Issuu

Granger presses Mercosur to condemn decree

opposition MPs table bill to create an “Essequibo State” IDB approves climate-smart agriculture fund

seeks justice for son killed in road accident

Guyana Amazon Warriors fans rejoice as their home team take the field at the start of play in the match against the St Lucia Zouks at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara on Friday

saturday, july 18, 2015

Alexei Ramotar sent on leave

Buxton Health Centre to soon offer additional services

A…as probe opens into E-Governance

Sticking to its promise of shaking up all major State-owned boards across Guyana, the Government sent the Head of the E-Governance Project, Alexei Ramotar on administrative leave to facilitate an investigation, which was launched into the financial arrangements of the initiative.

A press release to the media explained that the Ministry of the Presidency decided to conduct the muchneeded investigation and in order to do so, Ramotar – son of former President Donald Ramotar – had to be sent on leave to ensure “proper facilitation of these investigations”.

According to the release, earlier this month, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and a team visited the Project and it was then he direct-

Project

ed Government’s Adviser on E-Governance, Floyd Levi to “work closely” with Ramotar and the E-Government Project.

While in the Opposition, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had constantly questioned the competency of Ramotar as head of the E-Governance Project.

Former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, however, had maintained that Ramotar was the most qualified person for the Project.

In previous reports, Dr Singh pointed out that Ramotar was hired in 2010, prior to his father’s run for presidential office and was deemed the most qualified for the job at that time.

Dr Singh said Ramotar remains one of Guyana’s most qualified persons in his field, with a master’s in computer science from the University of Waterloo, over a decade of work experience where he led numerous projects in his field, and several academic awards and publications.

The E-Governance Project had failed to meet its deadline by some two years, so concerns were raised by the Opposition in this regard.

The multibillion-dollar project includes the laying of fibre-optic cable from Brazil. It was slated to be completed since 2012, but has encountered serious problems, resulting in a protracted delay.

n early morning tour by Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings, to the CC Nicholson and Buxton Health Centres will result in these centres being improved to offer a better and wider range of services.

At the meeting with the staff of the CC Nicholson Health Centre, the Minister was able to identify issues hindering the facility from operating at its full capacity. Minister Cummings was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Michael Khan, and other officials.

Among the issues raised were the need for better security, lighting systems and water supply. Some staff also asked for the addition of a basic laboratory and a Phlebotomist. After listening to the complaints and suggestions made by the staff, the Minister pledged her commitment to improve the facility, since according

to the 2012 census, the facility serves a population of 109,000, which would have probably increased over the past three years, due to the creation of more housing communities in its catchment areas.

According to Minister Cummings, the facility is adequately staffed to provide the services it now of-

fers. There are nine Doctors, four Nursing Assistants, and three Midwives, among other health care staff. She added that since the facility is a health centre, it may not require the establishment of a laboratory and X-ray department, since those services can be accessed at other facilities close by. However, these will still be consid-

ered. The Minister promised to address within a short time, the security and lighting at the centre.

Following her visit to the CC Nicholson Health Centre, Minister Cummings made a courtesy call on the Buxton Health Centre, where she noticed a lot of unused space. In a comment to the media, Minister Cummings said the unused space can be utilised to house additional services that will enhance the package of service offered by the health centre. “As you see here, there is a lot of space and we are hoping that services that cannot be rendered at the Dr CC Nicolson Hospital, will be rendered here.

We are thinking of having a VIA (Visual Inspection using Acetic acid) clinic here, rehabilitation services... we want to be able to do ultra sounds here, we want to put a lab here among other things,” she said. These services should be implemented by January 2016, according to Dr Cummings. (GINA)

Narcotics trafficker gets 3-year sentence

Guilty was the verdict delivered by Magistrate Annette Singh in Court 11 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday, as the case against an alleged narcotics trafficker came to an end.

Lukinorich

Theobold was found guilty of trafficking 25.5 grams cannabis

sativa (marijuana) on April 2 when he was apprehended on Water Street, Georgetown.

Guyana Times understands that the young man was seen acting in a suspicious manner by Police ranks who conducted a search on his person. Twentyfive and a half grams of marijuana was found in his possession.

Theobold was not

represented by an Attorney during his trial but he maintained his innocence throughout.

However, this proved ineffective once Police Prosecutor, Corporal Adduni Inniss presented her witnesses.

Magistrate Singh sentenced the defendant to three years for the offence, along with a $30,000 fine.

Alexei Ramotar

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings engaged in discussion with a resident of Buxton during a visit to the village’s health centre

Lukinorich Theobold was found guilty of trafficking marijuana

july 18, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, July 18 – 05:30h-07:00h and Sunday, July 19 – 05:30h-07:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, July 18 – 05:15h-06:45h and Sunday, July 19 – 05:50h-07:20h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Winds: East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres per second.

High

and 23:52

Caracas decree ...special meeting to be convened in August Granger presses Mercosur to condemn decree

David Granger told a Southern Common Market (Mercosur) Summit in Brazil on Friday that leaders of the bloc had a duty to be “vigilant” against the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, announcing that a special meeting was to be convened by the regional body in August to help resolve the issue.

The Head of State, making his presentation to the Heads of Mercosur, also urged the leaders to help his country in the defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Granger told leaders at the summit, which was held in Brasilia, that “Mercosur has the duty to be vigilant against this conflict and urged Mercosur leaders to guarantee the sovereignty of small states of the continent”.

He said the violations of the borders are the result of conflicts and “chaos”, noting that Mercosur and the entire Caribbean Region needed to be maintained as a “zone of peace in order to advance economic development”.

The decree purports to appropriate the Exclusive Economic Zone of Guyana, which has suffered provocations from Venezuela for a

long time and “does not deserve that”, Granger said. He said Guyana reiterated its respect for the sovereignty of all States that form the region, but called for support for the maintenance of sovereignty and integrity throughout its territory.

The call made by the Head of State is similar to the one he made less than two weeks ago in Barbados at the Caricom Heads of Government meeting.

Granger had told leaders there that his country faces a huge threat, recalling that the “decree number 1787”, promulgated by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was timed to coincide with the country’s independence anniversary on May 26 this year and his inauguration. “The decree sticks in my throat like a bone. It lays claim to much of the coastline and most of the Exclusive Economic Zones of Guyana. This decree has dire implications for the entire Region, but, most particularly, the eastern states including Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago,” he had told the leaders. He said these countries consider the decree by Venezuela an act of aggression against Guyana’s

sovereignty, and an assault on its right to assess and develop its maritime resources.

Earlier this week , Granger had taken his call for international backing against the aggression by Venezuela to the Third International Conference on Financing for Development being held in Ethiopia, telling the international bodies there that security was indispensable to any country and as such, Guyana would reject any threat to its. “Security and stability are indispensable to sustainable development and the pursuit of prosperity. We resent, reject and resist the threat or use of force or any unilateral coercive attempt by one state against another in order to frustrate the legitimate aspirations of our people to enjoy a good life,” he said. While he only made the comment in passing, the President said that the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and the tenets of international law must be guaranteed to all states and peoples in the quest for secure livelihoods and sustainable development.

The Mercosur Summit is being hosted by Brazilian Head of State, Dilma Rousseff. Along with Granger and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the Presidents of Argentina, Cristina Fernández; Paraguay, Horacio Cartes; Uruguay, Tabare Vazquez; and Bolivia, Evo Morales are also attending the meeting.

Meeting in August

Meanwhile, the El Universal, a Venezuelan online news agency, reported Venezuelan President Maduro announcing that a special meeting will be held within the framework of the regional body to address the border controversy. “I would like to thank you all for agreeing to call a special meeting of Mercosur in Asunción, Paraguay, at the end of August,” Maduro said during his speech at the presidential summit of Mercosur.

Although the date of the meeting was not announced, Maduro welcomed the initiative from Mercosur and the possibility of fostering peace initiatives in the region. In addition, the Venezuelan President explained that the Good Officer of the United Nations to mediate in the dispute was yet to be appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, and highlighted that such decision would also be announced by the pro-tempore presidency of Mercosur, as agreed in talks with Uruguayan President Tabaré Vásquez. Guyana has already asked the UN to initiate judicial settlement of the border controversy and has signalled its intention to opt out of the Good Officers process which it said has outlived its usefulness and did little to resolve the decades-old controversy.

President David Granger being greeted by President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff at the Mercosur Summit

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

Caricom hasslefree movement

The just concluded Caricom Heads of Government Summit in Barbados for the first time in recent years did not dwell too much on the vexed issue of free movement within the Caribbean Community (CariCom). In recent years they have been trumpeting that free movement has improved with more people reportedly migrating intra-regionally to find better opportunities.

At time our leaders have even gone as far as hailing the free movement initiative as being one of the “highlights” of the community and offered clarity regarding the difference between free movement and hassle-free movement. We are not unmindful of the fact that as leaders of the community they automatically become key officers within the Caricom structure, and perhaps feel the need to defend the initiative of this institution.

But we in Guyana and those of our countrymen who have had to travel from time to time across the Caribbean would have a different view from that proffered from time to time. Caricom was founded upon the principle of integration, of which free and hassle-free movements ought to be key components. Years after the Treaty of Changuaramas was signed in Trinidad and Tobago to bring into effect this body the average Guyanese citizen is hardly ever able to travel hassle-free to some of our Caricom countries. The constant humiliation Guyanese and Jamaicans in particular have had to face when travelling to countries such as Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago has made a mockery of what the regional leaders had hoped to achieve with the implementation of the free movement mechanism.

Hassle Free Travel refers to the freedom of Caricom nationals to travel "into and within the jurisdiction of any Member State without harassment or the imposition of impediment". This is intended to foster a greater sense of community. It is also designed to encourage greater intra-Caricom tourism. Caricom has acknowledged that implementing hassle free travel has not proven as easy as might be expected, but not much has been to improve the system and make it work, expect for the usual platitudes and the long speeches on integration.

One does not have to go back too long to recognize that this country at the highest level had had to take the fight to Barbados for its stance on free movement. Though there has been a softening up by the authorities in Bridgetown largely due to the fact that not many of our citizens have been seeking employment in that country, owing to its weak economy, there still exist numerous cases that go unreported of Caricom citizens being hassled at these jurisdictions. If nothing else the landmark decision by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in the Shanique Myrie case delivered on October 4, 2013 should serve as a wake-up call to countries that preach free movement but do not practice it.

As the CCJ powerfully pronounced in its decision in favour of Jamaican Myrie, “If binding regional decisions can be invalidated at the Community level by the failure on the part of a particular State to incorporate those decisions locally the efficacy of the entire Caricom regime is jeopardized and effectively the States would not have progressed beyond the pre-2001 voluntary system that was in force….”

We would add that if Caricom nationals in many of the community’s states were to leave, the economies of these states would decline in myriad ways. Not only would they lose skilled and unskilled labour that they need, they would lose the taxes these people pay, the services they use such as rented houses, and the money they spend in the economy on items such as food, clothing, transportation, utilities, and medical care.

It is high time that we wake up out of our sleep and let that 1989 Grand Anse Declaration we often speak of begin to take root that in “these critical times at every level of our society, in every area of endeavour, we enlarge our vision beyond our individual countries and assume the habit of thinking in regional terms.”

And just like Former Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, A.N.R Robison said at that meeting we say now“…the time is propitious for major reexamination of where we have reached in our efforts at integration and of where we want to go.”

Sam Hinds rebuts Bisram on solar energy

Dear Editor, I write with reference to ‘Government must encourage Green Energy Development’ from Vishnu Bisram, appearing in Stabroek News and Kaieteur News of 201507-16.

As the Minister responsible for Electricity and Energy in the preceding PPP/C Administration, I welcome and encourage all well- thought-out initiatives to continue taking Guyana ‘Green’ which was so well proclaimed in Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Aspirations and good intentions are commendable: at the same time there is a need for accuracy and fair presentation if not we shall be misguided and we shall find ourselves in a situation worse than before.

There are in the letter referred to, a number of often ‘quoted statements’ with which I must take issue- the implied allegations of some sorts of corruption are just not true and other statements mislead the public.

In paragraphs 7, 8, 9, 10 of his letter Mr. Bisram repeated innuendos of preference and corruption in the award of contracts during the PPP/C administration, specifically in this letter the Photo-Voltaic Solar energy, electricity lighting projects, but the readily verifiable facts tell a very different story, and we should care about facts.

Allow me to highlight a few sections from the paragraphs mentioned above:

“ It ( the PPP/C Government) had its favourite contractors out of China”;

“ The Contracts largely went to the foreigners”;

“ A Trinidad Company

that produced solar energy cheaper than any Chinese was not ever considered”

Comment: No such company was known to us.

and; “ Other Caribbean service companies were not given preference even if more economical and less costly.”

Comment: If so there were more economical and less costly, there would be no call for preference

Before commenting further on the above, let us look at the table of major contract awards of the PV SHS (Solar Home Systems) Projects.

See the names of the suppliers. No preference for ‘favourite contractors out of China’. Whilst we were aware or believed that all the solar panels and many of the batteries and lamps came out of China, the winners of the contracts sourced

as best known to them. No surprise when they sourced from China: China has been in recent years the factory to the World, as Japan, the USA and the UK have been at earlier times. Much of the cables and controllers were sourced by the awardees from the USA and Europe, hence the large supply projects # 4, 5 and 6 were broken into different lots according to items and likely sourcing.

Note also the awards to local and regional companies. There, projects were implemented according to the Standard procedures of NPTA.

Yes, Guyana must continue to take advantage of opportunities to develop ‘Green’ Guyana as we meet our needs and in our Service. PV Solar and Wind technologies have been on a path of rapid improvement ( declin-

ing equipment costs) over the last two decades but they suffer from non- continuity and non- predictability in their generation. Over periods of about a year, they average about 40% generating time, including moment to moment variations for which the grid to which they are connected must compensate. There remains the need for a fossil fuelled (including any nuclear or hydro power) grid that can take the full demand at any time or capital costs could be doubled with the installation of various amounts of energy / electricity storage.

Guyana did pursue some years ago an invitation from the Government of Japan to developing countires to apply for grants of demonstration utility level PV Solar Farms ( 1 to 3 MW).

