Guyana Times Daily

Venezuelan president to visit Guyana month-end Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 1859

See story on page 9

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Govt not borrowing to fund Amaila project See story on page 7

Miracle crowned emancipation queen

PRICE

$60 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE: Ptolemy P2

Reid Centre children get orthopaedic shoes P8 Police intercept cocaine in ochroes at CJIA APNU wants P9 hydro project repackaged Second trial of man accused P10 of killing infant ends in hung jury

See story on page 19

The newly-crowned Miss Emancipation 2013 Miracle Hilliman flanked by her runners-up at the National Cultural Centre on Sunday evening

Ramotar to CSEC top convince hydro students to be investors announced to stay today See story on page 3

See story on page 7

P12 GRDB equipping rice farmers to combat paddy bugs

Lake Mainstay hosts P13 successful regatta

2 news

tuesday, august 13, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Ptolemy Reid Centre children get orthopaedic shoes Y

oung patients of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre (PRRC) on Monday were beneficiaries of special orthopaedic footwear valued approximately $220,000 through a donation made by the United Women for Special Children (UWFSC).

According to the centre’s rehabilitation officer Cynthia Massay, the good gesture is one of many by the UWFSC. Some 17 pairs of shows were donated “We have been partnering for almost two decades… the first project was the making of envelopes by the students… then there was the tie-dye, placement mats and also a partnership with the Rotary Club to add a playground to the centre,” said Massay.

In the past, the UWFSC has lent its support to the PRRC, and during the 1990s, the two organisations collaborated to implement an envelope making project for adolescents and young adults of the PRRC Vocational Training Unit. The students were paid a stipend from the sale of the envelopes.

According to physiotherapist Melissa Corlett, the cen-

Officials of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre and the UWFSC with parents and children of the centre following the presentation of the shoes

tre which provides physical, occupational and speech therapy; special education; special needs daycare; and manufacture of orthotics/ prosthetics, among other services, is extremely grateful for the UWFSC’s most recent contribution.

The physiotherapist not-

ed that the shoes are specialised footwear for children with certain orthopaedic conditions.

“These shoes provide the proper support and stabilisation to the feet of children who have difficulty walking. Such shoes can greatly improve a child’s mobility

and are integral in their rehabilitation progress,” said Corlett.

Guyana Times was told that due to the high cost of the shoes which have to be imported, many local children are unable to access them.

Two hospitalised in Berbice accident

T

wo persons are now patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital following an accident at the Paradise Public Road, West Coast Berbice in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

Felicia Inderpaul, 18, and Indira Lachmin, 30, of Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice are reportedly suffering from severe head injuries and are being closely monitored by doctors at the medical facility. Reports say the two women are conscious.

Nikita Mittelholzer, 19, of Grove, East Bank Demerara; Macenda Singh, 17, of Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice and the driver of the car, Bhairam Jurawan, 22, of Skeldon, Corentyne, Berbice received minor injuries and were treated and sent away.

According to information received, motor car PPP 8894 was proceeding along the Paradise Public Road at a fast speed when Jurawan lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a utility pole.

As a result of the collision, the motor car ended up in a nearby trench.

Minutes after the accident, publicspirited citizens ran to the occupants’ assistance and pulled them from the wreckage. Guyana Times understands that the occupants of the vehicle were returning from a wedding when the accident occurred.

The police are still to take statements from the occupants of the vehicle.

The vehicle was lodged at the Fort Wellington Police Station. The police are continuing their investigations.

NEWS

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, August 13 from 08:30h to 10:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, August 13 from 08:00h to 09:00h.

WEATHER TODAY

Countrywide: Thundery showers are expected during the day, with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly north-easterly at 3.57 to 3.12 metres per second.

High Tide: 08:39h and 21:01 h reaching maximum heights of 2.48 metres and 2.49 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:09h and 14:31h reaching minimu heights of 0.65 metre and 0.78 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2013

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

24 16 04 07 08 10 06

FREE TICKET

Daily Millions

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04 01 05 24

LUCKY 3

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Draw De Line 08 12

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramotar to convince hydro investors to stay P

resident Donald Ramotar has pledged to continue to explore all possible ways and means to see the materialisation of the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project, so that Guyana can benefit from more affordable electricity.

The president made these comments during an address to the nation on Monday regarding the withdrawal of Sithe Global/ Blackstone from the over US$800 million project. He assured citizens and stakeholders that he “will continue to work to get cheaper energy for Guyana”.

“I will continue to try to convince investors to stay on and invest in this project and in this country and I still hope that the opposition, particularly the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) could see the bigger picture and that they would put the interests of our people above narrow party lines and rise to the call to support this project.”

Involvement

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

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During his address, the president reiterated the steps that were taken to get all stakeholders involved, including the parliamentary political parties whose input into proceeding with the project was vital, were kept informed about the specifics and benefits of constructing the hydro facility.

“A few months after assuming the presidency in 2011, I invited the two opposition parties in Parliament, the APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC) to the Office of the President to give them a presentation on the Amaila Hydro Falls Project and its status to date,” the president pointed out.

He added that “I emphasised to the opposition leaders that their buy-in was

President Donald Ramotar

critical to the success of this... I mentioned that I did not want to taint this project in wild charges of corruption. Finally, I made it clear that we were ready to answer any question and provide as much information as we could to satisfy their concerns.”

Meanwhile, prior to its recent visit to Guyana to host consultative forums on the details of the project, Sithe Global in 2012, also met the leaders of the opposition to sensitise them on why it was an important undertaking for the people of Guyana, Ramotar highlighted.

Government had also invited the Inter-American Development Bank to host related discussions with opposition parties.

“During the debate on the estimates of the 2012 budget, our ministers, including the prime minister and the minister of finance answered exhaustively every question put to them by the opposition on this project. This was repeated in the 2013 parliamentary budget debate,” he noted.

Additionally, President

Ramotar said that in June this year, yet another presentation was made to the APNU, after the AFC declined to be a part of the discussion.

“They were also advised on the two parliamentary interventions that would have to be submitted and supported in order to conclude the financing of this project.

Copies of the Hydro-Electric Power Bill and the motion on the increasing of the debt ceiling in order to guarantee the investment were shared with the opposition delegation.”

As a result, the head of state said opposition parties cannot say that there was not transparency into the development of the hydro electric facility, as they were “privy to exactly the same information that the government had”.

The president noted that despite these efforts, the hydro project still remains in jeopardy to be realised in

its entirety, following years of work and investments by both the developer of the project and government.

The project is now on shaky ground after Sithe Global withdrew its services, citing a lack of consensus from all political parties to pass the Hydro-Electric (Amendment) Bill.

The bill, which was put forward by government, was only supported by the AFC. As such, following Sithe’s announcement, President Ramotar said he spoke with Opposition Leader David Granger and “urged him once again to join him in showing support for the Amaila Falls project, for our country’s future development and for the life opportunities of generations of Guyanese”.

Future cost

Outlining some of the specifics of the project, the president said, “The total cost to the taxpayer is US$100 million in equity, of which US$15 million has already been spent and (US$80 million) of the remainder is already deposited in the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) and is awaiting transfer. The future cost to the taxpayer is limited to the outstanding amount needed for the access road.”

“The total savings to the taxpayer because of the removal of GPL’s subsidy will be at least US$30 million per year, or US$600 million over 20 years – far in excess of the US$100 million provided by the taxpayers in equity.”

He also thanked all supporters of the project and urged them to remain committed.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, august 13, 2013

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

Editorial

Power-sharing chimera

O

ne of the sad legacies of colonialism is a fatal weakness of some politicians to refuse to accept that lasting social change will not come out of institutional “quick fixes”, but rather through the willingness of the people to accept the value of what the institution might purport to introduce. In Guyana, the institution of executive power sharing is once more being pushed by its old proponents, but this time from an alternative platform, which exposes the factor of race which had been lurking unacknowledged under the surface all along.

The People’s National Congress (PNC) proposed the power-sharing model for Guyana a decade ago, but had always danced around its rationale. If it represented the gamut of groups in Guyana, then the present majoritarian system was unobjectionable, since it was simply a matter of presenting a programme that attracted enough votes to constitute a majority to form the executive in which all groups would be represented.

“Power sharing” originated from a situation existing in a number of European countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium where religious/ethnic divisions produced entrenched voting patterns. However, all groups had a nationalist outlook and the response of their political elites was to form what was dubbed “grand coalitions” of the major parties.

The executive or Cabinet was shared by all the parties in the parliament, and in the parliament, there were frank discussions of the interests of the specifically named groups being addressed through bargaining and eventual consensus.

The overall approach was given the name “consociational democracy” by one theorist in the 1960s. Then suddenly, it was moved from a description of what obtained in certain specific countries with specific histories to a prescription for all divided societies, tout court, by anxious politicians.

A half a century later, we have quite a wealth of experience with the transplantation of the consociational model of governance in several non-European societies and the only constant is that it produced more problems than it solved.

One of the earliest guinea pigs was Lebanon, which after World War II was divided between Christians and Muslims.

One of the weakness of the model − the presumption of immutable groups producing immutable electoral outcomes − was soon challenged when the Muslim minority became a majority. The Christians refused to accept the necessity for alterations not only of the distribution of ministries, but, more trenchantly, of the quotas that had been instituted in various valued areas of national life. A civil war ensued that has not been ended four decades later.

The model was also applied early on in Malaysia in a governing coalition that included parties of its three major ethnic groups. After riots broke out between these ethnic groups in 1969, quotas were instituted for national participation in business and education. These quotas, however, precipitated tremendous bitterness and they are being reconsidered in the present.

In Africa, where countries inherited arbitrarily drawn colonial borders encompassing large number of ethnic groups, the endemic ethnic hostilities also elicited calls for executive “power sharing”. However, absent the nationalist outlook, in those countries where it was tried even for one term such as Kenya after riots in 2007 and in Zimbabwe in 2008, it was abandoned. Power sharing meant only sharing of the national patrimony. This would have necessitated the introduction of quotas, which could never be agreed on.

And this returns us to the power-sharing proposals recently floated from the PNC politicians joined now by others from the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and members of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) at the recent conclave by leaders of the African Guyanese community. Unlike the past bobbing and weaving, these politicians are now clear that they are demanding power sharing on behalf of African Guyanese.

In light of the singular failure of power sharing to generate lasting solutions in other jurisdictions through simply sharing the executive, it would be interesting to know if the opposition politicians will now be demanding quotas.

Undergraduates, secondary school teachers and students at the opening of the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Natural Sciences’ first international research conference

Limacol CPL has a great future Dear Editor, The Limacol Caribbean Premiere League (CPL) has surpassed expectations. It has also dispelled doubts regarding the value of cricket to the people of Guyana and the region as a whole. This is how the legend Sir Vivian Richards is seeing it too.

The legendary and former West Indies batting great and captain is now expecting this tournament to be a resounding success, judging from the fans’ response. To this I say add things like preparation, organisation and promotion, which have all been excellent in this tournament so far.

The other thing about this inaugural tournament is that it is just right – six teams and 24 games, and all will be said and done in a matter of a month.

The Olympics and World Championships take a twoweek frame.

When things are too stretched out, people tend to await just the final round

of matches. Not so with this Limacol CPL. It can be yearly all because of its brevity.

In Sir Viv’s words, the Limacol CPL would definitely take West Indies cricket to another level. “I just think it is a great opportunity for some of our young professionals to be involved in a professional tournament starting in the

Caribbean. With the other events being staged around the world, this is a platform for these cricketers to also travel further afield,” is what he was quoted as saying and is worth repeating here.

I encourage a lot of local club Twenty20 tournaments. This can complement regular first class cricket.

What will happen is that at the club level, the players will be eyeing the Limacol CPL tournament. The motivation will be exceptionally high.

Respectfully submitted, Kelvin Culpepper

Two sides to the issue of residents blaming police

Dear Editor, Residents of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo are now calling on the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to put in place systems to ensure their safety and to rescue the community from becoming reduced to being a haven of criminal activities.

We have systems in place.

We have laws. However, enforcement is the problem.

Look at a simple case. Many bars breach the peace and nothing is being done. I always ask how come a licence was given to operate?

I read the advisory about noise nuisance, and I want to know why even the buses and taxis are not being stripped? So why do we have laws? Law enforcement must be proactive.

Things like noise nuisance do not call for much dillydallying. The noise is usually a corollary to other things – youthful criminal indulgence, drinking, fighting and wild driving. The cops can do some mandatory patrolling, especially during weekends.

The Zeelugt people are now complaining that the

police seldom visit or patrol the area and that the Community Policing Group (CPG) officers living in the area themselves fail to patrol the area.

Again, all of this should have been exposed. We must utilise the press to highlight the shortcomings of the society. Right now, the country has a lot of idle young people, plaguing people’s lives in various ways.

The law can more than suffice for them. If it means pressuring the police, then so be it. I do have a word of caution for the many good

people who want a better society. Sometimes the attitude is bad. People believe at times that they can bully the police too. There is something call etiquette, and if complainers can do their reporting to the police properly, I think that the good attitude will catch on, and police would be most inspired.

What is happening now, in terms of domestic crimes, can be addressed positively – but we must report carefully and with courtesy.

Yours truly, Noreen Craig

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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The PPP/C must simply Ishak Basir – a real hero keep going Dear Editor, I fully endorse President Donald Ramotar as he urged the rank and file of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to never surrender or give into the pressure from the combined opposition political parties, which are all aimed at undermining the country’s overall development and jeopardising its future.

I notice that our president alluded to the opposition’s abuse of the one-seat advantage. I think that this is really what got to members’ head. The opposition is certainly not thinking right.

It has axed some $31 billion from the national budget.

This is definitely not right

thinking.

Currently, it is against the Amaila Falls Hydro Power project. This particular project, with its immense positive implications, is really what Guyana really needs. The realisation of such a venture will translate into great benefits for everyone. I am talking here, not only quality of life and ease of accessing power, but actual employment too.

To me, the theme of the opposition is indeed to vote down everything good and ambitious for Guyana. I see exactly why the president said this and also why he is so upset. It is even deeper than just voting down everything.

I see that the party is about making the PPP/C look bad. For example, previous to 1992, a hydro power projected was touted but nothing came of it. Now I see that housing is going great guns.

In terms of the Guyana Fire Service, we are now having a visible and operable one. I can go on to health and education, but I need not – my point is very clear.

The PPP/C is doing a great work, while the critics from the opposition are all about carping and creating mischief. I call on the PPP/C to keep pressing on.

Yours truly, Chandrika Gobin

Dear Editor, Now that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Congress is over and several recommendations were made to the party, including dealing with corruption among its various rank and file members and supporters, it’s now left to be seen what disciplinary measures will be taken.

It was rightly observed that some new members who were brought into the party overnight made no tangible contribution to the party and its policies.

Instead, they were a bunch of opportunists and the old stalwarts were the architect of the anti-colonial movement and were the founding fathers of the party. The people who critiqued and attacked those old stalwarts now praise their contributions to Guyana.

The local votes decreased in 2011 by 20.9 per cent over the registered voters not only in Region Two, but the whole country because the PPP/C manifesto did not

Helping others should become a part of our lives Time

Dear Editor, I am very touched by a little gesture that was extended to the National Psychiatric Hospital. The institution was given a number of items which will contribute to better delivery of health care to patients. A contribution also went to the children’s ward in memory of a former administrator.

We do not have to be rich to give. All that I ask

is that when we are giving, we must do so nicely and quietly, and give to those who are genuinely in need.

Then many times, when we have that extra or notneeded stuff, we can ask around. I mean the children’s ward got books and stationery. We have to think about what we do with our books – these must never be thrown away. The challenged children can do so much with them.

Christmas is very near and I think that it is not too early for us to start putting aside for others for the occasion. Like I said – we not have to be rich, and a little really goes a long way. We must all seek to help people who are in need. And helping others should become a part of our lives.

Respectfully, Dillon James

deal with changes proposed.

It is clear that the concentration of attack on the old stalwarts, who later became disillusioned and left the party and joined the Alliance for Change (AFC) after the elections, was aimed not at the results of the elections, but at finding an accommodation to escape poor groundwork with the grassroots supporters and longstanding members.

It is the belief of the delegates at the congress that the elections had brought to the fore the issue of the party’s insecurity, which should be dealt with urgently to bring back the lost supporters and longstanding members before the next elections.

