Guyana Times Daily

Business groups call for dialogue between GPL, P12 stakeholders Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 1799

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, June 14, 2013

Int’l commission to probe Rodney’s murder – govt hopes move will settle case See story on page 3

Guyana and Kosovo cement bilateral relations See story on page 2

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and her Kosovo counterpart, Enver Hoxhaj exchange notes after signing the pact to formalise bilateral relations (Carl Croker photo)

Finance minister tables motion to increase limit on government guarantees See story on page 7

NY-bound man nabbed at CJIA with cocaine See story on page 2

PRICE

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Caribbean, donors plan strategy to maintain P9 HIV fight

Culture P10 group to launch book, air film on Dr Walter Rodney FAO to P11 convene meeting in Guyana on land, fisheries, forests Govt P13 remains aggressive against truancy, child labour Roraima State governor in talks with P15 President Ramotar on infrastructure projects

2news

friday, june 14, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Guyana and Kosovo cement bilateral relations NY-bound and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Cabinet was later provided with a report and a decision was taken to recognise the country’s sovereignty.

By Danielle Campbell-Lowe

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he foreign affairs ministers of Guyana and the Republic of Kosovo on Thursday signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations and to hold bilateral talks on possible areas of integration and cooperation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and her counterpart, Enver Hoxhaj inked the agreement. Rodrigues-Birkett pointed out that it was the first time in five years that a foreign minister was travelling to Guyana to establish diplomatic relations here.

New chapter

She described the agreement as a new chapter, and expressed hope that relations between the two countries will continue to deepen. The minister noted that in 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence and as expected, not every country supported that decision.

In October of that year, the General Assembly of the United Nations made a resolution requesting that the International Court of Justice render an opinion on the question of sovereignty and self-governance.

According to RodriguesBirkett, Guyana was one of the nations which supported a resolution tabled by

Historic day

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and her counterpart, Enver Hoxhaj sign the bilateral agreement to establish relations between the two states

Serbia by voting in favour of that resolution. In July 2010, the Court of Justice released its opinion on the matter, stating by a 10-4 vote that the declaration of independence by Kosovo did not violate international law.

In response to that opinion, a second resolution was adopted in September 2010, acknowledging the Court of Justice’s decision and welcoming the readiness of the European Union to facilitate a process of dialogue between the two parties.

Rodrigues-Birkett revealed that Guyana has been following unfolding events in Kosovo very closely and the recognition was inevitable. “But

it was just a matter of timing and assurance that there was enough progress between Kosovo and Serbia before we provided recognition of Kosovo as a state. When I attended the Summit of Islamic Cooperation in Cairo, I met with Minister Hoxhaj and he provided me with a report of the situation and the progress made.”

The minister related that in her opinion enough progress was made and the time was ripe for the country to be recognised. She further explained that as of March 2013, Kosovo has received diplomatic recognition from 107 countries and was granted membership to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF),

Foreign Minister Hoxhaj said he was very impressed with his counterpart’s passion for foreign relations as well as her commitment to improving diplomatic relations in all countries. He noted that Guyana’s recognition and support is extremely important to the government of Kosovo. “This is a historic day for the people of Kosovo and Guyana, because of relations between these two independent nations. We are now interested to see how we would be able to cooperate from different angles and go beyond diplomatic relations,” Hoxhaj said.

Kosovo is generally regarded as a European country in terms of geography, culture, and history, and is described as a very young, small, developing nation. The foreign minister expressed hope of his country becoming a strategic partner with Guyana in many areas, and also offered to be a representative for Guyanese living in that part of the world.

“We have discussed the possibility of exchang-

es and would like to see some young students, artists and persons, who have interest in visiting Kosovo and examining the areas of cooperation,” Hoxhaj remarked.

He added that in terms of cooperation, Kosovo is interested in bilateral relations with Guyana also as a European partner, since the country has been working assiduously to join the European Union. In the last five years, Kosovo has been consolidating its territory and constructing new democratic institutions at the local and central levels.

Long struggle

Hoxhaj explained that the people of Kosovo have had a long struggle for independence lasting many decades in a fight for human dignity, freedom, and democracy. “The decision taken today is simply an acknowledgement of this battle for independence,” the Kosovan minister stated.

He pointed out that the Republic of Kosovo has been able to maintain its macro-economic and fiscal stability which is crucial in Europe. According to him, the government stands committed to modernising the country to ensure that Kosovo is able to complete with other nations in Europe and the world at large.

man nabbed at CJIA with cocaine

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he Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Thursday morning intercepted a Guyanese who was about to board a Caribbean Airlines 527 Flight to John F Kennedy International Airport with 3.2 kilograms of cocaine.

The cocaine was found in false walls of the suitcases reportedly belonging to 41-year-old Andrew Michael Park at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport about 04:30h.

CANU head James Singh confirmed the law enforcement agencies have been successful in yet another bust at Guyana’s main port of entry. He explained that Park is the holder of a non-immigrant U.S. visa.

Singh added that Park is expected to make his court appearance this morning at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He will be charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

CANU and other drug enforcement agencies continue to put a dent in the drug trade in Guyana through a number of security initiatives.

Immediately after the cocaine was detected, Park was taken into the interrogation room where he was questioned. He was subsequently taken to CANU headquarters where he was further questioned, but he maintained his innocence and claimed that he was the one who packed his suitcases. Park later reportedly confessed that he was given the drugs by someone to take to the United States.

News

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bridge openings

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, June 14, from 08:30h to 10:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic Friday, June 14, from 07:15h to 08:45h.

Weather

Countrywide: Thundery showers are expected during the day, with clear skies in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East north-easterly to easterly at 5.36 to 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 06:42h and 19:12h reaching maximum heights of 2.54 metres and 2.38 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:17h and 12:45h reaching minimum heights of 0.79 metre and 0.69 metre respectively.

WEDNESday, June 12, 2013

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

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Thursday june 13, 2013 Daily Millions

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Int’l commission to probe Rodney’s murder – govt hopes move will settle case

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hirty-three years after his assassination the Guyana government has announced an international probe into the death of renowned academic Dr Walter Rodney – a move hailed by many as welcome news, although it drew scepticism from some quarters.

Many believe that a key witness – former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer Gregory Smith would have provided vital details into the assassination, but the Guyanese native has since died in neighbouring French Guiana.

The announcement of the international commission of inquiry was made

by Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon at a postCabinet media briefing and later by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in the National Assembly.

For years, the Forbes Burnham administration had been blamed for the murder, which occurred outside the Camp Street Prison as Dr Rodney sat in his car. Thursday also marked the 33rd death anniversary of Dr Rodney.

Dr Luncheon told reporters that government has recognised the unsuccessful and inconclusive results of earlier attempts to investigate Dr Rodney’s demise. He stated that the late Dr Rodney’s family has presented substantial arguments for his assassination to be investigated to bring to an end to the speculation that surrounds the cause,

Dr Roger Luncheon made the announcement

those involved, and motives behind his death.

Two other reports have been done and published on the late historian’s death, Dr Luncheon reminded.

“I can assure that those will be part of the subject matters pertaining to Dr Rodney’s murder which would become a part of this commission of inquiry,” he said.