Muslims around the world are celebrating the three-day Eid al-Fitr festival, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

The beginning and end of Islamic months are determined by the sighting of the new moon. Most Arab countries and Indonesia have declared Friday the first day of Eid, but in Oman and Morocco as well as Guyana, the holiday will start today. Eid celebrations begin with a special prayer in mosques and open-air areas. In the photo, the faithful leave after morning prayers at the Pink Mosque in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, Maguinda in Southern Philippines (Al Jazeera)

Treatment of future army horses

Dear Editor,

While some are presently preoccupied by why President Granger was lavishly celebrating his birthday when the city was under water, crime is rampant, electricity is cut for hours long and there’s no money to buy school uniforms, I would like to divert your attention to the treatment of horses in Georgetown.

Yes, horses. Indeed, the treatment bestowed on horses used to transport heavy laden carts on a daily basis in the city is unbefitting of the service they are forced to render.

Most of these animals suffer injuries from the use of poor harnesses which cut into their muzzle throughout the day. Their hooves are often infected and are seldom, if ever, equipped with horse shoes to protect from wear.

It isn’t uncommon to see horses tied to posts and trees on very short ropes, reducing their ability to move freely and graze. Often, these animals are left to graze without water regardless of the heat they have to endure.

I do not share the opinion of those who argue

Recreational grounds much needed in communities

Dear Editor, Street cricket is becoming a nuisance in many communities. It isn’t being played only by children, but also adults. In many cases some of the players would become angry whenever a vehicle disrupts the game in progress. Vehicles would be signaled to drive along the street corner so as not have the wickets removed.

A few years ago, those who were playing in front of my house broke one of my windows. It remains broken to this day.

It isn’t uncommon to see players involved in quarrels with neighbours due to the damages caused on fences, walls and windows especially. So although we support

cricket, our street cricketers are really bothersome even though the people remain silent about it.

To facilitate healthy sports activities for our young people, our communities need play grounds so that there will be no need to play on the streets. Play grounds are as important as health centres in any community. Our children young people need to remain active and playgrounds will be the solution to fixing both their needs and our safety.

The relevant authorities should assist in implementing the proper recreational facilities much needed in our communities.

Yours truly R.Udho

APOLOGY

The letter in yesterday's edition, "Democratic Sovereignty" was inadvertently attributed to Leila Ramson. However, it was actually authored by Charles Ramson, SC, Commissioner of Information, former Minister of Legal Affairs and AG. We regret the error.

that horse carts are part of Guyanese culture, for they only serve the purpose of transportation for those who are in the incapacity of improvising better means.

However, besides the ill treatment which is dealt to these animals (many treat their cars better), horse carts are also a cause for traffic jams on our roads and sometimes a danger when transporting certain loads, such as construction material.

While the government is looking to enforce security in our present crime infested society through the use of

horses and dogs, it is recommended that its recognition of the worth of these animals be also applied to those which are mistreated.

After all, wouldn’t healthy happy horses enhance the capacity of our failed military and police manpower and boost the economy of our society? It’s most certain that the monies saved from the scrapped Back to School vouchers programme would compensate for the grooming of our army horses.

Sincerely Stacy Cheong

Government should replace school vouchers by breakfast meals

Dear Editor, As the new Government is reviewing the award of the $10,000 school voucher programme which was initiated by the previous Administration, I wish to suggest that instead of making cash payments to all parents irrespective of their financial circumstances, it would be better to provide a good breakfast meal to all children who attend school.

Such a program will encourage children, especially those who are often deprived of the essential breakfast meal, to attend school regularly, as well as to improve their health and concentration during classes. Thus the money spent by the Government will go directly to the intended beneficiaries, the children, which will support families as well.

Nowrang Persaud

Because they don’t care?

Dear Editor,

The PPP/C Government was criticised severely because it gave parents of children attending school a voucher for $10,000 last year. But this action was much appreciated by parents like myself, who have three children in primary school. We have a lot of expenses to cover for our children which we struggle to meet, because of our love for them.

In my home, I was able for the first time to buy schoolbooks for all the children. Even though we hear about free schoolbooks this is not always the case. I was also able to buy shoes for my youngest son. I really understood what the government

Sam Hinds Rebuts Bisram...

However we were advised later that this aid programme was suspended as ‘tightness’ had developed in the Japanese Government Budget.

I could not be as nonchalant as Mr. Bisram about the apparent decision of the present Government not to continue the development of the Amaila Falls Project. ‘Green’ Energy Electricity alternatives hydro power has been the longest developed, most mature, most predictable on the half to one year time scale, the closest to fossil fuel electricity generation. The Amaila Falls Project as it was developed by the PPP/C administration remains the most attractive electricity generation project for Guyana. About the best that could be found on first cost, financing cost and average lifetime costs of electrical energy generated. Mr. Bisram seems to be a champion for household PV installations fed into our GPL grid. He recognizes the historical and on-going need for subsidies to house owners on installation, but does not mention the premium often paid also, one way or another on energy fed into the grid.

was doing for us poor parents when it distributed the “Because we care” vouchers.

Even though the new Government says it will boost the education sector, it is now reconsidering the voucher. It wants us to prove that we’re poor to be eligible for the money. This is very shameful for me. With the PPP/C offer, all parents were entitled to the vouchers, so none of us stood out because we are poor and as such I didn’t feel ashamed.

To me, it seems as though this Government is saying they will not give us the voucher “because they don’t care”.

Sincerely

Sabita Devi Persaud

In our circumstances in Guyana, an already existing overall subsidy of about 20% (not to GPL but to us customers of GPL), high losses particularly non- commercial (our high propensity to abstract electricity without paying for it, about 16% vs. about 2% in most developed and respectable countries) grid feed-in policies could generate many questions: they may be open to the public at large but who would be able to take advantage of it and enjoy the subsidies assuming that there are subsidies? Mr. Bisram may find that a door would have been opened to many appearances, perceptions and allegations of corruption but perhaps one cannot do things without ‘appearances’ and people perceiving what they will.

from page 4

Mr. Bisram seems to be a champion for household PV installations fed into our GPL grid. He recognizes the historical and on-going need for subsidies to house owners on installation, but does not mention the premium often paid also, one way or another on energy fed into the grid.

Regards Mr Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds, O.E Former Prime Minister of Guyana

saturday, july 18, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Floodwaters recede slowly

… as citizens count losses

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

Following almost two days of floods in several regions across Guyana, residents are counting their losses as they now deal with the aftermath, as floodwaters recede in the affected areas.

Residents from Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six were affected, however, Region Four experienced more intense flooding, with the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara, along with the Georgetown area, feeling the most impact. The water was lodged most of Thursday and by the following morning, it began to reside. While most villages saw the water levels going down, there are some persons who still have several inches of water lodged in their yards and homes.

woke on Thursday morning, it had risen much higher, entering the bottom flat of her home. The woman noted that it was only until Friday that the water began to recede.

She further pointed out

plastic bottles. A little further up the East Coast in Better Hope, residents were also crying out as a result of the losses they incurred. Many of them pointed out that only about a month ago, they had incurred losses from another bout of flooding.

One woman showed this

Guyana Times visited some of the villages on the East Coast of Demerara and spoke to some of those residents still affected by the water. One woman in Industry, Tara (only name given) related that while the water has receded from inside the bottom flat of her home, it is still lodged in the yard.

When this newspaper visited the woman’s residence on Friday, about four inches of water was still lodged, covering the entire yard. Tara recalled that when she returned home from work on Wednesday afternoon, the water had already accumulated to about an inch, however, when she

that there is another house at the back of the yard where the water is even higher.

The woman added that this is the first time since the massive floods in 2005 that they have experienced such flooding. She noted that several of her belongings were damaged because she was unable to save anything.

Her neighbour, Harpaul Jagroo, also complained about the state of his yard, pointing to the overflowing drain in the front of his property which caused the water to lodge on the land. He noted that the water has nowhere to run off to since the canal in which it has to drain into is overgrown with weeds and clogged with

neighbour because of the amount of water lodged in her apartment.

She went on to say that the water only began receding on Friday morning; however, it is still lodged in some neighbours’ homes. She even took Guyana Times to visit some other houses in the street that were affected by the floodwaters.

At these homes, residents had their furniture and appliances mounted, however, they noted that many of their grocery items had to be thrown away as they were damaged from the flood waters.

On the other hand, most of the communities along the East Bank of Demerara that were flooded on Thursday saw the water receding by Friday morning. However, there were a few villages such as Prospect, Little Diamond and Coven Garden, where a few inches of water remained lodged in some parts.

residents there are still very much affected by the floodwaters.

Government has initiated the set-up of emergency shelters to provide assistance to those who are mostly affected by the floods.

publication the state of her house, which was in havoc since all of the appliances and furniture had to be mounted higher. She noted that her living room suite was damaged when they were flooded last month and was loaned a three-piece set which was also soaked. The woman, who is renting the bottom flat apartment of the building, explained that she had to sleep at her upstairs

Meanwhile, in areas such as Plaisance, on the East Coast of Demerara and Sophia, in Greater Georgetown, most of water had drained from the land, but not before damaging furniture, appliances, grocery items, clothing, among other belongings for those who resided in the lower apartments. Then in areas such as Albouystown and South Ruimveldt, in Georgetown,

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence has been tasked with setting up these shelters to accommodate persons in need, especially elderly persons and other residents in Albouystown.

The Selman Fraser Nursery School in Albouystown has been transformed into a shelter and several families have been relocated there temporarily. Public Infrastructure

David Patterson told Guyana Times that all of the sluices are working; hence, the water is being released from several flood affected communities in Georgetown and outlining areas across the country. “The water is going as fast as the systems will let it to go,” he stated. According to the Minister, the sluice at the Sussex Street Koker was down as repair works were being carried out on it, however, he noted that while there are some minor works left to be done, he has nevertheless ordered that the sluice be open to release the water from the Albouystown and Charlestown areas.

Customers win in TRINCHLORO Clean and White Sure Cash Promotion

ANSA McAL Trading on Friday hosted the first drawing for its TRINCHLORO Clean and White Sure Cash Promotion at Bounty Supermarket, Water Street, Georgetown which saw five lucky customers winning US$100 each.

The winners are Bunita Singh of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara; Shailendra Arjune of Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice; Ormeletta Bourne of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Bibi Rozana Ramdat of Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara and Jean Benjamin of Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara.

This is the first of four drawings which will be held

every fortnight with the next scheduled for July 31 and the grand draw scheduled for August 28.

This promotion will give 20 TRINCHLORO customers the chance to win $2 million in cash, with the first place winner receiving US$5000, second place US$3000, third place of US$1000 and fourth and fifth place of US$500 each. Additionally, 15 persons will win US$100 in the three consolation drawings.

To enter into the promotion, persons are required to enter a TRINCHLORO Clean and White label along with their name, address and telephone number in entry boxes provided at all leading supermarkets countrywide.

Members of the ANSA McAL team during the drawing on Friday

This Industry woman shows the floodwaters still lodged in her yard and an adjoining yard

These women from Better Hope complained bitterly about their belongings that were damaged by the floodwaters

The floodwater in Albouystown was still very high even on Friday

Minister

Flood aftermath

Damage assessment team deployed

... Govt commits to providing

assistance

In the aftermath of the floodwaters that swept through most of the East Coast of Demerara and Georgetown on Thursday, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has deployed a damage assessment team across the affected communities to detail citizens’ losses and their needs.

In a release, the Ministry of the Presidency said that the damage assessment teams have been deployed by the CDC and they are presently on the ground in flood affected areas. In Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), the teams will be working from the University of Guyana Road to Coldigen, with another working from Melanie Damishana to Mahaica – all communities along the East Coast of Demerara. Another team will be working in the areas from Conversation Tree, Bel Air, to Meadow Bank, Greater Georgetown.

In Region Three (Essequibo Island-West Demerara), the teams will be visiting affected areas; both on the West Coast and the West Bank of Demerara. The team, according to Major Sean Welcome, will be looking for information with regard to the level of the flood water in their areas or homes, any health problems experienced as a result of the floodwaters, the level of nearby canals and the extent of damages to property, crops, livestock and buildings.

Meanwhile, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence along with a team from her Ministry;

continues to reach out to persons affected by the recent rainfall. A few communities were severely affected resulting in the need for persons to be relocated to temporary shelters. The Social Protection Ministry is collaborating with the CDC on this response as mandated by President David Granger and the Cabinet.

Minister Lawrence visited various affected areas on Friday morning. Her first stop was at the Dharm-Shala located in Albouystown, Georgetown, where she met residents and the administrators of the home. “The Ministry spoke to them and they indicated that they don’t really

need any help at this time in evacuating people, in fact they have a lot of space there. I spoke with the administrator and went to see what else we can give, so very soon CDC should bring some long boots and other stuff for them,” Minister Lawrence reported.

Some communities in Georgetown are still inundated with water but, according to the Minister, Albouystown will take longer to drain since the pumps to drain that community are not functioning efficiently. A visit was also made to the Selman Fraser Nursery School which is being used as a shelter for affected persons in the Albouystown area.

“They are housing children and their parents who have been severely affected. That started since yesterday (Wednesday) morning… CDC kicked in last evening (Wednesday) and they brought meals and cots and water,” the Social Protection Minister said, adding that, “This will continue until normalcy is restored to the communities.”

The Albouystown Nursery School is also being used as a shelter for persons affected. The school is open in the evenings, only to accommodate persons in need of somewhere to stay, while the Selman Fraser Nursery is open 24 hours. Additionally, similar arrangements have been put in place in most of the hard-hit communities in Regions Three and Five.

The Ministry has engaged the churches, mosques and the temples seeking their assistance should the need arise. “They all gave positive responses that if the communities require them having to take-in or relocate persons to shelters that they will be willing to step in and provide assistance,” Lawrence reported.

The religious leaders have committed to the Government that they will monitor the situation in their respective regions with the aim of providing assistance since they have a conduit through the Ministry and the CDC, whereby they will be given the necessary materials that would be required to assist the affected persons.

Minister Lawrence is urg-

ing persons in flood affected communities who have senior citizens who need to be relocated to make contact with her Ministry. “The Ministry of Social Protection will come, evaluate the situation and remove those persons to Onverwagt where we can house about 160 persons right now and we are willing to keep them there until this situation has passed and then we will return them to their homes,” she said.

