Caribbean Times International

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ISSUE NO. 79

CANADA EDITION

CN $1.00

WEEK ENDING December 5, 2013

Caribbean exporters seek extension of preferential waiver in Canadian market J

amaican exporters are hopeful for an extension to a waiver allowing preferential market access of Caribbean products into Canada, one of the few countries with which the island has traditionally had a trade surplus.

It would avert a potentially serious fallout in the second largest market for Jamaica's

food exports—particularly rum, agroprocessed and baked products—against the background of the anticipated failure of Caribbean Community (Caricom) and Canadian negotiators to reach an agreement for a new trade arrangement before the December 31, 2013 deadline.

Caricom and Canadian officials are at

an impasse in talks for a deal to replace the Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN), a preferential arrangement under which most regional items enjoy dutyfree access to the Canadian market, but which the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has ruled as unfair. see full story on page 2

Jamaica, Trinidad agree on path to improve free movement, trade

Canadian charitable organisation Page 9 helps dent Guyana’s child mortality rate Page 13

Trinidad establishes task force to protect children following gruesome Page 10 killings

Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs Minister A.J. Nicholson (at left) presents a gift to Winston Dookeran, his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, after two days of consultations between the two countries on free movement in the context of the Caricom Single Market and Economy, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in New Kingston, Jamaica, Wednesday. (JIS photo)

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

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NEWS

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending december 5, 2013

Caribbean exporters seek extension of preferential waiver in Canadian market J

amaican exporters are hopeful for an extension to a waiver allowing preferential market access of Caribbean products into Canada, one of the few countries with which the island has traditionally had a trade surplus.

It would avert a potentially serious fallout in the second largest market for Jamaica's food exports—particularly rum, agro-processed and baked products—against the background of the anticipated failure of Caribbean Community (Caricom) and Canadian negotiators to reach an agreement for a new trade arrangement before the December 31, 2013 deadline.

Caricom and Canadian officials are at an impasse in talks for a deal to replace the Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN), a preferential arrangement under which most regional items enjoy duty-free access to the Canadian market, but which the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has ruled as unfair. “(The talks) have not been going well.

We still need to resolve some issues with the Canadians, and we are hoping by the end of the first quarter of 2014 to resolve them,” Andrew Collins, president of the Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA) told Jamaican media on Monday.

Short-term extension

CARIBCAN is due to expire at the end of the year, but with no apparent deal on a reciprocal trade agreement, Caricom is seeking a

Canada is one of the few countries with which Jamaica has traditionally had a trade surplus. (Jamaica Observer photo)

short-term extension of the existing arrangement until the trading partners become WTO compliant.

“What we need from Canada is an extension of a waiver that they have given us since the mid-1980s for Caribbean goods to enter the Canadian market duty free. It is a waiver that we are trying to get them to extend so that we can be ready by the end of 2014 for the abandonment of that waiver in accordance with WTO rules,” Collins said.

He added that they are “optimistic that the sticking points will be resolved by the first quarter of 2014.”

The non-reciprocal preferential trade agreement that grants duty-free access to eligible goods from beneficiary countries in the English-speaking Caribbean was originally due to expire in 2011, but the WTO had

approved a new waiver for CARIBCAN until December 31 2013.

Jamaica’s exports

Jamaica in 2012 recorded an annual trade deficit--exporting US$102 million while importing US$136 million worth of goods-with Canada for the first time in at least 12 years, due primarily to a significant decline in aluminium oxide exports, according to statistics from the International Trade Centre. However, provisional data for 2013 show Jamaican companies generating US$120 million in export sales up to August, already eclipsing the full year 2012 performance and on schedule to put Jamaica's trade balance with Canada back in the black.

Aluminium oxide (US$64 million), rum (US$11 million), beer made from malt (US$3.6 million), arrowroot and yams (US$3.4 million),

undenatured ethyl alcohol (US$2.6 million), sweet potatoes (US$1.9 million), sauces (US$1.6 million), baked products (US$1.4 million) and non-alcoholic beverages (US$1.2 million) were among Jamaica's top exports to Canada in 2012.

Lincoln Price, principal of local business support company Profit

Drive and a former tecnocrat at the Office of Trade Negotiations of the Caricom Secretariat, warned of the impact on valuable export products if a new trade agreement doesn't come into effect and Canada is forced to charge duties.

For instance, without a trade agreement, if Canada is forced to charge duties, it could add another 25c/litre to market access costs for Jamaican rum, as much as 11 per cent for pepper sauces, and 9.5 per cent for arrowroots and yams, Price said.

Many top Jamaican firms would be impacted.

Canada is among G r a c e K e n n e d y Limited's top five markets for exports from Jamaica, and hot sauces represent 25 per cent of the conglomerate's sales from Jamaica to the North American country, according to GraceKennedy group CEO Don Wehby in an interview earlier this year.

Important market

The Canadian market is an important one as well for rum-maker J Wray & Nephew (JWN), producer of the Appleton Estate and Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum brands.

Its Appleton Estate brand is the number one gold rum sold in Canada.

What's more is that Purity and Wisynco are among the companies that have targeted the Canadian market for increased exports.

Despite earlier concerns that members of the private sector are not as involved as they should be in the consultations for a new trade regime with Canada, JEA president Collins stated that there is full participation among the JEA, the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association and the industry ministry, in recognition of the importance of the market.

"We just have to keep the pressure on," Collins said. (Jamaica Observer)

Dominica, China sign multi-million dollar agreement for hotel, hospital

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Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit (third left) and Chinese officials at the signing of the agreement.

ominica and China have signed a new US$300 million cooperation agreement that includes the construction of a hotel, an international airport and a new hospital.

The agreement was signed between Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the president of Chinese company Anhui Shuian Construction (ASCG) Xue Song early last month.

According to ASCG, the hotel, to be situated in Roseau, will be the

first to be constructed at a cost of US$70 million.

The Chinese government will provide a preferential loan to support the projects.

ASCG’s general manager Wang Yueyuan said since both countries established diplomatic relations in 2004, China has strengthened its cooperation with Dominica.

Meanwhile, a government statement said that a team of Chinese officials is now on the island inspecting the site for the construction of the five-star hotel in the capital.

The statement quoted Skerrit as having declared during the 201314 national Budget that the design works for the hotel had been completed, and an offer of financing and for the construction was being considered by the government.

“The construction of the hotel…is part of government’s commitment to making the tourism product more competitive and for enhancing stay over visitor capacity on island,” the statement added. (Jamaica Observer)

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EDITORIAL

Sensational I

n the last few decades, journalism experienced a “sensationalistic” trend which gradually gained ascendance as its practitioners, in their drive to shock the sensibilities of readers, pandered to the lowest common denominator.

The technique was quickly snapped up by the electronic media which utilised their visual capabilities to the extent it could have been seen as a revival of the “yellow journalism” that prevailed at the turn of the 20th century in the U.S. as the Pulitzer and Hearst newspaper empires struggled for dominance.

In India, the sensationalist approach reached its apogee with the launch of an investigative website in 2000, which morphed into a tabloid in 2004 and finally settled down as a magazine in 2007: it was unabashedly named “Tehelka” (“Sensational”).

The driving force behind it was Tarun Tejpaul, but it was later revealed that the majority of the shares of the company were owned by several corporate interests that remained in the shadows. Tejpaul plunged into a muckraking investigative journalism that specialised in “sting” operations targeting corrupt practices in business and government.

Its first sting was in cricket and led to a string of convictions as did its second which recorded government officials accepting bribes to seal an “arms deal”. When it launched its tabloid version in 2004, hundreds of writers and intellectuals subscribed to fund what Tejpaul called “free, fair and fearless” journalism.

As its reputation grew, Tehelka took on other issues, including violence against women, and Tejpaul revelled in his growing reputation as a crusader for the interests of the new rising middle class. However, as they strove for even larger revenues and reach, Tejpaul and his lieutenants, mainly his number two Shoma Chaudhary, succumbed to the temptations of power as they received funding from questionable sources.

Three years ago, Tejpaul and Chaudhary launched a new and seemingly successful venture–Thinkfest, which was to be an annual literary and glitterati affair. It was later discovered that they actually owned only 19 per cent of the stocks while the rest were held by the aforementioned silent partners of questionable background.

Two weeks ago, Tejpaul was arrested for rape of a young employee of Tehelka, who is young enough to be his daughter and in fact was best friends with his daughter. The news has dominated the Indian press and even displaced the perennial fixation of the country–politics.

The question on everyone’s lips is, “Why?” And the answer should be of interest not only in India, but in many other societies where the sensationalistic genre of journalism has not only crossed boundaries, but shown that in the process, the moral fibre of its practitioners are inevitably corrupted.

In the drive to remain “sensational”, the trampling on people and their reputations become the norm. The ones who lead the charge against “corruption and abuses” cross the line to “the other side”. In Britain, we saw the muckraking Rupert Murdoch and his News of the World have his employees violate every shred of decency to violate the privacy of citizens even as he showed that he could bend politicians to his will, because he controlled what was printed in his papers.

The lesson is that journalism has to take stock of its responsibilities which go in tandem with the right to inform the public. In Britain, the government has launched a regulatory body with teeth–to impose huge fines when the media crosses the boundaries of solid journalistic practice.

It is clear that while self-regulation sounds good in theory, in practice there will always be those who will push the envelope beyond the acceptable in their pursuit of power and profits.

We have seen how sensationalistic journalism can be used to further the egoistic paranoia of its owners and how it can undermine the development of a country in general and business and the economy in particular.

The authorities must follow the lead of Britain and bring some sanity to sensationalistic journalism.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar enjoys a photo moment with a group of youngsters at a recent public event. (FB photo)

Six Caribbean tech pioneers chosen for innovation awards

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ix Caribbean nationals were recognised for their contribution to advancing technology innovation in the region at the launch of the BrightPath Foundation TechLink initiative in Grenada.

BrightPath, in collaboration with its corporate partner Columbus Communications, presented 2013 TechLink Caribbean Innovators Awards in five categories to Ingrid Riley of Jamaica, Nerissa Golden of Montserrat, Deanne Scott and Teddy Frederick of Grenada, Juma Bannister of Trinidad and Tobago, and Stephen Lee, a Jamaican-born US national.

“The launch of TechLink in Grenada is the beginning of a revolution in community-based technology education for the region. The TechLink Caribbean Tech Innovation Awards celebrate the many hard-working, and often unheralded, pioneers who are advancing the tech sector in the region. We believe their stories and their achievements can serve as a powerful inspiration to others in the region,” explained BrightPath executive director Bevil Wooding during the launch.

Rhea Yaw Ching, corporate vice-president of sales and marketing at Columbus said that supporting the innovative use of technology in the Caribbean has always been priority for Columbus.

“Affordable high-speed, Internet access is becoming a reality across the region.

Grenada, for example, is now part of an elite group of only five countries in the Caribbean where Columbus offers 100Mb Internet service to the home.

However, more has to be done to encourage the creation of Caribbean digital content.

BrightPath is certainly doing its part,” she explained, adding, “We believe this move by BrightPath to recognize the technology pioneers and innovations who are working to build the region’s technical community and the creation of local digital content is quite timely. We are pleased to support BrightPath in launching this exciting initiative.”

Stephen Lee, the CEO of ArkiTechs Inc, a Florida-based IT consulting and services provider received the TechLink Tech Diaspora Service Award, for corporate volunteerism, and for his outstanding contribution to technology training and Caribbean mobile app development.

Jamaica-born Lee, is a founding member of the Caribbean Network Operators (CaribNOG) Coordinating Team and serves as a Telecommunications Advisor to the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). He has also developed a suite of mobile apps to promote local content and culture.

Riley received the TechLink Game Changer’s Award for Social Entrepreneurship and her contribution to transforming the region’s approach to tech business startups. The founder of Connectimass, a non-profit which teaches tech entrepreneurship and innovation, called the award timely and expressed her appreciation for the recognition.

“We are about to launch Start-up Caribe which is a project to seek out and accelerate the work of 100 Caribbean start-ups and take them to the world over the next four years.

We are very honoured to receive this award,” Riley said.

The TechLink Tech

Community Service Award which recognizes individuals and organizations, making a significant impact at a community level in technology advocacy, education, public awareness and innovative solution implementation, was presented to Nerissa Golden for Outstanding Contribution to Caribbean Storytelling and Encouraging Participation of Women in ICT, through her web portal and entrepreneurship events.

Juma Bannister of Trinidad received the TechLink Digital Content Award, which recognizes individuals and organizations that are making a significant contribution to education and community mobilization in the area of local content development and preservation. He was recognised for his contributions in the area of digital photography training through his Elevate Caribbean initiative.

Two Grenadians were given special TechLink Local Innovator’s Award, which recognizes individuals showing promise or who are adopting an innovative approach to developing technology solutions that meet local needs and create global opportunities.

Deanne Scott was recognised for Grassroots Innovation and her contribution to eHealth and public awareness.

Teddy Frederick was awarded was for his contribution to promoting local content creation through photography.

As part of a wider Memorandum of Understanding between the two companies, Columbus and BrightPath are rolling out this initiative throughout the Caribbean following the Grenada launch.

News week ending december 5, 2013

Teenage pregnancies on decline in TT – health minister

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total of 8,767 teenage mothers, including eight below the age of 12, gave birth to babies in local public hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago from 2008 to 2012, Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan, has disclosed.

However, he said that teenage pregnancies have been on the decline, and the Ministry of Health has embarked on a contraceptive programme that targets young people.

A total of TT$5.1 million has been spent in the procurement of contraceptive consumables for the period, he said.

Responding to a set of questions posed by former PNM Senator Pennelope BecklesRobinson in her last appearance on the PNM benches at Tuesday’s sitting of the Senate, Khan noted the highest number of pregnancies was in the 17 to 19 years age group. The total number of pregnancies in that group for the five-year period was 6,996.

The 13 to 16 age group had 1,763 pregnancies.

According to Khan,

TT’s Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan (TT Newsday file photo)

1,939 teenage pregnancies were recorded in 2008; 1,726 were recorded in 2009; 1,671 in 2010; 1,839 in 2011 and 1,592 in 2012.

The majority of the pregnancies were delivered at the San Fernando General Hospital where 2,960 infants were delivered; followed by Port-ofSpain General Hospital which delivered 2,906; then Sangre Grande Hospital, 1,338; Mount Hope Women’s Hospital (MHWH), 1,075; and Tobago Hospital, 488.

The MHWH tended to six of the eight under 12 year-old mothers as well as the majority, 622, of the 13 to 17

year-olds. Asked what was being done to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies, Khan said that from the figures in the public health sector, the numbers for 2008 to 2012 have declined by 13.4 percent.

The decline, he said was due to several programmes and partnerships implemented with other ministries and non-governmental organisations, to reduce the rate of pregnancies and births among the adolescent population.

The programmes, he said focus on prevention, education and life development. (Excerpted from TT Newsday)

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Guyana’s broadcasting authority moving to sue non-compliant entities

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he board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) will soon commence legal action against broadcasters who are in breach of the law, chairman of the entity Bibi Shaddick said.

The chairman disclosed that the board is looking to acquire three attorneys to file lawsuits against the errant broadcasters, who have not been issued licences to continue operations beyond the end of this year.

She told media operatives on Tuesday that very soon the delinquent entities could be taken to court, noting that the relevant provisions of the Broadcast Act will be fully implemented.

Shaddick did not state how many media entities are yet to receive their licences, but she did say that the list is long.

She said some of the entities on the list have received approval letters, but have made no attempt to apply for their licences, citing the owner of Tarzie Television Station in Bartica as an example.

She also noted that HGPTV is expected to cease broadcasting on two channels, one of which had been approved for the station to broadcast from Georgetown.

The chairman said the station has since relocated its transmitter to Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara,

GNBA Chairman Bibi Shaddick

where it was continuing to broadcast.

Several stations have been granted approval to acquire licences, despite the October 31 deadline

having passed.

Nine broadcasting entities that have submitted their relevant documentation for licences to continue op-

erations were recently presented with their licence certificates by the GNBA. Five television stations were presented with their licences, namely Television Guyana Incorporated (TVG), GWTV Channel 2, Pinnacle Communication Incorporated, Multi Technology Vision (MTV) Incorporated and CNS Incorporated. Those receiving radio licences were Radio Guyana Incorporated (RGI) and Telecor, Cultural and Broadcasting Incorporated.

Cable licences were granted to Atlantic Cable and E-Networks.

In addition to these, other entities have been granted approval to apply for their licences.

These include Movie Star Inc, Star TV Channel 102, WRHM Inc, 21st Century Communications, R a m b a r r a n Broadcasting Systems, HGPTV, NCN TV, NCN Radio, New Guyana Radio, AMG Radio, Wireless Connections, Linden Wireless Communication Network and Pinnacle Communications Radio, Bartica Communications Network (Cable) and Uramco Cables.

Meanwhile, it was also noted that the Guyana Learning Channel will benefit from waiver spectrum and broadcast fees. The channel has been registered as a trust.(Guyana Times)

Guyana unveils strategy to tackle chronic diseases

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uyana’s Health Ministry in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) on Monday launched the Guyana Strategic Plan for the Integrated Prevention and Control of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors strategy 2013-2020.

The official document for the plan was handed over to Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran by PAHO/WHO representative Adrianus Vlugman at the launching ceremony, which took place at the Roraima Duke Lodge, Kingston. The plan’s guidelines and policies, when implemented, will see a reduction of chronic diseases

and related risk factors in Guyana.

Ramsaran said that the launch was significant and forms part of the growing partnership between the ministry and PAHO/WHO, a long-standing partner of Guyana’s health sector.

His ministry, he highlighted fully endorses the plan and will be vigorously implementing the policies through various physical and educational programmes.

Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases are common NCDs responsible for the deaths of about 36 million people every year due to poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking and excessive alcohol intake.

The health minister added that the ministry

will be looking at other programmes to ensure that persons lead an active lifestyle in Guyana.

He said that the workplace plays a major role in the daily lives in most persons, and urged that employers make available the necessary space for physical activities for their employees.

Wellness Warriors Club

The Wellness Warriors Club, which is expected to be launched in a few days time, will be facilitating several physical activities.

Ramsaran indicated that the ministry is currently looking at land space close to the ministry on Brickdam to establish a wellness park so as to promote physical activities for agencies in that vicinity.

