Guyana Times Daily - December 13, 2014

Berbice mothers weep over death of babies

Alexander to launch Caribbean quality assurance body here

Granger files injunction to stop “unauthorised” spending

Union demanding 5% pay hike for city workers

Suspects in Sterling Products murderinvasion released

Police say no rampant crime upsurge in Tuschen, Zeelugt

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, CAL Executives and top Government officials during the meeting on Thursday to discuss a number of critical issues, particularly harassment of Guyanese

saturDaY, DeceMBer 13, 2014 | guYanatiMesgY.coM

A great teacher, loving friend and wonderful daughter

…students, friends and family pay tribute to Nyozi Goodman

In complete devastation,

St Stanislaus teacher

Nyozi Goodman’s mother, Carol Greene, received the news that confirmed her worst fears. Goodman had disappeared six months earlier on July 6 and soon after the skeletal remains of a female was found in Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown but it was beyond positive identification without DNA testing.

“I was at work and the Crime Chief called me and told me the DNA results are back (from Trinidad).”

Green was dumbfounded. She always had a little hope that her first child was still alive.

After a few seconds elapsed, emotions finally took over and Greene broke down in tears.

“I screamed, I hollered, fall down, it was too much.”

Greene said she felt a mixture of emotions rushing through her veins. She was completely devastated.

Speaking with Guyana

Times one day after she received the DNA results, Green said she was slowly coming to terms with reality, but it was extremely difficult.

“I am feeling all broken up and torn,” the heartbroken mother sobbed.

Greene said it hurts even more because she spoke to her daughter only seconds before the tragic incident seemingly occurred.

“I was going home and I called her to tell her I’m on my way home and she said she’s doing the same. If I only knew that was going to happen to her…to my dying day, I will never have closure.”

Goodman also leaves to mourn numerous students whom she had inspired, motivated and had been a role model for.

“Ms Goodman was one of the most loving and approachable teachers. She was a teacher who you’d love to be around. Just the day before her disappearance,

she put me to do a short Geography quiz; I didn’t want to do it, but she encouraged me. After the quiz, I told her I enjoyed it and she responded by saying that she will introduce another quiz, Social Studies for the coming week…Ms. Goodman did not deserve this. She was funny and full of energy. Every time I think of this dras-

tic incident, unhappiness takes over. She will always be remembered as a great teacher and friend,” Jemuel Parasram, a St Stanislaus College student said in saluting his remarkable teacher.

Other students were taken aback by the tragic news for they could not grasp why someone would do such a sinister and horrible act to their loving teacher, and for some, a loving friend.

“You were one of the best teachers I have ever had, it was an honour and privilege to know you,” Kaelene Richards said.

“I cannot emphasise enough the importance you had in my life: you were my inspiration,” Renuka Bhola remarked.

“I miss you so much, Miss Goodman; you were a great woman,” Naomi Bevaun, a former student, lamented.

“Describing how special you were to us and how appreciative we are of your hard work and dedication and love

you gave is like explaining the taste of water. We miss you,” Shania Gibson, another student, said.

Goodman will also be missed by her colleagues, whose lives she touched with happiness.

“It was good having you as a friend,” Najuma Greenidge said.

“Thinking of you now is one of my most painful experiences,” T Gomattie declared.

“We have been friends since 1998 and I cherished every moment. You were the godmother of my son and we will forever remember you.

Golden memories will always linger in my heart. We had fun while it lasted, gone so soon Nyo,” Vaunda Wayne said in tribute.

Funeral arrangements

Goodman’s mother said she was aiming to have the funeral service on Saturday, December 27 in Linden.

However, she noted that she will make arrangements for persons to visit and pay their tributes at Lyken Funeral Home.

Greene told Guyana Times that the Education Ministry contacted her and offered assistance.

However, she said she could not wait on the Ministry to provide assistance because she did not want to delay the burial any longer.

“If they give assistance, they give. If they don’t, then they don’t. I can’t wait on them.”

On a happier note, Greene reminisced on her daughter’s fashion habits and her favourite colour: turquoise. She said the funeral will has that colour theme and her daughter’s casket will be lined with that colour.

On July 6, the 36-yearold, of William Street, Campbellville, disappeared after accompanying some students to the InterSecondary School Basketball Championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Observers believe the case will go cold as the prime suspect, Royston Waldron, was killed during a shootout with the Police in Kitty. Goodman was believed to have been stabbed to death.

Alexander to launch Caribbean quality assurance body here

Since Vincent Alexander will no longer be taken up with the task of a Registrar at the University of Guyana (UG), he plans to launch a Caribbean Area Network for Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education (CANQATE) here sometime in the New Year.

CANQATE was established in 2004 as a sub-network of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in higher Education (INQAAHE).

The aims and objectives of CANQATE are to enable members to share information about the maintenance, evaluation, accreditation and improvement of higher education and to disseminate good practices in the field of quality assurance.

CANQATE works to promote capacity-building among countries and institutions of higher education and to facilitate regional discourses on policy and research in the fields of quality assurance and enhancement while engaging policymak-

ers, researchers, evaluators and administrators on professional development.

Alexander is contemplating the idea of returning as a lecturing at UG, but said he wants to start writing, particularly in areas of politics and Local Government.

After serving 26 years at highest learning institution in Guyana, he noted that it is good for older people to create an environment for change.

“There comes a time when one has to make way for new people and new thoughts. It’s good for older folks to create an environment for change.” Alexander announced his retirement on Thursday evening at the university’s Long Service Awards Ceremony.

“On December 1, I advised the community that I was giving way, in terms of Registrar activities, to the Deputy Registrar,” Alexander disclosed in his opening remarks at the event.

However, he noted that he will complete all outstanding and ongoing activities, such as the Annual Award Ceremony, before his departure.

Alexander was appointed UG Registrar in 2009 with effect from April 1.

He joined the academic staff of UG in 1988 as a Research-Fellow/Lecturer in the Institute of Development Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences.

He served as Dean of the faculty from 1993 to 1994. In 1994, Alexander was appointed the first Deputy Registrar of UG.

Nyozi Goodman

Former UG Registrar Vincent Alexander

OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

AFC/APNU coalition negotiations: Granger confirms talks underway

... awaiting formal proposal from AFC

Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) David Granger has announced that his party has commenced consultations with the Alliance For Change (AFC) on their pro-democracy coalition.

The union as proposed by AFC’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, could see the two Opposition parties joining forces to challenge the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) at next year’s General Elections. “We have been in contact with the Alliance For Change and we will be meeting in a few days’ time. I have been informed that Mr Ramjattan will be submitting AFC’s proposal to the APNU and we will meet and discuss it in the new week,” Granger told this publication when asked for an update. That proposal could include the AFC’s plan of action as it relates to its suggestion to lead the coalition.

At its biennial conference last Saturday Ramjattan had publicly declared the party’s interest in forming an alliance with any institution that have Guyana’s best interests at heart, particularly in the removal of the PPP/C Administration from office. Ramjattan had declared too that if such should be possible, then the party must lead the coalition, a suggestion that Granger has openly downplayed.

APNU slammed

Ramjattan had told supporters that while the party remained open to discussions on a broad national alliance to govern the affairs of the country, it must be understood that the AFC will not be taking the back seat in any such alliance.

Meanwhile, APNU has been slammed for giving the nod to a possible partnership with the AFC, without first sorting out its own internal hitches. The announcement made by Ramjattan Saturday last opens the door for a massive coalition between the two political Opposition parties which made history by leading the National Assembly with

their combined one-seat majority at the last Regional and General Elections in 2011.

After the announcement at the AFC’s biennial convention, APNU, which had previously been lobbying for such a coalition publicly declared its approval for the move, which could see the current Government being voted out of office should the coalition be successful at the elections. Granger himself had said that he welcomed the proposal by the AFC, dubbing it a “good move”.

APNU’s General Secretary, Joseph Harmon, had told Guyana Times that as a nation, Guyanese needed to see the true representation of the proposal by the AFC. He said that the proposal represented a willingness on the part of the smaller Opposition party to work together with APNU to rid the country of the ruling PPP/ Civic Government.

APNU’s Vice Chairman, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who is also the leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), a smaller party which in 2011 joined with the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and a few other smaller political units to form APNU, also welcomed the decision by the AFC’s leader.

Internal issues

But ordinary Guyanese are of the view that APNU,

while opening its arms to welcome another political party in a pre-electoral coalition, needs to work on its own internal issues. Failing to do so would incur much disappointment and defeat.

At a recent forum held at the Critchlow Labour College, calls were made for the political body to deal with the in-house crises it faces. Apart from the exasperating issues between Granger and Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge and the seemingly unending impasse between the PNC’s General Secretary, Oscar Clarke, and its Region 10 representative, Vanessa Kissoon, there are reports that the PNC and WPA have a passive internal conflict brewing.

“While it may not appear so, there’s a big division in the PNC and by extension, the APNU, and that is one of the things which can result, unless it is mended soon, in the PPP having their way whether elections are called today, next week or the day after Christmas,” a participant said at the forum, which was held to discuss the impact the prorogation of Parliament has on the country.

He continued that party leaders needed to come to the place of compromise so that PNC ultimate goal could be achieved. But Granger in response said while his party did have its internal factions, they were “not fatal problems that have damaged the structure of the PNC”. He said he did not believe that anything that had

happened within the party had in any way impaired the ability of the PNCR to collaborate with other parties.

“So we will proceed and there will always be persons who will disagree with some aspect of party policy and they are free to disagree.” He related that that is the reason “the PNC remains the most democratic party in the country. We have regular congresses, regular general council meetings, and central executive meetings.”

“I do not believe that because people have grievances we should not go into a multi-party coalition, it does not follow,” the PNCR Leader reasoned. Granger explained that his party has committed itself to shared governance, inclusionary democracy and coalition politics for several years. He reminded that in the Ninth Parliament, the party had moved toward the PNCR 1Guyana, relating that coalition politics is nothing new.

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

APNU Leader David Granger

Editor: Nigel Williams

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Editorial

Limacol CPL: looking ahead

The Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has agreed to review the rules and playing conditions for the 2015 tournament. We certainly cannot afford to allow what occurred last year to repeat itself in the future. When such things happen, cricket as a whole loses.

The entire region and in fact cricket fans from across the world who were following the CPL with much interest could well recall the contentious 2014 final between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Tridents on August 16 at Warner Park, St Kitts.

But the final came to an abrupt end when rain interrupted the Guyana Amazon Warriors innings at 107 for 4 after 15.5 overs while they were in pursuit of 153 to win the game. After the rain had stopped and mop-up operations had been completed, the stumps went back up. Fans were eager to see the teams battle each other for supremacy to the end.

After some delay, the match officials inexplicably decided that the allotted time – including extra time – for the game had elapsed and the Barbados Tridents were declared winners on the Duckworth/Lewis method. This, of course, left many Guyanese fans, both at home and in the Diaspora, very disappointed as they were rallying behind our boys throughout the tournament.

For us Guyanese, if there was any team that deserved to be crowned Champions it was the Warriors; for the simple reason, they played very competitive cricket throughout the series and they were arguably the best team of the tournament.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors, in an attempt to ensure that the playing conditions and tournament rules were adhered to rigorously and to avoid such a recurrence in the future particularly in a final, sought legal advice on this matter.

Both parties have agreed that, in the interest of this great game of cricket and in order to maintain the excellent reputation of the CPL, the matter is now closed and all parties concerned can now move forward to the planning and implementing of a bigger, better and more exciting 2015 CPL.

CPL officials, Franchise Owners/Partners and the Tournament Committee are currently reviewing the rules for the semi-finals and final with a view to using international umpires and match referees and extending the match playing time to midnight, if necessary. This is certainly a step in the right direction.

Dr Ranjisinghi "Bobby" Ramroop, Franchise Owner of the Guyana Amazon Warriors said, “The game of Cricket should always be the winner and the Guyana Amazon Warriors Franchise remains steadfast in our commitment to make every contribution we can to bring enjoyment to the thousands of fans who support not only us, but West Indies Cricket on the whole.”

Caribbean people were beginning to lose interest in cricket mainly because of the dismal performance of the West Indies team over the years. Now the CPL has sparked renewed interest as persons all over the region, even those who were not avid cricket fans, are talking about the game.

That is the kind of impact CPL has had on the Caribbean and it would be to our own disadvantage if the authorities, meaning those responsible for the governance of cricket, did not take full advantage and capitalise on the many opportunities that have now been presented.

In addition to boosting the economies of the region, the League has provided the opportunity for new talent to emerge. Players like young Nicholas Pooran (Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel); Sheldon Cotterell (Antigua Hawksbills); and Steven Jacobs (Guyana Amazon Warriors), to name a few, are now given the opportunity to shine. Certainly, CPL has opened many doors for these young athletes to achieve their dreams.

CPL has shown both the West Indian public’s enduring love for cricket and the endless potential for growth and success in the region. We are, therefore, happy that the stakeholders are now looking ahead and the preparations for the 2015 tournament are in full gear.

President has Guyanese best interest at heart

Dear Editor,

President Donald Ramotar has once again proven to the citizens of this land that he has their interest at heart. He has saved Christmas in Guyana.

No one can dispute that everyone celebrates Christmas in one way or another, not only Christians. It is a time for sharing joy and love and spread the message of peace and healing.

The Opposition parties need to understand that their greed for power should never take the front burner. Can you imagine that these charlatans even want to take our Christmas spirit away?

Thank you Mr President for saving Christmas!

Everyone knows that the Opposition parties have

Dear Editor,

The election of their first Black President may have witnessed the capacity of Americans to look past race.

President Barack Obama’s election is presumed to have eliminated racism in “the best country in the world” where many Guyanese have chosen to live.

A mulatto by birth and not descended from slave ancestry, the American President’s international upbringing was nevertheless cause for jubilation. Could race be blamed for the death of democracy in Guyana with mourners walking about in organized daze? When is the funeral per chance?

Eusi Kwayana in a letter to SN of on December 12, ti-

the innate ability to spread chaos and mayhem through their dirty election campaigns and the President knows this fully well. Christmas is not the time to spread hate, but I know that the AFC will continue to do that on a television station in Berbice. They are more power hungry than Granger. Just ask the NAAG!

It has now become a regular feature in our political climate that the Opposition parties through their bullying tactics, to force a democratically elected Government to abort its term in office. They want two years from the life of this Government, yet they cannot wait for a few more months.

tled, “The ‘Ally’ rule does not hold true everywhere and in every case”, wrote: “The plurality allowed the President to be elected. He used his Presidential right to prorogue the Assembly and thus assure the world that he is at one with the Mr Burnham who had ruled out any vote of confidence.”

The irony which completely escapes Mr Kwayana is his historic symbiotic “oneness” with Mr Burnham’s PNC, called APNU today. What is better evidence with the skeleton WPA, “born again” and most heavenly comfortable within APNU in race?

Mr Kwayana and company would have loved to celebrate President Ramotar

This is grave injustice, but time will once again be supportive of the PPP/C. Despite the fact that they are forcing a democratically elected Government to abort the right to office, they are behaving as though the PPP/C Government owes them a gratuitous favour to demit that office.

These people will never be satisfied until they gain ultimate power at all costs - even to the detriment of this nation. At last, I have noticed with much glee that Granger and his PNC comrades are now mourning for the democracy, which they helped to kill and bury, nearly 50 years after! But as the cliché goes, it is better to be late than never!

This nation needs to un-

to be wrong, as usual. Presidential constitutional authority to prorogue Parliament, which thwarted the Opposition’s conjoined No-Confidence Motion was his wrongdoing, and an affront to their supposedly superior entitlement to prevail and overcome.

Mr Kwayana and company should discontinue operating as if still entrapped in centuries of slave mentally and move past it. To his credit he has acknowledged that Indians did not enslave Africans.

Indians like the Portuguese and Chinese, all indentured peoples have moved on, or are trying to do so. While the PPP/C Government has undoubt-

derstand that since the 2011 General Elections, the combined Opposition has contributed nothing towards the social and economic development and all their efforts have been focused on their own power crazed agenda to form the next Government, but luckily those PPP/C supporters who have crossed the lines are now returning home.

That vital one seat will be taken away at the next election because it was never used to benefit this country.

God bless Guyana and may this season give us the peace, love and understanding to bring prosperity to this country.

Haseef Yusuf AFC Councillor

edly liberated Black economic dependency, by initiating their proletariat’s transition to be proprietors it should hopefully blossom in time. But the PNC blessed with its own Midas touch has its own magic. All others achieved theirs without taxpayers transfusion.The PNC tried to do the same by cooperatives and what became of it is well known. Who’s at fault in that fiasco?

Nevertheless Mr Kwayana and company continue to keep Afro Guyanese in mental slavery from which he himself is unable to escape. They all desire to become rich, certainly most attainable and natural.

turn to page 17

Digicel Guyana hosted a grand Christmas party for the children of Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre on Friday. In this Carl Croker photo, one partygoer dances up a storm

Every sector in Guyana has seen improvements

Dear Editor,

The Government’s track record has taken centre stage once again with the talk of General Elections looming. You will agree with me that the agreement/disagreement and pros/cons would vary, depending on which source you get information from.

But none can argue that our country has seen a drastic improvement, since the PPP/C Government took the reins of power. I respectfully submit that every sector in our society has seen not minimal, but massive improvements, even though I accept that much more can be done to further upgrade the lives of all Guyanese.

I am confident now, more than ever before, that with the PPP/C Government at the helm, “developed nation” status is within reach in my lifetime. I can point to any sector and show where the improvements were made, but today I wish to focus on housing.

This sector without a doubt is matchless in this part of the world. Since 1992 Guyana’s housing sector has made a rapid improvement for all Guyanese. This continuous housing drive is by far the largest ever undertaken in Caricom.

The Guyana Government has gone above and beyond its obligations under the United Nations Declaration of Humans rights Article 25.

This article states that everyone “has the right to a standard of living, adequate for the health and well-being, of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood, in circumstances beyond his control”.

Since the end of dictatorship on October 5 1992, the Guyana Government has

added some 150,000 new residential house lots to our landscape. This benefited all Guyanese, as a party card was no longer the main document needed to acquire same, as was the practice in the pre-1992 era.

What is the end result?

Hundreds of families, regardless of race or party affiliation are now proud owners of their own homes. With home ownership come security, peace of mind and more importantly, the power to bargain with financial lending institutions, as the last one can open up a world of possibilities.

I urge all readers to do their own research and not to buy in to the rhetoric of the “organs/agents of hopelessness”. The time has come for us to call a spade a spade and shut-up those who seek to distort of the facts.

The proof is right outside the window.

Ossie Rodgers

The AFC must know that fire can be a good servant but a bad master

Dear Editor,

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) finds laughable the AFC’s claim that it is “ready to lead a prodemocracy alliance of progressive forces against the PPP/C”.

Who are these “progressive forces”? Are they the same forces that voted against the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, the Speciality Hospital, the new and expanded CJIA, the Marriott Hotel, the Amerindian Development Fund? Are they the forces who opposed the One Laptop Per Family, and the “Because We Care” cash supplement?

