Guyana Times Daily

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Govt not ruling out privatising GuySuCo P7 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 1831

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

PRICE

Ramson sworn in as commissioner of information See story on page 2

$60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Bandits P7 escape with $3M from Akbar’s Auto Sales Granger wants status update on unnatural P10 deaths Gunmen P10 invade Queenstown dental clinic

Former Attorney General Charles Ramson takes the oath as commissioner of information before President Donald Ramotar as Guyana seeks to bring into effect its access to information legislation

Albion P10 workers restive over Skeldon ‘intrusion’

ASL plane crash lands at Matthews Ridge

Safety fears surface P11 over sale of roadside prepackaged fruits

Man killed, Agriculture Ministry moves bandit shot to resuscitate in Guyhoc Tapakuma Park robbery cassava industry

Speaker receives P13 first volume of Burnham's speeches

– eight hospitalised; bad weather blamed

See story on page 3

See story on page 12

See story on page 13

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramson sworn in as commissioner of information

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ormer Attorney General, Justice Charles Ramson was sworn in as commissioner of information at the Office of the President on Monday.

Ramson took his oath before President Donald Ramotar, protocol officials and a gathering of media operatives. The former appellate court judge signed the contract signalling the beginning of his tenure and pledging to execute his functions without fear or favour and to preserve the Constitution.

Speaking to the media subsequent to his appointment, Ramson noted that the post of commissioner is based upon the provisions of the Access to Information Act 2011. “Whatever the act says, I have to do and that will be faithfully done,” Ramson said.

Onerous duties

He explained that his office will serve as the clearing house for all information requested by members of the public from public authorities which include government agencies, statutory bodies and companies owned or subscribed to by government.

According to Ramson, his new position is a fairly large area of responsibility and carries with it onerous duties.

“We haven’t had anything like this in Guyana or I believe the larger Caribbean,” he said. Ramson posited that there seems to be a certain

In defence of the need to have a Commission of Information, Presidential Advisor on Governance, Gail Teixeira explained that the decision was aimed at reducing the response time particularly in cases where requests are forwarded to the wrong government agen-

cy from people in far-flung coastal and hinterland areas.

“One of the criticisms of all the FOI bills that do not have a commissioner of information is that people spend undue time trying to find which is the right agency to make the request to,” she said.

Ideal Road murder suspect still on the run

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Senior Counsel Charles Ramson receives his letter of appointment from President Donald Ramotar

amount of confusion about the Freedom of Information when in fact Guyana’s act is specifically referred to as the access to information; an access that will now only be given through his office.

The statute on the access to information has been so designed as to have a monitoring body for all types of requests from public agencies which would be required to submit information deemed accessible by Ramson.

“Clearly, I don’t want anyone to believe that all information is available… The important thing is depending on the classification of information; public agencies can respond to my request

for information,” Ramson remarked. He pointed out that there are various categories of information including top secret, secret, confidential and general information.

The newly-appointed commissioner revealed that such information can be accessed by any member of the public or individual domiciled in Guyana. Ramson noted that certain information became accessible as part of the public domain when the act was made enforceable by government.

The National Assembly passed the Access to Information Bill on September 15, 2011 and former President Bharrat Jagdeo later accented

to the bill, signing into effect its implementation and enforcement.

The bill provides for access to information subject to a regime of exemptions and the appointment of a commissioner of information. It also points to a practical system of right to information for persons to secure access to information under the control of public authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of the government and public authorities.

According to the bill, any public official found guilty of destroying public documents could face as much as a year in jail.

udolph Singh, the main suspect in the Ideal Road, SoesdykeLinden Highway murder which occurred on Friday evening is still at large, the police confirmed on Monday.

He is wanted for the murder of Kevin Harrison, 26, of Ideal Road, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, who was brutally stabbed to death.

Harrison was stabbed to death allegedly by Singh during a confrontation at a place commonly referred to as Ideal Road, over a woman with whom they were both believed to be having a relationship. According to information, the woman in the controversy, Onefa Atkinson, and Harrison were confronted by Singh at a shop in the neighbourhood.

A heated argument ensued among the three people followed by a scuffle. The woman reportedly left the shop, but was followed by the

suspect who was in an angry state and more so was armed with a cutlass. Upon realising that Singh went behind the woman, Harrison followed him.

As he approached the house, he heard arguments and attempted to intervene by taking away the cutlass.

Unknowingly, the suspect had a knife tucked away in his pocket which he subsequently pulled and used to reportedly stab Harrison to his back.

Harrison fell to the ground and died almost instantaneously. He is survived by his mother and six siblings.

A post-mortem examination was performed on the body of Harrison by local pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh, who gave the cause of death as perforation of the lungs due to stab wounds.

Harrison was reportedly stabbed at least four times to his back with a knife that was taken as evidence.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, July 16 from 10:00h to 11:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, July 16 from 09:15h to 10:45h.

WEATHER TODAY

Countrywide: Thundery showers are expected during the day, with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-easterly to easterly at 3.12 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:09h and 22:37h reaching maximum heights of 2.36 metres and 2.40 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:37h and 16:05h reaching minimum heights of 0.80 metre and 0.87 metre respectively.

ASL plane crash lands at Matthews Ridge – eight hospitalised; bad weather blamed

By Bhisham Mohamed

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round a dozen persons were on Monday morning injured when an Air Services Limited Cessna Caravan plane crashed in the vicinity of the manganese company in Matthews Ridge, North West District. Some eight persons have been hospitalised.

The injured persons, including the pilot of the aircraft, Feriel Ally, were airdashed to the city by a Trans Guyana aircraft and taken to several private medical institutions in the city. The injured persons were identified as Esther Williams and her baby, Jonel Williams; Alona Massay; Naline Dellon; Wesley Johnson; Shellon Williams; Urmella Rajesh; and Dexter Benjamin. The other passengers were Lloyd Thomas, Christina Mangru, Clinton Campbell, Troy Henry, and Ulan Benjamin.

The single-engine ASL aircraft minutes after crash landing

to the Ogle International Airport and were taken by waiting ambulances to hospitals in the city,” he added.

He further stated that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is investigating the accident, noting that a team is already on the ground. He praised Air Services Limited for its quick response after receiving information about the mishap.

“Air Services Limited has

A passenger being taken to a waiting ambulance

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ing the airstrip, but, owing to the heavy fog, it circled about three times and then disappeared.

At that point, Smith

Guyana aircraft arrived at the Ogle Airport with the injured persons, several ambulances had already arrived at the facility. Minister Benn and other top-level officials from the GCAA and ASL were on the ground awaiting the plane.

After the plane arrived, ASL staff assisted the injured persons out of the aircraft into the ambulances and they were whisked off to the respective hospitals.

Ally was seen disembarking the co-pilot’s seat of the aircraft and was quickly taken into a vehicle, which sped off.

An ASL official confirmed that she has sustained injuries but they are not life threatening.

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One of the injured persons upon arrival at the Ogle airport on Monday

According to reports, the aircraft was carrying 12 passengers at the time of the accident, which occurred about a quarter of a mile from the airstrip. Information reaching this newspaper also revealed that at the time of the crash, the airstrip was covered in heavy fog, which posed a challenge to the pilot in landing the aircraft. It reportedly circled three times and then disappeared.

At the Ogle Airport on Monday morning, Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn said the accident occurred about 08:00h in close proximity to the Matthews Ridge Airstrip.

“Initial reports are that... even though, the plane was cleared to land or had reports of fair weather in the area… the weather seemed to have closed in just before the plane was landing,” he told reporters.

No fatality

Benn explained that the plane crash landed, short of the runway, adding that there is one report of a passenger with broken legs and seven others with injuries.

“There is no fatality… most of the passengers were brought

taken all steps thus far to identify the injured; bring assistance to them and to notify their relatives,” the minister said.

Investigation

In addition, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority Director Zulfikar Mohamed, who was also present at the airport for the arrival of the injured persons, reiterated that a team is at the crash site gathering information to determine what might have the contributing factors responsible for the crash.

While he could not speculate as to what might have caused the crash, he said they have not had the opportunity to speak with the pilot since she was traumatised, but the GCAA hopes to do so as soon as possible. Mohamed added that the engine of the aircraft will have to be removed from the wreckage and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board to be examined as the probe continues.

An eyewitness, Dwayne Smith told Guyana Times that he was at the airstrip waiting on the plane to go back to the city on the return trip. He said about 08:00h, he saw the aircraft approach-

thought that the pilot had decided to return to Georgetown, but a few moments later, the person managing the operation at the facility received a phone call that the aircraft had crashed.

Upon hearing this, Smith said they rushed to the scene only to see the wrecked single-engine aircraft among the bushes. “People were bleeding and crying out for pain, as public-spirited citizens assisted them out of the aircraft… the pilot was covered in blood, but they were quickly loaded into a vehicle owned by Krishna and taken to the Matthews Ridge hospital, which is approximately 10 minutes drive,” Smith said.

Officials at the hospital said they were prepared to deal with the influx of people, since they were alerted a few minutes after the crash.

The injured persons were taken to the medical institution and eight of them, including an infant, were transferred to Georgetown.

Minutes before the Trans

Ally has been flying for the past 20 years. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy.com)

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guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

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

Editorial

Migration and development

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here was a low-profile meeting last week in Georgetown, of the Caribbean Community/Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Caricom/ECLAC)-sponsored Caribbean Forum on Population, Migration and Development.

Linking the issues of migration and development, they issued a raft of proposals titled “The Road Map for Population, Migration and Development beyond 2014”. They included a wide range of development goals: “to reduce poverty and inequality, promote and protect the rights of vulnerable groups, including older persons, adolescents and youth, and persons with disabilities; achieving gender equality, equity and empowerment of women; and achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.”

But it is our belief that while the abovementioned issues are at the centre of so many other national development plans, there is not enough focus in a structured manner, on the last proposal which seemed to have been inserted almost as a throwaway line: “managing migration for development to maximise the benefits and reduce the negative impacts”. In the Caribbean, migration has been one of the primary responses by the populace in the face of economic hardships. In addition to the structural momentum that such a long historical response develops, the present downturn in the economies of several Caricom territories will certainly give it a new impetus.

While there is a stubborn view that migration is a negative phenomenon – apart from the reduction in demands for a piece of a fixed pie – it has gradually dawned in policy circles that there are also many positives. However, for migration to become an effective tool for development in labour-sending countries such as the Caribbean, it is necessary to design the right complementary policies and programmes, including those relating to social protection. A few years ago, the then United Nations (UN) secretary general described international migration as a “positive force for development if buttressed by the right policies”.

Migration has the potential to deliver many positive benefits for development and poverty reduction and contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and beyond. In an increasingly globalised and integrated world, it is not only capital among the three factors of production that has become fungible across borders: labour has always followed in capital’s wake – even though not in the same direction. As particular countries developed for whatever confluences of circumstances beyond capital infusion, people in search of a better life followed.

The move abroad is invariably economically beneficial for most migrant workers and their families, even though their social and political situation might be problematical. However, it is now universally acknowledged that those migrants also have a great positive impact on their “home” economy – especially through remittances. Remittances to labour-exporting countries represent a key source of foreign exchange for the host government and, in addition, can provide valuable lifelines to recipient families and communities. Guyana alone receives about US$400 million annually, while the Caribbean as a whole – especially Haiti and Jamaica (US$2 billion each) which have much larger expatriate communities – receives billions.

The combined flows make remittances larger than foreign direct investment flows and twice as large as official aid received by developing countries. Their impact is also more significant, since their distributive effects vary significantly. Remittances fundamentally differ from other financial flows in that they are based on social ties and networks of responsibility and affection.

Remittances are a financial manifestation of a complex network of relationships that are established between migrants, their families, and communities of origin. In the Caribbean as a whole, for instance, anecdotal evidence suggests that much of the spurt in housing is assisted by remittances.

On the other hand, there are unintended consequences, such as a “dependency syndrome” created in those who receive remittances especially and do not have an incentive to enter the workforce. The old “brain drain” dilemma posed by emigration can also be reversed by inducing expatriates to return with their skills, as exemplified in the ongoing “diaspora project”.

Migration, we can conclude, is integrally linked to development.

Visitors watch water gushing from a section of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir on China’s Yellow River during a July 6 operation to remove built-up silt (MSNBC)

Hospital robbery reveals some lapses

Dear Editor, A lot of criminal activities these days appear to have a taxi connection. I do not find it funny in the least. A hospital was recently robbed and again there was a similar connection.

Details have it that the accounts clerk was carrying a bag containing the cash to the hospital’s accounts office, when she was held up by a man who was armed with a firearm.

It is time for the crime fighters of Guyana to make a check on the number of robberies that are aided by taxi

drivers. I recommend that each taxi, whether privately or company owned, be affixed with some kind of identifying neon sign board at the very top. It is too difficult to read number plates and logos.

If a registered sign can be highlighted at the top, then identification will be quite easy in cases of anything criminal. This will be a good way to curb criminal activities too. In fact, it will make our police ever more alert as they would intercept any taxi without its sign at the top and pull it off the

road.

This is not difficult to achieve. Right now we have all kinds of people doing taxi work in all kinds and colours of vehicles. I really have problems with private cars being used as taxis. I think that we need to do some streamlining here.

The other thing here that is niggling away at me is that of the easy nature of the act at the hospital. The report from the hospital is that the robbery and the attack happened so quickly that the security guard could not respond.

I have to ask if there is no security check when someone enters a hospital.

Then what about the issue of camera surveillance? It stands to reason that places likes hospitals and banks should have some kind of camera monitoring.

If it is true that the police were summoned to the hospital, but arrived almost 30 minutes late, then the whole thing speaks of a very nonprofessional culture where robberies are concerned.

Yours truly, Gary Sinclair

More family education is needed Dear Editor, A 42-year old woman is now in prison awaiting trial. Her misdemeanour is that of felonious wounding against her 17-year-old son. Another mother was recently charged for burning her son’s hand with a hot knife.

We may get very upset

at these parents, mostly mothers, who have a habit of being abusive. I really do not think that they are evil in any way at all. It is just that the situation can get to them. However, their reactions were excessive and I believe education is needed in this area.

I know of many stay-

at-home mothers who, because of the need for money to satisfy children’s needs, can get irksome and impatient. The Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) should seek out these kinds of situations and offer some guidance. It would be even better for more family plan-

ning education to be offered in Guyana.

Children come with great responsibility and challenges and potential parents must know how to handle this. Education is necessary in this regard.

Yours faithfully, Rory Layne

Crack down on dangerous driving Dear Editor, This country must take some drastic measures when it comes to dangerous driving. I have a feeling

that many accidents can be averted in this way.

I see people overtaking willy-nilly all the time. Even in some restricted areas –

next to a bridge, on double lines, and on turns.

I think that a hotline is needed in every zone. The police must now track down

these drivers who err all the time.

Yours sincerely, Sandra Bailey

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, july 16, 2013

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Mathematics and English finally getting serious attention

Dear Editor, I am pleased that students who fail mathematics and English will no longer advance to higher grades. This kicks in when the new school year begins

in September, and I make a call for this policy to be rigidly enforced.

I laud the Education Ministry for making this adjustment. I think that this emphasis on English

and mathematics will produce better professionals in a few years. I have a feeling that the present abundance of poor professionals is attributable to what has been happen-

ing even until now, where these two bread and butter subjects were not properly attended to.

Regards, Sean Adonis

UG should stop the talk and start the work Dear Editor, This developing University of Guyana (UG) situation seems to be all talk and nothing else. I am reading and hearing about alleged corruption and the sale of examination papers.

I have actually heard that some lecturers give out the examination questions and students prepare the answers long in advance. It seems that the more there are discussions, the more things are coming to the fore, almost like spinning in a ditch.

Now the talk has shifted to private sector executives and the UG vice chancellor expressing a desire for the complete overhaul of this tertiary institution. The saying now is that the business community is articulating a desire to see the local university be recognised as a hub for national research and development.

This is most grandiose but I have a big caution.

We must dream big, but we have to start small and move one step at-a-time. We are talking too many things at the same time and this lack of single mindedness is redounding into nothing visible in terms of even making a start.

Let me repeat some simple things that need addressing and that were highlighted in the press by various letter writers – a car park for shuttle operators, a

The University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus

permanent fix for the access road, police patrol for the safety of late students and lecturers, more power outlets in the library and campus as a whole, and a more affordable canteen service.

These things do not call for too much brain power, but if we cannot get these off the ground, then at the higher level of administration and lecturing, we will continue to decline. I know of many recent graduates who cannot access their grades online all because the process that started over fours ago has been left in limbo. People go to the computer centre and wait way beyond nine and there is no one to even open the building. Even a cake shop in the community runs with some kind

of regularity and consistency.

I am highlighting these blunders because they all add up and if they are not addressed, no matter what happens, UG will fall apart eventually. We have too many leakages, and we need to fix these before we can think of advancing.

This talk from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) that seeks to “emphasise that the university should be transformed into a centre for producing a competent and qualified, skilled labour force that meets the needs of Guyana’s rapidly evolving private sector” seems to be all talk indeed.

Yours faithfully, Kean Morrison

Police patrols and unlicensed guns Dear Editor, The police recently arrested three men for an unlicensed pistol and matching rounds. In their actual statement, the police listed the time at 04:00h. So questions are running through my mind.

I want to know what a group of three could have been doing on the road at that hour. It is time that we put measures in place for limers and loiterers to be off the road at a certain time.

