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ISSUE NO. 126

CANADA EDITION

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WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

- President reaches out to Opposition for dialogue See stories on pgs 5,12 & 14

President Donald Ramotar, third right, and senior officials of the Central Government met in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday with members of the private sector and civil society at the Office of the President

Important appointment for Jamaican Permanent Page 12 Rep. to UN

Move into the digital age Page 15

Ambassador Courtenay Rattray

- international adviser urges TT

2 NEWS Cruise arrivals up 10 per cent in Jamaica K www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Jamaica welcomed 916,300 cruise passengers between January and September, a 10 per cent increase over the same period last year, a result of Disney and MSC cruise lines diverting from storm-affected islands.

"Both Disney and MSC came to Jamaica in summer, which did not happen last year," William Tatham, head of cruises at the Port Authority of Jamaica, told the Jamaican media in a phone interview on Monday. "We got an additional 12,000 passengers based on the diversion from other Caribbean islands. We missed the storms this time, but others did not.

We are very lucky this year to experience no disruptions. It resulted

in four additional calls that we didn't anticipate."

Between May and September, however, the growth jumped to 20 per cent year-on-year.

The bulk of the growth came from the Falmouth Cruise Pier, Ochi Rios grew slightly, and Montego Bay remained flat year-on-year.

Tatham said that the island remains on the "border" of achieving record arrivals this year.

Just this week, large attraction Dolphin Cove stated that the new calls resulted in increased profitability at the listed company. "[The profit] reflected the continued growth in revenue as the group sought to maximise on the revenue to be derived from the additional cruise ships which arrived at Jamaica's

Cruise visitors about to leave the Falmouth pier to experience an attraction

ports during the period," said a just-released statement prefacing the financials signed

by Stafford Burrowes, chairman and chief executive, and director William McConnell.

Dolphin Cove's September quarterly

profit jumped to Ja$109 million or 14 per cent higher than a year earlier. The company's yearto-date profit totalled Ja$369 million, or onequarter higher than a year earlier. Dolphin Cove also indicated that it benefited from curren-

cy movements during the first half of its financial year as it receives most of its income in US dollars. Depreciation of the Jamaican dollar was most rapid during the first six months of the year.

Another attraction,

Chukka Adventures, indicated that it was "a top adventure choice" for Disney passengers with their newly expanded park at Chukka Good Hope in Falmouth.

"Falmouth was the perfect choice as Disney's port with its long heritage, historic town and proximity to Good Hope Estate. Being chosen by Disney as their provider at the port is an indication of Chukka's ability to deliver to discerning guests with an expectation of a high level of customer experience," Chukka stated in a release last October.

MSC Cruise Line entered the island on and off for a decade, but it's the first time it sailed during summer to Jamaica, while Disney entered the island last October for the first time.

(Jamaica Observer)

Guyana’s Opposition promises NoTT govt to protect Confidence Motion will return to the House taxpayers’ interest - once Parliament reconvenes

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The No-Confidence Motion against the Donald Ramotar Administration has been halted with the President proroguing Parliament.

But the Opposition said the battle has just begun; promising that the No-Confidence Motion will return to the House.

As rage filled the air, the Opposition in the absence of the government mourned the decision on the No-Confidence Motion as Speaker Raphael Trotman confirmed their worse fear.

Trotman reported that the Proclamation for the Prorogation of Parliament was submitted to the House at approximately 08:45h on Monday. Describing the suspension of Parliament as “most unfortunate”, the Speaker said the elective House of the People’s Representatives has been muted; dubbing it an undemocratic move.

He disclosed the situation has been further compounded by the fact that no date has been given for the restoration of normality.

Swarmed by the press in the Parliament Chamber, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) under the stewardship of the Speaker condemned the government, declaring

Opposition Leader David Granger

November 10, 2014 as a “Dark day for Democracy in Guyana”.

Left with no other choice, AFC’s Moses Nagamootoo spoke of what could have and should have happened.

According to him, had the President allowed democracy to prevail, the No-Confidence Motion would have been approved by the National Assembly, allowing for snap elections within 90 days following the resignation of the government.

He argued that constant breach of the Constitution by the Donald Ramotar

Administration had triggered the No-Confidence Motion, explaining that billions of dollars have been withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund although the National Assembly had signalled its objection.

Due to these illegalities, Nagamootoo said APNU’s Member of Parliament Carl Greenidge had moved a motion to have Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh face the Privileges Committee for the unlawful spending of Gy$4.5 billion. The AFC had also filed a complaint to the Guyana Police Force, contend-

ing that the Finance Minister had committed a criminal act.

Nevertheless, with the prorogation of Parliament, all matters on the Order Paper are now dead. Referencing directly to the NoConfidence Motion, Nagamootoo said it will be reintroduced whenever the President reconvenes Parliament for a second session.

Greenidge in his lengthy remark accused the government of proroguing Parliament to buy time.

“One has to ask what they are going to do with this time. The individuals and businesses, Chinese nationals, Indian nationals, PPP/C associates who will give whether it is broadcasting licenses, gold mining licenses, land grants and the like.” But Greenidge warned that the Opposition will not honour any such agreement signed under duress.

Opposition Leader David Granger said the proclamation has effectively paralysed the parliamentary process and muted the voices of the people’s legitimate representatives in the National Assembly.

Though the people of Guyana spoke in November 2011, which resulted in a majority Opposition, Granger said President Ramotar has clearly turned a blind eye to their request. (Guyana Times)

- analyses the implications that a proposed US$3.025 billion acquisition of Columbus by Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC)

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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Government is assuring the population that the interests of taxpayers’ will be protected as it carefully analyses the implications that a proposed US$3.025 billion acquisition of Columbus

by Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) could have on them.

CWC owns 49 percent of the shares in the State-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT).

The other 51 percent is owned by government through the National Enterprises Limited (NEL) which reports to Finance and Economy Minister Larry Howai.

Responding to ongoing questions from the media about the approach government is taking to deal with this issue, Finance and Economy Ministry officials said since learning of the proposed merger last Thursday, Howai “has met with TSTT, as well as the Ministers of Public Utilities (Nizam Baksh) and Science and Technology (Dr Rupert Griffith) to get their take on the matter.”

They added that since the proposed acquisition was announced last week, “There have been no direct discussions” between the min-

istry and CWC. Speaking with TT media on Monday while he was attending the ICT Business and Innovation Symposium 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Portof-Spain, TATT CEO Cris Seecharan said the Authority intends to undertake a full assessment of the conditional agreement between CWC and Columbus, , the parent company of the local cable television provider, FLOW. Last Friday, the Communications Workers Union (CWU) called on Howai to “immediately investigate how this development has occurred right under the noses of the government and TATT.” CWU secretary-general Joseph Remy claimed this was “a clear slap in the face and an attempt at vengeance against the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago for their rejection of Cable and Wireless’ attempt to gain controlling interest in TSTT.” Saying this development raises serious questions about government’s policy direction where the telecommunications sector is concerned, Remy said the CWU is calling for “governmental intervention in this situation.” (TT Newsday)

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EDITORIAL

Prorogation F

or the first time since Independence, Parliament was “prorogued”. Since June of this year, the populace has been educated to the nuances of the Parliamentary “NoConfidence” Motion through its introduction by the AFC and supported by APNU. It is clear that Guyanese will have to become familiar with this other, somewhat arcane, practice of Parliament, and this editorial is a preliminary to contribute to this objective.

Very simply, the prorogation of a Parliament results in the termination of a session of that Parliament and its principal effect is to put an end to all its unfinished business. The latter “dies” on the Order Paper, while none of the Committees that might be considering other business can sit during the period of the prorogation.

All business will have to be reintroduced as if they never existed during the next session. In Canada, however, where there have been several recent instances of prorogation, their legislature has given unanimous consent to a motion to reinstate a bill in a new session at the same stage it had reached before prorogation. The President may consider offering this option to the Opposition.

As can be inferred from the above, the severe repercussions of a prorogation should force all concerned that it should be exercised lightly. In the Westminster Parliamentary system that we have inherited from the British, the powers of Parliament gradually expanded by assuming prerogatives that were once solely at the discretion of the Monarch.

However three have remained with the Head of State in most Commonwealth jurisdictions – “prorogation”; “dissolution”, which ends the Parliament altogether, thus requiring an election; and summoning a new “Parliament” or session.

These prerogatives were retained in our Constitution when it was drastically revised in 1999-2000 after nationwide consultations and recommendations and then unanimously approved by the PPP/C, PNC and other smaller parties such as the WPA during that Parliament. The power to prorogue must have been retained for a purpose: the very purpose, in fact, which President Ramotar is seeking to achieve.

Faced with the Opposition totally unwilling to consider passing even Bills such as the AML/CFT, or the Telecommunications Bill to deregulate the vitally important ICT area, while insisting on their No-Confidence Bill that would dissolve Parliament and plunge the country into immediate elections, the President has provided a breathing space in which hopefully saner, more patriotic voices may prevail. Voices that would speak up on behalf of Guyana’s development, rather than for narrow partisan political interests.

Our maximum period of prorogation is six months and while technically the President can summon Parliament at the end of that period to prorogue it again, this we believe would go against the spirit of why the prerogative was retained. We are heartened by the President’s announcement that he would be willing to summon Parliament even before the six months if the Opposition would work together with him on some concrete objectives for the development of the country.

We would like to suggest to the President that he announces the objectives he is shooting to achieve in six months very clearly and challenge the Opposition to cooperate on this minimum programme. We would also suggest that the President commit to elections, latest at the end of the six month period, whether or not the Opposition cooperates. This certitude of plans for the next half year is imperative to instill confidence in the minds of the citizenry that will most likely be bombarded by all sorts of Opposition scare tactics starting from tonight.

The leader of APNU said he is “enraged” at the President use of his prerogative: yet he was totally sanguine about the AFC’s No-Confidence Motion, which in fact he promised to support. While the latter motion would have totally dissolved the Parliamentary process and plunged the country into new elections, the President’s path at least offers an opportunity for completing the present parliamentary agenda.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds placing a wreath at the Cenotaph on Sunday, as Guyana joined with the rest of the world, to observe Remembrance Day also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day with two minutes of silence dedicated to victims of the First and Second World Wars, and other fallen soldiers during major conflicts (GINA photo)

Guyana participating in “MenEngage Global Symposium” G

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: Guyana is participating in the “MenEngage Global Symposium” themed “Men and Boys for Gender Justice” currently underway in India.

Guyana is being represented by the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry Men’s Affairs Bureau Administrator, Diego Alphonso.

The Guyanese delegate joins about 900 others from 70 countries at the symposium which began on Monday and will end on Thursday, geared at raising consciousness about male responsibility and accountability.

The symposium seeks to devise better and more fruitful methods to engage men and boys on the subject of gender equality.

All of this is being done to pursue a more caring and non-violent society as the issue of gender equality continues to take centre stage.

According to the Ministry, the forum brings together academics and practitioners from a broad range of disciplines and civil society organisations working with men and boys and grassroots organisations to discuss a

broad range of issues pertaining to gender equality.

At the launch, Centre for Health and Social Justice (CHSJ) Director, Dr Abhijit Das stated that the symposium, organised by the MenEngage Global Alliance– comprising over 400 partners including CHSJ; United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); UN Women; and Beijing + 20 – is expanding to become a movement for involving men and boys in gender equality.

“I agree that today more than ever before there is both an urgency as well as an imperative for men to not just engage quietly, in small ways as and when a crisis occurs, but, all the time, as publicly and as collectively as possible to bring a critical shift in the public perception of men, particularly to change the view that the archetypal Delhi male not only revels in machismo but is often its face. Time has come for a more caring male persona to assert itself,” he said.

He further added that the intention now was to mainstream men’s role in gender issues through specific planning and policy initiatives.

Taking the appeal forward more frankly, Kamla

Bhasin, the pioneer of the women’s movement, urged the boys and men to understand how the antiquated and more so obsolete morals and core values associated with patriarchy were selfdestructive.

“Like girls and women, you too are being stereotyped, and your choices are being restricted. And since you are not expected to cry or be emotional, it is not surprising that men and boys erupt into violence for any and every small reason,” said Bhasin.

A former Chief Secretary of Delhi, Shailaja Chandra, made it clear that men need to understand that now was the time for “business as unusual”. Lauding the decision to hold the second MenEngage Global Symposium and One Billion Rising Campaign, she said that focusing on men to promote gender equality is a “novel beginning”.

“Women have, for long, been lectured to on protecting and defending their womanhood; what is now essential is for men to recognise that they are equally capable of both promoting and benefiting from gender equality.”(Guyana Times)

News WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

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Jamaican businesses Guyana Govt slams must have disaster plans Opposition parties for - ODPEM boss “threatening” investors

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Richard Thompson is encouraging local business owners to institute plans to counter the effects of crisis situations, such as natural and manmade disasters.

Thompson, said crisis management is essential to the survival of any business enterprise, whether large or small.

He was addressing the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce/ Great Britain (JCC/ GB) Energy Seminar, held at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, under theme: ‘Crisis Management, Business Continuity and Recovery’.

Thompson pointed out that the recent outbreak of the Chikungunya in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean is a clear example of why businesses, whether large or small, must develop effective continuity plans.

“Even though to date we have not yet tallied the losses in terms of productive hours, we know that it is significant, as for many businesses roughly 40 per cent of the staff were down with ChikV,” he said.

“What this recent out-

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Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Richard Thompson

break does, it gives you a sense of what you should do in terms of continuity of your business operations and the plans that you should put in place to ensure that you are able to still stay productive, even in crisis,” Thompson said.

He noted that Jamaica is vulnerable to a range of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, which pose a major risk to the survival of local businesses and the productive sector.

“Given all the situations that can affect us, we know that it is quite prudent that as businesses, we have to put plans in place to ensure

that we are back up and running immediately after a crisis event,” he said.

He said that as part of the preparedness process, the ODPEM recommends that business owners implement a business impact analysis and risk management plan that takes into account all the critical steps involved in safeguarding their physical infrastructure and human resources.

“It is also essential that you do your scenario testing to ensure that your plan is robust and that you know what to do in times of crisis,” he added. (Jamaica Observer)

EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira has described statements made by senior political opposition members as dangerous and counterproductive, particularly with regards to potential future investors.

The statements originating from APNU executive, Carl Greenidge following a meeting, on November 10 in Parliament Building saw in part, the former PNC Finance Minister issuing what government views as a veiled threat to potential investors in the local economy.

Greenidge said, “The individuals and businesses, Chinese nationals, Indian nationals, PPP associates who they will give, whether it is broadcasting licences, gold mining licences, land grants and the like, we will not honour any of those obligations”.

The aforementioned statements by Greenidge are very dangerous, particularly to two nationalities, according to Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira.

“Why did he do that when, it is very clear that in certain sectors they are not there at all?” She added that it is racial, and the constitu-

Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira

tion prohibits discrimination. It was important to note that a threat was deliberately made against foreign investors, especially any potential investment that may arise during the period of prorogation, she also emphasised.

“How can one be saying that one is for Guyana and for national development, and at the same time undermining what are possibilities for development of our country?”

Speaking on the National Communications Network’s programme, “The 10th Parliament, the way forward”, the Presidential Adviser said that such statements are irresponsible particularly since the decision by the president is constitutional and to-

tally in keeping with the laws of Guyana.

Using the parliamentary forum in an “abusive way” was the description given by Teixeira, to the combined opposition’s holding of the controversial meeting in the National Assembly’s Chambers after the proclamation was made.

President Ramotar’s move to prorogue the National Assembly effectively means that Guyana’s Parliament has been suspended and not ended. This also means that bills and motions to be tabled are still in effect and can be heard whenever the next sitting is held. It also means that members of parliament and parliamentary staffers will continue to be paid.

(GINA)

TT Govt, World Bank in US$2.4M ICT programme

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Government and the World Bank will embark on a US$2.4 million programme featuring “high impact” programmes to fulfil the country’s national aspiration of a digital and e-ready Trinidad and Tobago.

The plan was announced on Monday

by Ingrid Seerattan, Permanent Seretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology as she delivered an address on behalf of the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Rupert Griffith. She was speaking on the first day of the Trinidad and Tobago ICT Business and Innovation Symposium 2014 held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.

She said the Ministry of Science and Technology is also developing the appropriate e-legislation and regulatory framework to fa-

cilitate the programmes.

According to Seerattan, the plan will be implemented by a Smartt Secretariat which will be run by senior public and private sector business executives. She said, “It is our hope that with the effective roll-out of our smart plan, challenges traditionally identified in the administration and delivery of services of government to government, citizen, businesses and the public associated with internal and external communication with government machinery will soon be a thing of the past. Inefficiency and high expenses relative to processing of paper documents, difficulties associated with paper document search, location, retrieval, sharing and management is expected to be minimised.”

Delivering the keynote address was Futurist Gerd Leonhard, who said that while Trinidad

Ingrid Seerattan, Permanent Seretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology (TT Newsday file photo)

and Tobago is an oil and gas resource economy it will eventually have to look to new products because it will lose those resources or see diminished revenue streams from them.

In his address, “Looking to the

Future: Opportunities and Challenges of a Networked Society,” Leonhard told participants that there are companies which are making 50 percent of their money from things that didn’t even exist seven years ago, adding

that this is going to happen to more and more companies.

He said that in the future natural resources will be available through water, wind and solar, renewable energies, because technology will have invented ways of using them. He said right now one can use solar energy from Mexico but it cannot be transported to England.

However, he said that in the future technology will have solved all these problems so there will be a lot more supply of energy and it will not be an issue of struggling with price per barrel.

“That’s still going to be good for maybe 10 or fifteen years but eventually you are going to have to look for a new revenue stream.

In the symposium brochure, Leonhard is described as “a leading voice in next-generation digital business models.” He is also de-

scribed as a writer and the host of two television programmes TheFutureShow and MeetingOfTheMinds.tv, as well as the founder of Green Futurists, a high level group of futurists with a focus on developing sustainable business models. In his keynote address, he said the world is at a pivot point in technology and in the next five years most people will use voice commands to turn on their computers. He said this is already happening but these developments take time to catch on globally.

The symposium continues with a keynote address by Dr Simone Ahuja, founder of Blood Red Orange, Digital Media Strategist and Jugaad Innovator and Anil Sadhoeram, managing director, Divitel Americas and chief philosophy officer at 100WATT. (TT Newsday)

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News

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

Cop patrol for Tumbling gold price squeezing Guyanese small miners – Harding Success school in TT …predicts fall in gold declarations

By Jomo Paul

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: As the price for gold, one of Guyana’s most precious metals, continues on its unsteady path of sharp declines on the international market, Guyana is now left in a quandary as miners are now worried about their livelihoods.

According to Goldprice.org, the price for gold as of Tuesday, November 11, stood at US$1154.89, which represents a decline of 9.48 per cent over the past year and 5.24 per cent in the last five years.

This fluctuation in gold prices has left miners scared and contemplating the way forward, since they are of the opinion that the industry will be unable to survive, given all that is happening.

Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) President Patrick Harding told Guyana Times on Monday that the incessant decreases do not augur well for the development of Guyana’s

GGDMA President Patrick Harding

economy and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Harding, in a telephone interview, related that miners were now contemplating abandoning shop and venturing into other sectors. He explained that this move was not limited to small miners since some medium-scale miners were also doing the same.

According to the GGDMA President, the gold prices have not hit rock bottom and can drop even further if investors’ confidence continue to drop given recent activity on the international market.