The Minister also visited Plastic City and the community of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara to assess the situation. At Plastic City, it was evident that residents are not affected. However, at Middle Dam, Pouderoyen, residents have been inundated for almost one month now since the area has a defective koker. Conditions there were compounded with the recent rainfall.

Minister Lawrence reported that Region Three Regional Chairman Julius Faeber was contacted and he has promised that he would visit the Pouderoyen area to assess the situation with the aim of providing assistance and bring relief to the residents.

On Thursday, several Ministers of Government and other representatives visited affected communities in Georgetown and its environs to assess the situation, engaged residents on their immediate needs and reported to a highlevel team which was crafting Government’s strategic response to the flood.

Minister Lawrence and children at the Selman Fraser Primary School

saturday, july 18, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police charge 5 for drunk driving

Five more persons have been charged by the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department for driving under the influence of alcohol. These men were found to be above the legal limit in terms of alcohol consumption when they were stopped and made to undergo a breathalyser test at various checkpoints between July 4 and 5, 2015.

Nandlall Seeram, of Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was stopped while driving motor vehi-

cle PJJ 1661 on Bush Lot Public Road, WCB. After being found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol, he was charged and appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court. He was fined $7500.

Then, Errol Cush of Lot 71 Kingston, Corriverton, Berbice, was also found to be

above the legal limit while driving motor vehicle PTT 193 on the D’Edward Public Road, WCB. He appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on July 7 and was fined $7500.

While driving motor vehicle PGG 3073 along the D’Edward Public Road, WCB, Dhanraj Ramkissoon of Lot 101 Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice (WBB) was found to be above the legal limit in terms of consumption of alcohol. He was subsequently charged and made an appearance at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on July 7 when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.

Natram Singh, of Lot 22 F Bath Settlement, WCB,

also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol, while driving motor vehicle CF 2577 on D’Edward Public Road, when the at-

tendant charge was read to him at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on July 7. Singh was sentenced to

pay a fine of $7500.

Finally, Harripaul Jagdeo of Lot 133 Bath Settlement, WCB, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on July 5 while driving motor vehicle PNN 3598 on D’Edward Public

Road, WCB. He was found to be above the legal alcohol limit and was charged. He appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court where he was fined $7500.

Only recently, Police said that a total of 26,390 cases were made against errant motorists at the end of June 2015. Of this total, 11,168 cases were for speeding, 770 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 328 for using

a cell phone while driving, and 764 for failing to wear a seatbelt.

The Guyana Police Force is taking the opportunity to caution motorists who drive close behind other motor vehicles on the roadways, an act which has resulted in a number of accidents. They are reminded to apply the principle of thinking distance and braking distance – the faster the rate of speed, the greater the need to be further away from the vehicle ahead.

Motorcyclists and pillion riders are reminded to wear their safety helmets at all times.

Might is right...

...on Greece

So the Grexit never took place. You news junkies know about that, right? Greece was on the financial ropes and threatened to leave the Eurozone because they just couldn't live with the "austerities" imposed by the mainly German Banks for "bailing" them out. A European country being subjected to such humiliations?? That was par for the course for us natives in the third world...but Europeans? From what's unfolding, seems it's only the colour of money that counts.

So the plot's already been written and played out so many times before, it's like a Greek tragedy (pun not intended!!) unfolding before our eyes. It's just it's never been written with European characters getting the short end of the stick. As a universal issue, here's your Eyewitness take on the international rape being committed. Banks are in the business to make money, right? To make that money they lend it to borrowers, which entails taking a risk as to whether they'll get back their money.

That amount of that risk is given a value called "interest". All right so far? So we have two sides dancing this tango: the bank sizing up the lender and the lender assuring the banker he's good for the loan. Now when Banks are flush with money, they don't make profits if the moolah's sitting in their vaults. So, driven by the profit motive (greed has nothing to do with this: it's business!) they don't check the teeth of borrowers too closely.

But it's the BANKS's risk, no? No!! With the loans to Greece over a decade ago, Greece never had the fundamentals to service those loans if things went sour. And sour it did get. And the irony is that it got sour up North because of the overreaching (not here, remember?) of those same banks now screaming for their pound of flesh. And of course Greece was caught with its pants down. It's being told how profligate and careless and lazy Greeks are and that's why they're in the mess.

Well, all of that may very well be true. But wasn't that part of the risk the banks assessed when they set the rate of interests on the Greek loans?? You'd think so, wouldn't you? But that's not how the cookie crumbles in the banking business. Here, the customer is NEVER RIGHT! In effect, the Banks have been guaranteed that they took ANY RISK! In the business, it's known as "moral hazard": when you have no incentive to "do the right thing".

Why should you, when lending game's so structured that, like casinos, the house always wins??!!

...in teaching history also?

There's the old cliche that "history is written by the victors". But from the brouhaha over the history programme at UG, it seems that the history of teaching history is written by the Dean of the programme. The GTimes simply reported that because of a claimed lack of interest in the 4-year history degree programme, students couldn't sign up for it but could only take the 2-year Diploma programme.

So the Dean takes offence that the GTimes used the word "scrapped" to describe the fate of the 4-year history programme. Well, what's the difference to the students of UG who complained that they can't sign up for the 4-year programme whether it's "scrapped" or sent on a "sabbatical"? So what do these students who've already completed the two years of study to qualify for the Diploma, do? Put their studies on hold until the Dean's done with his cavilling on the word "scrapped"?

This just proves that the past administration was spot on, to point out the UG's administration is "misguided" to say the least.

...on vouchers

The GTimes was also rapped for saying that the Education $10,000 voucher was "scrapped" by the new administration.

"Not so!!" the Minister said. It just isn't "viable" said another. So?

Errol Cush

Dhanraj Ramkissoon

Harripaul Jagdeo

Nandlall Seeram

Natram Singh

Killer gang

Enough evidence to charge killer gang – Crime Chief

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Friday told Guyana Times that the Police have enough evidence to institute charges against the suspects that are presently in custody for questioning in connection with the murders of Travis Rudder and Ganesh Ramlall and the robbery committed on Justice Nicole Pierre.

However, Blanhum stated that during investigations, the Police realised that there is enough evidence to justify and application to the High Court to further detain the six men arrested during an operation in Craig Village, East Bank Demerara on Tuesday morning.

He noted that thus far, two of the men confessed to the murder of Ganesh Ramlall who was shot and killed by three armed men who confronted him, moments after he arrived at his La Jealousie, West Coast Demerara home two Sundays ago. He was reportedly shot five times to his body by the men who relieved him of his jewellery and cash.

Another, he added, confessed to the attack on

Justice Pierre at her Felicity, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

The Judge was attacked by four men who escaped with cash and jewellery. During the attack, the men assaulted the Land Court Judge and her husband causing them to be hospitalised. One man has been positively identified as one of the four men who committed the act.

The Crime Chief added that investigations are ongoing with respect to the murder of Rudder. Rudder, age 32, was reportedly gunned down on Father’s Day at his Nandy Park, East Bank

Demerara (EBD) home, while he was asleep in a bed alongside his 18-monthold son and girlfriend. The child, Travic Rudder was shot six times and his mother seven times during the attack. Rudder reportedly received 18 gunshot wounds to his body. Orpheus Johnson of Lot 13 First Street, Craig, East Bank Demerara was already charged for the murder after he confessed to the killing.

While he was not sure how many persons will be charged, the Crime Chief explained that the extension period expires on Monday, and as such, the men will make a court appearance. Nevertheless, he disclosed that the Police are still hunting for the four other men in connection with the murders.

On Tuesday, members of the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Guyana Police Force shot and killed a suspected bandit while arresting six others during an operation that also saw one rank being shot and a bandit being seriously wounded.

The dead man has been identified as 29-year-old

Rolston Morrison, called “Mappy” or “Sadam” of Nabaclis, ECD and Providence, EBD. The Police, several months ago, had issued a wanted bulletin for Morrison for the murder of a fellow villager, Dwayne Kennedy. The 28-year-old man of Lot 40 Nabaclis, ECD was executed at the Golden Grove Market in March, during an argument with Morrison over an old grievance between the two.

Additionally, Police sources had confirmed that Morrison was wanted for questioning in relation to several robberies on the

East Coast of Demerara and in the interior. A firearm belonging to the now dead man was also found hidden under his mother’s house. His accomplice, 22-yearold Warren McKenzie of Brutus Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown, was also hurt in the exchange between Police and the gunmen. McKenzie was charged back in 2013 with armed robbery. Additionally, a Constable attached to the SWAT Unit sustained a gunshot wound during the shootout. Both injured men have been hospitalised; however, the suspect, who re-

ceived a gunshot wound to his abdomen, remains under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital. The Police were able to recover a 9mm Glock pistol along with two magazines and 25 matching rounds. The weapon was tested and ballistic experts confirmed that it is linked to Rudder and Ramlall’s murder. Also, a number of 9mm spent shells were also recovered at the scene.

Additionally, the Police found two wrist watches, which are suspected to have been stolen from Justice Pierre during the robbery.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum

Slain Businessman Ganesh Ramlall Slain murder accused Travis Rudder

Justice Nicole Pierre

Venezuelan Opposition MPs table bill to create an Essequibo State

By Dr ODeen Ishmael

In a new twist to the Venezuelans’ renewed vociferous and heated claim to Guyana’s Essequibo territory, eight Opposition members of the Venezuelan National Assembly have presented a special bill for the creation of a new Essequibo “state”.

The legislators, Andres Velasquez, Freddy Marcano, Américo de Grazzia, Luis Barragan, Jose Manuel Gonzalez, Juan Pablo Garcia, Omar Gonzalez and Flores Leomagno, on July 15 presented their bill which proposes the creation of a state to be known as “Esequivo” (with a “v” in the spelling) to stretch from Sifontes, a municipality of Bolivar State, and including Guyana’s Essequibo territory claimed by Venezuela. They said that their proposed state would return the region to its “original name derived from its discoverer, Juan de Esquivel” and will constitute “an innovative, appropriate, timely and relevant popular representation in the framework of Venezuelan policy for the recovery of territory”. They viewed this action as legitimate, fair, and peaceful.

The eight proponents explained that the idea of the new state was conceived and developed by Sergio Urdaneta, a lawyer specialising in constitutional and administrative law, and that their proposal “is inspired by the best patriotic , sober

and responsible feeling”.

In its preamble, the bill, published in the Venezuelan online periodical, Noticiero Digital.com, alleges that the Paris arbitral award of October 3, 1899 “amended” the constitution of the country and reduced Venezuelan territory by 159,500 square kilometres. It further claims that the award was never ratified by the Venezuelan State and therefore it remained without any validity. Strangely, the eight parliamentarians have not included in their proposal for their proposed state the chunk of 10,350 square kilometres of territory west of the Rupununi District, granted to the then British Guiana by the 1899 award, but which was later ceded by the British Government to Brazil after another arbitration in 1902. This area bounded by the Takutu and the Cotinga River (in Brazil) was originally claimed by Venezuela before the arbitral tribunal.

The bill also asserts that the award “was achieved by coercion”, thus closing the proponents’ minds on the fact that it was actually the British Government that was forced to agree to arbitration in 1897 by the American Government which at that time heavily backed Venezuela in its territorial claim. With regard to the structure of their proposed “Esequivo State”, the provisional capital will be the city of Tumeremo in the

Sifontes municipality. The governor “is required to be Venezuelan by birth, over 25 years and a layman”. For this purpose, a Venezuelan is considered to be anyone born in the territory “which includes the Esequivo territory”.

The bill goes on to explain that legislative power will be vested in the new state by a legislative council comprising seven to 15 members, elected for a term of four years by the voting majority. And the territory of the proposed state will be organised into municipalities, parishes, communes, departments, cantons, and captains, and “recognises any geographical, historical, cultural features and realities of the inhabitants of the territory.”

Apparently, the proposers of the new state believe that it is good enough for a governor and the legislative council to “be elected by the population that makes up the municipality of Sifontes until the register of the remaining territory of the state is completed.”

The eight National Assembly members indicate optimistically in their bill that when passed, the legislation “shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Venezuela in Spanish, English, Macuchi and Wapishana”.

Dangerous ploy

How much support the bill will garner is not

yet known, but in recent days, both Government and Opposition members of the National Assembly have shown strong unity in backing President Nicolás Maduro in his vehement demand for Essequibo. Only recently, on July 14, the National Assembly voted unanimously to support him, with almost no criticism from the Opposition. And on the following day, they applauded his establishment of a presidential commission for border issues. In this test of patriotism for his opponents, they have passed with flying colours. They in turn will surely demand their pound of flesh, and the proponents of the “Esequivo” bill must be thinking that they will be able to garner much needed support from parliamentarians on the Government side. On the other hand, it may still fizzle out since the Venezuelan Government has more challenging economic issues to handle at this time.

However, the entire concept of a new Venezuelan state encompassing Guyana’s Essequibo territory assumes, erroneously, that Guyanese citizens residing there will gleefully accept Venezuelan citizenship. Nevertheless, it presents a dangerous ploy to the Guyanese nation, for this bill comes right out of the playbook of European revanchists of the 19 and 20th Centuries and even more recently, who laid similar types of groundwork before they acted to annex neighbouring weaker territories.

(Dr. Odeen Ishmael was Guyana’s ambassador to Venezuela from 2003 to 2011. He is the author of “The Trail of Diplomacy – The GuyanaVenezuela Border Issue” [in three volumes])

Locally produced meal supplement launches today

An exciting new premium meal supplement designed to provide the proper nutrition and satisfy hunger on the go is being launched on Saturday at Nigel’s Supermarket, Light Street, Georgetown.

Quick Fix Meal Supplement is a premium product conceptualised by Guyanese for Guyanese. According to co-creator Paton Rose, it is a meal substitute made of local ingredients, and is intended for busy professionals with little time to prepare a full meal with all the vital nutrients. Rose added that Quick Fix can be consumed in the morning as a quick and healthy breakfast.

He shared that this product has a shelf life of one year and is certified by the Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department of Guyana, and added that the product

is 100 per cent Guyanese. Currently, the only flavour available is peanut, but Paton promises multiple flavours soon, with vanilla coming on the market in a matter of a few weeks. The product idea came about because the group wanted a product that is not hard to prepare but provides all necessary nutrients.

