Guyana Times Daily

Ramotar, daughter make Christmas rounds at GPH P10

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 1994 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, December 27, 2013

PRICE

APNU wants tougher action to curb traffic lawlessness See story on page 12

Cheekies pampers seven Christmas babies

$60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Arbitration P3 proceedings against Repsol was last resort – CGX Man found P3 dead on Boxing Day

Some city P9 stores flouting return and refund of goods policy

See story on page 13

Lindener P10 killed in nightclub on Christmas Day

Nikita Mc Lennon (centre) delivered the first baby boy on Christmas Day at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Also in photo are Sister Jennifer Cato (left), Cheekies Brand representative Joel Lee and Cheekies promoter Onica Benjamin

Several die as floods batter Caribbean islands See story on page 12

Teen girl shot dead by old lover See story on page 7

Senior Counsel Marcel P12 Crawford passes on

Twins born on Christmas Day to New Amsterdam woman P17

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friDay, december 27, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, December 27 from 12:30h to 14:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, December 27 from 11:55h to 13:25h.

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Heavy rain showers are expected during the day with light rainy showers in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees to 28 degrees Celsius.

Wind: East north-easterly between 2.77 and 3.05 metres per second.

High Tide: 11:53h reaching maximum heights of 2.35 metres Low Tide: 05:19h and 17:59h reaching minimum heights of 0.94 metre and 0.86 metre respectively

tuesday, December 24, 2013

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Arbitration proceedings against Repsol was last resort – CGX C

anadian oil company CGX Energy Inc said the legal arbitration it has brought against Repsol was a last resort after efforts to latter to redress its “transgression through dialogue” did not work.

“CGX maintains that it is imperative it protects the rights of its shareholders, many of whom are Guyanese, both locally and in the diaspora, in terms of the Georgetown licence,” the company’s general counsel Michael Galego told Guyana Times in a recent interview.

Explaining the details of the dispute between his company and Repsol, CGX Cochairman, Dr Suresh Narine said, while at one point in time CGX owed US$15 million to the consortium which drilled the Jaguar 1 well in the Georgetown licence, it has repaid this sum.

Under the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) between the consortium which had included YPF, Tullow, Repsol (15 per cent ownership) and CGX (25 per cent ownership), arbitration proceedings will be filed in London. Repsol will have a certain period, governed by the terms of the JOA, to respond to the proceedings, Galego said.

Under the terms of the agreement, Repsol was constrained to apply for an extension of the Georgetown licence, within which the Jaguar 1 well, which was plugged and abandoned, was drilled. That licence should have included a pro rata ownership by CGX, which opted to stay in the licence, while Tullow and YPF opted to abandon the licence.

Instead, Repsol allowed the licence to lapse, even when it only owned 15 per cent of the licence.

Subsequently, Repsol ap-

Man found dead on Boxing Day

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he body of a 20-yearold man identified as Leon Webber was on Thursday discovered at the Piari Landing, Cuyuni River.

According to a police release, Webber was discovered dead around 06:30h.

The police are trying to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the death of the young man and are awaiting

the results of the post-mortem examination.

When Guyana Times contacted the Bartica Police Station on Boxing Day, a senior officer indicated that the deceased’s father and several ranks journeyed to the scene shortly after the discovery but declined to comment further.

“They have not returned

as yet, so we too are waiting on information,” the officer posited.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, police arrested a man at 111 Miles, Mahdia for possession of an unlicensed shotgun.

The arrest was made about 19:50h on Christmas Day.

Miner charged for robbery

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eon Henry, a 21-yearold miner of 3rd Avenue, Bartica was on Tuesday remanded to prison after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer robbery charges.

It is alleged that Henry snatched a gold chain val-

ued $140,000 from Shiv Balkaran on December 23, on Hinck Street, Georgetown.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that the accused snatched the item from the victim and ran towards the Bank of Guyana. The victim then raised an alarm and gave chase along with public spir-

the company is solely focused on the GuyanaSuriname basin, and was instrumental in Guyana’s legal challenge to Suriname after Surinamese evicted the company from a drill rig via gunboat. He said the company has, over its more than 15-year history in the basin, always taken the principled approach to the resolution of crises through amicable and legal means.

BY SAMUEL SUKHNANDAN

ited citizens. The accused was subsequently apprehended and a part of the chain was found in his front pants pocket.

Mangru objected to bail being granted to the accused, citing the prevalence of the offence. Henry was remanded to jail and is to return to court on the January 24, 2014.

Dr Suresh Narine

Michael Galego

plied for an entirely new licence, the Kanuku licence, covering substantially the same area covered by the old licence, but now it acquired 100 per cent ownership.

“This is a blatant act to deprive the CGX shareholders of their rightful percentage of ownership over the licence,” said Galego. “In the interest of our shareholders and in keeping with the principled fashion in which we have always carried out our functions and responsibilities to the people and government of Guyana, CGX cannot allow this matter to go unaddressed.”

He said it is CGX’s view

that all companies operating in the basin – large or small – must be required to conduct themselves within the highest levels of proprietary and in accordance with Guyana and international laws.

“We are not prepared to stand by and let this kind of bargaining in bad faith creep into the basin,” he added.

CGX, though the smallest independent company operating in the GuyanaSuriname basin, has invested the most on exploration in the basin and has drilled the most wells.

Professor Narine said

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friday, december 27, 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

Our hope for 2014

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he year (2013) is rapidly coming to a close, and most of us in our reflections, would accept that it has been one fraught with challenges as well as positive developments.

At the national political level, there seems to be a sort of a deadlock in having key legislation passed in the national assembly. This political instability has resulted in the government not being able to carry through with major development projects that would have seen Guyana rapidly moving up the development ladder.

The Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project which is aimed at providing cheaper and a more reliable supply of electricity to individuals and businesses did not get the support of the opposition.

Notwithstanding that, Guyana is moving forward. There were notable achievements made in 2013. Over the past seven years, the economy has enjoyed an unprecedented run of sustained economic growth with an average growth rate of 4.5 to five per cent per annum. Barring sugar, every other sector has met its target this year.

There have been tremendous improvements – most notably the housing, health and education sectors. Thousands of Guyanese now own their own homes and many more will become proud home owners in the near future. Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) that has embarked on such an ambitious housing programme, focused on housing poor and low income families.

Guyana has achieved universal primary education and is well on its way to achieving universal secondary education. A number of projects were implemented this year with the aim of transforming education management and delivery, with deeper involvement of parents and communities in general to reverse the tide of illiteracy and achieve better results at every level.

Government should focus more on improving and expanding tertiary education especially as it relates to transforming the University of Guyana (UG) into a more modern university catering to the development needs of the nation and the changing world in which we live.

The year is ending on a positive note for the health sector,considering the fact that the Specialty Hospital project has now been approved in the house. This facility will be constructed in addition to the diagnostic and treatment centres at Leonora, Suddie, Diamond and Mahaicony, the Ophthalmology centre in Port Mourant, and a modern hospital which was built in Linden, among others.

Guyana has been lauded by key stakeholders for its remarkable progress in fighting HIV/AIDS. Guyana is on track to achieve Goal Six of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which seeks to combat HIV/AIDS by 2015.

Crime and security still remains a serious issue which should continue to be placed high on the national agenda.

Even though there has been notable progress in some areas of law enforcement, there is still a high number of robberies and killings taking place almost daily and the police seem unable to address them frontally.

We hope that local government elections are held in the first half of 2014. Guyana has made great strides in almost every aspect of national development and citizens are enjoying a higher quality of life, but the continued absence of democratically elected and effective local government remains a crucial issue which must be addressed forthwith.

Guyana still faces many challenges, both at the individual and the national levels. There should be renewed efforts in generating wealth and creating more job opportunities for every citizen, especially those that are skilled and qualified. In doing so, more investments and productive activities should be encouraged which will result in more opportunities being available.

Guyana is still a unique and beautiful place to live. There is a need for a renewed sense of hope and to create a higher degree of optimism among the populace. Our wish is that in 2014, as Guyanese citizens we would start believing more in ourselves and the potential of our country.

Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year to all Guyanese.

President Donald Ramotar presents a gift to a lad on his visit to the Paediatric Ward of the Georgetown Hospital to spread holiday cheer. Also in photo is his daughter Lisa Ramotar (centre) See story on page 10

Oswald Singh will be sorely missed Dear Editor, It was very heart rending getting the sad news about the passing of Oswald Singh.

I imagine that a lot of people will be talking about his qualities and credentials as a broadcaster, and indeed Oswald ranked with the very best Guyana and the region have been blessed with.

His stentorian and sonorous voice always caught the ear and he was one of the few remaining broadcasters who had great command of Hindi phonology. He was so spot-on when he had to give the name of an Indian film

Oswald Singh

or song. His personality was very pleasing too.

The other thing about Oswald was that he really was an old school radio-professional; with a good command of the English language, a good reader of newscasts and had a good sense of his audience. No wonder he was so versatile!

His switch to Radio Guyana Incorporated (RGI) was very timely. He was able to exploit his innate love for Indian music much more copiously. In Guyana, we really have a paucity in this sphere. Just about anyone

can be a chutney deejay, but it calls for some special expertise, when the core of a show is around Indian films and songs.

This local icon deserves a good send off. He will be badly missed. I heap my sympathies on his grieving family and friends. I know that his many fans will be hurting badly and his colleagues will now see that they are one major man short. May he enter into a blissful rest.

Radio fan, Ameena Balgobin

Road to Brazil, deep-water harbour will open up the interior beyond imagination Dear Editor, Constructing a road to Brazil and building a deep water harbour will be incredible achievements when the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) gets them implemented. “Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to fund studies on road to Brazil, deep water harbour”, as reported in a local newspaper recently is exciting for the potential it suggests.

The possibility of the Chinese financing and building a fork before Linden to connect Orealla on the Corentyne River and eventually to Crabwood Creek should be explored. Not only would this benefit Linden and Berbice but the entire economy of Guyana. It would open up the interior beyond imagination especially with the certainty of climate change resulting in flooding of the coast.

We must be very careful, however. Constructing such a road should avoid any community acquiring veto power which perpetually holds

the entire nation to ransom. Of course there should be branching road linkages to Linden.

For security reasons and under no circumstances should it be the main thoroughfare to Lethem via Linden. Forcing travellers to pass through Linden should be an option, not a requirement, so none becomes a sacrificial hostage. Opening high quality restaurants and hotels as a rest stop, even overnight hotel layovers, would be Linden’s own beckoning advertisement of welcome.

Suddenly the Chinese do not look so bad, do they?

Relief in road construction was in fact implemented when the People’s National Congress (PNC) reconstructed Sheriff Street, starting from the East Coast Demerara directly to the East Bank Demerara leading to the airport. It completely bypassed commercial Georgetown which became an option of personal choice.

Our politicians entrusted

with our security must learn Buxton or its credit. Karmic from the past and avoid en- payback?

Similarly, any dangering people’s lives be- Amalia Falls originated powfore it occurs. During the er lines which snakes through 2012 Linden protests, trav- to the coast should not be laid ellers passing through from through Linden. Of course Lethem were routinely at- they should be linked.

Safeguarding an entire natacked, robbed and their vehicles burned and passengers tion’s productivity with a constant supply of electricity must brutalised.

Three Guyanese lost their be paramount. Prudence relives and millions of taxpayers quires it must not become an money was paid out in tribute opportunity to be held for ranto irresponsibility. That an il- som or a pointer for acrimony legal toll gate has recently and bitterness. Everyone will been built to tax travellers is suffer adversely. a sign of more to come unless As the PNC did in addressed.

Georgetown, without negBuxton’s strategic location atively impacting on its on the East Coast Demerara growth, Linden’s development not only facilitated the 2006 and economic progress would crime spree but escalated un- impose its owned shepherded necessary racial fears among urgency to effectively attract innocent passing travellers. and maintaining investors’ Harassment was routine. confidence for their upward Noticeable pride that “Buxton mobility. Being penny wise people stopped a train” of a co- and pound foolish cannot be lonial governor from passing the best option especially in is well known. consideration that Rome was Buxton’s history was re- not built in a day. peated as a good lesson. That the PNC government scrapped Yours truly, the railways has not been to Sultan Mohamed

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

U.S. ambassador challenged Goolsarran is a known supporter of the AFC to say when government was consulted on USAID project Dear Editor, I have noted the statements in the media about the USAID project that was disapproved by Cabinet.

I have particularly noted the U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt reportedly stating the U.S.’s intention to implement the project notwithstanding Cabinet’s disapproval.

I have also noted the political opposition supporting the U.S. ambassador’s line that the government had no good reason to object to the project.

At this stage the issue is the U.S.ambassador’s apparent contempt of the Cabinet of Guyana, an act that can have serious repercussions. He has been reported in the press

to have instructed that Cabinet’s disapproval be ignored.

The ambassador is playing with words with regard to consultation. I still contend Guyana was not consulted. The project was conceived by the American authorities. The project was funded by the U.S. Congress. A bid was tendered, the U.S. organisation, International Republican Institute (IRI), won that bid and was awarded the contract to implement the project.

It was subsequent to those actions by the American authorities that the U.S. ambassador approached the government of Guyana. I challenge the ambassador to indicate at

what point was the government of Guyana consulted about this project.

The U.S.ambassador presented the government with a fait accompli. His apparent contempt of the government of Guyana begs the question and supports our contention that the ambassador is of the opinion that the U.S. authorities can execute projects in Guyana at will.

This is a dangerous proposition that all right thinking Guyanese and indeed sovereign states must repudiate.

Regards, Dr Roger Luncheon Head, Presidential Secretariat Office of the President

Dear Editor, In previous letters, I outlined the prevailing lack of credibility of Anand Goolsarran as a columnist, advocate for transparent governance and as the head of Transparency International, Guyana due to his support of unethical practices.

I will continue to unveil those practices that demonstrate why Goolsarran is unfit to address issues of good governance, transparency and accountability.

Goolsarran is a known supporter of the Alliance For Change (AFC) party and its hierarchy, which includes Khemraj Ramjattan and Nigel Hughes. The old saying “show me your company and I’ll tell you who you are” is applicable to understanding the character of Goolsarran.

Back in 2008 when 11 innocent persons, including five children, were massacred in their sleep, Hughes

chose to defend those accused of committing the crime. During the course of the trial, Hughes refused to disclose his association with one of the jurors.

When the trial concluded and those accused were determined to be “not guilty”, it became known that Hughes did in fact know one of the jurors. This discovery was brought to the attention of the court.

Goolsarran has projected himself to be the champion of all that is just and fair. He calls for government to tackle corruption and engage in transparent governance but has not uttered a single word of reprimand or called for Hughes to offer an apology.

Goolsarran essentially stood by silently as families and an entire community was robbed of justice for their murdered loved ones and friends.It would appear that Goolsarran has tunnel vision to issues of jus-

tice, transparency and ethics when it comes to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and not some people.

Goolsarran has turned a blind eye to unethical illegal behaviour.

Hughes has been involved with the confiscation of a video that he obtained and kept for three days to protect his client. He has hidden vital information that conflicts with the public’s interest in the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project and a number of other important issues.

Hughes and Ramjattan are associates of Goolsarran.

These characters are known to oppose the current PPP/C administration.

This makes a clear connection with the motive of Goolsarran which is to facilitate the ambitions of his friends at the expense of the PPP/C government.

Sincerely, Richard Paul

Linden accident could have Guyana’s wild life been avoided Dear Editor, A recent accident in Linden claimed the life of a toddler and left his mother seriously injured.

According to reports, the minibus that the victims were travelling in suffered a blow out causing the bus to topple several times before coming to a halt.

However, many are left to believe that speeding may have also been a contributing factor to the accident.

