“Her crew are doing outstanding and demanding work, and the British people will rightly be proud of, and grateful for, their professionalism and commitment. Thanks to them, drugs destined for our streets never reach our shores,” he added.
The Royal Navy said HMS Argyll apprehended the suspect vessel after being alerted by a US customs aircraft.
It said after a highspeed chase, during which time the smugglers began to throw their illegal cargo overboard, the warship used high-tech radar to guide her small patrol boats which surrounded the smugglers and forced them to surrender. (Excerpt from CMC)
Hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their land during five decades of civil war in Colombia could lose out unless the Government returned the property fairly and jailed those responsible for driving families from their homes, an Amnesty International official said.
Nearly six million people have been displaced by rightwing paramilitary groups and Marxist rebels since hostilities began in 1964. Only those who can prove owner-
ship are eligible to get land returned under a three-yearold restitution law.
But bureaucratic red tape and intimidation threaten to deprive claimants, who hope to wrestle property back under the Victims and Land Restitution Law, of a fresh start, Amnesty's Esteban Beltran told Reuters on Wednesday.
"A law that was very important and positive when it passed is now running the risk of failing," Madrid-based Beltran said during a visit
to Colombia to promote the group's two-year investigation into land returns.
Fewer than 3000 people have returned to their properties and only 800 perpetrators have been prosecuted under the 2011 law, he said, adding that violence against claimants is common.
Some 35 murders are under investigation. The Government estimates eight million hectares (19.7 million acres) were stolen during the conflict.
"Land restitution is advancing. Like any process, it's faced obstacles that have been overcome by the entities responsible," Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo said in a statement.
More than 84,000 hectares have been returned to victims, who have received over 55 billion pesos (US$25.4 million) in aid, he said.
Colombia must address the problems urgently, Beltran said, because the law only allows land reclamation for another seven years. (Excerpt from Reuters)
T&T teachers hit streets for more money
Chanting and bearing placards, teachers protested outside the Office of the Chief Personnel Officer, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain, demanding salary increases on Wednesday. Spokesman for the group, second Vice President of the T&T Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) Lynsley Doodhai said teachers were fed up of receiving improper salaries and threatened to take further action when the
new school term resumed in January.
TTUTA will like to settle the negotiations as quickly as possible and if this is not done the protest actions are going to intensify and come January 2015 they cannot guarantee a smooth functioning of schools when the new term begins, Doodhai said. He said members of TTUTA’s general council were protesting over salary negotiations for the 2011 to 2014 period.
The latest offer by the CPO has been rejected by the general council as a means of expressing displeasure at what has been offered to TTUTA. Teachers are currently working on 2011 salaries even as 2015 is fast approaching.
The CPO indicated a few months ago she was willing to settle these particular rounds of negotiations as quickly as possible. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)
Abomb blast has hit a bus station in northeastern Nigeria killing at least 40 people, according to witnesses and security personnel.
At least five soldiers were among the victims of Thursday’s attack, officials told Reuters news agency.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the area has been repeatedly targeted by the armed rebel group Boko Haram.
In early November, Boko Haram seized Mubi, in Adamawa state, a town of more than 200,000 people.
More than 1500 people have been killed by the Boko Haram insurgency this year, according to Amnesty International.
Since May 2013, at least 1.5 million people have fled their homes since Nigeria declared a state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states, according to United Nations figures.
Nigerian authorities, who rarely remark on security developments in the troubled northeast, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters said. Continuing insecurity
is a headache for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of February 2015 polls in which he is seeking a second elected term in office. He has asked Parliament for approval to extend an 18-month-old state of emer-
Two girls found hanging earlier this year in northern India had committed suicide and were not gang-raped and murdered as previously thought, federal investigators said.
After a months-long investigation, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Thursday that it “has concluded that it is a case of suicide”.
“Based on 40 scientific re-
ports, CBI has concluded that the two minor girls had not been raped and murdered as had been alleged in the (initial police report),” the agency said in a statement.
The cousins, aged 12 and 14, were found hanging from a mango tree in an impoverished village in Uttar Pradesh state in May, reigniting international outrage over crimes against women in India.
The girls’ families said
they were raped and lynched by men from a higher caste after going into the fields at night to relieve themselves because their ramshackle homes did not have toilets.
Police arrested five men over the case after the families accused authorities of failing to act because they came from a lower caste. All five were later released without charge.
The case had sparked fresh debate about India’s treatment of women, less than two years after public anger erupted over the fatal gang-rape of a student on a moving bus in Delhi.
That attack led to tougher laws for rapists and other sex offenders and new policies for Police in dealing with the large numbers of assaults against women.
Women’s rights activist were sceptical about the latest decision in the Uttar Pradesh case and have urged officials to reinvestigate.
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
gency in the northeast.
Two female suicide bombers killed at least 44 people on Tuesday in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri, medical officials said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
“Collective
ATaliban suicide bomb blast has rocked Kabul, followed by gunfire in the Afghan capital’s central district that houses many embassies and foreign compounds.
Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from Kabul, said the explosion and exchange of gunfire occurred late on Thursday, just hours after a suicide attack on a British embassy vehicle left at least six people dead.
“The attack happened in Street Number 15, in an area called Wazir Akbar Khan, a diplomatic area,” Stratford said. “A witness tells us there was an explosion followed by gunfire and four more smaller explosions.”
The Taliban confirmed to Al Jazeera that their group was also behind the latest suicide attack and subsequent gunfight, saying the target was a guesthouse often used by foreigners.
The country’s Deputy
Interior Minister said one foreign resident was injured and two attackers were killed by security forces.
A Taliban spokesman told Al Jazeera that the attack came in response to recent security agreements, under which foreign troops would remain in the country to fight the Taliban and train the Afghan army.
Earlier in the day, another Taliban suicide bomber rammed his explosivespacked car into a British Embassy vehicle in Kabul, killing one Briton and five Afghans in the latest attack to highlight fragile security as NATO troops withdraw. Police were unable to give immediate details on the latest attack. Attacks across Kabul have increased in recent weeks as United Statesled NATO forces prepare to wrap up their 13-year combat mission against the Taliban at the end of this year. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
ohammad Abu Jamal sits underneath a tattered tarp with water dripping through much of it. Gathered around him are neighbours and relatives who had been by his side ever since the news broke that his son and nephew carried out a deadly attack on a synagogue in the western part of the city on November 18.
