Caribbean Times International

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ISSUE NO. 82

CANADA EDITION

CN $1.00

WEEK ENDING January 2, 2014

Caribbean rallies around disaster-stricken states - Consulate in Toronto mobilising relief for St. Vincent

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Residents walk by an eroded section of roadway in St Vincent and the Grenadines that was hard hit by severe flooding and mudslides caused by heavy rainfall during the Christmas holidays last week. Inset: St Vincent's Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves comforts a resident affected by the destruction. (nbcsvg.com photos)

Canadian scientist helping Jamaican farmers turn food into fuel HAPPY NEW YEAR

Guyana’s fourlane extension road project to be completed early this year

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From the management and staff of

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NEWS

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Caribbean rallies around disaster-stricken states - Consulate in Toronto mobilising relief for St. Vincent

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he entire Caribbean Community is currently rallying around sister states-St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Dominica---that were wrecked by widespread flooding and mudslides over the Christmas holidays. The unseasonable weather system left at least 15 people dead in St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia, and caused "hundreds of millions of dollars" in damage in the three islands.

While aid efforts are currently underway in member states such as Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, the various consulates in the United States and Canada are also spearheading relief for those affected.

In Canada, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Consulate General in Toronto, is mobilising nationals and friends in the diaspora to rally support for relief efforts. Drop off locations for donations have been identified and cash can be deposited in the SVG Relief, Education and Medical Assistance (REMA) Organisation of Ontario TD Bank account number 108025212908 or at the Office of the Consulate General.

Destruction

The heavy rains and landslides resulted in a number of houses, bridges and roads being destroyed, schools and other public buildings sustained damage and some communities are still inaccessible.

As many as 30 major

rivers island-wide overflowed their banks.

Operations were disrupted at the main health institution, the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, at which the paediatric and other wards were flooded and critical equipment damaged or destroyed.

A preliminary estimate conducted by Ministry of Health officials puts the damage at the hospital at approximately EC$2 million.

The main E.T. Joshua Airport, was closed due to rising floodwaters in the terminal building.

Flights into and out of the airport have since resumed.

At the weekend, 50 per cent of consumers were without pipe-borne water, and 85 per cent were expected to be recon-

nected by Tuesday.

An early assessment of the cost of fully restoring the water systems has been put at EC$20million and the overall damage to the country is expected to run into hundreds of millions of dollars. The tragedy has been described as the worst natural disaster in SVG in living memory.

Needs

Among the urgent needs as determined by the National Emergency Management Organisation are: mattresses, cots, clothing, sheet sets, toiletries, towels, adult and baby diapers, hygiene kits, cleaning kits, school supplies, household items, hospital supplies, and cash for purchasing building materials.

SVG disaster relief drop-

off points in Canada

The Consulate General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Toronto has announced the following drop off point for disaster relief: 2019 EGLINGTON AVENUE WEST (between Caledonia Road and Dufferin Avenue) Friday January 3rd, 2014 - between 1 pm and 6 pm; Saturday January 4th, 2014 - between 1 pm and 6 pm Contact persons: Marcia at 647-716-0181 or Claudius at 416-7262841 HAIROUN BAKERY 2256 Birchmont Road, Scarborough (Birchmount and Sheppard) Tuesdays 8:30 am to 6 pm; Wednesdays 8:30 am to 6 pm; Thursdays 8:30 am to 6 pm;Fridays 8:30 am to 6 pm; Saturdays 8:30 am to

TT battles series of oil spills L

ast Sunday night, Petrotrin found yet another oil leak in Trinidad which it said it now has under control, chairman Lindsay Gillette disclosed Monday, even as he wryly remarked that 11 oil leaks within ten days is “unusual, alarming and unprecedented.”

The latest leak was found at the Trinity Platform in the Brighton Marine Field.

Gillette and Petrotrin president Khalid Hassanali Monday held a news briefing at Petrotrin’s office at Queen’s Park West, Portof-Spain, where they assured that the firm has

done everything possible to clean up the spill including helping affected residents and the environment, utilising the help of both local persons from the community and foreign experts from the U.S. and UK.

Under control

“The whole situation is absolutely under control, and we’ll have a full clean-up within two weeks,” said Gillette.

British and American consultants would stay for as long as needed, he added.

Hassanali said four oil-spills were with regard to a joint venture between Petrotrin and Trinity Exploration

and Production, one involved a joint-venture of Petrotrin and Neal and Massy Energy Resources Limited, while the rest were sole Petrotrin operations. Samples of contaminant oil have been sent abroad for their source to be identified, but the holiday season has delayed the lab results, he said.

He said the cost so far of the clean-up is TT$5 million, and within two weeks would be at 99 percent completion of all “heavy” cleaning up, to be followed up by some lighter cleaning-up.

In giving their list of leak sites, Petrotrin denied any liability by any

6 pm. Tel: 416 754 3854 THE OFFICES OF METELSKY PLOURDE LLP. 230 WESTNEY ROAD SOUTH SUITE 304, AJAX, ONTARIO. The Offices are opened during business hours of 8:30 am and 5:30 pm any day of the week. For more directions please call the front desk at 905-686-1243.

CONSULATE GENERAL OF ST.VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES 55 TOWN CENTRE COURT, SUITE 624 Monday to Friday 9 am to 2 pm. Daily. Tel: 416 398 4277 (KENNY SYLVESTER) 15 OXFORD DRIVE – AT WESTON ROAD AND EGLINGTON. Drop off anytime during the day. Contact: Kenny Sylvester 647- 833-3419.

- Petrotrin hints at possible sabotage

defective equipment.

Gillette could think of no reason why anyone would want to sabotage Petrotrin, although Hassanali said incidents of theft had occurred in the past over Petrotrin’s vast marine acreage which is quite hard to secure. One such theft of pipeline has resulted in the leakage of oil which had cost Petrotrin TT$1 million to clean up, said Hassanali.

Sabotage

He named at least two sites where the oilleaks had been caused by apparently unusual turns-of-events, including Rancho Quemado where two plugs were Workers clean up the oil spill near a home at Coffee Beach, La Brea, Monday. (TT Guardian photo)

missing each of which could only be loosened by a four-inch wrench, saying, “That speaks loudly”, and the Riser Platform Five at Point Fortin which had a heavy spray of oil despite no sign of any corrosion in the pipeline.

Asked if there had been interference at the sites of the oil spills, Hassanali replied, “It would appear so.”

Hassanali said in its enquiries into the cause of the oil spills, Petrotrin is “following certain leads”, which it would not yet disclose. Hassanali said there has been “tremendous progress” in remedying the situation at Coffeee Beach, saying residents there are now comfortable.

Petrotrin health, safety and environment

(HSE) manager, Sham Deyal, said the oil spills had hurt only one bird which had been helped back to health at a wildlife centre, plus a few catfish, otherwise having “very minimal impact on wildlife and fisheries”.

Rough seas are helping disperse the oil, he said, which he noted is a natural not synthetic substance, as are the substances used to clean-up the spill including a soya-bean derivative and the very absorbent peat-moss.

Of the 25 Coffee Beach residents seeking medical help over the weekend, 24 had been discharged, with just one retained at Point Fortin Hospital for a pre-existing asthma condition, said Deyal. (Excerpted from TT Newsday)

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EDITORIAL

Fighting corruption

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n direct reference to developing countries, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim recently described corruption as “public enemy number one”, and in detailing the steps the organisation is taking to fight corruption, he made a passionate call for world partners and the private sector to be part of the solution.

Corruption could be defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Corruption impacts societies in a multitude of ways. It costs lives. It costs people their freedom, health, or money. Ordinary citizens are the ones who end up paying the price for corruption. Transparency International (TI) says the cost of corruption can be divided into four main categories: political, economic, social and environmental.

Corruption is a major obstacle to democracy and the rule of law. Offices and institutions lose their legitimacy when they’re misused for private advantage. This is harmful in established democracies, but even more so in newly emerging ones.

Corruption depletes national wealth. Corrupt officials invest scarce public resources in projects that will line their pockets rather than benefit communities. Corruption hinders the development of fair market structures and distorts competition, which in turn deters investment. Corruption corrodes the social fabric of society. It undermines people’s trust in the political system, in its institutions and its leadership.

Environmental degradation is another consequence of corrupt systems. The lack of, or non-enforcement of, environmental regulations means that precious natural resources are carelessly exploited, and entire ecological systems are ravaged.

The latest TI ranking suggests that more than two-thirds of countries surveyed scored less than 50 out of 100 in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). Many of the lowest scoring countries face the troubles of corruption alongside political instability and conflict.

As in 2012, last place is shared by Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia. With a score of only eight, corruption perceptions in these countries indicate a near-total absence of an honest and functioning public sector. Libya and Syria have also seen decreases in their scores, falling even further down the rankings over the past year.

But previously high-scoring countries haven’t been safe from the risks of corruption either. Spain’s six-point decline was not only the most dramatic drop of all European Union (EU) countries, but one of the largest globally.

TI pointed out that Australia is yet further proof that no country can afford to be complacent. Despite having one of the world’s highest gross domestic products (GDPs), the country fell by four points this year. This warning against complacency, while important for all countries, is perhaps particularly pressing for the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) bloc.

Governments have always insisted that those with evidence of corruption and abuse of public office come forward so that action can be taken against those found culpable. The governments cannot reasonably be held accountable for every corrupt transaction undertaken by every public official in the country.

Corruption is not just a problem in government or in the public service alone. Too many times corruption is clouded as a government issue exclusively. The private sector suffers too, as corruption erodes corporate identity, undermines confidence between business partners and destroys the reputation of once-trusted companies. The contribution of the private sector in addressing corruption is therefore a “must.”

A group of grade six students of Jamaica’s Unity Primary School in Strathbogie, Westmoreland, brought Christmas cheer to young patients at the Paediatric Ward at the Savanna-La-Mar hospital recently through the Geri-Care Christmas Giftbox initiative, the brainchild of another young student, Geri-Ann Miller. In this photo, the students pose with bags of goodies. (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

A tribute to Oswald Singh W hile I believe that I am less qualified than many to give a tribute to Oswald Singh, I am indeed honoured to have been asked to do so. Firstly, I knew Oswald personally only for about a year now. And secondly, I am not a broadcaster and even if I was, I strongly doubt I would have been one in the calibre of Oswald. Indeed, there are not many who can claim to be.

I grew up hearing Oswald’s voice on radio and at the time I never thought I would have had the opportunity of working with him. In those days of radio dominance, that is, when compared to television at that time, Oswald’s voice had long become unmistakable, distinctive and astonishingly precise. I had created this image in my mind of a tall, towering, yet warm and welcoming character.

I later learned that, at some point in time, we both left Guyana headed in different directions to pursue media careers, albeit of a different sort.

So imagine my apprehension, having returned to Guyana about 15 months ago, and still in the process of settling into the media group where I now serve, only to learn that there was an interview scheduled, not too long after the launching of Radio Guyana Inc (RGI), and that the name of the interviewee was Oswald Singh.

As I recall, it was a week day morning, and as I passed the front desk area of the Guyana Times/ Television Guyana (TVG)/ RGI building on the way to the room where the interview was to be held, I saw this individual seated in a cellphone conversation.

At the time, he wasn’t speaking. But just briefly as I passed, he responded to something obviously being said to him from the other end. It was a short response and something to the effect of a mere acknowledgement -- an “I will call you back shortly” kind of thing.

Immediately, and without being introduced, I knew that was Oswald Singh. We

merely nodded to each other as I passed, and in my mind I thought, “We have to get this voice on RGI,” almost momentarily forgetting that there was still an interview process to go through. Eventually, in about two weeks, all the formalities were over and Oswald was on board at RGI, effective February 1.

Being no stranger to radio, for someone like Oswald, there was no need for an orientation.

But coming in to a new radio station, there were obviously new people to meet and new programmes to produce. Yet, it felt as though Oswald was there from the start.

The people at RGI gravitated toward him. Everyone was more his friend than his colleague. He nurtured people.

He groomed people. I look back with regret now that I really did not interact with him much, and more via email than anything else after he was appointed. But that was because Oswald never caused trouble.

Even in his illness he wanted to work. That’s how much he loved radio. He did not stay around with us long enough to do a Christmas Day greetings programme. That was his own request, as it was not required of him. That’s how much he loved his listeners.

On that day of the interview, his very first impression on me had left a smile in my heart. Fast track to the night when I learned that Oswald was in hospital. Regrettably, by the time I visited, Oswald had departed this life.

Graciously, one of his sisters invited me to see him.

There were not many steps, but it was a long walk up. As the cover was lifted and I saw Oswald’s face, I saw a smile.

Indeed, it was typical of him to smile in life.

Death is never pleasant and I didn’t expect to see such a smile. It did bring some tears to my eyes, but I felt happy with that smile. It is almost superstitious of me to say that I believe Oswald died a happy

man. Undoubtedly, he also left a smile as a last impression on me.

And that’s the way I feel he lived. He made people happy.

He made his listeners happy.

Certainly, he made RGI a happy radio station to listen to.

My own three daughters, 14, 12 and 8, not having grown up listening to much radio, having heard his voice, wanted to see him. I allowed them one day, and hereafter, they wanted to see him every day.

He played a song for them once and called their names on radio. They would never forget that. They were sad and tearful when they learned of his passing.

One radio colleague had this to say about Oswald:“He was humane and versatile. He never lost his temper when his relief did not show up to take over a new shift.”

Another put it this way:“I haven’t known Oswald for a long period, but for me, Oswald’s simplicity, humility, warmth, sense of humour and immense knowledge of Indian music (especially the older ones) stood out for me.

This, in addition, to his very distinct and powerful voice, which resonated with many listeners.... Additionally, he always had an ease about him despite his obvious health challenges. That sort of courage is admired.”

On behalf of the board, management and staff of Queens Atlantic Investment Inc, the parent company for the media group that includes RGI, I extend deepest sympathy to Oswald’s family. Oswald also had an extended family, which reaches to all of Guyana, the Caribbean and beyond.

A void has been created at RGI and indeed in radio in Guyana. It will never be filled.

No doubt, we all miss him already and we are still to discover many other ways in which we will miss him.

Daniel Singh General Manager, Guyana Times/ TVG/ RGI

News week ending January 2, 2014

Barbados’ finance minister shoots down union proposals B arbados’ Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Chris Sinckler says the proposals outlined by the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) to save the jobs of public servants do not go far enough. Over the weekend, the NUPW submitted a ten-point proposal to the authorities for consideration as it sought to avert plans by the government to cut an estimated 3,000 public sector jobs in the new year.

The union is calling for a reduction in the Value Added Tax (VAT) as well as a 30 per cent cut in the salaries of government ministers. The NUPW, which represents the majority of the 28,000 public servants, said it had also submitted proposals calling on the government to consider the re-introduction of bus fares for school children as part of the new economic strategy to revive the ailing economy.

But Sinckler told Barbadian media

Barbados’ Finance Minister Chris Sinckler (Nation News file photo)

Monday that while the proposals were “interesting”, they would not achieve the objectives of the Freundel Stuartgovernment’s plans to put the economy on a strong footing. Sinckler said that the ten-point proposals had “some interesting ideas, but it will not get us where we have to go”.

Earlier this month, Sinckler said that the plan to cut public service jobs would result in

the government saving as much as Bds$143 million, and that the government had also agreed to institute a “strict programme of attrition” across the central public service, filling posts only where it is absolutely unavoidable, over the next five years, ending 20182019. The government said the first 2 000 job cuts would take place by January 15, followed by others by March 1. (TT Guardian)

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Over 6000 houselots to be distributed in Guyana during 2014

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uyana’s Housing Ministry will be allocating some 6000 houselots and will work to see the completion of a highway into Parfaite Harmonie in 2014.

This apart, the ministry will be building more turnkey homes and developing new housing schemes including Silica City, thereby providing jobs for thousands of workers in the construction sector.

The ministry is targeting in 2014, the construction of 500 turnkey homes, Housing Minister Irfaan Ali said, as a lot of applicants now are requesting to be part of the project, the young professional homes, the clerical workers’ homes and the lower high income homes.

Impact

He pointed out that the acquisition of one of the homes as against constructing one works out far cheaper for the applicant. The minister also pointed to the ‘real trick-

A section of turnkey homes on the East Bank Demerara in Guyana. (GINA photo)

ledown effect’ the construction of the homes is having on the economies of the neighbouring communities where they are being constructed.

He said that in the Eccles, to construct turnkey homes, the ministry in 2013 employed more than 400 persons from nearby communities, inclusive of Agricola and Mocha.

This housing develop-

ment which is to be developed on the LindenSoesdyke Highway would be one of the ministry’s signature projects as it would be a prime housing, commercial, tourism, and industrial development for Guyana, Ali said.

The concept was launched at Building Expo 2013 and the ministry was hoping to have the conceptual designs,

and outlay and outlook of the area available early in 2014.

The ministry has already publicly asked for anyone who wants to be part of grand idea to submit their thoughts.

Employment

The Housing Ministry will advertise very shortly for masons, carpenters, labourers and other skilled persons to work within the ministry.

This will be sustained employment for a period of a year or two that will see the workers being formed into small contracting groups and given the responsibility of constructing the different types of homes that are made available under the ministry’s housing programmes.

“We are going to train them to become contractors, to become owners

of companies…they will be supervised by a competent team of engineers and planners here,” Ali explained.

In 2014, the ministry is hoping to complete a few new schemes, among which are Zeeburg and the expansion of Zeelugt in Region Three, towards the creation of 1500 more lots.

There will also be the continued development of the East Bank corridor to bring about another 3000 lots. Focus will be placed on opening up the Little Diamond area to have commercial, and industrial development.

The ministry will also focus on completing the new highway into Parfaite Harmonie that would realise a new access road almost to the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

To be completed as well in 2014 is the asphaltic concrete paving of four collector roads between Eccles to Little Diamond.

(Excerpted from Guyana Times)

New technology for Guyana’s mining sector

Guyana’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

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uyana’s mining sector is set to benefit from new technology in 2014, geared at cutting down the use of mercury,

Natural Resource and Environment Minister Robert Persaud said.

He noted that the sector will receive a great boost with the introduction of more trained personnel and equipment.

“We’ve looked in terms of introducing better technology and new technology to improve the recovery and less impact on the environment, more in terms of training in this regard.”

The minister said discussions are currently underway with the Amerindian Affairs Ministry and the National Toshaos’ Council, which are ex-

Mining in Guyana

pected to be among the first beneficiaries.

Persaud said a reduction in the usage of mercury would result in the immediate reduction of a number of health problems and environmental concerns.

This initiative would also facilitate Guyana’s transition to mercuryfree mining.

Cabinet recently had given its no-objection for the setting up of mercury-free technology fund to benefit small miners and Amerindian communities involved in mining.

Efforts being made by government are to satisfy the requirements of the treaty

signed at the Minamata Convention on Mercury held last October.

The Minamata Convention on Mercury, which is a global legally binding instrument on mercury, was adopted in Minamata, Japan on October 7 to 11. The treaty is named after Minamata city where its residents suffered mercury poisoning dur-

ing the 1950s.

Persaud said Guyana should be proud since it is one of the first countries to sign the convention. This step has enabled Guyana to move from a position where many in the mining sector were resisting the elimination of mercury, to the phasing out of it.

According to Persaud, some busi-

nesses in the mining sector have already phased out the use of mercury.

In addition, suppliers are including alternative technology on their inventories.

