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“Take back your communities from bandits” – Brumell urges West Dem residents

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BY BHISHAM MOHAMED

Acting Police

Commissioner Leroy Brumell on Sunday called on West Demerara residents to take back their communities from criminals who are operating as though they are the owners.

“I think now people are fed up with bandits coming into your areas like if they own it… they not living there… they just come and create problems and leave… we have to take back our communities from these persons,” the acting police commissioner said, addressing scores of residents at an interactive session at the Meten-MeerZorg Primary School.

The meeting was organised by D Division Commander Eric Bassant in light of the recent upsurge in crime at Meten-Mere-Zorg and surrounding villages.

One of the major crimes committed was the murder of Zulfikar Namdar, 27, a businessman who was gunned down on September 10 at his home during a robbery.

Brumell said in order to retake their communities from criminals, residents would have to work in cohesion with the police.

“I must not be a firearm holder in a community and witness a crime being perpetrated on your neighbours… You have a right to ensure that the bandits are arrested by any means possible… as a firearm holder, you are not to be selfish,” Brumell said.

Communication

He also said in order to combat crime, communication is necessary as it would enable the force to tackle the criminals head-on.

“I will not at anytime stand up or be at home and people come in on my family and I will give up that easily… is war break in there… You have to fight for your rights,” he told the residents.

With respect to the Namdar issue, Brumell disclosed that he was confident based on the reports that he was receiving that the police have cracked the case and captured the gang members.

He praised the intelli-

gence of the force, noting that it played a critical part in arresting the alleged perpetrators.

It was revealed that apart from Kiefa Small, also called “Frog Eyes”, there are two other persons who are wanted in connection with the series of crimes on West Demerara.

Nevertheless, the acting commissioner said the matter has not ended, noting that

of the outreach team, also stressed the importance of residents’ cooperation in providing information on criminal activities.

“The police certainly cannot do this alone… we need information… and who would have these information? It is the people who live in the communities and the people who live in areas where crime are perpetrated,” he said.

the police have done their work and it is now left to the judicial system to see things through, as he implored all stakeholders to offer evidence when they are called upon.

Hang criminals

“We have to have these people incarcerated," he said. "They must not be allowed to come into our communities 15-20 years from now… if some of them are not hanged.”

On this note, he said the police force has written to President Donald Ramotar, urging him to reintroduce hanging in the country.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, who was also part

The crime chief said without the cooperation from the public and various stakeholders, the Guyana Police Force is handicap, noting that the greatest challenge confronting the force is the growing youth population involved in criminal activities and who are victims of crime.

Additionally, he stated that this phenomenon is due to the less effective social institutions within communities with respect to family upbringing, religious beliefs and getting a sound education.

“We see less God-fearing people today compared to 50 years ago… we see family, parents struggling with eco-

nomics to put food on the table for their children to eat and therefore they are spending less time with their children… this is more evident in single parents households,” said the crime chief.

Persaud also pointed out that youths in the communities have varying levels of education and among them are those who believe that they do not have to acquire things through hard work.

“If these youths are left alone without proper supervision, they will resort to unconventional measures, thus, becoming anti-social and criminal-minded,” he said.

Honest living These youths, Persaud said have to be meaningfully engaged, reminded that the Citizens Police Programme, which trains youth to be skilled men and woman, who can earn an honest living, provides such an opportunity.

In the past, he noted that troubled youths were taken under the bossom of the police force, and today, they have been reintegrated into the society as carpenters, masons and other skill workers.

Persaud also urged the media to be more responsible in their reporting of crime, referring to a photo of a house which a certain print media published, identifying it as a haven for criminals.

That information, Persaud said, was totally incorrect and paints a bad image of the owner.

He added that the house was in fact invaded by the bandits prior to one of them being shot and killed. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy.com)

A section of the gathering at the interactive forum at the Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary School on Sunday

Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell addressing the meeting at the Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary School on Sunday

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

The breastfeeding challenge

Breastfeeding Week was observed from September 15 to 21 under the theme, “Breastfeeding Support; Close To Mothers”. As expected, the government, through the Health Ministry and other local stakeholders, engaged in a number of activities to mark the occasion. We had stated before that the message of breastfeeding could never be overstated as there are still too many mothers who do not understand and appreciate the reasons for breastfeeding their babies.

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) points to the fact that even when mothers are able to get off to a good start, all too often in the weeks or months after delivery, there is a sharp decline in breastfeeding rates and practices. Hence, the period when mothers do not visit a health-care facility is the time when a community support system is essential.

WABA suggests that continued support to sustain breastfeeding can be provided in a variety of ways. Traditionally, support is provided by the family. As societies change, however, in particular with urbanisation, support for mothers from a wider circle is needed, whether it is provided by trained health workers, lactation consultants, community leaders, or friends who are also mothers, and/or fathers/ partners.

For this reason, the WABA argues that peer counselling is a cost effective and highly productive way to reach a larger number of mothers more frequently. Peer counsellors can be anyone from the community who is trained to learn to support mothers. The key to best breastfeeding practices is continued day-to-day support for the breastfeeding mother within her home and community.

Earlier this week, the Health Ministry held a breastfeeding fair at the Antenatal Clinic of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. The activity focused on educating expectant mothers on the importance of breastfeeding after delivery and also getting fathers or supporters involved in the process.

There are many reasons why “breast is best” and the authorities here must continue in their push to hit home the message. Research has proven that breast milk is the perfect food for babies. For example, it gives infants all the nutrients they need for healthy development. It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia, the two primary causes of child mortality worldwide.

Further, breast milk is readily available and affordable, which helps to ensure that infants get adequate nutrition. Infant formula does not contain the antibodies found in breast milk.

Additionally, there are risks arising from the use of unsafe water and unsterilised equipment or the potential presence of bacteria or other contaminants in powdered formula. Malnutrition can result from over-diluting formula to “stretch” supplies. While frequent feeding maintains breast milk supply, if formula is used but becomes unavailable, a return to breastfeeding may not be an option due to diminished breast milk production. Breastfeeding also benefits mothers.

A serious challenge we continue to face is that mothers are often inundated with incorrect and biased information both directly, through advertising, health claims, information packs and sales representatives, and indirectly, through the public health system. The ministry and other health officials must, therefore, counter this by providing the right kind of information and guidance to mothers on a continuous basis, so that they fully understand the importance of breastfeeding their babies. This must not only be done whenever Breastfeeding Week is being observed.

We believe that most mothers are physically able to breastfeed and will do so if they have accurate information and support. But in many cases, women are discouraged from doing so, and are misled to believe that they are giving their children a better start in life by buying commercial substitutes. We, therefore, wish to echo the call once more for continuous support for breastfeeding mothers so that they would understand and appreciate the need to breastfeed their babies.

The quest...

Arguing over music (Part Two)

Dear Editor,

The Quran is not the only source of legislation in Islam. Rigorously authenticated narrations of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, are also used to determine lawful and unlawful matters.

The prophetic sayings (hadith) contained in the collection of Al-Bukhari is unanimously agreed upon among Muslims everywhere as the most authentic of all collections. Often cited to censor music is the following saying of Prophet Muhammad related by Abu Musa al-‘Ashari: “There will be groups of people from my community who will seek to declare fornication, adultery, silk, wine and musical instruments (ma’azif) as lawful.”

Imam Al-Bukhari places this particular hadith not in the section on prohibitions, but rather in a chapter titled: “What is said regarding those who seek to declare intoxicants permissible by giving it another name.”

Imam Al-Bukhari also offers a different version of this same hadith in another compilation of his – al-Tarikh. It states: “Some people from my community will consume intoxicants by giving it another name. Singing girls and musical instruments (ma’azif) will accompany them day and night.” The great hadith scholar Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani cites the second version to shed light on the meaning of the first in his commentary of Sahih AlBukhari known as Fath alBari.

The scholar Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, often cited by scriptural literalists to prove their hardline positions, wrote in his Kitab as-Sama wal Raqs that music falls into various categories such as “muharram (forbidden), makruh (disliked), mubah (permissible), or mustahabb (commendable)”.

The opinion of the four great imams – Abu Hanifa, Malik,

Shafi’ and Hanbal – has never deemed all music to be “haram”, but has instead judged music as unlawful whenever it is associated with behaviour that is sinful.

If all music were forbidden there could be no exception to the rule, unless, of course, one’s life was in danger. However, during the ‘Battle of the Ditch’ when the enemies of Islam surrounded the adopted city of the Prophet, peace be upon him, he joined his companions in rhythmic chanting as they dug a ditch to protect the city’s inhabitants.

Anas related in Al-Bukhari that while digging the trench around Madina, the companions chanted: “We are the ones who have pledged fealty to Muhammad; that we remain always constant in Islam.” The Prophet responded: “O Allah, there is no good but the good of the Hereafter, bless the Ansar and Muhajirin.”

Likewise, the Prophet, peace be upon him, permitted the singing of songs on the occasion of the two Eid celebrations.

In the compilation of AlBukhari, his wife ‘Aisha narrated that the Prophet entered his home while two young girls were singing songs of Bu’ath (a battle between two warring tribes before Islam). He did not stop them. When his companion Abu Bakr (the father of ‘Aisha) entered he was angry that this was taking place in the home of God’s Messenger and he ordered them to stop without knowing the Prophet was present. The Prophet, peace be upon him, showed himself and said: “leave them be, O Abu Bakr, for these are the days of Eid.”

Music is also permitted by the consensus of Muslim jurists at the time of the wedding feast (nikah and walima). Imam AtTirmidhi and others narrate that God’s Messenger said: “The demarcation between the

lawful and the unlawful (at the time of marriage) is drumming (al-daff) and singing (al-sawt).”

In another hadith, Imam At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban and others narrate that the Prophet said: “Proclaim this marriage, solemnise it in the mosque and beat the drum (al-dufoof, pl. of daff) upon the occasion.”

In the collection of AlBukhari it is narrated that ‘Aisha informed the Prophet that a man and woman among his followers in Madina were married. The Prophet asked: “O ‘Aisha, was there any entertainment? The Ansar are happy when there is entertainment.” In a different version of the same hadith, Imam At-Tabarani narrates that the Prophet asked ‘Aisha to send a young girl with the bride to beat the drum (daff) and sing (ghina). ‘Aisha asked: “What should she say in her song?”

He replied: “Let her say, ‘To you we have come, to you we have come! So welcome us, as we welcome you!”

Singing and playing the drum is also recommended when respectable guests and dignitaries arrive. Imam Abu Dawud relates that a woman came to the Prophet and said: “A Messenger of God, I have vowed to play the drum (daff) in your presence.” He replied: “Fulfil your vow.” Once the Prophet returned from one of his expeditions and a woman played the hand drum (daff) and sang for him, because she was grateful that he had returned home safely. This narration is found in the collection of Imam At-Tirmidhi.

When the Prophet, peace be upon him, arrived in Madina after fleeing the city of his birth, the women and children who were resident in the city of Madina came out and sang a joyful song for him – “O the full moon has risen over us, from the valley of Wada, and we owe it to show gratefulness when the call is to Allah.” Muslims

from all across the world sing this exact song in many languages even to this day out of joy that the Messenger of God walked the earth.

It is also narrated that Anjasha, the Prophet’s camel driver, sang songs on long arduous journeys to get his animals to move at a faster pace. Parents and grandparents are allowed to sing lullabies to their children to amuse them, teach or put them to sleep. Children are allowed to sing happy songs to brighten their parents’ mood.

The majority of contemporary Muslim scholars rule that songs whose lyrics heighten spiritual consciousness and encourage people to be pious are praiseworthy, even so they should be done in moderation and with proper decorum.

I have attended Sami Yusuf concerts in Toronto along with thousands of others and my experience has been extremely positive.

Yusuf does exactly as the Quran commands: “Say: It is the favour of God and His Mercy that should make you rejoice (fal-yafrahu). That is better than anything you can accumulate in this world.” (Quran:10:58).

Imam Al-Suyuti in his Jalalayn said: “God’s favour (fadl)” in this verse refers to the religion of Islam and “His Mercy (rahma)” refers to the Quran. According to other commentators “His Mercy” refers to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and that is the dominant opinion.

I advise my fellow Guyanese to join Sami Yusuf and rejoice in celebrating God’s favours and Mercy and ignore those who don’t wish to participate.

With peace, Nazim Baksh

(Nazim Baksh is a Guyana-born journalist in Toronto, Canada)

Delegates contesting the Miss Guyana Universe 2013 pagent at the sashing ceremony held at Palm Court, Georgetown on Sunday evening (Carl Croker photo)

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

Charity and the right strategy

Dear Editor, Charitable efforts are always good, but they should have some kind of strategy to them. This was evident when Giftland OfficeMax donated a range of school supplies to children of Tiger Bay, Georgetown.

If we only invest where children and education are concerned, it will do us a whole lot of good. In this case, the children are getting a helping hand. If we wait too long to work on our children, it gets really hard and then it becomes like re-

trieval and remedial work.

I think that even if a company does not want to organise huge events to raise funds, it can help even if it is just one child.

Kind regards,

Gaitri Ally

Trivialising of life leads to accidents

Dear Editor, There are too many road fatalities. I am always bothered by the absolute disregard for other people that I see in so many drivers.

I hope that this problem will engage the urgent attention of the authorities. It must be attended to quickly. Optimum judgment should be meted out when errant

drivers are found guilty.

We have to start taking people’s lives very seriously.

Yours truly,

Halley Marshall

Diabetes and personal responsibility for one’s health

Dear Editor,

We have a good Diabetic Foot Centre that operates under the umbrella of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). My semi-amputee friend told me that the unit is wellmanaged by a trained team, comprising a specialist, four nurses and a clerk. It was really nice then to read that foot amputations actually decreased by 50 per cent.

The facility has two dressing rooms and a consultation room, a reception area, and seating areas for patients. And the first step is when the specialist talks to the visitors and places emphasis on the need for diabetics to take the necessary precautions to prevent foot complications.

All diabetics should be encouraged to visit the diabetic foot centre; all diabetics should examine their feet daily (looking for discolouration, in-grown toe nails and ulcers, among other things); and all of them must follow instructions. If not, the positive results that are so very much possible will not be realised.

Many diabetic patients suffer from chronic ulcers, ingrown toe nails, and necrotic digits (blackened toes), and the onus is on them to check on these things.

Going beyond the foot situation, I recall both of my paternal grandparents being diabetics and living into their late 80s. They lived very healthily too and did not succumb to the ailment. That was like two decades ago, when medical technology was not so advanced and knowledge was not readily accessible.

I follow a lot of health sites and to me, many of our problems with diabetes are about lifestyle – people need to accept their status and make the appropriate adjustment.

People should not take chances – they need regular follow-ups to check their blood glucose levels. Many people with diabetes also get their own glucometers, an inexpensive electronic device that measures blood sugar from a finger prick of blood. This kind of knowledge is vital and can actu-

Teachers must not be copy cats

Dear Editor, I applaud our Education Ministry. All I ask is that we make the comparison with our sisters in the Caribbean Community (Caricom). In Barbados, one high school had to accept students who made less than 50 per cent at the Grade Six examinations. At the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), we are always in the top achievers’ group.

Recently, local educators were encouraged to step out of their comfort zones to make children interested in school by embracing their profession and seeking innovative ways to make learning fun and interesting. We do this all the time to the point that many say we are overdoing it.

American educators are

still puzzled as regards the gap that exists academically for the same grades for Chinese students. They do a lot of pushing there too. Canada did a survey in language, mathematics and science, and Caribbean and South American students were scoring in the 80-90 category, and Asians in the 90-100.

The Canadians were struggling just above the 50 zone. Do I need to mention who are winning the spelling bee competitions?

