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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 1890 guyanatimesgy.com

P9

P14

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Guyana, Suriname agree to operations in Corentyne River Friday, September 13, 2013

See story on page 3

Murdered WCD businessman laid to rest

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WHAT'S INSIDE: P2 MYO condemns murder of young businessman

Buddy’s Rice Mill heartened by early response P2

New Canadian envoy P10 accredited

See story on page 11

Protesters P10 rebuff military strike on Syria The body of young businessman Zulficar Namdar also known as "Vicky" being escorted into the Meten-Meer-Zorg Cemetery following a funeral service on Thursday (Carl Croker photo)

Power rationing “Don’t press takes toll on panic button” Mahdia See story on page 2

– Brumell urges in response to crime spike See story on page 7

Police issue wanted bulletin for P12 quartet

2 news

friday, september 13, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

MYO condemns Power rationing takes toll on Mahdia murder of young – REO says shortfall in revenues main cause businessman BY: SVETLANA MARSHALL

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he Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana (MYO) has strongly condemned what it described as the senseless murder of Zulficar Namdar also called “Vicky” by bandits Tuesday night at his MetenMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara home.

“Namdar was an upright member of our community, always willing to serve and help the less fortunate, traits he obviously inherited from his parents. His loss will leave a void in Region Three particularly in his village of Meten-Meer-Zorg,” the MYO said in a statement.

It added: “We call for a thorough and expeditious investigation into the brutal murder of our brother. Those responsible for this heinous crime must be held to account for their actions and must, when caught, face the full brunt of the law.”

The MYO said too that it sympathises with all the victims of recent crimes and share in the grief of the families of those who lost their loved ones, urging that serious and condign action be taken to reverse the recent decline of law and order in the country.

“We note that the recent upsurge in criminality

bears a sinister likeness in the modus operandi of the 2002/2003 crime wave where efforts were made to destabilise our country. Guyana belongs to all of us; these criminals share a violent, hate-fuelled desire for conflict and war, and we should not allow them to tear our country apart,” the MYO said “As citizens of Guyana, we are all obligated to work assiduously to create an environment of increased vigilance while eliminating threats to public safety and personal security. This is a moral and legal imperative.

“A collective condemnation of the recent murders and violence in Guyana will send a clear and unambiguous statement to those bent on criminal deeds. It will signal to those bent on crime that their actions are rejected and deplored by the majority of citizens of our country.

“Towards creating this consensus against crime, the Muslim Youth Organisation calls on all stakeholders, government, opposition and the human rights organisations to unequivocally reject the recent assault on citizens by criminals,” said the MYO.

A

major shortfall in revenues garnered by the Mahdia Power and Light (MPL) is the main cause for the rationing of electricity in the mining district, Region Eight Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ronald Harsawack said.

Approximately one month ago, the MPL’s board was reportedly forced to reduce the hours of electricity supply to its consumers; leaving them with just 12 hours per day, in an effort to keep the company afloat. For more than a year, the company has been experiencing serious financial difficulties.

“About a month ago, we received 18 hours then it was reduced to 12 hours; this stems from the whole issue with the power company not garnering enough revenue to generate 24 hours of electricity,” Harsawack told Guyana Times.

Residents are currently receiving electricity from 18:00h to 06:00h. It was explained that the MPL has been losing millions of dollars since the implementation of the metering system within the sub-dis-

Region Eight REO Ronald Harsawack

trict in late 2012.

The REO said prior to 2013, the power company raked in “millions of dollars in revenues” from approximately 75 government buildings within Mahdia, ranging from educational to health facilities and regional offices.

Financial status

The fixed revenues garnered at the time were complemented by revenues paid by the more than 400 consumers present in the area. But the financial status of the company went downhill following the installation of meters in the district.

Venting his frustration in a letter to the editor, Region Eight

RDC Councillor Oswald Timothy said the rationing of electricity in Mahdia is taking a toll on the education system. He said children are unable to focus in school due to the extremely hot environment.

“Without fans, these schools are more like concentration camps than learning institutions,” he said in the letter.

The situation is further compounded by the lack of water. Without electricity, water cannot be pumped to the learning institutions.

Work must go on

But the REO said the work of the council must go on, hence, the standby generator was put into operation.

He also refuted claims that the RDC has outstanding money to the company. According to Harsawack, in December 2012, following the installation of meters, the RDC paid the company more than $12 million in advanced payment for 2013.

To date, the council has not utilised all of the $12 million in electricity. The next bill might be due in December, he posited.

Meanwhile the Alliance For Change (AFC) also

condemned the move by the power company to reduce the hours of electricity.

In a press statement on Thursday, the party pointed to the 2013 national budget, stating that $15 million in subvention was allocated to the MPL and another $15 million to Port Kaituma.

However, to date, the MPL has only received $10 million and Port Kaituma $5 million.

AFC was informed that MPL sent request to the Ministry of Finance a month ago for the remaining $5 million.

The ministry requested additional information which the Hinterland Electrification Unit provided.

However, the MPL is still waiting for the remaining $5 million to be released.

The MPL’s board, comprising representatives from the AFC, the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the RDC, a businessman and regular residents, is yet to make a public announcement on the way forward.

Buddy’s Rice Mill heartened by early response

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lthough it has not yet received its licence to operate, the newly- established Buddy’s Rice Milling Complex has officially begun buying paddy, receiving good responses from Regions Five and Six farmers.

While Guyana Times was told by a top company official that the complex has already received its licence, Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh had confirmed that this is not so.

However, he told this publication during a telephone interview that the rice mill’s new management is soon to be issued its licence to operate as it is being processed and the final documents to complete the processing are expected to be submitted today by the miller.

The GRDB general manager said the company has so far satisfied most of the criteria for licensing.

Meanwhile, Buddy’s Rice Milling Complex Chief Executive Officer Arnold Gajraj said the company has already bought paddy from about 10-15 rice farmers who planted early.

“Harvesting is not in full swing as yet until mid next week,” Gajraj said, noting that the company is in the process of cleaning and drying the paddy and milling of white rice will begin in the next two to three weeks.

The millers are paying farmers $4000 per bag of paddy. According to the company’s CEO, farmers who provided paddy on Tuesday last are expected to be paid on Wednesday.

Gajraj boasted of the company’s fast intake, noting that it would reduce the hassle of farmers having to line up, thus ensuring faster grading and processing. He is encouraging farmers to take their paddy to the Buddy’s Rice Milling Complex when the harvesting season is in full swing.

The GRDB general manager had previously told this publication that while

a milling licence is needed before a company can commence operations, the GRDB would from time to time flex with companies so as to ensure farmers’ paddy are sold.

“We try to work with them to avoid a bottleneck in buying. So we work with investors to reduce the long lines of farmers having to wait for their paddy to be sold,” he outlined.

The requirements for a licence include proof of ownership, assurance of quality and sufficient grading equipment, among other things.

The Buddy’s Rice Milling Complex, formerly known as the Mahaicony Rice Mill Limited, was recently bought by popular Guyanese businessman Omprakash “Buddy” Shivraj. The facility, located at Branch Road, Mahaicony, Region Five, was bought in mid- July

News

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, September 13 from 11:00h to 12:30h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, September 13 from 10:00h to 11:30h.

WEATHER TODAY

friday, september 13, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana, Suriname agree to operations in Corentyne River

Countrywide: Heavy rain showers are expected during the day, with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-easterly at 2.68 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:31h and 23:00h reaching maximum heights of 2.21 metres and 2.27 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:52h and 16:25h reaching minimum heights of 0.87 metre and 1.05 metres respectively.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

GDF Chief-of-Staff Rear Admiral Gary Best

GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur

By Svetlana Marshall

Ministry, Rear Admiral Best said the energies of the GDF and the Surinamese National Army have increased significantly in the context of embracing law enforcement.

“I specifically engaged the Surinamese National Army in discussions relating to trans-border crimes, but how the military can work with the law enforcement agencies.

We discussed specifically, joint operation in support of the police forces of the two nations and joint operation in the Corentyne River,” the chief-of-staff reported.

ing of drugs and firearms and illegal fishing.

Asked about the territorial issues surrounding the Corentyne waters, Rear Admiral Best said this matter has to be addressed at the highest level, positing that the attorney generals of both countries may need to consult on who can execute arrests in the Corentyne area.

Additionally, the GDF and the Surinamese National Army have agreed to give mutual support in an effort to strengthen both militaries. The chief-of-staff said a proposal was made for Suriname to capitalise on the Officer Cadet School in Guyana, similarly, the GDF can tap into programmes offered by the Surinamese National Army.

Sattaur said in excess of US$10 million in goods are being imported annually from Suriname, with collected taxes standing

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he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Surinamese National Army have renewed their commitment to combat trans-border crimes through joint operations in the Corentyne River.

This commitment is among pledges made when Guyana and Suriname met under the Presidential Engagement Initiative, initiated by former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Surinamese Head of State Desi Bouterse in 2011.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee led a highprofile team from Guyana, comprising GDF Chiefof-Staff, Rear Admiral Gary Best; acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur in the meeting in Paramaribo on September 6 and 7.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday at the Home Affairs

Joint venture The modality of this joint venture is yet to be finalised; however, he is anticipating that the militaries through the GDF Coast Guard and the Surinamese Navy can move into operation within the next six months in the Corentyne River.

Together, they will clamp down on piracy, human trafficking, traffick-

at US$5 million. However, he too said food smuggling remains a problem.

He explained that of recent, they have been “lapses” in the system, resulting in smuggled goods; a problem linked to both countries.

Despite disgruntlement among some business people, a bond was erected in Corriverton to store goods, in an effort to combat smuggling.

“We observe that big boats actually being loaded in Suriname but are transferred to small boats, in the midstream, and some of goods end up back in Suriname as smuggled goods, or Guyana, causing concerns to legitimate business,” he said.

Agreement Additionally, the countries focused on expanding corporation. In February 2012, President Donald Ramotar and an eight-member delegation engaged in a one-day working visit to Suriname where an agreement was reached for the establishment of a Border Security Committee as a direct mechanism for information sharing and monitoring, so as to deal with this matter in all its aspects.

During this engagement, it was highlighted that the issue of making the Springlands/Nickerie crossing referred to as the ‘back track’ route into a legal entry point is under active consideration.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 13, 2013

Views Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Trafficking in persons R

ecently Guyana has been seeing some positive signs from the U.S. authorities based in Georgetown in relation to tackling Trafficking in Persons (TIP). In the past, the government had always protested the methodology used and the kind of analysis done to come up with a ranking for this country.

The U.S. Congress uses the State Department’s assessment of each country’s efforts to adhere to the Palermo protocol as a basis to decide whether or not to extend trade benefits or other incentives to these countries.

Guyana was downgraded from Tier 2 to the Tier 2 Watch List in this year’s State Department TIP Report. However, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown Bryan Hunt seems to be taking more of a friendly and cordial approach in helping Guyana deal with TIP, and certainly the Guyanese authorities would find this very comforting.

From all indications, Hunt seems to understand and appreciate the concerns Guyana has been raising for quite some time now and is willing to collaborate with the authorities here to address them. Subsequent to the TIP report’s release this year, the Guyana government denounced its findings and declared that it would no longer cooperate with the U.S. government’s survey for information on human trafficking.

This newspaper had made its position on the issue known before. That is, it makes no sense for the U.S. to use certain information gathered from whatever sources and come up with an annual TIP rating for this country, if they are not willing to share that information with the authorities here, so that the necessary action could be taken to investigate and penalise those persons found to be involved in TIP. In a more general sense, we had made a passionate call for there to be more collaboration at all levels and between a range of stakeholders on the issue since it is only by collaborating and sharing of resources that the fight against TIP could be successful.

Hunt in a previous interview with this publication had conceded that the Guyana government was “not happy” with the downgrade. But he made it known that the crux of the matter on human trafficking is not about where Guyana ranks on the report but what is being done collectively to address the issue. He acknowledged that the Guyana government has taken in the last few months a number of very important steps to begin to address the issue, to begin to arrest and prosecute those who are responsible for human trafficking in the country.

We do not believe that there is a lack of political will on the part of the Guyana government to address TIP. In fact some of the actions that are required are outside of government’s control. And in no way are we saying that the government should not be criticised when it is found that they are not taking the kind of action that is required to deal with TIP. However, it would be helpful if the U.S. authorities were to recognise that the administration has indeed taken some crucial steps to illuminate the scourge.

Further, most would agree that it is not the obligation of the government alone to tackle TIP. There is need for sustained action by a wide cross-section of stakeholders if we are to really deal with the problem. Guyana has shown that it does not want lectures from Washington on how to deal with TIP, it wants to seriously engage all stakeholders, including the U.S., to confront the problem head-on.

While the authorities here must continue to press the U.S. for more information sharing and resources to fight TIP, the general approach taken by the new U.S. embassy’s deputy chief of mission is most welcome.

The Turanor Planet Solar, the world’s largest solar boat, travels on the Seine River in Paris. The US$20 million PlanetSolar’s deck is covered with photovoltaic panels that charge a gigantic lithium ion battery (Yahoo! Finance)

A plea for caution from Russia Dear Editor, Recent events surrounding Syria have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders. It is important to do so at a time of insufficient communication between our societies.

Relations between us have passed through different stages. We stood against each other during the cold war. But we were also allies once, and defeated the Nazis together.

The universal international organisation – the United Nations – was then established to prevent such devastation from ever happening again.

The United Nations’ founders understood that decisions affecting war and peace should happen only by consensus, and with America’s consent the veto by Security Council permanent members was enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

The profound wisdom of this has underpinned the stability of international relations for decades.

No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage. This is possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorisation.

The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria’s borders.

A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the IsraeliPalestinian conflict and further destabilise the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system

of international law and order out of balance.

Syria is not witnessing a battle for democracy, but an armed conflict between government and opposition in a multireligious country. There are few champions of democracy in Syria. But there are more than enough Qaeda fighters and extremists of all stripes battling the government. The United States State Department has designated Al Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, fighting with the opposition, as terrorist organisations. This internal conflict, fueled by foreign weapons supplied to the opposition, is one of the bloodiest in the world.

Mercenaries from Arab countries fighting there, and hundreds of militants from Western countries and even Russia, are an issue of our deep concern. Might they not return to our countries with experience acquired in Syria?

After all, after fighting in Libya, extremists moved on to Mali. This threatens us all.

From the outset, Russia has advocated peaceful dialogue enabling Syrians to develop a compromise plan for their own future. We are not protecting the Syrian government, but international law.

We need to use the United Nations Security Council and believe that preserving law and order in today’s complex and turbulent world is one of the few ways to keep international relations from sliding into chaos. The law is still the law, and we must follow it whether we like it or not.

Under current international law, force is permitted only in self-defence or by the decision of the Security Council.

Anything else is unacceptable under the United Nations Charter and would constitute an act of aggression.

No one doubts that poison gas was used in Syria. But there is every reason to believe it was used not by the Syrian Army, but by opposi-

tion forces, to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons, who would be siding with the fundamentalists. Reports that militants are preparing another attack – this time against Israel – cannot be ignored.

It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States. Is it in America’s long-term interest?

I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan “you’re either with us or against us.”

But force has proved ineffective and pointless.

Afghanistan is reeling, and no one can say what will happen after international forces withdraw. Libya is divided into tribes and clans. In Iraq the civil war continues, with dozens killed each day. In the United States, many draw an analogy between Iraq and Syria, and ask why their government would want to repeat recent mistakes.

No matter how targeted the strikes or how sophisticated the weapons, civilian casualties are inevitable, including the elderly and children, whom the strikes are meant to protect.

The world reacts by asking: if you cannot count on international law, then you must find other ways to ensure your security. Thus a growing number of countries seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction. This is logical: if you have the bomb, no one will touch you. We are left with talk of the need to strengthen nonproliferation, when in reality this is being eroded.

We must stop using the language of force and return to the path of civilised diplomatic and political settlement.

A new opportunity to avoid military action has emerged

in the past few days. The United States, Russia and all members of the international community must take advantage of the Syrian government’s willingness to place its chemical arsenal under international control for subsequent destruction. Judging by the statements of President Obama, the United States sees this as an alternative to military action.

I welcome the president’s interest in continuing the dialogue with Russia on Syria.

We must work together to keep this hope alive, as we agreed to at the Group of 8 meeting in Lough Erne in Northern Ireland in June, and steer the discussion back toward negotiations.

If we can avoid force against Syria, this will improve the atmosphere in international affairs and strengthen mutual trust. It will be our shared success and open the door to cooperation on other critical issues.

My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.”

It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation.