Today, more and more middle class people, and even rank and file members, have been moving away from the PPP/C because of corruption and there is no proper representation for the working class.

While some in the PPP/C camp want to bring back the old stalwarts, a new extrem-

ism is emerging at the top that the party is too conciliatory.

Ishak Basir is an old stalwart who fought the People’s National Congress (PNC) dictatorship for four decades.

Basir, the PPP/C candidate in 1973 in the Pomeroon Electoral District, and I attempted to enter polling division number five at Charity government school, when two Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers pointed their guns at us and ordered us not to move or they will shoot.

We were pushed out by the GDF soldiers when we demanded to have a look at the ballot boxes. A crowd of about 200 people were kept at some distance.

Basir is a real hero. He was shot in the abdomen thrice by a policeman and nearly died for the PPP/C. It is sad to see how he is being treated by some members of the party.

Yours sincerely, Mohamed Khan

to get serious with armed banditry Dear Editor, There seems to be no letting up on robberies at all. I am getting very jittery. The news sometimes is all about these gunmen and their criminal acts. Now they have struck successfully at the Celina Restaurant and Club.

The police are investigating but most times there is

not a single lead. Let us say that a laptop is recovered from someone. I think that the person must say where he got it from and where he was taking it to.

Stolen computers and cellphones must be taken much more seriously – three groups are involved – the thief, the victim and the buyer. The cops did well a

few weeks back. So why did they stop their road blocks and checks?

Do I need to remind all that criminals work full time and all year around?

So too must the police and we must lend them our support.

Yours faithfully, Anne Sarjoo

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

What is blood?

You know what blood is − it’s that red stuff that oozes out if you get a paper cut. The average person has about one to one and a half gallons (four-six litres) of it. But what is blood, really, and where does it come from?

H

ow does the body make lood?

throughout your body from your head to your toes.

It’s not made in a kitchen, but blood has ingredients, just like a recipe. To make blood, your body needs to mix: * red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body * white blood cells, which fight infections * platelets, which are cells that help you stop bleeding if you get a cut * plasma, a yellowish liquid that carries nutrients, hormones, and proteins throughout the body Your body doesn’t go to the store to buy those ingredients. It makes them. Bone marrow – that goopy stuff inside your bones – makes the red blood cells, the white blood cells, and the platelets. Plasma is mostly water, which is absorbed from the intestines from what you drink and eat, with the liver supplying important proteins.

Put all these ingredients together and you have blood – an essential part of the circulatory system. Thanks to your heart (which pumps blood) and your blood vessels (which carry it), blood travels

Let’s find out more about each ingredient.

Red blood cells

Red blood cells (also called erythrocytes) look like flattened basketballs. Most of the cells in the blood are red blood cells. They carry around an important chemical called haemoglobin that gives blood its red colour.

Blood and breathing go hand in hand. How? The haemoglobin in blood delivers oxygen, which you get from the air you breathe, to all parts of your body. Without oxygen, your body couldn’t keep working and stay alive.

You know how your skin gets a little red and swollen around a cut or scrape? That means the granulocytes are doing their jobs. They have a lot to do with how your body cleans things up and helps wounds heal after an injury.

Granulocytes also help prevent infection by surrounding and destroying things that aren’t supposed to be in y o u r body and by killing germs.

friend. Antibodies are very specific, and can recognise only a certain type of germ.

Once the antibody finds it, it gets rid of the germ so it can’t hurt you.

The really cool part is that even after you are better, B cells can become memory cells that remember how to make the special antibody so that if the same germ infects you again, it can kill the germ even faster! T cells also battle germs that invade the body, but instead of making antibodies, they work by making special chemicals that help fight the infection.

White blood cells

White blood cells (also called leukocytes) are bigger than red blood cells. There are usually not a whole lot of white blood cells floating around in your blood when you’re healthy. Once you get sick, though, your body makes some more to protect you.

There are a couple types of white blood cells that do different things to keep you well:

Granulocytes

cells that help to make sure you don’t bleed too much once you get a cut or scrape.

Cuts and scrapes break blood vessels. If a platelet reaches a blood vessel that’s been broken open, it sends out a chemical signal that makes other nearby platelets start to stick together inside the vessel.

After the platelets form this plug, they send out more chemical signals that attract clotting factors. These clotting factors work together to make a web of tiny protein threads. The platelets and this web of protein come together to make a blood clot.

The clot keeps your blood inside the vessel while the break in the blood vessel heals up. Without platelets, you’d need more than a bandage to catch the blood when you scrape your knee!

Plasma

Lymphocytes

There are two types of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells. B cells help make special proteins called antibodies that recognise stuff that shouldn’t be in your body, like bacteria or a virus you get from a sick

Monocytes

Monocytes are white blood cells that fight infection by surrounding and destroying bacteria and viruses.

Platelets

Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are tiny round

Plasma is a yellowish liquid that is mostly water. But it also carries important nutrients, hormones, and proteins throughout the body.

Nutrients are chemicals from the food you eat that give your body energy and other things your body’s cells need to do their work and keep you healthy.

Hormones carry messages throughout your body, telling it what to do and when.

An example of a hormone is growth hormone. It gets your bones and muscles to grow.

Many proteins in plasma are really important to your body, like the clotting factors that help you stop bleeding if you get a cut or a scrape.

Plasma also carries away cell waste — chemicals that the cell doesn’t want anymore. Nutrients, hormones, proteins, and waste are dissolved in the plasma — kind of like the cocoa mix that dissolves in a cup of hot water.

What are the marshmallows?

The blood cells — they float in the plasma.

Hey, what’s your type?

Everybody’s blood is red, but it’s not all the same.

There are eight blood types, described using the letters A, B, and O. Those letters stand for certain proteins found on the red blood cells. Not everyone has the same proteins.

In addition to getting a letter or two, a person’s blood is either “positive” or “negative.” That doesn’t mean one person’s blood is good and another person’s blood is bad.

It’s a way of keeping track of whether someone’s blood has a certain protein called Rh protein. This protein is called “Rh” because scientists found it while studying Rhesus monkeys. If your blood is positive, you have this protein.

If it’s negative, you don’t.

Either way is totally fine.

People have one of these eight different blood types: 1. A negative 2. A positive 3. B negative 4. B positive 5. O negative 6. O positive 7. AB negative 8. AB positive Blood types are important if a person ever wants to donate blood or needs a blood transfusion. Getting blood of the wrong type can make a person sick. That’s why hospitals and blood banks are very careful with donated blood and make sure the person gets the right type.

People might need blood transfusions when they’re sick or if they lose blood.

Without enough healthy blood, the body won’t get the oxygen and energy it needs.

Healthy blood also protects you from germs and other invaders.

Now that you know how important blood is, what can you do? Children generally aren’t allowed to donate blood, but when you’re older consider giving the gift of life! (kidshealth.org)

NEWS

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt not borrowing to fund Amaila project – says bulk of US$100M equity coming from GRIF

G

overnment on Monday announced that Guyanese will not have to pay back any debt on the Amaila Falls project to any foreign company, as the country is not borrowing.

In an effort to answer lingering questions regarding the cost of the Amaila project, the government in a statement to the media, noted that “there has been considerable confusion in recent weeks concerning the costs

of the Amaila Falls project to be borne by Guyana”.

It noted that “Guyanese taxpayers will pay for Guyana’s share of ownership (the equity) in the Amaila Falls private company – in return, the taxpayer will save money each year from not having to pay a subsidy to GPL.” They will also benefit from considerably lower electricity rates as a result of paying a consumer tariff.

According to the statement,

taxpayers will be required to pay approximately US$100 million in equity; US$20 million of which is going towards the construction of the access road to Amaila facility.

“US$15 million has already been spent on construction, with most of the remainder under contract to be paid on completion of the road in the coming months,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the US$100 million in equity also con-

sists of US$80 million, as part of the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF).

Government also noted that “it is very important to emphasise that no more money will be paid by the taxpayer for Amaila Falls and that no government borrowing is taking place”.

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) will see a significant reduction in how much it pays for the generation of electricity. In the first 12 years of Amaila’s opera-

tions, the cost will drop by some 40 per cent, while the following eight years will see it go down by 71 per cent and by another 90 per cent for the next 80 years after that.

“Furthermore, the subsidy to GPL can be eliminated with Amaila Falls under the current structure. This will save the taxpayer billions of dollars every year (the 2012 subsidy was six billion dollars). These savings (US$30 million per annum) will ex-

ceed the amount paid in equity (US$100 million) after less than four years.”

It was also noted that consumer tariff could decrease by some 20 per cent within two years of Amaila going into operation, even if GPL did not address operational efficiencies.

Government also reiterated that “after 20 years, the project will be 100 per cent owned by Guyana, and is expected to last for a 100years”.

CSEC top students to be announced today

T

wo students on the Essequibo Coast are believed to be the top candidates in this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Education Ministry will move away from tradition and announce the country’s results at the Anna Regina Multilateral School today.

Guyana Times was told that both students are from the Essequibo Coast and attended the Anna Regina Multilateral School.

Good news

Education Minister Priya Manikchand, who will be in Essequibo today to announce the results, is expected to break the good news.

Manickchand told Guyana Times on Sunday that the results for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and CSEC examinations would be officially released today.

Based on statistics in hand, the education minister said the results for the 2013 examinations are favourable. “The results are very, very, very good,” disclosed.

She said while she does not want to preempt CXC’s official announcement on the country that has topped this year’s CSEC examinations, she believes that Guyana has done exceptional.

Last year, the country copped four out of the eight CXC top awards.

CAPE

However, the Barbadosbased CXC Monday said that overall performance at CAPE has reached the 90 per cent mark for the first time in six years. It said this year, 90.15 per cent of the unit entries achieved Grades One to Five, which are the acceptable grades at CAPE, noting that in the last five years, the percentage of entries achieving acceptable grades remained

Education Minister Priya Manikchand

steady at 89 per cent.

But CXC said the growth of CAPE slowed this year for both candidate entries and unit entries. It said the number of candidates entered for CAPE stood at 28, 228, an increase of 185 candidates compared with 2012.

The number of unit entries submitted increased, but marginally; this year 109, 659 unit entries were

submitted compared with 108, 379 last year, an increase of 1280 entries.

“Of the 28, 228 candidates taking CAPE, 62 per cent are female and 38 per cent male. The majority, 43 per cent are 18 years old; 33 per cent are 19 years; and older and 21 per cent are 17 years old.”

CXC said that this year, 13.77 per cent of unit entries achieved Grade One; 19.03 per cent achieved Grade Two; 22.20 per cent achieved Grade Three; 19.49 per cent achieved Grade Four and 15.67 per cent achieved Grade Five.

The Barbados-based re-

gional examination council said performance improved in 19 units, remained steady in 10 and declined in 17 units.

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

CXC Senior Assistant

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

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

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Police intercept cocaine Eyew tness in ochroes at CJIA T

he Police Narcotics Branch on Monday afternoon intercepted a quantity of cocaine in a shipment of ochroes destined for the U.S. at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

The discovery was made about 15:00h. When contacted, head of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) James Singh confirmed that the cocaine was discovered in several boxes that contained ochroes which were intended to be shipped on a cargo flight sometime today.

He said CANU has been monitoring the shipments, but confirmed it was the police who made the discovery. He said the box-

es with the cocaine were among other boxes that contained vegetables.

Guyana Times was told that during an inspection, the boxes were examined and seemed a little heavier than the others. One of the boxes was reportedly ripped opened by police ranks to facilitate further checks, and it was discovered that the inside of the ochroes were dug out and filled with cocaine.

Police Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker explained that he was aware of the bust, but up to late Monday afternoon, he was awaiting the official weight of the cocaine.

He added that CANU has been called in to assist with investigations.

He said as a result of

the discovery, police are going through the entire shipment of vegetables.

The name of the shipper has not been made available, but it has been confirmed that the company has been exporting vegetable for quite some time.

Late last week, Anthony Thomas, Ravindra Singh and Gregory Lou were charged for trafficking 11.448 kilograms of cocaine through the CJIA. On July 27, about 02:00h, 10 parcels of cocaine were found in a suitcase which totalled 11.5 kilograms when weighed. The street value for a kilogram of cocaine in the U.S. is estimated at US$40,000.

The bag was detected

by CANU ranks at the baggage area with an old label

or name tag which indicated that it was placed there and did not go through the normal security checks.

The suitcase was intended to go onboard Caribbean Airlines Flight, BW 526, destined for the John F Kennedy Airport, U.S.A. Several staff members of the Timehri Handling Service, Caribbean Airlines, Secure and Aviation Security Firm and the Customs and Excise Department were questioned. Days after CANU issued a wanted bulletin for Thomas; he surrendered to police in the presence of his lawyer.

He was subsequently charged with two others in connection with the discovery of the illegal substance.

Man gets four years for theft, damage to property

A

man who broke into a Rentokil vehicle and stole a number of items last week was

jailed on Monday in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Junior Ross appeared

before Magistrate Ann McLennan charged with simple larceny and malicious damage to proper-

ty. It was alleged that on August 7 on East Street Ross stole one haversack, one flash vest one magnifying glass and one pair of goggles a total of $44,000 property of Keron Ross.

It was further alleged on the same day he unlawfully and maliciously damaged one car window property of Rentokil Pest Control. The defendant pleaded guilty to both charges.

According to the facts read by Prosecutor Deniro Jones, Keron Ross is employed by Rentokil and on the day in question he was at 356 East Street conducting business on behalf of his employer. He secured vehicle GEE 9222 and went into the house.

While in the house, he was alerted by the maid who told him that the defendant broke the window screen of the vehicle.

When the virtual complainant went outside, he discovered the front window screen was broken and the defendant had the articles in his hands.

The VC raised an alarm and the defendant was subsequently arrested and charged. Junior Ross who was unrepresented told the court that he is thirty-eight years old and is a workman. He begged the court to be lenient with him and stated that his parents died a few months ago. Magistrate McLennan sentenced him to two years for the simple larceny and two years for the damage to property.

Looking ahead...

W

...at the economy

ay back when, the Scottish poet Robert Burns ruefully reminded us that “the best laid plans of men and mice oft goes awry.” He was reflecting on how industrious a mouse must’ve laboured in a field to make his nest, only to have it smashed to smithereens by the oblivious ploughman. The uncertainties of the contingent!!!

So imagine how much more plans can go “awry” when you actually have people scheming, plotting and working day in, day out to scuttle them. What prompted this line of pessimism was the announcement that in the next few days, the government will be hunkering down with private sector and trade union representatives to plan our economic development for the next 10 years.

Under the aegis of the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit (NSCU), headed by President Donald Ramotar himself, the forum’s theme will be “Promoting economic growth and development through innovation, diversification and partnership”.

“Action items” identified were in the areas of trade strategy and export promotion zones, manufacturing, small business development, tourism, agro-processing, forestry, infrastructure, alternative energy, and technology. Sounds well and good, no? But after the torpedoing of the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP) how in goodness name can we not fear the worst?? We mean, here’s a project the opposition totally agreed was good for Guyana. How could it not be when we’d be using our free water to generate electricity? No, we didn’t perfect “cold fusion” but hydro power is certainly the next best thing.

And even for cold fusion we’d have to install generating equipment and transmission lines, no? Well to hear the opposition, you’d think AFHEP should’ve been done for free.

Ironically, it pretty much was!! The US$100 million we were injecting into the project as equity (meaning ownership) is coming from the money that we’ve gotten from the Norwegians. For use in such projects like AFHEP – generating “green power”.

For the funds we’d be borrowing beyond the amount put in by Sithe, we’d be paying even less than we’re paying right now to Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to import petroleum.

40 per cent less!! At long last GPL bills would’ve been reduced. But all of the 16 years of planning has just been smashed by an opposition that doesn’t want development in this country. Why?? They fear it might boost the government’s support!!! If the “stakeholders” want their new plans to come to fruition, they have to neutralise this opposition.

...at African Guyanese development

We couldn’t agree more with the concern about the rate of participation of African Guyanese in the economy as independent entrepreneurs. In any society such as ours, when different groups are unequally represented in any valued area of national endeavour, there’ll be the inevitable comparisons, finger pointing, heated words and finally, worse. We can’t have this.

But what we don’t agree with is when politicians haul out their failed snake oil potions that failed abysmally in the past. But even worse is when they misdiagnosis the problem. Carl Greenidge, the People’s National Congress (PNC) point man on the economy for donkey’s years back then is now saying that the problem is the “miseducation” of African Guyanese.