Paton shared that he doubted that persons will not love this product. The product has been tested by a wide cross-section of Guyanese, including sports personalities, business professionals, homemakers, entertainers and even school children who all appeared to love the product.

He admitted that there was a criticism about making the product smoother but that has been remedied and now the only complaint is about the lack of more flavours.

Paton Rose (left), and other members of the Quick Fix team

Licence plate makers worry over Govt’s move to centralise system

Though the perception is that many persons will now be jobless, owing to the move by Government to impose a centralisation system for the issuance of vehicle licence plates, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman is assuring that this will not necessarily be the case.

Sections of the public continue to cry out over the decision by Government to impose this system, citing that many breadwinners will now be forced to find alternative ways of providing for their families. However, Minister Trotman explained that even though the system will be centralised, there will be agencies across the country which will have vacancies which can be occupied by those entrepreneurs who were already involved in the trade.

“They will be given explanations and invited to submit bids… It is not going to be done without taking their views into account,” the Minister assured. The reason for embarking on this initiative, the Minister explained, is to ensure that licence plates being issued are uniformed and regularised as they will be embedded with special security features in order to easily distinguish between fake plates and a genuine one.

“A number of small enterprise businesses that do number plates, we received information that some of them are being used, unwittingly so, to produce fake plates from time to time,” Minister Trotman explained, indicating that this new system will help curb the issue of criminal activities which rely on counterfeit licence plates.

Currently, licence plates are being manufactured by any printing company or

individual in the country with the capacity to manufacture such. Guyana Times spoke with a representative from Jai Sign and Auto Designs, who noted that the company will experience significant losses if this new system sees fruition.

“We do other things but we basically started on number plates and we eventually ventured out into signs and thing, so that is a big part of our operations… we would lose out a lot because every day is a constant thing, people come in all the time so at the end of the month, is a lot of money we make from this,” he said.

Nonetheless, while hopeful that his business will win some of the bids to continue to operate, he noted that numerous entities will unfortunately be put out of operation.

One of the smaller entities, located on Croal Street, Georgetown, is not in favour of this move.

Forbes Christian, owner of one such establishment, expressed his deepest dis-

satisfaction with the idea, noting that it will only cause chaos. He explained that a centralisation process will put a toll on the

Government and will only make the process tedious for customers as they will have to wait longer before they get their plates completed.

Another small establishment, operated by Chris (only name given), noted that it is the smaller business owners who will feel the brunt of this decision because the larger companies can earn income from doing other things, like graphic designing or tinting.

“So what’s going to happen with all the licence plates that issued before? This won’t stop the criminals them, they will still be thieving and doing them things. I think even if they want to install a security strip in the plates, then they should let us do it because nuff of we gonna be out of work,” he said.

However, other sections of society are highly in favour of this decision, noting that it is time law and order prevailed.

Forbes Christian shows a list of some of his regular clients, including the Guyana Fire Service

Many persons will now be jobless owing to the move by Government to impose a centralisation system for the issuance of vehicle licence plates

saturday, july 18, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sharing of ideas can boost regional education standards – Education Minister

Acall was made by Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine for more efficient sharing of information and ideas on the challenges facing the education systems across the Caribbean.

Minister Roopnaraine, addressing the opening of the 27th Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) at the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat this morning, noted that despite its relative success in specific areas such as health and sport, functional cooperation in education at the regional level has had severe limitations.

He said that this has to do with how Member States effectively manage development related research at the national and regional levels. He noted that as a consequence, the effective development of the Region’s human resource has been severely hampered. Giving an example, the Minister explained that the lessons of the reformed Trinidadian and Jamaican education systems would no doubt be invaluable, as Guyana undertakes planned reform of its education system. “Yet there is no established regional mechanism via which my research development and planning personnel can readily access those findings,” Minister Roopnaraine stated.

Shortly after his assumption to office, Minister Roopnaraine commenced a comprehensive audit of the school system. This is a precursor of what is to be an extensive Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the state of education locally.

Roopnarine noted too that Information Communication Technology (ICT) development is an inexorable link to the concept of

Education

regional research integration. He pointed out that the nature of ICT at present, represents a tremendous opportunity for Caricom, but, challenges such as the wide disparity in bandwidth availability still exist. He said that this is one hurdle that the Region must seek to overcome with some urgency. Guyana’s Education Minister also addressed the need for human resource development. “We have so far failed to develop a holistic regional mechanism incorporating the human resource talent of the Diasporas in any sustainable meaningful way,” the Minister pointed out. He said that “while as a Region we might not be able to immediately offer competitive remuneration, there is room for innovatively engaging our Diasporas either by new initiatives, or the restructuring of existing systems.” He listed the US Full Bright Scholarship and the Peace Corps among others as examples of bilateral and multilat-

eral initiatives that perhaps could be guided by a coordinated policy of Diaspora involvement.

Dr Roopnaraine also expressed his disappointment at the absence of culture as a specific related agenda for the meeting. “It is time we seek to truly mainstream cultural development as against being relegated to a mere afterthought,” he urged.

The 27th Meeting of COHSOD is a two-day event that will run under the theme ‘Safeguarding our Region’s future, reshaping education for the 21st century’. The main objective of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for Ministers responsible for education and children’s issues, to discuss perspectives, and provide directions on the major issues related to the development of a proposed 2030 Caricom Strategy for Education and Human Resource Development.

Speakers at the opening ceremony also included Chairman of the Meeting, St Kitts and Nevis’ Deputy

Prime Minister and Education, Youth, Sport, and Culture Minister Shawn Richards; and Assistant Secretary General, Human and Social Development, Caricom Secretariat, Dr Douglas Slater.

Richards explained the rationale for the development of a proposed 2030 Caricom Strategy for Education and Human Resource Development and it being on the agenda of the twenty-seventh meeting.

“The Caribbean community has had an impressive history in such areas as education, health, youth development, in which Member States of the community have pooled technical resources to produce regional public good for the benefit of all instead of pursuing restricted national options,” he said.

“This no doubt, was the perspective of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government when they decided that a holistic Caricom 2030 human resource development strategy should be developed, as the Region seeks to safeguard the future through the reshaping of education for the 21st century,” he furthered.

Richards explained that among the specific issues engaging the Heads of Government in arriving at the decision were, the indications of systemic failure evidenced by the regional results of the Caribbean Examination Council examinations, which pointed to the fact that even in light of the significant expenditure in education budgets, there were significant wastage and considerable inefficiency at all levels.

Richard noted that despite most Member States recording close to Universal Access to Secondary Education, only 40 per cent of those students actually sat the examinations, and among those only 22 per

cent achieved acceptable grades in five or more subjects. There was also low participation in areas more directly related to development for the 21st century and the strategic areas outlined for the Region such as foreign languages, Caribbean History, Geography, Visual Arts, Music, Science and Technology, the Chairman explained. The need for rationalisation of tertiary education was also an issue cited.

The strategy is expected to pay specific attention to equity, addressing the imperative of quality, improving performance with gender and socio-economic sensitivity, creating sustainable efficiency to guarantee the future and aligning and rationalising higher education to address Caribbean innovative entrepreneurship and development, he said.

During the meeting, the Ministers are expected to examine the strategy and make recommendations. “The challenge is ours to continue to shape the future we want, not only for ourselves and our children, but for several generations to come,” Slater urged. He explained that even as it charts a new direction in education, the COHSOD meeting will also review the advances through functional cooperation with Member States in areas such as addressing adolescent pregnancy. It will also consider for endorsement, Caricom’s strategy for reducing adolescent pregnancy which was developed in partnership with the UNFPA. The role of the education system in building regional spirit and identity will also be examined, as well as the West Indies Cricket Board’s Kiddies Cricket as part of kindling interest in cricket, among others. (GINA)

Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine among other Ministers responsible for education and child issues at the opening of the 27th Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development at the Caricom Secretariat, Georgetown

july 18, 2015 |

Eid-ul-Fitr message by CIOG

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Assalamu Alaikum; May the Peace, Mercy and Blessing of Allah be with you all!

On this important and auspicious occasion, the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, I would like to wish all Guyanese and especially our Muslim brothers and sisters, “Eid Mubarak!” Eid Mubarak to all our brothers and sisters, the Imams, President and leaders of our country! Ramadan is the month in which the Holy Quran was revealed to our Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Almighty Allah (SWT) said in the Holy Quran Chapter 2: Verse: 183, “O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may learn self-restraint (Taqwah).”

Regarding the Holy month of Ramadan, our Beloved Prophet, Muhammad (SAW) has beautifully and comprehensively described what a blessed month it is by saying “O people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which there is a night better than a thousand months. A month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer to Allah by performing any good deeds in this month shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time. Whoever discharges an obligatory deed in this month shall receive the reward of performing 70 obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is heaven. It is the month of charity.

“It is a month in which a believer’s sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast shall have his sins forgiven, he will be saved from the fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all.”

In another narration, our Beloved Prophet (SAW) said, ”In the first part of Ramadan we earn the mercy of Allah, the second part we earn the forgiveness of Allah and dur-

CIOG President Al Hajj Fazeel M Ferouz

ing the third part we earn freedom from the Fire of Hell. “ Our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said whoever does not give up false statements and evil actions, Allah will not be in need of him giving up his food and drink.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, we had the most noble visitor, the Holy Month of Ramadan, let make maximum use of the short time that we have to earn the Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah. In the month of Ramadan, the month in which the Quran was revealed, we would have gone back to the pages of the Holy Quran and reflect on the message of the Quran because it is the greatest message and the final message sent to mankind by Allah. We should let our lives reflect our love for Prophet Muhammad and all those ideals that he spoke about and taught us. There is a cry in the world for this noble way of life; the message of peace, the message of love, the message of unity of all humanity, the message of tolerance, the message which if we follow it sincerely and implement it in our lives, our lives will be changed for the better and the world will be a better place for all. Islam has the solution for all the problems facing humanity whether these problems are religious, social, economic or otherwise.

The month of Ramadan was a time to reflect on all these challenges that mankind faces today and we seek the solution which

can only be found through our dedication, prayer, charity and fast. Fasting and charity earn us His grace and His mercy.

Let us try our best to make peace with all our family members, neighbours and fellow citizens. Let us visit the sick and pray for them. Let us extend our mercy to the orphans in our community. Let us sympathise and help the widows and elderly people in society. These actions will earn us God’s forgiveness and mercy; this is what Ramadan stands for. Let us rededicate our lives to prayers and righteous deeds to make our homes, our community and country a better place for all Guyanese. May Allah bless us all and bless our Country.

UG compound remains inundated

Almost 24 hours after the heavy rains came and flooded large portions of the coastland, the country’s premier tertiary institution remained underwater. The University of Guyana remained closed on Friday as a result of the water lodging on the premises. The staff attached to the University was given the day off to allow the water to recede from their work place and this also give them personal time to deal with their own flood affected homes. When Guyana Times visit-

ed the university, the “ghost town” appeared swampy and the ancillary staff members will definitely have a hard task ahead of them to restore the buildings. The University should be back to its normal operations from Monday.

A section of the University still underwater

Regional

Brazil ex-President Lula da Silva in corruption probe

Prosecutors in Brazil have opened a formal investigation into allegations of influence-peddling by the former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The inquiry centres on whether Lula had used his connections overseas improperly to help the Brazilian construction giant, Oderbrecht.

The ex-President’s foundation, the Lula Institute, said he had nothing to fear.

Oderbrecht’s CEO was arrested last month over in-

volvement in a corruption scandal at the oil company Petrobras. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the alleged influence-peddling took place between 2011 and 2014 after Lula left office and was replaced by Dilma Rousseff.

He is accused of trying to help Oderbrecht get billion-dollar deals in Latin America and Africa. The Lula institute said in a statement: “We are calm. The Lula Institute is certain of the transparency

and legality of ex-President Lula’s activities.” The inquiry comes as the speaker of Brazil’s Lower House of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, said he was considering in the next 30 days legal arguments on whether to open impeachment proceedings against President Rousseff.

Calls have been growing from Opposition politicians to remove her for alleged campaign finance irregularities linked to a huge corruption and bribery scandal in the state-run oil company, Petrobras. The investigation

into ex-president Lula drags him into this widening scandal.

Federal prosecutors allege that a cartel of companies and contractors, including Oderbrecht, working for Petrobras had overcharged the company billions of dollars for major contracts. They say the extra money found its way into the pockets of executives and politicians of many parties including Lula’s Workers Party. President Rousseff has denied involvement. (Excerpt from

12-year-old girl charged with murdering peer in St Vincent

A12-year-old student has appeared in court in Antigua charged with the murder of 15-yearold Moesha Primus, who was stabbed to death on Thursday, July 9.

The accused appeared in the Family Court on Monday, where the charge was read to her in the presence of her parents. She was not required to plead to the

indictable offence, and a preliminary inquiry has been set for September 11.

Legal sources say concerns have been raised as to where the accused should be held and the defence attorneys will appear in court on Friday in a bid to obtain bail for the student.

St Vincent and the Grenadines does not have a facility dedicated to the de-

tention of a minor charged with criminal offences. Primus, a form two student at Intermediate High School, sustained a stab wound to the left side of her chest during an altercation at Campden Park on Thursday, Police say. She was taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

(Antigua Observer)

Child, teens and elderly woman killed in Cuba building collapse

Authorities said on Thursday they were investigating what caused a building in the centre of Old Havana to collapse, killing four people – a toddler, two teenagers and an elderly woman.

The two-storey residential building, in the colonial neighbourhood where most of Havana’s oldest structures are located, came tumbling down around 07:00h on Wednesday.

At the time, seven people were upstairs the building which housed two families.

A three-year-old, two 18-year-olds and a 60-yearold woman were found dead among the rubble.

Two adults and a baby also sustained injuries in the collapse, but reports in-

a building that collapsed

dicate those injuries were not life-threatening. “The causes of the accident, including the scope and legal status of any building go-

ing on in the interior of the apartment on the first floor, are under investigation,” a Government statement indicated.

Opposition Leader’s comparison of Trinidad and Tobago with Haiti ‘ludicrous and insulting’

The United National Congress (UNC) on Wednesday harshly criticised Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) Leader Keith Rowley for his suggestion that Trinidad and Tobago could end up like Haiti.