Speeding is a senseless act that only increases the impact of a collision. Why drivers choose to speed will forever be a question that will have no justifiable answer.

Additionally, as drivers it is our responsibility to ensure proper maintenance and care of our vehicles at all times. It takes several months of neglect

for a tire to suddenly burst.

Moreover, vulcanising shops often advise drivers as it relates to the condition of their tires. It therefore means that tire blows could be averted.

Maybe this is a new angle of inspection that traffic police should take when carrying out their routine vehicle checks.

From a scientific standpoint, a vehicle going at any speed of around 50 mph (80 kmph) is not going to keep careening or even begin to do so. If it hits a pot hole that leads to the blow out, it may topple, but not many times, unless there is a long slope to allow for gathering momentum. Any driver with a touch of road experience knows that the best action for a blow out is to hold the steering wheel firmly and let the car slow-

ly brake down. This is almost instinctive.

Speeding is a dangerous habit that the relevant authorities need to address immediately. Strict measures need to be implemented in order to put an end to this breach. Moreover, drivers need to pay more attention to their vehicles. Routine inspections inclusive of engine checks and tire checks should be carried out as a means of ensuring that maximum safety is provided for passengers.

Too many lives have been claimed on our road ways with speeding being one of the leading causes.

We must strive to put an end to recklessness.

Yours faithfully, Hubert Harding

Dear Editor, The recently held National Assembly unveiled the reading of the new Wildlife Import and Export Bill, Bill Number 20 of 2013.

Wildlife refers to non domesticated plants, animals and other organisms living together. Personally, I believe that more emphasis needs to be placed on aspects of wildlife in Guyana.

Over the years, wild plants and animal species have been domesticated for the purpose of benefiting humans worldwide.

However, many of us fail to realise that the disturbance and removal of wildlife can have numerous impacts on the environment. Each living organism in an ecosystem plays a significant role

in the cycle of life.

Generally, the study of animals contributes greatly to theories of evolution.

Scientists and behavioural psychologists worldwide have used animals to undertake studies in intelligence and cognition. Plants and plant products have been used for years to develop medicine.

Guyana’s rainforest is rich in both plant and animal biodiversity. Many of these species have not yet been studied to determine their intricacies and properties. Animal life and plant life are inextricably linked, and it is for this reason that we should strive to maintain and preserve a natural balance between plants and animal life.

It is the responsibility of animal and plant specialists worldwide to ensure that reservations are made for endangered animals to ensure that they do not become extinct.

Also, wildlife traders need to ensure that they carefully monitor the species of plants and animals that they seize. Moreover, it is important that proper facilities be in place for the storage of captured animals.

The relevant authorities in Guyana must take it upon themselves to spread awareness of the importance of wildlife and also to establish proper monitoring techniques.

Sincerely, Sohan Chintaman

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By Ann Monroe

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he holidays are here and so is the temptation to eat too many calorie laden foods. Here are a few tips to help keep you from falling too far off the scale this year.

No matter what your background or beliefs are, when it comes to the holidays, food always seems to play a big role in almost every cultural celebration. One of the best ways to keep overeating in check during the holidays, is to first acknowledge and accept that there will be a lot of food temptations and there’s really no way around that. Once you’ve recognised that fact, the next thing is to arm yourself with an attitude by which you’ll approach enjoying holiday food, but without overdosing on it. And starving yourself all day before a holiday meal almost always ends up with disastrous results too, so that’s not the answer either!

Here are a few tips and ideas that might help keep your diet on track all the way through to New Years.

Ditch the total deprivation mode

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

tips to avoid holiday

OVEREATING

I find it works best for me if I adopt the “everything in moderation” rule, as opposed to creating a mindset where I forbid and put absolutes on things that I deprive myself from eating. I don’t know how it works for you, but I find if I totally deprive myself of something, it makes me crave it more than ever.

Educate yourself a little bit

Okay, this one can actually be a little bit painful to do, but it can also be an eye opener for you, not just during the holidays, but also throughout the year. Pick a couple of your favourite hol-

iday food indulgences and look up the calories and nutritional food values for each of them.

Armed with this knowledge, you can then pick and choose which indulgences you will allow yourself and which ones you should pass on. I bet you’ll be shocked when you find out how many calories and how much sugar are in that one tiny sliver of pecan pie.

Allow yourself some trade-offs

Let’s say you’re going to

someone’s home who you know is a fantastic cook, so it’s likely that you’ll not pass on eating the better part of whatever they prepare. If you know this is the situation well enough in advance, you can moderately trim your daily caloric intake by 100 calories a day for three to five days in advance of the event. Or another way of allowing yourself a trade-off for eating that amazing meal, would be

to moderately increase your activity level a few days before and after allowing yourself this indulgent meal.

Adopting new habits, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking to the market or store for small errands or riding your bike for 30 minutes, are all good activities that will help boost your metabolism, which will benefit you year round anyway. Plus, these kinds of activities will also strengthen your knees and increase your heart rate too.

Use the “cut it in half” rule at restaurants

This is a rule I routinely implement for myself at restaurants where the servings are often too big anyway.

Let’s say I want to order that amazing turkey dinner fully loaded with gravy, potatoes, dressing and cranberries, so I allow myself to order it.

The trick comes into play when my plate arrives at the table, so before I even take one bite off the plate, I cut the entire meal in half and box up one half to take home to eat the next day.

You might surprise yourself to find that you really don’t need to eat everything that’s put on your plate, plus

you’ll have the bonus of enjoying the second half of the meal the following day.

Out of sight, out of mind

Mindless nibbling from bottomless bowls of party snacks can quickly lead you to unconsciously ingest dangerous amounts of empty calories.

So instead, serve yourself on a small appetiser plate and then move completely away from the food or buffet stations. Place your focus on the conversations with people at the party, rather than on the food or drinks that are on the table.

And if you’re at a Holiday Hors d’oeuvre Party, try to choose raw veggies or hummus options if they’re available and limit yourself to eating only two to four calorie laden appetisers if possible.

And don’t forget to keep the alcohol to a minimum and drink water in between.

Quench your thirst with low calorie beverages

It sounds simple, but be sure you’re always well hydrated by drinking plenty of water before arriving at any holiday celebration. Avoid drinking too many cocktails or glasses of wine as alcohol and mixers contain a lot of empty calories, as do sodas and too many fruit juices.

Make it a rule to never drink alcohol on an empty stomach, since the alcohol will be absorbed too rapidly on an empty stomach and increase your likelihood to overindulge.

Before drinking any alcohol, be sure to always eat a small snack or some kind of protein by nibbling on a few nuts or a small slice of cheese. This will cause your stomach to empty slower and will help slow down the absorption rate of alcohol.

Take some time for yourself and try to limit your holiday stress level

I know this is easier said than done, but the bottom line is to remember that the holidays are supposed to be about being thankful and getting to spend quality time with friends and family.

So start off this holiday season by not overloading yourself with too many unrealistic goals and stay focused on the simple and important things about the holidays that make them meaningful.

Keeping your stress level down can also help keep you from nervous and unconscious overeating. Happy holidays! (Momtastic)

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friday, december 27, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyanese youths participate in int’l conference in Brazil the participants are trained in parliamentary conduct and debating.

Thereafter, the participants discussed and debated relevant topics of their choosing in the parliament and representatives of the children present recommendations to the National Assembly.

Farier made mention of a few constraints in the selection process and the way recommendations are dealt with in the National Assembly. He added that despite the constraints, the experience participants gained was priceless, empowering them to be better sons and daughters, students, and citizens.

Members of the Guyana delegation

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he Rights of the Child Commission (RCC), sponsored by UNICEF, participated in an international workshop – Adolescent and Youth Civic Participation held in Brasília, Brazil on December 10-13.

According to a release from the RCC, the event was part of the self-managed activities of the Global Human Rights Forum.

Approximately 130 participants from 12 different countries attended the international workshop: adolescents, young people, policymakers, leaders of social movements, student leaders and other stakeholders developing programmes and policies aimed at ensuring the right to participation of young people.

The first day was reserved for educational workshops for sharing information on concrete participation experiences and for collective knowledge

production to ensure a systematisation of the consensus obtained.

Methodology

UNICEF Guyana selected RCC and Youth Media Guyana (YMG)to share their methodology on child participation based on two areas: Youth and adolescent participation in education policies, presented by Stefan Farier, the prime minister of the Assembly for Children’s Parliament (2011) for RCC, and Youth and adolescent participation using new information and communication technologies (ICTs), presented by Neketa Forde for YMG. In his presentation, Farier explained the selection process for bringing together children from 11 educational administrative regions of Guyana to participate in the Children’s Parliament – a forum that was

developed by the late President Janet Jagan and reintroduced by the RCC. The Children’s Parliament is intended to create a space for Guyana’s children to bring their thoughts, feelings and opinions about what should be done for them to decision-makers at the highest level.

Responsibility

The National Assembly (Parliament) is the highest decision-making body in Guyana.

RCC wanted to convince it that “we are going to listen to children and we have a responsibility to do so”.

The selection process entailed collaborating with the ministries of education and culture, youth and sport and other stakeholders to identify potential candidates who could prudently represent ideas and the views of children.

After the selection process,

Harnessing technology

Meanwhile, Forde said that YMG is an award-winning youth-led organisation dedicated to creating an avenue for youth expression through various forms of ICTs and multimedia, thereby empowering youth to advocate for their rights.

For the first day, there were a total of six workshops with presenters from: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, and Norway.

The last two days focused on the contexts of participation of young people at national, regional and global levels, and on existing public instances for participation, at the Global Human Rights Forum.

Representatives from RCC and the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry participated in sev-

eral thematic workshops, including: “Human Trafficking for Sexual Purposes: A LatinAmerican Reality”; “Strategies towards Development and Strategies to Fight Racism”; and “Child Labour: Violation of Human Rights of Children and Adolescents”.

The workshops were followed by the launch of the manual “Understanding Human Rights”.

Young people

The participation of young people has been recognised by international legal documents, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN, 1989), and in many other human rights treaties relating to women’s rights, protection against discrimination, and the guarantee of civil and political rights.

Many countries, including Guyana, have incorporated the right to participation of young people at the policy level within organisations or institutions and in varying degrees within their national legislations.

Moreover, the UNICEF; United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); and UNHABITAT offices in Brazil, the Youth Coordination of the Government of the Federal District, and the National Youth Secretariat organised this international workshop as a space for debate, exchange of experiences, and ideas and knowledge for the sharing on civic participation of young people.

The objectives were to: identify and systematise a framework for the participation of young people based on international norms, legislations and institutions of countries; give visibility to public policies that ensure the participation of young people in decision-making fora regarding the realisation of their rights; share experiences of participatory processes led by young people and create space for youth expression on innovative processes of participation, social mobilisation and use of new information technologies and communication.

Teen girl shot dead by old lover

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17-year-old girl of Moraikobai, which is 85 miles up the Mahaicony Creek in Region Five, was on Thursday shot dead by her old lover.

Police said that they are investigating the murder of Theiana Andrews, which occurred at about 02:15h at

Moraikobai.

Investigations have revealed that Andrews was shot and killed by a man with whom she had ended a relationship some time ago.

The man was armed with a shotgun. The suspect has not been arrested as yet.

8 news El Dorado gold heist mastermind slapped with murder charge

friday, december 27, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

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he alleged mastermind behind the El Dorado gold heist, Neville Chandrawattie, made another court ap-

pearance on Tuesday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was

slapped with another indictable charge.

Standing in Court One, Chandrawattie, 29, listened quietly to the charge

of murder which stated that on April 21, 2007, at Port Kaituma, he murdered Darram Chandmangra.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru stated that the accused, along with others, planned the robbery.

During the execution of the robbery, Chandmangra was shot and killed. The suspects made good their escape.

In November, 2013, Chandrawattie along with others reportedly planned and committed another robbery on the accused's place of employment, El Dorado Trading.

Investigations were carried out and the accused was later arrested and charged.

After being questioned about the El Dorado gold heist, the accused allegedly admitted to planning the previous robbery which ended in the death of Chandramangra.

The matter was transferred to the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrate’s Court where it will be heard before the presiding magistrate on February 3, 2014.

Man remanded for ammo possession

A

man was on Tuesday remanded to prison after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to the charge of possession of ammunition.

Twenty-nine-year-old Kelon Benjamin was not required to plead to the charge which read that on December 23 at the Georgetown prison, he had in his possession two live rounds of ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.

The facts state, on the day in question, the accused went to the Camp Street prison to take clothing and footwear for Anthony Wattson who is an inmate there. There, a search was conducted by Officer Jones. As a resulted the two live rounds were discovered in the left side of the Nike sneaker which the defendant was taking to the inmate.

When he was told of the offence, he denied having any knowledge claiming that he was in the interior for the past few months.

The matter is set to return to court on January 4.

Eyew tness

Betwixt and between...

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... traditions ell, today we’re all back on the job...but for sure, not many are DOING our jobs, are we? But can your really blame anyone? Christmas fell this year on Wednesday – making it so much harder to get into any kind of a “working mood”. After all, how’d you expect people to concentrate on work, when the work place’s been festooned with all sorts of Christmas decorations and thingamajigs for weeks before “C” day?

Apart from dazzling one’s eyes, the blinking lights on the Christmas tree in the middle of the floor doesn’t exactly assist in one’s concentration, does it? Your Eyewitness wondered why we insist on these fake fir trees when we could just go out and haul in a black-sage bush or something.

When the founding fathers suggested we decolonise our minds after independence, they weren’t just talking about shirt jacks. But then look where that move has gone.

Then there was the countdown…you know...”on the 12th day of Christmas” and so on. Seems in Guyana, one’s “true love” just brings invitations to Christmas parties. Even if you’re one of the most anti-social fellas around (and your Eyewitness isn’t exactly a social butterfly) you end up having to squeeze in at least two dozen Christmas parties in those 12 days.

And since we’re very patriotic folks, we do consume the products of our country’s top “industrial giants” – Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and Banks DIH Limited.

Doesn’t exactly have you bright eyed and bushy-tailed for work the next morning, though.

So by the time Christmas Day rolls around (and it can do nothing but “roll”, after all the carousing that preceded it) you’re just ecstatic it’s not the “work” you’re escaping from because of the holiday, it’s the partying! But this is Guyana, isn’t it? We have our traditions to uphold – even if we can’t stand straight to uphold them. So we down our rum-soaked black cake, our rum-laced fruit punch and our straight-up rum as we toast “Merry Christmas!!” at home with our loved ones.

And now we know why we’ve kept the British tradition of Boxing Day as a holiday. We don’t take around any boxes of leftovers to the servants...we just use the day to recover from the day before. Like a boxer who’s been knocked out cold.

And today, we’re back on the job...repeating the whole experience again, as we welcome the New Year for the rest of the year?

Work? What’s that?

...a rock and politics Another tradition passed down by the departed colonials, that we just can’t seem to shake off, is that of Scrooge. You know...the tight fisted miser, who hated Christmas and was determined to make it miserable for everybody else. Charles Dickens described him thusly: “The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, made his eyes red, his thin lips blue, and he spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice...”

Dickens, of course, could’ve been describing Khemraj Ramjattan or Carl Greenidge, who recently were determined to expose their Scroogish hearts, when it came to Christmas for Amerindian folks. Imagine, even though every survey has confirmed they have the highest level of absolute poverty in the land, these two worthies pushed to cut supplementary appropriations directed to Amerindians in the Christmas season.

Even the Speaker Raphael Trotman had to play the role of Christmas Past, Present and Future to chastise Greenidge for his churlish and mean remarks. In the end Greenidge was embarrassed into abstaining. Trotman didn’t even try with his former party colleague, Ramjattan.

