Guyana Times Daily

National Drug Strategy Master Plan to be completed

by March P2

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2048 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, February 20, 2014

CFATF official coming for talks on AML bill See story on page 17

Justice Bernard hailed as icon of legal profession

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Hand-in-Hand cancels debt after Hughes settles P9 outstanding payments EU, Guyana hold third P10 round of talks

Bayney Karran accepted as Guyana’s P11 ambassador to Mexico

See story on page 3

Caribbean Court of Justice outgoing judge, Justice Desiree Bernard and Belizean Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin heading into the special sitting of the court on Wednesday to honour her contributions to both the local and regional legal fraternity (Carl Croker photo)

Two killed in Doctor critical after Port Kaituma alleged beating by husband accident See story on page 17

See story on page 19

Linden town council owes utility coop $58.6M P12 Sukul’s disbarment

No need for P19 constitutional mechanism, says chancellor

2 News

Thursday, february 20, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

National Drug Strategy Master Red Thread says local magistrates need regular training Plan to be completed by March

H

ome Affairs Minister Clement Rohee on Wednesday said the final draft of the new National Drug Strategy Master Plan will be ready by the end of March.

He disclosed that consultations are being held with the various stakeholders, including law enforcement units and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to have their input.

The subject minister reiterated that government fully supports the spirit of international cooperation in developing such a document.

He added that the tentacles of the drug trade are long and far-reaching.

He noted that it was an undisputed fact that, given the way the drug trade is organised, no single country could successfully suppress it single-handedly, thus it was necessary for all countries of the world to work together to combat illegal drugs.

Once the master plan is finished, it will be sent to the Defence Board and Cabinet for approval. He said that this document will empower the necessary agencies to tackle the drug trade head on, and, more so, stipulate heavier penalties for those who are found culpable of trafficking narcotics.

Since the previous drug master plan expired in 2009, there has been talk about crafting a new plan.

A top drug enforcement official told Guyana Times that while there has been no new National Drug Strategy Master Plan in “black and white”, they have been following all guidelines in the international document and the units have been successful.

The last master plan

was unveiled in 2005 and lasted for five years. The $650 million plan had comprised extensive measures to eliminate the scourge of narco-trafficking and its spin-off effects.

In a recent interview, the head of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh said they have recognised that it is important to work with neighbouring countries, members of Caricom, and other countries of the hemisphere, to facilitate a coordinated approach to suppressing the illegal narcotics trade.

The home affairs minister and, to a greater extent, the government have come in for a bashing after the revelation that Guyana had links to the Mexican and Italian mafias.

Concerns were expressed by the opposition political parties and they called for the National Drug Strategy Master Plan to be reinstated.

Interception Opposition Leader David Granger recently said the absence of a plan has created more avenues for the drugs to enter and leave Guyana, making reference to an airstrip that was built in the Corentyne with the intention of trafficking drugs several years ago.

He said the person who built the facility was walking freely, and reiterated that if the National Drug Strategy Master Plan was in effect, the culprit would have been brought before the courts.

In the recent National Drug Report for 2012, compiled by the Task Force on Narcotic Drugs and Illicit Weapons, it was stated that CANU had intercepted 103.66 kilograms of cocaine

R

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

valued some $93 million and 111.564kg of cannabis (ganja) valued in excess of $20 million.

During this period, 33 cases were made out and 36 persons charged. Further, the Guyana Revenue Authority’s enforcement unit seized 561.78kg of cocaine, valued $504.9 million, for which two cases were made out and two persons were charged. In total, 151 people were charged for cocaine trafficking and/ or consumption, in a total of 139 cases.

ed Thread Director Karen DeSouza is contending that local magistrates need regular training so that they will be properly guided in their dispensation of justice.

Speaking with Guyana Times in a recent interview, DeSouza said the neeed is evident.

“The training of the magistracy is seriously lacking… the sense of power I guess and privilege that magistrates might have are not tempered by regulations, guidelines or monitoring.

The laws in modern times are supposed to protect all equally and they are supposed to be applied equally to all, and that is certainly not what we are seeing today,” DeSouza added.

DeSouza believes that government should invest more in training persons within the judicial system and keep them abreast with the law.

For instance, the Red Thread director said that the training of persons in the judicial system and police on the Sexual Offenses Act is another issue that needs to be addressed.

She explained that sev-

Red Thread Director Karen DeSouza

eral persons within the judicial system are still not trained/sensitised on the act, which is creating some issues in addressing cases of sexual offenses.

On this note, DeSouza criticised the Human Services Ministry for not taking this issue seriously. She said the taskforce, which was created by the act, only met once two years ago, and only a few training sessions were done with members of the police force and the judiciary.

“I think increasingly what we are seeing is

the abuse of power of who have it, including those who should be responsible for the citizenry,” she said.

Recently, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh said that both magistrates and prosecutors must equip themselves with the requisite skills that will make them more effective in executing their duties.

The acting chancellor had said that this is essential to ensure better legal services at the magisterial level, while calling for more training to be provided for other legal professionals as well.

Magistrates and prosecutors, he said, should be constantly trained in technical areas, to make more effective decisions in matters of law.

He was ably supported by former Chancellor of the Judiciary, retired Justice Cecil Kennard, who expressed similar statements.

Kennard stated that magistrates and judges are being admitted to the bench when they do not have the requisite training and experience to effectively carry out their duties.

Sand pit worker Conductor gets remanded for murder bail for possession

A

man appeared in court today before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for murder.

Sylvester “Rambo” Bristol, 23, a sand pit worker was not required to plea to the indictable charge after it was alleged that between

February 18 and February 19, in the vicinity of Dakoura Creek, Soesdyke, Linden Highway, he raped and murdered Savitri Parbho.

No objections to bail were made by prosecutor Michael Grant, but it was refused and the defendant was remanded until March 14. Investigations are ongoing.

of ganja

T

roy Archer, a bus conductor of Lot 3541 Stevedore Housing Scheme, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty charged with the possession of narcotics.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was alleged that on February 19, he had in his possession 14 grams of cannabis. Police Prosecutor Renita Benton had no objections to bail but requested that the accused report to CID narcotics branch every Monday and Friday at

09:00h.

Attorney Paul Fung-AFat representing the defendant noted that the accused is a father of two children and that his client had no knowledge of the drug in his home.

He further lamented that the night before the day in question, the accused had a party at his residence and that the narcotic could be the property of a guest that evening.

He pleaded with the magistrate for leniency and bail was granted in the sum of $25,000. The defendant is expected to make another court appearance on February 28.

French Guiana national charged for illegal entry

A

French Guiana national appeared before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty on Wednesday in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for illegal entry.

Jamal Oubrohou, 54, who had an interpreter, said he does not have a fixed address in Guyana but he stays with a friend in Lethem. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was alleged that on January 21,

at Lethem in the Rupununi District, he illegally entered Guyana by crossing land frontier without presenting himself to a police officer or immigration officer.

Police Prosecutor Renita Benton objected to bail for reasons being that the accused has no legal ties to Guyana and if bail was granted, he could leave the country. Bail was refused and he was remanded to custody until February 28 in Court One.

News

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thursDay, february 20, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday, February 20 from 08:30h-10:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday, February 20 from 06:40h-08:10h

WEATHER TODAY

Countrywide: Light rain showers can be expected during the day with heavy rain showers in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Wind: North easterly between 2.77 metres and 3.05 metres per second.

High Tide: 07:43h and 20:09h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.53 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 13:41h reaching a minimum height of 0.60 metre.

wednesday, february 19, 2014

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Justice Bernard hailed as icon of legal profession

BY VAHNU MANICHAND

F

ormer Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Desiree Bernard was on Wednesday hailed as an icon of the local jurisprudence during a special farewell sitting of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) held in her honour.

The CCJ panel was in Guyana for a three-day itinerant sitting held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Geogetown.

Justice Bernard will be officially retiring from the CCJ today. The special sitting in her home country was attended by local judges, magistrates and attorneys.

Several foreign jurists and other dignitaries also gathered as tributes poured out in her honour.

Justice Bernard was described as a woman of many firsts. She was the first female High Court judge of the Supreme Court of Guyana, the first female justice of appeal, the first female chief justice of Guyana and in the Caribbean; and the first female chancellor of the judiciary of Guyana and the Caribbean. She was also the first female judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice at the court’s inauguration in 2005.

Delivering remarks, CCJ

A proud Justice Desiree Bernard looks on as praises were showered on her on Wednesday

President, Justice Dennis Byron gave a summary of Justice Bernard’s legal career, beginning with her graduation from the University of London to her appointment at the CCJ, along with her tremendous work in the social sectors.

“Throughout her tenure at the court, Madame Justice Bernard has demonstrated the value of the CCJ as a dispute resolution authority for regional integration, economic development in a rule-based community, exhibiting high standards of fairness and governance, opening up new avenues for ordinary people in our region to have a voice and get justice at the highest of the judicial authority,” he stated.

The CCJ president added that she was even described

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Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall handing over copies of the laws of Guyana and law reports to Caribbean Court of Justice President, Justice Dennis Bryon

as a pioneer judge and trailblazer, breaking barriers for women in the legal profession, not only in Guyana, but the Caribbean and beyond.

Excellence and integrity

Justice Byron continued to list many of the areas in which Justice Bernard has imprinted her legacy as the first female. He pointed out that “excellence and integrity” are the two words which automatically spring to mind when thinking about Justice Bernard.

“One of the tenets that has been a guide, is a constant surge for excellence in all her endeavours. As a student, leader, practitioner, a judge, a judicial administrator; she has always brought her best to date. Her service to the profession and the public, not only nationally or regionally but also worldwide, has been nothing short of service par excellence,” she stated.

The CCJ president urged all jurists to follow her example and celebrate her achievements not only in word, but also in deed, by making “excellence and integrity” the hallmark of their endeavours. Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, who also sat on the bench alongside the CCJ panel, emphasised

the fact that not only is Justice Bernard a distinguished jurist, but one who happens to be a Guyanese, a fact which makes the entire country proud. He recalled working alongside Justice Bernard when he was appointed chief justice and she was then chancellor.

“I will be forever in your honour’s debt for her continuous encouragement and support as my own judicial career progressed.” He highlighted the outstanding characteristics which embodied the attitude of the retiring judge in all her judicial posts. Justice Singh noted that when the decision was made for a female judge on the CCJ, the choice of Justice Bernard was one of a jurist with appropriate judicial temperament.

He described Justice Bernard as “A judge of considerable learning and experience and a judge, who in exemplary fashion, has demonstrated discipline and the decorum and who is always courteous, polite and extremely personable.”

He stated that her appointment to the apex judicial body of the Caribbean is testimony of heights that can be achieved by women who commit themselves to the disciplined and delicate study of law.

Legacy

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said Justice Bernard has left a legacy for others in the legal profession to emulate, which will surely be an uphill task.

The minister said that it is impossible for one to properly capture the accomplishments of the outgoing judge. Nandlall noted that Justice Bernard’s contribution at every stage of her career is a remarkable exhibition of legal scholarship and pragmatism.

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thursday, february 20, 2014

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

Editorial

Changing India

W

hile concerns have been raised recently as to whether the “emerging economies” as a bloc will be able to continue their upward growth trajectory in the near term, most analysts are convinced that China will overtake the U.S. as the largest economy in the next few decades.

India, on the other hand, appears to be faltering. The experience of countries that have worked their way into the “developed” economies bracket, demonstrate that success is not due solely on “economic” factors: political leadership is often even more crucial.

China has retained the centralised communist party structure for its political leadership and only last June, selected Xi Jinping as their president to shepherd the party’s economic plans to fruition for the next decade.

Over in India, with their messier democratic system for choosing leaders, the campaign for the prime minister’s office is well on its way. The front runner is the Chief Minister Narendra Modi from the state of Gujarat, who has projected an image of the “development man”. He has been promising to replicate the success he had in producing double digit growth rates in Gujarat at the national level.

The incumbent Congress Party-dominated coalition at the centre, has seen its growth figure plummet from the early nine per cent range to five per cent, and combined with pervasive corruption, appears to be headed for a humiliating defeat.

Mr Modi is acknowledged even by his detractors as incorruptible. But for the rest of the world, including Guyana, what is more important is whether an India under Mr Modi will be able to get its growth rate back towards 10 per cent.

This, combined with the Chinese behemoths, should be enough to pull the world economy along even if the U.S.A. and the EU should continue to lag.

While Mr Modi’s party, the Bharitiya Janata Party (BJP), does not have the monolithic structure of the Chinese Communist Party to deliver an economic manifesto by dictat, the economist Arvind Panagariya is considered to be a real insider.

Recently, he delivered a lecture that gave a hint as to what might be in the offing in the economic arena in a Modi administration. Panagariya began with the goal and then worked backwards from that. India, he proposed, should become the third largest economy in the world – with a GDP of US$8.8 trillion – behind China and the U.S., in the next 15 years, if it followed what he termed Track 1 and Track 2 reforms. Some of the policies might be useful for our local economists to consider.

India’s labour sector will have to be massively reorganised to service a modern economy, along the lines that China’s has been. However, without a totalitarian government at the centre, it is suggested that for the 95 per cent of the country’s workers who are in the unorganised sector, the laws on trade unions would have to be amended, so more of them could be brought into large scale industrial units that have to be created. Trade unions cannot become a fetter on increasing productivity.

The second biggest change would have to come in the creation of new infrastructure: electricity generation, highways and railroads will take priority. While India has performed credibly in service exports, it only accounts for 1.6 per cent of the world’s merchandise exports against China’s 11.3 per cent.

Factories to produce manufactured goods have to be created – but this is a chicken and egg question with infrastructure. However, backing into the manufacturing sector demands that the education system also be revamped to prepare an essentially rural, undereducated workforce, for the new rigours of global competition.

Such a workforce would inevitably be highly urbanised, and to avoid urban nightmarish outcomes like Mexico City, Indian cities need to work on the Floor Space Index method.

Finally, since the engine of growth will be the private sector, they will have to be integrally involved in public projects through public private partnerships.

If you were going to throw away your old watch and add to metal pollution, wait a second! Take a look at what digital curators like Dmitriy Khristenkho of the Ukraine and Dan Tanenbaum of Canada are doing to stop these old watch parts from landing in the garbage can. Turning junk into spectacular mini bike sculptures, it’s a delight to see such intricate and detailed work of art (afkra.blogspot.com)

The AML/CFT Bill: the PNC will lose much Dear Editor, I say People’s National Congress (PNC) in the headline intentionally because it is they that will suffer in the next general elections and not A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), as I believe that APNU will be abandoned, as it should have been long ago.

Reasons for this I have expressed to the several leaders in the PNC who meet periodically. APNU comprises certain non entities as political parties, even non-essentials.

I think the party, the PNC, was extremely charitable to give those others free seats.

None could have won a seat in Parliament other than the PNC. Therefore, in the long run, it is the PNC that its supporters and those on the ‘fence’ will lose faith in. The recalcitrance, the hard-line, the toughness the APNU is showing in not supporting the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill is a kind of militant mentality.

Soldiers love to hold their ground, and when death is upon them in battle, and there is no other alternative, they retreat, and retreat they will eventually!

Opposition Leader David Granger, the soldier, held his ground to bring down Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee via parliamentary boycotts, no votes, and walk outs of Parliament, but eventually he failed miserably, and

in reality placed the PNC in an embarrassing situation, as the PNC (lost in the APNU confusion), had to retreat, as the Guyana Police Force was starved of its requirements for law and order, and the citizens of this country were in confusion as to their safety and security.

Granger has to understand that in politics one has to be a diplomat and not a soldier. While some techniques of the military can be taken, in politics it is diplomacy that is the master art.

The PNC is undoubtedly a great national political institution, born with a name at its founding. Who gave its leaders the right to murder that name? They have made the name weak.

To my opinion, this needs to be corrected. They should have had a party referendum before agreeing to the name of APNU and going in that direction.

The people of the country are not feeling the crunch of the recalcitrance in its full blast yet, caused

by APNU’s refusal to support the bill, but when they start to suffer, they will turn to the PNC, not APNU, as APNU in reality is a façade, a mere face mask that will disintegrate.

It is at Congress Place, they will congregate, and when the elections season steps in, they will feel the bitter reality; unfortunately, they will lose many of their die hard followers.

Granger, Sir, you’re taking the PNC down the path of destruction. I advise that you resign.

Even when they somersault, as they will, they will lose many admirers and hardliners. Their people will give them a reckoning they may not recover from.

The AML/CFT Bill is a most important and serious law that must be complied with for international sanity, and well-being, but one which the so-called APNU continues to object to. To my opinion, the game of playing games is unnecessary to prove that they are powerful, and make the government of the day look weak.

To think they can get all they want. The sanctions that Guyana is facing are nothing compared to what will be the reality if we are blacklisted by the international community, and if the loans and grants dry up.

Then banking internationally will be impossible, money transfers will freeze, and many will lose jobs, as industries will close or minimise operations, etc.

The most sickening amendment the APNU wants is that anyone found with $2 million in cash or jewellery is to be arrested and the money seized. I wonder if the entire population of Guyana knows this?

The government has to advertise this constantly in print, and on radio and television, so the people can put real pressure on the APNU.

