Guyana Times Daily

Green growth will build sustainable economy – Jagdeo

National Drama Festival opens on Tuesday

Trotman’s paedophile allegations:

Dookhoo ups pressure for passage of Telecoms Bill Lawyers admit to feeling sorry for Speaker

Fire accounts for 9 deaths this year

Digicel eager to enter landline business

Poor marketing killing art in Guyana … Director of Burrowes School

Father of 3 perishes in boiler explosion

Trotman paedophile allegations Lawyers admit to feeling sorry for Speaker

Local lawyers have admitted to sympathising with Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman who is being accused of buggering a young man. But they claim that no one was afraid to take on the case despite it taking quite a while before Attorney Peter Hugh came forward.

Trotman is currently at the centre of Police investigations and court proceedings involving the 22-yearold young man, Johnny Welshman, who claimed the Speaker buggered him as a child and offered him niceties to stay quiet.

The young man had a hard time finding legal representation, since most of the lawyers approached or in one case retained, declined, with one subsequently excusing herself, reportedly citing fear.

Welshman told Guyana Times last week when asked why no one wanted to represent him: “They are all afraid … some saying it’s too much of politics and don’t want to get involved.” He said too that one Senior Counsel ac-

tually told him to “use the money you receive from the Government and get another lawyer, not me”.

Patrice Henry, a defence attorney, said that while he was not approached, based on training he would have received, no lawyer can refuse a case because it might be one that is “unpopular”.

Henry further admitted that some persons may feel sympathy for Trotman.

Black wall

Hugh on Tuesday defied the ‘black wall’ created by his colleagues to take up the case of Welshman. “Quite frankly, I’m disgusted by the manner in which some persons in the social media attacked Mr Welshman who may be a victim of sexual violence.

“I am of the firm belief that no victim of any alleged sexual violence should be intimidated, threatened, vilified, degraded or humiliated in an effort to silence them. I also believe that counsel must be able to accept any brief and practise law fearlessly without there being threats and/or intimidation,” he said.

Legal representation

“I am very sympathetic to Mr Trotman myself. I mean an allegation of this type is disturbing. He is the Speaker of the National Assembly, but even so Mr Welshman deserves legal representation,” said another lawyer who asked not to be named.

Guyana Bar Association (GBA) President Ronald Burch-Smith said previously that attorneys would welcome the opportunity to fight Welshman’s case if approached.

Burch-Smith said had he been approached, he would have made his legal services

available to Welshman and he feels the same applies for most other lawyers, had they been approached. He said any statement that the lawyers were afraid of Trotman because of his political influence or social status would be “a bit wild and reckless”, as it was accusing the profession as a whole of “cowardice”.

He noted that Welshman may have only contacted a handful of lawyers and drew that conclusion. “There are over 400 lawyers in Guyana; I am sure he didn’t contact all of them … I don’t believe that,” the GBA President said.

However, he noted that some lawyers may have declined the case because of a pre-existing political affiliation or some other form of conflict of interest, since the case does not seem to have anything that would affect a person ethically.

“Lawyers take pride in trying cases, big cases and especially cases against other lawyers … this is Trotman, the Speaker we are talking about. Lawyers take cases against big drug dealers, powerful politicians,” BurchSmith pointed out.

Dookhoo ups pressure for passage of Telecoms Bill

By Jomo Paul

The Private Sector here is urging the National Assembly to pass with alacrity the long-awaited Telecoms Bill, which will effectively de-monopolise Guyana’s telecommunications sector and pave the way for major players to offer more advanced services.

The Bill is currently before a Special Select Committee in the National Assembly where amendments are being made. However, although the National Assembly is set to resume on October 16, it is unlikely that the Bill will be passed or even come up for debate in this 10th Parliament. This is as a result of the Alliance For Change (AFC) tabling a no-confidence motion against the Government, for which A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has already signalled its support.

Parliament and set a date for General Elections within 90 days. Should this happen, all of the current bills and motions before the National Assembly will have to be retabled.

Former Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman and current President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), Ramesh Dookhoo, said Guyana was lagging in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector and priority should be given to the passage of the Bill. “I think we are way back when it comes to having a 4G network. I think our politicians are vacillating too much on this issue. This is not about GT&T or Digicel; this is about the people of Guyana, the businesses of Guyana,”

said.

Attorney Patrice Henry

If the motion is passed, President Donald Ramotar will have to dissolve

Dookhoo

Former PSC Chairman and current President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), Ramesh Dookhoo

Peter Hugh

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Green growth will build sustainable economy – Jagdeo tells business forum

WEATHER TODAY C

limate change campaigner, former President Bharrat Jagdeo said while being green is in no way easy, green growth is the way forward to build sustainable sectors and economies.

Speaking at a business forum on climate change on Friday evening, Jagdeo stated that the green growth model, which is being used globally as an alternative concept to typical industrial economic growth, is still one that is contentious.

He pointed out that the developed countries are pushing for green growth largely, because they are using polluting tools of industrialisation in order to get their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) up, but, at the same time, they want to deny developing countries that produce lesser carbon than them the same tools.

The former Head of State referred to the commitments made in the Kyoto Protocol to assist the developing countries. He disclosed that many of the developed coun-

ferently for each country. He further remarked that even if countries do not pursue a green growth model of development, they can adopt the many opportunities that are available for green growth such as the hydropower project in Guyana.

“I’m not making a case for blanket adoption by the developing a world of

power and Information and Communications Technology (ICT). He noted that the ICT sector provides an opportunity to develop a sector that is low-carbon in nature and such a sector is one of the future.

“We are looking at its impact on the future and on carbon emissions and if there is going to be a price for carbon emissions in the future, then the activities that are going to be most sustainable are activities that have lowcarbon emissions and the ICT sector is an important one,” he pointed out.

Additionally, Jagdeo explained that two other new sectors are the environment and tourism sectors, which makes the Marriott Hotel and the Airport Expansion projects even more vital since they will create wealth for the future.

He said he could go on about all the other growth poles, since they were the ones that would create wealth and were part of a comprehensive vision for the future.

“There has to be in-

tries have backtracked on those commitments to help; as such, there are many developing countries that are yet to buy into the concept of the Green Growth model.

Jagdeo has been the President of the Assembly of the Green Growth Institute based in South Korea for the past three years. The organisation is a group of both developed and developing countries that work together to assist other countries that want to adopt the path of green growth by sharing knowledge and models.

He explained that the pathway to green growth has to be structured dif-

a green growth model; I’m arguing that in many cases those could be inimical; some of the elements could be inimical to our interests and we must never let it become a conditionality on the part of the developing world.

“I fought too many years to remove conditionalities on the developing world than to now subscribe to and support a new set of conditionalities surrounding green economy. But I am arguing the foresight to seize opportunities when they come along and we in Guyana can do so,” the former President strongly stated.

According to Jagdeo, there are those who do not believe that whatever is being done is a clear pathway for the future of Guyana. He highlighted that while the traditional sectors, such as rice, sugar and minerals, are still important for the economy, there needs to be the invention of new sectors, new growth poles for development.

The former Head of State disclosed that about six or seven of such growth poles were identified; however, a pattern was noticed among them – they all surrounded the green initiative.

Those new sectors include hydro-

tergenerational equity in our entire planning process. We have to look to the future and ensure that the lives of the next generation... [will be] better than the current one and that is what we are planning for,” Jagdeo declared.

Climate change campaigner, former President Bharrat Jagdeo during his keynote address

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo posing for a photo with members of the audience

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

A caring community

We lost Rayshan Cooke two weeks ago; he crumbled on the West Coast Demerara Road after colliding with two cars. Those closest to him say he was a very nice guy.

The details of how Cooke ultimately met his end are murky, but some things involved in the story are as distressing as they are common: A young man riding a powerful motorcycle without a helmet; a young man riding a powerful motorcycle under the influence of alcohol; and two cars allegedly racing on a public highway.

The most striking element, however, is that after all of this, members of the public apparently watched a wounded young man, who no one could confirm to be dead or alive, lie on the roadway for more than an hour without receiving medical attention.

There is no doubt that the West Demerara Road is in dire need of rehabilitation, better road marking and better lighting. But with the mixture of poor habits, disregard for rules and laws about safety practices, and some alcohol consumption, this was an accident waiting to happen regardless of the roadway conditions.

What is troubling is that if there was an opportunity for Cooke to survive all of this and learn from his mistakes, it was squandered by a helpless public left to be onlookers rather than first responders. There are always going to be accidents. It is, therefore, our responsibility as a society to develop a culture that is more responsive and responsible.

If more persons out there on that night were trained in basic First Aid as a life skill, someone in the community would have been able to take a pulse to establish with some degree of certainty if Cooke was alive or dead when they arrived on the scene. If he were alive, a better prepared community would have members who could have rendered First Aid.

His relatives are left to wonder, for years to come, if while he lay there on the roadway, he had a chance at life. This should concern us all as citizens, since, given the laws of averages, any one of us could end up on a public road after an accident with a slim chance at life if given the appropriate response.

There will be arguments about the speed of the response from the emergency services, but while that is always a factor – responses times could always be shorter. The reality is that emergency services are often far away and communities most times are out on a scene before emergency services. Often, even in the most advanced societies, emergency services get their first information from those who were on the scene before they arrived.

There should be a concerted effort by individual citizens and whole communities to ensure that we have persons trained in basic First Aid to render assistance when unfortunate events occur in our communities. On the other hand, organisations like the Red Cross and the St Johns Ambulance Brigade should step up their public education to bolster the ranks for those whom they equip for times such as these.

There may also be a role for the emergency services themselves to reach out to communities to provide organised training in the basics of First Aid and First Response. This is not an issue just for the roadway and motor accidents, it is broadly applicable.

Most Guyanese live along the coast and relax out by the sea or in a creek but few of us have received training to save lives in the water or to resuscitate someone we pull from it. We have heard many a story of mining accidents or accidents among forestry workers and again there was little capability on the scene to possibly save some lives.

Our Government must do more to make our roadways, waterways, and industrial sites safer and to build a safety culture. But our communities and citizens are not absolved from the responsibility of preparing to serve each other in times of emergency.

Ramotar upbeat about Guyana’s development

President Donald Ramotar said he was optimistic that Guyana’s development would continue to expand under the guidance of his administration.

Speaking to the National Communications Network (NCN), during an interview on Friday, the President said that he, and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), intends to build on the successes gained thus far since Guyana’s first free and fair elections in 1992.

The fact that Guyana has moved from being a heavily indebted poor country to a middle income developing country, under the PPP/C, has been commended by the international financial community. Given enough time, President Ramotar said, the Government could advance Guyana to being a very developed society.

Government’s investment in developing the country’s human capital is one such step towards accomplishing this objective, the President said. He cited the innovative “One Laptop Per Family programme” and its intended goal. “We are ensuring that our young people and their families will have the ability to use one of the most modern tools, to be able to manage these tools and be able to be competitive. They will also be more competitive in the international economy, because our people are be-

coming more educated,” the Head of State said.

In addition to the investments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), millions are being spent to improve the country’s infrastructure, President Ramotar said. “These are just some of the things we are putting into place to modernise the society”. He made mention of the Amalia Falls Hydro Project, which has been stymied by the political Opposition. “I don’t see it as a block; I see it as a delay, and we are going to work towards it. Very soon I’m going to conclude some more discussions to put it back on track.”

Low-carbon development

The fact that the project is vital to the country’s overall development was reiterated by the President, as he noted that “cheap electricity is vital to developing an industrial manufacturing sector, to developing an agroindustrial sector where we can add value to our agricultural products. We can look at other forms of lowcarbon development: technology, solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, all of these things we have to look at, and use to develop our society”.

Agriculture was cited by President Ramotar as another factor in the push to further Guyana’s development. The performance of rice, changing fortunes of

the sugar industry, new crops such as soya and expansion of agricultural area, will “broaden the base of our economy”. Mining, he added, which has become very important to the local economy, is being examined to see how more value can be added to the sector, and “instead of exporting gold alone, we can export jewellery, all of these things we can do”.

Describing tourism as an equally important product, President Ramotar said that what Guyana has to offer is “second to none as far as that is concerned and we are only scratching the surface of the tourism industry. That can help to really push this country, much, much further ahead.”

The Head of State stated unequivocally that he was optimistic that Guyana could really soar because government has laid the foundation, “in the investment in our human capital, we have repaired and put back in place, and added to the infrastructure that we have had, and now we are working on new infrastructure that will be able to take us to greater levels of development in our society”. Ramotar said that the transformation that has taken place in the Guyanese society is nothing less than a revolution as he cited strides made in education, health, and housing especially.

A man carries empty water pitchers for sale in a market in the southern Indian city of Bangalore (Reuters/Abhishek N Chinnappa)

President Donald Ramotar

Miners plead for relief as gold prices plummet

The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miner’s Association (GGDMA) has urged more relief for the industry in light of the recent slump in global gold prices.

The GGDMA said it continues to monitor with deep concern the falling price of gold on the international market and is continuing its efforts to work with the Government to find relief for the local mining sector.

The Association said it has been working in partnership with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry since late last year when the price began its downward slide, and to date, several concessions have been made to help relieve the situation.

Already the Government has approved an additional vehicle duty- free concession for miners who produce over 500 ounces of gold annually and cleared the way for the duty-free importation of matting used in the industry.

As recent as of September 21, the GGDMA met with Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud and secured further support, including the establishment of a working group to examine further relief for the industry.

Since that date; however, the price has hit a record low, falling below the US$1,200 per an ounce and this has caused serious concern in the industry.

The GGDMA will once again be meeting Persaud on Wednesday to press further for urgent and significant relief to the industry.

The miner’s Association wants the Government to urgently consider the following relief options: dutyfree fuel for mining; two per

cent reduction in royalties as long as the price remains below US$1,400 per ounce; 50 per cent relief of rental payments for prospecting mining permits, small scale, claims and mining permits; extended grace period for medium scale payments and a waiver of late payment fee penalties; and dutyfree concessions for all tools and spares for equipment already listed under the Investment Development Agreement.

The Association assures

a three-week high in early US trading Thursday.

According to a release, a combination of heavy short covering in the futures market, bargain hunting and safe-haven buying are boosting the yellow metal. The technical posture for gold has also become much less bearish this week. December Comex gold was last up US$26.80 at US$1,232.80 an ounce. Spot gold was last quoted up US$11.30 at US$1,233.25. Traders are still digesting

The GGDMA has urged more relief for the industry in light of the recent slump in global gold prices

its members that it will continue to press for these and additional relief as the low price for gold has already lead to a 12 per cent shortfall in gold production in Guyana.

The GGDMA believes that if these concessions are granted, the shortfall from production could be reduced by at least 50 per cent.

Only last week, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry along with local regulatory agencies for gold mining and trading business noted that global gold prices are posting solid gains and have hit

the dovish Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes released Wednesday afternoon. The Fed expressed increasing concern about weakening world economies and some FOMC members questioned whether the appreciation of the US dollar against the other major currencies might act as a drag on the US economy.

The US dollar index sold off, while the Euro currency, gold and US Treasuries and stock indexes rallied in the aftermath of the FOMC minutes.

Copa Airlines opens city ticket office

Copa Airlines said it will officially open its City Ticket Office (CTO) in Georgetown today.

The opening of the office will allow for even better service for Guyanese passengers as it will provide an additional avenue through which passengers can manage their reservations on Copa.

Country Sales Manager Nadine Oudkerk said “the team is looking forward to providing an exceptional level of service to our clients who are looking for one stop connections to 69 destinations in South, North, Central America and the Caribbean. It is a rather exciting moment for us to open the doors of our local commercial office to be able to service the needs of both the business and leisure customers”.

The office, which is located at 212 Camp Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown (situated between New Market and Lamaha Streets, on Western half of Camp Street), is a fully functional office. Customer agents will assist

passengers in planning their itineraries within the Copa Airlines and Star Alliance networks, and performing all related tasks to ticketing, including changing dates, usage of vouchers, providing refunds, among others.

Since starting service to Guyana on July 11th, Copa Airlines has experienced unprecedented support from this destination; the service has been well received by the travelling public, who has shared positive reviews. The CTO will operate from Monday to Friday between 08:30h to 17:00h and on Saturdays between 09:00h and 12:00h.

The office can be contacted via telephone numbers (592) 231-2491, (592) 231-2492. In addition to the CTO, passengers can also visit the ticket office located at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, travel agents or the airline’s website www.copa.com.