This is clearly a rush into delusions of grandeur by the AFC, which from all appearances have obviously been afflicted by red carpet fever. It will be interesting to see who will join in such an alliance with a party which has already drawn up a “hit list” comprising PPP/C leaders and which has announced openly its commitment to “fry, fire and jail corrupt PPP/C officials”.

Who knows what the results of the elections will be?

The AFC, as if lost in illusion, went on to brag that it will make “the elitist clan in the PPP/C face the music and not escape the fire”. The AFC must know that fire can be a good servant but a bad master.

Moreover, the AFC’s statement to the effect that they would “destroy PPP/C strongholds” is symptomatic of the “scorched Earth” military philosophy which the AFC seems to have adopted

from the PNC. Now they are consummated as one!

In this connection, it is hardly likely that any one else but the usual suspects will be rounded up to join in any such an unholy alliance to “destroy” the PPP/C.

It is perhaps a matter of coincidence that only a few days before the AFC made these public disclosures, David Granger publicly stated that should his party come to power, he would “punish persons… who have been alleged to have committed illegal or criminal acts”.

What is obviously emerging from these ominous bleatings is a well orchestrated and coordinated, but vengeful agenda led by the political Opposition. The PPP/C has been attacked by the Opposition in general and the APNU in particular for exposing the macabre nature of this agenda, especially targeting certain leaders of the PPP/C and Government officials.

The PPP/C is of the view that this vengeful political agenda formulated by the Opposition runs counter to Guyanese political traditions and political culture, and smacks of the politics of the malcontented practised in other jurisdictions where the political culture there differs fundamentally from what obtains here in Guyana.

Moreover, the expression of such political intentions is reminiscent of the McCarthyite period in the US and, domestically, of the Burnhamite era with which Granger has been associated historically.

Guyana at the crossroads

Dear Editor,

I refer to the excellent, comprehensive, heart-throbbing yet objective letter written by Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh appropriately titled, “Country above self”, which appeared in the media on December 12.

I believe any and every Guyanese who reads this letter will find it relatively easy to relate to its contents, to identify with the serious concerns raised therein and to wonder about the obvious

questions of practicality arising therefrom.

I wish to draw particular attention to Mr Singh’s call for us to “re-group, re-engage and re-double our collective efforts at shaping a caring, enlightened Guyanese society that will work in unity and harmony with unselfish and responsible leaders at all levels who can be relied upon to put institution, village, district, region and country above self”.

This now begs the pro-

verbial ‘64 dollar question’: Where can we find those “unselfish and responsible leaders who can be relied upon to put country above self”?

Given the imminence of General Elections, is it too late to start a new ‘leadership team’ with someone of the stature and credibility of Mr Singh at the helm or to join the kind of gestation implicit in the new grouping being touted by the AFC leadership?

Nowrang Persaud

A crime fighting strategy must be put in place

Dear Editor, Wilfred Stewart was shot dead by armed bandits who had gone to Sterling Products to get the contents of the safe. They went there to empty the safe of that company and the one whom they think pose the threat between them achieving that goal was the security so at point blank range they snuffed out his life.

This was a properly planned attack and would have been another equally successful heist by criminals who are well versed in the business of armed robbery. The only problem this time is that the commotion created by the alarm system threw them off balance.

The PPP/C has noted with interest the initial comments by Granger in connection with the AFC’s “leadership” aspiration as being “premature” and “a bit presumptuous”.

On the question of leadership of and within alliances, the PPP/C has accumulated a wealth of experience as recent as prior to the 1992 elections in the context of the Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD) alliance, which included five political parties, namely, the People’s Progressive Party, the Working People’s Alliance, the Democratic Labour Movement, the People’s Democratic Movement and the National Democratic Front.

In that alliance, the question of leadership never arose. It was for all intents and purposes a collective leadership with collective decision making and with collective action taken at all levels of the alliance.

Former President Desmond Hoyte on one occasion when the PCD wrote requesting a meeting with him to discuss electoral reforms, sought to be divisive by requesting in his response that the PCD “name its leader” before he could agree to meeting with the alliance.

Later, when some in the PCD sought to push for a “consensus candidate” to lead a joint slate with a view to possibly contesting the 1992 elections, the parties in the PCD went into negotiation mode, not only amongst themselves, but with local external stakeholders.

That incident is just another one of those armed robbery cases that is characteristic of Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). We wake up to another one of those days with murder mayhem marring the headlines. When will it all end?

Region Four, Georgetown in particular, is the thieving and murder capital of the Caribbean, if not the world. It is a sad, sick, pathetic, situation in Guyana today. Now, this situation will not change

seeing the criminals are taking good advantage of the prevailing circumstances, that is, the instability formulated by a sympathetic Opposition.

Armed robbers and cold blooded murderers are one of the fancied instruments of destabilization used by the Opposition. And they do this in either of two ways: remain silent, or at the least make asinine excuses for this sort of barbarity.

Our country is in the throes of dark and gloomy days, as the murderous horde go on a rampage. I have come to the conclusion that the only solution to this problem is for the formulation of and careful sleuth-like execution of a crime fighting strategy. Here are some of the areas we can explore.

There must be, I repeat must be mandatory stop and search programme put in place. This is a sure way of netting criminals of the sort that abound in Guyana today. There would be great success when this is done seeing the preferred mode of robbery is CG motorcycles and cars.

As we speak, criminals have been nabbed by an alert police patrol on the

Corentyne, who opted for the proven method of “stop and search”. Three bandits and their firearm/s are now out of commission.

This means that law enforcement officers have to get up off their haunches and do more patrols.

Police officers must make raids of known criminals and their hideouts; go search for them and root them out. They are not going to come to you so go to them and find them! This means that you have to go there well prepared for the inevitable.

Act on every phone call, follow every lead, you might be on to a big find of arms and ammunition as well as the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. Like the situation on the Corentyne you may well have thwarted another murderous robbery bid.

In the Sterling Products murder and attempted robbery matter, we are told that two men are in custody with lawmen seeking a third man, possibly the mastermind. This tells me that those in custody should have been fingerprinted and their hands swabbed and tested for gunpowder residue. turn to page 17

Page Foundation

UN: Ebola outbreak will take several more months to contain

The United Nation goal of containing 100 per cent of Ebola cases by January 1 will not be met.

The UN’s special envoy on Ebola said Thursday that it would be several months before the outbreak in West Africa is under control.

Dr David Nabarro said international governments as well as local communities had taken a “massive shift” in responding to the crisis over the past four month, the Associated Press reports.

However, he noted that more needed to be done to contain the spread of the disease in western Sierra Leone and northern Mali.

“It’s going to take, I’m afraid, several more months before we can truly declare that the outbreak is coming under control,” Nabarro said.

Ebola deaths

Up to December 10

6598 Deaths – probable, confirmed and suspected (Includes one in the US and six in Mali)

3222 Liberia

1899 Sierra Leone

1462 Guinea

8 Nigeria

1 Senegal

1 Spain

Source: WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) aimed to have 100 per cent of cases isolated by January 1, but acknowledges that previous targets have not been met

Meanwhile, Sierra Leone has banned public celebrations over

Christmas and the New Year, because of the Ebola crisis.

Soldiers are to be deployed on the streets throughout the festive period to keep people indoors, officials say.

Christmas is widely celebrated in Sierra Leone, even though Islam is the largest religion.

Sierra Leone has the most cases of Ebola in the current outbreak. Some 6580 have died, mostly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

President Ernest Bai Koroma told traditional leaders to stop traditional practices as part of efforts to end Ebola in the country, Awoko newspaper re-

ports.

The President added that despite international aid, it seemed “as if the cases are increasing”, especially in north-western areas such as Port Loko and the Bombali region.

Meanwhile in Mali, the last person still to be treated for Ebola has been cured leaving no more cases in the country, the Health Ministry announced.

The country recorded eight cases of Ebola – including six deaths – and is continuing to monitor a number of people who were in contact with patients.

(Time and BBC News)

Red Alert: Helping children deal with embarrassment

Part 2: More embarrassing situations and how to ease them

Goofing up

Suppose your son tripped in the school cafeteria and dropped his lunch on the floor. Or kicked the ball into the other team’s goal at a soccer match. Whenever he messes up big-time, he wants to hide. A blunder in front of peers is humiliating for five- and six-yearolds because they’re trying to make lots of new friends.

“They think that other kids won’t want to hang out with

If your daughter’s friend knows her full address, your child must know hers too. Her sister did a back flip? She has to give it a try. A classmate can ice-skate? Your daughter begs you for lessons. Anytime someone does something she can’t, it’s a huge issue. “Kids in this age group are concerned about what they’re doing and how it compares with others,” says Dr Kurt Klinepeter. If a child can’t do something as well as a

them after their gaffe,” says Dr Eleonora VillegasReimers.

Blush buster: Tell your child that it’s okay to laugh it off. While his first reaction may be to cry or get angry, making a joke out of it or saying something like, ‘Now that was silly,’ is the way to deflate attention. Remind him to give other children a break when they make mistakes so they’ll do the same for him.

peer, she may feel inferior. Blush buster: Bring the focus back to your child. “Tell her she’s doing her best and emphasise the things she can do well,” says Dr Klinepeter. Then explain that everyone has different talents –and she shouldn’t feel bad if she can’t do the same thing as her friend. But help her think about how she could learn or improve the skills needed to accomplish –tasks. For instance, if she’s upset because she can’t tie her sneakers, offer to teach her. Says Dr VillegasReimers: “It will help her realise that although the embarrassment doesn’t feel good, she can do something about it.”

Crush blush Does your son play with a neighbourhood girl but ignore her when his boy pals are around? Maybe he constantly talks about a girl from school but then tells his friends she’s “gross”. Boy-girl stuff can be super awkward. “A lot of kids still feel that boys play with boys and girls play with girls, so if a boy-girl friendship develops, it may be looked at as unusual by others,” says Dr Klinepeter.

Blush buster: Don’t assume that being friends with a girl means your son “likes” her. Explain that you have male friends and it’s no big deal. But if he is love-struck, resist getting all nosy about it. “Let him know everyone has a crush from time to time,” says Dr Erik Fisher. Then if he wants to talk about it, let him. If not, give him space. (parents.com)

AFC rejects “Indian votes stealer tag”

...“We don’t play that ethnic game” – Gaskin

The Alliance For Change on Thursday rejected the public notion that in any coalition with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) or the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the party will simply be a tool to haul in the votes of the Indo-Guyanese electorate.

Political Commentator and PNCR Member Aubrey Norton has been blunt about the AFC’s role as a party. Norton told a forum on Sunday that an APNU/AFC coalition was bad business, noting that if the Opposition was to ever unseat the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) , then the AFC must remain disconnected from APNU and work towards weakening the PPP/C’s support.

“The issue at hand is beating the PPP/C and getting rid of the PPP/C and the best approach to beating the PPP/C in my opinion, the APNU has to continue to do its work in its constituency and the AFC has to continue doing its work with the aim of garnering more votes that were traditionally PPP/C,” Norton told the small forum.

He added: “One will see that if (Nigel Hughes) becomes the Presidential Candidate of the AFC, he is more likely to draw the African Guyanese constituency and that will be negative for the APNU, and in my opinion that is how you stand your best chance.”

AFC’s strategy

The PPP/C has already been on record as saying that former member now AFC Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo was being used as an “errand boy” in that party’s s campaign to steal PPP/C voters.

According to the ruling party, the AFC’s strategy is “to set up Nagamootoo to go for PPP/C votes knowing that Nigel Hughes is more popular within the AFC, but who will not succeed in wooing PPP/C voters. The strategy, therefore, is to set up

Granger files injunction to stop "unauthorised" spending

INagamootoo as the errand boy to woo PPP/C voters and then later to use him as the delivery boy to deliver whatever paltry votes the AFC may win to APNU with the hope of increasing the joint Opposition’s votes at the upcoming elections.”

But when contacted on Friday, AFC Treasurer Dominic Gaskin dismissed this claim, saying it was “absolute nonsense”. According to Gaskin, the party is yet to decide on what role it will be playing in any political coalition. However, when asked about his personal opinion on the matter, Gaskin declined to comment.

“Our role is not to attract voters from any specific ethnicity…we don’t play that ethnic game, that’s absolute nonsense,” said the Treasurer of the AFC, adding that the party is “a multi-ethnic party; we attract voters from all parts”.

AFC Youth Leader Trevor Williams, in a separate interview with the Guyana Times made similar statements when asked about the public contention.

“I want the right to be able to go into any community and campaign,” said Williams, contending that it was time that Guyana moved away from “garrison politics.”

According to Williams, while it is not decided what role the party will play, it will definitely be a “prominent” role, should it coalesce with any of the other political factions in Guyana.

He explained to the Guyana Times that “AFC intends to feature very prominently…the rainbow has many colours, many, many colours.”

He further went on to state that AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan’s statement with respect to party leadership was just the party showing its hand that it was ready to accept that responsibility.

He said: “It was not to wipe out others from the leadership pole...we cannot have critical alliances collapsing because of personal ego or party ambition.”

With a total of 35, 333 votes at the last general elections, the AFC polled its largest block of votes in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) – 11, 634 followed by Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) –10,635. It also picked up over 3000 votes respectively in both Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

n his quest to block the Donald Ramotar Administration from spending unauthorised funds from the Consolidated Fund and the Contingency Fund, Leader of the Opposition, David Granger on Thursday filed an injunction at the High Court.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman were identified as the defendants in the matter. In the legal document

filed in the High Court, Granger pointed out that the National Assembly, in pursuant to Article 218 (2) of the Constitution, lawfully disapproved $36.7 billion in the Annual Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure of 2014, which was signed into law with the Appropriation Act No 10 of 2014.

Amid this fact, it was pointed out that the Finance Minister unlawfully spent $4.5 billion for the period ended 2014-06-16, thereby breaching Articles 217 and 219 (2) of the Constitution.

This was confirmed in Financial Paper No 1 of 2014 Statement of Excess on the Current and Capital Estimates presented to the National Assembly.

In the court document filed, Granger said the decision to spend funds disapproved by the National Assembly was unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void, unreasonable and in breach of the Doctrine of the Separation of Powers.

“A Conservatory Order to stay all spending and or any further spending by the First Named Defendant

or other Ministers designated by the President on programmes disapproved or not authorised by the National Assembly until the hearing and determination of the substantive action herein,” he requested. Additionally, the injunction is intended to block further spending to aid in projects that did not receive the blessings of the House. The Opposition Leader is being represented by Senior Counsel Rex McKay, Attorneys Basil Williams and Llewellyn John.

Cuba connection can’t save sugar industry – Granger

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) said the recent request made by Guyana’s Government of Cuba for assistance in the sugar industry was a waste of time.

Speaking in Havana, Cuba at the Fifth Summit of Caricom Heads recently, President Donald Ramotar had sought the Spanishspeaking country’s expertise in the development of Guyana’s sugar industry.

But Opposition Leader David Granger said no measure of that sort can be done to repair the weakening industry. “The problems affecting sugar are right here in Guyana, if you speak to sugar workers as I have done, you have people who do not show up to work; there is a serious labour

problem. Connection will not solve it.”

Granger said the consequences of Government’s ’failure to heed his proposal some three years ago were evident. His proposal was for Government to move away from the running of the industry and allow the Private Sector to take control.

“During the campaigns in 2011, I said that Government should get out of sugar, the Union and Private Sector shouted at me, but now everybody is saying the Government has no place running sugar. I said that three years ago and I still believe that,” Granger said.

He continued, “They made a mess of sugar and they should get out. Cubans wouldn’t help them. Nobody

can’t help them. They need to get out and have a professional board that is concerned with running GuySuCo as a business and not as a branch of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government”.

Expertise

The Foreign Affairs Ministry had reported that President Ramotar related to Cuban President Raul Castro and other heads that the vast experience of Cuba in the development of its sugar industry and its successful innovations has been acknowledged. In that regard, he related that Guyana was willing to benefit from Cuba’s expertise.

Two years after the worst harvest in more than a century, Cuba’s signature industry has reportedly been

showing signs of life.

Hulking processing plants have returned online, while production has risen.

Officials recently reported that the harvest is expected to increase by 20 per cent in the coming season after jumps of seven per cent and 16 per cent in the last two harvests.

Cuba has an excellent climate and a rich soil for growing sugar cane. The island is also considered a world leader in sugar production and exportation.

Guyana’s local sugar industry has borne the brunt of severe criticism for its falling production in recent years and its struggles to reach targets set.

This is despite Government’s continued yearly multibillion-dollar injection into the Corporation.

Dominic Gaskin

“Because

We Care” Cash Grant

280 vouchers not cashed

– programme bringing more students to school

Of the 135,969 “Because We Care Cash Grant” vouchers distributed up to December 8, 230 of them were not cashed by the recipients. This was according to Education Minister Priya Manickchand.

The Minister was at the time speaking on Friday at a press conference where she informed the media about the progress the Education Ministry has made throughout the year. She further stated that of $2 billion budgeted for the programme, $1.6 billion was used.

Additionally, it was mentioned that some 30,674 children in the hinterland were given cash instead of vouchers as a result of their remote locations. The Minister noted that the distribution process was hindered because of the inclement weather, so four more areas are yet to receive their vouchers, however, will be done today.

Minister Manickchand explained that much planning and efforts went into the programme before its implementation to ensure that persons understand the procedures and requirements, so that it would not interfere with their daily lives.

She stressed that while she would love to see all children in Guyana benefit from the programme, those who were unable to uplift their vouchers or did not cash them for whatever reasons, there is not much that can be done. However, she pointed out that the 280 vouchers that were not cashed are a meagre amount taking into considering the thousands of vouchers that were distributed.

Manickchand noted that the extensive advertisements and awareness ef-

135,969 “Because We Care” Cash Grantvouchers were distributed across the country by the Education Ministry

forts were done to inform the public of the deadlines and avoid situations such as these. Additionally, she mentioned that the Ministry wants the “Because We Care Cash Grant” programme be open and transparent; as such, she has invited the Auditor General to conduct an in-depth audit of it.

Extensive planning

“It cannot be a very loose programme. For me, accountability is huge on the programme. We want to do what is effective and efficient at the same time. We want to be able to account for every cent we spend and it’s a fine balance, getting the money efficiently to parents and students, but making sure we, in the process, don’t do anything to have people ask us questions about accountability,” Manickchand said.

The Minister went on to say that the programme catered for some 188,406 children but this number is less than the total number of students that were enrolled for the new school year in September.

“We certainly had, with-

out a doubt all over this country, children who were out of school coming back into school in September, because this programme was going to happen and what we have to do in the education system is keep them in school to ensure that we don’t waste this opportunity that was handed to us to get these kids back into school,” she stressed.

In addition, Manickchand outlined that during the distribution process, consultations were held with parents and guardians, 99 per cent of whom indicted that they would prefer the cash instead of getting a voucher that can be redeemed for items.

