Guyana Times Daily

54 interviewed by TravelSpan for flight attendants’ posts P2

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2046 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Govt to close

down 220 co-ops See story on page 3

– uncovers fraud in school’s thrift society programme

Ex U.S. soldier dies after bike crashes into utility pole

See story on page 19

PRICE

$60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

CCJ panel P2 hears first case in Guyana

Culture Ministry staff killed after car slams P7 into truck P10 New Ombudsman holds talks with EU delegation

Airy Hall rice farmers’ woes P11 continue

The ill-fated motorbike that 37-year-old Vincent Indallall (inset) was riding when he lost control and crashed into a utility pole on the Clifton Public Road, Corentyne, early Monday morning

Suriname impressed with Guyana’s M&E systems – international expert See story on page 9

Construction worker stabbed to death See story on page 8

Buxton Pride steals show at Republic Bank’s Pan- P13 o-rama

Dakara Creek murder victim was strangled – autopsy P17

2 news

tuesday, february 18, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

CCJ panel hears first case in Guyana

The equipment being set up for the first sitting of the CCJ in Guyana

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he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) opened its first-day sitting here listening to an application for leave by Attorney Sanjeev Datadin to file an appeal for his clients who had been sentenced to four years on a break and enter and larceny charge.

The presiding panel comprises its president, Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron along with four judges of the CCJ namely: Justice Adrian Saunders, Justice Jacob Witt, Justice David Hayton, and Justice Winston Anderson. The matter of Paul Lashley & John Campayne versus Detective Corporal # 17995 Winston Singh for the hearing of a special leave application is the first of several cases to be heard by the panel. During the session, the presiding judges heard submissions made by Attorney Datadin, who in association with Attorney Charles Ramson Jr, represented the two applicants,

Lashley and Campayne.

Lashley and Campayne were jointly charged with the offence of break and enter and larceny. They were then sentenced to four years imprisonment each and appealed the sentencing. However, they lost that appeal, hence their application to the CCJ for leave to appeal the matter.

Incompetent

Attorney Datadin outlined to the court that it had discretion to grant special leave to appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal. Datadin further went on to argue that the trial against the applicants were manifestly unfair and resulted in an egregious miscarriage of justice because of the incompetence of the defence counsel during the trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Datadin further argued in the alternative that the sentence imposed was too severe.

The judges asked Datadin whether probation reports are usually obtained by the court in Guyana before sentence is passed and Datadin replied, “In my experience it happens; but it is more the exception rather than the rule.”

Attorney Sonia Joseph, the assistant director of public prosecutions, responded on behalf of the state and contended the appeal was without merit.

After the submissions by the two attorneys, the CCJ president related that they will consider the submissions and a decision will be made today at 10:00h.

Attorney Datadin told the media after the hearing that they have to show the court it has the jurisdiction to grant the leave. “Then we have to be able to demonstrate to the court that there are good grounds for them to give us leave to appeal,” the attorney stated.

Attorney Ramson Jr noted that this was a signifi-

The panel of CCJ judges led by its president, Sir Charles Michael Dennis Byron

cant moment for the country and the justice system to have the CCJ bench sit here. “It is an honour and privilege for us at Guyana to host the Caribbean Court of Justice’s itinerant sitting,” he said. Ramson Jr also took the opportunity to urge the other Caribbean countries to become members of the CCJ. The first day of the three-day itinerant sitting was held before a packed audience at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC). Members of the legal fraternity took advantage of the opportunity to witness a sitting of what is considered the highest court authority within the Caribbean.

The CCJ’s itinerant sitting will continue today, with the case of Feizal Mohamed Amin, trading under the name, style and firm of Amin Lumber Enterprise versus the Guyana Oil Company and that of Daniel Ramlagan by Ramkumarie Ramlagan versus Narine Singh by Saiojini Singh.

54 interviewed by TravelSpan for flight attendants’ posts

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ravelSpan Airline on Monday interviewed 54 Guyanese to fill the post of flight attendant, but only 30 will be selected following intense training both here and in the United States.

The attendants are to service the airline’s Georgetown to New York route. The interviews were conducted at the Princess International Hotel.

According to TravelSpan Director Rob Binns, when the applicants are shortlisted, they will commence training in April for a period of three weeks and then proceed to Las Vegas, Nevada for another training session.

Asked what credentials the company is looking for, Binns related that applicants must be honest, very enthusiastic, University of Guyana graduates, and willing to learn.

He elaborated that the company made the decision to replace its American flight attendants with

A young woman being interviewed by TravelSpan Director Rob Binns

Guyanese flight attendants, because most of its passengers are Guyanese visiting their friends and family and it would be fitting to have Guyanese flight attendants.

By so doing, the passengers will have individuals who understand them and provide them with excellent customer service.

Meanwhile, Binns also

Miss Guyana World Ruqayyah Boyer and another prospective flight attendant embrace following their interview

stated that the airline is committed to helping the development of Guyana. He said since the airline recommenced operations here, business and the reception from the Guyanese people have been overwhelming.

“We are here to offer services to the Guyanese public and in return, they are supporting us, and we are grateful for this,” Binns noted.

After closing operations in Guyana in 2008, TravelSpan Incorporated returned with a flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on December 14 last year. The Boeing 767 aircraft landed with 180 passengers onboard, along with 10 crew members.

TravelSpan presently offers direct flights between New York and Georgetown, Georgetown and Port of Spain, New York and Port of Spain, and in the summer, Trinidad and Tobago and The Dominican Republic.

TravelSpan and Venezuela’s CONVIASA are the most recent airlines to enter the Guyana market.

News

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TuesDay, february 18, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, February 18 from 05:00h-06:30h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, February 18 from 06:10h-07:40h

WEATHER TODAY Countrywide: Light rain showers can be expected during the day and in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Wind: North-easterly between 5.36 metres and 4.92 metres per second.

High Tide: 06:27h and 18:47h reaching maximum heights of 2.73 metres and 2.70 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 12:20h reaching a minimum height of 0.49 metre.

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Govt to close down 220 co-ops – uncovered fraud in school’s thrift society programme problems. Dr Gopaul made it clear that the Labour Ministry will ensure that when co-ops are dissolved, their lands , following investigations, will be given to members; in these cases, farmers.

By Svetlana Marshall

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pproximately 220 of the more than 1800 cooperative societies in Guyana will be dissolved, Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul disclosed. He added that the Education Ministry has been advised to disband the schools’ thrift co-op society programme due to the many financial discrepancies that have been uncovered.

During an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Monday, Dr Gopaul said a verification process, which commenced in September 2013 has revealed that many co-ops are in violation of the Cooperative Society Act. Accountability, illegal sale of land, and financial discrepancies are the major problems. While the Labour Ministry, through its cooperative department led by Chief Cooperative Development Officer Carol Valz, is working to resuscitate some defunct co-ops, Dr Gopaul said they had no other choice but to shut down some societies.

“Some societies have shown the willingness to work and so, we will be working along with them.

Currently, they are being audited but those who cannot find records, or officials or proper accountability, these will be dissolved and we are talking in excess of 200 coops,” he explained.

In addition to the illegal

Thrift society

Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul

sale of the Lamaha Garden Playground at a cost of $29 million, a matter which has gained the attention of the High Court, the labour minister said the ministry is investigating three major co-ops within Berbice and Essequibo. While declining to disclose the names of the co-ops, the minister said: “We would have had issues where huge businesses have gotten involved in co-ops and again the co-op was intended for the small man.”

The Labour Ministry is working in conjunction with the Agriculture Ministry, the Attorney General's Chamber, the Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to resolve the

With respect to the schools’ thrift co-op societies, the minister said: “We have also discovered irregularities in the school thrift societies where teachers who have been placed in charge of some societies have mismanaged the funds,” Dr Gopaul told Guyana Times. According to Gopaul, some teachers have repaid the money.

He explained that the thrift societies were established at a time when the banking system was insufficient, noting too that both ministries were encouraging students to save. However, “because our banking system is now so advanced, and are almost all over the country and can be easily accessed, we are encouraging parents and schools to move away from these thrift societies and open accounts, early savers accounts in these banks, so they could get interest and at the same time,

there can be proper accountability.”

There are approximately 397 school thrift co-op societies in Guyana.

Despite these challenges, he said there are other success stories, turning his attention to the Hope Town Land and Housing Co-op Society. According to the labour minister, this model society has strong leadership.

“It has moved from housing into rice cultivation, gone into other business ventures like photocopying, small but significant and meaningful, net calls and recently introduced a bus service.”

Additionally, Minister Gopaul said the credit unions have been performing exceptionally.

Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, the Public Service Union, and the unions of the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, Demerara Distillers Limited and MACORP were among the credit unions that were praised by the minister for demonstrating financial accountability. The cooperative movement owns in excess of $15 billion in assets. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy. com)

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, february 18, 2014

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

Editorial

Democracy lead

T

here has been a serendipitous confluence of events in the region recently on that holy grail called “democracy”. The end of this month will mark the 10th anniversary of the coup d’état that removed the democratically-elected Haitian President Bertrand Aristide from office, and was supposed to usher in a greater democratic alternative. Haiti, however, is once again being wracked by protests that expose the fragility of the change.

The Haitian coup had been preceded by a short-lived one in Venezuela, in which the similarly democraticallyelected President Hugo Chávez managed to regain his office.

Venezuela also is being wracked by even worse upheavals than Haiti. It is of more than passing interest that the common thread between the two coups is the International Republican Institute (IRI).

This is the U.S. government-funded organisation that has been selected to execute the LEAD “democratisation” project in Guyana, to which the Government of Guyana (GoG) has taken strenuous objection. It has been reported that the GoG and the U.S. embassy will be meeting this week to address the articulated concerns.

In the meantime, we found it intriguing that on the IRI’s website, they boasted: “NEW YORK TIMES CITES IRI PROGRAMMES IN VENEZUELA”, and printed in full, an article by that newspaper: “Venezuela Groups Get U.S. Aid Amid Meddling Charges”. While the following excerpts detail the IRI’s activities toward “democratisation” in the 2006 Venezuelan elections following the coup, nothing that has happened since (for example, in Egypt) suggests that the IRI has changed its orientation towards “democratisation”, or possibly its modus operandi.

“Since President Hugo Chávez returned to power after a brief coup in 2002, the United States has channelled millions of dollars to Venezuelan organisations, many of them critical of his government. This aid has become a key issue in the presidential election next month amid claims of American interference in the domestic political system.

“The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has distributed about US$25 million to various Venezuelan organisations over the last five years, according to officials involved in the projects. The funds have been channelled to the Venezuelan groups through private and public entities from the United States that have opened offices in Caracas.

“These include Development Alternatives Inc, a Bethesda, Md, company that works closely with the State Department in dispersing funds around the world, and the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, two Washington groups that have carried out training for emerging political leaders in Venezuela.

“Documents obtained from the United States government under the Freedom of Information Act point to numerous grants made by the United States in the past two years to groups whose activities are viewed as critical of Mr Chávez’s government.

The international development agency withheld the names of many of the grant recipients, saying that the disclosure of their identities could put them at risk of political retaliation.

“All of the grants were channelled through Development Alternatives, which worked on behalf of the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), a little-known branch of the international development agency that started operating in Venezuela after the April 2002 coup. American officials here and in Washington say the aim of the assistance is to bring opponents and supporters of Mr Chávez together to discuss ways to prevent the erosion of democratic freedoms.

“U.S. activities, as has been publicly discussed on numerous occasions, focus on strengthening civil society in Venezuela, which is a critical element for any healthy democracy,” David Snider, an international development agency spokesman in Washington, said in a statement.

“These nonpartisan activities are no different than those activities that USAID supports in many other countries throughout the world,” he added.

“But some grants were directed at organisations whose stated objectives seemed to look for potential weaknesses in Mr Chávez’s administration. Other grants had what appeared to be an objective of building support for potential rivals to Mr Chávez.”

Countdown to Mash In the words of Rudy Grant: “Mash in Guyana, people going crazy, moving left to right, and shaking up their bodies!!” (Carl Croker photo of the Children’s Costume and Float Parade on Saturday, in the National Park)

Vieira’s advocacy to dump constitutional rule Dear Editor, The president’s assent is a pre-requirement for a bill to become law in Guyana’s Constitution, which is a worldwide parliamentary norm.

The same Constitution also specifically allows him to withhold assent by giving his reason. He is not constitutionally required to do much more.

The 1980 Constitution specifies that the finance minister present the budget estimates to the National Assembly, which has the power to reject or approve it.

No budget means the country grinds to a stop.

Since the National Assembly faces a dilemma, the judiciary is empowered to resolve it because the Constitution specifies the judiciary as the deciding authority.

Former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran has also explained how the Standing Orders can be suspended to accommodate any opposition reservations and objections after mutual prior compromises from both sides.

Unless they compromise to pass the budget, they make the problem worse by sending the country over a fiscal cliff.

U.S. President Barack Obama used the same tactic and the public backlash forced the Republicans to recapitulate afterwards.

Would both sides of the legislature risk such a course in Guyana?

After mutual compromises, it is incorporated as the

Appropriations Bill, which the finance minister submits to the same legislature for guaranteed approval. No recourse to the courts would be necessary, neither would court costs be incurred.

The National Assembly’s Standing Orders are not laws contrary to what Eusi Kwayana believes and advocates.

They are rules and regulations which govern only the National Assembly’s internal operations.

Standing Orders are routinely suspended by the Speaker after a carried motion, unlike nationwide laws done during a rare state of emergency, for example, natural disasters, health quarantine, or ensuing conflict specific to an area.

Lastly, the armed forces' chain of command is through and only by the president as commander in chief as specified in the Constitution. Any violent coup would be illegal and set Guyana on a point of no return.

Winning a war may be easy, but how to win the peace should be better left unanswered considering our history. In any event, a democratic society always holds those accountable who were responsible for their miseries long after a coup or political abnormality.

Additionally, both Kwayana and I have acknowledged (separately and unknown at the time) that the National Assembly includes the president to make it Parliament. But twice to my good fortune, “drivel”

was lavishly bequeathed to me by Vieira.

In all fairness to Kwayana, who always insists on equality, shouldn’t he get his own share?

Anyone mounting an imaginary elephant express igniting false hopes, to fill old Mother Hubbard’s bare cupboard in anticipation of wealth redistribution, would be so relieved.

Walk the talk. The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) rejected the written request of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to observe the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at work.

The entire APNU/ Alliance For Change (AFC) opposition and even the Speaker, also disallowed the finance minister from reading a PSC letter in the National Assembly, which was requesting the antimoney laundering to be expeditiously approved.

Is it a constitutional violation of the “people’s sovereignty”? Step up to the plate now. Unless “all are equal, but some are more equal than others”, (George Orwell’s 1984), all the usual suspects can boldly go where none have gone before with a “civil society” challenge in court.

Isn’t the principle the same for all, regardless…or are some indeed more equal than others? For baksheesh (a little extra) with this garlic pork, their court challenge can throw in presidential violation of English common laws. Ignore for the moment which party

Part two

enshrined and empowered presidential prerogatives in the Constitution as law.

Expecting the president to uphold the Constitution after taking an oath to defend it and then subsequently signing a bill considered to be violating the highest law of the land is unquestionably a premeditative violation.

Right now, “we are a country of laws not men” as second U.S. President John Adams so astutely affirmed.

Replacing the elected government by a military coup can never be acceptable where men and women have lost their reason compared to a functional democracy.

Federalism is still the better option than complete partition. After the coup, how does sovereignty of the people become re-established afterwards?

It will follow no compass or known roadmap because we would have taken one giant leap in demonstrating brutal might is right outside the rule of law.

Guyana’s military is not equipped, ethnically balanced, constitutionally empowered to adjudicate, govern in fairness or to relinquish authority except by civilian command in a democracy.

A cyclical repeat of 1953, 1964, 1992 and now 2014 is our curse, where we are at hearts’ ease when only empowered outsiders step in to resolve our problems.

Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

guyanatimesgy.com

Tuesday, february 18, 2014

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

What Sukul did pales into insignificance compared to another lawyer’s actions Dear Editor, The news in the press on February 16, where it was reported that Appeal Court Judge Rabi Sukul was disbarred in the UK for misleading his client in appealing a case was really a surprise.

Immediately, and rightly so, the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh called for his resignation.

However, it has raised other issues plaguing our society. One prominent lawyer in Guyana has been behaving as if he is above the law.

Sadly, he has been getting away with this for a long time with neither the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) nor the top echelons of the Judiciary saying anything about it.

During the height of the crime spree and the killings in Buxton, a murder at the Hamilton Gas Station took place. A lawyer was somehow nearby and he went into the

station and removed the tape from the recorder which recorded the event.

While that appears to be illegal of as a layman, it appears highly irregular – tampering with evidence at a crime scene.

The lawyer was not called in for questioning by the police, nor did the GBA say anything about this.

No doubt that action emboldened that lawyer to do even more. He was a central figure in instigating the events in Linden against the cutting of the subsidy on electricity in the township. The people were misled by many in the opposition parties and three of them unfortunately lost their lives.

The same lawyer was central in that.

None of the organisers and instigators were ever questioned. No one in the GBA or anywhere else sanctioned them for the lawlessness, which even led to the burn-

ing of a school and the death of three protesters.

