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Glenn Lall terrified of audit – Govt

Govt losing billions from traffic ticket defaulters

GT&T technician electrocuted Four more convicted of fuel smuggling

GTU, Assuria sign pact for insurance for teachers

tuesdAY, NOVeMBeR 4, 2014 | guYANAtiMesgY.cOM

OPENINGS

Duty-free scam

Glenn Lall terrified of audit – Government

aieteur News

Weather: Thundery showers can be expected, with sunny weather otherwise prevailing in the morning hours. Showers are also expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius along the coast and between 18 degrees and 33 degrees Celsius in the hinterland.

Winds: East North-easterly at 3.12 metres per second.

High Tide: 14:35h reaching a maximum height of 2.68 metres.

Low Tide: 08:06h and 20:34h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 and 0.51 metres.

WEATHER TODAY LOTTERY NUMBERS

Monday, November 3, 2014

KPublisher Glenn Lall is running scared of an impending audit of his business by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Donald Ramotar Administration said in a statement Sunday night.

The statement added that in recent months, in anticipation of the GRA audit, which is a statutory obligation of the Agency carried out on a routine basis on taxpayers, KN has resorted to fabrication, hacking of email exchanges purported between Attorney General Anil Nandlall and GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur.

The state audit was prompted by a series of alleged shady practices by Lall none more glaring than the importation of two luxury vehicles through a USbased couple under the remigrant scheme. Lall; his wife, Bhena; and the couple are currently jointly charged with knowingly committing fraudulent evasion of import duties.

The charge stated that between June 18, 2013 and September 21, 2013, together with others unknown at Lot 200-201 Camp Street,

Georgetown, they knowingly aided and abetted each other, in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of customs due and payable to the Revenue Authority on two Lexus LX 570 motor vehicles with engine capacity 5700 cc, and chassis numbers JTJHY7AX6 D4094851 and JTJHY7AX6 D4096745.

The Lalls are charged jointly with two counts of knowingly dealt with goods with intent to defraud the Revenue Authority of duties on the said motor vehicle. The particulars of the offence read that between June 18, 2013 and August 30, 2014, at Lot 110 Regent Street, Georgetown, they knowingly dealt with goods with intent to defraud the Revenue Authority of duties on the two vehicles.

Aggravated Government said that as a result of criminal charges filed against Lall, the GRA Commissioner General and the Attorney General became the subject of Kaieteur News' attacks. “As a result, these high-ranking officials were forced to seek legal protection from the court. Both obtained injunctions, but in vain, as the attacks per-

sisted. Both have filed contempt of court proceedings. Yet, rather than the attacks ceasing, they have been aggravated.”

Meanwhile, an overseasbased Guyanese businessman – George Correia – has blasted Lall and his Editor, Adam Harris, for their continued attacks on Nandlall in an attempt to paint the official in a bad light. This comes after Lall filed an official Police complaint with Deputy Police Commissioner Balram Persaud in which

he accused the Attorney General of being aware of a plot to destroy him and his newspaper. Lall, in his short statement to the Police, claimed that he would have received several warnings of the imminent danger that clouds his life and also extends to the numerous staff at his Saffon Street media house.

“It’s totally unfair to hold the nation ransom with some of these fly-by-newspapers, who are putting big things about him and trying to muddy up the stage that this man is walking on,” Correia said in a recent statement.

He added that he would like to see the Kaieteur News put an end to the rhetoric and try to place emphasis on the bigger battles of humanity. “When they were good with some minister and getting their way, nothing was wrong, and just because the breeze blowing another way, they are angered”,” emphasised the businessman. The man also called on the Opposition political parties – A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change to stop silently condoning the actions of the Kaieteur Newspaper.

PPP/C reminds GECOM of promised OLE

The Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) said that it is still awaiting the publication of the Official List of Electors (OLE) from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as was promised.

The Commission had given October 30 for the date when the OLE would have been published. The party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee on Monday told reporters at a press conference at Freedom House on Robb Street that the management of GECOM is yet to inform the party of any de-

velopments or setbacks as it relates to the publication of the list.

“The PPP/C is still awaiting their copy or a definitive word from GECOM” as relates to the list being released, Rohee said.

He also said that “the PPP/C notes with concern GECOM’s haste in the recruitment and training of polling day staff”.

According to Rohee, the training and recruitment of the staff without the involvement of any of the political stakeholders show a total disregard for the politi-

cal parties in Guyana.

He called on GECOM to immediately make public the list of persons selected for training, the general areas of training undergone and the selection criteria that was used to hire the staff.

“The Guyanese people are curious to know, whether the persons selected demonstrates proper and adequate representation of all our people. The PPP is curious to know the contents of GECOM’s training, be it for Local or General Elections and how it is this decision

was taken considering the AFC’s No-Confidence Motion and the APNU sponsored countrywide damp protest for Local Government Elections,” Rohee said. He contended too that the populace and the PPP are now left to wonder what training was conducted with these persons, taking into consideration the “dilemma” that the political sphere and by extension the country is placed in by the recent actions of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership For National Unity (APNU).

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

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

Smear campaigns, yellow journalism

Yellow journalism was a technique utilised by two titans of the US press industry at the turn of the 20th century to sell newspapers. The premise was simple: exaggerate news events – especially minor ones, widely; focus on scandal-mongering and sensationalism; and make sure the front page is dominated by large, lurid misleading headlines and pictures.

Fake interviews and taking on the “system” on behalf of the common man rounded out the approach. It worked and made enormous fortunes for William Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer.

Any Guyanese reading the above paragraph would immediately recognise that this yellow journalistic approach was the “secret” of the Kaieteur News and its owner, Glenn Lall since the early 1990s.

The strategy does not even have to be imputed since the founder of the newspaper, Shaun Samaroo stated explicitly that he “wanted to publish a weekend journal that focused entirely on investigative reporting, and that would also reflect solid family values, with a democratic Western mindset.

“However, within months, Glenn ... decided he wanted a bigger say in the editorial of the newspaper. I objected that he was a mere investor and the editorial should be left up to media experts ... but one day I chose to resign. By this time, sources I had cultivated as an investigative reporter were warning me of associating with ‘that crowd’. I received second-hand information of business practices that I did not think fitted in with the high professional ethics I set myself as a journalist and the publisher of a weekend tabloid.”

Samaroo concluded, “Kaieteur in its founding days aimed only to create a professional, independent, credible and informative weekend journal focused, as said above, on investigative reporting. Alas, it was not to be, and today, in 2011, we have WikiLeaks doing that work for us.”

The broken-hearted but cautious journalist must have been referring to the WikiLeaks comments by the Political Affairs Officer of the US Embassy. Lall was described as having a “sketchy past” with ties to the criminal “underworld”, and engaging in backtracking or “alien smuggling”.

It was revealed that he regularly passed on information about his friends and acquaintances in the business world to the US Embassy, accusing them of criminal activities. His visa had been revoked in 2006 because of his backtracking activities. It is surmised he engaged in such “snitching” to have his visa renewed, which it eventually was.

In 2008, the launching of this newspaper, the Guyana Times earned the ire of the Kaieteur News and its owner, Glenn Lall. The announced strategy of this newspaper, to adopt a “developmentalist” approach to its reporting, which rejected a reflexive antagonistic approach to the Government in the quest to further human development here, must have stirred fears of the Kaieteur News’ viability.

This was made clearer when early on, the GTimes garnered wide acceptance, even though it also eschewed the sensationalistic, yellow journalism approach of the KN.

Glenn Lall now fused his yellow journalism to conduct “smear campaigns” against the owner of this newspaper and the then President of Guyana, who was accused of facilitating the GTimes. Smear campaigns use lies, innuendoes, and the most outrageous claims to hammer home in the minds of the public a single image of the “enemy” sought to be discredited or destroyed.

In the case of the GTimes and officials of the Government singled out for attack, the image was “corrupt”. The Goebbelsian technique of repeating the lie often enough was sadly quite successful, as the smear campaign was widened to include others who Lall wanted to intimidate for various reasons. Two recent victims are Khurshid Sattaur and Anil Nandlall.

What has helped in Lall’s “success” is that several organisations – foreign and domestic – simply follow the “politically correct” line and support the Kaieteur News because it is a “newspaper”. They ignore the dangerous roles the media can also play in destroying societies. Think of the role of the Kangura newspaper in Rwanda.

Political dialogue should be the norm not exception

Dear Editor,

One cannot help but be impressed by Aubrey C Norton’s letter titled, “Mechanisms needed to prevent future Governments from making us relive the authoritarianism of the past”.

For such a good fellow to be banished to Linden’s Gulag by the PNC top brass when all he seeks is Guyana’s return to “the rule of law” does not reflect well on Congress Place. How deeply anchored on the other hand is Mr Norton’s credibility that he is better qualified to change, as he says, our “political culture.

He exhorts us to “become involved in genuine dialogue … to compromise and find consensus in the interest of the entire body politic”. Is he better qualified to replace the current PNC leader or is this airy damage control?

His dubious role in the 2012 Linden riots is rather still very fresh. Is it a Trojan Horse – any objective other than his new advertisements? Admirable is his exhortation to every Guyanese that “we have to learn to be constrained by law, accept checks and balances and be transparent and accountable”.

Admittedly, the idea that we should “be constrained by law … and be transparent and accountable” smells very, very delicious by its mouth-watering wafting aroma. Is it “Indian curry or the usual “all-inone black man cook-up”?

Making curry is not the same as when we make it, you know. Where is your “garam masala”? Help is available – anytime.

Unless Mr Norton has become born again, what explains this aromatic “cook-up” turnaround? As a YSM member he was in full cheering support of Forbes Burnham’s 1980 Constitution. No matter how you twist or turn it, the Constitution still remains the highest and supreme law of the land.

When Lindeners break the law, are they entitled to exemption? Indeed, Linden needs tremendously more than financial help to make a difference. Respect and adherence to law and order must be the norm not the exception in our “political culture”.

Lethem road

In fact, when the Lethem-to-Georgetown road links Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean, it would understandably link Linden. There must be an obvious choice to bypass or direct thoroughfare. The choice to go directly to Berbice rather than through Georgetown is paramount.

Travellers must not become endangered as occurred during the 2012 disturbances when three Lindeners unnecessarily lost their lives. It would be up to Lindeners to enhance their town’s image to attract stopovers by travellers.

In fact, those who habitually sully Buxton’s reputation as a traffic chokepoint do that proud village no big favours. Constantly scaring away potential investors is hardly astute.

Mr Norton’s proposition for renewed dialogue is refreshing. But it is only the restart to the distant fi-

nal solution by incremental compromises. Clearing up any personal complicity in Linden’s violence can tremendously enhance his sincerity towards reconciliation.

In any event, that PNC 1980 Constitution which compartmentalised the Judiciary’s independence as Guyana’s supreme national adjudicatory pillar remains predominant. All judicial decisions are absolutely binding and legal in Guyana.

What was the intent of the framers of the 1980 Constitution? To create chaos and confusion? Hardly tenable and completely without any credibility. In any future elections, that unbalanced political damnation which the power brokers inflicted and nurtured in our Guyana may find the PNC back at the helm of our democratic destiny.

In a democracy this is normal. But examined through the race lens, must its architects and supporters relish in only one race rejoicing? The change of Government in 1992 was welcomed by a very wide Guyanese spectrum we all know.

Race problem

Yet, race continues to be nurtured as Guyana’s fundamental handicapping problem, for those who continue to empower it as their best but slavish solution. How absurd is the logic which claims what is wrong with Guyana, that is, race can only be “corrected” with what is “wrong”, again race, to make it “right”?

In our democratic country, such “correction” histor-

ically targeted our despised alleged “pagans”. They have been traditionally regarded as the “wrong race” with unfamiliar religious beliefs, values, food, dress and cultural traditions constantly under attack to confirm to “the enlightened other” who are emboldened by entitlement claims.

After nearly 50 years of independence, have we moved past such predatory race demarcations? Shouldn’t constant dialogue be the norm rather than the exception? Unless there is total race entitlement syndrome, conditioning it to be a one-way street, then nothing else matters at all.

If so, racial balancing of Guyana’s civil service and armed forces, totally dependent on public funding, unlike private enterprise, will remain neglected. Entitlement trounces balance. The AFC’s key which was to make the difference still finds them locked up, so to speak.

Dialogue The dialogue of compromise must shatter any perception that racial balancing of Guyana’s taxpayers’ funded public institutions will remain unchanged because the beneficiaries are always and automatically the “wrong race”, most guilty just because of their numbers, culture, and economic thrift.

Black multifaceted magnificence, so obvious in our midst, cannot continue untapped when shackled by conditional dependency on others, their mediocrity or fears of their ethnic cleansing annihilation.

Continued

Russel Lancaster hands over one of the prizes during the National Drama Festival prize giving ceremony (Carl Croker photo)

AG should stand strong

Dear Editor,

The political Pharisees opposed to the Government of Guyana are dancing in a circle of hypocrisy.

Thanks to Guyana’s new political dispensation which has unveiled the mask of those who want to be in control of Guyana’s Governance by trying all sorts of dirty machinations, which have, so far, failed and will continue to miserably fail.

And in this regard, the people of Guyana are saying that they will not forget the past which is prior to October 1992 because they do

not want poverty, misery and darkness to return to Guyana which they endured painfully under the past and illegal PNC Government.

I read the comments by the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA); Guyana Bar Association (GBA); and the Guyana Women Lawyers Association (GWLA) in relation to the cellphone manipulated conversation between the Attorney General (AG) and a Senior Kaieteur News Reporter where they are calling unjustifiably for the AG to resign. They are inclined towards

the political Opposition which is crumbling. But in like fashion the GHRA, GBA and GWLA must also strongly call on the Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) to resign from the GBA and the AFC for the usage of vulgar expletives when a reporter tried to interview him.

It seems, therefore, that when any in the political Opposition makes a public blunder, it is definitely not a problem, but when a Government functionary is alleged to have made a mistake, the anti-Government sections of the media and the

political Opposition blow it out of proportion.

The AG said the conversation which has become the subject of critical commentary was strictly a private one between himself and an acquaintance of long standing, which was completely distorted, manipulated and taken out of context, so as to reflect a different dialogue.

Let me advise the AG to stand strong and ignore the garbage in the anti-Government sections of the media.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

Glenn Lall’s criminality being condoned

Dear Editor,

We are missing the point: Glenn Lall has committed a crime. I implore people to read Act No 21 of 2008 – Interception of Communications Act 2008. It is clearly spelt out in the laws of Guyana that all acted in a most illegal manner. No one is allowed to record or tape citizens’ private communication, except three officers (Commissioner of Police; Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority; and Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force) and these must first apply to a judge, for a 90-day warrant to do so.

Inherent in this article is the seriousness of what took place, when there was the breach of the “Interception of Communications Act” (as only a selected group of people can do so, but only after strict court permission).

This is where matters digressed and many issues were either taken out of context or blown out of proportion.

I visit two instances: firstly, Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) on its call for the resignation or removal

What then are the alternatives which best resolve the mutual existing fears? Dialogue and sound economic management for eventual federalism certainly cannot make us worse. By democracy’s free and fair elections, it can only be the way to go.

The PPP/C Government will not be in power forever and the armed forces remain racially unbalanced. That’s accepting realty. Guyana’s curse is the imprisonment of living under an imposed abomination which views and accepts everything as most correct by a predominantly black PNC Government.

But it automatically becomes wrong when implemented by the same constitutional procedure, when followed by their Indian countrymen supporting the PPP/C Government.

The Opposition’s quest to gain political power knows no restraint. Violating the country’s Constitution and contempt of court is just a means to that end. Are MPs at any time above or exempt from

of Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, over the contents of a recorded conversation, interpreted as threats against the Kaieteur News; and secondly, the International Press Institute (IPI) and its urging of Government to make it clear that violence against the press will not be tolerated.

What is very immoral and skewed is that both TIGI and IPI are ignoring the horrible truth that Lall committed a crime. This is very disturbing and it strikes at the very fabric of civilised society that must protect the privacy of citizens, with Guyana’s being no exception.

The law unambiguously and emphatically states that “a person who intentionally intercepts a communication, in the course of its transmission, by means of a telecommunication system, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five million dollars and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years”.

This is the crux of the matter, and Lall is at the very epicentre of this grave criminality.

any country’s laws?

The Honourable Speaker premeditatively first violated the country’s highest law by facilitating the cutting of the budget and was aided and abetted by AFC/APNU MPs who are all equally guilty.

That depraved insanity, which has elevated the Judiciary’s decision to be held in utter public contempt by MPs can only be resolved by the dialogue which Mr Norton advocates. Mr Norton has begun by “say so” for Guyanese to “become involved in genuine dialogue to compromise and find consensus in the interest of the entire body politic”.

What will demonstrate he is better qualified to replace the current PNC leader is what he does next. It may be engagement with the PPP/C Government or maybe with the PNC from which he is a potential perpetual pariah. It could be with both simultaneously to get the best for Lindeners.

Indian fears

Why Indians live in per-

As fate would have it, these defenders of Lall have been embarrassed and exposed, as the very unbecoming intentions that they are tagging at the AG’s feet have been manifested in the Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and Lall.

First a senior reporter attached to the National Communications Network (NCN) was verbally abused by Ramjattan.

Ramjattan, in an allegedly expletive-laden tirade, refused to respond to a query, over his promise to lodge a formal complaint with the Police on the alleged “buyout” by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), of three Members of Parliament (MPs).

Ramjattan was hostile when posed with this query.

Then on November 1, Lall verbally abused a reporter attached to the Guyana Times

So I am compelled to ask IPI Press Freedom Manager Barbara Trionfi to re-examine her outburst that “the Government of Guyana should focus now on making it clear that violence against the

manent fear of any return of the PNC into government cannot be more obvious.

