Caribbean Times International

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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ISSUE NO. 94

CANADA EDITION

CN $1.00

WEEK ENDING March 27, 2014

PM Kamla fires minister for misconduct on CAL flight

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rime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar Tuesday night fired Minister of the People and Social Development Dr Glenn Ramdharsingh amid mounting public pressure over his behaviour on a domestic flight from Tobago.

Persad-Bissessar made the announcement in a release moments after a three-hour meeting with Ramadharsingh at her Philippine, San Fernando, home, saying she had given President Anthony Carmona instructions to revoke his ministerial appointment.

However, the Caroni Central MP, who had given the PM a report on the incident during

the meeting, ducked media personnel camped outside Persad-Bissessar’s residence waiting to interview him after the meeting.

He reportedly waited to leave the residence after journalists left.

In explaining the decision, PersadBissessar said she had “insisted from the moment we took office that every one of us must display a sound character of public integrity, fairness, humility, compassion and human dignity. No man, nor woman for that matter, has been allowed, nor will be permitted to deviate from the very principles upon which we were elected by the people into office.”

Story continued on Page 5

Dr Glenn Ramdharsingh

Jamaica’s first private open-heart surgery a success Page 14

Dr Roger Irvine talks with his patient Herold Russell, on whom he did the first open-heart surgery at the Medical Associates Hospital, Tangerine Place, in St Andrew, last week (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

Guyana gov’t unveils Gy$220 Page 9 billion tax-free budget

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NEWS

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending March 27, 2014

Whopping Gy$4.4 billion earmarked to Elderly Trini ramp up Guyana’s housing distribution woman mauled to death by pitbulls G uyana’s Housing and Water Ministry has been earmarked a Gy$1.3 billion increase in the 2014 budget which will see more housing schemes being developed, along with the new initiatives being adopted to improve the quality of water.

Some Gy$4.4 billion was allocated to the housing sector this year. This money will be directed towards the distribution of 5900 house lots and 4100 land titles to new landowners.

Additionally, several housing scheme development projects will be ongoing at Eccles, East Bank Demerara; Diamond, East Bank Demerara; Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara; Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara; Bath, West Coast Berbice; Number 77 Village, Berbice and other villages.

The public-private turnkey initiative will also see another 100 homes being constructed, while some 50 police officers, nurses, and teachers will be allocated land.

In addition, more than 1200 persons will benefit from the distribution of another 176 core hous-

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

es, disbursement of 134 coastal home improvement subsidies valued at Gy$26.8 million, and an additional disbursement of 54 hinterland subsidies valued Gy$54 million.

In 2013, many strides were made in this sector with a Gy$3.2 billion budget. Much of the allocations were directed towards the hosting of some eight One-StopShop outreaches which resulted in 4417 house lots being allocated and 5326 land titles processed.

Housing subsidies

Then there were the development of several new housing schemes, which were consolidated with existing ones thereby benefiting more than 30,000 persons. The pub-

lic-private turnkey housing initiative was also a success and saw more than 90 single-flat concrete houses being constructed. While under the Young Professional Housing Programme, 55 homes were completed, exceeding the initial target of 48.

The Core House Pilot project resulted in 127 core houses completed, thus enabling some 580 persons to benefit from improved housing. At the same time, an additional 153 subsidies were disbursed under the coastal home improvement programme costing some Gy$30.6 million; hence, resulting in improved living conditions for another 627 persons.

The hinterland home improvement project saw

130 subsidies totalling Gy$107.2 million thereby allowing some of the most vulnerable communities access to affordable shelter.

The water sector was allocated Gy$2.5 billion which will be spent on the drilling, construction and completion of water wells in Cotton Tree, Hope, Mon Repos, Sparendaam, and Sophia.

A portion of the monies will go towards the construction of a water clarifier and filter at Bartica and Eccles while upgrade works on service connections are expected to be done in East Berbice communities and Linden.

The installation of transmission and distribution mains will be done in areas such as Vergenoegen, Victoria, Crabwood Creek, Angoy’s Avenue, and Bartica.

In addition, two water treatment plants at Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward should be completed and will benefit more than 30,000 residents in Region 10. Water supply improvement works are also expected to be done in hinterland communities such as Waikerabi, Santa Rosa, Arau, Taruka, Kanapang, Kathur, Aishalton and St Ignatius. This will see some 20,000 residents benefiting.

(Excerpted from Guyana Times)

A policeman holds his head at the Archibald Street, Tunapuna home of Sylvia Roberts where officers had to shoot and kill three pitbulls which mauled the woman to death Tuesday (TT Newsday photo)

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rinidadian police shot and killed three pitbulls on Tuesday after the dogs mauled to death an 83-year-old woman, who had gone into the yard of her home to check her mailbox in Tunapuna.

Police said that Sylvia Roberts was killed by the three pitbulls that belong to her 43-year-old son, who had been at work.

The dogs were unleashed in the secure compound of the home.

The attack is likely to intensify debate in TT for the government to ensure the proclamation of the Dog Control Amendment Act that has been passed in both houses of Parliament.

Earlier this week, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TTSPCA) Sita Kuruvilla, said she was concerned that at least 200 pitbulls had been abandoned over

the past months as government moved to enact the new legislation.

In addition, she described as “fear-inducing”, a full-page advertisement by the government in the daily newspapers calling for support of the legislation.

“We were a bit concerned because we saw the full-page ad in the paper and it is basically seeking support for the Dog Control Act…it was pretty alarming.

“We had a couple of problems with it—we find that the government is taking an approach that is…it is either you are for the Bill or you are against the Bill, or you are for responsible ownership or you are not for responsible ownership. Our organisation, the TTSPCA as well as Animal Welfare Network fully support legislation that promotes responsible dog ownership,” she added. (Excerpted from TT Newsday)

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EDITORIAL

Digital generation

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here is a generation of people, mostly the younger, who are completely different from the preceding one. A lot of today’s people are living in the digital age. Technology has become a way of life and people today just automatically absorb all things automated. Now it is nigh impossible for many to imagine a world that existed without all of the gadgets, electronics and numberless operations that computer technology provides.

Children now devote some 40 hours per week to television, video games and the Internet. Researchers are very concerned about the impact that technology is now having on children.

Children are being consumed by the effects of modern technology.

Technology overall is indispensable, but it must be guided; if not, it can severely impair children by weakening social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. Technology affects social development in children in many different ways. Children acquire electronic games, personal computers, and cellphones at very young ages.

Surveys indicate that about 82 per cent of children are online by the Seventh Grade and experience about 6.5 hours per day of media exposure. Most children communicate more through electronic devices and spend less face time with family members and peers. Text messaging and emails provide limited or no access to other people’s emotions, and the rich language of non-verbal communication and interaction is lost.

The quality of family time is compromised when children are using technology. Families are not talking very much during meal time, because of distractions like watching television, listening to music, checking emails, answering the phone and text messaging.

This has become so disgusting (and disrespectful as well), that many adults have long given up on curbing it, even teachers at colleges and universities.

Social development is part of the nexus that includes family, as well as the many others in school, church and just about anywhere else. So when technology replaces human contact, it creates problems for proper social development.

Educators are now predicting that the current teen generation are heading themselves for a sort of mass loss of personal identity.

By spending inordinate quantities of time in the interactive, virtual, two-dimensional, cyberspace realms of the screen, they are opining that the brains of the youths of today are headed for a drastic alteration.

A host of teenagers, ages 12 through 17, send 50 or more text messages per day and one-third send more than 100. This is no different from addiction that calls for instant gratification.

Technology enables things to happen quickly, and as a result, children are growing up, expecting immediate fulfilment. They always want instant gratification.

If children want to hear a song, they can hop online and download it. No longer have they to wait for Saturday or Sunday to watch their favourite television shows – there are a host of channels offering children’s programming 24/7. This conditions them into inappropriate behavioural traits, when waiting is necessary. Impatience and anger are inextricably linked.

The natural brain chemical called dopamine is involved by all forms of addiction. The area of the brain crucial to the dopamine hits is called the accumbens nucleus, which is associated with the prefrontal cortex, an area at the front of the brain. Excessive dopamine hits might reduce activation in the prefrontal cortex, and in doing so, will tip the balance away from awareness of the significance, of actions. The focus is all about ‘good feelings’.

It turns out that involvement in any addictive technology offering activates the basal ganglia portion of the brain, that is, the region that releases this said dopamine. This is actually the same region of the brain that is affected by cocaine.

Soon, communities could very well be hemmed in by a group of people who will display a range of unwanted traits: obsessiveness, self-destruction, self-denial, withdrawal tendencies, loss of control and depression. The instinctive challenge is to find ways to change this course, while still reaping the advantages technology offers.

TT’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar engages in Phahwah celebrations Sunday at Palmiste Park San Fernando, Trinidad (Kamla Persad Bissessar FB photo)

U.S. reaffirms support for Caribbean security

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nited States Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt has said that while the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) programme has yielded overwhelming successes since its implementation in 2010, Washington will continue to work with the Caribbean region as there is much more work to be done.

Ambassador Hardt was at the time speaking at the handing over ceremony of three vessels to Guyana's Coast Guard last Friday. He stated that the handing over was also a part of the CBSI programme which seeks to combat the drug trade and other transnational crimes that threaten regional security.

The CBSI programme was announced by U.S. President Barack Obama at the 2009 Summit of the Americas. It was then launched the following year in Washington with Caribbean Countries. According to the U.S. Ambassador, some four years into the partnership, the U.S. still remains committed to working with Guyana and regional partners to expand their efforts.

“Our countries are bound together in this effort by our common geography, our close economic links and the close ties and travel among our citizens.

These factors make it essential for us to work together if we are to be successful in achieving the security, safety, prosperity and opportunity our citizens seek and demand,” the Ambassador said.

Shared responsibility

At the recent dialogue held in Washington, DC in December, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns had observed that “the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, which is based on shared responsibility, mutual respect, and shared approaches to common challenges, offers a vivid example of the benefit such partnership can

yield”.

“We want the citizens of Guyana to see the benefits of improved security and social justice in a personal way: in their neighbourhoods, in their schools, along their rivers and shorelines, and in the marketplace. To achieve this, we need to forge a relatable long-term partnership to build capacities by providing adequate training, equipment and other resources to meet the threats,” Hardt pointed out.

On this note, he disclosed that the U.S. has proved its commitment through a wide range of CBSI projects to directly support Guyana. He highlight the fact that the U.S. donated US$1.7 million to the United Nations through the UN Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNRILEC) to assist with the disposal of obsolete weapons, ammunitions and explosives in the Caribbean.

Guyana also benefited from this programme with the presentation of the destruction equipment by UNLIREC.

Tracking weapons

Another initiative the Caribbean continues to reap benefits from is the Regional Integrated Ballistics Information Network (RIBIN). This is a U.S.funded programme that involves the development of a network of ballistics identification instructions within the Caribbean to allow law enforcement agencies to track the movements of weapons from country to country. This was done taking into consideration the previous CBSI contribution of a firearms marking equipment.

“Together with the E-trace Network, which allows Guyanese law enforcement officials to gather relevant information through firearms serial numbers including the name of the owner or purchaser, types of crime committed with the weap-

on, these tracking systems will enhance regional capacity to share information and collaborate to reduce the threat of gun violence and crime, while helping to solve outstanding cases,” the U.S. Ambassador explained.

He further mentioned other CBSI projects from which Guyana, and the Caribbean at large, has benefited from. These include the recent integrated biometrics fingerprint system that was given to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to digitalise Guyana’s fingerprint records system and introduce multilateral information sharing within Caricom and the U.S. law enforcement agencies. This, according to Hardt, has already facilitated cross-border law enforcement cooperation and contributed to numerous arrests.

In addition, CBSI in collaboration with local authorities have seen success stories in various sectors, including narcotics trade and trafficking.

Hardt disclosed that in 2013, the discovery of some 360 kilograms of cocaine was attributed to implementation of a port security scanning initiative designed in partnership with the UN Office of Drug Control Policy.

The Ambassador revealed that there have been various drug interdiction training sessions conducted for ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the GPF. This, he noted, contributed to the rising levels of drug interdictions in the past year.

He disclosed that in 2014, the CBSI work plan entails deepened collaborative work to support law enforcement professionalisation, improve counter-narcotics control capabilities, bolster the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts, enhance border and port security, and strengthened correctional systems.

5 Nandlall seeks Diaspora support for Guyana’s anti-money laundering bill News

week ending March 27, 2014

| www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

By Ravendra Madholall

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uyana’s Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall recently staged a public forum in Canada seeking support from the Guyanese Diaspora for the country’s Parliament to pass the controversial Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill.

The combined opposition continues to hold out against passing the Bill in the House in its current format until further amendments are made.

Speaking last Friday evening at the Raddisson Hotel, Scarborough, Nandlall, who is also Guyana’s Attorney General said he felt it was important to update the Canadian-Guyanese community on the mat-

A section of the gathering that turned up to the forum

ter since the impact of a full blacklist can be detrimental.

“It has a domino effect; our banks will suffer, it will affect Western Union,” he related, stressing that major economic ties can be completely severed.

He noted that the Bill remains set for continued consideration when Parliament resumes, but added that by then it will be too late.

The minister also ex-

plained that once placed on a full ‘blacklist,’ it will take a lengthy period before a country can be removed. He referred to the situation in Trinidad and Tobago, when the twin-island republic was blacklisted in 2005, and it was only removed from that list in 2011.

Nandlall went on to accuse the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) political parties of deliberate-

ly delaying the process from the onset. He complained that instead of supporting the passage of the Bill during its second reading, the opposition voted for the Bill to be sent to a parliamentary Special Select Committee last May. Meanwhile, the minister fielded questions from the audience about Guyana’s readiness to make changes not only for these issues, but to put things in place for

Guyana’s Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall addressing the gathering at the Raddisson Hotel, Scarborough last Friday evening

greater stability.

The session was opened by Consul General of the Consulate of the Republic of Guyana in Toronto

Sattie Sawh while High Commissioner to Guyana in Canada Harry Narine Nawbatt introduced Nandlall to the gathering.

Barbados seeks removal of mandatory death penalty for murder convictions

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he Barbados government will seek to amend the Offences Against the Persons Act next month as it seeks to remove the mandatory death penalty imposed on people convicted of murder.

Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite told reporters Tuesday that he was aware that it would be a “battle” to remove the mandatory death penalty, but stressed that the

entire country will be engaged in dialogue on the issue, as government prepares to take legislation before Parliament.

“Barbadians generally feel that once you commit murder you should forfeit your lives, but that is until one of their family members is involved,” said Brathwaite, who is also the Home Affairs Minister of Barbados.

But he said he hoped those

views would change, following the expected public dialogue on the issue.

“I know it will be a battle, but…I believe that it is a better path for the country,” he said, adding that Cabinet had agreed to the concept of parole, but that the necessary infrastructure needed to be in place before it is implemented.

“We need to address issues of resources, training those

who would work with such a system, and the space,” he said, adding that the electronic monitoring of persons on parole would also have to be considered.

Brathwaite stated that what currently obtained was that those serving sentences at Her Majesty’s pleasure would write to the Privy Council seeking release.

(Caribbean News)

Barbados’ Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite

from front page

PM Kamla fires minister for misconduct on...

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he PM’s action came after a media report highlighted an incident involving Ramdharsingh and flight attendant Ronelle Laidlow aboard a domestic flight from Tobago to Trinidad last Sunday.

The report claimed Ramadharsingh refused to follow instructions to move his luggage, threatened to use his authority to get Laidlow fired and inappropriately touched the woman’s breast when he attempted to removed her identification badge, which was pinned to her blouse, as he left the plane.

The MP subsequently apologised for his disorderly behaviour on the flight, saying he was extremely fatigued and not feeling well following a busy schedule in Tobago.

However, he denied inappropriately touching Laidlow.

No one exempt

But Tuesday night, Persad-Bissessar said no one in her Cabinet

would be allowed to get away with improper conduct. “As I have always said, regardless of the consequences, I remain resolved to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. My decisions in the past demonstrate this consistency regardless of whether you are in my Cabinet or not. No one is exempt from the measure of value based leadership,” she said.

Since the incident was made public there have been numerous calls for the minister’s dismissal.

One of the loudest voices was Maha Sabha secretary general Satnarayan Maharaj.

Cabinet casualties

Persad-Bissessar did not name a replacement for Ramadharsingh Tuesday.

However, Minister in the Ministry of Works Stacy Roopnarine has been tipped to replace him.

Among the casualties of the prime minister’s axe in the past are: Collin

Partap, Herbert Volney (former Justice minister), Jack Warner (former

national security minister), Mary King (former planning minister),

John Sandy (former national security minister) and Therese Baptiste-

Cornelis (former health minister).

(Excerpted from TT Newsday)

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Brazilian consortium exploring potential for hydropower in Guyana

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Brazilian consortium will provide US$45 million to conduct prefeasibility studies to determine Guyana’s potential to develop hydropower stations in the Upper and Middle Mazaruni, Region Seven.

Queiroz Galvao (QG) and OAS are the two multibillion-dollar Brazilian companies that make up the consortium. They are expected to commence the prefeasibility study in April followed by the feasibility study, a process which is expected to take two years.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds made this disclosure on Monday at a press briefing at the National Communication’s Network (NCN) in the presence of Foreign Affairs Minister

Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai and Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Chief Executive Officer, Mahender Sharma, among other officials.

The Guyana government has embarked on an exercise to brief stakeholders on the undertaking of the prefeasibility and feasibility studies, which will determine the potential of hydropower development in the Middle and Upper Mazaruni to the capacities of 1500 megawatts and 3000 megawatts respectively.

During the prefeasibility and feasibility assessments, hydrology and aerial topographic studies will be conducted to secure precise data. Hydrology involves the measuring and graphing of river be-

Guyana’s Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

haviour and river flow within the district over a period of 12 months. To facilitate such, the consortium will be required to establish substations at strategic locations within the Upper and Middle Mazaruni.

Meanwhile, the aerial topographic study would include the usage of an aircraft and sophisticated equipment to map the ar-

GEA Chief Executive Officer Mahender Sharma

eas of study.

Financially secured

Boasting of the consortium’s ability to execute the multibillion-dollar hydro project if found feasible, a Director pointed out that both QG and OAS have an annual revenue of US$3.5 billion or a collective US$7 billion in over 23 countries, spanning South America to Central America,

Africa, South East Asia and Russia. They are specialised in infrastructural development, but more notably hydropower.

Sharma added that the prefeasibility and feasibility studies in the Upper and Middle Mazaruni will identify the social, environmental and economic impacts of hydropower to this magnitude.

Size of the reservoir, storage required, power output, how much power could be generated at any one time over the cycle of the project, expected energy output, cost construction, cost of operation and the cost of transmission lines are among variables to be determined at the end of the feasibility study.

Preempting the findings of the prefeasibility and feasibility stud-

ies, Sharma is convinced that tremendous benefits will derive from such an initiative in Guyana.

He said the hydropower plants at Region Seven will not only provide cheap but clean electricity, boosting the social and economic sectors through direct and indirect job creation.

On the national scene, he said such a move will pave the way for Guyana to be less dependent on imported fossil fuel which cost the country a whopping US$543 million in 2013. But with the introduction of hydro power, Guyana can generate a new source of energy by selling power to Brazil.