Minister Manickchand pointed out the implementation of any project will experience challenges and so did the “Because We Care Cash Grant” programme. She stressed that although it was a countrywide programme, the challenges were minimal and she attributed this to the extensive planning that went into the implementation of the programme.

Long lines

In the meanwhile, the Minister acknowledged that there were long lines when persons went to cash their vouchers at the various Western Union branches. She recalled that on October 11, when the programme was launched, the Ministry distributed 4300 vouchers and informed the recipients that they had until November 30, to cash them; however, nearly 3000 people showed up at the money service outlets.

Asked by the Guyana Times, whether the Ministry will consider expanding the programme payout system to another financial institution, the Minister explained that in order to do this, they have to find organisations that are willing to provide the service.

“We had approached (commercial) banks and they said we are not interested.” She said that the banks wanted persons to open accounts or provide several pieces of documentations, which she said would have made the process too tedious. The Minister added that during consultations, the option of cashing the vouchers via the post office was brought up and while some persons thought it was a good idea, others vehemently objected.

Manickchand underscored that while they have not locked into any agreement with Western Union, finding the partners to provide the service is difficult. On this note, she referred to the fact that two voucher books (50 vouchers to the tune of $5 million) were lost and the Ministry was able to immediately stop payments to those voucher numbers, pointing out that this was the kind of relationship that they are looking for.

Port Kaituma resident sentenced to 12 months

Twenty-year-old Julian Robinson of Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD), was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to one of his break and enter charge.

The man appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Annette Singh on Friday afternoon to face two counts of break and enter.

It was alleged that on November 11 at Water Front, Port Kaituma, NWD, the defendant, in the company of others broke and entered Room 18 of the Karen Mustapha Hotel and stole the following items: one three quarter pants val-

for burglary

ued $6000, one denture valued $65,000 and $80,000 in cash. The total value of the articles stolen amounted to $150,000 and are the property of Yulan Gomes. The defendant pleaded guilty to this charge.

The court heard that on the day in question, at around 14:25h, Gomes was in his room sleeping when the defendant and company entered and stole the articles mentioned in the charge. They were however caught on the CCTV cameras installed in the hotel. The men were arrested and charged for the offence.

Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones told the ourt that none of the items were re-

covered and further noted that Robinson has a similar offence pending at the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrate’s Court. He added that the defendant was not appearing in court on his court dates, hence a warrant to be issued for his arrest.

The other charge alleged that between November 24 and November 25 at Mc Doom, Port Kaituma, NWD, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Elroy Adam, stealing the following items: one electric fan valued $15,000, a pair of earrings worth $10,000, one Nike slippers valued $15,000, an aftershave set worth $5000, cosmetics val-

ued at $25,000, a quantity of undergarments worth $10,000 and $15,000 in cash – a total value of $95,000. The defendant however denied he committed this offence and plead not guilty.

Jones objected to bail citing the gravity of the offence, the penalty that the offence attracts and the fact that he admitted to the offence while he was at the Police Station.

Robinson was sentenced to 12 months on his first break and enter charge and was remanded for the second. He is expected to return to court on February 2, 2015 at the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

Eyew tness

ITough love...

...for Granger

t’s the Christmas season, and your Eyewitness was told he should ease up on the “Rod of Correction” a bit and spread some “peace and love”. Out with the Old Testament and in with the New. Redemption time and all of that! Your Eyewitness reminded his Editor that while he understands the request, the best he could do was “tough” love”!

So what can your Eyewitness say about the negotiations Granger and Ramjattan are locked in - about who’ll be leader of the grand union the shifty-eyed one proposed. Right off the bat, your humble Eyewitness will announce loud and clear: “AIN’T GONNA BE NO COALITION BETWEEN THE AFC AND THE PNC!!” Ramjattan’s just yanking Granger’s chain... and not just to get a rise out of him!

Ramjattan knows the moment he signs on the dotted line - to use his own words - he’s “dead meat”. Nothing’s changed since last month when he reached that conclusion and refused to share the stage with Granger at the Square of the Revolution, has it?? The votes in Berbice were rustled away from the PPP/C in 2011 by Ramjattan and Nagamootoo via one of the most racist bottom-house campaigns ever waged in Guyana.

Even that dyspeptic duo - infamous for being complete strangers to the truth - won’t be able to sell a coalition with the PNC to those folks after the number they did on the PNC in general and Granger in particular. Surely Berbicians aren’t all suffering from mass amnesia to forget that Nagamootoo and Ramjattan assured them that “the PPP/C was becoming just like the PNC - thieves, hooligans and rapists”.

So unless Ramjattan wants to be annihilated at the upcoming polls, there’s no way in hell he’ll tie the knot with Granger. And that’s why he made an offer that Granger can only refuse!! But there’s another reason why Granger had to be strung along. By now the African-Guyanese members of the AFC are sensing they’re being take for a ride by Ramjattan and Nagamootoo, and are only being used as “window dressing”.

Ramjattan’s frantically trying to show them the AFC isn’t going ALONE to the polls because of his anti-African racism - but because Granger rebuffed him. The old rubbing of his do-doo on another’s bamzie!

So in the spirit of our newfound “tough love”, your Eyewitness’ suggesting to Granger to call Ramjattan’s bluff. Accept Ramjattan’s demand that he be leader of the coalition.

Ramjattan’s gonna back out so fast, you’d think he’s greased lightning!!

...for a business tycoon

No one doubts Yesu Persaud’s our business tycoon par excellence. On the back of the billions the EU provided, he spearheaded a successful upgrading of Guyanese rum. The Eyewitness noted that he really dished out some “tough love” to Prezzie about the latter’s “regime”. Was it because Prezzie turned up “casual” at the “black-tie” Visa-launching affair at the Peg??!!

But our own “tough love” for the normally avuncular tycoon has to do with his claim that “Guyana and South Korea were on par in the 1980s, but we’ve lagged and S Korea has bloomed since”. Now that’s not fair because it ain’t true. S Korea actually experienced its phenomenal growth from 1964 (when we were on par) to 1980 - the same period in which the PNC destroyed our economy.

So that when the PPP/C took over in 1992, our percapita GDP was $807 versus S Korea’s $8140!! And even though since then our numbers grew by 227 per cent compared to S Korea’s 125 per cent, we started from such a low (PNC) base we just couldn’t catch up!

In the New Year, may we all be “transparent”!!

...on reporting

The Muckraker felt Fip Motilall’s DUI was newsworthy. So surely they won’t mind us mentioning his house slave stepped into some dog poo when he came out of the Saffon Street Zoo last night. Eeuuuuu!!!

CAL, Govt discuss harassment of Guyanese

The Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) Executive team from Trinidad on Thursday met with acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Mohamed Irfaan Ali and other key stakeholders to address a number of critical issues.

Among the issues raised include CAL’s customer service, in-transit process and security checks of Guyanese passengers at Piarco International Airport, CAL’s capacity, airfare, and strengthening the collaboration between CAL and Guyana.

The CAL team included the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael DiLollo, Vice President of Commercial Operations and Customer Service George Reeleder and Sales Executive for Guyana and Suriname Dion Innis.

Aside from the Minister, the local team was represented by Tourism Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) President Shaun Mc Grath, Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) CEO Ramesh Ghir and Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Tourism Ministry officials.

According to Minister Ali, this engagement is critical to strengthening the relationship with the airline and improving the role that CAL continues to play with regards to meeting the needs of the Guyana market.

Ali impressed upon the need for both CAL and the Government of Guyana to improve the partnership and to formulate a strategy that would define the way forward in the best

US

interest of all stakeholders involved.

While he concurred, Di Lollo emphasised that steps have already been taken to ensure that connectivity improves, communication is enhanced and services expanded to the destination.

Ghir pointed to the opportunities that exist for the expansion of the airline’s service given the fact that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project will result in improved infrastructure.

He also pointed to impact of the recent modernisation of the Control Tower and new avenues to expand the airline’s service

Meanwhile, the THAG President acknowledged that there are significant opportunities to expand the tourism sector and expressed the hope that Caribbean Airlines will join in the amplified thrust and to the partner with all stakeholders to accomplish this.

Di Lollo said too that one of the critical means of accomplishing a strengthened partnership was to establish a formal communication structure through which important concerns can be addressed and critical information shared.

He said that despite existing constraints, Caribbean Airlines will continue to build improved partnerships with Guyanese travellers.

A team from the airline and the Government will meet early next year to discuss the way forward.

church women send “little dresses” to Guyana, Suriname

Chris Klafs is a licensed practical nurse and representative for the Florida-Bahamas Synod Global Mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and on the task force for Guyana.

Union demanding 5% pay hike for city workers

By Royden James

President of the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU)

Dale Beresford has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Mayor and Councillor of Georgetown for a five per cent increase which was promised to them.

He said after several discussions, the Mayor and Councillor still did not approve the wages/salaries increase that was submitted for consideration.

Beresford was at the time speaking at a press conference at City Hall on Thursday morning.

He said they were told that the matter would be raised at the last meeting, but it was not called.

He said upon inquiry, they were told that the matter would be heard in the statutory meeting which was held on Monday, but the meeting was adjourned.

“We have submitted our proposal to the Mayor and Councillor for a five per cent increase, it was agreed upon; it was approved by 80 per cent of the Councilors, for it now to be sent to the full Council, they are only pushing us around. They told us that the matter would have been heard in the last two meetings and we are still waiting to hear it, when we ask why it was not heard; they told us that it will be brought up in the statutory meeting. Well, the statutory meeting was adjourned and we are yet to get a word,” Beresford said.

The President contended that an increase for Local Government Officers should have been tied in with that of the Mayor and Councillors of Georgetown, noting that it is the same process and procedure that would be used to confirm the increase.

Beresford said if the ultimatum comes to an end, and they do not receive a positive word, they will be taking appropriate actions, noting that after working hard for the entire year, it is only fair that they are given what they work for and what was promised to them.

“If this 48-hour ultimatum is being ig-

nored, then we will be forced to take appropriate industrial actions, it is unfair and unjust to work all year round and then at the end of the year, you are not recognised; this is just five per cent, why can’t it be confirmed like every other person working under the Local Government,” Beresford posited.

The President said it is a sad affair that other public servants will be enjoying Christmas with their families and the Local Government Officers will not be given a salary increase.

“This will be a dark Christmas for the Local Government Officers and it shouldn’t be so, when every other public servant within the Council and out of the Council will be enjoying Christmas with their family and friends, the Local Government Officers cannot do so. When these people putting fancy food on their tables on Christmas Day and gifts under the tree for their families for the Christmas, the Local Government Officers cannot do so, we need an urgent word from someone and this matter needs to be addressed,” he said.

Klafs, of Tarpon Springs, has guided many mission trips to Guyana to build churches, run medical clinics, repair buildings and implement vacation Bible schools, to name just a few, according to a news release from Patricia Woodbury of Ocala. Klafs also has been instrumental in distributing the “little dresses” to Guyana and Suriname that are made by the women at Joy Lutheran Church in Ocala.

of dresses to the teams that distribute them to missions and orphanages, Woodbury noted.

Georgia Adams, a member of Joy Lutheran, has been instrumental in making the dresses since 2011. She recognised the need through her contacts with the Global Mission at the Florida-Bahamas Synod and each year has seen to the making and delivering

Adams provides kits of fabric, pattern and directions. Each dress is made special with buttons, a pocket or applique. They are made in several sizes.

Klafs was the guest of honour at the church women’s luncheon held recently, during which Adams presented her with 42 dresses for the outreach programme. (Ocala.com)

Chris Klafs receives the completed “little dresses” from Georgia Adams

GLGOU President Dale Beresford

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali and executives of Caribbean Airlines review one of the company’s in-flight magazines during a meeting here Friday morning

Region 6 administration in fuel crisis situation

Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

could be hit by a fuel shortage if the anticipated December rains are delayed much longer, Regional Chairman David Armogan said.

According to the Chairman, the Regional Administration has used up all of its budgeted funds for fuel and only has fuel to last for another four weeks.

The bulk of the fuel purchased by the Administration is utilised for drainage and irrigation pumps, which service farming communities.

“So we will have to go back to Central Government for additional funds once those pumps continue operating until after mid-January because if the rains don’t come, it means that those pumps will have to continue working until maybe the end of January or mid-February,” Armogan told reporters.

He said the region finds itself in the position as a

result of the prolonged dry spells this year.

When the year started, the Chairman had boasted that the Administration had been able to save funds from fuel in 2013, noting that in the past, pilfering had been a big problem but under his watch, measures were put in place to stamp it out.

This, he said resulted in a big saving for the region.

In 2011, the Administration spent $1.7 billion on fuel and $1.85 billion on 2012. Last year, the Administration had budgeted to spend $1.85 billion on fuel, but had huge savings.

In 2014, the region budgeted in excess of $2 billion for fuel.

Asked whether fuel is being exhausted as a result of pilfering, the Chairman said there has been no evidence.

“I wouldn’t want to say so unless the evidence is presented, but the problem is because of the dry weath-

er, we have had to use the pumps for longer periods and we are also supplying more acreage.”

In 2012, there was about 50,000 acres of rice cultivation in Region Six and by mid-2014, this increased to 62,000 acres.

“So we are providing water now to an additional 10,000 acres of rice land so there will be implications for more fuel,” Armogan noted.

However, the ability of the Administration to ade-

quately budget for fuel on an annual basis was also questioned.

“Budgets seem to be done on a historical basis or pattern. It is difficult to predict weather these days because of all these climatic changes. At this time of the year, we anticipated rain, but there is a shift in the climatic conditions.”

If the Administration cannot provide fuel for pumps at periods that are considered critical to farmers, it could have far-reaching effects on the economy.

Currently, the Administration is engaged in irrigating farmlands by means of pumps. The pumps have already been in operation for the past month and could continue to work for another month, if there is no rainfall.

After irrigation, the Administration will then have to turn its attention towards drainage where the pumps will again be needed should there be heavy rainfall.

Man chops reputed wife, wounds mother-in-law

Two persons are now in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital nursing chops wounds about the head, face and neck after a brutal cutlass attack at Whim Village, Corentyne.

At approximately 20:00h, Eon Swarswattie approached his mother-inlaw Lilwattie Isaacs who was in her Kitchen at her

Whim Village home and after a brief conversation with her, he fired several chops to her head. The man then turned his cutlass on his reputed wife Serojnie Isaacs and chopped her about her face and feet. According to reports, Serojnie left her Bush Lot Village home about two weeks ago, after Swarswattie severely beat her with a bicycle bar. She

has been living with her mother since that incident.

The couple is known to have domestic disputes which would lead to Swarswattie physically repeatedly abusing his reputed wife. According to reports, the man left his home earlier in the evening and ventured to the home of his mother-in-law to get his wife when the incident occurred.

Decomposed body found at Windsor Forest Foreshore

The decomposed body of an unidentified male was on Friday morning found at the Windsor Forest Foreshore, West Coast Demerara by a group of fishermen who were about to go to sea. The body was

discovered about 08:30h.

According to information received, the badly decomposed body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting identification as Police continue their investigation.

The Guyana Times was

told that the body has several tattoos on the chest and arms and is clad in a pair of short black pants. Police could not verify if there were any marks of violence due to the condition of the body.

She reportedly refused to return home with the man.

The injured women were rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital and then to the New Amsterdam Hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The Police arrived on the scene shortly after and apprehended the suspect, who is now is Police custody assisting with investigations.

The three suspects who were arrested on Tuesday for the shooting to death of Wilfred Stewart, a security guard, during an attempted robbery on Sterling Products Limited have been released from Police custody.

A senior Police rank told the Guyana Times that there was not enough evidence to tie the men to the murder/ attempted robbery and as such, they had to be released since the 72-hour detention period had expired.

As of now, the officer stated that the Police are hoping to get a breakthrough in the case. Nevertheless, he stated that the Police are still looking for a known criminal who they believe is the mastermind.

Stewart, 45, of Graham’s Hall, East Coast Demerara, was employed by the Edward Beharry Security Firm, attached to Sterling Products Limited. Stewart reportedly died on the spot after the

De Transparency people ain’t transparent

Old people does always seh that no body should ever ask some body to do some ting whah no body else wanna do. In other words, every body must be willin to do whah ever dem happen to ask some body else to do.

But that don’t always happen in this land of many waters. In fact, talking bout water, that kinda advice is like water pun duck back fuh nuff nuff people. When all is said and done, some body always lookin to pass on some ting fuh some body else to do when dem don’t wanna do that ting in de first place.

De Transparency people was lookin fuh people de other day to join dem pun some kinda march. Well, is every body march away from that march. And is simply because de Transparency people want people to be transparent when they dem selves not transparent. But even though dem not transparent, every body can see right though dem from inside out and outside in.

Hanand who used to be Hauditor General and is a general crook when it come to not being transparent, since from de days of de Pee-an-See. That is why Hanand had to march away from de Transparency march long before de march. Is because dem same tax people who cut down de paper man to size, was ready to cut down Hanand to size. And that might still happen.

Rum Jhaat and de whole of de KFC is another setta crooks who ain’t doin whah dem asking people to do. Rum Jhaat want de Guvament to be accountable, but yet de KFC never produce no financial statement and dem not accountable at dem own Con Vention.

But although Rum Jhaat not transparent, another KFCite who does help collect KFC money seh he does see right through de Rummie from de time de money land in de land of many waters.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! De same KFCite seh all de KFC financial statement is de same as Rum Jhaat bank statement! What a statement!

gunmen opened fire indiscriminately. He was subsequently relieved of his firearm, a .32 revolver with six rounds.

Sterling Products employee Mario Gohill, an Indian national, was also injured during the gunfire and was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre after the gunmen had

made good their escape. He was shot to his left leg. He remains a patient at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital. It was reported that about 18:45h on Monday evening, about 10 men, all of whom were armed with high powered rifles, stormed the compound through the front gate. But, according to a release from the Guyana Police Force, there were only three gunmen. Police said the men were able to locate a safe in the building, but were unable to open it and decided to leave empty-handed.

Ranks at the Providence Police Station responded to the report, but the men had already escaped. This situation raised several questions with respect to the deployment of the SWAT team by Crime Chief Leslie James. James explained that sending in the SWAT Unit was a decision that would have had to be made internally.

Dead, Wilfred Stewart

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

SILWFC employees get 20% salary increase

Convicted prisoner remanded for possessing cannabis

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has successfully negotiated a 20 per cent salary increase for employees of the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund Committee (SILWFC).

SILWFC has been trying to get GAWU to evaluate the jobs of employees over the years; however, they were eventually successful and the exercise was done from September to November this year.

According to the Union, the evaluation exercise resulted in the two entities signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday at the SILWFC head office. The MoU encompassed the findings of the evaluation and also included a salary increase for 2014, both accounting for an overall salary increase averaging 20 per cent to each employee.

