Guyana Times Daily

Calls for Yarde to go after protests fizzle

declaration booms as miners burn

Guyanese man gets 20 years for Ghanaian cocaine bust

gives

Trinidadian national intercepted at CJIA with cocaine

wednesday, January 8, 2014 | guyanatimesgy.com

WEATHER

Detective may have been shot by colleague – police probing incident

In a dramatic twist of events, police are now probing whether Detective Corporal Seburn Elias was killed by friendly fire or the bandit whom he had given chase behind.

Elias, 45, of 1347 Bareroot, East Coast Demerara was killed Monday evening while in pursuit of a prisoner who had disarmed one of his colleagues and fled from the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was taken for treatment.

Guyana Times understands that there was an exchange of gunfire during the confrontation between the bandit and police ranks who gave chase in an alley at Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown. Police only recovered two spent shells at the scene.

Investigation

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told this publication on Tuesday that they are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, noting that two guns were fired, thus making the case more complicated.

He added that the two spent shells were recovered at the scene. He said two rounds of ammunition were left inside the service weapon that is suspected to have been used by the suspect, who is still in custody, but will not be charged until a proper investigation is completed.

Guyana Times was told that the suspect, Delon

Abrams, 23, of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown reportedly showed remorse for his actions, claiming that he did not want to kill the police rank. He was believed to be hiding under a step during the exchange of gunfire. After the shooting, he reportedly surrendered and shouted, “I did not shoot him”.

Guyana Times was told that Abrams had asked to use the washroom while at the hospital and was escorted by a policeman to the lavatory, but while there, a scuffle ensued, resulting in the bandit disarming the police rank before escaping.

During efforts to arrest the escaped prisoner, Detective Corporal Elias, who was unarmed at the time, was involved in a scuffle during which he was shot to his left side. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he

succumbed while receiving medical treatment.

The suspect had been arrested by public-spirited persons and handed over to the police following an alleged break and enter and larceny committed on a home at Turkeyen.

Devastating news

Elias’ widow, Alana, when contacted via telephone, told this publication that she last saw him when he left home on Monday morning. She said that they spoke a few times during the day and she would normally contact him in the evening to find out his anticipated time of arrival at home.

The woman in tears explained that she attempted to make contact with him on Monday evening at about 19:00h, but the call went straight to voicemail.

She tried again a little while later and this time, a male answered. “He told me that my husband was shot and that I must come down to the Georgetown Hospital… I asked him if it was serious and he said no… I took some time to reach the hospital, since where we are living it’s difficult to catch a bus so I ended up taking a taxi,” she explained.

On her way down to the

hospital, the woman said she prayed, but upon arrival at the medical facility, she was greeted with the devastating news. “ I composed myself and was escorted to the Accident and Emergency Unit where I saw him wrapped to be taken away to the mortuary… they opened him which confirmed that my husband was no more,” she said.

Inconsolable

She revealed that they had been married for the past eight years, with four children, ages 14, 12, nine and eight. The children, she noted, are inconsolable at their father’s death and cannot come to grips with the new reality. Elias joined the force about 25 years ago. His wife described him as an ardent worker who was dedicated to his job.

The grieving wife said after they married, her husband opened a small business for her so that she can be occupied while he was at work. “He was a loving husband and caring father who always wanted the best for his children…they are now left fatherless, but the Lord will provide,” she said.

Elias, one of five children, will be laid to rest next week.

Dead: Detective Corporal Seburn Elias

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

Ending the road carnage

Worldwide, road accidents are a significant cause of death, injury and anguish, and Guyana is one such country where it is glaringly and unfortunately so very evident. It is always a deep tragedy when a productive, much-loved and respected citizen dies in the prime of his or her life.

The death of Chief Librarian Gillian Thompson is one such occasion – an occasion in which it has been alleged that dangerous driving played a significant role.

Dangerous driving has become a terrifying and all too common trend here in Guyana, as both licensed and unlicensed drivers go out every day on our roads, seemingly with little to no regard for the responsibility they must bear once they get behind the wheel of a vehicle that could weigh upwards of around two tonnes.

Impatient and uncivil to the point of being brutish, many of our current drivers should not be allowed to drive on our small and congested streets. But the reality is that such persons are allowed and do – some even if they aren’t allowed. How any logical, clear-thinking person can assume they know how to operate a two-tonne vehicle without prior training is, for the rational of society, quite unimaginable.

And that is only one violation of many that occur on a daily basis on Guyana’s roads. Clearly, Guyanese need a sterner education on the importance and significance of being in control of a vehicle that can so easily kill a, by comparison, frail fellow human being, when an irresponsible individual sits behind its wheel.

It has been said ad nauseam, but must be said again – part of the problem is that there is clearly a need for our licensing procedures to be reviewed and restructured, rather than produce the knee-jerk reaction of merely proposing stiffer penalties.

Punishment after the fact should work along with laws that prevent such crimes before they occur. With allegations of corruption always present, there is also the necessity for anti-corruption policies so that persons found trying to bypass lawful licensing procedures should also receive stiffer penalties.

This may serve to assure the Guyanese public that our law enforcement officers have our safety at heart rather than their own economic gain.

As the new year begins with the heartbreak and tragedy of vehicular homicide in our midst, it should be a wake-up call for all concerned that current traffic and licensing policies are clearly not working and continue to be the cause of so much carnage on the roads.

Guyanese are obviously not paying attention to educational programmes or driving with consideration for their fellow Guyanese. According to news reports, last year’s road death figures were by November already well over 100. In a country of few roads and fewer people than many countries have in a town, such statistics are frightening.

Like the blight of garbage dumping, dangerous driving appears to be a national attitude that unfortunately paints Guyanese in not very bright colours, but rather in hues of incivility which, like a bad cough, is apparently not easy to get rid of.

All the laws in the world may not curb such coarse behaviours, and what may also be urgently needed is a steady education from nursery to tertiary, and perhaps even in the workplace, on the importance of responsibility to ourselves and our society when we choose to drive.

Anarchy, which can arguably describe the conditions on our roads today, is the antithesis of what should prevail in a civilised society. It also forms the basis for all societies to develop civilised mores and laws.

Therefore, we should see the human tragedy that our lawless traffic situation is producing on our roads and strive to find suitable solutions that will drastically reduce the cries of so many widows, widowers, and bereft parents, siblings and children that our out-of-control drivers are creating.

Heavy metal music

Oswald Singh: belated thoughts

Dear Editor,

This is in follow up to Daniel’s Singh moving tribute on Oswald Singh celebrating his life. Like others, I am saddened to learn about the passing of the radio announcer of the Indian music genre.

Although I did not know the gentleman personally, we met a few times (at India Day celebrations, political and social meetings, Indian Arrival celebrations, etc) and exchanged thoughts on various issues, including politics, during my regular visits to Guyana over the years. Whatever he said and did was done with sincerity and with the very best intentions, for he was a noble man.

Oswald Singh

As Singh intoned, no combination of words can ever do justice to the memory of a remarkable man and to what he truly represented in radio

broadcasting. He epitomised excellence in his field. His sterling contribution to the promotion of Indian music on radio will never be forgotten.

And so will the work that he has done in mentoring young announcers who themselves have gone on to contribute so much to radio and to Indian music in our rainbow country.

Oswald was a remarkable individual who was loved by his listeners and they spoke fondly of him during my interaction with people all over the country. I am certain they will miss his presence on the air because there is so much that he could have still given us.

His work must be applauded for he was outstand-

ing at what he did in Indian music on the air. There is no doubt that he has bequeathed a broadcasting legacy that is unparalleled and permanently lasting that will sustain his memory for years to come. I am also sure that youngsters in the profession would have enjoyed the benefit of his vast knowledge and experience in broadcasting. Arrogance didn’t seem to exist in his action and behaviour. His listeners will miss him. May God bless his good soul and give him peace. And may God comfort his loving family!

Yours truly, Vishnu

Bisram

Contractors have milked Region Two of much of its resources

Dear Editor,

The Region Two administration is badly in need of heavy-duty machinery for the drainage and irrigation department and sea defence because when there is a breach, the region incurs millions of dollars to hire machinery from contractors.

In the past, there were many machines in this region, such as combines, draglines, bulldozers, graders, lorries, rollers and excavators, and a workshop to repair and maintain these machines. Today, the region is without a dragline to dig the canals and the wide road trenches. The same can be said for the drainage and irrigation department. There is no bulldozer to grade and maintain the rice farmers’ dam to improve the levels of production.

The sea defence had an engineer and a full crew of workers, and maintenance work was carried out round the clock to protect the sea from coming inwards, with many Essequibians being employed on these projects.

When Dr Cheddi Jagan assumed office in 1992, he assured us that he would continue on the same path. We in this region are faced with the reality of some 60 per cent of the people being below the poverty line, 40 per cent being jobless, brain drain, and a lack of institutional administration capacity.

All the projects are being contracted out and only a few Essequibians are being employed with these contractors. The contractors have milked Region Two of much of its resources with shady works. This is the classic debt trap whereby the more we pay, the more we owe. These contractors have been taking too much of our scarce resources.

We must return to the days when government will have a minimum say of employment and the reasons we advance for adopting one or another position must be how it affects the Essequibians, and not whether it is considered to be for or against the interests of the government.

We need to know what

skills the people in our region have and whether they are being fully utilised, who is in need of training or further training, how we can make use of the social arrangements in our region for productive activities, and what natural resources we have and how we can organise to make beneficial use of them.

We need to identify and evaluate the administrative and management systems which we have. Are they adequate for the purpose for which they were set up? Can they be improved? Can they be made to contribute maximally to the development effort?

When we are fully aware of the facts, when we have identified and assessed the economic potential of our region, when we have given thought to ways and means of making the fullest use of this potential, then we would have geared ourselves for the task of liberating and developing the productive forces.

The knowledge and insights gained from evaluat-

ing our assets would compel us to formulate a programme of action designed to achieve a four-fold objective to make better use of the investments we already have, to increase the links within and between productive sectors, to increase our productive capacity generally, and to develop a sound technological base. But here we are speaking of selling off our jobs to private contractors and creating unemployment for the majority of Essequibians. Some people in the government are very aggressively advocating divestment of some areas of the drainage and irrigation department, road maintenance and the sea defence department.

Our people must take a dispassionate look at this issue and not be overwhelmed by those who take such a position, whether from an ideological standpoint or because their friends and families stand to gain.

Sincerely,

Mohamed Khan

Robot guitarist Mach and robot drummer Ashura (left), from rock band Z-Machines, performed music during the technology event Maker Faire in Tokyo at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in November (BBC Future)

send your

Kaieteur News article erroneous

Dear Editor, I am writing concerning an article appearing in the January 5 edition of the Kaieteur News, headlined, “Massive corruption uncovered at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA)”. The mere headline of this article suggests that someone in authority uncovered this massive corruption at CJIA or has information in their possession to support this claim.

However, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) wishes to state unequivocally that that article is erroneous, false, seriously misleading, mischievous, and appears to have a hidden agenda to discredit and slander the names of senior officers attached to the CJIA. It is most unfortunate that the newspaper chooses to peddle such mischief concerning GRA’s operatives at the CJIA so early in the new year.

The article alleged that a “very senior officer” in the monitoring section at the airport has been colluding with security officers and immigration officials to recycle airport tax stubs, as well as facilitating the placement of contraband, including drugs on planes destined for foreign locations.

You are truly misguided or uninformed of the diversity of GRA’s operations at CJIA to insinuate that one particular individual, can unwittingly perpetrate illegal activities, such as recycling airport tax stubs, allow drugs and other items to be placed on planes, and collect payment to ensure that

containers are not thoroughly searched.

Apart from being outrageous, these allegations are also nonsensical, since the sale of travel tax tickets falls under the purview of the Internal Revenue Department (IRD), while passenger’s baggage, importation and exportation of cargo are the responsibility of the Customs and Trade Administration.

Monitoring officers fall under the Common Services Department. Only officers of the respective departments can perform functions within their department. Internal revenue officers cannot perform Customs and Trade Administration (C&TA) functions or vice versa.

Neither can a monitoring officer perform functions within IRD or C&TA. How in the name of proper journalism can you publish such garbage without conducting proper investigations? The ethical thing to do was to verify the accuracy of information fed to you by someone who apparently has a grudge.

Travel tax tickets are reconciled with passenger manifests to ensure proper accountability.

It was during a routine reconciliation activity, on a particular shift, that GRA discovered attempts were being made to recycle travel tax tickets by some internal revenue officers, stationed at CJIA. Investigations were conducted and appropriate disciplinary actions were taken against those of-

ficers in accordance with the GRA’s Code of Conduct.

The article also stated that the “GRA’s official would stop cameras from recording or delete footage altogether, in order to allow these dealings to go unrecorded. In addition, cameras at the airport are very unreliable and become non-functional after a bout of heavy rains among other reasons. This is used as an excuse whenever questioned about missing footage”.

Please be informed that feeds from GRA’s cameras at CJIA are monitored by senior officers and recorded in other locations. To that end, any attempt to stop the cameras or delete footage would be discovered.

Moreover, GRA’s cameras have provided useful evidence in numerous cases, which we are not at liberty to disclose. In addition, there are other cameras and security mechanisms in place at CJIA, which are monitored by independent agencies to ensure that contraband is intercepted.

The article also reported that “despite other allegations against the officer, he was transferred to the airport and subsequently promoted. Also, the reason activities are not thoroughly investigated and forwarded to the commissioner general is because the corrupt officer and persons required to investigate, share a close relationship.”

Contrary to the article, GRA changed the entire management team at CJIA in August 2013 when two

customs officers were implicated in drug trafficking. All officers were transferred at their substantive positions and are being rotated on a quarterly basis.

GRA’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all reports of corruption by its officers and would be grateful if KN can provide the evidence in its possession, including who uncovered the massive corruption at CJIA, so that an investigation can be launched. The GRA has always maintained that incidents such as these can be avoided if persons in the media take the time to verify the authenticity of the information they have received.

The GRA has always maintained a strong stance against corruption and will continue to investigate all allegations of corruption against officers. Additionally, the GRA is considering taking legal action for the slanderous information contained in the article.

Respectfully, Khurshid Sattaur Commissioner General Guyana Revenue Authority

President Ramotar is his own man

Dear Editor, The Stabroek News editorial, headlined, “The Presidency” (January 5), represents yet another attempt to denigrate the leadership of the People’s Proggressive Party (PPP/C) and PPP/C presidents by making it appear that there is a dearth of intellect and vision on the part of those who are given a constitutional mandate to govern over this nation.

