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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, August 12, 2013

Issue No. 1858

Ramotar: Still hope for Amaila project − holds rescue talks with Granger

See story on page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Economic P2 forum to outline 10year vision for nation MotherP7 to-child transmission continues to decline – NAPS P10 TIP sensitisation campaign taken to Region One

Potable P10 water well for Mabaruma by year-end – Ali

A fan shows her support for the Guyana Amazon Warriors as the Barbados Tridents were defeated on Sunday at the Queens Park Oval in the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League competition (LCPL photo)

CAPE, CSEC results to be released on Tuesday

See story on page 12

U.S. envoy says hydropower good for Guyana See story on page 12

Armogan P12 laments Region Six’s poor showing at NGSA Caribbean P17 nations wooing Indian immigrants with attractive citizenshipfor-cash offers

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2 news

monday, august 12, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Economic forum to outline Young fisherman 10-year vision for nation commits suicide

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

President Donald Ramotar

he National Economic Forum, scheduled from August 14 to August 15, will build on the platform established by previously-held summits and provide a forum for stakeholders to discuss key emerging issues to the nation’s development.

This is according to the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit (NSCU), which stated that the forum’s

theme will be “Promoting economic growth and development through innovation, diversification and partnership”.

The forum, which takes place at the Guyana International Conference Centre in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, will feature presentations by President Donald Ramotar, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Private Sector Commission

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Chairman Ronald Webster, and chairpersons of the 10 pre-selected thematic groups comprising technical representatives of the government and political opposition.

There will be breakout sessions, with participants joining one of the 10 working groups covering their areas of interest. Discussions and recommendations will be captured and presented in revised group reports.

Acting Tourism, Indsaustry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali will outline future plans and deliver closing remarks.

Following extensive public-private sector consultations, the National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS) was launched in 2006, outlining the nation’s long-term development strategy. The National Competitiveness Council (NCC), which is chaired by

President Ramotar, controls the NCS and acts as a central point to ensure that strategies are implemented.

The NCC comprises government representatives, private sector stakeholders, and labour unions.

The NCC also promotes the strategies, locally and internationally; finds solutions to address various challenges; and seeks to identify synergies among donors to improve the effectiveness of lenders’ initiatives.

An inaugural Competiveness Summit was held in September 2012 and consequently, “action items” were developed in the areas of trade strategy and export promotion zones, manufacturing, small business development, tourism, agro-processing, forestry, infrastructure, alternative energy, and technology.

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young fisherman of Berbice on Saturday ended his life for reasons unknown to his relatives. The dead teenager, who was identified as Balram “Ryan” Baldesh, 19, of Lot 34 Number Two Village, West Coast Berbice was discovered by his mother about 01:55h on Saturday. According to the victim’s brother, Ramphal, he had no problems that are known to the family. He said the family is in shock over the incident. Guyana Times understands that Baldesh’s mother, Sabita Persaud left home about 17:00h on Friday,

and returned about 20:00h when she retired to bed.

At 01:00h on Saturday, Persaud woke up to prepare her now dead son’s meals as usual for him to go to work, but realised that he was not in his bed. She got worried and woke up her husband, Rustal Persaud. They decided to make check for Baldesh and found him hanging from a veranda beam with a green rope tied around his neck.

He was cut down by the police who were called in.

His body was examined for marks of violence and then taken to Fort Wellington Hospital.

Man stabbed with broken bottle

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man is presently nursing at least three stab wounds about his body at the New Amsterdam Hospital following an altercation on Saturday evening with another man.

The injured man reportedly used derogatory words against the attacker’s mother. Ganga Persaud, 28, a cane harvester of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, was stabbed to his left ear, the left side of his head and left hand by his attacker who allegedly used a broken bottle.

Reports revealed that on Saturday evening the now injured man and the sus-

pect were drinking together, when the suspect cursed the victim about his mother. The suspect retaliated by throwing away the alcohol that they were drinking, broke the bottle, and reportedly began stabbing Persaud.

The suspect later fled the scene and has not been seen since. The victim was taken to Fort Wellington Public Hospital where he was treated and was subsequently referred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he has been admitted.

Guyana Times understands that Persaud’s condition is stable.

Skeletal remains discovered at Springlands

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illagers of Springlands, Corentyne were on Saturday shocked following the discovery of the skeletal remains of a human being in a house once occupied by a Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) employee.

The remains were discovered in the two-storey wooden building and were taken to the Skeldon Hospital mortuary. Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that about 08:00h on the day in question, an unknown caller contacted the Springlands Police Station and report-

ed that an unpleasant scent was emanating from a building once occupied by a GRA employee at Bank Road, Springlands.

A team of police ranks was dispatched to the area and upon arrival, they found a human skull and several pieces of bone scattered on the floor of a bedroom. The bones were collected and sent to the Skeldon Hospital mortuary, where they were examined and found to be those of a human. Several persons in the area were questioned, but no one was arrested.

13 held in city raids

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olice on Friday conducted cordon-and-search operations around Georgetown during which a total of 13 men were arrested pending investigations into armed robberies, trafficking in narcotics, and burglaries.

According to a police release, one of the men had been sentenced to one year in prison earlier this year for

possession of smoking utensils for narcotics following an ex parte trial. Meanwhile, about 09:30h on Friday, police searched a building at King Edward Street, Albouystown, where two unregistered motorcycles, suspected to have been smuggled into the country via Lethem from Brazil, were found. Investigations are in progress.

Police destroy six-acre ganja farm

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olice on Saturday destroyed a six-acre ganja farm at Hararuni, Upper Demerara River.

The six-acre field of approximately 6000 plants

ranging in height from one foot to eight feet was found and destroyed along with 52 nurseries, 30 kilograms of dried marijuana and three camps. No one was arrested.

News

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, August 12 from 08:30h to 10:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Monday, August 12 from 07:20h to 08:50h.

WEATHER TODAY

Countrywide: Thundery showers are expected during the day and evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East north-easterly to easterly at 4.02 to 2.23 metres per second.

High Tide: 07:50h and 20:09h reaching maximum heights of 2.59 metres and 2.58 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 13:42h reaching a minimum height of 0.67 metre.

saturday, August 10, 2013

LOTTERY NUMBERS C 24 16 04 07 08 10 06 FREE TICKET

Daily Millions

01 16 05 26 18 LUCKY 3

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Draw De Line 09 19 12 01 05 02 18 DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

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monday, august 12, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Ramotar: Still hope for Amaila project − holds rescue talks with Granger

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aying there is a small window of time for the country’s leaders to rise to the occasion and to make a decision on the Amaila project that is based on patriotism, not partisanship, President Donald Ramotar on Sunday said he has been holding talks with Opposition Leader David Granger to save the project.

On Sunday, Sithe Global, the identified developer, announced it was pulling out of the project, citing a lack of consensus by the parliamentary parties.

Ramotar in a statement released Sunday afternoon said all Guyanese will be aware of the latest negative developments concerning the Amaila Falls project, and the intention of Sithe Global's withdrawal because of lack of political support from all parties in the National Assembly.

“Yet, even at this late hour, there is a small window of time for our country’s leaders to rise to the occasion and to make a decision on Amaila that is based on patriotism, not partisanship. As president of this country, I will honour my duty to represent all Guyanese – and I will keep working to find a way forward as long as I believe that progress is still possible,” he said.

Support

According to the president, Sunday morning he spoke with Granger and “urged him once again to join him in showing support for the Amaila Falls project, for our country’s future development and for the life opportunities of generations of Guyanese.

I will try to continue this engagement with Granger in the hours ahead, and I told him that my door remains open, as it always has been”.

However, the president said the debate about the Amaila project is not

Opposition Leader David Granger

helped by the volume of uninformed speculation in recent weeks, despite two opportunities to debate the project in Parliament, and the public availability of information over many months. He said decisions on matters such as this – which are so important to the country’s future – should be based on facts, and not made as a result of speculation or political partisanship. “All our political parties know that they have been equipped with the information they need to reach a decision on Amaila Falls.”

According to him, the facts are clear. He noted that currently the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) incurs an electricity generating cost of 19 U.S. cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). With the Amaila Falls project, GPL’s cost of electricity can be dramatically reduced to 11 U.S cents per kWh in the first 12 years, 40 per cent less than today; 5.6 U.S. cents per kWh in the next 80 years, paid 71 per cent less than today; and 1.8 U.S. cents per kWh for the following 80 years, 91 per cent less than today As a result, the Amaila project can reduce electricity bills for Guyanese consumers and businesses as average tariffs for consumers will come

President Donald Ramotar

down by at least 20 per cent within two years of commercial operation of the hydro, eliminating the need for Guyanese taxpayers to subsidise GPL.

Subsidy

In 2012, the subsidy cost taxpayers over $6 billion. This will no longer be needed, and the money can be invested in other important national priorities such as roads, schools and hospitals, greatly reducing Guyana’s dependence on foreign oil, and insulate the economy from the risk of rising oil prices.

Unlike oil, the price of Amaila’s electricity will go down over the next 20 years, significantly reducing blackouts. To avoid outages, the plant has four individual units and full redundancy in the auxiliary systems; two transmission lines, each capable of

transmitting 100 per cent of the plant’s output, transforming Guyana’s electricity sector from being fully oil-dependent to one built on clean, renewable energy.

As the flagship of the Low Carbon Development Strategy, Amaila will enable reductions in Guyana’s greenhouse gases from electricity generation by approximately 90 per cent, support business growth in the processing and manufacturing industries, and create new jobs – sending a positive message to large global investors that Guyana is open for investment and set a new standard for the size of investment possible in Guyana. The plant will be fully paid for by the sale of electricity – at prices far cheaper than today; be fully-owned by the people of Guyana 20 years after operations begin and will provide affordable, reliable energy for generations.

“As has been made clear over the last week, one political party has not yet come out in support of our people gaining access to these benefits.

Yet in the coming hours and days, I hope that we will see a broadening spirit of patriotism and compassion for hardworking Guyanese. If we see this spirit of patriotism and compassion emerge, I will do my utmost as president to get this project back on track in the hours ahead,” Ramotar said.

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monday, august 12, 2013

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

Editorial

Youth migration

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nternational Youth Day will be observed today, August 12 with a focus on youth migration. It is good that this issue will be taking centre stage, as for some time now it has not been explored and debated by policymakers and other key stakeholders the way it should be. It is hoped that youth-led organisations in Guyana will utilise the opportunity to zoom in on the debates that will seek to inform and guide national policymaking.

United Nations (UN) estimates say that of the annual total of some 214 million international migrants, young people constitute more than 10 per cent, yet too little is known about their struggles and experiences. This is due to a number of factors, most notably, inadequate research being done in order to dig deeper into issues affecting young migrants.

Migration can never be stopped. All over the world, people are looking for better opportunities. Some are fleeing persecution, others are escaping economic hardship.

Some have communities to go to, others must make new connections. In transit and at their final destinations, many young migrants face equal or greater struggles, including racism, xenophobia, discrimination, and human rights violations. Young women, in particular, face the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse.

The UN says that poverty, crowded and unsanitary living conditions, and the challenges of finding decent employment are regular features of the migrant experience. These challenges are exacerbated by the current global economic and financial crises. Migrants are also often accused by communities and politicians of taking jobs from local people, exposing them to further risk of discrimination. In other cases, young people left behind by migrating parents face psychological and social challenges and greater vulnerability.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organistion (UNESCO) Director General Irina Bokova has pointed to the fact that “migration is changing the world map and the face of modern society”. She says that while it has enormous potential for the rapprochement of peoples, intercultural dialogue and development, it raises immense challenges in terms of exclusion, poverty, exploitation, and discrimination.

Hence, she suggests that it is vital to improve knowledge of such migration in order to design public policies that are more appropriate and more efficient. She explains that social science research is of the utmost importance. It has revealed striking changes in migration flows in the last 20 years, with the number of migrants, particularly women and young people, on the rise.

Bokova recommends that in order to unleash the potential of young people, we must consider them to be key partners in the formulation and implementation of youth policies. In her view, the intensity of migratory movements in a globalised and interconnected world calls for stronger cooperation and solidarity among states. It also calls for greater access, within societies, to quality education, democratic participation, and intercultural skills that help people to live together, especially in cities, where more than half of the world’s population lives.

That being said, it is also necessary to emphasise the positive contribution young migrants make to their societies – economically and by enriching the social and cultural fabric. Most of them work hard to earn a living and improve their circumstances.

As pointed out by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the remittances young migrants send to support families in their home countries are a major contributor to economies worldwide. Further, when they return home, young migrants often enhance development by applying skills and ideas acquired abroad. And, in many cases, women are empowered through migration as they gain financial and social independence.

In an effort to harness the energy, imagination, and initiative of the world’s youth in overcoming various challenges, we join the call for governments and other stakeholders to consider seriously youth migration as an issue that should be placed on the national agenda for serious discussion.

The National School of Dance in an inspired performance during the opening ceremony of the 36th Biennial Conference of the Caribbean Union of Teachers, which was held at Princess Hotel, August 4-9 (Carl Croker photo)

International Youth Day should focus on each home country Dear Editor, International Youth Day has really come upon us very quickly. This year’s observance of it, on August 12, will see a focus on the issue of youth migration and with good reason too, as there are some 214 million international migrants at large.

This means that they are quite visible, yet way too little is known about them and hardly any proper planning is done for them. The United Nations (UN) has listed some concerns regarding these youths, including persecutions, economic hardships and loneliness.

If one were to visit say New York, he/she would see that on a daily basis, these youths are immersed into crowded and unsanitary living conditions.

They hustle around all day trying to find decent jobs and to make ends meet.

Many of them become so frustrated that they cave into to pimping, drugs and violence. Eventually their existence is absorbed into one of criminality and indecencies.

What then happens is that they suffer from stigmatisation and stereotyping. Thus, even the few fortunate ones suffer horrible social and political injustices.

There is this talk about their importance, that is, their positive contribution to societies of origin, transit and destination by enriching the social and cultural fabric of the places they live in.

To me, this is a dream. The ones who escape their various environments are usually absorbed into mainstream society. They seldom look back.

Those trapped are scorned and their culture, language and music are disdained most times.

The negative associations form a long list. My suggestion is that each country take serious responsibility for potential

migrants – these people need schooling.

Take Guyana for instance, and too many youths drop everything as they await their time here. Even so, who can convince them of realities in New York or Toronto?

These very names have a mesmeric effect on them.

When they go, the reality of hardship simply hits them hard and many cannot recover. May we then proudly tell people that Guyana is not a paradise, but it is a very good place to call home.

Yours faithfully, Karen Sobers

The tenure of the Women and Gender Equality Commission should be extended Dear Editor, The tenure of the Women and Gender Equality Commission should really be extended, as is being requested by the commission. Right now, the opposition is rejecting this organisation, and I cannot understand why.

Three recent cases, all in one week, tell me that this body is vital. It has been and will continue playing a pivotal role where women’s issues are concerned.

Revisiting the last week is like watching the movie “Texas Chain Saw Massacre”. This is because during the Emancipation

season, some brutal misogynistic acts took place. In light of these brutal attacks, I think that there should a consensus from all concerned – the Alliance For Change (AFC), the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). All must work together to preserve the life of the commission. There is a lot of work to be done and the more all groups help, the better it is going to be.

I do not know what is going to play out, but I like the attitude of the members of the commission. They have

promised to work in keeping with their five-year strategic plan, which has the backing of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The scope of this programme is quite comprehensive, covering some key areas – organisational and institutional strengthening of the commission, women’s leadership and governance, economic improvement of women, and gender-based violence.

Already, the commission has met with the vice chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), where members called on the university

to boost the operations of the Women’s Studies Unit, which appears to be dysfunctional.

I fully support the work of the commission. Women are severely endangered these days, and mere legal work is never going to be enough. The mind-set is what is important and this is where the commission can concentrate its work.

It will take a lot of doing and it will take a lot of people.

That is why I want all to see this in a most apolitical manner.

Sincerely, Shirley Liverpool

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Monday, august 12, 2013

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

Helping our children History is important

Dear Editor, I have to comment on the Health Ministry and its recent camp for diabetic children. The effort had no fanfare, and it was targeted at some 49 children afflicted with Type One Diabetes Mellitus.

The children were enlightened on their medical condition, and I think that adults need this too. Many times people are mis-informed and they end up living in fear for no justifiable medical reason.

Also there was the administering of medication, nutrition, foot care and management, and coping skills.

The event was actually quite extensive and detailed. To top it off, the participating children benefited from a hamper. The contents were medical supplies such as glucometers, test strips, lancets, prep-pads, novo pens, and novo fine needles.

I am somewhat bothered by the talk on asking that these children live a healthy

Participants at the Health Ministry’s Annual Diabetes Youth Camp on Saturday at the Splashmin’s Fun Park, with staff of the Health Ministry (file photo)

lifestyle and always participate in their health care. To me, this is easy to achieve.