He predicted that from the current state of affairs, Guyana’s gold production may drop

some 10-15 per cent. In 2013, the gold industry declared a total of 481,087 ounces of gold which represents a 9.7 per cent increase over the previous year’s figure. This, according to the Guyana Gold Board, was a historic performance – the highest level of production, exceeding the production levels of when Omai Gold Mines was at its peak.

Meanwhile, gold exports for the 2013 fiscal year amounted to US$648.5 million, a 9.5 per cent decline compared to 2012. The sharp decline was linked to the average price of US$1344 per ounce compared to US$1575 in 2012, negating the six per cent

increase in export volume, which amounted to 482,527 ounces.

Gold is heading for the first back-to-back annual retreat since 2000.

The European Central Bank set policy on October 6 after the Bank of Japan unexpectedly added to stimulus last week. The Fed is moving closer to its first rate increase in eight years after ending a bond-buying programme on schedule last month.

The key “outside markets” remain in overall bearish postures for the precious metals — a stronger US dollar and slumping crude oil prices.

The “outside market” feature was the drop in crude oil prices to a threeyear low of US$75.84.

Combined with the appreciating value of the US dollar, these two outside markets have been a major influence on other markets in the past few weeks — and especially, as a negative force for the raw commodity sector, including gold and silver. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Police are to patrol Success/Laventille Secondary School, from 6 am to 6 pm, after a student was gunned down last Friday, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA), Davanand Sinanan, disclosed on Tuesday.

This assurance was given during a meeting among Chief Education Officer (CEO), Harrilal Seecharan, representatives of the Students Support Services and the school administration, members of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), TTUTA and the InterAgency Task Force at the school compound, Eastern Main Road, Laventille, on Tuesday.

The meeting was called after student, 17-year-old Salim Dalzell, was gunned down by two men after exiting the compound at the end of the school day. The men had been lying in wait for the teenager.

Sinanan urged the police to make good

on their promise to respond to distress calls made by school officials to ensure the safety of both teachers and students.

“Our concern is that the police will hold their end of the bargain, that they will deliver on their promise of the patrol. I am saddened at the fact that at two minutes past three the vice-principal of the school called the police.

“They picked up that something was going to go down after school was dismissed.

Sinanan said teachers, in their line of duty, often took on the job of detectives and could tell when something was “about to go down”, adding when their call for help from the police was not forthcoming this was a situation they were not pleased about.

We really need the help of the police when we reach out to them,” he said.

In February 2008, 16-year-old Shaquille Roberts, a Form Five student, died at hospital after being stabbed in a fight over TT$40.

(TT Newsday)

7 Jamaica's craft trade seeing a revival K News

WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

Telecoms liberalisation…

Digicel says another opportunity squandered in Guyana

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Digicel Guyana Inc Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gregory Dean on Tuesday lamented the situation the Telecommunications Bill has found itself in, pointing out that it is another missed opportunity for the sector to be liberalised.

Dean’s comments has come almost two weeks after he expressed to this publication that the company was worried that the Bill may not be passed, when Parliament reconvened.

Less than two weeks ago, the cellphone giant’s CEO had said the uncertainties surrounding the National Assembly were “a major cause for concern”.

He said Digicel was “extremely worried” that the Telecommunications Bill 2012 might not be placed high on the agenda when the National Assembly holds its next sitting.The Telecommunication Bill is among 12 other Bills that will have to be recalled in Parliament, following the disclosure

by President Donald Ramotar on Monday that the country’s legislative body had been prorogued.

The others include the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFAT), the Customs amendment, the Broadcast amendment and Education Bills, among others.

The Telecoms Bill had been before Parliament and has been awaiting debate and assent, which would in essence free up the over 20 year monopoly enjoyed by the Guyana Telephone

Digicel Guyana Inc Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gregory Dean

and Telegraph Company (GT&T).

GT&T is Guyana’s premier telecommunications provider, coming into existence some 23 years ago.

Chief Executive Officer Radha Krishna Sharma had stated recently that the company was prepared for government’s plans to liberalise the sector, pointing out that the company was looking forward to contributing to the refinement of the legislation.

The company had been at the hub of numerous consultations seeking to have the Bill, which was first tabled in August 2012, passed in the National Assembly.

Dean had said the liberalisation of the sector would lay the base for the company becoming fully competitive with GT&T. He also said that liberalisation would draw other companies into the Guyana market.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who had tabled the Bill in Parliament, told Guyana Times that although he is disappointed with the new development, all is not lost.

He said he is extremely disappointed that the Bill, which had made sig-

nificant headway, would have to be retabled.

The Prime Minister noted that the Special Select Committee was within sight of taking the Bill to the floor to be passed.

He said persons, who were part of the Select Committee, will return and complete the process speedily.

Since coming to Guyana in 2007, Digicel Guyana Inc has invested close to US$80 million, providing coverage to close to 96 per cent of the population, including persons residing off Guyana’s coastland.

The CEO had said that while the company was honoured to be able to provide cellular service in interior locations, it was GT&T’s responsibility to meet the needs of those areas.

“Historically, GT&T’s agreement was on the basis that you would have a monopoly and one of the things that you would do is invest in some of these remote areas. Now, from my point of view that has been one of the failures in that I don’t think the services were provided in those remote areas.” (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

TT’s Education minister says no to return of corporal punishment

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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh on Tuesday vowed there will never be a return to corporal punishment (licks) in the nation’s schools. He made the vow while speaking at a media conference on measures to address school indiscipline and violence on Tuesday at the Education Ministry’s offices in St Clair.

Gopeesingh was asked by reporters about a possible return to corporal punishment in some form.

TT’s Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh

He responded, “There is no ambiguity as far as the answer is concerned. There is never going to be ever introduced corporal punishment in our school population ever again.” He explained that this country signed the United Nations International Convention on the Rights of the Child which indicates there should be no corporal punishment.

“And therefore it is out of the question.

There is no debate on it and we are not going to reintroduce that whatsoever,” he stressed. (TT Newsday)

INGSTON, JAMAICA: The Tourism Product Development Company's (TPDCo)'s Violet Crutchley says a number of craft producers are disillusioned with the trade because they are unaware of the economic value to be achieved if done the right way. "... Persons do not recognise the viability of it and so they don't want to enter into that kind of venture because looking on the outside and seeing all of this it is not encouraging, so you have to be naturally artistic and wanting to do that to make money," she said.

"We do have Jamaican artisans who are exporting and making good money," said Crutchley, a craft development specialist at the TPDCo. The reluctance of persons to enter the trade is one of the reasons for the TPDCo's coordination of a number of craft workshops, under the OAS development project, in several parishes across the island.

Noting that the OAS intervention has been well- received and appreciated, Crutchley said 37 individuals, mainly young people, have since been trained.

The selection of places for the training, she explained, was done based on availability of raw materials in that area, as the aim is to have sustainability at the end of the training.

Among the materials used are bamboo, fibre or straws, textiles, and recycled material. "... So far it is going

| www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Violet Crutchley

very well. We are bringing out new designs and persons are being asked to create something very unusual and they have come up with some very interesting things," she said.

A major advantage of the programme, she said, is the marketing component.

"What is impressive is that after all this training you don't just sit there and make products but there is a marketing element to it on the web.

Therefore, when you are finished with the training you are able to be marketed as a producer," she explained.

According to Crutchley, a number of people have also become disillusioned in the craft for a number of reasons.

Among them, she said, is the fact that the trade has not attracted many young people, while a number of the older folks have migrated.

Another challenge, she said, is that a lot of the craft traders are not

themselves producers of the items.

"The producers sell to the traders and sometimes the producers will say that finding the raw material is not so easy any more because of urbanisation," she said.

Crutchley explained that sourcing material has also become gender specific as it needs male help to reach where it can be found.

"Some of these materials have gone so far inland and so it is no longer near to the home environment and most of it [is] in challenging areas like woodland and swampy areas," she said.

Added to those challenges is the fact that artisans have not been going for variety in the items they produce.

"Persons have always been saying there is a lack of variety and poor quality of craft in the whole sector and without doubt it is true," Crutchley said.(Jamaica Observer)

8 News Cabinet approves National Drug Plan in Guyana – to be launched soon G www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: With Guyana holding a troubling record on drug trafficking, the long-anticipated National Drug Strategic Master Plan has been approved by the Cabinet and is currently being printed.

This was confirmed

by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who told Guyana media that the plan was approved in full without any amendments by Cabinet.

The minister further disclosed that the document is expected to be launched sometime in mid-November.

Previously, Rohee has stated that financial resources will have to be made available to the various government agencies and departments that will be play-

ing an active role in the implementation of the National Drug Strategic Master Plan.

The National Drug Strategic Master Plan comes at a time when calls are being made from all stakeholders for government to implement measures to curb the increasing narcotic trafficking activities in Guyana.

Heavier penalties

The final draft of the master plan was completed by the taskforce.

This document will empower the necessary agencies to tackle the drug trade head-on, and, more so, stipulate heavier penalties for those who are found culpable of trafficking narcotics.

Since the previous National Drug Strategic Master Plan expired in

Guyana’s Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

2009, there has been talk about crafting a new plan. The last master plan was unveiled in 2005 and lasted for five years. The Gy$650 million plan comprises extensive measures to eliminate the scourge of

narco-trafficking and its spin-off effects.

The home affairs minister and, to a greater extent, the government, came under fire after it was revealed that Guyana has links to the Mexican and Italian mafias.

In August last, during a search of one of the creeks branching off from the Waini River, a self-propelling semisubmersible (SPSS) vessel was discovered about two miles in, along with a camp consisting of three structures: the accommodation, workshop and generator areas.

Transporting narcotics

Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh had told the media that their intelligence is confident that the 65-foot long

Jamaica's Minister heads Japan delegation

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Senator the Honourable Arnold J. Nicholson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, will lead Jamaica’s delegation to the Fourth CARICOMJapan Ministerial Meeting, to be held from 14th to 15th November 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.

The Jamaican delegation will also include H.E. Ricardo Allicock, Ambassador of Jamaica to Japan and Mrs. Angella Comfort, Director for Caribbean and the Americas in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

The Meeting falls within the context of the commemorative events to mark the CARICOMJapan Friendship Year, as CARICOM and Japan celebrate their Twentieth Anniversary of relations in 2014. Notably, 2014 also marks the Fiftieth Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

between Jamaica and Japan.

Discussions will be held on, inter alia, JapanCARICOM Relations and Cooperation in the International Arena on issues such as Security Council Reform, Climate Change, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the Post2015 Development Agenda, Disaster Risk Reduction, Financing

for Development and the Sustainable use of Marine Living Resources.

The Meeting will also issue a Joint Communiqué which will highlight issues such as, the CARICOM-Japan Friendship Year 2014, cultural and people-topeople exchanges, cooperation in tourism, Japan’s hosting of the 2020 Olympic Games

and Paralympic Games, the vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), climate change and sustainable development, natural disaster risk reduction, renewable energy and energy efficiency, waste management, fisheries, the sustainable use of marine living resources, UN Security Council reform, the Post-2015 Development Agenda, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and North Korea.

The government of Japan has also invited five (5) journalists from CARICOM Member States, including Jamaica, to provide coverage of the meeting. Mrs. DonnaMarie Hussey-Stewart, Journalist at the Jamaica Observer, will represent Jamaica in this regard.

Minister Nicholson will depart on Tuesday, 11th November and will return to the island on Saturday, 16th November 2014. (JIS)

for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

The training programme lasted five weeks and saw various personnel from the Georgetown Public Hospital, the Guyana Police Force, the Army and the Guyana Fire Service being trained to properly handle a medical emergency.

This training is part of the pilot project for developing a National Emergency Medical Service under which every national unit in Guyana would be equipped to handle medical emergencies.

Throughout the course, persons were trained to deal with emergency situations

where they may be required to save a civilian’s life.

While the Emergency Medical Service cannot respond to every emergency call in the nation, Dr Bux said the team is doing a good job, considering its still in the developing stages.

(Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Honourable Arnold J. Nicholson,

Guyana to establish National Emergency Medical Service

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Guyana is currently working towards the establishment of a National Emergency Medical Service. This is according to Head of the Department of Accidents and Emergency, Dr Zulfikar Bux who made this announcement at the graduation ceremony

submersible vessel was constructed in Guyana since there were materials and information gathered at the camp that suggested same.

Additionally, Singh stated that it has been built for the sole purpose of transporting narcotics from Guyana across the Atlantic Ocean, most likely heading to Europe or Africa.

Over the years, concerns have been expressed by the Opposition political parties as they continuously reiterated calls for the National Drug Strategic Master Plan to be reinstated.

Opposition Leader David Granger, as recently as last Friday, highlighted the importance of such a plan to curb the illicit activity.

In the recent

National Drug Report for 2012, compiled by the Taskforce on Narcotic Drugs and Illicit Weapons, it was stated that CANU had intercepted 103.66 kilograms of cocaine valued some Gy$93 million and 111.564kg of cannabis (ganja) valued in excess of Gy$20 million.

During this period, 33 cases were made out and 36 persons charged.

Further, the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Enforcement Unit seized 561.78kg of cocaine, valued Gy$504.9 million, for which two cases were made out and two persons were charged.

In total, 151 people were charged for cocaine trafficking and/ or consumption, in a total of 139 cases. (Guyana Times)

ACS official: Regional languages can increase tourist arrivals

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Differences in language and culture can be assets to increasing tourist arrivals in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Region, said Julio Orozco, director, sustainable tourism, Association of Caribbean States (ACS). He said the region has a “great” inter-regional cultural base. “We have three languages: French, English and Spanish. We have the Caribbean, then Latin America, also from Europe, because we work with the French territories,” Orozco said during the coffee break at the Meeting of Regional Tourism agencies, which was held on Monday at the ACS headquarters, Sweet Briar Road, St Clair.

The meeting was themed: “Sustainable Tourism: Building Bridges for Co-operation and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, Promoting Community-based Tourism for Diversification and Competitiveness.”

Explaining further, Orozco said difference in language and culture are assets because, “the Region becomes very attractive when you have so many manifestations of culture and languages. That's why we are trying to promote this, in order for people to visit here to experience it. The different mix we have in the Region, from one country to another, or from one sub-region to another.”

His comment comes

ahead of a summit to be held in Havana, Cuba, in January 2015.

Sustainable tourism, he said, means the government and private sectors from each country protecting its resources, including its cultural heritage as well as its flora and fauna.

Orozco said the aim is to promote multi-destination travel in the Region. And as the American President Barrack Obama take steps to reform immigration laws in the U.S., talks are ongoing in the LAC Region to improve the immigration laws, said Carmen Gil Erazo, representative, Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC).

While countries in the LAC Region continue to struggle with drug trade, Gil Erazo confirmed there was an agreement yet to be ratified by all LAC member states. “There is an agreement that has been put on the table for the illicit trafficking of psychotropic substances. Some countries have signed on to this. We hope that others will also ratify it, so that this agreement will enter into force.

The idea is that we all respect the internal processes of each of the countries and this is an issue which requires some patience.”

Representatives from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Central American Tourism Integration Secretariat, the Republic of Nicaragua, Suriname and Argentina were in attendance. (TT Guardian)

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EMA outpost for illegal quarrying in TT P

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Environment Management Authority (EMA) chairman Dr Allan Bachan says it will open a post very soon in Valencia to address illegal quarrying. Bachan, addressing a joint select committee in Parliament on Friday, however, admitted he was still waiting for police to be assigned to assist the authority there.

At Friday’s hearing, Bachan, together with EMA director Phillip Vilain, technical director Hayden Romano and environmental manager David Persad, re-appeared before the JSC to address questions about its policies and procedures.

He stressed that the issue of illegal quarrying and the protection of natural resources is a major concern for the authori-

ty. He said the EMA had been collaborating with other state agencies, including the Energy and Energy Affairs Ministry, to address quarrying and the environmental degradation of the Northern Range. Bachan did not say how many police officers the EMA had asked for.

Contacted by the TT media, Williams said the EMA had asked for support. “We have given the undertaking that we will provide Special Reserve Police (SRP) to assist with the policing aspect and before the end of the year they will receive some of the officers that they have requested,” Williams said.

The EMA chairman admitted the authority was challenged in many ways to effectively carry out its duties. He said apart from limited manpower, the very legisla-

No definite word Scotiabank retrenchment will affect Guyana operations

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : About one week after Scotiabank Toronto, Canada issued a press release announcing changes to be made to the structure of the Bank, the local operations said it was unable to predict if these changes would impact Guyana.

Scotiabank Guyana said: “Over the coming months, as we move forward, we will continue to provide our employees and customers with more information. This will take some time and, therefore, we do not have detailed information on local impact at this time,” the statement read.

It continued: “In recent years, our International Banking Division has worked to build our market position, both through organic growth and selective acquisitions.”

The Bank said the growth has served Scotiabank well, but has also created “some overlap and duplication of services throughout our footprint”.

“As a result, we undertook a review of our operating model and international distribution network and found opportunities to strengthen our retail presence by investing in areas that are going to improve the speed and quality of service for our customers.”

On Tuesday last, the

Bank of Nova Scotia set aside nearly half a billion Canadian dollars to cover the cost of shutting down overseas branches and terminating 1500 jobs, two-thirds of them in Canada.

Scotiabank will close or downsize approximately 120 branches in its International Banking Division. The Bank said it would book a restructuring provision of approximately Cd$148 million in the fourth quarter, mainly to cover employee severance costs.

The Bank expects to save Cd$120 million annually as a result of the restructuring, but the full benefits would not be seen until 2016.

As of the end of the Bank’s third quarter, it had almost 87,000 employees worldwide, including more than 36,700 in Canada.

Scotiabank has a long history in the Caribbean and remains the pre-eminent bank throughout the Region.

This year, the Bank celebrates 125 years of operations in the Region and 46 years in Guyana.

It has been implementing a number of operational efficiency initiatives for some time in the Caribbean region and will continue to do so to ensure that it can provide customers with better service in the most efficient way.(Guyana Times)

Independent senator Elton Prescott, chairman of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament, left, thanks Dr Allan Bachan, chairman EMA after Friday’s meeting at Tower D, Waterfront Centrem, Port-of-Spain. At Prescott’s left are committee members Stacy Roopnarine, Faris Al-Rawi and Jairam Seemungal.

tion it has to operate creates a challenge. In fact, Bachan said, the current legislation is “soft.”

“When the EMA Act came into being it was intended to be soft legislation. So it is cheaper to pollute and break the

law than to follow good practice. It is one of the issues we have recognised,” Bachan said.

He said the air pollution rules and water pollution rules were being revised to make them more relevant and

strong. The EMA, he said, has no laboratory and this, he said, makes it difficult for the authority to address complaints about pollution.

Companies seeking licences to pollute have to do their own tests for

three years and provide the information to the EMA to be granted a licence to pollute.

Tourism Minister Gerald Hadeed raised the issue of the five dead sea turtles that were entangled in gill nets last week and asked why the EMA had not stopped the use of such nets, which have been banned around the world. But Dr Amery Browne said in all fairness to the EMA, banning gill nets in TT must be a government policy decision and cannot be a decision taken by a regulatory authority.

Bachan announced that the EMA intended to establish an office in Tobago to deal with environmental complaints there. He also said it would soon launch an environmental hotline and an environmental channel.(TT Guardian)

Jamaica PM hails Hanover Medical Mission

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, has hailed the 2014 Hanover Medical Mission as an example of the kind of partnership that is important in strengthening Jamaica’s public health system.

Speaking at a reception at the Grand Palladium Resort in Hanover on Saturday, to launch the medical mission, the Prime Minister said it reinforces the importance of taking critical services to the people where they live.

The medical team will be providing free medical care to residents of several communities in Hanover from November 10 to 14.