There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy.

Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.

Vladimir Putin President of Russia First published in New York Times (submitted by the

Russian Embassy, Guyana)

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

A good testimony to development Dear Editor, Government, for the first half of this year, spent almost $650 million to develop over 2250 house lots. The midyear report further showed that while government budgeted $3.1 billion for the housing sector this year, only $1.1 billion was expended so far. Yet many are challenging the progress that the country is making.

Look also at the personal level, and stop to think.

There are some good reasons for owning a home. The obvious reasons include pride of

ownership, building personal equity instead of someone else’s, no more landlords, and of course, the tax benefits to be reaped.

I think also of that great sense of belonging to a community. People feel more attached to a place and connected to others when they are in their own homes. This bodes well for any country, and where Guyana is concerned, we need a lot of good nexuses.

I have dreams for this country. I think of a time when many more people will

own their own homes and what will eventually happen is that there will be a higher level of interest in what is happening with the schools, roads and shopping centres in various places. Many new homeowners find themselves getting into local politics in order to create better surroundings, which is something renters never really do.

These kinds of permanent and profound benefits we do not notice immediately and maybe will all come to the fore sometime later.

So in this sense, Guyana is developing too. We are sensing more patriotism.

I have this word of caution though – when home owners are not working on making their environments better and tending to their houses, they should really be upbraided. A country is more than a lot of people having houses. No new community should be allowed to descend into ghettoes.

Yours truly, Esther Craig

Tackling illegal fishing Dear Editor, Some good things are developing between Guyana and Venezuela. I may not be privy to what obtains out on the high seas between the two countries, but the stories are not nice.

I know that many Guyanese are legally allowed to fish in various neighbouring waters and they fare well in these ventures. They even get the country’s concession when it comes to gearing up for their fishing trips. They enjoy

cheaper fuel for sure. This alone is a big plus.

So when measures are put into place, those who are fishing illegally will be reined in. I have heard a lot about these illegal fishers, who when caught, had to subscribe to hellish treatment. I have also heard stories of unscrupulous fishers, who exploit their fellow Guyanese by virtue of coming back here and selling their catch at exorbitant prices. I think some of this will come into play as the

two countries make their plans.

How about sustainable fishing in the waters?

This must be looked at too.

Trawling the bottom of the ocean by dragging heavy metal equipment along the seabed at a high speed is the most destructive form of deep-sea fishing in the world. The fishing industry loves it because it is very effective. But it is indiscriminate and leaves behind a trail of devastation.

However, the reality is that up to 17 pounds or more of non-targeted species, including corals, sponges, and Chinook salmon get caught in the net for every one pound of the targeted marketable species. Now multiply this by the number of fishing vessels and the number of scoops, and we see a bleak future very soon.

Yours faithfully, Trawler owner Name withheld by request

Stray animals still on the roads Dear Editor, This repeated call about dealing with stray animals on our roads is getting to be dull and a waste of time. The Home Affairs Ministry is again appealing to livestock owners to ensure proper supervision of their animals during the grazing period.

How many times will this warning be repeated?

It is the same story over and over again – the animal owners get the warning, the animals are still there, they are caught, and I assume easily released, and then he cycle

restarts. We are not making any progress.

I need to know what financial remuneration comes from this exercise. I get the impression that it is a breeze for these farmers. Is there documentation that can be accessed, stating who are culpable and how much they had to pay? I see a possible ruse here and I actually heard of one.

There is something going on with a few selected cattle owners and some law enforcement people. In fact, I heard that a few farmers

are much happier now, even though they have their animals roaming the roads and other places. This has got to be checked out.

One disgruntled animal owner was overheard saying that only those people with a few animals are keeping the law. The ones with plenty of animals ‘got it locked’.

I think I smell a rat here.

This may explain why we still have so many animals on the road.

I need to ask the authorities what are they doing about the many cats and

Time to get tough with erring drivers

Dear Editor, We must move towards cameras at the traffic lights.

We can start this move by having the major intersections covered and also by using some traffic wardens and employing mobile cameras to back up their presence

where ever this is. Our traffic department needs some help. If not, bad driving will be too common place.

I am calling for more surveillance at certain junctions and for drivers to be aware of a simple thing like speeding. Yes, accidents

might still occur, but speed compounds the aftermath.

These are some of the least curbing methods we can impose as regards bad driving.

Regards, Jameer Hoosein

dogs which are on the road.

These are strays too. So I am calling for some work in this area. We cannot talk tourism and foster good health when this is happening.

Sincerely, Doreen Haynes

Traffic wardens and road safety improvement Dear Editor, Traffic wardens can really help with the road situation. I remember I was caught in a traffic jam on the East Coast Demerara and it was a volunteer who came to the rescue. Maybe he was involved in these kinds of things already, but the point is that we need many more traffic wardens.

The traffic police officers should work more on spotting erring drivers, of which there are many. I was at Little Diamond one morning and somehow there was a shortage of police at that junction. What I saw was very terrible. Three minibuses forced the issue by following closing behind the last vehicle that had the light to go, and barely so too.

At that point, I know that the police on duty was mad, but could do nothing. He did the right thing by noting down the bus numbers and then he quickly turned to helping some children cross the road. If there were a few or at least one warden, this officer would have had an easier time for sure. So, we need more traffic wardens.

On the lighter side, I like when people are being aided on the road, and not just our children during the school season. Even those who are a bit slower, such as the elderly, can get help moving across the road in time.

I think that buses should have stop markers where they collect and drop off their passengers. This hap-

pens in Georgetown in many places, and it should go all the way across the country. I cannot understand nor accept three sudden stops along the public road from here to there. I am talking sometimes shorter than one single street length. Having strategic stopping zones will go a long way towards bringing more order to our roads.

The Home Affairs Ministry is currently in the process of recruiting traffic wardens who will be responsible for assisting the Guyana Police Force (GPF), with the general control and regulation of traffic and enforcement of motoring and parking laws. So I hope that our bad boys on the road will not try anything.

I think if we can have a few of these wardens at our traffic lights, it will do wonders. These orderlies do not even have to intercept many drivers – they just have to book them for running the lights, stealing pole positions and impeding traffic. I am sure that this will really help improve the traffic situation on our roads.

It did in Mumbai, India and this was quite recent.

The wardens looked after things like illegal parking and stopping, illegal peddling of goods and generally things of this sort. This allowed the police to really do their jobs well. The same can work for Guyana

Yours respectfully, Rudolph Greenidge

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Foundation

How to foster resilience

Stress management for children: Helping your children find peace inside and out

BY MARIAH BRUEHL

A

s my children get older, it is harder and harder to shelter them from the uncertainties and harsh realities of the world.

We started the school year with a terrifying hurricane, then we experienced disbelief and deep pain for the victims and families involved in the Sandy Hook tragedy, and more recently tried to comprehend the brutality of the Boston Marathon bombing. Throw in the everyday stresses and strains that our overscheduled, heavily tested, and generally exhausted children experience – and it is no wonder why our children sometimes melt down, feel anxious, and are easily distracted.

As parents we work hard to filter out this type of information for our children. My husband and I carefully plan together the what, how, and when, of every conversation we have with our daughters related to these types of world events. Yet, we are finding, if we don’t open up dialogue first, they hear about it from their friends, in often much more gruesome detail than needs be.

It is difficult to know

where to begin when discussing these topics with the children in our lives. How can we help our children feel safe, happy, and productive in an unpredictable world?

I intimately remember teaching first grade in New York City on the morning of September 11, 2001. It was the first day of school and suddenly parents were arriving in droves to pick-up their children early. At our

school (and across the city) children lost fathers, uncles… and the ability to feel safe in their own homes, neighbourhood streets, and communities.

As a result of this traumatic event, the children, my co-teacher, and I trans-

formed the curriculum so that the students were actively working, writing, creating, and sharing in order to make a difference in the world. It turned out to be an amazing year as we watched our students transform from being victims of war into international peace makers.

While I still hear from these students (who are in college now) about how pivotal that year was for them, I feel

that I came away with powerful, life changing lessons as an educator and now as a parent: Anxiety, fear, and stress inhibit learning * A great way to help children during difficult times is to empower them to

– why it takes a caring community to help children recover from trauma (CONTINUED FROM THURSDAY)

BY ALAN RAVITZ

help others * And so, one morning after a sleepless night thinking about the explosion in Boston, I began writing this online class about stress management and finding peace within.

Be a peace maker

I believe that people often teach, what they need to learn most, and as it turns out this was true for me and my family. In this online class we share our favourite techniques for dealing with stress and are excited about all of the amazing ways that participants will find peace within themselves and spread peace in the world. Since the filming we have been noticing when one of us is approaching a situation with a “glass half empty” point of view and appreciate when someone sees the “half fullness” of everyday situations. That language alone has made a big difference in the little and big stresses that arise in our lives. On a personal note, I appreciate the gentle nudges I now receive from my daughters when they notice that I am feeling stressed and suggest a few techniques to help me relax and find my own inner peace. (www.playfullearning.net)

T

he more support there is in a child’s ecological system the better the outcome’s going to be. Of course there are individual attributes that relate to the development of resilience: intelligence, social skills, coping skills (the ability to stay psychologically organised even when you have strong emotions, to be calm enough to think), an optimistic temperament, and a sense of agency.

But the research on resilience shows that communities are the things that make a difference. Communities include parents, siblings, teachers, friends, and other peers who share the same experience as the person who’s been traumatised.

If a child can make contact in her community, especially with peers who have shared experiences, that makes a huge difference in terms of ultimate outcome.

To go back to Bronfenbrenner’s model, in the microsystem, what’s going to be adaptive is having a supportive relationship with a caring adult. If a child has experienced a trauma, the family is going to be the primary source of support. But what sometimes happens is that there are loving adults

who themselves are so overwhelmed by whatever has happened that they may not be available. Which is why, if there are other caring adults in the community who can pick up the slack temporarily, that makes a huge difference. Living in caring neighbourhoods, going to school where there is support, and belonging to youth groups – these are all activities that will be helpful in terms of fostering healthy adaptation.

I saw a case where a mother was driving a car; the child and the father were in the car.

They had an accident. The father died. The child survived.

The mother survived. But the mother felt so guilt-ridden

about having driven the car that she was unavailable to her daughter. Until we could help the mother, she couldn’t help her daughter. With adequate support and treatment, once everything got sorted out, she was a wonderful, loving, exceptionally competent parent. But she needed some mental health services first.

If you look at the data, the things that make the biggest difference are the community interventions, not the individual interventions. I’m a psychiatrist, so my bias was to think that the individual interventions were going to make the biggest difference.

But if you look at the data, it’s the community interventions.

After a traumatic event, families have to shift roles and goals. Sometimes what happens is that an older child will have to take care of a younger sibling. Sometimes a child will have to do the cooking and cleaning, because the parents are unavailable to do that.

Sometimes a parent who was a stay-at-home parent has to go out and get a job and earn a living, because there isn’t enough money to sustain the family. Families have to shift their goals, and sometimes they have to shift their emotional or physical settings.

External support becomes more important, then, as a means of restoring predictability. What you want to do is to re-establish a kind of predictable routine.

That helps to establish a sense that there is a future.

Organisation is unbelievably important. When things are chaotic, it’s very difficult to conceive of a future. Some kind of structure is vitally important. This can often be provided by participation in group activities, and sometimes what helps the most is being able to help other people. That’s very, very important. (childmind.org)

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friday, september 13, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

“Don’t press panic button” – Brumell urges in response to crime spike

Sirmattie Ramnaress

Kirk Davis

Lallpersaud Jagadeo

BY: SVETLANA MARSHALL

er expressed strong optimism that the prime suspect Rondy Jagdeo will be soon arrested.

He said the force has received reliable information that Jagdeo was sighted in Suriname.

“We have contacted our Surinamese counterparts and we have sent copies of the photographs over there, so we are expecting very shortly that he would be apprehended, as we were told that he was sighted in Suriname,” he said.

Asked to respond to suggestions that his charges did not act fast enough in trying to arrest Jagdeo, Brumell said this is not the case.

“We were exploring all the avenues to get him and after we didn’t get him, and as we get certain intelligence, we decided to send out something. It’s not a case where we were a little slow in what we are doing,” he explained.

Reports indicate that Jagdeo killed his close friend, in the presence of his wife, who also sustained gunshot injuries. It is alleged that Jagdeo’s wife and the biker had an affair and this may have triggered the shooting.

“He was a licensed firearm holder; I don’t know why he didn’t go out with the gun. The fire arm is at the ballistic section because we don’t know if that firearm was used,” Brumell told the press.

D

espite a six per cent rise in serious crimes, coupled with several high-profile murders and robberies in recent days, acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell is advising Guyanese to “don’t let us press the panic button”.

He made the comments while addressing a news conference at the Home Affairs Ministry on Thursday.

Claiming that the Guyana Police Force is more of a proactive than reactive organisation, the police chief said ranks are working assiduously to solve the recent crimes.

Businesswoman

Alluding to the murder of a businesswoman in Diamond, on the East Bank of Demerara on August 31, Brumell said the case will soon be sent to the director of public prosecution (DPP) for advice.

Sirmattie Ramnaress, 48, also called “Sabo” of Lot 2430 21st Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was found in her home with her throat slit and head bashed-in two weeks ago.

Additionally, the entire bottom flat of her house was completely drenched with kerosene and her house was ransacked, which suggested that the woman was robbed and then killed.

Biker

Turning his attention to Kirk Davis, a popular biker who was gunned down in front of his 7th Street Eccles, EBD home on September 3, the acting commission-

Pensioner

The acting commissioner said too that the probe into the death of the Berbice pensioner who was shot and killed by four masked gunmen continues. Three persons have since been arrested.

Lallpersaud Jagadeo, 74, of Lot 34, Number Naught Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was shot once to his chest and reportedly died on the spot.

Magnititude

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said despite the magnitude of crimes, the Guyana Police Force will investigate under the watch of his ministry.

He said it is the responsibility of the ministry to ensure that the force is adequately equipped to tackle crimes and guarantee national security, noting that funds are acquired through the national budget.

The minister said it is the intention of his ministry to capitalise on wiretapping facilities to boost the intelligence unit to combat the crime situation.

“We intend to make more resources available to informants to provide what would be called human intel to the law enforcement agencies.”

On this note, Minister Rohee dismissed claims that the police reforms are not effective.

Earlier this week, police reported that there have been more than 85 murders so far this year and an overall six per cent jump in serious crimes.

In its periodic update in relation to the offences of murder and robbery under arms, police said that for the period January 1 to August 31, there has been an overall increase of six per cent in serious crimes in comparison to the same period in 2012.

OAS regrets Venezuela’s withdrawal from rights convention

O

rganisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza on Thursday expressed regret that the withdrawal of Venezuela from the American Convention on Human Rights has been finalised and recalled that this instrument is the cornerstone in the struggle to promote a universal inter-American system of human rights.

He said that by withdrawing from the obligations established in the American convention, Venezuela “moves against that goal and weakens the system”.

On September 10, 2012, the OAS secretary general received the note in which the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela announced its decision to denounce the American Convention on Human Rights. The complaint, therefore, relieves the country of its obligations under the American convention and, for Venezuela, it took effect on Tuesday.

At the time, Secretary General Insulza called for that decision to be reviewed, considering that the Venezuelan government is also committed to the strengthening of the InterAmerican Human Rights System, and this goal is not achieved denouncing the fundamental instrument enshrining those rights. It

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza

can be achieved, however, by remaining in the system and driving from within the changes deemed necessary for the protection and defense of human rights to be carried out more effectively.

The fact that other member countries have not signed or ratified the convention and its fundamental principles should not be cause for discouragement or regress.

“It should rather strengthen our determination to defend human rights in accordance with the convention.

“The system has two institutions for matters relating to the implementation of commitments adopted ??by the states: the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-

American Court of Human Rights. The commission is a body established by the charter of the organisation, and its main goal is “to promote the observance and protection of human rights and to serve as a consultative organ of the organisation in these matters.

“The proceedings of the commission shall extend to all OAS member states by the mere fact of having ratified the charter, and therefore, the commission will continue to have these competencies in Venezuela,” he said.

Meanwhile, the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights is a body established by the convention and, among its competencies; it may hear cases submitted by states parties to it. In the case of Venezuela, the court has jurisdiction for cases that occurred prior to September 10.

The head of the OAS recalled that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela remaining within the InterAmerican System of Human Rights is essential for its strengthening and, hence, for the better protection of human rights in the region.

Insulza also pledged the organisation’s efforts to continue promoting the universalisation process in the organisation’s member states.