Additional studies will also determine whether Guyana can become a part of the international grid. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Jagdeo not interested in third term

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Former President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on Monday said it was standing firm behind current Guyanese President Donald Ramotar in the wake of a combined Opposition-sponsored poll that showed him as

the most liked eligible presidential candidate should a snap election be called.

The same poll also revealed that former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who says he will not run again for the country’s top post, would

have been the most formidable candidate to contest the elections.

Speaking at a PPP/C news conference on Monday, Party General Secretary and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee told media operatives that former President Jagdeo will not be running for the presidency in any elections in the future.

He further stated that the party stands 100 per cent behind President Ramotar.

“We have always stood behind President Ramotar; we believe he is doing a good job in representing Guyana, both regionally and interna-

Blacklisting begins to bite Guyana’s tourism sector

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cting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali said the tourism sector is beginning to feel the squeeze and the effects of Guyana’s blacklisting kick-in.

Speaking at a press conference at his ministry last Friday, Ali said if the combined opposition does not rethink its position on the Anti-Money Laundering Bill and Countering Financing on Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill, the situation confronting Guyana will be worst.

He said the tourism ministry is currently having great problems, as it cannot send money to companies in the region for the payment of ads.

“The AML Bill is not a political, social or economic bargaining tool, it’s an absolute national necessity that will destroy us if we don’t sign onto it and has the potential of disrupting the sector tremendously,” Ali stated According to the minister, the tourism sector in Guyana involves to a large extent the transfer and collection

of money and the non-passage of the Bill, does not bode well for the sector.

Meanwhile, during a meeting at the Line Path Community Centre Ground in Berbice last Friday, residents called on all parliamentarians to put aside ‘dirty politics’ and pass the Bill.

The residents, who were first given a history of the Bill and the implications of its non-passage by Minister within the Finance Ministry Juan Edghill, were very outspoken in their comments.

The residents said this Bill has showed them the true colours of some Members of Parliament (MPs), who prior to elections, said that they have the country’s interest at heart.

“Before election they come and tell we that they (the AFC) has no connection with the APNU and they mean good for us, now look they are all one and they are voting against this Bill which will affect us all,” the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported one resident as saying.

tionally, and when elections come, the party will decide who will be the best presidential candidate,” Rohee said.

In ruling out the probability of Jagdeo’s running for the presidency, Rohee maintained that that wish was never expressed by anyone, particularly the former head of state, as Jagdeo had made it clear after stepping down that he was not and will not be interested in running for a third term at any point in time.

“The former president had expressed that he was not interested in a third term. Not only is he not interested but it

is constitutionally wrong for him to do so and the party will not be drafting any legislative measures

that will even allow that,” he emphasised.

(Excerpted from Guyana Times)

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News

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending March 27, 2014

Kern Spencer freed Harrowing details emerge of Cuban light bulb corruption during ongoing trial charges in Jamaica 2006 murder of Trinidadian businesswoman…

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ven after being shot in her leg by her kidnappers, Trinidadian businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman still managed to cling on to life for eight days in an abandoned house in La Puerta, Diego Martin, before she was eventually executed.

As she collapsed from a bullet to the chest at point blank range, the group of men who were holding her captive immediately reached for their rubber gloves and a rotary saw, then began the process of dismembering her body.

Naipaul-Coolman’s body parts were then buried in a shallow grave under a cashew tree located in a forested area nearby.

These were just some of the gruesome details in the State’s opening address to a 12-member jury, with six alternates, at the start of the former supermarket chief executive’s murder trial in Port-of-Spain High Court Monday.

On December 19, 2006, Naipaul-Coolman, 52, was kidnapped from the driveway of her Lange Park, Chaguanas, home. A ransom demand was eventually made for her safe release and some of it was paid, but she was not freed. Her body was never found.

On trial are Shervon “Buffy” Peters; Keida Garcia, Marlon “Madman” Trimmingham; Earl “Bobo” Trimmingham; Ronald “22” Armstrong; Antonio “Hedges”

fore Justice Malcolm Holdip in the Port-ofSpain Second Criminal Court.

The crime

Trinidadian businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolma was kidnapped on December 19, 2006 from the driveway of her Lange Park, Chaguanas, home (TT Newsday photo)

Charles; Joel “Ninja” Fraser; Lyndon “Iron” James; Allan “Scanny” Martins; Devon “Blackboy” Peters; Anthony Dwayne Gloster, also called Anthony Peters, and Jamile “WASA” Garcia.

A 13th accused, Raphael Williams, died in prison in 2011.

The 12 men are be-

In his four-hour long opening address to the jury Monday, lead prosecutor Israel Khan described the details of Naipaul-Coolman’s murder.

“They cut off her legs up to her belly. They cut off both arms from her shoulders. They cut off her head. They cut up her belly and her chest,” Khan said.

“Her body parts were placed into black garbage bags for disposal,” Khan said. The body parts, which were initially buried in two garbage bags in a hole in La Puerta, Diego Martin, where most of the men lived, were later exhumed by the men and dumped out at sea.

The motive behind the killing of the Xtra Foods Supermarket chief executive officer, Khan said, was “greed”.

Keon Gloster, a brother of one of the men on trial, has also given evidence against the men and although he has recanted his evidence, the prosecution will be leading his initial statement in which he spoke of NaipaulCoolman’s killing.

Prosecutors will also be relying on the statement of Earl Trimmingham, who also implicated the men, Khan said.

James has been fingered as the man who actually pulled the trigger, shooting her in the chest at the house in La Puerta.

Khan said the prosecution intends to rely on 73 witnesses, 65 of which are police officers. Eight witnesses are civilians, three of whom include NaipaulCoolman’s husband, Rennie Coolman, her daughter Risha Ali and live-in housekeeper Rasheedan Yacoob.

(Excerpted from TT Newsday)

A TT Guardian composite photo of eight of the 12 men accused of the murder of businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman

Probe deepens into Guyana’s re-migrant vehicle scam

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rominent businessmen have been linked to the multimillion-dollar fraud regarding the illegal granting of vehicle concession under the remigrant scheme in Guyana.

The Audit Office, which is spearheading the probe, has since called in the police as the investigation widens.

Back in February, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) announced that it had launched an investigation into suspected irregular and illegal transactions concerning vehicle concessions to remigrants.

The GRA said then that the probe was prompted by intelligence it received. In making the

announcement, GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur said, “Recently, it was reported to management that persons allegedly posing as remigrants are benefiting others who are supposedly financing highly illegal schemes to grant themselves with the concessions for various classes of luxury vehicles.”

He said it would appear from recent revelations that attempts were being made by disgraced elements, officers who would have been disciplined and taxpayers who would have been placed before the courts, to resort to undermining the efforts made by management to address various areas of weakness in ad-

ministrative controls and to exploit such weaknesses.

Prosecution

When contacted on Sunday, Auditor General Deodat Sharma said that his office was spearheading the investigation and while he cannot divulge any information, the Guyana Police Force is also involved. He said that once the investigation is completely, the findings will be made public and more so, the defaulters will be penalised.

GRA Commissioner General Sattaur said after the scam was detected, the AG’s Office was consulted, and has since taken over the investigation. To date, he said he has not received any in-

Guyana’s Auditor General Deodat Sharma (Guyana Times photo)

formation regarding the matter.

Over the past three years, the GRA said it has prosecuted many remigrants for not honouring their obligations under the scheme and have detained their vehicles while awaiting the outcome of the court matters.

(Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Jamaica’s former junior energy minister Kern Spencer (second left) and his co-accused, Colleen Wright (second right), are greeted by Spencer's mother, Peggy Spencer-Ewen (right), and other supporters outside the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court after they were freed Monday (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

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or nearly six years, allegations of corruption swirled around him, but Monday, Kern Spencer, Jamaica’s former junior energy minister, walked out of the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court a free man.

Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey dismissed all charges against Spencer and his former personal assistant, Colleen Wright, declaring that "having examined the evidence in this matter and how the matter was handled…it is my considered opinion that these accused should not be called upon to state their defence."

The two had been on trial since 2009 for money laundering and illicit enrichment arising from the implementation of the Cuban light bulb programme.

While prosecutors and defence attorneys sparred over the evidence elicited during the near-five-year trial, the former North East St Elizabeth member of parliament, flanked by jubilant supporters, emerged from the courtroom and proclaimed his innocence.

"I am a decent and honest, law-abiding person who would never do several of the things that I was accused of," Spencer told journalists.

The former legislator said: "It was very hurtful at times to have sat and listened to some of the things that were said and by people who should have known better."

Spencer said he was "somewhat bitter" that, at the prime of his life when he should be "moving forward, six years were taken from my life".

Lead prosecutor Paula Llewellyn made it clear she respected the

ruling of the magistrate, but could not hide her disappointment.

Llewellyn, who is Jamaica’s director of public prosecutions (DPP), asserted that there was an "abundance of evidence" to support the charges against Spencer and Wright and that if prosecutors had the right to an appeal, she would have exercised that option.

'The proper outcome'

However, defence attorneys K.D. Knight and Deborah Martin fired back, saying the evidence did not support the charges against their clients and that they were confident that "this was the proper outcome".

"I go a step further.

No reasonable tribunal would consider convicting on the evidence adduced," Knight said.

"A part of the public may very well feel that, 'Boy, they get away.' The fact is, if the public knew all that transpired in the court, the public could quite possibly be upset that this matter occupied so much judicial time and that this matter had so affected the lives of two citizens," he added.

Spencer said his first priority was to spend some time with his family, pointing out that the trial had taken a toll on them.

"My kids [two sons in high school] have been totally embarrassed in school…On several occasions, they have been ridiculed, called names and have had to be counselled," he revealed.

Spencer, who was asked to recuse himself from all the positions he held in the People's National Party (PNP), said it was too early to discuss his political future. (Excerpted from Jamaica Gleaner)

9 Guyana gov’t unveils Gy$220 billion tax-free budget G News

week ending March 27, 2014

uyana’s Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Monday presented a Gy$220 billion budget which will see a Gy$6 billion injection into the troubled sugar industry, along with a five per cent hike in Old Age Pension and the increasing of the electricity subsidy for pensioners from Gy$20,000 to Gy$30,000.

There were no new taxes nor any tax relief announced, but the budget proposed an annual Gy$10,000 grant to each child attending public schools and a Gy$500 million boost to make the rice industry more competitive. The budget, which surpassed last year’s Gy$208.8 billion, was presented under the theme: “A Better Guyana For All Guyanese”.

Rice industry

Regards the proposed allocation to the rice industry, Dr Singh noted the effects of weather conditions and the vi-

cissitudes of world market prices, stating: “It is, therefore, imperative that the industry be placed on a path that would sustain its strong performance even under the most testing conditions.”

Noting the potential for agricultural diversification, he said Gy$200 million is earmarked for the acquisition of planting material and breeding stock for distribution to farmers along with expanded extension services.

Government has also proposed to spend Gy$1 billion to support the Rural Enterprise Development, an initiative that is expected to benefit thousands of persons either through employment obtained or other linkages, from enterprise incubation grants made under this facility.

Hospitality institute

To boost tourism, the government said it

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to support critical capital expenditure without which steeper tariffs would be unavoidable.

“This support will ultimately redound to the benefit of all 170,000 of GPL’s customers and their families,” he stressed.

Linden electricity

Guyana's Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh delivering his budget speech in the National Assembly on Monday

will commence making a US$4 million investment to establish a hospitality institute to ensure that the country produces world-class personnel for this sector.

Meanwhile, the budget also made provisions for another controversial entity, the Guyana Power and Light with a proposed Gy$3.7 billion subsidy. In justifying the

allocation, Dr Singh said fuel prices remain high and, as was indicated last year, GPL has faced considerable challenges meeting the cost of its operations without a tariff increase since 2007.

He said in order to ensure that the company can meet its investment and operational obligations, government provided the allocation

Similarly, Gy$3.2 billion has been budgeted for Linden electricity supply. Dr Singh said no progress has been made on the matter of adjusting electricity tariffs in Linden and as such the allotted sum is being proposed to meet the cost of maintaining the electricity subsidy in Linden and Kwakwani so that 10,500 electricity customers in Region 10 can continue to benefit from rates that are highly subsidised. He said as indicated last year, this translates to a monthly benefit of over Gy$23,000 for each electricity customer in the beneficiary communi-

ties.

Further, the budget provides for a five percent in Old Age Pension with effect from 1 May 2014 to Gy$13,125 monthly. This increase would result in a total of Gy$212.5 million in additional disposable income being placed in the hands of 42,500 of senior citizens, and will bring the total old age pension bill to Gy$6.6 million.

Old Age Pension

Additionally, the programme that assists senior citizens to pay water tariffs due to the Guyana Water Inc and GPL will see an increase of 50 percent, up from Gy$20,000 to Gy$30,000 payable annually to every old age pensioner who is a customer of GPL. “This will result in an additional Gy$300 million of disposable income being placed in the hands of our most senior citizens,” Dr Singh concluded. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

PM Simpson Miller to receive Canadian charged with credit card fraud in Trinidad honorary doctorate from U.S. college

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yan Bridgelal, a Canadian citizen, Monday appeared before a San Fernando magistrate in Trinidad charged with credit card fraud, and manufacturing such cards.

Bridgelal, 23, who was born in Canada, but whose parents are from Railway Road West, Gandhi Village, Debe, was held last Friday at his home on Railway Road West by police officers of the Fraud Squad, San Fernando.

The officers, led by Sgt Bryan Popan and WPC Jennelle Lively, had been probing reports of the credit card ad hoc operations, in which certain equipments were being used.

On Friday last, they arrested Bridgelal at his home and seized pieces of equipment. The 23-year-old Bridgelal was handcuffed, and escorted to the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court at about 3.30 pm Monday.

Magistrate Rae Roopchan read the first charge to Bridgelal that on March 21, 2014, at Railway Road West, Gandhi Village, Debe, near San Fernando, he had in his possession 16 cards, one scanner and a laptop to be

used for manufacturing cards, contrary to the Electronic Transfer of Funds Act. The second charge alleges that Bridgelal had in his possession, four counterfeit cards. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Attorney Reno Teekasingh represented Bridgelal. He told Roopchan that the accused man was a citizen of Canada, having been born in that country when his parents from, Gandhi Village, migrated. The attorney asked for bail to be granted, and the prosecutor, Sgt Channardath Jhilmit, said he had no objections to bail, but asked for conditions to be laid down.

He submitted to Roopchan that Bridgelal renounced his Canadian passport, but added that a check would be made to determine if a Trinidad and Tobago passport exists in his name.

Roopchan granted Bridgelal bail in the sum of TT$50,000, but Teekasingh pleaded further for a cash alternative to be granted.

Roopchan granted TT$10,000 cash bail with a certified cheque. (Excerpted from TT Newsday)

P

rime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is to deliver the commencement address at the Lafayette College in the U.S., where she will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.

The 179th commencement ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 24.

A statement from the co-educational private institution noted that from modest beginnings, Simpson Miller has become an inspiration to many, in Jamaica and elsewhere.

Simpson Miller has been singled out for her commitment and leadership in the areas of human rights, non-discrimination, workers’ rights, and social justice.

The college stated

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller

that the prime minister’s visit will provide the opportunity for discussion about ways in which Jamaica’s quest to develop its economy might lead to new opportunities for Lafayette students in Jamaica.

Lafayette College counts six Jamaicans

among its alumni since 1997.

In recognition of Simpson Miller’s commencement address, the college said it is exploring the possibility of creating an endowed scholarship fund to enroll future students from Jamaica.

(Jamaica Gleaner)

TT to create register of persons with disabilities T

he People’s Partnership government is moving to establish a national register of persons with disabilities, Minister of the People and Social Development Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh said Saturday.

Speaking at a conference to commemorate World Down’s syndrome Day at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-ofSpain, Ramadharsingh observed that while

there has been much progress, persons with disabilities, including those with Down’s syndrome, continue to face stigma, discrimination and exclusion.

He said the government has made significant strides in adhering to the mandate outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Ramadharsingh explained that the regis-

ter will ensure that the resources of the ministry are allocated for programmes targeting persons with disabilities in a much more precise way.

“Additionally, the data generated from the national register on persons with disabilities will further facilitate partnerships and knowledge transfers to other ministries and advocacy bodies like the Down’s syndrome Family Network,”

he related.

Persons with Down’s syndrome, Ramadharsingh highlighted, experience higher rates of poverty and deprivation and are twice as likely to lack health care.

He said the employment rates of persons with disabilities in some countries are as low as one-third of that of the overall population.

The minister expressed hope that the

register, when implemented, will facilitate the mainstreaming of disability sensitive programmes into all public services for citizens of TT in the areas of healthcare, education, sport, recreation, disaster emergency planning and community development.

President and founder of the Down’s syndrome Family Network Glen Niles, who is the father of a son with Down’s

syndrome, told his audience that they must instil strength in their children.

“We need to help them progress and we need to instil in them that strength to do more,” he said.

World Down’s syndrome Day is observed annually on March 21.

The theme of this year’s event was ‘Health and Well-Being: Access And Equality For All’. (TT Newsday)

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Canadian buyers for Jamaica Expo

J

amaica’s biggest trade show of locally produced goods is expected to be the best when it opens at the National Arena in Kingston next month, organisers say.

Addressing this week’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange, EXPO Jamaica 2014 Committee Co-Chair Aswad Morgan said there will be significant improvements to the event this year.

“Every year we have been focused on trying to improve on the quality of the actual show from an operational standpoint, from a whole look and feel, from the number of buyers that we have tried to attract to

the show, consumer experience, in every aspect,” Morgan said.

Booths for the trade show, to be held April 3 to 6, have already been sold out and a total of 448 buyers have so far been registered by the EXPO 2014 Committee.

Of that number, 193 are Jamaican. The overseas buyers hail from as far as the Czech Republic, and include Venezuela, the United States, Canada, Britain, and the Caribbean.

Dubbed by the organisers as ‘The Business Hub of the Caribbean’, the trade show will also feature a farmers’ market where 150,000 pounds of fresh produce is expected to be available.

There will be an ‘Experience Jamaica’ forum which will be held in collaboration with the Jamaica Tourist Board, a food court and live entertainment on offer.

Business interests

President of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association Brian Pengelley was upbeat about the mood and apparent confidence among business interests who have registered to display their products at this year’s EXPO. The EXPO Jamaica 2014 Committee has embarked on a high-energy advertising campaign which includes banners at the Norman Manley and Sangster international airports, advertisements at all

JAMPRO President Diane Edwards (second right) responds to a question at this week’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange at the newspaper’s head office in Kingston (Jamaica Observer photo)

13 cinemas in the island and a social media blitz.

The main aim of the EXPO is to ramp up the ‘Buy Jamaican’ campaign by displaying goods and services that are of an international standard.

Guyanese parliamentarians pay homage to late Debra Backer

A

solemn atmosphere pervaded Guyana’s National Assembly on Monday as members expressed their sorrow over the loss of their former colleague Debra Backer.

During the special sitting of the House for the presentation of the 2014 National Budget, parliamentarians of every stripe paid homage to the late Backer as they recognised her sterling contributions to politics and the development of the country.

Retired Brigadier David Granger, Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which Backer represented in Parliament, said his party has lost an invaluable member.

He noted that while Backer could be remembered for her many contributions as a parliamentarian and Attorney-atLaw, she was devoted to her principles and was very concerned about interpersonal violence, the rights of women and children, and the general condition in which citizens were forced to live.