“I know the people of Diaz, Sandy Bay, Green Island, Cave Valley,

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, addresses the launch of the 2014 Hanover Medical Mission on Saturday, at the Grand Palladium Resort in Lucea, Hanover.

Grange, Kendal and Cascade will be very happy to receive you and will make you feel welcome and comfortable. In

fact, if there is any drawback, it is that they will not want you to leave. I want to use this opportunity to thank all members of the team, who will hold these clinics as well as perform surgeries,” Mrs. Simpson Miller said.

She expressed the hope that the services of the medical team will extend to other parishes in the future.

In addition to general health services at clinics, major surgeries will be performed at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, St. James and at the Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny.

The visit of the medical team is under the patronage of Most Hon. Errald Miller, who is the Prime Minister’s husband.

He informed that

clinics will be staged in Cave Valley, Sandy Bay, Green Island, Dias, Grange/Kendal and Cascade, and at the Grand Palladium Resort in Lucea, while some 60 operations will be done at the two hospitals.

Mr. Miller said there is a commitment that every patient, who is seen during the mission, will receive one month’s supply of medication, if required.

The mission has received support from a number of private and public sector entities including Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Grand Palladium Resort, Jamaica Tours Limited, Jamaicans Caring for Jamaicans, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, Dolphin Cove and Digicel Jamaica. (JIS)

Indira Naik and troupe thrill Guyanese

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Indian classical singing sensation, the versatile Indira Naik and her amazing musicians mesmerised Guyanese audiences in two historic concerts at the Theatre Guild, Kingston, Georgetown and on the lawns of the famed Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC), West Coast Demerara.

The great sufi /classical singer, together with her troupe, visited Guyana as part of the tour which already took her to Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Barbados, and St Vincent.

Naik’s visit was organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, India, with the Indian High Commission in Guyana coordinating the Guyana leg of the tour in collaboration with the ACIC and the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman (GUSIA).

Under bright stadium floodlights, the picturesque ACIC looked its best, as hundreds of Guyanese of all religions came together to listen to Naik and her troupe as her voice and music resounded into the air on the lawns of the com-

plex, with the décor befitting such an international event.

She thrilled the audience with her versatility, singing ghazals, qawaalis, Bhajans, old Bollywood songs as well as even an “Indian” version of a Bob Marley song.

But it was her four musicians who struck the audience with their mastery of their respective instruments.

Ustad Mohammed Rashid Khan on the violin, Suprit Surendra Gaikwad on the keyboard, Janab Samar Abbas Munawwar Khan on the tabla and Amar

Sangam Das on the guitar gave performances which will be remembered forever.

The sufi singer has not only built a sterling reputation for herself in India across its length and breadth, but has also achieved success abroad, enthralling audiences with live renditions of sufi, ghazals, bhajans, thumris and filmi songs the world over, including in the US, the UK, Portugal, Canada, South Korea and Brunei.

Each year, she tours the UK and the U.S. extensively, taking her music to foreign shores.

(Guyana Times)

10 News Govt allocates TT’s Cabinet weighs Jamaican Ja$70m to put e-books on tablets $$ for Ebola medics K P www.caribbeantimesinternational.com |

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Cabinet is giving consideration to the remuneration of health care workers who may have to treat Ebola cases, Health Minister Fuad Khan says. He said so in Parliament on Monday as he addressed the current worldwide concerns and TT’s readiness for the deadly virus.

Public Services Association president Watson Duke had called for extra remuneration and an insurance of at least TT$10 million for health care workers who will be asked to work in the special Ebola unit government proposes to set up to deal with any suspected cases of the virus. On Friday, Khan said while some may have attempted to profit from the matter and peddle fear and hysteria, he was presenting the facts on it.

“Significant progress has been made in making TT ready to control any possible outbreak of

WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

TT’s Health Minister Fuad Khan

Ebola through good preparation, proactive public education, early detection and rapid response, isolation and treatment, contact tracing, co-ordination between agencies and investment in emergency response,” he said.

Recounting government’s action in the issue so far, including spearheading a Caricom meeting on this, Khan said the training of staff at health facilities and ports of entry to detect and isolate suspected cases was ongoing Cabinet had also approved importation of an Odulair Unit two-bed Ebola treatment unit.

Upgrades to allow for

handling of any Ebola cases have begun at the Caura Ebola Treatment Centre and Piarco International Airport, he added.

Khan noted 20 handheld thermal scanners for ports of entry have been ordered and are expected in two weeks. Thirty Hazmat (Hazardous Material) Level A suits are also expected in four weeks.

Specifications for two mass screening thermal scanners are being evaluated and are expected to be ordered within the next week, with delivery in three weeks.

Personal protective equipment has been purchased, including category three coveralls (Hazmat suit type), N95 masks, overhoods, overboots, rubber boots and face shields. Standard protective equipment was distributed to all health facilities between October 3 and 19 and Category 3 coveralls will be delivered by November 19, he added.

(TT Guardian)

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Government is to spend Ja$70 million on e-books for tablet computers currently being issued to several schools island wide.

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell, said the initiative forms part of efforts to reduce the amount of money spent by parents on textbooks for children.

The distribution of computer tablets comes under the government’s Ja$1.4 billion Tablets in Schools pilot programme.

“What we have done in this phase is to purchase a lot of the content and a lot of it is externally driven and on Wednesday morning, we are going to be signing contracts for Ja$70 million for e-books that will be placed on the tablets so that very soon, the youngsters won’t need to purchase textbooks at all; they will all be loaded on the tablets,” he said.

The minister noted as well that agreements would also be signed with several local content providers, pointing out that they have approached the ministry with useful and dynamic applications that will also be placed on the tablets.

He added that this will enable the government to create a diverse learning environment for youngsters.

“We really want to get out of spending so much money on foreign content.

We really want to see how we can provoke Jamaicans to look at the school curricula and to see how we can creatively transform the written curricu-

Jamaica’s Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell (JIS photo)

lum into ICTs (information communication technologies) using video, word, pictures and so on, to transmit learning in a different way,” he said.

The one-year pilot is being carried out in 38 educational institutions to benefit 24,000 students and 1, 200 teachers in six pre-primary, 13 primary, five all age and junior high, and 12 high schools; one teacher’s college; and one special education institution.

Following a review of the pilot, the programme will be fully implemented across the island, to benefit 600,000 students and teachers. (Jamaica Observer)

Gaskin launches first novel Ashgabat Verdict in Guyana

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : “Action packed”, “thought provoking” and “suspense filled” were some of the words used by book enthusiasts last Friday to described Ashgabat Verdict written by jeweller and Alliance For Change (AFC) member Hans Dominic Gaskin.

The book, published

by Gaskin, was launched at Moray House before a sizable gathering.

The writer said it took him 10 years to successfully complete the novel, noting that he wanted to be known as a writer like his father, Malcolm Gaskin.

The author said he “felt a bit short-changed” as he was never encouraged to pursue that path, but he persevered as it was something that he really wanted to do, thinking “it would be a satisfying experience”, and it was.

The writer said he “was left with a feeling of wanting to do it again”.

Ashgabat Verdict is an action thriller that tells the story of greed, revenge, loyalties and justice, with the setting being all the way in the gas-rich Central Asian nation, the Republic of Turkmenistan.

The novel centres around the protagonist Kevin Bradley, an American ex-Green Beret turned international trouble-shooter who is hired by Anton Nazarov to help find the person who is killing off his family, one by one.

Bradley gets embroiled in the conflict with the thinking that it will be a cut-and-dry assignment, but sees himself being in the centre of something much bigger, requiring all his expertise to fight against.

The author said he always had a little note-

Author Hans Dominic Gaskin

book that he carried around with him that both soothed and energised him as he wrote what he felt at the time; thus, creating the various characters and plots.

Gaskin said that he came up with the plot of the novel from his readings on the TurkmenistanAfghanistan-PakistanIndia Pipeline (TAPI),

which is a proposed natural gas pipeline being developed by the Asian Development Bank.

The pipeline will transport Caspian Sea natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan and then to India. TAPI has been in negotiations for the last 15 years, Gaskin said, and has its own geopolitical challenges that he found interesting.

The author said he knows there would be questions regarding the setting for the novel, but he really did not want to do a story about something that persons could right away identify as Guyana.

He said he wanted to thrill and excite and be original as a Guyanese.

Dr Paloma Mohamed, playwright and winner of the Guyana Prize for literature, was called upon to do a review of Gaskin’s work. She said

that the book is “richly entertaining, thought provoking, teasing yet believable, engaging dialogue and had no confusing cleverness” that usually puzzles readers or takes away from really understanding what the novel is saying.

The reviewer also pointed out that the “curious apathy” that was given to the female anatomy by the characters, the portrayal of male dominance and pragmatic outlook that all or most of the characters seem to subscribe to.

She said there was so much detail in the novel of science and spying that she thought that Gaskin probably had a double life that allowed him to write about these things so knowledgeably, evoking so much emotion and twists that make one uncertain of what to expect next in the novel.(Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Guyana Foundation continues grassroots projects countrywide

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Over the past few weeks, the Guyana Foundation continued its grassroots projects in different communities across the country.

These projects targeted vulnerable groups

that are often overlooked, and whose pressing needs have been ignored for too long.

In the remote community of Santa Rosa in Region One, the Foundation recently handed over a quantity of blankets and curtains to

students living at the secondary school dormitory.

These items were generously donated by the Thompson family from the Cayman Islands, in response to a Guyana Foundation assessment reporting on the dilapidated state of the dormi-

tory.

The students living there, who are from farflung, isolated areas in Region One were very thankful for the items donated, and stated that it will help improve their living conditions.

The Foundation also

facilitated the donation of six barrels of stationery and school supplies to students attending both the Primary and Secondary schools in Santa Rosa.

These items were donated by Gary Wills from Canada, with assistance from his friends, family

members, and work colleagues.

Meanwhile, the Foundation continued its mental health programme with a care programme for individuals living on the streets of Georgetown. (Guyana Times)

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WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

Important appointment for Jamaican Permanent Rep. to UN

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Courtenay Rattray, has been appointed as Chair of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform.

His appointment was announced on Monday,

by H.E. Sam Kutesa, President of the 69th Session of the General

Assembly, in a letter to all Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York.

Reform of the fifteenmember Security Council has been high on the agenda of the wider UN membership for over 20 years. The impetus behind the reform process gained added political momentum at the 2005 World Summit when world leaders unanimously called for “early

The Foreign Ministry is proud to announce the appointment of the Jamaican Permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Courtenay Rattray, as Chair of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform.

reforms” of the Security Council.

An aspect of reform that has received much attention surrounds the question of the size of the permanent membership of the Council, which currently stands at five (US, UK, Russian Federation, France and China).

Also on the reform agenda are issues relating to the categories of membership and the question of the veto power accorded to the perma-

nent members.

The Security has only been reformed once since 1945, when it expanded the number of non-permanent members from six to ten.

Jamaica has been actively engaged in efforts in the reform process and the appointment of its Permanent Representative will give greater prominence to Jamaica’s role and contribution at the United Nations.(JIS)

APNU/AFC supporters protest over prorogation of Parliament in Guyana

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : As President Donald Ramotar on Monday issued a proclamation order which effectively led to the prorogation of the National Assembly, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) supporters converged in front of Parliament Building in a hyped protest against the President’s executive decision.

When Guyana Times arrived at the scene of the protest, some protesters had stormed through the police barricades at Parliament Building as they joined other APNU/AFC sup-

porters calling for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP\C) government to step down.

The protest, which continued for well over three hours, saw about 250 APNU protesters parading on Brickdam in front of the National Assembly. Some of the protesters were prevented from going in front of the Parliament after Police Officers reinforced the cordoned-off areas.

It must be noted that there was a heightened Police presence at the protest as the Guyana Police Force took precautions for the worst eventuality. Further, parliamentary guards took added steps to ensure the

A section of the protesters in front of Parliament Building on Monday

integrity of Parliament Building against the protesters who appeared to be extremely agitated by the President’s decision.

Nonetheless, good

sense prevailed and the protest remained peaceful.

Meanwhile, the growing group of protesters surged forward to greet AFC Parliamentarians Moses Nagamootoo, Nigel Hughes, Cathy Hughes, Trevor Williams, Dominic Gaskin and General Secretary David Patterson.

AFC Vice Chairman and presidential hopeful Nagamootoo told the protesters that while he had seen proclamations that Monday was “D-Day”, it was not. In fact, he said that it was a “day of infamy and shame”, labelling the prorogation proclamation as “bizarre”.

Nagamootoo further contended that with the issuance of

the prorogation proclamation, President “Ramotar has dissed the Parliament”. According to Nagamootoo, “dialogue cannot take place with a dagger to Parliament’s throat”.

The AFC Vice Chairman urged a “vibrant people’s struggle to take the People’s Parliament back.”

When asked what was the way forward, Nagamootoo said that “everybody eventually bows to the wishes of the people”, contending that protests should not be ruled out as a form of outcry against the suspension of the Parliament.

Meanwhile, shortly after a special parliamentary Opposition meeting convened by the

Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, APNU CoChair, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine told protesters to brace themselves for more protests in the coming days.

Roopnaraine contended that “democracy is alive and well here on the streets. Democracy died a little today in that place behind us”.

While the supporters of APNU and the AFC continued their demonstrations, business continued as normal in all other parts of the capital city with a large portion of citizens seemingly disinterested in the scene being caused by the two Opposition groups and their agents. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Guyana: Circle of Love wins 2nd National Choral Festival

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: It was an eventful evening at the National Cultural Centre as Guyanese choral groups took centre stage to display their amazing singing skills in the National Choral Festival under the theme “Voices in Harmony”.

The National Song Choral festival is the newest in the list of prestigious activities, added to the Ministry’s annual calendar. This event is indeed a welcomed event as the NCC’s auditorium was filled to capacity. Importantly, the fes-

Circle of Love performing

tival which is in its 2nd year offers local talents an opportunity to express their creativity on the big stage.

The winners of this year’s festival, in the small group were the Circle of Love, the Messengers and J4 Inspiration, respectively. In the large group

category, St. Joseph’s High, New Amsterdam Secondary School and Marian Academy came out on top. Each group was required to sing one national song (or a combination of such) and one other song of their choice. Most of the groups chose a gospel song. (GINA)

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WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

More measures to protect Jamaica from cyber crimes K INGSTON, JAMAICA: The government is putting in place more measures to protect the country from cyber criminal activities, with one set to come on stream by mid December, and the launch of the Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT) by next year.

Technical and other support for the cyber defence mechanisms have been provided by the Organization of American States (OAS), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

“The government has developed a strategy… the document is pretty much complete, and we anticipate launching in the first or second week of December,”

Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson (right), in discussion with (from left): Senior Superintendent of Police, Clifford Chambers; British High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency David Fitton, and Representative of the Organization of American States (OAS), Jeanelle van Glaanenweygel. Occasion was the start of a three-day workshop on Cyber Incident Investigation and Analysis, held on November 10, at the National Intelligence Bureau, in downtown Kingston.

said Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Julian Robinson.

He was delivering

Schools’ Science projects launched in Guyana

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: As part of Guyana’s observation of World Science Day for Peace and Development, the Schools’ Science projects were on Monday launched, at the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) under the theme: Quality Science Education: ensuring a sustainable future for all.

Tributes were also paid to the late Advisor to the President on Sustainable Development, Navin Chandarpal who was very active in Micro Science for schools and a driving force for the programme at UNESCO. The aim of the Schools’ Science Clubs is to bridge the gap between Science Education and achieving Guyana’s national goals such as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the poverty reduction strategy.

Three members of the Queen’s College Science Club Group who spent one month in Barbados for Innovation in Science Engineering hosted by the Caribbean Science Foundation at the University of the West Indies launched the school’s Science Club on Monday. This programme brings together select groups of students from around the Region and challenges them to engage in further study in STEM subject areas at the university level.

Chandarpal also played a pivotal role in the re-establishment of the National Science and Technology Council for Guyana. The government of Guyana also recently approved the

Science and Technology policy which was lead

by Chandarpal as well.

As a result, with recent support from UNESCO, Guyana has been selected as a pilot country and one of the first countries in the Region to draft an Education for Sustainable Development policy.

“We have infused climate change education using the Inquiry Based Science Education, and there are several pilot programmes which are now being expanded. We have over 90 Secondary Schools using micro-Science kits,” Petal Jetto, Science Coordinator attached to the Ministry of Education said.

Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam said the theme for this year’s World Science Day is quite appropriate to appreciate all of the broader policy initiatives such as LCDS. Sam opined that education for sustainable development policy would put Guyana is a very unique place regionally and internationally.

“We need young bright individuals such as those in the room here to begin to conceptualise how we are going to use the Science Education they get in the classroom, and the information they are exposed to online to solve our problems in life,” Sam said. He added that while Guyana is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, it is also facing some challenges in relation to climate change and natural and environmental disasters. He added that young people are the ones who would have to play a major part in coming up with the ideas to aid in solving some of these problems. (GINA)

the opening address at the start of a threeday workshop on Cyber Incident Investigation and Analysis, held on Monday, at the National

Intelligence Bureau, in downtown Kingston.

“We are also quite advanced with the implementation of our cyber emergency response

team. We are in the process of procuring the equipment, and I anticipate, sometime next year we will be able to launch the CERT, even at a basic level,” the state minister noted.

Mr. Robinson pointed out that the government is investing heavily in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and with that, the country also has to beef up its capability to respond to cyber criminal activities, by putting in the necessary infrastructure, as criminals focus on countries with weak cyber crime detection.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that all citizens are aware of the cyber threats out there.

We are investing a lot in technology, we are doing

our tablets in school project, we are moving transaction online, and there is an increased danger of cyber criminal activities with those activities going online,” he said.

The state minister informed that intensified public education will be ongoing, so that the public can protect themselves from criminal activities on the Internet, and pointed out that amending the Cybercrimes Act will close existing “loopholes” for criminals.

“This is to ensure that it represents best practices internationally, so that we can empower our prosecutors and our law enforcement officials to successfully go after cyber criminals,” Mr. Robinson emphasized.(JIS)

14 News Guyana Govt determined to continue development over prorogation period www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali said the Donald Ramotar Administration will continue to work over the next six months to ensure that development continues throughout the country following a decision by the Executive to suspend sittings of the Parliament.

He said the government over the coming months would ensure that there is no stoppage in the goods and services provided to the Guyanese populace.

“Our development trajectory outlined in the 2014 budget and our

manifesto will continue to form the basis through which developmental works will continue now and in the future. We cannot afford to standstill nor can we allow a stop to the economic growth and development of our country,” Minister Ali insisted during the interview.

He rejected notions that during the period of prorogation that the Executive would seek to seal and undertaken deals through the signing of contracts or other programmes which are not aboveboard or in the interest of the people.

Ali maintained that government was committed towards working to fast-track projects

and other developmental incentives that the Guyanese people expect.

He argued strongly that it will be business as usual for the government which has an obligation to fuel economic growth, expansion of the private sector, improvements in the standard of living of citizens and the strengthening of programmes aimed at deepening the democratisation of the state, even in these perilous times.

“No effort will be spared in ensuring our national interest to safeguard our public investment, expand social services, and deliver to the people of Guyana, improved living conditions,” the minister said.

Guyana’s Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali

He said that the government’s work over the period of prorogation will continue to focus on opening up new opportunities while improving the prospects for working people.

He said the services outlined falls “above the political fray and are in the people’s interest”.

Minister Ali said the rhetoric that seeks to divide, threaten, and destabilise cannot be in our national interest.

