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INSIDE Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2107 guyanatimesgy.com

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Monday, April 21, 2014

DDL to plug $1.3B into modernisation plan See story on page 16

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Govt to regulate working conditions in the mines P3 P8 Hindu community urged to help fight social problems

REO pleased with P9 $944M allocated to Region Eight Rice farmers accused of polluting P10 Canje River I want this one! This must have been the words of this little girl as her mother and father ensure she gets the right kite for today's Easter Monday festivities (Carl Croker photo)

Spiritualists reportedly set North Ruimveldt house on fire

See story on page 7

Rupununi man found dead on road See story on page 7

Venezuelan protesters P14 hold Easter rally, plan to burn Maduro effigies

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, April 21 from 09:30h-11:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, April 21 from 08:40h-10:10h

WEATHER TODAY Countrywide: Thundery showers can be expected to break sunny conditions during the day, with partly cloudy conditions in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East north-easterly between 4.92 and 5.81 metres per second.

High Tide: 08:48h and 21:36h reaching maximum heights of 2.44 and 2.29 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 14:59h reaching a minimum height of 0.78 metre.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

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Govt to regulate working conditions in the mines G

overnment will be implementing regulations to address the use of chemicals at work, as well as conditions of work in the mining, forestry, and manufacturing sectors.

This is according to the Labour Ministry as Guyana gets ready to join the rest of the world in observing World Day of Safety and Health on April 28.

The day will be observed under the theme “Safety and Health in the use of Chemicals at Work”.

Figures released by the Labour Ministry last year indicated that there were 486 workplace accidents for 2013, with 10 of those accidents being fatal. The manufacturing sector accounted for five of the fatalities, while the bauxite sector accounted for three.

The Ministry had said that the total number of accidents was a reduction from the previous year. A total of 738 industrial accidents were recorded by the Labour Ministry in 2012, with 12 of those being fatal.

The mining industry accounted for six of the accidents, four occurred in the shipping industry, while

there was one each in the fishing industry and forestry sector in 2012.

Meanwhile, noting that regulations to address HIV/ AIDS have already been tabled in the National Assembly, the Ministry said these will ensure penalties under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, but the Ministry prefers to work with employers and employees to correct defects, rather than penalise persons and companies.

As it relates to the observance of the day, the Ministry said since 1996, the trades union movement worldwide started this commemoration as a day for deceased and injured workers, and this year the Labour Ministry has designated a week for the observance.

Safety and health

It will focus on safety and health in proper handling, storage and use of chemicals. Emphasis will also be placed on highlighting the need for greater personal responsibility by employers and employees in ensuring appropriate safety measures are in place, as well as strict adherence to safety rules at

Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul

all work places, the Ministry said in its statement.

It noted that the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1997 imposes obligations on employers, those self-employed, suppliers and employees, which are intended to ensure the health and safety of all persons in workplaces including visitors.

“It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure proper storage and handling of all chemicals by trained persons and employees are obligated to wear the appropriate safety gear and equipment when handling chemicals to minimise the number of accidents, alto-

gether eliminate the fatalities due to industrial accidents,” the Ministry stated.

According to the Ministry, employers are also obligated to ensure that employees are educated and trained in safety practices, but these alone do not suffice, as personal responsibility is critical to giving weight to the training received.

“The Ministry is calling on all employers, employees and trade unions to place greater emphasis on ensuring safety and health at work and to seek the services of the Labour Department whenever necessary for guidance and support in implementing safety measures. Regulations are in the making to address the use of chemicals at work, as well as to regulate conditions of work in the mining, forestry, and manufacturing sectors. Regulations to address HIV/AIDS have already been tabled in the National Assembly."

“Hence, as we observe World Day for Safety and Health, we appeal to all stakeholders to make a concerted effort to improve and prioritise safety and health at work.”

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Views Fun in the park 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

Easter Monday

E

aster holds a special place in the hearts of all Guyanese. Officially, it is a Christian holiday, commemorating within their belief system, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As such, it is a reminder to the Christian faithful of God’s love for man that He allowed His “only begotten son” to be sacrificed for their redemption and salvation.

All across Guyana, this solemn occasion will be observed with pomp and splendour, but also with reverence as is befitting.

As a country founded by Christian nations – the Dutch and the British – it is not surprising that there is no need to rehearse the story of the death of Jesus Christ. But most interesting, if most persons were asked for a comment on Easter, “kite flying” would probably be most frequently evoked. This is almost a unique tradition, peculiar to Guyana.

Apocryphal or not, the practice is accepted by the faithful as symbolic of Jesus’ ascension into Heaven after his resurrection. And it would almost be “heresy” for parents not to accompany their children to one open space or other today to hoist their kites. The affair takes on the flavour of a picnic, as families partake of freshly made pastries and other goodies.

While some purists may object, it should be pointed out that among the public events of Guyana, this feature of Easter’s commemoration is one of the most wholesome.

It brings families and friends together – along with the next generation, in a spirit of bonhomie that goes beyond Christians. Surely God would want to encourage all his creation to live together harmoniously.

But the Guyanese syncretism at work, in which kite flying has become part of Easter, is not new in Christianity.

In fact, Easter is actually a conflation of several strands of ancient European practices that preceded their conversion to Christianity.

They were dubbed “pagans” and Christians made a pragmatic inculturation of their practices centred on, for instance, their Goddess “Eastre” and other practices. All of this is now accepted rather sanguinely in Britain, the country that bequeathed most of our Easter traditions.

For instance, earlier this month the Guardian carried the following with nary a protest from their readership: “What is interesting to note here is that in the ancient world, wherever you had popular resurrected god myths, Christianity found lots of converts.

“So, eventually Christianity came to an accommodation with the pagan Spring festival. Although we see no celebration of Easter in the New Testament, early church fathers celebrated it, and today many churches are offering “sunrise services” at Easter – an obvious pagan solar celebration. The date of Easter is not fixed, but instead is governed by the phases of the moon – how pagan is that?

“All the fun things about Easter are pagan. Bunnies are a leftover from the pagan festival of Eostre, a great northern goddess whose symbol was a rabbit or hare. Exchange of eggs is an ancient custom, celebrated by many cultures.

Hot cross buns are very ancient too.

“In the Old Testament we see the Israelites baking sweet buns for an idol, and religious leaders trying to put a stop to it. The early church clergy also tried to put a stop to sacred cakes being baked at Easter. In the end, in the face of defiant cake-baking pagan women, they gave up and blessed the cake instead.”

But syncretism has its limits and Guyanese should hark to the central message of the Christian belief system and not desecrate it. Of recent there has been a disturbing trend in all festivals for them to be converted into one more “sport”.

Toward this end, we note the debate over selling of spots on the sea wall in Georgetown did not even mention that the consumption of alcohol should not be encouraged at Easter time. This practice must cease.

A Happy Easter to all our readers.

These youngsters are evidently having a whale of a time in the National Park on Easter Sunday (Carl Croker photo)

There should be public disclosure on what sum of money GuySuCo received Dear Editor, The recent swirl of opinions in the media highlights the fact the sugar industry’s balance sheets are crashing and the nation’s financial system is smouldering. The failed sugar production model that began almost nine years ago is still with us. GuySuCo still thinks its chief weapon in quelling this slow-motion panic and restoring confidence is to continue pumping more money into the mismanaged sugar industry.

Yet it is the very policy – and the resultant management – that is perpetuating the crisis and undermining our sugar industry and the economy.

The state-owned industry’s poor production, lower cane yield per hectare, and lower tonnage of sugar per hectare have served to significantly empty the Government’s coffers.

A source disclosed that sugar production with all the money pumped into the 2014 Budget will be far from the targeted production at all times because of mismanagement.

GuySuCo has com-

menced harvesting following last year’s poor sugar production. It has set itself a target as usual of 74,616 tonnes sugar for the current crop and a target of 216,000 tonnes for 2014. The Government announced in the 2014 Budget that it would inject another $6 billion to help bail out the ailing industry The industry at the end of last year bore a debt of almost $11 billion. It managed to keep afloat with a $5 billion Government bailout last year. Further funding of the industry will be required for crucial capital investment.

This year with the world market sugar price declining and influencing a lower price in the European Union (EU) where the Corporation disposes of 190,000 tonnes of its yearly sugar production, the situation is extremely challenging to the stakeholders of the industry.

The production and financial turnaround that is supported by the Opposition parties with other initiatives taken is

hoping that the industry will ultimately redound to the benefit of the industry’s 18,000 workers and their families.

There must be new and more arable lands in the Moleson Creek area and a dramatic turnaround of the industry’s performance if it is to remain in shape and form in the future.

The hierarchy of the Corporation, unable to put rights its agronomy practices so far, is inviting farmers to rent on most of its seven estates some of the industry’s arable lands to bolster sugar production.

Poor yielding canes and low production are the direct cause of our poverty. The management of GuySuCo has to change this situation by increasing significantly, and continuing to increase, the national output of sugar.

But to be able to do this with any measure of success, Government and the Corporation must liberate and develop the productive forces.

The directors must begin by knowing what the

estates have – what potential for development exists not only in the factories, but in the fields.

Many productive assets in the sugar industry are idle, are not being used at all, or are producing below capacity. The Corporation still has far too many hectares of good agricultural land in the Moleson Creek which are idle and inefficiently utilised which can increase sugar production.

The seven factories have, for the past decades, been producing well below capacity, especially the Skeldon Sugar Factory. The EU, in efforts to compensate the 18 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) sugar producing states for the price cuts, has been providing aid called Accompanying Measures.

There should be public disclosure on what sum of money was received by the Corporation since the commencement of the accompanying measures and what sum was disbursed to the Corporation to date.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan

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

The PPP/C will always be in the hearts and minds of Amerindians (Part One)

Dear Editor, The education, health, welfare, and respect for our Amerindians have always been a key factor in the PPP/C’s strategic thrust for a better Guyana. Indeed, to this day, the party remains the country’s oldest, bestloved, and most cohesive political institution. Considered the dominant and most progressive force, it is the pace-setter for all political aspirants.

The genesis for caring for Amerindians was based on Dr Cheddi Jagan’s own commitment to uniting all Guyanese, with aims transcending racial group interest and his admiration of Philip Storer Peberdy, a Briton and curator of the British Guiana Museum and Welfare Officer for the Amerindians in the 1940s under the Colonial Government.

Mr Peberdy (who died in London in 1990), cared deeply about the Amerindians and strongly advocated improving their economic conditions. In his 1948 “Report of a Survey

of Amerindian Affairs in the Remote Interior of British Guiana”, he recommended some revolutionary proposals to improve the way of life of the Amerindians, including a programme to have them integrated into mainstream Guyanese society.

He even suggested that the then Barama Mouth Sawmill in the North West and the Rupununi Development Company that operated the Dadanawa Ranch in the South Rupununi be bought by the Government and run on a cooperative basis for the benefit of Amerindians.

Ever since Dr Jagan entered politics in 1943, he and Mrs Jagan visited the majority of Amerindian villages over the years, listened to their problems, identified with their plight, and acted where they could to alleviate the sufferings of our first people. Early PPP stalwarts like Eugene Stoby, Ignatius Charlie, Eustace Rodrigues, and Basil Williams helped in paving the way and are names well

worth remembering.

There are currently nine Amerindian tribes living in Guyana – Akawaois, Arawaks, Arekunas, Caribs, Makushis, Patamonas, Wai Wais, Wapishanas, and Warraus.

Comprising over 10 per cent of Guyana’s population and occupying almost 90 per cent of the landmass, Guyanese Amerindians live in over 130 villages throughout the country.

Many of the technological contributions of Amerindian societies have already been recognised by the native terminology. Quite a number of native products became current only after the Europeans and other immigrants settled on the coast – pepperpot, hammocks, balata, medicinal herbs, íte palms and troolie leaves (for thatching roofs).

In their widely differing environments, Amerindians adapted and poured forth a stream of unique inventions, each one a distinct response to a local necessity: asphyxiating fish

by the ground leaves and roots of specific plants in the absence of hooks and nets; bending twigs to mark a trail or preventing one from getting lost in the forest and to mark their route.

It was through these bent twigs in Guyana and an Amerindian line as a guide, that the cattle trail was cut (1916-1920) from Surama in the Rupununi to Takama in Berbice. The trail brought beef to the tables of citizens in Georgetown.

Amerindians are superb mimics of the sounds of animals and birds.

They can mislead even the jaguar.

For instance, they bring the yarrow fish to the surface through a slow seducing whistle and can even reproduce the mating call for the tapir.

They bring other fish to the surface by splashing the water in such a way to mimic the falling of ripened seeds.

The Amerindians showed settlers a range of dishes based from the for-

est plants and animals, for example, food from root crops like cassava and yams, and oil from turtle eggs.