Granger continued that Backer was very proud of her mixed heritage, accepting it as an asset since it gave her insight into different sections of the population.

APNU MP Debra Backer died last Friday

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds noted that she represented her party and cause well. He said she was a keen debater who was known for her ability to heckle government members and put them off. He expressed his condolences to the late parliamentarian’s family, stating that her death was also a loss for the National Assembly and

the country.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, recounted Backer’s career as a parliamentarian. He noted that she entered the Parliament in 1998 during its Seventh Edition after National Elections the previous year.

Trotman added that Backer continued to serve in the Eighth Parliament after the 2001 elections and went on to serve in the Ninth and Tenth Parliaments after the 2006 and 2011 elections respectively.

The Speaker continued that after the 2011 elections, Backer was appointed Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, in which capacity she served until her resignation last month, owing to illness.

Backer retired from the National Assembly on February 7 due to her prolonged illness, to which she succumbed on Friday last. Her funeral service will be held on Friday at the St Andrew’s Kirk and there will be several events held in her memory. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Patriot

Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Cathy Hughes said her party was saddened by the death of the former parliamentarian, who has served Guyana beyond the call of duty.

In acknowledging the contributions made by the indomitable Backer,

Guyanese parliamentarians observe a moment of silence for the late Deputy Speaker Debra Backer (Guyana Times photos)

“There is a job to do to get our local buyers to know that a lot of products they buy overseas can be accessed locally,” Berletta Forrester, who is in charge of the Expo Jamaica 2014 Buyer Recruitment

Programme, said.

The first two days of the EXPO will be open to registered buyers only and the gates will be open to the public at the end of the second day of business. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

Penny’s relatives in Trinidad court on arms, ammo charges

L

incoln Beckles, brother of People’s National Movement (PNM) leadership candidate, Pennelope BecklesRobinson and three others, were Monday granted bail at a total of TT$1.6 million for the possession of firearms and ammunition.

Beckles’ wife, Janice, his son, Brandon and his brother-in-law Wayne Farrell were granted TT$400,000 bail each to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace, or a cash alternative of TT$25,000. The four appeared before Senior Magistrate Indrani Cedeno Lincoln Beckles (left) and Wilfred at the Arima Magistrates’ Watson are escorted by police Court. on Monday (TT Newsday photo) The four, who were repLinguistics. On 52-year-old resented by Pamela Elder, SC, were among 11 persons Farrell, Elder said he was a charged for the possession joiner by occupation.

She said, according to her of firearms and ammunition.

The case was called in the information, the possession of the arms and ammunition First Court.

The court heard that on was not actual, but construcMarch 22 last, police con- tive possession.

Later in the day, the othducted a search of the home at 12 Swift Drive, Phase er seven who were charged 3, Malabar, Arima, where with possession of 37 rounds they found one pump-ac- of ammunition appeared betion shotgun, one Magnum fore Cedeno. Wilfred Watson, .347 revolver, one Smith and Barbara Watson, Christine Wesson .44 revolver and an Watson, Chryseis Watson, Watson, Jerome AK-47 rifle. Twelve rounds of Keron and Kareem ammunition were also found. Trotman The charges were laid indict- Trotman were representably and they were not called ed by Brian Nedd and Nigel Allsop. upon to plead.

The court heard that at Elder then made an application for bail noting that the 5.10 am, police searched a defendants had an “unblem- home at Cocrico Crescent in Phase III, Malabar for arms ished criminal record”.

She said Beckles, 54, and ammunition. The comwas a manager at the plainant, PC Anil Andrews, National Flour Mills, Janice found in a room on the northwas a housewife, their son ern side of the house a blue Brandon, 26, was a clerical cellphone box with a pair of assistant at the University socks which contained 37 of the West Indies (UWI). brass objects resembling amElder said Brandon had a munition. Kareem Trotman great academic record as he was the only one out of the graduated from Fatima and seven who pleaded guilty. later from UWI majoring in (Excerpted from TT Newsday)

week ending March 27, 2014

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PSOJ introduces discount card for Jamaica’s government workers

T

PSOJ president Christopher Zacca (Jamaica Gleaner file photo)

he Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), in partnership with ePayment Group Limited, has launched a discount card project targeted exclusively at the island's 120,000 public sector workers.

Under the programme, discounts will be given at a minimum five percent, PSOJ president Christopher Zacca said, while addressing the PSOJ chairman's club at the Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston Tuesday.

The public sector was targeted, he said, because “this group is facing significant challenges managing their day-to-day expenses in a climate where costs are increasing.” The group is currently experiencing a wage freeze.

Cardholders who spend at participating businesses will earn discounts and additional rewards which can be used to acquire goods and services.

“The rewards are instantaneous and can be used immediately and at a number of different stores,” Zacca said, noting that companies which have signed up to date include Altamont Court Hotel, Alternative Power Sources, ATL, ATL Automotive, GasPro,

Michi Super Centre, Pepsi, Singer Jamaica and the University College of the Caribbean.

Stating that the effort was in the start–up stage, Zacca said he expected other companies to come on board in short order, as they see other businesses benefiting from the volume of business generated by the card.

Referring to the food retail segment, he said “we have Michi on board. We feel confident that others will come on board.”

Zacca said the discount card was approved by the Ministry of Finance and that “the government fully endorses the programme and plans to distribute the cards directly to the workers, who will then be able to activate their accounts via text messages.”

The programme will be administered by ePayment Group, which hold fiduciary and technical responsibility for the programme, the PSOJ president said.

Zacca added that assistance was secured from the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce who has asked their membership to sign up to participate. (Excerpted from Jamaica Gleaner)

Guyana’s budget reveals monetary assistance package for children in public schools

G

uyana’s Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said government has already made significant investments in the education sector, seeking to ensure universal access, and to raise both quality of delivery and attainment rates.

The result, he said, has been the achievement of universal primary education and significant progress towards achieving universal secondary education.

According to him, supportive programmes have included the National School Feeding programme and the National School Uniform Programme, both of which have

helped to lift attendance rates and, in particular in the case of the former, raise classroom attentiveness and participation.

He said in an effort to provide additional support to parents with school-age children, government will provide this year a cash grant to the parents of every child attending a nursery, primary, or secondary school in the public education system in the amount of Gy$10,000 per child for the year 2014.

“This grant can be used to meet such costs as transportation, and will provide added impetus to raising enrolment and attendance rates,

in addition to having the effect of increasing the disposable incomes of the parents of school aged children. This initiative will benefit the 188,406 families of the students of public nursery, primary, and secondary schools, and will cost a total of Gy$2 billion.”

City clean-up

Meanwhile, the budget also makes provision for Gy$500 million to be channelled into cleaning up of Georgetown.

“Piles of garbage and litter abound. The national public health hazard that this presents, especially in the face of emerging diseases can no longer be ignored.

Notwithstanding the

statutory responsibility of the local government bodies for maintaining the environment in communities and neighbourhoods, it is visibly evident that they have failed in the discharge of this basic duty,” Dr Singh indicated.

He said government can no longer stand by in hope, waiting in vain for comatose local government bodies to address this problem.

The government will allocate the sum of Gy$1 billion to this 'Clean Up My Country' initiative, of which the sum of Gy$500 million will be dedicated to immediate efforts to clean the capital city. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

UWI's top diabetes expert gets WHO appointment

I

n the week of its ground-breaking annual conference that will throw the spotlight on "Diabetes and Sports", the University Diabetes Outreach Programme (UDOP) is celebrating a major international appointment of one of its most outstanding experts.

Kingston-based Trinidad-born Professor Dalip Ragoobirsingh has just been invited to be a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines development expert group, a recognition of his high quality work in diabetes and nutrition in the Caribbean.

Dr Ragoobirsingh was identified from WHO's search for international specialists to advise the United Nations agency on the choice of important outcomes for decisionmaking and in the interpretation of the evidence for making recommendations.

"This is in keeping with the 65th World

Kingston-based Trinidadborn Professor Dalip Ragoobirsingh (Jamaica Observer photo)

Health Assembly comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition," the Diabetes Outreach Programme said in a press statement lauding the appointment.

Dr Ragoobirsingh's appointment has come close on the heels of his publication in the prestigious

British Medical Journal, based on a study done in collaboration with the Florida International University and with the blessings of the ministries of education and health on 276 Jamaican adolescents aged 14-19 years, randomly selected from grades nine to 12 from 10 high schools on the island and including both genders.

The study showed that Jamaican adolescents are at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, with females being at greater risk than their male counterparts.

It recommended that intervention measures are needed to educate Jamaican adolescents to reduce overweight and subsequently the risk factors.

The conference will be held at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in

Ocho Rios from March 2729. The keynote speaker at the opening ceremony is minister of state without portfolio, with responsibility for sports, Natalie Neita Headley.

Prof Ragoobirsingh, a Rhodes Trust scholar, was previously invited to Geneva in 2008 to advise WHO on its Peers in Progress programme for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This followed his sabbatical attachment, as a Fulbright Scholar, to the Unit of Noncommunicable Diseases of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) headquarters in Washington DC. He subsequently served as technical advisor to the PAHO project on Improvement Initiatives for Diabetes Management in the Caribbean.

(Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

Cops in schools to curb violence in TT

I

n the wake of a growing number of incidents of school violence in TT, police officers will be deployed at schools.

Speaking at a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair last week, TT’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dookeran, who was at the time acting as prime minister, said the issue of school violence was discussed at last week’s Cabinet meeting and members met with acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams. He said police officers would be deployed at schools during their opening hours to act as a deterrent.

In addition, he said, the Ministry of Education Value Education Programme would be expedited and individual schools must also take responsibility for the situation.

Over the last few days, there have been reports of students charged for fighting in schools and suspended. But criminologist Dana Seetahal, SC, disagreed that police in schools was the best option. She said if that was the case then other areas of society would

also want police presence and that would ultimately deter the police from carrying out its duties. “And then how long can you put a police presence in schools? That can’t be a permanent answer to anything,” Seetahal added.

She recommended there be an expansion of the Military-led Academic Training Programme (Milat) which was a voluntary programme and could only accommodate some 100 participants at a time.

National Security Minister Gary Griffith agreed that the problem of school violence was not only a law enforcement issue, but also one which involved the entire society.

In an interview last Friday, Griffith said the root cause of the problem must be ascertained. “This is as an important matter as policing and law enforcement, and it is a social matter as it requires counselling to get to the root cause of the problem,” Griffith said.

He added that the National Security Ministry would also be collaborating with various ministries to properly tackle the problem. (TT Guardian)

News

TT legislators seek hefty fines for child porn M illion-dollar fines and jail terms of up to 15 years are some of the severe penalties being proposed by the TT government in new legislation to deal with specific cyber crimes including child pornography. This as two new pieces of legislation—the Cybercrime Bill 2014 and the TT Cyber Security Agency Bill 2014— were laid in the House of Representatives last Friday by Science and Technology Minister Dr Rupert Griffith. No date has been set for the debate on the legislation, which requires a special three-fifths majority vote to be passed.

In June last year, Griffith spoke about the need for such legislation, saying it will not deal only with hacking.

He said then: “We will also be dealing with legislation in areas such as electronic evidence and electronic transfer of funds of crime.”

The Cybercrime Bill seeks to address child pornography via a computer system or other information and communication technology (ICT). It provides for a fine of TT$1 million and ten years imprisonment on summary conviction.

That fine and imprisonment will increase to TT$2 million and 15 years respectively, for conviction on indictment.

Another clause in the Bill addresses the vio-

lation of someone’s privacy by capturing and sharing pictures or videos of a person's private area without his/her consent. That offence is proposed to carry a fine of TT$2,000 and two years imprisonment on summary conviction. The fine and imprisonment on conviction on indictment are TT$.5 million and three years respectively.

Clause 18 deals with the issue of child predators. It seeks to “create the offence of luring, which is the use of a computer to set up a meet-

ing with a child for the purpose of abusing the child.”

It says a fine of TT$1 million and ten years imprisonment will be imposed for the offence on summary conviction. A TT$2 million fine and 15 years imprisonment are proposed for a conviction on indictment. The legislation seeks to "criminalise the sending of multiple electronic mail messages that are unsolicited and which cause harm to a person or damage to a computer," the explanatory note to the Bill said. (TT Guardian)

Jamaica’s education minister wants “daggering” parents to be charged

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amaica’s Education Minister Ronald Thwaites is advocating for criminal charges to be laid against adults who engage children in inappropriate sexual activities such as 'daggering'.

The minister's comment came against the background of a recent YouTube video featuring two young boys dancing in a sexually suggestive manner with two women at a party to the delight of other patrons.

In the video one of the boys was fully dressed in a shorts suit while the other only had on his underwear as they “daggered” the women on the ground. One person could also be seen pouring water on one of the little boys as he danced away.

Commenting on the video during the launch

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Gy$7 billion road upgrade for Guyana

R TT’s Science and Technology Minister Dr Rupert Griffith (TT Newsday file photo)

of Project Sprout, an early childhood initiative at Eden Gardens Wellness and Lifestyle Centre in Kingston last week Tuesday, Thwaites said, "I saw a social media video and it took place, I think in Gregory Park…in broad daylight and there were about 150 people gathered on the street and there were two women spreadeagled on the ground and two little boys, one could be about five and the other about seven and they were daggering, simulating sex with these women to the great admiration of the crowd."

"Now when those little boys go into school there is very little we can do with them," the minister said.

"Frankly, the women, who are probably mothers, and the people who

were egging them on as if it was a contest should be charged with a criminal offence," he added.

According to Thwaites, the occurrence is a prime example of people subjecting children to a loss of innocence and to an entirely inappropriate set of values.

"Now this is the challenge then of our nearly 3,000 early childhood institutions and those volunteers and contributors who are tasked with educating them. We have to decide what early childhood education is going to do going forward," he said.

Meanwhile, the minister also raised concerns that many parents were expecting too much from their children at the early childhood level. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

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CDB Division Chief Andrew Dupigny and Guyana’s Public Works Minister Robeson Benn

esidents of communities along the Parika to Vreed-en-Hoop corridor in Guyana can look forward to improvements in approximately 30.7 kilometres of roadway from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, as work will soon get underway.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the US$34.2 million project, which is aimed at increasing efficiency and safety of road transportation along the West Coast Demerara Road from Vreed-enHoop to Hydronie, was officially launched last Thursday morning at the Pegasus Hotel in the presence of Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, Work Services Group, Coordinator Geoffrey Vaughn, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Division Chief Andrew Dupigny and other stakeholders.

This Fourth Road Project (West Coast Demerara Road Improvement) that is being implemented with finance from the CDB, has combined six components, each having its own estimated source of funds. The project has an estimated total financing cost of US$46.789 mil-

lion and the total base cost is approximately US$36.301 million.

Development partner

Government is particularly pleased with CDB’s continued support in the country’s infrastructure, since the government sees infrastructure advancement as key to Guyana’s development, Benn noted.

The CDB has been involved in road works on the Linden Highway, done under the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF.) It was also involved with road improvement on the East and West Bank of Demerara and in Bartica, Charity, Parika and Supenaam as well with the ongoing community road improvement project. The last Public Works Ministry project funded by CDB was the Third Road Project, which has been completed and is the Profitt/ Foulis Sea Defence Project.

The minister called on his technicians, engineers and administrators to be engaged with the projects to ensure successful achievement.

“I am pleased to say overall we have had significant improvements with respect to your engagement with the work…but

we still have to do continuous evaluation, continuous improvement, monitoring and assessment,” he said.

In addition to the road works which also include approximately 28.5km of footpaths for pedestrians and 20km of cycle lanes, the installation of traffic signs and road markings; provision of additional street lighting; replacement of Groenveldt Bridge and the repair of Uitvlugt Bridge, the other components of the projects include road safety awareness, which is expected to result in behavioural changes such as the adoption of safe road usage and driving practices, Dupigny explained.

The activities under this component will include a School Road Safety Education Programme, and Community and Driver Road Safety and Public Relations and Community Education.

Except for the school road safety education programme, which will be implemented by the Education Ministry, the Public Works Ministry through the WSG will have the responsibility for implementing all other programmes, Dupigny said.

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Jamaica’s first private open heart-surgery a success

A

fter three mild heart attacks and suffering from chronic heart disease as a result of high cholesterol for 11 years, an emotional 61-year-old Herold Russell was at a loss for words in expressing his gratitude for the second shot he got at life.

One week after being the first patient to undergo private coronary artery bypass graft surgery at Medical Associates in Jamaica, Russell is beaming with joy.

“It has been wonderful.

I don’t think I could ask for more. I knew I had the right person in charge and he was supported by the right people.

I had no fear whatsoever going into the surgery. Dr. Roger Irvine is a miracle man,” Russell shared with Jamaican media from his hospital bed at the St. Andrew-based private hospital.

“I give thanks to God. I feel triple blessed. Now I am going to do my best to live a better lifestyle, continue my physiotherapy, eat right, exercise and take my medication,” said the former trucker, who once traveled across the United States earning a living.

At a critical stage, Russell was on a waiting list at the University of the West Indies (UHWI) for open-heart surgery. He said relatives insisted he do the complicated, risky surgery overseas, but he had every faith it could be done successfully in Jamaica.

History

When renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Roger Irvine contacted him to be the first patient to participate in the breakthrough procedure at Medical Associates, Russell agreed without hesitation.

On March 12, the hospital

created history when Irvine, assisted by cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. Moses deGraft-Johnson from the U.S., performed the first private coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Up to that point, the delicate surgery was only available at the UHWI. A first for Jamaica was harvesting the vein needed for the procedure endoscopically.

Typically, the vein is harvested by surgically cutting the patient from the thigh to the ankle.

“We knew from before hand that we were going to embark on something completely different to what was being offered in Jamaica and I feel great that we have done what we set out to do. I am very proud of the team here,” said Irving.

Head of the cardiac programme at Medical Associates

since last year September, Irving said it has taken a lot of resources and preparation to get the hospital to the point of being able to carry out an intricate procedure as openheart surgery.

“Developing the capability for open-heart surgery is a big jump for any hospital. A lot of things have to be in place and it puts a lot of demand on the entire hospital system and all the support services required to make it happen. Everything had to be perfect,” he said.

Privately open-heart surgery can cost the patient approximately Ja$4 million, while at the public UHWI it is just over Ja$1 million.

Irvine, who has specialized in cardiac surgery since 1992, performed his first unassisted cardiac surgery 15 years ago at UHWI and since then he has done approximately 60 per

year.

Since 1968, he said over 1,500 open-heart surgeries have been done at the UHWI.

Epidemic in heart disease

The specialist said there is an alarming increase in heart disease, not just in Jamaica, which has resulted in a number of persons at a much younger age needing cardiac surgery.

“When I started out, most of the operations we were doing was in the 70-80 age group.

These days most operations I do are in the 40-60 age group,” Irving noted.

Now seeing more patients because of heart disease, Irving said when he started out he was seeing one person every few weeks with the ailment. Now he was seeing up to ten patients every day. (Excerpted from Jamaica Gleaner)

Private hospital in Berbice sues AFC member, DTV for Gy$100 million

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he Anamayah Memorial Hospital, Belvedere, Corentyne, Berbice, has sued Alliance For Change (AFC) member Donna Mathoo and DTV Channel 8, for libel.

The lawsuit, filed by Anamayah Memorial Hospital and part owner Dr Ryan Naiken Anamayah, has named Mathoo and DTV Channel 8 owner Tony Rambarran as the first and second named defendants.