Good people, with no inten-

tion of robbing or stealing, just do not gang up and lime late at nights, or just before the break of day.

At one time in the U.S., at least 500 cities had curfews, prohibiting people from being on the streets after 22:00h during the week and after midnight on weekends. In fact, even now some places have daytime curfews to keep people, especially, non-working youths, off the streets during school hours. The curfews are designed to

prevent crime, increase parental responsibility for their children, and give police greater ability to stop people being involved in suspicious activities.

Guyana needs more work along this line. If every time I step out of my house or walk the streets I see a police patrol, I will feel safer and that is why I encourage more work in this area.

Yours truly, Raymond Kent

Touts must go Dear Editor, Touts are wreaking havoc at the Number 32 bus park – the Parika to Georgetown route. We have waited forever to realise that touts do nothing good for the society. They only add to the confusion and harassment of passengers.

Now the complaint is coming from the operators also, not just the passengers.

Look at what we are having with touts around – no turn system, less money for the operators, and more people at the already filled bus parks. We have to move against this absolute nonsense.

The first suggestion is that the minibus fraternity cooperate – the drivers and conductors must decide to go on a turn system. It means instantly that passengers will not be harassed – they will go to the next bus in line. Some may have a preference for a particular driver or bus, so that will never be a problem, as those persons will simply have to wait until that chosen bus gets its turn. This will make it eas-

ier on the police and they should be able to then look better on things like the noise factor and traffic in a more focused manner.

The touts are like vultures, stalking their prey.

They pounce on these people like animals. As soon as a passenger comes to the park, at least two touts appear at their sides pulling them into whichever bus they are loading. The turn system will make for order and peace, and it will also save a few dollars.

Passengers must not be intimidated. They must speak out to the touts and even report them for some form of abuse. I know of a few cases of people losing their wallets and they were able to trace it back to the point when touts intercepted them.

I am hoping that the bus people, the passengers and the police all come together to get touts off the road. We have taken too long to address this problem.

Yours sincerely, Bowen French

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TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

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Foundation

Sickle cell anaemia

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ed blood cells carry haemoglobin, a protein that attaches to oxygen in the lungs and carries it to all parts of the body. Healthy red blood cells are flexible so that they can move through the smallest blood vessels. In sickle cell anaemia, the haemoglobin is abnormal, causing the red blood cells to be rigid and shaped like a “C” or sickle, the shape from which the disease takes its name.

Sickle cells can get stuck and block blood flow, causing pain and infections.

Complications of sickle cell anaemia are a result of sickle cells blocking blood flow to specific organs, and include stroke, acute chest syndrome (a condition that lowers the level of oxygen in the blood), organ damage, and blindness. Since researchers first identified sickle cell disease more than 100 years ago, numerous advances have been made in the treatment and care of sickle cell patients.

Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disease. In order for you to get sickle cell anaemia, both of your parents must have either sickle cell anaemia (two sickle cell genes) or sickle cell trait (one sickle cell gene). If you inherit a sickle cell gene from both parents, you will have sickle cell disease. If you have sickle cell disease, you will pass one sickle cell gene to your children.

guyanatimesgy.com

The problem with sickled cells

If you inherit one sickle cell gene from one parent, you will carry the sickle cell trait. If you have sickle cell trait, there is a 50 per cent chance that you will pass the sickle cell gene to your children.

Am I at risk?

Sickle cell anaemia is more common in certain ethnic groups including: * People of African descent (among whom one in 12 carries a sickle cell gene) * Hispanic Americans * People of Saudi Arabian, Caribbean, and South and Central American Indian descent Because sickle cell anaemia symptoms usually begin at four months of age, early diagnosis is critical. Sickle cell anaemia can be identified before birth by testing a sample of amniotic fluid or tissue from the placenta.

People who carry the sickle cell gene can seek genetic counseling before pregnancy to discuss options.

What are the signs and symptoms of sickle cell anaemia?

Signs and symptoms can be mild or severe enough to require frequent hospitalisations. They may include: * Anaemia

* Dark urine * Hand-foot syndrome, which causes your hands and feet to swell * Frequent pain episodes * Stunted growth * Vision problems * Stroke

How is sickle cell anaemia treated?

There are no standard treatments that cure sickle cell anaemia. However, there are treatments that help people manage and live with the disease.

Treatment relieves pain, prevents infections, minimises organ damage, and controls complications and can include medications, such as pain relievers and hydroxyurea (Hydrea), blood

transfusions, and other options as needed.

Clinical trials provide access to experimental therapies for treating sickle cell anaemia. Researchers are looking at new drugs and also exploring the use of bone marrow transplants to treat sickle cell disease.

Stem cell transplants are associated with significant risks and are appropriate only for some patients with severe forms of sickle cell disease and closely matched donors such as a family member.

It is important for you to talk with your doctor if you believe you may have

sickle cell anaemia. If you carry the sickle cell trait, make sure you tell your doctor before getting pregnant as well. Depending on your condition, your doctor may refer you to a haematologist, a doctor who specialises in blood conditions. (hematology.org)

Why are some people mosquito magnets?

I

f you feel as if every mosquito in a 50-mile radius has you locked in its sights, while your friends are rarely bitten, you could be right. Up to 20 per cent of us are highly alluring to mosquitoes – and scientists have discovered some surprising reasons.

“Both your metabolism and your unique body chemistry – which is as distinctive as a fingerprint – play an important role in determining whether or not you’re a mosquito magnet,” says University of Florida entomology professor Dr Phil Koehler. “Also, there’s evidence that your degree of attractiveness to mosquitoes can change over time.”

Here are some intriguing discoveries about why some of us are particularly tasty targets for the tiny vampires: Mosquitoes prefer blood type O In their quest for a meal, mosquitoes are nearly twice as likely to land on people with type O blood than those with type A, according to a Japanese study. Indeed, the biting pests consider type O more delectable than any other blood type, the researchers reported. Most people secrete substances that allow mosquitoes to identify blood type before they bite.

Beer drinkers beware Swigging just one bottle of beer can significantly boost your risk of being bitten, according to a study

published in Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. The researchers reported that, “Mosquito landing on volunteers significantly increased after beer ingestion compared with before ingestion.”

Watch out for the full moon The tiny bloodsuckers are 500 times more active when the moon is full, reports the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA). Overall, the highest risk times for mosquito bites are dusk and dawn, with the females of some species migrating up to 40 miles in pursuit of a meal.

(Male mosquitoes don’t bite.)

Keep your socks on The pungent aroma of dirty feet is apparently irresistible to mosquitoes, as a brave scientist, Bart Knols, discovered when he sat in a lab in his underwear to find out which parts of the body the pests are most likely to target. He found that 75 per cent of the bugs homed in on his feet, but after he washed them with deodorant soap, the mosquitos bit randomly. His team also reported that stinky cheeses, such as Limburger – which has the same odoriferous compound responsible for foot odour – also draws mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes know if you’re expecting Moms-to-be get bitten about twice as often as women who aren’t pregnant, increasing their risk for bugborne diseases, according to a study conducted in Gambia.

The researchers hypothesised that since women in the later stages of pregnancy exhale 21 per cent more volume, mosquitoes were drawn in by the moisture and carbon dioxide in their breath.

They also found that pregnant women’s abdomens are nearly one degree warmer, which may cause more volatile substances – released in sweat and attractive to mosquitoes – to be present on their skin. Not only do several other studies have similar findings, says Dr Koehler, but “there’s also evidence that women are more attractive to mosquitoes during certain phases of the ovulation cycle.” Studies have mixed results as to whether men or women are more likely to get bitten, he adds.

Running wouldn’t help you Both the carbon dioxide we exhale and substances in sweat, such as lactic acid, help mosquitoes home in on their prey. As a result, Dr Koehler reports. “You’re more likely to be bitten if you’re running or exercising than when you’re at rest, since you’re breathing harder and sweating more.” In fact, physical activity ups risk for bites by as much as 50 per cent. (health.yahoo.net)

News

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tuesday, july 16, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

GPL promises fewer blackouts Govt not ruling after upgrade of network out privatising T GuySuCo

he Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said the prolonged power outage, which plunged Georgetown, and sections of the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara into darkness on Sunday for more than 12 hours was absolutely necessary to facilitate the more than US$38.96 million Infrastructure Development Project.

However, the power company apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Speaking at GPL’s headquarters in Kingston on Monday, the Infrastructure Development Project Director Colin Singh said the multibillion-dollar project, which is funded through a concessional loan from the China Export-Import Bank (China Exim Bank) entails the construction of 69 kilovolt transmission line, seven new substations, and the expansion and upgrade of three existing substations.

Upgrading

On Sunday, the protracted power outage was caused by the upgrading and expansion of the Sophia substation. The company’s engineers and contractors were connecting the existing substation to a new substation situated on the eastern end.

“Yesterday’s (Sunday’s) exercise was to enable the connection of the existing facility to the new facility, as well as to connect a new substation which is being constructed at North Ruimveldt to the existing Sophia substation,” the project director explained.

Infrastructure Development Project Manager Gayle Best said the Sophia substation remains the central facility within the company and meets the need of approximately 37,000 customers; hence they were affected on Sunday. However, she maintained that the move was unavoidable and absolutely necessary to facil-

From left: China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation representative Andrew Jin; Operational and Planning Engineer, System Control Sophia, Kenton France; Project Manager Gayle Best and Project Director Colin Singh

itate the upgrade, expansion, and connectivity of the existing facility.

“Now to facilitate the upgrade works, we simply cannot shut down the facility for three months or so to work.

So what we have been doing is working in a live environment,” the project manager said.

According to Best, the installation of a busbar paves the way for the company to significantly reduce the hours of power outage.

“Sunday’s power outage we brought into service a new sectionalised busbar that would give us the flexibility of isolating sections instead of what happened where we had to shut down the plant, and as such, interrupting the service of approximately 37,000 plus customers.”

Testing

She added that the GPL was unable to resume the supply of electricity in the affected areas on Sunday owing to the inclement weather and testing of the Sophia substation.

“But before we could have put it into service and confirm everything was correct, we had to do some testing and the testing caused some more delays; however, we were able to complete the testing around 7pm last evening (Sunday night).”

While echoing similar

sentiments, Operational and Planning Engineer of System Control Sophia, Kenton France said the Sophia substation has been functioning effectively.

According to him, consumers relying on the substation will experience fewer power outages.

“The frequency of outages will definitely be reduced, as we progress in this project. Secondly, the duration of the outages will also be reduced as result of this new component put in place,” France posited.

The expansion of the Sophia substation is the second of the three existing facilities to undergo upgrades.

The first substation at West Demerara was completed December 2012. The third substation at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice will commence within weeks.

Substations

Two new substations are in full operation at Edinburgh, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara and Vreed-en-Hoop. According to the GPL officials, the New Sophia and Good Hope substations are currently being constructed. The former is set to be completed on August 15, while the latter is scheduled to be completed by the end of August.

Earlier in the year, GPL Chairman Winston

Bandits escape with $3M from Akbar’s Auto Sales

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ess than four hours after two gunmen escaped with an undisclosed sum of money from Dr Gupta’s Dental Clinic in Queenstown, another two gunmen robbed Akbar’s Auto Sales and Furniture Store, North Road Bourda carting off more than $3 million.

Based on reports reaching Guyana Times, two men armed with handguns held three employees of Akbar’s establishment at gunpoint and demanded that they hand over the monies that were in their possession. The robbery occurred around 15:00h just as the business was about to close off the finance department.

Guyana Times understands that the two men two walked into the store claiming that they were going to the accounts department to

make a payment. As the men reached the accounts department, they reportedly pulled the guns from their waists and instructed the two cashiers and a young accountant in the office to remain silent and comply with their demands.

The young man reportedly refused to comply and the bandits severely beat him. One of the bandits then reportedly picked up the young accountant and threatened to shoot him, if the money was not handed over.

Upon realising that the men were serious, the cashiers emptied their cash registers and handed over the money, along with another sum of money, which had already been counted and prepared for storage. The men then bound the staffers and calmly walked out of the business place.

Within a matter of minutes, one of the cashiers freed herself and raised an alarm; but by this time the bandits had already disappeared.

The police were summoned and cordoned off the area, which was searched but to no avail. The footage from the surveillance cameras were taken for review by the investigators.

The owner of the business was not at the establishment when the robbery occurred.

An official told media operatives that the business’ Regent Street branch was burglarised over the weekend.

The police were called in but no one was arrested.

Police have questioned a number of persons and taken statements. The young accountant, whose name was withheld, was taken to the hospital to seek medical attention.

Brassington had announced that the decision of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to axe GPL’s proposed subsidy by $5.2 billion – almost 50 per cent, will negatively impact several critical projects, including the infrastructure project.

Services

According to Brassington, the approval of the $10.2 billion was a one-way ticket to improved services, but the company’s plans were now crippled. He explained that the money accounted for major projects including the infrastructure development project which included completion of the 69kV transmission line from Berbice to Essequibo and the construction of new substations to improve voltage and stability.

On Monday when questioned on how the project is progressing despite the budget cuts, the GPL officials said ahead of the December 31 deadline, the majority of the US$38.96 million has been utilised. It was explained that the company had secured US$3.9 million from government, along with revenues, for preparatory works in 2012; hence the budget cuts had little impact on the progress of the project in 2013.

F

Dr Ashni Singh

ollowing the recommendation from Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ronald Webster for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to privatise some sugar estates in an attempt to save the country’s ailing sugar industry, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said no option has been “ruled out”.

Speaking at the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) weekly press conference at Freedom House on Monday, he stated that government will do everything in its power to ensure the “viability” and “profitability” of GuySuCo, underscoring that it has long maintained that the sugar industry is central to the economic life of the country.

“To this end, we have made tremendous investments, we are exhorting a lot of pressure on the board and management …,” he noted.

The minister disclosed that the government has been examining the troubled sugar industry very closely, adding that a number of alterna-

tive interventions also needed to be taken into account.

He stated that government’s overall objective is to ensure GuySuCo thrives.

Turning his attention to the company’s strategic plan, he noted that GuySuCo is feverishly working on that document. “I expect that work is advanced and close to completion.”

Recently, President Donald Ramotar disclosed that many of the challenges confronting the industry are beyond the control of the administration, pointing to the change in sugar prices and investments which have not been as successful as expected, such as the Skeldon Modernisation Project.

Ramotar reiterated calls for the resuscitation of the ailing sector, stating that consideration may be given to employing co-ops as a means of altering the fortunes of the sugar industry should the idea resonate well with stakeholders. He had stressed government’s commitment to ensure the sugar industry is resuscitated.

8 news

tuesday, july 16, 2013| guyanatimesGY.co2

Eight years in jail for man who killed father-in-law

By Vahnu Manikchand

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hirty-three-year-old Marlon Ganesh was sentenced to eight years in prison for killing his father-in-law after he was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury on Monday.

Ganesh, of Lot 23 A Field, Sophia, Georgetown, was indicted with the murder of his father-in-law Roopnarine “Kumar” Singh on January 16, 2009. On Monday, Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes summed up the evidence in the matter for the jury panel.

The panel then retired to the jury room where they deliberated on a verdict for approximately two hours.

The panel found Ganesh not guilty of murder, but guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter. Both verdicts

were unanimous.

Before sentencing, Defence Attorney Hukumchand Parag made a mitigation plea, stating that his client has no prior convictions and the time he spent imprisoned while awaiting trial should be deducted.

The attorney further asked for a sentence, which will allow his client to give paternal love to his children, stating “notwithstanding what anybody says Marlon Ganesh acted in self-defence”.

Justice Gregory-Barnes stated that the jury’s verdict is well supported by evidence presented. She noted that the death was an unfortunate incident which was caused by a family misunderstanding.

The judge, in sentencing Ganesh took into considera-

tion all those facts, including the three and a half years he spent incarcerated.

The trial began on June 6 after a 12-member mixed jury panel was selected the day before. State Counsel Renita Singh prosecuted the case and called seven witnesses to testify against the accused.

The prosecution then closed their case last Tuesday after which the defence counsel made a no-case submission in the absence of the jury.

The presiding judge then overruled the no-case submission on Wednesday after which the accused was called upon to lead his defence. Standing in the dock, Ganesh told the court that he acted in self-defence.

The accused said that on the day, he and his father-

in-law were drinking when he and his wife had a misunderstanding and her father put him out. The man continued that while he was in the room packing his bag, someone attacked him from behind and chopped him on his left shoulder.

Ganesh went on to say that he jumped when he felt the chop and was then stabbed to his lower back.

“When I turn around, I see my father-in-law and I took the knife I had in my hand and cut he, then I drop the knife and walk away,” the man stated.

The injured man was rushed to a medical institution where he was admitted and treated; however, he succumbed to his injuries about two weeks later. (vahnum@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Durban Street man Battling couple land in court assaults mother

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ellon Harris who allegedly assaulted his mother appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It was alleged that on July 10 at Lot 6 Ketley Street, Charlestown; in the Georgetown Magisterial District, Harris, of Lot FFF Durban Street, unlawfully assaulted his mother, Pamela Griffith.

According to the facts read by Prosecutor Vernetté

Pindar, on the day in question, the defendant was at his mother’s house when a misunderstanding occurred over some money. The misunderstanding led to an argument, during which the defendant became annoyed and dealt the virtual complainant several cuffs to her mouth. A report was subsequently made at the Ruimveldt Police Station.

Prosecutor Pindar had no objections to bail, so the defendant was placed on self bail.