Sure!! Blame it on anybody but the PNC!!

...through the past

So once again we pull out Dr David Hinds’s statement of the cause of the African Guyanese problem: “After 28 years in office, your party (PNC) left you poorer and less educated than you were when it took office in 1964. It did not facilitate or encourage your entry into the business sector. It gave you jobs, but did not encourage you to accumulate wealth. In fact, by its policies, it pushed you out of the businesses it met you with – pig farming, poultry farming, cash crop farming, small and medium size cake shops and groceries, and pork knocking.

“You were forced to be totally dependent on the government for work, so when the government ran out of money and decided to downsize, you were downsized.”

NEWS

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

president APNU wants hydro Venezuelan to visit Guyana project repackaged month-end

T

he A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is urging government to repackage the hydroelectricity plan for the country, even as it declared it will not budge from the earlier position of non-support for the mega project.

Opposition Leader David Granger during a press conference on Monday reiterated the coalition’s position on the Amaila Falls project, and said that his party will not bend on its decision.

The APNU, he said remains firm on its position that the financial architecture of the project is likely to place a burden on taxpayers’ dollars.

“APNU is aware that no comprehensive document on the AFHP has ever been presented for debate in the National Assembly. The partnership cannot give its

Opposition Leader David Granger

unequivocal support for a project which will fail to provide assurance that the final cost of power to the consumer will be appreciably lower than the current tariff,” Granger stated.

Granger said the coalition’s position is based on a number of conditions it has

outlined. He said too that unless government provides more information, further discussions on Amaila will be affected.

Granger noted that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is currently engaged in a due diligence study of the Amaila Falls project, and until that time, only then the main opposition would be able to pitch in, based on the findings.

Meanwhile, APNU’s finance spokesperson Carl Greenidge also contended that the financial architecture of the project is not feasible.

“Repackage it in a way that brings back to the energy plan… as part of an energy plan… as part of a set of projects to develop the Potaro basin and in which that specific project does not carry the inflated cost it car-

ries.”

The Hydro-Electric Bill was last Thursday passed in the National Assembly with the support of the Alliance For Change (AFC), after lengthy deliberations.

The Guarantee of Loans (Public Corporations and Companies) Bill, which sought to lift the debt ceiling, was also passed with the AFC’s support. The APNU voted against both measures.

Government had initially proposed to raise the debt ceiling from $1 billion to $150 billion, but later reduced the figure to $130 billion. However, during the debate, the AFC further reduced it to $50 billion. Only recently too, the developer of the Amaila project Sithe Global pulled out of the initiative, after consensus was not met at the level of the National Assembly.

UG hosts first international research conference

A

cadre of internationally distinguished experts will be leading plenary sessions at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown at the University of Guyana (UG) International Research Conference.

The conference opened on Monday under the theme “Sustainable Development: Science Education, Research, Innovation and Enterprise.” The threeday exercise is the first international research conference hosted by the university’s Faculty of Natural Sciences in collaboration with the Education Ministry.

It will serve as a platform for the hosting of a biennial research conference in the natural sciences and

to commemorate the university’s 50th anniversary.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who opened the conference, advised that on the question of science, he is of the view that in these times, “every citizen should have a minimum grasp of science in order to understand in some degree, the world in which we live”.

The prime minister shared also his view that science is important, not for its body of knowledge or the technology that it constitutes, or derivatives of the discipline, but also, and no less importantly for “the intangible concepts and ideas, way of thinking, the world view, which is inherent in science and technology”.

He posited that, science education is essential and

important and worthy of great attention in the selection of topics for education delivery. The prime minister also examined how the discipline can be developed in Guyana.

Among one of his suggestions was having greater importance placed on knowledge delivery at the level of the primary school.

He said his position is to have the allocation for science education placed in such an order that much emphasis is on ‘bringing up more rapidly the primary, then secondary, then tertiary level”.

Hinds suggested more distribution of money for all schools, or if not feasible “bringing up more the schools which have been less endowed up, so that overtime there will be coverage of all schools at one

desired attainable level”.

Persons working in science and technology in Guyana should develop closer working relationships, he said, “in a spirit of mutual respect and a sense of earnest engagement in a sense of common purpose and development of our country and people”.

UG Vice Chancellor Professor Jacob Opadeyi said over 47 papers will be presented during the three days. He said his aspiration is to have over 100 papers at the next conference.

Professor Opadeyi said the conference is an important initiative of the university and is part of an agenda of involving all in the understanding of science and technology and its importance in the development of Guyana.

V

enezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, successor to the late Bolivarian Republic’s leader Hugo Chavez is scheduled to visit Guyana by monthend, President Donald Ramotar confirmed over the weekend.

Maduro was installed as Venezuela’s new president after the April 14 polls, following the death of Chavez in March. The visit will be his first since becoming president of the Bolivarian Republic, to a country that has maintained a longstanding, fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship for a number of years.

As former Venezuelan vice president under Chavez’s 14-year rule, Maduro visited Guyana on several occasions, and often led the welcoming party when government officials from Guyana visited that country. He had described his counterpart, President Donald Ramotar, as an extraordinary man of the Caribbean, after taking the oath of office as Venezuela’s interim president, hours after Chavez’s widely publicised state funeral.

During that occasion, he hailed his predecessor for completely changing the foreign policy of Venezuela with the goal of resolving outstanding issues between Guyana and Venezuela based on brotherhood and non-hatred and war. The two countries have transformed diplomatic ties to one characterised by mutual trade in goods and services. The Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration, constructed with part funding of US$2 million from the Venezuelan government is one such example.

Guyana is a beneficiary under PetroCaribe, a stewardship initiative under Chavez, which has allowed

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

signatory nations to benefit from cheap Venezuelan fuel. It includes a reciprocal agreement that has opened up Venezuelan markets to rice exports from Guyana.

During his presidential inauguration on April 19, President Maduro vowed to continue in his predecessor’s footsteps by perpetuating his social programmes, and at the same time tackling corruption and crime.

At the commissioning of the Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice on August 10, President Ramotar said the government of Guyana applauds President Maduro for continuing the legacy to pursue policies for the advancement of the people of Venezuela and of Latin America.

President Ramotar also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to work with the government of Venezuela for the enhancement of relations through the consolidation of existing programmes of cooperation, and exploration of new areas that will engender mutual benefits and preserve a climate of mutual respect.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

News

Second trial of man accused of killing infant ends in hung jury C alvin Thomas, the man accused of hacking an 18-monthold baby to death, will now have to undergo another trial for the second time in seven months after there was a hung jury.

Thomas called “Calvin Bailey”, “Mara” and “Coochie” of Wisroc Housing Scheme, Linden, was indicted with the murder of Shaquan Neru between April 4 and 5, 2007, at Cinderella City, Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

The accused was on trial in February of this year for this same matter and it resulted in a hung jury.

On Monday, the prosecution, led by State Counsel Teshana Lake and defence attorney, George Thomas, both delivered their closing addresses to the jury af-

Murder accused, Calvin Thomas called “Calvin Bailey”

ter which Justice Navindra Singh summed up the evidence to the panel. After about two hours deliberating in the jury room, the panel returned, indicating that they were not able to

arrive at a unanimous decision. Justice Singh enquired whether further directions or explanation would clarify the doubts among the jurors; however, the foreman said it would not. Hence, the trial judge once again informed the accused that the jury could not arrive at a unanimous decision; hence, he would be further remanded until his case is recalled in another assizes.

The trial into this matter commenced about two weeks ago before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member mixed jury. The prosecutor presented several witnesses to testify against the accused, including the mother of the deceased, Bernadette Neru.

Bernadette, who moved to Barbados after the inci-

dent, gave her evidence via video link from the Guyana Consulate in Barbados. The woman said she got involved with the accused when her son was over a year-old.

She noted that she moved in with the accused shortly after and they were living in Wisroc; however, she was constantly abused by him.

Bernadette explained that she decided to leave him and on April 4, 2009, went to a relative’s house in Cinderella City but Thomas followed her there and they had a confrontation after which he left. The woman recalled that later in the evening, she was at her aunt’s house, on the landing, about to take her son who was sleeping in her hands to bed, when the accused showed up at the bottom of the stairs.

TURN TO PAGE 12

Not every body know when to pull out

P

eople who like to do tings in secret does always get expose. Freddie Kissmansoon thief books and get ketch. He thief books in Canada, he get ketch. He come back to Guyana and thief books again, and get ketch again. De Man Kisser does play like he is a angel, but when de truth come out, he more dutty and wicked than de law allow.

Dem is de kinda people who old people does call twoface. Some two-face people does look good and sound good – not Freddie though – but dem evil pun de inside.

People like Freddie ain’t got no shame. That is why dem had to pull he out from UG. And talkin bout pull out, a big KFCite, who was also tryin to do tings in secret, had to pull out. In fact, No Gel Hughly seh he pull out from all politics. But de only ting he was in was politricks, because he had plenty tricks up he sleeve. Or so he did tink fuh a long time until he get ketch.

He stay in so long that he get ketch pun de inside while he was in de thick of tings . Ah old man seh No Gel need to learn when to pull out, or he gon always get ketch inside.

Well, now that Sithe Global pull out from de hydro project and also pull out from No Gel, no body know what No Gel gon do. De same old man seh No Gel like to have tings inside.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie!

And now that all this pullin out tekkin place, one security man who like to talk plenty decide he ain’t tekkin chance.

He decide to pull out security guards from de guvament.

Talk about pullin out de wrong ting!

Cash, jewellery stolen from Berbice businessman

A

Berbice businessman was in shock after he returned home from a wedding house in the wee hours of Monday morning to find his home burglarised and a quantity of cash and jewellery stolen.

The break and enter and larceny was committed on the home of Nazar Asraf Ally called “Galdie”, 57, of Lot 57 AA Kingston, Corriverton, Corentyne, Berbice and is suspected to have occurred between 08:18h to midnight on Sunday.

According to reports, the bandits carted off US$10,000, one gold chain valued $130,000 and seven gold rings valued $200, 000.

Investigations revealed that the businessman occupied a two-storey wooden and concrete building which is surrounded by a number of

glass windows and secured by lock and grille work.

Guyana Times was made to understand that the businessman secured his home and went to a wedding house at Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice during which the bandits allegedly wrenched open the western door, sprawled the grill and gained entry , removing the articles mentioned.

Further information stated that when the victim returned home, he found the door open and upon checking, he discovered the articles mentioned above missing. The police were summoned and visited the scene and dusted for fingerprints, but found none. They have also contacted and questioned several persons, but no one was arrested.

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concludes Police, Home Affairs Ministry ECHO nature camp officials for overseas training T

T

he Home Affairs Ministry has announced that a number of police officers and officials of the ministry will be attending overseas training courses during this month.

Senior Police Superintendent Maxine Graham, Assistant Police Superintendent Nathalie Barnwell, Assistant Police Superintendent Lorraine Saul and Assistant Police Superintendent Audrey Small will attend the women in law enforcement leadership training programme from August 19-23 in Lima, Peru.

The training programme is designed to lay the foundation for the development of effective law enforcement leaders from a female perspective.

Additionally, Constables 19822 Komal Pitama and 20249 Roumayne Dunn are attending the enhanced con-

stables development course from August 6-30 in Christ Church, Barbados.

The course seeks to develop and maintain the required ethical conduct among candidates in keeping with the principles of their respective organisations.

Also, Sergeant 15671 Shellon Daniels and Sergeant 19377 Phillip Sheriff are attending a court prosecutors’ course from August 6-30 in Christ Church, Barbados.

The course seeks to enlighten candidates about the fundamental principles of prosecution.

For the Guyana Fire Service, Cadet Officer Haimchand Persaud attended the chemical emergency planning training course from July 29 to August 2 in Jamaica. The aim of the training course was to discuss and prepare a regional chemical emergency response plan. The training

course also allowed discussions of the procedures within the region and the way to go forward to create a regional strategic response to chemical incidents.

At the ministry’s level, head of the Taskforce on Narcotic Drugs and Illicit Weapons Michael Atherly will be attending the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) Governmental Expert Group (GEG) of the preparatory session for the sixth evaluation round of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) from August 27- 28 in Miami, Florida.

The two-day event will discuss key aspects, including an overview of the completed surveys submitted by countries and reference documents and the narrative drafts produced by the MEM section. It will also review the evaluation scale

approved by the CICAD in November 2012 and discuss how it will apply this to determine each member state’s situation with regard to the set of recommendations, based on the Hemispheric Drug Strategy and its Plan of Action.

Former tourism minister, now Guyana Gaming Authority chairman, Manniram Prashad will be attending the sixth Latin American Gaming Authority Regulators’ meeting from August 12-13 in Lima, Peru. The purpose of the meeting is for regulators and state-run lotteries to be duly informed of the constant changes and rapid advances in the industry. Home Affairs Ministry Research Officer Sarita Mohanlall will also be attending the women in law enforcement leadership training programme in Peru.

he Environmental Community Health Organisation (ECHO) has successfully concluded a four-day nature camp held on Soesdyke Highway.

Children from different regions attended the camp, ECHO said in a release.

The objectives were to raise awareness of the importance of the natural environment to human society, to encourage children to explore and interact with nature and to provide a forum for exchange of information on approaches to environmental issues.

Activities included nature walks, constructing a nature table, swimming, outdoor and indoor nature games and talks about the conservation of environmental resources.

Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/ World Health Organisation (WHO) representative Adrianus Vlugman spoke to the campers about leadership and the natural environment.

In his talk, he encouraged members to be bold in speaking out against environmental ills and unfriendly practices, including littering and improper disposal of garbage in local communities.

ECHO remains grateful to its partners and friends including Bounty Farm, Ali of Bourda Market, Nigel’s Supermarket, Humphrey’s Bakery, Oriental Furniture Store and Nobel House.

The organisation is also grateful to all the teachers/ coaches who attended the event.

All ECHO club members were encouraged to write a short essay on the nature camp. This will be used as the basis for a competition next term among ECHO clubs.

Also, ECHO is encouraging other children and young adults to become part of its force to protect and keep the environment healthy and safe. Those who are interested can contact ECHO coaches at their schools.

ECLAC holding major regional population conference in Uruguay

A

lthough recent decades have seen an increase in well-being in Latin America and the Caribbean – with major progress made in areas such as child mortality, life expectancy, gender equality and recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples, people with disabilities and migrants – the region has many challenges remaining in terms of equality.

To tackle these challenges, representatives from over 30 of the region’s countries have gathered in Uruguay to discuss a proposed regional agenda beyond 2014, at the first session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Aims

The proposed regional agenda has two main focuses: equality and a human rights approach. It also provides a follow-up to the Programme of Action of the United Nations International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994.

With these aims in mind, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), which is organising the conference in conjunction with the government of Uruguay and with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), launched the proposed regional agenda on population and development for Latin America and the Caribbean beyond 2014, which identifies the priority themes that should be included in this agenda in the future.

The proposal is based

on the review of the ICPD Programme of Action in the region, which showed progress has been made in fulfilling the agreements made in 1994, thanks to policies and measures implemented by national governments (albeit with major differences among them).

Expected growth

According to the latest figures available (from the 2010 round of censuses), the region’s population stands at 600 million, and is expected to grow by 11 per cent between 2013 and 2025 to reach 680 million (rising to 750 million by 2050). In terms of economic and social development planning and poverty reduction, poverty fell from 48.8 per cent in 1990 to 28.8 per cent in 2012, according to ECLAC figures. However, there are still 167 million poor people in the region, and 66 million living in extreme poverty.

Although inequality has maintained a slight downward trend, the region remains the most unequal in the world. By 2015, Latin America’s poverty rate is expected to be 23.3 per cent, measured using the Human Development Index. This is lower than the 37.5 per cent estimated for medium-HDI countries, but nowhere near the 2.2 per cent of high-HDI countries.

In terms of gender, there has been a gradual improvement in women’s economic and social conditions, as well as gradual progress towards gender equality.

However, women still suffer from various disadvantages and forms of discrimination.

For instance, in 2012 only

23.2 per cent of national parliamentarians were women, while domestic work, care work and other unpaid work also continue to fall mainly to them.

As for reproductive rights and access to sexual and reproductive health, progress has been aimed at the formal recognition of these areas in recently enacted constitutions, as well as the establishment of specific plans and programmes in several countries.