He also warned that government is cognisant of the fact that at this time, political sentiments has the ability to generate varied reactions but it is the maturity of Guyanese politics and the application of nationalistic thinking and putting the country first that would separate political opportunism and mischief from nationalists and patriots.

“The people has entrusted all of us with

their trust to act in a responsible manner on their behalf. We must therefore in our speech, actions and pronouncements exercise the responsibility that the people expect,” Minister Ali admonished.

He advised that the services offered by State agencies, government ministries and all other branches of the States would continue unabated.

Earlier on Monday, in a statement to the media, President Donald Ramotar committed towards abiding by the laws and continuing his spate of reforms and government services during the period. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Antigua's new minister of tourism and sport visit World Travel Market (WTM) in the UK

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T JOHN’S, ANTIGUA: The Antigua and Barbuda has a major presence at the 35th World Travel Market in London (3-6 November).

The high level delega-

tion of senior officials included; Honourable Asot Michael – Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy, Honourable E. P. Chet Greene – Minister

of Trade, Industry, Commerce, Sports, Culture & National Festivals, Colin James - CEO Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority Ms. Paula Frederick Hunte –

Antigua’s delegation at the World Travel Market

Permanent Secretary, Ms. Shirlene Nibbs Consultant, Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Rohan Hector – Chairman, St. John’s Development Cooperation, Mr. Neil Forrester – General Manager, Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association (AHTA) and Ms. Cherrie Osborne – Director of Tourism for the UK & Europe, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority The delegation was supported by nine co exhibiting partners: Antigua Yacht Club Marina and Resort; Bluewaters Hotel; Carib World Travel; Cocos Hotel & Keyonna Beach; Elite Island Resort; Hermitage Bay; Jolly Beach Resort and Spa; National Tours and Services and Sugar Ridge.

Throughout the week future strategy meetings were held with many of the UK’s travel industry leaders from key tour operators including Best at Travel, TUI (UK), Caribtours, Kuoni, Travel Counsellors, Lotus, Barrhead Travel,

British Airways & BA Holidays, Virgin Holidays.

Overall for Antigua and Barbuda both the tour operators and the hotels reported robust forward booking figures for 2015.

The final quarter is looking strong, as the destination has already outperformed the number of bookings made in the whole of 2013 in the first six months of 2014 and UK market predicted to deliver double digit growth by the end of this year.

During an on stand presentation on Monday, the Managing Director of Selling Travel Martin Steady presented Minister Michael with the prestigious Travel Agents Choice Award for ‘Best of the Rest Travel Uni Training Programme’ for its online training course, the only travel awards entirely nominated and voted for

by UK travel retailers.

The minister thanked the UK travel agents for voting, as Antigua and Barbuda’s phenomenal success can be attributed to the support and

commitment the travel agents have given to the destination.

“The importance of sport and sporting events to Tourism Development is not only crucial to Antigua but as we learnt throughout the week to Global Tourism Development”.

Commented Hon. Asot Michael. “This was our first visit to WTM and proved to be a highly useful exercise. Our oneon-one meetings with our trade partners and exchanges with Ministers from across the globe have strengthened the delegation’s relationships, provided greater insight into the market needs, current trends and factors that will impact Antigua’s main engine of growth tourism in future years helping to increase the country’s overall economic development”.

World Travel Market is the world’s leading travel trade exhibition, attended by over 50,000 visitors and exhibitors from around the world over the four day period.

(Antigua Govt)

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WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

UWI hosts regional roundtable on UN drug conventions

Move into the digital age - International adviser urges TT

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UWI Mona Campus in Jamaica

INGSTON, JAMAICA: The University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Centre for Leadership and Governance (CLG), will be hosting a round table discussion regarding the United Nations General Assembly Special Session, or UNGASS 2016 on Wednesday.

The event will be staged in collaboration with the Open Society Foundation and will focus on UNGASS 2016: The International War on Drugs. It will be held at the Mona Visitors Lodge and Conference Centre.

A public session with a number of high level international advocates from the Region, North America and Europe, will be held on Tuesday at the Undercroft at the UWI, Mona. The round table will look at ‘The Road to the UN General Assembly

Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS) 2016’.

In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) will convene a meeting of UN member states, to assess and review its drug control system, as well as to evaluate the world’s drug control priorities.

According to Head of the Department of Government and Director of the CLG, Dr Lloyd Waller, there is an urgent need to understand the 'Caribbean Approach' to cannabis prior to UNGASS 2016.

“With this knowledge, the CLG will be better informed to contribute to the coordination of cannabis related activities across the Caribbean, as such we have to engage select stakeholders across the Caribbean regarding UNGASS 2016,” Dr Waller said. (Jamaica Observer)

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Futurist Gerb Leonhard has urged Trinidad and Tobago that the time has come for it to move away from its dependency on oil and gas and to focus on becoming a digital economy.

“In general it’s a good idea that government uses the money from its natural resources to create a new road for the future, for example reducing taxes on Internet access, by creating the digital ecosystem by funding innovation that’s digitally- based like they do in Singapore.

“You have to use the prime money (oil money) to fund the future otherwise you’ll be out of money when you get to the future,” he told the TT media following the opening of the National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Business and Innovation Symposium, held at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain on Monday.

Leonhard is also an international adviser on various areas, including

Gerb Leonhard (Futurist file photo)

media, entertainment, telecommunications, ICT, marketing, energy and sustainability.

He noted that as the world is moving into a digital age the value of “things physical” like oil and gas is declining.

“We still need oil, it’s the prime reason for the economy but now data is becoming much more powerful. It’s gaining and growing like crazy so that means it’s also very important that everybody gets connected,” he said.

He noted that this country must grasp the opportunity now to be part of the global digital economy.

“For example in

banking services, IT services, creativity services, even music firms are digital now.

“According to key trends happening in the next ten years countries are going to shift from the traditional economy that is energy-based to the digital resource so there’s some really powerful opportunity for us,” he said.

The Switzerland national said while this country has been doing a lot in terms of bringing ICT to schools, more should be done. He said the government does not just need a broadband plan but a digital economy plan.

“I think that it is not

enough to connect people, you have to create an ecosystem around what they’re doing when they are connected. In other words people are connected but what they’re doing is up to them, that’s not good enough.

“The digital eco-system would mean you can vote online, report things to the government, find out information and even make tourism digital, which is a huge possibility. Technology and tourism are very, very powerful combinations,” Leonhard said.

He noted that Switzerland, which has ranked number one on the Global Competitiveness Index for six years in a row, is now dealing with its own diversification issues.

“We used to be big in banking now we have to be big in data because banking is no longer the biggest thing in Switzerland, it was for 50 years. That is closing so when the window closes you have to move on to another window or else you will be stuck without a window, that means you’re stuck without money.” (TT Express)

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

Hope Canal project in Guyana on track for year-end completion – NDIA CEO

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : N a t i o n a l Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lionel Wordsworth is confident that with works moving apace, the completion of the Hope Canal Conservancy Project is on track to meet its year-end deadline.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Wordsworth disclosed that the overall construction of the channel and embankment is about 93 per cent complete. He noted that the remaining seven per cent mostly has to do with the connection of the channel to the head regulator.

“Work has started on that already and connecting the channel to the high-level discharge sluice, but we cannot make that connection to the high-level discharge sluice, because work is still ongoing on that

Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth is confident that the Hope Canal Conservancy Project will meet its year-end deadline

structure,” he stated.

Additionally, access routes were created to allow for the transportation of workers and materials to the site; however, the removal of these for the operation of the canal has been catered for in the remaining works to be done.

According to the NDIA head, 70 per cent of the embankment has been completed to design elevation of 18.29 metres

GD, about 8.5 kilometres from the seawall to the conservancy.

He explained that because the embankment was earthen, it had to be constructed in stages in order to achieve the full height that was desired.

The remaining section of the embankment that has to be constructed is currently at an elevation of 17.4 metres GD and works have already begun and are expect-

Irish firm Tullow chosen for oil exploration in Jamaica

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Irish firm Tullow Oil plc is expected to be announced as the company selected by the Jamaican Government to engage in oil and gas exploration.

Tullow, which operates in 21 countries, is expected to conduct three-dimensional exploration which, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) sources said, will provide better information regarding the existence of oil in Jamaican waters.

On Monday, Tullow Oil's Head of Media Relations George Cazenove was non-committal in response to the Jamaican media query on Sunday seeking confirmation of his firm's involvement in Jamaica.

"Thank you for your query," he responded via e-mail. "Alas, I am not able to comment on your story."

Founder and Chief Executive Officer Aidan Heavey

For some years now Jamaica has been trying to find out whether fossils detected offshore are enough for commercial extraction.

Of the previous exploration ventures, the most promising was from Canadian firm Sagres Energy, which said it detected possible reserves of some three billion barrels off Pedro Cay. The PCJ, in its media advisory on Tuesday's announcement, point-

ed out that it has been aggressively pursuing proven explorers to undertake oil and gas exploration and that these efforts have borne fruit.

On the weekend, government sources said Tullow was a reputable company with a track record of success in a number of African countries.

On its website, Tullow says it holds 147 licences, 66 producing fields, and has a workforce in excess of 2,000 worldwide.

"In 2013, 37 of the 57 exploration and appraisal wells drilled, discovered hydrocarbons," says the company, which was founded in 1985 and signed its first licence in Senegal in 1986.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer Aidan Heavey says he started the company "in a small town called Tullow, about 35 miles south of Dublin, Ireland".

(Jamaica Observer)

ed to be completed. The NDIA chief disclosed that the mud used to construct the embankment had to be acquired off site and transported by pontoons.

He added that materials used for the embankment were stockpiled since late last year to early this year and were allowed to drain and dry.

The NDIA head explained that he visited

the site during the past week and is pleased that work on the outer sluice is moving apace. He noted too that the contractor has put in place systems for night work to be done, which he fully supports since it will ensure that the construction works are completed by the scheduled time.

The contract for the construction of the Hope Canal Project was awarded to Courtney Benn Contracting Services, DIPCON Engineering and BK International.

The first mentioned contractor was tasked with the construction of the eight-door sluice, while BK International was assigned the construction of the three-gate head regulator.

DIPCON was awarded the contract of the overhead bridge, while the Agriculture Ministry took the responsibility of the excavation of the 10.3km long earthen channel.

The construction began in February 2011 and was estimated to last for 18 months; however, the contractors could not meet the June 2013 deadline. Since then, there have been numerous deadlines set but not met, mostly as a result of the slow pace of contractors. Some setbacks were also experienced with the lengthy time it took to acquire equipment.

The Hope Canal Project will allow excess water from the conservancy to be drained into the canal through a three-door sluice, through the excavated channel into the Atlantic Ocean via the eightdoor, high-discharge sluice structure. The completion of the project will see the channel joining the conservancy on its north-eastern embankment and then cut across 10.3km of the coast. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

National Security minister urges businesses to support crackdown on illegal immigrants

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: National Security Minister Gary Griffith is encouraging business owners to do the right thing and support the planned crackdown on illegal immigrants in Trinidad.

In a statement, Griffith reiterated that immigrants who are currently in the country without legal status were breaking the law.

The minister was responding to statements made by chairman of the Emancipation Support Group, Khafra Kambon and some San Juan businessmen. They claimed the move to be unjustified and the public needed to be told exactly how it would benefit the country.

Griffith said that supporting the contravention of any of the country’s laws undermined the overall effort at bringing crime and lawlessness under control.

The minister said the rise in illegal immigrants

TT National Security Minister Gary Griffith (TT Govt file photo)

has contributed significantly to an increase in criminal activity involving gangs, drugs and murders.

Responding to claims that there was profiling behind the initiative, the minister pointed out that of 131 detainees, currently housed at the Immigration Detention Centre, only 23 detainees were African nationals.

Fourteen from Nigeria, seven from Ghana, one from Senegal and one from South Africa.

Data from the Immigration Division shows some of these de-

tainees have applications pending for Presidential Pardons before the Ministry of Justice, stemming from their engagement in criminal activities. Griffith noted that the country had more than 110,000 illegal immigrants and it cannot be allowed to continue.

“This matter cannot be allowed to continue, as it can affect national growth because employers do not contribute on behalf of their employees to the mandatory National Insurance and corporate taxes,” he said.

The Minister reiterated that the three-month period which gives the illegal immigrants the opportunity to justify that they should be regularised should not be treated as a witch-hunt targeting migrants from any particular nation, He said persons who are in the country illegally should take advantage of the opportunity to have their status regularised.

(TT Newsday)

BPTT takes Mayaro ‘Brighter Prospects’ to post-graduate level

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Energy Company BP Trinidad and Tobago has deepened its investment in its Brighter Prospects tertiary education scholarship programme to include studies at post-graduate level, with the first recipients awarded grants for their twoyear tuition.

Tesila Manoe, who is pursu-

ing a Master’s in Global Studies, and Vijay Jesse Alexander, who is doing his Master’s in Petroleum Engineering, are the first students to be awarded scholarships for their post-graduate studies under the Brighter Prospects programme. They are pursuing their Master's at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, where they also graduated with their Bachelor’s

degrees.

Brighter Prospects offers scholarships to tertiary level students from the wider Mayaro Region up to a value of TT$20,000 for full-time postgraduate studies. Since its inception in 2003, the programme has provided more than 450 scholarships and boasts more than 140 successful graduates.

The principal objectives of

the programme are to encourage the pursuit of higher education among residents of the Mayaro community, and to offer technical/vocational scholarships to students with the ability, but without financial resources, to fulfill their educational potential.

Tesila Manoe was very appreciative of the assistance from bpTT to pursue her studies at

both graduate and post-graduate levels. “A lot of us face serious economic constraints to continue our education at tertiary level and this grant goes a log way in easing our burdens. Don’t stop at your first degree. Go on to do your Master’s and even your PhD. Be greedy when it comes to your education. Take it to the highest level,” Manoe urged her fellow students. (TT Newsday)

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WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Jamaica’s NHT allocates Ja$173m TCCF steps forward towards Development Order, Spatial Plan to help little

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: The National Housing Trust (NHT) says it has committed Ja$173 million towards the completion of a spatial plan and development order for Jamaica.

Board Chairman Easton Douglas made the announcement on Friday, during a public lecture and exhibition at the agency’s New Kingston corporate office, which was held as part of activities commemorating World Town Planning Day, which was observed on Saturday.

“By virtue of the NHT Act, to promote

Emannie in Guyana

The National Housing Trust office in Kingston, Jamaica

housing and facilities in Jamaica, we have dedicated the expenditure of (this amount)..., because if you don’t have a spatial plan you will not have a vision, and you cannot have orderly and progres-

sive development,” he stated.

Douglas said a spatial plan cannot be static and must be regularly revised and updated, to guide development.

“What we have not

done over the years is revise our plans for Little Emannie Melvin the benefit of the peoE O R G E T O W N , scanned again, both at the ple; and as a result, GUYANA: One day Georgetown Public Hospital you see, all over the isafter Guyana Times and the St Joseph Mercy land, adhoc and undesirable developments carried a story of a lad in Hospital.

The sooner the baby’s retaking place,” he not- need of urgent life-saving ed.(Jamaica Observer) surgery,Canadian organisa- cords are made available to tion, the Caribbean Children TCCF, the better it will be Foundation (TCCF) has for Emannie and his young stepped forward to help. mother. The overwhelmed Emannie Melvin was mother has expressed sincere REEPORT, GRAND Global Leadership Forum, born on October 28 with a gratitude to the TCCF for Prime Minister Perry Christie rare brain defect – part of his reaching out to her. Melvin BAHAMA: A small brain protrudes through a is also pleading with the hosplane that crashed on said. pital to release Emannie’s reapproach to the island of Grand "It is utterly impossible to hole in his skull. cords quickly so that they can The condition is believed measure the magnitude of Dr. Bahama killed all 9 people on be sent to Canada before it is to be Encephalocele, alboard, including a prominent Munroe's loss to The Bahamas Christian minister and his wife, and to the world," the prime though local doctors have not too late.

Melvin is desperate to the government of the Bahamas minister said. "He was indis- been able to confirm such.

TCCF immediately contacthelp her child, whose father said. putably one of the most globalabandoned them after the ed Guyana Times for the baThe Lear 36 Executive ly recognizable religious figures child was born.. by’s medical records with our nation has ever produced."

Jet had taken off from the Melvin now lives with Bahamian capital of Nassau Munroe's wife, Ruth was the intention to immediately her mother and has the supforward them to Sick Kids, and crashed while attemptalso on the plane, Christie said.

Toronto. port of her sister-in- in raising to land Sunday evening in The names of other passengers Sick Kids is one of ing little Emannie. Although have not yet been confirmed, Freeport, according to a statewhat they have is not much, Canada’s most research-inment from the Ministry of but the government said they included another minister, tensive hospitals. The hos- she is grateful for what she Transport and Aviation. pital is affiliated with the has because she knows God Among those killed was Richard Pinder, and a child.

President of Myles Munroe International (Miles Munroe photo) Myles Munroe, the founder An investigation into the University of Toronto and will guide her through everyof Bahamas Faith Ministries, cause of the crash has begun. is the largest centre ded- thing. icated to improving chilGenerally, surgery is perBahama to attend the 2014 (TT Express) who was traveling to Grand dren’s health in that country. formed during infancy to However, Felisha Melvin, the place the protruding tissues baby’s mother, is having diffi- back into the skull, remove culties obtaining the records. the sac, and correct the assoMelvin told the Guyana ciated craniofacial abnormalTimes newspaper that when ities. Even large protrusions vances of TT$1.9 billion or 7.4 per cent.

“Equally satisfactory was the improvement seen her son was born, the doc- can often be removed within the quality of the portfolio with the NPL ratio de- tors “scanned” his brain. out causing major functionclining from 3.7 per cent in 2013 to 3.5 per cent in Additionally, a few days al disability. (Excerpted from 2014, with the level of provisioning to NPL’s increas- ago, the baby’s brain was Guyana Times) ing, from 37 per cent (2013) to 40 per cent (2014),” Harford said.

This performance was achieved against the backdrop of challenging economic climates in two of the territories in which the group operates.

Harford added that while core operations in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana continued on their growth path, overall profitability in Guyana, remained flat in 2014, due to increased provisions for loans to the sugar industry.

Republic Bank chairman Ronald Harford (TT Guardian file photo) “Subdued economic condiORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Republic tions in Barbados and Grenada Bank Ltd has recorded a profit of TT$1.19 bil- negatively impacted the performance of both countries, though lion for its year ended September 30, 2014.

This was an increase of TT$23.4 million or two per the Grenada operations recorded a small profit, after a loss in 2013, cent over the prior year, the bank said last Thursday.

In accordance with IAS 19- Employee Benefits the profitability in Barbados de(Revised), the Group was required to restate its 2013 clined following one-off adjustprofits downwards by TT$18.97 million, resulting in a ments at the consolidated level,” he said. year on year growth of 3.7 per cent.

The board of directors has deThe group’s total assets stood at TT$59.4 billion at September 30, 2014, an increase of TT$1.8 billion or clared a final dividend of TT$3 3.1 per cent over the prior period, a statement from (2013:$3) to be paid on December 1 to all the shareholders of record the bank said.

Republic Bank chairman Ronald Harford said the at November 17.

This brings the total divbank’s core business as reflected in net interest income, increased by TT$37.4 million or 1.7 per cent, idend for the fiscal year to notwithstanding a declining interest rate environ- TT$4.25, in line with 2013. (TT ment. This was as a result of growth in loans and ad- Express)

Myles Munroe dies in Bahamas plane crash

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Republic records TT$1.19b profit

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Jamaican Canadian medical team looking ministry happy forward to future collaborations with increase in - wraps up successful mental health outreach cane production G

It is crop time in St Thomas and heavily loaded tractors such as this one are a common sight in the cane belt area of the parish. These workers travel along the Golden Grove main road on a tractor transporting with sugar cane.

