Guyana Times Daily

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Issue No. 1786

PRICE

CFATF has little time for Guyana’s petty politics – Nandlall reports See story on page 3

Fourth Building Expo launched See story on page 8

$60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

TVET council, Labour P7 Ministry launch labour market survey Fisherman stabbed to P8 death during row at Goed Fortuin

Chinese P11 national killed in road accident U.S. donates $8.9M P12 to boost emergency services in Region 10 Private Sector Commission Chairman Ronald Webster addresses stakeholders at the launch of Building Expo 2013.

At head table are Housing Minister Irfaan Ali and other participants (Carl Croker photo)

Expanded trade Kadir, Defreitas lose to top agenda of China/ appeal for Caricom talks terror plot See story on page 2

See story on page 9

Six held for ganja busts in Berbice P12 Dog fight killing P19 suspect charged with murder

2NEWS

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Kadir, Defreitas lose appeal for terror plot F

ormer People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Member of Parliament Abdul Kadir and his Guyanese counterpart Russell Defreitas on Friday lost their appeal against a 2010 conviction for plotting to blow up the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York.

A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld the convictions of two Islamic militants charged with participating in a plot to bomb the New York airport. The second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York declined to throw out the 2010 jury verdict against

Abdul Kadir

Russell Defreitas

Defreitas, 69, and Kadir, 61, who were found guilty of conspiracy to carry out acts of terrorism. The court also upheld the life sentences for

the men, both from Guyana, saying neither provided a persuasive argument the prison terms were unreasonable in light of their con-

victions of conspiring to explode pipelines and jet fuel tanks at the airport.

“The gravity of the crimes for which they were convicted easily justifies the life sentences that were imposed,” Judge John Walker wrote for a three-judge panel.

Lawyers for the defendants did not comment on the ruling. Prosecutors say the conspiracy to blow up the airport began in 2005 or 2006. Much of the evidence was gathered by an informant who was recruited into the conspiracy after meeting Defreitas, who had worked at the airport as a cargo handler.

Authorities say the idea to attack Kennedy airport

originated with Defreitas.

He conducted surveillance in January 2007 and videotaped potential targets, prosecutors say. In a recorded telephone call, Defreitas said the attacks would be “worse than the World Trade Centre”, a comparison to the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Defreitas, Kadir, and two other defendants, Abdel Nur and Kareem Ibrahim Ibrahim, were arrested in June 2007. Nur pleaded guilty before trial, while Ibrahim was convicted and received a life sentence in January 2012. On appeal, Defreitas and Kadir challenged the use of an anony-

mous jury.

The second circuit court found no fault in the district judge’s decision to allow for an anonymous jury, noting that they were charged in a plot that “had the potential to kill hundreds or thousands of people”. The appeals court panel also upheld decisions to allow prosecutors to introduce photos of Kadir posing with machine guns and allowing a government expert to testify about the activities of militant Islamic groups in South America. The second circuit court dismissed a separate appeal by Nur, saying his guilty plea was “knowing and voluntary”.

CDC director hails Exercise Connectivity Work being fast-tracked on Monkey Mountain as a success Road – Benn

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn walking along a section of the road

Participants at Exercise Connectivity

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he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has gained valuable knowledge and experience from “Exercise Connectivity”, conducted at Camp Stephenson, Timehri on Thursday as it seeks to up its preparedness to address disasters.

The commission’s Director General retired Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup during closing remarks to participating stakeholders said, “A lot of work went into making this exercise a success”. He noted that several deficiencies were exposed and every effort will

be made to have them addressed in the near future.

Recalling the recent gastroenteritis outbreak in Region One, the CDC head said the organisation was forced to take charge of the response mechanism and coordinate a timely response with assistance from the Health Ministry, in order to deal with the situation.

He also touched on the importance of being prepared for any possible disaster and having the resources, capability and technical knowledge to deal with such occurrences. He

reminded stakeholders that when a disaster strikes, all can be affected. Exercise Connectivity was a prelude to the upcoming “Exercise Floodgate”, which will be held across Guyana to test the regions and communities’ response to simulated disasters.

It was aimed at testing communication by various means such as cellphones, high or low frequency radios, landlines, hand radio, Internet and satellite phones, plans, procedures of the CDC and its supporting network agencies. It also tested the operational status of Regional Emergency Operation Centres and the alternative National Emergency Operation Centre based at Timehri.

Overseen by CDC Operations and Training

Officer Kester Craig, participants were presented with several potential disaster scenarios in various regions to test their ability to communicate effectively, even if they were faced with several constraints such as a lack of electricity, cellphone or Internet service.

As part of preparations for a National Multi-Hazard Preparedness and Response Plan, the CDC conducted several consultations, which attracted a cross-section of representatives from various institutions and organisations. The United Nations Development Programme has been playing a key role in enhancing the CDC’s capability and capacity, along with the Inter-American Development Bank, and both organisations were recognised for their roles.

T

hose desirous of visiting Monkey Mountain in Region Eight have to travel by either All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or airplane, and in an effort to increase accessibility, and allow for easier movement by the villagers, the government has invested in a road project that leads into the community.

During the last weekend, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, Regional Executive Officer Ronald Harsaywack, engineers and other members of the Region Eight, Regional Democratic Council inspected the work that has been done on the road thus far.

Minister Benn noted that the team visited the road’s end at Kato then travelled to the other end from Monkey Mountain, using an ATV. It is anticipated that with the completion of the road, the length of time to get to the village will be reduced significantly. The minister indicated that the road is laid out up to Rukumoto and is most-

ly completed up to Tipuru.

Work is restarting with respect to sections of the road.

He acknowledged that residents have complained that the children who have to walk several miles to and from school were being affected where the laterite for the road was being prepared, particularly since the rainy season has started. In this regard, work is being fast-tracked to complete the road.

Meanwhile, going southwards to Karasabai, and beyond to Lethem, in Region Nine, the finished road is in excellent condition and minibuses are now travelling to the former. Minister Benn indicated that while there are some engineering difficulties, the area is extremely mountainous and has lots of rivulets and gullies; as such, the work crew will have to adapt certain engineering solutions for the parts of the road going up into the mountains, a Government Information Agency (GINA) report stated.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Saturday, June 1, from 11:30h to 14:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Saturday, June 1, from 10:35h to 12:05h.

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

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East north-easterly at 5.81 to 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:34h and 23:12h reaching a maximum height of 2.28 metres.

Low Tide: 04:05h and 16:37h reaching minimum heights of 0.96 metre and 0.92 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

LOTTERY NUMBERS B 04 05 13 10 07 15 18 FREE TICKET

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FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 Daily Millions

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CFATF has little time for Guyana’s petty politics – Nandlall says maximum use must be made of second chance

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ttorney General Anil Nandlall said the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has little time to bother with the petty politics being played out here, and warned that if Guyana does not make use of its second chance, the sanctions will come.

Nandlall made the remarks to reporters on Friday after returning to Guyana from the meeting on May 27 in Nicaragua. He said, according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, “the people who are doing this assessment… they have very little time for our little political games we are playing here. They have a very strict regime that they use, you either meet the deadline or you don’t meet the deadline. If you have not met the deadline, why haven’t you met the deadline? If they believe that you have demonstrated bona fides and commitment, they give you a second chance. If you don’t meet the deadline on the second occasion, that’s it! They are absolutely unconcerned about what is going on in Guyana’s Parliament and who believes there is a constitutional crisis and who wants a procurement commission… they don’t care less about these things… they have a task to perform, they have certain criteria that have to be met and if you don’t meet them, then you face the consequences. They are very unattached to the political ramifications and nuances which are taking place in Guyana. ” Nandlall, who led Guyana’s delegation to the meeting, said the team outlined progress made outside of the legislative changes.

“This included the hiring of additional staff; the establishment of supervisory authorities, to supervise and monitor the activities of all money transfer agencies, financial institutions, credit unions, and all the other agencies which they had recommended.”

In addition, the CFATF in its own report said that 90 per cent or more of the recommendations it made are of a legislative nature.

Guyana in turn submitted

At the mercy of opposition

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

to the task force that the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill captures these. CFATF agreed that the bill does capture the recommendations, about 90 per cent of them, Minister Nandlall said. It was also told that the bill has been laid in the National Assembly.

Government’s absolute commitment

“We explained, of course, the configuration of the National Assembly and that the government does not enjoy the majority… that a motion was moved from the floor by the opposition that the matter be sent to select committee. We explained, of course, that the government objected to it, explaining the exigencies of the time constraints that we are under in relation to this matter.

Notwithstanding our best pleas, a vote was taken from the floor and the matter was referred to select committee.

At the select committee, of course, we outlined the government’s every effort in the committee to expedite the hearing and we explained why the hearings of the select committee were not concluded before the deadline date,” the legal affairs minister explained.

The minister said that the Guyana team also outlined the opposition’s several requests, which were conceded to, because they involved provision of documents, etc, but the political parties also wanted public hearings and submissions to come from members of the public and interested stakeholders.

“We renewed and restated the government’s absolute commitment to ensure that this legislation is passed in keeping with the recommendations, but that we are, however, basically at the mercy of the opposition, because they control the National Assembly. As a result of that, they appreciated government’s effort thus far, and the progress made, and they said that they are giving us until the November meeting to get that done,” Minister Nandlall stated.

He emphasised, however, that in this regard, “it doesn’t mean that we have to wait until November. We have to get this thing completed for the November meeting, and a period of time has to be given for them to examine the legislation to see that it conforms to the recommendations. Of course, I am aware of an impending parliamentary recess, which is to take place in mid-August for nearly a month that will take us way into September.

I hope we can complete the consideration of this bill and have it passed by the National Assembly before Parliament goes into recess, so that we have sufficient time to send it to them so that it can be assessed,” he posited.

He explained that Dominica and Belize were both granted extensions until the June meeting – Dominica, because its legislation was passed late, and Belize, because that country had just had national elections. Dominica, the AG said, was not removed from consideration, because the CAFTF said very clearly that it needed time to assess the bill to see whether Dominica has conformed.

“This point demonstrates that we have to do it within sufficient time, that we don’t lay back and wait until November, that we begin to work as early as possible and have it concluded before Parliament goes into recess,” Minister Nandlall said.

More information

Regarding the Alliance For Change’s call for a re-

port on the Nicaragua meeting, the AG said, “I am reporting here, if the AFC wants more information, I guess they would write and ask. I don’t know what more information they would want,” the minister stated.

He added, “The leader of the opposition wrote to the Managua meeting, and I observed that he didn’t give a commitment. Though he says that the opposition appreciates the importance of effecting the amendments, he didn’t say that the opposition is committed to have it passed within the timeframe. He went on to deal with a host of other issues, most of which are irrelevant to the passage of the legislation. He speaks of compromises and other areas which are wholly unconnected with it.”

Minister Nandlall explained that many persons to whom he spoke privately at the meeting “were aghast and absolutely shocked that the opposition is taking the position that they are taking in Guyana. No one can really fathom how such an important issue can be made to be a political issue when it is the national interest that is involved; there are many other issues which you can play politics with. The meeting itself was quite surprised that the opposition in the Guyanese Parliament is taking the position which it has taken.”

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SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 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

Guyana’s southern connection

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resident Donald Ramotar has made it clear where Guyana stands regarding the country’s relations with its Caribbean and Latin American neighbours. In his speech on Independence Eve at the National Park, the president made mention of strengthening ties with Latin America, while at the same time, maintaining that Guyana will not compromise its close integration with the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

On the one hand, Guyana has been an integral part of the regional bloc since the signing of the Chaguaramas Treaty establishing the grouping on July 4, 1973 – a “defining moment” in the history of the Commonwealth Caribbean, as stated on the Caricom website.

Prior to the treaty, a free-trade area had already been established via the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), but this did not quite provide for the free movement of labour and capital, or the coordination of agricultural, industrial, and foreign policies, as might have been the thinking and intention of the members who crafted and entered into the association at the time.

Guyana will, no doubt, continue to be fully integrated into the regional scheme of things, as the broad objectives of Caricom membership hinge around several pivotal areas, all of which are central to Guyana’s thrust for continued economic and social development.

These include improved standards of living and work and accelerated, co-ordinated and sustained economic development and convergence. Despite the glaring nonintervention by Caricom during many years of the dictatorship and rigged elections at the hands of the People’s National Congress (PNC), the change of government in Guyana in 1992 saw renewed efforts by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration to further strengthen its regional ties. At the same time, there has no doubt been a concerted effort, which perhaps became more highlighted under the leadership of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, to look toward the southern continental neighbours for more meaningful trade and economic cooperation.

As President Ramotar has pointed out, within the framework of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), several of the leaders in South America took a well-thought out decision in 2008 to integrate the political and economic infrastructure on the continent. It is within this framework that both Guyana and Suriname have undertaken to begin the process of embarking on a feasibility study for the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River, which separates the two countries.

Considering that Guyana and Suriname have had to overcome significant differences with regard to border demarcation in the quest of both countries for oil, this must be considered a noteworthy achievement, although the construction of such a bridge is only still at the conceptualisation stage.

The president also pointed to the fact that Guyana is working with Brazil on infrastructural integration, including a deepwater port and a fully paved Linden-Lethem road. With senior-level teams from both countries working diligently to accelerate the realisation of these projects, it is yet another major incentive for Guyana’s southern venture.

And despite territorial disputes in the past, over recent years, Guyana has enjoyed far improved relations with western neighbour Venezuela. Indeed, as President Ramotar acknowledged, much of the improvement has had to do with the visionary leadership of the late President Hugo Chávez and former President Jagdeo.

Already, therefore, Guyana appears to be well on course for greater integration into the Latin American group of nations and, on the surface, there seems to be much more on offer, although it is the only English-speaking country in this grouping.

It appears to be a far cry from integration, albeit as a founding member, with the 40-year old Caricom, for which it will be much more difficult to speak of “remarkable achievements”.

With MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) also offering another avenue for Guyana to seek further economic and political cooperation within the South American bloc, even at this initial stage, the future looks promising as far as the southern connection outlook is concerned. The recent establishment of a permanent Argentine embassy in Guyana is but a concrete signal of the promise our southern connections bear and their reciprocal faith that together South American nations can do great things. On the other hand, benefits from Caricom integration largely remain but a dream waiting to be fulfilled.

Housing Minister Irfaan Ali and participants at the launch of the fourth edition of the Building Expo trade fair at the Princess Hotel Friday night (Carl Croker photo)

Do not give up on autistic children Dear Editor, As we know, autism is a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterised by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships. However, children with autism have a hard time adapting what they’ve learned, such as from the therapist’s office or school,

to others including the home. For example, your child may use sign language at school to communicate, but never give up on them.

Explore the possibility of having therapy taking place in more than one place in order to encourage your child to transfer what he or she has learned from one environment to another.

Some people may think children with autism have no future, but positive reinforcement can go a long way with autism; so make an effort to “catch them doing something good”.

Praise them when they act appropriately or learn a new skill, and never give up on them.

Moreover, there might

be a few in Guyana, suffering from autism but this illness is all over the world. I would like to persuade people to allow autistic children to have a better future and not to discriminate or discourage them from being a part of society.

Regards, Anna Persaud

Employment of neighbourhood police

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he Home Affairs Ministry reaffirms its commitment to a new preventative and proactive approach addressing the issues of domestic violence and child abuse in Guyana.

The ministry wishes to reiterate the statement made by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee on December 31, 2012 viz: “... an expanded physical .presence of neighbourhood police on the ground for the purpose of information gathering and preven-

tion could go a far way in preventing and reducing domestic violence and child abuse.”

To accomplish this goal, the ministry has received more than 100 applications from persons desirous of being sworn in as neighbourhood police. This is keeping with the ministry’s thrust to employ 100 neighbourhood police ranks to increase the number of neighbourhood police who patrol neighbourhoods 24/7, principally by day since the po-

lice do not have the numbers to patrol on foot in each village day and night.

These applications are currently being processed by the Guyana Police Force.

Following the processing, the selected applicants will undergo training at the Felix Austin Police Training College.

In order to expedite the process, the Home Affairs Ministry has requested that acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell organise a crash course for the new

neighbourhood police recruits in order that the recruits be ready and able as soon as possible to assume their duties and responsibilities in the neighbourhood to which they will be assigned.

This new batch of neighbourhood police will boost the existing corps of neighbourhood police in an effort to curb and reduce domestic violence and child abuse in neighbourhoods across the country.

Home Affairs Ministry

Major clean-up exercise for Georgetown

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he Local Government and Regional D e v e l o p m e n t Ministry, in collaboration with the Georgetown City Council and other agencies, will be undertaking a threeday clean-up of several city wards as part of activities for World Environmental Week, within which is observed World Environment Day on June 5.

The exercise will encompass: Kingston from Water Street to Parade Street, and Young Street

to Cowan Street; North and South Cummingsburg from Lamaha Street to Church Street and Thomas Street to Water Street; Lacytown from Water Street to Camp Street and North to South Road; East Ruimveldt from Trench Road to Mandela Avenue, and Front Road to Mandela Avenue; and West Ruimveldt from Vlissengen Road to Hunter Street, and Mandela Avenue to Front Road.

Special emphasis will also be placed on clean-

ing the environment of the National Library, National Museum, St George’s Cathedral and the market places.

The cleaning works would entail weeding and clearing of the street and alleyway drains within the blocks, weeding of the parapets and avenues, and removal of garbage from the parapets.

World Environment Day was first celebrated in 1973, after being established by the United

Nations General Assembly in 1972, to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. It is celebrated annually on June 5, with focus on a particular theme to draw attention to specific environmental issues. This year’s theme is “Think. Eat. Save.” and it focuses on food wastage and food loss.

Local Government and Regional Development Ministry

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

Are prison officers now Dangerous dogs should be under control always beating prisoners?

Dear Editor, Controversy is mounting as regards torture in our prisons. On the one hand, the director of prisons is claiming that he is unaware it. One prisoner’s family members are now furious after he was reportedly thrown back into his cell without medical attention when he needed it. Later, when the matter was being investigated, the man was taken to the hospital.

The word now is that he is a patient with a broken leg and is under close arrest. So which side do we take?

The man was okay for four years at the Georgetown Prison where he was awaiting trial on a murder charge. There is a story going around that he tried to attack the police with a dangerous weapon. These issues of fights in jails, physical confrontations and beatings in our prisons must be in-

vestigated.

