Guyana Times Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with President Donald Ramotar in Port of Spain, Trinidad

of Caricom heads (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Cuyuni boat mishap

LBI man killed in hit-and-run accident

ALa Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara man was killed on Saturday evening after he was struck by a vehicle which fled the scene.

Dead is 56-year-old Terril Changa called “Mack” of Lot 74 Kersaint Park, LBI. The accidently reported occurred around 22:30h on the LBI Public Road between the Scheme Road and Choke Gas Station (Rubis Gas Station). Reports suggested that the man was drinking earlier on Saturday evening and was on his way home when the accident occurred, however, this information was not confirmed.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, Changa was heading home when he was struck down by a white Toyota Raum and the driver fled the scene without stopping. While he was lying on the middle of the road, another vehicle passed and ran over the man.

After realising that he ran over someone, the driver of the second vehicle drove to the Beterverwagting Police Station and turned himself in. His registration plate broke off and was found at the scene, and as such, he was placed in custody and is expected to

make a court appearance soon.

The brother of the man, Errol Changa, related to this newspaper that he was at a cousin, who lives on the public road, when he was informed about the accident. The man said he immediately went to the scene where he saw his brother lying on the road and his head was severely damaged.

The man noted that justice is yet to be served for his brother’s death since the driver of the white Raum has not been arrested.

“They (police) still looking for the driver of the Raum, them ain’t find he yet and they hold up another boy,” said the brother.

Errol disclosed that the

Man remanded on break and enter charge

Tafawa Alexander, 25, of 67 Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar, Linden was last Wednesday charged with break and enter larceny. He appeared before Magistrate Ann Mclennan in the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court and was remanded to prison.

Alexander, who works in the hinterland is accused of breaking into the home of Nigel Somersaul on Tuesday, May 23 and

stealing a bicycle valued

$24,000; two cutlasses valued $5000; a shovel valued $3000; a spade valued $3500; a pitchfork valued $2500; a hoe valued at 3000; a mosquito net valued $2500; one 11 gallon milk can valued $6000; a bottle of poison valued $3500; and a quantity of foodstuff valued $10,000, all amounting to $63,000. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on June 12.

driver in custody is from Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara and is about 22-years-old. The man said he had requested the police to speak to the person in custody, but he was not allowed to do so. “They told me that they taking he to court tomorrow (today) and then I will get to speak to him.”

Meanwhile, other relatives of the dead man related that they keep hearing different versions of what transpired. A cousin said Changa was spotted lying on the road by a relative who informed others and they gathered at the scene. The woman went on to say that they were told by a person who witnessed the accident that the driver of the Raum was a female and was on her phone when her vehicle struck the man; however, they are trying to find the person to confirm this rumour.

When contacted, the police disclosed that they are not sure when the suspect in custody will make a court appearance and they have no leads on the Raum and its driver. The body of the late Terril Changa is at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary and the post-mortem is expected to be performed today.

Robbery charge dismissed against Linden duo

Two men who made an appearance at the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday after being charged for committing the offence of robbery with aggravation, had the case against them dismissed.

They were found not guilty of committing the act by Magistrate Ann Mclennan.

The defendants, David Booker, 19, of 81 Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden and Wayne Parris, 21, of 91 Victory Valley were accused of robbing Jamal Bacchus of one BlackBerry cellphone valued $54,000 and one Coral cellphone valued 15,000.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, March 5 at Victory Valley. The case against the two was dismissed while they were also placed on bond to keep the peace for 12 months or in default face eight months imprisonment.

Irish teen to be freed on charge of threatening to shoot President Ramotar

The director of public prosecution (DPP) has reportedly dropped charges against an Irish teenager who was accused earlier this year of threatening to shoot and kill President Donald Ramotar.

The DPP, Bibi Shalimar Ali-Hack wrote a letter stating she was dropping criminal proceedings against 17-year-old Cillian James Crossan. The case is expected to be dismissed when it is called again in court.

Crossan’s lawyer Glenn Hanoman had said the teen was having an alcohol-fuelled conversation with two bodyguards of the President at an international rodeo event in April and was joking when he said he would shoot and kill Ramotar – saying it was because he didn’t believe the two men were really the president’s bodyguards. The president was not there at the time. “He

Cillian James Crossan

had been drinking beer since early the morning and had even mixed rum and beer and had them at the same time,” Hanoman said. “I think that was the main factor at play when he argued with two of the guards.” Crossan pleaded not guilty to the charge before and was released on bail.

Crosson is accused of threatening to shoot the Guyanese leader on

Cuyuni boat mishap

March 29 at City Boy Club, Tabatinga, Lethem. He had appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on April 2. According to the police, on March 29 at Central Rupununi, Crossan said he would shoot the president who was not present at the time, but Amerindian Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary Nigel Dharamlall overheard the comment and approached the young man, asking him what he said and he repeated that he would shoot the president in his head.

The matter was then reported. Prosecutor Vishnu Hunte had objected to bail, stating that the threat was aimed at the president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and that the defendant is also a flight risk. Crossan gave a caution statement admitting to what he did. The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of $60,000.

Only captain was wearing life jacket – survivor

By Andrew CArmiChAel

One of the survivors of the Matouk Falls Cuyuni River boat tragedy David Prass said only the captain of the vessel was wearing a life jacket at the time of the mishap.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Prass said after the incident, he was told if they needed life jackets, the onus is on them to make the request before the boat leaves.

Recounting what transpired on May 25, he said the boat was about to come down the falls when the engine “cut off”.

“The boat turn on the side and the wave lash the boat and it turn right over and when the boat turn over, everybody go under water, nobody ain’t get to jump out or nothing, nobody ain’t see nothing until you come down with the stream and raise up. When I raise up, I saw the boat was far behind and a passenger who lived at Bartica was holding on to the boat, with someone else was to my right and my cousin Shawn Robinson was right beside me.”

According to Prass, there was only one objective in mind and that was to get to shore. “I swam ashore and as I approach shore, I saw that the Captain Junior Lyte had already made it to safety. When I reach ashore, my cousin was not too far

but in the stream. So I start shouting to the captain to take off he jacket! ‘Take off you jacket’! He was not responding and when he did respond, the stream already take me cousin far.”

According to the father of one, when the boat engine went off, “a big man scramble a life jacket”. Asked whether the boat had life jackets for everyone, Prass could not tell. “To be honest, we were in the third seat and the front seat did not have any and the second seat did not have any. You see, we go in there from since January and we anxious to come home. All we were thinking about is home.”

The 26-year-old survivor said he lost everything he would have acquired since January, including about $600,000. Asked whether he will return to the interi-

or to work again, Prass said he did not know but indicated that it was not his first trip – the previous being late last year – when he and other relatives spent three months in the interior.

Meanwhile, the survivor said after the boat went down, he and the captain swam across the river to an island where there was a shop. “An hour and a half later, a boat came from the upper part of the river that we were coming from.”

He said they stopped the boat and related the story.

According to Prass, the boat took them back to the scene where they were able to find one survivor. That survivor is the man who was able to grab a life jacket seconds before the boat went down.

“I was not wearing one, I don’t know how I made it to shore because is not like calm water, you know, you had to swim. The river was rough; you know what is a rapid. I just want to thank God.”

William Patoir and Shawn Robinson, both of New Amsterdam; Junior Bandoo of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Clive Welcome called “Basil” or “Bazzo” of Bartica lost their lives in the accident. Those who survived are Prass, the Captain, and Maurice Hopkinson of Bartica, who was able to grab a life jacket seconds before the boat went down.

Dead: Terril Changa

David Prass

Countrywide: Heavy rain showers can be expected over the next 24h over coastal and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Guyana, China recommit to bilateral relations

The bilateral relations between Guyana and China, which began 40 years ago, were again highlighted, as President Donald Ramotar and a delegation, met with Chinese President Xi Jingping at the Hilton Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Sunday.

The president was accompanied by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. Speak-ing through an interpreter, the Chinese leader recognised the importance of diplomatic relations with Guyana, pointing to the four decades of bilateral ties.

He also recalled Guyana

Ramotar

discussion

was the first Englishspeaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with China, and a strong supporter of the “One China Policy”.

President Ramotar in an invited comment after the meeting said the talks were general, and both sides were satisfied with the relations; however, they have committed to further strengthen those ties. “We were very satisfied with the level of our cooperation, but we both agreed that we will want to improve on what we have, to make them even stronger in our relationship going forward. We also spoke about the possibilities of Chinese assistance in helping us with other important infrastructure, but as you will appreciate in the short space of time (of the meeting), no details could be worked out, but in principle, I think we agree that we need to work to build on these relationships, and that we will be ready to work together… and to also encourage Chinese companies to invest into other sectors in Guyana, that we are ready to have

more Chinese companies investing in our country,” the president explained.

According to President Ramotar, discussions were also held on how the two sides can work together in other areas to strengthen their ties. He however, did not divulge the details of these discussions, but only stated that some discussions were had on how the Chinese government could

assist Guyana in infrastructure, and the transport sector.

Guyana and China have enjoyed frequent high-level exchanges at the political, diplomatic, economic and cultural levels. The relations have benefited Guyana socially and economically with a number of key projects, like the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF), the Amaila Falls

Hydro Project, the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the construction of the world-class Marriott Hotel. China has also supported Guyana in the health and security fields with roving medical missions and the donation of fire-fighting equipment from the Chinese government, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

Chinese First Lady Madame Peng Liyuan takes a turn on the steel pan at the Trinidad meeting

President Donald

in the company of Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh at a table

with China’s President Xi Jingping and his delegation

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Planning with our environment in mind

The rains are here once again, and the seasonal lamentation of citizens will begin or have already begun – citizens that seem not to understand the significance of living in environments that are below sea level or environments susceptible to seasonal degradation, and how to adapt to such surroundings.

It is unsatisfactory to say “clogged drains” are responsible for the floods, though that is a persistent factor. Today’s constructions expose a grim lack of deliberation on how much the environment impacts our quality of life, as we continue to construct infrastructure and buildings that exacerbate the flooding potential of lands below sea level or lands prone to seasonal change.

Daily constructions reveal roads, homes, and businesses that exhibit little to no regard for their physical surroundings and seasonal or daily weather patterns in their designs. Buildings are continuously being erected in areas where the geography of the land is unsuitable, such as in land basins – so-called because they are lower than the surrounding lands – then lament when even a relatively mild shower puts them at risk of flooding and requires regular costs to repair.

And such disregard is not just occurring along the coastland. As interior locations become populated, development is measured in part by infrastructure and more permanent modern settlements. Unfortunately, many such activities seem to ignore seasonal rainfall patterns as roads are now often located in traditional flood plains and every season are washed away, bringing hardship to these settlements and a recurring, unsustainable expense to the state.

Intensified rainfall has begun to affect homes in Lethem that are being built with little thought of effective drainage or floodwater routes. The current rainy season, which usually floods vast swathes of land, is already washing away recently laid down roads through these seasonal floodplains that lead to settlements.

No doubt other communities around the country are experiencing environmental degradation and inconvenience because of the lack of forethought.

Countrywide, town or community planning is crucial to future human settlement and its economic feasibility. The apparent inertia of the state, private businesses and individuals to consider our environment, climate and weather patterns in their long-term building or infrastructural planning is costing both the country and the individual unnecessary expense in the long run, yet these critical factors seem to be unknown or disregarded.

For while carriageways are being extended and upgraded, canals and drains, which never were catered for to drain the magnitude of water they are expected to do today, remain as they were originally constructed, even as more areas are covered in impervious concrete and asphalt.

In some areas, transportation routes are lower than surrounding areas. Without effective drainage, this leads to their transformation into water troughs during heavy rainfall. Frequent shoddy construction then causes water to undermine these roads, and the result is that more public finances must be spent for another round of repairs.

Concrete and glass, the apparent icons of modernity, like asphalt, are impervious and need capacity to drain efficiently. As businesses build elaborate structures with insufficient rainwater runoff capacity, traditional drainage capacity is strained or overwhelmed, leaving more frequently flooded pavements and streets. Now-shallow drains, built centuries earlier, are inadequate, and add to the flooding woes of businesses, and residents near businesses.

Our current trend of covering our entire property in concrete also creates the recurring necessity for a place for water to drain. The perhaps 200-year-old drains outside such properties cannot contain such excess water – water which would have been absorbed to some extent by the earth if not covered under layers of concrete.

Guyana’s town, village, road or building planners need to take a closer look at mitigating the effects of our changing population landscape to avoid or alleviate seasonal or yearly disasters that inevitably strain public and private budgets.

Planning the layout of settlements properly and enforcing commercial and residential zones can help reduce flood problems, as would enforcing stricter drainage regulations on private property owners and state contractors.

We are not unique to this situation: the vast canal waterways of Holland are an obvious example. Understanding and accepting the need to plan with our environment in mind are the first steps in improving the drainage and other such situations we face today. From this, our engineers, planners and policy makers can make the right choices to ensure we adapt successfully, as many other countries around the world have already done.

Canal Number Two farmers need a lot of help

Dear Editor,

A recent report in your newspaper reflects what has been happening to farmers who are working along the conservancy dam at Canal Polder Number Two. The media seems to have forgotten that people live here as well.

These ‘die-hard’ Guyanese have been severely hit by widespread flooding for a second time

in a year. This is most despairing. Only those with a similar experience can really understand the immense suffering of these people.

The farmers are claiming that their situation is an age-old drainage problem. They are complaining now, saying that despite their many pleas for help, the main drain, which stretches for approximate-

ly two miles, has remained clogged with thick vegetation. If this is the case, then their present woes could have been averted had the Ministry of Agriculture been more diligent.

Natural disasters are to be expected and many times we will suffer losses and then have to rebuild. However, if rains and high tides can be anticipated, and we can take preemp-

tive measures, then by all means necessary, these measures must be taken.

I join those who are imploring the Agriculture Ministry to fulfil its promise to intervene. Food security must not be compromised and the livelihood of farmers must be safeguarded.

Frustrated farmer, Name withheld

Citizens must be watchdogs in society

Dear Editor, Guyana needs more of this investigative work where there is comparing and contrasting of ballistics tests. It was shown that tests conducted on spent shells recovered at the scene of the murder of a policeman are matching those found when a gold miner was shot.

Now I go back to what the opposition members did as regards the firearms amendment bill that sought to criminalise trafficking in firearms. The prime minister had also expressed dismay at what the opposition did, questioning the reasons behind the move to vote against the bill.

This kind of attitude

smacks of a political struggle and it is jeopardising an entire nation. I am seeing the same politics at work, where the money laundering issue is concerned. The opposition is least bothered about national and international setbacks to Guyana.

It is possible that the two killings are indeed linked, or maybe it is a case of guns for hire. How about third possibility –professional killers working for a group or a person?

Exposing of the criminal elements always comes about sooner or later. Such free movement of guns and ammunition is where it is because of what the opposition did.

The other aspect to this shooting that remains elusive is the call for witnesses to come forward. The initial press report did give a palpable description of the shooter. This alone should rule out some suspects.

Then, many witness, even in a hit-and-run

case, are not that willing to step forward. They fear that they would be known and eventually become targets of vengeance. Confidentiality is not always assured. People in Guyana have been beaten up for informing. But I think we all need to be watchdogs in society. The community has the responsibility to act as eyes and ears.

Yours faithfully, Trenton James

Work being undertaken on a section of the seawall along the coast (Carl Croker photo)

Noise nuisance has become well entrenched

Dear Editor,

The word of the home affairs minister is that he is most cognisant of increasing complaints by residents of various parts of the country as regards noise nuisance. He has assured residents who take the initiative to report the loud, continuous and repetitive playing of music to the ministry that all reports will be forwarded to the police commissioner and copied to the respective divisional commanders, with a directive that corrective action be taken in keeping with the laws of Guyana.

I hope that when reports are made that the person reporting will not be called upon to prosecute. The fact that a person is choosing to complain means that he/ she is probably not liked by that specific noisemaker. This means that reporting should be done secretly, so that there can be no cause for the offender to target anyone.

In fact, I am urging the police officers to go on patrols, so that noise nuisance can be intercepted while on duty. No one can hide noise-making. I also think that, if there are repeat offenders, the time must come when their stereo equipment must be confiscated.

How about having a cut-off time for weddings and parties to play music? Sometimes taxis, bringing home or coming to collect clients, are so noisy, they just crudely burst on the scene at any hour – during a siesta or an early morning rest. I suggest strongly that, since the subject minister is now very committed to rooting out noise nuisance, other areas should be given attention.

I may sound quite outlandish, but Guyana has allowed this noise factor to become too well entrenched. It has overwhelmed the society. That is why the reaction now must be very intense and prolonged.

Do not take medical outreaches lightly

Dear Editor,

Medical outreach activities are never to be taken for granted. The University of Guyana was involved recently, collaborating with the University of the West Indies (St Augustine Campus), the University of California, and the Guyana Association of Optometrists (GAO). It was well-attended too, as many wisely capitalised. The focus was eye care and many got even up to a free pair of eyeglasses.

I think now of the outreach that the People’ Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) held. It was a general medical programme at its office in Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

In Guyana, people are becoming ever more vigilant as regards being healthy. It is good to note then that there is a caring government, focused on facilitating better health for the country as a whole.

Things have come a far way in Guyana, and they are poised to get even better. I have my own wish – have many more such outreaches, and get volunteer workers right from the area.

Yours sincerely,

Tricia Pooran

Tagenarine – another Shiv on the scene?

Dear Editor, At the senior level, there is nothing to shout about as yet, but who knows, maybe in the near future, Tagenarine Chanderpaul will start on the tracks set by his father, Shivnarine.

Tagenarine Brandon Chanderpaul was born May 1996 – a few have posited 1997 – and is now a cricketer, who is beginning to build a reputation. He has donned local colours, starting back in February 9, 2013, at the senior level in four games, and even though he has not yet landed a big score, the signs are there.

He did get a 42 and, in this knock, one of his father’s traits was noticed – as the innings progresses, he gets better. Like his father, he is a left-handed player, but his niche is the opening spot.

The current English season is so much the better because of him. The lad, also with a proclivity for academics, struck his third unbeaten century in a row for his side, Stainsby Hall. The innings helped his side to win their latest game of the Division Six of the Newark Alliance tournament. So the signs are there. However, young Chanderpaul must become quickly cognisant of the new developments in the game.

