Directors of the staterun Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) on Wednesday convened an emergency meeting to discuss the interception of cocaine on a rice shipment from Guyana in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday.
GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh disclosed that he has not been officially contacted by local law enforcement on the issue.
The 69 kilograms of cocaine was on August 12 discovered in a shipment of rice which left Guyana for Venezuela.
The seizure was made by law enforcement officers in the Dominican Republic in a container of rice being shipped by the GRDB.
is shipped from Guyana to Venezuela via Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, thus, the organisation will have to track the movements of the vessel before a conclusion is made.
He said that if and when the GRDB is contacted, they will cooperate with investigators.
Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Khrushid Sattaur told Guyana Times that he was not too familiar with the case since he was on an overseas visit.
son has been arrested by law enforcement officers in the Dominican Republic. CANU officials are continuing its investigations locally as it searches for answers.
One of the most important questions lingering in the minds of drug enforcement officers is whether or not the container was scanned before it left Guyana.
The proprietor of the Safari Inn Hotel, Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD) remains in police custody following the discovery of the battered body of Victor Ramsabad, a handyman in the compound of the business place.
Early last week, the police intercepted more than 15 kilograms of cocaine in a shipment of ochroes at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
The shipment of rice left Guyana and was in Jamaica for trans-shipment to the Dominican Republic where the discovery was made. Singh in an invited comment stated that he was made aware of this development via the media which prompted an emergency meeting with the board of directors.
Sattaur said he will have a meeting with his team today, where he is expected to be briefed about the bust.
Singh stated that rice
Meanwhile, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) continues to investigate the drug bust and confirmed that one per -
The cocaine was discovered in several boxes of ochroes which were among other boxes that contained vegetables.
One man was later jailed for four years and fined $40.5 million for shipping cocaine.
The 37-year-old handyman of 11 Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD was found at the back of the hotel on Tuesday morning by the proprietor, Francis Correia.
Upon his discovery, the back of his head was bashedin and there were other injuries about his body, leaving investigators to believe that he was killed sometime between Sunday and Tuesday. Guyana Times learnt that the man did odd jobs at several places, but has been working with the proprietor of the hotel for quite some time. Relatives were made aware of the murder about 14:30h and claimed that the man was a heavy drinker.
From reports received, Ramsabad had an altercation with someone at the hotel who claimed that he
stole a few bottles of alcoholic beverages. He reportedly took the beers under the pretext that he was selling a customer.
The mother of the dead man told media operatives that she last saw her son on Friday when he reportedly told her that he was going to assist someone at a wedding. She added that she received a telephone call a few hours later from a stranger, informing her that Ramsabad was dead.
She rushed to the scene where she saw her son’s battered body covered with a sheet.
The doubts by relatives of the circumstances surrounding the death of Keith Wallerson, who was fished out of the Cuyuni River, were erased after a post-mortem examination proved that he died as a result of asphyxiation due to drowning.
The post-mortem examination was performed by Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary on Monday.
The body of Wallerson, 20, of Golden Grove, West Coast Berbice was pulled from the Cuyuni River around 13:00h on Saturday after he went missing earlier in the day.
Certain sections of the media reported that Wallerson was stabbed to death during an argument with another man over raw gold, but this was not the case. The police in a release stated that about 08:00h on Saturday, ranks at Aranka received a report that earlier in the day the man was crossing the Cuyuni River in a boat, when the vessel capsized and he was feared drowned.
As a result, a search party that included police ranks subsequently found the miner’s body in the Cuyuni River about 13:00h. The body bore no visible marks of violence, the police stated.
Relatives did not take the results lightly, claiming that when they looked at the body, there were marks and thought that foul play was involved. They claimed that shortly after Wallerson’s body was fished out of the river, they were contacted.
Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) completes its fourth year of partnership with Norway, which has effectively incorporated one of the first national-scale Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+) systems in the world.
This is according to the recent draft REDD+ Enabling Activities Report of August 2013 on the LCDS. The report affirmed that in the fourth year of the partnership between Guyana and Norway, there is a sense of invigoration towards achieving the goals of the initiative.
It revealed that, the process thus far have been notably successful in the areas of strategic framework, continuous multistakeholder consultation process, governance, the rights of indigenous people and other forest communities as regards to REDD+, integrated land use planning and management. It continued that the progress on Guyana’s performance has been strong and have fully implemented the majority of actions which were targeted for completion during the period. It was recorded based on documentary evidence through stakeholders’ interviews of over 49 individuals who were interviewed individually, or in groups.
“The successes were achieved despite delays in accessing funds through the Guyana REDD Plus
Investment Fund (GRIF) mechanism that were beyond the control of the government of Guyana,” the report said, adding that “Where actions have not been fully met, this can as in the case of the LCDS outreach and awareness project concept note be attributed to funding delays. This demonstrates the need for further investigation into the functioning of the GRIF mechanism and options for its improvement”.
The detailed report revealed that further work will be required next year in fortifying inter-agency collaborations over land-use planning and management, with particular focus on the extractives sector. As such, an action plan was proposed for each indicators and working with relevant ministries and agencies and taking into account feedback from the
stakeholder interviews so as to stay firmly on track towards achieving goals set for coming reporting periods.
Presently, Guyana is in the fourth year of participation and Norway and Guyana continue to show their commitment to the vision of the memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries. The report highlighted that with each year, the partnership contributes to lessons learned on how REDD+ policies may be implemented, as such, moving into the final years of the current partnerships gives a sense of invigoration to achieve the goals. Guyana is receiving financial support for its contribution to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), as defined in the Bali Action Plan.
The governments of Guyana and Norway have established a Memorandum of Understanding where Norway will provide initial support (to 2015) for results achieved by Guyana, as set out in the Guyana-Norway Joint Concept Note (JCN). This financial support is based on an annual independent verification of results achieved by Guyana, including a set of enabling activities as described in the JCN. The JCN states that “one or more neutral expert organisations, to be appointed jointly by the participants in consultation with the international financial institution managing the GRIF, [will verify] whether or not the REDD-plus enablers have been met”.
Since the end of 2009, the government of Guyana has published an annual report documenting progress in completing the enabling activities, as these are described, and on an annual basis updated, in the JCN.
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
The first round of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is now over after 21 games between its six franchise teams. And the Guyana Amazon Warriors have emerged at the top of the rankings, tied with the Jamaica Tallawahs, but pipping them on net run-rate. This means they will be playing the semi-finals against the Trinidad Red Steel on Thursday night while the Tallawahs face off against the Barbados Tridents the following night. All to set up the biggest party cricket has ever seen on Saturday night in the finals.
What the scheduling has done is to give the fans a couple days respite from the non-stop action and excitement over the past few weeks, to reflect on this new craze that has hit our region – Limacol CPL. But it does not need even a moment’s reflection to acknowledge the glow of satisfaction on the faces of fans from Jamaica in the north to Guyana in the south – and all the islands in between.
In every game, the stands were packed to capacity –save the weekday game in Jamaica, when so many fans just could not get away from work. The uninhibited Jamaican fans lambasted officialdom for not installing lights at Sabina Park, which precluded night games.
The identification of the fans with their franchise teams was incredible after the initial momentary confusion of a local “home boy” making a good play for another country’s team was quickly overcome. Conversely, members of a team originating from a particular territory were as aggressive against the franchise team from that country as any other players. Professional cricket has arrived in the Caribbean.
From an organisational standpoint, the arrangements for the games were as efficiently conducted as any of the fixtures run by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in the Caribbean, if not better. Games started on time and the officiating was highly professional – with far less bloopers than has plagued some other fixtures. As iconic cricketer Ricky Ponting pointed out, however, most of the pitches were on the slow side and made for some very low scores. This aspect of the region’s capabilities must be improved – and not only for the Twenty20 format.
But it is a tribute to the knowledgeable average West Indian fan – including the females that flocked the stadium –that they were just as engrossed in the finer, more nuanced points of the game which come out in such low-scoring games. Where else in the cricketing world, and in a Twenty20 match –would an entire stadium erupt with an unanimous “no” upon a batsman blocking a ball after hitting a six?
The organisers generously provided the fans with flags, horns and other paraphernalia to make them express their joy and exuberance. And as should be clear by now to the rest of the world that again, as also pointed out by Ponting, Twenty20 is essentially a West Indian game. It is played as a game – taken seriously – but always keeping in mind that games are “play”, intended to entertain and amuse. Our people certainly had fun.
At the beginning of the tournament, the organisers declared that one of the goals of the Limacol CPL would be to identify and highlight new or neglected talent. And this goal has been achieved beyond expectations. Without naming anyone specifically, we can confidently say that the talent pool in our region in all departments of the game is significantly larger than we have been led to believe.
Finally, the organisers’ insistence on utilising the talents of the greats from our glory days was beyond poignant. Cricket, like a people, can have no future if it forgets its past. Several of the past greats pointed out that at long last young West Indian cricketers might be able to secure year-round employment in the game they love right here in their backyards.
Long live the Limacol CPL!
Dear Editor,
I am in London meeting with Guyanese groups as part of an ongoing research on social issues pertaining to the Guyanese diaspora. As I have found from my field studies in travels in various cities around the globe, the Indo-Guyanese diaspora observes or celebrates festivals and traditions as they did back in the homeland.
This week, IndoGuyanese in the diaspora, Hindus in particular in London and in New York, are observing Raksha Bandhan, more commonly called Raakhi in Guyana.
Raakhi, a festival that places emphasis on strong relationship between brothers and sisters, falls on August 21, a national holiday in India. But in New York, London and elsewhere, the Guyanese diaspora observes it on the following weekend at temples and community centres when they get together. The NY temples will observe the festival on Sunday.
The festival of Raksha Bandhan symbolises love, affection and the feeling of
brotherhood and is, therefore, worthy of emulation by all groups regardless of ethnicity. Raakhi usually coincides with the full moon around August.
Although it is Hindu oriented, Indians of all faiths in India and around the diaspora observe the festival. It involves a female tying a “sacred” thread on the wrist of a male whom she adores as a brother. It is a very important celebration in India and few males stay away from home for the occasion as they like to be close to the family to have a big reunion.
Raakhi is a celebration in which the males recommit to protect the females from unwarranted physical or emotional attacks and injustice – of brothers or males offering protection to sisters or females and of the elderly males pulling family members together to enhance their lifestyle. The festival is a celebration of togetherness and of being with the family.
After some 175 years since the first arrival of Indians in Guyana, the tradition of Raakhi is still being observed and Guyanese
Dear Editor, In order to improve the delivery of education to teachers, the Guyana Improving Teachers Education Project (GITEP) has employed the services of international consultants to review existing courses and design new ones. The consultants are also working on a manage-
ment course for senior administrators. In England, the authorities there have already made the move to change the entry tests for people wanting to become teachers. The tests will be more rigorous and expansive so as to raise the quality and standing of the profession. In some states in America, teachers are now
have transplanted the celebration of the festival overseas where they have settled as has been the case in London, New York, Ontario, Florida, New Jersey and elsewhere. Guyanese must be applauded for holding on to this tradition which helps to hold families together and have meals.
As per Indian tradition, the female prepares a Raakhi (a sacred thread) and ties it on the hand of the male – her brother or someone she respects – whom she adopts as her brother seeking his protection. The brother in turn acknowledges the love with a promise to be by the sisters’ side through the thick and thin and gives her a token gift.
The gift is the physical acceptance of her love, reminder of their togetherness and a symbol of his pledge of protection at all times, particularly when she or her family is under stress. There is an exchange of sweets and singing and dancing among family members.
Although Raakhi is an Indian festival, it is a celebration that other eth-
nic groups can take pride in participating in, as it is also a non-religious festival observed by all religious groups in India. It leads to harmonious relations among conflicting groups. And in Guyana, non-Indians observe the festival bonding with their Indian friends and neighbours.
At a time when young girls, and women in general, are under attack, the males need to step up to the plate to offer protection to these helpless females. The men should not sit by idly and allow their women folks to be molested and abused. They must come to the defence of their kin.
Husbands should also think kindly of their loving mates. The men should be reminded that Raakhi implores them to defend their sisters in distress and offer them guidance and protection from all kinds of abuses, whether at home or by political goons.
May all be moved by the Raakhi festival!
Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
must be relevant
compelled to take examinations, in order to remain in the system.
Education is a work in progress and if we do not watch it, we can easily become antiquated and obsolete. This may sound rigorous and may even deter a few from becoming teachers.
However, we need to
keep raising the standard, as this is the only way we will remain relevant and on par with other nations. This will translate into confidence from the general public too, as especially parents want quality education for their children.
Sincerely, Deandra Romaine
You
send your
Dear Editor,
The Human Services Ministry is concerned about the core issue of domestic violence and the extent to which it has pervaded our society – killing and maiming women and innocent children. Domestic violence is one of the most complex issues in human behaviour for which there appears to be no easy or immediate answer.
Over the years the ministry has earnestly endeavoured to address this issue, laying the foundation for the legal, administrative, operational and sensitisation processes, and with the assistance of other agencies, has been engaged in the training of law enforcement officers and the judiciary in an effort to combat this scourge.
We have reached out to communities, not only to sensitise them, but to awaken their consciousness to ways in which communities could be proactive in responding to this violence. In our pursuit we had earlier commissioned studies and
some research intended to underpin the measures put in place. The ministry is currently reviewing, reshaping and retooling all its efforts, and will shortly introduce new initiatives all aimed at addressing violence within our society.
In spite of all this, it is recognised that there is a threshold which is difficult to traverse, even in situations where the ideal measures might be in place and that is, unfortunately, the closed doors of the homes located throughout the country where, in too many cases, the tragedies could hardly have been pre-empted.
We are committed to the belief that domestic violence, in all its forms, must not be tolerated and that pre-emptive measures wherever possible, must be implemented. Just as important is the fact that appropriate penalties must be enforced when the situation demands it.
Say no to violence! Let us all join together to end violence in Guyana. Domestic violence is everybody’s business.
Sohodra Rampersaud, Public relations officer Ministry of Human Services
Dear Editor, Maybe all of the reports have not been collated as yet, but from what I am gathering, the Guyana Watch medical team did an incredible job during its visit that just ended over the weekend.
We just have to congratulate all of the members, but we cannot forget the local support base.
A big thank you is in order for the Education Ministry, as it allowed for its various schools across the country to be used, together with the Health
Ministry, for facilitating the visit.
The president of the Guyana Watch medical team was very passionate about the visit and he was able to muster help from a number of people and places.
According to the doctors, many of the patients came with high blood pressure and rashes. They seemed to be suffering from common illnesses.
Guyana’s medical care may not be super-great, but chronic illnesses, particularly diabetes, are basi-
cally treated for free. With good patients’ input, I see no cause for worry.
So my word is that as much as patients have to be cared for, they must cooperate and live according to a good medical plan. They must also attend to their situation in a very prompt manner.
Maybe next time there is any kind of medical outreach, there should be some lectures on the importance of life style.
Yours truly, Shoba
Sukhdeo
We are still taking accidents too lightly
Dear Editor,
Every weekend I live in fear and it is not so much personal, but for the country as a whole. The thing that always bothers me is the recklessness on the road. I am upset that yet again I have to read about accidents that should have never been. I keep hearing about all kinds of efforts to make the roads here safer, but I see quite a few basic things that are left untended.
These days, headlights are not only on high beam, but they come in different shades. How come? Is this
legal? This is so easy to detect and stop. Even when these neon lights are on low beam, they cause some form of blindness on the drivers facing them.
