Guyana Times Daily

Private sector urges swift passage of AML/CFT Bill P7

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2114 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, April 28, 2014

PPP tells US to stay out of Guyana’s politics See story on page 12

PSC Chairman Ronald Webster passes on

See story on page 3

PRICE $60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Systems P2 being put in place for Police Cadets’ promotion – Rohee

Caribbean and Latin P7 America seen as next global breadbasket Fire destroys domestic violence P8 victim’s home

P9 Ganja planting a way of life in Berbice River – farmers

Ramotar P10 Raising safety awareness: The Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry kicked off Occupational Safety and Health Week with a hails Webster Health Walk to the National Park. Occupational Safety and Health Day is being observed today under the theme “Safety and health in the use of chemicals at work” as genuine development partner

Granger warns Mabura man PNCR about clubbed to internal strife death in bed See story on page 9

See story on page 2

GGDMA urges swift probe into gold P10 tampering claims

2 news

monday, april 28, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Mabura man clubbed Systems being put in place for Police Cadets’ promotion – Rohee to death in bed H – Police hunting for suspect

By Bhisham Mohamed

T

he small community of Mabura Hill, Region 10 was plunged into deep mourning following the shocking murder of a popular businessman in the area Sunday morning.

Colin Archibald Mc Lean, 52, of Mabura Hill, was found on his bed lying in a pool of blood, with his head bashed in.

According to information received, the man was discovered dead by a close friend after several attempts to make contact with him proved futile. Further investigations revealed that Mc Lean who lives alone was heard screaming in the wee hours of the morning, followed by complete silence.

According to sources, there was no forced entry and a quantity of cash was missing from Mc Lean’s safe, which was broken into. The Police are working on the theory that Mc Lean was killed by a man with whom he had an argument on Saturday evening.

Reports stated that Mc Lean had confronted the man who apparently had borrowed money from him and had not repaid him. The businessman threatened to lodge a report at the Mabura Police Station as soon as the electricity was restored at 04:00h. The man reportedly threatened to kill Mc Lean before the electricity was restored. Additionally, based on reports coming out of the community, the suspect was seen leaving the area in a hurry on Sunday morning. Investigators have

Colin Archibald Mc Lean

since contacted the Police at Linden.

In a release, Police stated that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Mc Lean who was discovered in his home with suspected stab wounds. A team of investigators have since travelled into the community to assist with the probe. Oscar Hector, a close friend of the dead man, told Guyana Times that he was at home when he received a call from Mc Lean’s neighbour informing that he heard screams coming from the man’s home.

He said he left his home located on the hill and went to the man’s business place where he noticed that the door leading to the man’s living quarters was slightly ajar, but the front door was tightly secured. He explained that he called out for the man for about 15 minutes and there was no re-

sponse. “The first thing that came to my mind was that he had fallen into a stroke, since he takes medication for sugar.”

Hector said he then tried to contact the man on his mobile phone but there was no answer. At this time, he contacted a policeman in the community, along with a few other persons. As they arrived at the house, a decision was taken to break the front door to get access.

Upon doing so, Hector was the first to enter the premises only to find Mc Lean lying on his back.

“Again, I thought he took in with stroke, so I run out and order the others to get a vehicle to take him to the hospital.”

Hector said when he went back into the room, he saw blood on Mc Lean’s pillow and immediately knew that something was amiss.

He raised an alarm and as the Police ranks inspected the man’s body, they saw that his head was bashed in. The Police quickly cordoned off the area and started their investigations. No murder weapon was found at the scene.

Mc Lean was described a good man who did not get into problems with anyone. He operated a cook shop in proximity to the airstrip and had been living in the area for more than 10 years. His siblings reportedly travelled to the area upon hearing of his demise.

He leaves to mourn his wife and daughter who reside overseas and his three siblings. (bhishamm@guyanatimesgy.com)

ome Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said the Government is putting the necessary systems in place to promote Cadet Officers within the Guyana Police Force.

His comments come on the heels of criticisms that Cadets are being stagnated within the Force. Speaking at the just concluded Annual Officers’ Conference, Rohee said the Government took a decision to train 50 additional Cadet Officers after recognising that the Force would require the injection of a corps of young men and women to occupy key posts in the long run. He noted that the Cadets would be developed side by side with those officers who would be promoted through the normal procedure.

“The Government of Guyana is taking steps to facilitate the upward movement of those Cadets who qualify, to the rank of Assistant Superintendent.

However, that promotion will not be automatic,” the subject Minister explained.

Minister Rohee made it clear that the Cadet Officers would have to meet the requirement laid out in the Police Standing Order 22, which includes the passing of key examinations. “Cadet Officers who are due to be elevated should take note and put themselves in order,” he posited.

It was explained that when the Cadets are promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent, they will be competing with other officers in their rank structure for the elevation to higher positions.

“The step that was taken by the Government to make this one-off special arrangement to recruit the 50

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

Cadet Officers is part of the modernisation programme of the Force,” he posited.

Languishing cadets

Last month, Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine said the Guyana Police Force’s Assistant Superintendent System needs to be revised, pointing that there are a number of Cadets languishing while awaiting promotions.

Ramnarine had said there were 47 Cadet Officers from three batches in the Force awaiting promotion.

“Some have been there for years and there are some concerns because the establishment of the Force, in terms of cadetship, only caters for 10,” he had pointed out.

In 2008, then President Bharrat Jagdeo ordered that 50 Cadet Officers must be appointed over a threeyear span; however, approximately five years later, ranks from the first batch are still awaiting promotion to the posts of Assistant Superintendents.

This is reported to have been caused due to the lack of vacancies for Assistant Superintendents.

The first batch of 15 Cadet Officers graduated from the Basic Cadet Officer Training Programme in 2009. Since then, the number of graduates have been increasing every year up until 2011 when the last batch graduated, thereby fulfilling the target set by Jagdeo.

The increased intake of Cadet Officers was done seemingly unconscious of the limited number of Assistant Superintendent posts, which are filled preferably by experienced Inspectors and Chief Inspectors, causing the Cadet to languishing in the Force for years. Here too lies another problem with the lower ranks such as Inspectors and Sergeants, who may feel that the increase could hinder their chances of being promoted to the post of Assistant Superintendent.

Luela Figueira crowned Linden Town Week Queen

A

mid loud cheering by hundreds of spectators who gathered at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground (MSC) in Linden on Saturday evening, Delegate Number One, Luela Figueira was crowned Miss Linden Town Week 2014.

Figueira copped the top prizes, which include a plot of land and a motorcycle.

She also won the prize for “Best Smile”, which include a digital camera, in addition to being “Miss Congeniality”.

She will take home US$100 for the latter.

The third runner-up spot went to Delegate Number Five, Keyana De’Souza, who represented Block 22; while Delegate Number Four, Chelsea Venture, who represented Amelia’s Ward, copped the second runnerup position. The first runner-up went to Delegate Number Three Manouska Vyfhuis, who represented Nottinghamshire.

Shanti Paul and Wrenta Sydney, Delegates number Six and Two respectfully, who both participated in the pageant last year, did not make it to the final four.

In addition to copping the second runner-up position, Venture also received the titles of “Most Improved” and “Most Intelligent” delegate, while Sydney was named delegate with the “Best Body”.

Sydney will receive US$50. Seven delegates were initially set to grace the stage on Saturday evening, however, Delegate Number Seven, Jahvina Lam, dropped out of the competition, leaving the other six participants.

Lam was expected to represent the Wisroc community. The contestants’ platform was centred on “Women Empowerment”.

While each of the contestants entertained the crowd with various talent pieces, Figueira, who was evidently a crowd favourite, caught the

audience’s attention when she performed a dramatic poem which she wrote herself.

Crowd pleaser

She remained a crowd pleaser throughout the evening and was able to capture the “Best Talent” prize for her piece.

The delegates also lit up the stage, as they modelled in uniform two-piece beach wear, which included tiger print tops and white bottoms.

The evening gown segment saw contestants displaying elegant and sophisticated gowns, each uniquely designed. They all contributed to the design of their outfits which were sewn to compliment their individual fancys. In addition to intelligence and poise, the delegates were also judged by how well their gowns fitted and were displayed. In the end, the “Best Evening

Gown” prize went to Venture.

In the final question segment, Figueira was asked what advice she would give to girls who post semi-nude photos on social network site Facebook and to share her views on the issue. She responded by saying that she could not believe that young people should do such a thing.

“My advice, know your worth, self-worth is the first worth you need if you need others to respect you. So respect yourself before you expect others to respect you,” she responded.

De Sheriff’s Entertainment and Club L&L hosted the pageant for the second consecutive year.

Some of the sponsors include Banks DIH, Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI), Caribbean Airlines, Bolo’s Variety Store, Fine’s Jewellery World, Osama Trading, and 3 Kings Taxi Service.

Newly-crowned Miss Linden Town Week Queen Luela Figueira

News

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monDay, April 28, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, April 28 from 14:30-16:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, April 28 from 16:05-17:35h.

PSC Chairman Ronald Webster passes on

WEATHER TODAY

Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill (AML/CFT). Ramjattan said Webster had a very focused position on issues of national interest, and his death would mark a very sad day for the private sector. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), in a very terse statement, expressed condolences at the passing of Webster. “To his sorrowing relatives and close friends, APNU offers sincere and heartfelt condolences,” the party statement concluded.

Countrywide: Light rain showers can be expected during the day with sunny intervals and partly cloudy conditions in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East north-easterly between 4.47 and 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 16:06h reaching a maximum height of 2.69 metres.

Low Tide: 09:44h and 21:54h reaching minimum heights of 0.44 and 0.54 metre respectively.

Grief and shock

PSC Chairman Ronald Webster

By Jomo Paul

P Saturday, April 26, 2014

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

rivate Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman and Caribbean Container Inc Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Webster passed away in the wee hours of Sunday at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital while recovering from a recent cancer-related medical operation which he underwent in Trinidad and Tobago.

PSC Secretary Ramesh Dookhoo said: “He was battling with cancer for a while and he was in Trinidad for an operation last week and after the operation, he was flown to Guyana for further care at Balwant Singh Hospital and he passed away.”

Dookhoo described the passing of his colleague and friend as a “sad blow” to the private sector and the country as a whole. Dookhoo pointed out that Webster’s “levelheadness” was one of the better attributes that contributed to the “amazing work” of the Commission.

Dookhoo told Guyana Times that Webster was the longest serving Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and also made many momentous contributions to Guyana’s private sector. “It was under his tenure as Chairman that the PSC would have lobbied successfully for several projects

and changes in the sector,” said Dookhoo.

As tributes poured in, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali pointed out that Webster “lived an exceptional life in service to the private sector and the people of Guyana”.

Ali noted that Webster’s passing would leave a “void” in the PSC. “He had a clear vision as to where he would like to see Guyana,” Minister Ali said, while underscoring that Webster was unyielding in his endeavours.

Immeasurable contributions

He said Webster also made immeasurable contributions to the National Competiveness Council and the National Competitiveness Steering Committee on which he was an active member.

“He was clear, unbiased, and fair… and always offered constructive criticism.”

Both of the Opposition parties have also publicly expressed condolences to the family of Webster, stating that over the years, he had been pivotal in the reshaping of relations between the political factions of Guyana and members of the private sector.

Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan posited that Webster, who was also a close friend of his, was particularly steadfast in his quest to urge the Opposition parties to pass the

Former Georgetown Chamber of Commerce President Clinton Urling said that “it was with much grief and shock” that he learnt of the passing of his colleague in the private sector. He extended his condolences to the relatives and friends of the late PSC Chairman.

Urling highlighted that he worked with Webster during his first term as Chairman of the PSC and he was very instrumental in restoring investors’ faith in the private sector body. Urling further noted that when a “reliable and committed” Webster took office, he immediately sought to organise meetings with Government and Opposition officials and stakeholders in the private sector community.

Urling mentioned the Chairman’s ability to be particularly vocal in areas of topical interest to the private sector, and Guyana as a developing country.

Head of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, Patrick Harding, said Webster’s death was a major loss to the private sector. He posited that over the years, Webster has worked assiduously to maintain relations between the Government and private sector.

Webster had a long and distinguished career in the private sector and brought a wealth of experience to the table when he took up the mantle of Chairman of the PSC. Webster started his career at the Booker Group of

Companies and became the youngest Managing Director of the company. He was also the Managing Director of Technology Investments and Management Inc. Webster also served as President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association from 1997 to 1999 and is the holder of a Lifetime Achievement Award from that Association. In the latter part of that period, he served as Vice Chairman of the PSC (1998 -1999).

In addition to the time that he spent heading various private sector companies, Webster has used his expertise on many Boards, including that of the Bauxite Industry Development Company Inc where he served as Chairman Webster also served as Director on the Board of the National Agricultural Research Institute, now the National Agriculture Research and Development Institute up to 1992 and Chairman of the Board of the New Guyana Marketing Company also in the period up to 1992. He was also a Director on the Board of the Aroaima Mining Company from 2004 and served as Chairman of the Board of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission from 2005 to 2010. At the time of his death, Webster, who was appointed PSC Chairman in July 2012, was also serving as Chairman of the Board of Kwakwani Utilities Inc.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, april 28, 2014

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

Education and parental involvement

T

he success of students, both at the primary and secondary school system hinges on a number of factors, of which effective parenting is foremost among them.

In this era of advanced technology, parental involvement in their children’s education cannot be overstated, as it is a vanguard against negative influences during the troubled period of adolescence.

The Education Ministry, a few years ago, recognising the large number of single parents with children in the school system, rising student indiscipline and the unsatisfactory performance of many schools, particularly in depressed communities, embarked on a countrywide initiative to revive and institute Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) in schools where these bodies were dormant or non-existent.

A National Parent Teacher Association Unit was established with the mandate to ensure every school has a PTA body, and parents play an integral role in their children’s education.

A fervour was created, resulting in the birth of parent conferencing being mandatory in all schools, a system where parents, about two to three times every term, are updated on the performance and behaviour of their children.

This system is still in place, but how well it is implemented in all schools is not known, however, it was heartening to hear recently the Education Minister reiterating the call for parents to have a more hands on approach. But systems that were implemented seem to be in idle mode.

The PTA Unit appears to be in comatose and truancy campaigns in Georgetown seem to have disappeared. The Ministry has been talking much about the need and efforts to improve students’ performance, but it has been notably silent on the work of these two bodies.

It is encouraging that truancy campaigns are still being conducted in Regions Two and Six, but these exercises in the other regions appear to be absent.

Parent conferencing is particularly important for schools in depressed communities as it not only informs parents about their children’s performance and behaviour, but equips schools in these communities with information on negligent parents and regular absentee students.

This is vital to the Education Ministry in locating truants and children involved in child labour, as well as negligent parents or parents in extreme circumstances.

With Government recently announcing that all students in the public school system will be benefitting from an annual $10,000 grant, it would be prudent to tie the grant into these programmes.

It would have been more prudent to link the sum to a performance-based system and grant the allocation on a needs basis. Undoubtedly too, not all students in the school system are dependent on the grant, and also not all attend school regularly.

Here is where the importance of vibrant parent conferencing and truancy campaigns come in as they would provide data on the financial status of parents and students who are unable to attend school because of financial difficulties.

What the parent conferencing would do is provide the Ministry with sound data on how to prioritise the distribution of the grant to maximise results.

Hardly anyone would disagree with the view that it would be wiser to channel the money where it is needed the most, rather than distribute it evenly in the school system, when the financial status of all parents is not the same.

Moreover, the $10,000 is really a support to poor families and supplements other programmes such as free education from nursery to secondary schools, free school uniform, free text books, free meals to lower primary school pupils, and subsidies to students sitting CSEC and CAPE. So the Minister’s call cannot be more relevant as the Government has been doing all it can to help poor families; it is now their duty to ensure that their children receive a sound education.

But the Education Ministry must ensure that parent conferencing is a feature in all schools, and do all within its power to keep school aged children in school, so as to get value for money from these investments.

A Polish pilgrim displays a souvenir of canonised Popes John Paul II (left) and John XXIII while waiting for mass before the canonisation ceremony in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican, April 27. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, were declared saints by Pope Francis at the unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday (Reuters/Kacper Pempel) See stories on pages 14 and 15

The Caribbean: a shared vision for development and unity

Mexico President, Enrique Peña Nieto

Mexico has close historical and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations, bonds that fill us with pride. The Caribbean Sea is our common heritage and holds a strategic value of the utmost importance to Mexico. It is our gateway to other regions of the world, and a vital space for our daily interactions with sister nations. This is why the Mexican Government’s foreign policy on the Greater Caribbean promotes an agenda of cooperation in various issues of common interest, including environmental protection, health, education, integrated disaster risk management, and the eradication of poverty, to mention a few.

Over the last 10 years, the nations in the Caribbean have made sig-

nificant progress in building up their economic growth and development.

The opportunities to multiply and strengthen our political and economic ties are enormous and will allow us to work together in

for Mesoamerican and Caribbean Countries established in the Yucatán Agreement.

In addition to infrastructure support, technical and scientific cooperation between Mexico and the Caribbean countries continues to be wide-ranging and diverse, and includes initiatives to promote agricultural and social development, energy, mining, the environment and small, and medium enterprises.

This year, the Association of Caribbean States is celebrating its 20th anniversary, providing an opportune moment to further strengthen its position. This fact, coupled with the need for more flexible and effective collaboration mechanisms to help us respond to our current challenges, is what led Mexico to be the host

compliance with the actions established in the 2012-2013 ScientificTechnical Cooperation Programme, and propose mechanisms to encourage dialogue and strengthen our joint efforts in this area, as part of the 20142015 Programme.

Mexico has worked on revitalising the Association of Caribbean States to provide the Greater Caribbean with a space to solve common problems, such as comprehensive disaster risk management, including weather events associated with climate change, improving interconnectivity in the region, facilitating trade, and creating synergies for sustainable tourism.

I trust the Mérida Summits will help the Caribbean further strengthen its integration process, under a clear vi-

Mexico has worked on revitalising the Association of Caribbean States to provide the Greater Caribbean with a space to solve common problems, such as comprehensive disaster risk management, including weather events associated with climate change, improving interconnectivity in the region, facilitating trade, and creating synergies for sustainable tourism.

creating better conditions for our societies.

It is with this conviction that my Government is promoting both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the Greater Caribbean. We would like your countries to receive resources from the Infrastructure Fund

of two meetings that are relevant to our relationship with the Caribbean: the Third Mexico-Caricom Summit and the Sixth Summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in Mérida, Yucatán on April 29 and 30, respectively.

During the Third Summit, we will assess

sion for development and unity. As President of Mexico, I pledge to continue to work with my peers in the Greater Caribbean, to make sure this vision leads to greater economic and social prosperity for all of our nations.

Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico

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

PPP welcomes commencement The worst of hypocrites of Rodney Inquiry Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) welcomes the commencement of the Commission of Inquiry into the death of Guyanese historian and revolutionary Dr Walter Rodney scheduled for (today) Monday, April 28, 2014 at the Supreme Court Law Library.

The PPP takes this opportunity to urge all Guyanese who have evidence and whatever information at their disposal to boldly come forward and provide same to the Commission.

In this regard, the Party feels encouraged by the decision taken by key leaders of the WPA, the Trade Union Congress as well as other interest groups, both at home and abroad, to participate in the work of the Commission.

It has not, however, escaped the attention of the PPP that the PNC has opted not to appear before the Commission. This is, indeed, disappointing though not surprising, given the obvious discomfort the PNC has, firstly, with the setting up of the Commission and secondly with the Terms of Reference of the Commission, more particularly Article Four which sought to “specifically examine the role, if any, which army officer Gregory Smith played in Rodney’s death and if so to inquire into who

may have ‘counselled, procured, aided and or abetted him to do so, including facilitating his departure from Guyana after Rodney’s death.” It would appear that this particular aspect of the Inquiry has touched a raw nerve as far as the PNC is concerned and could possibly unearth information and facts that the PNC would have preferred to have buried under the sand.

One would have thought that the Inquiry would have provided the PNC with an opportunity to clear its name especially, given widespread allegations regarding that Party’s involvement in Dr Rodney’s death. Instead, for reasons best known to itself, the PNC has opted to stay away from the work of the Commission, a position that clearly has not gone down well with a wide cross-section of the Guyanese community.

The Stabroek News, for instance, in its editorial of Tuesday, April 22, 2014 said that “the PNC owes it as much to itself as to the nation to be part of an inquiry that will pronounce, hopefully, conclusively and once and for all, on the matter of the killing of Dr Rodney.

Otherwise, it will simply have to live with such demons as will continue to derive from not facing a proper Inquiry.’

This is a piece of advice that any self-respecting political party, especially one with a sordid past like the PNC, can only find useful or chose to ignore at its own peril. The PPP is hopeful that the findings of the Commission of Inquiry would heal the wounds of a past period in our history when fear, terror, and darkness prevailed over this land. Contrary to what the PNC and its Leader, David Granger, may wish to project, the brutality and oppression which obtained at the time of Rodney’s death stands in sharp contrast to what obtains today, when there is complete freedom of expression and respect for the constitutional and democratic rights of all Guyanese.

Mr Granger seems to be afraid to go under cross-examination at the CoI knowing that Rodney’s assassination was during his 43 years in the PNC. The PPP urges the PNC Leader, David Granger to seriously reconsider the Party’s position regarding the Rodney Inquiry and own up to its responsibility to come clean with the Guyanese people on this issue of concern to the Rodney family and for that matter, the nation as a whole.

Sincerely, PPP, Freedom House

Amerindian communities are currently being misled by the CDPs Dear Editor, I read a story in another section of the press headlined, “PS says threats to Amerindian leaders taken out of context”, and wish to state the following.

The Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs (MOAA) Mr Nigel Dharmlall is totally correct when he said that the comments he made to Amerindian leaders and Community Support Officers (CSOs) at the International Convention Centre were taken “out of context” and moreso the so-called “threats”.

The hundreds of Amerindians gathered at the Convention Centre will definitely agree that the PS comments are taken out of “context” as a result of the “leaked” audio recording by an Opposition slave.

The Amerindian communities are currently being misled that their Community Development Plans (CDPs) are projects of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The PS of the MOAA simply informed the Amerindian Leaders and CSOs that this is not so.

And that while the CDPs are Amerindian Community Development projects designed by themselves, they are

Government projects through the MOAA funded by the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

The UNDP is the partner entity of the CDPs working in collaboration and harmony with the MOAA for project implementation ensuring that its safeguards are upheld. As a member of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC) of Guyana’s LCDS, I fully support the PS that the CDPs are not UNDP’s projects.

The PS is reported to have said that “The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) was misleading people with its statements that the Ministry was manipulating the Amerindians” and that the APA was “in bed with the Opposition”.

I fully agree with the PS and add that the APA, like the Opposition, currently holds an anti-Amerindian development agenda, which was condemned by the massive Amerindian picketing demonstration outside Parliament Building.

But if the APA was not in bed with the Opposition, why was it not a part of the Amerindian picketing demonstration outside Parliament

Building protesting the unjustified cut of the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) by the Opposition which will severely affect the livelihood of Amerindian Communities?

Neither was a statement issued including a statement on voting against the LCDS initiatives allocation of $18.5 billion – which will also severely affect the Amerindian Communities of Guyana – by the Opposition.

The PS of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs is a public official firmly committed to the development of the Amerindian Communities of Guyana and welcomes all Amerindians at his office seeking his assistance.

In fact, all the staff members of the Ministry of Amerindians Affairs, including the Honourable Minister, are very busy people on a daily basis dealing with the matters of our first peoples of over 180 Amerindian Communities.

Anyone can challenge me on this, including the APA, which has absolutely nothing constructive to say about the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs but to spew hogwash to anti-government sections of the media.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

Dear Editor, Since early 2012, I brought to the public domain evidence of cronyism and corruption and despite an in- depth inquiry by the Alliance For Change (AFC) where myself and another AFC Member/Councillor gave evidence to support our allegations, the Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan issued a press release which whitewashed the entire findings of the inquiry.

Myself and the said AFC Councillor were not even aware of this press release until it was published in the Press. It deceitfully stated that the entire episode was one of ‘misunderstanding’. But the most shocking revelation is this, not even the then General Secretary, Mr Sixtus Edwards was aware of the press release until it was published in the Stabroek News. The other member of the panel was Dr Punalall and he also was entirely ignorant of that press release!

This is AFC’s ‘democracy’ in action. Subsequently, I called Ramjattan and he pleaded with me to remain quiet for the sake of the Party. I gave him my word then, but many things that transpired since have forced me to go further in exposing this man’s deceit and lies and the AFC’s detrimental change of policies and deviation from its founding precepts.

Ramjattan, in an article in Stabroek News entitled, “AFC’s asks Region 6 councillor to vacate seat”, dated April 25, 2014, said that I had been warned in the past and that I have been “persistently” engaged with and my actions “are for the government…this is someone who will tell people there when they come to him with a problem about what the government and send them away without notifying us or the other Councillors”. I challenge Ramjattan to provide proof of this. I have “persistently” engaged my actions for the good of my country and when I took the oath as a Councillor, I put my country above Party politics and where Party policies are in direct conflict with the economic and social development of my country, then I will choose my country first. I want those who are saying that I am a PPP ‘mole’ in the AFC to firstly understand that I joined the AFC before

a lot of the ‘fat cats’ like Ramayya, Charrandass Persaud, Nigel Hughes, Cathy Hughes, Rajendra Bissessar, and Moses Nagamootoo. My AFC membership card number is 7314 and dates back to 2005! I have sent numerous emails to Ramjattan advising him on many issues and these will verify my loyalty to the AFC. I even advised him in an email to thank those Berbicians voted for the AFC which he did subsequently. He thanked me before anyone else on DTV 8.

A correspondent from Stabroek News questioned me via telephone about allegations by the AFC that I was planted as ‘mole’ by the PPP/C in the AFC. This was on April 25 at around 6:30 pm. I submitted some of the emails I mentioned above to her together with some of my articles. Later that night, she called and told me that she wanted to do the story from a ‘different angle’. I know that she will never try that ‘mole angle’ again, but will she let the public know the truth? Time will tell!

In 2005, when the AFC was launched, Ramjattan said that no one will be expelled for holding dissenting views from that of the party and in an article in Stabroek News, he said that he was not upset that “Yusuf went public because it is his democratic right”. Yet he and his boys expelled me without a trial and without extending the courtesy of informing me directly in writing! At least the PPP/C gave him numerous warnings, gave him a fair trial, expelled him, and then informed him in writing about his expulsion! And, ironically, several requests were made by the PPP/C for him to vacate his seat as a Member of Parliament which fell on deaf ears. It was all about the status, the money and the dutyfree perks! The $10,000 monthly stipend I received I gave as charity every month!

In the Stabroek News, dated February 15, 2004, when he was asked to vacate his parliamentary seat, he said that he will not resign, since he was an elected member of the National Assembly and his constituents are supporting his tenure. That is exactly what I told him in a letter to the Guyana Times and the Guyana Chronicle. He further

said, “Let a thousand flowers bloom. The democracy that we want to build in Guyana would let a thousand flowers bloom.

It does not matter if I am a little white and I am not a little red like the rest of my comrades….” So what if I am a little ‘white’?

He further added that he saw his right to criticise his leaders as a fundamental part of good governance. Do you not want “good governance” within the AFC? In that same article, he said that he tried “internal party mechanisms”, but those did not work.

That’s exactly what happened in my case – the inquiry was a fraud and a public charade. You have displayed ‘majoritarian dictatorship’. Ramjattan then pointed out that “the avenues internally are not giving you the proper ventilation… this forces you to go into the columns and then you are accused of breaking party rules… you are totally adherent to the party line or you shut up. That kind of paternalism is the greatest crime in this modern era of democracy”. I went public because my concerns weren’t given “proper ventilation” within the AFC. He further lamented that he never thought that his right to be different and democratic would cause his expulsion.

Should I not say the same thing, Ramjattan? That’s exactly my line! He then concluded thus, “Cheddi has taught us, you keep plugging away once you believe in something and one day you will create some change. We will never evolve unless we are prepared to change, for us to progress as a party, one must evolve.”

You have indeed strayed a long way from Cheddi’s legacy, everything that the AFC stands for bears testimony to this fact. You find it onerous and difficult to stand by your own words, what else are you capable of? Ramjattan, you are the worst of hypocrites and the above has proven that beyond any shadow of a doubt whatsoever!

Physician, heal thyself!

NB: I will publish some of these emails at a later date.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf AFC Councillor Region Six

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monday, april 28, 2014

Page

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Parenting For Success

Life without parental care — ChildLinK’s vision is a Guyanese society where every child enjoys the right to a childhood in a safe and caring family, free from poverty, violence, and exploitation.

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hree brothers live in a rural community with their mother: 15-year-old Robert, 13-yearold Roger and 11-year-old Romel. Robert and his brothers were nine years younger when their parents split up.

Trevor , their father, was in secondary school when he met sabrina, their mother, and started dating. Sabrina soon became pregnant and dropped out of school and Trevor soon followed.

After the first child was born, Trevor moved his new family into his parents’ home.

Four years later, Roger and Romel had been added to the family. Because of a dispute between family members, Trevor’s family were asked to move out from the home.

Trevor moved his family into a small shack on a piece of squatting land in the city.

As the years went by, the parental relationship started to get sour and there were constant fights and quarrels in the home. Trevor became unemployed and even worse, he was in the midst of an extramarital affair. One day Sabrina decided she would no longer cope with the relationship. One day when Trevor was out, she packed her bags, said good bye to the children, and left the home.

Things in the home were never the same again.

Trevor, who had al-

ways been irresponsible and neglectful of his children, began to leave the children alone in the house and not return for days, sometimes weeks. Robert and his broth-

ers were without food or adult supervision frequently.

Trevor would spend most of his days on the streets hustling, and his evenings with different girlfriends.

Neglect

During this phase in their lives, Robert and his brothers had to provide for themselves and developed habits of lying, stealing, and begging on the streets. They would hang out at the market places and popular night

clubs in the city trying to get food and money from anyone and everyone that they meet. This behaviour continued on for months.

From time to time, they

were spotted by extended family members in the markets, but no intervention was made to help them. Relatives would all shrug their shoulders and justify their lack of involvement by saying they had too many problems of their own, those reckless boys were Trevor’s responsibility. It was not until public-spirited persons contacted the relevant authorities about Robert and his brothers’ situation that action was taken to support the chil-

dren. This report resulted in the children being picked up and questioned by the authorities. A visit was made to their home to further investigate the situation.

During the visit, it was discovered that the house was old and falling to pieces, there was no bed for the children to sleep on, only a piece of sponge which was dirty and rolled up in a corner.

There were dirty clothes on the floor, and the whole place was infested with flies, cockroaches, and rats. It was later discovered that Trevor was now living in the interior and the children’s mother had migrated to a neighbouring country to seek employment.

After many efforts, contact was made with the children’s grandmother, Ms Susie, who resides oversees. When Ms Susie heard about her grandchildren’s situation, she became very emotional and broke down in tears. She was able to make contact with her daughter and persuaded her to return home and care for her children. The grandmother made the promise to support the children and their mother financially. After Robert and his brothers were reunited with their mother, a Counsellor and a Parenting Skills Educator (PSE) from ChildLinK was assigned to the family to provide support.

Intervention

Because Robert and his brothers were on the streets for months, the delinquent behaviours (begging, stealing and lying) they had learnt needed to be unlearnt. Behaviour therapy using techniques such as modelling, positive reinforcement, and punishment were used by the Counsellor to help the children understand that their current behaviours were unacceptable and that they needed to change. One day, during a session with the boys, Robert stated that he never felt loved by his parents and has never heard the words “I love you” being spoken to him by his parents. Romel related that one day he was preparing for school as usual, when his father hit him across the shoulder and told him to take off his uniform, because he

would not be going to school anymore. Romel said he had cried all day and watched as his friends’ parents took them to school. Roger said they had started to steal because they were hungry, they didn’t have any other choice. On many occasions, they were beaten for stealing from the vendors and passers-by which had affected the young boys badly and made them fearful.

During parenting work with the boy’s mother, Sabrina admitted that at times she felt frustrated and wanted to give up because of how hard it is to raise three now teenage boys. She added that they often relapse into their old behaviours of stealing and begging. Sabrina said despite being at home with them, the boys would frequently get away and go on the streets to beg from strangers, even though they no longer have any need to beg.

The trainer explained that it is normal to feel frustrated when behaviours such as these reoccur, but highlighted that behavioural change is a process that takes time.

She urged that more tolerance and patience be practised with the children, saying over time they would see positive results. The PSE trainer worked with Sabrina to set house rules and nonviolent approaches to correct behaviour.

Improvement

Today Robert, Romel and Roger are enrolled back into the school system and continue to work with their Counsellor to improve their behaviour. Even though being back at school and learning to read and write properly again is a huge challenge for them, they are showing signs of change and improvement.

Both the Counsellor and the PSE trainer continue to offer support to the family where necessary.

Please contact us on telephone number 231-7174 or at programmes.childlink@ networksgy.com for any support you may need on parenting and any other challenges that you may be experiencing with your children.

news

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monDay, april 28, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Private sector urges swift Squatters told to passage of AML/CFT Bill get off CJIA lands F ormer Private Sector Commission (PSC) and Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Presidents, Captain Gerry Gouveia and Clinton Urling say a dark future awaits Guyana if the Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering of Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill (AMLCFT) is not passed by the final deadline set by the regional body.

The two private sector representatives made these comments following a meeting with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) on Saturday morning at the Commission’s headquarters. Gouveia related that members of the private sector had gone into the meeting with apprehensions, but left the meeting feeling even more apprehensive than ever.

Final deadline

The Captain disclosed that whatever was discussed has left them wondering what will be the future of the country, since it affects not just the country but the entire Caribbean region. He noted that if the country is to meet the final deadline of May 29, the Bill will have to be passed as it is.

“I was always scared, but I came out of that meeting even more scared today.

I am very concerned about poor people and the remittances they would receive from abroad; the bureaucracy, the increased living expenses that will result. I am concerned about our economy and what will happen.

This legislation really needs

Captain Gerry Gouveia

Clinton Urling

to be passed,” Gouveia expressed.

The businessman related that if the May 29 deadline is to be met, the legislation will have to be passed as it is since there is no time for a new one to be drafted, reviewed and passed.

“I really don’t think that there is any margin for changing the legislation at this point in time. Any time you change even one word of that legislation now, we are going to break that deadline again because it would mean that CFATF would have to review it again and such,” Gouveia related.

Urling, the former GCCI President, expressed similar sentiments, noting that the private sector will face a serious crisis and setbacks if the legislation is not passed by the last and final deadline given to the country.

“Our policy makers should then do whatever it takes to ensure that this amendment Bill is passed,”

Urling said.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Members of Parliament (MPs) on Saturday told media operatives that Guyana can be formally and permanently blacklisted by CFATF if the Bill is not passed by the last and final deadline of May 29, given by the regional watchdog.

This was disclosed to the media by MPs Basil Williams and Carl Greenidge, among others at a press conference on Saturday at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, following a meeting with the CFATF’s Chairperson Allison Maynard-Gibson.

Maynard-Gibson and CFATF’s Executive Director Calvin Wilson were on a two-day visit to the country to emphasise the need for the passage of the AMLCFT Bill.

Williams disclosed that the Opposition was informed by CFATF of the

“draconian” circumstances which Guyana will face if the AMLCFT (Amendment) Bill of 2013 is not passed.

“They have indicated the perils of the non-passage of the Bill to us. The picture they painted seemed to be very draconian and the future of Guyana is one that is dark,” Williams disclosed.

APNU Co-Chairman, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, another member of the coalition, noted that while the CFATF was in Guyana to assist in the passage, much cannot be achieved since the team can only give advice on technical matters.

“The Chairman was careful to maintain that they could only offer advice on technical matters. The fact of the matter is that we are confronted in Guyana with more than technical matters. It is a political matter… and she is not familiar with Guyana’s political environment. A political solution is needed,” Dr Roopnaraine related.

Asked whether the Opposition will now give in to the Government’s demands to have the amendment passed in its original state to avoid permanent blacklisting, Greenidge and colleague MP Ronald Bulkan stated that the Opposition remains firm on its position, contending that it is now left up to the Government to decide whether it will accept the changes made by the Opposition. Guyana has thus far failed to meet any of the CFATF deadlines due to the non-passage of AMLCFT Bill.

Caribbean seen as next global breadbasket

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atin America and the Caribbean region can help feed a global population of nine billion people in 2050 provided the region implements key policy actions to bolster agricultural productivity, according to a new report released last week by the Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Drawing on knowledge and experience from more than 30 public and private sector partners, The “Next Global Breadbasket: How Latin America Can Feed the World” outlines challenges, recommendations and action items for policymakers, the donor community, farmers, agribusiness, and civil society.

Population growth and dramatic diet changes will, over the next several decades, place great stress on agriculture worldwide. The Next Global Breadbasket describes the role of Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) in addressing this challenge, as well as its opportunity to increase de-

velopment, reduce poverty, and support social progress across the region.

“Latin America has immense potential to help meet our planet’s growing demand for food, feed, fibre and fuel in a sustainable, productive way. By putting in place a comprehensive agenda of pro-agriculture policies, Latin America can attract the investments and innovations to become the 21st Century global breadbasket,” said Dr Margaret M Zeigler, Executive Director of the Global Harvest Initiative.