Children on the whole are prone to being quite active.

All that is needed now is to have a few pieces of equipment for them.

I see the need for schools and community centres to go this way. When there is not adequacy of space, then have a few swings, a seesaw and hanging bars. This input into diabetic children started way back in 2008,

and is a part of the ministry’s annual programme to fight chronic diseases.

Now imagine how much of a turn-around we can have if a few people think of assisting these children with getting towards an active lifestyle. I like how the BBC put it the other night – want to overcome diabetes?

Then burn up the sugar – just get active.

Yours faithfully, Omar Fazil

Guyana has the ability to compete in manufacturing Dear Editor, El Dorado has again excelled over its competitors by winning at the 2013 International Wine and Spirits Competition. This was in London, where the El Dorado Eight-Year-Old Rum was awarded the Best Rum Trophy.

There also seems to be the possibility of the introduction of an energy drink, with coconut water from Guyana being one of the key ingredients – an initiative being pursued by American investors. They have already met with President Donald Ramotar.

In Guyana, we tend to take coconut water for grant-

ed and maybe the move by these American investors will wake us up. What it can do right now is make us push more for more coconut groves. Since the product, that is, the proposed energy drink will be mainly coconut water, the demand for the fruit will be great, and this is where many coconut farmers will come in for great benefit.

Just like we have a local top-notch distillery, we in Guyana can set up operations for marketing our coconut water. I have drunk preserved coconut water in some small cans and the price for a small tin is quite hefty. So here again is an-

other idea – we can bottle or can the liquid and the local market alone will suffice for a fruitful venture.

Sincerely, Sohan Ramdass

Dear Editor, We need to keep our history alive and make mention of anything that has significance. In this case, I am thinking religion. I was happy to read about Farm Village, bought by 23 freed men and women in the Village Movement, which followed the end of slavery in the British Caribbean. This is going way back. Some 50 families are currently residing there.

Farm Village was purchased in 1887, but the deed was formalised in the Deeds Registry in 1888. It has an old Presbyterian Church building that should be kept for posterity. I just wish that someone would start moving in this direction. The structure is there and most things are intact.

Right in this season of emancipation history, the St Andrew’s Kirk is celebrating its 195th anniversary at its Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown building. We are talking about going down memory lane all the way to 1818.

In fact, the first sill of this edifice was laid on August 12, 1811. The framework of the structure was purchased by a group of Scots in 1813 and construction commenced in 1816. We need to preserve all of this and disseminate the information too.

In Guyana, we have many historical elements to rediscover, if only in the area of religious building.

Guyana has many many Christians, Hindus, and Muslims. Many of the places of worship go way back in time and we need to make sure we keep all of them on record.

Where the St Andrew’s Kirk is concerned, it was the first church built by the Europeans in which slaves were allowed to worship.

Reverend Oswald Allen Best was the first Guyanese minister to serve in the church – doing so all the way up to his death in April 2009.

Between 1943 and 1950, the minister was Reverend Norman Birnie, MA. He came from Aberdeen,

Scotland with his wife and two daughters under the auspices of the Church of Scotland.

Then outside of history itself, events can be for fun and for all ages. For example, the celebration is taking in some 38 events catering for toddlers to members over 60 years old, competing in races from 25 to 100 metres.

The calendar of activities runs through the month and features a very important health fair, set for August 31 on the church’s lawns. The theme for the day is “Promoting healthy lifestyles through educational empowerment”. The plan is to have 13 booths to empower and educate all persons present.

The activities outlined all look great too. I think that Guyana has the physical, religious, and social space for events like these – they are informative and wholesome.

Sincerely, Courtney Bulkan

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation Parenting For Success

Adolescents and cutting C

ase study – Names and places have been changed to protect persons’ privacy.

Andrea is a beautiful teenage girl, who is currently living with her parents and siblings in a depressed community in a two-bedroom wooden house. Ten years ago, Andrea and her family of six made a drastic change in their lifestyle when they moved from a rural community and relocated to the city of Georgetown. Her father was known to the community for being physically and verbally abusive towards Andrea and her mother, especially whenever he consumed alcohol and returned home late at nights. He was the main breadwinner in the family, but worked seasonally in the interior. Because of this, he was frequently away from home and his wife took up the responsibility of being the caretaker and provider of the family. Andrea’s mother was also managing a small business from her home.

Andrea’s relationship

– ChildLink’s vision is a Guyanese society where every child enjoys the right to a childhood in a safe and caring family, free from poverty, violence, and exploitation with her mother was one of love and affection. She felt secure to know that her mother loved her and wanted only the best for her. She was able to receive the emotional support of her mother whenever needed.

Meeting Andrea for the first time, she seemed a typical teenage girl who was going through the normal phases of adolescence.

However, after the first counselling session with Andrea, the counsellor realised that she had a traumatic past of inflicting cuts on her wrists. The counsellor observed that Andrea was exhibiting a lot of attention-seeking behaviours, and she started to build a therapeutic/counselling relationship with her. The environment was created for Andrea to trust and confide in the counsellor. It didn’t take long for Andrea to open up about her hurts concerning her father’s behaviours, which led to her cutting herself with sharp objects, such as pieces of glass, a razor or a knife, whenever she felt angry or upset. Andrea be-

lieved this was the only way she was able to vent her anger and frustration about her home situation. The scars were still quite evident on her wrists at the time of the disclosure to the coun-

who favoured her siblings over her. She strongly believed that her father did not like her. Furthermore, he thought that Andrea was not his biological child and used every opportunity to

relationship with her siblings, especially her younger sister whom her father favoured most. Andrea often preferred to remain alone whenever she was at home and she was very aggressive in her response towards her siblings whenever they tried to communicate and play with her.

Therapy

sellor.

Favouritism

Most of Andrea’s anger and frustration were directed towards her father

repeat the words “you are not my child” in the presence of her mother and siblings. This rejection by her father has affected Andrea’s

The intervention planned, with Andrea’s involvement, included both one-to-one and group sessions.

As a therapeutic short-term goal, Andrea agreed not to inflict harm to her body when she was feeling hurt and rejected in the following month. The second goal was for Andrea to learn new ways of coping with her fears and challenges in her home situation.

The counsellor deemed it necessary to engage Andrea and other youths who were dealing with similar issues in sessions on self-esteem building, anger management, and the dangers of physically hurting oneself.

Within these group sessions,

Andrea was able to hear from other teens who were experiencing some of the same difficulties and learnt how they were coping with the situation.

Although Andrea had good intentions to stop, she really didn’t know how.

With the guidance and support of the counsellor, Andrea began to get rid of the broken pieces of bottles and other objects used for self-cutting. Together they explored positive ways of coping with Andrea’s mixed emotions such as counting slowly from one to 10; taking deep breaths; screaming; hitting objects that weren’t harmful to her or damaged in the process, for example, a pillow or punching bag; and visiting the centre to interact with other children with similar concerns.

When her father was at home, on a daily basis she had to resort to the use of some of the new techniques that were learnt. Many of these approaches have proved to be useful in helping her to cope with immediate difficulties within the home and other environments.

With the permission of Andrea, the counsellor engaged her mother and subsequently her siblings to support the family in addressing this issue.

“Andrea’s rejection by her father started from birth as a result of his accusations towards me,” Andrea’s mother said.

Though efforts to support Andrea’s father have proved futile, the interventions continued to support her mother and siblings to facilitate positive changes in their home and maintain a good relationship with each other.

Andrea enjoys reading, singing, listening to music, and hopes to become a lawyer when she grows up. She has stopped cutting herself and has developed a very close relationship with her friend whom she confides in.

Added to this, she shares a closer relationship with her mother and siblings who are now supportive of her whenever her father attempts to verbally abuse her. They also check-in with her to ensure that she does not return to her old way of coping with the hurts.

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

7 Mother-to-child transmission continues to decline – NAPS News

monday, August 12, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

By Svetlana Marshall

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he National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) has recorded in excess of 9500 HIV cases since 2003. In its 96page National HIV Strategic Plan 2013-2020 dubbed “HIVision 2020”, NAPS said “a cumulative total of 9598 cases of HIV and 2439 cases of AIDS were reported to the Ministry of Health for the period 2003-2012”.

According to the AIDS Secretariat, a survey conducted in 2011 revealed HIV prevalence among adults 15-49 years to be 1.1 per cent, while the prevalence among pregnant women remains stable at one per cent from 2009 to 2011.

“Mother-to- child transmission (MTCT) of HIV continues to decline with the absolute number of babies being affected reducing each year.

In 2011, five babies were born positive and the mother to child transmission rate was 2.5 per cent,” the report stated.

However, back in 2009, the Biologic Behavioural Surveillance Survey (BBSS) showed a major reduction in the prevalence of HIV among female sex workers from 26.6 per cent in 2005 to 16.6 per cent in 2009.

“Whilst there are vari-

ations within the specific age groups, consistently more than three quarters of HIV cases are reported in the combined age group of 20-49, which is considered the productive workforce,” NAPS stated.

Among Guyana’s 10 administrative regions, Region Four continues to account for the largest proportion of reported HIV cases, reaching more than 70 per cent by the end of 2011. However, Regions Two, Three, Five, Six, and 10 continue to stand out as it relates to the proportion of reported HIV cases, which may be linked to better access of prevention programme as compared to the hinterland regions.

National response

In an effort to prevent the spread of HIV, the “Guyana National HIV Prevention Principles, Standards and Guidelines” was launched in 2010. The national response programme has been geared to ensure that the minimum standards required in achieving HIV prevention are being met and sustained countrywide.

In scaling up HIV prevention, an intensified prevention programme was implemented and was designed to include access

tegic information.

The launch of HIVision 2020 comes less than one month after Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud told Guyana Times that the Health Ministry will depend heavily on the National Assembly to approve funds to keep afloat critical HIV/ AIDS programmes, as some international donors prepare to withdraw or reduce their financial support for AIDS programmes in the Caribbean.

NAPS Manager Dr Shanti Singh

Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud

to Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT); Prevention of Motherto-Child Transmission (PMTCT), comprehensive Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Information, Education and Communication (IEC) on stigma and discrimination reduction and HIV prevention-related issues.

HIVision 2020 was formalised after large-scale consultations with local and international agencies.

It seeks to reduce the social and economic impact of HIV and AIDS on individuals and communities, and simultaneously reduce the spread of HIV. Additionally, through established programmes, the quality of life

of persons living within HIV is expected to increase drastically.

During the launch last week, Project Manager Dr Shanti Singh said HIVision was designed to place Guyana on a trajectory to eliminate HIV. She noted that it takes into consideration the priorities for national development and specifically, for the prevention and control of HIV, based on the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF) and the international commitments to the Political Declaration on HIV. HIVision 2020 comprises five priority areas – coordination, prevention, treatment, care and support, integration, and stra-

Reduced budget

According to Dr Persaud, while United States President’s Emergency Plans for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is operational in the country, it is running on a reduced budget as it transits from a U.S.-run programme to a Guyanese-led initiative.

PEPFAR is designed to preserve the lives of persons suffering from HIV/ AIDS across the globe, with special emphasis on improving the health of women and children. In Guyana, the programme has made an important shift from direct service delivery to capacity building in its strategic approach.

With funding from PEPFAR, Guyana and the U.S. embarked on

the Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention (GHARP) Project in 2003 through USAID. GHARP was strategically designed to reduce the spread of the HIV/AIDS through comprehensive prevention and care programmes, and simultaneously equip health professionals with the requisite skills and tools needed to combat the disease.

Additionally, with GHARP came the implementation of VCT, thereby reaching the needs of persons living in hard-to-reach communities. More than 70,000 people in Guyana received HIV counselling and testing through the GHARP initiative.

In 2009, GHARP II was introduced with emphasis on risk reduction.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO); the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF); the Clinton Foundation; and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP) continue to offer technical and financial support.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is also among international organisations that offered financial support in Guyana’s fight against HIV/AIDS. (svetlanam@guyanatimegy.com)

8 news

Monday, august 12, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

Sukhai says Amerindians making progress

G

uyana’s indigenous peoples have progressed significantly in terms of education, health and infrastructural development over the past two decades with the assistance of government, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai said.

She expressed these sentiments on Friday at a press briefing as the country joined with the United Nations (UN) and other countries to observe World Indigenous People Day 2013 under the theme, “Building Alliance: Honouring Treaties, Agreements and other arrangements”.

She noted that with the assumption of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of office, it pursued accelerated support for development in improving the lives of indigenous people in the country, which has seen noteworthy progress.

She said presently Amerindian people have access to services that were once denied them or limited. Making reference to education specifically, which, according to her, will propel the people away from a level of sheer “vulnerability”, she underscored that the administration has achieved universal access to primary education in the hinterland and is working to expand access to secondary education. Sukhai said

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai

government recognises that there are still communities in the country that remain in vulnerable positions.

“We have not denied that; we recognise it, and each year the government places additional investment to enhance their services related to education and the same can be said of health and advancing and improving infrastructure in indigenous communities,” she noted.

Advancing communities

She pointed out that government has never used these communities’ remoteness as a reason for not supporting them, adding that they will be vulnerable because they have experienced years of marginalisation and neglect.

Presently, Amerindians are enjoying much more opportunities and access to services than before, so the

minister urged them to take advantage of these opportunities to develop themselves and their communities, particularly in the area of land ownership.

“We are the largest collective private land owners in this country and we have to rise to the challenge to utilise resources that can assist in moving to a higher level, with the support of government by advice, expertise, and financially,” the Amerindian affairs minister noted.

She added that over the past three or four years, indigenous people have received millions of dollars to assist their communities with respect to advancing productive and economic activities from government.

Thus, the government affirms its commitment to propelling Amerindian development without losing sight of international concerns that beset them as they observed the day.

National Toshaos Council Chairman Derrick John said indigenous people have come a long way in terms of development over the last two decades, adding that hinterland communities have been transformed.

While, Amerindian Action Movement representative Peter Persaud stated that Guyana’s indigenous people are treated with far more respect than those in other countries.

Eyew tness

Speaking... ...with a forked tongue For a while, we thought Khemraj Ramjattan and the rest of the Alliance For Change (AFC) head honchos (such as remain) were “speaking in tongues”. They were making a whole lot of noise, but we just couldn’t figure what they were saying. Then we realised they were just doing what comes naturally: speaking with forked tongues or, as some might say, from both sides of their mouths.

Whichever way you cut, sliced or diced their recent utterances on the Amaila Falls fiasco, you just knew these fellas were full of it.

We’ll start with the official statement of Sithe Global Holdings on their departure from the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP): “the project was supported by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and AFC”.

Now when Sithe talks about “the project”, it’s talking about the project it walked away from.

But the AFC never supported this particular project. The bill the AFC supported the government on was about the latter backstopping payments by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), not the project per se. This was demanded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and, at first, the AFC swore up and down that this entity had never even requested that guarantee. They maintained to the end they were waiting for the IDB’s report before pronouncing one way or another. Was this support?

Not in our book! But what Sithe’s statement does is clarify utterances made by Moses Nagamootoo recently on Amaila. He revealed his party was willing to cut a deal with the PPP/C. As we’ve pointed out time and again, how could a party cut deals if their original position was so “principled”. Obviously reeling from hostile sentiments in Berbice following their callousness on electricity charges for Guyanese other than Lindeners, Nagamootoo was desperately trying to find some higher ground for their foundering party.

This becomes clearer in their column this week in the MuckrakerKN. In it, they desperately swear up and down that they didn’t really oppose AFHEP. Are these guys for real? They’re only putting their foot deeper in

their mouths by the wagging of their forked tongues. What they also give credence to are charges that Nigel Hughes, as company secretary, must have given Sithe assurances that he could deliver the AFC to them – wearing his hat of AFC chairman.

This last-minute “approval” might’ve always been in the works and all the storm and thunder in the past year was just so much stuff and hot air. Like we always say, “what a tangled web we weave when we first practise to deceive”. Imagine the web woven when you’re practised liars!! ...for friends Now that the veil of sanctimoniousness has been ripped away from the AFC’s leaders, their close associates are scrambling like crazy to find their bearings. There’s one love-struck sap who’d actually likened Hughes to the second coming of Dr Walter Rodney! While others were wailing, “say it ain’t so, Nigel”; because he’d been done some favours by the lawyer, this chap is holding firm.

We may understand his desire to squeeze out some more legal favours, but still – how does he still have the chutzpah to insist on the Dr Rodney comparison. If all comparisons are “odious”, then this one’s positively scandalous.

Dr Rodney could’ve taught at any of the most prestigious universities of the USA for big bucks. Even his University of the West Indies (UWI) cohort Professor Orlando Patterson, who couldn’t hold a candle to him, ended up at Harvard University. Has this fellow even read what Dr Rodney wrote about the responsibilities of intellectuals in general and those of the African intellectual in the West Indies in particular? But what the heck? It’s only words to this sort of people. ...against intimate-partner violence Social conflict is common in societies of all kinds, but in some the violence reaches such a level that we categorise the experience as one of “armed conflict”. With the level of violence being inflicted on women by their intimate partners in Guyana, can we say there’s a war going on?

news

9

monday, august 12, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Insanally Foundation North West Secondary will not Tina gets IDB help for music be ready for new school term programme T R ehabilitation work to the North West Secondary School will not be completed in time for the new school year, according to Region One Chairman Paul Pierre.