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Minister of State for agriculture, labour and social security, Luther Buchanan, says interventions such as the Cane Expansion Fund and investments in field and factory rehabilitation have led to a 22 per cent increase in cane production in the last crop year.

He added that production has in fact moved up by more than 300 per cent over the past three years.

Buchanan was addressing the annual general meeting of the AllIsland Jamaica Cane

Farmers' Association, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, on Saturday.

"This is simply phenomenal," Buchanan remarked. The 2013/14 crop year, which began on December 8, 2013, and ended on July 21, 2014, resulted in 15,436 tonnes of sugar being produced by six factories across the island.

According to the association's annual report, the total amount of cane delivered by farmers for the crop year was 744,394 tonnes, representing an increase of 30 per cent over what was delivered for 2013.

(Jamaica Observer)

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The 19-member Canadian medical team has wrapped up another successful outreach in Guyana. The team included nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, family doctors and occupation therapists.

Speaking at a dinner hosted by the health ministry, Reverend Ram Kalap, one of the founding members of the team, said that lot of ground was covered over the past week.

They visited health institutions at Suddie, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam); Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice); and the National Psychiatric Hospital in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Additionally, members of the team held lectures with students from the University of Guyana.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran (right) with the members of the Canadian medical team

Kalap explained that the team scouted over the last three years to get a better understanding of what is needed in Guyana, and subsequently mapped out a collaborative plan with the health ministry.

The team was able to reintroduce ElectroConvulsive Therapy (ECT) to Guyana and even handed over an ECT machine to the National Psychiatric Hospital.

ECT is a procedure in which electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. It causes changes in brain

chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental illnesses.

ECT is a tool for psychiatric treatment that has been around for over 50 years. It was available in Guyana as late as 1985.

It is proven to be very effective and has a higher success rate than drugtherapy for depression.

The team also held sessions that focused on gender-based abuse, suicide prevention and mental health issues. Kalap said that they are eager to continue this kind of collaboration in the future.

Health Minister, Dr

Bheri Ramsaran said mental health and disabilities and rehab medicine are two areas that have been placed on the back burner; however, over the last two years, the ministry has made significant efforts to make these two issues a priority.

He commended the team’s work and the team spirit displayed by all of the volunteers, who, though predominantly foreign, did not hesitate to travel to various Regions to render services and interact with local medical professionals.

(Guyana Times)

TT Carnival Bands Association ready for Carnival 2015 despite Ebola controversy

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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: The National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA) president David Lopez made a bold statement on Friday evening when he launched the organisation’s 2015 Carnival campaign.

Coming on the heels of the controversy over whether or not Carnival 2015 should be put off

because of the deadly Ebola virus, the NCBA has said its purpose is to show readiness for Carnival.

The function was also used to show appreciation to the media and unveil the new-look NCBA headquarters on Picton Street. The building is now draped with images of Carnival characters with an explanation of the history of each character.

According to Lopez, “The NCBA is the organisation dealing with mas and we have to lead, when people want information they must come to us, be it through our website or in person.

“We continue to celebrate the uniqueness of our Carnival with our new theme Revel. We are a friendly people; we are a myriad of faces and races enjoying life and our culture in paradise.

“The NCBA is committed to share the brilliance of the costume on display, brilliantly lit under the sun during culmination of Carnival with the Parade of Bands on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

Revel continues from the original theme Unleash, which was conceptualised as a threeyear campaign.

In 2011, Unleash became an umbrella brand

designed for audience awareness, to build the NCBA as a brand and to make it the portal for all things Carnival.

Giving further clarification, Anika Aleong of Vargusmri Limited said, “Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is a ritual we celebrate with the fervour of a religious observance. Carnival Monday and Tuesday is a transcendent, out of body life changing experience.

“In 2011-2012 Unleash…Yuhself was in your face, on television, in the press and on radio. At that time, 2012 was a year associated with the resetting of the cosmic clock, a year to reinvent, the year to finally unleash.

“In 2013-2014, Unleash…D‘Real Carnival comes with a greater emphasis placed on defining Trinidad and Tobago Carnival as the true indigenous Carnival. A Carnival unique in its culture and history.”

She added the entire theme had been conceptualised as an exploration of self, community, culture and celebration of uniqueness via the vibrancy of mas.

“Our audience must understand that in Revel there is a place, people and festival known by a lucky few and just one

taste will transform you forever. Trinidad and Tobago is the place to experience true Carnival.”

Lopez said that while there are Carnivals all over the world, “we must make Trinidad and Tobago the number one choice for visitors”. He added, “there will always be controversy as everybody feels they know how it should be done.”

He thanked Republic Bank for its support of the Mas Academy and Junior Carnival as both are very important for the survival of the industry in Trinidad and Tobago.

Geraldo Vieira Jr, artistic director of the Mas Sanctuary, said it had been the fulfilment of a dream to produce “Big Friday”, a vision the NCBA had to produce an event where the Kings and Queens of Carnival have their own platform and can portray the beauty and splendour of their mas on their own stage. The event has taken place for the past two years.

Chairman of the National Carnival Commission (NCC) Allison Demas, who recently said she would not renew her contract, attended the event and helped with the unveiling of the building. (TT Express)

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Jamaica send more bananas to the UK; exports to commence to Trinidad

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Jamaica will be supplying more bananas to the United Kingdom, while Trinidad and Tobago has given clearance for the produce to enter its territory.

Minister of agriculture, labour and social security, Derrick Kellier, said that, on October 16, a contract was signed with a UK entity for the supply of one container of bananas per week, which is expected to increase to ten containers over time.

He added that, last week, “the authorities in Trinidad and Tobago gave Jamaica phyto-sanitary clearance to export our bananas to their country.”

In June, Jamaica resumed banana shipments to the UK after a six-year absence from that market, due to the devastating effects of several hurricanes on the sector and changes in the preferen-

Minister of Agriculture, Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier (centre), receives a bag of local produce from president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), Senator Norman Grant (right). Occasion was the launch of ‘Eat Jamaican’ Month on November 5. Sharing the moment is State Minister in the Ministry, Luther Buchanan.

tial agreement with the UK. The weekly shipments of the fruit, weighing 2,000 lb, continued up to the end of August, and the ministry had in-

formed that a UK buyer would arrive in Jamaica to negotiate long-term contracts for importing Jamaican bananas into Britain.

Kellier, who was de-

livering the keynote address at the launch of the ‘Eat Jamaican Month’ Campaign on Wednesday, said the ministry continues to seek new export markets for local pro-

duce through the Fresh Produce Consortium.

Earlier this year, a team from the ministry, along with farmers and exporters, attended the London Produce Show as guests of the Fresh Produce Consortium, resulting in transactions to supply sweet potato, yam, Julie mangoes, ginger, Moringa, castor oil, a variety of herbs and spices and a range of fruits to that market.

“As we increase opportunities through the export platform, we continue to develop marketing arrangements with our partners in the U.S., and those in the UK,” Kellier said.

He noted that the agro parks programme is aimed at boosting production for exports. He informed that the programme is being expanded, with some 8,000 hectares of “good agricultural lands” in western

Jamaica earmarked for large-scale production.

“Given the enormous opportunities that exist in the export market, the agro parks will provide us with large-scale production at the level of consistency, which will make us competitive on the world market,” Kellier pointed out.

He urged the private sector to help in building the “growth momentum” by using more local raw material, and to partner with farmers to achieve the levels of efficiencies required.”

He also called on the population to support the Eat Jamaican initiative, by consuming more local produce.

During the month of November, the JAS will be staging several exhibitions at schools, food establishments, and other public places to encourage the buying of local foods.

(JIS)

Secretary General urges University of Guyana graduates …not to forsake region G

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The graduating class of 2014 from the University of Guyana was urged not to forsake the Caribbean region

by Caricom Secretary General, Irwin La Rocque. Delivering the feature address, the region’s top ambassador congratulated them and said that the constraints facing those who graduate from tertiary institutions are well known.

One thousand, six hundred and five (1605) students graduated from the faculties of Agriculture, Forestry, Education and Humanities, Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Technology, and the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Under the Faculty of Health Sciences, the first batch of students graduated with the Bachelor of Science degree in Optometry and Medical rehabilitation.

They have now joined the less than 15% of the region’s citizens who possess a university education, the Caricom head said, as he asked that those in attendance briefly pause to remember the contribution of those who taught them previously, along with their parents who supported them in the journey.

Addressing the graduates directly, he said they should follow the mission of their Alma Mata, “To discover, generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest standard for the service of the community, the nation, and of all mankind, within an atmosphere of academic freedom that allows for free and critical inquiry”.

The hope was expressed by the Caricom head that the community that the graduates choose to serve is within the Caribbean. He spoke of the advances of the global economy and urged them

to apply for the Caricom skills certificate to serve in any of the 12 countries that are part of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

With some 40,000 such certificates already issued, he expressed the hope that by next year, potential graduates would be able to apply online for same. “This is a good example of what our community, your community is doing. Providing opportunity for skilled citizens to advance their own career and pursue their personal goals while at the same time, contributing to the development of our region”.

The newly qualified students were reminded to read constantly and voraciously, in what was described as the “book of life and the book of other people” and not just the books on the library shelves.

Giving the Valedictorian's address was winner of the

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds conferring the President’s medal on Valedictorian, Joel Joseph

President’s medal, Joel Joseph. After thanking his parents, better half and lecturers, he recounted some of his experiences at the University that had the crowd applauding heartily. He quoted the inventor and painter Michelangelo, who said, “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but setting our aim too low and

achieving our mark”.

Noting that Guyana loses around 80% of its UG graduates to other nations, the Linden resident said that corporate Guyana, government and students have to work together to solve this problem. He called for what he described as various incentives and “other sweeteners” to pursue skilled persons to remain to serve and develop their

country.

Graduates also need to adopt a more patriotic and nationalistic approach to serving their country. He added that it is dereliction of duty for stakeholders not to accept collective responsibility for Guyana’s developmental trajectory.

This year marked the University of Guyana’s 48th Convocation ceremony. (GINA)

Independent Labour Party to contest 23 seats in TT

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: The Independent Liberal Party (ILP) will contest only 23 of the 41 seats in the upcoming general election, the party’s Executive Committee has decided. The ILP Executive Committee met at the party’s headquar-

ters located along Edward Street in Port of Spain on Saturday. “The four hour long meeting first met with a firm of Canadian consultants to review a new health plan for Trinidad & Tobago all in preparation for its 2015 Election Manifesto,” a release from the ILP stated

on Sunday.

Following this meeting a three-man Committee under Alderman Dayne Francois, was appointed to meet further with the consultants this week with a view to finding the health blueprint for the Party’s Manifesto.

The other members of

the Committee are Party Organiser Dominic Romain and Central Regional Coordinator, Raymond Bala.

The Constituencies are: Arima, Barataria/San Juan, Caroni Central, Caroni East, Chaguanas East, Chaguanas West, Couva North, Cumuto/ Manzanilla, D’Abadie/

O’Meara, Diego Martin West, Fyzabad, Lopinot/Bon Air West, Mayaro, Moruga/ Tableland, Pointe a Pierre, Port of Spain South, San Fernando West, Siparia, St Joseph, Tabaquite, Toco/ Sangre Grande, Tunapuna and Tobago East.

(TT Express)

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A ‘go green’ Guyanese advocate transforms everyday items into beautiful art

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : ‘Everything makes Craft’ is not just a reference on the adage “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”, but a ‘green’ movement and a need to help save the world through ecofriendly activities.

A trendy shop, Everything makes Craft is operated by Christine De Cambra-Forrester - a young mother of two, an aunt of 13, and the sixth of eight siblings. De Cambra-Forrester gives a new purpose to everything she gets her hands on, rather than letting it go to waste - that is in the waste bin.

An environmentalist from a young age, De Cambra-Forrester abhors littering and seeing others doing so. “I have always had a problem with littering and see-

ing others litter. Now that I have my own family, I use a lot more items and so I decided to reuse some of these things instead of throwing them out.”

Family-oriented, coming from a big family background, De CambraForrester views her craft as another way to engage family and friends. But even more noteworthy is her altruistic nature, as her new business venture was initially an advocacy campaign.

“This ‘upcycling’ venture [Everything makes Craft] was not meant to be commercial, rather its aim was to show the public what can be done with what is considered ‘trash’ in order to promote an anti-littering environment - especially at home where you can reuse things instead of throwing them out and

adding to the garbage build up in Georgetown,” expressed De CambraForrester.

Developing her talents since childhood, most of De CambraForrester’s craft skills are self-taught. “We didn’t have much money, so I would just gather stuff and make gifts for family and friends,” she disclosed.

What began as a hobby soon became a business venture, as requests for craft items flowed in. This served as a motivation for De Cambra-Forrester, who was propelled into taking her craft to a higher level.

From elegant picture frames to trendy lanterns, glass bottle figurines to wall hangings, De Cambra-Forrester solidifies her motto that everything can be made

'Upcycled' bottles

into amazing craft.

She does this by using whatever she can get her hands on, including glass bottles, buttons, cans, newspaper, pieces of cloth and plastic.

“I buy things like paint, glue, staples and the like, but everything else is obtained through my own use or through

family and friends.

Sometimes, I post a note on Facebook asking persons to send items they would normally dispose of to me, so I am used to people showing up with all kinds of things like cloth and ribbon and candles,” she mentioned.

Describing her craft of transforming the old into the new, De Cambra-Forrester stated, “Upcycling is a sim-

ple and inexpensive way to do things with the family, spending quality time while making little gifts and impacting the future generation.”

Everything makes Craft offers classes to those who wish to learn about ‘upcycling’. For more information, visit Everything makes Craft on Facebook. (Excerpted from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Jamaica: J'OUVERT AT 'SUNSET'

Visiting British-based football coaches (from left) Zak Wooster, David Monk, and Steve Winnett share the frame with Digicel Foundation Programme Manager for Special Needs Judine Hunter during the Sunset Cocoa J’Ouvert road march.

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Partnering with the second incarnation of the rugged yet charitable ATL Group road challenge, Ram Goat Run, the popular sunnation-promoted J'Ouvert series Sunset Cocoa J'Ouvert returned, last Saturday, with its much-anticipated Halloween edition.

Against a lush Hope Botanical Gardens backdrop, the chocolate-dunked soca jam cruised seamlessly from pre-dusk into the witching hour with the aid of a veritable line-up of 'spinmasters', namely Lava of Dei Musicale; Lantern; Smoke; and Richie Ras. The soundscape also expanded to include the marqueed To Meh Heart star 5Star Akil, out of Trinidad and Tobago, who employed his vocals in riling up the 13 teams of bacchanalists present as they prepared to chip and whine across the historic Old Hope Road estate, led by a caravan of Zoukie Trucking lorries.

The returns from this memorable Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum; CPJ and Patrón; PepsiCola and Ting; and Digicel- sponsored event will benefit the Cornwall Regional Hospital as well as the Glenhope Nursery.(Jamaica Observer)

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: Through her artistic paintings, Myrna Bernard captures the essence of life and passionately exhibits them for the world to see.

Bernard works in Caribbean regional administration in Georgetown and has had no formal art training be-

yond her years at the Bishops’ High School, Georgetown. She has, in recent years, pursued her interest in digital photography and digital art through the use of manuals and books and also online tutorials.

The artist has exhibited at the CARICOM Secretariat’s Annual Staff

Talent Celebrations from 2006 to 2012; at the Guyana Women Artists’ Association’s Annual Exhibitions from 2008 to 2012 and their exhibitions in Guyana at Carifesta X in 2008 at the International Conference Centre, Turkeyen, for International Women’s Day at the Brazilian Cultural Centre

in 2011, for the Year of People of African Descent at the National Museum, Georgetown in 2012, and at the IGCF in Cayenne in 2013.

(Artist profile from the 26th Annual Exhibition of the Guyana Women Artists’ Association brochure done by the National Gallery)

'Rhythm of the Soul' 2014

'Closed Session' 2014

'Leaf Triptych' 2014

'Fusion' 2014

The Next PULSE

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: If Jade Drakes wasn’t a fine jeweler she imagines, “I would be an aspiring actor or a prima ballerina in spirit and an okay dancer in body.”

Her earrings, broaches and rings in platinum, palladium and copper usually communicate, “That I am sensitive to the work itself and not so much what the majority of people would like to see/ wear.” Jade designs to please herself first and foremost. The average consumer overlooks “how much problemsolving there is in jewelry-making,” she notes, “there is so much math involved, too.”

Three summers ago Jade, 38, was on an internship studying “with the people who design for Hugo Boss and Escada,” to help inform her approach to designing adornments from “found objects and stone.” She describes her work as “risky and unconventional, sprinkled with a dusting of pretty.” Those words may not steer your imagination to the clever, atypical designs concocted by this vintage enthusiast. For instance, her new collection contains ornate doorknobs re-imagined as bold, statement rings.

For the woman known as “Duck Girl”, with a fetish for jewelry in-

'She Waits' 2014

-Jamaican born Francine James

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Some of Jade’s pieces (Jade Drakes photos)

spired by dogs, her proudest accomplishments are her eight-month-old son and “learning to walk on stilts.” Since she’s already produced her dream collection “Min Hund”, her bucket list has

a new priority: “Buying my son a spectacular electronic train set with lights and miniature trees. German made, of course. It’s not about me anymore.” (TT Express)

I N G S T O N , J A M A I C A : Francine James is Kingsley Cooper's and Romae Gordon's latest discovery and she has everyone talking. The Jamaican-born PULSE Model was recently signed to NEXT Models Worldwide and is eager to make her mark. James, who won the Caribbean Model Search in 2013, took her first pitstop in New York City where her agents immediately called Jamaican photographer, Luca Khouri to shoot her portfolio images. Talk about a dream team. (Jamaica Observer)

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The foundation stone of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, generally known as Brickdam Cathedral, located as it is in Brickdam, Georgetown, was laid almost 100 years ago on August 15 1915, two years after a March 7 fire destroyed the first Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, St Mary’s Cathedral, built by Cesar Castellani.

The crabwood and greenheart construction, which was built in 1872 and described as “the finest ecclesiastical building in the West Indies”, was razed by the 1913 conflagration.

Immediately after the inferno, fundraising began in earnest to rebuild the church. Bearing in mind the complete destruction of the wooden building, Reverend Compton Theodore S.J. Titular Bishop (19011913) insisted the new

building be made of concrete. English architect Leonard Stokes was chosen to design the new church, and granite, obtained from a local Essequibo quarry, became the principal material of construction.

It would be ten years later that the building would be completed, and a further two more before its scaffolding and galvanized sheeting were removed to reveal an immense Romanesque struc-

While the addition is a fountain on the northern facade, the top of the church contains a base for the steeple that was never built

ture. In 1930, a marble high altar, a gift from Pope Pius XI to Bishop Galton, was built, fol-

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Photo by Amanda Richards)

TT Machel Montano wins the Soul Train Award for Best International Performance

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Bunji Garlin won the 2013 award with Differentology.

It was the third nomination for 39-year-old Montano who has been a dominant figure in soca music for over 25 years.

