Guyana Times Daily

GGMC to ensure miners fulfil social responsibility

Concerted efforts are being made to ensure that new and continuing mining investors honour their socio-corporate responsibility with the aim of fast tracking development in key districts, Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Clinton Williams has said.

He explained that in the past discussions were held with foreign companies on their corporate social responsibility, but these discussions were vague, resulting in projects being done “here and there”.

However, the GGMC is now taking the necessary steps to clearly outline the social responsibility of new and continuing mining companies before signing agreements. “We are asking for definitive quantitative deliverables,” Williams said.

Systems

He said strict systems will be instituted to ensure that communities particularly in the six mining districts benefit from developments in the long run in areas such as agriculture and tourism. Williams was speaking at the 2014 Mining Week Opening Ceremony held at Gravity Lounge, Georgetown on Monday.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud said

despite challenging circumstances, Guyana’s mining industry has become more resilient.

He said the Gold Mining Sector in particular continues to attract greater interest from Guyanese and foreign investors who remain optimistic despite a drop in gold prices. “This reflects the growing confidence,” he told the scores of diplomats, officials and Private Sector members who were in attendance. References were made to the recent mining auctions and lotteries.

Earlier in this month, there were two days of auctions held at the Guyana Girl Guides Association, Georgetown where approximately 1000 mining blocks went to auction. Additionally, lotteries were held within the six mining districts.

Despite the sector’s ability to overcome the current challenges, the Natural Resources Minister said there is a “calculated and deliberate effort” to misrepresent development within Guyana. He said local companies often enter into arrangements with foreign companies to develop natural resources, but these arrangements are now being misrepresented.

In a quest to prove his case, he challenged critics to provide evidence against the Government which would prove that it has breached the laws of the country or sold out the rights of Guyanese. “We will stand firmly on the side of development where transparency, accountability and integrity are the hallmarks.”

He urged miners to guard themselves against these attacks.

No reported case of Chikungunya in Essequibo – Health Officer

Region Two Health Officer Allison Brown, has confirmed that there is no reported case of the Chikungunya virus in hospitals along the Essequibo Coast.

Another section of the media recently reported that new suspected cases of the virus had surfaced in Aurora, Essequibo. But Brown told Guyana Times that records from health centres and hospitals across the region have shown that no one has been diagnosed with the virus.

Brown said however, health professionals from the various hospitals and health centres continue to be alert. She said that persons visiting the hospital have been diagnosed with other mosquito related diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. It can cause high fever, join and muscle pain, and headaches.

Chikungunya does not often result in death, but the joint pain may last for months or years and may become a cause of chronic pain and disability.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for Chikungunya infection, nor any vaccine to prevent it. Pending the development of a new vaccine, the only effective means of prevention is to protect individuals against mosquito bites.

Doctor Suresh Seurattan from the Suddie Public Hospital told Guyana Times that no one has been diagnosed. He said however, when he is examining a patient’s condition for the first time he usually asks if they travelled outside of the Essequibo Coast.

Seurattan said that many persons were treated for diarrhoea, coughing and simple cold viruses but none was tested positive for Chickungunya.

He however called on persons to clean their environment, ensuring that there are no favourable places for the breeding of the Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes. Persons were asked to continue to clean their drains, clear bushes as well as spray

their yards regularly.

Only last week, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud confirmed that Guyana has recorded a total of 76 cases of the Chikungunya disease from approximately 250 samples that were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago. The disease is not associated with high fatality, as overall, there have been only three Chikungunya-related deaths recorded in the Caribbean.

The CMO said that based on reports coming from health facilities across the country, there are 580 suspected cases.

However, there may be milder forms of the disease in some areas. Some of the samples sent to CARPHA are still to be tested (the laboratory conducts testing for other Caribbean countries as well).

Cases

The situation in Guyana in terms of the disease is not much different from Caricom jurisdictions. There are currently 921 confirmed cases in the entire Region; however, in some countries the number of cases is not as high as others.

While the prevalence of Chikungunya has been more pronounced in Regions Six and Five and to some extent Four, there have been three reported cases in Region 10, but are associated with travelling, not active transmission.

Dr Persaud explained that the Aedes Aegypti mosquito is commonly found in many homes. Water collected in containers, old tyres

and other vessels provides the perfect breeding ground for these mosquitoes.

The CMO said that even though fogging and more general environmental controls are necessary, a lot more precautionary measures can and should be taken at the household level.

“We feel that a lot can be done at the household level… from the inspections carried out, we have noted that there are several common breeding grounds around the homes where even fogging would not impact effectively,” he said.

Community

The CMO also called for greater community involvement and understanding of the virus and how it can be prevented. Vector control personnel in Georgetown have been going around in communities where Chikungunya and dengue have been identified to conduct yard inspections and distributing “abate”. This larvicide is placed in water to prevent the growth of larvae and ultimately the multiplication of mosquitoes.

However, there have been reports of cases where people throw out the treated water before the larvicidal agent would have had enough time to work and kill the larvae before they develop into adult mosquitoes.

The Health Ministry is urging residents to keep their surroundings clean to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Wearing protective clothing and using repellents and mosquito nets are also effective measures.

GGMC Chairman Clinton Williams

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

BRIDGE OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

High Tide: 05:22h and 17:37h reaching maximum heights of 6.69 metres and 2.67 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:14h and 23:29h reaching minimum heights of 0.55 metre and 0.52 metre respectively.

Small DEA team helping CANU in narco-sub probe

By Vahnu Manikchand

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been playing a supporting role to the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) in investigating the discovery of a submersible vessel in Region One two weeks ago.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, local US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt said that the DEA has been playing a supporting role to CANU after Government had requested its assistance in the investigations.

“The Government of Guyana asked us to as-

sist them technically with some of the forensics involved in the investigations. They asked for advice on the best way to handle securing and moving of the vessel so we have provided them with our best technical advice and our technical experts who have been working alongside the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit,” he disclosed.

The US Embassy official disclosed that there are a small number of DEA offi-

cials involved in the investigations.

He noted that their participation in the probe varies every day, depending on the level and type of expertise needed at the site.

DEA officers from the regional offices, the Caribbean and the US comprise the small team assisting with the investigations. Asked whether DEA intelligence so far has shown links to any drug cartels, Hunt noted that it was too early in the investigations to determine this; however, based upon the DEA’s professional assessment thus far, the vessel was intended for the movement of narcotics.

Early days yet

“It’s very early days yet in the investigations to speculate as to which particular entity, what particular people, what particular links but the purpose of the investigation and the purpose of our cooperation with the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit is to assist them in being able to determine all of that and I’m sure when CANU has made that determination, they will be more than happy to share the results of their investigation,” the US official stated.

According to the Charge d’Affaires, anti-narcotics agencies around the world have made many such discoveries of semi-submersi-

ble vessels, including those in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Hunt explained that the DEA has been involved in some of those discoveries. He went on to say that using the knowledge gained, the DEA will try to assist CANU with comparing the vessel found with other known models and types previously discovered in order to determine the similarities and differences so that they can identify the owners.

Further questioned on whether the comparison process has begun, the US Embassy Charge d’Affaires reiterated that it was too early in the investigations to do this.

“This is the sort of things that doesn’t take days, it takes weeks, sometimes months to build a full picture, so we are at the very early days with CANU, but I can tell you they are making reasonably good progress, they’re gathering the data they need,” Hunt pointed out.

Hunt told this newspaper that the DEA has a vested interest in drug operations around the world and is particularly concerned about the numerous trafficking cases arising out of Guyana.

“I think the fact that we have had a number of seizures recently at the airports here, at the airports in

New York off of flights that are coming from Guyana, the fact that we have had a couple of vessels that were seized that were coming from Guyana that had narcotics, is a cause for concern.

Expertise

It is a cause for concern not just for the DEA but also for CANU and your Government, that is why they have asked for DEA’s assistance in this particular investigations to make sure that they had all of the very best technical expertise so that they can identify exactly who this was and what their intentions were and put a stop to it in the future,” the Charge d’Affaires expressed.

Two weeks ago, during a search of one of the creeks branching off from the Waini River, the vessel was discovered about two miles in, along with a camp consisting of three structures –living area, workshop area and generator shed.

The living area had the capacity to sleep approximately 12 persons, complete with kitchen.

The workshop contained pulleys, power tools, paint, and several fibre-glass materials. Based on the items present, it is believed that the vessel found in the creek was built in the area. (vahnum@guyanatimesgy.com)

US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt

The vessel at the entrance of the creek

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

Preparing for Ebola

Chikungunya and more so the Ebola viruses are currently driving fear into people all over the world.

Because there is still no known cure for the Ebola virus in particular, hundreds of persons, mainly from African countries, have lost their lives and thousands more are hospitalised, as a result of contracting the deadly virus.

The current Ebola virus outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013. This outbreak now involves transmission in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Congo. To date, countries have reported almost 2000 cases, including 961 deaths.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ebola is described as a very aggressive disease, whereby symptoms manifest in a matter of days. In the current outbreak, the majority of Ebola virus disease cases are a result of humanto-human transmission and failure to apply appropriate infection prevention and control measures in home care.

It is important to understand that Ebola is not an airborne disease. Individuals may become infected as a result of contact with the bodily fluids (vomit, diarrhoea, sputum, blood, etc) from persons who are confirmed to have the virus or who have died from it.

Just a few days ago, the PAHO/WHO issued a statement urging countries of the Americas to be vigilant and prepared for a potential introduction of the Ebola virus. WHO Director General Margaret Chan has said that the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

The PHEIC determination was made by Chan based on recommendations from WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee, which suggested temporary measures to reduce the international spread of the virus for three different groups of WHO Member States: those with Ebola transmission; those with a potential or confirmed Ebola case, and unaffected States with land borders with affected countries; and all states.

Even though many regional countries have reported cases of the mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus, so far, no country in the Caribbean has made any report of the Ebola virus. However, this is not to say that the Region is safe. Once there is movement of people internationally, especially between affected countries, it is just a matter of time before the inevitable happens.

We have noted the tremendous efforts being made by some countries in the Region to deal with any eventuality of Ebola coming to these shores. For example, the health authorities here (in Guyana) have instituted a number of measures to protect citizens against Chikungunya and Ebola. Officials have been conducting awareness sessions with various personnel at the Cheddi Jagan International airport (CJIA) including port health workers, customs, and immigration and airline staff.

Jamaica has also taken steps to install fever-detecting devices at its ports as part of efforts to boost the country’s defence against Ebola. And Trinidad and Tobago has been one of the first countries in the Region to put systems in place to tackle the issue head-on.

Caribbean leaders cannot afford to wait until a crisis situation develops before it acts. Every effort must be made to protect our citizens from these viruses and to minimise the impact on local economies. For this reason, the call made by Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar for an urgent meeting of regional heads to discuss a coordinated response to the public health threats posed by the Ebola and Chikungunya viruses is indeed one that deserves serious consideration by all Heads of Government.

Such a meeting among regional leaders is necessary as it will feature discussions geared towards devising a plan of action in response to the increasing number of cases of Chikungunya in the Caribbean and the prevention of the Ebola virus disease.

It would also act as a direct response to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) which has been calling for Caricom member states “to adequately prepare for potential cases to implement the necessary steps to protect health care facilities, patients, health care workers and communities”.

any

or

Bynoe should include Bulkan in the public debate

Dear Editor, I am happy that Philip Bynoe, Consultant of the Region 10 Agriculture and Forestry Producers Association, has publicly challenged the Kaieteur News to a public debate on the Bai Shan Lin logging investment.

Bynoe is reported to have issued his challenge to both the Publisher and/ or their best reporters to meet with in a public debate to address the issue of the Chinese investment. My advice to Bynoe is to also include Janet Bulkan in the public debate.

It would be good for Kaieteur News to take up Bynoe’s challenge because

they would be taught the importance of first consulting with direct stakeholders before taking politically contaminated positions, which can negatively affect the direct stakeholders of Guyana in any given situation.

I read the latest report by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) on Guyana’s Forest Protection Partnership with Norway which was released on Monday, August 18.

The report is the outcome document as a result of consultations held in Guyana by the team of consultants who did an evaluation of the partnership between Guyana and Norway.

According to the report, “One of the clear successes of the GuyanaNorway Partnership has been the development of a fully functioning National Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) System.

This achievement is in large part due to the timely development of a roadmap for developing the system, and also the quality of the staff at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GSC).”

This means that Guyana scored many successes in its partnership with Norway and full marks must go to the quality of staff at the GFC for the development and applicability of the MRV System which pro-

Guyana has talent

Dear Editor, August 24 was a heavenly evening of Jazz by SSignal Poductions, in a concert that created splendour and joyful feelings in hearts, in an environment of divine charm and endearment, no other than the Umana Yana, coupled with the multidimensional talents of the performers.

Together, the thrill of music and songs of blessed and talented Guyanese penetrated the hearts of the audience taking them into divine cavorting.

The usual power of voice and persona of Charmaine Blackman penetrated the hearts and earlobes of the guests, with resplendent modulations, which are signature of the regional and world famous singer Charmaine.

The special guest, Deputy Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Per Sizov, in company with his most beautiful wife, the Lady Marya, and the Ambassador of Mexico, Francisco Olguin Uribe, were spellbounded by her personality and talent, and those of all the performers.

Bonny Alves, scriptwriter, singer, musician and movie director also was exceptional in his songs that moved the people to dancing and endearment.

The evergreen and delicious combination of natural sounds and natural voices of the Circle of Love left many in bewilderment, especially those from overseas who never witnessed such singing and tones.

The popular Circle of Love comprises Charles Griffith,

Actor/Singer; Clayton Hinds, John Shepherd and Fenton Park. There were several exceptional singers and instrumentals.

But the audience and special guest clapped, moved, and were in constant ecstasy at the solo music of an amazing Guyanese living overseas, but he is a proud Guyanese, and we are all blessed to have him as an International Ambassador of Goodwill.

The name is Courtney Fadlin of Berbice, the region and country of this writer, and he likes to say all good things come from the East. This gentleman Fadlin moved singularly with one instrument, the entire audience in a repertoire and ecstasy of perpetual joy, that after the show,

vides accurate forest assessments with the use of satellite images since 1994. So it is clear that the Bulkan is simply not required by the GFC in any advisory capacity as suggested by the political Opposition. Finally, I must applaud the GFC under the leadership of James Singh for continually and vigorously debunking the misleading and erroneous information carried by Kaieteur News and Stabroek News about matters pertaining to the forestry sector and Bai Shan Lin.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

even to this time, the ecstasy lingers, and the joy of merely the thought of his power and talent will be embedded in the hearts. Courtney Fadlin is to visit Guyana again in October to perform at the Georgetown Club. Watch out and support Guyanese, please Guyanese.

Guyana has talent, and much of it. The Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry must be noted for their usual support of culture and support of this Jazz Concert by providing the people’s property: the Umana Yana.

Thanks to SSignal Productions for this entertainment. I had a great time.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan

An unidentified man, who calls himself Mangetsu-man (Mr Full Moon), pauses as he cleans Nihonbashi bridge using a broom with a volunteer, while clad in a costume featuring a full moon for a head, in Tokyo August 25, 2014. While most superheroes fight crime, for one such Japanese hero the enemy is garbage and his “super” weapons are a broom, a dust pan and an army of volunteers who have joined his mission. Calling himself Mangetsu-man, he first appeared on the streets of Tokyo last year without

publicity

fanfare and mainly cleans around the city’s Nihonbashi Bridge (Reuters/Issei Kato)

Do not measure your self-worth in dollars

Dear Editor,

“It’s good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy” – George Lorimer.

The striving for wealth by honest and approved methods and not connected with the exploitation, oppression, suffering and degradation of others is a laudable activity. Indeed, just to survive and keep our heads above water, we have to acquire some modicum of wealth in this ubiquitous monetary transactions-oriented, ultra-materialistic culture.

Also, no one can deny that financial security brings a certain level of control and fulfilment in one’s life. Even then, we have to be very careful not to cross that critical line where the pursuit of wealth is no longer a means to some presumably fulfilling end, but where it is the end itself.