This is madness, as prohibition will cause wholesale smuggling of currencies out of Guyana, due to the reality that people will not have faith in the country and economy, and will wonder if next time, the APNU might want to seize any money anywhere.

The people of Guyana cannot forget the whole banning of food items, particularly flour and the like, which led to an amazing growth of illegal wealth by smugglers, and the export of cash by every and any means.

I ask the people of this country if they recall the days when Guyanese could not pass the airport with anything more than US$25.

One could not go on a holiday with anything of value, not even a piece of jewellery except the marriage ring, and that had to be small. Jewels and monies that were seized were used as bribes in order not to be charged.

I have a feeling that there is indeed a deep conspiracy to suck the government into committing an atrocity similar to the flour ban.

APNU will have to somersault or live to be cursed by this nation forever for bringing untold, unimaginable hardships.

He who forgets the past is bound to repeat it.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Guyanese patriot

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

GCB’s woes are like those of so many Dear Editor, As was the case with the Guyana team, so it is with the West Indian one; many are the complaints.

I see here that members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) are quite unhappy with the non-selection of even a single Guyanese on the West Indies Twenty20 team against Ireland. This was expected and I have a few comments in this regard.

I go back to the selection of the Guyana NAGICO Super50 tournament. One of the appointed selectors objected to a late comer turning up for the team selection. This was objected to

by Sheik Mohamed and he subsequently resigned. This kind of thing happened with Sheik more than once.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) was least bothered and no one took note of the immoral nature of the selection. I know that a

few people from the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) voiced their feelings, but still nothing really came out of the matter and issues went back to normal.

I recall what one man said. Apparently privy to inside information, he opined that the team was very disgruntled and that there will be some kind of sabotage.

Go back if you care and see who got sick, what the sicknesses were and when they occurred. I may be overly suspicious, but I sense the lack of camaraderie and cohesion in the Guyana squad, even before members departed.

Go now to the West Indies team and let us face facts and reality. The coach and captain are not people with great track records. Also, the present coach Otis Gibson is not too good with relationship matters. He was rude to both Shivnarine Chanderpaul

and Ramnaresh Sarwan, and there seems to be a distancing between this coach and a few players.

So team selection for the West Indies is hinged on emotions, desires to get even, territorial preferences and prejudice; same with Guyana, where the prejudice seems quite the norm.

So a lot of people and local board members are just as displeased with the GCB as is the GCB over the selection choices of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) selection panel with the team selected to represent the West Indies.

Overall, local cricket is not stirring the populace.

Berbice seems to be in a league all by itself – it is doing great and I am hoping that all Guyana will learn from what is happening in this little county.

Sincerely, Fitzroy Wilson

Fairview villagers must be commended

Dear Editor, The Amerindian Affairs Ministry recently handed over a $6.5 million Bedford Truck to the toshaos of Fairview, Region Nine. The circumstances surrounding the conveying of the truck came about after the ministry acknowledged the efforts of the village to save approximately $4 million over the last four years to put towards the purchasing of the truck. Both the village council and the ministry gener-

ously donated their contribution of approximately $2 million each.

This approach was quite moving and showed that the villagers themselves were making a genuine effort to help themselves. The vehicle is expected to be used for the transportation of goods from Lethem to Georgetown.

Additionally, the decision has also been made to rent the truck at a cost under the circumstances that the renter is responsible for

any damages incurred. It is only fair that those found guilty of mishandling or abusing state vehicles are penalised accordingly.

Once properly maintained, this truck will serve the villagers of Fairview for a lifetime. Furthermore, it will be every villager’s responsibility to assist in any way in the caring and maintenance of the vehicle.

Sincerely yours, Roy Correia

I am shocked at the horrible treatment of Martin Dear Editor, I am shocked and disappointed at the horrible and inhumane treatment of Fatima Martin, a 19-yearold Amerindian female employed by as a babysitter, based on circumstances that she hit a child.

This apparently resulted resulted in physical attacks on the powerless babysitter. The poor and powerless Amerindian babysitter was, however, sentenced to five years in prison.

Let me ask an important question here. Is this the kind of justice and protection the Amerindian peoples of Guyana will receive?

Should the parliamentary opposition – People’s National Congress (PNC)/A Partnership for National

Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) – be allowed (and I hope not) to run this country?

What I do know is that generally the Amerindian communities of our country will never give electoral support to the PNC/APNU and AFC. But is this the reason why Martin, a poor and powerless Amerindian female from a far flung Amerindian community, was jailed for five years without proper legal representation?

Many Amerindian communities I have so far informed have expressed profound sadness on the situation of Martin.

But while Martin, the baby sitter, was not correct to hit the child, a proper and

professional course of action should have been taken to remedy that wrong by the infant’s parents, and definitely not the application of cruel and uncivilized treatment, which was totally uncalled for.

Martin’s unfortunate dilemma is therefore just an indicator of what can happen to us Amerindians should the PNC/APNU and AFC be the government of Guyana.

This will never happen.

So I am appealing to the Amerindian communities of Guyana to strongly take note and to keep on condemning the parliamentary opposition, which is power hungry.

Yours sincerely Peter Persaud

No reason for youths to resort to crime

Dear Editor, Police officers recently detained a 17-year-old boy who was found guilty of stealing approximately 600 pounds of plantain and bananas from a farmer. The matter was subsequently taken to court and the accused was ordered to compensate the farmer a total of $100,000.

Many families have over the years relied heavily on farming as their source of income. While some people

choose to maintain a small kitchen garden, others choose to invest their time and energy into producing large extensions of farm land. It is therefore unfair and heartbreaking when a farmer’s hard earned harvest is unlawfully taken from him.

During the trial, the young man indicated that he was a school dropout; however this is no reason for our youths to resort to stealing.

In fact, there are many ini-

tiatives currently available in Guyana that encourage and offer our youths the opportunity to acquire technical skills which will further enable them to make an honest living.

I can only hope that this young man will use this experience to reassess the path that he is choosing to embark on.

Yours truly, Joslyn Somerset

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Foundation

Role model the behaviour you want to see from your children - what you do is more important than what you say

BY AMY MORIN

C

hildren are always watching what you do. They see how you handle stress. They watch how you treat other people.

They look at how you deal with your feelings. They’re very observant and they soak in all that information like little sponges. One of the eight most important parenting skills is providing your children with a positive example.

Modelling appropriate behaviour is an important part of discipline. If you act in a way that you want your children to act, they’ll learn just from watching you. That isn’t to say they’ll automatically start behaving the same way, but they’ll be better equipped to manage their behaviours.

Social Learning Theory

A famous psychologist, Albert Bandura, developed the Social Learning Theory.

He surmised that people learn by watching others.

In his famous Bo-Bo doll experiment, he demonstrated how children learn by watching adults. After witnessing an adult become aggressive with an inflatable doll, the children began to imitate the

behaviour and they became more aggressive.

Proof that children imitate you

You certainly don’t need a fancy science experiment, however, to prove that children imitate their parents. How many times have you seen little girls putting on their mother’s high heels and trying on lipstick so they can look like mommy? Or how many little boys pretend to shave so they can be like dad? Children repeat what they’ve heard you say and they imitate what they’ve seen you do.

Examples of how parents can accidentally model bad behaviour - A mother tells the cashier at a restaurant her 12-year-old son is only 11 so she can get a discount at the buffet. She then yells at her son because he lies when he says he has his homework done.

- A father spends his evenings watching TV but tells his 14-year-old daughter she should read more.

- Parents tell their children to treat everyone with respect yet they often make critical comments about the appearance of people who appear on the news.

- A divorced couple argues fre-

quently about custody issues and visitation but expect the children to get along with one another.

- A mother tells her daughter to be kind to others but she yells at the store clerk when they refuse to take back an item she had hoped to return.

- A father tells his children that they should eat healthy but he sneaks des-

sert after they go to bed and doesn’t exercise.

- Parents tell their children to share and be generous with what they have yet they don’t get involved in any sort of charity or volunteer work.

- A father smokes cigarettes and while he has a cigarette in his hand, he tells his children that smoking is bad and they should never pick up the bad habit.

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Parents tell their children to take responsibility for their behaviour yet when they forget about their child’s dentist appointment, they argue with the receptionist and tell her she clearly made a scheduling error.

Follow your own rules

It’s really hard to model appropriate behaviour for your children all the time.

However, you have opportunities every day to provide your children with learning

experiences so they can see how to behave appropriately.

Although you may find opportunities that you think are appropriate to bend the rules a little, children aren’t able to do this. For example, if you tell a “little white lie” by telling your friend you can’t help her move because you “have a headache” but you go to another social engagement instead, your children will learn that lying is acceptable.

Show your children how to follow your household rules. Use discipline that teaches life skills and explain how the rules will help them later in life. If you show children that you value the household rules, it will increase the effectiveness of your discipline strategies.

Live according to your values

One of the four biggest discipline mistakes parents make is not looking at the long-term impact of discipline strategies. When it comes to modelling appropriate behaviour, it’s important to instil values in your children that will help them to become healthy, responsible adults. The best way to teach them values is to model them. (About.com)

Four tips for dealing with back talk - What to do when your child no longer sounds like an angel

BY KATE KELLY

“S

hut up, butthead!” The first time such unsavoury words come out of your angelic (or so you thought!) child’s mouth, you were probably caught by surprise. You may even have giggled. But as every parent knows, rude behaviour and back talk loses its charm fast. How does a child go from being so anxious to please to responding to reasonable requests with an attitude?

“Media is a big influence,” says Audrey Ricker, PhD, coauthor of Backtalk: Four Steps to Ending Rude Behaviour in Your Kids (Touchstone Books).

“Kids imitate what they see on sitcoms and cartoons,” she says. “Plus, our culture actually encourages back talk. When it comes from a young child we say he’s being assertive, is standing up for himself, is a real individual.” That may be true, but no one wants to feel like her child’s doormat. And that behaviour will not play well in the larger world either.

Fortunately, you can get your child to stop talking back, according to Ricker. Here’s how: Plan ahead. Decide on a consequence that you will implement if your child talks rudely to you. “You should withdraw something that he enjoys that would normally take place in the next 24 hours,” says Ricker. Examples include watching a favourite TV show or going to a friend’s house.

Respond decisively.

When your child speaks rudely, say “That language (or tone) is not acceptable. As a result, I am not going to take you on a play date to Jimmy’s house.”

Follow through with no further discussion. Do not offer a second chance. Do not negotiate. Avoid the word “if” (as in “If you do that again, I’m going to...”). It makes you sound weak instead of decisive and your child will pick up on that. “Parents tend to over-talk. Taking action is much more effective,” says Ricker.

On a related note, ignore any back talk associated with the consequence. Don’t get drawn into explaining or justifying your position. On the other hand, don’t punish your child again if he gives you back talk when you enforce the consequence.

Treat it as one incident.

Ricker notes that following through isn’t easy. “It’s hard to take away something you may have promised that you know your child enjoys.

But kids learn fast. After two or three incidents where your child sees you really mean it, the back talk should end.”

(Parents)

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thursDay, february 20, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

NCC calls for passage of Babysitter in assault case granted bail anti-money laundering bill

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he National Competitiveness Council (NCC) on Wednesday registered its concern over the non-passage of the anti-money laundering bill, contending that it can result in severe hardships for Guyana.

Much ground has been lost and despite the political ramblings as to the reasons the bill has not been passed, there appears to be deliberate attempts to stall its passage and further enactment, the NCC said.

The council in a release said the non-passage of the bill would affect most of the work it has done over the past decade, and on this note, called on parliamentarians to give the legislation the attention it deserves.

The bill is currently before a select committee in the House; however, concerns have been raised with regards to the proposed amendments to the bill.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has stated that the amendments proposed by the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) will create an underground

money laundering ring.

According to Rohee, the amendments that the opposition is seeking to make with respect to the bill and the principal act, regarding the reduction of powers of the finance and legal affairs ministers, could have unintended consequences.

Rohee, who is also the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) general secretary, said he is keeping himself informed about the discussions at the special committee since the bill will also affect the security sector of Guyana.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarian Joseph Harmon said in accordance with the substantive act, customs and the Financial Intelligence Unit were only permitted to carry out search and seizure at the ports of entry, and dealt only with import and export.

Harmon said there is money laundering within the boundaries of Guyana, and as such, the authorities should be able to tackle those cases as well.

Harmon added that another significant change that the

Justice Bernard...

“As we bid farewell to Her Honour, as the curtain falls on this stage of her career, we hope that a new chapter will soon begin where the people of Guyana and indeed the people of the entire region, will continue to benefit from her wisdom, from her knowledge and from all the great qualities we have heard adumbrated,” the legal affairs minister added.

Humble

In responding to the glowing tributes, Justice Bernard said she had tried humbly to fulfil her duties and had pledged to uphold the scale and be patient at the time of her appointment. The outgoing judge went on to reflect on her tenure on the panel of the CCJ, which she said was the crowning glory of her judicial career, which she never dreamt of attaining. She said

committee would make is that only senior law enforcement officials should be allowed to conduct searches and seizures of money at entities and from persons in Guyana.

Minister Rohee said APNU’s position is inconsistent and made reference to the party’s Chairman Basil Williams, who during a television programme “Nation Watch”, was unable to provide adequate answers to callers, with regard to the amendments APNU has proposed to the bill.

“They are saying one thing in the Parliament but when the pressure braces them, the public pressure… because people asked questions, it was a call-in programme… the man was neither here nor there.”

The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Finance of Terrorism (amendment) Bill is expected to be retabled in the House on February 27.

However, it is not clear whether the bill will be passed on that day since the opposition has declined to state whether they will support it.

From page 3

that the experience was rewarding due to the fact of the “comradely” relationship she built with the other CCJ judges, both professionally and personally.

“We take seriously the heavy responsibility of being a court of last resort for the countries accepting our jurisdiction and spare no effort in ensuring that the judgments of the court will withstand international scrutiny,” she explained, while adding that they have tried to fulfil the vision of the court.

“As I leave the court, I wish to give the assurance to the region that the Caribbean Court Justice is in safe and competent hands as it continues its voyage of the ports of the Caribbean encountering passengers willing to be a part of a destination towards the illusive dream establish-

ing a jurisprudence peculiarly our own,” Justice Bernard stated. The retiring judge also expressed her appreciation to the CCJ, and everyone for organising the event in her honour.

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque; Swaziland Supreme Court Judge Stanley Moore; CCJ Trust Fund member Oswald Barnes; former CCJ Trust Fund member, Professor Harold Lutchman; Guyana Bar Association President Ronald Burch-Smith; and Guyana Association of Women President Simone MorrisRamlall, also spoke glowingly about Justice Bernard.

Meanwhile, at the end of the ceremonial special sitting for the outgoing CCJ judge, Nandlall handed over copies of the laws of Guyana and law reports to Justice Bryon.

Fatima Martin

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atima Martin was Tuesday granted bail in the amount of $100,000 after her attorneys Sase Gunraj and Emily Dodson filed an application for bail, pending the results of an appeal which they had previously submitted to the court.

Gunraj, who appeared in court on behalf of Martin pro bono, related that he thinks the sentence delivered by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell to the defendant was too harsh.

He also opined that he is representing the defendant because he wishes to see justice adequately and righteously dispensed in the case.

Martin was on Thursday sentenced to 60 months in prison after she appeared in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Lovell. She pleaded guilty to the charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on one-yearold Sanjana Edmond.

Subsequent to her sentencing, several women's rights activists took to the streets in protest, describing the penalty as harsh and biased, noting that Martin might have been scared to express herself adequately because of the social status of the virtual complainant’s family.

They also claim that Martin was assaulted by a police officer, Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond and her husband Joel Edmond, allegedly threatened to shoot her and put her in a bag.

Red Thread Director Karen DeSouza said the allegations of assault against the magistrate and her husband are reflected in the police’s statement.

Martin admitted to family members who visited her on Monday, February 17, at the New Amsterdam Prison, that she did hit the child. However, she said that she was beaten by the parents when she told them about the incident at the house.

According to a relative, Martin claimed that she was beaten again at the police station in the presence of a female police officer.

Not true

Meanwhile, Joel Edmond, the father of the infant, in a statement on Wednesday said he nor his wife at any time assault the accused.

The statement also refuted several claims that have appeared in sections of the media as it relates to the story.

He stated that Martin was employed by him and his wife in November 2013, subsequent to an advertisement in local newspapers for a nanny.

He added that when she came for the interview, she gave her address as 719 Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara.

He noted too that Martin was only hired because she showed some persistence in wanting the job, returning just one week after her interview, pleading with the couple to hire her as their babysitter.

“It would be a malicious misrepresentation of the facts to say that, either my wife or I trafficked Fatima Martin from Lethem to work with us in Georgetown.”

Edmond further stated that upon commencement of the job, the accused was given a room with modern amenities and was not made to sleep with the baby as was earlier reported, noting too that she was paid $10,000 a week.

The father of the baby also stated that medical reports

given to him by doctors at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital indicated that the baby was assaulted on several occasions.

The medical reports also indicated the injuries suffered were caused by blunt trauma of a fist and signs of being strangled. These reports did not correspond with what would have been the injuries had the baby fallen off the bed as reported by Martin.

