Caribbean Times International

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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ISSUE NO. 129

CANADA EDITION

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WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

TCCF proud recipient of 2014 Herbie Fund’s Mistletoe Award

See story on page 2

Guyana’s high growth rate raising investor interest

Page 10

PNP again!

Jamaica’s ruling party wins Central Westmoreland By-election Page 11

To the season of joy and goodwill!

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar & families kicked off the holiday season with a celebration and toy drive on Sunday at the Larry Gomes Stadium in POS (photo taken from PM Facebook page)

Jubilant PNP supporters in Central Westmoreland celebrate their party’s victory in Monday’s by-election (Jamaica Observer)

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NEWS

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

TCCF proud recipient of 2014 Herbie Fund’s Mistletoe Award

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O R O N T O , CANADA: This year as The Herbie Fund celebrates its 35th anniversary, The Caribbean Children Foundation (TCCF) was the proud recipient of the 2014 Mistletoe Ball Spirit Award. Mr. Paul Godfrey, Honorary Chair of The Herbie Fund presented the award to Mr. Jay Brijpaul, president of The Caribbean Children Foundation at their annual Mistletoe Ball last Saturday held at Ritz Carlton in Toronto.

TCCF was founded in 2000 to address the needs of children from the Caribbean that do not have access to adequate health care to treat their illness or condition. TCCF raised over

Mr. Jay Brijpaul making his acceptance speech after receiving the 2014 Mistletoe Ball Spirit Award. From left are Mr. Krishna Brijpaul, Mr. Vic Ramsamujh, Mr. Jay Brijpaul, Mr. Kumar Singh and Mr. Raynier Maharaj

Cdn$1,300,000 since its inception and has assisted 68 children from the

Caribbean receive the health care they need and deserve. Many of

the children have come to SickKids through The Herbie Fund. TCCF con-

tinues to be dedicated supporters of the incredible work done by SickKids and The Herbie Fund.

The mission of the Herbie Fund is to bring children from around the world to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) for life saving or life altering surgeries; surgeries that are not available to them in their home countries because of high cost and lack of medical expertise.

The Herbie Fund was established in 1979 at SickKids by Paul and Gina Godfrey in response to the needs of Herbie Quinones and children like him from around the world. Herbie, a seven month old baby from Brooklyn, New York was

born with a rare birth defect that made it difficult to breathe while eating.

SickKids had pioneered an innovative procedure that could help heal him, but Herbie’s family could not afford the flight to Toronto or the Surgery.

Paul and Gina Godfrey initiated a fund raising campaign to bring Herbie to SickKids, creating the foundation for what would become “The Herbie Fund” To date The Herbie Fund has helped over 750 kids from 106 countries around the world.

SickKids has offered these children and their families, world class medical assistance, something they could not have received in their country of birth.

“We will only talk when Parliament reconvenes” - Granger

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Leader of the Opposition, David Granger has formally rejected an invitation to have dialogue with President Donald Ramotar on the way forward following the prorogation of Parliament.

In his response, Granger said to the President that the Opposition was not willing to engage in dialogue with the Executive outside of the National Assembly.

Granger made the announcement on Tuesday outside the Office of the

President on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, during A Partnership for National Unity’s weekly anti-prorogation protests. The Opposition Leader told reporters: “A Partnership for National Unity will not be prepared to enter into the dialogue that the

Guyana’s leader of the Opposition, David Granger

President proposed until Parliament is reconvened. So he now has an answer and our answer is quite clear; there will be no dialogue until and unless Parliament is reconvened.”

Granger maintained that it was quite reasonable to refuse to engage the President, given the fact that a minority government suspended a majority-controlled National Assembly. “We are still prepared to talk once Parliament reconvenes. What happens in Parliament is another matter,” said Granger.

Granger made it clear that should the President name a date for elections, the APNU coalition was ready to go to the polls. “If he wants election, let us proceed; let him hear how angry the people are at what has happened under his administration for the last three years,” the Opposition Leader said.

While the APNU has been taking to the streets every Tuesday for the past couple of months, one of the parties within the coalition has said that there needed to be a stronger presence.

The Working People’s

Alliance (WPA) has complained that the protest actions are not seeing the support that it should have. The party also argued that there was need for a definitive game plan on the part of the APNU in its anti-prorogation campaign.

But Granger was insistent that the party had a game plan. When questioned by this publicatiuon about the “game plan”, the APNU leader remarked “we have a definite game plan”, but “we will not disclose that game plan to the Guyana Times”.

According to the Opposition Leader, the current protest actions are being conducted in the interests of the entire coalition and not in accordance with the whims of any single party.

WPA Leader, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine told reporters that the party still thinks the protest actions are inadequate. He told reporters during the protest that “we wanted to see something more robust”, adding that “we would like to see for instance, action in the villages”.

Roopnaraine explained that thus far all of the protest actions have been centred in Georgetown, but there was ample need and opportunity for there to be action in the villages.

When asked about the game plan, Roopnaraine flat out stated that the WPA has not seen any definite plan of action from the APNU. He said “that is something that we continue to believe is required”, adding that there was need

for the activities to be upped in order to get any mindful response from the government. “The AFC [Alliance For Change], the Opposition’s junior partner that initiated the No-Confidence Motion which precipitated the prorogation move by the government to thwart the vote for early elections, has been so far conspicuously absent from the firing line, except for a guest appearance at the APNU rally of November 14.

Momentum is being lost and reaction to the government’s derailing of the No-Confidence Motion appears to be protest in slow motion,” said the WPA in a release over the weekend.

The WPA is of the view that there was need for a more “vigorous campaign by the Opposition against the prolongation of the proroguing of Parliament”.

But PPP/C says that this call for vigorous campaigning is being seen as inciting violence on the part of the WPA. At a press conference on Monday, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee said the party was not unmindful of the “inciting of violence by the WPA”.

Rohee said that by calling for intensified protest action, the WPA was “desperately trying to ride on the back of the APNU in an effort not to become obsolete”.

According to Rohee, it would seem that the WPA has learnt nothing from its past “reckless and adventuristic” behaviour that caused it to fade into the political background over time.

(Guyana Times)

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EDITORIAL

The University of Guyana campus as twilight fell (Carl Croker photo)

National Youth Policy Go meatless! Urges Professor at University of Southern Caribbean

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he nation was once again promised that the National Youth Policy, which was supposed to be finalized some years ago, would be implemented soon. In an interview with this publication, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony, confirmed that the United Nations has agreed to fund the programme, and the Ministry was now waiting on the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) to finalise the process.

This is indeed good news, not only for Guyanese youth, but for all citizens. Certainly, when there are avenues being created for youth advancement, both at the community and national levels, it becomes easier for young people to become more progressive and forward thinking.

This newspaper has made calls for a National Youth Policy to be implemented, as such a facility was important for the interests of youths to be advanced. The world is facing many often overlapping crises, including financial, security, environmental, and other socio-economic challenges hindering the achievement of the internationally-agreed development goals.

Investing in and partnering with youth is key to addressing these challenges in a sustainable manner. The international community has placed a lot of emphasis on youth development and empowerment, and has been working with national governments to ensure that policies are designed and implemented in this regard.

Youth should be given a chance to play an active role in the decision-making at local, national and global levels. Progressive countries in the world have strong systems for engaging youth in policy formation and in creating or altering programmes designed to support youth.

One of the most effective ways to create a sense of belonging and give youth a voice is through national and local youth councils which aim to create platforms for young people to discuss and debate relevant issues and influence policy decisions. The National Youth Policy would seek to create a framework where such engagement could take place.

It is perhaps the missing link between the state of hopelessness that is hovering over young people and their ability to make more meaningful contributions to the growth and development of Guyana.

We are very pleased that the issue is once again engaging the minds of the policy makers; and it is hoped that this time around, the authorities will take all the necessary steps to ensure that there is no further delays in ensuring the process comes to finality.

The aim of the National Youth Policy is to respond to the challenges facing young people in Guyana, while creating opportunities for them to further transform their lives through equitable access to education, housing, health services, and economic opportunities.

The Policy will be complemented by a strategic implementation plan, inclusive of a monitoring and evaluation framework that identifies clear activities, actions, goals, and timelines.

Many persons have contended that the delayed release of the Policy and similar situations jeopardise the outstanding work done by the Government over the last 22 years to advance the interests of youth in the areas of health, education and sport. It also sends the wrong message to young people, who have been eagerly awaiting the impact of Government policy that would have emanated from their direct input.

That aside, this newspaper has taken note of the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry staging its first youth award ceremony to recognise outstanding contributions made by individuals and organisations as it relates to youth work. We applaud this initiative and call for this event to be an annual one.

Initiatives such as these, would seek, not only seek to award persons and organizations for the excellent work they are doing in making a difference in the lives of young people here, but will serve to motivate others to get involved in creating an environment where we can raise more responsible, educated and well-rounded young people.

Guyana must therefore take the necessary steps and join with other progressive countries in implementing an effective National Youth Policy that would seek to advance the interest of its younger population.

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Imagine being served a meal without a piece of fried chicken, baked fish or meat. For some persons the thought of a meatless diet may perhaps be out of reach; while others might just say “I can try it for at least a day or two.” Whether their decision is perhaps based on preference, health benefits, economics, philosophical concerns, religious affiliation, peers or family members; whatever the case, veggie foods are nutritious and can aid in the maintenance of health.

A vegetarian diet consists mainly of plant foods and in some cases, a few animal products like milk, cheese, yogurt and eggs can be incorporated, according to the type of diet a person selects. Therefore, you will find that animal foods such as meat, poultry (chicken, turkey), and fish are excluded from the meal plan of vegetarians.

For the purpose of this article, a brief overview of some vegetarian diets indicates the following: Lacto-vegetarian — one who consumes milk and milk products, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables; meat and meat products, chicken, turkey, and fish are excluded from their meal plan.

Lacto-ovo-vegetarian — added to the menu are eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, peas and beans, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. Meat and meat products, chicken, turkey and fish are omitted from the diet.

Vegan (strict vegetarian) — the diet consists mainly of plant foods and its products like peas and beans, tofu, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables, almond milk, soy milk and soy yogurt, just to list a few; all animal foods are excluded.

Now that you have basic nutrition information about veggie diets, some individuals might conclude that the nutritional quality of the diet is perhaps affected or lower due to the following food choices. Moreover, the big question that lingers at times is “what happens to the protein, will I get enough?”

Protein is a macronutrient needed by the body in adequate amount.

Its role is rather critical; for example, protein is required for growth, repair and maintenance of tissues — forming an integral part of most body tissues providing strength and shape to skin, tendons, membranes, muscles, organs and bones; aids in the formation of enzymes, hormones, and antibodies; acts as a transporter for fats, vitamins, minerals, and oxygen; helps to maintain the acid-base balance in the body by acting as a buffer; participate in fluid balance by maintaining the volume and the composition of most body fluids; and can be used as a secondary source of energy when required by the body.

Points to note: The building blocks referred to as amino acids make up protein. The human body can synthesise amino acids that are called non-essential amino acids. However, the body also needs other amino acids referred to as essential amino acids which must come from our diet.

Good sources of protein include meat and meat products, fish (salmon, mackerel, cavalli, tuna, and sardines) chicken, turkey, eggs, milk, cheese, and yogurt. These foods contain all the essential amino acids or “what is referred to as complete protein.” Whereas plant foods such as lentil peas, pigeon peas, kidney beans, channa, pink beans and others contain “incomplete protein,” meaning that they lack one or more of the essential amino acids.

How can one get complete protein from a veggie meal, you might ask? This can be obtain by simply putting two plant foods together which is referred to as “complementary proteins”; for example peanut butter sandwich, pigeon peas pelau, lentil peas and rice, coconut bake and red bean patty, and dhalpuri roti w/curry channa and potato are some dishes you can add to a vegetarian menu. Here you see that you can still enjoy your meals, and get adequate nutrition even if a vegetarian diet is selected.

Furthermore, the American Dietetic Association (2009) documented that appropriately planned vegetarian diets including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritional-

ly adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. The vegetarian diets that are well-balanced are considered to be appropriate for individuals during all the stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and also for athletes.

Changing to a vegetarian diet

For some persons it might be easy to totally omit meat and meat products, fish, chicken, and turkey from their meal plan, but for others this move can be rather difficult. However, if you are considering a vegetarian diet, consider making the change gradually instead of doing it all at once. Since, the goal is to remain healthy, and obtain adequate nutrition while consuming a plant-based diet. Your diet can consist of whole grains and whole grain products, legumes, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds that form the foundation of the veggie diet. These foods will provide vitamins, minerals, protein, complex carbohydrate, fat (nuts, avocado, and peanut butter), dietary fibre, antioxidants and phytochemicals.

A few tips you may wish to consider…

1. Plan well-balanced meals using local produce, and the Caribbean Food Groups. You may also include local foods such as ground provision, plantains, green banana, and breadfruit in your meal plan.

2. Limit consumption of foods high in fat, salt, and sugar.

Note: Although you may change to vegetarian diet, you should control your caloric intake, by selecting foods of a lower fat content, and using methods of cooking such as baking, roasting, steaming, grilling, and boiling.

3. Try new vegetarian recipes.

4. Make some time during grocery shopping to read the food label.

5. Incorporate the vegetarian foods that you like into your meal plan; think of variety.

Reference (1. Journal of the American Dietetic Association: Position of the American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets.

July 2009, Vol. 109, No. 7, pages 1266-82.)

News WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

Guyana’s ruling party pledges unwavering support for Amerindians

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has pledged its unwavering support to Amerindians even as it accuses the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) of reducing them to “second-class citizens”.

Speaking at his weekly press conference at Freedom House on Monday, PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee wasted no time in lashing out at the PNCR and by extension the Opposition over what he described as its blatant disregard for the indigenous population.

Rohee said the PNCR, through the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has seen it fit to denounce moves by the General Register Office (GRO) to equip Amerindians within the hinterland with birth certificates.

According to him, the Opposition is attempting to disenfranchise the Amerindians; an attempt, he stressed, which must be condemned. He explained that the acquisition of a birth certificate is key for Guyanese

to be registered on the list of electors. “This is a right that the PPP has always advocated in an effort to preserve the constitutional right of eligible Guyanese. With regards to Amerindians, our party has fought for their right to be heard and for them to vote, like every other citizen,” he added.

Rohee said it must be recalled that it was the PPP/C that worked relentlessly to remove the stigma of Amerindians being called second-class citizens, something that was encouraged under the PNC Administration.

He added that the PNC remains bent on marginalising the indigenous population, pointing out that it was the APNU with the support of the Alliance For Change (AFC) that voted down financial support for Amerindians during the consideration of the National Budget. The Opposition had used its majority in the National Assembly to disapprove the Gy$1.1 billion budgeted for Amerindian Development. This move was viewed as highly outrageous and unconscionable.

Rohee warned that the

PPP/C will never sit idly by while the Opposition attempts to dehumanise Guyanese, in particular Amerindians, through its irrational decisions on human and social development.

“PPP would never sit idly by and allow the PNC/APNU to dehumanise and stigmatise any citizen. Amerindians must rest assure that the PPP would continue to work in the best interest of the Amerindian people.”

Though the indigenous population was “battered” under the PNC regime, Rohee said significant progress has been made over the years to raise the standard of living of the first people, a process that is still ongoing.

The General Secretary maintained that Amerindians have always been seen as hard-working Guyanese who have undoubtedly gained the respect of the PPP/C. “I have tremendous respect for them and that respect is there because I grow up in a party that has always had tremendous respect for the indigenous people of this country,” he added.(Guyana Times)

SSL sets up Leadership Operating Team - move designed to help Jamaicans, says Croskery

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Stocks and Securities Limited’s recently established Leadership Operating Team (from left): Noel Harty, Jonathon Khoury, Lamar Harris, Mark Croskery, Aldrick Guthrie, and Ryan Stracha

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) says it has created a unique structure in the company hierarchy with the establishment of a Leadership Operating Team which President and CEO Mark Croskery believes sets the company apart from others.

The Leadership Operating Team, the company explained in a news release, differs from its board of directors, and comprises highly qualified and experienced individuals in the legal and financial sectors who will be responsible for overseeing various aspects of SSL's services.

"SSL is a company that provides a wide array of products," the news release quotes Croskery.

"We found it imperative to place a leader at the helm of respective operating services for the benefit of our clients."

He said that the Jamaican workforce has no shortage of bright, experienced, and entrepreneurial-minded individuals, who can take responsibility as leaders of their own specialities within companies.

"Our consumers will benefit tremendously from this, as there won't be an overlapping of the service providers, ensuring an even more person-

alised customer service experience and execution," Croskery said.

The Leadership Operating Team comprises Lamar Harris, Jonathon Khoury, Ryan Strachan, Noel Harty and Aldrick Guthrie.

The company said that in addition to the establishment of the Leadership Operating Team, it recently opened Dolla Financial Services Limited, a subsidiary firm which provides cambio and remittance services.

The company is also set to open financial kiosks at the Mega Mart branches in Montego Bay and Kingston. (Jamaica Observer)

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1,015 Trinbagonians pick fruit in Canada P O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Labour Minister Errol Mc Leod has revealed that 1,015 nationals from Trinidad and Tobago went to Ontario and Alberta in Canada this year to pick fruits and vegetables as part of the Caricom Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme.

He spoke last Monday night at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s, at the launch of talks among stakeholders namely Canadian farmers and officials from the governments of Canada and several Caribbean nations including TT, Jamaica and Barbados.

He hailed it as a successful temporary bilateral worker programme using managed migration, that mitigates against the scourge of forced labour and human trafficking.

“We are committed to continuing to work nationally to promote the programme, regionally with our Caribbean colleagues to strengthen participation, and with our colleagues in Canada to further enhance this bilateral relationship between the public and private sectors,” Mc Leod said.

“At a time when the global jobs deficit is estimated at 200 million and workplaces are being transformed and new skills required, a sound programme which matches skills with job opportunities and promotes decent work, prosperity and entrepreneurship, is indeed in the interest of us all.”

Mc Leod said the

Labour Minister Errol Mc Leod

few days of talks would address issues such as wages, health and safety matters, employment agreements, and policy and operational aspects. “The mechanisms of this programme which have stood the test of time, have promoted coherence and dialogue at the international level, resulting in fair, equitable and non-discriminatory conditions,” he added.

The Commonwealth Caribbean Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (CCSAWP) has run since 1967 to help mitigate shortages of workers at Canadian farms at harvesting and planting times, while giving temporary employment opportunities to TT nationals. Also speaking was Ministry of Labour consultant, Anthony Sanchez; TT diplomat in Canada, Gaston Thongs; Jamaica Ministry of Labour permanent secre-

tary, Alvin Mc Intosh; Barbados Ministry of Labour permanent secretary, Yolande Howard; Alexis Conrad of Employment Social Development Canada; Canadian farmer’s representative, Ken Forth; and St Lucia ministry of labour consultant, Winall Joshua. Howard said many Bajans had built homes and educated their children by working in the programme.

Forth who revealed that this year some 8,145 Caribbean persons had worked in the scheme, which continues to grow slowly, helping mitigate the effects of Canada’s aging population, Forth said that while Caribbean workers earn an income and Canadian farmers build their businesses, another key result of the programme that is often overlooked is that it helps to supply food-crops to feed thousands of people. (TT Newsday)

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News

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

TT$500 pension increase in New Year

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, T R I N I D A D : Christmas will come a little later than initially planned for 84,720 pensioners as the TT$500 increase in pensions announced in September by Finance and Economy Minister Larry Howai — which was due to take effect since October— will take effect from January 1, 2015.

However, pensioners will be paid arrears due from the October date.

The Ministry of the People and Social Development on Tuesday announced the implementation of the new pensions.

“The Ministry of the People and Social Development wishes to advise that the $500 increase to the Senior Citizens’ Pension, announced by Finance Minister Larry Howai in the 2014-2015 budget will take effect from January 1, 2015,” the Ministry said in a media release. “The new schedule of payments came into force on October 1, 2014,” the ministry said. “Accordingly, arrears of payments will also be paid in the month of January 2015 for those persons who qualify for same.” The ministry ended its statement saying, “The

Ministry of the People and Social Development continues to enhance the quality of life for older persons throughout Trinidad and Tobago by providing an enabling environment for their continued development.”

In the September Budget presentation, Howai said, “I propose to continue the process of facilitating the ease of living for our senior citizens. With effect from October 1, 2014, the senior citizens pension will be increased by TT$500 per month to TT$3,500 per month.”

Howai further stated, “the senior citizens pension will now be adjusted with the receipt of other pensions with a cap of TT$4,500.”

The measures were estimated to cost an additional TT$200 million.

Contacted on Tuesday, Minister in the Ministry of the People and Social Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin said the reason the increase was not implemented in October was due to the need to upgrade the system of cheque disbursal as well as pending approval of the legislature.

The Minister said the delay was not related to concerns over the fallen

oil price upon which the Budget was pegged.

“That was not a part of that consideration,” Alleyne-Toppin said. “The money has already been allocated to carry those budget changes.”

Howai said, “The pension will be retroactive to October. I am advised that the delay is because the Ministry of the People had to put the administrative arrangements in place to effect the payment. The new payment also required some coordination with the NIB which prepares the cheques on behalf of the Ministry of the People.”

