Guyana Times Daily

saturday, april 5, 2014|

Fuel boat explodes, causing millions in losses

At least two businesses, three boathouses and four boats went up in flames on Friday morning after a vessel carrying fuel exploded at the Port Kaituma wharf, North West District, Region One.

The explosion occurred around 08:30h while the boat was discharging fuel. Guyana Times understands that while the fuel was being discharged, the pump “back fired” creating a spark that ignited the fuel, causing an explosion.

As the boat exploded, at least three other boats caught fire, with two sinking. It continued to spread rapidly, resulting in a small grocery shop exploding, along with three small boathouses which accommodated persons

whose boats were docked at the wharf.

Up to late Friday afternoon, residents were still putting out small blazes that periodically started after the main fire was doused.

An eyewitness told this publication that the boats arrived in Guyana late Thursday evening with their consignment of fuel for the area. Since the area did not have any fuel on Thursday evening, operators started to pump it out early the next morning.

He added that it is a norm for them to pump out the fuel from the boats, but as the men were in the process of doing so, something went wrong and he heard an explosion, which was followed by huge flames. As he rushed to the area, he realised that the fuel boat had caught fire. He said

that within a few minutes, the entire area was red with flames.

Evacuation

Residents were asked to evacuate the nearby buildings, as other residents attempted to fight the blaze, but it was too intense. The Guyana Fire Service has an auxiliary unit in the area, but at the time it was not functioning thus making the firefighting efforts more complicated, the eyewitness said.

He stated that the businessmen in the area brought out their pumps which were used to extinguish the fire, but the damage was already done. The man added that members of the Guyana Defence Force were flown into the area to aid the firefighting efforts.

Region One Chairman

Paul Pierre said when he was informed about the fire, he immediately deployed personnel to the area to launch an investigation.

An official from the Guyana Fire Service confirmed that the auxiliary unit at Port Kaituma was nonfunctional, while complimenting the residents for their support during the time of need. He noted that there were no injuries, but millions went up in flames. Guyana Times understands that the occupants of the destroyed buildings – a shop and a dwelling place – were not at home when the explosion occurred. They later returned and were immediately plunged into a state of despair.

The investigation into the explosion on the Venezuelan vesselcontinues.

Health Ministry fair opens today

In observance of World Health Day and World Autism Awareness Day, the Health Ministry will host a health fair at the Square of the Revolution on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6 from 09:00hrs to 17:00h daily.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran and First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar will be in attendance.

All members of the public and especially those interested in autism and gen-

eral health can find answers from the experienced staff of the Health Ministry, who will be providing free checkups ranging from dental, optical, diabetic, hypertension and other health care services.

The Guyana Defence Force Marching Band, the Guyana Fire Service and Guyana Police Force, Giftland OfficeMax, Bakewell, Geddes Grant, Ainlim, CCS Computers, Star Party Rentals, the

Plant Shop, the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and a host of other companies have lent their support to make this event possible.

Free samples of merchandise and giveaways will be available throughout the event. Additionally, a Fun Day for Autistic Children will be held on Sunday, April, 6, from 10:30h-15:00h at the Wellness Park (Opposite Square of the Revolution).

The fuel vessel on fire at Port Kaituma on Friday

The inferno at the Port Kaituma Wharf

Countrywide: Heavy rain showers can be expected during the day with lighter showers in the afternoon. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Wind: East north easterly between 4.47 metres and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 07:48h and 20:19h reaching maximum heights of 2.45 metres and 2.28 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:22h and 13:50h reaching minimum heights of 0.84 metre and 0.79 metre respectively.

“APNU did not come to my rescue” – Sharma says as JFAP quits coalition

By Svetlana MarShall

The CN Sharma led Justice For All Party (JFAP) has pulled out of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition on Friday, one day after its member Jaipaul Sharma resigned as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the coalition.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Friday, the former APNU MP expressed disappointment that he was left out in the cold when Education Minister Priya Manickchand attempted to question his integrity.

On Tuesday during the heated budget debate, the Education Minister alluded to the then APNU MP while another Opposition member was addressing the issue of rapists and paedophiles. He said his father CN Sharma is unhappy that none of the leading APNU members sitting in the front row objected to Manickchand’s heckle.

“APNU did not do well in protecting the coalition. I was waiting for them, but when no one got up, I decided to protect myself,” Sharma explained.

Ban lifted

He recalled that it was the Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman who spoke out in his defence initially. The Speaker had banned the Education Minister from debating on the 2014 Budget upon her failure to apologise to Sharma.

On Wednesday, the ban was lifted after an apology was given to the House but not directly to Sharma.

Nevertheless, the former APNU MP said had it been a People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member who was offended, the response would have been totally different.

Justifying his position, Sharma referenced the June 27, 2013 incident when APNU MP Vanessa Kissoon heckled “Like father, like son.” At the time, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn was making an address in the House.

It is alleged that the Public Works Minister’s son had physically abused his ex-girlfriend. Sharma was keen on pointing out that Government’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira almost immediately stood up in Robeson’s

defence, asking the Speaker to have Kissoon withdraw the statement. Kissoon had apologised upon the request.

It was only on Thursday that APNU issued a terse statement condemning Manickchand’s posture in the Assembly, two days after the incident occurred.

Double standards

The former MP also chided the Education Minister for her apparent double standards, asking why she did not publicly chastise the Public Works Minister over allegations levied against his son.

“She is a woman of double stands. I was not the one speaking, but she heckled me. CN Sharma is not a rapist, I am not a rapist,” he lamented. “It is an allegation and it is yet to be proven. The matter against my father is in court and Priya, as a lawyer, should know this,” he added.

Sharma is contending that his move to resign from the National Assembly is not intended to sabotage the APNU over his displeasure.

According to him, “I was well supported in the coalition, they saw me as an asset, but I can no longer be a part of the APNU.”

He explained that the JFAP would not have another sitting member on the coalition, noting that he was simply trying to protect the integrity of the APNU.

“The Government said that it will be cleaning up the city, so I will clean up the APNU. We don’t want anyone sitting on the coalition and when he or she goes to speak, then they are accused of being closely associated with rapists or paedophiles, so we are going to remove ourselves,” Sharma explained.

According to him, he is doing the coalition a favour. “I am helping the APNU.”

The former APNU Member said based on his analysis of the 2014 Budget, there will

be a snap election soon and the PPP/C is using allegations against his father as a political ploy to discredit the coalition.

“I am a principled man and my decision is final. I am going to return to my father’s party and we will contest the elections. I will remain in politics,” he said.

Full support

His father told Guyana Times that he was in full support of his son’s decision. When he was asked about a possible replacement on the coalition, CN Sharma said there was no one else in the JFAP that is capable of sitting on the coalition bench.

“We don’t mind if the

Opposition puts one of its members there, because we don’t have anyone,” he said.

Speaking at the Leader of the Opposition's Office on Friday, APNU MP, Dr George Norton told the press that Sharma was an asset to the coalition – someone specialised in economics.

While admitting that the coalition has not received a formal notification, Norton said APNU is now discussing a replacement for Sharma. He has, however, declined to disclose whether the coalition has shortlisted anyone for the key position.

The APNU must have a replacement if the coalition is to keep its one-seat majority in the House.

Former APNU Member Jaipaul Sharma

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Budget 2014 and housing

It came as no surprise again that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, through its budgetary allocations this year, has placed a major focus on housing development in Guyana. Every Guyanese has a desire to become a home-owner and we are pleased that the Government is making the necessary investments in the housing sector to make this a reality.

The vision for housing development in this country is extraordinary and commendations must go to the key players – the Government and the private sector – for transforming the lives of thousands of Guyanese citizens who are now proud home-owners.

In this year’s budget, the Housing and Water Ministry has been allocated $4.4 billion which will be utilised to develop more housing schemes across the country, along with new initiatives being adopted to improve the quality of water consumers receive. In keeping with its aim of fast-tracking the housing drive, the Government has said that a major part of this allocation will be directed towards the distribution of 5900 house lots and 4100 land titles to new landowners.

In addition to the opening up and expansion of several housing schemes, the public-private turnkey initiative will also see another 100 homes being constructed, while some 50 police officers, nurses, and teachers will be allocated land.

The housing projects planned for this year build on the successes of last year. The year 2013 saw significant strides being made in the housing sector with a $3.2 billion budget. Monies were allocated towards the hosting of some eight One Stop Shop outreaches which resulted in 4417 house lots being allotted and 5326 land titles processed.

The public-private turnkey housing initiative saw more than 90 single-flat concrete houses being constructed. Also, under the Young Professionals Housing Programme, 55 homes were completed, exceeding the initial target of 48.

Additionally, the Core House Pilot project resulted in 127 core houses being completed, thus enabling some 580 persons to benefit from improved housing. At the same time, an additional 153 subsidies were disbursed under the Coastal Home Improvement Programme, costing some $30.6 million; hence, resulting in improved living conditions for another 627 persons.

This is in addition to the Hinterland Home Improvement Project which saw 130 subsidies totalling $107.2 million, thereby allowing some of the most vulnerable communities access to affordable shelter.

No doubt the successes so far have been many. It is now so much easier to get a piece of land to construct a house. The commercial banks have also made it easier for persons to access loans for construction. Prior to the housing boom, one had to satisfy a number of criteria before he/she could have accessed a loan to build a house.

When the Government decided to develop large tracts of land for housing purposes, the demand for construction materials and other goods and services increased. As expected, this demand for construction material led to an increase in prices. Here again, the Government was cognisant of the impact this would have on low-income earners and as a result, took a number of steps to ensure that the impact was minimised as much as possible.

No one can deny the fact that the high level of development this country is currently experiencing, especially in the housing sector, is as a result of the excellent partnership between Government and the private sector. This partnership should certainly be replicated in other areas of development.

That said, while the Opposition parties in Parliament are expected to scrutinise the 2014 national estimates by asking the relevant questions and seeking the necessary clarifications, etc, they must not oppose for opposing sake, or they must not cut the estimates to show that they wield power.

The nation expects these leaders who claim to have the country’s best interest at heart to give their support to developmental projects which would catapult this country to greater heights. This is no time for politicking!

Budget confirms impressive growth in manufacturing, services sectors

Dear Editor,

The GMSA was pleased to learn from the Finance Minister’s 2014 Budget speech confirmation of the impressive growth in the Manufacturing and Services Sectors in 2013.

The real growth in these two sectors was 8.5 per cent and 5.6 per cent, both above the overall growth in the economy. We believe that it is important that the Government and the country continue to support the sectors which also contribute to employment and exports.

We note the absence of any new taxes and the announcement by the Minister of initiatives to address some of the serious challenges that collectively are almost unique to the sector, including high energy costs, high interest rates, skills shortages and high property taxes.

As one of the premier business support organisations, we particularly welcome the announcement of the allocation of $100 million to carry out technical studies to dredge the mouth of the Demerara River as well as US$4 million in a tourism institute. Both of these projects can rapidly advance trade and development and we urge that these be implemented as soon as possible. Specifically, the GMSA therefore welcomes the initiatives by the Government designed to facilitate and grow micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSME’s) in Guyana.

These initiatives seek to address one of the most formidable challenges faced by

MSME’s – access to some financing – through three new facilities – a Credit Guarantee Fund, a Low Carbon Grant Scheme, and an Interest Payment Support Facility.

The GMSA looks forward to playing its role in the formulation and execution of these initiatives to ensure that no unnecessary or costly barriers are faced by potential and actual borrowers.

The GMSA brings to the table expertise and experience over decades and note that small business growth in Guyana could be accelerated along the lines of the Singaporean SME development model.

Many nations around the world have been adopting this strategy that inculcates public funding and business training facilities, cuttingedge marketing and low commercial bank interest rates, with other state driven interventions that have assured the development of small businesses.

While we appreciate that growth is usually a protracted process, we remain convinced that additional incentives could be introduced now to ensure that development of our SME’s is sustained, and tied in with foreign direct investments to provide resource inputs and services.

This could apply to the timber sector, the mineral extraction sector (gold, diamonds and semi-precious stones, manganese and bauxite), the hospitality industry and tourism in general.

We welcome too the policies announced by the

Minister to provide to the citizens food security, energy security, and the repositioning of our tourism products to ensure that Guyana remains relevant and economically viable.

We welcome the Government’s intention to develop hydropower in partnership with Brazil, and urge that this cross-border joint venture be pursued aggressively, since potentially it can meet the country’s needs for the next two decades.

Of course the country needs a coordinated programme for low cost energy not limited to hydroelectricity, but to all forms of renewable energy. We therefore encourage the Guyana Energy Agency and the University of Guyana to engage the private sector on wind power, biomass and other appropriate sources.

While congratulations are in order to all stakeholders in the rice sub-sector for an exemplary performance, we have noted the challenges facing the sugar industry, a major employer of labour.

The company has failed to meet the targets set in the last turnaround plan, despite the injection of several billions of public funds.

We think it is necessary that a careful review of the sector be undertaken and reorganisational steps be taken to ensure that the sector returns to viability as soon as possible.

On the contrary, we wish to express full support for the initiatives being taken to bolster the mining sector, particularly gold and diamond.

We have noted in particular the imminent introduction of three large scale mining companies into the Sector viz: Troy Resources, ETK/Sand Springs and Aurora.

In addition, we welcome the introduction of a menu of measures to be pursued to increase gold recoveries and reduction of mercury in the recovery processes.

We believe that with the obvious continued volatility in the international gold market prices, the measures announced, if implemented will ensure that the sector continues its significant contribution to our foreign exchange earnings thus mitigating fluctuations in foreign exchange rate and continued contribution to our macroeconomic stability.

The GMSA also notes the several programmes announced in the speech to alleviate poverty. We look forward to the establishment of proper systems to ensure that the initiatives benefit those most in need.

We look forward to continued growth in the economy without any inflationary pressure.

At this juncture, we sincerely urge our parliamentarians to put Guyana first by engaging each other in spirited, yet objective debates that are premised on mutually agreeable compromises.

Sincerely,

Clinton Williams President Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Ltd

A robot demonstrates ball skills at this year’s RoboCup in Magdeburg, Germany. Forty-four teams from 12 countries are due to take part in various competitions (BBC Future)

Destabilisation poses a threat of a split within society

Dear Editor, Legitimate President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych in his interview on April 2, to the Associated Press and Russian NTV channel in Russia’s Rostov-on-Don said that presidential elections set for May 25, in Ukraine are doubtful because the situation in the country is uncertain and the ‘hasty’ actions may aggravate it even further.

Any kind of destabilisation poses a threat of a split within society and even break up the state. According to the President, there are also doubts among the new so-called Government members as to whether the elections should be held since there is no certainty about what the state should be like.

Thus, he opined that before any presidential elections are held, there ought to be a referendum of the federalisation of regions as well as a constitutional reform. People are to be given a choice to determine whether they want a constitutional or a parliamentary state. Based on their choice, either parliamentary or presidential elections will be held.

The protests that led to the unconstitutional change of power in Ukraine had

been sparked by refusal of the President to sign an Association Agreement with the EU. In his interview, Yanukovych explained that signing the agreement would have been against national interest.

The elected President Yanukovych fled Ukraine after threats to his life and the death of more than 100 demonstrators. He denied giving any orders to the police to shoot the protestors.

He also denied any of his Russian involvement into events in Crimea and opined that what happened there was provoked by the current Government that took a radical position towards the Russian language and territories with Russian-speaking population. Head of state in this regard pointed out anti-Maidan protests in the east and south of Ukraine. The referendum in Crimea to separate from Russia on March 16 was a way, according to the President, to lodge people’s protest against the new authorities.

Sincerely, Denis Kopyl Press-Attaché of the Russian Embassy in Guyana

AFC members promoting self interest in the National Assembly

Dear Editor,

I am disgusted at the most recent attempt by the AFC to use its parliamentary seat to pursue its member’s self-interest. I refer to the presentation by AFC Member of Parliament Cathy Hughes who boldly got up to address the issue of value added tax (VAT).

Hughes pointed out that several Caribbean tourism destinations have allowed their respective tourism and hospitality sectors to pay a lower VAT rate than other sectors. She then moved to give examples of such cases and proceeded to explain that the private sector lobbied Government for a reduction in VAT, but were unsuccessful.