Bath Settlement murder accused acquitted

A

ndy Adams, 24 of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice was on Thursday set free by a mixed Berbice jury for the July 20, 2007 killing of Nizamudeen Khan.

He was indicted for murder.

During the trial which commenced last Friday, State Prosecutor, Attorney Judith Gildharie-Mursalin called seven witnesses.

Former Police Sergeant Simon Johnson who testified to the part he played in the investigations mentioned taking the caution statement from the accused. In the caution statement, Adams said he did hit the accused.

“Officer me and Sebastian and Orin bin ah drink. Orin get drunk and we bin ah carry he home. When we reach the saw mill gate, the watchman nah want open the gate

Andy Adams

and he start to bad up an pick up a wood an rush me and he fire a lash an miss.

Me turn back pon he and me pick up a wood an lash he. Me ain’t know how much lash me give he because me bin drunk.”

However, Attorney Joel

Edmond, who presented the defence’s case, called the accused who gave an unsworn statement. “… when he fired the lash, I run away and I en know what happen. I did not kill Nizamudeen Khan.”

Pathologist Dr Neal Singh in his evidence explained that the cause of death as cerebral hemorrhage, due to a fractured skull. During the trial, Edmond had challenged the admissibility of the caution statement. The trial was presided over by Justice Narendra Singh.

Adams was to face trial along with another man who was killed in prison.

8 news

friday, september 13, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

DJ Cheddie’s murder accused remanded to prison

T

he man accused of murdering former Slingerz Family Disc Jockey Sheldon Cheddie was on Thursday remanded to prison after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Thirty-three-year-old Omar Williams of Apane Strate K 7 Light, Paramaribo Suriname was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on September 9, he murdered Sheldon Cheddie also known as DJ Cheddie at Tucville.

According to the facts,

Cheddie was on the day in question sitting at Turning Point with some of his friends when the accused walked up to him and discharged several rounds which hit him about the body. He made his escape but was pursued by public-spirited persons. He discharged rounds during

Eyew tness September landmarks... ...in the U.S.

Murder accused, Omar Williams being escorted out of court

the chase but no one was injured. The injured man was picked up and taken to a city hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to media reports, on the fatal night, Cheddie was a short distance from his J9-946 Jackson Street, Tucville residence sharing a drink with four friends when he was approached by two gunmen. He was singled out and reportedly shot seven times. Despite being armed with guns, the former DJ’s friends gave chase to the gunmen who fled on foot resulting in one of them being caught and severely beaten.

Cheddie leaves to mourn five children, the youngest being nine and the eldest 18 years old.

Duo remanded for robbery under arms

A

duo was on Thursday remanded to prison after they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman on a robbery under arms charge.

It was alleged that on August 25 at Castello, Georgetown, Joshua James, 17, and Maica Blair, 33, armed with a hand gun robbed Cort Duke of $70,000 which was the property of George Burkley. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charge as it was read to them.

According to the facts, on the day in question, about 21:35h, Duke was on duty as a costumer sales representative when the two defendants, one of whom was armed with a gun entered the café and held him at gun point robbing him of the day’s sales then making good their escape.

They were subsequently arrested and placed in an identification (ID)parade where they were positively identified by Duke. They were then charged with the offence.

Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt objected to bail on grounds of the prevalence and seriousness of the offence along with the fact that a weapon was used.

Magistrate Latchman refused bail and the matter is set to return to court on September 18.

9/11. It’s become the modern trope for describing a national disaster. Of the 2996 persons who perished when those planes were hurtled into the World Trade Centre, we’ve almost forgotten that 25 of them were Guyanese. In proportion to our small population, Guyana probably took the largest per capita hit.

But with more than a decade down the road, and its US$3.8 billion, 104-storey replacement just months away from completion, it’s amazing to reflect how a dozen men, armed with simple box cutters, were able to affect the strongest nation on planet Earth.

And not only America. Have you flown from little old Guyana in the last decade? The humiliation of taking off belts, shoes, jackets – and possibly body-cavity searches at airports is courtesy of 9/11. A trillion dollar industry has grown up to prevent a repetition. Just think of the new scanners alone. Before 9/11 nobody thought people would actually take down a plane with themselves aboard. The threat was seen as coming from unaccompanied luggage.

Those were scanned.

Post 9/11, the U.S. invented a new security organisation: Homeland Security. This has cost them over US$700 billion since 9/11 – and counting. But even more expensive has been the “War on Terror” which the U.S. launched against Al Qaeda. Iraq was invaded and, by one accounting, has cost the U.S. almost US$2 trillion. Yes....that’s trillions. And we’re not talking about the thousands of U.S. lives. The hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed don’t matter: they were the bad guys.

Then of course there was the war in Afghanistan where Osama bin Laden was thought to be holed up. Another US$600 billion: cheap in comparison to Iraq. But not all’s lost. It’s estimated that now the war in Afghanistan is winding down, there’s at least US$6 billion worth of vehicles and all sorts of stuff that will have to be brought back to be auctioned off in the U.S. Or then again, they might just be destroyed. We wouldn’t want those Coke machines to land in the hands of the Taliban, would we?

Last but not least, there’s been the stereotyping and profiling of Muslims wherever they live. If you think it’s a horror to fly nowadays – just be thankful if you’re not Muslim. All courtesy of 9/11.

...among the Amerindians

For us in Guyana, September invokes different vibes.

It’s Amerindian Heritage Month. And September 10 is Amerindian Heritage Day. Even before the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) introduced the Heritage Month in 1995, September 10 had been commemorated as the day the first Amerindian – Stephen Campbell – entered Parliament back in 1957.

Campbell was a remarkable man who did yeoman service for the Amerindians and, therefore, for all of Guyana. As a member of the National Labour Front (NLF) and then the United Force (UF), he was part of the team that negotiated with the British for Guyana’s independence.

It’s not widely known, but it was on his insistence that, as part of the agreement for granting independence, Campbell won the inclusion of a proviso for Amerindian villages to be given title to those that occupied them.

The People’s National Congress (PNC) has often boasted that they “gave” Amerindians right to land – but it was Campbell who won that right. Directly from the British. And even though David Granger became ultra-defensive when the PPP/C tooted their horn as to what they had achieved for Amerindians on their watch, the simple truth is that the PNC dragged their feet on the land question throughout their 28 years.

The PPP/C finally passed the Amerindian Act in 2006.

Kudos to the PPP/C for justice.

...in AFC’s confession

In yesterday’s MuckrakerKN, in a story on the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Alliance For Change (AFC) leader Khemraj Ramjattan confessed, “I am not sharp with accounts….” We already knew that from the way he floundered his way through the killing of the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP).

news

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friday, september 13, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Govt hands over new homes to Amerindian families E ight families from Manawarin, Region One on Thursday received keys to their new homes as part of the Housing Ministry’s Hinterland Housing Pilot project that is being implemented under the second Low Income Settlement Programme (LIS-2).

The beneficiaries are: Timothy Daniels, Deon Williams, John Oselmo, Gloria John, Verly Fredricks, Evadney John, Crawford Williams, and Mabel Benjamin.

Some of these individuals and their families are now able to move from very poor dwelling conditions into well constructed three-bedroom houses; while the others who were living in very remote areas can now move closer to access basic services such as education and health.

Responsibilities

Housing and Water Ministry Permanent Secretary Emile Mc Garrel reminded the beneficiaries that homeownership comes with responsibilities as such; they will have to ensure that the buildings are properly maintained so that they can remain ‘livable’ for years to come. He pointed out that housing development in the hinterland is of tremen-

ty rates.

As such, the programme was extended to facilitate four more families. In addition, three families were identified to receive complete roof replacement subsidies. The overall project value in Manawarin is $34.6 million.

As per the agreement for this housing subsidy, the cost of all the materials and 40 per cent of the labour are covered under the project; the remainder 60 per cent labour cost is borne by the beneficiaries. With regard to the roof replacement, all of the materials are provided, but the labour is supplied by the beneficiaries.

Success

The beneficiaries of the Hinterland Housing Pilot project with their families

dous social and economic importance.

Mc Garrel added that, housing provides a good start to improving living standards.

Homeownership is a form of enrichment on a personal level and at the community level; it creates employment, generates income and builds social cohesion.

The government of Guyana has obtained funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the implementation of this project. The primary aim is to improve the living conditions of low income

families through access to housing.

Components

There are three components of this project: development of new housing schemes, consolidation of existing sites and upgrade of squatting areas; institutional strengthening of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and implementation of pilots to address issues of affordability, under which this project falls.

Eight communities in Regions One and Nine will

have some of their housing needs addressed. These include: Oronoque, Whitewater, and Manawarin in Region One and Kwatamang, Annai Central, Apoteri, Massara, and Katoka in Region Nine.

In Manawarin, 18 families were initially identified for this intervention based on the project’s budget. However, the village council was very proactive in negotiating, and they eventually managed to source materials such as wood, at cheaper rates and reach an agreement with the contractor to supply labour at communi-

The permanent secretary challenged the contractor and the remaining families, whose homes are currently at various stages of construction, to make a concerted effort to bring this project to an end before the hosting of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) next month, so that Manawarin’s toshao can proudly inform the other Amerindian leaders at that forum of the project’s success.

This housing pilot was designed in close collaboration with the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, respective village councils and the residents of

the selected communities.

CH&PA’s Operations Director Denise King-Tudor said that the shelter needs of Guyanese are of paramount importance to the government as such, at the design stage of this programme, a decision was made to widen its reach to give direct attention to hinterland communities.

The total cost of the hinterland programme is US$1 million, which will provide a total of 208 subsidies (122 houses and 86 roofs).

The building materials (bricks and timber) and labour are sourced from the communities themselves; this way not only the beneficiaries gain, but the entire communities as well.

The beneficiaries were thrilled to receive their keys, for all of them, it is a new beginning. Riliegh Fredricks, whose newly-built home was the venue for the handing over ceremony, said he was extremely happy with the fact that his daughter can walk to school with ease.

Meanwhile, Timothy Daniels, another beneficiary commended the government, not only for this initiative, but all of the other programmes from which residents of the Region have been benefiting.

Minister Benn meets with Timehri residents on relocation

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nother meeting was held on Wednesday with residents of Phase Two, North Timehri and Works Minister Robeson Benn to further discussions regarding their relocation from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and how the government can aid in making the process easier.

The Public Works Ministry is collaborating with the housing and human services and social security ministries, and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to fasttrack the process.

Painful The minister acknowledged that while the procedure is painful and the anxieties are recognised, government wants to mitigate those as much as possible.

Efforts are also being made to finalise the relocation plan which is influenced by the data collected at the meetings with the residents.

Thus far, a fair amount of work has gone into the development of a planned community in Yarrowkabra where space will be available for schools, a health centre and playground.

Minister Benn told the residents that while the government will not be able to compensate them for relocating, they will however explore ways to assist them. This takes into consideration the purchasing of a bus to provide transportation and assisting with cement mixers; however, equity cannot be placed on a house that would have been built without a legal title.

“Our effort here is to advance the process whereby the land required for the airport expansion and the establishment of safe areas for airport operations of an international standard are sequestered… that we get those lands and

Works Minister Robeson Benn

we put them to proper utilisation,” Minister Benn emphasised.

In recalling the previous meetings about the airport’s expansion, the minister stressed that the runway is too short for efficient and safe airport operations of an international standard, and the terminal too small, to handle efficiently the number of people who travel in and out of Guyana.

National development

“This airport expansion project is a critical national development project… if we are unable to bring people to Guyana at cheaper airfares, if we are unable to handle them efficiently, if we are unable to have an airport that is safe (meaning that planes don’t run off the end or crash into people’s homes) or if we don’t have an airport that is secure from the risk of armed attacks, we would not meet the standards of an international airport, we would not be certified at the level which is necessary for this type of operation,” Minister Benn said.

Apart from the residents, the Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Prison Service also have to be relocated.

He added that the current matter is one that was

inherited, and all the lands indicated as Plantation Hyde Park were, since 1942, given as lease for airport operations; these lands extend to where the Dakota Circuit is located and the space occupied by the GDF. This also explains why the occupants are squatters because they do not have a transport or a permission document to occupy the lands.

The minister recalled that this is not the first time the Housing Ministry is dealing with situations where people had to be relocated. He was referring to those who were repositioned from the Lamaha Railway Embankment to areas where they own a piece of titled land.

CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir explained that the purpose of the meetings was to engage with the persons living close to the airport, particularly those from Timehri North, to gather demographic information which would then be factored into an evaluation that would guide the decisions regarding relocation.

Challenges

He noted that there are challenges when it comes to processing passengers in a timely manner in the terminal building. While this has been the situation for many years, Ghir indicated that the decision was taken in November 2007 to expand the airport.

“What we recognised early, as part of the expansion programme was that we would need the land that belongs to the airport to expand the runway, and also for us to be compliant with international requirements,” he said.

He recalled that prior to 2008, there were correspondences with people in the area and a census was done so that the CJIA’s management could

have been informed of how many homes and families occupied Timehri North and its environs.

Warnings

Also, notices were given and people were discouraged from continuing to build on the land; unfortunately, the warnings went unheeded.

After another survey, Ghir noted that from 2008 to 2013, the number of homes increased from approximately 300 to 325, and the number of people from 800 to over 1400.

A similar meeting was held about two weeks ago with those residents considered to be in phase one, those

who reside very close to the airport and would be directly impacted by the extension project since they would be in line with the runway.

The CEO also made available information and illustrations to the residents so that they would have a better understanding of the project.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 13, 2013

News

New Canadian envoy accredited P

resident Donald Ramotar on Thursday received the letters of credence from the newlyappointed Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr Nicole Giles as both countries expressed optimism on the completion of the Canadian/Caribbean Community (Caricom) Trade and Development Agreement.

The presentation was done in the presence of Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkette and other officials from both countries. Speaking at the simple handing over ceremony, Ramotar noted that over the years, both countries have shared relations at the bilateral, hemispheric and international levels to the benefit of its people.

Thus, the president said Guyana looks forward to the successful completion of the Canadian/Caricom Trade and Development Agreement, noting that Guyana sees great opportunities in it.

“This will serve as a sound basis to support the initiatives of our respective

President Donald Ramotar welcomes newly-appointed Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr Nicole Giles

private sectors in their quest to expand business opportunities.”

He stated that government remains appreciative of Canada’s commitment to ongoing partnerships between the two countries and for the contributions Guyana has received from Canada over the years to bolster its development.

“We look forward to continue programme of coopera-

tion and to expand new areas that will seek to enhance relations.” Ramotar also pledged his government’s support for the new commission.

Meanwhile, Dr Giles stated that her goal is to expand and deepen political, economic, trade and security development cooperations with Guyana. She was also optimistic that the two countries can work together

to address regional security challenges.

Dr Giles added that the Canada/Caricom Trade and Development Agreement, which Canada is pursuing, has great benefits for both countries. The diplomat posited that the commercial relationship shared by the two countries has the potential to improve their prosperity.

He noted that Canada’s obligation to Guyana is evident in the number of Canadian companies operating here and providing jobs to numerous Guyanese.

“Canada is committed to promoting good quality social responsible practices… our Canadian companies will continue to take a leadership role in encouraging transparency in the extractive sector by requiring enhanced reporting requirements of Canadian companies operating abroad.”

The two countries have enjoyed bilateral relations since 1966, when Guyana gained independence.

Canada’s previous high commissioner to Guyana was David Devine.

No body want whah de mayor-fuh-life got

D

e mayor-fuh-life Green Ham had gone in hidin fuh a long time. But every now and then he does manage to raise he head above all de garbage that coverin up de **ity -- de same garbage that de mayor-fuh-life can’t clean up -- and then talk more garbage. In fact, usually once de mayor-fuh-life start talkin, every body know he does leff a bigger mess by de time he done from when he start.

Is just like when Green Ham and de whole PEE-Hen-CEE was in guvament. By the time dem get kick out, de whole country was in a bigger mess from de time when dem went in. Green Ham turn mayor-fuh-life when de **ity had some amount of garbage.

By then Green Ham was garbage he self.

But after one garbage get elect fuh pick up garbage in GT de Garbage Town, then no body can ever be sure which garbage gon get dispose of first. And all de piles of garbage gettin bigger and bigger.

After all de mayor-fuh-life is a well known big scamp from a long time ago. But these days he tryin fuh put on a nice face, which first of all is impossible unless God do a miracle. And when he put on nice clothes, is like wolf in sheep clothes, as de good book seh.

Now, de mayor-fuh-life complainin that some people have and some people don’t have. Well de mayorfuh-life right fuh de first time in he life because whah ever he get no body can’t get and in fact no body want either.