Montano was also a presenter at the event which was taped for airing on November 30 on BET. (Jamaica Observer)

Richard Lester Guilly S.J. OBE. The only surviving structure from the 1913 fire, the iron statue of Our Lady, is mounted on the upper section of the western facade. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Interior towards High Altar. Fogarty Memorial green and white marble pulpit at right

Marblue's Culinary Gems K

INGSTON, JAMAICA: If, like us, you've not been hearing much about Marblue -- that multiaward-winning culinary gem in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth -- it's because Andrea and Axel Wichterich have been in creative mode: how to give local and international visitors more bang for their buck, taste-testing new menu options, and streamlining operations.

"The menu will change weekly," explains Chef Axel. "The plan," he

says, "is to introduce a three-course menu with two to three appetiser and soup options, mains and desserts. A daily special, weekly cooking classes and a once-a-month culinary event like From Sea To Table, where patrons will enjoy small seafood plates served party-style on the beach. I also want to have a cold seafood tower with cold lobster, shrimp, smoked marlin and fresh poached catches."

There's more from the amicable chef: "I'm Axel’s secret pumpkin soup: a sizzling pot of pumpkin, onion, sweet potato, tomato, carrots, garlic, thyme, sweet pepper, nutmeg, ginger and a spoon of olive oil.

Machel Montano

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Machel Montano won the Soul Train Award for Best International Performance at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas Friday evening.

The diminutive singer won for Ministry of Road, making him the second Trinidadian to win the award in consecutive years. Singer

lowed in 1938 by three more altars. In 1939, a marble pulpit, a memorial to the Fogarty family, was donated.

The church was consecrated October 10, 1960 by first Bishop of Georgetown, Reverend

Fillet of pan-seared snapper in lime butter and salt and pepper inside a cod fish tapenade made with salt fish, mashed potato, Scotch bonnet pepper and fresh parsley

thinking, too, of a typical Jamaican fireside cooking: a big pot of curried goat and copious amounts of fried fish."

Thankfully, lunch is in reduction mode on the range as hunger pangs have kicked in. The sizzling pumpkin soup smells delish!

Yet another innovation is one where Chef

Axel does the prepping and patrons the cooking: "We prep your chicken, salad and beverage, set up the barbecue grill and leave you to sit in the garden seafront and enjoy a romantic evening."

Believe us, it's that fab as well as all that we could eat from the new menu offerings.(Jamaica Observer)

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The village's health post (small white building) seen from the mountain top

The landing to get to Arukamai

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: Visiting an Amerindian village in Mabaruma is a wonderful and interesting experience. Many people living in the villages still make their living off of the land which is rich in natural resources by hunting, farming, fishing, and much more.

One such village that holds fast to its indigenous culture is Arukamai. The village, which is located in Region One, is a river community in the Mabaruma sub-district.

Residents of Arukamai live along the river. The children take canoes or boat to school. The health post and the school are next to each other, but the homes are spread out along the river.

The boat journey to Arukamai is an adventure in and of itself. The river can be rather shallow. It depends on the tides. The river eventually leads out to the Atlantic, so it has a double-tide in a 24-hour period. (Photos and info from http://harmonyandtravis.com)

A home tucked away along the river on the way to Arukamai

- nine-time Calypso Monarch finalist

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O R T O F SPAIN,TRINIDAD: Last week Friday, as names were being called out of graduands at the University of the West Indies (UWI) graduation ceremony, there was one in particular that stood out – Devon Seale.

The name of the nine-time Calypso Monarch finalist rang a bell with some in the audience and as he strode up to collect his certificate he received special applause.

His masters degree, with distinction I thank you, was not in the arts or culture as one may assume but a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and International Finance specialisation. And that’s just one thing you don’t know about 37-yearold Seale who is a bit of a renaissance man among calysponians with competency in business, languages and computer science.

He shared his story during a recent telephone interview with TT media. Firstly his last name is Seale and not “Seales” with an “s”. He joked that his name has been misspelled for so many years in the calypso fraternity that he treats “Devon Seales” as his sobriquet.

He was born in Tunapuna, grew up in Bon Air Gardens and has been singing calypso since the age of 11.

Also at that age he performed on Twelve and Under and was interviewed by television personality Hazel Ward-Redman, who died last Monday. During that interview he told the media that he learned to sing through his teacher Esther Batson, to whom he attributes all of his musical skills.

Seale then got a nine to five at TSTT as a clerical officer doing cashing functions. While working there he received a scholarship to study in the land of Samba – Brazil – and spent four years completing his Bachelor of Science (Bsc) in Computer Science.

While there he learned the native language of Portugese. After Brazil he did a semester in Colombia and learned Spanish. Inclusive of English Seale habla tres idiomas (speaks three languages) fluently.

After those educational pursuits he returned to TSTT and worked at a managerial level as a research officer looking at network fraud. Being a manager Seale decided to pursue his MBA so he would be “well equipped”.

While pursuing the degree part

time at Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business Seale and his “good friend and study partner” Maritza De Silva worked together on a praticom which was to bring to market a mobile application. The two are planning to launch the app but he is holding the details to his chest.

A calypsonian launching a mobile app has a nice ring to it.

Seale noted it was not easy doing a masters degree, having a full time a job and being a calpysponian.

He found the degree itself “very challenging” having been out of study mode for three years since completing his Bsc. It was also a change of pace for him being a person “always into figures” and having to do a lot of reading and looking at economics and HR. He noted that graduate school takes up lot of time, including family time, and there is a lot of group work.

He also asked to give a shout to his fellow group work members “Team Footprints”: Wendy Cazabon, Nichollette Imam and Chanelle Diaz.

Asked whether he expected to receive a distinction Seale noted that he went in just to achieve a masters degree but by the second trimester

Devon Seale during one of his performances (TT Newsday file photo)

he realised his grades were “looking good”. By the end of the course he knew he would receive the honour.

In the audience on graduation day were his aunt and uncle but his mother was absent and she had a previously booked vacation abroad.

“She was there in spirit,” he noted. (TT Newsday)

24 feature Jamaican in Lion King musical K www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

INGSTON, JAMAICA: The third time proved to be the charm for Jamaican dancer Benton Morris, who is part of the London cast of hit musical The Lion King.

It was audition number three for the show which debuted in 1997, that proved the clincher for the St Catherine-born Morris.

He had first auditioned in 2010, then two years later in 2012. On both occasions, he made it to the final round, ending up in the top four male dancers each time. But he failed to make it to the cast of the stage as he was told he did not fit the specific role the producers were looking for.

The Lion King team returned to Jamaica in 2013 and Morris was less than enthusiastic about trying out for a third time, but he did after encouragement from peers.

"The 2013 audition wasn't as exciting as the previous two I attempted. I was not nervous and I wasn't expecting anything; I was going to just dance and have fun with it," Morris told the Jamaican media.

The audition is divided into two parts -- dancing and singing.

The dance portion was divided into three parts: a modern combination, after which the dancers with the

By Narine Dat Sookram

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Jamaican dancer Benton Morris (centre) with castmates in the London production of hit musical The Lion King.

best technique are chosen; following that, a routine from the show is taught to see which of the dancers have the ability to work with strict choreography. After the second cut, The Lion King's dance supervisor teaches a ballet sequence.

The wait would be over on All Fool's Day -- April 1. Morris received an e-mail advising him that he had been cast in the London production.

He would then be flung headlong into a rehearsal schedule unlike anything he knew as a student at the Edna Manley College's School of Dance or as a dancer with the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC).

For six weeks -- six days a week,

nine hours a day -- Morris and his castmates refined their technique and were taught the entire show from scratch in preparation for opening night on July 19.

"I'll never forget, that special, touching, and indescribable feeling of being a part of the opening, starting with the famous Circle of Life.

I was shaking from all the adrenaline rushing through my body, and the excitement stayed with me for several weeks."

Morris follows in the footsteps of a number of other NDTC members who have performed in this iconic production including Tovah Bembrigde, Kerry Ann Henry and Candice Morris. (Jamaica Observer)

TT’s Memorial Park—Monument to the brave

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: One of the most solemn reminders of the role TT played in the horrors of two World Wars is the cenotaph at Memorial Park. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War in Europe which grew to engulf the British Empire as well.

As a loyal colony, TT saw many of its young men enlisting in various corps to fight for their monarch. They came from all backgrounds, ranging from poor black men merely looking for an opportunity to the sons of rich planters who felt that they would return covered in glory. A large number left their bones in lonely war graves in Europe.

Given the terrible casualties that were reported (in all over 200 men from TT lost their lives), a public meeting chaired by the Mayor of Port-ofSpain, Dr Enrique Prada, was held at the Princes Building on August 4, 1916, to discuss a permanent memorial to the deceased. This consultation was attended by Governor Sir John Chancellor and though the idea was approved, it was decided to wait until the war ended to implement it. Thus, it was not until 1918 that the project was revived, and at a public conference in 1919 the suggestion was made that the monument should be erected on Marine (Independence) Square in the area now

Bullying

Commissioning of Memorial Park, June 28, 1924.

occupied by the Cipriani statue.

Strenuous objections to this site led to another location being earmarked, this being the “Little Savannah,” which was then an open pasture opposite the Royal Victoria Institute (National Museum). Sir John Chancellor’s successor as governor, Sir Samuel Wilson, approved the transfer of the Little Savannah to the Port-ofSpain City Council to initiate the memorial. It was Sir John, however, who whilst visiting England in 1919 had contacted sculptor LF Roslyn who conceived a design of an arch (much like Paris’s Arc de Triomphe) and produced drawings which were displayed for public viewing at the Royal Victoria Institute. During the war, a stamp tax had been implemented to raise revenue and this was now debited for the immense sum of TT$32,000 for the cenotaph, with an additional

TT$5,000 being raised by public contributions. The foundation stone of the cenotaph was laid on May 1, 1924, by Sir Samuel Wilson, with a time capsule containing the history of the project as well as newspaper clippings and coins being inserted. The side groups are the prows of ships emblematic of the part taken in the war by the Royal Navy and the Mercantile Marine, and on each is seated a female figure–the one on the South in a pensive attitude reading the scroll of Fame, the other on the North, bearing a laurel wreath, emblematic of the tender care of the sick and fallen.” On June 28 of the same year, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the Treaty of Versailles, the cenotaph was unveiled by the mayor and other dignitaries with marines from the warship HMS Ormonde providing the Guard of Honour. The inscription read: “1914-1918.

In Honour of All who Served, In Memory of All who fell.” The names of 180 war dead were engraved thereupon with a re-dedication in 1945 for an addition to the memory of the fallen of World War II. The names of these brave men of the second conflict are on a separate monument in the Military Cemetery in St James. Every year, a dwindling number of WWII veterans and numerous public officials gather at Memorial Park on the Sunday closest to Armistice Day, November 11, to commemorate the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers with a wreath-laying ceremony. T Though there will soon be no more of those who gave their service in the war effort, the cenotaph will long stand to remind us of the people who dared risk and lose their lives so that others could live in freedom. (TT Guardian)

ullying seems to be a global issue, and I am sure there are many reasons why people bully. However, regardless of why people bully, it needs to come to an end.

The bottom line is, we must be able to face the bully and tell

him or her to stop.

Let’s say someone is doing some unnecessary teasing or insulting, sometimes a little eye contact with the message “no” is a good way to defuse the situation. The bully needs to know that we are not okay with the treatment we are receiving, and that it has to stop immediately.

Also a little laughter sometimes can help to lighten the tension as well. For example if we show the bully that our skin is too thick for that, there is that possibility that he or she may give up and leave us alone.

Remember that bullies usually try to get a rise out of the person they’re bullying, nothing more than that usually. The bully may still want to keep doing the teasing to get an even stronger reaction, so the key is to don’t raise your voice when telling the bully to stop, because this could cause more provoking.

No matter how challenging the situation gets don’t take steps toward physical violence, because the bully will likely respond with increased bullying, because that will increase the risk of getting in much trouble if caught participating in that situation.

The truth it, though it may be hard to contain ourselves, teasing is only going to make things worse. Another key point is to know when to walk away. For example, if, for some reason, the situation gets risky, it is probably best to disengage immediately, at a certain point, reasoning with the bully isn’t going to make a difference.

Bullies even take the time to bully using social media such as via text, social networks, your website, emails, etc. If this happens, don’t waste your time to respond to cyberbullying attacks, because provocation is not productive, especially in a situation where the bully is anonymous.

In these situations, it’s probably best to save the evidence and don’t delete the threatening texts etc, because these might come in handy if things get worse. However, try to block the bully from sending you any more messages.

Block the person on all social media pages and even erase them from any phone contact.

Usually this is enough to discourage the bully from further communication. In some cases, the person can appear as anonymous, if this is the case, marking the email address as spam will be a good choice.

Also change any account settings to make it difficult for any future communication and to find you online and even start using a new screen name including tightening the privacy settings on all social media accounts.

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

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Bipasha Basu : Proud to be a part of Vikram's debut film

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ollywood actress Bipasha Basu is proud to star in fashion designer friend Vikram Phadnis' debut film 'Nia', also starring Telugu star Rana Daggubati.

Bipasha, 35, who was last seen in Vikram Bhatt's 'Creature 3D', said she was overwhelmed to hear the new film's first narration.

"It's a proud moment for me to be a part of this film, which Vikram (Phadnis) has written, lived and now he will direct too. I must say the narration which he gave me is one of the beautiful narration I ever heard. It was an overwhelming experience just to hear the first narration," Bipasha told reporters.

The 'Raaz' actress also feels that her character Samaira in the film will be one of her best role of her career.

"It's been 14 years but I have never heard a film like this. The role of Samaira will be one of my best role in my career. I am confident that this film will touch every single person," she said.

Bipasha is eager to star the project helmed by her designer friend as their working sensibilities match.

"He has a great mind who thinks

I from his heart. He is also someone who thinks from the heart. I could see the reflection of a fabulous director in him.

He is a very real person," she said.

Her last film did not do well at the box-office and the actress said that she was completely unperturbed by the number game.

"With every passing year I realise I am happy and independent and I have money so I want to do things at my pace. I was never into the hard race of the industry. I love the selfless love which I got from the people," she said.

(TOI)

f you walk into Aditya Roy Kapur's Bandra home, a canvas and a portfolio poster of Katrina Kaif will catch your attention almost immediately. Quite naturally, you will be curious to know why ARK has a poster of Kat as opposed to one of Shraddha Kapoor, who is his rumoured girlfriend.

On checking whether it was a case of mistaken identity as far as the poster goes or whether Aditya had suddenly become a diehard Katrina fan, we found out that in his next film 'Fitoor' (based on Charles Dickens' Great Expectations), the 'Aashiqui 2' actor is playing an artist and Kat, his muse.

So, whenever he gets time, he practises sketching the actress' face.

Incidentally, ARK is close friends with Ranbir Kapoor and his live-in partner Katrina. Over the weekend, he was spotted bonding with them at their new sea-facing residence on Carter Road.

And earlier this year, during the football World Cup, RK Jr and his 'Yeh

Jawaani Hai Deewani' co-star Aditya even made it to Brazil for one of the preliminary matches.(TOI)

Shah Rukh Khan urges international Mannara : Haven't bagged 'Zid' filmmakers to experience Kolkata for being Priyanka's cousin

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ll keyed up for being present at the opening of the 20th Kolkata International film festival, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Monday urged Australian filmmaker Paul Cox and other international dignitaries to relish the experiences that Kolkata has to offer, including the variety of sweets.

Addressing a star-studded audience at the Netaji Indoor Stadium , SRK spoke in a decent smattering of Bengali, in keeping with his promise last year.

SRK, the brand ambassador of

Bengal and one of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's key goto-guy for inaugurating mega-scale events, regaled the audiences in his usual suave and sleek style.

This was his fourth opening ceremony of the KIFF which was graced by Australian filmmaker Cox and a host of foreign delegates.

Acknowledging Kolkata's joie-devivre as the "greatest celebration of life", he egged on Cox and others to try out the sweets like rosogolla, and chomchom before they leave the city.

"I request Paul Cox and the others... don't leave Kolkata without trying the rosogolla, chomchom etc.," he said, leaving the spectators delirious.

He reiterated the same in Bengali as a seemingly awestruck Cox looked on.

Shah Rukh also stressed the importance of cinema in bringing people together in a fast-changing world.

"Social networking, for example, allows you to interact with others without really interacting with others.

This is why cinema matters, because it brings people together in a single experience of life to which they relate collectively," he said.

And dedicating the KIFF to the "honest efforts of all involved", the actor said " there ought to be a feeling of celebration and happiness, a sharing of India, of life and its experiences" at the film fest. (TOI)

No one in B-town can match Pataudi's look, ...Saif Ali Khan

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ctor-producer Saif Ali Khan, who once showed his interest of making a biopic on his late father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, says the cricket star was so handsome that nobody can play his role.

"It's such a good story as he used to tell me such intersting things.

But, we can't make a

Bollywood film because if we put a song in this, he would curse me for this. Nobody can do his acting and he was so handsome that nobody can play his role," Saif told reporters in a group interview. "...I don't have too many footage. I have pictures and if you look at his black and white footage, you will know

why we are not making his film because he was so handsome," he added.

The 44-year-old is currently busy promoting his forthcoming film 'Happy Ending'.

Directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, the film also features Govinda, Kalki Koechlin and Ranvir Shorey. It is slated for Nov 21 release. (TOI)

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ollywood's new Chopra sister Mannara says she bagged the opportunity to star in upcoming film 'Zid' because of her own talent and not for her superstar cousin Priyanka.

Mannara, who was earlier known as Barbie Handa, said she did discuss about the project with Priyanka before taking the final call.

"I don't think anyone will give me a film just because I am Priyanka's sister. Till the time one goes for an audition, you cannot say anything. Last year I completed my Telegu film and during that time my mama (Priyanka's dad) was not well. I was auditioning for Hindi films.

"During that point of time while going to her house one day I told her about 'Zid' and mentioned that I am in the third stage of auditioning. She (Priyanka) asked me to go ahead," Mannara told reporters.

'Zid' is an upcoming erotic thriller film directed by 'Hate Story' helmer Vivek Agnihotri and produced by Anubhav Sinha. The film stars newbie actor Karanvir Sharma opposite Mannara.

"I was adamant to do a Hindi film and thus went on giving auditions.

Finally, through a casting director Nalini Ratnam, I got the film 'Zid'.

After that I met the director Vivek Agnihotri who gave me few tips about preparing for the role. To get this role I had to wait long," she said.

The actress said she is also close to her another actress cousin Parineeti.

"During vacations when we used to visit my nani's house in Ambala, I used to meet Parineeti there. It was a typical Punjabi family bonding. It was like a movie scene. A house inside the farm where we used to have so much fun. All of us used to sing together. We are 14 cousins and very closely knitted," she said.

Mannara, however, is not wary of the comparisons she will have to face with her actress cousins.

"There is so much competition in the industry, why should one take it inside the family. I am tense for my film's fate but not for the comparison with my sisters. I always have my own zone. Right now I am only worried about 'Zid'. The trailer has got a good feedback. It has crossed 2 million viewership," she said.

(TOI)

Veteran actress Tanuja discharged from hospital

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eteran actress Tanuja who was hospitalised Monday night after she complained of breathlessness, has been discharged, a doctor said.

"She complained of breathlessness. She has been discharged... she is fine now," Subir Mondal of Belle Vue Hospital told IANS Tuesday.

Tanuja attended the inaugural of the 20th Kolkata International Film Fest Monday.

During her speech she chose to sit down as she felt pain in her limbs. (TOI)

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

Joseph Gordon-Levitt to play Edward Jennifer Aniston loved playing Snowden in Oliver Stone flick dentist in 'Horrible Bosses 2'

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oseph Gordon-Levitt will be portraying Edward Snowden in the upcoming Oliver Stone project.