The PPP/C wishes to debunk this perception, which is nothing short of political mischief aimed at bringing disrepute to the office of the duly elected President of Guyana His Excellency Donald Ramotar and his Cabinet.

The insinuation that President Ramotar “is not his own man” and that he is taking “instruction” from the former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Freedom House is an old and worn out political line being adopted by the Stabroek News, which smacks of arrogance and disdain associated with the socalled “doctor politics” mentality of a bygone era.

It is also an indication of the lack of understanding of the organisational principle and political culture of the PPP/C and the PPP/C administration where decisionmaking is always done in a

consultative and democratic manner.

To impute that there exists a “personality cult” in the party or government betrays a pathetic and total ignorance of the way decisions are arrived at both at the level of the party and government.

It is true that every president brings to bear his unique and distinct personality and management style. But the exercise of power is never done in a vacuum and is always informed and influenced by the ideology and philosophical outlook of the party and government and by perceived national interests. This holds true for this current president, as it was for all other presidents.

The PPP/C wishes to reiterate its total confidence in President Ramotar and is convinced that under his leadership the country will continue to grow and develop and in the process bring peace and happiness to the Guyanese people.

The PPP/C also calls on the Stabroek News to desist from casting aspersions on the leadership of the PPP/C and the presidency of Guyana.

Zulfikar Mustapha

Executive Secretary PPP/C

You can

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

Page Foundation

The role of grammar in improving student’ writing

BY BEVERLY ANN CHIN

Grammar is the sound, structure, and meaning system of language. All languages have grammar, and each language has its own grammar. People who speak the same language are able to communicate because they intuitively know the grammar system of that language –that is, the rules of making meaning. Students who are native speakers of English already know English grammar. They recognise the sounds of English words, the meanings of those words, and the different ways of putting words together to make meaningful sentences.

However, while students may be effective speakers of English, they need guidance to become effective writers. They need to learn how to transfer their knowledge of grammatical concepts from oral language to written language.

Effective grammar instruction begins with what students already know about grammar, and it helps them use this knowledge as they write. By connecting their knowledge of oral language to written language, teachers can demystify abstract grammatical terminology so that students can write –

and read – with greater competence and confidence.

What does research say about grammar and the teaching of writing?

Research strongly suggests that the most beneficial way of helping students improve their command of grammar in writing is to use students’ writing as the basis for discussing grammatical concepts. Researchers agree that it is more effective to teach punctuation, sentence variety, and usage in the context of writing than to approach the topic by teaching isolated skills. and edit their writing, teachers can provide

grammar instruction that guides students in their attempts to identify and correct problems in sentence structure and usage. For example, a teacher who sees that many students are writing sentences containing misplaced modifiers can present a mini-lesson on this concept, using examples from student writing. The teacher can have students edit their own and one another’s drafts for this problem.

Integrating grammar instruction into the revising and editing process helps students make im

mediate applications, thus allowing them to see the relevance of grammar to their own writing.

To what specific aspects of writing does grammar contribute?

Because writing is a complex and challenging activity for many students, teachers should focus on the grammatical concepts that are essential for the clear communication of meaning.

Research conducted since the early 1960s shows that grammar instruction that is separate from writing in

Through detailed studies of students’ writing, concludes that the best grammar instruction is that which gives the greatest return for the least investment of time. This advocates four important grammatical concepts: the sentence, inflection, tense, and agreement. It is recommended that teachers encourage students to examine grammatical errors in their own writing, while cautions are given to teachers not to overemphasise grammatical terminology to the detriment of students’ ability to understand and apply the concepts.

learn how to vary sentence structure in order to change meaning and style. Numerous studies show that the use of sentence combining is an effective method for improving students’ writing. The value of sentence combining is most evident as students recognise the effect of sentence variety (beginnings, lengths, complexities) in their own writing.

Rather than strive to teach all grammatical concepts to all students, teachers should prioritise and provide instruction on the grammatical elements that most affect their students’ ability to write effectively. Teachers should also be sensitive to individual students’ readiness to learn and apply grammatical concepts.

How does sentence combining improve writing?

Sentence combining is the strategy of joining short sentences into longer, more complex sentences. As students engage in sentence-combining activities, they

Teachers can design their own sentence-combining activities by using short sentences from student writing or other appropriate sources. For example, teachers who notice many choppy sentences in students’ writing can place these sentences on an overhead for all their students to read. Teachers can then ask different students to combine orally the short sentences in a variety of ways. By participating in oral and written sentence-combining activities, students better understand the ways in which sentence structure, usage, and punctuation affect meaning.

When presented as a revising strategy, sentencecombining activities help students identify short, choppy sentences in their own writing, leading them to combine their ideas in more fluid and sophisticated ways. As students generate more complex sentences from shorter ones, they discover how the arrangement of phrases and clauses, for example, affects meaning and its impact on their readers.

What strategies can teachers use to teach grammar in the context of writing?

Grammar instruction is most naturally integrated during the revising, editing, and proofreading phases of the writing process. After students have written their first drafts and feel comfortable with the ideas and organisation of their writing, teachers may wish to employ various strategies to help students see grammatical concepts as language choices that can enhance their writing purpose. Students will soon grow more receptive to revising, editing, and proofreading their writing. In writing conferences, for example, teachers can help students revise for effective word choices. As the teacher and student discuss the real audience(s) for the writing, the teacher can ask the student to consider how formal or informal the writing should be, and remind the student that all people adjust the level of formality in oral conversation, depending on their listeners and the speaking context. (uwplatt. edu) TO BE

Calls for Yarde to go after protests fizzle

– says willing to step down, union still powerful

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

After two decades of failure in leading one of the largest trade union bodies here, long-standing Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) President Patrick Yarde said he is willing to step down if the union members feel so.

He said too that despite the lack of support for recent protest actions, the GPSU is still capable of shutting down the country, but that this is a last resort.

Frustrated over government's yearly salary increases, several union members who spoke with this newspaper said that it was time for Yarde, who has been at the helm of the union since in the early 1990s, to go.

“I am tired of it, they are not representing us, is sheer talks and no backing,” a nurse told Guyana Times during one of the lackluster protests/marches the union

held in the aftermath of the five per cent pay hike.

“I am tired too, I am very tired and disgusted… after sitting with the government and negotiating all these agreements, I am tired and angry,” Yarde said during an interview with Guyana Times

He said 2013 marked the 13th year since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government commenced its yearly increase in wages and salaries for public servants. Following last year’s increase, the un-

ion called for a week-long march through the streets of Georgetown, but this fizzled after the first day drew less than 100 marchers.

Questioned as to whether he has outlived his time at the GPSU and that it may be time for him to go, Yarde said at one time opposing influences had forced him to step down, but some members loyal to him had reportedly stepped in to give support.

“I have returned the last few years unopposed, and we are a very democratic union,” he said. However, Guyana Times was told that a few years ago, Yarde changed the rules regarding retirement at the union level, making him eligible to continue as president.

One person, Karen Van Sluytman had openly challenged Yarde back in 2005 for the presidency, but she subsequently withdrew her nomination for the post over alleged discrepancies.

Representation

Yarde told Guyana Times that despite opposing forces, the union continues to represent the concerns of its more than 5000 members in the public sector. “This is the first year that absolutely no negotiations took place, but I am shocked that it occurred with Donald Ramotar as president, because he was a trade unionist, he should know about struggle,” Yarde said.

Asked to comment on his failure to mobilise marchers for the one-week protest in

Georgetown, Yarde said the Guyana Police Force should be blamed. He explained that the union received clearance from the police to conduct the first march late.

Nevertheless, he said the struggle is not over. “We will continue this industrial action, the matter is not over, it is not over, so if the government thinks it over, they are very mistaken, it is not over, we have started a process of consultation with our members and we will resume at an appropriate time, I am saying to you, this is not over,” he said.

Shutdown

Despite a poor turnout December last, the GPSU president strongly believes that the union still has the ability to shutdown the country, but said this should be the last resort, noting that it depends on government’s willingness to uphold the law and act in accordance with agreements signed.

It was pointed out that the union will continue to

look at avenues that will be less painful to members, given the meagre salaries the majority is currently paid. “We hope the government as an employer, whose officers swear to an oath of office to uphold the Constitution, and the laws of Guyana, would respect that,” Yarde said.

Questioned about recent successes, Yarde alluded to the responses given by regional and international organisations, claiming that there have been incremental successes.

“I have written every prime minister in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), bringing to their attention what is taking place here. We have reported to all international organisations, the United Nations, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Caricom, the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); we have brought it to the attention of the World Bank, the International Monetary

Fund (IMF) and we are getting incremental success,” he said.

According to him, international organisations such as the ILO have not condemned the GPSU, noting that questions have surfaced questioning government’s action.

Industrial action

Meanwhile, when asked to name a few successful industrial actions he has led, Yarde kept alluding to 1998 and 1999 when public servants took to the streets.

In 1998, GPSU marched Clarence Sue back to work.

The court had ordered that Sue be reinstated but government had ignored the court order. That was the year of the 57-day industrial action.

The GPSU had staged the strike after government had offered a 4.6 per cent wage increase to public servants when the union had requested 40 per cent. The massive strike which lasted close to two months had crippled government ministries, state bodies and even the private sector.

It came to an end with a move to arbitration, which resulted in public servants receiving pay increases of

31.6 per cent in 1999 and 26.6 per cent in 2000.

However, Yarde believes that many of the issues raised since 1999 have been unresolved. “The government has abused its position, cut off our dues, they have tried to suffocate us, they have dismissed members, intimidated members, shifted a significant part of public service to contract employment… the entire staff at the Linden Hospital Complex are on contract,” he lamented.

Membership

According to Yarde, the GPSU should have a membership of 15,000, but due to tactics employed by the government, only a meagre 5000 are registered.

“They have ruled some people not eligible to be members of this union, the entire fire service, they were for over 40 years and they ceased deductions from the entire fire service… the prison service, prison officers were on the executive of this union,” he said. He claimed that since 2001, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has been abusing its relations with the union.

GPSU President Patrick Yarde

The few public servants who turned out to protest in December

China condemns Japan’s PM visit to Yasukuni Shrine

The Chinese embassy in Guyana has strongly condemned Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for paying homage to the World War II Class-A criminals while reassuring Guyanese that they stand ready to work with the rest of the world to jointly uphold historical justice and world peace.

China is not treating lightly a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Yasukuni Shrine

where several criminals associated with World War II are being housed. The Chinese embassy on Tuesday in statement said that by paying homage to the Yasukuni Shrine, the Japanese prime minister is seeking to clear the name of the criminals of the war of aggression against the rest of the World.

The release explained that this has fully exposed the prime minister’s rightwing nature and speaks to

the fact that after 70 years after the end of the war, Japan still fails to correctly understand and treat its past aggression as wrong and ill-conceived. According to the release, Abe’s action is leading Japan down an extremely dangerous path and has gravely undermined regional peace and stability, hence, the strong opposition and condemnation from its Asian neighbours and the international community.

The Chinese embassy said it will not allow Japan

to overthrow the verdict on its history of aggression or turn back the wheel of history as it stands ready to work towards upholding justice and world peace. China and Japan normalised their diplomat ties in 1972; and the Chinese leadership made the decision not to seek war reparations from Japan.

The victorious outcomes of the world anti-Fascist war and the post-war interna-

tional order were achieved with the loss of lives and blood of people of China and the world.

The Yasukuni Shrine was the spiritual instrument and symbol of Japanese militarism in its war of aggression and colonial rule during World War II. To date, it still openly clings to its claim that aggression is “justified” and honours 14 Class-A criminals of World War II as “heroes”, doing its utmost to trumpet the militarist view of history.

Only with the right approach can the future be embraced. The war of aggression against China waged by militarist Japan inflicted untold calamities on the Chinese people, and the invading Japanese army committed the Nanjing Massacre and many other heinous atrocities. China suffered as many as 35 million casualties and US$600 billion in direct losses.

Japan is China’s neighbour and China said they are willing to develop normal ties of good – neighbourliness and friendship with Japan.

Eyew tness

Good as...

...gold?

Looks like some of the sheen’s worn off from our gold rush. The plunge in prices from the heady days of US$1800 per ounce (not quite the 50 per cent the head of the Gold Mining Rep bemoaned...but quite steep all the same) shows no sign of letting up. And it won’t...thanks to the U.S. Fed. The Americans keep berating the Chinese about “manipulating” their currency to pile up those trade surpluses...but aren’t they playing the same game?

Well, they are...but like someone said once, when you have power a word can mean whatever you want it to mean. And if the U.S. says it ain’t currency manipulation...and merely “qualitative easing” then “qualitative easing” it is! And those big, bad Chinese with their US$3 or US$4 trillion (when you’re talking about “trillions” it doesn’t really matter whether it is 3 or 4, does it?) better stop with their currency manipulation.

But for our gold miners, it’s a case of “whether the elephants make love or war, the grass will still get crushed”. While we may use gold nowadays to make the better-quality electrical connectors, gold is never really in demand for its intrinsic use. It’s a store of value...and as such its value will always be fluctuating depending on the “animal spirits” of the investors.

So, we get to the point we really want to make. If we know gold prices will always be volatile, what are we going to do about it? If we were rich enough, our government could always “buy high” and hope they can “sell higher”.

We understand they’ve already done this... maybe inadvertently...and they’re really sh*tting bricks, waiting for the uptick in the gold market. Our government just doesn’t have the kind of reserves to have the belly for that game. Even the U.S. doesn’t anymore. Where have you gone, Fort Knox?

The government can also promise all the shortterm relief they want...but in the long term (apart from Keynes quip that “we’ll all be dead”) gold is a depletable resource. Meaning once we dig it out of the ground...it’s gone! We have to ask what have the folks over at Go-Invest been doing to ensure our miners were exposed to all the great investment opportunities available in our fair land.

Otherwise, just as happened to the pork-knockers of yore, they’ll soon all end up holding wood. And we don’t want that to happen, do we? The shine’s off wood also nowadays.

...done?

Your Eyewitness’s long been pushing for the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney to kick off. If for no other reason than educating our present generation of how degenerated our political culture had become under the PNC. This isn’t just for titillation.

There’s a lot of provocateurs talking about Guyana becoming a “Banana Republic”. A Banana Republic’s where you have your political opponents assassinated with impunity. Not where the latter are allowed to hurl all kinds of calumny against the government –and get not even a rap on the knuckles.

But, more importantly, such an inquiry would remind us that we should never allow our country to slide down that path again. We compliment PPP/C’s General Secretary Rohee for demanding the inquiry be expedited. The CoI’s now as good as done. Some thought the remnants of the WPA might’ve been the ones to bell the cat. But they would’ve wasted a thought.