According to the regional chairman, he has been informed by the contractor that a shortage of construction material has resulted in the delay.

Pierre told Guyana Times that arrangements have already been made to have the students housed at three locations: the Nurney Resource Centre, the Community Centre in the

village and at a parish hall.

However, this may prove inadequate for the more than 500 students who attend the school.

“With the influx of children for the new school year, we will have to find more accommodation for maybe 150 students.” The shortage of construction material is being blamed on the lack of adequate ferry service in the North West.

Recently, Works Minister Robeson Benn said the MV Kimbia is expected to be back in operation by mid-month while the area will get a new ferry next

year.

Meanwhile, rehabilitation work on the Hosororo Primary School which started in 2012 has not been completed. Pierre said that project has also been hit by a shortage of construction material.

“It is a concrete project and we can’t get the cement that is needed. The boat has been down since last year.”

The lack of an adequate steamer service plying the North West District is having a negative impact on the lives of residents of Region One. The prices for basic com-

modities have been on the rise as a shortage in supply has been pushing prices upward. For several months, the MV Kimbia has been out of service and a smaller vessel, the MV Lady Northcote has replaced it.

However, Pierre said given the size of the vessel, it does not have the capacity to fulfil the needs of the community. Contractors can ill afford to ship construction material with privately operated ferry services plying the North West route, as those high prices were not included in the cost when the contracts were awarded.

he Cultural Centre of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has selected 45 partner institutions to finance and provide technical assistance to cultural development projects in 25 countries.

The Tina Insanally Foundation Inc in Guyana has been chosen as one of the institutions to receive funding to train Guyanese musicians to teach music.

The IDB said the Cultural Development Programme, managed by the IDB Cultural Centre, aims to promote cultural development in Latin America and the Caribbean by co-financing projects and working hand-in-hand as project partner.

The grants were award-

ed to innovative projects for technical training, art, music and theatre instruction for educators, artists and musicians.

Taking into consideration the diversity of the cultural disciplines, the projects were evaluated for their viability, educational scope, effective use of resources, the application and the teaching of the teachers TOT model, the ability to mobilise additional sources of financing, and long-term impact on the community.

This year, the Cultural Centre received 867 project applications, from which 443 were pre-selected with help from the IDB country offices. Then, a selection committee awarded grants to 45 project proposals from 26 countries.

Caricom Change Team pleased with Guyana consultations Driver charged for

T

he Change Facilitation Team based at the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat has expressed satisfaction at the response by participants at the Guyana national consultations on a five-year strategic plan for the community.

The strategic plan is a critical part of the reform process within Caricom, which has been initiated by the conference of heads of government. Speaking on behalf of the team, Maria Mason-Roberts said “very solid recommendations and ideas have been put forward” during the sessions ,which began on Monday.

Mason-Roberts was high in praise of the organisation of the consultations led

by Foreign Affairs Ministry Director, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, who has been appointed the change driver for Guyana.

The heads of government approved the outline of the strategic plan at their inter-sessional meeting held in Haiti last February, and agreed to appoint change drivers in each member state with overall responsibility for coordinating and facilitating the change process at the national level.

The change drivers are coordinating the national consultations, which are scheduled to be held in all member states and associate members. The first was held in Barbados last June, with Guyana as the second, to be followed by Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Montserrat, St Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago scheduled for September.

The Bahamas, Belize, Haiti, Jamaica and St Kitts and Nevis consultations are scheduled for October. The consultations in member states will include stake-

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque

holder groups, including heads of government, opposition leaders, members of Parliament, representatives of business, labour, youth and other civil society groups, Caricom institutions, and other regional organisations with headquarters in the member state.

These consultations are intended to address the vision, mission and core values of the Caribbean Community, priority areas for the attention of the community in the period 2014-

18, and the most appropriate and efficient governance and management structures for the community.

Mason-Roberts indicated that over the course of the consultations, the team met with all the targeted groups.

She added that the process would continue subsequently with a wider engagement of the general public in order to get the widest possible participation and feedback from the process. The recruitment of a Change Facilitation Team resulted from discussions among heads of government at their inter-sessional meeting in Suriname in 2012 after receiving a report on the review of the secretariat.

The leaders agreed that it was necessary to re-examine the future direction of the community and the arrangements for carrying this forward which would include the role and function of the Caricom secretariat.

The strategic plan will, among other things, identify the priority areas of focus for the community and guide the restructuring of the secretariat. Caricom Secretary

General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque is leading the change process at the secretariat and has initiated some corporate reforms within the organisation while awaiting the completion of the strategic plan.

The facilitation team which has a three-year mandate is being assisted with resources from the government of the United Kingdom through the Department for International Development (DFID) and began work in the Caricom secretariat last November. (Caricom Secretariat)

fireman’s death

M

elvon Webster, 32, of Lot 88 Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice was on Friday charged for the death of Linden McCalmon, who died after the vehicle in which he was travelling slammed into a utility pole at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.

Webster was charged when he appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s

Court to answer to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving and driving an uncertified motor vehicle.

He was not required to plead to the causing death charge and was placed on $300,000 bail for that charge and $10,000 for driving an uncertified motor vehicle.

He pleaded not guilty to the latter charge. Mc Calmon met his demise minutes after leaving the Hopetown soiree celebrations.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013

News

TIP sensitisation campaign taken to Region One

T

he Human Services and Social Security Ministry continues to raise awareness on the issue of Trafficking in Persons (TIP), recognising the negative effects the scourge has on society. Its most recent awareness outreach was in Region One to educate residents on the issue.

Officials present included the ministry’s TIP Unit coordinator Tricia Watson, probation officer Pastor Wesley Albert, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) representative Trevor Benn, and Home Affairs Ministry representative Oliver Profitt. The event was sponsored and funded by the UNDP. Human trafficking can be defined as an organised criminal activity in which human beings are treated as possessions to be controlled and exploited (being forced into prostitution or involuntary labour). Officials of the team conducted sessions and a workshop at the Port Kaituma Secondary School, at which representatives from Sebai, Baramita, Oronoque, One Mile, Four Miles, Canal Bank and Arakaka participated.

Interactive sessions The sensitisation workshop began with residents explaining their understanding of TIP and what it means to them.

Team leader Watson explained the different ways in which persons could be deceived and taken advantage of. “We have had pastors, cousins, mothers, teachers, and police officers involved. Anybody can be a trafficker,” she warned. She encouraged participants not to fall for fake promises and urged them to pass the word around.

The workshop explained what is TIP, the profile of a trafficker, the different kinds of human trafficking, children as

Human Services and Social Security Ministry anti-TIP Unit coordinator Tricia Watson speaks with a participant during the workshop at the Port Kaituma Secondary School

special cases, and victim support, reported the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Legal explanations about TIP, according to the Combating Trafficking of Persons Act of 2005, were given, and emphasis placed on the three specific points which identify TIP. These points were thoroughly discussed, so persons would able to positively identify TIP. Explanations were also made on the misunderstanding and the misuse of the term TIP. Real-life situations of exploitation were examined in detail with interactive sessions.

The sessions also revealed that there were genuine concerns in some communities about cases bordering on or being misunderstood as TIP, but which could not be classified as such. These situations were clarified when persons mentioned them. Watson explained that while a few cases have been legally certified, the unit has many alleged cases.

She explained that as soon as a report is received, victim support is extended and continued despite the lack of convictions and proof.

The Home Affairs Ministry representative warned that anybody could be trafficked.

“Human trafficking is modern-

day slavery and we all need to be aware,” Profitt warned.

Tremendous challenges UNDP representative Benn, whose role was to monitor the event, pointed out the tremendous challenges TIP presents around the world. He noted that it is one of the largest criminal enterprises in the world, second only to drug trafficking and a lot of money is made from it. Benn said it is important that the impact of TIP be known so that communities can be made aware and prepared. He noted that the Region One communities are likely to be targeted by traffickers, hence the importance of reaching out.

UNDP has been supporting the human services and home affairs ministries in combating TIP for some time. Benn added that the aim is to ensure that communities are sensitised on the issue.

Human Services Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Patrick Findlay noted that the UNDP-financed workshop was a good one to help in the campaign against TIP, which hurts people. “You are going to be able to teach your people about TIP,” he said.

Pastor Albert, the probation officer in Region One,

urged that children be taught about TIP, pointing out that parenting is an important ingredient in addressing the issue. He urged participants to return to their communities and apply what they learnt and spread the word. Pastor Albert also urged them to be careful when investigating cases.

Sebai Toshao Vincent Emanuel explained that the issue of human trafficking is important in Amerindian communities, where more information and opportunities to learn is needed. “You could be caught up without knowing, many people in Amerindian communities have been caught up, especially because of finance,” he pointed out.

He believed that the workshop is good and programmes like those should reach more remote areas where persons can learn more. Toshao Emanuel explained that he knows for a fact that persons do not take the issue seriously. He observed that as a member of the National Toshaos Council, he believes the organisation should invite persons from the TIP unit to talk to them so they could, in turn, pass the message on to residents in their communities.

Workshops are good he noted, so people could get themselves ready to face persons attempting trafficking. The toshao pointed out that if the Amerindian Act is used in communities, “we can save persons from TIP, since you have to make agreements with the village council”. Toshaos are supposed to be educated on this to prevent TIP, “telling the village council of your situation can help,” he noted.

Beneficial Participant Lovely Mendonca said that the workshop was beneficial to her and colleagues. “It helped us to learn how we can prevent human trafficking in our communities and our country.”

Alan Henry, another participant, said the workshop educated him on how human trafficking can occur. “I would like to educate my peers about it,” he stated.

Another participant, Sabrina (only name given) emphasised the need to be cautious and urged her fellow youths to be careful of the friends they make, and to stick to their education plans to become independent when grown.

Neville La Rose, of Citrus Grove, called for more training and workshops, and was encouraged to have his community extend an invitation to the TIP Unit to visit.

The outreach ended with a walkabout sensitisation at Big Creek where members of the team spoke to residents about TIP and encouraged them to be on the lookout for cases and to help prevent it. Following the workshops, there will be a ‘Train the Trainer’ session in Georgetown, which will include persons from the communities which participated. This will see wider and continuous sensitisation in hinterland communities.

Big tings, big lies, big money

I

s a long time now de opposition parties never like to handle big tings. Dem start opposin every ting that de guvament doin big. From de airport project, to de specialty hospital, to de hydro project, to de Marriott Hotel, to de 2013 budget. Every ting big dem want to cut. Plus every time de guvament come wid big tings, dem get friken.

Even when de guvament invite dem to talk bout big tings, dem does want to run and hide. Green Jah and Rum Jhaat does never want to turn up together. Is so bad dem friken de big tings that de prezzi want fuh de country and de people.

And although de KFC finally vote fuh sum ting big, is only because No Gel Hughly and he next half get ketch holdin on to big tings in private. No Gel was tryin hard to keep sum ting big under he belt. But big tings does always show up or show out. Fuh a big man, he tek a long time to find out that.

Old people seh what is done in de dark does come to light one day and that moon does run till day ketch he. No Gel had fuhget that sayin when he try a ting to fool de public. He seh that he had tell Rum Jhaat and de KFC a long time ago that he was holdin on to sum ting big.

But Rum Jhaat does remember whatever he put he mind to remember. Even when he finish up one of dem big bottles, he does remember tings that people tell he. Especially when is concernin big tings. Like de big money he pocket from de Feathers people in India.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! De only ting different this time is that another KFCite pocketin big money. So is a lotta big tings, big lies, and big money goin on wid de KFC. Dem just don’t like when de guvament doin big tings!

Potable water well for Mabaruma by year-end – Ali

H

ousing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali on Wednesday informed the National Assembly that a potable water well is to be drilled within the Mabaruma settlement in Region One. The minister made his statement through a written response to a question posed

by A Partnership for National Unity Member of Parliament Jennifer Wade about the supply of water for residents there.

A pilot project for the water well within the settlement, once successfully completed, will see the entire community benefiting from increased hours of service.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

Minister Ali stated that it was originally intended for the Mabaruma settlement to be provided with service from the Mabaruma water supply system, which is recharged from a spring. However, the spring has deteriorated over the years, and this has resulted in only a small per cent of the settlement receiving service.

The minister explained that under the 2013 capital programme, a new spring box with an engine-driven unit is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, which will

provide for the Mabaruma settlement.

In 2012, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) worked on providing communities located in Region One with an adequate water supply by upgrading their facilities. Among the communities to benefit were Barabina, Barimanobo, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Matthews Ridge, and Eclipse Falls.

More than $100 million was expended, $60 million of which was utilised from the budget and support grants from the Japanese government and GWI’s resources.

The investments consisted of the installation of 150 solar pumping systems at a cost of $130 million; the construction of more than 120 overhead storage facilities/trestles throughout the hinterland utilising gravity feed to stand pipes at a cost of $250 million; the construction of 40 to 50 more deep wells at a cost of $16 million; and the installation of a treatment facility (community sand filter) at Port Kaituma at an approximate cost of $8 million.

Further, GWI also installed an overhead elevated storage tank in the Mabaruma area, to ensure gravity flow of water during the day, which benefits approximately 600 people.

11 Feature

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, august 12, 2013

Times Notebook Towards goal zero – zero child mortality by 2025 I n 2008, then Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, as president of the World Health Assembly, passionately proposed the “75X25 Initiative” at the assembly. It was a proposal that called for global efforts towards ensuring life expectancy of no less than 75 by 2025 for all countries in the world.

One of the prerequisites for attaining this aspiration, this dream, was the elimination of all child deaths from preventable causes. At a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) meeting on June 21, in Rome, now Agriculture Minister Dr Ramsammy reiterated his call for goal zero: zero hunger, zero malnutrition, zero micro-nutrient deficiency, and zero child mortality from malnutrition.

Child mortality

New and more accurate data today shows that 45 per cent of global child mortality is due to nutrition-related causes. The tragedy, as Dr Ramsammy pointed out, is that all of these nutrition-related causes can be resolved overnight.

But even if it takes another decade to resolve these nutrition-related causes, the global child mortality will be reduced by almost half. The other half can also be resolved if we tackle the other causes – acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, HIV, malaria, and childbirth complications, among others.

Because malnutrition increases a child’s risk

of dying from many diseases – most prominently acute respiratory infections (pneumonia), diarrhoea, HIV, malaria and childbirth complications – programmes to prevent malnutrition can reduce mortality from several diseases simultaneously.

Efforts to promote even

modest improvements such as small changes in feeding behaviour will have a beneficial impact on mortality rates over time.

Presently, about seven million children die each year before the age of five. This is a significant improvement since 1990 when almost 12 million children died each year.

Each day, almost 19,000 children under five die.

More than 45 per cent of these children die from nutrition-related causes, meaning that a child dies every 15 seconds somewhere in the world because of nutrition-related causes.

Guyana must be commended that we have dramatically reduced child deaths since 1990.

In 1990, under-five mortality rate (U5MR) in Guyana was more than 100 per 1000. Today, the U5MR is under 20 per 1000. Much of the improvement has to do with improvement in vaccine coverage and in the nutrition of children.

Vaccination

Guyana has achieved more than 95 per cent coverage for most vaccines. Presently, Guyana provides 15 different vaccines for children. For 12 of the vaccines, Guyana has achieved more than 95 per cent coverage.

There are three new vaccines – pneumococcus, rotavirus and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines, which are newly being provided and Guyana hopes that coverage will be more than 90 per cent before 2015.

Under-five nutrition has also improved. One dramatic area of improvement is due to the increase in exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of the baby’s life.

From under 10 per cent in 1990, exclusive breast feeding is today greater than 50 per cent. Another

in 1950 and improved to about 60 in 1964, almost 50 years ago. That followed a decade of health care led by the then Dr Cheddi Jagan-led government to start health centres around the country and to begin a vaccination programme.

Life expectancy

Guyana’s life expectancy could be 75 by 2025 (unicefusa.org photo) area of improvement is prove so significantly in the provision of sprinkles the last 15 years. for children between the Guyana now has a ages of six months old to life expectancy of over 24 months old who attend 70. When we achieved health centres around the this milestone in 2010, country. These sprinkles it was confirmation that contain important mi- our health is better today cro-nutrients, like vita- than ever in the history mins and zinc. Nutrition of Guyana. Three things awareness and education are usually used to meashave always played a sig- ure the performance of nificant role in the reduc- health over a period of tion of malnutrition in time in any country – life Guyana as parents use expectancy, child mortaltheir resources to feed ity, and maternal mortality. children better.