In the court document seen by Guyanese media, the privately-owned medical institution is claiming damages in excess of Gy$100,000,000 for statements, which it said were false, malicious and reckless by the AFC member “in an attempt to ruin the institution”.

The statements were reportedly made by Mathoo on a paid televised programme titled “Alliance on the Move” on DTV Channel 8, during which she claimed that expired drugs were seized from the medical institution.

In a statement to the media, the Anamayah Memorial Hospital said that Mathoo’s statements were an unwarranted attack on the “good name”

of the institution.

The medical institution has assured its patients and the public that it has always acted in full compliance with the laws as it relates to the disposal of expired pharmaceuticals.

“At no time has any expired drugs been dispensed or administered to any patient,” the hospital maintained.

It also noted that complaints were also made to AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and member Moses Nagamootoo, informing them about the reckless conduct of their party member.

According to the court document, the statements made by the AFC activist were meant to insinuate “that the plaintiffs would intentionally dispense and/or administer expired pharmaceuticals to patients; that the plaintiffs should not be trusted and persons should not go to the hospital for medical treatment; that it was unsafe and dangerous for persons to seek medical attention at the plaintiffs, and that the plaintiffs were guilty of criminal negligence and deliberately endangered the lives of their patients”.

The Anamayah Memorial Hospital,

The Anamayah Memorial Hospital in Guyana located at Belvedere, Corentyne, Berbice (Guyana Times file photo)

in the legal documents filed, said the statements by Mathoo has injured its credit and reputation, causing it to suffer considerable distress, public embarrassment, and loss of business and it was brought into ridicule, odium and contempt.

In addition to asking for Gy$100 million, the medical institution is also requesting that an injunction be granted to restrain the defendants from further publishing or broadcasting any similar libel involving the plaintiffs.

(Guyana Times)

Canadians, American charged with money laundering in the Caribbean

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he United States Department of Justice (DOJ) says that an American and two Canadian citizens have been charged with using offshore accounts in the Caribbean to launder US$200,000.

The DOJ said that Joshua Vandyk, a U.S. citizen, and Canadians Eric St-Cyr and Patrick Poulin, were nabbed in an undercover sting operation.

They were indicted for conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, the DOJ and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced.

The indictment alleges that Vandyk, StCyr and Poulin conspired to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership and

The United States Department of Justice said that a U.S. citizen and two Canadian nationals were nabbed in an undercover sting operation

control of property believed to be the proceeds of bank fraud.

The DOJ said the Cayman Islands and

Turks and Caicos-based defendants allegedly assisted undercover law enforcement agents, posing as U.S. clients, in laun-

dering “purported criminal proceeds through an offshore structure designed to conceal the true identity of the proceeds’

owners.

“Vandyk and St-Cyr invested the laundered funds on the clients’ behalf and represented the funds would not be reported to the U.S. government,” the statement said.

The DOJ said the indictment was returned in the Eastern District of Virginia on March 6 and unsealed on March 12, when all three defendants were arrested in Miami, Florida.

In addition to the conspiracy charge, Vandyk, St-Cyr and Poulin were each charged with two counts of money laundering.

“These charges result from an extensive investigation and are the latest demonstration of the Department’s resolve to

find and prosecute those who aid money laundering and tax fraud globally,” said DOJ Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole.

According to the indictment, Vandyk and StCyr lived in the Cayman Islands and worked for an investment firm based in the Cayman Islands.

St-Cyr was the founder and head of the investment firm, whose clientele included numerous U.S. citizens, the DOJ said.

It added that Poulin, an attorney, at a law firm based in the Turks and Caicos, worked and resided in Canada and in the Turks and Caicos.

His clientele also included numerous U.S. citizens. (Excerpted from Caribbean News)

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Guyana’s Coast Guard gets vessels to boost security

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he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard last Friday received three new river patrol boats valued a whopping Gy$340 million (US$1.7 million) from the United States government to assist the army in strengthening security.

The commissioning ceremony was held at the Coast Guard Ship Hinds moored at its headquarters in Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown, during which U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, D Brent Hardt, handed over the keys of the vessels to President Donald Ramotar. The vessels, equipped with state-ofthe-art communication systems, were built in the U.S. by Metal Shark Aluminium Boats.

Ambassador Hardt said the handover is the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries as they cooperate to com-

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard last Friday received these three new river patrol boats (Carl Croker photo) U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt handing over the keys of the vessels to Guyana's President Donald Ramotar

bat transnational organised crime, and ensure freedom of commerce.

He disclosed that prior to the handover, the military forces from the two countries have been engaged in training sessions on the operation and maintenance of the vessels, along with courses on marine patrol and interdiction. The training will be ongoing to

prepare the local army to respond to any crisis, he said.

The Ambassador revealed that all of these initiatives–the provision of state-of-the-art patrol boats, communications equipment and ongoing training and support–are part of a more comprehensive regional security partnership undertaken through the Caribbean

Russian airline suspends service to Jamaica

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he recent political developments between Russia and Ukraine have led to the suspension of service provided by Transaero Airlines.

Last Thursday, Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism announced that Transaero would be suspending service between Moscow and Montego Bay, effective March 28, with a resumption of service set for November.

The suspension was attributed to "dramatic currency fluctuations in Russia, their impact on airline operations, and recent political developments".

As a direct result of this development, the ministry said the Jamaica Tourist Board's regional director in Europe has been dispatched to Moscow "to keep in touch with the market and to protect the gains we have made there".

The airline began its Jamaica ser-

The airline hopes to resume service in November (Jamaica Observer file photo)

vice in the winter of 2012/13. At the time it was welcomed as a major boost to the tourist trade from that part of the world. It was so successful that the airline opted to maintain the service through the entire year.

However, in light of these recent political developments, Transaero said it was not confident in its ability to maintain the same level of service this year.

(CMC)

Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

He noted that through the CBSI programme, similar vessels are already in operation throughout the Caribbean, boosting regional capacity to meet the illicit trafficking threat head-on. Vessels of this type are also being used by the U.S. military and navy around the world, he highlighted.

Tackle illicit trafficking

“It is our hope that these vessels will likewise boost Guyana’s ability to disrupt and dismantle illicit trafficking in its waters and reinforce regional efforts. We put forward this hope, because our countries recognise that illicit trafficking destabi-

lises economic progress, threatens public safety, and makes it more likely that vulnerable populations may be lured into criminal organisations,” the Ambassador stated.

In his remarks at the ceremony, President Ramotar expressed gratitude to the U.S. government for donating the vessels, which, he said, will definitely help to improve the efficiency of not only the GDF, but all the Disciplined Forces in combating the various aspects of crime and criminal activities.

He implored the coastguards who will be using the vessels to care for them.

“I urge the army, the Coast Guard in particu-

lar, to ensure these vessels are used effectively so that CANU [Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit] can call to go after criminal elements and police can also get to use them,” he stated.

The vessels are 31 feet long with a seating capacity of six; however, a maximum of 12 persons can be accommodated on board. Their maximum range is 200 nautical miles and maximum speed, 50-plus knots. After the commissioning ceremony, the small gathering of top officials from the security sector and dignitaries were given a sample of the vessels’ capabilities.

(Excerpted from Guyana Times)

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Patil Group to establish medical college in Guyana

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he DY Patil Group, one of the largest private educators in India, will soon begin construction of a medical college at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

According to General Manager Dilip Kawad, other colleges in a later phase will include Engineering, Allied Health and a Master’s in Business Administration.

The Patil Group was established in 1983 and the group’s activities span the fields of education, healthcare, agriculture and sports.

It has over 180 institutes of learning, encompassed in three universities based out of the cities of Navi Mumbai, Pune and Kolhapur in India.

The group runs three medical colleges and hospitals with a bed strength capacity of over 6000 and provides affordable healthcare and medical attention to scores of people.

The DY Patil International Cricket Stadium at Navi Mumbai is rated as one of the six best stadiums in the world and is the finest sporting facil-

ity in India. They also run several international schools in India and abroad.

Kawad said recognising the need for a firstclass medical college in the Caribbean, the group decided to establish its university in Guyana because of its interest to build a strong link with Guyana and to offer Guyanese a medical education without the need to leave their home country if they so choose.

The group will engage a Guyanese construction firm to build this facility and will employ Guyanese and world

renowned faculty to ensure that it offers the best possible education to its students.

First batch

The first batch of students will begin their courses in early 2015, Kawad said.

“In addition, the group will utilise local faculty for some of the courses and will engage other Guyanese in gainful employment during construction and later for its operations at the university; this facility will be a net foreign exchange earner,” he said.

In light of the group’s statement, Guyanese

media sought clarification from the company on a number of issues, which it is yet to respond to.

These include the total sum of money to be invested in this project; the amount of students that would be accommodated at the institution; under whose administration will the institution fall; the length of time it would take for construction and how soon it will begin; if the lecturers would be Guyanese; whether there will be any collaboration with the University of Guyana and other Caribbean universities; whether the group is in receipt of any grants, tax waivers or any other assistance in setting up the college; if the land at Turkeyen is leased or if it was purchased; and whether there are other partners locally that will be working along with the group.

Last December, Kawad announced that the company is in talks with the government for the development land in the Canje Basin and the agreement is still under negotiations.

Joint select committee to examine Jamaica’s Integrity Commission Bill

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amaica’s Upper House last Friday named the slate of senators from that chamber who will be part of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament to consider the newly tabled legislation to establish a single anti-corruption agency.

The authority will have as its focus the promotion and strengthening of measures for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of acts of corruption in government. The new Integrity Commission Act will repeal the ‘The Parliament (Integrity of Members) Act’ when passed into law.

Last Friday Justice Minister Senator Mark Golding, who is among those to sit on the committee, said Government Senators KD Knight, Lambert Brown, Imani DuncanPrice, and Sophia Frazer-Binns along with Opposition Senators Marlene Malahoo Forte, Camina Johnson Smith, and Alexander Williams would sit jointly with a similar committee to be

appointed by the House of Representatives which is to be named.

Former Contractor General Greg Christie had fronted calls for such a body, formally advancing the idea in March 2010.

Christie had suggested that at a minimum, the commission should merge the functions of the Parliamentary Integrity Commission, the Corruption Prevention Commission and the Office of the Contractor General (OCG). He also proposed that the commission be vested with the power for full criminal investigation, arrest, detention, and prosecutorial jurisdictional powers in respect of all corruptionrelated matters.

Speaking during the last sitting of the Upper House for 2013 at Gordon House, Golding had said the Integrity Commission Bill to establish the single anti-corruption agency would be among "a number of important bills which will be coming to the Senate in 2014".

(Jamaica Observer)

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Guyana embarks on multi-million land reclamation project in mined-out areas

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uyana’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud has announced a Gy$500 million Land Reclamation Project that his ministry will undertake to clean up the many mined-out areas in the country’s hinterland.

This project will see focus being placed on reclaiming forested land and engaging in reforestation activities in areas that are affected as a result of mining and timber extraction.

Speaking at a forum in Guyana last week, Persaud said the initiative is a demonstration of the country’s commitment to sustainable forestry management, while maintaining its outstanding track record in this regard.

He assured that the government will not shirk from its commitments and responsibilities at the global and national levels.

As such, it has been putting in place the necessary policies and legislation to ensure sound and strict forest management.

Replanting

Head of the Policy and Coordination Planning Unit at the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Veetal Rajkumar, said the Land Reclamation Committee was established under the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

From the time of its establishment in 2013 to present, the Committee has been able to access the mined-out pits in

GGMC staffers hard at work planting trees in Region Eight

Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Region Eight (Potaro- Siparuni ) and has been conducting studies and surveys in the most recent minedout areas while replanting trees and other protective vegetation in the old mined-out areas.

The exercise, which is

primarily carried out by the GGMC, had recently focused on replanting some 10 hectares of mined-out white sand covered land in Mahdia, Region Eight with the Acacia mangium, a multi-purpose plant that facilitates soil fertility by fixing nitrogen in the

soil.

The plant, Rajkumar said, is also suitable for intercropping with fruits and vegetables, including pineapple and plantain.

The plants are grown in a nursery, which is the first of its kind located in Mahdia. In ensuring the replanting exer-

cise becomes a success, the GGMC held a series of workshops over the months to ensure that the miners understand their duties and responsibilities in the process.

Replanting efforts are also currently ongoing at Isseneru, Noitgedacht, Aranka, and Arakaka in Region Eight, while plans are in train to soon commence planting in Region Seven.

But while the emphasis has been placed on the GGMC, a source stated that the initiative is not solely facilitated by the organisation, but the miners are compelled by ministry regulations to assist in the replanting efforts before they can be allowed to move on to other locations.

(Excerpted from Guyana Times)

English lessons for Jamaica TT records lowest British Council project to help unemployment rate local educators, students

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he British Council of Jamaica will, in a matter of weeks, roll out an international programme to help local educators better prepare students to speak and use the English Language effectively as it has now been determined that Jamaica is not quite an English-speaking country.

In fact, Jamaica is the only so-called Englishspeaking nation in the world to benefit from the programme and only one of two countries in the Caribbean, the other being Cuba, whose official language is Spanish.

The programme, which is dubbed "Teaching teachers to teach English", will see the British Council of Jamaica partnering with the Ministry of Education to improve Englishspeaking skills in schools.

The programme has already been introduced in more than 100 countries spanning six continents.

Project manager at the British Council, Morland Wilson, said the idea to launch the programme in Jamaica came about as a result of a discussion between Jamaica's Education Minister Ronald Thwaites and regional director for the council, Christopher Wade, at which time the minister expressed concerns about challenges with teaching English in local schools.

Consequently, three lan-

Jamaica's Education Minister Ronald Thwaites (Jamaica Observer file photo)

guage consultants were brought to the island last month to do an assessment of the situation and a report is currently being done to see how to address the existing challenges and to formalise the implementation of the project.

Challenge

"In some schools, everyone speaks to each other in standard English, while in the schools that we have the challenge, the teachers don't speak in English, they actually speak in the local language, which poses a problem.

Generally speaking, when the kids go home, their parents speak to them in Jamaican patois and they communicate 90 per cent of their life in Jamaican patois, so when they are in the school environment, they should have had a sterile environment in terms of learning English or speaking it properly.”

Wilson asserted that while Jamaica is considered an Englishspeaking country, the current struggle with the language suggests otherwise.

The education miniser, meanwhile, admitted that he is concerned about the inability of some students to pass English Language in regional examinations such as the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

Jamaica's pass rate for the 2013 sitting was 52 percent.

The minister said efforts are being made to equip teachers with English skills. The ministry, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development, for example, has dispatched more than 120 literacy coaches in some primary schools to help improve literacy, with the hope that these students will have a better grasp of the language before they move on to secondary schools.

Meanwhile, two more language specialists from the British Council are expected to visit Jamaica next month to assist with the implementation of the language intervention programme. While the council will be providing course material, it is the education ministry that will decide which schools will benefit.

(Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

TT’s Central Statistical Office reported that the labour force registered 635,100 persons at the end of the first quarter 2013 (TT Newsday file photo)

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rinidad and Tobago recorded the lowest unemployment rate in the country’s history in the first quarter of 2013 when the rate fell from 4.7 percent to 3.7 percent. This is according to data in the latest Labour Force bulletin from the Central Statistical Office collected in the Continuous Sample Survey of Population conducted between January and March 2013.

The CSO reported that the unemployment rate for females decreased from 6.6 percent to 4.7 percent, while unemployment rate for males decreased from 4.6 percent to 3 percent.

Compared to the same quarter a year earlier the overall unemployment rate fell from 5.4 percent to 3.7 percent.

This decline in the unemployment rate were reported in specific industries including, financing, insurance, real

estate and business services, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and hotels and transport, storage and communication. “The labour force of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago registered 635,100 persons at the end of the first quarter 2013,” the CSO stated.

Gender breakdown

“This represented an increase of 5,400 or 0.8 percent when compared to the Fourth Quarter 2012. From a gender perspective, this increase in the labour force was reflected among males which rose by 0.1 percent and females which increased by 1.9 percent when compared with the previous quarter. When compared to the corresponding quarter in 2012, the overall labour force for the 1st Quarter 2013 revealed an increase of 11,600 or 1.9 percent,” it indicated.

The overall labour force participation rate rose from 61.7 percent in the fourth quarter 2012

to 61.9 percent in the first quarter 2013.

The labour force participation rate for males fell to 72.4 percent while the labour force participation rate for females increased to 51.5 percent. When compared with the corresponding quarter of 2012, the overall labour force participation rate increased from 61.8 percent to 61.9 percent. The survey data showed an increase of 11,500 or 1.9 percent in the number of persons with jobs, in the quarter under review.

From a gender perspective, the number of employed males rose by 4,000 or 1.1 percent while the number of employed females increased by 7,500 or 3 percent.

When compared to the corresponding quarter a year earlier, the data showed that the total number of persons employed in TT increased significantly by 22,100 or 3.7 percent. (Excerpted from TT Guardian)

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Jamaica to spend over Ja$2 billion Caribbean urged to to improve aviation safety, security ban sale of high salt foods for children T he Jamaican government will be spending Ja$2.3 billion (US$22 million) over the next two years to improve aviation safety and security, by upgrading or replacing ageing technology in keeping with international standards.

This is according to Leroy Lindsay, Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA).

Lindsay, who has been at the helm of the JCAA for four months, said Jamaica is currently ranked 10 percent above the criteria for international compliance, in terms of best practices and standards outlined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

He said this ranking is a vast improvement over the previous 2007 ranking of 30 percent of the compliance requirements, and that the authority is working assiduously to maintain compliance with the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

The JCAA director general said Jamaica will stand out in the

Director General of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority Leroy Lindsay (JIS photo)

Caribbean in terms of its oversight of the aviation industry, and outlined some of the steps that the authority will be embarking on to maintain a high standard of performance.

Satellite surveillance

"Regarding air navigation services, we will be replacing all dated technology, so that we will, in the next two or three years, have even better technology and equipment than our friends to the north of us. We hope, for example, to have Automatic Dependent SurveillanceBroadcast (ADS-B) equipment, which will

give us satellite surveillance of aircraft by 2017.

The USA will have that commissioned in 2020 and the UK will have it commissioned in 2018," he noted.

He anticipates that Controller Pilot Data Link Communications, which is automatic communication between the air traffic control systems and the aircraft systems, should also be in place by 2017. This, he said, gives air traffic controllers the ability to do "less controlling and more monitoring, which will make the skies safer."

Lindsay indicated that the dated radar

equipment will be replaced, and that requests for proposals have already gone out for the acquisition of the new radars, and approximately 26 site surveys have been done ahead of the bids.

He noted that the authority will be implementing environmentally-friendly measures for Jamaica's airspace, that are in keeping with Priority Based Navigation in the ICAO Global Navigation Plan.

These include Continuous Descent Approach (CDA), and Continuous Climb Operations (CCO). The CDA is designed to reduce fuel consumption and noise, as the descent is done at a smooth constant angle, instead of the step down approach, where the aircraft throttles down and permission is requested to descend to each new level.

The CCO is the outgoing equivalent of the CDA. The director general said Jamaica's air traffic controllers have gone through the necessary training to facilitate a flow management system, that can separate and space aircraft accordingly. (JIS)

Trini nurse suspended for sending home woman with miscarried foetus in plastic bag

A

nurse in Trinidad who is suspected of sending a woman home with her miscarried foetus in a black plastic bag has been suspended with basic salary pending further investigation.