Copa Airlines flies twice weekly out of Guyana and the airline’s on-board service includes complimentary meals and beverages, including wines and spir-

its; passengers earn miles through the MileagePlus frequent-flyer programme. Additionally, Copa’s website, copa.com, is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese and passengers may purchase tickets in seven currencies.

Established in 1947, Copa Airlines transported more than 11 million passengers in 2013. The airline was named “Best Airline in the Central America and Caribbean region” at the Skytrax World Airline Awards in June 2013. Additionally, Copa continues its commitment to providing world class service to its customers by maintaining its high standard of service recognised by the industry and the best on-time performance in America. Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia, subsidiaries of Copa Holdings, are leading airlines in Latin America for passengers and cargo. The airlines currently offer service to 69 destinations in 30 countries in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean.

9 deaths by fire this year

…destruction of 87 buildings

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is celebrating its 40th anniversary in high spirits as it continues to raise awareness and provide a critical service to the nation.

The Fire Service in a report covering its work thus far for the year noted that there has been a decrease in the number of deaths that occurred due to fires and damage to public and private properties, compared to the previous year. According to the report from Operations Officer Compton Sparman, the Fire Service has indeed improved when it comes to prompt reply to fires and efficiency in dealing with them.

This has resulted in a drop in the number of deaths as well as a decline in destruction.

The report also indicated that there has been a reduction in the number of persons who died due to fires.

In 2013, 11 deaths were recorded while there have been nine thus far in 2014.

Sparman reported that damage to buildings; both private and public have decreased by more than half since 2013 although the number of calls for fire has increased.

He stated that this indicates that “people are getting more sensitive” about fire safety and are “developing more confidence in the GFS to extinguish fires”.

Sparman also reported that there has been a drop in the number of “prank calls” in 2014 compared to 2013, and credit this to an increase in public awareness.

There was a marked decrease in the number of private buildings completely demolished by fire.

In 2013, the report indicated that 94 private buildings were completely ravaged while in 2014, 87 have been destroyed thus far.

So far four businesses have been completely lost to fire, com-

The new water tower demonstrating its flexibility in putting out fires at a Guyana Fire Service exhibition

pared to six in 2013.

The fires were caused by several factors including carelessness and children playing with matches. As it regards carelessness, there was a significant drop from 45 in 2013 to 10 thus far in 2014.

This year, there were two cases

of children playing with matches

Sparman credits the improvement in results to greater public awareness and continuous training of officers.

The Fire Service also acquired new fire-fighting vehicles a few years ago to boost its operations.

These include the water bowser that carries approximately 2000 to 4000 gallons of water, reducing the time needed to secure water to put out a blaze.

He said though it is somewhat an upgrade from the water tender (carries 400 gallons water) the Fire Service had before; water tender has the advantage of speed and the ability to carry equipment such as the Jaws of Life, crowbars and hoses, which are critical to firefighting.

There is also the hydraulic platform which enables firefighters to climb to reach the top of tall buildings when the bottom may be weak or just not an option.

The Fire Service has also acquired foam units for the Cheddi Jagan International and Ogle International airports. These units are specifically designed for oil and other fuel that are difficult for water to put out.

Copa Airlines said it will officially open its City Ticket Office (CTO) in Georgetown today

Page Foundation

Three Russian Ebola vaccines ready within six months – Moscow

Russia expects to produce three Ebola vaccines within the next six months, Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said on Saturday.

“We have created three vaccines ... and we think they will be ready in the next six months,” the Minister

said on Rossiya 1 television.

“One of them is already ready for a clinical trial,” she said.

One of the vaccines was developed from an inactive strain of the virus, the Minister added.

The current outbreak of Ebola, the worst on record, has claimed

Parenting For Success

more than 4000 lives since the start of the year, mainly in the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

There is no licensed treatment for the highly contagious disease, but several countries are trying to develop an effective vaccine.

Russia, which has not had any cases of Ebola, sent a team of scientists and a mobile laboratory to help fight the disease in Guinea at the end of August. Russia has also implemented a protection plan against the virus, which it stepped up in July, according to the Minister.

Seventy-one Russian airports were equipped with thermal cameras to detect the first signs of the virus, she said.

More than 450 students from West Africa studying in Russian universities were under constant surveillance, she added. (AFP)

Working through the trauma of child abuse

– ChildLinK’s vision is a Guyanese society where every child enjoys the right to a childhood in a safe and caring family, free from poverty, violence, and exploitation

Case Study: Names have been changed to protect persons’ privacy.

Adam is a 15-year-old boy, the eldest of nine children, and all his siblings have different fathers. Adam’s mother Leisa is a vendor and also does domestic work to support her family.

Not long after Adam’s 15th birthday, Leisa’s partner moved into the home. He was known for his argumentative and demanding behaviours; added to that he was very promiscuous. After verbally and physically abusing Adam, his mother and siblings, he would leave the family without money for days. Due to the partner’s behaviour, Adam did not care to develop a relationship with him. One night Adam and his stepfather

were involved in a heated argument: his stepfather threw things at Adam and cursed him angrily. He then picked up a cutlass and threatened to chop Adam. At this point, Adam decided to leave the home for the street.

Running away

While living on the street, Adam was picked up by the Police and his case was sent to the relevant authority. An investigation into Adam’s family background was conducted and his home situation unfolded, as well as all the abuse from his stepfather. Adam was placed in the care of his maternal grandmother who took full responsibility for him, ensuring that he attended school regularly. Unfortunately, Adam’s

disrupted life had left him behind in classroom. He was doing very poorly and soon began to dislike going to school out of embarrassment for his inability to read and write properly.

He was referred to a ChildLinK counsellor, who began working with the boy, visiting his home and school. ChildLinK also provided a Parenting Trainer who began working with both the grandmother and mother in order to improve the care and support the child needed to develop his potential.

During counselling sessions, Adam focused on exploring his feelings surrounding his early experiences, and feeling towards school, etc. He disclosed his dislike for attending school, where he felt stupid and that

everyone else was smarter than him. The case worker acknowledged the child’s honesty, and explained that all persons have different abilities, and that not everybody was made for academic studies, or sports, or art and crafts. That is what makes us special and individual: we all have different talents. She further shared that not because he found school difficult was Adam any less smart than others, he just had different abilities and he was encouraged to work to identify his abilities. He shared his interest in working with his hands and making things.

Adam turned 16 and decided that he had enough of trying with academic studies. He subsequently started to work with a contractor who taught him the masonry and carpentry trade. He

expressed excitement at the idea of learning masonry and carpentry while being paid. His family supported the idea, since it was what he wanted.

Return home

During this time, Adam visited his mother and siblings frequently and those visits became more and more frequent over time. It was decided by Adam, his case worker, mother, stepfather and grandmother that Adam could

return to the family home. The violence between him and his stepfather had ceased and the home had become noticeably more stable. His mother was happy to have him back in her care and was able to accommodate him. Adam is now living back at home with his family, and has a full-time job using the trade he learnt as a 16-yearold. He contributes financially to the home and is also able to save. There have been no incidents between him and his stepfather since his return and they now share a better relationship.

In our society, some people believe that an academic education is vital to everyone. Not everyone has the ability to learn academically, especially if they have not been given the chance from an early age to start the learning process. The older you get, the more difficult it is to learn. Nevertheless, as a parent or caregiver, you should not give up or belittle a child who is not strong academically, but rather help the child to identify their own strengths and talents, whether arts, music, plumbing, engineering, carpentry, masonry, etc, and help the child to develop and pursue them. He or she can still become a successful professional and respectable individual in society who can contribute fully to the community.

Please contact us on telephone number 2317174 or at programmes. childlink@networksgy.com for any support you may need on parenting and any other challenges that you may be experiencing with your children.

St Rose’s students undergoing counselling

Students, parents and teachers of St Rose’s High School are undergoing counselling to set them back on track after the shocking release of a video with four of the students having sex.

Already Motivational Speaker Astell Collins and his twin brother have hosted guidance seminars at the school and authorities said there are other initiatives being taken to help the school recover from the issue.

A senior school Board official told Guyana Times that sex and licentious behaviours among young adults are not just an issue that has affected St Rose's High School.

The official said throughout the Caribbean and other schools in Guyana, the matter of sex among teens and the making of pornography are matters of grave concerns, which need to be addressed if society is to keep proper moral standards intact.

In keeping with the proverb “Prevention is better than cure”, the official emphasised that “parents need to be more in touch with the issues teenagers are facing and teach them the value system we want to promote”.

The situation, which she defined as “distressing”, indicates that “we failed to impart the type of value system we want to promote”.

Meanwhile, amid the release of the video that featured four students from St Rose's High School having sex, citizens are concerned as to what is being done to restore pride to the school.

The Board official stated that she had a discussion with the Education Minister and they have decided to assign a Counsellor to the school, not only to guide those students in the video, but to help all the other students recover from the shock the situation had caused.

Moreover, the official highlighted that everyone who is affected by the situation – teachers, parents and many of the students –are in need of counselling to set them back on the right track.

Restoration has begun

In addition to counselling, she mentioned that years ago “Guidance and Counseling” and “Moral Education” were on the curriculum, which played a role in guiding young individuals on the right path of life.

However, she stated that Moral Education may not be “applicable in the same context” as the definition morality is changing with the times.

Motivational Speaker Collins, a former student of the school, has been paying a few visits to the school and preaching to the students about qualities that make an excellent individual.

“In a way I guess we already started,” the Board official remarked, referring to

the restoration of school’s reputation.

Collins, a successful motivational speaker with a passion to coach and guide persons on their journey in life, mentioned that his purpose at St Roses was “to establish a morally sacred covenant between parents and teachers to cultivate and nurture contributing citizens of this nation”.

In addition, he stressed that youths are looking at how adults are behaving and conduct themselves in like manner. Collins also emphasised that “it is not a new issue” and that everyone needs to play a part in cultivating and nurturing youths, noting that “it takes a village to raise a child”.

In relation to disciplinary actions taken against the students, the official was unable to say, but was confident that the Education Ministry is involved in the situation. It is unsure if the children will be returning to school.

Sex happens

Meanwhile, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Leader David Granger said while sexual activities are bound to take place, proper mechanisms should be put in place to help children deal with the issue.

Granger was speaking to reporters at his Hadfield Street Office about the recent leak of the pornographic video, allegedly produced by students of the senior secondary school. The coalition leader said the issue is a multifaceted problem, noting that “boys and girls reaching the age of puberty experience certain changes in their bodies”.

He said it is always predictable that at this age group, there will be a heightened interest in the opposite sex. Because of this undeniable fact, Granger said one would expect that there should however be a higher level of education and management in the public school system to ensure the sexual energy exudes by students does not interfere with their studies.

“The handling of the case must go back to the responsibility of the Ministry of Education to conduct proper education in the schools and better management in the schools to prevent that sort of activity on school premises. He said he hopes that after this experience, there will be better education and management within the school system.”

Granger also joined the barrage of critics, bashing the state-run Guyana Chronicle for publicly displaying the photographs of the sexual activity on its front page.

“It descended in what can only be regarded as gutter journalism, to exploit the behaviour of minors. These are classified as children, because they are not adults.”

He said it was unaccep-

table for any media house to descend to such level as it will most certainly jeopardise the career and selfesteem of the persons involved.

Earlier this week, Guyana was stunned when a pornographic video said to have been produced by some

senior students attending the City school began appearing on social media. While the school had come in for some serious

bashing from the public, the Education Ministry has criticised those who used the situation to their own advantage.

Astell Collins delivering an inspirational lecture to students, parents and teachers

Glenn Lall to be booked today … reportedly lodges firearm with Police

aieteur News

KPublisher Glenn Lall reportedly lodged his firearm at a Police Station on Sunday morning as the cops continue their investigations into threatening remarks he allegedly made towards Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur.

A well-placed source within the Guyana Police Force related that Lall voluntarily lodged his firearm to facilitate the ongoing investigations. Guyana Times understands he was ordered to, but he requested and obtained permission to make it appear as though he was lodging the weapon voluntarily.

This was done after a report carried by this newspaper revealed that Lall was still in possession of his firearm although a report was made against him for threatening the GRA boss. There were some concerns as to why the Police had not confiscated Lall’s firearm ever since the matter was officially reported by Sattaur.

A senior rank recently told this newspaper that this was “tantamount” to the Police showing double standards. “Glenn Lall is not above the law, and if he is supposed to lodge his fire-

arm, then the Police must ensure that this happens,” he said.

Sattaur had told this newspaper that Lall issued grave threats to him on the phone following the publication of a story in which he (Lall) was pinpointed in a scam robbing Government of import duty on two luxury SUVs. He also claimed that Lall contacted him in an effort to intimidate him into not pursuing an investigation.

Tax fraud?

Lall; his wife, Bhena; and two remigrants, Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan, are expected to make their first court appearance today at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to face charges of tax evasion.

The four persons are charged with two joint counts of knowingly committing fraudulent evasion of import duties. The charges state that between June 18, 2013 and September 21, 2013, together with others unknown, at Lot 200-201 Camp Street, Georgetown, they knowingly aided and abetted each other in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of customs due and payable to the Revenue Authority on two Lexus LX

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

570 motor vehicles, registration numbers PRR 8398 and PRR 8399, with engine capacity 5700 cc, and chassis numbers JTJHY7AX6 D4094851 and JTJHY7AX6 D4096745.

Additionally, the Brijnanans were jointly charged with the offences of making and subscribing to a false declaration. The charges alleged that between June 18, 2013 and September 20, 2013, at Lot 200-201 Camp Street, Georgetown, Demerara, a place in the Georgetown Magisterial District, they made and subscribed to false declarations on the two Lexus LX 570 motor vehicles to be US$44,158.00 respectively, contrary to

Section 217 (1a) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01.

Ever since the charges were filed, Lall has reportedly threatened to blackmail Cabinet members if Government does not drop the tax fraud cases.

Information reaching this newspaper indicate that Lall has been able to obtain various pieces of highly sensitive medical information, either about some Government Ministers or about close members of their family, and has threatened to go public if the Administration does not get off his ‘back’ with the current court case.

Sources say if indeed it is revealed that Lall obtained the medical information in question by bribery, or any other illicit means, the penalties for such offences, if convicted, could be several years’ jail time.

Lall and his wife were also recently sued by acting Town Clerk of the Mayor and City Council, Carol Sooba, for the sum of $5,660,142 and $60,142 for unpaid rates and taxes for the years 2004 to 2013 in relation to their property at 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, where Kaieteur News is located.

MARAD tests port security readiness

The Government of Guyana, in collaboration with the United States Coast Guard, last week carried out the country’s national-level maritime port security exercise and evaluation.

The exercise was intended to test and evaluate the response, efficiency, and preparedness of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana Ambulance Service, and the Guyana Coast Guard should there be an attempted act of terrorism in the country’s internationally recognised port facilities. The exercise was conducted at SOL’s port in Agricola.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, Chief Port Security Officer Dwain Nurse explained that it was a national exercise required by the International Port and Security Code. The Code states that all ports handling international ships are required to conduct such an exercise at least once a year, but not exceeding eight months. The simulation exercise presented a scenario focused on the transporting of arms to Berbice for a ‘criminal’ in Agricola, who had infiltrated the officers at the base. The ‘criminal’ decided to move the weapons by water due to increased patrols on the East Bank of

Demerara and West Coast of Berbice.

The members of the facility had gotten wind of the ‘criminal’s plan’ and had conducted a search, which uncovered 300 rounds of ammunition. The Police were called in and conducted an investigation. It was then discovered that the ‘criminal’ planned to escape by water and as such, the Coast Guard and Police Marine Corps dealt with that aspect of the exercise.

The evaluation phase of the exercise would see the US Coast Guard Service and the Guyana Government assessing the outcome and finetuning the response of the agencies that participated.

Eric May, of the US Coast Guard, International Port Security Programme, explained that they were invited by Government to evaluate the exercise. Noting that it went well, he added that since the implementation of the Code, a se-

curity plan was required by all ports which must be tested. He noted that testing Guyana’s plan, in addition to Government’s response, was the best move, with Government capturing the lessons learnt and improving the process.

Upon successful evaluation of the simulation exercise, Guyana would be declared prepared strategically to handle security emergencies at all international port facilities.

Eyew tness

Elitist pretences...