How could Roopnaraine and company call for an inquiry knowing full well that the PNC––whom they’re now consorting (cavorting?) with in bed – was implicated up to their neck in Rodney’s assassination? ...gone?

With the new US$4.3 million scanner he’d just received, GRA’s boss Sattaur tried to discover whether Mook Lall of the MuckrakerKN had a brain. All the scanner found was air between the Mook’s ears.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin

Gold declaration booms as miners burn

– over 100 excavators repossessed by banks

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

Faced with the fluctuating prices for gold on the world market, a number of miners have been forced out of the industry while some who have not paid their bills have seen the banks repossessing more than 100 excavators that they had taken loans to purchase.

Observers say that despite government’s lavish praises on the sector, not much has been done in terms of guiding some of the miners into reinvesting their earnings.

Speaking at a miners’ forum on Monday, Guyana Gold and Diamond Mining Association (GGDMA) President Patrick Harding said the drop in gold prices from US$1800 to US$1200 was devastating to the industry.

He noted that with the little money miners have, they are using it to revive their operations, while some are struggling to meet their expenses.

“Where are we going to find the money to start the year 2014? You know that

our banks and financial institutions seldom assist us, they may assist you if you are willing to put up your house or other collateral,” he pointed out at the association’s first meeting for the year on Monday.

Harding explained that because of the serious challenges the industry is facing, they will have to implement ways of cutting costs. He stated that the recovery system which the sector uses, causes about 50 per cent of refined gold to be thrown away, and as such, they are looking at alternative recovery systems to reduce the use of mercury.

Burden

The GGDMA president stressed that the high costs of equipment and supplies are a burden on the miners.

“The association has met before with some of the suppliers, and of course, they are complaining their costs have remained high but if they want to do business with us, they have to try to reduce their prices, otherwise we will find additional suppliers,” Harding said. He added that some min-

ers are unable to pay for their equipment and so they are being repossessed by the financial institutions. “Some mining businesses have been closed and some miners being put out of work. We are hoping that 2014, we will find some

way around this,” he stated. Guyana recorded the highest ever gold declaration of 458,105 ounces as at December 16, 2013, surpassing the previous highest level of 455,918 ounces in 2001; which included the declara-

tions of both Omai and small scale operators.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud in making the announcement had said that this is a proud moment for all those who work in the sector. "It shows dedication and commitment of the miners and also addresses the concerns about under declaration of gold or the claims of gold smuggling," he said.

Reclamation

In addition, the GGDMA president said that the sector is committed to reclamation; however, the cost is too high. “The association, on behalf of the industry, is asking for immediate intervention (of government) in order to bring some relief to this mining industry so that it can survive and continue to play the important role to the economy of Guyana as we have been doing over the past seven years,” he said.

Harding recommended that more lands be released by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), noting that in 2013, four lotteries and four auctions were promised but only two lotter-

Guyanese man gets 20 years for Ghanaian

An Accra High Court has sentenced a Ghanaian and a Guyanese to 15 and 20 years respectively in prison for unlawful possession and importation of cocaine into the country last year.

The two are part of five people who were arrested at the Takoradi Port on board a Guyanese ship containing 414 bales of cocaine. They pleaded guilty upon interrogation.

The captain of the ship, Miller Ronald O’Neil and the Ghanaian Seth Grant, were sentenced 20 and 15 years respectively on each

count to run concurrently.

The substance was tested positive in open court by the head of Drugs, Forensic and Cosmetic Department of the Ghana Statistical Service Martin Adarkwa Yiadom.

The court also ordered 30 pieces of 30 samples of the substance to be given to a team from the Drug Enforcement

ies were held.

“We are calling on our minister to expedite the holding of lotteries and auctions,” he urged.

During the meeting, mining lands was a major issue raised, as the miners themselves requested that more lands be made available and at the same time, they are calling for the lands being leased to be researched for gold presence, since most often miners are given barren lands which ends up being inconvenient and costly to them. “Don’t give us barren lands, give us lands with possibilities,” one miner cried.

President Donald Ramotar, who was present at the meeting, offered government’s assistance to those miners who have difficulties with obtaining loans from banks as he highlighted the need for hire purchase legislation regarding the repossession process.

“We would help those very small miners, we will help them to reclaim so they wouldn’t have that expense and we will do it for them... for the medium-scale people, we will try our best for them to do so,” he said.

cocaine bust

Administration for further test to ascertain the purity, origin and agents involved.

The Narcotic Control Board also valued the drugs at US$60 million dollars.

The court, presided over by Justice CJ Hoenyenugah, said it considered the street value of the cocaine, the reputation of the country and the volume of the substance be-

fore passing judgment. The state attorney prosecuting the case Samuel Asiamah Sampon also said it will be difficult for the ruling to be overturned, considering the fact that they were convicted upon their admission of guilt.

The court will on Friday start hearing the case of the other three involved.

GGDMA President Patrick Harding addressing the gathering at the association’s first meeting for the year

Ghanaian authorities unpacking the cocaine found onboard the Atiyah

EU gives some €300,000 to flood-hit Caribbean states

In response to serious damage caused by a low level trough system in the Eastern Caribbean region, the European Commission’s Department of Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) has released more than €300,000 to bring immediate relief to the population most affected by floods.

“Damage in the Eastern Caribbean has been very significant, mainly because the low level trough system unexpectedly occurred outside the Atlantic Hurricane Season. The European Commission wants to help the emergency relief effort with this immediate allocation of aid,” said Jocelyn Lance, head of the ECHO Caribbean Office, according to an European Union (EU) release.

On December 24, 2013, severe rains and high winds struck due to an unexpected low level trough system passing through the Eastern Caribbean. The trough caused severe floods, landslides and damage in St Lucia and St Vincent and Grenadines, leaving 15 people dead and around 220,000

affected, mainly jeopardising access to safe water.

In St Vincent and the Grenadines, critical infrastructure was affected by flooding and landslides, including the airport and main hospital, as well as several bridges and roads. The damage has been so extensive that the government declared it a level two disaster, which calls for regional assistance, as local resources and capacities are limited.

In St Lucia, water systems collapsed due to flooding, leaving the entire population without access to water. Electricity blackouts, landslides, damage and blockage of roads, bridges and

homes took place island-wide. Hospitals and health centres reported damage to equipment and medical stocks. Agricultural crops, especially bananas and vegetables, were also severely affected, with damage of up to 90 per cent of the crop.

Priorities

The immediate priorities are access to safe water and sanitation, distribution of relief items (hygiene kits, cleaning tools and jerry cans), health and housing. The potential for an increase in water and vector borne diseases, especially dengue, is of concern.

As a major contributor to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the IFRC, the European Commission has agreed to use €104,834 of its DREF contribution to help bring relief to the victims. The aid will be channelled through the Red Cross National Societies of St Lucia and S Vincent and the Grenadines, which operate with funding from the DREF (€56,054 and €48,780 respectively). Assistance in-

cludes distribution of food, relief items, access to water and sanitation, and hygiene promotion to minimise the risk of diseases. In addition, €200,000 has been granted to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to restore health services and reduce the impact of the disaster on public health.

The European Commission’s disaster preparedness programme (DIPECHO) is currently funding four projects in the affected region, specifically in St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Dominica.

Lifesaving

“Despite the damage registered, disaster preparedness actions once again proved relevant and lifesaving. In St Lucia, for example, the Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRT), formed under the DIPECHO provided first aid, psychosocial support and distributed relief items,” the head of the ECHO Caribbean Office said.

“This is why ECHO will continue to support these initiatives in the Caribbean,” he added. Current, DIPECHO projects, lasting until December 2014, will keep working to strengthen the most vulnerable communities’ capacities to anticipate, withstand and recover from natural hazards. The funds will also be used to establish and upgrade early warning systems and reinforce health centres’ preparedness.

The European Commission has signed a €3 million humanitarian contribution agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF).

Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters –those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal. The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund was established in 1985 and is supported by contributions from donors. donors.

When a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the fund, which can then be replenished by donors. The contribution agreement between the IFRC and the European Commission enables the latter to replenish the DREF for operations (that fit in with its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €3 million.

Fighting corruption

atiricus was on Cloud Nine. How could he be otherwise?

SHere it was – the opposition had been screaming bloody murder for years about corruption. But the big, bad government was doing nothing about it. And finally here was the solution!! There was this ad in the papers calling for the public to submit nominations for filling the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). That’s right...the public! Well, that would solve everything, wouldn’t it? According to KFC’s leader Rum Jhaat, the PPPC....no, no... strike that.... the PPC (these acronyms are so easy to mix up...) would be better than Hercules to clean up the corruption mess. What was taking bribes compared to cleaning up horse sh*t? All we needed, thought Satiricus, were a few good men and women – five to be exact – and this corruption mess would be history.

Thing was, Satiricus worried, you had to make sure you got those few good men (OK??? women too? Satiricus was no sexist pig). But now that the public could submit names... problem solved!!! Satiricus knew just the man who should not only be on the PPC, but should head the darn outfit. And that man was no other than Rum Jhaat himself!

Satiricus always believed if you’re going to fill any position, even dog catcher, you should get somebody who knows the job inside out. He has to be an expert in the job. So, when it came to corruption...who knew more about corruption than Rum Jhaat? Why, the man was the most corrupt politician bar none! It was just that he was such a modest fella: he had nominated those other two corrupt experts – Lalloo “Suspenders” Ram and Anon CoolSerum.

But Suspenders and CoolSerum couldn’t hold a candle to Rum Jhaat when it came to corruption. These bookkeepers were too cautious. They were pikers when it came to hustling – compared to Rum Jhaat. Satiricus was still in awe of Rum Jhaat’s latest corrupt stunt.

Imagine he took that fella from India who wanted to build the hospital, as his client – talk about mega bucks! –and then used his position in Parliament to push the case! And he didn’t even get called up in the Privileges Committee! His Chairman NoGel wasn’t so lucky...he’s still in hiding after taking that job as company secretary.

Satiricus believes it takes a thief to catch a thief. And boy that Rum Jhaat could thief. Just ask the fellas who quit the KFC New York group!

Satiricus was going to nominate the Jhaat as the man for the PPC.

Man

in custody for masjid break-in

Aman is in custody as police intensify their investigation into the break and enter and larceny of the Providence Masjid on the East Bank of Berbice.

On Monday, police arrested a U.S. deportee from the area for a second time as the investigation into the disappearance of more than $1 million in articles continues. The arrest comes in the wake of reports that a villager was attempting to sell a generator which fits the description of the missing one, along with two buckets.

The generator is valued at $750,000. Between December 15 and 18, 2013, the valuables were removed from the storeroom of the masjid. Three hundred plates valued at $36,000, 300 cups valued at $18,000, four enamel buckets valued at $10,000, five fans valued at $27,500, 32 enamel basins valued at $112,000, a water

pitcher, and two tarpaulins were discovered missing on December 18.

Masjid president Faroz Jafferally said the man in custody reportedly attempted to sell the generator to one of the organisation’s members. “The police don’t have anything to go with because the man does to want to give a statement to the police because he doesn’t want to have to go to court.” Entry to the storeroom was gained by breaking a padlock on the door. A villager had been seeking refuge at the masjid and had claimed to have turned around his life. “He use to sleep in the hammock there and we would give him food after he start to come to masjid.”

Meanwhile, a source close to the police says the man in custody is known to police and has several other matters pending.

EU ambassador Robert kopecky

wednesday, january 8, 2014 | guyanatimesgy.com

Speedboats will work all night as harbour bridge closes

Speedboat operators will be allowed to work virtually all night tonight if needs be to accommodate late night travellers when the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) closes for emergency repair works as a result of Sunday’s accident.

The bridge will be closed from 22:00h tonight until 04:00h Thursday.

An official of the Maritime Administration told Guyana Times that citizens residing on the West Coast and West Bank of Demerara are advised that speed boat services will continue until 20:00h on Wednesday night.

However, he said if the need arises due to the closure of the bridge, the operators will extend the timeframe.

DHB General Manager Rawlston Adams told a news conference on Monday that the incident occurred on Sunday about 05:15h, with an internationally registered fuel tanker owned by Pritchard-Gordon Tankers of the United Kingdom.

According to Adams, the captain of the vessel, a local,

Speedboat operators will be allowed to work virtually all night tonight if necessary to accommodate late night travellers

was given clearance to transit at 05:15h; however, it was observed that the vessel was approaching in an unorthodox position.

“After that was noticed, instructions were then given to the pilot again… the response from the pilot was ‘I know what I am doing,’” Adams revealed.

Subsequently, after the pilot’s failure to observe instructions, the vessel struck the bridge, causing damage that is considered signifi-

cant.

Inspections have thus far shown damage to two cluster piles, the pontoon and transom. The bridge was also slightly repositioned following the mishap, however, that was corrected several hours after and vehicular traffic resumed.

“We expect that the owners of the vessel would bear all the costs. I have had an initial discussion and they have made a commitment that once we do a joint in-

spection and we assess the cost, they have given a commitment that they will stand the cost for the repairs,” Adams stated.

Engineers are currently engaged in mobilising the necessary materials to facilitate a speedy repair process.

“We had fabricated those components a long time ago in the event of such. We are confident we have the necessary resources to fix and restore the bridge to proper order,” Adams said.

Thieves raid farmers at Cozier

Thieves over the weekend raided a farmer’s plot in the agricultural scheme of Cozier, Essequibo Coast, stealing bunches of plantain. According to reports, from

farmers in the scheme, thieves are targeting since especially those farmers’ plants yield “giant bunches” of plantain.

Speaking to the media about his loss, cash crop

farmer Goberdhan Polastraj said thieves over the weekend raided his farm and stole several bunches of plantain. The farmer estimated his loss to be in the hundreds of thousands of

Five teens still in custody for BV man’s murder

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud confirmed on Tuesday that the five young men who were arrested for the murder of Rafael Campbell whose body was found at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, remain in police custody.

Persaud added that the 72hour detention period had expired but the force made an application to the High Court for an extension, which was granted.

He explained that once the police are in possession of evidence that can lead to a conviction or confession, the suspects are legally held. An extension can only be granted by a High Court judge, where all arguments have to be presented to justify an extension.

He further stated that the investigators are also checking the background of the young men to confirm whether they were involved in any other crime committed recently.

Murdered: Rafael Campbell

He added that once the investigations are completed, a decision will be taken to charge or not to institute charges.

Guyana Times understands that none of the men has confessed to the killing. This publication was told that the suspects reportedly boarded the man’s car on Thursday night while they were on Camp Street where they took him to make a drop to Bel Air Gardens.

“Satan” remains in jail for Pomeroon woman’s murder

dollars. He related that he visited his farm on Sunday and was shocked to see plants that once were laden with plantains bare.