Opposition Leader David Granger has pledged to restore the Guyana National Service and build a monument to the victims of the 1964 Son Chapman tragedy.

No monument is necessary to be built at Wismar for the planned massacre of Indians at Wismar on May 26, 1964. The day before a massive emotional crowd at Buxton buried the elderly Sealeys who were brutally murdered aback of the village.

Eusi Kwayana presided at the emotional funeral and remains silent about his role at Wismar.

Mr Norton could be the Governor of our dreams when he so decides that Federalism is the future of permanent equality for Guyanese. Isn’t Linden already his? Who is going to make the big step and initiate the recommended dialogue?

Sincerely,

Sultan Mohamed

Powerful people

Dear Editor,

A most disturbing issue has surfaced over the years around the environs of the Liliendaal/Sand Road area in the vicinity of Sophia.

The University of Guyana had bestowed a title upon one of the local boys here. Not a native of the soil here though, a petty dictatorship has built up around his personality!!

As a national hero, this man is not living up to his standards expected of a polished gentleman of academic breed. Rather his stance upon the neighbourhood smells of the stench of the remnants of unharnessed and primitive energies still dormant in his innermost personality.

press will not be tolerated”. Trionfi and cohort need to inform Ramjattan and Lall, as regards the severity and implications of their aggressive actions.

I remind the public about what happened early last year to the former Italian Prime Minister; he was found guilty of arranging for a 2006 Police ‘wiretap’ of a political rival, Piero Fassino, and then having the secret transcript leaked to his brother's newspaper. Is not this a Lall scenario?

Silvio Berlusconi was sentenced to a year in jail for these illegal wiretaps. His partner in crime, his brother, Paolo Berlusconi, was sentenced to two years and three months. The court also ordered Silvio and Paolo Berlusconi to pay 80,000 euros in damages to Fassino, the targeted political opponent.

I call on TIGI and IPI to get real – they need to be purged of their prejudices.

Yours truly, Ramos Paul

It does seem that the local hero has taken upon himself, under possible direction and instigation by no lesser forces, the task of defending and championing the causes of his local peers.

I so address his peers because they too have at times exhibited behaviours that are threatening, callous and personal. Since the Police have been unresponsive over the years, one has to respond in a survival-fit .

It does seem that these immature rehearsals are being orchestrated by some squalid mastermind who is resorting to a gang of “have-nots” to conduct an unpleasant patrol in the neighbourhood, congratulating themselves with some form of sadistic delight!!!

In short, let me inform

that the home of this national hero has been the refuge of many anti-social, polluted characters, who after making the most heinous invasions and attacks against my privacy and home take shelter over at the residence of the said public figure. A most regal outfit designed to support his outrages and tempers!!

Many people, mostly uneducated boys of his age group, have clustered around him in a defensive manner. Their acts seem orchestrated in an attempt to attack myself and home personally after antisocial tantrums and to portray a sad misgiving among the young people here! They are resorting to the most derogatory behaviours and have instigated the neighbours to repeat the same.

I am asking that the media be of some influence in activating the passive law-enforcers and that the University be careful in the future before bestowing benedictory titles upon undeserving locals.

Boys out on a mischiefride are creating a strong support base to protect their recklessness and are sore with others’ indifference and reluctance? Why so much support from intelligent and educated people towards the camp of these disciplinarians? What intense self-justifications among the local elders!

Yours sincerely, Deoanand Geer Resident

Page Foundation

West Africans fortunate to survive Ebola may go on to develop what’s being called “post-Ebola syndrome”, characterised by vision loss and long-term poor health, a World Health Organisation (WHO) doctor.

“We are seeing a lot of people with vision problems,” Dr Margaret Nanyonga, a psycho-social support officer for WHO, said at a conference in Sierra Leone last week. “Some complain of clouded vision, but for others the visual loss is progressive. I have seen two people who are now blind.”

Approximately 50 per cent of Ebola survivors she has treated in Kenema, Sierra Leone’s third-largest city, report declining health after fighting off the deadly virus, Nanyonga said. Besides deteriorating

vision, they are complaining of body aches, chest pain, headaches and fatigue. This is consistent with symptoms experienced by survivors in previous outbreaks, she said.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert who is a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, said he was not aware of a post-Ebola syndrome but was not surprised that the health of West African Ebola survivors deteriorates after recovery.

“You can imagine when people recover from Ebola there will be a period of time when they are fatigued, particularly if they have led a rough existence of poverty and poor nutrition,” he said.

Though he was not aware of any

survivors having vision problems, he speculated that the virus could attack the blood vessels that line the interior walls of the eyes. Without thorough eye exams –which he doubted are happening in places like Sierra Leone – he said he was hesitant to pin the reason for loss of vision on Ebola.

There are very few scientific reports looking at the ongoing health problems of those who are cured of Ebola. In one small study, a majority of 29 people who survived a 1995 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo reported a significant amount of joint pain, muscle aches and fatigue. They were still experiencing deteriorating health up to a year and a half after recovery, the researchers found

By Brooke Hampton

Iread a thought-provoking book a while back called Amazing Grace by David Wolfe and Nick Good. The concept of getting in the “Holy Flow” was mentioned in that book and it resonated with me. So, for the sake of this post we will name our parenting style Holy Flow Parenting.

Freedom: I want these little warriors I’ve been entrusted with to have FREEDOM! Freedom to learn, play, explore and discover without my constant, unsolicited opinions and input.

Play: Playtime and time in nature takes top shelf status in this home. The laundry, school, dishes and scattered toys can

for those moments when their minds and spirits are open and they are ready. This has worked beautifully for us! We learn just what we were meant to learn in that day, week, month, year. I have no desire to recreate the classroom at home, I want the setting to be natural and nonformal so that learning is never looked at as something we do and then stop. There isn’t homework and assignments and then playtime, as if to say that learning is work.

In our home, play is work, learning is play and life is learning!

Health: We have probably all experienced what it’s like trying to communicate with a child who is jacked up on corn syrup, right? If you haven’t, then just

wait, especially if they are deep in a wonderful, creative mud city outside.

Education: We take the children’s education very seriously. We make a conscious choice to do school just the way we do everything else in our life. We flow! We listen and we wait for when the time is right. We wait

trust me when I say that it’s far from the best experience ever. I know from my own personal experience with my children that what they eat and drink greatly affects their behaviour. In our house we have chosen to eat as cleanly as possible. We have grown to love living, organic, super foods that help our bodies and minds feel alive and healthy. Wellness: “Take it to the mattresses.” Fight for what’s best for you and your children. It’s not easy to break habits once they are formed, but the results are worth the initial struggle. For us it was limiting screen time, spending more time outside, getting grounded (research earthing) and exploring things like massage therapy and meditation.

Daily choices: Holy Flow parenting for me has been about making a conscious decision every morning to embrace and enjoy these moments while the kids are under this roof with me. I don’t want to just survive this phase of our lives, I want to be fully present and enjoy it! You only get one shot, there is no pause and rewind button on childhood.

Encouraging them:I have come to realise that my children are supposed to be different from me and that’s good, and healthy. I don’t need them to have all the same views, personality traits and opinions as me. They are here for their own personal journey that really has very little to do with who I am. I want to embrace who they were meant to be, not who I want them to be. (Excerpt from Huffington Post)

Govt losing billions from traffic ticket defaulters

The state is being robbed of billions by motorists who do not pay ticket fines, and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said tougher sanc-

far. Speaking at the launch of National Road Safety Month on Monday, Rohee identified education as one of the means to solving the problem of road accidents.

tions would have to be taken to address this and the overall traffic situation.

More than 110 persons have already perished on the roadways for this year so

“For those who use the roads carefully, we cannot stop the process of education,” the Minister said.

He stressed the need for stronger enforcement of

Biker killed in early-morning collision

Amotorcyclist was killed when his bike collided with a truck on the Mon Repos Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Monday morning.

Dead is 54-year-old Bennett Beveney, a welder of Lot 37 Plantain Walk, Triumph, (ECD). The accident occurred around 02:15h. A pillion rider, Alicia Penheiro, was also on the motorcycle at the time of the accident.

According to the Police, Beveney and Penheiro, of Enterprise, ECD, were proceeding along the Railway Embankment, when a motor lorry proceeding in the opposite direction swerved into their path causing a collision. The two injured persons were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Beveney was pronounced dead on arrival and the pillion rider was admitted to seek medical attention.

When Guyana Times visited the man’s home, his reputed wife of 20 years, Dawn Cadogan, said that the last time she saw her husband was on Sunday around 23:00h, just before he left home. The woman said that she did not know where he was heading and it was until Monday morning that she got the news of his death.

The man’s stepson, Shaka Kendall, related to this newspaper that around 05:00h on Monday morning, two of Beveney’s nephews came to the house and asked if the man slept at home the night before. The young man

laws in dealing with reckless drivers and called on the Traffic Chief to utilise the motorbikes the Ministry has provided them with to get more patrols on the road. “For those who use our roads carelessly, we have to emphasise enforcement … How do these beautiful road safety actions weigh against the number of fatalities and accidents on our roads?”

said after checking he found that Beveney’s motorcycle was not there and informed the men, who then told him that they received a call saying that their uncle died in an accident.

Kendall went on to say that the information they received was Beveney and a female were on the bike when it broke down; however, it restarted shortly after. But as the two continued their journey, a short distance from where they broke down, the accident occurred.

Contrary to reports revealed by the Police, Kendall said that they were not aware that another vehicle was involved in the accident. He said that from reports they received, the man had crashed into a culvert after he lost control of the motorcycle. Beveney leaves to mourn his four children, reputed wife, siblings and other relatives.

The driver of the lorry is in Police custody assisting with the investigation.

He said notwithstanding all the efforts of the Guyana National Road Safety Council, there was still a significant percentage of people who use the roads in a reckless, careless and lawless manner, “and we have to deal with them”. Rohee said consideration is being given to increasing the number of offences for which traffic tickets are issued. However, he pointed out that the Government is losing billions in revenues because persons issued with tickets do not pay the fines.

The small gathering at

the launch on the sidewalk outside St Andrew Kirk, at Avenue of the Republic and Brickdam, included students from St Stanislaus College and officials.

National Road Safety Month, November 1-30, will be observed under the theme “The time is now, don’t drink and drive. Stay attentive, drive defensive.”

Grim statistics Police have said that driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding are the prime causes of road accidents in Guyana. So far for the year 2014, there have been over 100 accidents in which more than 110 persons died – 13 of them children. This is a drastic increase over last year’s figures, which saw a total of 79 accidents and 85 deaths, including those of nine children.

Traffic Chief Hugh Denhurt said it was hoped there would be no further road deaths for the year.

But Public Works Minister Robeson Benn said the trend did not make for

son, and the “erratic and irresponsible season”, then it would probably be more, so at the end of all of this, we may be touching up 138, 140 if we continue in this vein.”

Minister Benn stated that urgent steps need to be taken to change the culture on our roads if we want to decrease road fatalities. He said persons need to move away from the culture of disregard, of “irresponsibility”, and “of leaving late and wanting to get ahead of everybody else”.

For his part, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, a strong advocate of road safety, called for a change in the attitude and culture of road users, while Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr Jacob Opadeyi, noted that Guyana has too small a population to have so many deaths owing to road accidents alone. He said the

good expectations. “If I take a basic look at the grim statistics, it suggests to me that we will have at least 22 persons more dying towards the end of December for the year…the fact that we’re going into the holiday season which is the drinking sea-

roads have become a means of destruction and nobody has any respect for passersby on the roadways. He urged that road safety educational programmes start from home with children.

Dead Bennett Beveney

A skit on road safety was performed at the launch on Road Safety Month 2014

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

tuesDAY, november 4, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

Relocate or go to jail, Chief Magistrate tells man who allegedly threatened wife

Berbice resident Sherman Maynard who told Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry that he was too drunk to remember whether he threatened his wife was on Monday morning given the choice of relocating from his marital home or being remanded to Camp Street Prison until the case was decided. After adjourning the matter until 13:30h to give

Maynard time to make arrangements, the Chief Magistrate had to place him on remand, since he could not have given the court an alternative address.

It is alleged that on October 31 at Upper Berbice River, he made use of threatening language to his wife, Pamela Ramotar. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant told the Georgetown

Magistrate’s Court that the parties are husband and wife and are in the habit of physically abusing each other. He noted that on the day in question around 02:30h, the Virtual Complainant (VC) was walking along when the defendant approached her and a misunderstanding ensued between the two of them, during which he threatened to kill her.

The VC became fear-

ful for her life and reported the matter to the Rorima Police Station, where the defendant was later arrested and charged.

Maynard pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge, saying “I was really intoxicated and don’t know what really went on; all I know I woke up at the station.” The Magistrate upon hearing his explanation changed his plea to not guilty.

Man on bail for unlawful assault charge

Twenty-eightyear-old Matthew Melville was on Monday placed on $25,000 bail on a charge of unlawful assault.

Eyew tness Flexible...?

...or unprincipled Ramjattan?

For months the AFC's Ramjattan insisted that when Parliament reconvened it was gonna be: "Give me the No-Confidence Motion or give me death!". He's now confessing that he's "flexible"!! Damn right he's flexible! In fact when it comes to principles or keeping his word, he's so goddamned flexible, he might as well be a "contortionist"!! What a piece of work!!

When has Ramjattan ever been different?? Look at how "flexible" he conveniently became on the foundational principle of the AFC – the alternation of the Presidential Candidate slot between the "Indian" and "African" top dogs.

The charge read that on November 1 at Arima, Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven), he unlawfully assaulted Marlyn McDonald.

The mechanic, of Lot 36 ‘D’ St Paul Street, Rose Hall, Berbice, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before the Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine- Beharry and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

There were no facts given for the matter. The defendant was represented by Attorney Mark Conway, who told the court that his client had no priors or pending matters.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant

had no objections to bail. He was then granted bail and placed on a bond providing that he moves from the location that he lives presently.

The matter will be called again on November 21 at the Kwakwani Magistrate’s Court.

Four more convicted of fuel smuggling

Four men: Ramnarine Hardyal, Ramlattie Hardyal, Desmond France and Orton Benjamin pleaded guilty to the offence of possession of illegal petroleum at the Charity Magistrate’s Court last month, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) said on Monday.

The Agency has, thus far, recorded seven convictions for the year 2014 in compar-

ison with two the previous year. This brings the total number of convictions recorded by the GEA, since the implementation of the Fuel Marking Programme, to 33.

The Agency said it has intensified its enforcement operations in its commitment to combat fuel smuggling. Inspectors attached to the Fuel Marking Programme visit about 15,000 sites and conduct more than 35,000

tests annually.

From 2006 to 2013, the percentage of sites found with significant dil ution in at least one tank has progressively decreased from 34 per cent in 2006 to three per cent in 2013. Additionally, at the end of October 2014, 13 prosecutions are ongoing in various courts throughout Guyana.

“The GEA remains resolute in its battle to combat

fuel smuggling and wishes to remind citizens that when smugglers engage in illegal trade, they evade taxes and divert revenue intended for Guyana’s development to their own needs.

The GEA encourages all persons who may have information relating to fuel smuggling and possession of illegal fuel to contact the Agency at 226-0394 or 6245905.”

PPP/C reminds GECOM...

Hibernation

The Opposition, Rohee said “seems to be in a state of hibernation when it comes to GECOM’s affairs… is it that they are privy to privileged information that is restricted from the PPP or are they huffing and puffing without oxygen.” He also reaffirmed call for GECOM to fire its recently appointed Public Relations Officer Richard Francois.

Rohee said: “Our information indicates Mr

Francois as being openly supportive and sympathetic to the Opposition, this is premised on statements and views published by Mr Francois in the run up to the 2011 General Elections.”

According to Rohee, while his party respects the right and freedom of employment, he is of the view that Francois’ background and political allegiance will compromise the professionalism of GECOM and may very well lead to biasness in the discharge of his duties. The party made references to several letters published

Govt losing billions...

Shahab Hack, Chairman of the West Demerara Road Safety Association, believes that the Police can do as much enforcement as they want, but drivers will still get off the hook easily. “The Police have been doing so much enforcement by day and night … we’ve had some cases where we are sending six DUIs to the court every morning … but the Police have reported to us that the Magistrates giving them a little pat on their backs and signing them $7000. They come out and look at the

mostly in the Kaieteur News that were written by Francois and posts on social media, some of which he had been critical of the PPP Government.

In one letter published in the December 13, 2010 edition of the Kaieteur Newspaper, Francois called out the PPP for using the atrocities committed by the PNC Government during the latter’s time in Government.

“No Government is perfect! The PNC made errors during its time in office; however, they were respon-

from page 7

Police and they laugh and walk away,” Hack said referring to occurrences in West Demerara. He called for stronger penalties so drivers can “feel the squeeze” and think twice before committing a careless act.

Noise nuisance

It is believed that music is a major distraction to drivers. In 2008, a law was passed in Parliament banning music in buses and hire cars. Initially, this law was strongly enforced, with Police

clamping down on minibuses especially for blasting music. Today, many public transportation vehicles are beginning to pick up the trend once again. The latest fad appears to be transforming public transportations into discos.

Another growing noise nuisance are the CD pushcart vendors. Minister Rohee expressed his disgust at the operations of these carts.