No body want to rob de Japanese guvament money like Green Ham, and then turn round and run a woman pharmacy business wid it. But yet neither he neither nor de woman still can’t pay dem taxes. And nobody want fuh owe de Taxman Sattaur either, because he done seh he gon send people to jail fuh that. And when Green Ham gone to jail, no body gon want fuh be next to he!

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! So no body want what de mayor-fuh-life got…not even GT!

Protesters rebuff military strike on Syria

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group of protesters on Thursday condemned any form of U.S. military interventions or strike on Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons against opponents.

The protesters picketed outside the U.S. embassy with their placards in favour of “peace”. The U.S. has held off a vote in Congress to determine whether it should strike

after Russia offered to negotiate with the Syrian government to give up its chemical weapons to be destroyed by the United Nations.

Among the protesters was People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee, who in an invited comment said Guyana has never been a country that is for war of any kind. Rohee said Guyana believes that

Protesters outside the U.S. embassy on Thursday morning

as a matter of principle, it has always stood against any such foreign intervention in other countries.

“Even in our own country, we do not promote war and we mounted a picket against foreign intervention in Syria because we believe as a matter of principle, Guyana has always stood against anything of this nature,” he remarked.

He clarified that Guyana is not fighting the U.S., but rather condemning the intended military attack on Syria. The minister said that the majority of people in Guyana agree that the best solution is to have the United Nations to intervene.

Totally against

“We are totally against it and we do not support this… so this protest is a demonstration to voice our public opinion and let it be know where Guyana stands,” he added.

Rohee said Guyanese are merely reflecting the overwhelming views of the majority through the protest. “We have to try our best to work as part of the

international body to avoid this war… in the UK and the EU, they are still divided on the issue and does not support it,” Rohee confirmed.

The minister said Guyana will be hosting a number of activities to voice the country’s opinion on this trending issue not only affecting the U.S. and Syria, but in a humanitarian sense, every country around the world.

The U.S. and Russia on Thursday began highstakes talks on Moscow’s plan for Syria to surrender its chemical weapons as Damascus formally applied to join a global poison gas ban, but Secretary of State John Kerry underscored that U.S. military force may still be necessary if diplomacy fails.

No game

“This is not a game,” Kerry said in an appearance with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after opening talks in Geneva aimed at fleshing out Russia’s plan to secure and dispose of Syria’s stockpiles of chemical arms.

The talks were part of a diplomatic push that prompted President Barack Obama to put on hold his plans for U.S. air strikes in response to a chemical weapons attack on civilians near Damascus on August 21. The U.S. and its allies says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces carried out the attack with sarin nerve gas that killed about 1400 people, including 400 children. Russia and President Assad have blamed rebel forces.

The United Nations said it received a document from Syria on joining the global anti-chemical weapons treaty, a move Assad promised as part of a deal to avoid U.S. air strikes. The move would end Syria’s status as one of only seven nations outside the 1997 international convention that outlaws stockpiling chemical weapons.

Other holdouts include neighbours Egypt, Israel and North Korea.

The U.S. immediately warned Syria against stalling tactics to avoid military strikes. Assad told Russian state television in an interview broadcast on Thursday he would finalise plans to abandon his chemical arsenal only when the U.S. stops threatening to attack him. Kerry expressed some optimism about the talks in Geneva – expected to last two days – saying, “We do believe there is a way to get this done” and that the U.S. was “grateful” for ideas put forward by Russia to resolve the crisis.

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 13, 2013

Murdered WCD businessman laid to rest Caribbean.

CIOG President Fazil Ferouz told the huge gathering of mourners to pray for the Namdar family to have strength to recover from this darkness of losing their loved one.

“How do you say words of sympathy to someone who lost their only child, how do you to wife that has lost her husband, to children who lost their father and to parents who lost their only son?” asked Ferouz.

He noted that the family can only be comforted by the words from the Holy Quran, which states “From Allah we came and to him we shall return.”

BY: VAHNU MANIKCHAND

H

undreds bade farewell on Thursday to Zulfikar Namdar, called “Vicky”, who was brutally killed by armed bandits Tuesday night at his Meten Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara home.

The bandits had also robbed his family of cash and other valuables.

It was an emotional scene on Thursday, as hundreds gathered outside of the Namdars’ home and some even in neighbours’ yards as they wept with the family.

Over the years, the Namdar family has become well known for their deep devotion to Islam and generous charitable contributions to various communities on the West Coast and West Bank Demerara.

It was evident from the support of well wishers who, despite the hot sun, still kept pouring in and most of them stayed on to offer support to the bereaved family, finding shade where ever they could.

Persons flocked the surroundings of the Namdars’ home as they viewed his body one last time before he was laid to rest.

There were several tents erect-

A section of mourners gathered to bid farewell to the slain businessman

ed along the roadway leading to the Namdars’ house. The crowd was huge and ushers had to direct the traffic of people going to view the body, in and out of the yard.

An uncle of the deceased expressed appreciation for the support received from everyone since the night of the dreadful incident.

“Vicky was truly a person of impeccable character. He was always

loved by all. "Vicky" can be categorised in the highest category of a well-trained kid, a kid that has been cultured by good parents, and this was demonstrated by his acts to most of us here,” said the uncle.

Also, present at the funeral were top executives of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and imams from not only Guyana, but also from the

Be patient

Feroze urged the family to be patient and not to question the work of Allah, while asking the gathering to lend their support to the family members, as they have have always showed love and dedication towards serving the community.

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali also expressed condolences to the Namdar family. He expressed his sympathy, while assuring the family that efforts are

being made to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He said everyone needs to play their part to ensure that the “monstrous parasites” who took the life of the 27-year-old young man are brought to justice.

Ali noted that while the police have made some progress in their investigations, it is no consolation for the grief the Namdar family is going through.

"Indeed, we are very happy with the progress made so far, but none of this can replace this great loss to this family, this great loss to those two young children, to a wife and to a mother and father,” he stated.

“I wish on behalf of the government to express our deepest sympathy to this family, a family that is filled with love, a family that only knows to give to society, a family that does no harm to society but harm comes to them,” he added.

After nearly three hours of viewing, Namdar’s body was taken to the Meter-Meer-Zorg Mosque, where the janaza was read before a packed male congregation.

He was then taken to the village cemetery where his body was laid to rest.

Logger dies after crashing vehicle on Linden Highway

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father of four has become the latest road fatality Thursday evening after he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and crashed in the vicinity of Chanter Creek, SoesdykeLinden Highway.

Wilford Lim, also called “Chowmein”, 54, of Kuru Kururu, SoesdykeLinden Highway suffered injuries and was taken to

the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to information received, Lim was travelling from Linden and while in the vicinity of the resort, he reportedly drove into a ditch in the middle of the road causing him to lose control of his 4-Runner.

As a result, the vehicle reportedly toppled a few

times before coming to a halt with its wheels in the air.

Lim, who was trapped in the vehicle, was assisted out by public-spirited citizens who managed to turn over the pickup and pull him from the wreckage.

One man told Guyana Times that when he reached the scene, he saw the vehicle on its wheels

GEA says corrupt practices by employees will not be tolerated

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he Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has stated that it will not tolerate corrupt practices from any of its employees in the execution of their duties.

The statement comes days after four employees were arrested and taken into police custody after a report of bribery was made against them. The four suspects are three field officers and a driver, who were all employed under the agency’s Fuel Marking Programme (FMP).

They are accused of taking bribes in two separate incidents.

In response to questions posed by this publication, GEA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mahender Sharma disclosed that it was the first instance that allegations have been made against these employees for accepting bribes.

He also noted that the suspects were released from police custody; however, investigations are still ongoing.

“GEA is cooperating with the relevant authorities including the Guyana Police

Force and is carrying out internal investigations. The outcome of this matter will be in accordance with the contractual and statutory requirements under the laws of Guyana,” the agency said.

This newspaper understands that police have sent a file to the director of public prosecutions (DPP) chambers, seeking advice on whether charges should be instituted.

Monitor activities

In an official statement, the agency said that it has committed to continuously monitor activities, work ethic, conduct and successes of the agency. It also has investigated reports of corrupt practices and will continue to do so.

“GEA will not tolerate corrupt practices by their employees in the execution of their duties; neither will they renege on their policy to stamp out fuel smuggling in any form,” the statement said.

The FMP was implemented as a mechanism of

combating tax losses as it relates to fuel. The implementation of this programme has enabled authorities to reduce the occurrence of fuel smuggling in the country and recover revenues that would have been lost through illegal sales and tax evasion.

“Hence, the constant monitoring and maintenance of the integrity of the FMP is absolutely necessary for the continued success of the programme.

GEA takes its mandate to stamp out fuel smuggling very seriously and therefore will continuously seek to ensure that the integrity of the system, and by extension, the officers employed under the Fuel Marking Programme, be maintained,” the statement continued.

GEA thanked those who continue to support its fight against fuel smuggling and would like to encourage all persons who may have information relating to fuel smuggling and possession of illegal fuel to contact the agency on telephone numbers 2260394 or 624-5905.

and Lim was lying face down on the roadway. He said that the damage on the vehicle was minimal.

Guyana Times learnt that there were two other persons in the vehicle, but they were not seen after the accident. Andre Lim, a son of the dead

man, when contacted, was too distraught to give any substantial information, claiming that he received the news about 19:30h and rushed to the scene.

He said information surrounding the accident remains sketchy, noting that his father was re-

turning from the mining community when the accident took place. Lim is a known logger and was described as a very friendly person.

Lim leaves to mourn his wife, four children, grandchildren and other relatives.

12 News

friday, september 13, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Four arrested as investigations intensify into murdered businessman

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he Guyana Police Force has arrested four persons, as investigations continue into the robbery and murder of Zulfikar Namdar, of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara.

Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell made the disclosure at a specially convened press conference at the Home Affairs Ministry on Thursday. He also expressed his concerns about the recent upsurge in crime.

"The deceased was shot and another person was injured. Low and behold, I must let you know that so far we have arrested four persons,” Brumell added, referring to the murder of Namdar.

He also disclosed that the police have several pieces of information that are vital to investigations

Slain businessman: Zulfikar Namdar

Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell

and will thread that line until they apprehend the perpetrators.

Brumell said one of the telephones that was missing from the Namdar’s home was discovered on someone and that person was subsequently taken

into police custody.

“I am sure that we will get somewhere with that… It is also alleged that a car was used or was seen on the night where two persons got into… We have arrested the driver and we also have the car,”

he said.

The acting police commissioner also stated that they are investigating several calls which were made to the businessman prior to his demise. “We have that person in custody,” Brumell said.

He noted that the police are trying their utmost to solve the matter and the other crimes that have been plaguing society.

Meanwhile, following calls by the dead businessman’s father for the Guyana Police Force to be more equipped to tackle crime; Home affairs Minister Clement Rohee concurred, stating the recent criminal activities are also a concern to him.

He explained that the police force has to be more equipped to tackle crime, but reiterated that it is not possible if the national budget is constantly slashed.

Zulfikar Namdar, 27, also called “Vicky”,was killed by one of the bandits who visited the business place under the pretext of purchasing something.

During the ordeal, the businessman’s mother Fazila Namdar received injuries to the head while a shop assistant Stephen Mohamed was shot in the left leg.

According to information, three of the gunmen were keeping watch on the road, as the others invaded the Lot 76 MetemMeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara home and demanded cash and jewellery.

After the ordeal, the gunmen made good their escape, as they discharged several rounds indiscriminately in the streets.

The young businessman was laid to rest on Thursday. He is survived by his two children, ages three and five; wife; and parents.

Police warn against false news

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he Guyana Police Force has clarified that contrary to reports circulating in some sections of the media, there was no armed attack on any police station, nor was any police rank shot and killed during Wednesday night.

“The Guyana Police

Force is urging media operatives to be professional and seek confirmation of such news reports from the police, rather than putting out unsubstantiated newscast that may lead to panic and fear in the society,” the force said in a statement.

Police issue wanted bulletin for quartet

Lennox Andre Herbert (fraud)

Mortimer Herbert (fraud)

Royston Carbury (fraud)

Shawn Williams called “Junior” (forgery, demanding money with menace and obtaining money by false pretence)

T

he Guyana Police Force on Thursday issued wanted bulletins for four persons for questioning into several criminal offences relating to fraud.

Lennox Andre Herbert, Mortimer Herbert and Royston Carbury called “Junior” are all wanted by police in connection with fraud while Shawn Williams is wanted in relation to forgery, demanding money with menace and obtaining money by false pretence.

The last known address for both Lennox Herbert and Mortimer Herbert is Lot 60 Lime and Durban streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

While Royston Carbury's

last known address is 67 Block X, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara and Shawn Williams, also of African descent is believed to be residing at Lot 78 La Retraite, West Bank Demerara.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the men is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 2266978, 225-8196, 227-1149, 911 or the nearest police station. All information will be treated with strict confidence.

St Vincent and the Grenadines to host reparations conference

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epresentatives of governments, civil society, academia and individuals fighting the cause of reparations for native genocide and slavery, will meet in St Vincent and the Grenadines this weekend for a Regional Conference on Reparations.

The conference, hosted by St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, will be held from September15-17, and is the first major event on reparations following the 34th conference of Caricom

of heads of government in Trinidad and Tobago in July.

At the summit, heads of government agreed to the establishment of a National Reparations Committee in each member state with the chair of each committee sitting on a Caricom Reparations Commission.

The heads of government of Barbados (chair), St Vincent and the Grenadines, Haiti, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago were identified to provide political oversight.

The community’s ap-

proach would be to hold a development conversation and to use all reasonable avenues to reach an amicable solution on reparations. The threeday conference includes a meeting of the Caricom Reparations Commission on September 17.

Prime Minster Gonsalves raised the matter of the conference during a brief interaction with Caricom staff members on Monday when he visited Georgetown, and stressed that “we have to repair the legacy of colonialism and neo-colonialism”.

news

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friday, september 13, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Hung jury keeps Breezy Point Govt Electrical Inspectorate hosts workshop for electricians murder accused in jail

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A section of the participants at the electrical contractors’ workshop at the Umana Yana, Kingston

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he Unserved Areas Electrification Unit and Government Electrical Inspectorate which fall under the supervision of the Public Works Ministry on Thursday hosted a workshop targeting electrical engineers and contractors at the Umana Yana, where presentations were made on improving electricity standards.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds noted that in the early 1860s, there was not any electricity, and the path being treaded now is the one developed countries pursued in the improvement of their electricity sector. In this regard, the prime minister emphasised that the electricians have an opportunity to make a contribution to Guyana’s development just like those in the early generations to take their respective nations forward. He called on the workshop’s participants to do so with a sense of service to the people while assisting them to meet their needs in the least expensive, but at the

same time safe manner.

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn noted that there has been tremendous growth in the sector and the workshop was aimed at reviewing how to respond and better the electrical standards. He urged that the new principles be adapted as quickly as possible, in keeping with the fact that professionals in the field are behind in some aspects and there is need for the transition of the entire body.

Wiring standards

Hinterland Electrification Programme Chief Executive Officer Horace Williams explained that for the last three years, steps have been taken to introduce new regulations and wiring standards.

This process started with consultations in various parts of the country with contractors to raise awareness about the new requirements.

Since then, the Government Electrical Inspectorate has been grad-

ually introducing various aspects of the regulations and standards. In this regard, the workshop sought to engage electrical contractors to make them more aware of the requirements for safe electrical installations.

During the session, the participants looked at grounding since many people do not understand the importance of that aspect of electrical installation, and even the electrical contractors sometimes overlook its importance. This is being emphasised because grounding protects from electric shocks and some amount of lightning strikes.

Another area of importance is the working space for electrical equipment, as some contractors have a tendency of putting panel boards within tightly cramped spaces, making it difficult to access the panels. Williams is also encouraging building owners to engage licenced electricians for their electrical installations.

OAS reiterates commitment to development of Haiti

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he Organisation of American States (OAS) reiterated its commitment to the development of Haiti this week with the visit of OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin to the country.

Assistant Secretary General Ramdin arrived for meetings with President Michel Martelly, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, Electoral College (CTCEP) President Emmanuel Ménard, the Presidential Advisory Council for Economic Growth and Investment, inter-American agencies in Haiti, MINUSTAH head and United Nations special representative in Haiti Sandra Honore, and others, during a 30-hour visit to the OAS member state.

The government of Haiti has written to the OAS requesting a mission to assess the electoral process in the country. During the meeting with Assistant Secretary General Ramdin, President Martelly elaborated on the request. The OAS official has reiterated the organisa-

OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin

tion’s continued support of democracy in Haiti.