Here more than enough is too little and no amount of money can then suffice when money-seeking itself has become obsessive and we end up in a wild goose chase, hunting down that which cannot be captured.

The extremity of this addiction can be seen in the lives of most of the super-rich, who having already amassed incalculable wealth, become cruel, aggressive, merciless, ruthless, and mean-spirited in their exploits to accrue even more wealth.

Just like drug addicts who typically require increasingly more of their chosen drug to get high, these super wealthy require even greater wealth to feel that wealthy high. Their sense of self, happiness and wellbeing is inextricably tied to their wealth.

The world admires them as being enormously successful but their emptiness, insecurity, fear, and sorrow is so deep-seated that secretly they envy the poor because they can never experience the moments of carefree abandon, joy and exuberance that the poor can have.

We are constantly bombarded by so many messag-

es and images, all seeking to have us believe that the doors of happiness will be opened in direct proportion to the material goods we procure and the wealth we amass.

These messages and images must be recognised for what they are; they conceive of happiness purely in monetary terms and, therefore, happiness and money or the insatiable thirst for wealth

any raging turmoil that may be taking place outside.

We are worth infinitely more than the amount in our bank account or the other assets we may have. And even if we have no bank account or no other assets, our worth would not in the least be diminished. Our state of inner wellbeing and happiness must not rise and fall with the fluctuations in our bank balance.

becomes identical.

All the wise teachers from time immemorial have exhorted us that enduring happiness and peace already exist within us. It follows, therefore, that it is accessible (at least potentially) to everyone and at any time. Since it does not exist outside of us, it cannot be pursued or hunted down (like that vintage car, Rolex watch, or Tiffany bracelet).

The extent of our financial assets, our investment portfolio, our physical surroundings, and even the state of our health have very little to do with its attainment. From the broadest and grandest perspective, this inner calmness, harmony, peace and wellbeing is the real wealth that we should pursue with all our heart and soul.

Even a little hold on this wealth will give us infinitely greater joy than that fleeting high that is obtained from the procurement of a coveted material object, and it will serve as an impregnable fortress to protect us from

This nexus between wealth and happiness has to be broken. Life and the possibilities of life cannot be limited to the circumference of merely pursuing material acquisitions. We are the paragon of all beings and all the powers of the universe are within us. By this ceaseless craving for material acquisitions we have become like grovelling animals, earthbound, sensual, unenlightened and uninspired.

When we do so we become like the eagle that grew up among the barnyard chicks and because he thought he was a chicken, he lived and died as a chicken. He was born to break the powerful wind in skilful flight of graceful majesty but became grounded in mind and body.

We too were born to soar to the heights of freedom and bliss. Do not be grounded by the glitter and glamour of wealth. Do not measure your self-worth in dollars.

Yours truly,

Cecil Ramkirath

Seeking a long-lost friend

Dear Editor, I am trying to locate a friend. My name is Frank Bellezza, I live in the United States. I once had a pen friend in Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo named Zullema Majeed.

Everyone called her “Chiney”. She is a school teacher, and should be in her 30s

You shouldn’t throw stones if you live in a glass house

Dear Editor,

I have come to the realisation that the world we are living in is riddled with hypocrisy and double standards, and in the context of Guyana this is no different. I read with great amazement Chronicle's article on August 25 and was taken aback that the publisher to which they made reference to was apparently Glenn Lall of Kaieteur News.

For those of you who didn’t read the article, it implicated Lall of allegedly being involved in a re-migrant waiver scam to cheat the Government out of paying approximately $40 milliom in import duty for two luxury vehicles. This was reportedly done with the help of relatives.

Reading the article appears to suggest that the vehicles were allegedly bought by Lall and his relatives via their re-migrant status.

I was in disbelief when I read the article since I know this man and by extension his paper to be champions of fighting all forms of corruption, yet the compelling facts laid out before me in the article logically showed beyond a shadow of doubt, that indeed this so-called champion of corruption was reportedly engaging in the same corrupt practices that

he uses his paper to highlight.

Now there is an adage that goes “you shouldn’t throw stones if you live in a glass house,” and I think the meaning is self-explanatory, suffice it to say that in this scenario Kaieteur News is the glass house.

I say this because I recall years ago, it was Kaieteur News that prominently featured and had on its front burner the seizure of two luxury vehicles by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) involved in a scam by a local auto dealer to evade millions of dollars in taxes.

While the two scams (the local auto dealer and this recent one) are different in their execution, the end results are the same, that being the evasion of taxes to the GRA and by extension the Government.

In fact, Kaieteur News in an article dated September 14, 2010 quoted a statement by the GRA which said, inter alia: “It has been the observation of the Revenue Authority that many members of the business community have been utilising every means necessary to avoid paying the necessary duties and taxes on their imports. This practice has resulted in the state being denied rev-

enues that are due thereby resulting in hindrances to the overall development of the country.”

Kaieteur News then quoted GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur, saying that “the agency will not condone such practices. Any evidence of tax evasion will result in the guilty parties being fined and prosecuted.”

Now how hypocritical is it that this newspaper which published glaringly these acts of alleged corruption, which led to some of the GRA employees who were involved in the scam being fired and the two luxury vehicles impounded, has at its helm a man who allegedly conspired in a similar manner.

I have long admired the work that Kaieteur News does, but was always hesitant to believe some of the more outlandish and sensational stories which this newspaper carried.

I am now of the firm belief and conviction that this paper was never used as an instrument for fighting corruption, but seems to be more about seeking to serve the vested interests of its publisher.

Respectfully, Reaz Holladar

now. I believe she is married and now has the last name Sookram. If anyone knows her, please ask her to email me at frankbellezza717@yahoo.com. Or I hope she sees this letter.

Thank you so much! Frank Bellezza

Page Foundation

How to break the living pay cheque to pay cheque cycle

BY TRENT HAMM

Out of all of the blessings that have come into my life over the last two and a half years or so, the one that has truly helped me to sleep better at night is the move away from living pay cheque-to-pay cheque. Pay cheque-to-pay cheque living happens when you are regularly waiting for your next pay cheque before you make basic financial moves, like paying bills or buying food or doing something fun. It’s incredibly dangerous for a number of reasons.

If you lose your job, your life requires you to find a replacement job immediately. Thus, you’re completely dependent on your current job. You can’t sustain even a few days without that regular pay cheque coming in. Quite often, your boss knows this and takes advantage of it, because they know you can’t function without that job –this, in the end, makes your job completely miserable and makes it dominate your life.

You can’t plan ahead for disasters. Whenever something bad happens, like a car breaking down or a child needing emergency dental work, your only choice is to bust out the plastic and then sweat it over the next several months as you fight to pay down the balance. If you’re relying on each subsequent cheque to even manage your day-to-day life, you can’t plan ahead for these unfortunate situations. Instead, the best you can hope for

is some good “luck” in that they won’t occur too often.

You can’t plan ahead for bigger things, either. Dreaming of a big family vacation? How about a new car, or a new house? If you’re living pay cheque-topay cheque, these dreams are simply unreachable in the foreseeable future. You might really want these things for your family, but they’re unattainable with your current financial struc ture.

So what’s the solution? The solution is obvious ly to back slowly away from living pay cheque-topay cheque, but it’s not always easy.

Recognise that there’s a problem –and that you’re not alone in dealing with it I was in these very shoes once upon a time, waiting for that next pay cheque to come in so I could cover the required bills and then spend some more. I racked up five figures in credit card debt and it got so bad I spent a very long night holding my infant son and wondering how I would ever fix things. Living pay cheque-to-pay cheque is a problem of your own creation. But you’re not alone in creating that problem, and if you put your nose to the grindstone, you can get out of it and start moving towards financial prosperity. Use the Internet – or your own social network

– to find out about the experiences of others who turned their ship around and share your thoughts and difficulties anonymously. You’ll find it much easier to work through this tough process.

Look for regular expenses you can trim away

The first big step is to trim your monthly expenses. Reduce that cable bill and that cell- phone bill. Get rid

ting ahead a little.

Don’t shop for entertainment’s sake

When you’re hanging out with friends, it can be tempting to go shopping for clothes or hit the electronics store. Don’t. Find anything else to do. Shopping for fun in a social environment is costly even if you don’t buy anything, because you’re surrounded by temptation and the mental imprintings of stuff that you want but don’t really need. It’s an excuse to talk to your friends about stuff you want and potentially talk yourself into purchasing, either now or later. Just stay away.

ships, like gym memberships or country club memberships. Look for ways to tone down your home energy use. Start a carpool or start using public transportation.

Start cooking at home more and eating out less. All of these things will ease the monthly pressure on your wallet, allowing you to stop feeling like you’re falling behind and instead start get-

Cap your non-essential spending each month

We all spend some money on things we don’t really need. Instead of just spending as opportunities arise, put a cap on that spending each month. Allow you and your spouse a cash allowance each month and agree that your discretionary spending comes from this cash and this cash alone. Make the amount lower than what you normally spend, but not enough lower that you’re tempted to cheat. Then, when you’re used to the amount, consider lowering it a bit more until you find a sweet spot of savings and fun.

As you gain some breathing room, move towards paying bills right when they come in

One thing that many people living pay cheque-topay cheque waste money on is late fees. You’re a couple days late on a bill because you were waiting around for your pay cheque, so you’re dinged for an extra five bucks. It used to happen to me all the time – and it was a serious money leak. The best solution for handling this as you move towards financial stability is to start paying your bills as soon as they come in – that way, you avoid the late fees by a mile. Later on, as you get more comfortable, you can develop your own bill-paying routine – I pay mine monthly –but the best way to handle things just as you’re getting some cash built up in your account is to pay bills ASAP.

Don’t carry more than one credit card with you Leave the rest at home. The only reason you should be carrying a credit card in your pocket is to cover emergencies or for specific purchases. Thus, carrying more than one credit card in your wallet is not only an identity theft concern, it’s also temptation to spend more than you should.

I personally have three credit cards. Two of them are for specific purchases only, so I leave them at home. The other is my general use card, and it’s the only one that resides actively in my wallet. Because I recognise that I need to keep a healthy free balance on it for emergencies, it makes the temptation of the plastic much lower. (lifehacker.com)

when your spouse is unemployed

(continued from tuesday)

BY ROBERTA RAND CAPONEY

Insist on at least one night a week when you can schedule time alone or with your own friends. Help your husband understand that the time you spend on yourself will help you be a better spouse when you’re together – because it will. Even in the best of times it’s good to cultivate your own hobbies and interests.

Remind yourself and your spouse to take this one day at a time. Help your husband avoid catastrophic thinking (I’ll never find work!). Be positive in your attitudes and pray together every day for God’s provision – for your physical, emotional and material needs, and for your relationship. And keep talking! Deliberate communication mitigates the effects of depression and helps boost bruised self-esteem.

Accept that you’ll have good days and bad days. On the good days, discuss what makes them good and brainstorm ways to keep up positive energy (going to bed at a reasonable hour, rising together, morning exercise, prayer time, etc). Maintain a routine as much as possible. Be mutually accountable, setting a daily agenda for both of you: job interviews, personal appointments, chores around the house, etc.

Unemployment can make people want to withdraw – but avoid becoming socially isolated. Continue to attend church and keep up social commitments during the week. Share what you’re going through with friends. You need support now more than ever – and contrary to what you might think, friends will be honoured by your desire to confide in them.

Plan activities together that will help you let off steam. Many big-city zoos and museums have occasional “free” days.

Get outside in the fresh air, take a bike ride, have a picnic. Plan a time where you agree to put aside job worries and focus only on having fun.

Your spouse is facing a tough time, but you are, too. Pray to God for the energy, compassion, patience and insight to get you through this challenging season. And remember: like all the seasons that make up a life, this too shall pass!

(focusonthefamily.com)

Excavation, vandalism down phone lines in GT

Vandalism and careless excavation works by a major utility provider have caused major disruption to telephone service in several communities in Georgetown.

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company said in a release that wireline telephone and data services in Meadow Brook, D’urban Backlands, Lodge Housing Scheme, Tucville, Stevedore and Postal Housing Scheme, and Guyhoc have been severely disrupted as a result of damage to its buried facilities by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) while undertaking excavation works on Monday.

The telephone company said its technical team is currently in the process of assessing the extent of the damage and the steps necessary to restore service to the affected customers in the shortest possible time.

The company is also addressing the vandalism of a 300-pair cable in the vicinity of Princes and High Streets,

in the Werk-en-Rust area.

“Both careless excavation and acts of vandalism continue to affect the company’s overall rollout of service, because these unanticipated service disruptions necessitate repeated diversion of technical personnel and resources away from our scheduled work programme. What is more, these restoration works are costly.”

For the year so far, GT&T said it has expended over US$3 million to effect repairs caused by vandalism and careless excavation.

“GT&T sincerely regrets the avoidable inconvenience these thoughtless and malicious acts have occasioned and urge all Guyanese to be vigilant and to report any suspected act of vandalism of GT&T’s cables and equipment to our ‘Vandalism Hotline’ (0908). We also encourage all those engaged in excavation to call 0777 before undertaking any such work’ since it may be in the path of our facilities.”

Earlier this year’ van-

Benn slams attacks on foreign investors

The Government of Guyana has once again raised its voice against the continuous attacks on foreign investors, as it underscored the importance of having such investments to develop the country’s economy.

At the launching of JAGS Aviation on Monday, Transport Minister Robeson Benn expressed his dissatisfaction at what he described as the xenophobia adopted by some local newspapers, particularly their attacks on the Chinese investors in Guyana.

dals had stolen some 15 metres of a 2400-pair feeder cable from GT&T.

The vandalism had resulted in the disruption of telephone services to customers in Bel Voir Court, Bel Air, Prashad Nagar, Sophia, Blygezigt and surrounding areas, GT&T said in a statement. According to GT&T, these acts of vandalism have continued to negatively impact the rollout of telecommunication and related services countrywide.

The company explained that resources have to be constantly diverted from scheduled works to rectify issues that surfaced as a result of vandalism to their property.

He condemned these actions stating that foreign investors are imperative to sustain development in the country. Benn recalled that similar attacks were previously launched on the Brazilian investors as he questioned who they will next assail. The Minister went on to say that with all of the allegations made against these investors, no substantial evidence has been proffered to support the claims.

He noted that such attacks are “deplorable” and will only result in the reversal of Government’s efforts to develop the country. The minister Pointed out that Guyana has a small population base with poor infrastructure, so with the aid of these investors, Government is looking to develop the country for future generations. “We want to develop this country for future generations of Guyanese. We want those future generations of Guyanese to have a better life that we ourselves never had. And we cannot do it alone; we have to rely on

Transport and Works Minister Robeson Benn

foreign partners. We have to rely on Guyanese business partners to join with those people to learn from their experiences, so we can have a safe and sustainable development pact,” he said.

President Donald Ramotar also added his voice against the attacks on the Chinese investors. He said Government has created special economic regimes to attract both local and foreign investors to develop the potential of the country and such attacks will have a negative impact on its efforts.

The President pointed out that the attacks on the Chinese are uncalled for, noting that none of the country’s rules were broken by the Chinese logging company, Bai Shan Lin. “None of these things has happened; there is no raping of our interior but we see this massive attack and one wonders what is the motive behind these things,” he explained.

However, Ramotar noted that despite this negative attitude to investors, he was pleased to know that both local and foreign businesses have continued to show confidence in Guyana’s economy by investing in the various sectors. Of recent, sections of the media have accused the Chinese logging company of exploiting Guyana’s forestry resources. The many allegations levied against the company and subject authorities were denounced by the Guyana Forestry Commission. The forestry body’s Commissioner, James Singh, at a recent press conference, rubbished the allegations, stating that they were the result of a lack of understanding of the procedures undertaken in the forestry sector. Government officials had also jumped to the rescue of Bai Shan Lin, defending its operations here in Guyana.

Disrupted phone cables

Eyew tness

Principles...