Go check the last six winners and see their backgrounds. Students must apply and “fit” the school, not vice versa; large sums of money come from donors, allowing for two international field trips; no student is allowed to opt out of these trips; parents are required to give community service to the school; and the school

GuyExpo will be

Dear Editor, I was pleased to learn that the perennial traffic build-up and struggle to get in and out of the Sophia Exhibition Centre, during GuyExpo will now be a thing of the past.

The acting tourism minister announced that plans are in place to open up two new pedestrian entrances to the site. This is great. It will mean an ease in vehicular traffic. I see also that there

will be specially designed access for the differently-able.

Well if this should be realised, then I can see that the place will be packed even more than in the previous years, and maybe an extension can very well be in the making. In the past, most of the differently-able relied on media coverage, and the blind were virtually shut out, as radio reports have been shorter and fewer of late.

has only about 100 students. I say put the same test to these students that we have here in Guyana and let us see what happens among equivalent grades. Our education minister stressed that teachers are the backbone of the education system. These teachers know this, and so too, our government. We can improve and are doing so.

The link of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) with the University of Guyana (UG) is a great thing. We have a far way to go, but at no time should anyone talk down our programme here. I am so glad that government will continue to work towards providing teachers with the best working conditions, and kudos to them – they work tirelessly with our students.

Regards, Dorian

Thomas

bigger

Time is running out so the people in charge must get on the ball even more. This year is expected to surpass the previous ones, as it will have a number of new features, so as to assist participating companies in expanding their businesses and modernising their plans.

Sincerely, Florence King

ally save lives.

The next thing is all about dietary restrictions. This is where lifestyle moves from showing the interest and taking the initiative to a deeper level. It is very vital that people learn that some foods, containing carbohydrates (sugars) are better for them than others, if they contain a lot of fibre.

I add here this whole business of doing a little exercising. Moderate exercise is best for lowering the blood-sugar levels, as the muscles take up glucose up to 20 times the normal rate. Intense exercise can have the opposite effect and actually temporarily increase blood glucose level right after exercising. Here again, the diabetic must check with the appropriate authority.

We have the expertise and the facility. We can only fail if people, the actual patients, become negligent. Maybe the centre should work on some sensitising campaigns too.

Yours sincerely,

Dylan Collymore

Page Foundation

“Ihate school, and I’m not going back!”

Have you ever had that thought? Lots of children do. Usually this feeling doesn’t last long. But what happens if you feel this way too much? School is a fact of life, and getting an education can help you build the kind of future life you want.

So let’s talk about school and what to do when you don’t like it.

Signs of school stress

When you worry about school, it can affect your body. A child who feels stressed about school might have headaches or stomachaches. You might feel “butterflies” or like you have to throw up.

Having trouble sleeping is also a sign of stress. And if you’re not getting enough sleep, you probably feel grouchy and tired during the day. Feeling tired can make your school day seem even worse.

If you’re stressed out, you might have a hard time making decisions. In the morning, you can’t decide what to eat, what to wear, or what to pack for lunch. You don’t want to go to school, so you put off getting your stuff together. And now you’re not prepared to go to school, and you’ve just missed the bus — again! Staying home may seem like a good choice, but it just makes it harder to go to school the next day.

Why do some children dislike school?

If you don’t like school, the first step is finding out why. You might not like

school because a bully is bothering you, or because a child you don’t like wants to hang around with you. Or maybe you don’t get along with your teacher. You might feel different or worry that you don’t have enough friends.

Sometimes it’s a problem with your classes and schoolwork. Maybe the work is too easy and you get bored. Or maybe the work is too hard, or you don’t feel as smart as the other children.

Reading may be difficult for you, but you’re expected to do a lot of it. You may be getting farther and farther behind, and it may seem like you’ll never catch up. Maybe you’re dealing with worries, stress, or problems that make it hard to concentrate on schoolwork.

When you stop to think about why you don’t like school, you can start taking steps to make things better.

Finding help

It’s a good idea to talk to someone about your problems with school. Your mom, dad, relative, teacher, or school counsellor will be able to help you. It’s especially important to tell an adult if the problem is that you’re being bullied or someone hurts you physically.

Another good idea is to write down your feelings about school in a journal. You can use a journal or diary or just write in an ordinary notebook. It’s a great way to let out emotions that may be stuck inside you. And you don’t have to share what you’ve written with others. If you feel disorganised or like you can’t keep up with your schoolwork, your teachers and school counsellors

want to help. Teachers want and expect you to ask for help learning stuff. If all of your subjects seem really hard, a school counsellor can help you sort things out. Special help with schoolwork is available if you need it.

Try not to let the problems go on too long. It’s easier to catch up on one chapter than the whole book!

Feeling better about school

The next time you find yourself disliking school, try this:

First, write down everything you don’t like about school.

Then make a list of the good things you enjoy (even if it’s only recess and lunch, that’s a start!).

Now, what can you change on the “don’t like” list? Would remembering to do your homework help you feel more confident if you’re called on in class? Can you get help with schoolwork that’s hard?

Who can you talk to about a worry or problem you’re dealing with? Could you find a way to show off your special interests and talents? If you made just one new friend, would you feel less alone?

If you helped someone else feel less alone, would you feel even better? Which activities could you try that would help you meet new friends?

Of course, you might not be able to change everything on your “don’t like” list. A bully may not simply disappear. Reading may always be a challenge.

But that’s OK. Focus on what you can change and you might be able to put the cool back in school! (Kidshealth.org)

Getting along with teachers

The benefits of getting along

Sure, it’s good to get along with your teacher, because it makes that time you spend in the classroom more pleasant.

And yes, it’s good to get along with your teacher, because, in general, it’s smart to learn how to relate to the different types of people you’ll meet throughout your life.

But really, there’s one super-important reason why you should get along with your teacher. Children who get along with their teachers not only learn more, but they’re more comfortable asking questions and getting extra help. This makes it easier to understand new material and do your best on tests.

When you have this kind of relationship with a teacher, he or she can be someone to turn to with problems, such as problems with learning or school issues, such as

bullying.

As a child in elementary school, you’re at a wonderful stage in your life. You’re like a sponge, able to soak up lots of new and exciting information. On top of that, you’re able to think about all this information in new ways.

Your teacher knows that, and in most cases, is thrilled to be the person who’s giving you all that material and helping you put it together. Remember, teachers are people, too, and they feel great if you’re open to what they’re teaching you. That’s why they wanted to be teachers in the first place — to teach!

Some children may be able to learn in any setting, whether they like the teacher or not. But most children are sensitive to the way they get along with the teacher, and if things aren’t going well, they won’t learn as well and won’t enjoy being in class.

What does “Getting Along” mean?

“Getting along” means you and your teacher have a way of communicating that works for both of you and you both are getting what you need from the relationship. From your teacher’s perspective, he or she wants to make sure you are paying attention, being respectful and polite, and trying your best to learn.

From your perspective, you want a teacher who is respectful to you, answers your questions, and tries to help you learn. You can get along and learn without being pals with your teacher, although it’s nice if that happens.

In every school, children will say certain teachers are mean or tough, but don’t judge a teacher until you are in his or her class and can see for yourself. In the majority of cases, your teacher is on your side. And a teacher who’s called tough may be someone who feels strongly about getting his or her job done — teaching you the subject you are supposed to learn.

It’s also important to remember that making mistakes is a part of learning. By pointing out your errors and helping you correct them, a teacher is teaching you. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

Works in Region Two moving apace

By Samuel Sukhnandan

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud said his regional administration was pleased with the level of work being executed in all areas.

“I am very satisfied with how works are going, in all the sectors we have,” Persaud stated.

The regional chairman said in terms of buildings, works are far ahead of projections and the pace of construction has generally increased from previous years. According to him, too many contracts had been given to one contractor in the past, causing the problem.

Today, many of the region’s work projects are completed or are in the process of being completed, as the region received more bids for various works, resulting in a more even distribution of work and contractors achieving deadlines.

New roads

In terms of the rehabilitation and construction of new roads, works are 100 per cent complete. Only miscellaneous roads that fall under public works are being looked at now; these are likely to be completed before the end of the year.

Persaud told Guyana Times that while there has been some success in other areas, there has been slow progress on drainage and irrigation work. He said this is as a consequence of the rice fields needing water, whose flow would be disrupted by works.

Contractors, he said, were, therefore forced to wait for the dry season, when there is not much water in the system.

Persaud nonetheless expressed his satisfaction with the regional team for moni-

toring these projects, adding that the engineers have all been proactive and on the alert to ensure that quality work is provided by each contractor.

The team was able to advise the chairman on several matters, where corrective measures were taken, to ensure durability and proper standard.

Further, drainage and irrigation remains a challenge for certain areas, especially the outfall and conservancy. Siltation of the river is a main concern, but the region is working to correct this issue, with its two excavators and pontoons.

Drainage, irrigation

Persaud, who is also a member of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) board, believes that the region will have to look at other means of upgrading its drainage and irrigation system, with the use of mobile pumps.

“Generally, I believe that Region Two has been moving apace with our development work for 2013 and in the same breath, I want to say that we have already prepared and made submission for 2014. So, we already have plans for what we hope to do the following year,” Persaud said.

This was done in consultation with all officials of the regional administration, private sector representatives, and members of the communities in which works are to be undertaken.

Notwithstanding its successes, the region is currently facing a few other challenges it hopes to address.

Persaud said these challenges arise each year, as the annual financial allocation to the region cannot do everything that is required.

He noted that there is much more work to be done in the area of infrastructure, among other critical areas, highlighting the Charity Housing Scheme as one of the affected regions.

White sand

Aside from that, it was noted that residents of the region have some difficulty in procuring white sand, to aid in the construction of their homes and businesses.

Persaud explained that the problem lies in accessing the material and not its availability. In addition, there are periodic shortages of stones.

He, however, credited businesspeople in the community for importing competitively-priced building materials, which has supported massive construction work in the region, making it easier for residents to purchase the materials.

Another issue Persaud raised was the improvement of farm to market roads, whose state has been a major bugbear for cash crop farmers. He said the region is looking to upgrade these roads, but this is dependent on good weather.

Persaud noted that despite these challenges, he and his team will work together to ensure residents are satisfied and the region continues to develop and expand in all sectors.

(samuelsukhnandan@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Man sets house on fire after domestic row

Police are hunting for a man who purposely set his East Canje home on fire on Saturday evening while his wife went to the police station to make a domestic violence complaint against him.

Lakeram Bharrat, 49, of Lot 45 Adelphi New Area, East Canje, Berbice, reportedly set the house on fire between 16:30h and 17:00h.

According to reports gathered, Devika Deshal, 31, her five-year-old daughter and her husband lived in the two-storey concrete and wooden house.

Due to a misunderstanding between the couple, a scuffle ensued, resulting in Deshal being assaulted.

As a result, the woman went to the Reliance Police Station and reported the matter, but on her return home, she saw fire in the lower flat of the building.

The lower flat housed the washroom, kitchen, dining and living rooms.

On seeing the fire, she raised an alarm and neighbours formed a bucket brigade and extinguished the blaze. A quantity of clothing, motorcycle CG 4229 and a washing machine were among the items destroyed.

A fire tender from the Number 61 Fire Station as well as three others from the New Amsterdam Fire Station rushed to the scene,

Linden MTC challenges govt’s order to stop toll

The Interim-Management Committee (IMC) of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (MTC) has moved to the court to quash an order restraining it from collecting tolls from operators of heavy-duty vehicles passing through the township.

The Local Government and Regional Development Ministry had made the order after the Linden MTC had implemented the toll system in a bid to increase its revenue.

The toll would have been charged mainly on miners, specifically those passing through Linden with heavyduty trucks and equipment.

Linden Town Clerk Jenella Bowen had indicated, prior to the collection, that it was being done to ensure that the by-laws governing the municipality remain in full force.

She said while the bylaws governing the collection of tolls have been in effect for years, some drivers do not adhere to the payment rules.

IMC Chairman Orrin Gordon said the matter has now landed in the court. He said this is the first time in Guyana that a local municipality will be taking the government to court based on one of its actions.

Legal advice Gordon said after the tolls were halted, the municipality sought legal advice on the matter and was advised not to discontinue the collection until the matter is brought to court.

“We are not stopping, because the act gives us the power to do that. The Act of 3:01, 77 says that we can charge tolls...so if they are saying that we cannot, then that act is supposed to be removed...They sent us a statement saying that the toll is illegal and that it is unenforceable.

"The Minister of Local Government Norman Whittaker sent a letter stating that, so I challenged it and indicated that the toll is not illegal, that the toll was placed there since 1997.

but when they arrived, the fire was already extinguished. The police made several checks for Persaud, but he could not be found.

On Thursday evening, in a similar case, a man set his La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara home on fire, resulting in the onestorey building being completely destroyed.

It was reported that an elderly couple occupied the house. The couple were heard quarreling earlier in the night.

The woman reportedly went to the La Grange Police Station to make a complaint, and upon her return, she saw the house on fire.

"It was operating all the time, the only problem is that it was basically targeting the loggers and the persons who were bringing stuff into Linden and, therefore,

collection

those persons were feeling the brunt of the thing.

"Meanwhile the miners, they got away scotch free. Now that they are earning much more than they were... at that time they were earning approximately US$300 for an ounce of gold, now they are at approximately US$1300,” the IMC chairman said.

Gordon alluded to the fact that while mining is a major pillar of the economy which accounts for a significant portion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it is also important for miners to honour their social and economic obligations.

Economic stability

He stressed that the influx of miners that travel through Linden en route to interior locations without paying tolls is having a major impact on the economic stability of the community, more specifically its municipality which has more than 100 employees.

“The minimum wage was just lifted in some cases significantly to $35,000, which meant that the municipality had to move up, because a lot of the employees were earning less than that, so we had to ensure that we step up.

"In so doing, it means then that we had to garner more money and, therefore, we looked to the toll and valuation of properties to make that big difference,” said Gordon.

Shortly after the toll collection was tightened, miners began to complain, so the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry wrote the local government and public works ministries, which resulted in the halting of the toll collection.

The ministry indicat-

ed that it was only aware of tolls being charged at the Wismar-Mackenzie Bridge and had not been notified of any additional toll collection at Linden.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry had indicated that with the fall in gold prices recently, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) saw the additional toll being charged by the municipality as unnecessary.

Evaluation of properties

Additionally, the IMC chairman noted that the valuation and re-evaluation process of properties in Linden, which commenced a few months ago, is not progressing well, since properties are still being evaluated at the 1976 level. He said it is a waste of time since at the end of the year, some property owners are still paying a meagre sum, pointing out that last year government brought the budget and GDP up to the 2006 level.

Gordon stated that while certain expenditures may remain low, the services of the municipalities and the local organs are at a standstill.

“There are properties, for example, at Retreive, Noitgedacht, Fair’s Rust, that are going to be paying more money than brand new construction at Amelia’s Ward and they are 50 years old. So that does not make any sense,” Gordon reiterated.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud

IMC Chairman Orrin Gordon

monday, september 23, 2013| guyanatimesgy.com

Youth leaders urged to continue struggle for world peace

Youth leaders were urged to continue their fight for world peace through compassion, as Guyana joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Peace Day on Saturday.

These were the sentiments expressed by First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar speaking at the Global Shapers Community’s (Georgetown Hub) International Peace Day awareness event held at the Theatre Guild, Kingston, Georgetown.

“Guyanese must be concerned about what happens around us and we cannot consider ourselves humanitarians, if we turn a blind eye to what is happening in the world,” said Ramotar.

Diverse culture

Alluding to the diverse culture of Guyana, she continued, “We cannot speak of peace without being sensitive to multiethnicity and providing equal opportunities for all despite religion, race, gender… providing equal opportunities is eradicating poverty and bringing education… peace is also vital to child protection.”

The event was planned to advance Guyana’s role in the promotion of peace education. During the session, the audience was treated to emotive speeches and short films on struggles towards achieving peace and establishing a ceasefire strategy through the United Nations resolution on establishing September 21 as International Peace Day.