Among the areas of upcoming collaboration between the OAS and the government of Haiti is the facilitation of a major conference for the government of Haiti to present its Investment Master Plan to key international investors and stakeholders from the international community. The government’s pres-

entation is expected to focus on investment options in tourism, textile manufacturing, infrastructure and other areas. The meeting is earmarked to take place on January 16 at the OAS headquarters in Washington, DC. During meetings with Prime Minister Lamothe, discussions were also held on the convening of a forum to discuss best practices on social protection and poverty alleviation strategies, as well as the consideration of an assessment of security platforms.

Before leaving Haiti, Assistant Secretary General Ramdin visited the Isaie Jeanty Maternité Hospital in Cité Soleil, where he fulfilled a promise to financially support the upgrade and refurbishment of a critically needed operating theatre at the hospital.

The funds presented to hospital officials were raised during the “Spirits of the Americas” event hosted by the assistant secretary general earlier this year.

fter deliberating for more than three hours, a mixed jury at the Berbice Assizes failed to come up with a unanimous verdict against the two accused for the Breezy Point 2002 murder of Davanand Ramlagan.

The jury returned with a verdict of 10-2 against the number one accused Raymond Pestano, 36, and 9-3 against the number two accused Roy Pestano Snr, 60.

The two along with another Pastano were committed to stand trial for the October 19, 2002 killing of their fellow villager of Number 41 Village, West Coast Berbice.

After the jury did not return with a unanimous verdict either in favour or against the accused, Justice Narendra Singh asked if further direction may help and the jury said no. He then further remanded the accused to prison for trial at the next practical sitting of the assizes.

During the trial which commenced on September 3, State Prosecutor, Attorney Judith Gildharie-Mursalin called five witnesses. The key witness being the brother of the dead man Kenrick Ramlagan, who told the jury that on the day in question, the two accused and a third, Pestano, murdered his brother. He said that they were at Breezy Point when the incident occurred.

According to the witness, Roy Pestano Jr came

Roy Pestano Snr

up and slapped him and he went away. He said he heard Roy Pestano Jr saying that they were going to kill all of them. Moments later, the two younger Pestanos took out knives from their waist while the older Pestano held Davanand’s hand behind his back while the Pestanos boys inflicted wounds on him with the knives. “An when they finish, Roy Pestano Snr asked, ‘allyo gee am enough’?"

Government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh, who performed the post-mortem examination, stated that there were four wounds on the body: two stabs and two slashes. The throat was almost severed. The cause of death was given as shock and hemorrhaging.

Defence Attorney, Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos during the trial challenged

Roy Pestano has not been found

the evidence given by two of the witnesses, suggesting that the light was poor and visibility was limited.

However, under cross-examination, Ramlagan said the incident took place in front of a car, which had its lights on. At the first preliminary inquiry, Magistrate Kumar Doorasammy ruled that there was not enough evidence to commit the three Pestanos to stand trial.

However, the director of public prosecution (DPP) asked the court to find that there was enough evidence, but that magistrate was no longer sitting and a new PI had to commence. On December 6, 2011, the three Pastanos were committed to stand trial for murder; however, Roy Pestano could not be located and has not been located since.

Couple in custody for cocaine in their home

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couple was on Thursday morning taken into police custody after members of the Police Narcotic Branch (PNB) unearthed a quantity of cocaine in a house they were occupying at Versailles, West Bank Demerara.

According to reports, police acting on information on Thursday morning went to the home of the couple where they discovered the one kilogram, 360 grams of cocaine.

The cocaine, Guyana Times understands was concealed in several coloured bags hidden in one of the bedrooms.

The couple are presently being grilled and are likely to make a court appearance as early as today.

They will be charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and face at least four years imprisonment if they plead guilty. In addition, they could be fined if the presiding magistrate chooses to do so.

Meanwhile, about 18:00h on Wednesday, a neighborhood police member was responding to a report of threatening language at Number 66 Fishing Complex, when he saw a man acting in a suspicious manner.

The policeman reportedly confronted the man based on his suspicions when he saw the man threw a piece of greaseproof paper on the ground.

The paper was opened in the man’s presence and it was discovered to be a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine. He was told of the offence by the said rank and taken to the Springlands Police Station, where the suspected cocaine was weighed in his presence and amounted to half of a gram.

The fisherman is expected to be charged today.

Burglars continue rampage in Berbice

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urglars continue their rampage in Berbice as they escaped with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and other items. The recent break and enter and larceny was committed on Bibi Kate Jayasin of Lot 74, Number 63 Village Corentyne, Berbice on Wednesday.

Persons unknown entered Jayasin’s home and carted off US$400, CDN$450, G$64,000, one HP Windows 8 laptop computer valued US$500 and a quantity of cosmetics valued G$20,000.

According to information received, the housewife secured her home and left for Rose Hall. On her return about 11:00h, she found the

back door of her two-storey home opened and several boards from the kitchen wall were wrenched out.

Further checks revealed that the three bedrooms on the upper-flat of the house were ransacked and the cash and other articles mentioned were missing. The police were summoned and an investigation was launched.

Meanwhile, the police are investigating a similar incident committed on the home of Vishal Tillack of Lot 43 Grant 1803, Crabwood Creek, which occurred between 19:20h on Tuesday and 07:00h on Wednesday.

The men went away with one amplifier, four pair of

shoes, one tape deck, one DVD player, one Guyana passport belonging to Christina Basil, all documents for motor cars HC 2727 and PMM 9558 and one 12 volts battery.

Investigations revealed that Marilyn Seetam, the victim’s mother would normally takes care of the home in her son’s absence. On Wednesday, about 06:00h, she received information that the house was open, and on checking, she discovered three louvers from one of the windows on the lower-flat were missing.

The police were contacted and visited the scene. Several persons were questioned, but no one was arrested.

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friday, september 13, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Sparrow alive and well!

UN warns of negative effects of Venezuela’s withdrawal from rights convention

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Slinger Francisco aka The Mighty Sparrow

S

everal reports are being circulated via social media that Calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow is dead. However the Trinidad Express and Trinidad and Tobago’s Consulate General in New York have reported that the singer is alive and showing signs of improvement.

Trinidad Express reported that Mighty Sparrow’s son, Anthony Francisco, told them his father was improving slowly and also urged them to wait to hear of any changes from Sparrow’s children or

his wife before making an announcement.

According to the TT Consulate General, Francisco reported to them at 08:37h on Thursday that his father “is resting comfortably, and he’s alive and well”. Francisco also thanked the public for their prayers.

The Express also reported that according to his wife Margaret Francisco, Sparrow started coughing on Wednesday. Sparrow, whose given name is Slinger Francisco, is reported to be in a New York hospital. (Jamaica Observer)

Howai on fuel subsidy removal: CAL needs push to profitability

he United Nations has expressed concern over Venezuela’s withdrawal from the American Human Rights Convention, which came into being on Tuesday, stressing the move could have a negative impact on human rights in Latin American and the Caribbean .

The UN says to date, with the exception of Venezuela, 24 nations in the Caribbean and Latin America have ratified or adopted the Convention.

They are: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominica, The Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname,

Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

In September last year, Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the convention despite repeated calls from the UN to reconsider.

“We want to repeat our concern that this decision may have a very negative impact on human rights in the country and beyond,” Rupert Colville, the spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters here.

The American Convention on Human Rights – also known as the Pact of San José – was adopted by many regional countries in the Costa Rican capital of San José in 1969, and came into force in 1978.

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

First form student arrested for selling herb sugar cake in Antigua

The cannabis laced cakes were being sold to fellow students

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15-year-old Antiguan secondary school student, caught selling cannabis laced sugar cakes to his schoolmates, has been charged.

The first former at Clare Hall Secondary, appeared before a magistrate on Thursday on allegations of possession and intent to transfer just over one pound

of the illegal drug.

The incident took place around 09:00h on Wednesday. Officers from the narcotics department went to the school after being tipped off. They took the teenager into custody and confiscated what they alleged are drug laced sugar cakes. (Antigua Observer)

No-confidence motion no closer to being debated in St Kitts-Nevis

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ate last year, Mark Brantley, the opposition leader in the Federal Parliament in St Kitts and Nevis, indicated that he had submitted to the speaker, Curtis Martin, a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Denzil Douglas.

Brantley said at the time that he had asked the speak-

er to table the motion for debate at the earliest possible opportunity, and as a matter of urgency. The opposition leader said in a statement that the motion called for the House to express its concern and lack of confidence in the prime minister.

The initial motion, later fine-tuned to suggest a lack of confidence in the Denzil

Douglas-led administration rather than just the prime minister, urged the parliament to call for the immediate resignation of Douglas as the country’s head of government.

December 11, 2012, was a crucial date in the federation – that is when the motion, which still stands in abeyance today, was filed.

This makes it exactly nine months, and lots of drama, including court action, street protests, and a second motion have become part of the scenario during that period.

Brantley is convinced that the motion filed nine months ago will never be brought before the parliament. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now )

Colombia arrests woman with cocaine in pregnancy bump

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A Caribbean Airlines aircraft

rinidad’s Finance Minister Larry Howai has denied that the removal of the subsidy to Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) was as a result of the criticisms by St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonzales about the facility offered to the airline. In mid-May, Gonsalves had said the fuel subsidy was “unfair and disadvantageous” to Liat and that the Caricom multilateral air services agreement had been breached as a result of the TT government’s continued support to the airline through the subsidy.

But speaking to TT Guardian on Tuesday, after the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce post-budget news conference, Howai said

the government made decisions in the interest of TT. “In a sense we run the government on the basis of what is good for us, as opposed to what other people might say,” he said. “Yes, we hear what Mr Gonsalves said, we take it into consideration whenever we do have to interact with him, in any way. At the end of the day, we have to do what is right and best for TT.” Howai said, however, that he was convinced removal of the subsidy was the right thing, since operating CAL should be like operating any business, which means the airline should strategically position itself to deal with competition as well as other factors in the external environment it operates in. (Excerpt

from Trinidad Guardian)

The 28-year-old woman was searched during a routine pat-down. The latex belly was stuffed with cocaine

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Canadian national has been arrested in Colombia after trying to board a flight to Toronto with a phony pregnant belly stuffed with cocaine, police say.

The tourist caught the attention of a policewoman at Bogota’s International Airport

who allegedly asked her how far along she was.

She reacted aggressively, which aroused the suspicion of officials who went on to search her.

This year, nearly 150 people were caught with drugs at Bogota’s airport. About a third of them were foreign na-

tionals, according to the Colombian authorities.

The Canadian national had entered Colombia at the beginning of August and was about to board a flight to return to Toronto, when a policewoman asked her how long she had been pregnant.

“[The Canadian] didn’t like the question, which made the official suspicious. Instinctively, she then very delicately touched the lady’s belly, realising it was too hard and extremely cold,” said the deputy director of Colombia’s police antinarcotics section, Colonel Esteban Arias Melo.

The woman allegedly said she was seven months pregnant.

After performing a body search, the police found two sealed bags stashed inside the latex belly, which contained 2kg (5lb) of cocaine. Colombian authorities say the Canadian national will be charged with drug trafficking, possession and production and could be sentenced to between five and eight years in prison.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

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15 Around the World

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friday, september 13, 2013

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Syria applies to join global poison Al-Amriki and al-Britani: gas ban as Kerry, Lavrov meet Militants killed in Somalia

Putin says his initiative on chemical arms will not succeed unless the U.S. stops war threats

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yria applied on Thursday to sign up to the global ban on chemical weapons, as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed a Russian plan under which Damascus would give up its arsenal of poison gas.

The United Nations said it had received Syria’s application to join the Chemical Weapons Convention, shortly after President Bashar al-Assad promised to deliver it within days. Washington immediately warned Syria against stalling tactics to avoid military strikes.

As he began talks in

Geneva with Lavrov, Kerry said force might still be needed against Syria if diplomacy over Assad’s chemical weapons stockpile fails.

“President Obama has made clear that should diplomacy fail force might be necessary to deter and degrade Assad’s capacity to deliver these weapons,” Kerry said.

“Expectations are high.

They are high for the United States perhaps even more sides for Russia to deliver on the promise of this moment.

This is not a game and I said that to my friend Sergei when we talked about it initially,” Kerry said.

“It has to be real. It has to be comprehensive. It has to be verifiable. It has to be credible. It has to be timely and implemented in a timely fashion, and finally there ought to be consequences if it doesn’t take place.” (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Al-Amriki was known for rapping jihadist songs which were loaded onto YouTube

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wo top Islamist militants, from the U.S. and UK, have been killed in Somalia after falling out with alShabab, witnesses have told the BBC. Omar Hammami, known as alAmriki, and Osama al-Britani, a British citizen of Pakistani origin, are said to have died in an earlymorning attack in a vil-

lage south-west of the capital, Mogadishu.

They had been hiding from al-Shabab since leaving the group this year.

There have been several previous reports of al-Amriki’s death. In March, the U.S. State Department offered a US$5 million (£3.1 million) reward for any information leading to the capture or conviction of al-

Amriki.

One of al-Amriki’s fighters told the BBC that they had been overpowered by the al-Shabab attack in a village near the town of Dinsor. He said al-Shabab had taken away the bodies of the two Westerners.

Another of their allies, Khadap al-Masari, from Egypt, surrendered, the fighter said.

Local residents confirmed the deaths, as did a senior source within alShabab.

“There was a gun battle between al-Amriki and his men and other fighters,” Moalim Ali, a resident in Bardhere village, told the AFP news agency.

Another resident, Mohamed Wardhere, said: “Al-Amriki and two other fighters, one of them a foreigner, have been killed near Bardhere.” (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Hawaii molasses spill Dutch apologise for Putin pens Syria Indonesian executions appeal for Americans killing thousands of

T

he Dutch government has formally apologised for the mass killing of Indonesians during colonial occupation which ended in 1949. The Dutch ambassador in Indonesia, Tjeerd de Zwaan, officially presented the state’s apology at a Jakarta ceremony on Thursday.

“On behalf of the Dutch government I apologise for these excesses,” De Zwaan said. The Netherlands had already apologised and paid compensation in certain specific cases, but this was the first general apology for atrocities carried out during the colonial era.

“The Dutch government is aware that it bears a special responsibility in respect of Indonesian widows of victims of summary executions comparable to those carried out by Dutch troops in what was then Celebes (Sulawesi) and Rawa Gede (West Java),” De Zwaan added.

Representatives of the victims welcomed the apology. “We feel grateful and very happy to be here.

Before that we never imagined that it would be like this,” said one, Nurhaeni.

Special forces from the Netherlands carried out a series of summary executions in its former colony between 1945 and 1949, killing thousands. In total, about 40,000 people were executed during the colonial era, according to the Indonesian government; however, Dutch figures mention only a few thousand.

It was one of the many mass murders by notorious captain Raymond Westerling. Westerling and his troops held summary executions in tens of villages for a period of three months in a bid to wipe out resistance against Dutch colonisation. Neither he or his men were ever prosecuted.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

R

ussian President Vladimir Putin has directly appealed to the American people and to U.S. politicians on Syria by writing an article in the New York Times warning that a military strike could unleash a new wave of “terrorism”.

Writing in the newspaper on Thursday, Putin said there were “few champions of democracy” in the 2-1/2-year-old civil war in Syria, “but there are more than enough Qaeda fighters and extremists of all types battling the government.”

“Recents events surrounding Syria have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders,” Putin wrote.

He repeated assertions by his government and Damascus that an August chemical weapons attack

Philippines troops contain Muslim rebels as Zamboanga siege continues

S

poradic and intermittent gunfire rang out in Zamboanga City for a fourth day on Thursday as armed forces continued to clash with Muslim Moro National Liberation Front rebels holding as many as 180 hostages on the Philippine island of Mindanao.

Lt. Colonel Ramon Zagala, spokesman for the Philippines Armed Forces (AFP), told CNN

that government troops currently had “contained” an estimated 180 MNLF rebels in five districts of the mainly Christian city.

“Right now we went to ensure that we keep them in those locations so they can’t get in and they can’t get out,” he said. “But unfortunately they are holding between 160 and 180 hostages.” He said their original plan had been to land by sea and march on Zamboanga’s city hall and

raise the MNLF flag.

“We stopped that but now our immediate concern is the safety and the security of the hostages,” Zagala said, adding that Philippines troops were under orders to contain the rebels and were not engaged in what he called “offensive operations.”