If the prisoner was badly beaten and is the victim of a broken leg, this cannot be hidden. It may be difficult to contradict the illegalities of the police involved. The evidence is a bit overwhelming as regards the brutal beating. So, are prison officers now beating up prisoners?

Yours truly, Warren Sommerset

The scourge of school violence Dear Editor, The case I am now referring to is one that took place in Trinidad and Tobago. The report is that a fifth form pupil, just a few days ago, allegedly chose to abandon his Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) history examination, then waited in the school’s playing field, for the 14-year-old pupil, whom, he believed, had won the heart of his girlfriend.

So he resorted to stabbing to death this third form pupil. The youthful assailant stabbed his victim four times with a knife, as he sat on a bench with his friends. He was pulled away, but that did not deter him. He slashed the peace maker and then resumed his vicious attack.

A lot of commotion is taking place in TT now and there are calls for a renewed emphasis on corporal punishment. Barbados is having similar problems with children in school, and I add Guyana to the list. Just late March 2013, an eight-year-old Bush Lot, Berbice Primary

School pupil spent five days in hospital after his head was slammed into a wall several times by older students. And this case here is just a random grab at the litany of incidents in this area.

Currently, the Ministry of Education is looking at various measures to employ to deal with violence in schools, both against teachers and amongst students. Maybe we have taken the matter too lightly for too long. Now it means multiplying efforts, personnel and time, if school violence will be brought under control.

I keep asking myself why this preponderance of violence. I know enough to state that children are not born violent. Nor do they behave perfectly outside school. They become violent. The causes of violence in school are many and varied and I think that, in Guyana, we have to see about the background of these children.

Some causes however are attributable the following the home environment. The idea of scanning children before they

enter the school precinct is now catching on. In fact TT may head out this way soon.

I also think of the media, as many believe that children, exposed to violence through movies, television, video games and the Internet are desensitised to violence, and therefore commit it and accept it more easily.

Many of our students are exposed to all kinds of influence via their little gadgets. They are left unmonitored as such. So something has to be done.

I notice two trends – the abating of corporal punishment and the exposure to all kinds of violence – as contributory factors. No one will ever have all the answers.

However, with massive investments in our schools, we need to look carefully at curbing violence in our primary and secondary education system. If not, it is likely to redound into a waste of human resources and money.

Retired educator, Natalie Symonds

The animal-on-roads crisis

Dear Editor, Why would any owner leave a pregnant horse, nearly ready to give birth, alone and tied to a fence?

Why would a young boy feel he has the right to move a horse that he knows nothing about? Why don’t we have an animal hotline with access to a qualified vet for emergency situations? Why doesn’t the zoo have a hotline so that roadkill of large animals can be quickly evaluated by the zoo for animal feed? Why aren’t we more outraged by the lack of health and sanitation in our city streets?

Why aren’t we more compassionate with public employees that end up doing all the dirty work without

adequate tools and protective gear?

The matter on hand had to do with a pregnant horse, left untended and tied to a fence. She was let lose by a playful lad, who just wanted to fool around. End of story – the horse, with her unborn young, died a slow and painful death.I am hoping that the owner of this horse be found quickly and charged for all of the misdemeanours regarding this incident. There are quite a few too – the location where he tied the animal; not tending to the animal; and leaving the dead animal.

There must be an investigation into animal owners. If they do not quali-

fy for this kind of thing, then let it stop right there.

Animals need space, accommodation and health checks. If an owner of animals cannot be deemed fit for the safe upkeep of his flock, he should be debarred from having even a single one of them. Some kind of legislative work must be done here.

I feel that if we move in this direction, it will take care of the road situation, where animals are concerned. Every time it rains, these animals come out for the heat from the road. I call on law enforcement personnel to do some rethink.

Yours, Ludiraj Bispat

Dear Editor, Reading the details gets me very angry. It is that three men too had to scamper for their lives, as they were hotly pursued by an aggressive and dangerous pit bull. What is bad now is that a car was damaged in the process of avoiding the ferocious dog. This happened when one of the men damaged a motor car, while taking refuge on the bonnet.

Do I bring up the child from Berbice, who was supposed to sit her National Grade Six Assessment Examinations? She could

not write her examinations. A pit bull maimed her and she is scarred for life. This incident could have been avoided, but many reports went unheeded. How legal is it to own dangerous dogs? Guyana must do something about people and dangerous animals, and also about dogfighting.

If these owners are claiming that these animals are for protection, and indeed it may be so, then I ask for these owners to work out how much it is costing them to keep these animals. It may be better to employ an

armed guard.

Or go even further – set up some kind of programme, involving the community and the police. Crime prevention is important and many junkies and vagrants do come into people’s yard and take away stuff. I understand all of this.

However, the risks of having dangerous dog are way just too many and with horrible possibilities. Let me repeat – this owner must be held accountable and the dog issue must be addressed.

Yours sincerely, Rajendra Ganesh

Surveillance cameras and police investigations Dear Editor, Being armed with surveillance footage always gives the police a strong case.

The initial reports of the recent shooting near Bourda Market suggested an accidental killing. However, surveillance footage is offering clues that could tell a differ-

ent story.

No one had to identify this shooter. I feel that this shooter turned himself in because he probably realised that he could not remain in hiding. He probably found out that he was caught on camera. Maybe he is feeling sorry, but that should

not matter. If indeed he is to be tried and found guilty, then the penalty must not diminish. Being sorry after the fact will do nothing for the victim and those close to him.

Yours faithfully, Annalisa Ally

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Foundation

Irresponsible children: Why nagging and lecturing do not work

BY DEBBIE PINCUS

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f you’re like most parents, you probably spend enormous amounts of time and energy teaching about the importance of being responsible. You encourage it, you explain why it’s important, and you remind your child again and again why he should do the things he’s supposed to do. You complain, nag and lecture, but to no avail. It probably seems like you’re talking to a brick wall, because your child still won’t clean his room, empty the dishwasher, complete his homework or apologise to his little brother unless you threaten and punish.

Why is this such a hard lesson to teach – and why does learning to be responsible seem so hard for children? It’s not because your child is hard-headed or a spoiled brat, or because you haven’t been trying to teach him about it. Here’s the hard pill to swallow: if your child is continually irresponsible, it could mean that you aren’t taking responsibility for your own behaviour.

You’re probably saying, “That’s absurd. I certainly do take responsibility for my own behaviour.” And I believe you. If I had to take a guess, you’ve probably been extremely vigilant about trying to convince your child that he should be more responsible. It might even define your relationship together – and you’re probably ready to tear your hair out over it. No doubt you’ve put in an enormous amount of effort to make certain he behaves well. But here’s the

clincher: This intense focus on what your child should do gets in the way of his ability to be emotionally separate from you. You think you’re being helpful, but your actions actually aid his irresponsibility. That’s because he’s functioning in reaction to you instead of being responsible for himself.

So what does this have to do with you not accepting responsibility for your own behaviour? When you move your focus off of your child and onto yourself by taking responsibility for how you will act, your child will likely learn to be more accountable for his behaviour. Think of it this way: If you jump into his box and tell him what to do and how to act, how responsible for himself can he become? The two of you have effectively become entangled. Instead, stay in your own box, maintain your boundaries and take responsibility for yourself.

Here’s an example.

Let’s say your adult son always shows up at the last minute and expects dinner to be waiting for him. When he arrives, you start lecturing him about how he should call ahead, while you’re scurrying around getting food on the table for him. You continue to criticise him for his inconsiderate attitude while waiting on him hand and foot. Trust me, this will not teach him anything about being more thoughtful in the future. In fact, you’ve probably motivated him to come as late as possible next time to avoid criticism and stress.

A better way to handle it is to tell him if he doesn’t let

you know he’s coming home for dinner by 16:00h, you won’t be able to make anything for him – and then stick to your word. The key is that you’re taking responsibility for what you will and won’t do here and letting him deal with the natural consequences. No lectures, no preaching, no criticising, no personalising. Respect his ability to make choices, even if you don’t agree with them. (Not letting you know he’s coming home for dinner.) Respond to those choices from your own best

steps to get away from lecturing, nagging and punishing that will help you move toward having more responsible children.

and most responsible thinking and actions. (Set a limit and stick to it. If he doesn’t call by the time you’ve stated, you won’t make him dinner.) Even though it may feel uncomfortable, taking responsibility for yourself will likely earn his respect.

The goal isn’t to change him – you can’t. The goal is to become a strong, clear individual who he respects and who is inspiring.

Here are four needed

jerk reaction or from a more thoughtful place. The kneejerk response often calms you down momentarily, but it’s the start to becoming a nag. When you pause and think about the bigger picture, you can make a better choice: the choice to stay out of your child’s box and to remain emotionally separate.

Although it doesn’t feel as good – you’re not scratching that reactionary itch – you know that it can lead to

Put the lecture on “pause”

When you’re worried about your child’s irresponsibility and you’re about to lecture and preach, stop for a moment and breathe. The moment between your child’s action and your response is your most important parenting moment. It is in this space that you can choose to respond from a knee-

a more responsible parentchild relationship. Without the pause, it’s easy to let your emotions lead you astray.

Shift your gaze off of your child – and onto yourself

Confront yourself with the important questions. Ask yourself, “What would a responsible parent do in this situation? What are my options if my child is not acting responsibly – and which option do I want to choose? And am I willing to live with the possible consequences of that choice?”

Let’s say you wanted your 16-year-old son to get a part-time job last summer.

He kept saying he was looking, but never put applications in anywhere and ended up sitting around the house.

Now that the school year has started, he’s not getting his work done, and when he does, he somehow forgets to hand it in to the teacher.

And what’s worse, the angrier you get, the more detached and flat he gets.

First, stop and ask yourself, “Is there any way I might be contributing to my child’s irresponsibility? Have I set myself up to be the nag, or am I over-functioning for him?” You’re taking the obligation off of him because you’re serving as a constant reminder about what he should be doing. This gets in the way of your child being able to hear his own voice.

Now, instead of learning responsibility, he’s learning to function in reaction to you.

I think it’s more effective to determine what your bottom line is, and then give consequences when your child

doesn’t do his job. Always go back to, “What’s my responsibility here, and what’s my child’s?” The consequence in the case listed above might be that your child has to do his school work in the living room and not in his bedroom, or that he can’t watch TV until his homework is done for the evening.

What does my child need?

Understand that children with ADHD, ADD or other learning disabilities may need a different kind of guidance from parents. Perhaps they often forget homework at school or neglect to hand it in, even when they’ve done it. If this is the situation in your family, your job is to help your child create a structure for himself. You will likely have to stay more involved and check in more often. Another thing to ask yourself is, “What does this child need?” Not, “What do my kids need,” but “What does this particular kid need?” And then determine what your responsibilities are and aren’t.

It might be that you have to help your child design a chart to keep track of what he has to do. But he should then be in charge of putting a check next to those things when they get done.

Know when you’re in your child’s box

Most of the time we’re not necessarily aware that we have crossed boundaries.

There are usually signs that you have stepped into your child’s box. It might be when you’re feeling frazzled, at the end of your rope, and frustrated. On the other hand, when you feel calm and engaged in your own interests that may indicate that you’re in your own box. Know what the triggers are that cause you to jump from your box to his. Try to increase your awareness of yourself.

Most of us think we’re teaching our children responsibility. But truth be told, we’re really preaching it. And guess what? This only creates more dependency.

Dependency in relationships doesn’t encourage children to be responsible for themselves – quite the opposite, in fact.

The more you act in ways that respect your own values and principles, the more you will promote the necessary emotional separateness between yourself and your child. Why is this important?

The more emotionally separate you are, the freer your child is to see you more clearly, with all your strengths and weaknesses – which allows him to see himself more clearly. You’re no longer in his box or in his head, telling him what to do all the time.

And the more clearly or objectively your child sees himself and others and acts on that awareness, the more responsible for himself he can become. (www.empoweringparents.com)

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

back hassle-free travel TVET council, Labour Bring – Caricom transport ministers urge Ministry launch I labour market survey T he Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) and the Statistical Unit of the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry have together embarked upon a crucial skills needs survey of the productive sectors of the economy, focussing on manufacturing, hospitality, construction and engineering, and commerce.

This partnership venture will benefit from technical and financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the TVET council said in a release. The key objective of the survey is to obtain critical information on the actual level of skill shortages and skill availability in Guyana’s labour market, and on the quality and quantity of specific skills. Approximately 400 small to large-scale enterprises have been identified as representative samples in the public and private sectors.

According to CTVET Chairman Clinton Williams, the results of this survey will be inculcated into the revised structure for TVET in Guyana.

While delivering the opening remarks at a recent CTVET workshop on strategy and action planning, Williams said that it was recognised internationally that the rate of any country’s economic development is inextricably linked to its productivity, international competitiveness, and its capacity to build and sustain a competent workforce. He added that the CTVET is also in the process of introducing several innovative mechanisms to enhance vocational training countrywide.

Among these initiatives he cited were the implementation of competency-based training programmes in formal and non-formal

CTVET Chairman Clinton Williams

training institutions nationwide.

Quality assurance guidelines

Simultaneously, a set of quality assurance guidelines is being implemented which will eventually qualify Guyana to award Caribbean vocational qualifications. The chairman noted that the main productive industries contributing to national growth over the past four years are gold and diamond mining, wholesale and retail commerce, building and construction, and information technology, all of which have been averaging 20 per cent growth rates. Despite these statistics, he said, the sectors have reported significant skill shortages, increasing skill poaching and migration, which have combined to retard production levels.

He added that the traditional production sectors – sugar, rice, seafood, and forestry – have also been experiencing significant skill shortages that have translated into competitive disadvantages in the export market. The anticipated emergence of the new enterprises which are expected to spin off from the discovery of oil and gas, hydropower production, manganese mining and ecotourism, could ex-

acerbate this dilemma that Williams has described as a “dire national skill deficiency syndrome”.

He applauded the CTVET for launching this critical survey and announced that arrangements are being finalised for a comprehensive IDB-funded Labour Market Intelligence Survey that will combine resources from the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry, the private sector and the labour unions.

The current demand/ supply survey encompasses eight of the 10 administrative regions. Emphasis has been placed on the level of demand for skilled artisans, the level/availability of trained and experienced skilled personnel.

The enumerators have been equipped with a tightly focused survey instrument (questionnaire) to gather the required data. The pilot survey commenced on May 15, and will expand into the full-scale survey, which is scheduled to be completed on August 31. The council intends to make this a continuous exercise, given the volatility of the local labour market. The information derived from the surveys will become invaluable to the planning and creation of new, suitable TVET and other vocational training programmes.

n recognition of the benefits derived from the Single Domestic Space (SDS) during the International Cricket Conference Cricket World Cup in 2007, Caricom transport ministers are recommending its reintroduction.

The ministers made the recommendation at their justconcluded one-day Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Transportation held in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, the Caricom Secretariat said in a release.

Recommendations from the meeting will be presented to heads of government at their upcoming 34th Regular Meeting to be held in Trinidad and Tobago from July 4 to 6 at which transportation will receive special attention.

The ministers lamented that Caricom nationals encountered unnecessary problems as they travelled across the region and this was not only limited to scant regard paid to the Caricom Passport which entitles holders to an automatic six-month stay in member states. The meeting recognised that there were challenges with respect to frequent security checks and cooperation between the regional airlines, among other things, which negatively affected the travelling public and had repercussions for business and tourism as well. The ministers also agreed that much work had to be done to improve the service provided by order control officers in the region.

The meeting agreed that the Conference of Heads of Government should be asked to revisit its decision to discontinue the inexpensive armband system

which facilitated hassle-free regional travel during the world cup. The success of that 2007 initiative was alluded to during the discussion, in particular its popularity with the citizens of the community.

A SDS involving 10 Caricom member states was established for Cricket World Cup 2007. Among the features of the SDS were freedom of movement for all domestic travellers and a special visa stamped at the first port of entry for travellers from outside the region to allow hassle-free movement among the participating SDS states. Measures to support the initiative included an Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS).

Deeper collaboration

Discussions also centred on a fuel subsidy granted

by Trinidad and Tobago to Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) which has occasioned complaints of it being anti-competitive, in violation of the Caricom Multilateral Air Services Agreement and the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Consultations in an effort to resolve the matter amicably will be conducted between the shareholder governments of LIAT and the government of Trinidad and Tobago prior to and during the Conference of Heads of Government, which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago in July.

With respect to air transport, the ministers underscored the need for deeper collaboration among the regional airlines so that their operations could be better streamlined. Key among the recommendations were for shareholders in the government-owned carriers in

Caricom, beginning with CAL, LIAT and Surinam Airways, to meet in the near future, to discuss how they may rationalise their operations, routes, flight schedules, and luggage transfers among other things in the best interests of the consumer.

Essential service

The ministers agreed to put forward to heads of government that they support the upcoming LIAT application to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for funds to meet the costs of its proposed re-fleeting exercise, which is required to sustain its operation and improve its service. They also recommended that air transport services be included among the group of essential services and the necessary legislation be enacted to give effect to this reality.

The meeting established a team, chaired by St Vincent and the Grenadines, to review elements of a draft policy or air and maritime transport, and asked member states to submit their comments by the end of June. Ministers also held discussions on transportation for agriculture produce and identified the need for coordination between farmers/producers and shippers in order to curb high costs.

The issue had been referred to transportation ministers by ministers of agriculture and is to be examined by a team from the Caribbean Shipping Association, airlines and agriculture producers/exporters. The ministers also agreed that they would keep under review ongoing initiatives such as the proposal for a fast ferry service in the Southern Caribbean.

8 news Fourth Building Expo launched saturday, june 1, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

By Leana Bradshaw

T

he Housing and Water Ministry’s fourth International Building Expo was launched on Friday evening, with the full backing of the private sector and other citizens.

The opening event, which was attended by stakeholders of the business community and government, got underway at the Princess International Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara. Giving the feature address at the launching of Building Expo 2013, Housing Minister Irfaan Ali said this year’s event is not just another exposition of what Guyana has to offer in the construction sector, but will highlight the ministry’s aim for future development, through a new concept.

The exhibition, to be held from July 5 to 7, will utilise a new concept, with the launching of a new housing development area dubbed “Silica City” located on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Ali said “Silica City” is the first real initiative to take industry, commerce and residential housing to the highway on “higher grounds”.

He noted that the idea was born after the ministry realised it had reached the peak for developing new house lots along the East Coast of Demerara, while it is currently on its penultimate tier of housing devel-

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali speaking at the launch

opment on the East Bank of Demerara. The last phase will see approximately 8000 lots being developed.