... on death penalty

**S**o here we are again with the "elite" – who don't just "think" they know better than the rest of us about the death penalty – they KNOW!! These are the same people who jump on soapboxes to declare they're willing to shed their last drop of blood to defend democracy. But when the overwhelming majority of Guyanese (we won't even talk about the Caribbean) say they favour the death penalty for intentional murders, these elitists always insist THEIR few voices must trump the majority!

Isn't this what every dictator says – that they're really acting for the GOOD of the people – and the people just don't know what's good for themselves. Which soon becomes "You better do what I say, if you know what's good for you"? Now we're sure these condescending ego-trippers will insist they're "entitled to their opinions". But that's precisely the point, ain't it?? Because of their wealth and power, they have the wherewithal to force their opinions down our throats.

This Melinda Janki person is a member of "the Justice Institute" – which gets public funding as well as foreign funding for pushing the foreign agenda: which is to abolish capital punishment, among other things. Then there's the Amnesty International that has all that foreign funding – and ditto for SASOD and Red Thread. And then our good old, well-heeled ex-Speaker Ramkarran, working assiduously (insidiously?) to weasel his way to political correctness and the candidacy for the "Shared Governance" crowd, elbowed his way into the party.

These folks have immediate access to the allimportant media – to articulate their whims and fancies. They are taken seriously. Not just the letter pages in which they parade their self-importance as "president of this" or "chairman of that". But the news pages and the editorial pages. They contrast themselves, of course, to the great unwashed masses who're at best "president of their cutlasses" or "chairman of their trowels". What do these "know-nothings" know about anything?

But these stuffed shirts (and stuffed blouses) should know one thing. Ultimately, the law must reflect public morality – or the law will make itself into an ass. And this is not just the public morality on lifestyles or wearing mini-skirts. This one involves dealing with people who've taken a conscious decision to snuff out the life of a human being.

We could've said "a fellow human being", but on making that decision, the individual taking the life removed himself from the ranks of humanity. To form the state, we – all of us – decided that only the STATE can take lives.

The death penalty must remain for intentional murder.

...on skeletons

That "time longer than twine" is shown to be so true with the revelations surfacing about Mook Lall. We can now see why he's so arrogant about running roughshod over anyone and everyone. Because he's proven when push comes to shove, politicians will do whatever it takes – including prostituting themselves and their "positions" – just to get into power.

Take PNC/APNU and all the "African-rights" activists who're working hand in glove with Lall – and have given the Muckraker carte blanche to put quotes into their mouths. For years these folks have been carrying on about "vigilante killings of African youths". They want justice – they say. Well, it's now revealed that as far back as 1994, Mook Lall shot an African Guyanese youth in Mc Doom in cold blood.

He made himself judge, jury and executioner, because he said the kid was part of a gang who robbed him. He led the way. But we bet the PNC and the "rights groups" will keep their traps shut. Power is sweeter than justice.

...from Lalloo

Does this guy Lalloo "Suspenders" Ram have a life? Jeez!! Every day he comes up with a letter trying to show he's "somebody". Respect has to be earned, not demanded, wanker!!

The simulation exercise underway: the ‘criminal’ holds an official hostage at gunpoint while another pleads with him

Avon Committee seeks funding from Govt

…to aid in breast cancer awareness campaign

The Avon Breast Cancer Committee said it will be seeking to secure a yearly subvention to support its advocacy on breast cancer awareness in Guyana.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade Month, the Non-Governmental Organisation has rolled out a number of activities to bring greater awareness to the disease.

Over the years, Avon representatives in Guyana have been conducting Breast Cancer Awareness activities through a number of initiatives, particularly conducting sessions on how to do the breast self-examination in the comfort of one’s own home.

Once again, as part of the programme this month, there will be free access to screening services including mammograms for ‘high risk’ women. The intervention, officials at Avon said is to motivate more women to take action to fight this disease and create the opportunity for them to seek early medical care.

Avon Breast Cancer Committee Treasurer Bibi Saeedah Akathar Hassan told this newspaper that the committee has been educating the public on breast cancer and advocating for public healthcare policies that will allow women access mammograms and breast cancer treatment.

Widening awareness

She said the committee has also taken the awareness to many corners of Guyana such as Berbice and Essequibo, but they are yet to spread the word in Linden among, other remote villages.

“After nine years of unbroken service to the country, the committee would

like to put the Government on public notice that the committee will be approaching the Treasury for a subvention to continue the mission of breast cancer education and awareness,” Hassan stated.

She highlighted that it is quite costly with transportation among other things when outreaches are done to spread the awareness, but they try their best to fulfill and reach out to every checkpoint in Guyana. Hassan recalled one instance when representatives went to Essequibo and had to hire a jet boat for a day. She said although she could not recall the exact cost, it was highly expensive.

Among their annual October month activities, with permission of the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, the agency had donated books and other useful materials to the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) and has conducted interactive session with some of the girls there.

Funds

Meanwhile, asked what is done with the funds given to the organisation by their donors, Hassan said the money is usually used towards the funding of the women’s mammograms. Among the major donors are Toolise Persaud Limited, Medicare, Digicel, MACORP, H&L Kissoon and Impressions. This year, the committee is targeting approximately 300 women to provide mammograms.

“The monies that we raised from our first Avon Breast Cancer walk in 2005, we brought medications for the terminal ill cancer patients for Beacon Foundation… we also printed door knob hangers which teach you how to

Simply the Truth

Berbice seen

One of the lecturers I hired here in St Lucia (a microbiologist with a PhD, no less!) told me something interesting. His name is Dr Devonish, a good man, and a new friend. We speak freely and he is helping me to make St Helen Medical University – of which I am now President/Vice Chancellor – a special place where we produce medical doctors and nurses.

He is very well known on the island, but he is a Guyanese from Kitty. We have much in common, especially people we know back home. One of them is the late Commander Josiah, may he be at peace.

perform self-examination on one’s breast in the comfort of their own home, seven days after the menstrual cycle,” she explained.

This year, like every other year, the Avon Community Health Fund, along with the Breast Cancer Awareness Committee kicked off its month-long activities to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with the wrapping of trees on Camp Street Avenue with

pink ribbons. On October 24, the company will observe “Wear Pink Day” to support and salute women suffering with the cancer.

There will also be an Awareness Walk on October 22, starting at Parade Ground and a Breast Cancer Awareness symposium on the same day at the Pegasus Hotel at 17:00h.

T-Shirts will be available in rose pink for $1500 and light pink for $1000 for persons desirous to be a part of the awareness walk or the “Wear Pink Day”.

These monies will again come as donations for the 250-300 women the committee has targeted to assist this year.

But this ‘Kitty man’ told me that when you meet Guyanese, they all say that they are from Georgetown. No matter which part of Guyana they come from, they all say that they are from Georgetown. I really don’t think so. Berbicians are especially clear about which part of Guyana they hail from. We Berbicians are quite fierce about our Berbice roots. So I disagreed with him. I suggested that usually people from the East Coast of Demerara would tend to say that they are from Georgetown. Not Berbicians!

When I left Berbice for

what was then a proud University of Guyana, other students would ask me which part of Guyana I came from. I was quite proud to say Berbice. I even went further and said that I am from Corentyne. You could see the surprise on their faces, for I did not fit their stereotypical idea of how the Berbician looks or speaks.

Back in those days, we Berbicians had a natural instinct to speak the appropriate language at the appropriate time. Although it was sometimes a struggle, we tried to speak formal English while in the classrooms of schools and at public events.

Obviously, there were the missteps when Creolese expression would break free. But the awareness was there about appropriate language at the appropriate time and place. Once we are in the ball field or just walking around, it was appropriate to speak Creolese.

If you made the mistake of speaking formal English in the wrong setting, you get accused of “playing English Duck” or of “cutting English pon abee!” You get teased until you correct yourself.

And yet, not all Berbicians speak in the same manner. Creolese has different places along what is called the linguistic continuum. There are two ex-

tremes. On one side, it is formal English. At the other side, it is deep Creolese. Most of us speak somewhere in between.

People from New Amsterdam tend to move closer to the formal English end, while people from Albion and Port Mourant tend to speak at a range closer to deep Creolese. And yet, depending on the circumstances or the subject being discussed or depending on who is listening, we can shift along that continuum.

Even my mother who was quite well known to be an ‘English Duck’, a rather formal speaker of English, once said (on the phone): “Hhhmmff! Gyaal. Dat woman does lie bad bad bad!”

Then, suddenly, she changed in the next sentence: “But I TOLD HER OFF!” You just cannot tie down Berbicians!

Dookhoo ups pressure...

Both GT&T and Digicel have said that they are awaiting the passage of the Bill to provide additional services, and Dookhoo said that this was testament to how urgently the Bill should be passed. “It will significantly improve the provision of services in several Private Sector and Government agencies…” Dookhoo added.

The CAIC President noted that accessing faster speeds on the information highway means “business processes improve: they become more efficient, they’re cheaper. As a result, the consumer benefits because the processes are cheaper”.

The Telecommunications Bill was tabled along with the Public Utilities Commission (Amendment) Bill on August 9, 2013.

Since the first reading of the two Bills, the second reading has been deferred several times, as the Government continues to hold discussions with the two telecommunications

companies. GT&T currently has the monopoly on landline and international services. Digicel has to pay GT&T for its mobile services bandwidth, which is provided through the local company.

However, the multinational company recently introduced reduced international rates after it won a court battle against the local telecommunications company. This was short-lived after the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which is responsible for approving rate increases for utility companies in Guyana, ruled that Digicel had no authority to reduce its rate without its approval.

Open telecommunications sector

The Telecommunications Bill seeks to provide the establishment of a telecommunication agency and a regular, coordinated, open and competitive telecommunications sector and other related matters. Meanwhile, the other

piece of legislation seeks to amend the PUC Act to facilitate the provisions of the Telecommunications Bill.

GT&T Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Radha Krishna Sharma recently told this newspaper that the passage of the Bill is vital for Guyana if the country is to advance technologically. Sharma explained that the company did its part and it was now up to the regulators and policymakers to ensure that the requisite legislation was passed in a timely manner. He related that all stakeholders were given the opportunity to make submissions, both written and oral to the Select Committee, and they took advantage of the opportunity. “We have articulated our concerns and recommendations to the Select Committee … I know that deliberations are going on … I have no doubt that it will continue and at the appropriate time, we will brief the media on our submissions,” he added.

Professor Daizal Samad

Trees along Camp Street Avenue wrapped in pink as Breast Cancer Awareness Month is being observed

Digicel eager to get into landline business

… despite GT&T reporting losses

BY JOMO PAUL

Digicel Guyana

Incorporated is eagerly awaiting the passage of the Telecoms Bill in the National Assembly, which will de-monopolise telephone service in Guyana and pave the way for them to provide the critical landline service.

The company said it is watching with vivid interest the process with respect to the Telecoms Bills since it will be taking expedited steps towards the provision of the service for the Guyanese locale.

This is despite Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Radha Krishna Sharma saying that the utility was losing around US$32.4 million (G$6,664,551,901) annually in providing landline service to this country. Sharma described the situation as untenable.

But, Digicel’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gregory Dean told Guyana Times in a recent interview that the company “has plans for major expansions but a lot of these are awaiting the liberalisation of the sector”.

He pointed out that some of those services include the provision of wireline services and a host of other affiliated services.

“We would like to introduce them tomorrow but we don’t know whether the liberalisation will happen tomorrow.”

When asked why Digicel would want to dive into the sector, knowing that its competitor has reported losses, Dean related that he believes the sector can be profitable, but shied away from an explanation, citing GT&T current application before the Public Utilities Commission.

“I wouldn’t want to speak for GT&T, the only thing I want to say we want to be a full communications provider of all services to residential and commercial customers… we want to offer the full range of services to Guyana.”

He related that the National Assembly should pass the Telecoms Bill, contending that the company does not “see the need for the long delay for the Bill… all the other territories we operate in already have it”.

GT&T, Guyana’s sole landline service provider, last month said while the landline service remains critical to the development of Guyana, it is an “albatross” in its current state.

The company says that unless it can take steps to increase rates and tariffs, the situation will remain

the same, since the revenues gathered from that sector can barely cover overhead expenses. This was the position of the executives of the company when they appeared before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) at the Cara Lodge, Quamina Street two weeks ago.

Other players

However, commentators have asked why – if the landline service is such a burden to the company –it does not relinquish its monopoly, and allow other players to provide the service.

Sharma told Guyana Times that the company has estimated the magnitude of its losses from two different directions. He said around 2008-09, GT&T had contracted an international

consultant to estimate this loss.

He said the consultant’s methodology sought to establish whether GT&T’s domestic service revenues were sufficient to cover its domestic service costs, and if not, to establish a “ballpark” estimate of the shortfall. Using a benchmarking methodology which relied on the costs incurred by rural telecom service providers across 50 states in the USA, the consultant made two noteworthy findings: whereas the rural USA service providers earned on average US$32.78 per line, GT&T earned in the vicinity of US$8.73 per line.

“In other words, notwithstanding the similarity of their cost structures, GT&T earned four times less per line than the average rural USA operators,” Sharma explained.

But, Amid its complaints that it was not making profits from its landline service, GT&T was corrected by a Commissioner of the PUC on Wednesday, who pointed out that based on its financial statements, the company has been making consistently above the minimum 15 per cent rate of return on its investments.

On Wednesday, during a public hearing on the application, company executives faced a barrage of questions about the profitability of the

service.

PUC Commissioner Maurice Solomon pointed out to Atlantic Tele-Network (ATN) Vice President of Finance John Audet, that despite its claims of making a loss, financial statements presented show that the company’s rate of returns on the landline services have consistently been above the minimal 15 per cent that is stated in the agreement signed between GT&T and the Government of Guyana.

He noted that the financial statements reflect a 19.5 per cent average. While Audet could not explain the discrepancy between the company’s claims and its own financial statements, he assured that his team will clarify the issue at a subsequent session.

Green Jah appear and disappear

Green Jah is a old soldier now, but he used to be a big time Harmy man once upon a time. In dem once upon a time days, Green Jah was so big that he was involve in a lotta big tings wit a lotta big people.

When ever de big bad Burnt Ham had want any ting (any any ting and every every ting) done, he used to call de big Green Jah. Once de big bad Burnt Ham call a Harmy man to do any ting, that man bound to get even bigger.

So that is de (w)hole story behind Green Jah and how he move from behind every ting and every body to in front every ting and every body. By then Green Jah had turn into a real biggity Harmy man.

Green Jah was very very big in de Harmy when Dr Rodney was by de Camp Street prison, which is wheh a lotta PeeN-See people should end up after that day. After Rodney disappear, Green Jah was so big, Burnt Ham had to call he to mek another man disappear to another Guiana.

Dem times was when Green Jah coulda just whistle and 10 men, not countin women, woulda suddenly appear around he, all wid guns. That is how big Green Jah was. And before de whistle, five men, not countin women, used to done be around he, all wid guns. That is how big Green Jah was.

Mouth open and story jump out at de Rodney See-O-I and is then de people understand how really big Green Jah was. Dem guns whah dem fellas used to appear wid around Green Jah used to disappear.

Nowadays Green Jah tink he so big that he mek dem Linden people had to disappear when he con dem at Con Gress Place de other day. He tink he so big that he think he coulda go to Linden and mek dem re-appear.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! De only problem was when dem re-appear, Green Jah had to disappear. And is never easy to mek a big ting disappear!

Lack of marketing killing art in Guyana … Burrowes School Director

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

Director of Burrowes School of Arts Volda Ramsammy has acknowledged that art in Guyana is not being properly marketed, contending that it is a struggle for artists to make a living from their work.

Speaking to Guyana Times in a

recent interview, Ramsammy said “You need to be really a very good artist with very good contact and have marketing skills to get your art out in the market.” With that said she noted that art is luxurious work, and as such, is costly and not readily affordably to the ordinary man. The poor marketing can be credited to the poor promotion of the school, which after 40 years in existence Ramsammy admitted is still not known by the majority of the citizenry.

Several students who recently enrolled at the school expressed hope that their work will be widely promoted, so that they can earn

a sustainable income. The Burrowes School of Arts Director expressed optimism in this regard, stating that the interest needs to grown for art to flourish, and there have been positive signs in the past few years.

Over the years, she said there have been many exhibitions, especially at Castellani House as well as art competitions in schools, providing much exposure to the artistic talents of young Guyanese.

Anesa Bird, 17, told Guyana Times that she has been doing art for the pure love of it.

“I guess a lot of people just think about how much money they can make off of art, but painting for me,

it is more like a relaxation technique. I don’t really look into it as something that can just bring an income.”