You can’t turn sows’ ears into silk purses. Even on Christmas. ...marches Have Patrick Yarde and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) called off the marches between December 21-31 they promised the citizens and denizens of Georgetown? Must’ve been the Christmas spirit. Couldn’t have been lack of support – after the multitudes that showed up on the first day – could it?

news

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friday, december 27, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Four-lane extension road project to be completed in 2014

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ork on the four-lane extension road project being undertaken on the East Coast and East Bank highways is expected to be fast-tracked next year.

While there have been some delays owing to several issues encountered by the contractors, the work should be completed by the first quarter of 2014 at the latest.

This is according to an official of the Public Works Ministry.

Stern warning

According to the official, most of the issues that were brought to the attention of the Work Services Group (WSG) of the Public Works Ministry have been corrected, and contractors have been given a stern warning about meeting the deadlines.

The road works being done along the East Coast of Demerara consist of six lots.

The contract for lot one was terminated and was awarded to Dipcon Engineering by government. This phase of

the project is moving ahead and the works are expected to be completed soon.

Some challenges are being experienced at lot two of the project as a result of disputes over land, with persons who live there.

For lots three and four, for which Courtney Benn Contracting Service is responsible, works have been moving at a slow pace. The contract for that lot was extended until March 2014.

Salba Engineering is responsible for the final lot, which starts from the Mon Repos market to just before the Good Hope Bridge.

That component of the project is expected to be completed by the end of January 2014.

East Bank

On the other hand, the four-lane extension on the East Bank of Demerara consists of three lots. Dipcon Engineering is responsible for lot one, which had some challenges caused by GT&T

With the heavy traffic on the East Bank highway, there has been much confusion and congestion, which affects hundreds of commuters, causing the tardiness of workers and schoolchildren.

Traffic

Work ongoing at the four-lane extension on the East Bank of Demerara

power poles. Works on lots two and three have commenced, and the construction of a high bridge is also ongoing. The entire project should be completed by next year.

Government had received US$20 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB),

for the East Bank Demerara Four Lane Extension project.

The project is being jointly financed with the government.

The main objectives of the project are to enhance urban and suburban mobility and safety by lowering transport costs and reducing accident rates via the expansion of the

East Bank Demerara main road between Providence and Diamond from two lanes to four lanes.

The country’s coastland continues to face heavy traffic especially during peak hours. The high influx of imported vehicles has contributed significantly to this.

The afternoon traffic is said to be the worst. The congestion has contributed to the numerous accidents that continue to occur on the busy highway, which is the only ingress or egress for Guyana’s main port of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Similar issues occur on the East Coast highway, especially during peak hours, but the extra road – the Railway Embankment road, which caters for two-way traffic from Georgetown to Enmore, provides some relief.

Nonetheless, the narrowing of the major highway on the East Coast further complicates the situation during peak hours.

Some city stores flouting return and refund of goods policy

By Samuel Sukhnandan

C

onsumers are accusing business entities across the country, especially those in the capital Georgetown, of flouting the return and refund of goods policy.

Most stores within the city, especially those located on Regent, Robb and Water streets, are culpable of this, according to shoppers.

One consumer, Archibald Thomas said that he visited a store in Regent Street only a few days ago and was disappointed by the way the store dealt with the return policy.

Thomas told Guyana Times that he went to purchase a T-shirt for his nephew for Christmas and upon enquiring, he was directed to the section which had T-shirts displayed.

Thomas said he informed the sales clerk that he was looking for a T-shirt for an 11-year-old boy, since he noticed that the T-shirt produced was a bit big. However, he was told that it was the smallest T-shirt in stock.

Christmas gift

Thomas proceeded to pay for the item, but later realised that there was a children's section, which had a smaller T-shirt that was suitable for his nephew’s Christmas gift.

Upon enquiring as to how he could get the item exchanged, Thomas was told that he would have to get something at the store for the same price he paid for the T-shirt.

The original T-shirt was purchased for $2000.

However, the child-sized T-shirt cost $1400. Thomas told this publication that while he was not pleased that he had to take something worth $600 and was not refunded the difference, he was later told by the cashier that

he could only purchase something from that particular section.

Thomas was highly annoyed that he was being treated in that manner, knowing very well that the store was flouting the return policy.

He explained that he had not even left the store or used the item and he sees no logical reason why he should have to face such embarrassment when he is spending his money.

Willing to pay

Thomas said he even went to the extent of taking something worth more than the T-shirt and was willing to pay the extra, but he was advised by the cashier that such an exchange was not possible.

Thomas told Guyana Times that while the company has made it clear that it would not facilitate exchanges and returns on white clothing, including underwear, it did not fail to indicate on a signboard above the cashier’s counter that customers will have to pay a 10 per cent restocking fee.

The store did not adhere to the most important aspect of the Consumer Affairs Act which caters for persons returning goods within seven days, once they are not tampered with. Thomas said the ordeal left him surprised and was clearly abuse of the policy.

Meanwhile, another consumer, Patricia Madou told Guyana Times of a similar experience. Madou said she was surprised that almost all stores in the city have a “No Refund, No Return” sign, as there has been much talk about how much consumers are being protected.

The woman said many stores are in breach of the return policy and unless something is done, consumers will continue to lose their hard-

earned money, to a “few unprofessional and lawless business owners”.

Madou said in doing her usual Christmas shopping, she was faced with some challenges in returning a few items. According to the woman, she would usually purchase different gifts for everyone on Christmas, usually clothes, but this year she was not sure about sizes for three of the individuals she had to purchase for. Fortunately, only one of the items was the wrong size.

In attempting to return the item a few hours after purchasing it, she was told that she could not, although a receipt was provided.

Flouting law

Madou said, “This is usually the case with many stores especially those run by Indian and Chinese nationals…it’s not so hard when you return a good or item to a store where the owner is Guyanese, but for these stores they do not bend to satisfy customers and would not go the extra mile to assist you…the language barrier is another issue.”

The disgruntled woman argued that enough was not being done to protect consumers, even while there is a law in place that stipulates that exchanges could be made.

The woman stressed that people would not return goods, unless they have good reason and in cases where they are not given the opportunity to exchange an item even when it is not used, it is total disrespect to citizens who work hard for their money.

Madou believes that the Consumer Affairs Association needs to play a more active role in ensuring that consumers’ legal rights are upheld.

The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) had

said that it found that many businesses were not conscious about the section of the Consumer Affairs Act, which states that it is against the law to have up signs that say “Goods are Not Returnable”.

The body said businesses

could face penalties if they are not in compliance with the law.

The 2011 Consumer Affairs Act caters for persons returning goods within seven days, once the product was not tampered with. Over

time, there have been many complaints about faulty products and unfair practices by local businesses. The bill puts all businesses under tight scrutiny to ensure that they comply with the provisions of the law.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, December 27, 2013

News

Ramotar, daughter make Christmas rounds at GPH

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here were smiles on the faces of many of the 26 young patients on Christmas Day, when President Donald Ramotar accompanied by his daughter Lisa Ramotar, along with Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan and other officials visited the Paediatric Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The president and his daughter delivered gifts and kind words to the young children who are being treated for ailments ranging from burns and broken limbs, to cancer.

The head of state said he was happy to be able to visit the children who were ill and also expressed appreciation for those caregivers on duty at this time within the various children’s units.

“I’m happy to be coming here to extend Christmas greetings to those who are not in a position to enjoy themselves. I thought I

Christmas Day hangover ketch G-PEE-Hell

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President Donald Ramotar chatting with a patient in the Paediatric Ward

would come to meet them, to meet the caregivers, the nurses, the doctors who are here at this point in time, who would have been away from their families and con-

tributing their services. I’m happy to be here to share with the children, the nurses and doctors that I’ve seen, and I want to express profound thanks to the caregiv-

Lisa Ramotar spreads Christmas cheer with a gift to a child at the Georgetown Public Hospital

ers, the nurses and doctors and all those who are working hard here… for the work that they are doing on behalf of our country, on behalf of our people. To those who are ill, I take the opportunity to wish them a very speedy recovery and hopefully they will be spending New Year’s at home,” he said.

Lisa Ramotar said this was her first visit to the hospital, after returning to Guyana several months ago, after completing her studies.

She too, said she was happy to bring some level of joy to those hospitalised at this time when many others are spending time at home with their families.

Children visiting their siblings along with staffers on duty at the Paediatric Ward also received presents from the head of state. The annual Christmas visit to the Paediatric Ward by the head of state has been an established tradition for many years, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Lindener killed in nightclub on Christmas Day

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hristmas ended on a tragic note for the Sam family in Kwakwani, Region 10, following the stabbing to death of Marlon Vandenburg Sam. According to the Police Public Relations Office, Sam was killed on December 25 at a night spot in Kwakwani Park, Berbice River. He was reportedly stabbed to the chest during an argument with a man, who is now in police custody.

During a telephone interview with Guyana Times, Sam’s mother Dianne Vandenberg Pompey said she last saw her 33-year-old son on Christmas Day. “He was out drinking all day. He came home around three ‘0’ clock and I started rowing with him. I told him to change his life, turn his life over to God and he promised that he would,” the mother recalled.

Marlon Vandenburg Sam

Sam reportedly left his Lot 85 Second Phase Housing Scheme, Kwakwani residence with the promise of returning home at 19:00h.

Shortly after 22:00h, Pompey was about to retired to bed after a fun-

packed day with the family when she received the tragic news. “I was brushing my teeth when I hear a banging on the door… when I check, it was Marlon friend, he said mah, Marlon just get jook up and I think he dead.”

Fearing the worse, Pompey along with her neigbour drove to the scene only to discover her son lying motionless in a pool of blood on Andrews Night Spot’s dance floor.

“He was already cold so I don’t know how long he was lying there but his friend called me soon as it happened.”

According to reports, Sam and another man had a row at the night spot and were twice parted after getting physical, but the third time the fight broke out, it was tragic. It is not clear what would have sparked

the stabbing.

The police arrived at the scene about 23:00h and transported Sam to the Kwakwani Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Sam’s mother told Guyana Times that the individual, who allegedly killed her son, had dealt him a lash to the head in April 2012, following an argument. Following that incident, Sam was hospitalised for four days at Woodlands Hospital. “Like he come back for finish he, well if that wasn’t the intention, he did,” Pompey said.

Sam, the father of a sixyear-old boy, is a former teacher at the Kwakwani primary and secondary schools. However, approximately six years ago, he resigned and took up an occupation in the gold mining sector.

hristmas Day come and gone. Plenty people was happy and enjoy dem selves eatin and drinkin and partyin Guyanese style. Boxin Day suppose to give everybody a chance to rest and recover and get ready to wuk again de next day. But not every body coulda mek it.

And fuh some a dem it wasn’t because of de rum alone.

One man in Leguan didn’t even want to see Christmas and he didn’t want he wife to see Christmas either.

Christmas suppose to be a time fuh givin and forgivin, but he didn’t want to forgive and he decide to tek away.

One magistrate didn’t want a announcer to see Christmas and New Year, but as de old people seh, God don’t always come but he does send. De magistrate had done start to celebrate, but de party done when he realise he gotta see Bossie again. God send justice to Sparren Damn.

The good book talk bout heaven and hell. But this is wheh people suppose to go only after dem dead. Not so wid G-PEE-Hell. Dem does give people hell pun earth and right inside dem house long before dem dead. Wid de kinda darkness people gettin nowadays from G-PEE-Hell, some people goin to hell twice…once pun earth and de other when G-PEE-Hell mek dem tek dem own life.

De guvament send fuh G-PEE-Hell and dem gon have to answer to de people who money dem spendin like if dem in a casino pressin button. Since Din Dhal get de message, he can’t stand up straight, just like dem G-PEEHell poles when rain fall and lil hard breeze blow.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! People want to know if is de Chrismas hangover ketch G-PEE-Hell, or if is just Din Dhal playin sick not to go see de prezzie to answer why G-PEE-Hell get hangover too!

Cabinet approves $284.92M in contracts C abinet on Tuesday approved in excess of $284 million in contracts for works to be done in various sectors.

The Amerindian Affairs Ministry was granted $31.4 million for the procurement of equipment such as tractors, trailers and ploughs for several Amerindian villages.

In the education sector, a total of $47.5 million was approved by Cabinet.

Some $15.1 million was granted for the rehabilitation of buildings at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

An additional $32.4 million is for the procurement of micro-science kits and chemicals for schools.

The Health Ministry was given a total of $69.82 million.

Meanwhile, some $40.3 million was approved for the Office of the President.

Some $24.3 million was for the supply and installation of a pilot scale asphalt hotmix plant under the Rubberised Asphalt Project, while the remaining amount is for the procurement of a warehouse rental services for the E-government Project Unit.

Some $49.9 million was approved for the Works Ministry for a maritime emergency dock for a motor vessel and also for the acquisition of critical spares, that is, ship search lights.

A sum of $46 million was allocated for works to be done on roads in Princetown, Albion and Chesney, all in Region Six.

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, DEcEMBER 27, 2013

Vagrants wish for a better life this Christmas

By Svetlana Marshall

“W

e think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless.

The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty,” Mother Teresa once said.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Paul Anthony, a vagrant for more than 25 years, today shares the same view as Mother Teresa.

Amid the hustle and bustle on the eve of Christmas, Anthony spared a few minutes to share his life story with the world; a lifetime filled with pains, sorrows, disappointments and loneliness; a life on the streets of Georgetown, Guyana.

Hard times

Anthony, commonly known as “Bourda Stallion”, 51, a father of two, became homeless approximately 25 years ago. In the prime years of his life, he lived in Anns Grove, East Bank of Guyana, but stumbled on hard times.

“Situations mek I end up here, so I does live in Bourda Market and work as a handyman,” he said but declined to say more.

said as his face moved from a smile to a frown. His mother lives in Canada, while his two children who are in the medical field reside in the U.S. His children reportedly migrated to the U.S. since 1983. “I have three brothers and a sister but they don’t look over me, I am the youngest of the set,” he said. From all indications, Anthony once resided in the U.S. but returned to Guyana for reasons unknown to Guyana Times.

His friend Robert Mohammed, 50, has been living in Bourda Market for one year. More than a year ago, Mohammed became bankrupt and had no other choice than to sell his belongings. “I had a big house in Alexander Village… you know. I was the pastor of a church,” he said in an invited comment.

Laughter

As he burst into laughter, Mohammed spun around and said, “They call me Michael Jackson … ask anybody they will tell you.” He too eats from the stalls of the market and this Christmas will be no different.

“I pray to God that next year things will get different, but for now, I will be sleeping next to the coconut stand on Orange Walk,” he said.

Paul Anthony transporting goods for a vendor in Bourda Market on the eve of Christmas

While Guyanese of all walks of life join the rest of the world in celebrating Christmas, Anthony said it will be a normal day of thanksgiving for him.

At the time of the interview, he was transporting goods for a vendor as he sought to rake in a little pocket change to afford him food for the day.

“Like any other day, I am going to buy some fruits, well tonight, I have to buy food to keep for tomorrow (Christmas) because you know everywhere will close up,” he said. If not this Christmas, next Christmas he expressed the hope of feeling appreciated.

“I does feel left out,” he

On Boxing Day, he celebrated his 51st birthday. “I don’t have much to celebrate, I will remain thankful to God but I feel sad, I have sleepless nights and I don’t feel comfortable but I hope things will get better,” he added.

Mohammed is the father of four children and one of them from time to time pays a visit to the market to see her dad.

Meanwhile, Leon Bacchus said no one is to be blamed for his loneliness. According to him, the streets are all he knows. “I have been living on the streets all my life… circumstances mek so but nobody got me suh, I choose to live like this,” he said.

Bacchus‚ also known as

his daughter who is about five-years-old. “I don’t know where her mother disappeared with her… I feel sad when I think of my life and that’s why I smoke,” he said.