Further emboldened, the Alliance For Change (AFC), of which this lawyer ia among the leadership, was part of the instigators of the Agricola incident, in which many IndoGuyanaese were the targets for robbery and molestation.

Not one of the leaders of the two opposition parties were ever called in to be questioned. No one was charged.

More recently, it was revealed that the same lawyer who defended the accused charged in a high profile multiple murder case had been the lawyer for a senior member of the jury in the case.

The jury brought in a “not guilty” verdict even though the prosecution had an eye witness, a member of the gang, who through plea bargain, gave evidence against the big killers.

Where are the GBA and

the leaders of the Judiciary in all of this? Why are they so deafening in their silence?

Just recently, we saw that same lawyer once again involved in another case relating to property transaction with a school. However, we will not comment on this since, it is in court.

The pattern is clear for the GBA, as justice should not be blind. Had this lawyer been a supporter of another party, we would not have heard the end of this.

While Sukul is paying here for what he did in the UK, and rightly so, this lawyer in Guyana is allowed to do as he likes without a word coming out of the officials in the legal profession, including the GBA. What Sukul did pales into insignificance compared to this lawyer’s actions.

Sincerely, Rebecca Constance

Why is Palmer so interested in the GFC’s reports?

Dear Editor, Joseph Harmon, an A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/People’s National Congress (PNC) Member of the Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources, wants Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud to answer questions at the next committee meeting on matters raised

by Janette Bulkan and John Palmer in their five-part series on the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) 20052012 Annual Reports published in another section of the press.

Why is Palmer so interested in the GFC’s reports to make comments and

raise questions? Palmer is a British citizen now living in Florida, U.S.A. Palmer worked for the British government in Guyana through the Department for International Development (DFID) some years ago, and has teamed up with misguided anti-government elements like Bulkan to engage in misinformation about the GFC. But Palmer has apparently turned his back against Great Britain, where democracy, good government, rule of law and responsible political leadership prevail.

Palmer has opted to be in alliance with his part-

ner Bulkan to support the APNU/PNC, which massively rigged elections and ruled, if not misruled, Guyana until 1992, when the PNC was ousted from office through free and fair elections.

This brought a new beginning to Guyana through the restoration of democracy, good governance and the rule of law.

Palmer is now questioning the GFC’s reports in alliance with his forest partner Bulkan, which he never did when the PNC dictatorship misruled Guyana and never submitted GFC reports from 1979-1991 to Parliament.

He never wrote about the lack of accountability for the

Justice must be blind to status and connections

Dear Editor, We hold the position that all violence against children – including the violence of parents and other unwaged caregivers – is wrong and should be outlawed.

Hence, when we saw the news headline, “Babysitter gets 60 months for assaulting one-year-old”, in another section of the press, our first response was that the babysitter was totally wrong to hit the child, and that even if it were her child, she should not have hit her.

In other words, first we saw the assault of the child.

Then we were struck by the speed with which the matter was concluded by the police and the court.

Within a matter of days, a 19-year-old was sentenced to jail for an action that the lawmakers of the country do not find it fit to outlaw and that the police are usual-

ly very reluctant to investigate.

And this in a country where, as we know from the experience of the organisations we’ve worked with, cases often take years to get to court, never mind through it.

Thirdly, we were struck by the penalty – five years.

This is a country where drug lords who are destroying young lives are not even arrested and vehicular manslaughter trials drag out for years, with the guilty out on bail, free to continue endangering lives.

Even in a legal system where sentences given by the courts sometimes appear irrational, this one appears to be the most irrational of all.

But is it irrational? Was the speed of the response and the harshness of the penalty related to the status

of the offended parents, and the fact that the offender is assumed to be voiceless?

She is not voiceless.

Members of the legal profession must reconsider their solidarity with fellow members of the Bar, and remember that justice must be blind to status and connections.

We call on the judicial authorities for a review of this matter. There will be more to say later.

Yours faithfully, Andaiye and Karen de Souza, Red Thread; Simona Broomes and Urica Primus, Guyana Women Miners Organisation; Danuta Radzik and Josephine Whitehead, Help and Shelter; Jean La Rose, Amerindian People’s Association

forestry sector under the illegal PNC regime because he was in agreement with its corrupt policies.

Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

NCPE commends CPGs for patrol work

Dear Editor, On behalf of the National Community Policing Executives (NCPE), we will appreciate the general public becoming aware of the sterling performance of Community Policing Groups (CPGs) in the following respects.

The NCPE wishes to commend the Mosquito Hall CPG on the East Coast Demerara for their admirable patrol performance on February 1, where eight members of the group, along with a police constable from the Mahaica Police Station, were on patrol in Unity Village, East Coast Demerara, when at around 21:00h, two men engaged their attention.

This action resulted in the detention of Radesh Guyadeen, who was wanted for the 2003 murder of Nandram Manouar.

Guyadeen was then taken to the Mahaica Police Station and handed over to the police, where he was later charged.

The NCPE also commends members of

the Grove, East Bank Demerara CPG for their patrol performance on February 9, where two rural constables, along with a cadet officer from the Diamond Police Station, East Bank Demerara, were on patrol and discovered a hijacked silver Toyota Carina AT 212 motor car on Busbee Dam, next to the Cuffy Koker area.

The NCPE also commends members of the Grove CPG for their patrol performance on February 12, when acting on information received, along with a cadet officer of the Diamond Police Station, discovered 513 grams of leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be cannabis sativa, in a onegallon plastic paint container on the premises of a Grove resident.

The resident is now assisting the police with their investigations into this discovery.

Yours respectfully, Edward A Persaud Public Relations Officer NCPE

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Blending explained: Why smooth blending is important to reading development

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ow to help children develop smooth blending

What is blending?

Blending is the ability to smoothly and fluidly combine individual sound together into words. For example, smooth blending is sounding out the word ‘mast’ as /mmaasst/ instead of a choppy or segmented /m/…./a/…./s/…./t/. In simple terms, blending is smoothly hooking the sounds together when sounding out words.

that blocks reading development. If the student is chopping sounds apart they often are not able to put all the sounds together and ‘smoothly’ say the word. The student either forgets the individual sounds by the time they get to the end of the word or is unable to com-

the fluid word. Students who lack blending skills may initially get by with short words but quickly run into trouble with longer words containing four or more sounds. When a child does not know how to blend sounds together they make numerous errors and face diffi-

Why is smooth blending of sounds important?

To read proficiently, the student needs to learn to blend individual sounds smoothly together into words without choppy pauses between the sounds.

The ability to seamlessly combine individual sounds together into the fluid word is not only vital for developing correct phonologic processing, it is also critical for developing eventual fluency. Smooth blending is one of the sub-skills vital to developing correct phonologic processing, the foundation for proficient reading.

Why do you need to teach students to blend sounds together?

While many students pick up smooth blending easily and automatically, others do not acquire this vital skill on their own and need specific work to master blending. Difficulties blending are usually evident as choppy sounding out. When a child separates the individual sounds this inability to blend smoothly can create a hurdle

bine the segmented sounds into a word. Students who struggle with smooth blending often know the sounds in isolation but are unable to ‘hook’ the sounds together. An example is the student may sound out ‘strap’ as /ss/.../t/…./r/…/a/…/p/ and then say ‘step’. They know the individual sounds but because they do not ‘hook them together’ they forget all the sounds and are unable to read

culty with beginning reading.

Correct phonologic processing requires smooth blending.

Blending is a skill easily overlooked. As proficient readers we already ‘know’ the entire word and can easily break sounds apart and effortlessly put the word together again.

Since it is effortless for us we often fail to recognise the difficulty beginners face in combining individual sounds to form

words. Beginner readers do not ‘know’ the end result (the word). Therefore, choppy segmenting of sounds can prevent them from being able to combine sounds together and form the word.

To avoid potential difficulty it is important to directly teach smooth blending skills from the beginning. The student needs to automatically engrain the skill of smooth blending. Also remember, it is always easier to develop correct techniques in the initial stages then try to ‘undo’ engrained bad habits of ‘choppy’ ‘segmented’ sounding out. Take the time to develop smooth blending from the very beginning.

How do I teach students to blend sounds smoothly?

From the very beginning, directly teach the child or student to smoothly combine sounds. Do not let the child ‘chop’ sounds apart. Have the child practise smooth blending. For example have the child sound out ‘test’ as /test/ instead of the choppy /t/…/e/…/s/…/t/.

When sounding out it is essential the parent or teacher demonstrates the correct blending skills of not stopping between the sounds. Never pause between individual sounds.

Teach smooth blending skills from the beginning and specifically work on this skill with any student that has difficulty blending smoothly. Smooth blending can be directly taught to with several simple techniques: (Right Track Reading) TO BE CONTINUED

Helping students with listening comprehension learning disabilities

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learning disability in listening comprehension affects a child’s ability to process auditory information.Children with deficits in listening comprehension often appear to not follow directions or understand particular concepts.

These children have to work extra hard at comprehending what they hear.

Fortunately, there are steps teachers may take to help these students succeed in the classroom. * Seat students with listening comprehension learning disabilities near the teacher. This enables the teacherto give visual cues to the student. *Use visual cues to secure the student’s attention when beginning to give directions or reading aloud.

For example, the teacher may clap his/her hands twice to signal oral directions. The teacher and student need to agree on the signal prior to its use. *Ask the student to rephrase directions in his/her own words to ensure understanding prior to beginning a task. For example, the teacher may ask Johnny, “Will you please tell me in your own words what you are going to do for math today?” * Speak and read clearly in a normal tone and at a moderate pace. Encourage

other students in the class to do this to the best of their ability, as well. *Provide the student with an outline and vocabulary lists prior to introducing a new concept or unit. *Provide the student with study guides prior to beginning test review sessions.

Make study guides available for students several days before the test. *Frequently repeat and summarise important information presented orally. For example, “Let me repeat that. On February 23, Guyanese celebrate Republic Day.” * Always give directions in a written, as well as oral format. *Keep directions concise and simple. For example, “Write your name at the top of the paper.” *Give directions in sequential steps. Allow the student to finish one step before giving directions for another step. Forexample, “First, number your paper one through 10.”

(Wait for the student to finish).“Now, put a period after each number.” *Focus on the student’s strengths when presenting lessons. Most students with listening comprehension difficulties possess visual strengths. In other words, they learn best visually. For example, when teaching spelling, the teacher should read the word aloud while the student focuses on the word.

Then, the student should study the word by reading it, spelling it, and reading it again. The student should then close his/her eyes and attempt to spell the word orally twice without a model. Finally, the student should attempt to write the word without a model. * If presenting a lecture, provide the student with a copy of written notes. * Encourage students to ask questions to clarify information. *Many students with listening comprehension difficulties experience anxiety when answering questions in class. They realise that they have difficulty following along and might not know the answer. One way to alleviate this anxiety is to privately decide on a visual cue with the student. For example, when you are getting readyto ask him/her a question, lightly tap on his/her desk. This signals to the student that he/she must be ready to listen carefully because a question is coming. (Adapted

from Super Duper Inc)

News

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tuesDay, february 18, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Granger gets clearance to appeal exclusion from budget case

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he Full Court on Monday granted Opposition Leader David Granger leave to move to the Appellate Court to seek redress for a decision it made earlier this year to exclude him from the just-completed 2012 budget cuts case.

Should Granger succeed in his appeal, it creates a whole new dimension of the issue, with the budget just around the corner and the opposition intent on cutting the estimates.

In a statement, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) said on January 22, the opposition leader’s attorney, Basil Williams, filed an application for leave to move to the Court of Appeal after the Full Court ruled that it had no jurisdiction in the matter of the striking out of Granger as a defendant by acting Chief Justice Ian Chang in the budget cut case.

On Monday, the matter came up before Justice James Bovell-Drakes and Justice Rishi Persaud, APNU said, and after a short hearing, leave was granted for an appeal to the Appellate Court.

The Full Court on January 13 had ruled that it did not have jurisdiction over whether or not Granger should be excluded from the case dealing with whether the opposition had the right to cut the 2012 national budget. It, therefore, said that Chang’s ruling stood.

In a brief ruling, Justices Bovell-Drakes and Persaud noted that the Full Court had said it did not have the jurisdiction to overrule or go against a decision handed down by the acting chief justice. The two judges had

Opposition Leader David Granger

presided over the Full Court hearing of an appeal filed by Granger, challenging the ruling of Justice Chang. Justice Chang, on June 18 last, ruled that Granger and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh will be barred from the 2012 budget cuts case.

The two judges’ ruling had concurred with initial contentions expressed

by Attorney General Anil Nandlall that the appeal was ill-conceived.

Nandlall said that the order made by the acting chief justice was final and brought all matters of contention to an end between the attorney general and the two defendants in the High Court.

Contentious

He explained that the law states that when a final order is made by a High Court judge, the next court to approach is the Court of Appeal; however, the opposition appealed to the Full Court.

As such, he noted that his first submission was for the Full Court to satisfy itself whether it has jurisdiction

Attorney Basil Williams

over the decision of the acting chief justice.

Granger had pointed to his exclusion from the case as one of the unresolved issues following Chang’s recent ruling that the opposition cannot cut the budget.

He said back then that having struck him out as a defendant in the case without giving him a hearing, the acting chief justice refused to let the law take its course in the appellate courts, and rushed to finish the case before the ruling of the Full Court on his application for leave to appeal its decision to the Court of Appeal.

“APNU is surprised to learn that the acting chief justice has gone ahead and refused to await the outcome of proceedings in the higher courts and continued the case before him and made a ruling,” the coalition had said in a statement.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman has already said that Chang’s ruling has farreaching implications for the Commonwealth parliamentary system, arguing that the National Assembly’s ca-

pacity to approve as well as amend budgetary estimates is a long-established right.

Trotman said the ruling of the acting chief justice provides an interpretation of the rules and standing orders of the National Assembly relative to their conformity with the Constitution of Guyana.

He argued that Article 171 of the Guyana Constitution is the same as those provisions in the constitutions of all Commonwealth nations as the standing orders and rules of the parliaments of Commonwealth nations.

“The right of the National Assembly to approve, including the right to amend, budgetary estimates, is a long-established right. This ruling by the acting chief justice is an interpretation that would have far-reaching ripples and effects throughout the Commonwealth parliamentary systems and procedures,” Trotman said in his statement.

He argued that the doctrine of the separation of powers is the foundation of Guyana’s, and all parliamentary democracies, which recognises that the rule of law must be respected and upheld.

“The principle of comity dictates that the three branches of government – the executive, the legislative and the judicial – are all separate and equal, and are to respect the rights and authority of each other. To this end, though the decision of the High Court is to be respected, it remains subject to the inherent right of appeal that is reposed in the National Assembly,” the Speaker said.

To date, no appeal had been filed against the ruling.

Police recover some stolen items from NA drug store heist

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olice have recovered a quantity of items that were stolen from a New Amsterdam pharmacy on Sunday morning.

According to a source, police acting on information visited a dilapidated building at Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Region Six and found some of the stolen items.

The building was reportedly unoccupied at the time.

Most of the articles were medical supplies and condoms.

On Sunday, C & K Drug Store situated two lots from the town’s municipal market and close to a security hut of a commercial bank was broken into after thieves wrenched the top half of the pharmacy’s back door before cutting the pad-

locks on the grill door.

An undisclosed sum of money and other valuables were also stolen during the robbery.

Angoy’s Avenue is part of the suburb of the town and over the past decade has been a haven for criminals.

Meanwhile, police continue to follow leads in the robbery of another business in New Amsterdam, also on Sunday.

Three padlocks on the front door of Furniture World were nipped off and the door wrenched open as thieves entered and carted off millions of dollars worth in electrical items.

Among the items stolen were computers, DVD players, music sets, flat-screen television sets, solar lights,

DVDs, computer and music combos and microwave ovens.

The robberies on Sunday were similar in nature and come in wake of a failed attempt by bandits to gain entry to another business in the same building housing the C & K Drug Store.

Bandits had succeeded in removing four padlocks on the front door of that business before aborting their mission.

Bandit also on Thursday broke into a house in Trinity Street, New Amsterdam, and carried away a flatscreen television and other valuables which were recently purchased from businesses in the town.

Police have launched an investigation but so far no has been arrested.

Culture Ministry staff killed after car slams into truck

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supervisor attached to the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry's training centre at Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway was killed after the car in which she was travelling slammed into a parked lumber truck on Sunday evening in the vicinity of Marudi resort.

The dead dormitory supervisor was identified as Jasmin Norton, 22, formerly of Moruca, North West District. She had been employed at the training centre for the past two years.

According to information received, the woman was the frontseat passenger of a taxi and was heading to Georgetown when the driver who was allegedly travelling at a fast pace slammed into the protruding ends of the timber in the truck.

The truck, Guyana Times understands, suffered a blowout and the driver was in the process of changing the wheel when the accident occurred. The woman’s face was disfigured, since she received the blunt of the impact.

She reportedly died on the spot. The drivers of both vehicles were taken into police custody but the truck driver was subsequently released on station bail. The driver of the car is expected to be charged for the woman’s death.

Second collision with truck Additional information received revealed that about three hours prior to the fatal accident, another car slammed into the truck’s tyre. Three persons were reportedly injured in that mishap. After that occurred, the police visited the scene and erected a number of reflectors to alert approaching traffic to drive with caution.

The driver of the truck, Vickey Indardeo, said he

was travelling from the backdam and was on his way home when one of the truck wheels gave out.