The traffic department is taking too long to even attempt to bring this to an end. As for the use of high beams, especially from the bigger vehicles, I find this to be a lot of fun from these drivers. They love to throw off the oncoming drivers, and I can only presume that they are young and inexperienced.
How much does it to
take to nab these drivers? It is not like they can hide or deny. Here again, the traffic department must be on the ball.
Vehicles lose stability with too much speed and lightness overcomes them too. This means that they are likely to topple, once that equilibrium is disturbed.
I really hope that road accidents will not fall through. Thorough investigations are needed and I hope that they will be swift as well.
Respectfully, Jamal
Griffith
Dear Editor,
A month or so ago, I was lucky to catch a part of an interview with a few members of the Benab Foundation. This particular body is all about helping children to read. The interview brought out the idea that no one has to be a professional to help others read. It is all about having a desire to help others and to be of encouragement to them. We are missing that reading culture and we need to bring it back.
Along this very line, the Foundational Community Library is about to be launched fully in Sandvoort on the West Bank of the Canje River by October of this year. Books so far have been purchased from the Guyana Book Foundation and some were obtained from the National Library.
However, more are needed. Here is where I think that the public can pitch in. There are many homes that have books that are just gathering dust. These can be collected and sent to this new library in the making.
Many individuals would
discard paperbacks and I think that these people can keep those and then pass them over. Books never really lose value – people read all kinds of books for all kinds of purposes.
Human nature is very diverse and can take in any topic. That is why I am urging for anyone with books that are not wanted/needed, to simply make a contribution to the people of Sandvoort.
The next thing is about shopping around for places that are closing up their book operations. I was fortunate to run into two such places in North America, and I got over 250 books very cheaply, many of them academic texts. I know that shipment may be expensive, but if the price for the books is very low, I am sure that getting the books here will not be that difficult.
These days, I see people with ear pieces and with gadgets in their hands. I am not seeing them with books. Not too long ago, when people went anywhere and they had to wait, they pulled out
a book. This is what we need to bring back.
Sandvoort is a very small village – covering an area of about 1000 acres and a population of about 275. Imagine what a library will do here! It will allow for a space for intellectual bonding. Guyana needs more reading spaces and perhaps less drinking and partying ones.
Yours sincerely, Simone
Gopaul
It’s no secret that chil dren sometimes fake illness to get out of going to school, but often they can be spotted. The following instructions are especially relevant to children or teen fakers. But if you love your children don’t worry about it.
Look for lingering symptoms
If someone has been “ill,” you would expect them to still have residual symptoms when they return to school/work. If you are a parent and not a teacher, check for this in the morning. Usually if they have a cold, they
aren’t likely to have been cured completely in the morning.
Check their homework
A child or teen who has missed school due to a real illness will have done home work that was due in on the day they missed, and may be keen to hand in their homework at the first opportunity, to prove they weren’t faking. So if someone returns from an “illness” still not having completed homework, they were probably faking it. Keep in mind that if a child was not faking, it’s possible they were truly not feeling well enough to do their homework. Or if you’re a parent make sure to check for that in the morning.
Retain old letters or sick notes
Compare the handwriting from repeat of-
coct yet another story.
Check the temperature
the notes to parents at par ents’ evenings to check that they are genuine.
Keep a note of the excuses used
The more funerals, illnesses, and other catastrophes a person uses as excuses, the more likely it is that they are faking – however, be sensitive in confrontation just in case they aren’t. You don’t want to destroy any bond they could’ve attached to you.
Call them up during school/work
Talk to them like a stranger, somebody who wouldn’t have any reason to scrutinise a bad “clogged nose.” Call up during school/work, midday, as someone with a wrong number or a solicitor.
When you are certain that someone is a faker, don’t be afraid to say “I don’t believe you” when they con-
If you are a parent and you give your child a thermometer to check his/her temperature, make sure you keep an eye on them because they may try to breathe hot air onto the thermometer, stick it in a lamp, stick it in a light, heater or warm water. You will know they faked it if it’s 110 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) or more. Also feel their forehead and then feel yours. If theirs is warmer, then they are probably not faking. If they claim they feel cold, then they should be some degrees hotter than usual. Check their arm. If they have goosebumps and it is not cold in the house, than it is probably real. Also, if they give you something that is 101 degrees, or above, try the test again, only this time hold it against a lamp. If it shows up genuinely close, it is probably a fake, but don’t judge too soon.
Tips
* Children sometimes do need a break from the hard work teachers give them.
* Children do often feel overwhelmed at school. They may need a break.
* If you do catch them in the act, don’t be hard on them. This might make it worse and they might try faking illness again.
* Adults are much harder to catch than children, and generally, if an adult student claims to be sick, you’ll have to take them at their word.
* If someone needs a break just make sure it isn’t on an important day.
* Keep an eye on them most of the day to see if they have gotten better.
* Children often fake sick on the days they have tests, gym class, or anything else they dislike. So when they say they are sick ask what they think they are doing in school that day.
* Check their temperature and try to give them medicine. If they decline it continuously, they might be faking.
* If you let them miss school, don’t make it become a habit for them.
(wikihow.com)
Courtney Farley of Haslington, East Coast Demerara, is currently facing trial for the 2010 murder of his wife.
Farley is indicated with the murder of his wife, Melanie Farley on January 7, 2010, at their Haslington home. The accused pleaded not guilty to the indictment when it was read to him on Tuesday at the High Court. A 12-member jury panel was selected before Justice Navindra Singh on Thursday, after which the trial began. Farley is being represented by Attorney Keavon Bess.
State Counsel Teshana Lake, who in association with State Counsel Natasha Backer, is prosecuting the matter, and made her opening address before the mixed panel. The prosecutor then called her first of two witnesses to the stand, Corporal Bajan Singh, who testified that he took a caution statement from the accused and witnessed the post-mortem examination of the deceased.
The officer told the court that on January 11, he was at the Georgetown Public Hospital where he observed the post-mortem examination conducted by state pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh.
He added that he uplifted the post-mortem report from Dr Singh’s office and lodged it at the Cove and John Police Station.
The report was shown to the officer in court and after he identified it, it was read to the court, revealing the cause of death to be respiratory failure as a result of a fractured spine.
Singh continued that on January 13, he took a caution statement from the accused at the Cove and John Police Station. He said that the accused requested that his brother be present when the statement was being taken and that he (Singh) should write the statement. The officer noted that he commenced taking the statement around 11:15h and concluded about 15 minutes later.
No threat
He noted that at no time before, during or after taking the statement was any threats, force or inducements made to the accused.
Again, the witness was shown the cautious statement and after he identified it, he read it out to the court. In the caution statement, the accused stated that on January 2, 2010,
when he got home from work, he and his wife had an argument during which she accused him of having an affair with someone else. The man said he tried to explain to the woman that he was not having an affair by showing her that he took home all his money.
“I tell her no, look I bring home all meh money. We go and bathe to go Aunty wake and when meh enter the bedroom, she grabbed me and I try to fight her because she bite on meh and she could beat meh,” the man disclosed in his statement. He went on to say that the woman’s cousin, who was living with them, put her out the house through the back door and locked it.
“I thought she gone down the step and I push the door fuh go down the step to show she all meh bonus money meh bring home. I hear she say ‘oh god ah falling down Courtney’ and meh look and see she fall down on the ground. I run down the step and hold on to her and start fuh holler,” Farley stated. He added that he and two others took his wife to the hospital where she was admitted, and he kept on visiting her until he was arrested by the police.
However, according to
the prosecution’s main witness, it was the accused who was attacking the deceased. Anetta Bhagot, the cousin of the deceased, who witnessed the incident told the court that on January 2, the accused and his wife had an argument during which the man began pelting the woman with ornaments.
Bhagot told court that the accused then picked up a cutlass from the kitchen and was chasing the woman, who ran out of the house to escape from him. She said her cousin was outside on the landing and was trying to close the door when the accused pushed it, causing the woman to slip on the rail and fall overboard. The witness noted that the woman was hospitalised for several days before she succumbed to her injuries. After Bhagot’s testimony, the prosecution closed its case.
The trial will continue today when the trial judge will call on the accused to lead his defence. Three options will be put to accused, he can either lead his defence by electing to give a sworn statement from the witness box, an unsworn statement from the dock, or remain silent.
Aman appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday, after he was charged with simple
larceny. It is alleged that on July 12, at Georgetown, Dexter Carter stole one BlackBerry cellphone valued $148,000, property of Timothy Mohamed. He
pleaded not guilty to the charge read against him.
The matter was dismissed, because the virtual complainant did not want to offer any evidence.
International R&B singer R Kelly, who was slated to headline Jamzone International Night 2013 at the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday evening, has pulled out owing to circumstances beyond his control, organisers have said.
This announcement came from the McNeil Enterprise camp on Wednesday evening who confirmed that the singer has fallen ill following his recent tour to South Africa. According to infor-
mation, the superstar contacted the organisers and requested another date to perform in Guyana, stating his reasons.
Another date has not yet been confirmed, but Guyana Times understands that the artiste will be joined by another international artiste when he comes to Guyana. A special press conference is scheduled for today at the Waterchris Hotel, to address the issues with respect to tickets that have already been bought.
The Guyana Water Inc
(GWI) is advising customers from Eccles to Prospect, East Bank Demerara of a service disruption due to damage to the distribution network by private contractors involved in the East Bank Highway Project.
GWI said it is working to restore normal service and regrets any inconvenience caused.
thursday, august 22, 2013| guyanatimesgy.com
AMerriman Mall stall owner was arraigned on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on two counts of threatening language, one count of abusive language, one count of threatening behaviour, and one count of unlawful assault.
It is alleged that on
August 16, at Merriman Mall, Diane Hercules, 29, made use of threatening language to her friends Alicia Daniels and Latoya Harris. She also allegedly made use of abusive language to Daniels and threatening behaviour to Harris, whom she assaulted. Hercules pleaded not guilty to all five charges
read against her.
According to Prosecutor Ramsahoye Rambaju, the three friends work at the Merriman Mall. On the day in question, the defendant and Harris had a heated argument, which resulted in Hercules picking up a hammer to hit Harris. She then turned to Daniels and
threatened to “bore” her with a knife.
Hercules was represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson, who requested reasonable bail for his client.
Magistrate Fabayo Azore granted bail in the sum of $5000 for each offence. The matter was transferred to Court One for September 13.
Acouple accused of assaulting each other had the case against them dismissed by Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.
It was alleged that on August 20 at D’Andrade Street, Kitty, Michael Thompson 49, unlawfully
assaulted his wife, Pamela, 42, who retaliated, causing him actual bodily harm. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to the facts, on the day in question, Pamela came home around 04:40, and Michael told her to go back where she came from. She looked at him and turned
her back to him without saying a word. She was on her cellphone trying to call a taxi when he approached her and took the phone away. He then started to hit her in the head and choke her. She managed to bite him on his hand. The matter was reported, and the two were subsequently charged.
Attorney Paul FungA-Fat told the court that the incident stemmed from Pamela wanting to end her 13-year marriage. He said the couple would like to offer no evidence against each other.
The matter against them was dismissed owing to no evidence being given.
Two young men were brought before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday after they were charged with robbery.
It is alleged that on August 16 at Houston, Greater Georgetown, Odell Roberts and Roy Kassoo robbed Slater Saul of one BlackBerry smartphone valued $80,000. They both pleaded not guilty to the charge.
and work at a fishery in his application for reasonable bail.
Attorney Paul Fung-AFat represented both defendants. He stated that they were both 17 years old
The prosecution objected to bail on grounds that the offence is prevalent in society and if granted bail, there is likelihood the defendants will not return to court.
Magistrate Azore grant-
ed bail in the sum of $75,000 for each defendant. They are to lodge their passports and report to the Brickdam Police Station every Friday. The matter was transferred to Court One for September 17.
Aman charged with threatening language was brought before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.
It is alleged that on August 19 at Lot 58 Back Street, Houston, Greater Georgetown, Sheik Mohamed made use of threatening language to Pamela Alfred. He pleaded guilty to the charge read against him.
Prosecutor Ramsahoye Rambaju said on the day in question, the virtual complainant was in a shop conversing with a friend when the defendant came up to her and threatened to kill her. She became afraid and reported the matter to the police.
The defendant, who was unrepresented, told the court that he is 44 years old with no fixed place of abode. He said on the day in question, he had alcohol in his system and had no knowledge of what he was doing.
Magistrate Azore told the defendant that his first offence is a very serious one and sentenced him to one month in prison.
...in the congress
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) congress had gone like clockwork. But it now appears there were some fellas who tried to grease the clock so that the hands pointed only in their direction. No other than Prezzie admitted that this subterfuge took place. Now this isn’t fair, is it?
I mean every organisation sets up rules as to how things are done. But since you can’t make a rule for every contingency that might crop up, traditions are just as important. And when it comes to electing persons to office in the PPP/C, the custom is that you don’t run campaigns for people you might want elected to a particular position. That this might sound strange to some is an indication of how far some have pushed the “virtue” of competition.
Let me ask you, if you needed someone to do something among your family, would you want some members of the family campaigning against others? When you campaign against people, you have to say negative things to place them in a negative light. You don’t mention positive things they might’ve done. You see where we’re getting at?
Well, a party like the PPP/C works like a family when it comes to making decisions. Party members are all like one family and campaigning against family members is just not done. The members of the party, if they were observant, would’ve known about the work of other members. And therefore when it comes to choosing some members for a task as in this case, for membership to the central committee, they would’ve had enough background info to make their decision.
If you want to understand how intranet-party campaigning plays out – just look at what’s happened to the People’s National Congress (PNC). Carl Greenidge and David Granger campaigned against each other, but, after the fray, several old-line party members have been effectively banished. And Greenidge’s and Granger’s relationship has been irrevocably damaged. The whole process has weakened their party.
If there are PPP/C comrades who want to change the rules, there are procedures in the party constitution to achieve that aim. To just subvert them willy nilly is to invite chaos in the party. It’s more than just not cricket. Clement Rohee, the new general secretary, has been charged by his predecessor to enquire who went against the entrenched traditions of the party at the last congress. We believe these comrades must be identified and be reminded of those traditions.
Our local boys have done us proud. The Guyana Amazon Warriors have emerged from the first round of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with their heads held high. After all, you can’t do better than being at the top of the rankings! They’ve played with class – and exemplified the very best of what cricket is all about. Teamwork.
If the batting side didn’t do so well – the bowlers rose to the occasion and defended sub-par scores. And vice versa. The regional players showed what franchise cricket is all about when they went all out against the teams from their country of origin. But more than anything else, the arrangements by the franchise owners left nothing to chance. Cricket...glorious cricket was returned to Guyana. And who has benefited more than anyone else? The players and the fans.
Has anyone missed the older players (hired by the league and given place of honour) emphasising that young cricketers can now earn a living right here at home? It was, therefore, quite gauche for one individual to try to drag the Warriors franchise into the local cricketing squabble. Let’s just root for the team, shall we?
...on Amaila
What is the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) so scared about with their claims on the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP) that they can’t even sit down with the government to discuss them? Could it be they know the claims are of no substance and would be clean bowled?
thursday, august 22, 2013 |
Guyana is well-known for many things – its food, its diverse culture, heritage, many rivers and waterfalls, and for having one of the world’s last standing mostly intact rainforests. For those who do not know much about this South American country, they were given that opportunity during CAriFeStA Xi, which is being held in Paramaribo, Suriname under the theme “Culture for Development”.