Of the increase, AlleyneToppin stated, “We always must remember that given inflation there will be increased prices and we have a larger aged population now so there is more need for care and consideration.”

Assistant Secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Retired Persons (TTARP), Paul Goddard Wednesday said, “Whenever it comes it’s alright with me. I am one of those. I sort of expected that because I have been through those kinds of things before. I only depend on what I have.” (TT Newsday)

Guyana’s Opposition MP: Can’t let “morals” affect client’s case -defence of Gy$300M drug smuggler…

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) legislator James Bond on Tuesday defended his defence of a convicted drug trafficker amid criticism that his action has contradicted the stance being taken by his party.

Bond has come under fire for helping free Leonardo Bacchus a confessed cocaine trafficker, who was granted a suspended sentence for attempting to traffic some Gy$300 million in cocaine.

Bond told Guyana Times that he was a lawyer and it was thus his job to defend his clients to the best of his ability no matter their alleged crime.

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) last Thursday said APNU should practice what they preached with regard to the issue of drug trafficking. The party stated that Bond’s defending of the guilty Bacchus was quite disingenuous because though he was a lawyer, he was also a member of APNU and thus was representing the party in such a case as well.

However, retired Brigadier David Granger, Leader of APNU, indicated his support for the parliamentarian as he had not done anything untoward to harm the image of the party. He said that the parliamentarian had maintained the relevant code of conduct for a parliamentarian and an APNU member.

Bond, in a bid to defend his representation of Bacchus, told this publication that he was not the defending lawyer in the case initially. He explained that of the two original lawyers, one died and the other dropped the case

for unknown reasons. He said he became Bacchus’ lawyer only a month ago when his family approached him to present the litigation on the contravention of the defendant’s constitutional rights to a speedy trial.

Bond said if the charges changed or the defendant pleaded guilty, it did not affect that lawyer-client relationship, as the lawyer was still obligated to ensure his client was given a fair trial with a firm defence. This obligation lawyers have towards their client is codified within the Legal Practitioners Act, according to Attorney Bond.

The Oath in section 10 of the act states that “I, A.B., do swear (or solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm) that I will well and truly serve the people of Guyana according to the best of my learning and knowledge in the law, and I will truly counsel and advise them that retain me according to the best of my skill, and I will not defer, protract, or delay their causes willingly for lucre or hope of reward.” Bond said “I can’t let my religion, morals… affect my client’s case.”

The Attorney said that he will defend anyone charged with murder, manslaughter, robbery, drug possession or any other crime because they deserve a fair trial as everyone else.

He said that he did not agree with his clients’ actions in quite a number of cases, but “the law rather a thousand men go free than one innocent man go to jail”. The attorney posited that the law condemns persons who are guilty, not those who are yet to be proven so.(Guyana Times)

News WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

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Dr Ganga sworn in as Guyana’s Central Bank Governor

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : President Donald Ramotar swore in Dr Gobind Ganga as the Governor of the Bank of Guyana on Tuesday, and the new Deputy Governor received his letter of appointment.

This appointment comes seven months after Dr Ganga was appointed as the Acting Governor on May 8 following the passing of then Governor Lawrence Williams.

As he handed over the letter of appointment to Dr Ganga, the President urged him to execute his mandate professionally.

Addressing the press at the Office of the President shortly after being sworn in, Dr Ganga pledged to propel the business of the bank. According to him, major emphasis will con-

President Donald Ramotar flanked by the Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga and Deputy Governor Leslie Glen in the presence of Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and Junior Finance Minister Bishop Juan Edghill

tinue to be placed on the sustainability of the country’s economy.

“I will ensure that there is a very efficient payment system in place and a

payment system that we all can be proud of … We will also ensure that the economy remains robust, because we are also a part of the economy, but obvi-

ously that will need the cooperation and assistance of a number of players in the sector,” he stated.

Dr Ganga, who has a doctorate in Economics, has

been working at the Bank of Guyana for 19 years. In 1995, he was appointed Director of the Research Department before taking up the position of Alternate Executive Director at the World Bank in 2003. In June 2005, he was appointed Deputy Governor.

Dr Ganga has a wealth of central banking experience. He has written and published many articles on a wide variety of economic issues, including Monetary Policy and Macroeconomics.

Additionally, he served as an Economics lecturer at the University of West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica; an adjunct professor at the Consortium Graduate School at Mona; and a Senior Researcher/ Senior Lecturer at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

With Dr Ganga being appointed Governor, Leslie Glen has been promoted to the post of Deputy Governor. He received his letter of appointment from Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh.

Glen has been employed at the Bank of Guyana for 34 years. His career at the financial institution commenced in 1980 as an economist. By 1984, he was promoted to the position of senior economist within the Bank before several other promotions. Notably, from the period 1995-2005, he served as the Director of Operations before being appointed Banking Manager, a position he held until Tuesday.

The relatives and friends of Dr Ganga and Glen were present at the swearing-in ceremony.

(Guyana Times)

Jamaican Cops arrest man for taking their photo

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ROWN'S TOWN, ST ANN: Errol Nisbeth, an information technology professional and founder of the St Ann 360 advocacy group which operates a website and Facebook page that highlight happenings in the parish, said he was recently arrested after taking a photograph of a group of policemen talking to a handcart vendor in this town.

Nisbeth said that on Saturday, November 22 he was in the town, where he has lived for several years, when the police who were carrying out their duties 'caught his eyes' and he decided to take a photograph for his page. However, immediately after taking the photograph with his cellphone one of the police-

men demanded that it be deleted.

"One of the policemen walk over to me and ask if mi just take a picture," Nisbeth recalled. He said he answered in the affirmative and asked if it was illegal to do so. "Hey bwoy, delete mi picture out a yuh phone," was the response of the policeman. Nisbeth said by then he had started to record the exchange on the same phone. He was subsequently searched, apparently for weapons, placed in a police vehicle and whisked away to the police station.

"When I reached to the police station they handcuffed my hands to an overhead shelf," he said, adding that he was kept in that position for about three hours after which he was granted bail

on a charge of 'obstruction of justice'.

Nisbeth told the Jamaican media that the policeman told others at the station that he was taking a photograph of them while they were carrying out an operation. A policeman at the station, he said, told him that: 'Bwoy yuh out of order fi a take picture a police'.

Nisbeth, who had his cellphone in his pocket, said he continued recording when the policeman who had requested that the photograph be deleted again made the demand at the station.

"Him delete the picture and my other documents," Nisbeth claimed.

However, he said that he was able to retrieve the images after he was released on bail.

Nisbeth said his wal-

Canadian couple on gun, ammo charges get bail

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: A Canadian woman and her husband who spent the past five days in custody were each granted TT$120,000 bail on Monday on arms and ammunition charges.

Andrea Hansen, 53, a programme assistant at Corporate Health Environmental and Safety Solutions, and her husband, Simon Alexander, 59, a labourer, both re-appeared before San Fernando Magistrate Natalie Diop in the San Fernando court on Monday.

They were arrested last week Wednesday at Royal Road, San Fernando, after a revolver and five rounds of ammunition were allegedly found in their possession. They were charged by PC Bacchus.

The couple first appeared in court on Thursday, but were remanded into custody for tracing to determine if they ever had other matters in court.

Court prosecutor Sgt Gordon

Maharaj said a name check was done since the fingerprint results were not ready and nothing was found on record. Their attorney Annalee Girwar said Hansen suffers with certain medical conditions and did not have the “best experience” in custody.

The prosecutor did not object to bail.

Also re-appearing in court were Clint Bhagwandeen, a bar manager and Crystalan Daniel, a clerical assistant, who were also arrested on Royal Road last week Wednesday.

They were charged by PC Morris with possession of a revolver, 31 rounds of ammunition and 442 grammes of marijuana.

Bhagwandeen and Daniel were granted bail in the sum of TT$200,000 and TT$150,000 on Thursday because they are the parents of a six-month-old baby.

The two couples will reappear in court on December 12. (TT Guardian)

The offending photograph taken by Errol Nisbeth that landed him in trouble.

let was also taken and searched by the police, who told him that they would be searching his house "because it look like mi in lotto scamming".

"Mi just take a picture," Nisbeth said, adding that he meant no harm, but believe his rights were violated by the police.

The St Ann 360 website, said Nisbeth, is highly focused on positive news and has always supported law and order.

In the meantime, he questioned why the police gave him a January 5 court date to appear in the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court in St Andrew instead of St Ann's Bay.

"I would like to know why?" Nisbeth asked. He told the Jamaican media that he did not recognise the location for the court appearance until he got home and so did not get a chance to ask the police the reason for this.

Nisbeth said he has since reported the matter to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) by telephone, but was told he should go to one of the offices, which he intends to do.

The Jamaican media was told on Tuesday that the commanding officer for the Brown's Town Police Station was out of office when the newspaper sought the police's comment on the matter.

(Jamaica Observer)

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

Jamaica’s egg industry ‘Rock throwing’ man shot dead on growth path by police in TT K INGSTON, JAMAICA: The egg industry in Jamaica has been making significant strides within the agricultural sector.

With just over 2,000 small and 100 large farmers spread across the island, the industry is projected to produce over 130 million eggs for 2014. This is more than what was produced in 2013.

President of the Jamaica Egg Farmers Association (JEFA), Roy Baker, attributes the improved performance to the re-organization and restructuring of the industry, which contributes over Ja$5.5 billion to the Gross National Product (GNP). According to Mr. Baker, the association has been getting support from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Marketing and Information Division (AMID). The division drives the marketing thrust of the Ministry; conducts market-chain analyses and provides policy and planning information that will guide improvements in production, productivity, value-added and marketing in the industry. “A Committee consisting of members of AMID, egg farmers and other stakeholders has been convened to better man-

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President of the Jamaica Egg Farmers Association, Mr. Roy Baker, stands at the entrance to his farm in St. Catherine. Egg farmers are expected to produce 130 million eggs in 2014

age the sector, and this is bearing fruit,” Mr. Baker tells JIS News.

The JEFA was formed in 2000 and since then the industry has been growing by leaps and bounds.

“The local egg industry has been a success story. Since 2003 we have not imported table/shell eggs on a regular basis. There are occasions when we have hurricanes and during those periods we have to import in order to meet local demand,” Mr. Baker says.

He cites construction of the liquid egg plant in St. James as a boost for the industry. The facility was established in Montego Freeport in 2007, at a cost of Ja$40

million. It was built in an effort to satisfy the demand for liquid eggs by hoteliers who were importing the commodity. The plant is operated through Caribbean Egg Processors Limited, a joint venture in which Caribbean Producers owns 50 per cent and Liquid Eggs Limited 50 per cent.

Mr. Baker says the entire hospitality industry was encouraged at the time by the Ministry of Agriculture to use liquid as against shell eggs, which was in keeping with what was happening in the developed world. “Farmers came under pressure because we were now losing the market due to the im-

portation of liquid egg.

It was another situation where we had to find an answer to importation, so the farmers bought equipment to produce pasteurized liquid eggs and we subsequently forged a partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, which assisted in the setting up of the plant,” he explains.

The President informs that there are also plans to expand the initiative to get liquid eggs into supermarkets and schools. The JEFA operates under the CARICOM standard for the production of table eggs and have set up their own set of internal quality management monitoring system. (JIS)

Aviation fuel to go on sale in Guyana’s interior – PM Hinds

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E O R G E T O W N , GUYANA: Given the growing price for fuel in Guyana and increased travel between the coast and the interior, local air service providers are lauding an initiative being undertaken by government to soon make available aviation fuel in the interior.

Minister with responsibility for energy, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told Guyana Times that government was working to have aviation fuel provided to aircraft operators travelling to the Lethem district.

Although the plan of action has not been fully established, the move will see major improvements for operators in the sector.

Among other issues, local companies which service the interior location have been clamouring for this service for some time now.

They say that should this become a reality, it will lift a heavy burden off their operations.

Owner of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia told Guyana Times that although his service to the interior consisted of chartered flights only, the move will be a great benefit to the indus-

try.

According to him, this will reduce the incidence of the planes having to travel with extra fuel, which decreases the aircraft’s capacity to carry passengers.

Companies that will directly benefit from this initiative include Air Service Limited and Jags Aviation, which have several flights per week to the interior.

Prime Minister Hinds said there have been numerous calls by persons in the industry for this to be done, and he even challenged local fuel providers to consider moving in this direction.

“Some of the folks in Bartica want to base planes there. BK international and some other persons and some gold miners want to put planes in Bartica,” Hinds told this publication, noting that the service will undoubtedly facilitate much-needed development in the industry. He said Lethem was in dire need of fuel storage facilities at this time.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of local fuel provider Rubis Guyana Inc, Mauricio Nicholls, said he was open to the challenge once government was absolutely sure that fuel could be sent safely and reliably

to the region and stored. “We will only do it if we are 100 per cent certain that we could guarantee the quality of our product throughout the distribution chain,” Nicholls told Guyana Times, noting that the provision of this kind of fuel must follow strict procedures.

The unavailability of aviation fuel in the interior is just one of the many issues affecting aircraft operators.

Complaints have been levelled about government’s failure to pump finances into the development of interior airstrips, the limit placed on the size of aircraft, as well as the number of passengers and the volume of cargo that can be taken to the interior on any one flight.

The underdevelopment of the interior aviation facilities has also become a major cause for concern.

Based on travel reports, there has been a significant increase in air travel between the coast and the interior. Some private aviation companies have already indicated their preparedness to invest in larger aircraft, but evidently on the condition that governments invest in bigger and better airstrips.

(Guyana Times)

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: A man who reportedly threw rocks at the police was shot dead on Monday morning in Arima.

According to police reports, at about 8 a.m., officers of the Crime Patrol Unit responded to a report that a man who was wielding a cutlass was threatening residents in Aripo.

Upon arrival, the officers met and engaged 34-year-old Ramon Marcellin, who was armed with the cutlass and they were able to remove the weapon from his possession without incident.

However, while the officers were speaking to Marcellin, he suddenly picked up two large rocks that were on the ground

nearby and threw them at the lawmen, hitting PC Siewlal in his head.

Marcellin, police said, began attacking the men with a rock in his hand and during the attempt to disarm him once again, he was shot once by the lawmen.

Both Marcellin and PC Siewlal were rushed to Arima District Health Facility, but Marcellin died while undergoing emergency treatment.

PC Siewlal was treated and is in a stable condition at the hospital.

Marcellin, police said, lived in the area and was said to be mentally challenged.

Supt Sankar and Inspector Gyan visited the scene and enquiries are continuing. — Alexander Bruzual (TT Express)

AFC under fire for race-baiting politics

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : G e n e r a l Secretary of the Alliance For Change (AFC), David Patterson has denied that his party was still utilising ethnicity as one of the fundamental pretexts for its political decisions.

Many observers have been particularly vocal over the last few weeks with respect to race-based politics and are calling on parties to move away from the established fundamentals and scour for new ground.

In Guyana’s ‘racially charged’ environment, it is common knowledge that political leaders make decisions based on the need to appeal to a certain section of the electorate, particularly Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese and Amerindians.

Many persons have noticeably taken to social media to express frustration at this method calling for a change in the modus operandi.

One event that keeps taking centre stage in the online discussions and is constantly being referenced is the recently held A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) rally. It was noted that the AFC took a decision to send only AfroGuyanese to mount APNU’s platform. There is some speculation that

this was done because of the belief that APNU is widely supported by Afro-Guyanese.

Additionally, the fact that the AFC has refused to join APNU protests in front of the Office of the President has caused some concerns. One observer has noted that this may be as a result of the party not wanting to appear to be too cosy with APNU. It was his belief that should the AFC appears too close to APNU, the party might lose the support of sections of Indo-Guyanese electorate.

Despite these concerns being ventilated on social media, the AFC is adamant that this is not the case. The General Secretary of the minority opposition party told the Guyana Times on Monday that the party does not get involved in racial politics. According to Patterson, the leadership of the AFC is on record as accusing the PPP/C of practicing racial politics. The General Secretary told Guyana Times that with respect to the APNU rally “the party sent not one but two of our top executives, there was no prescribed move…we will not be baited into this media frenzy” adding that he and Nigel Hughes were selected based on the message that the party had wished to be delivered. (Guyana Times)

News WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

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Hotel projects to create jobs for thousands of Jamaicans

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Dr. Hon. Wykeham NcNeill; and Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, are hailing the significant investments in tourism on the north coast which, they estimate, will provide jobs for thousands of Jamaicans, while expanding the industry.

The Ministers were speaking to JIS News on Friday (November 28) after an extensive tour of four major projects in St. James, Trelawny and St. Ann. They visited the Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara Resorts in Rose Hall, St. James; Royalton White Sands in Trelawny; the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande Resort, and the Ocho Rios cruise ship pier in St. Ann. While on a tour of the Hyatt and Royalton resorts, the Ministers were updated on the progress of work, plans for open-

Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill (right), makes a point to Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Hon. Peter Phillips (2nd left), as they view plans for the expansion of the Royalton White Sands Resort in Trelawny. Occasion was a tour of the property on November 28.

Others (from left) are: Hotel Manager at Royalton White Sands, Alex Arias; Executive Director of the Tourism roduct Development Company Limited (TPDCO), Devon Hickey; Sales Director at the resort, Kerry-Ann Casserly; and Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) Clyde Harrison

ing, and the value that these properties will add to the island’s tourism product.

Minister Phillips told JIS News that during the tour, “we (got) a chance to see the tremendous

revolution taking place in the tourism sector.”

“At the Hyatt and Royalton, we have seen massive expansions taking place. At the Hyatt, they have added a couple of hundreds rooms and

Utter rubbish! Rohee refutes claim that money found on jet was for PPP/C campaign

General Secretary People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Clement Rohee

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: In light of the recent controversy surrounding the legality of the usage of a private aircraft by President Donald Ramotar to travel overseas; the Oppositiondriven media have accused the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) of plans to use the money to fund their election campaigns.

Speaking at the party’s press conference on Monday, General Secretary Clement Rohee refuted the claim, saying it is “utter rubbish”. He said “we work hard for our money through fundraising activities for our campaigns”.

These and other allegations came in light of the recent interception of an aircraft owned by Guyanese businessman Khamraj Lall in Puerto Rico with US$620,000 onboard.

Subsequently, he was arrest-

ed by US law enforcement authorities for failure to disclose the cash on departure from the U.S. He has since been granted bail in the sum of US$100,000.

Rohee at the press conference contended that there is nothing remotely illegal about President Donald Ramotar or his office chartering a flight to look after the government’s business.

He said the flight was paid for and was not done in a secretive manner.

“They paid for it and it was open in the view of everyone. It was a legitimate activity.”

Ramotar has already denied the allegations made against him and former President Bharrat Jagdeo that they travelled on the said aircraft to Brazil and Puerto Rico.

Sources have said the reports were all erroneous and seemed to be targeting Jagdeo for reasons only those writing the articles would know.

Rohee pointed to Kaieteur News as he stated that certain sections of the media have agendas to make the government and Ramotar look bad.

Lall is the owner of KLX Logistics Inc, located in Jersey City, New Jersey in the U.S., which offers trucking and warehouse services, and was operational from 1995 to 2010.

In Guyana, he owns the Kaylee’s Service Station at Coverden, East Bank Demerara, as well as a limousine service.

He also operates a courier service out of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.

(Guyana Times)

on top of that, they have improved the quality of the product by adding to the physical amenities … they are employing some 1,200 Jamaicans. At Royalton White Sands… not only has that proper-

ty expanded, but we have seen the plans for an additional hotel, which is going to be established next door,” he informed.

The Finance and Planning Minister said the developments speak to the “potential and the actual benefits that we are getting from the whole Economic Reform Programme, which has made Jamaica’s economy more competitive in global economic terms.”

Meanwhile, Minister McNeill noted that the hotel developments and the upgrading of the Ocho Rios cruise ship pier form part of an estimated Ja$35 billion investment in the tourism sector over the last two years..

The Tourism and Entertainment Minister said there are several other potential investors “waiting in the wings, hoping to do business in Jamaica”, which he said, is a direct spinoff of the shovel-ready programme. The initiative aims to expedite the

process of investment by securing permits and approvals on behalf of investors.

“Already, the excitement that has been built around that …we have three, four, and five people knocking down our doors because they want that done,” he said.

Dr. McNeill said that Jamaica is not only attracting overseas investors but local interests as well, citing Sagicor which has invested in some four properties over three years. “It shows a confidence in the economy of Jamaica and the policies of Jamaica,” he stated.

The Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara (formerly the Ritz-Carlton Rose Hall) is due to open next year while major expansion is set to take place at the Royalton White Sands. At the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande (formerly Sunset Jamaica Grande), renovation and refurbishing works are underway ahead of its January 7, 2015 opening. (JIS)

Carmona praises TT’s first High Court couple P ORT-OFS P A I N , TRINIDAD: Margaret Mohamed, wife of High Court judge Justice Vashiest Kokaram, was herself sworn in as a High Court judge on Monday morning

by President Anthony Carmona.

Mohammed was sworn in during a ceremony at President’s House, St Ann’s, in the presence of close family members and Chief Justice Ivor Archie.