The ministry will

Canadian High Commission in Guyana donates ramp to Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre

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n commemoration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr Nicole Giles said, “Persons with disabilities form an important part of the mosaic of our countries and their well-being and standard of living should be paramount.”

She made this statement at the commissioning of an access ramp on Tuesday at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, Carmichael Street, Georgetown.

The commissioner said that ever too often soci-

ety overlooks the prejudice and challenges persons living with disabilities face, and that needs to change.

The ramp, which was constructed for better access to classrooms on the upper floors, was a collaboration of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives and Guyana’s Health Ministry.

The centre was originally established in January 1967 by the Health Ministry to provide rehabilitative services for those children who had suffered residual paralysis following

the 1960 and 1964 poliomyelitis epidemics. The original ramp was constructed of wood and as time went by, the structure could no longer support a lot of weight.

A representative from the centre noted that now the children in wheelchairs will be able to move around without needing to be lifted. She also commended the staff of the centre for the work they have been doing with the students of the centre and also the parents who have chosen to bring their children there.

(Guyana Times)

also be engaging schools to adopt the concept of Wellness Warriors and to ensure that the country’s youths live a healthy lifestyle through physical education and recreational activities.

He further stated that the ministry will also be clamping down on the school canteens and enhancing its policy so as to have the students purchase healthier food. The ministry intends to heighten the strategy by working with larger groups of organised persons such as Qualfon, and the banks.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, who gave an overview of the NCDs Strategy 2013-2020, stressed that a vast multi-sectoral ap-

Guyana’s Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran at the launch of the StrategicPlan for the Integrated Prevention and Control of Chronic NonCommunicable Diseases and their risk factors strategy 2013-2020, at Duke Lodge, Kingston

proach is needed to ensure that the policies are effectively implemented.

He said that the plan complements the numerous programmes that the ministry has in place to ensure that the nation’s people are healthy.

Meanwhile, PAHO/

WHO representative Adrianus Vlugman also said that the launch was momentous and that the organisation was pleased that such an event was held as the ministry celebrated its 111th anniversary on Tuesday.

(Guyana Times)

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More than 8, 000 child abuse cases reported in Jamaica between January and August

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ore than 8,000 cases of child abuse were reported in Jamaica between January and August this year, according to the Office of the Children's Advocate (OCA), which also revealed that it is contacted every 30 minutes with an allegation of illtreatment.

Sharian Hanson, senior legal policy officer at the OCA, said that the 8,030 cases of abuse ranged from physical, to sexual, to emotional, with neglect and missing children being high on the list.

Hanson noted that 1,730 children have gone missing during the same period, with 10 of the missing children found dead. These statistics, she explained, were from the Office of the Children's Registry.

"It would appear that being a child in these times is indeed a disadvantage," Hanson

Parents registering at the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) Annual Conference and Expo 2013 at Jamaica College on Saturday. (Jamaica Observer photo)

told the more than 500 parents attending the National ParentTeacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) Annual Conference and Expo 2013, held at Jamaica College in Kingston on Saturday.

Addressing the theme, 'Parents, care and protect your children, get involved',

Hanson said research has shown that the more involved parents are in a child's upbringing, the more likely children are to become successful in life.

"The role of the family is essential to the development of children," the attorney-at-law said.

"In fact, society relies on the family to nurture,

care for, and protect the child. A teacher can assist in guiding and reinforcing positive attitudes within a child, but cannot be the sole source."

Reporting

Hanson pointed out that parental responsibility is dealt with in the Child Care and Protection Act, which

states that where parents fail to carry out their duties to the child there are serious penalties. She urged family members, who may observe any form of child abuse, to report it to the relevant authorities such as police, the Family/Children's court, the Child Development Agency, Office of the Children's Registry (OCR) or the OCA. The maximum penalty for failing to report where it is suspected that a child is being or is likely to be abandoned, neglected, physically or sexually ill-treated, or is otherwise in need of care and protection, is a Ja$500,000 fine, or six months' imprisonment, or both.

President of the NPTAJ, Everton Hannam, said the national conference was a call to action that should see parents unite, promote and reinforce good family values, decen-

cy, principle and proper parenting in the homes and within communities islandwide.

"This year we seek to focus on our children, hence our theme.

We have designed this theme through the reports of abuses being experienced by our children, such as mental, physical, emotional, economical, and sexual," he said.

Presenters at the conference included the Education Minister Ronald Thwaites, representatives from National Parenting Support Commission, OCR, National Family Planning Board, and the National Council on Education.

Parents from PTAs across Jamaica were represented at the conference and were encouraged to take back the information to other parents who were not in attendance. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

Guyana’s main Opposition launches election campaign

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head of Guyana’s much anticipated Local Government Elections scheduled for 2014, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has launched its elections campaign.

The campaign was officially launched

by APNU Campaign Director Winston Felix last Thursday at the Leader of the Opposition Office, Hadfield Street, Georgetown. According to Felix, APNU will be focusing on the “renewal of real local democracy” in the country.

“APNU promises to protect democratic institutions. For local democ-

racy to flourish, people must be able to make decisions to manage their neighbourhoods and municipalities without overbearing interference and intervention from central government,” Felix posited as he stressed on developing a tradition of real democracy.

According to the APNU campaign director, local democracy is best nurtured by councillors who live in close proximity to the people they serve. But funding is essential for the sustenance of local government organs across the country, he said as he accused the People’s

Progressive Party/Civic of neglecting this area in particular.

With funds garnered, the APNU, he said, will promote the development of public infrastructure.

“For towns and neighbourhood councils to enhance the quality of life of their residents, they must have the ability to build and repair structures such as community markets, drainage canals, bridges and roadways and provide services such as the disposal of solid waste, street lighting and sporting activities and facilities for women, children, and the young.” It is essential

for local organs to receive training to build their capacities to better respond to emergencies and protect residents from environmental hazards, he added.

Community focus

APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC) had collaborated on the passage of the Municipal and District Councils Amendment Bill, the Fiscal Transfers Bill and the Local Government Commission Amendment Bill which have been enacted.

However, the Local Government Amendment Bill, which

was also passed in the National Assembly, was rejected by President Donald Ramotar as unconstitutional.

Nevertheless, APNU said it will direct its energy towards electing democratic, adequately-funded and better equipped councils.

Questioned about the coalition’s strongholds in the upcoming election, Felix said “the whole of Guyana, the entire of Guyana. This is not a stronghold question, this is an issue-based question, this is not about political parties winning and losing, it’s about communities throwing

up their own leaders, helping to pursue those issues affecting their livelihood.”

According to the Local Government Ministry, Guyana could expect Local Government Elections by the third quarter of 2014.

Opposition Leader David Granger said the APNU was planning ahead, noting that it would not be caught off guard. “We want to stay ahead of the game,” he told reporters last week.

The party is in the process of mobilising possible candidates to represent the various districts.

(Guyana Times)

Over 1400 graduate from HEART training in western Jamaica

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ore than 1,400 youngsters last Thursday graduated from training courses being offered by the HEART Trust/ NTA in western Jamaica.

The group has been certified by one of seven HEART Institutions in western Jamaica, at different certification levels in 19 different skills.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Audrey Sewell, delivering the main address at the certification ceremony held at the Seventh Day Adventist West Jamaica Conference Centre, in Montego Bay, under-

HEART Trust/NTA Managing Director Dr Wayne Wesley (left) accept the Jamaica Observer Business Leader trophy from Jamaica Observer Deputy Chairman Adam Stewart. (Jamaica Observer photo)

scored the importance of educational pursuits especially among young people.

“Today as I look around me I see Jamaica’s future, I see those who will be responsible for honing the next generation and I see those who will be ambassadors for Brand Jamaica…I also see the persons who will be looked upon to fulfill Jamaica’s development prospects over the short to long term,” Sewell said.

She added that the relevance of the training and certification that the group had received could not be understated in the 21st century job market.

Quoting from a recent United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) working document, she pointed out that the working age population will increase globally by some 600 million persons in this decade, and that the highest increase is expected in the least developed countries such as Jamaica.

“The question therefore is, what do we do about this rise? Do we just boost our welfare programmes? Do we hope for increased remittances? Do we hope that more citizens can emigrate to reduce the popu-

lation here? Or do we effectively train our people to deal with the individual, national and global challenges?” she said.

“This is where TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) programmes play a critical role, and this is where a prosperous path to empowerment can begin for so many of you,” Sewell emphasised.

Meanwhile, the HEART Trust/NTA was Sunday night crowned Jamaica Observer Business Leader 2013 at a gala awards ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.

(Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

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Hope turned to despair when Jamaica, Trinidad agree on path GCC/GFC merger was shelved, to improve free movement, trade says veteran journalist – encourages NEW GPC INC/CPL OP CO not be deterred from providing alternative facility for youths

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eelings of hope turned to despair when veteran journalist Alan La Rose learnt that the NEW GPC INC/CPL OP CO withdrew its plans for the Bourda sports academy at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC)/Georgetown Football Club (GFC) due to misconceptions in a Kaieteur News article last Saturday.

He indicated that the possible development for a sporting facility to “benefit inner city youths” resulted in the idea being shelved, due to reportage in a section of the press.

He also indicated that that it was heartening to see that Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop, Executive Chairman of Queens Atlantic Investment Inc (QAII), was pushing for this sort of developmental infrastructure, despite some disparaging comments leveled against him in a section of the press.

“It was a delight to see a Guyanese coming out in the wake of all that is being said and to see that he is still giving back. And in a day or two the hopes were dashed,” La Rose stated.

He however suggest-

Alan La Rose

ed that if the Bourda sports academy does not materialise, Dr Ramroop should not be deterred from offering youths a facility that will aid in their development.

“I am humbly suggesting to Dr Ramroop and his powers that be that he can still make that provision for inner city youths and Guyanese at another location. It could provide so much for Georgetown residents. If you go in the morning to the Cuffy Square (1763 Monument site), for example, you will see the number of people there looking for an outlet to exercise, especially since this government has been priding itself on healthy lifestyle living, and that is to provide facilities for

citizens.

La Rose however insisted that despite all of the opposition that Dr Ramroop has received, “none has come forward to offer any (facility for the youths).

He believes that all should embrace the initiative of the NEW GPC/ CPL OP CO, echoing the sentiments of legendary West Indies and Guyana captain Clive Lloyd, who spoke to this publication on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the principals of the NEW GPC INC/CPL OP CO had proposed a plan that addressed these issues: (1) The world class stadium, with all its amenities, would have returned international cricket and football to Georgetown along with an economic resurgence; (2) The financial structure of the endeavour would have ensured that GCC and GFC share in the profits generated, which would have enabled these clubs to return to their glory years. (3) The principals of Limacol are particular proud of their proposed cricket and football academy. The youths of Georgetown, as with any city in the world, need positive outlets for their energy.

J

amaica and Trinidad and Tobago have signed an agreement outlining a path to improve free trade and free movement between both countries.

The agreement follows two days of talks between Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, AJ Nicholson, and his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Winston Dookeran, after a recent incident in which 13 Jamaicans were refused entry into the twin island republic.

“Given the paradigm shift in immigration law and procedures in relation to the treatment of Caricom nationals entering countries of the region, both our countries recognised the need for a common approach and interpretation of the law,” Nicholson said at a press briefing at the

Ministry’s New Kingston offices Tuesday, immediately following the talks.

Nicholson said that among the decisions coming out of the discussions, was the need for hassle-free movement for Jamaicans into Trinidad and Tobago, stressing that this must be applied in conformity with Community Law. He said it was also agreed that there must be a review of national legislation, to ensure uniformity in the application of the Shanique Myrie ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

In addition, it was underscored that immigration officials, in exercising their discretion on entry or refusal, must show respect to each person seeking to enter the respective jurisdiction.

Nicholson told jour-

nalists that notwithstanding the fact that a significant number of Jamaicans has entered TT without any difficulty within the last year, it was agreed that the immigration authorities of both countries must cooperate in addressing allegations of profiling.

Meanwhile, Dookeran said as part of the agreement with Jamaica, his government will be implementing a sensitisation training programme for immigration officials in that country to ensure that their decisions are in line with Community Law. “We will establish a sensitisation programme for all those who are responsible for implementing immigration policies, whether it is through workshops or seminars,” he said.(Jamaica Observer)

Medical marijuana firm opens in Jamaica

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r Henry Lowe Tuesday night highlighted the rich financial benefits of the hemp industry, as he officially opened his company in Jamaica that will extract marijuana’s medicinal components for commercial purposes.

“Canada’s hemp industry values US$2 billion yearly,” Lowe said, as he called on the Jamaican government to seriously consider the medical marijuana industry as a means economic slump.

“A recent survey by Don Anderson said 87 per cent of Jamaicans want medical ganja to be developed. Jamaicans

don’t only want it to be developed, they want the government to get behind it and make it happen,” he said.

Lowe pointed out that Jamaica was the first country in the world to develop a commercial product from ganja, and said it would be woeful if the country lost out on a multi-billion-dollar industry, which is booming in Europe, Canada and the United States.

“Why should we sit back and allow other people to take over?”

Lowe asked as he unveiled his company, named MEDICANJA, at Eden Gardens in Kingston.

MEDICANJA, Lowe said, will conduct clinical research to extract the components of hemp that can cure a variety of illnesses. He also proposes to develop a strain of the plant which is less potent in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the component of ganja which provides the ‘high’ for smokers and the reason that ganja is banned.

He warned that smoking the plant has health and psychological risks, and said his company had no plans to break any local or international law. However, he lamented the fact that hemp products were banned in Jamaica.

Twenty-three-year-old is new ILP chairman in TT I Five Trinidadian soldiers ndependent Liberal Party Chaguanas councillor Simeon Mahabir, 23, is the ILP’s new chairman, replacing interim chairman Robin Montano. Mahabir was announced Sunday along with ILP’s new executive at ILP’s first convention at Macoya. Montano and ILP’s former youth arm chairman Virmala Balkaran resigned recently, citing issues with ILP. The new youth arm chairman is Janelle Sebastien.

ILP leader Jack Warner said Mahabir, the youngest party chairman in TT, was chosen because he refused an alleged TT $5 million bribe. Warner played a tape of someone whom he said allegedly attempted to bribe Mahabir.

Mahabir is heard on the tape asking if the sum was TT$2 million or TT$3 million, then the voice said TT$5 million. Mahabir later declined to say who was the other person recorded on the tape.

face court martial

F Simeon Mahabir (TT Guardian file photo)

Also on the new ILP executive are deputy leader Nigel Trancoso, an attorney, former TOP chairman Lionel Coker, now ILP’s Tobago regional coordinator, former Express reporter Aabida Allaham who is ILP’s public relations officer and onetime PNM senator and former Team Unity member, Sateish Ramroop, ILP’s education officer.

ILP deputy leader

Lyndira Oudit said ILP’s new constitution provides for an Elders’ Council which will allow people over 65 to give advice, as well as a Gender Affairs officer instead of a Women’s Affairs officer. Oudit said ILP didn’t want to alienate males.

Warner said he is ILP leader for the next four months until party elections are held. (TT Guardian)

ive members of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment including a soldier with over ten years service, were scheduled to appear before a military court-martial Wednesday at Defence Force Headquarters, Chaguaramas.

The five are to be tried for a number of offences under the Defence Force Act Chapter 14:01 relating to an incident which occurred during the State of Emergency that was declared over the period August to December 2011.

It is alleged that these five soldiers, on September 1, 2011 during a military operation at Gaspar Grande Island, assaulted civilians Ryan

Henry, Allister Clarke, Stancy Maria Samuel and Calvin Lavende.

The charges include conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in particular bringing discredit to the Force; breach of the Rules of Engagement issued by the Chief of Defence Staff and in particular excessive use of force; inhumane treatment of detainees and; committing a civil offence namely, assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The senior officer with ten years service, was also charged for failing to exercise sufficient and proper control over his subordinates.

Appearing on behalf of the Chief of Defence

Staff is senior military Prosecutor Major Sheldon Ramanan.

The Judge Advocate is Gerald Ramdeen and president of the Board is Major Arden Williams.

If found guilty, the soldiers facing court martial, may be discharged from the Force and may also be sentenced to incarceration in either a military or civil prison.

The last court martial was convened in 2011 when a Private was found guilty of striking his superior officer, a Regimental Sergeant Major.

The Private was discharged from the force and served one year civil imprisonment. (TT Newsday)

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending december 5, 2013

Trinidad establishes task force to protect children following gruesome killings

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ollowing the gruesome killing of sixyear-old Keyana Cumberbatch, the Trinidad and Tobago government is moving speedily to curb violence against children.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar earlier this week announced that her government will be creating a child protection task force (CPTF) to better safeguard the nation’s children from imminent danger; even within their own homes.

In a statement to the media, Persad-Bissessar said part of the duty of the task force is to make recommendations on how the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago can become fully empowered to carry out its mandate and to recommend “how emergency responses can be widened, accelerated and structured in a manner to immediately respond to the needs of children who are at risk”.

The Child Protection Task Force will also be revamping intervention services of the state and non-governmental organisations.

Intervention

“The Child Protection Task Force’s first task is to recommend measures aimed at overhauling and advancing protection, care and intervention services of the state and nongovernmental organisations,” the prime minister said.

The Child Protection Task Force will complement the immediate emergency response units in the education and gender, youth and child development ministries.

The Child Protection Task Force will meet this Friday with the nation’s top advocates to discuss the “rights, protection and well being of children,” Persad-Bissessar said.

Simone Williams (centre) slumps in a faint and had to be held by relatives last Friday outside the Forensic Science Centre in St James on being told that her child Keyana Cumberbatch, six, was raped and had her head bashed in before being stuffed into a shipping barrel at their Maloney home. (TT Newsday photos)

As part of its mandate, the prime minister said the CPTF will take a “comprehensive review of all provisions, regulations, legislation and public sector processes focused on the care, health and protection of children”. The CPTF will also “recommend how, through policy intervention and partnerships with non-governmental and community organisations, the state can roll back risks to children”.

This move was prompted by the latest child killing in the country. Six-year-old Keyana Cumberbatch was smothered, sexually assaulted and killed by the hands of an unknown assailant.

Pathologist Valerie Alexandrov told the media the scenario is uncertain. Little Cumberbatch was sexually assaulted either while unconscious or after she died. Her body was found bundled inside of a barrel in an apartment in Maloney in East Trinidad. She went missing last Monday.