They can recognise medicinal properties in hundreds of plants – knowledge that is a priceless resource of the rainforest. Armed with the knowledge of thousands of medicinal plants – peaiamen fought goitre, headaches, malaria, constipation and other illnesses are treated. Ipecac from Amazonian roots cured amoebic dysentry. Quinine from the cinchona bark cured malaria. Curare killed without affecting the heart.

These medicinal plants were eagerly sought by the early colonists to supplement the old world’s pharmacies.

Lal Balkaran, Author of Encyclopaedia of the Guyanese Amerindians and Other South American Native Terms, Issues, and Events

The Opposition is insulting the intelligence of Guyanese Dear Editor, The Opposition is once again at it, insulting the intelligence of Guyanese.

Since they cannot argue using facts, they choose to play with words.

This is their strategy in their desperate attempts to discredit the Government’s 2014 National Budget and derail Guyana’s development yet again. They know that they cannot dispute the facts that are staring them in the face so they are resorting to empty rhetoric and semantics.

Judging from Mr Granger’s budget presentation one gets the impression that development is an event and not a process. It is in this context, I wish to comment on what Mr Granger is reported to have said in his 2014 budget presentation.

• Granger said budget 2014 must be amended if people are to enjoy a good life. This is a very interesting statement. The Opposition has amended both the 2012 and 2013 budgets.

But they are yet to explain to the people of Guyana how those amendments made their lives better.

If they cannot prove that their previous amendments have resulted in Guyanese living a better life, how can they proceed to amend the 2014 budget, claiming that that is necessary for people to live a better life.

What confounded nonsense is this?

Have their deprivation of the Guyana

economy in excess of $50 billion over the past two years made any positive impacts on the lives of Guyanese? Has Guyana come any closer to providing its citizens and business community with cheap and reliable energy by killing the Amaila Falls Hydro Project?

• Mr Granger called for the reduction of VAT. Had Granger took the time to do some simple research he would have discovered that 16 per cent VAT is quite low compared to many countries around the world.

If his chief economist, Mr Greenidge is an economist indeed he would have been able to advise him that any reduction will disproportionately benefit the rich. Greenidge would have also been able to tell him that the introduction of VAT has resulted in the rich paying their fair share of taxes since all the items consumed mainly by the rich carry VAT. • With the same breath, Granger called for the creation of jobs for school leavers. Could Granger explain how a reduction in Government’s revenue and for that matter, their amendment of the national budget will lead to the creation of jobs for school leavers?

Printing more monies as the PNC did?

We know what that led to.

• Granger said we now have a new dispensation in which the APNU and AFC can combine to save this budget and that we must now work towards

giving our people a good life. Is this guy serious? They have been combining to save the budget since 2012 by cutting out all of the Government’s key development projects.

The question I would like to ask him is, have their actions in saving the budgets of 2012 and 2013 led to improvements in Guyana? This is yet another example of Granger’s and the Opposition’s flawed logic and confounded nonsense. Mr Granger, the majority of Guyanese are intelligent people. You are insulting them.

• Granger said no single party knows everything. Very true, but it seems that the Opposition doesn’t even believe in what they are saying. They wilfully ignore the Government’s invitation to participate in the budget preparation.

They instead want to establish a parliamentary committee where they dominate to prepare the budget. It seems they believe that they know everything. Maybe they do. They know everything about how to destroy a country and its people’s future. History has proven this to be correct.

• Mr Granger said that APNU knows the micro economic fundamentals. Didn’t his chief economic advisor, Mr Greenidge, advise him that if you want to improve the micro economic fundamentals you have to work on the macro economic fundamentals in the

first instance? But then again, this is asking too much of Greenidge.

If he was aware of this very basic economic principle, he would not have made Guyana bankrupt when he was the Minister of Finance. The question, therefore, is what Mr Granger thinks will improve the micro economic fundamentals? Is it cutting from the national budget every year, all of the Government’s critical development projects?

What confounded nonsense are Granger and the Opposition dishing out to the Guyanese public. Mr Granger must once again be reminded that Guyanese are intelligent people. He must not forget that Guyanese students for the past five plus years have been outperforming the entire Caribbean.

• Mr Granger said that it is only through the majority side the Executive can be made aware of the real situation on the ground affecting the people. This is a most interesting statement because their actions since 2012 have proven beyond any doubt that they are totally ignorant of the real situation on the ground.

When they killed the hydro-power project, were they not aware of the fact that the high cost of electricity is affecting every single Guyanese? They surely were not because they were only thinking about Linden where electricity is free and the cost is a non-issue.

Were they not aware of the cost of highly specialised medal care to ordinary Guyanese and how many lives could be saved when they denied funding for a Specialty Hospital in Guyana?

Were they not aware of the cost of airfare to Guyanese when they denied funding for the expansion of our main airport? This list can go on. What do the answers to these questions make Mr Granger and every member of the Opposition?

Granger said that the National Assembly has an obligation to provide leadership to provide a better budget.

But how can irrational and vindictive chopping of the national budget be described as responsible leadership?

• According to Granger, the National Assembly has a duty to design plans and strategies to overcome the economic, political and social challenges and must forestall any folly that might prolong the nightmare of poverty that can lead us down the path of deeper destitution.

What are the strategies and follies that Mr Granger is talking about?

The hydro project? The Specialty Hospital? Expansion of our main airport? Infrastructure in the hinterland?

Or is he talking about himself and the entire Opposition?

Yours sincerely, Faruk Mohamed

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Foundation

Ways to have time fun with your children ing it fly up into the sky. Make a day of it when you create a kite with your children. Then scrapbook your family’s highflying adventures to capture the memories. Flying a kite is still one of the most fun unplugged activities kids can enjoy today.

Plant a garden.

Let them feel the earth in between their fingers as they plant

C

hildren today spend most of their time indoors. Eastertime is a chance for children to get outdoors and really experience nature firsthand.

Fly a kite. Step away from

Belt out “Singing in the Rain.”

And when you’re finished with those special rainy day activities, adapt some of your children’s favourite sunny day games to a safe, rainy day alternative.

Ride your bike. Wipe the dust off the bikes and fill the tyres with air. Riding bikes is good for everyone in your family. Before you jump on the

simple walk for granted, particularly doing it as a family. Put your non-walkers in a stroller, and lace up the tennis shoes on everyone else.

Walking is not only good for all of you, it’s also an adven-

the video games for a favourite pasttime that dates back to 400 BC, after Easter Monday.

There’s a peaceful, exciting feeling that comes with unwinding your twine, running with the kite and finally see-

a garden. Invite the bugs over with an insect watering hole. Reconnect with Mother Nature.

Play in the rain. Rain is headed our way, so why not take advantage of the showers? Grab a raincoat and rain boots to play in the rain.

Listen to the raindrops on the umbrella. Splash in puddles.

ture. Children can collect leaves and sticks for art projects, carry a tape recorder to discover new sounds or play walking games.

Plan a picnic. Lunch at the table again? Pack up that

bikes, though, be sure to give the children a bike safety refresher course, and check the fit of each helmet. For the little one not quite ready to ride on two wheels, use the season to teach him how to ride.

You’ll be letting go of the bike and watching him pedal away from you faster than you want.

Take a walk.We take a food for a picnic instead. The children won’t object. Just grab your blanket for a picnic in the park or in your backyard. With so many picnic food choices, you have plenty of options to fill your picnic basket every day of the week. And if ants show up as uninvited guests, use their appearance to teach your children about different types of ants.

Make a bird house. Let the children don their hard hats to build a bird house.

Open a diner nearby when the children create a bread bird feeder. Get ready to attract a variety of birds to this hopping new neighbourhood.

Got on a mini-vacation.

There’s a reason schools give children an Easter vacation.

After being cooped up at home and at school, children are just as ready for a getaway as their parents. Let them celebrate their freedom with a bang.

Plan a trip the whole family can enjoy. There are plenty of child-friendly outings for day, weekend or whole week trips.

Play sports/outdoor games. Get ready to cheer on your favourite athlete. For any age, sports encourage exercise, teamwork and socialisation. Let your child in on the joys of football and cricket; hopscotch, “saul out” and other outdoor games are also great fun. (Adapted from about.com)

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Spiritualists reportedly set North Ruimveldt house on fire

A

The remains of the burnt house at North Ruimveldt on Sunday

man and a woman are now in police custody after they reported set alight their Lot 2976 Layou Street, North Ruimveldt home on Sunday morning.

The fire, which started about 08:15h, completely razed the two-storey concrete and wooden building and caused severe damage to a nearby house.

According to information received, the house is owned

by Monica Paddy, who resides in the United States, but at the time of the fire, it was occupied by her daughter, Jennifer Paddy and her reputed husband.

The upper flat of the building comprised three bedrooms, living quarters, kitchenette and toilet and bath, while the lower flat was an apartment-like structure that the couple reportedly practised witchcraft.

The blaze started form the lower flat of the house and quickly engulfed the entire building.

Fight

At the scene on Sunday morning, neighbours told Guyana Times that the fire started moments after the couple were heard quarrelling in the house.

One neighbour recalled that the woman and the man would normally fight and she had threatened to set the house on fire on numerous occasions.

One woman, who resides next to the burnt house, explained that she was preparing meals about 08:10h when she felt an intense heat, followed by the sound of cracking glass windows. The woman added that as she looked out, she saw the Paddys' house on fire.

People in the neighbourhood formed a bucket brigade and doused the house with water in an attempt to prevent the neighbour's house going up in flames.

She said residents could not have saved the Paddys home, noting that as a result of the strong winds, the house quickly went up in flames.

The woman stated that by this time, the fire tenders arrived on the scene and curtailed the blaze to one location.

Another resident told Guyana Times that it is a norm for the couple to fight.

They were reportedly occupying the house for the past six months.

The woman, who was asked not to be named, posited that the couple usually performed their spiritual ceremonies in the evening, which entailed huge balls of fire in the house, but this was not the case on Sunday morning. Guyana Times learnt that Jennifer Paddy and her reputed husband set alight a photo of her mother and left it in the house.

It is believed that the two deportees wanted to take possession of the house, but the owner askedthem to leave her premises as soon as possible. The couple were seen leaving in separate di-

rections when the fire started, but they were apprehended by the police.

The woman reported confessed to setting the house on fire, claiming that she wanted ownership of the property, but her mother refused to hand over the documents.

The couple is expected to be charged with arson as early as Tuesday. A senior fire official said after assessing the damage, he is of the opinion that the fire apparently started in three different locations.

The Fire Service reportedly received the report of the fire about 08:10h and the tenders at West Ruimveldt and Central Fire Stations were immediately deployed to the scene.

By the time the fire tenders arrived, the house, according to the senior officer, was already engulfed in flames. The Guyana Fire Service is continuing their investigations.

Rupununi man found dead on road T

he body of a North Rupununi man was on Sunday morning found with several stab wounds to his chest along the Tabatinga Public Road, Lethem.

Terrence Robin James, 23, or Kwatamang Village, was discovered about 05:40h by a passerby, who in turn alerted the police and the relative of the dead

man.

It is believed that the man might have attended the Rodeo at Lethem and was on his way home when he was attacked and stabbed to the chest.

James’ body was taken to the Lethem Hospital Mortuary to await a postmortem examination.

The police have launched an investigation

into the incident. No one was arrested.

Earlier in the year, the body of Howard Peters, 67, was found lying on the access road to Shea Village, Deep South Rupununi, Region Nine.

His body bore multiple stab wounds. It was reported that Peters had been “sporting” hours before his body was discovered.

8 News

monday, april 21, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Hindu community urged to help fight social problems

P

resident Donald Ramotar on Sunday called on the Berbice Hindu Society to collaborate with Government, individually and collectively, to assist in dealing with some of the social issues that plague society.

The President was at the time speaking at the commissioning of the Hindu Society Berbice Sri Krishna Mandir located at Gay Park, Greater New Amsterdam, Region Six. While addressing the large gathering, President Ramotar referred to violence against women which has become more prevalent, and suicide for which Berbice has the highest rate.

“Today, we have to combine that very outlook with working together to try to develop our people... There are many social issues that you have been, and can even make greater contribution towards fighting,” he told those gathered at the ceremony.

President Ramotar urged that they explore the philosophy of Hinduism, which he believes will help with the

President Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar being welcomed by members of the Sri Krishna Mandir located at Gay Park, Greater New Amsterdam

struggle against those issues. “It will help us to have a deeper appreciation for our womenfolk... we have also been reading about issues of suicide and this is something we have to struggle against and here too this house of worship can play an important role in helping us to deal with some of these social issues,” the Head of State said.

President Ramotar said often times persons look to Government to solve ev-

ery issue; however, he said that it is impossible for Government to solve everything by itself, while noting that the religious community’s support is very much needed.

“We also need your support to help us overcome the difficulties that we face... many of the things that we want to bring to the people, not only for economic development, but we feel these things go hand-in-hand that

if we improve our social conditions that we will also be improving our economy, because we will be developing a higher quality of people,” President Ramotar asserted.