He said he was changing the wheel when the first car slammed into the tyre.

According to Indardeo, three men were in the car and received minor injuries about their body.

He was injured as well.

They were all taken to the East Demerara Regional Hospital (Diamond Diagnostic Centre) where they all were treated and sent away.

After receiving medical treatment, Indardeo had to return to the police station to give a statement and it was while there they received a telephone call that another car had slammed into the truck. He was also told that a frontseat passenger was killed.

The ranks from the station went to the scene and took the driver of the car to the hospital but it was too late for Norton.

Sadly missed Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry Permanent Secretary Alfred King expressed his condolences to Norton’s family, noting that her parents were dead and she was living with her grandmother in Moruca.

He confirmed that she joined the ministry in 2012 and had been attached to the Kuru Kuru Training Centre as a dormitory supervisor. King said whenever persons of the ministry pass, it leaves a dent especially when they played a major role in carrying out the ministry’s work programme.

He said he was in a meeting on Monday morning when he heard of the young woman’s death. She will be missed by all, particularly the students at the training centre.

8 News

Tuesday, february 18, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Construction worker stabbed to death A construction worker was on Monday morning beaten with a rolling pin and brutally stabbed to death at his friend’s house at Rosignol, West Coast Berbice.

Dinesh “Kelvin” Harrylall, 20, of Lot 38 B Woodley Park, West Coast Berbice was allegedly stabbed seven times with a kitchen knife and beaten in the head with a rolling pin.

The knife was later found hidden in a Hindu temple owned by the suspect, while the rolling pin was found on the floor in the kitchen area.

The suspect, Satrohan “Bluie” Madray reportedly confessed to the killing after he was interrogated by police ranks. He is expected to be charged with the capital offence of murder. Initially, the suspect reportedly told investigators that he and the victim were in the house when they were attacked by three bandits who struck Harrylall in the head.

He alleged that during the ordeal, the bandits demanded money and jewellery and said if he did not comply, they would kill Harrylall. Madray told investigators that he handed over $600,000 to the bandits to leave his friend alone, but they stabbed him in the back and escaped.

Investigators did not buy that story, since there were visible marks of violence about the suspect’s body. When police visited the scene, the house was ransacked and upon further investigation and interrogation, Madray led them to the murder weapons. Police are also working on the theory that other persons are involved in the murder.

I went back home knowing that everything was okay,” the elder Harrylall explained.

Bad dream

Dead: Dinesh “Kelvin” Harrylall

The deceased’s father, Jagdesh Harrylall, stated that the suspect and his son were very close friends.

He explained that he was at home on Sunday when he overheard his son answering a call from Madray who asked him to come collect some jewellery that he had borrowed a few weeks ago.

Madray claimed that he had the jewellery at home, so the young man asked his father to drop him off at Rosignol to collect it. Before leaving the house, the father told Guyana Times he telephoned Madray and enquired about the jewellery and was told that he did not have them but would get them the following morning.

The distraught father added that he attempted to talk his son out of going to the man’s home, but he insisted on going. He dropped off his son about 22:45h at his friend’s home and saw him enter the house.

“Anytime I drop Kelvin by “Bluie”, I would wait until Kelvin say he is okay – he does this by raising his hand – so after he raise he hand,

In a hoarse voice, the man stated that he went to bed and had the weirdest dream about his son calling out to him for help, but was awakened by the sudden tooting of a car on his bridge. He said it was about 12:30h and he thought that it was his son who had returned home.

As he looked out, he realised that it was one of the suspect’s friends who claimed that he received a call from “Bluie” who informed him that something was amiss.

“He tell me that he was in Georgetown with his wife and on their way back he got a call from “Bluie” telling he that something was wrong…

He said after he dropped home his wife, he went to Bluie’s house and found him fluttering on the ground and there was no sign of Kelvin.”

Upon hearing this, the dead man’s father instructed the man to report the matter to the police and he rushed to Madray’s house.

The elder Harrylall said that as soon as he opened the house, he was greeted by his son’s motionless body on the floor. There was a

gash over his right eye and his forehead was swollen, he added. He panicked and started to call for Madray, but there was no answer.

Madray, who was hiding in the house, surfaced after the dead man’s father started to call his mobile phone and it was then that he claimed that Harrylall was killed during a robbery.

Harrylall’s father then drove to the police station, collected two ranks, and went back to the house.

It was during the course of the initial investigation, he learnt that his son was stabbed seven times in the region of his back and neck.

Harrylall’s father believes that Madray had help killing his son, because he is thin while his son was “big built”. He recalled that a few months back, his son caught Madray throwing a poisonous liquid into his glass while they were imbibing.

Harrylall was hospitalised as a result of that irresponsible act.

He leaves to mourn his parents and younger brothers.

In a release, police said, based on investigations so far, Harrylall and Madray were involved in an argument over money during which he was stabbed and struck to his head.

Suspected pig thief on remand

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man charged with simple larceny appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya

Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

Calvin Francis, of Lot 73 Princes Street, Lodge, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which states that on Monday, February 10 he stole one pig valued $65,000 from Dean Bacchus.

Prosecutor Michael Grant said on the day in question, the virtual complainant had gone to the pig’s pen to feed it, when she noticed the pig was missing.

The defendant, who was given a chance to explain what happened, said on the day he was accused of stealing the pig, he was walking along the road and saw the pig lying there after a hitand-run accident. He then took the pig to the market to sell to a friend and someone saw him and accused him of stealing the animal, this person then contacted Bacchus.

Eyewitnesses say Francis was seen leaving Bacchus’s yard with the pig. A report was made, and the defendant was subsequently arrested.

The defendant was convicted of a similar offence and served 18 months, for this reason bail was refused by the chief magistrate. The defendant is expected to make another court appearance on March 3.

Eyew tness Screaming for... ...attention ver since Christopher Lallbachan-Lalloo “Suspenders” Ram (L.L.S. Ram) was thrown out on his ear by the Stabber News for one of his intemperate outbursts against someone who got in his way, the fella’s been getting shriller and more strident trying to get attention. For people with identity and self-esteem issues, attention is like oxygen – they simply shrivel up and expire if they can’t get enough.

And with the issues Lalloo Ram has, he needs a whole lot of oxygen! He probably thought he’d be given a spot on the Muckraker’s roster – but then he doesn’t know Mook Lall. The Mook enjoyed being briefed by Lalloo – so he could carry on as if he knows what he’s talking about.

So why would he pay Lalloo to expose that he’s never had an original thought in his head. Never. After all, there were tons of backtrackers and snitches before him. He just rose to the top of the heap – after quite a lot of practice.

Anyhow, Lalloo Ram’s gotten to be a regular pot salt with his blog. Blogs? Yes, anyone could scribble away to their heart’s content – and Lalloo’s certainly done that.

But he’s really been scraping the barrel for subjects. His latest rant had to do with the Chancellor promptly asking a defrocked lawyer in another jurisdiction to resign as an Appellate Judge here. Ram thinks that’s not enough... he feels there ought to be a Commission of Inquiry into the matter!

He feels that Guyana needs a “more effective Judiciary”.

With this decision of the Chancellor presumably showing the “ineffectiveness” of the said judiciary! Can you believe it? Here it is – this junior lawyer who barely scraped through to get behind the Bar – trying to impress with his jejune and banal opinions. What we want to know is this: what kind of “due diligence” would’ve uncovered the kind of infraction for which the lawyer was cited for? (And let’s not forget the ruling can be appealed.) If the fella had been playing fast and loose with the canons of legal ethics (something completely foreign to Lalloo) over in England, wouldn’t their much more vigilant Bar have nipped him before?

Fact of the matter is that Lalloo Ram is so rabidly anxious to “get ahead”, he just can’t stop himself from pulling down any and every one of his betters, hoping he’ll be noticed.

But all he’s doing is exposing his irrelevance. Sick wanker!

E

...for cricket equity There is a (cricket) God! There is no question about this after looking at what’s playing out in New Zealand. There it is – India, whose BCCI demanded that they be part of an upper tier in the ICC that could never be budged – on their knees before one of the minnows to which they thought they could just throw a few rupees to roll over and play dead.

In a match that few thought New Zealand could even salvage, Brendon McCullum is on the cusp of a triple century and India will have to do all in their power (which isn’t very noticeable nowadays) to avoid defeat. Even the 325 by which New Zealand is ahead right now, is beyond this Indian batting line-up. So what gives them the right to hog the top spot in the ICC? Their money? So cricket has come down to this? Money is power and cricketing skills are just a sideshow?

As your Eyewitness has said before, we believe the WICB exposed the yellow streak down their pusillanimous back when they went along with the iniquitous BCCI plan.

We hope henceforth they’ll try to recapture some of the dignity our cricketing forebears earned with their blood, sweat, and tears. ...from Lincoln the Loud Another fella desperately seeking some relevance is Lincoln (“economic genocide”) the Loud. Bereft of any labour following, he’s taken to offering gratuitous political advice in the letter columns.

9 Suriname impressed with Guyana’s M&E systems – international expert T news

tuesDay, february 18, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

he initiative of the Finance Ministry to teach and enforce the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of administration has attracted the attention of the government of Suriname.

This is according to Dr Ray Rist, during the opening of a Finance Ministry M&E workshop at the Grand Coastal Inn on Monday. Dr Rist is a renowned authority on developing M&E systems for governments.

“Guyana has one of the strongest M&E systems in all of South America and I’m sure in the entire region,” Dr Rist said. “They (Suriname) heard what’s going on in Guyana and called, they too want what Guyana now has.”

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, who was also in attendance, explained that these periodic workshops are aimed at making government more accountable, transparent and efficient to the benefit of the people of Guyana.

He noted that every sector has an essential role to play in contributing to national development, regardless of its size or budget size.

“As administrators, you have to constantly examine ways in which your offices and those of your respective ministries can be managed more effectively and efficiently, to achieve the outcomes that you aim for,” said the minister.

Achieving those targets,

framework, he stated.

The framework the minister alluded to is part of the changes government has made to parliamentary procedures, and legislative changes in the Constitution.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

however, has to be done in a systematic and structured

Stronger oversight The minister asserted that these changes have led to stronger mechanisms for oversight with explicit recognition of the need to measure programme performance as outlined in the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003.

This, along with the inclusion of value for money audits in the Audit Act, ensures that the legislative foundation for results-based

management is in place.

Minister Singh said while it is government’s responsibility to ensure that the wheels of government keep turning, it also needs to evaluate how it conducts its business and consider how it can be done better.

Speaking on the issue of government being more efficient in its conduct of business, Dr Rist said one goal of the workshop is to show attendees how to work smarter, not necessarily harder.

“I am very proud of what is happening in Guyana,” he said. “You have vision and perseverance, Guyana is truly on its way.”

Dr Rist will focus on topics which will cover steps to

building and designing an M & E system. Over 35 participants from various government budget offices will be attending the week-long workshop.

Dr Rist is the co-founder of the International Programme for Development Evaluation Training, which is an executive training programme that aims to provide managers and practitioners with the generic tools required to evaluate development policies, programmes, and projects at the local, national, regional, and global levels.

It features in-depth workshops, taught by renowned international faculty members drawn from Southern and Northern organisations.

Sooba plans to table motions OAS appeals to Venezuelans to amend municipal laws politicians to avoid further violence

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own Clerk Carol Sooba said she plans to table motions to amend outdated laws governing the operations of municipalities across the country.

Sooba told Guyana Times that fines for delinquents in the current laws are insignificant for grave offences.

She contended that persons should face some amount of jail time depending on the seriousness of the offences committed.

Recently, the proprietors of Rahaman’s Meat Centre were made to pay a $300 fine after faecal matters was found on beef at their establishment last Tuesday.

The discovery was made after officers from the Food Hygiene Department and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) swooped down on the Lot 7 James Street, Albouystown business.

A subsequent search on the storage facilities of the butcher shop unearthed 444 lbs of beef that was salvaged from the carcass of a cow

Town Clerk Carol Sooba

that had drowned some days prior.

Officials say the search was conducted after they received information that uninspected meat was being sold at the establishment.

They also related that the meat was covered in faeces and vegetative matter.

In addition, the meat was uninspected and unstamped.

Investigations later revealed that the cow,

which belonged to Chander Bhagwandin of Kitty, had died a few days after it was found. The proprietors of the butcher shop Junior Rahaman and Seudia Halder later confirmed this information.

The uninspected meat was later taken to the Municipal Abattoir in Water Street where it was destroyed.

Sooba had earlier related that the proprietors of the butchery were related to the principals of the JAPS meat centre, which was recently involved in an incident of a similar nature.

Last November, some 589 kilograms of decomposing meat was confiscated from JAPS meat centre in Robb Street. The decomposing meat was found in 11 freezers at the establishment.

Shortly after that incident, Sooba had related that the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) Fit For Consumption stamp was not found on any of the meat that was checked during the raid.

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza

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rganisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, on Monday expressed his concern over the possibility that new protests in the streets of the capital of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela “could lead to more acts of violence”.

He said any such violence would only further separate the positions of the government and the opposition and polarise to an even greater degree

the sensitive political moment the South American country is going through.

Insulza appealed to “the responsibility of the government to avoid the use of force by police or related groups, called on the opposition to demonstrate peacefully avoiding provocations, and warned that, in that sense, the presence of certain leaders could set off incidents that everyone would later regret”.

In addition, Insulza em-

phasised the need for authorities to “respect the freedom of expression and for the media to be conscious of the influential role it plays at this political juncture”.

The OAS leader said that during recent days he has been in contact with foreign ministers in the region and that “there is full agreement as to the urgent need for a dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the opposition, to define points of convergence and to allow political actors to discuss the most serious problems facing the country”.

He added: “It is crucial that all sectors understand that dialogue is the only tool in democracy to settle differences, however deep they may be.”

Secretary General Insulza said that only through this path can Venezuelan society distance itself from a spiral of violence that would bring further pain and instability to the country. “No one gains from death and violent confrontations,” he added.

Two refused bail on Caricom interfaith confab underway assault, shooting T charges

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wo men were refused bail when they appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at the Blairmount Magistrate’s Court on charges of two counts of assault with intent to rob and another for allegedly discharging a loaded firearm.

The men, Paul Kumar,44, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam and Goed Fortune, West Bank Demerara, and Richard Semple, 39, a taxi driver of Kilcoy Village, Corentyne, were not required to plea to

the indictable charges.

The two are accused of attempting to rob a Bath Settlement businessman and his son on February 13, but were unsuccessful.

Ranks attached to the Fort Wellington Police Station responded after an alarm was raised and the duo was apprehended in the vicinity of the Berbice River Bridge.

Magistrate Weaver ordered the men to return to court on March 21 when the police are expected to present a report on the matter.

he inaugural Caribbean Community (Caricom) Interfaith Conference began on Monday with regional politicians urging faith-based organisations (FBO) to play a greater role in dealing with the myriad of challenges confronting the 15-member regional trading bloc.

The conference, the brainchild of the host Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, has brought together regional politicians, including Caricom chairman and St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves and representatives of interfaith bodies in the region.

In his address, Spencer said he was recommending the establishment of a regional mechanism operated by FBOs aimed at addressing the issues of the less fortunate in the region, including poverty.

“The time has come for such an organisation,” he said, add-

ing that the suggestion is based on the fact that the largest social organisation besides political movements are interfaith based organisations and “as such you have a duty of care and policy formulation. You must assist communities to find solutions to societal problems,” he said, acknowledging he would be presenting a report on the outcome of the deliberations here to regional government when they next meet in Kingstown in March.

Spencer said that it was important for the Caribbean countries to recognise the role of God in their future socio-economic development, noting that “sadly, impoliteness, arrogance, haughtiness, crude and vulgar attitudes pervade societies exacerbated by an era of consumerism, made worse by the invasive mass media, advances in technology and cultural penetration”. (CMC)

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, february 18, 2014

News

New Ombudsman holds talks with EU delegation De Kissman don’t like to bathe

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Ombudsman Winston Moore briefing Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký and other officials during a visit to the ambassador’s office on Monday

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ewly-appointed Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore on Monday met with the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký and other top officials of the EU. During the courtesy call, Ombudsman Moore explained the function and working methods of the office of the Ombudsman, and various matters of common interest were discussed.

Ambassador Kopecký congratulated him on being appointed to the position which was vacant for the past eight years, and commended the act of appointment as a very valuable contribution to core values of the EU – good governance and the rights of citizenry.

In a statement, the EU added that Kopecký further highlighted the importance of the office of the

Ombudsman likening it to the role of the European Ombudsman in ensuring the preservation of democracy and human rights. He also assured Ombudsman Moore that the EU is ready, via its delegation in Georgetown, to support his office in terms of capacity building and logistics enhancement if the Guyanese side requests such.

Cooperation

“Ombudsman Moore acknowledged receiving an earlier letter from the EU ambassador indicating the readiness of the EU Delegation to cooperate with his office and suggested several areas in which this could be achieved,” the EU statement said.

On January 13, Moore was sworn in as Guyana’s Ombudsman by President Donald Ramotar.

Ombudsman-like officials

have been around since ancient times and may have flourished in China and Korea in the BC era and in Ancient Rome and the Turkish Empire in the early AD period. An indigenous joint Swedish/ Danish/Norwegian term, Ombudsman essentially means “representative”, someone who is authorised to act for someone else and has been in use since the 13th century.