...and political “unity”

One of the saddest features of the new political “dispensation” exemplified by the APNU-AFC combine is their complete lack of historical consciousness in the promulgation of their policies. Take their recent calls for “unity”. What the heck does that mean?? Do they believe Guyanese are so daft they’ll believe that the simple act of parties “coming together” will solve our problems??

Dr Jagan had long warned against such a simplistic and dangerous notion. Dangerous because it creates unrealistic expectations that can lead to violent reactions when they go unfulfilled. He warned that “unity” must always be tied to “struggle” – with the slogan echoing the great African Revolutionary Amilcar Cabral – “no unity without struggle”.

The point is, whenever groups – and individuals –come together, they’ll bring different perspectives which have to be reconciled if progress is to be made. This is the “struggle”. Without this struggle the group’s or individuals’ inevitable subsequent infighting will always destroy the initiative.

Recently, the General Secretary of the PPP/C, Clement Rohee, announced that as far as “unity” is concerned, they’re all for it – but they feel that the vehicle to facilitate that goal is a “National Front Alliance” (NFA). And this is where historical consciousness comes in. The PPP/C first proposed such an entity as far back as 1977 – at that time a “National Front Government”, because of the political realities on the ground.

An “NFA” is a concept with a specific meaning –most saliently that the groups/individuals involved in the “unity” must share a common perspective on political economy. In the present, Rohee called for the “formulation of a common platform on socio-economic issues”.

How could it be otherwise? If you don’t share this commonality, what’s the point of “unity”? Back in 1977, the WPA had rejected the PPP’s explication of a NFG for that time – saying that the PNC had to be excluded. And this is where the maturity of the PPP came in. Based on the nature of the society and of the politics of the previous two decades, how could anyone exclude the PNC and expect progress??

But as Jagan’s stricture warned, the unity would not be without struggle – but in an NFG, the struggle would be within a shared understanding of the internal and external environments. At that time the perspective was defined as “left”.

We salute the PPP’s GS on his articulation of his party’s historically grounded call for unity. And hope that all those who have ears will hear. What is the content of “unity”?

...and training

The Attorney General made some very commendatory remarks at the graduation of the latest batch of Apprentices from The GuySuCo Training Centre (GTC). They are more than justified. With all the criticisms of “the white man” and colonialism, the departed (through nationalisation) Bookers created one of the finest and most necessary institutions in Guyana when they launched the then Bookers Training Centre back in the fifties.

Today we are at long last – over 50 years later – following in Bookers’ path pushing Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET). Better late than never, we say. Purists may say that the Government had also launched the Government Technical Institute (GTI) but if we’re honest – the GTC was head and shoulders ahead of the GTI. One of the major reasons for this was that entrance to the latter was competitive – there was a strenuous exam that had to be aced.

The other – not inconsequential one – was there's a guaranteed job at the end of the grind. Will the rest of industrial Guyana take note??

...and violating them

Carl Greenidge quoted Mark Twain against prolix speech: “Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she laid an asteroid.”

Then went on to write a 2600 word letter after merely laying a “ganda” egg!!! Cackling as if he laid a galaxy.

Mining sector more resilient now – Persaud

Since Mining Week celebrations last year there has been significant progress made, as the industry has become more resilient and able to cushion the effects of price movement, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud has said.

Minister Persaud, speaking at the opening and awards ceremony for Mining Week 2014 at the Gravity Lounge, Camp Street, Georgetown, on Monday evening, stated that there are more Guyanese and non-Guyanese who want to get involved and be a part of the development of the industry. He said that he was optimistic about people’s growing confidence and interest in the sector.

The Minister cited the mining auction earlier this month, which occurred after a more than five-year lag, during which 950 mining lots were auctioned. He said the Ministry planned the auction for one day, but because of the overwhelming response, the auction lasted for five days.

Auction

Minister Persaud opined, “If people did not think there was money to be made in mining, and if they did not think it was good to be in mining, they would not have turned out in such large numbers to participate and to pay large sums through a public auction process.”

He said that in addition, mining lotteries were held in the six mining districts which also received an overwhelm-

ing response. “Every single day at the Guyana Geology and Mines [Commission] (GGMC), that office is bombarded by requests at different levels – small, medium and large (scale) – for more access,” which speaks of people’s confidence and willingness to develop and grow with the sector.

The Ministry’s aim is to encourage the development of a sustainable and responsible mining sector, and Minister Persaud said the Ministry has looked at ways to intensify and deepen compliance and enforcement on the environmental front, to enhance the functioning of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as look at the environmental division within the GGMC.

“We have done a number of training programmes and a number of stakeholder interactions, so that we can develop and encourage a much more responsible, as well as, sustainable mining activities.”

Persaud said recently, an agreement was sealed with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where for the first time in Guyana there will be the mainstreaming of biodiversity in mining activities.

“We don’t only want the miners to think of extraction, but also the miners must think about conservation and protection of the biodiversity”, which is what the Ministry has been encouraging to achieve balance. The Minister stated that the Government was

Second suspect remanded for Vlissengen Road businessman’s murder

Jermaine Otto, 25, of Lot 735 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was on Friday charged with the murder of 43-year-old businessman Ashook Ragghu, who was gunned down on August 18 outside of the Botanical Gardens, Georgetown.

working with the relevant associations and mining communities to enhance social responsibility, dealing with issues of Trafficking In Persons, and other illicit and sometimes illegal activities in mining communities. Government has been encouraging miners and the mining community to pay greater attention to ensure that mining is done in a socially and environmentally responsible way.

Thus, the Minister stated, there have been a number of measures taken to support miners and make them more resilient to some of the difficulties faced in the sector. Persaud said the Government of Guyana will continue to support miners.

No arrests yet for waitress’s murder

Four days after 48-year-old Debbie Blackman was shot and killed in a D’Urban Street Chinese restaurant, no arrests have been made.

On Saturday last around 19:30h, Blackman, of Critchlow Circle, Tucville, Georgetown, was in the Delicious Chinese Restaurant when two men on a motorcycle pulled up outside and the pillion rider entered the restaurant. He ordered and paid for a meal before pulling out a firearm and discharging rounds at the waitress.

The woman was shot twice, once to her shoulder and once to her neck. The man then escaped along with his accomplice. While persons are baffled as to the motive behind the murder,

investigators believe that it might be a foiled robbery. Fortunately, the restaurant was equipped with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and a copy of the footage was handed over to the Police.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the two perpetrators have been positively identified by investigators and ranks are combing several communities in the city in an effort to apprehend the two suspects. Further information revealed that based on the way the men operated on the night of the shooting, the Police believe that they might have been monitoring the business place before launching their attack.

According to information received, no one else was in the restaurant. A young woman had left just seconds prior to the shooting. It had been reported that the two young men walked into the restaurant and ordered a chicken fried rice and waited until it was prepared.

As the waitress brought out the food, one of the men pulled out a gun and pointed it at Blackman, who attempted to run.

The gunman then opened fire, striking the woman after which she fell to the ground. Blackman had worked at the restaurant for the past 11 years. She leaves to mourn her four daughters and one son.

On the day in question at around 13:00h, the deceased and his wife were in motor car PGG 8291 driving along Vlissengen Road when they stopped at the traffic light at the intersection of Vlissengen and Regent Roads. Subsequently, the alleged bandits – Otto and his accomplice Travis McDougall – rode up on a Honda CG motorcycle and shot the businessman to his chest. The dead man’s wife, Shyrazadi Ragghu was also shot in her thigh during the robbery. The couple resides at Pike Street, Campbellville, Georgetown. Previously, Police

Appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman, the charge against the accused, who was unrepresented, alleged that on August 18 at Vlissengen Road, Otto during the course of a robbery relieved Ashook Ragghu of a bag containing $4 million and shot the said businessman to death. He was not required to plead since the charge was deemed indictable.

Prosecutor Michael Grant had told the court that Mc Dougall was positively identified at the Brickdam Police Station by Shyrazadi Ragghu as one of the bandits who attached her and her husband. McDougall was represented by Attorney Kendaise Rodney when he appeared in court.

The defendant told the court that “he does not know anything about anything,” adding that he was told that he is a suspect for a robbery and murder and still cannot “catch himself”.

While McDougall is said to return on October 8, Otto will make his next appearance on September 22 before the Chief Magistrate.

Minibus driver on bail for simple larceny

A23-year-old minibus driver of Lot 141 Danraj Street, Newtown Kitty, Georgetown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman for a simple larceny charge on Wednesday.

The charge alleged that on August 24, at Croal

Street, Georgetown, Winston Harris stole one Coral cellphone valued $6000 belonging to Devon Smith. There were no facts given for the case however Harris pleaded not guilty to the charge. When asked about prior convictions, Harris denied having any, however, he did tell the court that he

has a traffic matter before the courts.

Police Prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds of the prevalence of the offence. His objections were denied and the defendant was granted bail in the sum of $70,000. Harris is scheduled to return to court on September 18.

Dead: Debra Blackman

This group entertained guests with a dance at the Mining Week 2014 ceremony

Contract signed to de-bush four more blocks at Le Repentir

The Local Government and Regional Development Ministry on Tuesday signed a contract with Jeffery James Construction to debush Blocks 1, 3, 4 and 5 of Le Repentir Cemetery under the “Clean-Up My Country” Programme.

The bidding document for the de-bushing of the four blocks was prepared and an Invitation for bids was advertised on August 6, 2014, with a closing date of August 19, 2014. Bids were publicly opened on that day. The four companies that bid for the job were: Jeffery James Construction $8,379,500; Gobin Arjune $12,420,412; Sandust Contracting Services $40,193,905; and Navindra Persaud $89,500,000.

Based on the lowest bid principle, Jeffery James Construction won the contract and will undertake the task of cutting down and removing the vegetation within the blocks. Work is expected to start soon. Le Repentir will see a major facelift after the six-month

A section of Le Repentir cemetery under heavy vegetation (GINA photo)

clean-up exercise under the @Clean-Up My Country” Programme implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Under the clean-up programme, all 17 blocks of the cemetery and its outer perimeters will undergo ma-

jor enhancement. All internal drains will be desilted, internal roads will be rehabilitated, overgrown vegetation will be cut down, and silt from the drains will be used to landscape some parts of the cemetery. On the outer perimeters, the Princes Street and Sussex

Street Canals which run along the north and south of the cemetery respectively will be de-weeded and desilted.

Phase-by-phase cleanup

The cemetery cleanup will be executed in a phaseby-phase manner. For the first phase, Kingdom Apiary was contracted to remove bees within the cemetery. Between July 25 and August 15, 15 Africanised bee colonies were successfully removed from the cemetery between Broad and Sussex Streets on St Stephen’s Street.

During the period of the removal of the bees, the contractor began desilting internal drains commencing with Blocks 1 to 6. The next aspect of the cemetery cleanup will see the contract between the Guyana Prison Service and the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry take effect.

This contractor will undertake the responsibility of de-bushing Block 7 of the cemetery which is bounded by Broad Street to the north, Sussex Street to the south, Louisa Row to the east and St Stephen’s Street to the south.

Removal of the bee colonies is ongoing, and a team of bee catchers is on standby in the event of bees being detected. The repairs to access roads are expected to commence in a few weeks.

A total of $103,000,000 has been allocated to the Le Repentir cleanup programme. At the end of this exercise, the Ministry is expecting that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will be in a much better position to maintain the cemetery, since only maintenance works will be required.

Defender of the nation

Satriicus now realised why so many people didn’t like to get involved with politics. There were lots of small, mean minded folks out there who just could not understand that not ALL politicians were “in for the money and power”. Not to mention, “wine, women and song”. Especially women! Take this fella Bobby KorBin. Here it was, his enemies were trumpeting the fact that back in the seventies KorBin was given hundreds of weapons – small guns, big guns, long guns, short guns, bayonets , bullets and whatever.

As if this was something bad!! They forgot KorBin had jumped into politics even when he was still in short pants in Linden – which wasn’t even called “Linden” then. If fact it wasn’t for youth-men like KorBin, the place would’ve never been named after the Founder Leader.

The part where KorBin lived was called Wismar and it was full of rats who lived in decaying houses. One night –KorBin and other members of the Youth-Service-Men did the community a great favour when they burn down all those rotting houses to the ground. And all the rats had to flee.

KorBin, was promoted for his noble deed at that tender age. And so it came to pass that he moved to Georgetown where he performed many more noble deeds for the Founder Leader – without a thought for himself. Since the Founder Leader and the State were one and the same (the Constitution said so) KorBin was proud he was serving the State.

The people of Guyana didn’t understand democracy. They just couldn’t get this “voting” business. And so KorBin was designated by the Founder Leader to find a way to vote for the people. And boy was he successful!!! Guyana became a country with one of the highest voting rates in the world. But KorBin refused to accept any medals for his yeoman (Yo man!!) work to entrench democracy in Guyana.

And now the guns thing. Jeez! Here it was that this fella RodKnee had gone to Tanzania and come back with all this idea of revolution!!! The Founder Leader had gone to that same Tanzania and come back with Cooperative Socialism. But that didn’t satisfy RodKnee. So the wanker started “stockpiling guns”. Why!! Even RodKnee’s Queens buddy RoopNaRain now announced this! What was the Founder Leader to do??

Well, everybody knew what was to be done. But who to do it?? Duh!! Of course the Founder Leader went to his “go to guy”, KorBin. If RodKnee could stockpile weapons – well then KorBin would show him who was the biggest stockpiler!!

And for this he’s being criticised?? It was enough to make a grown man cry. Satiricus wept.

Man remanded for stealing artificial gold jewellery

An unrepresented Anthony Williams on Wednesday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman for a simple larceny charge.

The charge which was read by the Magistrate alleged that on August 26, at Corn Hill Street, Georgetown, Williams robbed Charles Allin, the Virtual Complainant (VC) of one artificial gold chain valued $1500 and made use of personal violence to the said VC.

Williams pleaded not guilty to the charge and told the court that the entire incident was a joke. He went

on to say that he and the VC are known to each other, adding that they operated a minibus together and he would usually buy items for the VC.

Police Prosecutor Sean Blackman objected to bail on the ground that the VC and the defendant are known to each other and the likelihood exists that the defendant may interfere will the VC. He also made mention of the nature and seriousness of the offence.

Magistrate Latchman remanded the defendant to prison until September 16, where he is said to face Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Rodney CoI

155 guns issued by GDF during PNC rule still missing

The Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday heard that of the 237 weapons issued by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to various individuals and organisations during the 1970s, 155 are still outstanding.

an R Corbin, and to external agencies, the Lieutenant Colonel returned on Tuesday with documents showing that both Skeete and Corbin were frequent recipients of the Army weapons. James told the Commission that a Comrade

Many of those weapons were not returned. Eyebrows were raised too when documents presented revealed that there were instances where Skeete had signed for and uplifted weapons with no indication that they were for the National Development

That number represents 65.4 per cent of guns issued.

Returning to the stand with further evidence was head of the Intelligence (G2) Unit of the GDF, Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James, who told the tribunal that while those guns have not yet been recovered, no word has been given for searches to be carried out for their recovery.

Issuance

Lieutenant Colonel James, during his testimony on Monday, had relayed that it was possible for the People’s National Congress (PNC) to have had a weapons account in the GDF given the frequency of unauthorised issuance of arms.

While he could not say at that time how many of those weapons were issued to the National Development Ministry, Wilfred Skeete,

R Corbin received some 16 weapons, while Skeete received over 100 pieces. Among the mentioned weapons were seven Smith and Wesson guns issued to and signed for by a Comrade Corbin, PS, Office of the Prime Minister.

Three of those weapons were returned while four remained outstanding. Under the same name R Corbin, nine more Smith and Wessons were issued, but these were signed for by Corbin as an employee of the National Development Ministry. Eight of those weapons were returned while one remained outstanding.

Several other weapons, including eight G3 Rifles, 20 Beretta Submachine Guns, six 7.2 rifles, six .22 rifles, and 15 SLR rifles were all issued to Comrade Skeete.

Ministry, where he was an employee. Some 50 9 mm pistols were issued to Skeete. Only 13 of those pistols were returned. Skeete also received 20 Beretta S.M.Gs and 15 M70 rifles. Of that number, 14 were returned while one remained outstanding. All these transactions were carried out between 1976 and 1979.