A release issued Sunday by the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) confirmed the suspension.

According to reports emanating from Trinidad, Tahia Jordan, 23, of Trou Macaque, Laventille, was discharged from the Port-ofSpain General Hospital last Thursday where she was treated for a miscarriage. When she returned home, she discovered the bloody foetus of her unborn child in a plastic bag that contained her clothes.

Judith Ramoutar, chief executive officer of the NWRHA, under whose purview the hospital falls, was mandated by NWRHA’s chairman, Dr Edison Haqq, to conduct a full investigation.

Ramoutar said an initial report was given to Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan, where she revealed that proper protocol was not followed by

the doctor or nurse.

“The names have been submitted to the minister and the proper action will be taken accordingly. In the meantime the matter is still being investigated,” Ramoutar said.

Ramoutar added that the NWRHA was intent on conducting a thorough investigation. Jordan is still receiving counselling. (TT Newsday)

CDB loan to conduct study of Barbados’ airport

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he Grantley A d a m s International Airport (GAIA) in Barbados will benefit from a US$357 200 loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Through the loan, an extensive study will be conducted to assess the current and future needs, and the type of infrastructure needed to create a world class facility.

Among the outcomes of the study will be a gap analysis of the existing operations/physi-

cal infrastructure and proposed operations/infrastructure required to accommodate forecasted cargo opportunities and facility demand; and security considerations to applicable international standards, for both operations and physical infrastructure.

“Investments in improved logistics and supply chain management can help maximise opportunities that exist for improvement in the productivity of the transportation system. Trade logistics in Barbados require insti-

tutional reform and investment in infrastructure in order to improve efficiency in the processing of goods and services in trade. The development of modern air cargo facilitation will be critical in achieving this goal,” said CDB’s VicePresident (Operations), Dr. Carla Barnett.

The GAIA is Barbados’ only international airport. According to data published by the GAIA Inc., in 2013 it loaded 8.2 mn tonnes of cargo and unloaded 12.1 mn tonnes.

In CDB’s Country

Strategy Paper 2010-13, Barbados identified the high cost of doing business as a major issue affecting the international competitiveness of local businesses. Small businesses are especially vulnerable to high cost structures and the services industry is dominated by time-defined international transactions. Improved air cargo operations enhance the opportunity to leverage logistics and supply change management to enhance trade facilitation. (Barbados Advocate)

According to a recent report, no Caricom country has national policies or major initiatives aimed at reducing salt intake of the population which has been shown to reduce blood pressure, a major problem among Caribbean people

C

a r i b b e a n Community (Caricom) countries are being urged to establish regional standards for “clear, consistent, food labeling” while also banning, or at least limiting, the marketing of energy dense, high salt, foods and beverages to children.

The recommendations are contained in an 80page report released at the Second International Conference on NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs) of Children and Adolescents which ended in Trinidad last Friday.

The report notes that while most Caribbean countries have played a significant role globally in advancing the response to NCDs, “there are no national policies against advertising of unhealthy foods to children or against the harmful use of alcohol”.

It said also that no Caricom country has national policies or major initiatives aimed at reducing salt intake of the population which has been shown to reduce blood pressure, a major problem among Caribbean people and a major cause of heart disease.

Professor Nigel Unwin, one of the authors of the report titled "Responses to NCDs in the Caribbean Community", said that it outlines the response of governments and regional organisations, such as Caricom and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), to the NCD epidemic that’s taking place in the Caribbean.

Fast food policy

He stated that the report looks at the success stories of which there are many, but also looks at the considerable challenges that still exist to

address this epidemic.

“An example of one of the big gaps that currently exist is that there is no – within any of the countries that we looked at –policy around the marketing of energydense, often called ‘fast foods’ and sugar sweetened drinks to children for example; and that’s now recognized world over as a very important step to be taken to decrease childhood obesity.

“Another one for the Caribbean is the issue of alcohol and harm caused by alcohol; and again there’s…a real lack of policy here and initiatives to address (the) problem (of) drinking around the Caribbean,” said Unwin, a professor of public health and epidemiology at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

The report urges regional governments to ban, or “at the very least limiting” the marketing of energy dense, high salt, foods and beverages to children, as well as promote the reduction in salt consumption and reduction in consumption of sugar sweetened beverages including fruit juices.

Moreover, the authors of the report are also calling for the establishment of regional standards for clear, consistent, food labeling as well as the development, implementation and monitoring of national strategies on the reduction in harm from alcohol.

The report also calls for NCDs “to be fully addressed within national development plans” and the “use of up-to-date regionally derived evidence based guidelines for the treatment and management of chronic diseases”. (Excerpted from CMC)

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Grenada’s employment freeze does not apply to police service - PM Mitchell assures

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rime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell says his administration’s freeze on hiring within the public service will not apply to the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF).

Mitchell, who is also Minister of National Security, spoke during a recent open forum with RGPF members, indicating that the freeze would be maintained during the three-year period of the home grown Structural Adjustment Programme that is being backed by the Washington-based

International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Last week, the IMF announced it had reached agreement with the Grenada government for a threeyear US$21.9 million Extended Credit Facility to support an “ambitious programme” to correct the island’s fiscal imbalances and lift sustainable growth.

“The agreement reached with the authorities is subject to approval of the IMF’s Executive Board and is contingent upon the timely completion of pri-

Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell

or actions to be taken by the Grenadian authorities and obtaining the

necessary financing assurances,” said Aliona Cebotari, IMF mission

chief to Grenada.

She indicated that the main objectives of the programme are to restore fiscal and debt sustainability, boost longterm growth through structural reforms, and safeguard the resilience of the financial sector.

Mitchell told the law enforcement officials that the employment policy would remain in effect during the threeyear period of debt restructuring to revive an economy which has moved from negative to positive.

He emphasised the

importance of the RGPF in Grenada’s overall development, and assured them that the government is committed to supporting them in any way possible, even in this tough economic period.

“We cannot speak about the role of the police and not take steps to ensure that we make our contribution in helping them to perform effectively,” Mitchell said, praising the police for the many steps taken recently to improve its image. (Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

Digicel Business breaks Dr Rowley plans boot camps ground on Ja$600 million fibre for TT’s ‘bad’ students network in MoBay

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igicel Business has broken ground on a Ja$600 million next generation underground fibre network, starting with Montego Bay. The fibre will be laid along Bevin Avenue in St James, to the Montego Freezone and Fairview— major areas of the business processing outsourcing (BPO) industry.

Gloria Henry, operations manager for the Montego Bay Free Zone noted that the area is the epicentre of the BPO industry and has been identified as a prioritised sector to grow the economy.

"Digicel's entrance into advanced network solutions will further strengthen Jamaica's attractiveness in terms of telecommunications capabilities," she said.

The network will later be built out in New Kingston and Downtown Kingston and is expected to be completed this summer. Design of the network includes a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)—a standardsapproved technology that will enable Digicel to deliver a wide variety of value-added services to its corporate network over a single infrastructure.

"This is a resilient alternative to our customers, giving them the capacity to utilise services such as cloud service, infrastructure as a service, and other business critical data applications they may need," said Jason Corrigan, general manager of Digicel Business.

Customers are increasingly demanding a larger amount of band-

width and extremely reliable converged services that provide a rich suite of voice, video, and business critical high performance services, he added.

"We are using the most advanced trenching technique to minimise potential impact on our

requires a great deal of connectivity that must be powered by ICT. Paulwell added: "This network will allow us to communicate with some of the largest manufacturers and countries in the world as soon as the hub becomes a reality."

What Digicel is do-

I Jamaica’s Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell (centre) browses through the Digicel Business catalogue during the company’s groundbreaking ceremony of its underground fibre network in Kingston and Montego Bay. Jason Corrigan (left), general manager for Digicel Business, and Barry O’Brien, CEO of Digicel Jamaica, look on (Jamaica Observer photo)

roads, thereby reducing disruption to traffic," he added.

Importance

Moreover, the initiative comes at a time when Jamaica is positioning itself as a global logistics hub player, said Phillip Paulwell, minister of science, technology, energy and mining at the groundbreaking ceremony for Digicel's fibre network in Montego Bay Free Zone.

Indeed, this new fibre network will complement Digicel's tier three data centre, which has been described as a critical factor if Jamaica is to become a force as a logistics hub player, as it

ing, will have a positive impact on Jamaica's standing on the ‘Doing Business Report’ where it currently stands at 94 out of 189 countries.

It will undoubtedly help the country to improve its ranking, he added.

"This represents viable options and opportunities for businesses that want to stay relevant and maintain a competitive edge even on the global stage," declared the minister.

The new underground fibre network is being rolled out in collaboration with Digicel's technology partners, Sierra and Cisco. (Jamaica Observer)

PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley holds four-year-old Kellyann Bailey in his arms as supporter Utilda Wharwood hugs him after he arrived at the Palo Seco Secondary School for a political meeting last Tuesday (TT Guardian photo)

f Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley becomes prime minister of TT, then students who are prone to violent behaviour could see themselves being removed from the school system and placed in an environment akin to a “boot camp” where they can be properly controlled.

Declaring that a People’s National Movement (PNM) government would declare zero tolerance on school violence, Rowley outlined that at an internal election campaign meeting in Palo Seco last Tuesday as one of his party’s strategies to deal with students who were disruptive and put others at risk. He added: “We are prepared to identify the problem and to take action to solve it. The time for talk and niceties has passed. If you cannot behave in the school system then you forfeit your right to be there. You have invit-

ed yourself into another system.”

Referring to the public brawl between girls at the Mucurapo West Secondary School, ten of whom have since been suspended, Rowley asked when the violence would end.

“When is it supposed to end and how is it supposed to end? When one of them bring a little knife or something in school, or a divider or something and the next thing we hear is murder number 110 is one child stab the other child because the system turned a blind eye to something that is chronic. We will have to intervene and the intervention comes under the banner of zero tolerance to violence in our school system,” he indicated.

Saying he was appalled at the behaviour, Rowley said he would like to see a system where that kind of behaviour deprives the violent students of the

opportunity they were abusing.

He added: “You should be extracted from the environment where you are misbehaving and put into another environment where you are being prepared to give up that kind of life you want to embark upon.” For this to happen, Rowley said, there must be special educational facilities along with special teachers to manage them.

“The next PNM government will detail zero tolerance of violence in our secondary schools, zero tolerance of any violence in our school system, and that means we will have to prepare special educational facilities for special children.

Special children are not only the ones who don’t see well, who don’t hear well and who don’t walk well. Children who can’t behave well are also special children,” he said.

(Excerpted from TT Guardian)

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Jamaican is Winnipeg's top cop H

‘It was never my goal to reach so far, I just wanted to be a good policeman’, says Devon Clunis e is the first black man, let alone Jamaican

man, in the 147-year history of Canada, to head a police division in the

North American country.

That kind of real-

Devon Clunis (left) took his Oath of Office in 2012, becoming Winnipeg’s 17th Chief of Police

ity would put pressure on anybody, but not Superintendent Devon Clunis, chief of the Winnipeg Police Service.

In a recent interview, the Harmony Vale, St Ann native said when he enlisted in the police force in Winnipeg 29 years ago, there were no other black people in the service. Things have changed dramatically over the years, with the force now having representation from all races and nationalities.

The 50-year-old said that while he didn't feel pressured by his new post and its historical significance, he was seized with the weight of the responsibility it brings. He admitted that he never consciously aspired to the top job.

"It was never my goal

Superintendent Devon Clunis (Jamaica Observer photos)

to reach so far, but just to serve the community and to be a good police officer and set an example as I reach each step," said Clunis.

He credits those who nurtured him on the way, primarily his mother and a string of teachers and coaches, chief among them grade six teacher, "Mrs Hannah", who passed away in 2012.

Inspiration

"My life would not be so good if not for Mrs Hannah…It (promotion to police chief) would not have happened if it were not for her," he said.

This, after telling the story of the period of transition at age 12 from warm Jamaica, where he lived with his grandparents and where "everyone looked like me" to the frigid climes of Canada where "kids would call me racial slurs".

"I was able to be successful because key people stepped into my life at significant places. My mother was working seven days a week per year just to provide for the family; a single mom raising her children.

So it was very difficult, but I had key teachers, coaches along the way who just provided that mentorship for role modelling. At a point in my life, very early like in my teenage years, I just decided that I really have an opportunity here to do something because if I was still in Jamaica I have no idea where I would be right now, whether I'd have a job, so you must do something with the opportunity that is provided.

"So, absolutely, I stayed out of trou-

ble. My mother always preached: 'Stay out of trouble, get an education to see where life will take you' and that's what we all did. We lived in a very economically challenged part of the city, called the North End, and yes, trouble was always around me, but I don't think you have to let it capture you if you have a vision, something that you'd like to achieve," said Clunis, who now has a family of his own--wife Pearlene and daughters Taylene, 26, and Atira, 20.

Policing in Winnipeg

As Winnipeg's chief of police, Clunis has his job cut out for him. The city, with a population of 730,000 and a police force of 1,464 officers and 454 surveillance members, has the unenviable reputation as the country's murder capital and its most violent community.

But if the statistics for his first year in office are anything to go by, Clunis has found the answer to curbing crime in the Manitoba capital.

At the end of 2013, a full year after he assumed the position, Winnipeg's crime rate had fallen by 13.4 percent compared to what it was in 2012. On top of that, it was 24.5 percent lower than the previous five-year average.

Though the figures are trending down, chief Clunis said it is not reason enough to rejoice because statistics only represent one side of the coin. The other, and perhaps more important side, he said, is the sense of safety felt within communities.

(Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

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anada-based Guyanese chef Shaunna Marto never thought she could have a career doing what she loves. Inspired by life, the chef is now assiduously pursuing her dreams.

as a finance analyst, Marto decided she wanted to attend culinary school. With her love for the culinary arts and encouragement from family and friends, Marto thought culinary school would be a good place to

do,” expressed Marto.

In 2006, the chef started her company, Party’s By Shaunna, while still working at a full-time job. She was compelled to do so because of responsibilities to care for her son, pay

Marto multitasks in her kitchen

In an interview, Marto stated she is from Georgetown, but migrated to the US in 1986.

Currently, she resides in Toronto, Canada.

“Back in 1990, after working and getting use to the culture, I went to University of Toronto and completed a degree in Business Administration, as many people do when they’re not completely sure of what they want to do -business is always a ‘safe’ career,” she recalled.

After years of working in the finance field, including 12 years in Municipal Government

start.

“I wanted to see if I could do it. When I did, I totally fell in love! I started cooking when I was 11, much to the horror of my parents who was concerned I would hurt myself or burn the house down. But they soon realised I was not to be stopped. Coming from the Caribbean, I never thought I could have a career doing what I love; now I know differently. I encourage my son to do just that. He’s 18 years old. I raised him as a single mom since he was three and he has been my inspiration for following what I love to

a mortgage, and other financial obligations. In 2011, she left her government job to pursue her business full-time.

“I knew if I wanted to have a successful career doing what I love, I had to dedicate myself completely to my business.

I have also found the time to give back to my community. I have been involved with various charities such as United Way, Canadian Mental Health Association, mentoring at-risk youths, food banks and much more. I have been doing so for over 10 years and continue to do so. I dedicated part of my busi-

ness for fundraising in helping charities by donating dinners as prizes for auctions and so on. I am also involved in community events such as Caribana, Carabram an annual 3-day multicultural festival run by volunteers in promoting various cultures,” she outlined.

Marto is a Frenchtrained chef, but also cooks Indian, Asian, Italian, Thai, and Caribbean cuisines. The “Guyanese girl” comes out in every dish she makes, which she believes gets her great feedback about her food.

“There is a challenge for women in the culinary field, but it’s certainly getting better.

It is a very tough field; hard to have a proper family life. Working in restaurants is very hard work and everyone has to pay their dues. It’s certainly not what you see on cooking shows.

One should not choose this career based on the chefs that they see on TV,” the chef urged.

The culinary expert enjoys creating new dishes or elevating an old dish by changing a spice or ingredient, which gives her a sense of accomplishment.

Marto is always trying to cook something with a “wow” factor and expresses her love via her dishes.

In outlining her future plans, the chef said

Chef Shaunna Marto

she would like to help her business grow. She plans on purchasing a food truck with a mission to introduce delicious, fresh, affordable gourmet food to the Toronto area. Her concept involves curries inspired by her country of birth. Marto also plans on teaching her culinary arts on a wider field.

Currently, she provides private cooking classes for people in their homes.

“My advice for anyone pursuing food as a business is that it has to be a passion! No one

goes into the food business to become rich.

It’s hard, backbreaking, but for me it’s not a job, it’s what I absolutely love to do! Get some kind of training and learn the basics, even if it’s just a few weeks. Always practice, practice, practice. Let your family and friends give you feedback on your cooking. My son was always my taster since he was 6 years old and has a great palette,” the culinary connoisseur encouraged.

(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)

Miss Jamaica Gina Hargitay for two mega fund-raising events in Toronto on April 1

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he Jamaican Canadian Association will be hosting two events on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at the Jamaican Canadian Centre; one of which is intended to raise funds for the Sick Kid'sCaribbean Initiative.

Miss Jamaica and Miss World Caribbean Gina Hargitay will attend both events, which will be held under the auspices of the Jamaican Consul General Seth George Ramocan.

Sponsored by Kisko, the first event, a cocktail reception, is set to commence around 7:00-8:30 pm with 100 exclusive guests in the exquisitely designed Member's Lounge of the Jamaican Canadian Centre.

“All proceeds will benefit the Sick Kid's-Caribbean Initiative (SCI), which is aimed at enhancing capacity for care in paediatric cancer and blood

disorders,” the organisers have indicated.

Associate Director of Sick Kids Foundation Colin Hennigar and Division Head Infectious Diseases, and CoChair of the SCI Initiative Dr Upton Allen would also be in attendance at this event.

Meantime, the second event is planned for 8:30-10:00 pm in the Main Ballroom of the Jamaican Canadian Centre and will host the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan AM "Share the Word" activity.

In addition to Hargitay, Pan Am CEO Saäd Rafi would also attend and is expected to share the word on opportunities with Pan Am. Further, there will be several surprise guest athletes.

“This event will kick off the recruitment of 2,000 volunteers for the Pan Am Games (July 10 - 26, 2015),” the oragnisers have explained.

It is also sponsored

by Kisko and presented by Jamaica 50 and the Jamaican Canadian Association and Think Tank.

“This event will relive famous Olympic races, and pay tribute to the Jamaican 50 program. Admission is free for this special event where community members can learn how they can become involved in the exciting Pan Am Games,” the organisers encouraged.

The evening will conclude with honouring Jamaica 50 Steering Committee.

“Both events on April 1, 2014 promise to make an exciting night out at the Jamaican Canadian Centre, 995 Arrow Road, Toronto, Ontario. The GTA community and other interested parties are invited to join the Jamaican Canadian Association.”

A poster advertises the upcoming events

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Imbaimadai is small mining town deep in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region, Region Seven, of Guyana. It was founded by miners. The mountains surrounding it, part of the Pakaraima range along the Guiana highlands, and the hundreds of miles of jungle make it an adventure destination.

View of the mountains from a hill

Getting to Imbaimadai via the Mazaruni River

Relaxing white beach

Cascading waterfall upriver of Imbaimadai

Rocky river banks

T

ucked away in the central region of the eastern Caribbean island is the lush green tropical expanse in "de heart uh Barbados" and in its sanctum sanctorum is embedded a limestone cavern, a marvel of nature's beauty.