So she is using her seat as a parliamentarian to recommend to Government that the VAT be reduced for the tourism sector. It appears that the AFC members are using their seat in the National Assembly to lobby for their own self-interests!

Some of them are the owners of well-established businesses and their request for Government to consider a lower VAT rate for the tourism industry is being done with the sole purpose of providing incentives for their personal business.

your

Rape and paedophilia in Guyana need professional investigations

Dear Editor,

In her explanation of her refusal to apologise to MP Jaipaul Sharma, the Minister of Education said that if she apologized she would be betraying the victims of rape and pedophilia.

The victims of rape and pedophilia are not supported by grandstanding declarations.

Rather than use Mr Sharma as a vehicle for her commitment not to betray victims of rape and pedophilia, we would urge the Minister to use her good offices and considerable influence and knowledge of the sexual offences laws within her party and government to ensure that the Sexual Offences Act is enforced fully throughout Guyana.

The victims of rape and pedophilia In Guyana urgently need to have the backlog of sexual offences caseswhich fall under both the old and new sexual offence laws fast tracked.

Special courts should be set up for this if needs be. We know that the majority of survivors of sexual offences in Guyana are children, many of whom have been waiting for

overfive or even ten years to have their cases heard. Is this the justice they deserve? Up to the time of the amendment to the SOA 2010, there was already a backlog of over one hundred cases.

The victims of rape and pedophilia in Guyana need professional and proper investigations of sexual offences cases and the courts need access to DNA evidence,which will do more to instill confidence in the justice system than the poor and questionable police investigationsthat often lead to dismissals of matters.

They need comprehensive services from special units set up in every hospital or, where no hospitals are available, other appropriate venues, where services are centralized and victim-centered, with nurses trained in the gathering of forensic evidence and treatment of rape and sexual assault survivors, trained counselors to address the psychological and physical trauma, and trained police officers to take statements in a humane and professional manner.

They also need court advocates to attend to their and

their families’ needs throughout the court process.

The victims of rape and pedophilia need to have the Sexual Offences Task Force convened and resourced without delay so that the national plan of action for the prevention of sexual offences can become a reality, and more importantly, be enforced without fear or favour regardless of status and income, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, geography, age or disability.

The victims of rape and pedophilia need to have ongoing education about the provisions of the Sexual Offences Actorganized so that the population is informed about the law, including the wider definition of rape and consent, and the inclusion of new sexual offences, special orders for the safety of survivors, and compensation for survivors of sexual offences.

It is true that, as Minister Manickchand has said, the psychological and physical effects of sexual violence on survivors are far reaching and severe.

They sometimes result in

damage that may be permanent, including anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress and panic disorders, fear, shame, inability to trust and form lasting relationships especially for young persons, high risk sexual behaviour, a high risk of perpetrating sexual violence (for boys), and a high risk of experiencing subsequent sexual violence (for girls).

Some rape survivors have to undergo reconstructive surgery as a result of brutal rapes.Other victims are raped and killed.

The victims of rape and pedophilia in Guyana need those in authority, armored with this knowledge, to ensure that the demands we have outlined above are implemented. This would be the very best way of ensuring that the victims of rape and pedophilia in Guyana are not abandoned.

Yours faithfully, Danuta Radzik, Denise Dias, Josephine Whitehead for Help & Shelter Karen de Souza, Andaiye, Wintress White for Red Thread

Jail the noise makers

Dear Editor,

Repetitive loud noise from any quarter, be it music, sawmill, factory or revs of motorcycle and boat engines, can be destructive to health and mental stability of individuals.

Sadly, some parents leave children near loud speakers to harden their hearing, not realising the destruction to the children’s hearing, which could lead to speech impairment.

I recall similar incidents involving the AFC leadership where self-interest was put above country and certainly above the interest of those who they claim to represent.

The ongoing controversy surrounding the AFC’s objection to the Specialty Hospital is a reflection of such selfinterest. Ramjattan fought tooth and nail to derail the project. Today he joins with the APNU and uses his position as leader of the AFC to oppose the project and to illegally cut the budget of other developmental projects. Yet he claims Government is not doing enough to create jobs and develop Guyana!

Ramjattan has also been a stern opponent to the construction of the Marriott Hotel, which is located next door to the Pegasus, raising a series of concerns none of which has proven to hold any merit.

So how can Ramjattan and Hughes claim to represent the interest of the people of Guyana when all they seem to do is propose policies and oppose projects that will only benefit the members the AFC.

Concerned citizen, Name and address provided

While the EPA is known to assist with investigating and recording, it does not have any enforcement arm, and depends heavily on the Guyana Police, which is also known to have prosecuted scores of individuals, even getting convictions.

Sadly the magistrates do not use the imprisonment arm provided by the law, and usually institute fines of $7000$20,000. I challenge the Judiciary/magistrates to try an experiment.

Start imprisoning people for noise nuisance, and witness how the noise complaints will be reduced. The promoters of shows and owners of bands or dance halls escape with a slap on the wrist, the fines being a mere joke to some of them, they do not realise that it is a criminal offence on their records.

Some believe that it is their democratic right to play their music regardless of how ugly the music might be to others. Some intentionally play useless loud noise to irritate neighbours, and when they complain, they are known to irritate them even more.

Occupational noise has been the most frequently studied, along with its negative impact on society and persons. But now social noise has the focus.

Not only is hearing loss, temporary or permanent, possible, sleep deprivation is another, along with proven se-

rious health issues such as cardiovascular (heart) function, community annoyance, hypertension, creation of stress syndrome, inability to study and concentrate, and several other medical ailments possible, including stroke.

Noise can lead to performance reduction, due to lack of sleep. Even violence is possible as people become disorientated and lose control easily.

A study conducted by Cornell University of the USA found that people working in a noisy environment can be less cognitively motivated. Children growing up near airports tend to lose their hearing.

Sound pollution can trigger the body’s stress response, causing a disruption in sleep cycles, among others, causing a loss of productivity and ability to perform, and hence, employers, government or private sector, suffer.

Chronic stress, which is caused also by noise, can lower immunity to all diseases, and hence, more people will fall ill, creating pressure on the medical budget and medical centres in a nation, no wonder we are having so many sick people in our country.

Noise pollution is a general threat to health and wellness.

My call to the police is – be most effective in prosecution, and the magistrates – start enforcing the imprisonment facility provided within the law. This needs to be publicised and some warning be given.

But all of it becomes an exercise in futility if the people affected do not develop bravado – have the courage and patience to make the report; give statements; attend court, which could be a bit slow; fear no noise criminal, regardless; and also complain about their threats if any are made, until

they are closed down or go to jail.

Having a licence for any show or any dance hall or barbecue gives no one the right to disturb another. They can still be closed down, licence or no licence. The National Commission of Law and Order, on which I sit as a Commissioner, takes noise nuisance and all criminal and law issues extremely seriously.

Let us as a nation display respect to each other, stop disturbing people and creating health hazards and annoyance, at the personal and community level.

Magistrates, please jail the criminal noise makers.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Commission Member National Commission of Law and Order

You can send

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

Page Foundation

At a glance

Guidance about moving on to secondary school after primary school, including how to choose the next school, how to prepare and cope in the early days.

Getting ready for secondary school Supporting your child at secondary school

may find difficult? Talk to your child about what they would find challenging at a particular school, as well as what would appeal.

How to choose a secondary school

You’ll probably already have some ideas about your local secondary schools, through talking to parents at your child’s primary school.

It’s important to include your child’s views about which secondary schools to apply to. Your child may be keen to continue school with current primary school friends and could be influenced by friends’ choices of secondary school.

Consider your child’s strengths and interests. Some secondary schools specialise in particular areas of the curriculum and this could help with your family’s decision.

Think about your child’s character and the character of the school in question: do the two ’match’, or are there aspects of the school that your child

Find out about extracurricular opportunities outside lessons as well as academic standards. Being involved in out-of-school clubs can make a huge difference to the enjoyment of secondary school as well as having benefits for learning. Look at the range of sports activities on offer too – these can differ widely from school to school.

Before the move

Moving from the top class of primary school, year six, to the bottom class of secondary, year seven, is probably the biggest change your child will have ever known. Don’t underestimate the importance of this moment in your child’s life, even if most of their friends are going to the same school, and you have older children.

Because moving schools is such a change in their lives, your child will almost certainly be nervous. Take time to talk things

through – or at least, let your child know that you realise they might be anxious and you’re willing to listen. Children often feel better about worries when they share them.

Common worries children have include:

• Bullying – Will I be bullied by older pupils?

• The journey – Will I get to school on time? What if the bus is late?

Finding my way around – My new school is so big, what if I get lost trying to find my classroom?

• The work – Will I be able to keep up with all my homework?

Getting there

For many children, moving to secondary school means a longer and more complicated journey without a parent or carer accompanying them.

Make sure you talk about the new journey, and try rehearsals to make sure your child is confident. Talk

about what they should do if things go wrong – what if the train is cancelled? What if the bus breaks down?

Try to find other children for your child to go with – friends from primary school are ideal. Be prepared to make the journey with them in the early days if this helps boost their confidence.

How to cope in the early days

Aim to keep your time as free as possible around the early days of secondary school – your child may be growing up, but this doesn’t mean you’re not needed. Could you get home from work early, or even work from home, so that you’re there to talk through how things are going when they return home?

The school is as keen as you are to make sure the early days go smoothly. If you have any worries ask if you can talk to your child’s form tutor or head of year. However small a problem seems, it’s worth approaching the school for support if you or your child have concerns. (BBC)

At a glance

How to provide practical and learning support for your child at secondary school.

The beginning and end of the school day

The beginning of the school day can be a rush for everyone. Your child will need to be far more organised at secondary school than he or she was at primary school. Establishing a routine in the morning and evening will help the day start smoothly and with minimum stress.

Tips for a positive start to the school day:

* encourage your child to pack their school bag and lay out their uniform before going to bed each evening

* try to make sure your child eats breakfast – this provides essential energy and will help him or her perform better at school

* allow plenty of time for your child to get to school –build extra time into your morning routine so that if there are transport or other problems he or she won’t be late for registration

* check each evening for

letters home or permission forms or homework diaries to sign as this will help avoid early morning panic and items being forgotten

Helping with homework

Your child will need to work more independently at secondary school than at primary school. But your interest and input will still be important and will help your child to do well.

Look for opportunities to talk to your child about schoolwork – children enjoy sharing what they are learning. Try to find topics you’re both interested in so it’s more of a conversation than an interrogation.

Ask your child if there’s anything you can do to help with homework. Discuss the organisation of the work. If your child has several assignments due in on the same day, suggest they space the work out rather than leave it all until the night before.

The following is a rough guide to how long your child should be spending on homework at secondary school:

• Years seven and eight – 45 to 90 minutes a day

• Year nine – 60 to 120 minutes a day

• Years 10 and 11 – 90 to 150 minutes a day

Other ways to support your child’s learning

You may not be reading with your child as you did at primary school but you can still support good reading habits. Talk to your child about the books you’re both reading. Ask what books your child would like for birthday and Christmas presents. Go to the library together – if your child is stuck for a new author, ask the librarian for guidance or look online at book reviews.

Keeping up-to-date with the news helps with schoolwork. Try to encourage your child to read a newspaper at least once or twice a week. Find news stories that connect to lesson topics. If your child is researching a subject, suggest the online archives of a good newspaper or the BBC website.

If you’re planning a day out, visit a museum or gallery that will tie in with work your child is doing in subjects such as art, English, history, geography or science – this can be a fun way to add depth and interest to your child’s learning. (BBC)

Carpenter killed in Coverden accident

Afather of three met his demise on Friday afternoon after he was slammed into a parked pick up at the Coverden Public Road, East Band Demerara (EBD) about 14:30h.

The mangled body of Aubrey Clarke, 47, of Lot 24 Public Road, Timehri, EBD was taken to the Lyken’s Funeral Home.

According to information received, the man who was referred to as “Jack of all trade” had left his Timehri, EBD home and was on his way to his mother’s residence in Coverden, on his bicycle when the tragedy occurred.

Based on reports gathered, Clarke was riding along the Coverden Public Road during which a truck that was towing another vehicle attempted to give clearance to a police convoy, but instead, part of the tray of the towed truck hooked the man and slammed him into the pick up bearing registration number GNN 3686.

The truck with plates GPP 818 then crashed into the pick up, pinning Clarke in the process. At the scene, there was blood everywhere with pieces of the man’s body on the front of the pick up

The police were busy taking measurements while the driver of the other pick up bearing registration number GMM 4826 was taken into police custody, assisting with investigations.

Darlington Blair, a cousin of the dead man told Guyana Times that he was at home when he received the message about the accident and immediately went to the scene.

He explained that his cousin’s body, which was badly damaged, was lying between the truck and the pick up.

The aggrieved man added the scene was too graphic to look at since there was blood almost everywhere. While he did not see the actual accident when it unfolded, he explained that the police vehicle was travelling with its siren on and as it approached the truck that was towing anoth-

er, the driver was told to pull in the corner.

He posited that the driver obeyed, but applied his breaks too rashly, causing the truck that he was towing to divert into the corner to prevent a collision, but instead picked up Clarke and slammed him into the pick up. He described his cousin as a hard working man who does a little of carpentry, masonry, and gardening for a living.

However, the owner of the towed truck, Lawrence Lamazon, who as in the driver’s seat when the accident occurred, explained that after the police alerted the driver who was towing him “to go into the corner”, the driver “mash” breaks too rash, causing him to take preventative measure, but ended up making contact with Clarke, who was pitched into the pick up.

He said that the accident could have been avoided if the police had taken more precaution when stopping the vehicles, claiming that the Bedford trucks are more difficult to be brought to a halt, especially when it is towing another.

More so, he added that if the driver of the front truck did not stop suddenly, the accident would have not occurred. Clarke leaves to mourn his wife, parents and three children. A post-mortem examination is expected to be performed shortly.

Assuria launches cross border coverage for motor insurance clients

Surinamese-based insurance company Assuria General GY Inc has launched the first ever cross border coverage to its motor clients here which will allow them to drive into that country and be guaranteed the same coverage they have locally, whether they have comprehensive or third party insurance.

In March 2012 Assuria, a leading and solid financial institution that offers security to the private and business market, entered into the Guyana market to take advantage of the opening of cross border trading in insurance business.

Surinamese Ambassador to Guyana, Nisa KurbanBaboe in welcoming the new cross border motor coverage service said Assuria is a trendsetter in the insurance market in Suriname with a formidable history and reputation.

Saying that she knows that starting up a business in a foreign country has lots of challenges, the Ambassador asserted that Assuria has proven to face these challenges successfully, observing that in two year of operation the insurance company has grown. “In September last year, Assuria extended her service to the people of Guyana by offering the motor insurance. And today it is a pleasure for me to see that Assuria is moving forward in her growth: the launching of this new insurance product which will benefit of both our people in Suriname and Guyana,” the Ambassador said.

According to her, companies are now operating in a dynamic and complex environment which requires organisations to be flexible and responsive to the demands of their environment in order to grow.

“You have to be innovative and competitive. Today Assuria has proven today to be innovative and competitive by offering this new product. And because of Assuria’s history, reputation and current practice as insurance company in Suriname and now also here in Guyana, I know, Assuria will continue to build up it-

Teen remanded on cannabis trafficking charge

Eighteen-year-old Andre Christian was remanded to prison on Friday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge of possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Christian, a mechanic of Lot 846 Aurora, Essequibo Coast, pleaded not guilty to the charge. It is alleged that on April 3 in the vi-

cinity of Stabroek Market, Georgetown, the defendant had in his possession 33 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that on the day in question, Christian was walking in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market when a plain clothes rank of the Guyana Police Force observed him acting suspiciously. The rank then

self as a regionally recognised quality insurance company,” the Surinamese envoy said.

She said it was hoped that citizens of both countries will make good use of this new insurance service to further more people to people contact. “Suriname and Guyana as neighbouring countries and members of Caricom and UNASUR share similarities in history, economy and culture. Both of us have interest in a successful transformation of our economy in the

region. With Assuria’s investment in Guyana and the extension of her services, I am convinced of further strengthening of our bilateral relationship and enhancing regional integration and regional development,” the Ambassador posited.