The LAC region contributes 11 per cent of the value of current world food production and represents 24 per cent of the world’s arable land. The region has about 28 per cent of the world’s land that has been identified as having medium to high potential for sustainable expansion of cultivated area, and a 36 per cent share of land that is within six hours travel time to a market.

“Already the largest net food exporting region in the

world, LAC has achieved only a fraction of its potential to expand agricultural production for regional consumption and global export,” according to Ginya Truitt Nakata, Operations Senior Specialist at the IDB. “The next 10 to 20 years offer a critical window of opportunity to advance new forms of productive and environmentally sustainable agriculture in the region.”

Key areas for policy action and investment in

which the public and private sectors can and must move forward together include: agriculture science, research, and development; knowledge and extension services for farmers; transport and logistics infrastructure; irrigation, water management and mechanisation technology; regional and global trade; farmers’ access to financial services, cooperatives and producer associations; and reduction of postharvest losses

An area of CJIA land slashed and burnt by the farmers for cultivation

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he Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Sunday said that despite several warnings, a number of farmers are squatting on lands earmarked for the airport expansion project.

This was discovered following a joint visit last Friday and the farmers were again warned about this practice.

The visit was undertaken by CJIA, Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force officials.

Prior to the ground tour, a flyover was done by the officials to ascertain the extent of the illegal practice. A particular squatter, whose activities are close to compromising army facilities in the area, was cautioned to stop.

This squatter admitted to not having any lease or permit for the land he is occupy-

ing, but promised to stop all operations and undertook to heed the advice he was given.

Three other squatters who are operating in the area also promised to comply with the request.

Meanwhile, CJIA said follow-up visits will continue to ensure that the advice is adhered to. Over the past five years, CJIA and the Public Works Ministry have actively engaged squatters and farmers on their illegal occupancy of lands, which are crucial for the airport expansion project.

A committee, chaired by Transport Minister Robeson Benn, was established in 2013 to review and pursue options for squatter relocation. Squatting is extensively done on CJIA lands, including the land required for the runway extension.

8 News

monday, april 28, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Fire destroys domestic violence victim’s home

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ragedy struck again for Tamika MillerPatterson, 27, a mother of one after fire ravaged her Lot 18, Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara home in the wee hours of Sunday.

The fire suspected to be electrical in origin, left the woman, who is still recovering from a brutal attack by her husband, counting her losses.

The woman, who was stabbed 27 times by Andrew Curtis Patterson (deceased), and had recently received financial support from Scotiabank and Habitat for Humanity, was left with tears in her eyes and many unanswered questions in her mind.

Based on reports received, an electrical transformer exploded a short distance away from her home after the house was on fire.

Luckily, Miller and her daughter were staying at her aunt’s home in Georgetown

The house that was once owned by Tamika Miller-Patterson

at the time of the blaze.

At the scene of the fire on Sunday morning, Juliet Mc Rae, an aunt of Miller, told Guyana Times that they were at home when they received a call from her cousin about 02:30h, informing them of the fire.

The woman said they hurriedly called a taxi and

Millers’ home on fire in the wee hours of Sunday

rushed to the scene, but by the time they arrived, the entire one-bedroom home was completely engulfed in flames. Mc Rea added that Miller had bought a quantity of construction material to commence renovation and that too was burnt.

A devastated Miller, the aunt posited, was too disheartened to speak to the media.

At the time of the visit, Miller was at the Wales Police Station giving a statement.

The aunt stated that workers attached to the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) had subsequently visited the area and disconnected the live wires on the ground. Mc Rae said her niece had every little convenience to make her life and that of her daughter comfortable. Miller was un-

able to estimate her losses.

Deryck London, who resides at Lot 17 Goed Fortuin, said he is lucky to have his house intact, claiming that after the fire started, his relatives formed a bucket brigade and drenched it with water. Nevertheless, there was some damage to his PVC ceiling in the verandah, while a portion of his wall was scorched and his windows were shattered.

Huge flames

Claymond Samuels, a relative of the Londons, said he was aroused from sleep by persons screaming for fire! And as he looked out, he saw the huge flames, so, he ran to the back of the house where he was joined by other relatives as they formed the bucket brigade and doused the house with water.

“I even ended up on the roof… the facing of the house had already started to burn but by this time the fire engine arrived.” Some neighbours said that within a few minutes, Miller’s house was down to the ground.

Resident did not have a chance to salvage anything from the burning building due to the immense heat.

Residents told Guyana Times that the fire tenders took a while to arrive at the scene, but this was justified after fire officials said that after the report was received, the tenders from West Ruimveldt were deployed to the area.

The official stated that by the time they arrived at the fire scene, the wooden structure was already burnt to the ground. This was primarily due to the materials used to construct the house.

Upon arrival, the first mission was to contain the blaze from spreading to the nearby buildings.

The official added that one building was already under threat; hence, they concentrated on saving it.

He also confirmed that the cause of the fire might have been electrical in nature since there is evidence that the transformer exploded.

Meanwhile, Miller and her daughter will continue to stay at her aunt’s home until she fully recovers from her wounds. She is presently attending therapy at the Georgetown Public Hospital for an arm that she cannot move freely as a result of the stab wounds.

Eyew tness The “mark” revealed...

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...on PNC’s motivation he PNC just completed their General Council meeting.

This body’s the inner core of the party – the heavy hitters. No Roopnaraines and David Scotts and other fig leaves to disguise the mark of the PNC. They gather in solemn conclave at their sequestered redoubt in Sophia, under the baleful, hooded gaze of the Founder Leader.

Few outsiders know what transpires at these midnight gatherings. We have to read between the lines from their press releases.

Normally these are the most anodyne and sanitised of statements. But sometimes the mark of the PNC slips through. Maybe the stirring of the cauldron went too far into the night? In the press statement from the recent coven, Chairman Basil Williams revealed: “the PNCR’s primary motivation must be to win back the reins of Government.” We can only imagine what really went on (down?) in that dark and cavernous hall in Congress Place.

The PNC’s “motivation” is not to govern better; not to improve the lot of the people (even of their own supporters); not to stop cutting the wherewithal for “development” from the Budget. No Siree!! Their motivation is to get their hands on the reins of power! How vintage PNC! The last time we heard such candour from the bowels of Congress Place was in 1979, when Burnham threw down the gauntlet to the WPA. He even published his unabridged and expurgated remarks.

“Make your wills!!” he’d screamed at Walter Rodney, after mocking Rodney’s “skill” at hurdling fences when pursued by Burnham’s goons from House of Israel, after violently breaking up the meetings. He’d referred jealously to Rodney being a champion high-jumper at Queen’s.

Burnham, of course, was notoriously unathletic at Queen’s – for which deficit he’d, not surprisingly, been ragged. Obviously, he knew he suffered by comparison with Rodney not only intellectually. His final, published warning to Rodney was, “My steel is sharper.” Just months later, Rodney’s face was blown apart.

Burnham said what he said and did what he did because he was unabashed in announcing that, as a disciple of Machiavelli, his quest was one for power. In his book, Destiny to Mould, he declared: “Whoever says he doesn’t seek power, is a fool or a hypocrite!”

The latest “Declaration of Sophia” shows that Burnham’s disciples have kept his faith in lusting for power.

To the people of Guyana your Eyewitness advises, “Hint to Quashie mek Bekeba tek notice.”

...in Parliament Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman bemoaned: “The word of the Parliament had tremendous power. It was respected and honoured. Over the years what I have seen is the erosion of respect for the word of the National Assembly.” Not surprisingly, he cast all the blame on the Government. It’s obvious he can’t forget his Opposition comrades in the PNC put him there. His own AFC had proffered Nagamootoo.

Even though he was referring to compliance to the Auditor General (AG) Report, he didn’t even mention that the AG had taken the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) , headed by PNC’s Carl Greenidge, to task for moving at a “snail’s pace” on his reports. The 2014 Report is about to be laid and the PAC still hasn’t completed examining the one from 2012. This sloth, of course, is part of the PNC’s mark.

The Speaker also failed to point out that the main reason for the loss of respect for Parliament is the Opposition’s refusal to obey the rulings of the Judiciary not to chop the Budget. Oops!!! That’s because he’s inciting the refusal? ...with CFATF As we predicted, the importuning of the top officials of the CFATF for the Opposition to sign the AML/CFT Bill was to no avail. Even though they were warned of the dire consequences for Guyana and Caricom. For the PNC, it’s “back to back, belly to belly; Ah don’t give a damn, Ah done dead already!”

news

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monDay, april 28, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Granger warns PNCR Ganja planting a way of life about internal strife in Berbice River – says party is “sword and shield” of workers – farmers say Police allegedly profiting from trade

A

mid reports of deep divisions within the ranks of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), its Leader, David Granger on Saturday called on “every party member to work to resist efforts internally and by external forces to divide” the party.

Granger was speaking at the party’s second General Council Meeting for this year at Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown. Granger himself is allegedly caught up in strife with his Finance and Economics Spokesman, Carl Greenidge who had challenged him for the leadership of the party back in 2010. There are also other divisions among the youth faction of the party and several members have been allegedly ostracised over the years – including the likes of Aubrey Norton and James Mc Allister.

Granger reminded the General Council that the heart of the organisation was the group. He said that the PNCR must remain strong, because it is the “sword and the shield of the working man and woman in Guyana”. He noted that it was not by accident that 2014 was designated the year for workers. He said the PNCR will continue to work for unity in the labour movement.

Granger, in declaring 2014 the year for the workers, had said that this country’s economic future lies in their hands. “Many of our working people, however, are underemployed and unhappy and are not as productive as they could be.

Workers face unsatisfactory labour relations in the sugar and mining industries and in the public and private sectors. Artisanal fisherfolk, craftsmen, small farmers, and miners found themselves in difficult circumstances during 2013.

Life must be better for all in 2014,” the PNCR Leader had said in his New Year’s message.

Opposition Leader David Granger

The Opposition Leader had pointed out: “Guyana’s ‘Year for Workers’ must be one in which our working people should be able to look forward to a good life. It should be one in which they could look forward to living in safety, to working for ‘living wages’ to cope with the cost of living and to enjoying adequate social protection in their old age.” He stated too that this year must be one in which workers can feel free to join trade unions of their choice; in which collective bargaining agreements between their employers and their unions will be respected and one in which the state will enforce labour laws fairly but firmly to protect them from adversity and from delinquent employers.

Winning back the reins

The General Council meeting, which was held under the theme: “Achieving Inclusionary Democracy and Respect for Workers through a Social Contract”, was called to order and chaired

by Party Chairman, Basil Williams. In his welcome remarks, the PNCR Chairman reminded party leaders that the welfare and well-being of ordinary people was of paramount importance and a founding principle of the PNCR. The Chairman said that after 21 years, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) 2014 Budget had nothing for the workers.

He said the PPP/C was aware of the following facts: “We are the second poorest country in Caricom; 36.1 per cent of Guyanese live below the poverty level; We have the lowest GDP per capita ranking in Caricom; of 186 countries Guyana ranks fifth from the bottom on the lowest human development index, and that more than 40,000 Guyanese are unemployed.” The Chairman said after 21 years, “we cannot but realise that we can expect nothing from the PPP/C to improve our lives.”

He said that the PNCRs primary motivation must be to win back the reins of Government.

PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke presented the General Secretary’s Report.

In his report, the General Secretary outlined the work of the party’s Secretariat for the period between General Council meetings. He reported on the work of the 11 party regions and the party’s youth and women’s arms.

The main thrust of his report was on preparations for the PNCR’s 18th Biennial Congress scheduled for July 2014; preparations for Local Government Elections and building and strengthening the party structures.

The General Secretary said the PNCR continues to prepare for Local Government Elections under the banner of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition. He noted that under the PPP/C Administrations, unemployment, especially youth unemployment, continues to be pervasive throughout the nation. He reported that there were several complaints from party regions of the PPP/C’s Administration engaging in selective infrastructure development projects based on political patronage.

The PNCR’s General Council is the governing body and the second highest decision-making forum of the PNCR between Biennial Congresses and meets once every quarter of the year.

By Alexis Rodney

W

hile Police in Berbice are saying publicly that efforts are being made to put an end to ganja cultivation in the Berbice River, farmers in the Canje Creek contend that the law enforcement officers are very much aware of the cultivation and allegedly on almost every occasion benefit from the trade.

Large-scale ganja cultivation in the Canje Creek have replaced cash crop farming to a large extent, and, according to some farmers speaking with Guyana Times, the change has been profitable. “This thing is working for us. There is no way that I could have made the amount of money I’m making now with this thing. I used to plant vegetables: pumpkin, ochro and other stuff and that money couldn’t do anything for me,” a farmer who did not wish to be named, told this newspaper. According to him, ganja is being sold at $40,000 per pound. When compared with what is being offered for a pound of banana – somewhere around $120 per pound, the benefits are obvious, he said with a smile. He noted that that is the price being paid by large-scale dealers. However, the small consumers will pay as low as $100 per pack.

Another farmer “Black Boy” (only name given) told this publication that the cultivation is not limited to

any one village in the Canje Creek. He said while the cultivation is quite prevalent in villages such as Ikuru and Three Sisters (Top Side), other villages such as Baracara and Tacuba, are also home to this practice. According to him, over 75 per cent of farmers in the riverine communities are involved in ganja cultivation.

“Most of the people that used to plant provision and so stop planting it and have turned to ganja planting because of the price,” he said.

He reported that some farmers, while seeking to conceal their cultivation, plant up to five acres of ganja. “For example, in the Ikuru that’s the best place for planting, because it is very difficult for Police to get to that area because of all the blockages in the river,” he confided. He also noted that it was often impossible for the farmers to be caught, since the Police can never tell the real owner of the land on which the illicit plant is cultivated. He said that the ganja is compressed into a cake and transported to the Corentyne Village of Skeldon to take the backtrack route to Suriname.

Asked if there is any fear of the Police, the farmer said the Police are very much aware of the “runnings”. If they are intercepted, small payments are made to the Police and the journey is continued, the farmer said.

Another farmer reported that while he did not plant the substance on a large scale, it was placed between

cash crops of similar appearance.

Late last month, B Division Commander Brian Joseph had told this publication that the Police in the region had been working tirelessly to end the large-scale cultivation of marijuana in the Berbice River. He had said, however, that the fight would be made easier if citizens become involved.

Joseph had informed that ranks in the division had begun working “assiduously to ensure the prohibited substance does not impact the community”. He noted that villages up the Berbice River, including De Veldt, Sand Hills, Tataballi and Gateroy, were notorious for their cultivation of the plant. The marijuana was being reportedly smuggled to Suriname.

The Commander had reported that since becoming head of the division, many raids in the Berbice area have been conducted. He noted that a number of individuals have been placed before the courts.

The Police in Berbice, according to Commander Joseph, have also been involved in several eradication exercises in the riverine communities and have destroyed several acres of the plant. He had also lamented the challenges in reaching some of these areas, including lack of efficient transportation, which have, to some extent, hindered the work of the Force.

Bandit caught by Corentyne residents

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ne bandit has been arrested and another escaped when residents of Corentyne challenged them during an attempted robbery last Friday night.

In a statement, Police

said during Friday, two men attempted to gain entry into a home at Number 50 Village, Corentyne, under the pretext that they were Policemen.

However, the owner peeped out at them and sus-

pecting that they were not Police ranks, he raised an alarm. Neighbouring residents responded and they caught one of the men who has been handed over to the Police. The other man escaped.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, APRIL 28, 2014

News

Ramotar hails Webster as genuine development partner P

resident Donald Ramotar has hailed the late Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman, Ronald Webster as a genuine partner in national development.

Ramotar made the comments in a statement following the death of Webster early Sunday morning at a city hospital (see other story on page 3). “Today I offered condolences to the family and friends of the late Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Ronald Webster, who passed away after losing the fight to cancer.”

“I learnt with shock and sadness of the death of Mr Ronald Webster.... On behalf of myself, family, and people of Guyana, I extend most profound condolences to his family and the private sector community.”

The President said Webster was admired for his values which underpinned his commitment to public service and the promotion of national development, mainly through private enterprise activities.

“He left an indelible print on the private sector society which will be sorely missed.

Mr Webster will always be remembered as a genuine partner in national development, a true patriot, and as someone who has given unequivocal support, above narrow, selfish interests. Once again, my condolences and may his soul rest in peace”.

Webster was also Head of Caribbean Container Inc, the only integrated paper recycling and cardboard package manufacturing mill

PSC Chairman Ronald Webster

President Donald Ramotar

in the Caricom, up to the time of his passing. He was also a former Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and once served as the President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association from which he received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Webster passed away at 03:30h at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital. He was admitted a day earlier for postoperation recovery after undergoing surgery in Trinidad (He returned to Guyana from Trinidad on Friday).

Guyana with great distinction. “Our lives have been enriched as a result of the tireless pursuit, wealth of experience, and unwavering commitment of Ronald Webster through the various organisations of which has was a leader. The MoNRE salutes Mr Webster and mourns his passing.”

Noting that Webster embarked upon his distinguished career at the Booker Group of Companies and became the youngest Managing Director of the company, Persaud said he was also the Managing Director of Technology Investments and Management Inc. At the time of his passing, Webster was also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Container Inc. He also served as Vice Chairman of the PSC from 1998 to 1999. In addition, Webster demonstrated

Distinguished service

In expressing condolences on the passing of Webster, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud said it was with deep regret the Ministry mourns the passing of Webster. Webster, Persaud said, served

his expertise and dexterity on many Boards including those of the Bauxite Industry Development Company Inc where he served as Chairman from 1999 to 2005, the National Agricultural Research Institute where he served as Director and the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) where he served as Chairman.

He was also a Director on the Board of the Aroaima Mining Company from 2004 and served as Chairman of both the Board of the GGMC from 2005 to 2010 and the Environmental Protection Agency.

With his unflagging commitment to the natural resources sector, Webster will truly be missed for his leadership in championing various policy initiatives, inclusive of interventions to reduce the use of non-biodegradable packaging materials in Guyana and more recently, a series of tax reform measures, the Minister said.

“The untimely passing of this patriot, Mr Ronald Webster is indeed an irreplaceable loss to Natural Resources and the Environment Sector, Private Sector Commission, and to the nation. We have lost a cherished colleague, a friend for all seasons, a Guyanese patriot of rare quality. To his family, friends and colleagues, the MoNRE extends our deepest and heartfelt sympathy.”

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Dead salesman, Bharrat Ramcharan

bandit outside his business place at John Smith Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

The injured man was immediately rushed to the Woodlands Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

It was reported that around 14:40h, Ramcharan was about to enter his place of employment with a bag containing millions in cash, when he was attacked by the two men.

It is believed that one of the two bandits might have traced the man from the city and discharged a bullet in his direction, while the other grabbed the bag with the money.