Cumberbatch’s killing came just days after a toddler–Jacob Monroe--was

found dead in a cesspit at his Maraca, St Joseph, home on November 20.

The macabre scenes incensed the population,

scribed as a crime too horrific to imagine.

"The murder of young Keyana is a tragedy that is simply too horrific to imagine. My thoughts and my prayers are with Keyana’s family, but as prime minister, I will not allow this to happen to our children. I will not allow it to continue, enough is enough! And to the one who is responsible for this crime or any crime such as this, we will find you, and we will punish you!" the prime minister said.

The prime minister visited the home of the six-year-old child victim and spoke with Keyana’s mother, Simone Williams and other relatives.

Persad-Bissessar assured the family that “the state will provide every possible support to the family in their time of grief and anguish”.

Keyana's body was found by her mom last Thursday afternoon, three days after the child went missing.

with much of that rage spilling over into social networking sites such as Facebook.

Horrific

In response to the killing of Cumberbatch on her message page, Persad-Bissessar tweeted a warning to the perpetrator that the state will find them and punish them for what she de-

“It is very hard to imagine the depth of agony being experienced by Ms Williams, as well as her relatives and friends.

This is not a moment that any parent or any person can ever be prepared for.

And, what happened to Keyana is something no child must ever have to experience!” she said. (TT Newsday)

Jamaica Defence Force to acquire new fleet of armoured vehicles

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abinet has approved a five-year recapitalisation project for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) which will see the JDF replacing obsolete and mainly unserviceable V150 armoured cars in its fleet.

Under the project, the JDF will acquire 12 Thales Australia Bushmaster armoured personnel carriers (APCs) a report from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said.

V150 commando armoured car (Photo: www.jdfmil.org)

At present, the JDF has a complement of 14 Cadillac Gage V150s, 10

of which were acquired 37 years ago in 1976 and the other four were ac-

quired in 1985, according to the OPM. Over the course of their service life within the JDF, the vehicles have been utilized as critical enablers in many high risk situations such as internal security deployments in support of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) as well as pre and post disaster response and rescue operations.

Delivery of the armoured vehicles will commence in 2015.

London-based Guyanese artist passes on

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Cécile Nobrega

ondon-based Guyanese scholar, musician, artist, text- book writer and poetess Cécile Nobrega has passed away at age 94.

Nobrega was born Cécile Burgan–the daughter of the late Canon William Granville Burgan and Imelda Burgan.

She grew up in Buxton village, East Coast Demerara, Guyana, where her father was the Canon of St Augustine’s Anglican Church for over 30 years, until he was transferred to St Paul’s Anglican Church in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara in the early 1950s.

Her father used to write articles on life in the countryside for the Argosy newspaper under the pseudonym, “Rusticious”. Her mother, who learnt music while attending St Rose’s, was a popular singer of her day and a hit at music festivals.

Nobrega was formally educated at Bishops’ High School, Georgetown Guyana; Hockerill College of Education, UK; the Institute of Education, London University and informally through one of her hobbies, which was travelling.

While a member of the Women’s League of Social Service, she represented Guyana at The

The Bronze Woman statue in South London

Conference of Caribbean Women’s Association held in Trinidad, where she met and later got married to Romeo Anthony Nobrega, a Guyanese who was attached to the Caribbean Forces during the Second World War. Nobrega was a good ambassador of Guyana on many occasions, including representing Guyana at the International Children’s Theatre Conference held in London, 1964. As an educator, she was president of the Kindergarten Section of the Guyana Teachers’ Union and editor of YOU magazine for the Parish of St Sidwell’s in Lodge. She also taught music and language.

Apart from her first collection published in Guyana, Nobrega has published other books of poetry including ‘Japan’ and ‘The Butterfly’. Nobrega was also featured in the first Guyanese anthology of stories, ‘Stories From Guyana’. Nobrega went on to write and compose songs, winning a few awards along the way.

Her most popular song is “Twilight”. As one of the few women playwrights at the time, her play ‘Stabroek Fantasy’ was quite an achievement. In 1968, she wrote a poem titled, “Bronze Woman”, which was published in her first book of verses, ‘Soliloquies’. This poem later led to the erection of a monument representing Caribbean women in South London.

The Bronze Woman statue is the first public monument of a black woman in England, a symbol of the contribution of Caribbean, and all women to society and proof that people who have the courage to pursue their dreams can inspire others to great achievements.

Cecile migrated to London in 1969. She was interred on Wednesday.

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week ending december 5, 2013 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Guyanese rice farmers in Berbice expect bigger profits this crop

Region Five Chairman Bindrabham Bisnauth

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uyanese rice farmers in West Berbice are expecting a bigger profit this crop as they have produced the biggest crop

in years. Some 90 per cent of the crop there has already been harvested, with some farmers reaping more than five tonnes of paddy per hectare.

West Berbice is predominantly a rice growing area, and prior to this crop, the average yield per hectare was just below five tonnes.

Some farmers are currently preparing their fields for the 2014 first crop while others are ahead of the game; they have already started to plant. Already 20 per cent of cultivation has been completed.

Region Five Chairman Bindrabham

Region Five farmers pumping water to start the crop

Bisnauth said farmers can expect a bigger profit not only because they have produced more, but also because production cost was slashed.

“Because of the intervention of the president and the minister of agriculture, all our farmers will benefit from a cheaper source of fertil-

iser.” Some 5000 tonnes of urea was made available to farmers at almost half the price they used to pay.

The region has been working with the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) and the National Drainage and

Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to ensure there is full readiness for the next crop.

“We have completed most of the irrigation canals because now is the irrigation time,” Bisnauth said.

According to the chairman, the rains most likely would not adverse-

ly affect the planting, pointing out that given the expansion of cultivation, the administration cannot adequately provide water to all the farmers during this critical time.

Some farmers have been pumping water into their fields. (Guyana Times)

12 News Guyana Times launches Berbice supplement www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending december 5, 2013

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he Guyana Times daily newspaper has launched its Berbice supplement that will highlight issues and events in the ancient county. The supplement titled ‘Berbice Times’ is a weekly edition inserted in the Monday newspaper.

With this development, the company has established a Berbice branch office.

On Monday, Berbicians and Guyanese on the whole were introduced to the first edition of the Berbice supplement.

Guyana Times is the sister company of Television Guyana (TVG) and Radio Guyana Inc (RGI), which also transmit news countrywide.

The company will also be heading to Region Five to launch the Berbice Times there, and has expressed intentions of introducing an Essequibo and hinterland supplement.

Regional Chairman David Armogan welcomed the Berbice Times, noting that the supplement will advertise the county to the

Regional officials after the launching of the Guyana Times Berbice edition at the company’s office at LFS Burnham (Coburg) Street, New Amsterdam on Monday

wider population and called on its reporters to practise fair and balanced journalism.

The regional chairman said he is not looking for praise, but criticism should be constructive.

Balanced reporting The regional chairman said there are a lot of things happening in Berbice that are not given sufficient prominence, and expressed hope that the Berbice Times will address this deficit.

Berbice Chamber of Commerce (BCC) President Mark Roopnarine, who delivered the feature address, said the Guyana

Times daily has already established a presence in Berbice, and with the introduction of the supplement; persons can look forward to in-depth coverage of the region.

Showcasing Berbice

“Now, for the first time Berbice will be placed under the spotlight and in detailed. I am sure that spotlight will shine bright to be much more focused on Berbice…it is going to reveal to Guyana and the rest of the world, the details of Berbice because Berbice is a place for investors and one could say it is a haven for commerce and trade,” Roopnarine stated.

On that note, he contended that Guyana Times has created a positive impact on the local print media, calling it a “reader’s digest on larger pages”.

Widest spread Guyana Times Editor Nigel Williams explained that the supplement will cover all aspects of life in Berbice, pointing out that the company’s goal ever since its establishment has always been to provide the widest spread of news coverage on current affairs, features,

sports, politics and business.

“Through the Guyana Times, Evening News and most recently Radio Guyana Inc, we have been able to accomplish this task. But life is dynamic and as times change, we must also change and adapt to the changes. We recognised therefore that our current coverage of news in Berbice has been at best routine and one way we thought we could bridge this gap is to dedicate a special supplement which will be produced

by Berbicians, featuring Berbicians and designed for Berbicians,” he said.

Williams noted that the company has a dynamic team of young, enterprising reporters who will ensure coverage of all the angles of developing stories, do the requisite follow ups and break new stories.

Voice for all Guyana Times General Manager Daniel Singh pointed out that the company’s goal is to provide a medium using all three media outlets for the voice of Berbice to be heard nationwide.

Professor Daizal Samad, who will be spearheading the operations in Berbice, said while the supplement will benefit all of Berbice, the business sector will benefit more.

He explained that when businesses place ads in the supplement, television and radio, it will not only reach those in Berbice, but throughout the Caribbean.

LIAT promises passengers smooth journey during Christmas season

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IAT is promising customers that it is doing everything to make their journey during the busy Christmas season as smooth as possible. The company in a release confirmed that its fleet modernisation efforts are continuing with five new ATR aircraft being added so far and two more are due to arrive in January 2014.

“Even as we continue the transition from the Dash 8 to the ATR aircraft, we are now in a better position to stabilise the schedule during the Christmas peak, traditionally one of the busiest periods for us,” acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Julie

Reifer-Jones said.

She added: “We are determined to get all of our passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible over the holiday season.” The acting CEO said the company is also working with external agencies as it endeavours to improve the level of customer service offered by its employees.

And with the Christmas holidays approaching, LIAT is placing an embargo on excess baggage from December 3 to January 14, 2014.

Reifer-Jones said high passenger loads during the Christmas season added to the space and weight limitations of both Dash 8 and

ATR aircraft and are key reasons for a return to the seasonal policy.

She said that in order to make flying as easy as possible, passengers should adhere to LIAT’s baggage limits.

“The free baggage allowance for all LIAT services is one piece at a maximum of 50 lbs or 23 kgs. In addition, passengers are allowed one piece of cabin baggage at a maximum weight of 15 lbs,” Reifer-Jones said.

Passengers are reminded that they should arrive at the airport to check-in at least two hours prior to their scheduled time of departure and that check-in closes 45 minutes before the plane departs.

TT moves closer to Internet Exchange Point

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rinidad and Tobago is one step closer to establishing its own Internet Exchange Point (IXP). The board of the TT Internet Exchange (TTIX), the non-profit company that will set up the local IXP, held its inaugural meeting last month to elect officers.

TTIX includes the country’s seven major

Internet service providers (ISPs).

Once established, the (IXP)-will facilitate the exchange of local Internet traffic between the ISPs. It will help to keep users’ local communications more private, as it reduces the reliance on international network facilities. Consumers can also expect to see an improvement in the speed and

robustness of Internet access for locally-based content and services.

There are six IXPs in the Caribbean, in Curacao (AMS-IX), St Maarten (OCIX), Grenada (GREX), British Virgin Islands (BVIX), Haiti and Dominica (DANIX). TTIX is working towards establishing the IXP in the first half of 2014. (TT Guardian)

News week ending december 5, 2013

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Canadian charitable organisation helps dent Guyana’s child mortality rate

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he Guyana Help the Kids (GHTK) continues to make significant strides, as it seeks to reduce neonatal and infant mortality rates in Guyana.

Already, the organisation has assisted in the 50 per cent reduction in neonatal death rate at the Georgetown Public Hospital; some 83 babies were saved. The GHTK is a Canada-based charitable organisation led by president and chief of paediatrics at Humber River Hospital in Toronto, Dr Narendra Singh.

During an interview with Caribbean Times International, Singh said the organisation is accelerating a series of healthcare programmes in Guyana. With major emphasis placed on capacity building, the GHTK is providing comprehensive education to local physicians, nurses and other allied healthcare professionals.

Additionally, it continues to secure specialised equipment to raise the bar of neonatal care in the country.

The GHTK collaborated with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Institute of Health Science Education, the University of Guyana, the McMasters University and the Humber River Regional Hospital in Toronto to introduce a paediatric post-graduate residency programme in 2011.

Earlier this year, Dr Clive Bowman and Dr Seepersaud Chatterdeo were the first to graduate with a master’s degree in paediatrics under the programme.

High standard

“The examiner, who came from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, she felt that the two paediatricians can function independently at a very high standard in Canada and the U.S., so I think it gives some support to the quality of the programme we are providing here,” Dr Singh noted.

Meanwhile, the oth-

“I strongly believe over the last 10-15 years, the government of Guyana has implemented many policies nationwide, that has resulted in a pretty remarkable drop in mortality and morbidity of the paediat-

Guyana’s Culture Minister, Dr Frank Anthony and health professionals inspecting the refurbished Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) when it was commissioned in March 2012 at the Georgetown Public Hospital

er doctors in training are utilising the services of specialists from the University of Toronto, McMasters University and other universities in North America.

These specialists have been travelling monthly to provide didactic and bedside teaching in keeping with the uniquely developed curriculum.

In addition to the paediatric post-graduate residency programme, the GHTK and Georgetown Public Hospital in March 2012 reconstructed a 24 bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The facility at the GPH was brought up to standard with the installation of procure monitors, IV pumps, pump monitors and incubators procured from funds (Cdn$100,000) raised by the GHTK. Prior to the commissioning, the unit was in dire need of incubators, a machine which supports the breathing of premature infants while they are still hospitalised, so they can have a better chance of living.

Critical demand

According to Dr Singh, from the more that 15,000 babies born in the country yearly, approximately 6000 are delivered at the Georgetown Public Hospital, hence, it is critical for the hospital to meet the demands of the neonatal and infant

population.

With the inclusion of the four regional hospitals: Suddie Public Hospital, the West Demerara Regional Hospital, the Linden Hospital Complex and the New Amsterdam Hospital, approximately 85 per cent of all babies born in a given year was delivered at the central health institutions.

As a result, the GHTK is in the process of incorporating the regional health institutions.

The GHTK has opened a NICU in Linden and New Amsterdam and has provided essential pieces of equipment.

Meanwhile, a feasibility study is being conducted at the Suddie Public Hospital.

The GHTK is hoping to commission the facility at Suddie in March 2014 and similarly a unit at the West Demerara Regional Hospital by August 2014.

Medical practitioners at the various institutions in which NICUs have been installed, are responding positively to this level of development, Dr Singh said.

Good nurses

Recognising the need for biomedical and respirator support to ensure the functionality and longevity of the very sensitive equipment, technical experts from the Humber River Regional Hospital, Nationwide

A batch of nurses who completed the paediatric nursing programme at the Linden Hospital Complex. With the nurses are their instructors

Children’s Hospital and the Hospital For Sick Kids have signalled their willingness to assist with this aspect of the programme.

Turning his attention to the work of the Health Ministry in meeting the needs of the neonatal and infant population, the chief of paediatrics at Humber River Hospital said the government of Guyana is doing a very good job.

ric population.” He said this level of development is a step in the right direction, noting that Guyana’s ability to reduce the under-five mortality rate is extremely encouraging.

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Montague remains JLP chairman Argentina honours Guyana’s foreign minister R obert Montaque has retained his position as chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Montague staved off a challenge from Holness supporter, Derrick Smith, at Monday’s JLP Central Executive meeting, which met at the party's Belmont Road, St Andrew headquarters to elect the top officers.

Montague was able to win in spite of sentiments within the party that he

should give up the chairmanship to concentrate on reclaiming his former Western St Mary seat from Joylan Silvera of the People's National Party. Montaque lost the seat to Silvera in the 2011 general election.

Deputy chairman, Aundre Franklin, also overcame a challenge from Kamina JohnsonSmith to retain his post; while Dr Horace Chang was saved by the Central Executive, which voted

to keep him on as general secretary over Joan Gordon-Webley.

Audley Gordon, Homer Davis, Dr Andrew Wheatley and Richard Creary were voted to serve as the party's four deputy general secretaries.

Incumbents Karl Samuda and Lelsie Campbell were unopposed for the positions of treasurer and deputy treasurer. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Barbados’ first ‘food zone’ launched in St. George Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett responds after being conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of the General Liberator of San Martin by Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timmerman

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uyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister C a r o l y n Rodrigues-Birkett last Friday was presented with the Grand Cross of the Order of the General Liberator of San Martin by her Argentine counterpart Hector Timmerman.

In decorating Rodrigues-Birkett with this high order of the Republic of Argentina, Timmerman paid tribute to the consistent friendship which RodriguesBirkett and the government of Guyana have demonstrated to the government and people of Argentina.

Timmerman expressed confidence that both governments were guided by similar political and democratic ideals and convictions.

The decoration was presented during an official visit paid by Rodrigues-Birkett to Argentina last Thursday.

During this visit, the foreign ministers discussed areas of bilat-

eral cooperation within the framework of the Argentine South/ South Cooperation Programme.

They signed a bilateral agreement for the “Free exercise of remunerated activities by dependent relatives of diplomatic, consular, administrative and technical staff of their diplomatic missions, consular offices and international organisations”. They also took the opportunity to exchange views on the activities of several regional organisations of which their countries are members.

Rodrigues-Birkett also met with the defence and security ministers and officials from the health, social development, agriculture, tourism and industry ministries.

At these meetings, there was an exchange of information on the activities undertaken by both countries within the different sectors and discussions focused on po-

tential opportunities for cooperation.

It was agreed that the two countries will work towards the early conclusion of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in agriculture that would include cattle rearing.

Also, a mission from Argentina will pay a visit to Guyana in December this year with a view to exploring cooperation in the tourism sector. Other areas identified for cooperation between the two countries include postgraduate training for doctors in specialised areas, Spanish language training and military training at Argentine defence institutions.

Cooperation between Guyana and Argentina has intensified since the re-establishment of an embassy in Guyana two years ago.

Rodrigues-Birkett was accompanied by foreign service officers Heather Seelochan and Jevon Rodrigues.

(Guyana Times)

Barbados’ Agriculture Minister Dr. David Estwick (second right); FAO Representative, Jean Lowry (third right) and other officials tour stalls at the Food Zone Project launch.

Here, the touring party is in discussion with Entomologist Brett Taylor. (C.Pitt/BGIS)

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he first of a number of Food Zones to come on stream in Barbados, has been launched.

The launch of the Food Production Zone pilot project took place last week at The Glebe in St. George, on the grounds of the St. George Parish Church car park. The launch was streamlined by the Ministry of Agriculture, with aid from the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The aim of the food production zone is to strengthen the food security position of Barbados, by empowering farming communities to adequately respond to market requirements, through in-

creased agricultural production and the creation of sustainable agroprocessing enterprises.