With the appointment, Madam Justice Mohammed is now the country’s newest puisne judge.

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Justice Mohammed was a High Court judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, a position she held since 2012.

Carmona said the appointment was a defining moment for the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region that we should all celebrate.

“For the first time both husband and wife are puisne judges of the Supreme

DEFINING MOMENT: Newly-sworn in High Court judge Justice Margaret Mohammed with President Anthony Carmona, from right, her husband Justice Vashiest Kokaram and Chief Justice Ivor Archie at The Office of the President on Monday following her swearingin ceremony. —Photo courtesy the Office of the President

Court of Trinidad and Tobago,” said Carmona in a news release.

“Justice Margaret Mohammed came from a very humble background and through hard work, sacrifice and a distinguished legal career, she was appointed a judge in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and has earned the genuine respect of the legal fraternity.”

CJ Archie said it came as no surprise to those who knew Justice Mohammed

that she has achieved this milestone and is making history.

J u s t i c e Mohammed previously served the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago in various capacities, such as assistant registrar and deputy marshal of the Supreme Court from 2001 to 2011; acting deputy registrar of the Supreme Court in 2010; and Master of the Supreme Court from 2011 to 2012.

She was also an associate attorney at Alexander, Jeremie

and Company from 1995 to 1997 and acting registrar of the Tax Appeal Board in 2003.

Madam Justice Mohammed is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.

She subsequently received her Legal Education Certificate from Hugh Wooding Law School in 1995 and was admitted to the Bar in October of that year. (TT Express)

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WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

Jamaica: Save energy and win Ja$1 million K

INGSTON, JAMAICA: The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is offering its customers a chance to win Ja$1 million in cash and kind in an energy-conservation competition scheduled to run over three months.

The 'PowerSmart Energy Challenge', as the competition is called, is part of the light and power company's effort to encourage conservation in the short-term, while the country develops a long-term solution to high energy costs.

A news release from the company reports Sheree Martin, senior

MARTIN... conservation and energy efficiency must be embraced as part of the short term solution to high energy costs

vice-president for customer and corporate services, as saying that the Energy Challenge is an exciting reality-type competition that will be played out on TV and social media between December 2014 and March 2015.

Six families will be chosen to compete against each other to achieve the largest reduction in their monthly kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage.

In order to qualify for the Challenge, JPS said that each family must have three or more persons, including a child over four years old or a teenager, and their us-

age must exceed 250 kWh per month.

"Submissions should be uploaded using the PowerSmart App on the JPS Facebook page.

Deadline for entry is December 4," the company said. "During the three-month competition, each family will be assigned a JPS energy mentor, and the company will provide guidance and support for the families on their conservation journey. The families will share their experiences and success stories in the media in order to help others in their conservation efforts."

Martin said that

conservation and energy efficiency must be embraced as part of the short-term solution to high energy costs. "While the country works towards the long-term solutions of fuel diversification and new generating plants, this is something we can do now to reduce energy costs," she was quoted in the news release.

"This competition will show real people making real changes in their homes to reduce energy costs, without compromising their quality of life. It's about making smart choices, not sacrifices," Martin added.

(Jamaica Observer)

Guyana’s high growth rate raising investor interest

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: This little known Englishspeaking nation is enjoying one of the Latin America and Caribbean region’s highest growth rates, and is taking the steps to sustain its leading position by more sustainable means As one of South America’s smallest countries – with a population just shy of 800,000 – the tiny former British colony of Guyana is also one of the continent’s least known nations.

While LAC economies managed just 2.6 per cent growth last year, Guyana has remained resilient, registering economic expansion of 5.2 per cent in 2013, the fourth fastest in the region. What is more, it is predicted to sustain its leading position this year and next.

Although Guyana remains one of South America’s poorest nations – owing to a tiny economy that is traditionally dependent on agriculture and mineral exports and thus highly susceptible to adverse weather conditions and fluctuations in commodity prices – Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

believes that the country’s recent growth has resulted from finding strength in adversity, as well as a change in fortunes.

Indeed, the country hopes its luck will not run dry when it comes to the ongoing oil exploration, with hopes that a big find could eventually transform economic prospects completely. In the meantime, Guyana has had to continue to rely on its primary sectors.

Much of Guyana’s growth in recent years has come from a surge in gold production.

Agricultural expansion has also helped drive growth.

However, in 2013, sugar production – a key source of foreign exchange and Guyana’s main employer – dropped to a 23-year-old low due to the loss of preferential access to EU markets and a cut in European sugar subsidies.

Given that Guyana is heavily dependent on the other commodities of bauxite, shrimp, timber and rice, which together with gold and sugar represent 60 per cent of GDP; the government has identified the vulnerability of the country’s economy, and begun to do

Guyana’s Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

something about it.

The government’s commitment to sound policies and reforms means that the country is now experiencing shared prosperity, poverty reduction and positive projections for future economic prospects.

Meanwhile, a big part of Guyana’s efforts to protect its economy is through protection of its natural environment.

With over 80 per cent of

Guyana’s land area covered by forest, to protect this national asset and to find ways to utilise it as a means to generate revenue and propel economic development, Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS has become an essential part of its economic development plan.

“Traditionally, countries in the course of development have had to utilise their forests as a source of materials which brought work opportunities and income,” said Prime Minister Hinds.

“Guyana and other developing countries, which still have forests, should still get some reward or assistance to avoid going down that road.

If they do go down that road, it should be tread in a sustainable way. That reward would help them develop other things. For example, tourism, alternative energy and support for renewable energy.”

While the LCDS aims to facilitate the growth of these industries, the government is also working to attract a greater amount of foreign investment and promote itself as a business destination.

As a member of Caricom, it has Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with all of the members of Caribbean community of nations. It borders one of the BRICS, Brazil, with whom it also has an FTA, as well as with Colombia and other countries in the region. This gives Guyana easy access to markets in Latin American and Caribbean – 33 countries with a collective population of 580 million individuals and collective GDP of almost US$5 trillion.

An important component of this plan is the paving of the Linden-Lethem Road, which will facilitate integration and sustainable development of the hinterland, as well as improvements to port facilities and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Although there is still undoubtedly a long way to go for Guyana, it is certainly a country on the up. And if people were not overly aware of this tiny South American country before, they are certainly sitting up and taking notice of this developing economic success story now.

(Theworldfolio)

TT mother reunited with daughters who were taken away by relative to fight for ISIS

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O R T - O F SPAIN,TRINIDAD: A Laventille mother on Monday wept for joy over the safe return to Trinidad of her children who were secretly taken away by a militant Muslim relative to fight for ISIS in Syria.

The woman did not want to be named, but told the TT media she cried uncontrollably when she reunited with her daughters Zakia, 17, Akia, 14, and Niaeh, 12, who escaped from Syria to Turkey with their step-mother Leeanne David in October with the help of a Syrian law

enforcement officer.

“When I saw them, the tears just kept flowing. I was so overwhelmed. I could not contain my joy, just being able to hug my children was the greatest joy for me.

In fact it has helped me to overcome the depression I was going through,” the children’s mother told the TT media.

She learned her daughters were flown home safely from officers of the Counter Trafficking Unit (CTU), who worked with foreign agencies to help get the children and their stepmother flown to

Trinidad from Turkey. The children and stepmother are in a safe house as investigations continue into the circumstances that led them to Syria.

The woman’s two young sons, however, remain in Syria. The five children were taken out of Trinidad by a male relative without their mother’s knowledge.

When told of her daughters’ return, she went to relatives in Laventille until she could meet them.

Mohammed on Monday said the woman informed him of her children’s safe re-

turn home.

“She said police told her that the children were by the grandmother and were

waiting to be put in a safe house,” he told the TT media. (TT Newsday)

PNP again!

WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

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CGX announces Scotiabank TT Jamaica’s ruling party wins awarded Bank Central Westmoreland By-election settlement with Repsol of the Year P

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O R T - O F - S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Scotiabank was on Monday named the Bank of the Year in Trinidad and Tobago

by The Banker magazine, a Financial Times publication. This is the second consecutive year the bank has been recognised by the publication, having also won the title in 2013.

In a statement, Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited Managing Director Anya M Schnoor said, “We are proud of this award because it is a reflection of the hard work of our employees and their focus on providing sound financial advice and good service to our customers.”

She stated, “Scotiabank has had a presence in Trinidad and Tobago for 60 years now and we’re proud to be known for our customer service and for delivering superior results for our shareholders” Schnoor added, “Furthermore, this award joins the Bank of the Year 2014 title we received last month from LatinFinance, so to win two Bank of the Year titles in our 60th Anniversary year, is quite an achievement.” The bank was also named Bank of the Year 2014 by The Banker in Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana and Jamaica.

The Banker selects winners based on their ability to deliver shareholder returns and gain strategic advantage.

The magazine is the world’s longest running international banking magazine, recognised as a leading source of information on finance and investment around the globe. (TT Newsday)

eople's National Party (PNP) President Portia Simpson Miller said on Monday that she was surprised by the 2,452vote victory Dwayne Vaz scored over Faye Reid Jacobs in the Central Westmoreland by-election on Monday.

Vaz polled 8,720 votes to the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Reid Jacobs, who got 6,268 votes. His margin, however, was below the 3,042 gap Roger Clarke created between himself and Marlene Malahoo Forte in 2011.

"For a by-election, I think he did extremely well. As a matter of fact, I did not dream that the margin would be what it is tonight," Simpson Miller, who is also the prime minister, told the Jamaican media at Independence Park in Savanna-la-Mar. Some 15,046 voters, or 38 per cent of the 39,367 people registered for the poll, cast ballots.

Independent candidate Ras Astor Black secured 58 of those votes.

"Roger was a great man, I will never try to fill his shoes. I will be setting out a standard for myself. Roger was

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Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller plants a kiss on the cheek of Dwayne Vaz, who ensured that her People’s National Party kept the Central Westmoreland seat in Monday’s by-election (Jamaica Gleaner)

someone I loved and respected; his name will always live on. I will be continuing the work he started and will be adding my piece to it," Vaz said.

The 33-year-old businessman, who may be sworn in as a parliamentarian as early as next week, said with the victory, the people have sent a loud message to the JLP. "The people have said that the People's National Party is the best party to represent any constituency in Jamaica," Vaz said.

Glendon Harris, the mayor of Montego Bay, part of the western belt,

said the people, by their show of support, have endorsed the Government's economic programme.

"People recognise that the People's National Party is doing the best thing for Jamaica at this time," Harris said.

While Reid Jacobs was not located by the Jamaican media after the announcement, she told the Jamaican media at the close of polls that only chicanery could result in a loss.

"Unless there is something highly irregular, I have done it," she told the Jamaican media.(Jamaica Observer)

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: CGX Energy Inc has announced a settlement of the claims brought against Repsol Exploración relating to the joint operating agreement governing the Georgetown Block, offshore Guyana.

CGX Resources Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CGX Energy, commenced an arbitration against Repsol in the London International Court of Arbitration and received an injunction against Repsol from the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature in January and August.

Under the terms of the settlement, CGX Energy received approximately US$900,000 due to CGX Resources pursuant to the terms of the Georgetown JOA and neither party was responsible for costs or damages.

Repsol has also agreed to evaluate opportunities in the Guyana-Suriname basin and Repsol was granted a 90-day option to present a farm-in proposal to acquire at least a 10 per cent participating interest in any of the Corentyne Block (100 per cent), Demerara Block (100 per cent) or the Berbice Block (62 per cent).

In addition, CGX Energy and Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp have been granted a similar option on the Kanuku Block.

In the event that a proposal is accepted, any definitive agreements are subject to due diligence and the terms of any pre-existing petroleum agreement or joint operating agreement.

The parties look forward to the prospect of working together again in the future if and when the right opportunities arise.

CGX Energy is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company focused on the exploration of oil in the Guyana-Suriname Basin. (Guyana Times)

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Nagamootoo cornered on ANSA McAL launches school of journalism in TT AFC’s dwindling support … now alleges PPP/C spread “race propaganda” in Berbice

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Alliance for Change (AFC) Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo last Thursday alleged that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is bent on inciting racial tension among residents of Berbice.

Nagamootoo’s comments came in wake of a report in the Thursday, November 27 edition of the independent Guyana Times newspaper which stated that the political party is losing its footing in the Ancient County.

The report claimed that PPP/C supporters in Berbice, who had crossed over to the AFC just before the elections in 2011, are now disappointed that the AFC is now joining forces with APNU and have threatened that they will be withdrawing their support for the party.

Residents claimed that from the onset of its political campaign,

the AFC had promised that once it gets into power, it would work towards a radical turnaround, moving away from the hard bent politics of the primeval PNC (now APNU) and PPP/C. In hope of that radical change, it is reported; residents had agreed to lend their support to the party.

But Nagamootoo, who appeared jolted by the article and the fact that it exposed how many of the party’s supporters felt cheated at this time, denied that his party will be forming an alliance with the PNC-dominated APNU. He claimed that even if that were the case, the current Administration, through its political campaigns, continues to incite racial tension among residents.

Nagamootoo accused leaders within the PPP/C of “peddling false and mischievous propaganda” to the Berbice residents,

claiming that the AFC has joined forces with APNU. “We repeat our position. The AFC has not agreed to form a pre electoral coalition with APNU, but we have decided to work with APNU and any other stakeholder and civil society to fight against the PPP regime for the restoration of parliamentary democracy”.

Residents say Nagamootoo is making a distinction in search of a difference and that the AFC is misusing the votes they had cast at the last General Election to form a defacto alliance with the main Opposition party, which is essentially the PNC of old.

A large portion of other residents interviewed explained that they are still waiting to see the game plan being followed by the AFC. For the most part, they are disappointed with the sly posture taken by their leaders.

(Guyana Times)

Jamaican MP warns of impact of Ebola virus on ACP

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TRASBOURG, FRANCE: A Jamaican member of Parliament warned on Monday that the Ebola epidemic remains a global issue that urgently needs a sustained response based on a sense of humanity and empathy.

Co-chair of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)-European Union (ACP-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA), Fitz Jackson told the opening ceremony of the 28th session of the JPA that the epidemic, which is responsible for more than 7,000 deaths in West Africa, "should also be informed by the values of human solidarity.

Jackson, who represents the South St Catherine constituency in Jamaica's Parliament, said that whilst the disease may appear to be localised to a few countries, it is indeed a global health threat because of the ease with which it can cross borders to affect even developed coun-

tries.

"And this we have already seen! However, even if it does not cross borders, it is human beings that are threatened and dying from an indiscriminate and lethal virus. The Ebola epidemic remains a global issue that urgently needs a sustained response based on our sense of humanity and empathy," said the Jamaican MP. Jackson, at the same time, said he wanted to "thank the brave women and men of all nationalities who have put aside fears for their own safety to be at the frontline of the fight against the disease.

He said Cuba's intervention provides an opportunity for an "ACP country with very limited economic resources that has so far provided the largest number of healthcare workers in the fight against Ebola.

Jackson also told the conference that even after Ebola has been vanquished, its social and economic impact will continue to be felt for

some time.

"There are hundreds of children who have been orphaned by the disease; without government support, they will have no food, shelter nor the means to put themselves through school.

There will be long-lasting economic consequences as well."

He said the Washington-based World Bank estimates that the Liberian economy has declined by US$113 million as a result of the crisis; Sierra Leone by US$95 million; and Guinea by US$120 million.

He said the ACP-EU countries have long recognised the dangers of the illicit flow of arms to ACP countries, and adopted a resolution on this subject at the 12th Session of the JPA held in Barbados in 2006, where ACP members stated that since no ACP State manufactured weapons, it was only logical to conclude that they come from developed countries, particularly those in Europe.

(Jamaica Observer)

University of the West Indies St Augustine (UWI) campus principal Professor Clement Sankat, centre, looks on as Dr Anthony N Sabga, left, chairman emeritus of the ANSA McAL Group signs the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between UWI and ANSA McAL for the establishment and construction of the Anthony N Sabga School of Entrepreneurship and Guardian Media School of Journalism at the group’s head office on Maraval Road, Port-ofSpain. At right is Grenfell Kissoon, chairman of Guardian Media limited.

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: The Guardian School of Journalism will help the profession of journalism and the field of media in TT says Norman Sabga, chairman of the ANSA McAL Group. He also called the University of the West Indies (UWI) the “intellectual brain” of the country and the region. “We are very proud of growing that intellectual capacity in the country and region. The Guardian Media Group is the largest in TT and we have been sending journalists abroad for many years for specialised training.

“With the growth of the Guardian School of Journalism which will look at all arms of the media, it will be a huge development for the growth of the media in video, print and voice,” he said.

Sabga spoke on Monday at the signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding between UWI and the ANSA McAL Group at the 10th Floor, Tatil Building, Maraval Road, Port-of-

Spain.

ANSA McAL Group will fund the construction of a building that will house three schools, the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre, the Anthony N Sabga School of Entrepreneurship, and the Guardian Media School of Journalism.

Sabga hopes that the School of Entrepreneurship will go beyond just producing executives but will produce executives who can run businesses efficiently. “We want executives who will continue to grow the economy and the country and the Region.

That is why we have gotten involved in this programme,” he said.

Clement Sankat, principal of UWI who also spoke, said the ANSA McAL Group continues to contribute to the human resources of the region.

“They have contributed through a very generous donation to the UWI to construct the Anthony N Sabga Building. “This building will be located at the centre of our campus.

Our new programme of

journalism has just been revised and the journalism programme will begin in August of next year,” he said.

He said the School of Entrepreneurship will create “transformational leaders” as this is important in creating a new economy that is private sector driven. “In terms of TT’s development we have been looking too much to the state for leadership in almost all sectors. “It is important that the role of the state provides the enabling environment for private sector led growth that ensures productivity and competitiveness,” he said.

Sankat also said dependence on the state is growing day by day and this is not good for the economy. “We are seeing what is happening in our economy, falling prices for oil and gas and we have heard firm statements from the Finance Minster on the matter. It is time TT wakes up and shift gears and direction to diversify the economy.

What obtains now is unsustainable,” he said. (TT Guardian)

Trinidad: Petrotrin & union negotiations in stalemate

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: “Strike, strike, strike.” This was the resounding demand from Petrotrin workers to the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) on Monday night. OWTU president Ancel Roget, in accepting his membership’s mandate, called on citizens to bear with the workers as they fought for “betterment for ourselves and our families, betterment for our country.”

The workers, who gathered at a mass meeting at the Pointe-a-Pierre roundabout, rejected Petrotrin’s zero per cent wage offer and its claim that it was not in a financial position to offer a wage increase. Roget, in his address, said the company’s offer of zero per cent was “highly arrogant, disrespectful.

Roget said the union remained prepared to negotiate with Petrotrin and

had even reduced its proposal to 15 per cent for all six collective agreements. He asked workers three times if they were prepared to take action.

The workers, with fists clenched in the air and the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery in the background, emphatically shouted: “Yes, strike, strike, strike.”

The union and Petrotrin have been holding conciliation talks on six outstanding agreements at the Ministry of Labour over the past two weeks.

However, those talks failed to reach an agreement and on Friday the formal seven-day period for talks will expire.

This will pave the way for the union to serve official notice of legal strike action on Petrotrin. Roget said the workers were prepared to maintain a full three-month strike to get their “just dues.”(TT Guardian)

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Double trouble for No intention to prorogue Parliament again TT energy sector President Ramotar P G

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Energy economist Gregory McGuire says the Trinidad and Tobago economy is facing a double jeopardy.

This, he said, is precipitated by the fall in oil prices from US$110 a barrel in June to US$65 on Friday.

“The imminent danger posed by a sustained decline in oil prices was compounded last week by the news that a leak in National Gas Company’s (NGC) 56-inch pipeline aggravating an already tight gas supply situation and interrupting electricity generation at TGU,’ he observed.

“While these developments are completely unrelated, their joint impact on the economy could be devastating,” he noted.

McGuire said it is “obvious” that the fall in oil prices will have a negative impact on government revenue.

“The Minister of Finance has indicated a loss of TT$1,879.4 million on an annualised basis.

He further expects the reduction in fuel subsidy of TT$507 million thereby mitigating the overall increase in the deficit to TT$1,372 million. In seeking to calm our fear, Minister Howai reiterated that TT is more of a gas economy, producing approximately 800,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, only ten per cent of which is oil. One is left

with the distinct impression that gas will supplant the loss in oil.

“In addition, the overall tax rate on oil is in excess of 60 per cent of taxable income while the tax rate gas is only 35 per cent. In these circumstances, we cannot glibly talk about the “gas economy” as if it is roughly equivalent to an “oil economy”. One estimate suggests that the oil share remains above 40 per cent of total government revenue, much higher than the ten per cent share of production. The minister needs to appraise the nation about the relative contribution of oil and gas to government revenue,” he explained.

McGuire criticised Howai’s hope for “better than projected gas prices are mitigating the fall in oil prices”.

“Minister Howai is aware of the prognosis that gas prices will fall in tandem with oil.

This is because in major markets of Europe, South America and the Far East, LNG prices are indexed to oil. For example, LNG prices in Asia have already dropped from US$20/mmbtu in January 2014, to US$10/mmbtu in October.