In most countries, unmet demand for family planning has fallen to between 4.7 per cent and 12 per cent (which is lower than the world average of 12.4 per cent).

Teenage pregnancy

By 2010, teenage pregnancy (among 15 to 19 year olds) had fallen to below 13 per cent, after rising to above 14 per cent in 2000.

However, it remains above the figures for 1990 (when the rate was less than 12 per cent). Child mortality also dropped between 1990 and 2011 in the region, with most countries posting a rate of less than 20 deaths for every 1000 live births (which is well below the world average). Maternal mortality remains a challenge in the region, with a regional rate below 210 maternal deaths in every 100,000 births.

Actions aimed at achieving ICPD objectives have also been implemented in relation to children, adolescents and young people, older adults, indigenous peoples (46 million people) and people with disabilities. For instance, there has been considerable progress in primary education coverage (which stands at 90 per cent), although it remains a

challenge to improve quality at all levels of the system, to reduce rather than intensify any inequalities.

Meanwhile, international migration has increased overall, which has brought a raft of consequences such as a higher profile for remit-

tances, greater involvement of migrant communities, and especially a more serious concern for the need to protect the rights of all migrants – as reflected in the new guidelines, policies and agreements in areas such as social security.

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Queens group seeks to help National Youth Festival launched people outside Guyana T

West Indians Serving Humanity President Safraz Deen (second from left) is joined by Miss Guyana World 2012 Arti Cameron (second from right) at the Guyana Expo in New York in June (Photo courtesy Wilfred Cameron)

T

he recently formed group West Indians Serving Humanity (WISH) has bold plans to aid underprivileged children through tapping the large West Indian community in Queens.

WISH group members Safraz Deen and Deven Dindiyal in a recent interview spoke of their experiences, aspirations for their group and the charitable spirit they have discovered in borough residents.

Many members of WISH grew up in poverty, a powerful motivation behind their current efforts to improve the lives of children living in poor areas of the West Indies.

Dindiyal, who grew up in Cornelia Ida, Guyana, noted that “my family was very poor, at times my parents would beg the neighbours for milk to feed me as a child while they starved themselves. We did not have government resources to tap into for clothing, food or any main necessities of daily life”.

WISH currently serves

Guyana and Trinidad, though there are plans to network with other aid groups and expand to other countries this year. This may even include locations outside the West Indies.

Dindiyal noted that refugee children caught in the current Syrian civil war are also in dire need of aid.

The group gathers clothing, books and toys and inspects the items for quality.

Toys must be in packaging, though books may be lightly used. This quality inspection prevents the shipping of useless items in the otherwise limited space available, as the items are packed into bulk shipping barrels.

Monetary donations made to WISH covers the cost of shipping. WISH members then meet the shipment in the destination country and ensure it is distributed to those who need it most. Once the shipment arrives, it is distributed by that group member to all children in the community, regardless of race, religion or gender.

A critical aspect of

WISH’s efforts is ensuring that borough residents are aware of how to donate and have the opportunity to give their donated items directly to WISH. As Deen observed, the vast majority of donations to WISH are from individuals who live in Queens, New York and are otherwise unaware of how they can have their contributions reach needy families in the West Indies.

In June, WISH hosted the Guyana Exposition at Queen's College. Miss Guyana World 2012, Arti Cameron, was present at the event and helped to promote the group’s charitable efforts. Deen noted that due to this successful event, the group had received several requests to pick up bags of clothing and boxes of young adult books from those who had attended the expo.

Plans for WISH include a toy drive in the fall. Last year’s toy drive had the donations go to Toys for Tots, but plans for this year’s drive will instead focus on having the toys shipped to Guyana in time for Christmas. (Times Ledger)

he National Youth Festival 2013 which is being coordinated by the National Youth Development Network (NYDN) was officially launched on Monday, at the National Library Conference Room, Main and Church streets, Georgetown.

The event will be held from October 23 to October 26 at the Sophia Exhibition Complex under the theme “Fusion of our strengths, celebrating what is right with our diversity” It is expected to attract youths from the 10 administrative regions and will focus primarily on highlighting the positive contributions of youths in the country.

National Youth Festival Implementation Committee Chairman Zaman Shaw said the NYDN realised that throughout the country, in almost every community, young people are engaged in numerous activities that contribute to the development of themselves, their communities and the country at large, but often these go unnoticed.

“It is therefore from this perspective, and in keeping with the NYDN’s goal to facilitate the transformation of Guyana by empowering its young people with the knowledge and skills to be catalyst of positive change in our nation, that the

National Youth Festival Implementation Committee Chairman Zaman Shaw speaking at the launch of the National Youth Festival 2013

National Youth Festival was conceptualised,” he said.

He noted too that the festival is designed to create a platform through which youths can exhibit their talent, vision and innovation, while exploring, exchanging and reflecting on ideas of youth development across a wide-range of areas, such as entrepreneurship, skills for national development and volunteerism.

Shaw said the festival has several specific objectives, including raising awareness, appreciation and understanding of the contributions young people make towards national develop-

ment and to highlight the multi-dimensional facets of the country’s cultural heritage and the efforts by youths to embrace and participate in its preservation.

A number of activities are also planned during the three-day festival, including youths and stakeholders’ dialogue fora, an entertainment gala, a job fair and employment clinics, social trainings, heritage village, among others.

The festival will commence with an opening ceremony on October 23 and conclude with a grand Guyana Night Concert on October 26.

Cows, goats continue to be prominent stray animals

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he Home Affairs Ministry’s Stray Catching Unit has impounded a total of 338 animals across the country in July.

The ministry in a statement said the total represents efforts by units in Georgetown, Berbice, East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara, West Bank and West Coast Demerara.

The 338 animals comprised of 26 horses, 169

cows, 96 goats and 47 sheep.

The Georgetown Unit accounted for 65 cows, 70 goats and 38 sheep. The Berbice Unit accounted for 26 horses, 104 cows, 26 goats and nine sheep.

Some 5831 stray animals were impounded in 2013.

The Georgetown Unit impounded 2730 animals while the Berbice Unit impounded 3101. During the month, the ministry received complaints of animals involved in dam-

ages at President's College, University of Guyana, and Le Ressouvenir on the East Coast of Demerara; Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara; Klien, Pouderoyen and Hague, West Coast Demerara.

The ministry is again appealing to cattle owners to ensure that their animals are properly supervised during their grazing periods.

GRDB equipping rice farmers Second trial of man accused... to combat paddy bugs

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uyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Deputy General Manager Ricky Ramraj has disclosed that Pronto chemical will be given to rice farmers to assist in the fight against paddy bugs which have resurfaced, destroying crops on the Essequibo Coast.

Ramraj said the Agriculture Ministry through the GRDB has recognised that farmers received low prices for their harvest last year due to the prevalence of paddy bugs in their fields.

He said the board has worked assiduously in trying to rectify the problem and a special committee was formed to seek appropriate methods in curbing the pad-

dy bug issue.

Speaking to farmers at the Cotton Field Secondary School recently, Ramraj said a portion of Pronto chemicals has been dispatched to Region Two to be distributed to farmers. Ramraj said the drug will serve as an assistance package to farmers to eliminate the bugs.

Ramraj told farmers that the rice board was also considering aerial spraying of rice fields throughout Guyana. However, he noted that the aerial spraying will be very costly and has a lot of health implications. He said the board had analysed several options to curb the paddy bug problem and the only feasible one now was to give farmers the Pronto drug to protect their fields.

GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh said the board had embarked on field demonstration to help farmers. He said the demonstration conducted focused on practical ways of eliminating paddy bugs in the fields.

Singh noted that 20 demonstrations were conducted on the Essequibo Coast where farmers got a first hand view on how to spray.

Rice Producers Association General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj said the rice industry is faced with many challenges and called on all farmers to cooperate with stakeholders in addressing the problem.

Farmers at the meeting expressed their gratitude to the GRDB for its assistance.

The woman said they had an argument and the accused rushed up the steps and stabbed her to the head, causing her to fall on the landing with the baby in her hand. She recounted that the man continued to stab her and the cutlass point cut her son’s throat.

Bernadette called out to her cousin, Alfred Carrington, who came out, but the accused managed to escape.

However, in leading his defence on Thursday after the prosecution closed its case, Thomas elected to gave an unsworn statement and told the court that he went to see his reputed wife the first time to ask her to go back home, but she said she was going to Georgetown so he asked her to leave the child with him. The man said Bernadette then threat-

ened him with a knife and a pot of hot water after which Carrington came and hitting him with a piece of wood, causing him to leave.

Sharp pain

The accused went on to say that he called Bernadette and she told him to go put the child to sleep because he does not sleep without him, and when he got there, he took the child in his hands. Thomas said that he then told Bernadette that she can go in town, but the baby will stay with him and he walked away with the child heading to the gate when he felt a “sharp pain” in his hand.

The accused said when he turned around, the woman had a knife and attempted to stab him, but stabbed the baby instead. Thomas explained that he took his

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shirt off and wrapped it around the child’s neck and went to get a taxi, but when he returned, she had already left for the hospital.

Contradicting the accused's statement, Carrington testified that he heard Bernadette call out to him and when he opened the door, he saw her lying on the landing in a sitting position with the baby and Thomas was over them “thrusting” an object at them.

Another witness, Dawn Henry, a distant relative of Bernadette, testified seeing the accused on the landing with Bernadette. The woman said the accused was backing her and it appeared as though he was cuffing at Bernadette who was standing with the baby in her hand.

NEWS

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lake Mainstay hosts OAS to support debt management talks in Caribbean successful regatta O T he 13th Annual Lake Mainstay Regatta, which was held on Sunday at the Black Water Resort, was dubbed a success despite a slight drop in attendance compared to the previous year.

This was perhaps as a direct result of the accident which led to the death of Orin Belle during the 12th edition of the regatta.

Director of the resort Wilfred Jagnarine expressed his satisfaction with the turn out and level of participation at this year’s event.

Jagnarine said he had anticipated that, after the unfortunate accident last year which claimed a life, the attendance would have dropped even more since the Belles were diehard racing fans. He is, however, optimistic that the time will come again when the Belles will participate.

Medical team

He explained that this year, a medical team was added to the regatta, but fortunately, there was no incident.

Jagnarine also expressed his gratitude to the Regional Democratic Council for rehabilitating the road which has been a major challenge to the regatta. The road, he noted, was graded twice since they had expected a high influx of patrons. He also thanked the sponsors who came onboard to make the event a success.

Toshao of Mainstay/ Whyaka Joel Fredericks also called on the govern-

ment to complete the all weather road that leads to the villages. This road, he stated is a very important as it leads to one of the most attractive resorts on the Essequibo Coast. Without a proper road, Fredericks noted that patrons would not be too keen on visiting the resort, and this will ultimately hamper economic growth.

He reiterated that tourism is a major economic activity for the settlement.

Tourism Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Daneshwar Deonarine said the Lake Mainstay Regatta has become a part of the national calendar and people look forward for such an event on an annual basis.

Positive impact

He said the event has a positive impact on tourism and ultimately on the country’s economic growth, noting that it is an opportunity for small and medium enterprises to provide services such as transportation, accommodation, wildlife, arts and entertainment. It will also bring about the creation of new jobs and generate foreign exchange, investment and payments for goods and services provided.

Some 18 events were held on Sunday. Patrons came out in their numbers with their baskets and tents to have a grand time. During the races, they cheered with energy as they supported their favourite competitors.

The Gonsalves out of Pomeroon River created a whirlwind as they domi-

nated the day’s proceedings. From open races to 200 horsepower to novelty events, the day was accident free.

Rocking party

As the place got dark, patrons were seen gyrating to the music dished out by the Chinese Assassin and Pream Music Systems, but it got even better with performances by chutney singer Anil Bheem out of Trinidad and Tobago; Vanilla and other local acts.

As usual, Bheem did a splendid job in getting the patrons to get their grooves on. With some excellent chutney, soca and a few dancehall vibes, he had the ground partying none stop.

The night also saw a versatile performance by the Caribbean Hotshots Band, which added some spice to the evening with some salsa, chutney, dancehall, Spanish, soca and Latin selections.

Guyana’s soca queen, Vanilla also performed to perfection. Vanilla’s cool moves and excellent choice of songs had the crowd behind her. There were also performances by 2K4, a young group out of the Essequibo.

Apart from the adult fun, there were also a number of fun-filled events for the kids, including bouncy castle, face painting, merry-goround and others. The curtains came down on the 13th Annual Regatta around 23:00h, leaving patrons with smiles on their faces.

rganisation of American States (OAS) Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin said the hemispheric body will support discussions on the debt situation in the Caribbean, given the gravity of the challenge facing member states in the region.

Speaking with the Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, in St George’s, Assistant Secretary General Ramdin agreed that the debt issue cannot be ignored by any institution or country, given its direct link to and impact on economic development, stability, security and other key areas.

“We can’t address these issues in isolation. Growing debt is a critical matter as it

A

leged that at the same time and location, he robbed Carletta Melville a quantity of items and cash valued $360,000. Yearwood was not required to plead to the charge.

The defendant was represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson, who stated that his client is 22 years old and has a fixed place of abode at 123 Third Street, Albouystown. He said his client was surprised when he was picked up by the police, since he knows nothing

of the matter. He added that Yearwood was placed on $20,000 station bail, and explained his client was in the presence of the court since he was a virtual complainant in a matter before Court Five when he was shot.

Attorney Thompson stated that the fact that the police granted bail for such an offence means that there must have been a dispute about whether Yearwood was the perpetrator or the state has a weak case.

Magistrate McLennan

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man accused of verbally abusing his wife was brought before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

It was alleged on August 9 at La Penitence, 42-yearold Colin Gittings made use of abusive, as well as threatening, language to Gaylan Gittings. He pleaded guilty to the charge of abusive language and not guilty to the threatening language charge.

According to Prosecutor Deniro Jones, the virtual complainant and the defendant are legally married. On the day in question, the defendant went to the home of

said she was not inclined to grant bail, since a warrant was issued for the defendant’s arrest since December and he was only now brought into custody.

Attorney Thompson argued that his client lived a street away from the police station and he was never summoned.

The matter was adjourned to Tuesday, since the prosecution has yet to bring forward the case jacket.

Man caught in police raid with ganja jailed

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agistrate Ann McLennan on Monday jailed a man for 12 months on a charge of possession of narcotics after he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

John Beeton pleaded guilty to the possession of seven grams of cannabis on August 19 at Albouys Street, Albouystown. He is also accused of possessing quarter of a gram of cocaine on August 10 at Albouys Street, a charge to which

he pleaded not guilty.

According to Prosecutor Deniro Jones, on the day in question, around 06:30h, police ranks were conducting raids around Georgetown when they went to the home of the defendant. They knocked and he opened the door. The ranks told him that they were conducting a search for arms, ammunition and illegal substances and he invited them in.

A search was conducted in his presence and a

bulky black plastic bag was found in the sink. The bag was opened and found to contain a quantity of Guyanese currency notes, and a transparent bag containing a white substance along with 12 white paper parcels. The defendant was told by the police of their suspicions. The leaves, seeds, and stems found in the white parcels were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where they were weighed and tested and

has a serious impact on everything else. We support the discussions and the review of economic and financial fundamentals. We will continue to work with member states to assist in whatever

Argument with wife lands man in court

Armed robbery suspect denied bail ccused armed robber Thristan Yearwood on Monday denied bail when he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that on December 12, 2012 at Georgetown, being armed with a dangerous weapon, that is to say a gun, Yearwood robbed Jean Melville a quantity of items and cash valued a total of $9,714,000. It is further al-

Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell

way we can, so that an integrated Caribbean-led strategy on debt management can be formulated,” said Ramdin.

During his brief visit to the Caribbean, Ambassador Ramdin met with Dr Mitchell, Foreign Minister Nicholas Steele, and Governor General Cecile La Grenade. In Barbados, he met with Foreign Minister Maxine McLean, Caribbean Development Bank President Warren Smith, University of the West Indies (Cave Hill) Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal Sir Hilary Beckles and private sector representatives. He also engaged briefly with St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

proved to be a narcotic.

The prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that there were no special reasons given and if granted his pre-trial liberty, there is a likelihood the defendant will not return to court.