Successful collaboration

He reckoned that this inquiry should not be as difficult as the other commissions of inquiry conducted in the country, noting the findings should be released soon after. He posited that further contributions from Dr Rodney’s family; his former political allies in the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), the Working People’s Alliance (WPA); and his international colleagues would mean a successful collaboration in putting together suitable terms of reference for the inquiry.

Dr Luncheon said this matter, which has baffled many, needs to be dealt with comprehensively to finally bring closure.

Dr Rodney was a prominent Guyanese historian, political activist, and scholar. He died on June 13, 1980 at the age of 38 after a bomb exploded in his car, a month after returning from the independence celebrations in Zimbabwe and during a period of intense political activism.

He was survived by his wife, Pat, and three children. His brother, Donald Rodney, who was injured in the explosion, said that Smith, a GDF sergeant, had given Rodney the bomb that killed him. After the killing, Smith fled to French Guiana, where he died in 2002.

Welcomed move

The Alliance For Change (AFC) said it welcomes and supports the announcement that an international commission of inquiry will be appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Dr Rodney.

“The AFC is not satisfied though with the imprecise and vague promise for the establishment of the tribunal and, judging that similar pronouncements since 1992 by the ruling PPP/C have been made, we demand that a timeframe be set,” said the party.

The AFC noted that the killing of Dr Rodney had become a political foot-

ball, being kicked between the PPP/C and the People’s National Congress (PNC).

The former has accused the latter of assassinating the renowned historian – activist, but failed to investigate its claim.

Freedom fighter

For its part, the PPP/C said Dr Rodney is recognised the world over as a freedom fighter, noting that he is better known for his contribution to Africa.

However he supported the freedom and working people’s struggle throughout the world. “It was, therefore, no surprise that he challenged the PNC regime, which now calls itself A Partnership for National Unity (APNU),” the PPP/C said.

“He joined the struggle on his return home to liberate Guyana. Dr Rodney’s contribution in that period was very important and helped to unmask the PNC,” the PPP/C further said. The party also said it supports President Donald Ramotar in establishing the commission.

The youth arm of the PPP/C also hailed Dr Rodney’s contribution to the liberation of Guyana.

The group said Dr Rodney was an internationally recognised Guyanese historian who devoted his life to eliminating racial divisions among Guyanese, a fight which publicly angered then President Burnham, and for which he would later pay with his life.

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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

Feeding Guyana T

he news that Guyana is among the 38 countries that have achieved the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) ahead of the 2015 deadline – to halve the number of percentage of persons in the country that were hungry compared to baseline figures from 1990 – is more than gratifying. That we are only one of 18 to have achieved the more stringent World Food Summit goal set in 1996, to halve the number of undernourished persons by 2012, is astounding for a country that had been plunged to the level of sub-Saharan Africa by the People’s National Congress (PNC) by 1992, when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took office.

What our experience has demonstrated is that good intentions in this area are simply not good enough. The PNC, in its 1972-1976 Five-Year Plan, had explicitly stated their goals were to “feed, clothe and house” the nation by the end of the plan. But the policies that it undertook proved to be so disastrous that thousands ended up contracting “white mouth” as a visible sign of rampant malnutrition.

We can look at those plans as an object lesson as “what not to do” if we are to achieve the new “Zero Hunger Challenge” launched by the United Nations (UN) last year. The first lesson is that farmers must be given incentives to remain on the land.

Appeals to “patriotism” will not suffice. One of the pillars of Guyanese food security has been the rice industry since that grain is our main staple by far. Due to the knowledge of wet rice cultivation brought over from their native north-India by the post-1838 indentured labourers, Guyana moved from being an importer of rice (from Myanmar, then “Burma”) to an exporter at the beginning of the 20th century.

The incentive was the profits gleaned by the farmers enabling them to claw their way up the economic ladder. The PNC’s plan was supposedly rational – on paper. They would purchase all paddy and rice from the farmers, invest initially in large scale milling facilities and control all exports. The profits were supposed to be ploughed back into the economy to fund the thrust into manufacture so that the country could climb up the value added staircase.

The fatal flaw was that the government and its planners were either too greedy or they overestimated the patriotism of the farmers. Or vindictive. Their prices to the farmers were so low that based on the foreign sale price there was an implicit tax on the rice industry of over 100 per cent. The result, not surprisingly was that farmers left the industry in droves and those that remained did so because there were no alternative sources of employment. Just as unsurprisingly, when the PPP/C government reversed the policies of the PNC and also pumped money into agricultural infrastructure such as drainage and irrigation, production escalated to the present record breaking 400,000+ tonnes per annum.

The same policy must be followed in all the other areas of food production. Guyana’s comparative advantage has always been in its vast areas of available farmland. When sugar was king back in the colonial days, they received the choicest land and irrigation/drainage priorities. Especially in Demerara, the policy of using these prime agricultural lands for housing now that sugar production has declined must be stopped. These lands should be put into alternative crops to satisfy both local and foreign demand for “food security”.

We are not advocating that the government replicate or even imitate the PNC’s policies to ban food certain food items because it constitutes a “drain on foreign reserves”.

People must be free to eat what they choose. But we cannot be oblivious that the choice between foods which may have the same nutritional value is socially constructed. We can definitely do more to encourage our people to eat and buy more local produce.

The key to success against hunger, we repeat, is: incentives, incentives, incentives – to farmers.

One of many golden statues of Saparmurat Niyazov, former president for life of Turkmenistan, with native Akhal-Teke horses depicted atop a monument marking 10 years of independence. The hardy desert horse is Turkmenistan’s national symbol, and a passion of the current president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow (The Atlantic)

Caution needed in blame game for schoolboy’s death Dear Editor, It is getting to me now that many sections of the media are all about casting horrible aspersions on targeted entities. For example, an 11-year-old school boy died since last month and only now his relatives are accusing the school of dragging its feet on the investigation. This accusation of course leads all the way to the Education Ministry and ultimately the government.

The deceased, a primary school student on the Essequibo Coast, died on May 16. The controversy is not only one of lateness of realisation of the possible causes of the death – being attacked by three male stu-

dents and hit in the head, neck and belly with a cricket bat – but what the postmortem is saying.

The report is that the child died from diabetes.

This is the actual word from one of the child’s aunts. Yet she is convinced that it was the blows that killed the child, since he was never ill, except for the customary cold and fever.

My point is that this child was supposedly beaten about more one month ago, yet only after death, the matter is coming to light in any significant manner.

Then, how come a mere suspicion can be more credible than a post-mortem report?

The ‘no-satisfaction’ feeling from the family can

be understood – they lost a child, and they are hurting. They are now claiming that the school knows even the names of the accused beaters, and yet is not acting. I wonder whose word would be taken here. The aunt is saying that the child told her and now she is telling the school. I think we can grasp the complications here.

The next level is that of the Education Ministry and its apparent non-response. I am not aware of what should have been done and what can be done now in terms of getting to the truth. The deceased boy is leaving a lot of mysteries. It is sad that a mere lad died.