Assuria Life (GY) Inc and Assuria General (GY) Inc are companies which are subsidiaries of Assuria NV Assuria NV is the holding company of the shares of several other companies in Suriname. Through its operating companies Assuria

NV offers life insurances and general insurances, including term insurances, endowments and pension insurances, traffic, residence, travel and health insurances. Assuria is a large institutional investor, which is especially active in the field of mortgage loans and real estate development.

Assuria NV has substantial interest in a number of leading Surinamese companies. Furthermore, Assuria NV invests in the international capital market.

approached Christian and conducted a search with the defendant’s permission.

During the search, a plastic bag full of a substance suspected to be ganja was found in the crotch of the defendant. He was then told of the offence and arrested.

Bail was refused by the Chief Magistrate. The accused is expected to make another court appearance on May 8.

Dead: Aubrey Clarke

Ambassador Nisa Kurban-Baboe receives the first certificate of the cross border insurance policy from Yogindra Arjune – General Manager (ag) while, Marlien Pawiroredjo-Ranawikarta (Financial Attache) of the Suriname Embassy in Guyana (left) and Patricia Persaud – Head of General Department of the insurance company look on

Burnt Angoy’s Avenue man succumbs

The Angoy’s Avenue

man who suffered severe burns when a section of his home went up in flames on Thursday night succumbed to his injuries in the wee hours of Friday morning at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

According to reports, the man, Prince Sinclair, 38, also called “Black Boy” and “Tony” of Levis Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, lived alone. The incident took place about 20:15h.

Sister of the deceased Corrida Bacchus who lives a stone’s throw away from her late brother told Guyana Times that she was at a grocery shop in the area when she heard that the house where her now dead brother lived was on fire.

“A lil girl come and tell me that Tony house catch fire and I get so shock I start scream,” she recalled.

The woman said after calming herself down, she and a man rushed to the scene where their fears were confirmed.

Bacchus recalled that she saw her brother lying on the ground with flames around him.

“ Me and the boy hustle and pull grass out from the yard and try to out the fire on he… we then wrap he up in a bed sheet and take him hospital,” she said.

Hard life

The tearful woman told Guyana Times that her late brother was a good individual and they both had a hard life. They were reportedly raised by a maid after they were abandoned by their parents.

The late Sinclair was enlisted with the Guyana Defence Force some years ago and it was not until he

was diagnosed with a terminal illness that he became withdrawn, depressed and allegedly turned to drugs.

Reports are that Sinclair deliberately set himself on fire after being unable to cope with his illness, which he contracted unknowingly. He was a victim of molestation and stigmatisation by some residents.

According to information gathered, Sinclair seemed to be constantly in a depressed mood and would sometimes roam the streets all hours of the day and night.

One neighbour opined that the dead man needed a confidante and a friend to speak to, however, due to his terminal illness, he was shun by many and he subsequently became reclusive.

Sinclair’s sister said her late brother just laid there and allowed the inferno to take its course.

Reports are that the dead man was smoking ‘weed’ and fell into a haze and subsequently dropped the lit substance on his body which started the blaze.

According to hospital officials, Sinclair suffered third degree burns and although they tried their utmost to stabilise him, their efforts proved futile.

Chef on bail for alleged assault of common-law partner

Achef was granted bail on Friday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after being charged with unlawful assault.

Leslie Woolford pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him by the Chief Magistrate. It is alleged that on March 24 at Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, the defendant

assaulted Mia Manny, his common-law partner.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant told the court that on the day in question, the defendant and the virtual complainant (VC) had

a misunderstanding, and he dealt her several slaps to the face.

The court then advised the VC to obtain a protection order against the defendant.

Both the defendant and the VC were placed on a bond to keep the peace. Bail was granted in the sum of $25,000 by the Chief Magistrate. The defendant is expected to make another court appearance in May.

Musician on simple larceny charge gets bail

A musician charged with simple larceny was granted bail on Friday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Twenty-year-old Nokosi Clarke, of Lot 30 Hadfield Street, Lodge, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him by the Chief Magistrate.

It is alleged that the defendant on March 31 at John Street, Lodge, stole one laptop valued $125,000, property of Shane Jones.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant had no objections to bail and said the facts are as charged.

Bail was granted in the sum of $100,000. The defendant is expected to make another appearance on May 9 when statements will be filed.

Eyew tness Spreading the word...

...Twitter style

Buried in the innards of yesterday’s edition, was a short piece on the ongoing efforts of the U.S. to spread “democracy” to Cuba. Those who talk about “a woman’s work is never done” never considered the travails of a superpower in its quest to improve the lot of the world! Here it’s been more than half a century since Castro overthrew that exemplar of democracy – U.S. backed Batista, and the latter’s still trying to show Cubans the errors of their ways.

There are those who say Batista was a dictator...but in the words of Roosevelt, who made America fight a World War to save democracy, “he might’ve been a son-of-bitch, but he’s our son-of-a-bitch!” For those who are ignorant about what democracy is all about, let’s just say, it’s all about which side of the divide you’re on.

And even though the Cold War’s been over for two decades, Russia’s on the ropes, and communist China’s become the workshop of the U.S., Castro’s still on the wrong side of the divide.

So while everyone’s carrying on about Obama pumping Castro’s hand, it’s just been revealed in the aforementioned story that the U.S. had been conducting a covert operation to destabilise the Cuban Government. Why?

Well, duh!!! To spread democracy, of course. But unlike the bad old days of the Cold War, in this dawning of the age of communications, there was no training of troops for a new Bay of Pigs invasion. It was all handled by remote control, so to speak – and not by the big, bad CIA. Regime change for the U.S. is now handled by that purveyor of development – USAID. But instead of shipping “surplus” grain purchased at a premium and dumping it into third world countries, it’s now spreading “democracy”. By any means necessary.

In the case of Cuba believe it or not...the USAID worked with several American communication companies to create a “Twitter”-like platform, called it ZunXueno. They then bought half a million phone numbers from someone in the Cuban phone company and encouraged – surprise!!! – young people to sign on.

The USAID programme started out with weather and sports but “we should gradually increase the risk,” it proposed in a document. Like in Venezuela, USAID advocated using “smart mobs” only in “critical/ opportunistic situations.”

Now what was that programme the U.S. embassy was insisting be implemented in Guyana via USAID and the IRI? Democracy, no?

...Muckraker style

The Muckraker still insists it prints news. But that’ll be news to anyone who’ve read their coverage of the budget debates. One particular feature characterised their reports – do whatever is necessary to go after those they defined as their enemies. Even if it has nothing to do with the debates. Like Bharrat Jagdeo. They have the exPresident on their brains.

Imagine the chutzpah to take a poll in which their Opposition bedmates dropped the name of Jagdeo as a presidential candidate to gauge President Ramotar’s support and then claim Jagdeo was gunning for a third term!! If those fellas at the Muckraker would think of their wives as much as they think of Jagdeo, they’d be much less disgruntled.

Then when they bothered to mention the debate, they twisted the words of speakers to pursue their own vendettas. Like the one against NEW GPC INC. Neither Drs Norton nor Cummings mentioned the company when they spoke of drug shortages. How could they? That had to do with the re-ordering and inventory process, not purchases.

If that were fixed, NEW GPC INC would be getting larger orders to fill so as to cover the shortages!!!

...in Carnival cricket

The Limacol CPL just completed its draft. And with the IPL struggling all kinds of non-cricketing scandals and issues – look out for the league to become the dominant T-20 tournament in the world. Spread the word!!

Prince Sinclair

DEMTOCO posts $1.8B after-tax profit

The Demerara Tobacco Company Limited (DEMTOCO) has raked in $1.8 billion in aftertax profit for the year 2013, according to its annual report, which was presented at a recent Annual General Meeting.

According to the report, $3.5 billion was generated by operating activities for the period January 1 to December 31, 2013, of which a total of $1.47 billion was paid in taxes, while $14.59 million was spent on capital expenditure.

DEMTOCO Chairperson Amanda Cavill De Zavaley, in her presentation, stated that despite various economic challenges in 2013, the company has recorded a strong year, improving on its 2012 performance. “Our profit before tax of $3.2 billion represents an increase of 10 per cent over 2012. Overall revenues rose by six per cent and earnings per share improved by 10 per cent” to $79.

Although the company’s profit was overwhelming, De Zavaley said one of the issues that companies continue to face is the illicit trading of goods which deprive Governments of much-needed tax revenue, which could be used for economic development. Guyana, she added, is no exception to the global phenomenon of illicit trade.

She noted that in 2013, the company engaged with various authorities to address the issue of illicit trade and will continue to do so with regulators, concerned retailers, business associates, and other relevant stakeholders.

“As a legal industry that is seen as controversial, regulation adapted to reality is necessary in order to be able to communicate and market our products responsibly. We believe that as marketers of cigarettes, we are knowledgeable about the product’s design, manufacture, distribution and sale, and we are willing to work with regulators to provide measures that are in the best interest of all stakeholders,” Chairperson De Zavaley stressed. In addition, she posited that the exclusion of the industry from policy develop-

ment for the sector will prevent the possibility of good regulatory practice, reiterating that without consulting the regulated industry, a government cannot ensure that its proposed regulations will be effective in achieving its objectives and be only as burdensome as necessary.

“We have always advocated effective and balanced regulation of the tobacco industry, as the absence of such leads to illicit trade. We continue to take every opportunity to engage with key stakeholders on balanced regulation,” De Zavaley said.

Organic revenue growth

In his remarks, DEMTOCO Managing Director Jason Fourniller said the company was able to deliver organic revenue growth of six per cent despite adverse exchange rates and a challenging economic environment.

He said shareholders have received excellent returns, and more so highlighted that market share remains stable and volume performance is aligned to market expectations.

He noted that the company has continued to focus on improving productivity, addressing its cost base through system standardisation and productivity savings. Its strategy, he said,

is designed to deliver its vision of achieving leadership in the tobacco industry and building shareholder value.

Fourniller boasted that the company’s performance in 2013 reflects the resilience of its business strategy, which ensures focus on all aspects of the business to facilitate its long-term vision.

The company’s brands, both local and international, performed well in 2013, driven by improved retailer relationships and distribution expansion. These ventures, he posited, were fully supported by its longstanding partner in distribution, Edward B Beharry and Company.

“Our trade, marketing and distribution capabilities have equipped the sales team to meet the demands of an ever-changing retail en-

vironment. We continue to work closely with our retail partners to provide support in meeting the expectations of adult smokers with regard to availability, pricing, and brand quality,” he added.

In 2013, taxes paid to the Government amounted to just over $1.47 billion (46 per cent) of gross income compared to $3.6 billion in 2012.

Operating costs inclusive of marketing and overhead costs accounted for 11.31 per cent of gross income.

Charitable organisations

“Inclusive in our total overhead costs are contributions made to charitable and other organisations as part of our commitment to invest in our communities, improve our environment and the quality of life of many of our citizens. Return to investors amounted to $1.78 billion or 21 per cent compared to previous year of $1.67 billion or 21 per cent.”

Fourniller added that the company support and wants to help deliver balanced and enforceable tobacco regulation and, more so, wants to participate and support the Government with advice on and compliance with effective future laws.

The unintended consequences of such regulations create ideal conditions for counterfeiters and smug-

glers to thrive, he said. Apart from business, the Managing Director added that the company has long supported local community and charitable projects; hence, focus continues to be on sustainable agriculture and environment, empowerment, and enriching public and community life.

In 2013, the company responded to the needs of those within its immediate environs by contributing to the refurbishment of the Nazareth Home for Senior Citizens.

In addition, plans are in place to beautify Carmichael Street, as the organisation seeks, together with its corporate partners, to enhance look of communities.

As the business moves forward, it believes that building a portfolio of nextgeneration products alongside its main tobacco business will provide significant new opportunities in the years ahead.

The Managing Director added that the company ended 2013 in a solid position with strong global drive brands that grow in strength every year.

While the company cannot underestimate the challenges ahead in 2014, he is confident that it has robust plans in place and the resources to succeed.

Youth group donates medical drugs to Region 10

Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region 10, Dr Pansy Armstrong on Thursday received a quantity of medical drugs, handed over by the Experiment To Discover Hope Youth Group.

The drugs were made possible through an overseas-based medical team, spearheaded by Dr Wayne Sampson and Dr Collie Oudkerk, who both hail from Linden.

The drugs are expected

to be distributed to various health facilities across the community.

Health centres at Wisroc, Amelia’s Ward, One Mile, Vivian Parris, Silver Hill and others are expected to benefit from the donation.

Armstrong noted that the overseas-based team has been conducting outreach clinics in Linden annually for the past two years. The drugs consist of vitamins and painkill-

ers, among others, and were handed over in the boardroom of the Region 10 Democratic Council (RDC).

President of the youth group Natalia Jordan, who handed over the drugs, said they were pleased to be a part of the initiative.

“This is our way of giving back to the community. Our group is based on volunteerism and giving back. This is our way of showing the community that we

care.”

Armstrong said she was pleased to receive the pharmaceuticals and thanked the persons behind the initiative.

“I must say it’s a good gesture. This donation of drugs will go to the facilities that it is intended to go and it will benefit our community. We welcome the doctors yearly and we are thankful for what they have donated,” she stated.

Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region 10, Dr Pansy Armstrong receiving the medical drugs from Experiment To Discover Hope Youth Group President Natalia Jordan

DEMTOCO Chairperson Amanda Cavill De Zavaley

Managing Director Jason Fourniller

Region One authorities to probe chicken smuggling

The Region One administration will be probing allegations of chicken being smuggled from neighbouring Venezuela to Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD) following bitter complaints from business persons.

Region One Chairman Paul Pierre told Guyana Times that while he has not been informed of the illegal activity in the region, an investigation will soon commence.

“Cross-border trading has been going on for years now and persons usually trade a lot of things, including meat… I have not received any reports of persons smuggling chicken, but this could very well be true since the border is close by,” he noted.

The regional chairman said he will inform the regional environmental health officers about the situation, and have it looked into since there is currently no sub-regional officer in Port Kaituma.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in responding to the cries of the businessmen, said it is concerned about the smuggling of meat into the country.

The agency noted that Law Enforcement and Investigations Divisions (LEID) officers have been conducting anti-smuggling activities at Port Kaituma, Matthews Ridge,

Mabaruma and Kumaka, which resulted in large quantities of foreign alcoholic beverages and other goods being confiscated.

Challenges

GRA explained that while it has conducted several seizures in the NWD, it faces many challenges which include smugglers

ing legally imported,” the agency stated.

Earlier this week, a local poultry farmer and shop owner reported to the media that the smuggling of chicken meat from the neighbouring country has caused a significant decline in their business operations in the North West District.

be

being tipped off prior to visits of officers, seemingly by persons at the airport.

“Despite the GRA not having a long-term active or permanent presence in that location, the Guyana Police Force does have a base in the North West District and as part of the National Taskforce on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband is equipped to detain persons suspected of smuggling and can seize goods suspected of not be-

allegations of

Poultry farmer, Rajesh Tirbani, related that he has been supplying chicken meat to North-West retailers for the past five years; however, over the past few months, there has been a major decline in the sales.

He disclosed that the discovery was made in October last year after he began experiencing a decline in his business and decided to investigate.

According to Tirbani, the smuggled meat is

bought by some shop owners to resell to persons in the food business. The man claimed that chemicals are used to rear the chicken.

“These chickens are about less than 42 days old and what happen is that they use chemicals to breed these chickens so that they can get about five or sixpound chickens,” he explained.

Losses

The businessman said he has several regular customers at NWD who are also suffering since the smugglers retail the meat at almost half the price businesses sell in the interior.

One customer, Seecharran (only name given) explained that the smugglers sell the chicken at a much cheaper price, since they do not pay any taxes, but businessmen such as himself, cannot afford to match the prices.

Seecharran disclosed that he sees when the boat arrives and offloads the meat. “I see when the chicken comes, who they distribute it to. I even see when they changing the packet. The boat does come every other day, so I see this,” the man related; however, he noted that he does not know who the smugglers are.

“It is interfering with the whole poultry industry,” the two men said during the interview.

De Mayor-fuh-Life want another term

Day in and day out certain people still frettin bout Jagdeo and another term as Prezzi. Anyhow dem twist and turn, it botherin dem. It deh pun dem mind. Dem can’t help it. De people want it and dem don’t want it. That is whah botherin dem. De people want Ramotar too. And that botherin dem too.