But Ovin Chester, who had a slightly different story, said he does odd work around the Bourda Market; however, he resides with his parents at Vryheid Lust, East Coast Demerara.

Sadness

Ovin Chester and Leon Bacchus conversing at Bourda Market

Dougla, 35, does odd jods around the market. For him, Christmas is every day.

“Every day is a happy day for

me, I don’t have a Christmas but I pray to God for his mercy and for life,” he said.

His greatest wish is to see

The 45-year-old man expressed sadness and disappointment but it was not because of his state of affairs, but due to the state of affairs of the city.

“This Christmas, I wish we get a clean town, all the rubbish, if they can move off the road that would be nice and all the drains dig up that would be nice, that would make my Christmas,” he noted.

He called for togetherness, stating that only then Guyanese can solve the problems affecting the city and the country at large.

Togetherness

“Government alone can’t do it, if we all come together, we can clean up this town. This is a Cooperative Republic of Guyana not a segregated Republic of Guyana”, he said.

The experiences of these men bring to bear the words of U.S. representative for Illinois’s ninth congressional district Jan Schakowsky: “There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent droughts and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help.”

12 News

friday, December 27, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

APNU wants tough action to Several die as floods batter Caribbean islands curb traffic lawlessness – President Ramotar extends sympathies

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ith the recent death of Chief Librarian Gillian Thompson, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is once again calling attention to the state of lawlessness on the roads.

In extending sincere condolences to the relatives of Thompson, APNU is calling on the Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee to show executive leadership in curbing “the wanton carnage on our country’s roadways”.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry also expressed sincere condolences to the family, friends and staff of the National Library, on the passing of Thompson.

Thompson worked at the National Library for just over two decades, beginning on November 1, 1991. In 2004, she became the chief librarian and worked tirelessly until her untimely passing on December 24.

In a statement, the ministry said: “A consummate professional who dedicated her time, energy, and professional training in library science towards the advancement of reading in Guyana, Gillian would be

Chief Librarian Gillian Thompson

dearly missed not only by her family, but by her colleagues and friends at the National Library and those from within education fraternity.”

Thompson, 44, of North Ruimveldt, met her demise in a gruesome manner on Tuesday after a car slammed into a bus belonging to the National Library at the corners of North Road and Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

Thompson, who was in the front passenger’s seat of the minibus, suffered several serious injuries to her body and died almost imme-

diately. The impact sent the woman flying through the windscreen of the minibus.

She then got stuck between the vehicle and the concrete bridge.

Guyana Times understands that the car which caused the accident was evading police ranks. An eyewitness, Dennis Lewis, said he was transacting business at a gold establishment when he heard the impact. He said as he ran out, he saw the car which was still in motion sliding into the drain with the passengers.

He immediately rushed to the aid of the men in the car and pulled them from the wreckage. He said that by the time he pulled the men out, the police took possession of them. As he turned around, he saw the driver of the minibus and the front seat passenger being rescued from the bus.

Thompson, he noted was hanging through the windscreen of the bus and was covered in blood.

Her face, he added, was damaged beyond recognition and her feet were evidently broken.

Senior Counsel Marcel Crawford passes on

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rominent Berbice attorney, Senior Counsel Marcel Christopher Crawford died on Wednesday aged 76.

He was born on October 13, 1937, at Salton Village on the Corentyne, to Ryan Crawford, a Scotsman, and Sarah Millicent Harrington and was married to the late Lillian Crawford who passed on September 18, 2010. Their union bore two sons Marcel Jr and Ryan, both of whom reside in the U.S. Crawford first attended St Mark’s Anglican School in Alness, before going on to the Rose Hall Scots and then to the Corentyne High.

According to reports, about 15:00h on Tuesday,

Senior Counsel Marcel Crawford

the attorney told his niece who resides with him at his home in Alness Village that he was not feeling well. She

took him to the Anamayah Memorial Hospital where he underwent several tests, one of which included a random blood sugar test that proved a persistent high blood sugar.

This condition subsequently resulted in renal compromise of which dialysis was needed; however, about 17:30h, he succumbed as a result of kidney failure. In addition to his work at the bar, Crawford was a former national cycling champion. He also lived a life as a horse racing magnate, with his family establishing their own facility – the Alness Race Track – now the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sport Facility.

Man sentenced to prison for assaulting police officers

J

ohn Austin was Tuesday sentenced to prison at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts after he appeared before Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Austin was charged with two counts of assault against a police officer.

It is alleged that on the November 6, Constable

Sinclair and Yogashree Sukhnandan were on the Kingston seawalls when the defendant approached them and attempted to rob Sukhnandan. Sinclair intervened and identified himself as a police officer then he proceeded to attempt an arrest and was assaulted in the ensuing scuffle.

Austin then ran from the scene; however Constable McPherson who had seen part of the ordeal gave chase and was also assaulted by Austin. McPherson nonetheless managed to arrest Austin.

The defendant was sentenced to 12 months in prison for each of the assault charges.

People had to be rescued from cars in Bexon on St Lucia

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lectricity and other services were being gradually restored in St Lucia while several communities remained cut-off in St Vincent as the two islands continue to count their human and material losses less than 24 hours after a slow moving low level trough caused widespread flooding and destruction.

In St Lucia, Prime Minister, Dr Kenny Anthony told nationals he could not “recall when we have had such heavy rainfall on the eve of Christmas”. The rains and strong winds, which have been blamed for five deaths and damage to roads, bridges and houses, also caused destruction in neighbouring St Vincent and the Grenadines, where nine people were confirmed dead and the search continuing for three others, presumed dead.

Airport The St Lucia Air and Sea Ports (SLASPA) said that the Hewanorra International Airport remained closed and that crews were working tirelessly to have the airport reopened as soon as possible.

“Passengers expecting to travel or coming to pick up someone, please contact your party for the status of the flight before coming to the airport,” it added.

The St Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) said that it had been able to restore power to “nearly all areas that had been affected by outages, resulting from the heavy rains and severe lightning”.

LUCELEC Transmission and Distribution Manager Gilroy Pultie acknowledged that some areas in the south of the island that had been severely battered by the rains and winds have not been re-energised, but hoped the situation would be completed as soon as possible as crews deal with fallen poles and trees that have brought down power lines.

“All other areas around the island have power, except for a few isolated pockets which will be attended to over the next several hours.”

The telecommunications company, LIME, said that it was gradually restoring services to customers and that the network link between Bexon and Dennery was once more functional.

Meanwhile, in St Vincent and the Grenadines, several communities remained cutoff on Thursday as residents continue to count their human and material losses as a result of the slow moving low level trough that battered the island for more than 48 hours.

Unconfirmed reports said that the bodies of two people had been found and that the search was still continuing for at least two other people reported missing. So far, there have been nine confirmed deaths from the floods associated with the heavy rains and winds that began battering the island on Christmas Eve.

Cut-off

The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported that several communities remain cutoff due to damaged bridges and blocked roads. “Vehicular traffic cannot enter or leave the North Windward community of Sandy Bay, and several blockages from landslides are preventing access to communities in North Leeward. The Caratal Bridge is damaged, and a Bailey bypass bridge in Colonarie was washed away,” NEMO said in a statement posted on its website.

It said that the Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) is continuing its assessment and that 50 per cent of consumers are without pipe borne water. CWSA said that some consumers would be without water “at least until Saturday”.

NEMO said that a number of houses have been destroyed or damaged and that it is providing sleeping bags, comfort kits and jerry cans to those affected.

The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) correspondent Kenton Chance, who has travelled to the Buccament area that has been among the worst hit areas, quoted one official at a shelter as saying that “people are coping with the situation”.

He said guests at the Buccament Bay Resort had been evacuated and the search was still continuing for one of the workers swept away by floodwaters.

Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary

General José Miguel Insulza, expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of life and severe damage caused by unseasonably heavy rainfall over the last 48 hours in Dominica, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

He further expressed, on behalf of the OAS, his sincere condolences to the governments and the peoples of the affected countries on their loss and assured them that the organisation stands in solidarity with them at this very difficult time.

Commenting on the situation, Secretary General Insulza stated, “This is very bad news, even more that it has occurred on Christmas Day. The unseasonable nature of the heavy rains and flooding raises once again the impact of climate change in the Caribbean region.”

The OAS secretary general added that he would shortly convene other agencies within the Inter-American system to mobilise a hemispheric response to the debilitating effects of what is becoming known as the Christmas Day rains in the southern Eastern Caribbean.

Sympathies

Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar on Thursday extended his sympathies to St Lucian Prime Minister, Dr Kenny Anthony, via telephone, on the loss of lives and damage to property and infrastructure caused by the severe rains and heavy winds which swept over the Eastern Caribbean during the past two days.

On account of communication difficulties, President Ramotar was unable to reach St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, to convey similar sentiments. St Vincent and the Grenadines was also severely affected by the weather system with lives lost and several communities across the country affected by power outages and cut off by damaged bridges and blocked roads.

The Government of Guyana will continue to monitor the situation reports from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency with a view to supporting the recovery efforts of the affected member states of the Eastern Caribbean.

news

13

friday, december 27, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Cheekies pampers seven Christmas babies

Mother of the first girl born on Christmas Day Ulanda Adams receives her hamper from ANSA McAL Cheekies brand representative Joel Lee in the presence of nurse Jennifer Cato (left)

Malissa Eastman King receives her hamper from Lee in the presence of Ward Six Manager Virgirie Lord and Ward Five Manager Tessa Joe

he Cheekies family from ANSA McAL Trading on Christmas Day continued its annual tradition of distributing Cheekies bundle of joy hampers to all babies born at Georgetown Public Hospital.

ly once more supported all mothers with the special gifts of “Cheekies bundle of joy” hampers, which marked the 15th anniversary of this annual tradition.

The generous gifts were well received and brought

T

The first baby boy was born at 01:00h to Nikita Mc Lennon; the second was a baby girl delivered at 02:02h to Yolanda Adams; and the third baby was a boy who came through at 03:51h to Omega Garraway.

The fourth, a girl, arrived at 04:55h, born to Sabrina Khan; the fifth, a boy born to Malissa Eastman King at 05:05h while the sixth was a baby boy born to Ayana Erskine. He came at 08:55h.

The Cheekies fami-

smiles to the faces of the new mothers.

ANSA McAL, Cheekies brand representative Joel Lee said “it’s always a pleasure to support mothers as they ushered in a new generation filled with hope and

promise”.

The hampers contained 96 diapers and 12 packs of baby wipes; these were presented to the mothers of the first boy and girl at the hospital, while all other hampers contained 32 Cheekies cloth soft diapers.

BBCI hosts senior citizens party Pope Francis commended for

T

he Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) held a senior citizens’ party on December 19, during which 11 residents of De Edward Village, West Coast Berbice were honoured and presented with food hampers.

A release said the company was privileged to have the opportunity to host the event, mainly due to the fact that it was part

of the BBCI’s fifth anniversary celebrations, as well as part of its calendar of activates for the festive season 2013.

The company said it will continue to sponsor other activities, including looking at a wider cross section of charitable events and sports. In the past the company has sponsored many events that benefited communities both on the east-

ern and western sides of the Berbice River.

For 2013, the BBCI has so far received more than 100 requests and has responded to 94 of them. The requests include sponsorships for Mashramani 2013 events, horse racing, various non-profit and educational institutions, tours of various schools, waivers on toll charges for tour buses, and cricket tournaments.

reaching out to non-believers

Hindus call on amazon.com to withdraw Lord Ganesha pants

H

indus have urged world's largest online retailer amazon.com headquartered in Seattle in the state of Washington, USA for the immediate withdrawal of pants carrying image of Lord Ganesha and sold on its website, calling it inappropriate.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a recent statement in Nevada, said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be worn around one’s legs, crotch and hips.

“Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda is not okay as it hurts the devotees,” he said Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also called on amazon.com to offer a formal apology.

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion

of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. Symbols of any

faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed argued.

Zed further said that such trivialization of Lord Ganesha was disturbing to the Hindus the world over.

Hindus are for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith is something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurts the followers, Zed added.

Pants which Hindu devotees are finding objectionable include “Ganesha’s Dream Hot Pant” ($65.95$69.95)" and “Ganesha’s Dream Bell Bottoms" ($74.95-$78.95).

Amazon.com Inc, a Fortune 500 company founded in 1994, claims to offer “Earth’s Biggest Selection”. The president is Jeffrey P Bezos.

In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as a God of wisdom and remover of obstacles, and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking.

Pope Francis blesses a child as he rides on the popemobile to celebrate mass in Rio de Janeiro in July 2013

H

indus have commended Pope Francis’ for inviting non-believers in his Christmas address to unite for peace.

In his “Urbi et Orbi” message in Vatican City on December 25, Pope Francis said: "And I also invite nonbelievers to desire peace with that yearning that makes the heart grow, all united, either by prayer or by desire. But all of us, for peace."

Hindu religious leader Rajan Zed, in a release in Nevada, USA, said it is

heartwarming to learn that largest religious leader of the world––the Pope––is reaching out to non-believers in pursuit of peace. “It is a step forward in inclusiveness,” said Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism.

Zed also applauded the “Holy See” efforts in 2011 in launching a new Vatican structure termed as the "Courtyard of the Gentiles", the aim of which was to promote dialogue and encounter between believers and non-believers.

He said that as

Catholics, Hindus and others had freedom of their belief systems and were respected for their respective choices, and so should be the atheists. “We all should be more inclusive if we wanted to create harmony in the world,” he said.

Zed noted that it is the fault of religious leaders, like himself, and religious organizations that atheism is growing in the world. “We need to do a better job to make religion more vibrant, attractive and engaging to keep people in God’s fold,” he added.

14

friday, December 27, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Haitian migrants drown off Turks and Caicos Islands

A

boat has capsized off the Turks and Caicos Islands leaving 18 migrants dead, authorities there say. The overloaded boat had been intercepted by police and was being escorted to shore when it sank abruptly just 150m (500ft) off the coast of Providenciales. Thirty-two people were rescued.

While officials did not reveal their nationality, local media reported the victims were from Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Those rescued are being held on suspicion of trying to enter the British Overseas Territory illegally.

Accidents involving overloaded boats carrying migrants from Haiti are not un-

The boat capsized after being intercepted by police, as Eric Camara reports

common in the Caribbean.

In November, about 30 people died when their vessel sank off the Bahamas. And in 2009, U.S. Coast Guard

officials called off their search for about 70 migrants from Haiti whose boat also capsized off the Turks and Caicos. (BBC News)

Good year for Royal Barbados Police Force

A

cting Commissioner of Police, Tyrone Griffith says that 2013 has been a pretty successful year for the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF).

He made the point to members of the media Tuesday morning, just moments before he, accompanied by other senior officers of the force, carried out a walk-through in Bridgetown to such areas as High Street, Swan Street and Broad Street, to see firsthand how its Operation Yuletide programme was shaping up.

“As suggested, we are policing in difficult economic times and the likelihood of crime would seem to be more prevalent. However, I think that despite that, we have been able to reduce crime significantly this year over last year,” he said.

Acting Commissioner

Acting Commissioner of Police, Tyrone Griffith (centre) with his senior officers and Police PRO Inspector David Welch during their walk-through in High Street Tuesday

Griffith revealed that from the force’s analysis, crime has dropped overall by five per cent over 2012, and he said this is to be commended especially given the current circumstances. Griffith was also quick to add that the reduction has been even more significant in the areas such

as robberies and theft from the person. With that in mind, he told reporters that the force has seen significant improvements as it relates to the cash for gold trade, which in the past resulted in a number of cases of robberies and theft from the person.