The new housing scheme is expected to see the development of some 500 acres of land along the highway initially. “So we’re going to launch this initiative called “Silica City” and we want to encourage all potential investors, bankers, buyers, sellers to register with “Silica City.”

To motivate persons, the ministry will be offering a special package for those who already applied for house lots and received acknowledgement, to have their applications process immediately for allocation at the new housing area.

The initiative, he said, answers questions as to “where next” will the min-

istry seek to develop new housing areas. The housing minister stated that this year’s expo is being hosted as a result of strong private sector support.

Construction industry is a major sector

Private Sector Commission Chairman Ronald Webster said that “the construction industry is critical for any economy”.

“The importance of the construction, real estate sector in Guyana can be better appreciated when we take the 14 or 15 sectors that make up the main contributions to the Gross Domestic Product and we’ll find the construction, building and real estate fall at the number four in 20 behind agriculture, mining, and wholesale and retail business in 2011/2010,”

he noted.

Construction, he said, has a large impact on the country’s economic activity, creating employment and offering investments.

Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association President Clinton Williams noted that he considers the Building Expo to be one of the main ingredients of any strategy designed to create economic development and growth in Guyana. He, therefore, applauded the ministry and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) for their efforts in staging the event.

CHPA Chief Executive Officer Myrna Pitt said: “In addition to being a medium for which linkages are established and opportunities for private sector are expanded, the expo will celebrate the successful partnership the CHPA has with the private sector and stakeholders in the construction, manufacturing, commercial, and services sectors.”

International Building Expo 2013, slated for the Guyana National Stadium, will be held under the theme “Consolidating Partnerships for Sustainable Development”. The event will see participation from local, regional, and international exhibitors and will create opportunities for networking among business stakeholders and consumers alike. (leannab@guyanatimesgy.com)

Fisherman stabbed to death during row at Goed Fortuin

A

fisherman was stabbed to death on Thursday evening by one of his colleagues at Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara. The incident occurred about 17:00h.

Leroy Khan, 37, of Lot 79 Barkley Street, Goed Fortuin, was stabbed during an altercation at the koker at Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara (WBD), which stemmed from a catch that came in earlier in the day. He was minutes later pronounced dead on arrival at

the West Demerara Regional Hospital by doctors.

Khan was stabbed in the region of the heart while his arm and forehead also bore other marks of violence which he suffered during the fight.

The suspect who is commonly called “Baby” of Wales, WBD is presently in police custody and is due to make a court appearance on Monday.

Jasmattie Hazra, the mother of the dead fisherman told Guyana Times that she

had just disembarked a minibus when a man informed her to go to the koker and enquire what was happening there. “He tell me that Leroy just get stab and he lying on the ground; when I reach, I see them putting he in the van to tek he to the hospital,” she said. The aggrieved mother stated that she jumped into the van and accompanied her injured son to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

While at the hospital,

Dead fisherman, Leroy Khan

Hazra explained that he was placed on a stretcher and taken into the emergency room.

Minutes later, she stated the doctors asked her to sit in a chair and told her that her son had passed away. The mother said she broke down in tears and still cannot believe that her son was dead. She further explained that her son was not fond of getting into fights and was described as a quiet person. The man who stabbed her son, she added, is known to the family and other workers.

Hazra said she was not sure what started the argument that led to the stabbing.

Khan worked on a daily basis with a small fishing boat at the Goed Fortuin koker where he would spend most of his time, and was not known to have any enemies. A postmortem performed on the body of Khan by Dr Nehaul Singh gave the cause of his death as perforation to the heart due to stab wounds. He will be laid to rest on Sunday.

Khan leaves to mourn his mother and three siblings.

Eyew tness The mote and the plank... ...in the mayor’s eye t’s quite extraordinary how some people can preach things to others that they absolutely refuse to practise. Hamilton Green exemplifies the species perfectly. We all know about his “moral revival” crusade. He waged this even as he engaged in the basest of schemes with his now fired cohorts to bilk the city while it sank under garbage.

Green’s quite given to quoting from the Scriptures.

But we guess he’s closed his eyes (and ears) to the Biblical injunction about removing the mote from his eye before trying to do so for others. In his case, with long practice in hypocrisy, his mote’s become a plank. A very large plank. In his latest (1500-word) letter to the press, Green waxes soporifically about the government’s “imperial-like rule” over the city.

He castigated the government’s refusal to “real shared governance (after all this is the strength of a true democracy) – a happy movement away from the existing imperial-like control. A system whereby the elected leaders in their respective communities are allowed to share ideas, mobilise resources, and initiate programmes to release the creative energies of citizens, in particular, our youth.”Ah such noble, sounding sentiments!!!!

As the prime example of the government’s alleged Caesar-like behaviour, he points to his bête noir – the acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba. He whines she was foisted onto the town council, to continue the analogy, as the government’s pro-consul. He quotes from an even lengthier letter from his public relations officer (PRO) – does someone who writes daily to the press and calls press conferences at the drop of a pants really need a PRO?? – complainingly asserting: “The town clerk is... subordinate to the ... mayor”.

This is where the plank in his eye prevents him from seeing the woeful hypocrisy in his noble talk about “sharing power”. The whole big fuss right now is Green accuses Sooba of being “insubordinate” just because, doing her job, she said the mayor shouldn’t disrupt the workings of City Hall with his arbitrary press conferences and meetings.

Even since Green slid into the mayoralty of Georgetown, his only constant has been to insist on his “imperial style” of rule. The town clerk is his “creature” and should have no power. He must jet off whenever, wherever, and with whomever he wants while the city and City Hall collapse. How much longer must we put up with Green and his plank?

I

....in AFC’s eye In what’s obviously a feeling of bonhomie generated by the independence celebrations, President Donald Ramotar continued in his outreach to the opposition.

He met Khemraj Ramjattan of the Alliance For Change (AFC) late Thursday afternoon. We hope he counted his fingers after he shook hands with that scoundrel. And that he didn’t let on about his private (and therefore, “brutal”) assessment of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, after the Trinidad and Tobago meeting. The president should know that the U.S. embassy would be getting a full report from Ramjattan before the evening was out.

But while Ramjattan was practising his lines for the president (“Me guh come back if you fire Anil Nandlall and mek me attorney general. Pleeeease, pretty please...) his protégé, Moses (once a man and twice a student) Nagamootoo and his challenger as leader of the AFC, Nigel Hughes, seized the opportunity to host a press conference. Nagamootoo showed why men over 60 shouldn’t change professions. Senility creeps in. Nagamootoo claimed it wasn’t “a matter of political quid pro quo” that the president wants something so the AFC asked for something. Was he sleeping in law school when they taught this is exactly what a “quid pro quo” is? ...Opposition’s eyes Now that the opposition have another five months to “consider” the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, we’re willing to wager that they won’t have a single substantive change to make to the government’s proposals. Just flexing their muscles so the county gets a black eye.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Expanded trade relations to top agenda of China/Caricom talks

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xpanded trade and economic development investment in the Caribbean region by China will be a major focus of the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Caricom leaders in Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend.

President Xi was due to touch down in the twin island republic Friday night.

While no official statement has been released, heads of government expected in Port of Spain for the scheduled meetings with the Chinese leader are likely to include the presidents of Guyana, Donald

TT Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Ramotar and Suriname’s, Desi Bouterse, as well as the prime ministers of Jamaica, Portia Simpson-Miller; Barbados’s Freundel Stuart; Grenada’s Dr Keith Mitchell; Antigua and Barbuda’s Baldwin Spencer and Dominica’s Roosevelt Skerrit.

China, which is a donor member of the Caribbean Development Bank, is said to be keen in encouraging support for this region’s involvement in plans by the BRICS

bloc of countries for establishment of a new financial institution to boost economic development outside of the roles being played by, for instance, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the Trinidad Express reported. The BRICS countries are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

And it is viewed as significant that the Chinese president’s visit to Trinidad and Tobago follows those to South Africa and Brazil and will extend to Costa Rica and Mexico before moving on to the United States for a two-day (June 7 and 8) visit, primarily for an informal summit with President Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, in a joint written interview to the media of Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico ahead of his visit, President Xi said in answering what is the significance of his visit to Latin America and the Caribbean, he said the warm hospitality of the friendly Latin American people and their profound goodwill towards the Chinese people left a deep impression on him.

“My upcoming visit will be my first trip to Latin America after becoming the president.

The purpose of the visit is to deepen the traditional friendship between China and Latin America and expand their mutually beneficial cooperation. During the visit, I will have in-depth exchanges of views with leaders of Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica and Mexico on ways to strengthen respective bilateral relations and China-Latin America ties in general and make extensive contacts with people from various communities in these

Chinese President Xi Jinping

President Donald Ramotar

countries. I am confident that the visit will give a strong boost to the China-Latin America comprehensive and cooperative partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and common development,” the Chinese leader said.

He added that as an ancient Chinese poem goes, “A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near”. Though geographically far apart, China and Latin America and the Caribbean enjoy a friendship that dates back to antiquity.

said politically, the two sides have rendered each other understanding and support on the major issues bearing on respective core interests and in the course of exploring development paths suited to respective national conditions, resulting in the steady increase of their strategic mutual trust.

“Economically, the practical cooperation between the two sides has borne rich fruits, delivering tangible benefits to both peoples. With two-way trade reaching 261.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2012, China has become the second largest trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean, which witnessed the world’s fastest-rising exports to China. By investing nearly US$65 billion in Latin America and the Caribbean in accumulative terms, China has helped create much-needed jobs in the region.”

On the international affairs front, he said the two sides have stepped up coordination and cooperation, effectively upholding their fundamental interests and the common interests of the developing countries.

“What is more, we have actively explored ways for all-

Maritime Silk Road

Several centuries ago, Chinese and Latin American merchants opened what was called the “Maritime Silk Road”, forming an important trade route between the eastern and western hemispheres.

In the face of complex and shifting international landscapes since the beginning of the 21st century, China and Latin America have upheld the principle of equality and mutual benefit, firmly pursued the goal of common development and worked concertedly for substantial progress in their relations.

Additionally, President Xi

Persaud highlights opportunities in mining sector at Australian confab

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atural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud on Thursday delivered a presentation on the opportunities within Guyana’s mining sector at the second Latin America Down Under (LADU) mining conference in Sydney, Australia.

According to a release from Persaud’s office, an invitation was extended to the minister by the Australian ministers for foreign affairs and resources and energy to represent Guyana and address the mining conference. Persaud, during the conference, highlighted the government of Guyana's initiatives to modernise the mining sector and the use of environmentally-friendly technologies and exploration activities in Guyana.

The minister’s participation in the conference has enabled Guyana to be involved in discussions and interactions with governments, mining companies, explorers, financial sector executives and other stakeholders. This will aid in identifying new ideas and receive recommended solutions to key challenges facing the gold mining sector in developing countries such as Guyana.

Investment opportunities available in Guyana were highlighted by Minister Persaud in an effort to attract the interests of the Australian government and interested

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud and his Australian counterpart Gary Gray companies to invest here. This visit will seek to strengthen bilateral relations between the governments of Guyana and Australia by providing support in areas such as technology, finance, education and training in the mining sector.

The minister also held discussions with his counterpart Gary Gray. The discussions were centred on technology transfer and the use of mercury-free technology to modernise the mining sector.

The conference was launched to support the new momentum in Australia and Latin America relations and rapid growth of engagement in the mining sector and to provide a rare opportunity for governments, companies, suppliers, media and investors to network and share experiences.

The mining conference was organised under the umbrella of the Australian govern-

ment by PayDirt Media, who aims to enhance the commercial links between Australia and the economies of Latin America to develop a particularly strong partnership in the emerging mining sector.

Further, the conference aims to enhance the relations between the Australian government and other nations in developing a strong partnership to improve the mining sector in Latin America by learning about new technologies, methods of ensuring sustainable mining and enhancing the network of the mining industry.

Meanwhile, the outcome of the conference will enable the ministry to garner important linkages and receive new developmental ideas to propel the mining industry to achieve higher standards that the developed countries have acquired.

round cooperation with a view to bringing into fuller play each other’s strengths and setting up a better platform for advancing our comprehensive and cooperative partnership.

“Looking ahead, we are ready to work with Latin American and Caribbean countries to move forward the comprehensive and cooperative partnership between the two sides and bring about still greater benefit to the two peoples. I have full confidence in the prospects of China-Latin America relations,” President Xi said.

Asked how he views the growth of China’s relations with Trinidad and Tobago, what types of cooperation can be conducted in the field of energy and what tariff measures will China take to give manufactured goods of Trinidad and Tobago access to the fast-growing markets like BRICS, the Chinese president said China and Trinidad and Tobago enjoy a time-honoured friendship. More than 200 years ago, the first group of Chinese settlers arrived at the island of Trinidad. They have since lived harmoniously with the local communities and have become an integral part of the pluralistic society of Trinidad and Tobago.

Solemn vote

He said the Chinese people will never forget that even before the two countries established diplomatic relations, the people of Trinidad and Tobago cast their solemn vote in favour of restoring the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in

the United Nations.

“The exchange of diplomatic recognition in 1974 turned a new page in China-Trinidad and Tobago relations. I am so pleased to see that since then and particularly since the establishment of our friendly and cooperative relationship of mutual benefit and development in 2005, we have made substantial progress in growing our relations. Trinidad and Tobago has become one of our most important partners in the English-speaking Caribbean. Our two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation in infrastructure, minerals, finance, telecommunications, public health and other areas, which contributed to economic and social development of both countries and the well-being of both peoples.”

In recent years, the Latin American and Caribbean countries have made steady progress in pursuing common development through concerted efforts. The establishment of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States fully testifies to the vigorous efforts made by Latin America to realise the dream of unity, coordination and common development championed by the pioneers of the Latin American independence movement. China said it will work closely with the Latin American and Caribbean countries and maintain mutual support and sincere cooperation to realise the great dream of development and prosperity.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

News

Major shakeup for GuySuCo Radio licence case heard by chief justice; management – Dr Ramsammy to continue in July A

T

he court case brought by the National Publishing Company against the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) and the board of the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA) over the issuance of radio licences was heard on Friday before acting Chief Justice Ian Chang.

Speaking during an interview, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, representing the defendants, said the proceedings dealt with applications for interlocutory orders and substantive reliefs, with the former being withdrawn.

He explained that the interlocutory matters consisted of issues such as conservatory orders and injunctions, “the sum total of which seek to stop these entities which were granted licences from operating, and to put the process on hold in relation to the granting of any future licences.”

“Today, after hearing arguments for the matter, the lawyer for the applicant withdrew all the interlocutory matters. I think this is a major step which we have made, that we don’t need to deal with the interlocutory matters anymore and we are now left with the substantive matters,” AG Nandlall stated.

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang The case which remains before the chief justice is to now determine whether the licences were lawfully or unlawfully granted. The matter has been adjourned to a date in July. Meanwhile, leave has been granted to have both sides file responses within 28 days of May 31, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

According to court documents signed by the publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, and filed by his lawyer, Roysdale Forde, the licences were issued under the old Post and Telegraph Act and done in bad faith, are discriminatory and not legal.

The release of 11 radio

licences to privately owned entities and organisations by former President Bharrat Jagdeo in late 2011 brought an end to a long-held state monopoly on the radio airwaves, but was met with condescending reactions from those whose applications were shelved and opposition politicians looking for an opportunity to nitpick.

Government’s argument that the issuance of the licences was primarily to end the long-held monopoly was not enough to convince them and full page newspaper advertisements, picketing exercises outside the Office of the President and the recent move to the court to reverse the decision, characterised their protest that called for the revocation of the licences.

According to GINA, the newly-licensed radio operators are Matthews Ridge Community Council; Little Rock Television Station; Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprise; New Guyana Company Limited; National Television Network (NTN); Hits and Jams Entertainment; Wireless Connections; Rudy Grant; Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc.; Linden Wireless Communication Network; and Television Guyana (TVG) Channel 28.

mid calls for investigation into the finances at the troubled Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy on Thursday said the government has for some time now taken the position that changes would be made to the board.

The minister, according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, said President Donald Ramotar and Cabinet have been reviewing the composition of the board and the everyday management, and have agreed that there is need to make some adjustments to both the board and the management team.

“This is not because the AFC and Mr Ramjattan want it, it is not because APNU demands it, it is because as good stewards of an industry, we see that the industry has some difficulties at this time and, we believe that a review of both the board and the everyday management is necessary,” Minister Ramsammy said.

“I am in a position to say the president will make changes to the board of GuySuCo. The president has been talking to various people about board changes,” he said. According to Minister Ramsammy, one of the potential changes could be the highest level of management as Cabinet is examining the appointment of a new chief executive officer (CEO) for the sugar company. “Mr Paul Bhim has tried his best, but Mr Paul Bhim was just acting in that po-

sition.” This does not mean that Bhim will be fired, Minister Ramsammy said.

“We are considering all the changes we need to make, but I do not think that it would be responsible for people to think that the entire management and the entire board would go,” he said. Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh during the 2013 national budget presentation had announced that the government will be seeking to address the constraints affecting the performance of the sugar company, with the establishment of a three-year (2013-2016) strategic plan that is projected to cost GuySuCo $3.1 billion in 2013 to advance the implementation of critical re-capitalisation aspects.

The plan will support the mechanisation and field conversion drive, and focus particularly on critical areas.

Minister Singh had also announced that GuySuCo will have to re-engineer its management and human relations functions accordingly.

The party said it has noted recent comments of GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer Paul Bhim that the first sugar crop for 2013 will produce the “lowest production that we’ve (GuySuCo) ever had as far as the records go”. However, the AFC said it is not surprised by that pronouncement since the party and the sugar unions had warned GuySuCo, since 2009, of the imminent challenges facing the sugar industry.

According to the AFC, it has since consulted many ex-

perts and workers, and has been reliably advised that the best practice of replanting the cane field, along with “flood fallowing” every five years, has now been abandoned in GuySuCo. “Rather, GuySuCo is now conducting the vital process after a period averaging between eight to 12 years. This is most unfortunate since these deliberate delays in flood fallowing and replanting is a guaranteed formula for considerably reversing decline in cane productivity. The experts that we have consulted have made it clear that as a result of the abandonment of these good cultivation practices by GuySuCo, the fibre and trash content would increase, which translates to a poorer quality cane being delivered to the sugar mills compared to the past years.”