Another initiative by government to phase out mercury usage is the provision of equipment to miners. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

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Over 800 Amerindian youths participate in Guyana’s apprenticeship programme A

pproximately 856 youths participated in Guyana’s Youth Apprenticeship Programme launched by the Amerindian Affairs Ministry earlier this year, even as plans are being made to increase this number in the coming year to 2000.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai made this disclosure on Monday when asked for an update on the programme.

Sukhai said that the programme has been of great benefit for Amerindian youths in the hinterland and is expected to expand to other communities in the coming year.

The minister said the achievements made through this programme are exceptional and have seen more persons expressing an interest of getting involved.

“They are contributing to village develop-

Guyana’s Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai

ment. We have community service officers (CSOs), attached to various sectors…they are engaged at the village council level, project implementation,” Sukhai stated.

The CSOs also provide leadership to the community councils and are involved in record keeping, mobilising communities, improving community infrastructure, assist daily with monitoring solar units, building roads and fixing

water pipes, among several others.

While admitting that there is a high level of unemployment in the hinterland region, Sukhai said that the programme is helping in a major way to bridge this gap. The ministry has also received requests from Amerindian communities on the coastal region.

Sukhai said that the ministry is yet to examine the requests, as it is felt that youths in Amerindian communities in the coastal region stands a greater chance of being employed, as against those in the hinterland region. However, Regions Two and 10 have indicated their interest, which the ministry is looking at and could possibly roll out the programme there to help many Amerindian youths who are seeking employment/training.

The programme en-

courages youths to contribute to nation building and community development. It focuses on building skill sets and creating a mindset that will foster and encourage entrepreneurship.

Amerindians youths are given work stints through the progamme, receive a small stipend as CSOs, and are placed on a six-month work attachment with either a private or public sector entity.

After the training and experience, it is left up to each participant to decide ways in which they could contribute not only to community development, but to their individual advancement as well.

In addition to that, the ministry has requested from all participants to state their area of interest, so as to group their skills and make suitable jobs available to them. (Guyana Times)

Jamaica can earn US$7 billion annually from Limestone industry

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ne of Jamaica’s leading researchers says that the country can earn up to US$7 billion annually by ramping up the production of limestone and its high value-added items for the local and export markets.

Executive Chairman of Conrad Douglas and Associates Dr. Conrad Douglas, in presenting research findings at a recent stakeholder symposium at JAMPRO’s New Kingston office, said that the industry offers vast opportunity for investors in agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing.

He cited the production of paper, polishes, paints, rubber, glass, cosmetics, plastics and adhesives.

“There are great opportunities…what we found was really large.

We are talking about total cumulative value for the markets of some US$7 billion,” he stated.

According to Dr. Douglas, Jamaica is blessed with rich limestone resources and is considered as the limestone capital of the world.

The country’s limestone resource is estimat-

Executive Chairman of Conrad Douglas and Associates Dr. Conrad Douglas, presenting findings on the limestone industry, at a recent stakeholder symposium held at the JAMPRO business auditorium in New Kingston. (JIS photo)

ed 150 billion tonnes of which 50 billion tonnes is recoverable.

The main export markets for limestone are Canada, United States, Caricom, and South America.

“Jamaican limestone is occurring naturally, we have been producing it, and we have been exporting it, and it has found acceptance in the international markets.

We have pharmaceutical limestone, we have

chemical limestone, and we also have metallurgical limestone (use primarily in the bauxite industry). Limestone has the most diverse end-use structure of all material known by mankind.

That, in itself, presents a wide range of opportunities,” Dr. Douglas stated.

He noted, however, that there is need to focus on the production of high value-added products to drive the indus-

try for the future. “We believe that there is opportunity, as found from the study, to ramp-up production to a greater level,” he said.

Dr. Douglas said that currently, Jamaica imports limestone products that can be manufactured locally, and some 10 plants across the island can be “ramped-up easily” for the production of these value-added items. (JIS)

Barbados’ Arawak Cement Company enjoys better 2013 production performance

The St. Lucy-based Arawak Cement Company in Barbados. (Nation News file photo)

T

he Checker Hall, St. Lucy-based Arawak Cement Company has recorded increases in both cement and clinker production during 2013, despite the economic crisis confronting the country.

Word of this came from new general manager Derrick Isaac, during a welcome address at the plant’s recent annual Retirement and Long Service Awards function at which 68 employees were honoured.

Isaac, who is taking over from former general manager Rupert Greene, who takes up that same post at the Group’s TPL/ TPM, told the gathering: “In the face of one of the more severe economic crises in modern history, our company has faced challenges sustaining the level of success for which we have been known. The year 2013, however, has been a year of improvement for Arawak. We have continued our Plant Improvement Projects and will record a 27 per cent increase in clinker production and a 35 per cent increase in cement production. Propelled by resurgence of our export sales, we will also record a 40 per cent increase in cement sales.”

Isaac attributed the successes to employees going beyond the call of duty and giving exceptional service to the organisation. He thanked them all for their contribution and encouraged them to participate in the process of ‘rekindling’ the company’s

flame.

He noted, “During the year, we embarked on an initiative to create and select a theme which embodies the thrust to rebuild our organisation.

Employees from several sections of the plant formulated and proposed over 80 themes with ‘Let’s rekindle the flame…starting today’, being chosen as the winning one.

2014 targets

“This theme has been linked to a number of performance targets set for the company for 2014, such as the production and sale of 330 000 tonnes of cement, the production of 300 000 tons of clinker, zero accidents and zero incidents.

“To achieve this, we will require the support of all employees. Our new theme takes us further than our past achievements. It reminds us that we need to continually move from where we are. Using the vehicle of teamwork, relationship management and developing our emotional competence, we will craft a new environment and transform our culture.

“As a result, we will move on to better work systems, to greater efficiency, further training and development, higher clinker and cement production, empowerment of all employees at all levels, greater shareholder value and to continually contribute to the development of this country, Barbados,” Isaac noted. (Barbados Advocate)

PM Spencer named personality of the year

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U.S.-based C a r i b b e a n Publication has named Prime Minister of the Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer as its “Caribbean Person of the Year”.

‘EVERYBODY’S Caribbean’ says Spencer was chosen based on his unswerving leadership and his determination to prevent Antigua and Barbuda from becoming a haven for international illicit trade.

Previous persons of

the year included Sir Arthur Lewis (1979), Dominica’s Prime Minister Mary Eugenia Charles in 1980.

The honour went in 2004 to then Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning for consistently using Trinidad and Tobago resources to assist Caricom nations; in 2008 to Olympian Usain Bolt; and to Olympian Kirani James of Grenada in 2012.

(Antigua Observer)

News

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Guyana launches ambitious national health plan - aims to make citizens healthiest in the Caribbean

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comprehensive plan to modernise Guyana’s health sector was on Monday unveiled at an elaborate ceremony at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

Dubbed ‘Health Vision 2020’– the plan is a national health strategy for Guyana for the period 2013-2020.

The strategy aims to make Guyanese the healthiest people in the Caribbean and the Americas by the year 2020, officials said. The plan was launched by Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran; Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud; and President Donald Ramotar.

Dr Shamdeo presented a snapshot of the vision, which he said is designed to modify healthcare and put the country’s health sector at an international level. The CMO noted that the vision caters for not only Guyanese, but other nationalities living in the country.

“The mission is to create

an enabling framework for full participation in leadership and integrated health services to deliver quality, efficient and responsive health services and prevention measures also… and to improve the physical mental and social well-being of all the people of Guyana,” Persaud stated.

The CMO explained that the Health Vision 2020 was developed based on a number of locally recognised declarations, including the United Nations Human Rights Declarations. He further stated that the objectives of the Health Vision 2020 are close to those of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He noted when the plan comes to an end in 2020, it is expected that Guyana be up to par with other Caribbean countries in terms of healthcare.

Better health care

President Ramotar, in his feature address, highlighted the importance of the health sector to a country’s econo-

ed.

Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar receives a copy of Health Vision 2020 from CMO Dr Shamdeo Persaud, Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran and Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Leslie Cadogan

my. He pointed out that while Guyana has come a long way in terms of healthcare services, there was still much more to be done.

Ramotar told the gathering that the government has invested billions to ensure quality healthcare services for the people of Guyana.

“That gives you a better idea of our commitment to providing a better quality ser-

vice for the people of our country and this is because of how important we see the health sector in the whole context of having a better quality of life.

This sector has to play a very important role and I’m happy to see that central to the plan that you have and would implement is the question of preventative healthcare and that should always be the guiding principle,” the president stat-

He noted too that with this plan, focus will now be placed on providing service to people of Guyana which is second to none.

Ramsaran, meantime, urged young doctors who were present at the launch to use the plan as a guide when practising medicine. He acknowledged all those who worked on creating Health Vision 2020 and those who will be monitoring the strategy to ensure that it is realised by its deadline.

Also speaking at the launch was Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) country representative, Zoila Fletcher-Payton, who said that Guyana is on its way to meet the New Millennium Goal established for 2015 and with the implementation of Health Vision 2020, its healthcare services will be up to standard.

However, she noted that the vision needs the support of the government and society to be successful. (Guyana Times)

Bahamas government must clarify CLICO guarantee, says IMF

T

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on the government of The Bahamas to "urgently address" the CLICO (Bahamas) situation, by outlining the terms of a government guarantee.

In the meantime, the Washington, DC-based multilateral organization has commended the government for its "strong commitment" to the matter.

In a statement sent to Nassau, IMF mission chief for The Bahamas Mbuyamu Matungulu noted that the fund is keeping a close eye on the matter, and added that it continues to maintain that the CLICO (Bahamas) matter must be swiftly dealt with.

In April, the IMF called for the "acceleration" of efforts towards a resolution of the CLICO matter in The Bahamas.

According to media reports, the outstanding matter of how to deal with the insolvent insurer, which was placed into liquidation in February 2009, was raised during a recent IMF meeting with government officials during an annual visit to The Bahamas during the latter part of 2013.

Tragedy

In an interview with the Guardian Business last week, former creditors committee member, and an outspoken advocate for CLICO (Bahamas) policyhold-

In April, the IMF called for the "acceleration" of efforts towards a resolution of the CLICO matter in The Bahamas.

ers, Bishop Simeon Hall, called it a "tragedy" that the insurer was able to get into the financial straits that it had and that the government was yet to move on providing the guarantee. Hall is himself a policyholder.

Such a guarantee has been deemed critical to allowing the transfer of the remaining life and health insurance policies to another company. Policyholders were called upon to continue to pay their insurance premiums until a buyer could be found.

In his response to the newspaper over the weekend, Matungulu said that the IMF has "urged the government to clarify the terms of its guarantee and develop and implement a viable plan for running off guaranteed policies, or transferring them within a short period to a third party."

"We commend the authorities for their strong commitment, and are monitoring the implementation of the government’s reforms in this important area. We look forward to early closure," said the IMF offi-

cial.

Potential purchasers

In the mid part of last year, there were understood to be several potential purchasers of the CLICO policies.

However, given the delay in the process, it is not clear how much interest remains on the part of these groups to date. There has not been an update to the court on the CLICO matter since 2012.

In June of this year, Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis said it was the government's hope that a resolution would be brought to the CLICO (Bahamas) situation before the end of 2013. He said the Christie administration would honor the commitment made by the former government to protect policyholders via a government guarantee of US$30 million.

Craig Gomez, of Baker Tilly Gomez, liquidator for CLICO (Bahamas), has stated in a report to the court that any government funds utilized could be reimbursed to the government from the sale

of CLICO's assets and "from funds otherwise recovered".

At the end of June 2012, the portfolio of CLICO (Bahamas) con-

tained 13,835 policies with a total surrender value of US$20.07 million and a cumulative sum assured of US$1.093 billion.

The Bahamian balance sheet showed a solvency deficiency of US$22.162 million. (Excerpted from Caribbean News)

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Guyana’s housing minister debunks AFC’s phone tapping grouse

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uyana’s Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali has debunked complaints by Alliance For Change (AFC) leader Khemraj Ramjattan about the administration’s alleged involvement in phone tapping.

At a press conference last week, Ali had upbraided the AFC executive for what he deemed abusive and disrespectful treatment of his secretary, who was simply inviting “him to a meeting to clarify issues surrounding media reports on the East Bank Demerara development project and the distribution of lands to private investors.” Ramjattan reportedly had told the secretary to tell the minister to “haul his ass.”

On Monday, the AFC failed to address the substantive issue at hand, as well as the others raised

by Ali at the press conference.

Deflection

Ali debunked insinuations of phone tapping made by the AFC, accusing the party of engaging in “politics of deception, trickery and lies”.

He said, as housing and water minister, he is unaware that government has instructed the tapping of Ramjattan’s phone or those belonging to the ministry.

The minister said Ramjattan is clearly attempting to deflect from the main issue of being abusive, insultive and derogatory to a public servant. He said the issue of phone tapping has

AFC leader in Guyana Khemraj Ramjattan.

(Guyana Times file photo)

nothing to do with the subject matter.

“And at no time did I suggest any thing about phone tapping. That is clear in my statement,” he said.

Ali said the continuous dishonesty and lies

by Ramjattan remain testament to the fact that he has no regard or respect

for decency and he has no intentions of apologising to a public servant, who, in the execution of her duties, was met with abusive behaviour.

“I, as minister of housing and water, will continue to condemn the actions of Ramjattan and call on him publicly to apologise to this very

young public servant,” he said.

Ali reiterated that the matter was essentially about the invitation sent to Ramjattan to come to a forum in the presence of the media to raise any concerns or questions he had in relation to the continuous housing development programme.

Additionally, the AFC’s attempt to draw extraneous matters in relation to the wiretapping of phones, legality of the same and other security issues have not escaped my attention,” he said in a strongly worded statement to the media.

Scaremongering

“It is on this note, that I wish to dismiss the AFC’s scaremongering, lack of political maturity and integrity. The

party has shown that it lacks the ability to justify its public positions by advancing evidence and facts that could not stand the test of scrutiny.

"The press statement by the AFC today (December 30) also exposes its unwillingness to upbraid its members who hold high offices when their conduct is less than favourable and appropriate,” Ali said.

When contacted late Monday evening, Ali said that he is aware that Ramjattan has come in for heavy criticisms from the general public and his political colleagues for his verbal attack on an innocent public servant and the disrespect shown to a minister of government.

(Guyana Times)

Veteran TT calypsonian Shadow Barbadians giving generously robbed at home to storm-affected neighbours

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Shadow (Jamaica Observer file photo)

eteran calypsonian Shadow was robbed of his SUV and shot at by robbers at his Mt Hope home on Sunday. A still shaken Shadow, whose name is Winston Bailey, told TT media that his Toyota Rav 4, PCT 9861, was stolen by thieves who seemed to have been lying in wait outside his house.

In a phone interview Monday, Bailey said: “I was just coming outside and he jump in the car and drive off. I went in the yard and somebody rushed past me and jump in the car and lock the door and I tried to lock the gate. I just want it back.”

Shadow said amidst the confusion in trying to ensure the thief did

not escape with his vehicle he heard gunfire.

He added: “I am glad to be alive. I heard shots fired and am lucky to be here. There is plenty confusion and crazy thing. My car gone and I can’t get it back. I hear (makes noises) all over the place and moved out the way.”

Shadow is in the midst of preparations for next year’s Carnival season. He won the Road March in 1974 and 2001 with ‘Bassman’ and ‘Stranger’ respectively and the Calypso Monarch in 2000 with ‘What’s Wrong With Me’ and ‘Scratch Meh Back’. He also won the International Soca Monarch with ‘Stranger’ in 2001. Shadow is also the recipient of the Humming Bird Medal (Silver) in 2003. (TT Guardian)

Three Yuletide Season suicides in Trinidad T here have been at least three suicides committed over the Yuletide Season in Trinidad, police have reported. On Sunday last, Steve Martin Bayne placed his licensed shotgun to his chest and pulled the trigger at his Mayaro home.

Moments earlier, he attempted to kill his common-law wife Nelita Abraham by giving her a cup of tea laced with a posion.

Also on Sunday, Hema Bassant, 33, doused herself with kerosene outside her Richplain Road, Diego Martin home and set herself on fire.

The mother of four did so after an argument with her common-law husband Shawn Collymore, in which she accused him of cheating on her.

Collymore attempted to douse the flame by breaking a water pipeline and throwing the water on her body, but to no avail. He finally put out the fire by throwing sand and gravel on her, but was burnt in the process. They were both rushed to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where Collymore was treated for severe burns to both forearms. Bassant however sustained burns to her entire body and succumbed to her injuries.

And on Boxing Day, 29-year-old policeman Lutchmansingh Pooran, put his licensed pistol to his head and pulled the trigger after he shot his wife’s niece Andrea Persad in front of Persad’s Siparia home. (Excerpted from TT Newsday)

T

he generosity of Barbadians has helped many families affected by the extreme weather event, which occurred in the Eastern Caribbean last week.

Speaking to Barbadian media Monday morning via telephone, Director General of the Barbados Red Cross Society Edmond Bradshaw, indicated that while there was a steady stream of persons making donations since they began the appeal, activity at the office in Warrens, St. Michael picked up Monday, as it was the last day for the donations of items to be sent to some of the affected countries which include St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Dominica. He stated that persons were flowing in with food items and toiletries to add to the shipments that his organisation was expected to send off.

Bradshaw said that reports reaching him from the Red Cross Society in St. Lucia indicate that 4 600 families have been given food parcels and other items; while thousands of families in St. Vincent have also received aid, including cleaning kits, blankets, gloves and bottled water. With that in mind, he noted that the items coming from Barbados, will ensure that thousands more are given the assistance that they need at this time.

“So far we have sent down two shipments

Donations headed to the affected OECS countries being off-loaded at the Grantley Adams International Airport Monday. (Barbados Advocate photo)

of items to St. Vincent.

These include 900 jerry cans which people can store water and liquids in, as well as toiletries and kitchen sets–pots, pans and utensils and bottled water.

Those went down on SVG Air, and I spoke yesterday [Sunday] with Dr. Jean Holder the chairman of LIAT, along with Lessa Parris-Rudder who is the Director of Commercial and Customer Experience and Derrick Frederick, Senior Commercial Manager, and they are arranging for a flight from today [Monday] to go down to St. Lucia,” he said.

Bradshaw noted that water is especially paramount for St. Vincent at this time, as about 55 per cent of the South

Leeward side of the island remains without running water, and is not likely to see the water supply restored until next week. Moreover, he noted that even in the areas where the water supply is holding, the precious commodity is being rationed.

The Red Cross executive said that also of concern to them at this time is that the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in St. Vincent suffered about EC$2 million in damage and they have lost critical equipment. He also pointed out a number of people have lost life-saving medication and are desperately in need of assistance at this time.

He suggested this is an area where regional governments can help.

(Barbados Advocate)

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Caricom secretary general optimistic about region’s future

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a r i b b e a n Community (Caricom) Secretary General Irwin La Rocque says 2014 promises new directions for the 15-member regional integration movement as it seeks to deliver more immediate and tangible benefits to the people of the Caribbean.

In his end-of-year message, the Dominican-born LaRocque said 2013, which marked the 40th anniversary of Caricom, underscored the determination and commitment of the region to forge a common destiny as small unified states in this unique corner of the world called the Caribbean.

He said the anniversary theme of "Celebration and Renewal" remained relevant "as we bask in our Caribbean-ness, rekindle the spirit of community and continue our integration quest with an outlook that is shaped by new thinking and different approaches".