At “Guyana Night” held tuesday night, local performers used the stage at independence
Square, Paramaribo to showcase a presentation titled “rhythms of Our People” which saw dancers, singers and musicians, through their skills, tell the story of Guyana’s six peoples.
Apart from the dancing and singing, the audience, which comprised many foreign diplomats and Surinamese officials, was treated to musical renditions from the National Steel Orchestra which performed the Guyana National Anthem, “Guyanese Babu” By terry Gairaj and “Gimme Hope Jo’anna”by eddy Grant. rajesh Dubraj, Young Bill rogers, and the Whaul Sisters sang Guyanese folk songs and chutney and calypso tunes.
Meanwhile, members of the National School of Dance put on items that exuded the essence of the Africans, Amerindians, europeans, Portuguese, east indians and Chinese – the six peoples of Guyana. Apart from the more traditional pieces, there was a mix of modern and contemporary dances.
During the last few days, Guyana has been participating in several activities, which include the Grand Cultural Market and the Film Festival at CAriFeStA Xi which began on August 16.
three persons were brought before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after they were charged with obstructing justice by instructing a prosecution witness not to testify on Wednesday.
i t is alleged that between July 1 and July 31 in Georgetown, Anita Mearns, 55; Maria Mearns, 15, and Clement Persaud, 58, attempted to pervert the course of justice. t he trio pleaded not guilty to the charge read against them.
According to the facts, the number two defendant, Maria Mearns, was charged by the police with break and enter and larceny, a matter which is presently before Court 10 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. t he number one and three defendants, Anita Mearns and Clement Persaud, are her parents and e dward Samaroo is a witness in the burglary case against the number two defendant.
Samaroo reported to the police that during the month of July 2013, the three defendants visited his residence at Campbellville. He stated that the number one defendant asked him if he was attending court to give evidence against Maria and he said no. t he number one defendant then told him not to. Prosecutor r amsahoye r ambaju objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence, the penalty for such an offence and the likelihood, one granted bail, the accused will not return to court for trial. Magistrate Azore granted bail in the sum of $50,000 for each defendant. t he matter was transferred to Court One for September 16.
Plans are moving apace for the much-anticipated Anna Regina Town Week. Town Clerk Diane Critchlow said the inaugural three-day event will commence on Friday, August 23 with much fanfare, as it paves the way for a host of unforgettable activities, including a grand award ceremony to honour the country’s top students who hail from Anna Regina along with past mayors.
Damon Square will be the venue of an interfaith service at 10:00h on Friday, lasting for approximately one hour before the grand opening ceremony. “We have a long line of cultural activities in place for the opening ceremony; ministers of government and local leaders are expected to make guest appearances and we are hoping that the president would be there,” the town clerk told Guyana Times
Later in the evening, a show dubbed “Essequibo in Concerts” will see residents dishing out their talents in all forms and styles. Lovers of dramatic poetry, music, dance and drama cannot af-
ford to miss this unforgettable event, an optimistic Critchlow said, noting that spectators will be left craving more. An exhibition and fair will also be hosted.
While Anna Regina is expected to be transformed into a sports hall to facilitate the wide range of sporting activities set for day two, the town clerk said the Miss Anna Regina Town Week Pageant has been the talk of the town. On Saturday, August 24, eight beauties will contest for the coveted crown and cash prize of $50,000. The queen will also receive trophies, bouquets, hampers, and a stay for two at Lake Mainstay.
On day three, tourists and residents will get the opportunity to visit historic sites within Anna Regina. The 1872 Devonshire Castle Monument, La Belle Alliance, and Hampton Court are among sites in the line-up.
However, the event of the day is the grand award ceremony where the town’s top performers, former mayors and leaders will be honoured.
Plans are moving apace for the staging of the 2013 Mining Week. This was confirmed on Wednesday by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Permanent Secretary Joslyn McKenzie.
Addressing media operatives at the Natural Resources Ministry, McKenzie said the much-anticipated week of activities will kick off with an Awareness Walk under the theme “Green, Clean and Responsible; Securing the Future of Mining” .
Miners and employees from the Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) will depart from the Bank of Guyana at 06:00h and proceed to the Guyana Girl Guides Association Ground. They will be accompanied by the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), along with other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the 10th Biannual Mining and Quarrying Conference will unfold at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal. GGMC Assistant Commissioner Newell Dennison explained that the two day-conference will be used as a platform to discuss the progress made in the mining industry. Major emphasis will be placed on technolo-
gy, in particular, mercury-free technologies that have been developed in recent years, owing to environmental concerns. The conference will be complemented by a grand exhibition.
Additionally, an education forum will be held at GICC on Wednesday, targeting students from the University of Guyana and potential miners along with persons who have an interest in the evolving industry. Presentations will also be done on mercury-free technology and enhanced recovery equipment, in addition to presentations on environment issues evolving out of the industry.
The newly-established Guyana Mining School and Training Centre administrator John Apple-White Hercules said the Natural Resources Ministry, in collaboration with the GGMC, is gearing up for additional seminars targeting miners.
“We have designed a programme that can equip persons with basic skills and GPS navigation, compass navigation and map reading skills. We will teach the essentials of reading mineralisation maps that tells you where gold occurrences are, diamond occurrences are,” he explained. An outreach to French Man Mining Areas, a Customer Appreciation Day and the much-anticipated PorkKnockers Day are among the other events in the lineup.
One man get appointed rear admiral and it mek de two old rams happy. Suspenders Ram and Ram Bow jump fuh joy when dem hear bout rear admiral. Dem love to admire one another rear. From career to lifestyle to every ting, dem always tekkin up de rear. Some body else always in front. Even when de two old rams together, one does be in front and one does be behind.
Nowadays, even de big tings that guvament talk bout and want to do fuh de country, de old rams does want to put behind dem. Is so much dem like big tings behind dem.
And talkin bout in front and behind, Green Bridge and Green Jah playin one in front and one behind too. Both of dem want to run de PEE-N-C and FLAPNU. But only one could get elected. So is one in front and one behind. Every time one of dem seh sum ting, it mekkin big headline in de Kocheur and de Stabber. Next day, is de other one mekkin headline. Is sheer one in front and one behind dem playin.
Ben Cup and Kissman Soon tekkin it by turns too. Today one buse-in de other in de letter column and tomorrow de other one buse-in back. Every time Kissman Soon in front, Ben Cup pull he to de back. And every time Ben Cup in front, Kissman Soon pull he to de back.
Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Well, every body know bout Suru and Duru at de Kocheur. One does pay de other one and he does have to be both in front and behind dependin on how de pay master want it. But sum times de pay master does turn pay mistress!
Alaboratory technician attached to the Rice Laboratory, Eccles, East Bank Demerara succumbed to his injures following an accident on West Bank Demerara last Friday evening.
Kevon Trotman, 20, of Canal Number One Polder took his last breath while he was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital on Wednesday about 16:00h.
According to reports, the young man was struck by a speeding car as it was turning into a street. Trotman was reportedly flung from the motorcycle he was riding and landed on his head. As a result of the fall, he reportedly sustained a frac-
tured skull, among other injuries.
Speaking with his distraught girlfriend, Michelle (only name give) on Wednesday, the young lady said she went to the medical institution about 16:00h, and as she was about to visit him in the ICU, the family received the horrific news.
She explained that Trotman was heading home on Friday afternoon on his motorcycle when he collided with a motorcar which turned in front of him.
The aggrieved woman stated that as a result of the collision, the young man was flung into the air and landed on his head onto the roadway.
He was picked up and rushed to the West
Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), but was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted a patient.
“He was not respond-
ing to anyone; his head was bandaged and the doctors told us that they couldn’t do anything due to the blood clot in his brain,” she cried.
The woman further stated that the driver of the motor car is believed to be a Canadian citizen on vacation. He was arrested on Friday evening, but was released on Tuesday on station bail. He was also asked not to leave the jurisdiction.
Now that Trotman is dead, the driver of the car is expected to be charged with causing death by dangerous driving, among other charges. The young man leaves to mourn his parents, two siblings and girlfriend. His body was taken to the hospital mortuary and is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Today is the deadline when Guyana should have submitted its updated anti-money laundering act to be in compliance with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), but with no parliamentary consensus and the bill stuck at a select committee, government said the country is now exposed to international sanctions.
The CFATF had given Guyana up to August 22 after it failed to reach an earlier deadline. To this end, the country now stands to face serious international sanctions from the CFATF. The CFATF upon receiving the update from Guyana would have sought to remedy the deficiencies that were uncovered in Guyana’s Anti-money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism Act.
According to Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-cabinet briefing on Wednesday, “Guyana is due to submit the CFATF multilateral evaluation mechanism update, and this is to be done by August 22, 2013;
the update advises on action that have been taken by the country to address the recommendations made by Guyana’s evaluators as they sought to remedy the deficiencies,” Dr Luncheon said.
Dr Luncheon said the move by the opposition members within the parliamentary select committee to defer the completion of the work on the bill was a planned one, despite the government parliamentarians’ warning and pleas to have the bill reviewed during the last sitting.
However, the considerations were pushed back to the end of the recess when the House meets again in October. Dr Luncheon said the opposition members on the committee turned out in full force and essentially to vote for the adjournment of the bill.
“That deadline was much advertised and one can only assume that the act by the parliamentary opposition was deliberate and one that was planned to ensure that Guyana would not meet the deadline,” he added.
He said even though
the parliamentary opposition was aware of the consequences on the health and operations of Guyana’s financial and banking system if the deadline was missed, it again showed it cared less about the country.
“This was unquestionably the desire and intent of the parliamentary opposition in preventing the amendment act from getting the timely consideration of the House,” he argued.
The move by the opposition essentially paralysed the government’s efforts for a second time to fine-tune amendments of the antimoney laundering to avoid serious sanctions.
Apart from facing international sanctions, Guyana’s financial sector will now be seen as weak and international monetary institutions will either withdraw its partnerships with Guyana, or decline to make any kinds of investment in the country.
Also, customers will now be required to pay more for
banking services, with local banks struggling to process foreign incoming and outgoing transactions.
Banks in Guyana will also be monitored closely by the few institutions that agree to work with Guyana and the entire financial system will be moving at snail’s pace, with the strict guidelines, monitoring and overseeing of transactions.
Guyana on May 27 failed to meet the first deadline given by the CFTAF after the opposition announced its non-support of the critical legislation.
The country was granted an extended deadline after Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall requested an extension at a CFATF meeting in June.
The CFATF is an arm of the International Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an independent inter-governmental body that develops and promotes policies to protect the global financial system against money laundering and terrorist financing, among other financial crimes.
A28-year-old man was sentenced to 48 months in prison and a fine of $60,000 on Wednesday after he was found guilty of possession of a firearm without being the holder of a firearm licence.
Jamie Meyers made his first appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman on July 10. The charge, which stated that on July 9, he had a firearm while he was not a holder of a firearm
licence, was read against him and he pleaded not guilty.
Attorney Paul Fung-AFat, who represented the defendant, stated that his client was innocent, and on the day in question, the gun was found in an umbrella in a yard, not in Meyers’ possession. The lawyer also made a request for reasonable bail, which was denied.
The prosecution stated that the firearm was found
in the defendant’s pants pocket and not in the yard as Attorney Fung-A-Fat said.
The defendant, who was remanded, made his next appearance before Magistrate Latchman who again remanded him.
Magistrate Latchman considered all the evidence and the time the defendant spent in custody before passing judgement on Wednesday.
Apost-mortem performed on the remains of Richard Alphin, 58, who was pinned by a tractor in Orealla on Sunday morning gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage due to multiple injuries.
The autopsy was performed on Monday by pathologist Dr Vivikanand Brijmohan at the Skeldon mortuary in the presence of the dead man’s relatives. The body has since been handed over to his relatives for burial.
Alphin, a father of 11, met his demise on Sunday morning after he was reportedly pinned by a tractor that toppled while descending a
hill at Orealla, Region Six.
He was reportedly in the company of his boss and several others coming down the hill to collect a tractor tire with the intention of going back to their worksite. On their way down, he lost control of the machine.
Alphin reportedly attempted to retake control of the tractor, but failed since the path on which the tractor was travelling was slippery due to heavy rainfall. Residents saw the tractor
tumbling down the hill and rushed to the scene, where they found Alphin lying under it.
They immediately contacted the medical personnel in the community who responded promptly and treated the injured persons. The others who were severely injured were rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital. Alphin leaves to mourn his wife, 11 children, other family members and friends.
Former Guyana
Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Chairman and Pro Chancellor of the University of Guyana Harold Davis on Wednesday died at the age of 88.
Davis, who served as GuySuCo chairman for many years until he retired in 1990, died during his sleep, relatives confirmed. He resided at New Market Street, Georgetown. Davis had also served as chairman of the Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company, retiring last year because of ill health.
At its annual general meeting on Wednesday, new GTM Chairman Ram Singh
recalled that at the last such meeting, Davis had advised that he was not well. Singh said after 40 years of dedicated service as director, 17 of which he served as chairman of GTM, Davis retired on March 31. “Davis brought with him a wealth of knowledge and experience, particularly in the field of training and human relations, corporate governance and transformational leadership,” Singh said.
According to Singh, over the years, Davis discharged his duties and responsibilities with fervency and zeal and made a significant contribution to the growth and development of the company.
“His commitment, dedication, and hard work must be recorded with gratitude,” the new GTM chairman said. He added that Davis earned the respect of his colleagues by displaying a sense of fairness, impartiality, good guidance and “we are all indeed grateful to him. He possesses sound leadership skills, wise judgement, and a good sense of humour”. Singh said GTM would forever be indebted to Davis for his sterling contribution to the group over the years. Davis is survived by his wife, Mayleen and five children.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon has described the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project as “dead”, noting that the opportunity to transform the country’s energy sector is no longer available to Guyana.
During his weekly postCabinet media briefing on Wednesday, Dr Luncheon said the Amaila Falls project is now a dead one, as a result of the A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) position on the project.
He noted the opposition has thwarted progress on developing the project, leaving much work at a standstill.
However, Dr Luncheon noted that the access road to the facility is still being built and it will be utilised, as it is being funded by taxpayers’ money. Dr Luncheon reiterated that citizens would no longer be able to benefit from cheaper energy as a result of the opposition’s deadbeat stance on the project.
“This outcome has isolated the parliamentary opposition, divided their supporters and activists and exposed to Guyanese of all walks of the machinations of the opposition”.
Dr Luncheon also noted that with the death of the project, the licence held by developer, Sithe Global, would now be of no use. He stated that once the plug is pulled, the licence contrac-
tual agreements, all die together with it.
“The project is dead; I am not certain what the licence of a dead project actually confers, what it actually means.”
These developments, he reiterated, all stem from the actions of the opposition.
“Not only Guyanese have seen their contempt, but our bilateral partners, international friends and supporters have all been disdained by the act of the opposition or by their responses to the end treaties of these wellwishers of Guyana,” he added.
Since the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) refused to support the passage of the Hydro-Electric (Amendment) Bill, Sithe Global has withdrew its services for the continuation of the development of the pro-
ject.
It has cited the lack of political consensus for its move.
APNU voted against the bill with its chief spokesman on financial matters Carl Greenidge saying that there were still a considerable amount of questions about the project unanswered.