The branch made a one-minute video asking Guyanese how they could contribute to peace and peace education. The “I Am Peace” vid-

eo will be viewed along with the 2008 Documentary “A Day After Peace”, which chronicles Director Jeremy Gilley’s 10year process to make the film and establish the day of peace observed globally.

Panacea

Also present at the session, delivering a heartwarming speech was United Nations Association of Guyana Chairman, Justice Donald Trotman, who emphasised that peace is the panacea for all forms of violence while human rights is fundamental to peace.

“All forms of violence need to be eliminated if peace is to come and put in practice what we teach and preach,” he said, adding:

“We need to come to terms with racial injustice and inequalities of justice, gender, social and economic status,” he said.

Meanwhile, member of the Global Shapers Georgetown Hub Imarah Radix said “the

day is to promote peace locally and globally, we are encouraging people to become local ambassadors for peace”.

Radix said women’s issues could be the larger Guyanese focus, noting that domestic violence in Guyana make headlines on a daily basis.

Raising awareness

Radix noted that raising awareness had to be the first goal, but the followthrough was also important and that the panel would address how to keep momentum going.

The gathering consisted of various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Youth Media Guyana, Food For The Poor, Peace Corps Guyana and Sisterhood, along with representatives from the United Nations Association of Guyana, Habitat for Humanity and the Justice Institute of Guyana, who participated in the panel discus-

sion and provided feedback on how to create opportunities for youths to become more involved in ending domestic violence.

There were also exhibits from SASOD, Youth Media Guyana, Food For The Poor, Peace Corps Guyana and sisterhood groups, where attendees were afforded the opportunity to access handouts and views displays of the work done by these groups in promoting peace and adding to Guyana’s development.

The September 21 date took effect in 2002 after then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, drafted a resolution in 2001. International Peace Day is observed by all UN members.

Ideals of peace

The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981 for “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace within and among all nations and people”.

Twenty years later, the General Assembly set September 21 as the date to observe the occasion annually as a “day of global ceasefire and non-violence… through education and public awareness, and to cooperate in the establishment of a global ceasefire”.

This year commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the 60th anniversary of UN peacekeeping.

The day offers an opportunity to spotlight the crucial relationship between peace and human rights, which are increasingly recognised as inseparable.

New pumps being installed countrywide

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said works to install 14 new pumps at various locations countrywide is moving apace.

Dr Ramsammy told this publication that this is being done in preparation for the upcoming rainy season in December.

According to him, one pump has already been placed at Rose Hall, Region Six. A pump has also been placed in the Canje area, and this will help with the drainage and irrigation system between Albion and Port Mourant, Berbice.

Pumps have also been placed at Number 19 Village, Region Six and Windsor Forest, Canal Number One Polder and another at Patentia, Region Three.

Capacity

Dr Ramsammy said the move will add capacity to these communities and will serve to protect them from flooding. These pumps were acquired by government for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), through an Indian line of credit.

They will also help to re-

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy

duce possible flooding in both residential and farming communities countrywide.

Meanwhile, the agriculture minister said plans for similar preparations will have to be made on the coast of the country, particularly Georgetown.

He said these plans, however, will have to be executed by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), since all seven pumps within Georgetown fall under the council’s jurisdiction. The ministry, he said, will offer its support if necessary, but urged the M&CC to

make sure that all the pumps are in good working condition.

Dr Ramsammy further stated that the M&CC should seek to ensure that all canals are kept clean, so that there is a clear flow of water.

While there have been issues with the pump located in the Demerara River, the minister said this should be repaired at the soonest possible time.

Blocked

Usually, the pumps at Liliendaal and Kitty are always working, but the flow of water coming in to the pumps is usually impeded. This, he said, must be corrected by City Hall.

The minister said these preparations are important, as they will help to reduce flooding in communities countrywide and more importantly, the country’s capital city.

Dr Ramsammy also told this newspaper that construction of the Hope/Dochfour Canal is progressing smoothly.

He said contractors are working to meet a December deadline. According to him,

the head regulator, which is located at the conservancy end, is progressing well. The bridge should also be completed by December.

The actual canal was brought closer to the bridge and construction has already started north of the bridge, but that aspect of the job cannot be finished until the head regulator is done.

Contractors are also working to shape the dams, but this cannot be completed immediately.

Dr Ramsammy said while he is pleased with the pace of construction as of recent, his only concern is with the sluice.

However, the minister said he had made several visits to the area to ensure that the contractor and his team are working feverishly to complete the job.

He remains optimistic that all works could be finalised by year-end. Once the canal is completed, it will help to bring some ease to the East Demerara Water Conservancy, which at present is under pressure and serves most of the coastal region.

Eyew tness

Democracy...

...stillborn

With their world crumbling over their heads, the Alliance For Change (AFC) head honchos are still carrying on with their sanctimonious piffle. But, as usual, this simply exposes them for the conniving hypocrites they really are. This week, Khemraj Ramjattan weighed in on the portentous topic of “democracy delayed is democracy denied” in the free column the opposition MuckrakerKN gives them. Birds of a feather...

As is his reflexive proclivity, Ramjattan accuses the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government of “delaying democracy”. So what is new? One of the constants of life is the amazing blind spot narcissistic and ambitious leaders (is that redundant?) have to their own failings. Imagine in the midst of the exodus of their New York “think tank” – because they weren’t consulted or listened to – Ramjattan can pontificate about “democracy denied”!!

What’s democracy about, if not leaders listening to supporters? And here we have it – from the New York horses’ mouths – that Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo, and their leadership clique never listened to them after the elections. Up to then, the money and the advice were eagerly solicited – especially the money. Now you have a couple of their biggest money-men – Ally and Mukrab –quitting in disgust.

Ally complained that he’d visited Guyana, spent a considerable amount of time on the ground, and observed numerous lapses in the AFC. But all he received for his troubles was vicious abuse from cronies of the top leadership. Gradually, it dawned on him that the AFC leaders weren’t interested in changing Guyana – just enriching themselves and lecturing others on what to do. This is “democracy”?

Then you have the economist Tarron Khemraj, who was evidently the architect of the AFC’s economic proposals in their campaign manifesto. He also complained bitterly that Ramjattan and cronies never consulted him even once on the biggest economic question the AFC grappled with over the last year – Amaila Falls!!

We now know that because of the self- interest of the Hughes in the big bucks from Sithe, they certainly didn’t want advice from Khemraj – or anyone else for that matter. They always knew what they had to do: take the money and run! The AFC was always a vehicle for furthering the agendas of the top leaders. They couldn’t be the top dogs in the PPP/C, the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) – so they formed a party where they could do as they pleased.

In the AFC, democracy wasn’t only “delayed” and “denied” – it was stillborn.

...crushed

And the collapse of the AFC’s New York chapter wasn’t the only stake that was driven into the heart of the party. Their councillor from Region Six , Haseef Yussuf, continued with his revelations of AFC “top dogs” dipping their dirty little hands into the party’s till. Remember him? He’s the fella who blew the whistle on their bushdoctor member of parliament’s misappropriation of campaign funds.

Well, he’s brought up some more conflict-of-interest dealings by executive Cathy Hughes. Yussuf pointed out that he was surprised when even though the vaunted “accounting” by the AFC showed they had $484,000 surplus after the election – suddenly he’s now told the party owes Hughes $7 million!!

And the AFC treasurer Dominic Gaskin had the temerity to “explain” the discrepancy thusly: “We used Video Mega Inc, which is owned by Hughes, to do our advertising.” Really??!! And it never crossed the minds of these paragons of virtue in the leadership of the AFC that there might be a conflict of interest here? Was there any bidding on the advertising?

No wonder the financiers in New York walked! If this is how they siphon off campaign money, imagine what they’ll do with the Treasury!

First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar speaking at the International Peace Day awareness event held at the Theatre Guild, Kingston, Georgetown on Saturday

Region 10 records outstanding TB DOT treatment rate

National Public Health Reference Laboratory Director

Dr Nadira Ramcharan has disclosed that Region 10 has recorded a 77 per cent completion rate for Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOT) for the year.

This means that 77 per cent of patients who started their treatment in the region have completed it and have been cured.

Speaking at the National Tuberculosis (TB) programme’s first meeting for 2013, Dr Ramcharan credited the success to Dr Roscoe Mc Donald and his DOT staff. She also presented an award to the doctor and his staff for their outstanding work.

Dont't lose hope

Dr Ramcharan said she is aware that workers face challenges in getting patients to take their medication, and urged them not to lose hope.

“Put your best foot forward, those who are not a 100 per cent there, keep going… I want you to know the road sometimes will be tough, sometimes it will be easy, but all in all, when you look back and see that the patients are the ones who will benefit, you will have job satisfaction.”

Meanwhile, moments after receiving the award, Dr McDonald, who is in charge of the caring treatment site

for TB/HIV patients at the Wismar Hospital, Region 10, said it was challenging at times as many persons neglected their treatment.

However, he noted that it was recognised that once these persons got the proper treatment, they were able to recover; hence, this was the motivator.

The doctor’s team comprises himself, three DOT workers and three nurses.

Dr McDonald disclosed that his team saw persons at the hospital and made home visits, highlighting that is “because we have to see the conditions patients live in, we have to see how they are eating, family members that could be affect also because we had to be educating them so their neighbourhood could

not be affected”.

Dr Mc Donald said he could not make such an accomplishment without his staff as he lauded their commitment.

Co-infection rate

National Tuberculosis Programme in Guyana, Programme Manager Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall disclosed that up to August, more than 300 cases were attended to, and noted that the co-infection rate of TB and HIV is still worrying.

“Last year, we had 29 per cent of the cases being co-infected with TB and HIV, so far for this year, we are seeing 25 per cent of our new cases co-infected with HIV and this is an area we really need to work hard in,” he

said.

Last year, 209 cases of TB and HIV co-infection were recorded at the Georgetown Chest Clinic alone.

Dr Mohanlall also noted that out of 40 miners and loggers, who were registered in the DOT programme last year, 23 were from Region 10, and all completed their treatment.

He noted that education also plays a pivotal part in getting persons to understand the importance of taking their medication and getting the care they need to treat the illness.

Dr Mohanlall emphasised that DOT needs to be a partnership between patients, their families and friends and health care providers.

Moon does run till day come

Guyana is de only country in which people does be allowed to stay outta jail fuh so long, and yet dem does do so many wrang tings in public. Old people seh moon does run, but day does ketch up wid he. Well right hey in Guyana, is a lotta people behavin like de moon, but dem fuhget that day comin soon and dem gon get ketch with all de duttiness and scampishness whah dem so bare face wid.

One mud paper man, who was a salipenter man, who is now a backtrack man, and who is a thief-transformer-fromG-PEE-Hell man, now tryin to tell de whole country bout corruption and bribery. This is de same man who try fuh bribe de whole of guvament, and when dem send he back wheh he come from, he get vex and start cussin from Harry Wrang to Harry Right.

This is de same mud paper man who run helter skelter in and out de country fuh tell people that Guyana got corrupt people. When he done, de same people who he run to, tun round and watch he and laff he behind he back. Then when he put de photos posin wid de people he meet in de same mud paper, de people skin dem teeth and laff more hard.

Dem know Guyana got plenty bright people, but dem want fuh know how one of dem could be so stupiddy fuh tink that people gon believe whah he seh. In Guyana, de other name fuh people whah so stupiddy is Mook.

Is de same mud paper man who de U.S. seh gotta sketchy character and who got links to de underworld. In fact, this mud paper man livin in de underworld, mekkin a livin from de underworld, and then tun round and rob de same people who livin wid he in de underworld.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But as de old people seh, moon can only run till day come. Day comin soon, and de mud paper man own fart gon wake he up!

World Bank to unwrap US$700M package for developing countries

World Bank Group

President Jim Yong Kim will today at the United Nations in New York announce that the bank group projects at least US$700 million in financing through the end of 2015 to help developing countries reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for women and children’s health.

This new funding comes from the International Development Association (IDA), the bank group’s fund for the poorest countries, and will enable national scale-ups of successful pilot reproductive, maternal, and child health projects that were made possible by support from the bank group’s Health Results Innovation Trust Fund (HRITF) and IDA.

This announcement follows President Kim’s September 2012 commitment to help scale-up funding for MDGs four and five as part of the UN secretary general’s Every Woman Every Child global partnership.

“We need to inject greater urgency into our collective efforts to save more women and children’s lives, and evidence shows that re-

sults-based financing has significant impact,” said President Kim.

“The World Bank Group is committed to using evidencebased approaches to help ensure that every woman and every child can get the affordable, quality health care necessary to survive and live a healthy, productive life,” he said.

Today’s US$700 million announcement comes on top of a September 2010 bank pledge to provide US$600 million in IDA results-based financing for MDGs four and five by 2015; the bank has delivered on that pledge two years ahead of schedule.

This support has contributed to global declines in maternal and child mortality and expanded access to health care for poor women and children.

Paying for results

Through results-based financing, the bank group is working with countries to shift the focus from paying for inputs to paying for results. Payment to health service providers is explicitly tied to the successful delivery and independent verification of preagreed results.

There is strong evidence that this approach works: In Afghanistan, the number of women delivering their babies with the support of skilled birth attendants more than doubled from April 2010 to December 2012 in treatment facilities; in Argentina, improved health services and accessibility for poor pregnant women and children in Argentina led

to a decrease in low birth weight and in-hospital deaths of babies in the first 28 days of life for programme beneficiaries.

In Burundi, over just one year, births at health facilities rose by 25 per cent, prenatal consultations went up by 20 per cent and the number of children fully vaccinated increased by 10 per cent.

Comprehensive approach

Further progress on women and children’s health will require a comprehensive approach to strengthening health systems, including investments beyond the health sector in critical areas such as water and sanitation, education systems, and labour markets.

IDA’s country-based approach reinforces national health strategies and priorities while building on the bank group’s areas of comparative advantage in providing a multisectoral and systems-based approach to improving health.

The HRITF, supported by the governments of Norway and the United Kingdom, in turn reinforces this by providing countries with incentives to scale-up

their investments through IDA.

During the past decade from 2003 to 2013, financing support through IDA has led to: nearly 600 million children immunised; more than 194 million pregnant women provided with antenatal care; more than 29 million births attended by skilled health personnel; more than 210 million pregnant/lactating women, adolescent girls, and/or children under age five reached by basic nutrition services.

The World Bank Group is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world, with the goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. Improving health is integral to achieving these goals.

The bank group provides financing, state-of-the-art analysis, and policy advice to help countries expand access to quality, affordable health care; protect people from falling into poverty or worsening poverty due to illness; and promote investments in all sectors that form the foundation of healthy societies.

Dr Roscoe Mc Donald receives his award from National Public Health Reference Laboratory Director Dr Nadira Ramcharan in the presence of Region 10 DOT workers

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim

Times Notebook

Cyberbullying – a new form of bullyism

Times Notebook today highlights an emerging phenomenon that is already creating a headache for law enforcement and the legal system, but more significantly, adding to the psychological impact and stress of living in a modern world.

Bullying is not new – it is as old as civilisation. In schools, it takes the form of intimidation for lunch money, for various items someone may have, a slap in the head, a skirt pulled up, or pants pulled down.

There are gangs in schools and communities that intimidate people and even sometimes officialdom, such as police and customs personnel, who might intimidate people.

Challenges

These are challenges for school administrations, police and other authorities. All these forms of bullyism and bullying create mental stress on people and often times create difficulties in people’s lives.

Society has had to deal with bullying ever since civilisation started. We are yet to effectively deal with the traditional bulling that society has encountered for centuries now.

Included in the impact of bullying is the number of persons who commit suicide. You will recall not so long ago

a young man who jumped off the Brooklyn River Bridge because of bullying. In news from the U.S. recently, a number of suicide cases have been linked to bullying.

