Guyana Times Daily

Captain Gerry Gouveia (right) as he receives the licence for Dynamic Airways from Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Zulficar Mohamed (left)

Jagdeo to chair powerful FAO Committee on Forestry

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo was on Monday elected Chairman of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s 22nd Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO) for the period 20142016.

COFO is one of the FAO’s governing bodies with more than 130 member countries and deliberates on global forestry issues.

This 22nd Session of COFO is being convened in Rome, Italy from June 23 to 27 and among the critical issues for discussions are the report on the State of the World’s Forest 2014, payment for ecosystem services and forest financing; Forests and the Sustainable Development Goals, and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation plus (REDD+) and the UN Climate Summit 2014.

The Committee on Forestry is the highest FAO Forestry statutory body. The biennial sessions of COFO bring together heads of forest services and other senior Government officials to identify emerging policy and technical issues, to seek solutions and to advise the FAO and others on appropriate action.

In his remarks upon taking up the Chair, Jagdeo

emphasised the need to advance the global forest agenda in light of the role forests play as an important mitigation option for addressing climate change. Jagdeo pointed to the need for an enabling policy environment at the national level and access to and scaling up of financing as two priority areas, while underlining the important role of COFO and the FAO in pushing for a globally supportive environment for action on forests.

Expanding FAO’s work

While in Rome, Jagdeo also met with FAO Director General Jose Graziano Da Silva. Among issues discussed were expanding FAO’s work in the Caribbean and the Organisation playing a greater role on the issue of forests and climate change.

Forests provide many socioeconomic benefits, including food, energy and shelter – basic human needs. To sustain the products and services that help meet these and other needs, forests must be sustainably managed. Meanwhile, COFO 22 is expected to review the state of the world’s forests, focusing on their socioeconomic benefits and related questions, including income and employment; ownership and management rights; wood

energy and forest products in housing. In this context, it will examine forest policy measures that promote sustainable production and consumption; access to resources, markets and financing; equitable benefit sharing; and valuation of forest products and services.

As the full range of forests’ contributions to sustainable development are often not recognised or prop-

forests’ contributions of forests to global developmental objectives and ensuring that they feed into global negotiation processes.

Priorities

These include the development of the Sustainable Development Goals as part of the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the review of the International Arrangement on Forests at the 11th session of UNFF in 2015.

The meeting will also discuss progress in implementing earlier decisions and consider FAO’s programme priorities for forestry in light of the Organisation’s new Strategic Framework. It will specifically address work on climate change, REDD, boreal forests, and dryland forests.

erly valued, they are not always reflected in the broader development agenda. COFO 22 will provide an opportunity for member countries to consider ways of promoting

Jagdeo whose tenure as President saw major economic and social reforms here, spearheaded the “Jagdeo Initiative” back in 2003 to create a more competitive and sustainable agricultural sector in the Region by 2015. In his final term as President, he be-

came a global advocate for international action to avert the worst extremes of climate change, and was described by the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Rajendra K Pachauri, as “one of perhaps half a dozen Heads of Government who truly understand the issue”.

In line with his global advocacy, Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS)was developed. It sets out a national scale, replicable model to protect Guyana’s 18 million hectares of forest, to address the 17 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions that result from deforestation and forest degradation, and re-orients the Guyanese economy onto a long-term “low-deforestation, low-carbon, climate resilient trajectory”. As part of building this global model, Norway is partnering with Guyana to provide up to US$250 million, by 2015, for avoided greenhouse gas emissions from Guyana’s forests.

Guyana deeply concerned over sentencing of Al Jazeera journalists

The Government of Guyana said it is deeply concerned over the sentencing by an Egyptian Court of three Al Jazeera journalists to seven years in prison.

This act by the Egyptian authorities is an affront to the principles which govern press freedom the world over, the Donald Ramotar administration said. “The Government of Guyana believes that freedom of the press is essential for the full and effective exercise of freedom of expression and an indispensable instrument for the functioning of representative democracy, through which individuals exercise their right to receive, impart and seek information. In this regard, the Government of Guyana joins calls by the international community for

their immediate release.”

Only Tuesday, newly elected Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he would not interfere with judicial verdicts, following an international outcry over lengthy prison sentences given to three Al Jazeera journalists a day earlier.

“We will not interfere in judicial rulings,” Sisi said in a televised speech at a military graduation ceremony in Cairo. “We must respect judicial rulings and not criticise them even if others do not understand this.”

The journalists – an Australian, a CanadianEgyptian and an Egyptian – were each jailed for seven years on Monday for aiding a “terrorist organisation”, a reference to the banned Muslim Brotherhood. The sentences were widely crit-

icised by rights groups and Western governments, with US Secretary of State John Kerry calling them “chilling and draconian” and the UN warning of “a risk that miscarriage of justice is becoming the norm in Egypt.” Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that it “rejects any comment from a foreign party that casts doubt on the independence of the Egyptian judiciary and the justice of its verdicts.” Sisi was elected last month, less than a year after removing Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Brotherhood, following mass protests against his rule.

The Brotherhood, which says it is a peaceful organisation, was banned and declared a terrorist group after Mursi was toppled.

Rain stalls activation of new sewerage system

The Guyana Water Inc has stated that inclement weather is affecting the planned activation of the recently rehabilitated Force and Delivery mains under the Government of Guyana (GoG) and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) US$10 million Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme (GSIP).

According to GWI’s Programme Manager Orin Browne, “the consistent rainfall and flooding has caused delays in the ac-

tivation of the new sewer infrastructure”. He stated that private contractors (S Jagmohan/Nabi Consortium) were forced to halt works related to the activation because of flooding at several work sites.

In addition, road repairs related to the GSIP are being executed at a reduced pace because of consistent rainfall. Contractors have advised GWI that executing road repairs during the current inclement weather would significantly affect the quality of work. Contractors

are also monitoring the weather and site conditions closely and will resume works at the required pace when the weather permits. Customers with concerns are asked to contact GWI’s Sanitation Hotline numbers on 227-8718 and 226-6059 from Monday to Friday between 08:00h to 17:00h. GWI in collaboration with the Public Works Ministry will continue to consistently monitor all road repairs being executed by private contractors to ensure high quality.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo is congratulated by FAO Director General Jose Graziano Da Silva following his appointment

Allegations at Rodney CoI

WPA had plans to topple Burnham

… Roopnaraine, Rodney were gathering arms

By Alexis Rodney

ormer Police Constable

Allan Robert Gates on Tuesday told the Commission of Inquiry investigating the death of Dr Walter Rodney that the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) had crafted a plan to overthrow the 1980 People’s National Congress (PNC) Government.

He listed current leader of the WPA, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and the late Rodney as being in the forefront then to topple the Government of Forbes Burnham and were acquiring arms and ammunition to achieve their objective. Since the commencement of the Inquiry some two months ago, the Commission has been hearing about moves by the then PNC Government stifling the opposition, which Gates had opined may have been justifiable after all.

Under a tense cross- examination by PNC’s attorney Basil Williams, Gates told the Commission that the WPA through its leaders; Drs Roopnaraine and Rodney, were fervent in their efforts to rid the country of the authoritarian rule of Burnham. Gates reminded the commission that he had come to know about the plans because he was closely connected to the party. His role as bodyguard to Dr Roopnaraine had provided him the scoop.

Gates revealed that Dr Roopnaraine had confided in him relating that he (Roopnaraine) and Dr Rodney were spearheading the operation. At one time, he said Dr Roopnaraine

had discussed the logistics for the overthrow, in which he explained that it would be avoidable to seize Base Camp Ayanganna and take control of the country’s ports of entry and exit. The discussion with his boss also revealed that the office of the President would be raided and President Burnham would have been arrested. Plans were also in the pipeline to seize control of the Government radio station.

In its alleged bid to overthrow the Government, the political party was also involved in acquiring arms and ammunition, Gates said, specifically citing Dr Roopnaraine and his interest in G3 Rifles. He continued, rehashing his earlier evidence, informing that he had sometimes accompanied Dr Roopnaraine to the Corentyne residence of his friend Arnold Rampersaud, which he said was close to the seaside. During the visits a G3 Rifle and a magazine containing close to 18 rounds of .62 ammunition were al-

ways brought to them by an unidentified man. He said the items would be collected and they would venture to a secure area on the beach, where he would offer lessons in the use of firearms to Dr Roopnaraine.

Gates told the commission that on at least four occasions, he had accompanied Dr Roopnaraine very late in the evening to collect 7.62 ammunition from persons from various points in the city. Dr Roopnaraine, he noted, had told him that those persons were all members of the Guyana Defence Force.

Dr Roopnaraine is now CoChairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), a political coalition of which the PNCR is the largest group.

Retaliation

The former Policeman said that in furthering the plan to bring down the Government, the WPA may have brought itself into confrontation with the Government, thus causing the retaliation. Williams enquired from Gates whether he thought that the security forces had a right to defend the state in the furtherance of the WPA’s plan. He said yes and also agreed that the State in defending itself against such plans might have had to act in terms of securing the state from certain activities. He also agreed with the PNC’s lawyer that the WPA, in furthering that plan, had brought itself in confrontation with State agencies.

Gates, who is currently serving jail time for obtaining money by false pretence, told the commission that the Burnham Administration had felt threatened by the presence of the WPA, noting that it was public knowledge that the party had infiltrated the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force. He recalled an incident whereby information had reached the Force that Dr Rodney was receiving information from a senior member of the Force. Deputy Commissioner and head of the Special Branch at that time James Mentore, it was reported, had been meeting secretly with Dr Rodney and would share intelligence with him.

Gates told the Commission too that he had a mandate to file his reports of the WPA’s daily operations and send it to the Police hierarchy. The testimony given by Gates about the WPA’s infiltration of the security forces and plans to work against the Government was earlier disclosed by the leader of the People’s National Congress David Granger, who had stated that the security forces had a responsibility to protect the State.

He had informed that the WPA, considered a thorn in the flesh of the PNC, was retaliating by way of public agitation. Granger, who was Commander of the Guyana Defence Force during the time of Dr Rodney’s death, had said that the security forces had a responsibility to do all it could to protect the State from anything deemed a threat to national security.

He further agreed that the burning down of the PNC Headquarters and Ministry of National Development in July 1979 was in furtherance of such a plan.

Former Police Constable Allan Robert Gates

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, letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

A philosopher on football

For a country and a region in which cricket is still “god”, the hysteria aroused by the game of football, on display during the ongoing World Cup in Brazil, might need explanation. The philosopher Simon Critchley, who writes on the history of philosophy, political theory, religion, ethics, and aesthetics, takes a stab at providing one.

“The proper name for soccer, which goes back to the formal organisation of the game in England in the 1860s, is ‘association football’. The fact that we omit the first word shows that we miss the key point about the sport. Football remains an experience of association, of collaborative patterns of play on the pitch and habits of sociability among supporters.

“Football means talking with friends, fellow fans, seemingly random strangers who share the space of your neighbourhood, city, or world and to whom the game happens to speak in the same way. Sure, there are thugs who have done tremendous harm in the name of the game. But these are a tiny minority and do not represent true fandom. Fans are intensely animated and passionate when they talk about football, but they are also reasonable and decent. One treats supporters of the wrong teams with a ribald frenmity. There is no real hate, well maybe apart from my feelings about Manchester United.

“What football is not about is money – however many tens of millions of euros players may now be traded for. It is not about the shiny, televised display of tribes and nations in symbolic, indeed rather atavistic, combat. If this were all true, the World Cup would merely be a reflection of our age at its worst and most gaudy, a continuation of war by other means. As things are, the tournament, despite itself, still has much pleasure to offer, indeed whole bucketfuls.

“Connoisseurs like to argue that football is an art form, and it’s true that the enjoyment it generates is fiercely aesthetic. As I’ve written elsewhere, for me, a product of the Irish-Anglo minestrone of Liverpool, football is working-class ballet. There is a great beauty in a deft move or sequence of plays. Sometimes this is the tiki-taka of Barcelona at its peak, the Barca players harrying the opposition into losing possession, then moving the ball relentlessly, then effortlessly tapping it home. Sometimes it’s the physical power and attacking speed of Bayern Munich.

“As in art, one movement gives way to another. Part of the anticipation for this World Cup is which school will emerge ascendant. But more essentially, the truly great players possess grace: an effortless containment in their bearing and elegance of movement, long periods of idling interrupted by sudden accelerations and pivots, bursts of controlled power. When a player does this alone, the effect is stirring; when four or five do this in concert –as with Brazil in 1970 and 1982, and Spain in 2010 – it is breathtaking.

“There’s another component to grace, however. It is the cultivation of a certain disposition, some call it faith, in the belief that grace in its physical form will be dispensed at the crucial moment. Found in the players who have to believe that their bodies will perform at the precise instant when they are called upon, it is what we call composure. Yet it also exists in fans, who may find it hard to be composed, who may in fact be red-faced and screaming their heads off, but who are nonetheless bound up in something larger by their belief that something graceful, magical, is about to happen on the pitch.

“One hears from sceptics that football is boring, but it is the inaction that allows for the sudden, sometimes absurd, ultimately vitalising escalations of tempo and drama. You have to pay close and constant attention or you miss those moments, and that lends intensity to the viewing experience.”

Guyana Festival a total tourism package

Dear Editor, Today, everyone is busy and unable to celebrate festivals, which is not good with respect to human relationship building. Due to work and busy schedules, people are not in a position to celebrate. However, when we can attract a multitude of our citizens (and foreigners, hopefully) to our local festivals, this will definitely help in building relations among the people.

Given this fact, I look forward, with optimism, to the upcoming Guyana Festival

in August, which we are being told is going to be the event of the year. Every other day I see the media highlighting the various components of this activity, a brainchild of the Tourism Ministry.

This is indeed a timely affair – the staging of a wholesome, nationalistic activity simply to showcase Guyana and to celebrate all that we are and all that we have to offer to the world.

What is exciting to me is the programme of events which includes something

for everyone, including three days of exhibitions for a very low cost of $1500: Day One: August 8 –GDF Parachuting, Festival Opening Ceremony and National Concert Day Two: August 9 – 20/20 Festival Cricket (Masters vs President’s XI), Festival Football (GDF vs Slingers), and Night of Legends Concert Day Three: August 10 – Festival Cook-Out and Concert Next

I am also hearing talk of a Kids Zone and Coney

Divide and rule

Dear Editor,

On June 17, I had the opportunity to visit the National Assembly as part of the four-week Blue CAPS’ Building Communities through Leadership Training and Service (BCLTS) Programme. It was my first time visiting the Parliament Buildings and I was relishing every moment of it.

After a brief tour of the august building, we were joined by Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman who invited us to sit in the actual chairs used by Members of Parliament.

Trotman gave us a detailed history of parliamentary chambers and clued us in on some of the plans he has to improve relations between the Government and Opposition sides.

He said the current seating arrangement of the Members of

Parliament lends to creating an adversarial atmosphere because the members sit diametrically opposite each other.

The Speaker was of the view that an alternative arrangement, in the shape of a horseshoe, will lead to more constructive dialogue in the Assembly. He pointed out that a few countries have adopted this and have seen positive results.

As I listened to the Speaker, I looked around the room and couldn’t help but wonder what will become of Guyana if the current infighting and bickering among our political leaders do not come to an end soon.

We have seen many cases recently where both sides of the House have failed to compromise on critical legislation and cases where bills passed were not assented to by the President. Trotman

cited the examples of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill and one of the Local Government Bills to illustrate this point.

While the Speaker spoke about many issues, one of the points that startled me was a response to a question I posed to him concerning whether parliamentarians are combative towards each other after the debates in the House would have ended.