In addition, GAWU and SILWFC also came to an agreement to increase the meals and shoe allow-

ances along with an enhanced end-of-year bonus for each employee. The Agreement was signed by Deolatchmee Ramotar, Jairam Petam, Kenneth Joseph and Carvil Duncan representing SILWFC and by Komal Chand (President); Aslim Singh; Amla Persaud; and Mitra Devi Ali representing the Union. It was countersigned by

GT&T hosts first annual

the Deputy Chief Labour Officer, Nadia Samuels.

SILWFC is a legal entity which provides sugar workers with interest-free house and house-repair loans within stipulated ceilings. It is also mandated to assist in the maintenance of proper internal roads and sanitation, in communities where sugar workers reside.

Christmas Concert and Gift Presentation

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) hosted for the first time ever a Christmas Concert and Gift Presentation on Friday at the Theatre Guild, Kingston, Georgetown, where they reached out to 17 institutions across Guyana.

Some of the institutions that benefited from the generosity of GTT were from Georgetown, Anna Regina, Linden, and other regions in the country.

GT&T donated a for-

tune of toys to the various orphanages and institutions, with the intention of bringing Christmas joy to the over 1000 children.

Noting that “children are a prized possession”, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GT&T Radha Krishna Sharma vowed to reach out to more children next year as they continue to embrace Guyana’s multicultural identity and spread the wonderful joy of the season.

A spectacular Christmas concert saw grand performances by

local artistes Candace Fields, Calvin Burnette, Nia Allen, Poonam Singh, Ryan Hoppie, Tennecia De Freitas, WIST International, Classique Dance Company, the Marigold Choir, St John’s Bosco Boys Orphanage and St Ann’s Orphanage.

Closing the curtains on the evening’s programme, GT&T thanked everyone for their kind and generous support throughout the year and wished the entire country a beautiful and blessed holiday season.

Thirty-nine-year-old Rudolph Nurse of Lot 622 B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was remanded to prison by Magistrate Ann McLennan on a narcotics charge, when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday morning. He initially pleaded guilty with explanation to the offence, which stated that on December 7 at the Camp Street Prison, Georgetown, he had in his possession a narcotic, that is to say 8.5 grams of cannabis.

The facts read that on the day in question, at around 17:30h, Police Officer Kevon noticed the defendant acting in a suspicious manner and decided to carry out a search on him. While conducting the search, he found seven plastic parcels containing leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be cannabis, concealed in his crotch. Nurse was shown the suspected cannabis and was told of the offence. He was then taken to the Police Station where the narcotic was weighed in his presence.

However, the convicted prisoner explained his side of the story. He narrated that on the day in question, he was going to the kitchen

to have his lunch when he noticed a parcel on the step and decided to pick it up with the intension of giving it to officer Barker.

When he went to Barker’s office, he opened the parcels with contained seven bamboo and one “fronto”. He then said that he asked Barker if the parcel belongs to him and Barker replied “ I don’t have time with that, throw it in the fire.”

After much explanation, Nurse said that a Police Officer told him to plead guilty and accept the community service that would be offered to him as

penalty since he already spent “nuff” time in prison. He further added that he never was caught smoking or having such drugs in his possession. He also said that he was never involved in any “joka” and “thing like that”. “I go to church much often” he said, adding that he has three children and is serving a four year jail term on a break and enter charge.

The Magistrate then asked the reason as to why he did not tell the Police the reason behind his use of the drug, to which he replied “no one asked me anything and therefore I said nothing.”

Based on the explanation he gave the court, a not guilty plea was recorded on his behalf. After much contemplation, he accepted the not guilty plea. He then told the Magistrate “everything on the outside is inside of prison and that they (prisoners) are not missing out on anything but he is not involved in smuggling the prohibited substance into the prison. Magistrate McLennan then remarked “It is not a bad place after all”.

The Magistrate then said that bail was refused at this time and the matter was adjourned to January 8, 2015.

St Ann’s Girls Orphanage performing “Give Love on Christmas Day”

Rudolph Nurse

SILWFC representative Jairam Petam receving the MoU from Deputy Chief Labour Officer Nadia Samuel

saturDaY, December 13, 2014 | guYanatimesgY.com

Colombia, Guyana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico share forest data

– for establishing reference emission levels

Earlier this week at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting, Guyana, Indonesia, Malaysia and Mexico submitted forest reference emission levels for technical assessment in the context of results-based payments for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+).

Colombia also announced the presentation of forest reference emission levels and noted the plan to deliver them by the end of 2014. These countries follow Brazil, which was the first to submit reference levels in June. The report of the review of Brazil’s submission was released last week.

When a country implements REDD+, the results need to be measured against a starting point or benchmark. The forest reference emission level is the starting point.

As required by the UNFCCC, each submission includes information and rationale on the development of the forest reference emission levels, including details of national circumstances and, if adjusted, includes details on how the national circumstances were considered. All information from the submissions will be available through the

UNFCCC website.

“We are thrilled that these countries are taking important action to implement the Warsaw Framework for REDD+, and we look forward submissions from other REDD+ countries in the coming year,” said Josefina BranaVarela, Policy Director for WWF’s international Forest and Climate Programme.

“This exceeded our expectations in how quickly countries were able to prepare and submit these forest reference emissions levels,” noted Peter Graham, Leader of the Forest and Climate Programme.

“This now represents a challenge to donor nations

and financial institutions to take full advantage of this opportunity for significant mitigation in the pre-2020 timeframe.”

Countries submitted these forest reference emissions levels during the UNFCCC meeting in Lima, which is set to conclude on December 12. The meeting in Peru is a pivotal opportunity to build the political will needed to craft a new global climate deal.

Governments are expected to agree on the outline of an agreement to be approved in Paris in 2015 and the WWF has called on negotiators to guarantee the inclusion of the forest sector in the new climate regime.

Guyana Goldfields moves closer to commercial production

Guyana Goldfields Inc is pleased to announce the arrival of the semi-autogenous grind mill shells to its Aurora Gold Project presently under construction in Guyana, South America.

The 26 feet diameter by 18 feet long mill was manufactured by CITIC Heavy Industries Company Limited and has an installed power of 5.5 megawatts designed to process an initial throughput of 5000 tonnes of ore per day.

The mill arrived at GGI’s Buckhall Wharf and was transported along the access road to Aurora earlier this month by being split into two sections.

Each shell section weighed approximately 49 tonnes and the total combined weight was approximately 100 tonnes. The mill shells were the heaviest component that needed to be transported to Aurora from Buckhall Wharf as part of the entire construction process.

Aurora currently has over 700 people working at site with this rapidly expanding to 900 personnel by the end-of-the-year.

President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Caldwell said, “We are pleased that the arrival of this critical plant completes yet another key milestone towards the development of Aurora and achieving first production in mid-2015. The safe, efficient transportation of the semi-autogenous grind mill to the Aurora site is a real credit to the entire logistics team composed of our own logistics personnel, local service providers and the EPC contractor, as well

as the cooperation of other road users. The arrival of the mill shells was the heaviest component to be transported to site which clearly demonstrates that our logistics chain is fully operational.”

Gold was everyone’s darling for a decade from the start of 2001 when the precious yellow metal could be bought for just over US$250 per ounce.

Big drop

Spot gold rose to as high as US$1923 an ounce in September 2011, but has been on the slide since, including losing 28 per cent in 2013.

In 2014, gold is basically flat thanks to a December that is proving to be fruitful so far with gains just over five per cent, taking spot gold back to US$1227 through Thursday.

Still, the precipitous US$700 per ounce drop in gold has put pressure on many producing miners, stressing balance sheets and forcing cuts in expenses and production targets for some.

Guyana Goldfields Inc is not producing yet, but it is getting close and at a production cash cost of US$423 per ounce (excluding royalty to Guyana Government), the company can still make good money at current – or even lower – gold prices.

The Toronto-based company is fully financed for its flagship Aurora Gold Project in Guyana, South America, in October taking its first drawdown of US$42.6 million from a US$185-million project finance facility for development and construction on the project.

Raj Singh Brokers sponsors second insurance seminar

Raj Singh Insurance Brokers and Risk Management Consultants Inc (RSI), Guyana’s premier Insurance Brokerage Firm for marine insurance, has taken the lead in sponsoring a much needed marine insurance seminar catering to the ever growing needs and education of the business trading and services community.

This is the second time the firm has organised such a seminar with the first being held some seven years ago at the Hotel Tower under the auspices of the Insurance Institute of Guyana.

This seminar will be facilitated by Alan Thomas, a renowned marine insurance expert out of London with over 20 years experience as a senior underwriter for Steamship Mutual, North of England P & I (formerly Newcastle) and Ocean Marine Mutual.

Since 1999, Alan started his own company called New World Marine Insurance Consultants Limited and possesses clients in the Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, Asia and West Africa.

The seminar was held at the Campbell Room, Georgetown Club, Camp Street on Thursday.

Some 45 persons participated in the seminar, which includes representatives from several leading in-

surance companies from Trinidad and Guyana such as Beacon

Commercial production is expected to commence in mid-2015. More than 700 people are working on site to keep the project on schedule, with plans to ramp the number of workers up to more than 900 in the next couple weeks.

The measured and indicated gold resources for the project total 6.54 million ounces (62.83 million tonnes at 3.24 g/t). Another 1.82 million ounces of gold (16.93 million tonnes at 3.34 g/t) are in the inferred category, according to the latest NI 43-101 technical report.

Guyana Goldfields expects an average life of mine gold grade of 2.74 grams per tonne of ore milled and produce 3.29 million ounces of gold over a 17-year mine life.

In order to achieve commercial production, initial capital is estimated at US$249 million. The latest feasibility study should see an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 31 per cent on an after-tax basis with a payback of approximately 4.4 years, based on US$1300 gold. That will shift a little with gold cheaper, but it is still an attractive IRR.

On Friday, the company took another step towards production at its Aurora Project with the arrival of the semi-autogenous grind (SAG) mill shells.

Lowest level

Insurance Company, Assuria, NAFICO and Diamond Fire and General Insurance Company.

Other participants were drawn from vessel owners, cargo interests, staff from RSI and another broking house. The seminar served to empower their customers, staff and others in the local insurance industry with the requisite knowledge of how marine insurance works, underwriting information needed, risk management basics, claim dos and don’ts, etcetera.

The knowledge gained from this session is expected to translate into faster underwriting process and a better understanding of the claims settlements since the customer would have a better idea of requirements of marine insurance and what to do at the time of a claim.

RSI is innovatively driven and realises the need for Guyana’s insurance industry to grow. RSI has a Brightway Insurance Agency in Florida and is quite attuned to way things are done internationally.

“We are determined to be that driving force not only in the marine industry but all classes of insurance to bring insurance business on par with other developed countries one step at a time.”

The nearly 200,000-pound shells were made by CITIC Heavy Industries and have an installed power of 5.5 megawatts designed to process an initial throughput of 5000 tonnes of ore each day. With gold eking a little lower in early Friday trading and the main Toronto index testing its lowest level in about two months, investors are mostly ignoring the arrival of the shells on site for Guyana Goldfields. The stock is off by about four per cent at US$2.69 per share, BayStreet.ca reported.

Guyana Goldfields Inc is a Canadian-based company, focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits in Guyana, South America.

The company is focused on the construction and development of the Aurora Gold Project scheduled for commercial production in mid-2015. The Aurora Gold Project has a total gold resource of 6.54 million ounces in the measured and indicated categories (62.83 million tonnes at 3.24 g/t Au) as well as an additional 1.82 million ounces in the inferred category (16.93 million tonnes at 3.34 g/t Au).

Guyana Goldfields Inc also holds a significant portfolio of attractive exploration properties and holds cash and cash equivalents of US$68 million as of July 31, CWN said.

Guyana along with several countries submitted forest reference emission levels for technical assessment in the context of resultsbased payments for REDD+

Raj Singh of Raj Singh Insurance Brokers speaking during the seminar

Police say no rampant crime upsurge in Tuschen, Zeelugt

Police say claims by an Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor that there is an upsurge in criminal activities in Tuschen Housing Scheme and Zeelugt, both on the East Bank of Essequibo are untrue.

“Cognisant of comments attributed to AFC Councillor, Mr Harry Narine Deokinanan to the effect that there is “rampant criminal activity” in the communities of Tuschen Housing Scheme and Zeelugt Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), of the Police D Division, the Guyana Police Force wishes to state that the available statistics do not support such an assertion.”

According to the Police, the comments by Narine Deokinanan were published in an article in the Kaieteur News of Tuesday December 9, under the heading “Crime forces family to flee home”.

The Police records indicate that up to December 9, there has been an overall decrease of 30 per cent in serious crime in the policing division. “Specifically, there has been a 33 per cent decrease in serious crime in the communities of Zeelugt Housing Scheme and Tuschen Housing Scheme along with Zeelugt North and Tuschen North,” the Police said.

According to law enforcement, in terms of policing the area, in addition to routine mobile Police patrols in the communities, the members of active Community Policing Groups (CPGs) in the Tuschen Housing Scheme and Zeelugt North area assist the Police in their crime-fighting efforts.

The D Division administration had reopened

Berbice

AKingston, Corriverton Berbice resident will soon face a possession of narcotics charge after Police ranks conducted a search on his person and found 37 grams of cocaine in his briefs on Thursday evening.

Colin Park, 45, was reportedly a passenger in a taxi when it was intercepted by law enforcement officers along the Number 77 Public Road, Corentyne after Police saw the occupants acting in a suspicious manner.

The Police ranks reportedly requested to conduct a

Police spread Christmas cheer in Springlands

the Community Policing Patrol Base in the Tuschen Housing Scheme area during August of this year, following the launch of the Safe Neighbourhood Project C-PETS – Creating Positive Environments Through Safer Communities and Partnerships – in the community of Tuschen on July 10.

The Patrol Base in operational through the combined efforts of Police ranks and members of the Community Policing Group who are available on a 24hour basis and do patrols in the community. In addition to its law enforcement activities in the Tuschen/Zeeburg communities, through its social intervention project C-PETS, the Division has managed to build community partnership and improve Police community relations.

C-PETS has seen the building of partnerships with stakeholders, community involvement and significant collaboration with the faith-based organisations which has the overall objective of reducing crime and the fear of crime in the communities and the enhancing of community safety and security, while empowering youths and reducing incidents of domestic violence.

“The Guyana Police Force reiterates that there is no upsurge of crime in the communities of Tuschen and Zeeburg, EBE.

On the contrary, the occurrence of serious crime has been significantly minimised through the policing strategies employed together with social intervention projects that have been established,” the release added.

The Guyana Police Force B Division (Berbice) on Friday distributed food hampers to three families

in the Upper Corentyne District, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) as they spread cheers during the Christmas holidays.

search on the passengers, but Park was reluctant and put up resistance. As such, the Police rank who was performing traffic duty ordered the driver of the taxi to drive to the Springlands Police Station.

While there, a senior rank and the officer reportedly conducted a search of the man and unearthed the cocaine in his briefs neatly wrapped. He was cautioned, told of the offence, and arrested. He will make his court appearance on Monday at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

The food hampers comprise of basic necessities to make the lives of the recipients more comfortable.

The Officer-in-Charge during the presentation reiterated the Force’s commitment to foster good relations with the public.

This is the second year the hampers are being distributed and Cadet Officer Dufu hopes that it will be an annual exercise, but thanked those who have contributed to the success of the initiative over the past two years. He explained that the food items were donated by several businesses in the area, and as such, expressed heartfelt thanks to them.

The three recipients of the hampers are Norma Brown, 74, of Lot 73 Scotchburg, Corentyne; Tamishwari Harriram and her family of Crabwood Creek; and Katherine Blue, 93, of Number 76 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. The initiative of B Division Police Commander Brian Joseph was executed by Officer-in-Charge of the Springlands Police Station, Cadet Officer Jermaine Dufu and his subordinates.

Sergeant Kewis Gravesande hands over the hamper to Taniswari Harriram and her family while Constable Prevon Sarju, Constable Fiona Simpson and CID Officer Denzil Frank look on

TT investors impressed with local agri opportunities

By Svetlana MarShall

Investors from the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) have begun screening Guyana’s landscape in the field of Agriculture under the stewardship of Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy and Trinidad’s Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj.

The investors representing 15 commercial entities have met with officials from the Agriculture Ministry, GoInvest and the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission.

Discussions were based on investment incentives in Guyana, foreign agricultural investments in Guyana (Santa Fe [Barbados] and

Growers were allotted 1 000 acres of land, of which 200 acres is already under cultivation and another 200 acres being cultivated.

The TT Food Production Minister echoed similar sentiments, noting too that thus far, the investors are impressed. As he underscored the importance of capitalising on agricultural opportunities here, Minister Maharaj explained that it would aid in the reduction of the twin island’s food import bill, which is currently TT$4 billion per annum.

“With the crops grown in Guyana, we would be able to significantly reduce the bill and enhance our food security as a nation and also ad-

lacks. Minister Maharaj pointed out that mega farms in Trinidad are approximately 100 acres, but in Guyana, there are more than a 1000 acres.

The Trinidad and Tobago Agriculture Society, United Farmers Association and the Trinidad and Tobago Cane Producers Association objected to the MoU. It was contended that the agreement would not bring about a dent in TT’s $4 billion food importation bill.

But he made it clear that there is no guarantee that agreements will be signed.

“There are no guarantees that all the investors or any at all will take it up because they have to look at the pro-

Cooperative Citrus Growers [TT]), land availability, soil types and market trade logistics.

Additionally, information was presented on rainfall data for the last five years and the climate of the potential sites.

While the investors visited potential sites in the Canje Basin and Intermediate Savannah on Friday, the two Agriculture Ministers brought the media up to date with developments made since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September 2013.

Though no agreements have been signed, Minister Ramsammy said the discussions held on Thursday have taken the countries one step closure in fulfilling the objective of the MoU, which was designed to facilitate the TT’s investors in Guyana for agriculture production. According to him, next is the presentation of scoping proposals for potential investment even as dialogue continues between the two Ministries.

Minister Ramsammy said scope of work presented by the Trinidadian investors will determine the sites, but emphasised that the primary focus is on the Canje Basin and Intermediate Savannah. He further explained that the Intermediate Savannah is an area of interest because there is already a Trinidadian company, Cooperative Citrus Growers, operating in the vicinity. Cooperative Citrus

dress the vexing issue of food inflation,” Minister Maharaj added.

He explained that in establishing the MoU, six commodities were identified to which investors can harvest including corn, soya beans and fruits.

Minister Maharaj further explained that though the price of corn fluctuates on the world market because it is used for ethanol production, it is primarily used as poultry feeds (chicken feed).

Price control

“So if we can control the price of corn locally within the region, we would be able to ensure that the price of poultry is at a manageable level, because poultry is the meat of choice of the vast majority of people.”

Asked about the major objections that were raised shortly after the MoU was signed, the Trinidadian Minister said the criticisms and objections were made by farmers with political agendas and hold executive position in political parties.

“The farmers have relatively new position on this. This endeavour does not envisage farmers from TT to be taken to Guyana, nor does it involve Trinidadian Government investing in agriculture activities in Guyana at the expense of our local farmers… it is a win win situation,” he said.