The coalition highlighted two main issues preventing it from supporting the project. It believes the project is likely to “condemn Guyanese to excessive indebtedness” and that it will not “provide assurance that the final cost of power to the consumer will be appreciably lower than the current tariff”.
APNU and Opposition Leader David Granger said the coalition could not support the hydropower project in its current form and called on government to revise it.
Recently, President Donald Ramotar called for a final meeting with APNU to address and settle issues surrounding the Amaila Falls project. He expressed hope that the meeting will result in the two sides agreeing on the fact that “Guyana is incurring no debt from the Amaila Falls Hydro Project,” and “Amaila falls will reduce the tariff paid by GPL for electricity by 40 per cent for the first 12 years after operations begin, and by over 70 per cent for the next eight years.”
Over 35 fisherfolk leaders and resource persons from 17 Caribbean countries are attending an inception meeting being held in Trinidad and Tobago to establish a regional Fisherfolk Leaders Action Learning Group to look at how fisherfolk can effectively contribute to food and nutrition security in the Caribbean.
The group will work to ensure that regional and national fisherfolk organisations participate in fisheries governance and management in the Caribbean. During this week’s meeting, the group will develop a fouryear plan of action that will take place under a project supported by the European Union (EU) EuropeAid programme.
The project, which is titled “Enhancing food security from the fisheries sector in the Caribbean: Building the capacity of regional and national fisherfolk organisation networks to participate in fisheries governance and management” is being implemented by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI). CANARI is working in partner-
ship with the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies of the University of the West Indies (UWI CERMES), Panos Caribbean, the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Associations (CNFO) and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CFRM).
“This is a critical meeting to mobilise key persons in the fisheries sector to ensure that we can start addressing some serious issues facing the Caribbean,” said Nicole Leotaud, executive director of CANARI, a non-governmental organisation focusing on natural resources conservation in the Caribbean.
Project target
The US$1.3 million project will target the Caricom countries of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos.
Among some of the activities under discussion at the meeting are establish-
ing a group of mentors (1015 leaders from the fisheries sector) to provide direct support to fishers and their network of fisherfolk organisations to participate in governance and designing and implementing a small grants programme to support activities by fisherfolk networks to build capacity to participate in fisheries governance and management.
At least 10 grants will be awarded to fisherfolk organisations across the Caribbean out of a total pool of US$135,000 and establishing and facilitating an online project webpage and discussion forum for project visibility and information sharing.
The CANARI is a regional technical non-profit organisation which has been working in the islands of the Caribbean for more than 20 years. Its mission is to promote equitable participation and effective collaboration in managing natural resources critical to development.
The CANARI programmes focus on research, sharing and dissemination of lessons learned, capacity building and fostering regional partnerships.
The Guyana and Trinidad Mutual (GTM) Fire and Life Insurance Company Limited has recorded a surplus of $263.2 million for the year 2012, which is the largest surplus the company has recorded to date.
This was revealed at the company’s annual general meeting on Wednesday at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street by its newly-elected chairman, Ram L Singh. He highlighted that the company’s assets totalled $5.1 billion at the end of 2012, compared to $4.4 billion at the end of 2011, which reflects an increase of 16 per cent over 2011.
The chairman disclosed that during 2012, the company had new business that amounted to $57 billion, with annualised premiums of $295 million. “At the end of the year, the company’s total business in force amounted to $293 billion in sums inured with annualised premiums income of $1.5 billion.”
Revenue, claims
For the year 2012, gross revenue for motor insurance amounted to $900 million with claims totalling $401 million. Additionally, gross claims for all classes of insurance totalled $744 million. According to Singh, “Claims recoveries totalled $107 million, resulting in net claims of $637 million.”
Singh noted that reinsurance remains essential to the company though very costly, particularly for catastrophe reinsurance coverage for the Caribbean islands that are exposed to storms,
hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
“With limit availability of global reinsurance capacity, insurance across the Caribbean face an uphill battle to keep reinsurance premiums and by extension, insurance premiums affordable,” Chairman Singh explained. Despite this, he explained that the catastrophes in 2012 around the world did not affect the premiums charged by the reinsurers. He also stated that the company will be making a declaration of a cash profit return of 60 per cent of premiums, revealing that these cheques will be posted by today. Singh reminded that cash profits can also be used to pay future premiums.
The chairman disclosed too that owing to the success achieved in 2012, the company established a new branch
office in Diamond/Grove to improve service delivery to its clients and prospective clients on the East Bank.
“The company is committed to seeking out new expansion and growth opportunities in Guyana and the Caribbean,” Singh assured. He recognised that as a result of the pending new regulations in Guyana and St Lucia, the company is required to revise or change several areas of its operation, which include ensuring continued adequacy of the reinsurance coverage, developing and implementing enterprise risk management strategies, and developing and implementing a policy on client protection among several other areas.
Several persons were also awarded financial prizes for their outstanding performances during the year.
Friends of Victoria Inc seeks student applications for
Three lucky students from the village of Victoria, East Coast Demerara will be provided with monetary assistance from the Friends of Victoria Village Diaspora Inc to aid in their preparations of furthering their education.
Friends of Victoria Village Diaspora Inc is an organisation comprising overseas-based Victorians with the vision of developing the village and its people. The organisation was established in 2010 with the purpose of conducting charitable work in developing education and social infrastructure in the village.
Commencing last year, Friends of Victoria Village Diaspora Inc began an award programme, whereby they give $50,000 to two students who fulfilled the requirements set out. This year, another student will be awarded.
The money will be used to defray expenses associated with the educational advancement of the recipients.
The money will not be remitted by any parents or guardians and the organisation will make arrangements with a reputable book store in Guyana for payments to be made directly to the store for books and other educational materials to be supplied.
The programme is open to students who wrote the National Grade Six Assessment and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations and are moving on to a secondary school or a tertiary institute respectively.
Community development
The applicants are required to have a high score at their examinations and will have to submit a 500-word essay on why they should be awarded and what they will do to help develop the community.
The applicants must be born and raised in the village of Victoria and closing date to submit applications is August 30. Interested persons can uplift their appli-
cations from any of the local committee members or call #256-0501 for more information.
In addition, Friends of Victoria Village Diaspora Inc has been assisting with several vocational projects in the community such as sewing classes, for which they provided an instructor and the machinery. The organisation had also donated books to the village library and teaching aids to the two nursery schools in the community.
The organisation raises its funds in New York, USA, by hosting events. Last Sunday, a Breakfast Morning was held, which saw only Guyanese dishes being served. Friends of Victoria Village Diaspora Inc has several committees, including the scholarship committee, the North American Committee and the Guyana Committee. The motto of the organisation is the redevelopment of Victoria Village through the revival of its traditions and culture.
By Umadevi BUx
Trinidadian, Breige Wilson, 23, was early Wednesday morning crowned Miss Jamzone International after an exhilarating four-hour contest held at the National Cultural Centre.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s Alicia Bess, 23, came in as first runner-up; Curacao’s Marvia Laurence, 28, as the second runner-up; St Kitts and Nevis’ Zinga lmo,18, the third runnerup and St Lucia’s Consuelo Dupal, 21, as the fourth runner-up. The beauties were given the final question: “If you were a doctor and the Caribbean was your patient, what would your prescription be to cure the region from crime and violence.”
Show more love
Coming on stage first was Miss TT, who said the Caribbean needs to show more love and focus on youths and development as a unit because it is too disconnected. She said there should be more focus on law and regulations. The queen went on to note that countries need to relate to their neighbours so that they can work together in addressing delinquent children by enforcing laws under the security sectors throughout the territories, and by instilling good morals in youths.
Miss Guyana copped the prize of Best National Costume and Best Fantasy Swimwear while, Miss St Kitts and Nevis won Body Beautiful and Miss Curacao, the Best Talent. St Lucia won the Best Evening Gown Prize. However, the crowd's favourite throughout the pageant were the beauties from Curacao and Guyana, who captured the audience with their personality and elegance.
Meanwhile, Miss Jamaica failed to impress as her compatriot did last year. Because the points were erased from the previous segments, the winner from the top five was selected by the points received from the question and answer segment, and as such, when the results were announced, the crowd was not pleased.
Nonetheless, throughout the pageant, the audience was treated to a spectacular show of exceptional performances of the beautiful young women. The Dramatic Segment included a piece from Miss St Lucia featuring a carnival dance; Miss TT’s “Old Time Carnival Character”, a dramatic piece with a poem, showcased a variety of famous personal -
ities of the island with dance; Miss U.S. Virgin Islands displayed aspects of the island through a poem while Miss Guyana displayed a variety of aspects of Guyana’s beauty through a Trade Winds song.
The contestants also took part in the Fantasy Swimsuit Segment where Miss Antigua displayed her swimsuit under the theme “What Antigua has to offer”; Miss British Virgin Island wore a blue swimsuit representing water of the Caribbean Sea; Miss Curacao had an amazing display of bright colours depicting tourist attraction to the region; Miss Guyana’s swimsuit displayed royalty, with her swimwear being made from $1000 worth in coins, advocating for a better Guyana; Miss Jamaica showcased a sunshine girl with balloons attached to her swimwear to reflect her personality; Miss St Kitts and Nevis showcased her simplicity with an elegant swimwear; Miss TT displayed a theme highlighting the pacific gardens; while Miss U.S. Virgin Islands showcased the vibrancies of nature.
beauty of the sea. Miss Guyana’s theme focused on the idea of “Scorch by sunset”, displaying sunrise to sunset and the golden mythical city of El Dorado.
Miss Jamaica’s gown was themed “Girl on fire”. Miss St Kitts and Nevis depicted “Nature’s Fantasy”, with a vision of the Caribbean Sea. Miss St Lucia highlighted St Lucia’s sunset with a stunning orange and red gown. Miss TT’s gown featured a theme depicting a breezy and cool Caribbean belt, with charm and simplicity. Miss U.S. Virgin Island showcased the night’s sky by displaying the Caribbean sky with her shimmering blue gown.
Lively performance
The contestants and the crowd were also treated to performances from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) Jingle and Song competition winner Ryan Leonard Hoppie, who serenaded the girls with his renditions. Hits and Jams Entertainment also included Lisa Punch to their collection of talented artistes
Crowd favourite Meanwhile, the Evening Gown Segment was judged on model appeal, confidence, stage presence, impact and crowd appeal. During this segment, Miss Curacao, decked out in a glamorous green gown was the crowd’s favourite. She took the stage with immense poise, grace and charm. Miss Antigua graced the stage with a handpainted gown called “Fire and flame”, which represented talents of the country through lust, passion and desire. Miss BVI’s gown was themed “Pearl of the sea”, shimmering to reflect the
to keep the audience alive with her new releases. The contestants also took part in on stage chit-chat on their careers and dreams, most of which was inspiring to the audience.
Meanwhile, the outgoing Miss Jamzone International Queen, Miss Jamaica Kerrie Baylis noted that her experience and reign has allowed her to reach out to people and fo-
cus on the region, not just one country.
She emphasised her appreciation and love for Guyana. “No matter or what, you walk away with the crown, you are a winner and use the platform and voice to fight for a cause,” said Baylis.
The reigning queen was chosen based on the Question and Answer Segment as the previous points awarded were
wiped out. It was observed that the crowd disagreed with Miss St Kitts and Nevis’s position as the fourth runner-up. The pageant is presently in its third year of the international leg and was an integral part of the Hits and Jams Entertainment Jamzone Summer Break. The panel of judges consisted of past and reigning beauty queens and fashion designers.
ABrazilian man held for nine hours at Heathrow airport under anti-terror laws said he feels “invaded” after divulging his email and social media passwords.
David Miranda said his interrogators threatened he could go to prison if he did not cooperate.
Miranda is the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald who has covered stories based on leaks by U.S. whistle-blower Edward Snowden.
Miranda is challenging the legality of his detention.
He wants his confiscated electronic equipment returned and assurances that his private data will not be distributed on to other parties.
Miranda told the BBC he was forced to disclose his social media passwords.
“I am very angry. This feeling of invasion. It’s like I’m naked in front of a crowd,” he said. “They said I had to cooperate or else I was going to jail.”
The Guardian said he had been carrying “journalistic materials” but was not an employee of the newspaper. (Excerpt from BBC News)
A Downing Street spokesman has said Number 10 was “kept abreast” of the decision to detain Miranda, 28, who was held on Sunday on his way from Berlin to Rio de Janeiro, where he lives with Greenwald.
Vice president of the Trinadad and Tobago Contractors Association (TTCA) Ramlogan Roopnarinesingh said government’s failure to honour TT$1 billion in payments to local contractors is responsible for an increase in unemployment and crime.
Commenting on an article in Monday’s TT Guardian which highlighted government’s debt owed to contractors developing lands at Petit Morne, Ste Madeleine and Cedar Hill, Princes Town, he called on government make the pay-
ments soon.
Both sites are being developed by the Estate Management and Business Development Company Limited (EMBD) for the relocation of residents living in the path of the San Fernando to Point Fortin Highway.
He said the construction industry already was crippled by a lack of opportunities while interest on loans taken to finance projects continued to increase.
Roopnarinesingh asked: “Why is it that government is doing work and does not
have the finances available to pay the contractors? They have been asking the contractors to continue until they assess the finances. Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal told the TT Guardian last week small payments would be made this week.
However, he said, claims amounting to TT$300 million by Namalco Construction Services Limited, LCB Contractors Limited and BBFL Civil Limited for work done on the EMBD sites were being assessed. (Trinidad and Tobago Guardian)
Haiti’s prime minister said on Monday that more than 60 people, including government functionaries, have been indicted or jailed on corruption charges, as the Caribbean country’s anti-corruption unit and customs authorities deploy new means to fight fraud and contraband.
Laurent Lamothe said his government will continue to crackdown on those who chose to make corruption a way of living, while announcing that more means have been provided to the anti-corruption unit and the anti-contraband brigades to enable them to track wrongdoers more effectively.
“Sixty-three people, including 10 already detained, have been indicted on public
funds embezzlement charges and several other corrupt individuals will be prosecuted,” Lamothe told HCNN on Tuesday.
Many of those facing prosecution have allegedly
misappropriated funds destined to support a tuitionfree education programme that so far allowed more than one million children to have access to primary education free of charge.
“President (Michel) Martelly and I have given clear instructions and we’ve asked relevant authorities to apply zero-tolerance when it comes to cracking down on corruption and contraband,” Lamothe explained.
The Haitian prime minister said the fight against corruption and contraband is crucial for the country’s development process, because the government needs resources to fund projects that matter to the needy population. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)
As Jamaica and China celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations, the small Caribbean island hopes to solidify strong existing ties while it builds on what it sees as outstanding trade opportunities with the economic giant from Asia.
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a five-day official visit to the communist country –a visit which Jamaica’s Ambassador to China Ralph
Thomas described as “very important and significant” for Jamaica.
“The prime minister is here to meet with our important partner with which we have endured a very long friendship, beginning with Jamaica’s position on the One-China Policy,” Thomas said after a welcoming ceremony for Simpson Miller at the Beijing International Airport.
“Her presence here is very important in cementing
this important relationship and in ensuring that certain matters, which are underway, can be taken further at the highest level,” he told journalists.
Thomas said “there are specific transactions which we are hoping to hear more about”, but did not disclose any details.
“As early as tomorrow, we may begin to hear some more details, but I will leave that to the prime minister,” the ambassador said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
Bermuda recorded a four per cent decline in tourist arrivals during the first six months of the year with tourism officials blaming the cancellation of at least four cruise ship calls.