Oday and Ghassan Abu Jamal, cousins from the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Jabal al-Mukaber, were shot dead after they killed four Israeli worshippers and a Policeman.
Since then, the family has been subject to what they and rights groups are calling a series of collective punishment, the latest of which was the revocation of the residency rights of Ghassan’s widow.
“This is the worst Government that Israel has seen since its creation,” Mohammad, 70, said.
“Ghassan was killed, he received his punishment. But why the collective punishment? Why must all this family, including these three kids, who keep asking me where their dad is, suffer?”
Ghassan’s widow Nadia Abu Jamal is from alSawahreh al-Sharkiyeh, a West Bank town overlooking Jabal al-Mukaber, where she has been living with her husband for the past five years. Her three children
and
are Jerusalem residents.
is not, but was given permission to live in the city under what’s known as “family reunification” provisions. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Israel said on Thursday it had foiled plans by Islamist group Hamas to attack Israelis in Jerusalem’s largest soccer stadium, other parts of the city and the occupied West Bank. (Excerpts from Al Jazeera and Reuters)
Google should be broken up, say European MPs Oil prices plunge after OPEC meeting
The European Parliament has voted in favour of breaking Google up, as a solution to complaints that it favours its own services in search results.
Politicians have no power to enforce a break-up, but the landmark vote sends a clear message to European regulators to get tough on the net giant.
United States politicians and trade bodies have voiced their dismay at the vote.
The ultimate decision will rest with EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe
Vestager. She has inherited the anti-competitive case lodged by Google’s rivals in 2010.
Google has around 90 per cent market share for search in Europe and rivals asked the commission to investigate four areas:
The manner in which Google displays its own vertical search services compared with other, competing products. How Google copies content from other websites – such as restaurant reviews – to include within its own services
The exclusivity Google
has to sell advertising around the search terms people use. Restrictions on advertisers from moving their online ad campaigns to rival search engines
Predecessor Joaquin Almunia tried and failed to settle the case. A series of concessions made by Google were rejected, leading Almunia to suggest that the only option was a fine. This could be up to US$5 billion.
The Commission has never before ordered the breakup of any company, and many believe it is unlikely to do so now.
The price of oil slumped after the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided not to cut output at its meeting in Vienna, Austria.
OPEC Secretary General Abdallah Salem el-Badri said they would not try to shore up prices by reducing production.
“There’s a price decline. That does not mean that we should really rush and do something,” he said.
Following the announcement Brent crude fell below US$72 a barrel, hitting lows previously seen in August
2010. The 12 OPEC members decided to maintain production at 30 million barrels per day as first agreed in December 2011.
“We don’t want to panic. I mean it,” said el-Badri. “We want to see the market, how the market behaves, because the decline of the price does not reflect a fundamental change.”
Crude oil prices have fallen 30 per cent since June on sluggish global demand and rising production from the US. The fall in the oil price has been causing concern for several members of the oil
cartel, as most require a price above US$80 a barrel to balance their Government budgets and many need prices to be above US$100 a barrel.
“Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states can resist for a while,” said Simon Wardell, energy expert at Global Insight.
“They have significant financial assets that mean they can sustain a lower oil price. They can secure their budgets without a higher oil price.” Saudi Arabia is the largest producer within the OPEC oil producing cartel.
FriDAY, november 28, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com
By Vahnu manickchand
In light of increased road accidents and fatalities, Cabinet has fully endorsed several recommendations made to change these worrisome circumstances that are undermining road safety.
According to Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon, these recommendations were made by the Cabinet’s sub-committee on Justice and Security which was examining the issue. The committee made several recommendations, including traffic legislation reforms, more sensitisation and public awareness programmes, and increased presence of traffic ranks on the roadways.
Dr Luncheon explained that legislative reforms will make it easier to prosecute and even define new offences under the Road Traffic Legislation. He added that the ongoing road safety campaign needed to be intensified given the fact that pedestrians are most at risk.
“So at schools, at work, comrades even had said in the pursuit of leisure at bars at nights, much more sensitisation will have to be provided to make driving less of a hazard to other drivers and pedestrians,” the Cabinet Secretary stated. He added too that while it
was evident that more traffic ranks are required on the country’s roadways, there was need for greater enforcement of traffic laws.
The HPS pointed out both qualitative and quantitative contributions need to be added to the work that traffic ranks are already doing to reduce the number of road accidents and fatalities. Dr Luncheon disclosed that Cabinet has expressed deep concerns over the road accidents and fatalities to date for this year.
He stressed that speeding and drunk driving were identified as the main contributing factors to the escalating figures. “By themselves those statistics
revealed how dangerous the roads in Guyana are becoming and when compared with previous years, and in other jurisdictions, the comparison is even more alarming. There is no doubt, and this is Cabinet’s contention, that there are more vehicles on the road, more drivers on the road and traffic infractions are all increasing and playing a role in this depressing situation,” the HPS stated.
Additionally, the Cabinet Secretary mentioned that the road programmes that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has invested billions in for rehabilitation works during this year also played a role in the alarming statistics.
Road Safety Month is being observed during November under the theme “The time is now, don’t drink and drive. Stay attentive, drive defensive”, and almost every day in the month a fatal accident has occurred.
The Guyana Police Force had recently disclosed that at the end of October, an alarming 33 per cent increase in road accidents and fatalities had been recorded so far for the year. That is, 113 deaths from 104 accidents. It was further noted that most careless drivers are between the ages of 20 and 35. (vahnum@guyanatimesgy.com)
Leroy Seaford, an 18-year-old employee at Kwakwani Wood Backdam, Region 10, was remanded to prison after being arraigned for a simple larceny and a ‘break and enter’ charge when he appeared the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Ann McLennan.
It was alleged that on November 19, at Kwakwani Airstrip Road, he broke and
entered into the Kwakwani Natural Resources Organisation and stole a Toshiba laptop valued $80,000, belonging to the said organisation.
His other charge alleged that on November 27 at Third Phase, Kwakwani, he stole $100,000 cash from Kevin Layne.
The Administration of Justice Act was requested by Police Prosecutor Adonni
Innis and Seaford entered a not guilty plea for both of the offences.
Bail was objected to under the grounds of the offence’s nature, gravity and prevalence. Prosecutor Innis also noted that the computer was recovered at Seaford’s home.