Magistrate McLennan then sentenced Beeton to 12 months in prison and a fine of $10,000 for the cannabis charge. He is set to return to Court One on September 11 for the continuance of the possession of cocaine matter.

the virtual complaint and knocked on her door; when she did not answer, he used a series of expletives. He subsequently left after she refused to open the door. The matter was reported and the defendant was arrested and charged.

The defendant told the court that he was employed at Pearl’s Bakery, and this was the first time he and his wife ever got into such a serious problem. He said he did not know that arguing with his wife could cause him so much pain, and he was very sorry for what he did. He went on to say that he and his wife have been married

for 13 years and he has never laid a finger on her. He pleaded with the court to forgive him and be lenient.

There were no objections to bail put forward by the prosecution.

Magistrate McLennan discharged the matter against Gittings regarding the abusive language charge, and placed him on a bond to keep the peace for 12 months after she cautioned him about using abusive language to his wife or anyone else. He is set to return to Court One on September 11 for the threatening language charge.

North West man pleads guilty to killing wife

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n the day that the trial commenced in the 2009 murder of a Port Kaituma, North West District woman, her reputed husband pleaded guilty to her murder. The accused, Lawrence Ramcharran, was indicted with the February 15, 2009 murder of his reputed wife, Deborah Allen, at their Oronoque, Port Kaituma home.

A 12-member mixed jury panel was selected on Wednesday last before Justice James BovellDrakes at the High Court.

State Counsel Dhanika Singh is prosecuting while Attorney Peter Hugh is representing the accused.

When the indictment was read to Ramcharran on Wednesday last, he pleaded not guilty, and as such, the matter was adjourned until Monday for commencement of the trial.

However, on Monday when the matter was called, the court was informed that the accused wanted to plead guilty to lesser count of manslaughter.

A new indictment of manslaughter was then read to Ramcharran and he plead-

ed guilty. The court then ordered a probation report to be conducted and presented to the court.

Justice Drakes adjourned the matter until August 26, when the probation report is expected to be presented after which he will proceed to sentence the accused.

According to reports, in the wee hours of February 15, 2009, Ramcharran and Allen were at home when an argument ensued between them about a party. During the argument, Ramcharran in a fit of rage, picked up a cutlass and chopped the woman about her body.

He then turned to their 16-year-old daughter and dealt her a chop across her face. Both the woman and her daughter were rushed to a medical institution where Allen was pronounced dead on arrival. The teen was transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital where she was admitted for several days.

After Allen’s death, Ramcharran subsequently submitted himself to police and was arrested and charged with the capital offence of murder.

14

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Saint Lucia police chief sent on required leave

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Vernon Francois

ccording to local sources, Commissioner of the Royal St Lucia Police Force Vernon Francois, has been requested to take accumulated vacation leave totalling some 400 days.

This latest development comes on the heels of reports that Francois was not permitted to board a flight from Hewanorra International Airport in St Lucia to the U.S. to participate in U.S.organised and financed training programmes.

In a statement of Friday,

the government of Saint Lucia said it is aware of the concerns and anxieties expressed by the public over what it described as the decision by the U.S. to disallow officers of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force from participating in several training programmes arranged or financed by the U.S. The statement said that Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony will, on a date to be announced early next week, explain and address the issues of concern and, in particular, the reasons for the

actions of the U.S. against officers of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

There is widespread speculation locally that the U.S. crackdown may have something to do with the U.S. State Department’s 2011 human rights report on St Lucia that described 12 potentially unlawful fatal police shootings during the year, some reportedly committed by officers associated with an ad hoc taskforce within the police department. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

No decision yet on local elections in TT

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o decision has been made about local government elections and discussions on a possible postponement are ongoing, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal said on Sunday. “There is no determination on that yet,” he said in response to questions from reporters during a walkabout along Roberts Road, Phillipine Village,

San Fernando, adding that the elections are the “purview” of the prime minister.

The term of local government bodies ended last month and local government elections are due before the end of October. The issue of a possible postponement was raised last Wednesday.

Following a national executive meeting at the United National Congress’s head-

quarters at Rienzi Complex, Couva, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the party’s local government councillors asked her to postpone the elections.

She said the matter would be discussed.

Moonilal, leader of government business in the House of Representatives, said, “Local government elections (are) not postponed

and there is no determination in that as yet. There are discussions that are ongoing on this issue in the context of local government transformation and in the context of the referendum, that one is contemplating on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) matter in particular.” He assured that no decision has been arrived at on local government elections.

(Excerpt from Trinadad Guardian)

Cayman Islands court rejects election petition based on dual citizenship

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Tara Rivers

n Friday, the Cayman Islands court ruled that recently-elected Education and Employment Minister Tara Rivers was not disqualified under the territory’s constitution from standing for election.

Rivers surprise success in last May’s general election was challenged on the grounds that she had dual U.S. citizenship and therefore owed allegiance to a foreign power. Her constitutionally mandated period

of residency in the Cayman Islands prior to an election was also challenged.

The Cayman Islands constitution prohibits an election candidate from absence for seven years prior to their nomination, or more than 400 days during that seven years and it was asserted by the petitioner that Rivers had been absent from the Cayman Islands for more than the time permitted.

In relation to the citizenship issue, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie said that

Rivers has a right to a U.S. passport by birth and that it did not represent an allegiance to a foreign power.

Justice Smellie said he was swayed by the evidence from the legal expert on U.S. law, Professor David Cole, who had given evidence that, because it was not necessary to swear an oath when applying for and using an American passport, it was not an act of allegiance over and above the allegiance that exists by virtue of being born in the country.

(Excerpt from Caribbean news now)

Venezuela refinery fire extinguished

A storage tank at the Puerto La Cruz refinery was hit by lightning, sparking the blaze

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he vice president of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, Asdrúbal Chávez, has said the blaze at one of the country’s largest oil refineries has been extin-

guished.

Officials say lightning sparked the fire at a storage tank of the Puerto La Cruz refinery, sending large plumes of black smoke into the sky and leading to the

evacuation of the surrounding area.

The authorities say no one was injured.

An explosion at the country’s largest refinery killed 55 people last year.

The Puerto La Cruz refinery can produce nearly 200,000 barrels of oil a day.

Production has not been affected by Sunday’s blaze, Chávez said.

Soon after a storage tank was reportedly hit by lightning at 15:15h local time (19:45GMT), authorities ordered the evacuation of residents within one kilometre (half a mile) of the plant on the Caribbean coast as a precaution.

Large thunderstorms are currently drenching the country, said the BBC’s Irene Caselli, in Caracas.

Many residents were seen abandoning the area and posted pictures of black smoke billowing from the refinery on social media websites.

After teams on the ground fought the fire for more than two hours, President Nicolás Maduro wrote on Twitter that the fire had been “controlled”.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Peru’s security forces kill three Shining Path rebels

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hree Shining Path rebels, including a top leader, have been killed by the security forces in Peru, according to the interior minister.

Wilfredo Pedraza said the guerrillas were shot dead in the country’s south.

Among those killed is Alejandro Borda Casafranca, better known as Comrade Alipio, accused of being the number two in the Maoist rebel movement.

The Shining Path was largely defeated in the 1990s, but remnants continue to be active in parts of Peru.

The clash happened overnight near Huanta in the Ayacucho region, where most of Peru’s coca is grown.

The security forces say the Maoist group has allied itself with drug traffickers and now finances itself by growing and smuggling coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine.

Much of the illegal drug is produced in the Ene-Apurimac valley in southern Peru – known as VRAE – a stronghold of the Shining Path.

President Ollanta Humala has made bringing peace to the VRAE one of his top priorities since coming to office in July 2011.

One of the original leaders of the Shining Path, Comrade Artemio, was sentenced to life in prison in June.

Inspired by Maoism, the rebels tried to lead a “People’s War” to overthrow what they called “bourgeois democracy” and establish a communist state. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Pitbull forces TT family to stay indoors

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ince midnight on Saturday, a Princes Town family has been forced to stay indoors because of a ferocious pitbull which entered their yard through a fence and continues to roam close to their home.

The pitbull in the yard of the Vidya Rambharose told Rambharose family Newsday on Sunday she is unaware if the animal had been abandoned or if it had strayed from its home. She, however, issued a public appeal for the owner to come forward and collect the animal which she said is also in need of medical attention.

“My brother and his family are now prisoners in their home because of the dog,” she said.

Rambharose told Newsday the hungry animal had forced its way into her brother’s yard at Pierre Street, Princes Town, where it spent the night. When the dog woke Sunday morning, it began acting in a ferocious manner and kept threatening the safety of family members, including her father Jawahir Rambharose, 73.

There are also several children in the house including a three-month-old baby, some of whom she said are vacationing with their uncle Basdeo at his home. She said the dog kept barking at them and refused to leave the yard. No one was allowed to go outside for fear of the animal, she said.

(Excerpt from Trinadad and Tobago Today)

NCU freezes tuition for new school year

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he Northern Caribbean University (NCU) administration has decided to freeze tuition fees for the upcoming academic year to lighten the financial burden borne by students.

President Trevor Northern Caribbean University Gardner made the dis- President Trevor Gardner (left) with closure in an address at one of the 1058 graduands awarded Sunday’s commencement at Sunday’s commencement service service where a total of 1058 students received certifications, including bachelors’, masters’ and doctoral degrees.

“In an effort to ease the financial sacrifice, (the) administration took a decision to freeze tuition increase for the 2013/2014 academic year,” he said.

Gardner said that in addition to foregoing the increase, “there will be further student payment options with a view to making fewer increases for the duration of studies across the disciplines...” “...We thank our alumni, locally and overseas, who are playing a role in being part of the solution,” he added.

In tandem with that, chairman of the university board Everett Brown said many of the graduates “owe a debt of gratitude” to persons who they have never met, but who are helping to further the cause of Christian education. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

15 Around the world

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

Mugabe to rivals: Accept election win or commit suicide

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President Robert Mugabe

i m b a b w e a n President Robert Mugabe said Monday the West and his political opponents can commit suicide if they cannot accept his recent re-election.

“Those who can’t stomach the defeat, you can commit suicide. Even dogs will not sniff their carcasses,” said the 89-year-old leader while addressing an event to commemorate veterans of Zimbabwe’s war for independence.

It was his first public speech since the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission declared him winner, with

61 per cent of the vote, of the July 31 elections, beating Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) last week challenged the election results, accusing the electoral commission of rigging the polls for Mugabe’s ZANU-PF. “We will never go back on our victory. We do not know what is retreating,” Mugabe said.

To the West “we are delivering democracy on a platter. Will you take?” asked Africa’s oldest leader.

“We say take it or leave it.

We will never go back on our victory.”

Some of the people that attended the event Monday had placards reading “Which Africa Observed Elections in Europe or America?”; “Come on, concede defeat”; “Obama: Zimbabwe will never be a second Chile”; “Thank you Zimbabwe for defending our sovereignty”; and “Zimbabwe will never be a colony again”.

Tsvangirai – who got 34 per cent of the July 31 vote – and officials of his MDC party boycotted the Monday event. (Excerpt from CNN)

British aid to Somalia stolen by militants

Thousands of pounds of UK-funded humanitarian supplies were stolen by members of the al Shabaab Islamist group in Somalia, an annual report by the UK Department for International Development revealed on Sunday

M Morsi supporters stand firm, brace for Egypt crackdown

There has been no sign of police activity at the pro-Morsi camps

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slamist supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi refused to abandon their pro-

test camps in Cairo on Monday and said they would fend off any police crackdown with sticks, stones and

their faith.

Security sources and a government official had said on Sunday that police action to dismantle the camps would begin at dawn despite the risk of violent clashes.

But nothing transpired during the course of the day.

At the al-Nahda camp, centred round a traffic circle and extending down a palm tree-lined boulevard next to the city zoo, protesters lolled in the shade of tents away from the mid-afternoon sun.

The mood was solemn but not fearful.

Asked about the threat to

break up the camps, Ahmed Shargawy, a 23-year-old translator, said: “They said that 15 days ago too. They always say they are going to finish it.”

A block away, half a dozen armored troop carriers and a few squads of soldiers were positioned outside a police station, but they did not look like part of a strike force ready to move.

The authorities are keen to end the protests, the focus of opposition to the military’s overthrow of Morsi six weeks ago. (Excerpt from Reuters)

embers of the al Shabab Islamist group have stolen £480,000 (US$750,000, 550,000 euros) worth of British government-funded humanitarian materials and supplies in Somalia, it emerged on Sunday.

The theft, revealed in the fine print of the Department for International Development’s annual accounts, is likely to fuel concerns about how Britain is spending its foreign aid at a time of budget cuts at home.

The accounts describe the “theft between November 2011 and February 2012, by al Shabab in southern Somalia, of DFID funded humanitarian materials and supplies from the offices and warehouses of partner organisations, to which DFID had provided funding to deliver projects and programmes”.

“DFID’s partners had no prior warning of the confiscations being carried out and therefore had no time to prevent the loss by relocating goods,” the report said.

The loss, out of more than £80 million of aid allocated for Somalia in 2012-2013, appears in this year’s accounts because the investigation was only completed in the past 12 months.

Britain’s aid budget is protected from the government’s austerity programme and has recently reached the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income, according to ministers. (Excerpt from France24)

U.S. eyes criminal U.S. mob boss Powerful typhoon justice shake-up Bulger found guilty hits the Philippines es.

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he Obama administration has unveiled major changes to the criminal justice system, dropping mandatory minimum sentences in certain drug cas-

Such terms will not be imposed for non-violent drug offenders with no gang or cartel ties, Attorney General Eric Holder said in a speech.

The U.S. has one of the world’s biggest prison populations, despite a 40-year-low in the country’s crime rates.

Critics say that heavy drug sentences have hit minorities hardest.

“We need to ensure that incarceration is used to punish, deter and rehabilitate – not merely to convict, warehouse and forget,” Holder said in a speech to the American Bar Association in San Francisco on Monday.

Under the reforms, Holder is directing U.S. prosecutors who draft indictments for certain drug offences to omit any mention of the quantity of illegal substance involved, so as to avoid triggering a mandatory minimum sentence.

Only non-violent offenders with no previous charges or ties to gangs or cartels will be affected.

He advocated sending people convicted of low-level offences to drug treatment and community service programmes instead of prison.

Such terms, created as part of the U.S. “war on drugs” in the 1980s, prevent judges from applying discretion when sentencing certain drug offences. (Excerpt from BBC News)

J

ames “Whitey” Bulger, one of America’s most notorious underworld bosses, has been convicted of nearly a dozen murders, racketeering and conspiracy.

The 83-year-old terrorised an Irish-Catholic neighbourhood of Boston in the 1970s and 80s as leader of the Winter Hill James “Whitey” Bulger Gang.

He betrayed no emotion upon hearing the verdict after a two-month trial.

Bulger went on the run in 1994 and was finally captured in Santa Monica, California, in 2011.

He was said to have been an inspiration for the gangster played by Jack Nicholson in Oscar-winning 2006 film “The Departed”.

The trial in Boston heard gruesome evidence that Bulger had participated in 19 murders, but he was found guilty on Monday of a role in only 11 of them.

He faces a potential life prison sentence.

Bulger refused to testify at the trial, calling the proceedings “a sham” because he said he had been promised immunity by a now-deceased prosecutor.

During the trial, the federal jury of 12 heard testimony from 72 witnesses and saw 840 exhibits. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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he world’s strongest storm of the year so far plowed across the northern Philippines on Monday, killing at least one person and leaving 20 fishermen

missing.

Packing winds as strong as 200 kilometres per hour (124 mph), Typhoon Utor made landfall early Monday on the east coast of the Philippine island of Luzon, damaging hundreds of houses.

“It’s the strongest typhoon we’ve had so far on the planet this year,” said CNN International meteorologist Samantha Mohr. “So that gives you some idea of the magnitude of this system.”

Utor, known in the Philippines as Labuyo, churned westnorthwest over Luzon, dumping heavy rain on the island’s hilly terrain and bringing the risk of landslides. It weakened as it moved over land, and by Monday afternoon, it had begun to head out into the South China Sea. Aid groups in the Philippines, which had been preparing for the storm’s arrival for several days, said they were only just beginning to assess the situation on the ground in the hardest-hit areas.