He said that outlook would be influenced by the necessity for appropriate responses to the current global environment which has placed member states in dire straits, stymieing growth and development and denying the Caribbean the wherewithal to create a better standard of living for the people of the region.

"Indeed, the vulnerability of our member states and their capacity for resilience came into stark relief last week in St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Dominica, when severe weather visited death and destruction and caused a setback to development efforts there," said the secretary general.

Five-year plan

However, he noted that the new outlook would also be shaped by the review and reform of the integration movement being undertaken at the request of regional governments, adding "we are on schedule to achieve early in the new year one of our key

Caricom Secretary General Irwin La Rocque (Jamaica Observer file photo)

milestones—the completion of the draft Five-Year Strategic Plan".

The plan was crafted following consultations with stakeholders across

the region and sets out a common vision, identities priority areas of focus over the period and also addresses issues of implementability including the roles and responsibilities of all participants in the community's architecture.

"Unsurprisingly, sustainable economic growth and development emerged as one of the primary areas of concern for stakeholders across the spectrum with whom the Change Team interacted over the past year, and it is our intention, through the efforts of the recently established Caricom Commission on the Economy, to explore possible avenues to put us

on a sustainable path," La Rocque said.

He added that the commission would provide advice on implementable solutions based particularly on the priority areas set out in the Caricom growth agenda.

"For the Caribbean Community, therefore, 2014 dawns with the promise of new directions, prioritisation on the critical areas that will deliver more immediate and tangible benefits to our peoples, more strategic approaches and the continued emphasis on our youth and empowerment of our citizens," he added.

(Jamaica Observer)

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St Lucia needs millions to bounce back – prime minister

S

t Lucia needs tens of millions of dollars to get back on its feet, says Prime Minister Kenny Anthony.

He made the comment to 16 members of the TT media who accompanied officials from the Office and Disaster Preparedness (ODPM) and Office of the Prime Minister to St Lucia over the weekend, to deliver aid supplies in the wake of flooding and landslides, which ravaged that country earlier last week.

Anthony said the latest disaster would be hard to recover from quickly, especially since the island was just recovering from Hurricane Thomas, which dealt a terrible blow to St Lucia. He said in his constituency of Vieux Fort South, residents had lost

ODPM head Dr Stephen Ramroop, left, and TT’s National Security Minister Gary Griffith supervise as workers and soldiers pack a container with mattresses, sheets and supplies at the ODPM warehouse Tumpuna Road, Arima, bound for St Lucia. (TT Newsday photo)

everything as flood waters

rose to as high as eight feet.

Some 500 residents, Anthony said, were now in shelters.

Recounting the moments leading up to the storm, Anthony said: “By five o’clock on Christmas Eve it was fairly clear what was happening.

I live in the area close to the city on a hill and I was marooned for quite a while. I couldn’t leave my home.”

On a brief tour of the island last Friday, huge trees, mounds of sand and other debris were strewn across roadways. Highways and other major roads were ripped apart by powerful flood waters, leaving gaping holes, some deep as eight metres.

Anthony said communities in Bexon were the most affected, as they also suffered severe devastation by Hurricane Thomas some three

years ago. Homes remained completely submerged up until last Friday in Vieux Fort South, the hardest hit area in St Lucia. Anthony said it had been very distressing that some people had still not been able to return to their homes because they were filled with mud and debris.

He said: “This is very distressing to say the least.

Many people have not been able to return to their homes because their homes are filled with mud and debris. And so it is going to take some time for them to clean their homes and return.”

Anthony praised the efforts of the TT government, saying TT was the first responder to lend assistance. (Excerpted from TT Guardian)

Guyanese businessman plunges to death in Demerara River

T

he Linden community of Guyana was on Saturday morning left in a state of shock and mourning when popular businessman Collis “Tom” Mentis, 37, plunged to his death after careening his vehicle off the MackenzieWismar Bridge.

The incident occurred at about 08:15h. Mentis, who sold beverages prior to his death, was at the time driving a white Tundra pick-up GRR 4634, which crashed head-on into the centre of the bridge railing, before ending up in the Demerara River.

Reports are that Mentis was at the time of

the accident returning to his home at Fairs’ Rust, Mackenzie, after attending an “All White” glow party last Friday evening held at the Christianburg Community Centre Ground, Wismar, Linden.

An eyewitness who worked at the bridge, which connects Mackenzie to the Wismar shore, related that Mentis was speeding at the time that he approached the western end of the bridge and had proceeded to cross; however, the eyewitness reportedly did not observe when the vehicle crashed and made its way downward into the river.

Dead: Collis “Tom” Mentis

Staff at the bridge noted that they did not

notice that anything was amiss until a few min-

utes later when someone observed that the rail along the bridge was dislocated. The toll booth where the staff operates is located on the eastern end of the bridge (Mackenzie), in the direction where Mentis was heading.

“We didn’t even hear nor see anything that happened, the boy who was working the (bridge) barriers said he noticed this vehicle coming with a speed, but he take he eye off of it for some time, but he said when he looked back he couldn’t believe that the vehicle made it across the bridge so fast. Is till when somebody come and tell we

the man just fly over the bridge then we run and look in the river, but all we see is a set of bubbles coming up in the river, nothing more,” the eyewitness said.

Soon after the incident, hundreds gathered at the scene as a rescue team made up of several persons, including two public-spirited divers identified only as “Chucky” and “Nally”, began a frantic search for Mentis and his vehicle in the river, which were hours later recovered only a short distance from the place on the bridge where it went down. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Antigua and Barbuda receives new airlift from Guadeloupe with direct connection to France

A

ir Antilles Express recently commenced its bi-weekly service into Antigua and Barbuda. The airline will fly into the V.C Bird International Airport (ANU) every Monday and Thursday out of Point-a-Pitre (PTP) for a short twenty-min-

ute direct service into Antigua. The flight departs Guadeloupe at 4:30 pm and arrives in Antigua at 4:50 pm and then flight number 3S251 returns to Guadeloupe at 5:10 pm.

The Air Antilles Express flight is a code share agreement with Corsair which originates

from Paris, France with non-stop service into Guadeloupe, and is on ground for about an hour and a half before departing to Antigua.

The Corsair and Air Antilles service is a partnership with Promo Sejours, a French tour operator which has started to sell the destination from

this winter.

This new flight will provide Antigua and Barbuda with alternative connection options to and from Guadeloupe, and the flight will be operated with a 48 seat ATR-42, with 30 seats allocated to the tour operator leaving 18 seats on open sale.

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority has noted that this is excellent news for the destination, as interest in Antigua and

Barbuda continues to be on the radar for new airlines; this also provides opportunity for enhanced connectivity into European target markets, and continues to display international confidence in the islands’ tourism product.

Marketing Manager of the authority Charmaine Spencer, said, “We have seen great potential to grow the number of visitors from Guadeloupe, however it has been difficult

to develop this market due to inconsistent access and expensive connections to the destination. The introduction of an alternative airline at a reduced cost should result in an increase in exchanges between the two islands over the next few months. Although the flight is only scheduled at present for the winter season, the aim is to create enough demand for Air Antilles Express to continue the service through the summer.”

Veteran Guyanese broadcaster Oswald Singh laid to rest

O

swald Joseph Chetram Singh, the “Man with the Golden Voice”, was on Saturday evening laid to rest at the Good Hope Cemetery in Guyana after a three-hour-long emotional funeral service at the St Andrews Lutheran Church, Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerera.

His work and life

were praised by his colleagues in both the radio and television fraternity, as they paid their last respects to him.

Hundreds poured into the small concrete and wooden church and were greeted to a well-decorated pulpit, the scent of burning candles and perfume, and gospel music.

Lying in a brown, wooden casket draped

with white lace and lilac flowers was Singh, with a pleasant face.

Veteran radio broadcaster Ron Robinson recalled Singh as a humble and friendly person, who was also a mentor for those who sought his advise. He added that Singh gave advise even to those who did not necessarily seek it. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

News week ending January 2, 2014

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More Guyanese law enforcement officers benefit from overseas training

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uyana’s security sector continues to focus heavily on training of its personnel, and only recently several officers benefited from overseas training at various levels.

The Home Affairs Ministry in a release recently announced that Detective Sergeant Shivram Murguyya and Detective Corporal Devon Lowe attended the junior criminal investigation course in Christ Church, Barbados.

The aim of this course was to develop the requisite investigative skills of junior officers that would enable them to execute their duties in a professional manner.

Inspector Clifton Davis of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) attended the regional armoury management training course in Portof-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to bolster the capacities of government armourers in the specific technical skills and management processes necessary for the safe, effective and efficient accounting, inspection, repair, maintenance, storage, security and destruction of fire-

Guyana’s Deputy Commissioner (Law Enforcement) Seelall Persaud. (Guyana Times file photo)

arms and ammunition.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (Law Enforcement) Seelall Persaud attended a special meeting on the establishment of a regional counterdrug intelligence school for the Caribbean in November.

Aim

The aim of this forum was to seek the input of regional security officials on specific counterdrug intelligence training needs to form the basis for the curriculum of the

proposed school.

With regard to the Guyana Fire Service, Cadet Officer Andrew Holder and Section Leader Dehola Jacobs attended the third executive meeting and the seventh biennial conference of the Caribbean Association of Fire Fighters (CAFF) in Castries, St Lucia. This was aimed at promoting cooperation, standardisation and enhancing the quality of service by regional firefighters.

Meanwhile, cadet officers Suresh Persaud and Cleon Thom-Fernandes attended the Junior Officer Leadership Academy training event in early December in Dominica.

This programme was designed for the development of junior officers in fire and rescue organisations throughout the Caribbean.

Additionally, it provided classroom training on information critical to the success of fire professionals and included various peer group activities.

Ashley Williams and Devendra Ramzit from the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) attended the second regional Container Control Programme (CCP) meeting in Panama. This meeting focused on money laundering, UN sanctions, arms trafficking, intellectual property rights and storage of medicaments.

Meeting

Meanwhile, Kavita Bhowani from the Home Affairs Ministry attended the fourth Caribbean– United States Security Cooperation Dialogue

in Washington D.C. This meeting allowed delegations to examine several of the flagship programmes that have commenced under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and consider the

next steps forward in respect of cooperation and information sharing in order to reduce illicit trafficking, promote social justice, and improve citizen security, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

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Arbitration proceedings against Repsol was last resort–CGX

BY SAMUEL SUKHNANDAN

C

anadian oil company CGX Energy Inc said the legal arbitration it has brought against Repsol was a last resort after efforts to redress its “transgression through dialogue” did not work.

“CGX maintains that it is imperative it protects the rights of its shareholders, many of whom are Guyanese, both locally and in the diaspora, in terms of the Georgetown licence,” the company’s general counsel Michael Galego, told Guyanese media in a recent interview.

Explaining the details of the dispute between his company and Repsol, CGX Cochairman, Dr Suresh Narine said,

while at one point in time CGX owed US$15 million to the consortium which drilled the Jaguar 1 well in the Georgetown licence, it has repaid this sum.

Under the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) between the consortium which had included YPF, Tullow, Repsol (15 per cent ownership) and CGX (25 per cent ownership), arbitration proceedings will be filed in London. Repsol will have a certain period, governed by the terms of the JOA, to respond to the proceedings, Galego said.

Under the terms of the agreement, Repsol was constrained to apply for an extension of the Georgetown licence, within which the Jaguar 1 well, which was

Dr Suresh Narine

Michael Galego

plugged and abandoned, was drilled. That licence should have included a pro rata ownership by CGX, which opted to stay in the licence, while Tullow and YPF opted to abandon the licence.

Instead, Repsol allowed the licence to lapse, even when it only

owned 15 per cent of the licence.

Subsequently, Repsol applied for an entirely new licence, the Kanuku licence, covering substantially the same area covered by the old licence, but now it acquired 100 per cent ownership.

“This is a blatant act to deprive the CGX shareholders of their rightful percentage of ownership over the licence,” said Galego.

“In the interest of our shareholders and in keeping with the principled fashion in which we have always carried out our functions and responsibilities to the people and government of Guyana, CGX cannot allow this matter to go unaddressed.”

He said it is CGX’s view that all companies operating in the basin–large or small–must be required to conduct themselves within the highest levels of proprietary and in accordance with Guyana and international laws.

“We are not prepared to stand by and let this

kind of bargaining in bad faith creep into the basin,” he added.

CGX, though the smallest independent company operating in the Guyana-Suriname basin, has invested the most on exploration in the basin and has drilled the most wells.

Professor Narine said the company is solely focused on the GuyanaSuriname basin, and was instrumental in Guyana’s legal challenge to Suriname after Surinamese evicted the company from a drill rig via gunboat. He said the company has, over its more than 15-year history in the basin, always taken the principled approach to the resolution of crises through amicable and legal means.

(Guyana Times)

Flood-hit Caribbean islands mobilising aid in New York

S

t Vincent and the Grenadines’ diplomats in the United States are appealing for urgent aid to help their homeland in the wake of the Christmas storm that left several people dead and a trail of destruction.

In a letter commissioned to nationals in the diaspora by St Vincent and the Grenadines Consulate General in New York, Consul General Selmon Walters on Saturday appealed for donations of cash, food, clothing, toiletries, water, and medical supplies.

Walters, a former government minister in the administration of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, noted that the country suffered estimated damage in the region of EC$ 150 million as a result of the December 24 storm.

“Severely affected”

He said nine lives were lost, five people are still missing, and 64 persons remain in shelters.

In addition, the envoy said a number of houses, roads and bridges were destroyed, and that the potable water system

Residents walk along a flood-stricken road in St. Vincent, in December, 2013.

is “severely affected”. As a result, Walters said the consulate general, in collaboration with a number of Vincentian organisations in the United States, is “spearheading” relief efforts to send much-needed supplies home.

Meanwhile, St Lucians in New York have mobilised an urgent relief effort to get needed supplies to the island-nation in the wake of deadly rains and flooding on

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Eastern Caribbean.

Regionwide, at least 14 persons were killed and there was major infrastructure damage in St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica.

According to the St Lucia House Foundation and the St Lucia Consulate in New York, much-needed relief donations – which are due to be delivered to the island–are children’s and adults’ clothing, blankets,

shoes, school supplies and diapers.

“Our prayers are with all those traumatised by the damage caused and in desperate need of food, medical supplies, water, and shelter,” said Foundation President Matthias Wilkie.

“We hope that the government, agencies, churches and individuals will respond generously to help all those affected in order to recover and rebuild their shattered lives.”

Tourism, Heritage and the Creative Industries Minister Lorne Theophilus reassured that tourism is sound—all air and seaports are functional, four cruiseships at the Castries harbour and vendors, tour operators and taxi drivers are working.

Dozens of homes and at least two hotels on Dominica were evacuated because of the danger of landslides and several roads were blocked by mud, according to the AP. For information on relief efforts to St Vincent and the Grenadines, call the Manhattan consulate at (212)

687- 4490 or send email to svgconny@aol.com.

And other diaspora communities, such as the Caribbean-American residents of Houston, are pitching in to collect relief supplies for St Vincent and St Lucia flood victims.

Hurricane Tomás

“We came together in the aftermath of Hurricane Tomás three years ago and were able to ship over 1500 pounds of clothes, water, first aid supplies, food, etc to aid in recovery,” said event organiser Nicke Joseph, adding that the Houston Caribbean Festival Radio Station was due to hold a live broadcast from relief event at the city’s D’Vybz nightclub.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency reported on December 27 that National Emergency Operations Centres have been activated in Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia, and “damage and needs assessments are being conducted in each country”. (TT Guardian)

Good year for Royal Barbados Police Force

B

arbados acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith says 2013 has been a pretty successful year for the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF).

“As suggested, we are policing in difficult economic times and the likelihood of crime would seem to be more prevalent. However, I think that despite that, we have been able to reduce crime significantly this year over last year,” he said.

He revealed that

from the force’s analysis, crime has dropped overall by five per cent over 2012, and this, he said is to be commended especially given the current circumstances.

Griffith was also quick to add that the reduction has been even more significant in areas such as robberies and theft.

With that in mind, he told reporters that the Force has seen significant improvements as it relates to the cash for gold trade, which in the past resulted in a number of cases of robberies

and theft from the person.

“We have certainly heightened our presence in terms of investigative as well as preventative [measures]. You would see on the streets, many more officers out in their numbers. We have put certain strategies in place to ensure that people can move around safely and feel comfortable shopping in Bridgetown,” the island’s top law enforcement officer added.

(Excerpted from Barbados Advocate)

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Guyana’s four-lane extension road project to be completed early this year

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ork on the fourlane extension road project being undertaken on the East Coast and East Bank highways in Guyana is expected to be fast-tracked during 2014.

While there have been some delays owing to several issues encountered by the contractors, the work should be completed by the first quarter of this year at the latest, according to an official of the Public Works Ministry.

The official said, most of the issues that were brought to the attention of the Work Services Group (WSG) of the Public Works Ministry have been corrected, and contractors have been given a stern warning about meeting the deadlines.

The road works be-

ing done along the East Coast of Demerara consist of six lots.

The contract for lot one was terminated and was awarded to Dipcon Engineering by government. This phase of the project is moving ahead and the works are expected to be completed soon.

Some challenges are being experienced at lot two of the project as a result of disputes over land, with persons who live there.

For lots three and four, for which Courtney Benn Contracting Service is responsible, works have been moving at a slow pace. The contract for that lot was extended until March 2014.

Salba Engineering is responsible for the final lot, which starts from the Mon Repos market

Work ongoing at the four-lane extension on the East Bank of Demerara in Guyana

to just before the Good Hope Bridge.

That component of the project is expected to be completed by the end of January 2014.

East Bank

On the other hand, the four- lane extension on the East Bank

of Demerara consists of three lots. Dipcon Engineering is responsible for lot one, which had some challenges caused

by GT&T power poles.

Works on lots two and three have commenced, and the construction of a high bridge is also on-

going.

The Guyana government had received US$ 20 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), for the East Bank Demerara Four Lane Extension project.

The project is being

jointly financed with the government.

The main objectives of the project are to enhance urban and suburban mobility and safety by lowering transport costs and reducing accident rates via the expansion of the East Bank Demerara main road between Providence and Diamond from two lanes to four lanes.

The country’s coastland continues to face heavy traffic especially during peak hours. The high influx of imported vehicles has contributed significantly to this.

With the heavy traffic on the East Bank highway, there has been much confusion and congestion, which affects hundreds of commuters, causing the tardiness of workers and schoolchildren. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Multi-million dollar revamp of Jamaica’s public sector begins

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he Jamaican government plans to establish 23 business registration kiosks across the island by 2016.

As part of a public sector efficiency programme, for which US$31.6 million in loans has been secured jointly from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the Chinese government and the European Commission, 1,200 Jamaican government employees are also to be trained in new procurement curricula.

The five-year project aims to implement a new E-tendering software, establish a new technical office to enhance the oversight role of parliament and train 240 more internal auditors.

Other objectives include the reduction of the number of days to get electricity connection from 96 to 86 by 2018 and the reduction of time it takes to register a business from seven days to two within five years, through an e-gov-

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (second right) and Opposition Leader Andrew Holness (left) enter Gordon House with other members of parliament at the beginning of a parliamentary session. The public sector efficiency programme aims to establish a new technical office to enhance the oversight role of parliament. (Jamaica Observer file photo)

ernment strategy, training, and the establishment of a one-stop shop for business registration.