The matter was transferred to the Kwakwani Magistrate’s Court for December 19. The defendant remains on remand.
By Royden James
Georgetown’s acting Town Clerk
Carol Sooba on Thursday called for the Local Government Ministry to take action against persons who vend illegally in the streets of the capital, especially since the Christmas season was fast approaching.
She said if the Ministry was slow in its response, the Municipal and District Councils Act empowered the Minister to act, since the City Council did not have the power to do so.
She added that illegal vending this year, like eve-
ry other year, would have consequences for persons, as they were breaking the law and setting up structures on the pavements.
Sooba said if there was no continued enforcement in place, persons would continue to break the law.
She claimed that many of the Constables would collude with some of the Councillors and also persons who vend illegally and break the law hence situations like these were rampant.
The acting Town Clerk said that she had repeatedly given instructions to the City Engineer and the Chief Constable to have proper enforcement of the law so that
Following speculation that the Sun and Sand Hotel venture may have fallen through, the company announced that construction was set to start on December 1.
Speaking with Guyana Times Thursday, Director of the Sun and Sand Group of Companies, Bhushan Chandna explained that the company was finally able to acquire its land demarcation and execution dimension papers from the Guyana Lands and Surveys.
“We will begin to construct very soon. For us to start construction, a lot of things had to be done. I wanted to work according to Guyana’s guidelines,” Chandna assured.
He explained that he planned to improve on the hotel’s size as time progressed. “I can assure you that we are committed to this work. Will first start things small and will grow with time.”
A few days ago, this newspaper was reliably informed by Brian Tiwarie of BK International that land
documents were hindering the progress of the hotel.
There was a lot of misinformation being spread by Opposition members with regard to the hotel project.
But, on November 24, President Donald Ramotar and acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali both confirmed that the hotel project was still on stream.
Since the President turned the sod for the launch of the hotel back in July, there was much speculation on the venture.
Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan is quoted in sections of the media as expressing the view that there might be more to the actual deal that the Government negotiated with Indian investors.
He said his party was of the view that the project appeared less than apparent and that concessions and other incentives may have been granted.
Ramjattan was also of the opinion that the hotel deal between the Government
and the Sun and Sand company is being used as a front to enter the mineral industry. However, Chandna said at this point the company’s main aim is to complete the hotel.
He did explain that the company does desire to enter other sectors in Guyana’s economy, including mining, but not until the hotel venture was completed. “We will see later. Not right now, maybe in January onwards.”
Chandna revealed that he planned to get the construction of the hotel finished in the shortest amount of time and as a result, he planned to bring the latest technologies from Dubai and India to Guyana. “We will bring lots of technologies so the contacting will be done very fast.”
Initially, construction of the hotel was expected to last 18 months. When completed, it will boast 163 rooms and provide jobs for several hundred Guyanese.
The hotel, which will be located at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, is a US$54 million project. President Ramotar, during the launch of the hotel, said it was a welcomed project and would raise Guyana higher on the international scene. He believes that this new venture will also attract additional international airlines to Guyana.
All of the equipment for the construction of the hotel has already been purchased.
By Bhisham mohamed
Asif Raheem Khatoon, 38, of Lot 102 Met-enMeerzorg, West Coast Demerara, died on Thursday after succumbing to injuries he reportedly received while in Police custody.
The father of four was arrested on Friday last after his wife lodged a report of domestic violence.
persons could be dealt with but all to no avail.
She said that persons are bent on holding high positions within the Council and cannot function effectively, maintaining that the nation’s health should not be put at risk as a result of internal strife.
“People must be able to function in situations like these where the safety of our country is in jeopardy; if they don’t, then let them go,” she added.
She noted that she has been behind the Mayor and City Council to function effectively, but they continue to make inappropriate recommendations.
On their way to the Leonora Police Station, the Police ranks reportedly gave him a sound thrashing. The injured man was thrown into the lockup, but was released on Monday without being charged or placed before the court.
At home, Khatoon cried out for pain and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Wednesday where he was admitted due to his injuries. However, he took self-discharge on Thursday morning and went home.
Later that day, at about 12:00h, he reportedly collapsed and died almost immediately. Angry relatives are holding out that the man died as a result of the beating he received while in Police custody.
Shaneeza Khatoon, the
eldest daughter of the dead man, stated that her parents had a quarrel on Friday and her mother telephoned the Police who arrived at the scene to arrest her father. She claimed that her father was pushed into the back of the Police vehicle and it sped away.
The teenager went on to say that after a while, they went to the Leonora Police Station where they saw her father and he was crying out for pain. He reportedly told his daughter that he was beaten by the Police on his way to the station.
She then asked them to take him to the hospital, but
they refused to do so. The young woman said she was advised he would be charged on Monday. On Monday, however, she said, he was released.
Her father’s face, she noted, was swollen as were other parts of his body. Family members offered to take him to the hospital, but he was hesitant. They finally convinced him to visit the Georgetown Public Hospital where a doctor said that he was suffering from lacerations to his face and body. He was nevertheless admitted, but he took self-discharge and went home.
“He reach home like 8:00h and by 12:00h he dead,” the teen stated. She said that after he collapsed, she contacted the Police Station to inform them. After some time elapsed, Police ranks at Leonora Police Station visited the home and contacted the mortuary.
The man’s body was taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home where it awaits a post-mortem examination. He leaves to mourn his wife and four children. The Police have launched an investigation. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy.com)
Rain or sun, King’s annual Duck Curry competition is set to tantalise your taste buds this Sunday, at the Everest Cricket Club.
Thus far, several teams are already hyped and exited to compete in the cook off including the Guyanese, Surinamese, Trinidadians, Americans, Jamaicans
Vincentians. They all have one aim and that is to be “the best duck curry chef in the Caribbean”.
Last year’s competition was won by a Surinamese team who blew the judges’ minds with their tasty and well-cooked duck meat. It was the first time a foreign team had won the competition in
IAnd in even better news for duck curry lovers, this year there will be duck curry on sale. The proceeds of the competition will go to the Radio Needy Children’s Fund. There will also be games for the children in aid of United Women for Children with Special Needs.
King’s Jewellery World will also be giving away five cricket
n less than 20 hours, the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara will be transformed into a celebrity haven with five international artistes, several local artistes and Guyanese well decked out to have a grand time.