“We knew going into the second quarter that there would be 15 less cruise calls scheduled as compared to the same period in 2012,” Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell told a news conference.
“However, this decline was exacerbated by the cancellation of four further calls due to the cancellation of the Emerald Princess prior to the completion of the Heritage Wharf repairs, and three cancellations due to a fire on the Grandeur of the Seas. The quarter thus ended with 133,676 people cruising here,” he added. Figures released show
that for the second quarter of the year dropped by more than 12 per cent compared to last year, when a total of 210,964 visitors came here during the months April, May and June. The figures follow a four per cent decline in the total number of visitors in the first quarter of the year and bring total arrivals for the year to date to 244,220, compared to 275,109 in the first six months of 2012. (Caribbean360)
Brazilian health officials have banned a batch of Mexico-made Heinz ketchup, after detecting traces of rodent fur.
The government said in a statement that it had banned all sales, distribution and marketing of the batch.
The Mexican authorities have launched their own inquiry, and have ordered an inspection of the factory where the batch was produced.
Heinz said the batch was imported to Brazil last year, but had already been taken out of circulation.
The firm has previously stated that all of its products are made according to international standards, and promised to investigate the issue.
Mexican hygiene agency Cofepris told the Spanish news agency Efe that it had ordered a visit to the factory to check that proper standards were being followed.
Cofepris also said it had asked Heinz for a “detailed report” on the contaminated batch of tomato ketchup. Neither the firm nor Brazilian officials gave any details about the extent of the contamination or the volume of products that had been withdrawn.
from BBC News)
Chemical weapons attacks have killed hundreds on the outskirts of Damascus, Syrian opposition activists say.
Rockets with toxic agents were launched at the suburbs of the Ghouta region early on Wednesday as part of a major bombardment on rebel forces, they say.
The Syrian army says the accusations have been fabricated to cover up rebel losses.
The main opposition alliance said that more than 1000 people were killed by the attacks.
Activist networks also reported death tolls in the hundreds, but these could not be independently confirmed. It is also not clear how many died in the bombard-
ment of the sites and how many deaths were due to any exposure to toxic sub-
stances.
Video footage showed dozens of bodies with no visible signs of injuries, including small children, laid out on the floor of a clinic.
Ghazwan Bwidany, a doctor treating the injured, told the BBC the main symptom, especially among children, was suffocation, as well as salivating and blurred vision.
“We don’t have the capability to treat all this number of people,” he said.
“We’re putting them in mosques, in schools. We are lacking medical supplies now, especially atropine, which is the antidote for chemical weapons.” (Excerpt
The Obama administration is withholding some military aid to Egypt as it reviews how to proceed with any future help as deadly political violence continued to flare, a U.S. official told CNN.
But the White House said repeatedly on Tuesday any suggestion aid had been halted beyond two areas that have already been announced was inaccurate, and that a review of all assistance programmes to Egypt is ongoing and no determination had been made involving the results of that assessment.
Wreckage and debris litter the area around the Al-Fateh Mosque in Cairo, where hundreds of Islamist protesters had barricaded themselves on Saturday, August 17
“Providing foreign assistance is not like a spigot. You don’t turn it off and on or turn it up or down like a faucet. Assistance is provided episodically. That
Bradley Manning
The U.S. soldier convicted of handing a trove of secret government documents to antisecrecy website Wikileaks has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Private First Class Bradley Manning, 25, was convicted in July of 20 charges against him, including espionage.
In a statement read by his lawyer after the sentencing, Manning said he had acted “out of love for our country”.
His supporters have
called on President Barack Obama to pardon the soldier or commute his sentence to time served.
Manning will receive a credit against his sentence of about three and a half years, including time he has already served in jail and 112 days in recompense for the harsh conditions of his initial confinement.
His defence lawyer David Coombs said Manning would first be eligible for parole in about seven years.
Prosecutors had asked for a 60-year sentence in order to send a message to future potential leakers, and Wikileaks called the 35year sentence a “significant strategic victory”.
In addition to the prison sentence, likely to be served at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Judge Colonel Denise Lind sentenced Manning to be demoted to private and dishonourably discharged from the U.S. Army, and to forfeit his pay.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
When President Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a 2011 revolt and later jailed, Egyptians who rose up against him hoped he would be a convict for life, or executed.
is, it’s provided in specific tranches,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
“There are tranches of assistance that have gone to Egypt. There are also some that have been stopped,” he said, noting the cancellation of military exercises in September and the delay of fighter jet shipments.
But David Carle, a spokesman for Senator Patrick Leahy, confirmed to CNN on Monday that his office was told that military aid has been halted. Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, is chairman of the committee that oversees such funding.
(Excerpt from CNN)
Aman who opened fire at a Georgia elementary school Tuesday was armed with an AK47 “and a number of other weapons”, police said.
The shooter barricaded himself in the school’s front office with employees before eventually surrendering to police, DeKalb County Police Chief Cedric Alexander told reporters.
No one was injured, authorities said.
Suspected shooter Michael Brandon Hill, 20, faces charges including aggravated assault on a police officer, terroristic threats and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, police spokeswoman Mekka Parish said.
The shooter fired about six shots from inside the school toward officers as they approached outside, Alexander said, and police returned fire.
Police said it is unclear whether the suspect had any connection with the school, the Ronald E
McNair Discovery Learning Academy, which is about seven miles east of downtown Atlanta. Investigators think the gunman entered the school behind someone, Alexander said.
As the standoff unfolded, a caller told CNN affiliate WSB’s assignment desk that she was in the school office with a gunman.
The man had a message he wanted the woman to share with the local television station, assignment editor Lacey LeCroy said, describing the conversation during WSB’s newscast Tuesday evening. (Excerpt from CNN)
However, an Egyptian court ordered Mubarak’s release on Wednesday, his lawyer said, meaning he could leave prison on Thursday as there are no longer any legal grounds for his detention.
Mubarak is being retried on charges of ordering the killing of protesters during the uprising, but has already served the maximum amount of pre-trial detention permitted in that case.
The surprise move could deepen political turmoil in Egypt, where the armybacked government is cracking down hard on Mubarak’s old Islamist enemies in the
Muslim Brotherhood. Mubarak never expected to be president. But when a burst of assassins’ bullets thrust him into the job in 1981, he made it his life’s mission never to give it up. His story became Egypt’s story for the next 30 years until, finally, his people found they could write it themselves, in a revolution that shook the world and consigned him to history.
Unremarked vice president to the mercurial Anwar Sadat, he was a safety-first stopgap after Islamists gunned down the president beside him. Few thought he would last. Yet slowly, surviving attempts on his own life, he became “Pharaoh”, to preside over decades of stagnation and oppression on the Nile, offering his people a mantra – either Mubarak, or mayhem. (Excerpt from Reuters)
EU member states have agreed to suspend export licences for any equipment that could be used for repression in Egypt, but humanitarian aid will continue.
The decision was announced by EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton after emergency talks in Brussels.
She said EU governments “feel very strongly that they want to continue to support vulnerable people in Egypt”.
The foreign ministers
met after a week in which more than 900 people have died in Egypt’s political violence.
Lady Ashton said the EU would review its assistance to Egypt and was urging all sides to “stop the violence and provocations” and “engage in inclusive national dialogue, open to all”. Arms are provided by individual countries rather than the EU as a whole, mostly by Germany, France and Spain. The UK has already suspended some of its military help. (Excerpt from BBC News)
LIME sees mobile subscriber base jump, but losses double
Consumers flocked to LIME Jamaica’s mobile network but the company still recorded an JD$808-million net loss for the three months to June, or more than double year-earlier losses.
The telecom’s mobile subscriber base jumped nearly one-quarter as rates were slashed by some two-thirds in early June as part of a marketing campaign facilitated by regulatory rate cuts. LIME indicated that total revenues dipped 10 per cent to JD$4.3
billion due to fixed line and broadband declines but mobile revenues actually grew 10 per cent over the period. Consequently LIME’s management is encouraged by the results.
“We continued the encouraging progress in our mobile business with a 10 per cent increase in mobile services revenue over the same period,” stated LIME Jamaica’s CEO Garry Sinclair in a statement accompanying the financials. The reduction in LIME rates actually preceded a regulato-
Afew Federal Reserve officials thought last month it would soon be time to slow the pace of their bond buying “somewhat” but others counselled patience, according to meeting minutes that offered little hint on when the U.S. central bank might reduce its purchases.
The minutes of the Fed’s July 30-31 meeting, released on Wednesday, showed that almost all of the 12 members of the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee
agreed changing the stimulus was not yet appropriate.
Investors are anxiously waiting to see when the Fed will start to slow its US$85 billion monthly asset purchases, with most predicting September as the beginning of the end of the quantitative easing program, known as QE3. The minutes provided few clues on the potential timing for a reduction but did little to dissuade people expecting a policy change next month.
“A few members empha-
ry adjustment by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR).
“We took a strategic decision to launch our anywhere, anytime, anyone talk EZ plan on June 7 prior to the OUR’s implementation of final and further reduced mobile termination rates on July 1,” indicated Sinclair in the statement accompanying the financials. “The new plan has resonated well with customers and has already resulted in a 22 per cent increase in our subscriber base year over year. (Jamaica Observer)
Few clues on timing of QE3 reduction in Fed minutes EU’s Olli Rehn: New Greece bailout not the only option
Debate about whether Greece will need another bailout has intensified, after the EU’s economic and monetary commissioner declined to rule it out. However, Olli Rehn said that there were other ways to keep Greece’s aid programme going, such as extending the repayment schedule on existing loans.
His comments in a Finnish newspaper came af-
ter Germany’s finance minister said Greece would need another bailout. Greece has received two bailouts totalling about 240 billion euros (£205 billion) Greece’s troika of lenders – the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - will review the aid programme in the autumn. “Then we will also review Greece’s programme’s possible continu-
sized the importance of being patient and evaluating additional information on the economy before deciding on any changes to the pace of asset purchases,” the minutes said.
“At the same time, a few others pointed to the contingent plan that had been articulated on behalf of the committee the previous month, and suggested that it might soon be time to slow somewhat the pace of purchases as outlined in that plan.” (Reuters)
South African firm invests billions in U.S. energy future
It may be far from home but a South African company is powering its way into the U.S. energy landscape, hoping that its grand plan to introduce a onceshunned technology in the United States will pay off. Sasol, a Johannesburg-based energy giant, announced late last year its intention to spend up to US$14 billion on building the first U.S.-based com-
mercial plant to perform the alchemy of turning natural gas into liquid fuels – hailed as one of the biggest investments from a non-U.S. company in American history.
Using a process known as gas-to-liquids (GTL), the company plans to chemically convert gas into transport fuels, lubricants and other chemical products. “In that technology we take natural gas and we
actually break the molecule down and then reform that molecule into other high-value products like diesel,” says Mike Thomas, Sasol’s vice president of U.S. operations, explaining the company’s proprietary technology.
Sasol’s mega-project in Louisiana also includes a separate US$5 to US$7 billion ethane cracker and derivatives plant. (CNN)
India’s central bank has said that it will inject 80 billion rupees (US$1.3 billion; £806 million) into the country’s banking system by buying long-term government bonds. It comes just days after the central bank tightened the money supply in an attempt to stem the rupee’s decline.
The move is expected to make more credit available and also bring down borrowing costs for the government.
On Tuesday, the bond
yield or the cost of borrowing on India’s 10-year bonds touched 9.48 per cent, the highest since 2001. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that it was “important to ensure that the liquidity tightening does not harden longer term yields sharply and adversely impact the flow of credit to the productive sectors of the economy”.
The bank said that it will buy the bonds via open market purchase operations
(OMOs) on August 23. India has been grappling with a declining currency. The Indian rupee has fallen nearly 16 per cent against the U.S. dollar since May and is Asia’s worst performing currency so far this year.
On Tuesday, it dropped to an all-time low of 64.13 against the U.S. dollar, before strengthening slightly. The decline has prompted the central bank to take steps to try to prop-up the currency. (BBC News)
Dation and financing. The debt sustainability can be improved, for instance, by extending the loan periods,” the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper quoted Rehn as saying on Wednesday. However an ECB board member, Joerg Asmussen, was in Athens on Wednesday to discuss the country’s fiscal reforms with the Greek prime minister and finance minister. (BBC News)
ubai contractor Arabtec on Wednesday denied media reports that it was considering a merger with Kuwait’s Combined Group Contracting Co and Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Oger. “The company would like to state that there are no discussions to merge with either of the two companies and there are no current plans to do so,” Arabtec said in an emailed statement.
Earlier, Kuwait’s Combined Group Contracting
Co also denied a local newspaper report that it was involved in merger negotiations with Dubai builder Arabtec Holdings.
Kuwaiti newspaper AlQabas said Arabtec, partowned by Abu Dhabi state investment firm Aabar, was in merger talks with Combined Group and Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Oger. It cited unnamed sources. “We are not related to this issue at all...We did not approach anyone and no one from
Arabtec offered anything... There is not even an intention in this regard,” an executive at the company said, declining to be named. Saudi Oger officials were not available for comment. Arabtec Holdings is considering a merger with the largest contractors in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to create a pan-Gulf construction firm, the firm’s chief executive told CNBC’s Arabic news channel without specifying company names. (Arabianbusiness)
Any great invention or innovation needs financial backing. Entrepreneurs who have a great idea are often mortified by the prospect of professionally presenting their ideas to a panel of prospective investors. Here are some tips to insure the highest probability of success.
Think about the process you go through when you buy a stock. Will you buy a stock that has unclear growth prospects, muddled financial records and unclear margins? Or will you buy into a company with a clear business plan, focused customer base and a strong, organised financial
plan for the next few years?
Organisation is key in presenting to prospective investors, and the devil, which can be clearly visible to astute investors, is in the details.
* Organise your business plan. Explain how your product will make money, and what operating margins are forecast to look like. Investors like high margins, regardless of sales volume, as long as they are reasonable. Detail your prospective customer base and target demographic. Keep it short – one page is the accepted norm – and concentrate on three things: focus, clarity, uniqueness.
* Prepare a comprehensive
financial plan. This should naturally flow from your business plan, but investors like solid numbers. Explain how much funding you need to get your idea off the ground, and how much ownership stake you are willing to surrender to investors. Show investors solid math – they need to know the amount of time it will take before their investments become accretive to earnings, and when the company will start to turn a profit. Show a five-year projection of revenue and earnings growth, and be realistic with the risks involved. (Business Dictionary)
To be conTinued
Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Doodnauth Singh passed away Wednesday evening while undergoing treatment at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital.
Singh, a senior counsel and former chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, had undergone bypass surgery several years ago. He retired from legal practice and serving as a Cabinet minister in the Bharrat Jagdeo administration and a Member of Parliament in 2009.
President Donald Ramotar, in an immediate reaction, said he is saddened by the news of the death of the former AG. “Mr Singh, also a senior counsel, was a man of high intellect, having amassed great experience during his legal life, both locally and internationally. He served Guyana with utmost distinction, pride and selflessness,” Ramotar said in a message released by the Government Information Agency (GINA).
He said Singh had given decades of service to Guyana, mostly in the legal profession, in which he was known as an outstanding legal luminary.
“President Ramotar and First
Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, on behalf of the government and people of Guyana express deepest condolence to the family and friends of the late Doodnauth Singh.”