Jamaica: Three die in separate New date set for extradition of Christmas Day crashes

T

hree men are now dead following separate motor vehicle crashes across the island on Christmas Day. One of the deceased is a member of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).

Dead are: 51-year-old Derrick Scott, a labourer of Chester Avenue in Spanish Town, St Catherine; 23-year-old Christian Wallace, a delivery man of Retrieve district, St James; and 24-year-old Yannick Gregory, a JDF member from Albion district in

Manchester. Reports reaching Observer Online are that the first of the crashes took place about 03:10h on Brunswick Avenue in St Catherine. In that incident Scott was walking along the roadway when he was allegedly hit by a motor car in the vicinity of the Jam Pet Service Station.

About 06:11h along the Albion main road in Manchester, the JDF member, Gregory, was driving his Toyota motor car when on reaching a section

of the roadway, he lost control of the vehicle which crashed into an embankment and overturned. Then about 17:30h, Wallace was killed in a collision on the Salt Spring main road in St James.

Observer Online learnt that he was driving a motor car, which collided with another that was travelling in the opposite direction. All three men were pronounced dead at hospital. Investigations into the crashes are continuing. (Jamaica

Observer)

(Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

former Turks and Caicos premier

A

ccording to a new statement issued by the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), former premier Michael Misick, will be now extradited from Brazil and returned to the TCI between January 7 and 13, 2014. The government had previously indicated that Misick would be extradited in November 2013. However, the special investigation and prosecution team (SIPT) said subsequently that complications within the Brazilian legal system had resulted in further delays. One source has

indicated that Misick, who was reported to be in possession of a Brazilian work permit, obtained the document illegally.

The latest statement said that, if Misick arrives during a day when court is in session, he will be taken directly to court for a sufficiency hearing. However, there has been no official word to date that Misick has ever been formally charged with any offence, merely that he was wanted for questioning in relation to allegations of widespread government corruption during his time in office.

Nevertheless, in a Christmas message to the TCI, Governor Peter Beckingham appeared to anticipate such charges by saying that the New Year will bring criminal trials, including the prosecution of former premier Misick.

“Like all new years, I am sure 2014 will bring its share of challenges, pleasures and disappointments.

For the Turks and Caicos these will include the pending trials of the former premier and some of his former colleagues,” the governor said. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Jamaicans file official complaints after Trinidad denies entry Hangings would make a difference,

T

wo Jamaican nationals who were denied entry to Trinidad and Tobago in November have filed an official complaint with the Foreign Affairs Ministry here. In addition, three of the 13 nationals were also refused entry into Port of Spain on November 19, have inquired about the possibility of seeking redress.

A Foreign Affairs Ministry official confirmed that the three have specifically inquired about a refund of their airfare.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry had said that, in

order to conduct further investigations, those who were denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago had to submit a signed written personal statement, outlining details of the incident. It also urged nationals to submit such a report whenever they are refused entry into any Caribbean Community (Caricom) country.

The November 19 incident led to a high level meeting between Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran and his Jamaican counterpart, AJ Nicholson and the

Foreign Affairs Ministry said it was now implementing the agreed Caricom complaints procedure, which includes liaising with the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) Unit in Barbados.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat has also been instructed to intensify the training and sensitisation of immigration officials across the region on the issue of free movement of Caribbean nationals across the region.

(Caribbean360)

say senior Bahamas police officers

T

wo senior police officers agreed on Monday that the resumption of capital punishment would make a difference in The Bahamas, although one doubted it would make as big a difference as some people think.

“There are some persons, prison is for them,” said Superintendent Stephen Dean, who was suggesting that these kinds of criminals don’t mind being in prison.

“No form of rehabilitation

can do anything for them.

There are some situations; the only thing that can stop a criminal and put him to rest is capital punishment, an end.

“It works and it also has an effect on others because right now what criminals are seeing is that I can get off...

I can get out on bail.” Dean and Central Detective Unit (CDU) chief, Superintendent Paul Rolle, were guests on the Star FM and Guardian Radio talk show ‘Jeffrey’

with Jeff Lloyd. Lloyd asked them if they thought capital punishment would make a difference in the country.

Rolle said, while he believes capital punishment would make a difference, it may not create the level of deterrence that some people want to see. “I think when you look and listen to these criminals that we bring into custody for these serious offences, they don’t want to go to prison,” he said. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Carnivorous fish attack bathers in Argentina

A

school of carnivorous fish related to the piranha has attacked bathers in an Argentine river, injuring about 70. Thousands of bathers were cooling off in the Parana River in Rosario, 300km (186 miles) north of Buenos Aires, on Christmas Day when the attack happened.

Officials blamed the attack on the palometa fish,

The bathers were cooling off in a heat wave

describing the event as “exceptional”.

Paramedics said dozens of people had their extremities attacked and some had lost digits. Director of lifeguards in Rosario, Federico Cornier, said bathers suddenly began to complain of bite marks on hands and feet as they cooled off in a heat wave.

He said the palometa was “a type of piranha,

big, voracious and with sharp teeth that can really bite”. Cornier said: “This is not normal. It’s normal for there to be an isolated bite or injury, but the magnitude in this case was great... this is an exceptional event.”

Paramedic Alberto Manino told Associated Press some children he had treated had lost entire digits. (BBC News)

15 Around the world

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, dECember 27, 2013

Egypt widens crackdown Russian experts rule out on Muslim Brotherhood Arafat poisoning A E gyptian authorities have arrested 23 Muslim Brotherhood supporters on accusations of belonging to a terrorist organisation, a day after the country’s interim government blacklisted the group.

The people arrested on Thursday were accused of passing out leaflets in support of the Brotherhood, promoting the group’s ideology, and inciting violence against the Egyptian security services, according to Egypt’s state media agency, MENA. “Egypt will stand firmly in confronting terrorism and the people will never be afraid as long as the army is present,” said Egyptian army chief General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, during an army graduation ceremony on Thursday in Cairo.

The arrests come only a day after Egypt’s interim government declared the Muslim Brotherhood, to which deposed former

Anyone taking part in pro-Muslim Brotherhood rallies, or supporting the group, faces five years in jail

President Mohamed Morsi belongs, a terrorist group.

The designation means anyone accused of taking part in pro-Muslim Brotherhood rallies, possession of the group’s literature, or supporting the group “verbally or in writing” could be sentenced to five years in prison, the Interior Ministry said.

The Brotherhood still organises almost daily pro-

tests demanding Morsi’s return, nearly six months after he was overthrown following widespread popular protests.

Al Jazeera’s Peter Greste, reporting from Cairo, said that anyone convicted of being a senior Muslim Brotherhood member, or of financing or providing information to the group, could face life imprisonment. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

team of Russian forensic experts studying the causes of Yasser Arafat’s death said Thursday they had ruled out the possibility that the late Palestian leader may have been subject to radiation poisoning, concluding instead that he died naturally.

Cited by the state RIA Novosti news agency, the head of Russia’s Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA), Vladimir Uiba, announced the study had concluded that “[Yasser Arafat] died a natural death and not from radiation”.

Arafat’s exhumed remains have been studied by Swiss, French and Russian experts. The French have also ruled out poisoning, while the Swiss report said high levels of radioactive polonium indicated third party involvement in Arafat’s 2004 death.

Arafat’s widow Suha Arafat dismissed the French results earlier this month,

Supporters with pictures of former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat

saying: “I’m still completely convinced that the martyr Arafat did not die a natural death, and I will keep trying to get to the truth.

“I’m shocked by [the results of] the French medical report,” she was quoted as saying.

Arafat died at a French military hospital near Paris on November 11, 2004, with

doctors saying he died of a massive stroke and suffered from a blood condition known as disseminated intravascular coagulation.

But their findings were inconclusive about what led to the coagulation, which has numerous possible causes.

His widow refused to allow an autopsy at the time.

(Excerpt from France24)

Al Qaeda-held American pleads for Syrian town flies national flag for food Obama’s help

C

aptured American Warren Weinstein looks tired and pale and speaks in steady monotone in pleading for his freedom to President Barack Obama. In the video released by al Qaeda on Christmas Day, he said he feels abandoned and forgotten since his abduction more than two years ago.

“The years have taken their toll,” Weinstein, 72, said in the 13-minute video. He said he is not in good health and that he suffers from acute asthma. He ap-

Warren Weinstein

peals to Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, the media, the American public and finally his family.

“Nine years ago, I came to Pakistan to help my government and I did so at a time when most Americans would not come here,” he said. “And now, when I need my government, it seems I have been totally abandoned and forgotten.”

CNN cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the video, which was first posted on The Washington Post website.

It was the second apparent proof of life in which Weinstein makes a direct plea to the Obama administration. The first was released in May 2012.

The State Department said it is working to authenticate the video statement.

Spokeswoman Marie Harf reiterated the government’s call for Weinstein to be released.

U.S. officials have repeatedly said Washington will not bargain with al Qaeda. (Excerpt from CNN)

China condemns Japan UN renews South PM's shrine visit Sudan peace plea

C

hina and South Korea have condemned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for visiting a shrine that honours war dead including convicted war criminals.

Seoul said it was furious with the “deplorable” act, and Beijing labelled the visit “absolutely unacceptable” and summoned Japan’s ambassador. Japan’s neighbours see the Yasukuni shrine as a symbol of the militarism of Japan during and before World War Two. U.S. officials said the visit would “exacerbate tensions” in the region.

China, Japan and South Korea are embroiled in a number of disputes over territory in the East China Sea. The disputes have helped to fuel nationalist passions in all three countries. Abe’s

Yasukuni visit, the first by a serving prime minister since Junichiro Koizumi went in 2006, was televised live.

“It is not my intention at all to hurt the feelings of the Chinese and Korean people,” said Abe, who claimed his visit was an anti-war gesture.

Officials said Abe visited the shrine in a private capacity and was not representing the government.

But shortly after, China summoned Japan’s Beijing envoy to lodge a “strong protest”.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Beijing seriously condemned the visit. “This poses a major political obstacle in the improvement of bilateral relations. Japan must take responsibility for all the consequences that this creates,” he said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

T

he UN has renewed its call for rival forces in South Sudan to lay down their arms and said it expects the first UN reinforcements to arrive in 48 hours.

The plea came as South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir met the leaders of neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia in an effort to defuse the conflict.

Government officials say a number of oil wells are now in rebel hands.

Violence erupted 11 days ago between forces loyal to the president and those backing his ex-deputy Riek Machar.

UN special representative Hilde Johnson urgently called on the coun-

try’s political leaders “to give peace a chance”.

“The nation that [was] painstakingly built over decades of conflict and strife is at stake,” she said, speaking via a video link from South Sudan’s capital, Juba. Johnson said “well over 1000” people had been killed since the start of the violence on December 15 and the casualty figures were likely to rise.

She said she expected some UN military reinforcements and critically needed equipment within 48 hours. Johnson said there had been heavy fighting in Malakal and Bor, while the town of Bentiu had become calmer. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Malnutrition has been a problem among Moadamiyeh’s some 8000 residents for months

R

esidents of a blockaded opposition-held town near the Syrian capital have raised the flag of President Bashar al-Assad’s government in exchange for food, activists said.

The deal accepted on Thursday by the town of Moadamiyeh, west of Damascus, is one of a number of local truces reached between opposition-held towns and government forces in recent months, although the terms – which also included the rebels handing over heavy weapons and expelling outsiders – are unusual.

For almost a year, the town has been surrounded by government checkpoints that have blocked food, clean water and fuel from reaching residents, in an attempt

to drive out those opposed to the Assad government.

The Syrian national flag of red, black and white stripes with two green stars could be seen flying over a water tanker, according to a Lebanon-based news channel. That flag is often associated with the ruling Baath party and many opposition fighters instead use a flag with green, white and black stripes and three red stars.

“There’s sadness inside us, but we raised the flag because nobody helped us, nobody extended their hands to us,” said a Moadamiyeh resident who identified only as Ahmad. “We are ready to save the lives of [hungry] children. There’s no bread in Moadamiyeh. For three months, there’s been not even a grain of rice,” he said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16

friday, DECember 27, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Africa

Caribbean

Venezuela unveils new tourist Nigeria: Kano govt warns filling stations against hoarding currency exchange

V

isitors to Venezuela can now get more bolivars for their dollars.

But with illegal money changers offering five times as much, the new exchange rate isn’t that great. Starting on Monday tourists can get 11.3 bolivars for every dollar sold at authorised exchange hous-

es compared with the official 6.3 rate for most transactions.

The more favourable rate will be set weekly based on the results of dollar auctions the government is expanding to arrest the currency’s decline on the black market and promote foreign investment in the oil industry.

Dolartoday.com, a Web site tracking the currency’s fluctuations, greeted the new exchange rate under the headline “In search of fools.” It said most visitors to Venezuela and holders of hard currency can fetch 64 bolivars for every dollar on the black market.

(Trinidad Guardian)

North America

U.S. jobless claims fall, holiday retail sales rise

T

he number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in nearly a month, a hopeful sign for the labour market, while holiday retail sales rose in November and December.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits decreased 42,000 to a seasonally adjusted 338,000, the Labour Department said on Thursday.

While the holiday season has made recent claims data

so volatile it has been difficult to interpret, Thursday’s report showed claims continue in a range that supports expectations for faster economic growth next year.

“With labour markets on the mend and consumer confidence on the rise, we look for broader economic improvement to continue pushing claims (lower),” said Gennadiy Goldberg, an analyst at TD Securities in New York.

New claims have trended higher since September.

Economists, however, say the

level of claims is still consistent with job growth, and other labour market indicators have pointed to a strengthening labour market.

The four-week moving average for new claims, which irons out week-to-week volatility, increased 4250 to 348,000. “The underlying trend remains favourable,” said Ryan Sweet, an economist at Moody’s Analytics in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

“We will be able to muster stronger job growth in 2014.”

(Reuters)

Europe

T

he Kano state government has warned owners of filling stations hoarding petrol not to do so or face the wrath of the law.

The State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism, Dr Damburam Nuhu, gave the warning in a statement signed by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Aliyu Yusuf.

It said that the government had observed that some stations had decided not to sell

fuel since Sunday, thereby creating panic buying among fuel consumers in the state. It said that most of the stations had enough petrol to sell to the motorists and other consumers, yet they deliberately created the temporary scarcity.

The statement urged the people not to panic, adding that a monitoring team would commence inspection of the filling stations, and any station found hoarding the product would face the wrath of the law.

It directed all filling stations to continue with their normal operations. The statement said the NNPC depot at Hotoro had confirmed that all the filling stations in the state had sufficient petrol to sell, adding that there was no reason to hoard the product.

“The depot further acknowledged that even during the weekend, no fewer than 53 petrol tankers were offloaded across filling stations in the state,” the statement said. (allAfrica)

Asia

China move calms credit concerns

C

hina’s central bank has pumped US$5 billion (£3.1 billion) into the banking system to ease concerns over a credit squeeze that has caused rising interest rates.

The People’s Bank of China did not explain its actions, but over the last few days there has been growing concern over the availability of credit.

That has been reflected in the interest rates

banks charge each other. On Monday one important benchmark rate rose to its highest level since June, the height of China’s credit crunch.

The seven day bond repurchase rate hit 8.93 per cent but fell back to 6.56 per cent after the central bank added funds to the banking system.

Analysts are blaming China’s current cash crunch on a number of factors.

In a process known as “window dressing” banks typ-

ically conserve cash at the end of the year to keep their balance sheets looking healthy.

However, this year they have been doing that in a different financial environment.

Chinese authorities have been trying to discourage excessive lending by curbing official credit lines and slowing government spending.