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hief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry placed a couple on a bond to keep the peace and ordered counselling for them when they appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with assaulting each other.

It is alleged that on July 10, at West Ruimveldt, Roland Kumar and Hardai Kishore unlawfully assaulted the other. They pleaded not guilty to the charge. Kumar told the court that he is a security guard at the Guy-America store, and he and Kishore had

been living together. However, since the incident, he has been living on the street, because Kishore has been making several reports at the police station.

The chief magistrate asked both parties if they wished to give evidence against the other and both responded in the affirmative.

They are to return to court on September 21. In the meantime, they required to keep the peace and seek mandatory counselling at Help and Shelter on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

Policeman’s alleged assailant on bail

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man was granted bail on two charges of assault and damage to property when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

Richard Lashley Bobb, 33,

of Lot 1 Sheriff and Enachu streets, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault causing actual bodily harm to Jason Moses, a police officer, and guilty to the damage to property charge.

According to police, on July 11 at Sheriff Street,

Georgetown, around 20:00h Moses was riding his motorcycle CG9464 in the vicinity of Enachu Street when Bobb, who was riding a pedal cycle, rode up alongside him and told him that he was seeing Moses too frequently in the area. The virtual complainant

(VC) was accompanying his girlfriend home at the time; after seeing her home, he was riding north on Sheriff Street when the accused threw his pedal cycle at the VC causing him to fall off his motorcycle. Moses sustained injuries to his face and hand, and the motorcycle sustained an estimated $48,783 in damage.

The matter was reported to the Kitty Police Station, and the accused was later arrested and charged with the present offences.

There were no objections to bail by the prosecution and the chief magistrate after hearing the accused changed his guilty plea to not guilty, and granted him bail in the sum of $50,000 on each charge. However, the defendant stated that he did not have the funds to post bail, and it was agreed that he could lodge his land transport for security.

The matter was transferred to Courts Eight and Nine for report and fixture.

As the matter concluded, a man claiming to be the nephew of the defendant stood up in court and informed those present that he too was detained for three days for the same assault charge. The chief magistrate then questioned the prosecution which was unaware of the circumstances.

Eyew tness Crooked as...

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...barbed wire

ome people have a way with words. They’ll come up with a phrase or line that encapsulates what it’ll take others a book to capture. This is what Lord Pratap Chitnis did back in 1986 after Desmond Hoyte succeeded the recently-departed Forbes Burnham and gave himself a greater majority than the Kabaka ever attempted. Chitnis said the elections were “crooked as barbed wire”.

Chitnis recently passed away in his native England, but his courage and determination to have Guyana return to the fold of democratic nations ought not to be forgotten by the younger generation. Especially those who’re hearing a lot of noise about “things na regulah” in the present Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

There’s a whole lot of revisionists nowadays who hold up Hoyte as the exemplar of democracy and all-round reformer. They pretend to forget that everything he subsequently did following the poisoned tree of the 1985 elections also became poisoned.

Stung by the criticisms Burnham had faced in rigging the 1980 elections, Hoyte banned foreign observers from entering the country in 1985. Chitnis and his team from the British Parliamentary Human Rights Group, forced to hole up in Trinidad and Tobago, invited and facilitated the Guyanese opposition to fly to that island and offer testimony on the farce that had recently been conducted.

And then he released the famous “crooked as barbed wire” report.

It said it all. Hoyte deployed every trick the People’s National Congress (PNC) had tried before – and then some. With what’s going on today, we could start with the appointment of Roy Hammond as chief elections officer by the government without the knowledge of the Elections Commission!!! Hammond reported directly to the PNC minister of home affairs. There was also the usual refusal to allow counting at the place of poll, padding of multiple voting, eviction of opposition scrutineers, etc, etc....

Chitnis’ contribution to democracy being returned to us in 1992 is the credibility his position within the British political system offered to those battling for “free and fair” elections. After 1985, doors opened easier. The Patriotic Coalition for Democracy (PCD) – the coalition of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), and the Democratic Labour Movement (DLM), and others issued a booklet in 1988 – using the name “Crooked as Barbed Wire”.

It’s more than ironic that in a reformed Elections Commission today, the PNC’s Commissioner Vincent Alexander would make the outrageous claim that there was no way the chief elections officer could have made a mistake in his declaration in 2011. He omnisciently KNOWS that Boodhoo deliberately “used the wrong formula”!!

Vincent Alexander’s obviously thinking of Roy Hammond.

...cane field vines

Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ronald Webster believes that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) can be saved. Most Guyanese believe that also.

The question is, “How quickly will it be done?” We don’t have much time...if we dally much longer, we might have to request divine intervention to perform the task.

This paper had long taken the position articulated by Ronald Webster – that a couple of sugar estates should be privatised. We’d been more specific and suggested the West Demerara estates. We’re hearing that already large swathes of land had been abandoned. Privatisation will give us a basis of comparison for the second recommendation Webster made – revamping management to make them more responsive to the demand of the international marketplace.

Without knocking anybody, it’s very clear we need some thinking outside of the box. Whether we like it or not...and we don’t like it – we’re going to have to go outside the GuySuCo box to get such thinking. Privatisation becomes a win-win situation for Guyana: we get to eat our cake...and make the sugar for it.

...the trail to Amaila Falls

What more could the opposition parties want than what they’ve been given to support the hydroelectric project at Amaila Falls? It appears they’ve been flexing their muscles for so long, they’re unable to send any blood to their brains. Muscle bound?

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tuesday, july 16, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Jury empanelled for Lusignan massacre trial F

ive years after the horrifying January 2008 Lusignan massacre, which left 11 persons dead, including five children, the trial was called up on Monday at the High Court and a jury panel selected.

The accused, Mark “Smallie” Williams and James “Sally” Hyles are indicted jointly with the murder of the 11 persons who were killed in the wee hours of January 26, 2008 in the peaceful village of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.

Williams is being represented by Attorney Roger Yearwood, while Hyles is represented by Attorney Nigel Hughes. The prose-

cution will be led by Senior State Counsel Judith Mursalin and State Counsel Tishana James-Lake, who have approximately 11 witnesses to call.

On Monday’s date, 12 persons were selected on the jury panel; however Attorney Hughes made an application under Article 144 of the Constitution for a voir dire to be held to facilitate the vetting of the 12 jurors before they are selected.

This, he said, is to facilitate the two accused persons being given a fair trial owing to the sensationalism of this matter.

State Counsel Mursalin, in response, stated that there is no provision in the

judicial system that caters for such an application. She stated that this process is more Americanised; however, she will abide by the exercise of the judge’s discretion.

Justice Navindra Singh informed the defence attorney that there is no law in Guyana which allows for such a process; however, he will grant the application in fairness to the two accused.

The court spent hours vetting and exchanging jurors.

This process extended into the evening after which 12 jurors were finally empanelled and sworn in. The trial is set to commence today at the High Court.

The Lusignan mas-

sacre in 2008 resulted in widespread fear and anger throughout Guyana and beyond. On that fateful morning of January 26, gunmen carrying AK-47 rifles invaded several houses in Lusignan Grass Track in a 20-minute attack killing villagers in their homes, some of them were sleeping in their beds.

Killed were: 56-year-old Seecharran Rooplall, his wife, Dhanrajie Ramsingh, 52, and their 11-yearold daughter, Raywattie Ramsingh; 32-year-old Mohandai Gourdat and her two sons, four-yearold Seegobind and 10-yearold Seegopaul Harrilall; 48-year-old Clarence

Thomas and his 12-yearold daughter, Vanessa Thomas and his son, Ron Thomas; 55-yearold Shaleem Baksh; and Shazam Mohamed, 22.

Williams and Hyles were charged along with another man, Dwane Williams, for the murders later that said year. After undergoing a Preliminary Inquiry at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court, in April 2010, the three men were committed to stand trial at the High Court in the following session, the June 2010 Criminal Assizes.

However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has withdrawn the case against Dwane Williams,

who is expected to be one of the state witnesses to testify against the two accused.

Hyles, through his attorney, recently filed a motion in the High Court challenging his committal and asking the court to squash the charges, or set them aside and grant him bail pending the determination of the motion.

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang subsequently ruled that if the Lusignan massacre suspects’ trial is not called up in this assizes or the following one, then the man would be granted bail.

Hyles’ indictment was listed as number 18 for hearing in the April 2013 Demerara Assizes before Justice Navindra Singh.

Almost 900 indigenous youths benefiting from leadership development skills

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ne hundred and seventy-seven youths who hail from Paramakatoi, Bamboo Creek, Monkey Mountain, Chenapau, and other Region Eight villages were inducted into the Youth Apprenticeship and Entrepreneurship Programme (YAEP) programme at Kato on July 13. After being implemented in Regions One, Seven, Nine and now Eight, the programme now includes almost 900 young men and women.

The YAEP is a project the government believes in strongly and will continue it, as it strives to foster youth development, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai said.

Additionally, the programme embraces the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and also ties in with the vision of youth development by the past and present presidents of Guyana.

She indicated that more and more investments are being made in the lives of youths, and this is much more evident with opportunities being taken closer to the homes of indigenous youths. This is in light of the fact that there is limited access to scholarships and other opportunities.

She urged the youths to use their energies now so that their future, and that of their children will be better.

Transformation

“We would like to see the transformation of attitudes and mindsets of our young people,” Minister Sukhai emphasised.

She highlighted that this is in relation to the fact that having visited many villages, it was observed that youths are not participating in village meetings and events as they should, and they believe that the adults are responsible for their lives.

“You have to make young people see that they have a role in participating in public activities, that they have a role in participating in the development in Guyana… and if the young people are allowed to see and to dis-

cover their role, I believe that Guyana will be a better place – a developing country with young people at the centre of development,” the minister emphasised.

Amerindian Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Nigel Dharamlall stressed that this project is a commitment by the ministry to ensure that all indigenous communities and mixed settlements are included in the programme. He explained that the toshaos and village councillors were tasked with selecting the youths from their respective villages.

People-led development

“This programme, we expect that coming out of it that the young people of the Pakaraimas that you are the ones who will take your development forward,” he said.

Dharamlall noted that the Amerindian Affairs Ministry does not see the youths as agents of change, rather they are a part of a people’s partnership programme through which development is led by the people. This is also a concept accepted and promoted by the government.

“What we believe as a government is that not change that will determine where we will end up, but it is choices that will determine where we would end up,” he emphasised. On this note, PS Dharamlall urged the youths to stay focused, because the future of the North Pakaraimas is in their hands, and each of them must bring something new to the drawing board to advance village development.

Throughout the launch of the project, it was observed that there is a balance of males and females, an indication that everyone has a role to play in their village’s development. This is also in keeping with the ministry’s welfare programme which focuses on the development of girls and women.

The PS noted that when the minister had spoken about the initiative during her 2013 budget presentation, it was criticised and now the youths have to prove the naysayers wrong.

“The PPP/C government

over the past 20 years would have recognised that we needed to do more in terms of hinterland development and young people and particularly youths of Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine,”

stated Regional Executive Officer Ronald Harsaywack.

“We have, over the years, transformed Amerindian villages and brought the standard of living and the quality of life to a better extent,”

he said. However, the need for schools, health-care facilities, transportation and village councils’ development is recognised.

Harsaywack explained that for the work to contin-

ue, there is need for support from the village council and residents, and this is why the Amerindian Affairs Ministry conceptualised the YAEP. TURN TO page 13

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, july 16, 2013

News

Granger wants status update on unnatural deaths O

pposition Leader David Granger is seeking answers on a range of issues, including deaths at government-run dormitories in the hinterland, the holding of inquests into unnatural deaths and also the number of persons who died during the course of employment.

The questions are on the order paper for this Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly. In the first round of questions directed to Education Minister Priya Manickchand, Granger wants to know the names of persons who have died by suicide or other causes in government-funded dormitories/hostels attached to secondary schools in the hinterland regions of Guyana between January 1999 and April. He also wants the actual dates, the names of the schools of each of these events and whether inquiries have been conducted into any or all of these events and whether, as a result of the findings of those inquiries, if any, there has been remedial action to prevent recurrences.

In the second round of questions directed to Public Works Minister Robeson

Opposition Leader David Granger

Benn, Granger is asking again for the names of persons who have been killed in the rivers and coastal waters of Guyana as a result of accidental collisions involving vessels, river boats, etc between January 1999 and April 2013.

He again wants to know the actual dates, the names of the rivers and nearest locations of each of these events and the names and owners of the vessels involved and whether inquiries have been conducted into any or all of these events and whether, as a result of the findings of those inquiries, if any, there has been criminal

prosecution of persons found to be blameworthy and, if so, what were the outcomes of such prosecution.

Additionally, similar types of questions were posted to Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran regarding persons who have died as a result of gastroenteritis or of similar or related diseases, infections in the BarimaWaini Region between January 1999 to April 2013.

He is querying the names of the locations where each of these deaths occurred and the names and locations of the hospitals, medical treatment centres at which those persons were treated, if known and also if inquiries were held and the result of the findings.

Regarding inquests, the opposition leader wants to know from the Attorney General Anil Nandlall the names of persons into whose deaths inquests have been conducted in accordance with the Coroners Act, Chapter 4:03 of the Laws of Guyana between January 1999 to April 2013; the actual dates, the names of the magistrates or coroners and the locations of the courts at which each of these inquests was conduct-

ed and whether, as a result of these inquests into “unnatural deaths” as defined by the Coroners Act, there have been criminal prosecutions of persons found to be blameworthy and, if so, what were the outcomes of such prosecutions.

Further, to Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul, Granger asked for the names of persons whose deaths have occurred as a result of any accidents or diseases “arising out of and in the course of… employment” and whether inquests or investigations have been conducted in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Chapter 99:10 of the Laws of Guyana between January 1999 and April 2013. He also asked the minister whether, as a result of these inquests into the deaths of workers which occurred as a result of accidents and diseases “arising out of and in the course of… employment” as defined by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, there have been criminal prosecutions of persons found to be blameworthy and, if so, what were the outcomes of such prosecutions.

Albion workers restive over Skeldon ‘intrusion’

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he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) is appealing to cane harvesters at Albion to be reasonable in their demands even as they object to Skeldon workers harvesting canes at their estate.

GuySuCo said the move is to boost production and after several meetings with the workers’ union, they were given the clearance to

go ahead with the plan, but this has resulted in strike actions, which have begun to hit the corporation in a hard way.

In a statement, GuySuCo said Albion harvesters, since the commencement of the current crop, which started on June 28, have been objecting to Skeldon harvesters harvesting canes at Albion. The corporation said despite having seven

meetings with the representatives from Skeldon and Albion and a cross-section of workers from both estates, and the leadership of the union, the workers remain adamant that Skeldon must not harvest canes at Albion.

GuySuCo said the last such meeting was held on July 10, where an agreement was reached between the corporation and the union that Skeldon will harvest canes at Albion from July 14.

“The workers refused to abide by the agreement and went on strike yesterday (Sunday) for the second time over this issue; the first such strike was on July 7.”

GuySuCo said the average daily attendance of Albion harvesters from the commencement of this crop to date is 718, which could only provide canes for 11 hours of grinding per day.

“Canes are presently being harvested fully manually, due to the inclement weather that is preventing the use of the bell loaders for semi-mechanical harvesting. With this level of attendance and the bell loaders not being used, the existing crop will not

only be extended into the December rains, but it will cause an enormous amount of out of canes from now until the first week in August when Skeldon crop is due to commence,” the corporation said. It added that the lack of canes is also resulting in substantial amount of fuel being used in the factory, thus contributing to increased costs.

“The Skeldon harvesters could provide canes for an additional four hours of grinding per day, which is equivalent to 60 tonnes of sugar. Had Skeldon harvested canes at Albion from the commencement of the crop to date, 960 tonnes of additional sugar would have been made, which would have yielded $125 million in revenue.”

GuySuCo said in spite of the current wet condition, the cane quality remains very good and the conversion ratio of tonnes cane to tonnes sugar is averaging 10.50 per cent. The corporation is urging the workers to allow good sense to prevail for the restoration of normalcy and the accommodation of Skeldon harvesters at Albion.

Paper man, WI and G-PEE-L fool de people

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lotta people does believe every ting whah dem read or hear. Is a ting wid plenty Guyanese people. Dem trust people every where. One big back track man, who gettin even bigger, tek advantage pun plenty poor people. He tell de poor, hard wukkin people that he gon get visa fuh dem. De people give he plenty money. He full he pocket. Then he turn round and rob dem. Then he turn round again and turn paper man. Now he turn round yet again and want plenty more tings.

Is de same trustin people he does try to fool when he writin dem lies in he mud paper. He know people does believe things whah dem read. Half does be de opposite of de truth, and de other half is whah he mek up wid Suru. He name Duru. Suru and Duru can lie to de Devil and he gon believe. Dem more bad than King Liar.

G-PEE-L ketch on de lyin habit. Dem disguisin under de name Guyana Power and Light. But is more like Get Plenty Loadsheddin and Get Plenty Low voltage.

Dem tell people it gon be blackout Sunday whole day.

Every body shop Friday and plan to freeze every ting so nuttin ain’t gon spoil Sunday. Black out start Friday night. Every ting spoil. De people get fool again just like how de paper man fool dem.

De Waste Indies team spend three days in Guyana and dem also fool de Guyanese people. De skipper Lame Bravo seh this gon be de big comeback after dem ain’t mek de final in dem own backyard. But whah he mean was that dem gon come back big and lose even bigger. At least, dem score big in a nightclub pun Sheriff Street Saturday night. That is why dem ain’t score de next day. De people buy out all de tickets and get fool again.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! That is why dem leff out all de Guyanese pun de team!