Ramjattan had been working at Patsan for 19 years now. This newspaper understands that the man would usually spend most of the day collecting payments before heading back to the office in the afternoon. He usually conducted business on his own without any form of protection. Moreover, the security officer at the gate was not armed at the time of the incident.

ust de other day, de Bell Crier was crying bout how people appealin against every ting in de courts these days. Now just as de Bell Crier mouth done talk, Roy Stone who believe he is a king turn round and appeal again.

Now all de time de Stone Man didn’t want de Town Clerk to be de Town Clerk, because he heself wanna be de Tongue Clerk. And de C-Jay agree wid he – not bout he bein de Tongue Clerk, but bout de Town, who couldn’t de Town Clerk. Some body seh is because she can’t talk like town people. But de Stone Man still run and appeal whah de C-Jay decide.

Talk bout still havin yuh cake and eatin it at de same time, although de Stone Man not interested in any kinda cake. One a dem Councillors tell a reporter that de Stone Man more interested in de ting whah does stick de cake, becuz he like when he cake get stick.

Well, as far as cake concern, de Gee-C-B puttin icin pun dem own cake even before de cake done bake. Any businessman or sensible manager does only tek on more people fuh a job when de wuk too much. In other words, is only when de wuk overwhelmin that people does need more people to do de wuk whah can’t get done.

Now de Gee-C-B want a See-E-O at a time when every body see that Guyana come last in de regional cricket.

That mean that de people who deh in de cricket set-up not doin whah dem suppose to do.

This is de time when de people who deh in de system suppose to buckle down and do de wuk whah dem see supposed to get done. But as every body suspect, no body in de Gee-C-B seein any ting. Every body blind.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie!

And de Bell Crier believe that de See-E-O who gon get de job gon be a man who also can’t see, except fuh dem bottles whah does be pun de Gee-C-B bar shelf.

GGDMA urges speedy probe into gold tampering claims

Suspects in Patsan’s robbery/ G murder for court today he two suspects in the robbery/murder committed on Bharrat Ramcharan, a salesman attached to Patsan Trading on Thursday last, are expected to make a court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court today.

Rudolph Marks and Kevin France are likely to be charged with robbery under arms and for the murder of Ramcharan. The two men were arrested at a hotel at George Street, Georgetown, hours after they committed the act with a .38 revolver and four matching rounds.

It was reported that Marks was reportedly the shooter and would have confessed to committing the act during interrogation.

Ramcharan, 57, of Lot 8, Section C, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, was shot to the back by an armed

De Stone Man want a stick J

uyana Gold and Diamond Miners A s s o c i a t i o n President Patrick Harding said the Association is advocating for an efficient and expeditious Police investigation into claims of gold tampering so that business at the Guyana Gold Board can return to normalcy.

Speaking to this newspaper on Sunday, Harding said it was important that the investigation be wrapped up quickly and business resumes at the Bartica Branch of the Gold Board since that particular branch accounts for some 40 per cent of gold bought from miners by the Gold Board.

“Whatever irregularities found needed to be sorted out once and for all,” Harding said, as he explained that miners have developed a sort of distrust for the Gold Board as a result of the recently unearthed scam.

He contended that at the conclusion of the investigation and restoration of the credibility of the Board, miners will be comfortable, be-

cause the Gold Board is the most certain market that the miners have. Harding explained that since the investigation has begun, the Association has been keeping a keen eye on progress and steps taken, since the miners have been directly affected.

He indicated that he has since received several complaints from miners in the diaspora who are enquiring about the proceeding of the Gold Board.

Charged

A few days ago, acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud had said that the investigation into allegations of gold tampering at the Gold Board’s, Bartica, Region Seven office is ongoing, noting that the investigation is in its early stages. The acting Police Commissioner related that although several arrests have already been made, it is still too early to make any pronouncements on the matter.

The Natural Resources

Ministry and the Executive at the Gold Board have since announced that a forensic audit has been launched into the operations of the entity at its three locations in Georgetown, Bartica, and Parika.

In a release at that time from the Gold Board, its Chairman, Dr Gobind Ganga, said the audit will aid the current investigation by the Guyana Police Force.

Dr Ganga also maintained that “all gold purchased by the Guyana Gold Board is first stored under the strictest security systems”, adding that it is virtually “impossible to allow for any tampering”.

Seven employees from the Bartica and Georgetown offices were detained by Police for questioning in the earlier stages of the investigation. It was also reported that one of the employees of the Gold Board has gone into hiding after the scam was brought to light.

To date, no information has surfaced about the missing employee.

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, april 28, 2014

Times Notebook Climate change is real G

uyana has been a victim – and continues to be a victim – of climate change and has taken steps to adapt and to mitigate climate change. But sadly too many countries are showing sloth in responding to climate change.

In many ways, certain countries are fiddling in the face of enormous dangers and damage and in the face of possible extinction of some countries. This is a global justice issue because many counties that have suffered losses of property and lives so far and countries that face washing away by rising sea levels as a consequence of climate change are not responsible for the greenhouse gases that have led to global warming.

Many meetings have been held and another one was held in the first week of April in Yokohama in Japan. One of the outcomes of the meeting was the prediction that sea levels will rise about three feet by 2100 and as much as six feet in some places.

This means that many coastlines will be lost and millions of people will lose their homes, land and lives. But we do not have to wait until 2100 for such dire consequences, since sea levels are already on the rise and the predicted disasters are already happening.

Weather chaos

One reason for rising sea levels is the melting of snow caps in Greenland. The summer melting of snow in Greenland lasts for more than 70 days now. In 1970, the summer melting of snow in

Developed countries are not immune to climate change – within a decade, it is expected that the ocean which the village of Kivalina in Alaska has so relied on will completely destroy it – creating America’s first climate change refugees – yet they dither. Whole countries like Tuvalu will share Kivalina’s fate if no action is taken (as this Tuvalu citizen (right) knows

Greenland lasted for only 35 days.

These are not predictions, these are real phenomena and they are occurring in full view of humanity, with weather chaos all around us.

Outside of some debilitating impact on Guyana, countries like the Maldives, Kiribati, and Fiji are reeling from rising sea levels which threaten to wipe out large parts of their territory , if not the whole country.

The experience of Bangladesh is one that Guyana and other countries must view with great alarm, because it is symptomatic of what

can happen to us. But it is not only developing countries like Guyana, Kiribati, Fiji, Tuvalu, Maldives, Vanuatu and Bangladesh that are threatened. Rich cities like London, Venice and New Orleans face similarly dire consequences.

Global justice dictates that the world act in unison on a danger that impacts on the whole world.

But in this global justice thrust we must recognise that we are where we are, because developed countries were, and continue to be, reckless in the emission of greenhouse gases.

The greatest impact of climate change as of now is on developing countries which, in fact, contribute marginally to global greenhouse gas emissions. The greatest sloth in response to climate change is from those countries that are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, the root of the climate change phenomenon.

Washed away

Take the case of Bangladesh.

Its greenhouse gas emissions amount to only 0.3 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions.

But Bangladesh has already had large parts of its coastline inundated by rising sea levels.

Scientists are also predicting the complete washing away of countries like Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Maldives by 2100.

Closer to home, the San Blas Archipelago, a chain of about 350 islands along the Coast of Panama, is threatened with extinction in 20 to 30 years because scientists have measured sea levels rising about an inch each year.

The United States has been one of the major culprits in the global greenhouse gas emissions scandal. Yet the United States has also been one of the nations demonstrating the greatest sloth in response to climate change.

This is a mistake of gargantuan proportion for this nation with cities that are as vulnerable as countries like Kiribati and Tuvalu. Certainly, Boston, New York, Miami, Baltimore, Atlantic City and other American cities are threatened by rising sea levels.

President Barack Obama has declared publicly that climate change is real. He has tried to change the way America is responding to climate change, but America is far from reacting with the urgency it must. It is putting itself and the whole world at risk for submersion by the sea of whole countries or large parts of countries. What kind of global justice and good governance is America promoting?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times.notebook@gmail.com.

Communities urged to make most of NCLO consultations

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he National Commission on Law and Order (NCLO), which falls under the auspices of the Home Affairs Ministry, has embarked on a series of consultations with residents to discuss public safety issues.

Thus far, NCLO outreaches were held at Good Hope on the East Coast of Demerara and at Diamond, East Bank Demerara on Saturday. Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee explained that these activities were expected to be held once every year; however, owing to a number of factors the Commission was unable to host the events as planned. The last set of consultations was held in 2010.

The Minister explained that the Commission has decided to tackle the coast before moving to hinterland communities at a later point, since law and order issues affect all Guyanese, regardless of geography. “The aim is to interact with the residents with a view to getting their responses to issues

that affect them… it is a listening and learning experience… when we would have gathered sufficient information, we will then return to the Ministry, analyse it and see what common issues affect the various communities,” Minister Rohee said.

Once this is done, the Commission will then relay to the various Government agencies and departments, the issues that fall under their purview for the necessary action to be taken.

If most of the issues raised are in relation to the Police, then the Commissioner and the Force’s management will be duly informed.

Informed policymaking

The NCLO convenes its statutory meeting once every month; it consists of 15 members, including the Police Commissioner and is chaired by Minister Rohee.

“It is the only body of its kind in the country where civil society get together with law enforcement, discuss general issues of a policy nature and issues pertaining to the

laws. We are mandated to engage with the public and when we gather information, we will go back to the Commission, discuss them and determine where and how we will take action,” the Minister explained.

At previous NCLO con-

sultations, some of the prominent issues included: noise nuisance, stray animals on the public roads, acquisition of firearm licences, use of illicit drugs, youth gangs, violence against women, irresponsible garbage disposal, is-

suance of birth certificates, land titling and the need for more effective policing.

The NCLO was established out of a meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government where the need for greater involvement of citizens, partic-

ularly as it relates to security, was emphasised.

Its membership includes: Government officials, faithbased organisations, trade unions, political parties, the business community and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

12 news

monday, april 28, 2014 | guyanatimeSGY.com

PPP tells US to stay out of Guyana’s politics

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he ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said it is deeply concerned over the continuation of the Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Project by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) despite the administration’s objections and warning against any attempt by Washington to interfere with the political process here.

“The PPP wants to remind the US Administration that Guyana has had a long and glorious struggle against foreign domination and dictatorial rule and can, therefore, do without being lectured on the elements of democracy and political leadership,” the party said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Pointing out that it is a democratically-elected Government with a mandate to govern this country in a manner that corresponds to the wishes and preferences of the Guyanese people and not at the behest and dictates of foreign vested interests.

“The PPP, both in and out of office, has consistently fought for and championed the cause of a free and independent Guyana where the dignity and integrity of the country is preserved and protected.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

“It is the considered view of the PPP that the project in its present form will not achieve its stated objective which is to build leadership capacity among stakeholders, but apparently forms part of a much broader political agenda which could undermine the country’s fragile democracy,” the PPP said.

The party, however, said it is hopeful that good sense will prevail on the part of the US Government and that the sovereign rights of the Government and people of Guyana to determine their own political future will be re-

spected and not frowned upon as is currently the case.

“The party is at a loss to understand why a foreign power that lay claim to respect for democracy and self-determination of sovereign states could be so callous in its disregard of the opinion of another sovereign state and continue to persist with a project that does not find favour with the Government of Guyana. The PPP stands firmly behind the Government of Guyana in its rejection of the LEAD Project and calls on the US Government through its Ambassador to end forthwith the continuation of the project and re-engage the Guyana Government on the way forward.”

Pleased The PPP said too that it is pleased that talks have recommenced between representatives of Guyana and the US aimed at bringing a resolution to this highly contentious matter. “It is the hope of the party that there should be no recurrence of such a situation, which clearly does not bode well for good and harmonious relations between our two countries.”

Last week, US Ambassador D Brent Hardt expressed commitment to sharing the concerns raised by Cabinet

US Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt

Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon on the project with USAID and the State Department.

According to a release from the Embassy, the agreement came following further discussions with Hardt and Dr Luncheon on the USAID LEAD Project.

The US Georgetown Embassy said the aim is to find a mutually agreeable way forward, which will support the interests of the people of Guyana in strong and vibrant democratic institutions, provide civic education in advance of Local Government Elections, and promote broader civic en-

gagement among women and young Guyanese.

“The Ambassador met with Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon to discuss the continuation of the decades-long collaboration between the United States and Guyana in the area of democracy and governance,” the Embassy said via email. It said since 2009, such collaboration has been conducted within the framework of the Assistance Agreement Programme between the US and Guyana for governing justly and democratically, which runs through September 2015.

Provocative Dr Luncheon last Thursday said the continuation of the project in Guyana despite Government’s request for it to be put on hold until the two countries complete discussions is provocative. The Cabinet Secretary has pointed out that though he met with Ambassador Hardt on April 9; he (Ambassador Hardt) failed to mention that the project is ongoing.

This “non-disclosure of continued implementation of a disapproved project speaks of… sheer horror,” he stated. Asked whether Government will contemplate

engaging in talks with the US Government on a way forward with the project, he said there is a realm of interventions which will impact the bilateral relations between the two countries.

He disclosed that while he is inclined to communicate with the US authorities, he is yet to comprehend why they would take such a course, since Government has been explicitly clear on its position. “Therefore, in my own thinking, the effort has to be made to characterise the Government’s position with the greatest degree of finality.

This is the Government’s position and that is what I will be undertaking on my return to office and in my anticipated engagements with the US authorities,” Dr Luncheon said after returning to office due to illness.

He explained that the reengagement with US authorities is on the basis that Government would not be engaging in talks under duress.

The USAID was contracted to execute the $300 million International Republican Institute (IRI)-funded project.

However, Government rejected the project, stating that it disagrees with certain aspects of it.

Deejay Casual discharged Human rights no “add-on” to from hospital modern policing − McCormack

GHRA Co-President Mike McCormack

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uyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) CoPresident Mike McCormack has stated that human rights and democratic practices are essential components to modern policing and can no longer be considered as “add-ons” to the policing process.

He was at the time speaking at the recently concluded Guyana Police Force (GPF) Annual Conference held from April 24 to 26 during which he spoke about the integration of human rights and democratic practices into the work of the Police Force.

According to McCormack, GHRA has been committed to supporting the implementation of democratic policing within communities. “All aspects of policing – investigations, arrest procedures, use of force, recruitment and relations with communities − have to be reviewed from the new perspective of democracy and human rights. The wide-ranging implica-

tion of a shift to democratic policing extends to recruitment and the need to screen out elements which are hostile or unsuited to this new approach to policing,” the GHRA President said.

McCormack referred to a collaboration between the GHRA and the Felix Austin Training School years ago, during which training programmes were designed to promote democratic policing concepts.

He recommended several strategies in order to achieve the transition to democratic policing. These include the Police winning the confidence of reluctant communities; persuading the Police to recognise the importance of community-based policing, and to emphasise problem-solving and communication skills.

The GHRA President added that his agency welcomes recent efforts to establish better relations between the Police Force and the community of Albouystown.

Comprehensive community-based strategy “While there is clearly room for improvement, both in the concept and the implementation, a comprehensive community-based strategy will hopefully evolve as the approach is sustained and evaluated and not fizzle out once again,” he stated.

McCormack went onto say that without support from all political and civic sectors, the efforts to civilianise the Police Force from its militaristic origins to a democratic Police Service will not be successful.

“Rather than leave the Police in isolation to figure out how the rights of a particular sector should

be secured, there is a responsibility also on members of each sector to provide particular guidance and support for the kind of policing they need, whether this is the business community, rural community, urban and Amerindian communities, women, people with disabilities,” McCormack stated.

The GHRA President explained that the first principle of democratic policing is “downward responsiveness” to the public, rather than upward responsiveness to the political regime. He highlighted that this will allow for civil power to be retained, but the manner in which it is exercised is a more modern, democratic concept of policing.

He added that the current model of community policing needs a re-think and he recommended that rather than the Police Force forcing itself into communities, members of communities are recruited into a policing culture which is highly centralised and has low policing skills.

McCormack pointed out that there are un- and under-utilised skills within communities, many of which can be mobilised into a model of policing that focuses on problemsolving strategies under appropriate management.

He added that the Police should be willing to share their responsibilities, accept criticisms and share their powers. The GHRA President noted that there are challenges to such a model, including scepticism, particularly in poor communities which have suffered from excessively forceful policing; fears of reprisal for cooperating with the Police; and inadequate resources for successful transition to community policing.

the VIP Section of the Guyana National Stadium.

Armstrong apparently went to a friend’s table to collect some ice, but another man who was at the table was not too pleased; hence, he warned the radio announcer not to return.

Disrespectful words

Deejay Casual

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opular radio announcer and deejay, Curtis Armstrong, 34, also called Deejay Casual, was over the weekend discharged from the Male Surgical Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital, a source confirmed.

According to information received, the deejay is now resting at home. To date, Armstrong has not spoken to the media about the shooting incident, but initial reports stated that he could not identify his shooters.

A close friend of the deejay said he is still feeling pain in his abdomen, but the family is happy that he is out of danger. Police are yet to arrest the two suspects who allegedly shot the announcer.

Armstrong was shot twice during a scuffle in the Parking Lot of the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara on Easter Monday. Another man, Sean Hinds, 30, of North Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, who intervened in the scuffle, was shot to his left leg and admitted to the same medical facility.

According to information received, the shooting stemmed from an argument over an ice bucket while the men were in

This prompted an exchange of “disrespectful words” between the men, which went on for a few minutes before the charade eventually ended with the intervention of a few friends. By this time, the rains came, causing patrons to scamper for cover.

The deejay decided to walk to his car, but he was confronted by one of the suspects again and another argument ensued.

During the argument, according to reports, an angry Armstrong punched the suspect to the face, and a scuffle started.

A close friend of the deejay, who was at the hospital, said the suspect pulled out a gun from his waist and discharged a round on the ground in an attempt to scare Armstrong, but he did not back down. The deejay reportedly used explicit words, announcing that he was not afraid of guns and challenged the man to shoot him if he had “guts”. The man responded by discharging two rounds, one hitting Armstrong to the hand and the other in the abdomen.

Hinds, who was close by, went to Armstrong’s rescue and was shot to his left leg by the man who was armed with a .32 revolver. The suspect, along with another man, then boarded a Toyota Tundra and made good their escape. It is believed that the firearm used in the shooting might have been illegally obtained.

news

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monday, April 28, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

APNU wants root and branch Evergreen Adventures hosts overhaul of GuySuCo media trip to Kaieteur … once board is appointed “I think the time is right for them to make another appearance before that Committee so they could lay out the premier plan to bring about the revitalisation of the industry, this is what we want to see.”

Key changes

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

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griculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Shadow Agriculture Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine have recently met on the appointment of the new Board of Directors for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

And the Opposition Spokesman is calling for root and branch overhaul of the industry once the Board is in place.