“This downward slide is likely to continue if oil continues to slip. The impact on government revenues could be greater than anticipated by the Finance Minister,” McGuire said.(TT Express)

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: President Donald Ramotar on Sunday disclosed that he has no intention to reconvene Parliament or to prorogue it again, and will be making an announcement very soon on the way forward.

The Head of State, who was at the time addressing scores at the annual Kala Utsav organised by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, also called for the support of all as his government moves the country forward.

Ramotar said there have been inaccurate media reports on the prorogation of Parliament and what it really means, but reiterated that he has made a constitutional decision.

The President told the gathering that prior to 1964 when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was forced out of office, Guyana had the highest standard of living in the Caribbean, despite all the struggles the country faced during that era.

Twenty-eight years later under the People’s National Congress (PNC) regime, Guyana became one of the poorest countries in the

hemisphere, he posited.

And when the PPP regain power in 1992 and democracy was restored, he said hope returned to Guyana and the economy again continued to bloom. This blossoming, he said must continue.

On November 10, President Donald Ramotar issued a proclamation proroguing Parliament, hoping that the Government and the Opposition will engage in meaningful talks on Guyana’s development.

This prorogation came on the day the combined Opposition, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) had intended to pass a No-confidence Motion against the Ramotarled People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

The move threw the Opposition parties into confusion as President Donald Ramotar insisted that the proclamation was made so that the Opposition would not stall development through their no-confidence motion.

The President said though the decision was taken to prorogue Parliament, it was not the original plan.

He had hoped that his earlier warnings to the Opposition would be heeded, but instead, they went ahead with their anti-development stratagem that revolved around the No-Confidence Motion.

Ramotar further emphasised that if the NoConfidence Motion was debated and passed, apart from bringing development to a standstill, it would have caused tension in society.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon had said President Ramotar and by extension his Cabinet remains optimistic that “dialogue” would lead the country out of this perceived “political crisis”.

The President has already issued letters to the Leader of the Opposition, inviting them to engage in dialogue with the Administration in the absence of Parliament.

Though the Opposition has publicly stated that it will not engage the government in talks during the prorogation of Parliament, President Ramotar remains hopeful that APNU and/ or AFC would capitalise on the “golden opportunity” to preserve the life of the 10th Parliament. (Guyana Times)

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Guyana manufacturers celebrate success of local businesses

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : S u p e r i o r Shingles Wood Products copped the top award at this year’s Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Awards ceremony held last Friday at the Pegasus Hotel.

Several other businesses received awards for their sterling efforts in the advancement of the sector. In presenting the Executive President’s Award for Export Achievement to Superior Shingles Wood Products, the GMSA said the company has been able to sustain their overseas markets and penetrate new ones with its value-added timber products.

According to the GMSA, in just over 10 years, Superior Shingles has accumulated return customers in the English-, French-, Dutch- and Spanishspeaking Caribbean, the USA, Central America, Asia and the Pacific Islands.

“Superior Shingles manufactures roofing and decorative wooden tiles utilising indigenous raw materials and labour, and they export about 95 per cent of production. Wood waste is

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds joined President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Clinton Williams during the organisation’s annual business awards ceremony last Friday. Also in photo are representatives of the various businesses that received awards

also converted to charcoal and exported. They maintain their presence in the international marketplace by frequently participating in trade shows, exhibiting their MADE IN GUYANA Turada Shingles,” the Association said.

They contribute to business development in these communities principally by donating all of the wood-waste that is not processed in-house to the Yarrowkabra Charcoal Burners Association, a group of mostly women who produce charcoal for the local market.”

Awards were also given out to five companies for “continuous

penetration into new foreign markets”.

These companies are Pomeroon Oil Mills for its growth in the domestic market through innovative packaging and labelling; Sterling Products Limited for diversification into fast food production and being a superior Corporate Citizen; Banks DIH Limited in recognition of their sterling achievement in attaining international Quality Certification for every plant and for aggressive market penetration with the new GT Beer; TCL Guyana Inc (TGI) for achieving ISO 14001 Certification which validates the effectiveness

of their environmental management systems; and Edward B Beharry Group of Companies for leading local industries in the introduction of new and innovative technologies and methodologies towards greater energy efficiency and conservation.

In addition, there was an EMPRETECO Award, which went to Warren & Tracy Douglas of Pandama Retreat and Winery for utilising local fruit, herbs and barks to produce exotic wines, tonics and natural vinegars, and expanding their market reach into North America and Europe.

B e s i d e s ,

Environmental M a n a g e m e n t Consultants received an award for successfully responding to a critical need for dedicated Environmental Management Services in keeping with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) requirements and the tenets of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

Modern Industries Limited copped the Lifetime Achievement Award for its determined leadership in furniture manufacturing and unstinting support to the GMSA. GMSA President Clinton Williams also

received the Lifetime Achievement Award for long and dedicated service to the public and private sectors, including the manufacturing, shipping, forestry and mining communities and occupational skills training; Dr Komal Dookie for his “invaluable contributions to national development by utilising his superior business acumen to create awareness of Guyana’s unexplored natural resources”; Lalman Budhu in appreciation for his long and dedicated administrative services to the GMA/GMSA; Twins Manufacturing Chemists for consistently widening their medicinal product line, especially the Tussadryl family, and for expanding their market reach into the Caribbean and North America and National Hardware Limited for consistent growth and for their valuable contribution to the building and construction sector.

Williams said last year the Association celebrated its 50th year as a business support organisation with a few well chosen, well organised events.(Guyana Times)

Attorney elected Diaspora PM Browne appoints De Niro representative amidst as Special Economic Envoy fresh controversy

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EW YORK, USA: Prominent immigration attorney Joan Pinnock has been elected to head the Jamaica Diaspora Advisory Board for the North East United States (U.S.) following release of the results of elections by a committee which conducted the exercise.

The release also revealed that Erin Lue-Hing was elected as the future leader representative.

Pinnock received 731, or 57 per cent of the 1,298 votes cast, followed by Tracy Tomlinson-Dixon who polled 451 votes and Sandra Morrison received 107 votes.

Despite her clear victory however, fresh controversy has emerged over the elections, with claims by Patrick Beckford, a former head of the advisory board, that guidelines were not followed and that "no registration nor eligibility rules were established for this election."

Beckford also charged, among other claims, that "the first two days of the elections were fraught with system glitches" and that no provisions were made for nationals in areas that were experiencing severe weather conditions, such as the Buffalo region.

Voting was conducted electronically and by mail.

Pinnock who was forced to withdraw a claim during the campaign that she had been endorsed by state min-

ister in Jamaica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Arnaldo Brown, is also facing fresh criticisms over another controversial remark that was posted as part of her profile.

In that remark, she claimed that: "As a practising attorney for the past 17 years, I had to represent Jamaicans who applied for political asylum based on their political affiliation."

"In order to prevail, one would have to prove a reasonable fear based on politics. Over the years these cases have become more difficult, because the judges now believe there is no more unrest in Jamaica," she wrote.

While the claim has angered many within the Jamaican community here, Pinnock expressed surprise in an interview with the Jamaican media that this information was not well known and said she stands by the statement.

"The elections are behind us, they were fair and I am ready to work with all stakeholders on the many issues confronting us and to advance and promote a positive agenda for the Diaspora," she said.

She said that emphasis will be placed on the Diaspora mapping project, promotion of investment opportunities and assistance for un-documented nationals who qualify as a result of the recent executive action on immigration by US President Barack Obama."

(Jamaica Observer)

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T JOHN’S, ANTIGUA: Prime Minister Gaston Browne said, in a statement, he has appointed actor Robert De Niro as a Special Economic Envoy for Antigua & Barbuda.

The International film star was appointed on Friday, soon after he made commitments to a US $250 million hotel investment to redevelop the defunct K-Club resort in Barbuda.

De Niro signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for concessions from the government of Antigua & Barbuda on the project.

The actor and filmmaker, who is said to be a regular visitor to Jumby Bay on Antigua’s Long Island, is reportedly partnering with Australian billionaire James Packer.

Little details have been revealed and the Antigua media has not yet been able to confirm whether De Niro and Packer have completed a purchase of the resort’s lease agreement from Italian Mariuccia

Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne on Friday Signed Off on a US $250 Million Dollar Hotel investment on Barbuda by International Film Star Robert DeNiro.

Prime Minister Browne also appointed Mr. De Niro as a Special Economic Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda

Mandelli.

The government’s statement, however, said the hotel will be renovated and expanded into an exclusive 5-star resort.

Browne said the project is still attracting other investors and he hopes De Niro can use his celebrity status to attract more famous people to Antigua & Barbuda.

Browne said he hopes

to have the deal completed within thirty days and for construction to begin within the next 12 months.

Ambassador Gilbert Boustany reportedly executed the agreement.

In order for the project to go ahead legally, it must first receive the approval of the Barbuda people.

(Antigua Observer)

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Barbados Jamaica's former cruise ship capital Ocho welcomes 777 Rios to welcome cruise liners to its port service out K of Canada

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R I D G E T O W N , BARBADOS: Barbados is expecting a boost in visitor arrivals out of Canada, with the launch of Air Canada’s Boeing 777 service.

The inaugural flight touched down at the Grantley Adams International Airport just after 2 p.m. on Monday with 320 passengers on board.

The 340-seater carries 80 more passengers than the average jetliner.

Officials have estimated that the Boeing 777 will bring 2, 250 passengers to the island per week, amounting to a 15 per cent increase in traffic.

Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy, who welcomed the flight, said it would remedy an “intolerable” fall in Canadian arrivals in recent years.

“The relationship with Air Canada is 65 years and counting. It is one that has really been brought to a very interesting fruition on Monday.

“The 777 gives us additional seats out of Toronto, additional business class seats and will also lead to growth.

“What is also occurring as well is the fact that out of Montreal no longer will we have the one flight during the winter season on Saturdays, but we are going to have three flights out of Montreal. So Air Canada is really assisting us in terms of providing us with additional seating capacity,” Sealy said. (Barbados today)

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Jamaica's former cruise ship capital, Ocho Rios, will for the first time in several years welcome only cruise liners to its port, as Carnival Cruise Lines moves its mega liners to Royal Caribbean's Falmouth Port next summer.

Ocho Rios will have an average of three ships per month.

The move will see Falmouth receiving almost 100,000 passengers from the Carnival Breeze.

Ocho Rios' cruise ship numbers have dwindled since the construction of the Falmouth Pier, resulting in the closure of many retail businesses. Harassment is being blamed for the current situation.

"Next summer will be worst in 20 years," bemoans local businessman Joey Issa.

"Ocho Rios, 15 to 20 years ago, boasted more than 800,000 cruise ship passengers annually. Those numbers have dropped to 400,000," said Issa.

He added that those numbers will be reduced significantly with one ship calling sporadically in summer 2015.

"The situation needs to be addressed immediately," said Issa, at the Mystic Ridge in Ocho Rios last Wednesday.

Summer business commences about the end of April and winds up between the end of October and the first week of November.

"With the demand for the Mediterranean, the summers have become much longer," said head of cruise shipping at the Port Authority of Jamaica, William Tatham. He admits that Ocho Rios will experience a significant drop in its numbers, and so will several other destinations in the Caribbean.

A Norwegian cruise ship makes a call at the port of Ocho Rios last Wednesday.

Tatham said Falmouth will receive an average of 10,000 to 12,000 passengers per week next summer, while Ocho Rios may welcome approximately 2,700 passengers three times per month.

Inevitably, he said, a great number of the Carnival passengers will end up in Ocho Rios owing to the attractions that the cruise line does business with.

"We are very optimistic that changes will come about with the implementation of the Ministry of Tourism of Entertainment's anti-harassment committee," said Tatham.

His comments were bolstered by statements made by Senior Superintendent of Police Yvonne Martin Daley, who says she and her team have had successes in the parish of St Ann through the help of the community.

"Over the past year, we have seen a significant reduction in crime, and we are getting the citizens to work with us,"

she said during the forum.

The PAJ's 2013-2014 annual report, which was recently tabled in Parliament, indicates that of the total cruise passengers who visited Jamaica in 2013, the Port of Falmouth received 615,857 passengers, or 50 per cent, and the Port of Montego Bay received 223,102 passengers, or 18 per cent. The Port of Ocho Rios received 400,680 passengers, or 32 per cent, a decline of 4.2 per cent relative to the previous year.

During the 2013-2014 fiscal year, a total of 363 cruise ships called at Jamaican ports, nine calls fewer than the previous fiscal year. Of this total, 144 vessels, or 39 per cent, visited Falmouth; 133 cruise vessels, or 37 per cent, called at the Port of Ocho Rios; and Montego Bay welcomed 82 cruise liners, or 22.6 per cent of the total. The remaining ports welcomed five cruise vessels, or 1.4 per cent. (Jamaica Gleaner)

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Jamaica to enter tourism Over 20,000 Guyana govt employees receive timeshare market

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Jamaica’s Senate on Friday approved the Timeshare Vacations Bill, facilitating the country’s entrance into the tourism timeshare market.

Timeshare/vacation ownership is defined as a method of use and or shared ownership of vacation real estate, where purchasers acquire a period of time (often one week) in a condominium, apartment or other type of vacation accommodation.

Opening the debate, minister of justice, Mark Golding, said that Jamaica is keen on developing a more sophisticated tourism product and wishes to embrace the vacation ownership market of which the timeshare concept is the most developed and most important part.

He pointed out that during the last decade or so, timeshare has been the most significant driver of business in the worldwide hospitality sector, with research showing that vacation ownership is one of the fastest growing sectors

Senator Mark Golding (JIS Photo)

of global hospitality.

“There is a huge market, significant potential and further growth and development of the timeshare product in the Caribbean, especially in Jamaica,” Golding said.

The minister noted that, currently, Jamaica is not a player in the timeshare market as a prolonged absence of a statutory framework has precluded Jamaica from reaping the benefits of participation in the worldwide industry.

The Bill seeks to give legal recognition to timeshare vacation schemes in the form of right-touse agreements, which are timeshare contracts and deeds issued in re-

spect thereof. It also regulates the marketing, promotion and provision of timeshare accommodation.

The Bill also provides for the licensing of agents of proprietors of timeshare plans; the registering of the timeshare plans under which the accommodation is offered; and standardizing of information to be provided to purchasers before they enter into any timeshare contract.

In his remarks, government senator, Noel Sloley, noted that the Bill adds another lucrative dimension to the nation’s tourism product.

He pointed out that the Real Estate Board has been nominated as regulator or the registrar of timeshare vacations in Jamaica.

For his part, opposition senator, Alexander Williams, also welcomed passage of the legislation.

“I can see no reason why this Timeshare Vacations Bill is not workable,” he said.

The Bill was passed in the House of Representatives in October 2014. (JIS)

British couple to sue TT for £2 million

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Peter and Murium Green

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: A British couple is moving to sue the TT government for £2 million, five years after a brutal machete attack in Tobago.

In August 2009, Peter Green and his wife Murium were chopped and left for dead at their Bacolet Crescent home.

They survived, barely, and with permanent injuries. Green, 70, a retired hotelier, had a cracked skull, fractured cheekbones, smashed teeth, limited vision after the knife cut out his left cornea, and nerve damage. Murium, who has multiple sclerosis,

had both cheekbones and eye sockets smashed, and her jaw detached.

According to UK media reports, the Greens are claiming that the TT government should have warned tourists the place was “dangerous.”They are reported as saying that they suffered ongoing physical and psychological damage from the incident.

The reports days after a German couple— Hubertus Keil and his wife, Birgid—were found hacked to death at Minister’s Bay, a stone’s throw from their Bacolet residence.

Green is quoted as saying: "It might cost us

a lot of money but we're going to do it. We want to bring it to people's attention that these islands are dangerous.

According to the report, Green said, "The authorities don't like me because I am a constant reminder of what their republic stands for. They say I've ruined their tourism industry and had an effect on hoteliers, but people need to know how dangerous this place is."

The legal challenge, the report said, will begin after medical assessments.

One neighbour told the TT media: "Several couples from Europe and the USA came to view the property but after they were informed of the bloody attack they have changed their minds because they are very scared knowing too that the suspect is still on the loose."

The resident is very concerned and is thinking of selling her property and leaving Tobago for good.

Another resident compared it to a haunted house out of a horror movie.(TT Guardian)

salary increases for 2014

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: In light of rumours surrounding teachers’ bonuses for 2014, the Office of President (OP) has cleared the air by stating that some teachers will receive an eight per cent increase for 2014.

It said that teachers earning less than Gy$50,000 monthly as at the end of December 2013 are being granted an additional three per cent increase, retroactive to January 1, 2014 across the board. This increase will benefit nurses, Police officers, etc.

On top of that increase, OP said a five per cent increase has already been paid to teachers in keeping with the multiyear agreement with the Guyana Teachers’ Union

(GTU).

This brings their total increase to eight per cent and circulars have already been issued to effect the payment of these increases on wages and salaries for 2014.

Recently, teachers from various parts of the country have been expressing concerns over their non-receipt of wage increases or bonuses for Christmas.

When Mark Lyte, the new President of the GTU took office earlier this year, he said he would be advocating for better working conditions for teachers, among other things.

He said that as a part of his mandate, he will not only engage the government, but also the Private Sector to see how teachers can enjoy some

non-salaried benefits. He said while he will still be advocating for higher salaries, he felt that with the rampant increase in cost of living, an increase will not be of much help.

In addition, the Office of the President said over 20,000 public servants and members of the Disciplined Forces have been granted wages and salaries increases for 2014.

As of December 31, 2013, retroactive to January 1, 2014, these government employees received five to eight per cent increase of their wages and salaries.

It was further explained that government employees earning above Gy$50,000 monthly, are being granted a five per cent increase across the board. (Guyana Times)

Marley's cannabis brand raises concerns in Jamaica and abroad

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: "He's smiling at what's really happening right now." Those were the words of Cedella Marley, daughter of the late reggae legend Bob Marley as she spoke on the family's decision to make Marley the face of the world's first global cannabis brand.

But ever since the announcement was made a couple of weeks ago, there have been several persons whose smile has been turned upside-down by the decision.

Just over two weeks ago, Privateer Holdings,

Cedella Marley

a Seattle-based company, broke news of a partnership with the Marley family that will see them using the late icon's name to market its brand of cannabis products. Under the moniker Marley Natural,

Privateer Holdings will sell premium cannabis products, including cannabis and hemp-infused lotions and balms as well as handcrafted accessories. .

Ian Thomson, author of The Dead Yard: Tales of Modern Jamaica, is one such person. In an interview with UKbased media house The Guardian, the author dubbed the decision by the Marley family as a "cynical, money-generating move" before going on to say that the move would turn the late icon into the 'Marlboro Man of Marijuana'.(Jamaica Gleaner)

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

TT$79 million to upgrade Maracas Beach P

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Two mobile service stations will be provided for north coast fishermen and TT$79 million will be pumped into upgrading the facilities at Maracas Beach. Tourism Minister Gerald Hadeed made the announcement at the Ministry of Planning and Sustainable Development’s national consultation on the development of the North Coast Growth Pole at the Maracas Bay Community Centre, Savannah Road, Grande Fond, Maracas Bay, on Sunday.

Hadeed said, “Most

importantly, what the people of the north coast need the most for sustainable living and the fishermen in particular is to have easier access to petroleum products for their boats. “In conjunction with the Ministry of Energy and National Petroleum they are going to put into La Fillette and Matelot two mobile service stations so the fishermen can have access at the waterfront for their boats. .

Hadeed said all aspects of Maracas Bay will improve tremendously at a cost of TT$79 million compared to the former PNM administration’s TT$237 million

Maracas Beach

for the same project. He said a new road will be

Jamaican govt ordered to pay Ja$10 million after medics cut woman's tubes without permission

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I N G S T O N , JAMAICA: The government will have to pay more than Ja$10 million to a Jamaican woman who now lives in the United States (U.S.), Juliet Robinson, after she was left infertile when doctors at the Spanish Town Hospital cut her fallopian tubes without her knowledge.

Robinson had gone to the hospital in February 1995, when she was 28 years old, to give birth to her fourth child. A caesarean section (C-section) was performed to deliver the baby.

After the operation, the doctors went to perform a second operation and cut her tubes (tubal ligation). As a result of that operation, Robinson was left unable to naturally become pregnant.

Robinson told the court that while she agreed to the C-section, she refused repeatedly any offer of having her tubes tied.

She said she did not know that any such operation was done on her until 1999, while living in U.S., when she did medical tests and was informed by a gynaecologist that both tubes were cut.

In 2001, she filed a negligence suit in the Supreme Court against the hospital, the Ministry of Health, the attorney general and three doctors who participated in the surgery.

Robinson, who was represented by attorneys-at-law Dundeen Ferguson and Ronald Koathes, said she tried to get pregnant in 1999 and when that did not happen she and her husband started fertility treatment. She said that was when they consulted a specialist and was told about the tubal ligation.

Robinson disclosed that her efforts to become pregnant from 1999 to 2009 caused a strain on her relationship with her husband.

Dr Danielle Clair, a certi-

fied obstetrician and gynaecologist who practises in the U.S., was called as Robinson's expert witness. Clair indicated that in the U.S., it would be assault and battery for a doctor to perform an operation such as cutting the patient's tube without her consent.

She opined that, in Robinson's case, the conduct of the doctors amounted to failure to exercise due care and skill in the operations.