In response, the Speaker noted that even though the public perception is that parliamentarians don’t get along, the reality was rather quite different and some or most of them enjoy very good personal relationships outside of Parliament or when commenting to the press.

I then suggested to Trotman that perhaps his

Island, complete with close to a dozen rides from 15:00h – 23:00h daily! My fellow Guyanese, this is indeed enough to pique your interest and I am wound up with anticipation and I hope that this feeling is contagious.

With that, I say kudos to the team at the Tourism Ministry for continuously showcasing to the world that we have a total tourism package.

Sincerely, Laura Persaud

public relations team should devise a strategy to communicate this fraternising and camaraderie to the public, since I believe the perceived animosity feeds into the narrative that causes animosity and division among our citizens.

Could it be the case of the old and tested “divide-andrule” method being used by our political leaders? If it is, then while this may work in favour of the politicians and ensures their constituents’ loyalty for the next elections, it damages relationships and destroys the country.

Maybe I am naive, but I hope that our Members of Parliament can work together for the good of the nation and not for some of the population and to the detriment of others.

Michael A Leonard Blue CAPS

“Fans are intensely animated and passionate…” Belgium fans cheer before the start of their 2014 World Cup Group H soccer match against Russia at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, June 22 (Reuters/Pilar Olivares)

Finance Ministry explains management of Contingencies Fund

The Ministry of Finance has noted with concern the misinformation circulating in the media regarding the purpose and use of the Contingencies Fund, which is a sub-fund of the Consolidated Fund.

In a statement, the Ministry set the record straight by providing the information related to the management of the Contingencies Fund. The Ministry explained that the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA) of 2003 outlines the legally binding requirements governing the use of the Contingencies Fund.

The statement pointed to Part VI, Section 41, subsections (1) through (7), of the FMAA 2003 which addresses the issue with explicit clarity.

The release went on to quote the following excerpts to explain the control and management of the Contingencies Fund and under which circumstances the Fund can be used:

(2) The Minister shall have sole authority for the release of moneys from the Contingencies Fund, which authority shall not be delegated.

(3) The Minister, when satisfied that an urgent, unavoidable and unforeseen need for expenditure has arisen –

(a) for which no moneys have been appropriated or for which the sum appropriated is insufficient;

(b) for which moneys cannot be reallocated as provided for under this Act; or

(c) which cannot be deferred without injury to the public interest, may approve a Contingencies Fund advance as an expenditure out of the Consolidated Fund by the issuance of a drawing right. Further,

(5) The Minister shall report at the next sitting of the National Assembly on all advances made out of the Contingencies Fund…. which report shall specify –

(a) the amounts advanced

(b) to whom the amounts were paid; and

(c ) the purpose of the advances.

“It is clear that the Minister of Finance is required to report to the Parliament on what

has been spent from the Contingencies Fund,” said the Ministry.

To date, the current (10th) Parliament of the National Assembly has considered six Financial Papers related to the use of the Contingencies Fund collectively valued at approximately $9.358 billion. The Assembly, comprised of the Opposition and Government, has approved 92.6 per cent of those Financial Papers valued at approximately $8.7 billion, clearly demonstrating agreement with the use of the Contingencies Fund in most cases.

A seventh Financial Paper, No 1/2014 was tabled in the National Assembly last Thursday and will be considered by the House at the following sitting.

APNU continues national outreach

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) over the last weekend continued its outreach in preparation for Local Government Elections. On Friday, June 20, APNU held an outreach to Herstelling, while on Saturday, June 21, the Partnership held a walkabout and public meeting at Mocha Arcadia. On Sunday, June 22, a meeting was held at the Soesdyke Secondary School and on Monday, June 23, the Partnership held another public meeting and community walk-about in the village of Ann’s Grove.

Opposition Leader, Retired Brigadier David Granger and several other leaders and activists of the Partnership took part in these exercises.

At Mocha Arcadia on Saturday, a large crowd gathered at Mocha Four Corners for the public meeting. The meeting focused on the need for improved infrastructure at Barnwell

Region Two Chairman calls for quality work

at contracts handing-over ceremony

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud has called on all contractors to deliver quality works as the Regional Administration handed over several contracts at a public forum on Tuesday.

During a simple ceremony, Persaud said the region is awarding contracts publicly in an effort to ensure transparency and better accountability, and residents’ involvement.

In his address, the Regional Chairman called on all contractors to ensure the specifications on the

contract documents are honoured. He pointed that whenever contracts are awarded, it is taxpayers’ money that is spent and, therefore, the public must be pleased with the quality of work done on Government projects.

He also urged contractors to ensure that construction sites are clean and clear when work is finished, lamenting that some contractors are in the habit of leaving the area where they could have done construction work very untidy.

Some 40 contractors will be doing Government

projects this year in the region. The projects will be monitored by Engineers, Government officers, officials of the five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), and residents to ensure quality work is provided.

In his remarks, Region Two Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo said every contract has a stipulated lifespan and as such, contractors should honour contract documents.

He urged them to stick to the specifications, to facilitate transparency, particularly, on the ground. He related that the Regional Administration has received many complaints about contractors casting concrete mixtures or bitumen on road surfaces without informing the Engineers. Samaroo added that whenever substandard works are executed by contractors, the Regional Administration is faced with lots of criticism.

Bills of Quantities were handed over by Regional Executive Officer Sunil Singh to the Regional Chairman Parmanand Persaud, Vice Chairman

Samaroo and Head of the Sub-Treasury Umilla Dial. Meanwhile, it was noted that Region Two Councillors of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change were invited to the public forum to witness the handing over of contract documents, but no one showed up.

interacting with some Mocha residents Mocha; the ongoing Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI); the continued drama surrounding the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill,

and the need for the immediate holding of the long overdue Local Government Elections. The main speakers were Granger and APNU Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon.

Suddie Public Hospital hosts blood drives

The Suddie Public Hospital, in Region Two, in collaboration with the Guyana International Relief Organisation (GIRO); the Health Ministry; National Blood Transfusion Service; and the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (Essequibo), has hosted two blood drives.

According to the events’ Coordinator, Kumar Dass, 37 units of blood were collected from kind blood donors. The 37 units of blood were transported to the National Blood Transfusion Service in Georgetown to assist doctors in saving persons’ life.

He thanked all the blood donors, saying “our generosity in sharing this lifesustaining substance is the difference between life and death for some people”.

He noted that it’s our obligation as a nation to ensure safe blood for all, stressing that in spite of the great scientific advances, the Health Ministry is yet

to find any product that can effectively be a substitute for blood.

He declared that the blood which circulates in our bodies represent not only life-sustaining power in our individual lives, but sometimes also represent the only chance that some persons have for life. In light of this, Dass urged all to “please join us so that the lack of blood does not deprive anyone of life”.

The blood drive will continue every three months.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

Coordinator Kumar Dass

APNU Chairman David Granger

Region Two Councillor Omesh Oditt handing over contract documents to a contractor in the Regional Boardroom at Anna Regina

Page Foundation

Speech language therapy

In a recent parent-teacher conference, the teacher expressed concern that your child may have a problem with certain speech or language skills. Or perhaps while talking to your child, you noticed an occasional stutter.

Could your child have a problem? And if so, what should you do?

It’s wise to intervene quickly. An evaluation by a certified speech-language pathologist can help determine if your child is having difficulties. Speechlanguage therapy is the treatment for most children with speech and/or language disorders.

Speech disorders and language disorders

A speech disorder refers to a problem with the actual production of sounds, whereas a language disorder refers to a difficulty understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas.

Speech disorders include:

Articulation disorders: difficulties producing sounds in syllables or saying words incorrectly to the point that listeners can’t understand what’s being said.

Fluency disorders: problems such as stuttering, in which the flow of speech is interrupted by abnormal

stoppages, repetitions (stst-stuttering), or prolonging sounds and syllables (ssssstuttering).

Resonance or voice disorders: problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice that distract listeners from what’s being said. These types of disorders may also cause pain or discomfort for a child when speaking.

Dysphagia/oral feeding disorders: these include difficulties with drooling, eating, and swallowing.

Language disorders can be either receptive or expressive:

Receptive disorders: difficulties understanding or processing language.

Expressive disorders: difficulty putting words together, limited vocabulary, or inability to use language in a socially appropriate way.

Specialists in speech-language therapy Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), often informally known as speech therapists, are professionals educated in the study of human communication, its development, and its disorders.

SLPs assess speech, language, cognitive-communication, and oral/feeding/ swallowing skills to identify types of communication

problems (articulation; fluency; voice; receptive and expressive language disorders, etc) and the best way to treat them.

Remediation

In speech-language therapy, an SLP will work with a child one-on-one, in a small group, or directly in a classroom to overcome difficulties involved with a specific disorder.

Therapists use a variety of strategies, including: Language intervention activities: The SLP will interact with a child by playing and talking, using pictures, books, objects, or ongoing events to stimulate language development. The therapist may also model correct pronunciation and use repetition exercises to build speech and language skills.

Articulation therapy: Articulation, or sound production, exercises involve having the therapist model correct sounds and syllables for a child, often during play activities. The level of play is age-appropriate and related to the child’s specific needs. The SLP will physically show the child how to make certain sounds, such as the “r” sound, and may demonstrate how to move the tongue to produce specific sounds.

Oral-motor/feeding and swallowing therapy: The SLP will use a variety of oral exercises – including facial massage and various tongue, lip, and jaw exercises – to strengthen the muscles of the mouth. The SLP also may work with different food textures and temperatures to increase a child’s oral awareness during eating and swallowing.

When is therapy needed?

Children might need speech-language therapy for a variety of reasons, including: hearing impairments

• cognitive (intellectual, thinking) or other developmental delays

• weak oral muscles excessive drooling

• chronic hoarseness birth defects such as cleft lip or cleft palate autism motor planning problems respiratory problems (breathing disorders) feeding and swallowing disorders

• traumatic brain injury

Therapy should begin as soon as possible. Children enrolled in therapy early (before they’re five years old) tend to have better outcomes than those who begin therapy later. (Excerpt from kidshealth)

REHAB TIPS

“Reaching new heights through integration and partnership with education and social sectors”

Speech and language therapy is the treatment intervention that deals with speech and language disorders. A speech disorder refers to a problem with the actual production of sounds, example stuttering, feeding or swallowing disorders, whereas a language disorder refers to adifficulty understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas.

Voice hygiene

Enemies of the voice and what to do about it

There are some factors that have a great impact on the voice.

* physical factors

- age and hormonal changes

- infections, asthma and allergies

- tiredness

- reflux: you can prevent that by not smoking, no heavy meals at night, no spicy food, no tight close around your stomach area

* Medication (can cause dehydratation)

* Smoking (cause infections and dehydratation)

* Alcohol (overuse can cause dehydratation and voice abuse)

* Angst and stress (elevates the larynx and cause tension in the voice)

* Environment: if there is lots of noise, you start to speak louder and higher try to avoid working in an environment that is dusty or has lots of temperature differences, AC also affects the voice. Avoid smoke filled and dusty environments

Voice hygiene advice

* No throat clearing. Throat clearing is extremely traumatic to the vocal cords, leading to excessive wear and tear. When you feel the need to clear your throat you should try the following strategies: swallow, have a sip of water, or clear your throat silently without allowing your vocal cords to touch or try to hum.

* If there is excessive background noise do not try to speak above the noise. Go as close as possible, look at the listener, speak slower and use more articulation, but do not speak higher or louder.

* Do not whisper

* No shouting or screaming. If you work in big groups use a whistle or gestures. Know the limits of you voice.

* Don’t speak excessively. Avoid lengthy conversations if you have to for some reason, then rest your voice for 10 minutes every two to three hours.

* Make sure to maintain good water intake. Hydration is very important. We recommend six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day to maintain adequate hydration.

Task Force to discuss US TIP report on Guyana – Rohee

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

The Ministerial Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (MTFTIP) will soon convene a meeting to discuss the US State Department 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said, the Ministerial Task Force will meet to discuss the report before crafting a response. “This report will be examined carefully by the Ministerial Task Force before a determination is made on what should be our response,” Minister Rohee said when approached by Guyana Times

In the US State Department 2014 TIP Report, Guyana was identified as a country which has the requisite human trafficking laws in place, but fails to hold convicted traffickers accountable.

The US said the Government of Guyana had reported that three traffickers were convicted in 2013; two of the convicted traffickers were sentenced to five years imprisonment and one was sentenced to four years imprisonment. However, according to the US, none of the three convicted traffickers were serving their

sentences at the end of the reporting period.

Referencing the Combating Trafficking of Persons Act of 2005, the State Department said the act prohibits all forms of trafficking and prescribes sufficiently stringent penalties, ranging from three years to life imprisonment.

“These penalties are commensurate with penalties prescribed under Guyanese law for other serious crimes, such as rape.”

The US said Guyana’s inability to hold traffickers accountable, creates an atmosphere human traffickers would want to dwell.

The US is also of the firm belief that Guyana continues to operate below the minimum standards for the elimination of hu-

man trafficking. According to the report, the country remains a source and destination for men, women and children who are subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour. “Guyanese and foreign women and girls including from Venezuela, Suriname and Brazil are subjected to prostitution in Guyana,” the report read.

While the US lacks statistics on the magnitude of forced labour in Guyana,

it has received a string of reports on forced labour occurring in the mining, agriculture and forestry sectors, in addition to domestic services and shops.

Guyana Times was unable to obtain a response from the Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster on the US State Department TIP Report which was issued last Friday. However during the 2014 Budget debate in the National Assembly, Minister Webster said repeated assessments have revealed a low prevalence of TIP in the country. But due to the potential impact of the crime on the safety of Guyanese, the Government through the Ministerial Task Force will continue to work with its partners to develop strategies and programmes aimed at combating trafficking in persons.

She reported to the National Assembly that in 2013, there were 20 alleged victims, nine reports, three convictions and six cases that were brought before the courts. One case was dismissed, while three convictions were related to matters dating back to 2012.

“With respect to the three cases in 2013, which were not brought before

the courts, no charge was instituted based upon the legal advice provided by the Director of Public Prosecutions,” the Minister had said.

Last year Government had withheld its support for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into Human Trafficking. Opposition Leader David Granger had taken a motion to the National Assembly calling for the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to investigate acts of human trafficking.

While the Government has often indicated that the TIP situation is grossly exaggerated, Granger is of the opinion that Guyana is faced with a denial syndrome. “There are some persons who like to say there is no problem, in fact at one time members on the Government side actually rejected the reports of the United States Department... but it doesn’t mean there is no trafficking because we denied it.”

However, he argued that the Ministries of Home Affairs, Human Services, Amerindian Affairs and Natural Resources must step up to the challenge and aid in putting an end to this brutal act of modern day slavery.

The Opposition said despite the challenges, the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) continues to rescue victims during its many interventions in the interior. Last year, GWMO President Simona Broomes was identified by the US as one of the 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report Heroes. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

GPL connects Demerara, Berbice systems

The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) said that history was made on Sunday evening when at 21:33h, the transmission interconnection of the Demerara and Berbice interconnected systems was completed to form the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System.

This milestone had been decades in the making and has been finally achieved after many technical challenges were overcome, GPL said in a statement. “This development would allow GPL to transfer power from generating facilities in Demerara to consumers throughout Berbice, thereby improving the stability and reliability of power supply in Regions Five and Six,” the power company said.

According to GPL, with the new link in place, it would over the coming weeks seek to fine-tune the system to optimise performance and power quality. Some of these activities may result in short power interruptions. The company assured that they would make every effort to inform cus-

tomers in advance of any such outages.