The Board will be appointed by President Donald Ramotar on July 1. In the absence of Alliance For Change (AFC) Agriculture Spokesperson Khemraj Ramjattan, Dr Roopnaraine stressed the importance of having a Board that is not politically-appointed. Speaking with Guyana Times on Sunday, the APNU Shadow Agriculture Minister said the intended tripartite meeting ended on a good note, with the subject Minister opening up to the concerns raised by the Opposition.

Alluding to the appointment of the new GuySuCo Board, he said persons should be appointed based on their expertise in the field of agriculture and ability to market and manage the sugar industry. “It,therefore, should not be based on their loyalty to a particular party.

What we don’t need is a politically-appointed Board,” Dr Roopnaraine said.

Human capital

However, the importance of human capital must not be ignored, he stated. With the installation of the new Board, Dr Roopnaraine posited that there must be a “root and branch overhaul” of the entire industry, to bring it out of its current state of crisis. “If we are going to move the industry forward, we need to ensure that we identify the mistakes that have been made in the past and correct them.”

But attention must not only be given to the management of GuySuCo or the Board of Directors, but the management of all eight sugar estates in the country.

“We must be able to re-

store the morale of the people working in GuySuCo from top to bottom, because at the moment, I can tell you that a lot of the middle management people are fairly demoralised because of the failure of the industry,” he opined.

Additionally, major attention should be given to the mechanisation of the industry, thereby improving

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, the Agriculture Minister said key changes will be made throughout the industry, pointing out that Dr Rajendra Singh has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation since March. While some persons have already been selected to sit on the Board, Dr Ramsammy said he will await the announcement of the President.

“There are other changes, but I wouldn’t go into the details. We are focusing on the overall management of the industry and due to that, you will see several changes, people would change position or new people will be added.”

Additionally, seven

APNU Agriculture Spokesperson, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

the efficiency of the factories and estates, especially at a time when there is a wide spread migration of the labour force.

Support

During the recently concluded consideration of the 2014 National Budget, amid much scepticism, APNU and AFC supported the $6 billion subvention for GuySuCo. However, Dr Roopnaraine expressed disappointment that the Sugar Corporation was unable to state clearly how previous subventions were disposed. This must be an issue of the past, he said while advocating for greater transparency and accountability at all level of the sugar industry. In recent years, GuySuCo have not submitted any annual report to the National Assembly.

Additionally, it has been years since the Corporation appeared before the Economic Services Sector Committee of the National Assembly.

experts from the Indian sugar industry are here, offering technical expertise. “They are helping at Enmore and other estates, providing technical support to some of the managers.”

Minister Ramsammy, however, used the opportunity to express disappointment at the failure of the AFC Leader to attend the meeting that was focused on the future of the sugar industry. He told Guyana Times that Ramjattan, in recent years, has failed to attend meetings organised by the Agriculture Ministry to discuss issues of critical importance to the people of Guyana. Ramjattan when contacted admitted that he was invited to the tripartite meeting, but said he was awaiting information from his local and foreign counterparts on the criteria for the appointment of Directors to GuySuCo Board.

Members of the media posing for the cameras at Kaieteur Falls

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he Correia Group of Companies hosted a complimentary familiarisation tour for media operatives on Friday, taking them to the majestic Kaieteur Falls and the beautiful Baganara Island Resort for a day of relaxation.

The FAM tour was done through Evergreen Adventures and Trans Guyana Airways. The trip began with a little disappointment due to bad weather at the falls, causing the flight to delay.

However, about an hour after, the weather had cleared and the reporters boarded the caravan plane for a one hour flight to Kaieteur.

After flying over the rich forest for about an hour, the Trans Caravan ventured into the Pakaraima Mountain range, flying over the breathtaking Kaieteur. Upon landing at the Kaieteur National Park, the media relaxed at the Kaieteur house while munching on a light snack before venturing off on the two-hour trail to the falls.

On the journey, the tour operator highlighted to the media operatives details of the unique flora and fauna along the way. One such fact that they were told by the guide is that “teur” is an Amerindian word, meaning falls, hence, the saying Kaieteur Falls is

An aerial view of Georgetown

redundant; it's either Kaie Falls or Kaieteur.

The trip continued with three stops to view the falls from different angles.

This was the most enjoyable part of the trip for the media operatives as they took photographs in abundance and even went into the water flowing off Kaieteur.

This was then followed

pools, some went kayaking in the Essequibo River, while some chose to just relax on the island shore, enjoying the atmosphere.

According to Consultant of the Group of companies, Frank Willison, the tour was a way of giving back to the media as he mixed and mingled with the reporters as they relaxed.

“Every time we just

The media operatives on the trail to the falls

by the tiresome hike back up the hill to the runway.

They then boarded the plane and headed to the Baganara Resort in the Essequibo River.

Upon landing, they were briefed about the resort while sipping on a special drink − “Lime Splash”.

It was lunch time immediately after, with the reporters being served a scrumptious meal buffet style. Some of the media members opted to play

calling the media to do stuff for us, but we never really give back to them and I always wanted to do something like this, so we did it,” Willison said. He noted that the media deserved the relaxation trip for their hard work, especially since Parliament concluded a few weeks ago.

To this end, the media operatives were given an aerial tour of Georgetown as they flew back to the Ogle International Airport.

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monday, april 28, 2014

Regional

Anti-government rallies hit Venezuelan streets S

everal thousand people took to the streets of Caracas and other Venezuelan cities to protest against education reform plans and restrictions on the right to demonstrate.

Saturday’s marches were the latest in a spate of attimes violent anti-government unrest that erupted in February and has claimed at least 41 lives.

The Education Ministry recently started consultations to reform the country’s basic school curriculum in a move opponents say is aimed at “indoctrinating” students with socialist rhetoric promoted by late longtime leader Hugo Chavez and his political heir and successor, current President Nicolas Maduro.

An estimated 3000 mostly young marchers turned out in the capital Caracas, initially gathering near a university.

Some demonstrators carried signs that read “education is not indoctrination” and “fight for education that teaches us to think and not obey”.

Others criticised recent restrictions on protests with banners such as “protesting

At least 41 people have been killed and hundreds injured in unrest that erupted in February (EPA)

is my right”.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court issued a ruling requiring demonstrations be approved ahead of time by authorities or risk being dispersed, in order “to guarantee the right to free movement”.

Opponents say the ruling goes against democratic principles.

Similar protests took place in other cities around the country, including Valencia and Maracaibo.

Anti-government unrest has rattled Venezuela since February, leaving at least 41 people dead and more than 700 injured as angry students and others denounce rampant crime, inflation, widespread shortages of ba-

sic goods and other economic woes.

The demonstrations have died down recently, but continued sporadically in pockets of eastern Caracas, which tends to be well off and anti-Maduro.

Maduro was narrowly elected to succeed Chavez last year after he died of cancer. (Al Jazeera)

El Salvador corruption scandal: “New evidence” against former President

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l Salvador President Mauricio Funes has said there is new incriminating evidence against former President Florencio Flores, who is facing corruption allegations.

Funes said prosecutors in Costa Rica found bank accounts in the name of Flores.

The former President had denied under oath having any accounts abroad.

The Government accuses Flores, who governed between 1999 and 2004, of misusing funds donated by Taiwan. Flores told a congressional panel in January that he had received cheques worth US$10 million from Taiwan during the last two years of his presidency.

But Flores denied the

Former President Florencio Flores said Taiwan usually made out cheques to the person who requested the funds

funds were for his personal use. He said Taiwan donated the money to El Salvador.

“I would like to say that I have never deposited a cheque from Taiwan’s Government in any ac-

count; that is key for me, to make clear that I have never deposited a cheque from Taiwan’s Government in any account,” Flores told the congressional panel set up to trace the money.

But Funes said that Costa Rica “will send the documents of the Flores case” this week.

“According to Costa Rican Attorney General [Jorge Chavarria] there are bank accounts in the name of President Flores in Costa Rica,” said Funes in his radio programme, Conversando con el Presidente.

Flores, from the conservative Arena party, said he had asked Taiwan for donations on three occasions.

The first time, he said, it was to help reconstruction efforts after two devastating earthquakes killed about 1500 people and left more than 200,000 homeless in El Salvador in 2001. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

No laws against corporal punishment in TT

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here is no law in TT protecting children from corporal punishment at home or at school.

Though former President George Maxwell Richards initially assented to the Children Act –which prohibits the beating of children –on August 6, 2012, it has never been proclaimed.

The Office of the President, in a brief telephone interview Friday, charted the sequence of events that took the assented act out of the

President’s Office before it could be proclaimed into law.

“After it was assented to, it went back to Parliament and I understand that the Child Protection Task Force had been set up and recommended that proclamation wait until the Children’s Authority was fully functioning,” the Office of the President said. “That is as far as it has reached,” the office said. “The act has not come back to the

President’s office for proclamation.” That task force was set up by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in December 2013.

Former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, in a brief telephone interview on Friday, said the responsibility for the failure to proclaim lay with the Cabinet, but added that no one can be arrested or charged for administering corporal punishment as that law does not yet ex-

ist. “The Cabinet has to advise the President when he could proclaim it into law. It is a failure of the Executive Arm of the Government that is preventing this act from coming into force,” Maharaj said.

The issue of corporal punishment once again gripped the public’s attention after a recording of a mother, Helen Bartlett, repeatedly hitting her 12-year-old daughter with a belt, was posted online and went viral. (Excerpt from TT Guardian)

Latin America honours Saints John Paul II and John XXIII

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ens of thousands of people have gathered across Latin America to celebrate the canonisation of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII. They were declared saints by Pope Francis, before a crowd of hundreds of thousands in the Vatican.

Pilgrims and leaders from Latin America were among those who attended the ceremony on Sunday.

Born in Argentina, Pope Francis is the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. In Costa Rica, some 20,000 people assembled in the national stadium for a vigil, which began on Saturday night.

They watched the Sunday morning Mass in St Peter’s Square on big screens in San Jose.

A woman from the Central American nation played a key role in the canonisation of Pope John Paul II. The Church says

Floribeth Mora’s life was miraculously saved by the Polish-born Pope.

She had a rare type of brain aneurysm that could not be operated on and says she was cured after praying for the late Pope in 2011.

That was the second miracle required by the Vatican for Pope John Paul to be declared a saint.

Ms Mora was at the ceremony in St Peter’s Square.

“God has chosen this very beautiful country to carry out a miracle, something unexplainable,” a young Catholic named Carlos Cruz told Reuters.

In Mexico – which was part of Karol Wojtyla’s first visit abroad after he became Pope in 1978 – some 1500 people took part in a vigil in the capital’s main cathedral.

Brazil, which has the largest Catholic population in the world, has become the first country to name a church after Saint John Paul II. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaica: UTech rift widens

Blossom O’Meally-Nelson and Franklin Johnston are among the names mentioned as likely successors

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rofessor Errol Morrison is to be named the new head of the National Council on Science and Technology (NCST), the Jamaica Observer has learnt.

According to a highlyplaced Government source, Morrison will be seconded from the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), where he now serves as President, to start his job as the country’s science czar in June.

But his appointment has not only resulted in UTech administrators now engaged in a search for an acting President, it has created a rift among the university’s management over who should be named to the post, as well as the academic status of the institution.

“Some people are in favour of bringing back Blossom O’Meally-Nelson while others believe that Franklin Johnston should get the job,” our source said, adding that a third candidate – a retired University

of the West Indies (UWI) Professor – was also being considered.

O’Meally-Nelson served as UTech Pro-Chancellor but left before her three-year term ended in March 2009 at the height of a management conflict with Morrison.

She was replaced by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who holds a chair at the UWI as distinguished fellow in the School of Graduate Studies.

Johnston is currently adviser to Education Minister Ronald Thwaites and writes a weekly column for the Daily Observer.

However, the issue that has the potential of mushrooming into a greater controversy is the future academic direction of UTech, our source said.

“Basically, there are now two camps, one which holds the view that the university should revert to a polytechnic, while the other feels it should remain as is,” our source said. (Excerpt from Jamaica

Observer)

15 Around the world monday, april 28, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

Vatican declares Popes John Ukraine separatists parade seized observers Paul II and John XXIII saints

Pro-Russian protesters take part in a rally near the seized office of the SBU state security service in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine, April 27

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group of eight European military observers being held prisoner by pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine have appeared in public for the first time since their capture and gave assurances that they were not being mistreated.

Seven officers from the observer team and their translator were brought into a room of waiting journalists in the separatist-held administration building in the city of Slovyansk.

Guards in camouflage fatigues and balaclavas, carrying Kalashnikov rifles, were also in the room as journalists spoke to the observers.

Colonel Axel Schneider from Germany, who appeared nervous as he spoke for the group, stressed they were on a diplomatic mission under the auspices of the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) when they were detained on Friday and were not spying for NATO as the

separatists claim.

Schneider said he understood that the selfproclaimed City Mayor, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, could use the observers as a bargaining chip.

Later, one of the men, a Swedish national, was released by the group on medical grounds.

“He has a mild form of diabetes and so we decided to let him go,” Stella Korosheva, a Spokeswoman for the separatist Mayor told reporters.

Ponomaryov said on Saturday that they could be released in exchange for jailed pro-Russia activists and told reporters that he was heading into talks with the mediators.

“In our town, where a war situation is going on, any military personnel who don’t have our permission are considered prisoners of war,” he told reporters.

Ponomaryov said he was preparing to meet OSCE mediators to negotiate the terms of the group’s release.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China releases Japanese wartime documents – state media

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hina has released previously confidential Japanese wartime documents, including some about comfort women forced to serve in military brothels during World War Two, state media reported.

The publication comes during a fraught period in Japan-China relations. Last week, Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd paid about US$29 million for the release of a

ship seized by China over a dispute that dates back to the 1930s war between the two countries.

The 89 documents released from archives in northern Jilin province include letters written by Japanese soldiers, newspaper articles, and military files unearthed in the early 1950s, state media said.

Why they had not been released until now was not im-

mediately clear.

Nationalist politicians in Japan have been urging Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to water down a 1993 apology to comfort women. These politicians have said there is no evidence of large-scale coercion

by Government authorities or the military.

Abe said last month that Tokyo would not revise this apology. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Pope Francis declares John Paul II and John XXIII as new saints

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ope Francis has declared Popes John Paul II and John XXIII saints, in front of a crowd of hundreds of thousands.

He praised his two predecessors as “men of courage” at the Vatican service, the first time in history that two popes have been canonised at the same time.

The Mass was attended

by Pope Emeritus Benedict, who quit as pope last year, and roughly 100 foreign delegations.

Analysts say Francis is trying to balance the conservative legacy of John Paul with the reforming zeal of John. At the climax of the service, Pope Francis said in Latin: “We declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II to be saints and

we enrol them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole Church.”

Relics of each man – a container of blood from John Paul and a piece of skin from John – were placed near the altar.

Pope Francis paid tribute to the two new saints as “Priests, Bishops and Popes of the 20th Century”.

“They lived through the tragic events of that century, but they were not overwhelmed by them. For them, God was more powerful,” he said.

The Vatican estimated some 800,000 pilgrims had poured into Rome to see the two-hour ceremony firsthand.

For those unable to make it into St Peter’s Square, giant screens were set up in nearby streets and elsewhere in the city. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

S Arabia reports eight new MERS deaths

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audi Arabia has announced eight new deaths from the MERS coronavirus, taking the Kingdom’s death toll from the disease to 102.

The Saudi Health Ministry reported that a nine-month-old infant had died on Sunday, raising this month’s fatalities to 39.

The Ministry said the number of recorded infections had risen to 339, with 143 cases announced since the start of April, representing a 73 per cent jump in total infections.

Among the latest infections were four medical staff at a single hospital in Tabuk

in the country’s north-west.

Panic over the spread of the virus among medical staff in the western city of Jeddah led to the temporary closure of a main hospital’s emergency room.

At least four doctors at Jeddah’s King Fahd Hospital resigned earlier this month after refusing to treat MERS patients for fear of infection.

The Kingdom dismissed the Health Minister earlier this month with the newly-appointed acting Health Minister promising “transparency” over MERS. King Abdullah is said to have travelled to Jeddah on Thursday to reassure

the public and demonstrate that “exaggerated and false rumours” about MERS are false, said his son, National Guard Minister, Prince Mitab.

Experts are still struggling to understand the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, for which there is no known vaccine.

The World Health Organisation announced on Wednesday that it had offered to send international experts to Saudi Arabia to investigate “any evolving risk” associated with the transmission pattern of the virus. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

CAR crisis: Peacekeepers escort South Korean PM Chung Hong-won resigns over ferry Muslims out of Bangui

Those fleeing loaded up the convoy with whatever belongings they could carry

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eacekeepers have escorted more than 1200 Muslims out of the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui.

They were some of the last remaining Muslims in the city, who have been targeted by Christian militias in the country’s civil conflict.

The country has been hit by civil conflict since Seleka rebels ousted the President

in March 2013. The largely Muslim Seleka rebels were accused of targeting Christians, prompting worsening sectarian violence.

Also on Friday, there were reports that at least 22 people, including 15 local chiefs and three local workers for the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), were killed in an attack in the town of Nanga

Boguila.

The killings happened on Saturday with most of the victims dying when an MSFrun clinic was attacked, Gilles Xavier Nguembassa, a former MP for the area, told Reuters.

Nguembassa said Seleka rebels were responsible for the attack.

The convoy carrying Muslims from Bangui’s PK12 district headed to the relative safety of two towns in the north of the country.

Shortly after the convoy left, looters descended on the district to strip houses and businesses, and even the mosque.

Some Muslims do remain in Bangui, but thousands have fled Christian-majority areas in recent weeks, heightening fears of a de facto partition of the country.

Amnesty International has accused peacekeepers of failing to prevent ethnic cleansing. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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outh Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won has resigned amid criticism of the Government’s handling of the sinking of a passenger ferry.

He said the “cries of the families of those missing still keep me up at night”.

Chung will stay in his post until the disaster is under control.

The Sewol ferry with 476 people aboard – most of them students and teachers

– sank off South Korea on April 16.

Officials have confirmed 187 died, but scores are missing presumed drowned.

Furious relatives have repeatedly criticised what they see as the slowness of the recovery operation.

“The right thing for me to do is to take responsibility and resign as a person who is in charge of the Cabinet,” Chung said in a brief televised statement.

“On behalf of the

Government, I apologise for many problems from the prevention of the accident to the early handling of the disaster.”

He added: “There have been so many varieties of irregularities that have continued in every corner of our society and practices that have gone wrong. I hope these deep-rooted evils get corrected this time and this kind of accident never happens again.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

India tests high-altitude interceptor missile

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ndia has successfully testfired an anti-ballistic missile capable of intercepting targets outside the earth’s atmosphere, a major step in development of a missile defence system that is available to only a handful of nations.

The missile dubbed as Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) was launched from a ship in the country’s Bay of

Bengal at 9:07h on Sunday. It can engage targets in the exoatmosphere region at more than 120 kilometres in altitude.