In all three areas, The government of Guyana and health work- Guyana has done well ers must be commended in the last 20 years. But for the dramatic improve- Times Notebook would ment in child health in like to first reflect on how Guyana. This is one area life expectancy in Guyana that has caused Guyana’s has improved. Guyana’s life expectancy to im- life expectancy was 47

The vaccination programme was initiated in 1960 by the then Health Minister Janet Jagan.

Between 1964 and 1992, Guyana’s life expectancy did not change much and Guyana flirted with dropping below 60 by 1992. In the 20 years since 1992, we have added almost 10 years to the life expectancy and have reached 70 overall. Our goal is that Guyana’s life expectancy would be 75 by 2025. It’s an aspiration that should be met with little difficulty.

One major reason for this success in increasing life expectancy is the government’s success in addressing child mortality. Between 1985 and 1992, the average annual under-five mortality was about 2600 children.

Can you imagine that we used to bury more than 2600 children each year in Guyana?

But we did, and now

we have reduced underfive mortality for children to about 200 per year. This is still an area for vast improvement.

But Guyana has done a remarkable job in reducing deaths of children.

This is the major reason for the increase in life expectancy.

Improvements

Guyana must continue to work to improve child mortality and maternal mortality. Further improvements in these areas and in the management of chronic noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and blood pressure will result in an increase of life expectancy in Guyana.

As Guyanese, we must be cognisant of these achievements, but we must continue to advocate for further improvement in the health sector. One goal must be zero death among children from nutrition-related causes. The zero goal that was called for in Rome is commendable, and Guyana must take the lead in this global initiative. Readers are invited to comment on this article via email (times. notebook@gmail.com) and on Facebook.

12 news U.S. envoy says hydropower good for Guyana U monday, august 12, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

nited States Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt said the Amaila Falls hydro project is good for Guyana, positing that it will have great benefits for the country’s people and the local economy.

His comments were made days before the developer of the project, Sithe Global pulled out of the initiative, citing a lack of parliamentary consensus. Hardt told Guyana Times recently that the project could have numerous spin-off benefits, noting his satisfaction with the compromise that was met in the National Assembly to have the bills passed to continue with the project.

“All over the world, hydropower has proven to be very cost-effective and climate-friendly power, and I believe Guyana will benefit tremendously if it moves forward on that, so I hope whatever is needed to make that move forward also takes place,” the U.S. diplomat added.

In addition, the U.S. ambassador said other critical pieces of legislation are still to be passed by the National Assembly, which will pave the way for further develop-

U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt

ment in the local economy.

Insufficient support

Sithe Global on Sunday formally decided to pull out from the US$840 million initiative that has been dogged by political brinkmanship and a lack of consensus in the National Assembly. The company had previously stressed that consensus was a key prerequisite to moving forward. According to reports, the New York-based company said the support of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C); minority opposition party the Alliance For Change (AFC); and non-partisan organisa-

tions and stakeholders was not enough for the project to receive international development funds critical to its completion.

The main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is the only political party that did not support the passage of the Hydro-Electric Amendment Bill in the National Assembly early Thursday morning. Sensitisation campaigns on the project were intensified after the combined opposition voted down the hydro-electric bill on July 18. Since then, the developers, government, and other stakeholders only managed to secure the backing of the AFC to pass the legislation.

ing to contemplate investing in Guyana. Investor confidence is very much affected by this,” Brassington added.

One day before the convening of Parliament on August 7, when the hydro bill was up for discussion and debate, Sithe Global President Brian Kubeck, via a letter to the media, reemphasised the need for a consensus in Parliament by all political parties, to continue the company’s investment into the development of the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project.

The project involves the construction of a hydropower plant in west-central Guyana, where the Amaila and Kuribrong rivers meet.

Electricity produced at the plant will be delivered to the capital, Georgetown, and its Guyana’s investment Head of the National second largest town, Linden, Industrial Commercial In- via transmission lines.

The project, a fundamenvestments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington said: tal component of Guyana’s “I feel a deep sense of loss”, Low Carbon Development adding that Guyana’s in- Strategy, once completed, vestment climate has suf- will result in significant forfered severe damage. He eign exchange savings and noted that Sithe Global a regular supply of inexhas closed its Guyana offic- pensive, reliable electricity. es after investing at least It would also lower the naU$16 million on preparato- tion’s carbon footprint while ry work. “It sends a shock reducing its exposure to imto anyone else who is look- ported oil price volatility.

CAPE, CSEC results to be released on Tuesday

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ducation Minister Priya Manickchand said results for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations would be officially released on Tuesday in Guyana.

Based on statistics in hand, the education minister told Guyana Times that the results for the 2013 examinations are favourable. “The results are very, very, very good,” Manickchand posited.

She said while she does not want to preempt the Caribbean Examinations

Council’s (CXC) official announcement on the country that has topped this year’s CSEC examination, she believes that Guyana has done exceptional.

Last year, the country copped four out of the eight CXC top awards. Sarah Hack from Abraham’s Zuil Secondary on the Essequibo Coast achieved 16 grade ones; Deiwattie Narine from Bishops’ High gained 13 grade ones; Tamasha Maraj also from Bishops High got nine grade ones and four grade twos while Karran Singh from St Rose’s High who obtained 12 ones, one grade two and one grade three were

the four top performers.

CXC Senior Assistant Registrar Susan Giles has said over the years, Guyana has shown a lot of faith and commitment to the programmes offered by the council, and was among the first to sign onto its advanced proficiency programme in 1998.

Giles said Guyanese students have also been excelling at the examinations, especially in the national awards where students have been raking in the top awards, and the number of entries from Guyana, for both the CSEC and CAPE examinations has also been outstanding.

Armogan laments Region Six’s poor showing at NGSA

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egion Six Chairman David Armogan has expressed concern over the current state of education delivery in the region.

Armogan said he cannot accept the performance of the region’s students at this year’s National Grade Six Assignment (NGSA) examinations.

A total of 2272 pupils from 53 schools in the region sat the NGSA. According to Armogan, only a very small percentage of those schools are performing at 50 per cent.

“Only 70 students in the region acquired over 500 marks and this accounted for 3.8 per cent. I think this is an unacceptable situation.

At least about 10 per cent should have gotten over 500 marks,” he noted.

Approximately 1496 students gained 350 to 499 marks, which represented 66 per cent of the total and 706 got less than 350 marks.

“As far as I am concerned, students with less than 350 marks have failed the Common Entrance badly. In a region like this where 31 per cent of our students can be classified as failing the National Grade Six Assessment exams, is a totally unacceptable situation.

We have to get to the bottom of it to see what the problem is. We have to focus more on their primary schools and one of the problems I have found is that some of these students, although they are allocated places in secondary schools cannot read and write properly and therefore, they make the system difficult for the high school.

So when they go into a high school and can’t read and write, they cannot do any subject properly, because the basis of any subject is reading.”

Six-year programme

A six-year programme is being implemented in four schools in the region. This programme will see spelling, reading, grammar, and basic mathematics being taught in the first year before students start the regular five-year programme.

The schools under this pilot project are the Black Bush Polder, Port Mourant and Manchester secondary schools as well as the Vrymans Ervin Annex.

“We are trying to bring them up to a level that is required of a secondary school,” the chairman said.

“The base of any good student has to be at the primary level. Most of the children who do well at the primary, they go on to do well at the secondary level; and those students who are poor performers at the primary level, some of them drop out and many of them don’t do well, even if they pass through the secondary school system.”

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

The regional chairman has expressed concern about the 80 per cent of students leaving primary school who are considered as not doing ‘so well’, saying that those must be catered for.

“Because for a country to develop, the majority of the children must do well, so that the nation can grow; because education is the key to unlocking all of the things, as they relate to development that we have going on in the world today and there is no place for students who do not come out of secondary school with some kind of certification,” he stressed.

Competence examination

According to Armogan, the basic competence examination which is set for students in the ninth grade allows teachers to know whether those students will be better off focusing on technical education. “So we allow them to go to the technical institutes which only call for basic skills. A lot of children have an aptitude for the technical aspect, and they don’t like the academic aspect,” the chairman pointed out.

In Region Six, over the years, some of the top-performing schools have been Cumberland, All Saints, Port Mourant and St Theresa’s primary schools. “That school (St Theresa’s) has dropped back in recent years and we need to pay some attention to it, because only five students attained over 500 marks.”

The chairman noted that the primary school no longer gets a large number of requests from parents wanting their children to go there.

Attention will also have to be placed on schools in the outlying communities, and Armogan singled out the Siparuta, Orealla and Baracara primary schools.

He highlighted that Cropper Primary has been performing contrary to the trend, and six students attained in excess of 500 marks, noting that it “is a school that we have seen some amount of improvement over the years”.

Also among the poor performers was Skeldon Primary.

According to Armogan, efforts will be made to reverse the current trend. He said it was hoped that the new regional education officer will bring new ideas to the table.

news

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monday, august 12, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

94 graduate from Sophia Caricom finance ministers tackle Training Centre growth and development

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Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Permanent Secretary Alfred King and Assistant Youth Director Devanand Ramdat with the Sophia Training Centre 2013 graduating class

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inety-four students graduated from the Sophia Training Centre (STC) on Friday with skills in areas ranging from catering, handicraft, information technology and office administration.

Other areas include masonry, plumbing and sheet metal work, refrigeration and air conditioning and welding and fabrication. Speaking at the occasion, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony charged the graduating class to set goals and work to achieve them.

“This is the first step of empowerment and an avenue for continuous study and to have better jobs,” said the minister, noting that “it is not about having quick money, but about achieving a goal in your life and adding purpose in your life to take you forward... set goals of where you want to be and what you want to achieve in a five-year span.”

The minister emphasised that there are numerous opportunities for youths to better themselves as individuals, noting the Culture, Youths and Sport Ministry is seeking to bring the schools of art, drama and dance under one umbrella, and is

moving forward with training youths in the fields of museum science, anthropology and archeology.

“We need historians to tell your stories to the world and the possibilities are endless in these areas… at the end of the day, the youths will be well-rounded individuals with the qualities of a true Guyanese,” said Minister Anthony.

The graduation ceremony was filled with colourful cultural performances from the graduating class and featured the success stories of past STC students who have become successful youths, contributing meaningfully to society.

Meanwhile, the teachers and trainers alluded to the benefits the training centre has brought to the youths.

A parent of one of the graduates told Guyana Times that the introduction of the feeding programme was very helpful to her as she is a single parent.

Assistant Youth Director Devanand Ramdat said the newly-commissioned 1823 Slave Revolt Monument was in part a product of team work by STC graduates.

“We are here to work with young people and to make a

Wind instruments to boost Bishops’ High music programme

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he Bishops' High School is now the recipient of a complete wind instrument band, which was donated by Food For The Poor (FFTP) Guyana Inc. The band, which was received by acting Principal Marilyn Gibson, is intended to be used by students of the musical programme, which it is expected to greatly enhance.

In her remarks, Gibson thanked Food For The Poor on behalf of the school and the children, and provided all assurances that the instruments will be used properly. She promised that the fruits of the donation will definitely be heard in the

few months ahead.

Head of the charitable organisation, Kent Vincent in his presentation informed the gathering that Food For The Poor’s assistance is not only directed to the poor but towards the development of the nation.

He remarked that the organisation is always ready to assist in areas where there is a great need such as education, health, and sport.

Vincent stressed that the donation will cater for the development of musical talent in the school. Since 2011, Food For The Poor (Guyana) Inc has donated 12 wind instrument bands to various institutions across the country.

difference in the country… in very simple ways we can make big contributions…,” said Ramdat. During the ceremony, two of the teachers were also awarded certificates for their exceptional contribution to the centre and molding the youths. Keisha Ajudia graduated as the top student.

inance ministers of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) reviewed a range of economic and financial issues at the 15th meeting of its Council for Finance and Planning (COFAP) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday.

The council paid particular attention to the state of regional economies and addressed implementation issues relating to the framework for growth and development, which had been the focus of attention at the recent Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, the Caricom Secretariat said in a statement.

According to the secretariat, ministers agreed to recommend to the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government a process to carry the issues forward, including the appointment of a technical committee consisting of representatives of member states to assist the council in monitoring the economic situation. The council identified priority issues such as fiscal sustainability, resource mobilisation and unemployment on which there should be focus. Heads of gov-

ernment had assigned the bureau the task of moving the issue of growth and development forward.

There was unanimous agreement that the level of integration and inter-relatedness among Caricom economies warranted a regional solution to the current economic difficulties, which have the potential to affect even those economies that have performed well.

Double taxation agreement Ministers approved the draft Caricom Financial Services Agreement and the draft amendment to the IntraCaricom Double Taxation Agreement for finalisation and signature by member states.

The financial services agreement will establish a regional framework for the regulation of cross-border financial entities, while the double taxation agreement was amended to incorporate provisions for the application of the global standard for the exchange of tax information in Caricom.

The council also reviewed the state of preparedness of member states for accommodating the reporting pro-

cedures resulting from the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

While the ministers understood the importance that the U.S. attached to the protection of its tax base, they stressed the serious implications of compliance for Caricom states, given the highly integrated nature of the region’s financial sector.

Ministers emphasised the importance of continuing their coordinated approach to negotiations with the U.S. and agreed to meet in mid-September to review the work of the Caricom Task Force on FATCA. COFAP also agreed to appoint Dr Alvin Hilaire, deputy governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago as the next chairman of the board of directors of the Barbados-based Caricom Development Fund (CDF).

The fund was established to provide technical and financial assistance to countries, regions and sectors, which are disadvantaged owing to operations of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) as well as positioning member states to take advantage of the opportunities in the market.

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guyanatimesgy.com

Regional Argentine midterm primary tests Fernandez’s popularity A rgentine President Cristina Fernandez faced a tough midterm primary election test on Sunday, with exit polls showing headwinds to any effort by her allies to pass a constitutional amendment allowing her to run for a third term in 2015.

Candidates for October legislative elections are being chosen. With no competition among candidates on the lists offered by most parties, and with voters allowed to split the ticket among their choices for the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, Sunday’s vote serves as a mega-opinion poll on Fernandez’s heavyhanded trade and economic policies.

An over-valued currency, protectionist trade policies, ever-tightening foreign exchange controls, and Fernandez’s decision to nationalise Argentina’s private pension system and top oil

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez leaves after casting her vote at a polling station in the Patagonian city of Rio Gallegos on August 11

company YPF have upset investors and trade partners.

Argentina’s bond inves-

tors and those interested in its vast farm and shale oil resources watched the pri-

mary for signs that voters may be tiring of Fernandez’s approach and are ready for a market-friendly leader in 2015.

The first indication, according to an exit poll, showed that the list sponsored by opposition leader Sergio Massa won in the vote-heavy province of Buenos Aires, several local television channels said without providing more details of the poll.

Mayor of the affluent Buenos Aires suburb of Tigre, Massa headed his party’s list of candidates for the Chamber of Deputies and is seen as a likely market-friendly presidential candidate. Forty per cent of Argentina’s electorate lives in Buenos Aires.

“A victory by Massa would be a definite market positive,” said Alberto Bernal, head of emerging markets at Bulltick Capital Markets. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Millions missing at National Workers’ Union in Jamaica

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n issue surrounding several million dollars of unaccountedfor spending by the National Workers’ Union (NWU) has emerged as the latest development in the unfolding story of a power struggle within the union.

Acting General Secretary Granville Valentine told the Jamaica Observer last week that an audit being conducted into the accounts of its whitecollar affiliate, the Union of Clerical, Administrative

and Supervisory Employees (UCASE), has shown that there is disbursement of approximately J$30 million, which is unaccounted for in terms of invoices or receivables.

“And that is for only one year, 2009/10, so far,” Valentine told the Sunday Observer. He said that he intends to do a full audit of the accounts and to get answers about how the funds were used. However, former secretary/treasurer of UCASE,

Robert Harris, has denied that the missing sum is anything new or has anything to do with UCASE. He said that a former accountant was dismissed in 2010, after an issue developed about missing funds.

This followed an audit apparently commissioned by former general secretary Lloyd Goodleigh, when it became obvious that millions of dollars were being siphoned from the union’s account without receipts.

According to Harris, the accounts showed that there was some J$120 million collected in dues from members, of which only about J$90 million could be accounted for. However, he said that, at that time, UCASE did not have its own account until 2011, and all dues collected were paid into the NWU’s account and the general secretary had oversight over the use of the funds, until that system ended recently. (Excerpt

from Jamaica Observer)

Lightning starts fire at Venezuela refinery – president

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ightning set fire to a storage tank at Venezuela’s Puerto La Cruz oil refinery on Sunday, the president said, and residents were moved out of the immediate area while local media showed images of thick black smoke rising from the facility.

Thunderstorms this weekend have drenched much of the South American Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) nation, which has suffered repeated accidents at its oil refineries in recent years.

Lightning bolts ignited two storage tanks at a different refinery just last year.