He said Guyana has been selected as an ideal location due to the availability of land for large-scale agriculture production, which Trinidad

Rush hour garbage collection disgusting

… hindering traffic flow

By erica WilliaMS

Following concerns raised by persons in some quarters about the additional traffic congestion around the City caused by the rush hour waste collection, Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba has promised to look into the matter.

It was observed that during the lunchtime period and hours following, on a daily basis, garbage trucks can be seen parked along the already busy and congested city streets to facilitate the collection of garbage.

This in turn creates additional traffic congestion and inconvenience to road users. When told of this issue, General Manager of Puran Brothers Incorporated, one of the solid waste management companies in Guyana, Kaleshwar Puran, said the main issue for his company when it relates to the collection of garbage during the rush hour period is the opening hours of the landfill site at Eccles Industrial Site.

cess of coming to Guyana, the infrastructural development and take it up and take it up in a large scale…”

Last year, the Trinidadian Food Production Ministry expressed an interest in utilising 10,000 acres of land in Guyana for the purpose of sustainable food production. The Guyanese Government had signalled its willingness to provide 1000 acres during the initial stage had the MoU evolved into an agreement.

The MoU addresses programmes and activities, core areas of cooperation, monitoring and coordinating mechanism, mutual responsibility, commitments and settlements, rights and obligations and scope for termination.

Recognising that global food insecurity remains a major problem across the world due to rising food prices amid declining food production levels due to climate change, the parties had signed the agreement in their quest to reduce their food import bills. For Trinidad, this plan is in keeping with its National Food Production Action Plan 2012-2015.

The MoU provides guidance for the development, promotion and strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the countries through the development of joint ventures and activities that will contribute significantly to promotion of food security, but it does not impose action targets for either Guyana or Trinidad.

This landfill site opens at 07:00h and closes at 17:00h daily. Puran said initially, his company collects waste in the Regent, Wellington and Camp Streets areas at 16:00h but with the traffic congestion on the East Bank of Demerara in the afternoons, they had to bring forward that timing to 12:00h to 13:00h daily.

“We have to reach exactly on time at the landfill site. If the workers are five

minutes late, the people at the site don’t take the garbage and we have to keep it in the truck overnight.”

Puran added that Police Officers often times talk to his workers about interrupting the flow of traffic. But Puran said this issue has been raised numerous times in the past. He said when the Eccles Industrial Site first became operational about three years ago, its opening hours were one of the first issues his company addressed with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. To date, Puran said nothing has been done to rectify this situation.

Efforts to speak with Minister of Local Government, Norman Whittaker were unsuccessful. However, when Guyana Times contacted Town Clerk Carol Sooba, she said she will relook at the contracts, with a view on having systems implemented to help curb the obstruction of garbage collection by garbage trucks. This review, Sooba said, will take into consideration the operational hours of the landfill site.

Puran said the previous landfill site which was located at Le Repentir was open from 07:00h to about 19:00h and at times, even 21:00h.

Project Manager of the Solid Waste Department at the Georgetown Solid Waste Management Programme, Gordon Gilkes said “Nowhere in the world people operate landfills in the night.”

He added that the possibilities of employees being injured by equipment are higher at night. He also said that the issue of running the landfill site in the evening also brought up questions of overtime payment for employees.

“We ask the private garbage collectors if they would help facilitate payments to employees for overtime work and they refused.”

Gilkes felt the actual issue is not the operating hours of the landfill site but rather the availability of roads in the city area. “The fact that everyone has to use the one road on the East Bank (Demerara) is the problem, obviously there will be congestion.” Nevertheless, Gilkes is of the belief that whatever system is put in place to rectify the situation should be a collaboration between the Garbage collection companies, businesses, Town Hall and other stakeholders.

Puran, said he, is suggesting that the landfill site starts operation at 07:00h and stops at 19:00h. Cevons Waste Management, the other private waste disposal company, however said it does not dispose commercial waste.

It was further stated by Puran that during a meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency last week, the current issue was raised by the agency. “They took note of my complaint and said they would look into it but we have not seen any changes”.

US$10M set aside for 8th cycle of BNTF

The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved US$10 million from the Special Development Fund for the eight cycle of the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF 8). This decision was made at the 264th meeting of the Board, held Thursday at the Bank’s headquarters in Barbados, Belize, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Turks and Caicos Islands are the countries within the CDB membership which participate in the Fund. The governments of these countries will provide counterpart funding of US$546,000.

Key emphases of

BNTF 8 will be: improved access to quality education; human resource development; water and sanitation; basic community access and drainage enhancement in low-income, vulnerable communities.

There has also been a progressive shift from a focus on infrastructure development managed by central Government to community managed sub-projects. Increased investments have been made to improve basic infrastructure and services and increase the potential for economic activity through skills training, capacity building and institutional development support.

The BNTF’s vision supports a focus on meaningful community/citizen participation and empowerment and developmental change in communities

where needs are greatest. It underlines the importance of creating opportunities for income generation and job creation.

The BNTF Programme began October 1979 and is a grant-funded poverty reduction programme managed by CDB which serves 10 countries. Its mission is to empower and equip communities with necessary resources, and improve their access to basic public services. Additionally, BNTF also directly targets youthat-risk and promotes gender equality, environmental and disaster risk management, and maintenance and sustainability. Regionally, more than US$300 million has been spent to date on projects which have benefited more than 2.6 million people living in the poorest communities in these countries.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy and Trinidad’s Food Production Minister Devant Maharaj addressing the press on Friday

Berbice mothers weep over death of babies

... blame tired, overworked nurses

By Nafeeza yahyah

Two young mothers in Berbice are mourning the deaths of their newborns hours after their delivery at the New Amsterdam and Skeldon Hospitals respectively.

Authorities are said to be investigating the two incidents which occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday. The first mother to lose her child was 20-year-old Jennifer Winter of Number 65 Village, who delivered baby Alexander Winter on Monday at 23:05h at the Skeldon Hospital. It was her first child. The baby died the following day at the New Amsterdam Hospital. Winter is of the view that her baby could have lived if the nurses and health officials at the Skeldon Hospital had listened to her and took immediate action. The family made it clear that the staff at New Amsterdam did their best to save the baby, but their actions too late.

She related to Guyana Times that her experience at the hospital from the inception was an unpleasant one. Winter described her treatment at the said institution as that of an “animal”. “I was admitted on Sunday after complaining about severe labour pains. I continuously begged the nurses for a transfer to New Amsterdam because I know I could not deliver the baby normal because of a broken pelvis sustained when I was younger, during my visits to the clinic and hospital I related this to them, but they said, ‘How I know I can’t pass out the baby, they know I can pass it’.”

She went on to say, around midnight when her ‘water bag’ burst, she called upon the nurse for help but was ignored. She stated after several calls, the nurse said, “Leh I see what I gon do with myself, I gotta clean up myself”. Winter related she was in too much pain to help herself. She was left like that until the following morning, and as the pain became more intense, she begged to go to New Amsterdam for a Caesarean but her cries fell on deaf ears. The traumatised mother went on to say, when she was in the labour room, there was no help from the nurses to get on and off the bed during contractions.

She said while the baby was being delivered, she again told them she cannot push the baby out, noting that her nine months of pregnancy were healthy.

“One doctor went on top and push the baby down, while a midwife and another doctor pulled the baby during that time they cut at the bottom, they cut me but it was like I was violated .I beg them to numb me there when they cut, but the nurse said that my skin stiff if they do so it wouldn’t stitch. Imagine the pain, I ask a nurse to help me clean up but she say she was tired”.

Winter went on to say when the baby was delivered, he was not breathing but had a heartbeat; however, the doctors took care of him. She added, she fell asleep and when she awoke, her child frothing through his nose. “I

alerted the nurse when I saw this, but she told me she was tired, when they decided to take the baby he was in a bad state already...”

Several hours after that moment, after repeated pleadings, the baby was then transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where doctors battled to save his life.

Meanwhile, Winter’s mother, Janice Matheson said her daughter called her crying out in pain and when she arrived at the hospital, the nurses were harshly asking her if she did not train her daughter to deal with pain.“I suggested to them to take her NA, because I was scared, so they tell me if I know more than them, when them take her to check her, the nurse come back and tell me she nah get time to go and bring she out, let me go and bring out me mess (referring to Winter) so I walk and bring she out.”

According to a neighbour who accompanied the family, Babita Sookwa, the nurses yelled at Jennifer saying that she was a “botheration” patient and if she continue to behave like that they will leave her on her own. A postmortem was done on the baby at the Skeldon Hospital which indicated that the baby died due to suffocation.

Meanwhile, Marceline Jacobs, of Number 51 Village, is also mourning the loss of her first child who died on his way to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Wednesday. According to reports, Jacobs was admitted to the New Amsterdam Hospital on December 8 and was due to deliver her baby on Tuesday, but delivered on Wednesday via a Caesarean Section at the said hospital. According to a relative, the newborn reportedly developed respiratory problems and had to be transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The relative believed that if the delivery was done sooner, the baby would have been saved. However, they are not criticising the hospital. Jacobs remains a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital. Both babies were laid to rest on Friday today. Efforts to solicit a comment from the Chief Executive Officer of the Berbice Regional Authority, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, were unsuccessful.

Sir Ronald Sanders withdraws from Commonwealth Secretary General race

In a letter to fellow heads of government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has withdrawn his country’s nominee for the post of Commonwealth Secretary General.

Browne said in his letter on Wednesday that Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda’s recently appointed High Commissioner to London and its nominee for the Commonwealth post, had written to him as follows:

“There is nothing I hold more strongly than the desire to advance the interests of the Caricom region and those of the Commonwealth. My work-

ing life in several Caribbean and Commonwealth capacities and my published writing bear testimony to that.

I have followed closely your actions, and those of other heads of government, to advance my candidature as the Caribbean’s nominee for the Commonwealth Secretary General’s position. I am truly grateful for the most excellent efforts; but I am been deeply anguished that, despite majority support for me, the Region has not been able to settle on one candidate. To be successful, the Region must have a single candidate and should not delay any longer its entry into a campaign that has al-

APNU wants early declaration of election results

The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is hoping that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) could this time around be able to make available early results for the upcoming Regional and General Elections.

The political party at its press conference on Friday said that modern means of communication have made it possible for Statements of Polls (SOPs) to be photographed and transmitted in a matter of seconds.

“We feel that we could have election results by six o’clock the next morning and certainly, we don’t expect to have results after three or four days as happened in 2011. We definitely need to move away from these 72 and 96 hours wait for the declaration of results. That is completely unsatisfactory,” Opposition Leader David Granger told media operatives on Friday.

The contention is that election results usually take too many hours to be announced. And even with the lengthy waiting period, the final count is often times misappropriated. APNU’s Chief Whip and Chief Scrutineer Amna Ally told the media briefing that too many hours are consumed awaiting election results. She said, however, that while concerns brew over the lengthy delay, equally important is the accuracy of those results.

“We do not want a situation where people imagine what the results are and plug them in. we are advocating that the Statements of Poll, signed and certified by the Presiding Officers

at each polling stations must be the authentic document we will use in order to declared the results,” she stressed.

Ally added that the party was “shafted” at the last elections in 2011 and will be taking all necessary precaution to prevent a recurrence.

Shadow Home Affairs Minister Winston Felix related that the party has already expressed its disappointment over the actions of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of GECOM, who had made a declaration of the results based on the SOPs.

Such declaration, Felix maintained, must be done by the Returning and Presiding Officers of the election Commission.

APNU’s call came after the political body met with the election body on Thursday, raising several concerns over the protocols of the election. The party’s leader, David Granger told the press conference that the issues have been major concerns of the political body.

In that regard, the issue of the attacks coming from other political leaders was

also raised.

According to Felix, such should be viewed as contrary to any standard of conduct attributed to members of the political party. Party officials were speaking directly to the People’s Progressive Party’s “attack” on Granger’s “constitutional” use of state resources to carry out his functions as Opposition Leader. Rohee had called on Granger to cease using the state resources he is entitled to.

“If Mr Granger is so concerned about misuse of state resources, he should abandon and return all the resources he’s currently using as well as the benefits he receives from the State as Leader of the Opposition. Rohee was at the point reacting to a similar call made by Granger a few days before, for the PPP to desist from using Government funds to carry out its political campaigns. Granger had accused the PPP and President Donald Ramotar of breaching constitutional protocols in the use of state resources for its election campaigns.

“There is a straight line between State and party and that line divides the two. So if a State official is also a party official, it is not justified that the State official when on party duties, makes use of State resources for political work and that is where our objection falls,” said Shadow Finance minister Winston Felix.

Felix related too that the misuse of funds by the PPP puts other political parties at a disadvantage during the campaign season.

Duo remanded for $2.1M robbery under arms

Twenty-year-old Kester Gilks and 23-year-old Robert Beckles were remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to a robbery under arms charges.

The duo appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday afternoon.

ready started by others....”

Browne said he agreed with the principled position that Sanders has taken.

“As I told colleagues at the caucus of heads of Commonwealth Caribbean governments in the margins of the Cuba-Caricom conference on 8th December, I believe that the region has delayed too long on this matter, and further delay is inimical to a regional candidate’s chances.

Therefore, notwithstanding the majority support for Sir Ronald and in full support of the principled regional position he has taken, my Government hereby withdraws from the process,” he said. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

It was alleged that on December 8 at Lot 1597 Central Amelia’s Ward, McKenzie, Linden (Region 10 – Upper DemeraraBerbice), being in the company of each other and armed with a knife, they robbed Alexander Hernandez of a cellphone valued $6000 and a driver’s licence valued $3500. They also stole a number of household articles and other items valued $2,192,000, all of which belonged to Chatram Ramlochand.

Before the facts were read, Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones informed the

court that Hendandez was employed by Ramlochand who owns the home that was robbed. Jones then proceeded to tell the court a synopsis of what transpired.

On the day in question, the duo went in the house armed with a knife, tied up Hernandez and Ramlochand and took the 43 articles mentioned in the charge after which they made good their escape. However, around 00:10h, they were stopped by Police who were on patrol at that time. A search was conducted and the men could not give an account as to where they got the items from. They were then arrested and charged. Gilks was represented by Attorney Clyve Forde who stated during his bail application that his client is a first time offender who resides at Lot 227 Blueberry Hill, and is a taxi driver, but noted that on that day in question, his client was

working and was not present during the incident. He further noted that his client is not a flight risk and that if bail is granted, he is ready to accept the conditions of the court.

Beckles on the other hand, who was unrepresented, gave his address as Lot 114 Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden and is an employee of Adams Mining Company. Prosecutor Jones objected to bail, citing the gravity of the offence, the penalty that the offence carries and that personal violence was used during the execution of the robbery. He further stated that the Police have no statement saying Gilks is a taxi driver.

The prosecution bail objection was upheld and the men were remanded until December 17 where they will make their second court appearance before the presiding Magistrate at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

Jennifer Winter is blaming nurses at the Skeldon Hospital for the death of her baby

Opposition Leader David Granger

GDF donates to remote village Kaikan

Education Ministry’s Strategic Plan for next 5

years

to

As part of its ongoing efforts to foster good civilian-military relations, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Monday made a number of tangible donations to the community of Kaikan, located on the Wenamu River near the

senior officers, along with a medical team.

Among the things distributed were one 30 horse power Yamaha outboard engine, a solar power system, a computer system for the village’s primary school and five volleyballs for its volley-

Venezuelan border.

Visiting the area was Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips and a core of

ball team.

The Chief-of-Staff noted that the initiative forms part of a wider programme by the

Force to adopt the school and provide continuous assistance in every possible way.

Meanwhile, the team also provided medical treatment to 40 persons in the community for various infections.

The GDF has also embarked on a similar initia-

tive in the community of Kashew Island located at New River, where it has been providing assistance to the school.

The school is located in proximity of base Camp Jaguar, near the Suriname border.

One in custody for Superbet robbery

Asenior Police rank on Friday confirmed that one man was taken into custody for the robbery committed on Superbet, Hinck Street, Georgetown.

The suspect was positively identified as one of the robbers after his face was caught on surveillance footage that was retrieved from the store.

As such, Police have since charged the man with robbery. He is expected

to make a court appearance on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. The betting franchise was on Thursday burglarised by four men who carted off two safe containing some $5 million. It was reported the business was broken into between 12:50h and 14:50h. In the surveillance footage, the men used giant pliers, a crowbar and other objects to deactivate the security cam-

Sixth Form College on table,

but not

priority – Manickchand M

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has said that her Ministry is still considering the proposal for a Sixth Form College to be built, but she noted that the project is not a current priority.

The Minister noted that her Ministry is currently looking at a location to house the college, which will be within the Georgetown District. Under former Education Minister Sheik Baksh, the idea was mooted to have the college in the compound of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), with the objective that some students might choose to pursue a career in teaching. At that location, it will be close to the University of Guyana, and would in a sense encourage students to further advance

their studies.

In addition to the location, Minister Manickchand outlined that housing all Sixth Form students at one location will be challenging.

“Right now, if we are to put all our Sixth Form students in one college, it would be a large college and it will have to be a dormitory college,” she added.

Manickchand further pointed out that having such a facility at present is not a priority as the Ministry still has to build a school in the Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), to accommodate students.

“It’s a matter of prioritisation, but it is still on the table, it is not off, I like the idea a lot because you get to concentrate teaching efforts in one college,” the Education Minister said.

eras as they made their way into the building.

The robbers were reportedly using rags and towels to cover their faces.

The building in which Superbet occupies also has a clothing store, food mall and a few other entities.

Some time ago, another of the sport business location at Alexander Village was robbed by two gunmen. No one was arrested in that instance.

Man gets 3 months in prison for threatening reputed wife

ark Singh, age 40, of Lot 184 Charlotte Street, Georgetown was sentenced to three months imprisonment after being arraigned on a threatening language charge.

Singh appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Annette Singh on Friday morning.

It was alleged that on December 11 at Charlotte Street, Georgetown, he made use of threatening language to Sujata Persaud causing a breach of peace to be occasioned. The mason pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

The court heard that the parties are reputed husband and wife and that he is always in the habit of threatening his wife. He was charged before for a similar offence in 2011.

On the day in question, at around 17:30h, Singh went to the home of the VC

Mark Singh

and told her that he will chop her neck off. She became afraid and reported the matter to the Police. Investigations were carried out and he was arrested and charged. He was then sentenced to three months imprisonment.

focus on learning – to target children with

special learning needs

Children with special needs and those that require extra attention due to a number of circumstances have posed a challenge for the Education Ministry over the last five years.

In a bid to tackle this challenge head on, the Ministry has laid out the 2014-2019 strategic plans with emphasis placed primarily on children with special needs.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand held a special conference to reveal the Ministry’s proposal for the next five years. The Minister said that it is premature at best to state but all factors indicate that Guyana has seemingly done a “decent” job in the education sector by maximising the learning of its students within the last few years. However, the Minister informed that children “at risk and vulnerable (with) special education needs” have posed a challenge to the Ministry.