The President also took the opportunity to highlight the disapprovals of some sections of the budget by the Opposition; loans for students attending the University of Guyana, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project, and the Specialty Hospital.

All these initiatives, he said will give the country more national pride and offer greater infrastructure to take it forward. President Ramotar took the opportunity to congratulate the persons behind the project, the architect and the contractors who did a remarkable job.

He urged that the building be used to develop the spirituality and the skills of the young people to have a deeper understanding and appreciation for Hinduism, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Eyew tness Intimations...

...of mortality henever you point an accusatory index finger at others, you’re pointing three fingers at yourself. You can’t do otherwise. So it’s a good idea then, to consider what your physiology’s forcing you to acknowledge about your own transgressions. And hypocrisy.

Take the editor over at the MuckrakerKN. Seems he’s having intimations of mortality with his old school buddies dropping like flies around him. His latest wakeup call was the announcement by one of those school friends, Dr Roger Luncheon, that he’s stricken by cancer.

And that very stoically, he wasn’t going to have “invasive interventions”. Meaning “no operations”.

Everything that’s born will die. But lots of people live like they’re immortal sons of Zeus. Look at the mischief Harris has been creating with “spinning” the news, first at the New Nation and Chronicle... and then at the MuckrakerKN. With his “Dem Boys Seh” column he concocts with his “boss man” Mook Lall, he scatologically maligns anyone who his boss fingers. He became a hired pen for libel and calumny.

In what was obviously an attack of conscience on Easter Sunday, Harris confessed that Mook Lall “always vex wid Jagdeo”. He didn’t go as far as revealing why the Mook behaved worse than a woman scorned, as Jagdeo didn’t give him the freebies he lusted after. One lesson Harris should’ve learnt from his intimation of mortality is that the green-eyed monster named “greed” is insatiable.

And it ends up consuming its host. And his house-slaves.

So imagine Harris talking about his old school friend and his tragic condition and in the same column, gloating about going with a “ten-inch pole” at one of his boss’s targets. You’d think Harris, contemplating his meeting with his Maker, which is, in his own words, “sooner than later”, would’ve acknowledged that no one’s infallible.

And that his “boss man” could be wrong about what he’s accusing others of – including the head of NICIL. And that he, Harris will not be received into the Big House just because his excuse will be “me boss man tell me fuh do dat”.

Hey! There’s nothing wrong about doing investigative journalism and publishing findings. But the down-low, nasty way Harris and his boss man personalises the issues crosses the line of human decency. How can one hear that a former President of the country is stricken ill – and then cackle that he should die?

We hope Harris (we have no hope for his “always vex” boss man) realises that only the Big Guy decides when we’ll go. And pray that “death does not find him wanting”.

W

...of big stick Back in the day – when colonialism was still in full flow and big powers flexed their muscles with impunity to keep vassal states in line – U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt came up with a new line: “talk softly and carry a big stick”. He was acknowledging the rising moral force that militated against the big-power law of the jungle doctrine of “might is right” – even if it only extended to “talk”.

Since then, the U.S. has had to mount a torrent of verbal gymnastics to “talk softly” to justify its “big stick” protection of its “national interests”. So we’ve had a “good neighbour” policy and an “alliance for peace” and so on...even as the interventions kept coming. Those were explained as necessary for our “own good”. “Fighting Commies”, defending democracy, indicting drugs, ...whatever.

Now there’s the present U.S. LEAD project that’s supposed to entrench “democracy” here. But the U.S. Government’s had to admit and swear to Congress that whatever it spends abroad must “promote American interests”.

The political parties, whether for or against LEAD, must reveal what that interest is. ...of remorse We note the effort of ex-Speaker Ramkarran to appear even-handed in bashing the Opposition on the Budget.

But does one who denounces rapists expect kudos?

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monDay, april 21, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

REO pleased with $944M allocated to Region Eight

T

he $944.7 million approved for Region Eight will aid in the region’s transformation process, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ronald Harsaywack said on Sunday.

Pointing specifically to the $165.9 million allocation for capital projects, Harsaywack said residents can expect an improved standard of living for 2014.

“The capital budget has progressively increased from one year to the other; this budget caters for the needs and recommendations made by residents and villages during the numerous pre-budget out reaches held,” he said in an invited comment.

According to the REO, the entire allocation to the region will touch the lives of people directly and indirectly in all the villages of the region.

With the approval of the $944.7 million, Harsaywack disclosed that the Region Eight administration has “commenced the project cycle” with the expectation of completing the identified projects within its specified timeframe.

Under capital expendi-

ture, $11 million was allocated to regional administration and finance, while $48.3 million has been set aside for the Public Works Sector, and $64.3 million for education delivery. Health services also received a whopping $42.3 million.

The REO pointed out that under regional administration and finances, the Kato Administration Office will be extended to the tune of $8 million to facilitate an AssistantRegional Executive Officer, Vice Chairman and hinterland affairs workers, among others.

Additionally, $3 million will be used to procure furniture and equipment for administrative offices throughout the district.

Bridge construction

Meanwhile, in the area of public works, Harsaywack disclosed that a heavyduty bridge at Tumong, North Pakaraimas will be constructed to the tune of $18 million; benefiting approximately 3000 residents at Kopinang, Miakwak, Kamana, Arasawa, and Kurukabaru.

Additionally, inter-

nal roads in all of the villages within the North Pakaraimas will be constructed, and in other cases upgraded using some $26 million. Funds will also be used to repair drains in Mahdia.

Another $4.3 million has been budgeted for the procurement of an ATV and equipment for the Public Works Department, which will aid in capacity-building.

In the Education Sector, Harsaywack said $45.9 million will be used for the construction of a Teachers’ Quarter at Mahdia, a nursery school at Chuig Mouth, sanitary blocks at Paramakatoi, Kato, Money Mountain, Bamboo Creek, and Tuseneng Primary Schools.

He said an additional $18.3 million will be used to procure school furniture, office equipment, beds, refrigerators, solar panels and stoves, while $21 million has been budgeted for the construction of health posts in Kaibarupai and Itabac, benefiting approximately 1000 residents.

Meanwhile, $1.9 million has been set aside for purchasing of furniture for

Region Eight REO Ronald Harsawack

staff quarters and $14.8 million for the procurement of furniture and equipment for hospitals, centres and huts.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly approved $1.7 billion for Region One while Region Two received $2.6 billion; Region Three, $3.2 billion; Region Four, $3.5 billion; and Region Five, $1.9 billion. Another $4.4 billion was approved for Region Six; $1.6 billion for Region Seven; $1.4 billion for Region Nine; and $2.2 billion for Region 10.

City Hall may have to return Easter spots money to vendors

A

cting Town Clerk Carol Sooba may reimburse vendors for the sale of spots for the Easter Holidays after she refused to seek the Council’s permission.

This is according to Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker in response to the ongoing battle at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) over the sale of Easter vending spots along the East Coast Highway. Whittaker related that he will be meeting with the Town Clerk and the Council; if any discrepancy is found, the acting Town Clerk will have to return monies to the vendors.

The Minister made the comment during a press conference on Thursday at the Local Government Ministry’s boardroom. The Minister told the media that after the meeting with the relevant parties, if the discovery is made that permission was not given by the Council for the sale to commence, Sooba will be made to repay all the money which was gathered from the sale.

“I have learnt that it is not a Council decision. In that respect, our intention is to engage the Town Clerk on the matter, but, for now, I am guided by what is in the press. If it is not a Council decision, we will be engaging the Town Clerk to find out whether what was reflected in

Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba

the press is true, and if it is correct, then we will ask the Town Clerk to reverse that decision,” he said.

The Minister noted that he was never informed of such a move by the Town Clerk. He disclosed that the matter was brought to his attention only after he would have read the newspapers, since the Town Clerk, the Council nor the Mayor had not complained or thus far written to him concerning the disagreement.

The Minister was adamant that if it was not a decision which was sanctioned by the Council, the Town Clerk was culpable and as such, he will ask her to have the sales cease and all monies be returned with immediate effect.

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m onday, APRIL 21, 2014

News

Rice farmers accused of polluting Canje River – residents fuming, say RDC powerless

By Andrew Carmichael

T

he livelihoods of some Canje River residents have been disrupted as a result of farmers trying to take advantage of the recent boom in the rice industry by cultivating more land.

And although the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Six has told the farmers to desist from cultivating the lands, they have not been heeding the warnings, Regional Chairman David Armogan said.

Those farmers who started cultivating rice beyond Manarabisi in the Black Bush Polder have been indiscriminately releasing the toxic water from their rice fields into the Canje River, causing great inconvenience for the more than 40 residents who dwell in that community. Many of them have fallen ill, while five have died over the past year after developing conditions that were not known to those residents and whose names were not disclosed by doctors.

One resident, Alfred Shultz, who lives at Bamboo, explained to Berbice Times that when the rice farmers release the water back into the river, residents are unable to drink it. “We use the water in the river for all domestic purposes. So when they start letting out the water, I have to travel about three miles up the river to get fresh water and it is

not me alone…” He said the cost for gasoline for his boat is very high and travelling that distance daily has taken a toll on him financially.

Health hazard Additionally, fish have disappeared from that section of the river.

“They have all moved.

That is a pending health hazard for us. Something is going to happen to us some time shortly… It is happening because in our area people always suffering from diarrhoea, skin rashes, and all those things. Some people getting ill and we don’t know why… we depend on the river for our fishes where some of us get a livelihood.”

“We don’t have a problem with the farmers cultivating rice there, our problem is the releasing of the contaminated water into the Canje River. What they need

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

to do is to put a pump there and take in as much water as they want and when they are ready to release it, sent it into the sea or somewhere else… not into the Canje River because it is disrupting our lives.”

Shultz said he had raised the issue with Armogan who said on several occasions the farmers were approached

Residents of Canje River are complaining about the polluted water

and asked to desist from cultivating those lands. He noted that the pesticides and insecticides that the farmers use have contaminated the water. At a recent RDC meeting, the matter was raised, and the Chairman noted that the farmers cannot be allowed to disrupt the lives of the people who have resided in the area all their lives. While residents have benefited from the farming activity, they are calling on authorities to come to their rescue.

The oldest resident is 80-year-old Kenneth Hinds who lives closest to the farming activity, he was recently admitted to the New Amsterdam Hospital with an ailment which doctors could not diagnose. Reports are that over the past six months, he has been ailing.

This publication understands that he is one of the few who have no boat and as a result, are forced to use the contaminated river water.

Dem pullice gon look fuh a Easter raise

E

aster deh in de air and every ting raisin up sky high. Jesus he self raise up from de Earth and he gone back up sky high. Costa livin goin up sky high. And de budget was goin up sky high before it get knock down.

Today, we got kites raisin up in de sky. Of course, as de kites raise up, de alcohol level does also raise up. After that some body gon raise up to fight, some body gon want a raise to go home, and somebody else gon want a raise to buy a drink.

Dem MPs does be doin a different kinda raise in Parliament. Dem does raise dem voice like if dem ain’t got no PA system.

De other day, de Sharma Man try to raise up. But when he raise up, no body raise up wid he. That is when he raise up and walk out. He gon never raise up again. Then de Kneel Koomar fella try to raise up against de Times paper and he friends dem had to pull he down.

Adumb on de other hand butterin up Boss Man fuh a raise. Well, Boss Man don’t give raise so easy.

Every time de Boss Man mek Adumb write bout a former Prezzi, Adumb does feel that is when he should ask fuh de raise. Adumb know de Boss Man like when certain people name appear in de mud paper.

As fuh de Boss Man, he can only give a raise in pay.

Some body seh de Boss Man can’t raise up any other way and that other people does have to raise up fuh he. Adumb does raise up fuh he in de mud paper, and other people does raise up in other places.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! In de end, every body gon have a Happy Easter as de kites raise up. But watch out fuh de pullice, because dem gon look fuh a Easter raise too. And de pullice raise don’t be no small raise on holidays!

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, april 21, 2014

Times Notebook Collateral damage vs people’s welfare A

pril 16, 2014 was a day of shame for Guyana – the Parliament of Guyana cut Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh’s National Budget of G$220 billion, the largest budget ever presented to the National Assembly, by $37.4 billion. As it turned out, the approved budget of G$182.5 billion is now smaller than the expenditure for 2013.

The National Budget of G$182.5 billion means that Guyana has a budget where approved expenditure will be almost $25 billion less than projected income.

Why should a country that needs so much more in social and physical infratructure spend less than it has the capacity to do?

Why should a country not help its most vulnerable when it has the money to do so? Why should a country not build hydroelectricity when it knows that hydroelectricity will lower electricity charges?

The budgetary cuts were brutal and vicious and were designed to stall development in Guyana. APNU and AFC appear to have arrogated to themselves that attaining political power is the only end game and at any cost.

No matter how we spin the truth, protecting people and safeguarding their welfare are imperatives, no matter what the risks are.