"The IDB has approved a US$31.6 million loan to improve the efficiency of the Jamaican public sector by strengthening the capacity of the government in human resource man-

agement, information and communications technologies management, and control systems and accountability mechanisms," said documents on the IDB's website.

The multilateral institution will put up US$14 million of the financing while the China

Co-financing Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean will provide up to US$11 million. The European Commission will provide a project specific grant of up to (euro) 5 million.

Better services

Creating a public sector that costs less and delivers better servic-

es is one of the biggest challenges facing the Jamaican government today.

According to the Global Competitive Index 2013-14, Jamaica scores 2.5 out of seven and ranks 117 out of 148 countries in the world on government efficiency in public spending.

"Recent works in public sector efficiency show that an improvement in efficiency is obtained by reducing the administrative costs," said the IDB. "In addition, more transparency, accountability, and control of corruption increase government efficiency."

The relatively low efficiency of the Jamaican public sector is largely explained by excessive bureaucracy and red tape, a high wage bill relative to GDP (11 per cent), duplication of functions, under-utilisation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and silo operations resulting in high transactional costs and the absence of

economies of scale.

Weaknesses

Furthermore, weaknesses in the control systems and accountability mechanisms also hamper a more efficient use of public resources.

The government has already committed to reducing its wage bill to no more than nine per cent in 2016/17 under its latest arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

But it still needs to fix how it manages its operations.

Consequently, the government, through the IDB loan programme, which was approve this month, aims to combine the management of all public sector employees through a centralised and integrated human capital management system integrated with payroll by 2018.

It also plans to provide 60 per cent of public sector workers with access to HR shared corporate services within five years. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

Haiti AIDS research clinic wins top global health prize

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world-renowned clinic in Haiti that has become a leader in global health leading the fight against HIV/AIDS has won a top global health prize.

The Haitian Group for the Study of Kaposi’s Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections (GHESKIO) has been named a recipient of the 2013 World Health Organization’s (WHO) Stop TB Partnership Kochon

Prize in Tuberculosis, according to the Miami Herald.

Founder Dr Jean William Pape was informed of the honour in a December 20 letter from Partnership Executive Secretary Lucica Ditiu, the paper said.

The annual prize is given to organizations that have made a significant contribution to combating TB. This year’s US$65,000 prize

was designated for fighting TB in conflict and refugee areas.

“GHESKIO’s leading work in HIV and TB for the past three decades and more recently for providing treatment services for the 1.5 million people who were internally displaced

by Haiti’s earthquake in 2010 were especially commended,” says Ditiu in her letter.

After Haiti’s devastating earthquake, four years ago

next month, Ditiu noted that GHESKIO sent mobile teams into the newly-erected refugee camps to screen people for TB and opened a field hospital to provide care.

Ditiu said the group has continued to work with those affected by the disaster, and a subsequent cholera outbreak.

The Kochon prize is funded by the Kochon Foundation, a nonprofit organization, based

in South Korea, with winners selected by the Stop TB Partnership, an international body that is housed at the Washington-based WHO. Pape said the funds will help toward the construction of a TB hospital in Haiti.

The award ceremony for the Kochon Prize will take place on January 31 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Jamaica Observer)

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Guyana to get US$25 million Economic growth in CDB loan for sea defence Caribbean declined in 2013

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High tide at the sea wall at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara in Guyana

he government of Guyana will receive a loan of US$ 25 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to fund a project which will protect a number of communities from flooding and other hazards brought on by the effects of climate change.

Components of the

project include the reconstruction and improvement of approximately 5.4 kilometres of sea and river defences, as well as for capacity in shoreline change monitoring and analysis.

The project will also include a Community Awareness and Education Programme.

The project will involve 20 rural communities in Regions Two, Three, Four and Six along the coastline and in Leguan Island which is in the Essequibo estuary.

These communities have a combined population of about 45,000 people in about 9000 households.

new United Nations report says economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean declined this year, but is predicted to improve over the next two years.

According to the UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects 2014 to be launched in January, growth in Latin America and the Caribbean decelerated in 2013, to a pace of 2.6 per cent.

The report, however, forecast growth in the region to improve to 3.6 and 4.1 per cent in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

“Growth in the Caribbean has been hampered by weak external demand, for the tourism sector in particular, and weaker commodity prices, but is expected to strengthen in the outlook,” it said.

The report added that the regional fiscal posi-

The UN’s World Economic Situation and Prospects 2014 indicated that growth in Latin America and the Caribbean decelerated in 2013, to a pace of 2.6 per cent.

tion “slightly deteriorated” last year, adding that public debt “remains high in the Caribbean countries.”

However, it said many countries retain space for countercyclical policies.

The UN report indicated that inflation outlook was “fairly stable, although inflation is expected to accelerate somewhat in 2013 amid more accommodative monetary policies in some countries.”

Sergio Vieira, a UN

economic affairs officer, who monitors the region, urged that Latin American and Caribbean countries address violence and insecurity that affect potential investors.

“Violence has an impact on economic growth through several channels,” he told the Miami Herald, adding “instead of channelling private and public spending to aspects of development, they are investing in security”.

(Caribbean News)

PM Gonsalves wants a ‘Kamla TT’s Opposition urges relocation of residents from oil-spill areas Village’ in St Vincent

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t Vincent Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says he would like the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad Bissessar, to join her predecessor, Patrick Manning, in having a village named after her in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Gonsalves’ statement suggested the type of assistance that he would like from the oil-rich, twin-island republic.

Gonsalves spoke at the end of a high level meeting of local and regional officials in St Vincent on Saturday that discussed the rehabilitation efforts fol-

lowing the Christmas Eve rains that led to the deaths of nine people, including a two-year old baby visiting from Canada. Four other people remain missing and feared dead.

Many houses were extensively damaged or destroyed by debrisladen floodwaters, and Gonsalves said persons in some areas would have to be relocated.

Among those killed in the storm is Raymond Gonsalves, the 62 yearold cousin of the prime minister, who ironically was among several people that relocated from the seashore in Byera and Gorse after the pas-

sage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

“He had a nice wall house toward the seas, but the ravages, for him and other persons, of wave action, were too severe, we moved them to a place call Manning Village, after Patrick Manning, because the government of Trinidad and Tobago had provided some resources.

“I would like very much to call a village Kamla Village,” Gonsalves said to laughter while looking at Admiral Richard Kelshall, a regional security coordinator, who was present at the meeting. (Jamaica Observer)

Boat owner Neil Mahadeo looks out at Coffee Beach lined with caution tape Sunday after an oil spill affected La Brea last week. (TT Newsday photo)

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eople’s National Movement and Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley Sunday briefly met with La Brea residents whose lives in one way or the other have been affected by a major oil spill when he paid a visit to the three hardest hit communities.

Rowley was accompanied during the visit to Point Coco Beach, Point Sables Beach and Coffee Beach by La Brea Member of Parliament Fitzgerald Jeffrey, who once again issued a call for relocation of some 24 families from the disaster area.

Jeffrey told reporters: “Dr Rowley wanted to see firsthand what the situation was like and that’s

why he came. He was alarmed and taken aback at what he saw and he too agreed that relocation is necessary.”

Since the oil spill two weeks ago, the fumes in the air have been cause of concern for mostly young children, who according to reports have been falling ill and have to regularly seek medical attention.

Some of the affected families have had to abandon their homes in the interest of their own health and safety, reports stated. Jeffery said the strong hydrocarbon scent which continues to permeate the air is unacceptable.

He continued: “It is nauseating and I am very

fearful for those children with the long-term effect of that hydrocarbon smell in their system.”

Jeffrey said he saw no reason why his constituents can’t be given temporary housing at vacant apartments of the Housing Development Corporations located in Guapo, La Fortune and Warden Road, in Point Fortin.

Jeffrey also believes that residents should be compensated for their losses since most of them depend on the sea for an income. Jeffrey hopes that good sense will prevail and those responsible make all efforts to have residents relocated. (Excerpted from TT Newsday)

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Potable water reached 20,000 new households in Guyana during 2013

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uyana’s Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali said that major achievements were made last year in the water sector with approximately Gy$2.7 billion invested under capital programme.

Ali, during a press conference last Friday, said in excess 100,000 people benefited from improved service and water quality during 2013.

According to him, 20,000 new persons benefited from new services on the coastland, Linden and the hinterland.

There was also a reduction in the complaints relating to sewage system in Georgetown.

The investment made in the hinterland has also improved the quality and standard of living in these communities.

The programme also resulted in the creation of 1600 jobs and a rise in the demand for local and imported construction materials.

Linden

In referring to Linden, Ali said per capita investment is in excess of Gy$25,000 per person there. Works on the two new water treatment plants are scheduled to be completed in 2014.

Upgrade of 1500 service connection and installation of in excess of 20km transmission and distribution mains and the continuation of a nonrevenue programme to reduce wastage are all expected to come on stream in the New Year.

Meanwhile, in Georgetown, Ali said rehabilitation of 24 sewer stations is expected to

Guyana's Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali

begin in the New Year, so too the distribution of medication for the spread of tropical diseases and the implementation of an energy efficiency pilot project to aid in the reduction of high energy consumption.

A water dispensation system will also be built in Port Kaituma, Region One, where residents would be able to access water free of charge.

The housing minister stated that the drilling of wells in Port Kaituma

to improve the quality of water supply will also take place in 2014.

Commencement of an exploratory drilling at Mabaruma for access to underground water so as to improve the quality of service upgrade of water supply systems will also be undertaken.

Similar works will be done in Mathews Ridge, Region One; Ituni, Region 10; Purina, Region Seven; Akawaini, Region One; Kumu, Region Nine; and the Rockstone region, among several other locations.

New services

The provision of new services for residents, reducing non-revenue water, increased in treated water coverage, access to potable water in the hinterland, improvement in energy efficiency, sew-

age disposable in the city and general improvement in water quality were among the main areas in which special attention was paid.

“Over the last two years, GWI has made significant strides in its financial management, removing backlog in the financial reporting requirement. The financial statements were ready for submission to the National Assembly within the statutory deadline in 2013.

"In addition, the implementation of oracle financial software has enhanced the integrity of the financial reporting system of GWI and it enabled real time audit of financial transactions,” said the minister.

(Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Caribbean child brides worry UNFPA Trinidadian appointed new deputy Commonwealth secretary general

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Director for the United Nations Population Fund sub-regional office in the Caribbean, Sheila Roseau (left), has the attention of UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin (centre) and Deputy Executive Director Kate Gilmore during a multi-sector high-level meeting in Trinidad to discuss adolescent pregnancy in the Caribbean. (PHOTO: TRINIDAD EXPRESS)

pproximately 29 per cent of girls in the Caribbean were married before their 18th birthday, resulting in what representatives from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) feel is a human rights violation that needs to be urgently addressed by regional leaders.

The issue was one of several raised when UNFPA officials met with government representatives, Caricom leaders, and youth advocacy groups earlier this month in Trinidad for a multi-stakeholder, highlevel consultation to discuss ways of reducing adolescent pregnancy in the Caribbean.

“That's an extraordinary figure; and when you look at that, it's almost as if you are saying we want young women to be pregnant before they finish school, while it's too dangerous to their health, while they

are not able to take care of their children," deputy executive director of UNFPA, Kate Gilmore, told Jamaican media.

Executive director of the UNFPA and under-secretary general of the United Nations Babatunde Osotimehin, noted that child brides were prevalent in certain sections of the world.

He said leaders needed to address "the issue of child marriage, and the fact that we actually live in a world where all of those child marriages have occurred in countries that have signed on to international conventions and actually have national laws that say they cannot marry until they are 18".

Religious tradition

However, assistant secretary general for Caricom, Dr Douglas Slater, believes that as it relates to the region, most of these child marriages would have been practised by a religious

sect rather than by the general population.

"There is a tendency in some religions and ethnic groupings to have child marriages...and I think among those of Indian descent, for example, it is a more common practice; but it is part of their culture," he said.

Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana were highlighted as countries where adolescent marriages are prominent.

Although you must be 18 years old to get married in Trinidad and Tobago, the Marriage Act allows for exemptions on religious grounds. The minimum age for Muslim marriages is 12 years, while the minimum age for Hindu marriages is 16 years.

"Usually what happens is that the girls, when they get pregnant, they don't go to school anymore. So they start a life where they have to take care of the babies, and then their fu-

ture and their lives are not developed as they want it to happen," said assistant representative for UNFPA Sub-Regional Office Aurora NogueraRamkissoon.

She said that the reluctance of some faithbased organisations to accept the health and family life education programmes in schools has been one of the contributing factors to the high teen pregnancy rate in the Caribbean.

According to the UNFPA 2013 report, titled 'Motherhood In Childhood: Facing the challenge of adolescent pregnancy', the Caribbean ranks second only to continental Africa in the number of adolescent girls being pregnant under 18 years old annually. Approximately 20 per cent of young girls across the region reported having their first pregnancy as adolescents.

(Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

ommonwealth Secretary General K a m a l e s h Sharma has appointed Deodat Maharaj, from Trinidad and Tobago, to the post of deputy secretary general (Economic and Social Development) at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Sharma said: “I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Deodat Maharaj. He brings to the secretariat and the Commonwealth a wealth of experience in diverse areas of development. He also has strong management credentials in areas of priority and direct relevance to the secretariat’s new strategic plan. Maharaj will be a valuable addition to the secretariat’s leadership team.”

Responding to the appointment by the secretary general, Deodat said: “I am delighted with the opportunity, and it will be an honour to serve the Commonwealth.”

Maharaj will report to the secretary general on economic affairs, trade and debt, social development and public sector governance.

He will also have responsibility in particular for the sound management of the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation.

The incoming deputy secretary general is currently chief of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Development

Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma

Programme (UNDP) headquarters in New York.

He has held the post of chief-of-staff in the UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, and has worked in Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Guyana and Tanzania.

Maharaj had also worked at the Caribbean Development Bank in Barbados and was head of the secretariat on the Ministerial Council for Social Development with the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

He holds a master’s of science degree in international affairs from Florida State University, U.S.A.; first degrees in government (University of West Indies) and law (London University, UK); and a post-graduate diploma in international affairs from the University of West Indies. Maharaj is expected to commence duties in the first quarter of 2014. (Guyana Times)

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Jamaican gov’t says revenues falling short of target

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ew tax measures implemented by the Jamaican government to support the 2013/14 Budget in April are not yielding the projected revenues, so more taxes are likely by early next year to top up the flow.

Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips and Governor of the Bank of Jamaica Brian Wynter made the admission in their latest quarterly communications with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde.

The communications were tabled in the House of Representatives last Tuesday as Ministry Paper 136/13, fulfilling the commitment to release the information after deliberations with the Fund.

The government blamed the revenue situation on lower imports and weak economic and

Jamaica’s Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips (left) and IMF Representative in Jamaica, Dr Bert Van Selm (right), listen keenly as IMF Staff Mission Team Head to Jamaica, Jan Kees Martijn, addresses a recent media briefing at the finance and planning ministry’s National Heroes Circle offices in Kingston. (JIS photo)

labour market conditions.

However, the Opposition, in its initial reaction, indicated last Thursday that it would not support any changes that would result in more taxes for businesses and consumers.

Opposition spokesman on industry, investment, commerce and energy Karl Samuda said that the Opposition would not support any

new tax measures, saying that increased taxation would only create more burden on businesses and consumers and discourage growth and the creation of jobs.

IMF review

According to Ministry Paper number 136/13, the IMF staff review confirmed that Jamaica met all quantitative targets and structural benchmarks for the period April 2013 to September

2013, and was on track to achieve future targets.

The IMF Board, on December 8, completed the second review of Jamaica's performance under the current Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme. The Fund's deputy managing director, Nayouki Shinohara, noted that implementation of the programme "remains strong", and that "there are tentative signs of a

gradual economic recovery".

However, Shinohara stated that the growth agenda needed to be bolstered by speeding up structural reforms to reduce bureaucracy and improve government's interface with the business community.

Completion of this second quarter review will enable Jamaica to access the third drawdown under the EFF of approximately US$31 million, bringing the total approved to date to approximately US$948 million. The positive second quarter review should also facilitate access to loans from the World Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

Worries

But there are some concerns, as indicated in the communications from the Jamaican government to Lagarde, especially in terms of tax

revenues and the possibility of new tax measures to finance the budget and meet fiscal deficit targets.

The government, in its letter to the IMF chief, pointed out that it has implemented all the necessary structural benchmarks included in the programme.

However, it explained that economic growth remained weak, unemployment was "much too high", and fiscal performance in the first half of 2013/14 was "mixed".

"Relative to the budget, revenues underperformed mainly due to lower imports and weak economic and labour market conditions," the government admitted.

For the same reasons, the new tax measures implemented at the beginning of the fiscal year are not yielding the intended results, the government explained.

(Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

Bahamas listed as Caribbean’s Drug rehabilitation programme must cater for women – Guyana’s finance minister wealthiest country

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he World Bank has rated The Bahamas as the wealthiest Caricom country. The Washington-based financial institution said The Bahamas is the most economically prosperous country, relying on tourism to generate most of its economic activity. It said the tourism industry not only accounts for more than

The Financial Complex in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. (TT Guardian file photo)

60 per cent of the Bahamian gross domestic product (GDP), but provides jobs for more than half the country’s workforce.

After tourism, the next most important economic sector is financial services, accounting for approximately 15 per cent of its GDP. The Bahamas, with a gross national income (GNI) of US$21, 280, is one of the richest countries in the Americas.

The World Bank in its ‘2014 World Development Report’ noted that oilrich Trinidad and Tobago is one of the wealthiest and well-developed nations in the Caribbean. “Trinidad’s economy is strongly influenced by the petroleum industry. Tourism and manufacturing are also important to the local economy. Tourism is a growing sector, although not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. Agricultural products include citrus, cocoa and others,” the World

Bank said.

It said that within the sub-regional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), St Kitts-Nevis, with a GNI of US$13,330, has an economy characterised by its dominant tourism, agriculture and light manufacturing industries. Tourism on the island has been expanding.

Tourism

Tourism dominates Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, accounting for more than half of its GDP. The island, which is famous for its many luxury resorts located around the coastline, has a GNI of US$12,640.

Grenada’s economic progress in fiscal reforms and prudent macroeconomic management has boosted annual growth to five and six per cent in 19981999 and the World Bank said the increase in economic activity has been led by construction and trade. Tourist facilities are being expanded as tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner.

The World Bank said St Lucia’s educated workforce and improvements in roads, communications, water supply, sewerage and port facilities have attracted foreign investment in tourism and in petroleum storage and transshipment.

Jamaica and Guyana

Jamaica, which has had to look to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance in shoring up its economy, is listed below Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines, but above Guyana. The island, with a GNI of US$5,140 has a mixed economy with both state enterprises and private-sector businesses.

“Major sectors of the Jamaican economy include agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, and financial and insurance services. Tourism and mining are the leading earners of foreign exchange. Half of the Jamaican economy is generated by income coming from services such as tourism. An estimated 1.3 million foreign tourists visit Jamaica every year,” the World Bank noted. (Excerpted from TT Guardian)

Guyana's Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

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inance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, is calling for more involvement by civil society to foster and promote social programmes aimed at developing Guyana.

He made the call at a Guyana Salvation Army dinner and social event last Friday evening. “Nowhere in the world can government alone confront and overcome all of the challenges faced by a country,” he said, adding: “Responsible social partners and responsible citizens are an absolutely critical pre-requisite if our country is to achieve what we want of it.”