But de former Prezzi done seh he don’t want a third term. And no matter how much de man tell dem de same thing over and over, dem ain’t listenin. Adumb knees still bucklin, de Mook gettin jittery, Rum Jhaat gettin bassidy, and Lalloo start stammerin.

If any body cut Nagga Man, dem ain’t gon find blood because he gettin cold feet. And that cold feet ain’t come from de ice in dem glasses whah he does hold on to until dem empty to the last drop. Green Jah runnin helter skelter and Hard Mouth get soft till he lips tremblin. Now Sly Paul resign and another Em-P get sick. So is sheer confusion in de camp. Not even Green Jah accustom to dem kinda camp. De more Jagdeo keep quiet, is de more dem bawlin. Old people seh silence is golden, but right now Jagdeo silence is like a hammer pun some people head. Even de Guvament Hammer Man hammer don’t knock so hard.

De only man who ain’t worryin bout another term is de Mayor-fuh-Life Green Ham. He done got that lock down. After all Green Ham is de Mayor-fuh-Life till he dead. He ain’t kay if is a third term or fourth term. He want de whole term plus all de terms.

De Mayor-fuh-Life ain’t kay fuh de Guvament money to clean up GT de garbage town. He seh he don’t want de Guvament money. He just want another term. De Mayorfuh-Life ain’t kay fuh Sooba, he just want another term. Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! De Mayor-fuh-Life ain’t even kay bout dem people at Waterloo Street and de other set down by a market who ain’t pay dem taxes. De Mayor-fuh-Life just want another term no matter de terms!

City Hall worried about illegal high-rise buildings

Town Clerk Carol Sooba said the Georgetown City Council will be taking steps to stop illicit construction of high-rise buildings in and around the city.

Attention will be paid to buildings three-storeys and higher without relevant documentation.

Speaking to media operatives, Sooba singled out three of the buildings that have since come under the radar of her office, as a result of them not submitting a geotechnical report to the council.

One of the buildings, she said, includes the Camex Restaurants Inc on Durban Street.

The Town Clerk explained that a geotechnical report was not submitted by the contractors or owners of the building. The report provides details of the foundation of the building.

“These buildings can create a major threat to life and limbs… any building that exceeds three storeys in height should have a geotechnical report,” said Sooba.

The Town Clerk went on to indicate that the geotechnical report is supposed to be submitted at the same time as the other prerequisite documents, with respect to the buildings that are targeted.

Sooba explained that the geotechnical report was never submitted and attributed this to a “breakdown” in communication between two departments of the City Council.

She went on to explain that she was instructed to

file an injunction against the contractors of the buildings, to halt construction.

Meanwhile, Camex Limited Chief Executive Officer Terrence Campbell, when contacted, said the council did not ask him to submit a geotechnical report on the building.

He related that when he submitted the building plan and other relevant documents to the City Council and the Central Planning and Housing Authority, some two years

ago, the plan for the building was approved without the mention of a need for a geotechnical report.

Campbell went on to say that his company is investing some $30 million in installing piles to strengthen the foundation of the building.

Thus far, he said 52 steel piles have been driven The CEO also maintained that the leaning building is a part of its architecture, noting that the

structure is presently settling on the north-east position.

He further related that he is in support of steps being taken by the recently appointed City Engineer Colvern Venture, to ensure that city buildings are formidable.

“I am 500 per cent in support of the steps Mr Venture has announced… which indicate that going forward, there will be need a geotechnical report,” said Campbell.

Defending the building under construction, the CEO said “when the work is done and if there is an earthquake in Guyana, I’d rather be in that building than any place else”. Only recently, a threestorey building at North Road and Ornoque Street was demolished after it was discovered that it was sinking. Sources told media operatives that the building was without any construction piles to secure its foundation.

The Region One administration will

probing

chicken being smuggled from neighbouring Venezuela to Port Kaituma, North West District

The leaning Camex Building at Durban Street

This building is also on the City Council’s radar

Justice Institute gets $51.2M from EU

Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký and Justice Institute of Guyana Executive Director, Melinda Janki on Thursday signed a grant contract to implement a project titled “Step by Step to Self-Sufficiency’’.

The grant involves the support of a maximum of €179,731 (G$51.2 million) and will be funded from the 2013 Non State Actors (NSA) country allocation for Guyana.

Ambassador Kopecký noted that: ‛‛The European Union recognises the integral role played by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the development of Guyana, and the Non State Actors and local authorities thematic programme provides funding opportunities to support civil society projects in Guyana.

The proposal from the Justice Institute of Guyana convinced us in its approach of empowering Amerindian communities. We look for-

ward to effective implementation of the project.”

According to a release, the specific objectives of the action by The Justice Institute of Guyana are to empower Amerindian Village Councils to function more efficiently and effectively; to empower them to develop village rules; and to strengthen their capacity to enable them to become more productive and selfsufficient.

Additionally, the action also foresees strengthening the participation of Amerindian communities in governmental consultation processes.

The aforementioned activities will be implemented primarily via the provision of technical legal advice and support, technical legal drafting expertise and legal representation. Further, it is foreseen that the production of model village rules, a code of conduct for Amerindian village councils, model mining agreements and the production of policy papers and DVDs will be financed under the grant.

Policy instrument

The thematic programme ‛Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development’, introduced in 2007 is a development policy instrument of the European Consensus on Development.

The European Consensus on Development recognises the key role of civil society in promoting development. Hence, poverty alleviation per se and the capacity building of civil society are central objectives of Europe’s development agenda.

With this in mind, the EU delegation in Guyana has since 2008 launched regular calls for proposal under this thematic line, and to date has provided fi-

Anna Regina IMC to take serious action against abusive vendors

The Interim Management Committee of the Anna Regina Town Council will be taking serious action against two vendors who verbally abused two Councillors in a recent incident on Wednesday.

The duo became angry after the Clerk of the Market posted a list of the names of vendors and stallholders who owe the Council market fees arrears, shouting at the IMC Councillors present at the time whom they described as “jackasses”. Approximately $6 million is owed by vendors/stallholders to the Council.

One vendor also verbally abused the Clerk of the Market and accused him of not being in office whenever he wanted to pay his monthly market fees. The Council has made provisions for vendors to pay their market fees daily, weekly, or monthly.

At the statutory meeting for the IMC on Thursday, Councillors reported that the two vendors who instigated the incident told other vendors not to pay their fees to the IMC.

The matter was discussed in detail and the Council decided to take stern action against those vendors and stallholders who do not com-

ply with the market by-laws. Councillors said the vendors disrespected the integrity of the Council and tried to degrade them. It was noted that Councillors attached to the Anna Regina IMC are volunteering their time and services, free of cost.

The IMC said the market by-laws will be applied in full against any vendor or stallholder who refuses to pay his or her rental fees and does not want to comply with regulations concerning the timely payments of market fees.

The Council will also not be extending credit beyond a month.

Gold board office in Bartica shuts down

nancial assistance to a total of 23 beneficiaries totalling approximately €6.4 million (G$1.8 billion).

It is envisaged that the grant to The Justice Institute of Guyana will supplement the work already undertaken by other grant beneficiaries locally and the organisation will be working over the next 36 months towards the effective roll-out of the activities foreseen under the intervention.

Moreover, the Justice Institute is, in partnership with the Equal Rights Trust (ERT), a UKregistered think tank, holding a judicial colloquium in Georgetown on April 4 and 5.

The colloquium is funded via EU assistance to the Equal Rights Trust and covers key developments and international best practice in the field of anti-discrimination law, with a particular focus on comparative jurisprudence from other jurisdictions, and is being supported by the Supreme Court of Guyana.

The colloquium is being attended by senior members of ERT’s global network of equality experts, including former supreme court judges from Canada and the UK, and a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

– police called in to investigate gold tampering

The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) has called in the police to investigate an issue of gold being tampered with during the purchasing process.

According to a release, to facilitate the investigation, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has accepted the decision of the GGB directors to temporarily close all operations at the Bartica sub-office.

The police are currently questioning several persons,

including the employees of both the Bartica sub-office and the main office in Georgetown.

The Ministry and the Board of Directors have convened a meeting with various stakeholders, including the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association and the licensed gold dealers to ensure that this matter does not disrupt the overall trading of gold; particularly in the Region Seven location.

The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) has called in the police to investigate gold tampering at Bartica

Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký and Justice Institute of Guyana Executive Director, Melinda Janki sign the agreement

saturday, april 5, 2014 |

Enough not being done to address youth unemployment – Dr Roopnaraine

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) and Vice Chairman, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said Government has failed to address the high level of unemployment and underemployment in the budget.

Speaking during the budget debates on Thursday, Dr Roopnaraine said, “There is no evidence that the unemployment and underemployment issue being seriously addressed, and there is no policy or programmatic attempt to confront it in the 2014 budget.”

The APNU member said it seems as though Government is at a lost on how to create jobs, more so, how to stimulate the private sector in this regard.

He pointed out that the Finance Minister managed to complete his presentation without even directly making any reference to the unemployment and what measures his administration intends to undertake to address the situation.

Dr Roopnaraine stated that Government has opted to answer the issue of unemployment by merely highlighting the various training programmes offered, adding that even though a few jobs are created through enterprising entrepreneurs, it is still not done in the magnitude required.

He stressed that Government continues to bank on the only major project it started, that is, the Qualfon Call Centre.

“Qualfon’s 6000 promised jobs in the business of pro-

cess outsourcing is undoubtedly a big development in the information technology sector,” Dr Roopnaraine stated.

Failure

The APNU parliamentarian noted that the Government has failed miserably to attract investors, who would significantly transform the economy.

“The danger of this straitjacket was evident in the fall in foreign exchange earnings in 2013. Sugar was down because of production problems, so too was the economic star gold because of the slide in world prices. Rice returns were up, but in essence, a set off against what Guyana would have spent purchasing oil. Bauxite and timber had unimpressive showings. There was no other co-star to share the stage, 22 uninterrupted years of PPP/C governance has failed to restructure and transform the pillars of the economy and there are dangers to each of the estab-

lished sectors in the years ahead,” he mentioned.

Turning his attention to the Low Carbon Development Strategy, the APNU MP said had there been more integrated policies and robust practices undertaken to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, the Government would have earned the right to firmly say that Guyana has “earned” the funds given by Norway.

“We have been allocated money for avoided deforestation against an absurdly high reference level, but even the deforestation increased by 50 per cent in calendar year 2012 over the previous year 2011,” the APNU Chairman disclosed.

Dr Roopnaraine detailed monies injected into each key programmes and projects as he compared them to works that were actually done in those areas.

Not forgotten

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) MP Komal Chand during his presentation said this year’s budget has focussed intensely on the social sector, while noting that the expenditure in this sector is probably Government’s clearest indication that the working and poor people have not been forgotten.

“Given our developing status, this is not a small amount. It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ease the hardships of our hard-pressed people,” he said. The MP highlighted the remarkable progress made in the housing sector, allowing thousands of Guyanese

to own their own homes. This, he noted, is supported with the introduction of the Mortgage Interest Relief initiative last year.

The Government PM continued that the same success was seen in the water sector with new installation, modernisation and rehabilitation.

“By 2006, Comrade Speaker, some 91 per cent of household in Guyana has access to safe drinking water, a significant increase as against 50 per cent in 1990, according to our Guyana Millennium Development Goals Report 2011,” he said.

However, Chand expressed his disappointment that the Income Tax threshold was not adjusted. He expressed disappointment that the Tax Reform, which was decided upon some two years ago, had not been realised. The parliamentarian urged the Minister to get this in order by next year’s budget.

Ramnarine tipped to head Police A Division

BY BHISHAM MOHAMED

Two of the most controversial senior police officers are expected to take command of one of the more difficult divisions as new Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud asserts his leadership of the organisation.

Guyana Times understands that Assistant Police Commissioner (ACP) David Ramnarine will take over leadership of A Division from retired ACP George Vyphius. He will be assisted by Senior Police Superintendent Clifton Hicken.

Ramnarine joined the force as a Constable and subsequently was chosen to join the Guyana Defence Force’s Cadet Officer Programme in April 1992, where he spent 11 months. Immediately after his graduation, Ramnarine was on a 30-man unit tasked with recapturing several convicts who had escaped from the Mazaruni Prison in 1994.

In 2004, the now Assistant Police Commissioner was again chosen to lead a 10man team to capture the notorious Hilton Rodrigues

in Berbice. He was then transferred from Berbice to Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, where he coordinated the Community Policing arm of the force. Soon after, he was posted at the Public Relations Office.

He was also posted to several divisions where he acted as Deputy Commander on several occasions. At 40, he was appointed Assistant Police Commissioner and took over E&F Division.

After some controversial comments and a back

and forth between him and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee over a $90 million allocation for elections duties, Ramnarine was removed as C Division Commander and posted to the Police Headquarters to work in the administrative section.

Hicken on the other hand also faced public scrutiny for his role in the Linden unrest during which three men were shot and killed and several others injured.

Since then, he has been shifted around to several divisions, with the last being D Division, where he served as deputy under Assistant Commissioner Eric Bassant, who has retired.

He was tipped to take over from Bassant, but Superintendant Ian Amsterdam is now expected to fill that post.

Superintendent of Police Errol Watts, who once headed the Police Narcotics Branch (PNB), is tipped to head the Tactical Service Unit (TSU) while Superintendant Kurliegh Simon, who was in charge of the TSU, will be heading the Guyana Police Force Training School.

Meanwhile, Winston Cosbert, who was Deputy Crime Chief to Seelall Persaud, was overlooked for the post and has been shifted to head the Special Branch Department while Senior Superintendent Leslie James, who once headed the Special Branch, will become the new head of the Criminal Investigative Department (CID). (bhishamm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Govt awaits CLE’s decision on UG law students

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said the Government is awaiting a response from the Council of Legal Education (CLE) regarding the automatic entry of Guyanese students into the Huge Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago.

In a statement, Nandlall said the Government expects the response will be favourable to the Guyanese graduands.

“Government remains ready, able and willing to work with the University of Guyana, the University of the West Indies, the Council of Legal Education and any other stakeholder to bring a speedy and long-term resolution to this matter.”

At the recently concluded 25th Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) intersessional meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines, President Donald Ramotar raised the decision of the executive board of the CLE, made in February 2014 in Bridgetown, Barbados, which has serious implications for the access to the law schools and consequently admission to practice law by persons, other than graduates of the University of the West Indies (UWI), more particularly, graduates of the University of Guyana (UG).

In essence, this decision of the council will jeopardise the automatic admission of LLB graduands from the University of Guyana into the Hugh Wooding

Latest

Law School, which existed under a UWI/UG/ CLE Collaborative Agreement that guaranteed the top 25 UG graduands automatic entry to the law school. This agreement expired and has not been renewed for the year 2014. This matter was discussed at the aforementioned intersessional meeting of the heads and it was resolved that Caricom Chairman and St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, write to the CLE Chairman, conveying the views and the decision of the heads of Government on the matter.

On March 31, Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves dispatched a letter to CLE’s Chairman, Jamaica’s Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline SamuelsBrowne.

Nandlall said the Government is hoping for a favourable response as it awaits the response from the CLE.

Caricom View focuses on region’s 40th anniversary

The Caribbean Community in 2013 observed its 40th anniversary with Heads of Government returning to the Community’s cradle at Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago, for celebratory activities that included a rededication to the principles of the founding Treaty of Chaguaramas.

The March 2014 edition of the Caricom View offers insight into the activities of the 40th anniversary, and highlights the strong integration sentiments of the Heads of Government of the four founding member states – Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

The edition also contains the 40th anniversary Distinguished Lecture delivered by Caricom Secretary

General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus in which he delves into the community’s history and provides his vision of its future in an indepth presentation.

Articles on the role statistics plays in the community’s development, and the Secretariat’s expanding mandates over the years are covered by the Project Director, Regional Statistics, Dr Philomen Harrison and former Assistant SecretaryGeneral, Regional Trade and Economic Integration, Ambassador Byrone Blake, respectively.

The March 2014 edition of the Caricom View is now available online at http:// caricom.org/caricom-view40th-anniversary-edition. pdf

PPP/C MP Komal Chand

APNU MP, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

Senior Police Superintendent Clifton Hicken

Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Shortage of road repair materials hampering work – construction firm

Nabi and Sons Limited said the current countrywide shortage of road repair materials, including the vital “crusher run” stone, is hampering the pace at which roads are being reinstated.