He said the intermittent gunfire that could be heard across the city was a part of the containment operation. (Excerpt from CNN)

that the United States blames on President Bashar al-Assad’s government was likely the work of opposition forces seeking to provoke foreign intervention.

U.S. President Barack Obama wants to hold Assad accountable for the suspected attack in a Damascus neighbourhood on August 21 that U.S. officials say killed about 1400 people, including 400 children.

Obama said in a speech on Tuesday that he had asked Congress to put off a vote on his request to authorise military action in Syria to let diplomacy play out around a Russian proposal to put Syrian chemical weapons under international control, although he said the threat was still needed to ensure Syria complies. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera, see page 4 for more details)

fish

T

housands of fish are expected to die in Honolulu waters after a leaky pipe caused 1400 tons of molasses to ooze into the harbour and kill marine life, state officials said.

Hundreds of fish have been collected so far, the state Department of Health said in a statement Wednesday. Many more fish are expected to die and thousands will likely be collected, it said.

The fish are dying because the high concentration of molasses is making it difficult for them to breathe, said department spokeswoman Janice Okubo. Television footage shows some fish sticking their mouths out of the water.

The department has

warned people to stay out of the area because the dead fish could attract sharks and other predators like barracuda.

The brown, sugary substance spilled Monday from a pipe used to load molasses from storage tanks to ships sailing to California.

The shipping company, Matson Navigation Company, repaired the hole and the pipe stopped leaking Tuesday morning, spokesman Jeff Hull said.

As much as 233,000 gallons of molasses leaked into the harbour, Matson said. That’s equivalent to what would fill about seven rail cars or about one-third of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Prince William to leave military service, will devote time to charities

Prince William ends Royal Air Force stint

A

fter more than seven and a half years of military service, Prince William is leaving the armed forces to focus on royal duties and charity work, Kensington

Palace said Thursday.

William was a pilot with the Royal Air Force Search and Rescue Force. Known to his RAF comrades as Flight Lieutenant Wales, he had been stationed at a search-and-rescue base on the remote Welsh island of Anglesey since 2010, and lived there with Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

In the next few weeks, the pair will move into their official residence at Kensington Palace. The palace statement said that William is considering a “number of options” for public service.

For now, he will focus on

his royal duties. He will also expand on his conservation work, dealing particularly with endangered species.

Kensington Palace announced he will become president of a new collaboration among seven environmental groups. The group, United for Wildlife, will focus on fighting the illegal wildlife trade.

William will also focus on charities that deal with children, veterans and service members.

William’s final search and rescue duty was Tuesday. “He and his crew had an uneventful 24 hour shift,” the defence ministry said. (Excerpt from CNN)

16

friday, September 13, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Africa

Caribbean

Caribbean looks to Colombia as President Sirleaf addresses Indian strategic investment partner business leaders, highlights Liberia’s investment potential

P

roexport, the Colombian government agency in charge of foreign investment, trade and tourism, has revealed that Caribbean markets are seeking investment opportunities in Colombia.

These markets have a particular interest in software, IT and BPO services, as well as insurance and financial services, hotel infrastructure and construction materials. The contributing factors that make Colombia a strategic partner for investors include the country’s economic stability, free

trade zone benefits, and grades of investment awarded by international risk-ratings firms.

Due to limitations in the economy and population of the Caribbean, companies are seeking to expand their businesses outside of the region. Local companies in Puerto Rico, Curacao and the Dominican Republic, for example, are looking into emerging markets in Latin America; and because Colombia offers great protection for investors and a platform to reach other markets in South America, it

is an ideal strategic partner for investors.

“By setting up an operation in Colombia, you gain access to other markets that have FTAs with Colombia,” said Maria Claudia Lacouture, president of Proexport Colombia. A number of foreign BPO, software and IT service companies from around the world have been investing in Colombia in recent years. The Caribbean has been on the same bandwagon, deciding to organise several of their international projects in Colombia. (Caribbean News Now)

North America

U.S. coal industry braces for EPA emissions crackdown

T

he Environmental Protection Agency is due to unveil next week the first batch of regulations under President Barack Obama’s new climate action plan – a carbon emissionsrate standard for new fossil fuel power plants.

If standards are as strict as the industry expects, it could be the death knell for new coal plant construction.

The recent bankruptcy of

Longview, a highly efficient West Virginia coal plant, is an example of the pressures already facing the industry.

When the Longview plant went into operation in 2011 – the first new coal plant to go online in West Virginia in 18 years – its owners wanted to show that there is a future role for coal in the U.S. energy mix.

Located in Maidsville, 10 miles from the Pennsylvania border in West Virginia’s coal

Europe

heavy northern panhandle, Longview was built to generate electricity cheaply, efficiently and with a smaller carbon footprint than a traditional coal-fired plant.

But on August 30, the 700 megawatt supercritical pulverised coal plant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection along with its coal supplier, Mepco Holdings. It is in the process of financial restructuring. (Reuters)

Europe’s gas risks to rise as African share increases

G

as supplies to Europe will become less reliable as much of its new demand in the coming decade will have to be met with gas from politically unstable countries in Africa.

Europe’s gas demand is expected to rise by around 20 per cent to 580 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year in the next 10 years as economic growth returns and governments plan to switch from coal to gas for power genera-

tion.

During the same time, supplies to Europe from the North Sea are expected to fall by at least 20 per cent as reserves dwindle, while established suppliers such as Russia and Norway will not be able to increase exports by much and Qatar focuses more on lucrative Asia markets.

This means that Europe’s most reliable supply source – its own North Sea gas – will

Market statistics

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Cambio Rates Bank of Guyana

Cur GBP CAN USD

largely have to be replaced by supplies which the industry considers to be the most unreliable.

Analysts say it will increase the likelihood of supply disruptions and result in a risk premium that will be priced into European gas markets. It will also make Europe’s gas market more like oil, which often sees price spikes due to security problems in Africa and the Middle East. (Reuters)

Fixed as at July 24, 2013 Calculated at 94% purity

Buying

Selling

U.S.

$1335.00

$ 322.73 $198.18 $204.79

$326.78

Cambio

$200.46 $207.17

Gross

$254,331

Net

$236,527

Selling

$262,426

$202.67

Indicators as on September 11, 2013 Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask

$1365.80

$1366.80

Low/High

$1359.10

$1367.80

-2.50

Change

+0.18

USD GBP EUR

AM

1365.25 865.73 1028.98

Sept 10 USD GBP EUR

AM

1373.00 874.30 1037.32

Crude Oil Price Silver Platinum

London Gold Fix

Sept 11

Indicators

USD Per Once

US$ per barrel

Change %

$116.25 USD per Ounce

-2.22

23.22 $1469.00

Change %

+0.25 -3.00

PM

1363.75 862.86 1025.84 PM

1358.25 864.08 1024.32

P

resident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has told the Indian business leaders that Liberia is an environment that is conducive, investor-friendly and transparent and one that is open for business. “We think we’ve made tremendous progress; we think we have an attractive investment for the development of our natural and other resources,” the Liberian leader said.

According to an Executive Mansion release quoting a Dispatch from Delhi, India, President Sirleaf made the statement when she delivered the key-

note address at a Business Luncheon Meeting hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Confederation of Indian Industry and Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the Oberoi on Wednesday, September 11.

Setting the scene, President Sirleaf informed the audience of business leaders that Indians form the second largest expatriate community in Liberia. She named the two multibillion-dollar investments of ArcelorMittal and Sesa Goa in the mining sector, as evidence about

Changes: +135.54

% Change: +0.89

Open: 15194.13

High: 15326.60

Low: 15194.13

% YTD: +16.96

52Wk Hi: 15658.43

52 Wk Lo: 12035.09

(allAfrica)

Asia

Mitsubishi Motors shares dip on report of new stock sale

S

hares of Mitsubishi Motors fell as much as eight per cent after a report claimed that the firm is planning to offer new stock worth 200 billion yen (US$2 billion; £1.3 billion).

Japanese business daily Nikkei reported that the firm wants to raise money to buy back the preferred stock it had issued to four Mitsubishi group firms. The shares were

Middle East

issued back in 2004 in exchange for capital infusions.

A part of the proceeds will also be used to build new factories in Indonesia and the Philippines, it said. The cash infusion by the group companies came as the firm faced a major crisis in 2004 brought on by a US$9 billion debt and a series of costly recall scandals.

The carmaker was

also hurt by revelations that its management covered up safety flaws. Its future became uncertain after DaimlerChrysler, a key shareholder until then, withdrew financial support.

As a result it sought capital infusion and Mitsubishi group companies stepped in to rescue it by taking a large part of a preferred share offering. (BBC News)

Kuwait rakes in US$133M in traffic fines

T

he Kuwaiti government has raked in US$133 million worth of traffic fines in a crackdown on non-payment, the state’s traffic chief, Major General Abdulfattah Al Ali has revealed.

The haul – worth KD38 million – has been collected since Al Ali took up the top traffic job five months ago and initiated the tough cop policy.

Another KD3 million is still owed, he said.

Nearly 12,000 foreigners have been deported from Kuwait for traffic violations in the past two-and-a-half years, Al Ali revealed in June, warning that there would likely be more in the future.

“Deportation of violating expatriates is not going to stop, especially of those carrying passengers illegally, in which case a person would be in violation of traffic and labour regulations,” Al Ali told Arabic daily Al

Rai. About 3000 vehicles also have been impounded and 7000 driver’s licences alleged to be either fake or illegally obtained have been destroyed. Some have accused the traffic chief of unfairly targeting expats in his crackdown, with the Kuwait Labour Union and former MP Abdullah Al Turaiji claiming the deportations were a violation of human rights and illegal. (Arabianbusiness)

Investors' guide

How to effectively recruit top talent

Some things to consider as you build your employee value proposition:

Compensation

This has to go at the top because everyone has to pay to live. However, as important as pay is, in the bigger picture it is just one piece. A horrible environment that pays US$10,000 more than the industry might attract talent for a little bit, but once they realise what is going on with the company they will leave for greener pastures. Pay a fair wage and win employees

over with other factors.

Environment

Your environment is made up of many factors. Some include your office/work location (commute, convenience restaurants and gyms, etc), what type of furniture you have, and what technologies you are working with. Environment also means the personality and culture your business has. A grumpy, negative environment will drive away quality candidates over time.

What you do. Are you in a potentially world chang-

Business concept – Poverty

Last: 15326.60

the openness of the country’s economy. She also highlighted the younger more adventurous corps of Indian businessmen dominating the building material and pharmaceutical sectors.

She emphasised the country’s Vision 2030 Development Strategy which envisages making Liberia a middle-income country by then; but noted that the first slice of that vision, the agenda for transformation, has identified the priority areas of infrastructure, power, ports and roads to put the country on a sustained development path.

ing industry? Are you starting something that has never been done before? Top talent enjoys a challenge, and breaking new ground falls in line with this goal.

Latest and greatest technology

Are you using the latest and greatest technology? Are you working in a new industry? Or is your office still running Windows 95? It’s important to have adequate hardware and software in relation to what the job functions require. (Business Dictionary) TO BE CONTINUED

Relative poverty occurs when people do not enjoy a certain minimum level of living standards as determined by a government (and enjoyed by the bulk of the population) that vary from country to country, sometimes within the same country. Relative poverty occurs everywhere, is said to be increasing, and may never be eradicated.

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 13, 2013

17

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Mix business with pleasure and you will make new friends and improve your reputation.

Include someone you are involved with personally, or you may face a dilemma at home.

dilbert

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) You’ll come up with interesting ideas, but not everyone will share your vision. Don’t invest in a scheme if it’s too ahead of its time; it’ll keep.

Calvin and Hobbes

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) If you devote some time to a physical improvement regimen, you’ll be pleased by the results. You’ll have a whole new sense of confidence, which could lead to romance.

CANCER (June 21July 22) Take some time to hang out with someone you find intriguing. Express your thoughts and make longterm plans that will ensure your security.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) Bring about certain changes that will make you happy. You won’t please everyone, but you will at least know where you stand and how you can and should proceed.

It’s a good time to begin afresh.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Travel plans will lift your spirits. Even if you take a short trip or sign up for an evening of fun and games, it will do much to enliven your day.

Peanuts ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Take on a physical challenge today. Size up an emotional situation and defuse it before it’s too late, or prepare to walk away for good.

SUDOKU TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Put relationships and your future intentions in the spotlight, and discuss your plans with the people who count. A face-to-face encounter will help settle matters quickly.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) Emotional involvements will escalate if you don’t take care of them.

Walk away from anyone who’s too demanding or not looking out for your best interest. Don’t be afraid to do your own thing.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Put some creative thought into your home and family life. Consider changes that will encourage you to be more innovative and adventurous.

Personal improvements will build confidence.

Thursday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20)

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll have some good ideas, but not everyone will be prepared to receive them. Prepare to do the legwork and clear up any weak links before presenting your plans.

Do what you can to help others, but don’t make any financial contributions. Offer suggestions, hands-on help or even a shoulder to cry on, but nothing more.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, September 13, 2013

Entertainment

on roll with

Tickets for

W

ith just about two weeks before the mega concert featuring internationally renowned artist Sami Yusuf at the Guyana National Stadium, tickets have been released and are available at various locations nationwide.

The concert, which is billed for September 28, will see Sami, who has sold over 15 million albums worldwide, performing some of his spiritual and meaningful lyrics and his interpretation of the current state of the world.

Best known for the singles “Al-Mu’Allim”, “Mother”, Asma Allah”, “Ya Mustafa” and “Allahu” the 32-year-old was named Islam’s Biggest Rock Star

by Time Magazine and King of Islamic Pop by Aljazeera.

Yusuf produced his fourth and latest al-

concert available bum “Salaam” in 2012, which continues to spread love, peace and unity. He has performed in numerous countries across the world, including the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Germany, The Netherlands, Bosnia, Turkey and the MENA region. We eagerly await the arrival of the inspirational artist, Sami Yusuf, to our shores.

General admission tickets for adults cost $2500, while general admission for children is $1500. VIP adults cost $5000 and $3500 for children. Front stage tickets will also be available shortly.

Tickets are already available as follows: CIOG Office, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands; Gulzar Namdar – 76 Meten-MeerZorg; Ashraf Allie – Parika

Outfall; Imran Hussain (Wolf-Furniture Store) – Leonora Public Road and Roy Hussain Discount Store – Vreed-En-Hoop Stelling; all on the West Coast of Demerara.

Tickets locations on the East Coast of Demerara include Imran Khan and Daughters Hardware Store – Mon Repos; Z Mohamed and Son Trading – Felicity and Curies General Store – 8 Dundee Mahaicony.

Berbice ticket locations are Imran and Son/ Imran and Daughter (Rose Hall Town); A Ally and Sons (New Amsterdam, Corriverton, Grove) and Madina Store – 6 D Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice.

The event is promoted by Inspire Inc in collaboration with the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana and the Muslim Youth League of Guyana.

O

ver the years Guyanese and fans from further afield have loved the duo X2 for their energetic performances and spicy music that puts everyone in the right mood. Jumo Primo and Adrian Dutchin have been doing a lot of work getting their masterpieces together.

One such piece is set to take-off on local airwaves across Guyana over the weekend when they launch their newest music video “Party Loud”.

The song was first recorded in Cross Kolors Studio and was mixed and mastered

by Mark Walcott in New York. On the other hand, the video which comprises mostly Guyanese was recorded by Honest Illusions Productions on Manhattan Beach and at a club in the same city during Primo’s birthday celebrations. The song was written by the duo.

With the new video, it has put X2 further on the international market which is more or less combined with R&B and a little pop that will make listeners move to the vibes.

Speaking with Jumo Primo, he explained that the new song is one which puts listens in the mood to have fun while sipping on a beverage, since it’s not the normal “jump up” hit.

He added that X2 has vastly improved their musical careers and have been making strides. Primo added that the song will be

“Party Loud”

aired on all major television and radio stations across the country. He has been doing a lot of promotional work for the new song in Essequibo, Berbice, Linden, and Bartica.

“Party Loud” can be viewed at www. gtriddim.com/2123x2PARTY

West Side 2nd annual Auto Expo and After Party for October

L

ast Sunday evening proved more than momentous at the Seven Ponds, Botanical Gardens with an exhilarating outdoor affair that revelled in our own South American meets the Caribbean ambience.

The executives of Guyana Fashion Week climaxed their week of activities commemorating Water Week with a small festival and it was quite commendable with the involvement of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry together with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Guyana Fashion Weekend.

This celebration of the arts not only provided a novel way of raising awareness of the potential crisis of water but also served as a platform for true youth empowerment, facilitating spoken word accolades to water and rallying for water cooperation initiatives.