“In an automated operation, radar based detection and tracking system detected and tracked the enemy’s ballistic missile,” a statement of India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation

(DRDO) said.

The test fire has been hailed as “significant milestone” achieved in the direction of developing a two-layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system.

Currently, only a small club of nations including the United States, Russia and Israel possess an anti-ballistic missile system. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16 news

monday, april 28, 2014 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Finance Minister saddened at Fisherman dies after Webster’s passing

car slams into cow

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fisherman was killed on Sunday morning following an accident along the Number 50 Village, Corentyne, Public Road.

The accident occurred about 01:30h. The dead man has been identified as Rawle Douglas, 38, of Lot 35 Number 53 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

According to information received, Douglas was a front-seat passenger in a motor car which collided with a cow along the public road. It is believed that the driver might have been under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred.

Douglas reportedly suffered severe injuries, and as such, died on the spot and so did the animal. The driver of the car, suspected to be a Surinamese national, escaped unhurt, but was taken into Police custody and was assisting with investigations.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that the owner of the cow may have cut off the brand from the cow to avoid prosecution.

Dianne Douglas, a sister of the dead man, told media operatives that about 01:00h, she received information that the car in which

The wrecked car in the foreground

her brother was travelling slammed into a cow and that she should go to the scene.

Upon arrival at the scene, the woman saw the body of her brother in the front passenger’s seat covered in blood.

The distressed woman said that her brother was pinned in the wreckage and blood was running down his head. Dianne recalled that her brother returned from Suriname on Saturday last where he had gone on a fishing expedition. She also revealed that on Saturday, her brother went to his employer to collect some mon-

ey and returned home, but about 18:00h, he left with the said car to meet some friends.

Guyana Times understands that after spending some time at a friend’s house, they left for Eversham. The other friend refused to go with them so it was Douglas and the driver who went for the drive. Relatives believed that it was while they were returning from Eversham the accident occurred. The man’s body is at Sheldon Hospital Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

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inance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh said he is deeply saddened at the news of the passing of Private Sector Commission Chairman Ronald Webster.

“I am saddened that the country has lost a private sector titan and leader. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, as well as his families at the Private Sector Commission and Caribbean Container Limited and his friends, at his sudden passing,” Dr Singh said in a statement.

He said Webster was dedicated to the development and growth of the country’s

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

private sector, with a keen understanding of the role it has to play in the economic prosperity of Guyana.

“My experience working with Ron has impressed upon me his dedication and professionalism in achieving whatever he sought to accomplish. Having committed his life to the private sector, he was a wealth of information, history and foresight.

Ron was bold in the face of fierce criticism but never faltered as he continued to work with fervour to promote the interest of the local private sector,” the Minister said.

Caribbean Drug Commissioners to address micro-trafficking

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he Organisation of American States (OAS) said drug commissioners of the Americas, including the Caribbean, will meet in Washington this week to discuss issues related to micro-trafficking and other emerging themes.

The OAS said the discussions will be held from Monday through Thursday, during the 55th Regular Session of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD). Among the main topics to be discussed are the trafficking of drugs in

small quantities and national responses to drug markets; alternatives to incarceration for drug dependent offenders and others in conflict with the law for issues related to drugs; and the challenges and impact of the regulation of cannabis.

The OAS said delegations from member states will discuss cooperation between Europe and the Americas on drug-related issues; analysis and responses to synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances; dealing with the drug problem from a public health approach; and oth-

er current issues facing the Commissions of the countries in the region.

Also participating in the meeting will be other organisations and partners, such as the Pan American Health Organisation, the European Commission, representatives of civil society and OAS Permanent Observer countries. For the second consecutive year, the CICAD meeting will be preceded by the Meeting of Civil Society, which will analyse trafficking in small quantities and local responses to drug markets, the OAS said.

Barbados Ministry monitoring Chikungunya Macedonia’s

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lthough no cases of Chikungunya have been detected in Barbados to date, three new cases have been identified and confirmed in one of the Eastern Caribbean Islands. To this end, the Ministry of Health is continuing to monitor an outbreak of the disease in the Eastern Caribbean islands, the French overseas territories, Dutch St Maarten, and the British Virgin Islands.

According to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), between December 6, 2013 and April 11, this year, local transmission of the Chikungunya virus had been documented in

10 territories.

The Ministry of Health has affirmed that its epidemiological surveillance will continue. This includes the analysis of data from the various public health care facilities on a weekly basis.

Additionally, the Ministry will accelerate its fogging campaign throughout the island.

In addition to the efforts being undertaken by the Ministry, members of the public are advised to do all that they can to prevent mosquito breeding and destroy adult mosquitoes around their premises. A check list of guidelines for the eradication of mos-

quitoes has already been mailed to households across Barbados, and may also be downloaded, along with fact sheets on the chikungunya virus, from the Ministry’s Facebook page https://www. facebook.com/moh.barbados.

Persons who are travelling to countries where Chikungunya has been reported are also advised to protect themselves by wearing long sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, using mosquito repellents, and by sleeping under an insecticide treated bed net to prevent themselves from being bitten. If they experience symptoms upon returning home, they should seek

prompt medical attention.

Chikungunya, a virus similar to dengue, is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, as well as the Aedes albopictus mosquito.

The symptoms are similar to dengue fever and may include a sudden high fever, headache, rash, nausea and muscle pain.

However, stiffness and severe joint pain, especially in the wrists, knuckles or ankles is more often associated with Chikungunya. Fever may last from a few days to a few weeks and some infected patients have reported debilitating arthritic pain persisting for weeks or months. (Barbados Advocate)

CDEMA building stronger finance mechanisms

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he Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is in the process of rolling out its Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) 10year Strategy, as well as its five-year Strategic Plan.

“We are at an ideal juncture, where we are consolidating and synchronising the Strategic Plan, as well as the CDM Strategy,” revealed Dr Elvis Nurse, Director of Resource Management and Administration at CDEMA,

during the fifth Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) press briefing, held at Radisson Resort on Friday evening.

While acknowledging that any strategic plan or strategy for development requires effective and adequate financing, he indicated that they have had discussions at the council level, as well as during technical meetings on the various strategies to be embraced, in terms of enhancing financing.

“As you are aware,

CDEMA is financed by contributions from its 18 member states. Invariably, there will be a time when those contributions are not sufficient,” he pointed out.

“We have been successful in mobilising three times the resources for countries, in terms of the amount of contributions that have been provided. We are in the process now of engaging and exploring additional mechanisms for revenue generation, as well as exploring the option of establishing an endowment fund

that will provide some form of sustainable financing for the institution going forward.”

Dr Nurse also noted that donors are calling increasingly for greater accountability and greater efficiency.

“To that effect, we are in the process of building stronger financial and accounting mechanisms, to ensure that we promote greater efficiency, transparency and accountability within the agency, as well at the national and regional level,” he said. (Barbados Advocate)

conservatives reelected; Opposition condemns vote

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acedonia’s conservative ruling party has secured a third term in office, winning both parliamentary and presidential elections on Sunday, based on preliminary results of the ballot that the opposition said it would not recognise.

With more than 63 per cent of the votes counted, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski’s VMRO-DPMNE was leading with 43 per cent, compared with 24 per cent for the main Opposition party, the centreleft SDSM, the state electoral commission said.

Incumbent President Gjorge Ivanov also was leading the SDSM-backed challenger in the presidential election, the commission said.

“This is a big, huge and strong victory. The people have clearly expressed their will,” Gruevski, who has ruled the former Yugoslav republic since 2006 in coalition with the ethnic Albanian party DUI, told a cheering crowd at his party’s headquarters in Skopje early on Monday.

The DUI had captured 14 per cent, setting the coalition on course for a comfortable majority in the new Parliament.

SDSM Leader Zoran Zaev,

however, accused Gruevski and his party of “abusing the entire state system”, saying there were “threats and blackmails and massive buying of voters” in the elections.

“A few minutes after the polls closed, I’m here to say that SDSM and our Opposition coalition will not recognise the election process, neither the presidential nor the parliamentary,” Zaev told reporters in Skopje.

Gruevski, 43, and his party dismissed the Opposition allegations as an attempt to manipulate public opinion.

“I’m sorry that besides our clear victory, the leader of the Opposition for his personal interest has decided to ignore the will of the people. I hope he’ll sleep on it and will decide to change the decision.”

Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe will present their findings later today, after the state electoral commission publishes the results.

Opposition parties have often accused Gruevski of creeping authoritarianism and corruption. Foreign diplomats in Skopje say there are concerns about media freedom and political pressure on journalists.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

news

17

monday, April 28, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Police end annual ECLAC launches updated disaster assessment handbook conference T T he Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Saturday wrapped up their Annual Officers’ Conference with 141 ranks successfully participating in the three-day event.

The conference was held under the theme “Continuing modernisation with special focus on developing public trust and capacity-building through partnerships”.

A statement by the Police on Sunday said the facilitators of the conference placed emphasis on many of the concerns raised by President Donald Ramotar during the opening day, which included unsolved crimes, prosecution in the courts and the low conviction rate, police reform, corruption, drug trade and the boosting of the Force’s crime-fighting capabilities, among others.

Other areas addressed during the conference include the maintenance of good working relations, and collaboration with the other Disciplined Services and law enforcement agencies in the Caribbean and further afield, improved training for ranks, and enhancing police-community relations.

Meanwhile, the officers were evidently highly motivated during the address

by President Ramotar as he spoke of Government’s efforts to address some welfare issues in the Force, including promotion.

The statement said the conference also took cognisance of the address given

by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee in which he focused on police reform in terms of its necessity; the expected outcomes, inclusive of the strengthening of the Force’s operational capability, technological development and succession planning, the challenges posed, and the opportunities created.

Building public trust

Further, in his maiden address, acting Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud emphasised that the Force will be working assiduously to regain and build public trust and confidence.

Commissioner Persaud alluded to a number of areas that include the installing of bulletin boards at police stations which will carry pertinent information for the public, inclusive of the names and contact numbers of senior ranks in charge of the station, prisoners’ rights, human rights and crime and traffic statistics, as part of this thrust.

He also reassured of the Force’s commitment to continue working with the Home Affairs Ministry in the implementation of the Force’s Strategic Plan. Some aspects of the plan yet to be implemented include the establishment of a hotline, in collaboration with the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry, to address issues related to suicide.

It is also expected that there will be the reintroduction of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Programme in schools. The officers in attendance also benefited from presentations on current issues, including the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, human rights, healthy lifestyle, non-governmental organisations and collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on domestic violence, gender-based violence and sexual offences, and the National Insurance Scheme and benefits available. The Police Officers’ Annual Conference 2014 concluded with the traditional mess dinner at the Police Officers’ Mess, where 13 officers with an accumulated total of 435 years of service were treated to dinner.

he Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) last week in Jamaica launched the third edition of the Handbook for Disaster Assessment, updating the methodology established by this United Nations’ regional organisation, which has participated in damage evaluation of more than 90 catastrophes in the region since 1972.

The handbook presentation was held in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, and was attended by ECLAC’s Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena, and the organisation’s Director of the Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, Diane Quarless, as well as the Foreign Ministers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Camillo Gonsalves, and St Lucia, Alva Baptiste.

“We are confident that this handbook will prove to be a useful reference tool for policy-makers in a region susceptible to nature’s vicissitudes, given its imperative to recognise this condition

in designing its public policies,” stressed Bárcena.

This handbook reflects and updates the work that ECLAC has done in recent decades to establish a methodology for estimating the economic consequences of a disaster, and thus determine the financing required to rebuild and return the affected area to normal.

Since 1972, when the organisation assessed the consequences of the earthquake that struck Nicaragua that year, ECLAC has taken part in more than 90 estimations of the social, environmental and economic impacts of disasters in 28 countries in the region.

Most of the disasters studied by the commission have climatic or geophysical origins and killed 311,127 people between 1972 and 2001, affected the lives of another 34 million and had a total economic impact of around US$213 billion, at 2000 prices. Of this amount, US$140 billion correspond to damages and US$70 billion to losses.

In 1991, ECLAC

UN body puts forward strategy for development in Caribbean

Summit commits to concrete E actions to turn around ocean health

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summit that brought together more than 600 ocean stakeholders – including 80 ministers from across the world, ocean science experts, business leaders, philanthropists and heads of international organisations – committed to a set of concrete actions responding to the urgency for restoring productive, resilient oceans that drive broadbased blue growth and deliver food security.

A joint initiative of the Government of the Netherlands, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank, the Global Oceans Action Summit for Blue Growth and Food Security found unprecedented convergence around the urgent steps needed to tackle the key threats to the world’s oceans: climate change, overfishing, habitat loss and pollution.

Actions focused specifically on improving governance, enhancing sustainable financing, building partnerships for action and sharing knowledge on successful solution implementation.

The summit called for a stand-alone Sustainable Development Goal on oceans as part of the post-2015 Development Framework; much stronger recognition of the escalating impacts from climate change on oceans and ensuring ocean health is incorporated into the international processes and events

heading towards the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference of parties in Paris; eliminating harmful fisheries subsidies that contribute to overfishing and overcapacity and instead incentivising approaches that improve conservation, build sustainable fisheries and end illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; strengthening the mandate of regional fisheries management organisations and their financing and accelerating ratification of agreed mechanisms for improved fisheries practices, better conservation and less pollution, including the Port State Measures Agreement; investing in small and medium scale fisheries and local communities as vital stewards for blue growth and support to sustainable supply chains; building on existing partnerships like the Global Partnership for Oceans, the Global Island Partnership and 50 in 10 to build global momentum and scale up successes; and sharing of knowledge, experiences and solutions through information and communications technology that can enforce and monitor in real time and connect communities globally.

The chair of the summit, Netherlands Agriculture Minister Sharon Dijksma, said: “This week the world community has shown courage and boldness in The Hague to move ahead and

take action on ocean health and food security. What’s needed now is decisive action from the international community to put solutions into practice.”

FAO Assistant Director General for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Árni M Mathiesen said: “This summit has put an accent on action and the route to navigate on oceans, fisheries management and aquaculture is much clearer than before.”

World Bank representative Valerie Hickey said: “This summit has presented the way forward for a new type of growth – blue growth which is sustainable, equitable and takes the value of the ocean’s ecosystem services into account. Together, we can restore ocean health at the speed and scale necessary to drive broad-based blue growth, secure food security and turn down the heat on climate change. We have the set of actions needed – let’s move on them now.”

More than 10 new commitments for cross-boundary partnering announced at the summit included: Mauritius, the Seychelles and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to start work on a certification scheme for specific fish species in the Indian Ocean.

Rockefeller Foundation and the Netherlands also pledged funding support to WorldFish and FAO to produce a roadmap for the future of fish.

launched the first edition of the handbook for disaster assessment, which details the methodology and experience gained to date. That methodology was adopted by the World Bank in countries outside the region and has been now used in 40 countries on other continents, mainly Africa and Asia.

The commission published the second edition of the document in 2003, helping to transmit this methodology to governments in the region, experts and civil society. The handbook’s third edition, which is being presented now, strengthens procedures for estimating the effects of disasters, for distinguishing between losses and additional costs and systematising the links that exist between different sectors of the economy.

This project had the collaboration of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and was partially funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Development Account Programme.

conomic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena last week put forward a strategy for achieving development with equality in the region, while reducing the risks of economic turmoil or natural phenomena and increasing resilience in the face of such shocks.

Bárcena took part in the Third meeting of the Caribbean Development Round Table, which was held on Wednesday and Thursday in Kingston, Jamaica, where she gave a presentation on “Strategies to Stimulate Growth and Build Resilience Among Caribbean SIDS [Small Island Developing States] “.

According to the senior United Nations official, the region suffers from structural gaps reflected in financing restrictions, growing inequality, insufficient social protection, limited human capital, and low levels of productivity and investment. Furthermore, unemployment remains high, while foreign debt on average is 60 per cent higher than Gross Domestic Product (in countries such as Jamaica, Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis, it is more than 100 per cent).

In this context, the Caribbean faces two major challenges: stimulating growth and reducing the risks and uncertainties resulting from destructive natural phenomena, whose

ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena

effects are aggravated by climate change, and the consequences of such disasters for tourism (which is a key sector in the region) – which in turn increase the volatility of income.

According to the Executive Secretary, there are also risks associated with increased economic openness, which exposes countries to external turmoil and a smaller fiscal space, thereby reducing their capacity to make economic adjustments.

Besides this, most of these countries are considered middle-income countries on the basis of their per capita income, and this is the main criterion used to allocate financial resources of official development aid. This has resulted in a gradual reduction of these flows towards the Caribbean.

ECLAC is, therefore, suggesting that the region’s countries develop industri-

al policies accompanied by fiscal and labour reform to promote equality and development, encourage partnerships between the public and private sectors and establish linkages with other international trade actors to diversify markets and reduce the impact of external shocks.

In addition, the Commission proposes redirecting services so that they target not only the domestic market but also the broader global market, while also strengthening economies of scale by working with other developing small island states and improving coordination between public institutions at the national and regional levels to avoid an overlap of efforts.

The meeting was also attended by the Director of the ECLAC Subregional headquarters for the Caribbean, Diane Quarless; Jamaican Finance and Planning Minister Peter D Phillips; and the Foreign Ministers of Jamaica, Arnold J Nicholson; Guyana, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, Camillo Gonsalves.

In a week packed with meeting with regional officials, Bárcena attended the launch of the Commission’s third Handbook for Disaster Assessment on Thursday in Kingston, and on Friday, she spoke at the 25th session of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), which is a subsidiary body of ECLAC.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, april 28, 2014

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

dilbert

Calvin and Hobbes

Do what you enjoy the most today. Whether you visit a spa or stay at home, you deserve a little relaxation. Fill your calendar with self-indulgences.

(June 21July 22) Develop a partnership with someone you want to work alongside.

Participate in a worthy cause. You are likely to meet someone who can influence your future. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Uncertainty is likely to plague your personal life.

You can improve the situation if you share your thoughts and make suggestions. Don’t let someone ruin your day.

Less talk and more action will help you avoid trouble. Expect uncertainty in the workplace.

Resist the urge to add to your current workload, or you’ll risk blowing your deadline.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Act quickly so that you’ll be able to take advantage of a new opportunity. Get together with a friend for some light entertainment. Romance is highlighted.

Peanuts

SUDOKU

CANCER

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) New endeavours will develop. Increased knowledge and a chance to travel will provide a wider range of possibilities. Accept an invitation that comes your way.

ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Make amends with someone you may have let down or disappointed.

Your emotions will be out of control. Be honest and admit your mistakes.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Your unselfish nature is likely to damage your health if you’re not careful. You must find a way to turn down some of the demands people make, or your stress level will continue to mount.