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in a release has indicated that all measures are being explored to ensure that road repairs continue, despite the material shortage.

A GWI team including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaik Baksh, programme managers and engineers, toured a number of sites to inspect the reinstatement of roads, bridges

and private property damaged during the US$10 million Government of Guyana and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme (GSIP) on April 1. Also present at the tour were the contractors of the project Nabi and Sons Limited and representatives of the supervision consultants, GITEC.

The team inspected streets which were completed following the reinstatement of the sewerage delivery main, including the junction at Hadfield and Haley Streets, Sussex, Forshaw, New Market, Regent, Barrack, Quamina,

Waterloo, Wellington, Smythe and Light Streets.

The GWI officials indicated their satisfaction with the reinstatement works and remarked that the same quality of work is

expected from the contractors for the streets, which will require repairs following the reinstatement of the force mains.

Closed roads

“This phase of the programme is ongoing and will result in closed roads and traffic diversion in the following streets: Light Street and South Road junction to Regent and Light Street junction; Smyth and Hadfield junction to Smyth and South Road; Wellington and South Road to Wellington and Regent streets; Hadfield and Winter Place to South Road junction; Wellington and Regent to Wellington and

Quamina Streets,” GWI said in a release.

The utility company is appealing to Georgetown residents for their patience as the remaining force main measures 580 mm in diametre and will require significant excavation of the aforementioned roadways.

GWI has requested that contractors continue to ensure that the least inconvenience is caused to motorists and pedestrians and that all measures continue to be maintained to avoid hampering the flow of traffic. The issue of dust emanating from work sites was also addressed and GWI requested that additional

measures be implemented for dust control. Improved safety signs for motorists were also requested by GWI and the representatives of the contracting company indicated that this would be treated as a priority. Upon completion of the programme, expected in the third quarter of 2014, residents can expect a significant reduction in sewage overflows and an overall improvement in the sanitation and hygiene of Georgetown.

The utility remains committed to consistently monitoring all works being executed by contractors in the interest of minimising the inconvenience of road users as well as their safety.

Amerindians are green economy trailblazers – Sukhai

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

Amerindian Affairs

Minister Pauline Sukhai said Amerindians are blazing the trail with respect to developing a green economy.

She said over the next three years, 166 villages and communities will directly benefit from US$6 million expected to be released from the Kingdom of Norway under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

Under the Government of Guyana and Kingdom of Norway agreement, the indigenous population stands to benefit from US$16 million, Sukhai boasted to her colleagues, sitting on the opposite side of the House in her contribution to the House during the 2014 budget debates.

She explained that the US$6 million has been allocated for the execution of low carbon projects that would transform the economic landscape of Amerindian villages and communities.

“Twenty-six villages are in various stages of implementation of their projects and these include, agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, logging and village enterprises,” she informed the National Assembly.

Titling and demarcation

Titling and demarcation remain a priority of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration in keeping with its 2011 Elections Manifesto.

Minister Sukhai said since the last congress, significant support for land rights and tenure security were recorded, pointing out that during the last Toshao Council Meeting in October 2013, $10 million was released to address the remaining applications for

land titles to Amerindians.

“In the next three years, US$10.7 million has been allocated from GRIF [Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund] funds to address the outstanding request for titling and demarcation of lands to Amerindians. Today, the Amerindians are the largest private land owners with collective rights over more than 14 per cent of Guyana’s land mass,” the Amerindian Affairs Minister pointed out.

According to her, this signals the PPP/C's continued commitment to the development of the lives of more than 70,000 Amerindians.

Investment In 2014, $796 million has been allocated for the continuation of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP), an initiative that will continue to provide training in computer literacy. Using this allocation, it is expected that the project would now include Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10.

The Minister recalled that the programme started in June 2013 with $200 million, targeting 886 young persons from Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine. Sukhai argued that through this programme, there has been an

improvement in the governance systems in indigenous communities, with youths playing a more leading role.

“Additionally, Mr Speaker, 198 Amerindian youths were trained in the management of PV systems (solar panels) and basic computer hardware (installation of solar panels).”

Education

In the field of education, Sukhai poured cold water on allegations being peddled by the Opposition that Amerindian students are receiving education below par. Taking her sitting members back in history, she said “we can recall that CPC under the PNC days, the enrolment of Amerindian teachers were minimal,” the Amerindian Affairs Minister posited, noting that the “hinterland schools depended mostly on coastal teachers. Since the PPP/C took office, this has been completely turned around”.

It was pointed out that Martha George; a student of the Waramadong Secondary School completed her medical degree in Cuba and now serves her country justly. “Isn’t this an evidence of equity towards access to quality education that the PPP/C Government has pioneered?”

Over the past 20 years,

the Hinterland Scholarship Programme has produced 7000 hinterland students, with $350 million being injected into this initiative over the last five years. This year, the Government has made provisions to the tune of $66.6 million, tar-

geting 470 students.

“As proposed in the 2014 budget, more than 30,000 students, Amerindian students, will benefit from the $10,000 grant, and I hope the Opposition will not deny this right to our Amerindian brothers and sisters and our children. This is an additional $300 million education support to indigenous students.” Additionally, the National School Uniform Project will benefit approximately 30,000 students in hinterland communities; an investment of $350 million for a five-year period.

Admitting that the Primary Health Care System is experiencing challenges in Amerindian communities, the Amerindian Affairs Minister argued that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Dr George Norton would give the PPP/C credit for the tremendous work done thus far.

She pointed to the last five years where an estimated 7000 patients received subsidised associated medical support, meals and accommodation in addition to free medical supplies, transportation, treatment and patient care from the Amerindian Princes Street Hastel.

Agriculture

Meanwhile, in the area of agriculture, Sukhai pointed out that 33 tractors, trailers and implements (plough and harrow) were distributed to farmers, helping them in the areas of cultivation, transportation and marketing their produce.

“The assertion made yesterday (Wednesday) by Honourable Hastings that the upper Mazaruni’s agricultural potential is not being supported, I strongly differ because MOAA [Ministry of Amerindian Affairs] has distributed tractors and agricultural

implements to Omenike/ Kambaru, Kaikan and Paruima. What is wrong with the Opposition? Are their vision infected with cataract?” she asked.

Additionally, a whopping $2 billion has been pumped into road infrastructure development, targeting the Linden to Lethem, South Pakarimas to North Pakaraimas, Lethem to Aishalton roads. Today, the way has been paved for further improvement on information and communication technology in the hinterland. One hundred hubs are under construction in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, with an investment of $287 million. This investment is geared to benefit 70,000 persons, the majority of which are youths.

Transportation

In the last five years, land and water transportation programmes tallied at $376.2 million, which saw the distribution of 53 all terrain vehicles (ATV), 25 minibuses, 17 pickups, 65 boats and 101 engines.

“These vehicles and engines enhance and improve access to transportation for schoolchildren, emergencies and general transportation services from remote villages and communities.”

Giving an overall assessment of the $220 billion budget presented by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, Minister Sukhai said the money will be used to further transform Guyana’s economic landscape, simultaneously improving the lives of all Guyanese.

The budget, she said, offers practical measures that will meet the needs of the Guyanese people of all race, colour and creed. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

GWI CEO Shaik Baksh

In 2014, $796 million has been allocated for the continuation of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP)

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai

Regional Venezuelans wary that food ID cards are thin end of rationing wedge

Venezuelans queued on Friday to register for an electronic card system designed to end food shortages that have plagued the country – but which some fear may be the thin end of the rationing wedge.

The ID card, introduced this week, will limit Venezuelans to once-a-week shopping and will set off an alarm to halt any transaction if a purchaser breaks the rules. The Government wants to prevent individual shoppers from “over-buying” in a country hit by acute shortages of basic items including milk, sugar, and toilet paper. Critics say it is an admission of failure of economic policy in one of the world’s big oil-producing nations.

“The Government needs

to control the hoarders. They have made this worse. But if there weren’t shortages, there wouldn’t be hoarders. We are trapped,” says Jose Diaz, a 65-year-old construction worker. By keeping a record of what is purchased and limiting shopping trips, the electronic card is supposed to curb hoarding and prevent speculative shoppers from buying to resell at a profit. But the larger aim is to halt the huge outflow of food to neighbouring Colombia, where it sells for up to 10 times as much. It is estimated that almost 40 per cent of Venezuela’s food is transported illegally across the border.

According to Food Minister Félix Osorio, registering for the card will

not be mandatory and regular users may still shop at the network of subsidised food chains. But as with many customer loyalty programmes, cardholders will benefit from even lower prices, extra offers and even enter a raffle to win one of 500 houses in Venezuela’s largest public housing programme.

Outside the Bicentenario megastore in Plaza Venezuela, a middle-class neighbourhood in the capital, Caracas, the line stretches for several blocks. Some of the people here have come to register for the new system; others simply want to buy food. Most of them have already been waiting for several hours. They are desperate over what they say is a lifetime

“Tens of thousands of jobs at risk” – Bahamian PM

Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie Thursday warned that tens of thousands of Caribbean citizens could become impoverished if the region’s offshore financial services sector is destroyed.

Christie, speaking at the Third Caribbean Conference on the International Financial Services Sector in Nassau, made the declaration against the background of criticisms of the region’s offshore financial sector as

tax havens with inadequate regulation, making them a dumping ground for financial criminals.

“Some have used their power either unilaterally or in small groups of highpowered nations to impose their will, arguing that there is something fundamentally immoral, something intrinsically sinister, about the accumulation of wealth in offshore jurisdictions,” said Christie, reiterating a point he made last year in

his address to the General Assembly of the United Nations in defence of IFCs in the region.

“We reject that premise and we criticise in the strongest possible terms the efforts of some to maim and cripple, if not destroy, the offshore economies within our region.”

To the contrary of the criticisms, Christie argued that many of the region’s anti-money-laundering, antiterrorism funding, and anticriminal regulatory regimes are “far more robust and demonstrably far more effective than the corresponding regulatory regimes in many of the same countries that are leading the fight against us.”

The Bahamas has one of the Caribbean’s leading IFCs, behind the famed Cayman Islands. Indeed, after tourism, the financial services industry of The Bahamas is the country’s second largest industry, accounting for almost 20 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

spent standing in queues. The card, they hope, will put an end to a perverse cycle they say they cannot bear for much longer.

“This card will take the edge, the sense of panic, out of shopping. If we know that we will find rice or milk next time we come, we don’t need to stock up and so there will be more to go around,” says Oscar Romero, as he orders a cup of coffee from a street vendor to make the wait more pleasant.

Meanwhile, Spain has suspended the sale of police riot-control equipment to Venezuela due to instability there, two Spanish Government officials said Friday.

Weeks of protests against the Government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro have left more than 30 people dead, more than 500 injured and more than 2000 people detained, Amnesty International said in a report released this week.

Spain’s provisional suspension of the riot-control gear sales was quietly agreed to last month by a Government commission that includes the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior and Commerce, said the officials, who declined to be named because they are not authorised to publicly speak about the decision.

The suspension was first reported by Spain’s El Pais newspaper. (Excerpts from The Guardian and CNN)

Brazil’s Senate warns of country’s “vulnerability” to spying

ABrazilian Senate inquiry on United States spying in the country found Brazil “unprepared” to deal with eavesdropping by foreign agents and proposes a new law to address its “profound vulnerability”, according to a copy of a report obtained by Reuters.

The 301-page report, following an inquiry on disclosures last year that the U.S. National Security Agency had spied on the phone calls and emails of Brazilians, including President Dilma Rousseff, says Brazil’s Government is “unprepared to contend with intelligence activity by other governments or organisations.”

The Senate report, obtained by Reuters through a source in Brazil’s Congress, says Brazil’s vulnerabilities lie in the very choices it made in developing telecommunications infrastruc-

ture. Most of the undersea cables that carry international calls from Brazil, for instance, are routed through Miami – handling 90 per cent of the data sent from Brazil abroad.

The committee that conducted the inquiry suggested new legislation that would “develop protective mechanisms for cybernetic know-how and security.” Among other defences, the report suggests a law requiring court clearance before data of Brazilian users can be given to foreign authorities.

The wording of the report, which the Senate is expected to disclose publicly next week, suggests Brazil is more prone to foreign eavesdropping than senior officials so far have let on. Rousseff, in a speech last year at the United Nations, said: “Brazil knows how to protect itself.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

“Bring our children home” from Venezuela, protesters tell TT Govt

“Iwill not sleep until my son is returned,” said a mother of one of the eight Trinidadian Muslims being detained in Venezuela under anti-terror laws, at a protest outside the Venezuelan Embassy in Port-of-Spain Wednesday. Visibly shaking, Gloria Charles-John was in tears at the protest organised by Inshan Ishmael’s Muslim Social and Cultural Foundation which called on the TT Government to se-

cure their prompt release from a prison in Caracas where the men are sharing the same cell.

Around 50 people from across TT’s Muslim community gathered on Victoria Avenue as TV cameras and reporters scrambled to the scene. During the protest, Ishmael received a telephone call from CharlesJohn’s son Wade Charles, one of those detained, who is allowed a one-minute phone call at the discre-

tion of prison staff. Hearing her son, Charles-John came to the front of the crowd to talk to him. She then pleaded with the Government to take action: “The Government have to bring our children back home. I’m calling on the Ministers to take them out of that country. My son is not a criminal.”

Charles was travelling to Venezuela with his wife and three of his children (aged five, eight and 11) when they were all detained. All the women and children taken from the Plaza Hotel in Caracas on March 19 were deported and flown home last Friday after being incarcerated for nine days.

His mother said Charles’s large family in T&T were going hungry while he was away. “Don’t stop,” said Charles on the telephone, which was placed on speakerphone for the crowd to hear. (Excerpt from TT Guardian)

Venezuelan police clash with demonstrators in Caracas. Critics say the food ID card is the most blatant sign that the economy has spiralled out of control (Santi Donaire/EPA photograph)

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff speaks during a ceremony to sign concession contracts for duplication of highways in several Brazilian states, at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, March 12

Bahamian PM Perry Christie

Members of the Muslim community during a protest for the release of eight TT nationals presently detained in Venezuela on suspected terrorism charges outside the Venezuelan Embassy

Deadly floods devastate Solomon Islands EU leaders pile more pressure on Russia

Heavy rain and flooding killed at least 16 people and left 10,500 homeless in the Solomon Islands’ capital Honiara, with another 30 missing and the death toll expected to rise, aid workers said.

Entire communities were swept away as the city’s main river, the Matanikau, burst its banks late on Thursday, bringing down bridges and inundating the downtown area in a disaster said to be

Mumbai gang rape: Death sentences for rapists

Acourt in India has sentenced three men to hang, under a new law which carries the death penalty for those convicted of multiple sexual assaults.

The men were convicted of raping a photojournalist in Mumbai last year. But they were also among five men sentenced to life last month for raping another woman in a separate incident in the city.

The trio are the first to be tried and convicted under the tough new law aimed at repeat sexual offenders. Friday’s sentences were announced at a court in Mumbai where Judge Shalini Phansalkar Joshi said: “There needs to be zero tolerance for such incidents,” the Agence FrancePresse news agency reported.

“A loud and clear message needs to be sent to society,” she added. Both the victims – an 18-year-old telephone operator and the photojournalist – were attacked last year. Both trials were completed within seven months in a fast-track court.

The 22-year-old photojournalist, an intern with a Mumbai-based magazine, had gone to the Shakti Mills – a former textile mill that now lies abandoned – with a male colleague on a photo assignment when she was attacked. Her colleague was beaten during the assault.

After that case made national headlines, the 18-year-old telephone operator came forward to report that she had been assaulted in the same place a month earlier. (Excerpt from BBC News)

one of the worst ever faced by the Pacific nation.

“This level of flooding is unusual. I’ve spoken to older people who lived on the island and they have said they’ve never seen anything like this before,” Save the

Children’s Solomons head of logistics, Graham Kenna, told Al Jazeera.

Kenna also said that 16 evacuation points had been set up to shelter more than 10,000 homeless people, a huge proportion of the population in a city of only 70,000.