Firefighters were battling the blaze in heavy rain at Puerto La Cruz, in the eastern state of Anzoategui, and residents living within a one km (0.6 mile) radius were being moved away from the scene. The information minister said no one was hurt.

“Joint teams from (state oil company) PDVSA, the Anzoategui government,

I

place now I never expected.

Look at the delivery ministers and tell me at our next meeting what they all have in common. Of this I was not aware before now...how can I ever forgive myself for allowing myself to be tricked, to be used and even to be abused!

“When you voted for the People’s Partnership in 2010, you voted to remove Tweedledum. Today, you have Tweedledee. I ask for your forgiveness tonight for

I did not know that a cabal was being planned to rape this country’s treasury!”

Warner said his recentlyformed party is making concerted decisions to never become embroiled in graft or corruption.

“We have defined a stringent regimen to assist us in indentifying those among us who seek self and party before country. This is too common in our society today.” He said in two weeks prospective ILP candidates

for the local government polls will be invited to a conference at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, where guidelines for ILP candidacy will be defined.

“Closeness to the interim political leader is not a criterion for selection.

Investments from business interests cannot help your cause. Privilege of status, religion, race or gender will not influence your selection,” he said. (Excerpt from Trinidad

Guardian)

Widow of late Cuban dissident calls for international inquiry

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he widow of a Cuban dissident killed in a car crash in Cuba last year has called for an international inquiry into his death.

Ofelia Acevedo, the widow of Oswaldo Payá, told reporters that claims by the Spanish driver of the car in which Payá was travelling make it even more relevant for an international investigation.

Angel Carromero, the driver of the crashed car, told

the Madrid newspaper El Mundo last week that Payá and another dissident, Harol Cepero, were alive after the crash. Carromero said this suggested that both dissidents were later murdered.

“This is why we must continue demanding and seeking support for an international investigation,” she told the Miami Herald.

“Both the people of Spain and the people of Cuba have the right to know how and

where they were killed,” she added. Carromero, a member of Spain’s ruling Popular Party (PP), was arrested after the accident and found guilty of vehicular homicide.

But he was released under an agreement with Spain that he would serve out his sentence in his home country. He is currently under supervised release.

“For us, this is all very hard,” Acevedo said.

“Although one suspected

from the start that this was not accidental, that someone confirms to you that your husband was alive when he was pulled from the car, is to say to me ‘your husband was murdered’ because the impact didn’t kill him.”

She told the Herald that the crash last year of the car Carromero was driving was the culmination of a long string of harassment incidents against her husband.

(CMC)

(Excerpt from Reuters)

St Lucian opposition leader wants information on ALBA deal

Warner apologises for corruption in govt nterim leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Jack Warner Saturday apologised to the people of Trinidad and Tobago for the level of corruption that currently exists in the government.

Speaking at the launch of the ILP’s local government campaign at the Auzonville Car Park in Tunapuna, the Chaguanas West MP said: “The things I know now I did not know before. The corrupt practices which takes

and firefighters are working to control the fire,” President Nicolas Maduro said on Twitter.

“I’m keeping myself in direct communication with the teams, and I appreciate the cooperation of the local communities.”

Asdrubal Chavez, PDVSA’s vice president for refining, told state television the blaze at the 187,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) facility was confined, and that efforts to extinguish it in the hours ahead would in part depend on the weather.

“There has been no loss of life nor injuries,” said Information Minister Delcy Rodriguez, adding that the evacuation of the area around the refinery was a precaution.

In one of the global oil industry’s worst accidents for decades, a gas leak caused an explosion and fire last year at Venezuela’s giant 645,000-bpd Amuay oil refinery that killed more than 40 people and wrecked hundreds of nearby homes.

United Workers Party leader Allen Chastanet

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ewly elected leader of the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Allen Chastanet, is calling on Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony to outline the details regarding St Lucia’s agreement with the Venezuela-led Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA).

In an address to the nation Friday, Chastanet said he has requested that the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Stephenson King, write to Prime Minister Anthony asking him to inform the public of the country’s com-

mitment to ALBA, which St Lucia recently joined.

Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, who led a delegation to last month’s ALBA summit in Ecuador, said that in addition to providing an important regional forum for articulation of a range of pressing economic, social and environmental issues confronting development states, ALBA represents a significant avenue for St Lucia to assess very lowcost financing for critical national initiatives.

But Chastanet, who took over the leadership of the opposition party last weekend,, said the UWP and individuals are “shocked and dismayed” that Prime Minister Anthony has yet to inform the public or the parliament on these commitments.

“We have only read through press releases by ALBA that our government has decided to join ALBA. I have asked the leader of the opposition to write the prime minister and to inquire on the details on the terms of this agreement. (Excerpt from CMC)

15 Around the world

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, august 12, 2013

Israel to free first group of Palestinian Egypt’s forces to besiege Cairo protesters prisoners ahead of peace talks

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srael today published a list of 26 Palestinian prisoners set to go free within days, some after spending more than two decades behind bars, in the first stage of a deal that led to a resumption of U.S.-backed peace talks last month.

The decision was made late Sunday by a panel of three Cabinet ministers headed by Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon and security and legal personnel.

Families of Israelis victimised by the inmates’ attacks have 48 hours to appeal their planned release to the high court. Based on past decisions, the court was unlikely to intervene.

The prisoners were the first group of 104 Israel has already decided in principle

Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel speaks to reporters at a ceremony announcing the resumption of construction of an Israeli neighbourhood in East Jerusalem on Sunday

to free as part of an agreement reached after intensive shuttle diplomacy by U.S. Secretary of State John

Kerry to renew talks for Palestinian statehood. They reconvened on July 30.

Palestinian President

Mahmoud Abbas had demanded the release of these men, many held since before a 1993 interim peace deal with Israel, as a condition for agreeing to resume talks that broke down in 2010 in a dispute over Jewish settlement building.

Washington has set a target of nine months for the talks. A second round of negotiations was expected to convene on Wednesday in Israel, and later in the occupied West Bank.

Fourteen of the prisoners going free will be deported or sent to the Gaza Strip, and 12 to the occupied West Bank. Two of the prisoners would have served out their sentences in another six months, and six others over the next three years. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

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gyptian security forces are preparing to besiege supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi who are gathered in Cairo protest camps.

Security sources told Al Jazeera that police would launch action against the protesters early today.

Al Jazeera’s Simon McGregor-Wood, reporting on Sunday from the proMorsi Cairo suburb of Nasr City, said that the police action would not be a full-scale assault.

“It will simply be a very comprehensive encirclement of this encampment to try to put the squeeze on,” he said.

“They will let people out, but they won’t necessary let them or vital supplies back in.”

A senior security source told Reuters news agen-

cy earlier that the decision to take action came after a meeting between the interior minister and his aides.

“State security troops will be deployed around the sit-ins by dawn as a start of procedures that will eventually lead to a dispersal,” another source told Reuters.

Officials told the AP news agency that they were preparing for possible clashes.

The pro-Morsi camps are the main flashpoints in the confrontation between the army, which toppled Morsi, and the ousted president’s supporters who demand his reinstatement.

Gamal Heshmat, a senior Muslim Brotherhood leader, said any attempt to besiege pro-Morsi sit-ins would amount to a “crime”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

French serviceman Al-Qaeda claims deadly Eid attacks in Iraq held in Lyon over A suspected mosque plot

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French military serviceman has been arrested for allegedly planning an attack on a mosque, the interior ministry has said.

The 23-year-old man was stationed at an air base near Lyon.

The ministry said the serviceman had carried out an earlier mosque attack and had views described as “close to the extreme right”.

Extremist groups have become more active in France. The ministry said their actions would not be tolerated.

The ministry confirmed the man had been held near Lyon, but did not say when the arrest took place. A statement said the suspect had been questioned by the domestic intelligence agency, the DCRI, and indicted

for possessing weapons with intent to carry out a terrorist act and for intent to desecrate a shrine through a terrorist act.

A judicial source told Agence France-Presse news agency the suspect planned a gun attack on the mosque in the Venissieux suburb of Lyon to coincide with the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The statement quoted Interior Minister Manuel Valls as reiterating a determination “to fight against all forms of violence inspired by the most extremist ideologies that affect the values of the Republic” whose intent was to “spread a climate of hate”.

“No tolerance shall be permitted,” the minister was quoted as saying. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

l-Qaeda front group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has claimed a wave of attacks that killed 91 people and injured hundreds during the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday on Saturday.

“The Islamic State mobilised... in Baghdad and the southern states and others to convey a quick message of deterrence on the third day of Eid alFitr” in response to security forces’ operations, a statement posted on forums late on Sunday said.

Iraqis have angrily blamed the authorities for failing to prevent a series of deadly bombings and other attacks on Saturday, which came as the country marked the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, its deadliest in years.

The attacks came just weeks after assaults on prisons near Baghdad, also claimed by the al-Qaeda front group, freed hundreds of prisoners including leading fighters, prompting warnings of a surge in violence.

Nine people were killed in fresh violence around the country on Sunday.

Gunmen opened fire at a checkpoint manned by a Sunni armed group, killing two and wounding two in the town of Buhriz, about 60km northeast of

Car bombs ripped through Baghdad cafes while blasts struck elsewhere, killing 91 people on Saturday (AFP)

Baghdad, police said. Further north, gunmen attacked a busy park in the town of Balad, killing two and wounding three. Three anti-terrorism squad officers were killed and nine wounded by a roadside bomb in the town of Mahaweel, according to police sources.

The United States condemned

Pope Francis reaches out to Muslims at end of Ramadan

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ope Francis has urged Christians and Muslims to work together to promote mutual respect, particularly by educating new generations of believers.

He greeted Muslims around the world during his Sunday blessing of pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square in Rome.

He said that “our brothers’’ the Muslims had just concluded their holy month

of Ramadan, dedicated to fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

The Pope spoke from his studio window overlooking the square.

The BBC’s David Willey in Rome says Pope Francis, who has made caring for the poor the landmark theme of his pontificate, addressed tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in scorching summer heat.

Unlike his predecessors

who spent their summers in the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo outside the Italian capital, where the weather is slightly cooler, the pope has chosen to continue working at the Vatican during the summer holidays.

Our correspondent says he is preparing major reforms of the Vatican bureaucracy as a result of scandals involving Vatican finances and clerical sexual abuse of minors. (BBC News)

The Pope has chosen to continue working at the Vatican during the summer

Magnitude 5.7 earthquake strikes Tibet – USGS

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magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck early on Monday in Tibet at a depth of 31 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicentre of the quake, which was initially reported as magnitude 6.1, was located 89 miles south-southeast of Qamdo, Xizang Province in China.

A magnitude 5.7 quake is considered moderate and capable of causing considerable damage.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. (Reuters)

Saturday’s string of car bombings. The State Department said Saturday’s attacks bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda’s Iraqi (AQI) branch. It reiterated that it was offering a US$10 million reward for information leading to the killing or capture of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the AQI leader. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Tuareg of northern Mali: Election alone will not bring peace

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n the birthplace of a Tuareg revolt that nearly tore Mali apart last year, residents said Sunday’s election would not bring lasting peace unless a new president in the distant south gave them more freedom.

The desert region of Kidal in Mali’s desolate northeast has produced four rebellions since independence from France in 1960. Its Tuareg people say successive governments in the capital Bamako have excluded them from power.

“The way the Malian state treated our people, before it was chased out of here last year, we cannot allow that to happen again,” the elderly Tuareg clan chief Intallah ag Attaher, shrouded in traditional blue robes, told United Nations Special Representative Bert Koenders during an election-

day visit.

Last year’s Tuareg uprising was triggered by accusations that the government had violated a 2006 peace accord to develop the region. President Amadou Toumani Toure’s failure to tackle the uprising prompted a military coup in the capital Bamako that allowed Islamists to occupy the northern two-thirds of Mali, where they imposed a violent form of Islamic sharia law.

Despite a lack of voting cards and confusion over where to vote, people trickled in to cast their ballots at the Baye Ag Mahaha school in the town centre, hoping the election would give the country a fresh start. Voting bureaux were guarded by heavily armed UN peacekeepers and Malian police.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

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MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Asia

Caribbean

Jamaica: Tech start-ups urged to explore Apple wins key patent case against rival Samsung new crowd-funding platform pple has won a key The president has 60 days tles.

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amaican technology experts have welcomed a new crowd-funding site as a possible lifeline for startups in the industry.

ISupportJamaica.com, recently launched by JN Small Business Loans and its sister organisation JN Foundation, is the English-speaking Caribbean’s first crowd-financing platform. It currently supports charities and community-based organisations seeking funding for projects. The donation phase came on stream in July, but a “lending phase” to provide access to seed-funding

for local micro-entrepreneurs, will be in place by September.

Local tech entrepreneurs, researchers and bloggers, see enormous possibilities for tech start-ups on this funding platform.

“It holds a lot of possibility and opportunities for the tech industry, especially for start- ups, once done right,” said Ingrid Riley, social media strategist and founder of the non-profit tech entrepreneurship organisation, Connectimass.

“Entrepreneurs in the tech industry should see how they

can plug in a few projects for which funding could be secured, because funding is one of the key things the industry really needs, without question.

And so, it would be great to test the tech industry and tech groups on the portal,” she said.

The local information and communication technology industry has been experiencing increased growth in recent years. Internet access now stands at about 55 per cent of the population and continues to grow, according to Internet World Stats. (Jamaica Observer)

Banks test U.S. IRS anti-tax shelter weapon in STARS wars

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core businesses and are challenging the IRS over hefty tax bills it has imposed.

To pursue these cases, the IRS is relying heavily on the “economic substance” doctrine, a legal strategy that focuses less on the technicalities of particular financial structures and more on their purposes and outcomes.

The approach – bolstered recently by legislation buried inside the Obama administration’s landmark 2010 healthcare bill – is a focus of keen

debate among tax lawyers and accountants.

The economic substance doctrine is a “club in the closet” for the IRS that it is using too broadly, said Jasper Cummings, a tax lawyer with Alston & Bird LLP. For the IRS, said Robert Probasco, a partner at Thompson & Knight, the doctrine is a “convenient way to dispose of cases without some of the messiness of statutory interpretation”. (Reuters)

Europe Deloitte seeks more clarity from UK on taxes – report

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eloitte UK DLTE.UL has called for more consistency from Britain on taxes, the Telegraph said today, quoting the head of the accounting firm.

Chief executive and senior partner David Sproul of Deloitte UK told the daily that a number of companies have put their plans to move to the United Kingdom on hold as a result of the mixed messages on taxes from the Treasury

and the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

“On the one hand, you’ve got a government pursuing a tax strategy to make the UK one of the most competitive regimes. But then you’ve got a push by the PAC and by others to say...we want to make sure everyone’s paying their fair share of tax and we’ll determine what that fair share of tax is,” Sproul was quoted as

saying.

Britain is initiating proposals aimed at discouraging companies and individuals from using complex schemes – some of which drift over into illegality – to reduce their tax payments, after several multinational firms were shown to be paying little or no taxes in Britain.

Deloitte could not be immediately reached outside normal working hours. (Reuters)

Market statistics Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Cambio Rates Bank of Guyana

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

Buying

Selling

U.S.

GBP

$313.91

$314.71

Cambio

CAN

$196.94

$199.21

Gross

$254,331

USD

$204.49

$206.92

Net

$236,527

Selling

$262,426

Cur

$1335.00 $202.67

INDICATORS as on August 6, 2013 Live Spot Gold $1314.70

$1315.50

Low/High

$1304.40

$1318.50

+2.30

Change

+0.18

USD GBP EUR

AM

1305.50 839.44 975.49

Aug 8

AM

Price Silver

US$ per barrel

Change %

$106.68 USD per Ounce

-0.71

20.65 $1499.00

Change %

+1.51 +0.54

PM

1309.00 843.16 979.79 PM

Last: 15425.51

1298.25 835,80 970.29 Changes: -72.81

% Change: -0.47

Open: 15496.63

High: 15507.76

Low: 15346.65

% YTD: +17.71

52Wk Hi: 15650.69

52 Wk Lo: 12035.09

USD GBP EUR

1287.75 830.11 964.25

Crude Oil

Platinum

London Gold Fix

Aug 9

Indicators

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

patent case against rival Samsung at the U.S. International Trade Commission (US ITC).

The U.S. ITC upheld a 2011 decision which found that Samsung had infringed Apple patents in the production of mobile phones, media players, and tablets.

The U.S. ITC has ordered that Samsung devices affected by the ruling are banned from the U.S. But that ban is on hold while U.S. President Barack Obama reviews the decision.

to assess the U.S. ITC’s findings, although analysts say he is unlikely to overturn the commission’s decision.

“We are disappointed that the ITC has issued an exclusion order based on two of Apple’s patents,” Samsung said in a statement.

“The proper focus for the smartphone industry is not a global war in the courts, but fair competition in the marketplace.”