In Guyana and in countries around the world, there are several cases of people who have committed suicide because of bullying. Outside of suicide, bullying causes lives to forever change in a negative way. Some people suffer psychological stress for the rest of their lives.

But the world now faces another form of bullying that threatens to overwhelm us, unless we take concerted global action now. It is called cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying has now elevated itself to the attention of authorities worldwide and it is the view of Times Notebook that this is now not merely a crime, but deserve the attention of public health authorities, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), because of the health impact cyberbullying is now having, adding to the already considerable health impact of bullying in general.

Cyber technology has given the potential to be a bully to any citizen, no matter what their physical nature is and no matter what their position in life is. All you

need to be a cyberbully is a cellphone with the ability to do certain things, be on Facebook and Twitter, have internet and emails and be able to blog.

A recent global study has revealed that stalking via cellphone by texting has become a pervasive global problem.

Significantly, a cyberbully can be anonymous by posting unsigned attacks through the cyber technology and the social network.

The anonymity of the internet has a way of bringing out the harsh, judgmental streak in strangers and people around you who would normally never belittle anoth-

er in person. The internet and the social media now give an anonymity that triggers the meanest behaviour in some people who in the past would have never dared personally attack another person.

Online anonymity is a dangerous weapon. Anyone and everyone can be an online bully. A cyberbully can work under a fake name or fake screen names so that the victim can feel multiple persons are the bully.

Usually they send out misinformation and poisonous rumours and these can get to millions of people with a simple click of a button.

Equally disruptive

Just as acts of violence jeopardise the intent of a country to be free of aggression against persons or property and prevent disruptions and disorder in people’s lives, cyberbullying is equally disruptive and threatening. Thus, we see the spate of suicide and self-inflicted injuries around the world because of cyberbullying.

Victims of cyberbullying are literally humiliated in a worldwide venue which can occur every second of the day.

Unlike physical harassment which can be limited in time, cyber attacks can be continuous. When these attacks occur, whether by texts or other forms of cyber social network, it is virtually impossible

to remove and for most people they do not have the means to do so.

For children, it can have a devastating impact on their academic performance. For adults, it can affect their careers and businesses.

Times Notebook because of constraints of space highlights this one area of cyberbullying to be a catalyst for action.

Sexual predators

A study in the U.S. shows that there are more than 50,000 sexual predators that are online at any one time, 89 per cent of sexual solicitations occur in chat rooms and instant messages; one in five children are solicited for sex, and 25 per cent of them will never tell because of intimidation and fear.

In a changing world where the internet and the computer have added so many possibilities to improve and advance lives, it is tragic that irresponsible use is also expanding the opportunities for negative impact.

Cyber crime must be addressed now and Times Notebook thinks it is high time we discuss this issue in Guyana and around the world and come up with a global, concerted action plan to stop cyberbullying. Readers are invited to comment on this article via email (times.notebook@gmail.com) and on Facebook.

Pathfinders showcase skills at Ayanganna fair

The Seventh-day Adventist’s Pathfinder Fair returned to the local scene after close to three decades.

On Sunday, 13 Pathfinder clubs from across Guyana converged at Camp Ayanganna to exhibit their skills and products made during the year.

Speaking with Guyana Times at the fair, youth director, Pastor Marvin Smith expressed appreciation for the support received. “They are basically showcasing their thrilling skills, survival abilities, creativity in terms of craft

and art and some of the other things they would have learnt throughout the programme,” he said.

Based on this year’s response, Pastor Smith is anticipating a larger outcome in 2014, with the more than 50 Pathfinder clubs in attendance.

There is an estimated 3000 Pathfinders in the country, and according to the youth director, those who were in attendance on Sunday are just a few of the many Pathfinders in Guyana.

“So we are hoping by next

year, it is rekindled where we have more participants... it’s a means of showing how young people can display positive energy, that’s what we are all about.” he said.

Positive contributions

Keneisha Carryl, 14, of the Olivet Auriga Pathfinder Club on Durban Backlands, Georgtown, said it was a pleasure to be part of the mission which equips young people with the skills and knowledge needed to make positive contributions in society.

At the time, she was dis-

playing a collection of dyed products.

“It’s really exciting, because we get to experience a lot of activities. Also you are given activities to do and if you passes it, you are given honours, and when you graduate from classes, you get pins, and being rewarded makes you feel appreciated and pushes you to do more,” the young woman said.

Meanwhile, her colleague Marlon Scotland taught spectators how to make mirrors using the shape of the Pathfinder’s emblem.

“Every Sabbath, I learn something new. It teaches you good stuff, like not to smoke and the side effects of smoking, it teaches you to live a jungle life, a lot about the Lord,” Scotland told Guyana Times

Director of Cygnus Pathfinder Club in Linden Samanta DeAbreu and her team of 30 members displayed a wide variety of food products made from breadfruit, including pie, Christmas minis, meat ball, cake and creamy milk shake. DeAbreu said all are welcomed to be a

Pathfinder, as one does not have to be an Adventist. Travelling all the way from Kuru Kuru, Linden, to be a part of the 2013 Pathfinder Fair was the Bellatrix Pathfinder Club. Its members displayed a variety of knots and campfire techniques. These include overhand knot, granny knot, square knot and a surgeon knot, along with council fire and adjustable fire. The 2013 Pathfinder Fair was held under the theme “Motivated, Creative and Innovative”.

Pathfinders from the Olivet Auriga Pathfinder Club practising ahead of the competition Two Pathfinders view craft exhibits at the booth of the Bellatrix Pathfinder Club

The world now faces another form of bullying

monday, september 23, 2013 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt to press opposition on passage of anti-money laundering bill

Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail

Teixeira said government is cautiously optimistic that the combined opposition, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) will see the importance of passing the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing Terrorism Act (CFT) before the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s (CFTAF) November meeting.

During a post-Cabinet news conference last Thursday, Teixeira said she will be convening a meeting at the end of Parliament’s recess to see if the parties can come to a tripartite agreement on the matter.

“We would just have to taste the pudding and see what happens, or as they say, test the waters,” Teixeira said.

"Bogus deadlines"

But APNU’s leader David Granger on Friday during his coalition’s weekly press briefing said they will not be moved by government’s “bogus deadlines”.

He said APNU has already stated its position and the party will continue to strive to ensure that the AML/CFT is properly scrutinised before clearing the House.

“APNU has already stated that it is not bound by bogus deadlines, but by the precepts of good governance and we want to ensure that the errors in the existing Financial Intelligence Unit and the ex-

isting act do not repeat in the future,” Granger maintained.

He argued that his party has an obligation to the people of Guyana to ensure that amendments are made, all loopholes are plugged and a water proof is drawn up.

“The current act is porous and that is why we are taking our time and listening to civil society so that we could get the best advice and incorporate best practices,” Granger said.

“The APNU will not be rushed into another bad act… we are now correcting problems that have been found within a number of other bills. We are doing a lot of corrective surgery to these acts over the last 20 years,” he added.

Meanwhile, Teixeira recalled that even after missing the deadline given by the CFATF for the second time, Guyana still submitted its report. But the taskforce deemed it as incomplete, to which end, the country will

be faced with a series of financial challenges from the international community.

Sanctions

“Despite being aware of Guyana’s position with regards to sanctions and submission of the final report to CFATF, the Parliamentary Select Committee went ahead and postponed deliberations until October. Yet CFATF still insisted on a definitive date of enactment by the time officials again meet in November,” she said.

However, the taskforce commended Guyana for the implementation of the nonlegislative interventions by the government, and urged further progress in this regard.

“They noted with some satisfaction that Guyana was making progress in the non-legislative interventions which were about 20 per cent of the recommendations under CFATF,” Teixeira stated.

OAS women's body to visit member countries

The Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) of the Organisation of American States (OAS) will visit member countries, as the Committee of Experts (CEVI) of the Follow-up Mechanism to the Convention of Belém do Pará (MESECVI) to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women decided during a meeting last week at the headquarters of the hemispheric organisation in Washington, DC.

According to a release, OAS experts agreed to make a number of changes to the rules of the committee, with the aim of strengthening it and increasing the participation of civil society.

One of the main reforms to the regulation involves visits to member countries when requested by the state party or when deemed necessary by the committee.

The experts agreed at the meeting to request authorisation from Guatemala to carry out a visit given the increase in underage pregnancies in the country.

The Committee of Experts

also agreed to send a letter to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, asking him to apply the C-355 ruling of the Constitutional Court to decriminalise the practice of abortion in certain circumstances.

The CEVI also adopted a declaration expressing that “the data on violence to which women and girls continue to be victims in the region is alarming”.

Everyday life of girls

Physical, psychological and sexual violence, trafficking in women and girls for sexual and labour exploitation, abuse in schools, jobs and health centres and violations of sexual and reproductive rights are still part of the everyday life of girls and women across the region,” it added.

In the statement, the experts reiterated their call on states parties to the Convention of Belém do Pará to “redouble their efforts to provide a strong, effective and sustainable response to violence against women, in accordance with the legal and international political frame-

work”.

Upon conclusion of the meeting, chaired by the representative of Mexico, Patricia Olamendi, the new authorities of the committee were elected.

The expert from Colombia, Flor María Díaz Chalarca, was elected chair, and the experts from Paraguay, Lydia Giménez, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Miriam Roache, were elected as vice chairs.

The Committee of Experts is the technical body of MESECVI responsible for the analysis and evaluation of the implementation of the convention.

It is composed of independent experts, appointed by each of the states parties, who serve in a personal capacity.

The Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women, known as the Convention of Belém do Pará (for the site of its adoption in 1994), provides for the right of women to live a life free of violence and highlights violence against women as a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

BACIF scaling up production – to produce new types of fire hydrants

Brass Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry Limited (BACIF) is in the process of manufacturing three significant large scale pieces of items that will highlight the magnitude of the company’s capability as a local manufacturer.

Speaking to Guyana Times during an interview on Friday, BACIF General Manager Peter Pompey said his company is able to boast of its high level of productivity, despite the lack of quality scrap metal and skill deprivation.

“Despite the country is faced with skill deprivation, limited technology, high cost of financing for research and development, along with the shortage of high quality scrap material due to the

es pitch and comprise 72 teeth. We believe these are exceptional products because of the size and complexity and the type of utilisation it would be

export of same, BACIF has been able to rise to the challenge… producing engineering castings, machining and fabricating services to the major productive sectors in Guyana and the Caribbean,” he noted.

BACIF is currently in the process of producing some 19,000 pounds of masses for the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).

Pompey said the masses will be used for calibrating industrial scales around the country.

“This particular job is an exceptional one for BACIF and Guyana. It is the only place in the Caribbean it is being done and we’re proud,” he added.

Achievement by any standard

This would make it the second time the company is producing such masses, a feat it dubs “an achievement by any standard”.

In the meantime, the foundry is simultaneously manufacturing two of the largest crystalliser worm gears for Jamaica’s sugar industry.

“The gears are 48 inches in diameter, two inch-

involved in,” Pompey outlined.

BACIF is also embarking on the development of a fire hydrant post that is conducive to Guyana’s climate. “The advancement of the hydrant will be fashionable

and conducive to our local environment and will require minimum maintenance,” he said. However, Pompey pointed out that the hydrant is presently in its design stages.

Housing developers

“Within the next few weeks, we expect the prototype to be completed and our objective is to market this product to the housing developers so that it can be a part of the infrastructure within the new housing community,” he explained. Pompey noted that BACIF has been providing different designs of hydrants over the years, but recognised recently that they were also being imported. However, he said the imported items do not function as they should here, based on their design and type.

As a result, Pompey said, “having the capability to produce such a product and recognising the need, we will improve on the initial type and design previously manufactured”.

According to the general manager, the company can boast of making Guyana the only country in the Caribbean that has the capacity of manufacturing castings, allowing for tremendous savings of foreign exchange.

As such, he stated that its competition is overseas-based companies, as opposed to fellow local manufacturers.

While the BACIF can do more for the local environment, Pompey said research and development is an area that needs to be addressed.

“In terms of providing incentive to the companies to facilitate and if those arrangements can be struck, we will be in a better position to advance component and items made, to be efficient,” added Pompey.

Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira

Opposition Leader David Granger

The prototype of the fire hydrant to be designed

Some of the masses being produced for the GNBS

The crystalliser worm gear being manufactured for Jamaica

Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy

In the previous article, we discussed Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) – one of the biggest steps taken in Guyana to address climate change and national development. This week we will continue to explore the LCDS and the major projects that are being implemented.

LCDS priority projects

In 2009, the LCDS identified a number of priority projects to support Guyana’s transition to a low carbon economy. Since that time to now, many of these projects have been developed and implementation commenced. These are identified below:

Amerindian development

The LCDS is supporting Amerindian development through several strategic initiatives:

Hinterland renewable energy: To support the energy needs of households without access to the national electricity grid, solar photovoltaic systems were distributed to Amerindian and other hinterland households.

As of March 2013, approximately 11,000 solar panels were installed in almost 200 communities. Investments are also being made into small-scale hydropower resources in the hinterland.

Socio-economic development: An Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) has been set-up to support the socio-economic and livelihood development of Amerindian communities through the implementation of their Community Development Plans (CDPs), which identify the communities’ own priorities to meet

social and economic development objectives.

Amerindian land titling (ALT): In excess of 14 per cent of Guyana’s territory is owned by Amerindians. This project aims to facilitate and fast track the ALT process.

Expanding the digital economy and avoiding a digital divide

Fibre-optic cable:

Investments are being made into enhancing broadband connectivity between the coast and the hinterland, as well as connections to Brazil’s telecommunications network.

One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project: The project is providing Internetconnected mobile computers to families throughout Guyana who otherwise might be excluded from the opportunities presented by the modern ITC sector. As of March 2013, 26,832 laptops were distributed, supported by on-going training.

Telecommunications liberalisation: In an effort to modernise the sector, several pieces of legislation have been tabled in the National Assembly including a Telecommunications Bill.

Support for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSES), and vulnerable groups low-carbon livelihoods

This project aims to address two of the major bottlenecks that constrain the development of MSEs and the ability of vulnerable groups to build alternative livelihoods in Guyana, which are i) limited access to finance and ii) limited technical and business skills.

Access to finance will be addressed through a credit guarantee facility which will

be used to guarantee part of the collateral of a loan, thereby enabling a MSE to obtain a loan at an affordable rate. In addition, an interest support facility will help with interest payments and a low carbon grant scheme will be established to assist vulnerable persons with viable business propositions.

The lack of skills will be addressed through a training voucher scheme which will enable MSEs to obtain the skills they require at existing training institutions. Sector specific training will also be provided.

Centre for biodiversity research and curriculum development Centre for Biodiversity Research: The international centre for biodiversity research and low carbon development will be dedicated to researching Guyana’s biodiversity and assessing its economic value and how this can be maximised.

Curriculum develop-

ment: Steps are being taken to integrate low carbon development concepts into the primary school curriculum.

Climate resilience and adaptation

Several initiatives have been targeted to improve Guyana’s resilience to climate change and its capacity to adapt. One of the first priorities addressed was the rehabilitation of canals to improve the management of water in the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC).

The next stage in the low carbon transition (20132015)

During this period to the end of 2015, the priority projects are expected to continue utilising resources already allocated. In parallel, and subject to revenues from climate services and other sources continuing as planned, the government of Guyana intends to address a further five priorities in the period to 2015:

Child Protection Week starts with interfaith service

The Human Services and Social Security Ministry officially launched Child Protection Week on Sunday, under the theme “Community Partnerships for Child Protection”, with an inter-faith service at the Childcare and Protection Agency, Charlestown, Georgetown. At the service, leaders of various religious organisations offered prayers and shared their views on the importance of child protection.

This year’s activities seek to forge essential partnerships to secure positive outcomes for children.