Fear of dengue fever was a major concern in the evacuation camps.

“Dengue fever was an already growing crisis here before the flooding. It is getting worse and worse and I predict that the fever will skyrocket when the place dries up,” Kenna said. “We are trying to put in place and bring medical teams from Australia as there is only one hospital on the island where the capital is.”

The flooding followed days of heavy rain which was forecast to continue.

Al Jazeera’s senior meteorologist Everton Fox said the a low-pressure area could develop into a tropical storm.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China introduces measures to boost economic growth

China’s Government has acted for the first time this year to boost economic growth after a string of disappointing data led to fears of a slowdown.

The Government said it will cut taxes on small firms and speed up the construction of railway lines. The measures had previously been included in China’s economic work plan for 2014.

However, they had not before put them together in a package aimed at boosting growth.

“We will find innovative ways including fiscal and financial methods to... steady economic growth,” the Cabinet said in a statement on the Government’s website.

Shares in Asian stock exchanges rose after the move was announced.

After its weekly meeting on Wednesday, the Government announced the measures, including an 18 per cent increase in the total number of railway lines being built compared to last year. Most of those tracks will be laid in central and western regions of the country.

To finance the railway investment, the government will sell 150 billion yuan (US$24.6 billion) worth of Government bonds.

As further stimulus, Chinese authorities said they will also extend tax provisions granted to small businesses into 2016. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Ebola outbreak: Mali on alert

Mali is on alert over the deadly Ebola virus after three suspected cases were reported near the border with Guinea, where 86 people have died.

A BBC correspondent says there are tight controls on people entering the capital, Bamako, from the border area.

He says thermal-imaging cameras are screening passengers at the airport in case they have a fever. The virus, which is spread by close contact and kills 25 per cent- 90 per cent of its victims, has already spread to Liberia.

The top diplomat of the European Union (EU) has said Russia needs to show it is serious about defusing the Ukraine crisis by moving its troops back from the border, as Russia’s Foreign Minister ridiculed the EU-Ukraine relationship.

Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton made the comments on Friday at the start of a two-day meeting in Athens where EU foreign ministers gathered to discuss possible actions against Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said EU member states had to remain united about punitive measures taken against officials in Moscow and in the annexed peninsula.

“It’s very important for us to remain strong and united about the sanctions that we have implemented against individuals in

Russia and Crimea, and to prepare more far-reaching measures if they become necessary,” Hague said ahead of the meeting. No decision would be made in Athens, he added. Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania – the country that fears it could be one of the next victims of Russian aggression – said “Europe must stand united” against Moscow as concessions would be perceived as a “weakness” by the Kremlin.

Ukraine’s Westernbacked leaders scrambled on Friday to find new sources of energy after Russia hiked its gas price by 80 per cent in response to the overthrow of Kiev’s pro-Kremlin regime.

Yuriy Prodan, the Energy Minister, called the new rate “political” and vowed to explore solutions that included a heavier reliance on coal.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Afghan policeman shoots two foreign journalists; one dies

Aveteran Associated Press photographer who had covered wars around the world was shot dead and another reporter was wounded on Friday when an Afghan policeman opened fire on them in eastern Afghanistan, the news agency said.

Canadian reporter Kathy Gannon, who is based in Islamabad and has covered war and unrest in Afghanistan for 30 years, was shot twice and was receiving medical help, the AP said.

“The test turned out negative,” a spokesman for the airline said.

Six people have died in Liberia, out of 12 suspected cases, according to the local health authorities.

Sierra Leone has also reported suspected cases, while Senegal has closed its normally busy border with Guinea.

The BBC’s Alou Diawara in Bamako says the three people feared to have Ebola have been moved to isola-

Meanwhile, an Air France plane which landed in Paris from Guinea was quarantined for two hours on Friday morning after the crew suspected a passenger was infected with Ebola.

tion wards on the edge of the city.

Samples have been sent

to the U.S. for testing and the results are expected in a few days. (Excerpt

The attack took place on the eve of a presidential election in Afghanistan that Taliban insurgents have pledged to disrupt through a campaign of bombings and assassinations.

The AP said photographer Anja Niedringhaus, 48, was killed and reporter Kathy Gannon, 60, wounded while they were sitting in the back of a car.

Niedringhaus, an acclaimed German photographer who had covered conflict zones including Kuwait, Iraq, Libya, Gaza, and the West Bank, was killed instantly, according to an AP Television freelancer who witnessed the shooting.

Gannon underwent surgery in the eastern city of Khost. The operation was described as successful and Gannon’s condition was stable, the AP said.

“Anja and Kathy together have spent years in Afghanistan covering the conflict and the people there. Anja was a vibrant, dynamic journalist well-loved for her insightful photographs, her warm heart and joy for life. We are heartbroken at her loss,” AP Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll, speaking in New York, told the agency.

The two journalists were in a remote small town on Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan when the attack took place. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Observers said the flooding was one of the worst ever faced by the Pacific nation [World Vision]

Associated Press journalists Anja Niedringhaus (left) and Kathy Gannon

Opposition hindering progress – Chandarpal

Former Labour, Human Services and Social Security Minister and People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Indranie Chandarpal said the combined political Opposition is blocking development and progress in Guyana and this is evident in all that they do in the National Assembly.

In her presentation during the budget debates, the PPP/C stalwart noted that the Opposition has its own agenda and seems to deliberately ignore the progress made by Government.

“We have heard the various ministers presenting the information on the various sectors; we have heard the various initiatives which have provided jobs for thousands of Guyanese, but you know those across the table do not see any anything happening. There is a saying, Mr Speaker, that ‘There is none as blind as those who do not wish to see’. As far as the Opposition is concerned, we have not done anything good for Guyana. That is their preferred view,” the woman lamented.

“We know we have the potential to become the proverbial El Dorado if only

we can have the cooperation of the Opposition to put Guyana first,” Chandarpal noted.

Quoting the Caribbean Development Bank’s 2014 Development Report, she related that contrary to what the Opposition believes and preaches, Guyana has been “doing the right things” and has come a long way in said terms of the fiscal situation, disclosing that the country’s Gross Domestic Product has increased by 5.2 per cent, while the International Monetary Fund has stated that Guyana has seen over the years huge reductions in its public debts and poverty levels.

While making special reference to the Amaila Hydro Falls Project, Chandarpal noted that too often the Opposition seeks to cut projects which are meant to be beneficial to the poor class and subsequently impedes the progress of the developmental potential of the country.

Unsupportive

“We all aspire, Mr Speaker, to see a better Guyana, but when a transformative project like the Amaila Falls Project become possible, the Opposition, instead of being patriotic and supportive, opts to strangle the project. They constantly harp of the high cost of living but we all know that unless we have cheaper electricity we will not be able to advance the developmental agenda as quickly as we want,” the PPP/C MP highlighted.

The former Human Services and Social Security Minister related that former President of the country, Dr Cheddi Jagan has always put the Guyanese people first and the PPP/C will continue to do so by the means necessary.

In extending her support

for the $220 billion National Budget, Chandarpal said that the budget focused on the Guyanese people and was one which was dedicated to the people, the education of the future leaders and affordable housing. She made jabs at A Partnership of National Unity (APNU), disclosing that the Government was making allocations for the people’s benefits and was not spending the money on propaganda and machinery to stifle the people’s rights as the People’s National Congress (PNC) had done. She defended the allocation particularly to the sugar sector, noting that there was a time when the bauxite sector was failing and had needed the support of the Government which it received.

Chanderpal emphasised the point that the Opposition at that time had not objected to the numerous bailouts totalling billions of dollars, but is now seeing it as a waste of money for the Government to invest in the sugar sector, which is facing a similar crisis as the bauxite sector had experienced.

Princess Entertainment Centre donates computers to schools

The Princess Fun City

Entertainment Centre ended its two-month long free school tours initiative with a grand raffle, which saw five schools receiving new desktop computers. The winning schools were Endeavour Primary, Canje Secondary, Exe’s Nursery, All Saints Primary, and the Academy of Excellence. The lucky schools were chosen from more than 200 schools across the country that participated in the tour promotion. The presentation was done at the Entertainment Centre located within the Princess International Hotel and Casino, East Bank Demerara on Friday when the raffle was drawn.

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony was present for the handingover ceremony.

The promotion began in February and ran until the end of March during which some 10,000 students from nursery, primary and secondary schools were given free passes to enjoy games and movies. Eighteen hundred teachers and parents were also given free passes to participate in the activities.

This initiative was undertaken in association with the Education Ministry in order to stimulate student’s minds.

“This programme was very successful. We’ve received overwhelming responses from over 200 schools across the country, coming from several regions. Our management team was delighted to meet with the youngsters of this nation, who are also the future of this country; we expect having a pleasant association

in the future. It’s our hope that we create an experience where the parents, children, teachers shared memorable moments and an experience that will last a lifetime,” the

Entertainment Centre said.

The company is also making available its LED 15ftx12ft billboard screen free of cost to the Ministry to promote educational and informative messages.

Princess Fun City is the first of its kind in Guyana and offers families fun and entertainment, with more than 80 games, a 7D Cinema, dancing, street fighting, bowling and racing among the activities to choose from.

The two theatres can seat a maximum of 186 and 93 persons respectively and show the latest Hollywood, children, and Bollywood movies.

The Entertainment Centre has been recognised for its stellar offerings, winning the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business of the Year Award.

Small enterprises key to a sustainable Caribbean economy

The Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Government of Saint Lucia, hosted the Third Global Biennial Conference on Small States.

This year’s conference theme was “Building resilience in Small States”, with Government officials in attendance from 31 Caribbean, African, Pacific and the Indian Ocean small states. Representatives from academic institutions, regional and international organisations such as the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the World Bank were also in attendance.

The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), as well as the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) and representatives from non-governmental organisations from Mauritius and Samoa, were there from civil society.

“We are less at risk if we have policies that make us resilient,” Saint Lucia Prime Minister, Dr Kenny Anthony in his opening remarks to the conference, pointed to some of the key issues that were going to be discussed at this gathering of small state representatives.

Pillars

The conference drew on work by the Commonwealth’s Technical Working Group (TWG) on building resilience in small states, in particular the five-key pillars of resilience building: macro-economic stability, micro-economic market efficiency, good governance, social development and cohesion, and sound environmental management.

Potential opportunities for building resilience through transitioning to a new and inclusive model of economic development were discussed during the session titled “A civil society view of the priorities for the post-2015 agenda: building economic resilience through the green economy”.

The session was chaired by Organisation of American States (OAS) Department of Sustainable Development Director Cletus Springer and was attended by representatives from Caricom, the

International Trade Centre, the governments of Saint Lucia, Grenada, as well as civil society representatives from Samoa, Mauritius, and the Caribbean.

During the session, CANARI Technical Officer Loïza Rauzduel provided an overview of CANARI’s involvement in the post-2015 development agenda processes as a member of the International Research Forum. As an IRF member, CANARI is contributing an independent analysis of what are regional priorities for Caricom member states, including perspectives from Caribbean civil society. This will support strong negotiation positions in the post-2015 agenda process and help to ensure that this global agenda is relevant to the needs and opportunities in the Caribbean.

Discussions at the conference reflected consensus on the need for the post-2015 development agenda to focus on accelerating the development of the region.

Dialogue

The ongoing regional dialogue on green economy, led by CANARI, has recommended that there also needs to be a shift towards an alternative form of development that would achieve human well-being within climate and ecological boundaries, thus ensuring social equity and environmental sustainability.

While discussions pointed out that economic growth is still central for the sustainable development of the region, and as noted in the outcome statement of the conference, the use of GDP alone as a development measure has proved inadequate for small states.

Therefore, and as the session’s chair noted, the notion of growth certainly needs to be deconstructed, and tailored to specificities and needs. In light of this, CANARI recommended that small, medium and microenterprises (SMMEs), including those based on the sustainable use of the natural resources, should be at the centre of an economic growth strategy for Caribbean states.

Saint Lucia Prime Minister, Dr Kenny Anthony

PPP/C MP Indranie Chandarpal

The students and teachers of the winning schools pose with officials of the Princess Fun City and Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

A Princess Fun City official helps these pupils to draw the names of the winning schools on Friday

House breaks up over alleged racist comment

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

Budget debates in the National Assembly came to a halt on Friday, after it was alleged that Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment Odinga Lumumba imputed racist remarks, implicating Opposition Leader David Granger.

Lumumba, who was making his contribution to the National Budget Debate on Friday, drew a nexus between the Opposition’s unwillingness to support the $6 billion grant for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and racial discrimination.

He told the House “Any attempt to starve GuySuCo could be interpreted as ethnic cleansing.”

Lumumba also stated that Granger and the “Exminister of loom and doom MP Carl Greenidge”, had said that any subvention to the ailing sugar industry was a waste of much needed cash.

“It is waste when it affects a particular race, but business as usual when it comes to another. Mr Speaker, those who take this stand can be judged as architects of ethnic and geographical discrimination,” he added.

Granger on hearing

the remarks, sprang to his feet in objection. He asked the Deputy Speaker Basil Williams, who was presiding at the time, whether MP Lumumba was describing him as an “architect of ethnic discrimination”.

Refusal

“I never said that, I never said that,” Lumumba responded almost immediately with his usually thunderous, but hoarse voice. Williams had instructed him to withdraw the statement, but he objected.

“Withdraw what? Withdraw what words?” Lumumba asked.

At this time, Minister

within the Finance Ministry, Bishop Juan Edghill reminded the Opposition that Lumumba had warned the House that he was “going down a road covered with nails and broken bottles”.

Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira also came to the defence of her colleague.

And a decision was subsequently made for the House to take a five-minute break to have the matter resolved. Upon return, Lumumba said: “First of all, I want the National Assembly to understand my intention was in no way to call the Opposition leader a racist or suggest that.”

The Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment earlier in his presentation told the House that Guyana was at the cross roads, but the younger generation has not endured the pains felt by members on both sides of the House, pointing out Granger, APNU’s Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, AFC’s Moses Nagamootoo, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy.

“We felt pain because of the shattered dreams of this country from the wound inflicted on us, some of us witnessed deaths at our door steps, some of us witnessed injuries, and some of us were recipients of abusive

language, death threats and all forms of verbal and mental abuse,” Lumumba said.

According to him, APNU and to a lesser extent the Alliance For Change (AFC) have allowed race to creep into the 2014 Budget Debate without even knowing.

“I don’t believe that the chamber of Congress Place would encourage this or develop a proposal that would suggest sustainability of one group... against another,” he said.

But before hitting the hammer on the nail, he warned the House that he was going down a road that was covered with nails and broken bottled. “I don’t want to be misunderstood,” he cautioned the Opposition.

Comparison

According to the Presidential Advisor, he was going to deal with hard economic issues, drawing a comparison as to the status of the nation in 1992, to its current status.

He told the Speaker that the 2014 Budget Debate has become a tale of two cities. “We have to deal with bauxite, one city Linden, predominantly Afro-Guyanesebased and the other city GuySuCo, predominantly PPP-base. Mr Speaker, it is a tale I do not like.”

Going back in history, Lumumba pointed out the

period of 1975 to 1992 when the then Government was bailing out the sugar industry at the cost of US$500 million. According to him, Linden has a predominantly Afro-Guyanese community, the Burnham/Hoyte regime had to recognise that there was going to be economic consequence if they did not support the bauxite industry and by extension Linden. Still on Linden, but turning his attention to the provision of electricity, the PPP/C MP pointed out that the current administration from 2004-2013 has spent more than $20 billion, subsidising the cost of electricity in Linden and $2 billion in Kwakwani, Region 10. On the other side of the coin, he said GuySuCo must not be seen simply as sugar, but a community which represents culture, communities and an ethnic group. An industry which has a direct workforce of 18,000 people, 30,000 indirect workers and 100,000 families that depend on the industry and thousands of rice farmers who benefit tremendously from the drainage network established. “Over the last 20 years, 1994 to 2013, sugar earned US$2.5 billion compared to Bauxite US$1.7 billion in export earning and in particular, bauxite has 1394 direct employees, he said.

Opposition drowns out Manickchand

The budget debates in the National Assembly on Friday evening ended on quite a dramatic note as Education Minister Priya Manickchand was prevented from making her presentation after the Opposition created a storm.