But she said notwithstanding the exhibitions, there is still much work needed on the marketing aspect of art but said strong focus must also be placed on quality of work.

However, Margaret Cornette, 63, a retired teacher in her third year at the art school, proudly mentioned that she finds no difficulty getting her work sold.

“Even if it’s not that big (the market for art), I don’t look in the box, I always look out of the box and anything I do and want to sell, I make people buy it.”

She said much more can be done to make Guyanese have a greater appreciation of creative art.

“What I find is that the Europeans would get so excited over a piece of ceramic, but here in Guyana, people do not appreciate ceramics, they would prefer to go buy a Chinese vase but when the Europeans come here they would purchase our ceramic stuff rather than buying the Chinese vase.”

The Burrowes School of Arts fosters the development of students through the teaching of skills, exposure to the arts and providing the environment in which they can mature as artists.

Ceramic work on display at the Castellani House

GT&T CEO Radha Krishna Sharma

Digicel CEO Gregory Dean

Times Notebook

Stop insulting the intelligence of the Guyanese people

Certain sections of our country insist on treating us as if we are stupid. Each passing day, they insult our intelligence and our knowledge. There are a number of issues that expose the hypocrisy that some politicians and political parties, commentators and NGOs are presently engaged in.

Take for instance the charge being made by the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and their leaders that the Government is doing everything, including illegal things, to stop the NoConfidence Motion moved by the AFC and supported publicly by APNU. The story the AFC attempts to promote is that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is stalling the motion. This is far from the truth, but the political leaders of AFC have extended themselves in promoting this lie.

There is a motion on the notice paper of Parliament in the name of Mr Moses Nagamootoo of the AFC and this motion has been determined by the Speaker, Mr Raphael Trotman, as a proper motion. The motion has only one sentence and, therefore, bucks tradition. The motion will be debated once it is placed on the Order Paper (Agenda) for a sitting of the Parliament.

The Government has no authority as to whether the motion is or is not on the Order Paper. Under the rules of Parliament, the next sitting date is awaiting the Government to give notice to the Speaker of a date. But there is nothing to stop the Opposition to request the Speaker to convene a meeting of Parliament to discuss any specific issue.

Deliberate effort to mislead

For the AFC to make a claim that the PPP/C is trying to place barriers against the No-Confidence Motion is a deliberate effort to mislead, misinform and lie to the people of Guyana. The No-Confidence Motion is entirely up to the Opposition parties, and particularly up to the author of the onesentence motion.

It is not up to the PPP/C, which has its own priorities and it will try to move those priorities in accordance with the laws and rules of Parliament. Those priorities include moving forward the Anti-Money Laundering Bill. The AFC and APNU also have their priorities and they need to

move those priorities in accordance with the rules of Parliament and there is nothing the PPP/C can do to stop the AFC from moving ahead with its motion.

A few weeks ago, the AFC Leader claimed that the PPP/C was trying to buy off Members of Parliament (MPs) from APNU. He could not provide evidence and he knew that most people recognised that he was lying about the matter.

But it was part of a strategy of smokescreens to get some people to think that the PPP/C is behaving in a clandestine and illegal way to stop the motion in its tracks. That allegation fizzled because eventually all Guyanese recognised that it was a bald lie, the kind of lie that belittles politicians and makes a mockery of the political process.

Allegation of sexual molestation

The AFC is also part of a distortion and deflection strategy to blunt and destroy an allegation made by a young man about sexual molestation. Any allegation of sexual molestation is one we must take seriously.

As part of that commitment and affirmation, we pledged that all allegations of sexual molestation of children will be fully investigated, no matter what the circumstances. We never agreed that we will take into consideration the person being identified as the alleged perpetrator of sexual molestation.

We simply committed that any allegation of sexual abuse of a child will be investigated. Now the AFC and their cohorts are working overtime to derail any investigation into the allegation made by a young man that he was sexually abused when he was 12 years old, because one of its leaders has been identified

as the alleged abuser.

If the allegation was made that it was a government official, the same AFC and their cohorts and many NGOs in Guyana would have been in an orgasmic frenzy to bring charges, convict and jail the person identified. Why the double standards? None of us should be outside of the law and no matter whom we are the legal and justice system should apply equally.

Justice is also being dented by the quiet intimidation against lawyers who might want to extend their services to the young man who is alleging sexual abuse. Lawyers are fearful

that if they step forward, they will be deemed as part of a political witchhunt.

Many lawyers of the AFC have represented persons charged with rape, murder, drug trafficking, tax evasion, and other serious crimes and their defence for taking on these assignments is that every citizen charged with a crime has the right to representation. Why the hypocrisy now?

What makes this young man disqualified for the right to representation?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times. notebook@gmail.com.

AFC Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

National Mental Health Strategy to be launched early 2015

With the aim of reducing Guyana’s suicide rate and promoting mental health, the Health Ministry has embarked on an action plan which is expected to be formally launched next February.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said Guyana being described as the world capital for suicide, explained that over the past few months the Ministry has been placing emphasis on mental health.

He was at the time speaking on Saturday at an event to mark Mental Health Day on Friday at Ramphal House, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.

Two significant areas of health in Guyana are relatively on the back burner -disabilities and rehab medicine and mental health.

However, “in recent years, I have been trying to bring them up to scratch.

Earlier in the year a workshop was held to train almost 200 workers in various ministries etc, in recognising depression and suicide tendencies, the Police, doctors and nurses and the education sector were involved,” Minister Ramsaran said.

He said addressing mental health and suicide is not only the job of the Ministry, but is everyone’s business.

Recently, a Psychiatrist conducted training at Cara Lodge in which 88 persons, inclusive of some who were involved in training earlier this year.

The Health Minister

said: “We recognise that we need to have a strategy. Our psychiatrist and his team have been looking at what should be done as part of this strategy. This is the beginning of a national conversation… by 2015, we will have a new strategy and there will be many other activities coming up.”

Over the next few months, several other activities will be carried out in favour of this cause. The Government will also be partnering with the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) on this project, which is expected to be launched next February.

Dr Bhiro Harry, a Psychiatrist at the Georgetown Public Hospital, said Guyana has been suffering like most other countries because there has not been any strong backing for mental health, where human and financial resources are concerned.

He said while some works have been done, it can

be agreed that Guyanese have not benefitted enough. However, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) template and guidelines are being followed to ensure this project is effectively carried out. A lot of consultation was also done to formulate ideas for the prelude presentation.

The mission of the project is to encourage good mental health in all Guyanese through the provision of effective, integrated and intersectoral mental health strategies and services and the goal is to promote mental health well-being, prevent disorders, offer care and enhance recovery, promote human rights, reduce morbidity, disability and mortality for people with mental health disorders.

The priorities of the plan are to fight against suicide and promote good mental health, include providing comprehensive and responsive mental health and social care in communities.

“We are going to take what we have and transform the Georgetown Hospital’s Psychiatric Centre into a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Complex,” Dr Harry said. Strategies will also be implemented for mental health promotion, protection and prevention and here Dr Harry stressed on having a mental health programme in schools. United Nations Resident Representative, Dr William Adu-Krow; Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud and others were present at the event.

Mings Products donates outboard motor to hinterland school

ued

Berbice

Good harvests, ample stockpiles driving int’l food prices down – FAO

Food markets are more stable and prices for most agricultural commodities are sharply lower than they have been in recent years, according to the latest edition of FAO’s biannual “Food Outlook” report and a new update to the organisation’s monthly Food Price Index.

Bumper harvests and abundant stockpiles are key factors helping drive down international cereal prices, according to the report.

World wheat production in 2014 is forecast to reach a new record, it said. For coarse grains, prospects for near-record production levels, combined with alreadyhigh inventories point to a very comfortable world supply and demand balance in 2014/15, especially for maize.

While rice outputs could decline slightly this year, stockpiles remain “huge” and are sufficient to cover over one-third of projected consumption during the 2015-16 period. All told, world cereal production in 2014 is anticipated to reach 2523 million tonnes (2.5 billion tonnes) — an upward revision of 65 million tonnes from FAO’s initial forecast in May. World cereal stocks should hit their highest level in 15 years by the end of the cropping season in 2015.

Global output

Global output of oilseeds is also forecast to exceed last season’s record due to further expansion of soybean production. Meanwhile, world production of cassava looks to be on track to achieving another record high, driven by sustained growth in Africa, where the tuber is a strategic crop for food security and poverty alleviation.

The Food Outlook anticipates that world sugar production will increase in 2015-16, as well. Meat production is set to grow moderately in 2014, but not enough to ease prices from their current high levels, while milk production continues to grow steadily in many countries. Production of fish is also on the rise, driven largely by aquaculture and less-than-expected El Niño impacts.

The FAO Food Price Index (FPI) has also regis-

Michele Ming, Directors of the MPS, a release from the company said.

During the visit, it was observed that the open boat and engine being used were relatively small and could only transport approximately 40 students whose parents could afford to pay for the motorised transport, while the others had to paddle several miles to and from school.

tered its sixth consecutive monthly drop — the longest period of continuous decline in the value of the index since the late 1990s — averaging 191.5 points in September 2014. Among the FPI sub-indices, sugar and dairy fell most sharply, followed by cereals and oils, while meat remained firm.

Although meat prices remain high, they could be stabilising: the September Meat Price index remains 22 points up versus the same time last year, a historic high, but registered only a slight increase over

ple foods in markets in 85 different countries.

Additionally, the organisation produces a quarterly report, Crop Prospects and Food Situation that focuses on developments affecting food security in developing countries and LIFDCs.

The latest edition, published alongside Food Outlook and the October FPI, highlights a number of hot-spots of particular concern.

The Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone has disrupted markets, farming ac-

While rice outputs could decline slightly this year, stockpiles remain “huge” and are sufficient to cover over one-third of projected consumption during the 2015-16 period

August (0.3 of a point) after months of steady hikes. High meat prices and large trade volumes for products in the animal protein category, including meat, dairy and fish, mean that the global food import bill — that is, the aggregate amount that all countries spend on imported foodstuffs — will surpass US$1 trillion again this year, for the fifth year in a row.

The FAO FPI is a tradeweighted index that measures prices of five major food commodities on international markets. While price trends for these commodities at the macro level are a useful indicator of global trends and can signal when consumer food prices might be at risk, they are not always directly mirrored in national, regional and local markets.

Tracking

To help spot food price spikes affecting consumers in the developing world, particularly in low-income fooddeficit countries (LIFDCs), FAO recently launched a new website that reports abnormally high prices of sta-

Henrietta Sampson. Stanley Ming committed the MPS to donating a suitable engine, depending on the size of boat that the communities would have built.

tivities and livelihoods, seriously affecting the food security of large numbers of people, it said. And irregular rains in several areas of the Sahelian belt will result in mixed production prospects. Food crop production in the Central African Republic is up from 2013’s sharply reduced output, but still remains well below average due to the impact of widespread civil insecurity, the report adds. In Eastern Africa, the overall food security situation is improving as harvesting has started in several countries. But while food prices in the region are generally stable or declining, they are at record high levels in Somalia and the Sudan.

Meanwhile, drought conditions in Central America have significantly reduced the 2014 main first season harvest in key producing countries. Drought conditions have also been a problem in the Near East, leading to a below-average cereal harvest for the region, while the conflicts in Syria and Iraq continue to significantly degrade food security.

gine is to ensure that all the students who require motorised transport are provided with same daily, in a safe and timely manner to and from the school.

to

Lust Primary

on

The donation is a result of a visit to the St Lust, Wiruni and Dubulay communities several months ago by Stanley Ming and Dr

A brief discussion was held with some of the parents and the Head Teacher of St Lust Primary School,

The new engine will be used on a 32-footx7-foot boat with a shed, which was recently built with funding from the Parent-Teachers' Association (PTA) of St Lust Primary School, the Wiruni Village Council and members of the surrounding communities.

The main purpose of the MPS providing the en-

The approximately 75 students come from the various surrounding communities.

The schedules and operations of the engine and boat will be coordinated by the Captain of Wiruni, Telford King; the St Lust Primary School Headteacher; and the Chairperson of the PTA, Mrs Ehourta.

School, located

River.

Officials of the MPS and the St Lust Primary School pose with the new outboard motor

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran

Govt spending $39M on solar panel rollout in hinterland

At a cost of US$192,000 or G$39.8 million, the Government through the Office of the Prime Minister will again embark on the distribution of solar panels to households in hinterland communities under the Hinterland Electrification Project (HEP).

Head of the Presidential secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon on Thursday disclosed that Cabinet had given its no-objection to the supply of cables, switches and other-related items for the continuation of the project which was first launched

in 2005. The first distribution of panels; however, began in 2011.

Dr Luncheon, at his weekly post-Cabinet briefing told reporters that the move will see the distribution of an additional 6000 65 watt solar panels in Regions One, Two, Seven and Nine, bringing the total distributed so far to close to 20,000.

When launched back in 2005, the objective of the Hinterland Electrification Programme was to seek to explore options for the sustainable electrification

of the hinterland, as part of the national Unserved Areas Electrification Programme (UAEP).

The first phase of the project saw 11,000 65-watt photovoltaic solar home systems being made available to residents, and about 184 villages began receiving about 12 to 15 kilowatt hours of electricity. The Hinterland Electrification Unit of the Office of the Prime Minister has been the executing agency and has facilitated training to residents in assembling, installing, and maintaining the systems.

National Drama Festival opens on Tuesday

The 2013 National Drama Festival was hailed a tremendous success with “Watch De Ride 2” receiving the prize for the best production, and this year’s festival is expected to be more exciting with some 32 plays to be staged.

The festival commences on Tuesday and culminates on Wednesday, October 22, with the award ceremony slated for Friday, October 31 at the National Cultural Centre.

This year, a number of regions have submitted entries which is an indication that the drama festival has grown since its introduction two years ago. Regions One, Three, Four, Five, Six and Eight are all hoping to reach the top in their respective categories.

Trained mentors were deployed to all regions and schools, and have been working to bring the plays up to “stageworthiness”.

The categories under which the plays were entered are Open Full Length; Open Short or One Act; Junior; Debutante; and Secondary Schools. The best production during the staging of the National Drama Festival will receive a whopping $1 million prize followed by $500,000 for the first runner-up and $250,000 for the second. The best original Guyanese play will collect $300,000.

The best production in the Open category will walk away with $300,000, while the first and second runners up will receive $300,000 and $200,000 respectively, with another $200,000 for the best original Guyanese play. In the Junior category, the best production will receive

$400,000 followed by the first and second runners up with $250,000 and $150,000 respectively, while another $200,000 will go to the play that was most original.

The cash prizes in the Debutante category will see the best production being rewarded with $400,000 and the first and second runners up collecting $200,000 and $100,000 respectively. The best original Guyanese play in this category will be rewarded with $200,000.

Finally, in the Secondary Schools Category, the best production will collect $350,000 with the first and second runners up receiving $200,000 and $100,000 each and the best original play will get $200,000.

Apart from the monetary prizes, actors and actresses will be presented with trophies for individual accomplishments. The 2013 best production “Watch De Ride 2” was produced under the H&T Theatre Arts Group and was written by Guyanese Playwright Ronald Hollingsworth who is known for his high-drama productions. “Watch De Ride 2” was co-produced by well-known actor, director and film-maker Mahadeo Shivraj, and co-directed by accomplished dramatist, director and producer Sheron Cadogan-Taylor. It has been 16 years since the original play was first staged.

The play depicts the journey of a dedicated police detective whose determination to solve a brutal rape/murder earns him the respect of fellow officers in the Police Force.

The underlying message in the play reinforces the virtues of being an in-

spiration to our colleagues, neighbours, friends, and eventually an entire nation. It forces us to recognise the significance of individual effort. After winning the National Drama Festival, the cast of the production had the opportunity to per-

form before thousands in Jamaica with the compliments of Digicel Guyana Inc. Digicel has been on board with the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry in the quest to unveil hidden Guyanese talent through the arts.

in Region One and St Cuthbert’s Mission in Region Four, the solar panels can be considered a success story. Solar panels distribution and installation have been successfully completed for all households at Himacabra.

Pilot testing took place after the HEP launch and 65w photo-voltaic (PV) solar home systems emerged as the most feasible option of electrification for households.

In time, larger panels

have been fitted in primary schools and health centres in those communities. To date, over 1730 households, 21 primary schools, and two health centres have benefitted from the HEP.