Overall available generation capacity in Demerara and Berbice is now 100.6MW and the peak demand is 95MW. Efforts are being made to repair a 6MW generating capacity within the next two weeks while a 5.5MW Wartsila currently on overhaul is expected back in service by July 4.

GPL would like to thank all those persons who contributed to this historic event, especially the company’s contractor – China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) and their sub-contractors; and staff from the Projects and Operations Divisions. Special mention should be made of the diligence and dedication of the power company’s Transmission and Distribution (T&D) and System Control and Engineering Services who braved adverse weather on Sunday to complete all the re-arrangements on the transmission lines and distribution feeders. GPL and its consumers are grateful for your efforts.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster

Opposition Leader David Granger

A section of the newly upgraded and expanded Onverwagt Substation

PPP condemns jailing of Al Jazeera’s journalists

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has condemned the sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists by the Egyptian regime.

The three journalists –Australian Peter Greste; Canadian-Egyptian national Mohamed Fahmy, Al Jazeera’s Cairo Bureau Chief; and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed, all of whom were detained and charged since December last with helping a “terrorist group” – a clear reference to the Muslim Brotherhood which was overthrown and subsequently banned by the military junta headed by President Abdel Fattah alSisi.

In a statement, the PPP said it is convinced that the decision to jail the journalists is political in nature and not the result of any wrongdoing on the part of the journalists. “The PPP also wishes to voice its condemnation

over the impending execution of the Spiritual Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and over 180 others. The Muslim Brotherhood is led by Mohamed Morsi who is currently behind bars despite the fact that he won Egypt’s first-ever democratic elections and should, therefore, be the legitimate and democratically elected President of Egypt.”

The PPP is of the view that the recently-held election which installed Abdel Fattah Sisi as President is nothing but a farce intended to whitewash his image and that of the military junta and deserves the full condemnation of the free and democratic world.

“These two latest actions by the military-led Government (now in civilian clothing) of military strong man Sisi is consistent with a long list of human rights abuses by the military, which is using its military

muscle to stifle and suppress the democratic aspirations of the Egyptian people,” the ruling Party declared.

“The PPP joins the call by the United Nations and other concerned individuals and parties for the unconditional release of the jailed journalists and the immediate release of all political prisoners. In this regard, the PPP

fully endorses the position taken by the United Nations Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay that there is a risk that miscarriage of justice is becoming a norm in Egypt.”

The PPP also called on the United States and other Western powers to condemn this most recent act of political barbarism against the journalists, and the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. “It is significant that the ruling to jail the journalists came just one day after US Secretary of State John Kerry met with the newlyelected Egyptian President which must be an affront and source of much embarrassment to both the United States and Kerry who described the move as “chilling and draconian”. The party said the right to freedom of expression and to participate in the political life of any society is fundamental to civilisation and must be condemned when such freedoms are under threat as in the case of Egypt today.

Argument over sheep lands Middlesex labourer in court

An irate labourer who allegedly hit a man over the head with a shovel after an argument over sheep was placed before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Charity Magistrate’s Court on Monday, charged with causing bodily harm .

Forty-five-year-old Abdool Jabar, of Middlesex Village on the Essequibo Coast, allegedly struck Bisson Dyal so hard that he was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was admitted and was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he remains

a patient.

According to the Police, on June 19, at Middlesex Backdam, Jabar had an argument with Dyal over a sheep and lashed him with the shovel, causing actual bodily harm.

Representing Jabar was Attorney Sonia Parag, who said her client was not a flight risk and applied for reasonable bail. There was no objection to bail from Prosecutor Haimwant Ramsewak.

Bail was granted at the sum of $400,000. Jabar is expected to return to court on July 18.

Man charged for assaulting reputed wife

A59-year-old man who allegedly spat on his common-law wife and threatened her was released on $15,000 bail on Tuesday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Rocky Chinsammy, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charges of assault and threatening language before Magistrate Geeta Chandan Edmond.

The charge stated that on June 21 at West Ruimveldt, the de-

fendant and the Virtual Complainant, Bhagmattie Rahaman, got into an argument, and he became annoyed, spat in Rahaman’s face and repeatedly threatened her.

She then became fearful and reported the matter to Police ranks. An investigation was carried out and the defendant was arrested.

Chinsammy was unrepresented by legal counsel. He will make his second appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on June 30.

Eyew tness

LEADing

...for our own good

Like the old saying about women, it seems a superpower’s job is never done. It’s like being the Greek God Atlas, carrying the world on his shoulder. It can’t be easy – it’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it. Think what would happen if, as another writer posed some time ago, “Atlas shrugged”?

As the world falls and plummets into chaos....imagine the cataclysm: “The horror!!! The horror!!” In the old days, Atlas’ responsibility was called “the White man’s burden”. But that’s not too politically correct nowadays. Today, it’s called “exporting democracy”. And in that vein, the Government and the US Embassy have kissed and made up so the latter’s LEAD programme (Leadership and Democracy) is back on track.

We don’t want to rehearse all the back and forth that went on between the two sides – safe to say that the Government feels the US is now restricted to areas that aren’t too contentious. Like “educating” folks about Local Government elections. They haven’t reached agreement on “youth and women engagement” yet. But we say not to worry. The BLUE CAPS under the soup drinker.... oops!!...soup maker are executing the youth component very well. Thank you.

But your Eyewitness was a bit intrigued about a throwaway comment by the US Ambassador: “The US has no interest in who governs Guyana. This is entirely a matter for the people of Guyana to decide. What we do have an interest in is how Guyana is governed.” Now this fella is a Yale graduate and it’s quite possible that he’s simplifying things for us natives. UG being so abysmal and all that.

We want to know how the heck is he able to separate the “who” from the “how”? Take the PNC whom they’d backed up to 1992 over the PPP as being intrinsically better to govern Guyana. Is the Ambassador now saying they have no problems with fellas still around from those days who tortured, killed and maimed political opponents? Everyone who cries, “democracy!! democracy!!!” will now enter into the realm of government?

We may not be Yalies, but we do have our old folk wisdom to fall back on. How about “once dog suck egg, he cyaan stop”?? Like how the US is suspicious of all those Saddam’s Baathists in ISIL taking over Iraq, you mean to say the Ambassador has no concerns about the PNC’s lack of democratic credentials? And we’re talking about actions not words – which are cheap.

Do they remember that Corbin had to fiddle with the electoral arrangements to get Granger the PNC’s top spot?

...the cleanup of the city

There was an interesting byplay at the last statutory meeting of the City Council. The Local Government Minister wrote Mayor Green that he’d like to engage the Council in discussing some of the articulated concerns of Councillors. The Minister showed up, but the Mayor just ignored him – claimed he never saw the Minister.

We knew Mayor Green was dumb...but it now appears, in his dotage, he’s also blind. Doesn’t stop him from what he’s doing to the City’s treasury though. And it’s on that note the Minister later told reporters he would have to be “dumb and stupid” to hand over the half-a-billion dollars budgeted by Central Government for the City’s cleanup, to the Mayor and his venal band.

We commend the Minister’s plain speaking. People like Green understand no other language. Can you imagine what would happen if Green were to get his hands on that kinda money? NO! You can’t!!

You know it’ll all disappear into his grubby little paws. But you’ll never imagine how quickly it’ll be done.

...the from the front

As the Rodney CoI progresses, one thing is clear: Rodney led from the front. But on the walkie-talkie business, it looks like he had no choice. His party was just a bunch of talkers.

Al-Jazeera’s Cairo bureau chief, Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed, and Australian correspondent Peter Greste

Gold sales up, yet declarations low – Persaud

Natural Resources and Environment

Minister Robert Persaud has assured miners that outreach activities aimed at whipping up gold declarations are in no way intended to criminalise them. It is also announced that the records of the Ministry have shown increased sales of gold by miners to licensed dealers.

He gave the assurance when he met with stakeholders of the industry at his office. In a statement, the Ministry said the meeting was held with supervisory authorities such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Guyana Gold Board (GGB), and executive members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the Licensed Gold Dealers.

The meeting was a follow-up to the initial forum held on June 4. Following that meeting, the GGB had embarked on a number of activities which were agreed to by all stakeholders. These activities comprised an outreach to visit all dealers and some of their sub-agents. Some business entities in the capital that have a GGMC trading permit were also visited. The Minister said the primary goal of those activities was to ensure that proper records were being kept by those licensed to trade gold.

“These initiatives are not directed at neg-

atively targeting miners. That is not the policy of the [Ministry]… or its supervisory authorities. Additionally, the recent notices published by the GGB are intended to serve as reminders to all relevant persons in the sector.”

Hoarding

According to the Ministry, it was noted that there is speculation that hoarding, smuggling and the use of the gold trading business for other illegal activities is ongoing. However, there is no definitive conclusion to any of those claims. “The records of the supervisory authorities only indicate that there is a lower level of declaration by the mining industry in 2014 when compared to the same period in 2013. However, the records also show that there are improved levels of sales by miners to the licensed dealers, especially in the Districts that the GGB’s offices are closed. It must be noted that prices on the world market for gold have increased over the last seven days and we are all hopeful of improved prices for better sales to the GGB and to the dealers.”

Moreover, in terms of going forward, Minister Persaud stated that stakeholders share concerns over the lower level of declarations. The Minister reiterated that all stakeholders of the gold mining sector

must focus on the factors which can help to improve on the levels of declaration. The Ministry will work with all stakeholders to assist in improving the levels of declaration.

Low production

Meanwhile, according to the Ministry, the GGDMA executive members stated that gold is a non-renewable resource and there are reports, within their cohorts, of lower levels of production. The GGDMA indicated that there is a reduction in the sites worked, as cost is still high for some areas of operation and miners are awaiting incentives to facilitate increase in production and productivity.

The GGDMA has taken the position that negotiations with the Government will be ongoing and the

Association has been following up with a number of promises which were made, subsequently to the January 6 meeting with President Donald Ramotar, such as tax relief on the importation of 4x4 vehicles, reduction in rentals, and poor infrastructure to the hinterland roads.

“These matters have been handled at the levels of the various Ministries of Government and are now awaiting the approval of the appropriate regulations which would allow for the facilitation of the incentives to the mining sector,” the Ministry said.

However, the GGDMA has noted that while some incentives [including road upgrades] have been granted, in the sixth month of the year , it is still awaiting follow through on the majori-

ty of the incentives for the general gold mining sector.

It was also highlighted that the GGDMA has embarked on a study among miners on gold production and the findings will be released as soon as possible. The preliminary observations revealed that there have been reductions in fuel sales, drop in sales of equipment and spares (approximately 30 per cent); and miners have scaled down their operations (approximately 40 per cent in some cases).

Review of Gold Board Act Additionally, the GGDMA stated that a review of the Gold Board Act is necessary which was agreed at the meeting. A sub-committee of private and public sector representatives will be established to undertake the review.

The follow-up meeting also called for a revision to some of the conditions for the licensing of gold dealers, to ensure greater efficiency. The meeting was also informed that the first auction by the GGMC would be done within the next four weeks and the next lottery would be done within eight weeks. In addition, the issue of crime in the mining industry will be addressed by a meeting to be held with the Guyana Police Force.

Moreover, it was once again re-emphasised that the closure of the Bartica sub-office and subsequent closure of the GGB operations in Charity at the end of June have not impacted on the level of declarations. The licensed dealers are still working in Bartica and providing the necessary services. The GGDMA repeated the call for all gold to be sold to the GGB or licensed dealers and licensed dealers must be accountable for the gold they are purchasing for Guyana. The GGDMA said it was committed to the improvement of the gold mining sector.

As a supervisory authority and the provider of a national service, the GGB pricing policy allows for the benefits to the miners to be realised. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GGB stated that the GGB is a stabilising force for the gold mining sector and the economy as a whole.

Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud makes a point during his meeting with gold industry stakeholders

Canadian High Commissioner hosts Alice Munro lecture today

The Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles, will be hosting a lecture today under the theme,

“Fantastic Portrayer of Human Beings”: Alice Munro – Canada’s Nobel Prize Winner for Literature (2013). The lecture, which commences at 17:30h at the High Commission, will be delivered by Professor of Literature at the University of Calgary, Dr Victor Ramraj.

Munro is an awardwinning Canadian shortstory writer who has been described as a “master of the contemporary short story.” In addition to the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2013, Munro has also won Canada’s Governor General’s awards three times, two Scotiabank Giller Prizes, the Man Booker International Prize for lifetime achievement,

as well as the CanadaAustralia Literary Prize, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, and the O Henry Award in the US, among other awards and

honours.

Following his lecture, Dr Ramraj, a former chief judge of the Guyana Prize for Literature and the recipient of the Guyana Playwright-of-the-Year Award 1966 for his play

“The Dead Son”, will answer a few questions from the audience. A Saints’ old boy, Professor Ramraj’s publications include the highly recommended “Concert of Voices: An Anthology of World Writing in English” and a book on the Canadian writer Mordecai Richler.

Closing remarks will be delivered by Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.

A reception will follow the event at the Commission, located at High and Young Streets, Kingston.

More lawyers

Satiricus was very worried. For months they had been futzing around on this law school business. “Don’t they know how

important lawyers are to the survival of the country?” fumed Satiricus. He and the guys were bending their elbows at their club by the back street. Some unkindly called it a “rum shop”. Satiricus and the fellas only quaffed beer...and to tell the truth, felt quite superior to the “rummies”.

“They are??” said Hari with eyebrows firmly arched. “What the hell do lawyers do?”

“Well, in a poor country like Guyana, they’re always good for a laugh. I’ll tell you what. We each get to ask a lawyer question and the fellas who can’t answer buys a round. So let me ask you. What’s the difference between a good lawyer and a bad lawyer?”

Suresh grinned: “A bad lawyer makes your case drag on for years. A good lawyer... He makes it last even longer.”

Hari: “What’s the difference between a jellyfish and a lawyer?”

Satiricus: “One’s a spineless, poisonous blob. The other is a form of sea life.”

Georgie: “How does an attorney sleep?”

Stevie: “First he lies on one side, and then he lies on the other.”

Hari: “What’s the difference between a lawyer and a liar?”

Teacher Samad: “The pronunciation.”

“Listen fellas,” pleaded Satiricus, “I need a drink. I bet nobody can answer this one. What’s the difference between a lawyer and a prostitute?

There was a deafening silence around the table as they looked at each other. They bought the round and as Satiricus chugged away, Hari asked him “Well, what the hell is the difference??”

And Satiricus answered smugly, “A prostitute will stop screwing you when you’re dead!”

Everyone guffawed.

“OK,” challenged Suresh, looking at Satiricus. “What’s the difference between a mosquito and a lawyer?”

“That’s easy,” smirked Satiricus, “You forget my father-in-law is a lawyer. One is a blood-sucking parasite, the other is an insect!”

“Bet you can’t get this one,” said Teacher Samad. “Why did God make snakes just before lawyers?”

“I give up,” said Satiricus good naturedly as he pushed his hands into his pocket to buy the round. “So what’s the answer?”

“To practise making the lowest form of life,” smiled Teacher Samad. “But let me ask you one. How can you tell when a lawyer is lying?”

Satiricus grinned as he answered, “Their lips are moving. Now you all see why we need more lawyers?”

The fellas drank to that.

Body of unidentified man found in Le Repentir Cemetery

The body of an unidentified man of African descent was fished out of a trench at the Le Repentir Cemetery around 13:45h on Tuesday by ranks of the Guyana Police Force.

When Guyana Times visited the scene, Police Officers were on site trying to determine the circumstances leading up to the man’s death.