Amid breathtakingly stunning tropical flora, sprayed by occasional showers and emitting the aroma of the earth, lies Harrison's Caves, home to myriad stalactite and stalagmite formations that are na-

Stalagmites growing at a rate of less than the thickness of a sheet of paper each year on the floor of Harrison's Caves

A cozy underground pool tucked into a nook at Harrison's Caves (Jamaica Gleaner photos)

ture's living and ever-evolving work of art.

A motorised tram awaits at the entrance known as the Boyce Tunnel, named after equipment operator Noel Boyce, who was the first member of the construction team to break through the bedrock.

Subdued lights embedded in the rock formations welcome the visitors, it can be an adventurous ride into a theme park, only that instead of 'monsters' popping out from the crevices, the myriad shapes soothe the eyes and leave the interpretations to one's imagination.

In the almost two-kilometre journey into the cave, drop-

lets of water filter through the spectacular, crystallised limestone from the ceiling, the temperature drops several notches, causing goose pimples.

The tram continues its journey passing flowing streams, and pools of crystalclear water encapsulated by stony columns, bathed in hues of soft yellow light. The limestone speleothems, which are mineral deposits hanging from the ceiling, jut down like ice formations in an overworked freezer, only that these don't have to be 'defrosted' at the flick of a switch.

History

Harrison's Cave is named

after Thomas Harrison, who owned majority of the land in the area in the early 1700s.

The location of the caves was a mystery for centuries, several expeditions were organised in the 18th and 19th centuries, but did not make any headway as the natural entrances were impassable. In 1974, Ole Sorensen, a Danish engineer and cave adventurer, assisted by Tony Mason and Allison Thornhill, two young Barbadians, rediscovered this natural wonder.

Harrison's Cave, which was opened to the public in 1981, is a living, breathing and evolving artwork. It is estimated that the stalagmites

in the cave grow by less than the thickness of a piece of paper each year; in geological terms, this is no less than an overdrive.

If parallels could be drawn standing in the Great Hall, in the heart of the cave, one can hear one's voice echo from the walls and the 50-foot ceiling-3D surround sound at its natural best.

Harrison's Cave, like Mother Nature's endless and limitless phenomenon, is a living space, resonated in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience".

(Excerpted from Jamaica Gleaner)

Echoes on these walls provide visitors with delightful acoustics

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Four Caribbean writers running for Hollick Arvon Prize

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Jamaican author Diana McCaulay (Jamaica Gleaner file photo)

wo emerging Jamaican writers, one from Grenada, one from St Vincent, and four from Trinidad and Tobago are the eight finalists for the much-coveted 2014 Hollick Arvon Caribbean Writers Prize, now in its second year.

The prize, administered by The Bocas Lit Fest and worth a total

Ira Mathur of TT and author of ‘17 Rest House Road’ (TT Guardian file photo)

of US$15,000, will give the winning Caribbeanbased writer time to advance a non-fiction work in progress. It includes a year’s mentoring by an established author and travel to the United Kingdom to attend a oneweek intensive creative writing course of their choice at Arvon.

The winning writer will also receive a cash award of 3,000GBP or US$4,500, have three days in London to network with literary professionals, hosted by the UK’s leading creative writing organisation, Arvon, in association with Free Word Centre and agents Rogers, Coleridge & White who have first option of agenting the winning writer.

It was a blind competition among 27 entrants. “We had no idea who we were judging and we were impressed by the general high quality of the works submitted. They ranged from the academic to the personal and were generally imbued with original insights. Many of the works were directed at adult audiences but some were aimed at children and young adults”, said

UWI Professor Funso Aiyejina, chair of the international judging panel of five that comprises Lord Hollick–sponsor of the award, Godfrey Smith–2012 non-fiction winner of the OCM Bocas Prize, Ruth Borthwick of Arvon, and London literary agent, Jennifer Hewson.

New boundaries

A statement from the judges said, “Many of the works were eloquent, insightful, passionate and exciting. Some entries were very ambitious in scope, but managed to remain focused on their subject matters.

The judges are convinced that the works in contention for the prize venture beyond the safe shores of established themes and promise to create new boundaries for the Caribbean non-fiction genre.”

Marina SalandyBrown, festival director and co-founder of the prize, remarked the gender mix of prize entrants.

“In 2013 we had fewer male writers entering their work for fiction but this year there were six, which is a much higher proportion of male entrants for this non-fiction genre of writing, even though only one of them made it onto the list of finalists.”

The winner will be announced at the 2014 NGC Bocas Lit Fest, Trinidad and Tobago’s annual literary festival which runs from April 23 to 27 in Port-of-Spain at the National Library.

2014 Non-fiction Finalists: ‘Turn Around’ - Judy Antoine, Grenada; ‘Let It Fly’- Melissa Balgobin, TT; ‘Split Level’- Rhoda Bharath, TT; ‘17 Rest House Road’ - Ira Mathur, TT; ‘Loving Jamaica’Diana McCaulay, Jamaica; ‘The Plight of the Humanitarian Aid Worker’ - Nadine McNeil, Jamaica; ‘Canouan Suite’- Philip Nanton, St Vincent; and ‘Richard Bridgens’-Judy Raymond, TT. (Excerpted from TT Newsday)

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Guyana's acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali (fourth left) with ministry officials and representatives of sponsors at the launch of the 12th Safari last Friday

uyana’s 12th annual Pakaraima Mountain Safari was launched last Friday with the aim to increase participation of locals and promote community-based tourism in Amerindian villages.

The launching was held at the Tourism Ministry’s South Road Office in Georgetown.

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali speaking at the launch, described the event as

“an adventure of a lifetime”.

The eight-day adventure begins on April 12 and ends on April 20.

The organisers of the Safari are hoping to have a convoy of 40 vehicles, inclusive of motorbikes and ATVs and will see participation from Jamaica, Trinidad, Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela.

Chief Organiser Frank Singh, who has been with the Safari for the past 12 years,

said this year a new Pakaraima Mountain Safari Club will be launched, to make the event more organised.

Those desirous of joining the club will have to pay an annual fee of Gy$25,000.

Meanwhile, Minister Ali said this year the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Tourism Ministry will be providing 4×4 trucks for some 30 persons.

As usual, this year’s Safari will correspond

with the Rodeo celebrations in Lethem, Region Nine.

The event is being sponsored year by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), Guyoil/ Castrol, Marketing and Distribution and MMC, the GTA and the government of Guyana.

The event has over the years attracted persons not only from Guyana, but other Caribbean and North American countries.

TT national receives United Hospital Fund Award

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n a grand presentation ceremony held on March 14 at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, New York City, the United Hospitals Fund honoured Trinidad and Tobago national and New York resident, Mary B Walters, with a 2014 United Hospital Fund’s Auxilian and Volunteer Achievement Award.

The award was presented to Walters for her many years of voluntary service to the healthcare sector in New York as well as her outstanding commitment to her community.

Founded in 1879, the United Hospital Fund is a nonprofit, research oriented and altruistic health organisation that advocates for policy changes and interventions that promote accessible, patient- focused, high quality healthcare services for the residents of New York City.

Through evidence-based analyses and fundraising drives, the Fund seeks to improve the financing and delivery of hospitals, health centres, nursing homes, and other care settings.

Walters is known in Trinidad and Tobago for her role on the Steering Committee of

Awardee Mary B Walters (right) is congratulated by Jim Tallon of the United Hospitals Fund (TT Newsday photo)

the Rehabilitation of the Disabled that resulted in the establishment the Leonard Cheshire Home for the Physically Disabled.

After migrating to New York, Walters was instrumental in founding the Caribbean Women’s Health Association, the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Trinidad and Tobago Working Women’s Association. She was also a board member of Community Board 14 as

well as the Auxiliary of Kings County Hospital Centre.

Walters was appointed to the Kings County Community Advisory Board in 1994 where she served on the Citizenship Drive committee and the Planning committee and played an integral role in the planning and construction of several buildings on Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.

After serving for nine years on the Community Advisory Board, in 2004,

she joined the Auxiliary of the Kings County Hospital Centre where she used her fundraising acumen to raise funds for various community projects and activities including for the opening of a state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre in the hospital in 2011.

Commenting on Walters’ achievement at the recent Gala, Consul General, New York, Rudrawatee Nan Ramgoolam, said, “It is persons such as Mary Walters that make me very proud to be a Trinidadian and Tobagonian. It is my hope that Walters will continue to be active in her community and be an example of the spirit of volunteerism to all Trinidadians and Tobagonians, whether they reside at home or abroad.”

“The Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in New York salutes Mary Walters on the occasion of her receipt of the United Hospitals Fund award and hopes that her life of service inspires all of us to contribute to give selflessly to our communities and to our nation,” she added.

(TT Newsday)

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Persistent Pigeon

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B

The Nanjing National Orchestra of China performed at a concert in Barbados last Thursday

arbados and other Caribbean countries are set to participate in the ‘Meet in Beijing’ Arts Festival in coming months.

This disclosure was made by Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley, as he addressed the audience at the last Thursday’s ‘An Evening of Classical Music’ presented by The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and Naniki Caribbean Jazz Safari.

“This collaboration

is part of a larger initiative involving other countries in the region to be held in Beijing, China in May this year. As we speak, the NCF is feverishly preparing final plans for a delegation of Barbadian artists to participate in the Beijing Festival.”

The recent event, held at the Sea Rocks Dome at the Barbados Beach Club, was another in the cultural exchanges between Barbados and the People’s Republic of China in recent times. It

featured performances of Chinese traditional music by Nanjing National Orchestra of China, as well as a guest performance by Barbadian violinist, Katrina Nurse, who played the selection ‘Jasmine’ with the group.

Speaking about the event, Lashley said the orchestra’s performance in Barbados could be seen “as a demonstration of China’s commitment to deepening the cultural and social relations between our two countries”.

Additionally, he said it

could be a learning experience for the island.

“China of course, though seen as a colossal commercial giant, stands out for its commitment to preserving its cultural heritage and the development of its musical sector. As we in Barbados seek to develop our own cultural sector to world class standard, I believe there is much that we can learn from each other through mutual collaboration and cooperation,” he stated. (Barbados Advocate)

TT’s first Street Arts Festival on June 20

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Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook, Trinidad (TT Newsday file photo)

ne angry Woodbrook resident took matters into her own hands last Thursday evening, storming the launch of the first Trinidad and Tobago Street Arts Festival to object to the staging of the festival in the area.

The launch took place at Shaker’s Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook. The Street Arts Festival, created by the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI), is expected to take place between June 20 to 22 on Ariapita Avenue between French and Carlos

Streets.

After the TTCSI Chief Executive Officer Nirad Tiwarie, gave his welcoming address, emcee Cecilia Salazar took the microphone to introduce the next speaker. It was then the resident took the stage and requested the mic to declare that the Woodbrook residents will not allow “this next Carnival” to take place.

“Our walls have been defaced, the city engineers do not clean our streets. We are not going to have this festival!” she said before pushing the mic back into the hands of a shocked Salazar.

She then stormed out of the venue amidst the

murmurs of the confused crowd.

Tiwarie made his way back to the stage at this point to assure the crowd of potential stakeholders and artistes that the festival was not designed to be another Carnival. “It is not going to be a big fete. We have made a conscious decision not to do that,” he said.

He said the TTCSI committee in charge of the festival was in the early stages of planning the festival and his staff had been in touch with both the Woodbrook Residents Association and the Woodbrook Community Association, the two organisations

representing residents and businessmen in the community. He said meetings have been set up between members of both orgnanisations and the TTCSI, but he could not give the days on which these meetings would be held.

“It is strictly our intention to do this in a way that the community benefits because we see this as a community festival. I hope we would work this out in a way beneficial to everyone because it is our intention to create an arts festival to uplift people. We will do our best to ensure it is a beneficial festival for all stakeholders,” Tiwarie said.

Later in the programme, another person came to the defence of the festival in the form of Black Sage (Phillip Murray) who was part of the entertainment for the night. In extempo verse he said while the woman came and caused bacchanal, the street festival would be beneficial to the community and the residents should focus first on ridding Woodbrook of elements of prostitution.

(TT Newsday)

By Anu Dev

his morning I awoke to the sound of a pigeon loudly and persistently flapping against my window. Every time I tried to snuggle back under the covers for a few more minutes of sleep, the bird started flapping at my window again. The truth be told, I got worried that it might somehow flap its way into my room to terrify me even further.

Earlier this week I had my first encounter with a massive spider in my room.

I was content to let the spider go in peace since I was worried that its spider-friends would come out in full force to avenge the death of their comrade. But the spider slowly started inching its way toward my bed, and I had no choice but to take its life, armed with nothing but my broom and all the courage I could muster. I vanquished that foe thankfully, but between monstrous spiders and ferocious red-eyed pigeons I’m not feeling very kindly toward Mother Nature.

But the persistence of that pigeon did inspire me to write this article. It made me think about how important it is to be persistent in trying to achieve your goals.

Persistence can be a very admirable trait– unless you’re a pigeon disturbing the sleep of an exhausted med student.

The only way you can be guaranteed success is if you stick to things, even if they’re not going perfectly at the moment. You can’t just give up at the first sign of trouble or at the first indication that the road ahead has more bumps and pot-holes than one of our roads in Guyana.

There’s that old cliché that says that the measure of a person isn’t how many times they fall, but instead how many times they get back up again. And it’s true; the greatest moments are those moments when you can rise up again after being faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem. That problem could be a ridiculously difficult math problem at school or it could be losing your job. At every step of your life there will be new problems, problems that seem like the most difficult thing in the world to deal with.

But if you stick to things and not just jump off and abandon ship, the end-result will be so worth it all. You could end up with a degree or a successful marriage or end up beating the odds and winning your case in court– it all depends on what you were aiming for and how committed you were to putting in the hard work. So put in the hard work, stay committed and stay true to yourself and your goals.

I should probably look into getting some Baygon to spray my room to prevent any further invasion of spiders and bugs, seeing as my parents aren’t in Trinidad to kill them for me and all of my flat-mates are equally petrified of spiders as I am.

Bollywood

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week ending March 27, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Sussanne downs six glasses ‘I’ve been saving my of wine at a party brand virginity for the right one' - Ranveer T

his is where you first read about Gauri and Sussanne's Dubai plans. Let us now tell you how these two ‘besties’ let their hair down.

Post their marathon media sessions, they partied at socialite and their hostess Rekha Tourani's swank home on Emirates Hills.

The duo had even planned a night out to a beach restaurant and lounge, but it was the mega bash the next day that really brought out Susanne's inner wild child. She was at home-literally-with dad Sanjay, mom Zarine, Zayed and his wife Malaika by her side.

So comfortable was she away from the city and a hundred questions about you-know-who, that she happily downed 6 glasses of wine in just a couple of hours. Zayed and Malaika were with her in spirit as well.

The trio ended up on the dance

floor, bleary-eyed, but in great shape.

Gauri, on the other hand, chose to play it safe---sipping her non-alcoholic beverages, and ensuring that not a strand of her luscious mane was out of place. (TOI)

Shah Rukh starts working with Brad Pitt's make-up specialist

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ven as his next film 'Happy New Year' is under production for Diwali release, Shah Rukh Khan has begun preparations for his new film with YRF, ‘Fan’.

For a superstar with unarguably one of the greatest fan following globally, he will now play the role of being the biggest fan himself in the movie written by Habib Faisal (who also directed 'Do Dooni Chaar' and 'Ishaqzaade') and helmed

by Maneesh Sharma (also directed 'Band Baaja Baaraat' and

Shudh Desi Romance').

What is most interesting is that Hollywood's renowned special effects make-up maestro Greg

Cannom has been roped in to create SRK's look in the movie.

Of the nine Academy Award nominations, Greg has won three- for the memorable looks he created for ‘The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button’ (2008), ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ (1993) and ‘Dracula’ (1992). He has also been honoured with the Technical Achievement Award in 2005, along with Wesley Wofford, for the development of special modified silicone material used for make-up applications in motion pictures. (TOI)

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anveer Singh, who is on a high after the much acclaimed ‘Lootera’, the hundred-crore blockbuster 'Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela' and masala entertainer ‘Gunday’, started his brand endorsement journey with Durex, a condom brand.

With this move, the hunky actor joins a very exclusive bunch of A-list

mainstream celebrities worldwide like Ke$ha, Prince, U2, 50 Cent and Daft Punk to endorse condoms. Needless to say, this brave activity has been worth a huge loot for the young star.

Ranveer pointed out that as an actor and as an individual, he has "a propensity for pushing the envelope, breaking the mould and taking the road less travelled."

He explained, "I constantly endeavour to build an equity that is unique--one that truly stands out from the crowd. Over the past three-and-a-half years that I've been a part of the Hindi film industry, I've declined several tempting endorsement offers. I've been saving my brand virginity for the right one. And now, finally, I'm popping my cherry with the world's leading brand in sexual well-being - Durex!"

He added that sex is still considered taboo in India and the idea behind his association with the condom brand is to create awareness around sexual wellbeing, promote safe sex and have fun while doing it! (TOI)

‘Karisma looks younger than any Bollywood actress’ - Kareena

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ollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan feels her elder sister Karisma looks younger than any contemporary female stars today.

"She (Karisma) has two kids, but she doesn't look like a mother of two.

She looks younger than any Bollywood actress even today. She is the most beautiful girl as her heart is of gold.

When you see her she looks radiant as ever," Kareena said.

Kareena, 33, feels Karisma is lucky to have a toned body.

"She has very toned body and she is genetically blessed. I am more of a Kapoor, but she is more like my moth-

er," Kareena said.

The ‘Jab We Met’ star said she might also open her own fashion label after being the face of many fashion labels. (TOI)

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Chandigarh.

Rishi, while attending a function at PGI hospital in Chandigarh, not only expressed his viewpoints on what he calls an extremely serious matter but also appealed everyone to join hands in this regard.

Rishi, who's currently shooting in Chandigarh for ‘Aayi Bala Ko Taal Tu’, even signed the document on the occasion, which has formally put him in the category of organ donor.

"We need to be generous when it comes to issues like this," said Rishi, adding, "So many problems will be solved if all of us start thinking positively. Also, by doing this we are making a significant contribution."

Rishi is expecting more and more people to come forward to donate organs. The actor sat during the session at the hospital cum research institute to learn more about the success of transplantation, which has given many a new lease of life. (TOI)

‘Can't just dump my kids and go off to work’ - Kajol Rishi Kapoor pledges to donate his organs

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or actress Kajol, who is set to feature in her husband and filmmaker-actor Ajay Devgn's home production, her priority is her children and she can't "dump them and go off to work".

Kajol and Ajay, who got married in 1999, are the parents of two children--daughter Nysa and son Yug. Since the birth of her daughter in 2003, she has done very few films such as ‘Fanaa’, ‘U Me Aur Hum’, ‘My

Name Is Khan’, ‘We Are Family’ and ‘Toonpur Ka Superrhero’.

In an recent interview, Kajol said: "My only reason why I am not doing films is my children. My children need my attention and it's my duty to give them my time. I have not given birth to them to just dump them and go off to work. I am not that kind of a person."

"I have my kids and I want to see them growing up and turn out the way I always wanted them to be. Even kids expect that kind of time from you, and my husband is always working.