“The banks are being forced to adapt to regulatory changes – so they are being forced to hold additional capital. (BBC

News)

Middle East

After early Boxing Day rush, UK shopper numbers flat on last year Etisalat targets SME customers

A

fter an initial rush to British retail stores for the Boxing Day sales on Thursday, only 0.5 per cent more shoppers showed up than last year, final figures from retail data company Springboard showed. Overall, nine per cent fewer bargain-hunters visited traditional town centre shops, offset by a 10 per cent increase at both shopping centres and retail parks as of 16:00h (1600 GMT).

Early data had shown a rise of eight per cent across the

country after many queued early in the morning for bargains but numbers dropped off later for high street shops, Springboard said. Some stores opened at 06:00h in London’s main shopping district in the West End and Oxford Street, where over a million people were expected to turn out according to retailers.

Many shops started Britain’s traditional “January sales” online on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to meet increasing demand for earlier

and deeper discounting.

Britain’s economy has been growing robustly and unemployment has fallen steadily but stagnating wages and rising utility bills are still squeezing living standards.

Department store John Lewis reported record sales for the week before Christmas on Thursday and said that for the first time it expected most British shoppers to use smartphones rather than desktop computers to make online purchases. (Reuters)

Market statistics Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Cambio Rates

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

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Selling

GBP

$336.07

$340.28

CAN

$192.75

$194.97

USD

$205.73

$208.18

U.S.

$1335.00

Cambio

$202.67

Gross

$254,331

Net

$236,527

Selling

$262,426

Indicators as on December 26, 2013 Live Spot Gold

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1211.20

$1212.20

Low/High

$1206.00

$1217.20

Change

+5.90

+0.49

USD GBP EUR

Dec 23 USD GBP EUR

Last: 16479.88

AM

PM

1196.50 732.12 874.95

NA NA NA

AM

PM

1192.75 729.47 871.96

Price Silver

Platinum

London Gold Fix

Dec 24

Indicators Crude Oil

1199.00 733.69 875.31 Changes: +122.33

Open: 16411.43

High:16483.00

% YTD: 25.76

52Wk Hi: 16174.51

US$ per barrel

$111.98 USD per Ounce

$19.80 $1356.00

Change %

0.07 Change %

+0.31 +23.00

T

elecom operator Etisalat has said that its small-medium enterprise (SME) customers have grown over the last year owing to its business packages tailored to suit their needs.

The operator said that it has been able to increase its SME customer base due to the revamped packages that offer flexibility to users and provide access to the latest devices without any up-front costs.

SMEs account for 92 per cent of the UAE’s total regis-

tered companies and contribute to 40 per cent of the country’s GDP. Etisalat has been trying to tap into this lucrative market through its renewed offers and business mobile packages. The operator said that it has also introduced tariffs that can be customised according to the users’ needs.

“In the coming year, we see growth potential from the SME business segment therefore will continue to invest in launching new services and enhancing the network,” said

John Lincoln, senior vice president – business marketing, Etisalat.

“Many of the local businesses are looking at the next level of growth from outside UAE. This requires the support from the government as well as improved connectivity and communication to all their stakeholders.”

Etisalat, which previously enjoyed a domestic monopoly, has been facing strong competition from its rival du in the last few years. (Gulf Business)

from it. A cheque may also need to be voided for errors in dates, payee information or amounts. Banks prefer such errors be voided and a new cheque written to avoid “edits” that raise concerns. cheques are vulnerable to fraud as the “payor” (you – the account holder) does not need to be present for someone else to deposit a cheque to their accounts. Therefore, keeping control of the location of your chequebook and an accurate inventory of cheques is critical.

Take the following steps when voiding a cheque: * Use a black or blue pen – never pencil, or anything

that can be erased * Write the word void in large, clear letters on the payee line * write the word void in large, clear letters in the payment amount box * write the word void in large, clear letters on the signature line * record the cheque is voided in your cheque register on and or offline * if the voided cheque is to be sent to set up direct deposit or debit, make a copy for your records * Online cheque – use the options in you banking service access to void a check number. (Business Dictionary)

Investors' guide How to void a cheque – avoid fraud and unauthorised withdrawals

A

cheque is physical, legal contract that effectively represents a promissory note to pay the amounts indicated in numeric and written values, to the payee designated in the “pay to” section. Your signature authorises the amount indicated to be withdrawn from your bank account and transferred to the payee’s account where the cheque was presented for deposit.

A voided cheque may be requested by an employer for direct deposit set up or creditor for direct debit.

The organisations need the information on the check, but not an actual payment

Business concept – Financial statement % Change: +0.75 Low: 16408.82 52 Wk Lo: 12471.49

Summary report that shows how a firm has used the funds entrusted to it by its stockholders (shareholders) and lenders, and what is its current financial position. The three basic financial statements are the (1) balance sheet, which shows firm’s assets, liabilities, and net worth on a stated date; (2) income statement, which shows how the net income of the firm is arrived at over a stated period, and (3) cash flow statement, which shows the inflows and outflows of cash caused by the firm’s activities during a stated period.

NEWS

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friday, December 27, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Twins born on Christmas Day to Golden Fleece sluice attendant New Amsterdam woman dies mysteriously

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The first! Ann King, 39, with her Christmas baby

Tracy Wills with her twins on Christmas Day

A

watch vendor of the New Amsterdam Market was blessed with Christmas twins.

Tracy Wills, 40, gave birth to a boy and girl on Christmas morning. Both were considered healthy when Wills was discharged from the New Amsterdam Hospital on Thursday morning.

The first child was delivered at 23:40h. She weighed 2.2kg while the boy arrived

12 minutes later, weighting 2.7kg.

Wills, who was very ecstatic, but weak, told Guyana Times that she is very happy and thankful to the Almighty.

“I thank God that everything went okay.” Wills, who is now a mother of seven, was high in praise for the nurses at the institution.

According to her, she received all the care she needed from the time she entered

the hospital on Sunday.

The Angoy’s Avenue woman said there was a difference of opinion between her and medical personnel at the prenatal clinic. They had given her a December due date while she had calculated her due date as being in January.

“When I got pregnant an went to the clinic, they told me that I was getting twins but it was until earlier this month that they said it was a boy and a girl.”

The vender said she was not looking forward for Christmas babies but was just hoping that everything would have been safe.

Wills also thanked midwife Golda Johnson, who successfully delivered her

twins. Johnson completed her shift moments after Wills was placed in her bed to rest with her twins besides her.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s first baby on Charismas Day was born to a woman from the Upper Berbice River.

Ann King of Wruni Village gave birth at 12:23h. The 3.8kg girl is now the eighth thus far for the 39-year-old mother.

On Monday, King was admitted to the Maternity Ward of the Fort Wellington Hospital but was later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital because of a history of complications during delivery.

The baby was born via cesarean.

he sudden death of a sluice attendant from Golden Fleece Village on the Essequibo Coast has plunged the entire community into deep mourning.

Dead is Deowan Persaud, 53, of Golden Fleece.

According to family members, his death came as a shock because he was not ailing and described his death as “mysterious”.

Persaud had no record of sickness or was not sick at the time of his death.

According to the spouse of the deceased, Anita Persaud, her husband visited many family members on Christmas Day, chatted with them and came home all jolly and happy. Still shaken, she said they had a family talk Wednesday night during which Persaud promised his children that he would buy a new music set to celebrate the new year.

According to the woman, after the talk they all retired to bed and around 04:30h Thursday Persaud woke up and was walking around.

She said she was inside sleeping when she heard a loud noise from the parrot flapping its wings.

She then noted she woke up knowing something was unusual and went outside only to discover her husband lying lifeless on the chairs outside. She said she immediately called the neighbours who rushed him to the Suddie Public Hospital, where doctors pronounced

Dead: Deowan Persaud

him dead.

The news quickly spread in the quiet community of Golden Fleece. Everyone gathered, expressing condolences and sympathy. At the gathering, many of his friends described him as a very jovial, hard-working and a dedicated father. The children of the deceased said their father was an icon to them and described him as the “best”.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud also visited the family, expressing condolences on behalf of his administration. He said Persaud always displayed commitment towards his work. An autopsy will be performed shortly to ascertain Persaud’s cause of death. Persaud leaves to mourn, his reputed wife and four children.

GPSU says Christmas these Temper merriment days is beset with struggles with moderation – IAC

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T

he Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) said Christmas in Guyana, in recent years, has had a different flavour other than the traditional loving and sharing – one beset with struggles for survival for families.

In a message for the holiday, the union, currently embroiled with the government in a dispute over pay increases, said Christmas in Guyana was beleaguered with high-handed political machinations that create difficulties for the togetherness that was meant to be and much grief, particularly for the working class, who are, in the main, vulnerable and have been relegated to poverty and hopelessness, with the kind of consistency only an hardhearted employer could persistently provide.

“Guyana is, however, a blessed country under God, where there is sunshine and rain that is perfect for agriculture, gold and diamonds, semi-precious stones, lumber of many species, bauxite, manganese, silver, rare earth, silica sand, kaolin,

GPSU President Patrick Yarde

gypsum, granite, and a wealth of untapped minerals, such as petroleum and natural gases.” The GPSU said most of this wealth funds the nation’s treasury, but never trickle down to alleviate the burden of the country’s human resources, who are beset with high taxes, high costs of living, and low purchasing power.

The union said in its recent demonstrations the message has been sent that “in unity, we, as a people, will prevail. Let us stay strong and committed to the causes that would free our families, friends, work-

ers and the nation from this morass, while redistributing the wealth of the nation towards uplifting the wellbeing of our human resources. Even though we may not have the Christmas we desire, let us be merry and content with the knowledge that better days are coming.

Let us use this occasion to once more reflect on our experiences and commit ourselves as a people to bring about changes to restore and advance the virtues of caring, fairness and honesty, harmony and genuine unity as Guyanese. Be assured, we shall overcome.”

he Indian Arrival Committee (IAC), in extending wishes for an enjoyable holiday, has urged citizens to be moderate in the activities they partake in.

“The IAC recognises that Christmas Day is a very important day for those who are adherents of Christianity, the religious faith in which Jesus Christ, who is also revered as the Prophet Isa by adherents of Islam and Shri

Yisu Bhagwan by followers of Sanatan Dharm, is regarded as the son of the God, known as Jehovah.”

The IAC said it understands that Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are secular holidays that have their origins in early European’s traditions.

“The IAC, nevertheless, also recognises that these holidays, whether religions or secular, are celebrated by all Guyanese… of all religious faith, eth-

nicities and classes.

The IAC calls upon all Guyanese, during this season which is characterised by all sorts of merriment, to be moderate in these since this season is historically marked by high levels of alcohol consumption and incidents of indiscipline.”

The IAC, therefore, urges all Guyanese during this joyful holiday season to observe caution while they enjoy themselves.

IRO appeals for harmony, peace

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he Inter Religious Organisation of Guyana (IRO) has extended best wishes to the nation in this Christmas and Kwanza season.

In a message, the IRO said as families gather over this holiday season, “we pray that God’s blessings of protection, prosperity and peace will engulf their every activity.

Just as Guyana is a land of

many harmonious races, it is also a land of many harmonious religions; and nowhere is that integrated religious tolerance more vividly displayed than within the Inter Religious Organisation of Guyana.”

The members of the IRO work to foster and maintain the peace and religious tolerance that is obtained in Guyana. The organisation said it is the

group’s desire to follow God’s guidance and to “do our part in strengthening the interreligious cohesion among all Guyanese. So as you pause to reflect on the reason for this season – Christ and brotherly fellowship, make a personal pledge to do your part in working towards the peace, harmony and development of this, our beautiful land of Guyana.”

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, december 27, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Don’t slack where your personal and domestic responsibilities are concerned. Lend a hand to the young or elderly. Remain near to home and avoid risky activities.

Protect your assets and your privacy.

dilbert

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) Honoring a promise you made will affect how you begin the New Year.

To achieve your greatest dreams, you will need to make drastic changes. Listen carefully to advice given to you by close friends or family. Love will prevail.

Calvin and Hobbes

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Move forward with caution. The way others treat you will be a direct result of what you say.

Don’t expect sympathy.

Emotions will escalate, leaving you in an awkward situation. Honesty is required.

Peanuts

SUDOKU

CANCER (June 21July 22) Don’t cave under pressure. Avoid being cornered. Trust that you know how and when to use your expertise to get what you want. Rather than making changes, work with what you’ve got.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) Shopping or travelling will provide you with the most fun today. Major happenings are in store from someone who is interested in you. Love is highlighted. An aesthetic change will work out well.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Charitable work or being active in your community will lead to a new service or outlet for your talents. Don’t allow skepticism to thwart your efforts. Be strong and compassionate.

ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Seek practical advice from someone with experience. You must make changes, but first you must come to understand what is best for you. Don’t procrastinate.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Make exciting plans if you don’t want to be left behind. Suggest travelling or doing something new. Make your thoughts manifest. You may be surprised by a connection with a co-worker.

Take initiative and enjoy the limelight. Make an audacious move and prepare to be noticed. A change in the way you operate will foster exciting new connections and plans.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Try out a hobby or art form that is new to you, and you’ll discover an exciting way to incorporate it into your work and personal lives.

Wednesday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) With a little hard work, you can implement your ideas. A partnership is likely to develop into something special. If you communicate openly, you will discover much common ground.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Invite friends to your home for some muchneeded social time.

Entertaining will increase your popularity and give you a chance to show off in front of a person of interest. Love and romance are indicated.

news 19

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An unforgettable Guyanese Christmas

By Vishnu Bisram

A

lthough largely a Christian holiday, Christmas has been transformed in Guyana, taking on a secular atmosphere among non-Christians.

People of all faiths got along showing how much Guyana could be a model multiethnic society. As a child growing up in a largely Hindu village, I and other children looked forward to the holidays, getting toys, new clothing, going to horse races or the movies, and enjoying the delicious treats (cake, chocolates, dates, walnuts and rare food items). It was a time for showing off gifts and playing cowboy with new toy guns.

Since it signals the end of the year, people of all faiths partook and still partake in the celebration with family get-togethers and charitable activities providing for the less fortunate. Even among Guyanese Americans, Christmas is celebrated by every religious group using the occasion to take a break from the work monotony.

Hindus and Muslims, without the religious aspects, partake in the secular aspects of the season. Some even have a tree and their homes are well decorated, rivalling those of Christians.

Everyone, regardless of faith, looks forward to the holiday known as the season of peace and goodwill and almost everyone makes similar preparation shopping and decorating the home, and celebrates it almost the same way, even those who partake in the secular aspects.

Season of renewal

The season offers the opportunity for renewal within the home – the equivalent of a spring-cleaning in New York – and many Caribbean people still hold on to that practice in North America and England. They replaced blinds and clean the furniture, carpet and floor to give the home a fresh scent.

Even the poorest sections of society as older folks want to cheer up their children for the occasion.

People want their homes and yards projected with splendour to impress visitors and neighbours. So they remodel the home. The lawns are immaculately kept and tree trunks are white washed. The yard is as clean as a whistle. The house is completely redecorated. A Christmas tree is put up or a tropical tree on the front yard is decorated and lit up.

In the past, few people could afford a Christmas tree or even decorations,

The season was associated with giving gifts

and as such, they just used lights. As family members migrated and sent home remittances and or decorations, more and more people began putting up trees and decorating their homes with fancy lights. The homes and neighbourhoods were festooned with trimmings, balloons, and other decorations.

The shopping districts are also welldecorated and open well into the night a few nights before Christmas and people do not worry about gun-toting bandits. If you got caught stealing, you got a good cut arse.

Delivery boy

As a kid, I enjoyed serving as a messenger or delivery boy taking gifts, mostly cake and drinks or tasty cuisine to neighbours and families. In return, I would be rewarded with cake and drinks and even tasty food. I enjoyed listening to the seasonal music, those lovely carols, watching the masquerade bands playing in the streets and going home to home. The horse races were also enjoyed. Long before mass electronic communication, people used to listen to greetings from relatives coming from North America and England.