Cricket these days is about entertainment. The Australians were chided for their terrible showing, losing 0-4 to India at tests, in their last series. The general agreement was that T20 habits killed them. At the ever popular IPL, the average non-test players are having the time of their lives, and if by nature, some of them are irresponsible and reckless,

then the better it seems for them.

The classic case of this is Dwayne Smith, a double discard where four day and tests are concerned. So Tagenarine has to quickly decide which way he will go, as the ‘horses for courses’ philosophy is quite en vogue now.

The T20 is no doubt, for now, the West Indies forte. However, their returns at the one-day and test levels are most meagre against high rated teams. In recent times too, the West Indies have not been able to bat through their 50-over allotment. Does this make a case for the young man?

I think so, as inevitably truth will come to the fore. With Chris Gayle as the lone established opener in all forms of the game for West Indies, and since he is over 30, greatness is beckoning for a star.

Maybe, even if at only the test level, cricket seems set to be a forum for the Chanderpauls – the dad

another few years left, and maybe his

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

has

exit will signal the entrance of his son-

prodigy. This is the very best way to pass on the baton.

Cricket fanatic, Anil Pertab

One of the ophthalmology students conducting the Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy (BIO) test on a patient (file photo)

Shivnarine and Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Yours faithfully, Allistair Woodman

Page Foundation

Parenting For Success

Safety and children

ChildLink’s vision is a Guyanese society where every child enjoys the right to a childhood in a safe and caring family, free from poverty, violence, and exploitation

Parenting for success is about: providing a safer environment for children to grow and thrive. No place is ever 100 per cent safe and secure without the involvement of parents/caregivers to provide a safe home and check out the people who interact with their children. Part of safety means teaching the children to be aware of possible dangers without being too scared to live full lives. Therefore, parents can teach children what to look out for and what to do in case of dangers of various kinds. Who should touch them and what are safe and unsafe touches. It empowers children when they know they can act in their own interest.

The most important part of a safe and secure environment is to provide an atmosphere of unconditional love and trust between parents and children. Parents and children must have two-way communication that can allow for any subject to be discussed and to make children feel safe to tell their parents of any dangers they may be experiencing. Building trust is a lifelong process, it’s certainly not an easy one but one that leads to confidence and safety.

Successful intervention

Case study – Names and places have been changed to

protect the persons’ privacy

Fourteen-year-old Anneka, the eldest of three siblings, is now living with her aunt and cousins after being rejected by her mother and sexually abused by her stepfather. At the age of eight, Anneka was living with her mother, Abigail; stepfather, Andrew; and siblings when her nightmare began. One afternoon while her mother was out of the home, her stepfather sexual ly molested her. Afraid and confused, she was not sure what to do after the inci dent, so like any scared child she kept quiet and prayed that it would not happen again, but of course with her being too afraid to tell her mom, the abuse con tinued.

After five years, Anneka developed the strength to tell her mother about the abuse that she had been expe riencing at the hands of her stepfather. Instead of receiving acceptance and protection from her mother, Anneka was hit with the hard cold reali ty that her stepfather was more important. At the time, her stepfather was the main provider for the home. Her mother rejected

all her statements about the abuse outright, saying that her stepfather would never touch her in that way. This was not all, Abigail’s attitude towards Anneka changed, she became violent towards her and she began to verbally and physically abuse her daughter. As a child, Anneka was unable to move out of this terrible situation, so she prayed and hope that her father or a

and take her.

Several months after Anneka disclosed to her mother the abuse, her biological father came back into the country and visited her. This was the opportunity for her to get out, she thought, so she related all that Andrew had done to her. Her father then decided to take her; however, not without first confronting her mother and stepfather.

live because he is usually out of the country working.

Coping with betrayal

Anneka was referred to ChildLinK by a health worker for support after she had confided in her the difficulties she is faced with.

Subsequent to the assessment and emotional support of the counsellor, Anneka clearly stated that she is coping better with the trauma of the abuse by her stepfather, more specifically because he is not her blood relative; however, she is still having difficulties coping with the betrayal of her mother who still treats her like she is not related to her. It has been one year now and there has been no improvement in her relationship with her mom.

Anneka was able to express her hurts and anguish over her mother in several sessions with the counsellor. One of the techniques that were very instrumental in supporting Anneka was the medium of writing her feelings that the counsellor introduced to her. With this, she was encouraged to write down

her thoughts and feelings towards her mother which allowed her to release her feelings even when she was not in session with the counsellor. A problem-solving tool call the NET allowed her to explore her situation and find possible solutions. Such as finding a “motherfigure” in her aunt, and the use of her journal writing when the need arises to let out her feelings of hurt and rejection.

Strong relationship

Today, Anneka shares a strong relationship with her father and aunt who have been very supportive and welcoming of strategies to help her. There are still occasions when she is affected by the trauma she endured for years at the hands of her mom and stepfather. In these moments, she uses another coping tool that she has learnt with guidance from the counsellor − “positive self-talk”. She often reminds herself that there are still people who love and care for her.

Positive self-talk is a tool children learn to use when they are faced with situations that are out of their scope to change. All parents have the legal and moral mandate to care and protect their children. This includes, for example, feeding, educating, clothing, supervising, and protecting their children. More parents must make sure their children are not abused or neglected, especially fathers who are leaving their children with single mothers. Fathers, now is the time to have more interest and involvement in your children s well-being. Child abuse happens when parents or others physically or sexually mistreat a child or abandon and neglect children. Child neglect happens when parents abandon their children; or do not meet the basic needs of their children for housing, clothing, health care, affection, education, and correcting inappropriate behaviours. It is heartbreaking to know the persons who should love and protect you despise and betray you for someone else. Parents, caregivers, fathers support your children, listen to their cries.

Please contact us on telephone number 231-7174 or email us at programmes. childlink@networksgy.com for any support you may need on parenting and other challenges you are experiencing with your children.

Guyana could tap US$3B Chinese funding

Guyana will soon be looking at how it will tap into a US$3 billion total funding announced by the Chinese government, during a visit of that country’s President Xi Jinping to Port of Spain, Trinidad.

This was announced by President Donald Ramotar, shortly after Caribbean Community (Caricom) heads met with the Chinese head of state at the Hilton Hotel, for a luncheon.

“The Chinese government has committed to give the region much more assistance: US$1.5 billion to help with some infrastructural work and US$1.5 billion in concessionary loans for the region, so I think China has demonstrated once again, its friendship to our region, and to help us to try to improve the quality of life for the peoples of our countries,” President Ramotar said in an invited comment.

Guyana will be benefiting from this, and according to President Ramotar, efforts will be made shortly to identify how Guyana will

tap into this facility. “That has just been announced, so we will have to work out what are the critical areas we will want to work on,”

President Ramotar said.

Two years ago, the Chinese government had pledged US$1 billion in preferential loans to support the local economic development of the Caribbean region when China’s Vice Premier

Wang Qishan met Caricom leaders in Trinidad and Tobago at a business conference of the third ChinaCaribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum.

Priority areas had been in the fields of finance and investment, capacity building, environmental protection, new energy, culture, education, health, trade, tourism as well as agricul-

ture and fishery. Wang had said the Chinese government had intended to deepen China-Caribbean cooperation.

Focus was also on the training for no less than 2500 Caribbean nationals and 30 at the post-graduate level to study in China and an early warning monitoring network for earthquakes and tsunamis.

During that forum, Guyana and China inked an RBM 30 million grant agreement on September 12 that would see funding for a number of priority projects in Guyana.

Sunday’s meeting between regional leaders and the Chinese president was attended by presidents of Trinidad and Tobago Anthony Carmona, and Suriname’s Desi Bouterse,

and the prime ministers of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Dominica, Grenada, and other representatives of the Caribbean region.

President Ramotar was accompanied by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.

Eye Care Mission a resounding success

The joint eye care mission led by the University of California, the University of Guyana and the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus ended on a high note, with the team surpassing its target by almost two hundred cases, attending to more than 600 persons.

At the closing ceremony held at the Georgetown Club on Saturday, the Guyana Association of Optometrists presented the ophthalmology students and their lecturers with certificates for their outstanding performances and contribution toward free eye care service in Guyana.

The Eye Care Mission commenced on Wednesday at the Wales Community Centre and concluded on Friday at the One Mile Community Health Centre in Linden after treating hundreds of men, women and children at the Cane Grove Health Centre on Thursday.

The team which had set a target of 150 patients per day was greeted each day with an overwhelming crowd of people who sought the need to capitalise on the free eye care service.

The patients were

screened and treated with a high percentage receiving free spectacles based on their needs. Glaucoma, keratoconus and cataracts were amount the popular cases seen.

Guyana Association of Optometrists and the Caribbean Association of Optometrists President Dr Michele Ming, who was praised for initiating the event, said that the venture is a stepping stone for Guyana, noting that it presented an excellent opportunity for the students from the various universities to get hands-on experience.

University of the West Indies Student Volunteer for Optometric Services to Humanity (UWI SVOSH) President Jason Harriaharan said it was a life changing experience. Harriaharan explained that it was a rewarding experience to see persons receive their vision after many years. “You know when you have kids that could not have seen and you do refraction and get glasses for them and all of a sudden they can see again, it’s simply rewarding,” the St Augustine Campus student said during an interview with Guyana Times. This is the second

time he has visited Guyana and has pledged his continuous support towards free eye care delivery in the country.

Katherine Makayed, one of the student optometrists who hails from the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry, expressed similar sentiments. She said despite the venture was a tedious one, it paid off in the end with hundreds benefiting from improved vision. “At the end, watching kids faces light up, light up just because we give them glasses made it all worth it.” Makayed, who will be entering her second year come September, said she now feels empowered, noting the mission was an eye opener with new knowledge gained.

At the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, the School of Optometry began four years ago, with the first batch graduating this year. At the University of Guyana, the programme commenced three years ago. As the students participate in this venture, it is anticipated that they will put their theoretical lessons into practice as they launch out into the world of work.

In addition to the Eye

Care Mission, the Guyana Association of Optometrists hosted the country’s Ophthalmology Congress. It coincided with the closing ceremony on Saturday at the

Georgetown Club. During this aspect, the students were taught about the triage of red eyes, hypertension management and paediatric eye examination. Additionally, they were given hands on experience in the orientation to the posterior pole of the fungus using Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope (BIO). They also received certificates for the continuing education programme.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Optometrists Association Niall Farnon encouraged the students to keep abreast with the changing technology and new information surfacing within the field.

He said despite lacking certain equipment, optometrists should strive to deliver

the best service to patients. “It’s all about making a difference in the lives of people. That is what ophthalmology is all about.”

The former Trinidad and Tobago Optometrists Association President Roshan Ali echoed similar sentiments. He said “Commonly said by a lot of people, take away my limbs but not my eyesight. And we have been able to make such a difference, because something basic as an eye drop, basic as a pair of glasses someone can’t afford and we have been able to fulfil that need whether be it in our outreach programmes or in our private practices.” Ali encouraged the students to keep up the good work.

China’s President Xi Jingping with Caricom heads of state. Among them is President Donald Ramotar

Lecturers and students of the University of California, the University of Guyana and the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus who participated in the Eye Care Mission

monday, june 3, 2013|

Linden radio by August – new licensee

Linden businessman Haslyn Graham – one of the new radio licensees – has announced plans to launch his radio network by August.

Operating under Linden Wireless Communication Network Inc, Graham was granted approval for an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and radio licence. He is currently in the process of setting up the station at a refurbished building, which he has transformed into a studio located on Richmond Hill, Mackenzie.

Graham, who is currently president of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), noted that he has hopes of acquiring a wireless cable television licence, which he has applied for and is currently awaiting approval.

Quality

He noted that he is looking forward to bringing quality, unbiased entertainment to the Linden community and although he will be working independently, he is also looking forward to working with the relevant authorities, regardless of political orientation.

He said he was optimistic that when the radio station comes on board, it will also provide meaningful employment to members of the Linden community. "I’m looking to start broadcasting to Linden community by late July, early August – although I can

Linden businessman Haslyn Graham

start now if I want to – but I want to get everything in order so that when I get on air, Linden would be receiving nothing but quality entertainment. There are just a few loose ends that I need to take care of.

“There is a lot of development that can come out of having the radio station in the Linden community. There are a lot of talents to be showcased right here and we can make it happen. I do intend to promote programmes that can be of help to youths in society, while also catering for everyone else. There are so many issues that need to be addressed and I know that Lindeners would embrace the idea,” he noted.

Graham said that although the process of his licence being approved was a long one, he is happy that he was patient and that he persevered. “The company

IDB to review works of investigative arm

The board of executive directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved the appointment of Lori Udall to conduct a robust review and make recommended changes to the structure and policy of the bank’s Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI).

The review aims to ensure MICI can continue to enhance development impact and sustainability by responding effectively to complaints by parties affected by the IDB’s projects. This appointment was made in response to a mid-term evaluation conducted by the IDB’s Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE) in December of 2012, which recommended a number of improvements in MICI's operations.

The IDB has had an independent entity to tackle external complaints since 1994. The mechanism was reformed in 2010, and an OVE evaluation mandated by the Board of Executive Directors, with the objective of conducting a full review and assessment‚ as well as an opportunity to make any necessary adjustments.

The IDB remains fully committed to an effective independent accountability mechanism and is pleased to benefit from Udall’s more than 25 years of experience in international public policy and development. She presides over a consulting firm that works on international accountability mechanisms, information disclosure, civil society participation, field project development, project evaluation and governance issues.

Udall has served as a strategic adviser to the Compliance Adviser Ombudsman Office of the IFC, as a consultant to the World Bank Inspection Panel, and has conducted reviews of the operational guidelines and practices of several accountability mechanisms, including those of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from George Mason University, a LLM degree in English and International Law from the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England; and a master’s degree in Comparative Law from George Washington University.

was registered over 10 years ago as Orbit Television, then Hilltop Radio and then I changed it to Linden Wireless Communication Network INC.

“A woman met me the other day and she said ‘wow, only now you got through? Well, you deserve it because you were really patient.’ I am happy that I waited,” he said.

Ecstatic

Some Lindeners shared their views with this newspaper on the soon-to-belaunched radio station.

“I feel ecstatic, delighted. I thought this would never happen. Finally we are getting somewhere and I think Lindeners really ought to support this, because finally people can hear some good programmes here in Linden. I personally spoke with Mr Graham and he told me about some of the things that he has planned for the community, some of the programmes and so forth and they sound really wonderful, so I think people should really support this venture,” said Christina Payton.

“I think the radio station can definitely help, because there are so many things in Linden that’s lacking and I hope that Mr Graham would be looking at getting the relevant people to go on the radio to talk about how things can be developed here in Linden,” another Lindener, who gave his name only as

Sherwin, noted.

“We can hopefully have programmes that can actually target and focus on the youths, you know, youths that have actually excelled in various areas – academically and in sports – they can go on air so that people can hear their thoughts and views. Even the adults right here in Linden that make a difference and persons don’t know about it. There is also so much history here in Linden that can be showcased and I think the radio station should definitely be able to fill that void,” yet another Lindener commented.

Back in March, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds listed the number of persons/companies that were granted permission to broadcast television, cable, and radio signals. Specifically for radio, those granted permission are: the National Communications Network (Government); Radio Guyana Inc (Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop); Telecor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc (Omar Lochan); NTN Radio (Anand Persaud); New Guyana Company Ltd (Dharam Kumar Seeraj); Wireless Connections (Maxwell Thom); Hits and Jams Entertainment (Rawle Ferguson); Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprise (Alfro Alphonso); Haslyn Graham (Linden Wireless Communication); Little Rock Television Station (Rocliffe Christie) and Rudy Grant.

ECHO to hold environment confab on Wednesday

The Environmental Community Health Organ-isation (ECHO) will hold a National Environmental Youth Conference on June 5, World Environment Day, at the International Convention Centre, Liliendaal,Greater Georgetown.

In a release, ECHO said the objective of the conference is to raise awareness of the linkages between climate change and food security, and to encourage our young people to do more to protect the environment. The event will be attended by ECHO members from different administrative regions of Guyana.

According to ECHO, the issue of climate change and food security is an urgent one. In early 2009, the UK government chief science adviser, John Beddington, said the world was facing a perfect storm of food shortages, water scarcity, and costly oil by 2030. These developments plus accelerating climate change and mass migration across national borders would lead to major upheavals. Later that same year, UK Sustainable Development

Commission former chair Jonathon Porritt wrote in the Guardian that he agreed with Beddington’s analysis, but that the timing was off. He thinks the crisis will hit much closer to 2020 than 2030. He calls it the ultimate recession –one from which there may be no recovery.

“It is evident that, we are witnessing unprecedented environmental changes and events globally and locally, and there is an urgent need to raise public awareness to encourage citizens to take appropriate action to protect their health and that of their communities. It now behoves all of us to pay attention to new environmental events and to change our lifestyles to fend off the not inevitable gloomy future predicted by those who are studying the situation,” the organisation said.

“Environmental changes raise two key questions. If we continue with business as usual, how much time do we have left before our global civilisation unravels? And how do we save civilisation? ECHO is a response to these questions.”

Eyew tness Demands...

...of the AFC spoiler

In politics, a “spoiler” is the candidate whose chances of winning are zilch, but still may garner enough votes as to cause the loss of one of the leading candidates. In Guyana, this is the role the Alliance For Change (AFC) plays. But nowadays, with a twist. It may’ve started out as “a plague on both houses” when Raphael Trotman and Sheila Holder were at the head table. But with their departure, Khemraj Ramjattan has recalibrated the mission of the AFC a simpler, more cynical mantra: GET the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). It intends to be a spoiler only for the PPP/C.

Reason? Well, Ramjattan was bitch-slapped so hard after the stunt he pulled against the A Partnerhsip for National Unity (APNU) at Linden that his head is still spinning. Stung by his rejection by the people of Linden at the 2011 elections, when all the votes brought in by Trotman and Holder in 2006 abandoned him, Ramjattan tried to embarrass the APNU by claiming the latter had betrayed Lindeners. But in the aftermath of the protest and killings that his extremism precipitated, it was Nigel Hughes who received all the accolades. Ramjattan became an afterthought.