Polastraj said that his family collectively farms and was anticipating harvest time. He said they were disappointed over the loss.

The farmer said all his hard labour had gone for nothing and called on the police to conduct a proper investigation into the matter.

Other farmers in the scheme also recorded the loss of bunches of plantains. Most families who cultivate farms in Cozier live on the coast, and so they do not get to constantly monitor their farms.

Leroy Benn also known as “Satan”, remains in custody for the suspected murder of his reputed wife Judith D’Oliveria.

Benn was held since the body of the Pomeroon woman was discovery on Monday.

The decomposed body of D’Oliveria, 41, was discovered by family member Eon Doliveria in a clump in bushes at Dredge Creek, Lower Pomeroon River.

Her sister, Jenifer Dyal said her sibling’s body bore marks of violence. The woman went missing since Boxing Day. A post-mortem examination conducted on the remains of D’Oliveria by pathologist, Dr Nehaul

Singh on Tuesday, gave the cause of death as stab wounds to the chest.

Talks resume on Haiti-Dominican Republic citizenship issue

Ahigh-level commission established to look into the citizenship issue of thousands of Haitian nationals rendered stateless by a Constitutional Court ruling in The Dominican Republic in September last year, is due to meet on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, who is leading the local delegation to the talks with The Dominican Republic in the Haitian northern town of Ouanaminthe near the Haitian-Dominican border, said the issue should be resolved through dialogue.

“We want to engage in a constructive dialogue with The Dominican Republic to

find a solution that protects the interests of all parties,” Lamothe told the Haitian website, HCNN.

Last month, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, reporting on a meeting between President Michel Martelly and his Dominican Republic counterpart, Danilo Medina, said that the high-level committee with representatives of both sides would address various issues.

Maduro said the joint commission would comprise five representatives each from the two countries and that Venezuela, the United Nations, the European Union and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) had

been invited as observers. Maduro said the proposed commission would address issues regarding trade, migration, environment, security and the border. The purpose of such an initiative is to find a just, proper and balanced solution through which the interests and rights of all parties are protected. On September 23, the Constitutional Court in Santo Domingo ruled in favour of stripping citizenship from children of Haitian migrants. The decision applies to those born after 1929 — a category that overwhelmingly includes descendants of Haitians brought in to work on farms.

Judith D’Oliveria

Harmon’s concern about e-governance project “no big deal” – project manager

E-government Unit

Project Manager

Alexei Ramotar said the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) inquiry into the US$32 million project is “no big deal”.

The multimillion-dollar project is being placed under the microscope by APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Harmon, who on Monday submitted two questions to the National Assembly for response by the Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

The e-governance project has suffered from extensive delays. Two years after its scheduled deadline, the project is now up for modification, the APNU parliamentarian said, as he expressed disappointment at the way it is being implemented.

“We in the National Assembly raised this question about the cable in parts of Regions Seven and Eight where councillors indicated that the cable was running above ground, it was exposed to the weather and the question of vandalism,” he said, claiming that the government did not show much concern.

This, he said, is a major concern, positing that there is clearly a case of incompetence.

“The fact the project manager is ought to be someone who understands these things, who can give a proper explanation, we want

to know now what is the competence or the experience of the project manager because it seems to me that there is a level of incompetence,” Harmon told Guyana Times during a telephone interview.

He said too that the Donald Ramotar administration must come clean on the cost the delay has incurred and funds required for the modification.

The APNU member has also called on the prime minister to disclose details surrounding Ramotar in respect to his prior experience with fibre-optic installations, designing and management. His salary and allowances are also coming into question.

But when contacted by Guyana Times, Ramotar opined that Harmon’s con-

cern is “no big deal”. He then pointed this newscast in the direction of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds for a further response.

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon had disclosed that the multimilliondollar project which includes the laying of the fibre-optic cable from Guyana to Brazil will now be completed this year.

The project was slated for completion since 2012, but had encountered a series of problems.

When comparing the work completed thus far, Dr Luncheon said installation of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system from Moleson Creek, Corentyne to Charity, Essequibo Coast is progressing faster than the cable being installed between Lethem and Georgetown.

Amerindians not being silenced – Sukhai

merindian Affairs

AMinister Pauline Sukhai has refuted claims that Amerindians are often being silenced especially when they meet each year at the National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference.

Sukhai said that village toshaos and other village leaders are usually given the chance to speak on various issues at forums organised by the ministry throughout the year. The minister stressed that reports that Amerindian village leaders are silenced, especially at the annual NTC meeting are not true.

Sukhai explained that everyone is given an opportu-

nity at the three full days of the meeting to raise various concerns and these concerns are usually addressed by the Cabinet.

“For those who don’t want to speak, they are asked to submit everything in writing and we create a desk at these meetings and allow people who didn’t get to speak or wanted to add more to what they had already said to submit what they said… they bring it there and we account for each of them and that also included in our report,” Sukhai said.

The Amerindian affairs minister stated that leaders are usually given the opportunity to prepare for these conferences and provide a list of issues they hope to raise. She said, “There is just a few people… There is only one team or group of people who normally say that and they are the ones who take up most of the time, talking about lands and mining.”

Nonetheless, some Amerindians leaders believe that they are treated differently and dismissed because they do not support the ruling administration and some of its policies or notions on Amerindian development.

Trinidadian national intercepted at CJIA with cocaine

An elderly Trinidadian passenger was on Tuesday taken off a Caribbean Airlines flight bound for Canada at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) by ranks of the Police Anti-Narcotics Branch after they unearthed a quantity of cocaine in his luggage.

The man had reportedly already boarded the aircraft when his baggage was scanned by members of the drug enforcement unit at the main port of entry.

This, airport officials related, is a norm.

It was during the scanning process, the illegal substance, which reportedly amounted to five kilograms, was detected. The man was taken off the flight and asked to identify his luggage.

After so doing, he was taken to an isolated room where the suitcases were searched, and the cocaine unearthed in the false bottoms.

The suspect immediately denied having any knowledge of the substance and accused airport authorities in Trinidad of framing him.

He was arrested and taken to police headquarters, Eve Leary where he is being grilled.

Guyana Times understands that the man boarded the CAL flight from Trinidad and Tobago which stopped over in Guyana to collect outgoing passengers bound for Canada.

This is the first major cocaine bust for 2014.

Last year, 555.077kg of cannabis was destroyed while 20kg of cocaine seized, along with 1.7 kg of LSD. This resulted in 775 persons being prosecuted.

GECOM to continue search for new chief elections officer

After several months of searching, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is yet to make a substantive decision on the appointment of a new chief elections officer.

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally told Guyana Times on Tuesday that commissioners are expected to resume work on January 21, where they will discuss in more detail the appointment of a new chief elections officer.

Calvin Benn remains the acting chief elections officer until such time a decision is made to fill the substantive position.

Dr Surujbally had said that the current team of GECOM officials is doing the job in the meantime. He said “people should not worry”, as the current team is competent to oversee the next elections, even the highly anticipated local government elections.

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

Calvin Benn and his assistant Keith Lowenfield are among 14 persons who applied to become GECOM’s chief elections officer. Both of them have served GECOM for a number of years in senior capacities.

The post of chief elections officer became vacant after GECOM declined to renew the contract of Gocool Boodoo

after concerns were raised in the opposition camp about a computing mistake made in the allocation of seats in the 2011 elections.

The mistake had been rectified, and government had been staunch in its support of the then chief elections officer, arguing that he had done a stellar job through the years.

Boodoo’s late submission of notice of his intent to seek renewal of his contract also negatively affected his prospects Dr Surujbally had told this newspaper previously that the entire team met and was looking to finalise the short list for the candidates, who have applied for the position.

He said based on the criteria prescribed in the job description for the post, the team has been able to point out certain critical areas to decide on successful applications.

E-Government Unit Project Manager Alexei Ramotar

APNU member Joseph Harmon

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai

Haiti no longer U.S.

imminent danger area, says defence department

Following the periodic review, the Department of Defence said that the threat of harm to U.S. military personnel “has been significantly reduced in many countries”

The U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) said Haiti is no longer among some locations designated as Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) areas.

The DoD said that the earthquake-ravaged, French-speaking Caribbean country, along with eight other “land areas”, would no longer be designated as an IDP, effective June 1.

The others are East Timor, Liberia, Oman, Rwanda, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

The DoD has also said the Persian Gulf would no longer be a “water area and air space” for IDP purposes and that IDP would remain in effect for Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Syria,

Yemen, and Egypt within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

But the DoD said it kept Guantánamo Bay in Cuba on the IDP list.

“A periodic review and recertification was conducted for Imminent Danger Pay purposes and was made in coordination with the joint staff, combatant commands and military services.

“The combatant commands conducted in-depth threat assessments for countries within their areas of responsibility,” the DoD said in a statement.

Following the review, the DoD said “it was determined that the imminent threat of physical harm to U.S. military personnel due to civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism, or wartime conditions has been significantly reduced in many countries”. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Venezuelan ex-beauty queen murdered

FTheir

Police

investigation into the killing, which happened on the highway leading from Valencia to Puerto Cabello.

Spear became Miss Venezuela in 2004, and also acted in soap operas.

Local media reported that Spear and her husband had stopped by the roadside because their car had broken down.

The gunmen opened fire in what police said might have been a robbery gone wrong.

Venezuela has one of the highest murder rates in the world, and armed robberies and kidnappings are not unusual. (BBC News)

Curacao to fight crime with drone

TFire destroys Venezuelan embassy in St Kitts

The Venezuelan embassy in St Kitts was burnt to the ground overnight Saturday, while the Organisation of American States (OAS) office in Basseterre escaped major damage but showed signs of attempted arson on Sunday morning.

The buildings are located streets apart in Basseterre and other buildings in the neighbourhood were not di-

rectly affected.

“What I want to do is condemn what I see as a malicious act and attempt to cause confusion and create instability in the country,” OAS Ambassador Greene told WINN 98.9.

“The fire was kept at one window and it didn’t spread beyond the window… I met investigators here... they found a rag soaked in kerosene, it seems, at this win-

dow and at another window,” Greene revealed.

“But at the second window, thank God that was not ignited, is really where the propane tank is placed and so we are glad that particular window was not ignited but there were two areas of attack,” he added, while indicating that he had already apprised his immediate supervisor in Washington DC about the incident.

Greene said there are indications that the OAS office was attacked before the Venezuelan embassy.

“There are indication that the OAS office was the first line of attack and when things did not work out as planned it seemed as if the perpetrators may have gone elsewhere and probably to the Venezuelan embassy, but from what I was told, here was the first line of attack and thank God it was not successful.” (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Jamaican teen given chaotic send-off

Aquarter of this year.

The Dutch Department of Defence has sent an unmanned aircraft called Raven to the island for this period. With this drone, it will be possible for the authorities to detect and follow criminals.

Before and after the carnival season especially, there is a peak in robberies and other crimes. The OM wants to do everything possible to achieve a significant decrease in crime during this period.

The request to the Dutch Defence Ministry for the deployment of an unmanned aircraft was granted.

The drone provides more information about a situation and environment, which the authorities get by using cameras that transmit images to a ground station. As a result, appropriate measures can be taken. (Caribbean News Now)

solemn occasion to bid farewell to slain Manchester teen Kimberly Simpson on Sunday turned chaotic after several of her paternal relatives walked out of the thanksgiving service – angry that Simpson’s father was not acknowledged in the eulogy. The send-off for the 18-year-old, who was chopped to death in November allegedly by the father of her two-year-old son, was held at the Lititz Seventh-day Adventist Church in Manchester. Her death drew national atten-

tion following an eight-hour stand-off between the police and angry residents who were bent on exacting revenge on her alleged killer.

However, on Sunday it was a dispute between her paternal and maternal relatives that sparked the disturbance.

While the eulogy was being read, there was an uproar which was followed by the walkout — halting the funeral proceedings.

It took several attempts from Constable Oral Williams of the Santa Cruz Police Station and church officials to restore some amount of calm to allow the service to continue.

A relative of Simpson’s father told the Jamaica Observer afterwards that the reading of the eulogy was interrupted “because disregard was shown for her father as his name was not mentioned”. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Several suspended for TT oil spill

Several Petrotrin employees have been suspended in connection with their involvement in the first oil spill on December 17 near the company’s Pointea-Pierre port. This was confirmed by Corporate Communications Manager Gillian Friday during a press conference at Petrotrin’s Learning Resource Centre, Pointea-Pierrey on Monday.

There have been a total of 11 oil spills over the past three weeks, adversely affecting residents and the environment along

the southwestern peninsula. The company has claimed that some of the spills were acts of sabotage. Responding to a question on reports that eight employees were either suspended or fired in connection with the oil spills, Friday said several workers were suspended Monday afternoon, but she could not say how many.

However, she said, those workers were on duty at the port and marine section in Pointe-aPierre when the first oil spill took place. “I can’t

give you numbers because it is ongoing but they were working in the area of the port and marine at Pointe-a-Pierre, loading and receiving fuel onto the barge.” However, senior manager, marketing and trading Errol Baldeo said so far their investigations had not unearthed any evidence of sabotage regarding the first spill.

Asked then on what grounds the workers were suspended, he explained that there was a process to follow.

(Excerpt from Trinidad and Tobago Guardian)

The fire-ravaged Venezuelan embassy

ormer Venezuelan beauty queen Monica Spear, 29, and her Irish husband Thomas Berry have been shot dead in their car in Venezuela.

five-year-old daughter, who was injured in the incident, is said to be in a stable condition in hospital.

have launched an

Monica Spear was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2004, and also ran for Miss Universe

he Curacao Public Prosecutor (OM) and Curacao Police Corps (KPC) will use modern means to tackle the growing crime during the first

Training with the Raven drone

Scene from the thanksgiving service of Kimberly Simpson held at the Lititz Seventh-day Adventist Church in Manchester

Arctic freeze moves east

Adeadly blast of arctic air shattered decades-old temperature records as it enveloped the eastern U.S. on Tuesday, cancelling thousands of flights, driving energy prices higher and overwhelming shelters for homeless people.

New York’s Central Park hit a record low temperature for the date – four degrees Fahrenheit (minus 16 Celsius) – but with winds gusting to 32 miles per hour conditions felt far colder, the National Weather Service said.

Authorities have put about half of the U.S. under a wind chill warning or cold weather advisory, the icy conditions snarling air, road and rail travel.

Temperatures were expected to be 25 degrees to 35 degrees Fahrenheit (1419 degrees Celsius) below normal from the Midwest to the Southeast, the National Weather Service said.