Guyana Times understands that there were no visible marks of violence on the body of the man who appeared to be in his early thirties, who sported a tattoo of the initials SM on his right hand. The bald-headed body was clad in a green T-shirt, black pants and black sneakers. A hat was also found in close proximity to the body.

Up to press time, the body had not been identified. There was speculation that the man may have committed suicide. The fact that his body bore no visible physi-

cal marks of violence and a white liquid which appeared to be froth was emanating from the mouth at the time of the discovery fuelled the speculation.

At the scene, one man appeared noticeably interested

in the body and was allowed in by the Police to take a photo and get a closer look at the body. However, when Guyana Times approached the man, he refused to offer any comment beyond the deceased was not his relative.

The body of the unidentified man

Canada’s 2013 Nobel Prize Winner for Literature Alice Munro

Dr Victor Ramraj will deliver the lecture

Overall improvement in nurses’ exam results

… but 19 who failed last year failed again

By Jomo Paul

Some 19 nurses who failed the National Nurse’s examination last year failed again this year, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran announced on Tuesday. Though saying that the 2014 results are better than last year, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, says that the Ministry is “not necessarily surprised” with the results.

The announcement from the Minister comes just a day after there were reports of a continued downward spiral in the results from the nurses’ examination. Speaking to the media from his Upper Brickdam office the Health Minister related that the Ministry is cognisant of the weaknesses of the Nursing School programme and have been looking at ways to improve it.

“We know of sections of

our school population, especially those who repeated the whole exam” as he explained that there were 19 students who failed the exam last year and failed again this year. He further explained that those 19 students who failed the course last year were allowed to re-sit the examinations because the Ministry has a “liberal” policy in this regard.

“The expectation from that time has been moderate…from those who repeated the entire exam, not a single person passed the examination…that small but significant minority did not show one single pass” said Dr Ramsaran. He said that the inability of that group of students to successfully sit the exams has had a major impact on the overall results for 20014, but has however allowed the Ministry to do “certain analysis.’

He said that initial data re-

ceived has shown that for five examinations that prospective nurses are subjected to, there were increases in all five of the areas.

He explained that for Functional Nursing Paper 1(FNP1) 2013 reflected 58 per cent passes while 2014 showed 83 per cent passes. In Functional Nursing Paper 2 (FNP2) there were 19 per cent passes in 2013 and 27 per cent in 2014. For Clinical Nursing Paper 1 (CNP1) 2013 showed 17 per cent passes and 2014 saw a quantum leap with 61 per cent passes. Similarly in Clinical Nursing Paper 2 (CNP2) 2013 saw 41 per cent passes and 2014 recorded 70 per cent passes. With respect to the practical nursing examination, Dr Ramsaran related that 2013 showed 65 per cent passes and 2014 saw an overall 79 per cent passes.

A quick breakdown of the

results showed that the St Joseph Mercy Nursing School recorded 100 per cent passes in FNP1, FNP2, CNP1, and CNP2 while scoring 67 per cent

passes overall for the practicals. Dr Ramsaran explained that, the fact that the private enterprise pre-screens the students before they are sent to write the exams is a major contributor to those results.

In 2013, the Guyana Nursing School recorded a 12 per cent pass in FNP2 compared to 225 passes in 2013. All the other areas showed significant improvement from the results in 2013.

The Charles Rosa Nursing School in Linden recorded significant increases from the 2013 results. FNP1 showed 60 per cent passes in 2013 compared to 92 per cent in 2014. FNP2 revealed 20 per cent passes in 2013 and 46 per cent in 2014. CNP1 had 23 per cent passes in 2013 and 50 per cent passes in 2014.

CNP2 showed 30 per cent passes in 2013 and 72 per cent in 2014. For the practical exam

there were 57 per cent passes in 2013 and 83 per cent in 2014.

Minister Ramsaran noted that with this information, the Ministry will be heading back to the drawing board to develop a comprehensive plan to deal with the weakness in the system.

Meanwhile, Director of the Division of Health Sciences Education, Wilton Benn, related that in 2013 the Ministry took steps to align the nursing education standards in Guyana with those of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), hence the changes in the curriculum and the additional examinations. He noted that although the Ministry is not comfortable with the existing situation and is working assiduously to rectify the issue. He however opined that the situation was a reflection of “teething” issues with the new curriculum.

Govt still mulling setting up law school here

By Gomatie GanGadin

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has disclosed that the government will not rule out establishing a law school here, especially if no progress is made at the upcoming CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting regarding Guyanese being guaranteed places at the Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago.

Speaking at the Moot Court Guyana’s Symposium which was held on Tuesday evening to facilitate discussions on the future of legal education in Guyana and the Caribbean Community, Nandlall related that the government has not given up on the idea of having its own law school given the current impasse between the Hugh Wooding Law School and the University of Guyana Department of Law.

Nandlall stated that during the discussions which were held last Monday between Chairman of Caricom, Ralph Gonsalves; Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Jacqueline Samuels- Brown; Head of the UG Law Department, Sheldon MC Donald, other members of the CLE and himself, Samuels- Brown and her council members related that the acceptance will only be a temporary one to facilitate this year’s students and the matter should be put on the agenda at the Head of Government Meeting where a comprehensive review of legal education in the Caribbean should also be undertaken.

“The Chairman told us that they will accept the 35 students, 25 Guyanese and 10 non-Guyanese from the University of Guyana, but that arrangement is temporary and only applicable to this year. This is only a shortterm solution. The second arrangement that came out of the meeting was that the situation will be discussed at the Heads of Government Meeting on July 2,, where a

comprehensive review has to be done on legal education in the Caribbean. We are hoping that once the review has been done, a long- term solution can be achieved”, he related.

The Attorney General however posited that if the comprehensive review is undertaken but provides no solution to Guyana’s situation, the government will then move forward, looking at alternative steps which they could take.

Nandlall however disclosed that while the idea may become a reality sooner or later, the government will not be making any rash decisions, since the idea of a law school was first introduced to the country in 1996 when the impasse initially began, but it was not fully supported by the CLE at that time. Instead, they had supported The Bahamas’s plan for what is now known as the Eugene Dupuch Law School.

He noted that while the issue has the government’s full support, establishing a law school here without CLE support will prove to be an unsound and risky venture, not forgetting costly too.

“How many of you want to practise here in Guyana? You see all of you want to practise elsewhere, but if we establish a law school here in Guyana

without having the support or accreditation from the Council of Legal Education, this is where you will have to stay and practise. You will not be able to practise out of Guyana because we will not be accredited. Besides that, we will want a school which can appeal to persons from other territories, international students and not just for the Guyanese people”, he informed them.

He remained optimistic though that the matter will be solved at the Heads of Government Meeting, noting that Guyana is probably the highest financial contributor to the school, even though the government was making no direct contributions.

“We had taken the principal position not to extend any financial contribution to the school ,but when our students go, they pay cash and they pay their full tuition so they receive cash money from us while the other territories owe them millions and millions of dollars. So why should [we] be not be able to find a suitable solution”, the minister told the students.

It was on this note that the question was raised by a participant, Nicole Cole, of the National Commission of Gender Equality, as to why the government had taken that stance and whether the students were now facing the penalty for that decision.

To this the minister responded by saying: “The position was taken because it was a financial decision which had to be made and no, this decision is not impacting our students.

As a matter of fact, it was supposed to enhance it, because they are paying cash money and they are making by far, one of the largest contributions to the school. They are keeping the school functioning”, the minister said.

He remained adamant however that no final decision will be taken until the Head of Government would have met and the review has taken place.

Participants,the majori-

ty of whom were prospective and current law students, expressed their hope for a law school to be established here positing that it will not only reduce the high cost of studying at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago, but it will also boost the economy, especially if it attracts regional and international students.

The idea was supported by several prominent lawyers who were present at the symposium including

Teni Housty, Christopher Ram and A Partnership for National Unity Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams. Williams noted that given the current situation which exists between the two institutions and having been a student himself at the Law school in Trinidad, it is not immature to conclude that the field of law will soon become one for only elites, since the poorer class will not be able to

afford the costs attached.

“This field will soon become one only for the elites. Those who are born of the poorer class with the idea in their head that they want to get into the field of law, that they want to become lawyers, will not be able to become lawyers and this should not be. Every child, every person deserves to follow their dreams; to live their dreams. Everyone should be given this opportunity,” Williams advocated.

Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

Mixed reactions from UG on hike in tuition fees

By Svetlana MarShall

Students of the University of Guyana expressed mixed views about the proposal by the administration to hike tuition fees when a consultation was held at the Turkeyen Campus Tuesday afternoon.

Glenfield Dennison, a second-year Law Student, gained the majority’s support when he said it was bad management that landed the institution in its current state of affairs. Dennison, who hails from Belize, told the Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi, and his highlevel team, that the institution’s records indicate that there has been a history of

plemented a system of gradualism and selectivity, the tertiary institution would not have found itself in its current state. While Dennison did not object to the increase in fees, he told the administration that students must be guaranteed that funds will not be poorly managed.

Recommendations

Referencing a 2008 Report issued by the University of Guyana, the Belizean said a string of recommendations were made; however, to date none have been implemented. Additionally, he questioned why the University’s administration, without previously consulting with the students, thought that

self and the Vice Chancellor, leaving many in a state of awe. Dennison sought another opportunity to bash the administration for not consulting the thousands of students who will be affected by the increase. He said students must not accept a verbal presentation on the plans of the institution, and demanded that the administration circulate its strategic plan, which must state clearly the implementation deadlines. Students, he stressed, must be given an opportunity to peruse the document before a determination is made on whether the increase must take effect.

“What makes you so special, that we should listen to

A section of the students that attended the consultation on Tuesday

bad management. “There has been bad management at UG in the use of these tuition fees,” Dennison told the Professor as loud rounds of applause filled the air at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre where the second of five consultations was unfolding.

According to the student, had the administration im-

an increase in fees would be the solution to the many problems facing the institution. “The first thing you’d thought about was raising the fees?” Dennison asked the Vice Chancellor, who immediately replied “No!”

The international student’s series of questions and comments had ignited a verbal battle between him-

you now, that you should better manage this school?” the Belizean asked.

In response, Dr Opadeyi said he has signed a threeyear contract with the Government of Guyana and the institution will undergo transformation. He maintained his position that if the institution is to rise to the occasion, investments must be

made. Students, he stressed, must be willing to invest in their academic pursuits.

Turning his attention to the issue of mismanagement, Dr Opadeyi said, this occurs when an institution fails to keep abreast with its income and expenditure, but continues to operate nevertheless.

“It was indeed bad management, but it was bad management with a human face,” the Vice Chancellor said. But under his watch, he said the administration will be closely monitoring the financial affairs of the institution.

“Under my watch… from the moment we don’t have money to run a certain programme, we will close that programme down. That’s good management,” Dr Opadeyi told the small group of students who gathered in the theatre.

Plethora of problems

However, the Vice Chancellor applauded his predecessors for braving the 'weather' despite a plethora of problems. But he said they lacked the courage to “put down their feet and say this must stop” in alluding to the tuition fee which has remained stable for the past 20 years although the prices of goods and services have escalated drastically.

The increase in tuition fees is just one component of the proposed changes, the Vice Chancellor said, positing that the administration will soon be approaching the Government of Guyana for an increase in subvention to cushion the impact of rising prices.

Though indicating that the University’s administration has a “concrete plan” in place to ensure students get quality education in exchange for the increase in fees, Dr Opadeyi failed to put timelines to the plans touted

by his administration.

But as he continued to tout his plan of increasing the fees, the Vice Chancellor told the students that systems will be instituted to ensure that they acquire loans from the Finance Ministry Loan Department and other financial institutions.

Despite his lengthy response, some students murmured in their seats that the Professor failed to roll out an annual plan on the process of implementation, positing that little assurance was given that students will indeed benefit from an increase in fees.

However, a third-year sociology student, who gained the support of a small group of students, told the listening audience that for too long, students of the University of Guyana have been operating in breach of the agreement initiated by

the Government of Guyana in 1994. At the time, the Government had set the tuition fee at US$1000, which was equivalent to $127,000. “We have been getting away with murder and it's time we pay up,” the third-year student said. She explained that though the exchange rate has changed rapidly over the years, the fees have remained stagnant. The young lady, who identified herself as a teacher who works for $48,000 a month, stressed that although the increase will affect her now, it will benefit not only her but all students in the long run. The University’s administration is proposing that the fee increases from $127,000 to $200,000 for new students, while continuing students will pay the current fee in addition to a $50,000 facility fee annually. (svetlanam@ guyanatimesgy.com)

First stone depot opens in Georgetown – 1000 tonnes expected every three days

The first stone depot in Georgetown on Monday received its initial shipment of 1000 tonnes of stone at Battery Road, Kingston, just behind the Guyana Forestry Commission.

Vishnu Ramdial of Durban Quarries said that with the heavy demand for stone, the company’s new operation is open to anyone who wishes to purchase. Obtainable are different grades of stone from ½ inch. The supply is expected to be renewed every two to three days.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud, who inspected the shipment, said a lot of the stones will go towards housing, road and sea defence projects. Observing that there have been complaints of a shortage, he stated that it is the belief that quarry operators in Guyana can do better, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

“They can scale up their output to meet the market. It is always sad when local contractors and even the Government itself, have to

contemplate importing quarry material given the vast resources,” he pointed out.

The Minister added that there have been a number of

meetings with quarry operators involving different ministries and one of the complaints raised was logistics. He observed that it was not

just shortage of materials, but bringing the materials to the market and having the necessary depot.

Working together

He pointed that his Ministry worked with Durban Quarries while seeking to work with other operators in terms of ironing out their difficulties. The Minister stated that several issues were addressed and worked out, including the procurement of spares through the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), as well as getting support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

With respect to Durban Quarries, the Minister stated that the operator did not have an off-loading facility. The current location was identified through discussions with the Public Works Ministry, and the company invested in a barge and tug.

He expressed the hope that through the facilitation “we will see an increased supply to the market especially to the construction sector”. Minister Persaud also hopes that this move would satisfy the stone shortage and that other operators would utilise the resources and improve it.

The Minister said that his Ministry is currently reviewing the terms and conditions of quarry operators and in excess of a dozen applications for operations in the country are currently being reviewed. He noted that while they want to upscale the sector, “we are looking at new entrants to support the construction boom in the country, and remove the reliance on imported stone”. He also pointed to the boom in the construction sector which has increased the demand for stone, and expressed the hope that more quarry operators will respond.

Second-year Law Student Glenfield Dennison takes on UG’s Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi in a verbal battle over the proposed increase in fees

Natural Resources and Environment

Minister Robert Persaud examines the stones, whilst Vishnu Ramdial of Durban Quarries looks on

Robert Gates tells Rodney CoI:

Rodney had to be killed

…“because no jail could hold him”

By Alexis Rodney

The

Commission of Inquiry

probing the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Walter Rodney, on Tuesday heard that even if the historian had not met his demise by way of explosion on June 13, 1980, and even if his alleged murderer Gregory Smith had not carried out the heinous act, his death would have come about anyhow.

That was the view expressed by former Police Constable Allan Robert Gates, who had testified that he was an agent of the State and would daily furnish his superiors with information about the activities of the members of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

Gates was at the time answering a question as to whether the Government of the day had any interest in arresting Rodney and his colleague, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who were allegedly planning to overthrow the Forbes Burnham

Administration. He said given Rodney’s large following and his infiltration of the armed forces, it was felt that “no jail could hold him” and that had he been arrested and placed in jail, there would have been civil disturbances.