“It is time to turn the board of GuySuCo on its head since it is clear they do not know what it takes to lead GuySuCo. The AFC demands the firing of the entire GuySuCo board forthwith. It is clear that the board of directors at GuySuCo has zero sympathy for the industry and the plight of the workers.

Among them are greedy and self-interested persons who believe that because they are friends of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), they can live the high life off the sweat of the poor man and abandon the one thing that would turnaround GuySuCo… good quality cane.”

USAID, APNU discuss new US$1.5M governance project

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pposition Leader David Granger on Thursday met with United States Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt and a team from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to discuss a new US$1.5 million governance project.

Granger was accompanied at the meeting by Members of parliament Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Ronald Bulkan, Carl Greenidge, Basil Williams and policy adviser Lance Carberry.

The U.S. ambassador was accompanied by Latin America and the Caribbean Programme Officer Humberto A Collado, U.S. embassy Political and Economic Chief Michael Fraser, IRI Project Adviser Michael Murphy and USAID Programme Management Specialist Cloe Noble.

According to an APNU release, the ambassador explained that this new US$1.5 million USAID project will be used for strengthening

the role and effectiveness of Parliament, public education and information for local government and engagement and involvement of young people in the political system.

The APNU said discussions were held on some of the critical issues of governance here. These include the need for strengthening of the National Assembly to ensure that it is equipped to effectively ensure that the executive is accountable to the people through their representatives in the National Assembly; technical and analytical support for the work of the National Assembly, such as the establishment of a Budget Office and the provision of the capacity to provide legislative drafting assistance for the opposition.

Additionally, the meeting discussed professional research support for the work of committees; the provision of adequate resources to ensure the effective functioning of the Office of the Opposition Leader; the challenges to part-time MPs with

the increasing demands of the committee system; the need to guarantee the independence and autonomy of constitutional offices and institutions; the implications of the proliferation of “acting” appointments; the status of local government reform as a precondition for the holding of local government elections; the need for comprehensive public education programmes for ensuring that the new local government system is understood; the need for “civic” education for encouraging young people to become actively involved in the political system; the challenge of independent “funding” for the local government system; and the implications of the refusal of President Donald Ramotar to give his assent to opposition bills.

The coalition grouping said it was evident that the new USAID project could make a valuable contribution for advancing the evolution of a truly democratic culture in Guyana.

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

19 nurses trained, certified Woman charged with passport fraud in neonatal resuscitation A

The newly-certified nurses along with the coordinator and instructor of the training programme

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ineteen nurses have been added to the list of persons qualified to deliver quality maternal and child care to Guyanese.

The nurses were part of a two-year training course in neonatal resuscitation, at the end of which they took an online examination. On Friday, the nurses were presented with certificates from the Canadian Paediatric Society.

The programme was organised by the Guyana Burns and Health Care Charitable Foundation and the training was done by Canadian registered nurse Vernie Ally, who is an instructor of the neonatal resuscitation programme.

This is the second batch of nurses to undergo the training; however, this year’s batch is the first to do the online examination on which they had to acquire 80 per cent or more to pass, and they all did.

After two years, the nurses will have to re-certify themselves.

Nurses from the Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Suddie, Kwakwani, Linden and

West Demerara hospitals participated in the training. Ally said that for the past two courses, only nurses have participated in the training and their performances were overwhelmingly good.

Guyana Burns and Health Care Charitable Foundation Vice President Pamela Harakh noted that the nurses were receptive to the training and emerged successful from the online examination, which proved difficult for some of them who were not computer literate. She added that the next level for the nurses is for them to become local instructors in the field. “They will be doing teaching rather than our instructors having to come down and Mrs Ally is more than willing to assist with training the trainer,” Harakh stated.

She explained that the foundation built the Burn Unit some 10 years ago and did other work to improve healthcare services in Guyana. She went on to say that her organisation continuously tries to enhance nurses’ education and also the capacity of the hospital.

Excellent job

In a brief comment, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan told the graduating nurses that he is proud of all of them for successfully emerging out of the training. Khan disclosed that in November, they will start foetal monitor training and will also include nurses from hospitals across the country.

Georgetown Public Hospital Matron Audrey Cory explained that the hospital is focusing more on maternal and child health as part of efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

She pointed out that the last batch of nine nurses from Georgetown Public Hospital were also trained and certified in neonatal resuscitation which has helped them to more effectively and efficiently provide quality maternal and child care.

She commended the nurses for the excellent job they did by committing themselves to developing their skills and knowledge. She said that the training will go a long way in assisting the nurses in knowing what to do in neonatal cases.

woman charged with passport fraud was released on her own recognisance when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Dowana London, 35, of Lot 45 Factory Road, Paradise, East Coast Demerara pleaded guilty to the two charges which state that between May 20, 2012 and May 24, 2013 with intention to defraud, she forged her passport number and subsequently uttered the forged document to a police constable. However, the magistrate entered a notguilty plea for the defendant after she explained to the

court what transpired.

According to a police report on May 24, London was an outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) when she produced her passport and it was observed that the number was that of Grace Camella Vieros. She was told of the offence and arrested.

In her defence, London told the court that while she was at the immigration department waiting to apply for her passport, a young man who was sitting nearby came up and announced that persons applying for new passports should join the line. She then gave him her information and $4000, and she received a slip of paper

saying to return within five to seven days for her travel document. Upon her return, she saw the same man holding a book and he told her to sign her name, so she complied and received the passport. London then noticed that her name was misspelt and she inquired about it; however, the man stated that her document was machine readable and she did not have anything to worry about, because it will work.

She related to the court that she was a bit worried, but decided to travel with the passport this year which led to the current situation.

London is scheduled to return to court on June 24 for filing of statements.

Chinese national killed in road accident

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raffic on the Mandela Avenue came to a halt on Friday afternoon after a Chinese national was crushed to death by a taxi attached to the Green Ice Service.

The accident occurred just after 15:00h in the vicinity of Agri-Parts. The dead woman was identified as Xuesang Seng, 43, of Mandela Avenue. She was killed soon after leaving her restaurant.

According to information received, the mother of two was crossing the busy road when she was struck down by the car bearing registration HC 2408, which was allegedly speeding west on the southern carriageway.

The woman was reportedly tossed several feet from the site of the initial impact before she fell to the roadway.

According to an eyewitness, after the woman was struck, she was flung into the air and came crash-

Dead Chinese national Xuesang Seng

ing down, causing traffic to come to a standstill. The driver of the silver grey motor car was immediately taken into police custody.

When Guyana Times arrived at the scene, the car with a shattered wind shield was being towed away to the Ruimveldt Police Station. Bloodstains were evident on the roadway while traffic moved at

The car that was involved in the accident

a snail's pace. The relatives of the dead woman stood on their veranda and watched haplessly as her body was removed from the scene.

They refused to speak to media since they are not fluent in English.

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt partners with agencies U.S. donates $8.9M to boost on child protection emergency services in Region 10

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overnment has partnered with the various non-governmental agencies and the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) to tackle issues of child protection in Guyana.

Human Services Minister Jenifer Webster said Guyana has been fulfilling its obligations as it relates to child protection under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The minister was at the time addressing a partnership meeting between UNICEF and nongovernmental organisations across Guyana on Thursday.

The meeting was hosted under the theme “Joining hands for effective child protection services”.

“Our government is committed to creating effective partnerships with NGOs, faith based organisations, and the private sector and other state institutions as it relates to building linkages, sharing information and uniting to work together for a cause that will make a difference in Guyana,” she said.

Children, she said are the future leaders and it is important for adults and more so the authorities to

Human Services Minister Jenifer Webster

look into the welfare of every child.

The UN convention speaks to the implementation of children’s rights and in accordance with that, Guyana has been responsive and has been upholding its commitment to ensure equal access of every beneficial resource. To this end, the minister in her address solicited cooperation from the various stakeholders to work towards closing the gaps on these issues.

“That’s where you as the stakeholders come in and you can play a role, I want to urge you to share your ideas,” she added. She said persons cannot extricate

themselves from playing a part in this regard. Child protection, she said is everyone’s business.

She said it is in this context that every citizen should get involved and play their part in assisting with the achievement of such a goal.

Meanwhile, UNICEF deputy country representative Abheet Solomon said there is no straight cut when it comes to child protection. As such, Guyana has to work through continuous collaborative efforts to ensure that steps are taken in this regard.

“There’s a lot of things that we have embarked on this year, we are looking at a more comprehensive way of addressing child protection, we are looking how to proceed with that,” he said.

He said there have been ongoing discussions with the Human Services Ministry and UNICEF in this regard, and steps are already being taken.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child was the first instrument to incorporate the complete range of international human rights, including civil, cultural, economic, political, social rights and humanitarian law.

OAS applauds progress on democracy in the region ... but warns of deconstruction risks

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rganisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza highlighted the “important progress” made in the democratisation in the region in recent decades, but also warned that there are still worrying “risks of deconstruction”, during the inauguration this week of the 2013 Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Congress at Georgetown University.

Secretary General Insulza said there is currently a positive current of thought surrounding the future of the economies of the region that extends to the political arena.

“There is a certain correspondence between the optimism with which the future of the economies in Latin America is perceived, and the feelings towards the political process, or in other words, the state of our democracies,” said the leader of the hemispheric organisation.

As examples of progress, the OAS leader highlighted that “electoral processes have made considerable headway.

Governments are created through clean, secret, universal elections, and regularly change hands among different political groups, without entailing a significant disruption”.

“I can speak from experience here,” he added, “since in just the past five years, the OAS has observed more than 80 election processes of all kinds in different countries of

the region, and each of them has more than fulfilled the requirements for a democratic election”.

“There is no doubt that our societies have made important progress on the road to democratisation,” said the secretary general, but acknowledged limitations remain, some of which “can be attributed to the still short time in which all of these events have developed”.

Among the most important challenges to the democracies of the Americas, the head of the OAS cited poverty and inequality, organised crime and insecurity, weak institutions, and “the democratic fallacy that the majority has the right to change the system as it sees fit”. Concluding his speech, Secretary General Insulza said “the risks of de-construction are there”. “Because criminal groups today are a seed of independent power; they control their own territories and of course obey their own laws, which they impose on others outside the authority of the state. Because the privileges that some people enjoy and the existence of systems of health, education and security that are differentiated in terms of access and quality lead to the creation of distinct categories of citizens.

And because in some countries, the necessary measures of consensus that should exist in every democratic society, are giving way to extreme political polarisation, and this is

not a good foundation for the urgent reforms still required in Latin America,” said the secretary general.

Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service Dean Carol Lancaster welcomed Secretary General Insulza, and said that Latin America has seen significant changes in recent decades. “It is now much more prosperous, less unequal, more democratic, healthier, better educated, and most important in the world. That does not mean it has reached Nirvana, but from my point of view, it seems to have made significant progress, which is often unrecognised in the United States. “ The congress co-chairs Gwen Kirkpatrick, of Georgetown University, and Kenneth Roberts, of Cornell University, opened the event and introduced its theme “Latin America: Toward a New Social Contract”. The event runs until Saturday, June 1 in Washington, DC. LASA is the largest professional association in the world for individuals and institutions dedicated to the study of Latin America. With more than 7000 members, 45 per cent of whom reside outside the United States, LASA is the association that brings together experts on Latin America from all disciplines and various professional efforts worldwide. The congress will have more than 900 sessions, and more than 4000 participants.

United States Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt hands over the cheque to Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

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nited States Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt handed over a cheque of $8,967,387 to Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh for emergency services in Region 10.

At the ministry’s request and by agreement between the Guyanese and U.S. governments, these funds will be used to assist with the purchase of an ambulance for Region 10, which the government of Guyana had made provision for in its 2013 budget. The ambulance will be deployed to provide public health services in the outlying areas of the re-

gion, including Great Falls, Number 48 Miles, Number 58 Miles and Mabura Hill.

At the handing over ceremony on May 29, Ambassador Hardt noted that this contribution complements ongoing U.S. development assistance provided to Guyana’s health sector, including HIV/ AIDS prevention, care, and treatment. This support, while targeted primarily at combating HIV and AIDS, helps in strengthening the entire health sector, including supply chain management for drugs and other health-care commodities, blood safety, injection safety and laboratory im-

provements.

The donation precedes a medical outreach to Region 10, coordinated through the U.S. Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP) that will provide general medical assistance to individuals in that region.

The funding for the ambulance was made available through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Finance Ministry will finalise arrangements for the purchase of the ambulance and its handover to the Region 10 administration, a release from the U.S. embassy here said.

Red Thread petitions labour minister for better conditions for domestic workers

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small contingent from Red Thread and one of its networks, Grassroots Women Across Race, handed over a petition with 3069 signatures to Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul on Friday, urging the government to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 189 that deals with better working conditions for domestic workers.

The petition was presented to Dr Gopaul at his Water and Cornhill streets office. In a statement, Red Thread said the signatures were collected during April and May, in support of a

call for Caricom governments to support domestic workers in their search for a better life, through the ratification of ILO Convention number 189.

This call is being made by the Caribbean Domestic Workers Network, on whose Steering Committee Red Thread sits.

At the handing over of the petition, Minister Gopaul said he had seen the organisation’s statements on this issue in two daily newspapers and assured that the government has already decided to ratify the convention. He further said that his ministry

is committed to working with Red Thread to ensure that the rights of domestic workers are protected.

“We welcome the commitments of the minister of labour and look forward to a working relationship which will truly serve the interests of the many thousands of mainly women who work as parttime or full-time domestic workers in Guyana, often under very terrible conditions.”

Some domestic workers spoke about their experiences such as conditions of work and sexual abuse they have experienced.

Six held for ganja busts in Berbice

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ix men have been arrested for two separate ganja busts in Berbice on Thursday, police confirmed in a statement.

According to the police, about 12:00h Thursday, acting on information received, ranks conducted a

search on a house at Ferry Street, New Amsterdam, and found one kilogram, 903 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana). Three men are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

Then around 21:00h on the same day, ranks

of a mobile police patrol stopped and conducted a search on a motor vehicle at Number 12 Public Road, West Coast Berbice, and found 463 grams of the same drugs. Three men were also arrested and are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Children’s playground reopens in National Park

Guyana’s ecotourism opportunities virtually untapped

By Danielle Campbell-Lowe

The Kaieteur Falls is one of the many draws of Guyana’s ecotourism industry

F Inner Wheel President Sinikka Henry (fourth from right) poses with other members of the Inner Wheel Club

rehabilitative phase of the project, allowing the park to provide not only play equipment, which is maintained at an acceptable level, but also facilities such as a sanitary blocks and specially-designed receptacles for waste separation and recycling. It is hoped that the signage appropriately placed around the park would provide guidance to the use and care of the facility.

Waste disposal

A student using the water fountain (Carl Croker photos)

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nner Wheel Club of Georgetown President Sinikka Henry on Thursday dedicated the newly-reopened Child Friendly Playground in the National Park, Carifesta Avenue.

Henry stated that one year ago in March, the park officially opened the gates to a modern playground, with the assistance of key donor agencies.

According to Henry, the new play area has incorporated play equipment that had been salvaged and restored, as well as new equipment that was fabricated or imported.

She disclosed that the project has been a work in progress since 2006 when the Inner Wheel Club started to set aside a portion of funds raised towards the playground, and it continued to do so over the years under successive club presidents.

It was only in 2009 that the first donor, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) provided the funding that allowed the National Parks Commission to acquire the materials for constructing the fence and levelling the ground.

Henry revealed that the commission also provided the labour for construction and has since undertaken responsibility for the maintenance and security of the ground.

Allows for integration of children of all abilities

She related that work on the playground again commenced in November 2010 and several months later the project was truly underway. The Inner Wheel Club president said the arrangement of the play equipment allows for the integration of children of all abilities encouraging a natural interaction and providing a space where differences and similarities can be expressed, with the common denominator being joy.

The Ptolemy Reid Centre has been visiting the playground, which has been upgraded with the installation of pathways for wheelchair access to swings, slides and other play equipment, once a week for recreational purposes. “We commend them for making it a priority for providing 65 per cent of the children in their care with the opportunity for fun…. It is our hope that this happiness can, one day, be translated into a world where no one is marginalised and no one is denied the opportunity to make a contribution,” Henry remarked.

She pointed out that true success would have been achieved after students from many schools are able to enjoy the playground on a regular basis. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has funded the

This, Henry said, is intended as a pilot project to create public awareness by sensitising children about the disposal, purpose, and value of waste. She believes the concept can be further developed at a later date into a composting project operated by children as part of their school's agriculture science syllabus and viewed as a model for a small business opportunity – marketing valuable earth to private gardeners across the country.

When Guyana becomes a garden city once again, then citizens truly would have made a garden from garbage, Henry added. Other features of the playground include the benab, walkways, and a drinking water fountain with sinks at four levels to provide comfortable access to children of varying heights.

Apart from UNICEF, GT&T and the National Park, the club has received tremendous support from the National Commission on Disability and the Protected Areas Commission.

The Inner Wheel Club of Georgetown was chartered on March 16, 1985, and is part of the Rotary family.

While all the Inner Wheel members are required to help in all activities, there are four committees that perform the groundwork for specific areas: fundraising, community outreach, scholarship award programme, and membership and friendship.

The club belongs to a large group of 3895 clubs making up the organisation known as International Inner Wheel, which operates in 103 countries worldwide and has a total of 100,000 members.

International Inner Wheel holds a convention triennially where an international programme is chosen and supported by all the clubs across the world.

At the 15th triennial convention in Istanbul in 2012, it was decided that the theme for all clubs to centre their projects around would be, “Happier futures – helping children around the world now”. According to Henry, “This theme fits comfortably into our club’s ongoing work to give children a better life.”

The next phase of the programme is geared at building the capacity of child advocates in environmental awareness, pride in maintaining the facilities, and monitoring.

ormer Deputy Commissioner of the Protected Areas Commission, Denise Fraser said ecotourism in Guyana remains virtually untapped.

Speaking at the recent launch of the “Wetlands of Guyana” publication by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Fraser noted that the important economic benefits of wetlands and their biodiversity are being increasingly recognised not only in Guyana but around the world.

The Guyana government is pursuing a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which views biodiversity and conservation as well as the Protected Areas Commission as playing critical roles in meeting developmental objectives.

According to Fraser, the landmark Protected Areas Act, which was passed in 2011, allows for the establishment of a protected area system as well as a Protected Areas Commission for the first time in Guyana to manage the system.

Among the existing protected areas is Shell Beach in Region One, which comprises the largest stretch of wetlands under protection in Guyana. “We now need

to manage these existing areas with information from the scientific data available and knowledge of the ecosystem,” Fraser noted.