The minister noted that the work of the drug rehabilitation centre is one to be applauded for reforming persons affected with drug addiction and re-integrating them back into their communities and societies where they are able to contribute to the development of their country.

“We want to ensure

that each and every one of you get a fair chance to make an optimal contribution to the growth and development of our country,” the finance minister said to current and former clients of the rehabilitation centre.

Singh, having noted the contributions and benefits of the programme, pledged government’s continued support once it continues to achieve its goals.

Last year, the government gave Gy$16 million

ents, to extend the programme to include female clients,” he said.

The minister also urged the participants to stay with the programme and to maximise the resources and facilities as part of their recovery.

“I believe substance abuse has distracted you from your intended calling,” said Singh, pointing out that “We need you badly to return to the path on which you have been put on this earth to walk.”

A section of the gathering at the dinner and social event last Friday evening in Guyana

in capital funding to expand the drug rehabilitation programme in its effort to accommodate more clients.

Equal opportunity

“At that stage, we were looking to attract female clients too,” explained the minister.

He noted that drug addiction affects both men and women and therefore the facility should also cater to the needs of female clients.

“I wish to urge the Salvation Army to replicate the outstanding success that has been achieved with male cli-

Chief counsellor at the rehabilitation centre Amarnauth Parsad, noted that the year has been one of the most successful for the organisation as all of their clients have remained in the programme compared to previous years where a number of them would have left.

He attributed these developments to a combination of factors, including government support, stronger leadership and the ability of the organisation to hire more qualified staff. (Guyana Times)

20 feature Guyanese youths participate in int’l conference in Brazil T www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending january 2, 2014

he Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) of Guyana, sponsored by UNICEF, participated in an international workshop– Adolescent and Youth Civic Participation held in Brasília, Brazil on December 10-13.

According to a release from the RCC, the event was part of the self-managed activities of the Global Human Rights Forum.

Approximately 130 participants from 12 different countries attended the international workshop: adolescents, young people, policymakers, leaders of social movements, student leaders and other stakeholders developing programmes and policies aimed at ensuring the right to participation of young people.

The first day was reserved for educational workshops for sharing information on concrete participation experi-

Members of the Guyana delegation

ences and for collective knowledge production to ensure a systematisation of the consensus obtained.

For the first day, there were a total of six workshops with presenters from: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, and Norway.

The last two days focused on the contexts of participation of young people at national, re-

gional and global levels, and on existing public instances for participation, at the Global Human Rights Forum.

Representatives from RCC and the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry participated in several thematic workshops, including: “Human Trafficking for Sexual Purposes: A Latin-American Reality”; “Strategies towards Development and Strategies to Fight Racism”; and “Child Labour: Violation

of Human Rights of Children and Adolescents”.

The workshops were followed by the launch of the manual “Understanding Human Rights”.

Young people

The participation of young people has been recognised by international legal documents, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN, 1989), and in many other human rights treaties relating to women’s rights, pro-

tection against discrimination, and the guarantee of civil and political rights.

Many countries, including Guyana, have incorporated the right to participation of young people at the policy level within organisations or institutions and in varying degrees within their national legislations.

Moreover, the UNICEF; United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); and UNHABITAT offices in Brazil, the Youth Coordination of the Government of the Federal District, and the National Youth Secretariat organised this international workshop as a space for debate, exchange of experiences, and ideas and

knowledge for the sharing on civic participation of young people.

The objectives were to: identify and systematise a framework for the participation of young people based on international norms, legislations and institutions of countries; give visibility to public policies that ensure the participation of young people in decision- making fora regarding the realisation of their rights; share experiences of participatory processes led by young people and create space for youth expression on innovative processes of participation, social mobilisation and use of new information technologies and communication.

(Guyana Times)

Political party hosts successful Christmas concert in Guyana

The entire audience singing “Joy to the World” and “Feliz Navidad”, among them present are former PNCR leaders David Granger and Robert Corbin

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he People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) headquarters was the scene of a lively and spirited Christmas concert just over a week ago.

The air was filled with Christmas cheer, songs, and dances as the political party held its annual Yuletide celebration, “Christmas at Congress Place”.

The event, which was hosted by the Central Executive Committee of the PNCR, attracted a wide cross-section of citizens, including A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) members of Parliament (MPs); members of the diplomatic corps; the Private Sector Commission; regional democratic councillors from surrounding regions; and rank and file members of the PNCR. According to a release from the party, several well-known artists and groups entertained the capacity crowd. There were performances from the Linda Griffith Dance School, the Success Elementary School

Choir, Circle of Love, the Woodside Folk Group, Steel Pan music, as well as a violin solo by Chee Clark.

PNCR Chairman and parliamentarian Basil Williams expressed greetings on behalf of the party; MP Christopher Jones delivered Christmas greetings on behalf of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), the youth arm of the PNCR; and Cheryl Sampson brought greetings on behalf of the National Congress of Women (NCW), the women’s arm of the party.

APNU leader, retired Brigadier David Granger thanked all the performers and wished all present a Merry Christmas. In extremely brief remarks, Brigadier Granger said it was his wish that good things would come their way from the National Assembly in 2014.

The event was held in the Hall of Heroes at the PNCR Secretariat, Congress Place, Sophia, Georgetown, Guyana.

(Guyana Times)

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Laughter galore at Christmas Comedy Cook-Up in Jamaica

Trinidad's Queen of Comedy Rachel Price performing at Comedy Cook-Up, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, recently.

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aughter erupted in the ballroom of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel at the 10th anniversary staging of the Christmas Comedy Cook-Up, held on December 26, Boxing Day, as local and foreign comedians graced the stage, providing riotous laughter and irreverent humour.

Among the comedians were Haitian-American Wil Sylvince, Trinidad's Queen of Comedy Rachel Price, Elva, Christopher 'Johnny' Daley, Lemon, Leighton Smith, Apache Kid and Sarge, Dwight Ross, Rozah Rose, Dufton Shepherd, Kathy 'Tan Deh Deh' Grant, Rohan Gunter, Blakka Ellis, Ity and Fancy Cat, Donald 'Iceman' Anderson and Pretty Boy Floyd.

The comedy show was orchestrated by Owen 'Blakka' Ellis of Ellis International, who partnered with telecommunications giant LIME to offer a great comedy experience. A number of patrons were able to benefit from giveaways in the form of free call credit and cell phones.

Owen Ellis pointed out that the 10th year

of the comedy event meant that comedy had made its mark on the Jamaican entertainment scene. "To me, it means validation of the idea that comedy can be a viable form of entertainment. Comedy deserves

never had more than about six or seven before that. We tried to bring everybody together to give everybody a chance.

The other thing that we did this year was try to up the look. We went for a red carpet and elegant look. Those are two of the key differences," he said, adding that plans are being put in place to go even bigger next year with a larger venue such as the National Indoor Sports Centre and more A-list comedians.

During the event, no topic was out of bounds.

A number of comedians took jabs at homosexuals and homosexuality in its varying forms, while Kathy Grant excited with jokes on the female and male genetalia, which had the audience enjoying every moment.

Other comedians who touched on the topic of sex included Elva, Wil Sylvince, Rachel Price,

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeill (second right), welcomes the two millionth stopover visitors to the island, Alexis Grenier (3rd left) and husband, Craig Greiner (3rd right), from Boston, Massachusetts, USA on Sunday. (JIS photo)

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amaica welcomed its two millionth stop-over visitor for the year on Sunday at the Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. At a special reception at the airport, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment Dr Wykeham McNeill, dignitaries from various sectors of the industry and Mayor of Montego Bay, Glendon Harris greeted the visitor Alexis Greiner and her husband Craig from Boston, Massachusetts.

Alexis a financier was making her first trip to Jamaica while her public relations husband Craig

had visited the island once before.

Dr McNeill pointed out that visitor arrivals in 1955 stood at almost 87,000 and had been growing exponentially, passing the one million mark in 2003 when the figure stood at 1.3 million stop-overs, and “today, ten years later, we mark the arrival of our two-millionth stopover visitor.”

He added that in 2003, cruise arrival also reached the two million mark. Just over 1.4 million cruise passengers are expected to visit the island during 2013.

“In reaching these milestone achievements, the industry has seen

Jamaica establish itself as a major centre of hotel development, to the extent that our hotel developers have been successful at developing international brands that have driven growth here at home and in several other places in the region,” said Dr McNeill.

Meanwhile Director of Tourism John Lynch said it was a very good time for tourism in Jamaica at this time with arrivals for October through December being “very good” and “with that kind of momentum going for us it is going to be almost impossible for us to have a bad winter season.”

(JIS)

Islamic rose-themed event aims to bring about peace in Guyana

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Ity and Fancy Cat entertain on stage

its place, and it can only get better," he said.

Ellis also mentioned that two elements of the show were different this year than in previous ones.

"For the first time, we have 17 acts. We have

Christopher Daley and Rozah Rose. Others, however, enthralled with jokes about politicians and the prime minister's propensity to travel, as well as forms of disciplining children. (Jamaica Gleaner)

(From left) Sharon Burke, Rebecca Packer, Shaggy and Gary Matalon seem to be enjoying a bellyful of Comedy Cook-Up. (Jamaica Gleaner photos)

uyana, through the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC), will join Muslims the world over in an event themed “International Mawlid in the City Event” for which the original inspiration was drawn from the hugely successful event held a year ago outside Google’s London headquarters.

“The portrayal of Muslims by the media as an angry, violent and bloodthirsty community must stop,” the ACIC in a release said.

This year, rose-themed events are organised throughout the world. It is a very simple concept – offer a rose as a peaceful gesture to people and at the same time convey the true message of Islam.

This can be viewed as an extension of giving the message of Islam, the celebration of mawlid or in many eyes, an extension to the substantial amount of work being done for upholding the honour of the prophet – by presenting the beauty of his teachings and overall, the positive message of true Islam.

“Islam and Muslims are not represented by extremist Muslims and others, nor should they be given such a platform by the mainstream media.

Islam is of the balanced middle way and always has been, and we need to reaffirm this position,” a release from the ACIC said.

The rose-themed events seek to further isolate extremists of all kinds and to promote peace. Guyana’s event will be held on January 11, 2014 at 18.30h at the ACIC, West Coast Demerara and special guest for the programme

Maulana Muhammad Waffee

is Maulana Muhammad Waffee of Trinidad and Tobago. It is obligatory for all Muslims to believe in and respect the prophethood of all prophets preceding Prophet Muhammad, the release said.

A wide cross-section of Guyanese, including politicians, leaders of other religious groups, members of civil society and representatives of the print and electronic media have been invited to participate in the event.

“The objective is to engage with our local community by promoting peaceful dialogue and spreading peace and understanding. Organisers are of the belief that our great country of Guyana can be an example to other countries on how to integrate, strengthen ties and live together as one community.

Persons have been invited to receive the symbolic rose at the event,” the ACIC said. (Guyana Times)

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Caribbean artistes shine T

he drop of a pin could have been heard around the Caribbean as people waited with bated breath for the winner of the 2013 U.S. edition of ‘The Voice’, of which Jamaica’s songbird Tessanne Chin was a part. She, after months of gruelling competition on The Voice, had landed among the top three. Comments flooded Facebook walls, there was general jubilation around the Caribbean when she was announced its winner.

Hot on the heels of Chin’s win was TT’s own Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez climbing to acclaim, as he was nominated for an MTV Iggy award for his 2012 hit ‘Differentology’. Alvarez’s ‘Differentology’ eventually tied with Korean rapper G-Dragon’s Crooked for the 2013 Iggy song of the year. But before both of them, Barbadian songbird Rihanna topped charts with hits such as ‘Umbrella’, ‘Diamond’, ‘We Found Love’, among others.

Has the world finally sat up and taken notice of the talent pouring from the Caribbean?

Many questions arose about what such wins means for Caribbean talent and the sale of its

of music outside of American standards.

Spencer said, “I think the world is now getting caught on to another world view of music outside of the canon of American standards.

It’s fashionable to call it world music now, and so our Caribbean entertainers are getting their pie in the sky now.”

“I would not say it is a resurgence at all because Caribbean entertainers, certainly those from Jamaica, are out there.

Who doesn’t know Bob Marley or Jimmy Cliff.”

Funding

For Martin “Mice” Raymond, music producer, the marketability of the Caribbean cultural product has grown and it started with Rihanna.

Raymond said the Caribbean product was marketable and that the Caribbean artiste was capable of performing any

R e f e r e n c i n g Alvarez’s success with ‘Differentology’, Raymond said remixes using the indigenous song were making strides on the world’s stage. However, he said governments needed to provide finance, tax breaks and other support for the artistes to be suc-

Caribbean talent

Winner of the 2013 US edition of ‘The Voice’, Jamaican Tessanne Chin

cultural product on the world’s stage.

To be successful, does it mean that a Caribbean entertainer should look and sound like what is in the mainstream, or can all that is unique-

ly Caribbean be a major contender and earner on the world’s stage?

For actor, director, storyteller and broadcast journalist Rhoma Spencer, the world is getting a different view

Chin’s win, she said, was a testament to the talent the region possesses. There were many, she added, waiting to be successful but who were impeded by the right opportunity.

“Barbados’ Rihanna has been the flagship for artistes from the region hitting mainstream big, and the world is taking notice and looking for another to rival her so who knows it might just be Tessanne,” she said.

Asked if enough had been done by regional governments for the development of the creative industries as an economic earner, Spencer said there have been too much lip service and no action.

Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez (TT Guardian file photo)

kind of genre. Raymond added that the success of Chin and Alvarez was opening doors for other Caribbean talent. His own company, he said, was seeking its own Chin and developing these artistes for the international market.

cessful.

“Artistes need access to funding,” he said.

Raymond said he was aware of some interesting initiatives, but that the responsible agencies needed to “get moving faster.” (Excerpt from TT Guardian)

Chutney stars promoting new music in Trinidad Wedding bells

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he New Year is already upon us and local singers in Trinidad and Tobago have been busy promoting new songs for the just-ended Christmas season and the upcoming Carnival season.

Music director Rishi Gayadeen and members of the TTEC ‘Gayatones’ are busy creating and mixing music for some of the country’s top artistes. Scores of local artistes are now flocking to the band room preparing for the upcoming season.

New songs for the season include: “End Ah The Day” by Avinash Maharaj, “Tassa Jam” by Daddy Chinee and Fya Empress, “Dharu” by Neeshad Sultan, “Countryside Christmas” by Ravi Jagroop, “Chahay Praan Chalay Jai,” and “Ratna Nisdin Bhaja Hari Naam” by Dubraj Persad.

Gayadeen said although the band had been doing weekly shows for the Christmas season, his main focus is on preparations for the big Carnival shows that traditionally attract huge crowds.

This accomplished musician’s career spans more than two decades, starting at the tender age of 12 when he followed his father’s footsteps and learned to play the keyboards.

His father, Capil Gayadeen, a founding member of the ‘Gayatones Orchestra’, is now the band’s manager. Gayadeen’s younger brothers are drummer

“End Ah The Day” by Avinash Maharaj was one of the new Chutney songs of the season

Donnie and Vedesh, who play the bass-drums and guitar.

Over the years, Gayadeen has earned his place as one of the most prominent musicians in TT. He has worked with top chutney artistes, calypsonians and soca stars such as Iwer George, Ras Shorty I, Marcia Miranda, Rikki Jai, Drupattee Ramgoonai, Rasika Dindial, Rakesh Yankeran, Massive Gosein, Vedish Sookoo, Machel Montano, and Dawg E Slaughter. He has produced many successful hits, including Iwer George’s “Bottom in d Road”, and the remix of “Mor Tor” by Machel Montano and Rikki Jai. He has gained recognition locally and internationally and he

is described by overseas promoters as “the man with the golden fingers,” or “the wizard of music”. With the band, he has toured to North and South America, and England.

“While there is a steady demand for chutney and soca, the crowds really go wild for the Indian tunes that are now being mixed with rock and pop music,” he said, adding that recording artistes in India have joined in the trend and are producing remixes of their recordings.

He noted the song, “Channa Ve,” which was recorded by Kunal Gangawala of India, was done with a mix of rock music. He said many of the local bands have since done different versions of “Channa Ve”.

“The youths and those of us who are young at heart really go for the remixed tunes as they can give the satisfaction of both the Indian and English songs,” he indicated.

Gayadeen was asked to do music for the India-based singer Sweta Subranamyam who was invited in TT to perform for weddings and concerts last August.

In a radio interview while she was in TT, Sweta said she was impressed with the quality of music provided by Gayadeen and his orchestra. She actually spent time in the band room working on two songs “Isa Mere Pyar Hai” and “Sajanaji”. (TT Newsday)

for Jamaica’s Minister Robinson

Jamaica’s Minister of state in the Ministry of Science and Mining Julian Robinson and his beautiful bride leave the chapel after the ceremony

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he Jamaican prime minister, senior government members, industry icons, members of the legal fraternity and other well wishers stepped out last Friday afternoon to witness the marriage of minister of state in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining and

Member of Parliament for St Andrew South Eastern Julian Robinson to Portland Private Equity partner Mariame McIntosh. The ceremony, which took place at the historic UWI Mona Chapel, was officiated

by Reverend Dr Robert Thompson, Suffragan Bishop of Kingston.

(Jamaica Observer)

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Simply the Truth Canadian scientist Gender-based helping Jamaican farmers violence (Part I) turn food into fuel

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n Guyana we observe these various “days”.

International day for this or that. You name it, we observe it. For a day.

We trot out the “experts” and the “scholars” and the “social scientists” and the “leaders” from inside and outside this nation. They talk. They do power points and videos.

And they all use the almighty microphone.

Volume is power. Noise is righteousness.

At the very best, we have one or two victims who are reduced to giving “testimonies”. We sympathise; we even cry.

And our emotional reaction is genuine. But as Jose Marti said: “We can only talk about pain if we have felt the slap on our own faces.”

Violence

The Education Ministry has taken an initiative to reach out to schools on “gender-based violence”.

This is an admirable initiative, and one hopes that the outcome will be positive: a lessening of gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence is a scourge. It is evil. And that evil has almost consumed this country. Men beat, maim, rape, and kill women; and this has almost become ordinary.

We are starting to read about it and see it as if we were reading and seeing a cartoon or comic strip.

Gender-based violence takes many forms. Physical violence, sexual violence, emotional abuse, verbal abuse. If a man beats a woman, she may recover after a few months or years. A child raped never recovers—ever!

If it happens within a family, that family often shrouds the rape in secrecy in the name of family pride.

Rape

The raped child is sold off to the cheapest bidder in what passes for marriage. She is damaged goods, like a piece of rotting meat. And her life is one long misery. This is often how it shakes down!

So the raped girl is sold off as quickly as possible to any idiot that comes along. And more often than not, she is subject to more and more emotional abuse. She becomes a slave to cook, clean, bear children, provide sex, and serve.

The sexual violence continues, over and over. There is no relief, no escape. A lifetime of horror. Gradually she begins to believe that this horror is normal.

There are forms of gender-based violence that we hardly recognise to be violent. There are many forms of violation. A woman or girl gets into a taxi and is made to suffer any form of violation: groping, touching, sexual advances by action or

- aims to produce ethanol from sweet potatoes

Professor Daizal Samad

words. This too is genderbased violence. It is violation.

Humiliation

But where do women go to make things right?

She got into a taxi, did not note the licence number (who does?), it is dark. She takes her humiliation and violation and lives with it.