According to Variety magazine, reports regarding the 33-year-old 'Don Jon' star had come even before the actor was in negotiations had formally begun, and his confirmation to star in

the film comes in the wake of the recent documentary on Snowden titled 'CitizenFour.'

The movie, which is based on the two books documenting Snowden's well-known release of NSA documents, is anticipated to start production in Munich in January 2015. (TOI)

Jennifer Lawrence calls co-stars Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson her 'kittens'

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ennifer Lawrence praised her 'Hunger Games' costars Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson calling them her "angels" and "kittens."

During the premiere of 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One' in London recently, the 24-year-old Oscar winning star gushed about Hemsworth and Hutcherson, and even joked saying it was hard to act with her best mates pretending to be somebody else, Us magazine reported.

Lawrence added that she and Hutcherson could hardly complete their scenes, since it was tough to keep eye contact, and they couldn't even watch the movie together.

Hemsworth too had credited the star of being a good friend, saying that her honest and

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ctress Jennifer Aniston says she loved getting down and dirty in her forthcoming film 'Horrible Bosses 2'.

The 45-year-old will reprise her role as Julia, naughty-mouthed dentist who finds herself in a sexual addiction

support group in the film.

"She's a hard one to let go of. I didn't get enough of her! It was too quick. It was just like a little in-n-out burger," people.com quoted Aniston as saying.

The actress will reunite with costars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis and Jamie Foxx for the sequel.

She said she even found a certain comfort zone with her character's salty language and love of the double entendre.

"I find it extremely entertaining the way she speaks. I don't really think that to her she's saying anything inappropriate. For her it's describing the ingredients to a wonderful souffle (lightly baked cake made with egg yolks), or 'What are we going to be doing this weekend?'," she added.

Directed by Sean Anders, the comedy film will release on Nov 26. (TOI)

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humorous nature had helped him break out of his shell post split from

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ctress Keira Knightley says she likes to wear a hat to disguise herself when she goes out.

The 29-year-old confessed on ITV's show "Lorraine" that she enjoys sporting some headgear while stepping out

Miley Cyrus in 2013, and he felt much happier. (TOI)

with husband James Righton, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

When asked if she puts a hat on to disguise herself when she goes out, she replied: "Yep. That is exactly it, you can hide in a crowd quite easily. It's lovely. I love it. (We) can argue about who is doing the shopping. It's great."

Talking about her latest film "The Imitation Game", Knightley admitted that she wasn't as endeared to the cardigan and shoes that she had to wear for the film.

"It's all in the cardy (cardigan) and the shoes. The shoes were uncomfortable, that helped, and the cardy ... there's something about that really heavy, itchy knit."

"It was so thoroughly itchy. I suffered for my art, I suffered for my cardigan," she said. (TOI)

olores O'Riordan, lead singer of Irish rock band The Cranberries, was arrested in Dublin for allegedly attacking an air hostess during a transAtlantic flight from New York, the public RTE channel reported.

O'Riordan, 43, was detained at Dublin's Shannon airport at 5.30 a.m. on Monday after she landed on an Aer Lingus flight coming from New York.

The Garda (Irish police) confirmed that a woman in her forties had been detained on the plane and was taken to a nearby police station, where she would remain in custody for a maximum of 24 hours under Irish law.

came famous as The Cranberries' lead singer in the nineties with numbers like 'Zombie', "Dreams or Linger", and has sold more than 40 million records worldwide.

The Irish band dissolved in 2002, but got back together in 2012 to go on a world tour and release their last album, 'Roses'. (TOI)

Justin Bieber shells out over USD$80K to neighbour in egg attack case

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ustin Bieber has paid more than 80,000 dollars to his neighbour whose house he egged, progress on the terms of his sentence in the vandalism case.

However, the singer is yet to begin his community service or complete the majority of the anger management sessions ordered by a court, Gulf News reported.

Bieber, who was sentenced to perform five days of community service, complete 12 anger management sessions, and pay the hefty amount to repair damage to his neighbour's home in the egg-tossing incident, had paid the restitution in August, a month after he pleaded no contest to vandalism and was placed on two years of probation.(TOI)

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inger Christina Aguilera made her first red carpet appearance three months after giving birth to daughter at the 2014 Breakthrough Prize Awards.

The 'Let There Be Love' songstress was accompanied by her fiance Matt Rutler and wore a red figure-hugging dress, reported Ace showbiz.

She completed her looks by arranging her blonde hair in curls and donning a red lip colour.

The event, which was held at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, was hosted by Seth MacFarlane. Other celebrities including Cameron Diaz, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jon Hamm and Kate Beckinsale also attended the event. (TOI)

A police spokesman said a Garda agent had also been assaulted during the arrest.

Media said the air hostess was wounded in a foot and was taken to hospital to receive treatment and be examined, while the police agent did not require hospital care.

O'Riordan, who has three children, be-

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argot Robbie is reportedly going to play the role of Joker's girlfriend, Harley Quinn, in the upcoming film 'Suicide Squad.'

The rumours of the 24-year-old 'Wolf Of The Wall Street' star playing the sidekick to the supervillain, come after the reports that Jared Leto was to play the Joker in the film, the

Hollywood Reporter reported.

The character was introduced in 1992 TV cartoon 'Batman: The Animated Series,' and has been portrayed as a super-villain in her own right, who suffers countless abuses at the hands of her vicious beau. The Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment project has been slated to for a 2016 release.(TOI)

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WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

UK-based Guyanese Professor Jaipaul Singh

Award-winning investigative sciences expert conducts vital research to benefit homeland, wider world

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I N G S T O N , J A M A I C A : Reggae legend Bob Marley is listed at fifth among the highest-earning dead celebrities by Forbes magazine.

Marley, who died of cancer at age 36 in 1981, is said to have earned US$20 million year-to-date for his fifth place.

The list is topped

by King of Pop Michael Jackson, who is estimated to be raking in some US$140 million since the start of the year.

Elvis Presley took second place with US$55 million, cartoonist and comic strip creator Charles Schulz was third with US$40 million, and fourth was actress Elizabeth Taylor with US$25 million.

Forbes said it compiled the list by talking to estate managers, lawyers and licensors and analyzing estimated posthumous earnings between October 2013-14.

(Jamaica Observer) Reggae legend Bob Marley

Prof Singh (left) pays a visit to President Donald Ramotar to discuss his research

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: Recognised for his lifetime contribution to his work on diabetes by the University of Central Lancashire, UK, Professor Jaipaul Singh, or Prof Jai as he is known by his students and colleagues, is a champion of healthy living.

Prof Jai’s main research interest is on diabetes mellitus in both the heart and exocrine glands. He also has some interests on plant-based medicine to treat diabetes and cancers. He is particularly interested in the use of the green vegetable karela for the treatment of both diabetes and cancer. He currently holds a research grant with Dr Emanuel Cummings, from the University of Guyana, to find out what is the active ingredient(s) in karela which can kill different cancer cells, including those from the brain, breast, skin, lungs and several others.

Prof Jai is a strong believer in herbal remedy/medicine that can be easily grown in the backyard. Concerning his research on karela (bitter gourd/melon), commonly called “carilla” in Guyana, Prof Jai stated that if there is a potential agent found in the green vegetable to treat cancer it would be a momentous medical breakthrough. He pointed out that the research is currently ongoing at his university in the UK, which has the necessary equipment.

Since 2002, the professor revealed that he has been involved mainly with research and training of postgraduate research students in the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences and the School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences at the University of Central Lancashire. His duty as a Research Degree Tutor (RDT) involves recruitment, admission, and guiding the postgraduate students throughout their research degree career with the help of their specific supervisors. He is also responsible for all governance issues involve in research training, supervision, examination and successful completion.

Prof Jai also collaborates with several research laboratories nationally and internationally, especially in the USA, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, where he recruited most of his students.

Additionally, Prof Jai was appointed external examiner for the MBBS and BDs programmes at the University of Guyana. He has examined medical and dental students for over six years. He was also the examiner for the Medical and Dental Schools at Mount Hope Campus of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad.

Prof Jai, via his university and local hospital, donated books, computers and a CT scanner to UG and Georgetown Public Hospital.

Several of his senior colleagues, including his Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellor, Deans and other staff, visited the University of Guyana with the purpose of finding out what they can do to help improve UG’s programmes.

“The time has now come for the Government of Guyana to establish a Graduate Research School at the University of Guyana.

I firmly believe that the current Vice Chancellor of the university is doing an excellent job to build a very good institution, but he needs the full support from staff, students, the government and also the public,” the professor mentioned.

Aiming to develop his country of birth, Prof Jai is involved in bringing foreign investors to Guyana so that they can create jobs and help to improve the economy, health and education.

Prof Jai is married and has two adult children who are working and living in London. He and his wife, Aileen, enjoy spending time with their little granddaughter by the name of Evie.

Further information on his research, email Prof Jai at jsingh3@uclan.ac.uk or Google his name. (Excerpted from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Suresh Sookoo, CEO, RBC Financial (Caribbean) Ltd, left, chats with 15-year-old Warren Cassell of Montserrat, CEO of the Abella Group. Cassell was in Trinidad on an invitation from Laventille NGO Waby for a series of youth-focused engagements. At right is Warren’s father, Warren Cassell Snr

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: If you wanted to talk to Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, you could track down her office number and call her up for a chat.

Warren Cassell Jnr did just that when he decided to ask the famous businesswoman and heiress to be his mentor.

Although it took him more than a year to get Ivanka on the phone, she agreed to his request. But this should come as no surprise.

At just 15, Cassell, who visited TT recently for a number of speaking engagements, is already an experienced investor, author and entrepreneur from Montserrat. At eight, with a capital investment from his parents, he launched his own greeting-card and graphic-design company.

He then embarked on a number of other ventures including an application development firm and a Web hosting service provider. By

the time he was 13, he was already investing in companies and doing business with firms and clients all over the world.

His trip to Trinidad included several activities with the Laventille-based NGO We are Better Youth (Waby).

Waby and the Waby Says “YES!!!” programme cater to children between five and 16 and focuses on providing opportunities for young people from high-risk communities to develop entrepreneurial attitudes, skills and competencies.

While he was in Trinidad Cassell paid a courtesy call to outgoing RBC Caribbean Banking CEO, Suresh Sookoo. During their meeting Sookoo congratulated the youngster on his achievements and encouraged him to continue striving for excellence.

“You are a great inspiration to young people not just in TT, but throughout the Caribbean. In the Region we

are seeing that many young men are not living up to their full potential and it is very heartening to see someone, as young as you are, making a positive difference,” Sookoo said. “In the future we hope that you can work with the bank’s Young Leaders Programme because that is where we are making an investment in teenagers and equipping them to maximise their potential.”

This is what motivated him to accept Waby’s invitation to address scores of young people and share his thoughts on leadership and entrepreneurship.

But the workload does not deter him. He added, “Sometimes you have to have a ridiculous dream; something that people will think could never happen.

For me I see my success as a duty and not an option, so if I have to get up really early or go to bed late, I am willing to make the sacrifice. I am pushing.” (TT Guardian)

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Dead Poet Society One

Kaye Chong, Paul Brock to receive 2014 A tribute to Guyanese leadership awards Mahadai Das

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ROOKLYN, U N I T E D STATES: – Caribbean travel industry veteran Kaye Chong and African American communications legend Paul Brock will receive the 2014 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards next week in New York City.

Chong and Brock will receive their honors at an awards presentation during the second annual Evenings of Excellence series, sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn (12020 Flatlands Avenue, Brooklyn, New York).

Originally from Jamaica, the South Florida-based Chong is currently an account executive with Caribbean Airlines, while Brock, the founding executive director of the National Association of Black

Journalists (NABJ), credits his lifelong development to early beginnings in the US Virgin Islands where he started his broadcast career.

Chong, who has amassed awards, recognition and respect across the Caribbean Diaspora in the United States, serves as the U.S. focal point for special markets with Caribbean Airlines and has helped the airline cement solid relations with the Diaspora, multicultural as well as the faith travel markets.

Also the first president of the Black Public Relations Society, Brock began his journalism career in 1962 as a news reporter with WSTA radio, and then later at the CBS affiliate TV station WBNB, both in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. He has received many accolades and awards, including Man of the Year by Jet and Ebony Magazine in 1975, and Who’s Who in Black

Caribbean travel industry veteran Kaye Chong and African American communications legend Paul Brock

America from 1976 to 1992.

They will receive the award in recognition of their sterling commitment to the development and promotion of tourism in the Caribbean region.

In South Florida, last month, Caribbean television industry producer Lukkee Chong, and travel industry veteran Horace Hord received the first two of the four awards this year.

The event will feature a presentation by Caribbean author, economist and motivational speaker Zhivargo Laing,

who will address attendees under the theme: “Discovering the Power to Rise”.

Evenings of Excellence is sponsored

by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and supported by Anse Chastanet, Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx), Christian Cultural Center, Comfort Suites Paradise Island, Finn Partners, Marketplace Excellence, SENA Sales and Marketing, and the United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.

(Caribbean news)

Poet Mahadai Das By : Petamber Persaud

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : During rehearsals for ‘Expressions 3’ – a new forum for poetry, produced by Gem Madoo-Nascimento – a number of poems written by writers who have passed, came alive in the performances. One such poet was Mahadai Das, a promising writer cut down in the prime of her life.

Death could not silence her, a voice exploring debilitating ethnic and gender issues, a voice coming to grips with identities – Guyanese consciousness and Indian sensibility, but more importantly, a voice of anticipation and hope. A Leaf in his Ear: Selected Poems was published posthumously to celebrate a remarkable life, a project started with the poetess, before her death, discussing same with the Jeremy Poynting of Peepal Tree Press and in cooperation of one of the writer’s sisters. A Leaf in his Ear: Selected Poems remains effectively Mahadai Das for she left instructions on what the book must portray, a map of her struggles, her shortcomings and her triumphs, of her use of literature to lobby the cause of the marginalised, the subjugated and the disempowered.

Born in Eccles, East Bank of Demerara, Guyana, in 1954, Mahadai Das left her footprints in Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, lived for a number of years in the USA and died on 3 April 2003 in Barbados, where her mortal remains were laid to rest.

In 1972, she became part of the Messenger Group with Janet Naidu, Rooplall Monar and others. Later that same year, Das took part in the Caribbean Festival of Arts, Carifesta, held in Guyana. In October of 1973, she was crowned queen of Maha Sabha Dewali Jalsa. During

that same period, Das performed her poem in vernacular ‘Chile is who yuh foolin’ at the Theatre Guild as the Messenger Group staged a three-day celebration of the Coolie Art Forms.

Between 1973 and 1975, she was a significant part of the Guyana National Service, serving in its Cultural Division, burning with patriotic fervour and idealistic revolutionary imagination. This showed up in her first collection of poems, I Want to be a Poetess of my People (1976). This collection also traced her roots from indenture to independence and included her most performed poem ‘They Came In Ships’. Das’ second book of poems, My Finer Steal Will Grow (1982), is a better crafted work than her first.

In 1988, she published her most accomplished collection, Bones, confirming her individuality and her place as a top crafter of verse.

Her poems could be found in local journals like Kykoveral, and Kaie. While at Columbia University, she published in student magazines like Common Ground and Black Heights.

Mahadai Das was educated at Bishops’ High School in Georgetown before moving on to the University of Guyana and then the University of the West Indies.

She gained a BA in Philosophy at Columbia University and a MA in the same subject at the University of Chicago.

While awaiting her PhD candidature, she underwent open-heart surgery from which she never fully recovered, truncating her academic career in 1987.

Mahadai Das dyed her name in the country’s literary heritage because she was in that first ripple of women writers of Indian ancestry staking a claim to the word ‘Guyanese’.(Excerpted from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Hinds inaugural winner of Cran-Water 50-miler in Guyana

Big splash in sight - Jamaican diver Knight-Wisdom eyes Rio Olympics 2016

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Orville Hinds collects his winning prize

By Andrew Carmichael

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: Orville Hinds won the first edition of the Cran-Water 50 miler on Sunday which replaced the Island Mist 50 miler that started and ended outside of the Guyana Beverage Company, Palmyra Branch.

Hinds rode the race at a blistering pace stopping the clock at one hour 51mins and 59s (1:51:59).

Raynauth Jeffrey finished second while Robin Persaud was third. Paul de Nobrega finished fourth and Michael Anthony fifth.

Hinds together with Hamza Eastman, Jeffrey, Persaud, de Nobrega, Marlon Williams, Anthony and Christopher Holder started the race at a fever’s pitch to break into the from peloton.

With the other cyclist unable to follow, Hinds and Jeffrey made their move with Hinds sprinting home for the win.

Eastman and Jeffery each picked up two sprint point prizes while De Nobrega, Williams and Persaud each took one.

Anthony was also the first junior to cross finish line while Alanzo Ambrose

and Romello Crawford finished second and third respectively.

On the distaff side that started at the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus, Mercia Dick was the winner with Christine Matterson and Tashana Dorris taking second and third respectively.

Meanwhile Ray Millington who finished thirteenth was the first cyclist from the Flying Ace Cycle Club to cross the finih line. He was ahead of Elijah Bhajadder, Audrel Ross and Syborne Fernandez.

Prizes were also awarded to those four.

Country Manager of the Guyana Beverage Company Robert Selman said that he was pleasantly surprised that the race had thirty-four starters.

“This is the third year of this event and every year it is getting bigger,” he noted.

According to Selman next year he intends to have the company distribute the beverage along the rout of the race, “we want to add value to this because I see it growing.”

Apart from prize next year the company has promised to have a bicycle as the first prize. (Guyana Times)

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Following his historic fifth-place finish as the first Jamaican diver to compete at a Commonwealth Games, Yona Knight-Wisdom now has his sights set on making an even bigger splash as the first Jamaican diver to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016.

However, with the Olympic Games being some way off, KnightWisdom's current focus is on the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, next year as a development and preparation phase leading up to the World Championships which serves as an Olympic qualifier.

With a personal best of 423 points from six dives, the talented diver is already up among some of the best divers in the world, which places him in the hunt to secure one of the 34 diving spots for the big games.

Coached by Dutch World Champion, Edwin Jongejans, the 19-yearold diver, who is currently enrolled at Leeds Beckett University where he studies Sports Science, told the Jamaican media that he enjoys balancing training with his school assignments.

Born and raised in Leeds, England, KnightWisdom whose mother is a Barbadian and father Jamaican, had the choice of representing Barbados, England or

World Cup-chasing - TT women steal draw in Quito

Q

UITO, ECUADOR: Trinidad and Tobago Women kept their hopes alive of reaching next year's FIFA Women's World Cup when they frustrated hosts Ecuador in a goalless draw, in the first leg of the play-off tie on Saturday.

Neither team could find a way through over 90 minutes at the Atahualpa Stadium, leaving both sides with all to play for in the second leg in Port of Spain on December 2nd.

Head coach Randy Waldrum said he was pleased with his side's efforts.

"They were all just warriors out there today (Saturday). We came into this game wanting a positive result, to stay in the game as long as we could and we did everything for that to happen today(Saturday).

I'm extremely pleased with the way we kept it together out there," Waldrum said.

TT started the game strongly, dominating possession and using their pace to get beyond the Ecuadorian defenders. Despite this, they failed to get on the scoresheet as the hosts dropped deep and got bodies behind the ball.

Goalless at half-time, both teams con-

tinued their battle afterward with the hosts having the better of the exchanges.

Andrea Pesantes fired wide in the 49th-minute and Erika Vásquez, a 56thminute substitute, twice nearly punished TT after breaking down their backline.

With TT forced to defend, Pesantes fired over the crossbar in the 73rd minute and the pace picked up as the game neared an end, as TT fought back gallantly.