Gunmen invade Queenstown dental clinic

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wo gunmen posing as patients on Monday escaped with an undisclosed sum of money after they invaded Dr Sen Gupta Dental Clinic on Laluni Street, Georgetown.

The robbery occurred about 09:00h, moments after the medical facility opened for business. According to information received, the two men appeared at the clinic in a grey coloured Toyota Allion motor car and informed the security guard that they had an appointment. The security on duty allowed the men access into the compound.

Upon entering the building, the two armed men ordered the two dental surgeons and Dr Gupta on the floor and demanded them not to make a sound. The men then enquired about the safe keeping box and out of fear, Dr Gupta directed the men to same.

The men reportedly broke into the box and collected

the monies that were stored which is said to be a substantial amount. The other staff members at the facility were also ordered not to raise an alarm. The two men then calmly walked out of the building and boarded the same car that they came with.

After the less than fiveminute ordeal, the police were summoned. The safe was dusted for fingerprints while statements were taken from the staff, including Dr Gupta and the two surgeons. Crime Chief Seelall Persaud when contacted told Guyana Times that he had little information about the robbery, but confirmed that no one was arrested.

This publication understands that Dr Gupta, an Indian national has been operating at a city hospital and lately opened his own business at his home. When this publication visited the home, the gates and doors were tightly locked and no one was in sight.

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Safety fears surface over sale Forum discusses post-2015 of roadside prepackaged fruits Caribbean development agenda

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he general public is being warned against purchasing prepackaged fruits which are sold at street corners by mobile hawkers and vendors.

The Public Health Department of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) raised concerns after conducting inspections of cut fruits which are being sold in Styrofoam trays.

M&CC Public Relations Officer Royston King said the Food Hygiene section of the Health Department carried out the checks and discovered that the fruits are not being prepared under the approved hygienic conditions.

The Mayor and City Council has since issued an advisory to the general public to exercise caution when purchasing cut fruits in plates and wrapped with plastic from vendors. The Food and Hygiene section also found that the fruits are not stored or sold under the right temperature which could interfere with its nutritional value.

Human consumption

“These might not be wholesome and fit for human consumption. Therefore, the council wishes to advise citizens to be careful when purchasing these fruits,” the public relations officer noted.

King stressed that all fruits must be prepared on approved premises, under strict hygienic conditions and cut fruits should be stored and sold at four degrees Celsius. He added that vendors who are offering these fruits for sale must do so in designed areas and in accordance with the specified stipulations.

King revealed that the council has also received reports that coconut vendors have been bottling coconut

A fruit plate

water for sale despite an earlier agreement to desist from this practice. He pointed out that the Public Health Department could not vouch for the sterilisation process used by any of the vendors.

Consumer advocate Patrick Dyal told Guyana Times that although he approves of the practice of marketing fresh fruits, he believes that it is a matter of hygiene and storage.

Dyal noted that customers also have an obligation to examine such fruits to verify whether they are wholesome to eat or have started to decay.

He agreed that fruits, like any other food, must be processed using clean knives and kitchen counters and the place where it is being sold must be free from dust, debris and garbage.

“I would say that once the hygiene is in order, they could do that. It a healthy thing to eat and it promotes a healthy lifestyle and that’s good, but then it must be hygienically packed,” Dyal offered. He explained that in a case where the vendor peels and cuts the fruits on site and it is being sold in plastic bags, it is much safer to eat.

However, he maintained that individuals who are selling fruits along the roadside must pay greater attention

to hygiene and storage.

Dyal mentioned that in the case of the prepackaged fruits, care must be taken by authorities to ensure that the mode of preparation is safe and whether they are utilised immediately after packaging. “Such vendors must have portable freezers that they can carry around so that if they are not used right away, they would not begin to spoil or rot.”

Awareness

Dyal suggests that the Public Health Department should conduct educational awareness programmes and engage vendors in public health sessions.

“It’s something that needs development. Education is important and not just telling them to avoid using unsterile bottles but to show them why it’s dangerous through videos, pictures and health talks,” the consumer advocate mentioned.

He noted that this public relations strategy would assist in improving the standards since fruits are better to consume rather than soft drinks, sodas and fast food.

“They work great as a nice snack or meal. As with coconut water, there is no evidence as to the sterility of the bottles in which these are sold to consumers.”

Opposition leader tables motion for inquiry into maritime accidents

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pposition Leader David Granger has tabled a motion calling on the National Assembly to ask the president to set up a commission of inquiry into maritime and riverine accidents.

Granger’s motion is on the order paper for Thursday’s sitting of the National Assembly. In its resolved clauses, Granger wants the National Assembly to declare its concern over the incidence of maritime and riverine incidents, especially those which result in the loss of human life; expresses its sympathy with the victims and to the families of the victims of maritime and riverine accidents and asserts the responsibility of the state to protect all of its citizens.

He further moved that

the National Assembly calls upon the president in accordance with the Commission of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03, to appoint a commission of inquiry to inquire into maritime and riverine incidents which have occurred since January 1, 1999, to determine the extent of such incidents and to make recommendations for safe travel and the protection of life on this country’s waterways and coastal waters.

Meanwhile, in his whereas clause, Granger asserts that the Constitution of the Cooperative of Guyana prescribes in Article 40(1) that “Every person in Guyana is entitled to the basic right to a happy, creative and productive life, free from hunger, ignorance and want”.

He said several persons have been robbed of their

potentially “happy, creative and productive” lives by suffering injury, pain and discomfort; by being killed, or losing personal possessions and property as a result of accidents caused by negligence, or as a result of deliberate acts on this country’s waterways or coastal waters.

According to him, it is apparent that riverine traffic is increasing in volume, composition and complexity; that there, is competing use of the waterways between riverine villagers who are obliged to reply on boats, sometimes canoes, corials and balahoos to go about their daily lives and other users including barges and tugs carrying commodities and other vessels involved in trade.

he medium-term challenges and the shaping of a post-2015 development agenda in the Caribbean were discussed during the 16th meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC) of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Guyana last week.

During the high-level meeting, held on July 11, government representatives and officials discussed three issues. Presentations were made on the outcome of the Caribbean regional preparatory meeting for the 2014 third international conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS); the consideration of the road map on population, migration and development for the further implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action in the Caribbean; and the Implementation of the Caribbean sub-regional headquarters of ECLAC 2012-2013 Biennial Programme of Work.

Global development

As part of the discussion, ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena remarked that the report of the UN high-level panel to advise on the global development framework beyond 2015 – the target date for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – provides useful guidelines for rethinking development. “It moves beyond the MDGs by stressing the need to integrate economic, social and environmental aspects of development into a coherent strategy,” she expressed.

The Caribbean has been part of a number of parallel processes at the international level that will inform the sustainable development agenda. To optimise the benefits from these multiple processes, the sub-re-

ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena

gion needs an organising framework model to provide direction and consistency in addressing its development challenges.

The executive secretary noted that the Caribbean remains highly vulnerable to economic and financial shocks in major markets as evidenced by the recent economic crisis. The SIDS plan of action could be a useful base for a reformed agenda for the sub-region. “The SIDS framework would provide the platform for integrating the economic, social and environmental issues into a single coherent sustainable development vision. These structural transformations are central to building a new dynamic Caribbean economy,” said Bárcena.

On July 9 and 10, delegates of the Forum on Population, Migration and Development met in Guyana to assess the progress made in the sub-region towards meeting the objectives articulated in the Cairo Programme of Action.

ECLAC convened the meeting in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The meeting produced an outcome document entitled “The Road Map for Population, Migration and Development beyond 2014”, which contained a number of proposals targeted to-

wards reducing poverty and inequality, promoting and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, such as older persons, adolescents and youth, and persons with disabilities.

Bárcena endorsed the convening of a sub-regional meeting on the special needs of persons with disabilities, recommended at the 34th conference of heads of government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

Other pertinent issues addressed in the document included achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights; and for managing migration for development to maximise the benefits and reduce the negative impacts.

Recommendations

These recommendations are the inputs from the Caribbean to the first session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, to be held in Montevideo, Uruguay, in August 2013 and the UN High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development scheduled to take place in October.

Bárcena noted that the middle income classification of Caribbean countries, excluding Haiti, does not sufficiently take account of the high levels of inequality, nor the economic, social and environmental vulnerabilities of these states. Given this fact, she said it was critical for these characteristics of the Caribbean to be reflected in the final outcome document for the ICPD beyond 2014 and the post-2015 development agenda. To keep development issues centre stage, ECLAC proposed the Caribbean Development Roundtable (CDR) as the discussion forum on development challenges and opportunities which would provide practical recommendations that could be considered for implementation by policymakers.

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tuesday, July 16, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Agriculture Ministry moves ACIC hosts Ramadan programme to resuscitate Tapakuma cassava industry

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Worshippers at the Ramadanul Kareem programme at the ACIC

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy inspects a piece of equipment during his tour of the Tapakuma Cassava Factory. Also in photo are Toshao Doreen Jacobus and Aditya Persaud of the ministry

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he Agriculture Ministry will be providing technical support to the Amerindian community of Tapakuma on the Essequibo Coast as it seeks to resuscitate the cassava processing facility there which has been out of operation for the past three years.

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy made the announcement when he visited the cassava processing facility on Monday.

Dr Ramsammy, speaking to the media and toshao of the village Doreen Jacobus, said the ministry is working with major partners, including the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to put the cassava processing facility at Tapakuma back in operation.

The minister said the

processing facility has been out of operation for too long, and with it being operationalised, the community could earn, as well as provide, employment for residents.

The minister said the ministry has recognised the demand for value-added cassava products such as farine, casareep, cassava bread and cake on the international market, and as such, it is aiming to get the industry back on track.

Additionally, Dr Ramsammy said once the factory resumes operation, 5000 pounds of processed cassava will be produced. A team from the ministry will be working with the community to introduce new varieties of cassava sticks.

Meanwhile, Toshao Doreen Jacobus, responding to the minister, said the factory, once back in operation, will require solar dryer equipment. She said the

dryer will boost the production of cassava products.

The factory was in operation since 1992; however, it closed in 2011 due to a lack of funds.

She said since that time, the cassava industry declined significantly in her village. The toshao said her village council is willing to work with the ministry to re-open the factory when the factory was in operation it produced cassava biscuit, bread, casareep and starch. The minister and his team had a tour of the facility where he got a firsthand view of the equipment.

The minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary George Jarvis, NAREI head Dr Oudho Homenauth, IICA representative Wilmot Garnet, Regional Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo, New GMC General Manager Nizam Hassan and other officials.

Singapore launches enhanced technical assistance package for Caricom

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ingapore had announced an enhanced technical assistance package for the Caribbean Community during the first day of a high-level exchange between the grouping and the Asian economic powerhouse.

Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has stated that “a lot of the economic fallout that took place in 2008 and 2009 started in the developed world, though the biggest impact has been on the small economies”.

The secretary general was quoted by the Singaporean News Agency on the first day of the inaugural Caricom high-level ministerial exchange visit to Singapore as saying a lot of financial decisions that were being taken at the G20 have reference to small states. “... we need a voice to put forward our peculiar challenges, and what Singapore is

doing, to facilitate that, is welcome,” he added Singapore’s Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, the host of the meeting, said economic and political ties between Singapore and Caricom were growing and had been invaluable in finding common ground on bilateral and global issues. The minister welcomed this inaugural visit between Singapore and Caricom on Monday and pointed out that ties between the two sides have been growing since 1971.

One of the key features between Singapore and Caricom is that all these nations are small states, and Shanmugam said that by working collectively, both sides have been able to present a louder voice on global issues in the international community. One forum where Singapore’s role is welcome is in the G20.

As a further boost to

the ties, Singapore announced an enhanced package for Caricom under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). Nearly 1300 officials from these nations have benefited so far, and more is in the pipeline over the next three years.

Shanmugam said: “We will also give out a number of post-grad scholarships for Caricom officials admitted into Singapore universities.

We will also explore how we can enhance our partnership with the Caricom Secretariat to jointly organise capacity-building programmes.”

During the ministerial exchange, the agency said Singapore and Barbados signed the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement to facilitate greater trade and investment opportunities between the two sides.

Barbados said an air services agreement between the two nations was also due to be signed this week.

he Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) and the Sadr Anjuman on Saturday evening held their annual Ramadanul Kareem Programme.

The programme, which is now a premier activity on the calendar of events for Muslims in Guyana, was hosted by The Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman and the ACIC. It is geared towards educating Muslims about their responsibilities and obligations during the holy month as well as the great benefits of this gift to mankind.

The occasion was attended by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who noted that Ramadan is of great national significance.

The programme offered the opportunity to extend to the Muslim community warm greetings for the month of Ramadanul-Kareem.

It featured prayers, dua and messages of Ramadan Kareem. The holy month of Ramadan is a

time for intense prayer and worship for all Muslims.

Prime Minister Hinds lauded the respect shown to the different religious beliefs in Guyana by the various religious groups, and praised the Christian community for being part of the event.

Also present at the occasion was visiting Sunni Muslim sc holar from Pakistan, Maulana Muhammad Mujahid, a graduate of Kinzul Iman Islamic College in Pakistan and fellow Pakistani Brother Muhammad Azam Ali. The scholars are here in Guyana as guests of the ACIC. ACIC President General Hakeem Khan expressed Ramadan greeting to the people of Guyana, especially the Muslims community and stated that the fast is performed for no other reason than to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God’s commandments. He opined that Ramadan, each year, brings a promise of renewal and hope for the world.

Guyana Islamic Forum President Hajji Roshan Khan expounded on the great similarities between the various religions of the world and drew similarities in the teachings of Islam and the other faiths. He lauded the government for the many measures to ensure the various religious communities in Guyana can live in peace and harmony and freely practice their beliefs.

Sister Bibi in an invited comment stated that Ramadan is that ideal time to train the soul, mind and body to take on the tasks that lies ahead in one’s life. She stated that it is a time to increase generosity and spending for the cause of Allah.

Imam of Meten Meer Zorg Masjid, Haleem Khan, Al Fasilliah Fraternity of Guyana President Brother Roy Ahmad Van Tholl and Pastor Jeffrey also spoke at the occasion. Hinds and the other guests later joined the gathering in the breaking of the fast.

Bandits raid more homes in Berbice

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olice are investigating an alleged break and enter and larceny committed on the house of Sarwan Singh Ramsaroop, a businessman of Lot 828 Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice which occurred on Sunday. The alleged break and enter occurred between 0:30h and 13:00h.

According to information, the bandits carried away G$40,000, US$65 and a quantity of jewellery valued $540,000.

Investigations revealed that the businessman occupies a two-storey wooden and concrete house and on the day in question, about 08:00h, Ramsaroop secured his home with the articles intact and left with his wife

to go to a wedding house.

About 13:00h, it is reported that his wife returned home and found an eastern door prised open and the three bedrooms ransacked. Closer checks by the woman revealed that the articles mentioned were missing. The police were contacted and a report was lodged. The businessman’s house was reportedly dusted for fingerprints.

Meanwhile, a man was arrested and is expected to be charged after it was alleged that he robbed the home of Harrichand Persaud of Lot 24 Grant 1803 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice over the weekend. It is reported that he carted off $108,000,

property of Salima Persaud.

Investigations revealed that on Sunday, Persaud secured his two storey wooden and concrete house leaving the said cash in a bag on a clothes horse in the lower flat of the house.

About 15:00h, Persaud discovered that one of his windows was wrenched opened. This prompted him to check to determine if anything was missing. It was then he made the discovery.

During investigations conducted by the police, several persons were contacted and questioned and based on information received, a man called “Monkey’ was arrested and placed in custody. He is assisting with investigations.

Constant blackouts disrupting water supply – GWI

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rratic power supply has been disrupting water service, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) said on Monday.

GWI in a release said due to fluctuations in electricity, its water production sites

cannot facilitate normal service. The company said sections of Georgetown as well as East Bank Demerara from Agricola to Timehri are experiencing water service disruptions due to Guyana Power and Light (GPL) pow-

er fluctuations.

The water company promised that normal service will return when GPL restores full power to GWI water production sites. “GWI apologises for any inconvenience caused,” the released concluded.

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tuesday, july 16, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Speaker receives first volume of Burnham’s speeches

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he first of three volumes of speeches made by former President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was on Monday handed over to Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman by the publication’s editor Professor David Dabydeen in the Committee Room of the Parliament Office, Brickdam, Georgetown.

The publication is a result of Resolution Number 46 passed by the National Assembly on December 14, 2007. It was a resolution that came to the National Assembly, mandating the government to designate a state institution to be responsible for historical research and documentation and to chronicle and archive all of the works of each president of Guyana for the benefit of future Guyanese generations.

Speaker Trotman said that he was extremely hap-

Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman

py to receive the first copy of the speeches and noted that he has read speeches made

by Burnham, Dr Jagan and others, and was impressed with the level of decency and decorum displayed in the House during Burnham’s era. He said he hopes the volumes will be utilised by politicians, students and the

wider public, claiming that like Dr Jagan, Burnham played a vital role in the development, democratisation, and transformation of the country.

Professor David Dabydeen, who in recent years, has been at the forefront of resuscitating Guyanese historic and literary heritage, apologised for the miscommunication which he said caused the delay in his presence to hand over the books. He noted that piles of documents provided by the Parliament Office amounted to three volumes of Burnham’s speeches being compiled so far.