Alleged admittance

He said that it was only after another visit to a medical institution that they confronted Martin, who reportedly told them “Sir Joel, I want to tell you the truth, I cuff up the baby.”

Edmond also denied allegations that his wife influenced the ruling of Magistrate Lovell. He said he will not allow the focus to be shifted away from the real victim in the story. “I will be Sanjana’s voice” he declared.

With regard to the accused being granted bail, Edmond related that he was not surprised at the development. He related that the attorneys had done their work.

“All the publicity was to incite the granting of bail,” he contended.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Lovell, who has faced mounting criticisms in recent days for sentencing the babysitter to five years in prison, has defended her judgment.

Lovell, when approached by members of the media on Wednesday, said “I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to comment at this time, I understand that the matter is the subject of an appeal and I prefer to let the Appellate Court speak,” she said, adding that “I operated within the confines of the law.”

The magistrate stated that she identifies with the reason for the perception in the delivery of her ruling, but said the views expressed in the media are not true.

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thursday, february 20, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Father of three gets bail for simple larceny

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man appeared in court on Wednesday before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with simple larceny.

Winston Letlow, 51, of Lot 58 Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, an interior worker in Mahdia, North West District, plead not guilty to the charge which stated that on February 18 in Georgetown, he stole one bed

sheet set valued $3000 from Fabric Work Store.

Prosecutor Seon Blackman said on the day in question, the accused went to the store at the corner of Regent and Light streets, Georgetown, picked up the said item, placed it in a black plastic bag and attempted to leave the store but was apprehended by public spirited persons. The prosecutor said a search was conducted on

his person and the item was found, adding that the accused apologised to the store owners for his actions. A report was made and the accused was arrested. The prosecution then objected to bail being granted.

The accused who was unrepresented by an attorney gave his explanation to the magistrate, saying that he walked into the store to purchase a hat and a female

worker approached him in the store and told him that he stole the item mentioned along with other articles.

He pleaded with the magistrate for leniency, and bail was granted in the sum of $25,000 with the condition that the defendant report to the Ruimveldt Police Station every Monday and Friday at 09:00h. He is to make another appearance on February 26.

Bail refused for two men accused of causing death by dangerous driving

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man appeared in court on Wednesday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Floyd Archer, 39, of Lot 209 Yarowkabra, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was alleged that on July 10, 2013 at One Mile Public Road, Soesdyke, he drove motor car PPP 9053 in a dangerous manner resulting in the death of Stanley Singh.

Michael Grant, prosecuting on behalf of the police, said that on the day in question, the accused was proceeding West along the highway around 19:25h and in an

attempt to overtake another vehicle, he collided with the deceased. Singh was subsequently taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The prosecutor also noted that the defendant was charged for a similar offence in another court and was granted $100,000 bail.

Attorney Clyde Forde said that the deceased was seen earlier purchasing alcohol and is a known alcoholic. He also told the court that the post mortem examination revealed that the deceased had alcohol in his system at the time of his demise, hence, he pleaded with the chief magistrate for a bail to be granted in a reasonable amount. Bail was refused

and the matter was adjourned to February 28.

In another matter, Denson Allen appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to face the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Allen, 57, of Lot 651 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was alleged that on October 6, 2013, the accused while driving motor vehicle PRR 105 in a dangerous manner caused the death of Stefon Bascom.

Prosecutor Michael Grant said from statements received, the accused was proceeding west and the deceased

was walking in the northern direction when the accused failed to adhere to the waiting rule and collided with the deceased.

Attorney Mark Waldron representing the defendant said his client has been a licensed driver for the past 15 years, and he made contact with the father of the deceased, but they refused to give any evidence. He noted that his client was arrested and placed on $40,000 station bail.

Bail was granted in the sum of $300,000 on the condition that the defendant lodge his passport with the police.

He is expected to make another court appearance on March 7.

Eyew tness Ideological...

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...racism? t’s always tricky taking on subjects that are under consideration by a court. There are these rules about matters “sub judice” and all that. But that doesn’t mean the entire field of knowledge on that area is out of bounds – especially when it concerns burning issues. Take this case where former President Bharrat Jagdeo sued MuckrakerKN’s Kissoon and his handlers for claiming he practised “ideological racism”.

In Guyana, the charge of “racism” is hurled right, left and centre every day. Never mind that with our history of racial violence bubbling up ever so often, it’s pretty combustible stuff being stoked. We feel we should talk about it openly rather than have the accusations fester like sores that’ll burst for sure, sooner or later. And it’s the pus – in this case, the casualties – that we worry about. Now while we don’t pretend to have any special expertise in the area of racism, we’ll get the ball rolling.

We would’ve thought that if the Muckraker and its troops charged “ideological racism”, they should’ve been forced to conclusively prove the same. Meaning the alleged “racism” couldn’t be “proven” just by statistical data. At the very best, that might show correlation, but certainly not causation. “Ideological” asserts there was something in the “head” of Jagdeo, some forethought arising out of his “ideological beliefs”. In a word, the Muckraker’s hacks should have to show “intent”. It’s like the difference between murder and manslaughter – for the former there has to be a “mens rea” – the requisite “guilty mind”.

On the other hand, this “ideological racism” – knowingly discriminating against a group on the basis of their race – can be easily shown in some who’ve ironically been paraded to show the same in Jagdeo. A case of psychological projection? Take the trade union big mouth who runs the Critchlow Labour College. He himself flaunts the fact that individuals of one race dominate the student body because of a conscious policy. Not to mention the staff. Now, isn’t this discriminating against others from different race groups?

Yet the fella’s aggrieved and charges its “ideological racism” that the government didn’t fund the school – which incidentally gives him a spot to hang his hat. But this is the can of worms people open up when they play the “race card” to stir up hatred.

It can turn back and bite them on their behinds. ...ouster in Venezuela?

The Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana has accused the U.S. government and its representatives in Venezuela of “destabilising actions” against her government – intended to precipitate a coup d’état. As a neighbour of Venezuela, more so one that has a claim by the latter against two-thirds of its territory, Guyana and Guyanese better take heed.

The border claim itself was encouraged by the U.S. back in 1962, when it was cozy with the then Venezuelan government and was concerned the then PPP government of Guyana would “become another Cuba”. As the world turns!! Now it’s no secret that the U.S. would like to see regime change in Venezuela – even though their bête noir Hugo Chávez is off the scene. Their distaste, after all, is ideological – and Chávez’ successor Maduro is steadfastly walking in his mentor’s shoes.

But what we found interesting (disturbing?) in the Ambassador’s statements, was the description of the U.S. modus operandi in stirring up the opposition. They’ve been funding and training student, youth and civil society groups – the same ones that are now out in the streets in violent protests.

In Guyana, we have the old folk saying, distilled from centuries of (bitter) experience: “Hint to Quashiba mek Beneba tek notice”. ...vice?

Over in China, they have a unique system – the politics is run on a centralised communist lines while the economic system is unabashedly capitalist. Maybe it’s confusing to some. The Vice-Governor of Hainan is facing charges of corruption.

Maybe he thought as “vice” governor, he was in charge of “vice”?

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thursDay, february 20, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

RPA compensates farmers owed by Hand-in-Hand cancels MRL, businessman Mae’s school matter...

debt after Hughes settles outstanding

payments

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ttorney Nigel Hughes has settled his debt with Hand-in-Hand Mutual Insurance Company after the owner of Mae’s Secondary School, Mayfield French paid over some $8 million that was outstanding to the lawyer.

This payment, along with the arrears in mortgage payments, was paid over to Hand-In-Hand Mutual Life Insurance Company on Tuesday, to liquidate all the outstanding sums due, owing on the mortgage, Hughes told reporters at an Alliance For Change (AFC) news conference on Wednesday.

Hand-in-Hand had levied on the Lot 29 Third Avenue, Subryanville property, which houses Mae’s Secondary after Hughes had failed to settle the mortgage.

This had caused some headache for Mayfield, who in a court action aimed at preventing the insurance company from evicting her from the property, suggested that she was not aware of the mortgage at the time of her purchase of the land.

However, Hughes said on Wednesday that this was far from the truth.

“The recent publications in the media about the sale of the property located at lot 29 Third Avenue, Subryanville to Ms Mayfield French, proprietress of Mae’s School, have been a source of much comment since the first publication in the Guyana Chronicle,” he said.

Hughes told reporters that the expressed statements and inferences related in the various publications are that the purchaser was unaware of the existence of a mortgage on the property at the time of her acquisition of the property or at any time after that.

He said on February 24, 2006, he sold the aforementioned property to the purchaser for the sum of $20 million.

Special condition

According to him, there was an expressed reference in the agreement to the existence of the mortgage under the heading “special condition”.

“It is useful to note that in the ex parte application to the court in the civil proceedings brought by the purchaser against me, no reference is made to the fact that the purchaser was aware of the existence of the mortgage or that there was reference to it in the agreement of sale. It was conveniently omitted,” he said.

According to Hughes,

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

T

he Rice Producers Association (RPA) has brought relief to 31 rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast who were owed by the Mahaicony Rice Mills (MRL) and a prominent businessman since 2010.

The farmers, who sold their paddy through businessman Arnold Sankar, were reimbursed 90 per cent of the sums outstanding to them. In total, the RPA paid out $13 million to the farmers.

The cheques were presented to the farmers on Wednesday at the RPA’s rice bond at Anna Regina, Region Two, by RPA General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj and

Attorney Nigel Hughes

who is also chairman of the AFC, the purchaser was clearly aware at the time of the purchase of the property that there was an existing mortgage on the property, as this was recorded on the transport since the execution of the mortgage on February 16, 1998.

“At the time of the signing of the agreement, a deposit of $4 million was paid and the outstanding balance of $16 million was in excess of the sum due, owing on the mortgage.

"An additional, $8 million was paid when she took possession of the property in 2006, leaving a balance owed of $8 million,” he explained.

Conveyance

Hughes said the conveyance of the property was advertised in the Official Gazette on February 3, 2007.

It was not opposed by Hand-in-Hand or any other person. He said the balance of the purchase price ($8 million) owing on the agreement since 2006 was not paid to him until Tuesday.

“This is despite the millions the purchaser stated she invested in the property.

This payment, along with the arrears in mortgage payments, was paid over to Hand-In-Hand Mutual Life Insurance Company on Tuesday to liquidate all the outstanding sums due owing on the mortgage,” Hughes said.

According to him, the civil action brought by the purchaser was also on Wednesday settled with the purchaser paying him the balance of the purchase price, along with the arrears, which was paid over to Hand-in-Hand Mutual Life Insurance Company, which has agreed to cancel the mortgage forthwith.

The transport is to be passed to the purchaser by the registrar of the High Court.

Some of the farmers who received payments were accompanied by their family members

Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh.

A farmer receiving her cheque at the RPA bond at Anna Regina

According to Seeraj, the move to pay the farmers came after extensive discussions with Sankar and MRL officials.

Seeraj said a solution had to be made to settle the issue, pointing out that there were no proper agreement between buyers and sellers.

The general secretary said the Agriculture Ministry and the GRDB decided to pay the farmers, in an effort to bring some level of relief to them.

Seeraj said the RPA will begin legal proceedings against MRL and Sankar to recoup the money paid. The rice farmers’ representative body has taken this approach to prevent farmers

from enduring any burden of the court system.

The top RPA official explained that a number of farmers sold their paddy to Sankar, who in turn sold it to the MRL, but the farmers were not paid.

The farmers, who were owed, appointed the RPA as their representative and signed over the debt. A loan was then given to the RPA by the GRDB to pay the farmers. The payments were made pending the outcome of the court case.

The farmers said they were very thankful to receive some of the money owed to them, noting that it has allowed them to enjoy a better financial standing going into harvesting.

More attention to mental health, child mortality promised this year ceives 10 per cent of the social sector budget, pointing out that the areas identified can receive full attention, providing that the opposition does not cut the budget as they did last year.

“When the opposition slashed some parts of budget last year, they set us and the country back tremendously,” the health minister contended.

Meanwhile, with respect

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran

H

ealth Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran says extensive focus will be placed on providing funding to address issues in mental health, disabilities, malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and the reduction of child mortality in the 2014 budget.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the minister said these areas are currently under the ministry’s microscope, particularly child mortality, pointing out that there have been six cases thus far in 2014.

He pointed out that the Health Ministry usually re-

to the Specialty Hospital, the minister stated that Guyana is behind Jamaica in relation to health tourism, largely due to the opposition slashing the sum allocated in the budget for the hospital to $1.

Speaking on the current status of the project, the minister said work is back to stage one, noting that workers are cleaning the land of rubbish and vegetation be-

fore they proceed to construction.

Dr Ramsaran is hoping that extensive work on the hospital will begin on August this year.

The health minister reassured the Guyanese public that his ministry will continue to support the people of Guyana and make every effort to ensure that this country’s health care system remains at a high standard.

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News

EU, Guyana hold third round of talks De pullice and Roy Stone need a lotta help

E Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (in red) makes a point to the EU Delegation. Among those seated on the EU side are: Ambassador Robert Kopecký, head of the EU Delegation; and British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre

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he third round of European UnionGuyana Political Dialogue, under the framework of Article Eight of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP)-EU Cotonou agreement, was held on Wednesday at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The previous rounds of political dialogue took place in 2009 and 2010. The Guyanese delegation was headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett, and included Director General Elisabeth Harper; the Americas Department Director, Ambassador Audrey Waddell; acting Multilateral

and Global Affairs Department Director, Deborah Yaw; Foreign Trade Department Director, Rajdai Jaggernauth; Chief of Protocol, Esther Griffith and Frontiers Department acting head Donnette Streete.

The EU side was headed by Ambassador Robert Kopecký, head of the EU Delegation, and included British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre; German Ambassador Stefan Schlueter and Spanish Embassy Charge d’Affaires Beatriz Lorenzo Didic, who are both resident in Trinidad and Tobago; and French Embassy Charge d’Affaires Carolle Lucas and

Dutch Embassy Political Counsellor Floor Nuiten, both resident in Suriname.

The EU Delegation to Guyana’s political section head, Derek Lambe, also participated.

Mutual understanding

The objectives of the dialogue are to exchange information to foster mutual understanding and to facilitate the establishment of agreed priorities and shared agendas, in particular by recognising the existing links between the different aspects of the relations between the parties and the various areas of cooperation as laid down in the Cotonou Agreement.

The two sides engaged in constructive, wide-ranging and frank discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern. Discussions included political and economic developments in Guyana and the EU, EUGuyana and regional development cooperation, human rights and governance, security, climate change, and regional integration.

In conclusion, the two sides expressed their satisfaction on the usefulness and continuity of the dialogue in the context of EUGuyanese relations, and have agreed to hold the next political dialogue in one year’s time.

very tourist or overseas Guyanese who visit Guyana does get friken when dem pass thru GT de garbage town. Dem does friken de bandits and dem does friken de pullice, especially when dem pullice walkin around wid a baton. Even when dem fly over GT, dem does friken whah dem see below.

One Guyanese who just gone back to de Big Apple, after seein sheer rotten apple in GT de garbage town, seh although dem pullice don’t know how to shoot, he still prefer to see dem wid a gun than a baton.

And talkin bout de pullice, is every traffic light that wukkin in GT de garbage town is exactly wheh dem traffic police does go and control de traffic. Five a dem does watch and one a dem does do de wuk. Just like in de guvament.

So since Green Jah, Green Bridge, Rum Karan and Rum Jhaat lookin to cut de budget again, dem should cut all de money whah de guvament plan to spend pun traffic lights. Wid dem traffic pullice around, guvament should give all a dem a battery hat wid red, green and yellow lights.

De amazin ting is that de not-wukkin traffic lights, which more plenty than de wukkin ones, ain’t got no pullice. Yet, de traffic flowin better when de pullice not around. So some body need to go wid a baton and show de pullice how to control traffic.

Another officer in GT de garbage town who need help wid keepin tings under control is de PEE-R-O fuh de S*ity Council.

Roy Stone does play a king and sit down in he office whole day.

Now he want to execute a plan to develop de s*ity.

Roy Stone and de mayor-fuh-life Green Ham can’t even execute a plan to execute all de garbage collection in GT de garbage town, which any body wid common sense would know is de first part of executin any development plan.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But after all, common sense not so common wid de pullice and wid de PEE-R-O. And Green Ham never had any!

ECHO warns against Eyewitness fails to ID Rose’s killer after-Mash mess O

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he Environmental Community Health Organisation (ECHO) is calling on designers and all those, who are involved in making costumes and other items for the Mash celebrations, to pay careful attention to the quality of materials used, and to ensure that they do not hurt the natural environment.

In a release, ECHO said it has observed that many designers use plastic and other non-biodegradable materials to make floats and other pieces for this event. After Mash, many of the floats are simply discarded in an environmentally unfriendly manner.

Many are left on para-

pets and roadsides, at the mercy of the weather.

“ECHO wishes to urge all Guyanese that as we celebrate 44 years of nationhood that we would make the environment our highest priority and ensure the health of our local communities, particularly in circumstances of climate change and global warming.”

ECHO is also asking corporations and companies that sponsor these celebrations to help preserve the health of the environment by ensuring the groups and organisations they have sponsored take into account the goodness of the natural environment.

ne of the main eyewitnesses to the fatal shooting of designer Trevor Rose has failed to positively identify the shooter during an identification parade at the Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.