Apple hailed the decision, placing it in the context of the tech giants’ global patent bat-

“With today’s decision, the ITC has joined courts around the world in Japan, Korea, Germany, Netherlands and California by standing up for innovation and rejecting Samsung’s blatant copying of Apple’s products,” said the company.

The ruling applies to two patents.

The first is the so-called “Steve Jobs patent”, named after the company’s founder, which involves touch-screen technology. (BBC News)

Australia

North America

sharp tool in the U.S. government’s fight against corporate tax shelters will be put to the test in the months ahead as the Internal Revenue Service grapples with four major banks over structured transactions done a decade ago with Barclays Plc. The IRS contends the transactions, known as STARS deals, were designed purely to facilitate tax dodging. The banks say the deals were done to enhance their

A

News Corp Australia chief Kim Williams resigns

T

he chief executive of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp Australia has resigned after 20 months in the job. Kim Williams, who took the role in December 2011, is to be replaced by Julian Clarke.

In an email to staff, Williams said he made the decision with a “heavy heart and a mixed bag of feelings”, but gave no specific reason for his decision. He steps down with an election campaign under-

way in Australia.

Rupert Murdoch praised Williams as “a steady and courageous leader at a time when our businesses have faced unprecedented pressure and economic challenges”.

Williams, who came from a pay-television background, oversaw a programme of costcutting and change that some observers said had put him on a collision course with newsroom editors.

Australian media re-

ports also said the move came weeks after Murdoch flew in a top lieutenant, Colonel Allan, to shake up his publications.

Clarke, the new chief executive, is a veteran company man who headed up Murdoch’s Herald and Weekly Times group, which includes the Herald Sun tabloid.

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is the dominant player in Australia’s newspaper market. (BBC News)

Middle East

Saudi’s Dar Al Arkan eyes overseas projects, new malls

S

audi Arabia’s biggest listed developer is hoping to confirm two new projects in Europe – its first overseas – by the end of 2013, the firm’s chairman has said.

“We are hoping to announce two projects by the end of this year in Europe; they are both in the study phase,” Dar Al Arkan founder and Chairman Youssef Al Shelash told Arabian Business.

The chairman declined to

give any further details about the projects, saying that further information about the developments would be disclosed to the market if they were confirmed.

Dar Al Arkan has so far not ventured outside its home market of Saudi Arabia, where it is working on a series of mixed-use communities in Riyadh, Jeddah and Madinah.

The company launched its first retail complex, Al

Qasr Mall, in July last year, and Al Shelash said that Dar Al Arkan would seek to build further malls as part of a plan to diversify its revenue mix by increasing its leasing portfolio and reducing its reliance on land sales.

“Yes, we are now looking to build other malls in Riyadh and Jeddah, but for any megaproject, we need to take a scientific approach, not trial and error,” he said.

(Arabianbusiness)

Investors' guide

Nikkei hits six-week low, yen firms

J

apanese shares fell to a six-week low on Monday and the yen strengthened after data showed Japan’s economy grew at a slower-thanexpected pace in AprilJune, triggering investors to pare back some of their risk exposure.

Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, grew an annualised 2.6 per cent in the second quarter, a third straight quarter of expansion but slower than a downwardly revised 3.8 per cent rate in the first quarter.

“A weaker-than-expected figure triggered inves-

tors to become risk-averse, but the gap is minor, so the impact from the GDP data should be short-lived,” said Nobuhiko Kuramochi, an economist at Mizuho Securities.

The median forecast was for annualised growth of 3.6 per cent, and so the data may heighten calls to delay a planned sales tax increase given concerns it could delay Japan’s escape from deflation.

The Nikkei share average lost 1.2 per cent, falling to its lowest since June 28.

The yen strengthened by as much as 0.8 per cent

to 95.92 yen to the dollar and hit a six-week high at 127.97 yen to the euro.

The dollar was otherwise steady against a basket of major currencies.

In regional markets, Asian shares as measured

by MSCI Asia-Pacific exJapan index were little changed, although South Korean shares gained 0.4 per cent.

U.S. stocks fell on Friday, posting their biggest weekly decline, since June as investors focused on when the Federal Reserve would begin pull back its massive stimulus.

(Reuters)

Business concept – Gross National Product (GNP) The Gross Domestic Product of a country to which income from abroad remittances of nationals living outside and income from foreign subsidiaries of local firms has been added.

news

17

monday, august 12, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Amerindians must not be selfish U.S. accused of hypocrisy in sugar policy with regard to mining − Sukhai towards Caribbean A A s Amerindians intensify protests in the city over a number of issues, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai said the demands are cloudy at the moment, contending that the actions may very well be politically motivated.

The minister’s comments came in the wake of scores of Amerindians from Regions One, Two, Six, Seven, Nine and 10 staging protests outside Parliament Building and congregating in front the Amerindian Affairs Ministry on Friday, calling on government to yet again amend the Amerindian Act of 2006.

The Amerindian Affairs Ministry was forced to shut its doors, while several police officers were dispatched to the area to deal with the gathering which stalled traffic at one point. According to Isseneru Toshao Lewis Larson, the protest is intended to represent indigenous people in the country.

“We are here to demonstrate that we are not comfortable with the Amerindian Act,” he said.

He claimed that, at the moment, the Amerindian Act is “very weak” and does not speak for the people it is supposed to represent.

Claim

Tony James, the village chief of Aishalton and member of the Amerindian People’s Association (APA), an organisation believed to be closely associated with the political opposition, said the Amerindian Act does not adequately protect the rights of indigenous peoples.

Minister Sukhai, in reponse, told the media at a press conference on the same day that the protests were politically motivat-

ed on the part of the APA. She noted that the organisation had already called for the act to be revised, but believes its existence is threatened as government is continuing to strengthen its partnership with hinterland communities and the National Toshao Council (NTC) to advance the development of Guyana’s indigenous population.

The minister stated that the villagers who have participated have been manipulated by the organisation to continue to gain attention from those who are seeking to fund them.

With regard to Isseneru, which is currently involved in a court case against a private miner, she explained that government has stuck to the side of the people and so too has the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

Chinese Landing

On the issue concerning Chinese Landing, where the indigenous community is protesting against a miner who leased his mining concessions to a Canadian company, causing villagers to be ordered to stop mining on their titled land within their concessions, Sukhai said government has had numerous meetings with the community and has offered solutions.

“I am unable to ring the hands of the village council, which does not respect the rule of law. It is the village council by law that has the authority to deal fairly and unbiased with any of the matters which they have authority on,” said the minister.

Subsequently, Sukhai said some of the issues which Amerindians often raise regarding mining is

outside of the jurisdiction of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, as it is not the custodian of the mining sector. She said it is her ministry’s duty to present to the GGMC and the Natural Resource and Environment Ministry all the cases which come before it.

The minister reminded the media that the Amerindian Act provides a legal framework which gives guidance on how persons can deal with situations concerning miners who had concessions years before the land titling and demarca-

to regularise themselves and obtain the lawful permission, licence and permit to mine. She explained that government has turned almost a “blind eye” to all the indigenous and mediumscale mining within their titled lands and have not enforced the mining act on them.

“In fact, our ministry continues to work with some of them who want to abide by the rule of law to regularise themselves… we are working with them to adhere with the mining law,” she said.

Property ownership

“We as indigenous people, we must not be selfish or greedy or wish to expel the other five races that form part of Guyana” – Minister Sukhai

tion, stating that these persons too have a right.

“We as indigenous people, we must not be selfish or greedy or wish to expel the other five races that form part of Guyana,” she said, and dismissed complaints that miners were granted licences to mine on titled lands after they were titled, stressing that this is completely untrue.

With respect to Amerindian small-scale and medium-scale mining, Sukhai pointed out that hinterland communities need

Sukhai said government can only advise residents of Chinese Landing to apply for property ownership, so that they will have full authority over mining. She stated that if miners seek permission on lands that are titled from the village council and are granted permission, they will have authority to mine.

Meanwhile, National Amerindian Development Foundation (NADF) President Ashton Simon said, during the numerous nationwide consultations, the APA and its various subgroups have not come up with a proposal to say which part of the act it would like to amend.

“None has said look, this is what we want to be amended in the act, so there is nothing you can focus on in the act that you say need to be amended, we don’t know if they mean the whole act,” he said.

On Friday, the country observed World Indigenous People’s Day under the theme, “Building alliance: honouring treaties, agreements and other arrangements”.

major think tank in the Caribbean has accused the United States of hypocrisy in its sugar policy towards the Caribbean.

The Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) said while Washington pushes economic openness for other nations, including the Caribbean, it “actively employs protectionist policies when it comes to its own closely-held economy,” stating that this is “especially true with sugar”.

COHA noted that the U.S. government “heavily subsidises its sugar sector, imposes quotas on sugar imports, and then hectors developing countries on the wisdom of cutting back on their own subsidies”.

According to COHA, these measures protect private U.S. sugar producers from foreign competition, allowing them to seek “unreasonably high prices” in the U.S. market.

“U.S. consumers are likely to lose from these policies, as they end up paying higher prices at U.S. supermarkets, and, moreover, Caribbean sugar prices also have been adversely affected by U.S. protectionism in the sugar industry.”

COHA said the implementation of sugar quotas by the U.S. has resulted in “colossal losses” for Latin American and Caribbean sugar economies”, stating that sugar quotas have “often been used for political objectives against Caribbean countries”.

It said that since 1985, “millions of U.S. dollars have been spent – and wasted – in an attempt to revive the sugar industry by poor Caribbeanbasin countries. As a result, sugar industries in Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Belize “now face difficulty in exporting sugar due to protectionist

U.S. sugar policies”.

COHA noted that in most Caribbean islands, the Agriculture Production Index, a measure of aggregate agricultural production in a given time period, has been declining in the past few decades because of U.S. farm subsidies. The think tank stated that some advocates of the U.S.’s sugar policy argue that, in a globalised world, Caribbean countries can target other larger markets, but it adds that European sugar policies are “hardly any different from those of the United States”.

The quota system is another aspect of U.S. sugar policy, as the quantities of imports above the quota limit are subject to “stiff duties”.

“Sugar imports that exceed set quotas are struck with a prohibitively high duty of 16 cents per pound, which is sufficiently high to make sugar imports unprofitable,” it said, pointing that Caribbean countries have “the most restrictive penalties in place, keeping their sugar out of the U.S. market”.

(Many of these are) “impoverished Caribbean countries that have been producing sugar for centuries,” adding that Cuba, Belize, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago are/ were among the major sugar producers in the region.

“In a world where global economies are indelibly interconnected, protectionist policies by the United States can have serious ramifications for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

U.S. consumers would be better off buying lower cost sugar from Caribbean basin countries, and Caribbean farmers living in poverty need fair access to the U.S. market,” said COHA. (CMC)

Caribbean nations wooing Indian immigrants with attractive citizenship-for-cash offers

S

oon, cricket may not be the only connection Indians have with most Caribbean countries.

Countries like St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, and Antigua have rolled out attractive cash-for-citizenship programmes to woo Indian immigrants.

The latest to launch a citizenship-by-investment (CIP) programme is Antigua and Barbuda, a tiny independent Commonwealth state in the eastern Caribbean, which will open up its borders to other nationals in a month.

It is giving full citizenship for an investment of at least US$400,000 (about Rs 2.4 crore) in an approved real estate project. St Kitts citizenship, too, comes for US$400,000 while tiny tropical Dominica is even cheaper at US$100,000 (Rs

60,70,000).

Both countries have set their sights on wealthy Chinese as well as Indian immigrants. “Since the programme was announced in March, we have had a number of inquiries from Indian citizens. Most of them view it as a lifestyle investment,” said Jason Taylor, chief executive officer (CEO) of Janik Partners, an Antiguabased company that specialises in CIP.

Visa-free travel

So what are the advantages of an Antigua and Barbuda passport besides the tropical breeze, swaying palm trees and white sand beaches, of course?

An Antigua passport can get you visa-free travel to 126 countries, including Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK and

Europe. A St Kitts passport gets you over 100 countries.

An Indian passport only gets you 55 countries.

As a Commonwealth citizen, one also receives certain preferential treatment in the UK. For example, your children may enter the UK to study without first having to apply for student visas. After studying, they may work there for two years without a work permit.

Eric Major, CEO, Henley & Partners, the global leader in international residence and citizenship planning, said: “Most Asian clients are keen on providing a Western education for their children, and this is one of their primary reasons for seeking a citizenship. Another reason is mobility thanks to visa-free travel.”

Henley and Partners recently advised the Antiguan government on the design, implementation, and administration of its CIP, and also reformed the CIP of St Kitts and Nevis. Major adds that about 20 per cent of its overall clientele for immediate citizenships are Indians, many of them non-resident Indians (NRIs).

Applications

“We get about a 1000 such applications each year in total and the overall numbers are growing. NRIs account for much of the demand, because of the Dubai situation.

Even though many Indians work there, most don’t have the privileges of residency. Those who have done well there, but don’t have status often want a better standing, passport ranking wise. This is the

new breed of people we call global citizens and we are helping them become that,” Major said.

That the Caribbean nations are serious about Indian immigrants became clear when St Kitts Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, who was in India in April, requested Indians to look at the island’s citizenship programme and invest in it. St Kitts has the world’s oldest CIP that was launched in 1984. The country’s CIP unit did not respond to emails.

But what is the profile of potential Indian customers?

Amir Zaidi, managing director, Westkin Associates, a London-based immigration law firm said, “They are mostly married with kids, very successful and in businesses that generate a lot of cash very quickly, such as property and real estate.

A vast majority of our clients for CIP may apply from the U.S. or Dubai (NRIs).

Indians often start UK citizenship and St Kitts CIP applications simultaneously, so that the quickly processed St Kitts passport can give them easy access to the world till they get a UK passport after six years.”

And what will a US$400,000 (about Rs 2,40,00,000) investment house in Antigua get you?

“European finish. Italian designs. German kitchens,” said Taylor, whose company is also developing luxury real estate projects meant for CIP investments. If that isn’t enough, the island also boasts the presence of celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Giorgio Armani, Timothy Dalton and, Taylor adds with an embarrassed laugh, “Berlusconi”. (The Times of India)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, august 12, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Do whatever you can to get ahead. Update and upgrade your methods in order to fill a position that will bring you greater rewards. A creative approach to work and money will bring added benefits.

dilbert

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(July 23Aug. 22)

Let your imagination wander and wonder.

Explore any opportunities or possibilities that will allow you to expand one of your more hidden assets.

It’s a good day to find love and meet friends.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

SUDOKU

Socialise with people who can benefit from your hospitality and generous, kind nature. Fix up your surroundings and you’ll have a better environment in which to achieve.

LEO

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20)

Peanuts

(June 21July 22)

AQUARIUS

Consider how you can use your talents and contacts to help you solve a problem or pursue a project. A shrewd partnership will help you achieve your goals.

Calvin and Hobbes

CANCER

Listen to what others have to say and consider how to incorporate your own goals while satisfying the needs of your colleagues. A happy environment will bring you greater freedom to operate.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Travel and educational pursuits will bolster your achievement. In a competitive involvement, observe what others do and find a way to apply your own unique twist. Physical activity will improve your health and mood.

You’ll have plenty to discuss with someone who shares your concerns and interests. Take care of your domestic responsibilities to avoid complaints. Diplomacy will help you keep the peace.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Share important news only with people you trust.

Serious plans will turn into an even greater opportunity than you first anticipated. Offer help or services to a cause that you feel passionate about.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) Overreaction, overindulgence and overdoing it will lead to emotional upset and anger.

Compromise in order to keep the peace. Don’t hesitate to call in a favour if it will help you bypass trouble.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Jump into action and take on a challenge with all your heart and might.

An intense and creative approach to whatever you do will bring positive results even if you face unexpected opposition.

Saturday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20)

SAGITTARIUS

A change will do you good. Talk over any alterations you want to make with the people who would be affected by your plans. You will meet with support and assistance.

Good fortune is heading your way.

Investments, contracts and settlements will enable you to make the domestic changes that you’ve been contemplating. Don’t let anyone restrict you.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

19

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Light Street man shot in the head

monday, august 12, 2013

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“I think people are willing to pay a higher premium than in the West. In other markets, like the UK, food e-commerce is about convenience. Here, there’s going to be a higher quality and safety premium,” said Chen Yougang, a partner at consultancy McKinsey.

But convincing some sceptical Chinese consumers on food quality will remain a battle. Shanghai-based Zhang Lei expressed doubt on the credentials of some products being touted as organic.

“Everyone knows that in China organic is not the real thing,” said the mother of one.

Nonetheless, total online sales of fresh produce in China could rocket to 40 billion yuan (US$6.5 billion) in five years from about 11.5 billion yuan this year, said Zhou Wen Quan, a senior analyst at Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consulting.