“Last Sunday morning as I was preparing to go to a funeral, this was about 6 o’ clock in the morning,

from page 3

sible for a number of significant developments that have served and continue to serve the Guyanese people to this day…. Guyanese youth are very aware of the political atmosphere in which they live. They continue to witness the PPP/C Government in action. The policies that have been created and placed into action by the PPP/C are all known to the Guyanese youth. They do not need to be given continuous manipulated political history lessons for them to vote for a particular party,” he had stated.

one of these carts was being pushed in a street in my neighbourhood blasting music.” Minister Rohee stated that this was unacceptable and strong measures needed to be taken.

He said a campaign will soon be launched to get these vendors off the streets. He mentioned the National Commission of Law and Order has made a decision to place an advertisement in the newspaper to warn the pushcart vendors that draconian laws are coming their way.

Raphael Trotman had first dibs at the presidential run in 2006. In 2011, Trotman made it clear at the party's convention that he didn't think Ramjattan had what it took to project the "one love" image of the party – advised by Dick Morris.

You do remember Big Dick Morris, don't you?? The bigtime pollster to the billion-dollar US Democratic Party –who just happened to drop by to assist in running a poll to show the AFC would win the 2006 elections??

Anyhow, Ramjattan stamped his feet, pouted and –more to the point – stacked the Convention with fellas from Essequibo and Berbice to remind all and sundry that it was the "Indian turn". It wasn't that he PERSONALLY wanted to be the Presidential Candidate, you understand. It was the principle of the thing.

But here we are in 2014, and suddenly the principle's thrown out of the window by the "ever-flexible" Ramjattan. He snucked his buddy Nagamootoo into the top spot!! Last time we looked Nagamootoo was still "Indian", no? Do these fellas think they can change ethnicities like they do parties?? Ramjattan's "flexibility" on principles also had to do with which of the two "big ones" the AFC would support.

With the virtuous look of George Washington saying he'll "never tell a lie", Ramjattan had announced at the launch of the AFC that the AFC'll never support either the PPP/C or PNC reflexively. As the "party holding the balance of power" – he told the voters of Berbice, he'd consider the issues. Well, since November 2011, we wish Ramjattan could point out to this Eyewitness a SINGLE instance where the AFC supported the PPP – even when he agreed with them.

Like, on the AML/CTF Bill. Why hasn't he demanded from the PNC/APNU the pound of flesh he's demanded from the PPP/C, when he's supported that party down the line??

Ahhh...Ramjattan is "flexible”. But does he have to be so "flexible" that he's always bending over for the PNC/ APNU??

...on transparency

Now here it is, this Eyewitness thought that "transparency" had to do with things not being hidden or covered up. Light passing through so that "all could be seen" and all that. So you'd think an organisation calling itself "Transparency International" (TI) would be concerned with things being hidden, wouldn't you?? Especially when it concerned some "big ones" in the society. But it looks like when it comes to "transparency", TI, like Ramjattan, can also be very, very flexible.

But we shouldn't be surprised, should we?? Has TI replaced Ramjattan's best buddy Goolsarran, as its head –before he leveraged his criticisms of the Government into another cushy overseas posting?? Anyhow, TI weighed in on the intercepted and taped conversation between the AG and the Muckraker's reporter. From a "transparency" standpoint, you'd think the biggest issue would be "who the heck intercepted and taped the conversation?", wouldn't you??

Well, TI thinks otherwise!! Even though there's no "transparency" issue about the conversation, TI has its panties in a knot about this.

It's pretty transparent what TI's agenda's all about.

...soup drinker

Sase Narain's pontificating about the principles to guide the Speaker. One wonders what principle he followed when he rigged the elections of the Maha Sabha, to get the organisation to announce Burnham was "Lord Shiva?? Filthy lucre??

GT&T hints at uneasiness with draft Telecoms Bill

...again urges transparency, level playing field

In a veil hint that it might not be altogether happy with the draft Telecommunications Amendment Bill that has been stuck at the level of a Parliamentary Select Committee for years, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) said that if the legislation is crafted with the Guyana market foremost in mind, it can quickly create a competitive landscape that reduces the need for legislative or regulatory intervention.

Observers have said that the company has been using its decades-old monopoly in the sector to influence the final draft of the Bill. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Radha Krishna Sharma is on record saying that there

are contractual issues which must be respected.

He explained that contracts are more or less property rights since there are certain clauses in the agreement with the Government of Guyana. These agreements, he noted, are legallybound and it is their expectations their benefits under those contractual terms are respected.

The Telecommunication Bill was tabled along with the Public Utilities Commission (Amendment) Bill on August 9, 2013. Since the first reading of the two Bills, the second reading has been deferred several times as the Government continues to hold discussions between the two telecommunication companies.

GT&T currently has the monopoly on landline and international services. Digicel has to pay the local company for its mobile services bandwidth, which is being provided through GT&T. The Telecommunication Bill, among other things, seeks to provide the establishment of a telecommunications agency and for a regular, coordinated, open and competitive telecommunications sector and other related matters.

Meanwhile, in remarks contained in the company’s 2014 Telephone Directory, Sharma said “a uniform set

of rules based on proven market data and applied in a consistent and transparent manner will provide for a smooth transition to full competition”. He said GT&T recognises that in today’s world, “telecommunication is the vehicle that facilitates ICT development and economic growth. As a good corporate citizen that takes its obligation and responsibility seriously, we support Government’s efforts to liberalise and strengthen the telecommunication sector”.

Sharma noted that the Government has taken successful steps to inject competition into the wireless telecommunication industry and signalled its intent to broaden that approach.

“GT&T too is preparing for a more widely competitive market and has considered carefully how this might be achieved in a way that creates a fair and competitive market that makes sense for Guyana, consumers, new competitors and GT&T.”

Over-arching principles

He said in providing for the next steps in the evolution of the competitive paradigm, there is need to build from two over-arching principles: a level playing field for all and the establishment of factually-based and consistent requirements that are appropriate for Guyana.

He said from the beginning of these discussions, GT&T and its parent company ATN indicated a willingness to cooperate with the Government to realise the Government’s goal of introducing full competition in the provision of telecoms networks and services, with the caveat that we expect the new legislation and regulations to reflect a level playing field, the application of international best practices and a minimum of discretionary decision-making.

“Naturally, this must be seen within the context of the respect for our contractual rights as embodied in our existing agreement with the Government of Guyana. We have publicly stated that we welcome liberalisation of the telecommunication sector as we recognise that the deepening of this important sector is integral to the overall development of our country.

However, liberalisation needs be done in an orderly structured manner, so phased that it reflects transparency and from our perspective recognition of and respect for contractual rights and obligations. Investors’ confidence can only be enhanced when the sanctity of contracts and legal agreements are respected.”

Meanwhile, Digicel Guyana Chief Executive

Officer (CEO) Gregory Dean recently expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that two years after the Telecommunications Bill would have been laid in the National Assembly, it is yet to be debated and passed.

“We are very disappointed and frustrated,” he said, as he underscored the importance of liberalisation. According to him, Guyana continues to lag behind even as the rest of the Caribbean and the world at large continue to advance in the world of technology and telecommunications.

“Guyana is the only country in the English-speaking Caribbean that does not have a 3G or faster mobile phone service,” Dean said as he painted a picture of the

country’s state of affairs in relation to mobile services.

3G – the 3rd Generation refers to a networking stand in cellphone technology that is capable of providing highspeed data service to mobile devices.

But while Guyana is still in the in the second Generation (2G), other nations have advanced to 4G networks. Breaking the telecommunications monopoly in Guyana would allow Digicel to bring Guyanese up to speed with the rest of the world, Dean said.

“In terms of Internet penetration rates, you know we are hovering somewhere way below the 10 per cent mark… when you look at surveys and benchmarks showing Guyana against the Caribbean and even Latin American countries, you can see that in terms of access to broadband services, we have very low penetration and we come very low in those benchmarks. In terms of speed of service, we are very low,” he further explained

According to the Digicel CEO, broadband should no longer be seen as a luxury but a necessity. As the international company eyes the possibility of liberalisation in the near future, Dean has plans to expand its services to meet the needs of the Guyanese people.

Motivational speaker inspires Linden students

The Linden Foundation Secondary School was packed with teachers and parents as inspirational speaker Astell Collins and his twin brother Allistor Collins, from BD1 Leadership Development, delivered significant messages about leadership, particularly pertaining to raising children.

“I have to admit that I was overwhelmed with emotions when upon my arrival I witnessed a long line of Lindeners eagerly awaiting my BD1 Leadership Seminar. It was Mr Brian Claxton from Linden Foundation Secondary, who after attending my seminar at St Rose’s High was impressed to have it in Linden,” said Astell in a release.

Astell echoed his recommendations of forging a sacred moral bond between parents and teachers to cultivate and nurture positively contributing citizens of this nation.

He took the participants on a journey of self-discovery as he created an environment and an atmosphere of self-analysis which inspired everyone to do more, go further and be better.

He also cautioned leaders to work on their characters because what they say is backed by the life they live, and people observe their action more than what they say.

“This is especially true with children. As a parent, it is your crucial responsibility to lead your children down a path where values and morals still exist. If you preach on your children not to smoke, then you should not smoke either. If you are yelling at your daughter to act like a lady, then why are you not? A true leader leads by example, and as a parent, it is your duty to lead.”

Astell, alongside his brother, is on a journey to instill self-development approaches in Guyanese of all ages so they too can be used

as advocates for change and promote a vision for a better Guyana; and in turn, a better world.

Prior to his seminar in Linden, Astell visited many schools throughout Guyana, including St Roses High, Christ Church Secondary, Central High, Diamond Secondary School and the Essequibo Technical Institute, to mention a few. His interactions with countless teenagers lead to his conclusion that youth go through a severe identity crisis at this precarious time in their life, and often need mentors to guide them through.

“They don’t know who they are and as a result they don’t know their value or that they are valuable, hence, they indulge in selflimiting activities,” he said.

His mission involves helping them realise their worth, their talents, abilities, gifts and strength through his leadership seminars.

Digicel CEO Gregory Dean

GT&T CEO Radha Krishna Sharma

Astell Collins talking with parents and teachers of Linden

Rohee to Glenn Lall: Release the recordings

Home Affairs Minister and Peoples Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee on Monday dared Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall to release all the other recordings he is reported to have with political figures.

His call comes in wake of an article in the Sunday, November 2 edition of the Guyana Times which stated that Lall has a comprehensive library of recording of various political and influential figures in society that he tends to use as a means of blackmail to get his way.

One source told Guyana Times that Lall has illegal phone recordings of members of almost every sector of society, including the Judiciary, the Police, the Army, the business community, the diplomatic corps and Government and Opposition officials.

The source stated that this perhaps explains why Lall behaves with such impunity even in the face of the law by violating court orders and disobeying the Police by refusing to show up when they demand his presence.

“We understand they said they were more revelations to be made with respect to recordings… if there are more recordings, well let the recordings be released,” said Rohee at the party’s press conference on Monday.

He also slammed media reportage on the issue with respect to Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Kaieteur News. Rohee contended that thus far from all the media reports he

has seen, none have been objective.

He said the only fair statement he has seen thus far on the issue was the one issued by the Government. Government had said Kaieteur News has been engaged in an unwavering and institutionalised policy of unprofessional journalism, which has deteriorated to such levels that the newspaper is now “making up” stories.

The Government’s statement comes in wake of statements by the International Press Institute (IPI) and several other organisations that have criticised com-

ments allegedly made by Nandlall in a recorded conversation between him and a reporter of the Kaieteur News recently.

Noting that the newspaper lacks professional and ethical tenets, Government said the media house is “steeped in fabrications, distortions, character assassination and homophobia”.

It said its prime targets have been the Government, Government Ministers, senior functionaries of the State, sections of the business community, religious organisations, sections of the labour movement and sections of civil society supportive of the Government “and indeed anyone with whom the newspaper Publisher has a personal grievance”.

According to the Government, headlines are frequently enlarged and inaccurately sensationalised to scandalise issues and persons and are often times, not borne out by the stories to which they relate, even as distorted and inaccurate as those stories themselves are.

“A column within the newspaper which is supposedly satirical, bearing the colloquial caption ‘Dem boys she’ has been used as an instrument to publish the vilest, most libellous and homophobic sentiments of and concerning hapless citizens.”

Government said attempts by those aggrieved by these offensive publications to solicit apologies, retractions or clarifications are met with further abuse and sometimes with greater intensity in subsequent publications.

“In those circumstances, aggrieved persons are forced to approach the Court for protection. Even in those instances, injunctions issued by the Judiciary restraining offensive and libellous publications are ignored with impunity, causing another proliferation of legal proceedings for Contempt of Court.

“To date, not once has the Government ever attempted to muzzle or interfere with the way this media outfit operates,” the Government asserted.

De blind, de deaf and de dumb

Some times de more some people look, de less dem does see. And some times some people does see and play like dem ain’t see. And in doin so, dem does be blind to de tings whah dem supposed to see.

De transparency people suppose to see every ting and see through every ting. But right now, dem ain’t seein people who breakin de law to tape a man private conversation and mek it public.

Some body seh this is man who not even allowed even in he own bedroom, so he anxious to hear bout every body private life, because he ain’t gotta private life. All he got is a secret life. But whah ever people do in secret does come to light. And is every ting coming to light these days. But de transparency people is blind people, so dem gon never see that.

It also got some people who does only hear whah dem wanna hear and then play deaf when dem don’t wanna hear de other side of a story. And since old people seh a story got three sides – one side, de other side and de truth – then these play deaf people only hearin one-third of whah dem supposed to hear.

It look like de men dem who called demselves de bar ASSociation got some ting barrin dem ears from hearin well. Dem women who also got dem own ASSociation, also gotta major hearin problem.

So no lawyer – man or woman – ain’t hear when de lil boy was beggin fuh a lawyer. But suddenly dem hearin good to hear a private gyaff between two men. Is no wonder dem does hardly turn up to hear dem own cases. So it look like all dem lawyers in this country is deaf people.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! It also got some people who does get dumb when is time fuh dem to open dem mouth and seh some ting. Or maybe dem deh pun tape too!

Payless Variety Store unveils Christmas promotions

One of the leading variety stores in Georgetown has commenced its Christmas promotions, offering customers a chance to win exciting prizes at both of its locations.

Payless Variety Store, with branches at 42 Wellington Street in Georgetown and 28 Stelling Road, Vreen-enHoop, has unveiled what it dubs a “Grand Christmas Promotion”.

With the purchase of any amount, customers will become eligible to win 10 main prizes, as well as five consolation prizes on the day of the drawing in December.

Among the prizes are a three-piece suite, refrigerator, gas stove, CD player, microwave, pot set, blender, rice cooker, electric iron and dinner set.

In order to ensure cus-

tomers have unlimited chances to win, the company will have those prizes available at both stores,

which will have their separate promotions, but with the same items up for grabs.

During the promotions, the company is expected to give out over $2 million in items.

According to representative, Rajan Tiwari, both stores will also run its “Red Tag Sale” during the festive season, an initiative that started on Monday.

In this promotion, consumers stand to win weekly prizes, leading up to Christmas, starting off with a 39” flat screen LED television set this week. Tiwari also highlighted that apart from the promotions, Payless is in the process of expanding its investment. He confirmed that the business will sometime this month commission its wholesale outlet at Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara. Tiwari said the ultimate aim of hosting the Christmas promotions is to reward customers who would have spent their hard earned cash at the stores during 2014.

Payless Variety Store representatives Rajan Tiwari (right) and Harry Parmesar unveil the entity’s Christmas promotions (Marceano Narine photo)

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

No plan to blacklist Berbice road contractors – Armogan

The Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) Administrations says it is in no way trying to blacklist H Nauth and Sons Civil Engineering Contractors.

Speaking with this publication, Regional Chairman David Armogan said statements of moving to blacklist any contractor that would have carried out road works within the region do not apply to H Nauth and Sons Civil Engineering Contractors.

In the Monday edition of Guyana Times, the Regional Chairman is quoted as saying that, “The local administration will be moving to blacklist one contractor which had done work on the East Bank Berbice Road in the past.”

In an invited comment on the issue, Armogan noted that no reference was

made to a specific contractor. Armogan; however, expressed concerns that a picture of him was used with the story. H Nauth and Sons Civil Engineering Contractors was given two contracts to carry out remedial maintenance work on the East Bank Berbice Road.

According to a source close to the company, those contracts do not have a defect liability clause. “All we were required to do is to maintain as directed by the contractor,” the source said.

Meanwhile, speaking of the last contract which the company had to carry out works on the East Bank Berbice Road which was awarded in time for the May 5 Arrival Day celebrations at Highbury, East Bank Berbice, the source made

mention of the high praise the company received for the timely manner and quality of work that was done.

At the celebrations on May 5 last at Highbury, several regional officials and officials from the Event Organising Committee were high in praise for the work which was done, allowing vehicles to be able to use the road to Highbury.

Cabinet is expected to soon award a contract for road work from Marks Bridge to Light Town which will see the road being resurfaced.

The contractor will be expected to scarify, place crusher-run, clean drains and road shoulders and then pave the road with a twoinch thick sand-stone asphalt surface.

GT&T unveils new directory

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company’s official 2014 directory will be released today along with a smaller version targeting businesses.

On Monday the phone company’s Chief Executive Officer, Radha KrishnaSharma presented President Donald Ramotar with a copy each of the directories. The CEO indicated that the new directory will be available free to the general public. “We have the complete one with the white and yellow pages and we also have a smaller version for the business houses that will carry all the yellow pages”.

The new directories will also be available online, according the company’s CEO. He said, “In the first instance, it will be as you have it and there will also be a module that has a search engine so you’ll be able to search for numbers by giving names, first name or last name”. This new approach

is being done to ensure that customers can have a good experience in accessing the directory’s information whether its hard copy of soft, he added.

The new directories represent an investment of around $20M according to the company’s head.