Assessment of the pilot programme which concluded in 2010 revealed that the solar systems helped to improve the quality of life in many households, with increases in appliances owned, increased reading, completion of school assignments and listening to educational programmes. Communities also saw marked increase in economic activities such as sewing, knitting and cake making. Improving energy access is recognised as a key area for expanding access to affordable, clean energy which plays a crucial role in realising the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and achieving the objectives of sustainable development under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

The “Watch De Ride” team

In villages, like Himacabra and Kabakaburi

Government through the Office of the Prime Minister will again embark on the distribution of solar panels to households in hinterland communities

1600 to be trained to tackle Ebola

Amid criticism of its efforts to ward off any possible threat of the Ebola virus here, Government announced on Sunday that it will soon train some 1600 medical personnel to deal with the virus.

This is according to Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Internal MedicineInfectious Diseases Consultant, Dr Johanna Cole.

Speaking at a Continued Medical Education (CME) session Sunday morning at the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, Dr Cole noted that the Health Ministry has taken on a mass preparedness approach towards the virus.

She pointed out that 1600 medical professionals are to soon commence training on dealing with the virus, and the necessary approach towards administering care to persons who have contracted the virus as opposed to those who are suspected to have it.

In addition, emphasis will be placed on safety and precautionary measures for health care providers, who may come in contact with an infected person or environment, as the Ebola is highly contagious and spreads rapidly through direct or indirect contact with bodily fluids.

She added that surveillance at all ports of entry, including airports and shipping ports, as well as screening is being done. Further, meetings have been held to educate persons working at

these points. Dr Cole noted that isolation capacity is ready at the airports and the largest isolation housing unit is at the GPHC. Guyana has also moved towards establishing an action plan to deal with the deadly virus, and in this regard a wide-cross section of stakeholders from various organisations had a recent meeting to discuss and establish the measures to be undertaken in order to put the plan into operation.

On Sunday, this newspaper reported that Nigerian students studying at the Texila American University said the rigorous surveillance and quarantine they were subjected to at interconnecting airports have been markedly absent in Guyana. This is despite word by Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, who told Guyana Times on Thursday that doctors have been deployed to carry out surveillance at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Below par The Texila University in Guyana offers several health sciences programmes and attracts students from some 35 countries around the world, including Nigeria, a country known for its high prevalence of the Ebola virus. Speaking with this publication on Friday, students related the horror they experience at ports, both within and outside the country of their birth.

Guyana Times was informed that there is no direct flight from Nigeria to Guyana, and that students are required to stop in about five countries before setting foot here.

The interconnecting flights from Nigeria would often take between six days to one week. “We would travel from Nigeria to Europe and sometimes have to take another flight to Germany and then maybe to the Netherlands then depending on whatever connecting flights you are on, you would either travel to Trinidad, Barbados or Brazil, then Guyana,” said medical student Nwanekezi Uganda Erastus. At each of these stops, West African citizens are “tested and retested”. They are also placed in isolation during the examinations.

The students explained

Father of 3 perishes in boiler explosion

A50-year-old Boiler Operator employed with the John and Jason Tulshi Rice Mill at Number 49 Village, Corentyne perished after the boiler he was attending to exploded.

Phillip Gangaprasad of Number 47 Village succumbed while on his way to the Skeldon Hospital

The cause of the explosion is currently unknown.

Mill Supervisor Junior Richardson said the company has expressed deep sympathy with the family of Gangaprasad and has launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

“It’s an accident and we are very sorry, we have launched an investigation and someone will be here to check the boiler to find out what may have caused the explosion. He was feeding the boiler when it blow off.”

Richardson said about 07:55h, he was on site when

he heard the explosion and ran to the back where the boiler was located and quickly picked up Gangaprasad who was covered in blood.

One of his legs was almost severed and he was moaning in pain. He died on his way while being taken to hospital.

According to the dead man’s wife Banmattie Dass, Phillip left the following night for his midnight to 08:00h shift, but received a

call informing her about an accident at the mill.

The distraught woman said she rushed to the Skeldon Hospital to see him and when she reached there, she learnt of the sad news.

In tears, Dass related that her husband was a caring father and good man who will be dearly missed.

She related that the family has not come to grips with his sudden death since he left home for work a few hours earlier in good health.

At the home of Gangaprasad, relatives and neighbour gathered to offer support to his widow and children.

Gangaprasad was employed with the company for several years but left and returned about three weeks ago. He leaves to mourn his wife and three children.

According to reports, a similar incident of this nature occurred many years ago that also left another person dead.

how they are treated within their own country.

Idris Raji, also of Nigeria said, “In Nigeria, you can’t even go to the shopping mall without being tested for Ebola. Nobody touches anything in the shopping mall. You just point and check in. They are at the entrance, blocking you and making checks on everybody.”

He said if one wants to leave, they are thoroughly examined at the airports. “You go to Germany and the other countries, and you go through the same routine,” he said. Two other Nigerian students Roland Dane Oseen-Asu and Ogheneyole Darell UjorioOkoro, who came to Guyana last Saturday, said they are aware of the numerous testing which are required in their homeland.

They spoke of multiple blood tests and scans during

and after the 21-day incubation period. None of these rigorous activities are carried out at the CJIA, they related.

Meanwhile, the students are adamant that the Government is not doing all that it possibly can to keep the deadly virus out of Guyana, noting that emphasis is placed only on persons coming from West African territories.

Fatal disease

Ebola is a severe febrile illness that affects humans and non-human primates and is often fatal. Outbreaks mainly occur primarily in Central and West Africa.

The Ebola Hemorrhagic Virus has five species, all named after the locations where they were discovered. The 38- year-old virus surfaced in 1976 in Guinea. Ebola is transmitted to the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected wild animals such as infected fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas and monkeys.

The virus is spread through humans by direct person-to-person contact through broken skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, etc) with the blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected persons with Ebola signs and symptoms.

This virus can also be spread through indirect contact with environments contaminated with such body

fluids. The initial symptoms are sudden fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain and intense weakness. These symptoms advance to vomiting, diarrhoea, skin rash and bleeding (internal and external). The virus attacks the body quickly, and causes the infected individual to be sick in as little as two days but can take up to 21 days for the symptoms to show up.

Recovery takes weeks to months while deaths occur 6-14 days of the illness’ onset. According to the World Health organisation (WHO), the virus can survive out of the body for 24 hours and up to 40-90 days in breast milk and semen after the recovery period.

Protection against the disease can be done by washing hands regularly with soap and water as they carry lots of germs that cause diseases. Direct contact with body fluids (tears, saliva, sweat, semen, vaginal fluid, blood etc) should be avoided and protective clothing such as gloves must be used when handling stool or attending to wounds. There is no specific treatment and no vaccine currently available for humans. However, supportive care is recommended and lamivudine, which is used to treat HIV/AIDS, is considered safe to treat the virus.

But it is too soon to determine the effectiveness of it. Pain relievers and fever medicines are also recommended.

LIAT cancels, reschedules flights as Tropical Storm Gonzalo closes in

LIAT wishes to advise its customers and the general public of the following flight cancellations for today, Monday, October 13, as the airline prepares for the impact operations are likely to feel by the passage of Tropical Storm Gonzalo.

VC Bird International Airport, Antigua, was scheduled to close from 22:30h Sunday night until 12:00h today, at which time the situation will be reviewed.

Cancelled flights LI 310

St Lucia to Antigua LI 308

St Lucia/ Dominica/Antigua LI 362

Barbados to Antigua LI 540

Antigua/St Kitts/St Maarten/St Thomas LI 541

St Thomas/ Anguilla/Antigua LI 771

Antigua to St Lucia LI 361

Antigua/Dominica/ Barbados/Port of Spain LI 521

Tortola/St Maarten/ St Kitts/Antigua

Rescheduled flights

LI 521 from Antigua is scheduled to depart at 14:00h, arriving in Barbados at 15:20h LI 727 from Barbados is scheduled to depart at 16:00h, arriving in Grenada at 16:50h LI 727 from Grenada is scheduled to depart at 17:15h, arriving in Port of Spain at 18:00h

Passengers travelling today are asked to check the LIAT website, the LIAT Facebook page, their local LIAT office, or to call the LIAT Call Centre from Antigua – 1-268-480-5582; toll free from the rest of the Caribbean – 1-888-8445428; and from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands –1-866-549-5428 for informa-

tion on the status of their flights.

Customers affected by the disruptions who wish to rebook for a later date will be allowed to do so without change fees or fare differences for a period of one week from the date of their original scheduled travel. Following the one-week grace period, passengers will be required to pay applicable fare and change fees when re-booking.

LIAT also wishes to advise that passengers who decide to travel but are unable to complete their journey due to disruption caused by weather conditions, will not be provided with meals, transportation, hotel accommodation, etc.

Passengers with onward connections are advised to contact the respective carriers.

LIAT regrets any inconvenience caused as a result of this disruption to travel services caused by Tropical Storm Gonzalo.

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases Consultant, Dr Johanna Cole delivering a presentation on the Ebola virus at the workshop

Phillip Gangaprasad

Freedom is important for a nation to move forward – Nandlall

By IndrawattIe natram

Legal

Affairs

Minister and Attorney General

Anil Nandlall said that freedom is important in every area for a nation to move forward. Nandlall was at the time speaking at a special symposium held by the People's Progressive Party (PPP) on Saturday at the Taymouth Manor Primary on the Essequibo Coast.

The symposium was organised by the PPP Anna Regina Branch Office to commemorate the return of democracy to Guyana. Nandlall spoke at length on the gains and achievements made by the Government of Guyana under PPP over the stretch of 22 years.

Nandlall reflected on the struggles made by PPP to gain freedom for the people, "A people who forget their history is a people who are condemn to repeat it".

He said the greatest achievement is "tangible" freedom, highlighting that when the PPP won the election on October 5, 1992, democracy as well as freedom in every area was gained.

"Freedom brings progress, economically, socially, constitutionally, legally, societies have advanced," Nandlall noted.

"Any society that take away freedom from its people, there will obviously ex-

perience stagnation, this is what was happening when Guyana was ruled under PNC [People's National Congress] Dictatorship, people were shot just to speak freely," Nandlall said.

"After 28 years of struggles, PPP and its people by its side were able to win freedom: people were allowed to vote freely. This is the prosperity you see around."

"PPP has transformed Guyana, the Essequibo Road is a classic example, advancement were made economically, internationally, educationally, health-wise and housing,” Nandlall posited.

Achievements

Nandlall said that Guyana inherited a constitution that was imposed by Forbes Burnham who was leader of the PNC. He said a Constitutional Reform Commission was formed which embraced every interest of the people. He said consultations were held with the people on the changes to the Constitution. He noted that more than 200 changes were made to the Constitution under PPP.

"Freedom; the media has more privilege today. Today, we have more than 20 television stations; today we have more than 11 radio stations, radio licence issuing was

done. Geographically, there is no discrimination, but today we have freedom of the airwaves."

Future

Nandlall said the first challenge is to ensure that the right people\Government remain in power and cautioned Essequibians not to be sidetracked by other political parties.

He said that if someone else gets into power, then freedom will be

snatched away: "Don't let the Opposition fool you, the damage they can do is let Granger rule again, don't forget over 200 guns were given to PNC ... that is what they used their Government for, rather than using the oneseat majority in Parliament ... to progress ... they are killing Guyana's potential, never did they articulate any plans."

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud said that October 5 is a very his-

toric day for Guyana and the PPP. He spoke about the "bitter" history and reminded Essequibians that freedom was gained from 1992. He said the PPP under the leadership of founder leader Dr Cheddi Jagan fought the election under the theme, “Time to rebuild\change" and the Party won.

Persaud said from 1992, there has been massive transformation on the Essequibo Coast in all sectors. He said from 1992, a new atmosphere was created for Guyana. He spoke about plans for the future and reaching out to the various communities.

Congratulatory messages were delivered by members of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO); the Women Progressive Organisation (WPO); the Guyana Rice Producers Association (GRPA), and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) to the PPP. During the messages, well-wishers reflected on the struggles the people went through prior to the PPP winning the elections in 1992.

WPO executive member Juliet Coonjah extended congratulations to the PPP party on its anniversary of being in office. Coonjah said Guyana as a nation has transformed in every sector since 1992. She said the

winning of the elections by PPP restored democracy, equal opportunities were given to women, and the educational standard has risen with young people excelling at CXC examinations.

Coonjah said gone are the days when Guyanese had to join lines to access food such as sardines and peas. She said the achievement of a better Guyana was the hard work of the founder of the PPP, Dr Cheddi Jagan. She urged fellow Guyanese to concentrate on the future, but not to forget what the Opposition did in the past by snatching away freedom in every area.

A representative from Charity, Beatrice Parkes, said that her village has been developed under the PPP Government. She said that the area did not have roads and under the PPP, roads were built. She commented that health centres, schools, markets and even recreational facilities were built under PPP. She urged fellow Guyanese to make the right choice in choosing a Government whenever the time arises.

Well-wishers of the PPP party from Capoey, Affiance, Lima Sands, Anna Regina amongst other communities attended the symposium. Poems, lectures and dances were included on the programme.

Exceptional month for Narine Dat Sookram Rupununi farmer

found dead after being beaten

The Police are investigating the death of a Central Rupununi farmer who was found dead on Sunday, several days after he was beaten by a group of men.

Dead is 52-yearold Clifton Clement, of Hiawa Village, Central Rupununi, Region Nine. According to the Police, his body was discovered around 01:30h on Sunday.

“Investigations so far have revealed that Clifton Clement was allegedly imbibing and was beaten by some men on October 1, 2014, in the vicinity of the Takutu Bridge, Lethem,” the Police stated. Clement was subsequently admitted and treated at the Lethem Hospital before he was discharged. The Police are continuing their investigation and are awaiting the results of the postmortem examination.

Narine Dat Sookram has been recognised with over 100 awards locally, nationally and globally, but the month of September was exceptional. The Guyanese native received four prestigious awards, within days of each other. The first one was the Indo-Canadian Award (social activist), which was presented to Sookram on September 12, by the National Association of Indo-Canadians. This national award is presented to Indo-Canadians whose achievements have been outstanding and who are role models for other IndoCanadians and others in general.

The India Pride Award for Social Work was presented by the All India Welfare Council of New Delhi, India, making Sookram the first person living outside India to receive this prestigious honour. The award was presented on September 16, by Indian Minister of Culture and Tourism, Sh Shripad Yesso Naik. Other recipients include film star Raza Murad and pop singer Shankar Sahany. On September 20, Sookram was bestowed with the Man of Honour Award in the category Spirit of Community. This award is

given to someone who has shown continuing commitment to community or public service; has earned the recognition, respect and trust of the community; and has demonstrated personal integrity and service in all phases of life. The awards ceremony took place in Washington, DC.

The fourth award was the Ontario Newcomer Champion Award, which was presented on September

24 in Toronto. This award recognises individuals and groups who celebrate and promote cultural heritage, foster an understanding of Ontario’s cultural diversity, and assist newcomers to successfully settle and integrate into their community. By building social and civic inclusive communities that promote value and diversity, residents make Ontario a better place to live and settle. The award was received

in the Promoting Cultural Heritage category and Sookram was recognised for his contributions within the West Indian community to preserve the legacy and traditions of cultural heritage.

Sookram’s passion to serve the community started way back in Guyana, in Number 64 Village in Berbice where he was raised. In fact, at the tender age of 14, he initiated his first youth group to bring the youths together, creating a positive space where every voice could be heard.

He continues his passion today through many initiatives, including his award-winning weekly radio show, Caribbean Spice which airs live on 100.3 CKMS FM Radio Waterloo every Sunday from 19:30h to 20:30h, 946 on Rogers’s cable and on the web, www. soundfm.ca.

Sookram also initiated the award-winning Caribbean Dreams concert where new and young artistes get the opportunity to showcase their talent, while attendees get the opportunity to celebrate diversity under one roof. The founder of Active Vision Charity Association, Sookram also helps the schoolchildren in Guyana with textbooks and other school supplies, pro-

viding an opportunity for a better education. Most recently, one of the nursery schools in Berbice, Guyana, named its very first library after his charity. Though Sookram has a family, including a toddler, on top of his already busy schedule, he also mentors internationally trained professionals here in Canada and businesswomen in Third World countries. When Sookram was asked what sets him apart from other community leaders, he responded by saying, “I am genuine and real and people can see that. I love what I do and I have lots of experience, but, more importantly, I face challenges and don’t run away from it. We all have a purpose in life and I am glad I found mine.” Sookram is scheduled to receive the Canadian Royal Heritage Award on October 18, 2014 from the Canadian Royal Heritage Trust; the Jack McGinnes Environment Spirit Award on October 23, from the Recycling Council of Ontario and in October, he will also receive the Ontario Broadcast Order of Achievement from the Ontario Broadcaster Association, making him the only person to be recognised with this honour from a community-based radio.