This wouldn’t do, decided the rabidly ambitious Ramjattan. Hence the recalibration to go after only the PPP/C’s base. The plan is that he would be waterboy to the People’s National Congress (PNC)/APNU, but couldn’t make that too obvious. So last week he decides he wouldn’t meet President Donald Ramotar at the same time as David Granger – as part of the tripartite talks the president had already initiated. But you would notice he didn’t take Hughes or Moses Nagamootoo with him.

But no one is fooled. Reading his report of the demands, he echoed APNU’s line to such an extent that he would’ve been hard put to explain he was not one and the same as the old PNC crew. Or he plagiarised!! Take the chopping-off of the funds for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project from the budget. We can see the PNC/APNU wouldn’t want this to come to fruition: the PPP/C would earn so much goodwill from the drop in electricity charges to consumers that the PNC/APNU’s goose would be cooked.

So what’s the AFC’s excuse. None. The same for the cut of the subsidy to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to stop present tariffs from being raised. PNC/APNU doesn’t care – Linden is still receiving its electricity practically free. What’s the AFC’s excuse? None. The only question that remains now is: “Why doesn’t Ramjattan stop the charade and join the PNC/ AFC officially?”

After all, he’s going to be squeezed out of the AFC’s leadership by Hughes-Nagamootoo.

...of the Stabber News

And here we thought that the Stabber News was all for “One People, One Nation and One Destiny”. At least that’s the line it tried to portray all these years. So we thought the Stabber would’ve been pleased as Punch when the demands for “Indian Arrival Day” were watered down to “Arrival Day” – to include all the groups that “arrived” here.

But in its Sunday’s edition, it snarkily claimed that, “While on May 5, the 175th anniversary of Indian Arrival was commemorated, there was another anniversary two days earlier that slipped by unnoticed. May 3rd marked the 178th year since the Portuguese first arrived in this country.”

Now this is a fine accusation!!! Last time we looked, the holiday was still “Arrival Day”. So what stopped all the descendants of the Portuguese, who did arrive and did perform yeoman service for this country, from “noticing”? Or even those, like the Editor-in-Chief of the Stabber Anand Persaud, who were made honorary members of the fraternity, from also so doing?

The descendants of the Indians did their thing on their own.

...of the “Big Maninja”

The head of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), Komal Chand was assured by no other than the president that the “Big Maninja” wasn’t earning US$25,000 monthly. So ask Dr Rupert Roopnaraine why he lied in parliament.

Newly-trained reporters ready to practise new techniques

The four-day journalism workshop hosted by the United States embassy in collaboration with the University of Guyana (UG) and the Ohio University wrapped up on Saturday with participants feeling more energised and enlightened as to how to go about their profession.

Journalists expressed gratitude to the U.S. embassy for its continued support of improving the craft in Guyana. Speaking on behalf of the media operatives that underwent the training, Mondale Smith said the initiative will definitely improve the level of reporting in Guyana.

Smith said the workshop, unlike previous workshops, has allowed for better interaction between the facilitators and the students. This, he said has enabled a more effective learning process for the team, which is now better equipped, in a range of media techniques that can be used to improve local content, both at the print, online and broadcast level. The topics that stood out in the training were journalism ethics, democracy and television news reporting. The class was divided into teams and at the end of the session, produced television news and print piec-

es, which were critiqued and analysed.

UG Faculty of Social Sciences Dean Dr Paloma Mohamed said the training is just one of many planned activities, which will target local media operatives, and the aim is to improve the level of journalism practiced here.

Ambassador D Brent Hardt commended the team for making sure that the workshop was effective and relevant. The U.S. diplomat said his office will remain ready and willing to always support the local media, in the quest to improve the skills of their workers and ensure that democracy is served in the Guyanese society. Ambassador Hardt said the partnership between the two universities will be beneficial to both countries. He encouraged the participants to be fair and balanced in their reporting and to ensure that they are reminded of their responsibilities of being the voice of the people and being the spokesperson for society.

Dr Mohammed said the collaboration between the Ohio University and UG will continue. The facilitators of the workshop work with the Ohio University.

They are Institute of International Journalism in the EW Scripps School of Journalism Director Dr Yusuf Kalyango and consultant and former Washington Post Chief Editor Andrew

Rotary clubs donate laundry facility to convalescent home

Guyana Red Cross Society representative from the Children s Convalescent Home, Dorothy Fraser accepts the donation from Rotary Club of Georgetown President Khalil Alli while an official looks on

The Rotary Club of Georgetown last Thursday donated a new laundry facility to the Red Cross Children’s Convalescent Home, Durban Backlands, Georgetown.

The home was in dire need of an upgraded laundry facility, which was provided through the assistance of the Rotary Club of Georgetown, three Rotary clubs in Canada, Republic Bank (Guyana) and Sterling Products. The upgraded facility includes new commercial washers and dryers, which will be of great assistance to the caregivers and children of the home.

The home houses approximately 45 children between the ages of six months and six years. The children come to the home as a result of

very distressing situations and some are even rescued from abusive homes, while others come to the home because their families can no longer care for them. The children require care and attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The home also facilitates adoptions for persons desirous of doing so.

The Rotary club for more than 20 years has been playing a very instrumental role in assisting the Guyana Red Cross Society in building a new and greatly improved facility for infants and young children that needed a home to convalesce when their parents or family were in difficult circumstances.

However, apart from the children’s physical needs, there are programmes in place to cater for their de-

velopment. In cases where there is a need for medical attention, they are treated at health centres and the Davis Memorial Hospital.

The home has been in existence for over half a century, opening on October 31, 1951 as the Princess Elizabeth Children’s Convalescent Home.

In March 1977, members of the Rotary Club of Georgetown and the Guyana Red Cross Society met to plan a new building, and almost a year later in February 1978, the club officially launched a fundraising campaign for the project. By June 7, 1980, the new Red Cross Children’s Convalescent Home was ready to be officially opened by then President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

Alexander, who are both media experts and academics. Meanwhile, UG Centre for Communication Studies Director Carolyn Walcott said the training was meaningful, instructive and had a high level of participation from all media entities here. Walcott reminded the participants to take what they have learnt from the in-

tense workshop and put it into practise. She believes that the training sessions allowed for great interaction between the facilitators and the participants, and will serve to improve the level of reporting in Guyana. In addition, it will also help to bring some balance in the daily reporting.

United States

Among the topics covered during the workshop were advocacy journalism and social responsibility, political communication and democratisation, professionalising television news in emerging democracies and investigative reporting. The workshop was hosted under the theme “Democracy, reporting and responsibility: Fundamentals for an informed society”. It saw the participation of more than 30 media operatives from both state-owned and private media entities.

Geddes Grant awards Mother’s Day promotion winners

Twenty-five winners of the MoneyGram and SurePay Mother’s Day Promotion were presented with beauty care hampers from Geddes Grant during a presentation ceremony held Friday, at Neal and Massy staff facilities at Ruimveldt.

NM Services Limited Chairman Deo Persaud said MoneyGram and SurePay companies were extremely delighted to honour mothers for the contributions they have made to their families and the society as a whole.

He offered congratulations to the winners and indicated that customers can look forward to the annual “Back to School” and “Christmas” promotions

during this year. Persaud said SurePay is a new company where customers can pay their utility bills.

“SurePay will be providing other services soon and I am pleased to announce that we have signed an agreement with GPL to offer services for pre-paid meter customers. We have other projects streamlined with GT&T and other utility companies,” he added.

MoneyGram Manager Debbie Baldeo said the promotion was very successful and she encouraged customers to participate in the two upcoming promotions.

According to Baldeo, the Mother’s Day promotion attracted entries country -

side and there were winners from Berbice, Linden, West Demerara and Georgetown. The winners were Aileen Beckford, Grace Hawker, Leila Persaud, Karen Richards, Kubbie Lashley, Claudette Nurse, Carlos Johnson, Rozana Gildharry, Dalan Garraway, Simone Yearwood Reece, George Chesney, Arnold Padmore, Poonandanee Prashad, Evadine Swan, Stacey Rowe, Bissondai Ramgobin, Lottia Williamson, Barbara Stewart, Harilall Sharmial, Savita Hardeen, Tricia Ramrup, Roxanne Couchman, Hazel HaynesBetton, Michell Obermuller and Bebe Majeed.

The winners proudly display their hampers. Also in photo are NM Services Limited Chairman Deo Persaud (centre) and MoneyGram Manager Debbie Baldeo

Front row: University of Guyana Faculty of Social Sciences Dean, Dr Paloma Mohamed; Ohio University Media Consultant Andrew Alexander; U.S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt; Ohio University Institute of International Journalism Director, Dr Yusuf Kalyango and University of Guyana Centre for Communication Studies Director Carolyn Walcott, along with participants of the workshop

Differently-able persons advocate petitions for blind school

Guyana Society for the Blind President Cecil Morris is calling for the construction of a special needs school that will cater for the peculiarities of children with visual impairment.

During an interview, Morris told Guyana Times that such a school, with properly trained tutors would equip and empower students to achieve their full potential. He pointed out that visually impaired children are often shortchanged not for the lack of ability on their part, but owing to a deficiency of resources and sometimes the absence of persons who can view education as a right and not a provision.

Morris stressed that children with visual impairment are placed at a severe disadvantage when they are forced to attend mainstream schools. He noted that such children often encounter teachers who are callous, harsh, and untrained and therefore, become the objects of rejection.

“Some teachers would tell you that you are slow and that you’re not learning anything. Some would move the children to the back of the classroom and so this is always a struggle,” the blind society president said. He related that these children often withdraw from the school system, with feelings of hopelessness and abandonment.

“But we need parents to know that sheltering these children will not protect them; in fact, it would cause

further damage to them,” he noted.

In principle all children have the same right to education. However, in practice, children with disability are disproportionately denied this right.

Exclusion denies children with disability the lifelong benefits of education – better jobs, social and economic security, and opportunities for full participation in society. In contrast, investment in the education of children with disability can reduce current and future dependence and contribute to their future effectiveness as members of the labour force and as active members of society.

Limited school enrolment

Data from a survey of households conducted in 13 low and middle-income countries show that children with disability aged six to 17 years are significantly less likely to be enrolled in school than peers without disability.

A 2008 survey in

Tanzania found that children with disability who attend primary school progressed to higher levels of education at only half the rate of children without disability.

Studies have shown that there is a strong link between poverty and disability whereby children with disability are caught in a cycle of poverty and exclusion that affects them as well as their families. This is in turn linked to gender, health and employment issues where girls may become caregivers for siblings with disability rather than attend school.

Families of children with disabilities are also known to avoid taking children out in public or registering them owing to social stigma which limits their ability to attend school.

Ensuring that children with disability can access an education is critical to reversing cycles of poverty and exclusion.

Limited support for educators

Teachers are key elements in a child’s learning environment, so it is imperative for them to have a clear understanding of inclusive education and a strong commitment to teaching all children.

All too often teachers lack appropriate preparation and support for teaching children with disability in regular schools. Another challenge is the lack of diversity among teaching personnel. Teachers with disability are quite rare and in

some settings, considerable obstacles exist for adults with disability to qualify as teachers.

Divided and unclear mandates between government ministries such as whether the responsibility for disability lies with social welfare or education can hinder the provision of education. For instance, while the Education Ministry may be tasked with providing inclusive education for all, the Social Services Ministry may be responsible for ensuring children of different abilities are educated and may approach the subject as a charity issue rather than a human rights issue.

Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD), children with disability have the right to the full enjoyment of their rights and freedoms on an equal basis with other children, including during their early years of life.

The CRPD specifically calls on state parties to ensure that children with disability have equal rights with respect to family life.

With a view to realising these rights and to prevent concealment, abandonment, neglect and segregation of children with disability, the CRPD issued a call to state parties to undertake the provision of early and comprehensive information, services and support to children with disability and their families.

Lucky Dollar rewards Mother’s Day promotion winners

The Lucky Dollar Mother’s Day promotion, which began on May 2 and concluded on May 12, rewarded those lucky customers who were selected by auditors Ram and Mc Rae at the recently held drawing.

For this year’s Mother’s Day Promotion, customers who made cash or credit purchases over $19,999 got a chance to be one of three persons to win a new BlackBerry handset. The following persons were adjudged the lucky winners: Bridget Harris of 102 Leopold Street, Georgetown; Sheeon Sulker of Lot 254 Cecil Kilkenny Avenue, Lamaha Springs, Georgetown; and Bibi Bhola of Lot 999 Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

Time to pick up de mayor fuh life

De undisputed mayor fuh life Green Ham gettin more and more help fuh clean up de garbage town (GT), but de whole **ity still in a mess. De guvament give de messy and corrupt city (M&CC) officials one new garbage truck and two compactors, but is more garbage pilin up pun de road every where.

Is time fuh de garbage truck pick up de mayor heself, but such a big pile of garbage gon be too big fuh de truck and de compactors. One of de engineers at de M&CC seh it might need a big dump truck fuh handle so much garbage.

Plus de people from de Pick It Up Campaign does always lend a helpin hand to clean up some of de garbage around GT, but de mayor fuh life, nor any one from de M&CC, does never be around to help pick up any ting. De engineer seh de PRO writin letter whole day and de mayor callin meetins all week.

But somehow Green Ham does find all de time in de world to attend all de functions around GT and to pose and tek out photos every where he go. One of these days some of de cameras gon bruk up wid photos of de mayor fuh life.

Is time fuh de people from de Pick It Up Campaign pick up de mayor heself, because he is de biggest pile of garbage around GT. But that gon be a very heavy task fuh these hardworkin people, because de mayor is plenty garbage pile up over a lotta years.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Now with World Environment Day around de corner, de M&CC getting even more help wid cleanin up GT. But wid de mayor fuh life around deh gon always have garbage pun de street, because is sheer garbage in de M&CC. Is time fuh dem pick up de mayor!

IDB head outlines progress of Caribbean at

economic forum

Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno highlighted the progress made by Latin American and Caribbean countries at an event organised by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the French Economy and Finance Ministry. Moreno emphasised the region’s economic management and growth and congratulated the Colombian government for the OECD’s invitation to open discussions for membership to the organisation. If the request is accepted, Colombia would join Chile and Mexico as countries in the region that belong to the multilateral organisation. Costa Rica

and Peru are also looking to become members of the OECD.

“This demonstrates how the South is part of the solution,” said Moreno. “The exceptional momentum gained by these economies and the will to implement better public policies ensure continued support to the region’s inclusive economic growth.”

Made up of 34 member-countries in Europe, America and Asia Pacific, the OECD is a free market-oriented organisation that aims to harmonise policies among its members to promote economic growth, employment, and improvement of living conditions among its inhabitants.

Guyana Society for the Blind President Cecil Morris

At the presentation ceremony, Bridget Harris (second left) and Sheeon Sulker (second right) can be seen proudly holding their BlackBerry handsets, with Store Manager Sharon Persaud (extreme right). Also in photo is Chain Manager Robert Arjoon. Absent is the third winner Bibi Bhola

Notebook

The Pacific Alliance – another threat to Caricom

This month, the Pacific Alliance, which is a political and economic alliance between Mexico, Columbia, Peru and Chile, celebrated its first anniversary. On May 23, in the Columbian city of Cali, the presidents of the countries in the alliance signed an agreement to remove all tariffs on 90 per cent of their merchandise trade and committed to eliminate the tariffs on the remaining 10 per cent within the next seven years. Between these countries, there is already free movement for citizens within the alliance. There are no visa requirements, since these were abolished when the alliance was established last year. The citizens of these countries are excited by the boldness of the alliance. But so are many outsiders. Costa Rica and Panama have expressed their desire to join the alliance. When the presidents met in Cali on May 23 to sign the tariff elimination agreement, Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper and of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy attended the meeting.

The alliance is based on practical economic and business principles. It deviates from the usual rhetoric of regional integration, which so far in Latin America and the Caribbean, has led to very little integration in reality.

Regional integration

A good example of regional integration that has little integration is the Caribbean Community (Caricom), whose leaders have talked about regional integration for decades and where the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) has been

an ambition for more than 20 years.

Each Caricom meeting of heads has had the CSME on its agenda, and the CSME rhetoric at each meeting has been loud. But just ask citizens how easy it is to move around Caricom countries. Ask entrepreneurs and trade ministers how easy it is to trade between these countries.

Largely, the Caricom countries have remained protectionist in practice, while preaching regional integration. Ask Guyanese citizens how easy it is to enter Barbados, as an example. Ask Banks DIH how easy it is for its ice cream to enter Barbados. Non-tariff barriers have so firewalled entry into member countries that the CSME has become a disdained acronym among most Caricom citizens.

Indeed, giving support to the view that the talk of regional integration among our leaders and policy makers represent more rhetoric than real commitment and determination is the fact that intra-regional trade in South and Central America

and within Caricom is only about 27 per cent.

Intra-regional trade in the European Union (EU) is 63 per cent and, in Asia, it is 52 per cent. Clearly, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have a propensity to look outside of the region, rather than within the region for trade.

The establishment of the alliance seeks to change the trade paradigm in Latin America and the Caribbean. The four founding nations are political democracies and free-market economies, which have sought to gain advantage from collective agreements between themselves and with other regional bodies. They are among the fastest growing economies in Latin America and have benefited from regional trade agreements with Asia.

The countries of the alliance, with a total population of about 209 million people, account for 35 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Latin America. In 2012, foreign direct investment inflows amounted to more than US$71 billion. Their merchandise trade

to the rest of the world was more than $US545 billion in 2012 and, to Asia alone, it was more than US$73 billion. In 2012, the combined growth rate was 4.5 per cent. In all of these indicators, the alliance was better than Brazil, the giant to their east.

Free movement

In order to improve trade and single movement and economy, the countries of the alliance are trying to achieve regulatory convergence by standardising border procedures, labelling systems, and to harmonise rules of origin procedures. They are achieving these practical steps which solidify their alliance and their integration into a single space for movement and the economy after just one year of existence. In contrast, after more than 20 years, Caricom has created more barriers to achieving the CSME than it has enhanced the process. Just examine the multitude of disputes on the Common External Tariffs (CET) at every meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic

Development (COTED).

The agreements within the alliance go beyond trade. They include trade in services, investments and government purchases, student exchanges, validation of university degrees, and joint embassies and trade offices around the world. Contrast this with Caricom.

We maintain separate embassies and trade offices around the world. Ask the administration of the University of Guyana, the University of Belize, and the Anton DeKam University in Suriname if these universities enjoy the same privileges as the University of the West Indies.