Gates said based on the information he had, Dr Rodney had to be assassinated. Dr Rodney had returned to Guyana in 1974 from Tanzania and became an integral part of the WPA. He was a consistent voice for the oppressed and exploited. As his popularity grew, it is reported that the threat of his revolutionary messages stirred fear among Guyana’s political elite.

Extrajudicial killings

Gates, during a re-examination by the Commission’s Counsel Glenn Hanoman, said based on the intelligence he had received and provided, he had become aware of the extrajudicial killings by the parallel Death Squad. Some persons, he revealed, who were listed in the intelligence were eventually killed by the parallel Death Squad.

Gates told the Commission that he was not surprised that it had led to his death. Gates said that even if Rodney did not die at the hands of Gregory Smith, he would have died anyhow, because Burnham was faced with a situation where he needed to get rid of Rodney or accept defeat. It was the “Law of the Jungle”, he said. As bodyguard to Dr Roopnaraine and having firsthand knowledge of the official

operations of the Government, Gates said he had on several occasions warned his former boss that he was in danger and needed to be careful. Gates said he had informed Dr Roopnaraine too that Dr Rodney had become the prime target of the Government and was “marked for hell”, although he never had any personal conversation with Dr Rodney. It was clear that Rodney was a serious threat to the PNC Administration.

Gates said too that that although he was well trained to detect, apprehend, and bring to justice persons who may have contravened the law of the land, that was not the case with Dr Rodney.

He said he had often heard his superiors saying that “no prison could hold Dr Walter Rodney”. Asked if the security officers were indoctrinated with the belief that Dr Rodney had to be eliminated at all costs, Gates said: “I really don’t think Burnham had a choice.”

He told the Commission that based on intelligence on the ground and all the reports, Dr Rodney was very influential and had a lot of followers. He said the heads of the security forces had feared arresting him. It was felt that the historian had infiltrated both the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) from the top. It was a known fact, he also said, because of that and the ground support Rodney had that “there would have been civil disturbances, because it was a serious time”, if he had been arrested.

FAO urges countries to put people at the centre of forest policies

Countries should put more policy emphasis on maintaining and enhancing the vital contributions of forests to livelihoods, food, health and energy, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on Monday.

FAO’s flagship publication The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO), presented today at the opening of the 22nd Session of the FAO Committee on Forestry (COFO), shows that a significant proportion of the world population relies on forest products to meet basic needs for energy, shelter and some aspects of primary healthcare – often to a very high degree.

However, the report finds that these socioeconomic benefits are often not adequately addressed in forest and other relevant policies, despite their enormous potential to contribute to poverty reduction, rural development and greener economies. The role of forests in food security is also often overlooked, but it is essential.

“This 2014 edition of SOFO focuses on the socioeconomic benefits derived from forests. It is impressive to see how forests contribute to basic needs and rural livelihoods. They are also a carbon sink, and preserve biodiversity,” said FAO DirectorGeneral José Graziano da Silva. “Let me say this clearly: we cannot ensure food security or sustainable development without preserving and using forest resources responsibly,” he added.

In many developing countries, wood energy is often the only accessible and affordable fuel for the majority of people. One in three households uses wood as their main fuel for cooking. Wood energy provides over half of the total energy supply in 29 countries, including 22 in Africa. In Tanzania, for example, woodfuel accounts for about 90 per cent of total national energy consumption.

Wood energy is essential for the food security of billions of people, but forest, energy and food-security policies rarely fully recognize this. Much needs to be done to improve wood energy production, make it more sustainable and to reduce the burden on women and children, who collect 85 percent of all firewood used in homes.

Houses built of wood

At least 1.3 billion people, or 18 per cent of the world’s population, live in houses built of wood, according to SOFO. This is particularly important in less-developed countries, where forest products are usually more affordable than other building materials.

The production of building materials, wood energy and non-wood forest products employs at least 41 million people in the “informal” sector worldwide, three times the number of people employed in the formal forest sector.

Countries should shift their focus, both in data collection and policymaking, from production to benefits – in other words, from trees to people

Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

Spain to return Colombian treasure seized from drug gangs

Spain is to return to Colombia 691 indigenous artefacts seized in a Police operation 11 years ago. Most of the ceramic items are of huge cultural and archaeological value, and date back to 1400BC.

They had been smuggled out of South America by a man linked to the drug gangs before being recovered in Spain, the embassy in Madrid said. Following a court order in Spain, the items were handed over to the Colombian authorities.

They were put in the Museum of America in Madrid and will be returned to Colombia in the next few months.

“What we are receiving can be compared to a complete museum,” said the

US remains silent on spying in The Bahamas

The Government of The Bahamas is still awaiting an official response from the United States over the allegations that its National Security Agency (NSA) is recording and archiving every cellphone conversation in The Bahamas, Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said.

Colombian Ambassador to Madrid, Fernando Carrillo. “And they are in good condition too.”

They were taken out of the country illegally by a man who specialised in laundering money for the drug cartels, said Carrillo. Colombia won a long legal battle to avoid the items being returned to their previous owner or remaining in Spain.

The artefacts were made before the arrival of the Spanish colonisers in South America in the 16th Century. All the main civilisations that lived in the area are represented in the collection. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Cuba and Russia develop project for regional firefighters Centre

The headquarters of Cuban Fire Department (CBC by its Spanish acronym) announced the existence of a project, which is in its development stage, for Cuba-Russia Regional Centre for Rescue Training and Firemen (CRESB by its Spanish acronym).

The aim of the institution is to strengthen the capacity of Latin America and the Caribbean countries to prevent, cope with and recover from disasters and other emergencies, CBC head, Colonel Luis Carlos Guzman Matos, said.

Guzman Matos spoke at the 5th Firemen International Conference, based at Havana Conventions Palace, in presence of professionals from 22 countries, some of whom

came from Latin America.

According to the official, CRESB will provide instruments for equipments in specialised classrooms, laboratories, intensive training complex, specialised vehicles for the teaching process and firefighting, search and rescue, as well as training of chosen personnel.

CRESB lies in the National Fire College and will be visited on Thursday by people attending the event, which ends a day later, according to CBC experts, institution that is improving the training system of its forces.

The 5th Firemen International Conference is part of the 9th International Congress on Disaster, which is also running in the same venue. (Cuba News Agency)

Coastal Zone Management Unit unveils plans to save Barbados’ dying coral reefs

“The generic response is that they are waiting for their other agencies to report in or something of that nature,” he said when contacted for comment. “But I don’t want to put any more speculation on it. They said that they will have an answer and I suppose they will have an answer. But in the meantime we are doing our own due diligence here.”

The allegations were

Mitchell had said that the Government was expected to receive a report from the US Department of State last week addressing the claim. However, he said on Sunday that there is no new information.

first reported on May 19 and were based on documents leaked by former NSA analyst Edward Snowden. The story was originally reported by The Intercept website.

According to the documents, the NSA is using a programme called SOMALGET to store and collect full take audio of cellphone calls in The Bahamas and one other country, revealed to be Afghanistan by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

With most of the coral reefs around Barbados either dead or dying, the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) says it is time to grow the precious living organisms and then transplant them into the sea as a way to preserve them.

And that is what acting Director, Dr Lorna Inniss revealed was among the plans of the CZMU as she highlighted some of the work of the organisation over the past 30 years at a media briefing on Monday at Brandons Beach, St Michael.

“We have temperatures soaring in July and August and coral are extremely sensitive to small changes in temperature, so as a re-

sult when temperatures get too high, coral reefs are being stressed. What we are seeing is that many of the reefs are either dead, dying or extremely stressed and are not growing the way we would like.

“So we are actually looking at setting up coral nurseries, a very new technolo-

gy across the world. We are going to be testing it over the next two years, seeing if we can get the coral to grow and then transplanting them to see how they do, which requires that we be very careful concerning the water quality of the areas we transplant them to,” she said. (Nation News)

‘Sex offenders’ registry in TT long overdue

Its aim was to protect the nation’s women and children, but since its public proposal in 2011 nothing has been done to establish a sexual offenders’ registry. In September 2011, former Justice Minister Herbert Volney had said the registry was being worked on and a Bill pertaining to it was expected to be brought before Parliament by the end of 2011. Almost a year later, in 2012, Volney was fired from the People’s Partnership

Government and the registry still had not been implemented.

Volney, in an interview with the Sunday Guardian last Wednesday, said he could not explain why three years after the announcement there was still no sexual offenders’ registry. In a letter to the editor in last Tuesday’s TT Guardian, questions were raised as to why the registry had not yet been implemented. Volney said at the time he left office, the Sex Offenders’

Registry Bill was “with the legal department, and the department was working on how it should be implemented.” He said TT was way behind, “... still in the last century,” and the bill was long overdue. Volney added that the legislation was not specific to children. The merit of establishing a registry needed careful consideration, said former independent senator and human rights activist Diana Mahabir-Wyatt. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaican is new Chief Justice for the TCI

Jamaican Margaret Ramsay-Hale has been appointed Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands, the TCI Sun reported in its online edition on Monday. The newspaper reported Ramsay-Hale will take up her appointment later this year after Governor Peter Beckingham accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission to appoint her as the next Chief Justice of the TCI. Justice Ramsay-Hale, daughter of prominent Jamaican attorney Ian

Ramsay, QC, was previously appointed as Judge of the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court in November 2011. She was first admitted to practise as an attorney in Jamaica in 1991, and was appointed to the bench in Jamaica in 1995.

The TCI Sun said the commission also accepted a recommendation that the offer of outgoing Chief Justice Edwin Goldsbrough to stay on for a few months until a successor to Justice Ramsay-Hale as a judge of the Supreme Court is found.

Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission is Justice Lensley Wolfe. Its other members are Sir David Simmons and Sir Brian Alleyne.

“I have offered this position to Justice Ramsay-Hale this week, and I am very pleased that she has accepted it. I am certain that she will bring a great deal of energy as well as professional wisdom and experience to this very important job in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

The pre-Colombian archaeological art pieces were taken to Spain illegally

FBI rescues 168 victims in child sex trafficking, nabs 281 pimps

Nearly 170 victims of child sex trafficking, many of whom had never been reported missing, were rescued in the last week in the US as part of an annual nationwide crackdown, the FBI said Monday.

Besides the 168 children rescued from the sex trade, 281 pimps were arrested during the same period on state and federal charges. “These are not faraway kids in faraway lands,” FBI Director James Comey said in announcing the annual enforcement push known as Operation Cross Country. Instead, he added, “These are America’s children.”

This is the eighth such week-long operation, which this year unfolded in 106 cities. The FBI says nearly 3600 children have so far been recovered from the street.

“I hate that we have to do this work – hate it,” Comey said. “I love the people who’ve devoted their lives to doing this work. There is no more meaningful work that the FBI participates in than rescuing children.”

He said the operations were designed to “crush these pimps” and show that children are not for sale. They are also intended to rescue children who are being trafficked on street corners, in truck stops and, increasingly, on the Internet, where pimps advertise and arrange sexual encounters. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Pakistan plane attacked in Peshawar

APakistan International Airlines flight into Peshawar from Riyadh has been fired upon from the ground while landing at Bacha Khan International Airport.

One woman is confirmed to have died in Tuesday’s incident, local sources told Al Jazeera. At least two other people were wounded.

The passenger jet, with the flight number of PK-

756, landed safely after being fired upon. The aircraft was an Airbus A310 and it was carrying 178 passengers during the flight.

Muhammad Faisal, a senior Police official, said that four to five bullets hit the plane.

“Flight operations have been temporarily suspended,” Faisal told AFP. Flights into Peshawar’s airport have been fired upon in the past, but none are be-

lieved to have been hit until Tuesday’s incident.

The airport was previously attacked, reportedly by Uzbek militants, in December 2012 with a rocket attack which killed four followed the next day by gunfire.

The attack on the aircraft follows a deadly assault on the airport in Karachi, the country’s main city, on June 8. (Excerpt from Reuters)

India’s first indigenous antisubmarine warfare ship ready

India’s first indigenously-built antisubmarine warfare corvette INS Kamorta is ready to be commissioned into the Indian Navy next month, defence officials said on Tuesday.

Built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata, it will be the first warship armed with an indigenous rocket launcher for anti-submarine warfare, they said.

The corvette is ready-

ing to sail out from GRSE’s fitting-out jetty in Kolkata to join the Navy’s eastern fleet at Vishakhapatnam in July, officials said. The sophisticated front line warship with stealth features will also be the first warship armed with the new trainable chaff launcher –Kavach.

With an approximate displacement of 3400 tonnes, it can achieve a maximum speed of 25 knots. It is powered by

four indigenously designed 3888KW diesel engines at 1050 rpm and can cover nearly 3500 nautical miles at 18 knots. The overall length of the ship is 109 metres and is nearly 13 metres wide at its maximum bulge.

With about 90 per cent of the ship being indigenous, it is also capable of deploying a helicopter, adding considerable punch to the ship’s antisubmarine capability. (Times of India)

More than 60 women and girls kidnapped in Nigeria

More than 60 women and girls have been abducted in the past week in Nigeria’s Borno state, the same region where Boko Haram militants seized 276 schoolgirls in April, a local official said Tuesday. The Government has yet to confirm the kidnappings.

The victims were taken during a series of attacks on the village of Kummabza in Borno state’s Damboa district that left at least 30 dead, according to residents who escaped the violence.

In a tweet posted late on Monday, Nigeria’s defence headquarters in the capital Abuja said that it had “yet to confirm the several reports on the abduction of girls in Borno as [of] now”.

A senior officer in the Damboa local government, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said that “over 60 women were hijacked and forcefully taken away by the terrorists”.

“The village was also de-

stroyed. Some of the survivors who do not have [the] means of transporting themselves, especially old women and men, trekked to Lassa, in the Askira-Uba local government area of Borno state, 25 kilometres (away). Others went to Gulak in Adamawa state, where they are now taking refuge,” he said.

The abductions are the latest to take place in Borno, which has been plagued by an increasingly deadly, five-year insurgency by the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram. (Excerpt from France24)

Around

China’s Supreme Court overturns death sentence for victim of domestic violence

China’s top court has overturned the death sentence of a woman convicted of killing her husband after years of violent abuse, her lawyer said on Tuesday, in a move activists say shows the Government could be serious about battling domestic violence.

The landmark case of Li Yan, which was widely discussed on the Internet in China, highlights the plight of victims of domestic violence, and drew the attention of international human rights groups.

The decision “will have an exemplary effect” on similar future lawsuits, Li’s lawyer, Guo Jianmei, told Reuters, as it may be the first case in China to overturn capital punishment for the killing of a domestic abuser.

“It means domestic violence cases, especially those in which violence is used to counter violence, will receive greater attention from various parties, especially the courts,” said Guo, a pro bono lawyer who specialises in women’s rights. Li’s brother received a

letter from her on Monday advising of the court’s decision. The outcome of Li’s retrial is hard to predict, but it is highly unlikely the Sichuan provincial court will sentence her to death again, Guo added.

Li, 43, was sentenced to death in 2012 for killing her husband Tan Yong. Tan had physically, sexually and verbally abused Li for more than three years, burning her with cigarettes and cutting off one of her fingers, Guo said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Ukraine army helicopter ‘shot down’ despite ceasefire

The Ukrainian military says one of its helicopters has been shot down by pro-Russian rebels in the east, killing all nine people on board. It says the Mi-8 helicopter was hit by a rocket shortly after take-off outside the rebel-held city of Sloviansk.

It comes a day after the rebels vowed to observe a ceasefire until Friday, in response to a Government peace plan. But Ukraine’s President said he may end it due to “constant violation by rebels who are controlled from abroad”.