However, the defendants contended that the surgical procedure to cut the claimant's tube was an emergency procedure to save her life. They said after the baby was delivered, Robinson developed excessive bleeding around the vessels of the uterus and medical procedure was done to stop the bleeding and save her life.

In handing down the Ja$10-million judgment, Mr Justice Courtney Daye found that the nurse's note supported the claim that Robinson did not consent to any tubal ligation. "(The doctors') treatment of the claimant and, vicariously, the Spanish Town Hospital fell short of the standard of practice of a responsible body of medical opinion and skill in the speciality and of a gynaecologist, surgeon and healthcare provision. The treatment was not reasonable and rational," held Daye.

In handing down judgment Daye said Robinson was entitled to general damages covering her physical and emotional pain and suffering commencing from 1998, as well as expenses incurred for fertility treatment and in vitro fertilisation.

The defendants were ordered to pay Ja$8 million in general damages with interest at three per cent from November 2002 to this year. Special damages of US$$14,862 was awarded with interest from February 1995 to this year. (Jamaica Gleaner)

designed to go around the car park and come

out further down by the gas station to reduce the

traffic jams on a weekend. Hadeed said a total upgrade of the car park, sewer system, amenities, and planting sea grape trees and coconut palms to make it a green area were in the pipeline.

He added that security will also be beefed up with the implementation of beach patrols at most of the beaches in TT beginning with Tobago.

Also at the table were Planning Minister Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie, Chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB) Richard Young and EDB Executive Director Dr Rikhi Permanand.(TT Guardian)

US$2.5M in sawn timber heading to UK - European timber markets officially open to Guyana

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The first shipment of local value-added timber destined for the United Kingdom (UK) is currently being loaded for shipping, signalling Guyana’s entry into the European timber market.

Over one million Board Measure (BM) of processed greenheart worth some US$2.5 million is being ex-

sised that indeed it should be a great deal for local timber producers, given the quantity of wood being shipped on the first shipment to the UK. Aitken emphasised that it was largely due to the Wood Tracking System (WTS) that they were able to import the timber into the European market. “The WTS gives us and our customers a very high degree of confidence that the

was enhanced traceability on this shipment of timber.

“We can actually tell you where the stump is for every piece of timber we have cut for this market,” Habidullah boasted.

Deputy Commissioner of Forests, Tasreef Khan noted that the shipment was unique in that it is only taking processed, sawn timber to the UK.

Roderick Aitken, Managing Director of Howard and Aitken, the company purchasing the timbers, speaking to the media on Thursday

ported in this shipment. Five suppliers had to combine in order to achieve the desired quantity and quality in a timely manner.

At the John Fernandes Wharf in Stabroek on Thursday, workers were busily loading the timber off trucks and onto a vessel under the watchful eyes of officials from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC).

Speaking to the media during the loading process, Managing Director of the timber buying company, Howard and Aitken Limited (UK), Roderick Aitken empha-

lumber is all traceable and the logs have been felled in accordance with the GFC code of practice. It cannot be underestimated how important these traceability schemes are to the end customer and are a part of the requirements to export to Europe.”

Also on hand at the loading were two of the suppliers who briefly spoke to the media on what the shipment meant for them as timber producers and exporters.

Justin Habidullah of Parika Saw Mills noted that this shipment has propelled his company onto the international scene. He also made mention of the fact that there

He noted that in the past there had been shipments of processed timber leaving Guyana, but they would have been mixed with logs.

Over the past decade, the Government of Guyana working collaboratively with Private Sector Groups such as the Forest Products Association (FPA); the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and the Community Forestry Associations (CFAs) have been able to implement several initiatives that have led to a more enabling environment for the manufacture of in-country value-added forest products. (Guyana Times)

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WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Guyana’s PM Kamla lays down Agriculture the law for TT ministers Ministry eyes P large-scale production of bio-ethanol

A section of the multimillion-dollar bio-ethanol demonstration plant at the Albion Sugar Estate

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The Agriculture Ministry is gradually reducing the importation of ethanol as it eyes the large scale production of bio-ethanol production in Guyana.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy made this disclosure to Guyana Times even as he reported that the Gy$85 million Bio-ethanol Demonstration Plant at the Albion Sugar Estate was fulfilling its mandate.

Bio-ethanol produced via this multimillion-dollar plant is being used in laboratories across the eight estates and seven factories within the sugar industry. The plant produces both hydrous and anhydrous ethanol for these laboratories. It is also designed to produce ethanol for biomedical laboratories.

It was explained that prior to the establishment to the demonstration plant, ethanol was either sourced locally or imported, however, with this new intervention, the Agriculture Ministry through the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is gradually reducing the amount imported due to its ability to produce bio-ethanol.

“A small part of our operation is now transformed from procurement from an external source to production in-

side the industry,” Dr Ramsammy explained.

Additionally, the demonstration plant continues to supply 20 vehicles within the Agriculture Ministry, GuySuCo and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institution (NAREI) with an E10 blend of fuel.

According to him, the analytical study will also determine whether it is economically viable to use the blended fuel.

“So we are comparing mileage that you get from a gallon of blended fuel verses the nonblended fuel.”

If proven to be efficient, Minister Ramsammy said Guyana in the future would be required to put bio-ethanol legislation in place to legislate for the use of blended fuel in the transportation sector.

Such legislation, he emphasised would allow for large-scale production, thereby creating a new market in the local arena.

The demonstration plant is a two-component system: the first produces hydrous ethanol (95 per cent from molasses) and the second anhydrous ethanol (99.9 per cent) using membrane technology.

These systems were designed by Green Bio of Porto Alegre in Brazil and the second by White Fox from Calgary, Canada. (Guyana Times)

O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: An intense, confidential Cabinet meeting at the Diplomatic Centre last Wednesday, left a few ministers chastened and upset when Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar laid down new guidelines for their code of conduct.

The TT media understands that PersadBissessar clamped down on the use of blue flashing lights on vehicles, banned use of shortcuts through the South Quay bus terminus, and restricted use of the National Security Operations Centre (NOSC) helicopter to her office only. She also asked them to adhere to the law by removing very dark tints from their cars.

While several of the ministers in attendance remained tightlipped on the issues discussed at Wednesday’s meeting, one insider described it as “tense,” saying that all was well until Persad-Bissessar detailed her four mandates. The TT media contacted the ministers who attended the session, and could be seen in a photograph taken of the meeting, but was

TT ‘s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

told that it was “highly confidential” and no one was allowed to speak of what was discussed.

Minister of National Security Gary Griffith, who attended the meeting, said he could not recall if the issue of the helicopter came up, but was out of the meeting for a short moment, so he could not be sure.

“It is hardly likely that the Prime Minister said that. She may have obviously had to remind ministers that the NOSC falls under the purview of the Office of the Prime

Minister,” Griffith said.

Griffith also said that the helicopters and operational equipment attached to the NOSC still falls under his remit.

The Prime Minister, he said, had control of the administration of the NOSC, as she also controlled the National Security Council.

Head of the NOSC, Commander Garvin Heerah, in a brief telephone interview, said only the Prime Minister’s office is authorised to approve the use of the NOSC’s he-

licopters now. He said it used to be that the Ministry of National Security was authorised, but that has been restructured. “It must go to the Prime Minister,” Heerah said.

“We do interministerial support as required, such as for environmental missions and disaster evaluations. If a ministry needs to requisition a helicopter, it used to be authorised by the Minister of National Security, but as the head of the NOSC, it is the Prime Minister that has the final say,” Heerah said. He said the NOSC ensured that all requests came in writing and once approved, then a helicopter would be allowed off the compound.

On the issue of the blue flashing lights, Griffith said no minister or ministry was authorised to used blue flashing lights on their vehicle unless it was being driven by an on-duty police officer. “If a minister has a civilian driver, then he cannot use blue flashing lights,” Griffith said. One attendee, speaking on the condition of anonymity, however, confirmed that Persad-Bissessar gave no ground on the issues.

(TT Guardian)

Tremendous progress made in addressing AIDS – UN Secretary General

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: As countries the world over observed World AIDS Day on Monday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said tremendous progress has been made in responding to theepidemic.

This year, world leaders made a commitment to end AIDS by 2030.

The fast-track approach launched last week is expected to make this goal reachable.

The UN Secretary General in a release said almost 14 million people worldwide are now accessing HIV treatment.

“We have reduced new HIV infections by 38 per cent since 2001.

We have prevented 1.16 million infections among new-born babies by providing essential antiretroviral medicines. We are on track to provide antiretroviral therapy to 15 million people by 2015 and to eliminate

mother-to-child transmissions within the next few years. Thanks to the dedication and energy of many partners including those in civil society, we continue to tackle and remove laws that stigmatise and discriminate.

Progress is accelerating,” he said.

But Ban noted that the gains remain fragile.

“There are 35 million people living with HIV today, and some 19 million of them do not know they have the virus. There are important gaps in our response to key groups of people.

Two out of three children who need treatment do not get it. Young women are particularly vulnerable in many countries with high HIV prevalence,” he said.

The AIDS epidemic is increasing in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, fuelled by stigma, discrimination and punitive laws. And the essential

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

work of community systems and support organisations often lacks support.

“We have a short fiveyear window of opportunity to reach the people who are being left behind, people who have been denied their rights – young women and adolescent girls, men who have sex with men, migrants, prisoners, sex workers, people who inject drugs.

“To do this we need to

ensure that health systems are strengthened to provide the essential services that are needed and civil society has to be supported so it can continue to play its vital role.”

On World AIDS Day 2014, Sidibé said it is time to redouble efforts, to fast-track actions and close the gap between people who have access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and people who are being left behind.

By fast-tracking countries, cities and communities “we can reach people most affected by HIV. And with Fast-Track Targets like 90–90–90, we can ensure that, by 2020, 90 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 90 per cent of people who know their HIV positive status are on treatment and that 90 per cent of people on treatment have suppressed viral loads”.

(Guyana Times)

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Living with the Naipaul legacy Capildeo’s poetry is ‘original, provoking and strange’

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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: One of the most distinctive things about Vahni Capildeo is her voice.

It’s imperious yet slightly breathy at the same time; she puts dramatic emphasis on the syllable at the end of sentences and phrases. It’s easy to imagine that voice reading dark, Victorian-era novels like those of the Bronte sisters. It’s easy to accept that she creates verse that Sunday Arts Section book critic Shivanee Ramlochan describes as “savage, unafraid and hilarious.”

Her collection of poetry Dark and Unaccustomed Words—her fourth publication—was long-listed for last year’s Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature.

And it’s easy to accept that she comes from a vaunted and controver-

sial literary family. She’s second cousin to writers VS and Shiva Naipaul.

Her grandfather was the Naipauls’ maternal uncle.

It’s a connection that Capildeo seems ambivalent about, according to readings at an event to celebrate her work, put on recently by the Friends of Mr Biswas, the NGO that maintains the Naipaul House Museum in St James and works to promote local literature.

Nicholas Laughlin, the main organiser of the event, read from Capildeo’s unpublished memoir, in which she wrote about the hardcovered first editions of Naipaul books kept on shelves in her childhood home. “I kept away from all these armoured books. They were impenetrable,” wrote Capildeo, whose grandfather was

TT poet Vahni Capildeo.

Photo courtesy Caroline Forbes/ Friends of Mr Biswas

Simbhoonath Capildeo.

He and his brother Rudranath Capildeo were influential in the early politics of TT. But the relationship between the Naipauls and the Capildeos wasn’t entirely rocky. The first edition books were given to Capildeo’s mother Leila by her brother’s wife, VS’s and Shiva’s sister Sati.

Leila Capildeo also used to spend time as a girl at Naipaul House— the basis for the legendary VS Naipaul novel A House for Mr Biswas.

The Naipauls moved there in 1946. “Leila had fond recollections of their conversation, coffee, bread and cheese, and warmth,” Capildeo wrote of the Naipauls.

Capildeo studied English literature and language at Oxford University and has lived mostly in the UK since 1991. But she visits TT regularly, attending a few editions of the Bocas Literary Festival, including this year’s, where she participated in readings, talks and workshops.

She currently holds the prestigious Judith E Wilson poetry fellowship at Cambridge University. “Vahni’s poetry has won her a reputation as one of the most

original, most provoking and strangest—in the best sense—writers of her generation among her peers in TT and the wider Caribbean,” said Laughlin.

A number of other Naipaul relatives have been involved in the establishment and development of the museum, including Shiva’s and VS’s sister, Savitri Akal, who donated photographs that are on display at the house. She and son Kiran were at the formal opening of the museum in February. Another son, Ashvin, is treasurer of the Friends of Mr Biswas and has “worked

assiduously to bring in memorabilia” for the museum, Friends chair Kenneth Ramchand said in an address during the opening.

Besides the Capildeo and Bissoonath events, the Friends have also hosted a talk on the legacy of newspaper publisher Patrick Chookolingo and readings by author Ian McDonald. “It will be both the family home of the Naipaul-Capildeo clan,” Ramchand said of Naipaul House, “and the centre from which we seek to pass on heritage by nurturing literature and the literary arts in TT.” (TT Guardian)

Three Jamaicans get Philip Sherlock Awards

(L-R) Brian Heap, Dr Hazel Bennett and Douglas Bennett

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Come next Monday three Jamaicans — librarian and author Dr Hazell Bennett, advertising executive and writer Anthony Gambrill, and theatre producer Douglas Bennett — will receive the Philip Sherlock Centre Award.

The award, which was instituted last year, recognises persons whose work is similar in spirit to that of Sir Philip -wide-ranging in their areas of interests and have made a contribution to national development and culture.

According to Brian Heap of the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative and Performing Arts at the University of the West Indies, it is hoped that by honouring people who are at the end of their careers it will serve to inspire young Jamaicans.

"What this award says is that, despite your circumstances, work with what you have and you can still produce great results. When you look at this year's honourees they are a living testament to a diversity of interests, just like Sir Philip. When you see how important culture was to Sir Philip, we felt

that students needed to know more about him and by honouring people who work in a similar manner, we bring his contribution into focus," he said.

Speaking to each of this year's recipients, Heap noted that they are all more than deserving.

Regarding Anthony 'Tony' Grambrill, Heap drew attention to his work as a writer and actor in addition to his pioneering work as an advertising executive.

"When one examines the work Gambrill did with his wife Linda in producing Skywritings (Air Jamaica's in-flight magazine). The publication was a great promoter of Jamaican culture and, even though it is no longer published, it is in libraries and archives and stands as a piece of history and a legacy for future generations.

Turning to Dr Bennett, Heap said her work as both a librarian and author makes her worthy of the award this year.

Last year's recipients were musician, composer and choir director Noel Dexter, theatre practitioner Jean Small, and ethnomusicologist Marjorie Whylie.

(Jamaica Observer)

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...a one-man baking business

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Sitting casually in the lobby, clad in blue jeans and a simple black T-shirt, Adriel Nagil looks like he walked off a photo-shoot for Old Navy, one of the top clothing brands in the United States. His chiseled good looks and ripped physique look like he spends countless hours at the gym but this Belmont hunk actually works up a sweat in the kitchen.

Comfortable in an apron and hairnet, frosting delicate mini cheesecakes and cupcakes despite it being not the most manly profession, to Nagil this is his dream. To friends he is just Adriel but to clients and customers he is the “Muffin Man”. While he could be easily mistaken for an actor, bodybuilder or model, a baker is usually the last thing that comes to people’s minds when they see the 28-year-old.

“I get it all the time. Some people think I am a personal trainer which I’m not but it’s cool,” he said.

Baking since he was five years old, it was something that came naturally to Nagil. Despite having a knack for

baking, Nagil would only realise how much it would play a major part of his life later on.

He said, “After I finished school I had no idea what I wanted to do.”

Nagil found himself working at a cellphone company and despite having a job that paid the bills, he still felt unfulfilled.

“In 2011, a friend invited me to their house over the Carnival weekend and just to say thanks I decided to bake banana bread for them. They were so impressed by it that they suggested that I should start selling it and that’s how it all got started,” he said.

“I decided to take a leap of faith. I left my job in 2011 to pursue my passion for baking,” he said.

No longer something he just did on the side, Adriel sunk everything he had to do baking full time.

Owner and founder of Desserts by Adriel that he plans to change soon to Desserts by Dre, Nagil currently supplies six out of 55 Ritual Coffee House branches in Trinidad and Tobago with his baked treats. He also supplies

Muffin Man’: Owner of Desserts

by Adriel, Adriel Nagil

Coffee Beanery, Tablespoon in Curepe as well as Petit Gourmet in St Clair.

For the Christmas season, he plans to delight his customers by doing some punch de crème cupcakes and fruit cake. Christmas is usually one of Nagil’s busiest periods however it is always busy throughout the year, he

said.

Apart from cupcakes, Nagil also makes cheesecakes and brownies.

He admits his parents were not too thrilled with the idea of him leaving his permanent job to pursue something that may not have been successful, however, they are happy I followed my heart, he said.

“When I am not working I’m pretty much a laid-back person but I do enjoy just having fun outdoors,” Nagil said.

From rock-climbing to zip-lining.

Nagil likes to stay active. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to him and it’s something he takes over to his muffins as well. From sugar-free to gluten free, Nagil says he wants his cupcakes to be great for everyone. From the health-conscious to children and even the elderly, cupcakes can still be healthy and delicious, he said.

While Adriel’s looks do not hurt his profession he says he would rather have his work speak for itself.

To order your Christmas treats, email dresdelights@hotmail.com. (TT Express)

US-based Guyanese artist Marina Kelawon uses art as a means of self-expression and escape, while capturing the beauty of nature.

“One of my biggest dreams is to someday go to an art institute to further my passion in art. I plan to keep painting in the years ahead and try to attain perfection,” the

artist declared.

For more information on the artist visit Marina's World of Art on Facebook.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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Marina Kelawon

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: The works of international artists have been included in the Jamaica Biennial set to open at the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ) on December 7.

The inclusion of nonJamaican artists is a first for the biennial and executive director of the NGJ, Dr Verlee Poupeye sees this as part of the evolution of Jamaican art.

"The vast majority of artists in the exhibition is Jamaican or Jamaican diaspora, so the exhibition is still mainly one of Jamaican art and that will always be so. Definitions of 'Jamaicanness' have, however expanded significantly in recent times, because of a very culturally engaged diaspora and the global impact of Jamaican culture, and as a National Art Gallery we need to engage with that. What happens in Jamaican

Head boy by artist Cosmo Whyte

art today is the result of complex local and global cultural dialogues and there are significant connections to what is happening elsewhere in the Caribbean, which is what the inclusion of the six international artists is seeking to explore.

Among the international artists are: Renee Cox (Jamaica/ USA), James Cooper (Bermuda), Blue Curry (Bahamas/ UK), Gilles Elie-ditCosaque (Martinique), Richard Mark Rawlins (Trinidad), and Sheena Rose (Barbados).

In addition to the invited artists, another development is that the juried section was selected by two international judges, Diana Nawi, associate curator at the Perez Art Museum in Miami, and Sara Hermann, a curator and art historian from the Dominican Republic.

The Biennial is set to consist of more than 120 works by 97 artists, in-

cluding well-established artists as well as many young and emerging ones.

In another first, the Biennial will also be shown at more than one location -- in addition to the National Gallery, parts of the exhibition will be shown at Devon House and at National Gallery West.

For Devon House, six artists -- Greg Bailey, Laura Facey, James Cooper, Ebony G. Patterson, Oneika Russell, and Cosmo Whyte -- whose work paralells the greathouse will be showcased there.

At National Gallery West at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre on Sam Sharpe Square, we will feature selections from a new body of photographic and video by Renee Cox titled Sacred Geometry. One other project, by Blue Curry, will be shown in various locations on the streets of downtown Kingston.

(Jamaica Observer)

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: Born and raised in Enmore, East Coast Demerara, Kelawon migrated to Passaic, New Jersey, US, in 2010.

“Adapting to a new environment was very hard. I was accustomed to interacting with my neighbours and hanging out with my friends, but was unable to practice that since Passaic is Latino populated,” Kelawon recalled in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

Growing up, Kelawon would draw a lot but she did not try her hand at painting until 2012.

The self-taught artist mentioned that creativity is a prominent feature in her family, as her uncles would draw a lot.

Inspired by the work of veteran Guyanese artist Bernadette Persaud, Kelawon decided to seriously take up painting.

As for now, art is a hobby which Kelawon hope will soon transform into a profession.

Capturing the beauty of nature

'Missing Summer' done using painting knives

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The Fred Allicock Building Located at the Iwokrama River Lodge, the Fred Allicock building tells a story of a notable man

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : Your visit to Iwokrama directly contributes to the communities in and surrounding the Iwokrama forest.

Tourism there supports the development of an eco-friendly sustainable model which is being shared locally, nationally and internationally.

Located at the Iwokrama River Lodge is the Fred Allicock building, which was built in the years 2000 to 2001.