The wait is over, the artistes have started to arrive, the bands are setting up, the stage lights are being installed, the 31-foot by 31-foot LED Television scene is up and the tickets are going like hot cakes. All of
that is happening ahead of one of the most anticipated concerts titled “Boombastic” which is slated to take Guyana by storm on Saturday evening. Thus far, Shaggy and his band along with Kranium have arrived in Guyana and are without a doubt excited to hit the stage on Saturday evening. Later in the day, the artistes will host a joint press conference where they will definitely reveal what they have planned for their
Guyanese fans. Baby Cham, Lady O and Christopher Martin are expected to make their grand appearance at the VIP party on their way from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, later this evening. The VIP party is more or less one that will see the artistes mixing and mingling with their fans at the Gravity Lounge. Nevertheless, the promoter, Golden Boy Entertainment is making sure that all security arrangements
are in place but more importantly, they are making sure that whatever they promised will be delivered on Saturday night.
So far, two sets of early bird tickets were released and from feedback received, they are all gone. The early bird tickets were sold at $2500. In addition, there will be a massive Black Friday ticket sale at Ashmins on High Street today. General admission tickets will be sold at $2800. Regular tickets are, howev-
er, available
and That Look
Stage front tickets remain priced at $16,000 and are available at Glamour Designer Brands and King’s Jewellery World.
friDAY, November 28, 2014
Start the Christmas celebrations early at the Gravity Lounge with some high-quality events that will spread cheer and joy during the festive season. Gravity Lounge has been imprinting its brand on the hearts of visitors and locals alike with the new line of entertainment it has provided over the past few months, especially for their Soca junkie patrons.
We have seen performances from Kees, Spice, Destra and others at various concept parties that have been sold out, and it will be no different come December. One can expect the Christmas Season at the Gravity Lounge to be off the hook.
First up, Kevin Dubois will be performing live on December 13 followed by Shurwayne Winchester on December 17, and Lead Pipe and Saddis on December 20.
On the night of Winchester’s performance, DJ Private Ryan from Pulse Entertainment will be steaming up the dance floor and on the night Lead Pike and Saddis take to
With such high-quality performances on tap, admission is absolutely unbeatable. Those who wish to attend all three parties can pay $5000 and get a passbook, but those who would want to go on a nightly basis can pay $2000 in advance and $2500 at the door.
Tickets, along with the passbook, will be available at Gravity Lounge, Oasis Café, Electronic City, and Exclusive Styles from the first week in December.
The 10 delegates vying to the coveted title of Miss and Mister Texila American University titles are putting their final touches to their outfits for the big night on Saturday. The delegates have been rigorously rehearsing in their effort to make sure that they are flawless on pageant night which is expected to be steaming hot.
The five male contenders have already started the competition as they were in the gym getting ripped to have the physique that any woman would want to see as they parade in their beach wear. As for the ladies, that sheen and sparkle on their skin will definitely captivate the hearts of the young men
in the audience.
This is the second year for the pageant and it has definitely gained some momentum over the past few weeks and the delegates are ready to thrill the audience.
The pageant titled, “A Royal Affair” will be held at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday evening. The event commences at 20:00h and will showcase the rich cultural diversity of TAU students who have come from different parts of the world including Asia, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean.
The event will also include a night of pageantry with contestants from across the globe vying for the crown of Mr and Miss Texila 2015.
The cultural segment
will be packed with exotic dances, exquisite cultural fashion display, drama and talents from around the world. The TAU cultural event is one of a kind with rich originality and ethnic diversity.
Last year saw the crowning of the first King and Queen, Bonaventure Atulomah from Nigeria and Umadevi Bux of Guyana.
The female contestants vying for this year’s title are Tiffany Gonsalves of Guyana, Yanil Valbuena of Venezuela, Treasure James, Damilola Aloba of Nigeria and Blessing Opara also of Nigeria.
The guys are Collins Chidebere of Nigeria, Daniel Cullen of Guyana, James Lomonga of Congo, Jideofor Onwuasoigwe of Nigeria, and Harminder Singh Sohal of India.
Tickets for the cultural night and pageant cost $1500 and can be uplifted from the National Cultural Centre and TAU Medical School Building, Spareendam, East Coast Demerara; and TAU Campus 2, Critchlow Labour College.
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic
Sabha hosts Kala Utsav, its annual festival of arts this Sunday, November at the Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud Dharmic Sanskritik Kendra, Prashad Nagar, Greater Georgetown, beginning at 10:00h.
The Utsav will see more than 150 young people under the age of 25 participat ing in a friendly competition in the categories of Ramayan chanting, male and fe male sing ing, duet singing, classical dance, junior folk dance, kir tan and instru mental music.
Kala Utsav, which was introduced by the Sabha 20 years
building talent bases in the various regions.
It is a launching pad for talented youths across the country and allows for talent to be discovered for future development. Trophies,
of the Sabha’s Praants held preliminary Utsavs in their communities to select the best to represent them at the finals. Participants will come from Upper Corentyne, Central Corentyne,
their fore parents and to achieve excellence in the various art forms, while simultaneously
certificates and cash incentives are given to all participants to encourage them.
Prior to Sunday’s Utsav, each
East Berbice, West Berbice, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, East Bank Demerara, West Coast Demerara and Essequibo.
An innovation at last year’s Kala Utsav was the addition of drama to the Ramayan chanting category, aimed at promoting elements of the Ramleela tradition.
The response was excellent and much more is expected from this category at Sunday’s Utsav. The Kirtan and Folk Dance segments have always been audience favourites and this year is expected to be no different, as large groups in these categories have been practicing dedicatedly to put their best forward.
It is anticipated that some amazing new singing talent will be discovered on Sunday was well. It is recalled that singers such as Purnash Durgaprasad, Vishalie Sukram, Artie Sookhai and Suchitra Rampersaud made their debuts at Kala Utsav. Vishalie Sukram, who this year won the prestigious E-Networks Emerging Voices Competition, will be presenting a special item to open this year’s Kala Utsav.
All are invited to come and be a part of this special day with the Sabha. Admission is free. The Sabha wishes to express its thanks to Digicel and Pepsi for their generous support.
Guyana’s very own Adrian Dutchin might not be on local shores but he is surely creating some vibes on the international scene. With Mashramani just around the corner in three months time, Dutchin is making sure that he continues to release soca hits that can be heard during this time of the year.