Meanwhile, the CEO, in his message in the new directory, stated that his vision for the company is that “of a knowledge-driven and highly innovative company where the critical success factors are; customer and shareholder value, knowledge management, business organisation, strong management and cost accounting, focused marketing, productivity and a company that has the ability to transform itself as the market changes.”

Sharma said that he believes in a strong corporate culture, protection of the GT&T brand, participative leadership, and adherence to international best practices in corporate govern-

Miss Earth Guyana calls on President Ramotar

Guyana’s representative to the International Miss Earth Pageant, Stacy Ramcharan on Monday paid a courtesy visit to President Donald Ramotar today, at the Presidential Complex.

ance. Speaking of the company’s investment in the Guyana market, he said, “We have invested in the development, modernisation and expansion of our networks and systems. Over the last 23 years we have invested over $58 billion (Guyana) in capital expansion program and over $51 billion paid to the National Treasury for various revenue commitments.”

Highlighting that the GT&T has grown to be one of the largest private sector employers in the country, Sharma explained that there are more than 650 direct employees and offers indirect employment to over 2,000 Guyanese that support GT&T.

Over its years of existence, the company’s landline service increased from 11,000 to 154,039 subscribers, through the deployment of a National Fiber optic cable network connecting all major population centers from Charity to Moleson Creek to Linden. Over $6B was plugged into the Suriname/Guyana Submarine Cable System in 2010 and $1 billion on upgrading of the Americas 11 Cable in 2011. The company has seven Earth Stations. He observed that the government has been successful in injecting competition into the wireless telecommunication industry.

In concluding, Sharma said that GT&T is preparing for a more widely competitive market. “In providing for the next steps in the evolution of the competitive paradigm, we need to build from two over-arching principles: a level playing field for all and the establishment of factually-based and consistent requirements that are appropriate for Guyana.”

The 23- year old Ms Ramcharan has had a very busy reign since she was selected to represent Guyana on April 22 also celebrated as Earth Day internationally. She said that in keeping with this year’s theme, she has participated in weekly clean-up campaigns and activities such as the ‘Get creative fun shop’ which targeted children and taught them how to use recycled materials to make toys. She said that her most recent move was to join the “New foundation Initiative”, a group comprising disabled persons, involved in making items from recycled materials.

Ms Earth Guyana’s message to other Guyanese is “Take care of the environment”. She was accompanied on her visit to the President by makeup artist, Tenisha Garnett and Cameraman Saajid Husseni. Miss Ramcharan departs for the Philippines on November 4.

Miss Earth 2014 will be the 14th edition of the Pageant to be held on November 29, 2014 at the University of the Philippines Theater in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. Alyz Henrich from Venezuela will crown her successor at the end of the event in which 80 contestants from all over the world will be competing. The pageant´s theme this year is promoting ecotourism which aims to raise tourists and travellers’ awareness regarding ecological conservation in order to directly benefit economic development and to foster respect for different cultures and for human rights.

GT&T technician electrocuted

A26-year-old technician attached to Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) Outside Plant Maintenance at Beterverwagting East Coast Demerara was on Monday electrocuted after he came in contact with live wire while on the job. Guyana Times understands that the young man who has been identified as Vijai Gaznabbi was con-

ducting work in Vryheid’s Lust when the fatal incident occurred. Reports are that he was on a utility pole when he came into contact with a live wire.

Subsequently Gaznabbi was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed. The telephone company in a release said that it is “saddened at the unfortunate passing of one of its employee Vijai

Gaznabbi.”

According to the release, Gaznabbi, joined the company in 2011 and held the post of Technician 11. The release said that Gaznabbi died “as result of an accident today during the performance of his duties in the Vryhied’s Lust area.” The company says that it is awaiting a formal report on the incident from the Guyana Police Force before any action is taken.

President Donald Ramotar and Miss Earth Guyana, Stacy Ramcharan during her courtesy call on the President

Cameraman Saajid Husseni, Makeup artist, Tenisha Garnett, Miss Earth Guyana, Stacy Ramcharan and President Donald Ramotar

GT&T’s CEO R.K. Sharma presenting President Donald Ramotar with a smaller version of the 2014 telephone directory that targets businesses

tuesDAY, november 4, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

Guyanese boy thrives after life-saving surgeries in US

He takes long, hot showers, has developed a sweet tooth, calls his American hosts “Mom” and “Dad”, wrestles with the boy who sleeps below him in their bunk beds and plays on a trampoline with the other children who live in their spacious home on Springfield’s south side.

Satchian Basdeo also has gained 45 pounds and grown six inches in the almost nine months he has lived in Springfield.

Most important, Satchian, pronounced “SACH-yen”, can see and feel a completely sealed roof of his mouth, which allows him to eat, drink and talk like any other 11-year-old boy.

Satchian is talking much more these days in his Creole accent. He has become more outgoing. And though his speech is not perfect, it is easier to understand him since the procedures at Memorial Medical Centre in April and August to fix an unsuccessful cleft-palate repair that took place in his home country of Guyana.

With more procedures in his future, Satchian, who arrived in Springfield in February, said he is starting to miss his family in South America. But he is enjoying himself at the home of the American family that brought him there after meeting him during a church mission trip in a suburb of Georgetown.

When asked if he was glad he came to Springfield for the life-altering surgeries, Satchian nodded several times. “It’s nice over here,” he said simply.

Kristen Ferguson, the Springfield clinic doctor whom Satchian considers his adopted mother, estimated that the boy will have received US$300,000 or more worth of donated services from memorial and an array of local medical and dental professionals by the time his care is complete.

“There’s absolutely no way I could have afforded all of this,” said Ferguson, an EmergencyMedicine Specialist who now treats occupational injuries. “A whole team of people have pitched in with Satchian and my journey.” Ferguson met Satchian, then 10, when she was among about a dozen members of the Springfield First Church of the Nazarene who traveled to Guyana earlier this year to perform repairs at the

Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre. The charity provides after-school educational enrichment and food, among other services, to low-income children in West Ruimveldt. Ferguson, 39, who conducted health screenings while there, met Satchian and learned about the cleft-palate surgery that had been attempted on him two years earlier by a visiting Cuban doctor.

A cleft palate occurs when tissues in the roof of the mouth do not grow together properly, leaving a gap and an opening into the nasal passages. The situation hampers a person’s ability to eat foods and make sounds.

Life-threatening

A life-threatening infection following Satchian’s original surgery in Guyana resulted in a golf ball-sized hole reopening in the roof of his mouth.

In addition to the effects of infection, he developed dental problems because his cleft palate went unrepaired for so long. In the United States and other developed countries, most cleft palates are repaired within a year after birth.

Unable to arrange for another surgery in Guyana, Ferguson said she felt led by her faith to bring Satchian to Springfield, where she could attempt to use some of her connections in the medical community to assist him.

She worked with the US Embassy in Georgetown to secure a temporary US visa for Satchian and arranged for him to be flown back to central Illinois with the rest of the Nazarene Church members.

Her persistence was greeted with generosity. Surgery performed in April by two plastic surgeons from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine – Drs Michael Neumeister and Reuben Bueno Jr – repaired the hole in Satchian’s soft palate. Surgery in August by Neumeister and Oral Surgeons Jordan Williams and Louis Scannura transferred bone from Satchian’s hip to his upper jaw to promote the growth of healthy tissue and sustain his upper teeth.

Several longstanding cavities were filled last week by Dentist Brandon Maddox. And to realign his teeth, Satchian will be fitted in mid-November with braces by Orthodontist C William Groesch. Satchian will need to wear braces for three years as part of US$40,000 worth of treat-

ment that Groesch is donating, Ferguson said.

In the end, Ferguson estimated she will pay US$2000 to US$3000 out of pocket for Pathology and Radiology services that were not donated. She cannot get any of Satchian’s medical care covered through her own insurance because he is not legally part of Ferguson’s family.

But it is obvious that Satchian has been welcomed into the home Ferguson and her husband – heating and airconditioning technician Lucas Gebhardt – share with their three children.

“He’s a full-fledged sibling,” Ferguson said. “He’s a very happy kid. He’s a very hard worker.”

Added her mother, Bobella Glatz, “It’s just magnificent how he has fit in.”

Glatz, 67, who lives nearby, supervises the homeschooling of Ferguson and Gebhardt’s children, Brenden, 12, Elizabeth, 10, and Emily, 8, all of whom also participate in online classes as part of a curriculum the family pays for from Freedom Project Education.

Satchian, who has joined in the online curriculum, uses his own study area, complete with personal computer and printer, in a corner of the living room. So far, he is doing first-grade work. In the United States, he would be in fourth or fifth grade, but his education in Guyana was limited. (The State Journal-Register)

US Congressman asked to apologise – for

Ebola blunder on Guyana

He set out to firmly question the Federal Government’s response to Ebola at an October 24 hearing, but the credibility of Republican Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, was called into question.

He had stated that a recent African outbreak of Ebola took place in “Guyana” – an Ebola-free South American nation.

The New York-based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) sent a letter to Issa seeking an apology for erroneous statements about Guyana that could stigmatise that nation and more than one million Guyanese living in North America. New York City is home to a sizable and vibrant Guyanese community.

“Taxpayers want to know that our Government is prepared,” Issa said in his opening statements at the highly-publicised hearing, before promptly showing he was unprepared to say Guinea, when referring to the West African nation where an Ebola outbreak had actually occurred. Instead, he mistakenly said the outbreak took place in Guyana. And it was not a onetime flub.

Bloomberg News reported that Issa made the error three

times during the session, which was watched anxiously by millions of Americans concerned about the possibility of the virus spreading in the US.

“The first time could have been interpreted as a flustered fluke. Issa had stumbled on the word “nation” when saying that ‘in the West African nation of Guyana, the world first learned about yet another new outbreak of the Ebola virus several months ago,’ ” reported Bloomberg’s Alison Elkin. “But then it happened again. And again.” Other news outlets –including Guyana’s stabroeknews.com, New Yorkbased NewsAmericasNow.

com, dailykos.com, and www. politicususa.com – reported on Issa’s “Guyana” errors, and numerous Twitter users noted his repeated mistaken use of “Eboli” for Ebola.

And Issa was apparently also not prepared to say he is sorry.

“No response (from Issa). I’ve received several calls and emails from Caribbean-Americans supporting our call for an apology, including from some very prominent folks,” said CGID President Rickford Burke, who sent copies of the letter to House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and New York-area Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) and Republican Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn).

“CGID therefore calls on you to immediately, and in person, retract your comments and render an unqualified apology to the people of Guyana and the GuyaneseAmerican community. I am confident that given your well-publicised criticisms of several US Government officials for ‘alleged’ mistakes, you as a man of principle and Chairman of a powerful committee of the United States House of Representatives would not allow such a colossal mistake to contend without correction.” (Daily News)

Steelpan art helped bring Guyana to Pittsburgh

At Leigh Solomon’s wedding in Pittsburgh, cultures clashed and came together. That day 12 years ago, Leigh, a native of Guyana, married an Italian David Pugliano, whose parents emigrated from southern Italy and settled in Pittsburgh.

“At my wedding, the Italians were dancing to soca and reggae as the Caribbean folks were doing the tarantella,” she said. People staffing the celebration were peeking in and wondering, “What’s going on in there?”

Lots of remarkable things. Music was provided by a band composed of Solomon, in wedding dress, and her sisters. Each played a steelpan, also known as a steel drum, a popular Caribbean musical instrument that has been an integral part of Leigh’s family story.

Solomon’s family moved to the Steel City in 1984. Leigh was five years old when her parents decided to settle here after moving to the Bronx in New York City from Georgetown, Guyana, on the northern coast of South America.

Her uncle was studying at the University of Pittsburgh at the time. He told her parents that New York was too busy and Pittsburgh would be more to their liking as a place to raise four girls and build their lives.

It was not a hard sell, so they moved.

Language was not a barrier for the girls, but little things created challenges. Since Guyana was once under British rule, the girls spoke what their mother called

“Queen’s English”, with accents that other children had difficulty understanding.

“Our food that we brought for lunch looked odd to others,” Leigh said. “I remember hiding my lunch. I brought rice and beans and tea, and that was something other kids have not been used to.”

Two things made the transition easier. First was the family. No matter what barriers the outside world presented, the Solomons’ Pittsburgh home was a safe haven. It was “Guyana all the time,” Solomon said.

“There were four of us, so it meant that it’s a group of friends, when we got home we could play in the backyard and have fun and we were not so focused on making friends at school, although we did so eventually.”

Second was her father’s passion — a steelpan. It bound the family together. Solomon was a known steelpan maker in Guyana, and the instrument helped the family build ties to Pittsburgh because the girls were performers. Audiences clapped and that helped Solomon and her sisters build confidence.

A steelpan was also an ice-breaker. When people in Pittsburgh would learn that the girls were performers, they would ask, “So do you sing?” That question motivated Solomon and her sisters to talk about steelpans, Guyana, their family and their culture. “No”, they would say, “we play the steelpan”.

“Having something and knowing something that other people were not familiar with was also a strength because

you could become a teacher,” she said.

“In a way, I have been a lifelong teacher, because I was so young talking about the steelpan and showing adults something they have never seen before.”

Solomon and her family have always advocated for Pittsburgh. “I’d say we believed in Pittsburgh when it wasn’t cool, when it was not really cool to be from Pittsburgh. We were huge advocates of the city. Why do it there? Let’s do it in Pittsburgh. Why does that festival have to be there? Let’s do it in Pittsburgh.” These days, Pittsburgh is the base for the business of Leigh’s father, who makes instruments for people from all over the world.

“People often ask him, ‘Where is your factory?’ and he would say in Pittsburgh. ‘Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh has a steelpan factory?’ ” she said. As a mother of three and a person with a multicultural family, she said that although Pittsburgh praises and aspires for more diversity, it could do more.

“I want more children to be raised in the world that I was raised in, where it’s open to other cultures,” she said. “I was walking with my girls through Brooklyn and they are not scared or asking why is that woman wearing that thing on her head. It’s not only about being curious but also accepting and knowing that the world is much more than their city or the country you live in. I knew that when I was five.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Republican Congressman Darrell Issa

Satchian Basdeo rushes down the stairs on his way to play catch Monday at the home of Kristen Ferguson and Lucas Gebhardt

From left, Sofia Pugliano, Leigh Solomon Pugliano, Cecelia Pugliano and Stella Pugliano model looks for the Fashion AFRICANA runway show

tuesDAY, november 4, 2014 | guYAnAtimesgY.com

Two shot during alleged robbery

Two men were shot by a businessman who accused them of attempting to rob his business place at Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara in the wee hours of Monday morning.

The two men were identified as 50-year-old Wilton Edwards also called “Lazzo” of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara and 40-yearold Sherwin Hamilton, popularly known as “Nasty Man” also of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

The businessman, Dereck, was subsequently detained by Police at Timehri and his licensed firearm was seized.

According to information received, the two men who were drinking at Dereck’s Food Court and Beer Garden when they attempted to gain entry into the shop via a window.

The businessman, who was inside, said he heard a sound and upon checking, he saw the two men. He ran for his firearm and discharged several rounds.

As a result, Edwards

was shot in the abdomen and back, while Sherwin Hamilton was shot in the abdomen and foot. They were both admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

One of the men was reportedly carrying an ice pic while the other was armed with a gun. This, however, could not have been confirmed.

Persons in the area when contacted explained that the two men are known in the area. Hamilton is reportedly known for his criminal background. He was previously charged for armed robbery.

The Guyana Times understands that the two men had stripped the businessman’s truck of its battery a few days ago.

On the other hand, relatives of the two men claimed that the businessman was under the influence of alcohol and on the night of the shooting, he accused the two men of stealing a battery from his truck.

The men, according to hospital officials, are in stable condition.

Police are continuing their investigations.

Caribbean Airlines attends Guyana Expo in South Florida

Caribbean Airlines was an active exhibitor at the recently concluded Guyana’s Trade Exposition in South Florida, USA.

The Airline’s Marketing, Sales, Cargo and Ticket Office Team members engaged fans at this prestigious event which provided a great opportunity to interact with customers, obtain feedback, and share information about our special fares.

Seventh Annual Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme launched

Thirty-two young individuals joined the Republic Bank’s Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme on Monday and they will be the first batch to benefit from the newly -introduced Competency Based Education (CBE) Programme.

Republic Bank is currently registered with the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), making them able to offer and deliver the CBE.

At the end of the seven month programme, successful apprentices will receive a National Vocational Qualification Certificate as

a Certified Bank Clerk issued by CTVET. The certificate can be used when seeking employment for certain entry level jobs.

Throughout their seven months, the apprentices will be provided the necessary tools, training, coaching and guidance through practical and theoretical aspects of banking.

They will be taught basic marketing skills required to improve their career options, and have some experience in the world of work. Apprentices will also be included in Republic Bank’s community care services.

“We strive to improve the lives of others and the Youth

Link Care-A-Van; our community outreach activity for our apprentices was designed to foster social awareness, empathy, respect and care for the less fortunate,” Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited Managing Director John Alves said at a simple ceremony held in honour of the apprentices.

Delivering the feature address, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam urged the students to appreciate the opportunity as it will be a great life lesson for them and charged that it should be a great opportunity for them to develop their skills.

The Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme

was introduced in Guyana in 2008 and since then has proved to be successful in transforming the lives of the young participants.

The programme, which commenced over a decade ago at Republic Bank Limited in Trinidad and Tobago, sought to bridge the gap between the end of the participants’ school life and the start of their career. The programme is geared to guide the apprentices through a process of personal and professional growth and includes facets that when combined, will teach the youths valuable skills for their professional and social development.