Latoya Towler, the mother of Rose’s two-year-old son who was with the designer at the time of his demise had described the shooter to the police and based on the description given, two men were arrested.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud on Wednesday confirmed that the two men were taken into custody, but after Towler could not identify any of them, they were subsequently released. He added that the second witness, Troy Nieunkirk, who was driving the car in which

Trevor Rose

Rose was travelling, showed some reluctance when he was called to view the ID parade and did not show up.

It was not clear why he was reluctant to show up, but

the crime chief stated that if they were going to crack this case, the police force would need as much cooperation as possible from the two witnesses. The police are continuing their investigations and are optimistic that they will be successful soon.

Rose, 32, of Lot 232 East Street, North C u m m i n g s b u r g , Georgetown, was executed two Sundays ago when a lone gunman opened fire on the car he was in near the traffic lights at Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

Nieunkirk and Towler were also injured. Towler was reportedly shot to the buttocks while Nieunkirk sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm.

It was reported that the father of eight was head-

ing into the Eccles Housing Scheme to drop off Towler, and as the vehicle approached the traffic lights, another motor car, which was heavily tinted, drove up alongside theirs.

Its driver then taunted Nieunkirk about the way he was driving, and an argument ensued during which the driver exited his vehicle and opened fire.

Nieunkirk managed to drive away and went straight to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but it was too late for Rose.

A post-mortem performed on the body of the designer revealed that he was shot five times with a .9mm pistol. It is believed that Rose, Nieunkirk and Towler were trailed as they left an eatery in the city.

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thursday, february 20, 2014

Bayney Karran accepted as Guyana’s ambassador to Mexico

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uyana’s Ambassador to the United States, Bayney Karran, has been accredited, on a non-resident basis, as this country’s ambassador to Mexico.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto accepted Ambassador Karran’s credentials at the Presidential Palace in Mexico City on February 14, and expressed the wish that the new diplomatic appointment would serve to strengthen the good relations between Guyana and Mexico.

According to a Foreign Affairs Ministry statement, Karran indicated to President Nieto that he was honoured to be accredited to Mexico, a country whose history and culture had so enriched the world

Ambassador Bayney Karran presents his letter of credence to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at the Presidential Palace in Mexico City on February 14

and which is of such importance to regional and global affairs. He pledged to improve upon the already warm and friendly relations between the two countries during his tour of duty.

The ambassador cited a number of recent examples of the significantly strengthened bilateral ties, such as cooperation on technical and language training, as well as the fact that a Mexican company is currently the largest private employer in Guyana.

The Guyanese envoy also pointed to the existing scope for bolstering relations between Caricom and Mexico, in addition to increasing the already good level of cooperation in other multilateral bodies such

as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC); the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).

President Nieto underscored his government’s will to intensify relations with Guyana in the areas of political consultation, economic cooperation and cultural affairs, pledging its cooperation in this regard.

Following the accreditation ceremony, the ambassador was saluted by a military guard of honour and made a statement to the Mexican press conveying good wishes to the government and people of Mexico from the government and people of Guyana.

PAHO urges adoption of laws to control tobacco “epidemic”

PAHO/WHO regional adviser on tobacco Adriana Blanco

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he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is urging Caribbean countries, including Guyana, to speed up the adoption of laws to control the tobacco “epidemic”. It said, despite progress in the countries of the Americas battling the scourge, the epidemic continues to grow.

In a new report, PAHO, the regional office for the Americas of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said applying at least six measures could help prevent one million deaths annually. A key element is large, graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging that effectively inform consumers.

The measures comprise protecting young people from aggressive tobacco industry marketing; banning all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; monitoring the use of tobacco products; protecting people from exposure to second-hand smoke; offering help for persons to quit smoking; and raising taxes on tobacco products. “These are the six practical, affordable, and achievable measures recommended by WHO to help countries implement specific measures in the convention,” PAHO said.

Tobacco control

The “Report on Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2013” summarises progress in the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first international public health treaty, which entered into force in 2005. In the Americas, PAHO said 29

of 35 countries are parties to the treaty, which obliges its state parties to apply a series of polices and measures to reduce tobacco consumption and protect their populations from second-hand smoke.

“The results are encouraging, since in the nine years that the agreement has been in effect, many lives have been saved,” PAHO/WHO regional adviser on tobacco Adriana Blanco said.

Blanco also warned that a large proportion of the region’s population, especially young people, continue to be exposed to tobacco smoke in public places, as well as to promotional activities aimed at encouraging the use of a highly addictive product.

PAHO said there are 145 million smokers in the region, accounting for 12 per cent of the world’s total, and estimated that about one million people lose their lives as a consequence of tobacco every year.

“The addiction, disease, and death associated with tobacco are absolutely preventable,” Blanco said.

Deaths

For tobacco control programmes to have a greater impact, the report urges that they include interventions that not only prevent young people from starting to smoke but also encourage smokers to quit. “The great burden of mortality due to tobacco in the first half of this century can only be avoided if the people who are smoking today give up tobacco use.”

The report says that the tobacco industry “continues to market and promote its products to low-income populations, women and young people, while implementing increasingly aggressive strategies against tobacco control policies”. The “agestandardised prevalence” of tobacco use among adults in the Americas is 22 per cent, varying widely among countries, from 41 per cent in Chile to seven per cent in Barbados and St Kitts and

Nevis.

According to the report, tobacco kills six million people annually in the world,

and it estimated that if the current trends continue, the number would reach eight million by 2030. PAHO said

smoking is the most important common risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer,

cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.

12 News

thursday, february 20, 2014 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Govt moves to boost neonatal services countrywide

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he Health Ministry is working with the Guyana Help The Kids Foundation to improve neonatal services here and reduce the rate of infant mortality.

As part of the initiative, Dr Narendra Singh, chief of Paediatrics of the Humber River Regional Hospital and associate clinical professor of the McMaster’s University and the organisation are working to develop state-ofthe-art neonatal intensive care units at all of the regional hospitals.

Paediatric doctors are also being trained in postgraduate residency programmes, and nurses in a neonatal nursing programme, while an infection control programme is being established and biomedical support and guidance provided.

Dr Singh stated that the foundation has thus far pledged and donated all necessary equipment for the neonatal intensive care units, including incubators, open care warmers, infant venti-

A section of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) within the Linden Hospital Complex (file photo)

lators, CPAP machines and transport incubators. An estimated $70 million was spent by the organisation to make this possible. It is expected that a total of $1.2 billion will be spent at the end of the year.

The doctor noted too that the organisation also sponsors and facilitates training for doctors and nurses.

Additionally, it is providing guidance and assistance in creating Guyana’s own ne-

onatal health care team so that the Health Ministry, by 2016, is able to effectively sustain its own neonatal intensive care services without the help of the organisation.

Neonatal ICUs

He noted that with the development of neonatal intensive care units (ICUs), infants who would have had slim chances of survival two years ago thrive. It was reported that of the 6012 ba-

bies born at the Georgetown Public Hospital in 2012, 19.3 per cent were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. From January to August 2011 before the neonatal programme, there were 612 neonates (newborns) admitted to the hospital, with 94 deaths at a mortality rate of 15.4 per cent. After implementation of the neonatal programme from September to August 2012, there were 1296 neonates admitted and

120 deaths. The programme reduced the infant mortality rate from 19.3 per cent to 9.3 per cent.

Health care professionals from the private medical institutions in Guyana were invited to be part of the colloquium with the aim of improving their own neonatal services. St Joseph Mercy Hospital, Davis Memorial Hospital, Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital, Medical Arts Centre, Woodlands Hospital, and the Prashad’s Hospital all had representatives on hand at the presentation.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran noted that the work of the neonatal clin-

ic is often not known by the public and downplayed by the ministry. He, however, noted that the time has come for the work done by the clinic and its partners to be made public.

The neonatal intensive care services have thus far been launched at the Georgetown Public Hospital, The Linden Hospital Complex and the New Amsterdam Hospital with much success.

It is expected that the unit and its services will be launched at the Suddie Hospital and the West Demerara Hospital later this year.

Linden town council owes utility co-op $58.6M the matter went to arbitration where it was ruled that the money must be paid in full to the co-op. However, the town council appealed the ruling. To date, the matter has not appeared before a second panel of arbitrators.

Arbitration

Linden IMC Chairman Orin Gordon

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s of December 2013, the Linden Mayor and Town Council owed the Linden Utility Services Co-op Society Limited (LUSCSL) approximately $58.6 million for electricity provided.

It is expected that the parties will go before an arbitration tribunal for a second time in two years to resolve the burning issue, which continues to hinder the cash flow of the co-op.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, LUSCSL General Manager Esme Yangapatty said the municipality’s debt to the co-op society dates back 20 years ago.

She explained that in the in 1990s, LUSCSL and the Linden Mayor and Town Council agreed that the co-op would deduct the rates and taxes it owed to the council from monies owed for the power provided to street lights at Wismar, Linden.

According to Yangapatty, although the council was informed on numerous occasions by way of letter that there was still outstanding electricity fees to be paid, little attempt was made to clear the bill.

As a result, by 1995, it had reportedly gained the attention of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and then Local Government and Regional Development Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

By September 2012, the Linden municipality owed approximately $53 million in electricity tariffs. Under the stewardship of the then Chief Co-op Development Officer Kareem Abdul-Jabar,

Reports indicate that the new Chief Co-op Development Officer Carol Valz is putting systems in place for new arbitration. It is the hope of the LUSCSL general manager that the matter comes to a closure soon.

Linden Mayor and Town Council Interim Management Committee Chairman Orin Gordon told this publication that the council is also waiting for the second arbitration. He contends the council does not owe $58.6 million.

Gordon explained that during the first arbitration, the co-op argued that there were approximately 600 street lamps on government reserve on the Wismar shore when in fact there were only 419.

Based on the council’s analysis of the situation, Gordon argued that approximately $30 million was owed, contending that only 106 lamps were working at the time of the hearing.

As it awaits the second arbitration ruling, the council has moved to purchase 250 60-watt energy saver lamps, moving away from the original 175-watt lamps.

Since October 2013, the council has handed over 100 lamps to the society.

According to Gordon, the remainder will be handed over upon the installation of the 100 supplied.

In the past, the council was required to pay $6000 per 175-watt lamp per year, but with the energy saving bulbs, it was estimated that only $1800 would be paid per year per lamp.

Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul, during a recent interview with Guyana Times, said he is monitoring the situation and would ensure that the matter goes back to arbitration in a timely manner.

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thursday, february 20, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

gets new deputy DPP still reviewing Caricom secretary general Harding’s file C

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lmost one month after Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Chairman, retired Justice Cecil Kennard made his recommendations in the Colwyn Harding case, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Bibi Shalimar Ali-Hack is still in the process of reviewing all the statements.

Crime chief Seelall Persaud on Wednesday confirmed that the file was still with the DPP and explained that, while the PCA chairman would have made his recommendations, the DPP has the final say in the matter.

He noted that the police force was not in possession of the medical certificate, purportedly from Jamaica, which confirmed that Harding was baton raped and was unsure if the document was with the DPP. Nevertheless, Persaud stated that before Harding was taken to Jamaica to seek further medical attention, he was treated at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital where he was examined and as such, they have requested a report from the medical institution. He stated that once the DPP advises on the penalties to be instituted against the implicated ranks, the police will comply.

The DPP chambers was contacted on Wednesday, and an official stated that the file was being given due attention.

Twenty-three-year-old Harding, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is alleging that a police constable, in the presence of two other senior officers, forced a police baton into his rectum, while he was in custody between November 15 and November 18, 2013, pending investigation into a report of burglary.

Baton rape accused, Colwyn Harding

It is alleged that during his detention, Harding assaulted a peace officer and behaved disorderly and he was charged for the offences. He appeared in court on November 18, 2013, and was placed on bail in the sum of $50,000, but was unable to raise this sum and was remanded to prison. The matters are still pending.

No evidence

Based upon his careful analysis of the report of the investigation conducted by the police’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), Justice Kennard said there was no conclusive evidence that Harding was baton raped, but Timehri Police Station ranks had used excessive force.

He thus recommended that at least two ranks be charged with assault and the others face disciplinary action. The former chancellor of the judiciary was, however, not privy to the medical certificates.

About a week ago, Harding’s attorney, Nigel Hughes disclosed that his client had been examined by a medical expert, Dr Dalgleish

Joseph at St Joseph Mercy Hospital in Guyana and doctors in Jamaica. He noted that the Guyanese doctor pointed to “active rectal mucosal bleeding on Mr Harding in the upper rectum”.

The Jamaican doctors who subsequently examined Harding noted injuries which were consistent with the findings of the local Guyanese expert, and pointed to an injury which matched the abuse claims.

Harding spent 33 days at the Georgetown Public Hospital where doctors said he suffered a strangulated hernia and was discharged on January 20 after undergoing several surgeries.

Detained

The administration of the police force was first informed of the alleged assault by the ranks attached to Timehri Police Station by way of a text message from Harding’s mother, Susan Harding, to the police commissioner in December 2013.

Consequently, an investigation was launched by the commander of A Division under which the Timehri Police Station falls. Under the story broken in the media, condemnation of the police’s alleged brutality flooded in; a group of outraged Guyanese formed a committee to support Harding and to protest against police brutality.

The matter was subsequently investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility and the file was sent to the Police Complaints Authority for review.

The policeman accused of the alleged assault has been placed under close arrest and a number of other ranks implicated have been transferred to other locations.

Probe completed into Bourda woman who died after giving birth

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33-year-old woman died at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital after giving birth to a healthy baby girl Tuesday last.

Petra Blair, of Charlotte Street, Bourda, Georgetown, suffered postpartum haemorrhage and succumbed at 02:18h in the Intensive Care Unit after efforts to stop the bleeding failed.

Her husband, Jason Blair told Guyana Times in a telephone interview that his wife went into premature labour at their home on Sunday, February 9, and was taken to the hospital where she was admitted.

He said the doctors, as well as himself, were checking on his wife regularly to ensure that she was doing great and the labour was progressing as it should.

After the baby came at 14:59h on Monday, his wife

began to haemorrhage and she was rushed into surgery, he said, adding that he and other family members were at the hospital, checking and waiting.

According to a copy of the initial report on Blair’s death seen by this newspaper, the woman lost two litres of blood after her “term pregnancy” culminated in “early labour”, and there was nothing that doctors could have done to stop the bleeding.

Investigation

The bereft husband said he has written to the Guyana Medical Council to have it investigate his wife’s case and he will definitely pursue the matter wholeheartedly, so that his wife can rest in peace.

He alleged that upon registering his daughter, who is doing exceptional-

ly well, at the hospital, he asked a nurse who he would have to speak to in relation to the post-mortem examination and was told that “the post-mortem is not important and what he should be worried about is paying off his bill to the hospital”.

Attempts to get a comment from the St Joseph Mercy Hospital and the presiding doctor proved futile.

Blair leaves to mourn her husband, children and other family members.

In a statement, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran expressed his condolences to the family.

He said he was saddened at the death of the young woman.

The minister declared that for the year 2014, the ministry is putting systems in place to reduce maternal deaths.

aricom has appointed Surinamese national Manorma Soeknandan as its new deputy secretary general, the secretariat announced on Wednesday.

Ambassador Soeknandan assumed duties at the Caricom Secretariat on February 1. She succeeds Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite.

A familiar figure in the community, Ambassador Soeknandan served as resident ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to Guyana from 2001 to January 2013. She was accredited as that nation’s ambassador to Caricom and to Jamaica in January 2002.

During her tenure as resident ambassador in Guyana, she became the dean of the diplomatic corps. She has represented her country, including as head of delegation, in several meetings of

New Deputy Caricom Deputy Secretary General Manorma Soeknandan

Caricom’s organs and bodies.

Ambassador Soeknandan has extensive diplomatic experience in the international/regional arena, with

competencies in managing inter-state relations through diplomatic channels, negotiating cooperation arrangements between states and institutions, and negotiating with international development partners.

The new deputy secretary general also has experience in a wide range of areas, such as managing human and financial resources; strategic leadership and operational management; negotiating treaties, agreements, protocols; public awareness and public education.

Ambassador Soeknandan holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL B.) from Anton de Kom University and worked for 27 years as a lawyer with the government of Suriname. She also served as head and manager of several departments with the Justice and Police Ministry, including manager of computerisation projects.

Body of missing labourer found in Pomeroon River

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he body of a labourer who fell overboard when two boats collided in the Pomeroon River on Monday was recovered Wednesday afternoon in the river.

Ronald Ewart Newyear, aka “Blacka” of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, was found in the Pomeroon River at Aberdeen. The body was recovered after several searches were conducted by res-

idents and officers from Charity Police Station.

An autopsy is scheduled to determine his cause of death.

Newyear went missing after an alleged river mishap occurred in the Lower Pomeroon River at Grant Aberdeen on February 17 around 21:00h. The accident involved two boats propelled by 40-horsepower outboard engines.

The captain of the 20foot wooden boat in which “Blacka” was travelling, Anthony Doodnauth, 27, was proceeding along the western side of the Pomeroon River when another vessel proceeding in the opposite direction collided with his vessel.