The soca sensation took to the streets in 2013 with “Jook” which created a whirlwind during the parade and was adjudged the Road March Song that year. This time around, he has a brand new track called “592 Posse”.
“592 Posse” speaks for its self in every aspect. It is a song about our Mashramani festival, our vibes and people, and our country code that we are known by the world over.
The song is written by Dutchin out of the Kross Kolor Studio and is produced by Shawn Mastermind Nowel in New York. He is the same producer Dutchin has been working with for a number of years.
“592 Posse” will be avail-
able on iTunes from today.
“The song was written with all Guyanese in mind where ever they may be and it was constructed for a feel of happiness, love and togetherness. I hope you all do enjoy this one… it is my official release for the Mashramani 2015 Soca Monarch and Road March entry”, the X2 member told Guyana Times Entertainment
He went on to thank all his fans for their undying support, love and well wishes over the years. More importantly, he thanked the Almighty Father for the strength and light of life to move forward. The new song which has a party vibe feel to it will also be distributed to all local clubs as a means of getting the music in the public domain.
Jamaican dancehall artiste Vanessa Saddler, who is more popularly known as “Vanessa Bling” and “Gaza Slim” will be performing live in 704 Lounge this evening and she excited about it.
After being incarcerated from 2011, this is her maiden trip out of Jamaica since her release a few months ago. At a press conference at the venue on Lamaha and Albert Streets, Georgetown on Thursday, the young artiste said she was happy to be in Guyana and thanked the man agement of the club for giving her the opportunity to perform. She reiter ated that this is her first flight out of Jamaica and promised to enter tain her fans to the fullest.
While she is known for her song “Independent Ladies”, she has been recording a few gospel tunes thanking Christ for protecting her during her time of distress. She recalled recording her first Gospel tune and it has definite ly impacted her life as a young budding artiste.
She encouraged her fans to come out in their numbers, noting that it will be a performance that cannot be missed.
The young, beautiful and intelligent artiste visited two charitable organisations where
she distributed gifts and had motivational talks with the children.
Dustanni Barrow, Project Manager stated that since the existence of the 704 Lounge, it has been providing high quality entertainment. He said that Chutney King, KI performed at the lounge on Saturday last and tonight, Gaza Slim will performing for the first time in Tickets for the event cost $2000 in advance and more at the door. The event is powered by Corona
One of Guyana’s leading pharmaceutical companies, International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA), is helping Flex Night Inc. to raise the bar at the upcoming Flex Night International billed for Sunday December 7 at the National Cultural Centre.
Held under the theme ‘Raising the Bar’, Flex Night International is set to at-
tract top male and female bodybuilders from across Guyana and the region showcasing their chiseled frames on stage.
The support given by the pharmaceutical company for the Flex Night event is a further demonstration of its long established commitment to the development and promotion of bodybuilding in Guyana. IPA, distributors of the
est Indies all-
Wthe commitment
familiar Universal brand of bodybuilding and nutrition supplements, is also the distributors of Optimum Nutrition products and will be mounting a display of its bodybuilding and nutrition products in the lobby of the National Cultural Centre during the Flex Night event. IPA is also making supplements available to special categories of winners at Flex Night.
Everton are through to the Europa League knockout stage as Group H winners after victory at Wolfsburg.
A 1-1 draw in the other group game between Krasnodar and Lille meant the Toffees progressed regardless of the result in Germany.
Three points ensured top spot, however, as Romelu Lukaku powered home before half-time after Wolfsburg’s Ivan Perisic had a goal ruled out.
Kevin Mirallas sealed victory in the second half with a goal on the break.
Everton, four points ahead of Wolfsburg at the top of the group, progress to the last 32 with a game to spare as they look to secure a first European trophy since 1985.
Both sets of players went into the game unaware of the scoreline in the group’s other
fixture, which kicked off one hour earlier.
Each side knew, however, that a win would guarantee qualification and that might have played its part in a frenetic start.
Wolfsburg, with eight wins from their last nine games, were immediately on the offensive as Perisic lashed into the side-netting while Aaron Hunt drew a full-stretch save out of Tim Howard.
Sylvain Distin hit the bar with a downward header between those chances but Wolfsburg should have been ahead midway through the half, when Perisic was wrongly ruled offside when he stabbed home from close range.
It was a let-off for Everton, and a crucial one, as they hit Wolfsburg on the break just before half-time.
Distin’s header aside, the visitors had barely threat-
ened in the first 45 minutes but snatched the lead when Lukaku received a pass from Kevin Mirallas, outmuscled two defenders and ran through on goal before finishing calmly.
Knowing that defeat would leave them needing at least a draw in their final game against Lille, Wolfsburg again pressured the Everton defence in the second half.
The hosts were again denied when former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner had a header ruled out for offside, but also Everton looked dangerous on the break - though Aiden McGeady somehow contrived to sidefoot over when presented with an open goal.
However, Everton wrapped up the win with another breakaway goal as Lukaku sent Mirallas away and the forward confidently slotted home. (BBC Sport)
rounder Darren Sammy had small cameo roles as his Titans managed only their second win of the Ram Slam Twenty20 League with a 19run victory over Dolphins yesterday. Opting to bat
first at Willowmoore Park, Titans rallied to 176 for seven off 20 overs, with Qaasim Adams top-scoring with 76 from 53 balls, with nine fours and two sixes.
Opener Henry Davids chipped in with 32 from 31 deliveries while Sammy
smashed West Indies teammate Dwayne Bravo for two sixes in the last over of the innings, to end on 15 not out from five balls. Bravo finished with one for 42 from four overs while seamer Craig Alexander led with two for 24.
In reply, Dolphins plunged to 75 for five in the 12th over before Bravo came to their rescue with a top score of 34. He faced just 18 balls and lashed three sixes, adding 49 for the sixth wicket with Khaya Zondo who made 25 from 17 deliveries. Skipper Sammy, however, ended Bravo’s brave rally in the 17th over with the score on 124 for six and also sent back Zondo in the penultimate over, as Dolphins’ threat subsided. Sammy finished with two for 29 from his four overs of medium pace. Titans lie one from bottom on 11 points.
(Trinidad Express)
The International Premier Tennis League stages its world premiere in Manila on Friday. The format is innovative and the cast list impressive, but will it prove to be in the long-term interests of the sport?