He based his statement on his claim that the Trinidad and Tobago economy is performing poorly and that expenditure is out of control under the PP Government.

In strong worded media

release the UNC rebuked Rowley. “This comparison is ludicrous and insulting to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Why is Rowley talking our nation down?” the UNC said. It added that Rowley’s comparison between the economies of Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti is “ridiculous, incredible and insulting”.

The party said, “Over the last seven days he (Rowley) has insulted swing voters and now he has insulted all the people of Trinidad and

Tobago.” The UNC called Rowley “unpatriotic” and unfit to lead Trinidad and Tobago and asked: “Are there no depths to which this man will stoop?” The UNC added that it is absolutely clear that Rowley’s “increasingly hysterical comments reflect the fact he has no policy, no plan, no vision and no ideas to take us forward.” Rowley’s comparison appears to be without merit when comparing the two economies. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

The Sao Paulo-based Lula Institute said the former President rejects any wrongdoing and that the investigation took him by surprise

(Caribbean360)

Workers in a metal box, hanging from a crane, remove the wall of

South Africa train crash: 300 injured near Johannesburg

About 300 people have been injured in a collision between two trains near South Africa’s largest city, Johannesburg, paramedics have told the BBC.

The crash took place close to Booysens station south of Johannesburg at about 18:30 local time (16:30 GMT).

A spokesperson for ER24 paramedic service told the BBC that some of the injuries were serious but there have been no fatalities.

It is unclear what the cause of the crash was.

The spokesperson said most of the injured had been admitted to hospital and paramedics were treat-

Yemen’s exiled Government declares ‘liberation’ of Aden

Yemen’s internationally recognised Government has announced the “liberation” of the country’s second city, Aden, following four months of intense battles between Houthi rebels and forces trying to oust them.

Exiled Vice President Khaled Bahah said on his Facebook account on Friday that his Government will try “to restore life” to the southern port city.

“The Government announces the liberation of the province of Aden on the first day of Eid al-Fitr which falls on July 17,” Bahah said, referring to the Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

However, a spokesperson for Houthi rebels told Al Jazeera that the announcement was a “lie”.

“There are many exaggerations. Fighting is still raging at high intensity,” he said over the phone.

“We will not give up until we liberate Aden inch by inch from the invading powers.”

Residents and local fighters told the Reuters news agency that low-level clashes were still continuing in the Tawahi district in the west of the city to sweep the Houthis from one of their last holdouts.

“Praise God,” said 35-year-old fish seller Wasseem al-Hiswa. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Google adds US$60B to market value as shares hit new high

Google shares soared to all-time highs on Friday with the tech giant adding about US$60 billion to its market value.

Google’s shares were 16 per cent up in afternoon trading as investors cheered profit figures that showed strong advertising growth on mobiles and its YouTube arm.

The price rise took the company’s market size well above US$400 billion.

The search giant’s market capitalisation makes it second only to Apple, which is valued at US$745 billion.

On Thursday, after trading closed, Google reported that second-quarter net income was US$3.93 billion in the three months to end-June, up from

US$3.35 billion for the quarter a year earlier.

The results ended six consecutive quarters in which Google’s earnings fell short of analysts’ targets

Finance chief Ruth Porat highlighted the growth in mobile advertising and time people are spending streaming videos on YouTube.

She said YouTube has more than one billion users and that the number of people in the key 18-49 age group who watch its videos on mobile devices was greater than the number watching cable television.

Reuters reported that at least 27 broking firms raised their price targets for Google shares, with one predicting that the stock could rise as high as US$800. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ing others at the scene.

“We’re seeing things like soft tissue injuriesand more serious issues like spinal injuries and fractures and breaks,” he said.

“The cause of the crash is currently under investigation... but we do know two trains collided and one was partially derailed.”

Johannesburg emergency services told the Associated Press news agency that fire crews were still searching for commuters who may be trapped inside the carriages.

Reports said a moving train may have collided with a stationary one.

A number of children are among those injured.

Images shared on social networks show passengers gathered at the side of the train tracks awaiting medical attention. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Dozens flee homes as wildfires rage in Greece, PM urges

Forest fires fanned by strong winds and high temperatures broke out around Athens and in other parts of southern Greece on Friday, sending residents fleeing from flames threatening their homes.

Summer wildfires, though common for the season, heaped additional misery on the government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, which is struggling to obtain a new bailout from foreign creditors.

The Police said 52 separate fires had broken out on four main fronts in a region stretching from the island of Evia, northeast of Athens, to the southern Peloponnese.

A 58-year-old died after inhaling fumes and suffering respiratory problems but there were no other reports of casualties.

Tsipras urged calm as more than 140 firefighters with 80 fire engines and 11

calm

aircraft battled the flames near Athens that crept close to homes.

A neighbourhood playground was razed and flames surrounded the local church. Dozens of people, including elderly women covering their faces with headscarves, tried to put out the flames with buckets of water.

“We all need to stay calm,” Tsipras told reporters. He said he had asked the Air Force and armed forces for help and had also appealed to other European countries for assistance with extra fire-fighting aircraft.

from Reuters)

The cause of the collision is under investigation

Forest fires are common during the summer months in Greece, but memories remain vivid of the huge damage and heavy loss of life in 2007, during the most serious outbreak in decades

Eid-ul-Fitr greetings from the Anna

Catherina

Islamic Complex

Allahu Akbar kabira. Wal hamdu lillahi kathira. Wa subhanallahi bukratan wa asila.

Allah is Great, immensely so! And praise be to Allah, abundantly! And glory be to Allah, both early and late.

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of a month of fasting and great sacrifice. It is an occasion for rejoicing and an opportunity for Muslims to gather in joy, as well as in remembrance of those less fortunate. It is a Day of Graduation for all those who have faithfully observed the commands of God Almighty and an opportunity for all of us to rededicate ourselves, not only to achieving spiritual growth, but also to the cause of peace between all people of the earth. Our challenge now becomes one of finding ways to maintain our focus. As the appearance of the new moon brings to a close, the holy month of Ramadan, we extend to all our Muslims a blessed celebration of the Eid Al-Fitr and peace, health, and prosperity in the year ahead. May peace be with you and your families. Eid finds us more content and happy with ourselves. We have reawak-

ened our faith. We stand at a crossroad today: how shall we continue this journey toward Islam? How shall we remain at peace? The habits that we have established during this month must be nurtured. As we return toward our roles in this society, the world in which we live faces us with difficult choices. Our guidance comes from our willingness to turn toward Allah and to find peace within ourselves. Then and only then, will we feel content in our choices. Our global society could and should be an example of co-existence and cooperation, of mutual benefit and human concern. Muslims need to create an inner environment of peace and faith, of tranquility, non-violence, and security. Then we can hope to find solidarity and to create cooperation by supporting one another, standing by one another in what is good and right and needed for success, growth, and sustainability. We are to let everyone

know the true basis of Islam, its real values, its true principles, its way of life based on pluralism, democratic principles, faith, and mutual respect. Muslims today represent an increasingly important element in the tapestry of human society. Because of the growth of Islam, people of all faiths are coming to appreciate the significance of these great Islamic Festivals and Observances. Muslims the world over, are also united in their commitment to being an integral part of the human family and building a society, rich in diversity and grounded in mutual respect. The world is made stronger by the core values of Islam –commitment to family, compassion for the disadvantaged, and tolerance for other human beings and groups. We must not allow anyone, within or without of us, to destroy that. Islam espouses peace and security and safety for all people regardless of nationality or religion or gen-

der or race.

It is our sincere hope and prayer that we are able to affirm the unity possible among Muslims, and between Muslims and other religions. We face the challenges of living in a globalised world where there is greater alienation and distance between classes of individuals based on economics and education. We must work hand in hand with people who have faith in the essential goodness of humankind. The ethical, social, economic, political and spiritual challenges before us are enormous and demand mature, sincere, tolerant, openminded “good people” to meet the growing challenges. We extend to all Muslims a blessed celebration of the Eid AlFitr and peace, health, and prosperity in the year ahead. May peace be with you and your families.

Eid Mubarak Eid Mubarak Eid Mubarak President General Hakeem Khan

Eid-ul-Fitr message from the Guyana

United Sadr Islamic Anjuman and the Shaheed Boys & Girls Orphanages

Eid Mubarak (Allah is Great, Allah is Great, and there is no God save Him. Allah is Great, Allah is Great, and all praises are for Him)

Today is Eid-ul-Fitr, the greatest festival of Muslims, being observed by over one billion people worldwide. Every nation has its celebration, and today is our celebration. It is the celebration, which marks the end of a month of fasting and sacrifice. It is an occasion for rejoicing and an opportunity for Muslims to gather in joy, as well as in remembrance of those less fortunate. It is a day of graduation for all those who have faithfully observed the commands of God Almighty. It is also an opportunity for all of us to rededicate ourselves, not only to achieving spiritual growth, but also to the cause of peace between all people of the earth. Today, the responsibility is on us as Muslims to erase the negative stereotype created about Muslims. No Muslim is a weapon of mass destruction! It is our common challenge and our shared responsibility to create a better world for ourselves and our children. Fasting is a trial of physical endurance and also a way of developing empathy for the poor and destitute. It is a bridge by which Muslims

can reach out to the needy in all communities. Muslims today represent an increasingly important element in the tapestry of human society. Civilisation was made stronger by the core values of Islam, we must not allow anyone, within or without of us, to destroy that.

Muslims the world over are also united in their commitment to being an integral part of the human family and building a society rich in diversity and grounded in mutual respect. The world is made stronger by the core values of Islam – commitment to family, compassion for the disadvantaged, and tolerance for other human beings and groups. As the appearance of the new moon brings to a close the holy month of Ramadan, we all pray that it will usher in a year of reconciliation and peace. We extend to all our Muslims a blessed celebration of the Eid al-Fitr and peace, health, and prosperity in the year ahead. May peace be with you and your families.

Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman President Badruddin Hassan

IDB approves climate-smart agriculture fund

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced the approval of the US$5 million Climate-Smart Agriculture Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean (CSAF) to incentivise Private Sector companies in the region to invest in projects that increase farmers’ incomes while addressing climate change.

Created in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the CSAF aims to unlock greater Private Sector investment in sustainable land use and climate-resilient agribusiness.

“Our efforts thus far have produced solid results on climate mitigation. This new initiative complements those achievements with a first-of-its-kind fund to pursue equally ambitious results on climate adaptation,” said Kelle Bevine, Head of Strategy in the Structured and Corporate Finance Department of the IDB. “Concessional financing tools like this help to unleash the innovation of first mover projects and shift from business as usual.”

Climate-smart agriculture is a business model that increases agricultural

output while maintaining or lowering amounts of inputs, such as land, water or fertiliser. It increases total productivity while reducing environmental impacts and building resilience to threats to production induced by the effects of climate change.

Climate-smart agriculture investments, however, face a number of hurdles to access finance, including lengthy payback periods, as well as significant barriers to information on sustainable practices. As a result, climate-smart investments may be put off indefinitely, perpetuating poor land-

use management, additional greenhouse gas emissions, increased vulnerability to climate change and lower incomes for small producers.

The Fund addresses these barriers by offering risk-tolerant capital with long tenors to catalyse private investment by cushioning early losses and providing a concessional tranche of resources that can transform projects into sustainable business investments.

Associated technical assistance will enable the IDB to build the necessary capacity for project implementation and to disseminate les-

sons to other Private Sector investors.

The Fund’s investments will focus on restoration of degraded lands through reforestation and other measures to increase productivity and profitability and enhance carbon stocks. They will improve agricultural management, including sustainability certification of agricultural products and water efficiency investments. Across the region, the forestry and agriculture

sectors are already affected by climate change. Coffee plantations in Central and South America are increasingly vulnerable to leaf rust fungus (la roya), for example, requiring investment for replanting and technical assistance. Reducing emissions from the land-use sectors and making them more resilient to the effects of climate change has become a critical development challenge given the importance of agriculture to the region.

The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to Public and Private Sector clients throughout the region.

Mother seeks justice for son killed in road accident

Adistraught mother is pleading for justice to be served for her son who was killed recently in a motor vehicle accident. She is asking that the Police do their job as she feels her son’s case is being neglected.

Joan Allison, mother of Beau Allison, 27, of Lot 49 Louisa Row, Werken-Rust, Georgetown, who was killed in a car accident while his friend was seriously injured, told Guyana Times that she seriously believes that the ranks at the Beterverwagting Police Station (BV) are withholding information that may lead to the truth surrounding her son’s death.

The mother is accusing ranks of the Beterverwagting Police Station of being lackadaisical in their investigations since her son’s death, adding that she, along with other family members, believe that the family of the person who her son collided with, resulting in his untimely death, may have close relations within the Police station in BV.

She added that no arrest has been made against the alleged driver of the vehicle her son collided with. She also alleges that several eyewitnesses shared their sides of what transpired that fateful day with the Police, but they paid no heed.

The mother stated that she was contacted by several persons, including a taxi driver, who claimed that the driver of the vehicle was in fact a woman who was apparently driving under the influence.

He further related that the driver made a sudden turn which caused Beau to slam into the vehicle. However, the Police had taken into custody a young man who adamantly claimed that he was the driver and did not see anyone in front or behind him when he made the turn.

However, she believes that he may be taking the wrap for someone else as the eyewitnesses stories differ.

She shared that the Police had taken her to the

accident scene and showed her the marked road, indicating the spot where her son lay, where the vehicle was and where his motorbike was. However, following pictures her family members found on the Internet that were taken immediately after the incident, she noted that the Police markings contradict the online photos. In the photos, it was clearly seen that the car was not in the picture.

The frustrated mother also alleges that she shared this information with a Police Officer at the Beterverwagting Police Station who kept changing his story.

She also added that it was very strange that a Police vehicle from Sparendaam showed up to the scene to remove her son’s body when the BV Police Station was roughly two minutes away from the location of the accident. Her son’s body remained on the road for almost 45 minutes before he was moved.

Additionally, she shared that the Police did not even bother to check the nearby gas station for security footage that may have caught the accident on film, in an effort to find out the truth.

She had contacted the Manager of the gas station a week after the incident to try to obtain the footage. Unfortunately the man informed her that she should have showed up a week ear-

lier as video footage is only stored one week at a time.