Felix wants better pay for Police, public servants

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Winston Felix is calling for a more attractive remuneration package for Police officers, contending that their current salaries are small.

The airline will continue to partner with a number of key organisations and have supported events such as The Miss World Guyana 2014 and the Mother’s Day beauty Pageant, Madhia PreMash events, Guyana Football Referees Association, Rotary Clubs, The Deaf Association and the Guyana Medical Missions who are focused on community development.

In the diaspora, Caribbean Airlines supports the famous Curry Duck Competition, Orlando Diwali Event in Broward, South Florida; Guyana Folk Fest (New York); Guyana Independence Festival Progress Campus held in Toronto and many more events that keep the diaspora connected to home.

With over 28 weekly flights including a mix of non-stop and one-stop flights via Port of Spain, Trinidad, they have created a non-stop sector between Guyana and New York, South Florida and Toronto. (South Florida Caribbean News)

“Congratulations to the prize winners, who participated in our putt, win and fly promotion over the last few days. We are the most consistent and committed carrier in Guyana and we thank all our loyal customers for supporting the Caribbean Airlines brand. Our product is known for reliability, value added service such as frequent flyer miles, complimentary bags, special discounts for students and senior citizens and we encourage all our customers to secure their bookings early to ensure that they take advantage of the best prices,” Manager (South America) Carl Stuart said The event showcased the country’s rich resources and the tremendous growth potential within the international market. Caribbean Airlines provides an essential link from North America and London to Guyana with the most competitive rates for the movement of cargo within the manufacturing and trade industry.

Felix was at the time speaking at a press briefing where he once again roost the Government over the critical state of crime in the country, noting that enough is not being done to curb the situation.

He said the crime situation is as a result of the Police Force lacking capacity as well as resources to effectively combat crime and criminality.

The former Police Commissioner pointed out that one way to bring the Force up to a full compliment is to examine the recruitment and training programmes.

He explained that attractive remuneration packages should be offer to Police officers in order to retain manpower.

“We need to deal with the issue of manpower; young people do not want to work for a measly sum of $57,000 per month. We need

to up the level, we need a Policeman who has been so well prepared at school that he can absorbed the training programme so that when they get out there, they can effectively do their job. You just don’t want to recruit today and they go tomorrow,” he stressed.

Felix further said that not only Policemen, but public servants should also get an increase.

Another area where the shortage of manpower in the Force is evident is in the number of patrols in the streets, Felix said. He noted that there is a definite de-

crease in patrols frequenting the roadways to prevent and detect crime.

The former Police Commissioner pointed out that crimes are committed based on opportunities available. On this note, he referred to the incident on Sunday when the congregation of the St Philip’s Anglican Church was robbed by three armed young men.

Felix emphasised the need for increased Police patrols in the streets to deter criminals from committing heinous acts such as the one carried out on Sunday.

“Talk about opportunity! If you can ride to a scene and ride away from the scene without being intercepted anyway by the police... but if patrols are around, these men would think twice because they don’t know when they are escaping, if they would be intercepted by the Police patrols,” Felix mentioned.

The APNU member added that the pleadings of the coalition to address the country’s crime situation seem to fall on deaf ears.

Felix outlined some of the initiatives that APNU would undertake to reverse the crime situation in the

country. According to the APNU parliamentarian, if put in office, an APNU Government will focus on the Police Forces’ strengthens and weaknesses. He underscored the need to develop the necessary intelligence to combat criminality in Guyana, while adding that Government seems to be focusing more on micro-managing the Police Force, rather than providing leadership.

“Governments needs to give the Force the necessary leadership…You want to tell me a proper Crime Intelligence Unit devoted to developing crime intelligence, cannot be funded, supported, staffed and allow to work on its own with proper professional Guyanese; cannot be developed to support the Police on the streets with the intelligence necessary to target those who are committing these crimes,” he stated.

Felix went onto say that APNU has been constantly observing the failures of the Government to effectively tackle the increasing crime level and has repeatedly point out to them at various fora that they are not on the right course.

The apprentices along with Republic Bank and Education Ministry officials

APNU MP Winston Felix

Argentina suspends P&G over tax claims

Argentina has banned the consumer products giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) from doing business in the country, accusing the firm of tax fraud.

A statement on the presidential website, published on Sunday, said P&G had inflated the price of imports by US$138 million in an effort to get money out of the South American country. It also accused the firm of attempting to avoid taxes.

P&G said it was working to understand and resolve the allegations. “We don’t pursue aggressive tax/fiscal planning practices as they simply don’t produce sustainable results,” said P&G spokesman Paul Fox.

The alleged fraud involves shipments of razors and other hygiene products.

The statement, published on behalf of Argentina’s Federal Administration of Public Revenue (Afip), add-

ed that details of the alleged fraud have been sent to its counterpart in the United States – the Securities and Exchange Commission.

P&G has been operating in Argentina since 1991 and currently runs three manufacturing plants and two distribution centres in the country.

Meanwhile, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who has been

waging a battle against corporate greed, is being treated for an “infectious fever” in a hospital in the capital, Buenos Aires, officials say.

Fernandez, 61, checked herself into the clinic after feeling ill Sunday afternoon, an official statement explained.

The President has had a series of health problems, some of which have forced her to cancel official trips. (BBC News)

Dominica celebrates 36th anniversary of political independence

Dominica is observing the 36th anniversary of its political independence from Britain with the traditional military parade, honour of nationals and a message from Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit that the anniversary provides the opportunity to highlight and showcase the many attributes that define “our character as Dominicans”.

“It is an occasion to recapture and project our folklore, our song, dance, music, dress, cuisine and many of the other traditions that make us unique. But it

is also a time to pause, to reflect on the progress we have made, to assess where we are, where we want to get to and determine how we can get there, remaining united, peaceful and strong,” Skerrit said in his Independence message to the nation.

The celebration is being held under the theme “Our Nation, Our Responsibility”, and Prime Minister Skerrit said it also provides for citizens to question whether or not “we have been faithful in discharging our responsibilities to ourselves, our families, our communities and to

our country”.

Skerrit said as leader of the country while his administration had laid the groundwork for creating opportunities for the socioeconomic development of Dominica, “we will not rest, for there is still a lot to be accomplished.

“One of the characteristics of a truly independent nation, is to be found in the recognition it gives to citizens who have blazed a trail of excellence and who have made profound sacrifice in service to the country and to the global community.” (Excerpt from CMC)

Bahamas arrest 76 following crackdown on illegal migrants

The Bahamas Government confirmed that 76 people had been arrested over the last weekend after they failed to meet the new requirements for staying legally in the country.

Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell also denied reports that children were detained and placed in the Carmichael Road detention centre during the exercise on Saturday.

“Some people have expressed concern about children and I would only say that we are seeking the intervention of the Department of Social Services where this

is necessary,” Mitchell told a news conference on his return to the country from the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

He told reporters that the administrative measures announced by the Department on work permits, certificates of identity and residency permits had gone into effect and on Saturday “there was a routine interdiction exercise … which resulted in some 76 arrests”.

Mitchell accused “some elements in the community” of transforming the exercise “into something which it is not”.

He said that there have been interdictions every day, every week and last weekend’s exercise “was no different from what the Department ordinarily does and should not be used to inflame passions.

“It appears now that some political operatives have gotten into the matter with a view to seeking to sow the seeds of division; I ask them to desist. I ask the leaders of the Opposition parties to speak to trolls on social media to resist the temptation to sow seeds of discord. I have asked our supporters to do the same.”

(Excerpt from CMC)

Bolivia’s Ombudsman alarmed at sexual attacks on girls

The Bolivian Ombudsman has said he is worried about a rise in sexual attacks against girls and women.

Rolando Villena said that local, regional and national authorities were failing to act in the face of a growing number of increasingly cruel attacks on young girls.

Last week, a four-yearold girl was raped and murdered in Palos Blancos, north-east of La Paz. It was the third case of its kind in

More Trinidad Muslims want to fight for ISIS

Shane Crawford and Milton John Algernon, two Trinidadians who joined arms with the Islamic State (ISIS), are right now fighting in the Syrian town of Kobane.

They are also joined by another Trinidadian whose Muslim name is “Faizool”.

The fighting between ISIS and the Kurdish fighters in Kobane has lasted 40 days. Kobane, Reuters reported, occupies a strategic position on the Turkish border that would allow ISIS to control much of the region. The United States has launched some 600 airstrikes against ISIS, but it has not stopped the Islamic group from growing in strength.

“Kobane would be a lesson to the entire world. It would be a lesson to America,” the Trinidad Express was told after sev-

eral unsuccessful attempts to engage the men on an onrecord interview.

They would not consent to use their names or discuss their new life on the record because it is against the rules of ISIS to talk to the media.

But their message through social media was “Stop reporting on ISIS”.

“ISIS does not recognise Western journalists. They are viewed as spies. Trinidad and Tobago journalists are no exception,” the Express was told.

“We will either be killed or be victorious,” they added.

One local imam, who has declined to use his name because of what he described

as the unfair media attention which the Muslim brotherhood is getting over ISIS and Islamphobia by the Western media, summed up the situation in these words: “Who is there is there. Who is here is here.

“Instead of focusing on who is here, who have already left, you should focus on who is actually here. You can’t do anything about who is there. They have made their choice and they won’t be coming back. No one goes to a war to come back home,” he said.

“But people seemed to be concerned about all those who have gone and are not paying attention to who is here. The men who are on the fence. The ones who are holding back from going, who are just not sure. That, to me, is who you have to be concerned about,” he added.

(Excerpt from

two weeks in Bolivia.

Bolivia has the highest levels of violence against women in South America, according to a 2013 Pan-American Health Organisation study.

In an official statement, Villena said that there was a “complacency” within Bolivian society, which meant that no action was taken to prevent further attacks.

He said Bolivians thought it “was enough to detain and jail the perpetra-

tors, while nothing is done to protect girls and adolescents”.

Bolivians have been shocked by the case of the four-year-old who was found raped and murdered in Palos Blancos, about 250 kilometres north-east of La Paz. It came a week after a five-year-old girl was raped at a medical centre in the central region of Cochabamba. The girl later died while being transferred to a hospital.

According to the Ombudsman’s office, 34 per cent of underage girls in Bolivia have suffered some form of sexual abuse at some point.

“We don’t know how many more cases we have to have before the Government accepts that we’re facing a situation with untenable levels of violence against women, and girls in particular,” Villena said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaica: Upper House passes Flexi-Work Bill

The Jamaican Senate passed the Employment (Flexible Work Arrangements) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act on Friday paving the way for the introduction of flexible working time.

The flexi-work arrangement is intended to increase employment opportunities, enhance productivity, and afford workers the opportunity to better structure their lives through a flexible employee/employer work agreement.

Making his contribution to the debate, Senator Lambert Brown welcomed the passage of the legislation, highlighting the fact that workers in the essential services and other sectors have been working under flexible arrangements

for a long time.

However, he raised concern about provisions in the Act which stipulate that overtime payments are to be paid to a worker during any period in excess of 40 hours in any week.

“The trade union concern is about the removal of overtime occurring on a daily basis. As it stands now in the Minimum Wage Act, after eight hours in a day, you get overtime,” Senator Brown said.

“What the new arrangement in this Bill says is that if you work 13 or 16 hours in a day you will not get overtime, unless you work for a total of 40 hours-plus during the week. We prefer to maintain the arrangement where overtime is calculated on a daily basis,” he added. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Procter & Gamble is based in the US city of Cincinnati, Ohio

Bolivia has the highest rate of violence against women in South America, studies suggest

caribbeannewsnow)

This YouTube video grab shows an ISIS terrorist identified as Abu Abdurahman al-Trinidadi (left), an apparent reference to his Trinidadian heritage, along with another Trinidadian identified locally as Shazam Mohammed

Around the world

African Union issues Burkina Faso ultimatum

The African Union (AU) has given Burkina Faso’s military leadership two weeks to return the West African state to civilian rule or face sanctions if they fail to comply.

“We ask the armed forces to transfer power to the civil authorities, and the council has determined a period of two weeks for the transfer,” Simeon Oyono Esono, head of the AU’s Peace and Security Council, said on Monday following a meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

“The African Union is convinced that the change has been against democracy. However, we know that popular pressure led to the resignation of the President.

“Those circumstances were taken by the armed forces to get into power, but it originated from the people,” Esono said.

The army stepped into a power vacuum after Blaise Compaore was forced to resign the presidency last week in the wake of violent demonstrations over an attempt to extend his 27-yearrule.

In an emergency meeting with dip-

lomats in the Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou earlier on Monday, interim leader Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida vowed the military would cede power to a transition government, without giving a timeframe for the changeover.

“Our understanding is that the ex-

ecutive powers will be led by a transitional body but within a constitutional framework that we will watch over carefully,” Zida said.

The political Opposition and civil society organisations insist that the victory of the popular uprising belongs to the people. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Dozens drown after boat sinks near Turkey

At least 20 illegal migrants have drowned when a boat taking them towards the European Union sank in the Black Sea just off Istanbul, Turkish media reported.

Six people were rescued and 17 more were missing from the stricken boat, which had set off earlier from Istanbul and had travelled through the Bosphorus Strait on its way to Romania, the reports added on Monday.

Eleven children, five women and one man were still unaccounted for, as authorities continued their search near the northern entrance of the Bosphorus.

Al Jazeera’s Bernard

Rescuers retrieved a boat believed to have been used by some of the migrants in the Black Sea on Monday

Smith, reporting from Istanbul, said the chances of finding survivors were slim in the rough and cold water.

Those on board were Afghans who had paid sev-

Peshmerga, Syrian rebels battle

Islamic State in besieged Kobane

Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and moderate Syrian rebels bombarded Islamic State (IS) positions in Kobane on Monday, but it was unclear if their arrival would turn the tide in the battle for the besieged Syrian border town.

Kobane has become a symbolic test of the US-led coalition’s ability to halt the advance of IS, which has poured weapons and fighters into its assault of the town that has lasted more than a month.

The battle has deflected attention from significant gains elsewhere in Syria by IS, which has seized two gas fields within a week from President Bashar al-Assad’s

forces in the centre of the country.

In Iraq, the group has executed more than 300 members of a Sunni tribe that dared oppose it last week, after seizing the tribe’s village in the Euphrates valley west of Baghdad. On Monday, a member of the tribe said another 36 members had been executed in the provincial capital Anbar.

For now, the eyes of the world have been on Kobane, where weeks of fighting have taken place within full view of the Turkish border, causing outrage among Kurds in Turkey who blamed their Government for doing too little to help defend the town.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

eral thousand euros each in search of a better life in the EU and had set off earlier from Bakirkoy, an Istanbul suburb on the Sea of Marmara side of the

Bosphorus.

“The boat could have capsized either because it was overloaded or because of the weather being too windy,” our correspondent said.

“Fishermen who first went to the rescue said it was a small pleasure boat designed to carry perhaps seven to nine people on tours of the water around Istanbul. We know so far that more than 20 people have drowned and six have survived. Clearly the boat has been overloaded.”

A coastguard official contacted by AFP news agency confirmed the accident but could not give the exact number of victims. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ukraine crisis deepens after rebel elections in the east

Pro-Russian sepa-

ratists in Ukraine named a leader of a breakaway republic on Monday after weekend elections which was denounced by Kiev and the West and further deepened a standoff with Russia over the future of the former Soviet state.

Organisers of the vote said that Alexander Zakharchenko, a 38-yearold former mining electrician, had easily won election as head of the “Donetsk People’s Republic”, an entity proclaimed by armed rebels in the days after they seized key buildings in cities of Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east last April.

A rebel representative said Igor Plotnisky had won a majority in a similar election in Luhansk, a smaller self-proclaimed

World Trade Centre opens for business after 9/11

More than 13 years after the original towers were destroyed in the 9/11 attacks, New York’s World Trade Centre has reopened for business.

Employees at publishing giant Conde Nast are starting to move into the 104-storey One World Trade Centre.

The US$3.8 billion skyscraper took eight years to build and is now the tallest building in the US. It is 60 per cent leased and the Government’s General Services Administration has signed up for 275,000 square feet.

“The New York City skyline is whole again,” Patrick Foye, Executive Director of the Port Authority, which owns the restored site, said in a statement.

The 1776-foot (541-metre) tall skyscraper is at the centre of the site, which includes a memorial in the footprints of the old towers and a museum, opened this year. An ob-

servation deck at the top of the building will eventually be open to the public.

Foye added the building was “the most secure office building in America”. TJ Gottesdiener of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill that produced the final design said the high-rise went beyond the city’s existing building code, and was built with steel-reinforced concrete.

About 170 of Conde Nast’s employees will be moving into the building this week, filling five floors. About 3000 more employees will join them in early 2015.

Space has also been leased to the advertising firm Kids Creative, the GSA, and 191,000 sq ft for the China Centre, a trade and cultural space.

The new World Trade Centre is the centrepiece of the 16-acre site where the twin towers once stood, before they came crashing down, killing more than 2700 people. (Excerpt from BBC News)

India and Pakistan hold Wagah border ritual after attack

The colourful and elaborate ceremony draws crowds of thousands on both sides of the border

India and Pakistan have held a daily military ceremony at their only land border crossing, a day after a suicide attack there killed dozens of people.

Despite earlier plans to suspend the ritual at Wagah, Pakistan’s military said it wanted the nation to unite against terrorism.

The bomb exploded near the checkpoint on the Pakistani side, killing at least 55 people and injuring many more.

Funerals of those killed have been taking place across

pro-Russian entity further east.

The rogue votes, which Kiev says Russia encouraged, could create a new “frozen conflict” in post-Soviet Europe and further threaten the territorial unity of Ukraine, which lost control of its Crimean peninsula in March when it was annexed by Russia.