First, some details. The Manila Mavericks, the Singapore Slammers, the Indian Aces and the UAE Royals are the four teams involved.
Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova have signed up, along with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and some retired gentlemen with a bit of spare time on their hands.
Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Goran Ivanisevic are among the legends who will contest one of the five sets in each match. A men’s singles, a women’s singles, a men’s doubles and a mixed doubles - in an order chosen by the home team - will complete the line up.
Sets are the first to six games, but when the score reaches 5-5, there will be a timed five-minute ‘shootout,’ which is scored like a tiebreak but features a Shot Clock in case any player is tempted to waste time.
There is no advantage scoring (which means the player who wins the deuce point also wins the game), and as well as being able to request a 60-second time out, a player can also call a ‘Power Point,’ which doubles the worth of the very next point.
The quick-fire format, which is modelled on the successful annual World Team Tennis event in the US, will appeal to many: the five-set matches should not last any longer than an Indian Premier League cricket game (three hours).
Fewer of us now seem to have the time or the patience to sit through all five sets of a men’s Grand Slam match, meaning innovative packaging is essential to attract a new generation of fans.
And as well as giving people the chance to watch on a screen - of whatever size - it is also vital that the best players in the world can be seen live in cities which they would normally pass by.
The IPTL will spend three days in both Delhi and Manila: the Philippines’ only taste of professional tennis so far this year came when Benjamin Mitchell of Australia (who was then ranked 246 in the world) headlined the field for an ITF Futures event in March.
Many in Manila will not be able to afford the tickets: the cheapest three-day pass costs 2,900 pesos (the equivalent of £41 or US $65), and the city offers a daily minimum wage of just 429 pesos.
This is a charge levelled at many high-profile events, and the truth is that some players would not have agreed to fly halfway around the world at the end of a long season if the financial rewards were not as attractive as their agents are
happy to confess they are. The decision to play leaves some open to accusations of hypocrisy. Many male players, in particular, have complained for many years about the length of the season and the wear and tear on their bodies. So could the IPTL be a threat to the health and fitness of the players who make the ATP Tour such a success?
“I don’t see it as a threat at all,” the Tour’s executive chairman Chris Kermode told me when I put that question to him directly.
“I think it’s great that someone else is putting on tennis and taking it especially into new markets so I can only encourage that, but I think we just have to be very clear it is a series of exhibitions.”
It is notable that recent multiple Grand Slam champions such as Federer, Djokovic and Murray are only playing for a select few days: the workload of players like Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils and Tomas Berdych will be far higher.
The league doesn’t finish until 13 December, which is just three weeks before the start of the season and leaves little time for rest, recuperation and pre-season conditioning. (BBC
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he sudden death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes has shocked the cricket world as members of the cricketing community continue to show their support for the family of the 25 year old.
President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron through a statement on Thursday sympathised with the family of the cricketer.
“It was with a sense of shock and sorrow that we learned of the death of Phillip Hughes and I know that these feelings are shared by all who knew him and played with or against him. There is little one can say at such a time, but we would like to express our very sincere sympathy to his family, friends and all those involved with
the game in Australia.
“This is truly a tragic loss of a fantastic young player who promised to deliver so much for Australia and who has already done so much in proving his pedigree as a top flight batsman on the international stage,” Cameron stated.
The WICB plans to hon-
our Hughes during the start of their third round of their regional four day franchise tournament by having one minute of silence before the start of each game that bowls off today.
“To honour the memory of our fallen colleague and show solidarity with our friends in Australia, we have asked that a minute’s silence be observed prior to the start of all matches in the third round of the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament tomorrow – and that all players and match officials wear a black armband during the match.”
Phillip Hughes died following an injury he suffered during a first-class match on Tuesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia. (Cricinfo)
The cricketing world is rallying around bowler Sean Abbott amid fears he may never play again in the wake of batsman Phillip Hughes’s death.
Abbott’s ball struck Hughes in the neck during a domestic match in Australia and the 25-yearold died on Thursday.
The Australia captain Michael Clarke and Hughes’s sister Megan spent time comforting a tearful Abbott, 22, at St Vincent’s Hospital.
He is receiving counselling from Cricket Australia.
But former England bowler David Lawrence, who hit West Indies batsman Phil Simmons on the temple with a delivery in 1988, thinks Abbott’s career could be over.
“I know what Sean is going through,” Lawrence told BBC Radio 5 live.
“My thoughts go out to him. I don’t think he’ll play cricket again.”
Hughes, who played 26 Tests for his country, collapsed face first on the ground after being struck by a bouncer from Abbott during a Sheffield Shield game between South Australia and New South Wales on Tuesday.
Hughes had been wearing a helmet but the ball missed it, striking him at the top of the neck and causing a vertebral artery dissection, which resulted in a “massive bleed” on the brain.
Abbott was pictured in the aftermath of the incident cradling the batsman’s head while other players waved medical
staff on to the pitch.
Retired fast bowler Lawrence is concerned that Abbott’s career could be ended by the tragic events.
Lawrence was just 24 when he bowled to Simmons – who was not wearing a helmet – and struck him on the temple in a tour match in Bristol 26 years ago.
Simmons’ heart stopped and he required emergency brain surgery but went on to make a full recovery.
“What gave me comfort was I was able to see Phil Simmons 48 hours after, and he was able to tell me it wasn’t my fault,” Lawrence added.
“The bowler in this instance wouldn’t have been able to do that. Hughes didn’t make a recovery, wasn’t able to talk to him.”
(BBC Sport)
The Guyana national rugby team will be hoping to make Guyana proud at the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) championships scheduled for Mexico in December.
Guyana, the winners of six NACRA title will be aiming for their seventh especially after missing last year’s tournament due to financial constraints.
With the backing of the private sector, government and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has charged their players with the mission of bringing the title back to the Land of Many Waters.
Hence, Guyana Times Sport introduces the 12 players that will make up the redemption squad.
LeBron James scored 29 points, Kevin Love added 21 and the Cleveland Cavaliers exacted a little revenge on Washington with a 113-87 win over the Wizards on Wednesday night.
Five days after they were embarrassed in a 9178 loss to Washington, the Cavs controlled this one from the start and got back
to .500.
James led the way, also collecting 10 rebounds and eight assists in 36 minutes.