Professor Dabydeen explained that while he was only handing over a copy of the first volume, the second is currently on its way to Guyana while the third is in the process of being published. The books were published by the

Caribbean Press and edited

by Professor Dabydeen.

The professor also noted that the first volume of speeches contained insights into the kinds of struggles that took place in Parliament before Guyana became independent. He said only about 100 copies of the volumes were published and these are expected to be handed over to the Parliament and the diplomatic corp, but members of the public can access the speeches free of charge on the Caribbean Press website www.caribbeanpress.org.

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (February 20, 1923–August 6, 1985) led Guyana from 1964 until his death, first as premier from 1964 to 1966, then as the prime minister from 1966 to 1980 and finally as president from 1980 to 1985.

He was awarded Guyana’s highest national award, the Order of Excellence (OE).

Five-day steel pan workshop opens

From left to right (sitting): Founder of Tina Insanally Foundation, Vic Insanally; steel pan player Charwin Burnham; Republic Bank Communications and Public Relations Officer Jonelle Dummett; London-based workshop facilitator Aubrey Bryan, along with participants and other officials

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five-day steel pan workshop sponsored

by Republic Bank in collaboration with the Tina Insanally Foundation commenced on Monday following a modest opening ceremony held at the Ivan Chapman’s North Ruimveldt Pan Workshop on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

The workshop is being attended by 14 youths drawn from the foundation’s branches, namely Lovely Lass, St John’s Bosco Orphanage, the Ruimveldt Children’s Centre, the St Ann’s Orphanage

and the main branch at Guyenterprise, Georgetown.

Speaking at the opening, Republic Bank Communications and Public Relations Officer Jonelle Dummett said the bank saw the initiative as an ideal opportunity to aid in coaching the participants while helping to resuscitate steel pan in Guyana.

“We would like to encourage all the participants to make use of this opportunity… we trust that the week will be well spent and you will take an even stronger appreciation for this art form.”

She encouraged the participants to use what they learn to seek opportunities to further their growth in the art form.

Meanwhile, the Londonbased facilitator of the workshop Aubrey Bryan told the participants that they must remain motivated in learning the art form.

“Some of you may find it tough, but with application, you will be able to succeed.”

Special guest at the ceremony Charwin Burnham, a renowned steel pan player said he hopes the participants can play a role in help-

ing to resuscitate steelbands in the country. He noted that enough recognition is not being given to this very important art form. He stated that other parts of the world are not adopting this type of music; hence, he stated that “Guyana has to make some impact in the world with steelpan music.”

The workshop will teach the participants the history of pan – how to select suitable pans, to sink drums, the smoothing and marking out of drums – the grooving, cutting, heating and tuning of drums.

Bandit shot during attempted robbery at Grove

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bandit was shot to his groin during an attempted robbery in Grove, East Bank Demerara on Monday night.

According to a release,

about 19:15h, Alladin Adonis, 34, of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara and another man who was armed with a firearm attempted to rob a busi-

nessman, who is a licensed firearm holder, at Agricola, East Bank Demerara.

The businessman opened fire on the perpetrators, hitting Alladin Adonis

to his groin while his accomplice managed to escape.

Adonis has been admitted a patient under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Man killed, bandit shot in Guyhoc Park robbery

A close family friend of Heron Dennis crying at the scene of the shooting

By Svetlana Marshall

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37-year-old man is now dead and a suspected bandit injured following a shootout during a brazen robbery on Monday night. Confirmed dead is Heron Dennis of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown.

Dennis was shot dead by four bandits during a robbery at Fuzzy’s General Store at Arapaima Street, Guyhoc Park, around 19:30h. At the time of the incident, he was a customer seeking the assistance of the lone shopkeeper.

According to a police statement, about 19:30h, Dwayne Simon, 29, of Mc Doom, Greater Georgetown and two other men, one of whom was armed with a firearm, entered the store and held up three customers including Dennis. The customers began throwing missiles at the perpetrators, whereupon the armed man began discharging rounds indiscriminately.

Dennis was fatally shot to his neck, and Simon was shot and injured to his back and right foot. Simon is a patient under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital. His accomplices managed to escape.

Investigations are in progress.

Eyewitnesses said the four bandits in hoods entered the popular grocery store enquiring about sunglasses, a move which was described as suspicious.

Guyana Times was reliably informed that as the bandits attempted to flee the scene during heavy showers, Simon was shot in the leg and back a short distance away from the shop.

He laid there helpless until for more than an hour police arrived on the scene.

Scores of residents, friends and family members flocked the scene.

Sheron Ally, a close relative of Dennis, cried inconsolably. “He was in the shop and them come fuh rob the shop and he get killed,” the woman told the press as family members tried to console her. Ally’s son further disclosed that Dennis had only celebrated his birthday on Sunday. “When I came here, he was already dead, he went to purchase something, there was a robbery and he is the victim, is just sad that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” the young man said.

A man residing in close proximity of the shop told media operatives that he was watching the news when he heard four gunshots. “It was like 7:15 when I hear four shots fired, so I peep outside; I saw three men running, then they fired a fifth shot.”

Dennis lived in his Guyhoc apartment alone, since most of his relatives reside abroad. He was known for playing dominoes in the area. (svetlanam@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Almost 900 indigenous youths benefiting from... from page 9

He emphasised that the Local Government Ministry and the Regional Democratic Council are of the view that the programme is worthwhile since it contributes to building human resources.

The project, which targets youths between the ages of 18 and 40 will see them graduate as community service officers (CSOs) participating in many areas of their village’s develop-

ment, including education, health, tourism and infrastructure. They are also expected to give support to the village councils. Each CSO will be given a stipend of $30,000 while attached with the Amerindian Affairs Ministry.

The YAEP was first launched at Moruca, Region One, followed by Lethem, Region Nine and Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven.

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tuesday, July 16, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional TT fishmonger held Culture, tourism essential to marketing with illegal turtle meat Jamaica, says minister A T

ourism and Entertainment Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill said the link between culture and tourism is essential to marketing, noting that Jamaica’s people, culture, and heritage should be the country’s main marketing tools.

“The question we must ask ourselves is, are we doing enough to tell the story,” he said.

McNeil was addressing the official reopening of the Seville Exhibition, at the Seville Great House, in St Ann, on Friday.

The exhibition was

Dr Wykeham McNeill

made possible through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) in the sum of

J$14 million for the refurbishing of the Great House, and the Spanish Jamaica Foundation.

McNeil commended the various agencies that were involved in completing the project. “Pulling all these things together is about telling the story of the Jamaican people, and that is what makes us different, and that is what gives us the strength in what we do in tourism,” he stated, pointing out that the development and showcasing of Jamaica’s cultural heritage would be more effective in capturing specific tourism markets. (Excerpt from

Caribbean News Now)

Trinidad media association flip flops in press freedom fiasco

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he Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT), after initially issuing and then amending press statements claiming political interference in the reported resignations and/or reassignment of senior staff at the Trinidad Guardian newspaper, has now retracted entirely its original statement.

The organisation’s latest release on Saturday morning said: “The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) seeks to correct previous erroneous information released specifically about the alleged resignation of the managing director of Guardian Media Gabriel Faria. The impasse between the publishers of

the Trinidad and Sunday Guardian newspapers and senior journalists has been reportedly resolved following discussions between the two parties. Apart from the resignation of Public Affairs Editor Dr Sheila Rampersad, the newsroom is now functioning as before with Judy Raymond as editor-in-chief.

Investigative reporters Anika Gumbs and Denyse Renne, who were initially reported as having resigned, are on the job. Managing Director Gabriel Faria and sector head David Inglefield have not resigned as previously reported.”

Contributing to the embarrassment for MATT is that two of the association’s senior officers – President Suzanne Sheppard and Vice

Judy Raymond

President Judy Raymond – are also both senior employees at the Guardian and would thus have been expected to assist the association in getting the facts straight at the outset, especially as editor in chief Raymond was reported to have been reassigned out of the newsroom.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Argentina's tomato shortages prompt warning A rgentineans have been told to eat less of one of their favourite foods, the tomato, because of a seasonal shortage.

Prices of the fruit have been rising sharply and the government has asked consumers to adapt their favourite recipes and use other ingredients.

Argentinean dishes, including pizza and pasta are strongly influenced by Italian cuisine and feature tomatoes.

But families have been advised to make do without them until September, when a new harvest of the crop is expected.

“For seasonal reasons, involving crop rotations in the farms, the Central Market of Buenos Aires informs the public about a possible shortage of tomatoes,” read

fish vendor is expected to appear before an Arima magistrate today for selling turtle meat outside of hunting season.

It was reported that about 13.30h on Saturday, game warden Nirmal Ramtahal received an anonymous call that a man who owned a fish stall along Cocorite Road, Arima, was selling turtle meat to members of the public.

A team of game wardens including Ramtahal, Hardeo Ramnarine, Jha

Kisto, Pretam Khemraj, Martin Stewart and Rickel Roberts together with two fisheries officers, responded immediately to the information, and visited the area where they conducted surveillance on the vendor at the stall for over two hours.

At about 15.30h, the officers noticed the fish vendor weighing carcasses of baby turtles, and believing they had obtained enough evidence and information to proceed, they moved in

and identified themselves, informing the fish vendor of their observations and the laws he was allegedly breaking.

The fish vendor was detained, and cautioned, and the meat he was selling seized.

The group then made their way to the Arima Police Station along with the carcasses of 28 turtles.

He was later charged by officers of the fisheries division. (Excerpt from Trinidad and Tobago

Today)

Jamaica: Smoking ban takes effect today

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mokers who light up in public spaces today, in breach of the smoking ban, could be let off with just a warning for now, as the police themselves seek to get acquainted with the new law.

Jamaica today joins fellow Caribbean Community (Caricom) states Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, as well as countries in Europe, Canada and the United States, in instituting a ban on smoking in enclosed and specifically prescribed public spaces.

Glenmore Hinds, the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations, said law enforcers will not be going in search of people breaking the smoking ban, as it wants the sensitisation campaign to roll out first.

“It is a new law and so it will take some time for us to

understand, and so we are studying it to see the implications,” Hinds told the Jamaica Observe.

According to Hinds, public education and compliance will play a key role in

lic education and once the public has been sensitised, then the police will look at enforcing the law,” he said.

Until then, Hinds made it clear that the police will have the discretion, to let

this new legislation, even as he expressed optimism that people will comply.

“What is required is pub-

persons off with a warning, given that it will be considered a minor offence. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

Grenada's PM wants ICT to unite region

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aribbean Community (Caricom) minister responsible for information and communication technology (ICT) Dr Keith Mitchell, the prime minister of Grenada, wants to use the new technological era to drive the region forward.

He foresees it having a significant impact on the growth and development of the Caribbean.

Mitchell highlighted the issue during his recent address at the 34th meeting of Caricom heads of government in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

A former mathematics teacher at Howard

Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell

University in the United States, the Grenada lead-

er is pushing for Caricom to transform itself from 15 sovereign states to a single ICT state, to complement the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Mitchell wants the more advanced (ICT) states to help those who are not at their level.

He is of the view that there should not be roaming charges among Caricom states as is the case in the USA. “When you make a call you make a call. It should also be so in the Caribbean.

That will help to do precisely this,” he told fellow leaders.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Church funding plummets in Cayman Islands

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The price of tomatoes has been rising sharply because of a seasonal shortage

a statement from the government’s Office of Domestic Commerce.

“For this reason, and for a period of approximately 60 days, we suggest the use of alternative products.”

However, the government added that all other staple fruit and vegetables

were available in “excellent” supply.

The news comes as a further challenge to Argentine cooks who are still suffering from a flour shortage and higher bread prices that were triggered by one of the worst wheat harvests in Argentina’s history. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

ocal churches received nearly US$4.2 million as part of the government’s Nation Building Fund between late 2009 and early 2011, according to records released by government last week.

However, between the latter half of 2011 and the early part of this year, those grants dropped off to around $1 million for the two-year period – one-quarter of what the former government administration spent during its first two years.

That number becomes even lower after subtracting the funds given back from various churches earlier this year. According to Cayman Islands Finance Minister Marco Archer, four local churches that received cash from the Nation Building Fund for various purposes gave back more than US$221,000 to the government during the previous budget year.

A 2009-2011 group of grants to the Wesleyan Holiness Church in West

Bay for property purchases and a new hurricane shelter/fellowship centre was partially returned last week.

More than US$728,000 was returned, with the church promising to give back either land or its equivalent value that was bought with the government grants.

Archer said he was grateful for the churches that had returned the government grants, which the cashstrapped central government simply could not afford to pay. (Excerpt from Cayman Compass)

15 Around the world

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, July 16, 2013

U.S. shooting acquittal triggers race debate

T

hey took to the streets, to radio call-in shows, to social media to vent their frustration. George Zimmerman not guilty? It cannot be, they said.

“Only white life is protected in America,” one protester in Washington shouted Sunday, a day after a Florida jury found the Hispanic former neighbourhood watch volunteer not guilty in the 2012 death of African-American teenager Trayvon Martin.

But, as with all things surrounding the divisive case, not everyone shared the view that Martin was the victim, that the verdict was wrong.

While few, if any, Zimmerman supporters held rallies celebrating the verdict, on the “George Zimmerman is Innocent”

Trayvon Martin supporters take to the streets

Facebook page, fans were hawking T-shirts and stickers hailing Zimmerman and posting messages of encouragement.

“Thank God the jury got it right and found George not guilty,” Facebook user Pete Habel posted Monday on the page.

The six-woman jury – five of whom are white and

one who appeared to experts covering the trial for CNN’s sister network, HLN, to be black or Hispanic – deliberated for about 16 1/2 hours over two days before reaching their verdict late Saturday.

Most of the protests began a night later, on Sunday, and were largely peaceful.

(Excerpt from CNN)

Fugitive Edward Snowden trapped in Russia – Putin

T

he U.S. authorities have in effect trapped fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden in Russia, President Vladimir Putin has said.

But Putin said Snowden would leave if he was able to.

The former intelligence analyst has been offered asylum in a number of Latin American states, but has no documents with which to leave the transit zone at Moscow airport.

The U.S. has charged Snowden with leaking classified information.

Putin has refused to hand over the fugitive to the U.S. authorities, but said he

can only stay in Russia if he stops leaking secrets about U.S. surveillance schemes.

He said there were signs that Snowden was “changing his position”.

However, he added that Snowden did not want to stay in Russia but wanted to take up residence in “another country”.

Asked what Snowden’s future was, the Russian president said: “How should I know? It’s his life.”

“He came to our territory without invitation. And we weren’t his final destination... But the moment he was in the air... our American partners, in fact, blocked his further flight,”

Edward Snowden

he said.

“They have spooked all the other countries, nobody wants to take him and in that way, in fact, they have themselves blocked him on our territory.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Egyptians spurn U.S. envoy T he first senior U.S. official to visit Egypt since the army toppled its elected president was snubbed by both Islamists and their opponents on Monday, while supporters of the ousted leader demonstrated in the streets.

After meeting the interim head of state and the prime minister, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns insisted he was not in town “to lecture anyone”. But many on either

side of Egypt’s divide suspect Washington of plotting against them.

A huge crowd of supporters of Islamist Mohamed Morsi poured into a square near a mosque in northeast Cairo carrying a giant Egyptian flag, banners and portraits of the detained leader.

Accusing the United States of backing a military coup, thousands of Morsi’s partisans have kept a vigil there since the days be-

fore the army toppled him on July 3, swelling to tens of thousands for mass protests every few days.

The army warned them on Monday that it would respond with “the utmost severity and firmness and force” if they approach military bases. At least 92 people were killed in the days after Morsi was toppled, more than half of them shot by troops outside a barracks near the mosque a week ago.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Spectators trying to flee trampled on each other, said Papua provincial police spokesman Gede Sumerta.

Police brought in 13 people for questioning.

However, no charges were immediately filed.

Hendrik Andoi, head of the Nabire Amateur Boxing Association, said Sunday was the final night of a weeklong tournament for

regional boxers.

The arena seats 1000.

But ticket sellers had oversold tickets. Some 1500 spectators were packed inside, he said.

When the fight broke out, the crowd tried to run outside through the only door that was open – the main front entrance – leading to the stampede, he said. (Excerpt from CNN)

Italian senator says black minister has features of orangutan

A

fresh storm over racism has broken out in Italy after a top senator likened the country’s first ever black cabinet minister to an orangutan.

Cecile Kyenge, an Italian citizen born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been the target of repeated racial slurs since her appointment as integration minister in April.

Roberto Calderoli, vice president of Italy’s senate and a member of the anti-immigration Northern League party, made the re-

marks at a political rally in the northern town of Treviglio on Saturday.

“I love animals – bears and wolves, as everyone knows – but when I see the pictures of Kyenge, I cannot but think of, even if I’m not saying she is one, the features of an orangutan,” Caldero said.

According to local media reports, he added that Kyenge’s success encouraged “illegal immigrants” to come to Italy, and that she should be a minister “in her own country”.

Kyenge is campaigning to make it easier for immigrants to gain citizenship, and she backs a law that would automatically make anyone born on Italian soil a citizen.

Calderoli’s remarks sparked instant condemnation from figures across Italy’s political spectrum, including those within his own party, with Northern League Secretary Matteo Salvini describing the orangutan remark as a “shocking wisecrack” and “out-of-line”. (Excerpt

from France24)

Historic Syrian crusader fort blasted by air raid

A

n air raid on Syria’s famed Krak des Chevaliers castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has damaged one of the fortress’s towers, footage shot by activists showed Saturday.