APNU and AFC failed the test by choosing the option of collateral damage, instead of the impera-

tive of protecting the welfare of people. Inflicting pain and hardships on people is collateral damage, the preferred option of the Opposition.

While Times Notebook is not taking sides in the quarrel between political forces in Guyana, we do take side when it comes to the welfare of people and of country. From where we sit, the concerns that APNU and AFC have do not justify inflicting grievous wounds on our people. APNU and AFC choose to inflict grievous wounds on our people as collateral damage in their pursuit of power.

Mean-spirited

How can anyone justify denying people who have no electricity solar panels that could help them with some amount of electricity? How can we deny the Amerindian people access to funding that could improve their daily lives?

How can we deprive people living and visiting our hinterlands access to airstrips, sometimes the only way to get transportation, by cutting the almost $200 million allocated for improving hinterland airstrips?

What evil possesses our hearts to cut more than $700 million that targets the very poor in a poverty reduction programme? How can we cut about $400 million for the Cunha Canal that can improve the lives of provision farmers in Badrima, Kuru Kururu,

etc?

How could we ever trust people who are so mean-spirited that they would cut the entire Office of the President budget?

We the people elected the President.

How can he perform his duties if we cut out his entire budget? They even cut out his security!

The Specialty Hospital is a necessary investment for all people, but particularly those who are poor.

How else can we explain that they voted against an eye surgery operation room at Linden Hospital? How else can we justify their cut-

ting funds to rehabilitate hospitals at Kwakwani, Bartica, Port Kaituma, etc?

Women and children throughout Guyana have asked when will they get their laptop, an asset they can only own for now through the One Laptop Per Family Programme. The MPs from APNU and AFC have their laptops because the Parliament pays them well.

What can a Government say to its people when they beg for the laptops that this nation promised them?

Guyana is asking international partners to help us build Amaila. But

our own Parliamentarians will not budge in giving support to Government.

What is wrong with these Parliamentarians?

The road to Amaila is approved, but Amaila itself is cut out.

Do we build a road to nowhere?

The Opposition argues that we should spend millions to advertise Guyana as a tourist destination, but they cut the budget for the expansion of the CJIA, a prerequisite for building the tourist industry.

There is a Latin term, “carpe diem” which means “seize the moment”. APNU and AFC had an opportu-

nity to demonstrate carpe diem, but they chose to betray people. Had APNU and AFC voted for these expenditures, the Government would look too good.

That is the bottom line, a combined Opposition which turned their backs on people and on development because the Government is doing too many good things.

The 2014 Budget consideration exposes APNU and AFC – they will cause injury to our nation in the pursuit of political power.

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

12 news

monday, april 21, 2014 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Clean up of Market tarmacs Former teacher homeless countrywide a priority after Dazzel blaze this year – Whittaker

Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker

L

ocal Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker said his Ministry will be working tediously this year to ensure the completion of all major market tarmacs across the country, since it has directly impacted on the garbage situation in Guyana.

The Minister was at the time speaking at apress conference held to update the general public on plans for the Local Government Ministry for 2014.

The Ministry’s budget was recently given the greenlight by the combined Opposition during the examination of the budget estimates.

Whittaker noted that the first and most important projects to be implemented by the Ministry will be the “Clean Up Campaign”, for which $1 billion was allocated and passed in the National Assembly.

He said attention will also be placed on the completion and renovation of all market tarmacs across the country.

The Minister noted that the campaign will see the sourcing of at least two compactor trucks which will be responsible for the pick-up, transfer and dumping of garbage from its location to the Mandela and Haags Bosch dumping sites, while new market tarmacs will be built

and the older ones will undergo changes.

These changes, which fall under the cleanup campaign, will see garbage receptacles being placed along various intervals on the market tarmacs so that proper disposal of garbage can be made, thereby reducing the large amounts of waste which are usually left for days around the market areas.

It was disclosed that the tender would have already been awarded and the compactors are scheduled to arrive by the end of June.

Additionally, washroom facilities will be built to accommodate sellers who vend on and around the tarmac, while a hooklift truck is being sourced for market waste disposal.

The Mabaruma and Buxton market tarmacs' construction are said to be in full swing and are expected to be completed within the upcoming months.

Full support needed

As it relates to the cleanup campaign, Minister Whittaker said various stakeholders will be taking part, and he is hoping that private entities also come onboard.

“If we have private entities coming onboard and they decide to pay for the trucks to do pick up and dumping, that will save money. That money saved can then go into another area or can be used to do something else,” he stated.

The cleanup campaign will see bins and garbage disposal containers being placed at strategic locations across the country, where dumping of garbage is prominent.

As is stands, the campaign have already started to some extent as several bins have already been placed around the Stabroek and Bourda market areas.

Just about three weeks ago, the Ministry received a Solid Waste Management grant from the India, Brazil and South American (IBSA) Fund, and according to

Whittaker, a major sensitisation programme will soon begin across the country.

Major road construction is also said to be part of the Ministry’s plans for the year.

Whittaker noted that the road construction will not only be done in the major traffic areas, but will also be taken to all communities and villages.

Youth empowerment programmes and job training workshops will also be held in all regions across the country, while discussions are ongoing to have learning resource centres in Regions Two, Three, Four and Five; the establishment of a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) site in Region Six; and the rehabilitation of the Kara Kara playfield in Region 10.

These projects would have been identified by youths in the area as developmental projects following consultation with the Ministry.

The Minister, touching on the sensitive issue of Local Government Elections, noted that such a decision was a political one and while he cannot disclose anything else besides the fact that it will not be held this year; his Ministry was involved in a voter education programme across the country.

Whittaker also disclosed that his Ministry is presently reviewing five proposals which were received from overseas-based investors in the areas of waste energy, energy recovery, metal recovery and other environmentally-sustainable pursuits.

He noted that if the companies are up to par with the requirements, the go-ahead will soon be given.

The Ministry will be spending some $333 million in current works and approximately $2.5 billion in capital works in the coming months.

Additionally, some $2.8 billion will be spent for capital works in the various regions and $1 billion in current works.

Roydon Maynard’s home after the fire on Sunday morning

A

visually-impaired former teacher of St Stanislaus College is now homeless after a fire suspected to be electrical in origin completely razed his Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara home in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

Roydon Maynard, reportedly in his late 40s, lived alone in his three-bedroom wooden and concrete home located at Lot 527 Dazzel Housing Scheme. Based on reports, the fire started about 04:00h and within about five minutes, the entire house was reduced to debris.

Maynard, who would normally have his nephew stay with him during the nights due to his inability to see properly, was home alone at the time of the fire.

The nephew did not turn up to spend the night with him.

Guyana Times understands that there was a “dance” in the community and due to the loud music; the man was unable to sleep.

He reportedly told neighbours that after he could not have slept, he went into the living room area where he lay on the chair in an effort to get some rest.

After a while, he reportedly felt heat and raised an alarm, and managed to exit the house safely. The fire might have started after a computer which was charging in his bedroom overheated and exploded.

Deslyn Briggs, a neighbour explained that sections of her house and her car were damaged due to the heat from the fire. The woman said she was in bed when she heard the screams of “Fire! Fire!” And as she looked out, she saw Maynard’s house on fire.

Too much

The woman said she panicked, thinking that he might have been caught in the burning house, but after she saw him at a neighbour’s house, she breathed a sigh of relief. Briggs further stated that she managed to move her car and soon after persons in the neighbourhood ran to assist, forming a bucket brigade to put out the fire.

In addition, she added that the heat was too intense to control; hence, there was no leverage to salvage any household items belonging to the man. The fire tenders from Mahaica reported-

ly responded to the report, but by the time they arrived at the scene, the building had already collapsed to the ground.

The firefighters nevertheless focused their attention on the nearby buildings and were able to contain the blaze to one location.

Maynard, Briggs said has been living in the community for some years and was a well respected individual.

Another man told this publication that the Maynard was too distraught to talk.

The former teacher, he added lived alone, but after his relatives learnt of the fire, they offered to provide him shelter for the time being.

The man, who lived a few houses away from the burnt house, said he was awakened by screams of fire, and as he looked out, he realised that Maynard’s house was in flames and rushed to assist.

Due to the intense heat, attempts to save the man’s personal items proved futile.

Maynard, he added did not receive any injuries.

Investigations are continuing into the fire.

news

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monday, April 21, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Too many teen alcoholics in Berbice – Probation Officer says

that high levels of alcohol consumption are often linked to traffic accidents, workplace-related problems, and domestic violence.

Based on these consequences, he urged that sellers of alcoholic beverages make a conscious decision to aid in this fight.

“Harbouring underage persons in a bar is an offence and the police need to engage in a campaign in carrying out raids on these liquor bars, because this is a serious issue,” he stated.

By Shiran Ramnaught

R

egion Six Probation and Social Services Officer Desmond Nelson said the rise in the number of teenagers consuming alcohol in the district and, by extension, the rest of Guyana is worrying.

The Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) in its 2010 Report on Student Drug Use stated that alcohol consumption was prevalent among 36.9 per cent of the Guyanese youth population, with 51 per cent of teenagers between the ages of 15 and 16 consuming alcohol.

The statistical data also indicated that alcohol consumption was prevalent among 55.9 per cent of those 17 years and older.

The situation might have worsened since that report.

Speaking with Berbice Times recently, the Region Six Probation Officer said it is time the Health and Human Services Ministries implement stricter measures to curb the high rate of alcohol consumption by teenagers in Region Six. According to him, businesses continue to sell alcoholic beverages to children under the age of 18 years although the law stipulates that only persons above the age of 18 are allowed to

Addiction

Probation Officer, Desmond Nelson

purchase alcohol.

The authorities, he emphasised, must take legal action against defaulters who are bent on selling alcoholic beverages to teens.

“Business owners, because of their greed for money, tend to overlook this aspect of the law and the offence if they are caught… we find teenagers going into these liquor stores and purchasing these alcohol beverages without any fear of repercussions,” he further ex-

plained.

Unlike other illegal substances such as marijuana and cocaine, Nelson said, alcohol is “easily accessible”. He added that teenagers, in particular boys, are using that fact to their advantage.

“Alcohol consumption and addiction are linked to many harmful consequences for the individual drinker, the drinker’s immediate environment, and society as a whole,” the Probation Officer explained, adding

Nelson is also of the opinion that people use, and become addicted to, alcohol because of peer pressure, curiosity, the desire to be relaxed and reduce stress, and also to cope with sadness, unhappiness, rejection, or low selfesteem.

Though difficult to overcome, alcohol addiction can be addressed if addicts seek health. Nelson reiterated that it contributes to violence, fatal accidents, suicide, altercations, crime and all forms of abuse.

“There is always a way out of every situation this can be done through counselling and other forms of assistance…regarding Government interventions: as much as it [alcohol] contributes to our economy,

we need stronger penalties and laws when dealing with this issue.”

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Volda Lawrence, during the recently-concluded budget debate, also admonished the Government to monitor and curb the high intake of alcohol.

In 2009, the PanAmerican Health Organisation (PAHO) identified alcohol as Guyana’s number one drug problem, stating that the consumption rates by teenagers, in particular young girls, are increasing, giving rise to serious social problems.

Studies have also indicated that the consumption of alcohol affects one’s judgment, mood, reaction time, physical coordination, and concentration.

It often leads to inappropriate sexual behaviour – hence unwanted pregnancies.

Despite all these neg-

ative impacts, alcohol remains easily accessible in Guyana, Lawrence complained to the House, noting that alcohol continues to get cheaper as vendors operate outside and above the laws of Guyana.

“I am concerned like several members of the teaching profession of the high rate of consumption by our children and women. The easy access with which our children acquire this drink is worrying and ought to be a concern to us the legislators and the Government,” she added.

According to the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry, in 2013, there was a 114 per cent increase in the number of reports made against children who appeared before Probation Officers, were sent to the New Opportunity Corp, and are under supervision or on parole. (Taken from the Berbice Times)

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, april 21, 2014

Regional

Venezuelan protesters hold Easter rally, plan to burn Maduro effigies H undreds of protesters rallied on Sunday to demand the “resurrection” of Venezuelan democracy while effigies of both President Nicolas Maduro and Opposition Leaders were paraded for burning in a local Easter Day tradition.

Though millions of Venezuelans have headed for Caribbean beaches and family gatherings over the Easter period, student demonstrators have sought to keep a nearly three-month protest movement going with religious-themed demonstrations.

After a barefoot rally and a “Via Crucis” march in the style of Jesus’ tortured walk towards crucifixion, the students gathered on Sunday in a Caracas square for a demonstration denominated “Resurrection of Democracy.” Easter marks the day Christians believe Jesus was resurrected from the dead after being crucified.

“We’re staying in the street until we get our country back, until we get democracy back,” student

leader Djamil Jassir, 22, told Reuters in a square where protesters displayed dozens of used gas canisters and bullets as symbols of repression.

“This is the time to stand firm.”

Anti-Maduro protests since early February have led to violence killing at least 41 people, according to official figures. The dead have been from both sides of the South American nation’s political divide and from security forces.