During a special farewell retirement ceremony for him in the House, the then Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran was quoted in a section of the media describing Singh as a man “always on the side of justice”, and noted his accomplishments as an attorney across the Caribbean. Ramkarran hailed him for his fearless representation of clients in an era when it invit-
ed unwelcome sanctions. “It is a fearlessness that has marked his character, then and now,” Ramkarran remarked, while noting that their first encounter was in 1973, when they represented 17 people, most of them political activists, charged with various criminal offences before the elections of that year. Among them was current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Indra Chandarpal. Although the lawyers appealed, since the defendants were refused bail for offences that carried no imprisonment, the case was dismissed.
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, at the time, said Singh would be greatly missed, and noted that the assembly had benefited from his erudite contributions, while People's National Congress Reform - One Guyana (PNCR-1G) leader Robert Corbin wished him well in his future pursuits. Corbin noted Singh’s contributions to Parliament, the legal profession, and the country as a whole, adding that he had always respected their ability to exchange views despite being on different sides of the fence, a section of the media had reported.
Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce
Minister Irfaan Ali and the organisers of the recentlyconcluded two-day National Economic Forum came in for high praise from Cabinet members.
The forum was held under the theme “Promoting Economic Growth Through Innovation, Diversification and Partnership”. Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon at his weekly postCabinet press briefing on Wednesday, said Cabinet recognised the significance of having a 10-year plan of prospects and projections in the 10 economic sectors, publicly reviewed by stakeholders.
This forum was expected to build on the platform established by previously held summits and provide a medium for stakeholders to discuss key emerging issues to the nation’s development.
“The two-day activity was rich in its consideration and reviews of the prospects and projections in each of these 10 economic sectors,” the HPS said.
He also noted that the reviews and outcomes of those sector presentations, mirrored to an appreciable degree, the government’s own insights into the same sectors.
This, he said, is a clear indication that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration is on
the right path in terms of its vision for the country’s economic development, a vindication of the adequacy and appropriateness of the consultations.
The two-day event saw presentations from different stakeholders in 10 thematic areas: agro processing, aquaculture, aviation, energy, human resources and manpower planning, infrastructure, land use, manufacturing and standards, non-Caribbean trade, and tourism.
At the conclusion of the forum, several proposals were put forward, among them, the suggestion that it be held annually, particularly in light of continuously evolving economic circumstances.
Commission’s non-existence is misconception – HPS
The absence of commissioners at the Integrity Commission does not mean the structure of the body is not maintained, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said Wednesday, as he explained that the commission’s functions are being upheld.
Speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Office of the President, Dr Luncheon said all of the work of the commission is reposed on the staff of the commission, with guidance given by the commission. “The Integrity Commission Act makes provision for other agencies, including the auditor general, in the review of the submission made by those listed public officers in the schedule.”
He expressed bewilderment at the opposition’s assessment that the absence of commissioners or a chairman equals the death of a commission.
Dr Luncheon said prior to beginning of the parliamentary recess it was recognised that there may be significant merit in addressing issues that warranted the two sides getting together. However, efforts to see through that initiative were unsuccessful, he explained.
The HPS said that there are ongoing engagements between the president and the leader of the opposition in the context of their constitutional role; however, “most of these events have had unsuccessful outcomes”.
At a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon advised that Cabinet at its August 20 statutory meeting, offered its
no objection to 14 contracts in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, education and sport.
The approved contracts are as follows:
THe added that he could not see “the leader of the opposition adopting a position that is a legacy of former leader, Robert Corbin”.
Dr Luncheon explained that Corbin had advanced a similar argument “resulting in the Ninth Parliament ignoring the law in so far as subscribing to the provision of the Integrity Commission Act. This is a sad misconceived position.”
The National Assembly in June 2012 approved a motion, after a lengthy debate, which requires all elected officials, more so Members of Parliament (MPs) in particular, to comply with the Integrity Commission Act, which was made into law on September 24, 1997.
he opposition’s success in removing Gocool Boodoo as the chief elections officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission, (GECOM) may revive interest in more removals. This is according to the head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, the Government Information Agency reported.
During Wednesday’s post Cabinet media briefing, Dr Luncheon said government has noted the charges and counter charges made in the wake of the non-renewal of Boodoo’s contract.
“GECOM providing certified free and fair elections in 2001, 2006 and 2011, under Boodoo’s mandate and tenure was the
scene of unreported, unGECOM-like shenanigans that are now seeing the light of day,” the HPS said. He added that the GECOM “chairman’s es -
pousal of his boys in the secretariat appears to have whitewashed critical shortcomings in registration activities, Election Day staffing, logistics, and accountability features”. Dr Luncheon observed that it was perhaps insight into the these shortcomings “that led the 2011 charge by opposition elements to dump both the chairman and the CEO, a vendetta that was heightened in the post-election period of 2011, but subsequently evolved into a vendetta isolatedly against the CEO, Gocool Boodoo.” This transformation by 2013, he added, led to the final outcome, the non-renewal of Boodoo’s contract and his unsuccessful resort to a judicial remedy.
Who you know will make a difference in how you get ahead. Discipline and hard work will pay off, but reputation and popularity will be what really count. Socialise with colleagues and make yourself approachable to everyone.
By Bernice Bede Osol
(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
Consider all your options and make a detailed plan based on sound reasoning. Educational pursuits may seem daunting, but doors will open for you if you pick up additional skills.
Your unusual way of seeing things and expressing yourself will capture an important someone’s attention. This new relationship will lead to fabulous opportunities and interesting partnerships.
Home improvements will turn out well and bring you greater prestige and compliments from your neighbours and family. Your discipline will pay off. A change of heart will be apparent in another.
(Aug. 23Sept. 22)
(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)
Your intuition is pushing you to act, and it’s correct. Don’t waste time on second thoughts or hesitation. Expand your circle of friends by engaging with your community.
(March 21-April 19)
Take care of any legal, domestic or business matters that arise and you will avoid complaints that could hinder your chance to relax and have some much-needed fun.
(April 20-May 20)
Sign up for an event that will expand your knowledge or raise your profile. Make an effort to nurture important relationships. Include loved ones in your plans for maximum benefit.
(May 21June 20)
Confusion will set in due to the mixed signals you are getting from a co-worker. Ask questions and you can avoid giving or getting the wrong impression. Honesty is required, even if it’s painfully blunt.
A partnership with someone who shares your interests and goals will be quite effective. You’ll come up with an interesting way to solve problems and improve the lives of others.
(Sept. 23Oct. 23)
Your restlessness will promote change in your life and those around you. Getting together with people who share your interests will inspire you to think bigger and make better plans.
(Oct. 24Nov. 22)
A lesson that leads to a positive change will give you the discipline you require to take on a project that has stymied you in the past. It’s time to get to work.
(Nov. 23Dec. 21)
Open-mindedness on your part will spur conversations that can improve your career. A lifestyle change that will better your health, emotions or finances looks to be a win-win.
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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s much-anticipated state visit is scheduled for August 31, and there is a packed agenda, which includes a series of meetings to be held at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing Wednesday, said these meetings will see engagements between the visiting president and President Donald Ramotar, government and state officials and civil society bodies.
During a recent interview, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett said the two heads of state will be discussing bilateral, regional, and international issues. This will be Maduro’s first official visit to Guyana in his capacity as president.
Among some of the bi-
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lateral issues that will be discussed are Guyana’s associate membership with MERCOSUR, of which Venezuela is the latest full member. Additionally, discussions are also expected to be held on the PetroCaribe deal.
The National Security Agency has built a network that can access as much as 75 per cent of all U.S. Web traffic – a larger amount than has been publicly announced –according to a new report.
Citing current and former officials, The Wall Street Journal reported that the agency sometimes retains the content of e-mails between United States citizens and filters some domestic phone calls that use Internet connections. A prepared statement to CNN from NSA spokeswoman Vanee Vines did not directly address the report’s claims.
“NSA’s signals intelligence mission is centred on defeating foreign adversaries who aim to harm the country,” she said. “We defend the United States from such threats while fiercely working to protect the privacy rights of U.S. persons. It’s not either-or. It’s both.” The NSA had recently stated that it only “touches” 1.6 per cent of the world’s Internet data.
The agency has legal authority, working through wireless and other phone companies, to monitor calls
The
coming into or going out of the country, as well as calls between other countries that are routed through the United States.
The Journal said its sources were current and former government and intelligence officials, as well as people working for companies that helped build, or provide data for, the monitoring system.
They said the way that system is set up makes it more likely that calls starting and ending in the United States are also intercepted and collected. Former officials told the Journal there is a series of monitoring programmes named Blarney,
Fairview, Oakstar, Lithium and Stormbrew.
Vines told the Journal that if domestic calls are gathered while seeking out foreign ones, the agency uses “minimisation procedures that are approved by the U.S. attorney general and designed to protect the privacy of United States persons.”
The paper quotes another unnamed U.S. official saying the agency is “not wallowing willy-nilly. We want high-grade ore.” The NSA has been under heavy scrutiny since June, when former contractor Edward Snowden first leaked details about the agency’s surveillance tactics.
Snowden claimed responsibility for leaking to The Guardian and other media outlets that the NSA had secretly collected and stored millions of phone records from accounts in the United States. The agency also collected information from U.S. companies on the Internet activity of overseas residents, he said.
Snowden is wanted on three felony counts, including violations of the U.S. Espionage Act. He fled first to Hong Kong and then to Russia, where he was granted temporary asylum despite pressure from the Obama administration to return him to the United States to face those charges. Lawmakers have stepped up pressure in the wake of the leaks. The House last month narrowly defeated a measure drafted by Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, a Republican, that would have restricted the NSA’s surveillance programme. He told CNN on Sunday that he hopes the House will vote on the bill again. “The system is not working,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” (CNN)
By NiNa dos saNtos
Summer may be drawing to a close but for the eurozone’s economy, spring has only just begun.
After 18 months in recession, the single currency bloc finally posted some much needed growth in the form of a 0.3 per cent expansion of gross domestic product for the second quarter. Brussels was quick to take the credit, claiming its policies of structural reforms had finally started to take hold, while the investor community cautioned more work would be needed to ensure the nascent recovery could be sustained.
The truth is that yes, things are looking up but it depends on where you are in Europe and there’s certainly little room for complacency. Predictably, growth in the eurozone’s two biggest economies, Germany and France, underpinned the re-
gion’s revival. But a closer look at individual countries further down the pecking order throws up some unexpected surprises, which I’ve outlined below. Portugal, a nation whose profligacy and lack of competitiveness led to it being bailed out, grew 1.1 per cent while the Netherlands, famous for its fiscal prudence, shrank 0.2 per cent – its fourth straight quarter of contraction. The economies of Italy and Spain remained stuck in reverse gear as well.
So much for the stereotypes and the hard and fast crisis response rules which have taken endless European Union summits to draft. Reading the data one would be forgiven for thinking three years of austerity never happened. In fact, it was not even mentioned once in Olli Rehn’s own communique. And yet the challenge for Europe’s leaders at a time when some of them are coming up for re-election will
be to seize upon the green shoots without dropping the ball on spending cuts. In Germany, which will face a general election next month, business groups are already lobbying any incoming government to boost investment spending.
And in France, large firms are still loath to hire due to the government’s lack of fiscal clarity and President Hollande’s new punitive tax regime.
A CEO of one FTSE 100 business with over 60,000 staff across the EU told me Europe was in recovery, and that presented opportunities – but confidence was needed to ensure the upswing really took hold. However, as any business leader will also tell you, confidence is an intangible currency. Indeed, the next challenge for Europe’s top brass will be to convince companies the future is bright enough to start hiring again. Across the eurozone and the broader EU as a whole, firms
have been amassing huge cash reserves which, in the face of uncertainty, have been neither spent on new machinery nor on the hiring of new staff. Such businesses will need more evidence of a true lift than a mere quarter of expansion before they are to undertake any hefty capital expenditure. The eurozone crisis has dominated the political and economic sphere for more than three years. During that time millions have lost their jobs creating a legacy of high unemployment and long-term underemployment which will take years to tackle. With more than a quarter of their populations out of work today, countries like Spain and Greece will probably be still finding solutions to their jobs crisis by the time the next recession rolls around. That’s not counting a whole generation who missed its first step on the job ladder. Excerpt from CNN)
Port of Spain, TRINIDAD – Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik of the Barbados Tridents has said he expects the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) to become “huge” after the success of the ongoing inaugural tournament.
Malik has been one of the stars of the show as the leading batsman with 223 runs from seven innings, as well as three wickets, and his side – led by Kieron Pollard - is getting ready to face Chris Gayle’s Jamaica Tallawahs in Friday’s second semi-final.
Having played cricket all around the world – including for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League - he has no doubts about the quality of the current tournament and its potential for longevity.
“After the IPL and the Big Bash League you can take this as third (in the world) and it is just the first year,” he said. “The response from the West Indies people has been awesome. Whenever you are playing a league it is about people coming to the ground; that is the key to success, and I have seen that here.
“People have been coming from everywhere. I was talking to the Jamaica players and they were saying ‘We were not expecting much of a crowd in Jamaica’, but we
played there and even in a day game I saw the ground full and energetic.
“It is a great thing. I went out to dinner with (Muttiah) Murali(tharan) here in Trinidad and people met us and said they had tickets for the rest of the games here.
“A few said ‘We do not follow cricket but we are still coming to support our team’.
“It is just the first year but I would give these guys credit for the way this has been handled and organised. I am sure next year it will be even better, it will be huge. That is what all the overseas players are expecting,” he added.
For Malik, the Limacol CPL has been something of a re-birth. Having slipped out of international reckoning for Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe he has not only been a star with the bat but has also featured prominently with the ball, relishing pitches that have often assisted the slower bowlers.
“I was struggling with my shoulder and my elbow but I have had surgery for my elbow and I have worked hard in the gym every day,” he said. “Now I am absolutely fine. I can even bowl 30 overs in one day. I am very happy and I want to play as an all-rounder; that is my priority. Malik says he met with Kieron Pollard during the (ICC) Champions
Shane Watson dismantled a new-look England attack to blast his first Ashes century and put Australia in a commanding position in the final Test at The Oval on Wednesday.
Watson scored a superb 176 - his highest Test score - and Steve Smith made an unbeaten 66 as the tourists reached 307-4 at the close of a disappointing day for the home side, who are targeting a first 4-0 series victory over their oldest rivals.
Watson was particularly disdainful towards Chris Woakes and Simon Kerrigan, who were both surprisingly handed their Test debuts as part of a five-man England attack.
The duo, who replaced Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan, both went wicketless, with left-arm spinner Kerrigan allowing nerves to get the better of him as he conceded 53 runs in eight overs.
The Lancashire bowler’s main tormentor was Watson, who plundered 80 runs before lunch on his way to his first Test hundred in 48 innings.
Batting at number three - his fourth different position of the seriesWatson put a difficult tour behind him with a dominant innings, featuring several powerful drives and pulls to the boundary.
The 32-year-old gave one chance, when Alastair Cook put down a straightforward opportunity to catch him for 104 at first slip off the bowling of James Anderson, before finally falling three overs before the close when he holed out to Kevin Pietersen at deep backward square leg. Anderson, bowling with far greater rhythm than
he did in the previous two Tests at Chester-le-Street and Old Trafford, had given the hosts an early breakthrough with the first of two wickets that took him past Bob Willis into second place in England’s all-time list with 326 scalps.
After Australia captain Michael Clarke had won the toss and chosen to bat, David Warner was drawn into driving at a delivery shaping away from him and nicked the ball through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior for six.