He does four films in a year, so at least I have to be with them." (TOI)

ithout making any noise of taking up a social cause, actor Rishi Kapoor quietly pledged to donate his organs on Sunday in

I am marriage material’ -Divya Dutta

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or all those speculating if the critically acclaimed and chirpy Divya Dutta is going to settle down in a marriage at all, Divya clarified, "Yes, I most certainly will get married. I am the marriage material, the marrying

types."

The actress maybe busy shooting films back to back and garnering more acclaim with each new film, but that certainly doesn't mean she has no plans, or time, for matrimony.

"I am just waiting for the right person, though I do believe that there is nothing like a perfect man," said Divya, who is currently shooting for ‘Aayi Bala Ko Taal Tu’ in Chandigarh with Rishi Kapoor and Ram Kapoor. (TOI)

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hollywood

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com |

week ending March 27, 2014

Pamela Anderson thought it would be Jennifer Aniston doesn’t want people weird to have sex after chopping off hair to tell her she 'looks great for her age'

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amela Anderson was genuinely concerned after chopping off her famous blonde locks because she thought it might make her less feminine when making love.

She told ELLE magazine that at first she

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ennifer Aniston has admitted that she hates it when people compliment her by saying that she looks great for a 45-year-old woman.

The former ‘Friends’ star, who is engaged to actor Justin Theroux, made the confession to WWD, asserting that only women get the

thought she looked like Anderson Cooper or like a Q-tip or something, but now she feels really powerful.

She added that she thought it would be weird having sex with short hair, but then she kind of got into the mode. (TOI)

"for your age" line and not men for some reason, US Magazine reported.

The blonde beauty added that men and women today in their 40s are so much healthier than they were 30 years ago at the same age because they know how to take care of themselves. (TOI)

Blake Lively felt nice to have a 'personal life' during yearlong hiatus Mila Kunis is pregnant

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lake Lively, who has returned to acting after a yearlong break with ‘The Age of Adaline’, has

admitted that she thoroughly enjoyed having a personal life during the hiatus.

The blonde beauty explained to Elle magazine that she had been on ‘Gossip Girl’ 10 months a year for six years, shooting for 15-hour each day, so she hadn't had time to just be since she graduated from high school, the New York Daily News reported.

The 26-year-old actress, who is married to Ryan Reynolds, added that it's been nice to kind of settle into her own skin and work on things she really loves. (TOI)

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ila Kunis is pregnant.

The 30-year-old actress is expecting her first child with ‘That '70s Show’ co-star Ashton Kutcher, to whom she recently got en-

gaged.

A source told People.com: ''They are both very, very happy. It's still early.''

The couple sparked engagement speculation after Mila was spotted with a huge diamond ring last month, but the stars aren't expected to rush down the aisle in light of their baby news.

The insider added: ''It won't necessarily be a short engagement. They haven't begun planning the wedding yet.''

Meanwhile, E! News reported that Mila was recently seen at a prenatal class in Los Angeles. (TOI)

When Sean Penn traded his Sarah Jessica Parker inspired by street fashion autograph for cigarettes

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ean Penn reportedly traded his autograph for cigarettes when he was out with his new girlfriend Charlize Theron.

The ‘Gangster Squad’ star was out with his new girlfriend Charlize Theron jogging, but when he got back to their car he suddenly realised he'd left his cigarettes at home, Contactmusic reported.

A source said that

Penn asked Theron if she'd brought her smokes, but she hadn't

and since he had left his wallet at her house, he couldn't buy a new pack.

According to the National Enquirer, when a fan asked if he could have a photo with Penn, the 53-year-old actor apparently told his fan that he could trade his photograph for a couple of cigs.

The man happily handed over a whole packet, but Penn reportedly took just two while posing for a photo. (TOI)

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ctress Sarah Jessica Parker says her style is inspired by "women on the street".

The ‘Sex And The City’ star's fashion sense was slammed last week after she was spotted wearing stirrup tights, but she didn't consider it to be a fashion faux pas.

"It's been so cold in New York that bare legs seemed almost undoable…

So, I started wearing tights, then I saw a woman in Seattle wearing stirrups with a pump and thought, 'Maybe I'll start wearing them with a strap shoe'," contactmusic.com quoted Parker as saying.

"I am often inspired by women

on the street whose names I'll never know," she added. (TOI)

Paul Walker's father had asked Johnny Depp seen wearing 'manhim to quit stunts gagement ring' before wedding

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aul Walker was as much a fan of daredevilry off-screen as he was in his on-screen avatars. His father was scared and asked him to give up doing stunts while the late actor was shooting for his last film ‘Brick Mansions’.

The 40-year-old actor died in a car

accident last November. He rose to fame with his breakthrough roles in the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise.

During the shooting of ‘Brick Mansions’, in which he'll be seen playing an undercover cop, his father had warned him against indulging in stunts which could be fatal.

"The last conversation we had, I sat there, I looked at him and I said, 'Promise me, no more daredevil stuff.'

I said, 'If in your heart, you say, I can do this, then by all means, do it. If your mind says, maybe not. Then don't.' I looked at him, I said, 'Will you promise me that'," Walker's father recalled in a statement. (TOI)

Kate Winslet names son Bear 'Blaze' Winslet

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ate Winslet has named her baby boy Bear Blaze Winslet.

According to the Daily Express, the 38-year old star revealed that Bear's second name is Blaze because she met her husband Ned Rocknroll, in a house fire in 2011.

The house burned down and they survived, but they wanted something of the fire and so Blaze was the name they came up with, the Oscar winner said.

Winslet and Ned got married in 2012 and had their son on December 7, 2013. (TOI)

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ohnny Depp was recently spotted wearing a `man-gagement ring` before marrying Amber Heard.

According to MVP India, the versatile actor, who is also known for his love of accessories, sported the ring at an engagement celebration party with his 27-year-old actress fiancée.

Depp's latest film 'Transcendence', where he will be seen playing an artificial intelligence researcher, will be releasing in India on April 18, 2014.

(TOI)

‘Life is about my baby’ - Josh Duhamel

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osh Duhamel has revealed that his entire life changed with the arrival of his son.

The 41-year-old actor and wife Fergie welcomed a son named Axl Jack at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in August 2013, reported Digital Spy. "It's not about us anymore; it's about all of us: me, Ferg, and the baby.

We look at ourselves now and we look at our lives before, and it's like, 'Wow, we actually have a family now--this is like a real family'!," he said. Duhamel stated that parenting is one of the sweet experiences of life. (TOI)

feature week ending March 27, 2014

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ulia Brown has dedicated nearly 50 years to serving the less fortunate in Jamaica, making it hard for one to guess that she is not a native of the north Caribbean island.

In fact, Brown will tell people that she is "more Jamaican" than several other natives.

Her passion and commitment to the island indicate the true Jamaican that Brown has claimed to be.

Brown, who is from Barbados, has been living in Jamaica for just over 10 years. However, her relationship with the country started when she first visited the island with her Jamaican husband in 1966.

"I saw the need of the children and I decided I have to help," she explained.

Her first charge was a pregnant young woman who would years later emigrate to England, and was appreciative of the help and encourage-

ment that Brown had given her.

Since then, she has been doing all that she can to assist children in Manchester and St Mary.

munities.

Brown, popularly known as Ms June, said that even in times when she was not able to be in the island, she ensured

Julia Brown (Jamaica Observer photos)

Since 1966, she has made it an annual mission to bring in items of clothing to the island for children in several com-

that packages were sent.

‘A Barrel of Love’

In Brown Laurel

recent years, and her son started 'A

1984.

Apart from her annual barrels of love, Brown also holds a treat for children in several St Mary

East Coast Demerara man to represent Guyana at international qaseeda competition

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| www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Barrel of Love', through the Bexley African Caribbean Community Association (BACCA), which she played an integral role in forming in

Brown (right) along with (from left) Talesha Hudson, Shantae Anderson, Celein Codner, Bev Robinson, Rebecca Gordon, Islyn Walters and Bev McLeary participate in a dance choreographed by the philanthropist in Mango Valley, St Mary, recently

The winners of the 12th annual National Qaseeda Competition held at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) last weekend

assan Bacchus of the Mon Repos Masjid sang his way into the hearts of the judges and the crowd, as he carted away the coveted first place in the Senior Male Category of the 12th annual National Qaseeda Competition in Guyana, held last weekend.

Bacchus overpowered the stiff competition from Mohamed Shahid of the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC), who took second place and Ameer Baksh of Berbice, third.

Imam Hussain of Zeelugt was placed fourth.

According to reports, Bacchus is a strong contender for the top position at the International Qaseeda Mehfil to be staged in Suriname in August.

In the other category of the competition, Fareeda Nabbi of ACIC took the top

position in the Female Senior Category while Haadiyaa Mohamed of Mon Repos took the Junior Female title.

Muzzammil Bacchus, also of Mon Repos took the Junior Male title.

Naseeba Nabbi, Nazeema Mohamed and Amina Umar were placed second, third and fourth respectively in the Female Junior Category while Bibi Shameena Waheed, Shakila Wahab, Zamilla came in second, third and fourth respectively in the Female Senior Category.

Irshad Amir Khan and Shazad Abdool were placed second and third respectively in the Male Junior Category.

The competition was held to determine persons from Guyana to participate in the International Qaseeda Mehfil to be hosted at Hedayatul Islam’s Complex in Suriname on August 23-

24.

Persons who converged on the spacious and picturesque Anna Catherina Islamic Complex witnessed a competition of top class singing of songs in praise of the Holy Prophet.

Convener of the Competitions, Hakeem Khan thanked the companies that came onboard and disclosed that the sponsorship will carry over to the international event in Suriname. Over 150 persons from Guyana will attend the event.

The participants were required to render their songs for no more than four minutes in Urdu. Points were awarded for choice of qaseedas, manner of dress, pronunciation, melody, etcetera. At the end of the contest, prizes and trophies were awarded to the participants. (Excerpted from Guyana Times)

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communities, where she not only allows the children to enjoy themselves but encourages them to express themselves, through their talents.

Brown, who says that she has no regrets about calling Jamaica home, has gone further than assisting children. Since 2003, Brown, who is also a grandmother, has adopted 19 beds at the St Mary Infirmary, meaning that she contributes to the care of those beds and the area in which they are kept.

Brown's care for those in the institution does not stop there, as she visits weekly "just to talk to the residents".

She also assists the elderly in Mango Valley, one of the communities where children benefit from 'Barrel of Love'.

She has also been active helping young people to pursue their dreams.

Brown, who is a fashion designer, also uses her talent to benefit many. For functions that she puts on, she spends time designing clothing for the children.

A lover of dance, she also takes the time to choreograph several pieces in the communities where she works.

Although she has had the opportunity to travel and live in other countries, Brown maintains that Jamaica is the place for her.

"Jamaica is nice, I have no regrets coming here," she stated.

(Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

Jamaica’s Tessanne Chin for Caribbean culture festival in New York

Tessanne Chin (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

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amaica’s reggae-fusion songstress Tessanne Chin, who won season five of NBC’s hit singing contest The Voice in December, is expected to bring her inimitable style to the tri-state area when she headlines the inaugural Oracabessa Festival, A Celebration Of Caribbean Culture, at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York on Memorial Day, May 26.

The 28-year-old powerhouse vocalist will be joined on stage by other A-list Caribbean entertainers including Konshens, Beenie Man and Assassin.

The reigning Voice winner’s New York performance is expected to draw major support from her Caribbean fan base as well as attract mainstream attention, according to a news release from Irie Jam radio.

Chin, who was a Voice frontrunner from the time she

turned all four coaches’ chairs with her blind audition to the sound of Pink’s hit song “Try,” recently inked a deal with one of the world’s largest talent agencies ICM Partners, and will release her self-titled album later this year.

The ‘Tumbling Down’ singer has made several appearances in North America since her debut on The Voice in September.

She was interviewed by Matt Lauer of NBC's 'Today Show' shortly after her big win, going on to appear on the 'Kathie Lee & Hoda show', 'Live with Kelly & Michael, 'New York Live', and 'Access Hollywood'. She was back on NBC at New Year’s for an appearance at the California Rose Bowl.

On March 6, Chin made what was arguably her most prestigious appearance as a special guest of U.S. President Barack Obama and the First Lady at the White House: Women of Soul concert where she performed the Donna Summer hit ‘Last Dance’.

The programme, which will be broadcast by PBS on April 7, also featured performances by Aretha Franklin, Melissa Etheridge, Janelle Monáe, Ariana Grande and Jill Scott.

On March 29, Chin will be presented with a Luminary Award at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Fifth Annual Toronto Benefit Gala.

The 'Hideaway' singer will return to Toronto on May 17 for a concert at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts with her Bread & Butter Band.

(Caribbean News)

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feature

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com |

week ending March 27, 2014

Tobago booked up for Jazz Experience

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nticipation is high for the upcoming Tobago Jazz Experience with a representative of the Tobago Hotels Association saying that almost all of the island’s hotels and guest houses are full.

Calls to several guest houses and hotels confirmed that some hotels, which typically charged TT$600 a night had sold rooms at TT$1,200, and were still sold out.

Caribbean Airlines flights to the island were completely sold out for April 25, the night headlining act John Legend will perform.

The ferry service to Tobago is also booked and there is limited room on the water taxi, which will be transporting passengers between the islands during the festival weekend. Rumours that tickets for John Legend’s performance were sold out, however, were inaccurate. Though VIP tickets were no longer available, general admission

John Legend

tickets for the event were still being sold. All other events also still had tickets available.

An official of the Division of Tourism said preparations for the Tobago Jazz Experience were going well. This is despite the late advertisement for suppliers for the event, published on Saturday, he added.

It called for proposals from suppliers of tents, sound systems, chairs, tables, signs and other related services. The official added: “We are overwhelmed with suppliers. Every year we

have a number of people who submit proposals to supply services to us.

“What we do is try to drive tourism and the local economy so we try to use as many Tobago suppliers as possible, but we are still encouraging suppliers to send us proposals. We wanted a wider variety of submissions because we still need to know that we are getting the best product at the best price.” He said most of the suppliers for the main shows during the festival had already been confirmed and the advertisement would have been targeting suppliers for the other events.

The main shows, which take place between April 25 and 27, will feature award-winning R&B artiste John Legend, Jamaican singers Tessanne Chin and Tarrus Riley, R&B artistes Keyshia Cole and Brandy and R&B group Earth, Wind and Fire.

(TT Guardian)

Advertising your relationship status could come back to haunt you

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Facebook or Twitter fallout can be brutal. Just ask persons like Khloe Kardashian who it was speculated had ditched her husband Lamar Odom because she had deleted his last name from her Instagram handle; or Miley Cyrus who unfollowed her fiancé Liam Hemsworth on Twitter just two days before her rep officially made it public that the two had broken up. They are among a long list of celebrity couples whose relationships have unravelled over Facebook and Twitter. One day they are tagging each other in relationship updates and posting images of themselves cuddling in bed, and the next it's nasty comments made public for friends, acquaintances and potential suitors to see.

Relationship expert Wayne Powell advises that less is more when it comes to your relation-

Relationship expert Wayne Powell advises that less is more when it comes to your relationship and social media

ship and social media.

"If you are in the habit of sharing the exciting happenings in your life particularly as it relates to your relationship, when things go bad your followers would want to be informed as well. This might cause some embarrassing moments as you may feel an obligation to update them, particularly if you were the one who was dumped," he said.

"So the very intimate details including the xrated pictures of you

with Mr Mention should remain out of cyberspace.

You don't want to be doing damage control after certain information or pictures have been used against you," he said.

Given the far-reaching impact of social media, Powell believes persons should not feel obligated to tag their partners in photos, add them to their friends page or update their status to reflect that they are in a relationship.

(Excerpted from Jamaica Observer)

Star of the Week

A stunning beauty, Denicia Williams is assiduously preparing, mentally and physically, to win the Miss World Guyana 2014 crown. Williams hails from Blygezight Gardens; she migrated to the U.S. when she was 11.

Currently, she is a full-time student at the College Of Staten Island, U.S., pursuing a bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy and a minor in Psychology. The 19-year-old’s pageantry experience began in high school. Although she has never competed in any major pageants, Williams is confident that she will be a force to reckon with. Presently, she is in the gym every day and is being coached in pageantry under the tutelage of Miss New York contestant and fellow Guyanese, Jyoti Hardat and former Miss World Antigua 2004 and Miss Talent 2004 of the Miss World pageant, Shermain Jeremy. Williams views pageantry as an opportunity to share her hopes and aspirations for her country, Guyana, and to empower young ladies like herself.

Her platform in the Miss World Guyana 2014 pageant focuses on spreading awareness on autism, especially autistic children. Additionally, she wants to motivate young females to pursue an education because she believes that “beauty will quickly fade, but what you have inside of your head is there for a lifetime”. Passionate about philanthropy work, Williams has volunteered at various soup kitchens in the Brooklyn area, U.S. Moreover, she constantly donates clothing to the Salvation Army, which she has been doing since childhood. If she is crowned Miss World Guyana 2014, Williams intends to continue her empowerment crusade.

Furthermore, she will be using the opportunity to promote her country of birth. Williams’ advice to youths is to never allow life’s trials to deter from achieving their goals, rather let it make “you stronger and wiser instead of breaking you”.

sport

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week ending March 27, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Karate grandmasters grade over 100 Guyanese students

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ver 100 local karatekas of the Association DoShotokan Karate of Guyana (ASK-Guyana) were graded by three international grandmasters, Ninth Dan Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-ATai, Eighth Dan Shihan Maureen Woon-A-Tai and Eighth Dan Shihan Keith Da Costa at the YMCA building, Thomas Lands.

They were assisted by Sixth Dan Sensei Amir Khouri; Fourth Dan Sensei Nathalie Gibson and Third Dan Sensei Roger Peroune.

ASK- Guyana students from Wowetta Dojo in Annai, Linden, New Amsterdam, Albion, East Coast Demerara, Georgetown, East Bank Demerara

The grandmasters and students at the conclusion of Sunday’s grading in Guyana

and Anna Regina participated in the one-day grading.

There were three First Dan promotions, namely Jordan King of YMCA and the Albion pair Chablall Tilacknauth and Melissa

Rayappen.

Those with outstanding Kyu grades were Shahid Shared, Kailanny Wade, Jared Mohabir, Rick Seedharie, Zane Rooplall and Fabiola Wade (10 to eight Kyu), Roshawn

Cummins, Maqsood Mansoor, Horace Autar and Gracelyn O’Brien (10 to seven Kyu).

Making the jump from nine to seven Kyu were Rayniah Bridgewater, Raynise Bridgewater, Mark Singh, Aaron

Persaud, Zoloni Case, Gabriella Roberts, Andrew Bownauth, Isia Boodie, Nathaniel Rachpaul, Chris Perez, Shaquille Dowlin, Renaldo Grenville, Zanele Chase, Tyra Headley, Bryan DaSilva,

Akeinde Atherley, Marcelly Lopes, Jessica Callender, Eton Whyte, Lilian DaSilva, Oronde Chase, Akily Venture, Craig Harlequin, Shailendra Seedharie and Mareo Dhanraj.

(Guyana Times)

Calabar’s athlete clocks Trinidad’s sporting fraternity record time at Jamaica’s ISSA/ mourns death of TT's firstGraceKennedy championships ever Olympic medallist

Calabar’s Christopher Taylor breezes home to win Heat One of the boys’ Class Three 400 metres at the 104th staging of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships at the National Stadium, Jamaica, Tuesday (Jamaica Observer photo)

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a m a i c a n Christopher Taylor of Calabar High became the first athlete to place his name in the record books at this year's ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Championships, after he stopped the clock at 48.72 seconds in the Class Three 400 metre at the National Stadium Tuesday.