The farmers operating in the central zone of St. George and its outskirts of St. Michael, will be better equipped to respond to and cater to the requirements and demands of the market place, and St. George will now become an agricultural hub, via the Food Zone.

Dr. Dennis Blackman, Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer with responsibility for crops, noted that the vision to develop and establish food zones first originated with prominent agriculturalist Dr. Chelston Brathwaite (who was also present) in his paper “A Vision for the Future of Agriculture in Barbados”. The Vision of Brathwaite is now tak-

ing root in actual steps to expand food production in Barbados, he said, while at the same time aiming to reduce exports and save foreign exchange.

Pointing to an agricultural survey undertaken in the St. George/ St. Michael Food Zone District, Blackman noted that the district supported approximately 526 farmers, of which 244 are located within the actual designated physical boundary. And of this number he said, 77 had one acre or more, while the remaining 167 controlled less than one acre.

Hence the 167 farmers’ production is not as high as they would like and so, steps are being taken to help them increase their productivity on small plots of land. (Excerpted from Barbados Advocate)

News week ending december 5, 2013

Some 15, 000 to benefit from cheap mortgages in TT

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rinidad and Tobago’s Finance Minister, Larry Howai, said an expansion of the government’s low-interest (two percent) rate mortgage scheme could benefit 15,000 persons.

He said so last Friday while speaking at the post-Cabinet news briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), St Clair.

The 2006 scheme had originally given mortgages of TT$425,000 to persons in properties run by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and Caroni (1975) Limited.

However, Howai said Cabinet agreed to now open up the 100 percent mortgage scheme to all citizens in “the entire national community” who meet eligibility criteria (further to the three classes of applicant previously). Further, he said the mortgage limit is to be increased from TT$450,000 to TT$625,000.

“Now we have increased the limit and opened it up to the entire national community,” Howai said.

TT’s Finance Minister Larry Howai (TT Guardian file photo)

The scheme is open to any first-time buyer with a household jointincome of up to TT$8,000 monthly, and also offers a TT$15,000 loan to buy household appliances, he said.

Howai justified the expansion of the scheme by saying the HDC had recently revealed a backlog of its house-applicant list of 214,000 persons, and needs help to tackle that housing deficit.

“The government can’t do it alone,” he explained. “We need to open up the system.”

When asked who would be the ideal beneficiary of this expanded scheme whose TT$625,000 sum is

still less than the average house-price of about TT$1.3 million, Howai replied that the beneficiaries would come from a combination of circumstances.

He said some HDC housing units are within the TT$625,000 limit, but some cost more than that. “In addition there are people who may have a piece of land, and want to put a home on their land, and this would help them. They may have a piece of land their parents left them, but unfortunately they can’t access the financing; we are hoping that this would help to make it a little more affordable,” he stated.

(TT Newsday)

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Guyana has been able to contain AIDS – NAPS programme manager

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ational AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) Programme Manager, Dr Shanti Singh said Guyana has come a far way since the first AIDS case was recorded in 1987.

She made the remark as Guyana Sunday joined the HIV global community in observing World AIDS Day 2013 held under the theme “Getting to Zeros--Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS related deaths and Zero Discrimination”.

Dr Singh in a release said NAPS has been privileged to be at the centre of the response.

“We have committed from the very first

case that our people will be provided with the highest quality of services and we have dedicated much of our time to fulfilling this promise. Indeed, the progress speaks for itself--Guyana has reported universal access to HIV prevention and treatment services, we are well poised to declare the elimination of mother to child transmission, many Guyanese know their HIV status, more than 81 per cent of persons living with HIV are reporting a 12-month survival and AIDS related deaths have decreased from almost 10 per cent in 2002 to less than four per cent in 2010.

NAPS Programme Manager, Dr Shanti Singh

These translated to everyday lives mean that fewer babies are being born with HIV, less HIV infections are occurring and people living with HIV are living longer and healthier lives.

We are turning the tide against the epidemic!”

Dr Singh said as Guyana reflects on its achievements, NAPS has acknowledged that the journey is far from over; pointing out that stigma and discrimination remained an issue.

After 26 years, people and especially persons from the key populations are hesitant to access HIV prevention and treatment services for fear of discrimination. This has the potential to increase new infections and AIDS related deaths.

Response

The Guyana HIV response has continually evolved over the last

26 years, moving from an emergency response, targeting the general population, to now one that requires a more targeted focus on the high risk groups, from an initial vertical programme response to one now requiring a more sustained integrated approach and from acute management to now considering HIV as a chronic disease.

“Through all of this, our people have been fortunate to have unswerving and loyal partners who have responded with us at the very beginning and many of who are still with us. We are grateful for the support of the government and people of the United

States of America, for the PEPFAR, USAID and other programmes, the Global Fund, the World Bank, PANCAP, CIDA and all other institutions and agencies. We are thankful to all of the technical agencies under the UN system--UNAIDS, PAHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and all others.

“We salute our health care workers who have despite all the odds have persevered and continue to save lives,” Dr Singh indicated.

She said though Guyana has come a far way, it must not be complacent, but must build on the momentum gained in reversing the epidemic.

Man jailed for using obscene language against TT’s PM

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magistrate has sentenced a 34-year-old man to 14 days in jail for using obscene language towards Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar at a political meeting earlier this year.

Magistrate Adia Mohammed, sitting in the San Fernando Court last Thursday, told Marlon Richardson that he had been disrespectful to the second highest

office holder in Trinidad and Tobago.

“The day we feel comfortable, safe and brave enough to use obscene language to the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, we have reached a whole new low,” Mohammed said, adding that it mattered not whether he voted, agreed with PersadBissessar's policies or liked her.

The magistrate said he had to show respect

for the office.

Richardson was charged with using obscene language to the annoyance of persons on a public street after he was arrested on September 30 during a public meeting of the coalition People's Partnership government in San Fernando.

The police officer who charged him told the court she heard Richardson shouting expletives and say-

ing, "Kamla, yuh take mi house. You is a liar. I want back my TT$10,000.”

Under cross-examination, Richardson said, “I will never use them kind of words to the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago. I eh no stupid fella.”

Earlier he had told the court that he was a supporter of the United National Congress (UNC), the biggest partner in the four-member

coalition government, and that he was "jumping up and having a good time when he was arrested".

In passing sentence, Magistrate Mohammed said that contrary to the lines of the national pledge on honouring parents, teachers, leaders, elders and those in authority and being clean and honest in thoughts, words and deeds, Richardson's language was "vile, dis-

respectful, distasteful, disgraceful. More so, it was used toward the person who holds the second highest office of the land. Something has to be very, very wrong".

She told him obscene language had become prevalent in society, to the extent that people believe it is acceptable behaviour and also that Hollywood glamourised obscene language in movies and song. (Caribbean News)

Barbados marks 47th independence anniversary H undreds of Barbadians converged at the Garrison Savannah Saturday for the country’s 47th independence anniversary parade, which saw performances from members of the armed and unarmed units.

Governor General Sir

Elliott Belgrave, took the salute in an hour-long march-past in various formations by the service groups, moving in keen precision to a medley of marching renditions by the Royal Barbados Police Force Band.

Meanwhile, in his message to the nation on the occasion, Prime

Minister Freundel Stuart noted that “the strength of the national character has been tested frequently over the years, but we have always satisfied the requirements of those tests.”

He added that, “there are many nations older than ours in which democratic procedures

Young Barbadians celebrate the country’s 47th independence anniversary (Nation News photo)

are still trying to find a comfortable place” and acknowledged that the global economic crisis has had a severe impact on the island.

“The world has not yet been able to recover from the effects of this stubborn downturn and Barbados, like most

other countries, continues to be negatively affected,” Stuart said, noting that the economy, which depends primarily on tourism, international business and financial services and foreign direct investment for its sustenance, was still struggling.

“It is foreign exchange and taxes earned from these sectors that enable Barbados to meet the needs of its citizens.

As a result of the still continuing downturn, there has been a fall-off in demand for the services which we export,” he noted.

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UDECOTT forced to Roraima Group lauded for contribution pay Cad$20 million to Guyana’s tourism sector to Canadian firm

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Udecott’s chairman Jearlean John (TT Newsday file photo)

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he Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) has been forced to pay settlement in two multimillion lawsuits with Canadian project management firm Genivar, over contracts which were signed during the tenure of its former executive chairman Calder Hart. Both parties have refused to shed light on the exact details of the settlement, citing a confidentiality agreement brokered between them.

Udecott chairman Jearlean John confirmed that her organisation had offered to settle both lawsuits, together valued at approximately Cad$19.4 million (approximately TT$122 million), because it was unable to find evidence to defend the company’s claims.

A report published

by Quebec-based newspaper Le Journal de Montreal on November 13, stated that one of the lawsuits was settled by the parties, while a High Court judge made a ruling in one of the cases in January, ordering Udecott to pay the full amount of the contract entered into with Genivar.

One of the lawsuits dealt with outstanding design fees, project management fees and interest, totalling Cad$15.9 million (approximately TT$100 million), in respect of 21 projects which were proposed during the People’s National Movement (PNM) regime.

The other, valued at Cad$3.2 million (TT$20 million), dealt with consultancy services for a Port-ofSpain “urban masterplan.” The contract for the capital city development plan, which was signed with Genivar and its subsidiary, Design

Collaborative Associates Limited (DCAL), was initially worth TT$33 million, but TT$10 million was already paid to the company by Udecott before the lawsuit was filed.

After Hart resigned and the government changed in 2010, Udecott refused to honour the agreement on the basis that he (Hart), in his capacity as executive chairman, had no authority to enter into such an agreement without board approval.

In an e-mail response Sunday, John did not deny the information contained in the report, but like Genivar, she cited a confidentiality agreement in the lawsuits.

However, John did reveal that when the lawsuits were filed, Udecott’s legal representatives offered to settle them because it was unable to challenge the claims. “As it relates to the settlement of the previous claim made by Genivar, Udecott is in a position to confirm that the genesis of such settlement was our inability to verify the contents of the claim as presented

by Genivar,” John said.

Checks in the High Court Registry revealed that the matter involving the 21 projects was before Justice James Aboud in the Port-ofSpain High Court, and that a consent order related to the settlement was recorded by the court on June 26, before Genivar agreed to withdraw it. In relation to the other lawsuit involving the Port-of-Spain “urban master plan,” John was only able to confirm that an offer to settle the lawsuit was also made by Udecott, which the company did not agree to, leading to the judgment in that case in January. (Excerpted from TT Guardian)

uyana’s President Donald Ramotar last Friday night commended the Roraima Group of Companies for its sterling contribution to the tourism sector and Guyana’s economy. The president made the comments while addressing the audience at the Roraima Group’s 21st anniversary ceremony held at Duke Lodge, Kingston.

Romotar congratulated the company on its milestone and service to Guyana, noting that, “Captain Gerry Gouveia, and his team, has done enormous amount of work not only in growing the business, but also in creating employment for people and promoting tourism in every

Guyana's President Donald Ramotar

respect”. The president also lauded the level of service provided by the Roraima Group.

“I want to thank him and his staff for the many medivacs they have flown, bringing people from the deep in-

Captain Gerry Gouveia

terior for medical attention at the wee hours in the morning. If Captain Jerry doesn’t go, he sends one of his trained staff to bring persons for medical services where they are not available, to Georgetown.”

Gouveia, the proprietor of Roraima Group of Companies, expressed gratitude to his supportive wife, Captain Debra Gouveia and his dedicated staff.

He stated that the company will be in the safe hands of his two sons who are concluding their studies in aviation.

His wife, noted that flying is indeed in their family’s blood.

Roraima Airways was established in November 1992, commencing its operations as a domestic airline doing charter flights in Guyana, and the Caribbean with an emphasis on executive clientele. Over the years, the company has expanded its range of services into 10 divisions.

Jamaican gov’t says Ja$20 million spent on PM's China trip

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he Jamaican government has confirmed that it spent more than Ja$20 million on the official visit to China of a Jamaican delegation headed by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in late August.

Leader of Government Business in the Senate, AJ Nicholson, made the disclosure in answers he provided last Friday to questions tabled by Opposition member Senator Robert Montague.

According to Senator Nicholson, the trip cost the government Ja$19,680,537, including payments for "travel, subsistence and contingencies", which were paid from the budgetary allocation in the ministries of foreign affairs and foreign trade; water, land, environment and climate change; national security; and the Office of the Prime Minister.

He said, however, that the figure did not include costs incurred by the embassy of Jamaica in Beijing, which amounted to US$3,461.84 or Ja$366,869.52.

Senator Nicholson said that the prime minister was accompanied by 17 persons, including the chairman of the board of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Jajil Dabdoub; Dimitri Dabdoub, general manager of Tools Hardware & Supplies; Hugh Graham, managing director of Paramount Trading Jamaica Limited; four journalists; two security officers; and a team of civil servants.

He said that four

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller led a delegation to China in late August (JIS photo)

agreements were signed: Letter of Exchange to facilitate construction of two early childhood institutions in Tower Hill, Kingston and Morant Estate, St Thomas; Letter of Exchange for expansion of the Confucius Institute at the University of the West Indies, Mona; Economic and Technical

Agreement Grant Aid valued at US$16 million (Ja$1.6 billion) for projects to be mutually agreed between both countries; and a Preferential Buyer Credit Loan Agreement to finance the Major Infrastructure D e v e l o p m e n t Programme (MIDP) valued at US$300 million (Ja$30 billion), which will replace the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme (JDIP) which ends this year.

The Letters of Exchange and the Economic and Technical Agreement Grant Aid are gifts to the people of Jamaica, while the Preferential Buyer Credit Loan is somewhat similar to the loan arrangements for JDIP. The agreements took immediate effect upon signing by Senator

Nicholson, as the minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, as authorised by the minister of finance and planning, under the Loan Act, the Financial and Audit Administration (Amendment) Act and the Jamaica Constitution.

In a statement to the House of Representatives last month on the trip which ran from August 20-25, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said that, in relation to all of the identified projects, stakeholder consultations would begin shortly to ensure that there is full understanding of the scale, scope, benefits and implications of what is contemplated, and that the interests of the people of Jamaica are protected at all stages of the project and programme development.

(Jamaica Observer)

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St Vincent PM has no plans to Buxton residents benefit from Guyana’s pass medical marijuana One Laptop Per S Family project

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Proud beneficiaries displaying their new laptops

esidents of Buxton and surrounding communities of the East Coast Demerara in Guyana gathered in large numbers at the Tipperary Hall, in Buxton, last week to receive their laptops as the country’s One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme continued distribution in Region Four.

More than 450 beneficiaries from Vigilance, Friendship, Buxton, Annandale and Courbane Park received their laptops.

Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill, who was present at the exercise, highlighted that this initiative is for Guyanese and that the programme is designed in such a way that “it is

non-discriminatory, everybody that qualifies will benefit…this is for every person who qualifies and that is the nature of the PPP/C government.”

A five-day training session is also being offered to the recipients to ensure they are able to use the device.

Beneficiaries of this initiative expressed their gratitude to the government for this programme. One recipient, May Glenn said that this initiative is a very good one; and it will prove very beneficial to the children, who are tomorrow’s future.

Evelyn Adams said she was happy that the government was giving out laptops, as it will

aid her grandchildren in their school work.

The current exercise is a continuation of the distribution that commenced in May, and primarily targets Region Four. This initiative is focused on the distribution of 6000 laptops to recipients of the East Coast, East Bank and Georgetown areas.

The OLPF programme was originally launched in 2011, to equip 90,000 families with laptops and to expand the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT). The programme was pioneered by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

t Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says his government has no plan to bring legislation for medical marijuana to Parliament.

“This is a matter which we will work through the framework of Caricom. And hopefully, we will have a big discussion on this,” he told Parliament in response to a question from Opposition legislator Linton Lewis.

Gonsalves, in September, wrote to chair of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, calling for a discussion within Caricom on medical marijuana.

He noted then the recent debate in Jamaica and other Caricom countries about the possibilities of medical marijuana as an economic and commercial industry.

Lewis asked Gonsalves whether there were any plans to decriminalise the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and if so, when will legislation to that effect be brought to Parliament.

Gonsalves said that after he raised the issues with his Trinidadian counterpart, the Caricom Secretariat was mandated to gather the research, and she asked that the region look not only at medical marijuana, but also at other usage.

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves

Debate

A report should be coming to Caricom in February when the 15-member regional bloc meets in St Vincent, Gonsalves said.

“I decided to pursue the matter through Caricom. The issues here are common across the region and there is a debate, which is ongoing,” he said, adding that it is well established that marijuana has medicinal properties and that 20 states in the United Stated have legalised it for medical purposes.

“I know at least two lawyers in this country who suffer from arthritis who use the marijuana bush, boil it, for medicinal purposes. Of course, if they are caught, they will be committing an offence under the law currently,” said Gonsalves, who is also a lawyer, adding that using marijuana eases the lawyers’ pain.

He further said that

a woman who is a member of the Legion of Mary uses the illegal drug to make tea and uses it for medicinal purposes.

Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Legal Affairs, noted that the woman, and the man who takes the marijuana to her, can both be arrested if caught.

He called for the issue of the use of marijuana to be discussed “sensibly and intelligently”, saying “this is not a call for the legalisation of marijuana.

“I am not making that call. I haven’t even reached the stage where I am asking for its decriminalisation for small quantities,” he further said.

He, however, stated that some persons make “quite a plausible case” that marijuana below 15 grams (about half an ounce) smoked in the privacy of one’s home by persons 18 and older “is not something which is harmful”.

“Now, I am not going that distance; I am only talking on medicinal purposes. See, I know, as politician speaking about this matter, that people may say, ‘Why is Ralph troubling that? Why is the prime minister troubling that? He wants to get in trouble with people who have an absolute view on this.’

“All I am asking, let us have a discussion,” Gonsalves said. (Jamaica Observer)

PM Kamla commits to prosecute human trafficking

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rinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has given her government’s commitment to the full implementation of the 2011 Trafficking in

Persons Act, to vigorously investigate and prosecute trafficking offences, and convict and sentence trafficking offenders.

She was speaking on the occasion of the International Day for

the Abolition of Slavery, observed Monday, December 2.