Fred Allicock

Upstairs of the building, the restaurant and bar, dining hall for

both staff and tourists are found. The building is also used for meetings, conferences and workshops. The offices are housed downstairs: tourism office, administration office, monitoring office, conference room, medical centre, shop and patio.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine Kevin Edwards, Tourism Coordinator at Iwokrama River Lodge, stated that Fred Allicock is an Amerindian ex-

Fred Allicock building

Best view of the Essequibo River from the building pert who shares his local knowledge on managing natural environment who presently resides in Surama. Edwards also mentioned that Allicock served as the First Field Station Manager with Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development and was successful in accomplishing all of his tasks in the field.

The building, according to Edwards, was dedicated to Allicock because of his diligent work at Iwokrama.

From the building, tourists enjoy a scenic view of the Essequibo River. It is where, after an exciting day of discovery and exploration, they can enjoy traditional Guyanese cuisine at the restaurant. A computer with internet access is available in the tourism office, and the entire building is covered by WiFi internet access. A gift shop and a shop selling cold drinks, snacks and general items, such as toiletries, are available in the lower level. Not far away

are two science laboratories and a conference room with air conditioning and which is wired for digital equipment such as computers and LCD projectors.

There is also a beautiful mural on the building’s walls. It was done

by Guyanese artists George Simon and his brother; Anil Roberts; visual art students from Annai Secondary; and others. The mural showcases the biodiversity of Iwokrama. (Sunday Magazine Guyana Times)

Junior Sinclair pays homage YoPro hosts Christmas Market in TT to Jamaican heroes

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Going back to his years at Holmwood Technical in Manchester, Junior Sinclair says he was fascinated by the achievements of Jamaica's national heroes. He is concerned, however, that not many of his younger countrymen feel the same way.

Sinclair, 62, pays homage to the country's seven national heroes on his debut album of the same. It was released in September by VP Records.

"I've been in the music business for over 40 years and nobody has done anything on these memorable people. We've heard songs about Marcus Garvey but nothing about the intricacies of our heroes," Sinclair said.

Garvey, a giant of the pan-African movement, was the focus of roots singer Burning Spear's epic 1975 album, Marcus Garvey. That set helped revive interest in the St Ann-born thinker, who was also a pillar of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s.

The songs on National Heroes tells the story of each figure whose achievements were recognised by the government with Jamaica's highest honour.

Sinclair believes not enough is known about them.

Nanny, a Maroon leader, is Jamaica's lone female national hero. The others being Garvey; Sir Alexander Bustamante, Jamaica's first prime minister; premier Norman Manley; anti-colonial fighters Sam Sharpe, George William Gordon and Paul Bogle.

A businessman, Sinclair is the son of former People's National Party member of parliament and businessman Owen

Junior Sinclair

'Hurry Hurry' Sinclair. He got his start in the music business in the early 1970s with the Young Generation Band which performed throughout Jamaica during that decade.

He migrated to Canada in 1980 and maintained his ties to music. After living there for 21 years he returned to Jamaica and has forged a successful career as manager of the Sinclair's Bargain Centre stores.

Sinclair began recording National Heroes last year. The sessions were done at Mixing Lab Studio in Kingston with top musicians such as drummer Sly Dunbar, guitarist Winston 'Bo Pee' Bowen, saxophonist Dean Fraser, trombonist Nambo Robinson, and keyboardist Robbie Lyn. He says completing the project has been gratifying.

"These people paved the way. I am a beneficiary of their work." (Jamaica Observer)

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: YoPro Global hosted its Christmas Market on the terrace of One Woodbrook Place on Thursday, in an effort to allow for youth and seasoned professionals to come together and support one another in their passions and careers, while at the same time getting some early shopping done.

Held in partnership with Beacon and local young professional entrepreneurs from the community it was all about another networking experience for participants.

At the event, attendees and media were given access to shopping from local vendors, as well as sample bites from some of One Woodbrook Place’s restaurants Annie’s, The Port, Chaud Café, Shesha Café and Lounge, and Svaada.

According to YoPro’s director of communities Brett Torina: “The event put a different spin on the traditional ‘upmarket’ concept with focus being more about generating good conversation and putting people in an exciting space to create new connections, all with Christmas shopping in the background.”

Torina together with YoPro Global’s CEO Dr Ty Richardson, and local YoPro team, welcomed guests to the event.

Guests had the opportunity to browse, and some purchased items from honey to cigars, jewelry and locally-made chocolates.

And, creating a stir was the UShare photo booth where upon entry guests created their own special moments by taking candid photos in front of the YoPro backdrop.

Brett Torina, Director of Communities

Other retailers doing business on the night were Jo! Fine Jewellery Collection by Josanne Mark, JB Chocolates from James Burns, Mermaid Designs by Nadia John, TT’s Entrepreneurs and UWIAA. Providing festive music was DJ Clyde and Junior, while Reynold Woodroffe and associates gave Christmas performances.

Richardson stated: “This is our fifth event here in Trinidad and Tobago, and the feedback that we continue to receive is overwhelmingly positive.

“This excites us at YoPro because we enjoy seeing the potential that unfolds through networking and it gives us the confidence that our 2015 calender of experiences for TT is well-defined and will be well-received.”

YoPro’s 2015 calender will be released via Facebook in December.

Meanwhile membership is free on the social networkas and more information about the community, partnerships and events, is available at www. yoproglobal.org (TT Express)

feature

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WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Mustard Seed Communities hosts a ceramics exhibition in Jamaica Long-time MSC volunteer Erica Cooper displays her conceptualised coffee apparatus.

K

INGSTON, JAMAICA: Art and 'giving back' were sharply in focus last weekend as the Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) hosted a ceramics exhibition at the Spanish Court Hotel featuring the brilliant work of ceramicist Patrick Hall -- a disciple of late 'master potter' Cecil Baugh -- and guest artist PJ Stewart, who showcased a plethora of her striking paintings.

A stirring address was also delivered by United Nations Development Programme Deputy Resident Representative Dr Elsie LaurenceChounoune on behalf of

Philanthropist, theatre set designer and guest artist PJ Stewart beams alongside a ‘wall’ of her graphite and paint on paper Creatures series. PHOTOS: LIONEL ROOKWOOD

her boss, United Nations Resident Coordinator Dr Arun Kashyap. Proceeds from the sale of the showing artists' works

will go towards the care of MSC's disabled and disenfranchised children and young adults.

(Jamaica Observer)

MSC Jamaica Executive Director Darcy Tulloch-Williams presents a selection of potted works by Patrick Hall to Archbishop of Kingston Charles Dufour (centre) and MSC International Executive Director Father Garvin Augustine.

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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Trinidadian Dr Mumtaz Kazim, a Family Physician, practising in Minnesota, USA, has been honoured with the cover photo for the 2014 edition of the Minneapolis/St Paul’s annual Top Doctors issue.

Dr Kazim, President of Edina Family Physicians in Minnesota, was Top Doctors Designee in 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 to 2014.

Said Amanda Lepinski, writer of the article, for which the picture was done by Cameron Wittig, “Here’s our annual guide to the best in town, according to their peers; more than 700 doctors organised by 42 specialties.” Kazim leads the seven top professionals chosen for behind the scenes interviews.

Asked “How did you decide you wanted to go into medicine?” the family physician’s answer tells us that medicine chose the youngest child of Dr Ebrahim Kazim and his late wife Dr Joan Homaida Kazim. “Both of my parents were practising physicians on the island of Trinidad. They owned a 17-bed hospital during my childhood. I remember tagging along with my mother from room to room and visiting the patients. Family practice covers the entire spectrum of medicine.

It’s really a job where you can get to know the family members from one generation to another – assisting them with all their medical needs. I really love that.”

Trinidadian Dr Mumtaz Kazim

Proud older brothers are Latif, who lives in Buffalo and now looks after his father who has migrated from Trinidad since the passing of his beloved wife in March 2011, and Farouk, who lives in Canada, and wrote, “Mumtaz Kazim recently received the prestigious top doc award as voted by her peers in Minneapolis/St Paul, USA. She is the daughter of Drs Joan and Ebrahim Kazim who settled in Trinidad in 1949. As a young student she attended Bishop Anstey, both Junior and High Schools, where she was inspired by both of her parents to become a physician. She pursued her medical degree at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, India. She subsequently completed her Family Practice residency at the

University of Minnesota in the United States. Dr Mumtaz Kazim is currently the President of her nine-physician clinic in Edina, Minnesota, and is also the team physician for the Minnesota Lynx (WNBA).

“Dr Kazim maintains that the most important trait a doctor must have is a passion for medicine and a compassion for patients. Her personal hobbies include piano, cooking and world travel.”

For those of us who are not too certain, Minneapolis-Saint Paul is the most populous urban area in the US state of Minnesota, and is composed of 182 cities and townships built around the Mississippi, Minnesota and St Croix rivers. The area is also nicknamed the Twin Cities for its two largest cities. (TT Newsday)

Strengthening local indigenous culture in Guyana

G

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: An international project geared at cultural dissemination and capacity building from the north, east, south and west, Encompass, a travelling exhibition, is currently being hosted in Guyana - one of the few destinations in its 36-month travel itinerary.

In collaboration with Iwokrama and the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), En-compass, a project established by the University of Newcastle in the United Kingdom, is conducting a series of activities under the theme, ‘Heritage Management and Preservation’.

With the aim to strengthen cultural expressions, productions

and services, improve cultural access and dissemination, while maintaining the protection of cultural heritage, the travelling exhibition, after stopping in Kenya (Mombasa), is scheduled to remain in Guyana for three weeks before heading to University of Newcastle and then China (Hainan Province).

“En-compass took three cultural practitioners from Guyana on exchange visits to China, Kenya and Newcastle, and then three persons came to Guyana and visited in the North Rupununi. On these exchanges they looked for similarities differences, concerns, how they can deal with their concerns, and so forth. Of course they also did research to put together this exhibition,” Dr Raquel

Musical instruments from the various countries the exhibition visited

Thomas-Caesar, Director for Research Management at Iwokrama, told Guyana Times.

The three cultural practitioners from Guyana

who participated in the exhibition were Benita Roberts, a coordinator from the Makushi Research Unit; Glenn Allicock, the leader of the Ceramics Culture

Group; and Oswald Hussein, an Arawak sculptor from St Cuthbert’s Mission.

The three participants noted some similarities in the indigenous tribes of Africa with their own, which they shared at the opening ceremony. Additionally, they shared their experiences, comparisons between the tribes and a display of the cultural items they were exposed to, such as food, artefacts, clothes, music and much more.

The project is geared to encourage improved management and protection of these resources by linking shared cultural information at all levels to ensure the protection of threatened cultural heritage and to combat discrimination.

The key stakeholder groups in Guyana involved

included Iwokrama and NRDDB, representing the 16 communities of the Amerindian people living in or adjacent to the Iwokrama rainforest reserve.

The entire 36 months will not be spent only travelling with the exhibition - although the travelling exhibition takes up much of the time - there will also be cultural exchanges, country workshops, research on each group and supported master’s studies to empower both the participants and the general public of each country.

The travelling exhibition is being hosted at the Guyana National Museum through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport from 26 November to 13 December 2014. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

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feature

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

K

INGSTON, JAMAICA: The Ghetto Splash show returns on December 16 at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium in Kingston.

The event, which was held annually between 1989 and 2003, took an 10-year break before making a comeback last year.

According to promoter Patrick Roberts of Shocking Vibes Productions, last year's show at the same venue was "a massive success" due to the appearance of top dancehall artistes.

"For the first time in their career we had

Bounty Killer and Popcaan

Popcaan and Mavado on the same stage and this year we are pulling out all the stops to have another massive event," said Roberts.

Roberts told the

Jamaican media that he has partnered with Downsound Records and Boom Energy Drink for the show which benefits inner-city youth.

During its early

years, Ghetto Splash was one of the most anticipated shows on the entertainment calendar.

It showcased several acts on the Shocking Vibes roster including Beenie Man, Tonto Metro and Devonte and Snagga Puss.

Roberts said Spragga Benz, Morgan Heritage, Bounty Killer, Capleton, Sizzla, Konshens, Jah Bouks, Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, Aidonia, Bugle, Popcaan, Ninja Man, Nature, Ishawna, Bling Dawg and the Downsound Crew are among the acts confirmed for this year's show.

(Jamaica Observer)

Trinidad: Little Black Dress & Co

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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: The little black dress. It is simple and timeless.

This is perhaps best epitomised by Audrey Hepburn in the classic movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

This was the inspiration for Nissa Hanooman, owner of Little Black Dress (LBD) boutique at The Falls West Mall, who was mesmerised by Hepburn’s charm, beauty and sincerity. Her style is as beautiful now as it was then – timeless and elegant.

LBD recently celebrated its first anniversary with an exclusive, classy soiree at the boutique. It was a fashionable affair, with guests dressed to the nines, buzzing about the clothing and accessories on display.

Models showed off pieces artfully styled by Nissa and paired with jeweled accents from

local designers – J by Joanna Moutttet and Anoushka by Ilmes.

Narissa was delighted to share some fashion ideas with Woman’s Weekly. She agrees that every woman should have at least one little black dress hanging in her closet. Quoting Dior she says, “You can wear black at any hour of the day or night, at any age and for any occasion. A little black dress is the most essential thing in any woman’s wardrobe.”

The same dress, she says, can be worn and styled in so many different ways. This holiday season the perfect accompaniments for the LBD are beautiful red lips and lots of sparkle.

For the girl who dares to be different Nissa loves the idea of a sleek, tailored pants suit for your Old Year’s Night party.

A very selective shopper, Nissa prefers to set trends than follow them.

She says that before she

Nissa Hanooman, owner of Little Black Dress (LBD) (Nissa Little Black Dress photo)

buys any dress, she asks herself, “is this a piece I can pass on to my daughter one day?” She advises her clients to invest in timeless and versatile pieces. While there is undeniable charm in the simplicity of black and white, she says there are other hues that can also stand the test of time.

She adores rich oxblood,

deep mustard and navy blue.

An interesting aside: Nissa is a Barbie collector and, although it took “forever”, she got her hands on the authentic Audrey Hepburn Barbie.

When it arrived she fell in love with the details including, of course, the timeless, classic LBD. (TT Express)

Composer to join Lydians on A Magic Christmas Voyage in TT

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: Poised to embark on A Magic Christmas Voyage, singing in eight languages a selection of songs from lands around the world where Christmas is celebrated, the Lydians received an unexpected gift from one of those lands.

While learning the Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei, and Sanctus of the fast-paced Missa Salsera, news came from Lydian Michael Zephyrine that Fr Anthony Rosado, the New York-based composer of the work, was keen to perform the mass on stage with the choir.

Fr Rosado will sing and play the piano to accompany the Lydians.

He will be joined by virtuoso panman Len “Boogsie” Sharpe. Expect scintillating salsa, cha cha, and

other Latin rhythms with a touch of calypso and jazz.

The programme also includes an Arabic chant, a Yoruba carol, a First Nations carol and a Chinese one, and Christmas songs in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Haitian creole, German, English,

and Trini-flavoured parang Spanish.

A Magic Christmas Voyage runs from December 11-14 at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s. Showtimes are Thursday and Friday 7.30 pm and Saturday and Sunday 6 pm.

(TT Guardian)

By Narine Dat Sookram

C

areer fit is one of the biggest challenges many people face for a variety of reasons, one of which is money.

However, choosing a career fit in the long run is very rewarding. Not doing a job that we like can make our lives miserable every day.

The best way to explain it is to look at it as a pair of shoe that doesn’t fit correctly. In other words, every step we make will be painful. Even the thought of walking in them is frightening.

Just imagine the unhappiness that is involved when we don’t choose a job that is a good fit. And trust me on this one, there are many people in this situation. As mentioned earlier, we can find ourselves in a job that is not a fit for a number of reasons.

For example, one of the most common reasons is that we do not take the time to clearly identify what we really want from our work, which makes it difficult to separate what we need to change to improve our career fit.

It’s not a bad idea to ask ourselves to look for some criteria we want to establish when we begin our career.

Many people may wonder what we can do to make things better for ourselves. I don’t think there is a secret magic, but it’s more of a realization as to what we want so we can have some control over it and take some steps to begin to identify a realistic set of options that fit us.

In other words, we need to know ourselves and understand why it is important to us, because we are all unique in our own way.

Regardless of the level of our capabilities, we all have the abilities and the need as well to make choices in our lives.

The truth is, when we have a job we like, we can easily enjoy better health, live longer lives and be more energetic.

It can also enhance both our personal and professional relationships, which can make it more fun to be around us.

I also think that if we enjoy our work we are likely to be more successful and more productive, so this shouldn’t come as any surprise I would hope. Also our self-esteem will improve, because we are doing what we love and this in turn leads us to be good role models for other people.

Basically once we do a job we like, we will live a life that matters and actually look forward to life itself, because it makes us happy and we want to go to work each and every day.

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

Bollywood

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WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Karan Johar to direct Aishwarya, Ranbir Action Jackson: How Ajay and Anushka in 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' went the extra mile for the

S

ome people are super special.

Whatever they do becomes the talk of the town. The extremely talented Karan Johar clearly falls in this category.

There is speculation every time he just produces a film, but in a film that he will be directing, the amount of speculation is at another level. While Karan has not responded to any speculation so far, for the very first time, he shares details of his next directorial venture Ae Dil Hai Mushkil starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

I had developed a film for over a year-and-ahalf that needed another 3-5 months of screenplay work. That film is still going to be made and I will make it immediately after 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'. That film is tough and a challenging

film's fight sequences

'A narrative and is about a husband, wife and a daughter and I have already cast the husband.

But when I went to New York, this film suddenly came to me. I think it is about getting out of Mumbai. I wrote it in just 30 days. I have never done that before.

One day, I was chatting with my friend Apoorva Mehta on the phone, telling him that I am writing this and I am writing

that. We had a long hourand-a-half chat and suddenly after that, he says, 'But Karan, you have the screenplay.' And I said, 'Yes, actually I do.' I had not written a word anywhere. I rushed back to the hotel room and just made some notes, so that I didn't forget it. I had decided that I had to make it. I never write down a thing on paper as it's always in my head.

(TOI)

Kumar Gaurav’s daughter marries Amrohi’s grandson

I

n March, Kamal Amrohi's grandson Bilal confessed his love for Kumar Gaurav and Namrata Dutt's daughter Saachi and announced that he would marry her one day. Well, the couple who have been dating for the last four-and-a-half years, have tied the knot.

Namrata confirmed the news saying, "Yes, Saachi has married Bilal. We wanted to keep it quiet, but now that you ask....We had the option of calling everybody or

just the immediate family. We chose the latter." The reason the wedding, which happened in Mumbai few days ago,

was a hush-hush affair because Namrata's brother and Bunty's best buddy, Sanjay Dutt is in jail. (TOI)

Prabhudheva prays to the God of Elephants ‘Padmanabhan’ at Guruvayur temple

A

head of his upcoming action entertainer, 'Action Jackson', director Prabhudheva visited the extremely famous Guruvayur temple in Thrissur district in Kerala. This was his second visit here. Talking to us post his darshan, he said, "As soon as you enter only, you get such positive energy that we feel we are in some other world only. In front of God, you have no fame, nothing. You are just a normal person. Somebody once asked me, 'Sir, how do you promote your film?' I said by praying to God."

The temple has 60 elephants. Close to the temple is the aanakotta (the elephant yard of the temple) where the God of all the Elephants, the world famous Padmanabhan lives. In the month of December, many Keralites return to Kerala from across the world to visit their friends and family. Prabhudheva was blessed to have visited the temple during the Ekadasi celebrations (a very special time at the temple) and do, not just darshans of Lord Guruvayurappan, but also meet the superstar Padmanabhan.

The Krishna temple in the town of Guruvayur in Kerala is one of the five most famous Lord Krishna and Vishnu temples in India. The others being the Jagannath temple in Puri, Orissa, Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, Nathdwara in Rajasthan and Dwarka in Gujarat. Even though the idol in Guruvayur is that of Vishnu, it is still known as a Krishna temple since the boy, Lord Krishna, is always said to be running around incognito in the temple precincts. Lord Krishna in Guruvayur is popularly called 'Sri Guruvayurappan'. 'Appan' means God or father so the title means the God of Guruvayoor. The whole life of this town revolves round the temple. (TOI)

ction Jackson' has generated palpable interest among the audience right from its trailer launch. The Gordhan P Tanwani and Sunil Lulla production has Ajay Devgan teaming up with director Prabhudheva. The action comedy also features Sonakshi Sinha, Yami Gautam and debutante Manasvi Mamgai, Miss India World 2010.

One of the highlights of the film is Ajay's action sequences. Besides practising martial arts specially for the movie, the actor has also displayed his stellar swordsmanship. Turns out, it was Prabhudheva's idea to incorporate sword fighting instead of the typical action scenes so often seen in Bollywood.

He says, "Sword fighting has not been seen in Hindi films for many years.

That is one of the main reasons why we thought of incorporating it, especially ninja sword fighting, which I think looks stylish on screen."

While Prabhu was upbeat about the action scenes, even Ajay was thrilled at the prospect of doing something challenging. The dedicated actor that he is, he lost several kilos only for a particular scene. The director adds, "Ajay sir has a two-and-a-half minute fight se-

quence where he will be sporting his bare body and showing his sword fighting moves. When I told Ajay sir about the sequence, he readily agreed. In fact, it was just for this scene that he lost 17 kilos."