The aspiration of regional trade integration on which the alliance was established is not a new one. Caricom was established with the same lofty aspiration. In 1991, the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) was founded by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay with the same very aspiration.

But while the alliance countries are working to minimise rhetoric and maximise practical solutions to removing barriers, Caricom and MERCOSUR have often departed from the ambition of regional trade integration. They have often focused on political affinity, rather than achieving economic integration.

An example of the political affinity approach has been MERCOSUR signing of trade agreements with Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, while not being able to sign a trade agreement with the EU. In bold moves, the alliance is forging trade agreements with Asia, the EU, and North America.

Development engine

The truth is, after more than two decades, neither MERCOSUR nor Caricom has achieved regional trade integration. After more than six years, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America (ALBA) has failed to achieve regional trade integration. However, regional trade integration is becoming a reality among the countries of the alliance after just one year.

Indeed, Columbia’s President Juan Manuel Santos is not far from the truth when he described the alliance as the “new economic and development engine of Latin America and the Caribbean”. While MERCOSUR countries have engaged in political disagreements, such as the suspension of Paraguay, the alliance has been united in their search for greater integration among themselves. The results are telling: growth rate among the alliance countries averaged 4.5 per cent in 2012 compared with 2.5 per cent in MERCOSUR.

Even with a slowdown of global trade in 2012 and merchandise trade among the alliance countries, Caricom increasingly is losing ground. The alliance has positioned itself to positively engage in an environment of a global economy of super-blocs such as the TransPacific Partnership, the Trans-Atlantic Partnership, the EU, and China’s own economic bloc. Guyana and Caricom must pay close attention to the alliance and we must learn from its positive experience, although these are early days.

Readers are invited to comment on this article via email (times.notebook@ gmail.com) and on Facebook.

Society must be retrained to prevent domestic violence

Child psychologist

Faith Harding says if children are exposed to violence, it can even impact them while in the womb.

Although scientists are still trying to determine what causes a child to be born with violent tendencies, it has been discovered that the foetus is affected by what occurs in the external world.

“If the child feels and thinks early in the neonatal stage; they learn how people deal with issues that bother them,” Dr Harding stressed.

She added that these findings can provide vital tools for tackling domestic violence from a psychological standpoint.

“From childhood we learn ways in which we think we can overpower people and deal with situations. We see in homes very early that if you want a child to obey you, you hit that child after speaking to them once

or twice without the desired compliance,” Dr Harding related.

She mentioned that this has resulted in children growing with the idea that if they require a certain action from an individual over whom they exert control, then they must act violently.

According to Dr Harding, there has always been a sense of heavy violence in homes which people may not have categorised years ago as domestic violence or spousal abuse.

“The lack of knowing how to deal with conflict arises in a family and the first thing one does, is try to control someone else by overpowering them.”

She emphasised that should Guyanese fail to change their way of thinking and communicating, then the recent spate of domestic violence will worsen. Dr Harding stressed that

Dr Faith Harding

enough is not being done to interface with and train persons in conflict resolution and anger management.

“This is what causes violence in the world. People are not getting things the way they want it. It also has to do with the fear a person feel that they are no longer in control. It is not always that the person is drunk or

on drugs, but that the person hasn’t found effective ways of dealing with anger and conflict. Some persons are provoked and some are not.”

She remarked that such a state of affairs is sad since domestic violence is not being tackled in the right places.

Entire society to be blamed

According to her, there is not enough education, awareness, counselling, and therapy for both victims and perpetrators. Dr Harding places blame not only at the feet of perpetrators but the entire society at large for the current situation.

She noted that addressing domestic violence requires the collective efforts of government, local authorities, law enforcement, churches, and non-governmental organisations to really understand what happens that causes a person to take

certain action.

A lot of training

Commenting on the recent vigilante killings of two men, Dr Harding said the group of citizens misused their powers of arrest and detention (as they descended in violence), going beyond their roles as citizens in taking responsibility for the safety of their communities.

“Rather than referring the cases to the police, they take the law into their own hands. That is not to be tolerated, and, therefore, a lot of training is needed. We have come up in a society where quite a lot of violence due to the biblical understanding of ‘sparing the rod and spoiling the child’ and that if I whip this person, they will be hurt and wouldn’t repeat the act or bad behaviour,” the psychologist said.

She noted that the vigilante killings are a wake-up

call for the police that swift action must be taken against those found in breach of the country’s laws so as to restore a sense of security in the population.

According to Dr Harding, while she understands the police’s plight of limited resources and the level of violence in society, citizens must feel like they can trust the security forces.

The police are supposed to project an image that is caring, trustworthy, reliable, and understanding, she remarked.

“It would be nice for the police force to rebuild that sense of pride and authority in a policeman. Most of the policemen are caring and entered the profession for the love of it. I’m not saying there aren’t rogue policemen, but the majority that stay in the profession love what they do,” Dr Harding said.

The presidents of Peru, Colombia, Chile and Mexico at the time of the signing of the agreement: Ollanta Humala, Juan Manuel Santos, Sebastian Piñera and Felipe Calderon

29 graduate from Republic Bank’s Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme

After spending their first few months in the working world, 29 persons last Friday graduated from Republic Bank’s Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme 2012-2013.

This is the bank’s fifth batch of apprentices. The programme commenced in October last year and concluded with the graduation ceremony on Friday. Over the seven months, the apprentices had the opportunity to gain insight into the world of work. They were assigned to the bank’s various branches and benefited from professional development in office procedures, personal development, banking operations, customer service, and computing.

In addition, they were exposed to caregiving, assisting the children from the Red Cross Children’s Convalescent Home and also underwent first aid training at the Red Cross Society. They were treated to a fun day as well, complete with a guided tour along the Essequibo River with stops at Fort Island, Bartica, and the Baganara Island Resort.

Republic Bank Managing Director John Alves said the bank is sending off its fifth batch of apprentices with a sense of deep satisfaction, of

successfully completing another stint of the Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme. He said that the programme forms an integral part of the bank’s community investment initiative by affording secondary school graduates the opportunity to experience the world of work in a nurturing, safe, and professional environment.

Professional development

“It is our objective through this programme to mould and guide a group of Guyana’s youth for future career options, with a view to supporting national professional development. As such, we have sought to equip the apprentices with the necessary skills, level of awareness, knowledge, and etiquette to propel their career in a positive direction,” the managing director said.

Alves urged the apprentices to always strive for excellence and to stay the course of “professionalism, dedication, and integrity”, noting that those values will be beneficial to them, both professionally and personally.

He went on to say “while one part of your journey ends here today, there are many more experiences and challenges to discover. As you continue in your life’s

pursuits, we encourage you to remain focused on your goals, work hard, maximise every opportunity afforded you, and remain committed.”

The bank’s managing director concluded with a quote from Vince Lombardi, “individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilisation work”.

Bright future

In delivering the feature address, Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul commended Republic Bank for its excellent work on the apprenticeship programme, which is aptly structured to bridge the gap between school life and the work environment. He said this is an initiative the government fully supports and encourages.

He told the batch that they should utilise their training well and understand various facets of banking, since the banking industry is vast in Guyana. The minister said that the programme was a mere stepping stone for the apprentices and was not the end but the beginning of training they would be given in the world of work.

Gopaul also urged them not to migrate, since Guyana

has a bright future for young men and women, noting that the government has placed emphasis on training and has allotted some $224 million for the development of school dropouts.

During the graduation ceremony, attendees were treated to steel pan renditions and shown a video of activities undertaken by the batch over the past seven months. The bank also awarded several apprentices for their outstanding performances.

The Most Improved Apprentice Award was given to Rowllon Wright, the Most Effective Presentation Award was copped by Kerian Allen, while Kemo Paul walked away with the awards for the Best Business Proposal and Most Disciplined Apprentice.

Nicola John was adjudged the Best All Rounder and was also chosen as the valedictorian for her batch. In a statement, John thanked the bank, on behalf of her fellow apprentices, for the opportunity and the experiences of the trip to Essequibo.

She said that while there were trying days, there were often very good and memorable ones, adding that the seven months were the best months of their lives.

Food security to be centre of Africa’s

– FAO calls for hunger eradication by 2025

The three heads of the Rome-based United Nations agencies called for food security and nutrition to be placed at the centre of the international agenda for African development. Special attention should be given to supporting smallholder farmers to improve global food security and empowering rural women, by addressing gender inequalities and enabling them to transform their own lives and the lives of their families and communities.

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director General José Graziano da Silva, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Kanayo Nwanze,

and World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Ertharin Cousin, were speaking at the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) in Yokohama, Japan on Friday.

The three agency heads said that the most effective key to reversing hunger and poverty in developing countries lay in responsible investment by governments and the private sector in sustainable agricultural and rural development. They noted that in sub-Saharan Africa, GDP growth generated by agriculture had been shown to be 11 times more effective in re-

Guyanese in Florida observe independence anniversary

Representatives of Guyanese civic organisations and business enterprises from across Florida gathered recently at the residence of Guyana’s Honorary Consul Ramzan Roshanali and Mrs Roshanali to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the country’s independence.

It was the first time that such a gathering of Guyanese community and business leaders from various cities around the state took place and this provided an opportunity for them to get to know one another and exchange information about their activities.

According to a release, the event which took the form of a cocktail reception, dinner and dance was attended by a number of special guests, including Guyana’s acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali, former President Bharrat Jagdeo and City of Miramar Mayor, Florida, Lori Moseley.

Among the organisations taking part were the Guyanese Cultural Network of Tampa Bay, the Guyanese American Cultural Association of Central Florida (GACACF), the Guyana Nurses Association of Florida, the South Florida Guyanese Association, the Bishops’ High School Alumni Association Florida Chapter, the Taskforce for Guyana’s Youth, GT Lime, the Ex-Guyana Defence Force Officers Association, the Guyana Relief Council, the Lady Jags National Women’s Football team and the Guyanese community of Florida.

The business enterprises represented were Demerara Distillers Limited, Banks DIH, Laparkan Shipping, Hab International, Trans Caribbean Shipping, Caribbean Airlines, Dipcon Engineering Services Limited, Hibiscus Restaurant, Collision Kingdom, The Highland Agency Inc, CanMark Printing, Singh’s Roti Shop and Roberts & Roberts Management of Central

Florida.

The gathering heard a message from President Donald Ramotar and short speeches from Minister Ali and former President Jagdeo. Two civic organisations, the Bishops High School Alumni Association Florida Chapter and the (GACACF) received awards from the Guyana Consulate in Miami for their work in the community. The Bishops’ High School Alumni Association in recognition of its ongoing commitment to education and to the academic development of young people in Florida and Guyana and the GACACF in recognition of its contribution to the preservation and promotion of Guyanese culture in Central Florida and to charitable causes in Guyana.

Two businesses, the Demerara Distillers Limited and Laparkan Shipping were also honoured. DDL received an award for their ongoing support of the promotion of Guyana’s positive public image in Florida and Laparkan for their longstanding commitment and invaluable contribution to the activities of the Guyana and Caribbean diaspora in Florida in preserving and advancing their communities and charitable work. The awards were presented by Honorary Consul Ramzan Roshanali.

Also receiving an award from the consulate was Wesley Kirton, in recognition of his resolute support and service to the Guyanese diaspora in Florida. That award was presented by former President Jagdeo.

Speaking on behalf of the organisations represented, Dr Kofi Dalrymple of the Guyanese Cultural Network of Tampa Bay thanked the consulate for taking the initiative to bring together the Guyanese community leaders, business leaders and local and Guyana government officials.

It was an especially good evening for Dr Dalrymple and Minister Ali, who recognised each other as old schoolmates at St Stanislaus College and members of the school’s winning debating team.

development agenda

ducing poverty than GDP growth in other sectors. The agency heads stressed that it was time to invest in the critical agents of change: small producers and their organisations, family farmers, fishers, livestock keepers, forest users, rural workers, entrepreneurs, and indigenous people.

They commended countries that have had made strong efforts to reduce hunger within their boundaries and on the African continent in general, and indicated that the discussions at TICAD would help inform the high-level meeting to be held June 30-July 1 in Addis Ababa, co-organ-

ised by the African Union and FAO and supported by the Lula Institute. WFP, IFAD, and other development partners will also participate in this event.

Gender inequality

The UN organisation heads said hunger, malnutrition, and extreme poverty should remain at the core of the post-2015 agenda, following the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals, and expressed confidence that the world could overcome the twin scourges of poverty and hunger within a generation. However, they issued a warning that this will not

be achieved unless the world address the underlying causes of gender inequality and lift the barriers to the empowerment of women – the main producers, processors, and traders of food in Africa, despite the fact that 85 per cent of agricultural land is owned by men. The Rome-based agencies delivered joint statements to three of the five thematic sessions of TICAD V on Saturday –“Strengthening Sectoral Bases for Growth”; “Toward the Post-2015 Development Agenda”; and “Gender Equality: Advancing the Empowerment of Women”.

The 29 apprentices along with Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul, Republic Bank Managing Director John Alves and other executives at the graduation

FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva

Organisers sash Guyana’s Mrs, Ms, Mr United Nations

Local organisers of the United Nations Pageant on Saturday night sashed the two Guyanese representatives for the event billed for Mexico in July.

The event, which was also a fundraiser, was held at the Side Walk Café. Guyana currently holds the title of Miss United Nations, which was won last year by Soyini Fraser, who will be handing over her crown come July 8. The simple ceremony commenced with the introductions of the local contestants by Miss Guyana Universe 2010 Tamika Henry, who was the MC of the evening proceedings and all three representatives were sashed by reigning Miss Guyana Universe Ruqayyah Boyer.

A number of performances and displays were seen by popular local talents such as Lisa Punch, former jingle contestant Aaliyah Roshevel, GT&T Jingle Star finalist Ryon Hoppie, Dale Vandenbrook, fashion displays by Randy Madray and Nielson Nurse, Dance by Kanisha and Anmarie and an appearance by the Argentine Ambassador Luis Martino.

Representing Guyana in the categories of Mr Teen

Guyana United Nations, Miss Teen United Nations and Mrs United Nations are Devon Hernandez, Onica Sherrian Rose and Onica Alphonso respectively.

The participants are scheduled to arrive in Mexico on June 30 for the competition which is set to occur during the period of July 1-8. Guyana’s representatives will be required to partake in a number of categories such as the National Costume, Swimsuit Photoshoot, Sportswear, High Fashion, Interview, Talent segments and Humanitarian Project Presentation.

Prizes include US$5000, trips around the country, international magazine features along with the chance to represent the franchise for a year while touring to varying locations.

Hernandez, 20, hails from Kwakwani and is currently leading the online people’s choice award with 1025 votes. He has been doing volunteer work with the Joshua Children's Home and currently volunteers with the Youths for Guyana Organisation. The Mr United Nations hopeful was offered an opportunity to represent Guyana at the

Mr Tourism contest, but was unable to do so due to funding and lack of resources. Hopefully, this time around, enough capital is raised to grant him a spot this year on the international stage. The young man hopes to market a complete package for Guyana and will be performing a dance and dramatic monologue for his talent.

Fellow counterpart Onica Sherrian Rose, 16, hails from Berbice and is a Bishops’ High School student who will be representing Guyana in the Miss Teen United Nations Category. She has also been volunteering with the Youths for Guyana Organisation and was part of a clothing drive earlier this year.

She hopes to deliver a hard hitting poetry piece for her talent to help accumulate enough scores to land in the finals.

Mrs United Nations, Alphonso, 27, is a mother of two and is currently the public relations officer at Parliament.

The trio is currently in the process of raising funds and anyone wishing to contribute to this worthy cause can do so by contacting Henandez on telephone number 694-9963.

OAS roundtable discusses power shifts in Latin America

The Organisation of American States (OAS) last week hosted its 51st policy roundtable on the theme “Power shifts in Latin America: Current trends”, at the headquarters of the organisation in Washington, DC.

OAS Chief of Staff Hugo de Zela opened the event, saying that “there are different aspects to discuss, such as the origins and consequences of the political changes we are experiencing in the region today, what are the possibilities, which changes are transitional, who are the new players, are they regional or are there extra-regional actors, and how it all combines to generate a complex and ever-changing set of diplomatic interactions and architecture.”

“We live in a hemisphere in which ideologies play an important role, we have seen in recent years sev-

eral cases have been politically sensitive that have been dealt with in our organisation where ideology has played a central role,” said Ambassador De Zela, and cited as an example, the collective analysis of the implementation of the Inter-American Democratic Charter that took place in June 2011.

OAS Political Affairs

Secretary Kevin CasasZamora spoke about trends in relations between Latin America and the United States, highlighting the importance of non-governmental exchanges, for example in the private sector and those brought about by migration. In that context, Casas-Zamora said some analysts overemphasise the importance of official relations.

“There is another level, much more important, and often neglected, that does

not pass through official channels but has to do with the relationship between the private sectors that generate US$800 billion a year,” said Casas-Zamora, referring to the large volume of trade relations between the United States and Latin America.

The secretary for political affairs said that “the fundamental vectors of this relationship go through the business relationship and all the phenomena generated by migration, and the brutally important fact of the 50 million Latinos and descendants of Latinos living in the United States.”

In this regard, he indicated that “at present, there is a level of contact and overlap between North American society and Latin American societies far greater than at any previous time, and in some ways overrides whatever happens in the official channels.”

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monday, june 3, 2013 | guyanatimesgy.com

EPA key to The Bahamas’ value added trade strategy

The Bahamas is pursuing a value added trade strategy. Authorities are seeking to more intensively position the country as a hub in global value chains, in the first instance drawing on, thereby better integrating, production networks across regional states in order to source primary and intermediate inputs for further production and export.

The Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) figures prominently in this regard.

The Bahamas' Financial Services Minister Ryan Pinder expressed this view during the opening on May 29 of a Validation Meeting in Nassau, The Bahamas, the purpose of which was for a cross-section of stakeholders to consider the draft Bahamas National EPA Implementation Plan.

Implementation plan

More than 40 participants were on hand at the meeting, drawn from national public/private sector and civil society institutions. In addition to the consultant retained to develop the implementation plan, staff of the Caricom Secretariatbased EPA Implementation Unit and their Bahamian counterparts also attended. Participants welcomed the draft implementation plan, and in what was an especially interactive session they provided feedback. Deliberations, led by the consultant, centred on the specific actions to be taken to achieve compliance, in addition to resources required for implementation and strategies for meeting resource gaps. Some participants undertook to provide further feedback, following the meeting, for incorporation into the document.