The Act prohibits sex trafficking and forced labour, contains extensive victim protections, and prescribes penalties of

15 years to life imprisonment with accompanying fines for offenders.

According to the prime minister, the focus of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is on eradicating all contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.

“Living in a modern society, it is disturbing to think that slavery is still prevalent in parts of our world. No one should be treated unfairly and harshly to suit the advantages of others,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar assured that Trinidad and Tobago, along with the global community, remained committed to the fight against slavery in all its forms and to raising awareness on the subject.

“It is a fact that

TT’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar (TT Newsday photo)

many forced labour victims work hidden from public view and scrutiny–on fishing vessels, construction sites, in commercial agriculture, in the entertainment industry, and in factories.

Domestic workers, the majority of whom are women and girls, are often victims of abusive practices by employers, such as non-payment of wages, deprivation of liberty, and physical and

sexual abuse,” the prime minister indicated.

She added that slavery, in the context of forced labour, also existed within global supply chains, generating huge profits for those who control this industry in free labour.

She also said the United Nations’ global initiative to fight trafficking notes that people trafficking was the thirdlargest global criminal industry, behind drugs and arms trafficking.

“Together, let us unite for a common purpose and for the good of humanity, and do everything possible for the millions of people throughout the world– men, women, and children–who are held in contemporary bonds of slavery and tragically deprived of their human rights and dignity. Their silent voices cry out for no less,” she stressed.

(Excerpted from TT Newsday)

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Diabetic foot centre, other facilities commissioned in Guyana’s West Berbice region G uyana’s Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud last week commissioned several health and education facilities in Region Five, some of which were capital works programmes under the 2013 national budget, while others were rolled over from 2012.

These are in line with government’s continued efforts to provide the necessary infrastructure to enhance the lives of its citizens.

Persaud officially commissioned the Diabetic Foot Centre, which was constructed at a cost of Gy$7.4 million in the Fort Wellington Hospital Complex compound, and is expected to provide specialised care for diabetic patients.

Diabetic foot care was done previously through the administrative complex; hence, it was a serious challenge to caregivers as well as beneficiaries.

“We will now be able to offer the same kind of

The Diabetic Foot Centre which was commissioned at the Fort Wellington Hospital last Thursday in Guyana

care, but in an environment that is far more conducive, less challenges for the health care providers and the recipients,” Persaud explained.

Expanded service

There was also an extension at the Fort Wellington Rehabilitation Centre which was constructed at a cost of Gy$5,714,228, a waiting area built at a cost of Gy$2,611,602 which was done through savings accumulated by the regional administration, and a water filtration building for which

Gy$4.5 million was invested, and will see the complex being able to receive up to 900 gallons of purified water every eight hours.

Persaud said that these were continued steps in the regional developmental programmes to enhance healthcare delivery in the region. He commended the stakeholders who played a role with regards to having these ideas conceptualised, implemented and successfully realised.

Meanwhile, about Gy$4.9 million was in-

vested in the completion of the health centre at Bush Lot, which will see the complex being able

to facilitate oral health, chronic illnesses, and family health services.

Other facilities commissioned were an eightbed extension at the maternity ward at the Mahaicony Hospital and a drug storage bond built to the tune of Gy$6 million and Gy$4.4 million respectively.

Also, a teachers’ quarter at Mortice, which was constructed at a cost of Gy$4.4 million, located opposite the Mortice primary and secondary schools, will accommodate the headmistress of

the primary school.

Teachers and students of the Belladrum Primary School expressed gratitude for the construction of a tarmac at the school, while Region Five Chairman, Bindrabhan Bisnauth expressed appreciation to government for its continued investment into the region, especially in the area of education.

Bisnauth also urged that the facilities be maintained and deliver services in the best interest of the people. (Guyana Times)

Children on the newly-built tarmac at the Belladrum Primary School

Jamaica’s Santa Cruz community gets Ja$25 million health facility

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Jamaica’s Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson (left); and Member of Parliament for North East St. Elizabeth Raymond Pryce (right); join Chairman of the Board for the Black River Hospital Beryl Rochester (centre) as she prepares to cut the ribbon to declare the Santa Cruz Health Centre of Excellence officially opened last Friday (JIS photo)

amaica’s Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson officially opened the Santa Cruz Health Centre of Excellence, in St Elizabeth last Friday, and simultaneously broke ground for the start of phase two of the work to be done at the facility.

The Santa Cruz Health Centre of Excellence is the first of four such facilities to be officially opened, Dr Fergusson said.

The other centres located at Darliston, in Westmoreland; Issac

Barrant, in St Thomas; and Claremont, in St Ann, are now at varying stages of completion.

Dr Ferguson said that approximately Ja$25 million was spent to carry out the construction and refurbishing works in phase one, with Ja$8 .2 million, of that amount used to provide new equipment for the upgraded facility.

He said that another Ja$88 million will be spent in phase two, bringing the total investment to Ja$113 million.

Funding for the project is being provided

by the National Health Fund (NHF), for which the Health Minister expressed appreciation, adding that the Health Centres of Excellence forms part of the government’s strategic priority for human capital development.

“Health must not be seen just as a social good for a people, it must be seen also as a contributor to the national economy,” Dr Ferguson said, adding that it is for this reason that health tourism will become a significant item on his agenda. (JIS)

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TT’s Bunji Garlin cops Soul Train Award I

an Alvarez, more popularly known as Bunji Garlin, was a happy and relieved man

on Sunday night, after it was announced to the world he had won the 2013 Soul Train Award

for Best International Performance for his song “Differentology”.

He told TT media

Monday, “My beautiful wife and I celebrated with wine last night. We know we’ve got to cele-

brate with our fans too, and that will come soon.”

Alvarez, who is married to soca queen FayAnn Lyons, said they got confirmation of the award via email two weeks ago, but even though the show was pre-taped in Las Vegas on November 9, the winners were not officially announced until the event was aired on American network’s BET (Black Entertainment Television) and Centric on Sunday night.

Alvarez, a former Soca Monarch, said of his initial reaction, “I was happy since then, and very joyous. The most difficult part was keeping it away from everybody. It is now a weight off my shoulder.”

International acclaim

Bunji Garlin entertains on stage during a recent performance in Trinidad. (TT Guardian photos)

He dedicated the award to his wife, their daughter Syri, his parents and fans. “This is for them,” he said.

Alvarez’ award, a replica of a “soul train”, is being shipped to the soca star

said he would need a very long scroll to list everybody he has to thank.

Inspiration

“The people of Trinidad and Tobago moved the song,” said Alvarez. “How the song was placed on nomination in the first place, I don’t know. I am still trying to find out. People had to vote for it afterwards. The power of the people moved the song and I am very grateful and humbled by this award.”

Alvarez also stated that after many years of people doubting his style of music, even questioning himself, he nevertheless persisted and his efforts are now paying off.

The music award comes after “Differentology” was played as the background music to the opening scenes of last Thursday’s episode, titled “Somebody That I Used to Know”, of Grey’s Anatomy, a hit medical drama that airs on

Bunji Garlin

who did not attend the taping, and is expected to arrive this week.

“Differentology” a soulful, Latin jazz infused soca ode to Carnival has received critical acclaim on the international music circuit.

On the BET website, “Differentology” was listed under Best International Performance and the following was written: “Are you ready? The soca artiste kept listeners moving at a steady pace with this Caribbean banger.”

Alvarez beat out fellow TT soca star Machel Montano whose “The Fog” was also nominated, as well as Englishborn Scottish recording artiste and songwriter, Emeli Sandé with “Next to Me”, Nigerian R&B duo, twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye, known as P-Square, with “Personally”, another Nigerian recording artiste, singer, songwriter Iyanya who sang “Ur Waist”, to win the award.

To his fans, Alvarez

American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and is now in its tenth season. Grey’s Anatomy is the most popular prime time TV show in the US, with over nine million viewers and millions more worldwide.

Alvarez said he felt very humbled and thankful such an opportunity had come his way.

His song has also become one of the NBA’s Top Arena Anthems for 2013-2014 Season, having been played during the Brooklyn Nets vs Portland Trail Blazers game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on November 18, and the Toronto Raptors blasted the hit during their Miami Heat faceoff in Toronto, Canada on November 5.

Asked what’s next on the agenda, Alvarez said different opportunities were going to come forward. “We have to stay focused now as the real work is about to begin in the real world,” he said, starting with the launch of his band Vikings this weekend. (TT Newsday)

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Guyanese Kevin Abbensetts - From juvenile delinquent to budding professional athlete

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uyanese Kevin Abbensetts has always been athletically inclined and so it was no surprise when he began showing much promise during sporting activities at school.

Kevin attended the J E Burnham Primary School, but had a history of disciplinary issues which always prevented him from participating at national track meets and other advanced events.

He grew up with his maternal aunt from the age of two after moving from his hometown on the Essequibo Coast to fulfil his mother’s dream of a better chance at life for her children.

After his adoptive parents separated, Kevin began to observe the economic toll the new adjustment was having on his aunt.

She was forced to become a minibus driver on the Georgetown route; utilising her minibus to transport schoolchildren on contract.

But it was Kevin’s competitive spirit that caused him to begin stealing from his aunt in an effort to keep up with his friends, who often sported trendy gadgets and other high-priced items.

Robbing strangers

He recalled that the

Kevin said he picked it up and put it in his bag.

Someone saw the boys grabbed the laptop and alerted the gate officials, who followed the group. Kevin was caught and the stolen laptop recovered from his bag pack.

He was charged and appeared before a magistrate who placed him at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC).

New life

Kevin Abbensetts (left) with a fellow competitor

money from his aunt soon became inadequate to support his habit and he turned his attention to strangers on the streets, robbing and snatching anything on which he could get his hands.

“I use to see my friends getting certain things and I wanted

what they had, so I decided to do bad things to get it,” he related.

Kevin told how he was often scolded, but had become so immune to even the harshest form of punishment.

“Whenever I carried home something that didn’t belong to me, my aunt would tell me to

take it back and when I was rude to her, she would take me to the station.

Kevin related that the turning point in his life came one day in 2009 during a game of cricket at a softball ground with friends when one of the boys left for the urinals and found a laptop.

At NOC, he learned welding and fabricating.

“I was doing really good in welding and I ended up staying there because I developed a love for it.

Sometimes, we would slip into other classes when we had the time to see what other skills we could learn.” His welding instructor turned out to be an athletic coach and Kevin was able to participate at the interschools; eventually making it to the National Schools Championships.

In August of 2011, Kevin was released from the New Opportunity Corps and moved back to live with his aunt.

Education

He later wrote the entrance exams at the Kuru Kuru Training College where he spent 10 months after being given an opportunity to

Kevin Abbensetts (third left) participating at a recent game

further his education in welding.

“Looking back now, I was glad that I was sent there because I don’t know where I would have been right now,” the 18-year-old remarked.

While at Kuru Kuru, Kevin earned himself the title of Champions of Champions, running away with the male championship trophy.

He later enrolled at the Government Technical Institute (GTI) where he is currently pursuing studies in small appliance repairs.

He has since networked with an old coach and was able to restart training.

“I told him of my desire to start training and he told me to turn up at the training venues where he was coaching and I did.

From then, I began improving and I represented North Zone in 2012.

In that competition, I copped three silvers and one gold. I was happy because it was my first time in Georgetown and so I decided to pursue running,” Kevin said.

In July, Kevin also represented Guyana in Trinidad where he placed first in the long jump, and third in the 400 heats.

He recently participated at the InterGuiana games where he copped two gold medals.

Kevin believes he is prepared and is hopeful of securing an athletic scholarship that would afford him an opportunity to reach the ultimate goal of becoming a professional athlete.

“So I’m going to do my best. It might be hard,” he said. “But I’m ready for the competition.” Kevin now hopes to begin studies at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level where he intends to write five subjects. (Guyana Times)

Seventeen get awards for Excellence in Science and Technology in Trinidad

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n November 23, NIHERST hosted their Awards for Excellence in Science and Technology at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.

Calls for nominations for the prestigious awards were widely posted through the media and key educational and scientific bodies and institutions, and were also advertised on television pro-

grammes, resulting in 33 nominations. The Awards were offered in seven categories: The Fenrick De Four Award for Engineering, The Emmanuel Cipriani Amoroso Award for Medical Sciences, The Rudranath Capildeo Award for Applied Science and Technology, The Julian Kenny Award for Natural Sciences, The Anthony Williams Award for

Technological Innovation in Arts and Culture, The Frank Rampersad Award for Junior Scientist and The Ranjit Kumar Award for Junior Engineer.

The award ceremony had several notable speakers including Dr Rupert Griffith, Minister of Science and Technology, who gave the feature address, Professor Michael T Clegg, Foreign

Secretary of the US National Academy of Sciences, who gave the keynote address and Maureen Manchouck President of NIHERST, gave the Closing Remarks.

In September 2012, NIHERST launched the re-branded Awards for Excellence in Science and Technology, in association with the Ministry of Science and Technology and

the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. These awards sought to recognise and reward nationals for outstanding achievements in science and technology, to provide positive role models for youth to emulate, and to record TT’s scientific heritage.

There were 17 awardees, with twice the number of female awardees this year. (TT Newsday)

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o n a l d Hollingsworth and Sharon Taylor’s ‘Watch De Ride 2’ on Saturday evening walked away with the grand Gy$1 million prize at the National Drama Festival 2013 award ceremony in Guyana.

The big cash prize was sponsored by Digicel. In at second in the Open Full Length Category was ‘Anybody See Brenda’ while ‘When Chocolate Melts’ written and directed by Neaz Subhan earned the third spot.

In the Open Short Play Category, ‘Before Her Parting’ directed by Tivia Collins brought first and pocketed Gy$400,000 while ‘Mommy’ directed

by Sonia Yard was placed second and ‘Farepicker’ under the directorship of the Theatre Guild was in at third.

In the Junior

Winners! The cast of "Watch De Ride 2" pose with Guyana's Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony, as they were declared the winners of this year’s National Drama Festival in the open full-length category

Category, ‘Creative Burial Ground’ written by Rae Wilshire and Directed by Nickose Layne, captured first place.

‘Deep Wounds’ written by Melinda Primo and directed by Marissa

Primo was placed second and ‘Planned to Perfection’ written by Mark Luke-Edwards was in at third.

Guyana’s Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony noted that this

Dionne JacksonMiller is Jamaica’s Journalist of the Year

Dionne Jackson-Miller of Television Jamaica displays the Journalist of the Year Award presented to her at the National Journalism Awards last Friday night.

T

Hussey-Whyte received her award for her Sunday Observer exposé on the plight of Olympian Olivia McKoy, who was spotted on the streets of Kingston selling bag juices after representing Jamaica in the javelin event for 20 years.

Wellington received his award for his photo entitled 'You maaay think you're bad', which captured a goat on its hind legs about to tackle a dog.

Observer Associate Editor-Special Assignment Ingrid Brown received special commendation for her White Elephant series.

Chief judge Patrick Harley said this year saw an increase in the number of entries—a total of 180 submitted across 24 categories.

The Gleaner won 14 categories with Virtue, Reid and Petre WilliamsRaynor tied for the most individual awards—two each.

Veteran journalist, playwright, broadcaster and Observer columnist Barbara Gloudon was inducted into the PAJ Hall of Fame. So, too, was the late Carl Wint.

This year there were four special

elevision Jamaica's Dionne Jackson-Miller walked away with the Journalist of the Year trophy at the Press Association of Jamaica's (PAJ's) National Journalism Awards ceremony last Friday.

The event, which was held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, also saw Jamaica Observer reporter Donna Hussey-Whyte receiving the Carl Wint Award for Human Interest Feature (print), while Jamaica Observer photographer Joseph Wellington took the Errol Harvey Award for Human Interest Photography Observer reporter Donna Hussey-Whyte At the same time, Rashawn receives the Carl Wint Award for Human Thompson of Nationwide Interest Feature (print) from LIME’s Elon News Network took the Young Parkinson. (Jamaica Observer photos) Journalist of the Year award, while The Gleaner's team of Erica categories sponsored by UNICEF, Virtue and Tyrone Reid won the Digicel, National Housing Trust and Sagicor. (Jamaica Observer) award for Investigative Journalism.

year’s festival has shown much improvement and encouraged the participants to work around the challenges.

“I think while we, with any festival, we have to keep looking at what we’ve done right

and we also have to look at what didn’t go right, and those challenges I think we have to learn from them and move forward.”

Digicel’s head of marketing Jacqueline James encouraged the actors to

develop their dreams and visions as they have laid out the foundation.

This year’s National Drama Festival saw the submission of 52 plays, of which 32 were short-listed for the finals. (Guyana Times)

TT’s President Medal winner stars at 2013 Tobago Youth Awards

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helemiah Peterkin, a 2013 National President medal winner, and Mark London, double Carifta champion were among awardees at the annual Tobago Youth Awards at the Magdalena Grand Resort, Lowlands last Thursday evening. The event was hosted by the Sport Department in the Division of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

Peterkin, a graduate of Bishop’s High in Tobago attained the highest grades for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) in Trinidad and Tobago and also achieved the highest grade in the Caribbean in Business as an A’Level student at St Joseph Convent, St Joseph.

A resident of Moriah, Peterkin is the first Tobagonian to capture the prestigious President Medal. She said she was humbled by the honour and grateful to all who supported and helped her in her success. She is yet to decide between the London School of Economics and Political Science or the University of Waterloo as her choice to study Economics/ Accounting.

Peterkin also praised God for her success and encouraged young Tobagonians to work hard and put God first.

London, also a former

Shelemiah Peterkin (TT Newsday file photo)

Bishop’s High School student, is an accomplished athlete and cyclist who has represented Trinidad and Tobago.

He won the boys Under-20, 800m and 1500m titles at the Carifta Track and Field championships in Bahamas in April and also retained the Division Three title at the annual Tobago Cycle Classic in October.

A resident of Plymouth, London competes also in triathlon events. He will head off to the USA on an athletic scholarship next month, January 2014.