Taylor, running out of lane four in the first

heat, got a steady start and was cruising along the backstretch, picking off opponents before taking the lead in the last 150 metres before pulling away from the field to run out an easy winner, sending those in attendance into a loud cheer. He erased the old mark of 49.13 seconds set by Kingston College's Nathaniel Bann, who defeated him at last year's edition.

Taylor won ahead of Odane Thomas (52.30) of Claude McKay and Chadon Davis (52.69) of Wolmer's Boys.

The 14-year-old Taylor said that going for the record was the initial plan and he did just that.

"I feel great in myself knowing that I came out here and followed the instructions given to me by my coach…he told me to break the record first thing and get it out of the way and I did just that, so I am feeling really wonderful," he told Jamaican media.

The soft-spoken athlete, competing in his second year in Class Three, said that he will be working to go lower as he was the first Class Three athlete to go under 49.00 seconds, a feat which he achieved at the Corporate Area Championships.

"I will be working to go 48.0 in the final, because I know I have it in me to clock a sub-48.

Last year I finished second in 50.5 in the final, and at Corporate Area champs I ran 48.5, so I know I can get lower," he insisted. (Jamaica Observer)

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he national sporting fraternity was plunged into mourning early Monday afternoon after it was revealed that Trinidad and Tobago’s first-ever Olympic medallist, Rodney Wilkes, passed away at the San Fernando General Hospital at approximately 2pm.

Wilkes, a former national weightlifter and Hummingbird Gold medallist, died at the age of 89. According to reports, the veteran athlete had been ailing for the last couple months and sadly succumbed to his illness at the southern medical institution.

Popularly known as “The Mighty Atom”, Wilkes’ received international recognition after he copped gold at the 1946 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquilla, Colombia. However, Wilkes shot to global stardom and athletic success when he bagged silver at the 1948 Olympic Games in London. Here, he competed in the featherweight division and immediately became the first TT athlete to ever step-foot on the coveted Olympic podium. In his historic performance, Wilkes lifted a combined weight of 700lbs finishing behind eventual winner, Egyptian Mahmoud Fayad, who hoisted 733lbs.

The national weightlifter continued to strive and went on to win featherweight gold at the first Pan American Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1951. The following year, Wilkes was again selected to represent TT at the Summer Games in Helsinki.

He continued to prove his worth to the national and global population

Rodney Wilkes passed away at the San Fernando General Hospital Monday

as he recorded a bronze medal finish. Wilkes opted to sit out of competition for two years and announced his return to the world circuit when he emerged victorious at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver. Following this, he snatched bronze at the Games in Cardiff.

Wilkes’ final Olympic appearance came at the 1956 Melbourne Games.

He finished fourth with a combined lift of 730 lbs, missing out on a medal by one place and 5 kg.

Mayor of San Fernando, Kazim Hosein, said Monday: “This man was a role model and an iconic athlete for Trinidad and Tobago. Rodney Wilkes was so humble and this is indeed a great loss for San Fernando and the people of South.” (Excerpted from TT Newsday)

Nineteen-point plan to take WI to top

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19-point plan which aims to establish West Indies as the number one performing team in world cricket, has been approved by the Board of Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

The plan includes the implementation of a captain’s

council, professionalisation of First Class Cricket, doubling of matches in the Regional Four Day Tournament, appointment of a coaching manager to implement the regional coaching programme and an elite coaching programme targeting current and former players.

Under the plan, the West

Indies head coach will be added to the Selection Panel and will have full voting rights while the captains will be added to the Selection Panel as non-voting members. The programme also calls for a structured year round cricket programme for all West Indies and all First Class contracted players, 15

full time contracted players to each Territorial Board and professional administrative and coaching staff for each First Class team.

The recommendations formed part of a comprehensive report on the West Indies Cricket System prepared and presented by Director of

Cricket Richard Pybus. The 33 page Pybus Report follows a three month, region-wide study which he conducted between November 2013 and January 2014.

WICB Directors approved the recommendations during a meeting in Port of Spain over the weekend. (TT Newsday)

30

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www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending March 27, 2014

IFBB Pro athlete Jeff Beckham in Guyana for Hugh Ross Classic this weekend Gilgeous on behalf of Chase Academy to help with expenses for the Hugh Ross Classic.

By Avenash Ramzan

P

acking 280 pounds of muscles on a wellchiselled physique, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro athlete, Jeff “Classic” Beckham, touched down on Guyana’s soil on Monday morning, immediately creating an impact on locals.

The 32-year-old American’s main purpose of his maiden trip to the Land of Many Waters is to guest pose at Saturday’s highly anticipated Hugh Ross Classic Bodybuilding and Fitness Show, but would be using the next few days to tour Guyana, help to promote the show and wow locals with his symmetrical body.

Beckham got his tour of Guyana going in fine style on Monday morning, making a stop at Chase Academy in Kingston where he left students and teachers in awe with his tremendous structure.

After brief remarks, “Classic” pulled off a few poses which sent all in

Saturday’s event

Student Rosheda Gilgeous presents Chase Academy’s sponsorship to Hugh Ross in the presence of international bodybuilder Jeff “Classic” Beckham (left) and HRC Finance Officer, Dexter “Bushman” Garnett (Guyana Times photo)

attendance scurrying for their cameras to snap photos of the international bodybuilder.

“I’m excited to be here in Guyana for the first time, and I encourage you to bring out your family and witness the show on Saturday. There will be some good competitors so I look forward to seeing you,” Beckham remarked.

Beckham added that he has something special in store for the fans on competition night, “But of course, they have to be there to see and enjoy what I intend to show off.”

The soft-spoken sportsman also interacted with the students and teachers, as he fielded questions from them and afforded photographic

opportunities.

Beckham, also a Musclemania Pro, became an IFBB Pro after winning the Overall title at the NPC’s NY Team Universe in 2012.

Prior to his arrival, Ross, in whose honour, this Saturday’s event is being held, had a few words of advice to the students.

“I see in front of me

the future. Take this opportunity to enhance your education as this will help to launch you into life. Don’t let go of your dreams,” Ross, who was recently given a Medal of Service by the government of Guyana, advised.

Moments after, Ross received an undisclosed sponsorship package from student Rosheda

Come Saturday, there will be three female categories: bodybuilding (females who are of a more muscular body type); Miss Figure (athletes who are symmetrical and toned) and the Miss Bikini (for the softer and more feminine eye pleasing type of figure).

The male categories are: Bantamweightup to 65kgs (143lbs), Lightweightup to 70kgs (144-154lbs), Welterweight- up to 75kgs (155-165lbs), Light Middleweight- up to 80kgs (166-176lbs), Heavyweight (176 and over).

The respective category winners will then face off in the Overall battle to decide Mr. Hugh Ross Classic 2014.

Mr. Hugh Ross Classic 2012, Kerwyn Clarke, will be defending his title and will face stiff challenges from a number of seasoned and not so seasoned athletes.

(Excerpted from Guyana Times)

Jamaica’s top badminton players Excitement building... head to Cuba for int’l meet

from back page

(From left) Samuel Ricketts, Gareth Henry and Geordine Henry prior to their departure at the Norman Manley International Airport Tuesday (Jamaica Gleaner photo)

T

he Jamaica B a d m i n t o n Association's (JBA) top players, siblings Gareth and Geordine Henry, along with junior champion Samuel Ricketts, were scheduled to depart the island Tuesday en route to Havana, Cuba, to represent Jamaica at the XV Giradilla International.

Gareth and Geordine are currently the All

Jamaica senior singles and mixed doubles champions, while Gareth and Ricketts are the current men's doubles champions.

Gareth will be playing all three events (men's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles); Geordine will contest the women's singles and will join her brother to play the mixed doubles, while Ricketts is

also slated to take part in the men's singles and will partner Gareth in the men's doubles.

"I am going there with one thing in mind, and that is to win a gold medal. I have been working and training hard because I want to do well at these Championships," the local queen, Geordine, told Jamaican media on Monday.

Focus

Ricketts said that he was focusing more on the men's doubles.

"Even though it is at the senior level and I am still a junior, my plan is to go there and give it my all. I want to do well in the doubles with Gareth, as we are a good team.

I want to gain as many points as possible to boost my ranking for the Commonwealth Games," Ricketts said.

After the championships, Gareth and Geordine will then fly directly to Peru, where Gareth will participate in a special high performance training camp for selected players in the region before participating with Geordine in the Peru International.

Ruth Williams and Kathryn Wynter will depart the island on April 7 to join the Henry siblings in Peru.

These championships are a part of the International Pan-Am circuit that has been established to allow the players to improve their level of play, as well as to qualify for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) games, Pan-Am and the Olympic Games.

(Excerpted from Jamaica Gleaner)

bled nemesis Guyana Amazon Warriors by an emphatic seven-wicket margin. Belligerent opener Chris Gayle led the way with unbeaten man-of-the-match 47.

Competition

President of Cricket Canada Ravin Moorty

If the agreement is signed, excitement galore is highly anticipated as some of the world’s most professional T20 cricketers will be on show.

Second play-off

The second edition of the CPL is scheduled to begin July 5 and will run until August 10 with the semi-final and final games slated for St. Kitts and Nevis.

Defending champion Jamaica (Tallawahs), runners-up Guyana (Amazon Warriors), Trinidad and Tobago (Red Steel), Barbados (Tridents), Antigua and Barbuda (Hawksbills) and St. Lucia (Zouks) are the teams that will be vying for supremacy again.

In the finals last year at Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, Jamaica Tallawahs hum-

Players from across the cricketing globe represented the various teams as guest players including Australian Ricky Ponting, Sri Lankans Kumar Sangakkara, Tillikarante Dilshan, Lasith Malinga, New Zealander James Franklin, South African Vernon Philander, Pakistani Mohammed Hafeez and SaheedAjmal.

Many are of the view that once Canada attracts this segment of the CPL tournament, it will ultimately boost the North American country’s cricket tremendously.

Over the past eight months, the national team has suffered the consequences of early eliminations at both the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 and 50-over World Cup Qualifiers.

The under-19 team, which participated in the recently concluded ICC 50-over world cup in Dubai, also failed to make an impression.

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week ending March 27, 2014 | www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Germany’s Robert Forstemann returns for Njisane Cycling Festival in Trinidad

Quintyne spins Windies Women to 36-run win over Bangladesh

W

G

Flashback: TT's Olympic cyclist Njisane Phillip, centre, poses with Germany’s Robert Forstemann, left, and Russia’s Denis Dmitriev with a Felt bicycle during a press conference before last year’s Njisane Three-Day Cycling Festival in Trinidad (TT Guardian photo)

erman phenom, Robert Forstemann, will return to Trinidad and Tobago to defend his “Njisane Three-Day Cycling Festival” (N3DCF) Match Sprint title when the second edition of the meet rides off at the Arima Velodrome on April 11 and continues at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on the following two days.

Forstemann, who won the inaugural crown in a heated encounter against Venezuelan Hersony Canelon last year, has confirmed his presence for the 2014 leg which once again boasts a cast of top-ranked global cyclists. Although still in its planning stages, Phillip is hoping the event can play a significant role in developing to young riders.

So far, several athletes from Russia, Netherlands, Canada, among others have been confirmed and their identities should be released later this week.

Phillip is still in the process of finalising other world renowned athletes and is also working towards securing more sponsors to ensure the event’s success.

Speaking to Phillip after a hectic weekend of local racing, he revealed that this year’s edition will be solely focussed on inspiring the younger

ones to step up their game by training and competing alongside some of the globe’s prolific riders.

“I just want to get more of the youngsters involved in this growing sport. It’s important for me to do events like these because I have set an example and must create ways and means for others to reach their goals, even if it seems impossible, I’d like to pave a way somehow. Cycling is growing significantly in our nation and what better way to learn from the best by competing, training and socialising with the best,” said Phillip.

The Siparia-bred rider revealed that the women have not been left out and is looking to attract some of the more iconic female international stars TT as well.

With a mega female cast comprising Cuban Lisandra Guerra, Mexican Sofia Arreola and Kiwi Natasha Hansen last year, Phillip admitted that he intends to inject more excitement into the women’s division for 2014. Returning sponsors this year are the Ministry of Sport, Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Blue Waters, Tourism Development Company Limited, Perfection Services Limited and newcomers, Gatorade. (TT Newsday)

TT to host Guinness street challenge

T

rinidad and Tobago will host nine Caribbean neighbours at the final of the fourth annual Guinness Street Football Challenge, on June 6- 7, two months after the preliminary round kicks off, in Tobago.

On Sunday, Shaw Park Basketball Court will host the first round preliminary matches, from 6 pm, with the winner of that zone joining five other zones at the local final, carded for May 17 at the Jean Pierre Complex, Wrightson Road.

The TT preliminary rounds are as follows, Tobago (Sunday), South (Fanny Village, April 5), East (Edinburgh 500, April 5), East (Maloney, April 26), North East (Constantine Park, May 3) and North West

(Jean Pierre Complex, May 10).

Not only has TT won the team competition last year, the country also provided the winner of the skills challenge, Marc Taylor.

TT’s skills champion this year, and those from participating national will be provided

by Guinness with video tutorials from an international freestyle football champion.

TT captured the street challenge last year in St Vincent following a 2-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Dominica.

The other participating countries include, Guyana, St Lucia, St Vincent, Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Dominica as well as debutants Barbados and Jamaica.

(TT Guardian)

est Indies Women swept aside host Bangladesh by 36 runs to win their second match in the ICC T20 World Cup at Sylhet Stadium in Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Eighteen-year-old leg break bowler, Shaquana Quintyne, grabbed three wickets to inflict a top order submission that severely restricted the hosts who imploded for 79, on the hunt for 116 set by West Indies.

Quintyne returned impressive figures of three wickets for five runs from three overs which included a maiden and received support from Tremayne Smartt and Anisa Mohammed who picked up two for nine and two for 22, respectively.

The teenager, who also scored 11 and was voted player-of-thematch, knocked back the stumps of two frontline batsmen - opener Ayasha Rahman for 10 and Fargana Hogue for 2 - to leave Bangladesh scrambling for momentum.

But middle order batsman Rumana Ahmed top-scored with 26 to lead a fightback that injected a measure of stability into Bangladesh’s innings.

In the process, Ahmed added 28 for the 5th wicket with Nuzhat Tasnia before another

Shaquana Quintyne in action (Jamaica Observer file photo)

batting collapse ensued and the match swung decisively in favour of the visitors.

In the space of four balls Tasnia, who scored 6, was bowled by Anisa Mohammed while Quintyne ended the reign of Ahmed who was caught by Smartt.

The Caribbean women asserted themselves ruthlessly by removing the last four wickets for just five runs to secure a comfortable win with 15 balls remaining.

Earlier, West Indies who had won the toss and elected to bat, were jolted by early strikes from Salma Khatun and Fahima Khatun.

Salma shattered the stumps of opener Kycia Knight in the second ball of the innings for a duck while Fahima removed the stumps of Shaquana

Quintyne for 11 and trapped Kyshona Knight lbw also for 11, as the West Indies plummeted to 33 for three.

However the aggressive Deandra Dottin teamed up with King to steer the innings back on course as the Caribbean women clawed their way back into the match.

Dottin, who topscored with 34 which featured three fours and a six, compiled 40 runs for the fifth wicket with King who hit two fours and a six to score 20.

Down the order Mohammed also contributed a well-played 15 before she was run out.

Khadija Tul Kubra topped the bowling for Bangladesh with three for 24 including the prized scalp of Dottin who was caught.

(Jamaica Observer)

2014 Indoor Pan American Cup…

Guyana’s nation men’s hockey team in final stages of preparation

A

fter four months of training, Guyana’s national men’s hockey team is in its final week of preparations for the 2014 Indoor Pan American Cup, scheduled for Uruguay from April 7-13.

The team is scheduled to play several matches against rest sides at the National Gymnasium over the coming week to fine-tune their systems and strategies.

Guyana will be up against regional powerhouses Canada, Argentina, USA and Uruguay as they attempt to qualify for the 2015 Indoor World Cup in the week-long tournament.

Although several fundraisers were undertaken, the team still finds itself short of the required funds to make the tour possible and will be depending heavily on corporate support to reach

Members of Guyana’s national training squad before the team was shortlisted (Guyana Times photo)

its budgeted target over the next two weeks.

The team is scheduled to depart for Lethem on April 4, then travel by road to Boa Vista before making connecting flights to Manaus and Sao Paulo, arriving in Uruguay on April 5.

The team features a balanced blend of experienced nationals such as Devin Munroe, Aderemi Simon and

England-based Marvin Dannett, complemented by a young and exciting crop of play-makers, including Jamarj Assanah, Aroydy Branford, Raphael deGroot and Andrew Stewart. The team is further solidified by the outstanding talents of Anthony Cole in goal.

The squad reads: Devin Munroe, Aderemi Simon, Anthony Cole,

Marvin Dannett, Robert France, Raphael DeGroot, Jamarj Assanah, Andrew Stewart, Aroydy Branford, Mark Sargeant, Kevin Spencer, Shane Samuels and Laured Stewart.

The manager is Gavin Hope, with Andrew Xavier being his assistant. Robert Fernandes is the coach. (Guyana Times)

www.caribbeantimesinternational.com

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

INTERNATIONAL

Excitement builds up for Limacol CPL in Canada WEEK ENDING MARCH 27, 2014

- opening ceremony, matches likely for Toronto

By Ravendra Madholall

W

ith the second edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament set to bowl off in July, President of Cricket Canada Ravin Moorty says he is optimistic that the opening ceremony and a few of the matches would be staged in Canada.

“I don’t want to divulge too much at the moment, but what I can say, we have an understanding in principle and we are trying to bring that to a formal agreement so hopefully, we will have something concrete very soon,” he said earlier this week.

Cricket Canada started negotiations with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) before the inaugural Limacol CPL last year, to have

Guyana Amazon Warriors' players celebrating the dismissal of Chris Gayle in a match last year (CPL photo)

the opening ceremony along with three firstround matches played in Toronto, Canada this

Germany’s Robert Forstemann returns for Njisane Cycling Page 31 Festival in Trinidad

year.

Negotiations

“Since last year we have been working with

the WICB to bring this league to this country; in the last six months, we have been dealing di-

rectly with the organisers and with some good discussions, things have been good so far,” Moorty

indicated.

He revealed that the CPL organisers were in Toronto a few days ago as part of the negotiations with Cricket Canada and had looked at the possibility of having the opening ceremony and matches in Toronto.

The Toronto Cricket Club ground in the City is being looked at as a possible venue for the opening ceremony while the other sanctioned venue is King City (Maple Leaf), approximately 40 KM North of Toronto.

“They want to do it here and we want to accommodate them and that make lots of sense for them to bring their product to a market that appreciates top quality cricket and is home to nationals from cricketplaying nations around the world,” Moorty stated. continued on page 30

IFBB Pro athlete Jeff Beckham in Guyana for Hugh Ross Classic this weekend Page 30

IFBB Pro athlete Jeff “Classic” Beckham (right) and Guyana’s bodybuilder Hugh Ross wowed the students of Chase's Academy on Monday (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

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