Increasingly popular

However, there are research gaps on the extent of diversity, and environmental and economic value of the wetlands. National and international research institutions as well as nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) have a huge role to play in this regard.

“The more information and perspective we can get to guide the management of the areas the better job we can do in protection, managing and development these areas,” Fraser added.

Ecotourism is probably one of the most misused words in the tourism industry.

However, it is becoming increasingly popular in many tourist destinations, including Guyana. With increasing awareness of climate change and its impacts, the drive to preserve the environment and human health while deriving economic benefits from the natural environment is fast becoming a trend.

TURN TO PAGE 17

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SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Caribbean to benefit from German China's president arrives in Trinidad aid for projects through 2018

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ermany will focus on providing assistance to the Caribbean in areas of climate change, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and natural resources management and biodiversity, according to its assistance programme for the period ending 2018.

A Caribbean Community (Caricom) statement said the German government’s

position was outlined during a recent meeting to review the Caricom-Germany technical cooperation programme.

The German delegation was led by German embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, Deputy Head of Mission Ullrich Kinne, while the Caricom team was led by Resource Mobilisation and Technical Assistance (RMTA) Executive Director

Percival Marie.

“While outlining the areas of focus for the current programming period, the German delegation also pointed out that the Caricom Secretariat was regarded as Germany’s major development partner in the Caribbean for the planning and coordination of regional projects.”

The statement said that projects which have

been approved over the last three years under the Caricom-Germany cooperation programme cost in excess of euro 30 million and the current portfolio of German-funded regional projects includes three in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention, two in renewable energy, two in climate change, and one in natural resources management.

(Caribbean360)

Gonsalves requests 90-minute talks with Kamla to discuss fuel subsidy

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renada Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said he has requested a 90-minute meeting with his Trinidadian counterpart Kamla Persad Bissessar next month to discuss the Caribbean Air Navigation and Advisory Services (CANAS) and regional airline, LIAT. Gonsalves said when he was in Port of Spain on Tuesday for talks with United States Vice President Joe Biden, “I spoke to the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago and I suggested to her that when we have the heads of government meeting in July, I asked her

if she could put aside about 90 minutes (so) that we can talk.”

Gonsalves said the talks will be “at a political level” because both the Organisation of Eastern

Caribbean States (OECS) have mandated him to talk to Port of Spain about the operations of CANAS and shareholders governments of LIAT have empowered him to speak to Trinidad

and Tobago on those issues.

He further said that Barbados has also authorised him to speak on their behalf “on the issue of the airspace”.

Gonsalves is the Caribbean Community’s (Caricom) lead prime minister of regional transportation and chairman of LIAT shareholder governments LIAT shareholder governments have complained about the fuel subsidy that Port of Spain gives to Caribbean Airlines (CAL), and OECS governments have expressed concerns about the operations of CANAS. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

President Xi Jinping

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hina’s President Xi Jinping arrived in Trinidad on Friday evening for a three-day state visit. He was be accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan, and a number of government officials and media personnel.

It was the first time that a Chinese president has visited Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.

It is expected that China and Trinidad and Tobago will review their existing bilateral relationship and will seek to deepen areas of trade and investment, energy, technical cooperation, and the exchange of high level visits and cultural exchanges.

Both countries are interested in strengthening the China-Caribbean cooperation and China-Latin America and Caribbean cooperation. Both leaders will seek an expansion of cooperation in international affairs, including reform of the United Nations system, reform of the international financial and trade architecture, climate change, and global security.

On Sunday, the Chinese president will meet with Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders whose countries have diplomatic relations with China.

Jinping and his delegation will leave Trinidad on Sunday afternoon. (Caribbean News Now)

Dominican Republic and Cuba to expand U.S. woman freed trade relations from Mexican jail

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he Dominican Republic and Cuba have taken new steps aimed at increasing commercial relations, as the two Caribbean nations are currently making efforts to develop their economies and cushion the effects of the current global crisis.

A Cuban delegation headed by Ambassador Alexis Bandrich was welcomed on Wednesday by the

Chamber of Commerce and the mayor of the northwestern city of Santiago in the Dominican Republic. The two parties addressed opportunities to develop new business projects for mutual benefit.

The president of Santiago’s Chamber of Commerce, Maria Victoria Menicucci, said they hoped to reach accords that boost bilateral trade.

Addressing executives from 20 local companies, Menicucci said that Santiago is a region marked by its livestock and agricultural production and freezone services. She particularly referred to the local construction material sector, such as cement, blocks, and metallic structures, which are sold on the international market.

The executive said it is

necessary to deepen trade relations between the two countries and she went on to stress that Cuba is currently diversifying its economy, which offers many opportunities for advancement.

Meanwhile, Bandrich expressed his country’s interest in identifying opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation and consider new projects. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

TT: Email scandal, sign Jamaica: Foetus found in pit toilet, teenage of crimes for power

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ne of the darkest times in the country’s history was the description Roman Catholic Archbishop Joseph Harris gave for how some citizens felt about the email scandal that implicates members of the People’s Partnership government. During the Corpus Christi High Mass on Thursday, Archbishop Harris addressed a large gathering at Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, and spoke on many issues affecting the country, including the email scandal.

While the Archbishop did not name any particular political party, he said, “My dear friends, we gather here this morning during what

many are calling one of the darkest periods in our young history as a nation, the email scandal. Whether the emails are true or not? Whether they were fabricated or not?

Whatever the origin of these emails, it means that crimes were being committed for the sake of power.” Two weeks ago, opposition leader Dr Keith Rowley revealed in the parliament, during a vote of no- confidence, an email trail which allegedly involved Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Local Government Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan and national security adviser Gary Griffith. (Excerpt from Trinidad and Tobago Today)

girl held

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he police on Thursday evening took a 16-year-old girl into custody following the recovery of a foetus from a pit latrine on the premises where she lives in this farming community.

Last night, residents told the Jamaica Observer that they became concerned when they did not see the teenager, who they claimed was in an advanced state of pregnancy.

The residents launched a search and a foetus was found in a black plastic bag in a pit latrine in the yard in which she resides.

The teenage girl was

subsequently taken into custody.

The incident follows sharply on the heels of the discovery of the mutilated body of four-year-old Natasha Brown in a sinkhole in Duanvale, also in Trelawny, on Wednesday morning.

The child’s body was found during a search which was launched after she went missing on Tuesday.

A woman from the community has since been taken into custody in connection with the incident. However, up to late Thursday, she was not charged. (Jamaica Observer)

Yanira Maldonado was returning from her aunt’s funeral in Mexico

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U.S. woman has been freed after spending a week in a Mexican jail fighting drug-smuggling charges.

Yanira Maldonado, 42, left the jail near Nogales, Mexico and crossed into the U.S. state of Arizona on Thursday.

Maldonado had been returning to the U.S. from a family funeral when nearly 12lb (5.4kg) of marijuana was found under her coach seat at a checkpoint.

She denied the cannabis was hers, and the charges were dismissed when a court ruled prosecutors lacked evidence.

Her husband said he was arrested first, but Maldonado pleaded to stay with him and officials ar-

rested her instead.

Maldonado subsequently gave a tearful jailhouse interview to a U.S. television station, and at a press conference after her release, she thanked journalists for helping to expedite her case.

“Many thanks to everyone, especially my God who let me go free, my family, my children, who with their help, I was able to survive this test,” Maldonado said.

But she pledged to return to Mexico: “It’s not Mexico’s fault. It’s a few people who did this to me.”

According to local news station KPNX-TV in Phoenix, Maldonado’s conditions in prison improved as her situation became more widely publicised. (Excerpt from BBC News)

15 Around the World

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

U.S., Germany urge Russia Train mows down three not to arm Syrian military elephants in eastern India

Fierce fighting has been raging around the key Syrian town of Qusair

T

he U.S. and Germany have called on Russia not to supply Syria’s military with an advanced missile system they say could prolong the conflict there.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the delivery of Russian weaponry would have a “profoundly negative impact” and put Israel’s security at risk.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle

urged Moscow not to hinder the chances of mooted peace talks.

In Syria, fierce fighting continued on Friday around the key town of Qusair.

Dozens of opposition fighters reached the town on Friday to bolster it against an offensive involving government forces and militants from Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group that supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

U.S. woman, British man killed in Syrian ambush

F

orces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad killed a 33-year-old Michigan woman who had converted to Islam, and a British man during an ambush in a northwestern province, Syrian state media said on Friday.

Nicole Mansfield’s aunt, Monica Mansfield Speelman, told Reuters on Thursday the FBI had informed her that afternoon of the death of her niece, who was from Flint, Michigan.

Syrian state television aired footage showing the body of the woman, who was dressed in a full black hijab.

The footage also showed her

American ID. State media said the woman and two others apparently were killed in the ambush by Syrian government forces on an opposition mission north of Idlib.

Syrian media also showed the passport of a British man, Ali alManasfi, 22.

European security source confirmed that report to Reuters.

British daily The Guardian quoted a Syrian army officer as saying it was believed a third person killed was Canadian because his cell phone listed numerous calls to Canada.

It was not clear when the ambush occurred. (Excerpt from

One opposition activist told the BBC the humanitarian situation in the town near the Lebanese border was worsening, with 800 wounded people needing treatment.

Kerry and Westerwelle held talks in Washington a day after Assad said a Russian contract to supply the S-300 surface-to-air missile defence system was being implemented, without confirming any deliveries.

The S-300 is a highly capable system that, as well as targeting aircraft, also has the capacity to engage ballistic missiles.

Two Russian newspapers on Friday quoted defence sources as saying that it was unclear if any of the missile system would be delivered this year.

Kerry called on Russia not to upset the balance in the region by providing weaponry to the Assad regime, “whether it’s an old contract or not”.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

A

train speeding through a forested corridor in India’s West Bengal killed three elephants and another is in a critical condition, a wildlife official said Friday.

A baby elephant was among the animals killed in the pre-dawn collision in India’s Jalpaiguri district some 620 kilometres (385 miles) north of the state capital Kolkata, said VK Sood, chief conservator of forests in West Bengal state.

Another elephant is still

A

judge on Friday charged a recent convert to Islam who stabbed a French soldier over the weekend with “attempted murder linked to a terrorist enterprise”, a judicial source said.

The 22-year-old was arrested Wednesday after the

T

News)

stabbing of a soldier in a busy Paris commercial complex and transport hub of La Defence that came on the heels of the brutal murder of a soldier in London.

The man, Alexandre D, admitted after his arrest that he stabbed Private First Class Cedric Cordiez

in the neck. Cordiez has since been discharged from hospital.

Video footage from the shopping centre showed him buying two knives an hour prior to the attack on Saturday, and praying eight minutes before the stabbing.

(France24)

Turkey police clash with Istanbul Gezi Park protesters

T

urkish police have used tear gas and water cannon against protesters occupying a park in central Istanbul.

Scores of people have suffered injuries, several of them when a wall collapsed during a police chase.

Demonstrators had held a four-day sit-in at Gezi Park, angry at plans to redevelop that part of Taksim Square.

But there is wider anger against PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Unrest has spread to the capital, Ankara, while protests were also reported in Bodrum and Konya.

Earlier this month, riot police clashed with tens of

thousands people attempting to hold a May Day march in Istanbul.

The controversial redevelopment project is aimed at easing congestion around Taksim Square, but also involves building a shopping centre over Gezi Park.

Opponents of Erdogan’s plans say the park is one of the few green areas left in central Istanbul.

One banner at Friday’s protest included a cartoon of Erdogan dressed as an Ottoman sultan with the slogan: “The people will not bow down to you.”

“We do not have a government, we have Tayyip Erdogan,” political scien-

Reuters)

rugged area with a significant population of militant groups.

The Pakistani Taliban will not accept any offer from the government for a peace dialogue, Ehsan said.

Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistani politician who is expected to serve as the next prime minister, has broached the issue of engaging in peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban.

Militants in the tribal region, including the Pakistani Taliban, long have been conducting an insurgency against the Pakistani government.

Rehman – now buried in a secret North Waziristan location, Ehsan said – was wanted by the United States

Thursday, he said, adding that investigators were also looking at the levels of visibility on the track at the time.

As many as 36 elephants have been killed by trains in the area since 2004, Sood said.

India’s former Rail Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said in a Railway budget speech in February the department needed to make special provision to protect what he called “these gentle giants”. (Excerpt from BBC

Paris soldier stabbing suspect hit with terror-linked charges

Pakistani Taliban vows to avenge death of deputy leader he Pakistani Taliban will avenge the group’s number two leader, who was slain Wednesday in a drone strike, and would not listen to government peace initiatives, a spokesman said Thursday.

Ehsanullah Ehsan, the group’s spokesman, told CNN the group holds the Pakistani government responsible for the death of Wali-Ur Rehman Mehsud.

Rehman is one of seven people slain when a drone struck a target near the town of Miranshah, according to a local official and an intelligence official. The target is in the North Waziristan district of Pakistan’s tribal region – a

in a critical condition after the train plowed into part of a herd crossing the tracks, he said.

Concern over similar incidents had prompted railway authorities to restrict train speeds in the area to 25km an hour. However, the railway department has said a speed of 50km an hour was permissible in the area where the accident occurred.

Sood said an inquiry is now underway to determine the speed of the train that killed the elephants

Protesters opposed to the redevelopment had camped out in Gezi Park for four days

tist and protester Koray Caliskan told the Reuters news agency.

“They are not listening

on suspicion of being involved in the December 2009 suicide bomb attack that killed seven CIA employees at Forward Operating

Base Chapman in Khost, Afghanistan, according to a publication by the U.S. National Counterterrorism Centre. (Excerpt from CNN)

News)

Topless Tunisian activist fined, faces new charges

O

This undated image by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan shows the leader Hakimullah Mehsud and his deputy Wali-ur Rehman

to us,” he added. “This is the beginning of a summer of discontent.” (Excerpt from BBC

n Thursday, a Tunisian court fined and charged a prominent member of the feminist group Femen for carrying an “incendiary object’’, on the opening day of her highprofile trial in a conservative central Tunisian city. The topless activist was remanded in custody at the end of the hearing, pending more serious charges.

Amina Sboui, known as Amina Tyler, appeared for her first hearing at Kairouan City Court dressed in a white robe and seemed calm as outside the court, hundreds of protesters chanted slogans against her, accus-

ing the Tunisian activist of insulting Islam.

Tyler scandalised many in her home country for posting topless photos of herself with the slogan “my body is my own” written on her torso.

Femen, a Ukrainian feminist protest group with members around the world, has been receiving increasing publicity and notoriety in recent months for its trademark protests featuring topless women. Two French women and a German are currently being held in custody in Tunisia after participating in a Femen protest earlier this week. (Excerpt from France24)

16

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Caribbean

Africa

Jamaica aims to improve technology Nigeria, South Africa account for 95 per cent of Africa’s investment sector against cyber attacks

T

he Jamaica government says it will soon implement a cyber emergency response team (CERT) to assist in the protection of the island’s Internet infrastructure by coordinating defences against and responses to cyber attacks and threats.

Minister of State in the Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Ministry, Julian Robinson, said that CERT should become operational by December and that the team will serve as a trusted national point of contact/clearing-

house for cyber threat identification, defence coordination and management.

Robinson said it would also enable the development of an infrastructure for coordinating responses to threats, and conduct incident, vulnerability and artefact analyses.

It will also help organisations develop their own incident management capabilities.

Robinson told legislators that the Portia SimpsonMiller government has entered into an agreement with the International

Telecommunications Union (ITU) to provide technical assistance to establish the CERT and to assist in the building and deployment of the related technical capabilities.

He said the consultations should begin in June and the deliverables under the project include the establishment of a functioning national CERT, which is able to provide its constituents with a basic set of services, that will identify, respond to, and manage cyber threats. (Caribbean360)

North America GE Capital to sell U.S. real estate, Canadian fleet portfolios

G

E Capital will sell off some U.S. real estate assets and its Canadian vehicle leasing business, as part of parent General Electric Co’s efforts to reduce the size of the financial unit.

In separate deals announced on Friday, GE Capital said it would sell its US$807 million U.S. property portfolio to American Realty

Capital Properties, while Element Financial Corp will take over its Canadian auto fleet portfolio for US$553.48 million.

General Electric last week said it was considering spinning off parts of the financial arm through an initial public offering.The conglomerate has been focusing on shrinking its financial business since the 2007-2008 global economic

crisis. It has offloaded several assets held by GE Capital to reduce its dependence on the unit. GE derived nearly half of its earnings from continuing operations from GE Capital in fiscal 2012.

The diversified company is also looking for successors to GE Capital Chief Executive Michael Neal, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing sources.(Reuters)

Europe

Eurozone unemployment hits record 12.2 per cent

U

nemployment in the troubled eurozone region hit a record high of 12.2 per cent last month.

The latest official data from Eurostat shows nearly 100,000 additional people were out looking for work in April compared with the previous month, when unemployment was pegged at 12.1 per cent.

The usual suspects – Spain and Greece – are facing the highest levels of un-

employment. The latest data show unemployment levels of roughly 27 per cent in both countries, with youth unemployment well above 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, Austria and Germany have the lowest jobless levels out of the 17 countries that use the euro currency. Austria’s unemployment was just below five per cent in April and Germany’s unemployment was 5.4 per cent.

In total, 19.4 million peo-

ple in the eurozone were unemployed in April.

To put that in context, Australia’s population was just over 22 million at last count, a stark reminder of just how many people are struggling in Europe. High youth unemployment has been particularly worrisome for politicians and European officials.

Eurostat data show eurozone unemployment among those under the age of 25 topped 24.4 per cent in April. (CNN Money)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

Fixed as at January 7, 2013 Calculated at 94% purity

Buying

Selling

U.S.