Partnerships with community groups, including religious bodies, are crucial to the attainment of that goal under the theme “Joining Hands for Effective Child Protection Services”.

Child Protection Week, which is being observed in 120 countries, is being celebrated from September 22 to 28, to raise the level of awareness on issues relating to children, including child abuse, and to propel individuals and groups into action to keep children safe.

The week will also highlight the rights of children to a life without abuse and advocates the prioritisa-

tion of children on any agenda for the development of people.

Sunday’s inter-faith service provided the opportunity for religious leaders and other stakeholders to recognise that issues of child protection cut across religious, social and political lines.

The gathering included officials of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Help and Shelter, the National Commission on the Rights of the Child, and religious institutions.

While strides have been made to ensure children are protected, there remains much to be done.

Child protection policies

The gathering expressed hope that child protection, like other social issues, will not only be discussed frequently but that there will be corresponding results in terms of the number of reports made about child abuse.

In this regard, it was noted that since the establishment of the dropin centre in 1993, other institutions have been set up including the Sophia Care Centre, the Mahaica Children’s Home, several orphanages by non-

governmental organisations across Guyana, the probation and welfare department in 2005 and the child protection unit in 2006.

Several pieces of legislation have also been passed: the Protection of Children, Child Care and Development and Services, Minimum Standards for Orphanages and the Child Care and Protection Agency, Maintenance and Sexual Offences bills, among them.

The foster care programme was expanded and more-child friendly facilities were established, as Guyana pushed child protection policies.

There will be children protection activities, including a road march and rally on “breaking the silence on childhood sexual abuse”, throughout the administrative regions during this special week to remind individuals, community members, and local groups of the civil and moral responsibility to be part of the solution for children in need of protection.

Furthermore, child protection officers in their outreach sessions will be providing information on what everyone can do to help keep children safe.

structed, with a focus on particularly vulnerable areas. Adaptation readiness programme: This could include significantly revamping Guyana’s early warning system and improving the timely and accurate collection and dissemination of data and information on weather-related events and their impacts on the ground.

Supporting high potential low-carbon sectors

Climate resilience, adaptation and water management

This will include initiatives to improve Guyana’s ability to cope with climate change and will likely include some or all of the following measures:

Upgrading infrastructure and assets to protect against flooding through urgent, near-term measures: This will include maintaining and upgrading Guyana’s drainage and irrigation (D&I) system, empoldering as well as dredging and de-silting major rivers, expansion of the use of mangroves as natural sea defences, and significant upgrades to the EDWC. Hinterland adaptation: This will include the development, reproduction and distribution of plant varieties and crop management techniques that are suitable for hinterland communities, thereby ensuring the sustainability and further development of their livelihoods.

In addition, all-weather roads and bridges and new D&I systems will be con-

This will involve the development of priority low carbon sectors. It is expected that the priorities to 2015 will be business process outsourcing, aquaculture, ecotourism, and fruits and vegetables. In parallel, work to strengthen the sustainable forestry and mining sectors will continue.

Hinterland and Amerindian development: Much of the work that has started, including land titling initiatives, will continue up to 2015. The ADF will continue to be capitalised to provide financing for all CDPs. Alongside the existing programmes; further measures will also receive investment to support the following: Hinterland adaptation measures; improving Information and Communication Technology (ICT) access and facilitating Hinterland Distance Learning through ICT. For additional information, please contact the Office of Climate Change, Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown, Tel: 223-5205, email: info@lcds.gov.gy, website: www.lcds.gov.gy. Next week we will continue to further explore Guyana’s LCDS. (Office of Climate Change)

Karia Karia man freed of murder charge

After spending almost three years in jail for the alleged murder of Paul John from Karia Karia Village in the Essequibo River, Clive Brown now feels a sense of relief after a jury returned a verdict of not guilty during the trial of his matter last week.

The case commenced early Thursday morning and went through until the evening before the decision could have been given.

Brown, a father of one, shed tears when the news was broken to him by Justice William Ramlall. Brown can now get to reunite with his family and take on the responsibility of a father.

Addressing a silent Suddie courtroom on Thursday, Justice Ramlall, the presiding judge, gave a lengthy direction to the jury on aspects of “identification” into the murder story.

He cautioned the jury to make a wise decision and take keen consideration of the witnesses who testified in the matter.

The allegations, is that Brown went into the home of Sohodra Persaud, also known

as “Aunty Soroj” of Karia Karia Village, where he committed robbery and later murdered her reputed husband, Paul John.

The prosecution led several witnesses, included police officers in support of their case. However, they were too many inconsistencies and discrepancies in the evidence put forward by Sohodra Persaud.

Persaud gave several description of her property which conflicted with the description given by policeman Fizal Mohamed, who also testified. With the wrong description and no proper identification of the deceased premises, the jury was left in a difficult position to ascertain from which direction she could have possibly seen anybody, committing any robbery or killing her husband.

The accused, in proclaiming his innocence, said he was never at Sohodra Persaud’s resident and his story was supported by his wife, who gave sworn evidence that her husband was with her on the night of the incident, at their home at Greet Troolie Island, Karia Karia on the Essequibo River.

The LCDS is supporting Amerindian development through several strategic initiatives

Barbados: Minister hints at health-care fees

Barbadians may soon have to pay user fees to access health care at public facilities as part of government’s thrust to boost revenues.

Health Minister John Boyce dropped the hint shortly after signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the ministry and the University of the West Indies (UWI) along with principal of the Cave Hill campus, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.

The ministry suffered a near Bds$35 million cut in its subvention after the 2013 Budget, and Boyce said the objectives set out and outlined by the finance minister were “real” and must be met.

“It is a question of making sure that this country is here for us and for our children 10, 15, 20 years down the road,” he added. (Excerpt from Nation News)

Haitian leader engages parties on major political issues

Haiti’s president, Michel Martelly, has initiated a series of meetings with political leaders to discuss conflicting issues regarding the holding of an upcoming partial legislative ballot, among other matters of national interest for the Caribbean country.

to participate in the search of solutions to the problems facing the country,” Jura told HCNN on Thursday.

Martelly met on Wednesday former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who heads one of Haiti’s largest political grouping, the Lavalas Family party. Several other political leaders have received visits from the president at their headquarters.

Mighty Sparrow doing well, says daughter

The family of Slinger Francisco, regarded as the Calypso king of the world, says the Mighty Sparrow is responding very well to treatment.

Sparrow, who was admitted to a New York hospital two weeks ago, is “no longer in a coma and should be up and about soon but not too soon,” his daughter Nicole Robinson said.

“He is communicating by blinks and lifting his hands,” she said, adding that Sparrow is also listening to some of his favourite tunes which includes some of his own gospel songs, country

and western and classical. Two weeks ago, fans learned that the Calypso King was admitted to hospital for complications related to diabetes. The Mighty Sparrow, 78, has been performing for more than four decades and has been having health challenges for the past three years.

These include undergoing surgery in 2010 to treat a right inguinal hernia that had caused him to cut short performances in Trinidad and Tobago and in the United States because of excruciating pain while on stage. (Jamaica Observer)

Mexican storms: Village landslide missing “probably dead”

Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto says it is likely that all 68 people missing after a huge mudslide in the village of La Pintada are dead.

Pena Nieto spoke after overseeing rescue operations in the village, having cancelled his visit to the UN General Assembly next week.

rescue helicopter.

The two powerful storms hit Mexico at the start of the week. Tropical Storm Manuel ripped through the state of Guerrero before returning to the Pacific.

ing anyone alive”, but promised to rebuild La Pintada and the resort of Acapulco, which both suffered heavy damage.

On the Gulf coast of Mexico, Hurricane Ingrid caused destruction mainly in the eastern state of Tamaulipas early in the week, before dissipating.

A spokesman for Martelly, Lucien Jura, said the series of discussions was part of a dialogue to facilitate the reaching of a consensus on a number of national issues and to integrate other political actors in the search of solutions that protect collective interests.

More than two billion dollars has been allocated to complete the five-building Government Campus Plaza in Trinidad.

Detailed in both the 2013 and 2014 State Enterprises Investment Programme (SEIP) folders, construction and fit-out of the almost decade-old buildings carry the hefty price tag of TT$2.4 billion. According to the 2013 SEIP between October 2011 and March 2012, TT$1.3 billion was spent on the buildings, even though the project managers, the Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago, stalled construction for two years between 2010 and 2012. In the months between April 2012 and September

“President Martelly has initiated a dialogue that could allow political actors

Martelly has been the subject of intense criticism from opponents who accuse him of not having the political will to hold elections, within the constitutional deadline, to provide for the renewal of one-third of the 30-member senate assembly.

Martelly’s critics say the Haitian leader has a plan to dissolve Parliament or to render it dysfunctional by pronouncing the end of the office term of 10 senators in January 2014, based on a 2008 law, which also provided for timely elections to replace outgoing lawmakers.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

lion,

If confirmed, the deaths would raise the toll from Tropical Storm Manuel and Hurricane Ingrid to around 170. Among the dead are five crew members of a crashed

On his tour through the south-western state of Guerrero, the president said there was “little hope of find-

“I’m going to return to La Pintada. I’m going to inaugurate the new La Pintada,” he told reporters after overseeing the search operations in the huge mudslide that buried half of the village. Meanwhile, authorities found the remains of a Black Hawk helicopter that had been missing since Thursday. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Child molester gets five years in Antigua

APoint resident who molested a five-yearold girl in 2007 was sentenced to five years in jail.

Carl Samuel, now 32 years old, pleaded guilty to serious indecency and faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. However, Justice Keith Thom shaved off several years because he was a first-time offender and that he pleaded guilty.

The adjudicator said had there not been the aforementioned mitigating factors, he

would have handed down a penalty of seven years.

Crown Counsel Shannon Jones told the court the convict committed the offence around 21:30h on Christmas Eve 2007.

She said the child was at a relative’s home with siblings and other children but left everyone on the veranda and went to watch television in a bedroom. Shortly afterwards, Samuel, who was known to the family and who was also on the veran-

da, went into the house. In a statement to police, a relative said since the children were usually noisy, she became worried when she did not hear any sound inside the house.

Upon investigation, she found the child and the convict undressed on the bed. The woman said she grabbed Samuel and they struggled, but he fled from the house. She chased after him and caught him, but again he escaped. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Wireless broadband use up; Caribbean, least developed countries left behind

With nearly two out of every five people in the world online by the end of the year, more than two-thirds of those living in developing countries, including the Caribbean, will not have access to the Internet, says the United Nations in a global survey of broadband access.

The report, the second produced by the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development, surveyed broadband access in 160 economies around the world. It reviewed progress on price, household and individual access, govern-

ment broadband policy and gender, and access to highspeed technology.

“As the world becomes increasingly digital, simple connectivity is no longer enough,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his message for the launch of the report.

“Affordable broadband must be within reach of people, businesses and governments in all corners of the world,” he added.

According to the report, while Internet penetration globally will reach 38.8 per cent by the end of 2013, more than two-thirds of people in

developing countries will still remain unconnected.

The findings also reveal that more than 90 per cent of people in the 49 least developed countries, including the Caribbean, are without broadband access.

“Internet, and particularly broadband Internet, has become a key tool for social and economic development, and needs to be prioritised, even in the world’s poorest nations,” said the secretary general of the UN International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Hamadoun Touré.

(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Health Minister John Boyce (centre) and principal of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies Sir Hilary Beckles sealing the signatures with a handshake as Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry Tennyson Springer looks on

President Michel Martelly in conversation with former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide during a previous meeting

Government's Campus Plaza in Trinidad

Suicide bombers kill 78 Christians outside Pakistani church

Apair of suicide bomb-

ers blew themselves up outside a 130-year-old Anglican church in Pakistan after Sunday Mass, killing at least 78 people in the deadliest attack on Christians in the predominantly Muslim country.

Islamist violence has been on the rise in Pakistan in past months, undermining Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s efforts to tame the insurgency by launching peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban.

Within hours of the attack, Sharif toughened his stance considerably, but fell short of calling for outright military action against insurgents holed up in tribal areas on the Afghan border – an option supported by Pakistan’s all-powerful army.

“Such incidents are not conducive of peace talks,”

Chancellor Merkel celebrates after German election

Angela Merkel has urged her party to celebrate “a super result” after exit polls suggested she was set to win a third term as German chancellor.

Her conservatives took about 42 per cent of the vote, the polls said. TV projections said that might almost be enough for a historic absolute majority.

Otherwise Merkel might have to seek a grand coalition with the Social Democrats – estimated to have won 26 per cent. Her preferred liberal partners appear not to have made it into the parliament.

Exit polls for ARD public television put the liber-

al Free Democrats Party (FDP) on 4.7 per cent, which if confirmed would be a disaster for the junior coalition partner, leaving it with no national representation in the parliament.

Party chairman Philipp Roesler called it “the bitterest, saddest hour of the Free Democratic Party”.

The FDP was beaten by the Green Party (eight per cent) and the former communist Left Party (8.5 per cent), and even, according to exit polls, the new Alternative fuer Deutschland, which advocates withdrawal from the euro currency and took 4.9 per cent, just short of the parliamentary threshold. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Sharif said in televised remarks.

“Unfortunately, because of this, the government is unable to move forward on what it had envisaged, on what it had wished for,” he said.

Explosions struck the historic white-stone All Saints Church in the city of Peshawar, near the frontier tribal areas where Islamist militants have their strongholds, as hundreds of parishioners, many of them women and children, streamed out of the building.

“I heard two explosions. People started to run. Human remains were strewn all over the church,” said one parishioner, who gave only her first name, Margrette. (Excerpt from Reuters)

China’s Bo Xilai sentenced to life in prison

AChinese court sentenced ousted senior politician Bo Xilai to life in jail on Sunday after finding him guilty on all counts following his dramatic five-day trial last month on charges of corruption, taking bribes and abuse of power.

Bo was a rising star in China’s leadership circles when his career was stopped short last year by a murder scandal in which his wife, Gu Kailai, was convicted of poisoning a British businessman, Neil Heywood, who had been a family friend.

The court in the eastern city of Jinan, where Bo was tried, also ordered that

all his personal assets be seized, and deprived him of his political rights for life too, according to a transcript released by the court’s official microblog.

“Bo Xilai was a servant of the state, he abused his power, causing huge damage to the country and its people... The circumstances were especially serious,” the court said in its judgement. Bo, 64, has 10 days to appeal from today, the court added.

State media said he was likely to appeal, in which case the Supreme Court in Shandong province, where Jinan is located, would have to hear the case within two months. (Excerpt from France24)

Kenyan mall siege: “Final assault” begins

“This will end tonight. Our forces will prevail,” said the Kenyan Disaster Operation Centre

Delight and concern as Catholics digest pope’s interview

There was delight, curiosity and concern at Roman Catholic churches this weekend as the impact of a remarkably frank interview Pope Francis gave to Jesuit journals began to sink in with the faithful around the world.

In the interview posted online on Thursday by 16 Jesuit journals, Francis, 76, said the Church must shake off an obsession with abortion, contraception and homosexuali-

ty and focus on healing those who felt “wounded” by the Church.

In many congregations, priests and parishioners welcomed the wide-ranging interview as a breath of fresh air from a man talking more like a gentle local pastor than the distant theologian or statesman pontiffs of recent decades.

Some were unsure, saying they still had to read the full text to see where Francis

might take the 2000-yearold Church, while conservative churchgoers in Africa, the faith’s fastest-growing region, were quick to condemn the new openness to homosexuals applauded in other parts of the world.

Many ordinary priests rejoiced that the new pope was not afraid to address the thorny moral issues they meet in their daily work and advise them to show love and mercy to sinners instead of condemn-

ing them.

“I was thrilled to read it,” said Father Lee Smith, 78, a retired Brooklyn priest living in Jupiter, Florida. “How can you not want to go out and preach this right now?”