The final Bahamas National EPA Implementation Plan is slated to be submitted to the government shortly. Focal points within the Financial Services Ministry would be responsible for ensuring that the plan is realised. Soon after, the plan is approved by government, the intention is to have in place a more structured coordination mechanism with respect to the implementation of the EPA.

In this regard, authorities have signalled their intention to move forward with the establishment of the EPA Implementation Unit within the Financial Services Ministry. The regional EPA Implementation Unit has registered its commitment to continue to extend technical guidance and assistance to EPA focal points in The Bahamas, as they proceed to give effect to the implementation plan.

The validation meeting

is a crucial step in the finalisation of that plan, which was recently produced, and the consultancy that spearheaded its formulation was made possible through funding under the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTFund). The consultancy commenced in March of this year, and it has been informed by a consultative process in the period since.

In his address to the Validation Meeting, Minister Pinder took the opportunity to reaffirm his support for the development of the National EPA Implementation Plan, and underscored the “tremendous potential” for The Bahamas in leveraging global value chains and the opportunities the EPA presents for the country to realise that potential.

Global value chains have risen to prominence over the past 10 years, and refer to the international organisation of production (including post-production marketing and distribution) that is increasingly dispersed across countries. One important effect of the segmentation of the production process across countries has been specialisation, within given countries, in process-related upstream and/or downstream activities.

Global value chains

Minister Pinder pointed to several strengths The Bahamas has that can work to its advantage with respect to leveraging of global value chains, so as to spur competitiveness, export performance, and economic growth. In this regard, he called attention to the fact that The Bahamas has long been one of the world’s principal international financial centres. The minister also noted his country’s free trade zone potential. “Freeport, Grand Bahama is a 230-square-mile free trade zone that serves as an important hub for international business, one with significant potential for further growth,” he underscored. He also pointed to the capacity for export-oriented manufacturing and assembly operations on Grand Bahama.

Minister Pinder also spoke of the important role The Bahamas can play in scaling up regional efforts to link production to logistics in the contemporary global trade environment, namely by harnessing the country’s strategic location in relation to major international trade routes. In this regard, he noted that the Freeport Container Port – based on the island of Grand Bahama – is widely recognised as one of the world’s major transshipment hubs with worldclass facilities. “We are strategically located in major shipping lanes, and the Freeport Container Port is capable of handling the largest container vessels; which is important, considering efforts to expand the Panama Canal,” Minister Pinder said. “Indeed, Freeport is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world, and the deepest in the region.”

Business model

“The Bahamas is planning for opportunities associated with global value chains, and in this regard, is actively positioning itself to capitalise on the strengths I have identified,” Minister Pinder concluded. He added, “We are creating a new, progressive business model in keeping with our globalised world, in order for us to take full advantage of outbound opportunities, as opposed to fixating on supposed in-bound threats.”

On Thursday, the team from the regional EPA Implementation Unit and its Bahamian counterparts met with representatives of national professional associations representing engineers, accountants, and architects. These consultations discussed licensing, registration, and related matters toward the negotiation of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), following which a more wideranging sensitisation consultation is scheduled with representatives of national civil society.

The 15 signatory Cariforum States to the EPA are the independent Caricom member states and the Dominican Republic.

(Caricom Secretariat)

The Bahamas Financial Services Minister Ryan Pinder

UN hopefuls! From left: Onica Alphonso, Onica Sherrian Rose and Devon Hernandez

Trinidad PM says China offering US$3B in funds

China’s president has offered concessionary loans to nine Caribbean countries totalling some US$3 billion, Trinidad & Tobago’s prime minister said Sunday, the Associated Press reported.

Details of the offer were not immediately disclosed after a Sunday luncheon, but Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters that the loans would be earmarked for infrastructure and development projects across the Caribbean. “We really

welcomed that generosity,” she was quoted as saying.

Persad-Bissessar also announced that she will visit the People’s Republic of China in November on an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping. She will also establish a diplomatic mission in Beijing at that time.

The president and his delegation departed Sunday after meeting with various Caribbean leaders in the capital of Port of Spain over the weekend. Trinidad, a leading suppli -

er of natural gas, was the first stop of a four-country trip in the region for Xi. He headed for Costa Rica, and also planned stops in Mexico and the United States.

On Saturday, Xi said China always views its relationship with the Caribbean “from a strategic perspective and we are committed to the building of a comprehensive and cooperative partnership.”

His visit to Trinidad came a few days after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden

met with political leaders from across the Caribbean to sign a trade agreement and discuss a range of security, investment and energy issues.

During his stay in Trinidad, Xi also announced that China was awarding a US$250 million loan to build a children’s hospital. He signed a memorandum of understanding to advance cooperation in energy, mineral and infrastructure development, among other areas.

Brazilian tribe reoccupies farm after deadly clash

Hundreds of indigenous Brazilians have reoccupied a ranch in the western state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The Terena indigenous group says the ranch, which belongs to a local politician, lies on their ancestral land.

On Thursday, one of their members was shot as police evicted the group from the site, which it had occupied for two weeks. The police said the Terena had attacked them with bows and arrows.

The officers say they were executing a court order to evict the group, but the Indians reacted violently to their approach.

Federal police spokesman Francisco Moraes said the group returned to the ranch on Friday. Moraes said the situation continued to be “tense”, but that there had been no violent

incidents since the reoccupations started.

Indigenous activists say farmers in Mato Grosso do Sul frequently use violence and threats to force them off their ancestral territo -

ry, and that the local authorities do little to protect them.

The state, which borders Bolivia and Paraguay, is one of the main soya producers in Brazil. (BBC News)

Ecuador seeks Assange talks with UK

The UK government is considering a request from Ecuador to hold talks on the future of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the Foreign Office has said. It confirmed Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, who will visit Assange this month, had offered to meet Foreign Secretary William Hague. Assange has lived in Ecuador’s embassy in London for a year, having been granted political

asylum there. He faces extradition to Sweden over sex allegations, which he denies.

Once in Sweden, he fears onward extradition to the U.S. where he could face charges over the release of top secret documents by WikiLeaks.

The publication of a mass of leaked diplomatic cables by the website has embarrassed a number of countries.

An Ecuadorian government spokesman said Patino would be visit -

ing London on June 16 to meet Assange at the embassy on the “eve of the first anniversary of Mr Assange in our diplomatic premises”.

The spokesman said the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry had informed UK authorities of the visit and had “offered to meet with Foreign Secretary William Hague to discuss the case of Julian Assange”.

A Foreign Office spokesman said it was considering the request.

“UK government officials

have been in regular contact with representatives of the Ecuadorian government, both in London and Quito, about Mr Assange,” he said.

“We hope the visit will contribute to our joint commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to this issue.”

Assange entered the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London on June 19, 2012, after the UK’s Supreme Court dismissed his bid to reopen his appeal against extradition.

Supply man hospitalised after crashing into utility pole

A32-year-old man has been hospitalised in a critical state on Sunday evening after he crashed into a utility pole.

The injured man has been identified as Elon Isaacs of Lot 44 Supply, East Bank Demerara. The incident occurred around 19:30h at Supply.

Guyana Times understands that the man was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and after some two hours, he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Relatives of Isaacs gathered as the news spread. His mother was traumatised and had to be consoled by relatives.

An aunt of the injured man, Merlyn Melville, related to this publication

that they were at home, a short distance from the scene, when they heard the impact. She noted that a few minutes after, they learnt that it was Isaacs who was involved in the accident.

She related that they were told that her nephew was driving an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) when he crashed into a lantern post and fell into a nearby drain. The woman said that Isaacs was taken out and rushed to the hospital.

Melville disclosed that her nephew sustained severe head injuries and was hit on his chest. She added that the man also lost several teeth.

The woman said her nephew did not own the ATV and she does not know to whom the vehicle belongs.

Caribbean urged to curb tobacco smoking

Calling tobacco use the deadliest global pandemic ever, a former president of Uruguay has urged decision makers in the Caribbean and Latin America to step up efforts to curb smoking.

In making reference to World No Tobacco Day, Tabaré Vázquez, an oncologist by profession, said the war against smoking should not only be waged in doctors’ offices but also in people’s homes, workplaces, public spaces, and especially in classrooms around the region.

“We need to tell people that they can be happy without consuming tobacco, alcohol, or drugs,” Tabaré told an audience of health experts and professionals gathered at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC.

Vázquez provided what the World Bank said is the clearest picture yet of the huge human and material costs caused by tobacco in the region. He said the mor-

tality rates for non-communicable diseases (NCDS), many caused by smoking, double those for communicable diseases: 93.8 per cent per 100,000 people vs 55.4 per cent per 100,000 inhabitants.

He said the region spends more than US$70 billion to treat two of the most lethal NCDs: diabetes and cancer. Vazquez suggested two key actions to address these trends in the region.

First, he called for more political will to mobilise existing local resources and international support. He also called for a “deep cultural change, so people don’t trade quality of life for immediate gratification from smoking.” According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) study, eight countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have 100 per cent smoke-free public environments, while the rest of the region has a smoking ban on at least five key public places.(Excerpt from CMC)

“Try me for wife’s murder!” – J’ca widower begs for speedy trial

The widower of a popular entertainment personality, who is accused of killing her, wants the Jamaican state to proceed with the murder trial so that he can get on with his life.

David Gordon, now 32, is unhappy that he has been forced to wait seven

years for the murder trial of dancehall promoter, television personality and public relations practitioner, Christine Hewitt, to get off the ground.

Gordon and his brother Wordsworth Gordon were arrested and charged with Hewitt’s murder, three years after her body was found on

the Mount Industry main road in rural St Catherine on June 29, 2006. The body was discovered in a burntout sport utility vehicle and identified by the wedding band that Gordon had placed on her finger a year and four months earlier. Gordon was 24 when he married the 42-year-old talk

show host.

“After seven years of investigation, I would have hoped that by now they would have at least started the trial,” Gordon told the Jamaica Observer in an exclusive interview last week.

“I thought it was about being innocent until proven guilty,” Gordon said.

“But it seems to be the other way around, because it has been over four years since I have been charged, and seven years since they have been investigating, and all now the trial cannot start,” Gordon stated.

Gordon said that the matter is currently in the Home Circuit Court, hav-

ing bypassed the usual preliminary hearing. This was done, he said, because prosecutors claimed that they would have had to fly witnesses from overseas to testify at the preliminary hearing and again at the trial, and the state did not have enough money to do that.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Indigenous groups have been demanding the return of their ancestral lands

Demonstrators take to streets in Turkey, clash with police

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Turkey’s four biggest cities on Sunday, and clashed with riot police firing tear gas on the third day of the fiercest anti-government demonstrations in years.

The din of car horns and residents banging pots and pans from balconies in support of the protests resonated across neighbourhoods in Istanbul and Ankara late into the night, as hundreds of demonstrators skirmished with riot police.

Roads around Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s office in Istanbul were sealed off as police fired tear gas to push back protesters, and police raided a shopping complex in the centre of the capital Ankara where they believed demonstrators were sheltering, detaining several hundred.

Erdogan blamed the

Demonstrators stand in

main secular opposition party for inciting the crowds, whom he called “a few looters”, and said the protests were aimed at depriving his ruling AK Party of votes as elections begin next year.

Interior Minister Muammer Guler said there had been more than 200 demonstrations in 67 cities around the country, according to the Hurriyet newspaper.

The unrest erupted on Friday when trees were torn down at a park in

Istanbul’s main Taksim Square under government plans to redevelop the area, but widened into a broad show of defiance against the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Erdogan said the plans to remake the square, long an iconic rallying point for mass demonstrations, would go ahead, including the construction of a new mosque and the rebuilding of a replica Ottoman-era barracks.(Excerpt from Reuters)

Tiananmen provokes fresh China-U.S. spat

The Chinese government has accused the United States of “political prejudice” and “ignoring facts” for its recent comments on Tiananmen Square, Xinhua news agency has reported.

The U.S. State Department had on Friday called on the Chinese government to fully account for those killed, detained, or missing in the 1989 military crackdown on protesters in Tiananmen Square.

But in response, Hong Lei, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on Saturday urged the U.S. “to discard political prejudice and correctly treat

China’s development”.

“A clear conclusion has already been made concerning the political turmoil that happened in the late 1980s,” Xinhua said, citing Hong.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki had said the U.S. was remembering the “tragic loss of innocent lives” ahead of the 24th anniversary on June 4 of the violent crushing of student-led pro-democracy protests.

“We renew our call for China to protect the universal human rights of all its citizens; release those who have been wrongfully detained, prosecuted, incarcerated, forcibly disappeared, or placed under

house arrest; and end the ongoing harassment of human rights activists and their families,” Psaki said in her statement.

But the Chinese government said the U.S. “releases similar statements year after year, ignoring facts and making groundless accusations against the Chinese government,” which is a “rude interference in China’s internal affairs,” Xinhua reported.

The Chinese government has never fully disclosed what happened when the military crushed the protests, which it branded a “counterrevolutionary riot”.

Hundreds, possibly more, were killed (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UK political lobbying row widens

Three peers have been accused of agreeing to carry out parliamentary work for payment. Undercover Sunday Times reporters filmed the men appearing to offer to help a fake solar energy company.

Ulster unionist Lord

Laird and Labour’s Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate and Lord Cunningham deny wrongdoing.

The two Labour peers have been suspended from the party and Lord Laird has resigned as the party whip pending an investigation.

In a separate investigation by the BBC’s Panorama programme in conjunction with the Daily Telegraph, Lord Laird was also secretly filmed discussing a retainer to ask parliamentary questions.

The House of Lords code of conduct says peers must not act as paid advocates and “must not seek to profit from membership of the House by accepting or agreeing to accept payment for providing parliamentary advice or services”.

Thousands march for rights in rare Ethiopian protest

About 10,000 Ethiopians staged an anti-government procession on Sunday in the first large-scale protest since a disputed 2005 election ended in street violence that killed 200 people.

The demonstrators marched through Addis Ababa’s northern Arat Kilo and Piazza districts before gathering at Churchill Avenue in front of a looming obelisk with a giant red star perched on top, a relic of Ethiopia’s violent Communist past.

Some carried banners reading “Justice! Justice! Justice!” and some bore pictures of imprisoned opposition figures. Others chant-

ed, “We call for respect of the constitution”. A few police officers watched the demonstration, for which the authorities had granted permission.

“We have repeatedly asked the government to release political leaders, journalists, and those who asked the government not to intervene in religious affairs,” said Yilekal Getachew, chairman of the Semayawi (Blue) Party which organised the protests.

He said the demonstrators also wanted action to tackle unemployment, inflation and corruption.

“If these questions are not resolved and no progress is made in the next three

months, we will organise more protests. It is the beginning of our struggle,” he told Reuters.

Government officials were not immediately available for comment. Ethiopian opposition parties routinely accuse the government of harassment and say their candidates are often intimidated in polls. The 547-seat legislature has only one opposition member.

Though its economy is one of the fastest-growing in Africa, Ethiopia is often criticised by human rights watchdogs for clamping down on opposition and the media on national security grounds, a charge the government denies. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Czech PM declares emergency as floods threaten Prague

Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas declared a state of emergency for most of the nation on Sunday as swollen rivers caused by days of heavy rain threatened Prague’s historic centre and forced evacuations from low-lying areas.

Homes were also evacuated across southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland and at least three people have been killed as rivers reach dangerous levels following days of rain.

Prague authorities limited public transport and planned to close under-

Lord Laird is alleged to have told reporters posing as lobbyists for a fake company representing business interests in Fiji that he would be interested in accepting a retainer of £2000 a month.

He told the Panorama undercover team that he would help start an All Party Parliamentary Group for Fiji. He indicated that he would use the promise of a trip to Fiji as a “bribe” in order to get people to join the group.

Lord Laird said: “I’ll deny having said this, but it’s a bribe. The sort of thing I can say to these guys. ‘Look, you put that question down now. I thought you were interested in Fiji. Would you like to come down to it, y’know? I believe it’s quite nice.’ But that’s why I can say that.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

ground stations in the centre of the city as water from the Vltava River overflowed into picturesque areas popular with tourists. The main train line connecting the capital and the east of the country was also shut.

Necas pledged 300 million Czech crowns (US$15 million) for relief efforts, and said another 2000 troops were ready to support the 300 soldiers already helping to erect temporary barriers and pile sandbags in Prague and other areas.

“The government approved the declaration of a

state of emergency which will enable a more effective rescue effort,” said Necas after an emergency Cabinet meeting, adding that there was another 1.3 billion crowns available to help fund the clean-up operation. In neighbouring Austria, torrential rain caused widespread flooding and landslides, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes.

The historic area of Prague is a UNESCO heritage site boasting hundreds of well-preserved buildings, churches, and monuments dating back centuries, including the Charles Bridge straddling the Vltava which was closed due to high water.

The floods have killed at least two people and several people are missing across the Czech Republic. A Prague hospital and parts of the zoo were also evacuated. Rising rivers have forced the closures of highways and railway lines throughout western and southern Bohemia.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Syrian rebels, Hezbollah in deadly fight in Lebanon

Hezbollah guerrillas fought a deadly battle with Syrian rebels in Lebanon’s eastern border region early on Sunday, security sources said, in the latest eruption of Syria’s conflict on Lebanese soil.

Lebanese security sources said at least 12 rebels were killed in the fighting east of the Bekaa Valley town of Baalbek, but the toll would not be clear until bodies were retrieved from the remote and rugged border area. One Hezbollah fighter also died, they said.

Syria’s two-year-old conflict has increasingly sucked in its smaller neighbour, with fighting shaking the

northern Lebanese city of Tripoli and rockets hitting the Bekaa Valley and southern Beirut.

Shiite Muslim Hezbollah, which supports President Bashar al-Assad, is fighting alongside his army to drive rebels from the Syrian border town of Qusair, while Lebanese Sunni Muslim fighters have joined the anti-Assad revolt.

Sunday’s fighting took place near Ain el-Jaouze in a strip of Lebanese territory which extends into Syria, the sources said, and the rebels may have been ambushed as they set up rockets to fire into Shiite areas of the Bekaa Valley.