WARRIORS 111, MAGIC 96: Stephen Curry had 28 points, including six 3-pointers, as Golden State won at Orlando.
Curry sat out the fourth quarter of Golden State’s seventh straight victory.
TRAIL BLAZERS 105,
The second day’s play of the third Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Sharjah has been suspended following the death of Australia batsman Phillip Hughes in Sydney because of a head injury. An extra day has been added to the Test which will resume from Friday. Both teams decided not to take the field after the news of Hughes’ death arrived an hour-and-a-half
before the start of the second day. Play was suspended for an hour as the team managements discussed the course of action before finally deciding to call off the day.
“The whole team is shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Phil Hughes,” Moin Khan, the Pakistan team manager, said. “He was here for the Australia limitedovers squad and was very cheerful. He was always ready to talk about
cricket.”
Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach, also expressed sadness on behalf of the New Zealand team and said the mood in the dressing room was “sombre”.
“Today isn’t about cricket, it’s about Phil,” Hesson said. “Like the rest of the cricketing family, the Blackcaps players and management are devastated to hear about Phil’s tragic passing.” (ESPN Cricinfo)
HORNETS 97: Wesley Matthews scored a season-high 28 points as visiting Portland won its ninth straight.
Matthews was 10 of 15 from the field and 6 of 9 from 3-point range as Portland (12-3) improved to 7-0 against Eastern Conference teams.
BUCKS 103, TIMBERWOLVES 86:
Larry Sanders had 15 points, seven rebounds and five blocks to help visiting Milwaukee.
NETS 99, 76ERS 91: Alan Anderson scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, and visiting Brooklyn extended Philadelphia’s seasonopening skid to 15 games – matching a franchise record. (Portland Press Herald)
The prestigious Umada Cup chess tournament got underway on Thursday morning in Georgetown, after Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony moved the first pawn to officially signal the start of the event, hosted for the first time in Guyana.
Moments before declaring the tournament open by engaging national junior champion Haifeng Su in a friendly game, Dr Anthony spoke glowingly of Guyana being able to host the event, which is in its fifth year.
“This Cup itself is a very historic one for Guyana. It’s the first time we’re having so many overseas players and it’s the first time we’re hosting the Umada Cup. We’re very grateful that the organisers have seen it fit for us to host the tournament here in Guyana and I’m sure the local chess federation would do its best to ensure that you enjoy our hospitality and of course you have the conducive environment to play some good chess,” Dr Anthony told the players at the opening. Dr Anthony also highlighted some of the benefits that can be derived from hosting the tournament, one of which was local players being able to gauge their progress against foreign counterparts.
“We always look forward to having our regional brothers here with us because it allows us to maybe get a good feel of where we are in the game…because when we play against other competitive players we are able to see how we’re ranking against those players. A lot of times when we have our own local internal competitions, we’re not able to
get that gauge of where we are in the game, but I think competitions like these allow us to set that benchmark,” Minister Anthony explained.
The tournament, set to conclude on Monday, will be contested in two categories: one for players in the Open Section and another for those in the Challenger Section. Both sections will be played under the Swiss System for nine rounds and will be FIDE rated.
First day update
Meanwhile, at the end of day one, the lone Guyanese in the Open Section, Taffin Khan, lost to Trinidad and Tobago’s FIDE Master Ryan Harper.
In the other games of the Open Section, Vishnu Singh (T&T) defeated Roger Matoewi (Suriname); Orlando Husbands (Barbados) defeated Darvi Ferraras (The Dominican Republic); Martyn Del Castilo (Barbados) and Malaku Lorne (Jamaica) got half a point each from their clash, while Kevin Cupid (T&T) and Christopher Guzman (The Dominican Republic) earned a similar result in their game.
In the Challenger Section, seven Guyanese recorded victories on a solid showing by the host country. Wendell Muesa defeated compatriot Roberto Neto; Kriskal Persaud defeated Avikaar Malgie of Suriname; Keith Simpson defeated Guyanese Anthony Drayton; Haifeng Su defeated countryman Davion Mars; Glenford Corlette defeated Aditi Soondarsingh of Trinidad and Tobago; Ronuel Greenidge defeated fellow Guyanese Rashad Hussain; and Maria Thomas defeated Calvin Finkie of Suriname.
The other Guyanese in the Challenger SectionErrol Tiwari, Trenton Bennett and David Khansuffered losses, while Loris Nathoo was a no-show for his clash with Jamaica’s Andrew Mellace.
In other results, Esan Wilstshire (T&T) defeated Reyna Frijde (Suriname), Suriname’s Joel Frijde defeated fellow countryman Ishvar Ramlal and Martin Mikel (T&T) defeated Alisha Jaipersaud (Suriname).
The tournament is being organised under the auspices of current president of FIDE, the world governing body for chess, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. A grand payout package of US$16,000 is at stake.
In the Open Section, the winner will cart off US$2,500, while the second place finisher will get US$1,500 and third US$1,000. The winner of the Challenger Section is entitled to US$1,500, with the runner-up copping US$1,000 and third US$750. In the case of a tie, the sum of the prizes involved will be shared equally.
Brazil legend Pele has been transferred to a special care unit following treatment for a urinary infection.
The Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo stated the 74-year-old threetime World Cup winner had been moved after suffering “clinical instability”.
Reports had suggested Pele, admitted on Monday, was in intensive care.
Pele, a World Cup winner in 1958, 1962 and 1970, was initially discharged from hospital on 13 November after surgery to remove kidney stones.
It is understood that while treatment in special care is above the level of routine care, it is less serious than intensive care, and the Brazilian - widely regarded as the greatest player of all time - can still
receive visitors.
Local media says it is possible Pele picked up an infection during the procedure to remove kidney stones and that the current treatment is usually straightforward.
Pele scored a world record total of 1,281 goals in 1,363 games during his
Middle-order batsman Vishaul Singh has been appointed Guyana Jaguars skipper for the third round West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League match against Barbados Pride, starting today at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Singh has replaced Leon Johnson at the helm of the team, which won both matches against the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands Volcanoes to surge to the top of the points table.
Johnson, along with fellow left-handers Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Assad Fudadin, has joined the West Indies squad for the upcoming tour to South Africa, and
therefore will not play any part in the Jaguars’ next few games.
Ironically, Singh did not play the first two games of this year’s competition, a clear indication that the Jaguars management has seen some leadership potential in the left-hander.