A section of the audience at the symposium on Saturday at the Taymouth Manor Primary on the Essequibo Coast

Narine Dat Sookram receives the Ontario Newcomer Champion Award from Minister Michael Chan on September 24 in Toronto

VOX POPULI

I SAY …

Ivan George: “I don’t think enough is being done. We are at health risk especially those in Georgetown, because the city is very untidy, so we need to work together and clean up the city. The Ministry of Local Government and the Mayor and City Council should work together to ensure that the city is clean so that there won’t be any mosquitoes to cause Chikungunya.”

Arlene Ross: “No, I don’t think enough is being done. There should be more fogging exercises especially along the East Coast, anything that would get rid of mosquitoes or lessen their breeding places will help the situation.”

PUBLIC OPINION

Do you think enough is being done to protect citizens against the Chikungunya virus in Guyana

Fiesta Fraser: “They need to provide better health-care services, because sometimes they just giving people pain killers alone and no injections. So they need to improve the treatment and if they could get like health officers in the communities to raise awareness, that will be good.”

Sharda Seeram: “I think Government is doing as much as they can. When you get sick with the symptoms, you go to the hospital and the doctors would give injections and medications and then you would get better. All this is being done without even confirming that it is the virus.”

Donna Samuel: “I think that there should be more fogging, but it’s not really helping. The only way you can really prevent mosquitoes is keeping your environment clean. You need more more fogging, it’s not helping much. We need to clean our environment and drainage so that mosquitoes won't breed around us.”

Darshanie Gobin: “Well, given the fact that most of the cases are suspected and not confirmed, I think Government is doing whatever they can to prevent it from spreading. The fogging exercises are good, but they need to be done in all the villages. Then doctors and nurses need to be more careful when handling patients, especially in administering medications.”

I SAY...

Shelly Fordyce: “While I think Government is trying their best to tackle the virus in terms of providing medications, they need to fog out more communities so that they can eliminate the breeding of mosquitoes.”

Lisa Sanichar: “I don't think enough is being done to protect people from Chikungunya. There needs to be better health-care services because there are not enough medications at hospital and then some of the doctors and nurses do not know what they doing. I had the symptoms and they give me wrong medication which made me even more sick.”

Harlequin: “I think Government is trying their best, but they just need to do more fogging exercises because there are a lot of villages that are not fogged out especially on the East Coast and West Bank.”

...is a Guyana Times effort to give expression to issues concerning Guyanese. Every week we will publish views on one issue along with contributors’ photographs. The views expressed in comments published do not reflect the opinions of the Guyana Times Inc. I Say... will be published every Monday

IDB Governors favourably review institutional reforms

The Committee for the Board of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) met last week in Washington, DC to review a series of proposed institutional reforms.

The Board of Governors is the IDB’s top policymaking body. Its members are Finance Ministers, Central Bank Presidents or senior officials of the IDB's 48 member countries. "The reforms we are promoting seek to consolidate our Private Sector activities, preserve our financial strength and modernise our corporate governance," said IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno. "Their ultimate goal is to better serve our member countries as they face new challenges and opportunities."

The governors commended IDB management for the progress achieved on the proposal to consolidate the activities of the Private Sector since their last meeting, held in March in Bahia, Brazil.

The goal of the consolidation is to maximise the impact and the efficient use of the IDB’s resources and to strengthen its capacity to promote development through the Private Sector.

The Governors reiterated their interest in taking up final proposals for the consolidation when they convene in March 2015 in Busan, Korea, site of the IDB’s next annual meeting.

Complying with criteria set out in another resolution approved last March, Governors also agreed on a series of modifications to the rules for electing the President of the IDB, with a view to updating the institution’s corporate governance.

Lastly, the Governors analysed measures proposed by management to maintain the IDB’s financial strength. The proposals, which will be put to an electronic vote by member countries, seek to preserve its AAA credit rating and to adopt buffers to ensure it retains its lending capacity even in times of stress.

Countries agree on key policy commitments to fight malnutrition globally

Civil society plays a crucial role helping build consensus, giving a voice to the hungry, representing society’s diversity and being a part of the international decisionmaking processes, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director General José Graziano da Silva said.

He was addressing civil society representatives on Sunday at the organisation’s headquarters, where they began the annual forum of the International Civil Society Mechanism, a vehicle for non-state actors to participate in policy making.

“Reaching consensus is important, because it will make us move faster and because we need results in the short term,” Graziano da Silva said in his welcoming remarks. “We offer FAO as a neutral forum to help building it,” he added.

During the next two days, over 200 representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other associations will assess the past five years of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) since

its reform in 2009 and work to find consensus on key issues to be discussed in next week’s plenary meeting of the Committee.

Contribution to CFS outcomes

Graziano da Silva highlighted how civil society has facilitated engagement and contributed to the development of some of the most successful CFS outcomes, such as the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) – an unprecedented international agreement on tenure governance. They have also participated in the negotiations over draft

Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems – to ensure that the rights and livelihoods of local communities are protected and the degradation of natural resources is avoided.

“You were part of the 4000 people involved in the consultation process that enabled the FAO Committee on Fisheries to approve the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries,” the FAO Director General told the representatives.

“You have helped introducing important ideas such as Food Sovereignty or Agro-Ecology in the inter-

national agenda,” he added. The purpose of the CSM is to facilitate civil society participation in agriculture, food security and nutrition policy development at the national, regional and global levels.

“The CSM is an incredible success,” said Gerda Verbug, Chair for the UN CFS. “I believe in a multistakeholder approach where all concerned parties are around the table to find the best opportunities.”

Graziano da Silva stressed that civil society will also play an important role in the upcoming Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), to be held in Rome in November through the Civil Society Organisations PreConference, scheduled days before the main conference starts.

Sunday’s meeting marks the third year for the Civil Society Mechanism holding its annual forum at FAO headquarters. The aim of this weekend’s discussions is to bring a clear and unified voice of civil society to the week-long CFS.

Anne

FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva

Ahead of Haiti donor conference… World Bank pledges US$50M in water, sanitation

World Bank Group

President Jim Yong Kim last week pledged US$50 million ahead of the Haiti Clean water, improved sanitation, better health conference and called on donors and other partners to join forces and help improve access to safe water and sanitation for all Haitians to prevent waterborne diseases.

“We have made significant progress in controlling the Cholera epidemic in Haiti, but too many people are still getting sick, mainly because they don’t have access to clean water and lack sanitation systems. Cholera remains endemic and water borne diseases are one of the leading causes of infant mortality in Haiti, said Kim.

Expanding coverage of safe water and sanitation is possible.

“We cannot ignore this opportunity to prevent thousands more Haitian children from dying from waterborne diseases,” he added.

The announcement spearheads a high-level conference to be chaired by Kim and United Nations Secretary General Ban Kimoon, inviting leading partners to join in an effort to substantially improve water and sanitation coverage in Haiti and strengthen health services.

Diarrhoea causes more deaths in children under five than HIV/AIDS, malaria and measles combined, according to UN figures.

tion services. Haiti’s Health Ministry has already implemented a US$90 million initiative financed by the World Bank which will provide access to adequate health services for 1.8 million mothers and children over the next five years.

This meeting is an opportunity for dedicated partners to address the plan to eliminate Cholera in Haiti and to improve access to clean water and sanitation initiatives.

On track to eliminate Cholera

will be partly financed through commitments made.

“I had an emotional visit to Haiti in July, when I heard first-hand how Cholera has affected families,” said United Nations

Selfcare

SNew costing analysis conducted by the World Bank and Haiti’s Department of Health and National Department for Water and Sanitation (DINEPA) estimates that US$310 million investment in water, sanitation and health is needed to save lives and prevent Cholera in high prevalence zones over the next three years.

“Further, we need to assure that the commitments are met and Haiti remains on track to eliminate Cholera within its borders,” said Haiti’s Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe.

The conference follows a technical meeting during the last World Bank Group and IMF Spring Meetings where leading Cholera ex-

The new US$50 million bank pledge will contribute to the implementation of a project that will reach about two million people in Cholera hot spots of rural Haiti. All schools and clinics in the communes covered by this initiative would receive priority water and sanita-

perts discussed the need for a comprehensive diagnostic and a results-oriented investment roadmap to support Haiti’s 10-year plan to eliminate Cholera.

In response, the Government launched with UNICEF and development partners a National Sanitation Campaign, which

Secretary-General Ban Kimoon.

“I also saw what communities can do, with a little bit of help, to address the underlying risks and be free of disease. Together with Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, we launched the total sanitation campaign to raise sanitation standards and improve health conditions. Today’s conference is an important step to remind the international community of the long-term work needed in Haiti to build systems that will prevent other outbreaks of waterborne diseases, including Cholera, he added.

About 38 per cent of Haitians lack access to safe drinking water and only 24 per cent of Haitian families have access to improved sanitation. Evidence shows that for every dollar invested in water and sanitation, seven dollars are gained in healthcare savings and productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean. This new initiative calls for concerted push for water and sanitation will help save lives and improve people’s health.

PGS awards outstanding security guards

The Professional Guard Services (PGS) on Saturday awarded 16 employees at its third quarterly presentation and annual award ceremony for 2014.

The officers were honoured at the Kirkpatrick’s Garden Room, Jamoon Drive, Meadow brook, Georgetown.

The awardees received

sums of $5000 and $10,000 respectively. The employees were presented with the awards by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dougal Kirkpatrick. Among those awarded were one baton rank, one armed rank and three special awardees.

Bank and Factory

Shift Commander Michael Gooding, Deputy Bank and

Factory Shift Commander

Devon Antigua, Security

Officer Dindial Durga,

Armed Sergeant Leon Alves, Inspector Mahadeo Gopie, Cash Crews Lennox

Thomas and Gavin Wood, Bank Shift Commanders

Allison Lewis and Henry Mingo, Commander Driver Gordon Clarke, Radio

Operator Glynis Frazar and Baton Sergeant David Wray

were all awarded $10,000.

Bank and Factory Shift

Commander Patrick Simon and Lieutenants Loretta Jackson and Phillipa Paul who were special awardees were given $5000.

Over the years, the Professional Guard Services Inc has been consistently awarding its employees for their service to the company.

ometimes we are all so busy with our lives, busy helping other people that we don’t take the time to care for ourselves. It is so important for us to take the time to do some self-care regardless of how busy our lives may be.

Though selfcare can have many manifestations, the good thing is that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to self-care. Based on what matters to us, it can be as simple as having enough sleep, taking the time to eat healthy or even taking the time to exercise regularly.

Some of us may argue that we should not worry about ourselves, but put more focus on others. The truth is, if we don’t take the time to take care of ourselves, then we’ll find it more challenging helping other people.

Taking care of ourselves is not a selfish thing on our part, because we do need to take the time to recharge and tap into our personal sources of inspiration, which is important especially if our work is demanding and on top of all of that, we are expected to take care of others as well.

I know for some of us who are in leadership positions, we want to give it that little extra to make sure we stay on top of things and for that reason, I particularly think that self-care is even more important for us in leadership positions.

The way I see it is that it does not matter how we may define self-care as long as it involves being honest with ourselves and the people around us. Everyone actually needs to take control and make self-care a priority to ensure we are practising self-care both in and outside of the workplace.

Again it can be things like sleeping enough so that we can be focused on our everyday tasks. It is about being involved in the art of accepting everyone even in times of challenges, but most importantly, self-care involves actively setting intentions and being honest with ourselves and others about our desires and dreams.

Too often we forget to express gratitude. From experience I know that gratitude fosters a sense of happiness, which is why I keep a gratitude journal. Every day I write at least two things I am grateful for.

I find that in times of stress, it becomes very handy as I take some time to reflect on the things I am grateful for. If we don’t take the time to nurture ourselves, we are putting ourselves at danger of being unhappy, which can lower our self-esteem.

Another thing too is that people who spend their time only taking care of others can be at risk for getting burned out, which makes it more challenging to care for others. When we take the time to care for ourselves, it is a way to remind us and others as well that our needs are just as important.

For questions, comments, or feedback, send them to mcnarine@rogers.com.

Narine Dat Sookram

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Haiti’s Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe

‘Score’s Even’ beaten again

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Guyana’s only

A Class horse, Score’s Even, was beaten handsomely on Sunday when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) staged its grand horse race meet at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.

In almost darkness, Princess She’s Not of the Shariff Racing Stable, was in a category all by itself when it whipped a topclass field to score a big win and take top honours in the feature A and Lower class event.

The feature event saw five animals leaving the gate in an even break, but as the race proceeded around the first turn, the race was wide open with the five animals all in a bunch.

However, Princess She’s Not picked up her stride in the bunch afterwards to set a searing pace down the back stretch to maintain the lead until

the finish.

With Trinidadian jockey, Razak (only name given) on mount, showing his brilliance in the stirrups, the animal was able to romp home by about one length. The win was worth $1.2 million and the President’s Cup.

Score’s Even is a Kentucky Bred animal and is known for both its speed and stamina, and is Guyana’s premier thoroughbred. But after consecutive defeats for the seven-year old grey gelding, many left the venue with the opinion that it’s an end of an era.

After the race it was brought to the official judges’ attention that Razak was allegedly riding with an electrical shock. An investigation has been launched into the allegation.

Results from other races

Results from the other nine races as follows:

D3 non-winners in 2014, and the E and Lower event – Appealing

Harvest, Right to Rule, Swing Easy.

G1 and Lower – Release the Beast, Settling Jet, Damascus Dream.

G3 non-winners in 2014 and the H and Lower –Silent Night, Super Bowl, Marathan. Man 11 and Lower – Easy to Win, Savion, Mary Ann.

J3 and Lower – Red Jet, Dance for Gold, Swift Away.

Two-year-old race for Guyana bred horses –Slim Shady, Devil Women, Amazon Warriors.

J1 and Lower – Famous Pride, Little, Swift Away.

Two-year-old race for West Indies bred horses –Gold Kova, Settling Star, That Son of a Gun.

K and Lower – Regina, Iron Man Fit Fight.

Shariff Racing Stable was adjudged champion stable, while Razak won the best jockey prize.

The day’s event saw over 80 of the country best horse taking part with over $8M in prizes on offer.

Jockey Razak piloted Princess She’s Not to victory in the feature A Class race ahead of Score’s Even

Connections of Shariff Racing Stable collects the President’s Cup for Princess She’s Not’s victory in the feature A Class race

Connections from the Jumbo Jet Racing Stable collects the winning Dr Frank Anthony trophy from Region 5 Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth for Release the Beast’s victory

Anthony wins ‘Ounce of Gold’ race

– makes clean sweep of Open and Junior categories

By Avenash Ramzan

Linden’s Michael Anthony underlined his status as one of the country’s promising prospects with a remarkable sprint to the finish line to win the annual Kadir Mohamed memorial cycle road race, copping the coveted ounce of gold first prize.

By virtue of being the first rider to cross the finish line, Anthony, who is currently unattached, also emerged winner of the Junior division.

The race, which started at Homestretch Avenue and proceeded to Dora on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway before returning to the point of origin for the finish, attracted 45 starters, and was organised by Flying Stars Cycle Club.

Turning from Mandela Avenue into Homestretch Avenue, Anthony was part of a six-man peloton that had created a sizeable lead over the chasing pack

along the East Bank Demerara highway on the return journey.

With the chequered flag in sight, Anthony pulled away from his opponents with a calculated sprint to lay hands on the gold and the winner’s trophy in a time of three hours, 19 minutes, 26 seconds (03h: 19m: 26s).

Team Coco’s Ruben Companioni finished second best, leaving last year’s champion Paul DeNobrega, Robin Persaud, Alonzo Ambrose, Christopher Holder, Mark Harris and Mario King to occupy the six remaining podium spots.

Anthony, Persaud and Junior Niles took two prime prizes each, while there was one apiece for Holder, Ambrose, DeNobrega and Christopher Griffith.

In the Junior division, Ambrose took the runner-up spot to Anthony, while Kravitz Jeffrey and Griffith copped third and fourth positions respectively.