Several videos posted online showed at least one air strike on Friday against the castle in central Homs province, where fighting is raging between government troops and rebel forces.

The footage shows a huge blast as a tower of the Crusader castle, which is built on a hill, appears to take a direct hit, throwing up large clouds of smoke and scattering debris in the air.

A separate video filmed inside the fortress purports to show some of the damage

The Krak des Chevaliers castle, Syria’s acclaimed crusader fortress, has been damaged by an apparent government forces air raid in Homs on Saturday

caused by the air strike, including a gaping hole in the ceiling and a pile of rubble below.

“God is great. This is the destruction caused by MiG air strike on the Krak des Chevaliers,” said the activ-

ist filming the damage.

“Look at the this, oh world. This is Bashar alAssad bombing the Krak des Chevaliers,” he adds of Syria’s embattled president whom rebel forces are trying to topple. (Excerpt from France24)

Spanish PM rejects resignation calls

S

pain’s prime minister said he will not give in to “blackmail”, amid calls for him to resign over alleged links to a suspect in a payments scandal.

Mariano Rajoy said he would fulfil the mandate given by the Spanish people.

The calls came after a newspaper published text messages he allegedly sent to the suspect, Luis Barcenas, ex-treasurer of his Popular Party (PP).

Meanwhile, Barcenas repeated in court allegations that Rajoy received payments from a slush fund.

He said Rajoy secretly received money between 2008

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

and 2010.

An El Mundo report on Monday said Rajoy had sent text messages of support to Barcenas, who is in custody facing trial for corruption and tax fraud. He denies the allegations.

Rajoy, too, denies any

wrongdoing, though he did not deny sending the text messages.

He said they showed his commitment to democracy and to allowing the justice system to do its work without political interference.

On Sunday, the leader of the country’s main opposition Socialist Party, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, called for Rajoy’s immediate resignation.

At a news conference, Rajoy said a prime minister could not be expected to spend all day denying every rumour or insinuation made about him. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Burma to free all political 17 killed in Indonesia's boxing match stampede prisoners, says Thein Sein

A

t least 17 people were killed in a stampede when a riot broke out at a boxing match in eastern Indonesia, police said Monday.

The riot started just before midnight Sunday when supporters of the winning boxer taunted the loser’s supporters, prompting opposing fans to throw chairs and start fights.

B

urma will release all political prisoners “by the end of the year”, President Thein Sein has said during his first official visit to the UK. The president made the remarks during a speech in London, after holding talks with Prime Minister David Cameron.

Burma, also known as

Myanmar, has freed hundreds of political detainees since Thein Sein took power in March 2010.

Up until then, it barely acknowledged the prisoners’ existence. Their release is part of ongoing political reforms.

“By the end of the year there will be no prisoners of conscience in Myanmar,”

President Thein Sein said on Monday.

He added that a special committee was reviewing every political inmate’s case.

The president is in Britain to discuss trade and military ties. He wants help to boost Burma’s economy and Western nations are keen to invest in the resource-rich nation. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

16

tuesday, july 16, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Caribbean

Permell disappointed with First Citizens allocation

M

inority shareholder rights advocate, Peter Permell, Sunday expressed “profound disappointment” with the government’s allocation of First Citizens shares to individuals even as he praised Finance Minister Larry Howai for his role in getting the initial public offering off the ground with a year of his appointment. In a news release, Permell noted that government had allocated 70 per cent of the 48,495,665 shares on offer to local institutional and corporate investors.

According to Permell: “I regret to express my profound disappointment with the reported share allocation formula approved by the minister and his government in which institutional and corporate investors are afforded preferential treatment or guaranteed 33,946,966 shares, 70 per cent or of the shares to be issued while individual investors who include the group’s hardworking staff, loyal customers and the patriotic citizens of this country will collectively only be eligible for 14,548,699

shares or 30 per cent.

In fact if one excludes the staff, individual members of the public will only be eligible for 7,274,350.” The share rights advocate said that what was “more disappointing and possibly borders on insulting” is the paltry “50 shares” that has been approved as the “guarantee minimum allocation” per individual when the issue has always been not whether the IPO will be oversubscribed but what will be the order of magnitude of the oversubscription. (Trinidad Guardian)

Asia RBI may cut key policy rates by 50-75 basis points this fiscal year

T

he Reserve Bank is likely to cut the key policy rate by 50-75 basis points by March 2014, say experts.

The high volatility in rupee and the upward pressures on inflation in June have, however, considerably reduced the possibility of the RBI easing rates at its first quarter monetary policy review on July 30.

The industry has been demanding a cut in key policy rate to boost economic activities. Industrial output con-

tracted by 1.6 per cent in May on poor show by the manufacturing and mining sectors.

“We continue to believe that a flow of poor economic growth data and a generally range-bound inflation trajectory over coming months will reopen space for further monetary easing during the latter months of 2013,” Barclays said in a research note. Bank of America Merrill Lynch said that in view of the sharp depreciation in the domestic currency, interest rate cuts may

be delayed and expect RBI to retain ‘pause’ in July. At the mid-quarter review last month, it had kept key rates unchanged.

The rupee has depreciated by more than 10 per cent in the last one month and crossed the psychological level of 60/USD in June end. “We think, slowing growth and falling CPI will help the RBI cut rates in the last quarter of the year. We would still expect a 50-75 bps cut in rates

by March, 2014,” said BofAML. (Times of India)

($3,005,765) during Ramadan, compared to AED51,785,160 ($14,098,873) for the previous four weeks.

“Every year Ramadan is a quiet month,” one movie distributor told Arabian Business. The trend was similar in 2011 and 2012, when attendances and box office earnings slumped by 80 per cent and 60 per cent respectively during Ramadan.

The main reason behind low attendances is distributors’ reluctance to re-

lease movies during the holy month. “A lot of people during Ramadan are fasting and are not in a position to go to the cinema after an iftar. It’s difficult,” said a spokesperson from Prime Pictures in Dubai, promoters of Cinemacity in the Arabian Centre in Mirdiff.

This is backed up by the fact that as soon as new blockbusters were launched during the Eid weekend to mark the end of Ramadan, attendances and box offices takings skyrocketed back up. (Arabian Business)

North America Middle East U.S. retail sales growth slows UAE cinema sales set to slump by 80 unexpectedly in June per cent in Ramadan .S. retail sales grew in the Federal Reserve will wean facturing data, pointing to

U

June, but at a slower rate than was expected by many analysts.

Sales were up by a seasonally-adjusted 0.4 per cent, half the 0.8 per cent rate expected by the markets.

Sales of building materials – often a volatile item – fell 2.2 per cent in the month, according to the Commerce Department.

The sub-par performance added to expectations that

the U.S. off economic stimulus more slowly than previously indicated. Car sales – which can also vary greatly from month to month – jumped 2.1 per cent, while furniture and household goods rose 2.4 per cent.

Total retail sales in June were 27.5 per cent up from their level at the bottom of the recession in mid-2009.

The figures come on top of weaker trade and manu-

a softening in the U.S. recovery. “The disappointing rise in retail sales values in June increases the chances that GDP grew at an annualised rate of less than one per cent in the second quarter,” said Paul Dales, U.S. economist at research firm Capital Economics. “Even more worrying is that sales growth appears to be losing momentum heading for the third quarter.” (BBC News)

Europe

Merkel wants EU data protection pact

A

ngela Merkel, the German chancellor, has called for a strict European agreement on data protection requiring all internet service providers to reveal what personal information they have stored, and to whom they have made it available. The fundamental law should ensure that companies such as Facebook and Google would be subject to the same strict privacy rules in all EU member states, and not simply obey national legislation in

the country where they are registered, she said.

Merkel has faced sharp criticism in recent days for failing to take decisive action to protect German internet users from the comprehensive surveillance of internet and telecommunications traffic alleged to have been conducted by U.S. and British intelligence services. The issue has blown up into a significant point of difference in the German election campaign.

The chancellor was accused at

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

Cur

the weekend by her leading challenger, Peer Steinbrück of the Social Democratic party, of breaking her oath of office in failing to protect German citizens. She responded in a set-piece television interview on Sunday night, placing the whole question firmly on the European agenda, and challenging other EU member states such as Britain and Ireland, with less rigorous data protection laws than Germany, to back tougher regulation. (CNN)

Buying

Fixed as at June 18, 2013 Calculated at 94% purity

Selling

U.S.

$1366.75

GBP

$307.06

$310.92

Cambio

CAN

$195.23

$197.48

Gross

$260,585

$205.66

Net

$242,344

Selling

$268,875

$203.24

USD

$202.83

Indicators as on July 12, 2013 Live Spot Gold Bid/Ask

$1284.30

$1285.30

Low/High

$1273.20

$1292.60

+1.10

+0.09

Change July 15 USD GBP EUR July 12 USD GBP EUR

London Gold Fix AM

1281.25 850.65 983.08 AM 1275.00 842.70 976.79

Indicators

USD Per Once

Crude Oil Price Silver Platinum

US$ per barrel

Change %

$109.05

+0.22

USD per Ounce

Change %

$19.95

+0.13 +0.35

$1424.00

PM

1284.75 851.11 984.71

U

AE cinema operators can expect box office revenues to slump by nearly 80 per cent during Ramadan as attendances drop and film distributors shelf new releases until after the holy month, figures from 2012 have shown. Figures from Italia Films in Dubai reveal that last year UAE cinema ticket sales slumped 78 percent month-on-month during the four weeks of the holy month. Total box office earnings fell to AED11,040,176.50

Oceania NZ riding China’s big dipper

A

sian giant’s growth rate lowest for 23 years but demand for Kiwi food tipped to keep rising. China’s so-called “economic miracle” has hit some speed wobbles, but a top New Zealand economist says this country should be reasonably insulated from any direct impact. The Chinese government, which revealed a sharp drop in exports last week, said yesterday that gross domestic product growth had slowed to 7.5 per cent in the second quarter, year on year, from

Investors' guide

measures being introduced to limit property speculation and a focus by the new leadership, which took power in March, on creating more sustainable long-term growth.

Bank of New Zealand chief economist Tony Alexander said demand for New Zealand’s food exports was expected to continue growing in China, despite the slowdown. “Most of the items going into China are food and demand for that is structurally rising with the growth in the middle class.” (NZ

Herald)

How to fly standby in today’s airline industry

T

he airline industry has literally been reinvented with the ability to book reservations online, self-service kiosks and travel sites such as Expedia, Travelocity and Priceline. As a result, flying standby has changed significantly, but is still available for impromptu travel, rescheduling and upgrades if you work with the system, keep your patience, and leverage your personal spending power.

Flying standby then versus now

PM 1279.25 846.90 982.01

7.7 per cent in the first quarter.

China is officially targeting GDP growth of 7.5 per cent for 2013, down from above 9 per cent in 2011. While the world’s second biggest economy remains buoyant compared with many other parts of the world, particularly Europe, GDP growth of 7.5 per cent would be its lowest annual rate in 23 years.

Factors blamed for the downturn include weak demand for Chinese exports and domestic issues, such as

Flying Standby “used” to

mean: go to the airport and pick up a ticket when an airline releases empty seats on a flight for sale “cheap” or even “free”. Now a days, airlines are very good at filling (if not overfilling) their flights and those leftover seats are allocated to specialty travel websites like Expedia.com, PriceLine. com, Lastminutetravel.com, and cheapseats.com , just to name a few. Flying standby today means you have a paid ticket and are looking to travel at a different time, want an upgrade, and are prepared to pay full fare (plus likely fees) if you do

not have a ticket.

Preparation

How flexible are your plans? Look at different days to travel. The least traveled days of the week are Tuesday through Thursday. In addition to these being the days for cheaper flights, they will have the maximum opportunity for change or upgrade.

Check the space available for the flights to your destination on the airline website (travel sites may only show what is allocated to them). Next, check the airline standby flight change policies. (Business Dictionary)

Business concept – Furlough

Last: 15484.26

Changes: +19.96

% Change: +0.13

Open: 15459.69

High: 15509.48

Low: 15455.77

% YTD: +18.16

52Wk Hi: 15542.40

52 Wk Lo: 12035.09

A short or long term period of unpaid leave for employees of a company or government agency, usually resulting from adverse economic conditions. It is usually an alternative to massive layoffs.

Due to mandatory sequester cuts, the U.S. Department of Defence recently began delivering forced furlough days from now until September, causing workers to take 11 unpaid days and lose 20 per cent of their income during this time period.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, july 16, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) It looks like a recent acquaintance whom you feel a strong affinity toward is starting to play a significant role in your life. You’ll see signs of this on the horizon.

dilbert

(June 21July 22) Because you can’t resist responding to others in a warm and friendly manner, companions will treat you in a way that will lift up your spirits and elevate your aspirations.

AQUARIUS

LEO

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(July 23Aug. 22)

If you set your mind to it, you should have no problem accomplishing anything you want. Between your cleverness and Lady Luck’s help, all obstacles will melt away.

Calvin and Hobbes

CANCER

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) If you find that you need a social diversion to cleanse your palate, do something fun, but keep it short. You don’t want to cut into time that you need to get something important done.

Let events develop at their own pace because, to your delight, you’ll discover that your colleagues will be looking out for your interests even more than you are.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) You might not find a better day to have a meeting with someone about an important endeavour.

Your colleague will be very receptive to your ideas.

Peanuts ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Due to some clever maneuvering on your part, a positive change to your financial affairs could take place, although you might not realise it right away.

Concepts that you’ve been toying with can pay off big-time if given half a chance, especially if they’re directly related to your work or career. Bring them out into the open.

SUDOKU TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You’re likely to be exceptionally lucky with contracts or deals of any kind.

If you’ve been trying to wrap up a project, now’s the time to do it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) There is definitely a strong market for the skills and knowledge that you’ve spent a long time acquiring. Let others in top positions know what you know and have to offer.

Monday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) The possibilities for increasing your resources look to be rather good.

Even if you merely get a small stipend from one source, another could yield a significant amount.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) If you have a strong hunch concerning a way to save money, by all means explore this matter further. Opportunities for saving are all around you.

news 19

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PENPAL

Supporters of the ousted president refuse to join a new government, insisting Mohammed Morsi must be reinstated

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undreds of supporters of Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi have clashed with security forces in Cairo.

Police used tear gas to drive back protesters, some hurling rocks, who temporarily blocked an arterial route through the capital.

The clashes came after a senior U.S. envoy said Egypt had been given a “second chance” to create a democracy.

He met Egypt’s new interim leaders, but was snubbed by key groups including Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood.

The clashes took place a week after more than 50 Morsi supporters were killed in fighting with troops outside the Republican Guard compound where the former president is believed to be being held.

Morsi was ousted in a popularly backed military coup on July 3.

Monday’s battles erupted after hundreds of angry protesters blocked the main October 6 bridge. The bridge later reopened with no reports of casualties.

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Earlier, large crowds of pro-Morsi demonstrators were also reported outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque, where they have been holding a round-the-clock vigil to demand Morsi’s reinstatement, and at Cairo University.

“Get out, Sisi,” some shouted, referring to the head of the armed forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who oversaw the overthrow of Morsi.

Meanwhile, officials said suspected Islamist militants had attacked a bus carrying workers to a cement factory in north Sinai, killing three people. Fourteen others were wounded.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns met interim President Adly Mansour and Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi, as well as General al-Sisi.

He described the events of the last two weeks as a “second chance to realise the promise of the revolution” that ended the long, authoritarian presidency of Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

He called on the military to avoid “any politically motivated arrests”, saying the

U.S. remained committed to an Egypt that was “stable, democratic, inclusive and tolerant”.

But he insisted the U.S. had “not come to lecture anyone. We will not try to impose our model on Egypt”.

The envoy’s comments come amid what correspondents say is an increasingly widespread antipathy among Egyptians on both sides of the political divide towards the U.S., which supplies some US$1.5 billion in mostly military aid to the country each year.

Meetings

Burns said he planned to meet religious and civilian leaders, the heads of political parties and business figures during his two-day visit.

But both the ultra-conservative Salafi al-Nour party and the Tamarod anti-Morsi protest movement said they turned down invitations to meet Burns, while the Muslim Brotherhood also said it had no plans to see him.

The U.S. has called for the release of Morsi, who remains in custody. His Muslim Brotherhood movement has demanded his reinstatement and insists the ousting was a coup. Earlier Egypt’s public prosecutor froze the assets of 14 Islamist leaders.

The Muslim Brotherhood head Mohammed Badie and his deputy Khairat al-Shater are reported to be among them. The freeze comes as part of an investigation into the incitement of violence at protests. (BBC News)

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astille Day celebrations ended in Paris on Sunday night with a spectacular fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower. As the first sparklers brightened the sky, the iconic tower lit up in the colours of the rainbow.

The display both delighted and shocked many, who interpreted it as a nod to France’s recent legalisation of same-sex marriage and adoption.

As the show got underway, spectators at the foot of the Eiffel Tower could hear speakers blasting out a man’s voice saying: “All living beings – man, woman and child – walk in the same vein: equality,” as music played in the background.

“Every human being is a shade of this rainbow palette,” another voice over continued.

“For every human, the same opportunities.”

The message of hope and equality had many wondering if there was a political subtext.

Was the rainbow-coloured Eiffel Tower meant to mirror the emblematic rainbow flag?

Was the voiceover at the beginning of the show meant to closely echo the pro-gay marriage slogan, “Marriage for everyone?”