An enthusiastic middleaged woman in Warsaw who declined to give her name called Francis’s message “the Gospel with the word ‘compassion’ tattooed on the forehead ... This is a revolution, and the Church is implementing it.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Kenyan security forces, including commando teams and military helicopters, have launched a “final assault” on the luxury shopping mall in Nairobi where a group of armed militants were holding around 30 hostages.

As night fell in Nairobi a huge blast reverberated around the Westgate mall where the attackers –thought to be members of the Somali jihadist group alShabaab – had been holed up since shooting their way into the shopping centre on Saturday.

The explosion was the loudest heard since the attack began and was followed by a long silence. “This will end tonight. Our forces will prevail,” the Kenyan government’s Disaster Operation

Centre said late Saturday night.

The carnage in and around the four-storey building, where heavily-armed fighters opened fire on weekend shoppers on Saturday lunchtime, claimed at least 68 lives with 175 people injured. That toll, which rose steadily throughout Sunday, was expected to climb higher.

Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, who lost a nephew in the attack, promised to punish those behind it “swiftly and painfully,” and said Kenya “would not relent on the war on terror”.

U.S. president, Barack Obama, called Kenyatta on Sunday to offer condolences, and U.S. support in bringing the perpetrators to justice. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Police find 1.3 tonnes of cocaine on Air France flight

French police confiscated 1.3 tonnes of pure cocaine from an Air France cargo plane earlier this month. It was the Paris region's largest-ever drug seizure, thought to be worth some €200 million

More than 60 killed in Iraqi funeral bombing F

At least 60 people have been killed at a funeral in the mainly Shia Muslim Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

A tent where mourners were gathered was hit by two explosions, one of them a suicide car bomb.

A third explosion followed as police, ambulances and fire fighters gathered at the

scene, according to one report. Officials reported that women and children were among the dead and that more than 120 people had been injured. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, which happened early on Saturday evening. The explosions reportedly set the tents and nearby cars on fire, with

eyewitnesses describing the scene as an “inferno”.

“I saw several charred bodies on the ground and tents on fire and also burning cars. Wounded people were screaming in pain,’’ says one of the mourners, Sheikh Sattar al-Fartousi. Medics in nearby hospitals confirmed the scale of the casualties.

Also on Saturday, eight

people were killed in a separate bomb attack in a street in the nearby neighbourhood of Ur.

And at least five police officers were killed in an assault on a police station in Baiji, north of Baghdad. Sectarian violence has surged across Iraq in recent months, reaching its highest level since 2008. (Excerpt from BBC News)

rench police have seized 1.3 tonnes of pure cocaine found on board an Air France cargo plane, Interior Minister Manuel Valls announced Saturday.

The drug, seized on September 11, had been packed into 30 suitcases, Valls told a news conference in Nanterre, outside Paris.

A source close to the investigation said the flight had originated in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, adding that

the haul had a street value of some 200 million euros (US$270 million). It was the biggest drug seizure ever carried out in the Paris region, Valls said, displaying the 30 empty suitcases that had contained the cocaine and were not linked to any of the passengers on the flight. Valls said four tonnes of cocaine has been seized in France since the start of the year. (France24)

A man cries at the death of his brother at the site of a suicide blast at a church in Peshawar, September 22

In his capacity as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Germany, Ambassador Garvin Nicholas embarked on a three-day official visit to the German cities of Berlin and Hamburg from September 11-13.

In Berlin, Nicholas met with the head of Section

for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Federal Foreign Office. He also visited the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology where he met with Knut Brunjes, deputy director general with responsibility for Trade Policy and Latin America, as well as Dr Malte Hauschild, the deputy head of Division for Latin America.

Nicholas continued his visit in the city of Hamburg where he met with Judge Shunji Yanai, president of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea, who gave an overview of the operations of the tribunal and also made an appeal for the work of the tribunal to be more widely publicised throughout the Caribbean.

(Trinidad Guardian)

BlackBerry has announced it is planning to cut 4500 jobs, or 40 per cent of its worldwide workforce, in an attempt to staunch huge losses. The smartphone maker said it anticipated a loss of as much as US$995 million (£621 million) when it reports its second-quarter earnings next week.

Shares in the firm closed down 17 per cent after briefly being halted following the

Glasgow’s west end is blessed with bohemian sophistication, good transport links and large Georgian homes.

Should Scotland vote yes in the independence referendum next year, it will be one of the new nation’s most desirable destinations.

But it also has its share of boarded-up shops, especially away from the buzz of Byres Road and its trendy bars and restaurants. And it

announcement. In August, the Canadian company said it was evaluating a possible sale.

In a statement on Friday, BlackBerry’s chief executive Thorstein Heins said: “We are implementing the difficult, but necessary operational changes announced today to address our position in a maturing and more competitive industry, and to drive the company toward profitability.”

“Going forward, we plan to refocus our offering on our end-to-end solution of hardware, software and services for enterprises and the productive, professional end user.”

The company said the losses were primarily attributable to disappointing sales of its new Z10 model smartphone. Released in January to much fanfare after many delays, the phone has failed to enthuse consumers.(BBC News)

Nigeria’s investment climate is friendly

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, described the Nigerian investment environment as clement, even as he urged foreign investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities in the country.

Sanusi made the call in a keynote address presented in Lagos, at: “The Nigeria

Asian markets got off to a lackluster start today ahead of more testing data from China, while the euro had only the briefest of lifts from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s landslide victory in Germany’s general election.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was a fraction lower following a pullback on Wall Street on Friday.

Markets in South Korea

Banking and Capital Market Conference,” organised by the Euromoney conferences.

The central bank governor maintained that Nigeria clearly has a competitive edge in the international capital market, adding that the country’s economic growth was robust. He predicted that the inflation rate in Nigeria would remain within the single-digit band

throughout 2014.

Nigeria’s inflation fell to 8.2 per cent in August. The Nigerian economy grew on average above six per cent in the last decade and is projected to grow by 7.6 per cent in 2014.

Total investment as a percentage of gross domestic product was 22 per cent in 2012 and is projected to increase by 23.6 per cent in 2013. (allAfrica)

returned from holiday to play catch-up with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s surprise decision to keep its stimulus programme intact. Shares dipped 0.3 per cent while the won was a whisker firmer at 1077 per dollar.

Australia’s main index lost 0.8 per cent, while Japan’s markets were closed for a holiday. The Hong Kong Exchange delayed the start of trading due to Typhoon Usagi.

In part, investors were

wary ahead of readings on manufacturing activity for China and Europe. Should the HSBC preliminary PMI for China show a rise from August’s 50.1, it would add to evidence of stabilisation in the world’s second biggest economy, and likely support markets across the region.

Dealers said markets were looking for a reading of around 50.9 for September and anything less would be a disappointment. (Reuters)

is the solution to that problem, not the lure of a middleclass enclave that will be a key factor in the 2014 poll.

According to the Scottish independence movement, high streets scarred by empty shops are reason enough to break away from Westminster’s political dominance. Campaign group Business for Scotland, which wants a permanent break with England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said

in a report last week that reforms to the planning system and business rates – a levy on retail properties –could revive Scottish high streets.

On business rates, a newly unchained Scottish parliament could institute an immediate revaluation of properties, bringing with it a higher threshold before rates are payable and allowing some businesses to escape payment altogether. (The Guardian)

Dubai conglomerate Al Habtoor Group said on Sunday it was preparing to announce plans for its biggest ever project.

Al Habtoor Group chairman, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, said the group will be unveiling the mega-project in the next few weeks, without giving any further details.

Al Habtoor said in a statement: “What we have lined up will prove our con-

tinuous faith in the UAE economy and leadership. The project we are about to unveil is the biggest of its kind.”

He added: “I truly believe the UAE is the only place in the world to invest, and this project will prove it. The announcement is very exciting for the group and Dubai as whole. What we have planned is in conjunction with a government project. We can’t wait to announce it to the world.”

In April, Al Habtoor Group announced plans to build the first water-based theatre in the UAE.

The circular venue, centred around a pool with various diving boards, will be built in collaboration with Italian-Belgian theatre director Franco Dragone, renowned for creating Cirque du Soleil, and is due to open in 2016 at the US$1.4 billion Habtoor Palace complex on Sheikh Zayed Road. (Arabianbusiness)

Wall Street ends down as Fed officials weigh in

U.S. stocks fell on Friday as investors puzzled over the Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain its stimulus measures as they heard opposing viewpoints from top Fed officials.

Despite lower closes in the past two sessions, the major stock indexes ended higher for the week. The Dow rose 0.6 per cent, the Standars and Poor’s gained 1.3 per cent and the Nasdaq advanced 1.4 per cent.

On Wednesday, the Fed surprised economists and investors with its decision

to delay scaling back its stimulus. St Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard, interviewed by Bloomberg TV, said a reduction of the Fed’s US$85 billion monthly bond purchase programme beginning in October was possible. Bullard later said in a speech in New York that low inflation meant the Fed can be patient in deciding when to scale back its pace of asset purchases.

But Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George sharply criticised her colleagues’ deci-

sion this week not to reduce the Fed’s bond-buying programme, warning it sowed confusion and risked the U.S. central bank’s credibility, given markets conviction that the policy would be adjusted.

“The fact of the matter is they (the Fed) basically had a ‘freebie.’ The markets had already adjusted for all this. They (the Fed) would be able to take the first step in doing some tapering,” said Stephen Massocca, managing director at Wedbush Equity Management LLC in San Francisco. (Reuters)

Corriverton Town Week activities conclude

President Donald Ramotar on Saturday urged Berbicans to reflect on the gains the country has made during the past two decades, as he brought down the curtains of Corriverton Town Week 2013.

The president said Corriverton is known for its aggressive business entrepreneurs and other outstanding citizens “who have made lots of contributions to the development of the community and Guyana”.

Ramotar said too that he would like to see Guyana achieve the status of a developed country in his lifetime.

“We can do it because we have the resources. The most important resource we have is that of our people and the quality of our people is known throughout the world,” he said.

The president spoke of the country’s gains over the last 20 years in terms of healthcare, housing and water, but reminded those in attendance that more developments still remain to be achieved.

“We have the people, we have the resources, but we need the infrastructure to go to that level,” he stated.

He said the Amaila Falls

Hydro Project was a step in this direction as cheap, reliable power was necessary for industries to move forward in the production of goods and services, and the creation of more jobs.

The issue of crime, which recently surged in the Berbice area, was noted by President Ramotar.

He said said that ways are being examined to see how much more resources could be deployed to combat this problem.

He expressed sympathy over the recent deaths of two businessmen “who contributed substantially to the region’s development”,

and called on the residents to do more to aid in the crime fight by forming community policing groups.

The academic achievement by students was also touched on by the president, as well as the performance of world rated powerlifting champion, 18-year-old Gumendra Shewdas.

According to Corriverton Town Week Committee Chairman Mohammed Razack, the observances began with an interfaith service, flood light football competitions, a Family Fun Day, cycle races and a miniexposition and stage show.

Plight at Parfaite Harmonie Primary being addressed –junior local govt minister

The local government and education ministries are continuing to engage the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of the Parfaite Harmonie Primary Schools to find alternative accommodation for pupils there.

In March, sections of Parfaite Harmonie Primary School went up in flames even as students were writing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

Junior Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker during a recent press conference said the parties involved are working assiduously to ensure alternative accommodation is provided.

His comments came days after parents protested the conditions under which children were forced to endure.

Last Monday, a group of parents padlocked the school, disturbing the regu-

lar school routine of 525 pupils. They were protesting the poor sanitary conditions, and secondly, the manner in which children were camped into class rooms to facilitate sessions.

According to them, it ap-

Fire guts West Berbice general store

Millions of dollars went up in flames on Sunday when a West Coast Berbice (WCB) business caught fire. The fire occurred around 16:00h.

The business, RR Enterprise Hardware and General Store, located at Lot B Rosignol, WCB, was

completely destroyed.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times , the owner of the business, Ramdial Ramotar was at his Lot 3 Waterloo, Bath Settlement home when he received a call from someone unknown to him, informing him about the fire at his business.

Further information revealed that the manager of the store, Amarnauth Itwaru was at the premises earlier in the day.

However, he left sometime around 12:00h after securing the building.

The Guyana Fire Service is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Berbice minibus conductor found dead in house

The battered body of a minibus conductor was on Saturday evening found at his Number 48 Village, Corentyne, Berbice home.

Yadram Jaggai also called “Muffy”, 36, of Lot 254, Number 48 Village, was discovered about 16:30h by a rice farmer in a pool of blood.

The back of his head had a gaping wound, while there were bruises on both shoulders, right arm, wrist, elbow and left side abdomen.

At the time of the discovery, Jaggai was clad in a pair of long blue pants. He was taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

but there was no answer, and this prompted him to make a report at the Number 51 Village Police Station.

He also told this publication that he made contact with the man’s wife who lives a few villages away.

The rice farmer said the police took Jaggai to the Skeldon Hospital and then to the mortuary.

pears as though they have been left in the dark, regarding the repairs to be executed at sections of the school which were gutted by fire.

At the time of the fire in March, approximately 81 students were sitting examaninations. By that time, the students had only completed mathematics paper two and were about to start paper one, when smoke was seen emanating from the building.

The school is an "L" shaped building and the fire began at the intersection which also housed the headteacher’s office, the washrooms, a library, storage and stock rooms.

While the fire was contained mostly to that section, minor damages were done to neighbouring rooms. However, the intersection of the building was severely damaged from the roof down to the floor.

His body is at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Confrontation

According to information received, Mahendranauth Singh, a rice farmer of Lot 67, Number 48 Village and the now dead man were reportedly engaged in a confrontation in a bus shed a few days ago.

About 16:20h on Saturday, Singh told investigators that he went to Jaggai’s home to look for him, but as he entered the man’s yard, he saw blood under the house.

This prompted him to follow the blood stains, which led him to a bedroom in the lower-flat of the twostorey house, where he saw Jaggai lying motionless.

Speaking with Guyana Times , Singh explained that about three years ago, he provided a home for the now dead man who had approached him requesting a place to stay, claiming that he and his wife were separated.

Singh said he saw Jaggai on Thursday at about 09:00h at a bus shed and an argument ensued.

Search

He said after a few days elapsed and he did not see the minibus conductor, he went to his property in search of him.

“When I go to the house, I see he gate open; meh walk in and under the shed with a tarpaulin, meh see a cloak, shirt, slippers, one chain and then plenty blood… when meh check around, meh see the whole hall in blood… and like he drag he self in one room... meh see he lie down like he dead,” said Singh.

The man further stated that he called on Jaggai,

He explained that on Sunday, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) ranks from Georgetown visited the scene, and based on information gathered, two men were being questioned.

Telephone call

Pulmattie Jaggai, a sister of the dead man disclosed that she received a telephone call from a relative who informed her that her brother was drunk and that he had fallen and hit his head and knee.

She said after receiving the news, she sent her husband to check, but after a while, he returned and told her that he was murdered.

The aggrieved sister said Jaggai was a heavy drinker and she last saw him a few days ago when he visited her home.

She said he had promised to spend some time at her house since she was due to undergo surgery.

Jaggai and his wife separated about a year ago, but he would normally take care of his three children.

Dead: Yadram Jaggai

Junior Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker

President Donald Ramotar examining samples of packaged sugar at the Corriverton Town Week activities

A section of the crowd at the Corriverton Town Week activities

The West Berbice business place on fire

SUDOKU

Don’t be shy, and make sure you loudly express your reasons for the decisions you make. Have confidence and show your leadership ability in a work situation, and you’ll gain the right followers.

20Feb. 19)

Too much self-criticism can be debilitating. Look at your positive qualities and work at perfecting the things you enjoy most and do best. If you direct your focus correctly, success will follow.