Kiev and the West will now be looking to see if Russian President Vladimir Putin will formally recognise the validity of the vote, despite their entreaties to him not to do so.

A Russian deputy Foreign Minister, Grigory Karasin, made no mention of formal recognition, but said the newly elected leadership in eastern Ukraine now had a mandate to negotiate with Kiev.

Punjab province.

Punjab army corps commander, Lieutenant General Naveed Zaman told those present at Monday’s ceremony that they “proved that terrorists can’t break the morale and zeal of the nation”. Indian soldiers also took part on their side of the frontier. There were cheers on the Pakistani side, but no spectators on the Indian side. It would have been the first time the Wagah ritual had been called off since the two countries fought a war in 1971. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Chinese officials ‘buy corpses to meet cremation quota’

Two officials in Guangdong province have been arrested after they allegedly bought corpses from grave robbers to have them cremated, Chinese media say.

They said they were trying to ensure Government quotas on the number of cremations every month were met.

In Chinese tradition, relatives are buried in tombs built so that loved ones can perform ancestor worship. However, the Chinese Government has encouraged cremations to save land for farming and development.

In June, a resident of Beiliu city in southern China Guangxi region reported that his grandfather’s body had

been stolen from the graveyard. In July, Police in Beiliu arrested a grave robber, surnamed Zhong based on an investigation, official news agency Xinhua said, citing Chinese media.

Zhong confessed he had stolen more than 20 corpses from graveyards in local villages at night. He said he put them into bags and transported them into neighbouring Guangdong province.

Zhong also alleged that he had sold the bodies to two officials in Guangdong. The two officials, surnamed He and Dong, who were in charge of implementing funeral management reform, were arrested last week. (Excerpt from BBC News)

New military leader Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida has held talks with diplomats in an attempt to end the crisis

TUESDAY, novEmbEr 4, 2014 | gUYAnATimESgY.com

PPP/C Govt tried valiantly to extradite Smith from French Guiana – Justice Ramson

The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government on assumption to office had sought valiantly to get William Gregory Smith, the alleged assassin of Dr Walter Rodney extradited from neighbouring French Guiana.

That attempt failed since the French Government at the time could not be sure that Smith would not be executed after his trial here.

This information was disclosed by former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Justice Charles “Rishi” Ramson on Monday when he appeared before the three-member panel probing the death of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) co-leader.

Though with relevant and well accepted information, the Commission often erupted in laughter as the jovial Ramson took the stand, under crossexamination by Attorney Christopher Ram, representing the interest of the WPA.

Ramson told the investigating team that during the Cheddi Jagan Administration of 1996, and his first tenure as Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, he had assisted in the prepa-

ration of the letter which was sent to the French Government to have Smith brought back to Guyana to be tried for the alleged role he played in the June 13, 1980 explosion which claimed the life of Dr Rodney, and seriously injuring his younger brother Donald, who was with him at the time.

William Gregory Smith, a former Army Sergeant,

who was said to be an expert in the areas of electronics and explosives, was said to be an acquaintance of the world renowned scholar who it is reported had become increasingly interested in the use and operations of walkie- talkie devices.

Smith had allegedly handed Dr Rodney’s younger brother Donald a bomb hidden in a walkie-talkie

device to pass on to him. That device exploded while Dr Rodney was about to test it near the metal fence of the Georgetown Camp Street Prison. Evidence coming out from witnesses at the Commission and the report provided by Donald is that Smith had instructed that Dr Rodney set himself close to the huge metal fence so as to measure the quality of the frequency of the communication handset.

Since the commencement of the investigations earlier this year, evidence has surfaced too that the Linden Forbes Burnham Administration had used the Army expert to carry out the heinous attack on the WPA leader who was described as a Guyanese patriot and fighter for the rights of the working class.

Witnesses say too that the PNC Government may have facilitated Smith’s departure from Guyana some hours after the explosion.

Reservation

Ramson explained that Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry was in contact with its French counterpart which had demonstrated reservations in sending back Smith, who had been living in the country for some 15 years

at the time.

The French Government had embraced the philosophy of non-extradition, and was reluctant to have Smith, who it is reported had already become a citizen there, returned.

The former Attorney General; however, did not say if the Guyana Government had given that assurance to the French leadership, but noted that attempts to have Smith returned for trial continued until the day of his death in 2002.

Commission Chair, Sir Richard Cheltenham had commented that it is quite surprising that in the face of “rigorous pursuit”, it took Government such a long time to move in the direction of having Smith returned to face the courts here.

Ramson pointed out that no such attempt could have been made earlier since the PNC Government would not have done so. He cited too the role Dr Rodney’s only son Shaka played in influencing the PPP Government, which gained power in 1992, in moving in that direction.

Shaka had in 1995 travelled from Barbados and carried out a brazen hunger strike, in protest of justice for his father’s death in front the Office of the

President.

Attorney Ram sought to ascertain from the former Attorney General, whether he was aware of the seven missing files reported by the Police.

Ramson, who also sat on the Defense Board, said he became aware of the seven missing Police files during the current inquiry. He said he was unaware if the Defense Board, headed by Cabinet Secretary Roger Luncheon had made any attempt to secure the Police investigation files from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Meanwhile, Ramson told the Commission that Smith may have used the same backtrack route used by Dr Rodney to leave Guyana.

Ramson said that while he did not have evidence to show, the word on the street back then was that the route used to travel from Guyana to neighbouring Suriname was used by Dr Rodney when he surprised Prime Minister Burnham at a Heads of Government gathering in Mozambique in March 1979. This emerging information raised some eyebrows and challenges prior evidence that Smith was air-dashed out of Guyana via the then Timehri International Airport.

Guyana Shines brightens St Rose’s High

Guyana Shines in collaboration with the Georgetown Stabroek Lions Club on Monday repainted the walls of St Rose’s High School in an effort to beautify its surroundings.

Speaking to Guyana Times , a Sixth Form student of the school said they are grateful for the venture which was undertaken by the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), noting that the walls of the school are always filled with graffiti.

This initiative, she said is the first step to take away all the negatives attached to the school.

Guyana Shines member, Tristana D’chunna disclosed that the idea behind the project is to bring about a positive view of the school.

She said they are proud to support the school and will continue to do so in the future.

According to D’chunna, Guyana Shines encourages and mobilises Guyanese communities to maintain a clean environment. She added that keeping Georgetown clean is important for Guyana and its people, noting that it is necessary for good health and sanitation.

It also encourages tour-

ism, supports biodiversity, increases property values, ensures clean waterways to avoid flooding, and improves the community spirit and quality of life.

Meanwhile, President of Georgetown Stabroek Lions Club Odessa D’barros said she is happy to collaborate with Guyana Shines to work on another project at the St Rose’s High School. D’barros noted that the school has great potential and will continue to enjoy the support of Guyana Shines.

Only recently, the Lions club had donated a number of textbooks to Sixth Form

Man jailed for 6 months for threatening behaviour

Thirty-four-yearold Noel Steve

Rampersaud was on Monday sentenced to six months’ imprisonment after being found guilty of threatening behaviour.

He was convicted of making use of threatening behaviour to Tyron Alli on October 31 at Aroaima, to which he admitted when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya

Sewnarine-Beharry.

Before reading the facts, Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant revealed that there was presently an investigation being carried out of “sexual activities” which may involve the defendant.

He explained that on the day of the incident, Alli spoke to Rampersaud about the matter that was under investigation and he got annoyed and threw gasoline on

the Virtual Complainant’s house, threatening to burn it down.

When asked if he had anything to say, the unrepresented defendant replied “if I have to go to prison, please send me to Berbice because my family is there.”

However, the Chief Magistrate told him that such decisions are made by the prison officers.

Magistrate Sewnarine-

Beharry then enquired about his prior matters with the court and was informed that he has a pending carnal knowledge case (since 2013) which is to be called at the High Court. The Magistrate then made her judgement based on the nature, gravity, and prevalence of the offence; the facts that there were occupants in the house and he is an adult, as well as his guilty plea.

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Justice Charles Ramson at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry on Monday

St Rose’s students take a photograph after completing their painting job

students of St Stanislaus College and the St Rose’s High School in an effort to improve their performance in Caribbean History at the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

George Washington medical team to conduct 20 major surgeries

The George Washington medical arrived in Guyana on Sunday and was welcomed by Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran.

At a reception in their honour at Grand Coastal hotel, Minister Ramsaran said he hopes this time around, the team will able to interact with Guyanese people, especially in the clinical field to share their skills with Guyanese medical personnel.

He pointed out to the team, the improvements at the West Demerara Regional Hospital from their first visit last year and said he hopes that members of

the team can identify other weaknesses in whichever hospital they work at. He also invited the team to explore the medical school at the University of Guyana. Minister Ramsaran encouraged the team to take the opportunity to explore Guyana’s beauty while they are here. He said Guyana is a good tourist destination, “so I am hoping you will be able to see a bit of Guyana without disrupting your academic and clinical work so when you get back you will be able to promote us as a good destination for families to come and see nature.”

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr

Shamdeo Persaud also expressed the hope that the team will have a fruitful and pleasant stay. “Patients here are looking forward for your services and I know they will appreciate everything that you do. I hope this mission is executed to its fullest,” he said.

Prem Singh, a Guyanese who migrated over 30 years ago and one of the key personnel behind the initiative, said the team is in Guyana to perform surgeries on those who are on a waiting list. He said through friendships, the linkage was made and he initiated the team’s visit to Guyana.

On the first mission,

there were 23 surgeons and specialists and on this second trip, the team is approximately the same size. One of three urologists on the team said he is delighted to be back in Guyana for a second time. He described his first visit as a life changing experience and he hopes to do it annually.

The group anticipates doing about 20 major surgeries in addition to other smaller surgeries. Last year, there were about 45 surgeries done. The group will also be performing gynaecology surgeries such as for fibroid and ovarian masses and others for kidney stones and enlarged prostate.

GTU, Assuria sign pact for insurance for teachers

The newest insurance company in Guyana, Assuria General (GY) Inc and Assuria Life (GY) Inc and the Guyana Teachers Union recently signed an agreement to provide teachers who are members of the Union with a Multiple Insurance Protection, Multiple Discount Plan.

“We always seek initiatives that combine the pursuit of cutting-edge ideas with creating opportunities for our customers,” said Yogindra Arjune, acting General Manager of Assuria Guyana.

He further stated “that since the advent of Assuria in Guyana, the public are recipients of new and innovative products”, all to their benefit, citing the two-country insurance plan, which provides free motor insurance coverage in Suriname once they have an Assuria motor insurance policy in Guyana.

Commenting on behalf of the Guyana Teachers Union, President Mark Lyte noted “that the Guyana Teachers Union is extremely pleased to have established an agree-

ment which provides affordable insurance coverage for teachers. This agreement is unique since it allows teachers to gain coverage at special rates for health, eye care, fire and vehicular insurance. Teachers can now pay for these insurances on a monthly basis rather than having to source all funds at once”. He further noted

“that teaching has become a high-stress related profession which affects the health of our teachers”. “Teachers now do not have to depend on NIS only for health benefits, but can now access this through Assuria”. The President of the Union is encouraging all teachers to take advantage of this special package and

Pastors chastise bandits for attacking Anglicans

Religious leaders on Monday chastised the bandits who invaded the St Phillips Anglican Church on Sunday, robbing worshippers of cash, gold and other items.

Member of Parliament (MP), Pastor Kwame Gilbert told Guyana Times that “the fact that people can go to the house of worship and commit such an act indicates an extreme degeneration in society’s morals and values as there was a time when the church was thought of as sacred”.

Gilbert said emphasis should be placed on what exactly fuels such behaviour of robbing churches and church people.

“It might be necessary for persons to be cautious in the church these days as much as they are in the streets which indicate how much society and the thinking of persons in regards to religion and the respect for religion has fallen.”

Gilbert said that the area where St Phillips is located is known as a “high risk” area, however, he argued that no house of worship, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu or otherwise, should be disrespected in such a manner. “This issue needs to be taken quite seriously,” he insisted.

Pastor Ronald McGarwell agrees with Pastor Gilbert, positing that churches do not go into generally “good areas” only, but they go to the areas where they are needed and undoubtedly have to face such situations.

McGarwell said families are very important in such cases and parents need to recognise the critical role they play in raising their children.

over their personal belongings including cash, mobile phones and jewellery, among other items. The other two were in the yard robbing members as they enter. Guyana Times understands that a taxi driver was relieved of his mobile phones when he attempted to warn a woman not to exit his car after he realised what was happening. The men then made good their escape through a small adjoining street from the church yard into High Street. From all indications, the perpetrators were all youths. When Guyana Times visited the church on Sunday morning, the church members were still in shock and disbelief about the entire incident.

One man who sells at the entrance of the church explained that as he went out with his selling trays, he saw the three boys on their bicycles patrolling the area which was highly unusual. He went on to say that the church mass would start at 07:00h and members were already making their way to the place of worship. Soon after he stated that the boys rode in the yard and disappeared. It was after they would have committed the act, he was made aware. He said too that he can recognise them. “I didn’t know who would go into a church and rob the members,” the man stated.

assures them that much thought and scrutiny was put into this agreement, which each teacher stands to gain from once they capitalise on the offer. Agents from Assuria have been visiting branches and schools to provide detailed information on what teachers need to do to become eligible for the benefits.

Three armed men on BMX bicycles carried out the brazen early morning robbery on the Parishioners during their Mass at Smyth Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

The incident reportedly took place about 07:30h. According to reports received, one of the men armed with a hand gun held up the congregation and ordered them to hand over their monies and personal belongings.

The church members reportedly obeyed and handed

Priest of the church, Father Oswald Barnes told media operative that he was preparing the items for communion when he heard a commotion in the church and sent one of the members to enquire. After a few seconds, the member returned and informed him that a robbery was in progress. Out of fear, he locked himself in the vestry and remained there until the ordeal was over.

This did not stop the Mass from going on but the Priest took time to address the crime situation in Guyana during his sermon. He reiterated that criminals have stooped to the lowest and it was unbelievable that they would now turn to places of worship to commit their heinous crime.

The Police are investigating the robbery.

Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, Chief Executive Officer, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Michael Khan and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud along with members of the medical team

The church that was robbed

Assuria Guyana General Manager (acting) Yogindra Arjune (right) presenting the agreement to GTU President Mark Lyte. Looking on are other representatives of the company and the Union

Rodney CoI: Burnham Govt manipulated the Judiciary – Justice Ramson

Former Attorney General Charles Ramson said the Forbes Burnham-led People’s National Congress Administration had encroached on the Judiciary, as Judges and Magistrates were manipulated and forced to carry out orders against their will.

Failure to comply would incur dire consequences, Ramson told the three-member Commission of Inquiry investigating the killing of Working People’s Alliance Co-Leader, Dr Walter Rodney. Among the objectives of the Inquiry is the examination of the social, political and economic atmosphere during the period 1978 and 1980. Before the panel of investigators, Ramson spoke of the citizens themselves being fearful of approaching the courts for recourse on mistreatment by any member of the State, since they dreaded the possible consequences such actions could have on them or family members.

Ramson, who obtained his Bachelor of Law Degree in 1973, told the Commission that upon his return, he had served in the capacity of

Parliamentary counsel for just over a year, before going into private practice. He explained that he was offered a position within the ruling Government to become the first Minister of Energy; however, he declined. He said although, his father was a “right hand” man of President Burnham, and although he admired some of the philosophies of Burnham, he was not interested in becoming a “political animal” but was more concerned about growing as a young attorney.

Interference Ramson cited several incidents when the Government had forced itself into the judicial system, trying to stymie the smooth flow of law and order. Those included the situation where the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), through the Government, had refused to pay sugar workers their incentives and merit increments owed to them, based on the contractual agreement. He said he, along with another attorney, fought that case and won. The case was won on the merit that

Contracts totalling $412.5M awarded for cleanup campaign

Contracts totalling over $400M were on Monday awarded to various firms to ensure Guyana remains clean after the completion of the ‘Clean up My Country’ campaign as the Government strives for a clean and healthy environment for all citizens.

Under the ‘Cleanup my country’ programme several items were advertised to be procured to enhance the capacity of the Local Government Authorities to aid in the Regional Solid Waste management programme. It is intended that the cleanup programme can be sustained after it comes to an end on December 31.

For the supply of 45 tractors and trailers, GENEQUIP was awarded the contract at a total cost of $256,050,000. AINLIM was given a $1M contract to supply a flat trailer; while MACORP was given the contract valued $44, 835, 000 to supply five mini-excavators.

Additionally, S. Jagmohan Hardware

Supplies and Construction Services was contracted to supply a skid steer loader valued $5,8M; and DAX

Contracting is to supply 142 skip metal bins val-

ued approximately $33.2M. Tractors will be delivered to specific locations within the NDCs in an effort to address the issue of indiscriminate dumping of waste.

For communities where there is need for household receptacles, Puran Brothers will supply 5500 barrels and 600,000 garbage bags at a total cost of $65.8M. For the completion of Phase 2 Landfill site Access Road, Zorg-en-Hoop, J.B Brothers was awarded the contract at a total cost of $6.852M. The scope of works include, grading and shaping of 1350 square foot of maiden road, constructing base/sub-base grading and shaping of shoulders.

A total contract cost of $412, 537,425, is being invested by the Government of Guyana. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker congratulated the representatives of the various companies.

“I have no doubt that you will deliver quality stuff in a timely manner and help us to meet that timeline that we have given to the Guyanese nation. We promise to deliver on this project by December 31.”

the agreement was contractual, and, therefore, legally binding.