A statement from Petro Poroshenko’s office said “the head of state does not exclude that the ceasefire regime may be revoked ahead of schedule”.

Earlier, Russia’s President warned that the week-long truce was not enough.

Vladimir Putin said it should be extended to try to hold “substantive talks” between the Ukrainian Government and the separatists. The rebels have not commented publicly on the Ukrainian military’s claims. Before Tuesday, the rebels – who continue to hold towns in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk –had shot down at least two Ukrainian army helicopters and a plane. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Before Tuesday, the rebels had shot down at least two Ukrainian Army helicopters and a plane

wednesday, june 25, 2014

Dynamic Airways gets licence to fly

Captain Gerry Gouveia of Roraima Airways on Tuesday received the licence for Dynamic Airways from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, promising to get the operations underway.

Gouveia told media operatives that he is pleased to be associated with Dynamic Airways in this collaborative venture, whereby Roraima Airways will provide all support services for the new airline and will be working very closely with them to ensure that the airline takes on a “Guyanese flavour”.

Guyana is the first country where Dynamic Airways will feature routes with regular flights four days a week, starting on Thursday. The airline days for Guyana are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday in the

initial stages of this operation.

Captain Gouveia stated that though Dynamic is still in its “teething stage”, it is asking customers to watch it as it evolves.

Cooperation

The two airlines intend to bring a culture to the international operations, similar to that of the domestic, as he noted that the domestic flight operations in Guyana work in a cooperative way to bring the best possible service to the flying public, in an effort to help enhance tourism, the mining industry, forestry and business development in general. Gouveia stated that this is what he intends to bring to the international airline industry through Dynamic Airways in Guyana. They aim to promote

20 trained in food safety management

The Trade Facilitation Organisation (TF0) of Canada, supported by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), hosted a SQF Food Safety Management Training Workshop on Tuesday.

Safe Quality Food (SQF) is a food-safety certification scheme. The SQF Food Safety Management System (FSMS) is designed to provide organisations with a rigorous system to manage food safety risks and provide safe product customers with recognised food- safety certification.

The workshop, held in the conference room of IICA’s Brickdam location, featured about 20 participants from several businesses from across Georgetown, including Sterling Products, Jets Enterprise and Tandy’s Enterprise.

The two-day workshop, which will conclude today, was facilitated by James Van Ells. Van Ells began

Guyana’s development, by extending better and afford-

able services, and more options to the general public.

Gouveia also stated that this move is not to bring

about destructive competition or any competition at all, as he hopes that they can eventually work with other airlines in the interest of Guyana.

The Captain reflected on the transportation issue that erupted last year after Delta Airways left Guyana, causing airfares to skyrocket and leaving Guyanese living abroad who wanted to come home stranded.

He said the introduction of Dynamic Airways to Guyana would contribute to making Guyana a better place through international promotion.

Guyana Civil Aviation Authority Director General Zulficar Mohamed stated that he hopes Dynamic Airways is around for the long haul and they can all work together in promoting and developing Guyana.

US Embassy hosts youth conference

his food career with a BSc degree in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin, followed by a master of Agriculture with a major in Food Science from the University of Minnesota.

Van Ells presented on the actuality that the Safe Quality Food Institute recognises that food safety practices differ, depending on the food- safety risk to the product and the process, and has designed a code to meet individual requirements of each industry sector. The SQF Code outlines the requirements for a supplier involved in the primary production, manufacturing, processing, transport, storage, distribution or retailing of food products and food- contact packaging.

The code also describes the auditable requirements that must be met by the supplier to achieve certification to the SQF Code. It is divided into 16 modules that must be met, commensurate with the producer or food supplier’s food industry sector.

The US Embassy’s Public Affairs Section held its second annual Youth Action Network (YAN) Conference earlier this week at the Splashmin’s Fun Park, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Twenty Guyanese YAN members participated in competence-building seminars in the areas of personal development and goal setting, leadership styles, and strategies to motivate others.

The sessions were facilitated by Soren Griffith and Althea Thomas from the USAID-funded SKYE project, Professional Development Consultant Rawle Dundas, and Allana McCullock, a member of the National Hockey Team.

According to a release, the US Embassy in Georgetown has been working to reach young people through youth-based programmes such as the Youth Ambassadors Program and Guyana Shines, and social media outreach. Through

the creation of the YAN in July 2013, the Embassy established a consolidated and more formalised twoway exchange between the Embassy and youths of Guyana. Under the theme “Ready to Serve, Ready to Lead”, the YAN serves to build youth capacity and skills by teaching the value of service and empowering them to become dynamic leaders.

Training sessions

The YAN provides opportunities to Guyanese youths for networking and training in order to enhance their leadership skills and professionalism. The YAN brings together youths of diverse religious, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds to share their opinions and ideas about Guyana and its future.

In 2013, the Embassy held the first YAN Conference with specific training sessions for youths on public speaking, organisation and life skills, cre-

ativity, community resource mapping, and project management.

The YAN has also undertaken several activities, including three simultaneous community service projects in Linden and an International Volunteer Day activity to benefit the children of Joshua House. The 2014 YAN Conference served as a starting point for the new administration of the YAN. Members campaigned for the months leading up to the Conference and then held elections to install a YAN Council.

As a result of those elections, Lizanna Gordon was elected President, with six other YAN Council members filling the remaining positions: Mark Ross as Vice President, Andrew Kendall as Secretary, Tonza Ward and Rhonda Brotherson as Event Coordinators, Surujdai Mukhram as Historian, and Kadeem Gordon as Marketing Specialist. The YAN will hold its first official coun-

cil and general meeting on July 5 to develop a work plan and chart its way forward. It will see membership opened once a year and a new YAN Council elected yearly.

The Network has already planned its first major volunteer project, where members will team up with visiting US military cadets to take part in a community service project on August 2. The YAN in Guyana is part of a larger, global initiative. US Embassies around the world are establishing Youth Advisory Councils as a mechanism to partner with emerging young leaders and address shared challenges.

More than 50 per cent of the world’s population is younger than 30, and the youth demographic will be a major driver of economic and social progress throughout the world. The YAN is designed to help young people become informed, active participants in their societies.

Captain Gerry Gouveia (right) and Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Zulficar Mohamed (left) at a briefing as Dynamic Airways gets licence to fly from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority on Tuesday

Participants of the youth conference

James Van Ells interacting with the participants at the workshop

Green’s snub causes Whittaker walkout from City Council meeting

Just when citizens thought the drama at City Hall had ended, there was another showdown at Monday’s statutory meeting, but this time, it was Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker and Mayor Hamilton Green who locked horns.

Whittaker abruptly stormed out in the middle of the meeting after Mayor Green had refused to acknowledge his presence at the early stages of the meeting.

The Minister was seated in the meeting chambers, along with the Councillors and members of the public, waiting for the Mayor to show up. Green arrived some 20 minutes late after which he immediately proceeded to address the items on the agenda, ignoring the presence of Whittaker.

He asked Deputy Mayor, Patricia ChaseGreen to read a private letter to the Council which was addressed and sent to him by the Minister some time ago. This did not go down well with members on the side of the People Progressive Party/Civic, who took to the floor, stating that the letter was a private one and it should remain as that while berating the Mayor for his disrespect in refusing to acknowledge the presence of the Minister in the meeting.

It was after the Councillors raised their voices, some 50 minutes into the meeting that Green briefly mentioned that the Minister was present in the meeting before returning to his agenda.

Whittaker, who had gone to the meeting with the knowledge and assur-

ance that he will be able to address the Council and several pressing issues, was not given the promised opportunity, prompting him to abruptly leave the meeting with members of his staff in tow.

Speaking outside of the chambers to media operatives, Whittaker expressed his disappointment on the treatment he received from Green, noting that it was grossly disrespectful since he was present there based on the invitation and consent of the Mayor.

Agreement to speak

“I wrote to the Mayor requesting that I would like to speak at the meeting since everywhere I go, persons always ask for the Government to intervene in the situation existing here at the Council. We corresponded by email and he agreed and told me to come today [Monday]. Sometime after our correspondence, the Deputy Mayor Chase-Green emailed me relating that I could not come today [Monday] but I should come at the next statutory meeting. I wrote back to her informing her that I had already spoken to the Mayor and he had given permission for me to come today. The Mayor was aware that I was coming here. There was not even an acknowledgement but the humility in me doesn’t make me bothered by that, but I think he stooped very low when he went as far as he did,” Whittaker said.

The Minister disclosed that he had gone to the Council’s meeting to address and try to fix the many issues which had been plaguing them for

Guyana to examine US sea and river defence for adaptability locally

Four engineers of the Sea and River Defence Department of the Public Works Ministry are scheduled for a technical working visit to the United States of America.

This was revealed by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn during a recent interview. The Minister was responding to a question regarding the securing of Guyana’s sea defence, in light of the rising sea level as climate change effects continue to be experienced.

“Engineers will shortly be making visits to the Mississippi River Delta and the Louisiana Coast to see the US sea and river defence structures which are done by the US Army Corps of engineers, to get some cross fertilisation of ideas with regards to response we have to make regarding this issue,” the Minister said.

the past few months, including the Mayor’s vehicle fuel allowance, nonpayment of Councillors’ stipends, the Georgetown Cleanup Project and proposal for subvention, among other pressing issues, but the behaviour of the Mayor blocked him.

“I came here to help them; to discuss the issues affecting them but all they can do is engage themselves in semantics and do nothing productive,” the Minister told the media operatives. He noted that the Green may not have acknowledged his presence since he had made claims that the Ministry had not consulted with him on the cleanup exercise scheduled for Georgetown to the tune of $500 million dollars.

On this note, Whittaker, however, disclosed that was not true since the Council was informed and it was them who had even made the proposal in the first place.

“Their Chief Engineer was involved in the project. As a matter of fact, the Le Repentir Cemetery Project was discussed at the Council level with the Ministry and that is how it came about. They were consulted and discussions were held way before this,” the Minister disclosed.

Whittaker said that up until Monday, he had only heard about the drama taking place weekly at City Hall, but has now seen for himself the immature behaviour displayed at the Council for selfish gains, while consistently failing to address the many issues which are facing the citizens of the city.

He added that plans are also being arranged for visits to the Dutch Coast and the coast of Bangladesh “to learn from their experiences and share experiences.” “Fundamentally, it is to understand the processes, the hydro dynamics and then to refine, improve and optimise the engineering responses at costs which we can bear or which will be supported by development partners,” Minister Benn stated.

He observed too that the status of Guyana’s sea and

river defence has been dramatically improved. There have been no significant breaches and overtopping as used to happen in the past or loss of national territory occurring, he pointed out. With respect to adaptation to climate change and the resultant sea level rise, the Minister stated that work is ongoing. In the first instance, the target is aimed at reducing the cost of building sea defences.

“The cost of one linear metre of sea defence used to be US$3000 to $5000, we’ve got it down to somewhere to US$2500,” Minister Benn said. He added that there is an intention to push the price down further with engineering inputs.

Also aimed at reducing

price, is the mangrove replanting exercise now being done through the Agriculture Ministry’s National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). He also noted that Guyana has partnered with the European Union (EU) which has been very reliable over the years. “Our experience with the EU has been good because we have been able to move from what was project support. They would give the money directly to the project, but their confidence in the system, in our partnership, has moved to the point where they’re giving us budget support,” Minister Benn explained. “They are allowing us to refine the projects, put the money in the budget and we decide how we are doing it. That is a significant change in the way the development support is being done here with respect to Guyana and indicates a growth in the confidence that they have in the work that we do in this sector.” he added.

While it has been accepted over the years that Guyana’s coastland level lies below that of mean highwater spring tides by about one metre, it has been recognised that there is critical need for strong defence, due to the predicted sea level rise attributed to climate change.

FATF to decide Guyana’s fate Thursday – Teixeira

The Financial Action Task Force (FAFT) will pass judgment on Guyana by Thursday, Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira said.

Speaking with Guyana Times from Paris, the Presidential Advisor disclosed that Guyana was once again placed under the microscope when the International Corporation Review Group (ICRG) conducted its review on Monday. Today, ICRG will continue the process of review, setting the stage for the commencement of the third and final plenary meeting on Wednesday under the Presidency of Vladimir Nechaev of the Russian Federation.

The 36 member international organisation sets the standards and promotes effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money launder, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

The international financial body will determine whether Guyana should be subjected to a prima-facie review by the International

Corporation Review Board.

This therefore means that Guyana could land itself on any of the three blacklisting tiers. The most severe level, which is found at the top of the chart, effectively requires countries to issue counter measures against countries on that list. Presently, North Korea and Iran are the only two countries blacklisted at this level.

The second layer includes countries that have significant Anti-Money Laundering (AML) safety

deficiencies, but have not given a political comment to deal with those issues or have not formulated an action plan in collaboration with the FATF to deal with outstanding issues.

The lowest tier encompasses countries that have issued a political comment to implement the reforms and formulated an action plan to be implemented by strategic deadlines. However, if the country during the review period offers to commit to the AML/CFT standards and establishes an action plan in conjunction with FATF, it would be placed on the lowest level.

In May, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) referred Guyana to FATF after it was further recognised as a jurisdiction with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies due to its non-compliance with the Action Plan developed with the regional body.

CFATF had already sounded an alarm, calling on member countries to safeguard themselves from Guyana with the introduction of counter measures to protect their financial systems from money laundering and terrorist financing risks.

Presidential Adviser on Governance, Gail Teixeira

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker speaking to media operatives outside the chamber of City Hall

Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn

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Agreeable resolution reached following WICB visit...

Further, the WICB sought an undertaking from His Excellency, President Donald Ramotar that the Bill will not be signed into law until these matters are resolved.

However, the parties were not able to find a mutually agreeable resolution and as a consequence the WICB relocated the Third Test between West Indies and New Zealand from Guyana.

On May 30, a letter was sent to President Donald Ramotar from WICB President Dave Cameron, raising concerns about the Bill and requesting that the Head of State not as -

sent to it until their concerns were addressed.

Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony was asked to respond, and the Minister wrote to Cameron requesting that he details all his concerns with regard to the Bill. Cameron pointed out that the response had to be dealt with under the Presidential seal. He then informed Guyana of the decision to remove the match.

Government has since said that it does not discount that the WICB may be looking for a scapegoat in this matter since their agents in Guyana were restrained by a Court Order

from acting or holding themselves out as officers of the GCB and as agents of

Forde seeking to reclaim CARICOM 10K crown

Morgan to miss out for first time

By ReuBen StoBy

Reigning road-run-

ning king of Guyana, Cleveland Forde, says he is fit and ready for Sunday’s annual Caricom 10K in Antigua. Forde was dethroned last year by Trinidad’s Denzil Ramirez when the event was held in Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile, four-time female Caricom 10K champion Alika Morgan will not be attending the event for the first time.

Forde told Guyana Times on Sunday following his win in the International Olympic Day Team Run at Thomas Lands that he was prepared for the 10th Annual Caricom 10K and had used the run as a warm-up for the big race.

“I am prepared for this run. I am healthy, everything is in order and I am ready,” Forde stated.

In the run on Sunday, Forde had once again allowed others to set the pace while keeping them within a comfortable catching range before relying on his finishing speed to make it home first in 34:49.25 ahead of Police Track Club’s Nathaniel Giddings (35:15.40) and Kevin Bailey (35:29.62).

His winning time was still way off the 32:09 ran by Ramirez in the Caricom 10K last year, however, Forde did admit that there was no particular strategy

other than to take it easy in Sunday’s Team Run in which he represented the GDF who came second to Running Braves Athletic Club. “It was just a nice cool run and not about pushing for a fast time or anything.”