Kopecký was joined at the meeting by Political Officer Derek Lambe; Head of Cooperation, Ewout Sandker; Head of Bilateral Section, Benedikt Madl; and Programme Officer Yohann Chaigneau.

In a recent interview with this newspaper, Moore said his office had begun addressing the 15 reports received so far from members of the public. He said in in-

Consultancy firm to supervise CJIA runway project

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ublic Works Minister Robeson Benn said a consultancy firm will assume oversight of works on the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project as soon as the requisite contracts have been signed.

Works on the runway project thus far have been supervised by Public works Ministry engineers.

Cabinet recently approved US$5.9 million for a consultancy firm to oversee the extension of the CJIA runway.

The firms which opted to bid for the project were Vicab Engineering Consultants in Association with Louis Berges Group of Canada, Stanley Consultancy Incorporated in Association with Designs and Construction Inc Limited of Guyana, MMM Group of Canada in Association with Caribbean Engineering Group, Stuart Consultancy

Group of the U.S.A and Egisavie from France.

The expansion of CJIA’s runway is currently underway, with work being undertaken by China Harbour Engineering Company.

The project has seen rapid progress despite the National Assembly not approving funding for it.

CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir had pointed out that as it relates to the expansion project, more than 4500 truckloads of sand have already been dumped at the project site.

Ghir also noted that an office has been erected on site and the designs for the terminal are expected in March of this year. Meanwhile, CHEC Assistant General Manager, Dr Zhimin Hu had noted that one of the major challenges faced by the firm was getting the soil replaced.

Speaking at the recently held engineers’ conference at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, he explained that the company seeks to drill and install a number of sand columns meant to irrigate and dry the soil, allowing for greater consolidation.

That stretch of runway will also require tonnes of sand to be adequately filled, so as to facilitate a raise in the soil level. This raise will also raise the stretch of land that works are being done to meet the current height of the airport’s existing runway structure.

This part of the project will have to be done, along the 1400 feet section, which is said to be 115 metres wide and will have to be raised as much as 15 metres in some areas.

stances where his office has no jurisdiction, he would point the complainant to the courts, the chief justice, or the chancellor of the judiciary.

The new Ombudsman sought to clear up a few issues surrounding his office with regard to staffing and resources. He has been working closely with the Public Service Ministry, and has since submitted a list of requirements for the office to function effectively. He also stated that staff members who had worked at the office in the past were given the option to return and many of them have agreed. Moore said, “I have no qualms or misgivings about personnel or resources that will be provided.”

nce upon a time, old people used to tell lil pickney bedtime stories to mek dem sleep away fast. All dem stories used to start wid “once upon a time”.

As soon as lil pickney hear that “once upon a time”, dem does sleep, or play sleep. And de stories does be fairy tale.

Once upon a time, there was a man name Freddie Kissmansoon. Freddie is a real person, not fairy tale like in dem “once-upon-a-time” stories. De problem is that de Kissman is a big man in real life who does behave like lil pickney.

That is why people does wonder if Freddie is a fairy tale man. Number one is that he tink he fair. That itself is fairy tale tinkin. De Kissman shame of he self because he is a East Indian. But that ain’t mean he fair, much less white.

Number two is that de Kissman does tell a lotta tales.

Freddie does imagine tings and then write bout dem like if dem happen fuh real. That alone sound like a man who got a good imagination and who could tell a even better lie. And de best of all, is that he does get vex when nobody believe he fairy tale story.

Number three is that Freddie never grow up from de time he was a lil boy (at least boy is whah deh pun he born paper). De Kissman even try to kiss a man, and when de man drop a slap pun he, he get vex, and then tell a fairy tale bout de whole story.

De other day de Kissman had want free pizza and free suit. So he turn up to de pizza place and de suit place. But after he try to walk out, he end up gettin chase out from both place, and he tell yet another fairy tale bout de whole story.

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

Now de word is out that Freddie don’t like bathe, not even to go in a pool. Well, that ain’t no fairy tale. Just ask dem people at Liliendaal bout de pool, and at Turkeyen bout de bathin!

Persistent rains affect critical D&I work in Region Two

P

An excavator at work at the Windsor Castle foreshore

ersistent rainfall over the past few weeks has affected the Region Two administration from upgrading access dams and desilting outfall channels to facilitate effective drainage and irrigation (D&I) in the region.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud at a recent Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meeting told councillors that work on several access dams leading to rice fields are in a dete-

riorating state, noting that heavy rains have practically put a halt on critical D&I and roads programmes.

Rice harvesting in the region is expected to soon commence in the region, and farmers have expressed concerns about the current state of affairs.

“We are willing (to help) but the rains are not allowing us,” Persaud said The chairman said several pumps in the region are down, and currently, the

sluices at Richmond to Pert have been silted up, making it difficult for water to flow smoothly.

Persaud said the pump at Lima has been sent to Georgetown for repair but pointed out that drainage at Darthmouth has been excellent.

Meanwhile, an excavator is at work at Windsor Castle clearing silted up mud around the outfall in the area.

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

Tuesday, february 18, 2014

Airy Hall rice farmers’ woes continue – strange worm attacks crop treated his crop with insecticide, but progress is slow.

Another farmer who said only a few of his acres are affected by the “heart worms” is spraying continuously, hoping that the problem will be eradicated.

The farmers are calling for “scientific” help from the Agriculture Ministry. They said a sample of the plants needs to be tested by a plant pathologist so that appropriate measures can be taken to arrest the unknown infestation.

The “heart worm” infestation was reported to officers of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and inspections were conducted in the fields.

By Indrawattie Natram

J

ust when farmers from Airy Hall on the Essequibo Coast thought they were in the clear after the December conservancy breach, which flooded the community and destroyed several acres of rice, some are now faced with another major challenge.

This time, strange “green looking” worms are responsible for their heartache.

The “heart worm” pest, as it is being called, is stunting rice fields, which were replanted following the flood.

Farmers are now uncertain as to when they will reap their crop, which is presently 20 days old.

Approximately 20 farmers whose rice lands are located close to the conservancy are facing the infestation.

They are clueless how the worms, living particularly in the middle of the young plants, got into their fields

Farmer Bhagwan Parbhu inspecting his field of stunted 20-day-old rice

and are uncertain of a possible remedy.

One farmer, Bhagwan Parbhu, whose 10 acres of land is situated north of the conservancy, told Guyana Times: “I re-sow very well, but my plants are so stunted. I give it several days and

Farmer Sahadeo Sookraj in his rice field, which was not affected by the “heart worm” infestation. He will harvest his crop in mid March

still they are not picking up.

I used several insecticides, tried many measures, still one thing – they not growing.”

Strange infestation

He said he noticed several weeks after re-sowing that his plants were not showing any signs of growth. The father of six said he then decided to investigate, and he found tiny worms feeding on the insides of the young rice plants, causing them to yellow and drop. The farmer, who said he has been in the business for more than 20 years, said he has never faced such a situation previously.

The frustrated farmer explained that he took a loan from the bank and was now faced with many expenses, trying to save his rice plants. His brother, Sonu, whose plot is nearby, said his crop was also severely affected. He added that he too

Unaffected farmers

Farmers whose fields are located far from the conservancy are barely affected by the pest, and are hoping to harvest by mid-March.

Sahadeo Sookraj, who has 14 acres under rice cultivation, said he was optimistic that he would harvest in March and get maximum paddy per acre. Sookraj said

A farmer spraying his lush field of 20-day-old rice

his plot was not severely affected by the floodwaters when the conservancy was breached, although some of the rice plants were water-soaked. The fertiliser provided by the GRDB helped him to recover. The Agriculture Ministry and its major rice stakeholders, the GRDB and the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (GRPA), provided some farmers with fertilisers and

A small “heart worm” feeding on a rice plant

others, cash compensation, to aid their recovery.

Like Sookraj, there are other farmers who are very optimistic that they will receive a bumper harvest despite the breach.

More than 200 farmers of Airy Hall were affected by the flooding caused by the breach, losing livestock and fields filled with 30-day-old plants. Other residents were impacted as well. The Region Two administration finally managed to seal the breach after two attempts. As a consequence, farmers had to replant and others had to nurse their “stressed out” fields back to health with liberal applications of fertilisers and pesticides. While some are optimistic, others, in light of the “heart worms” and other challenges, believe this crop is at risk, saying fatalistically “either we gain or lose”.

Farmers are again calling for the ministry’s help, given the challenges they face.

12 News

tuesday, february 18, 2014 | guyanatimeSGY.com

FITUG urges swift passage of AML bill T

he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has join other concerned stakeholders in calling on the National Assembly to swiftly pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill.

In a statement, FITUG said given the announcement by government that the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has facilitated more time for the National Assembly to pass this important legislation, the partisan politics exhibited on November 7, 2013 which resulted in the defeat of the original amendment bill and the subsequent blacklisting of Guyana by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), need not be repeated at this critical juncture.

“FITUG members, some of whom are among the recipients of remittances from abroad, will undoubtedly be affected. We understand that money transfers may take longer and fees for such transactions will increase as well. Also, the threat of international financial institutions ceasing to conduct business in our country will restrict the conduct of transactions. Such an occurrence will require persons having to travel further or pay exorbitant fees in order to con-

FITUG President Carvil Duncan

duct money transfers or to receive remittances,” the trade union umbrella body said.

In jeopardy

According to FITUG, these impediments are not easily overcome by persons with limited resources. The union said sanctions will cause citizens to be required to complete additional, unnecessary and lengthy paperwork in order to execute and/or complete transactions. Importantly, the jobs of FITUG members could be jeopardised if businesses are unable to secure imported raw materials and inputs to facilitate operations within an acceptable timeframe. If businesses close their doors, the social impact will be

grave as jobs would be lost.

Additionally, the union said the housing industry, which is largely supported by the working class and has created thousands of jobs ranging from carpenters to truckers and even food vendors, will suffer greatly from further blacklisting arising from the non-passage of the bill.

“At this point in our nation’s history, we join the chorus of concerned stakeholders to appeal to our parliamentary representatives, and more so, the members of the special select committee charged with reviewing the amendment bill, to work in the interest of the workers of Guyana. Further sanctions at this time could serve to reverse the many gains made by the working class over the years, the threat of job losses cannot be underscored— our workers among other things deserve a decent standard of living,” the union stated.

FITUG was established in 1988 and was resuscitated in 2005. Currently, the organisation has four affiliates: the Guyana Labour Union (GLU); the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU); the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial, and Industrial Employees (NAACIE); and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU).

Caribbean ministers highlight impacts of high-energy costs at IDB confab

T

he government of Trinidad and Tobago hosted the third annual meeting of the Caribbean Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Port of Spain. The IDB’s Caribbean Governors are the finance and planning ministers of the institution’s Caribbean member states. A highlight of the conference was a luncheon address given by host Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

During the conference, the Caribbean governors were briefed on the progress of the proposed restructuring of the IDB’s private sector window, which could increase development impact and mobilise additional resources from an expanded range of financial actors. In this process, the particular challenges associated with

achieving a transformational impact in the Caribbean are a priority.

Both the prime minister and conference participants assigned great importance to the high-energy costs in the Caribbean that constrain living standards and growth. The IDB recently launched the Caribbean Energy Initiative, which seeks to create a regional energy market of sufficient critical mass to enable countries to take advantage of the reduction in the cost of natural gas and its increased supply.

Caribbean Energy Initiative

The Caribbean Energy Initiative will be complemented by the IDB’s ongoing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, which have proved to offer significant fiscal and foreign

exchange benefits.

IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno noted: “The region is looking for a new paradigm. Both the larger, resource-based economies and the smaller, service-based economies face the same challenge. New products and new trading partners will have to be cultivated. This calls for a willingness to embrace change. The Inter-American Development Bank is committed to support that process.”

The conference prepared the Caribbean governors and bank management for the substantive deliberations on the future direction of the bank that are anticipated at the institution’s annual general meeting to be held in Bahia, Brazil at the end of March.

Govt enlists women miners to help tackle teenage pregnancy

Ninety-seven out of every 1000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are giving birth in Guyana

W

ith Guyana recording the second highest rate of adolescent pregnancy in the Caribbean and South America, the Health Ministry is pushing for greater partnership with non-governmental organisations to bring the numbers down.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) “State of the World Population 2013” Report, issued in November, indicated that 97 out of every 1000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are giving birth in Guyana. In South America, Guyana followed Ecuador, which recorded the highest rate with 100 out of every 1000 within the age range of 15-19 years giving birth. The Dominican Republic was cited as having the highest rate in the Caribbean, with 98 teens out of every 1000 getting pregnant.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Sunday, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said the ministry is looking to partner with a vibrant group that has made its name across the globe – the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO). Dr Ramsaran noted that the GWMO, over the past two years, has been very instrumental in rescuing victims of human trafficking, primarily women, in interior locations. He said the

Health Ministry could capitalise on the vigour of the organisation, headed by U.S. State Department 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Hero Simona Broomes.

According to the health minister, teenage pregnancy

Nations Rights of the Child Committee that approximately 3000 girls become pregnant on a yearly basis.

In the UNFPA report, it was stated that impoverished, uneducated girls living in rural areas are more

Every day in developing countries, 20,000 girls below age 18 give birth, while girls under the age of 15 account for two million of the annual total of 7.3 million new adolescent mothers. in the hinterland is becoming more and more alarming, with teenagers indulging in sexual activity at a very tender age. He stressed that partnership with organisations such as the GWMO can reduce the numbers.

At the Health Ministry, major emphasis is being placed on teenage pregnancy and its complications.

3000 teenage pregnancies annually

Dr Ramsaran was keen on noting that the Health Ministry, approximately two weeks ago and earlier in 2013, invited the GWMO for talks, but a response was never given.

Meanwhile, prior to the release of the UNFPA’s “State of the World Population 2013” Report, the government of Guyana had informed the United

likely to become pregnant than other girls who are educated and wealthy. “Girls from ethnic minorities or marginalised groups and those who have limited or no access to sexual and reproductive health are also at great risk,” the UNFPA pointed out.

According to the report, approximately seven million girls in poor countries give birth before reaching the age of 18 every year, with two million of them being 14 years old or younger. Every day in developing countries, 20,000 girls below age 18 give birth, while girls under the age of 15 account for two million of the annual total of 7.3 million new adolescent mothers. If this trend continues, three million girls under the age of 15 will give birth every year by 2030.

Caricom postpones intersessional meeting

T

he 25th InterSessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in Buccament Bay, St Vincent, has been postponed from February 24 and 25 to March 10 and 11.

In a terse statement

on Monday, the Caricom Secretariat said that the postponement was necessary as the original dates were inconvenient to some heads of government.

The last Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom was held in Port-

au-Prince, Haiti on February 18-19, 2013, and saw crime and security as the major focus. This year, discussions will be centred on the lack of private sector involvement in the regional bloc, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett.

news

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tuesday, february 18, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Buxton Pride steals show at Republic Bank’s Pan-o-rama more frenzied when firsttime performers Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra put on an impeccable, showstealing performance, eventually winning the school band category. The Pan Wave Academy was also a force to be reckoned with, as their colourful stage presence was uniquely in sync with their enchanting piece.

Heart-warming

Members of the Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra delivering a well-arranged piece

For the senior solo category Ray Sparman took the title, while Jerrick Mentore and Clayton Daniels walked away with the duet title.

The Guyana Defence Force took the win in the inaugural pan jazz contest, while the Culture, Youth, and Sport Ministry copped the trophy for the large band category.

He explained that the ministry has taken a threepronged approach – intellectual, cultural and social – to the celebrations. There is currently an art exhibition at Castellani House and the National Museum, showcasing 44 years of sculpture in Guyana. Several workshops and lectures are also slated for this week. There will also be a huge street fair on Main Street on Friday.

Members of the public are also invited to attend the flag-raising ceremony at Parliament Building on the morning of February 23.

Republic Bank Camp Street Branch Manager Sherwyn Greaves said the resurgence of the steel pan artform and the inclusion of young players were indeed heart-warming. He said

By Alexis Rodney

S

teel pan music, the lifeblood of many Caribbean festivities, has taken on a whole new dimension in Guyana, thanks to Republic Bank Limited.

At the sixth annual Republic Bank Mashramani Pan-orama Steel Pan Competition on Sunday, lovers of this once-fading musical artform were able to experience the spectacular beauty its soulful sounds offer.

Members of the audience could hardly contain themselves as delightful melodies reverberated throughout the main auditorium of the The Pan Wave academy was exhilarating under the leadership of its arranger and director Cary Gillis

Republic Bank will present close to $3 million in prizes to each winner.

However, Buxton Pride Steel Orchestra will receive 50 per cent of its winnings in cash and the other 50 per cent in instruments.

Winners will receive their prizes on March 6 at the Umana Yana.

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said the competition was among the many programmes engaging the ministry, as the country prepares for Mashramani celebrations next Sunday.

The 2013 schoolband winner North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary School had to settle for third place this year

National Cultural Centre (NCC). The event got off to a slow start around 16:00h with junior and senior solo performances. But by the time contestants in the pan duet and pan jazz categories took to the stage, the audience was hardly able to keep still. The simple pieces were transformed into radiant performances, thanks to the brilliant innovations of the arrangers.