In New York and

Washington, DC homeless shelters and other public buildings took in people who were freezing outside.

“My hands were frozen like ice picks. I came in here to get my hands warm, I put them under the hot water here,” said Mike Smith, a 48-year-old homeless man who had been dozing in the lobby of the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library in Washington.

Six deaths have been reported across the country since a polar air mass swept over North America over the weekend, producing the coldest temperatures in two decades.

Major U.S. cities were in the grip of temperatures well below freezing, with Chicago seeing temperatures of minus four degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees Celsius), Detroit minus five F (minus 21 Celsius) Pittsburgh one F (minus 17 Celsius) and Boston 15 F (minus 9 Celsius).

At New York’s Bowery Mission homeless shelter, the 80-bed dormitory was at full capacity on Monday night and 179 other people slept in the chapel and cafeteria, officials said.

“We had our staff go out to walk the neighbourhood to make sure everyone was aware they could come in for the night,” said James Winan, a chief development officer at the Bowery Mission.

Washington, DC, officials opened libraries, recreation centres and other public spaces for people to warm themselves from temperatures that fell to seven degrees Fahrenheit (minus 14 Celsius).

In the normally mild south, Atlanta recorded its coldest weather on this date in 44 years, when the temperature dropped to six degrees Fahrenheit (minus 14 degrees Celsius), while temperatures in northern Florida also briefly dropped below freezing, though the state’s citrus crop was unharmed, according to a major growers’ group.

Among the deaths reported was a 51-year-old homeless man in Columbus, Georgia, whose body was found in an empty lot after spending the night outdoors. Four cold and storm-related deaths were reported around Chicago and an elderly woman was found dead outside her Indianapolis home early Monday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

First chemical weapons leave Syria

The first consignment of Syrian chemical weapons materials has left the country on a Danish ship.

The vessel left the northern Syrian port of Latakia on Tuesday, escorted by Russian and Chinese warships.

Removing the most dangerous chemicals is the first step of a UN-backed deal to eliminate Syria’s chemical arsenal.

A previous bid to collect the materials was aborted

after Syrian officials failed to deliver the toxic chemicals to the collection point in Latakia.

The hazardous cargo is due to be taken to Italy, where it will be loaded onto a U.S. Navy ship and shipped to international waters for destruction in a specially created titanium tank on board.

The mission is being run jointly by the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

New police sackings over Turkey fraud probe

The Turkish government has dismissed 350 police officers in Ankara, local media reports say, in the latest twist in a corruption scandal embroiling powerful politicians.

The officers were sacked on Tuesday by a government decree published at midnight and included chiefs of the financial crimes, antismuggling, cybercrime and organised crime units, the

private Dogan News Agency reported.

The move comes as the government is trying to contain the political fallout from the fraud probe that has become the biggest threat to Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 11-year rule in the run-up to local elections in March.

The Turkish prime minister has branded the investigation a “dirty” plot to try

to topple his government, blaming supporters of a powerful exiled Turkish religious leader who wields considerable influence in the judiciary.

Fethullah Gulen, which exercises influence through a network of contacts built on sponsorship of schools and other social and media organisations, and Erdogan accuse each other of manipulating the police and compromising the independence of the judiciary.

Dozens of leading businessmen and political figures, including the sons of three ministers, were rounded up in a sweep in Ankara and Istanbul in December. Erdogan responded by sacking hundreds of police officials across the country, including the powerful Istanbul police chief.

Separately, Erdogan said on Sunday he would favour retrials for hundreds of military officers jailed for alleged coups plots against his government. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Syrian rebels battle al Qaeda jihadists in second revolution

have been accused of widespread abuses against both rival rebel groups and Syrian civilians

At least 34 foreign jihadists from ISIL and another group have been killed in clashes with other rebels in Idlib province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday.

Three powerful rebel alliances launched what activists called a second “revolu-

tion” against the jihadists on Friday and have advanced quickly, expelling ISIL from its checkpoints and bases across Aleppo, Idlib and Hama provinces.

A broad coalition of moderates and Islamists is seeking to drive ISIL – which is accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing Syrians,

including children – from its stronghold in the northern city of Raqa. The jihadist group, which is also active in Iraq, joined the fight against the Syrian regime in late spring 2013. Rebels in Raqa managed to free 50 Syrian prisoners held by the Sunni extremists, who are believed to be holding hundreds of prisoners, including foreign journalists, the observatory said. Raqa is the only provincial capital lost by the regime since the conflict began in March 2011.

When the city later fell under ISIL control, Syrian rebel groups initially welcomed the aid of the battlehardened jihadists. But tensions mounted as ISIL was accused of seeking total control over the areas in which it operates and imposing a reign of terror, in Raqa in particular. (Excerpt from France24)

Afghan girl sent on suicide mission

AThe agreement was brokered by the U.S. and Russia after rockets filled with the nerve agent sarin were fired at three towns in the Ghouta agricultural belt around the Syrian capital Damascus on August 21, 2013.

Hundreds of people were killed in the attacks.

Western powers said only Syrian government forces could have carried out the assault, but President Bashar al-Assad blamed rebel fighters. (Excerpt from BBC News)

10-year-old Afghan girl alleged she was pressured to carry out a would-be suicide bomb attack on a border police station in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province, officials said.

There were conflicting reports about how the bomb plot was foiled, but the fact that a young girl was caught up in the middle of it was shocking enough for President Hamid Karzai to quickly condemn the alleged attackers.

“Children are the future-makers of the country.

They should be taken care of, and education opportunities should be provided for them,” he said in a prepared statement. “They shouldn’t be used as a tool for suicide attacks.”

Afghan and foreign forces have arrested many would-be suicide bomber children in the past.

Last year, Afghan police intercepted 41 children whom insurgents were planning to use as suicide bombers. They were between six and 11 years old.

According to Karzai, the girl, known only as

Spozhmai, was forced to carry out the attempted suicide attack and is now under the government’s protection.

The girl’s brother, Zahir, is known locally as Hameed Sahib and is a local Taliban commander, the country’s Interior Ministry said.

After being taken into custody, the girl was made available to reporters.

“My brother Zahir and his friend Jabar forced me to wear the suicide vest,” Spozhmai told reporters.

(Excerpt

Indiana, where a temperature of -37°C was forecast for Tuesday, has issued a red alert travel warning, making it illegal to drive a private vehicle except in an emergency

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan

Syrian rebels laid siege to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Raqa on Monday in a bid to oust the al Qaeda-linked jihadists, who

The chemical weapons are due to be destroyed in international waters

Caribbean

TT gets high ranking for economic freedom

TT has been ranked among the best places in Latin America for the economic freedom it offers to foreign direct investors. In the 2013 Economic Freedom of the World (EFW ranking TT ranks 79th out of the 152 countries and territories for economic freedom. It scored 6.95 out of a possible ten points – above the worldwide average of 6.83 – across five identified key measures that comprise economic freedom. The components includ-

North America

ed how well a country protects the rights of private property ownership, whether it exercises fair and consistent enforcement of contracts, the stability of its monetary environment, rate of taxation, barriers to domestic and international trade and degree of reliance on government spending.

Among South American countries, only Chile, Peru and Uruguay ranked ahead of TT in overall economic freedom. In the whole of Latin

America, Brazil and Mexico, together comprising almost two-thirds of South America’s GDP, placed low on the overall EFW index at 102 and 94, respectively. Argentina, with the second-largest GDP in South America, was ranked only 137th out of 152 countries and territories. And Venezuela placed last among the countries that were ranked. A total of 42 distinct variables were included in the measurements. (Trinidad Guardian)

JP Morgan to pay US$1.7B to victims of the Madoff fraud

JP Morgan Chase has agreed to pay US$1.7 billion (£1 billion) to victims of the Bernard Madoff fraud following a settlement with U.S. prosecutors. The settlement comes after Federal prosecutors accused the bank of ignoring red flags about Madoff’s crimes. “We recognise we could have done a better job,” said JP Morgan spokesperson Jennifer Zuccarelli.

The bank has agreed to improve its controls as part of

Europe

the settlement. “It took until after the arrest of Madoff, one of the worst crooks this office has ever seen, for JP Morgan to alert authorities to what the world already knew,” said George Venizelos, head of the FBI’s New York office, during a press conference. The settlement includes a so-called deferred prosecution agreement that will dismiss criminal charges after two years if the bank remains compliant. No individual executives were accused of wrongdoing.

Seth Berenzweig, a corporate lawyer, says U.S. authorities are reluctant to press criminal charges against major banks. “It’s very dangerous to criminally indict a commercial bank,” Berenzweig told the BBC.

“It could throw the institution into a tailspin – and the government can’t afford a banking crisis with JP Morgan.” But, he adds, the agreement was “not necessarily in the best interest of the victims”. (BBC News)

Eurozone inflation rate falls to 0.8 per cent

he Eurostat esti-

Tmate shows the inflation rate moving further away from the European Central Bank’s (ECB) target of just below two per cent. In November, the ECB cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low of 0.25 per cent, reflecting the low inflation outlook. The ECB will gather for its latest meeting later this week, although no changes to policy are expected.

The latest data may fuel concerns that the eurozone

risks a period of deflation, in which consumers delay purchases in the expectation that prices will fall further. Last week, ECB president Mario Draghi said there were no signs of deflation or an urgent need for another rate cut. But he added that it was important that inflation did not get stuck permanently below one per cent.

Peter Vanden Houte, ING’s chief eurozone economist, said: “Today’s figures show that it’s too early for the

ECB to become complacent about deflation risks, especially in peripheral countries.”

The euro rose to US$1.3646 from US$1.3618 on speculation the ECB might take more action to support the eurozone’s economy.

In October, the eurozone’s inflation rate fell to 0.7 per cent, the first time it had dropped below one per cent since February 2010. This prompted the rate cut from the ECB. (BBC News)

Asia

ONGC-OIL pays US$2.475B to Videocon Group

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp and Oil India Ltd Tuesday paid US$2.475 billion to Videocon Group for acquiring 10 per cent stake in a giant gas field off Mozambique. ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL), the overseas arm of state-run explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), and Oil India (OIL) had jointly bought

Videocon Group’s 10 per cent interest in the Rovuma Area1 for US$2.475 billion.

Additionally, OVL bought U.S. energy major Anadarko Petroleum’s 10 per cent stake in the same block for US$2.64 billion. “The payments to Videocon were made today,” said a source with direct knowledge of the development, adding that “payments to Anadarko will be made before February-end.”

OVL raised about US$1.5 billion in one-year bridge loans from foreign lenders to fund its part of the payment to Videocon while OIL raised US$900 million in debt for its share. The source said OVL will raise another US$2.6 billion to fund the Anadarko payments. (Times of India)

Dubai ruler sets up committee to plan Expo 2020

Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Tuesday issued a decree to set up a committee to oversee preparations for the Expo 2020 event. The UAE Vice President and Prime Minister’s decree said the committee would come under the supervision of Dubai Crown Prince and chairman of Dubai Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The move is the first step of Dubai’s practical preparations to host the world’s larg-

Middle East Oceania

est and most prestigious exhibition which it won the right to host in November. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Department of Civil Aviation and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, has been named as chairman of the committee, the decree, cited by news agency WAM, added. It also named Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, director general of the Ruler’s Court as vice chairman.

The committee will also include Reem Al Hashimy,

Minister of State,

commander of Dubai

director general of Dubai Municipality,

Al Tayer, chairman and executive director of Road and Transport Authority, Khalifa Al Zaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, and Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre. (Arabianbusiness)

Auckland firm invests US$1M to keep work in NZ

An Auckland firm says an investment in new machinery will help keep manufacturing work in New Zealand.

Adept – a 44-year-old company that is the biggest external supplier of components to Fisher & Paykel Healthcare –has made a million-dollar investment in machinery from Japan, improving its capacity to make high-precision tools. The computer-controlled machine, which cuts hardened steel at high speeds and with great accuracy, will help the

company compete with the “ever-present threat” from China.

Adept believes the machine, which has been up and running for around six weeks, is the first of its kind in New Zealand. “Up until now, manufacturers who needed this type of absolute accuracy had to go offshore,” said Adept chief executive and founder Murray Fenton.

“We can compete internationally with high-end, highquality, complex tooling,” he said. “This is because much

of the machining work is done unattended and with such accuracy there is very little manual work in fitting, the sort of additional task that China excels in because of the cheap semi-skilled labour,” Fenton said. “In addition, the end result for the machined item is far superior to that of a handworked item... it has big benefits to New Zealand companies to have an important part of their manufacturing process done right here,” Fenton said. (NZ Herald)

Blended learning

This is a common version of distance learning that offers an open schedule, but requires students to communicate in an established location, whether it’s in a physical classroom or online via message boards or chat rooms. Similar to an open schedule, blended learning allows students to complete assignments on their own time as long as they meet the deadline required for communication.

Computer-based learning

This is the strictest version of distance learning, so much so that it almost mirrors the behavior of the standard classroom. Within computer-based learning, students are required to participate at designated

times and places, often ranging from a computer or science lab to an actual classroom. As such, this option is typically ideal only for those who live close to campus and are looking to take on extra coursework through a system of independent study.

Fixed-time E-learning

The most common type of online education, fixed-time elearning sets a pre-determined schedule that can be kept from any location. Unlike computerbased learning, students are not required to attend a physical location. Instead, they’re permitted to complete the coursework from home, school or the office and then log onto the online learning site at the pre-determined time. This type of dis-

tance learning is also popular as it provides a live online forum that tends to supplement the social component that can often be lacking for online students.

Public perception

When considering switching to an online university, the other major consideration you should be aware of is the perception it will give you in the marketplace. Some employers may worry about the legitimacy of a degree obtained from a school they’ve never heard of. And it’s hard to blame them. “Degree mills” abound on the web, with organisations that have legitimate-sounding names conferring “degrees” on people for little more than a fee. (Business Dictionary)

Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, chief

Police, Hussain Nasser Lootah,

Mattar

West Bank Demerara fire leaves 11 homeless

AWest Bank Demerara couple and their nine children were left homeless on Tuesday morning after a fire razed their two-storey home.

The fire, which started about 07:00h in one of the bedrooms in the upper flat, gutted the four-bedroom wood and concrete structure at Lot 1 Murphy Street, Good Intent, West Bank Demerara.

According to reports, the fire started in the upper flat of the building and quickly engulfed the home. With the assistance of public-spirited citizens, the family managed to salvage a few household items.

The cause of the fire is unknown. The couple’s teenaged son, Fiyaz Alli, who was

sleeping at the time, had to be pulled from the burning house by his mother, Ramwattie “Shanti” Nagasar, who subsequently passed out.