Thus, it is with the acknowledgement of this need to maximise the learning achievements of such children that the strategic plan was designed.

The Minister states that literacy and numeracy are priority subjects for these groups of children but science and technology will also be addressed.

Even so, Minister Manickchand recognised that getting such children to remain in school is a problem as the standard teaching tools cannot be used to captivate their interest in learning, hence the need to have the issue addressed with emphasis being placed on ensuring the children stay in school.

The Education Minister further stated that the consultations conducted for the 2014-2019 Strategic Plan have outlined six target goals that will be worked towards, reiterating that each of the goals will be putting emphasis on students who have special learning needs.

The goals, as stated by the Minister, indicate that a top-down approach will be administered with the aim of improving the performance of Government departments. This is to ensure the success of the Plan.

As part of the goals being looked at, the Minister remarked that “an accountability system that provides incentives to improve the student’s learning is established and functioning”.

Other areas mentioned by the Education Minister to be addressed are the quality of school facilities, the quality of teaching, the quality of the curriculum, the availability of teachers, learning materials, the alignment of the curriculum programme with a revised curricula and the instructional time.

However, Minister Manickchand, stated that a list of hindrances still need to be taken into account in the administration of the Strategic Plan, since the Ministry would have no control over such activities.

Minister Manickchand listed political instability as one of the factors to be considered as well as changes in the priority of administration of Government, economic destructions, and changes in those authorities that can undermine the plan.

The Ministry is currently in the process of refining the 2014-2019 Strategic Plan.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand says her Ministry will tackle the challenge of children who require special learning attention

GDF Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips donates an outboard Yamaha engine to a resident of Kaikan

GDF Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips speaking to pupils of Kaikan Primary

Caricom is not only slow, but also fragmented

Dear Editor,

It is more than four decades since CARIFTA - the forerunner then the Caribbean Community (Caricom) was established, but despite the length of time it seems that the regional body cannot get their act together in many areas.

First there are varying views about the freedom of movement and employment of Caribbean nationals in states other than their country of their birth. Some Governments ignore the Treaty of Chaguaramas.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled in favour of a Jamaican national who was harassed and denied entry into Barbados.

Now Caricom has failed to identify a single candidate as its nominee for the post of Commonwealth Secretary General.

Guyana born diplomat/academic/journalist, Sir Ronald Sanders, who is currently Antigua’s High Commissioner to London has been nominated by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and his candidature has been approved by most Heads of Government, but it is reported that Caricom is contemplating naming more

Athan one person for that high and distinguished position.

Sir Ron who has a distinguished career as a diplomat since 1982 is now serving his third term as Antigua and Barbuda High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

He was invited by US President Jimmy Carter to be a member of “Friends of Democratic Charter”, and in 2010 was named as a member of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) which was requested by the Commonwealth Heads of Government to recommend options to reform that will sharpen the impact of the 53-nation grouping.

Sir Ron was Rapporteur and the report was submitted to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Perth, Australia in 2011. He is also a Member of the Board of Round Table of the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs.

His vast experience would make an excellent Commonwealth Secretary General, following the footsteps of his father in law Sir Shridath Ramphal, who served two consecutive terms in that high esteemed office.

Since Carciom is un-

able to identify a single person, Sanders has written to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to withdraw his name as a candidate. In his letter Sir Ron said, “There is nothing I hold more strongly than the desire to advance the interests of the Caricom region and those of the Commonwealth, the working life in several Caribbean and Commonwealth capacities and my published writings, bear testimony of that.”

Sanders added that to be successful the region must have a single candidate and should not delay any loner its entry into a campaign which has already started by others. He concluded by saying “I have no wish to be a part of a fragmented process in the Commonwealth Caribbean at a time when our need for unity is only so urgent in our interest”

It is regrettable that Sir Ron was not the region’s lone candidate because he is known in the Commonwealth for his outstanding work and had an excellent chance of being chosen to that high esteemed Office.

Oscar Ramjeet

crime fighting strategy...

The reason for me saying this, is that the Police have to go about this crime fighting business in a modern and professional manner, not the age old Burnhamite tactic of forcing a confession statement out of them.

The age of brute force where you beat a confession out of a criminal and taking that to court will not work.

We have seen countless cases of this where known criminals simply cough up a confession statement, then hire one of these politically motivated lawyers such as Nigel Hughes and the case goes down the chute. In this case getting irrefutable evidence will do it in a court of law.

This brings us to the most crucial point, the matter of trying the matter in court. In the first place, sentencing for gun related crimes is a big joke. In the present dispensation sentencing for the possession of a firearm and carrying out a crime with it is simply innocuous.

Sentencing a criminal for two, sometimes three years for the possession of weapon of mass destruction is simply asking for trouble. It is simply a “slap on the wrist” and a tacit carry on smartly boy.

My take on this is sentencing for arms possession should carry a minimum of 10 years incarceration and in the event the firearm is not found or there is a refusal to divulge information of it another 10 years should be added to it. If this route is taken many a criminal would volunteer valuable information to secure a lesser sentence. Believe it or not the criminal wants to get out there to con-

tinue his crime and one sure way in doing this is keeping his firearm intact.

By getting the firearm out of circulation would do the trick, he is handicapped without the firearm hence, will pose no threat to society.

If you take the recent attack at Sterling Products you get the real picture. Three gunmen were present at the scene, they shot the security and took away his gun, this means that there are now four guns out there waiting to carry out another murderous attack.

The point I am making is you recover the firearms and put the perpetrators away, which means that we can go to our workplaces as well as sleep at ease.

In related news, one or all of the suspects in this matter are past offenders of similar crimes who have just been released from prison. This is the true picture of the situation we are faced with.

There should be major overhauls in the justice system as well when it comes to gun crimes. The present scenario makes pathetic reading when you see a man going to jail for five hard years for a “spliff” or what we would say “a joint of marijuana”, than a criminal trafficking in over 100 pounds of cocaine going free.

And I say this not because of the Alex Moore matter in letting the criminal drug trafficker off, but against the backdrop of countless other cases. When justice can be so draconian in what I call petty matters, it shows you how much of an incentive these sentences are for those bent on real hard core matters as in gun crimes.

Kwayana must be born again...

Should he be free of his own imprisonment? Is he fearful he will become completely irrelevant risking his lifelong trek as inconsequential? Would Black Guyanese be better off one way or the other?

It’s most incumbent he be born again, set himself and those whom he has mislead to a noble path to freedom and terminate any likely “kool aid Jim Jones” fantasy resolutions. All undoubtedly are guaranteed equal rights in Guyana.

But Mr Kwayana and company somehow keep insisting some have more rights than others, just by race alone (George Orwell 1984). Consequently they make it difficult to move beyond race, elevating it as the predetermining fulcrum anchor of superior entitlement to an exclusive advantage.

But this will not resolve the Indian Security Dilemma (ISD) left in arsenic abeyance to fester into acquiescence. It must not happen. Should others matter at all? The undeniable facts are most obvious that the PPP/C Government became handicapped because it drastically neglected its Indian base in its zeal to serve all Guyanese, regardless of race.

The point I am making is that the structure of the present justice system condones crime by deliberately focusing on the non essentials when the real issues are overlooked. Finally, a network must be set up where these criminals are concern, business places and other commercial outlets should pass on information to the police of commercial activities such as purchases made by “known characters” and their associates.

I make this statement on the backdrop of what dominates the Guyana crime scene. These criminals do their dastardly deeds then buy expensive vehicles, the preferred type being cars.

Now, these are guys who never worked or at least have any intentions to work but to engage in, a term loosely used in Guyana today, “business”. That kind of business is killing people and something drastic has to be done to rid society of them.

Businesses do pass on information to the relevant authorities so that we can bring a halt to these crimes. Again I make mention of the Sterling Products case of a motor car used as a getaway vehicle. Now I guarantee you that car is owned by one of the criminals. Where did he “work” to acquire such luxury?

The point I am making is criminals should always be under the radar. Surveillance is important in getting these guys in the place where they belong. Guyana must move forward and we can do this minus the crime.

Neil Adams

advocated by birthright of race has no morality, shame or seeming compromise.

Because the Opposition believes God has apparently made many a mistake in Guyana, should the PPP/C government become sanctified to correct the supreme creator? What we are meanwhile expected to believe is the PPP/C has been busy making things worse and is becoming dictatorial either by floods or chikungunya sparing none by race or whatever.

The President’s proroguing of Parliament is considerably especially heinous because it was not supposed to happen, even if constitutionally legal. Preventing the two separate parliamentary Opposition parties, united as one to approve their NoConfidence Motion against the PPP/C was their prescribed sacred constitutional entitlement.

Mr Forbes Burnham’s PNC 1980 Constitution permitted no such rights. But the PPP/C Government amended Guyana’s constitution to include it with Opposition support. Mr Kwayana’s rebuttal to Mr Ally couldn’t be more convincing in light of his friendliness” as a shape shifter to cite the constitution in his favour.

Recalibrate, they must, or they continue into reducto absurdum. The incessant criticisms targeting the PPP/C Government’s apparent disinterest in ‘shared governance’, be not surprised, only

Mr Kwayana asserts: This (constitutional )provision supports his claim, “In politics two or more minorities or do not make a majority”. But this Ally rule does

from page 4

not hold true everywhere and in every case, even in politics” he would like us to know. Why?

Mr Kwayana bewails then British Guiana with the PPP in Government: “The 1961 voting system before Proportional Representation (PR) gave an advantage to the PPP. It got more than the voters gave to it. One vote for the PPP secured more representation than one vote for any other party….This is a kind of divine right of the plurality. It is not a comforting doctrine.”

Who, what and how the “ASCRIA leader and the PNC” got their desired “comforting doctrine” to celebrate victory in 1964 has been well documented.

Fast forward when Mr Kwayana reminds us that: “In 2006 the PPP won 54 percent of the popular vote…. The legal right of the PPP to form the 2006 (one-party cabinet) Government was not challenged on any legal ground. Even those who had (sic) expected a “shared government” took it in their stride.

It was under PR and it was not disputable. Guyana’s racial arithmetic has always emboldened entitlement possibilities completely reversed unlike America. We continue to struggle in an unreal Alice in Wonderland fantasy or something like that.

Sultan Mohamed

The AFC must know that fire...

From the very outset, Moses Bhagwan representing the WPA argued that the PPP/C should not contemplate having the consensus candidate because , while it may have received 46 percent of the popular vote at the free and fair elections held in 1964, since then, its support would have dwindled.

Other arguments advanced by some stakeholders were that a Guyanese of East Indian extraction would not be acceptable to AfroGuyanese, particularly those in the Disciplined Services, and that a communist would be unacceptable to the business community and the ABC countries.

The long and short of the extended negotiations was that Dr Cheddi Jagan was unacceptable as a consensus candidate. Faced with this situation, at one of the meetings between the PCD and the local stakeholders Dr Jagan announced that since he was found to be unacceptable, he was prepared to withdraw his nomination and proposed in his place Dr Roger Luncheon.

The response was astounding! Dr Jagan’s withdrawal was welcomed, but Luncheon’s nomination to be the consensus candidate was rejected on the ground that “Luncheon is Black but Red….”

Negotiations in the PCD

were taking place on another front; this had to do with a Joint Programmatic Platform. As Convenor of the Committee formulating the Joint Programme, the PPP/C proposed that the Joint Programme be made public.

This was opposed by other parties in the PCD. The Joint Programme never saw the light of day. These two events contributed in no small way to the eventual demise of the PCD.

Compounding the situation was the advent of the 1992 elections campaign when all the parties went their respective ways and with the PPP going to the polls for the first time as the PPP/C alliance.

These are rich and valuable experiences the PPP/C gained during that historic period. For Carl Greenidge to complain that “the PPP/ C’s view is that they are dealing with political inferiors or elections’ losers rather than parte-parole”, and further that the PPP/C has “a perverse approach to negotiations” is not only highly inaccurate but incorrect, dismissive and misleading.

Mr Greenidge must know that he is not the only one in Guyana who was “afforded considerable and extensive exposure at the highest levels in the arena of negotiations” whether in Europe or North America.

from page 5

The PPP/C Administration was active in five theatres of external negotiations at the WTO, the FTAA, ACP-EU, CanadaCaricom and Brazil-Caricom. Clement Rohee held ministerial responsibility on behalf of Caricom for negotiations at the WTO and with the EU on sugar. Mr Greenidge must take note of the PPP/C’s experience vis-àvis the PCD.

There are many lessons to be learnt, especially as the major political party in the proposed alliance which the AFC has already signaled its interest in leading, thus denying the APNU the role which its supporters would expect them to play.

Rather than beating up on the PPP/C and labelling the party as “lacking in negotiating skills”, the APNU would be best served were it to learn from the PPP/C’s experiences within the PCD, our differences notwithstanding.

As for the AFC “bigging up itself” to be the leader of a grand APNU-AFC alliance, this is nothing but an attempt to get out of the PNCUF coalition-syndrome.

As the old folks would say, the AFC is beginning to “smell its own perspiration”.

Clement J Rohee

General Secretary PPP/C

saturDaY December 13, 2014 | guYanatimesgY.com

Mtinues to do well in the Miss World Pageant with the grand finale set for Sunday, December 14 in London. Husain has been named in the top five of the

Carina Tyrrell.

With the grand pageant only three days away, the Miss World Organisation has announced the top five delegates in each of the contests except the Beauty with Purpose Award for which Miss Guyana is in the top 10.

For the Miss World Top Model competition, the top five are Miss China Du Yang, Miss South Sudan Awien Kuanyin-Agoth, Miss Bosnia & Herzegovina Isidora Borovcanin, Miss Hungary Edina Kulcsár, and Miss Australia Courtney

In the Beach Fashion contest, Miss Mexico Daniela Álvarez Reyes, Miss Kenya Idah Nguma, Miss Sweden Olivia Asplund, Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss and Miss India Koyal Rana were the top five delegates.

The Talent winner will be decided on Sunday, with a sing-off between the top two choices. Miss Malaysia Dewi Liana Seriestha and Miss Scotland Ellie McKeating will take to the stage to perform their individual pieces in front of the judges, live audience, and millions watching at home.

The others in the top five are Miss Russia Anastasia Kostenko who did a ballet piece, Miss Sweden Olivia Asplund with a fabulous ice-skating routine and Miss United States Elizabeth Safrit with ballet en pointe.

Miss Finland Krista Haapalainen was adjudged the winner of the sports

Guyana's representative to the Miss Global International Pageant, Onesha Hutson departed her native land for Montego Bay, Jamaica, with class, dignity, confidence and enthusiasm and the main aim of winning the crown.

Although that dream did not become a reality for the beauty ambassador, Hutson placed in the top 10, and was again selected in the top six of the talent competition. She was awarded a special prize for Best Smile.

During the competition which saw at least 30 other delegates competing, Hutson created quite a stir as she sought to impress Jamaica and the other delegates with her grace and elegance, as she glided across the stage wearing a Myrna Patterson gown. She then sported a Neilson Nurse gown for the orientation dinner and again managed to turn heads.

After creating a fashion statement, she continued to look fabulous in gowns and designs by Andy Cummings, Tracey Greene Douglas, Nachle Designs and Channey Wong.

Being a favourite in the swimsuit segment, Hutson wore a stunning swimsuit, depicting the colours of the na-

tional flag. The design which was produced by

and

Hutson also rose to the

segment with Miss Hungary Edina Kulcsár in second position and Miss South Africa Rolene Strauss in the third spot. Miss Serbia Milica Vuklis and Miss Wales Alice Ford came in fourth and fifth respectively.

Meanwhile, according to Global Beauties. com, Miss South Africa has been the absolute favourite for the crown. If Miss South Africa wins, it will be the third Miss World crown for the African nation, and the first since 1974, when the original winner from the UK gave up the crown and the South African runner up took her place.

Whatever happens, Miss South Africa will face some tough competition on Sunday. Miss India has climbed from ninth to second place with Miss Australia in third. Misses Puerto Rico, Russia and Brazil received very high marks from the judges and could pull a surprise as well.

The Miss World Final will be broadcast LIVE across the world on Sunday from 14:30 to 17:00 GMT (18:30h-21:00h local time).

“Arrowhead” by Courtney Noel. The dance was choreographed by Hashim

Alli. Taking a bit of Guyanese heritage for the charity auction, Hutson was among the favourite countries whose gift was sold. It was a Guyana’s ‘Ultimate Pack’ by

Guyanese designer Jason Shurland, incorporated hand crafted ribbons

rice beads.

occasion and preformed a cultural extravaganza as her tal-

ent piece, where she played the African and Tassa drums, and also danced to Guyanese artiste Melissa “Vanilla” Robert’s “Rage” and

Tracey Greene Douglas and her

brand Pandama Wines, which included the award winning wine, clay earrings, tiedye dress and souvenirs from Guyana.

In addition, her national Costume sported a replica of Guyana’s Court of Arms

which was made by Guyanese designer Jason Shurland. The evening gown was the highlight of the evening as she wore a Hibiscus flower inspired gown by new and uprising designer Quinton Pearson.

iss Guyana World Rafieya Husain con

Samuels to take confidence into Tests

West Indies Middle order batsman

Marlon Samuels

says he has found renewed confidence approaching the start of the first test match against South Africa which begins on Wednesday.

Samuels powered his way to a double century to lift West Indies to a mammoth 508 in their first innings against a South African Invitational X1 on the second day of their three-day tour match at Willowmoore Park Thursday.

“I basically paced myself... am confident… I have been batting very well and I used that momentum to bring me into this game,” said the stylish right-hander.

“I am just enjoying batting at the moment and putting some good scores on the board and helping out my team as much as possible”.

Samuels added 360 for the third wicket with left-

Marlon Samuels

hander Devon Smith who was equally fluent in making a polished 174. This helped West Indies

to a first innings lead of 383.

The Jamaican batsman has praised West Indies allround cricket as encourag-

ing ahead of the first test and also credits the bowlers for the Windies’ impressive showing including Sheldon Cottrell who grabbed five wickets in six overs.

“The positive thing about it is that Devon Smith made a hundred and seventy something retired as well and Sheldon Cottrell got five wickets and all the bowlers chipped in a bowled very well so the allround cricket is looking very good at the moment going into the first test match”.

At the close of the second day, South African Invitational, who scored 125 in their first innings, were 17 without loss.

“I am really looking forward to the test match,” said Samuels.

“Last time I was here I scored a lot of runs and I hope I can repeat that last trip to South Africa”. (Windies Cricket)

Weigh-in sets anticipation for tonight’s title fight in Berbice

The anticipation is high as the boxers weighed in for the first professional card in Berbice that includes a title fight.

The weigh in took place at the Castle Night Club in New Amsterdam on Friday evening with all eyes on local fighter, Richard Williamson who will take on Dillon Allicock for the vacant super/bantamweight title of Guyana.