The middle and longdistance ace said even if he wanted to push for a fast time, however, the conditions would not have allowed him to as the roads were wet and “I was sliding at almost every step.”

It is not clear if Ramirez, who now resides in the United States, would be defending his title.

Meanwhile, Morgan’s coach Leslie Black told Guyana Times Sport that his athlete would miss out for the first time this year.

“She was hoping to go on her own but it wasn’t feasible as the first prize is just US$1000 and the airfare for her trip alone is 600 US dollars, and we aren’t talking about accom-

modation and meals yet,” Black stated.

Morgan remains the only athlete to have won the Caricom 10K title four consecutive times. The Guyanese finished second behind Trinidad’s Tonya Nero last year.

Nero confirmed to this publication that she will be competing in Antigua on Sunday June 29.

Euleen Josiah-Tanner and Forde were the athletes identified to represent Guyana at the 10th staging of the Caricom 10K; however, it is unclear if Josiah-Tanner, who resides in Georgia, USA, will attend.

Meanwhile, Black also took the opportunity to call on Caricom to up the prize monies for its annual 10K in order to attract more athletes from across the Caribbean. He noted that the prize money is not encouraging, especially for athletes who may have to travel far to compete.

Cricket

to provide legal administrative guidelines for cricket, which, over the years, has become a national sport.

Dr Frank Anthony, who presented the Bill to the National Assembly, had said it was drafted after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, and moreso, following recommendations in a ruling made by the High Court.

The Bill makes it legal for the GCB to be established as a corporate body comprising the Demerara, Essequibo and the Berbice Cricket Boards, all of which will also be made corporate entities.

A section of the Bill will

address the issue of phantom voting for the election of persons for administrative positions.

The National Assembly was also told that the Bill provides for better financial accountability. As such, the GCB, under this new legislation, will be required to present timely audited financial reports to the National Assembly, as well as the National Sports Commission.

The current standoff between the Guyana Government and the GCB, and by extension the WICB, dates back to the disputed local board elections in July 2011.

Crandon hits century in T&DCA cricket

By RavendRa Madholall in toRonto

Guyanese all-rounder Royston Crandon struck a brilliant 108 to lead Vikings Cricket Club (VCC) to a superb win over Victoria Park Cricket Club on Saturday, when action continued in the Toronto and District Cricket Association (T&DCA) competition at King City in Toronto, Canada.

The right-handed Crandon, a former West Indies one-day player, mixed solid defence with occasional aggression, hitting five sixes and nine fours in his 83-ball occupation at the crease as VCC tallied up a formidable 283-9 from the allocation of 50 overs.

When Victoria Park batted, they were dismissed for 184 in the 42nd over.

The 31-year-old Crandon, who has so far featured in 24 first-class matches for Guyana, also stated that he wants to represent the Caribbean side once again. His solitary appearance for the West indies in the regional team was in 2009 against hosts South Africa.

His eagerness, coupled with determination and enthusiasm, is a testimony to his desire to play at the highest level again. He further mentioned that his steady presence in North America is very helpful to his cricketing career, as he is able to stay focused and maintain his fitness, both mentally and physically.

In the game on Saturday, Crandon said he was very

happy to play among his compatriots, including former West Indies opener Ryan Ramdass, and firstclass opener, Rajendra Chandrika.

Ramdass, who opened the batting, made 47 and Chandrika scored 37, while ex-Guyana batsman Zaheer Haniff, who is the VCC captain, chipped in with 23.

“Yes, definitely, I want to play for Guyana and West Indies again; playing in Canada and among all these players that represented Guyana and West Indies is also wonderful since it brings a competitive nature to the game. I [am] enjoying my stint here and looking forward to keep making runs and taking wickets,” Crandon related.

This year marks the off-spinner’s fifth consecutive year in Canada and his representation for Hawaiian Arctic Club in the Scarborough Cricket Association has been very impressive over the past years as well.

“That is very important, the more cricket you play, the more focused you will

be; representing these clubs in professional and competitive cricket will certainly keep me fit once I can make runs and take wickets on a regular basis for my teams,” Crandon, the younger brother of former Guyana fast bowler Esaun Crandon, emphasised.

Royston began his firstclass career for Guyana in 2007 against home team Trinidad and Tobago, while his highest score (136*) also manifested his true and natural potential.

He had a commendable start to his one-day (List A) career, registering a century (101) against Windward Islands in St George’s. It remains one of his most memorable innings throughout his cricketing life.

“Absolutely, those innings are still very much memorable and I know and confident that I can still make big contributions for my country Guyana and by extension the West Indies; as I said it is about consistency both with the bat and ball and I am here to perform well and represent my teams with determination to win the different tournaments,” the Rose Hall Youth and Sports Club athlete, asserted.

Meanwhile, Crandon also took the opportunity to say that he had a fine season in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year while representing Caldrac Cricket Club. His scores of 45 not out, 59, 84 not out, 67, 39, 93, 101 and 28, subsequently gave him tremendous confidence of donning the national colours soon.

Royston Crandon

Cleveland Forde Alika Morgan

the WICB. Moreso, the

Administration Bill seeks

Dr Frank Anthony Dr Rupert Roopnaraine From back page

‘Cricket for Unity’ 20/20 match…

Ansa McAl Trading, Sanjay’s Variety Store offer support

Two more corporate entities have come onboard in support of the ‘Cricket for Unity’ 20/20 match that will be played on July 5 at the Demerara Cricket Club ground, Queenstown.

Ansa McAl Trading Limited and Sanjay’s Variety Store have both thrown their weight behind the game which will feature prominent businessmen, politicians, members of the armed

Peswani, also commended Garnett for taking on such an event, stating that his company is 100 percent committed to it. Garnett expressed gratitude to both Worrell and Peswani for their company’s partnership which he said would certainly help to make the event a success. Meanwhile, the players for the two teams competing, Roraima Strikers and Kaieteur Thunders,

forces, media personalities and former cricketers.

Ansa McAl’s Brand Coordinator, Nigel Worrell, handed over his company’s contribution to Chairman of the ‘Cricket for Unity’ Committee, Dexter Garnett at their Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, headquarters.

Worrell, in handing over his company’s contribution, said the idea for such a game was a brilliant one, and to see so many persons already confirming their participation is commendable.

“To see politicians, members of the business community among others giving their commitment to play, is very exciting, and as a company we would want to support this cause which is for a good. We would like to encourage lovers of the game to come out on July 5 to cheer on these players at DCC,” Worrell said.

Sanjay’s Variety Store Manager, Pawan

Today’s games: Nigeria vs Argentina 12:00h, Bos-Herce vs Iran 12:00h, Ecuador vs France 16:00h, Honduras vs Switzerland 16:00h

Colombia thrash Japan to top group

Colombia finished top of Group C to set up a last-16 tie against Uruguay after a 4-1 thrashing of Japan, who were eliminated. Japan needed a win to stand a chance of progressing but went behind when Juan Cuadrado scored a penalty following Yasuyuki Konno’s foul on Adrian Ramos.

Shinji Okazaki’s steered header drew Japan level only for Jackson Martinez’s low strike to restore Colombia’s lead. Martinez cut inside and slotted in a left-foot shot before James Rodriguez’s exquisite chip wrapped up the win.

Colombia used their third goal as the signal to bring on 43-year-old keeper Faryd Mondragon, whose

introduction saw him become the oldest player at a World Cup finals as he broke Cameroon forward Roger Milla’s record.

Los Cafeteros, who went into the game having already qualified for the knockout stages for the first time since 1990, used the

game as an opportunity to rest key players but still registered a third straight win.

Godin delights Uruguay, sends Italy home

Afortunate conversion from Diego Godin proved golden for Uruguay as they booked a spot in the FIFA World Cup™ Round of 16 with a late 1-0 victory over ten-man Italy in Natal.

The Atletico Madrid defender rose highest from a corner with nine minutes remaining on the clock to complete a remarkable turnaround for his country, who had been beaten in their opening fixture of the tournament but now progress to a meeting with the winners of Group C.

reach

are asked to make contact with Coach Garvin Nedd on 617-9381 to finalise the sizes of their uniforms to be provided by the organisers.

Roraima Strikers squad reads: Neil Barry, Lloyd Harper, Travis Dowlin, Jomo Primo, Gordon Moseley, Clifton Hickens, Orin Forde, Anthony Rigby, Aaron Fraser, Jermaine Neblette, Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine, James Bond, Lennox Cush, Colin Stuart, Alfred King and Anand Sanasie. Coaches: Reon Griffith and Andre Percival.

Kaieteur Thunders squad reads: Raphael Trotman, Asif Khan, Khemraj Ramjattan, Carey Griffith, Rabindranauth Seeram, Sheik Mohamed, Clyde Butts, Tony Najab, Reon King, Esan Crandon, David Harper, Alfred Mentore, Steve Ninvalle, Lakeram Mike Singh and Ramesh Sunich. Coaches: Clive Grimmond and Garvin Nedd.

never

larity in the opening exchanges. The anxiety of La Celeste to register an early impact, meanwhile, led to the concession of numerous free-kicks – one of which Andrea Pirlo punted with power straight at goal to worry Fernando Muslera into diverting over. The four-time world champions’ total control of the ball – more than 60 per cent possession during the first 20 minutes – ensured that chances were hugely limited for Uruguay. (FIFA)

Ticos top group with England draw

Costa Rica have secured top spot in Group D after a 0-0 draw with England in Belo Horizonte’s Estadio Mineirao. Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions created the better chances in this match, but they again failed to capitalise and head for home bottom of the section having failed to win any of their three matches.

Both sides had rung the changes for this match, with the outcomes of their respective group campaignsqualification for Los Ticos, elimination for Englandalready assured. Costa Rica did have pole position still to play for, but there was a distinct lack of tension in the early play from both sides.

Joel Campbell has certainly done enough at this tournament to earn the right to play with a relaxed freedom, and it was the Olympiacos forward - aiming to impress parent club Arsenal - who first

threatened, narrowly missing the far post with a deflected 20-yard effort after just two minutes. England’s much-altered line-up took some time to click, but when they did it was one of the Three Lions’ two everpresents, Daniel Sturridge, who came close to breaking the deadlock, crashing a left-foot shot just wide of the right-hand post from 20 yards.

The sharp, busy Liverpool striker went close again from a similar distance soon after, but it was England’s goalkeeper, Ben Foster, who succeeded best in getting the fans off their seats. With 23 minutes played, Celso Borges curled in a magnificent free-kick from 25 yards that seemed destined for the top corner, but Foster matched the quality of the shot with a su-

perb flying save, somehow tipping the ball on to the crossbar and over.

The best of the chances, though, continued to fall to Sturridge, who headed over from close range as the first half neared its conclusion and was then denied early in the second period when Keylor Navas raced from his line to save bravely at the striker’s feet. Perhaps the most glaring of all came and went on 65 minutes, when Sturridge worked a one-two with Jack Wilshere and, with the goal at his mercy, curled wide of the far post.

Wayne Rooney entered the fray as a late substitute and also threatened a breakthrough, forcing Navas into an agile tip-over with a beautifully weighted chip from just outside the box. But England were forced to contend themselves with a first point at Brazil 2014, while Costa Rica march on the Round of 16 unbeaten and as Group D winners. (BBC Sport)

Daniel Sturridge was then denied early in the second period when Keylor Navas raced from his line to save bravely at the striker’s feet. Photo: Getty Images

Colombia went into the game having already qualified for the knockout stages for the first time since 1990

Italy held the safety net of knowing that a draw would be enough to

the knockout stages but the Europeans

theless probed with regu -

A fortunate conversion from Diego Godin proved golden for Uruguay. Photo: Getty Images

Dexter Garnett (right) receives Sanjay’s Variety Store’s contribution from Manager Pawan Peswani

ANSA McAl’s Brand Coordinator, Nigel Worrell (left), hands over their contribution to Dexter Garnett

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Sri Lanka beat England in thriller

England fell two balls short of a remarkable escape as Sri Lanka won the second Test to secure a 1-0 series victory.

Last man James Anderson was caught at leg gully off Shaminda Eranga from the penultimate ball of the final day at Headingley.

Anderson had survived for 20 overs in the company of Moeen Ali, who batted through the day for an unbeaten 108 off 281 balls, his maiden Test century.

But when Anderson failed

to ride a bouncer, the ball looped to Rangana Herath to see England bowled out for 249 to lose by 100 runs.

Anderson, who was later in tears at the post-match presentation, slumped over his bat in disappointment, while Sri Lanka huddled on the pitch to celebrate their first series triumph in England, having won a one-off Test in 1998.

It also completed a clean sweep after victories in the Twenty20 and one-day series.

England captain Alastair

Cook, out of form with the bat and criticised for his leadership during this campaign, insisted he had no intention of resigning despite the defeat, England’s sixth in seven Tests.

The loss, in Peter Moores’ first series since being reappointed as coach, comes before the five-Test rubber against India which begins on 9 July.

Summarised scores: Second Test, Headingley (day five) Sri Lanka 257 & 457 beat England 365 & 249 by 100 runs (BBC Sport)

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Greece knock Ivory Coast out in injury time

Greece qualified for the last 16 of a World Cup for the first time with a dramatic win against Ivory Coast.

Celtic’s Georgios Samaras converted a controversial injury-time penalty to seal the win after he was judged to have been fouled by Giovanni Sio.

Greece had taken a firsthalf lead when substitute Andreas Samaris scored after Cheick Tiote’s defensive mistake.

Ivory Coast had looked like advancing as Wilfried Bony equalised from

Gervinho’s pass, before the late twist.

Soon after their elimination from the tournament was confirmed, Ivory Coast’s coach Sabri Lamouchi resigned from his position.

Greece will face Costa Rica in the second round on Sunday in Recife, while the Ivorians have now gone out in the group phase in each of the last three World Cups.

They began the day second and, with Colombia beating Japan 4-1 in the other Group C match, only needed a point to become the first African side to qualify for the

second phase in this year’s competition.

However, Greece, who offered little as an attacking threat in the second half, were given an opportunity to grab the winner when referee Christian Lescano pointed to the spot, despite strong Ivorian protests.

They were unhappy that Samaras, who kicked the turf, had fallen to the ground, but the official gave the decision and Samaras kept his composure to shoot past Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry. (BBC)

arrest warrant issued for India captain

An Indian court issued an arrest warrant against national cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus, according to local media reports.

The case was filed last year against the 32-year-old after the cover of an Indian magazine carried a picture of him portrayed as a Hindu god.

The bailable warrant was issued after Dhoni failed to appear before the court despite three summons. The next date of hearing has been set for July 16.

Dhoni is currently touring with the Indian squad in England, where the team will play five Tests, five oneday internationals and one Twenty20 international.

Yerraguntla Shyam Sunder, a member of the right-wing Vishva Hindu Parishad party, filed the petition in March this year objecting to the picture of Dhoni.

“The court’s move was necessitated as Dhoni did not accept the summons sent previously. These warrants are only to make him accept and appear before the court,”

Sri Lanka celebrate winning their first Test series in England

Gopal Rao, the advocate representing Yerraguntla Shyam Sunder, told the Hindustan Times. Roa also told the Hindustan Times that if

Dhoni refused to appear before the court an arrest warrant which did not allow bail could be issued. (Sydney Morning Herald)

The case was filed last year against Dhoni after the cover of an Indian magazine carried a picture of him portrayed as a Hindu god

dhoni

Increased focus on officiating at National Cycling C/ships Yadram outstanding for Rousillac United in TT

GCF partners with AAG for two-day event

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) will be paying strict attention to officiating at this weekend’s National Cycling Championships, which will be held on the Linden/Georgetown corridor.