The unrest has been Venezuela’s worst in a decade.

Even during Holy Week, a few dozen masked demonstrators with slingshots, petrol bombs and rocks have faced off most nights in east Caracas with police using batons and teargas.

Activists said a student was shot dead on Thursday night in Valencia city while collecting money for the Easter tradition of “burning Judas” – when neighbours set fire to effigies of hated figures in memory of the disciple who betrayed Jesus.

Gabriel Daza, 21, was

constructing a model of a National Guard military officer, activists said via Twitter and in local media.

If it is confirmed that his death was linked to the political tensions, he would be the 42nd victim of the unrest.

For Sunday, Opposition backers planned to burn puppets of Maduro and senior officials in various parts of the country.

Government supporters planned to do the same with effigies of prominent Opposition figures, with jailed protest leader Leopoldo Lopez proving particularly popular.

Beaches and beating

“The only Judases in Venezuela are Leopoldo Lopez, Maria Corina Machado, Antonio Ledezma,” one Maduro supporter said on Twitter, referring to the three most hardline opposition leaders.

“You all need holy water.”

Despite the violence and protests of recent weeks, Maduro’s position does not appear under threat, with numbers on the street dropping and the armed forces

People stand near a SUV vehicle with a broken windshield after protesters threw stones at the driver who was involved in a hitand-run accident during an anti-government protest, in El Cafetal in Caracas on Saturday

seemingly firm behind him.

“One year into government, I will continue to fulfil my oath with the people,” said Maduro, who this week celebrated the anniversary of his election win to replace late socialist leader Hugo Chávez. “No-one will deny our right to be happy, free and independent,” he

said via Twitter.

State television has sought to project an image of normality, showing images of packed beaches, happy people, and officials praising Maduro.

The ugly side of Venezuela, though, was on evidence on Saturday night in Caracas when a driv-

er hit a protester during a street blockade. He tried to escape, but was caught and badly beaten by residents, a Reuters photographer saw.

Frustrated by successive election losses, the protesters originally took to the streets in early February demanding solutions to Venezuela’s rampant violent crime, soaring prices, and shortages of basic goods from flour to toilet paper.

Hardliners had hoped for a “Venezuelan Spring” that would oust Maduro, but they failed to bring millions onto the streets as they had wanted.

Maduro says protesters, encouraged by the U.S. Government and international media, are seeking to topple him as happened to Chavez during a brief coup in 2002.

He wants to preserve the state’s popular welfare policies while tweaking his predecessor’s statist economic model. Critics say 15 years of autocratic rule have ruined what should be one of Latin America’s most prosperous economies. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Colombia to hold ceremony for Gabriel Garcia Marquez

C

olombia will pay tribute to the Nobelprize winning author Gabriel García Márquez in a ceremony at Bogota’s national cathedral on Tuesday.

President Juan Manuel Santos will be present, but it is not clear whether García Márquez’s family will attend. His relatives have confirmed, however, that they will be at a memorial ceremony in Mexico City today.

The author of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” died on Thursday in Mexico, where he lived for more than 30 years.

Colombians feel that the man many consider to be the country’s greatest son must be honoured in his homeland, says the BBC’s Arturo Wallace in Bogota.

The writer fled the country in 1981, after learning that Colombia’s military wanted to question him over alleged links with the country’s left-wing guerrillas.

He moved to Mexico with his family and eventually chose to die there, our correspondent says.

García Márquez, who was 87, will be honoured at a memorial service today at Mexico City’s Palacio de

Bellas Artes.

The ceremony will be attended by Santos and his Mexican counterpart, Enrique Pena Nieto.

A symbolic burial will be held simultaneously at his hometown of Aracataca.

On Tuesday, Colombia will hold its own ceremony to honour the author, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982.

The event will be shown on national television.

Elsewhere in Colombian libraries and parks, there will be public readings of his books over the next few days. (Excerpt from BBC News)

15 Around the world monday, april 21, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

Deadly clash in Ukraine’s restive east Report: One fifth of China’s

A

shoot-out at a checkpoint set up by proRussian separatists in eastern Ukraine has left three people dead and others hospitalised with gunshot wounds, the Interior Ministry has confirmed.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for Sunday’s attack.

In a statement, the Interior Ministry said the shooting had taken place near a roadblock set up by a group called the People’s Republic of Donetsk close to the village of Bylbasivka.

“At 2:20 [local time], unknown men in four cars arrived to the roadblock and opened fire at the people who were watching on duty. There was fire shot in response.

Three persons were fatally shot and three persons were wounded,” the statement said.

The unknown attackers, a group of about 12 men, left the scene taking dead and wounded with them, it continued.

Sunday’s armed clash appears to be the first since an

soil contaminated

A The scene of the attack

international agreement was reached last week in Geneva to ease tensions in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian supporters have seized Government buildings in at least 10 cities.

It throws into question an already tentative truce that was supposed to be taking place over the Easter weekend.

Russia questioned Ukraine’s commitment to the deal thrashed out in Geneva last week, as Russian sep-

aratists said gunmen from Ukraine’s Right Sector nationalist group had attacked them.

The Right Sector denied any role, saying Russian special forces were behind the clash.

“The Easter truce has been violated,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“This provocation ... testifies to the lack of will on the part of the Kiev authorities to rein in and disarm nationalists and extremists.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

India Govt orders Toyota, union to restore factory operations

A

n Indian state Government has ordered Japan’s Toyota and its union to restore operations at its two Indian factories after a protracted pay dispute halted work, the company said.

The demand comes after unionised employees refused to return to work at two plants near the southern city of Bangalore, despite an end to an eight-day company lockout last month over the pay dispute.

Workers and the com-

pany’s management have been at loggerheads over pay issues at the factories in Karnataka state, which they have been negotiating for 10 months.

“The Government of Karnataka, in order to maintain industrial peace and harmony, has issued an order asking the company and the union to restore normalcy in operations, immediately,” the Indian unit of the world’s biggest carmaker said in a statement late Saturday.

The Bangalore complex

normally produces some 310,000 cars annually, including the flagship Camry sedan, the Corolla, and the Prius hybrid, mostly for the Indian market.

The statement said all outstanding issues had been now “referred for adjudication” without elaborating further.

The company said last month it had recently started “limited production” with the help of non-unionised workers and supervisors. (Excerpt from

Yahoo!)

lmost a fifth of China’s soil is contaminated, an official study released by the Government has shown.

Conducted between 2005 and 2013, the study found that 16.1 per cent of China’s soil and 19.4 per cent of its arable land showed contamination.

The report, by the Environmental Protection Ministry, named cadmium, nickel and arsenic as top pollutants.

There is growing concern, both from the Government

and the public, that China’s rapid industrialisation is causing irreparable damage to its environment.

The study took samples across an area of 6.3 million square kilometres, twothirds of China’s land area.

“The survey showed that it is hard to be optimistic about the state of soil nationwide,” the Ministry said in a statement on its website.

“Due to long periods of extensive industrial development and high pollutant emissions, some regions

have suffered deteriorating land quality and serious soil pollution.”

Because of the “grim situation”, the state would implement measures including a “soil pollution plan” and better legislation.

Levels of pollution ranged from slight to severe.

About 82.8 per cent of the polluted land was contaminated by inorganic materials, with levels noticeably higher than the previous survey between 1986 and 1990, Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Former Army Chief, leftist are only candidates in Egypt presidential poll

T

he former Army General who toppled Egypt’s first freely elected President will face a leftist politician in next month’s presidential election, as they were the only candidates to enter before nominations closed, the committee organising the vote said.

The Committee had received paperwork from former Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and former Parliamentarian Hamdeen Sabahi, it said at a news conference on Sunday, several hours after the deadline had passed.

The elections will be held in a barren political climate after the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak raised hopes of a robust democracy in the biggest Arab nation.

Neither candidate has outlined a strategy for tack-

Youths working for leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi submit boxes of endorsements collected as Sabahi arrives to submit his bid to run as presidential candidate to the presidential election committee in Cairo

ling poverty, energy shortages, and unemployment that afflict many of Egypt’s 85 million people.

Abdelaziz Salman, Secretary General of the Presidential Elections Committee, said Sisi had submitted 188,930 signatures endorsing his can-

didacy to the committee, and Sabahi had submitted 31,555. The required number is 25,000.

The committee will announce the official list of candidates on May 2 for the vote on May 26-27. Campaigning will run from May 3 to 23.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

16 news

monday, april 21, 2014 | guyanatimeSGY.com

DDL to plug $1.3B into modernisation plan T

he Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Group of Companies will be injecting some $1.3 billion into its modernisation plan, which will see upgrades done on machinery and acquisition of new equipment.

This is according to recently appointed Chairman Komal Samaroo in his report. Samaroo noted that the group will continue with its modernisation plan in 2014, which will see the money going towards the funding of upgrade works at the Shipping Wharf as well as acquiring more trucks to add to the fleet.

Works are also expected to be done at the storage facilities and key production equipment will be replaced.

Through the modernisation plan, the company will also be looking to expand its distribution.

In 2013, the company expended some $853 million to

upgrade critical machinery and equipment, which included the acquisition of a new Chilling and Filtration Unit.

During last year, the company introduced a new line of non-alcoholic beverages – TOPCO Quenchers, which was received well.

“Our team remains committed to maintaining the very high standards of quality and to ensuring the delivery of safe products to our customers. As evident by our awardwinning rums, quality is in everything we do,” the Chairman stated.

Profits

Meanwhile, amid the change of chairmanship, the group has managed to record a 19 per cent increase in the financial year 2013, with a $1.569 billion profit after tax.

Most of the operating entities within the group have registered improvement in their performance during the

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

year. The group’s turnover increased by 11 per cent to $17.5 billion and the profit before tax was increased by 15 per cent from $1.569 billion to $2.205 billion, which reflected improved margins from cost reduction initiatives and efficiency drives undertaken by

management.

Samaroo said that 2013 was another good year for group and its growth was as a result of continuous efforts to make El Dorado the world’s leading rum by creating a greater international market share. The Chairman pointed out that the group’s performance must be considered against the background of the slow economic recovery seen in 2013 as global economic growth slowed down.

Meanwhile, DDL saw a 14 per cent increase in its profit before tax of $1.462 billion while its turnover recorded an eight per cent increase of $11.5 billion when compared to the previous year's. The Demerara Shipping Company Limited also recorded significant growth during 2012 and its performance in 2013 was no less, with a profit of $185 million compared to a $146 million in 2012. However, Distribution Services Limited

(DSL) saw a decrease in its profit when compared to the previous year. The distribution outlet registered some $455 million profit before tax and this reduction was as a result of challenges experienced due to parallel trading of the major brands it represents, but the company will continue to address the issue.

Overseas subsidiaries

On the other hand, Tropical Orchards Product Company (TOPCO) Limited also recorded improved results for the last financial year with a profit before tax of $20.9 million. The group’s overseas subsidiaries also reflected a steady growth in their operations, but not without a few hiccups in some areas. St Kitts recorded a $54.4 million profit before tax while DDL’s share of profits from the National Rums of Jamaica (NRJ) was $93 million before tax compared to $43 million.

The Demerara Distillers (USA) Inc continued its steady growth with a $36.1 million profit before tax as further growth is expected this year, but its European operations suffered in the numbers due to transportation issues, causing delays in the shipments and an inevitable shortfall in sales. This resulted in the reduction in the profits with a recorded $122 million in 2013 compared to $143 million the previous year.

Moreover, the company did not renew its agreement with India when it ended last year and will now be focusing on building its market in the top end spirits market.

According to the Chairman, DDL paid some $0.58 per share in dividends for 2013.

The company as usual copped several prizes and awards in spirit competitions around the world last year.

The El Dorado 8 Year Old was adjudged the Best Rum

and trophy winner in 2013 at the International Wines and Spirits Competition held annually in London. The El Dorado 21, 15 and 12 years old rums all won gold medals while the 5 and 3 years old rums won silver medals. DDL was also named Distiller of the Year for the Americas and the Caribbean.

DDL continues to invest in training to build the capacity of its employees and introduced an apprenticeship programme, which saw some six apprentices on training for two years. The company will also be honouring 48 longstanding employees. DDL also displayed its corporate social responsibility in the sponsorship of sporting, educational and community activities.

Gratitude

Samaroo in his report also paid special tribute to former Chairman Yesu Persaud, who handed over the reins of the company to him in January last after serving more than 37 years as the Chairman of the group. He noted when Persaud assumed Chairmanship, the company was only into liquor production; however, under his leadership, it expanded the operations and diversified into new areas.

“Dr Persaud’s vision, tenacity, and capacity for calculated risk-taking has made the company one of the leading private sector entities in Guyana.

The Chairman, the board and the shareholders of Demerara Distillers Limited owe Dr Yesu Persaud a profound debt of thanks for his great contribution and decisive leadership over those many years,” the new Chairman stated.