GBP

$310.58

$344.58

Cambio

CAN

$161.50

$181.42

Gross

$312,663

$205.58

Net

$290,776

Selling

$322,632

Cur

$198.42

USD

$1645.25 $202.17

Indicators as on May 31, 2013 Live Spot Gold

Indicators

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1388.30

$1389.30

Low/High

$1383.90

$1413.10

Change

-25.40

1.80

May 28 USD GBP EUR May 27 USD GBP EUR

London Gold Fix AM 1410.25 926.94 1085.98 AM 1384.50 919.14 1074.01

Crude Oil Price Silver Platinum

US$ per barrel

Change %

$102.19

+0.11

USD per Ounce

Change %

$22.27 $1454.00

-0.51 -29.00

PM 1394.50 919.92 1075.51 PM 1382.50 915.02 1068.64

Last: 15115.57

Changes: -208.96

% Change: -1.36

Open: 15322.22

High: 15392.38

Low: 15115.57

% YTD: +15.35

52Wk Hi: 14887.51

52 Wk Lo: 12035.09

N

igeria and South Africa accounted for 95 per cent of total portfolio investment of US$20.15 billion (N3.204 trillion) recorded in the African continent in 2012, according to the African Development Bank, AfDB. The AfDB in its annual African Economic Outlook said total portfolio investment in Africa in 2012 stood at around US$20.15 billion and was expected

to increase by 30 per cent to US$26.2 billion (N4.166 trillion) in 2013, eclipsing the pre-crisis peak of US$22.5 billion in 2006.

The AfDB also gave a forecast of the growth in Africa’s economy at 4.8 per cent and 5.3 per cent in 2013 and 2014 respectively, driven by commodity exporters in West Africa such as Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast.

According to the AfDB

Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, to Africa, was set to rise by more than 10 per cent in 2013, approaching its 2008 record high, with the fast-growing sub-Saharan region likely to receive the majority of inflows.

It however, noted that a weaker global economy and a prolonged crisis in the euro zone could reduce commodity export earnings, overseas aid, migrant remittances and FDI inflows. (allAfrica)

Asia

India’s economic growth at slowest rate in a decade

I

ndia’s economy grew at its slowest pace in a decade during the 2012-13 financial year, figures show.

The economy grew by five per cent over the year, after having grown at an annual pace of 4.8 per cent in the January to March quarter.

India was recording annual growth of nine per cent until two years ago, but in recent months it has seen a sharp decline blamed on a

slowdown in its manufacturing and services sectors.

Foreign investors have also kept away due to delays in key reforms.

According to the latest figures released by the statistics ministry, India’s manufacturing sector grew at an annual pace of 2.6 per cent during the latest quarter while farm output rose by just 1.4 per cent.

The figures are in line

with official estimates. In February, India lowered its growth forecast to five per cent for the year, underlining the challenges it faced in reviving the sluggish economy. Last month, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the current downturn was “temporary” and he was confident the country’s economy would bounce back to an “eight per cent growth rate”. (BBC News)

Middle East

UAE makes big leap in global competitiveness list

T

he UAE’s prime minister has hailed the country’s achievements after it was named the eighth most competitive nation in the world in a new global list.

The UAE was the biggest climber of all 60 countries covered in the ranking, which was produced by IMD, a top-ranked business school based in Switzerland.

The UAE overtook Qatar, which remained in 10th position, to become the Middle East’s top ranked country.

Jordan, which has been beset by economic problems in the past year, was the only other regional nation ranked and it fell seven places to 56th.

The U.S. has regained the number 1 spot in 2013 from Hong Kong which dropped to third.

Switzerland (2nd), Sweden (4th) and Singapore (5th) made up the top five in the list.

Commenting on the overall competitiveness report, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also

UAE vice president and ruler of Dubai, said: “I am very optimistic about our future, confident in our people, and we will keep the hard work going. Our goal is and will always be the prosperity of the UAE people.”

The Swiss-based IMD’s Global Competitiveness Yearbook ranks and analyses countries on the basis of over 300 criteria on how they use their resources to increase prosperity including economic growth, environmental concerns and quality of life. (Arabianbusiness)

Investors' guide

How to value a company in three steps

I

n a manner of metaphor, valuing a company is like valuing a middle aged rock star. What instruments do they own? What songs do they own the copyrights on?

And can they fill a stadium of fans or just a coffee house?

Eddie Van Halen is still making money on his guitar patents, but when was the last time Van Halen had a hit record? Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead passed away in 1995, but the Jerry Garcia clothing brand is still going

strong. Valuing a company requires evaluating actual value alongside perceived values and somewhere in between is the estimated market value.

The challenge is that while the middle aged rock star (aka company) is looking in the mirror – they see themselves as a “rock legend”. However, value is determined from the other side of the looking glass.

Step 1a: asset vaue – tangibles

Assets are what the company owns outright, like office

Business concept – Collateral

equipment, vehicles, inventory etc. The list can get long and represents a tangible value. In other words, if the company closed its door today, this is the value of what could be sold. There is no guarantee of course what the actual sales would be and this value would be affected by debt and accounts payable.

Nevertheless, tangible asset value is a form of perceived security blanket. If the company liquidates, this is the approximate value. (Business Dictionary) (TO BE CONTINUED)

Secondary, subordinate, or supplementary item accompanying a primary item. Specific asset (such as land or building) pledged as a secondary (and subordinate) security by a borrower or guarantor. The principal security is usually the borrower’s personal guaranty, or the cash flow of a business.

NEWS

17

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

New batch of Chinese Angoy’s Avenue rape trial doctors arrive ends in hung jury

T

T

Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran (centre) surrounded by the Chinese doctors

he 11th batch of Chinese medical doctors has arrived in Guyana to commence a twoyear tour of duty.

The doctors were welcomed on Friday by Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran at his Brickdam, Georgtown office. They will serve at the Georgetown Public Hospital and the Linden Hospital Complex in the areas of orthopaedics, urology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, anesthesiology, plastic surgery and acupuncture.

The Chinese doctors have

already been introduced to the Georgetown Public Hospital and will begin their service within a week’s time. Minister Ramsaran noted that the Chinese medical team has been doing an excellent job in Guyana.

He pointed out that this batch will complement and build on the achievements of the previous batch. The minister said too that the new batch is expected to make a big impact in medical sector, noting that they have brought skills that are scarce in Guyana.

Meanwhile, Deputy

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Li Qinfeng stated that the previous contingents of doctors have all served Guyana wholeheartedly and the new batch will do the same. “In this regard, we will like to express our gratitude to the government of Guyana and I was told that this outgoing batch of Chinese medical team was one of the best that has been received thus far,” stated the ambassador.

Dr Ramsaran charged the doctors to create a model for all the future teams to emulate.

GT&T Jingle and Song Final set for June 14 at NCC

T

he long-awaited final of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Jingle and Song competition has been confirmed for Friday, June 14 at the National Cultural Centre.

Both the Bollywood and English contestants will compete as they vie for the title of this year’s Guyana Star. Immediately after the performances from the 16 finalists, the telephone lines will be opened for voting. The public will have the opportunity to vote for

their favourite contestants over a period stipulated by the telephone company.

The winners will be announced at the grand finale, which will be scheduled for a date to be announced.

Those who made it to the final in the Bollywood segment are: Yeataindra Singh, Andy Rambarack, Reshma Persaud, Devchandra Ramrattan, Bibi Halima Khan, Sasenarine Hitnarayan, Harresh Singh, Bunty Singh, Danishwar Bisessar, and Erick Sukrah.

Those who made it to the final

of the English segment are Neil Maraj, T’Shanna Cort, Diana Chapman, Natasha Yhap, Lerone Souvenir, Edward Perez, Ryan Hoppie, Darren Benjamin, Lemuel Chestor, and Michael Small.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Monday, June 3, and cost $1500 and $1000.

Close to 1000 persons from across the country auditioned for the competition in March this year. The winners in the two segments will each walk away with a motor car, along with one $1 million.

Trio fined for illegal entry

T

hree persons were fined for illegal entry when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Hemwattie Grovanand, 31, of Bounty Hall, Essequibo; and Ingrid Reasco, 21, and Cai Cedo, 25, of Colombia plead-

ed guilty to the separate charges which state that on May 28, they arrived in Guyana by sea without presenting themselves to an immigration officer at Charity, Essequibo Coast.

According to court documents, Reasco is an immigrant from Colombia who does not speak English but she stayed with Grovanand after entering Guyana, and

Cedo came to Guyana to see what it has to offer.

Attorney Paul Fung-AFat represented all three defendants and asked his clients be fined a small sum.

The chief magistrate fined Grovanand the sum of $20,000, and Reasco and Cedo $30,000 each, with the alternative of three months in prison.

Police to take proactive approach at Roraima Housing Scheme

T

he Home Affairs Ministry said steps have been taken to address concerns of residents of Roraima Housing Scheme, Versailles, West Bank Demerara.

The ministry in a release

said the police commissioner has been written to with a request that a proactive approach be taken immediately by the Guyana Police Force, specifically the divisional commander and his ranks, so that peace and se-

curity could be restored to the residents of that community.

There have been recent reports of the area being targeted by bandits and residents have expressed fear for their lives and property.

he accused in the Angoy’s Avenue carnal knowledge trial will have to be tried again in the Berbice Assizes for the offence.

The retrial was ordered on Friday by Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes. This was after the trial ended in a hung jury of eight to four in favour of the accused. Leon Mickle also called “Eon” of Angoys Avenue was on trial for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 15. Mickle is accused of committing the act on a 12-year-old at Angoys Avenue on July 15, 2007.

During the trial, the state which was being represented by Attorney Mc Cammon called forth witnesses while the defence which was led by attorney Sasha Roberts called one witness and the accused, who gave a sworn statement from the witness box, claiming that he was at a bar at the time the incident occurred.

During the trial, Mc Cammon said the state was not concerned whether there was consent or not. The attorney said at that age, the victim was incapable of giving consent. “The prosecution has set out to prove that the accused is the one that committed the act and to prove that it was committed on the 12-year-old.”

According the prosecutor, the state is going to prove that there was penetration and does not have to prove to what degree there was penetration. She said that the victim was in her bed asleep when she was awoken and saw a man in her bedroom.

He then proceeds to have sexual intercourse with her.

The victim recognised him to be Leon Mickle also called “Eon”. The matter was related to the police and he was subsequently arrested and

Leon Mickle

charged.

In addressing the jury, Roberts noted that the victim in her evidence claimed that the incident occurred about 01:30h and the victim was in bed when she was awoken and saw a man in her bedroom. At the time, the victim’s two sisters, ages seven and 10 were asleep in the same bed when the incident happened.

Roberts said the victim’s mother was awoken by the incident. The attorney said that the accused told the court that he had encountered bad relations with the mother of the alleged victim since he had cut an electric wire she was using to steal electricity. She urged the jury to have sympathy with the accused as he is a young man and a father of four. The jury was reminded that one of the witnesses said he was at the same club with the accused at the time incident allegedly occurred.

In response, Mc Cammon asked the jury to judge the case with no sympathy, but to do so fairly based on the evidence of the victim. She said the accused went into the house and asked for mon-

ey, but was told by the victim that her mother only had $2000, which was in a pillow. She said after the incident, the victim was asked to go and get the money and on her way, she passed a lamp and got a good view of the face of the accused. The state prosecutor told the court that the victim knew the accused because he was her neighbour for several months.

The defence argued that the house is a small one and based on the testimony of the alleged victim’s mother, it is only she who was awoken by the noise. Roberts questioned how come this happened and the victim’s father and brothers were not awoken and her sisters who were asleep on the same bed.

Mc Cammon in responding said, “You all know that it is the devil’s own job to wake a child up at that hour in the morning… It is not something far fetched that the accused could not have had sex with the victim without waking up the children. The jury took two hours before they returned unable to decide on Mickle’s faith.

Guyana’s ecotourism opportunities...

FROM PAGE 13

Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is commonly defined as responsible travel to areas that conserve the environment and improve the well-being of local people. Ecotourism involves travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas and helps to educate the traveller and provide funds for conservation, directly benefiting the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and fostering respect for different cultures and human rights.

Ecotourism unites conservation communities and sustainable travel.

Guyana, with more than 75 per cent of its land mass covered by pristine rainforest, has great potential for ecotourism. Its rich biodiversity, which encompasses a wide spectrum of unique plants and animals, makes Guyana’s ecotourism experience different from that

of the typical Caribbean island.

In Guyana, ecotourism is viewed as an environmentally-friendly way of utilising the natural environment, as opposed to traditional forms of tourism such as nature tourism and adventure tourism, which are not necessarily environmentally-friendly.

Over the years, the scope for ecotourism in Guyana has grown, as the country offers experiences which make us stand out from the other ecotourism destinations. However, we still need to ensure that adequate legislation is in place, along with effective monitoring of this rapidly expanding industry.

If its principles are stringently adhered to, ecotourism can also contribute to the enhancement of Guyana’s LCDS. A well-established ecotourism industry has minimal impact on

the environment and builds awareness and respect for the local culture and environment. It also educates visitors via on-site visits about the local political, social and environmental issues, protects wildlife habitats, and provides visitors with ideas to influence their own country.

One advantage of ecotourism is that it increases the monetary value of standing biological systems, and thereby encourages the preservation of biological diversity. However, issues arise when certain kinds of ecotourism do not contribute much to the local economy, meaning that they can enrich a few people while leaving others out of the loop. In this case, for those left out, there is still little incentive to engage in conservation.

Another benefit of ecotourism is that it brings people closer to nature and creates a greater desire to protect it.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ARCHIE

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

The right knowledge is one thing, the right connections are another.

Fortunately, you’ll do very well, because you’ll have both.

DILBERT

CANCER (June 21July 22) To gather some support for an important matter, you need to present your case as ingeniously as you can. Don’t put any limitations on your thinking.

AQUARIUS

LEO

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(July 23Aug. 22)

It’s time to look at a problematic situation in a fresh way.

Innovation will lead to much-needed progress.

Certain problematical situations can be turned to your advantage. You’ll need to show much initiative and not a little pluck, but you can do it.

CALVIN AND HOBBES PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) An acquaintance who’s often in an adversarial role will unexpectedly become an ally. Together, you’ll accomplish something very impressive.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) The game isn’t over until the last play. Keep this in mind if you find yourself involved in a competitive development.

PEANUTS ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Just when you think everything is going against you, something unexpected, with profitable ramifications, could develop. It pays to never give up.

A spur-of-the-moment invitation could put you in the company of some very pleasant new acquaintances.

This can be a fun day.

SUDOKU TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Be a keen observer and you’ll discover how to deal with a complicated situation. A capable colleague who has handled similar issues in the past could be of great help.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Though you prefer to function independently, today you’re likely to accept a last-minute invitation. Surprisingly, you’ll be happy to be a team player.

Friday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) There’s a strong chance you could participate in a worthwhile endeavour initiated by two people. It isn’t likely you’ll be invited to take part; you will have to ask.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Things are looking pretty good in terms of favourable financial activity. Don’t stop working on new ways to add to your bank balance.

news 19

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saturday june 1, 2013

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errence Hodge was on Friday charged for the murder of a man during a dogfight row at Industry, East Coast Demerara on Sunday. Hodge appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and was remanded to prison for the murder of Adrian Richmond. Richmond, according to a post-mortem report, was stabbed 19 times about his body. The 31-yearold Richmond, an ex-police officer of Lot 104 Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed to his chest and abdomen during a squabble with several other persons in Industry, ECD, minutes after viewing a dogfight.

Richmond’s brother, Devon, had related that he and Adrian, along with their sister, were at the dogfight when a woman became annoyed.

The brother said that he and the woman had a “talk” after which she began provoking him by following him around with an iron object, threatening to hit him. “So me brother (Adrian) turn and ask she if she is me mother, because she say she want hit me and then some boys that went with she turn and tell me brother don’t get stupid and the two of them went at it,” he recalled.

Devon said one of the men walked up to his brother and punched him to his mouth, so a scuffle ensued. “At one point, me brother was beating this other guy up and when his friends see this, they jump in and they start kicking and cuffing me brother on the ground.”

He said that there were about eight to 10 men beating his brother and one of them jumped on his brother and appeared to be “firing punches”,

Adrian Richmond

which turned out to be knife blows. He said the group of attackers then moved away from his brother, got into a vehicle and left.

Sterner action Meanwhile, in a statement, the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) said that the “sport” of dog fighting is one of the most brutal, senseless and inhumane acts, and it is no surprise that the people who participate in this atrocity exhibit the same characteristics. “If one can goad animals to destroy one another, sometimes to the death, then why should taking the life of a fellow human being be any different? “ the body said.

It added that over the years, the GSPCA has received many reports about dogfights in progress by citizens who are too terrified to provide their names or to make a proper report, because of the kind of people involved in promoting and executing dogfights – for “fun” or as a commercial undertaking. Such reports are more in the form of “tip-offs”.

“It should be remembered that on several occasions, the

O

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TO let

– GSPCA condemns sport as brutal, senseless GSPCA has written about these crimes. Relative to the most recent incident, we learnt in the Stabroek News of 28th May, 2013 that the “dogfighting promoter” was previously charged with animal cruelty.

The society is most anxious to learn about the details of this charge and the ensuing legal action. The society can’t help but wonder that if sterner action were taken by the police and the judiciary — enough to deter this person from promoting dogfighting – whether the deceased young man would be alive today.“ According to the GSPCA, the time has come to stop dogfights”. Those charged with enforcing the law must now send a message that dog fighting is a criminal offense which the Guyana Police Force will take seriously and deal with sternly. We need to let the public know that dog fighting will not be condoned, that citizens can lodge reports about dog fighting without fearing for their lives; and moreover, that the Guyana Police Force will take serious actions against perpetrators. The very moral fibre of our society can be improved if these messages are delivered with impact.

“The GSPCA has been in contact with the Office of the Attorney General relative to the establishment of a special court to deal speedily with issues concerning cruelty to animals, gender and child abuse, and of environmental damage.” Concerned citizens can report atrocities such as dog fighting to the Quick Response Unit: 225-6411 or the GSPCA on 226-4237. The executive committee of the GSPCA extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved family.

One hurt in three-vehicle smash-up at La Grange

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ne man identified as Nassir Rahaman of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo was admitted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital with injuries to his head, back, and neck following a three-vehicle collision at La Grange, West Bank Demerara on Friday evening.

The accident reportedly occurred about 18:00h when a blue Toyota Fielder bearing registration number PNN 5543 slammed into a black Raum, driven by Afraz Mangru, bearing licence plate number HC 1714 in the process of overtaking. Rahaman, the driver of the Fielder who was heading to Canal Number One Polder to drop off a passenger, subsequently lost control and crashed into a silver-grey Toyota CRV with registration number PGG 8260 before ending up in a nearby canal. Rahaman was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.

The name of the female who was at the hospital seeking medical attention was not immediately available to the media. When Guyana Times

The wrecked Toyota Fielder being winched from the canal

arrived at the scene, there was a line of traffic waiting to move off, as tow trucks attempted to remove the wrecked vehicles from the scene.