Recovered

Documents suggested too that Skeete had received weapons from the Army, on behalf of the National Development Ministry in August 1979, when that office had been burnt down one month before. The head of Army Intelligence said it would be an anomaly for the GDF to issue weapons to individuals.

In 2008, following a shootout with criminals, the

69-year-old forklift operator on

$1M

bail for causing death of UG employee

Appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman was Balgobin Persaud who was charged for causing death by dangerous driving.

Persaud, 69, who resides at Lot 155 Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, is married and is a father of three. The charge read that on August 6, at Dennis Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, he drove forklift 23439 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Latchman Sukhdeo.

On the day in question at around 08:00h, the deceased was riding on Dennis Street

proceeding West when two metal spikes at the front of the forlift, drven by the defendant collided with the Sukdeo. The injured man was taken to a medical care facility where he died while receiving treatment.

The defendant was represented by Attorney Lawerence Harris who made application for reasonable bail. He told the court that his client has no prior convictions and is not a flight risk.

Persaud was given bail at a sum of one million dollars and will return to court on September 25.

Ogunseye says Williams too hostile during cross-examination

Police recovered a number of weapons and ammunition, which were traced to those issued by the Army to Skeete on July 6, 1978 and to Corbin on May 19, 1976, under the National Development Ministry.

James told the Commission that the guns issued to Skeete were never returned to the Army.

He pointed out that some were issued permanently and on loan to the Joint Services Organisations, but some of these entities were now disbanded and defunct, and some weapons were never returned.

He explained to the Commission that approval for issuance of weapons within the Army was given by the Chief-of-Staff, and issuance to external agencies would require the express permission of the Defence Board.

The Army Officer pointed out that weapons were issued to Joint Services Organisations, and said he was unaware of any protocol governing the issuance, contending that it was done on a case-by-case basis.

Executive member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Tacoma Ogunseye has condemned the method of cross-examination carried out by the lawyer for the People’s National Congress (PNC) Basil Williams at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, describing it as “hostile”.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Tuesday, Ogunseye said Williams has always been hostile to witnesses at the Commission of Inquiry who would speak against the Forbes Burnham-led Government of the PNC. “It’s the approach, any witness who attack Burnham and the PNC, he tend to de-

monise them. Except they feel it’s not in their best interest to go after a particular witness. They didn’t go after Kwayana in any big way…. But they would go after me and other people differently,” Ogunseye said.

When approached for a comment, Williams said he would respond to Ogunseye at a later time, while asserting that the WPA member could not “handle the crossexamination”.

The PNC is under severe criticism for the role it played during the 1970s and 80s of allegedly violating the rights of Guyanese citizens, especially those who had publicly ridiculed its actions.

Basil Williams Tacoma Ogunseye

Balgobin Persaud

A G3 rifle (world. guns.ru photo)

Ali sees steady growth in hotel industry

– says over 300 new rooms added in last three years

Tourism Minister (ag)

Irfaan Ali said there has been an upswing in the country’s hotel industry with over 300 new rooms added to the sector in the past three years.

This, he said, is with the exception of the Marriott and the Sun and Sand hotels (two five- star internationally renowned brands) that are yet to come on stream. He said in countries with stronger tourismbased economies growth has not been realised and as such, the tourism industry as a whole must be lauded. At the time, Ali was speaking at the launch of JAGS Aviation on Monday.

Economy

“Point me to one economy in the Region where tourism is the base of that economy that had investment of more than 300 new rooms in that country… this speaks to a very important issue. The issue of confidence in the economy, confidence in where Guyana is going, confidence in where the sector is going and confidence in the vision that we have developed to take Guyana forward,” Minister Ali posited.

Guyana’s tourism sector is expected to be boosted significantly with the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and the construction of the Marriott Hotel, as both projects have the potential to transform the country into a modernised and more developed nation. These will stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities, as well as improve and increase Guyana’s capacity to attract more tourists.

While much more attention needs to be paid to the issue of marketing

Destination Guyana, the country’s economy is very diverse, and as such, its resources have to be directed to several areas including hinterland development, mining, agriculture, and

forestry (all of which form the core of the economy).

This is quite in contrast to countries such as Jamaica, Barbados, and other regional nations, which can afford to spend large sums on tourism marketing, because they depend solely on tourism.

Minister Ali said the Government recognises that it must invest in marketing to attract investments and people (tourists). To this end, the country has sought to promote its eco-tourism product, which is unique, in such a way so as to attract its target market. Guyana was prominently featured in an eight-page spread in the prestigious Fortune 500 Magazine, and it was rated as one of 50 destinations that must be visited in a lifetime by the BBC. Further, the TV series “Gold Rush” featured the country for an entire season. This show was rated as the number one Friday night programme on the Discovery Channel in the United States.

Partnerships

Next month, the Discovery Channel will be returning to Guyana to film two episodes for season three of the series “Naked and Afraid”. The National Geographic Traveler Magazine lists Guyana as one of 21 must-see destinations in 2014, along with places such as Cape Verde, Italy; Nahanni National Park, Canada; New Orleans, Louisiana; the Northern Territory, Australia; and Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda.

“These are the types of partnerships we need to ensure that the type of tourism we offer reach the market that we are targeting… our market is eco-tourism; it is a different market,” the acting Tourism Minister said.

Guyana’s partnership with the Panamanian airline Copa has also seen the

country being featured on the cover and eight additional pages of its awardwinning in-flight magazine, Panorama de las Américas. This kind of international recognition and publicity would have cost the country millions of dollars.

“You can’t pay for that, but it is part of developing a strategy to work in a smart manner in achieving results… in business, you have to make a decision based on a financial and economic evaluation. In Government, we have to make a decision based on a financial, economic and social evaluation, so we too have to calculate risks and we have to calculate opportunity costs,” Minister Ali said.

He noted too that in countries like Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, tourism marketing is driven by hotel chains such as the Marriott and the Hyatt, and he reiterated the importance of the establishment of such internationally branded hotels in Guyana.

This can not only propel the country’s marketing drive, but also bring a different dimension to the marketing aspect of tourism.

Development Development of the facilities at the CJIA is also essential in the country’s overall marketing strategy. This project, along with many others, has been at the receiving end of the parliamentary Opposition’s antagonism. Despite its merits, funding for the CJIA Expansion Project was repeatedly voted down in 2013 and again earlier this year.

“We cannot market the product if we do not have the appropriate facilities. This is why the airport is so essential. It is time for us to all speak out in one voice that we, as a people, cannot understand the objections to these developments. How can we say that we want to promote tourism and in the same breath, stymie these developments, there is no logical correlation between these two,” Minister Ali submitted.

He added that while investors’ confidence in the economy remain high, politicians have a responsibility to act in a way that would ensure that such confidence is not eroded and to do otherwise would be doing a grave injustice to Guyana and its people, whose interest they were elected to represent. He concluded, “It is because of that confidence that people would have had in the economy, that we continue to have this great advancement and development.”

Benn talks up need to lift airport security profile

“It is important that we lift the security profile at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and Ogle Aerodrome,” Transport Minister Robeson Benn told the opening ceremony for the Airport Risk Mitigation workshop on Tuesday morning at Timehri.

The Control Tower at Timehri is the venue for the three-day interactive session, which is the result of collaboration between the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the United States of America security watchdog – Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The workshop is an advanced technical assistance programme designed to assist foreign airport stakeholders in conducting a risk assessment to identify areas as it relates to their security posture, the GCAA said in a release. Minister Benn told the 25-plus participants that a dispassionate review of the airports [CJIA and Ogle] indicates that “we are not meeting the minimum standards” for security. “We

… need to take a hard look at ourselves,” he said.

Minister Benn further stated that the September 11, 2001 acts of terrorism have impacted security operations worldwide; hence, airport security officials have to synergise and create linkages to improve their capabilities. “The Government of Guyana is cognisant of these challenges. You have to make the utmost use of such courses because it improves your personal and professional development. We rely on you to make us safe and secure,” he noted.

Thwarting threats

Meanwhile, local US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt acknowledged that the pressure to propel security process is weighed against the increased threat from persons who want to traffic drugs and/or weapons from one country to another. “It is critically important that nations work together in a coordinated matter to identify and thwart those threats. Security is a global issue. Criminal networks are constantly looking for

vulnerabilities to move people and illicit cargo aboard the same planes that supply the goods and resources that grow and develop our economies,” Hunt said.

He disclosed that the US Government remained committed to aviation security partnerships with Guyana and in the Caribbean as a means of investing in the future and supporting sustainable development of the Region.

GCAA Director General Zulficar Mohamed revealed that the Authority has been able to strengthen its relationship with TSA, and expressed his appreciation to the facilitators for coming to Guyana in such a short space of time to impart their vast knowledge to the participants. “…we must have the personnel, trained and ready to carry out their duties when necessary,” he said. Security and operational staff from the CJIA, Ogle Airport, Guyana Police Force (GPF) Special Constabulary, Customs and Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and GCAA attended the workshop.

Autopsy on ‘peacemaker’ set for today … couple still in custody

Apost-mortem examination will be performed today on the body of the 37-year-old fisherman who was fatally stabbed to death on Sunday afternoon.

Bharrat Sugrim, of Lot 28 Better Hope North, East Coast Demerara, had acted as a peacemaker between a couple during a fight and was stabbed once to his heart in the process. According to reports, the Sixth Field, Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown couple are in the habit of imbibing and fighting each other when drunk. Only recently, the man was injured during one of their confrontations.

On Sunday, the woman whose name was given as Angela reportedly attacked her husband, Sewag,

with a knife inflicting two wounds to his body – one to his back and the other to his abdomen. Upon seeing this, Sugrim, who was commonly called “Lusty”, intervened and was stabbed. He fell to the ground and reportedly

died almost immediately. The couple were taken into custody and initially told Police that Sugrim had fallen and hit his head after which he suffered cardiac arrest. According to Crime Chief Leslie James, the couple are still in custody, but no charges have been laid yet. James told Guyana Times that the investigators are awaiting the results of the post-mortem examination before taking any further action against the two suspects. Relatives of Sugrim were very distraught at his death, noting that he was a frequent visitor to the quarrelling couple’s home. The body of the 37-year-old man is at the Lyken Funeral Home. He leaves to mourn his 14-yearold son, father, and six siblings.

Transport Minister Robeson Benn and US Embassy Charge d’Affaires

Bryan Hunt in discussion with other airport officials

Dead: Bharrat “Lusty” Sugrim

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali

Region 9 youths urged to take leadership roles for community development

The community of Maruranau in the Deep South, Rupununi in Region Nine, over the weekend, welcomed Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai to the Annual August games.

The minister commended past leaders of the communities in the Deep South for ensuring the continuance of the annual games which were initiated more than a decade ago. She pointed out that the games ensure that sports for young people remains on the agenda for the development of various communities even as Government continues to invest in the development of this category of citizens, including in the hinterland.

Development and advancement

The Amerindian Affairs Minister stated that one of the most recent developments, which is based on Community Support Officers (CSOs), is part of Government’s commitment to youth development and advancement, and investment in the lives of the Indigenous people.

It is aimed at developing young Amerindians in the various villages and communities through the creation of job opportunities and building capacity, and strengthening their individual interests and skills.

The Minister pointed to the programme’s success in Regions One and Eight and especially Region Nine. “We really appreciate the contribution that the CSOs have been providing to the various village councils,” Minister Sukhai noted.

These officers have been providing much needed support in various areas, such as health, education, gov-

Rodney CoI hears: GDF was derelict concerning Gregory Smith’s file

By Alexis Rodney

Head of the Guyana Defence Force’s Intelligence (G2 Unit), Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James on Tuesday told the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry that the missing personnel file of the historian’s suspected murderer William “Gregory” Smith was considered confidential and should have been kept under lock and key.

But instead, the document, which could have assisted Commissioners investigating the death of Dr Walter Rodney, in determining if his alleged assassin was indeed employed by the military, has mysteriously disappeared.

ernance, leadership, infrastructure, sports and community development, “I say to the young people, you are the leaders of tomorrow and your leadership will be very necessary in addressing the concerns and the development of your village and the future course of your village,” the Minister stated.

She also handed over a cheque valued $200,000 to Maruranau’s Toshao to assist in offsetting expenditures incurred as the host village, and several trophies which are intended for the Champion Female and Male footballers and for the winning male team.

The almost complete Presidential Grant Project for Marurawaunawa, Region Nine, a benab for community activities.

The games saw participation in volleyball, football, cricket, cycling, paddle boating, swimming and athletics and attracted participation from the villages of Parabara, Maruranau, Karaudaranau, Awarenau, Shea, Achiwib, Aishalton and Massaeknari.

During her visit to the Deep South, Minister Sukhai also visited the Presidential Grant Project which was the construction of a benab for community activities. The construction is almost complete.

The Minister as well visited the Wapishiana Language Institute in the community, where she was presented with a Scholar’s Dictionary and Grammar of the Wapishiana language. The dictionary was in 2009 presented as part of a package to the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology. It was compiled as part of a project funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

The now deceased Smith, who was implicated in the explosion that killed the historian and political activist some 34 years ago, was said to be a serving Sergeant and electronics expert attached to the Army during that time, although his service was denied by the then Chief-ofStaff, Brigadier Norman Mc Lean.

Mc Lean had told the Commission that Smith was not an active member of the Force and when a photocopied form with regimental number 4141 was presented to him by Counsel for the Commission, Glen Hanoman, the retired Brigadier concluded it was a cut-and-paste document.

Head of the GDF General Personnel Department (GPD), Lieutenant Colonel Patrick West had earlier this month informed the Commission about Smith’s missing file. West told the Commission that while he did not find a Gregory Smith, records indicate that there was a “William

Smith” in the Army during that period.

No record of dismissal

In fact, the records that he presented to the tribunal included a payroll, an alphabetic numbering ledger and the male numbering ledger all with regimental number 4141 corresponding with the name William Smith. The records, however, show that Smith received a salary until June of 1979. According to West, that does not mean that Smith had left the Army, it only indicates that the payroll records for the time of Smith’s death could not be found.

During his testimony, West said that the investigation, carried out by staff at the Army’s Personnel Department, showed that there was no record of the Sergeant being Struck Off Strength (SOS); Absent Without Leave (AWOL); deserting the Army or ever being dismissed.

He explained that if an officer is discharged, a notice is made, continuing that in excess of seven days, the officer’s salary is withheld. If the absence prolongs for 21 days, he is deemed AWOL. In such instance, the officers’ name will be published. However, no record of any such publication for Smith has been found.

Lieutenant Colonel James said his department, on June 13 last, had received a letter from the Army’s General Personnel Department, informing it of the missing file of officer 4141 W Smith.

Investigation

James, who is responsible for carrying out searches for the missing files of Army officers, said the investigation into the disappearance of Smith’s file is currently ongoing. So far, nothing has been uncovered.

Standing before the Commission, James told

the Tribunal that Smith’s file was considered confidential and should have been kept safe and secured in the Personnel Department. Asked what the procedure is if the Army were to deliberately destroy Smith’s file, James said there is no policy in the Army for the destruction of any personnel files. He said too that in order for any official to receive the personnel file of any member, he must go through the regular process of making a request and having that request seen and signed by the GPD. James was responding to queries by the lead Attorney for the Commission, Glen Hanoman, on whether it was possible for the Chiefof-Staff to order the removal of that particular file.

The announcement by the GDF came on the heels of the Guyana Police Force also declaring that a number of critical files from their investigation have gone missing.

Both the GDF and the Police Force were said to be highly politicised and controlled by the Forbes Burnhamled People’s National Congress Administration during the period before and after Rodney’s killing. Smith, who became an active member of the Force on June 27, 1975, had been accused of giving Dr Rodney a walkie-talkie with a bomb planted inside, which exploded and caused his death on June 13, 1980.

When news of the explosion spread, fingers were pointed at the accused which led investigators to the Army. But head of the military body at that time, Major General Mc Lean, had stated that there was no officer in the Army with that name.

Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James going through documents at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai receives a Scholar’s Dictionary and Grammar of the Wapishiana language from the Wapishiana Language Institute

Polish Priest Wesolowski may be extradited in sex abuse case

The Vatican has stripped the former papal envoy to The Dominican Republic of his diplomatic immunity, opening the way for him to be extradited to face sex abuse allegations in the country.

The Polish Priest Jozef Wesolowski was found guilty of sexually abusing young Dominican boys by the Vatican in June. Correspondents say the Caribbean state was unhappy at his immediate recalling by the Church when the claims surfaced.

He is the most senior Vatican official to be investigated for sex abuse.

Pope Francis has pledged a crackdown on clerics and employees of the Church who exploit minors, comparing their actions to a “satanic mass”.

Wesolowski had served as ambassador to The Dominican Republic for five years. In a statement late on Monday, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi denied that the Vatican had tried to cover up the case by immediately recalling Wesolowski.

He said the 66-yearold former Archbishop no longer had immunity and “might also be subjected to judicial procedures from the courts that could have specific jurisdiction over him”. Pope Francis wants to see justice done and the Vatican had moved without delay in its investigation, he insisted.

“Far from any intention of a cover-up, this action demonstrates the full and direct undertaking of the Holy See’s responsibility, even in such a serious and delicate case,” he added. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaican Police seize cocaine in container destined for Suriname

Jamaica Police Monday said they seized 267 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of J$145 million during a routine operation of container.

The Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division (TCND) and the Contraband Enforcement

Team said the container, which contained lumber, had arrived from Suriname en route to China.

The authorities said the cocaine was found in four black travelling bags wrapped in transparent plastic. No one has been arrested.

Earlier this month,

law enforcement authorities seized more than six million Jamaican dollars worth of marijuana in a container that arrived from Indonesia en route to Suriname.

They said the 1751 pounds of marijuana found at the Kingston Wharves, Port Bustamante were

wrapped in 370 parcels among household effects.

The Police also this month, seized approximately 910.69 pounds of compressed marijuana worth an estimated three million dollars at the Kingston Container Terminal. No arrests were made in relation to the seizures. (Antigua Observer)

St Lucia claims success in arbitration with US oil company

The St Lucia Government says it has won the latest round of ongoing arbitration with the US-based oil and gas exploration and production company, RSM Production Corporation.

A statement from the office of Prime Minister, Kenny Anthony stated that on August 13 the Arbitral Tribunal ordered RSM to post a guarantee of US$750,000 to ensure that it will pay St Lucia’s legal costs if it is ordered to do so at the end of the case.

“This is St Lucia’s second major success following the tribunal’s order on December 12, 2013, for RSM to pay all of the advances towards the administrative costs of the arbitration, which in all previous known cases have been paid 50 per cent by each party.

“Both of these orders are the first of their kinds in the history of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), which is administering the arbitration. The

three arbitrators are independent of ICSID but are

deciding the case under the ICSID Arbitration Rules, which are designed for disputes between host states and foreign investors. The Government is pleased to have achieved these unique successes,” the statement from the Office of the Prime Minister added.

The Coloradobased RSM Production Corporation, owned by USbased oil magnate, Jack Grynberg, had initiated the arbitration for breach of a multimillion dollar contract. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

J'ca Health Ministry moves to deal with deadly disease

The Health Ministry has started the refurbishing of a section of a public hospital in the Corporate Area to be used as an isolation unit to house persons showing symptoms of Ebola, should the deadly virus reach Jamaica’s shores.

Director of Emergency, Disaster Management and Special Services, Dr Marion Bullock DuCasse said preparation for such a unit started even before the Ebola’s outbreak, as part of Jamaica’s readiness to deal with incidents of cholera.

“We went through training sessions in our preparedness for cholera and it is the same precautions that will be utilised; each hospital will be able to operate on the

basis that we say if you have one suspected case where would you put them or if you have five or 10 or so on,” she explained.

Dr Bullock DuCasse and a team from the Ministry, headed by Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson, were addressing Jamaica Observer journalists at the newspaper’s weekly Monday Exchange at the newspaper’s head offices in Kingston.

“We are having a workshop today (Monday) to meet with senior health teams from all hospitals and health departments from a wide cross section of categories and we are giving them the required information to see what gaps exist,” she said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

The Bahamas Government press officer dies after being shot

multiple times

The Bahamas Government has paid tribute to Latore Mackey, the former Deputy Director of The Bahamas Information Service (BIS), who was found dead on Monday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell said he was “saddened” by the murder, adding that Mackey, on joining the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) worked “like a fish in water.”

“He carried out excellent work at The Bahamas Information Services and in the Office of the Prime Minister. He was the future of our party. Now we have lost him all too soon,” Mitchell said in a statement.

Media reports said that Mackey was shot “multiple times in his government registered vehicle”. According to the Nassau Guardian “sources close to the investigation told The Guardian that the crime scene yielded several clues that have raised questions for officers.”

Police are working on the theory that an argument inside a nearby club may have lead to his death. He was the owner of Blue Reef Sports Bar and Lounge in the capital.

The Guardian reports that “Mackey was reportedly found with several thousand dollars in cash on him when officers arrived on the scene.” Numerous people took to social media to share their shock and sadness at Mackey’s murder. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

UNDP: Poverty down in Latin America and the Caribbean

More than 56 million people have been lifted out of poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean in recent years, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

A new UNDP report says poverty levels in the period from 2000-2012 fell from 41.7 per cent to 25.3 per cent of the population.

But despite the progress, it warned that some

200 million people, or 37.8 per cent of the population, remained vulnerable.

The UNDP has called for more investment in social protection programmes.

It calculates poverty as living with less than US$4 (£2.40) a day.

“In Latin America and the Caribbean, poverty has been reduced by almost half in the last decade, and the middle class rose from 22 per cent of the population in 2000 to 34 per cent in 2012,” UNDP Director

for Latin America and the Caribbean Jessica Faieta said.

“Despite these achievements, a very high share of the population is living in constant uncertainty.

“They are neither classified as living in poverty, nor have they gained access to a stable middle class status,” she said.

The people living on between US$4 and US$10 (£2.40-£6) a day went up by 3.4 per cent between 2000 and 2012. (Excerpt from BBC

Jozef Wesolowski, 66, was found guilty of abusing Dominican children by a Vatican tribunal in June

Latore Mackey, the former Deputy Director of The Bahamas Information Service was murdered on Monday

Dr Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of St Lucia

The UNDP said poverty went down especially in Bolivia, South America’s poorest nation

Around the world

Gaza conflict: Israel and Palestinians agree long-term truce

Along-term ceasefire has been agreed between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. The truce, ending seven weeks of fighting that has left more than 2200 people dead – mostly Palestinians, was brokered by Egypt and began at 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT).

Hamas said the deal represented a “victory for the resistance”. Israel is to ease its blockade of Gaza to allow in aid and building materials, Israeli officials said.

Indirect talks on more contentious issues, including Israel’s call for militant groups in Gaza to disarm, will begin in Cairo within a month.

The US gave the full backing to the deal, with State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying:

“We strongly support the ceasefire announcement.”

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also welcomed the truce. But in a statement via his spokesman, Ban warned that “any

peace effort that does not tackle the root causes of the crisis will do little more than set the stage for the next cycle of violence”.

The breakthrough came as both Israel and the

India doctors remove foetus left inside mother for 36 years

Doctors in India have removed the skeleton of a foetus that had been inside a woman for 36 years in what is believed to be the world’s longest ectopic pregnancy, a doctor has said.

The 60-year-old woman became pregnant at the age of 24 but suffered a miscarriage because the foetus had been growing outside of her uterus, the doctor told AFP on Monday.

The woman, from a poor rural area of central India, was “terrified” of having surgery at the time to re-

move the remains of the foetus, and instead sought medication for the pain at a local clinic.

Although the pain gradually subsided, it returned years later, forcing the woman to seek medical help in a city hospital, Murtaza Akhtar said.

Doctors felt a lump on her lower right abdomen and feared it could be cancer – but further tests and scans revealed a calcified mass. “Once we saw the scans, our first reaction was ‘what are we dealing with’? It was actually a matured

skeleton encapsulated in a calcified sac,” Akhtar said.

“A 60-year-old woman with a foetus lying in her abdomen for 36 years is a medical marvel. It’s something we had never heard about.” An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes.

A team of doctors in Nagpur successfully performed surgery to remove the mass that was lodged between the woman’s uterus, intestines and bladder.

(Excerpt from MSN)

China leaders discuss Hong Kong’s political future

On July 1, tens of thousands marched in support of democracy in the territory

China’s top leaders meet this week for talks on Hong Kong’s political future.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress is holding a weeklong session to discuss how Hong Kong picks its leader.

Beijing says Hong Kong residents can elect their leader in 2017, but critics expect Beijing to screen candidates via a nominating committee.

Pro-democracy activists have pledged large-scale civil disobedience if an acceptable

agreement is not reached.

The Standing Committee is meeting from 25-31 August, a statement said last week. Lawmakers would deliberate on a report from Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung on whether to revise election methods for the territory’s top job, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Leung was selected by a 1200-member committee in 2012, but in 2017 Hong Kong residents will be allowed to vote for their leader. At the heart of the row, however, is

whether Beijing will require candidates for the position of chief executive to obtain support from more than 50 per cent of a nominating committee in order to get his or her name on the ballot.

Most expect that committee to be made up of proBeijing businessmen and individuals, thereby giving mainland authorities an effective veto over candidates.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Palestinians continued to trade fire. A last-minute volley of mortar shells from Gaza killed an Israeli civilian and wounded six others in Eshkol Regional Council, medics told the BBC. (Excerpt from BBC Bews)

Russian medical scientists assist Guinea to fight Ebola

Government of the Russian Federation in connection with the ongoing proliferation in West Africa Ebola fever sent the specialised anti-epidemic team with two mobile complexes, equipped with modern diagnostic equipment to the Republic of Guinea in response to a direct request from Guinea’s Government.

Russian virologists and bacteriologists arrived in Conakry on August 22, and began to work in coordination with local health authorities and WHO representatives. Medics will operate in two camps.

Russian scientists are

already working on a vaccine against Ebola that has proved to be successful. Russia’s Vector State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology, developed Reaferon-Lipint several years ago.

This vaccine proved effective in dealing with Ebola virus during laboratory tests. Now it is hoped it can be brought to Guinea to save the lives of those infected with the deadly virus.

Russian active participation in the international collective efforts will make a significant contribution to the eradication of outbreaks of this disease. (Excerpt from Russian Federation Embassy in Guyana)

Ukraine conflict: Poroshenko and Putin in key crisis talks

The Ukrainian and Russian presidents have held their first direct talks to discuss the crisis in eastern Ukraine, at a summit in Belarus.

Prior to their one-to-one meeting, Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin also took part in discussions with the EU’s top diplomat Catherine Ashton.

The summit comes after 10 Russian soldiers were seized in Ukraine’s east.

More than 2000 people have died in fighting between Ukrainian forces and separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.

The two regions declared independence from Kiev following Russia’s annexation of the southern Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. Poroshenko and his Russian counterpart met behind closed doors on Tuesday evening in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.

Their meeting comes as part of a summit taking place under the auspices of the Moscow-led Eurasian Customs Union, which also includes Belarus and Kazakhstan. Baroness Ashton described the six-

hour multilateral discussions held earlier in the day as “positive”.

“There was a sense in which the onus was on everyone to see if they could do their best to try to resolve this,” she said.

“We called for a ceasefire linked to the proper management of borders, the importance of ensuring that humanitarian support reached people in the proper manner in full line with international law, and of course the political process and outreach that needs to take place.”

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Iceland prepares for “volcano from hell”

Iceland continues to prepare for a possible volcanic eruption. Bardarbunga volcano, buried under one of Europe’s largest glaciers, is rumbling to life. Tuesday morning, it was hit by a 5.7-magnitude quake.

“This could be the volcano from hell,” said CBS News contributor and City

University of New York Physics Professor Michio Kaku. “To quote Yogi Berra, ‘It’s deja vu all over again.’ Remember the paralysis from four years ago? Millions of passengers being stranded with the threat of airplanes falling from the sky?”

In 2010, a volcanic eruption in Iceland created an

ash cloud nine miles high.

The plume spread across Europe, grounding 100,000 flights, affecting eight million travellers and costing airlines US$1.7 billion.

Kaku says this eruption could happen within the next few days, especially considering the latest earthquake. “We have a new threat, and just this morn-

ing, a 5.7 earthquake rumbled across the glacier, so scientists are very concerned that a volcanic eruption could soon be happening. Maybe in the next few days, they’re not sure.” Because the volcano is located under a glacier, Kaku says the resulting ash would be more hazardous to air travellers. (Excerpt from Yahoo! News)

The ceasefire announcement was celebrated by Palestinians in Gaza City

Vladimir Putin (left) and Petro Poroshenko shook hands at the start of the summit

wednesdAY, August 27, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

Finance

Minister’s referral to Privileges Committee: Govt still to decide whether to challenge ruling

Government is still to decide whether it will be challenging the decision by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman to refer Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh to the Committee of Privileges over alleged breaches in the spending of funds.

On July 24, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall had indicated that the Government would be exploring its options, but more than a month later a decision has not been made.

On Tuesday, Minister Nandlall told Guyana Times that the Donald Ramotar Administration has not decided what course of action would be taken. Questioned whether a decision would be made before the parliamentary recess ends in October, he said “I believe so.”

The Speaker had ruled that a prima facie case has been made out against the Finance Minister in connection with the $4.5 billion which was spent from the national coffers despite stern objections from the Opposition-dominated National Assembly.

Trotman delivered the ruling in July following the submission of a motion by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Shadow

Finance Minister Carl Greenidge which sought to commit Dr Singh to the Committee for appropriate sanctions to be imposed.

In his motion, Greenidge said although the National Assembly in April 2014 did not approve several programmes contained in the Budget, the Finance Minister on June 19 submitted Financial Paper No 1 of 2014 (Statement of Excess on the Current and Capital Estimates totalling $4,553,761,991, for the period ended June 16, 2014) seeking the House’s approval of this expenditure.

Speaker’s ruling

Trotman, in his ruling, said that the 2014 National Budget was presented and dealt with in accordance with the ruling of the Acting Chief Justice filed on January 29.

It was stated too that the Finance Minister adopted the Committee of Supply’s recommendations for “amendments” to the Estimates and amended the Estimates in accordance with the ruling. “This was done when he (the Finance Minister) reported to the House after the Committee of Supply’s review.”

Subsequently, the House approved the Appropriation Bill No 10 of 2014, as amended by the Finance Minister. The Speaker further pointed out that “His Excellency, the President subsequently assented to the Appropriation Bill. This then became an Act of Parliament (No 10 of 2014) giving authorisation for spending from the Consolidated Fund.”

Despite this Appropriation Bill being passed into law, Trotman said that Minister Singh proceeded to spend unauthorised funds.

But hours after this rul-

ing by Trotman, Minister Nandlall said the motion was purely a legal one.

“It concerns the interpretation of several provisions of the Constitution, including Articles 217 and 218. Article 217 essentially provides when and in what circumstances monies can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund.”

He explained that Article 218 creates the avenue needed to withdraw monies from the Consolidated

Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman

Fund outside of the limitation imposed by Article 217. According to him, Article 218 is but an exception to Article 217. “That is precisely why the wording of Article 218 succeeds the words of Article 217. These very two Articles were examined by the Honourable Chief Justice in the Budget Cut case and interpreted along the same vein that I have articulated,” the Legal Affairs Minister stressed.

Based on his argument, he opined that it was hardly a matter of “privilege” but rather one of law and constitutional interpretation.

“The simple truth is, that, a Member of the House cannot act in conformity with the Constitution and at the same time, violate a privilege,” the Legal Affairs Minister said.

GDF Chief receives Brazilian peacemaker medal

The Office of the Brazilian Defence, Naval and Army Attaché commemorated the Brazilian Army’s Soldier Day at the Grand Coastal Hotel on the East Coast of Demerara last Friday during which Guyana Defence Force Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips was presented with the Pacificador (Peacemaker) Medal.