Newyear had travelled to the Pomeroon to work as a labourer for Doodnauth’s father, David Dass.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, February 20, 2014

News

Turks and Caicos Integrity Body of drowned UK man Commission to be tested surfaces on wedding day O I t seems that the resolve of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Integrity Commission is about to be tested as a result of Monday’s House of Assembly session, when opposition member and deputy speaker of the house, Josephine Connolly, excused herself from voting or chairing the committee to review proposed new broadcast legislation.

The Broadcast Bill is a move to strengthen the TCI ownership requirements of local media and the bill was presented as one that would protect islanders’ interests.

However, it was revealed that a minister could waive the local participation requirement and allow a foreign firm to provide all or most of the capital to own a broadcasting station.

The issue of foreign ownership was recently in the news when it was reported

n the day British citizen Umar Mohammed was supposed to marry his Trinidadian sweetheart, Abigail Agard, Coast Guard divers were fishing his body from the Mayaro beach.

At around 08:00h on Tuesday, relatives found the bloated body of the 34-year-old information technology student floating near the shoreline at Grand Lagoon after he disappeared while sea bathing on Sunday. Relatives had been searching since 05:00h and discovered his body near

Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly building in Grand Turk

that regional telecoms provider Digicel, the local operations of which are run by the son of ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) backbench member Norman Saunders, was interested in buying a local television station WIV4.

According to Connolly,

her interest in a local broadcast station appeared to conflict with her parliamentary obligation to debate, and support or deny support for a bill dealing with the ownership, regulation and potential taxation of local broadcasting that could affect her business interest.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Colombian military chief General Barrero replaced amid scandals

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olombia’s defence minister has replaced the chief of the armed forces in an effort to tackle a series of scandals involving the military. In one of the biggest shake-ups of Colombia’s military leadership, General Leonardo Barrero and four other senior generals were “sent into retirement”.

The move follows allegations of a deep corruption network in Colombia’s army.

General Juan Pablo Rodriguez has been named as the new chief of the armed forces. Colombian news magazine Semana last week published an article alleging that a network of corrupt army officers had taken huge amounts of money in kickbacks and diverted public funds.

Following the article’s publication, President Juan Manuel Santos ordered the defence ministry to carry out a full investigation. On Tuesday, Defence Minister

a river mouth at the end of Eccles Road.

According to Coast Guard public relations officer, Leutenant Kirk JeanBaptiste, Mohammed’s body was discovered several miles north of the beach at Maloney Road where he went missing.

Speaking with TT Guardian, Mohammed’s aunt, Zorina Mohammed, said relatives became hysterical after finding the body. However, she said, they now have closure knowing they could have his Janazah (funeral) later this

week.

Mohammed, a regular visitor to Trinidad, was staying at his deceased grandmother’s Gangaram Branch Road home, New Grant, since last year. Agard said on Monday she and Mohammed were in the water when he decided to venture further out for a dive.

At the same time, she said, they both dipped under the water to break a wave that was rushing toward them.

However, when she resurfaced he was nowhere to be found. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaica’s population to stay under three million, says PIOJ official

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he Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) says that Jamaica’s population is not likely to exceed three million, based on declining fertility rates, high external migration, and declining mortality.

“There has been discussion about Jamaica’s population growing out of control and that is not the case,” said Toni-Shae Freckleton, manager of PIOJ’s Population and Health Unit.

“Data from the Population and Housing Census and projections com-

ing out of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin) indicate this on all levels” she stated.

Freckleton was speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank in observance of Safer Sex Week, which was observed from February 10-14.

She noted that Jamaica’s population is ageing, with a decline in fertility rates causing the zero to 14 segment of the population to fall below 30 per cent. “The last Housing and Population Census indicates that this particular age group is

shrinking,” she stated.

Concomitant with this is an increase in the working age population (15-64) and an increase in the over 60 age group, which is the fastest growing segment of the population and that this is a direct result of improvements in life expectancy and health care. Freckleton said that total fertility rates have declined from an average high of six children per woman in the 1960’s to 2.4 children per woman in the last Reproductive Health Survey of 2008. (Excerpt from Jamaica

Observer)

Sandals supports fight against paediatric cancer and blood disorders

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General Barrero and four other senior generals have been replaced in one of the biggest military shake-ups

Juan Carlos Pinzon said generals Manuel Guzman, Fabricio Cabrera, Diego Sanchez, and Jaime Reyes would leave the military “for failing to take adequate administrative action and scoring low marks during inspections”.

General Barrero, mean-

while, was replaced for “making dismissive remarks” about an investigation into a separate army scandal. Semana had posted taped recordings of General Barrero speaking to a retired officer under investigation for extrajudicial killings. (Excerpt from BBC News)

andals Foundation has recommitted to its partnership with the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) by contributing Cdn$200,000 to the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative (SCI).

The funds will help in renovating a telemedicine facility at Victoria Hospital in St Lucia, which will be used for real time interactive conferences and medical consultation of patient files.

Telemedicine rooms are already in operation in the Bahamas and Barbados under the SCI initiative. Over

the next six months, three more such facilities will open in Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia.

According to Sandals Foundation, the aim is for medical professionals in the Caribbean to connect with SickKids oncologists and haematologists in Canada to collaborate on treatment options.

The SickKids-Caribbean Initiative – of which the president of the Sandals Foundation Adam Stewart was named Ambassador alongside Paul Lee-Chin – is a key focus for the

SickKids Centre for Global Child Health. The objective is to improve outcomes for children affected by cancers and serious blood disorders in the Caribbean.

“We are pleased to continue supporting this very important initiative, which will save the lives of many children living in the Caribbean,” Stewart said.

“The Sandals Foundation believes in partnerships that will encourage and support community development in our Caribbean region (and) health care is a very important aspect of this...” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Dominica, Dubai-based company sign Jailed Venezuela protest leader MoU for construction of luxury hotel urges Maduro’s ‘exit’

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ominica has signed an agreement with the Dubai-based Range Development Limited (RDL) for the construction of a 125-room high-end luxury hotel in the north of the island.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the Memorandum of Understand (MoU) is the first agreement to be signed under the investment arm of the Economic Citizenship Programme.

“This is the first MoU that the government is signing under the Citizen by Investment Programme; the investment arm of our Economic Citizenship Programme which we believe is the way to go towards addressing economic development issues, employment and greater investment in our tourism industry. “So we are very keen on engaging them and moving this process forward,” he added.

Skerrit said the Dubaibased company is also involved in a multi-million dollar investment project in St Kitts-Nevis and he was confident of their expertise and knowledge of the market.

According to a statement posted on the website of the company, Range Developments is developing Park Hyatt St Kitts, an ultra-luxury 5 star resort hotel in St Kitts-Nevis. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

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mprisoned protest leader Leopoldo Lopez urged supporters to keep fighting for the departure of Venezuela’s socialist government, even as he was due in court on Wednesday accused of fomenting unrest that has killed at least four people.

Lopez, a 42-year-old Harvard-educated economist, surrendered to troops on Tuesday after spearheading three weeks of often rowdy demonstrations around Venezuela that have turned

into the biggest challenge yet to President Nicolas Maduro.

“Today more than ever, our cause has to be the exit of this government,” Lopez said, sitting next to his wife in a pre-recorded video to be released if he was arrested.

“The exit from this disaster, the exit of this group of people who have kidnapped the future of Venezuelans is in your hands. Let’s fight. I will be doing so.”

Four people have died in the protests and the vio-

lence around them, three of them shot dead and another run over by a car during a demonstrations. There have been scores of arrests and injuries.

Many Caracas residents banged pots and pans overnight in a traditional form of protest. Student demonstrators blocked a highway in Caracas on Wednesday morning, witnesses said.

Also, police and protesters clashed in the western Andean city of San Antonio.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

15 Around the world thursday, February 20, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

Thai court warns against Ukrainian leader denounces using emergency powers coup bid, West weighs sanctions to disperse protests U A krainian President Viktor Yanukovich accused pro-European opposition leaders on Wednesday of trying to seize power by force after at least 26 people died in the worst violence since the former Soviet republic gained independence.

European Union leaders condemned what they called “the unjustified use of excessive force by the Ukrainian authorities”, and said they were urgently preparing targeted sanctions against those responsible for the crackdown.

Protesters have been occupying central Kiev for almost three months since Yanukovich spurned a farreaching trade deal with the EU and accepted a US$15billion Russian bailout.

The sprawling nation of 46 million people with an ailing economy and endemic corruption is the object of

There was hand-to-hand fighting through the night, lit by blazing barricades on Kiev’s Independence Square, or Maidan

a geopolitical tug-of-war between Moscow and the West.

That struggle was played out in hand-to-hand fighting through the night, lit by blazing barricades on Kiev’s Independence Square, or Maidan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman insisted the Kremlin was sticking to a policy of not intervening in Ukraine,

although his point man has called for decisive action to crush the protests.

The Kremlin said Putin and Yanukovich spoke by telephone overnight, calling the events an attempted coup.

Moscow announced on Monday a resumption of stalled aid to Kiev, pledging a US$2-billion cash injection hours before the crackdown began, although the money

has not yet arrived and the Kremlin spokesman would not say when it would be paid.

Ukraine’s hryvnia currency, flirting with its lowest levels since the global credit crunch five years ago, weakened to beyond nine to the dollar for the second time in February after the violence. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Rajiv Gandhi killers to be freed

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he government in India’s Tamil Nadu state has decided to free seven people convicted of plotting the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The six men and a woman were members of the Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger rebel group. The move came a day after the Supreme Court commuted the death sentences of three of the convicts, citing delays in deciding their mercy pleas.

Gandhi’s murder in May 1991 was seen as retaliation for the sending of Indian peacekeepers to Sri Lanka in 1987.

The decision to free the prisoners was taken on Wednesday morning at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha.

Jayalalitha told the state assembly later that the government would send the Cabinet decision to the federal govern-

Rajiv Gandhi’s murder was seen as retaliation for his decision to send Indian peacekeepers to Sri Lanka in 1987

ment for approval.

“If there is no reply within three days from the centre, the state government will release all the seven... in accordance with the powers vested with the state government,” she said.

Among the prisoners to be released are the three men whose death sentences were commuted on Tuesday by the Supreme Court – Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan. They have been in jail for more than 20 years and on death row since 1998.

The court ruled that they should be spared the death sentence as it was inhumane to keep them for so long under the threat of execution.

Nalini Sriharan, an Indian Tamil woman who will also be released, was also given the death penalty by the trial court in 1998, but the authorities commuted this to life imprisonment in 2000. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Al Qaeda-linked group UK court upholds claims Beirut bombings Snowden-linked detention

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he al Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades claimed a twin bomb attack in Beirut on Wednesday, saying such attacks would continue until Hezbollah forces withdrew from the fighting in Syria and its own fighters were released from Lebanese jails.

The radical Lebanese group, which claimed the attack on its Twitter account, also said it was responsible for a November 19 attack on the Iranian embassy that killed 23 people, using the same tactic of twin suicide bombs. In both cases, most of the victims were civilians.

Hezbollah is a powerful Shi’ite Muslim political and militant group in Lebanon that is funded by Iran. The group has sent hundreds of fighters to neighbouring Syria, giving a boost to its

ally President Bashar al-Assad against mainly Sunni rebels seeking to topple him.

“We will continue – through the grace of God and his strength – to target Iran and its party in Lebanon (Hezbollah) in all of their security, political and military centres to achieve our two demands: One, the exit of all fighters from the Party of Iran in Syria. Two, the release of all our prisoners from oppressive Lebanese prisons,” the statement said.

The three-year uprising in Syria, which began as popular protests but descended into civil war, has increasingly been taken over by Sunni Islamist groups. Some rebel groups have affinities or direct links to al Qaeda or militant groups in neighbouring countries such as Lebanon and Iraq.(Excerpt from Reuters)

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ritain’s High Court has ruled that police legally detained the partner of Glenn Greenwald, the journalist at the centre of the Edward Snowden spying leaks. The court rejected on Wednesday a legal challenge, which argued that the detention of David Miranda and the seizure of leaked documents violated free expression.

In a 34-page written judgment, Lord Justice John Laws said the detention “was a proportionate measure in the circumstances” and that its objective “was not only legitimate, but very pressing”.

Three judges ruled that officers had acted properly when they invoked Schedule Seven of the UK Terrorism Act 2000 to stop Miranda on August 18, seize encrypted devices, and question him for nearly nine hours.

Schedule Seven allows British police to hold and question a person for a limited time, and confiscate electronic equipment, even if there is no evidence of suspicious activity.

Lawyers for the Guardian newspaper, which paid for Miranda’s trip from Germany to Brazil, had argued that Miranda was detained unlawfully. But the government challenged this claim, saying the seizure was necessary to prevent the material from falling into the hands of “terrorists”.

Greenwald described his partner’s detention as “clearly intended to send a message of intimidation to those of us who have been reporting on the NSA [the U.S. National Security Agency] and [its British counterpart] GCHQ”. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

Thai court endorsed on Wednesday Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s declaration of a state of emergency, a day after five people were killed in gun battles in Bangkok, but warned the government not to use it to disperse peaceful protesters.

The country’s police chief said the court ruling would not affect the security operation, but added that there were no plans to retake more protest sites after Tuesday’s “Peace for Bangkok Mission” saw the deadliest clashes since antigovernment demonstrations began in November.

Yingluck, seen by opponents as a proxy for her brother, ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, has been working from a Defence Ministry compound in north Bangkok since the protests forced her to vacate her Government House offices.

Protesters who want to drive her from office and eradicate Thaksin’s influ-

ence surrounded the building on Wednesday, but there were no clashes with troops standing guard and Yingluck and other ministers stayed away.

The Civil Court in Bangkok dismissed a case brought by protest leaders who wanted a 60-day state of emergency announced last month declared illegal, but added that the government was “not allowed to use clauses in the state of emergency to disperse the protests”.

The protests are the latest instalment of an eightyear political battle broadly pitting the Bangkok middle class and royalist establishment against the mostly rural supporters of Yingluck and Thaksin.

Problems continue to mount for Yingluck, after an anti-corruption agency filed charges against her over a soured rice subsidy scheme that has stoked middle-class anger and left hundreds of thousands of farmers, her natural backers, unpaid.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Former U.S. soldier guilty of rape found hanging

The 2006 incident was one of several involving American soldiers that strained U.S.-Iraq relations (Getty Images)

A former United States Army soldier, sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2006 rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the killing of her parents and sister, has been found hanging in his cell.

The Los Angeles Times report, quoting prison officials, said the death of Steven Dale Green was being investigated as suicide.

Green had been found hanging in his Arizona cell last week, according to the Times report, which was published on Tuesday.

Green, 28, was convicted in 2009 of the rape and murder of 14-year-old Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi and the deaths of her father, mother and six-year-old sister in Mahmudiya, 32 kilometres south of Baghdad.

He was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole, after a feder-

al jury in Kentucky could not decide whether he should be executed.

During the trial, prosecutors portrayed him as the ringleader of a gang of five soldiers that plotted to invade the home of the family of four to rape the girl, and later bragged about the crime.

Green, who was 19 when he committed the crime, was described as the triggerman in the group of soldiers, who donned black “ninja” outfits and raped the girl before killing her and her family.

Three of the four other soldiers pleaded guilty in the attack and the fourth was convicted, all in military courts. They received sentences ranging from five to 100 years. Green was tried as a civilian because he was arrested after he was discharged from the army.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16

thursday, February 20, 2014

guyanatimesgy.com

Africa

Caribbean

The Voice boosts RJR profit, as Reggae Investors shun emerging markets, especially South Africa Boyz failure leads to lower revenue

R

JR Communications won big from U.S. talent show The Voice in the last three months of 2013.

The media group earned J$43.2 million for its December third-quarter, or 14.5 per cent more than yearearlier levels as realised advertising windfall from securing showing rights to the fifth season of the show, which was won by Jamaican Tessanne Chin.

Contrastingly, the failure of the national football team

to qualify for the World Cup negatively impacted revenue. “Strategic programming, which included the acquisition of the broadcast rights of ‘The Voice’ for both cable and free-to-air television resulted in improved viewership and revenues in this quarter,” indicated the RJR group in its shareholders report prefacing the just released financials.

Revenues for the quarter were J$507.9 million or seven per cent higher year-on-year.

Earnings in the other income

category for the quarter at J$20.9 million was flat when compared over the period.

The group previously told the Observer its Television Jamaica (TVJ) subsidiary benefited in terms of advertisements and audience attraction, though figures were not so forthcoming.

The Voice shown on U.S. network NBC was aired live on RE-TV the cable partner station of TVJ, with a repeat broadcast on the local channel. (Jamaica Observer)

I

nvestors grew even more pessimistic about the developing world in February, with a majority saying the biggest threat to the stability of global financial markets was turmoil in emerging markets, a survey showed on Tuesday.

A monthly fund managers survey by Bank of America Merrill Lynch showed investors’ cash balance jumped to

4.8 per cent, the highest since July 2012, as investors remained concerned about overstretched equity valuations.

A net 29 per cent of investors are underweight emerging equities, a record low for the survey, which dates back to 2001. The net reading shows the difference between overweight and underweight positions. Some 175 people, who manage combined assets

of US$456 billion, were polled.