Be diligent regarding your diet and exercise regimens. You need to stay healthy to keep up with your daily demands. Start saving and check out an affordable investment option.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) People you have helped in the past will be glad to return the favour. Love and romance are in the air. Plan to enjoy a day of togetherness with someone special.

Saturday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) Take your time and don’t be coerced into making a quick decision until you are sure that you have a true picture of the situation. Some valuable information is probably being withheld.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Plan your career path strategically, and push to reach your goals. You will gain support if you share your enthusiasm with a group of productive individuals.

monday, April 28, 2014

19

Kanhai’s clutch-free throws down All-stars

Jermaine Slater rises for a jumper during his glass- eating, rebounding performance (Treiston Joseph photos)

By Treiston Joseph

1

4.2 seconds remained as Kanhai walked to the free throw line with the Ravens down by one point, while telling his teammate Dominic Vincente “I’ll make em.”

Two swished free throws later, Ravens were able to hold the all-star team from scoring to come out with a 59-58 thrilling victory over the star-studded all-star lineup on Saturday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The game started with the All-star team going to the post for an easy deuce as Neil Marks got his jumper flowing early with back-toback jumpers, while Shane Webster was on the receiving end of some nice passes from Travis Burnett to put the All-star team up 9-2.

The Ravens started to slow the game down, utilizing their quick perimeter passing before making entry passes for some easy scores as the Ravens took over the lead to end the first quarter 19-11.

The second half began with the Ravens opening the lead as they crashed the glass effectively, while holding the All-star slashing guards from penetrating the lanes picking up the loose balls for easy scores as the first half ended 31-27.

However, the third quarter saw the All-star team penetrating the 3-2 defence of the Ravens to get to the line for two shots or for three points that brought the deficit down to three, as the third quarter ended 48-45 in favour of the Ravens who continued to hold the lead since the first quarter.

Webster then received a pass from Burnett on the resumption of the fourth that resulted in a three- point play that tied the game on 48.

The Allstars then took the lead for the first time since the opening minutes

Akeem Kanhai goes hard to the rim

off a Webster lay- in before Ryan Stephney answered with a lay- in of his own to tie the game again on 50.

The game continued back and forth between the two top teams before Stephon Gillis hit a dagger of a three- pointer for the

All-stars to put them up 5856 with 40.2s remaining in the game.

Kanhai would then hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to one before the Allstars had the perfect opportunity to close out the game, as Shelroy Thomas

would miss two free throws with 18s remaining that would have given the Allstars a three- point lead.

However the Ravens would get up the court before Kanhai was fouled with 14.2s remaining in the game, which resulted in the winning free throws from Kanhai.

Kanhai would finish with a game- high 16 points and nine rebounds, while Ryan Stephney ended with 11 points. Vincente added nine points, while Jermaine Slater was his usual glass eating self with 12 boards and six points.

Webster finished with a team- high 11, while his Allstars team-mates Dwayne Roberts, Gillis, Burnett, and Thomas were quiet from the floor with eight, eight, six and six points respectively.

Meanwhile, before the main game basketball fans were forced to sit through three games, all of which were affected by power outages , which caused a lull in the atmosphere.

Further, the Sports Hall, which is called a state –ofthe art facility, has a new generator that is not working.

In the pregame match- ups, the senior females topped the junior females 44-38, the Plasiance Guardians defeated the Panthers 23-21, while Pepsi Sonics dropped the Republic Bank Nets 46-30.

Bakewell renews sponsorship of RHTY&SC teams

G

uyana’s largest bakery, Bakewell, on Thursday last renewed its sponsorship of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Under-17 and second division teams for the 15th successive year.

The sponsorship, worth $220,000, would cover the two teams’ participation in Berbice Cricket Board tournaments in 2014.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC, Hilbert Foster, at the presentation stated that Bakewell has been an official sponsor of the club since 2000 and has played a major role in its development into Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation.

The second division team has won four titles and the Under-17 team three titles under

the Bakewell sponsorship. The Bakewell sponsorship has also played a major role in the development of players such as Esaun and Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Dominic Rikhi, Jason Sinclair, Khemraj Mahadeo, Akshay Homraj, Eon Hooper, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Clinton Pestano, Murphy La Rose, Shevon Marks, Plaffina Millington and Shailendra Shameer among dozens of others.

Bakewell, Foster stated, should be proud of the role it has played in the development of Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Shemaine Cambelle and Erva Giddings, who have all played for the West Indies.

The veteran cricket administrator disclosed that as the RHTY&SC prepares to celebrate

its silver anniversary in 2015, it has started to restructure its cricket sections under the supervision of cricket manager Moonish Singh and cricket coach Winston Smith.

Special emphasis is being placed on the development of new talent at the junior level and to make sure that they fully understand the club’s formula for success: discipline, commitment, faith in God and hardwork.

Foster informed Bakewell that the Under-17 team, earlier in the week, had reached the finals of the BCB Under-17 tournament, while the second division team has started to play in the 2014 NBS tournament.

The Under-17 team is being led by Brandon Prasad with

Berbice Under-15 captain Kelvon Anderson as his deputy, while former national junior cricketer Shailendra Shameer is the captain of the Bakewell second division with Prasad as the vice-captain.

Cricket manager of the RHTY&SC, Moonish Singh, assured Bakewell that every member of the two teams were grateful for its support and has committed themselves to representing the company’s brand with pride and passion in 2014.

Singh stated that while the Under-17 team is confident of maintaining its dominance at that level, the management of the RHTY&SC has decided that the second division team would be used to blood the younger players to a higher level of the game in an

effort to develop their talent.

General Manger of Bakewell, Rajin Ganga, expressed his company’s pleasure to be associated with the RHTY&SC as it is without doubt, the most dynamic and productive youth and sports club in Guyana.

Bakewell, Ganga stated, was satisfied with the club’s representation of its brand and noted that the company would continue to support the RHTY&SC in the future. Ganga also handed over $40,000 worth of trophies for the club’s 24th annual awards ceremony scheduled for May 18.

The company also co-sponsors the RHTY&SC annual review magazine, cricket academy, proeducation campaign and massive Christmas charity programme.

20

guyanatimesGY.com

monday, april 28, 2014

retains Obama denounces reported comments Klitschko WBO crown with

by NBA team owner as ‘racist’ Leapai knockout

P

resident Barack Obama said on Sunday that comments reported to have been made by the owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers basketball team were “incredibly offensive racist statements.”

The NBA is investigating an audio recording posted online of Clippers owner Donald Sterling allegedly telling his girlfriend not to post photographs of herself with black people and not to bring African-Americans to Clippers games, league officials said on Saturday.

“When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk,” Obama said when asked about the controversy during a news conference in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian Prime

Donald Sterling

Minister Najib Razak.

Obama said he was confident NBA Commissioner Adam Silver would deal with the issue.

“Obviously the NBA is a league that is beloved by fans across the country,” Obama, America’s first

black president, said. “It’s got an awful lot of African American players steeped in African American culture.”

He said the controversy was also an example of how the United States continues to wrestle with the legacy of race, and he likened that struggle to Malaysia’s effort to foster a harmonious multi-ethnic society.

Celebrity news site TMZ. com published the 10-minute recording on its website late on Friday, describing it as a taped conversation between the billionaire Sterling and a model who goes by the name V Stiviano.

“The audio recording posted by TMZ is truly offensive and disturbing, and we intend to get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible,” Silver said on Saturday night.

The recording was sharp-

ly criticized by civil rights leaders, fans and players. It was not immediately clear when and how the conversation was recorded.

Silver said the league would move swiftly to determine the authenticity of the recording and its context.

Clippers President Andy Roeser issued a statement saying they have listened to the tape on TMZ. “We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered. We do know that the woman on the tape - who we believe released it to TMZ - is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family,” the statement said.

“Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings.”

Maria Sharapova beats Ana Ivanovic, wins third Stuttgart title

S

ixth seed Maria Sharapova battled back to beat Ana Ivanovic in three sets and win her third consecutive Porsche Tennis Grand Prix title in Stuttgart.

The Russian, 27, won 3-6 6-4 6-1 to claim her 30th career title and improve her record in Stuttgart to 13-0.

Ninth seed Ivanovic, 26, powered 5-0 ahead on her way to leading by a set and a break, but Sharapova hit back with 11 of the last 13 games.

“That was a tough bit of work,” said the four-time Grand Slam champion.

“For the first half of the match I thought it might not be my day today, but somehow I turned it around.

“I had quite a slow beginning to the year, but me and

Maria Sharapova

my team have been working hard to get in the position to win titles again, and I’m so happy to be able to do it here.”

Ivanovic had lost seven of her previous nine matches

against against Sharapova, including the last six in a row - the last three of which were on clay - but the Serb came out swinging freely.

The 2008 French Open champion’s forehand dom-

inated the opening stages of the final and she was on course for a love-set, but there were signs of nerves creeping in as she failed to serve it out.

Sharapova could not save the opening set and at 3-1 down in the second was in real danger of a first defeat in Stuttgart.

However, the 2012 French Open winner began to target her opponent’s backhand and the momentum shifted dramatically as Sharapova raced to the finish line.

“She’s just a great player, and that’s what happens when you play against great players in big matches like this,” said Ivanovic.

“You need to use your opportunities. But there’s always next time.” (BBC Sport)

World heavyweight boxing champion,Vladimir Klitschko,lands a punch on Australian challenger Alex Leapai (left),during their WBO heavyweight title fight in Oberhausen, April 26

W

orld heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko easily retained his WBO crown when he knocked out Alex Leapai of Australia in the fifth round on Saturday in an overwhelmingly one-sided bout.

The 38-year-old Klitschko, who holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO crowns, has now been unbeaten for 10 years with his most recent defeat back in April 2004 against Lamon Brewster.

Klitschko, with his brother Vitaly - the former WBC champion and a politician in his home country in his corner, knocked down his opponent after a few seconds in the first round, a big left-right combination sending the 34-year-old Leapai sprawling.

The Ukrainian, whose record now stands at 62 wins with 52 knockouts and three defeats, then pummeled the hapless Australian in round five, knocking him down once again before a clean knockout with less than a minute left in the round.

“Alex Leapai, I know it was not easy for you but you were up against the best

fighter in the world and it was hard,” Klitschko said in a ringside interview.

“Despite my 38 years I felt superb. I was in top form tonight in the ring.”

Klitschko also had a special mention for his home nation, saying his preparation for the fight was not easy due to the political crisis back home with neighboring Russia.

“I trained long and hard but it was not easy. My mind was back in Ukraine and what is happening there.

Politicians must find a compromise and it should not come to a war. Ukraine will not be split up and (must) remain united.”

Leapai, who got a shot at the world title after his stunning win over Russian Denis Boytsov in November last year, never got much chance to fight, with the 15-centimetre taller Klitschko tormenting him with his jab and longer reach.

“I tried to go inside and avoid the jab but it did not work. It’s like that when you fight the champion,” Leapai said. “Now it’s back to the gym. This is not the end of the road and I will come back.” (Reuters)

Chennai leave it late, but win again

I

t seemed at the halfway point that Chennai Super Kings would face a challenging chase. Two big overs at the death had propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad to 145 on a slow Sharjah pitch, which had seemed difficult to play big shots on.

Sunrisers had gone into the match with five specialist bowlers, each different from the other, all of them capable of exploiting the conditions.

But as early as the first over of Super Kings’ innings, delivered by Dale Steyn, something seemed to have changed. Dwayne Smith only took six runs off it, but he middled every ball, despite Steyn delivering most of them with a scram-

bled seam.

After a close shave in the next over, off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, when the ball narrowly missed the top of middle stump after hitting his inside edge, Smith continued timing the ball beautifully, raced away to a 46-ball 66, and put on 85 for the first wicket with Brendon McCullum, who was hitting it just as crisply. Dew had come into play, and the ball was coming nicely on to the bat.

When Super Kings lost Suresh Raina, they had eight wickets in hand and 36 balls in which to get 32 runs against a Sunrisers attack that was reaching for the towel stuck in the umpire’s waistband with increasing frequency. The chase

seemed well in control.

Just then, when everything was stacked against them, Sunrisers came back into the game. Suresh Raina mistimed a big hit off Ishant Sharma, turning a poor over into a reasonable one.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar took two wickets in one over, including a lucky break when Smith hit a full-toss straight to long-off. Steyn bowled a superb last over, giving away just four, and Bhuvneshwar followed it up by giving away just five in the next one.

Ishant Sharma, who had gone for 33 in his first three overs, got his leg-cutter to work all of a sudden, bowling Ravindra Jadeja off his pads and beating Mithun

Manhas twice in two balls.

Four runs off that over left Super Kings needing six off the last over.

Sunrisers hadn’t used anyone apart from their five specialist bowlers, and they stuck with that plan, handing Amit Mishra the task of bowling the last over.

Only two runs came off the first two balls, but the dew, the pressure of defending four off four balls, and the fact that MS Dhoni was on strike came together for a high full-toss to slip out of Mishra’s fingers. Dhoni swatted it away to the midwicket boundary, and a result that had seemed a formality five overs earlier had now belatedly come to pass.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Hyderabad T20 innings (20 overs maximum) AJ Finch b Sharma 44 S Dhawan* c Manhas b Hilfenhaus 7 DA Warner lbw b Hilfenhaus 0 KL Rahul† c Pandey b Smith 25 Y Venugopal Rao c Smith b Sharma 13 DJG Sammy not out 23 KV Sharma not out 17 Extras: (b 5, lb 8, w 3) 16 Total: (5 wickets; 20 overs) 145 Did not bat: DW Steyn, A Mishra, B Kumar, I Sharma Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Dhawan, 2.2 ov), 2-15 (Warner, 2.4 ov), 3-67 (Rahul, 10.3 ov), 4-98 (Venugopal Rao, 14.6 ov), 5-109 (Finch, 17.2 ov) Bowling: BW Hilfenhaus 4-0-32-2, IC Pandey 3-022-0, MM Sharma 4-0-272, R Ashwin 4-0-17-0, RA Jadeja DR Smith 2-0-11-1

Chennai T20 innings (target: 146 runs from 20 overs) DR Smith c Warner b Kumar 66 BB McCullum b KV Sharma 40 SK Raina c Venugopal Rao b I Sharma 14 MS Dhoni*† not out 13 F du Plessis c †Rahul b Kumar 0 RA Jadeja b I Sharma 6 M Manhas not out 3 Extras: (lb 4) 4 Total: (5 wickets; 19.3 overs) 146 Did not bat: R Ashwin, BW Hilfenhaus, IC Pandey, MM Sharma Fall of wickets: 1-85 (McCullum, 10.5 ov), 2-114 (Raina, 13.6 ov), 3-126 (Smith, 15.3 ov), 4-127 (du Plessis, 15.5 ov), 5-138 (Jadeja, 18.3 ov) Bowling: DW Steyn 4-0-20-0, B Kumar 4-0-23-2, KV Sharma 4-0-35-1, A Mishra 3.3-027-0, I Sharma 4-0-37-2

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Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians, IPL 2014

monday, april 28, 2014

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Daredevils keep Mumbai winless

M

umbai Indians have John Wright as their head coach, Anil Kumble as their team mentor, Jonty Rhodes as fielding coach, Sachin Tendulkar as an ‘icon’ and Robin Singh as assistant coach. Ricky Ponting was added to that list of illustrious names today, joining as an advisor.

The expansion of the brains trust didn’t result in a change in fortunes, as Mumbai went down for their fourth defeat in a row after their batting misfired yet again.

Delhi Daredevils may not have any superstar in their bowling ranks, but they combined to stifle Mumbai on a slow surface in Sharjah.

Mumbai scores so far in this tournament have been 122 for 7, 115 for 9 and 141 for 7.

To that sorry list, they added 125 for 6 today, again giving their bowlers too little to work with.

Things didn’t go according to plan right from the start for Mumbai. The plan to push Rohit Sharma to the top of the order in place of the struggling Michael Hussey didn’t work as Rohit was run-out by a Mohammed Shami direct hit in the second over. The ploy to have allrounder Corey Anderson at No. 3 seemed to be working a touch better as he hit two muscular boundaries, before finding man in the deep. Aditya Tare had already done the same.

Ambati Rayudu, an influential member for Mumbai in recent seasons, couldn’t make an impact this time, poking around for a 21-ball 14. Perhaps the biggest surprise in the Mumbai batting has been the absent form of the ultra-consistent Michael Hussey, who had another forgettable outing before being undone by a slower yorker from Jaydev Unadkat.

Perhaps the time has come to drop Hussey.

CM Gautam played sweeps and reverse-sweeps to make an enterprising 18-ball

M Vijay’s 40 guided the chase (BCCI photo)

22 and Kieron Pollard overcame a slow start to unleash a couple of monster sixes and lift Mumbai’s run-rate above

six.

Daredevils’ spinners have been one of their weaknesses this season, but Shahbaz Nadeem and JP Duminy proved hard to get away on the sluggish pitch where the ball didn’t come on to the bat.

The lack of pace worked for medium-pacer Laxmi Shukla as well, and he troubled Pollard in particular.

Daredevils have a formidable top five, and the target of 126 was never going to be a problem unless there were plenty of early wickets. The openers, Quinton de Kock and M Vijay, provided a steady start with Vijay going on to top score with 40. Hussey took a stunner at point to dismiss de Kock, Lasith Malinga got rid of the in-form JP Duminy, and though there were a few anxious moments for Daredevils, Mumbai never really looked like posing a serious challenge. It gave Daredevils their second win in five matches so far. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Mumbai T20 innings (20 overs maximum) RG Sharma* run out (Mohammed Shami) 4 AP Tare c de Kock b Parnell 8 CJ Anderson c de Kock b Unadkat 13 AT Rayudu c Shukla b Nadeem 14 MEK Hussey b Unadkat 10 KA Pollard not out 33 CM Gautam† run out (Nadeem/ Mohammed Shami) 22 Harbhajan Singh retired hurt 10 Z Khan not out 0 Extras: (lb 6, w 4, nb 1) 11 Total: (6 wickets; 20 overs) 125 Did not bat: PP Ojha, SL Malinga Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Sharma, 1.4 ov), 2-17 (Tare, 3.2 ov), 3-39 (Anderson, 6.4 ov), 4-46 (Rayudu, 8.6 ov), 5-63 (Hussey, 13.5 ov), 6-103 (Gautam, 18.4 ov), 6-124* (Harbhajan Singh, retired not out) Bowling: S Nadeem 4-0-191, Mohammed Shami 4-0-360, JP Duminy 3-0-13-0, WD

Parnell 4-0-17-1, JD Unadkat 4-0-29-2, LR Shukla 1-0-5-0 Delhi T20 innings (target: 126 runs from 20 overs) Q de Kock c Hussey b Anderson 16 M Vijay b Sharma 40 JP Duminy c sub (AV Wankhade) b Malinga 19 KP Pietersen* not out 26 KD Karthik† c Rayudu b Malinga 2 KM Jadhav not out 14 Extras: (lb 2, w 2, pen 5) 9 Total: (4 wickets; 18.5 overs) 126 Did not bat: LR Shukla, WD Parnell, S Nadeem, Mohammed Shami, JD Unadkat Fall of wickets: 1-34 (de Kock, 6.5 ov), 2-79 (Vijay, 12.2 ov), 3-103 (Duminy, 15.2 ov), 4-105 (Karthik, 15.5 ov) Bowling: SL Malinga 4-0-172, PP Ojha 4-0-26-0, Z Khan 2.5-0-17-0, Harbhajan Singh 4-1-23-0, CJ Anderson 2-016-1, RG Sharma 2-0-20-1

Clippers stage silent protest to owner

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he Los Angeles Clippers chose not to speak publicly about owner Donald Sterling. Instead, they made a silent protest.