The Pacificador Medal was created as a result of Regulation No 345 of August 25, 1953, as an evocation to the homage paid to Luiz Alves De Lima E Silva, the Duke of Caxias, on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of his birth. The Government of the Republic, in 1954, authorised the use of this decoration on military uniforms.

According to a GDF statement from 1955, it was transformed in honour to be conferred to military and civilian personnel, Brazilians and foreigners, whom have rendered notable service to the Army, elevating the prestige of the institution or the development of the relations of friendship between the Brazilian Army and other nations.

In 1962, a new decoration of honour was added, the Pacificador Medal with the Palm, to reward Brazilian Military, who, in times of peace, have distinguished themselves by personal acts of unselfishness, courage and bravery, at the risk of life. Among the invitees were His

Excellency, the Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Guyana, Lineu Pupo de Paula; Minister Sabine Nadja Popoff; the families of the Brazilian officers serving in Guyana; members of the Diplomatic Community, Officers of the Guyana Defence Force, and a few distinguished guests.

Houses of Justice Project serving citizens well – Minister Rohee

Launched in Regions Two and Three late last year, the Home Affairs Ministry’s Houses of Justice Project is progressing smoothly, and to date has served over 600 citizens – 126 in Region Two and 99 in Region Three. Houses of Justice are multi-agency service centres and are geared to address the pressing social needs of citizens at the community level, thereby im-

Groups to launch community-based family planning initiative

The Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) in collaboration with Women Across Differences (WAD), Help and Shelter, the Anglican Diocese and Artistes In Direct Support, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), will launch a community-based family planning initiative today at the Regency Suites Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

In a release, the GRPA said Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) are elemental to the health and wellbeing of women and

men and essential to a fit and productive society.

The initiative seeks to promote family planning education, address cultural barriers and dispel myths regarding family planning. It will increase access to services and resources to rural and urban communities in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.

This includes training of community family planning facilitators, health workers and professionals attached to community health centres; faith-based organisations, youth, men, women and other community stakeholders including local government representatives.

The initiative seeks to address the situation of a high rate of maternal mortality and morbidity as well as the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Guyana. Guyana’s contraceptives prevalence rate among women aged 15 to 49 years old in Guyana is 43 per cent, showing an unmet family planning need of 29 per cent of Guyana’s population.

The project aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of health care workers to improve access to services and information.

It will also support the implementation

of a community-based National Family Planning Initiative.

Through this initiative, women, men and youth will be enabled to develop a comprehensive approach to family planning and be empowered to make wise choices regarding their future and present situation, thereby having a chance to live more meaningful and productive lives.

GRPA will also be soon rolling out a programme on Age Appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education to address the problems of teenage pregnancy and sexual violence affecting adolescents and youths.

proving access to public service. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), this project is part of the Community Action Component of the Government of Guyana and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)funded Citizen Security Programme (CSP) aimed at ensuring that citizens are provided with services to assist in the elimination of social tensions.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said the intention of the Houses of Justice Project is to provide basic social services in the communities so that residents no longer have to bear the financial burden to travel to the City to access them.

The Minister said that issues relating to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS),

birth certificates, and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc are the most frequently raised areas and noted that “the whole idea is to avoid the royal runaround”.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with a number of key agencies to provide basic services to residents. These agencies include: Guyana Police Force; General Register Office; NIS; GPL;, the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security; and the Community Policing Secretariat.

A new component was recently introduced, whereby parents desirous of sending their child/children for extra tutoring can now do so at the Houses of Justice. In this regard, the Ministry has hired retired teachers/headteachers and other seasoned officials who have been in the teaching profession and are versed in education delivery. Moreover, the Ministry is currently in the process of negotiating with the IDB for a second CSP (the first ended in June). In the second instalment, provisions will be made to have this project extended to other regions. Houses of Justice have been established at Charity, Dartmouth, Suddie, Aurora, and Kabakaburi in Region Two and Parika, Zeelugt, Klien/Pouderoyen, Canal Number One, and Patentia in Region Three.

Colonel Ronaldo Pacheco, Brazilian Defence, Naval and Army Attaché pinning the Pacificador Medal onto Brigadier General Mark Anthony Phillips’ uniform

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

Sukhai leads outreach on LCDS to Region Eight

Residents of Kato and other surrounding villages in Region Eight were part of a countrywide Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) outreach on Monday spearheaded by Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai and Head of the Office of Climate Change (OCC), Gitanjali Chandarpal.

The meeting was held at the Kato Nursery and Primary School building, and residents from Paramakatoi, Kanapang, Kurukubaru, Kamana, Monkey Mountain, and other villages came out in their numbers to participate.

In her address to the gathering, Chandarpal went into details of climate change and the LCDS project, explaining what cli-

Citing some of the impacts climate change and global warming have had on Guyana; Chandarpal spoke of the 2005 flood, which was precipitated by an extreme rainfall pattern. In addition, she said as part of Guyana’s effort to address the issue of climate change, several partnerships have been formed and initiatives implemented. Some of these include the Guyana-Norway agreement, which thus far has garnered US$115 million. The OCC Head pointed out that great emphasis is being placed on adaptation and mitigation, and residents were informed of ways they can play a role in addressing climate change. With Guyana having a landmass that is 85 per cent forested land, Chandarpal said

whom they serve on national and other issues that can affect them. She pointed out that it was a norm for citizens to hold Government to high expectations, but they too have an important role to play in climate change.

Sukhai noted that the indigenous communities should stand up against those who seek to abuse the forest and the environment. Speaking directly to the issue of mining and foresting in the hinterland communities, the Minister told the residents that it was their right to ensure that these trades are carried out in a sustainable way. Guyana’s LCDS was introduced in 2009 by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, and sets out a new development path for the country to mitigate

global climate change and in return receiving payments for its forest to use for the growth and development of the country.

Since the launch of the Strategy, there have been intense consultation and awareness programmes. The objectives are not only geared towards informing stakeholders of the LCDS, but also gathering their concerns, their inputs and any comments that they would have to inform the Strategy. Ongoing stakeholder awareness sessions on the LCDS have since been conducted by the OCC throughout the years. Prior to the Region Eight consultation, there was one held in Region Nine earlier this month.

that the country has maintained a generally low deforestation rate over the years and emphasised that sustainable forestry practices are important.

In her remarks, Minister Sukhai spoke to the issue of the LCDS not being discriminatory, as some sections of society would want to suggest. The Minister underscored the important role that the indigenous people of Guyana can play in addressing the issue of climate change and global warming, as they have been “good stewards” of the forest for decades.

mate change is, while noting that over the past century there has been a significant change in weather patterns all over the world. Climate change has been occurring rapidly, creating problems globally.

She said with climate change occurring and the impacts being felt around the world and locally, each country and citizen can play a role in fighting climate change. It was also pointed out that as a result of global climate change, the world has experienced an overall one-degree rise in temperature over the last century, and this can grow to a fourdegree rise over the next few years if strong action is not taken.

Minister Sukhai emphasised that the LCDS was geared towards benefiting all Guyanese, and noted that some may want to suggest that only the Amerindian people and villages were benefiting, but this was not the case. For example, one component of the LCDS involves the Cunha Canal, which will see the canal serving several communities on the coastland and will aid in drainage and irrigation issues. In addition, the canal will serve numerous farming communities.

The Minister also took the opportunity to implore leaders to play a greater role in educating those

APNU: Take back your communities from bandits

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson on Tuesday urged citizens to take back their communities from bandits.

Speaking at the Leader of the Opposition Office, Ferguson bemoaned the fact that youths are falling victims to criminal activities, in particular gun violence.

“Since the commencement of the year, Guyanese have recognised and continue to endure high levels of criminal activities perpetrated on their fellow brothers and sisters which in most cases lead to innocent lives being lost,” the parliamentarian said.

Reference was made to the August 23, 2014 shooting which has left a mother of five dead. Forty-eightyear-old Debbie Blackman was killed while on duty at Delicious Chinese Restaurant during a failed robbery in Georgetown. Two suspects are now in custody. Ferguson said this incident should have never happened. “What was most ironic, (after the incident), her employers closed the restaurant door making it impossible for civic-minded persons to render assistance to the wounded woman. Rather, she was left lying on the floor of the restaurant for over an hour until the arrival of members of the Guyana Police Force,” she complained.

But Blackman was just one of the many persons who

have suffered at the hands of bandits since the commencement of the year. Of recent, Mark London of Grove, East Bank Demerara was shot dead by bandits while he was on his way to work, and Marvin Cumbermack suffered a similar fate as he was making his way home after visiting relatives in Sophia.

On August 17, 43-yearold businessman Ashook Ragghu was also fatally shot in his vehicle while in the vicinity of Vlissengen Road. The bandits who robbed the businessman were reportedly on a Honda CG motorcycle at the time of committing the act. According to Ferguson, “CG motorcycles” seem to be the favoured mode of transport for criminals.

“APNU youth representatives are of the view that emphasis on the increase in gun crimes is not given priority by the Minister responsible for public safety and security,” she opined.

E-cigarette report for discussion at upcoming WHO confab

The report on “Electronic nicotine delivery systems” of which electronic cigarettes are the most common prototype, is on the agenda of the 6th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), being held from October 13-18, in Moscow.

E-cigarettes and similar devices are frequently marketed by manufacturers as aids to quit smoking, or as healthier alternatives to tobacco, and require global regulation in the interest of public health, this new World Health Organisation (WHO) report states.

The report states that while e-cigarettes represent an “evolving frontier filled with promise and threat for tobacco control,” regulations are needed to: Impede ecigarette promotion to nonsmokers and young people; Minimise potential health risks to e-cigarette users and nonusers; Prohibit unproven health claims about e-cigarettes; and Protect ex-

isting tobacco control efforts from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry.

It explains that while additional research is needed on multiple areas of e-cigarette use, regulations are required now to address health concerns, in particular for: Advertising: An appropriate government body must restrict e-cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorship, to ensure that it does not target youth and non-smokers or people who do not currently use nicotine.

Indoor use: legal steps should be taken to end use of e-cigarettes indoors in public and work places. Evidence suggests that exhaled e-cigarette aerosol increases the background air level of some toxicants, nicotine and particles.

Since 2005, the e-cigarette industry has grown from one manufacturer in China to an estimated US$3 billion global business with 466 brands, a market in which the tobacco in-

dustry is taking a greater stake. The report highlights WHO’s concern about the role of the tobacco industry in this market.

The regulations outlined in the report include a ban on e-cigarettes with fruit, candy-like and alcoholdrink flavours until it can be proved they are not attractive to children and adolescents.

E-cigarettes have been marketed in almost 8000 different flavours, and there is concern they will serve as a gateway to nicotine addiction and, ultimately, smoking, particularly for young people. Experimentation with e-cigarettes is increasing rapidly among adolescents, with e-cigarette use in this group doubling from 2008 to 2012, the report says.

Among other conclusions, the document found there was currently insufficient evidence to conclude that e-cigarettes help users quit smoking or not. Therefore, WHO currently recommends that smokers

should first be encouraged to quit smoking and nicotine addiction by using a combination of already-approved treatments.

In addition, the report says existing evidence shows that e-cigarette aerosol is not merely “water vapour” as is often claimed in the marketing of these products. While they are likely to be less toxic than conventional cigarettes, e-cigarette use poses threats to adolescents and foetuses of pregnant mothers using these devices.

E-cigarettes also increase the exposure of non-smokers and bystanders to nicotine and a number of toxicants, the report says. The COP is the central organ and governing body of the Convention and comprises 179 Parties as of today. The WHO FCTC was adopted by the World Health Assembly on May 21, 2003 and entered into force on February 27, 2005. It has since become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties in United Nations history.

APNU MP Annette Ferguson

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai who was also part of the Low Carbon Development Strategy outreach at Kato, Region Eight

Head of Office of Climate Change, Gitanjali Chandarpal during her address to the gathering at Kato, Region Eight

A section of the large gathering at the Kato Nursery School who attended the LCDS outreach

GCB developmental programme reaches Linden

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) developmental programme reached Linden when members of the Board met representatives of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association and Linden at the Bayrock ground on Sunday last.

Honourary Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie, and GCB Territorial Developmental Officer, Colin Stuart, met with Regional Chairman of Region 10, Sharma Solomon; President of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association, Rohan Sarjoo; President of the Upper Demerara Cricket Committee, Lancelot Easton, among others to discuss the growth of cricket in Linden.

Sanasie stated that Easton continuously petitioned the GCB for help and for the past 15 years, and whenever he went to Bayrock ground, he saw cricket playing or some sort of developmental work ongoing which he is happy

about (a cricket match was played on Sunday between Bayrock and Sandpipers).

He added that the GCB finds it necessary to aid in

the progress of the sport in Region 10.

“As part of the GCB developmental programme, we have been going around

the country assisting clubs and associations to expand and develop cricket in various ways. Today we are giving $250,000 to Bayrock

club to develop cricket, and $250,000 to the regional authority to partner and assist the Cricket Committee with cricket programmes. Additionally, we are now donating six cricket bats and five boxes of cricket balls with more equipment to follow,” said Sanasie.

The GCB Secretary also pledged four truckloads of special dirt to rebuild the cricket wickets at Bayrock Ground.

Soloman thanked the GCB for its donation and promised to put the contribution to proper and meaningful use.

“Cricket has always been a feature in sports in Region 10, and this is one of the most impressive moments in cricket in this region. We are very grateful. On behalf of the many cricketers and potential cricketers, thanks for this gesture. We can assure you that your assistance will be used wisely by the authority for cricket here,” posited Solomon.

Easton said this effort

from the GCB is a step towards development, and he is hopeful that more players from Linden will represent Demerara and end up representing Guyana in the near future.

“This is the best we have gotten from any cricket fraternity in Guyana for the 35 years I have been in cricket. We have a lot of good young cricketers but only one (Stephon Browne) managed to make the Demerara U-19 team this year. We are looking to get more young players involved. So we are extremely thankful to the GCB for giving us a push. This is the beginning of better things for cricket in Linden,” stated Easton.

President of the East Bank Cricket Association, Rohan Sarjoo thanked the GCB for assisting Linden, Farm and Providence. The clubs at Farm and Providence, according to Sarjoo, also received reasonable donations from the GCB to improve their facilities.

Road to Mexico commences with fitness training

Several overseas-based players are expected home soon to join the squad in training. The female squad has also begun training at the National Park under the instruction of senior player Elwen Chase. – money and cricket equipment donated

AStrength and Conditioning Instructor Barrington Browne.

Each club affiliated to the GRFU, including University of Guyana Wolves, Yamaha Caribs, Pepsi Hornets and Guyana Defence Force, was invited to provide a maxi-

mum of ten (10) male players to participate in the training sessions.

The attendance at the training sessions will be used by the Selection Committee as one of the criteria for the national sevens team selection to Mexico.

Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon receiving a cheque and a cricket bat from Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie, in the presence of Lancelot Easton, Rohan Sarjoo, GCB TDO Colin Stuart and other officials and cricketers

The female squad under the instruction of senior player Elwen Chase

Some of the male players in fitness training at the National Park on Tuesday

Guyana Cup has potential for sports tourism – President Ramotar

The annual Guyana Cup horse race has the potential to boost tourism, according to President Donald Ramotar who called on Berbicians to live up to the old tradition of horse racing.

“This is more that a sporting event… it is part of our culture

on the Corentyne. Events like these we have to continue to promote because it has the potential to be a major tourist attraction,” said the Head of State who was on hand to witness the largest horse race event in Guyana on Sunday last.

BCB Diamond Jubilee Celebration: 1939-2014…

U-19 clash set for Sunday at Area H ground

The 75th anniversary celebration of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) officially kicks off on Sunday with a special 20/20 cricket match at the Area H ground. The game would feature the Lower Corentyne Under-19 team versus the Rest of Berbice Under-19 team as the BCB seeks to expose some of its brightest youth talents to Berbicians as it celebrates the historic milestone.