Then it was time for the school band segment. And if nothing else pinpointed them, this was the time that the true steel pan enthusiasts were noticed. Patrons were on their feet, waving their hands and screaming at the top of their lungs, because, although the performers of this segment were between the ages of 11 and 15, they gave vivid life to sticks and pans.

The crowd was even

The Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry Steel Orchestra steals first place in the large band category

the financial institution remains committed to serving communities, with special emphasis being placed on the empowerment of the nation’s youth. The competition exposed a wide crosssection of Guyana’s children to the artform, enabling them to appreciate a style of music that forms an important part of Guyana’s cultural heritage. The response was so overwhelming in terms of participating schools that a preliminary competition was held on February 14.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, February 18, 2014

Regional

Venezuela says U.S. plotting with protesters, expels officials

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icolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president, has accused Washington of plotting with anti-government protesters and expelled three United States diplomats in retaliation.

Maduro ordered the expulsions on Monday, the same day that opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez called for a mass rally on Tuesday and challenged the government to arrest him at the event.

“I have ordered the Foreign Ministry to proceed with declaring those three consular officials persona non grata and expelling them from the country. Let them go conspire in Washington!” Maduro said in a nationally broadcast address.

Maduro said the U.S. diplomats, who have not been named, had met students involved in anti-gov-

Venezuela’s President Maduro: “We don’t accept threats from anyone in the world” (BBC photo)

ernment protests under the pretence of offering them “visas to the United States”.

Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said the three consular staff had used visa visits to universities as cover

for promoting opposition protests by students, adding they had 48 hours to leave the country.

The demonstrations, which have energised the opposition but show few signs of ousting President

Maduro, continued on Monday with scattered protests in the capital, Caracas, and various provincial cities.

Nearly two weeks of anti-government protests lead by students have become the biggest challenge to Venezuela’s socialist rulers since the death of longtime leader Hugo Chávez last year.

Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis that critics blame on policies that Maduro largely inherited from Chávez.

In late September, Maduro kicked out three other U.S. diplomats, including the charge d’affaires, Kelly Keiderling, on accusations of conspiring with government opponents. The U.S. on Monday rejected as “baseless and false” accusations by Venezuela. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

U.S. group warns of phone scam from the Caribbean

T

he United States Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning cellphone users about a “one ring” phone scam from the Caribbean.

The BBB said that the scheme adds unauthorised charges to consumers’ monthly wireless bills. It has labelled the unauthorised charges as a “one ring” scam because the victims’ phones often ring only once before the call is disconnected.

If a victim tries to return the call, they are charged a US$19.95 international call fee plus US$9 a minute for the duration of the call, the BBB said, adding that the calls appear to come from a number of Caribbean islands, including Grenada, Antigua, The Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the British Virgin Islands.

The BBB said area codes for the calls include 268, 274, 473, 809, and 876. It

also said some calls may be domestic.

“Scammers are counting on people’s curiosity getting the best of them and hoping they’ll dial these numbers back, which are international calls that can lead to hefty charges. The best policy is to ignore calls from strange numbers and disregard the temptation to dial them back,” the BBB said.

BBB President and Chief Executive Officer Dana Badgerow, said “this scheme definitely plays on our natural curiosity.

“However, in this case, simple curiosity can get you into some trouble,” she said.

The BBB said calls of this nature have hit nationwide, adding that, in most cases, the callers hang up before people can even answer. In instances when the phone is answered, the receiver hears “moaning or a commotion of some kind and then the call disconnects”. (Excerpt from CMC)

KI takes Chutney Dominican govt boasts of strong economy, urges supporters to return it to power Soca crown

D

ominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says Dominica has significantly reduced its national debt and would continue to manage the situation in order to keep it at “low levels”.

“There was just a meeting concluded in St. Kitts of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and people are still amazed at how Dominica can do all of these things, all of these infrastructural works, all the social programmes and yet still not impose a

KI Persad celebrates after winning the 2014 Chutney Soca Monarch title at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on Saturday night, with his song “Runaway”

G

ive props to KI Persad for turning a tragic story into $2 million. The lyrics to KI’s hit song “Runaway” tell a sad tale: “Last year I went on tour, but I did not want to stay, so I leave my band to play, and when I came back, my wife run away.” But just as in the semi-final, KI flipped the tragically romantic number, fusing it with a soca beat that had female fans climbing onto the fences to get closer to the stage.

The daring performance started with his arrival on a plane filled with beautiful air hostesses, which signalled that he had just came back from a world tour. The set featured pyrotechnic gloves and climaxed with the champion crowdsurfing on a float. It was his second title in three years.

Emotions ran high for KI, whose eyes became teary

as he returned to the stage hoisted on the shoulders of his adoring supporters after he was announced as 2014’s first major monarch. So intense was the competition, KI said, that he was shaking while the results were being announced. In accepting his crown, he had a special message for his fans. “Thank you for making it happen for us and giving us that extra push by actually naming us flag bearers of our culture, to go out there and represent you all.”

KI’s was no runaway victory, however. Twenty artistes performed their hearts out on a cold night at Skinner Park, San Fernando, and Persad was listed 19th in the order of appearance. He fought off stiff competition from two former monarchs to cop the title. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit

heavy debt on its people,” he told the launch of a youth

Polish priest held over Dominican Republic sex abuse claims

P

olice in Poland arrested a Catholic priest suspected of committing sex offences against children in the Dominican Republic.

The 36-year-old, identified only as Wojciech G, is accused of molesting boys while serving as a parish priest on the Caribbean island. He denies the accusations.

Last year, Polish archbishop Jozef Wesolowski was recalled to Rome amid claims he sexually abused children in the Dominican Republic.

The 65-year-old archbishop, formerly the Vatican’s representative to the island, is one of the highest ranking Catholic Church officials to be investigated for alleged abuse.

In the latest case, Wojciech G was arrested at his home near Krakow on Monday and is expected to be formally charged today.

The BBC’s Adam Easton in Warsaw says the Catholic

Church in Poland has largely been spared the sex abuse scandals that have made headlines in Ireland or the U.S. But this case – and similar accusations against Archbishop Wesolowski, who served as the Papal Nuncio in the Dominican Republic until last August – is starting to change that.

Earlier this month, a Polish man who was abused by a priest as a child announced he was suing the country’s Roman Catholic Church – the first such civil case in the country. The church leadership apologised to all child abuse victims last year, but insisted it would not pay damages for the crimes of individual clergymen.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has said the Vatican should “immediately remove” all clergy who were known or suspected child abusers. (Excerpt from BBC News)

arm of the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) in Grand Fond on Sunday night.

“We have reduced our debt from 110 per cent of GDP [Gross Domestic Product] to 65 per cent of GDP, he said, adding “that is about managing the debt and keeping the debt at low levels so that you, the citizens and residents of this country, would not be burdened with a high debt rate”.

Skerrit said that keeping the debt manageable was important and warned support-

ers of “Greeks coming with promises and gifts.

“It is easy to make promises but it is more difficult to find and get the resources to implement those programmes.”

There is widespread speculation that Skerrit would announce the date for general elections constitutionally due by December this year, and he told supporters that they should be ready to ensure that the party is returned to power in the next general election. (Excerpt from CMC)

Jamaican opposition says call in army to help deal with crime

T

he main opposition Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) has called on the Portia Simpson Miller-led administration to send the army into the eastern section of the capital following an upsurge in violent crime in recent days.

JLP spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith, a former national security minister, said the army should be sent to the Corporate area to help the police in efforts to restore law and order after a weekend of terror in which a 17-month-old boy was killed and an attempt was made on the life of another baby.

The first incident occurred shortly after 22:00h (local time) on Friday at a Valentine’s Day party in the community of Dunkirk, when heavily armed gunmen invaded the party. The

men opened gunfire and also killed a man in addition to the baby.

The police said a few minutes later, the gunmen went to another street where they kicked open a door to a house where a woman lived with her twomonth-old baby. The gunmen allegedly shot the father and the mother. The baby, who apparently was also their target, escaped uninjured.

In expressing condolences to the relatives of those killed, Smith characterised the gangs operating in East Kingston as “terrorists who gain their power through murder, mayhem and extortion”.

He said “only the strongest action by the state can solve this problem” and that the actions of the gunmen have moved beyond the normal realm of crime and violence. (Excerpt from5

15 Around the world tuesday, February 18, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

North Korea’s Kim warned Syrian peace talks failure spurs U.S.-Russia recriminations he might face charges over atrocities

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits an orphanage in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on February 4

N

orth Korean security chiefs and possibly even Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un should face international justice for ordering systematic torture, starvation, and killings comparable to Nazi-era atrocities, United Nations investigators said on Monday.

The investigators told Kim in a letter they were advising the UN to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court (ICC), to make sure any culprits “in-

cluding possibly yourself” were held accountable.

North Korea “categorically and totally” rejected the accusations set out in a 372-page report, saying they were based on material faked by hostile forces backed by the United States, the European Union, and Japan.

The unprecedented public rebuke and warning to a ruling head of state by a UN Commission of Inquiry is likely to further antagonise

Kim and complicate efforts to persuade him to rein in his isolated country’s nuclear weapons programme and belligerent confrontations with South Korea and the West.

The UN investigators said they had also told Kim’s main ally China that it might be “aiding and abetting crimes against humanity” by sending migrants and defectors back to North Korea to face torture and execution – a charge that Chinese officials had dismissed.

As referral to the Haguebased international court was seen as unlikely, given China’s probable veto of any such move in the UN Security Council, thoughts were also turning to setting up some form of special tribunal on North Korea, diplomatic and UN sources told Reuters.

“We’ve collected all the testimony and can’t just stop and wait 10 years. The idea is to sustain work,” said one. (Excerpt from Reuters)

South Korean building collapse: At least eight dead

South Korean rescue workers at the scene of the collapsed building in Gyeongju

A

t least eight people have died and 17 more have been seriously injured in a building collapse in South Korea, say officials.

More than 10 people are still feared trapped at the resort in the south-eastern city of Gyeongju.

Fifty-eight people received minor injuries, said an official at the staterun National Emergency Management Agency, speaking on condition of anonymity. He confirmed the eight deaths.

Part of the auditorium of the resort collapsed during an orientation event for first-year university stu-

dents from the southern city of Busan.

Fire services have blamed heavy snow on the roof. The weather is also thought to have slowed rescue efforts.

Local media reports say the collapse happened at around 21:15h local time (12:15 GMT), though there is confusion over the number of students in the hall at the time, and the number still trapped.

“So far, we have four confirmed dead and 73 injured, 15 of them seriously,” a spokesman for the local fire service told AFP. Rescue workers with heavy equipment are at

the scene, but heavy snow around the resort is thought to have slowed access.

About 1000 students from Busan University of Foreign Studies were at the Mauna Ocean Resort.

Many managed to get out of the damaged building by themselves. The students are thought to have been attending a concert.

“The ceiling came crashing down at the front near the stage,” one student told South Korea’s YTN news channel. “Then pandemonium broke out and everyone started rushing towards the exits, shouting and screaming,” he added.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

T

he United States accused Damascus on Monday of paralysing Geneva peace negotiations, while Russia denied that and said nations backing Syrian rebels were leaning toward trying to end the civil war on the battlefield rather than in talks.

A second round of talks in Geneva broke up on Saturday with chief mediator Lakhdar Brahimi lamenting a failure to advance much beyond agreement on an agenda for a third round later.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said President Bashar al-Assad’s govern-

ment was behind the impasse, aided and abetted by Russia and other allies of Damascus.

“The regime stonewalled.

They did nothing except continue to drop barrel bombs on their own people and continue to destroy their own country. And I regret to say they are doing so with increased support from Iran, from Hezbollah and from Russia,” he said in Jakarta during a trip to Asia and the Middle East.

Kerry appeared to be trying to tighten diplomatic pressure on Assad to reach a political settlement that would end government at-

tacks on rebel-held areas and relieve the plight of tens of thousands of Syrians cut off from humanitarian aid.

Pressing Moscow to wring a more flexible stance from Assad, he said: “Russia needs to be a part of the solution”, rather than helping the Syrian leader with arms and other support.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hit back, citing “evidence that certain sponsors of the opposition are starting to create a new structure” bringing in Assad foes who have left the main opposition National Coalition.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Co-pilot hijacks Ethiopian plane to Geneva, exits cockpit by rope

A

co-pilot who hijacked an Ethiopian Airlines flight to seek asylum in Switzerland on Monday surrendered to police at Geneva airport after jumping out of a cockpit window and scrambling down an emergency rope.

The airliner’s secondin-command, named by Ethiopia as Hailemedhin Abera Tegegn, 31, took control of the plane when the pilot left the cockpit to use the toilet. He then sent a coded signal announcing he had hijacked his own aircraft.

With the airliner on the tarmac, an unarmed Hailemedhin made his exit via a cockpit window, without harming passengers or crew, police spokesman Pierre Grangean told a news conference.

“Just after landing, the co-pilot came out of the cockpit and ran to the police and said, ‘I’m the hijacker.’ He said he is not safe in his own country and wants asylum,” Grangean said.

The airliner could later be seen with a knotted yel-

Police officers help passengers disembark from the hijacked Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 702 at Cointrin Airport in Geneva on February 17

low rope dangling from an open cockpit window.

The opposition and rights campaigners in Ethiopia accuse the government of stifling dissent and torturing political detainees. But it is rare for state officials and employees – Ethiopian Airlines is run by the state – to seek asylum. The last senior official to do so fled to the United States in 2009.

Ethiopia said

Hailemedhin had worked for Ethiopian Airlines for the past five years and had no criminal record.

“So far it was known that he was medically sane, until otherwise he is proven through the investigation which is going on right now,” said Redwan Hussein, spokesman for the Ethiopian government. Redwan said Ethiopia may ask for his extradition. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukrainian opposition seeks curbs on Yanukovich’s powers

U

kraine’s opposition leaders on Monday pressed President Viktor Yanukovich to accept curbs on his powers that would allow them to form an independent government to defuse a 12week stand-off on the streets and save the economy from collapse.

A government amnesty for activists detained during mass unrest came into force after protesters ended their occupation of Kiev’s City Hall and other municipal buildings in the country.

But tension remained high with the opposition ac-

cusing Yanukovich and his allies of delaying discussion that could lead to his relinquishing what they see as “dictatorial” powers. They suspect him of trying to slow down the momentum of the protest movement.

But with foreign currency reserves depleted by repeated moves to prop up the weak hryvnia and fears of a devaluation growing by the day, Yanukovich is increasingly under pressure to name a new prime minister to replace the Russianborn Mykola Azarov, whom he sacked on January 28.

His choice could speed up disbursement of fresh

credits under a US$15 billion bailout package from Russia – a quick fix for the heavily indebted economy.

But if he resists calls for constitutional change and names another hardliner, the streets could return to uproar.

“People want a complete rebooting of the system, that’s the main thing,” said boxer-turned-politician Vitaly Klitschko, one of three opposition leaders who are pressing for a return to an old constitution that would remove presidential control of the government and the judiciary.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

16

tuesday, February 18, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

Africa

Caribbean

Jamaican church launches J$100M Reduced oil and fish imports key to Cameroon’s growth housing development

A

church group last week officially launched a J$100 million townhouse complex in Barbican, having sold all but one of the two-bedroom units priced at J$21 million each.

King’s Manor Townhouse Development, a gated community on just over half-an-acre or approximately 2018 square metres of land at 15 King’s Drive in Barbican, is the product of a joint venture – Kings Manor Development Company Limited (KMDC) – between Boulevard Baptist Church

and Jamaica Baptist Union.

Construction work began on July 22, 2013, and practical completion is scheduled for the third week of February.

The development comprises five two-bedroom, twoand-a-half bathroom townhouse units situated on 1630 square-foot lots. Features include a guard house, an enchanting front garden, a back patio, internal laundry area, solid surface kitchen counter tops, and ceramic tiles. Each unit has two parking bays assigned.

KMDC Chairman Hugh Reid, who presented a project overview, noted that the visionary behind the project is Boulevard Baptist Church Pastor, Reverend Dr Devon Dick.

“The project vision was to make a contribution to the housing needs of Jamaicans and also to provide an income generating asset for the church by converting property situated at 15 King’s Drive, the former Boulevard Baptist church manse, into a townhouse development,” Reid explained.(Jamaica Observer)

C

ameroon can completely turn around its economic fortunes if it could get out of the grip of fish and energy oil importation, United Nations Under Secretary General and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Executive Secretary Carlos Lopes has told the country’s prime minister, Philemon Yang.

“Cameroon’s two biggest lines of imports are oil prod-

ucts [for energy] and fish – if government can focus just on locally producing and transforming just these two main imports, the country would be catapulted to a great peak, with the right macroeconomic climate”, the visiting UN official told his host at an audience in the Star Building – the Cameroon Prime Minister’s Office in downtown Yaounde.

Lopes, who is on his first working visit to the Central

African sub-region since his appointment by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in September 2012, held a long and compelling discussion with his host on the stakes of economic transformation in Africa.