It becomes normal.

Even if she goes home and tells her partner, he will almost instinctively think that she “looked for it” or she would be told some foolishness like: “These things happen. Get over it!”

Someone is sent by some phone company to fix a phone. Male, of course—we don’t have an abundance of technicians who are female. The fellow walks into someone’s home. The woman is there in the place where she should be most safe and comfortable. And, without hesitation or provocation, she is subject to sexual advances by the “technician”.

Violation!

Violence! Does she now take her time and go complain to whichever company sent that beast to her home? Even if they fire the beast, how does the company make up for the dishonour to the woman, the dishonour to her done in her house?

There is much violence in our language! “I will kill yuh so and so!” is now ordinary speech. And there is no price to pay.

None! It is rarely reported to the police because it has become a way of life.

And these monsters are to be found in every single profession in this country!

We as a nation do seem to know that gender-based violence is much, much more than cuffs and kicks and beatings. Those are horrible enough. But it goes much deeper.

So yes. Let us have these outreaches to our children. Let us have these conferences, workshops, seminars, and vigils. But in the name of all things holy, let us have action. This may sound regressive and simplistic, but maybe it would be a good thing for those who subject others to violence and violation be made to suffer greater violence and violation — in public! Make examples of them!

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(From left) Canadian scientist Dr Emmanuel Moya, president of the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers Mildred Crawford, chief executive officer of Green Club Inc Earl Chapman, president of the Christiana Potato Growers Co-operative Association Soyanni Holness, and owner of Johnson’s Organic Fertiliser Company Limited Hugh Johnson, following a meeting with local farmers at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville last month. (Jamaica Observer photos)

midst the current government of Jamaica campaign encouraging Jamaicans to eat what they grow, farmers who make up the Christiana Potato Growers Cooperative Association are planning to do much more than that. They intend, they said, to make ethanol from the hybrid sweet potatoes they plan to grow.

President of the group, Soyanni Holness, said the plan to produce ethanol from sweet potatoes is currently in its early phase, but already they have secured the expertise of Canadian scientist Dr Emmanuel Moya, whose team also has similar projects in China and The Philippines that are doing very well.

The group also has as one of its investors, Earl Chapman, chief executive officer of Green Club Inc—a company based in Toronto, Canada that provides eco-friendly solutions for farmers.

Holness, whose group comprises more than 17,000 farmers from St Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon, St Ann, and Trelawny, said she is now in the process of carrying out her own testing to see how well the plant will do in Jamaican soil.

"The farmers are so excited that they are asking when is it going to be ready," she said.

However, she noted that

everything must be finetuned before the farmers can jump on.

Opportunity

"This is an opportunity and it is always good to know that persons can come to farmers, and say, 'hey, I want you to produce this', instead of farmers always wondering what is it that I am going to produce next

ing ethanol from hybrid sweet potato yields even better results than traditional crops such as sugar cane, corn and soya beans.

"This product is the best, it doesn't require too much fertiliser, it doesn't require too much water," he told a group of farmers from the co-operative recently.

"The main objective

erally takes about three months for the potatoes to grow if they are planted in loam (sand composed of even proportions of silt, sand and clay), which is the ideal choice. However, he cautioned that the hybrid sweet potatoes are not for human consumption.

Chapman believes the project should be best undertaken as a group

A hybrid sweet potato plant at two months old.

and how am I going to get it to market," she told Jamaican media.

According to Dr Moya, the first country to implement this technology was China where they started out producing 150 litres from one standard potato plant.

That country, he said, is currently producing between two and four million litres a month of the ethanol. He said produc-

of the sweet potato is ethanol, but you can also produce alcohol," he said.

Continuous production

The scientist explained that for continuous production, a farmer or a group of farmers would need at least five acres of land to store, produce and refine the ethanol. He said it gen-

effort and feels that by working together, members of the co-operative could establish a facility for production. He said they have already met with the Canadian High Commission and representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and have received some positive feedback.

(Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

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Holiday musings

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he Odeon Cineplex Theatre in Mandeville was recently transformed into an exquisite space by the Canadian-based Sybil's Music studio ensemble for their 24th year of children's performances.

The recital, 'Christmas Classics', embracing the Yuletide season, saw 66 pieces--showcased from different genres--on piano, drums, cello, violin, guitar, clarinet, alto saxophone and through voice from children aged as young as three years old up to 18 years.

Having embarked on a new way of teaching music in a technologically advanced world, director, Sybil Grant, expressed confidence in virtual learning and her plans for the future.

"The studio started in 1989 in Mandeville. We then moved to Montego Bay and Munro, where students from Hampton and Munro do lessons.

Since September, we have moved from onthe-ground teaching to teaching music live online. All our teachers are in Ottawa, Canada, and all our students are out here and the rest of the

W Vivian Huang leading the group in a performance. (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

world," said Grant.

"We've had some very interesting performances this year. We’ve had drum students who did all their training online and have received distinctions in their exams.

"The studio has had some very impressive performers over the years. For the past four years in a row, we've had the youngest child in the island getting a distinction in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music exams based in London, and we've had the highest mark for piano play-

ing from a child here in Mandeville.

"For the next five to ten years, we hope to have a full-blown orchestra, jazz band, and concert band, utilising all the talent that we have online wherever they are in the world," continued Grant.

Senior Trade Commissioner from the Canadian High Commission, Rick McElrae, who was present, lauded the efforts of the studio and expressed expectations for the Jamaican-Canadian partnership.

"I've gone to the studio and I've seen the online classes and I was a bit skeptical, saying, how does one teach music online? But it was stellar, and it was clear that the students loved it. This is the kind of innovation that Canada likes to see and in this case, the innovation comes from Jamaica and it's fantastic! I'm looking forward to more Jamaican businesses being set up in Canada and more Canadian businesses in Jamaica as we seek to move forward," said McElrea. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Hive of activities to mark Manchester’s 200th anniversary

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Mandeville, Manchester's capital, was formalised in 1816.

recent gospel concert held at Brooks Park in Mandeville, Jamaica, kick-started what is slated to be a full year of activities in 2014 to mark Manchester's 200th year of existence.

The parish which is the youngest in Jamaica came into being on December 13, 1814.

According to historical data confirmed by the Manchester Parish Development Committee, Manchester

was formed by an Act of the House of Assembly as a result of the amalgamation of the parishes of St Elizabeth, Clarendon and Vere.

Vere was later assimilated into the parish of Clarendon.

Manchester was reportedly named in honour of the Duke of Manchester, the then governor of Jamaica. The capital town, Mandeville, established in 1816, was named after his eldest son, Lord Mandeville.

Project manager for the Manchester B i c e n t e n n i a l Celebrations Steering Committee Monica Brown said that the events for the year will include re-enactments of the declaration in the parish's major towns, a gala dinner, and golf and tennis tournaments at the Manchester Golf Course, which is the oldest in the Caribbean.

Gospel artistes Omari and Jermaine Edwards were headliners at the

concert which attracted a fair turnout of spectators.

Following the cutting of the cake to mark Manchester's 199th birthday, political representatives including Mayor of Mandeville Brenda Ramsay and Councillor for the Mandeville Division Jones Oliphant gave messages of endurance and hope.

"We may be going through some rough times; our criminal activities are not as we would want it to be, but we are a strong and resilient people," said Ramsay.

The mayor and Councillor Oliphant both noted the general downturn in the economy of the parish which resulted from the closure of two major bauxite/alumina plants—Alpart and WINDALCO. "Let us endeavour, for 2014, that we will be our brothers' keeper, we will be more loving, we will care for our community, we will care for those who are less fortunate...,"Oliphant urged.

(Jamaica Observer)

By Anu Dev

ell 2013 is finally coming to an end. The year is wrapping up and we’re being propelled towards January 1st, 2014. Our thoughts inevitably become a bit reflective as we think about what the past year has been like. We can’t do much about the process, since as humans we’re driven to create narratives.

The point is: what kind of narrative are we going to create? For me, the past year’s been one of my most momentous – graduating from high school, moving to a different country and starting med school all within the space of a few months. It feels like it’s been years since I was last strolling through the halls of QC – so much has happened since then.

But then I realise it was just a few months ago that I was wearing the old school tie.

Time, as I’m constantly reminded, is truly relative.

But I do love New Year’s Day. For some in explicable reason I get insanely happy when thinking about New Year’s Day. For example, after my last exam, the minute I realised that I was now free from school- work and the holidays had officially begun, I immediately started wishing everyone Happy New Year’s – never mind that we hadn’t even gotten past Christmas yet.

It’s hard to be unhappy on New Year’s Day. For our family, it’s a “big day” as we celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day all rolled together.

There’s (tons of) good food, lots of laughter from good-natured ribbing and just that all-round ‘good feeling’. Cooking with my mom is special! And after being away for four months, I’m looking forward to that familiar feeling of ushering in the New Year with my family even more than I usually do.

It’s true you shouldn’t wait until a specific date like January 1 to decide to make changes in your life.

What’s that cliché? “Today is the first day of the rest of your life...” So you should be continuously striving to improve things. But New Year’s Day is a nice time to make a conscious effort to think about what you want the New Year to be like.

We all have things that we would’ve liked to have done differently in 2013 and we all have goals and expectations of the way we want our lives to turn out.

But the thing is, if we’re not making the decisions to improve our lives, to bring ourselves closer to our goals, thing won’t magically work out in the end without us putting any effort in. Unfortunately, real life doesn’t equip us with personal Fairy Godmothers.

Every alcoholic mightn’t decide to give up drinking, every smoker mightn’t decide to quit smoking and every parent mightn’t decide to make more of an effort to spend time with their kids, but hopefully many will. It doesn’t have to be “big things”... But the “little things” we change can also make a world of difference.

I love fresh starts, new beginnings. And for many of us, especially students, we do get a fresh start after the New Year – it’s a whole new term, a new semester.

We get a chance to improve this semester in comparison to the last.

It’s going to be a New Year! I don’t know what exactly 2014 holds for me, but I do know some of the things that I want from 2014, and hopefully I can make the choices to bring me closer to my goals.

And in the meantime, I’ll enjoy what’s left of 2013 and savour the time I get to spend at home, right here in my homeland.

Bollywood

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‘‘Dhoom 3’ was not written with Aamir Khan in mind’ - Vijay Krishna Acharya

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he latest Aamir Khan-starrer, and the third film of the ‘Dhoom’ franchise, has returned magical figures at the box office.

Writer-director Vijay Krishna Acharya, who also wrote the first two installments, but has only directed this one, recently spoke about working without budget constraints, and denies

that other actors’ roles were cut down to give Aamir more screen time.

People are saying that ‘Dhoom:3’ is all about Aamir Khan.

“Because Aamir’s character is so important, for Aamir’s fans, it’s an Aamir Khan film. I’d like to think of it as a Vijay Krishna Acharya film. Aamir’s performance was outstanding, but I think every actor excelled in what they did,” the director said.

So, it wasn’t written with him in mind?

“With 'Dhoom' (the franchise), or any other film, we finish the script and then take it to an actor. I find it easier to tell someone what’s in my head once it’s on paper, rather than write with someone in mind,” Acharya added. (Hindustan Times)

Kareena associates herself with a brand, free of cost

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areena Kapoor Khan’s concern about women’s safety is well known. She has associated herself with Channel V's ‘VithU’ app, a Star Network initiative, to highlight that issue. What isn't known, however, is that it is probably the first time an actor has come forward to associate with a brand initiative, that too, free of cost.

The phone app is a brand extension of the channel, developed for users of the Android and iOS mobile platforms, features a ‘panic button’ that can be used when in

distress. Kareena said, "This app is a clever idea and since most of us use smartphones these days, it can really help prevent untoward incidents."

Prem Kamath, GM & EVP of the channel said, "Created with the sole intention of aiding

women's safety, the app has seen over six lakh downloads already. Also, with the kind of reach and influence that our TV channels have, we believe it is critical for us to create a social impact in every way we can."

(TOI)

How did Hrithik react when he faced Sussanne after split?

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ver since Hrithik Roshan announced that the love of his life and his wife Sussanne has decided to split after 17 years of relationship, the media has been abuzz with speculation over whether it will be a

bitter separation. However, the star and his gorgeous wife disappointed gossipmongers when they came faceto-face after their split.

They met recently for their sons’ annual day event. Rather than giving each other the cold shoulder or awkward silent treatment, Hrithik and Sussanne were very cordial with each other. They even hugged and sat next to each other for the whole evening.

In fact at her store launch, Sussanne was very forthright about her separation and said that though she and Hrithik are separating, they will not let their children be affected by their split and carry on the responsibility of parents perfectly. (TOI)

Big B proud of son's success

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egastar Amitabh Bachchan is a proud daddy. Reveling in the box office success of his son Abhishek's ‘Dhoom 3’, he says he "never imagined" his boy would become the star that he is today.

The 71-year-old posted a childhood picture of Abhishek Bachchan on Twitter.

"Abhishek on rare Sunday at Prateeksha, never imagined he would become what he is today...Dhoom 3," Amitabh posted on the microblogging site last Tuesday.

‘Dhoom 3’ has grossed Rs.107.61 crore in the first three days of its release, including earnings from the Tamil and Telugu versions. Produced

by Aditya Chopra, the film also features Aamir Khan, Uday Chopra and Katrina Kaif. (TOI)

Who got close, closer and closest in 2013?

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hey heated up their lives and gave us fodder for gossip.

As 2013 has now ended, let's take a look back at the stars who found their companions.

Whether these "good friends" will turn into lovers is what only this new year will tell.

Bipasha Basu and Harman Baweja went on cosy holidays together. Harman even played host at Bipasha's Diwali party and visited temples with her.

Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor couldn't get enough of each other even after their runaway musical hit ‘Aashiqui 2’.

Sources said they withstood tough questioning about their appearances together and refused to confess. But friends say they can't get enough of each other, at least for the moment.

Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt seem to have hit it off during the making of ‘2 States’. No confessions are available from either side.

Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty are yet to start shooting for their ‘Hero’ remake. But like

most debutants, they are reportedly drawn to each other already. Whether it's in the gym or dance classes, their interest goes beyond rehearsals and exercise routines.

Tanuj, who got himself linked to Virat Kohli's ex-girlfriend, the Brazilian model-turnedBollywood actress Izabelle Leite, is apparently getting closer to Kamal Haasan's younger daughter Akshara. Rati and Kamal did one of the mushiest love stories of all time—‘Ek Duje Ke Liye’. Of course, Akshara has just bagged her first Bollywood film. So, for all practical purposes, these youngsters will keep a lid on their relationship,

taking each day as it comes.

R...Rajkumar promotions have reportedly brought two single superstars, Shahid Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha, close.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh got close, reportedly because Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted them to breathe passion into their screen portrayals of Ram and Leela. But their proximity definitely extended beyond the regular dressrehearsal routine.

Salman Khan also found companionship in Romanian model Lulia Vantur. She was his arm candy for a ‘Jai Ho’ schedule in Hyderabad.

(TOI)

Akshay books a yacht for Twinkle’s birthday

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kshay Kumar flew his entire family to Goa on December 29 to celebrate his wife, Twinkle's birthday. A source said, “Akshay has a sea-facing bungalow in Goa which he visits often. But this time he also booked a yacht and took it to the middle of the ocean where they dropped anchor for fourfive hours. They celebrated Twinkle's birthday on the boat. On board were their children, Aarav and Nitara, his sister Alka and brother-in-law Surendra Hiranandani among other family members.”

The source added, “Akshay had taken his ailing father-in-law Rajesh Khanna to Goa in 2011 on his last birthday. Now that Kakaji is

no more, a visit to Goa brings back the good memories. The family is expected to return by the first week of January.”

(TOI)

Priyanka Chopra's Caribbean holiday comes to end, work resumes

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t was not a year Priyanka Chopra would like to remember. Daddy's little girl was left shattered when she lost her father, Dr Ashok Chopra, to cancer in June. She didn't get enough time to mourn as she was back on the sets of Omung Kumar's Mary Kom biopic just four days after the tragedy. Then, it was her music album, ‘Exotic’, that kept her on her toes.

But at the end of the

year, the actress finally managed to squeeze some time from her hectic schedule to unwind.

She was in the Caribbean holidaying with her brother Siddharth and cousins. The actress uploaded some of her pictures and by the looks of it she had a gala time basking in the sun.

A friend of the actress said, "It is one of the longest breaks she has taken. A rejuvenated Priyanka didn't want the vacation to end. But she has commitments to keep in Chennai on New Year's Eve." (TOI)

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending january 2, 2014

once ordered Julia Keanu Reeves felt like an Director Roberts to get rid of freckles outcast on sets of ‘47 Ronin’ O

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eanu Reeves has revealed that he felt like an outcast while filming ‘47 Ronin’ because of the language barrier faced by him with the all-Japanese cast.

The film is based on a classic Japanese tale about 47 samurai in 18th-century Japan who avenge the murder of their master. ‘47 Ronin’ has a cast of Japanese actors-except for

Reeves.

While talking about working with the cast, Keanu admitted that even though everyone was really nice to him and they got along great, he still couldn't hang out and speak Japanese, so in a way he was always Kai, the outcast character, Universal Pictures India reported.

Based upon one of Japan's most enduring legends, this extraordinary tale of courage has its origins in the early 18th century, when 47 noble Samurai honoured the untimely death of their master by avenging him. This groundbreaking re-imagining about the legend of the Ronin's ultimate sacrifice and undying honour is now being reborn for an entirely new generation.

The film is set to release in India on 3rd January in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. (TOI)

scar-winner Julia Roberts says she was once asked by a director to get rid of her freckles as it made her look "dirty".

The 46-year-old ‘August: Osage County’ actress was asked by a director of a film that her facial marks be "taken off" as he thought they made her face look "dirty", reported Contactmusic.

"One director wanted me to have two freckles taken off because he said it made my face look dirty," Roberts said.

Mother of three kids, Roberts also feels that many old actress are deeply beautiful and their faces radiate because of confidence and self-assurance.

"I definitely think some of my older female peer group are deeply beautiful women. They have this thing that radiates from them. It's coming from this deep place of understanding who they are and what their purpose is. It creates a light," she said.

The ‘Pretty Woman’ star also said that ageing

has nothing to do with acting, it is just a "cultural obsession".

"I don't spend a lot of time in the mirror. I'm pretty efficient in terms of looking at myself and, to be honest, I don't think what you're talking about is a business demand - it's a cultural obsession," she said.

(TOI)

Matthew Morrison wants to be good fiancé in 2014 Courtney Love vows to be

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a t t h e w Morrison's New Year's resolution is to be a good fiancé.

The 33-year-old actor, who proposed to girlfriend Renee Puente earlier this year, admitted that he usually resolves to be healthier and work out more with the beginning of another year, but his plans for 2014 are all focused on his relationship.

He said: “My New Year's resolutions are normally always getting rid of the bad stuff I ate over the holidays and getting to the gym, but this year's will be geared

towards my relationship and just trying to be the best partner that I can be.”

Matthew has just released a festive album, ‘A Classic Christmas’, and

loved getting the chance to work with a big orchestra.

Matthew previously revealed that he hopes his musically talented friends will perform at his wedding, although it won't take place until 2015 because of his hectic schedule.

He said: “We're planning it together but it won't be until early 2015 because my schedule is so busy. 'It's going to be a small wedding, but we definitely have a lot of musical friends so I'd love to have a whole bunch of my friends get up and sing.” (TOI)

friends with exes in 2014

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ourtney Love has revealed that her New Year's resolution will be to be friends with all her former boyfriends and get rid of any

grudges she has been holding against them.