More so, he was a good

student and was a good over-comer. He was in school even though he did not enjoy full health. In this day and age, when school violence is on the increase, we have to supervise students at play. In the classroom, they are under scrutiny, but at play, their tempers can get to them. So when left alone and being immersed in this violent society, these children can find recourse to brutality so very natural.

It is time the Education Ministry implement some form of teacher’s presence when students are not in the class.

Yours sincerely, Phillander Glassgow

Trends in education in Guyana Dear Editor, In terms of post graduate and master’s degree programmes, the University of Guyana (UG) is faltering a bit, or maybe taking too long to expand. This is where a place like Nations University pitches in. There is a strong possibility of the institution bringing additional master’s programmes to the country. Just recently, the first batch of students of the Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) programme completed their tenure.

Many professionals and academics want to go to that next level and, if UG cannot deliver, then these people cannot wait. I am hap-

py that Nations University is here, even though I wish for UG to fill this breach.

I know of quite a few people who are engaged in distance and online programmes at the master’s level. After all, what people look for in academia are authenticity, accreditation and prestige. This thought really hit me when I revisited our National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results.

Let us face it – the private schools dominated yet again. At the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Queen’s College

and the Saints (St Stanislaus, St Joseph and St Roses) usually dominate.

However, these students mostly originate from the top private schools in Guyana. Here, the thought for me is that if a private school can do the job better, then it is my prerogative to capitalise, providing I have the means.

I know of many Guyanese politicians and members of Parliament, who are choosing the private primary schools for their children.

This knowledge actually inspired many to make that move, since they could have afforded it. And why not?

Efficacy is the name of the game.

What is sad is that many of these private schools are being manned by teachers who came through the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and UG. So we have the quality in terms of teachers. It is just that there is a lure about the private schools. Maybe it is the salary. Maybe it is the conditions.

What makes me proud too is that education; nursery through secondary; is available to all and totally free. Also, among the Caribbean countries, Guyana is really excelling academically.

Yours sincerely, Annalisa Ally

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

The importance of World Guyana must rally against Blood Donor Day the abuse of women Dear Editor, Many recent headlines in the news are indicative of a very disturbing trend at work here in Guyana. The average male feels superior to his spouse.

I asked a taxi driver friend if he read the case at Kuru Kururu, where a man killed his spouse, and his response was very casual. He saw the suspected infidelity and not the murder.

This kind of thinking is hard to change. It is cul-

turally and religiously ingrained. It is of course being perpetuated. This is one of the areas that advocates must work on, if the issue of brutality against women will be eradicated.

I call for a re-orientation and a re-interpretation of cultural and religious mores. Sometimes many police officers simply refuse to get involved in domestic spousal altercations. Violence against women is a criminal offence

that transcends the home and the couple.

In fact, we have to move beyond just waiting for an abused woman to report, or even a member of the public. If there are known cases of abuse, then the law must swoop down. I call therefore for some pro-active measures. Crimes of this nature must be prevented and not just solved.

Yours truly, Janice Waldron

The work of GNBS with businesses A blood donation exercise in progress

Dear Editor, Without blood donations many people would be dead.

One unit of blood can save the lives of three people, and if I give a unit regularly, I may wind up saving the lives of as many as 500 people.

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated on June 14 every year, and it is usually a good time to raise awareness of the need for safe

blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.

We need to remind ourselves constantly that the national blood bank relies on donations of blood from the general public to assist in situations where a blood transfusion may be the only option to save a life.

I think that there should

be a national appeal this year, but in a different manner. Television and radio should combine to have an open-line donation time.

Members of the public can call in and make a pledge and the appointments can be scheduled right there on air.

Yours respectfully, Ingrid Bascom

Kudos to Kampta Ramnarine

Dear Editor, Kampta Ramnarine came out as the top man at the last Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) meeting and is now on his way to compete at the National Championship. He now leads the list of 10 players who also made it through.

The competition is slated for

June 29 to July 1, at the at the Bank of Guyana rooftop.

Ramnarine was really good on the day, finishing with three wins and a spread of 626. Second best tells how good Ramnarine was – this was the play of Michael Benjamin, who had two wins and a spread of 587. It is really a bit of a let-

down though that more people and stronger media hype were not that evident.

The game is really a good one. It is very inexpensive and I wish it could be a staple in every home, church, class and school.

Yours truly, Kawal Ramnauth

Dear Editor, The Guyana National Bureau of Standard (GNBS) must be commended for the great effort in righting some long standing wrongs in this country. For too long, many wrongs have been allowed and now rooting them out calls for some extra work.

I think of a lack of cash registers in many groceries and also the blatant no-return signs. I recall the many

advisories on scales and yet many businesses stuck with the wrong. I feel so much better that many have been unearthed.

Many of the devices were faulty and badly damaged – glasses broken, strapped with ropes or polythene, signs of being tampered with and not of the correct type, among others. Many times the blame for faulty devices rests with consum-

ers, who are allowing these vendors to sell with non-verified devices. The big question is what to do with the perpetrators. I suggest some form of legal punishment. I say the same for those businesses with expired goods, no cash register and no-return signs. Perpetrators must face the court.

Yours sincerely, Dionne Marshall

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Foundation

Happy bedtime rituals Lack of sleep blights

pupils’ education

(Continued from Thursday)

BY SEAN COUGHLAN

Brain food

BY CHRISTINA BREDA ANTONIADES

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ou couldn’t resist your little one’s pleas for “just 10 more minutes” of his favourite show, and now bedtime has come and gone. You turn off the television, break out the jammies and whisk him upstairs. No time to read or wind down. But he’s tired, so he’ll sleep, right?

Not exactly. “Everyone needs a series of predictable steps that they take every night to help them sleep,” says Jill Spivack, a sleep specialist and co-creator of the Sleepeasy Solution. In other words, whisking him from playtime to bedtime might actually be depriving your child of the very cues he needs to make it smoothly into slumber.

The good news: a solid routine can make evenings less stressful and far more fun – for everyone.

Here are four tips from our experts on making better bedtime routines: Make a plan. Exactly what you do before bedtime is a mix of personal preference and practicality.

Your routine might include a bath, brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, reading together, talking or saying a prayer. What matters most is ensuring the routine is soothing and consistent. Once you have a plan, write it down and share it with your

children.

Unplug and wind down. Long before his head hits the pillow, your child will need to start the process of winding down his body and brain, says Kim West, a family therapist who specialises in sleep issues.

That means no caffeine and also “no screen time – that’s computer, TV, video games, texting, even the iPod – for at least an hour before bedtime.” Instead, think gentle play (take note dad, no tickle sessions before bed), reading or conversation. You might also try a warm bath or even sleep-inducing, childfriendly yoga poses, says West.

Set the mood. Aim for low lighting and soft sounds. If your child needs music to sleep, go with music only – no lyrics, says West.

And aim to stay within the sleep environment by reading bedtime stories in his room – not yours – and resisting his pleas to “give the dog one more kiss,” or do anything else that will have him leaving the bedroom, says Spivack.

Stick with it. Following the same routine nightly actually makes it physically easier for your child to fall asleep by giving his body cues to secrete hormones that induce sleep.