Full list of the awardees reads Education (Academics)-Shelemiah Peterkin; Education (Tech Voc)-Akysha Hector; Sports and Wellness-Mark London; EntrepreneurshipRondel Armstrong; Agriculture-Avron

Radgman; Media-Davia Chambers.; Youth Service-Alana De Silva; Youth Leader-Wade David; Youth TriumphJoel Job; Youth MentorMcNicol Nicholson; Peoples’ Choice-1st Samson Caesar, 2nd Aniecia Baptiste, 3rd Tyeis Lorde, 4th Garielle Yorke, 5th Tyriq Horsford, 6th Sheridon Tobias, 7th Niclon Ince; Secretary’s Award for Excellence in CSEC-Kerron Brebnor; Secretary’s Award for Excellence in CAPEDhwayne Michael Henry, Lemuel Phillips; Most Outstanding Youth Group-Mason Hall Police Youth Club; Most Improved Youth Group-Plymouth Bethesda Youth Club; Most Effective Youth Programme/ProjectCarib Dixie Land Pan Class. (TT Newsday)

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J

amaican Basil Dawkins' new script ‘My God Don't Wear Pajamas’ copped the silver medal and a trophy for best overall playwright at this year's JCDC Creative Writing Competition, bringing him full circle since his very first script 'Flat Mate', penned in 1978, won him a bronze medal in what was then titled the Jamaica Festival Literary Competition.

This prestigious new medal brings Dawkins' JCDC Creative Writing medal standings to one bronze, three silvers and one gold. The gold medal was received for 'Hot Spot' in 2005, placing him in the very elite company of only two other playwrights---the late dramatists Dennis Scott and Stafford Ashani.

Undoubtedly one of Jamaica's most prolific playwrights and theatre producers, Dawkins has written a total of 24 plays in the past two decades, of which all but

of a struggling young Jamaican man (Donald Anderson) who is undergoing a publicly humiliating separation from his wife (Zandriann Maye), when his America-based father who he is aware of, but has never met, dies. A very substantial estate is left to be divided evenly between himself and his father's widow, (Bertina Macaulay), but the widow's only child (Jon Paul Menou), will stop at nothing to do his stepbrother and even his mother, out of their inheritance.

Appreciative audience

Jamaican playwright Basil Dawkins (right) receives his trophy for Best Adult Playwright for 'My God Don't Wear Pajamas' from Cindy Breakspeare at JCDC's creative writing awards and exhibition at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston, recently. Looking on is Shirley Carby, founding chairperson/board member of JAMCOPY. (Photo: Jamaica Gleaner)

one have been produced.

His latest medal winning entry, ‘My God Don't Wear Pajamas’, will be moving from the page to the stage on December 27, under the sure hand

of Actor Boy Award winning director, Douglas Prout and will feature some of Jamaica's finest seasoned performers including: Donald ‘Iceman’ Anderson, Zandriann

Maye, Jean-Paul Menou, Bertina Macaulay and introduces School of Drama graduate Paul Wilson.

‘My God Don't Wear Pajamas’ is the story

Dawkins' ability to use comedy and drama in equal parts to tell compelling stories continues to win over local and overseas audiences Dawkins explained.

“I don't know that I have themes that I consciously set out to write about. I like to observe what topics, themes and concerns keep peculating in my mind and question whether they

would find significance in the wider society. If it continues to resonate in my head with more layers, then I start thinking about it seriously to see if there may be a story with a beginning, middle and end.”

Dawkins, in his ever present desire to challenge himself, would like to one day turn his attention to writing and producing for the silver screen. He credits movies as his major influence for writing for the stage.

In fact, Dawkins states, “When writing, my mind thinks in terms of movies, both in approach, structure and form and then I modify to fit that movie on a small stage with none of the technological and technical assistance that a movie maker has at his disposal. I hope the Jamaican audience will enjoy ‘My God Don't Wear Pajamas’, my latest 'movie for the stage'.”

(Jamaica Gleaner)

Internationally renowned sound engineer Dutch crew to for TT’s Carnival workshop produce documentary C on Guyana

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uyana’s Tourism Ministry and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), in collaboration with Garage De Eenheid, a Surinamese tour company, recently hosted a three-day Media Familiarisation Tour (FAM) with Trishul TBN Broadcasting Network, a Surinamese company.

According to a release from the GTA, the group of four from the broadcasting network participated in a series of tours during their stay in Guyana, including a tour of Berbice (New Amsterdam); a city tour; a visit to Splashmins; and a trip to the Essequibo and surrounding areas.

A short documentary will be created from the trip which will be aired on the said network to help promote Guyana’s tourism industry.

The visitors experienced the country’s rich cultural heritage, its many historical sites in Georgetown and the Essequibo Islands, the country’s flora and fauna, its exotic cuisine,

and its pulsating nightlife.

Visitors

Garage De Eenhei, owned and operated by V Premnauth, has been collaborating with Guyana’s Tourism Ministry to bring large numbers of visitors to the land of many waters.

The tour company was recently given a Tourism Special Mention Award– Largest Inbound Operator for 2013, as it brings in 500 visitors on average from Suriname/Holland per month.

“Whether it’s the allure of the food, festivities, or simply the fascinating people, the relationship between the two South American neighbours continue to be further cemented as Guyana’s tourism product takes centre stage,” GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh said.

He noted that in partnership with the private sector, packages and programmes are being designed to increase this already im-

pressive figure.

“We are looking to attract an additional 500 tourists on a monthly basis; to accomplish this, we will capitalise and tailor our packages surrounding very popular and renowned events,” Haralsingh explained.

He acknowledged too that the influx of visitors is as a result of Guyana’s ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with the Dutchspeaking country.

Guyana’s Tourism Ministry is also collaborating with small hotels in an effort to boost occupancy, and already these smaller establishments are operating at full capacity.

In addition, Haralsingh announced that Guyana is currently working to establish a “healthy” cross-border tourism relationship, with particularly, Suriname and Brazil.

He said this was being done at the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) level, and will also promote multi-destination tourism. (Guyana Times)

arnival enthusiasts and masqueraders in TT can expect significant improvement in live sound for Carnival 2014, thanks to the internationally recognised and experienced Live Sound Engineer Horace Ward.

During a one week workshop, local sound engineers will have the oppor-

Horace Ward

tunity to work directly with Ward and learn hands-on techniques to improve their sound production skills.

Horace Ward has mixed all kinds of live events, from concerts to awards ceremonies. His client list includes the names that top the pop and R&B billboard charts, ranging from Lady Gaga and Prince to Beyoncé, Mary J Blige, Usher, Busta Rhymes, the Fugees and LL Kool J. TT’s Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism has partnered with some of country’s top sound engineers who are in the process of establishing the local chapter of the Audio Engineering Society (AES). The Audio Engineering Society is the only professional society devoted exclusively to audio technology. This international organisation unites audio engineers, creative artistes, scientists and students worldwide by promoting advanc-

es in audio and disseminating new knowledge and research.

The workshop will be heavily interactive and the ministry expects a radical advancement in the sound of Carnival 2014. Participants will leave the workshop each day with a new technique that can be immediately applied in their work. The Queen’s Park Savannah will be the main training ground with the VIP room used to demonstrate indoor sound techniques and the Grand Stand of the Queen’s Park Savannah as the site for outdoor events training. Participants are primarily the sound engineers for the popular local bands and the major sound companies that are utilised heavily during the Carnival season. Sound engineering students are also participating in this once-in-a-life time workshop.

This project is the second pre-cursor event to the Trinbago Interactive Music Expo (TIME) of the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism. TIME, which will take place in early 2014, is designed to bring musicians, film makers, new media artists and other practitioners of the creative industry in contact with industry professionals from around the world.

TIME will take the form of interactive seminars where creative industry professionals will engage in discussions and provide practical ideas and strategies to cultural workers to aid in their development and possible entry into foreign markets. Each session will use the previous night’s performance as a case study for analysis and discussion.

The performances will feature preselected acts that will be viewed by a jury comprising the foreign delegation.

These juries will contain professionals that can sign artistes to record labels, participate in tours and enter foreign creative markets. (TT Newsday)

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Nations’ post-2015 development agenda to provide platforms for inclusive youth participation in the formulation process, more specifically youth targets for each goal within the development agenda.

Reading: It’s a whole new dimension

Commitment

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Tiffany Daniels and Tricia Teekah at the Sri Lankan forum

he ninth Commonwealth Youth Forum was hosted this year in Sri Lanka, November 1014 concurrently with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Supported by the Sri Lankan government, Tiffany Daniels and Tricia Teekah of the Interim National Youth Council of Guyana (INYC) were able to join fellow Commonwealth youth leaders, representing Guyana and the Commonwealth Caribbean.

Under the theme: “Inclusive DevelopmentStronger Together”, the first General Assembly at this forum provided a platform for these youths to debate, agree on, and set policies, programmes, and priorities pertaining to the challenges and opportunities young people face.

Recommendations

Over three days, and going well into the wee hours of the morning, the youth of the Commonwealth engaged in vibrant debates to decide on youth positions on key thematic areas: the post-2015 development agenda; professionalisation of youth work; well-being and economic growth; education fit for purpose; sexual and reproductive health and rights; gender equality; generating quality youth employment; and reconciliation and social cohesion.

These decisions were publicised through a declaration presented to the heads of government by the newly-constituted Commonwealth Youth Council which called upon the heads and the council, as well as the Commonwealth to take some of their recommendations into consideration when developing policies

and programming.

Notable among these recommendations was the call for inclusive and relevant education for all young people (specifically girls, persons with learning disabilities and the differently able).

Furthermore, high on the agenda was the importance of the professionalisation and accreditation of non-traditional and non-academic fields, with there being several calls for entrepreneurship and employability skills training which cut across several of these major thematic areas.

As a result, the governments were charged with ensuring that they put mechanisms in place to impart skills to youth which promote job creation rather than just prepare them for job seeking.

The youth leaders also made vital recommendations for the United

The Commonwealth was additionally charged with establishing a Commonwealth Post 2015 Monitoring and Evaluation Group to facilitate youth participation in planning and implementation.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government confirmed their commitment to the well-laid points developed within a document which reaffirmed their responsibility of investing in young people by placing them at the centre of sustainable and inclusive development, and generating time and capital into harnessing their leadership and creativity.

The Guyanese delegates seized the opportunity at the forum to engage representatives from youth councils on structure, programmes and network, to strengthen the Guyana Youth Council, which is only at its infancy stage.

The Guyana team will be working closely with the elected regional representative, Royden Beharry and the incoming Caribbean Regional Youth Council that will be launched in December in St Lucia. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Bollywood superstar for TT’s Carnival chutney show

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nternational Indian singer Sunidhi Chauhan is heading to Trinidad and Tobago during the 2014 Carnival season to perform at one of the largest events in Carnival, Chutney Brass. The show is scheduled for February 22 at the Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre.

Randy Glasgow Productions (RGP) announced that the artiste, who is among the leading singers in Bollywood, India, will be accompanied by her full performing troupe. Top local bands Dil-e-Nadan, Karma, BMERZ, Melo Bugz, 3 Veni and D Rampersad Inde Art are expected to be on the cast.

RGP CEO Randy Glasgow said he decided to invest in bringing Chauhan because he knows that her coming to TT during Carnival will first, give exposure

Sunidhi Chauhan (TT Guardian photo)

to chutney music to a wider cross section of the international music community.

He also wants to encourage a vast number of people from across the world to visit TT to see her and hopes some may even stay for the rest of the Carnival season. Glasgow said that over the years the Chutney Brass has seen people coming in from Japan, Spain, Holland, England and Australia

along with chutney fans from Guyana, Suriname, St Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, Canada and across the U.S. He believes that RGP will be receiving ticket bookings from Chauhan’s fans from many of these places as she is not scheduled to visit them any time soon.

Best known for her Hindi film songs in Bollywood, Chauhan has recorded songs for Urdu, Oriya, Punjabi, Marathi,

Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bhojpuri, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati and Nepali films. She began to sing at four years old and was discovered by a local TV anchor.

She gained recognition through a televised singing contest, Meri Awaz Suno, which she won, and made her entrance into playback singing with the Hindi film Shastra.

Her breakthrough was with Ram Gopal Varma’s film 'Mast', in which she sang the hit song 'Ruki Ruki Si Zindagi' and three others, including the title song. She has been nominated for 14 Filmfare Awards, winning on two occasions as well as a Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. She has won two Star Screen Awards, two IIFA Awards and one Zee Cine Award. (Excerpted from TT Guardian)

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By Anu Dev

snap my book shut; take a deep breath and struggle to extricate myself from the recliner I was crumpled-up in for the past few hours. I wander downstairs with that happy glow only reading a really good book can give you. I wonder how many persons in this hitech (read: TV) age are doing this right now.

Not too many, I conclude ruefully.

My family doesn’t look at regular TV programming.

But we sure take in a lot of movies – some even before they’re released in the States! With the opening of the Princess Theatres, the moral dilution to share in piracy has lessened a bit! Movies are just another way of telling stories and as with books, one’s enjoyment is heightened if the plot, characters, setting, themes and style are handled with sophistication.

However, many movies are based on books – some of which I’ve read – and these have given me an interesting insight.

No matter how accurate the casting crew tries to be, they rarely ever quite match up to the characters the way I “saw” them in the book. On the other elements of fiction, sometimes so many liberties are taken; one wonders why they still bothered to name the movie after the book.

“P. S. I love you” and “Percy Jackson” are movies that disappointed greatly after reading the books.

The point is, reading compels you to use your imagination to engage the world the writer has conjured and your apprehension through the written word makes that world yours as much as hers. It’s actually a mystery to me as to why persons deny themselves the opportunity to get lost in this act of co-creation that, (in the words of Rafiki of Lion King), makes us “look beyond what you see”.

Reading doesn’t necessarily equate with “oldfashioned” and movies, “modern”. In fact, many new devices like the Kindle and iPad are either designed for reading or have free reading apps available.

The ability to read isn’t the main hurdle in Guyana – we supposedly have a literacy rate of over 90 per cent – an extraordinarily high figure. It is the desire to read that is the problem and one which won’t be overcome unless the act of reading becomes enjoyable.

But that won’t happen if reading is something you’re forced to do for English B or if you believe that “The Chrysalids” – which I did for my CSEC – is as good as it’s going to get. There are some really amazing books out there: books that make you cry, smile or even actually laugh. The examiners of CSEC are heading in the right direction with their new guidelines for literature appreciation and apprehension.

Maybe they will now do something about the selection of texts: “The World of Prose” is as morbid as it gets.

Some of the greatest achievements of humanity are in the form of great works of literature.

And narratives, over the centuries are insightful chronicles, of history in their own right: Plato said they were even superior. The author’s elaboration of a particular concept or her choice of a writing style is inevitably products of her time. In a reversal, we now even speak of the “poetics of history”. There’s a whole world out there, so take time out from vegetating in front of the TV once in a while and enter into new dimensions through reading.

Go on, take the plunge!

Bollywood

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‘I’ve told Shahid not to meet Sylvestor Stallone’ - Prabhu Dheva

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rabhu Dheva, Shahid Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha recently got candid with Bombay Times during their visit to the office. The following is an excerpt.

Prabhu, you couldn't retain your original title 'Rambo Rajkumar' because of the international Rambo team. Were you upset?

Just the other day, Shahid was watch-

ing Sylvestor Stallone’s ‘Rocky V’ and I asked him to change the channel. I also told Shahid, 'When you go to America, don't meet Stallone'!

Why did you decide on Shahid and Sonakshi for this film?

We needed a new couple.

I visualised them together and felt this would be a good pair.

Shahid, were you nervous at the

thought of being choreographed by Prabhu Dheva?

I was very nervous, especially because there is this one step we do together in the song 'Gandi Baat'. His choreography is very different. While shooting, he saw the monitor and told me, 'Arre, how much energy you've got!'

Prabhu, this is the first time that you are making a Bollywood film which is not a remake of a South film.

How different was this experience?

For me, it's not difficult because I have worked in South too. I started with remakes here, now the actors and producers have accepted me. Whether it's a remake or not, it's the same effort, similar energy is put in. (TOI)

‘I will adopt a baby even if I have my own’ - Ekta Kapoor

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kta Kapoor is emotional about her new Star Plus daily show ‘Ye Hai Mohabbatein’ that started began airing. In a chat with Bombay Times, she talked about love, motherhood and her decision to be personally more involved in television now, as it gives her a chance to be more creative, compared to films. The following is an excerpt, What is your new show ‘Ye Hai Mohabbatein’ all about?

Basically, this show is a beautiful journey of a woman, who falls in love with a child and marries a man who she doesn't like, only because of the child.

We have a lot of women in our society who are considered incomplete if they can't become mothers! It's the ultimate destination for women to become mothers. Of course, it's a beautiful feeling, but the pressure is too much. Many marriages even break up if they are unable to bear a child. ‘Ye Hai Mohabbatein’ is about being a mother without becoming one.

You feel strongly about the issue?

I'm trying in my own subtle way to fight the social prejudice women face if they can't become mothers. Why can't we accept that women who adopt can be great mothers? This step mother syndrome has been so strong in our minds that we automatically assume that if she's not the biological mother, she will be a bad mother. Motherhood is an emotion. It doesn't have to be a natural physical development.

Will you consider adopting a child someday?

Why not? I think having a baby or adopting one are two sides of the same coin. I'll adopt a baby even if I have my own.

Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif engaged?

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o go by the strong rumours and cousin Kareena Kapoor’s alleged declaration of Katrina Kaif as her sister-in-law on ‘Koffee With Karan’, gossip mills have been working overtime to hint at a possible exchange of rings between Ranbir Kapoor and girl-

friend Katrina.

Ranbir and Katrina's relationship had caught the public eye soon after they worked together in the film ‘Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahaani’. What added fuel to fire were the couple's leaked pictures while on a holiday in Spain. Having been spotted together at var-

ious parties and events, the buzz around their romance has been strong for the longest time now.

But what raised eyebrows recently was when rushes of Kareena and Ranbir's episode of chat show ‘Koffee With Karan’ was aired on television. Kareena, known for not shying away from making controversial remarks has allegedly spilled the beans on the latest update in her cousin Ranbir's relationship with Katrina and reportedly called Kat her sister-in-law on national television.

Was this Kapoor’s big announcement of Ranbir and Katrina's engagement plans? If so, do we hear wedding bells in the coming year?

(TOI)

Kareena and Saif to move to a new home worth 48 crores!

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ive life king size is Saif Ali Khan's motto and who can blame him as his royal blood is used to palatial houses. To live like royalty even in a city like Mumbai, Saif and his wife Kareena Kapoor, have decided to spend a small fortune of Rs. 48 crores to buy a four floor apartment and call it home.

According to a news article in DNA, Saif and Kareena have bought four floors of a building in Bandra opposite their current apartment, Fortune Heights.