The main concern is coming from China’s growth outlook. The number of investors expecting a weaker Chinese economy over the next year rose to a net 40 per cent from 28 per cent in January.

Growth expectations also eased at a global level. A net 56 per cent forecast a stronger economy, down from 75 per cent. (Reuters)

Asia

Samsung plans to sue Dyson over Apple looking at cars, medical "copycat" allegations on vacuum cleaner devices for growth North America

A

pple Inc is looking at cars and medical devices to diversify its sources of revenue, as growth from iPhones and iPads slows, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report.

Apple’s head of mergers and acquisitions, Adrian Perica, met with Tesla Motors Inc founder Elon Musk at the company’s headquarters last year around the same time analysts suggested that Apple acquire the Model S electric car maker, the newspaper re-

ported on Sunday, citing a source.

The company is also exploring medical devices and sensors that can help predict heart attacks by studying sounds blood makes at it flows through arteries.

The company’s senior vice president of operations, Jeff Williams, has met with U.S. Food and Drug Administration chief Dr Margaret Hamburg and Dr Jeffrey Shuren, who oversees the agency’s approval

for medical devices, to discuss “mobile medical applications,” the paper reported, citing FDA records.

Apple could not be reached for comment. Rival Google Inc recently bought thermostat maker Nest Labs for US$3.2 billion, robot maker Boston Dynamic and artificial intelligence startup DeepMind Technologies Ltd. The company has also been working on projects including Google Glass and self-driving cars.

(Reuters)

Europe

Peugeot signs rescue deal with China’s Dongfeng Motor

S

truggling French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen has sealed a long-awaited rescue deal that will see its founding family cede control of the company.

China’s Dongfeng Motors and the French government will each invest about 800 million euros (£660 million) in return for 14 per cent stakes.

Another 1.4 billion euros will be raised from existing investors in Peugeot. The deal

is still subject to a shareholder vote but will provide muchneeded cash to keep Peugeot afloat after government guarantees expire. Should the deal be approved, the Peugeot family’s 25.4 per cent stake will be diluted to 14 per cent, matching that of the French government and the Chinese carmaker.

Europe’s second-largest carmaker also announced its latest financial results on Wednesday, warning that it

may face losses until 2016.

Peugeot said its net loss narrowed to 2.32 billion euros last year, compared to a five billion euro loss in 2012.

Sales also fell by 2.4 per cent from a year earlier to 54.1 billion euros, due to tepid demand for new cars in Europe.

There have been months of talks over the fate of the French carmaker, and reports say the deal is likely to be formally signed in March. (BBC News)

Market statistics Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Cambio Rates

Fixed as at July 24, 2013 Calculated at 94% purity

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Selling

GBP

$342.48

$346.77

CAN

$188.11

$190.28

USD

$205.49

$207.93

U.S.

$1335.00

Cambio

$202.67

Gross

$254,331

Net

$236,527

Selling

$262,426

Indicators as on February 18, 2014 Live Spot Gold

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1310.90

$1311.90

Low/High

$1308.30

$1323.10

Change

+11.40

-0.86

London Gold Fix

Feb 19 USD GBP EUR

Feb 18 USD GBP EUR

AM

PM

1318.75 791.14 959.09

1320.50 791.62 960.08

AM

PM

1314.00 787.44 957.59

1320.75 790.35 959.99

Indicators Crude Oil

Price Silver

Platinum

US$ per barrel

$110.46 USD per Ounce

$21.54 $1412.00

Change %

+1.25 Change %

-0.43 -8.00

S

amsung Electronics has filed a lawsuit demanding 10 billion Korean won (£5.6 million) in compensation from the British appliance maker Dyson because it claims it was depicted as a copycat.

The lawsuit, filed last week in the Seoul district court in Korea, were filed against Dyson because its “previous litigation has hurt Samsung’s corporate image”, the company told the Korea Times.

The move follows the deci-

Nakheel says retailers book 40 per cent of new mall on The Palm

D

ubai developer Nakheel confirmed that 120 retailers have booked spots at Nakheel Mall, its upcoming new retail destination on Palm Jumeirah.

Up to 40 per cent of the mall’s available retail space is now booked, the company said in a statement. The Dhs2.5 billion, 418,000 square metre mall, which is slated for completion in 2016, will be built at the northern end of the island’s trunk.

% Change: -0.56

Open:16124.69

High:16225.72

Low: 16031.66

% YTD: -3.23

52Wk Hi:16174.51

52 Wk Lo: 12471.49

The complex will include 200 shops, 4000 parking bays, two anchor department stores, a nine-screen cinema and six medical clinics. There will also be a roof plaza with 12 fine dining restaurants and other cafes and eateries.

In the statement, Nakheel also said that more than 70 per cent of space at its 10,000 square metre community centre at Al Furjan has been booked, while 55 per cent of its International City neigh-

bourhood mall is taken.

In total, 160 bookings have been confirmed across the developer’s upcoming retail projects. Earlier this week, Nakheel also announced that it was opening leasing facilities for the 136,000 square metre The Pointe Mall at Palm Jumeirah. The Dhs800 million project features over 200 retail opportunities with a range of shopping, dining and entertainment facilities, including a fountain display. (Gulf Business)

Investors' guide

How to create a successful digital strategy

G

Why digital?

lobally, the marketing budgets given to digital advertising are growing year- on-year and, in some cases, now exceed the budgets given to traditional media.

Internet penetration and specifically social media usage have exploded in MENA over the last couple of years.

If YouTube were a TV channel it would have the highest viewership in the UAE, and on the mobile front there are also huge opportunities.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are in the top three globally when it comes to smartphone penetration.

The brief

Changes: -89.84

used before Dyson had patented it.

Samsung said when the lawsuit was withdrawn that it would establish the damage to its brand image and whether to act. Now it has.

“We are initially seeking 10 billion won from the UK-based manufacturer.

However, the amount will increase depending on how the court proceedings go,” Samsung’s spokesperson told the Korea Times. (The Guardian)

Middle East

You need to start with

Last: 16040.56

sion by Dyson in October 2013 to drop a patent infringement case that it brought against Samsung in August, in which it claimed that the Korean giant had copied the steering system used in its Motion Sync cleaner from the Dyson DC37 and DC39 cleaners, which had then been on sale for two years.

Samsung was able to defend itself against Dyson’s case by presenting “prior art” – an example of the idea being

a comprehensive brief that has your company’s business and marketing objectives at its heart. You need to think about the key challenge that your communication needs to address, the brand positioning and your brand’s rallying call. Together, these will help you decide if you need to focus on conversion channels such as PPC, as well as shaping the best mix of digital channels and assets to deliver your brand’s message.

Next, you need to define your target audience. This can include demographics, psychographics, consumer/product segmentation, and ethnicity.

The beauty of digital marketing is the finite targeting that can be done, so the more spe-

cific here the better, as it will help define the different types of media channels and digital platforms used. You should also include what the desired consumer behaviour or belief is as a result of the communication efforts.

The strategy

Once a thorough brief has been constructed, you can start with the strategy, and from the strategy, comes your plan. At UM, we look at strategy as storytelling and this is a useful framework to put in place. The age of simply broadcasting your message is over and digital provides you with all the tools you need to do something innovative and relevant. (Business Dictionary) TO BE CONTINUED

Business concept – Industry environment The overall economic, regulatory, social and political conditions that affect all participants in an industrial market in a similar way and cannot readily be influenced by marketing. The industry environment experienced by a business can include such things as demographics, lifestyle shifts and economic cycles.

news

17

thursday, february 20, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

CFATF official coming for talks on AML bill

Children’s art exhibition opens

– govt, opposition continue to trade blame Additionally, APNU has also proposed the seizure of cash of over $2 million by the police or customs, once there are reasonable suspicions. The CPC in his submitted document had major concerns with the anti-money laundering authority, introduced by the opposition.

However, Teixeira told Guyana Times that she is growing tired of the back and forth movement, but expressed hope that the work of the committee will culminate at the next meeting, paving the way for the bill to AML Special Select Committee Chairperson Gail Teixeira

A

Extension

APNU members led by Shadow Finance Minister Carl Greenidge requested an extension to study the queries sought by Dhurjon.

The CPC had asked for clarification during the last meeting of the committee on Wednesday.

The remaining amendments; however, are expected to be presented during the next meeting set for next Wednesday.

APNU in its proposed amendments is seeking to remove the powers of the finance minister to appoint the director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and have it placed within a committee of the National Assembly.

It is also pushing for the establishment of an antimoney laundering authority, comprising 10 members appointed by the House.

T

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) official on Friday will meet with parliamentarians fine-tuning the controversial AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill.

Chairperson of the special select committee looking at the bill, Gail Teixeira made this disclosure on Wednesday, minutes after a brief meeting with committee members at Parliament Buildings.

According to the government’s chief whip, preparations have commenced for the arrival of the CFATF official, who is expected to address concerns expressed by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

On Wednesday, when the committee met, Chief Parliamentary Counsel (CPC) Cecil Dhurjon submitted a document with one of the draft amendments proposed by the coalition, but sought further clarification on the others.

Some of the many pieces on display at the exhibition at the National Library

APNU parliamentarian Carl Greenidge

be presented in the National Assembly next Thursday.

“This back and forth is becoming very tiresome...

I think Guyanese people are getting tired, and they have a right to be and as the chairman of the committee, I am finding it rather tiresome myself,” she said.

“You know this is just becoming a masquerade, this is just becoming a masquerade, this bill and the passage of this bill,” Teixeira added, while responding to the apparent contradictory statement made by Opposition Leader David Granger regarding the coalition’s quest to have the bill in the House in a timely fashion.

In addition to Teixeira and Greenidge, the meeting was also attended by the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill and APNU parliamentarian Jaipaul Sharma.

Absent

Basil Williams attended the first half of the meeting while Alliance For Change (AFC) leader Khemraj Ramjattan and Joseph Harmon were absent.

Nandlall told this newspaper that the opposition did not furnish the CPC with adequate information during the initial stage; hence, Dhurjon chronicled a series of questions with the aim of attaining further clarification.

“The opposition mem-

bers today (Wednesday) were unable to provide that additional instructions, clarifications, and explanation,” he said.

But Greenidge told Guyana Times that the coalition would be basing its questions on autonomy.

He explained that the government and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) had alleged that CFATF had indicated that the anti-money laundering bill should be based solely on its recommendation and should not be altered to include amendments to the principal act.

Opinion

Additionally, APNU would seek CFATF’s opinion on the establishment of an anti-money laundering authority.

But while the coalition is looking forward to meeting the CFATF official, Greenidge said the meeting should not be rushed.

“I don’t know that they are expected to come Friday… let me make it very clear, there are games being played here.”

Guyana was granted another extension to comply with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards.

According to the government, the FATF plenary members on February 13 accepted the CFATF recommendation for Guyana to receive an extension.

However, it was said that the country should pass the anti-money launder bill before the next CFATF plenary meeting in May 2014, when the country is expected to be reviewed.

Guyana is reportedly mandated to file a report by February 28 to CFATF for review and report to plenary members in May 2014.

This report will include Guyana’s plan of action to correct its deficiencies as part of the ongoing process.

Guyana is expected to attach to that report the conclusions on the bill.

he Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, through its Mash Secretariat, on Tuesday, launched its third annual child art exhibition at the National Library’s Conference Room.

The exhibition features the entries for the Children’s Art Competition, whose winners were awarded at the launch.

The competition, which was opened to children aged four to 17 years, received more than 220 entries from across the country.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the conveyor of the competition, renowned storyteller Michael Khan, fondly known as “Old Man Pappi”, stated that the ministry wishes to involve every individual in the Mashramani celebrations and this was one way of getting the nation’s children involved.

He stated that while every individual enjoys the Mashramani activities, in some form or the other, not everyone usually has the chance to participate and as such, the ministry continues to make provisions for these individuals.

“Not everyone can jump in front of a Mash band on Mash Day, certainly not many children, and Mashramani is now taking a new momentum.

"We have all aspects and we cater for all. We are giving children the chance to express themselves on how they feel about Mash,” he stated.

The competition was divided into several catego-

ries, drawing and painting for the age of four to 15 group, and painting, creative designs, and drawing for the age 15-17 group.

Azrelita Williams of Precious Jewels Nursery took the first prize of $25,000 in the drawing contest for four to six-year-olds category, while Leandra Marcus of Westfield Preparatory and Emanuel Lewis of JE Burnham Nursery placed second and third, winning cash prizes of $20,000 and $15,000 respectively.

Painting

In the painting age four to six category, entries from Shiloh Allen and Josiah Singh, both of Alexander Village Nursery, were submitted. Allen, the first place winner, received $25,000, while Singh received $20,000.

In the drawing age seven to nine category, Reya Arjoon of Patentia Primary proved her skills by taking away the winner’s prize.

Azriel Williams of North Georgetown Primary placed second and Omadevi Sewdat of Leonora Primary placed third.

Jonathan Ganga and Basmattie Parbu, both of Leonora Primary School, were the only entries for the painting age seven to nine category, with Ganga taking first place.

The drawing age 1012 category saw Shekinah Swami of Patentia Primary in first place, Jetendra Totaram of Number 56 Village Primary in second place, and Romel Lackhan of Parika Salem Secondary

in third place.

The painting age 1012 contest’s winning entries were Georina Dick of Graham’s Hall Primary, followed by Marie DeSouza of Parika Salem Secondary and Said Azeez of Graham’s Hall Primary.

Vanessa Raghubeer of Skeldon Line Path Secondary won herself the honourable mention prize.

Nick Beharry of Zeeburg Secondary, and Osamo Parie and Stephon Shivnauth of Patentia Primary took first, second and third place respectively in the drawing age 13-15 category.

Gunaan Shivshankar, Ramanand Mangar and Tushad Mohabir, all of Patentia Secondary, submitted the first-, second- and third-place winning entries for the painting age 13-15 category.

Romanand Mangar, Vidya Boodhoo and David Washington, all from Patentia Primary, dominated in the craft and collage (creative designs) category for the 13-15 age group, while the judge’s prize was awarded to Melissa Wilson.

Last, but definitely not the least, Nateshia Isaacs of Bishops’ High School and Jude Holder of the Guyana Medical Institute took the prizes in the craft and collage age 16-17 category.

Competitors thanked the ministry for the opportunity to express themselves while showing off their talents, and said they would again participate in the competition, come next year.

The exhibition is expected to conclude next Friday.

Two killed in Port Kaituma accident

T

wo miners are dead following an accident involving an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and a truck at Falls Top, Port Kaituma North West District on Tuesday evening.

Mark Bethune, 23 and Damion Arthur, 23 both of Port Kaituma, NWD were pronounced dead on arrival at the Port Kaituma Hospital. According to information received, the two men were on an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) heading out of the backdam when the truck bearing registration number GLL 8191 collided with them while crossing paths.

Guyana Times understands that there might have

been a third person on the ATV when the accident occurred but this could not have been confirmed by the police.

Based on reports gathered, both vehicles were speeding but the circumstances surrounding the accident remain sketchy. A source told this newspaper that both vehicles had to be visible to each other as they were driving. He confirmed that at the time of the accident, the place was still bright. The source added that the ATV is completely wrecked as a result of the collision. The distance away from the accident scene to the hospital was some 25km.

Bethune and Arthur

would have suffered severe injuries about their bodies and were rushed to the hospital but due to the distance they had to travel, it was almost impossible for them to have survived.

An official at the hospital stated that the two men were taken to the Port Kaituma Hospital about 20:45hrs. The official stated that from all indications, the men had broken bones and would have sustained head injuries.

Their bodies were taken to the mortuary where a post mortem will be performed.

Police stated that the driver and two porters of the motor lorry are in custody assisting with the investigations.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, february 20, 2014

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Lighten up and have some fun. Accepting invitations to social activities is a sure way to meet new and exciting people. A casual encounter may lead to a lasting friendship.

dilbert

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) Your position may be jeopardised if someone tries to take credit for your work. Expend the effort and present and promote your accomplishments to your employer to ensure your advancement.

Calvin and Hobbes

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Engage in opportunities that will expand your mind and skill set.

Explore alternate sources of entertainment to bring about a positive change in your personal life.

Peanuts ARIES (March 21-April 19)

SUDOKU

Flexibility will be necessary when dealing with a personal or business partner, and will also help to strengthen your union.

Take measures to ensure that your property is protected before leaving home.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You may be feeling romantic, but caution must be taken where intimacy is concerned. Hurt feelings and resentment will develop if your actions or intentions are misinterpreted.

CANCER (June 21July 22) You mustn’t allow others to stifle your talents.

Follow your intuition and keep your dreams in sight.

Your excellent memory is an important facet of your personality.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) Your home decor and improvement plans will prove challenging if you let someone meddle.

Refrain from listening to anyone trying to deter you from following through with your project.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Get to know your friends and neighbours better. You can obtain a lot of information by listening and observing how others react to situations that arise, and you can contribute valuable input as well.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) Don’t jump to conclusions. The situation may turn out to be much different from the one you imagine. Do your homework and get all the pertinent information before you make a decision.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Take a look at your personal and business relationships. Someone you are dealing with may be looking for a firm commitment. Be honest and upfront about your concerns.