Research firm Euromonitor has more modest expectations, but still sees growth comfortably beating major overseas markets. It looks at volumes rather than values of online purchases of fresh food, with the Chinese market expected to grow by around eight per cent by 2017 from 664 million tonnes this year, compared to U.S. growth of about five per cent from 77 million tonnes.

So far, most food sold on China’s largest online shopping sites such as Yihaodian, majority owned by Wal-Mart, and Jingdong Mall has been packaged items or fruit with a relatively long shelf-life.

But a wave of new businesses are focusing on fresh

With food scandals hitting Chinese shoppers thick and fast – firms are confident they can overcome hurdles in the market

and premium produce, using the Internet to target higherincome consumers than supermarkets, which typically serve a broader customer base, analysts say.

“The vegetables are really fresh,” said Beijing resident Lei Na, who shops on websites such as Womai.com, owned by China’s top food processor and trader COFCO. “Supermarket food doesn’t look that fresh, especially if you only get there in the evening.”

Shunfeng Express, China’s largest delivery company, last year launched Shunfeng First Choice offering a range of food to around 500,000 consumers. About 70 per cent are imported products such as wine and milk powder, but it also sells local seafood, meat and vegetables.

“We go directly to the farms to pick the produce, and then using our own logistics, deliver straight to the consumer. So from the tree to the consumer’s dining table, we’ll remove all the sectors in between,” said Yang Jun, director of sales and marketing.

Delivering on promises?

Persuading customers they can meet promises on food safety is crucial for online retailers.

“If I’m busy I use websites.

But if I have time, I prefer to drive to the supermarket and choose vegetables myself,” said Zhang in Shanghai.

But vendors say that cutting out middlemen increases freshness and makes food more traceable, while packaging barcodes that can be read by smartphones help consumers verify the origin of items.

And companies go to some lengths to describe their products online. Customers looking at free-range chickens on the Benlai Shenghuo website, a 2012 start-up whose name roughly translates as ‘original

life’, get details on the breed they are selecting and its diet, along with photos of the birds wandering on farms.

Online customer reviews and ratings are also key in convincing potential buyers of quality, said Chen Liang, a senior research expert at Alibaba, owner of China’s biggest online marketplace Taobao.

Boom in China

With its 10 million users per minute, Taobao has ridden the e-commerce boom in China, with its customers moving from non-essential items such as books and electronics to clothes and recently food. Its sales of meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables grew 42 per cent last year to nearly 1.3 billion yuan.

“Before, people thought the Internet wasn’t suitable for selling clothes. But now it’s the most suitable channel.

I think food will follow this trend,” Chen said.

Another major challenge facing e-commerce food firms is the cost of developing nationwide cold chain logistics, with McKinsey’s Chen suggesting players work together to connect suppliers with a network of cold storage facilities.

But with food scandals hitting Chinese shoppers thick and fast – products from the world’s largest dairy exporter Fonterra have just been recalled from Chinese shelves – firms are confident they can overcome hurdles in the market.

“During the bird flu outbreak, our chicken sales exploded,” said Steve Liang, founder of Shanghai-based online retailer Fields, referring to a jump in sales after a new strain of the virus discovered in February that killed over 40 people in China and Taiwan. (US$1 = 6.1192 Chinese yuan) (Reuters)

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Caribbean Pre-Cadet Championships…

Guyana take gold in Girls Under-11

Guyana’s Neveah Clarkston (right) stretches out to save a point during her match against Trinidad and Tobago’s Shurjah Welch on Sunday (Photo: Treiston Joseph)

G

uyana walked away with the gold medal in the Girls Under-11 category when the group stages of the Caribbean Pre-Cadet Championships concluded on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Guyanese girls were matched against Trinidad and Tobago and a mixed team containing players from the Dominican Republic, Barbados and Aruba.

While the Guyanese girls lost to the mixed team 1-3, it was their match against Trinidad and Tobago that decided the winner as they won 3-1 to claim the gold medal.

Selinas Jackman and

Neveah Clarkston gave Guyana an early two-game advantage to put Trinidad on the back foot winning their games 3-1 and 3-2 against Ackayla Lucas and Shurjah Welch respectively.

Abigail Martin then fell to Trinidad’s Shreya Maharaj 2-3 in a thrilling game to pull the Trinidadians within in one game of tying the match at 2-1 in favour of the Guyanese.

However, Jackman return to close off the victory for Guyana with an emphatic 3-1 win against Welch to pick up the gold medal for the Land of Many Waters.

Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago won the Boys

Under-11 category, as well as the Boys and Girls Under-13 categories.

Guyana (Team Two) took silver in the Boys Under-11 category, while Guyana (Team One) took silver in the Boys Under-13. Guyana (Team One) took bronze in the Girls Under-13 category, while Guyana (Team One) also took bronze in the Boys Under-11 category.

The Barbados players also added to their medal count, picking up silver in the Girls Under-13 category, while taking bronze in the Boys Under-13. Aruba was the only team to be left out of the medal count at the end of the day’s proceedings.

Caribbean Squash Championships underway at Georgetown Club

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he Digicel 2013 Senior Caribbean Squash Championships, powered by Powerade and Smalta, served off on Saturday at the Georgetown Club Squash Courts with the commencement of the individual tournament.

The first upset of the tournament occurred when former Caribbean junior champion, Guyanese Ryan Farnum, defeated OECS player Jules Snagg three games to one: 7-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-4. Another former Guyanese junior player, Kristian Jeffrey, gave Cayman Islands player Cameron StaffordCaribbean Individual runner-up in 2012- a major scare when he won the first game 11-8 and had game ball in the second at 109. However Cameron won that game 15-13 and then won the next 11-1 and then 11-5.

Defending Men’s Individual champion, Jamaican Chris Binnie,

won his second round match against Nku Patrick 11-0, 11-4, 11-5 and then cruised into the quarter-finals with a fairly comfortable victory over Farnum 11-5, 11-7, 112.

Top Guyanese players Sunil Sett, Richard Chin and Alex Arjoon had all progressed into the round of 16 with easy victories over their opponents. Sett beat Cayman Islands player Julian Jervis 11-4, 11-6, 113; Chin beat Kevin Bailey of the OECS 11-3, 11-2, 11-9 and Arjoon beat 11-7, 11-4, 11-0.

Guyanese Jamaal Callender, who earlier had defeated Caribbean Under-17 champion Nyron Joseph 11-2, 12-10, 9-11, 11-3 then lost in the round of 16 to former Caribbean champion Gavin Cumberbatch 12-10, 11-5, 11-8 and Jason Ray Khalil lost to Jamaican Bruce Burrowes 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 3-11, 3-11.

Defending Women’s Individual champi-

on Nicolette Fernandes cruised into the quarterfinals with an easy victory over Barbadian Amanda Haywood 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 and Barbados’ Karen Meekins also had an easy victory over Jamaican N Boreland 11-4, 11-0, 11-4.

Guyanese Keisha Jeffrey made a welcome return to the courts with a victory over Barbados’ Nadia McCarthy 11-4, 11-8, 11-5.

In an all Guyanese matchup, Victoria Arjoon beat Gabrielle Fraser 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7.

Mary Fung-A-Fat beat Akeila Wiltshire 11-5, 116, 11-5 and Ashley DeGroot beat Larissa Wiltshire 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-3. Former Caribbean Under-19 champion Ashley Khalil defeated another former Under-19 champion Kathy Shuffler-Ten-Pow 11-5, 11-1, 11-5. Barbados’ Caribbean Under-17 champion Gylla McKenzie defeated Guyanese Taylor Fernandes 11-9, 11-4, 11-3.

Bell century gives England edge in fourth Test

I

an Bell’s third century of the Ashes series gave England the edge over Australia after three days of an engrossing fourth Test.

The Warwickshire batsman scored an invaluable 105 not out as the hosts fought back from 49-3 in their second innings to 2345 at the close, a lead of 202.

Bell, whose hundreds in wins at Trent Bridge and Lord’s helped England retain the Ashes in 14 days, shared partnerships of 106 with Kevin Pietersen (44) and 66 with Jonny Bairstow (28) as England gradually wrested control from the tourists.

He brought up his 20th Test century five minutes before the close to become only the third Englishman after Maurice Leyland in 1934 and David Gower in 1985 to score three in a home Ashes campaign.

Bell’s achievement capped an impressive day for England, who claimed Australia’s last five wickets for 48 runs to bowl them out for 270 and restrict their first-innings lead to 32.

But when Ryan Harris accounted for Joe Root, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott in quick succession with the new ball, Australia were back on top.

With England’s advantage a slender 17, Bell and

Ian Bell scored his third century of the Ashes

Pietersen set about repairing the damage in a crucial fourth-wicket stand that spanned 33 overs.

Finding gaps in the field that had eluded England in their often turgid first-innings 238, they worked the ball around and punished anything off line.

Pietersen struck Peter Siddle’s last two balls before tea for four, while Bell caressed Harris for successive cover drives to bring up his fifty soon after the interval.

Starved of the strike and subdued by spinner Nathan Lyon, Pietersen allowed frustration to affect his shot selection and was caught at cover via a leading edge to once again open the door to Australia.

But with Bairstow finding his touch to crash Lyon over the top for successive

fours and Bell moving masterfully towards his fourth Ashes century in five Tests, England maintained their ascendancy. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD England 1st innings 238 Australia 1st innings 270 England 2nd Innings Cook c Haddin b Harris 22 Root b Harris 2 Trott c Haddin b Harris 23 Pietersen c Rogers b Lyon 44 Bell not out 105 Bairstow c Haddin b Lyon 28 Bresnan not out 4 Extras (4-b, 2-lb) 6 Total (for 5 wickets, 74 overs) 234 Bowling: Harris 20-1-74-3, Bird 17.3-6-45-0, Watson 6.3-122-0, Siddle 12-3-40-0, Lyon 17-2-46-2, Smith 1-0-1-0 Fall of wickets: 17 (Root), 42 (Cook), 49 (Trott), 155 (Pietersen), 221 (Bairstow)

Pomeroon racers reign supreme at Lake Mainstay Regatta

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he speed boat racers from the Pomeroon River dominated the 13th edition of Lake Mainstay’s annual Regatta on Sunday at the resort.

The Gonsalves reigned supreme, copping most of the prizes, ranging from 1-3. A total of 19 races were carded for the day, but only 13 were held.

The major races for the day were the two open races with Neil Gonsalves taking top honours in one, followed

by Henry DaSilva in second place and Clint Gonsalves in third.

In the other open race, Dave Scott with “Jaguar” made an official complain that Neil Gonsalves did not take the correct course to cop the checkered flag, thus, a winner was not announced despite almost an hour of reviewing video footage.

The final decision was inconclusive, forcing officials to re-stage the event, but the “Jaguar” team was not too keen, claiming they had encountered mechanical problems.

In the first race of the day, the 15HP male, Lenox Baharally raced to the finish line with Peter Parks in second and Kelvin Mani in third. In the other race in the same category, Parks took top honours, while Baharally came in second and Mani third.

The Gonsalves of Pomeroon pose with their trophies

The females were also part of the action in the 15HP race with Nalini Baharally securing the first spot and Lorita Savory second.

In the 200HP event, Clint Gonsalves won ahead of Henry DaSilva and Ian Gonsalves. Henry DaSilva took the checkered flag in the one of the 90HP races with Clint Gonsalves in second and Ovando Holder third.

There was a memorial race in the 90HP in tribute to Orin Belle who passed away during the 12th annual regatta following an accident.

In that race, Clint Gonsalves outshone his competitors to claim the top prize, while Ovando Holder came in second and Sanjeev Ramdeem third.

Apart from the motor-

racing, the patrons were thrilled with the novelty events which definitely added some humour to the day.

In the 200 swimming race, Darren Andries crossed the finish line first, followed by Lloyd Ward and Ramdeen. In the male canoe race, Ramdeen walked away with the top prize with Andries and Ward in second and third respectively.

In the female canoe race, Nalini Bharahally took the top honours, while Lorita Sevory and Jocelyn Vieira taking the other two podium positions.

The day’s activities, which were accident free, were sponsored by Digicel, the Ministry of Tourism, Banks DIH Limited, Ansa McAl Trading, CIDI, Guyoil and Lake Mainstay Resort. (Bhisham Mohamed)

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High competition expected at Boyce and Jefford Classic Says Treiston Joseph

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he Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic is one week away and the spirit of competition is already filling the air ahead of Guyana’s premier athletics event to be held on August 17 at the Police Sports club ground, Eve Leary, and in Linden at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground on August 18.

With there being little track and field events since May, athletes will be eager to match stride against their counterparts which should rekindle personal and club rivalries.

The biggest rivalry to watch will be that of the three major clubs in Guyanathe Police Sports Club, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sports Club and the Running Brave Athletics Club (RBAC) - vying for the top prize of $500,000.

While Police has won the last two editions of the track classic and is still the favourite to win it again this year, the RBAC has quietly made itself known as the team to watch in this year’s event.

In addition, the event will also pit the army men against the police in somewhat of a preview between

Cassey George

Jevina Straker

Stephan James

Chavez Ageday

Shawn Semple

the two old rivals just a couple months before they renew their long tussle at the Inter Services Athletics Championships.

With that in mind one can only imagine the type of preparation these athletes will go through to ensure club supremacy, and not to mention, bragging rights.

However, while the club competition will provide a sense of excitement, the personal rivalries that can be rekindled and started will definitely provide sparks, especially on the final day.

One such rivalry that can be renewed is that of

the Stephan James versus Chavez Ageday 200 metres showdown.

Both athletes have history between them since their junior days. They even participated at the South American Under-23 Championships in 2012, both gaining bronze medals for their efforts at the event.

To an extent, Ageday has fallen from grace and has not been his usual explosive and dominant self in the 100 metres, while James has risen to be a force to reckon with and is unmatched behind Olympian Winston George over the 400 metres distance.

However, both James and Ageday have always managed to put on a great show of 200 metres running since James’ strength goes up against the speed of Ageday.

Another rivalry in the making is that of Cassey George versus Jevina Strake 1500 metres women show down.

Straker, who has won three gold medals at the Carifta Games over the 1500 metres distance, is older and definitely has the experience to win the event, but George, who this year won gold at the Carifta Games over 1500 metres as well, has run the

fastest time for a female Guyanese over the distance which makes George the fastest of the two.

It will be an intriguing race when the two meet on August 18, as George is known to ‘get out’ early, while Strake is the a more run-from-behind kind of athlete. The contrasting styles of the two might possible turn their 1500 metres into one of the biggest events of the day.

The Men’s 400 metres can also be a classic despite the absence of Olympian Winston George as James will match up against his club mate Jason Yaw and

talented police athlete Shawn Semple, who is in some form at the moment.

With the event slated to also have international participation from Trinidad, Grenada and Suriname in the 400 metres Men’s, and the 800 metres and 1500 metres Women’s races, there is expected to be an increase in the standard of rivalry among the athletes.

Therefore, with $500,000 up for grabs at the club level and $50,000 at stake in the international races, the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic is set to be Guyana’s best track and field meet for 2013.

BBCI donates gear to D’Edward Sports Club Bolt runs 9.77s to win 100m title in Moscow

Usain Bolt

O

Administrative Assistant of the BBCI Bibi F Alli presents the equipment to members of the D’Edward Sports Club in the presence of BBCI staffers

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he D’Edward Sports Club has become the latest entity to benefit from the generosity of the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI).

After being approached in April by the club to assist in its developmental drive, the BBCI last week presented a quantity of cricket equipment to the chairman of the D’Edward Sports Club.

The donation included two bats, one pair of wicketkeeping gloves, two pairs of batting gloves, two pairs of batting pads and six cricket balls. In a release, the BBCI said it was privileged to have the opportunity to support the club.

“The company decided to come on board mainly due to the fact that cricket in Berbice (East and West) has progressed and created a great attraction to Berbicians. Also, it must be noted that the D’ Edward Sports Club has done outstanding works in creating a pastime for youths, thereby keeping them away from drugs, crime and other illicit activities,” the BBCI said in the statement.

The donation is just another in a long list that the BBCI has compiled in its effort to support development across the country.

The statement added, “The Berbice Bridge Company

Inc. (BBCI) not only plays the role of collecting tolls and facilitating vehicles crossing the Berbice River Bridge and vessels transiting through the Retractor opening and under the High Span, but also discharges its corporate responsibilities, and more importantly, plays an integral part in the development of education and sports, supports national events and makes donations to charitable and non-charitable organisations in close proximity of the bridge or in Regions Five and Six. The company had also sponsored events in other counties and as far as the hinterland.

In the past, the company

has sponsored many events that benefited the communities both on the eastern and western sides of the Berbice River Bridge.

So far this year, the BBCI has received 64 public relation requests and has managed to approve 57 of these requests comprising of sponsorships of Mashramani 2013 events, sponsorship of horse-racing events, donations of trophies to various non-profit and educational institutions, facilitated tours of various schools and waivered toll charges for tour buses, sponsored cricket tournaments and donations towards Region Five cricket tournament and religious organisations among others.

lympic champion Usain Bolt regained his 100m world title and won a fourth individual World Championships gold with a season’s best of 9.77 seconds in Moscow.