Apparently each floor has a 3BHK apartment that covers an area of 3,000 sq feet each and every apartment is worth Rs. 12 crore making Saifeena’s new home worth Rs. 48 crores.

According to the report, architect and interior designer Nozer Wadia, who has designed homes for A-list celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Arjun Rampal, has been roped in for the project.

Kareena has taken it upon herself to oversee every little detail of the house with a long list of specifications from husband Saif. He reportedly

wants a swimming pool on one floor, a library for his books on another, gym and a terrace garden as well.

Saif and Kareena have been living together in their old Fortune Heights home for many years now. The couple plans to give it on rent by 2014 as soon as one of the four apartments of their new home is ready.

(TOI)

ness, a Mid-Day report said that around 10:45 pm, both, the cricketer and the actress left Anushka's place and stepped out of the lift on the second floor parking area of the building. Both were casually dressed and the actress

gave him a quick kiss before he left in the car.

The report further stated that both looked very happy in each other's company and Virat kept turning back to look at Anushka as the car left the parking area.

Both Anushka and Virat met when they were shooting for a shampoo commercial and bonded very well since then. After that they became "good friends" and meet often whenever the cricketer is in Mumbai.

Well we sure hope that love is in the air for both Virat and Anushka.

(TOI)

Abhishek denies rumours that Anushka Sharma kisses he and Ash are moving out! cricketer Virat Kohli

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hile rumours have been doing the rounds that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan along with husband Abhishek and daughter Aaradhya is keen to move out of the Bachchan household, Abhishek clears all specu-

lations.

Recently it was reported that Ash was allegedly unhappy with her mother-inlaw Jaya Bachchan, who was keeping a track of her bahu’s movements which did not go down too well with the beauty.

But Abhishek stepped in to clear the air when a fan quizzed him on micro blogging site Twitter.

A fan asked Abhishek about the rumours of Aishwarya being fed up of Jaya Bachchan's constant interference to which Abhishek replied, “it's rubbish.”

(TOI)

I

t seems something is cooking between “just friends” Virat Kohli and actress Anushka Sharma. If reports are to believed, Virat stopped by at Anushka's residence to meet her before he left for South Africa.

Quoting an eyewit-

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Pamela Anderson poses Sandra Bullock says life is a nude for Purple Magazine series of painful moments

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P

amela Anderson was spotted having dinner with photographer Sante D'Orazio while browsing through the latest nude pictures of her at Tao Downtown.

The 46-year-old CanadianAmerican actress is believed to have posed for the latest set of pictures, which are for an upcoming issue of Purple Magazine, after she ran the New York City Marathon, the New York Post reported.

D'Orazio has photographed the ‘Baywatch’ actress in many revealing poses and had also produced an exhi-

bition of photographs of her in 2005 titled, ‘Pam: American Icon.’ (TOI)

Michael J. Fox almost gave up on acting career

M

ichael J. Fox has revealed that he was about to give up on his acting dreams because he was always losing jobs to Matthew Broderick.

The ‘Spin City’ star recalled at the Casting Society of America's annual Artios Awards that in 1982, he was desperately looking for a job as

B

that the bottle simply "never landed on him."

Contrary to what Ryan told Ellen, it wasn't just him and Brit playing the game. "We played with a group," she said, bursting into a giggle fit when Ellen quipped that "Ryan Gosling is good looking, but he's a liar!"

And while the Britney Jean beauty is quite happy with her "love" David Lucado, Ryan has found his way into her thoughts—subconsciously, at least!

During a KIIS FM interview earlier this year, she admitted, "I had a dream about him last night!"

But it wasn't that kind of dream.

"We were just talking, having a conversation," she said laughingly. "I wish it was like that!"

And despite never getting to kiss Britney, Ryan has fond memories of his fellow 'Mouseketeer'. "Britney was a sweetheart," he told The Sunday Times magazine. "She lived right above me, the girl next door. The little girl I used to play basketball and spin the bottle with." (TOI)

Russell Crowe supports Bieber over graffiti dispute

R

ussell Crowe has defended Justin Bieber in his graffiti dispute.

The 49-year-old New Zealand actor wrote onTwitter, “I like Bieber's tagging. Tag on little brother. Tag the world”, Contactmusic reported.

The 19-year-old Canadian pop musician was embroiled in a graffiti dispute in Australia and the area's mayor, Tom Tate, was furious with the singer and publicly ordered him to clean up his mess.

Bieber, who is currently on tour ‘Down Under’, had previously found himself in trouble with the law over his 'tagging' during his South American tour after he was accused of spraying an abandoned

the 49-year-old actress 'Entertainer of the Year' for 2013. (TOI)

‘Paul Walker was a family man and good dad’ - Dwayne Johnson

he owed money, the New York Post reported.

The 52-year-old actor added that he was ready to go back to Canada and work in his brother's construction site.

But his luck changed when he went in to read for ‘Family Ties’, who initially also wanted Broderick, he added.

(TOI)

Britney Spears played spin the bottle with Ryan Gosling

ritney Spears missed out a perfect opportunity to kiss Ryan Gosling—back in their Mickey Mouse Club days.

On the Dec. 3 episode of ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’, Britney opened up about playing spin the bottle with her fellow 'Mouseketeers' in the early '90s and why she only actually kissed Justin Timberlake!

"I didn't kiss [Ryan] though," she said. "The only person I kissed was Justin!"

And just why did young Gosling never got a smooch? Britney explained

andra Bullock, who had a painful split from former hubby Jesse James in 2010, has said that life is a series of disastrous moments.

‘The Blind Side’ star told Entertainment Weekly that when people say that life is good, she always disagrees, Us Magazine reported.

Bullock said that life was full of painful moments, unexpected moments, and things that will break one's heart and that in between those moments, there are times when one savors.

The publication had recently named

building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(TOI)

D

wayne Johnson has revealed that Paul Walker was a family man and his top priority was being a good dad to his 15-year-old

daughter Meadow.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the deceased actor's ‘Fast and Furious’ co-star said that he was motivated by

work that allowed him to take care of his family and give him the power and the leverage to help people in need and in crisis, Us Magazine reported.

Johnson added that the most important thing they had in common was the importance of family time and being a great father to their daughters.

The former professional wrestler went on to note that the two talked about their kids constantly which was their "number one topic" and bonded over it. (TOI)

Ex-‘Glee’ star Charice attempted suicide over financial troubles

F

ormer ‘Glee’ star Charice tried to commit suicide by slashing her wrists due to financial problems, her grandmother has revealed.

The YouTube sensation's grandmother, Teresita Relucio, made the revelation during an interview on the Filipino show ‘Showbiz Police’, Radar Online reported.

Relucio asserted that the bank account of the 21-year-old singer, who was branded the "most talented girl in the world" by Oprah Winfrey, had been cleared out. (TOI)

‘Fame has ruined my private life’ - Jennifer Lawrence

J

ennifer Lawrence says fame has ruined her personal life.

The ‘Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ star claims her high-profile acting career has robbed her of her freedom and she regrets not being able to hang out in coffee shops any more without fans hounding her.

She told Spanish website Mujerhoy. com: “My personal life is now ruined.

I've had to create a new one and get used to this new life. It's hard and it takes time, but I'm sure I will get it.

'I'm just mourning my old life. I miss that. I don't want to forget what it's like going to a coffee shop and people looking at me like a normal person. A part of me can't get used to it and it makes me sad.”

The 23-year-old actress---who landed an Oscar earlier this year for her performance in ‘Silver Linings Playbook’--is best known for her portrayal as selfless heroine Katniss Everdeen in

‘The Hunger Games’ franchise, and she admits to feeling just as uncomfortable as her alter-ego when she was first thrust into the spotlight. (TOI)

feature week ending december 5, 2013

D

aniyelle Bennett is a girl with a bike and a vision.

The 11-year-old triathlete is already blazing a trail as national activist in the fight against obesity in Trinidad and Tobago. Young Bennett already has her eyes set on making a unique contribution to society.

It was her vision that brought to life a new campaign aimed at raising awareness about how healthy lifestyle choices at a young age can prevent obesity. “I started to open my eyes and look around...I wanted to do something,” she told TT media.

For two years, she has been meeting and engaging other youngsters her age in open forums, to promote the importance of exercise and a balanced diet. So when she saw some statistics that made national headlines, listing TT as having the third highest obesity rate in the world, she felt compelled to step up and

fight the negative trend.

Thus was born, “Ride to promote wellness.”

Twenty cyclists from her triathlon club Caribbean Cross Training, accompanied by a police escort and some supporters who trailed along in cars, made their way from St Mary’s Children’s Home in Tacarigua, to the market in Sande Grande Sunday morning. The trek was further intensified by heavy rains that greeted the cyclists promptly when they showed up to the meeting point at 6 am.

But Bennet was unphased, and she enthusiastically spoke to an audience of children from the St Mary’s Children’s Home about healthy eating and exercise. Throughout the three-hour ride, Bennett stopped to engage different audiences in the fight against obesity. She is currently in the sixth grade at the International School of

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Eleven-year-old Daniyelle Bennett, centre, with a group from the Caribbean Cross Training at the Sangre Grande Market Sunday. (TT Guardian photo)

Port-of-Spain.

Her mother described her as driven, citing her long lists of achievements from triathlons to

getting a black belt in karate, to singing and writing short stories about Grand Riviere. When her daughter approached

her with the idea for this event, her mother collaborated with the coaches from Caribbean Cross Training to bring this vi-

sion to life. The club will continue the campaign with a triathlon race on the December 15. (TT Guardian)

Expo Jamaica 2014 sparks international interest in Jamaican-made products

W

ith the calendar year coming to an end and Jamaicans hoping for prosperity in the new year, Expo Jamaica, Jamaica's largest and longest running trade show stands to bring a boost to businesses for 2014 by sparking international interest in authentic Jamaican-made products.

The event is being positioned with the government's proposed plans for the logistics hub, under theme “The Business Hub of the Caribbean”.

The biennial multi-sectoral show, slated for April 3-6, 2014, at the National Arena, will be more innovative and hitech, according to the organisers.

“Over the years the Expo Jamaica committee has worked very hard in improving all facets of our show for what we now regard as the perfect platform where buyers meet sellers, creating a true economic launch pad for our businesses and country," said Aswad Morgan, co-chair of the organizing committee.

Growing Interest in Jamaican-Made

"Expo Jamaica 2014 will be even better, as now we have even more buyers showing strong

interest coming from all over the world. For this we are truly grateful," he added.

With a little more

nies.

These countries represent in excess of five regions including North and South America,

nations. The remaining countries of the group, Russia and Brazil are also being targeted.

These countries indicate

ufacturers expected to be on display. The items on display will range from food and agro to furniture, chemicals, cosmet-

A scene from a previous Expo Jamaica show. (Jamaica Observer file photo)

than five months to go, over 150 buyers from over 30 countries, including Jamaica, have already registered to see, taste and feel authentic Jamaican products for purchase and distribution in their home countries which will bring stronger export earnings for the registered compa-

Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. As reported by JAMPRO, the entity charged with Expo Jamaica's buyer recruitment, several registrations are repeat buyers with unique attention stemming from fastgrowing economies such as India and China, which make up the BRIC

a growing interest and demand for Jamaican products and services.

Exhibitor spaces filling up fast

To date, the organisers said that over 60 per cent of exhibitor booth spaces have been booked, with over 2,000 quality products from local man-

ics and pharmaceuticals, services, and more, showcasing the versatility of the products and how to use these for efficient business solutions.

"The past expositions have enhanced the competitiveness of all Jamaican exports for this global environment.

The consistency of work-

shops to assist in identifying trade opportunities and the drive for local production, have also helped to increase our non-traditional products and services," noted Bernadette Wong, marketing and sales director at Salada Foods.

"With continuous focus on strategic marketing for global exports and supporting Expo Jamaica, Salada Foods has been successful in our endeavours to seek prospective distributors for the USA, Caribbean and the European markets," she added.

As part of the preparation process, the exposition has focused efforts on the solutions Jamaica offers to the international market through quality Jamaican products.

A showcase on how these exhibitors' products offer real solutions have also began on the Expo Jamaica Facebook page. With this in mind, Expo Jamaica has expanded on building the capacity of its registered exhibitors by not only providing the market for their products but also training on how to grow their business in the rapidly changing environment hinged on a tech-focused, data driven and targeted approach.

(Jamaica Observer)

28 feature Barbados to build on Rihanna’s success B www.caribbeantimesinternational.com |

arbados’ Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley has revealed plans to promote Rihanna’s childhood neighbourhood, Westbury Road, as a site of interest to visitors to the island.

Stating that Rihanna is constantly breaking into new markets and that her appeal continues to be strong, the minister added that he was looking forward to working on an initiative that would see Westbury Road undergo some work in an effort to highlight it.

“I am very interested in working with Rihanna’s management to do something with her hometown where visitors come to Barbados simply to take a photo of where she lived and I believe that we have an opportunity, working along with Rihanna and her management team, to recognise her hometown and to do something to ensure that we can show

week ending december 5, 2013

This house in Westbury New Road, which attracts a lot of media attention, is where Rihanna grew up. (Nations file photo)

the world where Rihanna would have come from,” he said.

According to Lashley, Barbadian songstress Rihanna is already a legend. He waxed eloquent of the Barbadian pop-queen just after she was presented with the

first Icon Award at the American Music Awards.

Taking the opportunity to speak on Rihanna’s latest accolade during the launch for the Block Draughts Tournament, Lashley stated that he agreed that she was worthy of every honour be-

stowed upon her.

“I believe that Rihanna’s continued success on the international stage, the fact that she has gone out there as a young Barbadian woman and has been a trailblazer for the evolution of popular music and having ex-

ecuted it in a way that has certainly brought attention to her homeland, that is certainly deserving of the highest commendation. As Minister of Culture, I would like to take this opportunity to commend her, commend her continued achievements and to commend her management team as well and to say that I expect that Rihanna will continue to climb from one achievement to another. She certainly has the kind of commitment and she has shown that she has the kind of popular support across the world to be able to do great things.” he said.

Making mention of Rihanna’s explosive worldwide sales and the dramatic growth of her popularity, Lashley also added that he believes that Barbados stands to benefit from the 25 year-old’s success.

“I would also say that Rihanna’s success is really Barbados’ success. I

have to commend her because every time she performs or is involved in any media activity, she always highlights where she has come from in Barbados. Other artistes in Barbados who continue to do well and those who aspire to international stardom, I believe that they too will benefit from Rihanna’s success and she paves a way for many of our emerging artistes to move on to the international stage.”

Explaining that the Culture Industries Bill was passed in both Houses of Parliament and is in the implementation stages towards having it proclaimed in the new year, Lashley also went on to mention that things were looking up for the local cultural industries.

He also said that he hoped that the work would see the island’s cultural development growing by leaps and bounds.

(Barbados Advocate)

Star of the Week

Y

oung pro-athlete Ashley Marie DeGroot is well known for her strategic footwork on the hockey field, both locally and internationally. Ashley started playing hockey in 2007 after being motivated by her brothers, cousins and close friends – all hockey players. She got tired of being an observer in the stands and wanted to get involved. Now 19 years old, Ashley has won many tournaments in both junior and senior levels. She has competed in Guyana, Trinidad, Argentina, Brazil and Canada, and in the U.S. Ashley is also part of her club’s U21 team which competed in Magnolias U21 club tournament in Trinidad, winning four straight years from 2008-2011. To be a star player, Ashley invests time and effort. Through the game, she has built character and team spirit while having lots of fun with her fellow teammates. The athlete views her hockey team as her second family and enjoys the team spirit among her teammates. Her plan for her hockey career is to continue to compete with her club, wherever that may take her. Academically, she is currently studying accounts and aspires to be a successful accountant. Her advice for youths is to get involved in a sport that will help them to keep fit, healthy and out of trouble – as hockey did for her.

sport week ending december 5, 2013

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Canadian team Revamp, GCC Tigers and Hickers win DMW titles in Guyana

C

anadian team Revamp Hockey Club completed their domination of the men’s division of the Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival in Guyana on Sunday evening by beating Trinidad’s Queen’s Park 4-0 in the final at the National Gymnasium, Georgetown.

In addition, the vociferous crowd was appreciative of the fact that local national champs, GCC Tigers, defeated Malvern of Trinidad in a more competitive and highly entertaining Digicel ladies’ final. In an all-Guyana Carib veterans’ final, Hickers out classed GCC 7-4, leaving Guyana with two of the three grand prizes that were at stake.

Most Valuable Player in the men’s division, Canadian international Jonathan Roberts, scored two of Revamp’s goals to lead his side to the convincing victory over a young energetic Queen’s Park. Fellow interna-

Local side GCC Tigers after winning their title on Sunday night

tional Micah Texeira opened Revamp’s account through a well-executed penalty corner in the first half.

Roberts score his first of the match five minutes into the second half and went up by three when Jewan Bath found the back of the net with a penalty corner strike three minutes later.

Queen’s Park were more competitive than the score suggests, but men’s goal keeper-ofthe-tournament Pradeep Koonar, thwarted several of their attacks to maintain a clean sheet.

Roberts then sealed the deal for Canada with his second goal in the closing minutes.

When Malvern and GCC squared off in the final, striker Kerensa Fernandes set the pace with a neat deflection off a penalty corner pass to score the first goal for the Tigers three minutes into play.

Ladies’ competition

Leading goal-scorer Krezia Layne, managed

to produce a rare penalty corner goal for Malvern against the tournament’s top goalkeeper and ladies MVP, Alysa Xavier in the sixth minute.

GCC’s Trisha

Sonia Jardine produced a moment of brilliance in eliminating the defence down the right flank before drawing the goalkeeper and sliding her pass to Fernandes, who

The tactic changed the complexion of the game as the Tigers defence struggled with the additional pressure.

The risk however, left Malvern vulnerable in defence.

Aliyah Gordon, pounced on a loose ball after a goalmouth scramble to score her first goal of the match four minutes from full time.

Layne managed to pull one goal back for Malvern in the dying minutes but it was too late as the Tigers would hold out for the 4-2 victory and fourth title of the Festival.

The Carib veterans’ final saw the younger Hickers outrunning an aging GCC with the game all but decided at 4-1 by half time. The ad-

Veterans champions Hickers with their title

Woodroffe however answered one minute later with a similar penalty corner strike for GCC to maintain their one goal lead at the half.