Waldrum said with TT heading back home for the second leg, the support of the home crowd would be crucial.

"We've got to now ensure that the focus remains and I'm sure it will because these girls are keeping their eyes firmly on the prize which is qualification for Canada," he pointed out.

"But we'll also ensure that we do things right because playing at home now is different to what we 've had in the recent part.

"I hope the supporters come out and back this team right down to the end. It's a great opportunity now for the folks back in Trinidad to really show their love and support for this team."(Jamaica Observer)

KNIGHT-WISDOM... I am just looking forward to put myself in the best situation that I can qualify for the Olympics. Jamaican diver Yona KnightWisdom gives an exhibition at the National Stadium pool on Wednesday.

Jamaica internationally. However, he opted to represent the latter as it gave him more funding and meant that he had a better chance of competing internationally because he didn't have to battle strong competition for a place in the Great Britain team.

Knight-Wisdom describes the feeling of being Jamaica's only representative as surreal.

"To be the one and only person representing the whole country, I haven't really got to grips with that yet. But definitely coming out here has made me appreciate that a little bit more and it will give me even more motivation to work hard and improve.

"It's great to go to events and wear a completely different kit to

what everyone else is wearing. Jamaican kits are the best there so they are looking at my kit and always asking me to swap kits.”

The six-foot threeinch tall athlete has been on the international scene ever since. He made his debut for Jamaica in 2012 when he competed at an international meeting in Dresden, Germany, where he made the finals in the three-metre event. He also made an appearance at the 19th FINA World Junior Championships in Adelaide, Australia in that same year, before becoming the first Jamaican diver to compete at a World Championship in 2013 when he participated in the one-metre springboard in Barcelona,

Spain.

He then took part in the World Cup in Shanghai, China earlier this year. But nothing made him feel more accomplished than his participation at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland back in July which was one of his life's ambitions.

"I really enjoy competing. We (competitors) all like to stay friends in diving, we support each other and that's one of the best parts of diving, the kind of family environment. Being among some of the best divers in the world was quite exciting for me and I want to improve year by year, and improve my score bit by bit leading up to 2016", he concluded.(Jamaica Observer)

30

sport

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014

Emrit replaces sacked Ramdin as TT captain

P

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Rayad Emrit has been officially named as captain of the Trinidad and Tobago cricket team, also known as the “Red Force” for the 20142015 Regional Four Day Tournament.

The 32-year-old Emrit replaced current West Indies Test team skipper Denesh Ramdin, while veteran middle-order batsman Jason Mohammed is fancied to be his deputy.

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) held a weekend retreat at the Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s and, on Saturday night, official-

Rayad Emrit (Espn file photo)

ly accepted the recommendation of the local selection pan-

el to ratify the appointment of Emrit as the captain.

The decision ended a week of controversy with the TTCB confirming, then denying, Ramdin’s declaration on Monday evening that he was stripped of the captain, on the basis of his perspective duties with the regional team for tours of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand between the months of December and March.

The “Red Force” will begin their Four Day campaign against Barbados at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair on Friday.

In related news, the Ramdin XI and the Mohammed

XI battled to a draw in the fourth and final trial match on Sunday, at the Oval.

The Ramdin XI closed Saturday’s first day on 311 runs for five wickets with Yannic Cariah unbeaten on 94, while fellow left-handers Justin Guillen (88), Nicholas Pooran (61) and Evin Lewis (22) all contributing.

Ramdin could only muster 15 while drafted player and ex-Guyana and West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan was dismissed for seven.

On Sunday, the Ramdin XI declared on 396/6 with Cariah unbeaten on 116 (248 minutes, seven fours, three sixes) while Bryan Charles was

JC lift inaugural LIME Super Cup with 2-0 win over 'Trinity'

K

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Jamaica College (JC) defeated Holy Trinity High 2-0 to lift the inaugural all-island LIME Super Cup trophy and pocketed a cool Ja$1 million at Sabina Park, on Saturday.

Donovan Degree rammed home in the 26th minute from just inside the box before Raffique Bryan tapped home from close range in the 44th minute.

JC, the defending allisland schoolboy champions, turned in a workman-like performance, defied the partisan crowd rooting for the underdogs and remained on course for the unprecedented four titles in one season.

The Miguel Coleycoached boys from Old Hope Road are also into the urban Walker Cup Knockout final against St George's College and the semi-finals of the Manning Cup. With both finalists guaranteed Ja$200,000, JC collected a further Ja$625,000 for winning the Super Cup final.

They had in the bank Ja$100,000 from their semi-final victory over St Elizabeth Technical High School and Ja$50,000 for their quarter-final win over Cornwall College.

With all 16 teams that qualified for the

at the other end on 24. Daron Cruickshank was dismissed for 51 (123 balls, five fours, one six).

For the Mohammed XI, left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein copped two wickets for 61 runs.

The Mohammed XI, at their turn at the crease, reached 159/5 when the game was called off, with Kjorn Ottley scoring 47, Vikash Mohan 35, Mohammed 34 and Mark Deyal 21. Hosein (14) and Imran Khan (nought) were the not out batsmen, while Charles, Cruickshank, Daniel St Clair, Strassark Sankar and Ricky Jaipaul got one wicket apiece. (TT Newsday)

Guyana fall to Suriname in final volleyball game

LIME’s Carlo Redwood (fourth left) poses with the winning Jamaica College team after presenting them with their symbolic Ja$1-million cheque.

LIME Super Cup receiving Ja$25,000, JC tallied a whopping $1 million, and deservedly so. Holy Trinity for the losing effort collected Ja$375,000 overall.

In front of a packed Sabina Park venue, JC went on the offensive quite early and never looked back.

The giant-killing act that many of the approximately 15,000 spectators were hoping to see, didn't materialise, as Holy Trinity's Cinderella run came to an end.

Last season's Manning Cup MVP Junior Flemmings, again led from in front al-

though he failed to score.

The skipper slipped by his marker on the touchline and his cross into the box was not dealt with properly by the Holy Trinity defenders, allowing Segree to fire home from 15 metres.

Flemmings, the former National Under-17 captain, turned provider once again, outpacing a defender and crossing for the arriving Bryan to send the JC supporters in a frenzy.

With time running out, Joel Sterling pounced on a long ball and rattled the crossbar in the 90th minute, the closest Holy Trinity came

to scoring.

But JC, like true champions, easily subdued the few Holy Trinity attacks late on for a facile victory.

Winning coach Coley was clearly a happy man.

"They rested some of their players, so we knew we were not as strong as they were so we wanted to get the job done from the first half, and we did that," he added.

"The experience and the character really showed. Defensively we were stout. Holy Trinity did a lot of things, especially in the middle, which was good for us as long as they weren't penetrating," he noted.

The entire JC squad collected their medals before LIME's Carlo Redwood presented the attractive-looking trophy to captain Flemmings, who lifted it above his head to loud cheers from his teammates and the JC supporters who stayed back for the presentation.

It was a well-deserved victory and could be the first of four titles for JC as they continue their onslaught on schoolboy football.

(Jamaica Observer)

Some of the action during the game between Guyana (black) and Suriname

G

EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Young Achievers playing as Guyana male A team fell in to Suriname in the final match of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) Tradewind Tankers International Club Festival on Sunday at the National Gymnasium.

Suriname attacked relentlessly during the game, giving the Guyanese men no easy points while scoring at will for a 3-0 win to dominate the match 25-13, 25-12 and 25-11.

Meanwhile in the final female game of the tournament, Suriname pulled off a thriller against French Guiana

to win the event 3-2.

Both teams played masterfully trading shots and points while showcasing excellent blocking during the game that enticed the crowd to cheer with every point scored.

Suriname took the first set at 28-26 while French Guiana took the second set 25-22. The Dutch speaking nation then answered with a 25-23 set win to go ahead 2-1 in the game.

However, the French did not quit as fatigue started to creep in on both sides with French Guiana prevailing 2522. Suriname was able to claim victory with a 25-18 final set. (Guyana Times)

sport

31

WEEK ENDING November 13, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

TT 200 athletes for CAC games

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Trinidad and Tobago would be represented by 200 athletes and this month’s Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) 2014 which will be held in Vera Cruz, Mexico from Friday to November 30.

At the 2010 CAC Games

in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, TT was represented by 235 athletes in 24 sports and returned with a medal haul of 34 medals, nine gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze.

George Bovell III, Cleopatra Borel, Roger Daniel and the women’s hockey team would return to

the games as gold medal winners and defending champions along with the 19 sporting disciplines and 9 team sports to qualified for the games.

Among the team, Olympic medallists Emmanuel Callender is expected to be a strong contender to win CAC

gold in the 100 and 200 metres, while sailor Andrew Lewis is keen to make a good showing in his quest to qualify for the Rio Olympics.

A team of female footballers would also travel to the games.

These games will be used as a qualifier for some sports

for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, and the Rio Janeiro 2016 Olympics.

For the first time at the CAC Games TT will be represented in Open Water swimming, a women’s basketball team and men and women rug by teams. (TT Newsday)

Bernard faults Jamaica’s team as poor shooting

P

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Netball Jamaica president Marva Bernard was left disappointed with the performance of the Sunshine Girls in the sixth Fast5 Netball Tournament held in Auckland, New Zealand, which ended on Sunday.

"The girls were very inconsistent throughout the championship," Bernard told the Jamaican media shortly after the team's arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport on Tuesday.

"I don't think that they played as they wanted against Australia and New Zealand.

The wins against Malawi and South Africa were expected, along with England, who came back and defeated us for third place," added Bernard, who headed the delegation Down

Members of the Sunshine Girls netball team upon their return at the Norman Manley International Airport on Tuesday

Under.

Jamaica finished the tournament with three victories and as many losses from their six games played over the two days to finish fourth, after being edged 31-30 in the bronzemedal play-off by England.

The Sunshine Girls started with a 13-34 loss to Australia

before recording 29-28 and 4520 victories over Malawi and South Africa, respectively, on day one.

Day two saw the Jamaicans losing 10-35 to New Zealand before clipping England 27-26 in a nail-biting finish to set up a third-place play-off against their arch-rivals.

New Zealand got the better of Australia 35-31 in the final, setting a record of three consecutive holds on the title, while South Africa finished in fifth place after beating Malawi 3022. All matches were played at the Vector Arena.

The Netball Jamaica boss also faulted the team's shooting in the tournament, though she hailed the girls for their fortitude.

But like Bernard, Reynolds also identified the team's shooting inaccuracy as an area of concern.

"It was our execution that was letting us down, as we were falling short in scoring the goals we needed. On most occasions we were playing catch-up and if we want to win games we need to score the goals and I thought that was the main reason for us placing

fourth."

Romelda Aiken was the tournament's leading shooter, while New Zealand's Laura Langman was named player of the tournament.

An unhappy Bernard declared that a lack of funds is what is keeping the sport from reaching its true potential.

"We all believed that the girls can beat both Australia and New Zealand, but we only get the chance to play them at major championships," she argued.

The top six netball nations — Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa and Malawi -- contested this short version of the sport.

The team now looks forward to the three-test series against England on January 10, 11 and 13. (Jamaica Observer)

GIFA launches non-profit entity in Guyana

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The Guyana International Football Association (GIFA) launched its non-profit organisation on Monday to aid in Guyana’s football.

The organisation which is

registered in New York, USA will aim to assist Guyana’s through a variety of ways according to a press release sent to Guyana Times Sport.

Further, GIFA shed some light on the lengths they will venture to in order to help

develop Guyana’s football with the following iniatiatives.

Creating a University to provide young footballers necessary skills both socially and academically, community outreach programmes, or-

ganising school tournaments and events, building a national football academy and much-needed footballing facilities and representing the needs of Guyanese players based abroad.

The Press release also

related that “we hope to be able to unite Guyanese fans across the world and help develop the quality of football in Guyana through effective marketing, management and delivery of the game in the country.” (Guyana Times)

Mohamed all set for Caribbean motor racing championships

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Leading all drivers in Group Three, Rameez Mohamed is ready for the heated action of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships set for Guyana at the South Dakota Circuit on Sunday.

All systems are a go for the Starlet Turbo driver, he related to Guyana Times Sport in a telephone interview.

“I’m finished all my preparations, I tested on Sunday and I’m set to do my final testing on Thursday, everything is

perfect and we are just trying different things to see how much power we can get,” Mohamed highlighted.

Further, the Group Three driver is extremely confident ahead of the event, “I’m 100 per cent confident, whatever we

Guyanese, Trinidadian cop awards at Hawaiian ... from back page

by expressing her congratulations to the entire team and stated she was delighted to be a part of the celebration.

“It is my pleasure to bring greetings to the Hawaiian Arctic Club on behalf of the Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and to congratulate you on your championship; your organisation has persevered in promoting cricket which is a sport that is near and dear to the hearts of all West Indians and continues to

be a unifying force in our region,” Tota-Maharaj related.

Sawh in her message also extended hearty congratulations to the club for another phenomenal outing and more so triumphing with the trophy for five consecutive years.

“The hard work and dedication of the players makes you excel year after year and is testimony to the good leadership and sportsmanship of the club; this year seems very exceptional as I read

the 17 successive victories a feat never accomplished in the 34 years history of SCA so on behalf of the Consulate and the wider Guyanese community we wish you best of look in the future too,” lauded Sawh.

President of SCA Deo Samaroo made his presence felt by capitalising on the opportunity to congratulate Hawaiian while his fellow executive and Treasurer Vish Jadunauth presented the winner’s trophy to the team.

had to do to get the car better, I think we did it and I don’t think there is anything left to do, we expect to do well,” he stated.

However, Mohamed is not taking his lead for granted, “The competition is very tight: there is a lot of competition and ev-

erybody is basically at the same level,” he revealed.

Mohamed conceded that the mid-season rule changes did affect him, but the skilful driver has refocused for the task at hand, “It did, but I am going out there and race with what I have and I

expect to perform well.”

Mohamed also thanked his sponsors, namely; Palm Court, BM Auto Sales and Spears, Prem’s Electrical, CARICOM Auto Sales and Truck Masters for their continued support.

(Guyana Times)

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

INTERNATIONAL WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Guyanese, Trinidadian cop awards at Hawaiian Arctic presentation

Wilson, Spicer double-up in Under-21 division

Aaron Wilson of Carenage Blasters (Usportt file photo)

P Team Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club celebrates with the trophy (Photo: Courtesy of Azad Khan)

By Ravendra Madholall

T

ORONTO, CANADA: Hawaiian Arctic Cricket Club is the undisputed king of Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Premier 50over championship and celebrated their fifth consecutive trophy with a presentation, Dinner and Dance held on Saturday evening at Forum Banquet Hall Conference Centre, Toronto.

Their participation for the past 19 years is also a testimony to the continued dedication and commitment as founder and current president Mohan Archie who was understandably jubilant having showered praises on his fellow colleagues.

His special guests Consul Generals of Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana in Toronto, Dr. Vidhya Tota-Maharaj and Sattie Sawh respectively also applauded the 5-peat and shared similar sentiments of Archie.

Archie was visibly overjoyed in his feature address as his team dominated proceedings from the commencement of this year’s edition winning 17 matches in succession and stated that the victory was “sweet!”

“A very pleasant evening to our distinguished guests, fellow executives, players, the victory is sweet! and welcome to another historic celebration of Hawaiian Arctic; first and foremost I must ex-

press my gratitude to our captain Hemnarine Chattergoon and his dedicated and disciplined league of players for ensuring an unprecedented five successive premier league titles, an accomplishment that will forever be cherished by many and serve as aspiration for the future generation of cricketers,” Archie explained.

He further mentioned that the team is proud of the achievement and thanked two other founding members, Iqbal Rahaman and Eon Gunraj for their unwavering devotion since the existence of the club and all those who played a pivotal role in sustaining this great reputation of Hawaiian. He believed the aim was to create history and they did it with great distinction once again.

All-rounder Zaheer Allard was voted as the Most Valuable Player for the club after he accumulated over 450 runs and took 26 wickets with his left-arm swing.

Harrienarine Chattergoon, the younger brother of Hemnarine, was given great recognition for his prolific run this year tallying up 568 runs including a magnificent double-century (268).

Left-arm spinner and Trinidadian Mahadeo Moonasar was rewarded for his outstanding season with the ball to be among the top three players having grabbed two six-wicket hauls.

They received special trophies and prizes, compliments of Axion

Millwrighting and Fabrication.

Hemnarine and former Guyana first-class opening batsman Krishna Arjune, batted his way to 169 in the preliminary round match, and also copped a trophy for the input.

Each player collected a Championship ruby ring for their performance in 2014. They had done the same in 2013, and Archie noted the guys certainly deserved the tangible souvenir as it will continue to motivate them. Other players who were awarded prizes included Reyad Sattaur, Azib Alli Haniff, Ravi Bodo, Shiv Shivram among others.

Meanwhile, Hemnarine spoke about the team’s unity and success pointing out that everyone played tremendous cricket and the occasion is organised to celebrate their efforts. He expressed thorough excitement to lead the team from the front.

“It was an honour to lead Hawaiian Arctic to their fifth championship in 5 years; firstly, I must say thanks to the every player from this amazing team and without the support this would not have been possible and secondly, it was very true that we stick together as a family and get the job done given the fact it was not an easy season,” the former Guyana and West Indies under-19 opening batsman declared.

Tota-Maharaj was very vocal continued on page 31

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Aaron Wilson of Carenage Blasters and Powergen’s Catherine Spicer were double winners in their respective Under-21 Division when the Solo National TableTennis Championship served off at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Chaguanas on the weekend.

In the Under-21 boys singles final, Wilson defeated main rival and University of TT ace player, Arun Roopnarine 11-5, 11-5, 11-9.

Earlier on in the semifinals, Wilson beat Sarvesh Mungal 11-7, 11-6, 11-7 and Roopnarine stopped Kourdell Powell 11-7, 11-9, 11-9.

And in the quarterfinals, Wilson ousted Davone Joseph 11-7, 11-7, 11-4; Roopnarine booted Daniel Clarke 11-4, 11-6, 11-5; Mungal dumped Lawrence Ince 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 and Powell rallied past Shaquille Mitchell 11-6, 15-13, 11-9.

Spicer also faced off with her main rival in Brittany Joseph of Arima Hawks and came away 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6 victorious in the Under-21 girls final.

This after Spicer beat UWI’s Ambika Sitram 11-5, 12-10, 11-9 and Joseph over Spin Jabberz’s Jevaune

Stewart 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 in their final-four clashes.

Wilson and Spicer then paired to get the better of Roopnarine and Joseph 11-7, 8-11, 115, 11-3 in the Under-21 Mixed Doubles final.

H o w e v e r , Roopnarine and Joseph partnered other players to win the boys and girls Under-21 doubles after topping their Under-18 singles category.

Roopnarine teamed up with Lawrence Ince to defeat Wilson and Keon Constantine 7-11, 10-12, 11-8, 117, 11-7 while Joseph and Gyshan Latchman stopped Spicer and Ambika Sitram 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4.

Roopnarine had earlier claimed the Under-18 singles crown over Wilson 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 12-10.

In the semis, Roopnarine beat Luc O’Young 11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 11-4 and Wilson booted Mungal (S) 11-1, 11-5, 11-9.

And Joseph, also had much better fortune in the Under-18 girls championship match, via an 11-7, 10-12, 118, 11-8 win over Gyshan Latchman.

Joseph reached the final after beating Jevaune Stewart 11-3, 11-2, 11-1 and Lutchman rallied past Anjana Valsalan 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8. (TT Guardian)

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