Rebels have said they will carry out attacks inside Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s support for Assad’s assault on Qusair, a strategic town for rebel weapons supplies and fighters coming into Syria from Lebanon.

The United Nations said on Saturday that up to 1500 wounded people might be trapped inside Qusair and UN officials called for an immediate ceasefire to allow them to receive treatment. The International Committee of the Red Cross asked for access, saying it was ready to enter Qusair immediately to deliver aid.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

front of a makeshift shield during clashes with Turkish riot police in central Ankara, June 2

A view of the swollen Vltava River in Prague, June 2

Lord Laird was filmed telling the Panorama undercover team that he would help start an All Party Parliamentary Group, or APPG, for Fiji

TT: VAT on food flops

Seven months after government slashed Value Added Tax (VAT) on 7000 food items, president of the Supermarkets Association of TT (Satt) Vernon Persad has admitted that the benefits consumers enjoyed from this initiative have since been eroded. Network of NGOs Coordinator Hazel Brown feels the move was just a “fallacy decision made without thinking it through, except for the political im-

pact on it”.

Trade, Industry and Investment Minister Vasant Bharath, whose ministry was responsible for the removal of VAT on the items, said if it were true that prices had increased, a lot of hard work and money would have gone down the drain. Bharath admitted that the matter was now a worrying concern. VAT was removed by the People’s Partnership government on November 15, 2012 in an effort to low-

er food prices and curb foodprice inflation.

This move resulted in government foregoing TT$400 million in revenue. On Tuesday, Persad said Satt had observed increases on a number of nonVAT items over the past few months. Among them are snacks, curry, baby items, sugar, peas and beans, dairy products and juices − many of which we import, Persad said. There are 1200 supermarkets in TT. (Trinidad Guardian)

U.S. takes Apple to court over e-books price-fixing

Apple Inc goes to trial today over allegations by federal and state authorities that it conspired with publishers to raise the price of e-books. The trial pits the maker of the popular iPad and iPhone against the U.S. Justice Department in a case that tests how Internet retailers interact with content providers.

“This case will effectively set the rules for Internet commerce,” said David Balto, a former policy di-

rector for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

The Justice Department filed its case against Apple and five of the six largest U.S. book publishers in April 2012. The lawsuit accused them of conspiring to increase e-book prices and break Amazon.com Inc’s hold on pricing. Apple is going to trial alone after the five publishers agreed to eliminate prohibitions on wholesale discounts and to pay a collective US$164 mil-

lion to benefit consumers.

If Apple is found liable, it could still face damages in a separate trial by the state attorneys general and consumers pursuing class actions. Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who died in 2011, told his biographer that, “we told the publishers, ‘We’ll go to the agency model, where you set the price, and we get our 30 per cent, and yes, the customer pays a little more, but that’s what you want anyway.’” (Reuters)

Andorra to introduce income tax for first time

Andorra is to introduce a tax on personal income for the first time as it faces pressure from its European neighbours to tackle tax evasion.

Antoni Marti, the head of the Andorran government, told French President Francois Hollande that he will introduce a bill before June 30.

The principality will “gradually meet interna-

tional tax standards”, according to the office of the French president. There is currently no income tax applied to individuals or corporations.

EU finance ministers have agreed to start talks with Andorra – along with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino –on swapping bank account information.

Recently, the European

Commission told the European Parliament it wants EU-wide exchange of all types of income data as part of the fight against tax evasion.

EU tax authorities already automatically exchanged information for income such as employment, pensions, and insurance, but not for income such as dividends and capital gains.(BBC News)

Africa

Gaddafi-linked assets worth US$1B in SA

South African officials are investigating claims ex-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family stashed US$1 billion in assets in the country.

Libya has reportedly called for help in repatriating diamonds, gold, and cash. The assets were being held by four banks and security companies in South Africa, reports quoting Libyan investigators say. Some estimates suggest that

Gaddafi’s total foreign assets could be worth as much as US$80 billion. Gaddafi was captured and killed as he tried to flee his hometown of Sirte during Libya’s political uprising in October 2011.

Any assets belonging to him or his family are firmly considered by many Libyans as state-owned property that should be returned.

“There was a group that approached Treasury claiming to represent the Libyan

government and we are in the process of verifying their claims about assets that are in South Africa,” a spokesman for South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was quoted as saying by South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper.

Libyan embassy official Salah Marghani said that officials had “been appointed to investigate and secure assets in Africa on behalf of the people of Libya”. (BBC News)

Singapore’s water companies to quench China’s thirst

Water companies in Singapore are attracting big-name investors as they profit from exporting their expertise to China, which plans to spend US$850 billion over the next decade to improve its scarce and polluted water supplies.

Singapore is a hub for water technology because of its own concerns about water security. With few domestic freshwater resourc-

Middle East

es of its own, the city-state has been trying to reduce its reliance on imports from neighbouring Malaysia, where politicians have in the past threatened to turn off the taps. Since 2006, the number of companies in Singapore’s water sector has doubled to about 100 and S$470 million (US$371.2 million) has been committed to fund water research, government

data shows. Over the same period, Singapore-based water companies secured more than 100 international projects worth close to S$9 billion. Singapore has been experimenting with reservoirs, recycled water known as NEWater, and desalination as it aims to become selfsufficient in water by 2061, when a water supply agreement with Malaysia expires. (Reuters)

Bahrain’s budget deficit widens to US$601M

Bahrain’s budget deficit widened sevenfold in 2012 to BD227 million (US$601 million), but stayed well below an initial plan as the country reined in spending increases and revenue grew, data showed.

The 2012 deficit was much lower than the BD1.33 billion initially foreseen and is equivalent to two per cent

BIS lays out

of gross domestic product, up from 0.3 per cent in 2011, according to a Reuters calculation based on the official figures.

Government expenditure in the small non-OPEC oil exporter grew 14 per cent to BD3.26 billion, but that was below the BD3.85 billion planned, the Finance Ministry data showed.

Bahrain increased its original 2012 expenditure plan by nearly 19 per cent in September 2011 to soften social tensions. Unrest among Shiite Muslim citizens began in early 2011. Revenues grew 21 percent to BD3.03 billion, above the BD2.52 billion initially projected, mainly due to a rise in oil and gas income.(Arabianbusiness)

“simple” plan on how to handle bank failures

Central bank forum the Bank for International Settlements laid out a blueprint on Sunday for how to recapitalise a major lender in the event of a failure, seeking to avoid the sort of chaotic ad hoc rescues seen since 2008’s financial crash.

Authorities have been grappling since the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers five years ago with the question of how banks regarded as systemically important – or too big to fail (TBTF) – can be recapitalised without causing panic and without needing taxpayer cash.

The BIS paper released on Sunday said its plan would allow banks to be recapitalised quickly and eas-

ily and would allow authorities to give an unequivocal guarantee that insured depositors would not lose savings. “(It) proposes a simple recapitalisation mechanism that is consistent with the rights of creditors and enables recapitalisation of a TBTF bank over a weekend without the use of taxpayers’ money,” the paper said.

Under the template laid out by BIS, which is termed a creditor-funded recapitalisation mechanism, the bank would undergo a forced recapitalisation by its creditors when it reaches the point of failure. The ownership of a bank would be transferred to a newly created temporary holding company over a weekend. The bank is then immedi-

ately recapitalised by writing off the claims of creditors.

The authors suggested the blueprint could be the only way to respect the pecking order for the repayment of creditors, achieve a quick recapitalisation and prevent risk from moral hazard, when expectations of government help can encourage banks to take more risks.

The creditor hierarchy would be observed, with subordinated creditors written off and some losses imposed on senior unsecured creditors – enough to give the bank capital to easily withstand future losses and restore market confidence. That would include losses for deposits above the guarantee. (Reuters)

Environment march spotlights messy Georgetown

– major clean-up exercise planned for this week

With piles and piles of garbage stacked at the corners of almost every city street, hundreds of Guyanese on Sunday marched through Georgetown to observe World Environment Week.

As the group marched, they stumbled on the many illegal garbage piles that the Georgetown City Council has been either too taxed to clean up or just does not care about.

Last week, the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry said it will collaborate with the Georgetown City Council and other agencies to undertake a three-day cleanup of several city wards as part of activities for World Environmental Week, during which is observed World Environment Day on June 5.

Areas to be covered

The exercise will encompass Kingston from Water Street to Parade Street and Young Street to Cowan Street; North and South Cummingsburg from Lamaha Street to Church Street and Thomas Street to Water Street; Lacytown from Water Street to Camp Street and North to South Road; East Ruimveldt from Trench Road to Mandela Avenue and Front Road to Mandela Avenue; and West Ruimveldt from Vlissengen Road to Hunter Street and Mandela Avenue to Front Road.

Special emphasis will also be placed on cleaning the environment of the National Library, the National Museum, the St George’s Cathedral and the market places. The cleaning works would entail weeding and clearing streets, alleyways and drains within the blocks, weeding of the parapets and avenues, and removal of garbage from the parapets.

World Environment Day was first celebrated in 1973, after being established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human

For his part, Laurence Whitehead, fellow in politics from the University of Oxford, said the limitations of relations between the United States and Latin America have two factors, one internal and one external. The first is due to the weight of the United States Congress in Washington’s strategic vision, while the external factor is due to the United States’ need to address other problematic regions, such as the Middle East, or issues such as the war on terrorism.

Professor Whitehead also said Latin America is in the midst of a generation-

Environment. It is celebrated annually on June 5, with focus on a particular theme to draw attention to specific environmental issues. This year’s theme is “Think. Eat. Save.” and it focuses on food wastage and food loss.

Sunday’s Green Walk was the largest ever to observe World Environment Day.

Environmental awareness

The event was organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create environmental awareness. The Green Walk, which commenced at the Umana Yana, and concluded at the National Park, witnessed the participation of several governmental agencies, non-governmental organisations, youth groups, and environmental clubs. Trophies were presented to participants. Marian Academy was awarded for having the largest contingent and best banner and the Guyana Police Force for uniformity and best chant.

The Graham’s Hall Primary School was placed second in all the categories.

Environment Minister Robert Persaud urged participants to take back the message to their communities, families, schools and organisations that “We need to clean up Guyana”.

The minister told the gathering on Sunday that despite the fact Guyana has

al change, which he assessed as positive. “There are old elites who are stuck in previous postures who are nearly eclipsed.”

Dan Restrepo, former senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the United States National Security Council, said the administration of President Barack Obama has proposed a strategic line with Latin America of acting as “good partners”, and sharing responsibilities. “Mexico is one of the countries that have accepted the offer of partnership. The countries of the Alliance of the Pacific in large measures are countries

made significant strides in attainting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, the country has failed to eliminate or reduce the high level of indiscriminate dumping of garbage.

He urged those in attendance to ensure that they “walk the walk” of making Guyana free from garbage. Persaud also posited that Guyana could be made a better place, if all citizens put their heads together and work to clean up and maintain the environment in which they live.

Beautiful country

“We don’t only have a beautiful country, but we have a country, which is selfsufficient in food,” he emphasised. The environment minister pointed to statistics which indicate that more than one billion people are living in hunger. Guyanese, he said, should be proud that this is not a problem here. He said this must be used as motivation, to contribute towards ending global hunger and minimising the wastage of food.

“Because we are blessed with arable land, we have always pushed ourselves as being the food basket of the Caribbean and if we are able to do so and if we are able to make the sector and food production efficient, we also have to follow the theme to Think. Eat. Save. ,”

that have accepted this offer of partnership,” Restrepo said, adding that there are other countries that rejected the offer out of hand, and there are what he called “undecided” countries, such as Brazil.

Arturo Sarukhan, former ambassador of Mexico to the United States, said there is not just one Latin America as a geopolitical concept in the world, despite the cultural and linguistic unity of the region, noting that “there are sub-groups in the region that are working and articulating interests and goals in very different ways”.

The former ambassador

monday, june 3, 2013 |

Man, toddler burnt as gasoline container explodes

AMahaica, East Coast Demerara man and his niece are nursing burns after a five-gallon gasoline container exploded at their home.

Twenty-year-old Anil Ramdat, a fisherman, and two-year-old Priya Mohamed, both of River View, Mahaica, are patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Ramdat was severely burnt about his entire body while the toddler had several superfical burns on her body. The incident occurred sometime around 16:00h on Sunday.

piece of block (concrete),” he recalled.

Persaud asserted.

Private Sector Commission Chairman Ronald Webster, in his remarks, dubbed this year’s turnout as the largest ever and said that this shows citizens’ greater appreciation for the world “we live in”. Webster encouraged attendees to ensure that they practise the universal theme.

Avoiding wastage

He pointed to statistics which indicate that on average, one-and-a-half times the resources the earth can produce in a year, is utilised by its population and that means that at some time they will run out. He, therefore, urged the gathering to think about the future, conserve on what is provided now and avoid wastage.

Webster highlighted the fact that Guyana is not faced with issues of hunger, in a world where some 25,000 children under the age of five dies every day from malnutrition and hunger.

Fortunately for Guyana, the small population does not face any such pressures, especially since food is produced in abundance here. On this note, he said that farmers must avoid wasting food in the farm to market process. The chairman also revealed that during the week, focus will also be placed on “green jobs”, which is another area that Guyanese must start considering.

mentioned as an example of this, the Pacific Alliance, which includes Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile, and said, “it is the great geostrategic hope for Latin America”. “What this alliance is doing is articulating a new vision based on a common canon of aspirations and interests, and giving structure to the way these nations relate with other international and regional actors, so as to give rise to a new paradigm,” he said. The roundtable, organised by the secretariat for political affairs of the hemispheric institution, concluded with a questionand-answer session.

Guyana Times understands that Ramdat was at home intoxicated and was smoking. He threw the cigarette butt next to the container of gasoline and it exploded, setting him on fire and the flames caught the toddler. Samaroo Ramdat, the father of the young man and grandfather of the toddler, explained to this newspaper that the gasoline in the jar was pure and he had bought it to use in his fishing boat. The man said that he usually mixes the gasoline with oil and was about to leave the yard to go buy the oil when he heard his daughter screaming.

“When I turn and rush back, I see meh son pon fire on the landing and me granddaughter on the step so we hurry and grab she and dem me son jump from the landing straight down on the ground and he knock he head pon a

The worried father further explained that his son had returned from sea on Saturday and was lying on the veranda “takin a lil drink” and the two-year-old was sitting on the step. He noted the jar with the gasoline was not too far from them and suggested that his son might have unconsciously thrown the cigarette in that direction. He further stated that there might have been a drop of gasoline on the ground which ignited the fire and caused the jar to explode.

The man added that after the explosion, neighbours gathered and helped to douse the fire. “After me son jump down, plenty come out and we hurry fah out the fire pon he so we use pipe water and water from the drain because we na had sand around deh fah use and then me see them people out the fire on the veranda.”

Ramdat was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital while Mohamed was taken to Mahaica Hospital, but was then referred to the city medical facility. According the father, the 20-year-old has not spoken since the incident and keeps groaning in pain. The man disclosed that the doctors told him that his son is critical and there is a 50/50 chance of him surviving. The young man had to undergo a CT scan.

Youth group in book drive for orphanages

Youths

For Guyana

President Orin Phillips said the organisation is working on a project to collect some 100 books to distribute to orphanages across the country.

In an interview with Guyana Times, the president of the organisation indicated that the group is currently undertaking a 1000-book project where the goal is to accumulate 1000 books to be distributed to various orphanages and youth centres throughout Guyana for the benefit of those who may not be able to afford to purchase the books, and also to encourage literacy. As of June 1, the group has 381 books. The president stated that the group also volunteer with Habitat for Humanity on building projects.

In August, the group will commence its second annual August Youth Programme for children between the ages of 4 and 17, and in September, plans are in motion to host a literacy project where they will provide free afterschool lessons for children whose parents cannot afford to send them to lessons. The target group will be Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) students. The youth organisation has high hopes of corporate Guyana becoming involved in this pilot project so that major investments can be made to contribute to the future of Guyana’s young generation.

Youths For Guyana is a group of young people networking to promote professional development throughout Guyana through volunteerism.

The association is vol-

untary and comprises 53 young vibrant individuals hosting a diverse executive body which is broken up into many departments. Some of these departments include the volunteer recruitment and management, led by Lizaana Gordon, event planning led by Keziah Williams and Candacia Lynch, who also holds the post of secretary, the public relations department led by Shaunee Thompson and the creative team led by Jay Carter and Ryan Toney, who control the marketing aspect of the organisation. New volunteers are given the opportunity to join a department of their interest.

Funding for the group stems mainly from private citizens and overseas-based Guyanese who have been contributing to many of the projects undertaken by the organisation. The group has also been getting a lot of assistance and encouragement from the “Anything Guyanese” Facebook group and from mentors such as Leroy Nelson and Kojo Parris, who is currently Guyana’s Honorary consul to South Africa.

Currently, the organisation is undertaking a “Keeping Guyana Beautiful: A Block-A-Week Project”, where emphasis is being placed on cleaning and beautifying one city block a week. It is the belief of the group that if an average of 20 youths per week could brave the sun to clean an area each week, Guyana will have a cleaner environment. Persons wishing to join Youths For Guyana can find the group on Twitter: @YouthsForGuyana and Facebook: facebook.com/ YouthsForGuyana.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Environment Minister Robert Persaud leading a contingent along the streets of Georgetown as they participate in the Green Walk to observe World Environment Day

SUDOKU

Because you recently were considerate enough to look out for another person’s interest, he or she will make every effort to return the favuor.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

The rewards you seek will be more gratifying if you deal with persons who possess a traditional outlook rather than with those who are too progressive or avant-garde.

When you and your mate have a common objective, the probability of achieving it are excellent. The secret is to work together in harmony.

A promising trend is taking place, so you should be alert for opportunities. One could be especially significant to your financial situation.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)

You could get involved in a development that will require some serious effort on your part. Find a way to turn it around and you’ll gain some important supporters.

(March 21-April 19)

You’ll be thinking clearly today, and you shouldn’t have any trouble making some big accomplishments. This is a good time to focus on meaningful goals.

(April 20-May 20)

If you deal with your subordinates in a thoughtful manner, you should have a pretty easy row to hoe. With solid teamwork behind you, you’ll go far.

(May 21June 20)

By thinking things through to their conclusions, you will gain a sense of security. This will allow you to make your moves with confidence.