Wednesday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) Let your imagination inspire you. Find a hobby that stimulates and rejuvenates your imagination. Your efforts may be rewarding if you are able to market your new skills.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Resist telling anyone intimate details about your personal life. Serious problems may arise if you are not mindful of someone else’s privacy. Use discretion in both personal and professional relationships.

news 19

YELLOW PAGES

Doctor critical after alleged beating by husband

thursday, february 20, 2014

D

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The man reportedly attempted to commit suicide after committing the act.

Dr Iliana Urutia PairolYearwood was taken to the hospital in an unconsciousness state after the matter was reported by neighbours.

Police went on a manhunt for Victor Yearwood, a phar-

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macy assistant, but it was not until Wednesday evening they found him in the vicinity of a cane field in New Amsterdam.

Sources close to the police say when the pharmacy assistant was found, he had attempted to commit suicide by ingesting a poisonous substance.

However, details as to what transpired remain sketchy. The alleged beating of Dr PairolYearwood occurred at the couple’s Savannah Park Housing Scheme home on Wednesday morning.

Staff at the New Amsterdam

Hospital say Yearwood did not show up for work but was seen in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department on Wednesday morning.

At the time, he was perspiring profusely and did not speak to anyone.

It is not known when Yearwood left the hospital.

This publication understands that when the matter was reported, Yearwood was already on the run.

Doctors have reportedly been able to stabilise PairolYearwood.

Meanwhile, the couple

last year appeared in court for abusing each other and were ordered to seek counselling.

Yearwood had reported that his wife did not want to attend counselling sessions even though they still had marital problems.

Pairol-Yearwood is a Cuban national who worked on the Cuba-Guyana medical programme here facilitated through the Health Ministry.

Upon completion of the programme, she married Yearwood and her stay was extended. The couple do not have any children.

GTU concerned about teacher’s alleged sexual misconduct

T

he Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) said it is concerned about allegations against a teacher for sexual misconduct.

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the union is totally against any form of sexual act perpetrated by teachers on their charges.

Her comment comes on the heels of a recent wanted bulletin issued by the Guyana Police Force for a teacher on allegations of rape.

“We’ve been saying to our teachers and we will continue to say to them that you are there as a role model for the children,” McDonald said.

She stated that while the teacher is still to be proven

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald

guilty, the GTU is concerned about the allegation.

The GTU general secretary said if convicted, the teacher should face the full

blunt of the law.

The top GTU official also pointed out that the allegation has created a bad image of teachers and the profession.

“It create distrust not only among children, but the parents and so we are saying if we want to move our society to another place, then our teachers will have to start being more responsible… teachers have to understand if you want to have your fun or engaged in negative activities, don’t look at the classroom for that.”

The Guyana Police Force on Tuesday issued a wanted bulletin for Ronald Forde for questioning in relation to a matter of rape, which is under investigation. Back in November

2011, Forde, a teacher of the Fort Wellington Secondary School on the West Coast of Berbice, was charged with having carnal knowledge of one of his students, aged 14, fully knowing that she was under the age of 18.

The charge, to which he was not required to plead, was read to him at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court. He was subsequently refused bail by Magistrate Roby Benn. Forde had complained of losing his cellphone a few weeks before the charge. The phone was eventually found. Images of him having sex with the female student were reportedly seen on the device. It was rumoured that the teacher and student were having an affair.

Sukul’s disbarment

No need for constitutional mechanism,says chancellor

BY VAHNU MANIKCHAND

A

cting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh on Wednesday said no action has been taken against Rabi Sukul by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) since he had resigned voluntarily.

Sukul was asked to resign by the acting chancellor over the weekend after local authorities got wind of his disbarment in the United Kingdom earlier this month.

In a statement on Saturday, the chancellor said “Yesterday, (Friday 14, February, 2014) news of the disbarment came to the attention of the acting chancellor of the judiciary, who sought and obtained from Justice Sukul confirmation of his disbarment. The acting chancellor has requested the immediate resignation of Justice Sukul who has undertaken to do so.”

Speaking with reporters, Justice Singh, who is also the JSC chairman, was asked why no action was taken against Sukul by the commission, to which he responded, “we only resort to that recourse if a person recognises that he is confronted with a circumstance that warrants his resignation and doesn’t.

If there is a voluntary resig-

nation, then there is no need for that constitutional mechanism to be employed.”

The acting chancellor, who was a part of the committee that reviewed Sukul’s application and subsequently recommended his appointment as a judge of the Court of Appeal, added: “I recognise something irregular had taken place and when he admitted to his disbarment, I requested that he resign, we are all lawyers.”

Asked whether checks were made into Sukul’s background prior to his appointment, Justice Singh pointed out that he does not want to disclose the mechanisms and procedure adopted by the commission in making appointments.

Several members of the legal fraternity have stated that the incident is a slap in the face of the country’s judicial integrity. Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, when asked whether the UK matter was ongoing at the time Sukul was appointed as a judge last July, said “it appeared so”.

The attorney general explained that the appointment of judges is done by the president based upon recommendations by the JSC.

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

Surprised

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

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

However, Burch-Smith acknowledged that the acting chancellor acted swiftly by asking for Sukul’s resignation after confirming his disbarment in the UK.

“So there was no ambiguity and he seemed to have been taken by surprise by this entire situation,” GBA president noted.

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

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

The five-person tribunal, chaired by Michael Baker, QC, found unanimously that Sukul had intentionally misled his client and engaged in conduct likely to bring the legal profession into disrepute.

Sukul was ordered to be disbarred in the UK; however, that decision is open to appeal.

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thursday, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

ICC Under-19 World Cup…

Samson, Kuldeep propel India to massive win

Sanju Samson struck eight fours and four sixes in his 48-ball 85

A

48-ball 85 from Sanju Samson powered India Under-19s to a 245-run win over Papua New Guinea Under-19s in Sharjah. India’s victory margin was the seventh-biggest in the history of Youth ODIs. Opting to bat, India started strongly, with Ankush Bains and Akhil Herwadkar putting on 58 in 11.2 overs.

PNG’s bowlers then put the brakes on India’s scoring, as Vijay Zol and Bains went 83 balls without hitting a boundary till Bains pulled offspinner Hiri Hiri for a six to bring up his halfcentury in the 29th over.

Seamer Alei Nao then ended their 74-run stand by bowling Zol for 35, and struck again in his next over to remove Bains for 59. India, at that point, were 139 for 3 in the 33rd over, their run rate well under 5 an over.

The batting powerplay,

which India took at the start of the 36th over, changed everything. Samson went berserk, spanking Sakavai Gebai, over the course of his seventh and eighth overs, for a sequence that read 6, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, hitting him hard, clean, and to both sides of the pitch. In between, Shreyas Iyer hit Kabua Morea for two fours in an over, as India took 54 from their five powerplay overs.

Samson struck three more fours and two more sixes, and was dropped three times in two overs, before he was finally out in the 47th over. An unbeaten 18-ball 34 from Sarfaraz Khan propelled India’s total to 301.

PNG’s reply went nowhere, after Monu Kumar struck twice in his first over to leave them 3 for 2. A 30run partnership between Riley Hekure and Dogodo Bau steadied their innings

SCOREBOARD West Indies D Smith c Sorensen b Murtagh 14 C Gayle c Dockrell b Cusack 18 M Samuels st Wilson b Dockrell 16 L Simmons c Thompson b Cusack 16 Dwayne Bravo c O'Brien b Sorensen 8 A Russell b Murtagh 15 DJG Sammy* b Kevin O'Brien 7 D Ramdin+ c Wilson b O'Brien 4 S Narine not out 6 S Badree not out 3 Total: (20 Overs) 116/8 Extras: (lb 2, w 7) 9 Did not Bat: R Rampaul Fall of Wickets: 1-31 (Smith, 4.2 ov), 2-38 (Gayle, 5.3 ov), 3-58 (Samuels, 10.2 ov), 4-77 (Bravo, 13.6 ov), 5-79 (Simmons, 15.1 ov), 6-98 (Russell, 17.5 ov), 7-106 (Sammy, 18.2 ov), 8-107 (Ramdin, 18.4 ov).

Ireland Bowling: P Stirling 2-0-

14-0, M Sorensen 4-0-23-1, T Murtagh 4-0-28-2, A Cusack 4-0-17-2, Kevin O'Brien 2-017-2, G Dockrell 4-0-15-1.

Ireland (Target; 117) W Porterfield* LBW Badree 4 P Stirling c Russell b Rampaul 0 E Joyce not out 40 G Wilson+ b Badree 18 A Poynter b Narine 32 Kevin O'Brien not out 15 Total: 117/4 (19.1 Overs) Extras: (lb 5, w 3) 8 Did not Bat: M Sorensen, S Thompson, A Cusack, T Murtagh, G Dockrell.

Fall of Wickets: 1-4 (Porterfield, 0.4 ov), 2-8 (Stirling, 1.2 ov), 3-37 (Wilson, 6.4 ov), 4-95 (Poynter, 15.5 ov).

West Indies Bowling: S Badree 4-0-18-2, R Rampaul 3.1-027-1, S Narine 4-0-16-1, D Sammy 3-0-16-0, M Samuels 1-0-7-0, Dwayne Bravo 3-021-0, A Russell 1-0-7-0.

somewhat, before left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav ran through their batting to finish with figures of 4 for 10. PNG lost their last six wickets for four runs, and were bowled out for 56 in 28.2 overs. Medium-pacer Monu finished with three wickets, while offspinner Deepak Hooda took two.

Pakistan Under-19s joined India in the quarterfinals from Group A, after a 146-run win over Scotland Under-19s in Dubai. A century from Imam-ul-Haq guided Pakistan to 308 for 7, before a five-wicket haul from legspinner Karamat Ali helped them bowl Scotland out for 162 in 39.5 overs.

Pakistan lost captain Sami Aslam early, but Imam and Hasan Raza shared a 159-run second-wicket partnership before Raza was out to offspinner Ross McLean for an 89-ball 57. The lefthanded Imam then put on 69 with Saud Shakeel for the third wicket, and was finally out for 133, having faced 137 balls and struck 13 fours and a six. Shakeel scored a 34ball 40 and Kamran Ghulam struck a 16-ball 34 to push Pakistan past the 300-run mark. Medium-pacer Chris Sole was Scotland’s most successful bowler, with figures of 3 for 69.

Barring opener Andrew Umeed, none of Scotland’s top-order had any answer to Pakistan’s bowlers. Four of the top five fell for singledigit scores, three of them to Karamat, as Scotland crawled to 64 for 4 in 21.5 overs. Umeed then added 42 with Kyle Stirling for the fifth wicket and 30 with Alex Baum for the sixth, before he was out for a 100-ball 65.

Umeed’s wicket triggered a collapse, as Scotland lost their last five wickets for just 26 runs. (Cricinfo)

Flores elected head of Guyana Volleyball Federation

John Flores (left) has replaced Lennie Shuffler (right) as president of the Guyana Volleyball Federation

T

he executives and representatives of the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) and the Demerara Volleyball Association (DVA) last Saturday converged at the Guyana Defense Force Coast Guard base, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, for the Annual General Meeting where the appointment of a new president was foremost on the agenda.

Proceedings got started just after 14:00 hours and the forum was competently chaired by John Flores.

After all the deliberations, reporting and discussions, the meeting resulted in the appointment of Flores as president of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF).

According to a release from the GVF, “the appointment was unanimous and also a strategic one to make a smooth transition whereby Flores will have the opportunity to attend the very important meeting of the South American Volleyball Federation Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.”

Besides that, an interim committee was set up, consisting of three key positions of which two were filled.

These included Captain Raymond Archer as Treasurer and Ronald Smith as the Public Relations Officer.

The only position to be filled is that of General

Secretary. The GVF will convene within a month with a list of suitable candidates and then an appointment will be made.

Shuffler’s expertise Outgoing president Lennox Shuffler was unanimously nominated as a Special Advisor, as the GVF is keen on him sharing his technical knowledge and contributing to the sport.

Shuffler remarked in his farewell speech that February 5, 2014 marked his 75th birthday and it represented 62 years he would have been involved in volleyball.

He would have served the sport both as a player then as an administrator. Shuffler said the newly elected president is more than an excellent replacement.

“He is competent and energetic,” Shuffler said, adding that he is very confident that he will be able to carry on since he has been involved over the years as a player and also as an administrator and have the influence and know how to get things done.

“The time is right, the track is laid, [he] just have to pick up the reins and run,” Shuffler remarked.

The outgoing head said he never felt more confident in handing over the baton.

He reiterated that some of the hallmarks of development are creative thinking,

collective effort and commitment.

“Achievements are landmarks placed in the sands of time so others can follow and surpass,” Shuffler pointed out.

Having said that, Shuffler encouraged everyone to support the new president and work as a unit for the growth and development of the game.

Flores spoke of some of his plans, which include building on programmes started by Shuffler, making the game a national pastime, supporting groups around the country and establishing a rural circuit where talents can be spotted and plucked out.

Flores also plans to get the Education and Sport Ministries integrally involved in developing the schools programme, along with a rural programme, as well as make the GVF an accountable and transparent organisation, He also hopes to create training opportunities for referees and players, who can attend overseas training for greater capacity building in the organisation.

During his tenure, Flores would like to see the volleyball fraternity become more financially independent and work closer as a team in a structured and systematic manner with the various sub-associations.

Joyce leads Ireland to another famous win

I

reland reaffirmed their reputation for giant-killing acts on the ground where they first shook up the established order as Ed Joyce's unbeaten 40 led them to a first international win over West Indies.

Joyce and Andrew Poynter laid the main plank for victory during a 58-run stand, after their bowlers had done superbly to restrict a rusty West Indies, as Ireland issued another warning that they will not be in Bangladesh just to make up the numbers next month with a win over the World Twenty20 champions.

Sunil Narine, ranked the world's No. 1 T20 bowler, had to wait until his 23rd delivery to take a wicket - deceiving Poynter with a car-

rom ball - and he was one of several West Indies big guns to be successfully spiked.

Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and the captain, Darren Sammy, have not played much cricket in recent weeks and their return from various injuries was painful on several levels.

Kevin O'Brien, one of two survivors from the team that beat Pakistan at Sabina Park during the 2007 World Cup, hit the winning runs but there was no exuberant celebration this time, just handshakes for the opposition and the knowledge of another job well done, another point made.

Zimbabwe, the Full Member in Ireland's qualifying group at the World Twenty20, which begins in just over three weeks, will have been

looking on nervously.

Ireland were quickly on the back foot in their chase, openers William Porterfield and Paul Stirling dismissed inside eight balls, but Joyce and Gary Wilson steadied things, adding 29 in 5.2 overs.

The required rate rose above a run a ball after Wilson was bowled, coming down the pitch and aiming a heave at Samuel Badree, but Joyce played a cool hand, ably assisted by Poynter in only his fifth T20.

They put on the decisive stand, by far the highest of the match, with Poynter hitting six boundaries - including two in an over off both Sammy and Ravi Rampaul on a pitch that West Indies' batsmen had struggled to master.

Poynter was bowled by Narine for 32, his highest T20 score, but the target was in sight and O'Brien, like seven years ago, was still there at the end. With five balls and six wickets in hand, Ireland had change to spare.

Ireland's bowlers made a solid start after West Indies chose to bat, despite Dwayne Smith finding his range with a six in each of Stirling's opening overs.

Tim Murtagh removed Smith, caught in the deep hitting to leg, and Gayle then chipped Alex Cusack to long-on for a subdued 18 off 19 balls on his return from injury.

That turned out to be the highest score of the innings, as Ireland kept a lid on the hosts for the duration. (WICB)

thursday, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

guyanatimesGY.com

AAG in difficult times

– Fortune believes she deserves South American spot

Leslie Black

KA Juman Yassin

Aubrey Hutson

According to Black, Morgan’s unpreparedness stemmed from the AAG, which was given notice by the GOA since last year to short list a team, informing Black about Morgan’s selection on February 8.

Further, Black in an interview with Guyana Times Sport on Monday labeled the president a dictator, who has made decisions on teams by himself, while indicating that the council agreed that Natasha Alder would have replaced Morgan on the team.

However, Morgan has been replaced by track stalwart and the best female local printer for Guyana over the past decade Alisha Fortune, a situation which has brought into question

yet again the AAG’s competence, given that Fortune is nearing 40 years old and would not benefit from the exposure, due to her age, as well as a plan to send young athletes to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

While the criticism might be true with regard to Fortune’s age and her selection, the veteran sprinter believes that she is worthy of the spot, and noted that age is not an issue.

“This doen’t have anything to do with age, if the athlete is performing, these are senior games and when you would have looked at it, there is no one else.

“If you look on the international scene you would see there are athletes competing at older ages and doing good… Merlene Ottey competed at the Olympics at 40,” Fortune said.

Meanwhile, president of the GOA KA Juman Yassin noted all the factors with regard to Fortune attending the games believes that the sprinter deserves the shot because of her longevity in the sport and, on many occasions, Fortune was unable to attend various meets because of one reason or the other.

Whether Fortune is able to gain a medal, or not or more stories unfold on the AAG’s implosion, one thing is for sure: athletics in Guyana is beginning to sink.