Allicock looked very confident although initially having to lose some weight for the bout.

However, the fifth bout will be the main event this

evening as Mark Thom Promotions stages its five bout card at the Area H Community Center in Rose Hall Town Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice / Corentyne).

Williamson’s professional record is 9 fights 4 knockouts and 5 losses as against Allicock with 6 fights 3 knockouts and one loss.

The main supporting bout will bring together Guyana’s middleweight champion Derick Richmond and James ‘Sack’ Walcott.

When the two last met, it was December 26 of 2013 with both fighting for the

vacant local super/middleweight title.

Richmond delivered a right hook that crashed into Walcott’s temple and sent him to bed in 2:57secs of the fourth round.

He will be remembering that when the bell goes tonight. That fight is scheduled for six rounds.

The other professional fight in the card will bring together Rv Luke against Rose Hall Town ‘wonder boy’ Kishan Simon in a not-title welterweight 6 rounder.

Meanwhile two amateur bouts are also slated for the card with the second featur-

Royals, Jets reach Mackeson ‘King

Royals remained unbeaten to reach the final of the Mackeson ‘King of the Rim’ Tournament when the Linden zone was held on Thursday evening at the Mackenzie Hard Court. Sharpshooter, Chris Williams displayed his smooth shooting stroke all evening, to lead the Royals to the final eight of the tournament while his teammates Marlon Pollydore, Harold Adams and Orlan Glasgow played crucial roles during the night’s action. Meanwhile the jets made it to the final eight behind the dominant Webster brothers who controlled the paint with their bruising style of play. The other teams that are in the Super Eight Final are TRS Raptors from Melanie on the East Coast, Den Amstel ‘A’ from West Coast Demerara, Colts ‘A’, Colts ‘B’, Pacesetters ‘A’ and defending champs, Pitbulls, all from the Georgetown zone.

ing two national champions, both of them Berbicians.

Jamal Eastman, will for the first time take on Tyrone Lashley in an exhibition bout that is being dubbed the ‘battle of the champs’.

Both fighters looked promising at Friday’s weigh in.

The evening will get going when Julius Kesney and Colin Hinds meet in a lightweight encounter.

Admission to the venue is $2000 for the VIP section while general admission is $1000 and fight time is 20:00h. (Andrew Carmichael)

of the Rim’ final

Balotelli accepts charge

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has accepted a Football Association charge for a post he made on social media.

The Italy international was charged under FA rule E3(1) for a post which appeared to contain anti-Semitic and racist references.

The 24-year-old has written a letter in mitigation to the governing body and has not requested a personal hearing.

Liverpool hope his explanation could lead the FA to fine, rather than ban, the forward.

Balotelli reposted an image of computer game

character Super Mario on Instagram, which included the words “jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew.”

The former Manchester City forward tweeted to deny the post was offensive, before apologising.

Balotelli has missed Liverpool’s last six games with a groin injury but could return to their squad for Sunday’s game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

He has scored only two goals in his 14 appearances for the club since signing from AC Milan in the summer.

Final weekend for GCA tournaments before the Christmas break

The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) in a release indicated that following this weekend fixtures, all competitions organised by the association will be suspended until January 10, 2015.

This is to facilate the Christmas season, the release stated.

Meanwhile, in the lone Hadi’s World City Mall Inc. first division two-day game which starts at 09:30 hrs today, Malteenoes Sport Club will host Everest with

umpires Hortence Isaacs and Cyril Garnath taking charge.

For today’s fixture in the New Building Society second division 40-over tournament which bowls off from 10:30 hrs, Third Class will journey to Demerara Cricket Club; GNIC will host Guyana Defense Force and Sophia will take on Gandhi Youth Organisation.

On Sunday, Georgetown Cricket Club will host GNIC and Third Class will play GDF at GYO.

Horse racing action set for Alness Turf Club on Sunday

Berbice horse racing fans are expected to be in for a treat when the Alness Turf Club one day horse race meet is staged on Sunday at the Club’s track at Alness Village, Corentyne Berbice.

Seven races are carded for the day with the feature event being the ‘G’ class event which has a top prize of $300,000. Over $3M will be at stake during the day’s proceedings.

Up to Friday more that forty animals had already registered for the event.

Apart from the ‘G’ class race there will be the ‘I’ and lower 1000 metre event that will see the animals racing for first prize money of $200,000 and a trophy.

The event is expected to be very competitive with Easy To Win, Mary Ann, Affinity, DE Gump, Slim

Shady, Devil Woman and Party Time all facing the starting gate.

The animals in the ‘J1’ class event will be competing for a top prize of $180,000 and trophy over a distance of 1000 metres while the J3 and lower will have at stake of $160,000 and a trophy. In the K and lower category a $140,000 top prize along with a trophy over a distance of 1000M will be at stake for the event.

There are also two events for the ‘L’ class horses which will be contested over 1000 metres.

Interested persons can make contact with Nikita Ross 662-4668, Campton Sancho 690-0569, Marcel Crawford Jr. on 678-5342, or R. Matadial 325-3192. Race time is 13:00 hrs. (Andrew Carmichael)

Warner’s second ton in match helps Australia to huge lead

Australia had a nearperfect day in their endeavour to be in a position to push hard for victory on Saturday in Adelaide. Offspinner

Nathan Lyon used the considerable bounce in the pitch to hasten the end of the Indian innings during an extended first session, securing a 73-run lead for his side, after which David Warner scored a second hundred in the Test - for the second time in 2014 - to help stretch that advantage to 363 at stumps.

Another overnight declaration is inevitable, which means India will have at least 98 overs to survive if they are to leave for Brisbane with the series still level. One day of batting might not seem improbable, but the last time India batted at least that many overs in the final innings of an away Test was at Lord’s in 2002, a match they still lost. Before that, it was in Colombo in 1997, and then in Adelaide in 1992. Such is the magnitude of the task ahead of Virat Kohli’s men.

That Australia had so much time to try to force a win in this most emotional of Tests, despite losing most of the second day

to rain, was down to Lyon and Warner. Lyon claimed three of the last five wickets to become only the second Australian spinner to take a five-for at home against India, after Bob Simpson in 1968.

India had resumed on 5 for 369, and Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha had survived opening spells from Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson without much trouble. Michael Clarke made his bowling changes after the first half hour and wickets came quickly. Rohit had just stepped out to loft Lyon for a boundary over mid-on, but when he advanced again next ball he wasn’t to the pitch of it and chipped a return catch. India’s tail was exposed early.

Peter Siddle was unwell and expensive on the third day but his pace was up on Friday and he swiftly breached the debutant Karn Sharma’s defences. And had Siddle not dropped Mohammed Shami off Lyon on the deep midwicket boundary, Australia would have been batting sooner. Though he had Saha for company, Shami slogged with abandon. His initial approach was questionable, but it brought valuable

SCOREBOARD

India 1st innings

overnight 369/5

M Vijay c †Haddin b Johnson 53

S Dhawan b Harris 25

CA Pujara b Lyon 73

V Kohli* c Harris b Johnson 115

AM Rahane c Watson b Lyon 62

RG Sharma c & b Lyon 43

WP Saha† c Watson b Lyon 25

KV Sharma b Siddle 4

Mohammed Shami c Watson b Siddle 34

I Sharma c Smith b Lyon 0

VR Aaron not out 3

Extras: (lb 4, w 1, nb 2) 7

Total: (all out; 116.4 overs) 444

Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Dhawan, 7.4 ov), 2-111 (Vijay, 30.1 ov), 3-192 (Pujara, 49.3 ov),

4-293 (Rahane, 75.2 ov), 5-367 (Kohli, 94.1 ov), 6-399 (RG Sharma, 107.5 ov), 7-406 (KV Sharma, 110.2 ov), 8-422 (Saha, 113.3 ov), 9-422 (I Sharma, 113.5 ov), 10-444 (Mohammed Shami, 116.4 ov)

Bowling: MG Johnson 226-102-2, RJ Harris 21-6-551, NM Lyon 36-4-134-5, PM

Siddle 18.4-2-88-2, MR Marsh

11-4-29-0, SR Watson 5-113-0, SPD Smith 3-0-19-0 Australia 2nd innings

CJL Rogers c RG Sharma b KV Sharma 21 DA Warner b KV Sharma 102 SR Watson b Mohammed Shami 33 MJ Clarke* c †Saha b Aaron 7 SPD Smith not out 52 MR Marsh c Vijay b RG Sharma 40 BJ Haddin† not out 14 Extras (b 1, lb 6, w 5, nb 9) 21 Total (5 wickets; 69 overs) 290 To bat PM Siddle, MG Johnson, RJ Harris, NM Lyon Fall of wickets 1-38 (Rogers, 12.1 ov), 2-140 (Watson, 38.5 ov), 3-168 (Clarke, 45.6 ov), 4-213 (Warner, 59.1 ov), 5-266 (Marsh, 64.4 ov)

Bowling O M R W M Shami 11 2 42 1 Ishant 14 3 41 0 KV Sharma 16 2 95 2

M

runs after Saha’s dismissal - caught at slip off bat and pad, though replays indicated the decision was also questionable. Two balls later Lyon had Ishant at batpad to complete his five.

India’s last wicket added 22 as Shami slogged between deep square leg and long-on. Siddle eventually found the toe end of his bat, and Shane Watson took a low catch at first slip to end the innings on 444.

Warner then got cracking. Not in the 45 minutes before lunch, when he was sussing how different batting conditions were from the first innings, but after the break, when he laid into India’s specialist spinner and part-timer. He lofted Karn Sharma and M Vijay repeatedly over their heads, slapped through cover when their lengths were short, and reverse swept too. He hit Australia’s first six of the Test - a towering blow over midwicket off Vijay.

Warner brought up his half-century off 63 balls, and then stopped by Phillip Hughes’ final score of 63 for the second time in the match. With his spinners proving ineffective - their ends had been swapped immediately after Karn dismissed Chris Rogers - Virat Kohli turned to Ishant Sharma but Watson glanced and flicked leg-side offerings to the boundary.

Varun Aaron had not been used until the 32nd over - presumably to keep fresh for any reverse swing - and in his second over he bowled Warner. The contest heated up instantly. Aaron and Kohli celebrated aggressively, but replays revealed a no-ball. Warner returned the cries of “come on,” more than once as he returned to the pitch, and a ball later there were confrontations involving several Indians and the batsmen. The umpires intervened and Kohli had to calm his own emotions to rein in his players.

Aaron revved it up, but a bouncer deflected off Watson for four leg byes, a leg-side wide went to the boundary, and the batsman flicked to the midwicket boundary off consecutive deliveries. (Cricinfo)

Calm Williamson helps NZ draw level

Kane Williamson’s unbeaten 70 - his sixth ODI fifty in the last seven matches - steered New Zealand’s chase and helped them draw level with Pakistan in the five-match series. The four-wicket win was also New Zealand’s first against Pakistan in 11 ODIs in Sharjah.

New Zealand’s victory had an impressive support cast, too. Matt Henry finished with 4 for 45 in his third ODI, with help from Mitchell McClenaghan and the quick Adam Milne. New Zealand’s openers added 103 runs, with Anton Devcich hitting his maiden ODI fifty, before Luke Ronchi’s strokefilled 36 and 58-run stand with Williamson eased the pressure of a few quick wickets in the middle.

Earlier, Pakistan were dismissed for 252, a challenging score given that they were struggling at 20 for 3

ishing the game in the 46th over.

Pakistan were reined by Henry, McClenaghan and Milne, after they had opted to bat first. Henry and McClenaghan were brought into the side for the second ODI in place of Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills, who was ruled out due to a groin injury.

Henry struck in his first over, getting Ahmed Shehzad to edge a fuller delivery to slip after a series of back-of-length deliveries. Younis Khan was almost dismissed lbw for a first-ball duck, before replays showed that McClenaghan had overstepped by a significant margin. McClenaghan, though, had his wicket in that over as Younis poked at an angled delivery and was caught at first slip. Asad Shafiq played all around a delivery from Henry to leave the score at 20 for 3.

in the fifth over. Mohammad Hafeez’s 76, and handy contributions from the middle and lower order helped the side battle their way out of trouble on a flat Sharjah track.

Devcich and Dean Brownlie got the chase off to a solid start with their brisk partnership at the top. Mohammad Irfan got a few deliveries to rise up uncomfortably at the openers but the other Pakistan bowlers also fed the pair with wide deliveries and balls on the pads that were duly taken for runs. Their stand was broken by Shahid Afridi in the 19th over, when he bowled Brownlie three runs short of a half-century. Devcich and Williamson continued steadily but the chase threatened to unravel when New Zealand lost four wickets in an eightover period between the 25th and 33rd overs.

Devcich fell to a runout, responding a little late to Williamson’s call, before Haris Sohail struck three times, dismissing Ross Taylor, Tom Latham and Corey Anderson. With 84 required off the last 17 overs, New Zealand’s main challenge was stemming the slide of wickets and Ronchi and Williamson did that with a productive stand. Williamson was content to turn the strike around and Ronchi provided the boundary shots, off both the quicks and spinners. He fell in the 43rd over, with the score at 225. Williamson then took charge of the chase, fin-

who had an awkward time at the start of the innings with the short ball. Once he settled in, Haris focused on building on his start and turning the strike over to Hafeez. The pair consolidated the innings with a 77-run stand. Hafeez brought up his 50 off 59 balls.

After Haris fell, Misbahul-Haq and Hafeez overcame a few quiet overs and uncertain calls for singles to add 66 runs but Henry returned to account for both batsmen in successive overs. Hafeez played a pull shot straight into the hands of the deep midwicket fielder and two overs later, Misbah was out caught behind. The Pakistan captain missed an attempted hook shot and after being given out, opted for a referral, suggesting that the ball may have hit his forearm. However, the third umpire backed the onfield call. Misbah’s dismissal meant that Pakistan had two new batsmen at the crease in the final Powerplay and the last 10 overs.

Shahid Afridi came out to a roaring reception but was not as restrained as in the first ODI. However, he topedged Milne attempting a big shot after having smashed the previous two balls for sixes. Pakistan persisted with Sarfraz Ahmed at No. 7 and he kept the score moving along with the lower order as Pakistan took 55 off the last 10 overs.

Hafeez then took charge of the innings along with Haris Sohail. He handled the short balls from the New Zealand bowlers confidently, and was also assertive against Daniel Vettori, whom he hit for 23 runs off the 24 deliveries he faced. Some of Hafeez’s confidence rubbed off on Haris,

Pakistan also have a few more concerns to deal with on the fitness front. Umar Gul missed the second ODI due to a bruised tendon in his left ankle, seemingly a recurrence of an old injury. Misbah-ul-Haq walked off the field during New Zealand’s third over due to a hamstring niggle and his fitness will be assessed on Saturday. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan innings (50 overs maximum)

Mohammad Hafeez

c Latham b Henry 76

Ahmed Shehzad c †Ronchi b Henry 0

Younis Khan c Taylor b McClenaghan 6

Asad Shafiq b Henry 1

Haris Sohail c Taylor b Anderson 33

Misbah-ul-Haq* c †Ronchi b Henry 47

Sarfraz Ahmed† c Latham b McClenaghan 23

Shahid Afridi c Vettori b Milne 27

Wahab Riaz c Taylor b Milne 14

Sohail Tanvir lbw b McClenaghan 14

Mohammad Irfan not out 0

Extras (lb 1, w 9, nb 1) 11

Total (all out; 48.3 overs; 217 mins) 252

Fall of wickets 1-1 (Ahmed Shehzad, 0.6 ov), 2-11 (Younis Khan, 1.6 ov), 3-20 (Asad Shafiq, 4.3 ov), 4-97 (Haris Sohail, 20.1 ov), 5-163 (Mohammad Hafeez, 34.2 ov), 6-172 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 36.5 ov), 7-209 (Shahid Afridi, 40.3 ov), 8-231 (Wahab Riaz, 44.6 ov), 9-248 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 48.1 ov), 10-252 (Sohail Tanvir, 48.3 ov)

Bowling O M R W MJ

New Zealand innings (target: 253 runs from 50 overs)

DG Brownlie

(Devcich, 24.4 ov), 3-138 (Taylor, 26.3 ov), 4-148 (Latham, 28.5 ov), 5-167 (Anderson, 32.3 ov), 6-225 (Ronchi, 42.4 ov)

David Warner reverse sweeps during his knock

Kane Williamson’s unbeaten 70 a key factor for Kiwis

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Entries close today for Guyana Cup rematch

– all systems in place, say organisers

Registration for the Guyana Cup rematch closes today and, according to organisers of the race meet, no late entries will be accepted.

With entries topping the 60-horse mark, the principals of the Guyana Cup rematch have already put all systems in place for next Sunday’s horse race meet, scheduled to be staged at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

Organisers have put together an impressive ninerace programme for the meet with most of the big names are set to be on show for what is expected to be a competitive day of racing.

Organisers have also added a substantial amount of cash and other attractions to the day’s activities that total over $10 million in cash and trophies.

The feature race is classified for horses in the D1 category over 1600 metres, with the winner set to race away with a $1.5M and trophy.

The other events on the day’s card are the co-feature event for Three-yearold horses, bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies for a winning purse of $1M and trophy over 1600 metres.

Then there is an event

for Two -year-old for West Indies bred animals for a top money of $600,000 and trophy over 1200 metres.

The E Class race will be a 1500m affair with the animals running for a winning purse of $600,000 and trophy.

The G1 and lower event is a 1200 metres contest for a winning purse of $500,000 and trophy.

The Two-year-old race for Guyana bred horses will see the winner pocketing $300,000 and trophy over a distance of 1200 metres encounter.

The event for H1 and Lower animals has a top

money of $250,000 and trophy over 1200 metres.

The I3 and Lower race will be a 1200 meters affair with a first prize of $200,000 while the J3 event will fetch a winning prize of $150,000 over 1200 meters.

Horse owners are required to pay fifth per cent of a non-refundable deposit on or by December 13.

Interested persons can contact Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063 or 232-0633), Kris Jagdeo (624-6123; 3220369), Rajendra (Jim – Jo) 618-7278, Ramnauth 3375311, Romel Jagroop (6241798) and Sancho 690-0569.

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ome might stifle a grin and say it was appropriate that England won a one-day international that was spread over two days. After all, they do seem to need a little more time than most teams. Having an extra 20 hours or so to prepare for their run chase did not allow a slow pitch to become trickier in the batsmen’s minds; the knowledge that no one had previously chased 240 at Palleleke was worn lightly.

Even the return of Sachithra Senanayake, who so troubled England earlier in the year and picked up two wickets in his opening spell, did not overly ruffle them. The turn extracted by Sri Lanka’s spinners was infrequent and England fashioned two of their most substantial partnerships of the series to keep alive hopes of winning it.

As in Hambantota, England’s previous win of the tour, Joe Root played a central role. Root has had a lot of responsibility thrust on him over the last few months but he carries the burden cheerfully, grinning at opposition bowlers

and piling up runs with a certain gangling ease. His ukulele playing has been the talk of recent days but it is on the field where he remains most instrumental.