“We are on the threshold of big change on the continent with just one percentage point needed for making the magic seven to help change our fortune in general,” said the ECA executive secretary. (allAfrica.com)

Asia

India cuts indirect taxes on cars, Detroit bankruptcy bond fight a mobile phones municipal market watershed I North America

T

he city of Detroit’s effort to declare some of its general obligation bonds as unsecured debt will be challenged in bankruptcy court on Wednesday in what could be a precedent-setting turn in the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

The issue in front of federal bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes is whether a pledge of Detroit tax revenue to pay off the voter-approved bond is-

sues is a binding obligation under Michigan law, as argued by bond insurers in two lawsuits, or merely a promise.

The outcome of the dispute could have a far-reaching impact on the US$3.7 trillion municipal market, where general obligation bonds made up some 60 per cent of the issues sold in the last decade.

That could reduce investor interest in not only any future Detroit borrowings, but

in debt from other Michigan municipalities, forcing them to pay higher interest rates.

And it could trigger similar concerns for municipal borrowers in other states.

Investors always have considered the full faith and credit pledge by cities, school districts, and other issuers to pay off those bonds “sacrosanct”, according to Natalie Cohen, the head of ‘muni’ research at Wells Fargo Securities. (Reuters)

ndian Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram has cut indirect taxes on cars and mobile phones in an attempt to boost economic growth.

Chidambaram unveiled the move as he presented the interim budget ahead of this year’s general elections. In his speech, he expressed concerns over the health of the manufacturing sector and rising food prices.

However, Chidambaram

added that the economy had stabilised and was showing signs of a turnaround.

“Our objectives were fiscal consolidation, reviving growth cycle, and enhancing manufacturing,” he said.

“I can confidently assert that the fiscal deficit is declining, the current account deficit is constrained, inflation is moderated, and exchange rate is stable.”

The interim budget comes as the government’s popular-

ity has slumped amid a slowdown in growth and a number of corruption scandals in recent years.

The elections are scheduled to be held by May, and the new government will present a full budget for the next financial year after it takes charge. India – Asia’s thirdlargest economy – has been weighed down by various factors such as high inflation, a weak currency, and a drop in foreign investment. (BBC News)

Middle East

Iranian bank sues UK govt for Eurozone periphery in vogue, as US$4B over sanctions dollar hits six-week lows I Europe

T

he dollar hit six-week lows on Monday as recent weak U.S. data cast doubt on the pace of monetary tightening, while prospects for a new reforming government in Italy and better eurozone growth boosted the bloc’s periphery. World stocks rose to three-and-a-halfweek highs, helped by encouraging news on Chinese lending, but volumes were thin due to a U.S. market holiday.

A run of weak U.S. data, including an unexpected fall

in January manufacturing output on Friday, has caused some investors to revise their expectations of how fast the Federal Reserve will scale back stimulus and tighten monetary policy.

“There’s been a very patchy data outlook for the past six weeks to two months and expectations of a rate rise from the Fed have been curtailed,” said Peter Kinsella, strategist with Commerzbank in London.

Higher-yielding emerging markets, which have suffered as U.S. investors bring their money home in anticipation of tapering, also rose to threeand-a-half-week highs.

Data at the weekend showed Chinese banks disbursed the highest volume of loans in any month in four years in January, a surge that suggests the world’s secondbiggest economy may not be cooling as much as some fear.

(Reuters)

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board Fixed as at July 24, 2013 Calculated at 94% purity

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Selling

GBP

$344.53

$348.84

CAN

$187.81

$189.98

USD

$205.98

$208.44

U.S.

$1335.00

Cambio

$202.67

Gross

$254,331

Net

$236,527

Selling

$262,426

Indicators as on February 17, 2014 Live Spot Gold

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1329.20

$1330.20

Low/High

$1321.00

$1330.50

Change

+10.10

+0.77

London Gold Fix

Feb 17 USD GBP EUR

Feb 14 USD GBP EUR

AM

PM

1326.00 791.97 967.60

1327.50 794.15 968.55

AM

PM

1308.50 783.21 955.60

1320.00 786.66 964.35

Indicators Crude Oil

Price Silver

Platinum

ing to a claim filed in London’s High Court and seen by Reuters on Monday.

It claims the United Kingdom government also successfully lobbied other authorities to impose their own sanctions that ultimately caused and continue to cause the loss of profitable business, customers, banking relationships, and dealing services. “(Bank Mellat) doesn’t want to be in any way vin-

Investors' guide

dictive, it just wants justice,” Bank Mellat’s lawyer Sarosh Zaiwalla told Reuters.

A spokesperson for the UK Treasury declined to comment as the case is ongoing.

Western governments believe the Islamic Republic is attempting to enrich uranium for use in atomic bombs. Europe and the United States have imposed sanctions against specific Iranian people, state institutions, or companies. (Reuters)

Six steps for developing a prototype

Market statistics Cambio Rates

ran’s largest private bank is suing the British government for almost US$4 billion in damages after the Supreme Court quashed sanctions imposed against it over alleged links to Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Bank Mellat wants compensation for the “significant pecuniary loss” and substantial reputational damage it sustained as a result of sanctions imposed in 2009, accord-

US$ per barrel

$108.73 USD per Ounce

$21.94 $1435.00

Change %

0.00 Change %

+0.33 +2.00

(Continued from Saturday)

Turning the digital into the physical

Now that you have an optimised digital prototype, here comes the hard part – making it real. Going by the schematics you created on your computer, use cardboard, foam or wood to make a non-functional mock-up of your product.

This can be time-consuming and frustrating, but it is a necessary step to get the physical feel of your product. Once it is in your hands, you should know if it is the design you were aiming for.

Turning the physical into the functional

Well, you’re not about to walk into a room of investors with a piece of foam, are you?

Here comes the really hard part – making your toy into a real product. Make a list of all the components you need. If it is a tech product, then make sure all your wiring is doublechecked by someone skilled in electronics. Now go to your local hardware store, electronics store, or art shop to gather all your materials. If you have access to a workbench and proper tools, you should be able to construct a decent working prototype, provided that your creation was not flawed.

Refine your prototype

Truth be told, your first prototype will probably look like a high school metal shop project.

It will not look professional at all. However, test the functionality. If it works properly, then

you just have to refine the aesthetics. You’ll probably have to make several prototypes before you make one that is more in line with what you had envisioned. Once you do, however, you have your presentable prototype!

Include instructions

Once you present your prototype to investors, you will want to include a printed guide on its assembly. It’s a good idea to have two prototypes – one assembled and one disassembled, so you can show the innards of the product. Investors will want to know the costs of all the components and your suggested retail price. This gives them an idea of the all-important profit margins.

Business concept – Terms of Trade (TOT)

Last: 16154.39

Changes: +126.80

% Change: +0.79

Open:16018.08

High:16175.55

Low: 15985.39

% YTD: -2.55

52Wk Hi:16174.51

52 Wk Lo: 12471.49

The value of exports from a country divided by the value of imports to that country, that is then multiplied by 100 to express it in percentage terms. The forex market tends to favour the currencies of countries with Terms of Trade (TOT) that are greater than 100 per cent, since that indicates capital is accumulating in that country and an increased demand for its currency.

news

17

tuesday, february 19, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Dakara Creek murder victim was strangled

Attorney general says the Rabi Sukul controversy unfortunate

… CID ranks had allegedly called off search despite hearing screams

A

post-mortem conducted on the body of Savatri GangadeenParma, who was found aback Dakara Creek, Timehri, on Sunday, proved that she died from strangulation and a broken neck.

The post-mortem was performed by pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Monday and was witnessed by the dead woman’s sister, Sharon Gangadeen, who confirmed that under her sister’s nails had pieces of skin that were probably scraped off from her attacker.

Sharon said her sister met a horrible death, pointing out that after her attacker strangled her, he admitted to breaking her neck.

The suspect, whose name was given as “Carlos”, reportedly told investigators that after he ordered the woman out of the car, he raped her, then bound her hands and feet and made her walk to a location about two miles from where her car was left abandoned.

Thick vegetation

After reaching an area among the thick vegetation, he raped her again, but was met with some resistance.

It was at this point Carlos ripped out his boot lace and strangled the mother of two.

Not satisfied, he twisted her neck and left her nude body in a clump of bushes.

With scratches on his face and body, he reportedly told police that he never meant to hurt the woman, but after she put up a fight, he resorted to violence.

The woman reportedly pleaded to the man for mercy, claiming that her son was in the car, but he did not show any remorse until he was arrested.

The suspect is expected to make a court appearance today at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with the capital offence of murder.

Meanwhile, a member of

Dead: Savatri Gangadeen-Parma

the Soesdyke Community Police Group (CPG) has refuted claims that the man was arrested and held in custody for the entire night.

The CPG member said that after suspicions arose, he was taken to the station where he gave a statement and was released.

The CPG member also stated that after Carlos was released, he (the CPG member) along with the victim’s family went to the area in search of the woman, but came up empty-handed.

The official noted that on the morning after they would have returned after looking into a fire report, they went back to the Timehri Police Station to collect two ranks in order to go back to the area to continue their search, but they waited for two hours before the ranks were made available.

Guyana Times was told that after the woman’s screams were heard from the bushes, members of the policing group and her relatives were willing to find her location, but were told by a CID rank attached to the Timehri Police Station to “stand down”, suggesting that the woman might have been with her lover.

The said rank was present at the murder scene and was bombarded by the woman’s relatives for discontinuing the search.

Relative were furious with

the decision, contending that if he did not pass the order, the woman would have been alive.

The nude body of the mother of two was on Sunday morning found aback Dakara Creek, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, in a heavily forested area.

Gangadeen-Parma was discovered about 06:00h by her husband and other relatives.

The suspect, a loader/operator attached to a well known trucking service on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, was arrested on Sunday afternoon with one of the woman’s rings in his pants pocket.

It was reported that on Saturday evening, Gangadeen-Parma contacted her husband while he was in St Cuthbert’s Mission, informing him that she was going to drop off two passengers at a “loam pit” in Timehri and was taking her younger son as company.

Conflicting reports

After some time elapsed and there were no word from his wife, Kissoon Parma called her and she gave him conflicting reports, claiming at one time that she was coming, and another time that she was at the airport.

She was reportedly forced by the suspect to give those reports.

After some time passed, he called her again and was told the same thing, so, he decided to drive to the location she told him she was heading.

As he approached the area, he saw his wife’s car and his son sleeping in the back seat, but there was no sign of the woman. As he looked around, he found his wife’s clothing and thought that something was amiss; hence, he telephoned the CPG, relating his concerns.

Gangadeen was found lying face down with her footwear and other belongings found along the track leading to where her body was discovered.

Caterer, taxi driver on assault and abusive language charge

T

wo persons were arraigned on Monday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on counter charges of unlawful assault and use of abusive language.

Melissa Oldridge, of Lot

161 Campbellville Housing Scheme, Georgetown, a caterer by profession and Brian Griffith, of Lot 107 B Field, Sophia, Georgetown, a taxi driver, were allegedly embroiled in a confrontation.

According to police, on Wednesday, February 12 at Campbellville Housing

Scheme, Oldridge unlawfully assaulted Griffith. On the same day in question, Griffith made use of abusive language to Oldridge. Both defendants were placed on a bond to keep the peace by the chief magistrate, and the matter was transferred to Court 10.

Rabi Sukul

M

embers of the legal fraternity in Guyana have weighed in on the Rabi Sukul controversy, describing the incident as unfortunate and a slap in the face of the country’s judicial integrity.

Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall when asked whether the court matter involving Sukul was ongoing in the UK at the time he was appointed as a judge at the Court of Appeal in Guyana last July, Nandlall said “it appeared so”.

The attorney general explained that the appointment of judges is done by the president, based upon recommendations by the Judicial Service Commission.

“The Judicial Service Commission is an independent body under the Constitution and they are supposed to conduct all the background and checks when making recommendations for appointments,” he stated.

On this noted, Nandlall directed all further questions on the Sukul issue to the commission. Nevertheless, he noted that it is expected that the commission recommends persons who are fit to hold a high office of a judge or, as in this instance, an appeal judge.

The attorney general ex-

plained that when a first recommendation is made to the president, and he does not find favour with it, he returns it to the commission for reconsideration.

He noted that if after the reconsideration, the commission still recommends the same person to the president; the president will be obliged to concur with the decision.

However, the minister said that this was not the case with Sukul, pointing out that the president had accepted the recommendation for him.

“Sukul’s recommendation was accepted at first because his application to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) was supported by the recommendations of distinguish people in the legal fraternity in the United Kingdom,” he explained.

Efforts by this newspaper to contact the chancellor of the judiciary proved futile.

Surprised

Guyana Bar Association (GPA) President, Attorney Ronald Burch-Smith said he is surprised to learn about the situation. The attorney highlighted that the former judge was recently appointed and the association is concerned about whether at the time of his appointment the matter was already in progress and he intentionally withheld it from the Judicial Service Commission.

This, Burch-Smith said, is a matter of concern for the bar association. He questioned whether the commission was aware of Sukul’s matter in the UK or had requested information from the UK authorities on Sukul’s character. “These are relevant questions I intend to address with the JSC,” he stated.

However, Burch-Smith acknowledged that the acting chancellor acted swiftly

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

by asking for Sukul’s resignation after confirming his disbarment in the UK. “So there was no ambiguity and he seemed to have been taken by surprise by this entire situation,” GBA president noted.

Sukul was disbarred from practice in the UK by the Bar Council of England and Wales for misleading his client by drafting false grounds of appeal. According to the Law Society Gazette, the bar’s disciplinary tribunal heard that Sukul, who was with the Balham Chambers in London, drafted a document to the Court of Appeal setting out initial grounds for an appeal against conviction on behalf of his client, who was convicted of drugsrelated offences.

The tribunal found he had created the document, knowing it to be false, with the intention of misleading his client into believing he had grounds to appeal his conviction, when Sukul knew there were no grounds of appeal.

The five-person tribunal, chaired by Michael Baker, QC, found unanimously that Sukul had intentionally misled his client and engaged in conduct likely to bring the legal profession into disrepute. Sukul was ordered to be disbarred in the UK; however, that decision is open to appeal.

Ganga Persaud MP position not guaranteed – Rohee

I

t is unclear whether the former Local Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persuad will return to the National Assembly in the capacity of a Member of Parliament (MP), People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee said.

Rohee said the party is considering his replacement.

Persuad tendered his resignation as a government minister in January amid allegations of misconduct.

Speaking at a news conference at Freedom House on Monday, Rohee said “Up to this point in time, we have discussed the matter… but we have not come to any formal decision on it.”

However, he told reporters that the party in the not so distant future will make a

public announcement on the matter.

“The comrade has taken positions on a voluntary basis.”

Currently, junior Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker is acting in the substantive post.

It was Whittaker who presented for a second reading the Local Authorities (elections amendment) Bill 2014, which was amended by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) for the much anticipated Local Government Elections to be staged by August 1, 2014.

The bill was originally presented in the National Assembly for the postponement of the elections.

But, Rohee on Monday made it clear that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) cannot facilitate local government elections

by August 1.

“The opposition keeps shouting that we are ready and they want local government elections by August 1, 2014 the latest, but this is not about readiness of the opposition only, the timing of the holding of local government elections is (dependent on) the readiness of GECOM to execute the duties and responsibilities relative to fair and efficient preparation and conduct of these elections.”

He further explained that it also depends on the readiness of other political parties and the education of the populace on the reform system.

“We at the PPP/C have been engaging our members; hence, we are best placed to assert that we cannot support the opposition’s demands that the elections be held by August 1, 2014.”

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, february 18, 2014

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Don’t feel lethargic and dispirited. Broaden your interests by learning something new. Your local library or bookstore contains information on hundreds of topics to inform and inspire you.

dilbert

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) Demanding people are likely to get you down.

Don’t feel that you have to be everything to everyone. Make a point of keeping some time for yourself to prevent enervation.

Calvin and Hobbes

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Disagreements and confrontations will not resolve pending issues.

Your reputation will be at risk if you argue about unimportant matters. Let some things slide in order to avoid alienating your peers.

Peanuts

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

SUDOKU

Avoid uncomfortable situations by using discretion. Although you may favour one person over another, giving too much attention to someone will not help you gain overall support.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Others will be impressed by your achievements if you stop procrastinating and start acting. With persistence and planning, you can clear your agenda for more pleasurable activities.

CANCER (June 21July 22) Your social life may need a pick-me-up. Join a service, club or organisation and meet new people.

Sharing common interests will stimulate your senses and improve your outlook.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) It is never a good idea to flaunt your wealth around strangers. Be especially careful with your valuable possessions. A lack of vigilance on your part could result in loss.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Keep your emotions in check. Disagreements may occur if you become stressed or unhappy.

Commit to staying active in order to avoid conflicts and ensure focus.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) Concentrate your attentions on your family and loved ones. Satisfying relationships require nurturing and effort. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future to deal with career concerns.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) You will need to be more assertive in your efforts to move ahead in the workplace.

Emphasise your special skills, qualities and versatility. Stop waiting for others to notice your achievements.

Monday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) Get rid of tension by taking care of household chores or doing something physical. You will be surprised how much more relieved and relaxed you feel in a clean and comfortable environment.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Be sensitive to the feelings of those you care about. Convey your thoughts with clarity and concern. A casual remark may be misinterpreted, causing a rift in your relationship.

news 19

YELLOW PAGES

Ex U.S. soldier dies after bike crashes into utility pole

tuesday, february 18, 2014

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Vincent Indallall

BY NAFEEZA YAHYA

V

incent Indallall, 37, a former member of the U.S. Army and of Cromarty Village, Corentyne, was on Monday morning killed when he allegedly lost control of his motorcycle CC1042 and crashed into a utility pole on the Clifton Public Road.