Of course, it was easier said than done. Not only did Ajay follow a strict diet to tone his physique, but also underwent intensive training. "In a scene like this, the posture and the technique have to be correct. So Ajay sir had to train accordingly. He used to even exercise on the set before shooting for the sequence. One day, in spite of being down with fever, he insisted on working out and then shot for the fight sequence," says Prabhudheva. (TOI)

Mannara is not new to acting

P

riyanka Chopra's sister Mannara, who is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Zid, is not new to acting.

Mannara, who is fondly known as Barbie Handa, is a popular name down South and has also modelled for several commercials. (TOI)

Finally, Priyadarshan and Lissy part ways

R

umours of an impending divorce have dogged filmmaker Priyadarshan and actress-turned-entrepreneur Lissy for the past

year. And on Monday, Lissy announced that the marriage has indeed come to an end.

Lissy, who starred in more than a dozen films

made by Priyadarshan in the'80s, released a statement on Monday, which confirmed the longstanding rumours.

"It is with profound sadness that I am announcing that I and Priyadarshan have decided to get separated after 24 years of marriage. I have filed for divorce today (Monday) in Chennai family court.

Both our children and close friends are aware of this decision." (TOI)

Gautam's mother: My son will marry a girl of his family’s choice and that definitely will not be Diandra

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ooks like the intimacy between 'Bigg Boss' house contestants, Diandra Soares and Gautam Gulati is not going down too well with the latter's mother, Anurag Gulati, who visited him on the show recently. She admits that she does not like Diandra at all.

"It's just a show," she laughs, adding, "The two might be getting close on the show, but I can give you in writing that nothing is happening between them. It is just for a short while. I am sure that Gautam will forget all about it, when he comes out. Diandra is a model-actress and must be 15 years older to my son, how can there be a relationship? My son will marry a girl of

his family's choice and that definitely will not be Diandra." (TOI)

26

hollywood

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

Cruise writes a five page Paul Walker's daughter Tom apology letter to Nicole Kidman keeping busy T

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ate actor Paul Walker's daughter Meadow is doing well in studies and keeping herself busy, says her grandfather.

The world paid tribute to the "Fast and Furious" star, who died in a car crash last year, on his first death anniversary Nov 30. "She's doing - I hear from the grapevine - very good in school. She's keeping (herself) busy," Paul

Walker Sr. "I think she's just a little bit shy around me, grandpa. I think time is on my side and things will get better," he added.

Earlier, Meadow posted a touching tribute on social media in honor of her talented father.

The throwback picture featured the 16-yearold as an infant when Walker held her in his arms. (TOI)

I'll do very little acting in future: Angelina Jolie

A

ctress Angelina Jolie says she now prefers being behind the camera, and is slowing down

her acting career.

The 39-year-old, who is busy promoting her directorial venture, 'Unbroken', has hinted that her career as an actress is over and being behind the camera is what her future holds, but her retirement isn't set in stone just yet.

"I'll do very little acting in the future. And it's funny, somebody said to me - and I think it's true - what's odd is that I wouldn't direct the films I act in.

"Some of them, maybe, but in general I wouldn't spend two years working on the things I'm in," she told the Sunday Times Culture magazine.

Jolie's 'Unbroken' stars Jack O'Connell in the lead role and it will release on Christmas. (TOI)

om Cruise and Nicole Kidman divorced 15 years ago, but it's only recently that the Mission Impossible star's `apology' to Nicole came to light.

As per a recent magazine report, Cruise decided to bury the hatchet and wrote a five-page letter to her. Reportedly, when Kidman's father passed away , the 52-year-old star wrote a five page letter offering his condolences and stating his intentions to `put things right'.

He also said he was

thinking about his own life and the mistakes he made. Cruise and Kidman, who have two adopted children together

from their marriage, had a rather sudden separation when Tom decided to call it quits after 10 years of marriage. (TOI)

Dustin Hoffman may star in Edward Snowden film

D

ustin Hoffman is in negotiations to join cast of the upcoming Edward Snowden drama.

The project, which is to be helmed by Oliver Stone, would see the 77-year-old actor join Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who's

playing the lead, and the 'Fault In Our Stars' actress Shailene Woodley, who's currently in talks to play his girlfriend, the New York Post reported.

If the deal works out, Hoffman would either play a mentor of Snowden's at the NSA or a politician in the film, which is also being produced

by Stone.

The untitled film, which is based on two books, Luke Harding's 'The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World's Most Wanted Man' and an upcoming novel by Snowden's attorney Anatoly Kucherena, would begin filming in January in Germany, Hong Kong, Washington, DC, and Hawaii.

(TOI)

Hugh Jackman pays tribute to Jenner, Delevingne won't walk Phillip Hughes on Broadway for Victoria's Secret show

M

A

ctor Hugh Jackman paid a moving tribute to cricketer Phillip Hughes by putting his bat out at his Broadway show of 'The River'.

The Australian actor posted an image of a bat propped up on the empty stage before the performance.

"Just before curtain on Broadway ... Paying tribute to Phillip Hughes," Jackman captioned the image on Instagram, in memory of the Australian cricketer who died last week after being struck on the head while batting in a Sheffield Shield game. (TOI)

Scarlett Johansson marries Romain Dauriac secretly

S

carlett Johansson has reportedly married French journalist RomainDauriac in a secret ceremony just after the birth of their daughter, Rose.

The actress, who was recently seen wearing a

gold ring on her wedding finger, is yet to confirm the wedding. The ceremony apparently happened in September just after the birth of Rose, reported the New York Post quoting sources.

"Scarlett and Romain

were married in a very intimate ceremony after the birth of their daughter. They kept the wedding a big secret because they both wanted privacy," the source said. It was speculated that the wedding would take place in Paris but the source said the couple tied the knot at a secret location in the US. Johansson, 30 started dating Dauriac in 2012.

They got engaged in August.

The 'Avengers' star was previously married to Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, who is also expecting a child with his current wife Blake Lively. (TOI)

odels Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne won't walk the ramp for Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

The annual lingerie show has released the list of models who will be walking in Earls Court, London Tuesday night and it does not include Delevingne or Jenner.

Delevingne had walked for the show in 2012 and 2013, but the 19-year-old reality TV star was yet to make her Victoria's Secret debut.

It seems that the two are busy working on a fashion project together, after they shared numerous

photographs of themselves on social media.

They are also expected to walk in Chanel's Metiers d'Art fashion show in Salzburg, on the same date as the VS fashion show, although it is not yet confirmed by the

officials.

Veteran Victoria's Secret models, Lily Aldridge, Adriana Lima, Doutzen Kroes, Candice Swanepoel and Behati Prinsloo are returning to the show, which will be aired Dec 9. (TOI)

Joan Collins was raped by husband before marriage

A

ctress Joan Collins said she was drugged and raped by husband Maxwell Reed before their marriage.

The 81-year-old star, who has also written about the harrowing ordeal in her autobiography, spoke frankly about it in the new documentary "Brave New World".

Reed, who died in 1974, was married to Collins for four years. She describes being drugged

and raped at 17 when she was on a date with Reed.

"The next thing I knew, I was out flat on the sofa in that living room and he was raping me. And what he had

given me was a drug. He had drugged my drink.

It wasn't my fault but I didn't know. I went out with him," she said.

Collins has explained that she went out with him again and again, eventually marrying him after he asked.

"Well I better (marry him) because you know, he took my virginity. I really hated him, but I was so filled with guilt that he had done this thing to me," she added. (TOI)

feature

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WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Jamaican businessman helping to improve lives at Barnett Lane

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O N T E G O BAY, ST JAMES: For many years businessman Antonio McKoy had been hearing about the plight of residents living in several innercity communities in St James.

But he only became aware of the extent of the slew of social and economic ills that beset some of these communities after he relocated the offices of his construction company -- Le-Antonio's Roofing

through his Le-Antonio Foundation, which was established last year, opened a homework centre in a section of his business establishment, which now accommodates 75 registered children between the ages of six and 16 from Barnett Lane and its environs.

The after-school programme commences at 3:00 pm and lasts until 7:00 pm on weekdays, McKoy said, noting that plans are well-advanced for the organisation of a

nity. My daughter and the other children enjoy going there in the afternoons, and they are learning a lot," said Johnson.

Stressing that education can transform the depressed community, McKoy told the Jamaica media that plans are also well-advanced to add a research centre to the facility, which, he said, will enable children and adults "to research education-related materials".

He added that as a

Nola Williams, a director at Le-Antonio’s Homework and Development Centre, helps a student from the Barnett Lane community with his homework earlier this year.

and Construction Ltd -- a few years ago, from the upscale Ironshore area to Barnett Lane, one of several innercity communities in Montego Bay. "The needs in the community are great," McKoy told the Jamaican media.

"The residents don't have a lot; there are a lot of idle hands, there are a vast number of uneducated persons and there are a lot of kids roaming the streets and not getting the help they need at home."

The savvy 36-yearold businessman has since started to play his part in improving the social and economic conditions of residents in Barnett Lane, as well as the surrounding communities.

Cognisant that literacy is an essential skill in today's world, McKoy has embarked on a mission to educate residents, starting with the children.

Earlier this year, the businessman,

reading programme on Saturdays.

Aptly named LeAntonio's Homework and Development Centre, the facility provides a relaxed but controlled environment, outfitted with the necessary resources geared to enable students to realise their full potential.

"We know that these precious children of these communities can become doctors, lawyers, engineers, police, and nurses in the future, but they all need the right opportunity, resources and encouragement," McKoy said.

The response from the community to the homework centre, he stressed, has been tremendous.

Marvette Johnson, the parent of a 12-yearold high school student who attends the centre, believes that the facility is "really helping to uplift the community".

"It is a good thing for the development of the inner-city commu-

result of the success of the homework centre, the foundation plans to have it replicated across St James, as soon as funds become available.

At the moment, however, McKoy's efforts to assist the community are not limited to the homework centre.

Over the past few years, the Montego Bay businessman has been staging annual back-toschool and Christmas treats for scores of children in the community.

He has also spearheaded clean-up and beautification projects in the depressed area.

Several other communities and institutions, including Railway Gardens Basic School, Albion Aids Hospice and Blossom Gardens Children's Home -- all in Montego Bay -- have also benefited from the work of the foundation.

Plans are now welladvanced, McKoy said, to stage a youth conference in Montego Bay sometime next year.

(Jamaica Observer)

TT Pannist Mia Gormandy headlines Ripe concert K INGSTON, JAMAICA: The Revelation Institute for Performing Education (Ripe) will hold its first gala Christmas concert. The two-night event, to be held at the UWI Learning and Teaching Complex, St Augustine, will feature the talents of our nation’s youth, some as young as five years old, on the steelpan.

A release from the organisers said while seasonal pieces are on the nights’ playbill, guests can look forward to scintillating music in a variety of genres, including classical and jazz, arranged and conducted by such noted musicologists Desmond Waithe and Maureen Clement; musician, arranger and percussionist Dante Pantin; Kristofer Carter; Jamaal Lewis; and musician, arranger and soloist Kareem Brown who will showcase his own composition for steelpan orchestra.

Featured guest performer is Mia Gormandy, a doctoral student in ethnomusicology and current director of Florida State University’s steelband, Mas and Steel. Trinidad-born Gormandy began playing the steelpan at the age of five, and excelled at numerous local and regional competitions before being awarded a full scholarship to Northern Illinois University at the age of 15. In 2009 she graduated with a bachelors degree in music.

She subsequently attained a masters of music degree in steelpan performance; a second masters of music degree in ethnomusicology and is currently pursuing her PhD. The accomplished 25-year-old musician, who studied under pan pioneer Cliff Alexis and pan virtuoso Liam

Pannist Mia Gormandy who will perform at the Ripe concert.

Teague, has performed around the world, including the Caribbean, USA, Canada, Australia and Austria.

She has also performed with several world-renowned musicians, including guitarist Berta Rojas and 11-time Grammy winner Paquito D’Rivera. At the RIPE concert, she will play a number of solo pieces, and collaborate with the young pannists on the grand finale performance of Michael Jackson’s Heal The World, arranged by Maureen Clement. Other guest artistes include former National Parang Champions Amantes de Parranda, violinist Harold Beckles and Anthony “Zoom” Saloum.

(TT Guardian)

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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: The Continuum Dance Project will stage The Museum of Difficult Women, an experimental collage of ideas of contemporary Caribbean womanhood, with a focus on those who have chosen a less traditional life path.

A release from the producers said the work acknowledges historical and contemporary Caribbean women, as well as composites of women that we encounter every day. Using it’s signature style of mixing text, video and movement, the company moves the audience through a series of moments of joy, pain, laughter, defiance and triumph.

Continuum Dance Project was founded in 2004 by Sonja Dumas, who invited fellow dancers Louanna Martin and Joanna CharlesFrancis to perform a trio in Martinique. Since then Dumas has crafted 12 pieces for the company, including Immortal, Vapse, Yemanja Suite

Members of the Continuum Dance Project from back to front, Louanna Martin, Abby Charles and Elisha Bartels

and the full-length work, The Strange Tale of an Island Shade, many to critical acclaim.

The company now has eight regular members and six occasional members, ranging in age from the mid-20s to the early 50s. “It’s important,” said Dumas, “for us to have a cross-generational perspective as we craft aspects of the Caribbean experience.”

Dumas’ style is often described as eclectic and abstract, and the

new work The Museum of Difficult Women also highlights her love of humour. “The title alone makes people laugh,” Dumas said in the release. “They wonder what we could possibly be up to.”

The Museum of Difficult Women takes place at the Big Black Box, 33 Murray Street, Woodbrook. Both nights begin at 7 pm and tickets are TT$100 general admission, at the door. (TT Guardian)

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Plans are well advanced for this year's staging of Rio Electric Butterfly Music Festival (EBMF) set for the beautiful Chances Beach on Negril's seven-mile stretch, on Saturday, December 20.

The much-anticipated event — now in its second year and which is being staged by Stardust Entertainment in association with Charley's JB Rum — will be held under the theme: 'Beyond the Bright Lights'.

"The Electric Butterfly Music Festival promises to be an electric mix of musical talents showing the finest DJs from all over the world and this year we have raised the bar a notch by bringing onto the shores of Jamaica for the first time EDM superstar DJ

from Poland Tom Swoon and Ken Lois out of San Francisco. Also, making an appearance on the festival are dancehall heavy hitters Black Chiney and Dutty Dex from Miami," Stardust Entertainment director Neikesha Myrie Kozer, told the media launch of the festival at the Hotel Commingle in Savannala-Mar on Sunday night.

The event which starts at 3:00pm, will take the form of two parties on two stages at the same venue for one price.

Stage 1: Beyond the Lights, Electronic dance music (EDM), Afro beats, Dub steps, House and Top 40 mixes.

DJs featured on this stage which will be located on the beach include: Tom Swoon, Kick Raux, Ken Loi, Toby Monster, Crazy Neil, DJ Nezz, DJ Skaii, DJ Rusti,

DJ Chemis, Deolucii, Miller Xtreme and Raun Legend.

Stage 2: Electric Island, which will be located in the car park will feature Reggae, Soca, Dancehall, and Hip Hop. DJs set to blaze that stage are: Dutty Dex, Chromatic, Black Chiney, DJ Lank, DJ Absolute, DJ Sani, DJ Smoke, Dei Musicale.

The acts on that stage will be hosted by DJ Amber.

General admission for the festival is Ja$3,000 pre-sold and Ja$3,500 at the gate, drink inclusive. Pre-sold VIP ticket is priced at Ja$4,000 and Ja$5,000 at the gate.

VIP tickets, organisers say, include premium cocktails and gourmet cuisine all night.

Meanwhile, Myrie Kozer said ticket sales are going well, point-

Members of Padlock Entertainment (from left) Anecia Blake, Nasia Phillips, Chantel Elliott, Taniel Brown and Simone Murdock were caught in a jovial mood during the Rio EBMF media launch on Sunday.

ing out that "last year's event was a hit, and this year we are working very hard to make it an unforgettable experience".

Pietro Gramegna, brand manager for Charley's JB Rum, said her company could not miss the opportunity to partner with such "a larger-than-life event".

"With two stages and international DJs from California, Miami and Trinidad, Saturday December 20 in Negril will be

one of the best dancing nights in Jamaica... and therefore we are glad to be the main spon-

P

sor and help make this great event happen in Negril," Gramegna said.

(Jamaica Observer)

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: From December 8, TT will again feature as the backdrop to another international feature-length movie as filming begins on Scandalous, starring soca star Machel Montano, actress Natalie Perera and Bollywood star Kabir Bedi.

A Bollywood-style Caribbean musical, Scandalous puts Montano in a romantic role as Lee de Leon, a singer who finds himself entranced with Anita Panchouri, the doting daughter of a deep in debt Indian businessman.

Anita, played by Perera, falls for the romantic Lee and decides she wants to be with him, just once, before she enters a loveless marriage for the sake of her father’s future. But her designs on Lee do not escape Nikhil (played by Trini-born UK actor Valmike Rampersad), the territorial younger brother of Anita’s fiancee, who picks up on the attraction. When Nikhil learns the true state of the dismal Panchouri finances the family’s been hiding, he sets about a plan of revenge that will destroy Anita and her father and crush her chances of true love, a release said.

Scandalous was written by Claire Ince, a New Yorkbased writer who won a grant to help make the film at the Bahamas International Film Festival’s Filmmaker Residency in 2008. “Drawing on the influence of Shakespeare and his familiar themes of marriage, tradition and destiny, Scandalous tells a universal love story played out at the intersection of Indian and African culture that is unique to the twin island republic,” says Ince.

The movie will be directed by Todd Kessler, an American film and television writer, producer and director. Among his credits are director and producer of the feature film Keith and show runner and co-creator of Nickelodeon’s preschool series Blue’s Clues.

The Producers will be Ancil McKain and Steven Brown. McKain is a TT born film and television editor whose credits include IFC’s hit reality series Film School; the feature film Evergreen, which premiered at Sundance; and Jesse Moss’s AMC Special, RATED R: Republicans in Hollywood.

Brown has worked on critically acclaimed independent films, including two projects for actor/ director Robert Duvall; The Apostle which won many national and international awards, including three Spirit Awards and an Academy Award nomination, and Assassination Tango. His past films include highly successful studio and independent pictures such as Wild Things, Grosse Pointe Blank, Dazed and Confused, Big Momma’s House, Down with Love and Double Impact.

In addition to Montano, Scandalous will see many other notable local faces such as Teneille Newallo and Michael Cherrie. Other local faces working assiduously behind the scenes to make Scandalous a success including: Lorraine O’Connor, line producer; Princess Donelan, locations manager; casting director, Penelope Spencer and Yah Mari Cole, production co-ordinator.

Scandalous will be shot entirely in TT at various locations and the soundtrack will be recorded by Montano and produced by him and Keshav “Lazabeam” Singh. Some of the sponsors assisting in the production of Scandalous are: Junior Sammy Group of Companies, Rent-a-Amp, Digicel, the Tobago House of Assembly, Blue Waters, Caribbean Airlines and Hilton Trinidad.

To keep abreast of all our updates on Scandalous via social media—Twitter: ScandalousTM, Facebook: ScandalousTheMovie and Instagram: ScandalousTheMovie. (TT Guardian)

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WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Guyanese Squash women Ramdin calls for better helmets take bronze at CAC – men finish 5th as Windies leave for SA

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Ashley De Groot

Ashley Khalil

EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The women’s national squash team finished their campaign at the 2014 Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Championships with bronze on Saturday in Mexico.

The women lost to a tough Mexico team 2-0 and had to settle for a joint third position to goa along with the bronze medal in the women’s doubles competition.

Ashley Khalil lost to Individual gold medalist Samantha Teran in three games, as did Ashley Degroot who lost

to Karol Urrutia.

Meanwhile the men’s team ended their campaign in fifth, losing to a tough Jamaican team in the quarterfinals of the men’s team tournament by a 2-0 margin.

Sunil Seth lost to Lewis Walters and Jason Khalil lost to Bruce Burrows to seal their fate.

The team successfully ended their 2014 year and will now look to play in the Pan-American Games in July of 2015 scheduled for Toronto, Canada.

(Guyana Times)

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ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin is calling on the makers of cricket helmets to improve on their product, in light of the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, who was felled by a bouncer from Sean Abbott.

Ramdin made the comments as the West Indies left the Caribbean on Monday for South Africa to engage that country in a three-Test series.

Ramdin said: “The helmets that we have needs to be improved because when you get a lash on it, you really feel the pain. It is basically just a piece of fibreglass and this is not adequate protection.”

There is no international benchmark for standards on helmets and the International Cricket Council (ICC) had put a committee in place to look at this in 2013.

Now with the death of hughes, they were likely to fastrack this process, so that helmet manufacturers will have to make a specific grade in order to be used on the market.

Meanwhile, Ramdin said that his team will be looking to give South Africa a run for their money.

“This team is very tough but we have good players on our team and we are going to give them a run. We just need to keep focus and do the right things consistently and we will get the results we want,” he said.

Denesh Ramdin

“The senior players including myself have to lead from the front and the younger players have to take their lead.”

The West Indies open their tour with a warm-up match against a South African Invitational XI at Benoni on December 10 and this will be followed by the first Test, to be played at Centurion on December 17.