When Guyana Times visited the scene, a depressed Nagasar and a few of her children were staying at a relative’s home, while her husband, Inshad Alli and her older sons, along with neighbours, were clearing the debris.

The depressed woman stated that she woke up early as normal on Tuesday morning, took off all the electrical lights, and performed her prayers. She said after prayers, she started to prepare her children for school.

About 07:20h, she heard someone shouting out to her, but she thought it was someone who wanted to purchase an item from the shop. Upon answering, she was informed by the young man that the upper flat of the house was on fire.

Smoke inhalation

Recalling that her teenage son was still asleep in one of the rooms, she started to scream for him, but there was no response. The woman, who was soaked from head to toes, said she went to the room and tried to shake her son awake, but to no avail.

She then pulled him off

Miners rail against interior crimes

Gold and diamond miners on Monday spoke out against the increase in criminal activities, urging the government to do more to protect them.

The miners were at a Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) meeting held at Regency Suites, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

Among those who spoke was Region Eight Chairman Mark Crawford, who said the situation was of great concern. He believes that there is a need for the police to be better equipped to combat the level of crimes prevalent in the interior.

“In terms of mobility, transportation is lacking because the police (in Mahdia) only have one ATV and in order for them to patrol all these backdams, one ATV is highly inadequate,” he pointed out. Another issue Crawford raised was the need for river transportation for police officers. He also called for the sharing of information among the Guyana Geology and Mines

Commission (GGMC), miners, and the police so that they will know who is entering the interior and be au fait with the backgrounds of those persons.

The regional chairman further disclosed that he had made an appointment with the commissioner of police to discuss security issues in his region; however, he is yet to meet with him. “He hasn’t seen the wisdom to entertain a regional chairman for 10 minutes and that is ridiculous,” Crawford vented.

Other miners, who also spoke on the issue of crime, said they want police officers who will protect them not those who will take their earnings.

Major concern

GGDMA President Patrick Harding, expressed sympathy to the families of miners who were killed, noting that he had several meetings with the commissioner of police, but they have not resulted in anything fruitful.

“We have had discussions before, but most of us know when the police comes in the interior it’s two things: one, it’s after a crime has been committed or two, on a patrol which they benefited more than the miners they coming to assist,” Harding pointed out.

The GGDMA president pointed out as well the need for more police outposts and mobile patrols in the mining areas.

GGDMA President Patrick Harding

President Donald Ramotar also spoke on the issue, stating that crime is a major concern for his government. He stressed that maximum cooperation was needed to fight crime, much of which has migrated into the interior.

President Ramotar committed to setting up a meeting with the miners and the police authorities so that ideas and suggestions can be shared.

“We have to deal with this as fast as possible to prevent it from getting worse, and I’m going to put these officials at your executive’s disposal to share ideas with them and to see how we can help each other in this task that we are tackling,” the head of state declared.

Over the past few months, there has been an increase of murders in the interior.

According to a statistical report issued by the Guyana Police Force last month, there has been a recorded 33 murders in the interior between January and November last year, an increase of three per cent compared to the figure for the same period in the previous year.

A number of persons have been charged and placed before the courts for several murders committed in December.

the bed and down the stairs, later realising that he might have been unconscious, as a result of inhaling the intense smoke. After saving her son, she collapsed and had to be carried to safety by persons in the neighbourhood.

Bucket bridage

Upon regaining consciousness, she found herself at her sister-in-law’s house. Neighbours had formed a bucket brigade to put out the blaze, while others grabbed anything that was in their path and transported them to safety.

They managed to salvage a few pieces of clothing, kitchen utensils, mattresses, a refrigerator and a gas cooker among other items. The family is now left with the skeleton of a home to start life afresh.

In tears, the distraught Nagasar stated that all her earnings have gone up in flames. The family has been residing in the village for the past 19 years.

One eyewitness told Guyana Times that as soon as the fire was observed, persons in the village ran out with their buckets to put out the blaze. She said that the

breeze was not that heavy, and was surprised that the fire spread so rapidly. As the heat intensified, the woman recounted, persons retreated, but by which time, a considerable number of household items had been saved, albeit some had been water soaked. She lobbied for a fire station in the area.

Fire service

After the fire started, villagers telephoned the Wales Sugar Estate only to be told that the engines were being serviced. She said by the time, the fire engines from Georgetown arrived on the scene, the house was already destroyed.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle explained that they received the report of a fire about 07:20h, but there were some problems getting over the Demerara Harbour Bridge owing to heavy traffic. He added that by the time the fire tenders arrived on the scene, the building was already destroyed, so firefighters concentrated on saving the nearby buildings. He noted that fire officials are still conducting their investigations, and confirmed that the cause of the fire has not been determined.

One dead, two critical in separate suicide cases

One young woman is dead and two other teenagers are battling for their lives after three suicide incidents in Berbice in recent weeks.

Valiant efforts by doctors and nurses at the New Amsterdam Hospital could not save the life of a University of Guyana (UG) student who succumbed early Monday morning after drinking gramoxone last week.

Nineteen-year-old Toneisha Edwards, a public management student at the university’s Turkeyen Campus, was rushed to the medical institution on New Year’s Day where she remained a patient until her death. She was the second child born to Linden Edwards and Shirley Hinds.

Guyana Times understands that the young woman ingested the poisonous substance on New Year’s Eve (Old Year’s Day) then went home.

Her grieving father told this publication that his daughter was reportedly with a friend when she purchased the substance from a drug store in the town that very day.

According to the older Edwards, Toneisha told her friend that she was using the poison to “spray the yard”. The teary-eyed father lamented that had he known that his daughter was carrying around the substance all day, he would have taken it from her.

Asked what might have led to his daughter’s fateful action, Edwards said he was not sure; however, he suspects it was a relationship that turned sour. The young woman leaves to mourn her mother, father and three siblings. She will be buried on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a 14-year-old student, who celebrated her birthday on Thursday, is cur-

rently in critical condition at the New Amsterdam Hospital after also consuming a poisonous substance.

A third-form student of a secondary school, and living in Palmyra Village, she allegedly drank gramoxone after an altercation with her boyfriend’s relatives.

Her father told Guyana Times what led to his only daughter’s hasty decision to consume the poison on Saturday about 12:30h.

He said he was at work when his wife contacted him. He said she told him that their daughter had gotten into some problems with her boyfriend and that the boy’s parents and police were at their house.

“Them bring two policemen and how dem want see me, and me say ‘me ain’t coming, man’ and then they force me and I come,” she related. The father said when questioned, his daughter denied having any relationship and cried.

“Me daughter start cry and she tell me she na like none boy and she na want no problem with nobody, we does always tell she she small and na meet time for boy and dem

thing,” he said.

He said that upon reaching home, he saw a police rank and his wife, along with another police officer attached to the Albion Police Station, in front of his home.

According to reports, the teen is indeed involved in a relationship with a student in the same class, and this relationship has been going on for more than six months unbeknownst to the girl’s father.

“She say she na like nobody, me shock because she say she na get boyfriend, she mother does hide it from me. I say I will transfer she from that school and send her to another school, me mistress bin a hide the thing from me,” he stated.

The distressed man said the family has been praying for his daughter’s recovery. He added that the police ranks were a bit insensitive and this may have sparked the haste in which his daughter consumed the substance.

The father said after the noisy squabble with the police and his wife, he threatened and scolded his daughter. He said that he always had gramoxone on hand to spray the grass in the yard and apparently the young girl took it and drank it.

“Me had gramoxone to spray the yard, but me na know she go thief it and drink it, she like she scared and shame, cause school open Monday and all dem children go molest she, me only threaten she,” he tearfully said.

In another incident, a 19-year-old from Bush Lot Farm on the Corentyne, who graduated from the JC Chandisingh Secondary School in November, is also battling for her life, after reportedly consuming gramoxone.

The Allis’ home in flames

Inshad Alli and his family after fire ripped through their home

Region Eight Chairman Mark Crawford

University student Toneisha Edwards

SUDOKU

Don’t let your emotions lead you astray. Do your share at home and contribute to projects that need to be finished. Staying busy will help you keep the peace and avoid criticism.

By Bernice Bede Osol

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

Listen to advice being offered, but make choices based on what’s best for you. Not everyone will understand what will make you feel happy and accomplished.

Your emotional commitments and your desire to get ahead financially will keep you busy today. Don’t lose sight of what’s important, and be sure to nurture the relationships that count most.

Your heart is in the right place, but not everyone will agree with your actions. It would be best to keep a low profile and work quietly until you finish what you start.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

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

Consider ways to make your bank account grow. Offering a service or investing in something that will help you expand your marketable interests can pay off. Love is in the stars

(March 21-April 19)

Don’t wait until you are forced to make a change. Stay on top of every situation you face. Preparation and organisation will help you bypass trouble.

(April 20-May 20)

You’ve got insight, knowledge, expertise and determination, so don’t let anything stand between you and your goal. A promise will add security to an important relationship.

(May 21June 20)

Ask questions, do your research and focus on innovation when it comes to finding solutions. Keep life simple by being honest about who you are and what you have to offer.

Sign up for something that you think you might enjoy. Spending time with the younger or older people in your life will help you see your situation from a different perspective.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You will face trouble at home due to stubborn or demanding people. Work on projects that can help alter areas of your life that you find difficult or stressful.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Share your thoughts and engage in functions that will bring you in contact with creative freethinkers. It’s a good day to make unusual lifestyle changes that will improve your emotional well-being.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Prepare to make a change, but before you do, make sure you have everything in place. Preparation and execution will determine how far you will go and how successful you will be.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

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Back to school: Linden schools report less-than-ideal return

Students from around the country on Monday returned to school after weeks at home for the Christmas holidays. While some schools recorded an impressive turnout in the number of students, at others the student attendance was not as satisfactory.

Region 10 Member of Parliament (MP) and Regional Democratic Councillor Rennis Morian paid a visit to several schools within the community of Linden on Monday to have a firsthand look at some issues affecting them. He said the aim of the visit was to “to narrow the gap so that all schools within Linden and Region 10 can have equal opportunity”.

At the various schools, Morian firstly inquired about the attendance of students. At the New Silvercity Secondary School, 391 of 600 plus students turned out to school. The headteacher related that they were experiencing problems with the electricity supply at the school since the building reportedly has faulty wiring. She also noted that there is need for security lights. The construction of the school’s fencing, which started in November, has not been completed. She emphasised that this problem is hindering the school’s agricultural programme, coupled with the fact that the school has no back fence.

At the Wismar Hill Primary, the headteacher related that attendance was poor. Of 444 students, 257 attended school on Monday. She

noted that school facilities needed improvement although recently a water problem was solved. However, issues with maintenance of toilet facilities were reported. Fogging for mosquitoes was reportedly done on November 14 at the school.

Over at St Aidan’s Primary, of 399 students, 235 were present. All teachers were in attendance. The headteacher related that the mosquito problem was under control, but water problems remained.

Attendance

At the ChristianburgWismar Secondary School, 1032 students were present of the 1037 enrolled. Headteacher Cleveland Thomas said he was delighted that the school recently received new steel pans and won the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission intersecondary school debate. He said, however, that he is concerned about facilities and poor security at the school, while he noted that the Kashif and

Shanghai organisation had pledged to assist with fencing and lights. Thomas noted that students and teachers have been without a restroom since 2005 when fire gutted a section of the building. He also expressed concern that the headteachers’ apartment complex located opposite the school is presently run down, complete with overgrown bushes. He said it has been like that since before he took office in 2004.

At the Christianburg primary school, teachers recorded a more than 50 per cent attendance. However, they expressed the need for a photocopying machine, and the headteacher related that repair work on a section of the school’s fence, which commenced last term, was not completed. Some walls were also caving in, and rotting support beams for a stairway were in need of replacing.

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Region 10. A teacher related that she would like more parents to become more involved in the developmental process of students at the centre, while stressing the need for the centre to be relocated to a more convenient building.

Limited space

“We would like to see our unit in a more established building, one where one primary and secondary school students would benefit from the services that we offer to them, more effectively. We are sharing the building with another class, so there’s limited space. We also need a reading room where we can do recordings for the students because (presently) the only time we can do recording is after 2 (o’clock) when school dismisses,” she explained. She also noted that there is need for audio aids.

Morian pledged to assist in acquiring a television set for the centre to assist in the learning process. Meanwhile, some headteachers expressed relief at a reduction in mosquitoes at the schools, since schools were fogged at the end of last term. They, however, expressed the need for the entire community to be fogged since they fear a return of mosquitoes.

Morian said he will be passing on the various issues affecting these schools to the Region 10 education officer at a meeting today, and will also be making representation at Parliament.

Fire service training centre to be completed by February

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is scheduled to complete its strategic plan by the end of this month, and its training centre located at Leonora, West Coast Demerara by next month, according to Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Last year, a total of 60 ranks from the GFS benefited from training from a team of experts from the United Kingdom.

The aim of the training was to create a batch of core trainer of trainers to facilitate the transition of the GFS, in keeping with its new mandate as a fire and rescue service, focusing mainly on specialised rescue and municipal fire fighting.

In this regard, the Guyana Fire Service (Change of Name) Bill, which, like the Police Force (Change of Name) Bill, was rejected by the parlia-

mentary opposition in June 2013, will be re-tabled in the National Assembly.

During the course of 2013, Chief Fire Officer Marlon Gentle visited the United Kingdom where he completed a stint with the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service as part of an initiative to foster partnerships with internationally acclaimed fire and rescue agencies.

The Home Affairs Ministry has procured two ambulances with the aim of resuscitating the rescue capabilities of this important institution. Additionally, the GFS received 10 fire-fighting vehicles from the People’s Republic of China. These have since been deployed at fire stations in Berbice, Essequibo Coast, Timehri and Georgetown.

Driver, passengers narrowly escape death –

as car turns turtle at Lima

ing God for sparing their lives after he lost control of the vehicle which turned turtle several times before landing upside down near Charity. Driver Tillack Jaikarran, who received minor injuries to his left hand and about his body, said God saved him.

Jaikarran, who is presently in police custody, said he was approaching Charity with two passengers when a tyre blew out and his vehicle flipped over several times. The driver said he was sent into a confused world and the passengers shouted for help. He said when he looked at his arms, he saw blood oozing out, but he managed to get out of the vehicle and assisted the

passengers.

The passengers were rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where they received

treatment and were sent home. They received minor injuries to the face, feet and hands.

The car that turned turtle

Tillack Jaikarran

Students at One Mile Primary

Pietersen’s future under scrutiny

Kevin Pietersen has reiterated his desire to keep playing for England and wants to help regain the Ashes in 2015.

The question is, though, do England see it that way?