Love, who was married to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, posted on her Facebook page that she thinks at nearly 50, the basis of any relationship should be restraint and pragmatism before the big dramatic tsunami, Contactmusic reported.

The 49-year-old singer said that she wishes she knew this when she was much younger and insisted that it's important to leave romances nicely.

Love added that she doesn't have time to hold on to the past and that she would let go off all the grudges. (TOI)

Gwyneth Paltrow admits Sandra Bullock suffered 'depression' being a 'sex addict' when George Clooney left ‘Gravity’ set

S

andra Bullock has revealed that she felt depressed after George Clooney completed his scenes for ‘Gravity’.

According to Variety, the 49-yearold Oscar-winning actress said that she felt lonely when the 52-year-old American actor finished filming his part for the outer space drama because he was like energy for the entire team, Contactmusic reported.

She added that they had a lot of fun for three weeks and when he left, she went under depression and had a hard time saying goodbye. (TOI)

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wyneth Paltrow has confessed that she is addicted to sex.

The ‘Shakespeare In Love’ star, who is married to Chris Martin, told chat show host Chelsea Handler that she was a really normal person until she started to hang out with Handler all the

time, EtOnline reported.

Paltrow said that she was inspired by all the fun Handler was having in her life.

The 40-year-old actress was on the chat show to promote her upcoming film, ‘Thanks For Sharing,’ which deals with sex addiction.

(TOI)

DiCaprio takes acting lesson from YouTube

Anne Hathaway imports electric car for hubby Adam Shulman

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nne Hathaway has imported a new eco-friendly electric BMW i3 for her husband, Adam Shulman, from Europe for Christmas.

The ‘Les Miserables’ star was spotted running errands with the jewellery designer in his new red BMW i3, which is not yet available in America, Contactmusic reported.

Shulman took his 42,000-dollar vehicle for a spin with Hathaway to pick up groceries.

(TOI)

A

ctor Leonardo DiCaprio took inspiration from a YouTube video to make his act look more convincing in his latest offering ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’.

For a particular scene, when DiCaprio's character Jordan Belfort indulges in drugs overdose, he loses senses to walk and is required to crawl up to his car by himself.

To make the scene dramatic and funny, the ‘Titanic’ star took inspiration from a YouTube video titled “The World's Drunkest Man”. DiCaprio aped the man in the video to get near perfection for the scene, said a statement.

The Martin Scorsese directorial, distributed by MVP Entertainment and PVR Pictures, will release in India January 3, 2014. (TOI)

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week ending january 2, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

- ‘APSARA’ gives financial assistance to autism school

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‘APSARA Entertainment’ Chief Executive Officer Chandini Rambalak hands over the cheque to a representative of ‘Step-by-Step Guyana’ on behalf of Miss India Guyana 2013 Katherina Roshana, in the presence of the children and a teacher of the school.

P S A R A Entertainment’ in collaboration with the Miss India Guyana Organisation generously donated a cheque to the ‘Step by Step Guyana’ school for autistic children.

The presentation was done by the chief executive officer of both organisations, Chandini Rambalak two weeks ago on behalf of Miss India Guyana Katherina Roshana.

The monies donated were profits from a charity event held at the Pegasus Hotel before

Roshana had departed to Russia to take part in the Miss Universe pageant.

The “Charity Night” was a multi-culture event which saw performances from the APSARA dance group as well as a live performance from local rock band, “Feed the Flames”.

Two auctions took place, one of which saw persons bidding on an item donated by King’s Jewellery World and a piece designed by fashion designer Sonia Noel.

Rambalak thanked ‘Body Max Gym’, which

was a part of the bidding on ‘Charity Night’, ‘Go-Invest’ and ‘Gems Diamond Trading’, both of whom made generous contributions.

She also thanked every other person who contributed even in the smallest way.

The CEO urged the public to visit the school and meet the children, stating that there is a difference between hearing about the school and actually visiting and understanding the hardships these youths go through. (Guyana Times)

Trinidadian jewellery Praise for Jamaica National designer aims to preserve Children's Home caregivers country’s heritage

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t was serendipity that led Josanne Mark to discover a talent for jewellery design. While she was at the University of the West Indies, studying psychology and human resource management, Mark had to restring a broken beaded necklace given to her by her friend.

“I did it in a different design—and I got so many compliments. I

she applied to several companies for work, but did not immediately get through.

“After three months of sending out resumes, I realised that I wanted to go full-time into my jewellery making business,” Mark said.

It took a bit of convincing her parents that jewellery-making was her passion, but eventually she got the support and went to the Fashion

Josanne Mark displays one of her designs with “the aesthetic of something created by nature.” (TT Guardian photo)

took some extra thread and got bits and pieces from my jewellery box and designed a few pieces of jewellery, which I then sold,” Mark said.

This surprising turn in her career path, meant she had a thriving alternative trade on campus. Interestingly, Mark said jewellery and fashion were never high on her agenda as a child.

She was always academic and was valedictorian when she graduated at the Fyzabad Anglican Secondary school. After graduating from UWI,

Institute of Technology in Manhattan, where she graduated cum laude (outstanding honours).

Mark has successfully used TT’s rich cultural legacy to craft fine jewellery pieces using semiprecious stones such as amethysts, turquoise, freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals in amazing gold and silver settings.

She’s now busy preparing her 2014 collection.

Collections

Some of her exquisite pieces were revealed at

Stechers in Gulf City, La Romaine recently. In an interview, Mark said her latest collection involves the use of natural flora and fauna from TT. Picking leaves from her hometown at Fyzabad, Mark has been able to electroform the leaves and coat them in fine silver and gold.

“There is a special connection I have with the pieces knowing they are naturally and locally made. There is a special feeling when customers purchase a piece.”

Mark said she was interested in preserving some of TT’s heritage.

Saying she was eager to launch a leaves collection in 2014, Mark said she wanted her handcrafted pieces to be affordable for everyone.

“My pieces range in price from TT$200 per set of earrings to TT$8,000.

You really don’t have a wide selection of good quality handmade pieces in Trinidad. Lots of people are doing good work, but a lot of jewellery in the stores and malls is not local, or handcrafted. They are foreign and are mass-produced,” she explained. She said her first line of jewellery is made using Swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls and gemstones, while the other line focuses on metalwork.

Most of Mark’s gemstones come from South America.

She added that jewellery-making should be introduced as a course at the University of TT. “I think there is a lot of creativity in TT and I will be happy to work with UTT if they decide to bring out a programme in Fashion/ Jewellery manufacturing,” she said. (Excerpted from TT Guardian)

The masterminds behind the Joy Of Youth Foundation and caregivers of the Jamaica National Children’s Home (JNCH) are a picture of joy at the appreciation function held last week. From left are Beverly Hunter, founder and executive director; Lady Hall, patron of the JOY Foundation; Yanique Thomas Shepherd, deputy director of administration at JNCH; Rev Eva Cocks Williams, deputy director of childcare; and Leroy Anderson, director of JNCH. (Lionel Rookwood photo)

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he exemplary lives led by caregivers of the Jamaica National Children's Home (JNCH) have been credited for the success the Joy Of Youth (JOY) Foundation.

Lady Hall, patron of the Foundation, which was established in 2011, told a function held in honour of the caregivers at the children's home that the compassion the caregivers show toward the children has helped them to excel in music.

“You are the people who care for them and cherish them. Anything you say or do, they're gonna think it is right and follow you. There is also the love you show and it has impacted their music programme. I've heard of their success and I've watched them at concerts.

I'm happy you have chosen to work with them,” Hall said.

The function saw the caregivers being entertained by Dr Michael Abrahams, singer

Andrew Francis and veteran 1970s reggae artiste Joel ‘Bunny’ Brown.

Brown, who also assists with the home's music programme through JOY, said it has instilled discipline in the children and some of the talents there have the potential to impact Jamaica's music industry.

"I want for them to do well and reach a point where their talent is appreciated," Brown said of the children before serenading the caregivers with a few of his hit singles.

Through JOY, the children at the home are exposed to classes in voice, playing the keyboard, violin, guitar, drums as well as other percussion and string instruments. With Brown's help and mentoring, the children were also invited

by Rory Baker, producer at Studio One Pop Music Limited, to participate in the making of a children's gospel CD. Beverly Hunter,

founder and executive director of the JOY Foundation, said the decision to honour the caregivers was to show that their work was highly appreciated.

She said that without the caregivers' interest, the music programme would not have been successful and one of the wards is a clear example of its success.

"The music programme is extensive and it needs follow-up. So far, one ward of the State from the JNCH has been accepted and is pursuing her dream of being a violinist at the School of Music at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts," Hunter said.

She added that it was her dream for the programme to be expanded to other children's homes to explore the creative talents of children who people may turn a blind eye to because they are wards of the State. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

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Chaka Khan, Crystal Gayle Miss Guyana World hosts Christmas toy drive in Georgetown for Jamaica’s jazz fest

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eigning Miss Guyana World, Ruqayyah Boyer on Christmas eve in collaboration with the Les Deux M (LDM) Jewellery store out of New York City spearheaded a surprise house to house toy drive in various neighbourhoods in Georgetown.

These included the First Circle, East Ruimveldt area; Shell Road, Kitty; and C Field, Sophia.

(LDM) is a jewellery retailer based in NYC. The founders, Antia McGill and Dyonne Wharton are equally passionate about their business and giving back to the community.

Through their newly launched website (www. lesdeuxms.com), together with the reigning queen, they embarked on having the first annual toy drive.

Throughout the month of December,

Reigning Miss Guyana World Ruqayyah Boyer presenting a gift to a child

US$1 from each purchase made at their store was donated to the toy drive.

LDM also works in collaboration with well known Guyanese personalities/designers Roger Gary of Aqua Couture; Michele Cole of Cole Facts; and Miss Guyana World and the Miss Guyana World franchise

to collect toys and donations to benefit the toy drive.

On December 24, Boyer went to various households surprising the children and handing out toys which catered to both boys and girls, and treats much to the delight of the children. On Christmas day, she had having another gift shar-

ing exercise in her hometown of Linden.

The reigning queen extended heartfelt appreciation to McGill and Wharton for being a part of the initiative and contributing the toys for the drive, also Suzanne Cole who assisted with the distribution of presents.

She commented that although she was not brought up in a family that celebrated Christmas due to religious beliefs, her grandfather is Christian, and as a result, she understands the joy of receiving presents this time of year and believes that as Guyanese, we all have a part to play in sharing the holiday spirit.

The Les Deux is hoping to make further contributions as an ongoing year round effort to benefit children in the Caribbean and plan to include Jamaica and Trinidad in 2014.

(Guyana Times)

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rammy awardwinning artistes Chaka Khan and Crystal Gayle have been confirmed for the 18th staging of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival set to take place at the Trelawny MultiPurpose Stadium from January 30 to February 1.

Junior Taylor, associate producer of the festival, is not giving everything away.

“Patrons will be in for a treat as Chaka and Crystal are phenomenal singers and performers and have a repertoire of music Jamaicans enjoy.

They will deliver a musical experience like no other as they are part of a larger line-up with some really awesome talent and music but I cannot give everything away so I encourage everyone to listen out for more names in the com-

ing days," he explained.

Chaka Khan has amassed a catalogue of hits including ‘Through the Fire’ and ‘I feel for You,’ which earned her 10 Grammy awards.

While Gayle, known for her R&B-flavoured brand of country music, captured a Grammy award with hit ‘Don't It Make my Brown Eyes Blue’.

Other artistes billed for the festival are Toni Braxton, Chrisette Michele and Aaron Neville.

The festival is renowned for its rich music and cultural offerings and the feature event has provided a stage some of the nation's outstanding talents, including The Voice winner Tessanne Chin, Rootz Underground and Reggae crooner Romain Virgo.

(Jamaica Observer)

Star of the Week

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doe-eyed beauty, Zahrah Alli is a professional who knows that hard work is vital for success. After completing her secondary education at Queen’s College, Zahrah moved to Miami for four years to attend the University of Miami. In 2009, she graduated with a degree in International Finance and Marketing and a diploma in Accounting. She currently works at a local accounting firm. A well-rounded individual, Zahrah balances her professional life with her passion – dancing. It all started when her mother enrolled her at the Lets Dance Studio, headed by Nadia Jagan, for ballet lessons when Zahrah was just five. The first time Zahrah performed on a stage was at one of the studio’s dance recitals. However, when Nadia migrated with her family, Zahrah’s mother recommended Indian classical dancing. She still has her little red ballet outfit she wore at her very first performance. At nine, Zahrah’s classical dancing journey began when she enrolled for classes at the Kendra in Prashad Nagar. Dreaming of becoming as graceful and skilled as the senior girls in the class, Zahrah dedicated all her energy in developing herself as a talented dancer. She invested several years of training on her technique, and masterfully fulfilled what she initially set out to accomplish: becoming a creative dancer. For more than 17 years, Zahrah has been actively part of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Dharmic Nritya Sangh. Dance is now a medium of self-expression for Zahrah. The adept dancer has been a popular face in numerous Naya Zamana dance shows over the years, and was honoured to be given a lead role in a local Bollywood drama, “Bollywood Dreams” – a dance production by the Dharmic Nritya Sangh. To perfect her skills as a dancer, Zahrah reviews her flaws on stage and tries to correct them. It is Zahrah’s wish that she and her fellow dancers can take the Dharmic Nritya Sangh’s dance shows to the international stage as they have developed themselves and are equipped to perform at that level. If not dancing or crunching numbers as an accountant, Zahrah enjoys travelling, exploring new locations and learning about new customs and cultures.

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Guyana’s national cricketers undergo rigorous fitness tests

By Rajiv Bisnauth

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hirty-three (33) members of the provisional squad of 37 players named by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) underwent their first day of fitness training at the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday, as selectors began to explore for players who will comprise the touring squads for next year’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-day and NAGICO Super50 tournaments.

The sessions were conducted under the watchful eyes of Head Coach Esaun Crandon, Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel of the GCB, Rayon Griffith, and coach Julian Moore.

Saturday’s sessions focused mainly on the physical aspect of the

Players from the provisional squad during Saturday’s fitness session in Guyana

players’ training. The squad, minus all-rounder Narsingh Deonarine, veteran middleorder batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and all-rounder Steven Jacobs, began the session by testing their stamina and oxygen uptake by virtue of a beep test.

Beep exam

The players then ran

20-mile shuttles back and forth for a designated period of time and after completion of the beep exam; they then free-ran 50-mile shuttles with the use of cones.

The players then sought to impress the GCB officials by completing a series of drills and simulations in a bid to secure a spot in the national senior team.

After the beep trails

were concluded, the players were engaged in the cardiovascular aspect of fitness as they were drilled on push-ups and sit-ups, followed by “military boot- camp” simulated drills, with the use of chairs and cones.

In an invited comment at the conclusion of the first day, Crandon said that he was very impressed with the players’ fitness level.

“A lot of the players have shown that high level of fitness, which is very encouraging,” Crandon said.

The players shortlisted for possible selections on the Guyana team for the upcoming NAGICO Super50 and Regional Four-day tournaments commencing next month in Trinidad and Tobago are: Leon Johnson, Devendra Bishoo,

Veerasammy Permaul, Anthony Bramble, Robin Bacchus, Assad Fudadin, Zaheer Mohamed, Royston Crandon, Christopher Barnwell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, T a g e n a r i n e Chanderpaul, Vishal Singh, Ronsford Beaton, Rajiv Ivan, Amir Khan, Trevon Griffith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shaquille Williams, Jonathan Foo, Narsingh Deonarine, Steven Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, Jason Sinclair, Paul Wintz, Anthony Adams, Rajendra Chandrika, Gudakesh MotieKanhai, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Stoll, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Ryan Ramdass, Chris Pattadin, Royan Fredricks, Totaram Bishun and Collis Butts.

(Guyana Times)

Sports writers pick Bolt, TT’s young ‘Soca Princesses’ in high Williams as 2013's best gear for Cayman tournament Brown, the - Fraser-Pryce third in zler Trinidad and Tobago national under-20 women's category women’s football coach,

I

J

Usain Bolt (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

amaica's Olympic and World champion, Usain Bolt, and American tennis star Serena Williams, have been voted International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Best Athletes for the second year in a row.

A panel of 470 sports journalists from 96 countries voted in this year's poll.

Bolt received an overwhelming 1,282 votes, followed by Formula One's Sebastien Vettel on 499 and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo on 437.

Williams, who in 2013 aced her finest season statistically with a 78-4 record, and 11 titles, received 915 votes, ahead of Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayev (644) and Jamaican athletics star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (551).

European champions Bayern Munich, who dominated football in 2013, winning their first Club World Cup title and finishing

the Bundesliga season unbeaten, were the resounding winners of the Best Team award with 1,707 votes, 1,128 ahead of second-place winner Miami Heat, two-time NBA Champions, who racked up an incredible 27-game winning streak in 2013.

New Zealand's All Blacks Rugby team, with 14 wins from 14 matches in 2013, took third place.

This year's Best Press Facilities Award has been split into two categories - Best One Day Sporting Event and Best Press Facilities, Major Championship.

Winner of the One Day Sporting Event award was the UEFA Champions League Final.

The results of the second category were very close, with the 2013 Moscow IAAF Track and Field Championships receiving 558 votes, the FIFA Confederations Cup (545) and FINA World Championships (486). (Jamaica Gleaner)

thinks the junior ‘Soca Princesses’ are capable of winning their two opening matches and qualifying for the semi-finals at the 2014 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship.

The team will fly to Florida (USA) Thursday for a training camp, where they will play two warm-up matches against college teams, before heading off to Cayman Islands for the tournament from January 9-19.

The top three CONCACAF teams will qualify for the Canada 2014 FIFA Under 20 World Cup. TT open the C O N C A C A F Championship on January 10 against Central American champions Honduras, before playing hosts Cayman Islands on January 12 and Mexico on January 14.

Brown hasn’t seen Honduras, but expects them to play possession football like most Central American teams.

They have met Cayman Islands before, who should have several U.S.-based players in their squad. Mexico is the class act of the group, and the most difficult match.

“Our game plan will be to get six points from the first two games. That will more or less put us into the big four,” the TT head coach said. “Win the first game, win the second game and then we

TT’s national under-20 women’s football team (Socawarriors photo)

deal with Mexico.”

Match preparation has been far from ideal, as the team was restricted to a two-match series against the senior national women.

Warm-up performances

The senior Soca Princesses won the first 6-0 last Friday at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad.

“We had a good first half when we were only down one-nil. We were a little too relaxed in the second half and not focused enough. We got some soft goals,” Brown said. “But, it was tremendous to get this kind of game. We played against a senior team (that) moves the ball extremely well, and we will need some of that experience in the tournament we are going to play.”

Brown hopes for further improvement when the TT young women arrive in Florida, where they will be joined by five United States and Canada-based players of TT parentage.

Americans Liana Hinds and Brianna Ryce both represented TT at the 2010 FIFA Under-17 women World Cup hosted

by Trinidad and Tobago.

Corel Carmichael (USA), Sawsha Woznuk (Canada) and Donika Murray (Canada) are also in the team.

Canadian Emma Abdul, a member of the 2010 team, is a reserve.

The team has two good ‘keepers in Under-17 World Cup goalie Keri Myers and Tenesha Palmer.

“We have some foreign players that will join the team in Miami.