As the Minister stood and began to speak after being asked to make her presentation by Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman, the combined Opposition began pounding their tables with loud shouts of “Apology for Sharma”.

The Speaker, who could not control the ruckus, asked for a five-minute suspension of the proceedings to hold talks with APNU Chief Whip Amna Ali and her PPP/C counterpart Gail Teixeira.

In the private meeting, APNU’s Ali reportedly told Teixeira that unless an apology was issued from the Education Minister, she will not be allowed to speak by the Opposition. The ultimatum was refused by Teixeira as she believed that the matter did not warrant an apology from the Minister.

After several futile attempts, the House resumed proceedings, but the Minister was again met with the same response from the Opposition, who demanded the apology for their former

member Jaipaul Sharma.

Despite repeated calls from the Speaker for the Opposition to desist from their disorderly behaviour and to allow the Minister to speak, the commotion persisted. The Speaker, following the disregard, stated that if orderly behaviour could not be achieved, the discussions will be postponed until Monday at 14:00h. Teixeira in an attempt to have the Minister make her presentation, asked the Speaker for a motion to be passed to give permission.

Rejected

They suggested a system of vote by standing, but the Opposition rejected the suggestion. The Speaker noted that he could not hear what was being said by Teixeira and repeatedly asked for silence in the National Assembly.

Silence was restored, but not for long as Manickchand was again asked for the third time to give her presentation on the National Budget, but was further prevented from doing so after the coalition raised their voices even louder.

The Speaker then noted that the situation had gone beyond control and adjourned the National Assembly until Monday at 14:00h.

Immediately after the adjournment, the Opposition sought to leave the Public Building while the Government side took the opportunity to hold a press conference.

Speaking first on the matter, Teixeira stated that the Opposition was only playing a game and was attempting to show their support now to Sharma after he would have resigned.

“The Opposition defied the Speaker even after having an agreement that was formulated two days ago. The APNU is trying to protect themselves and save face with the departure of Mr Jaipaul Sharma and to receive support from CN Sharma and his television station. They are now trying to use Minister Manickchand and the PPP Government as their whipping boy.

The 10th Parliament has been one of bullyism by the Opposition and they have been preventing the smooth running of this House and the passage in particular of the Budget 2014. “We can see clearly that the Opposition always wants their way and even when we do agree, they renege on the agreement,” the woman opined.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said the

Opposition was one not to be trusted and this was shown tonight.

He disclosed that on the day after the matter arose, a meeting was called with the Education Minister, Teixeira, APNU’s Joseph Harmon and Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, during which the Minister clearly repeated what she had stated and the Speaker and Harmon agreed to lift the ban since she did not specifically refer to Jaipaul Sharma. He related, however, that the party

had shown a different side last night.

“Education Minister Priya Manickchand is representing more than 180, 000 children across this country. Heckling is made every day in every Parliament and when she made her comments, she was drawing importance to an important national issue. Too many men who rape little girls are not being charged and when they are charged they are not prosecuted. They get sick, they leave the country and we must ignore it in

and out of the Parliament. We in the PPP/C will continue to highlight the issues and if that is the reason for them to continue to gag us, then we will go to the people and let them judge, let them make their decision,” Dr Ramsammy related.

He called the AFC members spineless, contending that they preach about rights and protection for all Guyanese, but could not stand in the Parliament and defend one of the most outstanding Guyanese woman.

PPP/C MP Odinga Lumumba making his contribution to the budget debates on Friday

Education Minister Priya Manickchand amid the loud protest from the other side of the House

SUDOKU

22Jan. 19)

Before you make accusations regarding a difficult situation, take a close look at your own actions. Consider that you may be just as much to blame as the other party.

20Feb. 19)

Take positive action for a cause you believe in. Don’t neglect your health or your financial concerns. Put greater effort into making your home convenient, efficient and comfortable.

A friend or partner may have reservations regarding something that you’re planning. While the possibilities may be very attractive, pay attention to the advice offered. Thorough research is a must.

Being presumptuous will lead to trouble. Ask before you volunteer someone for something. Avoid complaints by doing your share and offering positive affirmation. If you are a team player, you will bypass controversy.

You could certainly improve your financial situation by considering a personal or business partnership. Take full advantage of any favorable circumstances that arise; fate is in your corner.

Don’t blow your budget by buying unnecessary, expensive items for your home. Concentrate on a pending legal matter to ensure that you are getting your fair share. Be honest about your motives.

By Bernice Bede Osol

21July 22)

(July 23Aug. 22)

Curb your tendency toward rash speech when dealing with friends or family members. If you force your opinions on others, you will cause hurt feelings and bruised egos. It would be best to simply listen and observe. You will be praised for your professional attitude regarding changes in the workplace. Even if you have reservations, keep up with your responsibilities and take any new concepts in stride.

Someone has been less than honest with you. Don’t fall for false promises or lame excuses. Be true to your beliefs and goals. A relationship will undergo a sudden change.

23Oct. 23)

You have all the necessary ingredients for success. Be careful not to alienate your peers by being overbearing or aggressive. Avoid tension by being cooperative and congenial.

A trip or fact-finding mission will bring you into contact with influential individuals. Your superb memory will serve you well, enabling you to converse with someone with plenty to share.

23Dec. 21)

Don’t rush into a financial decision. Proceed carefully, taking time to investigate any contracts or documents that could indicate the nature of the risk you’re facing.

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Flashback! The lifeguard group of 2013 with Patrick D’Almada (seated centre), Director of Sport Neil Kumar and PS Alfred King (An Avenash Ramzan file photo)

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England Women thrash SA to reach final

England thrashed South Africa by nine wickets to reach a second successive Women’s World Twenty20 final.

After Anya Shrubsole took two early wickets, England were aided by five run-outs to dismiss South Africa for 101, with only Chloe Tryon (40) and Mignon du Preez (23) in double figures.

Sarah Taylor’s unbeaten 44 took England to their target inside 17 overs.

England, champions in 2009, meet their 2012 conquerors Australia in Sunday’s final in Mirpur.

That not only gives Charlotte Edwards’ side the opportunity to avenge their defeat in Sri Lanka two years ago, but also completes a 12-month period that has seen them regain the Ashes at home, then successfully defend them down under.

“This gives us confidence going into the next game,” Edwards told Test Match Special. “The batters are batting well and the bowlers have been exceptional all tournament. It was more of the same today.

“Anya was exceptional up front. She’s been brilliant, as she has been for the past 12 months. How she is performing is no surprise.”

Without injured bowlers Katherine Brunt and Laura Marsh, as well as spinner Holly Colvin - who has taken a break from cricket, England have looked to Shrubsole to lead their attack in Bangladesh.

The Somerset seamer

has responded with 12 wickets, the most in the tournament, and it was she who again set the tone against South Africa.

“The best way to stop the runs is to take wickets, particularly in the first six overs,” said Shrubsole. “I’ve been around long enough now to be able to step up.

“We’re working really well as a bowling unit and hopefully that can continue into the final.”

Late inswing saw Lizelle Lee and Trisha Chetty both bowled inside the first three overs and, when left-arm spinner Rebecca Grundy trapped Yolandi van der Westhuizen lbw, South Africa had stumbled to 14-3.

The run-outs of Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp pushed South Africa into deeper trouble, before captain Du Preez and Tryon

combined to add some respectability to the score.

But, after Du Preez was brilliantly caught at deep mid-wicket by Lydia Greenway off Grundy, Tryon was left to play a lone hand. She was comically involved in the run-out of Sune Luus, when the pair collided in the middle of the pitch, and was the last wicket to fall, bowled attempting to slog-sweep Nat Sciver. In the pursuit of such a modest target, England were virtually untroubled, with the partnership of Taylor and Edwards only broken when the skipper patted a return catch to spinner Luus to fall for 36.

But, joined by Heather Knight, Taylor continued to prosper and finished the job with 19 balls remaining with a scoop off the pace of Shabnim Ismail. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD

South Africa Women Innings

Lee b Shrubsole 0

Van Niekerk run out (S Taylor) 7 Chetty b Shrubsole 3 van der Westhuizen lbw b Grundy 6 Du Preez c Greenway b Grundy 23

Kapp run out (Edwards) 0 Tryon b Sciver 40

Luus run out (S Taylor) 5 Ismail run out (Shrubsole) 6

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2 Croal St, Stabroek, Georgetown. Fee: $16,000. Also obtain an International Driver’s

Brilliant Kohli leads India to WT20 final

Virat Kohli guided India to a six-wicket win over South Africa and a World Twenty20 final meeting with Sri Lanka in Mirpur.

Kohli’s classy 44-ball 72 not out got the 2007 champions to their target of 173 with five balls to spare.

Faf du Plessis’s 58 and 45 not out from JP Duminy had earlier carried South Africa to a competitive 172-4.

But Kohli gave India the opportunity to add to the World Cup and Champions Trophy titles they already hold.

Having easily won their four group matches, India, the tournament’s inaugural champions, nervelessly paced their chase to come through their sternest test so far.

Kohli, the leading runscorer in the latter stages of the tournament, expertly eschewed the pursuit of boundaries in favour of manoeuvring the ball and scampering between the wickets.

And, when Suresh Raina arrived to take 17 runs from the 17th over of the innings, delivered by Wayne Parnell, India were as good as home.

Though Raina fell to a Beuran Hendricks slower ball for an important 10-ball 21, Kohli took the scores level in the same over.

Captain Mahendra Dhoni calmly blocked his only delivery, allowing Kohli to batter through mid-wicket and book a repeat of the 2011 World Cup final, which India won.

“I had to keep my cool,” said Kohli, who faced only three dot balls. “Against a world-class bowling attack it is not easy to get boundaries.

“It was about sticking in there and believing in myself. I kept telling myself I was good enough to catch up later. I backed myself throughout.”

That India’s chase was manageable was thanks

mainly to a spell of 3-22 from Ravichandran Ashwin that checked South Africa just as they were threatening to get away.

On a pitch offering plenty of encouragement to the slow bowlers, Ashwin had already produced a beauty to bowl Hashim Amla before returning to remove the dangerous pair of Du Plessis and AB de Villiers.

Amla’s closed face was beaten by a ball that pitched outside leg stump and hit off, while De Villiers holed out to deep square leg after Du Plessis was bowled off his body attempting a sweep.

Prior to that, captain Du Plessis took advantage of some unusually wayward Indian bowling, regularly heaving the off-breaks of Raina through the off side.

At the other end, Duminy began quietly but, helped by David Miller’s 12-ball 23, added 36 in the final three overs.

India openers Rohit

SCOREBOARD

South Africa Innings

de Kock c Dhoni b B Kumar 6

Amla b Ashwin 22

du Plessis b Ashwin 58

Duminy not out 45

AB de Villiers c Ro Sharma b Ashwin 10

Miller not out 23

Extras (1-nb, 3-w, 1-b, 3-lb) 8

Total (for 4 wickets; 20 overs) 172

Bowling: B Kumar 4-0-33-1, M Sharma 3-0-34-0, Ashwin

4-0-22-3, Jadeja 2-0-8-0, Raina

4-0-35-0, A Mishra 3-0-36-0

Fall of wickets: 9 (de Kock), 44 (Amla), 115 (du Plessis), 129 (AB de Villiers)

India Innings

Ro Sharma c du Plessis b Hendricks 24

Rahane c AB de Villiers b Parnell 32

Kohli not out 72 Yuvraj Singh c AB de Villiers b Tahir 18

Raina c du Plessis b Hendricks 21

Dhoni not out 0

Extras (9-w) 9

Total (for 4 wickets; 19.1 overs) 176

Bowling: Duminy 3-0-29-0, A Morkel 2-0-17-0, Steyn 3.10-36-0, Hendricks 4-0-31-2, Parnell 3-0-33-1, Tahir 4-0-30-1

Fall of wickets: 39 (Ro Sharma), 77 (Rahane), 133 (Yuvraj Singh), 167 (Raina)

Milo schools football champion to be crowned today –

St George’s, Lodge square off

By Treiston Joseph

DSharma and Ajinkya Rahane began the pursuit in rapid fashion but, after Rohit hit Hendricks straight up in the air, Rahane was subdued and eventually shovelled Parnell to the hands of De Villiers on the leg-side boundary.

With some loose South African bowling going unpunished, there was a hint that India may be left too much to do.

But that was to discount the calm chasing of Kohli and, in the end, India’s victory was comfortable. (BBC Sport)

efending champions St George’s Secondary will put their title this afternoon in what is expected to be a thrilling finale to the Milo schools football tournament at the Education Ministry ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Prior to the championship game at 18:00 hours, Dolphin Secondary will match skills with Christ Church Secondary in the third place playoff, set to start at 16:00 hours.

The defending champions will meet a tough opponent, Lodge Secondary School, who has played well throughout the entirety of the tournament. Both teams thrive on making deliberate passes in an attempt to set up their forward for clean strikes on goal.

The lads from Lodge Secondary are good at crossing the ball into the 18-yard box or switching play from one end of the pitch to the next in order to create more space, while the St George’s boys like to run the football and give their forwards a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. However, the game might be decided by a goal or two due to both teams being strong on the defensive end with St George’s having a very good keeper, while Lodge’s keeper has shown a bit of clumsiness on field.

The team that shows more positive play and forward movement might be the team to come out on top in the game that will see a lot of exchanges in the midfield due to their competitive nature.

Another factor that

could play a crucial part in the outcome is the ability to adapt to playing under floodlights. Meanwhile, in the third place playoff, Dolphin Secondary will tackle Christ Church Secondary. While not the championship game, this match-up is expected to produce some highlights as both teams have a penchant for score goals.

With little or no defense expected to be played in this game, a high scoring encounter is expected as both teams demolished their opponents with a galore of goals in the opening rounds of the tournament. Today’s games will definitely produce some thrills and good football to end the tournament, which has been sponsored by Beepat’s Trading under the Milo drink brand, on a high note.

National rifle shooters intensify preparation

Guyana’s rifle shooters have heighten preparation for the 2014 West Indies Fullbore shooting championships, billed for early next month at Twickenham Park Ranges in Jamaica.

National Fullbore captain Mahendra Persaud said that the local shooters will be involved in team practice matches for this remainder of this month before flying out to Kingston, Jamaica, on May 4 where they will defend the Regional long range title and attempt to recapture the short range championship they relinquished to the Jamaicans last year in Barbados.

With the Commonwealth Games a few months away, the regional shooters will be looking to perform at their best ahead for the Games in Scotland in July.

The West Indies fullbore championships, scheduled for May 5-10, will feature Antigua/Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, while a team from Canada is

expected to attend as a guest team.

“We have been in intensive training since the start of the year with individual training and recorded matches, but now our concentration will be on team preparation,” Persaud added.

According to the national captain: “We are extremely focused for the upcoming regional tournament and the re-

cent training programme conducted by experienced British coach Ian Shaw who was in Guyana for two weeks sponsored by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) was very in depth. We are now ready to put our new skills into practice.”

Persaud said there will be a few adjustments to the team this year due to injury to Dane Blair and the death

of Charles Deane, who competed in Barbados last year. He is however, confident of the return of Ryan Sampson, who was unavailable to travel to Bridgetown last year and with the inclusion of new shooting sensation, Sherwin Felicien.

The current training squad also includes reigning Caribbean Individual champion Lennox Braithwaite, the experienced Ransford Goodluck, vice-captain Dylan Fields, Leo Romalho, Peter Persaud and Lt. Col. Terrence Stuart.

ACP retired Paul Slowe, at present overseas, will join the training before the team leaves for Jamaica.

Persaud said that United States-based Guyanese shooters John Fraser and Sigmund Douglas, two regular members, will also be a part of the Guyana delegation and will travel directly to Jamaica. Sunday’s team shoot at the Timehri Rifle Ranges will be at the 300, 500 and 900 yards ranges starting at 10:00 hours.

After weeks of intense battle, the Milo schools football will wrap up today

Virat Kohli is lifted by Yuvraj Singh after they completed victory

Mahendra Persaud Lennox Braithwaite

‘Jamaican Invasion’ boxing card...

Hedge predicts sixth round KO of Marques

By Avenash Ramzan

Jamaican Rudolph

“Cutting Edge” Hedge said he is confident of stopping local boy Dexter

“The Kid” Marques by the sixth round in their title fight this evening on the “Jamaican Invasion” boxing card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Hedge made the bold prediction on the eve of the main event, during a press briefing in the boardroom of Banks DIH Limited, one of the major sponsors of the card.