No Caribbean Christmas is without special music. As in North America, Christmas carols are very popular – the same ones heard in North America, although there are local ones as well.

They are played on the air and the radio stations always played a variety of Christmas music similar to the ones we hear on radio in New York, with little kids knowing the tunes by heart after

hearing them so often. And no one was bored with Christmas music. The carols, although more temperate, set the tone for the season.

Businesses advertised their Christmas goods and services early on radio, much sooner than in North America – around mid-November right after Diwali and Eid celebrations – which sets the tone for the end of year celebrations. The radios also played special local folk music.

Giving gifts

The season was associated with giving gifts – to relatives, friends, business associates, children, and the needy.

Toys, games and clothes are some of the favourite children’s gifts. Children hung socks and were encouraged to go to bed by midnight and pledged not to curse again so Santa can bring their gifts, which were opened in the morning, generally with squeals of delight from the children.

On Christmas Day, a variety of sweets and drinks, including ginger beer, sorrel, cydrax, peardrax, mauby, sherry wine, and hard liquor are also served with the traditional curried goat; duck, mutton, and chicken; dhal puri; apples and grapes, among other things.

Today, there are a lot of other treats but in my time, if you got a little piece of apple and a grape, it was a heavenly treat. The holiday activities extended over on Boxing Day and were repeated for Old and New Year’s.

Oh what a joyful time and what an unforgettable experience!

Arya Samaj urges compassion, hope

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he Arya Samaj Mandir organisation has extended best wishes for a joyous Christmas for all Guyanese, insisting that this time of the year should be used to inspire compassion and giving.

“In this joyous season of Christmas, on behalf of the board of directors of the Humanitarian Mission of New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc, Toronto and the Guyana Chapter, I extend best wishes to all

our brothers and sisters of humanity who are observing the celebration of Christmas. May this season remind us of the beauty and holiness that is often found in the simple things in our life, and as we celebrate, let’s give thanks and gratitude. Whatever your station in life…”

He urged that Christmas must be celebrated in a unique way, even though it may have to be less extravagant this year.

“But also, let’s remember

our neighbours and be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers and those in need and those who are less fortunate than us. We can all do something, no matter how small.

It’s not to make us feel good in giving to others, though it is good. It’s because that is the way the world is. If we don’t care for one another, we will harm each other.”

The Humanitarian Mission of New Jersey Arya Samaj Christmas appeal this year “invites us to give hope. One of the strongest

grounds for hope at this difficult time is that our nation is blessed with people of extraordinary generosity, good compassion and social concern.

"The feast of Christmas invites us to mobilise that spirit of goodwill, peace and give hope. The spirit of Christmas, the spirit of being generous, selfgiving love for others is something worth celebrating during this time of Christmas and throughout the year.”

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friday, december 27, 2013

Pietersen fights but Australia on top N

ever in the field of Test match conflict were so few runs watched by so many. A world record crowd of 91,092 at the MCG sat with admirable patience as a tentative England nudged and scraped against Australia's unrelenting bowlers on Boxing Day. Kevin Pietersen's unbeaten 67 epitomised the tourists' determination to improve but also their flaws.

A softly, softly approach took him past Geoff Boycott on England's list of all-time run scorers but also offered up a pair of chances that conveyed the confidence lacking among Alastair Cook's men.

It was not hard to escape the feeling that had the Ashes still been at stake one or both might have been taken.

This is not to say Australia's bowlers failed to replicate the pressure they have applied so successfully in the first three Tests. On the contrary, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson all delivered spells of the highest quality, let down only by the slowness of the pitch and the occasional fielding lapse.

New ball burst

Johnson's burst with the second new ball had the enormous crowd baying as their forebears once did for Dennis Lillee. The din was rewarded with the wickets of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow in a sequence that left England staring at an inadequate first innings despite all their stubbornness.

Shane Watson's complaint of groin soreness left Michael Clarke one bowler short, but early wickets on day two would still leave him satisfied with the decision to send the tourists in to bat.

A leg bye to Harris' second ball of the morning had given England the lead in a match for the first time this series, emblematic of their

SCOREBOARD England 226/6 (89.0 ov) England 1st innings AN Cook* c Clarke b Siddle 27 MA Carberry b Watson 38 JE Root c †Haddin b Harris 24 KP Pietersen not out 67 IR Bell c †Haddin b Harris 27 BA Stokes c Watsonb Johnson 14 JM Bairstow† b Johnson 10 TT Bresnan not out 1 Extras: (b 10, lb 6, w 1, nb 1) 18 Total: (6 wickets; 89 overs) 226 To bat: SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, MS Panesar Fall of wickets: 1-48 (Cook, 16.5 ov), 2-96 (Carberry, 33.6 ov), 3-106 (Root, 42.1 ov), 4-173 (Bell, 72.6 ov), 5-202 (Stokes, 80.3 ov), 6-216 (Bairstow, 84.4 ov) Bowling: RJ Harris 20-832-2, MG Johnson 20-259-2, PM Siddle 22-7-481, NM Lyon 20.2-3-60-0 SR Watson 6.4-2-11-1

Holiday message from WICB President

Mitchell Johnson's late strikes with the second new ball made it Australia's day

struggles so far. Cook was in a quite positive frame of mind however, cutting Johnson behind point and driving him through cover to cause Clarke to call upon Siddle after only two costly overs from his left-arm slinger, then follow up with a quarter of early overs from Nathan Lyon.

At the other end Harris gained some useful movement, and Michael Carberry was squared up by a delivery that seamed away after straightening onto the line of the stumps. The resultant edge seemed destined for Clarke's hands at second slip, but Steve Smith dived eagerly across from third and deflected it from the path of his captain - a rare missed chance for Australia in this series.

Speculative appeal

Cook evaded one speculative appeal for caught behind from Harris when ball brushed pad rather than bat, but his evident desire to get bat on ball would result in his downfall. Siddle changed ends to replace Harris, and soon angled across Cook, who sparred unwisely at one he might have left and snicked it straight to Clarke.

Joe Root appeared hesitant to come forward on a pitch offering seam deviation to those bowlers who deigned to search for it, his preference to sit on the crease enhanced by a Johnson delivery that reared into his shoulder. Siddle beat Root's outside edge numerous times as the interval ticked near, but the Englishmen survived to lunch.

For all his effort, Carberry has often followed a curious batting pattern this summer, invariably starting briskly before losing momentum and eventually tenure as the bowlers

tighten their grip. Almost as often the Australians have brought about his dismissal by trying a line from around the wicket. It happened again not long into the afternoon, when Watson broke one back from that angle to tip off the bails as Carberry shouldered arms.

Root's occupation was seldom anything other than uncertain, his bat groping at many deliveries moving in the air and off the seam.

While Siddle had been responsible for most of these balls, it was Harris who claimed the wicket, the first projectile of a new spell sliding away after pitching and taking a thin edge through to Brad Haddin - the wicketkeeper's 50th for 2013.

The quality of Australia's bowling left England battling for survival and more or less giving up on scoring for long periods. A sequence of 12 overs reaped that many runs exactly, while Harris at one point sported figures of 14-815-1. After Watson's pained exit, Pietersen sought to redress the balance, swivelling to hook Harris but making contact more top-edge than middle.

Sliver of luck

The substitute fielder Nathan Coulter-Nile took the catch with a slight jump, but upon discovering how close he was to the boundary rope back-pedalled furiously and tried to hurl the ball skywards, without success.

A six pushed Pietersen's score forward, while also offering him the sliver of luck he has appeared to lack for much of this tour.

Into the evening session Harris, Siddle, Lyon and Johnson did not allow England much in the way of elbow room, bowling tightly and moving the ball enough to keep the batsmen

hesitant. Bell's stand with Pietersen was worth 67, most of them accrued almost by stealth, pinching runs here and there as though waiting for when the hosts were not looking.

This approach kept the bowlers in a confident frame of mind, and it was no great surprise when Harris conjured a little away seam to find Bell's edge and offer Haddin another catch.

Pietersen continued to struggle on, his innings interrupted somewhat theatrically when he complained of nausea and twice called for drinks to help clear his system.

Second chance

He offered a second chance, this time pulling to George Bailey at midwicket, but raised his bat wearily for 50 around the time the attendance surpassed the 90,800 who walked into this ground in 1961 on day two of the fifth Test of the 196061 series between Australia and the West Indies.

Stokes offered rather more dynamism, busily collecting 14, but was to fall prey to the second new ball in the hands of Johnson. He was a little too late and inside the line of a fullish delivery, resulting in an edge to Watson, now fit for slips catching if not bowling.

Johnson's pace proved far too much for Matt Prior's replacement Jonny Bairstow, who was bowled between a rather large gap between bat and pad after upper cutting one skittish six over the slips.

Pietersen and Tim Bresnan scrounged their way to stumps, but a day of obstinacy had earned England only the most meagre of bridgeheads in front of a throng that might have hoped for more. (Cricinfo)

WICB President Whycliffe 'Dave' Cameron

F

ollowing is a message from the President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron to the West Indies Cricket family.

Dear West Indies cricket fans, sponsors, stakeholders, officials, media and general public, On behalf of the Board of Directors, the players and the management and staff of West Indies cricket I take this opportunity to extend warm and blessed holiday greetings to each of you, your families and friends and loved ones.

We thank you for your resolute and unyielding support of our noble game throughout 2013. Cricket is what binds and unifies us and you have demonstrated this in so many ways this year. We look forward to your continued support and rallying in 2014 and onwards.

Challenging year This year has been a challenging one for West Indies cricket on the field but it has been one which we have seen some significant successes and made some marked strides on the field and off it as well.

I must salute Shivnarine Chanderpaul for achieving 150 Test appearances and 11,000 runs in Test cricket.

Shiv continues to be a shining champion of whom we

are all proud. We have also seen several others players making strides in their world rankings even as our team performances have not always been as strong as we would all like them to be.

We believe that once we put in the hard work necessary, successes in all formats for both the men’s and women’s teams are not far off.

Committed At the Board of Directors and management levels we continue to be committed to the hard task of the redevelopment of the game for future successes.

We are doing the critical work behind the scenes to ensure that we continue to produce world class players and to help to improve the team performance in all formats.

2014 promises to be a most exciting year for West Indies cricket. We will commence regionally with the NAGICO Super50 before heading into a home limited overs series with Ireland and England. The West Indies men’s team will defend the World Twenty20 title, the West Indies Under 19 will challenge for the Youth World Cup and the Windies Women will battle for the World T20 title as well. Your support of the game and our teams is as vital as it has ever been.

Season’s greetings to you all, Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron

friday, december 27, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

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Vijay and Pujara after 50s drive India

WI take lead two-wicket win W

est Indies' search for their first win of the New Zealand tour ended at Eden Park in Auckland as the visitors edged past the home side in a low-scoring thriller to take lead in the fivematch ODI series. Mitchell McClenaghan's maiden fivewicket haul in ODIs led New Zealand's fightback after they had been bowled out for 156, but Darren Sammy smashed an unbeaten 27ball 43 to take West Indies over the line.

West Indies needed 61 when Sammy arrived at the crease at the fall of the sixth wicket and used the short boundaries to his advantage. Yet solidity was hard to come by as New Zealand kept chipping away with wickets. Sammy had added 25 runs with Denesh Ramdin, who scored just 2, when McClenaghan struck for the fifth time to remove Ramdin. Thirty-six runs and three wickets in hand; it was not a question of overs as West Indies were scoring at a quick rate.

Jason Holder, who has been impressive with the bat in his short career, thwarted New Zealand's hopes in another obdurate stand of 26 runs with Sammy that brought West Indies to within 10 runs of the target. After his dismissal, Sammy didn't let New Zealand get any further sniff, finishing the match with a six and a four in McClenaghan's last over the 28th of the innings.

Regular wickets were a feature of both teams' batting performance.

McClenaghan's swing and good pace did the same dam-

Morne Morkel took the only wicket that fell on the first day

Darren Sammy in full flow as he hits straight over the top

age at the top of the West Indies order, much like Ravi Rampaul and Holder reduced New Zealand to 32 for 4.

The difference was that McClenaghan didn't receive similar support from his team-mates. In his first spell of six overs, he picked up four West Indies wickets; Powell left a straight delivery to be bowled, Charles was beaten by an inswinger, Darren Bravo drove one straight to cover, while Dwayne Bravo was trapped lbw by another perfect inswinger.

Lendl Simmons, who scored 34, and Narsingh

SCOREBOARD New Zealand innings (50 overs maximum) MJ Guptill lbw b Rampaul 2 JD Ryder c DM Bravo b Rampaul 0 KS Williamson c †Ramdin b Holder 8 LRPL Taylor run out (Holder) 3 BB McCullum* lbw b DJ Bravo 51 Corey J Anderson c Simmons b DJ Bravo 13 L Ronchi† c Charles b Narine 7 JDS Neesham c DM Bravo b DJ Bravo 10 NL McCullum c DM Bravo b Holder 47 KD Mills c Sammy b DJ Bravo 3 MJ McClenaghan not out 3 Extras: (lb 6, w 3) 9 Total: (all out; 42.1 overs) 156 Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Ryder, 1.6 ov), 2-3 (Guptill, 3.6 ov), 3-10 (Taylor, 6.4 ov), 4-32 (Williamson, 11.1 ov), 5-57 (Anderson, 16.6 ov), 6-66 (Ronchi, 19.1 ov), 7-93 (Neesham, 26.4 ov), 8-104 (BB McCullum, 30.1 ov), 9-112 (Mills, 32.5 ov), 10156 (NL McCullum, 42.1 ov) Bowling: JO Holder 7.1-1-212 , R Rampaul 9-0-27-2, DJG Sammy 6-0-30-0, SP Narine 10-

2-28-1, DJ Bravo 10-0-44-4 West Indies innings (target: 157 runs from 50 overs) J Charles b McClenaghan 9 KOA Powell b McClenaghan 4 DM Bravo c Williamson b McClenaghan 14 LMP Simmons c Taylor b Mills 34 DJ Bravo* lbw b McClenaghan 12 N Deonarine b Mills 6 D Ramdin† c BB McCullum b McClenaghan 2 DJG Sammy not out 43 JO Holder c †Ronchi b Neesham 10 SP Narine not out

0 Extras: (lb 8, w 14, nb 1) 23 Total: (8 wickets; 27.3 overs) 157 Did not bat: R Rampaul Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Powell, 1.5 ov), 2-19 (Charles, 5.3 ov), 3-32 (DM Bravo, 7.3 ov), 4-60 (DJ Bravo, 11.1 ov), 5-94 (Simmons, 18.3 ov), 6-96 (Deonarine, 20.1 ov), 7-121 (Ramdin, 23.3 ov), 8-147 (Holder, 26.6 ov) Bowling: KD Mills 8-1-372, MJ McClenaghan 9.3 0-58-5, JDS Neesham 6-0-351, Corey J Anderson 4-0-19-0

Deonarine had some respite as McClenaghan took a break and the two stitched a critical 34-run stand. West Indies were close enough, even though the two were dismissed in quick succession, for Sammy to complete the chase in one strong leap.

Rampaul and Co were similarly efficient in the morning, but apart from Sammy, there were hardly any weaklinks in their attack. All the bowlers got the ball to jag either way, while Sunil Narine extracted fair amount of zip from the pacy drop-in pitch, the nature of which had been not clear before the match. It was one of the reasons why West Indies had opted to bowl and it worked in their favour.

New Zealand's top four could manage only 13 runs among them as Rampaul and Holder bowled with control not seen in the West Indies bowlers during the Test series. Then Bravo brought himself on and ensured the bottom half of the New Zealand line-up had all their escape routes shut as he picked up four wickets.