“Very disappointed to lose 5-0, and not to score more runs personally. Tough tour against a top class team,” Pietersen said on Twitter. “I want to thank all the England fans for their terrific support. And I’m determined to help regain the Ashes in 2015.”

But that decision ultimately rests with Andy Flower, England’s team director, and perhaps the captain, Alastair Cook. A report in the Guardian has suggested that Flower may threaten to resign if Pietersen became central to the new era.

Flower’s mood has probably not been lightened by a suggestion from Michael Vaughan, a former England captain, that Pietersen should become vice-captain deliberately to break down a culture of “yes men” that has grown up around the England set-up.

Vaughan has since expressed the fear that Pietersen could become the scapegoat for England’s

Ashes defeat. “I hope England do not take the easy way out of this mess by making Kevin Pietersen the victim for the Ashes whitewash,” he wrote.

Flower has wasted no time in indicating to the new MD of England cricket, Paul Downton, that he wants full authority to rebuild England’s Test side as he sees fit, with the final say on selection.

Personal agendas

What remains unclear is how much that would impact upon Pietersen if such power was granted. In comments immediately after the series, Flower merely remarked: “There are always some personal agendas in most teams. No team is perfect and our team is no different.

Team spirit always gets its closest examination under pressure and we have been put under a tremendous amount of pressure by a good side on their home turf. That is one area we will look at.”

But Flower’s mistrust of Pietersen is rarely far from the surface and he may see this as an opportunity to build a new young side without what he might regard as

rebellious influences.

Mike Selvey, in the Guardian, has no doubt about naming the culprit, real or imaginary: “So adamant is Flower that the presence of Pietersen in the dressing room is detrimental to the future development of the side that he is believed to be prepared to resign his position should Downton, James Whitaker, the new national selector, and Cook – if he retains the captaincy – insist that Pietersen should be a part of that process.”

"Uneasy truce"

He refers to Flower’s relationship with Pietersen since the long-running furore in 2012 as nothing better than “an uneasy truce” and claims: “On this tour, despite his assurances before his 100th Test in Brisbane that he was committed to England to 2015 and beyond, it is thought that Pietersen’s influence in the dressing room has been divisive.”

Part of the debate around Pietersen’s future stems from his fitness; he needed an injection in his knee before the Ashes began having been forced home from the tour of New Zealand in March and then did not play again until shortly before the Ashes in England.

His workload is being carefully managed by the ECB, including being rested from the one-day series against Australia which starts in Melbourne on Sunday.

It remains to be seen whether he will play on the short tour of West Indies which starts at the end of February although would be expected to feature at the World Twenty20, despite only playing once for England in that format for almost two years.

Disappointing

The man himself has always insisted he wants to part of England’s defence of the Ashes in 2015.

He has also spoken about a target of 10,000 Test runs – he currently stands on 8,181 after a disappointing return of 294 runs at 29.40 in Australia, although that still made him England’s leading run-scorer.

Pietersen’s involvement in IPL, however, will add to the tension, amid speculation that players will have to sign three-year contracts and be available throughout the tournament.

Neither undertaking has yet been demanded by the franchises and, if it was made, the reverberations would stretch much further than Kevin Pietersen. (Cricinfo)

johnson’s redemption one of sport’s greatest

By Ben Dirs

It is doubtful many England fans will take solace from the fact this Ashes series provided one of the greatest stories of deliverance in the history of sport.

Certainly not their batsmen, who have spent the last two-and-a-half months being blown asunder by Mitchell Johnson’s pounding song of redemption.

Rarely in the field of sport has one man been derided by so many, so publicly and for such a sustained period as Johnson was during the nine Tests he played against England between 2009 and 2011. “He bowls to the left, he bowls to the right,” sung England’s sadistic fans. Plus a rude bit tagged on the end I’m not allowed to mention.

“I let it affect me a lot,” admitted Johnson, who went from being one of the most feared fast bowlers in world cricket to a figure of fun in the space of a few months.

“It’s hard not to when that’s all you can hear on the cricket ground - your name being sung. And the songs were very catchy.”

Fair game? Probably, this is professional sport after all. Cruel? Certainly, especially given that at one point it looked as if the Barmy Army’s debilitating ditty might also serve as an elegy for Johnson’s career.

The restoration of Johnson, who took 37 wickets in five Tests against Alastair Cook’s quivering England, is all the more startling because redemption stories are rare in sport - at least redemption stories of epic proportions, involving a captive audience of millions and starring a protagonist who scales the heights before plumbing the depths before scaling the heights again.

Redemption stories

Redemption stories in sport differ from the straight sporting comeback. Michael Jordan came back to win three NBA championships having retired in his pomp. Muhammad Ali came back to win the heavyweight championship of the world after an enforced exile, his reputation having been diminished only in the eyes of wrong-minded people.

A true redemption story requires a protagonist’s reputation to be diminished

and restored and usually involves atonement for a genuine offence.

Lester Piggott won more than 4,000 races between 1948 and 1985 and the Derby nine times. But in 1987 he was found guilty of tax fraud and handed a three-year prison sentence. Piggott was back in the saddle at the end of 1990 and won the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Mile in New York 12 days after his return.

Jennifer Capriati made her professional tennis debut in 1990 at the age of 13 and reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in 1991. But by 1993 Capriati was burnt out and there followed arrests for shoplifting and the possession of marijuana. The American got better and won the Australian and French Opens in 2001 and the Australian again in 2002.

On-field offences

Then there is redemption from on-field offences. David Beckham effigies were hanged after his sending off at the 1998 World Cup and England’s subsequent defeat by Argentina, while Manchester United teammate Eric Cantona was banned for eight months in 1995 after karate kicking an abusive Crystal Palace fan.

Today, it is difficult to think of two more beloved ex-footballers. Cantona is remembered by fans of all English clubs as perhaps the most charismatic player in Premier League history. Beckham, we are often told, is everything our children should strive to be.

But the prime example of how difficult it is to achieve true redemption is provided by Roberto Duran. Duran spent the 1970s building a reputation as one of the wildest, most intimidating fighters the sport of boxing had ever seen.

But in November 1980, Duran quit in the eighth round of his rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard. “No mas (No more),” Duran was reported to have said, before a bewildered referee waved the fight off.

Back in his native Panama, it was as if an entire religion had been discredited. Duran wasn’t made of stone, after all. And gods don’t quit.

Duran went on to become

a world champion in four divisions, from lightweight to middleweight, and was as macho as macho could be in defeat against fellow greats Wilfred Benitez and Marvin Hagler.

But when Duran came to face to face with his old nemesis Leonard last year, you could still see the shameand the pain - in his haunted eyes: “Is this really all they remember me for?”

Johnson’s redemption differs from the examples above in that he committed no offence in the first place. His case is arguably more compelling because at its root is something more mysterious, namely a catastrophic loss of form, something going missing - that something being what made him so vital in the first place.

Mighty roar

Sportspeople go in and out of form all the time. Golfers, in particular, live in constant fear of their game falling apart and being unable to rebuild it.

But few sportspeople have gone from such a mighty roar - in his eight Tests before the ill-fated 2009 Ashes series in England, a firebreathing Johnson took 47 wickets at a little over 21to such a pathetic whisper in such a short space of time.

And few sportspeoplehaving been so diminished and humiliated - have managed to turn that whisper into a mightier roar than they managed before.

There are few more bracing sights in sport than a fast bowler in full flightsteaming in, making batsmen cower, tattooed biceps and forearms. Conversely, there are few more discomforting sights in sport than a once ferocious fast bowler whose dials have gone haywire.

Which is why Johnson’s deliverance has been so heartening for those close to him who saw him brought so low. That Johnson, by all accounts, is such a shy, sensitive bloke must make it all the more so.

No England fan wants to see their team blown asunder. But at least Johnson’s former tormenters have a new song: “He bowls to the left, he bowls to the right, that Mitchell Johnson, he’ll balls up your night.” (BBC Sport)

Kevin Pietersen wants to extend his Test career but does Andy Flower want him?

Mitchell Johnson was menacing throughout the series

Attack is the world’s best, says Siddle

Peter Siddle declared Australia’s bowling attack the world’s best no fewer than three times as the somewhat hung-over but deliriously happy Ashes victors set their sights on a Test match showdown in South Africa next month. A crowd of more than 4,000 converged on the Sydney Opera House overlooking the harbour to pay tribute to the Australian team, a number that might have been greater in a venue less cramped for space.

As some members of the

team battled to regain voices lost over the course of two nights’ raucous celebrations and Chris Rogers danced for the crowd after sleeping through the start of the event in the best traditions of Andrew Flintoff, Siddle spoke stridently about how the bowling ensemble was a match for any in the world. Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel will not be able to ignore Siddle’s words.

“When we’re bowling at our consistent best like we did throughout this series

England women draw warm-up match

England women bowled well on day two of the game

]Anya Shrubsole claimed three wickets as England women drew their twoday warm-up match with Australia A in Perth.

The fast bowler finished with figures of 3-35, while spinner Danielle Hazell also took two wickets at Floreat Oval.

Australia A scored 3017 in reply to England’s 386 all out, which included an unbeaten 123 from Heather Knight on day one.

The multi-format Women’s Ashes series starts on Friday with the only Test match at the WACA in Perth.

The four-day Test is then followed by three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 games.

Six points are awarded for a Test win and two points for each ODI and T20 victory. England won the home series last year 12-4. (BBC Sport)

I think it shows [we are the best],” he said. “Everyone playing their role, Mitch bowling fast, Ryano and myself doing our role and Nath with the spin from his end. The consistency we’ve had against England over a five Test series, no-one’s ever really done it as successfully as we have, to be able to do that and win so convincingly shows how strong we are at the moment.

“Just the way we’ve worked together at different times and break partnerships, I don’t think we’ve

let any partnership get too big on us, and we’re able to break them and get stuck into the rest - that’s what caused all the collapses, so that’s what we’re looking to do over there and if we continue to do that it could be a very good year for us.

“It’s going to be a very tough contest over there, we’re looking forward to it. Conditions are going to be similar to back home which is going to make it easier for us to adapt, but we’re going to have to lift our game a bit more to get over them.”

Asked repeatedly by an English correspondent if the attack was the best around the globe, Siddle could not have made his point clearer: “For the third time, yes. Did you get that? Good, okay, remember.”

Siddle’s fellow fast man Ryan Harris reiterated his own desire to push through a complete schedule of Tests in South Africa, revealing he had delayed knee clean-out surgery during the Ashes to make sure he could play in all five matches against England. Harris had long doubted his own capacity to stay fit for lengthy enough periods to do justice to his undoubted bowling talent, but to have played nine out of a possible 10 Ashes Tests had proved his durability at the unlikely age of 34.

“[Surgery] has got to be after South Africa now,” Harris said. “I went to Melbourne after Perth and had a check with the surgeon. There are bits of bone floating around. We were thinking about doing it then and there and missing the rest of the series but I wanted to play five games. I wanted to be a part of it for the whole thing. Hopefully it can get through South Africa.

“The knee is no different now than it was a month or six weeks ago. You wake up sometimes in the morning and it’s tough. You get out of bed and it’s sore. But you either decide whether you want to go through the pain

or you don’t. It’s as simple as that. And I want to be in this team as long as I can. I’ll put up with it. If we win in South Africa we go to number one in the world, which is our goal. But more importantly we just want to make sure we keep winning.”

Final chapter

As for Rogers, the chance to go to South Africa will prolong the most remarkable final chapter of a career that looked destined to remain unfulfilled for most of his journey. “I think if I’d have finished and not played international cricket I’d have been quite disappointed,” he said from behind sunglasses. “To get this opportunity and play it well, I can finish cricket at some stage and think I’ve done everything, and that’s great to do.

“I still didn’t think people had seen the way I actually bat and I wanted to show that and fortunately I’ve been able to play a couple of good innings. I’ve always wondered what it’d be like to play international cricket and thought I was good enough but never got the opportunity, so it is nice now to get that chance.

“People talk about retirement, but what’s the point of retiring? This is amazing and I haven’t had this opportunity before, so I might as well enjoy it while it lasts.” (Cricinfo)

Russia launches Sochi security clampdown

Russia has launched one of the biggest security operations in Olympic history, a month before the start of the Winter Games in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

The authorities are deploying more than 30,000 police and interior ministry troops and limiting access to the area.

The main concern is the threat of attack by Islamist militants from the restive North Caucasus region.

Russia’s most wanted man, Chechen rebel leader

Doku Umarov, has urged his fighters to target the Winter Olympics.

The BBC’s Steven Rosenberg in Moscow says recent deadly bombings in Volgograd have intensified those worries.

President Vladimir Putin was in Sochi on Monday night to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas, appearing at a church service.

“Starting 7 January, all divisions responsible for ensuring the guests’ security at the Games are being put on combat alert,”

Emergency Situations

Minister Vladimir Puchkov said.

“Every facility will be put under protection and a space-based monitoring system will be launched.”

Russian officials are establishing two security zones to protect the Games.

A “controlled zone” near Olympic venues will limit access to people with tickets and proof of identity while another “forbidden zone” will be in place in large areas around Sochi.

Fully prepared

“Every sport venue is fully prepared and has been thoroughly tested, new road and rail routes are ready to transport visitors and rehearsals for the opening ceremony are well under way,” Sochi 2014 Organising Committee President Dmitry Chernyshenko said.

“Athletes, coaches and the media have all received their official accreditations and are gearing up to travel to Sochi, where our volunteers and staff will give them the warmest of welcomes.”

Mr Chernyshenko said that “Sochi will be a truly memorable Games... That will amaze audiences across

the world”. He said that Sochi’s “new year-round resort” forms “part of the legacy of the Games that will transform the region for generations”.

Vehicles not registered locally and which do not have special accreditation will be banned from the city. The sale of firearms, explosives and ammunition will also be prohibited.

Security fears

Security fears have been heightened after two suicide bomb attacks killed 34 people in the southern city of Volgograd on December 29 and 30.

Investigators believe the perpetrators were two men who arrived in the city from the North Caucasus region.

The bombings prompted Mr Putin to order further security measures and personally inspect Olympic sites.

In recent years, a conflict between Russian forces and separatists in Chechnya has fuelled attacks by Islamists.

The violence has spread across the North Caucasus, including to mainly Muslim Ingushetia and Dagestan, killing hundreds of people, among them members of the government and security services. (BBC Sport)

From left: Nathan Lyon, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, along with Mitchell Johnson formed a formidable bowling attack that ripped England apart

Gordon confident ahead of World Cup Qualifiers RHTY&SC, E-Networks launch pro-education

Guyanese fast-bowler

Jeremy Gordon has uttered deep confidence of performing well again for Canada at the 2014 International Cricket Council (ICC) 50-over World Cup Qualifiers tournament.