You’ve got what it takes to make a difference. Use your skills and offer people help and suggestions, and you will make an impression that will lead to greater prosperity and stability.

Don’t allow personal problems to stand between you and your goals. Step outside your situation and establish what you need to do to excel. You need to plan your moves carefully to solidify your position.

Be aware of what’s going on around you before you take any irrevocable steps. Sticking to rules and regulations will protect you from dubious encounters. Educate yourself and investigate matters before you make a pledge.

Play around with ideas and options that could improve your living space. Joining new groups will lead to valuable networking opportunities. An open, receptive attitude will lead to good fortune.

By Bernice Bede Osol

21July 22)

Do your own thing. Don’t expect everyone to agree with you or help you. Letting go could be the smartest move you’ll make.

23Aug. 22)

Offer suggestions to people seeking help, but don’t take on responsibilities that don’t belong to you. Emotionally charged situations will turn into a battle if you aren’t diplomatic. A change will do you good.

Focus on participation today, be it in your community or in your career. Becoming more involved in a cause or group will lead to new friends and lasting relationships.

Keep life simple and avoid over-the-top expenses or responsibilities that will hinder the ability to take care of your needs. Don’t be reluctant to do what’s best for you.

Do whatever it takes to improve your living space. Any projects that can enhance the way you look and feel will help you project a better image. Choose goodwill over anger.

23Dec. 21)

A day trip that offers adventure or new experiences could prove advantageous. Let your free spirit take over, and be on the lookout for opportunity.

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Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

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One 320CL Excavator located at Mahdia; excellent working condition. Owner migrating, call 682-0365 or 614-1669 Gold Land, excellent investment. Priced to sell, call 682-0365, 614-1669

Wine vessel (jue) Shang dynasty, old Chinese painting, old Ming prints, Ming dynasty Chinese painting on bamboo, Qi Baishi orginal painting, rare bowls and pots, all Chinese antiques. Phone: 592623-7029

Pure bred American Akita puppies for sale $200,000. Phone: 639-8924, 2274674 Mercury in large quantities 99.9999% purity. Call: 679-1985, 219-4535, 6935004

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Clean garden earth & builders waste. Also bobcat rental, excavating, clearing & leveling done. Phone: 616-0617, 6633285.

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Retired Engineer aged 66 would like to know a single female over the age of 50. Phone: 604-7022

One business property, Lamaha Street. Phone: 669-3313, 231-4586, 695-4382. Properties for sale. Phone: 642-2116

2-storey concrete house 32’x 55’, 4 bedrooms, block 8 Mon Repos, ECD, $35 million. Phone: 642-2116

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J Eastman & Associates Financial Services: Taxation, VAT Compliance, Accounting & Consultancy, and Cash Flow Projection. Address: 190 Church St, S/Cburg (East of Austin’s Book Store) Phone: 662-7467, 223-2105

Lethem – Rupununi Heritage Month event September 27-29. Visit: Iwokrama, Rock View Resort, Bonfim - Brazil, Moco Moco & Kumu Falls, St Ignatius - Lethem. Package $150,000. Phone: 662-3665

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One Honda Cappa (Yellow) ideal for taxi or private use. Leather seats and roof, alarm, reverse camera, DVD/TV/ CD player, mag rims. Also Motorola Base Radio with Antennae. HC series; immaculate condition; give away price $1M. Call 647-2491.

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Modi could lead India's opposition to victory

BY VISHNU BISRAM

The opposition Indian People’s Party (BJP) in India announced recently that Narendra Modi will be the party’s standard bearer for the opposition in the elections to be held in April and May 2014. I was recently in India travelling around the country to get people’s views on Modi as the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate and which party is likely to win.

My view, based on an informal survey, is Modi is extremely popular in India and is likely to lead the opposition to victory in the general elections, and if he does win, diaspora countries like Guyana are likely to see an increase in financial assistance from India as closer relations to help them build their economies will be more than likely.

Guyana has very good relations with India and that relationship will be further consolidated if the opposition BJP alliance wins. It was the BJP that provided soft loans to Guyana to build the stadium and other projects. Relations with Guyana under Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh have also been good. Modi is very familiar with Guyana and met Guyanese in New York and in India holding discussions on a variety of issues. I was told Modi once visited Guyana, but it has not been confirmed. I met and interacted with Modi several times during my visits and participation at annual Pravasi conferences. He is an extremely intelligent man with easy solutions to common day problems. He intends to pursue policies that will facilitate the diaspora, which will benefit Guyanese.

My informal survey shows Modi is far more popular than the current prime minister, or the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)led coalition government Sonia Gandhi, or her son Rahul Gandhi, who is being projected as the prime ministerial candidate for the next general election. Everywhere I went, in the cities or in the rural areas, people spoke positively of Modi. People across caste lines also favoured Modi in a caste conscious society.

Bharrat Jagdeo has transformed Guyana’s economy. Modi is also popular among the poorer classes who want their state to become like Gujarat.

Business-friendly

Modi is business friendly and the state of Gujarat, under his watch, attracted billions of dollars of investment annually over the last decade. Modi is credited with making Gujarat India’s most prosperous state. He is a no nonsense administrator who likes to get things done. Businessmen as well as politicians from all over Europe and the U.S. court him for trade.

It is too early to tell whether Modi can lead the BJP or the opposition alliance to victory although polls suggest defeat of the ruling coalition government. But a poll last week put Modi ahead of Gandhi by over two to one and three to one over the current prime minister.

However, the poll did not give a seat projection. India has 545 seats in the Lok Sabha with a party or coalition needing 273 to form a government. Supporters see Modi as a strong figure who can lead the BJP-led opposition alliance to power and turn around India’s economy whose growth has been slipping over the last two years. Modi has been marketing himself in terms of “India pride”, which the middle and upper classes are buying. The government is countering with programmes for the lower classes like guaranteed availability of grains at a subsidised price.

Even many Muslims in a religiously divided India also support Modi, who recently won his third consecutive victory as chief minister of Gujarat state. Last Sunday, almost half a million people showed up at a rally to listen to Modi as he lambasted the government on corruption. Many leaders of various communities came to support Modi. He also held a rally in Jaipur that attracted tens of thousands.

Positive prediction

Recent opinion polls suggest that the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win a comfortable victory in the next election because the ruling UPA has been plagued with corruption scandals involving tens of billions of U.S. dollars. People are fed up of corruption and poor governance. They want change and hope Modi can save them and the country.

Modi has massive support among India’s large middle class and business community, who credit him with turning Gujarat into an economic powerhouse, not dissimilar to how President

Seven months is a long time in politics and anything can happen by election date. Prime Minister Singh said he is not seeking re-election and is handing over the mantle to Rahul in the next election. Singh is visiting New York and Washington from September 20 and has a state visit with President Barack Obama planned for September 26 and 27.

In the past, during visits to New York, the prime minister met with leaders of Guyanese groups to hear their concerns regarding India’s relationship with her diaspora. Guyanese usually nudged him to increase aid and scholarships to Guyana.

The prime minister told media operatives that he has no problem serving under Gandhi should he be victorious. It will be a tough battle between Gandhi and Modi with the two taking jabs at each other.

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Narendra Modi

Spirited T&T bowlers defend middling total

Afearsome attack led by Ravi Rampaul set Trinidad & Tobago’s Champions League campaign off on a triumphant note, as they comfortably defended 135 for 9, against Brisbane Heat in Ranchi on Sunday.

An intense Rampaul was both economical and penetrative throughout his spells in the innings, and although Heat may have been pleased to chase so few, they were rarely granted more than a brief glimpse of victory during the chase. Rampaul finished with four wickets for 14 from 3.4 overs, with Sunil Narine, Rayad Emrit and Samuel Badree also contributing fine spells.

Denesh Ramdin played something of a lone hand to give his attack a reasonable target to defend, as he hit 48 from 38 after Heat had sent T&T in to bat. No other batsman breached 20 for T&T, as Heat’s quick bowlers enjoyed the bounce in the Ranchi strip, as well as the slight movement early on.

Rampaul found swing early on, but it was his impeccable line that set the tone for T&T’s bowling effort. Often pitching short of length, Rampaul cramped the Heat’s openers for space, and soon dismissed captain James Hopes, who played on coming forward in the third over.

Rampaul’s first spell lasted only two overs, but the rest of the bowlers matched his discipline. Heat had only lost one wicket at the end of the Powerplay, but could not manage a run rate better than 3.66. Subsequent attempts to reel in the required run rate were often short-lived, and retarded by dismissals. Only Joe Burns had the measure of the attack, but even he could not achieve a laudable strike rate.

When Rampaul returned in the 16th over to break Burns’ leg stump, the batsman had hit 45 from 43.

Ben Cutting’s 17 from 10 only hinted at a revival for Heat and his run out, at the end of the 18th over, secured the match for T&T.

Denesh Ramdin played a lone hand of 48 to give the

bowlers a reasonable target to defend

Rampaul’s last over yielded the two final wickets, as Heat were dismissed for 110 with eight balls still remaining.

Seventeen balls into T&T’s innings, openers Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis had promised a profitable first stand, but their confident blows to the square fence soon gave way to tame batting

errors, and No. 5 batsman Ramdin was at the crease sooner than he would have liked - after 4.4 overs. A four off an inside edge got Ramdin under way, but he found the middle of the bat almost immediately, as he guided a wide delivery from Kemar Roach over the slips for four. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Trinidad & Tobago innings

L Simmons b McDermott 14

E Lewis c Cutting

b McDermott 19

DM Bravo c †Hartley b Roach 0

J Mohammed c Burns

b Hauritz 10

D Ramdin*† c Lynn b Cutting 48

S Ganga c & b Hauritz 0

N Pooran c †Hartley b Christian 8

S Narine c Sabburg

b McDermott 8

R Emrit c †Hartley

b McDermott 0

S Badree not out 15

R Rampaul not out 4

Extras: (lb1, w8) 9

Total: (9 wkts, 20 overs) 135

Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-37, 3-38, 4-71, 5-71, 6-83, 7-114, 8-115, 9-116

Bowling: J Hopes 1-0-10-0, K Roach 4-0-29-1, A McDermott 4-0-37-4, N Hauritz 4-0-

22-2, B Cutting 4-0-241, D Christian 3-0-12-1

Brisbane Heat innings

J Hopes* b Rampaul 4

J Burns b Rampaul 45

P Forrest c Ganga b Badree 16

D Christian lbw b Emrit 13

C Lynn c †Ramdin b Narine 4

C Hartley† b Narine 3

B Cutting run out (†Ramdin) 17

C Sabburg c Bravo b Emrit 3

N Hauritz c Simmons b Rampaul 0

KJ Roach not out 3

A McDermott b Rampaul 0

Extras: (lb1, w1) 2

Total: (all out, 18.4 overs) 110

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-31, 3-76, 4-81, 5-85, 6-91, 7-101, 8-107, 9-107, 10-110

Bowling: R Rampaul 3.4-0-14-4, S Badree 4-0-16-1, R Emrit 4-0-262, L Simmons 1-0-9-0, S Ganga 2-0-19-0, S Narine 4-0-25-2

Super Kings chase 186 with ease

Chennai Super Kings did what they set out to do, successfully chasing down a big total after putting Titans in to bat.

They made it look easier than it was, certainly when Suresh Raina and Michael Hussey were at the crease. Dwayne Bravo batted breezily as well, ensuring the fourwicket win with seven balls to spare.

Super Kings had to recover from a bad start in pursuit of 186, after M Vijay was bowled by Roelof van der Merwe in the opening over of the chase. The South African side held the momentum at that stage, having already put up an impressive score courtesy of AB de Villiers’ brutal innings of 77 and plenty of wayward bowling.

But the Titans’ bowlers were more wayward, giving Raina and Hussey the freedom to settle themselves. The two batsmen also had to contend with a 10-minute break due to light failure after the first wicket fell. But once Rowan Richards, Morne Morkel and Marchant de Lange gave away 13, 24 and 14 respectively off the third, fourth and fifth over, it eased the run-rate pressure considerably.

The pair added 89 for the second wicket at over 12 an over before Raina fell to David Wiese in the eighth over. He made 47 off 28 balls with two sixes and five fours, having peppered the open field on the leg-side.

Hussey stayed on for a bit more, but also fell three short of his fifty, in the tenth over. His 47 came off 26 balls, with seven fours and a six. Similar to Raina, his dismissal too was a soft one as Super Kings looked to the next pair to finish the job.

Bravo and S Badrinath added 58 for the fourth wicket, with the West Indies allrounder bringing out his famous lofted shots on the offside - he struck two inside-out sixes over cover. He fell, and was followed by Dhoni and Jadeja too, but Albie Morkel eased any nerves by picking up the winning runs in the 19th over.

Richards, the left-arm fast bowler, took three wickets, but it came too late for Titans to force the issue.

AB de Villiers was Titans’ star with the bat. He was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over, but not before he had satiated himself with seven sixes and three fours in a 36-ball 77. There was hardly a mis-hit from his bat, and the sound it made for two off his sixes over midwicket was scrumptious. He ran hard during the 76run second wicket stand with his captain Henry Davids, who himself got 52 off 43 balls. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Titans innings

H Davids* st †Dhoni b Ashwin 52 J Rudolph run out (Bravo/†Dhoni) 21

AB de Villiers c Bravo b Jadeja 77 F Behardien c Holder b Bravo 21

D Wiese c Ashwin b Bravo 0

R van der Merwe not out 1

M Mosehle† not out 4

Extras: (b1, lb5, w3) 9

Total: (5 wkts, 20 overs) 185

Fall of wickets: 1-46, 2-122, 3-154, 4-154, 5-179

Extras: (w24) 24

Total: (6 wkts, 18.5 overs) 187 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-95, 3-114, 4-172, 5-181, 6-183 Bowling: R van der Merwe 3-0-25-1, M Morkel 4-0-471, R Richards 3.5-0-29-3, M

Bowling: M Sharma 4-0-27-0, J Holder 4-0-25-0, R Ashwin 4-036-1, J Morkel 1-0-8-0, R Jadeja 3-0-49-1, DJ Bravo 4-0-34-2 Chennai Super Kings innings M Hussey c de Villiers b Morkel 47 M Vijay b van der Merwe 0 S Raina c Morkel b Wiese 47 S Badrinath not out 20 DJ Bravo c †Mosehle b Richards 38 MS Dhoni*† c de Villiers b Richards 7 R Jadeja b Richards 0 J Morkel not out 4

Chattergoon, Foo hit centuries as Albion take inaugural Berbice Bridge 50-over tourney

By Andrew Carmichael

Aswash buckling 145 by all-rounder Jonathan Foo helped Albion lift the Inaugural Berbice River Bridge First Division Knock out 50-over cricket competition. Playing in the final at the Cumberland Ground in East Canje on Sunday, Foo hit 14 boundaries and five sixes batting at number four to help Albion reach 308 all out.

Foo joined West Indies ppening batsman Sewnarine Chattergoon with the score on 34 for 2 in the ninth over and took control. Chattergoon on the other hand used his experience to play the supporting role while hitting seven boundaries and two sixes in his innings of 102. The pair put on 217 in 201 balls for the third wicket.

Young Warriors tried six bowlers before they broke the partnership when K. Ramnarine had Chattergoon caught behind with the score on 251 in the 42nd over. Foo did not last much longer as wickets tumbled in the dying overs and he

departed at 285 for 7 in the 45th over. Ramnarine finished with five wickets as Albion were dismissed off the last ball of the 49th over for 308.

Set a mammoth 309 for victory the home team were off to a flyer with opening bats-

man Shimron Hetmyer hitting three boundaries and sending four more out of the ground in a knock of 45. However, once he was gone runs seemed difficult come by.

The older Hetmyer brother Sean played a patient innings

of 28 in which he scored 22 singles and batted for most of the innings. Iswas Singh made 25 and Surish Hanai 26 with the aid of three sixes.