Brendon McCullum put up a strong resistance, going past 5000 ODI runs during his 51, but he didn't receive any support from the other batsmen as West Indies mounted pressure.

On a ground with short boundaries, fours were hard to come by - the first came in the 11th over, bowled by Sammy, when McCullum pulled a four and followed it with a six next ball - and there was no breathing space for the batsmen. Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi hit aerial shots straight to the fielders, summing up the morning for New Zealand.

(Cricinfo)

T

he last time India played a Test in Durban, it was a quick green track where a score of 205 proved enough for a significant first-innings lead.

Three years on, there was precious little in the dry surface for the fast bowlers, and both captains were enthusiastic about batting first. MS Dhoni called correctly, and

ry away from home.

Pujara, who has already established a reputation as a batsman who loves to score big, was almost anonymous as he cruised to another half-century. Almost all his runs against the quicks were scored on the leg side, cashing in when the bowlers strayed on his pads. This was also different from his

Cheteshwar Pujara collides with AB de Villiers

the India’s batsmen flourished on the flat deck, with M Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara putting on an unbroken 140-run stand for the second wicket.

Vijay won’t want 2013 to end. The year began with a surprise call-up to the Indian Test squad, which he answered with a couple of 150-plus scores against Australia, and is now ending with performances in South Africa that will earn him respect from a legion of doubters. The innings in Johannesburg showed his ability to graft, and the same patience and application not words usually associated with Vijay - were in evidence early on in Durban as well as he ended the day nine away from a first Test centu-

soak-up-the-pressure effort in the second innings at the Wanderers as, realising conditions were favourable, he scored at a more nimble pace from the start. It nudged his career average above 70, and extended perhaps the most successful start to a Test career since Michael Hussey’s.

Things didn’t go to plan for South Africa right from the outset. In the search for swing early on, the ball was pitched up and punished by some non-violent punches down the ground for four from both Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay.

Vernon Philander, who earlier this week ascended to No. 1 in the Test bowling rankings, got only three overs before South Africa turned to the pacier, dig-it-in

approach of Morne Morkel.

If there were doubts over whether Morkel would hit full speed after an astonishingly quick recovery from an ankle strain suffered last week, they were put aside as he steamed in for a spell full of 90mph deliveries.

Dale Steyn, coming off a mediocre Test in Johannesburg, also switched to the fast-and-furious strategy after realising there wasn’t much chance of the ball jagging around. In tandem, Steyn and Morkel produced a short, intense burst that tested both openers’ techniques around off stump.

Dhawan had galloped to 28 off 36 before being tied down and losing his concentration after the drinks break, nicking the first ball to the cordon.

Vijay was more watchful, and though he was beaten several times and took blows to the box and the arm, he persevered. One of the highlights of his innings was the way he handled the short ball; with the surface providing no lateral movement, there were plenty of bouncers, but Vijay was rarely troubled, and decisively ducked or swayed out of the way. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD India 181/1 (61.0 ov) India 1st innings S Dhawan c Petersen b Morkel M Vijay not out CA Pujara not out Extras: (lb 1, w 1, nb 1) Total: (1 wicket; 61 overs) To bat: V Kohli, RG Sharma, AM Rahane, MS Dhoni*†, RA Jadeja, I Sharma, Z Khan, Mohammed Shami Fall of wickets 1-41 (Dhawan, 13.1 ov) Bowling : DW Steyn 16- 6 -49 -0, D Philander 14 -4 -39 -0 , M Morkel 12 -3 -26 -1 , JH Kallis 7-1 -23 -0 RJ Peterson 12-2-43-0

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friday, december 27, 2013

False start for AAG in first year – too many unfilled promises by the Ministry of Sport

By Treiston Joseph

T

he year 2013 began with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) naming a new executive body after its elections in January with Aubrey Hutson being elected the new president.

Twelve months after, the new Hutson administration has had little or no impact on athletics in Guyana.

Hosting one championships in the Youth and Junior championships, one trial in the Carifta trial and a few developmental meets with no senior competition, there is nothing much to say about the AAG other than the year was a huge disappointment.

The bright spots in athletics this year were the emergence of Cassey George, Jason Yaw and Tirana Mitchell, along with the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic and the National School Championships, all which the AAG played no major role in.

Speaking of the National School Championships, it must be said that the meet has improved, but one thing that is inexplicable and begs the question is the limited role of the Sport Ministry in the meet.

While it is understood the meet involves students and the Education Ministry is responsible, how can the Sport Ministry’s role be so limited when it is a sporting event?

Meanwhile, athletes will enter 2014 wondering whether they will have a chance to run on the synthetic track that has been in construction since 2010.

It was expected to be completed within six months from the day construction started.

However, since that time, the track is now being laid with still with no timeline to be completed as athletes continue to train and compete on uneven surfaces.

The Sport Ministry has blamed the weather for the lengthy delay. Like the Sport Ministry, the AAG has pointed to the unfavourable climate as the main reason for not hosting more events in 2013.

GDF boot Alpha United from Banks Beer Cup – defending champions Camptown also knocked out

A

new champion will be crowned at the end of the third annual Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Banks Beer Knockout Cup following the elimination of 2011 winners Alpha United and last year’s champion Camptown after the first set of quarter-final games on Wednesday night at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda.

In the opening game, Santos FC needed just a solitary goal to get past Camptown, while the feature game produced five goals with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) edging Alpha United 3-2.

Santos’ goal came off the boot of Christophe Wensley five minutes before half-time, but the other game was not that

straightforward as Alpha United equalised every time GDF seized the lead, save and expect for the final instance in the dying stages.

The army men took an early lead through Delwyn Fraser, who opened the scoring in the 10th minute, before the talented Andrew Murray Jr. equalised for Alpha United 11 minutes later.

Two minutes before the half-time interval, GDF regained the advantage with a Delroy Fraser goal to hold on to a 2-1 lead heading into the final half.

Seven minutes upon resumption however, Kaiston Bain drew Alpha United level to set up a fantastic finale. With the scores level at 2-2, both teams went hard at each

Andrew Murray Jr

other’s defence with the aim of securing the lead but to no avail until the final minutes when GDF got lucky.

Eusi Phillips was the man on target for the army lads, breaching the defence of the goalkeeper in the second minute of inju-

Eusi Phillips

ry time to hand GDF a spot in the semi-finals of the competition, which continues this evening with the second night of quarter-final action at the Tucville Ground. Beterverwagting, Western Tigers, Slingerz and Den Amstel will be in action.

GTA yearend tournament…

Aubrey Hutson

One has to wonder what the sport means to these officials if they continue give the athletes they have to represent broken promises.

Not to be totally critical of the AAG, it is understood that weather can hold up and postpone meets, but it must be said that once there are slight showers athletes would compete knowing the importance of various meets, as was the case with the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field championships.

The AAG definitely needs to head back to the drawing board and come up with a way forward and plan ahead of time for time for the upcoming year.

It is imperative that the AAG works along with the Sport Ministry to ensure trace and field becomes the sport that is so celebrated around the world.

This publication also understands that the AAG has still not submitted its “Road to Rio” plan which is a total shame and shows the association’s lack of urgency to make athletics a top sport in Guyana. This must be rectified as soon as possible before anything else is done by the current administration.

Currently, the AAG has a number of talented athletes at its disposal. It therefore means the time is now to make a real impact, but the AAG must be prepared to nurture those talents, while at the same time, provide opportunties for them to reach their maximum potential.

The year 2014 should not be a repeat of the last 12 months, which was basically a false start.

Britton takes open singles – Edghill back in form

S

hemar Britton played his way to another tournament win by defeating Kyle Edghill in the men’s open singles on Saturday when the Guyana Table Tennis Association held its final tournament of the year at the National Gymnasium.

Britton known for his speed and accuracy displayed it yet again to outplay Edghill 3-1 in the final that went 115, 11-5, 5-11 and 12-10 with Britton always showcasing a champion’s edge.

Paul Meusa and Joel Alleyne finished a joint third in the singles competition with Meusa falling to

Britton 0-3 in their semifinal while Edghill slimly got past Alleyne 3-2.

However, it was Chelsea Edghill who had the biggest win of the day, taking down Britton in the 15-18 age category earlier in the day with a 3-1 win. Edghill always known for her aggression and pin-point accuracy won the game easily in sets that finished 11-8, 6-11, 11-7 and 11-8 to put her career back on track as she still is recovering from a back injury.

In the 11-13 age Category, Khalil Ninvalle stood tall after defeating Selenas Jackman in the final in three straight

Shemar Britton

sets. Ninvalle was always the aggressor and showed great ability with his returns as the sets ended 11-7, 11-8 and 13-

Chelsea Edghil 11. Meanwhile, the presentation of prizes and medals will take place on December 28 at the National Gymnasium.

BCB, RHTY&SC bring Christmas cheers to Berbice umpires

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) with sponsorship form the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) on Saturday last donated 16 Christmas hampers to the Berbice Cricket Umpires Association. This is the fifth successive year that the two organisations have joined hands to bring cheers to the Umpires Association.

Recently reappointed BCB Special Events Committee Chairman and RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, in handing over the hampers worth $70,000, praised the Berbice umpires for the professional way they operated and for the high standard they bring to Berbice cricket.

The BCB, Foster stated, was very satisfied with the outstanding relationship it

shared with the Umpires’ Association and he urged them to always strive for excellence and to never lower their standards. Cricket in Berbice, Foster disclosed, would see massive progress during 2014 with the Special Events Committee back in action after a six months absence due to his health.

He wished the umpires and their families a Merry Christmas, a very productive and peaceful 2014 and he expressed the wish that the cordial relationship between the Cricket Board and the Umpires’ Association would be strengthened in the future.

President of the Berbice Cricket Umpires Association, Roshan Moakan, expressed gratitude to the BCB for its kind gesture and he pledged that

BCB Special Events Committee Chairman and RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster (Left), presents the hampers to representatives of the Umpires’ Association

all umpires in Berbice would work hander in the new year so that Berbice cricket would be taken to a new level.

The BCB also donat-

ed toys to children homes in Berbice and visited the Children’s Ward at the New Amsterdam Hospital on Christmas day.

friday, december 27, 2013

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RHTY&SC cricket teams complete successful Christmas programme

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Some members of the RHY&SC strike a pose with Santa

he cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) since 1990 have organised a series of programmes during the festive season every year with the main aim of making positive difference in the lives of children, the elderly and less fortunate.

The teams, during the period December 5-22, hosted a series of activities under the multi-million dollars Christmas programme.

The programmes were organised by the Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Gizmos and Gadgets First Division and Under-21 and Metro Female teams.

Among the major programmes was a massive Christmas party for 500 less fortunate children, a joint project with the Radio Needy Children Fund. Each

child received a warm meal, liquid refreshments, a special Christmas goodies bag and a toy each.

An additional 3,000 children across the Ancient County also received toys from the cricket teams via their churches, non-governmental agencies, schools and cricket clubs, while 300 food hampers were shared out to less fortunate families.

A total of 120 senior citizens were also treated to a luncheon and also received a special food hampers and collection of items including cosmetics at the value of $8,000 each.

Hundreds were also provided with warm meals during the general feeding programme while the teams also sponsored several Christmas related television programmes on DTV-8.

Hundreds of less fortunate youths and families also received $2 million worth of clothing, footwear, educa-

Christmas programmes for its founder the St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Youth Group, which included the 2013 Christmas concert, gifts for every church member, toys for every Catholic child in Region Six, youths get together and lunch and toys for orphans at the Port Mourant Canaan Children Home.

The St. Francis Youth Club also benefitted from a sponsorship of prizes including a bicycle and educational materials for an Essay Competition.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC, Hilbert Foster, stated that the 2013 Christmas programme was the largest in the history of the club and was the result of the hard work of club executive and members of the different cricket teams.

The RHTY&SC, Foster dis-

tributions to the development of society and those less fortunate than themselves.

The RHTY&SC and its young cricketers would like to express gratitude to the numerous donors to its Christmas outreach and they include GT&T, Bakewell, Southland International, Bermudez, Farfan and Mendes, Sterling Products, Beharry’s, Impression, Hand-in-Hand, Food for the Poor, CIDI, Len’s Craft, Bank of Nova Scotia, Bounty Farm Limited, Cirkel, NCN’s Radio Children Fund, Busta, DDL, Banks DIH, H.A Snacks, Namilco, De Sinco Trading, Ansa McAl Trading, Bissan’s, Berbice River Bridge, A.M. Khan, Kanhai Electrical Agency, Lotto, Churches Chicken, Starr Computers, Toucan, Gizmos and Gadgets, F.H

closed, strongly believes in making positive differences in the lives of others and noted that the club is the only of its kind in Guyana that spearheads such large scale charity programmes.

The RHTY&SC cricketers are taught via these programmes that all sportsmen and women must make con-

Printery, DTV-8, Kris Jagdeo Construction, Ministry of Public Service, Marcel Crawford S.C, Minister Jennifer Westford, John Lewis Style, Sentinel Security, Noreen Gaskin and Ms Linda Williams.

Thanks are also expressed to the hundreds of residents who donated food items.

The beneficiaries pose with their toys

tional and hygiene kits.

Staff members of the Rose Hall Town Post Office and several members of the Guyana Police Force also received hampers. All members of the club’s First Division team each received a special collection of gifts.

The teams also provided hampers and gifts to

the Berbice Cricket Board for umpires in the Ancient County and also provided toys to the Berbice Cricket Board for distribution to the Eden Children Home and those in the Children Ward of the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The RHTY&SC also sponsored a series of

Rain plays spoil sport on Boxing Day horse race meet – rescheduled to January 19

By Rajiv Bisnauth

P

ersistent heavy rainfall, which swept most of the Corentyne Coast over the last 48 hours forced the rescheduling of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) Boxing Day meeting.

With the turf under water, organisers have rescheduled the meeting to January 19, 2014. The event was scheduled to be held on Thursday at the club’s track at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, but the persistent rainfall has left the venue in a soggy state, leaving the organisers with no other

alternative but to postpone the event.

Meanwhile, president of the KMTC Cecil Kennard told this publication on Thursday that there will be no changes from the original programme. Eight races are billed for the day with over $9 million in prizes to be distributed. The feature race will run for a mile for a top prize of $1.5 million.

Other events billed for the day are the D3 maiden and E Lower for $600,000 over seven furlongs; the Threeold West Indies bred maiden and Guyana bred open for a $600,000 winner’s purse.

The J3 and K, G1

and Lower, Two-year-old Guyana and West Indies bred and J1 and Lower races will run at a distance of six furlongs. The winning purses for those four races are $150,000, $400,000, $400,000 and $200,000 respectively.

Rounding out the roster is the I and Lower over seven furlongs with the winner collecting $250,000.

Meanwhile, the race is being conducted under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and, according to Kennard, the rules of the local governing body would be rigidly enforced.

A scorching day of horse racing is expected as the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) Boxing Day meeting has been rescheduled

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

friday, december 27, 2013

TOP SCORES

BASKETBALL: DYNAS RAVEN 78-53 V COLTS; PACESETTER 63-59 V PLAISANCE GUARDIANS

WI take lead after two-wicket win

See story on page

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Ravi Rampaul dismissed the New Zealand openers in the first ODI

The Bravo brothers are ecstatic after Dwayne picks up a wicket INSIDE TODAY’S SPORT

Rain plays spoil sport on Boxing Day horse P23 race meet

Pietersen fights but Australia on top See story on page

20

See story on page

21

Kevin Pietersen did not feel at his best during a battling half-century in Melbourne

Vijay and Pujara GDF boot Alpha United 50s drive India from Banks Beer Cup See story on page 22

Murali Vijay keeps his eyes on the ball

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