And if your child knows you’re a stickler for the rules, he’s less likely to stall and delay, making bedtime smoother and more pleasant all around. (Parenting.com)

“I think we underestimate the impact of sleep. Our data show that across countries internationally, on average, children who have more sleep achieve higher in maths, science and reading. That is exactly what our data show,” says Chad Minnich, of the TIMSS and PIRLS International Study Centre.

“It’s the same link for children who are lacking basic nutrition,” says Minnich, based at the Lynch School of Education, Boston College. “If you are unable to concentrate, to attend mentally, you are unable to achieve at your optimal level, because your mind and body are in need of something more basic. “Sleep is a fundamental need for all children. If teachers report such large proportions of children suffering from lack of sleep, it’s having a significant impact.

“But worse than that, teachers have to modify their instruction based on those children who are suffering from a lack of sleep.

“The children who are suffering from a lack of sleep are driving down instruction.” That means that even the children who are getting enough sleep are still suffering from this sleep-related dumbingdown.

Cramming school

The researchers uncovered regional trends that bucked expectations.

Asian countries are the highestperforming in maths tests – and Minnich says this has often been associated with long hours and cramming in after-school classes.

“One would assume that they would be extremely tired,” he said.

“And yet when we look at the sleep factor for them, they don’t neces-

sarily seem to be suffering from as much sleep deprivation as the other countries.”

Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t going to transform an underperforming country into an education superpower. For instance, the least sleepy pupils seem to be in Azerbaijan, but they are still considerably behind the most sleep-deprived pupils in Finland.

But researchers say that it does show how differently individual pupils might be placed on the ability spectrum, with lack of sleep representing the difference between being high-performing and average.

There are also big changes as pupils get older. Younger pupils in South Korea have among the lowest levels of sleep deprivation in the world, but in secondary school they have some of the worst problems.

There are differences within countries too. At the level of U.S. states, among secondary pupils Colorado has a much worse problem with lack of sleep than Massachusetts. What the study does not show is why young people are missing out on sleep – or why more technologically advanced countries seem to have the biggest difficulties.

But sleep experts point to a particular problem due to technology in children’s bedroom – specifically

the use of screens on smartphones or laptops late at night.

Serious barrier to learning

It isn’t only that young people are kept awake by messaging their friends or using the Internet. The light from the screen, held close to the face, is physically disruptive to the natural onset of sleep.

“Having a computer screen that is eight inches away from your face is going to expose you to a lot more light than watching a television on the opposite side of the room,” says Karrie Fitzpatrick, sleep researcher at Northwestern University in Illinois.

“It’s going to tell your brain to stay awake,” says Dr Fitzpatrick.

“That light can reset the whole circadian rhythm system and say, ‘Wait a minute, it’s not time to go to bed’.”

Lack of sleep is also a serious physical barrier to learning.

“Sleepiness is a problem at all stages that are relevant to learning, memory and academic performance,” says Derk-Jan Dijk, director of the Sleep Research Centre at the University of Surrey.

Research into sleep disorders and brain function has shown the importance of sleep in memory and consolidating information. Without sleep, the brain struggles to absorb and retain ideas.

“There is a growing interest in the associations between adequate sleep and academic performance,” says Professor Dijk.

Loss can be reversed

Dr Fitzpatrick says lack of sleep is going to leave pupils more emotionally volatile, more potentially disruptive and physically struggling to learn. And she says that the loss of sleep and short-term attempts to catch up can cause further and complex disruptions to the way the brain tries to store information. But there is good news. If you start getting enough sleep on a regular basis, the loss to learning can be reversed.

“As long you haven’t gone into extreme sleep deprivation, if you go back to seven to nine hours per night, as long as there has been no permanent damage, you can probably restore the functionality of accumulating, processing and being able to recall memories,” says Dr Fitzpatrick.

“The basis of learning will likely be restored to normal levels.” Otherwise trying to study without sleep is going to be tough. “Your brain is running on empty.” (BBC News)

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Govt differs with opposition Finance minister tables motion to increase limit on on GPL’s proposed hike government guarantees C

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inance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Thursday tabled a motion in Parliament to increase the limit on total guarantees that can be issued under the “Guarantee of Loans (Public Corporations and Companies) Act”.

The new proposed limit is $150 billion or approximately US$730 million.

The guarantee limit was last raised in 1980 from $500 million to $1 billion.

Based on the U.S. dollar exchange rate in 1980, the guarantee at that time was equivalent to US$400 million. Adjusted for U.S. inflation from 1980 to 2013, the equivalent figure in U.S. dollars today would be approximately US$1.1 billion.

The increase in the guarantee limit follows government’s commitment to the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP) and its pledge that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) honours its financial commitments under the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to be entered into between GPL and Amaila Falls Hydro Inc (AFHI).

Under the PPA, GPL commits to purchase the power from Amaila for an

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh

average annual capacity payment, a release from the Finance Ministry said.

Performance guarantee

Government’s obligation is in the form of a performance guarantee, which is not a guarantee of debt, but rather a guarantee of GPL’s obligations under its PPA to pay for power delivered from the hydro facility.

GPL expects that, when the Amaila Falls project comes online in 2017, it will receive more than 1000 gigawatt hours (GWH) of power and to save approximately US$200 million annually in avoided fuel cost in ex-

City Hall, GPL settle part of debts

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he Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) exchanged multimillion-dollar cheques cancelling a significant portion of the debt they owe each other.

Following cordial discussions on Wednesday, the cash-strapped power company handed over a cheque to the tune of $25 million to the municipality for rates and taxes owed in 2013.

M&CC, which is currently struggling to keep its head above water, only managed to pay a meagre $42 million of the $1.090 billion owed. The billion-dollar debt, which has accumulated over the years, is owed for street lighting and electricity supplied to buildings controlled by the Georgetown municipality.

In addition to exchanging the cheques which averted the possibility of a power outage at City Hall, the

parties agreed to meet with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds to discuss critical problems affecting the progress of negotiations.

Both GPL and the City Council have underscored the importance of the input of central government, if the discussions are to bear fruit.

Top on the agenda is the issue of street lighting.

Some 86.8 per cent of the billion-dollar debt owed to the power company is for street lighting. The municipality has been tasked with the responsibility of paying for street lighting. Since 1994 the council had made it clear that it is unable to effectively facilitate the payment.

In addition to its inability to pay to keep the street lights on, the council has expressed concerns about paying for a service it does not actually receive. It is contended that a percentage of the street lights are dysfunctional.

Turn to page 8

change for paying, on average, an estimated amount of US$100 to US$110 million per annum over the concession period of 20 years.

The Amaila Falls project will revert to GPL/government at the end of the concession period at no cost.

The project is expected to have a life of approximately 75 years, the release said.

The government has shared the commercial agreements governing the transaction on a confidential basis, including the PPA, which details GPL’s obligations, with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

The ministry said government is looking forward to continuing discussions with the opposition on the details surrounding the transaction.

Government also expects to have further meetings with the opposition prior to bringing the proposed motion to a vote.

It is expected that the motion will be debated shortly in the National Assembly.

Government is optimistic that, based on the consultations with the opposition, the motion will receive the unanimous support of the House.

abinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon rejected criticism from the opposition over the real reasons why the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has proposed to raise electricity tariffs by 26.7 per cent.