“There’s a high risk that part of the population may get isolated because of landslides and difficulty moving around,” said Anna Lindenfors, country director for Save the Children in the Philippines. (Excerpt from CNN)

Pakistan accuses India of shelling as Kashmir tension simmers

P

akistan accused Indian troops of firing shells across the disputed border in Kashmir on Monday and tensions ran high in both countries after last week’s

killing of Indian soldiers set off a wave of skirmishes between the two nucleararmed rivals.

Clashes flared along the 740-kilometre (445-mile) Line of Control (LoC) that

divides Kashmir on August 6 when five Indian soldiers were ambushed and killed in the Poonch region.

New Delhi blamed the attack on the Pakistan army.

Islamabad denied involve-

ment.

While tit-for-tat shelling and machine gun fire are common along the LoC, the current round of fighting is one of the most intense since a cease fire signed in 2003.

It has been linked to protests in both countries and rowdy scenes in India’s parliament. Under pressure from opposition politicians, the government has hinted at retaliation.

On Monday, a Pakistani army official said a civilian was killed as a result of “unprovoked Indian shelling” in the Battal, Chirikot and Satwal sectors. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Asia North America BlackBerry forms committee to explore possible sale Bribery ‘routine’ for foreign pharmaceutical

S

martphone maker BlackBerry is exploring options for its business, which could see the company sold off. Timothy Dattels, a BlackBerry board member, will head a new committee that will consider different business models, including partnerships.

It wants to increase sales of its BlackBerry 10 model, seen as crucial to the future of the company.

“We believe that now is the right time to explore strategic alternatives,” said Dattels.

“During the past year, management and the board have been focused on launching the BlackBerry 10 platform and BES 10, establishing a strong financial position and evaluating the best approach to delivering long-term value for customers and shareholders.”

Prem Watsa, chairman of BlackBerry’s largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial, resigned from the board as the forma-

tion of the committee was announced. Watsa said he wanted to avoid any potential conflict of interest. “I continue to be a strong supporter of the company, the board and management as they move forward through this process, and Fairfax Financial has no current intention of selling its shares,” he said.

The company has struggled in recent years to regain market share lost to Apple and users of Google’s Android operating system. (BBC News)

Europe

German Finance Ministry rules out new debt writedown for Greece

G

ermany’s Finance Ministry on Monday stuck with its steadfast rejection of further debt relief for Greece, despite a weekend news report suggesting even the country’s central bank expects a new Greek aid package will be necessary by the beginning of next year at the latest.

cut [on debt] is out of the question” and expressed confidence in Greece’s ability to overcome obstacles.

The comments come after news magazine Spiegel reported Sunday that Germany’s Bundesbank expects Greece will need a new aid package by early 2014, citing a central bank internal document.

The Bundesbank declined to comment on the report. The finance ministry spokesman, Martin Kotthaus, said he was not aware of a new document from the Bundesbank and did

With less than six weeks to go until nationwide elections in Germany, a spokesman for the German Finance Ministry told reporters “a second hair-

not know which document the Spiegel article refers to.

“The numbers we have speak clearly – Greece is coming along well,” Kotthaus told reporters.

“We’ll look at what Greece does, we’ll look at how Greece implements the program, we’ll see if Greece achieves a primary surplus in 2014 – that’s the agreement – and then if we ascertain that more money is needed, we will discuss it,” Kotthaus said, adding it is difficult to speculate on anything that could happen in 2014. (The Wall Street Journal)

South America

firms in China

B

ribes are routinely paid by major foreign pharmaceutical firms operating in China, the BBC has learned.

Five drugs salesmen for foreign companies told the BBC their firms paid bribes in order to increase sales of their products.

None of them wanted to be identified, fearing they would lose their jobs. The revelations come as Beijing widens its investigation into drugsprice fixing amid a bribery

scandal engulfing drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline. One of the salesmen said his company paid about US$1000 (£647) to get its product back on the shelves at one hospital. “I don’t deny [giving money to doctors] happens in foreign companies,” the sales representative said. “It is rare though and only very few people get it,” he added.

But he described an incident where a product had been cleared from a hospital’s shelves, which proved to be

“an embarrassment” for him and his company. “If we follow the normal procedure to recover it, it is very complicated.

It will cost a lot of money and energy. We looked for a quick way.”

He admitted that strictly speaking, the money paid out to ensure the product returned to shelves was probably a bribe and that his manager signed it off. He said it would have cost a lot more to achieve the same result through official routes.

(BBC News)

Middle East Dubai’s Emaar doubles housing and land sales

D

ubai’s Emaar Properties said on Monday its revenue from housing and land sales doubled in the second quarter as investor sentiment toward the emirate’s real estate market improved.

Property prices in the emirate slumped by half after the 2008 financial crisis.

Emaar, Dubai’s biggest real estate developer, has fared better than rivals through the crisis thanks to a greater reliance on retail and hospitality, business-

es with more stable revenue streams than the construction and sale of homes and offices.

Emaar sold a series of projects this year, cashing in on renewed optimism in Dubai’s property market buoyed largely by a return of speculative buyers in the home sales segment.

The builder of the world’s tallest tower generated revenue of AED1.63 billion (US$443.78m) in the three months ending June 30 from the sale of apartment blocks,

commercial units and land, a detailed earnings statement released on Monday showed.

Revenue in the same period a year earlier was AED815.6 million. The increase easily offset a small drop in revenue from villa sales. Emaar reported a 10 per cent increase in secondquarter net profit in July.

Cost of revenue from property sales shot up to AED1.1 billion from AED433.5 million in the prior-year period, the latest earnings report stated. (Arabianbusiness)

Oceania

Spying scandal sets back U.S. chances for fighter jet sale to Brazil High-tech NZ firms form export alliance

U

.S. hopes of clinching a coveted deal worth more than US$4 billion to sell 36 fighter jets to Brazil have suffered a setback with recent revelations that the United States collected data on Brazilian Internet communications. When U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sits down with Brazilian officials in Brasilia on Tuesday to prepare a state visit to the White House by President Dilma Rousseff, the sale of the warplanes will not

be on the agenda, a Brazilian source said.

“We cannot talk about the fighters now... you cannot give such a contract to a country that you do not trust,” a highlevel Brazilian government official told Reuters on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The official said Kerry’s oneday visit to Brazil will focus on restoring the trust between Washington and Brasilia that was shaken by the spying dis-

closures, which set off a political uproar in the largest U.S. trade partner in South America.

U.S. officials were not immediately available for comment. Last month, Brazilian newspaper O Globo published documents leaked by fugitive former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden that revealed U.S. surveillance of Internet communications in Brazil and other Latin American countries. (Reuters)

Market statistics Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Cambio Rates Bank of Guyana

Cur

Buying

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

Selling

U.S.

$1335.00 $202.67

F

our of New Zealand’s top technology firms – Gallagher Group, Endace, Wynyard Group and Tait Communications – have teamed up to form a strategic alliance aimed at expanding their presence in export markets.

The Security Technology Alliance’s members supply technology ranging from Wynyard’s financial crime intelligence gathering platforms to mobile communications systems developed by Christchurch-based Tait.

Craig Richardson, chief executive of Wynyard - whose

client base includes the London Metropolitan Police and Australian police force – said the group would focus on increasing members’ capabilities and export earnings. “Our companies complement each other’s strengths and joining forces creates a compelling new global market proposition in this high-growth market,” Richardson said.

“It’s these types of initiatives in a high-tech category that has the potential for significantly increasing export earnings, which will lift New Zealand’s profile.”

The alliance recent-

ly opened an office in Washington DC and has appointed Louis Quijas, a former top United States Department of Homeland Security official, as the group’s senior vicepresident for strategic ventures.

Quijas said New Zealand was already recognised and respected for the contribution its companies made to the global security sector.

“There is a significant global market for security services and the STA will allow more New Zealand companies to create opportunities in global markets,” he said. (NZ Herald)

Investors' guide

GBP

$313.49

$320.46

Cambio

CAN

$198.51

$200.80

Gross

$254,331

USD

$204.49

$206.92

Net

$236,527

Scrutinise your business ideas

Selling

$262,426

By Dr Jeff Cornwall

INDICATORS as on August 6, 2013 Live Spot Gold $1330.60

$1331.60

Low/High

$1322.40

$1345.60

-6.70

Change

-0.50

USD GBP EUR

AM

1325.75 856.59 997.40

Aug 9 USD GBP EUR

AM

1305.50 839.44 975.49

Crude Oil Price Silver Platinum

London Gold Fix

Aug 10

Indicators

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

US$ per barrel

Change %

$108.97 USD per Ounce

+0.69

21.17 $1492.00

Change %

-1.19 -0.07

PM

1341.00 866.90 1009.49 PM

1309.00 843.16 979.79

W

hen planning for a new business, most aspiring entrepreneurs seem to try to prove to a sceptical world that their idea can really work. Their approach to developing a business model and writing a business plan involves gathering as much information as they can to support their decision to start the business.

Most entrepreneurs

gather some cursory industry data and talk with people already working in the industry, with one thought in mind: “What can I uncover that will validate my desire to open this business?”

They selectively pay attention only to information that affirms their desire to get the business started as soon as possible. As a result, they fail to uncover information that may not paint such a rosy picture about the viability of their idea.

When I talk with aspiring entrepreneurs, I always take the opposite approach.

I start asking them questions that attempt to prove that their business idea cannot work.

I shoot as many holes in their idea as I can possibly come up with. If, after I am done, the concept is still standing, I feel better that they may be on to something. Over the years this has resulted in some pretty frustrated students. (Business Dictionary)

Business concept – Discrimination

Last: 15419.68

Changes: -5.83

% Change: -0.04

Open: 15415.22

High: 15551.75

Low: 15359.93

% YTD: +17.767

52Wk Hi: 15658.43

52 Wk Lo: 12035.09

Bias or prejudice resulting in denial of opportunity, or unfair treatment regarding selection, promotion, or transfer. Discrimination is practiced commonly on the grounds of age, disability, ethnicity, origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, etc factors which are irrelevant to a person’s competence or suitability.

Unequal treatment provided to one or more parties on the basis of a mutual accord or some other logical or illogical reason.

Differences in two rates not explainable or justifiable by economic considerations such as costs.

NEWS

17

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Miracle crowned emancipation queen

The seven Miss Emancipation delegates posing in their exquisite African evening gowns minutes before the top four were shortlisted

M

iracle Hilliman, 21, a second year communication student at the University of Guyana (UG) on Sunday evening outshone her six rivals to cop the coveted title of Miss Emancipation 2013 when the pageant was staged at the National Cultural Centre.

Hilliman was undoubtedly a top contender from the beginning of the competition, dazzling the judges with her flawless presentations.

She continued to impress the audience and the

panel of judges during the Business Wear Segment when she appeared on stage dressed as a well lawyer.

She continued her dominance as she performed her talent piece – a poem she wrote entitled “I Am An African Woman”.

The young lady moments later left the audience spellbound when she appeared during the evening gown competition, looking regal in her outfit, which was well complemented with a beautiful head wrap.

She sealed the deal when she was asked the fi-

nal question: “The United Nations has declared 20132023 the Decade for People of African Descent, what is your 10-year vision for your people?”

The young lady said that during the 10-year period, she hopes to move Africans who are at the bottom of the ladder to the top, noting that they are buyers and not sellers.

Coming in as first runnerup was Joelle Valentine,19, also a UG second year communication student while the second runner-up spot went to Franale Holder,23,

who aspired to become a pilot.

Jonell Lovell, 19, who wants to become a medical doctor, secured the third runner-up spot.

Prizes

The queen walked away with $100,000 while the first runner-up received $75,000; the second $50,000 and the third $25,000, along with other prizes.

The evening opened with a libation ceremony, an oral recitation by Shabakie Fernandes, the founder of I Can Foundation and a pour-

Miracle Hilliman modelling in an elegant gold and cream dress during the Evening Wear Segment, shortly before she was crowned Miss Emancipation 2013

ing of libation by Brother Guyan.

This was followed by a dance piece with the performers decked in everyday garments depicting villagers as they cooked, cut woods, washed clothes, being engaged in carpentry while some were in a group conversing.

During the proceedings, the master’s of ceremony Mondale Smith made his way through the village to the centre of the stage bring the show to an abrupt halt as he declared that the king is looking for a queen who should be between 17 and 27 years old.

He indicated that the queen chosen must not only be attractive, but she must be versatile in language, talented in some form of art and most of all intelligent.

Elegance

This was followed by the Introductory Segment which saw the seven beautiful delegates dressed in various styles of kente cloth and African brocade, and had to describe a woman of African descent. Some of the distinguished African women spoken about were Dr Enid Denbow, Viola Burnham,

A group of dancers performing an energetic piece to the sounds of African beats

Beverly Brakes, Simona Broomes, Madame Justice Desiree Bernard, Wendy Aaron and Lynette Dolphin.

Next was the Business Wear Segment where the delegates were dressed using kente cloth and African wax print to showcase their aspiring careers, which included aeronautical engineer/pilot, doctors, businesswoman, ambassador, lawyer and journalist.

This made way for the talent competition which ranged from poetry to songs, which were flawlessly done.

At this point of the evening, the king for the event was the reigning Mr African Roots Rashley Joseph, who made his way to the stage from the audience as he escorted each delegate on stage for the Elegant Evening Gown Segment.

Immediately after this segment, the each delegate was asked questions that aided in the selection of the final four.

As the judges made tallied their scores, there was a presentation of a poem accompanied by drums performed by Mellissa King, followed by an overview of the delegates’ training and vote of thanks by Shabakie Fernandes.

‘BB’ thief jailed for 18 months A woman was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to stealing her friend’s BlackBerry cellular phone.

According to the charge on July 22 in Georgetown, 21-year-old Trisha Persaud stole one BlackBerry cellphone valued $70,000 property of Amit Ramdat.

She pleaded guilty to the charge read against her.

Prosecutor Deniro Jones said the defendant and virtual complainant are friends for about three years and she would visit his office and have conversations with him.

On the day in question, the defendant visited the

VC’s office at 34 A North Road Lacytown and was conversing with him. The VC was called to another office; he got up and left his phone on his desk.

He spent about fifteen minutes and when he came back, he noticed that the defendant had left.

Upon checking for his

phone, he discovered it missing. He called Persaud and questioned her about it but she denied having it. She then activated the BlackBerry Messenger and a friend of the VC chatted with her and it was reveled that she had the phone.

A report was made at the Brickdam Police Station

and the phone was recovered. She was cautioned about the offence. The defendant told the court she is unemployed and is very sorry for what she did. She said that she will give back the phone and will not do it again. She said she did not know why she took the phone in the first place and

was ashamed of what she had done.

Magistrate Ann McLennan sentenced her to eighteen months in prison and ordered the item to be returned to the VC. After Persaud was sentenced, she begged Ramdat to do something since he got back his phone.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ARCHIE

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Put your money where your mouth is. If you promise something, follow through. You can tie up loose ends and improve your position or reputation if you take swift, decisive action.

DILBERT

(June 21July 22) Expand your interests and explore your options.

Look into different philosophies, lifestyles and cultural backgrounds. Travel will promote love and fresh new ways to get the most out of life.

AQUARIUS

LEO

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(July 23Aug. 22)

Don’t count on anything that isn’t signed, sealed and delivered. Observe what others are doing and saying before you commit to anything that may put you in a vulnerable position.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

CANCER

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Go over your personal papers and you’ll find a way to turn an investment or a nascent idea into a profitable endeavour. Networking will lead to worthwhile partnerships.

Assumptions will lead to trouble. Put more effort into home improvements and getting things done under budget. Use your know-how and people skills to overcome adversity and complaints.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Lend a helping hand and you will receive something special in return.

Relationships will improve if you make suggestions that will benefit everyone involved. You’re in a positive cycle in terms of asking for favours.

PEANUTS ARIES (March 21-April 19)

SUDOKU

Take care of your domestic responsibilities before taking off on an adventure. Seek out activities, conferences or events that will add to your knowledge and expertise.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Check out any pertinent rules and regulations before you begin a job.

Plan a vacation – rejuvenation will do wonders for your outlook.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) Apply for a new position that you’ve been eyeing and do your best to compliment others. You can make progress if you are willing to compromise and do your fair share.

Excess will be your enemy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) You will excel if you take action and follow through on your ideas.

Let your actions speak for you. The aspects favour romance, whether new or rekindled.

Monday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20)

SAGITTARIUS

Use your skills and creativity to make improvements at home. The changes you make will allow you to take on an important cause with gusto and vitality.