Persons were seen removing the stereo system from the wrecked Toyota Fielder and minutes later, the car was winched from the trench and loaded onto a truck. The three vehicles were taken to the La Grange Police Station.

At the station, Mangru told Guyana Times that he was heading to his Eccles, East Bank Demerara home after dropping a passenger at Bagotville. In the vicinity of West Side Taxi Service, he saw

the blue car heading towards him in his lane.

He attempted to pull onto the parapet, but the speeding car, which was also blasting music, slammed into him.

Mangru stated that Rahaman, commonly called “Nickel”, was under the influence of alcohol and attempted to escape from the scene, but was intercepted by public spirited citizens.

Mangru said luckily he did not receive any injuries. Hours after the accident, he disclosed that none of Rahaman’s relatives had spoken to him in connection with his damaged car. Rahaman’s wife, Vashti, who was left surprised at the scene, could not confirm where her husband was heading. She disclosed that he works the vehicle as a private hire car for the White Diamond Taxi Service and at the time of the accident, he had another woman in the car. She explained that she received a call from a friend informing her about the accident and she rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where she saw him complaining of pain in his head, back, and neck.

20

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

Guptill hits ton as Kirk Edwards to captain A-Team S Kiwis beat England

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Martin Guptill

artin Guptill’s unbeaten century on Friday led New Zealand to a five-wicket win over England in the first match of the one-day series at Lord’s.

He made 103 not out off 123 balls as the tourists recovered from losing two wickets in the first over to overhaul a target of 228 with 19 balls to spare.

Ross Taylor weighed in with 54, while James Anderson took 3-31 for England.

Four England batsmen reached 30 but Jonathan Trott’s 37 was the highest score in a modest total of 227-9.

Guptill’s innings, which contained eight fours and four sixes, served to highlight the shortcomings of England’s batsmen on a pitch which offered no more than occasional assistance to bowlers.

He overcame the loss of Luke Ronchi and Kane Williamson in the space of three Anderson balls to share a match-shaping third-wicket stand of 120 with Taylor, and later helped negate any New Zealand nerves during a minor wobble before bringing up his third ODI hundred with the winning runs.

The loss of those two early wickets aside, New Zealand were rarely inconvenienced during their chase, although England were hampered by the absence of Stuart Broad and Steven Finn, both of whom will also miss the second game of the three-match series at the Rose Bowl on Sunday.

It is with the bat, however, where England require most improvement, and

their collapse from 117-2 on a blameless surface will give one-day coach Ashley Giles cause for concern with the Champions Trophy starting next week.

“I don’t think it was a wake-up call,” said captain Alastair Cook. “I just didn’t think we got it right today (Friday). We have quality players but none of us got the runs. We kept losing wickets at the wrong time.”

England were undermined by the loss of three wickets for nine runs, all of which owed more to poor shot selection than penetrative bowling. Openers Ian Bell and Alastair Cook had fallen in more authentic fashion – caught behind on the drive in successive Tim Southee overs – before Joe Root and Trott repaired the damage shared a restorative third-wicket stand worth 67.

The sensible manner in which they batted contrasted sharply with their dismissals, Root bowled aiming an ambitious reverse-sweep at Nathan McCullum before Trott swept to deep midwicket in the off-spinner’s next over.

When Eoin Morgan, advancing down the track, failed to withdraw his bat fully from an aborted hook at Mitchell McClenaghan and looped a catch behind, England had slipped to 165-5 in the 30th over.

The dangerous Jos Buttler reverse-swept Williamson tamely to backward point just as he appeared to be mounting a counter-attack, which left England grateful for the useful – rather than hefty – contributions of Chris Woakes and Tim Bresnan.

Woakes had made 36 when, on the charge, he sliced Kyle Mills to deep extra-cover, Bresnan played on to a Southee slower ball, and Graeme Swann drove the final delivery of the innings to mid-off.

Anderson renewed England’s hopes of defending a modest total when he accounted for Ronchi – making his debut for New Zealand after playing four ODIs for Australia – and Williamson courtesy of superb catches from Swann, at second slip, and wicketkeeper Buttler respectively.

But Taylor and Guptill counter-attacked to good effect, Guptill – put down on 13

by Bresnan above his head at fine-leg – lifting Swann for a towering six over long-off shortly after going to 50.

Dernbach was treated with similar disdain after Taylor was caught behind via inside edge aiming a flatfooted drive at Anderson, and even the departure of Grant Elliott and Brendon McCullum in quick succession failed to interrupt Guptill’s progress.

McCullum said: “We gave ourselves every opportunity by the way we bowled and fielded, then Martin played a fantastic innings.” (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD England innings A Cook* c †Ronchi b Southee 30 I Bell c †Ronchi b Southee 18 J Trott c Taylor b N McCullum 37 J Root b N McCullum 30 E Morgan c †Ronchi b McClenaghan 6 J Buttler† c McClenaghan b Williamson 14 C Woakes c Guptill b Mills 36 T Bresnan b Southee 25 G Swann c N McCullum b McClenaghan 15 J Anderson not out 5 Extras: (lb4, w6, nb1) 11 Total: (9 wkts, 50 overs) 227 Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-50, 3-117, 4-124, 5-126, 6-159, 7-182, 8-216, 9-227 Bowling: M McClenaghan 100-49-2, K Mills 10-0-36-1, T Southee 10-2-37-3, N McCullum 10-0-34-2, J Franklin 4-0-290, K Williamson 6-0-38-1

New Zealand innings L Ronchi† c Swann b Anderson 0 M Guptill not out 103 K Williamson c †Buttler b Anderson 0 R Taylor c †Buttler b Anderson 54 G Elliott b Swann 27 B McCullum* c Morgan b Dernbach 5 J Franklin not out 16 Extras: (b4, lb12, w10) 26 Total: (5 wkts, 46.5 overs) 231 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-121, 4-168, 5-185 Bowling: J Anderson 9-0-313, J Dernbach 10-1-55-1, C Woakes 6-0-45-0, T Bresnan 9.5-1-36-0, G Swann 100-33-1, J Root 2-0-15-0

t John’s, Antigua – Kirk Edwards will captain the West Indies A-Team when they face Sri Lanka-A in the first four-day “Test”, starting next Wednesday at Warner Park in St Kitts.

The 28-year-old Edwards led Barbados, when they won the recent Regional Four-Day title, claiming their 21st regional firstclass title.

Edwards has played nine Tests and nine One-day Internationals for the senior West Indies team between 2011 and last year.

Guyana captain Veerasammy Permaul has been named his deputy.

The 23-year-old Permaul was captain of the A-Team last year, when they prevailed over India-A in the corresponding home series last year.

The left-arm spinner has appeared in two Tests and four ODIs for the senior West Indies side between last year and this year.

Jamaican Junior Bennett will be head coach for the side with Stuart Williams, the former Leeward Islands captain and West Indies opener, as his deputy.

Lockhart Sebastien, the former Windward Islands batsman and current manager of the Windwards side, will be team operations manager for the series. (WICB) WEST INDIES-A: Kirk Edwards (captain), Veerasammy Permaul (vice captain), Kraigg

Kirk Edwards

Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cotterell, Miguel Cummins, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Leon Johnson, Nikita Miller, Chadwick Walton; Team management unit: Junior Bennett (head coach), Lockhart Sebastien (manager), Stuart Williams (assistant manager), Oba Gulston (physiotherapist), Dexter Augustus (video analyst) SRI LANKA-A: Dimuth Karunarathne (captain), Angelo Perera (vice captain), Chathuranga de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Gamage, Ishan Jayaratne, Udara Jayasundera,

Tharindu Kaushal, Madura Lakmal, Suranga Lakmal, Vimukthi Perera, Ashan Priyanjana, Malinda Pushpakumara, Kaushal Silva, Kithruwan Withanage; Team management unit: Romesh Kaluwitharana (head coach), Jayantha Seneviratne (manager), Champaka Ramanayake (fast bowling coach), Manoj Abeywickrema (fielding coach), Ranjith Nanayakkarawasam (physiotherapist), Mario Wellawarayan (fitness trainer), Dulip Samarasekera (video analyst), Lal Thamel (massage therapist), and Hashan Thilakaratne (selector).

FIFA racism measures could see teams expelled or relegated

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eams could be relegated or expelled from competitions for serious incidents of racism after tough new powers were voted in by FIFA. First or minor offences will result in either a warning, fine or order for a match to be played behind closed doors.

Serious or repeat offences can now be punished by a points deduction, expulsion or relegation.

Jeffrey Webb, head of FIFA’s anti-racism task force, said the decision was “a defining moment”.

He added: “Our football family is fully aware that what is reported in the media is actually less than one per cent of the incidents that happen around the world.

“We’ve got to take action so that when we look to the next 20 or 50 years this will be the defining time that we took action against racism and discrimination.”

FIFA, world football’s governing body, passed the antiracism resolution with a 99 per cent majority at its congress in Mauritius.

Richard Conway, reporting for BBC Sport at the congress, said a concern was raised over those who voted against the tougher racism measures.

“Former South African apartheid prisoner Tokyo

Jeffrey Webb

Sexwale, now a FIFA member, urged congress to check cameras to see who voted against racism rules,” he said.

“Sexwale says (the) one per cent vote against demonstrates how football still has to fight against racism.”

Webb said of the vote against the measures: “I would like to think it was a mistake but I’m glad it wasn’t the other way. I’m glad only one per cent went that way.”

Nonetheless, FIFA president Blatter accepted more must be done to eradicate racism.

He said: “We need zero tolerance and strict punishments everywhere. We must lead. We must set a tough, uncompromising example.

“We can make a difference.

We can send a strong signal to the racists that their time is

up.”

FIFA commissioned a task force to address the issue of racism after a friendly game between AC Milan and Pro Patria was abandoned due to racist chanting.

Their verdict includes putting an official inside the stadium to identify potential acts of racism and ease the pressure on the match referee.

The new rulings standardise punishment across the members, meaning federations will lose the power to impose their own judgements.

Further to the regulations that relate to clubs or international teams, the new meaone per cent sures will see any individual who commits a racist offence banned from stadiums for a minimum of five matches.

The five-match suspension is one that has been introduced by the Football Association, whose chairman David Bernstein sat on the task force in Mauritius.

Also on the task force was Kevin-Prince Boateng, the AC Milan player who led the walk-off in the game against Pro Patria in January.

Former England international striker Luther Blissett, an ambassador for anti-racism charity Show Racism The Red Card, admitted to reservations about the new measures. (BBC Sport)

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

James scores 30, Heat take game five, 90-79

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LeBron James

iami – The game was very much in doubt. A soldout arena was basically silent. The chance of getting back to the NBA Finals for a third straight year could have slipped away.

A third quarter for the ages by the four-time MVP turned the game, and perhaps the entire Eastern Conference finals, around.

James scored 16 of his 30 points in the quarter, fueling what was a 20-point turnaround at one point, and the Heat beat the Indiana Pacers 90-79 in Game 5 on Thursday night.

The Heat lead the series 3-2, with a chance to finish it off in Indiana tonight and move on to a finals matchup with the San Antonio Spurs. ‘’That’s what I came here for, to be able to compete for a championship each and ev-

ery year,’’ James said. ‘’I’m one step away from doing it once again. It’s not promised. It’s not promised at all. I made a tough decision.

Obviously, I think we all know the story. I envisioned something that was bigger as far as a team ... and we’ve got an opportunity as a team, once again, for the third year straight to make a trip to the NBA Finals.’’

Indiana was up 46-40 early in the third, surely sensing a chance to grab total control of the series.

Over the next 11 minutes, the Heat outscored the Pacers 30-10, with James either scoring or accounting for 25 Miami points. He shot 7 for 10 in the third quarter; the Pacers shot 3 for 14. He had four rebounds in the quarter; the Pacers, as a team, grabbed six. He had four assists in

the quarter; the Pacers had one.

“That’s LeBron showing his greatness and making it look easy,’’ Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ‘’What we talked about was doing whatever it takes and competing for each other without leaving anything out there. His engine in that third quarter was incredible. He was tireless, he was making plays on both ends of the court, rebounding, covering so much ground defensively and then making virtually every play for us offensively. It’s really remarkable.’’

James added eight rebounds and six assists, and Udonis Haslem made his last eight shots on the way to a 16-point night. Mario Chalmers scored 12 and Dwyane Wade added 10 for the Heat, who ousted the Pacers in six games in a second-round matchup last season and will look to do the same this time around, albeit one round deeper.

Paul George had 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers, who got 22 points from Roy Hibbert and 17 from David West.

The Pacers led by as many as seven at one point, but had no answer for the Heat in the third and now have to win back-to-back games - against a team that has not lost consecutive games since early January.

Haslem said Juwan Howard threw a few things in the locker room and had a few choice words for teammates at halftime – ‘’a lot of bleeps and stuff like that,’’ Haslem said – and that James echoed the same remarks just before the start of the third.

“We had 24 minutes to play for our livelihoods,’’ Haslem said. “And that’s how we played in the second half.’’ (Yahoo! Sport)

21

Nadal, Federer, Sharapova and Serena win

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Roger Federer

afael Nadal and Roger Federer both won at Roland Garros on Friday to keep their French Open hopes alive.

Seven-time champion Nadal recovered from losing the first set to beat Slovakia’s Martin Klizan and reach the third round.

Federer, winner in 2009, blitzed Julien Benneteau to reach the fourth round.

Women’s top seed Serena Williams and defending champion Maria Sharapova had easy wins, but Britain’s Jamie Murray is out of the men’s doubles.

Court Philippe Chatrier Marion Bartoli (Fra) [13] beat Mariana DuqueMarino (Col) 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 Maria Sharapova (Rus) [2] bt Eugenie Bouchard (Can) 6-2 6-4 Sharapova led 6-2 4-2 when the match was suspended because of rain on Thursday and wrapped up victory in 15 minutes on Friday.

But it was a promising first Grand Slam tournament for 19-year-old Bouchard, from Quebec, who won the Wimbledon girls’ singles title last year.

The defending champion, who made 28 unforced errors, now plays China’s Jie Zheng

Rafael Nadal

for a place in the last 16.

Roger Federer (Swi) [2] bt Julien Benneteau (Fra) [30] 6-3 6-4 7-5 The pair had met six times before with Benneteau winning twice, including earlier this year in Rotterdam.

Benneteau also led Federer by two sets to love in the third round of Wimbledon last year only for the eventual champion to fight back and win in five.

Benneteau, who was struggling with a groin injury, broke serve in the first game but Federer won six of the next seven games and went on to win in an hour and 31 minutes. The Swiss plays either Gilles Simon or Sam Querrey next.

“I thought it was a different match than what we usually play against each other. He was clearly handicapped with the leg, which I was able to take advantage of,” said Federer.

Federer, the 2009 French Open champion, added: “I’m happy because I have not used much of my energy so far. I feel totally relaxed.

Mentally, I’m OK. I’m quite confident.”

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fra) [6] bt Jeremy Chardy (Fra) [25] 6-1 6-2 7-5 Ana Ivanovic (Ser) [14]

bt Virginie Razzano (Fra) 6-3 6-2 Court Suzanne Lenglen Rafael Nadal (Spa) [3] bt Martin Klizan (Svk) 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 Before this year, Nadal had lost only 14 sets in 53 matches at the French Open but he has lost the opening set in each of the first two rounds in 2013.

Nadal lost serve four times against Klizan and needed nearly three hours to prevail. The Spaniard, who has won six titles since returning from injury in February, plays Italy’s Fabio Fognini next.

“I started a bit too defensive,” he said. “I improved a little bit during the match.”

Serena Williams (US) [1] bt Sorana Cirstea (Rom) [26] 6-0 6-2 Williams extended her winning streak to 27 matches and it was eight games and 33 minutes before Cirstea won a game.

Williams, who won her only Roland Garros title in 2002, will play Czech Petra Cetkovska or Italy’s Roberta Vinci in the fourth round.

“I play very aggressive,’’ said Williams. “That’s important for me, because I want to keep on winning here.’’ (BBC Sport)

Duminy, du Plessis mark return with 84-run victory

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P Duminy scored an unbeaten 150 and Faf du Plessis’ hit a quickfire fifty on their return to international cricket after injury breaks on Friday, helping South Africa to an 84-run win in the one-off ODI against Netherlands in Amstelveen.

JP Duminy had not played any competitive cricket since the Brisbane Test last November due to an Achilles tendon injury, while du Plessis was ruled out midway through the ODI series in March against Pakistan with back trouble.

South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first.

Alviro Petersen was returning to the ODI team for the first time since January 2012, getting a

call-up after Graeme Smith was ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy due to injury. Petersen was unable, however, to set his stall as he was dismissed early for just 6, edging to Peter van Borren off the bowling of Mudassar Bukhari. With the score on 38, fellow opener Hashim Amla was caught behind

by Wesley Barresi off Paul van Meekeren.

Any buoyancy Netherlands gained from those two wickets was soon overshadowed when Colin Ingram and JP Duminy dug their heels in to consolidate. The pair put together a match-changing 151-run stand for the third wicket over the course of 28.5 overs to help steady the innings and build-up to a vo-

luminous ending. Ingram finally fell to Bukhari after being caught by Ahsan Malik for 82.

Faf du Plessis was sent in next, and together with Duminy, who passed a 100 in the process, put on a further 152 runs in the remaining 13.1 overs.

This was a critical partnership for South Africa, and ended up being a match-clinching one at that, as the duo went at 11.54 runs an over – prior to this the match was rumbling along at just over five runs an over.

The final five overs of the innings produced 98 runs. A total of 16 boundaries, including 12 sixes, were hit in those latter overs by the pair. South Africa finally finished on 341 for 3.

Netherlands started steadily enough, with the openers putting on 43 runs for the first wicket, before both batsmen were dismissed on the same score.

South Africa continued to pick up wickets, and were firmly ahead all through despite Peter van Borren and Szwarczynski putting on 70 runs for the fifth wicket.

With an asking rate escalating out of control, Netherlands simply had too much to do, as Borren fell two-runs shy of a halfcentury, and Szwarczynski missed out on what would have been a well-deserved maiden ODI ton.