During his weekly post-Cabinet briefing, Dr Luncheon said the opposition’s decision to withhold the $5.2 billion budgeted for GPL has left the power company with no alternative but to raise the electricity tariffs to generate more revenues to carry out its work programme.

He urged Guyanese not to become distracted by opposition politicians who have double standards on the issue.

Dr Luncheon said government maintained that the proposed increase is due to the subsidy being cut from the 2013 national budget, emphasising that the likely tariff increase was fully and properly ventilated during the recently concluded budget debates.

The Cabinet secretary noted that GPL customers have expressed worry about the proposed increase in tariffs. “The president before

and this administration… have proclaimed its intention to undo the budget cuts and to mitigate the impact of the budget cuts… the urgency is obvious,” he stressed.

He emphasised that the impact of this particular cut goes beyond its effects on GPL customers, since at this moment public servants have not yet been paid for the month of May. “Each day presents unanticipated financial woes for those officers and their families.”

Dr Luncheon added that civil society and entities as well have also weighed in expressing their concerns and have sought audiences with officials of the administration, including the president. He pointed out that these have been publicly urging that attention be brought to “arrest” and “prevent” the implementation of the proposed tariff increase, since they too see the setbacks in this.

Urgent resolution

He disclosed that currently the authorities are engaging the parliamentary opposition in seeking an urgent resolution of the tariff increase matter. He said

during the recently-concluded meeting with the government and opposition, there has been no agreement concerning budget restoration.

Dr Luncheon said government has taken note of attempts to rally Guyanese to reject the proposed tariff increase via Facebook.

He said until the civilised world deals with the implication of the Internet and web broadcasting, the countries would have to accept that the law does not permit them to scold people who use this lacuna in the law to perpetuate these assaults in society.

“This naked invitation is not new, and I would not be the first to be offering criticisms with regard to this specific assault through the social media,” he noted.

He voiced the opinion that the GPL proposed tariff hike is just another example of persons being presented an opportunity to continue to agitate social unrest in the country, notwithstanding “what is called peaceful protests.”

He said some persons are calling on Guyanese to come out and be engaged in antisocial activities in the guise of peaceful protest.

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friday, june 14, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

Violent confrontation lands women in court

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duo were granted bail on several charges when they appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday.

Tracey Andrew, 32, of Lot 25 James Street, Albouystown, pleaded not guilty to two charges of threatening language and damage to property. It is alleged that on June 9 at James Street, the defendant used threatening language against Rhonda Lashley and

damaged four louvre panes valued $800, property of Tonisha Lashley, who was not present in court.

Rhonda Lashley, 38, of 16 James Street, pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawful wounding and use of abusive language committed against Andrew on June 9.

Attorney Fung-a-Fat represented Lashley and said that he spoke with Andrew who would not be offering evidence against his client; however, when the magistrate asked Andrew if she

was willing to proceed with the case, she responded in the affirmative.

However, as she proceeded to relay the events which transpired between the two women, Andrew became very emotional which sparked remarks from Attorney FungA-Fat who stated that she was crying and telling lies.

According to reports, on the day in question, the two women were arguing when Lashley dealt Andrew a lash with a bottle. After Andrew pulled a knife in retaliation,

Lashley threatened to kill her.

The magistrate granted bail for Lashley in the sum of $75,000 for the unlawful wounding charge and $20,000 for the threatening language, while Andrew got bail in the sum of $20,000 for the threatening language charge and $20,000 for damage to property.

They were both placed on a bond to keep the peace and the matter will be called again on June 27 at Court Six.

Robbery accused gets bail Bus driver held for smuggled bikes

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Linden man accused of robbery under arms was granted bail by Magistrate Ann Mclennan on Wednesday when he appeared at the Christianburg Magistrates’ Courts.

The defendant, 29-yearold Marlon De Freitas, of 23 Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden, is accused of the indictable offence.

It is alleged that on April 24, while being armed with a handgun at Dakama Circle, Mackenzie, Linden,

he robbed John Leon of $10,000 in cash, a Sony Ericsson cellphone valued $120,000 and three pennyweights raw gold valued $36,000.

De Freitas was granted bail in the sum of $75,000 and was ordered to report to the Mackenzie Police Station Criminal Investigations Department (CID) every Friday at 15:00h until the completion of his trial, which is slated to commence on August 13.

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minibus driver has been arrested after police found in his vehicle two Honda motor bikes that were suspected to have been smuggled through Lethem.

In a statement, police said that about 04:00h on Thursday ranks at a road block along David Rose Avenue, Linden, stopped and searched a minibus during which two 150cc Honda motorcycles and a motorcycle frame were found.

The driver has been arrested, and is assisting with

the investigations.

Last month, police had detained another minibus driver and a civilian after recovering three motorcycles that were smuggled into the country through Lethem. A release then stated that around 12:55 on May 18, ranks at a roadblock at Wisroc, Wismar, stopped and searched a minibus in which the three motorcycles were found. A policeman, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was placed under close arrest after he was found to have left his station district without permission.

Trio on joint narco charge City Hall,

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wo men accused of trafficking in narcotics were on Wednesday granted bail by Magistrate Ann Mclennan, while a third man, who was jointly charged with the duo, was remanded to prison.

The trio: Nigel Somersall, of 67 Wismar Housing Scheme, Linden;

Alfred ”Teddy” Adrian, of 55 Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD); and Rakiesh Dial of Vreeden-Hoop Squatting Area all appeared at the Christianburg Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charges.

Adrian and Dial were granted bail in the sum of $350,000 each.

It is alleged that the defendants collectively had 724 grams of cannabis sativa in their possession for the purpose of trafficking at Mabura, on Wednesday, April 3.

The men all pleaded not guilty. The matter was adjourned until July 30 for reports.

GPL settle part... from page 7

In response to this argument, GPL said there are approximately 200,000 official lamps installed in the city. However, there are 1800 additional lamps installed by individuals and members of the private sector, with a high percentage operational.

Audit of street lights

To clear the air, the parties have agreed to conduct an audit of the number of working street lights in the city.

Additionally, it was proposed that persons and entities that installed lights enter into contracts directly with GPL. This arrangement, according to the M&CC, will not reduce the burden carried by the municipality, but rather put GPL in a comfort zone.

Government’s involvement is critical, since there will be serious security implications if GPL moves to disconnect street lights.

It was only on Monday that councillors were informed that City Hall was way behind on its payments to GPL. The power company had written the council, calling on it to pay a percentage of the outstanding money by June 15 or to be plunged into darkness.

The council has sometimes fallen short in paying its electricity bills, but it said that an attempt was made to correct the situation by paying $7 million monthly to the power company.

Eyew tness

Slouching towards... ...Babylon nother anniversary of the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney has come and gone; another hundred-thousand words have been spilled in the letter pages of the press, but we are nowhere closer to receiving closure on whose hands lie the blood of this heroic son of Guyana.

What are some of the undisputed facts about the historian? Rodney received his PhD at the age of 24 from one of the most prestigious universities in Britain.