In heavy rain, the 26-year-old Jamaican made amends for his false start in Daegu two years ago and further cemented his status as the greatest sprinter in history.

The six-time Olympic champion overtook Justin Gatlin in the final stages, forcing the American to settle for silver in 9.85.

Bolt’s compatriot Nesta Carter (9.95) claimed bronze, while Britain’s James Dasaolu was eighth (10.21).

It was another convincing victory for the sport’s brightest star, who demonstrated his superiority by equalling the eighth-fastest time of his career in unfa-

vourable conditions.

Such is Bolt’s dominance of the event, he does not have to be at his quickest to win major championships.

“I am happy but I wanted to do better,” he told BBC Sport.

“My legs were sore after the semi-finals, I don’t know why, but the world record wasn’t on so I came out just to win.

“Back in Jamaica, they do not expect less than that from me. They always expect me to dominate!”

Gatlin, who beat Bolt in Rome in June, said: “I’m getting closer, I’m very happy with my race. The last 30m I got long. In Rome I was able to... do my race, which I didn’t do tonight.

“He (Bolt) has been working on his start - in Rome he had the best reaction out of everybody and he is 6ft 5in.

I had to make sure I was beating him to 50m.” (BBC Sport)

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Amazon Warriors end Tridents unbeaten run T

he Barbados Tridents were brought crashing down to earth on Sunday evening, plummeting to a 27-run defeat at the hands of the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

The defeat didn’t affect the Tridents’ push for a semi-final placing anyway, but did scratch their unbeaten record.

Some big hitting from Carlos Brathwaite and Jason Holder at the end was merely to bridge the gap of defeat. Holder struck Sunil Narine in the final over for three consecutive sixes, but the match had already been lost with the Tridents needing 44 runs from six balls.

The Tridents were chasing 150 to win after Martin Guptill had blazed 73 runs from just 55 balls after the Amazon Warriors won the toss and elected to bat.

The chase had gotten off to a slow start scoring at six an over during the Powerplay. Kirk Edwards, who had come in to the side, failed with the bat, scoring just one but Dwayne Smith started positively. He struck four boundaries during the Powerplay, but rarely got the strike he needed. When he was out in the ninth over, it started a slide that would lead to the Tridents’ downfall.

Mohammad Hafeez celebrates one of his three wickets (www.cplt20.com)

Mohammed struck twice in two deliveries, removing Smith for 28, and then Umar Akmal was stumped a ball later.

Two overs after, Kyle Mayers also fell to Hafeez.

However, the big wicket came in the next over as Kieron Pollard was bowled

by Steven Jacobs. At that

point, the Tridents looked done and dusted at 55-5. Not long ago, they were 36-1 after the Powerplay. Shakib al Hasan also came and went as Tridents were further reduced to 63-6. It was at that point Carlos Brathwaite started a show of his own.

He struck 18 runs from just 14 balls, hammering a six

and a four. When he was out, Holder came out and struck Narine all over the park. But too much was needed to do.

The Warriors had a contrasting innings at the top end of the game. After losing Lendl Simmons first ball, Martin Guptill held the Warriors innings together. Guptill struck 73 runs from 55 balls, smashing four fours and four sixes during his time at the crease. He batted for much of the innings, into the 18th over.

The Warriors were travelling along nicely at 1363. Mohammed Hafeez had played a good hand of 35 runs from 37 balls. James Franklin struck 16 from 13 balls before he was brilliantly caught at long-on

by Pollard but the innings fell away, and the Warriors merely leaped to 149-9.

They lost six wickets for just 13 runs. After Franklin, no other batsman got into double-figures. Rayad Emrit was the pick of the Tridents bowlers with 3-27.

Ultimately, the score of 149 was enough to break Barbados Tridents’ unbeaten run. Carlos Brathwaite earned himself the Limacol Super Six award, while Martin Guptill was both Man-of-the-Match and Digicel 4G Fastest Scorer.

The Barbados Tridents will play their next game on Tuesday against the Antigua Hawksbills at 20:00 hours at the Sir Vivian Richards

Stadium, while the Guyana Amazon Warriors will play the Jamaica Tallawahs at 14:00 hours on Thursday at Sabina Park. (www.cplt20.com)

SCOREBOARD Guyana Amazon Warriors innings (20 overs maximum) LMP Simmons b Holder 0 MJ Guptill c Pollard b Emrit 73 Mohammad Hafeez c Pollard b Smith 35 JEC Franklin c Smith b Emrit 16 CD Barnwell c Pollard b Shakib Al Hasan 0 RR Sarwan* c Nurse b Shakib Al Hasan 1 SP Narine run out (Holder/ †Umar Akmal) 7 D Ramdin† c Smith b Emrit 0 SA Jacobs not out 1 V Permaul run out (Shoaib Malik/Emrit) 1 Extras (b-1, lb-9, w-5) 15 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 149 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Simmons, 0.1 ov), 2-98 (Mohammad Hafeez, 13.5 ov), 3-136 (Franklin, 17.3 ov), 4-137 (Guptill, 17.4 ov), 5-138 (Barnwell, 18.2 ov), 6-139 (Sarwan, 18.4 ov), 7-142 (Ramdin, 19.2 ov), 8-147 (Narine, 19.4 ov), 9-149 (Permaul, 19.6 ov) Bowling: JO Holder 4-0-151, CR Brathwaite 2-0-18-0 (1-w), Shakib Al Hasan 4-025-2 (1-w), RR Emrit 4-0-273 (1-w), KA Pollard 1-0-100 (1-w), AR Nurse 3-0-18-0, DR Smith 2-0-26-1 (1-w)

Barbados Tridents innings (target: 150 runs from 20 overs) DR Smith lbw b Mohammad Hafeez 28 KA Edwards st †Ramdin b Permaul 1 Shoaib Malik c Mohammad Hafeez b Santokie 48 Umar Akmal† st †Ramdin b Mohammad Hafeez 0 KR Mayers c Sarwan b Mohammad Hafeez 2 KA Pollard* b Jacobs 1 Shakib Al Hasan c Franklin b Jacobs 3 CR Brathwaite c Santokie b Narine 18 AR Nurse not out 1 RR Emrit c Mohammad Hafeez b Santokie 0 JO Holder st †Ramdin b Narine 16 Extras (w-4) 4 Total (all out; 19.4 overs) 122 Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Edwards, 2.4 ov), 2-48 (Smith, 8.3 ov), 3-48 (Umar Akmal, 8.4 ov), 4-54 (Mayers, 10.3 ov), 5-55 (Pollard, 11.2 ov), 6-63 (Shakib Al Hasan, 13.2 ov), 7-104 (Brathwaite, 17.6 ov), 8-106 (Shoaib Malik, 18.4 ov), 9-106 (Emrit, 18.5 ov), 10-122 (Holder, 19.4 ov) Bowling: CD Barnwell 1-0-120 (4-w), K Santokie 4-0-21-2, V Permaul 3-1-9-1, SP Narine 3.4-0-46-2, SA Jacobs 4-1-15-2, Mohammad Hafeez 4-0-19-3

Red Steel pip Hawksbills Pollard a special captain, says Haynes in rain-hit contest K

T

he Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel kept their chances of a semi-final spot alive with a one-run win under the Duckworth/Lewis system over the Antigua Hawksbills on Monday morning.

Chasing a revised 134 from 15 overs after 85 minutes were lost to rain, the Hawksbills, who resumed the run-chase at 4-0 from 0.5 overs, ended on 132-8 at the completion of the overs.

Sheldon Cotterell hit a six off the final ball, but his 19 not out from seven balls came a touch late as the Hawksbills suffered another defeat.

Johnson Charles had earlier given the Hawksbills a flying start with 46 from 28 balls, including four sixes and four fours.

Earlier, the Red Steel won the toss and chose to bat. After losing opener Kevin O’Brien cheaply for nine, the top and middleorder combined to give the home team an imposing total of 169-9.

Adrian Barath (38 off 29 balls) and Ross Taylor (25 off 22 balls) laid the foundation for a late onslaught by the Bravo brothers, Dwayne and Bravo.

The Bravos added 73 runs in quick time to give the Red Steel much needed momentum going into the break between innings.

Dwayne smashed four sixes and two fours in 46 from 25 balls, while Darren hit four fours in his 38 from 30 deliveries. Kemar Roach was

the pick of the bowlers with 2-26.

The Red Steel’s next game is against the St Lucia Zouks on Saturday at Sabina Park, while the Hawksbills will be in action on Thursday against the St Lucia Zouks at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

SCOREBOARD Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel innings (20 overs maximum) KJ O’Brien b Cotterrell 9 AB Barath run out (Thomas) 38 LRPL Taylor c Rohrer b Cornwall 25 DM Bravo c Rohrer b Roach 38 DJ Bravo* c Rohrer b Roach 46 N Pooran† run out (†Charles/ Roach) 1 K Cooper not out 1 S Badree not out 0 Extras (w-11) 11 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 169 Fall of wickets: 1-10 (O’Brien, 1.6 ov), 2-64 (Taylor, 9.3 ov), 3-91 (Barath, 11.5 ov), 4-164 (DJ Bravo, 19.1 ov), 5-167 (DM Bravo, 19.3 ov), 6-168 (Pooran, 19.4 ov) Bowling: KAJ Roach 4-0-272 (1-w), SS Cotterrell 4-0-29-1 (2-w), GC Tonge 1-0-14-0, MN Samuels 4-0-28-0, RRS Cornwall 4-0-25-1, DC Thomas 2-0-34-0 (4-w), D Mohammed 1-0-12-0

Antigua Hawksbills innings (target: 134 runs from 15 overs) J Charles† b DJ Bravo 46 KOA Powell c Cooper b Badree 13 RRS Cornwall c O’Brien b DJ Bravo 2 BJ Rohrer c Benn b Johnson 28 MN Samuels* c DJ Bravo b Benn 10 DC Thomas c Cooper b Benn 0 RT Ponting c & b Cooper 1 KAJ Roach b Cooper 7 SS Cotterrell not out 19 GC Tonge not out 0 Extras (b-3, lb-2, w-1) 6 Total (8 wickets; 15 overs) 132 Fall of wicket: 1-22 (Powell, 3.1 ov), 2-47 (Cornwall, 5.1 ov), 3-63 (Charles, 7.2 ov), 4-84 (Samuels, 10.4 ov), 5-85 (Thomas, 10.6 ov), 6-87 (Ponting, 11.3 ov), 7-106 (Roach, 13.3 ov), 8-124 (Rohrer, 14.3 ov) Bowling: FH Edwards 2-013-0, S Badree 2-0-27-1, K Cooper 3-0-25-2 (1-w), DJ Bravo 3-0-14-2, DE Johnson 2-0-26-1, SJ Benn 3-0-22-2

ieron Pollard’s astute captaincy of the Barbados Tridents has come in for high praise from head coach Desmond Haynes, who has likened the player’s captaincy skills to those of much heralded India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Under Pollard, the Tridents have won four and loss one in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, easily making their way into the semi-finals of the inaugural regional tournament.

Haynes, himself no stranger to captaincy, said though he had recognised Pollard’s potential before, the Trinidadian’s brilliance as a leader had been a revelation in the tournament.

“Now that he is captain of the Barbados Tridents and we are working closely together, I have got even more respect for him. Pollard reminds me a lot of India captain Dhoni,” said Haynes, the legendary former West Indies opener.

“I know that is a big comparison but I know what I am saying. He is a leader on and off the field and is leading by example for his team to follow. His reading of the game and his calmness in tough situations reminds me of Dhoni.”

Pollard has been one of the bright spots for Tridents, producing some explosive knocks, taking key wickets and snaring superb catches to inspire the Bridgetown-

Kieron Pollard

based franchise in the Limacol CPL campaign to date.

However, Haynes said it was not Pollard’s personal performances that had grabbed his attention but rather, his innovation and quick thinking when leading the Tridents in the field.

“I looked at the way he handled the bowlers and it was brilliant. In our second game [against Antigua Hawksbills] he did not even bowl [pacer] Shannon Gabriel but bowled [medium pacer] Dwayne Smith who was not in our plan to bowl,” Haynes explained.

“In the Red Steel game, he bowled Gabriel who did very well and also used Shakib Al Hasan who nearly grabbed a world record. I am very happy with Pollard’s leadership of this team.”

Haynes led West Indies

in four matches of his illustrious 116-Test career and seven games of his 238 OneDay Internationals. He also played under the great Sir Vivian Richards who never lost a Test series as captain.

He said he had always backed the decision to appoint Pollard as captain of the Barbados franchise, as he had never been in any doubt about the 26-yearold’s ability.

“I was one of the men who supported the idea of Pollard being Barbados Tridents’ captain,” Haynes stressed. “I have seen him before during my short stints with the West Indies cricket team and I always thought this was one guy who understands the game of cricket.”

Pollard’s captaincy has also drawn praise from experienced Bangladeshi allrounder Shakib al Hasan who was quick to echo Haynes’ sentiments.

“I’ve been very impressed for the games I have seen him on the field and off the field. He is a very proactive captain and we’re having very good team meetings,” Shakib said. “He is always leading by example. He is one of the best fielders in the world and he’s been showing that on the ground. He can also bowl a bit and whenever he needs to score runs, he gets them for the team. All in all I am very impressed with the way he is handling this team.” (www.cplt20.com)

monday, august 12, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

23

Season kicks off with renewed hope for football

By Avenash Ramzan

From left: Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters, Director of Sport Neil Kumar, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green and executives of the GFF observe the march past

W

ith the recurring theme being the dawning of a new era for football, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) kicked off its 2013 season with much pomp and ceremony at the world famous Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda, on Sunday afternoon.

The venue is a far cry from its glory days, and so too has been the administration of football over the last few years, but with the 32-team Nation’s Cup being the first major undertaking for the Christopher Matthias-led new executive body of the GFF, stakeholders are hopeful of a new and exciting beginning, which would hopefully lead to upward mobility for the sport.

Following the parade of the participating associations with the Guyana Police Force band providing musical entertainment, Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony told the gathering how pleased he was to be part of an opening ceremony with a united bunch of administrators ready to move the game forward.

He noted that for far too long football has been plagued by divisions, but he is hopeful that the new administration can now collaborate with critical partners to help realise the full potential and benefits that can be derived from the sport.

The minister, who also has responsibility for youth and culture, challenged Matthias and the GFF to have regular tournaments so that players can harness their skills, while aiding the process of development.

Dr. Anthony also reminded the attendees that government has been working with communities to develop playgrounds by providing grants between $500,000 and one million dollars, and he is hoping that the playing of football will be encouraged at those venues.

He also stated that with the completion of the football field in the centre of the state-of-the-art synthetic track at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, the GFF will benefit tremendously, as plans are in place to erect dormitories in

Members of the Guyana Football Referees Council pose with awardee Diane Ferreira-James

Thank you madam! Prime Minister Samuel Hinds presents a plaque to Guyana’s outstanding football referee Diane Ferreira-James for her contribution to the game. Sharing the moment are GFF executives, members of the referees council, the mayor of Georgetown, and government and opposition members (Photos: Avenash Ramzan)

The National Association for Women’s Football during the parade of association on Sunday afternoon

the compound to allow for encampment, apart from training and the hosting of matches there.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said he is hopeful that the Nation’s Cup would usher in an era of regular competitions, as was the case decades ago.

He lauded the GFF executives for hosting the tournament, adding that he looks forward to a high level of play among the participating associations.

Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green congratulated the federation on what he dubbed “a massive and impressive start” to the season, noting that football provides an avenue for young persons to be meaningfully occupied.

The mayor also encouraged the development of all “open spaces” so that the playing of not just football, but all sport disciplines, is encouraged at all levels of society.

Matthias, speaking on behalf of the GFF, said the opening of the Nation’s Cup signals the beginning of the process of football development, as well as social upliftment for those directly and indirectly involved the sport.

The new GFF head also stated that his executives are determined to contribute to nation building through football.

Also delivering remarks at the opening were representatives of sponsors, Banks DIH Limited and Giftland OfficeMax, both of whom expressed their company’s delight to partner with the local governing body for football.

The opening ceremony concluded with a special presentation of a plaque to Guyana’s outstanding female referee, Diane FerreiraJames, for her sterling contribution to football.

Following that Prime Minister Hinds performed the ceremonial kick-off to signal the commencement of the tournament.

In the opening game, East Demerara squared off with Upper Demerara, while West Demerara tackled Georgetown in the feature game.

monday, august 12, 2013

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Red Steel pip Hawksbills in rain-hit contest

Amazon Warriors end Tridents unbeaten run See story on page

22

Martin Guptill led the Amazon Warriors’ batting with a fine 73 (www.cplt20.com)

See story on page

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The Red Steel fans were out in their numbers cheering on the home team

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