In response to Sterling’s purported comments urging a woman to not bring black people to his team’s games, the Clippers on Sunday let their uniforms become a show of solidarity.

They ran out of the tunnel for Game 4 of their firstround playoff at Golden State wearing their warmups.

Then they huddled at center court and tossed their warmups to the ground, going through their pregame routine with their red Clippers’ shirts inside out to hide the team’s logo.

Players also wore black wristbands or armbands.

They all wore black socks with their normal jerseys. ‘’It’s just us, only us. We’re all we got,’’ Clippers star guard Chris Paul could be heard shouting to teammates before they ran out.

The Warriors’ sellout crowd of 19,596, decked out in gold shirts, booed the Clippers

- as they always do - during introductions.

Sterling’s wife, Shelly, was sitting courtside across from the Clippers’ bench.

Commissioner Adam Silver had said Donald Sterling would not be at the game.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said before the game that he would remain the only one to speak for the team on this, saying players want to remain focused on basketball.

Even he, though, acknowledged that has not been easy since TMZ released the alleged recording of Sterling on Saturday. ‘’Our message is to play,’’ Rivers said. ‘’Our message is that we’re going to let no one and nothing stop us from what we want to do. And I think that’s a good message.

I really do. I think that’s the message we’re trying to send.

And if we can pull this off all the way, I think that would be a terrific message.’’

While the Clippers wanted to let their play do the talking, other NBA players continued to speak out on the subject.

Some talked about the

hurt Sterling’s alleged words caused. Others urged Silver to take an aggressive stance against Sterling, who has a history of alleged discrimination. Most of them hoped Sterling would be removed as the team’s owner someday soon. ‘’We’re more than basketball players,’’ Wizards guard Garrett Temple said. ‘’We’re human beings, first and foremost, and when you hear something like that, it’s very unfortunate that whoever that is talking feels that way, and I don’t think there’s any place in this game or in the world, for that matter, for thoughts like that.’’

Miami Heat star LeBron James said Silver needed to take action, going so far as to suggest ‘’there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league.’’ Lakers star Kobe Bryant wrote on his Twitter page that he couldn’t play for Sterling. Warriors coach Mark Jackson, who played for the Clippers from 1992-94, said he could forgive Sterling but couldn’t play for him right now, either.(Yahoo! Sports)

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guyanatimesGY.com

monday, april 28, 2014

‘Vivid examples of Excellence’ speaks volumes for their levels of fitness and their stamina. Surely,such a feat could have been made possible only through high levels of discipline,including arduous training and intense physical conditioning.

Despite their punishing schedule,the youngsters rose to the occasion,winning some 11 trophies . Their performances are all the more remarkable,when one considers that many of them are

By Anthony Layne

G

eorge F Will, popular columnist for Times magazine,once wrote: “Sports serve society by providing vivid examples of excellence.”

Guyana’s two young female athletes ,Cassey George and Kadecia Baird ,did make themselves “vivid examples of excellence”

Flashback! Several of the players who did themselves and Guyana proud at the recent Easter Int’l badminton tourney in Suriname pose with their trophies and other prizes at the Waler Amo Sports Hall, Paramaribo, Suriname

Cassey George

for the Guyanese nation through their stellar performances at the recently concluded Junior Carifta Games in Martinique.

So too did the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) team,which participated in the just concluded annual Easter

International tourney in Suriname.

First,the Carifta Games in Martinique,where middle-distance runner,Cassey George, excelled,winning gold medals in the 1500 and 3000-metre events.

Kadecia Baird, the 17-year-old US-based Guyanese,deserves honourable mention as well.

Kadecia won gold in the 400 metres and according to reports,barely missed gold in the 200 metres when she tripped and fell at the finish line.

In the light of these sterling performances,it is indeed heartening to hear Minister of Sport, Dr Frank Anthony,acknowledge that more needs to be done for our athletes and that to get to the next level,professional coaching is an imperative. Dr Anthony’s revelation that a Cuban athletics coach will soon be here to work with our athletes is ample testimony that he is prepared to “walk the talk”.

If these stellar performances prove anything,it is that Guyanese athletes –the

locally based ones in particular – are capable of more than just holding their own against foreign competition.

This,in spite of the constraints they face.

As regards the badminton players,they too excelled, but against odds,according to manager/coach of the team, Gokarn Ramdhani.

These players,some younger than age 15,competed in the higher age-group events with several of them playing as many as five games each on the final day. This

Kadecia Baird

attending school and therefore face the formidable challenge of balancing their schooling against what must be a rigid training programme. Their parents no doubt play major roles in this regard and must therefore be given credit.

Additionally, Mr Ramdhani felt suffi-

ciently proud- and justifiably so- to boast that for the last seven consecutive years,local badminton teams have “medalled” at every international tournament in which they have participated.

These include the Pan American and Caribbean championships, the South American Youth Games and of course the recently concluded Easter International championships in Suriname.

It is very encouraging that the highly commendable performances of local badminton teams in the international arena over the last several years, do not seem to have induced complacency as far as further development of the game is concerned. As was reported elsewhere,President of the GBA,Gokarn Ramdhani, expressed dissatisfaction over the quality and number of badminton halls in the country and declared his intention to continue making efforts for the association to acquire its own hall. Significantly too,Mr. Ramdhani reportedly mentioned that efforts are already under way to make the sport less urban based by taking it to outlying areas. This of course is a commendable initiative and one that will ensure further development and survival of the sport.

Female sprint team cops J’can boy captures regional golf title 4X100m in World-leading 42.81

J

amaica’s junior contingent to the recently concluded Caribbean Junior Golf Open made the island proud.

Most outstanding of them all is Justin Burrowes, who took the first-place title in the boys’ 11-13 category with rounds of 73, 80 and 87. Burrowes also has the distinction of earning the low gross score (73) in his group. His teammate, Jack Stein, finished third in the same division with scores of

87, 91 and 79.

In the girls’ 14-15 category, Kei Harris finished third with 87, 91 and 79.

Her final score (79) was the low gross of the week in the girls’ 14-15 division. Harris was awarded the sportsmanship award for the tournament.

The event was held in Trinidad & Tobago and saw juniors from various Caribbean islands competing in three age categories.

Justin Burrowes

(Jamaica Observer)

WIPA, WICB awards set for Jamaica, June 8 (From left) jamaica’s carrie Russell,Kerron Stewart Anneisha McLaughlin and Tricia Hawthorne wave to the crowd while holding their watches after winning the women’s 4x100m in a world-leading 42.81 seconds on Saturday,the final day of the 120th Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.(Photo/Collin Reid,courtesy VMBS &Team Jamaica Bickle)

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he Jamaican female sprint relay team sent a strong message that they will be hard to beat at next month’s inaugural IAAF World Relay Championships in The Bahamas after retaining the event in a World-leading 42.81 seconds on yesterday’s final day of the 120th Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

In a repeat of last year, this was the solitary win for the Jamaicans as they managed two second-place finishes, a third and a fourth

place in their other events, despite a large and loud Jamaican contingent in the stands.

With two members of the team that won gold at last year’s IAAF World Championships on the first two legs, Carrie Russell and Kerron Stewart, the Jamaican team outclassed the small field with the United States taking second, well back in 43.15 seconds with Trinidad and Tobago third in 43.35 seconds and Brazil fourth in 43.77 seconds.

Anneisha McLaughlin ran the third leg, while Trisha-Ann Hawthorne ran the anchor leg holding off the USA’s LaKeisha Lawson to send the pack grandstand here into wild celebrations.

The men’s team that included veteran Michael Frater on his customary second leg failed to replicate the success of the females as they were beaten on the line by 100th of a second by the USA team 38.57 seconds to 38.58 seconds, the two fastest times of the year so far.

(Jamaica Observer)

F

or the second year running, the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) will partner in the hosting of the annual player awards ceremony to acknowledge the top performing cricketers in the region for the year 2013.

There will be approximately 14 awards, to include the top male and female cricketers of the year, sectional prizes, and the WIPA and WICB will each offer a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, June 5, at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston.

WIPA President and CEO Wavell Hinds has said of the partnership: “These awards have always been in existence for 11 years and to have the WICB on board again for the second year shows how dedicated both parties are to the best interest of cricket in the West Indies. The region is being encouraged to partner also, as cricket is rebounding and we ought to be able to have the support of the region.”

In agreeing that the joint awards ceremony works, WICB CEO Michael Muirhead thinks the two organisations have one thing in common -- its players.

“Any efforts to collabo-

rate for the players are worthy of support and we look forward to have our players perform on top of the world in all formats of the game.”

PJ Patterson, former Jamaican prime minister, who now chairs the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket committee, will give the keynote address.

The event precedes the June 8 start of the first Test between New Zealand and the West Indies, scheduled for Sabina Park. It is also the 100th Test for West Indies opener Christopher Gayle.

The event will cost US$200 per ticket.

monday, april 28, 2014

guyanatimesGY.com

Gizmos and Gadgets pumps funds into RHTY&SC Y

23

YBG hosts elite junior programme

S

ponsorship for sports in Guyana is difficult to obtain and maintain, but the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) continues to attract support from the business sector.

Popular Georgetownbased company, Gizmos and Gadgets, on Thursday last renewed its cricket sponsorship of the RHTY&SC firstdivision team for 2014 at the cost of $275,000. The company also donated trophies and electronic gadgets valued $100,000 for the club’s 24th annual awards ceremony.

Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, expressed gratitude to the company for its investment in one of the leading first-division teams in Guyana. The RHTG&G, along with its long-time rival Albion, has been dominating at the first division level in the Ancient County over the last decades and has some of the country’s leading cricketers.

Players in the team in-

clude West Indies Test batsman Assad Fudadin, West Indies ODI player Royston Crandon, national player Rajiv Ivan, former national player Delbert Hicks, national Under-19 captain Shawn Pereira and West Indies female cricketer Shemaine Campbelle.

Foster stated that with Gizmos and Gadgets support, the RHTY&SC was able to concentrate fully on playing cricket without worrying about the financial cost.

The RHTG&G team, as it has done in the past, continued to dominate Berbice cricket and in the last six months won the Busta Champion of Champions 50-over and NAMILCO/ Bakewell 20/20 tournaments.

Under Gizmos and Gadgets sponsorship, the team has won eight major championships and has produced numerous players for Berbice and Guyana at all levels, and Assad

Fudadin, Royston Crandon and Shemaine Campbelle for the West Indies. Foster also expressed gratitude to the company for supporting the award ceremony as the RHTY&SC strongly believes in rewarding its heroes, who perform beyond the call of duty.

Office manager and head of the RHTY&SC Cricket Development Committee, Moonish Singh, disclosed that Royston Crandon would lead the team in 2014, with Shawn Pereira as his deputy. Winston Smith is the coach, while Hilbert Foster would continue to serve as the manager.

Singh stated that with the pool of dedicated players that the RHTY&SC have, the aim is to dominate for the rest of the 2014 Berbice season and special emphasis would be placed on developing promising talent for the future.

Marketing Manager of Gizmos and Gadgets, Divya Sieudarsan, stated

that her General Manager, Ravi Mangar, was pleased to sponsor the team and was very impressed with its achievements under the sponsorship.

The team, she noted, has promoted the company’s brand with passion and success, and as such, it had no problem with renewing the sponsorship. She wished the team more success in the future and expressed confidence that the RHTY&SC would continue to uphold the high standards it has set itself.

Sieudarsan also congratulated the awardees of the club, who will be honoured at the 24th annual awards ceremony, scheduled for May 18.

The RHTY&SC player of the year will receive a package of $500,000, including $200,000 cash, a return ticket to the USA, designer clothing, cosmetic hampers, cell phones and electronic gadgets among other prizes.

Two golds for T&T in Carifta chess

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rinidad and Tobago secured gold medals through Shannon Yearwood and Sean Yearwood at the recent Carifta Junior Chess Championships, which took place in Martinique.

Yearwood, a former Under-12 national champion and student of St Joseph’s Convent Port of Spain, showed her talent as she captured gold in the Under-16 girls category.

Her teammate Della-Marie Walcott was fourth and Sadiqah Razark, fifth.

In the Under-12 Open category, Sean Yearwood, a Trinity Junior student, got the team’s second gold. Yearwood’s teammates Matthew Inkim and Christain Mack were fourth and sixth respectively.

In other results, Isaiah Mc Intosh eventually placed fouth in the Under-16 Open category following a tie break after finishing joint second. Mc Intosh had

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W

indward Islands, replying to Jamaica’s first innings of 392, were 113 without loss at the close on the second day of the Regional Four-Day final for the Headley/Weekes Trophy at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium in St Lucia on Sunday.

had a chance to claim the top spot but lost to Allon Richards, of Barbados in the last round.

T&T were the inaugural hosts of the championships in 2012. Last year it was hosted by Jamaica and

in 2015 it is expected to be hosted in Barbados. (Trinidad Express)

on top the medals table and the points standings, to take top honours at the championships.

Overall, the Bahamians finished with 55 medals comprising 23 gold, 22 silver and 10 bronze. That performance enabled them to rack up 736.5 points, ahead of

hosts Aruba with 618 points and Guadeloupe with 540.

Martinique were fourth with 474 points with Trinidad and Tobago fifth with 446 and Barbados sixth with 437.5.

Aruba, meanwhile, collected 51 medals comprising 16 gold, 16 silver and

19 bronze and Trinidad and Tobago, despite finishing down the points standings, picked up 16 gold, 11 silver and seven bronze to end with 34 medals overall.

Barbados finished the meet with 31 medals comprising 10 gold, 14 silver and seven bronze. (Jamaica Gleaner)\

Scores: Jamaica – 392 all out (Jermaine Blackwood 94, Nkrumah Bonner 88, Nikita Miller 64 not out, Andre McCarthy 62; Kenroy Peters 3-59, Mervin Matthew 3-68, Shane Shillingford 2-55) Windwards – 113 without loss (Devon Smith 66 not out, Tyrone Theophile 44 not out)

Chelsea dent Liverpool title hopes

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Under-16 gold medal winner Shannon Yearwood of Trinidad &Tobago with bronze medallist Rachel Miller of Jamaica,right,and silver medallist Karen Cepisul of Martinique

East Coast were a apart of the tournament that brought together up to 36 students from around the country.

Lugard Mohan, former national player was coach during the programme and instilled the fundamentals of the game to the players that will help them become better players and students.

The programme was organized and sponsored by the YBG as they look to turn the game of basketball into a tool of teaching.

Four-Day Final: Jamaica 392, Windwards 113-0 at close on day two

helsea blew open the race for the Premier League title by ending leaders Liverpool’s 11game winning streak with a deserved victory at Anfield.

Demba Ba gave the Blues the lead at the end of the first half after Steven Gerrard’s slip and Willian capped the win with a breakaway goal in stoppage time.

The result ends Liverpool’s 16-match unbeaten streak that had seen them march to the top of the table and means the title is no longer in their control.

32 medals for Jamaica at Carifta swimming c’ships

amaica pocketed 32 medals - six gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze at the Carifta Swimming Championships, which ended in Aruba on Friday night.

Overall, Jamaica were seventh in the points standings with 403 points.

The Bahamas finished

outh Basketball Guyana (YBG) have mobilized some of their best junior athletes over the weekend in an intense training programme being dubbed the junior elite programme, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The programmes was aimed at helping those exceptional students to advance their game and basketball prowess.

Players from Georgetown, Linden, Kwakwani, Berbice and the

Manchester City can draw level with them if they win their game in hand, while Chelsea are two points behind, within touching distance should Brendan Rodgers’ side slip up again.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho had threatened to field a weakened team at Anfield ahead of his side’s Champions League semi-final second leg with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday but, helped by a disjointed Liverpool display, he produced another tactical masterclass to earn the points.

(BBC Sport)

Man City down Crystal palace 2-0

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anchester City beat Crystal Palace to capitalise on Liverpool’s defeat by Chelsea and move within three points of the Premier League leaders.

Yaya Toure crossed for Edin Dzeko to head City into an early lead before the Ivorian curled a second from 15 yards.

Jason Puncheon came closest for Palace but his low shot was saved by Joe Hart.

Third-placed City have a game in hand over both Liverpool and second-placed Chelsea as well as a superior goal difference.

To earn the victory that once again placed the destiny of the title in their own

hands, Manuel Pellegrini’s side were indebted to Toure, who was restored to the team after missing the last two matches with a muscle injury.

The former Barcelona midfielder was allowed too much time on the edge of the area and his clipped cross was met by Dzeko’s powerful header for the Bosnian’s fifth goal in his last eight games and his 24th of the season.

Palace had won their previous five games, a run that began with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea. The 1-0 defeat of West Ham United in their previous fixture guaranteed Premier League survival for the Eagles. (BBC Sport)

monday, April 28, 2014

TOP SCORES

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

IPL T20: Sunrisers 145/5, Chennai Super Kings 146/5; Mumbai Indians 125/6, Delhi Daredevils 126/4. Football,English Premier league: Chelsea 2, Liverpool 0

Kanhai’s clutch-free throws down All-stars See story on page

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Ryan Stephney rises for a tough jumper during his 11- point performance (Treiston Joseph photo)

Gizmos and Gadgets pumps funds into RHTY&SC See story on page

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Marketing Manager of Gizmos and Gadgets, Divya Sieudarsan, hands over the cheque to Club secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster

Chennai leave it late, but win again

Bakewell renews sponsorship of RHTY&SC teams See story on page

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General Manger of Bakewell, Rajin Ganga (right), presents his company’s sponsorship package to Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC, Hilbert Foster

Dwayne Smith signals his half-century (BCCI photo)

t seemed at the halfway point that Chennai Super Kings would face a challenging chase.

Two big overs at the death had propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad to 145 on a slow Sharjah pitch, which had seemed difficult to play big shots on. Sunrisers had gone into the match with five specialist bowlers, each different from the other, all of them capable of exploiting the conditions.

But as early as the first over of Super Kings’ innings, delivered by Dale Steyn, something seemed to have changed. see full story on page 20

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