The former Attorney General said Government had gone to the very highest level when in 1978 it moved to have the colonial 1966 constitution change, so as to impose its own sanctions. The PNC Government was seeking to have an extension of its ruler and was changing the referendum to facilitate this. According to him, elections were constitutionally due in 1980. The Government was seeking to

have a further extension of two years.

He noted that this decision was not approved by the general public, pointing out that although it was promulgated, no one had turned up at the polling stations to vote. Ramson told the Commission that some senior lawyers had vented their distaste over the move and were severely physically abused by organs of the hierarchy.

He related to the Commission that he himself was severely beaten by Police officers. And this was not just because he did not support the PNC Government, but because, as was told to him, he was targeted by the Government to be made an example of.

He recalled visiting a WPA meeting, along with now Chief Justice Ian Chang. Standing approximately 500 yards away from the gathering in Sheriff Street, Ramson noted that he quickly identified members of the then riot squad, along with persons from the House of Israel group. According to him, while the officers approached him and Justice Chang, he was the

only one that was thumped and beaten by the officers. He said he later learnt that his name had come up at a PNC Congress meeting where a decision was taken to make him an example. He said the interference continued over time, as he reflected on the roles members of the House of Israel and the riot squad played in upsetting the public meetings held by the WPA and to some extent the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). During Ramson’s testimony on Monday, it was admitted by the Commission’s Chairman that evidence of a National Guard Service was brought to the fore. This organisation of approximately 40 security officers was established immediately after the alleged arson attack on the Ministry of National Development and mobilisation in 1979. The body, which included senior officers like former Police Commissioner Laurie Lewis, was tasked with keeping tabs on all Opposition parties, including the PPP. Justice Ramson said it was phased out sometime after the death of Dr. Walter Rodney.

CDB helping Guyana strengthen road safety education

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, through the Public Works and Education Ministries, has commissioned an international consultancy firm – TRL, to strengthen road safety in the curriculum and increase knowledge, skills and understanding among children and young people.

TRL, the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory commissioned to undertake the programme, has conducted a review of existing road safety delivery in schools and created a baseline of data by which to monitor performance over the next two years.

According to an Education Ministry release, following the completion of the review, TRL has commenced two one-day interactive training workshops for road safety education stakeholders along the West Coast Demerara Road Improvement Corridor. These training sessions are being held at the Leonora Secondary School, West Coast Demerara. The focus of the workshops is to build capacity among all road

safety education stakeholders in preparation for a pilot project that will conclude in April 2016.If successful, the school road safety education programme will be implemented across the country.

The release stated that

ular basis in the curriculum for the duration of a child’s academic tenure. Teaching should, therefore, reinforce existing concepts and introduce new skills as children develop. Good

the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) currently leads road safety education in schools. Activities usually focus on ‘Back-to-School’ media campaigns and the training of students and teachers through the school safety patrol programme. Best practice recommends that road safety topics should be provided on a reg-

quality teaching materials and resources should be used to support the curriculum and ensure a standardised approach across the country. Implementation of this school road safety education programme will be coordinated by the Education Ministry. The Ministry will be supported in delivering the programme by schools and teachers, the Guyana Police Force, the Cyril Potter College of Education, and the GNRSC.

While TRL will advise on road safety good practices, the training workshops allow teachers, traffic Police, GNRSC and stakeholders within the Education Ministry, to play an active role in the development of a road safety education programme that is appropriate for schools in Guyana. Participants will assist in identifying where road safety can be integrated into existing curriculum subjects. Once this is established, participants will begin the process of developing materials and resources that can be used to effectively raise awareness among students of the most prevalent safety issues affecting their age group. Further training will be provided in March 2015 before the implementation of the pilot programme. TRL will monitor changes in the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of students towards road safety as a measure of the success of the pilot programme before making any necessary amendments to support national implementation.

Former Attorney General Charles Ramson

GFSCA/Guyana Softball Cup 4…

Wolf’s Warriors, Floodlights are softball kings

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Played in front of arguably the largest crowd to witness a sport event at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association’s (GFSCA)

Guyana Softball Cup 4 ended in exhilarating fashion on Sunday night with Wolf’s Warriors copping the Open

167 with the white ball on the night sky, Regal came agonisingly close, ending on 161 off 19.5 overs. Patrick Rooplall made 30 and Navin Singh 21 as Narine Bailey and Amir Nizamudeen claimed two wickets each.

For the win, Wolf’s Warriors became $800,000 richer, while Regal had to settle for $200,000.

In the Masters final played earlier in the day,

title and Floodlights lifting the Masters trophy.

While the West Demerara-based Wolf’s Warriors were pushed to the limits by Regal XI, winning by a mere five runs, Floodlights had a comparatively easier time against Savage Masters, prevailing by 18 runs.

In a riveting Open final, former GT&T 10/10 champions Wolf’s Warriors batted first and posted 166-6, a total which would prove just enough about 90 minutes later.

Former national Under-19 left-hander, Ricardo Adams, batted through the innings for a topscore of 53 in Wolf’s Warriors innings. The Essequibian and eventual Man-of-the-Match received solid support from Safraz Karim, who stroked 37, and skipper Amrit Rai, who chipped in with 31.

Adams and Rai had laid the foundation for Wolf’s Warriors win with a century partnership for the first wicket.

Chasing a challenging

eventual Most Valuable Player and Man-of-theMatch, Uniss Yusuf, cracked 62 and Imtiaz Mohamed

pocketed $600,000 for their winning effort, while Savage took home $150,000.

The final of the female exhibition segment was controversially aborted in the seventh over when the batting team, Mike’s Wellwoman, complained about the uniform of Trophy Stall Angels

made 45 as Floodlights posted 180-4 with R. Samaroo claiming three wickets.

Despite a fighting 64 from Robert Comacho, Savage fell short, managing 162 in 19.2 overs with Yusuf retuning to bag two wickets. Floodlights

distracting them.

At the presentation ceremony which followed, Yusuf was joined by Lennox Marks of Farm XI on the podium as they competition’s two MVPs. Both batsmen scored centuries in the three-day tournament, and their ef-

forts were rewarded by Steve’s Jewellery, who provided two 18-karat gold softball bracelets, accentuated with diamond studs.

President of the GFSCA, Ramchand Ragbeer, congratulated the two champion teams, reserving special mention for the Floodlights

veterans who had tried unsuccessfully to cop the title for the last three years.

He commended the sponsors for staying the course with the Guyana Softball Cup and expressed gratitude to the hundreds of spectators who turned out at the venue to witness

the conclusion of the country’s premier softball tournament.

The competition, which started on Friday last with the traditional photo shoot, attracted teams from Guyana and North America battling for softball’s ultimate prize in Guyana.

WICB Director yet to preview BCCI $42M claim

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director, Whilford ‘Billy’ Heaven, is yet to formulate a position on the recent claims letter that was sent by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) to the WICB for losses incurred as a result of the West Indies’ non-completion of their recent tour of India.

According to Heaven, the president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), he only recently became aware of the letter, and is yet to get a chance to effectively peruse it.

“I am aware of the letter. But I am not privy to the details of it right now, but, hopefully, soon,” he told The Gleaner following the playing of the final of the JCA 50 Overs Tournament at the weekend.

The letter, which was sent to WICB president Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron late last week, outlines an amount of US$42 million that regional body will have to pay to help the BCCI recoup costs.

preliminary calculations

The amount, which the

BCCI expressed was initial, and based on preliminary calculations, includes fees for broadcast media rights, team, clothing, and venue sponsorship rights, as well as ticket sales and hospitality, among others.

The WICB was also given 15 days to respond, following which legal action will be undertaken to seek redress.

The letter also formally explained their position that all future bilateral series with the West Indies has been cancelled.

The West Indies failed to complete their tour of India after members of their one-day squad withdrew their services over a salary and benefits dispute with the WICB and their union, the West Indies Players Association.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

The Floodlights veterans are all smiles as they bask in the glory of their success in the Masters segment (Photos: Carl Croker)

Lennox Marks of Farm XI took home the MVP award in the Open category

Floodlights’ Uniss Yusuf was named MVP of the Masters category

Whilford ‘Billy’ Heaven

Pakistan win first Test series against Australia in 20 years

Tcelebrate

wenty years of Pakistan defeats at Australian hands were erased in little more than 20 minutes. The last five wickets belonging to Michael Clarke’s befuddled team tumbled for eight runs in 46 balls after lunch, rather summing up the gulf between the two sides in a series Australia had expected to win.

Instead it was Misbahul-Haq’s team that was triumphant, not just beating Australia but totally obliterating them. The Abu Dhabi result was Pakistan’s biggest ever victory margin by runs. In terms of average differential (batting average minus bowling average) this was Australia’s worst series of all time. Australia have the Ashes, but that’s all.

The final spoils were rightly shared by Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah, the little-known spin duo which did not merely cover for Saeed Ajmal’s absence but took advantage of it.

Australia spent most of the preceding six months preparing for mystery offspin and doosras, even hiring Muttiah Muralitharan. Instead they were flummoxed by classical leftarm orthodox and legspin.

Other garlands were rightfully saved for Younis Khan, the prolific and cultured runmaker who built the wall Australia’s bowlers were never anywhere near tearing down.

Then there was the captain Misbah, who showed total composure throughout the series before giving free rein to his skills with the equal-fastest Test century of all time.

Above all else, Australia’s display demonstrated how they will be illegitimate contenders for the title of best team in the world until they can find a way to thrive on the slow, low and turning pitches set-up to blunt their speedy brand of the game in Asia and elsewhere.

Clarke in particular must wear a share of blame for the result, as he failed completely to set a batting example for less experienced team-mates.

For most of the morning Steven Smith and Mitchell Marsh at least showed some evidence of learning how to cope with these climes, too late to change the series but perhaps an attempt to salvage some vestige of self-respect.

Smith used his feet smartly and also defended stoutly in a fine display, but he lost the assistance of Marsh when the allrounder glanced Mohammad Hafeez straight to leg slip.

Marsh had played dog-

gedly and well, but he will regret not either leaving or hitting out harder at a delivery that was short and down the leg side.

That ended a stand of 107 over more than two hours, and brought the pained Brad Haddin to the middle, still favouring his right shoulder after jarring and bruising it heavily on the first day of the Test. Haddin winced repeatedly when playing the ball but showed great determination in doing so, and Smith cuffed a pair of boundaries in the final over of the morning to reach the cusp of a fighting century.

But two balls into the afternoon he became yet another batsman to play presumptuously for spin where none existed, pinned in front by a Yasir delivery that skidded on. Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon melted away within minutes, allowing Pakistan to celebrate. It’s been a while. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Australia 2nd innings (target: 603 runs)

CJL Rogers c Asad Shafiq b Zulfiqar Babar 2

DA Warner c Yasir Shah b Mohammad Hafeez 58

GJ Maxwell lbw b Zulfiqar Babar 4

MJ Clarke* b Zulfiqar Babar 5

SPD Smith lbw b Yasir Shah 97

MR Marsh c Asad Shafiq b Mohammad Hafeez 47

BJ Haddin† b Zulfiqar Babar 13

MG Johnson b Yasir Shah 0 PM Siddle not out 4

MA Starc b Yasir Shah 2

NM Lyon c Azhar Ali b Zulfiqar Babar 0

Formal word on WICB dilemma non-existent

There has been no formal word on the outcome of Friday’s critical meeting aimed at solving the bitter West Indies contracts dispute, even as the Sunday Sun newspaper reported that the feuding factions in the impasse had reached a resolution.

Outlining the agreements reached during the five-hour meeting held in Port of Spain, the Sunday Sun said that the contentious Collective Bargaining Agreement would go to arbitration, the players would continue to retain the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) as their sole bargaining agent and that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) would not rule out of selection for the upcoming South Africa tour those players who abandoned the recent one-day series in India.

no statement issued

However, none of the parties involved in the meeting have yet issued a statement on the outcome.

St Vincent’s Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who chaired Friday’s talks, was reluctant to go into details of any resolution, telling the Trinidad Express newspaper that “very good progress” had been made.

“We are in a far better position at ten o’clock tonight than we were at five. I think that on the basis of

the discussions, we have the framework and the modalities for the resolution of the issues and for cricket lovers. I fully expect that the best team will be in South Africa representing us,” Gonsalves was quoted as saying.

“Everybody is going back to their various entities. The 14 players who were in India, they have to talk to their WIPA leadership, and their colleagues and [WICB president Dave Cameron] has to speak to his colleagues on the board, but believe us, we made very good progress.”

The meeting was brokered by Gonsalves following one-on-one talks with West Indies one-day captain and players’ spokesman Dwayne Bravo in Kingstown earlier this week.

At Friday’s meeting, Gonsalves was joined by Grenadian counterpart Dr Keith Mitchell, Cameron, WICB Vice-president Emmanuel Nanthan, WIPA President and Chief Executive Wavell Hinds, Bravo, Test captain Dinesh Ramdin, along with the various legal representatives.

Barbadian attorney Ralph Thorne, QC, who represented the players, said the matter of a fair selection policy for the tour of South Africa was an important one.

“We will be extremely

vigilant with regard to the fair selection process. In the same way a number of players have been contacted, the players of the India tour similarly look forward to being immediately contacted regarding their availability for the South Africa tour,” the Sunday Sun quoted Thorne as saying.

renewed faith

“The proof of the WICB’s undertaking against victimisation will be revealed in the communications that we expect to follow this week. Every player from the India tour expresses his availability for the South African tour, and they pledge a continuing commitment to the success of West Indies cricket.

“They will renew their faith in the process of collective bargaining by resuming their relationship with WIPA.”

The dispute erupted when the one-day players abruptly quit the tour of India in protest over the terms and conditions of the new CBA, which they argued would result in up to a 75 per cent reduction in their earnings.

As a result, the Indian Cricket Board last Friday formally demanded US$42 million in damages from the WICB, arising from losses in revenue, and said the regional board had 15 days in which to convey a plan of compensation. (Jamaica Gleaner)

nigeria escape second suspension from football

African Nations Cup champions Nigeria have escaped suspension from international football for the second time in two months.

Football’s governing body FIFA said on Monday the threat was lifted after a court case against the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elections held on Sept. 30 was withdrawn.

Extras (b 5, lb 1, nb 3, pen 5) 14

Total (all out; 88.3 overs) 246 (2.77 runs per over)

Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Rogers, 7.6 ov), 2-31 (Maxwell, 11.2 ov), 3-43 (Clarke, 13.6 ov), 4-101 (Warner, 27.4 ov), 5-208 (Marsh, 70.3 ov), 6-238 (Smith, 81.2 ov), 7-238 (Haddin, 82.6 ov), 8-238 (Johnson, 83.1 ov), 9-245 (Starc, 87.6 ov), 10-246 (Lyon, 88.3 ov) Bowling O M R W

The dropping of the case paved the way for FIFA-backed NFF president Amaju Pinnick and his executive to resume their duties after they were ousted by an interim ruling last Thursday by Justice Ambrose Allagoa who placed Chris Giwa in charge.

Judge Allagoa said the electoral congress that brought Pinnick to power was invalid but that ruling was no longer being supported by Giwa.

“FIFA has today sent a letter to the NFF in which it takes note the order granted by the Federal High Court, nullifying the NFF elections of Sept. 30, was definitely withdrawn and that the board...is able to

Nigeria (green) plays defence against France during the 2014 World Cup

carry out its activities without any hindrance,” FIFA announced in a statement.

“We understand these events occurred before midday on Oct. 31 (the deadline). Consequently the case will not be referred to the FIFA emergency committee for implementation of the suspension of the NFF.

“However, FIFA will continue to closely monitor the situation in Nigeria.”

The governing body had threatened Nigeria with a ban of at least seven

months if the case was not dropped.

The decision means the team, if they qualify, can defend their Nations Cup title in January.

Nigeria, who are third in Group A, visit Congo on Nov. 15 and host South Africa four days later in their final two qualifiers. The NFF was briefly suspended by FIFA in July and narrowly escaped a fresh ban in September over the legal quagmire involving the federation’s elections. (Reuters)

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Response from players regarding first-class retainer contract favorable – Stuart – most players sign

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Majority of the fifteen contracted players attached to the Guyana Jaguars have signed their retainer first-class contract, and according to GCB Territorial Developmental Officer, who is now attached to Cricket Guy Inc, Colin Stuart, the response from the players regarding the contract is favorable.

Stuart insisted on Monday that apart from Devendra Bishoo, Assad Fudadin and Ronsford Beaton (West Indies ‘A’

team duties), the remaining contracts will be signed by Friday.

“As we speak the contracts were handed out to the twelve available players for them to pursue the document. A number of them have already signed, and I am confident those who are available here will do so by Friday,” Stuart stressed.

The former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler also noted that none of the players available have raised any issues about the con-

tracts stating: “There has been no indication from anybody that they don’t want to sign or any issue was raise regarding the contract”.

The Professional Cricket League (PCL) guarantees a player an annual income of between US$15,600 and US$36,000. This is in addition to match fees and prize monies.

In addition to the annual income, players can earn up to US$13,000 in match fees if they play in all ten Regional four-day matches and up US$4,900 in fees for the full season of the NAGICO Super50 (seven

matches).

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has roll out a full Professional First Class Franchise System in which a cadre of 90 players will be engaged in a professional cricket structure on a dayto-day basis, year round. Each franchise has retained fifteen players who will work as a unit on a dayto-day basis in each territory under a Head Coach and support staff.

The six franchises will be based in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands. Each franchise will

receive a monthly stipend of US$45,000.

The contract players are: Veerasammy Permaul, Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Ronsford Beaton, Narsingh Deonarine, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Keon Joseph, Rajendra Chandrika, Paul Wintz, Vishaul Singh and Raymod Reifer.