DDL’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on April 25 at Plantation Diamond, East Bank Demerara and will commence at 16:30h.

IDB signs joint statement on development cooperation

T

he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has signed a joint statement, along with other multilateral institutions, governments, private sector entities and civil society organisations, aimed at pursuing inclusive and sustainable development worldwide.

The statement was released April 16 in Mexico City, at the conclusion of the first high-level meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC).

Supported by 161 countries and 54 organisations – including the IDB and 16 of its member countries – the GPEDC aims to bring governments, the private sector, civil society and others together to maximise devel-

opment impact.

The GPEDC was established in 2012 following the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea, in which development actors, including the IDB, affirmed their commitment to four key development principles: country ownership of development priorities, a focus on results, inclusive development partnerships, and transparency and accountability.

At the Mexico meeting, more than 1300 development leaders convened to “review global progress in making development cooperation more effective, agree on actions to boost progress, and anchor effective development cooperation in the post-2015 global development agenda”.

news

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monday, April 21, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

UG law students to launch Ministry warns against Moot Court Guyana littering at parks

T

he Executive Committee of Moot Court Guyana (MCG) will be officially launching the organisation at the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT) on the Turkeyen Campus of the University of Guyana on Tuesday.

The event will be opened at 18:00h. According to a release, the initiative of Moot Court Guyana (MCG) emerged from a consensus among law students that those attending international moot courts, particularly the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Moot Competition held in Trinidad and Tobago and the Jessup Moot held in Washington, DC, were not afforded the requisite exposure at domestic forums in which to marry their academic prowess with advocacy skills.

Additionally, there was a realisation that the absence of a platform to engage law students and students generally has resulted in the underutilisation and underdevelopment of their knowledge and skills at the national and regional level.

Also the fact that ad-

T

MCG Co-Chairs law students Kevin Morgan and Sherrie Hewitt

vocacy occupies an important place in any vocation, compels students to have a strong command of the skill of advocacy. This mooting initiative aims to engage schools and universities locally which have a law programme that teaches the common law and civil law as applied in Guyana and the wider Commonwealth as part of their curriculum, whether internal or external.

The MCG promises to be a forum which engages questions of law, which in turn engage research, and a synthesis of composing and presenting legal arguments

García Márquez raised Latin American literature to global heights – OAS SG

O

rganisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza on Sunday expressed his “deep sorrow over the death of Gabriel García Márquez, Colombian and Latin American author, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, primordial figure of the most prolific and brilliant generation of authors our continent has ever seen, who raised the literature of Latin America to global heights”.

Insulza said “García Márquez transformed the real into magic and enthralled, with his masterful prose and the strength of his spirit, the imagination of men and women of different languages, races, creeds and ideologies. He brought a timeless style to the new Latin American literature and made it universal.”

On the literary production of the Colombian author, Secretary General Insulza said: “His captivating stories, born of our reality, gave profound meaning to the everyday and conferred transcendent meaning to our Latin American identity. Their magical realism allowed millions to learn about the mystery and beauty of this contradictory, vast and exciting continent.

“The political strug-

gle that marked the region for many decades was not absent from his work,” he said, “and that made it even greater, because he defended the most just causes, identified with our democratic aspirations and showed himself a man who did not fear power”. The Secretary General sent his condolences “to the family of Gabriel García Márquez, the people and Government of Colombia and all those in Latin America and the world who today mourn his departure”.

Born in 1928, in the small town of Aracataca, situated in a tropical region of northern Colombia, between the mountains and the Caribbean Sea, he grew up with his maternal grandparent; his grandfather was a pensioned Colonel from the civil war at the beginning of the century. He went to a Jesuit college and began to read law, but his studies were soon broken off for his work as a journalist.

In 1954, he was sent to Rome on an assignment for his newspaper, and since then he has mostly lived abroad – in Paris, New York, Barcelona and Mexico – in a more or less compulsory exile. Besides his large output of fiction, he has written screenplays and has continued to work as a journalist.

to be adjudged by local legal luminaries. The MCG will be critical in shaping a new generation of legal reasoning and philosophy – encouraging students-at-law to develop a pragmatic local jurisprudence coming out of our Roman-Dutch law and Common Law experiences.

Among items on the programme for the opening ceremony are an address by Attorney General, Anil Nandlall and a charge by Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, in addition to a short moot exhibition.

he Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the Protected Areas Commission are appealing to patrons, teachers and students utilising the National Park, Botanical Gardens, Zoological Park and Joe Vieira Park during the Easter Holidays to adhere to the rules of these areas.

The National Park and Botanical Gardens have recently experienced an upsurge in litter, mostly associated with kites and kite-flying activities.

“The Commission is working to provide additional trash receptacles and bags at these locations, and patrons are asked to dispose of their waste in these receptacles. Visitors are also advised that littering is now subject to a minimum fine of $50,000 under Guyana’s new anti-littering regulations,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Additionally, the Commission is reminding visitors that open flames, grilling or any form of cooking in these parks are pro-

Patrons are to adhere to the rules of the National Park, Botanical Gardens, Zoological Park and Joe Vieira Park during the Easter Holidays. Recently, unauthorised grilling in the park triggered a fire on the eastern end of the football field

hibited.

“Unauthorised grilling in the park on April 9, 2014 triggered a fire on the eastern end of the football field, which the Fire Service responded to promptly.

However, a repeat fire event could cause serious damage to the park and risk to patrons, and the Commission is appealing to the public to report any instances of misuse of these areas to our security officers or head offic-

es.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the Protected Areas Commission wish all visitors to our parks and gardens happy and safe Easter celebrations! We look forward to the cooperation of the public as we seek to enhance the conditions and services at the Botanical Gardens, Joe Vieira Park, Zoological Park and National Park.”

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, april 21, 2014

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Turmoil is likely to disrupt your personal life. Take a step back and re-evaluate your current situation. An objective view will be required to avoid regret.

dilbert

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) You will have a much better chance of reaching your goal if you keep your plans secret. While it’s natural to want to share your ideas, wait until you are fully prepared.

Calvin and Hobbes

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Focus on social or humanitarian events that you feel passionate about.

Your persistence and dedication will enable you to persuade others to join the cause you are championing.

Peanuts

SUDOKU

CANCER (June 21July 22) Let someone special know how you feel.

Miscommunication can cause hurt feelings, but a truthful dialogue will strengthen your relationship. Work as a team.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) You will be pleasantly surprised if you choose to join a serious-minded organisation. Your long list of accomplishments and hard work will make you understandably proud and will impress your cohorts.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Look before you leap.

Although you may have several interests in common with a new acquaintance, you should take time to explore possible problems before you make a promise.

ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You may be frustrated, but don’t let problems at work interfere with your home life. Whatever the issue, do your best, act professionally and keep your two environments separate.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) After working hard, you deserve some downtime to relax with friends.

A movie or concert could lift your spirits; a day of pampering would help prepare you for your next challenge.

Saturday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) Don’t take unnecessary risks. A joint moneymaking scheme may tempt you, but you should hold back. You will do better by sticking to conservative investments that aren’t dependent on other people.

Some family members will try your patience.

Avoid unpleasant confrontations. Opt to spend time with peers and to accomplish goals that will build your confidence and brighten your future.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Your curiosity will be stimulated by exotic destinations. Even if a trip is not currently possible, there are many cultural activities you can undertake to quench your thirst for knowledge.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Don’t let another’s opinion be the reason for a change in your career direction. Do what’s best for you. Consider all of your options and follow your instincts.

monday, April 21, 2014

19

‘The Dream’ says Ravens can go undefeated for the year

By Treiston Joseph

I

n the wake of the announcement that the number one basketball club in the country Dyna’s Ravens will go head to head with a hand-picked group of players from around Guyana in a specially organized game by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Akeem “The Dream” Kanhai belies that his Ravens team can remain undefeated for the remainder of 2014.

After winning the GABF “Road to Mecca” National Club Championships in March while playing a dominant style of basketball, the GABF has seen it fit to truly test the Ravens’ mettle as champions in the game that is being dubbed as the “AllStar Challenge”.

Guyana Times Sport caught up with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the “Road to Mecca” tournament Akeem “The Dream” Kanhai to ascertain the team’s morale heading into the game that will have some of Guyana’s best players.

“We’re elated at the challenge to be known as the best, it’s a label that we truly want to own and maintain for as long as we can; we truly feel that we are the best and that we can keep a clean record for the rest of the year,” Kanhai told this publication.

Meanwhile, preparations for the challenge have not been up to its regular standard, since some members of the Ravens team will be a part of a Georgetown regional team for the upcom-

Akeem “The Dream” Kanhai

ing Inter- Association tournament in May. “Upon hearing about the challenge we haven’t had many sessions, some of the

players are doing gym work and a few of us are training with the Georgetown senior team; but I think we will regroup and be ready,” Kanhai noted.

Further, with the mass of talent gunning for the Ravens come April 26 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Kanhai believes that the fans will not be surprised at what happens to the AllStar team.

“I think we will be able to compete, I don’t think the audience will be surprised of the outcome. The last time we had the challenge I was not a part of it but our team won… we think of ourselves as a team of all-stars with much talent too,” Kanhai mentioned.

So what to expect from Kanhai’s individual game?

“Just me playing my type of

ball; I feel I’m in good condition for any challenge at the moment, especially with the current gym work and practice sessions with the Georgetown team.

“So definitely I’ll be myself on the court, looking to dominate and play good basketball with my team,” Kanhai stressed.

Kanahi also gushed on what keeps the team motivated to continue winning, despite their many critics.

“Winning is what keeps us going, most of our best memories together are made when we win and we want to continue having good moments.

“We have the perfect opportunity to leave a good legacy and we will remain disciplined as a group, trusting each other and most importantly our coach,” Kanhai

revealed.

All-stars: Dwayne Roberts, Neil Marks & Lawrence DaCosta of Retrieve Raiders; Shane Webster and Alistair Webster from Amelia’s Ward Jets; Omally Sampson and Steve Neils from Kings; Dave Causeway and Shelroy Thomas from Bounty Colts along with Stephen Gillis, Travis Burnett and Randy Richardson from Pacesetters. Coach of the team isMark Agard Ravens: National Club Basketball MVP Akeem Kanhai, along with Jermaine Slater, Ryan Stephney, Rodwell Fortune, Dominic Vincente, Ryan Gullen, Marlon Rodrigues, Winston Chapman, Dellon Davidson, Dorian Lewis, Winston Chapman, Rudy James and their coach Darcel Harris.

Mushtaq: Narine, Badree Bernard Hopkins becomes oldest boxer to unify are very special

W

idely regarded as the inventor of the famed “Doosra” delivery, Saqlain Mushtaq is considered as one of the greatest spin bowlers to have graced the game.

He was the first off-spinner to consistently utilise the “Doosra” which formed a key part of his armoury in both Tests and one-day internationals. Also noted for his spin skills and also for his characteristic pause when delivering the ball, Saqlain was indeed a formidable limited overs bowler – picking up 288 wickets from 169 matches at an average of 21.78.

Saqlain also experienced success in the 49 Tests he played, collecting 208 wickets including 13 five-wicket hauls and on three occasions taking ten-wickets, the highlight being the ten he claimed in Pakistan’s famous 13-run victory over India at Chennai in 1999.

Saqlain’s career did not have the longevity of the quality spinners of his era and was cut short by persistent knee injuries. Since his retirement, he has been working as spin-bowing coach for the Bangladesh Cricket Board and has also had coaching stints in Australia, England and New Zealand and most recently, for the West Indies in the World T20 in Bangladesh.

In an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, Saqlain spoke about his role with the West Indies World T20 squad, his opinion of Sunile Narine

and Samuel Badree as world class spinners, his assessment of the Pakistan T20 squad and views on the legality of some bowling actions.

PakPassion.net: How was it working with the West Indies spinners leading up to and during the World T20 and your assessment of West Indies performance at that tournament?

Saqlain Mushtaq: The numbers don’t lie. West Indies’ spinners are number one and two in the world when it comes to twenty over cricket. Badree is at number one and Sunil (Narine) is at number two and they are deservedly in those positions. The facts and figures are there for everyone to see. The way we played against Australia and Pakistan showed the world that the West Indies can play like champions. They came into the tournament as champions and in those matches they showed why they were the reigning champions.

Unfortunately due to the weather we lost the semi-final but there were a lot of positives to take away from the tournament. The team played as a unit, the spirit was good and we prepared really well for the tournament. The commitment levels could not be criticised at all and I really enjoyed the experience of working with the West Indies boys.

PakPassion.net: You’ve worked with spinners from all over the world. How would Badree and Narine compare with the spinners you’ve previ-

ously worked with?

Saqlain Mushtaq: Badree and Narine are special. They are very intelligent cricketers, hard working individuals and extremely talented. They are above all very skilful and I don’t just mean that they are skillful when they have the ball in their hand, but they are also very skilful when analysing and preparing. They know their game and they are very thoughtful characters.