She added that the final clue that really aroused her suspicion was that the vehicle that her son collided with was returned to the owner later on the very day of the accident and the young man detained was never charged.

Joan Allison told Guyana Times that she just wants to know the truth surrounding her son’s death to put her mind at ease. She shared that she spends many sleepless nights thinking about the incident and nothings adds up. She contends that the Police have not been of much help.

In her attempts to contact the family of the alleged driver, the mother said she was told by one of the family members that “if you son di good, he wouldn’t ah dead”. She is pleading with the Police to help her find the truth so her mind and her son’s soul can be put to rest.

The 27-year-old laboratory technician attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital was killed in the wee hours of the morning of June 20, leaving his friend Akeem Constancelly, age 25; in critical condition after the motorcycle they were riding crashed into a car along the La Bonne Intention Public Road on the East Coast of Demerara.

Both men sustained severe injuries and were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Allison was pronounced dead on arrival and Constancelly was admitted. To date, Constancelly does not remember the incident and now suffers from shortterm memory loss brought on by his head injury.

The grieving mother told Guyana Times that she was at home when she received a telephone call from her now dead son’s girlfriend informing her that she needed to visit the Georgetown Public Hospital.

When she arrived at the Hospital, she saw her son’s bloodied body on a bed. It was reported by Hospital sources that her son died as a result of head injuries.

Grenada wants EU visa waiver for all Caricom states

As the two regions continue to forge stronger bilateral ties, Grenada’s Trade Minister Oliver Joseph urged the European Union (EU) to continue to grant visa exemptions to Caribbean countries, particularly those who are Member States of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) which is a subgroup of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). Thus far, only five CARIFORUM countries have benefited from the visa waiver. Those are St Lucia,

Dominica, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

“I want to encourage you to consider the remaining members, the outstanding members for inclusion so that when we meet the next time, we can be happy that all of our members are on the visa agreement,” the Minister said, noting that the visa exemption would certainly make it easier for “our people” to visit theirs.

On May 28, the EU signed short-stay visa waiver agreements at a ceremony which was held in Brussels,

EU, FAO launch new programmes to boost food and nutrition security

The European Union and the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have launched a new partnership agreement to boost food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and resilience in at least 35 countries.

The new programmes were announced on Thursday at a meeting between the European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, and FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva during the 3rd International Conference on Financing for Development, in Ethiopia.

The European Union is contributing €50 million and FAO €23.5 million to this initiative, which will be country led and demand driven. Commissioner Mimica said: “This initiative will be crucial to support partner countries and regional organisations in pulling together political, technical and financial means towards the common goal of reducing food and nutrition insecurity. It will also contribute to strengthening the partnership between the European Union and FAO.”

“This newest phase in our partnership with the European Union will greatly reinforce FAO’s ability to engage with Governments to help them acquire the data and information they need to develop and implement effective policies aimed at tack-

ling hunger’s root causes and building resilience to shocks and crises,” said Graziano da Silva.

The new initiative consists of two linked five-year programmes: the Food and Nutrition Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation (FIRST) facility, which will enhance the capacities of Governments and regional administrations to improve food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture policies and better implement them. This will be done by providing policy assistance and capacity development support.

The Information for Nutrition Food Security and Resilience for Decision Making (INFORMED) programme will contribute to strengthening resilience to withstand food crises as a result of human-induced and natural disasters. Providing regular, timely and evidencebased information to decisionmakers is one of the means to achieve this goal.

Despite the progress made in recent decades, according to the latest UN food insecurity report, around 800 million people in the world still go hungry and millions more do not have access to healthy diets.

Belgium.

The Republic of Vanuatu and the independent State of Samoa were the other two nations that benefited from this agreement. The visa regime provides for visa-free travel for EU citizens when travelling to the territory of these countries and for citizens of these countries when travelling to the EU, for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period.

The aim for this was to boost tourism and invigorate business between the EU and the CARIFORUM countries.

A recent report by FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that eradicating world hunger by 2030 will require an estimated additional $267 billion a year in investments in rural and urban areas and in social protection.

Given the challenges, the various partners participating in FIRST and INFORMED initiatives recognise the need for coordinated action by all stakeholders to effectively address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition.

The European Union’s contribution to the initiatives comes from the Global Public Good and Challenge (GPGC) programme, under the European Union’s budget dedicated to development aid (Development and Cooperation Instrument, or DCI). The European Union –one of FAO’s biggest donors –joined the Organisation as a member 1991.

In 2004 the European Union and FAO became strategic partners, deepening their working relationship. This latest agreement strengthens and expands on that longstanding collaboration.

Moreover, in recent years, an increasing number of people have been affected by food crises, often resulting from conflicts, natural disasters, also due to climate change, or food price volatility. Vulnerable people are finding it increasingly difficult to ensure they have enough food and can earn a living in the face of such shocks.

Dead: Beau Allison

july 18, 2015

Govt disbands BASS

...says smuggling still high, performance below par

Two weeks after one of its members shot dead an alleged goods smuggler, the controversial Berbice Anti Smuggling Squad (BASS) was disbanded by Government, and its operations merged with that of the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Law Enforcement and Investigations Division (LEID).

In a statement, the GRA said after careful consideration, a decision was taken to disband BASS. The unit was established in November 2000 with the objective of curbing smuggling activities within the CorentyneBerbice area. An examination of the effectiveness of BASS revealed that the unit was performing below expectation, with a rapid decrease in revenue collection over the period 2012-2015, and as such, it was deemed not feasible to continue operations. “Based on the foregoing and the closeness in nature of BASS’ operations with that of the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Law Enforcement & Investigations Division (LEID), a decision was made to fully integrate BASS’ operations into the Regional Operations of LEID,” the GRA said. According to GRA, “it should be noted that prior to the implementation of BASS in 2000, LEID was responsible for the function performed by BASS. These functions included the patrolling of waterways and

roadways to suppress smuggling activities. Moreover, persons currently employed in the BASS Unit will be paid their full benefits owed to them once the unit is disbanded.”

On July 9, BASS member Shafraz Khan, 40, of Lot 35 Hassim Street, Corriverton, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh on a charge of manslaughter. He was granted bail in the sum of $250,000. He is alleged to have killed Charles Caesar on July 3, 2015. According to the charge, which was read to Khan, on July 3, at the Number 67 Village, Corentyne Foreshore, he discharged a loaded firearm thereby causing the death of Caesar. Attorney-at-Law Adrian Anamayah, in a bail application, said Khan was a firsttime offender and a father of two. “He has been employed with BASS for over 19 years as a Customs Monitoring Officer.” According to Anamayah, at the time of the incident, Khan was carrying out his duties. He asked for reasonable bail. The lawyer said since the investigation started, Khan had been cooperating with Police and after 72 hours in custody, he was released into the custody of BASS. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Godfrey Playter had no objection to bail. Khan was granted bail and released

into the custody of BASS. He will have to return to court on August 27 for a Police report.

BASS gained notoriety back in August 2001 when ranks of the unit shot and killed eight persons and left a number of persons hospitalised with bullet wounds. On August 14, 2001, Azad Bacchus, his son Shaazad Bacchus, and nephew Fadil Ally were killed in the early morning during a confrontation with members of BASS following events that included a civilian raid on the Skeldon hospital.

Post-mortem examinations conducted on the bodies by a Government Pathologist revealed that gunshot wounds were the cause of death. It was originally believed that neither of the two youths had sustained gunshot wounds but had been beaten to death. The family of the deceased received permission for an overseas pathologist to do a second post-mortem examination, which was conducted in August and reportedly confirmed that the three men died of gunshot wounds.

At year’s end, an inquest was pending. The incident triggered three days of protests, and on August 16, 2001, BASS personnel, confined to their office, started to shoot when demonstrators attacked the BASS office in the Corentyne. Two men, Stephen Angel and Sais Ghani, were shot dead.

Police arrest four for supermarket robbery – 2

confess

Police in New Amsterdam were kept busy on Thursday night into Friday morning and were shot at but were able to arrest four persons following an armed robbery at a supermarket in the town.

On Thursday evening, two armed men entered M Ali and Son Supermarket at Main and Pope Streets, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and took away $350,000 and a quantity of phone cards before escaping in a waiting car.

Police, in a release, said about 1900h, two men armed with handguns entered the business place while two others remained outside. According to the release, the two men held up Nazmoon Ally, 64, and a salesgirl in the supermarket and took away a licensed 9mm pistol, the cash and phone cards.

Following the robbery, an Assistant Superintendent of Police who was in the vicinity of Central Police Station, acting on a tip, stopped a car

which had just left the New Amsterdam/Georgetown car park. As the officer approached the car, one of the five men inside exited the car and ran north causing the officer to discharge three rounds in his direction. He escaped and ran into the bushes nearby. Meanwhile, the other three passengers exited the car and headed into the opposite direction; one was arrested but two escaped. The arrested man has been identified as Jason Aubrey of Melanie, Line Top, East Coast Demerara. The driver was also taken into custody. His name was given as Levi Morgan of Islington, Greater New Amsterdam. Meanwhile, about 02:10h on Friday, a man was seen walking along King Street, New Amsterdam; a short distance from where the officer had fired shots. The man’s clothing was covered with mud.

Police suspected that he might have been the first man who ran out of the car

and so searched him; the officers found a loaded unlicensed .38 revolver.

He was taken into custody and later confessed to the supermarket robbery. The suspect’s name has been given as Kerwin Williams of Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). He is reportedly a convicted criminal.

Police also arrested a man along Strand, New Amsterdam who also had in his possession an unlicensed firearm. He has been identified as Andrew Davis and was involved in the supermarket robbery as well. Reports received suggested that five and not four persons were involved in the supermarket robbery, as three suspects remained outside the building.

When Police arrested Williams, he said that he did not know the names of the others but was given a gun by his brother-in-law who is from New Amsterdam and later met the others.

Police continue to hunt for the others.

Unlicensed firearm case goes to Vigilance Magistrate’s Court

An unlicensed firearm holder will be tried at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court after his case was transferred from the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Naipaul Basdeo Ram, age 25, of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), is expected to make his first appearance at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court next Friday where proceedings for his trial shall commence.

The accused pleaded not guilty to being found with a .380 pistol on the Good Hope, Railway Embankment, ECD last Wednesday. He also pleaded not guilty to being found with nine rounds of corresponding ammunition.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Neville Jeffers

told the court that Police received a tip about the firearm and paid a visit to Ram at his home.

The.38 pistol was found in the defendant’s bedroom in his presence. Prosecutor Jeffers said he had told the Police that a friend left it for him to keep. However, when the Police contacted this friend, he denied Ram’s explanations.

The prosecutor urged the court to not release the accused, stating that there is no special reason that would justify bail being granted. He also informed that there are other pending matters against the accused.

However, defence Attorney Dexter Todd told the court that there is a special reason, as the Police ar-

rested his client when he refused to let them into his home without a warrant. He explained that his client was simply trying to understand why they were there but the officers were unable to say.

The Attorney said his client was then arrested, taken to the Police station and held for “obstruction.” Also, Todd told the court that his client occupies the house with several other occupants to which only the accused had been arrested and charged for offence. Thus, Magistrate McLennan heeded the prosecution and refused bail. He is expected to make his appearance at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on July 24.

Crinkling scotch tape leads to 6-kilo ganja find – promoter arrested

Aman is now in custo-

dy after Police conducted a search of a house and a car where a total of six kilograms of marijuana was found.

Reports are that as Police were on the hunt for suspects in the Thursday night’s robbery of a supermarket in the town and were searching an empty plot of land, they heard the sound of crinkling tape coming from a house nearby.

The alert officers who are aware of some of the activities that reportedly

takes place at that home quickly surrounded the building.

As they approached, a man was seen wrapping a parcel with tape.

When the officers were spotted, the man allegedly threw the parcel over a fence where some Police Officers were gathered on a stake-out.

The act led to the search of the home situated at Cummings Ville, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) where similar parcels were

discovered. Police also searched a car which was parked in that yard and found other similar parcels stashed under the vehicle and in the car door.

Police arrested the man, who is an events promoter in New Amsterdam. The contents of the parcels were confirmed as cannabis sativa (marijuana).

Kwesi “Big Worm” Samuels allegedly confessed to ownership of the parcel. He is expected to make a court appearance on Monday.

Former Police Constable walks on illegal gun possession charge

Former Police Constable Michael Pollydore was allowed to walk out of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday after being found not guilty of illegal gun possession.

Pollydore, age 32, and a resident of Tucville, Georgetown, was charged for being in possession of a Glock pistol, one .40 live round of ammunition and eight .9 mm rounds of ammunition on November 4, 2014 without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Attorney Patrice Henry represented the accused and was able to riddle the prosecution’s case with holes, making it impossible for the court to find his client guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Attorney Henry informed the court that the gun, found in the car, is not his clients but an acquaintance of his sister. He explained that on the night in question, the acquaintance, Desmond McPherson had an altercation with his sister. He had drawn a firearm before de-

ciding to leave and drove off with a car that Pollydore also uses.

His sister had already called the Police when McPherson had driven away with the car. Thus, when the Police arrived and took possession of the car, the gun was found in it.

Guyana Times understands that the prosecution was unable to prove that it was Pollydore who had placed the firearm in the car, thus the case was dismissed against him.

India workers win US$20M settlement

Some 200 Indian workers have won a US$20 million claim against a US company for defrauding and exploiting them.

The workers were brought to the US in 2006 by a shipbuilding firm to repair damaged oil rigs after Hurricane Katrina, reports say. They allegedly paid between US$10,000US$20,000 each in fees and costs after they were promised jobs and permanent US residency.

Hurricane Katrina claimed 1300 lives and displaced thousands in 2005.

The Press Trust of India reported that the Alabamabased Signal International was found guilty by a federal jury for defrauding and exploiting workers brought from India.

Many of the workers sold property and borrowed money to pay the fees to labour recruiters and a lawyer, according to a statement issued by the Southern Poverty

Law Centre (SPLC), a civil rights law firm. However, when the men arrived from India in 2006, they discovered that they would not receive the green cards or the permanent residency that had been promised.