According to GCF President Cheryl Thompson, the federation has recruited the services of extra personnel to aid the process.

In giving an update on general preparations for the two-day activity, Thompson said all systems are in place from a “logistical perspective”, although she highlighted that only two clubs have so far registered.

She said the organising team for the event has placed specific emphasis on officiating and has even solicited the assistance of another national association in this regard.

“We have our officials in place; we’re seeking the assistance of the Amateur Athletics Association of Guyana and they’re assisting us with some time keeping and I must say at this point in time thank you to the AAG for the assistance,” Thompson acknowledged on Tuesday.

At last year’s championships, the veteran riders had complained bitterly about not having officials to indicate to them where the turnaround point was, a situation Thompson promised would be rectified at the 2014 event.

Apart from the AAG, the federation has also requested of the participating clubs to provide two officials, who can help to ensure a smooth flow on race days.

“That is why we’re having the assistance from the

Athletics Association of Guyana and we have stipulated that every club provide two officials to assist the federation in the smooth running of the event, so the turning-back points will be covered, because there would be turning-back points at different distances for different categories,” she explained.

Race course

The Time Trial, to be held on Saturday, will start at Long Creek on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, proceed to Loo Creek and return to the

start point for the finish.

The road reace will be contested at four different distances on Sunday; however, all the riders of the various categories will start in a bunch on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown.

The Seniors will proceed to Kairuni Creek and return to Homestretch Avenue, competing for exactly 100 miles, while the Juniors will turn at the Police Outpost on

the Highway and return to start point − a distance of 60 miles.

The Veterans and Female riders will turn at Kuru Kuru and head back to Georgetown, covering a distance of 45 miles, while the Juveniles will turn at Coverden- a distance of 40 miles.

Improved times

This year’s championships should produce some improved times, especially with all the Commonwealth Games selectees set to use the two-day activity to test their readiness for the July 23 − August 3 event in Glasgow, Scotland.

In intensive preparation for the Games at the moment are Raynauth Jeffrey, Marlon Williams, Geron Williams, Alanzo Greaves, Scott Savoury and Claire Fraser-Green.

Incidentally, Jeffrey is the defending senior champion of both the Time Trial and Road Race, after securing a clean sweep last year. Riding for Team Coco’s (Guyana), the 20-year-old clocked an overall time of three hours, 48 minutes, 40.71 seconds (03h: 48m: 40.71s), crossing the finish line approximately three minutes ahead of his nearest rival, Greaves, who had to settle for second.

Greaves’ Roraima Bikers Club team-mate Warren McKay ended in third spot.

In 2013, the Time Trial was held on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, while the Road Race started at Homestretch Avenue, proceeded to Soweto on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and returned to the start point for the finish, covering a distance of 90 miles.

National youth cricketer Kamesh Yadram was outstanding with bat and ball for Rousillac United during the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) 2014 season, which concluded recently.

The all-rounder, who has played for Guyana at the Regional Under-15 and Under-19 levels, appeared in a total of 16 games, spread across the 50-over, 20/20 and two-day formats. He amassed a grand aggregate of 714 runs at an average of 41.88. He also snared 30 wickets.

In the two-day league, the left-hander chalked up 589 runs in 11 innings, the most by a Rousillac batsman, including a brilliant

151. He finished with a remarkable average of 53.54, and proved his versatility by capturing 16 wickets with a best of 5-19.

Yadram also scored 60 runs in three innings in the 50-over competition and snared six wickets, and made 65 runs in three innings and picked up eight wickets in the 20/20s.

Yadram’s solid performance followed that of his younger brother Bhaskar Yadram, who stroked four half-centuries during a seven-match tour by the Enterprise Busta Sports Club (EBSC) to Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year.

The EBSC had won just two and lost five of their games, but the diminutive Bhaskar Yadram was outstanding throughout, scoring 348 runs from five innings at an average of 69.6 with a highest score of 83.

coca-cola winners off to Brazil to view world cup

The three winners of the “Coca-Cola Win Your Trip to Brazil Promotion” and their guests have left Guyana for neighbouring Brazil to witness the FIFA World Cup match between Ecuador and France on Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro.

Jaimattie Ramlakhan, Lawrence Brisport and Doodmattie Prashad were declared winners following the promotional drawing on June 6 at Demico House Retail Liquor Store on Brickdam.

Ramlakhan resides at Pouderoyen, West Bank

Demerara; Bisport is from Amelia’s Ward, Linden and Prashad resides at West Coast Berbice. The three names were pulled from a number of entries that were submitted at various Banks DIH outlets and dealers countrywide.

Coca-Cola, a proud sponsor of the FIFA World Cup since 1974, launched the campaign “Everyone is invited to the World’s Cup” as a way of inviting consumers to participate and celebrate with the fans worldwide as they experience the Brazil World Cup.

The six Guyanese –

Lawrence and Franklyn Brisport, Jaimattie and Romell Ramlakhan and Doodnauth and Premnauth Prashad – will join other country winners of the Coca-Cola promotion in Brazil in an allinclusive package, which includes hotel accommodation, air travel and sightseeing tours.

They are accompanied by Banks DIH Limited Sales and Marketing Executive Carlton Joao and Coca-Cola Brand Manager, Jennifer Khan.

Kamesh Yadram

The Coca-Cola Promotion winners and their guests pose with Banks DIH Limited officials Carlton Joao and Jennifer Khan before departure to Brazil

Sitting pretty! Raynauth Jeffrey is currently the reigning national road race champion

A large turnout is expected for the national championships, but according to GCF President Cheryl Thompson, registration has been slow

National ruggers off to NACRA final Thursday

By AvenASh RAmzAn

Despite being in arrears by $1.5 million, the national Men’s 15s rugby team will depart Guyana on Thursday to face USA South in the final of the NACRA 15s championships in Atlanta, USA.

President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Peter Green, confirmed late on Wednesday that the ruggers will honour the match date, although the budgeted $8 million has not being realised.

Green said the Guyanese would not allow the shortfall to prevent them from playing the game, noting that even if the players and officials have to delve into their pockets. The GRFU head was understandably disappointed at the slothfulness by corporate entities and the government in offering support to the team.

According to Green, all the players who had to acquire visas have completed that process, while the airfare and part of the accommodation have been covered. One of the measures Green highlighted that will be put into effect to minimise the effects of the shortfall is having some of the players accommodated by Guyanese in the Diaspora to eliminate the cost attached to staying at a hotel.

By virtue of winning the Southern zone by beating

Trinidad and Tobago 15-8 at the National Park earlier this month, the Guyanese earned the right to face defending champions USA South, who emerged champions of the Northern zone.

Green had stated that the Guyanese face an uptill task financially to make the game a reality, since a whopping $8 million was required to offset expenses related to the match.

However, Green, speaking at a press conference a week ago at the Guyana Olympic Association, was the bearer of good news, relating that NACRA had chipped in in a huge way to assist the local ruggers to honour the match date.

The GRFU head had pointed out that NACRA agreed to offset the expenses related to airfare, as well as a part of the accomodation. With a bulk of the expenses now out of the way, the

GRFU was required to raise another two million dollars to cover meals and additional accommodation, as well as visa related expenses.

Green had highlighted that the GRFU would be approaching businesses and President Donald Ramotar for assistance in meeting that budget, as according to Treasurer of the body, Roger Perreira, the GRFU is in the “red.”

Green also used the opportunity to reveal that Guyana has moved from number 60 to number 53 in the world rankings following back-to-back victories over Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

The ranking includes 154 countries.

The team to Atlanta reads: Rondell McArthur, Allain Crawford, Jason Tyrell, Clive Prowell, Dwayne Schroeder, Felon Thompson, Richard Staglon, Vallon Adams, Ryan Gonsalves (Captain)

Chris Singh, Avery Corbin, Theo Henry, Claudius Butts, Carl Lewis, Ronald Mayers and Delroy Gordon (first choice), Jaques Archibald, Kevon David, Peabo Hamilton, Rickford Cummings, Leon Greaves, Lance Adonis and Cyon Kitt (reserves), Coach: Clinton T Clark, Manager: Kenneth Grant Stuart, Fitness Coach: Barry Browne and Physio: Abiola Blair

olympic day Bocce deemed a success

The curtains came down on a successful Olympic Day Bocce team competition sponsored by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and conducted by Special Olympics Guyana at the National Gymnasium on Sunday last.

Teams and officials were commended by Special Olympics National Director, Wilton Spencer, for being present in full numbers, despite adverse weather conditions.

The teams in rivalry were David Rose School for the Handicapped, St Barnabas Special School and the Special Needs School of East Bank Demerara, while the officials were George

Hughes, Sports Director of Special Olympics Guyana Wilton Spencer, coordinator and Lynette Canterbury and Marie Hinds from the Senior Citizens Bocce Club.

In the first game, Special Needs-EBD defeated St Banabas Special School five points to four. Last year winner, David Rose School for the Handicapped won over St Barnabas Special School 3-1 in the second game.

In the clash of champions, Special Needs School dethroned David Rose School for the Handicapped 12 points to three.

Before presenting the winning team with medals, Spencer commended Joel Jardin for good sportsmanship and also for being the first athlete to arrive, travelling all the way from Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, despite the heavy downpour.

Brazil fans nerves calmed by Cameroon routing

By ReuBen StoBy

Edging past Croatia 3-1 in their opening group match and then being held to a surprise draw (1-1) in game two, saw fivetime World Cup winners Brazil lacking the attacking flair and formidability they have been known to possess and may have left many fans not too impressed and doubtful as to whether they have the mettle to lift a record 6th FIFA World Cup title.

With patience waning and nerves building, Brazil came to the rescue of their fans with a stylish 4-1 defeat of Cameroon in Brasilia on Monday to qualify for the Round of 16. Their talisman Neymar netted the 100th goal of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil’s 100th game at World Cup finals in the 17th minute and then found the back of the net for a second time to take his tally of goals to four – the highest in the tournament so far.

Neymar was particularly full of flair and it soon became contagious as Brazil suddenly became the dazzling unit that they have

mitted that Brazil’s first two outings at the 2014 FIFA World Cup were not impressive, but have since shown improvement in their game.

“We played really well, especially in the second half (against Cameroon), we played excellent,” Gabriella told Guyana Times Sport Sporting Brazil colours and equipped with the Brazil flag, the proud Gabriella didn’t believe, however, that there was going to be any easy passage for her countrymen.

“We are going to have

been known worldwide to be, but lacked in the first two World Cup games.

Brazil fans at home and even abroad would have been injected with renewed ease, even though Cameroon was never regarded as a threat to A Selecao.

“Definitely, I do admit that at first, the two games they played before, they were a bit nervous and maybe they weren’t ready for the World Cup, but I think after this we got it,” said a joyful Izabella after viewing Brazil’s defeat of Cameroon on a big screen at one of the popular sports bars in Georgetown.

Brazilian Izabella’s countrywoman Gabriella also ad-

some difficult matches but we can make it. We can definitely make it. We are Brazil.”

Sporting a Brazil team jersey to show his support for his neighbouring country Brazil, Brandon Debidin, who along with friends, also viewed the Brazil vs Cameroon match on big screen at a sports bar, shared similar sentiments as Gabriella.

“Brazil will have to play harder if they want to get further. I mean Cameroon tried their best ,but Brazil will still have to try harder because there are more powerful teams than Cameroon, but they played a good game today.”

Brazil national Rodrigo, sporting a Brazil team jersey but with his name at the back, also reacted to Brazil’s whipping of Cameroon. “We showed good reaction to the opposing goal, but I believe Danny Alves should have been playing better. I believe overall we reacted fast and we scored four goals so I think if we keep up this reaction we can win this World Cup.”

Rodrigo also shared that the first game, against Croatia, was easy and Brazil was expected to win but it was surprising they could not beat Mexico. “Actually, Mexico was lucky because their goal-keeper was really good. They were going through their defence but their goal-keeper was a wall.”

Asked what his opinion of young Neymar was and whether he could find himself among the World Cup greats for Brazil such as Ronaldo, Pele, and Romario, who are all World Cup winners, the young man said the future was bright for Neymar and that Brazil’s hopes for World Cup victory rest on his slim shoulders.

“Neymar is good, he is young. He has four years to play. He probably will play the next World Cup and I think Brazil depends fully on him to win this World Cup,” Rodrigo opined.

“After all we are the only one with the five stars and we are going for a sixth,” Gabriella chimed in.

Brazil now face fellow South Americans Chile in the knock-out stage in Belo Horizonte on Saturday and Brazil fans the world over, including Guyana, will be hoping to see the same attacking flair displayed in the game against Cameroon.

Peter Green

Brazil talisman Neymar was particularly full of flair in the game against Cameroon Photo: Getty Images

A group of Brazilians pose for a Guyana Times Sport photo after viewing the game between Brazil and Cameroon at a popular sports bar in Georgetown on Monday

Wilton Spencer

Agreeable resolution reached following WICB visit

By Rajiv Bisnauth

AMemorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be prepared within the next 48 hours to iron out the contentious issues regarding the Cricket Administration Bill.

This MOA was established following high profile meetings between top officials of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and various stakeholders here over the past two days.

Guyanese will now be optimistic that a bright future awaits Guyana’s cricket since an agreeable resolution seems to have been reached by the various parties.

The WICB delegation, which included Vice President Emmanuel Nanthan and Queen’s Counsel Walter Scott, who will act as a Special Counsel appointed by the WICB, first met with members from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Monday.

The delegation then met with officials from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), high ranking Government officials and Members of the Special Select Committee of the National

Assembly on the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill on Tuesday.

Coming out of Tuesday’s high-profile meetings, this publication was informed that all parties expressed their willingness to assist in the resolution of the cricket saga that has plagued the game for some time now in Guyana.

“I just came out from a meeting with the WICB and Government…coming out of that meeting we had an agreement where a Memorandum of Agreement will be prepared and should be ready in 48 hours,” APNU parliamentarian Dr Rupert Roopnaraine disclosed.

Roopnaraine believes the measures that were ad-

dressed can bring about a change, especially since he thinks “Guyana’s cricket has been going down the drain for awhile.”

“The fact of the matter is, we have agreed that a Memorandum of Agreement will be prepared and attached to that Memorandum of Agreement some amendments to the Bill that have been requested”.

He emphasised: “We will consider the amendments and we will consider the Memorandum and hopefully in a few days, we can arrive an an agreement that satisfies all parties. I believe that the meeting was completely fruitful. The WICB left there with an understanding...

in fact assured that the Bill including possible amendments are going to be compliant with the WICB exception,” he concluded.

Open to review

Meanwhile, Roopnaraine pointed out that the APNU is willing to be engaged in a review of the Bill where necessary.

“We put to them (WICB) that we had a concern that there was so much contentiousness around the issue of the Cricket Administration Bill and that we ourselves are open to a review of the Bill to see where people’s concerns can be accommodated, that was essentially what we told the WICB, that we are committed in reviewing the Bill where necessary,” Roopnaraine echoed.

The WICB has serious reservations that the Cricket Administration Bill, which was passed in the National Assembly last month, thrusts the administration of cricket in Guyana from an independent body to the Government of Guyana. This, the WICB views, as undesirable and inconsistent with International Cricket Council tenets....

WICB’s visit over contentious Cricket Administration Bill…

Memorandum of Agreement to be prepared within next 48 hours

President Donald Ramotar WICB President Dave Cameron