The duo will square off for the World Boxing Council (WBC)/Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) Flyweight belt, currently adorning the waist of Marques.

“I’m going for it [knockout] by the sixth round if he

WICB

cannot handle the pressure,” he promised. “You know “Cutting Edge” is here and I have some unfinished job to do so he better be ready because I’m packed with ammunition and I hope his body can take it.”

Marques brushed off the comments, stating that “I’m the best.”

“I want to thank the Boxing Board for this opportunity to defend my title.

He’s [Hedge] a good fighter, but I’m the best and I will prove it on Saturday night. I’m not going for any knockout, I will punish him all the way,” Marques rebutted.

While Marques, with a record of 13 wins (two knockouts) and two defeats from 15 bouts, would look to keep the belt in the Land of Many Waters, Hedge would definitely be harbouring thoughts of flying back to

Regional Four-day…

the Land of Wood and Water the new WBC/CABOFE Flyweight title holder.

Hedge would be desperate for a win at this stage of his career, having suffered two defeats and a draw in his last four trips to the “square jungle.” After 11 fights, the Jamaican record stands at seven victories, (two knockouts), one loss and three draws.

In the main supporting clash, Mark Austin of Guyana will trade punches with Devon Moncrieffe of Jamaica in an eight-round Junior Middleweight, while the other three fights are all four-rounders.

Moncrieffe admitted that he knows nothing about his opponent, but “I’m a businessman and I’m here for business.”

Austin said his preparation has been spot-on and

he will be bringing out the “sledge hammer” to destroy Moncrieffe, whose alias is “Concrete.”

In the other fights, Romeo Norville of Guyana will take on Jamaica’s Kemahl Russell in a Super Middleweight clash; hometown boy Quincy Gomes will face fellow debutant Toriano Nicholas of Jamaica at Lightweight, while in an all-local showdown, David Thomas will confront Richard Williamson at Super Lightweight.

Admission to the venue is $3000 (ringside) and $1500 (stands) and action will get underway at 20:00 hours. Tonight’s card has received corporate support from Fly Jamaica, Digicel, Banks DIH Limited, GUYOIL, Courts, Giftland OfficeMax, Guyana Tourism Authority and Top Brandz Distributors.

Johnson, Pollard centurions on first day

Guyana captain Leon Johnson and Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder scored hundreds to highlight the opening day of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four- day sixth round matches. At the Sir Vivian Richards ground in Antigua, Guyana closed the day on 238-9 against the Leeward Islands.

Johnson, the left-handed middle-order batsman, stroked a solid 110, his second First-Class hundred in his 47th game. The 26-year-old held

Guyana’s innings together, as Anthony Martin bagged 4-48, Gavin Tonge 2-43 and Yannick Leonard 2-51. Over at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, the hosts made 244 and Jamaica reached 44 without loss in response, trailing by 220 runs.

Kieron Pollard batted his way to a fourth FirstClass century, 111, while opener Evin Lewis scored 63. Nikita Miller and Brian Buchanan picked up 4-78 and 2-43 respectively. In the other game, Kyle Corbin made 71 and

Chadwick Walton 58 in Combined Campuses and Colleges 225, before the Windward Islands reachec 17 without loss by stumps, trailing by 208 runs.

SCOREBOARD

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad… “Best combination,” say former players

By Rajiv Bisnauth and Avenash Ramzan

Describing the Guyana Amazon Warriors line-up as the “best combination” among the six franchises for the upcoming Limacol Caribbean Premier League (Limacol CPL), former West Indies and Guyana cricketers Colin Stuart, Reon King and Sheik Mohamed on Friday expressed confidence that the team has the ability to lift the coveted title.

“The balance of our lineup is very good. We have a group capable of creating huge upsets,” Stuart, a former fast bowler, said.

He added, “The squad is also very flexible and I’m confident they would do well throughout the tournament. When you look at the squad, a number of players in this squad were part of the squad last year, so it makes it easier for them to gel as a unit.”

King, also a fast bowler during his playing days, echoed similar sentiments, adding that the franchise comprises a “terrific blend” of players, capable of going on step further from last year and winning the title.

“The squad has got a terrific blend of experience and youth and it also has got a good balance. I believe this team has got the capability of winning the CPL this time around,” he opined.

Mohamed, the former national wicketkeeper/ batsman, observed that the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise is a strong one, bolstered by the inclusion of New Zealand recordbreaking batsman Corey Anderson, who blasted the fastest ODI hundred off 36 balls against West Indies on New Year’s Day 2014.

“I think it’s a very strong team and I think buying Anderson was a good move by the fran -

chise,” Mohamed posited.

During the draft at Chris Gayle’s Triple Century Bar in Jamaica on Thursday, the Guyana Amazon Warriors retained the services of ten players from last year’s tournament, namely Pakistan’s all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, New Zealander Martin Guptill, Trinidadians offspinner Sunil Narine, opening batsman Lendl Simmons and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, Jamaican Krishmar Santokie and Guyanese Christopher Barnwell, Steven Jacobs, Veerasammy Permaul and Trevon Griffith. The newcomers are Guyanese Leon Johnson, Ronsford Beaton and Robin Bacchus and Trinidad and Tobago fast-bowling allrounder, Navin Stewart. This year’s tournament will commence on July 5 and end on August 10, with Guyana hosting four of the 30 matches to be played.

Jamaica Tallawahs won the inaugural tournament when they defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors by seven wickets in the final in Trinidad and Tobago on August 24 last. They will defend their title against the St Lucia Zouks, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, Antigua Hawksbills, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Tridents.

GBBC president Peter Abdool (centre) and Fly Jamaica representatives share a moment with Dexter Marques (second left) and Rudolph Hedge

Reon King Sheik Mohamed

Colin Stuart

Guyana Amazon Warriors – a force to reckon with

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Following the highprofile draft for the second edition of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (Limacol CPL) and considering the huge amount of money spent during the process, it’s certain that most of the franchises have assembled their preferred teams.

They have gone for squads that can accomplish their needs in the most effective way possible.

However, some franchises may return happier than others and the Guyana Amazon Warriors is one such franchise.

The South Americanbased franchise has retained 10 players from last year’s edition and building the team around these ex-

perienced players, this wellbalanced squad may well produce the giant killing act to win the tournament.

Almost all the franchises have been smart in the draft this time and they all look good on paper, but there are certainly some which look more balanced than the others.

Guyana Amazon Warriors appear to be the best side on paper as of now, with the right mix of batsmen, bowlers and allrounders.

The Warriors definitely have the people who can score, and score heavily. New Zealand opener Martin Guptill could prove to be their most important player at the top, and it may very well be their strategy that he holds one end up, while the others play around him.

Mohammad Hafeez can also take up this role to make way for the more attacking Lendl Simmons, Trevon Griffith and Christopher Barnwell.

World class

The squad also consists of a world class all-rounder in Corey Anderson, who is among New Zealand’s top bracket T20 player, and will be expected to contribute handsomely.

The left-hander batsman, who also bowls leftarm seam, rose to prominence on New Year’s Day 2014 when he blasted the

fastest ODI hundred off 36 balls against West Indies.

That innings caught the attention of T20 franchises across the globe, none more than the Mumbai Indians who snapped him up for this year’s Indian Premier League.

Now the Guyana Amazon Warriors have followed suit, adding much needed fire-power to what pundits believe is a wellbalanced team capable of

going on step further and claiming the title in 2014.

Bowling all-rounders

Navin Stewart and Steven Jacobs can also prove to be useful with the bat in the lower order, as is wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin, who could also be called upon as pinch-hitter should the need arise.

Among the lesser known names in this format of the game are batsmen Leon Johnson and Robin Bacchus, who would no doubt want to justify the faith and confidence placed in them by the franchise.

Their newest acquisition and a brilliant addition to the side, fast bowler Ronsford Beaton, will spearhead the bowling attack, along with lively Krishmar Santokie, Anderson, Barnwell and Stewart who will assist him.

As far as spin bowling goes, Sunil Narine is their main weapon. Hafeez, one of the most impressive allrounders in the format in-

ternationally, will partner Narine, along with left-armer Veerasammy Permaul and Jacobs.

As it is, Guyana Amazon Warriors have an impressive pool of players at their disposal, and it is just about making the right selections before every game.

From now on, it will be about picking the right combinations, taking one game at a time, considering the opposition and the playing conditions.

They have a good support staff as well, led by coach Roger Harper, mentor Curtly Ambrose and manager Omar Khan.

Format

Meanwhile, each franchise is made of 19 players, comprising two pre-selected players- one West Indies Franchise Player (WIFP) and one International Franchise Player (IFP)- selected by the franchise, as well as four Under-19 play-

ers from each playing franchise.

However, the Under-19 players were not selected during Thursday’s draft. The local board for each franchise team, along with the franchise owner will select two of the players each. This year’s tournament will commence on July 5 and end on August 10 with Guyana hosting four of the 30 matches to be played. Jamaica Tallawahs won the inaugural tournament when they defeated Guyana Amazon Warriors by seven wickets in the final in Trinidad and Tobago on August 24 last. They will defend their title against the St Lucia Zouks, Trinidad and

Tobago Red Steel, Antigua Hawksbills, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Tridents.

Guyana Amazon Warriors comprises Sunil Narine, Mohammad Hafeez, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, Martin Guptill, Krishmar Santokie, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Navin Stewart, Steven Jacobs, Leon Johnson, Robin Bacchus, Corey Anderson and Trevon Griffith.

Hutson addresses concerns over CARIFTA team

By Treiston Joseph

he Athletics

TAssociation of Guyana (AAG) recently came under fire from ardent track and field fans for some of the CARIFTA Games selectees after the team was made public.

In various letters to the press, writers questioned the AAG’s selection of the head coach, Sham Johnny, calling his character “questionable”, while blasting the AAG for having favoritism with some of the athletes on the team.

President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, has stuck to the selection of his team, pointing out that they are rumours about every coach in the nation, but noted that his association will not operate under the auspices of “here say.”

“I have heard the rumours about every coach in

Guyana; there are rumours surrounding all of them but the AAG cannot act on rumours, the AAG must work on hard facts. Mr. Johnny was never charged, was never placed before the court for any behaviour that is being mentioned in the media,” Hutson firmly stated. Johnny was alleged to

have sexually assaulted young females at the North Ruimveldt and a private school which forced his resignation from both schools.

However, Hutson, speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon, noted that as far as he is aware, the charges and assumed court appearances are not true.

Addressing the issue of

favouritism with regards athletes, Hutson revealed that only four athletes qualified for the CARIFTA Games in Jason Yaw, Cassey George, Jevina Sampson and Natricia Hooper.

Further, he pointed out that the main reason some of the other local females on team, such as Avon Samuels, was due to

the consensus not just by the council members of the AAG, but also by the public for Guyana to field a 4x400 metres relay team at the Games.

“Since the team got back from CARIFTA last year we recognised that we did not have a strong 4x4 team and we did enter and end up getting fourth so there has always been a call for us to send an Under-17 female 4x4 team. It is on that note that the other athletes were selected so the letter writer was correct in pointing that out,” Huston noted.

With regards the issue of having two jumpers on the team, Hutson believed that Kade Pearce was the best jumper with the shot of doing better as they look to reward field events athletes for their efforts.

While one of the writers pointed out that middle distance athletes do well at the

CARIFTA Games, which is somewhat true, Hutson rebutted by revealing that recent trend is that athletes are doing well in the 400 metres internationally, which the AAG must look “beyond” CARIFTA.

“Once they hit South America or the international scene they are not as recognised and if you look at the recent history of Guyana track and field we’re really getting great recognition in the 400 metres. In my opinion, the times that are returning in the Caribbean in the 5000 and 3000 metres cannot be tested on the international scene,” Hustsom pointed out.

Vice-president of the AAG, Gavin Hope, also expressed disappointment in the way person responded to the CARIFTA team as one of the letters seem to have emanated from the Police Progressive Youth Club.

Krishmar Santokie

Corey Anderson

Roger Harper

Curtly Ambrose

Omar Khan

Gavin Hope (left) and Aubrey Huston addressing the media

“I wasn’t even following the draft”

–

newcomer Robin Bacchus surprised at Limacol CPL call-up,

but keen on making it count

By Avenash Ramzan

Guyana Amazon Warriors’ selectee Robin Bacchus said he was not even following the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draft on Thursday and is surprised to have been snapped up by the local franchise.

Bacchus, a dashing lefthanded opening batsman, is one of four newcomersGuyanese middle-order batsman Leon Johnson, fast bowler Ronsford Beaton and Trinidad and Tobago’s allrounder Navin Stewart are the others- who were selected as part of the 15-member Guyana Amazon Warriors’ franchise.

The draft was held at Chris Gayle’s Triple Century Bar in Jamaica.

The former national Under-19 player, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on April 27, is keen on making the opportunity count when the tournament commences in July.

“I was surprised to be picked actually,” Bacchus said of his initial reaction to the news. “I wasn’t even following the draft to be honest. I had no idea that I was going to be selected; I only knew about it when it was over and I saw my name on the list.”

Now that he will be donning the Amazon Warriors’ uniform, Bacchus is looking forward to sharing the same dressing room with his fellow countrymen, top players from the region and leading international T20 stars.

“I’m very excited to be part of the Limacol CPL. This is definitely a good opportunity for me to rub shoulders with the international players and feed off them, and ultimately enjoy the experience all together,” he related to this publication during an exclusive interview on Friday.

Bacchus, who has played one List A game for Guyana, added, “Once I’m given the opportunity to play, I would give my best and use this tournament as a stepping stone to play for the West Indies and also improve my game.”

The opener believes the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad is a “balanced” one, with a good blend of players. And while he has not set any personal goals, Bacchus

Beharry onboard with YBG for fifth year

Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) was on Friday richly blessed with sponsorship from the Beharry Group of Companies for the YBG Regional Basketball Championships set to begin later this month.

Speaking at the simple handing over ceremony, Marketing Director of the company, Anjuli BeharryStrand, said she was pleased to be associated with the YBG and noted the reason for their continued belief and support of the tournament.

pointed out that the crowning achievement for him would be to help the South American based franchise lift the title this year.

Commenting on the Limacol CPL, Bacchus hailed the tournament as a success story for regional cricket, adding that the inclusion of four Under-19 players each to the respective franchises this year is a step in the right direction for game’s development in the Caribbean.

Apart from the 15 players chosen by the six franchises at Thursday’s draft, four Under-19 players will be added to the squads and will be chosen by the respective territorial boards.

Second edition

The Limacol CPL, which was played in front of sold out crowds at all the venues in the Caribbean, will be hosted during July/ August with Chris Gayle’s Jamaica Tallawahs set to defend their title against last-year runner-up Guyana Amazon Warriors, Antugua Hawksbills, Barbados Tridents, St Lucia Zouks and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel.

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad is: Sunil Narine, Mohammad Hafeez, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, Martin Guptill, Krishmar Santokie, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Navin Stewart, Steven Jacobs, Leon Johnson, Robin Bacchus, Corey Anderson and Trevon Griffith.

“It’s a way for us to give back, especially for children up and coming to get them off the streets to get them engaged and to showcase their skills, to give them confidence and to give them an outlet to be able to express themselves,” BeharryStrand stated.

During the handing over held at the company’s head office in Charlotte Street, Beharry- Strand pointed out

the impact such a nationwide tournament can have on the young athletes participating in the tournament.

“It (sport) also closes the gap because in this society we have so many gaps that I think are created out of

ignorance and I think any sport is the way to remove that completely because you are all team players for the same goal and I think that’s another reason why this (YBG tournament) is so important,” Beharry-Strand

reiterated.

Robin Bacchus

Meanwhile, Director of YBG Chris Bowman was grateful to the Beharry Group of Companies for its sponsorship and assured that the tournament will be successful. (Treiston Joseph)

Marketing and Promotional Liaison, Jonathan Beaton (extreme left), and Events Manager Taquain Vieira receive the cheque on behalf of YBG from Marketing Director of the Beharry Group of Companies, Anjuli Beharry- Strand

Guyana Amazon Warriors

By Avenash Ramzan

Martin Guptill Mohammad Hafeez Sunil Narine