Your popularity is as

cending, producing benefits of a tangible and intangible nature. Try to take advantage of everything.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You have a marvellous knack of bringing out the best in colleagues. You will inspire the insecure and engender success wherever you go.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

There is plenty of justification for your optimism about a big project. You have the ability to pull it off, and Lady Luck might give you a boost as well.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Although a financial opportunity might not look good at first glance, on closer study you could find the chances for growth to be quite substantial.

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Obama must follow Guantanamo promise with action – Yemen

Yemen gave a qualified welcome on Sunday to President Barack Obama’s promise to lift a ban on repatriating Yemeni prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, saying he now had to back up his words with actions.

Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said his government was building a “rehabilitation centre” to house Yemenis who have been detained at the U.S. camp in Cuba for more than a decade.

Obama promised last month to end the ban on transferring Yemenis back home, one of the main obstacles to clearing out the detention camp, and altered the rules for U.S. drone strikes.

Qirbi said that Obama’s announcement “brings hope to families of the detainees in Guantanamo and to the detainees themselves who for 12 years have been in prison and have lost hope of getting out of Guantanamo”.

“Obama now has to really put his words into actions,” he told reporters in the Saudi city of Jeddah. “We will take (up) with the authorities in Washington how we can start the process based, of course,

Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi

on the conditions that may be set by the Americans.”

Of the 86 detainees who have been cleared for transfer or release from Guantanamo, 56 are from Yemen where al Qaeda’s regional wing is active. Most of them were captured more than a decade ago following the 2001 attacks on the United States.

Repatriation of Yemeni prisoners was halted in 2010 after a man trained by militants in Yemen attempted to blow up a U.S.-bound plane in 2009 with a bomb concealed in his underwear.

However, Obama laid out conditions on May 23 for removing the moratorium including the construction of a rehabilitation centre for militants in Yemen.

Qirbi said the government was getting ready to take the detainees. “We are now in preparation of the rehabilitation centre for the detainees,” he said after a meeting with Gulf foreign and finance ministers.

In the same speech, Obama said drone strikes could be launched only when a threat was “continuing and imminent” and would primarily be directed by the Defence Department instead of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Qirbi said drone strikes against suspected al Qaeda figures were unpopular in Yemen due to civilian casualties. “But they are at times a necessity... I think the conditions he has set will make sure these drone attacks are used in a proper manner.”

On Saturday, local officials in southern Yemen said seven suspected militants had been killed in two drone strikes that morning. (Reuters)

Abbas names new Palestinian prime

minister

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called on Rami Hamdallah, the head of alNajah University in the West Bank city of Nablus, to form a new government as the next prime minister, and the academic said he accepted the task.

Abbas handed the task to Hamdallah, also the head of the electoral commission, during a meeting at the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Ramallah on Sunday.

“President Abbas has asked me to form a new government and I have accepted,” Hamdallah, 54, a member of Abbas’s Fatah party who has also headed the Palestinian Stock Exchange, told the AFP news agency.

term of Palestinian caretaker Prime Minister Salam Fayyad formally ended. Fayyad, a political independent, resigned on April 13 after months of tension with Abbas, despite U.S. efforts to keep him in place.

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“The government will be formed in the coming days. Most ministers of the outgoing government will stay and I will bring in a new finance minister,” he added.

He stayed on in a caretaker role, the period for which legally ends on Sunday night. On April 27, Abbas announced that consultations had started to form a unity government under his own leadership, in accordance with a long-delayed reconciliation deal between his Fatah faction and the rival movement Hamas.

Hamdallah has a doctorate in applied linguistics from Britain’s Lancaster University and was born in Anabta, near Tulkarem in the northern West Bank. He has no previous experience in a political role.

The move came as the

Palestinian Basic Law stipulates that the person charged with forming a new government then has three weeks to choose a new lineup, which can then be extended by another two if the issue is not resolved within that timeframe. (Al Jazeera)

Egypt’s Shura Council and constitution panel “invalid”

Egypt’s top court has ruled that the upper house, or Shura Council, and a panel that drafted the new constitution are invalid.

The Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that the laws governing the election of members of the Islamist-dominated Shura Council and the constitutional panel were illegal.

But the court said the Shura would only be dissolved after new elections. Egypt has faced a string of court cases challenging official institutions.

Islamist President Mohammed Morsi had estab-

lished the 100-member constitutional panel to draw up the new document. The constitution was adopted by a nationwide vote in December.

It was unclear what effect the ruling would have on the legitimacy of the constitution.

The Supreme Constitutional Court had ruled last year that the electoral law under which both houses of parliament were elected was invalid, prompting its dissolution.

The Shura Council was then given legislative powers by the constitutional panel.

Morsi’s Freedom and Justice party, the Muslim

Brotherhood’s political wing, holds 42 per cent of the Shura Council’s seats and can easily gain a majority with support from conservative allies.

Opponents say the president has used the council to rush through an Islamist agenda and laws that have too many loopholes.

In the latest ruling, the presiding judge, Maher alBeheiry, said the Shura Council should remain until the election of a new parliament.

A date has yet to be set for elections. There was high security at the court building in southern Cairo ahead of the latest ruling. (BBC News)

cuTTiNg iMMigrATiON

Rami Hamdallah is the head of al-Najah University and has no previous experience in politics (AP)

Guptill’s blazing 189 sees New Zealand clinch series

Federer survives scare at Roland garros to reach last eight – Serena Williams through to French Open quarter-finals

England slumped to a one-day series defeat by New Zealand as Martin Guptill’s second successive century condemned the hosts to a 86-run loss on Sunday.

Guptill, 26, hit an unbeaten 189 – the joint-fifth best one-day international score as New Zealand finished on 359-3 – their highest total against England.

Jonathan Trott topscored with 109 not out but England batted poorly and were dismissed for 273 in the 45th over.

The final game of the three-match series is at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.

Having lost by five wickets in the first international at Lord’s, the manner of this defeat will be of concern to captain Alastair Cook ahead of their opening Champions Trophy match against Australia on Saturday.

The series defeat is the team’s first at home since 2009 and comes a week after they clinched the Test series 2-0.

“Clearly we have been outplayed in these two games,” said the skipper, who lost the toss again.

“It has hurt us but we need to learn why and, with the tournament coming up, get better than we have been in these two games.”

The bowlers, albeit without the injured Steven Finn and Stuart Broad, have not looked threatening, while the batsmen have failed to build big totals after settling in. The tall pacemen could return for the dead rubber at Trent Bridge, but their absence has exposed England’s lack of depth in the bowling department.

At the Ageas Bowl, stand-ins Jade Dernbach (0-87) and Tim Bresnan (073), and the more experienced James Anderson, forgot the basics of good line and length on a pitch made for batting. Anderson finished with average figures of 2-65, although those two victims took his one-day international tally to 243, to tie with Darren Gough as England’s leading wickettaker in the shorter game.

The Lancastrian took the opening wicket when his delivery found a gap through Luke Ronchi’s defence to leave the tourists on 12-1.

Guptill should have gone for 13 soon after, but Trott fumbled his flashing drive at head height.

The Auckland-born player and Kane Williamson (55) put on 120 before the latter bottom-edged Graeme Swann (1-61) on to his stumps.

Ross Taylor then provided great support for Guptill, who went on to record his second ton in successive matches from 111 balls.

Taylor made his mark

Martin Guptill

with his 23rd one-day 50 before he tried to launch Anderson’s delivery out of the ground, but instead found Chris Woakes at the square-leg fence.

Guptill, now supported by his captain Brendon McCullum, then re-wrote the record books at regular intervals en route to his magnificent 189.

First, he set the highest score in one-day cricket by a New Zealand batsman against England when he reached 140 before helping his country to their highest total against the opposition when they surpassed 340.

Guptill then passed 172 to usurp Lou Vincent at the top of the New Zealand high-scores table before finishing the day with an unbeaten 189 from 155 balls –the joint-fifth highest total

in one-day game, alongside West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards and Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya.

His skipper, who was dropped by Trott on the boundary rope, smashed 40 from 19 balls as the tourists made 132 from the last 10 overs. England’s response simmered, but never looked like reaching boiling point.

Only Trott, more renowned for his patient Test batting, showed any maturity with the bat as Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler and Joe Root disappointed again. The openers began well and looked comfortable, reaching 50 before Cook (34) was deceived by a Kyle Mills ball that cut back and then Bell inexplicably lofted one into the hands of James Franklin to leave England on 64-2. (BBC Sport)

SCORE BOARD

New Zealand innings

M Guptill not out 189

L Ronchi† b Anderson 2

K Williamson b Swann 55

R Taylor c Woakes b Anderson 60

B McCullum* not out 40

Extras: (b4, lb4, w5) 13

Total: (3 wkts, 50 overs) 359

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-132, 3-241

Bowling: J Anderson 10-065-2, T Bresnan 10-1-73-0, C Woakes 7-0-49-0, J Dernbach 10-0-87-0, J Root 3-0-160, G Swann 10-0-61-1

England innings

A Cook* b Mills 34

I Bell c Franklin b Bracewell 25

J Trott not out 109

J Root c Bracewell b N McCullum 28

E Morgan c †Ronchi b Elliott 21

J Buttler† c Guptill b McClenaghan 2

C Woakes st †Ronchi b Williamson 13

T Bresnan run out (Williamson) 0

G Swann b Williamson 1

J Anderson b McClenaghan 28

J Dernbach c Mills b McClenaghan 2

Extras: (lb3, w6, nb1) 10

Total: (all out, 44.1 overs) 273

Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-64, 3-122, 4-166, 5-169, 6-212, 7-213, 8-218, 9-265, 10-273

Bowling: M McClenaghan

8.1-0-35-3, K Mills 9-0-551, D Bracewell 8-1-55-1, N McCullum 8-0-47-1, J Franklin 5-0-40-0, G Elliott 2-0-131, K Williamson 4-0-25-2

Roger Federer was in danger of his earliest exit at a Grand Slam since 2004 before he fought back to beat Gilles Simon over five sets at the French Open.

The Swiss, 31, won the fourth-round encounter 6-1 4-6 2-6 6-2 6-3, extending his run of consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals to 36 and racking up his 900th career win.

That looked a distant prospect when Federer trailed two sets to one, but he dominated the latter stages to set up a last-eight match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. After a straightforward first set, Federer’s fortunes took a sharp turn when he fell while sliding for a backhand in the sixth game of the second set.

“I didn’t hurt myself or anything,” he said afterwards. “But maybe I did lose that touch of confidence for a little bit, and then I was out of the match there for a bit.

“But I think more credit to him, because I wasn’t bothered by the fall in any way, actually. If anything, [it was] mentally, or maybe it gave him a mental boost. Who knows what it was.”

Simon, 28, had lost his last three matches against Federer, including a 6-1 6-2 drubbing in Rome last

month, but now playing more aggressively the Frenchman reeled off nine of the next 12 games to move within a set of a famous victory. But with the match in danger of slipping away, Federer leapt on the first chance of the fourth set.

He cracked a forehand to break for 4-2 before the nowfaltering Simon netted a backhand to give up another break and the set.

The momentum had shifted decisively and the crowd on the main Court Philippe Chatrier were giving 2009 champion Federer at least as much support as the home player.

Federer surged through seven straight games to take a stranglehold on the match, and survived a couple of nervy volleys and a break point in the final game to claim his customary place in the last eight.

“I’m happy I found a way and took the right decisions and was able to sort of tidy up my play a little bit, not spray that many unforced errors, even though I don’t think it was that bad,” Federer added.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams remains the overwhelming favourite to land her second French Open title after beating Italy’s Roberta

Vinci to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

The world number one was tested in the second set but came through 6-1 6-3 on Court Philippe Chatrier and is yet to drop a set in the tournament.

In her four matches, the 31-year-old has only spent four hours and four minutes on court, and her serve remains the dominant shot in the women’s draw. She will play former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the last eight after the Russian edged past Angelique Kerber 6-4 4-6 6-3.

The only thing counting against Williams in Paris seems to be history, as her one singles title came back in 2002 and she has not made the semi-finals for 10 years.

Kuznetsova is one of those who has previously thwarted the American’s ambitions, having won their quarter-final in 2009 on the way to lifting the trophy, but Williams is in the form of her life this year.

She took her career-best winning streak to 28 matches against Vinci, the doubles world number one who posed a few different questions with her sliced backhand and drop shots, but little real threat. (BBC Sport)

srinivasan steps aside...

from page 22

“Mr Dalmiya will look after the responsibilities. He will get decisions ratified by the board,” he told Times Now. “The entire administration will be done by the working committee of the board. Whatever Mr Dalmiya decides will have to be ratified by the board.”

The BCCI’s press release did not mention who would constitute the new panel to investigate Gurunath Meiyappan, the Chennai Super Kings official arrested on charges of betting, the Super Kings owners India Cements, and the owners of Rajasthan Royals. The three-member panel formed on May 28 by

the IPL governing council to look into corruption charges around IPL 2013 was automatically nullified after Jagdale’s resignation. IS Bindra, the Punjab Cricket Association president, told ESPNcricinfo that the two High Court judges appointed to the panel will remain, and Jagdale’s replacement will be appointed by Dalmiya. Bindra said he was told by Jaitley that the judges could not be replaced because, “it will be disrespect to the judges.”

Bindra also told Times Now that he was the only person at the working committee meeting who asked for Srinivasan’s resignation.

“Mr Jaitley has had his way in this meeting. Most of the suggestions came from Mr Jaitley, including the appointment of Mr Dalmiya,” Bindra said. “Srinivasan is not resigning. He is just stepping aside for one month. This is taking the public for a ride. We needed something more than this. I suggested, let him step aside until September, but he said he is not going to resign.”

Srinivasan, however, contradicted Bindra, and said that Bindra had not asked him to resign at the meeting. “The meeting was very smooth. There was no acrimony,” Srinivasan told NDTV. (Cricinfo)

Serena Williams Roger Federer

Pacers even up series with 91-77 win over Heat

expansion thrust for HPc, says cameron

INDIANAPOLIS -

Indiana staggered Miami with one more big punch Saturday night.

Now the Pacers have a fighting chance to pull off a stunning playoff upset.

Roy Hibbert did everything but pull out the boxing gloves in Game 6, finishing with 24 points and 11 rebounds, and continually contesting Miami’s shots to help Indiana stave off elimination with an emphatic 9177 victory over the defending champs.

Paul George scored 28 points, had eight rebounds and five assists, and the Pacers held Miami to 36.1 percent shooting as they booked a trip back to Miami for Game 7 tonight.

Instead, after winning their first division crown since 2004, the Pacers are one win away from advancing to the NBA Finals for only the second time in franchise history. They lost to the Lakers 4-2 in 2000. They haven’t played a decisive seventh game in the conference finals since losing to Chicago in 1998.

And amazingly, they’ve done it this time against the defending champions who many considered virtually invincible after winning 27 straight during the regular season, finishing with a franchise-record 66 wins and having won 23 of their last 24 road games before losing Games 4 and 6 in Indianapolis.

But the Pacers have pushed four-time MVP LeBron James and his highscoring, high-profile teammates to the brink of elimination by punching back, and Game 6 followed a familiar story line. The Pacers had a 53-33 rebounding advantage, outscored Miami 44-22 in the paint and limited Miami’s shooters to 16 of 54, 29.6 percent, from inside the arc.

James led the Heat with 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting. Nobody else scored more than 10.

It was everything an elimination game should be. The teams traded baskets and jabs, sometimes literally, and players ignored the bumps and bruises of yet another wrestling match that has made this tough-guy series compelling.

Both teams attacked the basket, sometimes with problematic results. Indiana

missed about five dunk attempts in the first half and a series of short jumpers, too, costing them precious points.

The Heat struggled, meanwhile, starting the game just 3 of 22 from inside the 3-point line. Miami’s Big Three - James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh - went just 14 of 40. Excluding James, Miami managed only 16 baskets - eight 3s and eight 2s.

With Chris ‘’Birdman’’ Andersen suspended for the game because of a shoving incident with Indiana forward Tyler Hansbrough on Thursday, the Heat couldn’t keep up with Indiana’s big rebounders inside. Even Lance Stephenson, who was not effective at Miami, finished with four points, 12 rebounds and four assists.

Indiana’s loud crowd created a hostile atmosphere, too. Fans chanted ‘’Heat

Are Floppers!’’ sporadically throughout the second half, urging the Pacers to play harder, to defend better and to make another trip home. The only way to do that is to win Game 7 and avoid a second straight playoff elimination at the hands of the Heat.

For Miami, the stakes were so high that when James was called for an offensive foul midway through the fourth quarter, he lost his cool. James protested by running from one end of the court to the other, drawing a technical foul, and when Miami assistant coach David Fizdale showed his support for the league’s four-time MVP, it drew another technical.

George Hill answered by making free throws and Hibbert followed that with a layup, ending any chance of Miami making a late comeback. (Yahoo! Sport)

england draw with Brazil in Rio

England came close to leaving Brazil’s iconic Maracana home with an unlikely victoryonly to be denied a repeat of their win here 29 years ago by Paulinho’s late equalizer on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart produced a magnificent display to single-handedly keep Brazil at bay in a torrid first half when their latest young superstar Neymar tormented a poor England.

The defiant Hart produced a series of superb saves as Brazil ran England ragged, backed by the traditional fervour of fans revelling in watching their side play in this renovated stadium.

Brazil looked on course for victory when Fred put them ahead after the break but substitute Alex OxladeChamberlain enjoyed a golden moment he will treasure forever when he powered home a fine equaliser.

The Arsenal teenager’s

father, former Stoke City winger Mark Chamberlain, played in the Maracana when England secured a famous 2-0 win on their last visit in 1984.

And the fanatical Rio crowd feared the modernday Brazil were going to suffer a similar fate when Wayne Rooney’s deflected 25-yard shot gave Roy Hodgson’s side the lead with 11 minutes left.

Paulinho cut short England’s hopes of ending their season with a landmark, if undeserved, win with a fine volley - but they can still take credit from battling through a period when they were outclassed by Brazil to come away with a draw.

This was a night when Brazil’s new home was put on show and this entertaining friendly did it justice, although the locals were understandably disappointed by the eventual outcome.

The new Maracana may

have lost some of its unique appearance but the name still has the old mystique, with Rio’s statue of Christ The Redeemer looking down from the hills overlooking the stadium.