They then play the Boxing Day Test match at Port Elizabeth on December 26 and the final game starts on January 2 at Capetown.

After this three T20s and five ODIs will be played before the team returns home for the short break, ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia in February. (TT Guardian)

Jamaican Paralympics Association embarks Canada’s Layne on 'aggressive' fund-raising campaign leads by a stroke

(From left) Jamaica Paralympic Association president Christopher Samuda, British High Commissioner to Jamaica David Fitton, function chairman Patrick Anderson, minister with responsibility for sports Natalie Neita-Headley and Jamaica Olympic Association president Michael Fennell admire the Cauldron Petal moments after its unveiling at the Norman Manley International Airport on Friday.

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: The Jamaica Paralympics Association will be aggressively looking to raise funds ahead of a busy 2015 schedule which includes two major championships.

Christopher Samuda, the president of the local association, said the Parapan American Games in Toronto, Canada next August and the 2015 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships to be held in Doha, Qatar in October are high on the agenda.

"Toronto is going to be in August and the World Championships

will be in October; two tremendous expenses on our books and we'll be going out aggressively for the support," Samuda said on Friday during the unveiling of the symbolic Cauldron Petal at the Norman Manley International Airport.

"We need funding and we, thank God, have survived under the benevolence of individual persons and companies. We salute the generosity, but that is not enough."

Samuda, who is also secretary general of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), said the aim is to establish medium- to long-term partnerships with entities which can provide

sufficient financial backing.

That, he explained, will allow the Paralympic Association to better prepare budgets, particularly ahead of seasons when there will be major championships.

"We need to get the sponsors onboard in a sustained way, not just simply supporting events, but supporting development programmes. We are hoping to tie down sponsorships of three, four, five years so that we know that our budget can be caste with some certainty, fully knowing that inflows will be coming to support the various programmes that we have," said Samuda.

Paralympic sports is competed among athletes with physical disabilities. Under the governance of the IPC, paralympic athletes have competed at international events since 1952. Athletics has been a sport at the Summer Paralympics Games since 1960. The most recent Paralympic Games was in London 2012.

The previous IPC World Championships was hosted in Lyon, France, last year.

Some of Jamaica's more prominent paralympic athletes are Sylvia Grant, Alphanso Cunningham and Tanto Campbell.

(Jamaica Observer)

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Barbados player Ricky Skeete is leading the senior men’s field with a gross 74.

R I D G ETO W N , BARBADOS: Canada Based Stephen Layne will be the man to beat over the last 18 holes when the 10th Royal Bank Classic concludes at the Barbados Golf Club’s Durants course.

Layne shot an even par 72 to lead the championship flight by one stroke on Sunday, as Barbados players Scott Stollmeyer and Julian Jordan also had good rounds to remain within

striking distance.

Stollmeyer, who had an eagle on No.15, shot a gross 73 for second place, while Jordan, who won the Massy United Insurance Open in September, was third with a gross 74.

Both Jordan, who shot 36 on the first nine, and Layne, who registered six birdies over the first 18 holes, said they were aiming for low scores and a place on the podium Monday.

(Nationnews)

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | WEEK ENDING December 4, 2014

Guyana rugby team depart for NACRA 7’s championships

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The national men’s rugby seven’s team departed for the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association’s (NACRA) championships on Friday.

The team left brimming with confidence and they aim to bring a seventh title back home.

Before the team’s departure from the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) headquarters, Coach Theodore Henry highlighted that his team is looking to change their style of play.

“We are not looking to play with any particular pattern because teams would have seen us before and might be able to stop us so we are looking to be more unorthodox with our play, I have a lot of confidence in these guys,” Henry stated.

President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) also left the team with his final charge, “You are the best that Guyana has to offer and based on the experience and professionalism you possess, you should not have much of a problem except the weather

The national rugby team poses before their departure

and the altitude.“Barring any acts of God I expect you to bring home the title.”

Guyana will be a part

of group ‘C’ and will have to play against St Vincent, Cayman Islands and the host (Mexico) who are also the title holders.

Once Guyana is able to win the tournament it will start the process of Guyana qualifying for the 2016 Olympics.

Guyana will face Mexico on December 3 when the tournament kicks off in their first game. (Guyana Times)

Immaculate, DeCarteret ‘Bigman’ destroys Momentum crowned all-island badminton in record time champions in Jamaica O R T - O F - balanced and Brian In Town’ just scooted

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Annmarie Watson (second left), member of the school's committee, presents the AllIsland Schoolgirl champions trophy to Lea Kirkaldy and members of the winning Immaculate team. Holding the Western championship trophy is captain Demetra Mew. Immaculate defeated St Jago 3-2 in the final at YMCA on Friday evening.

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INGSTON, JAMAICA: Eastern champions Immaculate Conception High School and Western champions DeCarteret College were crowned Jamaica Badminton Association (JBA) All-Island schoolgirls' and boys' champions, respectively, at the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) on Friday evening.

Immaculate defeated St Jago High 3-2, while DeCarteret, who also won the rally tournament, whipped Haile Selassie 3-1 in a packed auditorium.

The championships were determined by the best-of-five games, which consist of two singles and three doubles.

Immaculate got off to a terrible start when captain Demetra Mew lost the opening singles to a lesser opponent in Iesha Gordon form St Jago 2112 and 21-12.

The second singles saw Immaculate's Lea Kirkaldy pull one back through a 21-5 and 21-1 victory over Cheyenne Laidlaw to tie the game at 1-1.

The Spanish Town-

based team then went 2-1 up when the pair of Iesha Gordon and Shezelle McTyson brushed aside Immaculate's pair of Christina Petri and Juleen Gentles 21-14 and 21-13 in the first doubles. Demetra Mew and Elisa Cheung then teamed up in the second doubles and defeated St Jago's pair of Shezelle McTyson and Leslie-Ann Thompson 21-10 and 2111 to send the match into the final and deciding doubles.

The Western girls' champions then formalised the victory in the third doubles when the pair of Christina Petri and Elisa Cheung crushed Aabigayle and Leslie-Ann Thompson 21-6 and 21-6 to send their fans into ecstasy.

"It is a great feeling to win this tournament.

I am very proud of the girls as they played really well throughout the tournament," captain Mew told the Jamaican media.

St Jago's captain Iesha Gordon was left speechless by the defeat.

"Honestly, I don't know what when wrong.

We defeated the defend-

ing champions Bishop Gibson in the semi-finals so our confidence heading into the final was very high, but I guess we lost our way," said Gordon.

In the boys' championship, it took DeCarteret only four matches to win yet another title.

DeCarteret's Shane Wilson lost the first singles 21-13, 15-21 and 21-19 to Haile Selassie's Shaquile Palmer, before Tremar Barham levelled the score at 1-1 apiece when he crushed Oshane Lobban 21-7 and 21-9.

DeCarteret then went ahead when the pair of Sean Wilson (brother to Shane) and Erin Bailey defeated the pair of Shaquille Palmer and Nicardo Reid, 21-19 and 21-14, in the first doubles. It didn't take long as DeCarteret sealed the deal with brothers Shane and Sean Wilson blanking the pair of Oshane Newland and Shamar Hunter, 21-9 and 2112. The match between the pair of Erin Bailey and Tremar Barham of Decarteret, and Nicardo Reid and Dilan Miller was not played. (Jamaica Observer)

S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Local turfites got to see first-hand, the world famous leap, by Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori after he guided Bigman In Town to destroy his six rivals including Triple Crown winner Momentum in winning the Caribbean Champion Stakes.

Watched by a massive crowd at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Monday, no doubt there to see the six Englishbased jockeys take on the West Indies’ best in the UK vs Caribbean Jockey Championship, saw a champion ride by Dettori in the TT$200,000 race over 1800 metres.

‘Princess Popstar’ with regular partner Percy Williams, flown in especially for the race, came out of the starting stalls like a shot from a gun, and held a sixlength lead for half the journey.

All this time, Dettori kept his mount well

Boodramsing kept on his haunches.

With 800 metres to go, ‘Princess Popstar’ began to struggle and gradually back-pedalled to finish a very poor fifth in the seven- horse field.

Just then, Dettori sent ‘Bigman In Town’ to the front closely followed by Momentum.

But as the duo straightened up for the run to the post, Dettori asked ‘Bigman In Town’ for his effort and he drew away with ridiculous ease, leaving Momentum as though standing, to win by an emphatic 10 3.4 lengths in record time of one minute 51.0 seconds.

There was a Dettori hug for owner Baskaran Bassaw, his wife and trainer Gary Subratie inside the winner’s enclosure. Later Dettori said: “What a horse! He said he was always worrying about Momentum and felt him at his quarters as they headed for the wire, but ‘Bigman

away.” Earlier, Brian Boodramsing took Serengeti to the post first in her debut run, comfortably winning the Fururity Stakes for twoyear-olds by 9 ½ lengths ahead of stablemate and another first-timer Beterlatethannever with Charismatic Groom third and King Ronan fourth for a 1-23-4 finish for champion trainer John O’Brien in the TT$100,000 race over 1100 metres.

The Caribbean riders won the Jockey Championship, with Ron Ali, Boodramsing and Shane Ellis winning each of the three selected races.

It was good to see Kieren Fallon winning the opening race with Wing Commander, but the ex-English champion was really seen at his best astride The Tactician despite going down by a head to Ali and Kodo in the first of the Jockey Championship races.

(TT Newsday)

Internationally famous jockey Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori gives ‘Bigman In Town’ a tap on his neck, as he won the TT$200,000 Caribbean Champion Stakes in record time on Sunday

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Clarendon College ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup champions - 2014

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Eastman closes 2014 cycling season with win in Berbice

The Clarendon College starting team poses for photographers just before the start of the game.

INGSTON, JAMAICA: After a 16 year wait, Clarendon College was in seventh heaven after winning their seventh ISSA/Lime daCosta Cup title, beating last year's champions St Elizabeth Technical 3-0 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Saturday last.

Xhane Reid who was a mere baby in 1998

when Clarendon College last got their hands on the symbol of rural area schoolboys football supremacy, scored two spectacular goals in the first half to win his second daCosta Cup title in three years.

Two years ago, Reid was part of the Glenmuir High team that was also coached

by Patrick Walters that beat STETHS 1-0 at the

same venue.

Clarendon College will now turn their attention to winning their third Olivier Shield title when they take on Manning Cup winners Jamaica College in the one game play off at Juici Park on Saturday next.

Manning Cup teams have won the last 10 Olivier Shield titles.

(Jamaica Observer)

Guyana Squash Christmas tournament to serve off on Wednesday

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EORGETOWN, GUYANA: The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in collaboration with its number one corporate sponsor Digicel will run off the annual Farfan& Mendes Junior Christmas Squash Tournament at the Georgetown Club squash courts, starting

Wednesday.

The tournament will run until December 7 as most of the country’s top junior players will be participating in this tournament.

Forty Five players have entered the tournament and have been separated into eight categories with players of equal

skill level in each of the categories.

A few of the players will use this tournament as a warm up as they will be leaving Guyana shortly to participate in the Canadian and US Junior Squash Open tournaments scheduled to be held later this month.

(Guyana Times)

TT’s women Soca...

Tasha St Louis, on the opposite flank, was also lively up until her early withdrawal in the 36th minute from an apparent leg injury. She was replaced by Shade, who also linked well with the star striker Kennya Cordner and Mollon.

Cordner was TT’s most enterprising player throughout and was perhaps unlucky not to convert one of her chances.

In the 60th minute, she connected with an overhead kick, which beat Ecuador’s goalkeeper but went out off of the crossbar. Then, in the 77th minute, she made a darting run past a couple of Ecuador defenders from the right flank and had two team-mates

in support, but opted to shoot into the gloves of Ecuador’s shot stopper.

Ecuador’s 25-year-old coach Vanessa Arauz will look forward to the draw for the 24 qualifying nations in Ottawa, Ontario, on the weekend.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Tuesday night congratulated the Women Soca Warriors for their effort in the intercontinental playoff saying although the were just edged out

by Ecuador they had captured the heart of the nation. “You won the admiration of an entire nation.

You won our pride by the way you played your hearts out,” PersadBissessar said in a statement after the match,

from back page

which she attended.

“You won a world of respect and the heartfelt gratitude of all of Trinidad and Tobago.

You have demonstrated how far we can go no matter how great the odds.”

She noted that the team had been an inspiration to every young girl who may want to “emulate your character, your spirit, your ability to bring a nation together.” “Your efforts have gone well beyond the excitement and pride from what occurred on the field of play. You have united us all,” she said.

“The red, white and black unfurls proudly in your honour and our nation salutes you.” (TT Guardian)

Hamzah Eastman crosses the finish line ahead of his competitors

By Andrew Carmichael

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EORGETOWN, G U Y A N A : H a m z a h Eastman closed off his 2014 season in fine style when he won the fifth Annual Philip Arokium Memorial Cycle Road Race in Berbice on Sunday.

Eastman completed the 60-mile event in a time of two hours thirty one minutes and thirty one seconds (2:31:31) to take the Gy$50,000 first place prize.Eastman who was one of seven riders out on an early break, used his superior sprinting power to mount the Canje Bridge and peddle away from Michael Anthony to finish the race all alone.

Earlier, Eastman, Anthony, Mario King, Orville Hinds, Paul De Nobrega, Chris Holder, Marlon Williams and Stephana Husbands positioned themselves at the top of the race as the riders pulled off from Main and Philadelphia Streets in New Amsterdam.

The group led the race to the turnaround point at Number 43 Village on the Corentyne with a slight lead ahead

of the other riders which included Junior Niles, Romello Crawford and Andre Abdul.

Eastman soon broke away and took Holder and De Nobrega with him as they topped 40KM per hour.

Just as it looked as though the seven were coming home as a group Eastman and Anthony turned up the pace and made it into a two man race with Anthony faltering on the steep Canje Bridge allowing Eastman to eventually win easily.

Niles was able to peddle his way back to catch the rest and finished a close third behind Anthony.

Hinds, who developed a cramp finished just behind Niles despite protest by some riders in the race who claimed that he used unethical means to get back to the pack.

DeNobrega rolled in fifth ahead of Holder, Williams and King in that order.

Anthony was the first junior to cross the finish line at Main and Alexander Streets in New Amsterdam with the other positions being occupied by Romello

Crawford and Stephano Husbands.

Cyclists also protested against Crawford saying that he too used unethical mean to get back into the top peloton of the race.

Anthony claimed two sprint point prizes with one each going to Abdul, Eastman, Hinds, De Nobrega and Husbands.

The female race was won by Toshwanna Doris. Ronella Samuels finished ahead of Whitney Poyer and Shamika Teixeira for second and third respectively.

Meanwhile the first three cyclists from the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) also received prizes. Elijah Bhajadder was the first club cyclist to cross the finish line although finishing thirtyminutes behind the initial winner of the race.

The second club cyclist to complete the distance was Audrel Ross ahead of Syborne Fernandez.

During the presentation ceremony which followed, organizer and Coach of FACC Randolph Roberts thanked the Arokium family for their continued support for the sport. (Guyana Times)

Culture joins Nationwide Sports League

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O R T - O F S P A I N , TRINIDAD: Sport and culture will come together this season for the first time in the Nationwide Sports League.The NWCL founded by Lincoln Persad which for 16 years has organised a windball cricket series, has decided to join with Massive Gosein Roving Tent in a historic partnership.

Gosein, a renowned chutney singer and chairman of the tent said

he recognises that sport and culture remains two of the most unifying aspects of Trinidad and Tobago.

He said, for 12 years his tent built its name on reaching out to communities and it was easy to identify with the NSL. Added to the coming together of Gosein and the NSL, the National Carnival Commission and Ministry of Arts and Multi Culturalism have come aboard the project.

Persad said, TT$500,000 will be at

stake in the men and women cricket competition and also a five-aside football tournament for both men and women. The entire series will be contested in 12 municipalities in Trinidad and one in Tobago and is scheduled to begin on January 17 with a grand opening at Crown Street Recreation ground, Tacarigua.

Teams interested have until December 15 to pay a registration fee of a TT$300. (TT Express)

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

INTERNATIONAL WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 4, 2014

Huge challenge for West Indies in South Africa, says Keith Semple

By Ravendra Madholall

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ORONTO,CANADA: Former Guyana and West Indies player Keith Semple says there will be a huge challenge for the West Indies team in South Africa when the two countries begin their three-match test series on December 17 in Centurion.

The Caribbean side will also compete in five one-days and three T20s subsequently which is scheduled to conclude just before the International Cricket Council (ICC) limitedover World Cup in Australia and New Zealand jointly.

Semple, who featured in seven one-day games for the regional team coincidently played all in South Africa, made this declaration recently from his home in Whitby, Toronto.

Several weeks ago West Indies aborted their tour of India owing to payment dispute with the players, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA)

and that gives Semple some doubts of solid performances overseas.

“Given the recent fallout between the players, WICB and WIPA, and the withdrawal of Darren Bravo from the tour I think it will be a huge challenge for us in South Africa; I would say I [am] quite hopeful but not very confident that West Indies can make a big impact there which is one of the toughest places to play if you are not fully prepared,” the right-hander stated.

Apart from that, Semple, who still plays professional cricket in the Toronto and District Cricket Association Elite 50-over competition representing Civics Cricket Club, divulges it might affect the camaraderie of the team to an extent as well.

“As professional cricketers it should not affect their approach and level of commitment to performing well personally, but I’m sure there might be some lingering mistrust given that not everyone seemed to be fully in favour of aborting the Indian tour,” re-

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

vealed the former Demerara Cricket Club player.

He further related it will obviously take strong leadership from the management and captain to ensure that the dispute is put firmly behind them and that everyone is pulling in the same direction.

West Indies, who is currently ranked at number 7 on the test rating, will open their campaign against a South Africa Invitational XI

on December 10 with a threeday warm-up match.

The 44-year-old Semple spoke about his experience on the African continent and believes conditions can be a crucial factor when plying your trade there.

“The conditions in South Africa are great for playing cricket, good weather, excellent facilities and first-class accommodation but having said that it’s probably one of the toughest places to tour especially coming from the Caribbean where the pitches are very placid,” he highlighted.

With some of the senior players have been selected to represent the regional side, Semple reckons they have got a great bunch of guys who are capable guiding the younger and upcoming players.

“I think it’s a balanced side and in the absence of Darren (Bravo), probably the strongest we could have put out at this time whether it is a strong enough side to compete against SA remains to be seen. I think a lot will depend on the experi-

enced players like Shivnarine (Chanderpaul), Chris (Gayle), Marlon (Samuels) and Jerome (Taylor),” Semple, who scored a magnificent 142 for Guyana in 1994 against host Jamaica, mentioned.

Promising talented cricketers such as Barbadian Kraigg (Brathwaite), Jamaican Jermaine (Blackwood) and Guyanese Leon (Johnson) among others will benefit from the tour and guidance of the seasoned campaigners, according to Semple who played 56 first-class matches for his native country.

Bravo, who recently made himself unavailable for selection on this tour due to personal reasons, is one of their key and established batsmen and Semple said it will be a “big blow” for them but optimistic the rest of the guys would churn out great performances.

Semple feels if the team does well in South Africa, it will do good for their confidence and strengthen the spirit of the side ahead of the ICC World Cup mega event.

TT’s women Soca Warriors lose to Ecuador for spot in FIFA World Cup

P

ORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD: TT’s Women Soca Warriors’ hopes of achieving an historic berth in next year’s Fifa World Cup in Canada were dashed at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Tuesday, after they conceded a goal in time added on in their intercontinental playoff against Ecuador. Monica Quinteros stunned the packed stadium of mostly local supporters when she deflected a seemingly harmless free kick from the left flank over advancing keeper Kimika Forbes which bounced into an open net.

Forbes was left stranded as she left her line to gather the cross but ran into heavy traffic inside the penalty area

and could only look on as the ball sailed over her and into the net. The effort came against the run of play and gave TT, who had dominated the match from nearly the start until then, the task of having to score two goals to win, as Ecuador’s away goal counted as two.

TT threw everything into attack but when Mariah Shade pushed her shot wide of advancing Ecuador goalkeeper Shirley Berruz it was the visitors who would celebrate their first ever World Cup berth. The result was all too familiar for many of the local fans, bringing back memories of the Strike Squad’s campaign in 1989 when TT men, needing only a draw then, suffered a 1-0 defeat to USA in the final

TT captain Maylee Attin-Johnson, left, reacts as the ball beats goalkeeper Kimika Forbes during Tuesday’s Women's World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of- Spain, on Tuesday against Ecuador. TT lost 1-0.

qualifying match at the very same venue.

Speaking after-

wards, TT coach Randy Waldrum could not hide his disappointment, but

still congratulated his players for their sterling effort throughout

the qualifying experience. “We had more clear chances… It was almost a replay of 1989,” he said.

“I am really disappointed for the players. I want to congratulate Ecuador. Their plan was to sit in and counter. “I am really proud of this group. This group touched so many people around the world.”

“We have to continue the momentum … We have to move forward.”

Ecuador had played the counter-attacking game for most of the 90 minutes, allowing TT to press from the onset. There was a sense that a goal was coming for TT almost immediately after kickoff as winger Ahkeela Mollon poured in crosses from the right flank.

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