Watson swiftly swung the momentum back towards Australia with an unforgiving assault on England’s two debutants.
Warwickshire allrounder Woakes, who will bat at number six in England’s innings, was hit for three fours in an over as his first 30 balls cost as many runs, while Kerrigan
was clobbered for 28 from his first two overs.
Lunch gave England vital breathing space and they responded with a much-improved display in the afternoon session.
Chris Rogers was caught at slip off Graeme Swann for 23, before Stuart Broad struck Michael Clarke on the gloves and Watson on the head with sharply rising bouncers in a high-class spell.
Clarke, clearly expecting further short balls, was then late on a full delivery from Anderson and bowled off his pad.
At the other end, Watson kept his composure through the nineties to bring up his third Test century off 116 balls - and first in 48 innings - with a drive through the covers off Anderson.
The tall right-hander’s understated celebra -
tion belied the sheer relief he must have been feeling at finally converting a half-century into the kind of score that can influence the outcome of a match.
Watson found a steady accomplice in Steve Smith, who struck nine fours and a six in his third half-century of the series as Australia cemented their advantage in the final session.
Woakes, whose line and length improved as the day wore on, thought he had his first Test wicket when Watson was given out lbw for 166, only to be reprieved by the decision review system, which showed the ball was clearing the stumps.
England did, however, end a difficult day on a high note when Watson took on one short ball too many and was athletically caught by a diving Kevin Pietersen on the square leg boundary.
With nightwatchman Peter Siddle at the crease, the hosts will be hopeful of making further inroads in the morning as they look to claw their way into the match. (BBC Sport)
Australia 1st innings
C Rogers c Trott b Swann 23
D Warner c †Prior b Anderson 6
S Watson c Pietersen b Broad 176
M Clarke* b Anderson 7 S Smith not out 66
P Siddle not out 18
Extras: (lb6, nb5) 11
Total: (4 wkts, 90 overs) 307
To bat: B Haddin†, J Faulkner, M Starc, R Harris, N Lyon
Fall of wickets 1-11, 2-118, 3-144, 4-289
Bowling: J Anderson 18-3-522, S Broad 19-3-73-1, G Swann 30-4-71-1, C Woakes 15-552-0, S Kerrigan 8-0-53-0
Trophy in England and Pollard said that he wanted him to play as an all-rounder.
“When someone gives you that confidence it is always good.”
Malik, still only 31 despite being a veteran of 32 Tests, 216 One-Day Internationals and 53 Twenty20 Internationals, said he still has international aspirations.
“Representing your country is the biggest thing (and) of course I want to play for my team (Pakistan), I want to do well for my country,” he said. “I still think I can play for another five or six years. I am fit but I want to see myself consistent and I do not want to bat at number six (for Pakistan) any more, I want to bat at number three or four. I just want to play for the country and do well. That is my goal.”
In the short term, Malik has his eyes on the big prize in Trinidad. “It is so far, so good (for me),” he said. “I have played some good innings, (I have been) bowling also (and) I want my team to be in the final and win this Limacol CPL. We are all working hard and practising every day for that. Cricket is our passion.”
The inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League runs until Saturday with the first semi-final today.
St George’s, GRENADABarbados and Jamaica will meet to decide the champions of the West Indies Women T20 tournament at the national stadium today. Both teams advanced to the finals after scoring comfortable wins in semi-final matches across two venues in Grenada on Wednesday.
Jamaica defeated Guyana by five wickets at the Tanteen playing field while Barbados trounced Trinidad and Tobago by 30 runs at the national stadium.
Vanessa watts and Shanel Daley contained the Guyanese run flow after they suffered an early blow losing the normally prolific opener June Ogle for a single.
Tremayne Smartt with a top score of 35 and Shemaine Campbell with 22 attempted to stabilize the innings but Guyana were all out for 97 in 19.4 overs. Watts picked up two wickets for 21 runs while Daley had figures of 2 for 9 from her four overs.
Jamaica had some scary moments on the chase but got to 99 in time losing five wickets after 19.4.
Tameka Sanford was not out on 27 and Chinelle Henry unbeaten on 20 while Guyana’s leading bowler was Plaffiana Millington who captured 2 for 9 from four overs.
At the national stadium, an even 50 from Shaquana Quintyne setup the Barbados win. Quintyne scored her half century in 53 balls
cracking two fours as the Bajans posted 115 for five in 20 overs.
Charlene Taitt was not out on 27 while Deandra Dottin was run out for 26. Kirbyina Alexander was T and T’s best bowler with three for 19.
Trinidad and Tobago were made to struggle against the Bajan bowlers despite the dogged efforts of skipper Merissa Aguilleira to reverse her sides batting fortunes. They stumbled to 86 for seven in 20 overs, Aguilleira top scoring with 22, Stacy Ann king 17 and Shenelle Lord not out on 16.
The damage to the Trinidad innings was done by Shaquana Quintyne 3 for 14 while Shakera Selman and Deandra Dottin picked up two wickets each.
In the playoff matches, St.Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Dominica by eight wickets while Grenada also beat St Lucia by eight wickets.
Branislav Ivanovic powered in a second-half header as Chelsea won a feisty game against Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Chelsea went ahead after Eden Hazard’s shot was unluckily pushed into his own goal by Antonio Luna, before Christian Benteke’s precise equaliser.
Ivanovic was left unmarked to convert a Frank Lampard freekick, but only after Villa felt the defender should have been sent off for an elbow on Benteke.
Villa then had a late penalty appeal turned down after John Terry handled.
There were heated scenes on the touchline between managers Jose Mourinho and Paul Lambert, as the Villa boss argued Ivanovic should have received more than a booking
Pat McQuaid will bid for a third term as president of the International Cycling Union (UCI) despite Swiss Cycling withdrawing its support.
The 63-year-old Irishman, who had already lost his home federation’s support, now lives in Switzerland.
McQuaid, who is backed by Thailand and Morocco, now needs the UCI to change its rules to allow candidates to stand with the nomination of two federations.
He said: “I’m standing as a candidate for reelection. That will not change.”
British Cycling president Brian Cookson wants to succeed McQuaid.
But in a statement McQuaid said: “I would remind Brian Cookson and his campaign supporters that the UCI congress will ultimately decide who should lead the UCI for the next four
for the incident with Benteke.
The Scot was then further infuriated by the failure to award the injury-time penalty.
Lambert’s inexperienced side were beaten 8-0 by the hosts in December, with six survivors remaining in the Villa starting line-up from that crushing defeat.
The visitors have progressed steadily from that low point, however, with their improvement on display in last Saturday’s impressive 3-1 opening weekend victory at Arsenal.
Buoyed by Mourinho’s winning return as manager against Hull, there was an equally positive mood among a vocal home support at a balmy Stamford Bridge.
Hazard and Oscar combined to force the early breakthrough as
the latter’s perfectly weighted through-ball sent his colleague clear inside the penalty box.
Hazard’s curled effort was palmed away by the stretching Brad Guzan, but he could only force the ball into the chest of the helpless Luna from point-blank range.
Despite the early setback, Villa did not resemble the flaky team that conceded 69 top flight goals last team, remaining compact as they fought to prevent a repeat of Chelsea’s rampant first half display against Hull.
Indeed, they could have levelled the game only for Andreas Weimann to make poor contact with Luna’s centre after he had intelligently peeled away from marker Ashley Cole.
Chelsea continued to dominate possession without ever threaten -
years. “Federations all over the world want me to stand for re-election. I am calling on Brian Cookson and his campaign supporters to accept that and to put an end to their concerted attempts to refuse the congress a choice between two candidates.”
The proposed amendment to the UCI constitution could face a legal challenge, but the governing body said legal opin-
ion indicated the amendment was valid and would be incorporated.
Article 51.1 presently states that “the candidates for the presidency shall be nominated by the federation of the candidate”.
The suggested new wording reads that candidates should be nominated by their federation or “two federations other than the federation of the candidate”.
ing, and this lack of penetration was to be punished seconds before the half-time whistle.
Gabriel Agbonlahor burned off the sluggish Ivanovic out wide, with Benteke in position to expertly place an equaliser off Petr Cech’s near post after he was given a yard of space by Chelsea captain Terry.
The Belgium international’s effort was his 17th top-flight strike in 2013, putting him three goals ahead of secondplaced Robin van Persie.
After the break Weimann forced an excellent stop from Cech after being picked out by Benteke’s delightful chipped pass before Agbonlahor curled narrowly over after a swift counter-attack.
Chelsea were stung into life by those chances, and went in front through Ivanovic’s header minutes after he was booked for clashing with Benteke.
Buoyed by the youth and pace of substitutes Andre Schurrle and Romelu Lukaku, Chelsea - who play Manchester United and Bayern Munich in their next games -remained on the front foot in the final stages.
But there was still time for referee Kevin Friend to turn away Villa shouts for a spotkick at the death when Terry appeared to block Agbonlahor’s header with his arm. (BBC Sport)
St John’s, ANTIGUA –
The need to invest in the next generation of West Indies cricketers was high on the agenda as the third annual West Indies Cricket Board Sandals Foundation Under-15 High Performance Camp got underway in St Lucia and Antigua on Wednesday.
The West Indies Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer Michael Muirhead delivered brief remarks at the Antigua leg of the launch ceremony which was held at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds where the camp is based.
“You, the young cricketers of today are here to learn your trade and improve your skills and knowledge so that you can emerge as the stars of tomorrow. You are the Chris Gayles, Sunil Narines, Shivnarine Chanderpauls, Sheldon Cotterells of the future,” Muirhead said while addressing the players at the opening ceremony.
A simultaneous opening ceremony was also held in St Lucia at the Beausejour Cricket Ground. The four teams at the St Lucia leg are Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucia and Windward Islands.
The four teams in Antigua are the hosts, Guyana, Leeward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago. The camps will run for seven days and conclude on August 27.
The players represent the Under 15 national teams which participated in the recently concluded WICB Regional Under 15 Tournament in Jamaica which was won by Trinidad and Tobago.
The UCI’s lawyers thus argue that despite losing the backing of the Irish and Swiss federations, McQuaid’s nomination is valid.
Cookson said in a statement: “It leaves Mr McQuaid in a very difficult position, particularly when viewed alongside his failure to receive a nomination from his own national federation as required under the constitution of the UCI.
“It also places further question marks against his other ‘nominations’ whose validity is in serious doubt and remain a matter of genuine concern to many in the cycling world.
“No attempts at manipulation and legal bluster can take away the doubts and questions.”
McQuaid’s nomination was scheduled to come before an arbitration board in Zurich on Thursday but that has now been cancelled. (BBC Sport)
The WICB CEO raised his bat to the sponsors – Sandals Foundation – along with the governments of St Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda.
“I wish to place on record our gratitude and thanks to the Sandals Foundation for their support and for the work that they have been doing here in Antigua and across the Caribbean in developing young sports men and women,” Muirhead said.
Public Relations Manager of Sandals Foundation, Anne Harewood-George said the camp has expanded tremendously over the years thanks to close relations with the Ministries of Sports in Antigua and Barbuda and St Lucia and the WICB.
Sandals Foundation provides kits, meals and refreshments while the WICB provides air transportation and coaching personnel and the local governments provide venue, accommodation and ground transportation in the multi-stakeholder partnership model.
“You are extremely privileged. We are investing time
and energies and resources in you (the young cricketers) because we believe that you can succeed and excel – not just athletically but academically,” Harewood-George said. She emphasised that the program not only focuses on developing skills in the game but also places considerable efforts on molding young men deserving of the ‘gentleman’s’ game.
Manager of Sandals Grande Antigua Resort, Rocco Santopiepro said, “These young men not only have the chance to make long life friendships, they also have the exposure to world class coaching and while we see the importance of training their bodies, we are also training their minds and that we are also have life skills workshops on topics such as died, nutrition and even etiquette.”
The program has since 2010, received endorsements from cricketing legends Richie Richardson, Kenneth Benjamin, Winston Benjamin, Andy Roberts, Ridley Jacobs and Curtly Ambrose, all having recognized that the young cricketers of tomorrow are the ones who will shape the future of West Indies cricket.
Gregory Shillingford, President of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA) believes the High Performance Camp benefits Antigua and St Lucia in two folds – one through the individual teams and the other through the individual jurisdictions being representatives (Leeward Islands and Windward Islands), both of which gain invaluable experience and exposure in the renowned sport.
“We are particularly pleased by the opportunities presented by Sandals Foundation and the WICB both in Antigua and St. Lucia so that the Leewards and Windwards have two teams (the territorial teams along with the host team) who are exposed to this high level coaching,” Shillingford said.
He expressed the hope that the participants, would walk away from it with enhanced knowledge and understanding of the sport and the commitment that would see them advance to the levels leading up to the West Indies cricket team.
The LICA President encouraged the players to build friendships and partnerships from this level and develop a bond that could not only assist in their personal lives but their professional carriers – with the sport being what anchors them together.
The WICB was represented in St Lucia by Director Julian Charles who is also President of the St Lucia National Cricket Association and Director of the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control.
Dwain Gill of Grenada is the Head Coach in Antigua while Junie Mitcham of St Kitts has taken charge in St Lucia. Both Head Coaches has a team of regional Under 15 and local coaches as support staff.
(WICB)
Basseterre, ST KITTS
– Trinidad and Tobago batsman
Jeremy Solozano topped the West Indies Cricket Board Regional Under-19 50-Over batting charts with 257 runs at an average of 51.40.
Preston McSween of the Windward Islands was the top bowler with 16 wickets at an average of 11.13 each. The tournament concluded on Tuesday in St Kitts after seven rounds of 50-over matches, which followed the three-day tournament.
McSween’s teammate, Gian Benjamin emerged as the leading wicketkeeper with 17 catches.
Taryck Gabriel, another
Windward Islander bagged the trophy for the best all rounder after scoring 232 runs (38.67 average) and taking 5 wickets are 15.4 runs per wicket.
Solozano also registered the highest score of the tournament, striking an unbeaten 139 against the ICC Americas. His knock was also the lone century of the 50-over tournament.
Jamaica swept the Under 19 titles, winning the 50-over trophy with a clean sweep of six victories to accumulate 37.2 points. They had previously taken the three-day title. (WICB)
The Most Valuable Player for each team:
Barbados: Aaron Jones (116 runs @ 23.20 avg and 6 wickets @ 12.67 avg)
Guyana: Shimron Hetmyer (166 runs @ 33.20 avg)
ICC Americas: Farhan Malik (11 wickets @ 12.64 avg)
Jamaica: Tristan Colemon (224 runs @ 37.33 avg)
Leeward Islands: Tristan Hanley (118 runs @ 20.00 avg and 7 wickets @ 27.28 avg)
Trinidad & Tobago: Jeremy Solozano (257 runs @ 51.40 avg)
Windward Islands: Preston McSween (16 wickets @ 11.13 avg)
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has suggested the idea of having a franchisebased Twenty20 league in Pakistan to groom young talent in the absence of any international cricket.
On his return from West Indies after featuring in the Caribbean Premier League for St Lucia Zouks, Misbah stated that a T20 league would help youngsters as it would give them an opportunity to play with international cricketers. “Though PCB is doing its effort to bring international cricket back [to Pakistan], in my opinion, we also should have our own [T20] league,” he told reporters in Lahore. “It
is necessary to have it either in Pakistan or in Dubai as it will allow our youngsters to play with international stars.