The spoken word competitors – four finalists – lashed out their oratorical rhetoric, arresting the patrons with rhyme, meter and stanza, provoking innovative thought and tantalising imagery.

The four – Randolph Critchlow, Mark Luke Edwards, Towana Wilson, and Jo-Ann Forde – outfitted by designers Nelsion Nurse, Wynette Jones and Sacha Castello, impressed the attendees. The winner of this category was Randolph Crichlow, with his captivating soliloquy on water.

The eight photographs stood majestically on easels as patrons were given the opportunity to vote for their favourite piece. These spectacular vistas were the eight finalists of the photography competition, an outcome of submissions by amateur and professionals alike.

The winners were determined through online votes, on site ballot and the judges’ deliberation.

In the 3rd runner-up spot was “No Boundaries”

by Juliana Douglas followed by 2nd runner-up “On the Brink” by Tracy Douglas while the 1st runner-up was the photo titled “Port for a Storm”

by Dionne Shepherd-McKenzie with the winning entry “Leap of fate” by Mark Jacobs.

The active participation by designers in the category for best interpretation was formidable.

With a line-up of over 20 designers, the five finalists were Juliet Bernard (Crystal Mud), Tyrone Nelson (Visions of the Deep), Nelsion Nurse (Sunset Glory), Amanda Burgess (Body of Water), Denita Prowell (Water Universal). The winner of this category was Nelsion Nurse.

The judges for the evening were Jennifer Thomas, Russel Lancaster, Ras Michael, Richard Young and Sonia Noel.

Prizes for the winners were provided by Courts; Digicel; Trophy Stall, Bourda Market; Baganara Resort; Water Chris; Banks DIH; Miladys House of Beauty; Healing Water Spa and Jiva Spa; Mariska Designs; Deandre Creations and Golo Fabrics, Stabroek Market.

This event is all in preparation for the grand finale which takes place at Rahaman’s Park from October 20-27.

W

estsiderz Entertainment will be hosting the second edition of the Auto Expo and After Party on Saturday, October 26 under floodlights at the Tuschen Community Centre Ground, West Coast Demerara.

The competition will be judged in four categories namely overall, Artwork, Audio and Unique. In the Overall category there will be judging done for best car, best SUV, best bikes – small and super.

In the artwork category prizes will be awarded for the car, SUV and bike with the best artwork while prizes will be awarded for the best sound systems in cars, busses and SUVs for the audio category. In the unique category, luxury extreme and classic vehicles will be judged.

The results will be released on November 9 at the Aracari Resort, West Bank Demerara where the prizes will be presented followed by a cocktail party.

There will be over $2 million in cash prizes and trophies to be won. The previous Auto Show was well received by thousands of patrons under floodlights in the cool of the night with excitement to the max.

The organisers are anticipating large crowd support and additional vehicles and bikes from across the country to converge at the Tuschen ground for this massive and exciting event.

However, after the show there will be live performances by new reggae and dancehall Guyanese artiste “Lil Million” and Guyana Chutney star Prince JP. Tickets for the event will be released shortly. Gates will be opened from 16:00h and the show commences at 17:00h.

For further information please contact Ravi from Westsiderz Entertainment on 690-3210.

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 13, 2013

19

Entertainment

I

Bunty Singh

Prince JP

t seems as though after two postponements of the Carib sponsored Chutney Mania, it will finally become a reality with the main act being Trinidad’ s most versatile band JMC 3Veni.

The new date is set for Saturday, September 28 at the Better Hope Community Centre ground, East Coast Demerara.

The show was on both occasions postponed due to inclement weather and the unavailability of the artistes. Now that the artistes have been confirmed, the Carib Chutney Mania concert is expected to be explosive.

Ticket holders who kept their tickets will be thrilled by some of the hottest chutney artistes in the business. Apart

Fiona Singh

from the featured act, there will be performances by Prince JP, Aamir Khan, Bunty Singh, Fiona Singh, and the Shakti Strings Orchestra comprising lead pianist, Avinash Roopchand.

Additionally, Carib fans will be treated not only to great chutney music but a fusion of soca, dancehall and reggae music.

KI

Once again, tickets purchased at the onset of the promotion are still valid but for those without, tickets can be acquired at all participating outlets by purchasing six Carib Beers and win a free ticket.

Only persons 18 years and older are allowed to participate in this ticket promotion. Carib would like to remind its fans to always drink responsibly.

of

A

s time draws close for the highly anticipated “Night of Legends” which is expected to feature international R&B singer, R Kelly Hits and Jams Entertainment has been adding a few regional artistes to the cast that will add some flavour during the concert.

Two weeks after the postponement of the event which was billed for August 24 at the Guyana National Stadium, Jamaican Reggae group Morgan Heritage was added to the cast. Trinidad’s number one crossover band, JMC 3Veni featuring KI, Nishard and Neval were already on the card to perform.

The new addition to the cast will be Kees and his band; one of the hottest soca bands out of the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Kes the Band is described as island Pop or Caribbean Pop, and has graced stages in Guyana several times since their establishment in 2005. The band is recognised largely for songs such as ‘Wotless’, ‘Precision Wine’, ‘Where yuh from’, ‘Stressaway’ and ‘Coming over’.

The band consists of founding members Kees Dieffenthaller (lead vocals), Hans Dieffenthaller (drums), Jon Dieffenthaller

(guitar) and Riad Boochoon (bass guitar).

Patrons will see some of the most remarkable performances in the R&B, reggae, soca and chutney genres of music in one concert, making it one memorable experience.

R Kelly is due to arrive in Guyana on October 18 while the other bands will arrive a day earlier. Taking into consideration the artistes that have already been added and those to be added, ticket prices have been jacked up.

Those who already have their general admission tickets are fortunate since new prices has been regulated and will now cost $6000 and

the VIP which cost $20,000 will be increased to $35,000.

Nevertheless, those who wish a refund of

their tickets are asked to make contact with the Hits and Jams Entertainment Office at Lance Gibbs Street, Georgetown.

entertainment 20

YELLOW PAGES

Deadline for entries for National

friday, September 13, 2013

ACCOMMODATION

TO let

Tourist villa apartments 1, 2 & 3 bedroom, long & short term, and car rental service. Phone: 227-2199, 227-2186

3 bedroom bottom flat for rental situated on the E.C.D phone : 6699384, available for viewing after 27 September after 4 .no animals.

One house located in Lamaha Gardens, hot and cold water. Call 219-4535

dentistry Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte Street, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

TOURS Kaieteur Falls day tour, US$150. ManausBrazil US$800 Phone: 231-6663

flowers Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

FOR SALE Mixed breed pups. Phone: 253-3114, 692-0126 One 320 CL Excavator located at Mahdia; excellent working condition.

Owner migrating, call 682-0365 or 614-1669 Gold Land, excellent investment.

Priced to sell, call 682-0365, 6141669 Wine vessel (jue) Shang dynasty, old Chinese painting, old Ming prints, Ming dynasty Chinese painting on bamboo, Qi Baishi orginal painting, rare bowls and pots, all Chinese antiques. Phone: 592-623- 7029

health Healthworld Holistic Centre: Psychotherapy available for all types of abnormal behaviors – addictions, emotional, suicidal, anger, relationship and sexual problems. Treatment of stress disorders, depression, fear, low self-esteem, insomnia, trauma, psychosomatic sicknesses, and children's disorders. We also conduct IQ evaluations and behavioral assessments.

By appointments only. Clinic hours: 11:00 – 17:00h. Tel: 592-621-0552.

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VEHICLES FOR SALE

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lAND FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie $1M and $1.2M phone: 675-7292 46 houselots in residential area between Charles & Peter Streets, Parika, EBE. Phone: 622-6971/6612289

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closes on Sunday

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E

ntry into the National Drama Festival (NDF) which has $6 million as an additional incentive will close on Sunday September 15, at 18:00h.

The Drama Festival office promises no extension of the closing date. It is now or never for 2013. The NDF has afforded winners in the past performing trips, a national stage and follow up public performances after competition.

Following on the special outreach drama programme that targeted youths over the August holidays, the NDF undertook two one day workshops in Linden and Berbice over the weekend – Saturday September 7 and Sunday September 8 – that saw the participation of over 200 eager young dramatists.

The outlying districts

have had an inherent technical design weakness in their plays presented at previous festivals. This placed them at a disadvantage when placed on the massive National Cultural Centre stage, with its vast technical facilities. This was addressed at workshops.

The outreach programme that is the signature innovation for NDF 2013, which points to the quality thrust of NDF 2013, has so far received enthusiastic support.

The format of these engagements were for the facilitators and members of the Mentor Corps of the festival, to execute sessions of basic stimulative drama activities to participants, specially “Prep-ped” by the youth field officer and or the MCYS Summer Camp coor-

dinator.

The participants at these sessions included groups in that catchment area, in addition to the attendees of the camps. There are still some outstanding engagements of this kind in addition to the mentors outreach.

This outreach is where the corp visits all plays entered into NDF 2013, to ensure their readiness and to ascertain their needs technical and otherwise.

No stone is left unturned to ensure a massive improvement in quality of presentation.

Entrants are asked to be ready for preliminaries in Linden, Berbice and Georgetown, beginning October 1, 2013. The winners will go forward to the finals which will be held between October 18 and 26.

Prince JP to release latest single today G

uyana’s Chutney Star, Prince JP will release his most recent single titled “When I See You Smile” today on Platinum Vibes Hour on 89.1FM at 14:00h. His previous singles include “Never Make You Cry”, “Gal Don’t Bother”, “Haters” and “Make a Move”.

The song, ac-

cording to the young heartthrob is a continuation of his recent single “Never Make You Cry” and is more or less a wedding song that will also be appropriate for other occasions. The song was written by the prince himself and was recorded in the Shakti Strings Orchestra Studios.

This is his fifth song and over the next week, he will be recording another that is expected to hit airwaves and create some buzz. He will also be shooting his video for his first R&B single

“Make a Move” on Saturday at a private location. It is being recorded by HBS Productions.

The versatile singer is finalising all preparations to record his 2014 Chutney Soca Entry; one that he intends to put his heart and soul into with the hope of winning the coveted title and being afforded the opportunity to represent Guyana in the International competition slated for the first week in February next year.

The 24-year-old artiste continues to represent his people and his fans. When not performing on the big stage, he is busy performing at the private parties and weddings. His next big gig will be performing at the Chutney Mania concert alongside, KI and others.

friday, September 14, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

21

Pakistan claw back with late strikes P

akistan’s collapse against the second new ball and determined batting from Tino Mawoyo and Hamilton Masakadza put Zimbabwe slightly ahead in the second and final Test on Thursday.

Zimbabwe’s fast bowlers ripped through Pakistan on either side of lunch, the visitors collapsing from 211 for 4 to 230 all out. Mawoyo and Masakadza then built the lead to 185, but their dismissals, at the stroke of stumps, helped Pakistan to claw back.

Brian Vitori, in his first Test in nearly 20 months, did most of the damage with the ball, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul, while Tinashe Panyangara dislodged the solid Younis Khan for 77.

Zimbabwe’s efforts earned them a 64-run lead, to go along with a 78-run first-innings advantage in the first Test.

Pakistan’s strategy in the morning seemed to be to try and get through to the ball change, due in 12 overs at the start, with their overnight pair of Misbah and Younis. That was a sensible thought, the pair having added 67 in a rebuilding effort the previous evening.

But the manner in which both executed that strategy stalled Pakistan. Only 19 runs were added in the 12 overs leading up to the new ball, five of them from parttimer Elton Chigumbura.

Brian Vitori

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Tino Mawoyo

Admittedly, as on the previous day, run-scoring wasn’t easy on the pitch.

The ball wasn’t quite coming on, the medium-pace and disciplined lengths of the Zimbabwe seamers weren’t helping and the cracks on the good length area would have been on the minds of the batsmen.

Still, 48 runs from 28 overs in the morning ses-

sion was too sluggish a scoring rate.

After successfully making it to the new ball in his chosen way, Misbah decided to change his approach.

The second delivery Vitori bowled with the new one, a wide one outside off, Misbah lunged to drive and edged to first slip for 33 from 120 balls. It was the third successive time in the se-

PNG trip no burden for Heat’s Roach

P

ort Moresby, Papua New Guinea – Brisbane Heat key import Kemar Roach is confident an ambassadorial trip to Papua New Guinea won’t hamper his Champions League Twenty20 campaign.

The West Indies paceman has been helping international teammate Dwayne Bravo and former skipper Richie Richardson as they promote a Twenty20 tournament in PNG. The trio have spent the past week promoting cricket in local schools and communities while Roach’s Heat teammates have been playing practice matches ahead of their departure to India on Sunday.

The 25-year-old denies his trip left the Heat unsure of his whereabouts as he always intended to hook up with his Brisbane teammates in India before their tournament opener against Trinidad and Tobago on September 22.

Advertisement He says taking time out to promote cricket in PNG with Bravo and Richardson had been a rewarding expe-

gone in the second innings of the first Test.

Pakistan ran only eight singles in the first session and went to lunch on 211 for 5, still 83 behind Zimbabwe’s 294. After the break, Younis came out appearing intent to make amends for Pakistan’s sedate start. He drove at everything that was pitched up. Panyangara gave him thre e successive such deliveries, wide outside off, all of which were driven. The fourth one was bowled into the pad. Younis, with his instinct to push forward, could not keep the flick down and midwicket took the catch.

ries Misbah had fallen after getting a start and also the third successive time he had given it away trying a forcing stroke against the run of play.

Asad Shafiq hung around for a while before he was bowled by a sharp incutter from Tendai Chatara, stuck on the crease in a dismissal identical to the way he had

Pakistan 1st innings Khurram Manzoor run out (Chigumbura) 51 Mohammad Hafeez c Masakadza b Vitori 22 Azhar Ali lbw b Panyangara 7 Younis Khan c Mawoyo b Panyangara 77 Misbah-ul-Haq* c Masakadza b Vitori 33 Asad Shafiq b Chatara 10 Adnan Akmal† c Taylor b Vitori 6 Abdur Rehman lbw b Panyangara 0 Saeed Ajmal c †Mutumbami b Vitori 7 Junaid Khan b Vitori 3 Rahat Ali not out 1 Extras: (b4, lb6, w2, nb1) 13 Total: (all out, 104.5 overs) 230 Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-62, 3-96, 4-182, 5-211, 6-212,

Kallicharan helps promote cricket in U.S.

M

Kemar Roach

rience and won’t leave him underdone for the Heat.

“It’s gone pretty good so far ... I’ve really enjoyed it here,” Roach told AAP on Thursday.

“I’m definitely confident that right now, I have enough time to get acclimatised to India.”

Roach claimed a crucial 3-18 in his last display for the Heat to help them beat the Perth Scorchers and secure last summer’s Big Bash League crown.

After that dramatic success, the Barbados-based quick says he can’t wait to

link up with his Brisbane teammates for a crack at a different title.

“They’re a great bunch who are very, very hardworking,” he said.

“They all love to win and that’s come from Darren Lehmann, the previous coach. He instilled that in them and I’m sure they’ll be going to India with the same attitude.

“I’ve already chatted to (new coach Stuart Law), and it’ll be great to get to know him and how he operates and what I can do to help when I get there.” (First published

in the Brisbane Times)

7-212, 8-224, 9-229, 10-230 Bowling: T Panyangara 229-43-3, B Vitori 26.5-8-615, T Chatara 27-10-45-1, H Masakadza 12-5-24-0, P Utseya 12-0-41-0, E Chigumbura 5-2-6-0 Zimbabwe 2nd innings TMawoyo lbw b Abdur Rehman 58 P Utseya c Asad Shafiq b Rahat Ali 5 H Masakadza lbw b Rahat Ali 44 T Panyangara c Azhar Ali b Abdur Rehman 0 B Taylor* not out 0 Extras: (b3, lb6, w5) 14 Total: (4 wkts, 50.2 overs) 121 Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-117, 3-121, 4-121 Bowling: Junaid Khan 113-26-0, Rahat Ali 14-2-372, Saeed Ajmal 10-2-29-0, Abdur Rehman 15.2-3-20-2

aryland, UNITED STATES – As players from both teams gathered their belongings following the first match of the tournament, the rumblings began.

Whispers turned to excited murmurs as news that the legend had arrived spread throughout the Glassmanor Cricket Field in Oxon Hill.

The field, which used to be a baseball field, is situated behind Glassmanor Elementary School and surrounded by an impressive wall of trees that swallows any balls that are hit out of the park.

Here, players of all ages from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., came to play cricket as part of the inaugural Maryland Cricket Cup, presented by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County.