With Narine and Badree you have the complete all round package. They know how to set the batsmen up and with them it’s not just about running in and bowling each delivery without much thought. As a spinner you have to be patient and you have to have that ability to lead the batsman into making a mistake. Both Badree and Narine have the qualities to become even better bowlers.

PakPassion.net: What was predominantly your role in the West Indies coaching set-up?

Saqlain Mushtaq: One of the things that I particularly enjoyed about working with the West Indies team was my relationship with the players.

They knew exactly what they wanted from me and it was an excellent two-way relationship. The emphasis was for me to act as an advisor on anything the players needed from me and I enjoyed the role. The players came to me on technical advice both from a bowling perspective and also from a batting perspective. It was a good experience. (Windiescricket)

weight division

Bernard Hopkins (centre), basks in the glory of his achievement

B

ernard Hopkins has become the oldest boxer to unify a weight division.

The 49-year-old added the WBA light-heavyweight crown to his IBF title with a points victory over Kazakhstan’s Beibut Shumenov.

A split-decision verdict - two scores of 116-111 in Hopkins’ favour against 114113 for the 30-year-old - did not reflect the American’s dominance.

On the undercard, Shawn Porter retained his IBF welterweight belt by stopping Paulie Malignaggi in the fourth round.

Hopkins, who has not stopped an opponent in nearly a decade, could not finish off Shumenov but continued to defy the years in Washington.

Hopkins entered the ring wearing an alien mask He came on strong from the third round onwards and knocked his opponent down with a punishing right in the 11th.

Shumenov climbed off the canvas but Hopkins, already the oldest man to win a recognised world title, got the nod from the judges after 12 rounds to take his career record to 55 wins from

65 fights, with six defeats, two draws and two no contests.

Earlier in the evening, undefeated American welterweight Porter, 26, retained his IBF belt by beating Malignaggi and could now face Britain’s Kell Brook this summer.

Porter sent his 33-yearold opponent crashing through the ropes and on to the ring apron midway through the fourth round, prompting the referee to halt the contest.

Undefeated Brook, 27, is the mandatory challenger for the IBF belt. (BBC Sport)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

monday, april 21, 2014

Lewis Hamilton eases to Maxwell, Miller maul victory in China GP Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2014, Sharjah

Chinese Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton says this is the best Easter ever

L

ewis Hamilton took a dominant victory in the Chinese Grand Prix to win three consecutive races for the first time in his career.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg took second, fighting back to beat Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso after a poor start left him sixth on Lap One. Alonso held off Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo to grab third place.

An unhappy Sebastian Vettel was fifth, beaten by team-mate Ricciardo for the second race in a row.

The world champion refused a team order to let Ricciardo by in the middle of the race but was powerless to stop the Australian passing him.

But Vettel’s travails were a mere sideshow to the unanswerable pace of Hamilton, who was in a league of his own throughout.

Hamilton pulled away at about a second a lap in the early stages and was in cruise control for the rest of the afternoon, with less tyre wear and better fuel consumption than his rivals as he circulated serenely at the head of the field.

The win closes his deficit to Rosberg at the head of the championship to four points.

“I just can’t believe how amazing the car is and how hard everyone’s worked,” Hamilton said on the podium. “After the start it was just really racing myself. I’m really happy Nico is up here with us. Great points for the team.”

Hamilton is still making up the 25-point hit he took in retiring from the first race of the season in Australia while Rosberg won.

The Englishman has won every grand prix since. (BBC Sport)

Everton 2-0 Man Utd

E

verton made it a miserable return to Goodison Park for former manager David Moyes as they beat Manchester United with ease to maintain their Champions League aspirations.

Moyes, who left Everton last summer after 11 years to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, was given a rough reception off the pitch and he was offered nothing on it to improve his mood.

And to add to his discon-

tent, Everton demonstrated their progress under his successor Roberto Martinez.

By doing the double over the champions for the first time since 1969, this was an impressive response by Everton to the midweek setback of losing at home to Crystal Palace.

Leighton Baines - a summer transfer target for Moyes before he signed a new long-term deal to stay at Goodison Park - set them on their way with a penalty and Kevin Mirallas added a

second before half-time.

Everton, and Steven Naismith in particular, could have added further goals in a win that leaves them only one point behind Arsenal, who earlier on Sunday cruised to victory at Hull, in fifth place.

Moyes was taunted throughout by the home fans and this was a game that illustrated graphically just how far United, who now lie 12 points adrift of the Toffeemen, have fallen this season. (BBC Sport)

Stanislas Wawrinka beats Federer in Monte Carlo final

S

tanislas Wawrinka won his first Masters 1000 title and denied Roger Federer a maiden Monte Carlo victory with a three-set final win.

Wawrinka, 29, came through 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 to claim only a second win in 15 matches against his fellow Swiss.

Federer, 32, had looked on course to secure one of only three Masters titles to have eluded him after the first set.

“We know it’s always a strange match - he’s my best friend on the tour”

Stanislas Wawrinka

But Wawrinka, who won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, took control from the second set tie-break.

Sunday’s victory ensures he will stay at number three in the world rankings and ahead of Federer as the Swiss number one.

“I can see that when

Stanislas Wawrinka

mentally I’m there and I’m fighting, I can beat all the players,” said Wawrinka.

“I did an amazing job. I’m really happy after winning my first Grand Slam to win a Masters 1000 so quick. I didn’t expect to.”

Wawrinka and Federer are Davis Cup team-mates and their close friendship was evident when, unusually for imminent opponents, they practised together

ahead of the final on Sunday morning.

For the first time since 2004, there was no Rafael Nadal in the Monte Carlo final, the world number one having lost to David Ferrer in the quarter-finals.

Federer had been beaten

by Nadal on each of his three previous final appearances and went into Sunday’s contest with a 13-1 record against Wawrinka. (BBC Sport)

massive target

L

ightning has struck twice. After they made mockery of a 200-plus chase in their first match, Kings XI captain George Bailey said this was not going to happen every day, and that his bowlers needed to turn up. The bowlers failed to turn up again, but Glenn Maxwell and David Miller made light of another massive chase. The numbers there were staggering: between them Maxwell and Miller smashed 140 off 64 balls, smocked 12 sixes and reverse-hit and caressed eight fours. What made it better was that this came against the best defenders in the IPL: this was the first time Rajasthan Royals lost after posting 190 or more.

Kings XI had got off to a sluggish start, their promotion of Wriddhiman Saha had backfired, and the asking rate was 10.5, to be maintained over 17 overs, when Maxwell walked. The ask would cross two a ball as soon as in the 10th over, and a struggling - by T20 standards - Cheteshwar Pujara would make it more difficult for Kings XI. Maxwell, though, turned it into a me-vthem, farmed the strike to the tune of 45 balls to Pujara’s 23 in the partnership between them, and ran away with the game with 89 off 45.

The innings was full of incredible hitting, preying on one considerably shorter side boundary and the short straight ones. He began by going after Richardson in the fifth over moments after Richardson had failed to latch onto an incredibly difficult return catch to his right. The first ball of the next over he smacked Pravin Tambe over square leg, and then eliminated for the time being - the other big threat, James Faulkner.

It began with the first ball of the over again as he flicked a low fullie for six, but he stunned Faulkner with the fifth ball of that seventh over. Faulkner had every reason to believe he had done Maxwell in with a slower bouncer, but from almost halfway down the pitch Faulkner adjusted and upper-cut him for six.

Tambe and Rajat Bhatia turned pulled things back with their non-turning legrollers, and not much pace to work with. The asking rate shot past 12, and Bhatia began the 11th over with fielders deep on the leg side, and three men behind and around point in the circle. This is when Maxwell in the Mirror made his appearance.

Two reverse-sweeps either side of short third man and one reverse-flick over cover later, Maxwell had gone well past his fifty, and had also brought the ask-

Glenn Miller sends the ball into orbit

ing rate back under control.

The next over from Dhawal Kulkarni had a similarly strong leg-side field, and Maxwell produced his touch play again. One upper-cut, one flick, and two gentle pushes past the man at cover brought him 16 runs. And when Maxwell manhandled Bhatia for two sixes in the next over, time had come for Royals to go back to the big guns.

On came Richardson, too much elevation got Maxwell, another century was missed, and Rajasthan were breathing again. They had little clue they were about to jump from the frying pan into the fire, the fire of Miller’s 51 off 19. Miller came in with 66 required off 36, which became 60 off 30 with a canny Stuart Binny over, and three dots from Tambe compounded it even further, but now Miller began to pick his deliveries to hit. Even though

Tambe bowled the next ball short, Miller smashed him over long-off for six. Pujara sort of took care of the next over with a four and three, and now Kings XI needed 37 from the last three.

Richardson and Faulkner had one each left. Royals went to Kulkarni for the third. They could have gone to Binny, who had cut off all pace, and had conceded just four in his only over. They could have kept Kulkarni back for later, and given him a slightly softer scenario if Faulkner had bowled the 18th and got the asking rate even higher. But these decisions have to be made fast, and Kulkarni it was.

Kulkarni’s idea was right: he was going full, he was going low, but Miller was murderous. Kulkarni didn’t miss his yorkers by much, but Miller hit him for four merciless sixes to end the contest then and there. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Rajasthan Royals T20 innings (20 overs maximum) AM Nayar lbw b Kartik 23 AM Rahane run out (Bailey) 13 SV Samson† b Awana 52 SR Watson* b Patel 50 STR Binny c Miller b Johnson 12 SPD Smith not out 27 JP Faulkner not out 8 Extras: (b 2, lb 1, w 2, nb 1) 6 Total: (5 wickets; 20 overs) 191 Did not bat: R Bhatia, KW Richardson, DS Kulkarni, PV Tambe Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Rahane, 2.6 ov), 2-54 (Nayar, 6.1 ov), 3-128 (Watson, 13.1 ov), 4-144 (Binny, 15.3 ov), 5-159 (Samson, 16.5 ov) Bowling: AR Patel 4-0-221, MG Johnson 4-0-29-1, P Awana 4-0-40-1, L Balaji 4-046-0, M Kartik 4-0-51-1

Kings XI Punjab T20 innings (target: 192 runs from 20 overs) CA Pujara not out 40 V Sehwag c Binny b Kulkarni 2 WP Saha† c Kulkarni b Faulkner 2 GJ Maxwell c Smith b Richardson 89 DA Miller not out 51 Extras: (lb 5, w 4) 9 Total: (3 wickets; 18.4 overs) 193 Did not bat: GJ Bailey*, MG Johnson, M Kartik, AR Patel, P Awana, L Balaji Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Sehwag, 1.4 ov), 2-10 (Saha, 2.4 ov), 3-126 (Maxwell, 13.5 ov) Bowling: KW Richardson 3-025-1, DS Kulkarni 4-0-50-1, JP Faulkner 3.4-0-45-1, PV Tambe 4-0-26-0, R Bhatia 3-038-0, STR Binny 1-0-4-0

SPORTS

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Roach escapes from nasty crash W

est Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach has escaped serious injury following a car accident early on Saturday morning in his native Barbados.

Roach, 25, crashed his BMW sedan after losing control due to slippery road conditions at traffic lights near Wanstead Drive, just outside Bridgetown. According to local reports, the car flipped several times before landing in the 3Ws Park, approximately half a mile from the 3Ws Oval.

Two wheels of the vehicle were broken off and the airbags deployed reports stated. Roach sustained a head wound but appeared coherent as he was taken by ambulance from the scene.

Roach took to Twitter a few hours later after the accident to reveal to follows that he was recovering and in good health. “Sorry To Scare My Friends, Family And Fans But I’m Straight!

Thanks For The Love! #BlessUp.” Inspector David Welch confirmed that police responded to the incident but

Kemar Roach

divulged that further details could not be given since the investigating officers were still gathering information.

Roach has played 23

Tests and 61 One-Day Internationals but has not appeared up for West Indies in nearly a year because of injury. (ESPNcricinfo)

22

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monday, april 21, 2014

More support needed for Zouks, but Limacol CPL ready to rumble

Elizabeth Styles U-19, 50-over cricket…

Several individual performances highlight latest round

J

amie Stewart Commercial Director for the Limacol Caribbean Premier League T20 (CPLT20) is very much about the Caribbean. Notwithstanding he has spent the better part of his life as a cricketer in Australia and now one with a vision to make the Limacol CPL the biggest event in the Caribbean rivaled only by Carnival. Incidentally, when we first spoke last month Stewart had just completed number one on his bucket listan intense week of partying in Trinidad & Tobago during their carnival celebrations.

The Caribbean Premier League is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines cricket with the vibrant Carnival atmosphere. The inaugural Limacol CPL, billed as “the Biggest Party in Sport”, featured six teams competing throughout the region in August 2013. The event’s main sponsor was Limacol but the inaugural event was also backed by Digicel both of whom are on board again this year. And the Jamaica Tallawahs, captained by Chris Gayle, emerged as champions last year.