The man was an intellect. Unlike those who were romanticising an “Africa” on which they have never set foot, apart from scouring the archives in Britain and Europe, Dr Rodney actually went back to Africa to conduct his research for his dissertation, “History of the Upper Guinea Coast”. The man was an empirical realist – not an “idealist”.

That bit of research is not cited by many – especially in the universities in Africa and among the romantic Africanists, because he showed that the role of local African leaders in the slave trade was much more extensive than had been believed. Jump forward to his banning by the Hugh Lawson Shearer government of Jamaica in 1968 and one sees the integrity of the man who would not give anyone a “free pass” just because he shared their pigmentation and hair texture.

He adjudged Shearer to be in the line of those original betrayers of African peoples for closing his eyes to the abject poverty of the masses in the gullies of Kingston, when he was supposed to be their “leader”. We can jump ahead further and understand why he wouldn’t give Forbes Burnham a free pass when he returned to Guyana even though people like local Pan-Africanist Tom Dalgetty and a host of Burnham’s defenders insist that he should’ve.

He was a committed Marxist who was able to integrate that analysis with his Pan-Africanism. Like Frantz Fanon, he saw that the “facticity” of his blackness could not be dismissed as “false consciousness”. But his “Africanness” was inclusive rather than exclusive and grounded in the movement of history.

Like Dr Cheddi Jagan, he was aware of the difficulty of mobilising in an ethnically divided society where class interest took a back seat. He worked out a modus vivendi with the elder Marxist on his return to Guyana.

This is an aspect of his work that has not received enough attention but obviously it was another reason why Burnham would have perceived Dr Rodney as a threat that had to be eliminated.

As was promised by an African revolutionary of Dr Rodney’s times – “a luta continua!” – the struggle (for justice for Dr Rodney) continues!

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...hydro?

Unlike the Alliance For Change (AFC), which knows that it’ll always remain a fringe party, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) obviously believes that it may take power one day. As such, it’s a bit more reluctant to apply the scorched earth policy of the Russians in the face of Napoleon’s invasion. They understand the country would be even harder to resurrect after such a strategy. Granger still remembers a thing or two they taught him at Mons.

So APNU showed up at the meeting convened by the president where they could be apprised of “sensitive” details about the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP). Now APNU isn’t giving any carte blanche to the government and is reserving judgment until they study the documents. This sounds fair to us.

But what we find reprehensible is the tactic of the AFC to condemn the “lack of transparency” in the project while ignoring the offer for details to be shared.

Looks like they’re following the advice of a certain unemployed lecturer to have no contact with the government.

Then it may be that the AFC, which promised to “swing both ways”, just can’t anymore. It’s gotten “hydro”. ...skyway robbery Did we hear Minister Irfaan Ali right? US$450 for a return flight by Caribbean Airlines Limited to Trinidad? This confounded nonsense must be stopped.

Immediately. Does Trinidad still want our help in agriculture?

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friday, june 14, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Caribbean, donors plan strategy to maintain HIV fight – external funding pegged at US$1.3B since 2000

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epresentatives from the health and finance ministries of eight Caribbean countries joined civil society and international development partners in Kingston, Jamaica for two days of deliberations on ensuring the survival of their HIV programmes as donor funds dry up across the region.

According to a Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Caribbean statement, the meeting was jointly hosted by its Regional Support Team and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It aimed to encourage Caribbean countries to improve the efficiency of their HIV programmes and develop sustainable results. The countries represented were Barbados, Belize, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.

National AIDS Programme Secretariat head, Dr Shanti Singh repre-

International donors and government representatives at the Jamaica meeting. Standing at the centre (front row) is NAPS head, Dr Shanti Singh

sented Guyana at the meeting.

The Caribbean’s HIV response has achieved significant gains over the last decade. These include a sharp decline in new infections, significant reductions in transmission from mothers to children, dramatic declines in deaths due to AIDS, and access to life-saving treatment

for two of every three people who need it. At present, about two-thirds of HIV investments in the Caribbean as a whole come from international donors. However, as development partners prepare to reduce or withdraw support, the region must at the same time improve efficiencies, increase domestic investments, and make

the case for sustained global partnerships.

During Wednesday’s opening ceremony, UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team Director, Dr Ernest Massiah noted that since 2000 the region has received US$1.3 billion in external financing for HIV. Massiah stressed that many Caribbean countries’ eco-

nomic classifications by the World Bank as upper middle income and the global economic slowdown mean that there is now a very different funding context.

“We have to look carefully at where we can make efficiencies, where we are spending more than we should to get certain results and where we must stop doing the things we are accustomed doing, because they are not having the impact we would like. We need to look at programmes with a critical eye on results and resources to make those decisions,” Massiah said.

Long-term sustainability

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Denise Herbol noted that regional collaborations and investments of the U.S. government and other partners are meant to help countries reach a point of long-term sustainability.

“To us, country owner-

ship in health is the end state where a nation’s efforts are led, implemented and eventually paid for by its government, communities, civil society, and private sector,” Herbol said, referencing a 2012 speech by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. “To get there, a country’s political leaders must set priorities and develop national plans to accomplish them in concert with their citizens.”

Jamaican Health Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson emphasised that while national and regional leaders aim for country ownership of their programmes “there has to be a reasonable transition period”. “We are willing to take country ownership but we are not there yet. It is my hope that Jamaica will continue to share best practices that would allow for the people of the region to be better prepared in dealing with their health issues and quality care,” Ferguson said. turn to page 13

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friday, june 14, 2013

News

Culture group to launch book, air film on Dr Walter Rodney A

film about the life and work of Guyanese revolutionary Dr Walter Anthony Rodney is expected to be screened on Friday during the launch of a book chronicling Rodney’s contributions.

Volunteer Support Platform (VSP) Project Officer Pere DeRoy disclosed that the screening of the documentary “W.A.R stories” and the accompanying book is organised by the Walter Rodney Roots and Culture Media and will be held at the National Library from 17:30h. She revealed that the film’s director and book editor, Clairmont Chung will be on hand to answer questions as part of a panel that features youth activists Francis Bailey among others.

About the film

The film chronicles Rodney’s life as a young child growing up in Guyana, his scholarship

Dr Walter Rodney

and activism abroad, and his untimely death when a bomb exploded in his car in Georgetown, Guyana just outside the Camp Street Prison.

Notables in the film include local personalities like Andaiye, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Karen DeSouza, as well as international personalities Amiri Baraka, Issa Shivji, and Leith Mullings.

The recollections and analysis of Rodney’s contributions are interwoven with rare archival footage to create what has been described as a poetic tribute to Walter Rodney.

The film has already been screened at several important festivals and universities in the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and Africa. These include the Trinidad and

Tobago Film Festival; the Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Contraband Cinema at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York; and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus, Jamaica.

The book Walter A Rodney: A Promise of Revolution was conceived and published after the film’s debut and is an anthology of some of the interviews done while making the film.

The book is essential to an understanding of the historical context in which Rodney operated.

One reviewer said the book is a compelling and intimate portrait of the life and legacy of Dr Rodney.