The question immedi-

Lighting up the Eiffel Tower in rainbow colours as part of Bastille Day celebrations on Sunday angered and delighted anti and pro-gay rights campaigners alike, although authorities said the display was actually a tribute to Nelson Mandela

ately lit up social networking websites. While Twitter user @bloglaurel exclaimed that “The Eiffel Tower in marriage for everyone colours is a beautiful symbol!” @PercevaldeB scorned what he viewed as a “Free provocation of the LGBT lobby!!!” and called for French President François Hollande’s resignation.

France’s legalisation of same-sex marriage and adoption left the country deeply divided along political and social

lines. In the months leading up to the law’s approval, Paris was the scene of massive protests, both for and against the measure.

Paris’s city hall, however, has shot down speculation the rainbow-coloured Eiffel Tower was a tribute to gay rights, according to LGBT website Yagg. Instead, city officials said the display was meant to be a tribute to South Africa’s ailing former leader and anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela. (France24)

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guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, july 16, 2013

Tour de France leader Chris Froome sad at doping questions

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our de France leader Chris Froome of Team Sky has admitted his frustration at constant questions about doping.

Froome extended his advantage with a stunning ride on Sunday but faced more doping questions on Monday’s rest day.

He said: “It’s sad that we’re sitting here the day after the biggest victory of my life talking about doping.”

And Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford said he is prepared to give the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) all his team’s data in an attempt to allay suspicions.

Kenya-born Briton Froome, 28, increased his lead to four minutes 14 seconds in winning Stage 15 on Mont Ventoux on Sunday but his success has not been universally acclaimed, despite Froome and Brailsford insisting that Sky are riding clean.

Froome said on Monday: “My teammates and I have been away from home for months training together and working hard to get

Chris Froome

here, we’ve slept on volcanoes to get ready for this, and here I am accused of being a cheat and a liar. That’s not cool.”

On Sunday the sport of athletics was shaken by news that sprinters Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell had both failed drugs tests.

And in light of Lance Armstrong’s admission earlier this year that he used performance-enhancing

substances throughout his seven successive Tour de France victories from 1999 to 2005, there has been renewed questioning of riders during the Tour.

Speaking following his Mont Ventoux success, Froome sought to distance himself from any comparisons with Armstrong.

“Lance cheated,” he said.

“I’m not cheating. End of story.”

Some of the sceptics want Sky to release the output data of their riders, but Brailsford does not want to release their ‘trade secrets’ to rival teams.

However, he suggested anti-doping organisation WADA could be given full access to all the team’s information.

“They can have everything we’ve got,” he said.

“They can come and live with us. They can see all of our data, have access to every single training file we’ve got.

“They can then compare that data on a consistent basis. And they could then tell the world whether they think this is credible or not.”

Froome told BBC Sport: “I can understand why people are asking [about doping], given the history of the sport − they have been let down so many times before.

“But I’m also one of those people who’s been let down.

I’ve also believed in people who have turned out to be cheats and liars. But I can assure you, I’m not.” (BBC Sport)

England select same squad for Lord’s Test

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ngland have chosen an unchanged 13-man squad for the second Test against Australia at Lord’s, which starts on Thursday.

Captain Alastair Cook’s side won the opening contest of the Ashes series at Trent Bridge by 14 runs in a thrilling finish on Sunday.

Paceman Steven Finn struggled for form in Nottingham but Lord’s is his home ground and that may work in his favour.

If Finn is dropped, Tim Bresnan or Graham Onions could replace him.

England selection chief Geoff Miller said the Trent Bridge Test − the first of five − was “a fantastic start to the Test series with both sides showing a huge amount of skill and determination”.

He added: “I would like to congratulate England on showing a great deal of composure to win by 14 runs. I

have no doubt that the rest of the series will be equally compelling.

“We have selected the same squad for the Lord’s Test as this continues to provide options for Alastair Cook and [coach] Andy Flower.”

Finn’s place has come under most scrutiny, with the 24-year-old Middlesex paceman struggling for control at Trent Bridge.

The 6ft 7in fast bowler took two wickets at Trent Bridge in 25 overs at a cost of 117 runs. He was brought in to the attack during the final day as Australia closed in on their target of 311 but was smashed for 24 runs in two overs.

“The Middlesex man is a bowler short on confidence and Australia know it,” said BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew in his column.

“In the manner of a pride of lions picking off an old

Steven Finn

wildebeest from the back of the pack, Australia attacked Finn because they could see he was struggling.

“I cannot see Finn retaining his place at Lord’s, which is a shame because it is his home ground and he actually bowls quite well there.

“The best thing for him

to do now is to go back to his county, take some wickets and get his confidence back.”

England: Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steven Finn, James Anderson, Graham Onions (BBC Sport)

Manchester United make £25M bid for Fabregas

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anchester United have bid £25 million for Barcelona’s ex-Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, but the Gunners have first refusal on him at the same price.

United’s offer is being considered but is understood to be below the Spanish club’s valuation of the player.

While Fabregas is not pushing for a move, it is believed he is open to a return to England.

The 26-year-old will be guided by whether Barcelona are prepared to accept an offer for him.

Fabregas came through the Spanish club’s La Masia academy before Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas

signed him as a 16-year-old in 2003.

He developed as one of the London club’s key players under manager Arsene Wenger before be-

coming Arsenal captain in November 2008.

The Spain international spent eight years with the Gunners, playing 303 games and scoring 57 goals.

However, he returned to the Nou Camp when he signed a five-year deal with Barcelona in a £25.4 million move in August 2011.

He has since helped the Catalan club win the Copa del Rey in 2011-12 and La Liga in 2012-13.

Fabregas has played 96 times in two seasons with Barcelona, including 60 league games, but has rarely featured in his preferred midfield role, with Xavi, 33, and Andres Iniesta, 29, ahead of him.

Fabregas has made 83 appearances for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and the European Championship twice. (BBC

Sport)

Limacol CPL can produce new generation of players, says Windies coach

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r i d g e t o w n , BARBADOS – The man who masterminded West Indies’ triumph at last year’s Twenty20 World Cup says he has high hopes that the Limacol Caribbean Premier League can produce a generation of players ready for the demands of international cricket.

Speaking during a recent media conference in Trinidad for the just concluded Tri-Nation Series, West Indies coach Ottis Gibson lauded the inaugural Twenty20 tournament, noting that it had the potential to develop the type of qualities integral to success at the highest level.

“It will help our T20 cricket because you have seen that about eight or nine of our guys are IPL stars,” Gibson said.

“Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Sammy, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine are all IPL superstars and we hope that the CPL, while producing more superstars, can produce people that can get used to fierce competition.”

The six players identified by Gibson are all regional franchise players for the Limacol CPL, which opens at Kensington Oval in Barbados on July 30 with what is expected to be a spectacular opening ceremony, followed by the first game

between Barbados Tridents and St Lucia Zouks.

All told, 24 matches will be played across the six franchise countries of Barbados, Guyana, Antigua, Jamaica, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago, before the tournament winds up at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad with the final on August 24.

With an impressive array of regional and international stars decorating each side, heated rivalry is expected throughout the Limacol CPL, and Gibson said this type of competition could only serve as a boost for West Indies cricket.

“The one thing [I saw] watching the IPL this year is fierce competition.

International sport is all about fierce competition, so hopefully the LCPL will produce more guys that are able to handle the pressure of that competition,” said Gibson. “Hopefully that is what the LCPL will do for West Indies cricket, as well as making a lot of [players] very comfortable financially.”

Some of the biggest stars in international cricket – including Australian Ricky Ponting, Bangladeshi Shakib al Hasan, New Zealand’s Ross Taylor and Sri Lankan icon Muttiah Muralitharan – are among 90 players contracted to play in the CPL, with each franchise team comprising 15 players. (CPL)

Khan appointed Pakistan chief selector

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oin Khan, the former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper, has been appointed the chief selector of the Pakistan national team.

The PCB announced that Khan will replace former chief selector Iqbal Qasim, but said that the rest of the selection committee will continue under the new leadership. Qasim had decided not to renew his contract with the PCB earlier this month.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be offered the position of chairman of national selection committee − a position held by many greats in the past and most recently by legendary Iqbal Qasim,” Moin said. “I have accepted this as a challenge and I am glad that PCB and my own vision correspond in terms of preparing a pool of talented cricketers who can mount an effective challenge in the 2015 World Cup.” Moin was appointed by acting PCB chairman Najam Sethi, who according to the constitution holds no powers to make such a move, be-

ing an interim incumbent.

The PCB, however, backed Sethi’s decision.

“In the PCB board of governors meeting held on 10th July, 2013, the governing board had authorised the acting chairman to take any decisions required to safeguard the interests and functioning of the PCB in all matters,” the PCB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. “This was to ensure that the affairs of the PCB continue without hindrance in terms of selection of teams, appointment of the selection committee, tour schedules, etc.”

With Qasim’s stepping aside, the PCB had formally dissolved the selection committee, but retained all the members − Azhar Khan, Saleem Jaffer, and two coopted members, Asif Baloch and Farrukh Zaman − who will now work with Moin.

“The other members of the selection committee that was headed by Mr Iqbal Qasim will continue to work under Moin till further orders,” the PCB said in a brief statement. (Cricinfo)

TUESday, july 16, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

Powell’s hotel room raided by Italian police, stash of pills and medicine found

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Shewdas tops IPF sub-juniors rankings

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talian police have reportedly discovered a stash of unidentified pills and medicines in the hotel room of Asafa Powell, the Jamaican sprinter accused of doping.

Carabinieri officers searched Powell’s hotel room overnight, a day after it emerged that he had tested positive for a banned stimulant, oxilofrine, at the Jamaican championships last month.

Powell and other Jamaican athletes have been training in the area, part of the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region which abuts the border of Slovenia.

Police from a specialist drug and food safety unit found around 50 boxes and vials containing medicines and pills, according to Italian press reports.

“For the moment there have been no arrests,” a police source told the Italian press.

The Jamaican runner was staying in the hotel, “Fra I Pini” or “Among the Pines” in the coastal resort town of Lignano Sabbiadoro.

Asafa Powell

The searches were carried out after requests from WADA, the World AntiDoping Agency.

Police were “surprised” at the quantity of drugs they found in the hotel room because it was “disproportionate” to the needs of one athlete, the Ansa news agency reported.

The drugs were sent to police laboratories for testing and identification.

If shown to be banned substances, they could prove to be “the smoking gun” in the doping scandal, Ansa

said.

“The Jamaican squad has chosen the training facilities at Lignano Sabbiadoro for years and has always shown great appreciation for the town,” said the mayor, Luca Fanotto.

Powell, 30, has insisted that he never knowingly took banned substances. “I am not now – nor have I ever been – a cheat,” he posted on Twitter.

He has called for an investigation as to how the oxilofrine could have entered his system. (The Telegraph)

Lehmann puts batsmen on notice

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ustralia’s batsmen have been placed on notice by their coach Darren Lehmann, who declared after a memorable first Test match in charge that the team’s long-standing and disproportionate reliance on their bowlers for major runs must end if the Ashes are to be won from 1-0 down.

Last-wicket stands of 163 and 65 almost carried the tourists to victory at Trent Bridge, but as on the India tour earlier this year the late-innings heroics contrasted starkly with failures further up the order.

Lehmann said that while Australia had proved they could worry England, his batsmen were the major difference between victory and defeat, most glaringly at their first opportunity when slipping to 117 for nine before Ashton Agar’s world record union with Phillip Hughes.

“I think we’ve done enough to show this is going to be a really close series and we’ve just got to capture those key moments,” Lehmann said. “And I think if you look back on the game, we’ve certainly got to bat better as a top order. That’s probably the key. We’re going to bowl very well and we know we can control their batters. It’s a matter of making more runs.”

“Our tail has done really well over a long period of time now but it’s time for the batters to make sure they’re making the runs and giving the tail a bit more time. I think we only batted for 63 overs (sic 64.5) in the first innings and 110 in the second. We’ve got to be re-

E

Gumendra Shewdas

ighteen-year-old strongman and recent Pan-American gold medalist Gumendra Shewdas in the 53kg sub-junior class has made himself the favourite going into the World Sub-Juniors/Juniors Championships from August 25 to September 1 in Killeen, Texas, U.S.A. The International P o w e r l i f t i n g Federation (IPF) in its recently released lineup of Sub-juniors competing for the world title has seven of the world’s best U-18 lifters listed with their best totals achieved within the last twelve months and Shewdas leads the list. Shewdass’ old total of 477kgs, posted in February, was bettered by his Pan-American total of 497.5kgs.

It is being touted by the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) that if Shewdass keeps improving he will give

Guyana its second world title. The feat was first achieved by Winston Stoby in the Masters category.

In a release from the GAPF on Monday evening, it stated it has exhausted its funds on the Caribbean and Pan-American Championships and therefore significant corporate financing is needed to make Shewdass’ participation at the meet a reality.

Shewdass is in his last year as a sub-junior and can bring glory to Guyana and his hometown of Corriverton. His expenses have been tagged at US $1700 for airfare, meals, accommodation, competition and drug testing fees.

Shewdass also becames the second powerlifter from Guyana to be selected for the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA)/ AntiDoping Administration & Management System (ADAMS) whereabouts pro-

grammes requiring him to be on 24-hour notice for international out-of-competition/in-competition-testing.

Randolph Morgan is the other powerlifter.

Powerlifting remains the only sport discipline in the country whose athletes are on the WADA’s drug testing programme ADAMS. No lifter has been tested positive to date.

World Sub-Juniors top lifters 1.Gumendras Shewdas GUYANA 477.5kgs (Best total posted recently 497.5kgs) 2. Dalton La Coe USA 455.0kgs 3. Azamat Asultanov RUSSIA 442.5kgs 4. Kazuma Arai JAPAN 435.0kgs 5. Alexei Kulakov RUSSIA 432.5kgs 6. Tetsuharu Katsuta JAPAN 405.0kgs 7. Erick Aguilar ECUADOR 377.5kgs

Gay dropped by Adidas after failing drug tests

S Darren Lehmann has put the onus on his batsmen, especially the top order, to revive Australia’s Ashes campaign (Getty Images)

versing that about, batting for 120 overs plus in the first innings of a game and making our runs then.”

No one symbolised this issue more distinctly than the No. 3 batsman Ed Cowan, twice swishing his wicket away with cover drives that did not correspond to his commission as an obstinate occupier of the crease.

Others like Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and Steve Smith did not go on from starts, and even the captain Michael Clarke struggled to assert himself at No. 4. Lehmann said Cowan in particular had tried the patience of the selectors with his choice of shots.

“He had a tough game,” Lehmann said. “We’ve told Ed how we want him to play and how we want him to bat. That certainly hasn’t changed from when he first came into the side, I would think. Having not known what’s happened or what’s

been said before, we picked him to do a role. He’ll be disappointed with the shots. So are we.”

“That’s just part and parcel of what we’re about, we’re trying to learn and get better. I’m sure he’ll get better at that as well. Like everyone’s position, you’ve got to make runs and perform.

So we’ll sit down as a selection panel over the next couple of days and work out what we think is the best XI to play the next Test match and work from there.”

Having been appointed as the team’s coach only two weeks before the series began, Lehmann said he would not be over-emphasising technical advice by way of a remedy to the batsmen’s deficiencies. Instead he pushed the concept of each player knowing his scoring areas against each bowler, and demonstrating belief in the methods that had brought them this far. (Cricinfo)

portswear manufacturer Adidas has suspended its sponsorship of sprinter Tyson Gay after the American failed a drugs test.

An out-of-competition test completed by Gay in May tested positive, according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

“We are shocked by these recent allegations,” a spokesman for Adidas said on Monday.

“Even if we presume his innocence until proven otherwise, our contract with Tyson is currently suspended.”

Gay, 30, is the joint-second fastest man ever over 100 metres. He is also the fastest man in the world this year and won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at the 2007 World Championships.

The sprinter is awaiting the results of his B sample and said on Monday: “I don’t have a sabotage story... I basically put my trust in someone and was let down.

“I know exactly what went on, but I can’t discuss it right now.

“I hope I am able to run again, but I will take whatever punishment I get like a man.”

News of Gay’s posi-

tive test emerged as fellow sprinter Asafa Powell was also revealed to have failed a drugs test.

Women’s discus thrower Allison Randall on Monday confirmed a positive drugs test from the Jamaican trials, the same day police in Italy raided the hotel rooms of Powell and Sherone Simpson – who has also tested positive – and took away unspecified drugs for analysis.

British sprinter Craig Pickering, who is currently training with Great Britain’s bobsleigh squad in a bid to reach the 2014 Winter Olympics, was part of Great Britain’s 4x100m relay team that finished third at the 2007 World Athletics Championships behind an American team featuring Gay and a Jamaican team containing Powell.

“Powell and Gay were people I looked up to in the sport,” Pickering, 26, told BBC Radio 5 live.

“I raced them lots of times and never beat them. If they have been doping [throughout their careers], I have lost out financially.

“In 2007, I would’ve been a world champion and that would’ve been a life-changing moment.”

Denise Lewis, who won

Tyson Gay

heptathlon gold for Britain at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, is pleased the testing system is working but wants athletes to be given more information on supplements.

“I feel very let down, but also relieved as it does not matter who you are, you will get caught,” she said.

“Every athlete would appreciate a comprehensive list of supplements they can and can’t take so there’s no room for any doubt.

“But if you do not know what it is, you should not take it.”