The Veterans and Juveniles

turned at the hill after Splashmin’s Fun Park on the upward journey with Niles winning the Under-45 ahead of Stephen Fernandes and Jaikarran Sookhai, while Ian Jackson, Kennard Lovell and Linden Blackman were 1-2-3 in the Over-45.

The talented Raphael Leung took top honours in the Juveniles race, winning ahead of Jornell Yearwood.

At the presentation ceremony which followed, chief organiser William Howard thanked the family of Kadir Mohamed for once again sponsoring the race. President of the Guyana Cycling Federation, Cheryl Thompson, echoed similar sentiments, adding that the race served as good warm-up for the ‘Ride for LifeFive-Stage, which pedals off on Thursday.

Members of the Kadir Mohamed family were on hand to witness the race and assist in the presentation of prizes.

Smith disappointed after missing maiden ton

After more than 10 years, and in his 93rd ODI, Dwayne Smith finally looked set to score his first international hundred in limited-overs cricket. West Indies, having done well to keep India to 263, were well-placed at 170-2 and were on their way to secure a morale-boosting 2-0 lead in the series with a win at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

However, for the second time in the series, Smith fell to a bowler after hitting him for a six and was bowled by Mohammed Shami. Smith’s departure for 97 triggered a West Indies collapse as the visitors folded for 215, and the batsman was dis-

appointed at having missed out on a century and with the way his team-mates unraveled in the face of some incisive bowling.

“I’m disappointed. I worked really hard during the CPL and since I came here to India, I really wanted to make my mark in this series,” Smith said.

“Tonight I was looking to bat all the way through and take the team to victory.

Someone needed to bat to the end and see the game home but unfortunately I wasn’t able to complete the job. We came close tonight and victory, would have made it 2-0, so as a team we are disappointed. We have to give India credit. They

bowled well and stuck to their plans.

“We know where we went wrong. We know we didn’t bat as well as we should have. But it’s 1-1 now in the series with three more matches to go. We are still well and truly in this series. We will look to come back and win the series. We have what it takes to win.”

Smith was the second highest run-scorer in IPL 2014 and has been in good touch in Twenty20 cricket, aiding Barbados Tridents in their CPL title triumph. His ODI form since his return to the team in February, however, has been inconsistent: he managed just one fifty, against Ireland, in the

four games preceding this series and had missed the limited-overs legs of the series against New Zealand and Bangladesh. Smith, though, said he backed his technique to come good on a two-paced Feroz Shah Kotla track.

“I went to the nets and changed a few things for this pitch. I have played here close to 10 times so I know how this pitch plays. It’s not a bad pitch but you have to be watchful and know your scoring areas,” Smith said. “You have to really settle yourself and pace your innings on this pitch. You have to look to get on the front foot and back your technique.” (Cricinfo)

Dwayne Smith is yet to record an ODI hundred

The taste of gold! Michael Anthony savours the moment after winning Sunday’s ‘Ounce of Gold’ race

The top performers strike a pose for Guyana Times’ Carl Croker at the conclusion of the Kadir Mohamed memorial cycle race

Sri Lanka A v West Indies A, Hambantota, 2nd day…

Seekkuge Prasanna wrecks West Indies A

Off-spinner Shane Shillingford’s fivewicket haul to rein in Sri Lanka A after the hosts had made a tremendous start was overshadowed by legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna’s performance that wrecked West Indies

A’s first innings. Prasanna took 5-24 in only 15 oversseven of those were maidens - to leave the visitors facing the prospect of a huge deficit.

The West Indies A openers added 44 before the collapse began and they lost

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka A 1st innings

WU Tharanga* c †Walton

b Gabriel 4

FDM Karunaratne c †Walton

b CR Brathwaite 139

HDRL Thirimanne lbw

b Gabriel 3

LD Chandimal c &

b Shillingford 87

J Mubarak st †Walton

b Miller 25

N Dickwella† c CR Brathwaite

b Shillingford 17

SMA Priyanjan c Miller

b Shillingford 0

S Prasanna lbw

b Shillingford 11

RMS Eranga lbw b Miller 3

PLS Gamage not out 12

MVT Fernando lbw

b Shillingford 16

Extras: (b-2, lb-2, w-1, nb-1) 6

Total (all out; 140.5 overs) 413

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Tharanga, 4.3 ov), 2-223 (Karunaratne, 78.4 ov), 3-294 (Thirimanne, 100.1 ov), 4-345 (Chandimal, 116.2 ov), 5-371 (Dickwella, 126.2 ov), 6-371 (Priyanjan, 126.5 ov), 7-371 (Mubarak, 127.2 ov), 8-377 (Eranga, 131.5 ov), 9-385 (Prasanna, 134.2 ov), 10-413 (Fernando, 140.5 ov)

Bowling: ST Gabriel 15-5-432, SS Cottrell 13-0-46-0 (1-w),

CR Brathwaite 23-3-53-1, AB Fudadin 4-3-2-0, S Shillingford 44.5-6-160-5 (1-nb), NO Miller 35-9-87-2, J Blackwood 5-118-0, ADS Fletcher 1-1-0-0 West Indies A 1st innings KC Brathwaite lbw b Prasanna 24 AB Fudadin st †Dickwella b Prasanna 32 KA Edwards b Prasanna 13 J Blackwood c Tharanga b Fernando 5

ADS Fletcher st †Dickwella b Prasanna 8 CAK Walton† not out 10

CR Brathwaite* lbw b Prasanna 0 S Shillingford b Priyanjan 2 NO Miller not out 0 Extras (b-2) 2

Total (7 wickets; 39 overs) 96

Fall of wickets: 1-44 (KC Brathwaite, 12.4 ov), 2-65 (Fudadin, 18.2 ov), 3-70 (Blackwood, 21.1 ov), 4-74 (Edwards, 26.6 ov), 5-83 (Fletcher, 28.3 ov), 6-89 (CR Brathwaite, 30.2 ov), 7-96 (Shillingford, 37.6 ov) Bowling: RMS Eranga 103-38-0, PLS Gamage 5-014-0, S Prasanna 15-7-245, MVT Fernando 7-3-17-1, SMA Priyanjan 2-1-1-1

Assad Fudadin’s 32 has been the topscore so far for West Indies A

seven wickets for 52 runs. Vishwa Fernando and Ashan Priyanjan took a wicket each. Opener Assad Fudadin’s 32 was the top score for the visitors.

Sri Lanka A had also collapsed earlier in the day, after resuming on 261-2 overnight. They lost Lahiru Thirimanne early for 93, and it was left to Dinesh

Chandimal, who made 87, to hold the innings together. Jehan Mubarak was the only one of the remaining batsmen to pass 20 as Shillingford ran through the middle and lower order.

Sri Lanka A slipped from 345-3 to 413 all out, a collapse that included a clutch of four wickets for six runs. (Cricinfo)

Federer beats Simon to win Shanghai Masters

Roger Federer won his first Shanghai Masters title with a straight sets victory over Gilles Simon in China.

The Swiss world number three let out a huge roar after unseeded Frenchman Simon hit a forehand into the net to give him a 7-6 (86) 7-6 (7-2) victory.

“To win the biggest tournament in Asia is a treat,” said Federer, who was beaten in the 2010 final by Britain’s Andy Murray.

Federer, 33, won the opening set with his only backhand winner down the line. Simon led 6-5 in the second set and had two set points, but two unforced errors allowed Federer a way back and the 17-time Grand Slam winner took advantage.

“I got lucky to come through the first round after saving five match points. It’s been a dream week,” added Federer.

For 29-year-old Simon, who went off court for a medical time-out after the first set, it was a second defeat in a Masters final, having lost in Madrid to Murray in 2008.

He matched Federer for much of the match from the baseline, but the Swiss dominated when he came to the net, winning 24 of 35 points. In both tie-breaks Federer played aggressively and he set up four champion-

ship points with a blistering cross-court forehand return.

Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka, 29, has become the fourth player to qualify for the end-of-season ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Wawrinka reached the semi-finals on his debut in the eight-man tournament last year.

Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer

KP has tarnished golden era – Cook

Alastair Cook said Kevin Pietersen's revelations have tarnished the most successful era in English cricket and dismissed claims that there was a bullying culture inside the dressing room.

Speaking for the first time about Pietersen's allegations, Cook told the BBC: "It's been a really sad week for cricket. After talking to quite a few of my teammates on the England team, we have to draw a line under it at some stage and this is a good time to do that.

"I am very proud of that era I have played in; to win three Ashes, to become the best side in the world; to play with some great players. I really only have fond memories of it.

"I am incredibly proud to have contributed in that period. To play under Andrew Strauss, to have played under Andy Flower as coach, I have only got respect for these guys. I do believe that era has been tarnished, and I am sad about that.

are the other three to have already qualified for the event at the O2 Arena from November 9-16.

Kei Nishikori, US Open winner Marin Cilic, Tomas Berdych and Milos Raonic occupy the remaining four places in the standings, although David Ferrer, Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov have chances to qualify with three weeks remaining for players to accumulate points. (BBC Sport)

"I have known Andy since the Essex dressing room, when he took me under his wing as a player. Obviously, your relationship changes as a head coach and captain and I only have respect for him as a man, and as a coach. He was an amazing coach for our side.

Chatting to some of the guys about it, they feel the same. A lot of the success was down to his drive and determination to make us a

tough England side." In his autobiography published this week Pietersen claimed a bullying culture existed led by coach Andy Flower - something Cook simply does not recognise.

"International cricket is a tough place and, as a team, you're striving for excellence at all times. Certainly at some stages those frustrations boiled over more than they should have done, but that was only people who were desperate to succeed and wanting to know the other 10 blokes around them were committed 100% to it also.

"Did it overstep the mark a couple of times? Possibly, but we addressed those issues. That's what happens in teams, but it certainly wasn't a bullying environment as such."

Pietersen was most critical of wicketkeeper Matt Prior, describing him as "backstabbing" and "bad for the environment" of the England team. Cook was shocked at such suggestions.

"It's sad that he could be remembered like that. He's put everything in to that England shirt and can be incredibly proud.

"Matty is a great man and has been a fantastic servant to English cricket," he said. "He has to be remembered as a guy who put his heart and soul on the line for England. The team was all that mattered to him."

(Cricinfo)

Alastair Cook was saddened by Kevin Pietersen's comments

Victory moves Roger Federer up to second in the world rankings, behind Novak Djokovic

Shalom Enterprise Driving School, Lot 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. Obtain an International Driver’s Permit that covers 123 countries. Call 227-3869 or Like us on Facebook.

Used imported from USA office furniture in excellent condition; secretary, executive & office chairs, 2,3 &4 draws metal filing cabinets, Panasonic copier-fax, scanner and printer in one. Call: 623-3183, 625-5353, 227-1135. 1 Yamaha power generator. 7125 RUNNING WATTS - $299,000. 1 Haier

65000. 1 MAYTAG 2000 SERIES DRYER (COMMERCIAL SERIES -

231-5930.

Caskets for sale, can also be done through orders. Call: 609-8964 One tractor and trailer (175 Massey Ferguson). Call 255-0343.

Healthworld Holistic Centre offers clinical psychotherapy for suicidal thoughts, attempted suicides, depression, stress, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, homicidal thoughts, hallucinations, loneliness, conflicts, anger management, relationship & sexual problems, paranoia and much more. Call +592-621-0552 and make that appointment now before it’s too late. 12:00-6:00PM. Mondays-Fridays. Email: healthworldhc@gmail.com

immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc. Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates. Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca

32 Acres of transported land located at Lot 5 Plantation Content, Mahaicony, ECD; from the public road to sea shore. This property is ideal for residence, business, aquaculture, agriculture, etc. Price: $175,000(USD) or best offer. For more information or to make an offer please call Pooran at 813-319-4219 (Florida, USA) or email rpooran@tampabay.rr.com

YELLOW PAGES

Parfaite Harmonie( 100ft x 50ft)

$2.6M, Eccles(100ft x 50ft) $4.5M, Providence $4M & Herstelling $4M. Call 675-7292, 218-5591.

One furnished house at Lamaha Gardens suitable for office and residence in immaculate condition

US$2,500, 2 modern apartments

-3 bedrooms each at Campbellville US$1,300, grey flask mercury for sale 99.9999%purity. Contact office on 219-4533 between 08:00-17:00h. Apartment in Central Georgetown, Fully Furnished, A/C Hot and Cold System. Contact Mr Joe Ishmael, Office: 227-1964, Cell: 667-9129 In Lamaha Street, can be used as office or Storage space. Contact Mr Joe Ishmael, Office: 227-1964, Cell: 667-9129

VacaNcIeS

A fast growing distribution company is seeking a canter driver. Valid police clearance required. For more information and interview, call 2318344/223-1034/223-1035

Hamilton wins Russian GP ahead of Rosberg

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton dominated the Russian Grand Prix to take his ninth win of the year, his fourth in a row and extend his championship lead.

Hamilton with the winners’ trophy and Mercedes executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe with that for winning constructor.

own fastest lap to prove he was in total control.

One house with 5 bedrooms, (2 large, 1 small, 1 master and 1 guest), Laundry room with half bath, kitchen with island, living room, dining area, gym, storage/freezer room, generator room with exhaust, two storage

Eccles: two flat executive concrete house; three bedrooms upper, two bedrooms lower (separate flats). Price negotiable. Tel: 602-2135 Windsor Forest 2 storey, concrete building $27M. Phoenix Park (90ft x 47ft) land $3.5M. Call: 675-7292, 2185591

JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; TOYOTA HIACE MINIBUS RZ; PITBULL-STYLE FREEZER VAN; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRACAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER; 3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

4x4 Nissan Titan fully powered Immaculate condition $3.5M. No reasonable offer refused. 622-7740

One PPP series Mazda Axela in excellent condition and one white 2007 unregistered BMW, Price negotiable. Call 679-5842.

One Toyota Allion (white) in excellent condition fully equipped with rims, DVD/CD player, TV, remote, alarm. Call: 629-6202.

669-9342

Dutch spiritual healing in removing evil spirit; bad luck; evil sickness; spells; re- uniting lovers and prosperity to busi- ness etc, Call 612-6417, 220-0708, 687-5633. Cleansing of spiritual problems of all kinds. Powerful Ifá protection against evil. Get help to overcome problems with love, relationships, legal, sexual, pregnancy, business, sickness, jobs, enemies, work, money. Call 592-6901824 from 10:00-16:00h Email:anewlife@live.com

HEPHZIBAH MINISTRIES. 24hrs miracle line 322-5081/337-4510/3374259/337-4021/337-3070/337-5103

For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues. Call now. Jesus cares.

Suriname’s Astrology, Palmist and Hindustani Spiritual Healer, solve all purpose problems, 100% confidential guaranteed. Phone: 679-4672

Harmonie, Schoonord, Eccles, Herstelling & Providence. Call 675-7292, 218-5591.

Hamilton’s team-mate Nico Rosberg fought back following a first-lap error to take second place, sealing the constructors’ title for Mercedes.

Rosberg trails Hamilton by 17 points with three races remaining and a maximum of 100 points available.

Hamilton equalled Nigel Mansell’s record for most wins by a Briton - 31.

The race was overshadowed by the sport’s concern for Marussia driver Jules Bianchi, who is in a critical condition after a crash during the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend.

There was a tribute to the 25-year-old Frenchman on the grid from both his team and the other drivers.

Marussia decided to run only one car in the race, leaving Bianchi’s fully prepared but on stands in the garage.

Putin attends race

The race was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was instrumental in realising F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone’s 30year desire to have a grand prix in Russia.

Russia is paying a reputed $50m a year for the race, believed to be the the largest hosting fee of any grand prix.

Unusually, Ecclestone stayed until the end of the race, sitting with Putin in the hospitality grandstand.

Putin then joined the drivers in the pre-podium room and on the podium, where he presented

Hamilton had looked the superior of the drivers in the dominant Mercedes team throughout the weekend.

“Nico did a great job to recover,” he said. “The car was performing really well. It’s history for us. I feel very proud to be a part of it. To get the first constructors’ championship for MercedesBenz is a wonderful day.”

The only time Hamilton looked briefly vulnerable was when Rosberg pulled alongside him into the first proper corner, Turn Two.

But the German braked too late, badly locking up both front wheels and taking to the escape road.

Rosberg held on in front, but was immediately told to hand the place back to Hamilton because he had broken the rules by gaining advantage through going off the track, but replied saying he would have to pit immediately to changed his tyres.