The Lower Corentyne team would be led by national Under-19 all-rounder Sharaz Ramcharran and would feature players from Rose Hall Town Pepsi, Albion and Port Mourant clubs, while the Rest of Berbice team consists of players from Upper Corentyne, New Amsterdam/ Canje and West Berbice.

Apart from Ramcharran, Lower Corentyne would be spearheaded by national players Akshay Homraj, Balchand Baldeo, Brandon Prashad and Adrian Sukwah.

Rest of Berbice will be led by Berbice Under-19 wicketkeeper Hakeem Hind, with West Indies Under-19 open-

er Shimron Hetmeyer as his Vice-captain. Support would come from Nial Smith, Parmanand Ramchan and Leon Andrew. The winning team and the Man-of-theMatch would receive trophies compliments of Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall. The match will bowl off at noon.

Lower Corentyne Under-19 team reads: Balchand Baldeo, Adrian Sukwah, Arif Chan, Brandon Prashad, David Latchaya, Sharaz Ramcharran, Ritesh Omroa, Akshay Homraj, Daniel Lewis, Viendra Gooniah, Nicholas Cameron, Manoj Loknauth, Dimitri Cameron, Sylus Tyndall and Azam Khan.

Rest of Berbice Under-19 team reads: Shimron Hetmyer, Leon Andrews, Martin Singh, Avishkar Sewkissoon, Nick Ramsaroop, Naresh Deo, Jerome Andrews, Hakeem Hinds, Deon Esau, Parmanand Ramdhan, Nicholas Seenarine, Grisean Grant, Nial Smith and Kassim Khan.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Anil Nandlall expressed similar sentiments at the Guyana Cup which was held at the Port Mourant Turf Club. Addressing the several thousands that attended the one-day horse race meet, Nandlall said events like the Guyana Cup could help to

boost Guyana’s image as a tourism destination. “What we have to do is to market it is a tourism product.”

The Legal Affairs Minister also made an appeal to the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) to put the necessary systems in place to grow the sport. “I

hope that by next year there will be more regulations in place for horse racing in Guyana.”

The lack of sufficient regulations to safeguard all those who participate in the multimillion-dollar sport has resulted in the sport regressing. (Andrew Carmichael)

BCB’s Diamond Jubilee celebration bowls off on Sunday

The Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) Diamond Jubilee celebrations will start on Sunday with a religious service at the St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church. The service would be conducted by Father Ramesh Vanan, SJ and special prayers would be offered for Berbice cricket, its players and administrators.

The highlight of the launching would be the hosting of a special legends dinner and presentation

ceremony at the St Francis Training Centre located in Port Mourant. President Donald Ramotar has been invited to deliver the fea ture address.

Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony has also been invited and is slat ed to be part of the pro gramme, along with Regional Chairmen Bindraban Bisnauth and David Armogan of Regions Five and Six re

Berlin to unveil Olympic Games concept

Berlin, which last hosted the Olympics in 1936, will unveil its concept for the 2024 Games on September. 1 and will follow up with a city referendum as Germany has still to decide on a bid between Hamburg and the capital for those Games or 2028.

“We will answer the questionnaire of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and then we will unveil our concept on September. 1,” outgoing Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit told reporters on Tuesday.

“I am confident we will answer those questions well.

“After that there will be a vote for all Berliners to decide. We want the widest possible support in this.”

The International Olympic Committee, which has seen low public support for some of the 2022 winter Games candidates, is eager to ensure future bidders having local citizens on their

side to ensure smooth preparations and enthusiasm during the world’s biggest multi-sport event.

The DOSB has yet to set a deadline for a decision on which German city will be put forward for the summer Games in 10 years or if it is going to go ahead with a candidacy for the 2028 Olympics.

Bidding for the 2024 Games starts in 2015 with a decision to be made in 2017.

No city has officially announced a bid yet but several, including Los Angeles and Boston from the United States as well as Paris, Istanbul, Qatar’s Doha and Durban in South Africa, are among potential candidates.

The 2016 Olympics will be held in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 summer Games in Tokyo. Berlin last hosted the Olympics in Nazi-ruled Germany in 1936 and its Games stadium is still in full operation today.

spectively. Chairman of the BCB Diamond Jubilee Committee, Hilbert Foster, will give a review of the month long celebrations and also the developments over the last 75 years.

During the function, the BCB would be honouring Sam Suchit, Oscar Ramjeet, Bobby Deonarine and former West Indies ODI player Milton Pydana for their outstanding contribution to Berbice cricket.

The BCB will also be honouring all its 17 Test

cricketers with special gifts, while two cricket books, written by former BCB Secretary Mortimer George, would also be launched as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Every guest attending the ceremony would receive Diamond Jubilee souvenirs.

Foster is once again urging all Berbice Test cricketers, former national senior players and outstanding administrators to make a special effort to attend.

Man Utd crash out of League Cup

Louis van Gaal admitted after the match that his players “did their utmost best and could do no more”

Louis van Gaal’s miserable start to life as Manchester United boss continued with a massive cup shock at the hands of League One MK Dons.

Playing in the League Cup second round for the first time in 19 years, United were mauled by an energetic and clinical performance from the side two divisions below them, who were playing in front of the biggest crowd in their 10-year history.

Four-time winners United did not register a shot on target until the 72nd minute against the team who were only founded in 2004.

Will Grigg scored after a Jonny Evans mistake and then chested in an audacious second after the break.

Benik Afobe, on loan from Arsenal, added two of his own to complete an embarrassing rout for the Premier League giants. Having finished seventh in the league last season, the Red Devils entered the second round for the first time since 1995 and with no European football this season, Van Gaal’s only chance of silverware this season will be in the FA Cup and Premier League.

But after a defeat by Swansea on the opening day of the Premier League season and Saturday’s draw at Sunderland, Van Gaal’s reign at Old Trafford will come under even further scrutiny after this lifeless display.

President Donald Ramotar Anil Nandlall

The finish of the E and Lower class race at the Guyana Cup on Sunday

Sharaz Ramcharran

Shimron Hetmyer

Hilbert Foster

Guyana Police 'brutalise' Suriname lawmen

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) male footballers were merciless against their fellow lawmen from Suriname when they clashed on the Number Five Ground in West Berbice on Saturday.

In the one sided affair, GPF thrashed Nickerie Politie Sport (PSV) 11-2.

The visitors were on a tour in Berbice at the weekend. They had entered Sunday’s game bruised and battered following a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Rosignol United on Friday.

At half time, the writing was on the wall as the visitors trailed 4-1. When PSV returned to the field for the remainder of the game they

fared no better but still kept their heads up which allowed them to score a second goal. This was, however, overlooked as the locals netted a further seven goals in the second half.

PSV were initially on a goodwill tour to Guyana to take on Cougars Football Club of New Amsterdam but last minute changes saw them facing the West Berbice team, Rosignol United, which included five national players.

The Surinamese lawmen are expected to host the GPF’s male football team in a return encounter shortly. (Andrew Carmichael)

Berlin to unveil Olympic Games concept

Berlin, which last hosted the Olympics in 1936, will unveil its concept for the 2024 Games on Sept. 1 and will follow up with a city referendum as Germany has still to decide on a bid between Hamburg and the capital for those Games or 2028.

“We will answer the questionnaire of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and then we will unveil our concept on Sept. 1,” out-

going Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit told reporters on Tuesday.

“I am confident we will answer those questions well.

“After that there will be a vote for all Berliners to decide. We want the widest possible support in this.”

The International Olympic Committee, which has seen low public support for some of the 2022 winter Games candidates, is eager to ensure future bidders having local citizens on their

side to ensure smooth preparations and enthusiasm during the world’s biggest multi-sports event.

The DOSB has yet to set a deadline for a decision on which German city will be put forward for the summer Games in 10 years or if it is going to go ahead with a candidacy for the 2028 Olympics.

Bidding for the 2024 Games starts in 2015 with a decision to be made in 2017.

No city has officially an-

nounced a bid yet but several, including Los Angeles and Boston from the United States as well as Paris, Istanbul, Qatar’s Doha and Durban in South Africa, are among potential candidates.

The 2016 Olympics will be held in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 summer Games in Tokyo. Berlin last hosted the Olympics in Nazi-ruled Germany in 1936 and its Games stadium is still in full operation today.

(Reuters)

no retaliation over collision − Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has promised not to retaliate against teammate Nico Rosberg at the Italian Grand Prix. The German driver will not face disciplinary action from Formula 1 governing body the FIA over his crash with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton claimed Rosberg admitted in a team meeting to causing the incident on the second lap at the Belgian Grand Prix “on purpose”. Rosberg has disputed that but the FIA will not get involved in the situation.

Now Hamilton, 29, has said: “I will always put

the team first and I won’t take anything into my own hands. The weekend was damaging. I don’t know how I’m going to get back those 29 points, but what I do know is I’ve a great group of people behind me.

“The poor guys on my

side of the garage have had quite a lot of bad races.”

Hamilton said he would “have to make sure we’re not racing wheel-to-wheel” to try and avoid any potential further conflict with championship leader Rosberg.

An FIA spokesman told BBC Sport: “The FIA will not intervene in this issue. “Only a ‘new element’ that would have appeared after the results became final could justify us opening an investigation.

“A comment alleged to have been made in an internal briefing and later denied by the team itself does not constitute such a ‘new element’.”

ODI equals seek bragging rights

Finally, some competition!

Do not pretend that you have not been thinking it, even though you may feel uncomfortable about how it reflects on what you think of the hosts of this series. The reality is that Zimbabwe’s ability to stay in a contest, which started promisingly in the one-off Test against South Africa, has been almost nonexistent in the one-dayers, and the only way this tournament was likely to grab some attention is if there was something to liven it up. Luckily, South Africa and Australia could do that just by being in the same room.

The countries are old rivals, but also good friends. They may have bones to pick with each other, but will share beverages afterwards. While there is no love lost between them, there is also a lot of mutual respect. Although they are tussling over a trophy few will even remember in months to come, the two teams will not be going easy on each other as they look to claim early bragging rights ahead of the World Cup.

Recent ODI history favours South Africa, who have won three of the last four series between these two teams. However, Australia have had the upper hand in other formats and their current ascendancy makes this contest too close to call. By next Saturday, we may have a different answer.

Hamilton suffered a puncture on lap two at Spa after a collision with Rosberg and failed to finish Sunday’s race. The German went on to finish second, extending his lead in the championship to 29 points with seven races remaining.

Hamilton said he was “gobsmacked” that Rosberg suggested he had crashed into him on purpose.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has said the team will let the situation cool down before deciding whether to take any action.

The pair will race again at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on 7 September.

Since Zimbabwe’s chances of appearing in the final are minimal, South Africa and Australia have two potential rehearsals before the big day.

In the spotlight Glenn Maxwell’s brutal hitting has been on display against Pakistan, West Indies, India, England and Zimbabwe, but he has not had the opportunity to see if he can pull the same off against a South African ODI attack. Maxwell has shown a disregard for reputation, which South Africa are aware of. So instead of getting scared, the likes of Dale Steyn might be fired up to get under the batsman’s skin.

Scores of 7, 21 and 1 in Zimbabwe over the last three weeks have left AB de Villiers flying under the radar on this trip. After being rested from the final ODI against Zimbabwe, the South Africa captain will be keen to show he is ready to lead from the front against the top-ranked team in the world. De Villiers is usually a man for the big occasion and would likely regard a match against Australia as the perfect time to up the ante.

Team news

Michael Clarke will only make an appearance at the “back-end,” of the tri-series, according to George Bailey, so Mitchell Marsh could keep his spot at No.3. The Aaron Finch-Brad Haddin opening partnership worked well in the tournament opener, so Phil Hughes may still have to wait for his turn. The only debate that remains is whether Ben Cutting should get a chance or if the left-hand heavy attack will continue.

Australia: 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 George Bailey (capt), 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Steve Smith, 7 James Faulkner 8 Mitchell Johnson 9 Jane Richardson, 10 Mitchell Starc/Ben Cutting, 11 Nathan Lyon South Africa will welcome back their premier pacemen Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, who will replace Kyle Abbott and Mthokozisi Shezi respectively. With Vernon Philander out of the series, Wayne Parnell is likely to get the nod ahead of the other reserve seamer Kyle Abbott. Hashim Amla is also expected back at the top of the order, as is the captain de Villiers. Aaron Phangiso performed well when given an opportunity in the third ODI, and he may retain his place ahead of Imran Tahir. South Africa: 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Ryan McLaren, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran Tahir/Aaron Phangiso (Cricinfo)

Acting Commander of ‘B’ Division Senior Superintendent Marlon Chapman (left) hands over the winning trophy to the Guyana Police Force team

Both teams pose for a picture after the one-sided affair

After a less than satisfactory tour in Zimbabwe so far, AB de Villiers will be looking to turn it up against Australia. Photo: Associated Press

I don’t know why Rosberg hit me - Hamilton

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The varying rhythms of the one-day game were on full display in the second ODI in Hambantota, where the spinners thrived and the quicks toiled in a high-scoring encounter. There were bursts of boundaries alternating with periods of lull, with Sri Lanka’s runrate sharply increasing and decreasing through their innings, till a final blast lifted them beyond 300.

The hosts began in a hurry despite losing early wickets, then counterattacked against the spinners before being becalmed through Mahela Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews who put on a big partnership, lost a bunch of wickets to Mohammad Hafeez, and were only bailed out by a brutal onslaught fromThisara Perera in the death overs.

No team has ever successfully hunted down more than 300 in Sri Lanka, but Pakistan were bursting with confidence after the backfrom-the-dead chase in the first ODI. Though Pakistan lost Sharjeel Khan in the fourth over, Hafeez hit a dazzling half-century that included six fours in his first 10 deliveries. With Ahmed Shehzad playing the supporting act, Hafeez tore apart the new-ball bowlers to drive Pakistan to 98 for 1 after 12 overs.

Then came the big squeeze from the Sri Lankan spinners. Seekkuge Prasanna was playing his first ODI since December and had messed up with the bat after being promoted to No. 6, but he flourished with the ball and was electric in the field. Prasanna and Rangana Herath exploited the help in the surface to string together loads of dot balls to pile the pressure on Pakistan.

After a six-over spell in which only 16 runs were scored, the wickets duly arrived. Hafeez missed a straighter one from Prasanna and was lbw for 62. With only two genuine spinners in the line-up, Sri Lanka turned to the part-time tweakers of Tillakaratne Dilshan. He responded by getting the dangerous Umar Akmal caught behind off his first delivery.

Those wickets resulted

what Shahid Afridi will do. Afridi began with some powerful boundaries, and with the spinners bowled out, Sri Lanka would have just started worrying when he holed out for 17. The tail did not last too long and Sri Lanka wrapped up a 77-run victory, though the match was tighter than the margin suggested.

The margin too would have been tighter had Pakistan’s bowlers not lost their way in the final stages of the innings earlier in the evening. After having Sri Lanka down to 194 for 6 in the 38th over, thanks to Hafeez’s triple-strike, they still gave away 80 runs in the final six overs as Perera and Mathews ran amok.

in a galloping number of dot balls as Misbah-ul-Haq took time to settle and Shehzad could not force the pace. By the 30th over, Pakistan had played out 100 scoreless deliveries. The quick-thinking Sangakkara produced a breakthrough with another superbly anticipated catch down the leg side when Shehzad went for the lap sweep. When the Powerplay came along, Sri Lanka belatedly decided that Herath should have the responsibility of bowling three overs in the Powerplay, and not Lasith Malinga. Herath delivered, first dismissing Misbah and then the hero of the first ODI, Sohaib Maqsood.