Offer suggestions and find ways to satisfy what everyone else wants if it will help seal a deal or get you closer to your goal.

Don’t let love stand between you and success.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

NEWS 19

YELLOW PAGES

Too early to draw conclusions on source of MERS – FAO study

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

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FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth

U

nderstanding the potential role of animals in the emergence and spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) requires further investigation, analysis and study, FAO said today.

Current evidence is not sufficient to identify the specific source, whether animal or otherwise, of the coronavirus that is causing MERS in humans.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that affect primarily birds and mammals.

Some strains cause mild disease, while a limited number are more harmful (e.g. the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome [SARS] coronavirus). The MERS coronavirus has been shown to cause acute respiratory illness in humans. It has not yet been shown to cause disease in animals.

“It is not yet clear how people are becoming infected, or where the virus might come from,” stated Juan Lubroth, FAO Chief Veterinary Officer. “We do

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not have enough information to identify with certainty the virus’s origin.

Confirming the source and mechanisms of transmission and spread are key to developing ways to reduce the risks posed by this virus to humans or other countries.”

More information needed

A study led by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment of the Netherlands and just published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal provides some additional information. The study found antibodies for the MERS coronavirus or a similar virus in camel blood samples.

The samples were taken in areas where human cases have not been reported. In some cases, the tested camels have been isolated from other camels for many years.

These antibody findings indicate that the MERS virus, or a similar coronavirus, occurs in some camels and potentially other species. However, the only way

to know with any certainty if the virus affecting humans is the same as the virus possibly affecting camels (or any other animal) is to isolate the virus in different species and compare them genetically.

To date the MERS coronavirus has only been isolated in humans. Investigation and research in animal species must continue to shed light on potential animal sources.

If and once identified, veterinary and public health authorities could better communicate how to prevent infection or institute specific control measures.

Close cooperation

Authorities in the affected region are investigating the situation. FAO is in close communication with national authorities as well as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). FAO and its partners stand ready to support national and regional efforts to identify the environment and context or which animal species might serve as a reservoir and to address the virus in animals in order to protect human health, animal health and animal-related livelihoods.

FAO is urging countries to invest in efforts to better understand virus sources and mechanisms of transmission and spread. This information can be employed to help people and animals avoid exposure in order to reduce the risks viruses pose to health and trade.

Ramdin calls for more youth opportunities in the Americas

OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin

T

he assistant secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, says the youth of the Americas continue to face an “age-based bias,” which limits their potential to contribute in a more meaningful way to society.

Ambassador Ramdin, who chairs the OAS Working Group on Youth made the statement on the occasion of International Youth Day. “The Americas is home to hundreds of mil-

lions of youth and regardless of country, ethnicity or status, they are strategic game changers who cannot be ignored. We must make deliberate investments to tap into their potential by ensuring access to more opportunities,” said the senior OAS official.

In commemoration of International Youth Day, the OAS also welcomed 15 teams of young eco-entrepreneurs participating in Week2Grow, an intensive week long training programme for young people

in the field of entrepreneurship and sustainable development, organised by the OAS, the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), PepsiCo and the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship.

“I actually embrace the term ‘restless youth’ since it captures their energy and drive. I’ve witnessed the power of our youth to transform an environment through their voice, creativity and resourcefulness. I hope programs like Week2Grow can be expanded, so that the potential of our young people can be developed and opportunities can be provided for them to make a contribution to peace, prosperity and security,” added Assistant Secretary General Ramdin. Among the major youth initiatives being undertaken by the hemispheric Organisation is the “OAS Youth Conference of the Americas 2013: Youth in Action”, which will take place in Washington DC on November 5.

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tuesday, august 13, 2013

England win Ashes as Stuart Broad stars with ball

A

n inspired spell of fast bowling from Stuart Broad catapulted England to a 74-run win over Australia in the fourth Test and sealed victory in the Ashes series on Monday.

Chasing 299 for victory, Australia were well placed on 168-2 but lost their next eight wickets for 56 runs as they collapsed to 224 all out.

Tim Bresnan turned the tide when he had opener David Warner caught behind for 71 and Broad followed up with a devastating burst of 6-20 in 45 balls to finish with 11 wickets in the match.

A breathless and barely believable evening session, in which nine wickets fell, ended in fading light at 19:40 BST when Broad had Peter Siddle caught at midoff to put England 3-0 up in the series with one match to play.

Amazingly, less than two hours before the final wicket fell, it appeared far more likely that Australia would be heading to The Oval on 21 August with a chance of levelling the series.

The tourists made the ideal start to their run chase as Warner and Chris Rogers put on 109 for the first wicket - Australia’s first century opening partnership in the Ashes since The Oval in

Stuart Broad took six wickets during the evening session as England stormed to a dramatic victory (Getty Images)

2005.

Rogers eventually fell one short of a half-century - caught by Jonathan Trott at slip off Swann - but even when the off-spinner followed up with the wicket of Usman Khawaja for 21, there was little sign of the madness that followed.

The turning point arrived when Bresnan produced a

superb delivery to remove the dangerous Warner, who was drawn into pushing at a ball angled across him and got a thin nick through to Matt Prior.

Sensing their opportunity, England pounced in ruthless fashion. Broad sent captain Michael Clarke’s off stump cart-wheeling before Steve Smith played on as he

attempted to pull.

Roared on by the England supporters in the Chesterle-Street crowd, Bresnan trapped Shane Watson in front to leave Australia in disarray.

Broad, bowling as quickly and aggressively as at any time in his career, then had Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris lbw before bowling

Fraser-Pryce wins 100m gold at World Championships

J

amaica’s Shelly-Ann FraserPryce dominated the rest of the field as she surged to the world 100m title in 10.71s in Moscow on Monday.

The 26-year-old, who won the same title in Berlin in 2009 as well as at London 2012, was more than two-tenths quicker than secondplaced Murielle Ahoure.

Defending champion Carmelita Jeter of the United States had to settle for third after an injury-hit build-up.

Her compatriot David Oliver won 110m hurdles gold - his first world crown.

Ryan Wilson, the American national champion, was closest to Oliver but a superb run from Russian Sergey Shubenkov beat Jason Richardson and denied the United States a clean sweep of the podium, to the delight of most of the Luzhniki Stadium.

After team-mate Usain Bolt’s 100m victory in the previous evening’s rain, Fraser-Pryce extended a run of success that is almost as remarkable in the women’s equivalent.

She finished out of the medals in the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, shortly after returning from a six-month ban for a positive drugs test she claims was caused by medication she took for toothache.

But since then she has been back to her best and once she got clear around halfway, the diminutive Fraser-Pryce stretched away from her taller rivals.

In the pole vault, Frenchman

Nathan Lyon.

With just one wicket needed, England were granted an extra half-hour but, with the light fading, the umpires insisted on them bowling spinners from both ends.

Six overs came and went without any great alarm before the reappearance of the setting sun gave Alastair Cook the opportunity to go back to his pacemen.

Six balls from James Anderson failed to deliver the breakthrough but, when Broad returned from the Lumley End, it took him only three to induce a false stroke from Siddle and send the crowd into raptures.

Broad’s match figures of 11-121 were the finest of his career and the best by an England bowler in the Ashes since Phil Tufnell’s 11-93 at The Oval in 1997.

Earlier, Australia took England’s last five wickets for 96 runs to bowl them out for 330, with Harris claiming 7-117.

The outstanding fast bowler, whose omission from the first Test is beginning to look like a glaring oversight, bowled centurion Ian Bell and Prior with successive balls and ended a brief cameo of 13 from Broad with a brutal bouncer that he gloved to gully.

Bresnan, who made 45, and Swann fought back with a crucial attacking partnership of 42 and, by the time Anderson was last man out, England had pushed their lead to within two runs of 300.

Even then, for long periods of the day it looked as if Australia would pull off a famous chase with something to spare.

But when Broad and Bresnan found their stride in the evening session, England were irresistible.

(BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD Australia 2nd innings C Rogers c Trott b Swann 49 D Warner c †Prior b Bresnan 71 U Khawaja lbw b Swann 21 M Clarke* b Broad 21 S Smith b Broad 2 S Watson lbw b Bresnan 2 B Haddin† lbw b Broad 4 P Siddle c Anderson b Broad 23 R Harris lbw b Broad 11 N Lyon b Broad 8 J Bird not out 1 Extras: (b6, lb5) 11 Total: (all out, 68.3 overs) 224 Fall of wickets: 1-109, 2-147, 3-168, 4-174, 5-175, 6-179, 7-181, 8-199, 9-211, 10-224 Bowling: J Anderson 16-173-0, S Broad 18.3-3-50-6, T Bresnan 13-2-36-2, G Swann 18-6-53-2, J Root 3-2-1-0

Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin fight set for October

Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin

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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Renaud Lavillenie could not convert his fantastic season’s form into the one gold to have eluded him so far in his career.

The Olympic and European champion failed with his opening attempt at 5.65m and 5.82m and took three attempts to clear 5.89m.

By contrast, German Raphael Holzdeppe was faultless at all three heights and took gold on countback when both he and Lavillenie failed at 5.96m.

New Zealand’s Valerie Adams

became the first woman to win four straight individual world titles as she triumphed in the shot put.

Only one of the 28-year-old’s five legal throws was bettered by Germany’s Christina Schwanitz who took silver.

In the hammer, Poland’s Pawel Fajdek’s opening effort of 81.97m proved decisive with Olympic champion Krisztian Pars’s run of 23 consecutive victories in the event, which began in early June 2012, coming to an end. (BBC Sport)

BA heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will face Alexander Povetkin in Moscow on October 5.

Klitschko was first set to defend his heavyweight title against the Russian three years ago but the contract for the fight was never finalised.

“We could have met earlier,” Klitschko said. “He hasn’t lost a fight and in no case will I underestimate him.”

Povetkin said: “I’m glad it will finally happen. I’m looking forward to meeting the strongest boxer right now.”

The WBA heavyweight belt became vacant when Ukrainian Klitschko was elevated to “super champion” status in 2011 after

beating David Haye.

Povetkin, 33, beat Ruslan Chagaev to claim the vacant title later in 2011, before victory over American Hasim Rahman last September saw him become the mandatory challenger to Klitschko.

Klitschko, 37, improved his career record to 60-3 earlier this year when he defeated Francesco Pianeta with his 52nd knockout.

The undefeated Povetkin’s record stands at 26-0, with his 18th knockout stopping Polish challenger Andrzej Wawrzyk for his fourth successful defence of the “regular” title.

Moscow’s indoor Olympic stadium is scheduled to be the venue for the bout. (BBC Sport)

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Ohuruogu wins gold in photo-finish C

hristine Ohuruogu produced yet another thrilling late surge in the 400m to become the first British female to win two World Championship titles.

The 29-year-old also broke Kathy Cooke’s longstanding British record by two hundredths of a second as she beat defending champion Amantle Montsho in a photo finish.

Both Ohuruogu and Montsho clocked 49.41s, but it was the Briton who was deemed the winner by four thousandths of a second.

Ohuruogu, the 2007 world champion, gasped in astonishment as she learned of her victory.

The battle could not have been closer. Botswana’s Montsho, 30, had victory within her grasp and even as the two athletes stood on the finishing line, anxious-

ly awaiting the final result, Ohuruogu gave the impression that her perfectly-timed dip had not been enough.

But after closer inspection, it was revealed that the Londoner had crossed the line in 49.404s, while Montsho, who arched her back as she went for the line, ran home in 49.408s.

Ohuruogu shook her defeated rival’s hand before draping herself in a giant union flag and, amidst all the drama, it was almost forgotten by the crowd that they had further reason to cheer as Russia’s Antonina Krivoshapka claimed bronze.

Ohuruogu told BBC Sport: “I can’t believe I’ve done that, it feels like a dream. It is what I have been working towards all season.

“It was so tight on the line and I was so desperate

Christine Ohuruogu

to win it. I just wanted my name to come up.

“The last couple of days have been really tough and I just want to thank every-

one who helped me. It feels really surreal and strange, it doesn’t feel like I’m really here.

“I was thinking do what

Ashraful expects leniency from ACSU

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ohammad Ashraful expects some leniency from the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, which is expected to present its report on corruption in the BPL to the Bangladesh Cricket Board this week.

A five-member ICC delegation, led by the CEO Dave Richardson, arrived in Dhaka on Monday evening, and will hold a press conference today, which will also be attended by BCB president Nazmul Hassan, and where the verdict on Ashraful’s involvement is likely to come out.

Ashraful, who was suspended by the BCB after admitting his involvement in alleged match-fixing and spot-fixing in the BPL, believes his confession and cooperation with the ACSU should result in a reduced suspension. For someone who is still to be punished, Ashraful is already considering a long lay-off, and also

Mohammad Ashraful

contemplating a comeback.

“I tried my best to cooperate with the investigation. Now if they take it into consideration, I think my punishment should come down to two or three years,” Ashraful said. “I will be 32 after three years. I believe it won’t be the end as there are many cricketers who played and are still playing at that age. (Sanath) Jayasuriya

did, Sachin (Tendulkar) is still playing.”

The ACSU were put in charge of formulating anticorruption measures for the 2013 BPL, after which they handed Hassan a list of suspects. In mid-May, theKaler Kantha, a Dhaka-based Bengali daily, broke the story that Ashraful was a chief suspect in BPL-related corruption.

Since his admission, Ashraful has been seen in several social events, including Tamim Iqbal’s wedding and iftar parties hosted by former BCB president Saber Hossain Chowdhury and has also met the BCB chief.

Critics have seen this as an attempt by the former captain to garner sympathy.

A former Bangladesh captain told ESPNcricinfo that Ashraful should be punished “because it would set a good example” but added that he too thinks the punishment could be reduced in light of Ashraful’s reported

cooperation with the ACSU. Only a summary of the ACSU’s report is likely to be mentioned in the press conference today, during which new names are unlikely to come out. Only the findings and recommendations will be revealed, after which the BCB has to follow the ICC’s procedure of discipline.

Hassan is yet to confirm if the BCB would set up a tribunal according to its own anti-corruption guidelines to decide the punishment.

Hassan, who had earlier said the BCB would adhere to whatever the ACSU report recommends, later back-tracked and said he would act according to the board’s own rules and regulations.

With the ICC taking corruption in the BPL seriously enough to send Richardson to Dhaka, it is also likely that the game’s governing body will have a major say in the next steps of the process. (Cricinfo)

Jamaica and T&T face off in WICB Women’s Super50 final

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t George’s, Grenada – The two top rated teams in West Indies Women’s cricket – Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will clash in the final of the West Indies Cricket Board Women’s Super50 final at Tanteen in Grenada on Wednesday.

The two teams headed the points tally of their respective groups with Jamaica hauling in 15 points in Group A winning all three of their matches. Trinidad and Tobago also had a clean sweep of Group B, accumulating 14 points. Guyana (7 points) came second in Group A and Barbados (10 points)

Stafanie Taylor

took the runner up slot in Group B. Both semi final matches were rain affected.

The Jamaica v Barbados encounter was abandoned with Barbados making 186 for 9 and Jamaica only being able to get to 6 for 1 before play was called off. Windies batswoman Kyshonna Knight made 48 for the Bajans while Deandra Dottin contributed 35. Stafanie Taylor (3 for 20) and Shanel Daley (3 for 34) were the top wicket-takers.

Trinidad and Tobago won their semi final by the Duckworth/Lewis Method over Guyana.

The Guyanese, piloted by June Ogle (55), Tremayne Smartt (47) and Shemaine Campbelle (44) made 191 for 5. T&T reached 71 for 2 in 20.5 overs to be ahead on

D/L when weather caused an end to the proceedings.

The Super50 will be followed by the Regional Twenty20 Tournament which will commence on Friday and the grand T20 final will be on August 22 at the Grenada National Stadium.

The other four teams in the tournament are Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

WICB will provide full live coverage of the final on windiescricket.com – fans can log on to watch the final live and follow live score updates via facebook.com/ windiescricket or @windieswomen on Twitter. (WICB)

you can, just get over the line. The icing on the cake is the national record, that’s all I wanted.

“Whatever you want just go for it, I am really happy I kept believing and trusting in what I could do.”

Ohurougu could not stem the tears as she stood on top of the podium. She attempted to sing the anthem, but the emotion was too much.