Roger Black, a silver medallist in the 400m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, does not sympathise with athletes who fail a drugs test and believes it is up to them to ensure they do not take a banned substance.

“It’s about the athletes taking responsibility for their own careers,” he insisted. (BBC Sport)

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tuesday, july 16, 2013

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Sukhu, Crumpler win Ceres 10k on Beef Island

Injured Beaton replaced

by Joseph in Guyana Amazon Warriors team

– newcomer Reuben Stoby sprints to second place

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Ravindra Sukhu once again proved too strong for his rivals in the Beef Island leg of the Ceres 10k Series

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avindra Sukhu once again proved too strong for his rivals when he comfortably won the Beef Island leg of the Ceres 10k Series last Saturday in the British Virgin Islands.

Katrina Crumpler was overtaken on the home straight on Long Bay beach by newcomer on the road racing scene, Guyanese journalist Reuben Stoby, for second place. Crumpler was the first female to finish.

Sukhi held a steady pace and began to move away from his challengers mid-way into the race, winning in 41 minutes, 34 seconds. He outlasted Ezron Simmons and Crumpler, who stayed close to him for about 5k.

Stoby, who kept close to James Carr for the first half of the distance, began to move away soon after, picking up the pace on the turnaround in front of Riteway

Supermarket in East End and overtook Simmons while narrowing the gap created by Crumpler.

Using the final hill to slingshot him on to the beach, Stoby further cut the lead and overtook Crumpler to finish with a sprint over 300 metres for second place.

His time was 43 minutes, 19 seconds, a significant improvement since his first 10k last month in the Ceres 10k Series when he ran 49 minutes, 15 seconds to finish fifth.

Crumpler crossed the finish line in 43 minutes, 34 seconds to better her time of 46:35s on the same route last year.

“It was a good race, a really nice course. It started off really well because I started off at the front and I just stayed with Ravi, James was with me as well, so we went out fairly quickly. I tried to stay at the front for as long as I could, for about

Second-place finisher Reuben Stoby (right) receives his spot prize from a representative of Proudly African, Shaliva Adams

two miles, and then Ravi pulled ahead and just kept going after that,” Crumpler told Virgin Islands News Online.

Meanwhile, Carr was fourth overall in 45 minutes, 19secs. The second female in was Sarah Hayes in 47:55 followed by Nimade Oniasih in 49 minutes, 47 seconds.

Last year’s winner Maria Mays did not participate.

There were prizes for the top three finishers in the male and female divisions.

Representative of Proudly African, the official distributor of Ceres Juices in the Virgin Islands, Shaliva

Adams, was on hand to present the prizes.

The race, dubbed the Beef Island Breeze Beach Bash 10k, started in the main car park at Long Bay, Beef Island, turned left on to the main road towards the airport terminal, then on to the road to Minnines for 800 metre (0.5miles) to a turnaround point and then head to East End to a turning cone past Inner Harbour Marina in front of the new Riteway and returned to end on Long Bay beach.

The next race in the series is the Carrot Bay 10k on September 14, 2013.

Windies seek redemption in second ODI...

Meanwhile, Sammy will play his 100th ODI game should he feature in today’s game, a milestone he said he never expected.

“It has always been a great honour and a huge privilege to represent the West Indies and to make it to 100 matches is something special and something I’m proud of,” Sammy said.

Sammy continued, “When I started it seems like I wouldn’t have got to 100 ODI’s, but God has blessed me and I give him all credit to that and it’s good to play games for the West Indies. Yes, it’s good to play 100 ODI’s and a milestone but I will approach it as any other before, prepared myself mentally and physically well and make sure I am match ready” The 29-year-old Sammy made his ODI debut against New Zealand on July 4, 2004 and has so far accumulated 1264 runs and tak-

FROM BACK PAGE

Shahid Afridi will be looking to replicate his form in today’s game (WICB Media photo)

en 71 wickets.

Jason Holder was West Indies’ only bright spot from Sunday’s game. The 21-year-old Holder bowled impressively, taking 4-13.

He said during Monday’s press briefing that despite the loss, the team is confident that they can turn things around. “We need to apply ourselves a bit more,”

stated Holder.

“Things went well for me, I was able to get early wickets and put the Pakistani players under early pressure; I am looking to continue in the same way,” Holder stated.

He said coach Ottis Gibson and fellow fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Tino Best have been the driving forces behind his success.

West Indies: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith.

Pakistan: Misbahul-Haq (captain) Nasir Jamshaid‚ Ahmad Shahzad‚ Muhammad Hafeez‚ Asad Shafiq‚ Omar Akmal‚ Shahid Afridi‚ Saeed Ajmal‚ Wahab Riaz‚ Junaid Khan‚ Muhammad Irfan‚ Asad Ali‚ Omar Amin‚ Abdul Rehman‚ Haris Sohail and Muhammad Rizwan.

eorgetown, Guyana – Just weeks before the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament gets underway, the Guyana Amazon Warriors have had to make some changes to their team as young Ronsford Beaton, one of the team’s under-23 players, has been placed on the injured list, and will be unable to participate.

The 20-year-old fast-medium bowler from Guyana has picked up a stress fracture that will take some time to repair. As a result, 21-year-old fast bowler Keon “Buffy” Joseph, also from Guyana, has been called up to join the Amazon Warriors.

“It is unfortunate that we had to lose Beaton due to injury. We expected him to play a major role in the team,” said Amazon Warriors Coach Roger Harper. “However we are delighted that we have been able to replace him with a talented player like Keon Joseph, and we are sure he will do a good job.”

Beaton’s absence will be a disappointment as he raised quite a few eyebrows during the recent regional season, bowling with pace and hostility to snare 16 wickets from six matches in the four-day competition and six wickets from five matches in the Caribbean T20.

Joseph, however, a for-

Keon “Buffy” Joseph

mer West Indies Under-19 player, carries a fair turn of pace, and could prove an adequate replacement. He made limited appearances during the recent first class season but still managed to capture some attention when he rocked Jamaica with an incisive four-wicket burst at Providence back in April.

“I definitely feel excited that I’ve been called up to play for the Guyana Amazon Warriors,” said Joseph enthusiastically. “I am definitely coming to play and bringing my best.”

Joseph’s first opportunity to play will be on 31 July when the Amazon Warriors face the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel at Providence Stadium. (CPL)

NATI defeat NAMSS 2-1 to cop Region Six Digicel title

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ew Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) earned the right to represent Region Six in the quarter-final round of the third annual Digicel Schools Football tournament after defeating New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMSS) 2-1 on Sunday at the Skeldon Community Centre.

Going in the first half NATI found the going tough in the early stages of the game. NAMSS, through some smart passing, kept most of the possession and despite some excellent goalkeeping by Neil Smith, striker Shakel Grant found the back of the net in the 33rd minute when Akeem Bowler took a corner kick.

NATI responded shortly after when Shermon Richards got one pass goalkeeper Leon Loo 41st minute. Despite some good plays by striker Jamal Butts, who had to cope with two NATI defenders, NAMS failed to add to the score when the half-time whistle came.

In the second half Butts made several brilliant moves but was never good enough to get pass a third defender.

Jarrel Walters threatened to put NATI ahead but all of his shots were off target.

Richards also tried but each time Loo saved.

A throw-in by Akeem Bowlers was intercepted by Walters, who got pass four defenders and sent a shot which left Loo on the ground and the net rocking in the 63rd minute. NATI had the lead for the first time in match and that was how it remained until the final whistle.

NATI will face St John’s College, Georgetown winners. The two schools clash this weekend.

Meanwhile, the competition continues on Wednesday when Region One winner take on Region Eight champion in the playoff at Mabaruma. Two more playoff games are also set for Wednesday: Region Two winner will take on Region Seven winners at Kamarang, while Region Nine winners will travel to the Number Five ground, West Berbice to take on Region Five winners.

Winners of all the playoff will join the other four regional winners and Georgetown in the quarterfinals. This is the second time NATI has been crowned Region Six champs. Tutorial Academy was the Region Six victors last year. (Andrew Carmichael)

TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2013

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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WI team consistent at being inconsistent

By Avenash Ramzan

W

est Indies captain Dwayne Bravo told local media operatives upon arrival in Guyana last Friday that “the fans can expect some excitement and some heart and we’re going to rebound from our disappointing end to a very good series that started off in Jamaica, but we regrouped, we had a couple of days off and we’re looking forward to this series against Pakistan.”

It would seem that Bravo had not communicated that message to his team, or for that matter, his batsmen.

The “excitement” undoubtedly came from Shahid Afridi, who befuddled West Indies batsmen with magical figures of 7-12 after clobbering the bowlers to all parts of the Guyana National Stadium, posting 76 off 55 balls.

Instead of rebounding, the West Indies flattered to deceive and folded for 98, defeated by 126 runs. A capacity Sunday crowd left dejected.

Horrendous defeat

After the horrendous defeat, Bravo said he was disappointed “and we know we have to come back on Tuesday and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again. The batting let us down again and we need to get better, especially in the batting to get back into the series and beat them.”

Rectifying all the faults with just a day break between games is surely a monumental task, but these are not slip-ups that have happened overnight.

For far too long the West Indies have squandered winning positions. Sunday was another typical case of the batsmen undermining the great work of the bowlers.

It’s almost impossible to

comprehend how 11 grown men, professional sportsmen at that, some of them the most sought after T20 players in the world, playing at home, in front of a capacity crowd cheering them on, crumble for an embarrassing 98.

Were the Pakistan bowlers that good? Maybe they were, but what of the West Indies batsmen?

Big hitters, yes! But is that going to win you games, when 50 overs seem like a mountain? On paper, a team boasting Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Bravo would drive fear into opposition bowlers, because of their reputation as ball beaters.

But does reputation win you games? It’s an emphatic no! Batsmen who buckle down do. Are the West Indies batsmen prepared to do that?

Recent performances indicate they aren’t. Let’s review the performance of 2013.

Sad tale

Gayle, the talismanic opener, has appeared in 11 ODIs scoring 251 runs at an average 22.8. A huge chunk, 109, came against Sri Lanka at the start of the Celkon Mobile Tri-Nation Series in Jamaica. His next highest score is 39.

There is not much of a difference with Pollard’s statistics in 2013. His 15 ODIs in 2013 has brought a mere 292 runs at an average of 22.4. Like Gayle, Pollard also made a century, 109 not out against Australia, but of the nine single-digit scores, five have been ducks. Next highest score, 45.

Samuels, who was the most productive West Indies batsman in all formats in 2012, has been ordinary this year. In eight ODIs, he has raked in 126 runs at an average of 18, highest

later

Dwayne Bravo’s dreaded run with the bat this year continued on Sunday when Pakistan’s leg-spinner removed him first ball (Trieston Joseph photo)

score of 48 versus South Africa at the Champions Trophy in Cardiff.

Dwayne Bravo, the new ODI captain, is another sad tale. A total of 220 runs from 14 matches, an average of 20 and highest score of 51 is indication of a player who is retrogressing, rather than making steps forward.

While the experienced quartet has failed miserably, young duo Darren Bravo and Johnson Charles have been the most consistent this year. With 525 runs from 16 games at an average of 37.5, Bravo is the West Indies leading runscorer in ODIs in 2013, while Charles with 500 runs from 11 matches at average of 45.45 is the second highest.

Darren Bravo has one hundred and four fifties, while Charles has two centu-

ries and two half-centuries.

While the two have passed fifty on nine occasions in 27 innings combined, Gayle, Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Samuels have passed that mark a mere three times in 47 innings.

Darren Bravo and Charles’ 1025 runs have come at a combined average of 42.08, way above Gayle, Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Samuels, whose total of 889 have come at 21.16 per innings.

Darren Sammy, primarily a lower-order batsman, has not enjoyed the best of times either. But his 201 runs from 12 games at an average of 25.12 are by no means poor for a player, who more often than not, bats with the “tail”.

Sammy’s stats are at least far better than that of Devon Smith, who has

scored 30 runs from three games, all those runs coming in one innings.

The senior players have not just failed, but have done so miserably. Yet there is a deafening silence from coach Ottis Gibson.

This is the same man, who in 2011, chastised the senior players for their poor showing at the 50-over cricket World Cup in the sub-continent. Double standard?

He said back then, “When we left home we said our success would be built around our senior players performing and they haven’t. This is not criticism, it is fact. The senior players have not performed.

When the going got tough, we didn’t stand up to it.”

The senior players – Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan – were

dropped, causing a wave of mixed reactions from around the Caribbean. And while Gayle and Sarwan have since been recalled, the selectors continue to ignore Chanderpaul.

With Gayle, Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Samuels now the “senior players”, Gibson is again in that place where tough decisions and candid words have to be made and spoken.

West Indians surely prefer victories with a bunch of committed players who give more than they can get from the game, rather than lose heavily and comically with a plethora of stars, who seem more motivated to conquer lucrative domestic T20s leagues around the globe, rather than prove their worth at the international level.

Guyana finish second at Caribbean Karate Championships

G

uyana finished second behind hosts Barbados at the 10th Caribbean Karate Championship that was staged over the weekend at the Barbados Community College Gymnasium in Howell, St Michael.

The team competed against Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

Members of the Guyana Karate College kept the Golden Arrowhead flying high; members of the GKC won the trophy for the best performance in the junior divisions, while Barbados won the senior divisions.

The event, which is the premier activity in the Caribbean for Shotokan Karate, encompassed actions individual kumite (fighting) and kata (form), team enbu (demonstration), team bunkai (application)

The medallists pose with Sensei Jeffrey Wong (left, front row) and Kancho Frank Woon-a-Tai MS (right front row) after their success last weekend

and team kata.

Attending the

open-

ing ceremony and events were a number of se-

nior International Karate Daigaku officials, includ-

ing the chairman and chief instructor, Kancho Frank Woon-a-Tai M.S., ninth degree black belt, deputy chief instructor Shihan, Dr Dexter Shim, eighth degree black belt, and Shihan Alice Bernstein, seventh degree black belt, among others.

The Guyanese were led by excellent performances in the girls’ division by Hanna Farina, Rebecca and Rachel Ramlall, Tashana Wong, Alyssa Persaud, Alliyah Wong, Christy Dey, Mickelly Rahaman and Ashley Seeram.

In the ladies’ category, Kerry Ramkumar, Claire Cheeks-Martelly, Nikita Clark and Jennifer Rameshwar copped gold, silver and bronze medals respectively, while in the boys’ division success came from Tyler Orderson, John McGrath, Antoine Herod, Yannick Rameshwar, Mark Wong and Michael Hing, Carlos Gonsalves, Desmond Fernandes and Otto Harris.

In the male category, Eric Hing, Romel Rameshwar Mathew Hurry, Aubrey Bettencourt, Kenrick Cheeks, Medishari Ramdhani were triumphant.

Senior instructor and vice chairman of the GKC, Sensei Jeffrey Wong, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance at the Caribbean Championships, saying they maintained the high standards of karate, particularly the younger karatekas whom he considers to be the future of the college.

He was pleased with the tenacity and the perseverance shown by the charges under him, overcoming a number of challenges. The team had to overcome jetlag after arriving in Barbados mere hours before the championships.

The team now looks forward to participating in the Guyana Cup karate tournament, slated for November in Georgetown.

tuesday, july 16, 2013

TOP SCORES

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

England 215 & 326-6 (Bell 95*, Broad 47*) lead Australia 280 by 261 runs

Windies seek redemption in second ODI today – Sammy to play 100th ODI, vows team will bounce back

By Rajiv Bisnauth

W

est Indies face a daunting task to redeem themselves when they engage Pakistan in the second ODI today at the Guyana National Stadium from 09:00h.

The West Indians were overwhelmed by the allround exploits of Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi which eventually sent them crashing to a 126-run defeat in the opening match of the five-match series on Sunday.

Captain Dwayne Bravo had said West Indies will attempt to make amends for their disappointing defeat in the first OneDay International.

“Overall, we were disappointed with today’s (Sunday) result and we know we Asafa Powell

have to come back on Tuesday (today) and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again. The batting let us down again and we need to get better, especially in the batting to get back into the series and beat them,” Bravo disclosed after the match on Sunday.

Bravo added: “We have to get this defeat out of our system and come hard at them again on Tuesday.

On the other hand, former ODI captain Darren Sammy, who is expected to play his 100th ODI, dispelled talks of complacency at Monday’s press briefing at the Pegasus Hotel.

“I don’t think it was a case of complacency, Afridi came out and played a blinder, but that’s cricket and we expect these things,

P21

Jason Holder and Darren Sammy during Monday’s press conference (Rajiv Bisnauth photo)

but I don’t think we counteracted their spinners well enough and we hadn’t batted well to build partnerships,” Sammy said.

The West Indies lacked the zeal during Sunday’s game, but the 29-year-old Sammy vowed that the team will hit back.

Sammy said the team had been in this position before and found the confidence to bounce back.

“We need to dust ourselves off and believe we can be successful against them.

“We have been through this before and some way or somehow we will find a way to bounce back. We have to be honest as crick-

eters we all know where we all went wrong, but it’s about putting in consistently good performances on the cricket pitch.

“He had a good start to the series…the opening spell Roach and Holder gave us, but we did not take advantage of so it’s something we have to improve on in terms in different position we drive home the advantage. As a batting group we all have to pull ourselves up and play accordingly. We have talent and ability in the dressing room to play better than we are playing now,” opined Sammy.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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22

Jamel Walters receives the regional championship trophy as teammates pose with Digicel officials

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