Asked about his purpose for being in Saint Lucia Jamie Stewart said at the time that he was on a “sweep” through the islands. “In those islands we have franchises we are here to engage the local corporate community,’ Stewart told the STAR. “Here in Saint Lucia were are looking to drum up as much corporate support for the Zouks this year. At the end of the day Limacol CPL is a business.

We need the local community and both the Government and local corporate entities

Martin Singh Digicel’s Public Relations & Communications Executive (left), discusses plans for this year’s CPL with Jamie Stewart, the league’s Commercial Director

to come around and support the team so it justifies having a franchises here,” he added.

Stewart went on to explain that the franchise teams can move around and a lot depended on the level of financial support they received from a particular island.

In terms of support for the league last year the commercial director said that generally they were satisfied with those who took the leap of faith with them.

“We were delighted you know that some of the biggest corporate entities in the Caribbean really came out to support. We had great support from Guyana-we had Limacol coming in as title sponsor and Eldorado rum coming in as well. We also had good support out of Trinidad and Jamaica, which was also very heartening. So we had no complains, people really did come out and some of the largest corporate entities answered the call,” Stewart says.

However in terms of Saint

Lucia, he said that last year regrettably the corporate support was not as good even though the fans really came out in their numbers. “We didn’t get a lot of support here quite frankly and this is something I am here to try to address. Everyone at CPL loves Saint Lucia and so this year we hope we can get the government and corporate support to justify having the franchise here for a longer term.”

Antigua, Jamie Stewart confessed has also been a challenge.

Last month Limacol CPL released the results of an economic impact study which stated that it had generated a combined figure of US$105.6 million across the region. The study was done by the University of the West Indies (UWI). The estimated total economic impact of CPL 2013 for each host country is Antigua, US$7.35m; Barbados, US$9.1m; Guyana, US$4m; Jamaica, US$10.65m; Trinidad, US$12.85m, St Lucia US$7.3m. (St.Lucia Star)

T

he 2014 Elizabeth Styles Under-19, 50over cricket competition, organised by the Berbice Cricket Board, continued recently with victories for Tucber Park, Police and Cotton Tree Die Hard.

Martin Singh slammed 73 (6x4s, 4x6s) and Berbice Under-19 batsman Hakeem Hinds 61 (6x4s) to steer Tucber Park to 255 in 44.2 overs against Goed Bananen Land. The former Guyana Under-15 pacer Nial Smith took 6-19 from 10 overs and Singh, bowling off-spin, took 2-8 to bowl out Goed Bananen Land for 64.

Berbice Under-19 batsman Leon Andrews hit 86 (4x4s, 3x6s), Kwesi Mickle 56 (5x4s, 1x6) and Marlon Shepherd 46 as Police made 285 in 44.3 overs against Rose Hall Community Centre. After that, Mickle and Andrews came back with their off-spin and took 4-6 from 2.5 overs and 4-19 from nine overs respectively

Kwesi Mickle

Leon Andrews

to skittle out Rose Hall for a paltry 42, giving Police a huge 243-run victory.

Munesh Hemraj scored 50 and pacer Andre Chesney took 4-15 from four overs to help Cotton Tree Die Hard to a 121-run victory over D’Edward.

Below are the summarised scores from the matches played.

At Goed Bananen Land: Tucber Park beat Goed

Nial Smith

Bananen Land by 191 runs. Tucber Park 255 in 44.2 overs (Martin Singh 73, Hakeem Hinds 61, Randy Baichan 3-20) Goed Bananen Land 64 all out (Nial Smith 6-19, Martin Singh 2-8).

At the Rose Hall Welfare Ground in Canje: Police beat Rose Hall Community Centre by 243 runs.

Police 285 in 44.3 overs (Leon Andrews 86, Kwesi Mickle 56, Marlon Shepherd 46, Kris Bahadur 3-52, Latchman Ramoutar 3-55, Keon Issacs 2-57) Rose Hall Community Centre 42 all out in 17.5 overs with Kwesi Mickle 4-6, Leon Andrews 4-19).

At D’Edward: Cotton Tree Die Hard beat D’Edward by 121 runs.

Cotton Tree Die Hard 182 in 31 overs (Munesh Hemraj 50, Raymond Braithwaite 4-45) D’Edward 61 all out in 14 overs (Andre Chesney 4-15, Leonard Seetayah 2-15, Fizul Mohamed 2-16).

GFSCA/ Sampson, Yaw and Thompson fall short at junior Carifta Games Trophy Stall a medal favourite heading into the games, qualified for the final in his heat with a time of 47.74s, but fell short in his pet event the boy’s under-18 400 metres clocking 48.47s in the final for fourth.

Martin Manley of Jamaica won the event in 47.47s.

Jevina Sampson also made the final of the girls’

Jevina Sampson

2

013 Carifta bronze medallist Jason Yaw fell short of “medaling” at the junior Carifta Games currently in progress in Martinique on the same day that Kadecia Baird and Cassey George won gold for Guyana on Saturday.

Yaw, who was seen as

Jason Yaw

under-18 400 metres qualifying for the final with a time of 55.99s.

However, Sampson, while clocking a faster time of 55.68s in the final, finished sixth in the event.

Sada Williams of Barbados won the event in 53.39s.

USbased athele Brenessa Thompson also fell short after making the final of the girls’ under-12 100 metres. Thompson, making her debut for Guyana, ran 11.61s for sixth with Jamaican Jonielle Smith winning the event in 11.17s.

Meanwhile, Yaw and Sampson will have a chance to redeem themselves in 200 metres heats on Sunday with the final expected to be held today.

However, up to press time confirmation of them advancing to the final had not been released.

softball finals set for Saturday

T

Brenessa Thompson

Cassey George, who struck gold for Guyana on Saturday, was also a part of the 3000 metres on Saturday with no results being released up to press time.

Baird is also expected to make the final of the girls’ under-20 200 metres that will be contested today.

he three category finals of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA)- organised Trophy Stall- sponsored male and female softball tournament will be played on Saturday at the DCC ground in Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown.

Action will bowl off at 14:00h with Floodlights taking on Success in the Masters 20/20 final, followed by the Female championship game from 17:00h, involving Wellwoman and Trophy Stall. That game is slated to be a 10/10 affair.

The Male Open final will crown the day with action set to get underway at 18:15h. Two of the country’s leading softball teams, Wolf’s Warriors and Regal will battle for supremacy.

As is the norm with all competitions organised by the GFSCA, there will be live commentary of the games at the venue, while there will be musical entertainment beyond the boundary.

Admission to the venue is $200 per person, while vehicular parking inside the ground will attract a fee of $500.

monday, april 21, 2014

guyanatimesGY.com

23

holds Mathew burst sends Trinis plummeting RHTY&SC annual awards SCOREBOARD

Windward Islands 1st Innings D Smith b Gabriel 0 T Theophille c Gabriel b Richards 30 J Charles+ c Lewis b Gabriel 8 S Ambris run out(Ramdin) 44 K Lesporis b Khan 39 R Currency LBW Khan 68 L Sebastien* c Darren Bravo b Khan 40 M Mathew c Lewis b Khan 3 K Peters c Khan b Jaipaul 5 D Johnson c Darren Bravo b Jaipaul 8 N Pascal not out 0 Extras: (0nb, 0w, 3lb, 0b 3) 3 Total: (73.4 Overs) 248 Trinidad & Tobago 1st Innings Bowling: S Gabriel 11-2-35-2, R Emrit 11-1-42-0, M Richards 7-0-30-1, A Hosein 7-0-29-0, I Khan 17-2-59-4, R Jaipaul 17.46-34-2, J Mohammed 3-0-16-0.

Trinidad & Tobago 1st Innings L Simmons c Mathew b Johnson 19 E Lewis not out 47 Darren Bravo c Lesporis b Johnson 0 M Richards c Currency b Sebastien 2

Devon Smith

T

rinidad and Tobago gambled with a bold declaration but the move seemed to be backfiring as the Windward Islands ended the rain-hit second day of their Headley/ Weekes semi-final on top here Sunday.

Resuming the day on 36 for three in pursuit of the Windwards’ first innings of 248, T&T slumped to 140 for eight about 35 minutes after tea at Queen’s Park Oval, and opted to declare to deny the Windwards precious bowling points.

Under tournament rules, the side that either wins or accumulates the most points in the semi-final will qualify for the final.

Unfazed by the move, the Windwards responded well to reach 88 for two at

the close, a lead of 196 runs heading into Monday’s penultimate day. Left-handed opener Devon Smith was unbeaten on 44 from 72 balls with six fours.

T&T, however, ended the day level on three points with the Windwards.

The visitors maintained their momentum from the following evening, with seamer Mervyn Mathew running through the middle and lower order to finish with four for 19.

Only Evin Lewis, who was unbeaten on 47 when the declaration came, offered any resistance in an innings lasting 203 minutes off 126 balls, with five fours and a six.

Left-arm seamer Delorn Johnson supported with two for 44. (Windiescricket)

Lambert strokes century as Jamaica reach 302 vs Barbados Hosts 18 for one at close on second day

B

arbados, trailing Jamaica by 57 runs on first innings, reached 18 for one in their second innings at the close on the second day of the Headley/ Weekes Trophy semi-final at Kensington Oval on Sunday.

Tamar Lambert stroked 121 in Jamaica’s 302 reply to Barbados 245 in the first innings.

Scores: BARBADOS 245 (Shane

Dowrich 69 not out, Ashley Nurse 45, Omar Phillips 33, Shai Hope 28, Sheldon Cottrell 3-28, Damion Jacobs 3-58, Dave Bernard 2-32) and 18 for one.

JAMAICA 302 (Tamar Lambert 121, David Bernard Jr 42, Jermaine Blackwood 37, John Campbell 31, Nkrumah Bonner 23; Sulieman Benn 5-102, Ashley Nurse 2-47, Fidel Edwards 2-58) (Jamaica Observer)

J Mohammed LBW Peters 19 D Ramdin*+ c Charles b Mathew 25 A Hosein c Charles b Mathew 0 R Emrit c Charles b Mathew 21 I Khan c Charles b Mathew 2 Extras: (lb5) 5 Total: (8 wickets Declared (47 Overs) 140 Did not Bat: S Gabriel, R Jaipaul, Bowling: N Pascal 5-0-26-0, D Johnson 10-2-44-2, K Peters 14-6-18-1, L Sebastien 10-228-1, M Mathew 8-4-19-4.

Windward Islands 2nd Innings (Lead; 108) D Smith not out 44 T Theophile LBW Emrit 11 J Charles+ c Hosein b Jaipaul 11 S Ambris not out 13 Extras: (b4, lb5) 9 Total: (2 wickets; 23 Overs) 88 Fall of Wickets: 1-45, 2-60.

Bowling: S Gabriel 5-0-21-0, M Richards 4-1-8-0, L Simmons 1-0-2-0, R Emrit 5-0-23-1, R Jaipaul 6-0-18-1, I Khan 2-0-7-0.

ceremony April 27

T

he Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) will hold its 24th annual awards ceremony on Sunday April 27, 2014 at the St Francis Training Centre. According to a media release from the club,a total of 40 awards will be presented, including awards for the Cricketer of the Year; Female Cricketer of the Year; Worker of the Year; The Most Promising Player; and the Under-15 Player of the Year .

The main aim of the award ceremony,the release added, is to inspire all RHYT&SC members to aim for the highest standards ; to elicit better performances from individual players; to achieve better results as a unit and to get its members

to understand their responsibilities as role models.

The RHTY&SC was formed in in 1990 by the St Francis Community Developers and has developed into one of guyana’s leading cricket teams. The club has won over 40 major Berbice cricket titles at all levels and has produced one Test player; one ODI player and two female cricketers for the West Indies senior teams. Further,the club has produced six senior national cricketers; 23 national junior players and a total of 80 players for Berbice at all levels.Moreover,the RHTY&SC has won the Guyana Cricket Board’s Club of the Year award a record four times and the Berbice Club of the Year award, five times.

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

monday, April 21, 2014

TOP SCORES

Cricket, IPL: Rajasthan Royals 191-5, Kings XI Punjab 193-3; FootbalL, English Premier League: Everton 2, Man Utd 2-0

More support needed for Zouks, but Limacol CPL ready to rumble See story on page

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‘The Dream’ says Ravens can go undefeated for the year Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2014, Sharjah

David Miller bashed six sixes in his unbeaten 51 off only 19 balls (Photos courtesy BCCI)

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Saqlain Mushtaq (centre) with Sunil Narine (left) and Samuel Badree

Bernard Hopkins becomes oldest boxer to unify weight division

Maxwell, Miller maul massive target L

ightning has struck twice. After they made mockery of a 200-plus chase in their first match, Kings XI captain George Bailey said this was not going to happen every day, and that his bowlers needed to turn up. The bowlers failed to turn up again, but Glenn Maxwell and David Miller made light of another massive chase. see full story on page 20

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