The captain, who had earlier this week told her team to ‘burn the ships’ in her speech, had given it her all and had nothing left after securing a second gold of the championships for Britain, after Mo Farah took the 10,000m title on the opening day.

Ohuruogu, described by UK Athletics performance director Neil Black, as one of Britain’s greatest ever athletes, was chosen to captain the British team for her abil-

ity to peak for championship finals.

It was come-from-nowhere dashes which helped her become world champion in 2007 and Olympic champion a year later, and the Briton left it late in London 12 months ago, propelling herself from sixth to second - with Montsho one of the athletes overtaken at the Olympic Stadium - to win Olympic silver.

Montsho, 30, was the pre-race favourite - her personal best of 49.33s, set in Monaco in July, the quickest time in the world this year.

But Ohuruogu has a habit of beating opponents of supposedly superior credentials, she did so to become Commonwealth, world and Olympic champion, and did it again in Moscow in perhaps her most memorable race of all. (BBC Sport)

Kallis may have to decide on ODI future soon

J

acques Kallis will be forced to make a firm decision on his ODI future when he meets with Russell Domingo “soon.”

The national head coach wants South Africa’s veteran allrounder to commit to playing “some ODI cricket” before the 2015 World Cup if he still harbours hopes of competing in that tournament.

Kallis has not played an ODI for South Africa in almost 18 months after Gary Kirsten deemed it “no longer necessary” for him to play in bilateral series because he was too important to South Africa’s Test ambitions. Kirsten left the door open for Kallis to make a return in major events but Domingo has indicated he will not follow suit.

“If Jacques wants to play in the 2015 World Cup, he will have to play some ODI cricket for us along the way,” Domingo said. “It will not be fair on other players if it doesn’t happen that way.”

Kirsten’s rationale was that Kallis’ 17-year international career had earned him the right to pick and choose when he wanted to play but it was an approach which backfired. Kallis was recalled to the Twenty20 squad for three matches against England and the World T20 last September on the back of his form for IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders and because of his desire to win an ICC trophy.

He showed promise with an unbeaten 48 against England but he scored only 24 runs in the tournament itself. His contribution with the ball was more notable with a career-best 4 for 15 against Zimbabwe and a wicket in three of the four

Jacques Kallis

other matches South Africa played, although that did not change their fortunes.

They crashed out after the Super Eights round.

Kallis was also due to be part of the squad that played in June’s Champions Trophy but he pulled out at the last minute, throwing South Africa’s plans into disarray. Two days before the squad was announced, South Africa’s convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson confirmed Kallis was part of the plans. He was, at that stage, unaware of Kallis’s 11th hour withdrawal because of “personal reasons.”

That decision was communicated only to Kirsten and not the selection panel, until much later, who then included David Miller instead.

South Africa were also without Graeme Smith for the tournament, because of injury, and their lack of experience showed. They exited the competition at the semi-final stage after a batting collapse which left Kirsten so shell-shocked he said they “choked” even when it was clear they were simply outplayed. Domingo does not want to find himself in the same boat. (Cricinfo)

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confirms Baptiste’s withdrawal Digicel Horse Racing NAAA from World Champs related doping Classic: Score’s Even violation M rules on race day

By Rajiv Bisnauth

I

t was Score’s Even, out of Dennis Deoroop’s Simply Royal stable, that won the feature race of the Digicel Horse Racing Classic on Sunday at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC).

The animal, imported from the United States of America and seemingly becoming the horse to beat, pummeled its rivals to race away with the sumptuous $2.5 million top prize in the B and Lower race when the third annual Digicel Horse Racing Classic was run off.

The day was filled with excitement as horse racing fans from across the country assembled to witness the eight-race meet. The feature race was undoubtedly the most electrifying for the patrons at the packed turf club.

The race was seven furlongs and from the time the horses left the stall the crowd erupted.

As the animals navigated the first turn they were bunched together. However, Swing Easy, considered the

pre-race favorite in betting circles, broke free from the crowd and seemed in control but Got To Go was also prowling behind.

As the horses approached the fourth turn and into the homestretch, Score’s Even made its move to challenge the leader.

Ridden by champion jockey Randolph Richmond and with just 50m to the finish line, Score’s Even proved her worth and edged out Swing Easy in front the grand stand to provide a perfect finish to claim the $2.5M first prize.

Got To Go finished third, while The Message had to settled for fourth.

Though many betters were visibly upset by the result, Dennis Deoroop, trainer and stable owner, was ecstatic with the victory.

Deoroop said, “I’m very happy about the win, despite the heavy condition of the track.

I had some doubts at the start of the day, but when the sun came out later in the day after the track was affected by overnight rain I was confident of a win.”

Princess Alicia of the

Jumbo Jet stable won the co-feature, Three-yearold event for horses bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies for the first prize of $1.3 million.

Monsoon, It’s My Turn and Silent Night finished in descending order.

Meanwhile, in other events: Treacle and Easy To Win of T. Dookie stable won the G1 and Lower and I and Lower races.

I Want Revenge and Who’s On My Case of Jumbo Jet stable took care of business in the J2 and Lower and D3 and Lower races.

Unsettled of the I. Bacchus stable won the Twoyear-old race for Guyana and West Indies bred horses while Royal Intention of M. Ketwaroo stable finished on top in the J3 and Lower event.

Meanwhile, horse owners will now turn their attention to the Guyana Cup which is scheduled for August 25 at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

The meet will be organised by Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables, in collaboration with the Port Mourant Turf Club.

oscow, RUSSIA - The President of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA), Ephraim Serrette has confirmed that the withdrawal of Kelly-Ann Baptiste from the 14th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was related to a doping violation.

In a statement issued to the media in Moscow on Monday, Serrette officially confirmed the withdrawal of both Baptiste and Semoy Hackett from the Championships which began on the weekend.

“The National

Association of Athletics Administrations wishes to confirm the withdrawal of athletes Ms. Kelly Ann Baptiste and Ms. Semoy Hackett from participation in the 2013 edition of the IAAF World Championships being held in Moscow, Russia,” the statement read.

“The absence of both athletes is related to doping matters of varying degrees and complexity. In the case of Ms. Baptiste this association was notified on Thursday 08th August by the IAAF and the results management process is currently underway and as a result, any further comment

at this stage would be premature and inappropriate.”

The statement added: “In the case of Hackett, the IAAF has appealed the recent decision of the NAAA’s Disciplinary Panel to exonerate Ms. Hackett and has also re-suspended her pending the appeal which is to be heard before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.”

Serrette, who is among officials attending the Championships in Moscow, said that the NAAA remains committed “to drug free sport and is confident that the legal process regarding both athletes will take its due course.”

Bahamas sprinter fails anti doping test

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oscow, RUSSIA - A sprinter from the Bahamas, Trevorvano Mackey, has tested positive for a banned substance, Bahamas Press has reported.

Mackey, who mainly competes in the 100m and 200m, has failed to show up at the World Games in Moscow now underway.

Bahamian officials were made aware of the positive

A Samples just after the team list was submitted for Moscow, Bahamas Press reported.

Mackey, who qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics running a personal best 20.52 over 200m, was included on the team, but failed to show up at the opening ceremonies.

He is the latest in a number of Caribbean athletes who have failed antidoping test.

Former 100-meter world-record holder Asafa Powell and Jamaican teammate Sherone Simpson have each tested positive for banned stimulants.

Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Kelly-Ann Baptiste, who won a world 100 metres bronze medal in 2011 and was considered a medal prospect for Moscow, tested positive for a banned substance as well.

Millington wins Emancipation road race in Berbice

Ray Millington ahead of Dwight Holder

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ay Millington, in 1:57:05, won the inaugural COFONA Emancipation 45-mile road race on Sunday, adding to the GBTI 50-miler he won two weeks ago in Corriverton.

Millington outsprinted fellow club mate Neil Reece and rivals Dwight Holder and Juban Crawford of Trojan Cycle Club.

The quartet broke away from the pack of 12 starters

after the race had gone 12 miles, losing the peloton in the distance.

The two groups of riders reached to the turnaround point at Bush Lot, Corentyne, about four minutes apart. With the wind assisting them the leaders, they increased the gap, making it almost impossible for the others to catch up.

However, Crawford made a move but the trio reeled him back him soon after.

Ray Millington receives the winning prize from president of COFONA Dr Leonard Lewis

The 18-year-old was never a treat to any of the more seasoned riders. Then, Holder tied but Reece keep him in check and he was forced to abort plans of going out and away.

Reece tried and almost succeeded but encountered problems with his cycle which resulted in the pack catching up with him. In the end the quartet waited on the last 200m of the race to sprint to the fin-

ish line. Millington turned out to be the best sprinter with Holder finishing second, ahead of Reece, and the 18-year-old Crawford ending behind.

Syborne Fernandes copped the fifth place after getting away from the pack.

He was also the first veteran to cross the finish line.

The first junior was Elijah Bijadder.

At the presentation ceremony, president of the

Council of Friends of New Amsterdam (COFONA) Dr Lenard Lewis said the organisation was delighted to be part on the event which was organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC), revealing that the body intends to make it an annual event.

“New Amsterdam should be known as the place where champion cyclists come from both locally and internationally,” Lewis said.

He pointed out that COFONA will be working closely with organisers to achieve this.

Coordinator of the event and coach of FACC Randolph Roberts expressed his gratitude to the organisation, saying that next year’s the event will be bigger.

Meanwhile, co-sponsor Pollyan Shultz, of Polly’s Delight, congratulated all of the participants for a great race. (Andrew Carmichael)

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Windies to play Kiwis into new year H

Hand-In-Hand joins list of sponsors for Guyana Cup

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hristchurch, NEW ZEALAND – Nelson will host its first ever men’s international match when West Indies tour New Zealand in DecemberJanuary for three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s.

The Saxton Oval, which had earlier hosted a women’s international T20 in 2010-11, will also host three group matches in the 2015 World Cup. West Indies’ tour begins with the Tests in Dunedin, Wellington and Hamilton, followed by the ODIs and T20s. Though no warmup games were scheduled, ESPNcricinfo understands that there is likely to be a three-day game in late November, before the Tests.

Auckland’s Eden Park will host the first ODI on Boxing Day, while Queenstown and Nelson will host the third and fourth games on New Year’s day and January 4 respectively.

Nelson Cricket Association general manager Ed Shuttleworth said the chance to host a major international

will be a boost for cricket in the South Island town.

“To bring international cricket to our region has been a goal for many years and achieving this is a moment of real pride for all those involved in developing cricket and the facilities in the region,” Shuttleworth said. “The legacy of international cricket will be significant with participation increasing and kids being inspired by seeing the Blackcaps in their home town.”

New Zealand Cricket CEO David White said the intention was to build an annual series of matches at popular holiday des-

tinations like Nelson and Queenstown.

White said there had been no progress in the schedule for the proposed tour by India, in the second half of the New Zealand summer.

“I have to admit discussions with the BCCI have taken longer than we hoped, but we should be able to announce the tour schedule in the next few weeks,” White said.

West Indies last toured New Zealand in 2008-09, drawing the two Test series 0-0 but losing the ODIs and T20s 2-1 and 0-1 respectively. (Cricinfo)

West Indies in New Zealand 2013-14

December 3-7: 1st Test, Deunedin December 11-15: 2nd Test, Wellington December 19-23: 3rd Test, Hamilton December 26: 1st ODI, Auckland December 29: 2nd ODI, Napier January 1: 3rd ODI, Queenstown January 4: 4th ODI, Nelson January 8: 5th ODI, Hamilton January 11: 1st T20, Auckland January 15: 2nd T20, Wellington

and-in-Hand has joined hands with other sponsors for the seventh Guyana Cup horse race meet, to be held on August 25 at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

The event is being organised by Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables in collaboration with the PMTC. In excess of $30 million in cash prizes, along with trophies, will be up for grabs.

Nine races are carded for the day with $7 million in prize money going to the feature B Class event. The first prize will be $3.5 million and trophy for the winner of the 1,700m race.

The other main event on the day’s card will be the Three-year-old Guyana and the West Indies bred horses for the first prize of $2.5 million.

Other events slated for the day are the Two-yearold event for West Indies bred horses ($1.5 million and trophy), the E Class and Lower ($1 million and trophy); the F Class ($700,000 and trophy); $800,000 and trophy will go to the winner of the G3 and Lower; the I and Lower winner will take away $400,000 and trophy;

Amateur boxers impress at T&T Goodwill tourney despite controversy

Organiser Irshad Mohamed receives the sponsorship cheque from Mark Samaroo of Hand-In-Hand

the winner of the 1200m JKL race will take home $200,000 plus trophy.

Entries closed on Saturday. Interested persons can also contact Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063 or 232-0633), Kris Jagdeo (6246123 or 322-0369), Rajendra (618-7278), Ramnauth (3375311), Romel Jagroop (6241798) and Sancho (6900569).

Race time is 12:30h. The coordinator is Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed.

Among the major spon-

Malta Supreme cycling meet billed for Saturday at National Park

Robin Persaud

Hassan Mohamed

eading riders from across the country will assemble at the inner circuit of the National Park on Saturday for the second Malta Supreme 11-race programme.

The programme commences at 09:00h and will be sponsored Banks DIH, under its Malta Supreme brand, as part of the ‘Teach Them Young’ programme currently being held.

Among the events slated for the day are the 12-14 Boys and Girls (three laps), Veterans Under-50 (five laps), Over-50 (five laps) and Over-60 (five laps), Juveniles (10 laps), Mountain Bikes (five laps), BMX 6-9 (two

laps), 9-12 (three laps), 1214 (three laps) and Open (three laps) and the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational.

The experienced Robin Persaud is the defending champion of the feature race.

He won last year’s event in a time of one hour, 18 minutes, 30 seconds (01:18:30).

At the conclusion of the races, Malta Supreme Brand Manager, Clayton McKenzie, and Banks DIH Outdoor Events Manager, Mortimer Stewart, will assist in the presentation of prizes to the top performers.

The event is being organised by National Cycling Coach, Hassan Mohamed.

L

From left: GBA President Steve Ninvalle, Travis Fraser, Quincy Boyce, Shaka Moore, Travis Hubert, Dawani Lampkin, Coach Clifton Moore and GBA VP Eustace Cuffy

G

uyana’s six-man boxing team returned with mixed fortunes from the Goodwill tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.

It was understood from a press conference yesterday in the office of Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) president Steve Ninvalle that some of the local boxers were on the losing end of some very controversial decisions. The contingent was invited to the meet on short notice at the expense of the Trinidad Boxing Association.

The team was accompanied by Coach Clifton Moore

of Essequibo and Manager Eustace Cuffy, GBA Vice President. According to Moore, Travis Hubert and Travis Fraser were on the losing ends of two controversial decisions in deciding bouts.

Moore said yesterday, “I think when the Trinidadians looked at how we prepared for our fights and saw our training regime they felt that they might probably be beaten without a shot of victory.”

“Travis Hubert’s loss was controversial but we did not want to object because we wanted to be good ambassadors to who actually

made our participation possible and that would have been rude. And also, to engage a protest it would’ve cost us US $500 and if we won we would only get back US$300, we didn’t have that kind of money,” he stated.

“However, when we reflected on the matchup, Fraser’s opponent did not get to catch him with any punches because of his evasive style of boxing so the decision was quite shocking.”

Commenting on Fraser’s defeat, Moore revealed that his opponent came out strong in the first half, but got tired, resulting in him

hugging and pushing Fraser to the canvas. The opponent was not disqualified for the act.

Quincy Boyce, Dawani Lampkin, Shaka Moore and Junior Henry won in their categories.

Meanwhile, Ninvalle expressed his gratitude to the Trinidadians for the opportunity. Further, he said it was good that more than half the team came back as winners which can form part of the boxers’ development.

“From what I understand, all our boxers displayed a high degree of discipline and that is what we strive for,” Ninvalle added.

sors that have taken the early initiative to ink their names with the organisers are: Banks DIH Limited, Digicel, Randy Persaud and Sunil Teekaram both of New York, S.Sahadeo Trucking, Shariff Racing Stables, Romell Jagroop Construction, Ashmin’s Trading Agri Parts, Hand in Hand, Alki Investment, Braveheart Construction, Guytrac, Omkar Persaud, Eldorado Trading and Vijay Ramsingh. (Andrew Carmichael)

tuesday, august 13, 2013

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