Defending champs start strong in Stag Beer Futsal

Defending Champions of the Guyana Football Association (GFA) Stag Beer Futsal tournament, Fruta Conquerors got off to a perfect start on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Conquerors tore through Black Pearl with a 7-1 drubbing to get their campaign rolling in group A.

Dwayne Lawrence, Kareem Knights, Keith Fletcher, Eon Alleyne would all score a goal each in the win while their goal keeper Oswald Cornette probably had the goal of the tournament with a with a powerful shot from his penalty are that rock the top right corner of Black Perl’s goal.

The other goal would come from an own goal while Black Pearl had a consolation goal to celebrate.

Western Tigers won the event 4-0 against the tough opponents with Phillip Rowley scoring easily to open the scoring.

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Alpha United also looked in form with a 4-1 win over Beacons as Ronson Williams, Aldair Paredes, Daniel Wilson and Jamal Codrington scored in the 15th, 20th, 21st and 22nd minutes respectively.

Western Tigers was also in a no nonsense mood in their opener against Flamingo who are favourites to win the tournament.

Solomon Austin also rocked the net for Western as the team aims to take advantage of poor passages of play.

Shem Porter with the score on 3-0 sealed the deal in the final minutes to state their case as threats to the title.

Meanwhile it seemed as though any team with the name “Black” was taking a hammering as Black Water

FC fell to Santos 1-5. Santos was led by Gavin Wilson who notched a hattrick in the 10th, 13th and 23rd minutes along with Andy Duke’s double in the seventh and 16th minutes was more than enough to seal the win against the uninspiring play of Black Water FC. Meanwhile in other results; Pele FC blanked Northern Rangers 5-0, Riddim Squad thumped the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) 6-nil margin and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) shot down Houston Stars 3-1.

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Colin Stuart

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Final practice game starts today

joins squad

By Rajiv Bisnauth

As the Guyana Jaguars squad step up preparations for the inaugural West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League Regional four-day Franchise tournament which starts on November 14, the second four-day practice match is scheduled to start at 09:30h today at the National Stadium.

The game is the final opportunity for the players before the 15-man squad is name for Guyana’s opening match against the Leeward Islands at Providence.

Chairman of selectors, Rayon Griffith, told Guyana Times Sport after the draft that Reifer would fill an important gap in the side.

“We have struggled with the all-rounder role and we were glad to get a second player in the all-rounder position,” said Griffith.

Meanwhile, Griffith, who is also part of the coaching staff, feels that the preparations are going according to plan. “So far so good, but there is still a lot of work to be done in all the departmentsbatting, bowling and fielding,” said Griffith.

Asked to comment on the first practice match where Vishual Singh’s X1 won by two wickets, the 35-year-old Griffith, who took 56 wickets from his 22 First-Class matches, pointed out that the bowlers need to tighten up in that department, while the batsmen need to show more concentration.

He also indicated that the fielding needs to be a little sharper.

Griffith outlined that while the selection panel will be looking at a number of factors before the final squad is selected, ‘players commitment ‘, will be the key criteria for selection.

Further, Barbadian allrounder Raymond Reifer has arrived here, and will get a workout in the four-day practice match.

Reifer, the 23-year-old left-handed batsman was chosen by Guyana as a first round pick during the inaugural Player Draft of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League, staged at Accra Beach Hotel in Barbados on October 5.

He has represented the Combined Campuses and Colleges in 23 First-Class games and 10 List A games. He is also a useful left-arm medium-fast bowler with 31 First-class wickets.

Reifer and out-of-favour Guyana and West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was selected by Trinidad and Tobago Red Force are the only two players chosen by teams based outside the territory of their birth as regional franchises chose to stick with their zonal players.

Hassan gearing up for Caribbean championships

By tReiston joseph

With little under two weeks to go to the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships set for the South Dakota Circuit on November 16, race drive Azaad Hassan is kicking his preparations into high gear.

In an exclusive with Guyana Times Sport, Hassan outlined what he hopes to accomplish when race day arrives as well as his confidence level before the important championships.

“Sunday’s success is heavily based on Saturday’s qualifying; I am aiming to start on the front grid.

“With the two podium finishes acquired at the last race meeting, it has helped boost my confidence heading into the Caribbean Cup,” the group one driver stated.

Speaking a bit on his preparations to date, the Toyota Corolla driver mention, “preparations are currently ongoing as we broke our exhaust last Sunday at

practice so I didn’t get to test the car’s true potential.

“Some dents and digs from the last few races have to be looked at,” Hassan who currently sits in second place in the points standing for his group told this publication.

However, Hassan knows that in order for him to deliver the goods on race day more still needs to be done.

“My car is prepared by Emran & Raymond Hassa Genral Auto Services and they did a great job on the

Carib Beer T20 cricket tournament….

car, with the little testing I had last week the engine (1500cc) felt strong and solid but I need much more practices so I can improve my skills.

“My car also has to go on a diet to lose some weight but that’s a little hard as I am not allowed to remove certain parts,” Hassan highlighted.

Meanwhile Hassan is not worried about the competition he has to face because he knows the competitive spirit

in his group.

“Competition is always at its highest in my group, being a low group that should not require a lot in terms of finance…it attracts new comers every race meeting,” Hassan mentioned.

The Caribbean Cup will be the biggest race meeting in Guyana thus far for this year and is expected to attract some of the best drivers from across the Caribbean when engines get rolling on November 16.

Universal Solutions Bermine seal final spot with Albion

Universal Solutions Bermine have qualified for the final of the Carib Beer T20 first division cricket competition, with a three-run win over Young Warriors.

The semi-final was played on Sunday at the Port Mourant ground. By virtue of the win, Universal Solutions Bermine will meet defending champions Albion Community Centre in the final this Sunday under lights at Albion.

After invited to bat first on a two pace wicket, Universal Solutions Bermine put together a defendable total of 151-8 in their 20 overs.

Seon Hetmyer, a former national youth batsman and current Berbice player and his brother, prolific Young West Indies and senior national opener Shimron Hetmyer were not in a mood to delay the proceedings as they tore apart the Bermine bowlers with some clean hitting. However, after added 65 in 9.2 overs, Shepherd removed Shimron for 33, while Latcha accounted for Seon for 36.

“Commitment is the top priority of us. We (selectors) are also looking at attitude, fitness and of course performance,” Griffith added.

The teams read: Leon Johnson’s X1: Leon Johnson (Captain), Trevon Griffith, Rajendra Chandrika, Narsingh Deonarine, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble (wk), Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Paul Wintz, Keon Joseph, Kemol Savory(wk), Jonathan Foo, Robin Bacchus, Chanderpaul Hemraj and Raymond Reifier.

Vishaul Singh’s X1: Vishaul Singh (Captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shemron Hetmyer, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Royston Crandon, Ricardo Adams, Steven Jacobs (Vice Captain), Kemo Paul, Amir Khan, Anthony Adams, Raun Johnson, Jeremy Gordon, Jason Sinclair(wk), Kevon Boodie (wk), and Raj Nannan.

Keion DeJesus top scored with 32. Devon Clements (29), Romario Shepherd (29), Damien Vantull (19) and fifteen apiece from Akeem Hinds and Joemal LaFleur, were the other batsmen to reached double figures.

Former national T20 star Imran Khan (3-5) and Kasim Khan (2-22), were the most successful bowlers for Young Warriors.

It was then an authoritative bowling display from Bermine as they restricted Young Warriors to 148-6. Shepherd (2-18), Steven Latcha (2-29) and Jeremy Gordon (1-34) kept the Warriors batting under tight check.

Kevin Ramdeen (16) and Ishwar Singh (21) were the only two other batsmen to offered any sort of resistance.

The battle for third place between Young Warriors and West Berbice will begin at 13:30hrs also on Sunday prior to the final.

Lara confident WICB will survive BCCI legal action

West Indies’ record run scorer Brian Lara expects the region to survive a potential £26.2m lawsuit threatened by India’s cricket board (BCCI).

The BCCI expects to recoup losses sustained when the Windies ended their tour of the country early in October due to a pay dispute.

“I don’t think the BCCI will be that severe on us,” Lara told BBC Sport.

“I believe West Indies cricket will be alive. I don’t think anybody has the intention to end our game.”

Lara, who played 131 Tests and scored 11,953 runs, says the cost of the threatened legal action is “way beyond” West Indies cricket.

But while the BCCI outlined their desire to play a “positive role” in resolving the issue in a recent letter to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), they also stated they would use the “fullest extent permissible in the law” when making their case.

“There are implications and I believe the West Indies Cricket Board

have found themselves in this situation because they have not learned from the past,” added Lara, 45, who retired from the international game in 2007.

“There have been many little quarrels between players and board but it’s the first time they are perhaps facing

something as severe as this.

“We’ve got some of the best talents in the world so I believe West Indies cricket is going to survive and it’s now about how we take this forward.”

The Windies left India after the fourth one-day international on 17 October because of a dispute between board and players over an agreement which covers both pay and conditions.

Three Tests, the last match of the one-day international series and a Twenty20 international were not played and India responded by suspending tours of the West Indies, with one initially scheduled to start in February 2016.

England are also due to tour West Indies early in 2015, with a threematch Test series scheduled to start in April, but Lara expects a swift resolution to the current stand-off between board and players.

“I believe England are safe, they can book the hotels and feel very comfortable,” he added. (BBC Sport)

– Raymon Riefer

Raymond Reifer

Rayon Griffith

Azaad Hassan waves the chequered flag after one of his wins

Romario Shepherd Keion DeJesus

Brian Lara

GT&T Indoor Hockey Championships...

Pepsi Hikers win, GCC claims 3 titles

Jamarj “the Lamborghini” Assanah can go from 0 to 60 mph in a split second, or at least so it seemed as the hockey star lit up the National Gymnasium with a scintillating performance in the Men’s first division final of the GT&T National Indoor Championships on Sunday night.

Assanah and the Pepsi Hikers faced surprised finalists, the Under-19 nationals, and delivered a highly entertaining duel of quality indoor hockey.

After a tentative opening with both teams playing conservatively as they assessed their options, the experienced Hikers eventually began to stretch the youthful Under-19s, leaving them vulnerable to be exploited by the Hikers speedy strike duo of Assanah and Captain Robert France.

It took until the 13th minute of play before Assanah would pounce on a loose ball and outpace his opposition down the length of the court, evade the sliding goalkeeper in the blink of an eye and slide his shot into the open goal. The excited crowd would be treated to a carbon copy of this maneuver as three minutes later Assanah would produce the identical move to take his team up by two.

With the Pepsi Hikers enjoying a 2-0 lead at the break, Assanah would punish the Under-19s two more times with a masterful display of skills and speed to take his match tally to four goals. Down by 4-0, the Under-19s finally found some success of their own through skillful junior player Aroydy Branford, who led their recovery with two goals in the dying minutes from a penalty stroke and penalty

corner respectively. Time would run out on the Under19s as their glint of hope came too late to overcome the Hikers, who claimed the 4-2 victory and the GT&T

an impact on the powerful Tigers’ defense. Seven minutes into the second half, with the Tigers enjoying the majority of possession, striker Sonia Jardine final-

Fernandes netted a double en route to a hat-trick before Old Old Fort could muster their first through a Dwayne Allen finish.

Devin Hooper would add a hat-trick of his own to the GCC tally and lone female in the match, Tricia Fiedtkou, completed tahe GCC’s seven-goal haul with a single. Midfielder Dexter Wyles clawed made a desperate attempt at a comeback with a double before full time, but Old Old Fort were not getting any younger, and would welcome the final whistle as the game was well beyond their reach.

GCC capped off the night with their third title in the four competitions as they crushed Old Fort in the Men’s second division competition. Despite a fine performance by goalkeeper Timothy Baker for Old Fort, Eric Hing registered a hattrick for the victors, while teammates Keon McKenzie and Steven Xavier added singles. Old Fort’s two goals came compliments of Omar Hopkinson and Tony Cole.

National Indoor trophy.

The Ladies final saw a more patient affair as Spice opted to adapt a more defensive strategy against the star-studded GCC Tigers. While this plan seemed to frustrate the Tigers in the early minutes, national center forward Kerensa Fernandes capitalised on a quick free push in the 13th minute just outside the Spice scoring circle. Fernandes weaved right with the ball before slipping it to overlapping left defender Tiffany Solomon who slammed home the opening goal.

Spice defended well, anchored by the tough and determined Vanessa Pires, but their attacks failed to make

ly made the breakthrough as she cut between two defenders and sent a low shot to the goalkeeper’s left. With the scores even, it would take another seven minutes before the Tigers could regain the lead on a well-executed corner, this time Solomon being the provider for a Fernandes deflection finish. Spice piled on the pressure in the dying minutes, earning a plethora of penalty corners, but brilliant goalkeeping by Briawna Gordon secured the trophy for the Tigers with a final score of 2-1.

The GCC Vets made light work of Old Old Fort by a 7-3 margin in the Veterans final. GCC striker Philip

GNRA’s National Senior and Junior Fullbore shooting championships…

Braithwaite

takes first

day

honours

in ‘X’ class

Reigning West Indies fullbore individual shooting champion

Lennox Braithwaite showed ominous form in taking day one honours in ‘X’ Class at the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA)

National Senior and Junior Fullbore shooting championships at the Timehri Rifle and Pistol ranges.

Braithwaite dropped just one point in testing conditions to be four points clear of his closest rival, while Peter Persaud held a slim lead over Lt. Col (retired) Terrance Stuart in ‘O’ Class.

The in-form Braithwaite shot two possibles (50 points with six V-bulls each at 500 and 600 yards) and recorded 49.6 at 300 yards to end the day with an aggregate of 149 points with 18 V-bulls. He also won the prestigious Valladares Trophy for winning at the 500 yards range.

National Vice-captain Dylan Fields was in second position with 145 points and 12 V-bulls with scores of 47.4 at 300 yards, 50.4 at 500 yards and 48.4 at 600 yards.

Defending champion Ransford Goodluck held the third position with 145 points with 11 V-bulls with scores of 48.1, 48.5 and 49.5, while National Captain Mahendra Persaud was fourth with 145.8 (47.3,

49.4, 49.1) and Leo Romalho with 143.11 (46.2, 49.4 and 48.5).

The ‘O’ Class proved to be intriguing with Persaud leading Stuart on a countback as the two shooters were tied on points and V-bulls, but Persaud nipped ahead with a higher score at the 600 yards range. Persaud shot 45.2, 48.4 and 48.3 to end on 141.9 with Stuart recording 45.2, 50.3 and 46.4 for an overall aggregate of 141.9.

Digicel’s table tennis tourney set for this weekend

The 2014 edition of the Digicel School Table Tennis tournament will serve off on Friday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

The event will not clash with the ongoing Stag Beer Futsal tournament according to Technical Director of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Linden Johnson.

However, the GTTA will be aiming to replicate 2013’s out of students when the tournament attracted 150 student athletes in the tournament.

Five categories will be contested at the tournament, namely; under-11, 13, 15, 18 and novice as some of the top mini-cadets, cadets and juniors are expected to be a part of the tournament.

The tournament will also be aimed at promoting camaraderie among students, a healthy life style as well as talent spotting for Guyana’s next wave of table tennis stars.

The tournament will conclude on November 9.

GCC Tigers’ striker Kerensa Fernandes on the attack which led to the first goal of the final

MVP Jamarj Assanah on one of his many attacking raids in the Men’s first division final

Linden Johnson

Lennox Braithwaite

Peter Persaud

Wolf’s Warriors, Floodlights are softball kings

WICB, players arrive at consensus

Tensions between the WICB and the West Indies players have eased, and a way forward found, following meetings over the weekend, Caribbean newspapers have reported. That could mean West Indies’ scheduled tour to South Africa in December will go ahead without hiccups.

According to the reports, the WICB and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) will now renegotiate the players’ contracts, with the players now having a say in payment matters, and WIPA and its chief Wavell Hinds will continue to represent the players’ interests. Also, it was reported, a three-man task force has been created to deal with the BCCI’s demands off the WICB. The committee reportedly comprises former West Indies cricketer and Barbados politician Wes Hall, Barbados chief justice and former prime minister David Simmons, and lawyer and Trinidad &

Tobago politician Kenneth Lalla, and will go to work immediately given the BCCI’s 15-day deadline for the WICB to

claim of US$41.97m.

The meeting was said to be attended by WICB president Dave

prime minister Ralph Gonsalves and

Grenada prime minister Keith Mitchell. Reports also said the players were assured at the meeting that they would not

be “victimised” for cutting their tour to India short. West Indies had withdrawn from their tour to India in October with one ODI, one Twenty20 and three Tests pending, due to issues the players had with the payment structures under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the WICB and WIPA earlier in the year. During the tour to India ODI captain Bravo had written letters on the matter, on behalf of the players, to WIPA chief Hinds and the WICB, saying the players’ trust had been breached since they were not privy to the changes being brought in. Several exchanges among the three parties had ensued, and the players finally withdrew from the tour after the Dharamsala ODI since no middle ground was found. Subsequently, the BCCI had suspended bilateral tours to the West Indies and demanded financial compensation. (Cricinfo)

respond to its

Cameron, players Dwayne Bravo and Denesh

Ramdin and their legal representative Ralph Thorne, as well as St Vincent and the Grenadines

The players ready to move forward with cricket

Wolf’s Warriors’ players, officials and supporters surround the trophy and cheque following their victory on Sunday night (Photo: Carl Croker)

GT&T Marketing Executive, Allison Parker, presents the Men’s first division trophy to Pepsi Hikers Captain Robert France