And at this seemingly-random field on the

Alvin Kallicharan

Saturday of Labor Day weekend (August 31), one of the Cup’s organizers, Elisha Pulivarti, was arriving from Dulles International Airport after chauffeuring Alvin Kallicharan on the final leg of his journey from his home in London to Oxon Hill.

The excitement (players wanted to shake hands, snap photos and simply marvel at his presence) was as palpable as the unlikelihood of Kallicharan being there in the first place.

And while Kallicharan’s

name might not be of the household variety in the United States, he’s a legend in cricketing circles. The former West Indian batsman played from 1972-81, was named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1973 and was part of the 1975 and 1979 West Indies team that won the Cricket World Cup. Now 64 years old and having just stepped off an international flight, Kallicharan tossed on a bright yellow Damascus jersey — one of the six participating teams and a member of the Washington Metropolitan Cricket Board — and played.

“I’ll be playing against you today. It’s an honor,” said one of his opponents.

“Don’t bowl too quick,” Kallicharan replied with a smile.

All of this was in the effort of promoting one of the world’s more popular sports in the United States.

“I want to see the sport grow in the right direction,” Kallicharan said. (First published on

the Gazette)

22

friday, september 13, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

High pass rate achieved at FIFA fitness run T

here was a high percentage of passes at last weekend’s FIFA referees fitness run despite humid conditions at the Eve Leary ground as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) prepares to submit nominations for the 2014 FIFA list.

The fitness run, supervised by MA Fitness Instructors Anson Ambrose and Trevor Beckles, saw a 100 percent pass rate for men’s international officials.

It was Beckles’ first outing as a Fitness Instructor following a training stint in Jamaica last month at the CONCACAF MA Instructors Course.

The successful referees were Sherwin Johnson and Sherwin Moore and assistant referees Dion Inniss, Venton Mars, Trevor Porter and Rollin Tappin. Guyana’s lone women’s international referee Nicola Joseph was also successful.

There was only one failure in the national men’s referees’ pool while, in the men’s national assistant referees category there were three failures out of nine starters.

The successful referees were Gladwin Johnson, Colin Bowry, Micah Erskine,

The male FIFA referees going through their paces on Sunday

Delroy Henry, Dwayne Johnson, Christopher Joseph and Roland Persaud.

The assistant referees who completed the course were Vere Watts, Kleon Lindey, Patrick December, Lenval Peart, Keith Roberts, Marwin Layne and Kevin Stephens. Maurees Skeete and Monica Welcome, the only two women’s national

referees to participate were both successful.

Skeete who recently officiated at the CONACAF Under-15 championships in the Cayman Islands was recommended by CONCACAF Referees Instructors to be shortlisted for the 2014 FIFA list following her outstanding showing.

Meanwhile, the

FIFA Referees Assistant Programme (RAP) will take place from October 1-5 in Guyana with FIFA Instructor Jamaican Peter Prendergast due to conduct the programme with assistance from local referee instructors.

At least 25 referees from around the country will benefit from the training.

Trophy Stall basketball tourney starts with doubleheader tonight

T

he 2013 edition of the Trophy S t a l l Regulation Open basketball tournament will tip off tonight at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court in Linden.

The tournament will see eight teams - Kashif and Shanghai Kings, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Wismar Pistons, Block 22 Flames, Victory Valley Royals Royals, Retrieve Raiders, Half Mile Bulls and Bankers Trust Falcons - contesting the championships to be named the top club in Linden.

Currently ranked number one club Kashif and Shanghai Kings, after taking over the top ranking from Amelia’s Ward Jets when they won the New Era championships earlier this year, will be looking to retain that status by starting their campaign tonight against Block 22 Flames from 19:30h.

The night will continue

with a seco n d g a m e w i t h Victory Valley Royals (VVR) going up against Wismar Pistons from 21:00h to end the first night of action.

Proprietor of Trophy Stall Ramesh Sunich will once again be the sponsor of the trophies for the tournament; he noted that Linden has been good to his organization over the years.

Meanwhile, action in the tournament will continue on Saturday with another double-header as VVR will go head-to-head for the second consecutive night while Half Mile Bulls will face off against Retrieve Raiders.

Banks DIH sports Raikkonen arrival not a programme climaxes snub to Alonso, say Ferrari Saturday

F

B

anks DIH 2013 sports programme will climax on Saturday as employees battle for supremacy in cricket, football, dominoes, pools, billiards, table tennis and darts at the Sports Club at Thirst Park, starting at 08:00h.

The programme gets underway with cricket with Berbice branch squaring off with Essequibo in the 12-over-a-side semi-final cricket match at 08:00h. The winner will meet Soft Drink Plant in the final.

The teams to compete in the dominoes playoff are Stores “A” and “B”, PreSellers, Vehicle Workshop “A” and “B”, Maintenance Workshop, Linden, Essequibo, Bartica and Essequibo branches.

The contestants for the “King” Dominoes competition are Quincy Bailey, Sinclair McPherson (Soft Drink Plant), Satesh Harrinanan (Stores), Terry Liverpool, Lawrence Rodney, Shawn Clementson (Vehicle Workshop), Geoffrey La Rose, Sherlock Simon (Linden), Lakerram Alli, Cerran Ragoobeer (Essequibo), Devon Fraser (Bartica), Rayan Faria and Andre Lewis (Berbice).

Troy Peters

Mortimer Stewart

Eleven female players will square off for the Queen Dominoes title and they are Shaundel Easton and Shauna Jones (Linden), M. Dugid and R. Gilford (Berbice), Alexis Grenado (Personnel), G. Ferguson (Sanitation), Dianne December (Bartica), Ann Josiah (Security), Simone Armstrong (Rum Factory), Sheron Douglas (Electrical) and Sherry Martins (Laundry).

Trisco division will clash with Berbice while Stores will meet Linden with the winners advancing to face Sales and Distribution Warehouse in the five-a-side

Football playoff.

The players to contest the pools playoff are A. Boodnah, Dave Singh, David Hunte, M. Gajadhar, R. Shivraj, Anthony Xavier, H. Baksh, Mortimer Stewart and Jeremy Jailall.

Mortimer Stewart and Anthony Xavier will compete in the Billiards final.

Five players- Rayan Faria, Michael De Freitas, Andre Lewis, Troy Peters and Mubiano King- will contest the table tennis playoff.

The presentation of prizes will take place at the company’s annual staff meeting and awards presentation.

errari says their decision to sign Kimi Raikkonen for next season is not a snub to current number one Fernando Alonso.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali said the combination of the two was “the best one could have today in Formula 1”.

“For anyone thinking the choice of Kimi is somehow an anti-Alonso choice, I can put their minds at rest,” he added.

“At Ferrari, everyone knows the interests of the team come first. Fernando is a key asset for this team and he will be for a long time.”

The Italian team confirmed on Wednesday that Finland’s Raikkonen, 33, was joining them on a two-year contract.

The 2007 world champion will replace Felipe Massa.

Ferrari’s relationship with Alonso has grown tense at times this year as both have suffered from an inability to prevent Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel building a comfortable championship lead.

The frustration has been building at Ferrari over the last four years, after Alonso narrowly missed out on the title in both 2010 and 2012. Domenicali admitted at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend that the experience of last season, when Vettel hauled in a 39-point deficit, “is still burning for us”.

Alonso has been supported at times

by Massa over the past four seasons, but Domenicali insisted Alonso was “the first to be happy with a choice made to strengthen the group, because he is too intelligent not to realise that a stronger team can only be an advantage”.

Domenicali added: “For the first time (since 1953), we will have a driver pairing made up of two world champions, which in itself is already significant, as they are the

Kimi Raikkonen

sort to always try and win and they can help each other by taking valuable points off our rivals.

“Having said that, we are well aware that without a competitive car, not even Superman can win. So our priority on a daily basis is always the same, namely to give our drivers a car capable of always fighting for the top place.”

Domenicali said Ferrari would operate on the basis of Alonso and Raikkonen starting the 2014 season as equals.

But he said the team would always consider asking one to help the other if the championship situation dictated it.

“Nothing will change in the way the team is run,” Domenicali said. “Since the world began, our drivers have always started on equal terms. It’s always been that way and always will.

“Then, during the course of the season, if the situation is such that one driver can help the other based on the points table, it’s logical and right that it should happen. (BBC Sport)

friday, september 13, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

All systems in place for N&M 10k this weekend

T

Cleveland Forde

he stage is set for Sunday’s fourth annual Neal and Massy 10km road race and 3km fitness walk, which will coincide with the Group of Companies 45th anniversary celebrations.

The cream of the country’s athletes will compete in the 10km road race, which will start at 06:00h in front of AINLIM head office at Ruimveldt, proceed along the East Bank Public Road to Providence before returning to the place of origin for the finish.

Defending male and female champions, Cleveland Forde and Alika Morgan, are both expected to compete and have indicated that they will be going all out to defend their titles.

Alika Morgan

The 3km walk for fitness enthusiasts will get cracking from the Demerara Harbour Bridge junction and finish in front of the Ruimveldt office.

Deo Persaud, the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, said the athletic race and walk have been organized in an effort to promote health and wellness in Guyana. He said this year race is special since it coincide with the Group’s 45th anniversary of operations in Guyana.

The CEO is encouraging runners, joggers, walkers and members of the public who normally exercise to participate in Sunday’s activities.

Employees of the Group of Companies which comprises AINLIM, CCS, Demerara

Oxygen Company (DOCOL), Geddes Grant, Marketing and Distribution (M&D), NM Services Limited and NM Security Solutions will also compete for top honours as part of their internal rivalry.

The 10km road race is opened to junior athletes, senior athletes as well as masters and prizes will be awarded in each category.

The race is being coordinated by the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) whose president Aubrey Hudson and Persaud have given a commitment to have the race run in other areas of Guyana next year with Essequibo and Berbice earmarked to host the events.

Prizes will be presented immediately after the race.

Boxing teams head out to regional competitions

S

ix amateur boxers and two officials will represent Guyana at separate boxing championships later this month, as the Guyana Boxing Association continues it provide meaningful overseas exposure for its athletes.

Coach James Walcott will double up as manager, leading a four-member team that will compete in an invitational tournament in Barbados this weekend.

The boxers, who are set to depart these shores today, are flyweight Junior Henry, junior flyweight Orin Bancroft and Joel Williamson, who will compete in the flyweight (open)

category.

The experienced Wincel Thomas will head a fivemember contingent to the inaugural South American Youth Championship, which is set for September 20-29.

The squad includes junior flyweight Tefon Greene, flyweight Michael April, bantamweight Joel Williamson and welterweight Travis Fraser.

President of the Guyana Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle, said the association welcomes the opportunity to expose its boxers, as the aim is to ensure they are given the necessary experience ahead of the 2016

Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

During a press briefing on Thursday, he assured media operatives that the boxers will give a good account of themselves, while he also reminded the pugilists of their roles as ambassadors of the nation.

Both Walcott and Thomas promised to return home with medals, noting that the boxers were put through a rigorous training regime in preparation for both championships.

The boxers were in training over the past few weeks and they have all expressed confidence of medalling at both events. (Avenash Ramzan)

23

Enmore, St Cuthbert’s clash in return game Sunday

S

t Cuthbert’s Mission will start with the psychological advantage on Sunday when they face Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) in a return match at the Enmore Community Centre ground, starting at 11:00h.

The 35-over game is part of a reciprocal arrangement the two agreed to earlier this year when the ECCCC was re-launched.

In March, St Cuthbert’s Mission, playing at home, defeated the ECCCC by a comfortable 70-run margin, posting 170-6 before restricting the visitors to 1009 in the T20 contest.

Middle-order batsman Timothy Andrews with 70 and fast bowler Burton Clenkin with 3-14 were the star performers for St Cuthbert’s Mission and both have been named in the squad for Sunday’s game.

While the visitors would want to make a clean sweep of the two-match series, the ECCCC lads would no doubt want to exploit home

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Timothy Andrews

advantage and return the favour to their guests.

The ECCCC side has been boosted by the inclusion of national First-Class and West Indies Under-19 opener, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, and national First-Class and former West Indies Under-19 legspinner, Amir Khan.

ECCCC squad reads: Bheemraj Ramkellawan, Sheik Mohamed, Chandraban Seemangal, Chetram Ramlall, Vishwanauth Ramlakhan, Amir Khan, Tagenarine

Chanderpaul, Mark Malone, Adrian Persaud, Jacob Persaud, Ranjeet Hiralall, Satesh Jainarine, M. Persaud and Naresh Persaud.

St Cuthbert’s Mission squad reads: Timothy Andrews, Burton Clenkin, Timur Ferreira, Stallone Simon, Alford Ferreira, Alpheus Dundas, Avinash Sammy, Julio Ferreira, Raul Daniels, Eustace O’Selmo, Rayon Gunpath and Oswald Hosein.

Admission to the venue is free.

Dorris outburst leads Lodge/ Meadowbrook to win – Plaisance/Vryheids Lust destroy East Ruimveldt Pellam Dorris exploded with 12 points in the second period to help propel Lodge/ Meadowbrook past Buxton 73-44 when the Trinity Grid Holding Pacesetters basketball tournament, sponsored

by ANSA McAl’s Mackeson, continued on Wednesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Buxton, known for their unorthodox and scrappy play, outhustled Lodge/ Meadowbrook in the first period to notch a four point lead heading into the second quarter of the game.

A clutch three-pointer from Dorris started the onslaught in the second quarter with his team down 2117. He followed up with a number of drives to the basket that the guard converted to push his side ahead 3227, going into the half-time break.

On resumption of the second half Dorris went cold only for his teammates

Mortimer Williams and Hodayah Stewart to pick up the pace and carry the momentum to further extend the lead, ending the third quarter with a 16 point lead.

Switching their game to a more defensive style, Lodge/ Meadowbrook held Buxton to just seven points in the final quarter while scoring 22 points of their own to dominate the fourth quarter and win the game.

Dorris ended with a game high 16 points while Williams added 15 points and six rebounds to the help with the win. Stewart also added 10 points for the Georgetown based side.

Meanwhile Nikkoloi Smith led Plaisance/ Vryheids Lust to a 121-53 offensive onslaught on East Ruimvelt.

The talented guard unleashed a barrage of threes and drives that left the East Ruimveldt defence stunned and disorganised as they

seemed unable to stop anything except half court shots that were never launched during the game.

Nicholas Cascius, Enoc Matthews, Hugh Arthur and Shelroy Thomas contributed 16, 13, 13 and 12 points respectively to the winning cause.

East Ruimveldt’s Dwan Walters scored a team high 17 points while grabbing eight rebounds to lead the way for the losing side.

Albert Grant also contributed 14 points in the loss.

In group A, McDoom/ Diamond defeated Alberttown/Bourda 69-56 as Travis ‘Flash’ Burnett led the East Bank side with a game high 24 points while the explosive Tyrone Hamid added 10 points to the win.

Forward Yannick December dropped 18 points and grabbed three boards in the loss while Jaime Maiyers scored 10 points in the losing effort.

Blake to attend coaching stint in Hungary

C

oach of the Forgotton Youth Foundation gym, Sebert Blake, will leave Guyana next week for Hungary to participate in a three-month coaching course that ends in December.

The course was made possible through the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), and according to Blake, he is look-

ing to make maximum use of the opportunity being afforded to him.

Activities during the three months will be held at the Semmelweis University Autumn from September 16 to December 6, and Blake is hoping that upon his return he will be able to make a positive impact on the sport through new and improved coaching techniques.

Sebert Blake

“I want to say a special thank you to the Guyana Boxing Association and the Guyana Olympic Association for providing me with this opportunity, while I also want to express gratitude to my work place [Guyana Power and Light] for giving me the time-off to attend this important course,” Blake said.

Blake has worked with

several leading boxers in the past, including WIBA bantamweight champion, Shondell “Mystery Lady” Alfred.

President of the Guyana Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle, lauded the GOA for affording Blake the opportunity to further enhance his knowledge on coaching, adding that such a move can only serve to de-

velop the sport.

He also recognised the effort of GOA president K.A. Juman Yassin and the role he has been playing in facilitating the growth and development of amateur boxing.

Two other GuyaneseTerrence Poole and Carl Franklin- have also benefitted from the course in the past. (Avenash Ramzan)

friday, september 13, 2013

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Coach Sebert Blake (left) and GBA president Steve Ninvalle INSIDE TODAY’S SPORT

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The six boxers (front row) strike a pose in the presence of GBA president Steve Ninvalle (second right) and four the GBA accredited coaches after Thursday’s press briefing (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

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