Netherlands eventually finished the innings on 257 for 9. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD South Africa innings H Amla c †Barresi b van Meekeren 20 A Petersen c Borren b Mudassar Bukhari 6 C Ingram c Jamil b Mudassar Bukhari 82 JP Duminy not out 150 F du Plessis not out 62 Extras: (lb3, w17, nb1) 21 Total: (3 wkts, 50 overs) 341 Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-38, 3-189 Bowling: Mudassar Bukhari 10-2-79-2, P van Meekeren 7-0-54-1, M Jamil 10-0-83-0, P Borren 6-0-27-0, P Seelaar 8-0-57-0, T Cooper 9-0-38-0 Netherlands innings S Myburgh c Petersen b Behardien E Szwarczynski run out (Behardien) W Barresi† lbw b Duminy

27 98 0

T Cooper lbw b Peterson 14 D van Bunge c du Plessis b Behardien 3 P Borren* c du Plessis b Peterson 48 T de Grooth b Kleinveldt 8 Mudassar Bukhari c †de Villiers b Peterson 22 P Seelaar c McLaren b Peterson 2 P van Meekeren not out 15 M Jamil not out 10 Extras: (lb4, w4, nb2) 10 Total: (9 wkts, 50 overs) 257 Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-43, 3-88, 4-97, 5-167, 6-191, 7-219, 8-223, 9-232 Bowling: R Kleinveldt 10-048-1, L Tsotsobe 9-0-33-0, JP Duminy 5-0-22-1, F Behardien 8-1-34-2, R McLaren 9-049-0, R Peterson 9-0-67-4

22

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Courts forges historic partnership YBG conference finals set to provide with scrabble association excitement today C ourts (Guyana) Inc. created history on Friday by becoming the first company to sponsor the national senior scrabble championship, set for this monthend.

The furniture and appliance establishment sealed the deal with the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) during a presentation ceremony at its main branch on Main Street, Georgetown, on Friday morning.

The entity injected $250,000 into the threeday tournament, becoming the exclusive sponsor of the premier scrabble event in Guyana.

Public Relations Officer of Courts (Guyana) Inc., Kester Abrams, spoke on his company’s pleasure at being part of the national championship, noting that scrabble is a game that can be enjoyed by all. He added that Courts remains committed to the development of the game, and hinted that the company will try to support the national championship on a yearly basis.

GASP president Leon

GASP President Leon Belony (third left) receives Courts’ sponsorship from the company’s Marketing Manager Pernell Cummings. Sharing the moment are (from left) leading scrabble players Moen Gafoor and Abigail McDonald and Courts PRO Kester Abrams (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

Belony said the tournament is usually held every two years due to financial constraints, but with Courts now on board, he is mulling the idea of having nationals annually.

He said GASP is grateful to Courts for its “general contribution”, adding that he envisages the beginning of a fruitful relationship with the company.

Also present at the ceremony were defending national champion Abigail McDonald and number

four ranked national player, Moen Gafoor, as well as Courts Marketing Manager Pernell Cummings.

In the June 29 to July 1 national tournament, 25 players will vie for top honours with the winner set to represent Guyana at the World Scrabble Championship to be held in the Czech Republic from December 3-8 this year.

Fifteen players, based on their ranking as of May 27, 2013, have automatically qualified for the cham-

pionship, and are, in order of ranking: Abigail McDonald, Leon Belony, James Krakowsky, Moen Gafoor, Fred Collins, Colin Chichester, Orlando Michael, Yvonne Murray, Ruby Cummings, Wayne Cave, Devraj Deonarine, Maurice Munroe, Julian Skeete, Anand Mohabir and Robert Williams.

The remaining 10 players will be chosen from a qualifying tournament that will be held on June 9 at the Malteenoes Sports Club.

Mackeson “Keep Your Five Alive” finale tonight

S

parta Boss won all their games via regulation goals in the Mackeson “Keep Your Five Alive” Futsal contest and this evening’s final they are the favourites to win the title at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall tarmac from 19:00h.

Sparta Boss will face stiff competition from Festival City and West Front Road, who all advanced to tonight’s final last week. The format of the final involving the three teams will be decided among

the teams and organisers tonight.

Coordinator of the event, Kevin Adonis said yesterday that all systems are in place for a grand final.

“Preparations have been good and everything is in place. I am hearing that the other teams want to beat Sparta Boss bad, so I expect and intense contest among them,” Adonis said.

In addition, he said that there will be exhibition grudge matches with Albouystown

playing Tiger Bay and East taking on West. Fans of pre-tournament favorites Albouystown B, came out in their numbers last week at Punt Trench and School Street to give the home side the encouragement. However, their side fell to a shocking 3-4 defeat to Festival City on penalty kicks.

Sparta Boss and West Front Road (WFR) however both recorded 1-0 victories over River View and Alexander Village respec-

tively. Nathaniel Nagaloo to WFR to the final and will be a key player for them tonight.

The Festival City lineup include Odell Williams, Adell Bailey, Mark Williams and Paul Bobb.

Fans are throwing their support behind Sparta Boss, the North East-based team, in a clear indication of choice over the North Georgetownbased Festival City and Westbased, WFR in the final hurrah of the Mackeson “Keep Your Five Alive” tournament.

Corruption in the IPL…

Jagdale and Shirke resign from BCCI posts

T

he leadership crisis within the BCCI seems headed towards its endgame with two senior officials – secretary Sanjay Jagdale and treasurer Ajay Shirke – resigning from their posts following widespread criticism of the board’s handling of the corruption issues in the IPL. Jagdale and Shirke are second and third in the board’s hierarchy and their resignations, while opening up an administrative vacuum, is seen as a message to the president, N Srinivasan, who has insisted on staying in his post in the face of expert and public opinion.

Jagdale also said he would not serve on the threeman commission appointed to conduct the inquiry into Gurunath Meiyappan, India Cements and the owners of Rajasthan Royals. “I had already requested the president not to keep me

there. I had never wanted to be there,” he said.”

“I have resigned from the post of the secretary of the BCCI,” Jagdale, who took office in September 2011 when N Srinivasan became BCCI president, told Times Now. “I am deeply hurt with the recent developments in Indian cricket. Let some new faces come and take the responsibility.” Jagdale had played 53 first-class matches for Madhya Pradesh, and was a national selector too.

“No, there was no pressure, nobody influenced me.

I felt deeply hurt, nothing else, there is no [other] reason behind it,” Jagdale told CNN-IBN, when asked if Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association president Jyotiraditya Scindia – who was the first of the BCCI’s senior politicians to speak out – had influenced his decision. “I was hurt as a former cricketer, as an administrator, as a cricket lover, I

hurt like any of the millions of cricket lovers in India.”

Jagdale did not offer opinion on whether Srinivasan should step down as president. “This was my decision, I leave it for Mr Srinivasan, he has been in the game for a longer period than me,” he said.

“He is capable of taking his own decisions.”

Shirke had said on Thursday night that he was not happy with the way the BCCI had handled the issues of spot-fixing allegations against three Royals players and betting charges against Gurunath, a top Chennai Super Kings official and Srinivasan’s son-inlaw. “Yes that’s true [I have resigned],” Shirke, who also began his term when Srinivasan became president, said. “I have spelt out my reason and don’t want to comment any more. I have already spoken to the media at length, therefore I have

resigned.”

There is a possibility that there will be more resignations on Saturday morning from the five BCCI vice presidents, including that of Arun Jaitley from the north zone and Sudhir Dabir from central zone.

Insiders say that Chitrak Mitra from the east has let it be known that he will not quit while the other two vice presidents, Shivlal Yadav from south zone and Niranjan Shah from the west, remain undecided.

ESPNcricinfo understands that senior BCCI officials had been in constant discussion with Srinivasan, asking him to step aside from his office as board president until the three-man commission completed its inquiry into his sonin-law Gurunath, the Super Kings owners India Cements and the owners of Rajasthan Royals. Srinivasan, however, had paid no heed to their advice. (Cricinfo)

Nikkoloi Smith

Dominic Vincente

By Treiston Joseph

A

fter the group games, the final of the Youth Basketball Guyana Regional Conferences, sponsored by Digicel Beharry Group of Companies and Banks DIH, bounce off at the Marian Academy court today from 15:00h.

The host, Marian Academy will attempt to top the Georgetown Conference for the fifth straight season as they go up against a physically imposing Government Technical Institute for the city conference title.

Marian Academy will look to run their structured plays by setting up their half court sets and using precision passing to help find the easiest shot either at the rim or from the perimeter. They should get a significant contribution from Tequain Veiria, who has been cold from the field during the group stages, while Dominic Vincente will provide some defensive intensity.

Selvaughn Moseley will also be counted upon to provide some rebounding help for the smaller Marian Academy. Meanwhile, GTI will look to play the physical game as their taller players will have an advantage in the paint and on the glass.

In the second final which is the East Coast conference final, Plaisance Secondary will play the University of Guyana in a game that is

Tequain Veiria

expected to be high-paced based on the speed of the players from both sides.

Both teams are bent on running the fast break and basically play isolation basketball in order to break down the defence before passing out to an open player. The game is expected to be very physical as both teams like to run the ball.

However, with Plaisance, already winning an encounter against UG in the final group game, and defeated GTI in a cross conference encounter, they should enter the game with the psychological advantage.

Nikkoloi Smith will be a key component in game for Plaisance.

Meanwhile with the match-ups set in stone it will be interesting to see who moves on to the National School Basketball Festival as the top seed when the final aspect of the YBG tournament begins in July.

Gayle outlines...

When you look at our group it will be difficult but we have to start with confidence and look to move forward.

Gayle is one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket. He has appeared in 242 ODIS and made 8,442 runs and taken 157 wickets with his clever off-spin. He has scored a record 20 centuries with a career best score of 153 not out.

“The goal is to get some runs for West Indies...I need to get some runs for West Indies...it’s long overdue. The last couple of (ODI) games I haven’t done well for my team so hopefully this tournament will be the turning point. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself

FROM BACK PAGE

but once my mental aspect is ready the whole body will be ready,” the Windies number 45 added.

The ICC Champions Trophy will feature eight teams: Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. The tournament will be played across three venues from June 6-23.

The Windies have been drawn in Group B alongside the Indians, the Pakistanis and the South Africans.

They open against Pakistan on Friday, June 7 at the Oval and return to the famous venue on Tuesday, June 11 to take on India. The final preliminary match will be against the Proteas on Friday, June 14 in Cardiff.

(WICB)

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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FIFA elects Burundi’s Guyanese ruggers face TT in must-win game today Lydia Nsekera as first I woman executive B

urundi FA President Lydia Nsekera has been elected as the first woman to FIFA’s powerful executive committee in the governing body’s 109year history on Friday.

Nsekera, 46, will serve a four-year term on the committee after winning the vote at the FIFA congress in Mauritius. She collected 95 of the 203 votes ahead of Australian Moya Dodd and Sonia Bien-Aime, of Turks Lydia Nsekera and Caicos Islands. committee set up in 2011 Nsekera said: “I will in- to tackle corruption within spire women to believe they FIFA. can lead and I will support Nsekera told BBC Sport: women in member associa- “I am very happy to be the tions.” first woman elected. It is imNsekera, who last year portant for Africa, it is imbecame the first woman to portant for Burundi, it is imbe co-opted to the executive portant for women. committee, has been head of “In the executive comthe Burundi FA since 2004 mittee, we work as a team, and was a member of FIFA’s but personally I will carry organising committee for on working in order to have the 2008 and 2012 Olympic more women as coaches in football tournaments. grassroots football.

A member of the “I will push for more International Olympic women to be elected and ask Committee, she is also on parents to let their daughthe independent governance ters play football.”

Dodd, who secured 70 votes, and Bien-Aime, who won 38, will both serve a one-year term as co-opted members.

And former Australia international Dodd says the election is a landmark moment for the game.

“It’s a historic day for football and a great day for women,” Dodd said.

“Football is the sport everybody loves; no one should be excluded. And we should not only protect the game, but also fight against discrimination outside of football.” (BBC Sport)

GCB announces U-15 squad for WICB regional tournament – Julian Moore appointed new coach

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he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) junior selection panel on Thursday named a 14-man squad to represent Guyana at the regional limited overs tournament which will be held in Jamaica from July 10-26.

The committee also named six standby players.

The team will be captained by Demerara Under-15 skipper Bhaskar Yadram. Yadram’s deputy is his fellow Demerara team mate Ronaldo Mohammed.

The full squad reads: Bhaskar Yadram (captain), Adrian Sukhwah (wicketkeeper), Raymond Perez, Darshan Persaud, Richie Lucknauth, Ronaldo Mohamed (vice captain), Timothy McAlmont, Mark Williams, Sagar Hetheramani, Ashmead Nedd, Matthew Hardial, Vickram Talmakund, Christopher Latchman and Sylus Tyndall.

Julian Moore

Bhaskar Yadram

The six standby players are: Joel Seetaram, Jaddel McAlister, Kelvin Shewprasad, Andrew Clifford, Steve Deonarine and Joshua Harrichand.

Meanwhile, the board appointed head of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) coaching department, Julian Moore as the new coach.

Moore takes over from Gavin Need, who has been elevated to the coaching position of the national under-17 squad.

The manager of the team is Virendra Chintamani Guyana’s last title at this level was in 2009 under the leadership of Shaquille Williams.

Wartsila golf tourney cancelled

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he current inclement weather has forced executives of the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) to call off today’s Wartsila golf tournament at the Lusignan Golf Course.

Rain throughout the week has left the golf course on the East Coast Demerara

waterlogged. Last weekend’s Safeway Security ProAm tournament was also postponed due to the prevailing weather conditions.

LGC Vice president David Mohamed said should there be a change in the weather a double-header will be played next week-

end with the Wartsila tournament being played on Saturday and Safeway Security Classic, the following day.

The LGC has managed to run off most of the scheduled tournaments for 2013 as local golfers continue their busy season.

t’s probably a case of déjà vu for the national 15s rugby squad as they face Trinidad and Tobago today in the hope of progressing in the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) Southern Championship regional tournament qualifier.

The all-important clash is scheduled for later this afternoon at the University of West Indies (UWI), Mona Bowl ground at 15:30h, and is a virtual final, with the winner progressing to the final round to meet South USA. The Guyanese defeated Barbados 19-17 at home last month, but they will have to up their game today. In their game against the Barbadians they trailed 0-17 at the halfway mark, owing to some fundamental defensive mistakes.

Head Coach, Theodore Henry admitted after the game that his players did not stick to their game plan.

However, in an invited comment before the team departed on Thursday for the Twin Island Republic, Henry said the players are all anxious to take the field against one of their main arch-rivals in the game.

“Every time we have to face Trinidad it’s always in

Theodore Henry

must win position or something similar” Henry said.

According to Henry, the mood in the team is good and the spirits are high, emphasising that he is optimistic that the players have learned from their past mistakes. He said now it up to the players to execute on the field of play.

On the other hand, TT were in a similar position in first round of the Rugby World Cup 2015 qualifiers a year ago. They beat Barbados at St Mary’s College ground, Serpentine Road, St Clair, and needed

victory over Guyana to seal their spot.

However, they travelled to Guyana and were humbled by a 20-0 shut-out win for the hosts.

This time around, TT secured a 19-6 away victory over the burly Barbadians, and must get past Guyana to progress.

Guyana squad is: Ryan Gonsalves (captain), Rondell McArthur, Rickford Cummings, Jason Tyrell, Avery Corbin, Dwayne Schroeder, Dillion Downer, Richard Staglon, Cloyd Prowell, Peabo Hamilton, Breon Walks, Elwin Chase, Claudius Butts, Ronald Mayers, Lancelot Adonis, Delroy Gordon, Jacques Archibald, Kevon David, Grantley Williams, Carl Lewis, Christopher Singh and Akeem Fraser.

TT squad is : Adam Frederick (captain), Melville Eastman, Kwain Manswell, Keishon Walker, Ernest Wright, Miguel Lara, Jamal Clark, Anthony Lopez, Shaquille Tull, Graeme Alkins, John Hill, Rowell Gordon, Wayne Kelly, Tariq Cheekes, Joseph Quashie, Felician Guerra, Trizene Mc Lean, Kelson Figaro, Kereem Figaro, James Phillip, Jonathan O’Connor and Jesse Richards.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

TOP SCORES

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

New Zealand 231-5 (Guptill 103*, Taylor 54, Anderson 3-31) beat England 227-9 (Southee 3-37) by 5 wickets; South Africa 341-3 (Duminy 150*, Ingram 82, du Plessis 62*) beat Netherlands 257-9 (Szwarczynski 98, Peterson 4-67) by 84 runs

Guyanese ruggers face TT in must-win game today See story on page

23

FLASHBACK! A jubilant Guyana team after defeating Barbados at the National Stadium Providence last month

INSIDE TODAY'S SPORTS

P22 YBG conference finals set to provide excitement today

Gayle outlines Windies CT13 plan

The West Indies team put their plan into action

C

ARDIFF, Wales – Chris Gayle believes the West Indies have it in them to beat all-comers and win the ICC Champions Trophy for a second time.

The powerful left-handed opening batsman said winning the mini-World Cup would not be an easy task, but the players from the Caribbean are prepared to fight hard.

“We are switched on!

We can win it! The last time, nine years ago, no one thought we would win it but we did. It was a great feeling and we would love to win

it again for the people back home and those all over the world who support us. We have a good fan base here, a lot to play for, with a lot of West Indians living here who will come out and support us. We can use that victory (2004) and we can use the T20 victory last year as positives as we look ahead to this tournament,” Gayle said.

“We have a very good allround team so I don’t see any reason when we can’t go all the way again. We have to stick together, and I think we are very good at that. We

Chris Gayle talks to reporters

have (Dwayne) Bravo as a new captain and the support will still be there for him as captain similar to when (Darren) Sammy was captain for the World T20 last year.”

Gayle was speaking on Friday as the Windies had a full training session at the Swalec Stadium, where they have been in camp all week. They will play an official warm-up match against Australia on Saturday at the same venue. First ball in the day/night match is 13:00h (08:00h Eastern Caribbean Time/07:00h Jamaica Time).

The 33-year-old was a member of the Windies team which won the ICC Champion Trophy in spectacular fashion back in 2004 under the captaincy of Brian Lara. He was also a leading member of the squad which played brilliantly to win the ICC World T20 Championship in Sri Lanka last October with Sammy at the helm.

“Everybody is looking forward to great things and I’m looking to give the team what required of me which is 100 percent. We have to take it in stride and play

it one game at a time. We want to entertain the fans but what is more important is what the team requires at that particular moment to win,” Gayle said.

“I set targets from a team perspective. I always try to give the team a good start – this is going to key for us in these conditions – as I am the experienced opener at the top of the order. I will try to bat as many overs as possible and be there for a long period. Once I’m there you know the runs will come, so the others can bat around me.

TURN TO PAGE 22

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