It was not yet game over as Fawad Alam was still battling, and no one can tell

The power-hitting that makes Perera such a valued limited-overs player was in full display as he launched everything in his range over the leg side. From 15 off 18, he rocketed to 57 off 32 as the bowlers wilted under the blaze of big hits. At the 40over stage, Sri Lanka would have been satisfied with a final score around 275, but the Perera blitz shot them past 300. Mathews had been less spectacular but his 93 was the knock around which the Sri Lankan innings revolved. After letting Jayawardene dominate a 122-run fourthinnings partnership, and keeping his strike rate below 70 for much of his innings, he opened out with a series of muscular hits over extra cover and towards midwicket at the end. He went past 3000 ODI runs, and had time for a maiden century in the format, but he, as so often this year, perished in the 90s. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka innings (50 overs maximum)

WU Tharanga c †Umar Akmal b Wahab Riaz 27

TM Dilshan c †Umar Akmal b Junaid Khan 13

KC Sangakkara† c Sohaib

Maqsood b Wahab Riaz 11

DPMD Jayawardene b Mohammad Hafeez 67

AD Mathews* c Mohammad Hafeez b Wahab Riaz 93

S Prasann lbw b Mohammad Hafeez 1

SMA Priyanjan lbw b Mohammad Hafeez 3

NLTC Perera run out (Ahmed Shehzad/†Umar Akmal) 65

KMDN Kulasekara not out 5

SL Malinga b Wahab Riaz 0

Extras (lb 11, w 13, nb 1) 25

Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 310 (6.20 runs per over)

Did not bat: HMRKB Herath

Fall of wickets 1-14 (Dilshan, 1.6 ov), 2-51 (Sangakkara, 8.2 ov), 3-62 (Tharanga, 10.2 ov), 4-184 (Jayawardene, 33.5 ov), 5-188 (Prasanna, 35.6 ov), 6-194 (Priyanjan, 37.5 ov), 7-281 (Mathews, 47.2 ov), 8-310 (Perera, 49.5 ov), 9-310 (Malinga, 49.6 ov)

Bowling: Mohammad Irfan 10-0-65-0, Junaid Khan 8-064-1, Wahab Riaz 10-0-654, Shahid Afridi 10-0-51-0, Mohammad Hafeez 10-0-39-3, Ahmed Shehzad 2-0-15-0 Pakistan innings (target: 311 runs from 50 overs)

Ahmed Shehzad c †Sangakkara b Prasanna 56

Sharjeel Khan c Herath b Malinga 9 Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Prasanna 62

Umar Akmal† c †Sangakkara b Dilshan 1 Misbah-ul-Haq* c Kulasekara b Herath 36

Fawad Alam c Mathews b Perera 30

Sohaib Maqsood lbw b Herath 9 Shahid Afridi c Kulasekara b Perera 17 Wahab Riaz c Herath b Perera 5

Junaid Khan b Malinga 1 Mohammad Irfan not out 1

Extras (lb 4, w 2) 6

Total (all out; 43.5 overs) 233 (5.31 runs per over) Fall of wickets 1-18 (Sharjeel Khan, 3.4 ov), 2-114 (Mohammad Hafeez, 18.1 ov), 3-115 (Umar Akmal, 19.1 ov), 4-147 (Ahmed Shehzad, 28.3 ov), 5-192 (Misbah-ulHaq, 35.5 ov), 6-202 (Sohaib Maqsood, 37.2

KMDN Kulasekara 4-123-0, SL Malinga 6.5-0-56-2, HMRKB Herath 10-2-38-2, AD Mathews 2-0-15-0, S Prasanna 10-0-36-2, NLTC Perera 3-019- 3, TM Dilshan 5-0-25-1, SMA Priyanjan 3-0-17-0

cuttINg

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Angelo Mathews scored 93, his second half-century of the series, to set up Sri Lanka's 77-run win against Pakistan in Hambantota

Youngsters excel at Pan Caribbean Martial Arts championship

Youngsters from the Best of the Best Martial Arts group were in top form last weekend when the Pan Caribbean Martial Arts championship was held at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

Professor and founder of the group, Quacuy Baveghems, said he was quite surprised by the performance of his students, who gave their best display at the international tournament.

Judah Ram and Romel Latchman copped first place in the Weapons category, while Miguel Hunte took second in Free Style Kata and Weapons and third in Sparring. Kimberley Baveghems got second in Traditional Kata, while Trenton Coates was runner-up in Weapons and Free Style Kata.

Gaberilla Kingston, Roshanna Christopher and Quacuy Baveghems Jnr took third in their respective categories. Kingston competed in Traditional Kata, Christopher par-

ticipated in Weapons and Baveghems Jnr placed third in Traditional Kata.

Quacuy Baveghems, who has been practicing martial arts for 27 years and is now an eighth degree black belt, said his group will not rest on their laurels, but will pursue bigger goals in the coming months.

The group is preparing to attend martial arts tournaments in Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago and Baveghems said financial support for those ventures overseas has been forthcoming from the Sport Ministry.

Meanwhile, the chief instructor, whose partner at the school is Linden Charles, said there are numerous benefits of practicing martial arts and he is encouraging youngsters to get involved in the sport.

Persons interested in joining the Best of the Best Martial Arts group can visit the training sessions which usually take place at the Houston Secondary School on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 17:00h to 19:00h. (Avenash Ramzan)

National Intermediate boxing tourney set for this weekend

The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) will host their National Intermediate boxing tournament from this Saturday at the East Ruimveldt Community Centre Ground also known as California Square.

The two-day event that will end on Sunday and will be under floodlights with an expected starting time of 18:00h.

Each night, according to President of the GBA Steve Ninvalle, is expected to have at least 12 bouts and some of best gyms have already indicated their interest in the nationwide tournament.

Further, NInvalle was very optimistic about the type of boxing that will be on showcased as the GBA boss guaranteed exciting action on both nights.

“We expect as usual a very fiery competition, Berbice had a five-week encampment and we expect them to really show what they have learnt… Carib has not been in the intermediate for a while so it’s a return for them and we know what to expect from the popular gyms such as GDF.

“Essequibo under the tu-

Teach Them Young cycling closes off this weekend

After weeks of instilling the fundamentals of the sport of cycling to dozens of newcomers, national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed will bring the curtain down on the 38th annual Teach Them Young camp on Saturday at the National Park.

As has been the norm for close to four decades, the camp will close with an 11-race programme sponsored by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Action will pedal off at 09:00h and the event is one of several Mohamed would have hosted during the past few weekends and geared towards giving the participants a feel of competitive cycling.

The participants will compete in the BMX events, which will have categories for Open, 6-9 years, 9-12, 12-

14 and Boys and Girls.

At the completion of these events, the senior riders will swing into action with the Veterans Under and Over-50 and Over-60, the Mountain Bikes category, Juveniles and the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race.

Last year’s feature event was won by Alanzo Greaves of Roraima Bikers Club.

telage of Clifton Moore has been improving in leaps and bounds but if I’m to give a panoramic view before it begins I expect crowd pleasing bout in each fight,” Ninvalle stated.

Further, it will be the first time since the Nuff Cuff competition in May that outdoor boxing will be heading back to California Square.

The gyms that have indicated interest are; Essequibo Boxing Gym, Carib Boxing Gym from Linden, Forgotten Youth Foundation, the Guyana Defence Force, Republican Boxing Gym, Rosehall Town Jammers and Young Achievers. (Treiston Joseph)

Director of Sport Neil Kumar has congratulated Ginelle Ifill on the recent scholarship she received to study and play at Odessa College in Texas, United States of America (USA).

Ifill, who played for the Guyana national team in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in July, was noticed by a few scouts at the event.

Ifill has also donned Guyana colours at the Inter Guiana Games (IGG) for six years and was a part of the gold medal team in 2013.

Kumar, who is responsible for coordinating the IGG for Guyana, was in high spirits for the 6’3” centre.

“I’m very happy for her, she is the product of the IGG and she played for Guyana

for six years and we really wish her well,” Kumar stated.

In addition, Kumar believes that the athlete is adept at rebounding the basketball and will also improve her all-round skill.

“She was always a very fit athlete, well disciplined

Greaves finished the race in a time of one hour, 17 minutes, 12.79 seconds. Other category winners from last year include Hamzah Eastman (Juveniles), Junior Niles (Veterans U-50) and Clyde Jacobs (Mountain Bike).

The NSC is expected to be represented by Director of Sport Neil Kumar, who will witness the day’s activities and assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion.

Kumar congratulates Ifill on basketball scholarship

and smart, I believe she will go far and do us proud especially after coming out of the YBG (Youth Basketball Guyana) programme,” Kumar noted.

Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard progressed comfortably to the second round of the US Open with a straight-sets win over Olga Govortsova.

The seventh seed needed just 59 minutes to beat the Bulgarian 6-2 6-1.

Eighth seed Ana Ivanovic also saw off her rival quickly, beating American Alison Riske 6-3 6-0 in 65 minutes.

Elsewhere, Sam Stosur was a 6-1 6-4 winner over American Laura Davis, while men’s 13th seed John Isner overcame Marcos Giron 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 7-6 (7-2). Sam Querrey followed

Ifill received a full scholarship for a duration of 30 months at a total cost of US$42,500. (Treiston Joseph)

Steve Ninvalle

Alanzo Greaves Hamzah Eastman

Junior Niles

Neil Kumar

Ginelle Ifill (green) during one of her games at the CBC games

Ana Ivanovic beat Serena Williams in the fourthround of the Australian Open this year

Police perform at Pan Caribbean Martial Arts Championships

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) Senior Superintendent Paul Williams, along with Senseis Troy Bobb, Paul Ignatius and Anand Mahadeo, is proud of the recruits that participated in the Pan Caribbean Martial Arts Championship on Saturday at the National Gymnasium. The event featured two clubs from Trinidad and Tobago.

The event hosted by the Black Hawks Karate Club

saw the involvement of nine locals clubs, inclusive of the GPF.

Taking the first position in various categories were Senseis Bobb (Kata), Ignatius (self defence and kata), Constables 22377 Peters (self defence) and W.22510 McDonald (sparring).

Second place went to Sensei Ignatius (weapons), Constables 22380 Simon (self defence), W.22499

Thomas (sparring) and 22524 Hercules (sparring). In third position was Constable 22498 (sparring).

Meanwhile, the GPF has also congratulated the performances of the several ranks involved in the tournament as the force is prepared to push those ranks to the next level- if they wish to be a part of the sport professionally.

Yaw could have done better in China − Coach Johnny

B y T reis T on J oseph

Sham Johnny, the coach of young sprint phenom

Jason Yaw, has lamented that his athlete could have qualified for the ‘A’ final of the Boys 400 metres at the just concluded Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China.

400 metres Carifta bronze medalist Yaw won the ‘B’ final after missing the ‘A’ final with a subpar performance in the preliminary rounds. He ran his heat in a time of 49.41s but returned a fast time of 47.47s to win the ‘B’ final which was the fifth fastest 400 metres time at the world event.

Speaking with the coach of the 6’3” athlete, Sham Johnny highlighted what he felt went wrong.

“Well the track and field team was being sponsored by Nike so he had to run in strictly Nike gear and the spikes they gave him caused

him a lot of discomfort and after the first round he had a number of blisters that had to be attended to by medical staff after the race,” Johnny told Guyana Times Sport. However, Johnny still expressed disappointment in the first round performance of Yaw but is of the belief that had Yaw been provided with a coach he would not have encountered such problems.

Everest Cricket Club’s 100th anniversary celebrations…

Everest Under-13 cricket team took full advantage of familiar home conditions on Sunday, whipping Enterprise by 10 wickets in a feature 20/20 match as part of activities organised to celebrate Everest’s 100th anniversary.

Batting first, the Enterprise lads were dismissed for 71 in 15 overs, to which Everest replied with 72-0 with six overs to spare.

For Enterprise, opener

Asif Rahaman led with 21, while Navindra Premchand scored 17. The visitors were reduced to 23-4 before Rahaman and Narine shared in a fifth wicket stand of 35 to steady the innings.

Rahaman’s innings included two boundaries, while Narine found the boundary once. Their dismissal however, within two runs of each other, triggered another collapse as no other batsman managed to reach

double figures.

Pacer Saif Mohamed was the leading bowler with 4-15, Zecharian Mootoo took 2-14 and Sachin Premchand 2-2. Openers Yeudistir Persaud and Premchand then knocked off the target for Everest, racing to victory in the 14th over.

Persaud struck three fours and faced 35 balls in his top score of 32, while Premchand ended on 27 to cop the Man-of-the-Match award.

“I still feel that if a coach was there he would have done better because we would have been able to schedule training session and all these things would have been sorted out,” Johnny mentioned.

“Jason has one problem and it is experience, he might have had a lot of exposure but he is still a child and it is something we will have to address,” Johnny concluded.

Some of the constables and Senseis, along with Superintendent Paul Williams, pose for a photo opportunity

The Everest boys pose with their trophies after the victory on Sunday last

Sham Johnny Jason Yaw

Youngsters excel at Pan Caribbean Martial Arts championship

Guyana Cup has potential for sports tourism –President Ramotar

Sri Lanka defend 310 to square series

Ramdin creates West Indies’ home records

Stats highlights from West Indies’ clean sweep of the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, after their win in St Kitts.

169 Runs Denesh Ramdin scored in this ODI, the highest by a West Indies batsman at home, beating Desmond Haynes’ 152 not out against India in Georgetown, way back in 1989. This is also the second-highest ODI score by a batsman in West Indies. Upul Tharanga’s unbeaten 174 against India in Kingston in the tri-series last year is the highest by a batsman in West Indies.

11 Sixes hit by Ramdin in this match, the highest by any batsman in ODIs in West Indies, beating Chris Gayle’s nine sixes against New Zealand in Kingston in 2012. Ramdin’s 11 sixes are the second highest by a West Indies batsman in an ODI, just one short of Xavier Marshall’s 12 sixes against Canada in 2008. Ramdin’s 11 sixes in this

match are also the highest by a wicketkeeper in an innings, beating MS Dhoni’s 10 sixes against Sri Lanka in Jaipur in 2005.

258 Runs added for the third wicket by Darren Bravo and Ramdin, the highest by a West Indies pair for any wicket. They beat the 226-run partnership between Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carl Hooper for the fourth wicket against South Africa in East London in 1999. This is also the highest third-wicket partnership in ODIs beating the 238run stand between Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers against Pakistan in Johannesburg in 2013. This was also the highest partnership for any wicket against Bangladesh beating the 250-run stand between Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott at Edgbaston in 2010.

338 Runs scored by West Indies in this match - their highest total at home in ODIs, beating the 337 they scored against Zimbabwe in St George’s last year. This was also the

fifth-highest score posted by West Indies in an ODI.

8 Scores of 150 or more by No. 4 batsmen in ODIs, including Ramdin’s in this match. His 169 is now the third highest by a No. 4 after Viv Richards’ 189 not out against England at Old Trafford in 1984 and 181 against Sri Lanka in Karachi in the 1987 World Cup. Of the eight scores of 150 or more by No. 4 batsmen, five have been by West Indies batsmen.

11 Number of instances, including this match, when two West Indies batsmen have hit centuries in the same ODI. The last such instance came against New Zealand earlier this year in Hamilton, when Kirk Edwards and Dwayne Bravo hit centuries.

19 Sixes hit by West Indies batsmen - the highest they have ever hit in an ODI. Their previous highest was 14 sixes, which they hit against Canada in 2008. This was also the most sixes hit against Bangladesh

in an ODI, beating the 16 that Australia struck in Dhaka in 2011.

2 ODI centuries by West Indies wicketkeepers including Ramdin’s in this match. The previous one was also hit by him, against England in North Sound earlier this year.

241 Runs scored by wicketkeepers in this match - the third-highest total runs scored by the designated wicketkeepers of both teams in an ODI. The highest such aggregate came in a match between India and Sri Lanka in 2005, when India’s wicketkeeper MS Dhoni got 183 and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara hit 138, taking the total by wicketkeepers in that match to 321 runs.

13 Number of consecutive ODIs Bangladesh have now played without winning. The last time they won was against New Zealand in Fatullah last year. (WICB)

Denesh Ramdin hammered 11 sixes, West Indies v Bangladesh, 3rd ODI, Basseterre, St Kitts, August 26, 2014.

Photo: WICB Media

Professor and founder of the Best of the Best Martial Arts group, Quacuy Baveghems, is all smiles as his students proudly display their trophies (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

Thisara Perera slammed 65 off 36 balls to push Sri Lanka beyond 300. Photo: AFP