Singh has played 13 FirstClass games, scoring 412 runs at an average of 17.13 with a highest score of 73 against hosts Jamaica earlier this year.
Singh would no doubt look to start his captaincy stint on a winning note and lead the Jaguars to a third victory in as many games this season. Barbados Pride are fourth with 12 points.
Guyana Jaguars
squad reads: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rajindra Chandrika, Shimron Hetmyer, Vishaul Singh (Captain), Narsingh Deonarine (Vice-captain), Raymond Reifer, Anthony Bramble (wk), Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Keon Joseph and Trevon Griffith. The Head Coach is Esuan Crandon and the Manager/Assistant Coach is Rayon Griffith. Barbados Pride squad reads: Carlos Brathwaite (captain), Tino Best, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Kyle Corbin, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Ryan Hinds, Shai Hope, Ashley Nurse, Omar Phillips, Dwayne Smith and Jomel Warrican.
The Melanie Patriots was able to pull off a close win against the Kashif and Shanghai Knights when the Phillip George Legacy Memorial basketball tournament continued on Wednesday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The Patriots held onto a
slim through the course of the final minutes to win the game by four points.
Floyd Arthur led all scorers with a game high 21 points for the Patriots while Owan Walton had a team high of 15 points for the Knights in the loss.
Meanwhile in a third division exhibition game, Plaisance Guardians topped Pepsi Sonics 62-59. Colwyn Nurse was the top scorer in the game with 24 points while Kerwin Jackson had 15 points for the Sonics. Action in the tournament will continue on Saturday at the said venue.
“We appreciate all the support we have received from family, friends, players, Cricket Australia and the general public.
“Cricket was Phillip’s life and we as a family shared that love of the game with him. We would like to thank all the medical and nursing staff at St Vincent’s Hospital and Cricket New South Wales medical staff for their great efforts with Phillip. We love you.”
A clearly emotional Clarke then stood up and left the room.
Hughes, batting for South Australia, collapsed face first on the ground after being hit by a bouncer from 22-year-old Abbott during a Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales.
Hughes had been wearing a helmet but the ball struck him at the top of the neck, causing the injury.
21-year career. The Fifa Player of the Century won 91 caps for Brazil and scored 77 goals.
He made 14 appearances at World Cup finals, scoring 12 goals, and picked up the Fifa Golden Ball award as the best player at the 1970 tournament.
He had CPR and mouthto-mouth resuscitation at the ground before being taken to St Vincent’s Hospital, where he had a 90-minute operation to relieve pressure on his brain.
Abbott and members of the Australian national team, including Clarke, visited Hughes in hospital.
But his death was confirmed in a statement on Thursday.
“It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time
ago Phillip Hughes passed away,” said Brukner.
“He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday.
“He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends.
“As a cricket community, we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time.
“Cricket Australia kindly asks that the privacy of the Hughes family, players and staff be respected.”
Speaking at the news conference, Brukner explained that Hughes had died as a result of “vertebral artery dissection”.
He said the artery had been compressed, causing it to split and leading to a “massive bleed” into the brain.
Brukner said the injury was “freakish”, adding: “Vertebral artery dissection is incredibly rare. If you look in the literature, there is only 100 cases reported. There is only one previous example caused by a cricket ball.”
Dr Tony Grabs, who treated Hughes at St Vincent’s, said scans had shown that the stricken cricketer needed surgery quickly to help get the pressure down in the brain.
“He had extensive surgery to remove some of the skull from around his brain to help allow the brain to expand,” added Grabs.
However, his recovery did not go as hoped.
“Over a period of the first 24 to 48 hours, he did not make very much improvement and unfortunately, as a consequence of the injury, he died,’’ said Brukner.
The Australian flag was lowered to half-mast over the Sydney Cricket Ground where Hughes suffered the fatal injury. Flags were also lowered at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott paid tribute to Hughes, describing him as “a young man living out his dreams”.
“His death is a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family. What happened has touched millions of Australians,” he said.
“For a young life to be cut short playing our national game seems a shocking aberration. He was loved, admired and respected by his team-mates and by legions of cricket fans.”
Australia coach Darren Lehmann tweeted: “RIP you little champ, we are all going to miss you! Love, prayers to all the Hughes family.”
Queens Street Tigerbay played a tense game of Futsal on Wednesday evening to return to familiar winning ways with a 1-nil win over Tucville when the Georgetown Zone Guinness ‘Greatness in the Streets’ continued at the National Culture Centre Tarmac.
The game began at a high pace as Deon Alfred registered the game’s only goal in the seventh minute of the game to give Tigerbay the much need points in their group.
In the first game of the evening North East La Penitence handed Riverview a 3-nil loss to easily take points in the group stage.
Quincy Success and Timothy Telford scored in the seventh and 12th minutes to end the first ahead 2-0 for North East. Cordell Tudor would then nail the
game’s final goal in the 17th minute to give North East the commanding win.
Hope Street Tigerbay continued their winning ways with a 1-0 win over Laing Avenue with the game’s lone strike coming from Dwayne Dickson in the third minute.
Globe Yard added a stroke in the win column with a 1-0 versus Back Circle as Anthony France scored in the second half (16th minute) to win the game.
Meanwhile a number of games were decided on penalty kicks as East Front Road defeated North Sophia 2-1, Alexander Village falling to Cross Street 2-nil, California Square topping Adelade Street Charlestown 3-2 and Albouystown defeating Leopold Street 2-1 all on penalty kicks. (Treiston Joseph)
Some of the action on Wednesday
ustralia Test batsman Phillip Hughes has died aged 25, two days after being struck on the top of the neck by a ball during a domestic match in
Sydney.
Australia team doctor Peter Brukner said he passed away in hospital, never regaining consciousness.
Hughes, who also played for Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire, was hit by a delivery from bowler Sean Abbott.
“It’s an understatement to say we’re completely devastated,” said Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland.
“The word tragedy gets used too often in sport, but this freak accident is a real life tragedy.”
Australia captain Michael Clarke read out a statement on behalf of the Hughes family at a news conference held at St Vincent’s Hospital, where the player, who would have been 26 on Sunday, was treated.
Speaking on behalf of parents Greg and Virginia, sister Megan and brother Jason, he said: “We’re devastated by the loss of our much-loved son and brother, Phillip. It’s been a very difficult few days.