And for England’s players fed on tales of the Brazilian greats such as Pele, Garrincha and Jairzinho, simply to play in the arena bearing the famous name - even in its modern guise - will be a special memory, especially for Hart and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The exterior of the stadium, and indeed parts of the interior, is still very much a work in progress and led to brief fears that this game may not materialise after it was suspended on Thursday amid safety fears.

The searing temperatures in South America provided another test for England’s somewhat depleted squad to conquer at the conclusion of a long season.

This remains one of the great temples of football and huge surges of noise swept around the Maracana every time Brazil threatened, with Leighton Baines blocking an early acrobatic effort from Neymar, and Dani Alves shooting just wide from long range.

Neymar was the orchestrator supreme, often to the frustration of his teammates, who waited for a pass that never came, and he teased England throughout the first half.

It was developing into a personal battle with Hart and the keeper won when Neymar controlled Alves’s pass after a slip by Glen Johnson. He then made a brave double save, diving at the feet of Hulk and Filipe.

Neymar then curled another shot just off target before England’s under-pressure defence suffered a blow when Baines limped off to be replaced by Ashley Cole.

(BBC Sport)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Newly elected West Indies Cricket Board president Dave Cameron is planning a major expansion of the High Performance Centre that will see similar academies established in every cricketing territory across the region.

The move, part of Cameron’s vision to see cricket development take place in every island on a sustained basis, will see the current HPC model replicated in every island, with players having the same resources and facilities at their disposal.

Cameron said while he was satisfied the Barbadosbased HPC was performing its role, there was clearly a need to build out its capacity further.

“I am pleased in so far as what is coming out. I am not so sure that – and even in the discussions [with HPC officials] – that we all agree on what the HPC should be doing and I think we just need to define that and agree from all levels, not just at the WICB directorship level but from the territorial boards,” Cameron told CMC Sports in an exclusive interview, after holding discussions with HPC officials here recently.

“What we need to do no now is develop the academy system in each territory that feeds into the High Performance Centre here in Barbados and that’s what we are doing now.

“We have received some funding from the ICC to assist that and that’s what we are looking at now – building out all the different centres that will feed into the High Performance Centre.”

The HPC was launched at the 3Ws Oval at the UWI Cave Hill Campus three years ago, and draws young players from across the region to hone their skills in a three-month programme starting each year in June.

Players benefit not only from training but from teaching on fitness, sports psychology, maintaining professionalism and contemporary issues such as antidoping, anti-corruption and media skills.

Cameron said replicating the programme across the region had already been made easier with the development of the curriculum at the HPC.

“You will have a centre in Jamaica, one in Guyana, one in Barbados etcetera, that will then feed into this process and one of the good things the HPC has done is that they now have a curriculum,” the Jamaican said.

“We would be able to just transport [it] to everywhere so we can have consistency across the board.”

With the expansion of the HPC programme, Cameron said discussions were also ongoing over finding sustainable financing. He said while sponsorship was a viable route, new models needed to be found to keep the development programmes going.

However, he said the WICB would partner with the territorial boards in the initial stages, in order to get the projects off the ground.

“Everything is funding. Apart from sponsorship, we have to find models that allow us to be sustainable and you would have heard me mention that in some of my pronouncements,” Cameron explained.

“We can’t continue to see cricket as something where it is a social benefit … whatever we do there needs to be a commercial arrangement that gets us to train players to be international sportsmen and a reward system that ensures that the system continues.”

He added: “That’s what I have said to all of the territories who are looking to set up these High Performance Centres – that while the WICB with the assistance of the ICC would be able to give you some funding to assist you in putting in physical structures etcetera, we need to find a way to ensure that funding comes to continue programmes going forward.

“[I have told them] we will assist you in trying to get sponsorship but I am not so sure how far that will go in being able to do all the programmes and all you want to do.”

Since its inception, the HPC has produced players like opener Kieran Powell, fast bowler Jason Holder and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul who have all gone on to play for West Indies.

The HPC has competed in the WICB’s regional limited overs championship and toured Bangladesh last year.

Englishman Graeme West currently oversees the academy development programme. (WICB)

Paul George (right) is guarded by Dwyane Wade

Dave Cameron

Amendments to horse racing act completed

to be re-submitted to sport minister next week

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Amendments to the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) Act have been completed and will be re-submitted to Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony early next week, according to President of the GHRA, Cecil Kennard on Sunday.

The amendments to the draft legislation were made after they were requested by Anthony following a meeting with the body in May, all with the aim of having the sport under a legal framework.

Some of the changes, according to Kennard, to the GHRA Act which will allow the ‘Sport of Kings’ to run more effectively include: increasing the number of the racing authority’s members from nine to 15, including the Bush Lot United Turf Club as a member of the

GHRA, and implementing a two-year term for members of the GHRA.

Another change will see the GHRA having the power to schedule race dates for race meets in the event a club is unable to run off an event.

Horse racing, since its resuscitation some six years ago, has been operating with a legal document that was registered under the Miscellaneous Deeds Act but the lack of adequate legislation and the absence of good management practices are responsible for the sport not being a bigger success story in Guyana.

Kennard intimated that legislation is needed to “regulate horse racing because there must be a committee to supervise the running of horse racing in this country.”

“Legislation would give us (GHRA) more authority

to deal with infringements like doping because we will be authorised to penalise owners and trainers if they are found to be doping their horses and other violations.”

He added while making reference to the death of Serenity in April, “Those kinds of things should not be encouraged. Doping is totally illegal and it is cruel to the animals.”

Guyana’s last legitimate racing authority was the Demerara Racing Authority that was located at Durban Backlands. The body once regularised horse racing and outlined parameters for trainers and owners of horses in Guyana, but it became defunct in 1972.

Mid last year, affiliated clubs of the GHRA decided to set up an Interim Management Committee (IMC) until January last when new elections were held.

Vic Ouditt, who was elected president when the sport was resuscitated, did not seek re-election at the 2011 elections after he expressed outrage about the attitude of some members of the GHRA.

Ouditt’s successor Khemraj Rai lasted about six months in office before dissention in the GHRA that forced him to resign from the position, prompting the establishment of the IMC.

Last January, the AGM and elections were attended by the seven race clubs, along with horse owners, trainers and other stakeholders. The clubs present were allowed to engage in the voting process to reinstate the executive of the GHRA. Meanwhile, members of the GHRA will meet at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club this Sunday from 11:00h for a special general meeting.

Favourites sparta Boss claim mackeson “Keep your Five alive” title

Sparta Boss returned from a semi-final defeat to narrowly defeat West Front Road 1-0 in the Mackeson “Keep Your Five Alive” Futsal football tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday night.

Sparta Boss, who competed without Devon Millington and Dennis Edwards because of their absence, faced Festival City and suffered their first defeat of the tournament, going down 3-2 via penalty kicks to set up an enthralling finale against West Front Road.

Stout, defending from Jerome Weekes of Sparta Boss, and Michael and Hubert Pedro of West Front

Road ensured the first half ended goal-less.

However, in the second half Sheldon Shepherd received a pass from Jerome Richardson and converted in 35th minute for Sparta Boss; this sparked a frenzy for the Sparta fans and woke up the West Front Road players, who tried desperately for the equaliser.

However, confusion reigned when the final whistle was sounded, as many wanted to know who would be crowned champions, since the three teams had recorded victories in the final stages of the tournament.

However Lawrence “Sparrow” Griffith, Guyana Football Federation official,

clint dempsey

called the three captains and tournament organiser Kevin Adonis and declared Sparta Boss the winners. The reason was given was that Sparta Boss scored the goal during regulation time while West Front Road’s and Festival City’s wins came via penalty kicks.

Festival City were awarded the second place position, having not conceded a goal.

In the first game of the night, following the exhibition matchup between the Best from East and the Best from West which the latter won 3-1 via penalty kicks, West Front Road and Festival City played to a nil all draw, with the former

helps united

winning the encounter 3-2 via penalty kicks.

Tiger Bay defeated Wolves of Sophia 2-0 in the other exhibition match before the fans witnessed Festival City and Sparta boss playing to a nil all draw, with Festival City going onto win 3-2 from the spot, handing their opponents their first defeat in the tournament.

However, the pre-tournament favourites rebounded to avenge that loss and take the top prize of $300,000, a trophy and one set of uniforms, thanks to Shepherd’s goal while Festival City received $150,000 a trophy and a set of uniforms as their runner-up spoils.

states shock germany in Washington dc

ottenham forward

TClint Dempsey scored twice as the United States beat Germany 4-3 in a friendly in Washington DC on Sunday.

Jozy Altidore opened the scoring for the hosts, who doubled their lead through Benedikt Howedes’s own goal.

Heiko Westermann pulled a goal back, but Dempsey’s brace made it 4-1.

Max Kruse and Julian Draxler ensured a tense finish, but the US held on to give their coach Jurgen

Klinsmann victory over his homeland.

It was a morale-boosting victory for the home side in the U.S. Soccer Federation’s centennial celebration match, just four days after they struggled in a 4-2 loss to Belgium.

However, Germany were missing players from Bayern Munich, who completed the treble on Saturday with victory in the German Cup final, and Borussia Dortmund. Only Dortmund’s Sven Bender played in the all-German Champions League final and

against the United States. Dempsey’s brace means he moves to 35 international goals in 96 appearances, taking him past Eric Wynalda into second on the all-time U.S. scoring list − 14 shy of Landon Donovan’s record.

“Having a player like Clint Dempsey on your team is just a privilege,” said Klinsmann. “This is one of the best players in U.S .history. He has the hunger and the drive. He sends a message to his own players and also to the opponents.” (BBC Sport)

d’andrade runs second in eastern credit union 5k race

Trinidad and Tobagobased distance athlete Lionel D’Andrade clocked 16 minutes, 23 seconds to finish comfortably in second when the Eastern Credit Union 5k event ran off in Trinidad on Sunday.

The lanky distance athlete ran through the finish line to finish behind Jules LaRose of Trinidad who clocked 16:09 to win the event. Shayne Barren of Trinidad was third in a time of 16:51. After finishing third in Guyana’s Independence half marathon last week, D’ Andrade will be focusing on speed work for his upcoming events.

“I’ll be working on my speed for a 10k in Barbados

and a 5K right here in Trinidad in this month. I also want to give many thanks to my sponsors Builders Lumber Yard and Mr Muhammad Salim for supporting me,” D’Andrade. Meanwhile, local distance queen Alika Morgan finished second in the women’s 15k event with a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, 39 seconds.

Trinidad-based Kelvin Johnson also took part in the day’s activity, finishing fourth in the men’s 15k. D’Andrade will compete in the Heart of Barbados 10k event, along with the Ministry of Works 5K in Trinidad and Tobago shortly.

Corruption in the IPL…

srinivasan steps aside temporarily; dalmiya to run B cci affairs

NSrinivasan will not carry out his duties as BCCI president until the commission appointed to conduct an inquiry into the betting and spot-fixing charges in IPL 2013 completes its task.

During this period Jagmohan Dalmiya, a former BCCI president and current head of the Cricket Association of Bengal, will run the daily affairs of the board.

It was the first time that a BCCI president has stood down in whatever capacity and a replacement named in his stead.

“Mr N Srinivasan announced that he will not discharge his duties as the president of the board till such time that the probe is completed. Till such time, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya will conduct the day to day affairs of the board,” the BCCI said in a release after a meeting of its working committee in Chennai on Sunday. “The committee expressed full confidence in Mr Sanjay Jagdale and Mr Ajay Shirke and requested them to withdraw their resignations in the larger interest of the board.”

N Srinivasan

However, Jagdale and Shirke, the board secretary and treasurer who resigned on Friday, said they would not return to the BCCI, leaving two vital administrative posts vacant. Srinivasan told NDTV that the administration of the board in such a situation could be worked out.

Later on Sunday evening, BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley said the working committee would effectively run the board, by having to ratify Dalmiya’s decisions.

Lionel D’Andrade Alika Morgan

Clint Dempsey

On-field performance critical – WICB president

BRIDGETOWN,

Barbados – West Indies Cricket Board president Dave Cameron believes the success or failure of his tenure will be based on the regional side’s results on the pitch.

The Jamaican businessman, who beat incumbent Julian Hunte for the top post back in March, will travel to England shortly to watch West Indies contest the ICC Champions Trophy.

For Cameron, the June 6-23 tournament will be the first for the team under his presidency and he said their performances would ultimately be a reflection of his leadership.

“We want the players to understand this is a partnership and that is how I am treating the players [and] the players association,” Cameron told CMC Sports in an exclusive interview.

“They (players) are our most valuable assets. Without them the organisation is nothing and anything that I am able to achieve in my presidency will be as a result of what we were able to achieve on the field.”

He stressed: “Let’s just understand that. If we don’t win, if we’re not more consistent on the field then they’re going to say the

president has failed so that’s very clear to me.

“I have to have a partnership with them, that my looking good is as a result of what they do at the end of the day, so I need to understand what are the things that I need to do better to get them to perform better.”

West Indies will be looking to add the ICC

Champions Trophy to their Twenty20 World Cup title captured last October when they beat hosts Sri Lanka in the final of that tournament.

They have been installed in a tough Group B labelled as the “group of death”, where they will play alongside the likes of reigning World Cup champions India, South Africa and Pakistan.

Despite the nature of the challenge, Cameron believes the Windies have the strength and quality players capable of winning the tournament.

“Hopefully they will allow me to hoist the trophy in England because I will be there. But I am not even bothering to go to the preliminary games be -

cause I don’t need to go to those ones so I’ll be there hoisting the trophy [at the end],” Cameron quipped.

“I think we stand a very good chance. We have the calibre players but it is how do we get everybody to work together and with that said, I think I have given as much support – the Board has giv-

en enough support – to the management team, to the structure to allow them to win.”

Since taking over the helm of West Indies cricket in March, Cameron said he had be reviewing the various components of the regional game and the quality of the Windies team management had stood out. He said one of his main aims was to continue to improve the structure so that players continued to excel.

“I am very impressed by how the team management unit operates, all of the processes and how they go about their things,” he explained.

“Some of my concerns remain how we deal with our retained players so those are some of the things I am trying to ensure now, that once our players are engaged by the West Indies Cricket Board or any territorial board for that matter, that we have resources in place to ensure that they go to work, they have all the resources and that there is management and supervision.”

Cameron met with the squad during their camp at the 3Ws Oval last week, before they left for the United Kingdom. (WICB)

GCC and Hikers play to exciting draw

GCC and Hikers Cadets played to a 2-2 draw in the Kellogg’s men’s first division competition of the Bryden’s Super Classic Indoor Hockey Championships on Saturday.

After a defensive blunder from GCC, the Cadets’ Travon Younge scored the opening goal in just the second minute of play. The game maintained a high tempo for the balance of the first half with neither team being able to trouble the score sheet. However, early in second half GCC drew level with a strike from Leonard George off a penalty corner.

Leading Cadets and tournament scorer, Aroydy Branford, put his unbeaten team ahead once more but GCC’s Orland Semple answered with a field goal a minute later to keep the tension in the match and both teams on edge before the final whistle.

On the other hand, a depleted Old Fort, clearly missing the services of captain Chris Low-Koan and injured midfielder Jason DeSantos, were punished by the superb play of the Hikers Generals in the other Kellogg’s match

of the evening. The Generals drowned their opposition 9-0 with goals coming through a hat-trick from Randy Hope, a double from Joel Hunte and one each from Colonel Heywood, Shane Samuels, Robert France and Devin Munroe.

Meanwhile, the Hikers Divas survived an early scare from the GCC Tigers in the Tetley Tea women’s competition. Ashley DeGroot put the Tigers ahead in the first half.

Janella Munroe managed the first of her two goals of the match three minutes into the second half. Kenisha Wills made good of a Maria Munroe cross five

minutes later to tap in the second for the Hikers, giving them a 2-1 lead; Munroe returned to finish off a swift counter-attack to extend the Hikers lead to 3-1.

The Tigers, true to their name, clawed back and piled the pressure on the Divas in the closing minutes. Multiple penalty corners finally gave the Tigers a breakthrough with Kerensa Fernandes deflecting her shot into the goal in the penultimate minute. Time would run out on the Tigers however and the Divas celebrated a 3-2 victory.

Earlier in the evening, Spice chalked up another easy victory in the la-

dies’ competition by scoring seven unanswered goals against Revelation. Captain Sonia Jardine poured in a helmet-trick while Shebiki Baptiste scored a double and Samantha Fernandes, one.

The Mr Toppers second division provided another hugely competitive match as pool leaders Ol Skool and Hikers clashed for the first time in the competition.

Aroydy Branford netted three goals for the Hikers and Jamarj Assanah scored another before Ol Skool could even manage to get on the score sheet. Ol Skool could only manage one goal before half-time through Philip Fernandes and were

left facing the insurmountable task of a 5-1 deficit at the break.

While the second half saw an additional double from Branford, taking his match tally to an impressive six goals, the veteran side, Ol Skool, almost pulled off a comeback. Fernandes netted two more goals in the second half while teammate Dexter Wyles added two more and Damon Woodroffe converted a single off a penalty stroke.

Despite Ol Skool’s relentless effort, the youthful Hikers managed to come out victorious with a 7-6 victory.

Saints put in a spirited performance against GCC in the second division

competition with a close 3-2 finish in favour of the Bourda boys. Striker Hilton Chester scored first to put Saints ahead early in the second half and would add another to his name seven minutes later. GCC’s Michael Xavier’s double and Daniel Hooper’s single however managed to save them the 3-2 victory. The injury prone All Greys had to forfeit their final match against Old Fort leaving them with a 3-0 walk-over in the second division competition.

Based on the pool results, the Kellogg’s first division competition sees Old Fort facing the Hikers Cadets in the first semi-final while GCC and the Hikers Generals do battle in the other. The Tetley Tea ladies semi-finals see Spice challenging Revelation while the GCC Tigers tackle the Hikers Divas in the other.

The Mr Toppers second division competition goes straight to a final with a repeat of the Ol Skool and Hikers battle of Saturday evening. Matches continued on Sunday at the National Gymnasium from 14:30h while the three finals began at 18:00h.

The West Indies team at a training session

Ashley DeGroot

Randy Hope Sonia Jardine

Aroydy Branford

Rajiv Bisnauth