He rejoined on the harder ‘medium’ tyre and proceeded to drive a measured race.

Rejoining at the back, Rosberg picked his way through the backmarkers and emerged in third place, right behind Valtteri Bottas, after the leading cars made their pit stops.

Rosberg then dived inside Bottas into Turn Two to move into second, and despite Williams’s initial belief that Rosberg would run into tyre trouble, he was able to hang on without trouble to the end.

Rosberg, nearly 20 seconds behind Hamilton, put in a couple of quick laps to briefly close the gap a little, before Hamilton posted his

His ninth win of the year means Rosberg, who has won four, can now not match his team-mate for victories in the remaining races.

Wide open

But the championship fight is still wide open, helped by the award of double points in the final race of Abu Dhabi.

No matter what happens in the next race in America, Hamilton is mathematically unable to win the title until at least the Brazilian Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the season.

The title battle is now essentially down to the two Mercedes drivers as Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, in third place, is 92 points adrift of Hamilton.

Williams’s Bottas was third in Sochi ahead of McLaren’s Jenson Button.

The Englishman had been in a battle with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, but the Spaniard dropped back behind the second McLaren of Kevin Magnussen with a slow pit stop.

Alonso fended off a challenge from Ricciardo in the later stages of the race to take sixth.

Bottas was unable to match the Mercedes but was out of reach of the McLarens, with Button again proving a more able race driver than Magnussen.

Behind Alonso and Ricciardo, the second Red Bull of Ferrari-bound Sebastian Vettel was eighth, ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Force India’s Sergio Perez.

Russian Daniil Kvyat, who qualified an impressive fifth, had a scrappy race and fell back to 14th at the finish. (BBC Sport)

Portugal Masters: Alexander Levy wins rain-shortened event

France's Alexander Levy won the Portugal Masters as the event was reduced to 36 holes by persistent rain. The tournament had already been cut to 54 holes after rain on Thursday and Friday meant many players did not start their second rounds until the weekend.

Levy, who was leading on 18 under after round two,

had played one hole of round three when rain returned and organisers decided 36hole scores would stand.

It is the 24-year-old's second European Tour win, after April's China Open.

"If at the start of the year you say to me, 'You are going to win two tournaments', I would say 'never'," Levy told Sky Sports.

"It's a very nice feeling

to me. I'm very happy."

Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who parred the first alongside Levy, finished second, three shots adrift on 15 under with Chile's Felipe Aguilar two further back.

Europe's victorious Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley was one of only four players to complete the final round. (BBC Sport)

SerVIceS

Lewis Hamilton matched his four-race winning streak he achieved earlier in the season

Hand-in-Hand continues investment in young cyclists

Hand-in-Hand Insurance has been one of the longserving sponsors of cycling in Guyana, hosting an 11race programme at the inner circuit of the National Park for the past decade.

Apart from providing an opportunity for riders of all ages to exhibit their skills and expend their energies, the company has been quietly working to improve the well-being of young cyclists who are now entering the sport.

On Saturday last, the

company continued its proud tradition of providing brand new BMX cycles to the three most promising cyclists of the day, a practice it initiated since the inaugural sponsorship in 2005.

The beneficiaries this year are Nicholas D’Andrade, Esau Jaisingh and Jeremiah Harrison. These riders were identified as having great potential by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, who has been overseeing the country’s nursery programme

since 1977 when the ‘Teach Them Young’ camp was conceptualised.

The trio expressed gratitude for the kind gesture by Hand-in-Hand Insurance, noting that they will put the bikes to good use, as they seek to dominate their respective categories and ultimately move up the ranks.

Mohamed commended the company for once again providing the cycles, adding that their input in cycling has been significant over the years. (Avenash Ramzan)

No changes to 2015 Nations Cup, despite Ebola outbreak

The organiser of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations says there are no changes to the dates or schedule, despite a request from hosts Morocco to postpone.

Morocco’s government has written to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to delay the January 17 to February 8 event because of the Ebola outbreak.

Caf said it will discuss the request at the next meeting of its executive committee on November 2.

And its president Issa Hayatou will meet Moroccan officials the next day.

More than 4,000 people have died in the Ebola epidemic that broke out in West Africa at the start of the year.

The Morocco Health Ministry made its plea on Friday in the wake of its de-

cision “to avoid events which involve those countries affected by the Ebola virus.”

On Saturday, Caf responded in a statement that read: “Caf has registered the request and wishes to state that there are no changes of the schedules of its competitions and events.

“It must be noted that since the first edition in 1957, the Africa Cup of Nations has never witnessed a deferral or a change in schedule.

“Caf has also been cautious since the commencement of the final round qualifiers of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations on the health risks posed by the Ebola virus and has consistently applied precautionary principles, taking into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization and various medical experts.”

In July, Seychelles cancelled and forfeited their Nations Cup qualifier home match against Sierra Leone because of fears over the Ebola virus.

And Caf has placed an indefinite ban on Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guineathe countries worst affected by the Ebola outbreak - from hosting matches in their own countries.

Sierra Leone and Guinea, the two nations involved in Nations Cup qualifying, have since played their ‘home’ matches in DR Congo and Morocco respectively.

For the upcoming doubleheaders, played this weekend and next Wednesday, Sierra Leone will play Cameroon twice in Yaounde while Guinea will host Ghana in Casablanca before travelling to Tamale for the away fixture.

England edge to win over Estonia

England laboured to victory over Estonia in Tallinn as Wayne Rooney's late free-kick made it three wins out of three in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Rooney curled his shot in from just outside the area 17 minutes from the end of a mediocre encounter to give England's captain his 43rd goal for his country - six behind all-time record holder Sir Bobby Charlton.

It rescued England as they struggled to break down the stubborn Estonians, who stood firm even after captain Ragnar Klavan had been sent off for a second yellow card three minutes into the second half.

And it spared manager Roy Hodgson some awkward questions over the omission of Raheem Sterling after Liverpool's teenager admitted he was tired following the 5-0 win against San Marino at Wembley.

England monopolised possession but the lack of end product was alarming against opponents who were dogged but hardly an upgrade into the European elite after the stroll against San Marino on Thursday.

Rooney's winner, a rare touch

of class, also lifted his own performance after the 28-year-old struggled to apply his usual high standards. Indeed he was in danger of being replaced by Rickie Lambert just before his decisive contribution.

The Manchester United captain had opportunities before and after his goal to move closer to history but his display was in keeping with England's nightlargely frustrating and salvaged only by a single moment.

Hodgson used the diamond formation, as he had in the opening 2-0 win against Switzerland in Basel, but whereas there - with Sterling at its point - it looked effective, here it left England lacking in pace, creation and width. It was only when Arsenal's Alex OxladeChamberlain and the Liverpool youngster were introduced that England looked like getting behind the hosts. They can justifiably point to

a job done, and nine points out of nine, but this largely uninspired fare did little to warm fans who turned out in plummeting temperatures in Tallinn.

There should be few obstacles in England's way on the route to Euro 2016 - the possibility of 10 wins remains a strong one - but it is to be hoped the level of excitement is greater than that witnessed here in a group not exactly sprinkled with stardust.

After a minor scare in the opening seconds, England dominated the first period to such an extent that one point they enjoyed an 82% share of possession - the more telling statistic was that they did not muster a shot on target until the dying moments of the half.

This had much to do with Rooney's failure to accept chances, volleying over from Jack Wilshere's pass and showing an uncharacteristic lack of control and sharpness in the area when given other opportunities.

The visitors were looking for any advantage they could get and one arrived three minutes into the second half when Klavan departed after a cynical barge on Fabian Delph.

Hodgson made two changes in quick succession just after the hour as Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sterling replaced Delph and Jordan Henderson.

And Sterling was involved as England finally broke Estonia down after 73 minutes. He was fouled on the angle of the penalty area and Rooney weighed his options up carefully before curling in a low, right-foot effort from the set-piece. (BBC Sport)

The three recipients display their bikes in the presence of national coach Hassan Mohamed and representatives of Hand-in-Hand Insurance. From left are Jeremiah Harrison, Nicholas D’Andrade and Esau Jaisingh (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

A Sierra Leone football fan with an anti-Ebola placard

Wayne Rooney goes close for England in the first half with a volley

DeNobrega cautiously optimistic about 5-Stage

By Avenash Ramzan

Team Alanis’ Paul DeNobrega is cautiously optimistic about his chances this week when the eighth annual ‘Ride for Life’ Five-Stage is staged on the country’s roadways. Guyana’s premier cycling event pedals off on Thursday in Berbice and will conclude on Sunday in Georgetown, spanning all three counties and over 200 miles.

DeNobrega, during an exclusive interview on Sunday, said he has been putting in the hardwork over the past weeks under the watchful eyes of longtime coach Wayne Henry.

Henry, a former national cyclist, who now resides in Canada, arrived in Guyana three weeks ago to boost DeNobrega’s preparations for the ‘Ounce of Gold’ race, which was held on Sunday, the upcoming Five-Stage and the Digicel’s Breast Cancer event.

“I’m getting there slowly. Obviously I want to do well, but it will be strong field of riders, so I’m hoping for the best. I’ve been doing some work with the coach and I’m seeing some improvements,” DeNobrega said.

During Sunday’s race, DeNobrega, last year’s champion of the ‘Ounce of Gold’ race, finished third, seconds behind winner Michael Anthony and runner-up Ruben Companioni

of Team Coco’s. Despite not coming out victorious, the former Team Coco’s rider was satisfied to finish among the top three, which included Companioni, a professional rider.

Coach Henry pointed out that while he has identified some weaknesses, he has seen lots of strengths and he will try to fine tune certain aspects of DeNobrega’s

game before the start of the Five-Stage.

While praising DeNobrega’s strength as a rider, Henry highlighted that the major concern is getting his protégé to utilise the correct gear to sustain a long sprint.

Meanwhile, commenting on Team Alanis’ chances as the Five-Stage, DeNobrega posited that it is quite a

young team, mostly of up and coming riders, but he is positive the riders will give a good account of themselves during the four-day race.

This will be the Lucozade sponsored Team Alanis’ first appearance at the event. DeNobrega’s best performance at the Five-Stage was in 2012 when he copped the Junior title and finished second in the Senior category to Team Coco’s Jaime Ramirez.

Race route

After cyclists and officials travel to the Ancient County on Wednesday, the opening stage will be held the following day from Corriverton to New Amsterdam (46.6 miles) from 07:30 hours; while Stage Two will be on the same day from Rosignol to Georgetown (60.4 miles) from 14:00 hours.

Stage Three will take place on Friday from Wales to Parika (35 miles) from 09:00 hours, while the penultimate stage will be contested from 07:30 hours on Saturday from Supenaam to Suddie, covering a distance of 62 miles. The fifth and final stage will commence in Linden at 08:30 hours and finish in Georgetown on Sunday, covering a distance of 62 miles.

As was the case in previous years, the event will be held with the objectives of increasing awareness and

Wins for Grove, Agricola and Diamond

Grove Hi Tech maintained their hold on the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport (MCY&S)/East Bank Football Association’s (EBFA) Under-13 League when they edged Herstelling Raiders 1-0 at the Farm ground on Saturday.

It was predicted that the game would have been a keen contest and that’s how it unfolded. In the day’s other encounter, Agricola Red Triangle led by a double from Michael English, recorded their first points, owing to a 6-0 triumph against the Linden Soesdyke Highway based Kuru Kururu Warriors.

Diamond also got onto the points sheet via the walkover route since Soesdyke Falcons failed to put in an appearance.

The Grove/Herstelling showdown produced some exciting action with both sides taking on each other in end to end play. The first 30 minutes failed to produce any goals. Grove would take the lead four minutes into the second half compliments of a Kevin Padmore goal.

As it turned out, that

was the goal that made the difference between the two teams. The result kept Grove’s unbeaten record intact after three games, while it was the first blemish for the Herstelling side that remains in second place.

Agricola Red Triangle, having conceded their first two games to Grove and Herstelling respectively, ensured that the momentum would change for the better with a compact 6-0 win over Kuru Kururu Warriors.

Leading the young Agricola unit was Michael English, who netted their first two goals. An eighth minute penalty conversion sent them on their way, with English adding his second in the 16th minute.

The Warriors tried their best to contain their opponents, but did not succeed as two more goals were added before the halfway mark.

Kerry Barker in the 27th minute and Tyron Younge in the 28th saw their side

knowledge about HIV/Aids among participants and the general public, and increasing HIV/Aids activism and volunteerism among the participants and inspiring them to become ambassadors in the fight against HIV/Aids.

The deadline for registration is today and those riders interested in participating are advised to contact Mohamed at his office, located in the Help and Shelter building on

Homestretch Avenue, during regular working hours.

Team Coco’s Raynauth Jeffrey is the defending champion of the Open category, having won last year’s event in a time of 10 hours, 05 minutes, 33 seconds. Hamzah Eastman was the leading Junior rider with a time of 10 hours, 09 minutes, 56 seconds, while Raymond Newton was the top Veteran in a time of 10 hours, 09 minutes, 57 seconds.

ICC signs eightyear rights deal with Star

The ICC has jointly awarded audiovisual rights for its events to Star India and Star Middle East, wholly owned subsidiaries of 21st Century Fox Inc., for the period between 2015 and 2023. While the value of the bid was not disclosed the ICC said “it is significantly in excess of the ICC’s previous commercial deals.”

In 2006, it was reported that the ICC rights for 2007-2015 were sold to ESPN-Star for $1.1 billion.

take a 4-0 advantage at the break.

Kuru Kururu improved their level of play in the second half and came close to scoring on a few occasions.

Andre Hinds made it 5-0 for Agricola in the 45th minute, while Keron Narine, a skillful left footed player, sealed the deal from the penalty spot in the 55th minute with a powerful left foot shot.

Matches will continue on Saturday at the same venue.

The upcoming eightyear period contains 18 ICC tournaments, which include two World Cups in 2019 and 2023, two Champions Trophies in 2017 and 2021, and two World Twenty20s in 2016 and 2020. The deal does not include host broadcast production rights, which the ICC said it has “decided to reserve along with a host of other rights.”

“The decision followed a robust tender, bidding and evaluation process, which started in July 2014,” the

ICC said. “During the process, which involved two rounds of bidding, the ICC received 17 competitive bids from various broadcasters across different territories for its audio-visual rights.”

Commenting on the decision ICC Chairman N Srinivasan said: “This commitment for the next eight years will ensure greater stability for ICC Members as well as increased funding for developing and established countries. Emerging nations will have access to the largest funding resource in the history of the game and the Board has fully endorsed this framework as the best means of safeguarding the future of the sport.”

Flashback! Paul DeNobrega with his trophies won during the Five-Stage in 2012

Paul DeNobrega and his coach Wayne Henry

Agricola’s Keron Narine scores from the penalty spot against Kuru Kururu Warriors

Anthony wins ‘Ounce of Gold’ race

– makes clean sweep of Open and Junior categories

The third ODI between India and West Indies on Tuesday in Visakhapatnam has already been abandoned because of a cyclone on the country’s east coast. The game will not be rescheduled and the series is now a four-match contest.

The Indian Meteorological Department had issued warnings about Cyclone Hudhud at least three days in advance, but the BCCI decided against moving the game out of Visakhapatnam, a port city where the cyclone made landfall on Sunday. A BCCI source said it would have been logistically difficult to move the match to another venue in two days time.

With flight services to and from Visakhapatnam suspended, both teams remained in Delhi, where they had played the second ODI

on October 11. It is understood the managements of both teams have been advised to be prepared to travel to Dharamsala for the fourth ODI. BCCI joint sec-

retary Anurag Thakur, who is also the president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, the governing body of the Dharamsala stadium, said it was yet to be

decided whether the teams will travel to Dharamsala on Tuesday or Wednesday.

“Due to extreme weather conditions, the BCCI has had to cancel the [third] ODI. It is disappointing but we cannot overcome natural calamities,” Thakur told ESPNcricinfo. “Even though the host association was hopeful of staging the match if weather cleared, the BCCI didn’t want to take any risk.”

This is the second time in the last five years that a cyclone has washed out an ODI in India. The seventh match of Australia’s tour in 2009-10, to be held in Mumbai, was abandoned because of Cyclone Phyan off India’s west coast.

The series is level 1-1 after India won the second ODI against West Indies in Delhi.

Michael Anthony crosses the finish line ahead of Ruben Companioni and last year’s champion Paul DeNobrega

The ground in Visakhapatnam under covers in preparation for the storm