Batting at number 11 veteran Anil Beharry brought the home crowd to life hitting two out of the ground off match Foo in a losing effort of 16.

Young Warriors were eventually bowled out for 185 off 37.5 overs to lose by 123 runs.

West Indies ‘A’ team selectee Goudakesh Motie doing the damage in picking up 6 for 27 off of ten overs. Foo received $10,000 for his effort while Albion received $80,000 for winning the competition.

Young Warriors collected the $40,000 runner-up prize.

Amaranth Singh, in brief remarks, congratulated the winning Albion team and thanked all the other partici-

pating teams that took part in the competition. Captain of the winning Albion team Devendra Bishoo congratulated all of his team mates and said that the club is in the habit of winning, noting that when the competition started, that was their focus.

Member of the organizing committee of the Berbice Cricket Board of Control Carl Moore, in congratulating the winning Albion team and thanking the sponsors -- Berbice Bridge Company Inc -- said the competition was a success.

Moore said the company allowed the board to showcase the talent of Berbice cricketers despite the poor weather which affected the competition that begans since in April. “Without this type of support, Berbice cricket can never forward,” Moore added.

Michael Hussey

The wining Albion team

Man City crush Man United in derby

Manchester City ensured David Moyes’ first derby as Manchester United manager ended in abject humiliation with a crushing victory at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

In contrast to the despair of his opposite number, it was a day of delight for new City boss Manuel Pellegrini as he watched the rampant Blues make a powerful statement about their Premier League ambitions.

Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure gave City a commanding half-time lead and any slim hopes of a United recovery were snuffed out by further goals from Aguero and Samir Nasri within five minutes of the restart.

Wayne Rooney’s late free-kick offered nothing in the way of consolation for Moyes or United on a day of embarrassment that will sit uncomfortably alongside City’s 6-1 win at Old Trafford two seasons ago.

United may have been without Robin van Persie because of a groin strain but the absence of one playerno matter how significantcannot account for the manner in which Moyes’ side were utterly outclassed.

This was arguably a

more emphatic win than that Old Trafford thrashing, without the freakish element and simply the result of City’s vast superiority in all areas.

Moyes, who never won a derby at Liverpool in 11 years as Everton manager, did not find the Etihad any more forgiving as City picked United apart in midfield, where Toure looked in a different class to United’s £27.5m new boy Marouane Fellaini, and in defence as Aguero tormented Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

Pellegrini insisted this was a game City had to win - this they did and with the sort of performance that put down a marker for how the Chilean wants his team to play.

For Moyes, it means he has emerged without a win from the three toughest games of his opening Premier League phase as United manager, drawing at home to Chelsea and losing at Liverpool and now City.

City had already taken control long before Aguero put them ahead after 16 minutes. It was a move typical of so much that was produced by Pellegrini’s men as Nasri linked with Aleksandar Kolarov, whose

cross was volleyed home instinctively by the Argentine.

Rooney was virtually shouldering United’s burden alone and with mounting frustration. It was no surprise when it boiled over and he was booked for a challenge on City captain Vincent Kompany, but at least he was showing the intent and desire markedly absent in the rest of his colleagues.

The only surprise was that City were still only one goal ahead as the first half drew to a conclusion but they got the lead their complete dominance deserved in stoppage time when Toure was unmarked at the far post to turn in Alvaro Negredo’s touch from Nasri’s corner.

If Moyes harboured hopes that the respite of the interval would provide some inspiration for his hapless United team, they were shattered within minutes of the restart as City quickly added two more goals to turn this derby into a rout.

United’s defence went missing in the 47th minute when Kolarov and Negredo combined and the predatory Aguero was once more the beneficiary with a simple side-footed finish. (BBC Sport)

Shew’s Six win Soomdat Jeet domino tourney

Shew’s Six emerged run-away winners of the special one-off domino feature, played on Friday night at the Everest Cricket Club pavilion, Camp Road.

The competition, sponsored by New York-based Guyanese Soomdat Jeet, saw Shew’s Six romping to victory with 84 games; Sammy’s Six ended on 71 and King’s Six finished in the cellar position with 67 games.

The top players for Shew’s Six were A.D “Smart Fish” Basant with the maximum 18 games while Hilbert “Bumpy” Ali and Anand “Max” Persaud supported with 15 and 14 respectively. Basant’s 18 games came in the first three sittings while he also had 13 in the last three to end the night with 31 games.

For Sammy’s Six, Dereck “Buckman” Chung led the way with 17 games while

skipper Edmond Sammy had 15 and Brian “Round Hand” Allen, 14 games. The main players for King’s Six, who were led by Looknaught “King” Persaud, Intikab “Cryout” Ali with 15 games and Clyde Stewart, who had 15 in his first three sittings, and 13 in the next three, playing through. Jeet also sponsored a three-way aggregate tournament that ended on Sunday at Canal.

Vettel storms to Singapore GP victory over Alonso

Sebastian Vettel dominated the Singapore Grand Prix to edge ever closer to a fourth consecutive title on Sunday.

The Red Bull driver leads Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, who finished second, by 60 points with only 150 still available in the remaining six races.

Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen was third from Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull’s Mark Webber was fourth with two laps to go but stopped on the last lap with a burning engine.

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa benefited to take sixth, ahead of McLaren’s Jenson Button and Sergio Perez, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Force India’s Adrian Sutil.

Webber, classified 15th, was given a lift back to the

pits by his friend Alonso, a move that earned both men a reprimand, which triggered a 10-place grid penalty for the Australian at the next race in Korea.

The final laps were enlivened by close battles between a number of drivers as those who chose not to stop during a mid-race safety-car period but make their final pit stops later closed on those who had stopped during the caution period.

But ahead of the late excitement, Vettel was in a race of his own, able to lap at a pace far beyond any of his rivals.

Starting from pole position, the world champion looked like he might lose a place at the start to Rosberg.

The Mercedes, second on the grid, nosed ahead into Turn One, despite Vettel leaning on him down the

Sebastian Vettel

pit straight, but Rosberg ran wide through Turn Two and Vettel was able to sneak back ahead.

Vettel proceeded to streak away at the front in trademark style, building a 5.6-second lead in just three laps before being told to back off slightly to manage his tyres.

Despite that, he continued to extend his lead, taking it out to 8.2secs before his rivals behind him started to make their first pit stops.

Vettel was in total control when the safety car was deployed on lap 25 of 61 after Toro Rosso’s Daniel Ricciardo crashed into the barriers at Turn 18. His true superiority was demonstrated at the restart on lap 31, when Vettel was told to push to the limit to build a gap.

His pace was breathtaking - from building a 3.2-second lead over Rosberg after just one lap, he was 10 ahead after four and 22 ahead after 10. “It was mind-blowing,” said BBC F1 technical analyst Gary Anderson.

Vettel was able to make his final pit stop without losing the lead and controlled the race to the end.

The German made a joke about being booed again on the podium, which is becoming routine.

“They are on a tour - they go around on a bus,” he said with a smile.

Vettel added: “The start was quite hairy, Nico had a good start - better than me. I didn’t get going initially, but fortunately he went in a little bit deep and I could get him back, which was crucial as we had very good pace.” (BBC Sport)

Donor Soomdat Jeet hands over the dominoes to Everest Cricket Club junior vice-president Stephen Lewis while other executives and members of the club look on

Skipper Manniram “Packer” Shew receives the winning trophy from sponsor Soomdat Shew while other members of the victorious side look on

Manchester United were comprehensively beaten by Manchester City

GBA’s Mackeson Fight Night off to a successful night in Linden

The Amelia’s Ward bus park in Linden was a hive of activity as residents thronged to witness an entertaining card of the Guyana Boxing Association’s Mackeson Fight Night on Saturday night.

Clairmont Gibson and Kevin Ting-A-Kee entertained the crowd with a quality bout but in the end Gibson won all three rounds in the lightweight division of the inaugural Mackeson event.

In another action-packed fight, Bert Braithwaite used his superior power and skill to dismantle a taller Kelon King in the junior welterweight fight. Braithwaite won unanimously, forcing a mandatory eight-count in the last round.

Aquincy Ageday won the other junior welterweight bout after he forced Kurt Kendall to retire, following a first round brawl that put both boxers on the canvas once. Ageday, however, was the more relentless and eventually Kendall caved in for the night.

Trevon King won unanimously against William Hendricks, who had points taken away for rushing King in a middleweight duel. Marvin Ageday won the other fight in the category against Kevin Rodney also by a unanimous decision.

Amerindian Heritage sports meet labeled a success

In observance of Amerindian Heritage month, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs held a two-day heritage sports meet over the weekend at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

The event included football, volleyball, cricket and various novelty events such as lime and spoon, tug-awar and a Piwari drinking competition.

With the event having a large turnout, organiser of the event Edingsberg Meyers noted that the event was a success despite the amount of work that had to be done.

“This is not a onetime thing it’s been happening a while now but it’s very fatiguing and I’ve been getting limited rest, however, we have good turnout and so far it has been a good two days,

In the welterweight division, Eon Bancroft secured a lopsided decision against Clifton Graham. Bancroft had also beaten Ron Smith in the first fight of the night.

In the two junior fights of the night, Teo Bunbury secured a split decision against Muntehel Johnson while Joshua Corbin won unanimously against Kevon Mulling.

F&H Printing million $$$ plus domino competition starts Friday

The F&H Printing Establishment’s second countrywide Million Dollars Plus competition on Friday with the commencement of the Corporation Zone at F&H Establishment at 90 John Street, Campbellville, with an official launch at 17:00h.

The club segment will commence on September 30 at the Dynasty Sports Club, Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt.

Hazim Hakh, Managing Director of F&H Printing Establishment and a domino fanatic, is convinced that the game can be developed into a national calendar event, if proper structures are put in place. Hence, the reason for F&H, located in Campbellville, sponsoring the competition last year. After seeing the response, the company vowed to make it a calendar event.

Negotiations are currently ongoing with other business entities to make this year’s competition bigger and better than last year. Last year’s cash prizes amounted to $1.7 million, and will be no less this year.

The competition is expected to attract teams from Georgetown, East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, including Timehri, West Bank Demerara, Mahaica/ Mahaicony, East Bank Essequibo, Essequibo Islands, Essequibo Coast, East Berbice, West Coast Berbice, Corentyne, including Canje and New

Amsterdam, Bartica, Linden/Kwakwani, Madhia, Port Kiatuma, Lethem and Mabaruma.

Hakh also mentioned that like last year a corporation zone will be formed to encourage teams from private businesses, ministries and public corporations to participate. Last year the Ministry of Health placed fifth overall in the competition and carted off the prize for the best performing corporation team.

The first and second placed teams among every six corporation teams will be guaranteed a place in the playoffs. Also, a zone for all female teams is still being mulled.

The playoffs between qualifying teams will commence on November 15 and the competition will conclude with the final on November 17. Playoff matches and the final will be played at the National Gymnasium.

Clairmont Gibson (blue) lands a left jab to the head of Kevin Ting-A-Kee in the lightweight division of the Mackeson Fight Night on Amelia’s Ward bus park in Linden Saturday night

Bert Cameron (left) on the attack against Kelon King in a junior welterweight battle

Hazim Hakh

only thing is that we are a bit behind schedule with the amount of events we

finals how-

A packed pavilion at the Everest Cricket Club ground

monday, september 23, 2013

Alberttown/Bourda

continue dream run to reach semis

– defending champs Albouystown/Charlestown scrape into semi-final

By TreisTon Joseph

Underdogs Alberttown/Bourda

continued their dream run with a 71-61 win over Melanie, despite being outrebounded in the Trinity Grid Holding Pacesetters Inter–Ward Basketball Championships on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Melanie, with bigger players, were simply unprepared for the fast-paced “run and gun” style of basketball that the city team played. This resulted in the city side gaining a 33-29 advantage heading into the second half.

However, Melanie came out in the third and went to work in the post early

to take a nine-point lead.

Alberttown/Bourda responded with some stellar off-the-ball defence by anticipating passes and picking up a number of steals to end the third period tied at 54.

Cleary a bit winded, since they only had a sevenman rotation, Alberttown/ Bourda displayed how lethal their passing was. They found their shooters who capitalised on their opportunities while Melanie seemed frustrated and tried to shoot their way out of the slump instead of going back to the post that worked for them earlier in the third.

The city team was able to pull away from Melanie in the final two minutes to pick up the win as Yonnick December led the way for

Alberttown/Bourda with 18 points.

Olatunde Griffith had 16 points while Yonnick Dundas contributed 13 points and seven boards in the win.

Sherlon Legall dominated the paint with 14 points and 14 rebounds while Haslyn Hooper grabbed a game-high 20 rebounds and 13 points in the loss.

Meanwhile, defending champions Albouystown/ Charlestown marched into the semi-final round with a nail-biting win, defeating Tucville/Guyhoc 56-55.

The game opened with both teams running the basketball and missing shots, which turned the contest into a scrappy one. Both teams tried playing isola-

Forde, Tanner retain Courts 10k titles

By TreisTon Joseph

Cleveland Forde has to be considered the face of distance running in Guyana with yet another 10k win on Sunday Morning.

“Little Kenyan” as he is called, tactically ran away with the Courts 10k road race to retain his title in 33:02s and bagged the $100,000 first place prize.

Nathaniel Giddings, as usual went out hard try-

ing to push the pace of the race. However, the experienced Forde followed before making his move to go ahead of the six-kilometre mark before pulling clear ahead with the final three kilometers to win comfortably.

Cleveland Thomas got ahead of Giddings to finish second in 33:16s while Giddings clocked in at third with a time 33:19s. Winston Missenger finished in fourth with a time

of 34:09s while Dennis Horatio was fifth in 34:39s.

On the distaff side, Euleen Jossiah-Tanner retained her Courts 10k title as well, clocking 38:57s for the top spot.

Three-time 1500m junior Carifta gold medalist was a distant second, finishing the event in 43:07s. Ashanti Scott was third in 46:26s, finishing ahead of fourth place finisher

Carlissa Atkinson, who clocked 48:22s; Sharon

Boyer was fifth in 50 minutes. The male junior event was won by Grivon Grant in a time of 36:07s who outpaced Rupununi’s Samuel Kaitan who finished second in 36:26s. Kevin Nicholas was third in 36:43s. Cassie Kirton, out of Linden, topped the female junior event in a time of 43:54s while Abdemi Roberts was second 45:11s. Shontel Hinds was third in 54:38.

The Master’s women category was won by Carleen Phillips in 50:29s to top Denise Jeffrey who clocked 55:19s for second while Simone Baburan was third in 57.14s. Ian Archibald topped the field in the men’s 40-55 Master’s category winning in a time of 38:17s. Errol Wade was second in 42:23s while Linden Harrison was third in 43:22s. The 55 and older Master’s men was won by

Llewelyn Gardner in 41:19s while Maurice Fergundes was second in 47:47s.

Meanwhile, at the prize-giving ceremony held after the event Manager Director of Courts Guyana Clyde Diaz noted that the 10k was superb and congratulated the participants. President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) thanked Courts along with all the officials for organising the event.

tion basketball with their best players only passing when defence was heavy.

However, some key buckets and free throws down the stretch en-

sured that Albouystown/ Charlestown’s title defense remained alive.

Euleen Jossiah-Tanner receives her winning trophy at a prize giving ceremony after the 10k event (Treiston Joseph photo)

Forde crosses the finish line comfortably ahead of his competition

Defense at its best as the defending champs try to block every shot

Yonnick December goes up for a contested floater during the game against Melanie (Treiston Joseph photos)

Jonathan Pooran scores for Alberttown/Bourda after receiving an on time pass off a baseline cut

Trinidad & Tobago 135-9 (Ramdin 48, McDermott 4-37) beat Brisbane Heat 110 (Burns 45, Rampaul 4-14) by 25 runs