Reports say the workers also paid $1050 a month to the firm to live in “isolated, guarded labour camps”. “The workers have waited seven long years for justice. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Canny Danny leads way as Willett prospers

England’s Danny Willett shrugged off two late three-putt efforts to set the early clubhouse target on nine-under-par in the weather-interrupted second round of the 144th British Open on Friday.

After a torrential downpour left pools of water lying all over the iconic St Andrews layout and caused play to be suspended for three hours and 14 minutes, it started to rain birdies for double European Tour winner Willett.

The 27-year-old, who missed the cut in two of his three previous Open appearances, picked up strokes at the second and fifth holes before coaxing in a birdie effort of 25 feet at the ninth.

Another birdie followed at the 10th for Willett before he three-putted the 15th and 17th, his par-saving effort at the infamous Road Hole horse-shoeing out.

However, he hit straight back by knocking in an eight-foot birdie effort at the last to post a three-under 69 for a total of 135.

That gave Willett a twostroke lead over 2007 U.S.

Masters champion Zach Johnson (71), 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott (67) and Scotland’s Marc Warren (69).

Despite the fact that the 20mph winds were forecast to strengthen up to 35mph for the late starters, Willett believed he would be overtaken at the top of the leaderboard by the end of the day.

“I feel someone will probably go out there, regardless of the conditions, and shoot a good score,” the 2014 Sun City Challenge and 2012

BMW International winner told reporters.

“You’ve got to control your ball flight well and it’s breezy but there’s every chance someone can go out there and overtake me.”

Overnight leader Dustin Johnson, who does not get his round underway until 1748 local time, is seven under, two in front of playing partner Jordan Spieth.

The 21-year-old Spieth is attempting to become the first player since fellow American Ben Hogan in 1953 to win the first three

WICB lets Gayle off for rant against selectors

majors of the season.

Following the early rain delay and a copybook mopping up operation from the 100-plus groundstaff, play restarted at 1000.

An hour later there was little sign of what had gone before as the sun began to shine on the east coast of Scotland, the wind died down and the puddles disappeared.

Earlier, the greens, fairways and bunkers were saturated and the few brave fans in attendance were huddled in the exposed rainlashed grandstands.

Sand bags were needed to prevent floodwater entering the media centre.

Saturday’s forecast is for even stronger winds, with gusts of around 50mph, meaning organisers could face a difficult task to get the tournament finished on schedule by Sunday.

The second round is almost certain to spill over into Saturday.

The Open was also hampered by bad weather when it was last held at St Andrews in 2010, with dangerous high winds causing havoc in the second round.

(Reuters)

Chris Gayle

The West Indies Cricket Board said Thursday it would no longer pursue disciplinary action against superstar opener Chris Gayle for his criticism of selectors last January.

Gayle had used a postmatch interview following a Twenty20 game against South Africa to slam the Clive Lloyd-led panel for axing Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo from West Indies World Cup squad.

He labelled the move as “victimisation” and “ridiculous”, and contended the squad was not the strongest one possible because of the absence of the Trinidadian

all-rounders.

However, the board said in a statement that the charge brought against Gayle was laid “him outside the required time frame.”

“It came to the attention of the Disciplinary Committee however, that Gayle had previously been the subject of a reprimand for his comments and the charge was served on him outside the required time frame,” the statement said. It added: “The WICB’s Code of Conduct also states that such a charge must be laid against an offender within 10 days of the alleged commission of the offence.” (CMC)

India top order, spinners muzzle Zimbabwe

India did not have to exert a lot as they muzzled Zimbabwe’s challenge by 54 runs in the first T20 international and continued to remain unbeaten on the tour. It was India’s thirdlargest victory in terms of runs and they stuck to a trusted, even if predictable, template: elect to bat on a dry surface, pile the runs and throw their spinners at the opposition.

India’s batting was propelled by reasonable contributions by the top four, and despite slowing down in the middle stages, managed to find an extra gear to ransack 96 runs in the last 10 overs. Zimbabwe let themselves down by conceding 25 extras - the fourth-most in an innings in T20 internationalsand some sloppy fielding.

Chasing 179 for victory, Zimbabwe started well with their openers Hamilton Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha adding 55 in 8.1 overs. But, after

Chibhabha’s uppish strike off Harbhajan Singh was pouched by a diving Manish Pandey, who had sprinted a good distance to his left from long-on, Zimbabwe lost three

dismissed Masakadza and captain Elton Chigumbura. Chigumbura was late on a skiddy, sharpish arm ball four balls after Masakadza lap-swept one to short fine.

more wickets in the next two overs. This included a double-strike from Axar Patel - one of India’s five debutants - in the 10th over that

Zimbabwe disintegrated rapidly after that as Charles Coventry flicked Harbhajan straight to short midwicket and a Mohit Sharma di-

rect-hit from deep mid-wicket caught Craig Ervine short of the crease. Thereafter, only formalities had to be dispensed with as Axar and Harbhajan finished with five wickets between them giving away only 46 runs.

India’s batsmen were barely challenged for the most part of the first ten overs, as openers Ajinkya Rahane and M Vijay amused themselves with lazy legside whips and drives with minimalist footwork. That they mixed such genteel strokeplay with opportunistic running only added to Zimbabwe’s pressure.

The home side weren’t helping themselves with some nervy bowling that resulted in a rash of widesthere were 13 in all - and a tendency to stray down the leg side. Debutants Taurai Muzarabani and Neville Madziva were bullied with after Chigumbura probably erred by introducing them too early in the piece.

Muzarabani, brought on in the third over, went for nine runs, while Madziva conced-

India innings (20 overs maximum)

AM Rahane* c Masakadza b Cremer 33

M Vijay run out (Sikandar Raza) 34

RV Uthappa† not out 39

MK Pandey c Sikandar Raza b Mpofu 19

KM Jadhav c Masakadza b Mpofu 9

STR Binny c Cremer b Mpofu 11 Harbhajan Singh not out 8

Extras (b 8, lb 3, w 13, nb 1) 25

Total (5 wickets; 20 overs; 92 mins) 178

Did not bat: AR Patel, B Kumar, MM Sharma, Sandeep Sharma

Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-82, 3-127, 4-150, 5-166

Bowling: P Utseya 4-0-30-0, CB Mpofu 4-0-33-3, T Muzarabani 3-0-36-0, N Madziva 4-0-46-0, AG Cremer 4-1-20-1, Sikandar Raza 1-0-2-0.

Zimbabwe innings (target: 179 runs from 20 overs)

H Masakadza c Jadhav b Patel 28

CJ Chibhabha c Pandey b Harbhajan Singh 23

CK Coventry† c Rahane b Harbhajan Singh 10

E Chigumbura* b Patel 1 Sikandar Raza b Patel 10

Danny Willett of England watches his tee shot on the fifth hole during the second round of the British Open golf championship

ten in the very next over.

The Indian players walk off after a convincing 54-run win

England in a hole after Smith’s 215

Steven Smith scored 215 in the first innings at Lord’s. By the end of day two, there was no guarantee England’s entire team would manage that many. But they also had to pursue Chris Rogers’ 173. And the rest of the contributions that added up to Australia’s 566 for 8 declared. An Australian victory was no fait accompli, but if this Investec Ashes series moves on to Edgbaston at anything except 1-1, Australia will have wasted a golden opportunity.

This was not a perfect day for Australia, but it wasn’t far from it. Rogers was struck on the helmet with the first ball when he ducked into a James Anderson delivery, and that was about all that went wrong. That and Michael Clarke scratching out an ugly 7. But by the close of play, not only had Smith and Rogers dominated with the bat, the attack had skittled England’s top order with a fine display of fast swing bowling.

No wicketkeeper in Test history has secured his first dismissal as quickly as Peter Nevill, who pouched a catch from the second ball of England’s innings when Adam Lyth wafted outside off and edged behind off Mitchell Starc for a duck.

Alastair Cook and Gary Ballance steadied somewhat, but on 23 Ballance lost his off stump to a quick,

fullish ball from Mitchell Johnson that swung away just a touch.

In the next over, Josh Hazlewood also rattled the stumps, this time of Ian Bell, who on 1 missed a love-

ping on and prompted oohs and aahs from the fielders from the last two balls of the over as his pace beat Stokes. To Stokes’ credit, though, he fought through those early moments and played some

ly delivery that curled away just a fraction. All of the fast men pitched the ball full enough to allow it to swing, negating the lack of pace in the pitch. Johnson then made it 30 for 4 in the 11th over when he banged one in shorter and had Joe Root tickling behind for 1. It was part of a magnificent over from Johnson, who nearly had Ben Stokes chop-

classy strokes, including a couple of flicks through the leg side for boundaries and a straight six off Nathan Lyon. This was a man who had toiled with the ball on this pitch for nearly two full days, and knew it would provide plenty of runs to a batsman willing to wait for the bad balls. By stumps, Stokes had moved on to 38

and Cook had crawled to 21 from 85 balls, but importantly for England they had lost no more wickets. At 85 for 4, they trailed by 481, but at least they had started to steady.

Still, the Stokes-Cook partnership of 55 runs had some way to go to match the 284-run stand that Smith and Rogers had compiled, an Australian record for any wicket at Lord’s, surpassing the 260 set by openers Michael Slater and Mark Taylor in 1993. Rogers added 15 to his overnight score before he played on to give Stuart Broad the first of his four victims. A double-century eluded Rogers, but not Smith.

Having passed 150 in the first session from his 265th delivery, Smith lifted his tempo after lunch and moved towards his maiden first-class double-hundred. The frustration of being dismissed for 199 in Kingston last month might have been in the back of Smith’s mind as he approached the milestone, which arrived with a whip off the pads for four off Moeen Ali from his 335th delivery.

It made Smith the first Australian since Jason Gillespie in Bangladesh in 2006 to score a Test doublecentury away from home, and the first Australian to post an Ashes 200 since Justin Langer at the MCG during the 2002 Boxing Day Test. He also joined Don Bradman and Bill Brown as the only Australians to score a Test double-century at Lord’s.

It took a line-ball lbw on a reverse-sweep to prise Smith off the friendly surface. He was on 215 when he tried to reverse sweep Root and was given out by umpire Kumar Dharmasena. Smith asked for a review and the ball-tracking showed the tiniest fraction of the ball had struck Smith in line with off stump, which allowed the decision to stand.

While Smith was compiling his huge score, other contributions were being made. Clarke was the only real failure, seeming in no sort of form for 32 balls before he was put out of his misery by pulling Mark Wood to square leg. Adam Voges made a breezy 25 before edging behind a lovely Broad legcutter, and Mitchell Marsh played on for 12, also off Broad.

Nevill played some classy strokes on his way to 45 from 59 balls but missed the chance for a debut half-century when he drove Root to Moeen at mid-on. Starc and Johnson then steered the innings through until its end, which came with a declaration after Johnson holed out to mid-off against Broad. Broad was the best of England’s bowlers and deservedly finished with 4 for 83, and overall it was a much better day for England’s attack - they claimed wickets, plural, on day two as compared to wicket, singular, on day one. But that day one was costly, potentially too costly. It is now up to the England batsmen to find out whether anything can be salvaged over the next three days. (Cricinfo)

Steven Smith became the first Australian to score a doublehundred at Lord’s since 1938

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Bravo always confident runs would have returned

Darren Bravo said Thursday he had always backed himself to come good, despite a recent string of low scores in the Caribbean Premier League.

The left-hander struck a boundary-studded unbeaten 80 as Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel trounced reigning champions, Barbados Tridents, by 72 runs at Queen’s Park Oval to enhance their chances of a playoff spot.

Bravo had managed just 46 runs from five innings before Thursday – including failing to score twice – but said he felt the tide changing during his 19 not out in Red Steel’s last game against St Lucia Zouks.

“I wouldn’t really say I’ve been out of form. I haven’t gotten a start in the tournament so far and I knew in the back of my mind I was just one shot away from being my best,” he said.

“And after hitting Shannon Gabriel for six over long off in the last game, that gave me the sort of confidence that was needed so I went out there and tried to continue from where I left off I the last game.”

He belted the four fours and seven sixes in an innings which consumed a mere 44 balls. He was particularly severe on fellow Trinidadian Ravi Rampaul, who he blasted for 25 off the final over of the innings.

“I thought I was timing

the ball pretty good and I was just happy to be among a team with the likes of Jacques Kallis and my brother so we have a lot of experience here,” he noted. “The guys really backed me and I am really happy to contribute to our win.”

The victory left Red Steel still bottom of the standings on seven points but with two games left to play, has given them a good shot at making the playoffs.

Currently they are just three points off leaders Tridents, who just have one

game remaining.

Bravo said it was important to use Thursday’s victory to find momentum.

“It’s always good to win cricket games especially a very important one where this game was concerned,” he pointed out.

“Obviously we fell short in the last game, we would’ve liked to have won that one but having said that, that’s how the game goes sometimes. It’s just a matter of us trying to stay focussed and trying to ride on this momentum.”

(CMC)

Richardson hints at further Olympics talks

David Richardson, the ICC’s chief executive, has indicated that the ICC will hold further discussions on the possibility of cricket coming taking its place in the Olympics.

“Everybody accepts from a development point of view it would probably be a good thing if cricket was in the Olympics,” Richardson said on Test Match Special during the opening day of the second Ashes Test.

Richardson’s comments come amid considerable tension over the issue in the ECB hierarchy. Mike Brearley, chairman of the MCC’s World Cricket Committee, has confirmed the think tank’s support for T20 cricket taking its place in the 2024 Olympics.

Brearley also suggested that the ECB stance had softened since changes at the top, with a new chairman Colin Graves and chief executive, Tom Harrison, appointed.

But 24 hours later Brearley found himself officially apologising to the president of the ECB, Giles Clarke, an implacable opponent of cricket in the Olympics, after initially calling him an employee of the ECB who has to “do what he is told”, clarifying that he was not an employ-

David Richardson

ee and would merely have to present any paper on the Olympics at the ICC.

If Graves and Richardson really do want a change, they should perhaps be minded not to allow Clarke any last-minute editing rights.

It was perhaps understandable therefore that Richardson diplomatically clarified his initial comments to TMS. “Certain members feel we have World T20 and do not need another T20 game to develop the game,” he conceded.

“There are difficulties. It would take place in mid of an England season, and England and the West Indies would not play in the Olympics as England and the West Indies. But I am sure we will be speaking about this again.”