Having overcome a lean patch of one-day form with a century at Headingley to finish the English summer, Root is becoming a reliable bulwark at No. 4. His role in the middle-order is as a Graham Thorpelike nudger and deflector, though he has a couple of bigger shots, in particular the slog-sweep that took him to three figures here. Whereas Thorpe could amass 82 caps steadily accumulating for the cause and never score a one-day hundred, Root has three this year alone.

His presence seems vital to the England ecosystem. He is now England’s leading run-scorer for the series and has been involved in the four highest partnerships. The 104-run stand with James Taylor, which provided the foundation for victory, followed an association of 93 in the fourth match as the pair once again whirred Sri Lanka to distraction.

“He’s very snappy between the wickets,” Root said of Taylor. “He reminds me of Scrappy from ScoobyDoo ... he’s always nagging at your heels. We have good fun out in the middle, have a nice laugh and a joke. There were some good songs playing in the background, so we were having a little singsong between overs, which kept us nice and relaxed.”

At the close in Pallekele, with Root unbeaten on 104, his career average had ticked above 40 and his strike rate above 80, impressive figures for a 23-year-old who only made his debut last year. Having seen England home in Hambantota as well, he looks to be developing a sideline as a finisher - although a noticeably circumspect approach to his hundred was possibly behind Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan being dismissed trying to hurry things along.

That is a minor quibble after another mature display from mighty young Joe. He was the sixth member of England’s current top seven to pass 50 in the series and it is only the flatlining form of Alastair Cook that has prevented encouragement from developing into genuine enthusiasm. They will still approach the World Cup gingerly if his run without a major score - it is nine innings since his last half-century - continues, no matter the progress elsewhere.

With this match running into a reserve day, and England putting on such an accomplished performance, there was an odd atmosphere in the ground. Few locals troubled to turn up twice and the travelling contingent of English fans had to contend with the fact there was not a licence to sell alcohol on Thursday. It was a day for a Root beer instead. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka innings (50 overs maximum)

TM Dilshan b Jordan 35

MDKJ Perera c Jordan b Finn 0

KC Sangakkara† c Root b Woakes 91

DPMD Jayawardene c Jordan b Woakes 2 AD Mathews* c Woakes b Jordan 40

HDRL Thirimanne lbw b Tredwell 8 BMAJ Mendis c & b Woakes 12

NLTC Perera c Root b Woakes 27

SMSM Senanayake b Woakes 0 KTGD Prasad not out 5 BAW Mendis b Woakes 0 Extras (b 2, lb 2, w 15) 19

Total (all out; 49 overs) 239

Fall of wickets 1-3 (MDKJ Perera, 0.3 ov), 2-54 (Dilshan, 9.4 ov), 3-59 (Jayawardene, 10.5 ov), 4-144 (Mathews, 33.6 ov), 5-173 (Thirimanne, 40.2 ov), 6-199 (Sangakkara, 44.2 ov), 7-202 (BMAJ Mendis, 44.6 ov), 8-212 (Senanayake, 46.5 ov), 9-238 (NLTC Perera, 48.4 ov), 10239 (BAW Mendis, 48.6 ov) Bowling O M R W ST Finn 6 0 28 1 CR Woakes 8 0 47 6 MM Ali 10 0 50 0

Joe Roots during his innings

North Americans vying for Limacol CPL spots

By RavendRa Madholall in ToRonTo

Five Canadian cricketers have been chosen by Cricket Canada to participate in the International Cricket Council (ICC) High Performance Camp, which is slated to begin on Sunday in Barbados.

The aspiring cricketers, all Under-23s, along with seven other players from United States of America and Bermuda will be under the guidance of high-level Australian Coach, Tom Evans.

A move by the ICC in collaboration with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), it is geared to highlight these talents and pick six players to be part of the 2015 Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20, representing a Franchise each.

Nitish Kumar, a national player, and Nikhill Dhutta, who also featured at the highest level for Canada, will be joined by Satimranji Dhindsa, Farhan Malik and Arshan Khan as the other boys from Canada.

The six teams that usually participate in the Limacol CPLT20 competition are defending champions Barbados Tridents, runners-up Guyana Amazon Warriors, Antigua Hawksbills, Jamaica Tallawahs, St. Lucia Zouks and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

The seven-day camp will be at the Three W’s Oval where the Under-23 team is set to compete in three practice matches, which would be showcasing the talent and abilities to impress the selection representatives.

They are scheduled to clash with a Barbados Cricket Academy Invitational XI, while the North American boys will collide with Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) in a T20 over and 50-over encounters.

The CCC team is expected to lead by Guyana First-Class player Steven Jacobs and he will have a bunch of senior players at his disposal, including Shemarh Brooks, Romel Currency and Omar Phillip among others.

Meanwhile, Cricket Canada’s General Manager Ingleton Liburd stated that the guys are very excited to be part of the action and more importantly staking a claim to touch gloves with some international cricket stars in the Limacol CPL T20 in the third edition.

“This [is] a huge motivation for our youngsters and I do hope they grasp it and is the cream of the crop of the young talent in Canada and this is an ideal opportunity for them to develop their skills and also qualify to play in the CPLT20 tournament,” Liburd mentioned.

Shiek Mohamed of newyorkcricket.com also expressed similar sentiments of their players from the US. The three cricketers: Steven Taylor, Keifer Phill and Kushan Ganji are quality players and should be able to make an impression in the Caribbean.

“I think it is a great initiative to include these kids from USA into the HPC program, they can only learn from this experience and become better cricketers. I think it should be done on a consistent basic so other guys can look forward to the opportunity yearly and no doubt these players would do well because they are naturally talented cricketers,” Mohamed declared.

In 2015, the Limacol CPLT20 should attract worldwide audience while a large number of famous international cricketers are due to represent their respective teams.

Some of the names that have already featured since the tournament’s inception two years ago are: Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, Pakistani pair Mohammed Hafeez and Shohib Malik, England’s senior batsman Kevin Pietersen, West Indians Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo just to name a few.

Petra Girls U-11 football heats up this weekend

Atotal of 12 games will be contested this weekend at the Education Ministry ground on Carifesta Avenue when action in the Health 2000/ Health Ministry/Smalta Under-11 schools football competition for teams in Georgetown enters a critical stage.

The Petra Organisation coordinated event will continue with Round Four action today, followed Round Five on Sunday, both days starting at 10:00 hours.

The first two games today would be to identify to schools to occupy positions 9-12 with St Pius Primary playing East La Penitence in

GT Beer “Supa 16” kicks off Sunday in Linden

The second annual GT Beer “Supa 16” football tournament organised by the Upper Demerara Football Association and sponsored by Banks DIH Limited will kick off on Sunday with the official opening ceremony and two exciting matches at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground at 18:30 hours.

Defending champions Winners Connections will be hard pressed to defend their title as they battle against Topp XX, Milerock Football Club, Net Rockers, Eagles United, Botofago, Peace Makers, Kwakwani Strikers, Vasco, Silver Shattas, Hi-Stars, Madhia FC, Block 22 Goal Getters, Snatchers, Amelia’s Ward Panthers and Blue Berry Hill.

Over $2.4 million will be

up for grabs with the winners securing a top prize of $1 million plus the GT Beer Trophy. The second placed team will receive $600,000 and a trophy with third place securing $400,000 and a trophy, while the fourth place finishers will take home $200,000 and a trophy.

There will also be prizes for the Most Valuable Player, Highest Goalscorer, Best Goalkeeper, Most Disciplined team, Best Defender and Best Coach.

President of the UDFA, Collis Griffith, said there will opening ceremony with a march past of the competing teams and a feature address and kick off by Minister of Public Service Dr. Jennifer Westford.

There will also remarks by representatives of Banks

DIH Limited, President of the UDFA, the GFF Normalisation Committee and Region 10 administration. The first game of the double-header card will bring together Linden Masters against an East/West Combined team. Blue Berry Hill will square off with Vasco in the feature match. Matches will also be played on December 17, 19, 22, 25, 26 and 28 with the grand final and third place playoff set for January 1, 2015. All matches will be played at the MSC ground. The tournament was launched last Saturday at the Watooka Complex attended by the competing teams, officials, UDFA executives and officials of Banks DIH Limited.

the curtain raiser, followed by St Margaret’s going up against Smith’s Memorial at 10:45 hours.

This would be followed the four quarter-finals, featuring the top eight teams to progress out of the group stage. At 11:30 hours, North Georgetown will throw down the gauntlet to Stella Maris, followed by West Ruimveldt colliding with F.E. Pollard at 12:15 hours.

Forty-five (45) minutes later, South Ruimveldt will square off with St Stephen’s, followed by Tucville facing Enterprise in the final game of the day.

On Sunday, the day’s activity will conclude with the two semi-finals, but prior to that, the other eight remaining schools will do battle to fill positions 5-12. The final is billed for Wednesday.

The 2014/2015 Banks Beer Cup organised by the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) will continue with matches this evening and Monday at Camp Ayanganna and Tucville grounds.

Games were also on last evening at Camp Ayanganna ground where Police took on Black Water FC and Alpha United played Northern Rangers. Both matches were Group A fixtures.

Today in Group B, Houston Stars will clash

with Fruta Conquerors in the first match of a double-header card starting at 18:30 hours, while the second game will showcase Georgetown Football Club (GFC) against Western Tigers at 20:30 hours at the Tucville ground.

Two Group C matches are scheduled for Monday at Camp Ayaganna featuring Riddim Squad against Beacon FC at 18:30 hours and Santos will do battle with Sunburst Camptown from 20:30 hours.

Meanwhile, in latest

results, Guyana Defence Force defeated Black Pearl 3-1 with Tyson Carmichael (42nd minute), Nigel Braithwaite (76th) and Clifford Garraway (92nd) scoring for the GDF, while Mark Correga netted for Black Pearl in the 53rd minute. Pele also scored a 3-1 win over Flamingo with Omallo Williams (23rd), Jumane Somerset (68th) and Godfrey Powers (83rd) scoring for Pele, while Sheldon Gorrick netted for Flamingo in the 45th minute.

Nikhill Dhutta

Officials of the UDFA and Banks DIH Limited at the launch of the competition last weekend

Banks Beer Cup set for busy weekend

Part of the action between Pele and Flamingo

Another exciting set of matches is billed for this weekend at the MOE ground

Pepsi, GBA launch under-16 boxing tournament

Pepsi in conjunction with the Guyana Boxing Association (GABA) launched their final project for the 2014 year set to box off on Sunday.

At least seven gyms and approximately 30 boxers are expected to flock the Andrew ‘Six Heads’ Lewis boxing gym the Pepsi under-16 boxing tournament.

The tournament is the third of its kind and President of GBA Steve Ninvalle explained that the tournament is beneficial to the development of the sport at the launching on Friday.

“As you know the under-16 category is the nursery of our boxing and we must pay attention to them and we want to give our heartfelt thanks to DDL for their support,” Ninvalle stated. Representative of the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Larry Wills was optimistic of the tournament ability to produce boxers.

“We are proud to be a part of this tournament and we found that over the years the tournament has been successful in the development of the boxers and we

will continue to give them the opportunities to develop in to better boxers and hopefully they grow into good senior boxer and even international boxers from the junior stage,” Wills highlighted. Meanwhile, Ninvalle also revealed that the GBA will be hoping to spread such tournaments to the interior region as Mahdia has become the latest affiliate of the association.

Limacol cPL announces new initiative for 2015 tourney

The Limacol Caribbean Premier league (CPL) today announced a new initiative for the 2015 edition, geared towards providing an opportunity for the best U-19 cricketers from the Caribbean, and developing players from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Associate Members in the Americas region, to make the final squad of one of the six franchises taking part in the tournament.

One player from the ICC Associate Members in the Americas region will be assigned to each of the franchises and invited to the training camps being held ahead of the tournament.

The young cricketers will join four U-19 West Indies players who will also be assigned to each of the franchises and attend the training camps.

Last year, the U-19 West Indies players attended the camps, but were not eligible to make the final team squads and take part in matches during the league. This will change in 2015, as one of the five young players will make the final squad and be available to play in the tournament proper.

Commenting on the initiative, CPL Cricket Operations Director, Michael Hall, said; “This provides an excellent opportunity for a young player to get a taste of life as a professional cricketer – the travel, the daily practice sessions and the intensity of the ac-

tual competition. We took the decision based on feedback from the coaches who were involved last year –they all felt that there was enough talent at the U-19 level to warrant creating an additional roster spot for one of them.”

ICC Americas Regional Development Manager, Ben Kavenagh, welcomed the opportunity being afforded to the cricketers from the Americas. He said; “We have selected a squad of 12 players to take part in an ICC Americas Talent Development Camp in Barbados from December 14th to 21st, which will be staged in conjunction with the WICB High Performance Centre and Barbados Cricket Association. The squad has been selected from the best U17’s from our August Match Play Camp, the best U-19s from our team in the WICB U-19 event in Guyana and some U-23 players who are currently playing in senior national teams.”

Six players will be selected following the Talent Development Camp, and will be assigned to a CPL Franchise, where they will join their West Indies U-19 counterparts who, as was the case last year, will be selected by their local territorial boards. Each franchise will then select one player to be a part of its final squad. Final CPL squad rosters for the 2015 season will be increased from 15 to 16. (CPL Release)

Suebarran to challenge...

Suebarran said if elected, one of his immediate task is to find a solution to bridge the gap created between the BCB and GCB.

“This current board just keeps fighting with the GCB all the time, and that has created a major setback in Berbice cricket. Berbice cricket is moving away from us...this needs to stop – we need Berbice cricket back to where it belongs,” Suebarran concluded.

Beharry on Thursday has announced to contest for the BCB Presidency.

Incumbent President Keith Foster cannot seek reelection since his two years; three term period expire at the end of the year.

According to the BCB’s constitution, the three associations; West Berbice, Berbice River and Upper Corentyne are entitled to four votes each, while the 14 clubs affiliated with the

BCB are entitled to two votes each.

Those clubs entitled to voting rights are: Ki;donnan, Whim, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Club, Albion, Chesney, Rose Hall Community Centre, Young Warriors, Bermine, Police, Mental, Mount Sinai and Blairmont.

The elections is billed for the board’s Charlotte Street, Head Office from 10:00 hrs.

'gRFu will not rest on...'

“So we have the talents, we have a very good coach, but we need a high-level Technical Director and coach that could introduce set play, tactics…to see what’s happening from the sidelines.

In addition, Ninvalle highlighted that Suriname because of the Pepsi tournament is hoping to collaborate with GBA in the future on junior development tournaments. The tournament is staled to begin at 13:00h.

(Treiston Joseph)

[In Mexico] our coach was involved on the field, off the field…mentally and physically, it can be taxing,” Green highlighted. By winning the NACRA Sevens, the national Men’s team is now at the beginning of a pathway to great-

er things like attendance at the Pan Am Games next year and possible qualification for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

The team has also qualified to attend the Hong Kong Sevens in March 2015, and is looking at the possibility of attending the Men’s Elite Invitational Sevens in Las Vegas in February.

“We begin the defence of the 15s title in March, we will have a Sevens team training, but we can’t train

among ourselves. We need opposition, we need quality opposition. When we defeat Canada and the USA, you will know we’ve arrived,” the GRFU head pointed out.

The national ruggers created history this year, winning both the NACRA 15s and Sevens titles, playing unbeaten in both competitions. It was Guyana’s first 15s title in over two decades and the country’s seventh Sevens trophy in nine years.

From left: Steve Ninvalle, Larry Wills and technical Director of the GBA, Terrence Poole

Guyanese spinners are leading wicket takers heading into Christmas break

Guyana Jaguars left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and Windward Islands Volcanoes opener Devon Smith dominate the aggregates, at the Christmas break in the inaugural WICB Professional Cricket League.

The left-handed Smith has already amassed 334 runs from three matches at an average of 55. He has struck one hundred, an attractive 145 against Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the third round, and has also counted two half-centuries.

Called up as a late replacement for the injured Chris Gayle on the Test tour of South Africa, the 33-year-old has carried on his good form there, pummelling 174 in the three-day tour match which ended in a draw on Friday.

Test discard Narsingh Deonarine lies second in the run-

scoring charts with 309 runs at an average of 42, thanks to centuries against Leeward Islands in the opening round and Windward Islands in the second round.

However, the 31-year-old lefthander has struggled over the last

two matches, with just 23 runs from three innings.

Windwards opener Johnson Charles is the only other batsman with over 250 runs, having scored 262 runs at an average of 50. This has been fuelled largely by

a knock of 151 – his maiden first class hundred – in the last round against Barbados at Arnos Vale.

Jamaica’s Tamar Lambert (223), the Leewards’ Austin Richards (213) and the Windwards’ Andre Fletcher (203) are the only

other batsmen to crest the 200-run mark.

Meanwhile, Permaul tops the bowling charts with a whopping 32 wickets at an incredible average of ten runs apiece. He had back-toback ten-wicket match hauls in the second and third rounds, including eight-wicket innings bowling performances on each occasion.

With spinners again dominating the competition, Permaul’s teammate leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo has taken 21 wickets while Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s Imran Khan, also a leg-spinner, has taken 21 scalps.

The other bowler with 20 wickets is Windwards left-arm spinner Alston Bobb.

The PCL resumes with the fifth round on February 6th next year, following the staging off the Super50 one-day championship. (Windies Cricket)

‘GRFU will not rest on its laurels’– says Green

By Rajiv Bisnauth

PVicram Suebarran has announced plans to challenge Anil Beharry for the presidency of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB). Suebarran, a businessman, is gearing up to battle incumbent first Vice

President of the BCB at the boards’ elections set for December 28.

“I am running for the BCB presidency,” declared Suebarran in an interview with Guyana Times Sport on Friday.

When asked what prompted him to enter the race, Suebarran asserted he decided to run for president to “propose new guidelines

which will ultimately bring back life to Berbice cricket.”

“Look Berbice cricket is in a state of confusion. Many decisions taken by the BCB over the years have damage Berbice cricket. Berbice cricket needs a complete overall and with my knowledge of the game and been a businessman I feel I can change that,” Suebarran said.

Despite its tremendous success this year, the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) will not rest on its laurels, as it pursues more recognition and achievements in 2015. This is the position of president of the Union, Peter Green.

Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, Green highlighted the

achievements of rugby in 2014 and promised to work even harder in the new year to ensure the high standard the national Men’s team has set is maintained.

The rugby boss noted that his Union will be working on presenting an indepth plan on the way forward for the sport. He said that while the level of talent in the country is beyond

doubt, there is the need to up the level of coaching so as to avoid stagnation. At the recently concluded North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Sevens in Mexico, Coach Theodore Henry had to double up as player, something Green said the Union is working to avoid in the future tournaments.

resident of the Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC),

Theodore Henry

Narsingh Deonarine Versammy Permaul

Devendra Bishoo

Peter Green

Anil Beharry

Keith Foster