The professor noted that through the medium of oral history, Chung’s book provides insightful recollections on Rodney’s experiences in England, Jamaica, Tanzania, the U.S., and Guyana from a diverse set of voices. The stories found here are honest, vivid and detailed and a wonderful example of the power of memory and the scale and scope of Rodney’s intellectual and political impact both in the past and present.

DeRoy said that admission to the event is free and open to persons of all ages.

Plenty people does want too much free-ness

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ld people got a sayin dem does always tell people – what does come easy does go away easy. Well, it look like plenty people in Guyana does want to get a lotta tings de easy way, or better yet, de free way. As de man pun de street does seh, every body does want to bum sum ting from some body, or dem does want to look fuh de easiest way out and mek de most money. In America, de sayin is that people does want to make a fast buck.

A man in New Amsterdam get ketch wid a garbage bag runnin down a dark alleyway. De police stop he and ask he wheh he goin and why he runnin so fast. Even Usain Bolt can’t run so fast wid a bag pun he back.

De police tell he that he just pass a garbage bin and ask he why he don’t throw de garbage right deh. He seh he don’t want to use that one because it not too clean, so he runnin to de other one which deh bout a mile away.

When de police check de garbage, it was sheer drugs. Now, fuh de next three years he ain’t gon see that garbage bin he was runnin to. When he was in de lock-up, he tell de police he was just tyrin to make a extra dollar. Well, that extra dollar woulda be more than $7 million. That’s a lotta extra dollars. GPL could do with some of that.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Caribbean Airlines only hear bout de CPL and dem don start raisin air fares. Is either de airlines tink Guyanese got plenty money or dem just want to make a fast buck, like de Americans, to pay off all de money what dem owe de TT guvament and de banks!

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, June 14, 2013

FAO to convene meeting in Guyana Man fined $57,000 for four traffic on land, fisheries, forests

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round 80 participants from the Caribbean will meet in Georgetown next week to discuss responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests in the context of national food security.

According to a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) release, participants, representing governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector, will discuss and analyse the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests. They will explore the potential for implementing the voluntary guidelines at the regional and national levels; identify priority actions and ways to improve governance; and promote links with existing initiatives to create regional and national networks.

The meeting is being facilitated by the United Nations agency, with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It is being hosted by the local agriculture, and natural resources and environment ministries.

International agreement

The voluntary guidelines represent an unprecedented international agreement on the governance of tenure, which places secure access to land, fisheries and forests firmly in the context of food security, the FAO said. They were officially endorsed by Committee on World Food Security (CFS) at its 38th (Special) Session on May 11, 2012.

The guidelines are based on an inclusive, transparent consultation

Responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests is essential to food security

process started by FAO and finalised through intergovernmental negotiations led by the CFS. The process involved representatives from UN member states, civil society organisations, the private sector, academia, and international organisations.

Protect land rights

The voluntary guidelines promote food security and sustainable development through improved, transparent, equitable, secure access to and control over land, fisheries and forests, and by protecting the legitimate tenure rights, whether formal or informal, of millions of people, many of whom are poor and food insecure. They set out principles and internationally accepted standards for responsible practices. They are voluntary and do not establish legally-binding obligations nor replace existing laws, treaties, and agreements. Instead, they provide a framework that states can use when developing their own strategies, policies, legislation and programmes.

The guidelines also provide stakeholders with their own context – spe-

cific answers to essential questions related to tenure rights and responsibilities. These include legal recognition, allocation, and transfers of rights and other changes in tenure, such as restitution, redistributive reforms, expropriation and compensation.

They also provide guidance on the recording of tenure rights, their valuation and taxation, and the resolution of disputes including transboundary measures.

Global recognition

FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva signalled the end of the formal negotiation process as a milestone achievement for the first comprehensive global instrument on tenure to be prepared through inter-governmental negotiations.

The endorsement of the voluntary guidelines by CFS in May 2012 was also covered by numerous news agencies around the world.

This has been followed by further global recognition by a wide variety of international bodies and other organisations, including: endorsement by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) in

December 2012. This was followed by UNGA’s request of all relevant UN bodies to ensure the speedy dissemination and promotion of the guidelines; a call to action and implementation among ministers from 80 countries gathered at the fifth Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Summit held January 2013.

Ministers were requested to confirm their intention to implement the voluntary guidelines in accordance with national priorities. Business enterprises were also urged to comply with the guidelines domestically and abroad.

Other efforts to promote compliance include specific reference to the voluntary guidelines in the reports of recent G8, G20, Rio+20 and UN agency meetings; engagement of the francophone parliamentarians of 57 countries to support the voluntary guidelines and endorsement by the FAO Council as a priority of the organisation, and mainstreaming into its strategic objectives and all relevant work.

offences

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Linden man was on Wednesday slapped with four traffic fines, which amounted to $57,500, when he appeared before Magistrate Ann Mclennan at the Christianburg Magistrates’ Courts.

Leslie Moore, 25, of 363 Oronoque Drive, Mackenzie, pleaded guilty to all of the traffic violations. The court heard that on Wednesday January 12, he drove motor car PFF 8482 along Independence Avenue, Mackenzie while he was not the holder of a driver’s licence. He was fined $20,000 for this offence, if in default, he will be required to spend eight weeks in prison. He also drove the said vehicle while a policy of insurance was not in force, resulting in a breach of insurance.

He was fined $20,000, with a default sentence of eight weeks in prison, for this offence.

The court also heard that the defendant drove the said vehicle while a certificate of fitness was not in force, an offence for which he was

fined $10,000, with an alternative sentence of 21 days in prison. He further drove the car without wearing a seat belt. He was fined $7500 or if in default, 14 days in prison in this offence.

According to the prosecution, on the day in question about 08:40h, a traffic rank was on duty at Independence Avenue when he noticed the said car being driven by the defendant who was not wearing a seat belt. The car was then stopped and the defendant was asked to produce a driver’s licence and other documents to which he responded by informing the rank that he did not own a driver’s licence. Further checks revealed that the certificate of fitness had expired since March. Moore was told of the offences and was taken to the Mackenzie Police Station where he was subsequently charged.

The magistrate gave Moore one week which ends on June 18, to pay the fines; the default sentences if applicable will run concurrently.

12 news

friday, june 14, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Guyanese urged to proactively tackle littering

Business groups call for dialogue between GPL, stakeholders A A mid growing concern about the proposed tariff hike by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is calling on policymakers to engage in meaningful dialogue to ensure that these increases “do not happen”.

Commenting on the issues of electricity tariffs, the GCCI said this is another issue of relevance to the implementation of Information Communications Technology (ICT), pointing to an announced proposal for a steep hike in rates by almost 27 per cent.

The chamber noted that, over the years, the entire private sector grouping has been bemoaning the cost of electricity as one of the major constraints to the develop-

ment of businesses.

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) reiterated that the primary cause of business retardation in Guyana is crippling energy costs. “It is especially on this premise that the association expresses its objection to the increased electricity rates proposed by the power company. We also recommend that every effort be made by all stakeholders to resolve the related issues in Parliament,” the GMSA said in a statement.

According to the association, for some years now it has been advocating at the highest levels for significant reductions in electricity rates. “When this failed, the association embraced the concept of energy efficiency and consumption management,”

the association said.