Richardson made no

such assertion regarding any further examination of a 10-team World Cup in England in 2019 - another imperative as far as Clarke, and indeed much of the ICC, is concerned, yet bitterly opposed by the game’s expansionists.

“The decision to go to 10 teams for the 2019 World Cup was made before the 2015 World Cup,” Richardson said. “At that stage we had no proper qualification pathway for associate members to qualify for the World Cup. Now we do.

“If we would have had a 10-team World Cup in 2015 it would have been the 10 international teams and that is it. Once we included other teams in the rankings it gives them a chance to qualify for the World Cup - even if it is a 10-team World Cup.

“My sense has always been that we want the World Cup to be the flagship - a tournament for the best teams in the world.

“For T20 though -and for the vast majority of associate teams that is the format they are concentrating onwe are up to 16 teams. The World Championship and the Inter-Continental Cup also offer associate nations a pathway to full membership. We have broken the glass ceiling.” (Cricinfo)

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Lady Jags open training camp today

– tactical, functional and fitness sessions on the cards

Guyana’s female national football team, popularly known as the Lady Jags, will open their week-long camp today as the team heighten preparations for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Olympic Qualifier.

The Lady Jags, placed in Group Four, will compete against St Kitts and Nevis on August 21 and Cuba two days later in the Dominican Republic.

The team are made up primarily of professional players, plying their trade in the United States of America, United Kingdom and Canada, as well as women in the US collegiate system.

and comprises tactical and functional sessions, while addressing the team’s fitness.

“Of course, we are excited to be playing in Olympic Qualifiers. Yet again, we just do not want to participate, we in -

Head Coach Mark Rodrigues, who, along with Technical Director Claude Bolton, hosted a camp in Toronto Canada last month, believes that the team, which was dormant since their historic run in 2010, still have plenty of ground to cover in order to retain their status in Caribbean football.

According to Rodrigues, the camp, which runs from today through July 26, will focus primarily on getting players to gel as a unit

tend to leave a lasting impression on field and continue to leave a lasting impression on women’s football in Guyana.”

The women’s head coach noted.

In 2010, the Lady Jags qualified for the Women’s Gold Cup in Cancún, Mexico, becoming the first Guyanese national team to feature at the pinnacle of CONCACAF football, where they played against the hosts, Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago.

from back page

“We should’ve won

Amazon Warriors skipper Denesh Ramdin, who led the run chase with a restrained 39 not out off 45 balls, was not too happy with the shot selection of his batsmen.

“We played some bad shots in the middle overs and we didn’t have any partnerships, so we put ourselves in that position,” Ramdin reasoned.

The Amazon Warriors brought in leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo to form a three-man spin attack with off-spinner Sunil Narine and left-armer Veerasammy Permaul, and the trio combined 12 overs yielded just 44 runs and three wickets.

Ramdin heaped praises on the slow bowlers for a brilliant effort after he

...

called correctly at the toss and decided to bowl.

“I think our spinners bowled fantastically well. I think Sunil Narine and the younger guys [Bishoo and Permaul] held their nerves and they did the job for the team. Hopefully they can continue, because restricting them for 111 was a great effort from the bowling department,” the Captain pointed out.

The Amazon Warriors will be in action again this afternoon, against defending champions Barbados Tridents at the same venue from 16:00h, while the Zouks have completed their quota of 10 preliminary games. They sit at number four on the points table.

“There is no difference this time around as compared to 2010 – the goal is and remains the same,” Rodrigues said, “The Lady Jags, similar to the men, are a vehicle to bringing Guyanese together worldwide. This is what we have to use as a catalyst for the physical and social development of the youth in our country.”

Meanwhile, Bolton, speaking on team’s expectations – especially since the women’s team are Guyana’s most successful at all levels, made it clear “we have no illusions. We know that this group is not expected, nor have they been prepared, to compete at the highest levels. However, Coach Rodrigues and every single player have proudly and eagerly accepted the challenge. This effort can be the catalyst for making certain that we never face such a reality again.”

Hafeez banned from bowling for 12 months

Pakistan allrounder

Mohammad Hafeez has been banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months after his action was found to be illegal for a second time since November 2014. He will be able to have his action reassessed by the ICC only after this period is completed.

Hafeez, 34, had undergone testing at an ICCaccredited lab in Chennai on July 6, after his action was reported following the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in June. The tests revealed Hafeez’s action exceeded the permitted 15-degree limit.

“As this report has constituted the player’s second report within a two-year period, the first of which led to a suspension, he is now automatically suspended from bowling in international cricket for a 12-month period,” the ICC said. “Hafeez is entitled to appeal any procedural aspect of an independent assessment that has led to this automatic suspension. However, only after the expiry of this one-year period will he be entitled to approach the ICC for a reassessment of his bowling ac-

Warriors clinch low...

The South African seamer, Wiese ended with 2-25, while Hodge (1-9) and de Lange (1-28) capped off a good bowling exhibition.

The Amazon Warriors chase got an encouraging start through Assad Fudadin (5) and Lendl Simmons. The pair added 22 off 14 balls. The dismissal of Fudadin in the third over did not diminish the momentum of the Warriors batting.

The Trinidadian pair of Simmons and Ramdin forged together a 40-run second-wicket partnership. They batted sensibly as they hit occasional boundaries to keep the asking rate under control.

The Amazon Warriors then faced some jittery moments with the introduction of leg-spinner Keron Cottoy. Their progress was checked when Cottoy removed Simmons for a 27-ball 31 and Australian Hodge (0) in

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his first over.

He then claimed the wicket of Akmal (7) in his third over and Christopher Barnwell (7) in his final over to finish with 4-18.

Two suicidal run outs saw the demise of Wiese and Narine, leaving the Amazon Warriors to make 25 runs off 36 balls.

Ramdin and Permaul endured some anxious moments, but ensured they took the Warriors home without further trouble.

Ramdin finished on 39 not out, while Permaul, who hit the winning run with a six, was unbeaten on nine.

With the win, the Amazon Warriors jumped to nine points while the Zouks remained on nine points from 10 matches.

The Amazon Warriors will be in action this afternoon from 16:00h when they clash with Barbados Tridents at the same venue.

tion.”

Hafeez had been reported for a suspect action after the Abu Dhabi Test against New Zealand in November last year, and in December his action was found to be illegal following tests at an ICC accredited centre in Loughborough, England. He was found to have an elbow extension up to 31 degrees.

He underwent remedial work at a biomechanics lab in Chennai, but failed an unofficial test on his action on January 3. Later that month the PCB requested the ICC to retest Hafeez’s action in February in Brisbane, so that

he could bowl at the World Cup if cleared, but he was ruled out of the tournament with a calf injury. Hafeez was finally cleared to bowl again in international cricket on April 21, after more tests on his action in Chennai.

After he was reported following the Galle match, Hafeez bowled in the second Test in Colombo, where he took one wicket before travelling to Chennai to have his action tested. He missed the third Test in Pallekele as a result, but returned to play the first two ODIs in Sri Lanka, taking 4 for 41 and 2 for 61. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

St Lucia Zouks innings (20 overs maximum)

ADS Fletcher lbw b Narine 15

J Charles† b Wiese 11

KP Pietersen* lbw b Narine 24

DE Johnson c de Lange b Narine 0

H Davids not out 25

KR Mayers c Bishoo b Hodge 7

LRPL Taylor c Bishoo b de Lange 20

NL McCullum c †Ramdin b Wiese 1

KJ Cottoy not out 0

Extras: (lb 5, w 2, nb 1) 8

Total:(7 wickets; 20 overs) 111

Did not bat:FH Edwards, ST Gabriel

Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Charles, 3.3 ov), 2-49 (Fletcher, 7.3 ov), 3-49 (Johnson, 7.4 ov), 4-55 (Pietersen, 9.1 ov), 5-63 (Mayers, 11.2 ov), 6-106 (Taylor, 18.6 ov), 7-108 (McCullum, 19.3 ov)

Bowling: V Permaul 4 -0 -19

-0, M de Lange 3 -0-28-1, D Wiese 4 -0 -25 -2, SP Narine 4 -1 -6-3, D Bishoo 4 -0 -19 -0, BJ Hodge 1 -0 -9 -1

Guyana Amazon Warriors innings (target: 112 runs from 20 overs)

LMP Simmons c sub (K Lesporis) b Cottoy 31 AB Fudadin c Gabriel b Johnson 5 D Ramdin*† not out 39 BJ Hodge c & b Cottoy 0 Umar Akmal lbw b Cottoy 7 CD Barnwell b Cottoy 7 D Wiese run out (sub [K Lesporis]) 0 SP Narine run out (sub [K Lesporis]/†Charles) 1 V Permaul not out 9 Extras: (lb 4, w 9) 13 Total: (7 wickets; 18 overs) 112 Did not bat: M de Lange,

Mohammad Hafeez

Amazon Warriors invade Courts

By TreisTon Joseph

Players of the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Friday took time to interact with customers at Courts Guyana Furniture Store on Main Street ahead of their match with the St Lucia Zouks on Friday.

Players took a number of photos and signed autographs to the delight of the numerous customers that were shopping.

Customers also got a chance to win tickets for Friday night’s game with a bowl off that was coached by a few of the Amazon Warriors stars.

Courts Marketing Manager Pernell Cummings was optimistic of Guyana’s

Star players such as Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons, Brad Hodge, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ronsford Beaton, Trevon Griffith and Marchant de Lange all took a walk to Guyana’s biggest and most popular furniture store to interact with the fans.

chances of qualifying for the knockout stage while expressing Courts’ support for the Warriors franchise.

“The Guyana Amazon Warriors has being doing well for the last two years

and we know this year that they will get to the final and hopefully pull of the win … Court will always support sports in Guyana and the Amazon Warriors.

“We will win tonight (Friday night), Guyana will win the remainder of their games, qualify for the final and win, we will win,” Cummings stressed during an

Trevon Griffith, Christopher Barnwell, Brad Hodge and Marchant de Lange watch on as a customer bowls to the wicket (Treiston Joseph photos)

Lendl Simmons and Sunil Narine take photos with some customers

Chanderpaul interacts with a few fans at Courts on Friday

Brad Hodge strikes a pose with a few fans at Courts

invited comment. The Amazon Warriors will take on Barbados Tridents today from 16:00h at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Hero CPL

Warriors clinch low-scoring thriller

By Rajiv Bisnauth

The star-studded

Hero

Caribbean Premier League (CPL) continued on its flamboyant path Friday night as the Guyana Amazon Warriors scampered home to a three-wicket victory over St Lucia Zouks at the Providence National Stadium.

the wicket.

Openers Andre Fletcher and Johnson Charles negotiated the first 20 balls, but it was David Wiese, who set the tone for the hosts when he bowled Johnson Charles (11) with the score at 24 in the fourth over.

Kevin Pietersen joined Fletcher and immediately offered a reminder of his talents, hitting Wiese for two fours and a six in the space of seven deliveries as the Zouks scored 41 runs in the power play overs, a good platform from which to erect a tall score.

Soon after, Pietersen lived a charmed life when Umar Akmal put him down on 16.

their spinners.

The spinners made the most of the sluggish nature of the surface by mixing things up and bowling with parsimony, forcing the Zouks batsmen to throw

Skipper Denesh Ramdin and Veerasammy Permaul put together a match-winning 25-run eighth-wicket partnership, after the match seemingly looked Zouks’ for the taking. Needing a modest 112 to win, after the Zouks laboured to 111-7, the Amazon Warriors got themselves into all sorts of trouble –they were 87-7 at one point. It might have been a lowscoring game, but the excitement levels could not have been higher.

spinners produced a stunning performance, bowling 13 overs for just 33 runs among them.

Sunil Narine, the offspinner, in particular bamboozled the Zouks batsmen with his variations, finishing with figures of 3-6 off his four overs. He was later adjudged Man of the Match.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors won the toss and have opted to field first, but St Lucia’s formidable batting line-up failed to make an impact as the Warriors’

Henry Davids 25 not out, skipper Kevin Pietersen 24 and Ross Taylor, who scored a run-a-ball 20, were the only batsmen who looked somewhat comfortable at

However, Ramdin brought on Narine and he immediately ripped through the Zouks’ top order to cut out all escape routes, setting the stage for the Warriors’ fourth win in the tournament.

Narine struck twice in his first over removing Fletcher (16) and Delorn Johnson (0) off consecutive balls before claiming the prized wicket of Pietersen in his second over.

Ramdin immediately took Narine off, saving him for the end overs, but Zouks didn’t find the going any easier as the Warriors sought to apply pressure through

caution to the winds.

Kyle Mayers succeeded in smashing Brad Hodge for a maximum, but failed in his second attempt and was caught the very next delivery by Bishoo at deep back-

claimed the wicket of Nathan McCullum (01), caught at the wicket.

Head Coach of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Carl Hooper believes his team should have won Friday evening’s encounter against the St Lucia Zouks a lot easier, after making heavy weather of a small total at the Guyana

National Stadium, Providence.

Playing in Match 26 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the St Lucia Zouks, inserted to take first strike, laboured to 111-7, but the Amazon Warriors, who were cruising at 59-1 in the ninth over, suffered a middle-order collapse, before scraping home by three wickets with two overs to spare.

Speaking at the post-

match press conference, Hooper reflected on the narrow win, which has elevated the Amazon Warriors from number five on the points table to number two.

“You don’t want to be too critical today [of the batting]. I suppose you know we’ve come off two fairly strong batting performances. Obviously, this evening, the important thing was getting the two

points. We should have won the game a bit easier, but we didn’t,” Hooper related.

He added, “Like I said, the important thing was to get the two points. We’ve already had a little chat about it, about where we could have done a little better, and we will hopefully address that tomorrow [today against the Barbados Tridents].”

ward-square.

Henry Davids and Ross Taylor provided some late impetus and added 43 runs for the sixth-wicket off 7.4 overs. The penultimate over

saw Taylor falling to Merchant de Lange, caught again by Bishoo in the deep before Wiese

Sunil Narine celebrates a wicket on his way to his Man-of-the-Match performance

The Amazon Warriors celebrate a wicket as they restricted the Zouks to a low total

avenash Ramzan

Skipper Denesh Ramdin held his nerves to lead the Amazon Warriors to victory on Friday evening