“Our players are not properly groomed because of no international cricket, and other countries get their young players groomed by having leagues where they get a chance to play with international stars. India is the biggest example where they are holding the league and getting their players well groomed.”
Pakistan have been deprived of international cricket since a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009. Since then, Pakistan have mostly
Arsenal established a commanding lead after the first leg of their Champions League qualification play-off as they saw off a poor Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
After losing 3-1 in their league opener to Aston Villa, a goalless first half raised tensions among the visitors.
But Kieran Gibbs tapped in Theo Walcott’s cross before Aaron Ramsey’s 20yard shot slipped by Volkan Demirel.
Olivier Giroud converted a penalty after Michal Kadlec’s foul on Walcott to seal a morale-boosting win.
The home defeat by Villa, combined with the club’s inability to add to the summer signing of 20-year-old Yaya Sanogo from Auxerre, had brought unseasonably early pressure on manager Arsene Wenger.
But, while fans’ demands for activity in the transfer market will be fuelled by an injury to Laurent Koscielny, their fears of being left without Champions League
football were dispelled by a strong second-half performance.
Even if Fenerbache produce a surprise four-goal winning margin in the second leg in London on Tuesday, the Turkish side may not take their place in the group stages.
The Court of Arbitration in Sport will decide the day after the return leg if they will be expelled from the competition and begin a twoyear ban for match-fixing.
As it is, the severity of centre-back Koscielny’s injury, suffered when a stray boot from Pierre Webo forced him off with a bloodied face, is likely to be the most pressing concern for Wenger.
Midfielder Jack Wilshere had already shaken off an early knock, before full-back Bacary Sagna was forced to fill in in Koscielny’s absence, revealing the lack of depth to the Gunners’ squad.
It was the notable incident of a first half in which Fenerbahce allowed Arsenal plenty of possession, but the
visitors could only craft a couple of brief glimpses of goal for Walcott.
Arsenal looked much more incisive after the break though and Ramsey’s telling pass in behind the hosts’ defence created the opener.
Walcott latched on to the ball before sending a low cross fizzing across Demirel’s goal which a sliding Gibbs did well to turn in.
Ramsey’s shot shortly after was less precisely-placed, but its power sent it squirming through Demirel’s gloves to double the lead.
A toothless Fenerbahce attack had taken the sting out of a boisterous atmosphere, and Moussa Sow wasted a rare chance to restore the decibel level as he headed over from former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles’s cross.
Instead, after Wilshere had blazed over after a mazy run, a tiring Kadlec bundled into the back of Walcott to allow Giroud to slot home from the spot and surely put the tie beyond the Istanbul side. (BBC Sport)
been playing their home series in the UAE. Bilateral series for the youth teams, A team and academy level are on hold, which hinders the development of upcoming players.
During Zaka Ashraf’s regime, the PCB was desperate to bring international cricket back to the country, but failed to convince any team to tour Pakistan. The board then launched a franchise-based Twenty20 tournament called Pakistan Super League, but it had to be postponed indefinitely due to logistical issues.
Before 2009, Pakistan used to organise reciprocal tours around the world at all levels, apart from national bilateral series, but the practice has been put on hold as junior teams are also reluctant to visit Pakistan due to security issues. Though the board has managed to host international teams outside Pakistan, it has failed to afford a similar series for junior teams due to the lack of sponsors.
Pakistani players featured in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League but have been ignored since relations between the two countries took a dive in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008. Pakistan’s domestic T20 teams had also been ignored for the Champions League T20 until 2012.
(Cricinfo)
World number one and defending champion Serena Williams has been given the top seeding for the U.S. Open, organizers announced on Tuesday.
Belarussia’s Victoria
Azarenka, who beat Williams in Sunday’s final of the Cincinnati Open, is the second seed ahead of Maria Sharapova of Russia and Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska.
Williams heads into
the Open, which starts on August 26, looking to add to her French Open title from this year, her 16th Grand Slam singles triumph, which includes four championships at Flushing Meadows.
Williams’ sister Venus, a two-time U.S. Open winner but currently ranked 60th in the world, was unseeded.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic is the top seed in the men’s draw which includes fivetimes U.S. Open champion and 17-times grand slam winner Roger Federer as seventh seed - his first time the Swiss has been placed outside the top three in a grand slam in over ten years.
Spaniard Rafa Nadal is the number two seed, ahead of Britain’s Andy Murray, the defending champion and this year’s Wimbledon winner.
The draw for the tournament will be held today. (Reuters)
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says the club are likely to make a third bid for Wayne Rooney - but not until after Monday’s clash with Manchester United.
United have rejected two bids, the latest £25m plus add-ons, from Chelsea for the 27-year-old England striker.
“I don’t want Chelsea to do it before we go there,” Mourinho said after Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat of Aston Villa.
“I think this period, by the ethical point of view, is a period where we’re going to be quiet.”
Mourinho takes Chelsea to Old Trafford next Monday night for new United manager David Moyes’s first
home match.
Rooney, who came on as a substitute in Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Swansea on Saturday, is understood to be intent on leaving, even though United manager Moyes insists the striker is not for sale.
Mourinho said in July that Rooney is his only transfer target, but then claimed before his side’s win over Aston Villa that the club have back-up options if they fail to sign the former Everton player.
“We have plans B and C. Don’t ask me names. It’s difficult to speak about players from other clubs,” he had said.
“We have the conditions to try to improve our team by bringing in one more
player and we are going to try that till the end.”
Mourinho admits the Blues are likely to continue their pursuit of Rooney, although the Portuguese accepts United are under no obligation to sell the player, just as Chelsea rebuffed Barcelona’s attempts to sign David Luiz.
“You try, because nobody forbids you to try,” Mourinho said.
“When you think that you’d like to have one player and the market is open and the official bids are not forbidden, official bids are always accepted in an ethical way.
“Of course, the player’s owners can do exactly what we did in relation to David Luiz and Barcelona.”
St John’s, ANTIGUA – New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill hopes the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) has acted as a shop window to help sell the best of his country’s cricket to the rest of the world.
The Black Caps have struggled to convince other countries to provide them with lengthy international engagements, especially at Test level, something spoken of last week by fastbowling legend Sir Richard Hadlee.
However, with Guptill, who has been put on the injury list for the remainder of the inaugural tournament with a broken bone in his right hand, and James Franklin impressing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors and former national captain Ross Taylor slotting into the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel line-up, Guptill hopes the Limacol CPL has helped to lift New Zealand’s global cricketing profile.
“James Franklin and I have had reasonably successful tournaments (for Guyana Amazon Warriors),” he said. “It puts us out there and hopefully people will take notice. From what I read, Sir Richard’s comments were more to do with (New Zealand’s limited amount of) Test cricket than anything else and we are struggling a little in the Test game at the moment.
“The only way we can get better is by playing more Tests and if that can come in the next few years and we can keep developing as a team then who knows where we can go from
Afive-member team, including four riders and one official, will represent Guyana in cycling at the first-ever South American Youth Games in Peru next month.
The Games will take place from September 9-29 and will see cyclists Akeem Arthur, Shaquille Agard, Stephano Husbands and Crystal Lambert, along with coach William Howard, being Guyana’s representatives.
there,” he added.
The Warriors ended up topping the group stages of the six-team LCPL with five wins from seven matches, earning themselves a semi-final date with the Red Steel at the Queen’s Park Oval today as a result.
Despite his injury and the loss of Pakistan Twenty20 International captain Mohammad Hafeez to national duty in Zimbabwe, Guptill said he still believed the Warriors could still go all the way and win the title with Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga drafted in and newcomer likely to replace Guptill himself (Tillakaratne Dilshan was announced as his replacement shortly after this interview).
“I definitely think we can,” he said. “We showed we can with our chase of a decent total against Antigua (on Saturday night). We got to the last ball and we came through. The spirit is good in the camp and hopefully we can take that forward to the semi-final and hopefully the final.”
Guptill has actually been filling a dual role in the Warriors camp – opening the batting and also acting as a spy in the camp, trying to pick up some inside information on West Indies players ahead of the Caribbean side’s tour of New Zealand set to start in November.
That information has included an attempt to decipher the skills of mystery spinner Sunil Narine, his Warriors team-mate although, as Guptill admitted, trying to crack Narine’s code and read his spin has been anything but easy.
“I have only faced him once in the nets and he was only bowling off-spin then so I do not know what is going to happen when he comes to New Zealand at the end of the year,” he said. “I have been trying to see when he bowls how he does what he does but it is pretty hard to pick it up.”
One thing Guptill is sure about, however, is how much he has enjoyed the tournament and how much he wants to come back next year. “It has been a hell of a lot of fun,” he said. “Everyone has got behind it really well and it has been fantastic.
“In the dressing room it has been pretty cool as you see these guys (like coach Curtly Ambrose, captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narine and Hafeez) on TV but you never meet them and then to be part of the same team (is great) as we have got along really well.
“We have gelled as a team pretty quickly and it has been fantastic.
“I have absolutely loved it. It has been a great atmosphere with the crowds; we have had packed houses pretty much everywhere we have been and I would love to (come back).
“It all depends on the scheduling of New Zealand’s future tours and when they are going to schedule the Limacol CPL but hopefully there will be a gap in our schedule and I will be able to come back and play some more cricket,” he added. The inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League ends on Saturday. (CPL)
The male and female champion athletes of the recently-concluded Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic were on Tuesday presented with a new pair of Asics jogging footwear from Giftland OfficeMax.
James won the three sprint events (100m, 200m, 400m) at the fourth edition of the Classic and was
named male champion athlete while Alita Moore took home the sprint double (100m, 400m) in record fashion, upsetting local sprint queen Alisha Fortune in the 100m. Fortune won the women’s 200m while Moore finished closely in second.
In addition, Moore and James received $50,000 for winning the top awards. Further, James, who won the men’s 400m also saw him receiving $50,000 while Moore received $30,000 for finishing second in the 200m.
Giftland OfficeMax’s, Compton Babb noted that the partnership with the Boyce and Jefford Classic has allowed the business entity to further sports through the world renowned Asics brand.
The cycling season is set to continue on Saturday with the third annual Unitech Awning 11-race cycling programme at the inner circuit of the National Park.
The action, which is set to pedal off at 09:00 hours, is being held in memory of the late Continental Cycle Club rider, Noel Persaud, popularly known as “Pokan.”
Persaud’s son, Ray Persaud, the Managing Director of Unitech Awning, will be on hand to assist in the presentation of prizes to the outstanding performers at the conclusion.
The day’s proceedings will mirror those of the regular 11-race programmes at the same venue, with the feature race being the 35-lap School Boys and
GInvitational.
The experienced Junior Niles is set to defend his title, having won last year’s gruelling race in a time of one hour, 25 minutes, 24 seconds (01h: 25m: 24s).
He also won the Veterans Under-50 five-lap event in 11 minutes, 55 seconds, while Alanzo Ambrose and Mario King are the reigning champions in the Juveniles and Mountain Bikes respectively.
Other races carded for the day include the 12-14 Boys and Girls, Veterans Over-50, Veterans Over-60, BMX Open, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-14 years.
Among the top riders expected to compete during the day are Niles, Alanzo Greaves, Robin Persaud, Warren McKay, Paul DeNobrega, Raynauth Jeffrey, Marlon Williams, Enzo Matthews, Albert Philander, Mario King, Shaquille Agard, Hamzah Eastman and Michael Anthony.
The other participating countries are Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru.
The South American Youth Games is part of the South American Sports Organisation (ODESUR) strategic planning, and seeks the development of sports
The locals will compete in BMX, mountain bikes and road races. Seventeen disciplines will be contested at the inaugural Games, with Guyana participating in cycling, athletics, swimming, badminton, boxing, table tennis and weightlifting. Guyana will be among 14 countries competing in 213 events, inclusive of 109 men’s events, 91 women’s and 13 mixed.
throughout the region.
The initiative is aligned to the Youth Olympic Games and follows the same schedule of sports, age range and philosophy towards the strengthening of sport practice and the encouragement of culture and the promotion of ethics and education of the youths.
In the first edition of the Games the athletes will compete for medals in: Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Canoeing (Kayak), Cycling, Fencing, Artistic Gymnastics, Judo, Weightlifting, Wresting, Swimming, Rowing, Taekwondo, Tennis, Table Tennis, Triathlon and Sailing.
uyana’s top junior player, Afruica Gentle, has stormed into the final of the Girls’ 14s event at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Wilson Open at the Grass Roots Tennis Centre in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The talented 12-year-old Gentle recorded a resounding 6-2 6-0 thrashing of the unseeded Trinidadian Candace Cook and will now play number two seed and home favourite, Amarlia Benn, in the final.
Young Jordan Beaton also kept the Golden Arrowhead flying high when he bagled Miguel Francis 4-0 4-0 to progress to the final of the Boys’ 14s consolation tournament.
Meanwhile, several Guyanese were sent crashing out of the tournament, including Kaylacia Fraser, Keenan Persaud, Mark McDonald and Nicola Ramdyhan. Fraser, playing in the
Girls’ 14s consolation, went down in straight sets of 4-0 4-1 to Shania William. Persaud lost in straight sets in the Boys’ 14’s to Justin Marcano 4-0 5-3, while Richard Hoyte defeated McDonald 4-0 4-1.
The lone Guyanese in the Girls’ 18’s, Nicola Ramdyhan, was comprehensively beaten in her second round encounter, receiving a pair of bagle sets 6-0 6-0 from Canadian eight seed, Jade Hilton. In doubles action, McDonald and Persaud suffered defeat at the hands of Vincentian duo, Alexander Cyrus and Ronald Hoyte 6-2 6-2, while Beaton and Keshon Reece hammered Miguel Francis and Justin Marcano 6-2 6-0 to progress to the semi- finals.
Acouple from Tuschen will be at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday evening to witness the final of the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL).
The all-inclusive trip for two was made possible by Courts (Guyana) Inc, whose staffers presented the tickets to the lucky customers at their Main Street branch on Wednesday morning.
At the handing over ceremony, Kalawattie Persaud was presented with two tickets to attend the highly-anticipated final in Port of Spain. Persaud will be accompanied by her husband, Rabindranauth Roopnarine.
Persaud’s winning package includes two airline tickets, accomodation at the Hilton Hotel, transportation and meal allowances, spending money, airport tax, and more impor-
tantly, being fetted VIP style at the LCPL. The draw was done on August 16 at Courts in the presence of internal and external auditors from Ram and McRae.
Kester Abrams, Courts Marketing Officer responsible for Public Relations and Promotions, said customers were automatically entered into the promotion after purchasing any item valued $149,999 or over between July 16 and August 13. Persaud had purchased a chainsaw from the department store.
In July, the company, as part of its activities as a league sponsor for the LCPL, also held a promotion where lucky customers won VIP tickets to view the four games hosted at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
Meanwhile, Persaud, speaking to this publication after receiving the tickets, ex-
pressed delight at becoming the lucky customer, noting that she has been shopping at Courts for several years now.
While she has not followed the tournament closely, Persaud is hopeful of seeing the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final come Saturday.
She thanked Courts for facilitating the trip, adding that she is looking forward to witnessing the thrills and excitement of the LCPL live from the VIP section at Queen’s Park Oval.
Semi-final action in the tournament will bowl off tonight with the Guyana Amazon Warriors taking on the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, while the Jamaica Tallawahs will face the Barbados Tridents on Friday. Both games will bowl off at 20:00hours with the winners advancing to Saturday’s final.
(Avenash Ramzan)