Alika Morgan (centre)

By Treiston Joseph

A

lot of controversy has arisen over the past few days, ranging from the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) questioning the competence of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) at the AAG’s award ceremony on February 15, to well known distance coach blasting the president of the AAG. The warning came about due to Alika Morgan’s withdrawal from the South American Games in Chile, set for March, citing short notification of her selection and unpreparedness, when in fact the GOA was informed

by Morgan that she is pulling out of the games.

Persaud wins pistol competition L

eading female pistol shooter Vidushi Persaud won the Guyana National Rifle Association’s (GNRA) Smallbore Section’s first competition for 2014 in a closely fought match-up at the TSU range at Eve Leary last weekend.

Persaud recorded 187 points with five V-bulls in the .22 Precision Pistol shoot held at the five and 10 metres ranges.

Second position sent to Azaad Hassan, who also recorded 187 points with four V-bulls, while seasoned campaigner Ryan McKinnon was third with 184 points

Vidushi Persaud

and six V-bulls.

Smallbore captain Dale

Hing said it was the perfect start to the 2014 season as several junior shooters were featured in the competition.

“We were very pleased to see the junior shooters making full use of the competition as we prepare for a very action-packed season,” Hing said.

According to Hing, the first major tournament, the Queensway Cup, is set for March 9 at the Timehri ranges and will feature teams of three shooters.

Starting time is 09:00 hours.

There will also be an Action Pistol competition on March 29 at the TSU ranges.

21

Basketball court handed over to Plaisance youths

C

ulture, Youth and Sport Minister of Dr Frank Anthony on Sunday commissioned a brand new basketball court at the Plaisance Community Ground, East Coast Demerara in recognition of the Guardians Basketball Club’s fourth anniversary.

Speaking at the event, Minister Anthony noted that it was indeed a pleasure to see young people active in the development of sports in their communities.

He charged them to remain disciplined and to continue in the path of becoming good youth ambassadors.

He noted that the basketball court should not at any point become a white elephant, but should be used in youth and sport development in and around the community.

He also mentioned that the ministry offers $1 million grants to several communities for sport and youth development and encouraged the youths to apply for a grant to further develop the community centre and its facilities.

The new basketball court which was commissioned at the Plaisance Community Ground

Dr Anthony promised to make donations of a table tennis table and sport gear so that other young people and children in the area can be involved.

Echoing his sentiments, Marketing Manager of Grace Kennedy Limited Natheeah King-Mendonca, which is a main sponsor of the club and its initiatives, charged the young men to focus not only on recreational activities and sports, but also to be the best they can in the pursuit of a good education.

King-Mendonca ex-

pressed the view that education, together with talent and discipline, is what makes great sportsmen and women, and not just individual talent.

She urged the young people in the gathering not to become distracted, but to keep themselves disciplined and focused.

The basketball court is the first of its kind in the community and residents expressed appreciation for the facility, stating that it was a long awaited venture and that will be utilised to its fullest capacity.

22

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

Disciplined bowling restricts national team to 205

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) reserve team put in a disciplined bowling performance to restrict the national team to 205 all out on the opening day of the four-day warm-up game on Wednesday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

At the close, the GCB reserve team reached 7-1.

Rayon Fredricks, 4, was the batsman dismissed. Robin Bacchus, 4 not out, and Rajendra Chandrika, who is yet to score, will resume batting when play starts at 10:00h today.

Fast bowler Ronsford Beaton, 1-8, claimed the wicket of Fredricks.

The national team began the game without the services of West Indies batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan (slight niggle to the ankle) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (influenza).

However, after an opening stand of 68 runs between former West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon and West Indies middle order batsman Assad Fudadin, the national team were never allowed to build another big partnership.

Jonathan Foo, 3-23, left arm fast bowler Randolph Knights, 2-35, Rajiv Ivan, 2-0, were the bowlers to pose much discomfort to the national team batting lineup.

Zaheer Mohamed and Seon Daniels also kept the pressure with a wicket apiece.

Fudadin top scored with

Jonathan Foo was among the wickets on day one, trapping Chanderpaul Hemraj leg before wicket (Photo: Rajiv Bisnauth)

Sewnarine Chattergoon

41, while fellow left hander Chanderpaul Hemraj,

who was drafted in as a replacement for Sarwan just for this game, made a defiant 39.

Chattergoon made 37, while Veersammy Permaul, 17, Anthony Bramble, 16, Christopher Barnwell, 12 and Devendra Bishoo, 12, were the other batsmen who made fighting contributions.

The game is part of Guyana’s preparation for the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional four-day tournament.

The Guyana squad will depart on February 25 for Jamaica where they will take on the defending champions in the first round

Chanderpaul Hemraj

on February Bisnauth)

28.

(Rajiv

Braithwaite tops GNRA Recorded Shoot

T

he national rifle team continued its preparation for the upcoming West Indies championship with a closely contested Recorded Shoot at the weekend.

The Recorded Shoot was held over the 300, 600 and 900 ranges under initial overcast conditions, but developed into a bright day with deceitful winds at the 600 range.

There were two possibles at the 300 range shot by Lennox Braithwaite (500.3) and Mahendra Persaud (50.5) followed by Ransford Goodluck (49.3) and Dylan Fields (49.1). However, the 600 yards saw no shooter recording the highest score, but Braithwaite, Goodluck and Fields shot 34 out of 35.

The intensity in the X-Class continued at the 900 yards range with Braithwaite and Goodluck shooting possibles of 35.3 and 35.4 respectively, followed by Persaud (33.2) and Fields (33.1). In the final count in the X Class, Lennox Braithwaite won the Recorded Shoot with a score of 119.9.

The O-Class shooters had a keenly contested shoot also with returning shooter Leo Ramalho leading at the first two ranges, having shot 48.4 and 32.1 at the 300 and 600 ranges respectively.

Closely behind was Ryan Sampson shooting 47.3 and 30.0 at the 300 and 600 yards respectively.

With Ramalho’s three-point lead

Lennox Braithwaite

after the 600, Sampson closed the gap with a 33. 1 at 900 compared to a 30.0 from Ramalho.

Both shooters ended with similar aggregate scores but Ramalho (110.5) pipped Sampson (110.4) by one V-Bull to win the O’Class.

The national team will continue its intense preparations next weekend at the Timehri Rifle Ranges. This weekend the association will be having its annual fundraising bar on Vlissengen and Crown Streets. The public’s support will be appreciated as they seek to raise funds for competitions.

The newly elected president of the Guyana National Rifle Association, Brigadier General Mark Phillips, also visited the ranges where he observed the shooters in training. He took some time to fire a few rifle shots to demonstrate to the rifle team his accuracy, which they applauded.

WICB regional four-day competition…

Singh keen on cementing first class spot

By Avenash Ramzan

W

ith the NAGICO Super50 done and dusted, the regional cricketers will now switch focus to the longer version, commencing battle in the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) regional four-day competition on February 28.

While the Bajans would look to maintain their supremacy, having won the title last year under the leadership of Kirk Edwards, ending five consecutive years of dominance by Jamaica, the other teams would no doubt want to unseat the men from the Land of the Flying Fish.

In the midst of hunting glory for their country, the cricketers would obviously look to enhance their reputation with the aim of nudging the West Indies senior selection panel headed by the former West Indies off-spinner, Clyde Butts.

One such player is Vishaul Anthony Singh.

A diminutive left-handed middle-order batsman, the 25-yearold Singh was recalled to the Guyana squad earlier this week after a hiatus of close to three years.

The Georgetown Cricket Club

(GCC) batsman played the last of his nine First-Class matches against Trinidad and Tobago at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, in March 2011 after amassing just 192 runs from six games during the regional season that year.

An average of 17.45 with one half-century- 66 versus Barbados at Providence, which remains his highest score- did not do justice to his ability and certainly did not justify the faith the selectors placed in him.

worked very hard during the offseason, both physically and on my game, and I got the results I was hoping for in the Inter-county and now I’ve been rewarded with a recall.”

Quizzed on his initial reaction upon hearing the news of his recall, Singh said, “I was very happy as my hard work had paid off and representing Guyana is always a privilege.”

Singh said once he makes the final XI, his aim would be to score his maiden First-Class hundred, as well as do his part to ensure Guyana cop the coveted title, which has been eluding the South Americans since the 1997-1998 season when they shared top honours with the Leeward Islands.

“Well I think we are at full strength, so as long as everyone plays his role we could bring home the title for Guyana,” Singh reckoned.

Back in business

Almost three years after, Singh is back in the reckoning, and this time he is determined to make it count.

Placed in charge of the Guyana Cricket Board’s President’s XI during last year’s Inter-county Four-day competition, Singh reminded the selectors of his pedigree by chalking up scores of 55, 100 not out, 83 and 12.

It was the sort of performance they could not ignore, handing Singh another opportunity to prove his worth on the regional stage.

“It feels good to be back after a few years’ absence,” Singh told this publication on Wednesday. “I

Opportunity

Vishaul Singh was among the leading batsmen in the Inter-county Four-day competition and was duly rewarded with a spot on the Guyana’s squad

Led by Leon Johnson, the 13man Guyana squad includes nine players who have represented the senior West Indies team in various formats. Only Singh, fast bowlers Ronsford Beaton and Keon Joseph and wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble have not worn

the maroon.

After nine First-Class games, Singh has ammassed 299 runs at a disappointing average of 17.58 with just one half-century. With a middle-order boasting the likes of veteran quartet Chanderpaul, Sarwan, Deonarine and Johnson, Singh’s opportunities might be limited.

Nevertheless, he is aware that a spot in the starting XI comes with tremendous responsibility, a situation he is looking to face head-on when the opportunity presents itself.

After all, Singh’s ultimate goal is to cement his place in the Guyana team. The journey starts on February 28 when the Guyanese take on Jamaica at Sabina Park.

The Guyana squad for the first round reads: Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (vice-captain), Anthony Bramble, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Keon Joseph and Vishaul Singh. The manager is Alvin Johnson and the coach is Esaun Crandon.

thursday, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana represented at CSV Congress T

he newly appointed president of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF), John Flores, along with another delegate Andrea Flores is attending the 68th South American Volleyball Confederation Congress in Rio, Brazil, this week.

The Congress started on Wednesday and will end on Saturday.

According to a correspondence from the GVF, “the Congress is an annual forum where all the presidents of the national federa-

tions of South American nations meet to chart the way forward for this very exciting and attractive sport.”

Each one of them is expected to present reports for the various activities and projects embarked on and make projections for the next year and beyond. The congress is expected to be attended by several high profile delegates, including the current FIVB president Dr. Ary Graça. Mr. Flores said he is looking forward to the meeting and anticipates a very fruitful one.

John Flores

Francois retains EBFA presidency

23

Intense duels anticipated as GDA hosts Mash tournament

– GUYOIL on board again

T

he competition is expected to be keen when the Guyana Darts Association (GDA) stages a tournament that coincides with the Mashramani celebrations, dubbed the “Darts Classic”, at the Maltenoes Sports Club (MSC) on Friday and Saturday.

The tournament is expected to attract the cream of the local darts players, including Sudesh Fitzgerald, Hemwattie Amyan, Colin France, Anuil Lacchman and Rosetta Hiralall, among others.

The organisers are, however, encouraging participation from all darts players to compete for the lucrative prizes on offer.

Six events, Men’s and Women’s Singles, Male Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Mixed Triple and Team

Competition, are carded for play-offs in the two-day tournament.

On Friday players will compete in the Men’s and Women’s Singles, Male Doubles and Mixed Doubles, starting at 19:00h, while the Mixed Triple and Team Competition will be played on Saturday from 18:00h.

Meanwhile, the organisers benefitted from the largesse of the Guyana Oil Company Limited (GUYOIL) when executives of that company handed over a cheque to facilitate the successful staging of the tournament.

The presentation took place on Wednesday at the company’s head office, located on Waterloo Street, Georgetown.

This is the third consecutive year that GUYOIL has

given such support, and according to Administrative Manager/Company Secretary Abdool Kadir, the company is pleased to be associated with the tournament.

“We are not only sponsoring darts, but the company has also been a regular supporter of other local sports,” Kadir said.

“As a good corporate citizen, the company believes that we must give back to the community, and we will continue to demonstrate that commitment,” he added.

GDA President Grantley Culbard, responding on behalf of the association, thanked the GUYOIL for its continued support toward the sport, adding that the contribution is highly appreciated by the fraternity.

Johnson celebrates birthday with table tennis victories – Edghill in winner’s row

N The new EBFA executives strike a pose moment after being elected. President Wayne Francois (seated centre) is flanked by Secretary Franklin Wilson (appointed) and Vice-president Clive Matthews (left). Standing from right are Public Relations Officer Kevin Anthony, Assistant Secretary/ Treasurer Noel Harry and Organising Secretary Toralv Munro. Missing is Treasurer Dwayne Lovell

W

ayne Francois was returned to the helm of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) when that entity held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday last at the Grove Community Centre, East Bank Demerara.

Also being returned were Vice-president Clive Matthews and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Noel Harry.

Former Guyana

Football Federation (GFF) Treasurer, Dwayne Lovell, took over the reign as Treasurer, while the other new faces on the executive are Organising Secretary Toralv Munro and Public Relations Officer, Kevin Anthony.

The Audited Financial Statement for 2011 and 2012 were presented and adopted by the members, whilst the statement for 2013 would be presented at a special meeting to be con-

vened shortly.

President Francois thanked the members for showing confidence in him for another term, promising that he would do his best for the continued development of the game in the EBFA for the 2014-2016 term of office.

Clubs represented at the AGM were Grove Hi Tech, Soesdyke Falcons, Mocha Champs, Kuru Kururu Warriors, Diamond United FC, Herstelling FC and Agricola Red Triangle.

ational junior player Elishaba Johnson celebrated his birthday in fine style by playing his way to three titles in the National Sports Commission (NSC) Mashramani table tennis tournament on February 16 at the National Gymnasium.

Johnson started his day by teaming up with Stephan Corlette to win the boy’s double competition, before going on to capture the 15 and under category in easy fashion by defeating Kyle Edghill 4-0 in their final encounter.

However, Johnson’s doubles partner would soon become his greatest challenge as he and Corlette battled in the final of the boy’s 18 and under category.

Johnson started hot, running away with a 2-0 lead, with the sets ending 11-9 and 11-3, before Corlette stormed back to bring the game level, 3 setting up a mouth watering final set.

Elishaba Johnson

Chelsea Edghill

However, Johnson displayed his skill as he used his spin shots and aggression to win the final set and the game at 11-6.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Edghill was in top form, running away with three titles of her own, as she captured the mixed doubles, the girls doubles and the girls 18 and under category, while

Nevaeh Clarkston won two titles in the girls 11 years and under and the girls 13 years and under categories.

The Mashramani table tennis tournament will continue on Friday with the novices and under 21 categories, while Saturday will see the senior segment being played.

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

thursday, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

TOP SCORES

All-round ECCCC topple Rising Star by four wickets S purred on by a brilliant all-round effort from several players, the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) outplayed Rising Star Cricket Club by four wickets in an invitational match played on Sunday last at Huist-T-Dieren, Essequibo.

Batting first after winning the toss, Rising Star recovered from a wobbly 35-5 to post a more respectable 131 all out in 29 overs.

The hosts’ top order was rocked by fiery opening spells from young fast bowlers Ranjeet Hiralall and Gavin Moriah, who shared five wickets.

Hiralall, the right-armer, picked up 3-22 from five overs, while left-armer Moriah bagged 2-13 from four overs. Yuvraj Dyal was also among the wickets, claiming 2-22 from six overs.

Topscoring for Rising Star was K. Lakhan with 37, while J. Dindyal and C. Latchman chipped in with 22 and 20 respectively.

The ECCCC lads were then given a rousing start by skipper Bheemraj Ramkellawan, who smashed 34 from just 18 deliveries to set the tone for the run-chase. His innings included two sixes and three boundaries.

Man-of-the-Match Dyal returned to hit 29 to crown a solid all-round effort, while Hiralall (25*) was at the crease when victory was achieved at 132-6 from 29.3 overs.

Meanwhile, the ECCCC will be in action again on Sunday when a three-team T20 friendly series is hosted at the Enmore Community Centre ground, East Coast Demerara.

In the opening match at 09:00 hours, Lusignan will take on Bush Lot, with the winner meeting the ECCCC in the ‘final’ during the afternoon session.

Also on Monday, the ECCCC, Dundee and Bush Lot will contest a three-team T20 friendly series hosted by Bush Lot.

Members of the ECCCC team in a jubilant mood after their four-wicket win over Rising Star Cricket Club on Sunday last

Intense duels anticipated as GDA hosts Mash tournament

INSIDE TODAY’S SPORT

Joyce leads Ireland to another P famous win

Alisha Fortune

20

AAG in difficult times

See s to on pa ry ge

21

– Fortune believes she deserves South American spot

See story on page

23

– GUYOIL on board again GDA Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Luis Miguel Ramirez-Merlano (right) gratefully accepts the sponsorship cheque from Castrol Brand Manager Leonard Khan (left) in the presence of GDA President Grantley Culbard and GUYOIL Administrative Manager/Company Secretary Abdool Kadir (Photo: Rajiv Bisnauth)

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