The motorcycle ended up on the southern side of the road in a trench, shattering a lamp post in the process. He was picked up in an unconscious state with his left hand severed and was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

According to reports, Indalall, in the company of two other bikers were proceeding east along the Tain Public Road after attending a Car and Bike Show in East

Canje, Berbice. The group made a stop at Tain, where he dropped off one of the bikers. He was on his way home when the accident occurred.

When Guyana Times visited the family, his sister was in a state of disbelief as she could not have come to grips with the news of his tragic death.

According to the dead man’s sister, Crystal Indalall, “My brother was coming home and he was braced off the road by one of his friend (name given) from what people are telling me. I saw my brother last night before he left to see his friends at Canje. The next was when I saw his body and it was the most devastating thing to see. His left arm was severed, his intestines were protruding and his head was badly smashed,” she said as she wept uncontrollably.”

Indallall was described as a wonderful person with a golden heart. “He never refused anyone anything, even if it was his last, he would give, he was a true gentleman,” one elderly person said.

Meanwhile, the dead man’s family is refuting claims by certain sections of the media that Indallall was under the influence of alcohol when the accident occurred.

According to his friend “Rish”, whenever Indallall rides, he would not drink or if he does, he will park his bike.

He and other close friends and relatives are suspecting

The mangled motorcycle following the accident

foul play as Vincent would never ride at a speed which he cannot control. The bike Indallall was riding at the time was described as a 1300 High booster, one of the biggest bikes in Guyana.

According to reports, people were always tempting him to see the full power of the bike, but he would never comply, only going at a pace that was controllable. When this newspaper visited the accident scene, the burgundy and black bike was torn to pieces.

According, to eyewitnesses, they heard the bike approaching and shortly after a loud impact.

Based on their accounts of the accident, the bike first hit a traffic signboard, then crashed into a lamp post, catapulting several hundred feet in the air, hitting a streetlight at the top of the pole, before landing into a nearby trench, littering the surrounding with debris.

According to police, the two other bikers are assisting with investigations.

Indallall, a former U.S. Army sergeant, leaves to mourn his wife and four sons ages eight, 13, 14 and 16.

He re-migrated to Guyana in 2012 and would occasionally visit the U.S.

Regional sanitary and phytosanitary measures addressed at consultation

D

epartmental heads along with other agriculture stakeholders on Monday met to offer input on the implementation of a European Union (EU) funded 11.7 million euros project aimed towards creating and strengthening the regional and national sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

The project, “Support to the Caribbean Forum of ACP States in the Implementation of Commitments Undertaken Under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA); Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures”, and is expected to run for 42 months, is directed towards facilitating CARIFORUM states improved access to international market by helping them to better develop their own regionally harmonised SPS measures.

Agriculture Ministry Permanent Secretary George Jarvis opened the local consultation at Cara Lodge, which is aimed at determining the local priority agricultural health and food safety and fisheries needs for the development of a country action plan for addressing

Officials at the consultation at Cara Lodge on the European Union’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Project on Monday

these under the SPS project.

Jarvis said that Guyana welcomes the project as it seeks to “strengthen our legislation and provide the necessary and important capacity improvement to our present planting and animal system that will lead us to meet international standards”.

He noted as well, that the project will also provide “the kind of linkages between Caricom member states and other extra-regional trading partners and will help us to understand and communicate easily with each other”.

The permanent secretary pointed to some of the measures that have been introduced by the ministry towards addressing the issue of SPS in Guyana, and to bring the country in compliance with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) SPS agreement.

Guyana has passed the new Plant Protection Act 2011, which will see draft plant regulations that will soon be enforced, the permanent secretary pointed out.

Guyana is also implementing other guidelines and measures that are con-

sistent with those issued by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and other international regulations, he said.

The ministry’s implementation of its Agriculture Diversification Project (ADP) has seen improvement and enhancement in plant and health service, and an increase in pest and disease monitoring activity, through the hiring and training of new staff, the Government Information Agency (GINA) has reported.

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Brendon McCullum hits Smith looking to revive record 302 as battling windies career New Zealand stun India B rendon McCullum became the first New Zealander to score a triple century in Test cricket, as the hosts' amazing recovery continued against India.

The captain's 647-minute knock ended when he fell for 302 from 559 balls.

He shared a sixth-wicket

SCOREBOARD NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings PG Fulton lbw b Khan 1 HD Rutherford c †Dhoni b Khan 35 KS Williamson c †Dhoni b Khan 7 TWM Latham c †Dhoni b Mohammed Shami 29 BB McCullum* c †Dhoni b Khan 302 CJ Anderson c & b Jadeja 2 BJ Watling† lbw b Mohammed Shami 124 JDS Neesham not out 137 TG Southee c Pujara b Khan 11 N Wagner not out 2 Extras: (b 9, lb 12, w 2, nb 7) 30 Total: (8 wickets dec; 210 overs) 680 Did not bat: TA Boult Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Fulton, 1.3 ov), 2-27 (Williamson, 10.4 ov), 3-52 (Rutherford, 16.6 ov), 4-87 (Latham, 34.1 ov), 5-94 (Anderson, 37.2 ov), 6-446 (Watling, 160.2 ov), 7-625 (McCullum, 199.3 ov), 8-639 (Southee, 201.3 ov) Bowling: I Sharma 45-4-164-0, Z Khan 51-13-170-5, Mohammed Shami 43-6-149-2, RA Jadeja 5211-115-1, RG Sharma 11-0-40-0, V Kohli 6-1-13-0, MS Dhoni 1-05-0, S Dhawan 1-0-3-0

D

Dwayne Smith

Brandon McCullum and BJ Watling now have the highest sixthwicket partnership in Test cricket

stand of 359 with debutant Jimmy Neesham (137 not out) as the hosts declared on 680-8 in Wellington from a precarious 94-5. As well as being the Kiwis' highest Test score, it was a world-record score for a third innings in Test cricket.

The 32-year-old McCullum surpassed the 299 Martin Crowe made at the same venue against Sri Lanka in January 1991 to become New Zealand's first triple centurion, and only

the 27th in Test history.

His side had been staring defeat in the face when, with five wickets down and needing another 152 runs to prevent an innings defeat in the second Test, Neesham joined McCullum at the crease.

Their record-breaking stand gave New Zealand a glimmer of a chance of victory.

As of press time, India need 435 from a minimum of 69 overs to equalise the twoTest series.

wayne Smith is aiming to resuscitate his West Indies career after being named the Most Valuable Player in the Nagico Super50.

Smith followed up his Mumbai Indians doublehaul of the 2013 IPL and Champions League T20 titles, with a man-of-thematch performance against Trinidad and Tobago in the final.

He professed his excitement by following up on his MVP award in the CLT20 and hoped that these backto-back personal accolades would kickstart his career once more.

"It feels very good to play a good innings and to go on to continue to win the finals.

And now I'm here holding the trophy. I won it the first time I played (for Barbados) in 2003 but it's the result of working hard throughout the entire series," Smith

told ESPNcricinfo.

"Now I'm excited to link up with the West Indies team again. I worked myself very hard to get back into the team."

Smith has been recalled for the two T20s versus Ireland but omitted from the ODI roster.

He said that he hoped his performances against the Irish would propel him into West Indies' limitedovers squad for the home series against England, as the team prepare to defend their World T20 title in Bangladesh.

Smith finished as the Super50's top batsman with 232 runs at an average of 58, and credited his opening role with the Mumbai Indians as a crucial element to his resurgence.

He admitted the IPL gave him stability in his role as an opener after floating around between the

top three spots. "I'm enjoying the role as opener once more. It's a position I get to play and score freely. I showed it in the IPL and in the Champions League.

"The selectors and coaches who backed me for this position, I'm repaying them.

Also, for Mumbai, I got to bowl more than expected.

I'm always willing and up to do the best job I can, as an all-rounder."

With Chennai Super Kings snapping him up for the 2014 IPL, Smith said that he was excited to test new pastures, especially as he feels at 30, he needs to be maximizing on his playing opportunities.

"Mumbai was quite an experience. The Champions League was too. But The MVP title was one of the biggest highlights ever. Now, it's onto newer things and I'm looking forward." (First pub-

lished on Cricinfo)

Hodgson backs 2014 world cup host Barcelona might

E

ngland manager Roy Hodgson says he is confident Brazil will host a successful World Cup despite potential problems with stadiums and protests.

Hodgson is on a visit to Manaus, where England face Italy in their opening game at the Arena Amazonia, but there are fears an unfinished stadium in Curitiba could be pulled.

"Fifa and the Brazilian government has put in a lot of work," Hodgson said.

"So I don't see any reasons for us technicians to doubt them."

A potential repeat of the violent protests that dogged the Confederations Cup is a concern for organisers, but Hodgson said he had faith in the local organising committee.

The Arena Amazonia, like five other World Cup venues, was not ready by the Fifa deadline of 31 December 2013.

But Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke declared he was happy with the stadium in a visit over the weekend, and officials say it is 97per cent com-

Roy Hodgson says Brazil will host a successful World Cup despite potential problems with stadiums and protests

plete.

The World Cup begins in Brazil on 12 June, but the Sao Paolo venue due to stage the opening match is one of the sites still under construction.

Fifa is known to be exploring alternatives to Curitiba should its Arena da Baixada stadium fail to be completed on time, and Valcke said a final decision on the city's involvement would be made on Tuesday.

England's first Group D game is against Italy on 14 June and Hodgson visited

the 42,000-capacity venue as part of his trip, which also included a boat ride up the Amazon river and a visit to the city's 130-year-old Royal Opera House.

From now until during the World Cup, temperatures can rise above 30C in Manaus, and its proximity to the Amazon rainforest means humidity levels hit over 95 per cent.

The Football Association has made extensive preparations to ensure England's players are able to cope with the conditions and, having also managed Switzerland in the sweltering heat of the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Hodgson wanted to experience the conditions before his squad arrives in June.

"It is hot here, but World Cups are played in the summer," the 66-yearold told BBC Sport.

"It was hot in South Africa [for the 2010 World Cup] and it was very hot in America in '94.

"It will be hot here [but] that is something you have to come to terms with.

What we are interested in now is getting a feel for the slightly more different,

more tropical climate in the north of Brazil vis-a-vis Rio, where we have been and played."

England will base themselves in the more temperate climes of Rio de Janeiro, and their other two group matches against Uruguay and Costa Rica will take place in Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte, which also enjoy more moderate conditions.

Hodgson caused anger prior to the World Cup draw when he said the conditions in Manaus made it "ideally a place to avoid".

City mayor Arthur Virgilio Neto initially said England were not welcome, but an apologetic letter from Hodgson smoothed things over to the point where the Brazilian official was happy to receive the England manager and his delegation on Monday.

"It was a simple misunderstanding," Neto said when asked about his angry reaction to Hodgson's comments.

"We respect England, we respect the English team. Personally, I admire Wayne Rooney a lot." (BBC

Sport)

have lost fear factor – Gerard Pique

B

arcelona defender Gerard Pique says his team may have lost their fear factor ahead of their last-16 Champions League tie against Manchester City.

The Spanish side won the competition in 2009 and 2011 but have failed to make it past the semi-finals since.

Former Manchester United centre-back Pique said: "Maybe they don't fear us as before because in the last two years we didn't win the Champions League.

"We can still be the best, but we have to show to the world we can do it."

Barca's most recent Champions League successes came under former coach Pep Guardiola, but Tito Vilanova's side were thumped 7-0 in a two-legged semi-final by eventual winners Bayern Munich last season.

The club - with Gerardo Martino now in charge have had to contend with

off the field problems this term, with the transfer of Brazilian forward Neymar under investigation by a Spanish court and Sandro Rosell resigning as club president as a consequence.

Meanwhile, Manuel Pellegrini has guided City to the Champions League knockout stages for the first time, their free-scoring football including a 3-2 win over Bayern at the Allianz Arena.

Such an approach has drawn comparisons with Barcelona, and Martino said City, who are chasing a quadruple of Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League titles, were one of the best teams in the world.

The Argentine, whose side are top of La Liga, said: "They do play a similar style to us, but they are not a mini-Barcelona or a minianyone else.

"I think they are one of the greatest teams in the world. (BBC Sport)

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Limacol CPL Sammy not underestimating Ireland bearing fruit – Santokie among eight West Indians picked for IPL

T

he inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has been hailed by organisers and players as a “massive success”.

The players have used the platform to make their presence felt, not only at the regional level, but also at the international stage.

However, at least one player has had his presence felt on the international platform.

Guyana’s Amazon Warriors and Jamaican medium fast bowler Krishmar Santokie is the only firsttimer on a list of eight West Indians to be part of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.

Santokie was selected by defending champions Mumbai Indians on the second auction day of two, last Thursday, for US$50,000.

Widely regarded as one

Krishmar Santokie

of the best Twenty20 bowlers in the region, given his ability to swing the ball and vary his pace, Santokie entered the IPL auction on the back of an outstanding season last year in the inaugu-

ral Limacol CPL. He guided Guyana Amazon Warriors to the final against Jamaica Tallawahs, before going on to cop the Most Valuable Player award, after finishing with a tournament-high 16 wickets from nine games.

The other West Indians drafted during the auction were seam bowlers Ravi Rampaul ($150,000 – Royal Challengers Bangalore), Jason Holder (Sun Risers Hyderbad – US$125,000) and Kevon Cooper (Rajasthan Royals – US$50,000); all-rounders Darren Sammy (US$583,000 – Sun Risers Hyderbad) and André Russell (US$100,000 – Kolkata Knight Riders); leg-spinner Samuel Badree (Chennai Super Kings – US$50,000); and batsman Dwayne Smith (Chennai Super Kings – US$750,000).

Darren Sammy

D

arren Sammy, captain of West Indies Twenty20 team, says despite the underdog status of Ireland, he and his charges do not intend to take them lightly ahead of their three-match series at Sabina Park.

The two teams arrived in the country yes-

terday and are slated to face off in two Twenty20 Internationals and a oneoff one-day international.

“As a West Indian team we always respect our opponents, no matter what,” said Sammy.

“The Irish have not done well in the just-concluded NAGICO Super50,

but no doubt we won’t be underestimating them as that could be a recipe for failure.

“We will just have to go out there, keep our focus and try to execute as best as we can.”

Rank outsiders The series, one of two before West Indies depart next month to defend their ICC World Twenty20 title in Bangladesh, is set to bowl off on Wednesday with the Twenty20s. The second is set for Friday.

The one-dayer, in the meanwhile, has been earmarked for Sunday.

Ireland coach, Phil Simmons, in the meanwhile, says while his team will enter the series as rank outsiders, they will be putting their best foot forward.

“The expectation when we go anywhere is to try and win and play good cricket,” said Simmons.

“We are going to try and be on top of our game at all times and if they (West Indies) slip up then we’ll try and pull in.” (Jamaica Gleaner)

Goals galore on second day Ramdin rues dropped of Milo football tournament catch, bad shots

S

Stephen King taps in his penalty kick to open the account for Queen’s College (Photo: Treiston Joseph)

By Treiston Joseph

G

oals, goals and more goals were scored on the second day of the Petra Organization’s Milo football tournament on Sunday at the Education Ministry ground on Carifesta Avenu, Georgetown.

Queen’s College started the onslaught with a 7-2 victory over St Winefried’s Secondary by playing some attacking football from the get go, which resulted in a goal in the second minute of the game from the penalty spot that Stephen King easily tapped in the bottom right corner of the goal.

Ashmar Angel then dropped in back-to-back goals in the 17th and 26th minute to take the lead to 3-0, before Stefon Reynolds replied for St Winefried’s with a 28th minute goal to send the game to halftime with the score at 3-1.

Two minutes after resumption, Queen’s struck again, this time from the boot of Affab Crandon in the 37th minute, before King added to the score yet again with a 40th-minute goal.

Andrew Holder would

drop one in for St Winefried’s to make the score 5-1, before Crandon sealed the deal for Queen’s, with two goals in the 46th and 57th minute for a hat trick.

North Ruimveldt Secondary would add to the goal fest as they hammered North Georgetown Secondary 6-0.

Both teams exchanged possession in the early minutes of the game, as they searched for weaknesses in each other defenses with passive midfield play.

However, it was North Ruimveldt which found the opening with a 20th- minute goal from Jeremy Garnett, who was four minutes later backed up by teammate Matthew Harrison in the 24th minute for a 2-0 lead, as the teams finished out the first half.

After the halftime break, North Georgetown fell into a defensive mindset, as they failed to move the ball forward, despite being down.

The defense was broken by a whizzing kick from Jamal Europe, who scored in the 43rd minute, and was quickly followed by Garnett in the 47th minute.

Europe would strike

again in the 55th minute, before Carl Griffith put an end to the misery of North Georgetown, with a goal in the 60th minute.

Meanwhile, defending champions of the tournament, St George’s Secondary, defeated New Campbellville Secondary 2-0 in a hard fought encounter.

Adolph George opened the scoring for St George’s early, with a goal in the fifth minute, as both teams battled back and forth to halftime with a lot of midfield play.

The second half was no different, as New Campbellville searched for that equalizer, but were left disappointed when Neil Cameron sank a 65th minute goal to end their hopes of equalizing the 70 minutes of action.