He made this declaration on Friday when the Canadian team departed at the Pearson International Airport in Toronto destined to host nation New Zealand.

The Guyanese cricketer is looking to replicate his form from the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Dubai where he was outstanding, snaring 11 wickets during the championship. Canada was eliminated though having triumphed in only two of their seven matches.

“Yes, I [am] very confident of doing well for Canada again this time in the 50-over version; I was disappointed that we didn’t qualify for the T20 but we just have to put that aside and focus now on this tournament,” the 26-year-old right-arm bowler declared.

Canada will be among several other associate teams vying for qualification and to be part of the global event in early 2015 billed to be played in Australia and New Zealand. They have been placed in Group A which includes Scotland, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong and Nepal.

The action bowls off on January 13 with the North American boys confronting their newest rivals UAE.

“Obviously, it is a different format of the game and new venues but I think we as a team [are] better prepared for this tournament and ready to make an impression; Canada has done well over the years in this version and would want to keep up the good work,” Gordon, a former West Indies

Under-19 reserved player, also related.

Qualification

Notably, Canada had participated in the last three World Cup tournaments, ranging back from 2011, 2007, 2003 while their inaugural featuring was in 1979 when former Windward Islands player Brian Mauricette captained the side.

According to Gordon, the team is anxious to play in this form but they will not take any team for granted. He believes the side carries a good all-round strength and the guys have also shown lots of enthusiasm and commitment in preparations for this major assignment.

On the last tour, Gordon, who plays for Brampton Master Tranzac Sports Club in the Toronto and District Cricket Association Elite League, attributed his personal success to great determination and commitment.

“I just wanted to do well for Canada; it was a great honour to represent your country despite ending on the losing side but we have high hopes now to go back to the World Cup; in Dubai, I worked very hard and was

programmes

The cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) on Thursday last launched its multi-million dollars E-Networks pro-education programme for 2014 with donations of $250,000 worth of children story and educational books to the Port Mourant’s St. Francis Xavier and the New Amsterdam Church of Ascension Roman Catholic Churches.

lished mini libraries for their membership.

Foster stated that reading enables the mind to develop and allows individuals to form ideas quickly. Noting that reading is his favourite hobby, Foster urged the younger generation to develop a culture of research, studying and reading and this would lead them to a successful career.

very determined to take wickets on a regular basis, so I am looking to continue in New Zealand,” Gordon stated.

Earlier last year at home in Canada, Gordon was also successful picking up two eight-wicket hauls against the Netherlands and UAE in the four-day Intercontinental Cup while he counting on his experience and exposure for Guyana at the highest level.

He made his debut for Canada 2011 in the West Indies Cricket Board Regional T20 tournament while several months after he toured with the Canadian side in Scotland for his first four-day and one-day appearances.

Meanwhile, the team will be led by veteran allrounder Jimmy Hansran, who has taken over the captaincy from Ashish Bagai who made a sudden retirement just after the selection of the touring party. Andy Pick is the new coach having replaced former West Indies batsman Gus Logie who was part of the losing contingent in Dubai.

Hansra via a press release also commented on the side’s preparation camp and declared they worked on specific scenarios for this trip in New Zealand. He is also cognisant of the opportunity that lays ahead with only two spots available for the 2015 mega event.

Ireland and Afghanistan have already qualified as the other two associate teams.

(windiescricket)

The donations would assist the St. Francis Xavier Church to establish a mini library for children and youths, while the Church of Ascension would add the donated books to their established library. Each of the churches also received a notice board from the RHTY&SC.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC Hilbert Foster, who handed over the books, stated that the cricket teams would be placing special emphasis on the importance of reading in its 2014 E-Networks pro-education campaign and would be donating books to several nursery and secondary schools in Berbice.

They would also be assisting several cricket clubs in the Ancient County to estab-

Key to success

The RHTY&SC strongly believes that education is the key to success and the veteran cricket administrator issued an appeal for all young sportsmen/women to place emphasis on education and not to forsake it entirely for success in sport.

The RHTY&SC, Foster disclosed, would be working together with the Berbice Cricket Board to establish mini libraries at the Bath, Blairmont Community Centre, Young Warriors, Chesney, Whim and Edinburgh Cricket Clubs in an effort to get young cricketers to develop the culture of reading.

The cricket teams –RHT Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Pepsi Under-19

and Intermediate, Bakewell Under-17 and second division, Metro females and Gizmos and Gadgets Under-12 and first division- under their pro-education programme for 2014 would be sharing out educational kits, school bags, school uniforms and other materials to less fortunate students, making donations to several schools, hosting television programmes, providing educational scholarships, hosting evening classes and the annual Republic Bank summer camp among other projects.

President of the St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Youth Club, Andrew Smartt, expressed gratitude to the cricket teams of the RHTY&SC and pledged that the mini library would be opened to church members and youths from this month.

He praised the RHTY&SC and its Secretary/CEO for the role he played in the resuscitation of the St Francis Youth Club and for the massive investment in the activities of the Port Mourant Catholic Church. Smartt wished the management and cricketers of the RHTY&SC a successful year on and off the cricket field during 2014.

Samuels recovering at home, post surgery

West Indies’ Jamaican middle-order batsman Marlon Samuels is now at home recovering from surgery on a chronic right-wrist injury which forced him to return to the Caribbean late last month from the ongoing West Indies tour of New Zealand.

At the time of Samuels’ departure from New Zealand, West Indies team physiotherapist C J Clark said: “It will require surgery management and he returns home to seek that surgical opinion and advice from the West Indies Cricket Board’s medical panel, headed by Dr Akshai Mansingh.”

The Jamaica Observer understands that the surgery, done by Dr Mansingh, was done last Friday to correct a bone growth on the

wrist, which appeared to have gone well.

West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson had said that the loss of Samuels was a major setback to the regional side seeking to rebound from a series of losses.

“Marlon’s injury is unfortunate at such a tough time for the team,” declared Gibson. “But it gives another player the opportunity to make a name for himself in this series.”

Samuels, the rightarm off-break bowler, was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) a few years ago, and was recently sanctioned for his bowling action.

The 32-year-old player has played in 100 first-class matches, recording 12 centuries and 36 half-centuries at an average of 32.39, while taking 64 wickets. His career for the regional side has so far seen him play 51 Test matches with five centuries and 20 half centuries, to go along with 34 wickets. His record in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) stands at 157 matches with five centuries and 23 half-centuries, while taking 80 wickets. In T20 internationals he has taken part in 25 games, amassing six half-centuries and taking 14 wickets. Samuels also led the Antigua Hawksbill in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20. No date has yet been set for the player to return to pitch, but sources close to him explained that after the healing process, the player will have to undergo physical therapy. (windiescricket)

RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hands over the collection of books to Pamela King of the St Francis Youth Club while other members look on

Jeremy Gordon receives the Man-of-the-Match award for his performance against Italy in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier last November

Johnson’s XI win first warm-up match

Ex-West Indies ODI batsman Leon Johnson stroked a solid half-century to lead his team- Johnson’s XI- to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Barnwell’s XI in

the first warm-up game for the senior national cricketers who are preparing to compete in the West Indies Cricket Board’s NAGICO Super50 tournament, starting January 30 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Playing at the Everest Cricket Club ground on Tuesday, Barnwell’s XI, led by West Indies T20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, posted 149-8 from the allotted 45 overs.

The right-hand-

ed Barnwell led the way with 54, an innings that spanned 64 balls and included four fours and three sixes. All-rounder Zaheer Mohamed (16) and lefthanded middle-order batsmen Vishal Singh (13) and Chanderpaul Hemraj (12) were the other players into double-figures as offspinner Royston Crandon claimed 3-28 from nine overs.

Andre Stoll, Rajiv Ivan and Shaquille Williams bagged a wicket each for Johnson’s XI, who replied with 150-4 from 37 overs. The left-handed Johnson anchored the chase, hitting an unbeaten 58 that included three fours and a solitary six.

Crandon returned to crown a fine all-round performance, scoring 25, while Test batsman Assad

Fudadin contributed 24 and Ivan ended on 14 not out. Bowling for Barnwell’s XI, Hemraj picked up 2-28, while Keon Joseph had 1-30.

The players will be in action again on Friday when the second warm-up match will be contested at the same venue.

The matches are being used to give the 26man squad much needed turf practice as the selectors seek to derive the best possible 14 to represent Guyana at the January 30February 17 tournament.

The Guyanese will be hunting their 10th regional 50-over title, having last won in 2005 when a Sewnarine Chattergoon century guided them to victory over Barbados in near darkness in the KFC Cup final at the GCC ground,

Bourda. Prior to that, Guyana won the title in 1980, 1983, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003.

The 26 players still in contention for a place in the final 14 are: Leon Johnson, Devendra Bishoo, Veersammy Permaul, Anthony Bramble, Robin Bacchus, Assad Fudadin, Zaheer Mohamed, Royston Crandon, Christopher Barnwell, Ronsford Beaton, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Vishal Singh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagnarine Chanderpaul, Rajiv Ivan, Amir Khan, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shaquille Williams, Narsingh Deonarine, Trevon Griffith, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, Jason Sinclair, Paul Wintz, Rajendra Chandrika and Sewnarine Chattergoon.

Senior citizens benefit from RHTY&SC’s generosity

The cricket teams of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) last weekend donated $100,000 worth of food items, cosmetics and other items to the Dharam Shala Senior Citizens’Home located at Garrison Road, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The donation was made at the launch of the club’s massive multi-millions E-Networks charity programme for the cricket teams, who are striving under their personal development programme to make positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and the less fortunate.

The teams - RHT Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Bakewell Under-17 and second division, Metro females and Gizmos and Gadgets Under-21 and first divisionduring 2014 would be hosting a series of projects under the sub-heading of charity.

These include donations to orphanages and senior citizens home, weekly feeding of the poor, monthly hampers for senior citizens and less fortunate families, distribution of clothing and footwear to youths and assisting sport clubs with gear and equipment among others.

Secretary/CEO of the club, Hilbert Foster, in handing over the donation to the management and inmates of the Dharam Shala Senior Citizens Home stated that the RHTY&SC was happy to assist as that is one of the main objectives of the club.

Foster said, “The RHTY&SC as an organisation strongly believes in making positive differences in the lives of the elderly and noted that every member of the leading club is taught that service to humanity is as important as success in the classroom and cricket field.”

A somber looking Foster

challenged the management of the Dharam Shala Senior Citizens Home to make sure that the donation from the cricket teams are used for the intended purposes and stated that any organisation that misuses donations from the RHTY&SC would not receive assistance in the future.

Caretaker of the Home, Brother Gary Erskine, expressed gratitude to the cricketers and members of the RHTY&SC for their timely donation, which he said would be used to assist inmates of the Home.

Noting that most of the senior citizens in the Home are cricket fans, Erskine expressed delight that the RHTY&SC with players like Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Rajiv Ivan, Jason Sinclair and Shawn Pereira can find the time to bring a smile on those who need it most. He wished the cricketers a blessed 2014 and success at all levels.

Assad Fudadin Leon Johnson

Royston Crandon

Mrs. Sylvia Foster and Ms. Marissa Foster hand over the items to representatives of the Dharam Shala Senior Citizens’ Home

Johnson’s

win first warm-up match

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Endurance meet on this Sunday at South Dakota

The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) will kickstart its 2014 calendar of events on Sunday with an Endurance meet at the South Dakota Circuit, starting at noon.

As of Tuesday, Full Works, Buy Me Auto Sales and E Racing had all confirmed their participation for this weekend’s activity and have promised to put on a show for the fans at South Dakota.

Barnwell led his team’s batting effort with a half-century

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The pair of Brian Ten-Pow and Shawn Seejattan, who have dominated the Endurance races in recent times are expected to be challenged by Syed Hassan and Afraz Ally, Shiraz and Shahab Roshandin, while the Ali brothers, Mark Vieira, Aaron Bethune, Anand Ramchand, Kevin Jeffrey, Andrew King and Adrian Fernandes are all experienced and formidable drivers.

Endurance racing has been gaining popularity in Guyana with an increase in teams and crowd support over the years.

To date, Banks DIH Limited, Ready Mix Cement, Medi Care, Secure Innovations and Concepts, B.M. Soat, Ray’s Auto Sales and A&R Giwanram Printery Inc. have thrown their support behind Sunday’s race.

Sherone Simpson: Jamaican sprinter denies being drugs cheat

Olympic sprinter

Sherone Simpson told a Jamaican disciplinary panel on Tuesday that she was not a "cheat" and never intentionally took a banned substance.

The 4x100m relay silver medallist in London blamed a positive drugs test on a supplement provided by her trainer, Christopher Xuereb. Simpson, 29, said: "Nothing I read raised a red flag or an alarm bell."

She was one of five Jamaicans to test positive at the national championships in Kingston last June.

Simpson and her training partner, former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, tested positive for the stimulant oxilofrine.

Discus throwers Allison Randall and Travis Smikle, along with a junior athlete, also tested positive for banned substances at the same meet.

Simpson claimed that one of six supplements provided by Xuereb was responsible for her "devastating'' positive test and said she had researched the

"Epiphany D1'' supplement for up to 14 hours online before starting to take it. "I trusted Chris,'' she told the panel. "I invited Chris into my very small circle.''

She acknowledged that she did not disclose the new supplement on doping control forms.

Xuereb has said he did not give Simpson and Powell any performance-enhancing drugs and only purchased major brand vitamins.

He claimed in July that "both athletes are clearly looking for a scapegoat".

Lester Robinson, a lawyer who cross-examined Simpson for Jamaica's anti-doping agency, argued that she was "significantly negligent" in taking a new supplement without first consulting a doctor or anti-doping and athletics officials.

Robinson noted that Simpson testified she was on seven supplements prior to meeting Xuereb in May, adding "there is not sufficient evidence to support the respondent's assertion regarding the source of the

prohibited substance".

Simpson testified she heard about her positive test in July while at a Jamaican training camp in Italy and phoned her agent Paul Doyle, who also represents Powell.

She claimed Doyle said they needed to contact the World Anti-Doping Agency and a raid of the hotel was quickly organised.

Supplements were seized and the two sprint stars and Xuereb were formally placed under criminal investigation in Italy following the raid.

Simpson's hearing before the disciplinary panel is expected to last at least two days.

Powell and Doyle, both listed as witnesses in Simpson's case, are also attending the hearings this week. Powell is expected to face another disciplinary panel on 14 January. (BBC Sports)

Sherone Simpson

Endurance racing has been gaining popularity in Guyana