These players will assist us in some of the weaker areas where we need to strengthen,” Brown said. “We are trying to be as ready as possible given the scenario we are in (funding problems).”

The TT national coach feels the TT team will be among the fastest in the tournament, which she hopes will be a plus for her charges.

“We have a good pace.

We have strong players who can kick the ball well. We have a strong core of players from the Under-17 World Cup, which will help tremendously. They’re not intimidated by the international fanfare. So, this has helped tremendously...our preparation not being what we wanted it to be.”

TT UNDER-2O WOMEN’S SQUAD: Keri Myers (Real Dimension), Tenesha Palmer (goalkeepers), Jonelle Warrick, Otisha, Khadisha Debesette, Daniella Findley, Adeka Spence, Liana Hinds (USA), Khadidra Debesette, Naiomie Guerra, Shanisa Camejo, Patrice Campbell, Shenelle Henry, Summer Arjoon, Donika Murray (Canada), Tsaianne Leander, Brianna Ryce (USA), Anique Walker, Corel Carmichael (USA), Sawsha Woznuk (Canada).

Reserves: Tkeyah Phillip, Akilah Sparks, Emma Abdul (Canada). (TT Express)

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Jehue Gordon steals show at TT’s Spirit Sport Awards

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urdler Jehue Gordon was named Trinidad and Tobago’s top athlete for 2013 at the third annual Spirit of Sport Awards (SOSA), staged by the Ministry of Sports and Sport Company of TT (SporTT), at Queen’s Hall in St Ann’s, Port-ofSpain, on Saturday.

Gordon walked away with the lion’s share of the prizes, copping the Male Athlete of the Year, Consistent Performer of the Year, Breakthrough Performance of the Year and the prestigious Sport Performance of the Year titles.

Gordon who ended the season as the top ranked athlete in his event in the world, won gold for TT in the 400-metre hurdle at the World Championships in Moscow, Russia, back in August, before repeating

at the Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium, a month later. In this the season of giving, the first class multiple-award winning athlete was in receipt a lot of gifts.

Gordon received a cheque valued at TT$800,000 on behalf of the government and people of TT, presented by permanent secretary Ashwin Creed.

Later, Jearlean John, managing director at the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) joined Gordon on the stage to present him with the keys to his new home –a duplex in the community of Maracas, St Joseph. Then, to the young athlete’s delight, his coach Dr Ian Hypolite made the honour roll when named as Coach of the Year.

Junior swimmer Shanntol Ince and mul-

Male Athlete of the Year, Jehue Gordon, receives one of his four awards from Sport Ambassador and West Indies and TT women’s cricket captain, Merissa Aguilliera, at the SOSA on Saturday night. (Sean Nero/TT Guardian photo)

tiple gold medal winner at the 2013 Youth Para Pan American Games held in Buenos Aires,

Argentina, was another big winner on the night, taking home awards for Athlete with a Disability

and Emerging Athlete of the Year; and justifiably so. The Paralympic athlete secured gold in 400m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle at the first junior event, and believes these victories provides her with the impetus to medal successfully at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Tracy and St. Paul Ince were awarded the Parent of the Year title while Gymnast Marisa Dick beat out competition in other frontline sport to clinch the Female Athlete of the Year.

Kwanieze John, one of the sports tops athletes and avid campaigner secured the Community Champion of the Year to the delight of her peers.

TT Guardian’s

Vinode Mamchan copped the Print Journalist of the Year for the second consecutive year, while Kent Fuentes of Stateowned CNMG was voted Electronic Journalist of the Year.

Express photo editor Robert Taylor emerged as the best lensman.

The award for RecordBreaking Performance of the Year went to Dylan Carter while the Comeback Performance of the Year prize was awarded to track athlete Romona Modeste.

Veteran sportswoman Marjorie John now joins Olympic medal winner Rodney Wilkes, as well as the late Emmanuel McDonald Bailey who were inducted into the SOSA Hall of Fame, being a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. (Excerpted from TT Guardian)

World Relays biggest Jamaica’s Krishmar Santokie aims sporting event in to get into the swing of things Bahamas, says official eft-arm swing Premier League (CPL)

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he inaugural IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas in May is considered to be the biggest sporting event hosted on the islands, according to Keith Parker, executive chairman of the IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2014 Local Organising Committee (LOC).

The two-day event, to be staged at the newlybuilt Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on May 24 and 25, will bring together the world's best athletes in competition.

Bahamas Association of Athletics Associations (BAAA) President Mike Sands has been named vice-chairman of the LOC and has the responsibility to liaison with the IAAF. Grafton Ifill Jr is the LOC executive administrator and governmental relations officer. He is responsible for maintaining relations with government authorities.

The role of managing director has been given

to Lionel Haven. He is responsible for the overall management, leadership and operational activities of the LOC. Haven will ensure that the IAAF World Relays is successfully achieved in accordance with IAAF regulations.

Eric Savard is the event consultant. A major events veteran, having managed numerous IAAF events, he will work hand-in-hand with Haven for the strategic planning, and is in charge of the general transfer of knowledge and delivery of the event.

Parker said hosting the event will require more than 500 event volunteers and more than 100 organising committee members and a part/ full-time staff of over 25.

He expressed confidence, however, that he and his team will remind the world that The Bahamas is now a major destination for worldclass sporting events.

(Caribbean News)

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bowler Krishmar Santokie is looking to establish himself as a regular in the Jamaica 50-overs set-up.

The wily bowler is keen on making the final cut after the national cricket selection panel, led by chairman Wavell Hinds, chose a 45-member training squad ahead of the upcoming Super50 and Four-day regional competitions.

"We have some trial games coming up, so I'm trying to keep myself fit and stay focused," Santokie said.

"I'm hoping to be in the final 14 for the Super50. If I get in, I'm looking to deliver," he added, moments before entering the practice nets at Sabina Park on Saturday.

Santokie was the country's top bowler when Jamaica won the Super50 title two years ago.

However, last season--though present in the squad--he played no part as Jamaica

Krishmar Santokie (Jamaica Observer photo)

lost in the semi-finals to eventual champions Windward Islands.

The 29-year-old told Jamaican media that he has put that 50-overs disappointment behind him.

"I was definitely disappointed, knowing that the tournament where we won I was the leading wicket-taker for Jamaica, and I didn't get a chance the following season. But I have used

it as a stepping stone to push myself to do well," he said.

The most prominent pace bowler in the regional Twenty20 (T20) format in recent years, Santokie has troubled batsmen with his swinging full-pitched deliveries and crafty slower balls from a low, slinglike action.

The left-arm bowler also excelled in the inaugural Caribbean

T20 tournament held in the summer, while representing the eventual runners-up Guyana Amazon Warriors.

"I guess in some ways it (the 50-overs disappointment) worked for me in the CPL, because we all know the outcome. I was Player of the Tournament," chirped the former Glenmuir High student.

He hopes that good form stays with him.

"I'm definitely looking to take over the form into the Super50 because there is not much of a difference between T20 and One-day (50-overs) cricket. I've done it before and I don't see any reason why I can't do it again," he said.

Santokie has taken two wickets in a pair of T20 International matches for the West Indies.

He has claimed a total of 82 wickets in 44 T20 outings at a cost of 11.92, including a best of 5-24. (Jamaica Observer)

Brian Lara donates Ja$500, 000 to assist children’s homes in Jamaica

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ormer West Indies batsman Brian Lara Monday donated Ja$500,000 to Jamaica’s Ministry of Youth and Culture to provide assistance to children in the care of the Child Development Agency (CDA).

A portion of the funds will also be used to assist a 15-year-old girl who is in need of a vital surgery, the ministry said in release Monday.

According to the ministry, Lara was initially making a donation of Ja$250,000, but admitted that after being in dialogue with Youth Minister Lisa Hanna over the past couple months he decided to double the amount.

Lara said that the donation forms part of the work he intends to do to assist in the development of children and youth.

“It’s a great pleasure

Former West Indies batsman Brian Lara (Jamaica Observer file photo)

to be back in Jamaica.

Hearing about the cases

that have been going on in her field as the Youth

Minister I feel it necessary as a Caribbean human being to try to make some sort of contribution, not just in my funds, but in any way possible,” he said.

Noting that he is inspired by the enthusiasm of Jamaican youth, the former West Indies cricket captain said that he is encouraging all Jamaicans to strive to make a difference in the lives of children and young people for the

New Year.

“The enthusiasm the youth have here, I love the whole vibrant way they live….a lot of them weren’t as fortunate as I was to get the backing that I did, but I’m sure the enthusiasm is still there and I would love to reach out and play a part in their future. Let’s put a good foot forward for 2014 and let’s try to make a difference,” said Lara.

(Jamaica Observer)

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week ending january 2, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Jamaica’s ‘Bigman In Town’ loses win record in Trinidad

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Guyana Baseball League bracing for busy 2014

‘Bigman In Town’ (Jamaica Observer photo)

t had to happen and when it did, Jamaica’s ‘Bigman In Town’ lost his 100 per cent win record in Trinidad and Tobago to his stablemate ‘Headline News’ in the Trinidad and Tobago version of the Gold Cup. Now trained by John O'Brien, ‘Bigman In Town’ raced behind the leaders in fourth, then fifth position, in the 10-furlong event, before being ask to make his winning move by jockey Wilmer Gaviz, with four furlongs left in the race.

The ‘Bigman’ responded by taking the lead and entered the straight with an advantage over ‘Headline News’ (B Boodramsing) who had moved quite

well through the pack.

In a stirring stretch duel, both riders, Gaviz and Boodramsing, spared no quarter as they rallied their respective mounts. In the end ‘Bigman In Town’ faded under the sustained pressure, eventually giving way to ‘Headline News’ who galloped strongly to win by almost two lengths.

This defeat in Trinidad for ‘Bigman In Town’ who had won the Trinidad Day in September and went on to win another race in fine style. This loss underscored the much held view that ‘Bigman In Town’ is at his best running over the middle distances. (Jamaica Observer)

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During 2013 the Guyana Baseball League (GBL) was able to expand the game beyond Georgetown.

Here, students of the Berbice High School strike a pose after a session conducted by the GBL

he Guyana Basebell League (GBL) is bracing itself for a busy 2014, even as it comes off a challenging 2013 in which it was able to make some strides in the game of baseball/ softball.

This disclosure was made by president of the GBL, Robin Singh, during his New Year’s message to Guyanese, specifically those directly involved with the game.

Below is the full text of the message.

“Dear Guyana, baseball/ softball coaches, players, fans, sponsors, media and the general public, I would like to wish everyone a very

happy New Year. On behalf of the whole Baseball Guyana organisation, I wish you all the best as we begin another journey of challenges, victories, lessons and changes in the year ahead.

We thank our all volunteer staff and cadre of coaches for their tireless work in spreading the great game of baseball throughout the 10 regions of Guyana.

This year has been a challenging one for Baseball Guyana, the introduction of a new game to our shores was never envisaged to be an easy task. 2013 was our year zero and we grew from an idea to a sport with over

700 school-aged participants; this is 200 in excess of our stated year one goal of 500. Our number of certified coaches now number 26 and we have only just begun.

Such rapid growth comes with many challenges and a decision was made to support the growth of the game in Berbice at the expense of the others.

The Caribbean Examinations Council’s decision to allow baseball as an examination sport for the Physical Education certificate has been a significant one for our sport.

The coming year will see us adding to the num-

ber of schools in both Berbice and Demerara with baseball coaching programmes.

Our first official PONY league will be played during the period January to April and the winners of the 14 and under category are expected to compete in the PONY Caribbean Zone tournament in Puerto Rico, July 9-13.

At the Board of Directors and management levels we continue to be committed to the development of the game for wider participation and awareness. We look forward to working with you and your children for a rewarding new year.”

Slingerz FC, Santos to contest GFA Tributes pour for TT’s Akeem Adams Banks Beer Cup final in Guyana wenty-two year “It was especially dif- level in 2004 on a squad

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The Santos players (in yellow) rue an own goal with put Slingerz FC through to the final

S

lingerz FC and Santos will contest the final of the third annual Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Banks Beer Cup after earning victories at the semi-finals on Sunday evening at the GFC ground, Bourda.

The two teams will contest the final on New Year’s Day 2014 at the GCC ground, Bourda, where a new champion will be crowned since defending champions Camptown and inaugural winner Alpha United were booted at the quarter-final stage.

Slingerz FC didn’t have to do much, as Western Tigers were

generous on the night, slipping in an own goal to hand the West Demerara side passage into the final.

All Slingerz had to do after then was play defence, and that they did to keep their hopes alive of copping the Gy$ 4 million top prize.

In the other game, Santos, through goals from Anthony Abrams and Christoff Wensley edged the Guyana Defence Force 2-1.

As was the case in 2012, the champion team will receive Gy$ 4 million, while the runner-up, third and fourth placed finishers will collect Gy$ 2.5 million, Gy$

1.5 million and Gy1$ million.

A new addition to this year’s tournament was the monetary incentives for all the teams, including Gy$ 250,000 each for the losing quarter-finalists, Gy$ 150,000 each for those knocked out at the second round and Gy$ 100,000 each for teams booted at the first round.

There will also be individual prizes for the Most Valuable Player, highest goal scorer, best goalkeeper and most discipline team.

The most outstanding coach will pocket Gy$ 100,000 cash. (Guyana Times)

old Akeem Adams, Trinidad and Tobago’s former national defender died Monday at 12.45 pm, at the Varomajori Heart Clinic in Budapest, Hungary.

Adams’ local representative Dion Sosa, advised that Adams’ mother Ancilla, decided against taking her son off a life support system following initial reports of a decision to take that step earlier in the day.

“He went on his own.

This was God’s call. He is at peace now. We wish to thank all of those who offered their support to Akeem and his family.

He touched us all in so many ways,” said Ivan Dick, Adams’ uncle.

Adams suffered a massive heart attack three months ago and underwent four operations at the Varomajori Heart Clinic. He had a mechanical heart inserted, while his left leg from below the knee was amputated in September.

TT’s Minister of Sport, Anil Roberts, in extending condolences to the family, noted it was always difficult when a parent loses a son or daughter.

ficult in this case since this was a proud young man who was taken at the prime of his career.

As a father, I cannot begin to imagine the grief and despair his family is feeling. Akeem was a talented young man who dedicated his life and career to the sport he loved. He stood as an example to many on how to fully utilise all the gifts and talents bestowed on him by the Creator. He even faced his final challenge with an optimistic spirit and kept the fight to the end. The people of TT lost one of their talented sons, but I have no doubt that his legacy will live on in our hearts and minds.”

The Football Association also extended condolences to Akeem’s family and friends. President Raymond Tim Kee said: “Everyone in our football fraternity is deeply affected by this. Not only was he a promising and dedicated footballer, but he was also a fine young man.”

Adams was born April 13, 1991. He entered the national program at the Under 13

of players prepared for the Caribbean Under 15 Championships. He later became an integral part of the National Under 17 team that defeated Jamaica at the CONCACAF qualifiers in Kingston to qualify for the 2007 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in South Korea.

Adams played in that World Cup and two years helped the National Under 20 team book a place in the 2009 Under 20 World Cup in Egypt, where he also made appearances at FIFA’s second biggest world tournament.

His progress was consistent and he made his senior international debut on March 19, 2008 against El Salvador as a 16-yearold at the Marvin Lee Stadium. He played his final international match on January 22, 2011 against Finland at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Adams made nine international appearances before joining Hungarian football club Ferencvárosi TC which was his final team up to the time of his passing.

(TT Guardian)

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Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

INTERNATIONAL WEEK ENDING JANUARY 2, 2014

Guyanese fast bowler Gordon in Canada’s team for ICC W/C 2014 Qualifiers

By Ravendra Madholall

G

uyanese cricketer Jeremy Gordon has been named in Canada’s squad to compete in the 2014 International Cricket Council (ICC) 50-over World Cup Qualifiers tournament, which is scheduled for New Zealand.

Canada has been placed in Group A alongside Scotland, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong and Nepal while Group B includes Kenya, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Netherlands and Uganda.

The North American country will begin its quest for qualification on January 14 against its newest rival UAE. The side will be led by the experienced Ashish Bagai again while Andy Pick is the new coach after Gus Logie was asked

to go, following the country’s poor tour of Dubai in the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers recently. They failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup, which will be staged in Bangladesh in March, 2014.

Former Guyana captain Damodar Daesrath, who toured with the team last month in Dubai, has been overlooked after he sustained a groin injury while off-spinner and exTrinidad and Tobago under-19 player Afzal Dean was not considered for this event.

However, fast bowler Gordon, who had a fine run in the T20 format, retains his place and has expressed confidence that he will make an impression once again. He believes that the Canadian team has a great chance of making it to the 2015 World Cup competition, which is slated to be hosted

Jeremy Gordon

by Australia and New Zealand jointly.

“I [am] confident we can qualify this time,” Gordon related.

Only two places are up for grabs and Canada will have to win three of their four matches

Tributes pour for TT’s Akeem Adams Akeem Adams died Monday at the Varomajori Heart Clinic in Budapest, Hungary.

(TT Guardian file photo)

and then advance to the knock-out segment.

The group stage of the tournament will be held between January 13 and 23, followed by the Super Six phase between January 26 and February 1.

The schedule for the Super Six stage is based on rankings given to teams in the group stages. If the top three teams qualify for the Super Six stage, they retain their group-stage ranking irrespective of their position in the points table.

However, if a team that is ranked fourth or fifth in the group stage qualifies for the Super Six, they will assume the ranking of the team they have displaced.

Associate members Afghanistan and Ireland have already qualified for the 14-team World Cup, set for February 14 to March 29, 2015.

Afghanistan is in Group A with England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and New Zealand while Ireland is in Group B with South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

The winner of the

qualifying tournament will move into Group A while the runner-up go into Group B. Sri Lanka won the inaugural qualifying tournament, previously known as the ICC Trophy, in 1979.

Other winners were Zimbabwe (1982, 1986 and 1990), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (1994), Bangladesh (1997), Netherlands (2001), Scotland (2005) and Ireland (2009).

Canada featured in the 1979, 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions of the World Cup. The full team reads: Ashish Bagai, Harvir Baidwan, Khurram Chohan, Parth Desai, Nikhil Dutta, Jeremy Gordon, Ruvindu Gunasekara, Jimmy Hansra, Nitish Kumar, Usman Limbada, Cecil Pervez, Raza Rehman, Junaid Siddiqui, Zeeshan Siddiqui, Hamza Tariq.

Brian Lara donates Ja$500,000 to assist children’s homes in Jamaica Page 30

Twenty-two year old Akeem Adams, Trinidad and Tobago’s former national defender died Monday at 12.45 pm, at the Varomajori Heart Clinic in Budapest, Hungary.

Adams’ local representative Dion Sosa, advised that Adams’ mother Ancilla, decided against taking her son off a life support system following initial reports of a decision to take that step earlier in the day.

“He went on his own.

This was God’s call. He is at peace now. (see full story on page 31)

Jamaica’s Minister of Youth and Culture Lisa Hanna (2nd right), accepts a cheque valued at Ja$250,000 from former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara (2nd left), when he visited the minister’s New Kingston offices on Monday.

The cheque, which was accepted by the minister on behalf of the Child Development Agency (CDA) will go towards the island’s children’s homes.

Others sharing in the moment are: acting Chief Executive Officer, CDA, Rosalee Gage Grey (left); and Advisor in the Ministry, Sadie Keating. (JIS photo)

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