Lodge Secondary got easy winning points on the board when they received a walkover victory against Central High School.

The tournament will continue on February 22 at the same ground, where more teams in Georgetown will battle in the group stages of the tournament.

ome bad shot selection and a crucial dropped catch were the main reasons behind Trinidad and Tobago’s close 17-run loss to Barbados in the NAGICO Super50 final at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain on Saturday night.

According to former T&T skipper Denesh Ramdin, who was replaced as captain

by Dwayne Bravo for the series, “It was a good effort but not good enough to get over the line.”

The T&T side fought hard to stay in the contest right down to the end as they dismissed Barbados for 252 before reaching 235 all out with 25 balls remaining.

“I think Barbados played better cricket on the day,” said Ramdin who slammed two sixes and six fours in a topscore of 68 to keep the contest alive after T&T were reduced to 94 for five early in the chase.

But while Barbados were at their best, he also admitted that T&T’s performance was not up to their usual high standard.

He pointed to the “crucial” dropping of Dwayne Smith by Evin Lewis early in the match as a key point in the game.

“We all say catches win matches and that catch with Dwayne Smith was a crucial point in the match and we did not take it so we paid the price for it,” he said.

Smith, who was put down on 22, went on to equal his highest score in the tournament, hitting 83 off 77 balls to give Barbados a good start after their skipper won the toss and elected to bat first.

Smith also scored 83 in

Denesh Ramdin

his first game in the tournament against T&T in the Group stage which Barbados also won.

The other major problem for T&T was their batting, which up to the final both coach Kelvin Williams and skipper Bravo expressed confidence in.

“We got off to a good start but we lost it in the middle overs,” Ramdin said.

“There were some bad shot selections. We needed just about five runs per over and we played some bad shots in the middle and it really cost us,” he added.

T&T were 57 for one when Yannick Ottley was sent in as the number three batsman ahead of Jason Mohammed and Darren Bravo.

The former T&T Under-19 skipper, Ottley did not last long as he tried to pull a short delivery but ended sending easy catch to Smith at square leg. He was out for zero of four balls.

The T&T captain Dwayne Bravo also tried to pull a short ball and skied a catch to his opposite number

Kevin Stoute at midwicket and was back in the pavilion for six.

“We did not have anyone to bat through those overs.

We had one partnership and then nothing really coming down until the end,” said Ramdin.

Jason Mohammed (26) and Ramdin put on 48 runs in 13 overs taking the score to 142 in the 33rd over before Mohammed tried to cut Sulieman Benn and got an edge to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich.

Ramdin also put on 44 with Rayad Emrit before he departed, lbw to Smith, silencing the crowd.

“The Bajans outplayed us and we had to pay the price for it,” he added.

Asked about their strategy heading into the chase, Ramdin said: “Just to get a start and one guy to bat through the middle overs.

We did not get that.

We lost the top four guys there and batting with the lower order, I tried my best to finish it off and I was not able to do that for the team.

(Trinidad Express)

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Mangal wins Memorial golf tournament

M

ike Mangal streaked away from the field to win the inaugural Noble House Memorial Cup golf tournament on Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Course, East Coast Demerara.

The tournament was held in memory of David de Caires and Basil Sukhram.

Mangal tallied 37 points for the Stableford format competition Avenash Persaud (34points), Pur Persaud (32 points) and L Ramsundar (32 points) were the runners up to Mangal. Esau Shamshudin was the golfer Nearest to the Pin. At the presentation ceremony, de Caires’ widow, Doreen, who is also an outstanding golfer, and who participated in the tournament, thanked the players

Imran Khan (red) during his fight with Gibson (Photo: Treiston Joseph) Mike Mangal (third from right) poses with the other prize winners following Sunday’s presentation ceremony

who competed, stating that it was “an honour” for David and Basil to be remembered”.

She also encouraged more citizens to participate in the sport.

Meanwhile, golfers will

now turn their attention for this Saturday’s Stag Beer sponsored tournament. Tee off time 11:00h.

Khouri re-elected president of GKF

(From left): Amir Khouri, Compton Dunbar, Aubrey Bettencourt, Sandra Britton, Ivor O’Brien, Bernice Irving and Roger Peroune

S

ensei Amir Khouri was re-elected President of the Guyana Karate Federation (GKF) when the body held its Biennial General Meeting on Sunday

Thomas, London named best boxers in Goodwill tourney

at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) on Thomas Road, Thomas Lands in Georgetown.

Secretary General of the Guyana Olympic Association

(GOA) Ivor O’Brien presided as returning officer.

Affiliated associations, including the Guyana Japan Karate Association (GJKA), Japan Karate Association/

World Federation-Guyana (JKA/WF-G), Guyana Wado Ryu Karate Association (GWKA), Guyana Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF GUYANA), Guyana Karate College (GKC), and Guyana Japan Karate Association (Berbice Branch) were present.

Others elected to serve as executive members of the GKF for the next two years are as follows: Compton Dunbar (first vice-president), Aubrey Bettencourt (second vice-president), Bernice Irving (secretary), Roger Peroune (treasurer) and Sandra Britton (assistant secretary/treasurer).

The executive members expressed their gratitude to O’Brien for supporting the federation and for giving his generous support in ensuring the smooth running of this election.

By Treiston Joseph

T

he final night of the four-nation Goodwill Boxing Tournament, organized by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), was filled with exhilarating action at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Georgetown.

Dennis Thomas boxed like a stalwart in the ring on Sunday evening, when he locked horns with Jamaica’s Michael Gardner in the 75kg bout.

Thomas always looked balanced in the ring, as he picked his spots to attack in the bout. Gardner advanced on a few occasions and pinned Thomas to the ropes on more than one occasion, unleashing some wild shots, but Thomas was able to keep his composure, and box his way out of the jam, before unleashing his fury as well.

In the end Thomas won by way of a split decision, as the fight was one of the more well paced bouts of the evening.

Imran ‘Majic’ Khan was also in action, picking up a unanimous decision over Clairmont Gibson, as the two boxers fought to the end of their 60kg three-round bout.

Khan was a menace on the attack, as he looked to use his jab to set up his right

hook that Gibson had trouble with the entire fight.

However, midway through the second round, Khan appeared to hurt his left hand, as he hardly threw any left punches for the remainder of the bout.

The third round was filled with action between the two, as Gibson connected to the body and head of Khan, looking to capitalize on a visibly hurt opponent.

However, Khan dropped a few combinations of his own, while sparingly using his left hand, as both boxers seemed visibly exhausted when the bout ended.

Meanwhile, Theresa London won by way of a unanimous decision against Trinidad’s Chimere Taylor in the (75kg) category.

London used her jab well against Taylor, who tried to get the knockout that London evaded easily on course to her victory, as she displayed some superior boxing skills against the Trinidadian.

In other results Michael April (52kg) topped Junior Henry by unanimous decision, Delon Charles (56kg) defeated Stephan Nedd, Eon Bancroft (69kg) beat Jamaican Kestna Davis by unanimous decision, and Bert Braithwaite (64kg) defeated Lindell Marcellin of St Lucia by split decision.

Anamayah Memorial basketball tournament...

Rockers blow away Jammers to reach final S mithfield Rockers dispelled previous claims by some that Rose Hall Town Jammers was the best basketball team in Berbice, when they sent the Corentyne team packing, as the Anamayah Memorial basketball tournament reached its semi-final round at the GuySuCo Port Mourant Training School (GPMTS) court on Sunday.

The New Amsterdam team bounced back from being down 6-13 at the end of the first quarter, to finish 33 points ahead, winning 8451.

It was Jamal Felix with nine points in the second quarter that allowed the Rockers to come back into the game and be even going in to the second half, with the score on 25 points for both teams.

The first half has domi-

Ehon Wiggings

nated by Ehon Wiggins, who had scored 19 points at the half way mark.

On the resumption, Hugh Auther was on fire for the Rockers, with six unanswered points, as they took the lead for the first time in

the game at 31-25.

Auther started the session with a three-pointer, which sent supporters wild.

He followed it up with a dunk shot and then finished off the Rockers dominance with another three-pointer.

The Jammers were down by eight points at 44-36 going into the final quarter, but with Wiggins not given a rest, he began to show signs of tiring as the quarter began.

The start of the session was again dominated by the Rockers as nine unanswered points were recorded, and they were led to a 20-3 performance in the early stages of the session.

Felix had a game high of 25 points, while Auther returned another excellent game in the tournament with 17 points. Tyron Dea also supported the winning

Jamal Felix goes for another 3 pointer

team well with 16 points, and Neil Wills 11 points.

In a losing effort, Wiggins scored 24 and Delbert Hicks 11.

Meanwhile, the tour-

nament continues on Wednesday with more semifinal action, when New Amsterdam Warriors take on Fyrish Black Sharks at the New Amsterdam

Municipal Court at Vrymans Ervin. Jump ball time is 16:00h.

The competition is being organized be Vibert Garrett.

(Andrew Carmichael)

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Jumbo Jet stable takes top honours – Hutson not threatened

Black lashes out at AAG boss, defends Morgan

– Got to Go wins feature race

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Jockey Colin Ross piloted Got to Go to victory in the feature D1 and Lower race

umbo Jet stable dominated Sunday’s New Year’s “Sweet Stakes” horse race meet held at the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) race track.

The stable took top honours with four wins and other top placings in the sevenevent meet.

Regarded as the top racing stable currently, Jumbo Jet stable claimed the G1, I1 and E1 and Lower races, before taking top honours in the feature D1 and Lower race later in the day.

Nine horses competed in the feature meet, but it was Got to Go, ridden by jockey Colin Ross, that stunned the field with a timely run on the inside to churn out a commanding victory.

The horses were off to an even break when they were sent on their way in the 1500-metre race, but as the race progressed into the backstretch, they were

caught in an intense battle. When the horses approached the homestretch, it was still an open race.

However, about 200 meters to the finishing line, Ross used all his experience to guide Got to Go to the win. The win was worth $1 million. Swing Easy, Red and Lovely, and Milwaukee Blitz followed in that order.

Jumbo Jet’s Appealing Harvest took care of business in the G1 and Lower 1200-meter event ahead of Damascus Dream, Top of the Line and Rosetta, while Captain Crook won the E1 and Lower, Damascus Dream, Ferry Landing and The Message.

In winner’s row again, Jumbo Jet stable won the I and Lower race with I want Revenge winning ahead of Mary Ann, Easy to Win and Savion.

The Inshane Bacchus stable also copped two wins

in the day’s event. Ameer’s Joy won the Four-Year-Old Race for West Indies maiden and Guyana bred horses ahead of Another Jet, It’s my Turn, and Monsoon.

Unsettled won the main supporting race, the ThreeYear-Old for horses bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies.

Release the Beast, Today is My Day and Time to Done followed in that order.

Piece of Cash of the S Persaud stable, charged to the front with ease to defeat Lady Secret, Famous Pride and Iron Man in the J and Lower race.

Trinidadian jockey, Nicholas Patrick, with three wins, was adjudged champion jockey, while Jumbo Jet was voted champion stable.

Over 100 horses took part in the day’s proceedings, which had approximately $11 million up for grabs. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

GCB expresses grave disappointment with WI team selection

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he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has expressed “extreme regret” at the teams named by the selection panel of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for the upcoming tour by Ireland.

“The GCB notes with serious concern the non-selection of any Guyanese, whatsoever, to these teams selected by the selection panel,” a release from the board said.

“Whilst the GCB does not subscribe to a quota system for selection, we strongly feel that players should be selected based on merit and performance.

“In this regard, it is in-

deed mind boggling that the selectors felt that Christopher Barnwell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shiv Chanderpaul, Leon Johnson, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo and Ronsford Beaton were not considered worthy of selection for any of the teams announced,” the release said.

The regional tournaments are usually the yardstick used to select representative teams for the West Indies.

The GCB noted that two Guyanese batsmen made it into the top five run aggregates for the just concluded NAGICO Super 50 tour-

nament, even though these players did not play all of their matches.

“We find it rather difficult to reconcile the thought process of our selection panel.

“The GCB wishes to record its extreme displeasure and loss of confidence in the selection panel, and would like an explanation as to why these players were not selected,” the local board said.

“The Guyanese public is justifiably peeved at the treatment meted out to its players by this panel and calls on the WICB to investigate this situation immediately,” the release added.

By Treiston Joseph

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uyana’s most successful distance coach Leslie Black was irate about the procedure used to inform his top athlete Alika Morgan of her selection to the South American Games team, calling President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Aubrey Hutson’s style of leadership self centered and dictatorial.

Black, who is a council member of the AAG, was not aware of his athlete being named to the team until February 8, and noted that at least Morgan is being truthful about her level of fitness.

“It was on February 8 at a council meeting that I knew that Alika was selected… there is no member of the council that can say they were a part of the selection for the Commonwealth team, for the South American team, and also I believe for the upcoming junior Carifta team, and to my understanding, the manager has been selected already.

“Alika wasn’t prepared for these games and I think people should respect her for being truthful and saying ‘I’m not prepared’,” Black stated in an interview with Guyana Times Sport.

Black also indicated that he has lost faith in the current president of the AAG. “The president of the

Leslie Black

Aubrey Hutson

AAG tends to do things by himself. No president of any association should run the association like if it’s their own property. And this is what has been happening in athletics.

“I was one of the supporters of Hutson, but I’m somewhat surprised by his behaviour and dictatorship. I will not sit like other persons who are not satisfied and are afraid to talk. And I want Hutson to call any member of the association and tell us that we were a part of selecting any South American team or any Commonwealth team,” Black said.

Black noted that the Hutson should take “responsibility” for his “irresponsibility”.

“Over the past year, I find that the president has been saying to the council members that he had to

make a prompt decision. If the GOA [Guyana Olympic Association] sent a correspondence since last year, then why can’t the president notify the athletes so they can prepare. If he says the weather is bad send it to the coaches so they can try make it possible for the athletes.

“He must stop blaming the GOA. If the GOA sends you a correspondence, you must acknowledge it,” Black stated.

Meanwhile, when Guyana Times Sport contacted Hutson on the subject, he referred to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Code of Ethics, Section C 7, which speaks about confidentially.

He noted that members who use information discussed in confidence for malicious purposes can find themselves in trouble.

Maidana plays down reports of “done deal” with Mayweather

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orld Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Marcos Maidana has dismissed claims that he has agreed to a mega-money showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Maidana, who has a 35-3 record, has been touted as a possible opponent for the undefeated Mayweather on May 3 with Amir Khan also in the mix.

Khan was the popular choice after Mayweather asked his fans on Twitter to decide on which of the two he should fight next.

However Mayweather, 37, has yet to confirm who he will take on in Las Vegas.

Maidana, though, has denied that he has signed a deal - although the 30-yearold Argentinean remains hopeful over his chances of facing the World Boxing Council (WBC) champion.

A statement on Maidana's Facebook read: "Considering that rumours have been circulating in the last few hours addressing a 'done deal' fight between WBA welter-

Marcos Maidana has not agreed a deal with Floyd Mayweather Jnr

weight champion Marcos Maidana and WBC champ Floyd Mayweather, we want to clarify that those versions are not accurate.

"Maidana is well aware that he is indeed a firm candidate to face Mayweather next May 3, but the fight is far from being made or confirmed, as other fighters are still also in the mix.

"Hopefully we will have news in the next few days, but in the meantime, we don't want to con-

fuse the fans or the boxing press. Maidana of course wants to unify titles with Mayweather, but for now we will have to wait."

Maidana lost a unanimous points decision for the WBA light-welterweight title against Khan back in 2010.

But since being outclassed by Devon Alexander in February 2012, Maidana has won his last four fights and inflicted a first defeat on Adrien Broner for WBA welterweight title. (Sky Sports)

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

tuesday, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

TOP SCORES

Limacol CPL Jumbo bearing fruit See story on page

21

– Santokie among eight West Indians picked for IPL

Jet stable takes top honours

Thomas, London – Got to Go wins named best feature race boxers in GUMDAC Open badminton tournament concludes Goodwill tourney See story on page

23

I want Revenge of the Jumbo Jet stable won the I and Lower race

– Ramdhani siblings win at doubles Winners of the just concluded GUMDAC sponsored badminton tournament after the presentation ceremony

See s to on pa ry ge

22

Theresa London (blue) plugs away during her bout (Photo: Treiston Joseph)

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he Ramdhani siblings, Narayan and Priyanna, won their respective doubles finals when the GUMDAC annual Open badminton tournament concluded on Saturday at the Queen’s College badminton courts, Georgetown.

The tournament, which commenced on Friday concluded Saturday with the finals of the men and wom-

en’s doubles.

In the women’s doubles final, Priyanna Ramdhani and Ambika Ramraj defeated Althea McDavid and Abosaide Cadogan 21-9, 21-11, while in the men’s doubles final, Narayan Ramdhani and teammate former national player Nicholas Ali defeated Christopher Persaud and Noel Shewjattan 21-18, 21-14.

Third place in the women’s doubles went to the pair of Angelica Da Silva and Krystal Peters, while in the men’s doubles the pairs of Gokarn Ramdhani and Darrell Carpenay, and Raymond and Jason Ray Khalil were joint third.

Meanwhile, the annual National Sports Commission (NSC) sponsored age group junior tournament begins on Friday at the same venue.

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