Five minutes into the second half, captain

scored her second of the match.

At 3-1 down and time against them, Malvern opted to withdraw their goalkeeper from the court in preference of an extra field player.

dition of Jerazeno Bell to the defending champions, Hickers, side put the game beyond GCC’s reach as Bell himself would score two of his team’s first half goals while Amanda Garnett

and James Mentore notched the other two.

GCC’s Alan Fernandes was on target with the first goal of the game in just the fourth minute but it was all Hickers for the rest of the half.

The second half belonged to former national captain and Hickers midfielder Devin whose athletic ability made him a menace for the GCC defence.

Munroe would be first to score in the second half of play before GCC would finally come alive through a Damon Woodroffe penalty corner and a Philip Fernandes field goal. Munroe then scored twice more to complete his hatrick before GCC’s Alan Fernandes scored his second of the match in the very final minute. The 7-4 victory saw the Hickers retain the veteran’s trophy.

Canada’s Jonathan Roberts and Pardeep Koonar, both of Revamp HC, were voted MVP and best goalkeeper of the men’s competition while Queen’s Park’s Nicholas Wren was highest goalscorer.

GCC’s Alysa Xavier was the recipient of both the MVP and best goalkeeper awards for the women while Malvern’s Krezia Layne was highest goal- scorer.

In the veteran’s competition, Jerazeno Bell, making his veteran debut was voted MVP with Azad DeAbreu also of the Hickers being selected as Best goalkeeper.

GCC’s Philip Fernandes was the highest goal-scorer. (Guyana Times)

Fraser-Pryce targets World Indoors, Sub-22

T

op female sprinter Jamaican ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce is hoping to compete in the 60m at next year's IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland, and is ready to chalk out more 200 metres.

The IAAF 2013 female World Athlete of the Year and double sprint champion at the World Championships in Moscow ran three 60m and ten 200m races last season.

However, with the absence of the marquee Olympic Games and outdoor World Championships from the 2014 calendar, FraserPryce is looking to continue to test herself on the indoor circuit in the 60m--after her debut earlier this year--as well as continuing to improve

in the 200m.

"I definitely see myself running more 60m next season," said Fraser-Pryce, who capped a splendid 2013 season with Diamond League wins in the 100m and 200m. "I enjoy it, I did three last season and it was very good."

The Jamaican made her first two 60m appearances at the Aviva Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham on February 16; competing again in the event five days later at the Stockholm XL Galan, where she posted her current personal best 7.04. That time already makes her the third-fastest Jamaican in the event behind Merlene Ottey (6.96) and Veronica CampbellBrown (7.00).

"It's an experience

that I would love to have again. Next year is the World Indoors and I have never been to one of those so that's on the agenda as well," FraserPryce added.

The MVP Track Club star, who ran a personal best 22.09 at last year's Olympic Games in what was an experimental year for her in the 200m, ran an additional four half-lap races this year, peaking at 22.13.

Expecting to do more

Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica Gleaner file photo)

Encouraged by her World Championships gold medal in the event and desperate to take her time below the 22 seconds barrier, FraserPryce also noted that she is expecting to do a lot more 200m next year than her 100m pet event.

"The 200m is still something that I enjoy, still something that

is challenging and I am still trying to get it right.

I am a very good starter and like to get going from the beginning. I am still trying to do that," said Fraser-Pryce.

"Next year, we are working to do a lot more 200m than 100m, and that is to say that I want to make a mark and stamp my class in the 200m," she added, noting that she is also expecting the 200m to further improve her execution of the 100m.

"Last year, I said I needed to do more 200m, it makes my 100m better, way better than it was and for me, next year is just working more for the 200m; doing more strength and endurance work to get beyond that 22-second mark," Fraser-Pryce said. (Jamaica Gleaner)

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending december 5, 2013

More Guyanese Trinidadian girls Ward, Davidson seal Youth Olympic spot cricketers recognised for T performance in Canada

MVP Troy Gobin (at right) and best bowler Mahendranauth Parasnauth share the moment after receiving their respective trophies

By Ravendra Madholall

G

uyanese cricketers continue to be awarded for their outstanding performances in Canada. Just last Saturday, at the Our Own Sports Club presentation ceremony, several notable Guyanese players received trophies, plaques and monetary prizes for their showings in matches during this year.

The event took place at Lucky’s Restaurant in the vicinity of Highway 400 and Finch Avenue, Toronto, where former Guyana under-19 vice-captain Troy Gobin was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy after accumulating 432 runs with an impressive average of 72.00. He also hit the highest individual score of 147 not out against Pegasus in a preliminary round match.

Gobin attributed his success to hard work and commitment and was very thankful to his colleagues, who he said, gave him superb support during his stay at the crease on a number of occasions.

Meanwhile, ex-Guyana first-class batsman Shivnauth Seeram, who is also captain of the team, played a pivotal role in his team’s outstanding success, grabbing 17 wickets while another veteran player Mohan Singh captured 17 wickets during the season.

Seeram, who is the brother of West Indies “B” team and Guyana batsman Rabindranauth Seeram, had fascinating figures of 4-11 and 4-17 in two different games.

Ben Loknath, who took a hat-trick, was also brilliant with the ball as he

grabbed 4-9.

Former Demerara Inter-county softball skipper Mahendranauth Parasnauth, just back from Guyana where he represented New York in the Open Male category of the Guyana Softball Cup 111, received the prize for the most economical bowler for his team and the tournament.

His elder brother, Rabindra Parasnauth also chipped in with an award for his 4-18.

Essequibo’s Jaimini Singh, who toured with the Guyana squad in 1989, was another special awardee for slamming 106 not out against Little’s Sports Club.

Since his migration to Canada almost a decade ago, the left-hander has been very consistent with the bat having registered a plethora of plucky half-centuries.

Special incentive prizes were presented to Teddy Hussain, ‘Ultimate Player’ Loknath, ‘Mr Versatile’ Seeram, ‘Mr Tidy Clean’ Terry Ramraj, ‘Mr Early Bird’ Bhagwandas Budhoo, ‘Mr Behind The Success’ Ed Pestano, Chate Persaud and Jagnarine “Rambo” Ramdin.

Two of the club’s main sponsors, Extrudex and Iagjit & Jatinder Singh–Century 21 were honoured with plaques and gratitude was expressed to them for their continued support over the years.

The Masters 20-over tournament was once again run under the auspices of the Ontario Softball Masters Softball League. Our Own Sports Club defeated Guyana Sports in the championship played at the Scarborough ground.

rinidad and Tobago’s Chelsi Ward and Malika Davidson eased past Suriname’s Sigourney Kame and Cabriella Bouterse, 21–13, 21–6, in their Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association Zonal NORCECA qualifiers, to seal their ticket to next year’s Youth (Under-18) Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

Playing under sunny conditions at the scenic Maracas Bay, the TT women, coached by Sean Morrison, won in 26 minutes.

Speaking after, Ward said the win was just rewards for the hard work put in by both players as well as their coaches and the dedication shown by their parents and supporters. Despite the loss in the decider, Kame and Bouterse will have another chance to get to China,

Trinidad and Tobago's Chelsi Ward (left) and Malik Davidson booked their place at Nanjing Youth Olympic Games

but will need to qualify through the NORCECA second round qualifiers in Puerto Rico from December 4.

They will be joined

by Barbadians Janina Mayers and Deandra Small who stayed in the hunt by easing past Cayman Islanders’ Chante Smith-Johnson and Llean Powery 21– 15, 21–11 in the losers draw final. Earlier, Mayers and Small swept past Jamaicans Lisanne

Roofe and Tiomma Graham 21–14, 21–13, while Smith-Johnson and Powery battled past US Virgin Islands pair, Dinaja Dowdy and Shanice James 21–10, 21–23, 15–10 after trailing 8–10 in the final set.

Meanwhile the Jamaican duo of Rojey Hutchinson and Shavar Bryan booked the lone available ticket for the Under-18 boys to the Games after beating Barbadians Andriy

Stapleton and Ahkeem Mayers in their final 21– 12, 21–12.

Despite losing the gold medal contest, Stapleton and Mayers are still in with a chance of getting to China next year, but must now compete in the second round later this week.

TT’s Kareem Moses and Marlon Phillips also kept their hopes of reaching China alive by winning the losers draw final over Bahamians, Gaege Smith and Rajhl Moxey 21–13, 23–21.

They will also travel to Puerto Rico. Earlier in their one match semifinal playoff, Moses and Phillips brushed aside Suriname’s Riano Gunther and Jonthan Zichem 21–5, 21–15 while Smith and Moxey overcame US Virgin Islands’ Ajai Sweeney and Carlos Juan Rosa 21–17, 21–18. (Excerpted from TT Guardian)

“I'm the best in the Caribbean” - Jamaican Cadine Graham excited at winning MVP Award at Digicel Chelsea Clinic

“W

hen I got the award, I was like, yes! this is another major achievement for me."

Those are the words of Excelsior's High School Manning Cup player, Jamaican Cadine Graham, who was celebrating his success after winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the Digicel Chelsea Football Clinic one-week training camp, which ended in Barbados last week Monday.

The camp was held under the guidance of Chelsea's senior international development officer and Digicel Academy head coach, David Monk.

Sixteen-year-old Graham was among three Jamaicans selected to participate in the camp, which included 39 youngsters from across the Caribbean.

Ryan Brown of Glenmuir High and Carru Barrett from Maggotty High were the Jamaicans at the camp in Barbados.

Crafty central midfielder Graham, who led Excelsior to the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Colts Under-16 title last year, believes hard work and dedication were key factors that contributed to him winning the award.

Graham won the ISSA/ Under-14 cricket and basketball competitions with Excelsior in 2012. He also led Holy Family Primary to the Institute of Sports football title in 2009.

"It means that out of 39 players in the Caribbean, I am the best in the Caribbean at this stage, and this is a great achievement for me," said Graham, a resident of Rae Town, in Kingston.

"I am very happy for this because I have worked very hard for it. I just did the simple things and I just listened to my coach Lebert Halliman's advice and it paid off,"

said the soft-spoken player.

The talented Graham, who is an admirer of Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández, added that he has gained a great deal of knowledge from camp and it gave him the

they were impressed with my performance because of how I was keeping possession of the ball and not forcing the game when I am in possession of the ball."

Graham, who made a number

Excelsior High School's Cadine Graham (front) wards off a challenge from a Campion College opponent during the recently concluded ISSA/LIME Manning Cup. (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

opportunity to display his skills in front of a number of coaches from around the region.

"It was a great experience for me and I learnt a lot from it. I was taught a lot of things by the coaches, including how to get my first touch properly, be patient whenever I have possession of the ball and how to attack the space," Graham said.

Hard training

"It was a week of hard training, but I enjoyed it a lot. The coaches even compared me to Nigel ReoCoker because of how I was playing," he said.

Continuing he said: "They say

of the substitute appearances for his school in the Manning Cup and Walker Cup knockout competitions, has now set his sights on securing a spot on Jamaica's Under-20 team.

"I would love to play for the national Under-20 team because I think being the MVP of this camp has taken my game to a new level," Graham said. "I know that I have the abilities and the skills that will be required to make the Under-20 team."

Graham currently represents Rae Town in the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association youth leagues and he hopes to become an accountant. (Jamaica Gleaner)

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NEW GPC INC continues to aid Windies' Stafanie Taylor shortlisted Guyana’s sports development for ODI Cricketer of the Year

A

s part of efforts to fulfill its corporate mandate, NEW GPC INC. on Tuesday aligned itself with the Kashif and Shanghai Secondary School football tournament, which is set for a grand kickoff shortly.

NEW GPC INC., located at Farm, East Bank Demerara, has been onboard with Kashif and Shanghai for a number of years, and now that the organisation has switched from senior to schools football, the entity has strengthened its alliance by sponsoring the third place prize to the tune of Gy$500,000.

Speaking at a simple presentation ceremony at the K&S office on Irving Street, Marketing Manager of NEW GPC INC., Trevor Bassoo, highlighted the company’s pleasure at being able to support not just the development of football, but youth development.

“We believe that this is the right level to invest, because you’re not just investing in sports but you’re investing in the youths and the development of youths in Guyana,” Bassoo related.

He added, “Team GPC is a strong advocate of sports and the development of youths, and we believe that the Kashif and Shanghai initiative here will help to develop

youngsters and more importantly keep them out of trouble.”

Bassoo, who was accompanied by Marketing Associate of NEW GPC INC. Livasti Bhooplall, also committed his company’s continued sponsorship of the event.

Director of the

third and fourth placed finishers will receive Gy$750,000, Gy$500,000 and Gy$250,000, 25 percent of which will used for a project at those schools.

The Most Valuable Player will be the recipient of a laptop, as well as a one-month stint with a

“Team GPC is a strong advocate of sports and the development of youths, and we believe that the Kashif and Shanghai initiative here will help to develop youngsters and more importantly keep them out of trouble,” says NEW GPC INC Marketing Manager Trevor Bassoo.

Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, Kashif Muhammad, in accepting NEW GPC’s sponsorship, lauded the entity for its annual investment in football, and sports in general.

Muhammad noted that NEW GPC INC. has been a long-standing corporate partner, and the organisation is enthused to once again have the company on board.

He also informed that all the logistical arrangements have been falling into place, and the feedback is that all the schools are in intense preparation mode.

The champion school will pocket Gy$1.2 million, 75 percent of which will be used to finance a project identified by the school. The second,

top club in Trinidad and Tobago.

Admission to the games will be Gy$500 and the participating schools are Wismar/ Christianburg, Wisburg, New Silver City and McKenzie High School of Linden; St George’s, Lodge, East Ruimveldt, North Georgetown, Queen’s College, Dolphin Secondary, Charlestown Secondary, Christ Church and Queenstown of Georgetown; Waramadong Secondary of Region Seven; Leonora, Stewartville, Uitvlugt and Patentia of West Demerara; Bladen Hall, President’s College, Ann’s Grove and Annandale of East Coast Demerara; Ash Education Trust of Berbice; and Friendship of East Bank Demerara.

W

est Indies cricketer Stafanie Taylor is once again a major contender for the ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year.

Taylor, who won the title last year, is among several players shortlisted for the award this year, which will be announced in a TV show that will be broadcast on December 14, 2013.

Taylor is joined by New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, Australia's Meg Lanning, South Africa's Dane van Niekerk and the England pair of Charlotte Edwards and Anya Shrubsole.

Taylor, Bates and Lanning also feature in the shortlist for the ICC Women's T20 Cricketer of the Year, along with England's Sarah Taylor and the West Indies duo of Shanel Daley and Deandra Dottin.

This year's ICC Awards includes 11 individual prizes, including the People's Choice Award.

The long lists of nominations for each award

West Indies cricketer Stafanie Taylor (CricketInfo photo)

were put together by a five-person ICC selection panel, before a 32-member voting academy trimmed the nominees to the shortlist.

Meantime, England's James Anderson, South Africa's Hashim Amla and Australia captain Michael Clarke have all

been shortlisted for the top honours at this year's Awards.

The three cricketers have been shortlisted for both the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year and the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

Guyanese boxers ink contracts for historic ‘Linden Showdown’

Barbados-born Patrick Husbands wins eight in three days in Toronto

A

Barbados-born rider Patrick Husbands (Nation News file photo)

CE Barbadosborn rider Patrick Husbands was riding up a storm at Woodbine Race Track, Toronto, over the weekend.

The six-time Sovereign Award winner landed a five-time on the 10-race programme on Saturday.

And Sunday, he continued his brilliant riding, landing two more

winners.

These were in addition to one winning ride last Friday, taking his total for the weekend to eight. Starting the season late after suffering a fall, which left him nursing a broken foot, Husbands is well on course to reach the 100win mark.

With his cluster of winning rides lately, Husbands took his to-

tal to date to 81, exactly half that of champion and leading rider Luis Contreras (162).

Husbands opened Saturday with a win astride 'Splash Gizmo' in the first race for twoyear-old fillies over six furlongs. He was back in winner’s enclosure next race aboard 'Canny Nanny' a seven furlongs event for three-year-olds and up. The affable rider was back in the circle again in the third race astride 'Cryptic Message', and after being third in the fourth race, Husbands booted home 'Cummings Road' in the seventh and later won with 'Run Wild' to complete the “fiver.”

Sunday, he continued where he left off, going into the winner’s enclosure in the day’s second race aboard 'Sharing Delilah' in a three-yearold race for filies and mares over 1 1/16 miles.

But he had to wait until the seventh race for his second winning ride.

(TT Newsday)

Professional boxers appearing on the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC) ProAm boxing card slated for Boxing Day sign their respective contracts last Friday

A

ll doubts have been removed and it’s now official. Professional boxers appearing on the Guyana Boxing Board of Control’s (GBBC) ProAm boxing card slated for Boxing Day (December 26), last Friday inked their contracts at the office of Abdool and Abdool Insurance Company in Georgetown.

The card will be staged at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in the Mining Town of Linden for the first time, featuring four professional and a similar number of amateur fights.

Those boxers who have affixed their respective signatures

to the contract documents at last Friday’s signing ceremony were Derick Richmond, James Walcott, Cassius Matthews, Kishan Simon, Kelsie George, Romeo Norville, Shondell Parks and Shelly Gibson.

Richmond will don gloves against Walcott in the main encounter, a 12-rounder for the vacant Super Middlewight title of Guyana; Matthews will be coming up against Simon in a six-round Junior Welterweight contest; George will battle with Norville in a four-round Super Middleweight fight and Parks and Gibson will match gloves in their four-round Heavyweight

showdown.

Apart from the four professional fights, there will also be four amateur bouts on the card, but to date the names of the boxers have not been released. All the amateur fighters will be from Linden.

Meanwhile, speaking at last Friday’s signing ceremony, promoter Omo To La Goulding said the card is being held in an effort to create opportunities for young boxers and also the promotion of the sport locally.

Further, he said that once the upcoming card is a success, promoters are willing to host a card quarterly. (Guyana Times)

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

INTERNATIONAL WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 5, 2013

NEW GPC INC continues to aid Guyana’s sports development - onboard with K&S football

Manager of NEW GPC INC., Trevor Bassoo (second right), presents his company’s sponsorship to Kashif Muhammad in the presence of Aubrey “Shanghai” Major (left) of the K&S Organisation and Marketing Associate of NEW GPC INC Livasti Bhooplall

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