In 2011, the GMSA secured part funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), for a far-reaching energy efficiency project, which was designed specifically to sensitise business owners to the most effective means of reducing energy consumption over the long term in order to save on energy costs in their homes and business places. The first phase of the project, the Energy Efficiency Survey, was recently completed and a comprehensive Energy Audit will commence within the next few days

Stymieing growth The statement added that the entire nation stands to benefit in the short term from this project when the broad-based national standards for en-

ergy efficiency are created. “This recent announcement by the GPL of its intention to increase electricity tariffs by 26.7 per cent is not only unconscionable, but it has strong potential to literally demolish some enterprises, or, at the very least, stymie the growth of the entire manufacturing and commercial sectors in Guyana,” it said.

The GMSA said it can in no way support the GPL’s proposal to increase electricity tariffs now or at any time in the foreseeable future.

“In the same vein, we take this opportunity to urge the stakeholders in Parliament to continue to work towards amicably resolving all the current contentious issues for the good of the people of this nation,” the association said.

s the problem of improper garbage disposal reaches alarming proportions, United States Ambassador D Brent Hardt is calling on Guyanese citizens to adopt a higher level of civil activism in addressing the sore issue at a community level.

Offering his comments on the garbage crisis, the ambassador noted that the U.S. remains committed to working in partnership with Guyanese to restore and protect such an extraordinary corner of the earth.

According to him, this was the impetus for the now popular “Guyana Shines” project, which was launched just over a year ago. Since then, “Guyana Shines” has been active in schools and neighbourhoods throughout the country, inspiring citizens to unite as communities to take action and restore Guyana to its natural shine.

Core mission

“The core mission has been to encourage the people of Guyana to make a difference, to stop talking about the litter problem and become proactive in providing solutions. All of us involved with “Guyana Shines” have been absolutely thrilled with the extraordinary response we have witnessed from communities, young people, private sector, government, and stakeholders in the initiative,” he related.

Hardt said what began as a simple idea of the diplomatic missions of the U.S., United Kingdom, European Union and Canada, joined by Conservation International and Youth Challenge Guyana, has now taken root.

According to the ambassador, when the initiative began it was welcomed by most persons, except for a few sceptics who suggested the effort was merely a symbolic gesture that would not make a difference.

“But something happened; the initiative became like a snowball, growing and picking up speed as it rolled along. People in communities came out to support the initiative, school groups joined in, University of Guyana students, Lions and Rotary Clubs, private sector groups, banks, and more all joined up to make a difference,” the U.S. diplomat recalled.

Volunteer efforts

He applauded the efforts of the volunteers, who he described as energetic, passionate, and committed, which contributed to the success of the project.

The U.S. ambassador explained that the initiative started with two volunteerbased clean-up projects in the Georgetown neighbourhoods of Lodge and Tucville.

The residents were provided with basic tools, including rakes, hoes, wheelbarrows, brooms and gloves, as well as the encouragement to

believe in their ability to take charge of the environment and effect positive change.

The “Guyana Shines” team was subsequently approached by community leaders in East La Penitence and Festival City who requested assistance in their sanitation efforts.

Part of the “Guyana Shines” project entails an outreach to primary and secondary schools across Georgetown, 62 of which have already been targeted. The ambassador reported that more than 50 volunteers have been visiting schools to engage students, increase their awareness of the harmful effects of littering and pollution, and encourage them to be part of the solution.

“We… believe that educating young people is one of the most effective ways to transform the attitudes of an entire country… So we do hope that the “Guyana Shines” presentation has made a positive and lasting impression on all the students we have met.”

The ambassador encouraged schools to engage in environmental projects and citizens to utilise recyclable tableware, silverware, and cups instead of disposable ones; choose products with less packaging; walk with cloth bags for shopping; and limit the amount of paper waste.

Go green

“As consumers, we can choose to use biodegradable products. The “Guyana Shines” teams have shared information on biodegradable snack containers during visits and our volunteers spoke with principals and vendors outside schools to encourage them to use cardboard or ecofriendly containers instead of Styrofoam,” he said.

Even the U.S. embassy has made efforts to ‘go green’ with the utilisation of cardboard and the recycling of paper, cardboard, and glass bottles. The “Guyana Shines” project team has since created a documentary which premiered at the Theatre Guild on June 5 last.

The U.S. ambassador is hopeful that the documentary will inform, motivate, and inspire more citizens to become part of the solution, as well as inspire them to replicate the ideas and activities outlined in the film.

However, he noted that Guyana’s experience and challenge is not unique.

“In the United States, we also had our own challenges in dealing with trash on the streets and in parks and with polluted rivers and lakes. But we launched a truly national movement to “Keep America Beautiful”. He detailed that this was done through education, community-based environmental activities, stricter law enforcement, and public service campaigns in order to create a new mindset and attitude.

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friday, june 14, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Aircraft propeller death

Govt remains Teen may have wanted to go aggressive to another location against truancy, child labour T

By Bhisham Mohamed

he 17-year-old girl, Racquel Joseph, who was chopped to death by an aircraft propeller at Ekereku Airstrip on Wednesday had apparently gone close to the aircraft to ask to be taken to another location, investigators have said.

Guyana Times was told that the teenager had landed at the airstrip 30 minutes prior to the fatal incident.

The Guyanese registered aircraft was reportedly loaded with goods, but landed at the Ekereku Airstrip to uplift a package.

Additional reports stated that upon landing the young woman ran towards the single-engine Cessna 172 aircraft which had just landed, but got too close and was sucked into the spinning propeller. One of her arms

was severed and a portion of her face was damaged.

Guyana Civil Aviation Association (GCAA) Director Zulfikar Mohammed, when contacted, explained that statements were taken from a number of people who were at the scene when the accident occurred. He said that he was not able to peruse the document, so he was unable to determine what might have occurred.

Police believe teen wanted a lift

He intends to thoroughly review the document and release its findings today.

He noted that the teen’s body was transferred to the Lyken Funeral Home and the relatives of the deceased were contacted.

Celene Sampson, an aunt of the dead girl, told this publication that the family met with the E&F Division

Dead teenager, Raquel Whitney Joseph

commander who told them that police are investigating the incident, but they believe that the teenager approached the aircraft to ask for a lift to another location.

She stated that a postmortem examination will be performed today on her niece’s body.

The teenager, of Timehri,

East Bank Demerara, had left her home in mid-May for Bartica. Joseph last contacted her relatives on June 3, one day after she celebrated her 17th birthday.

Information remains sketchy, but the police and GCCA have launched separate probes into the incident.

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn said officials from the GCCA will travel as part of the investigation into the incident.

Joseph attended the Timehri Primary School.

After completing her primary education, she went to Venezuela with a woman and returned after a few years.

Upon her return, she stayed with her father in Berbice. The teen leaves to mourn her parents, nine siblings, and other relatives. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy. com)

10 graduate from basic paratroopers’ course

O

The 10 graduates

ne officer and nine soldiers of the 31 Special Forces Squadron on Wednesday officially earned their paratroopers wings following a display, signalling their successful completion of the basic paratroopers’ course.

The troopers were decorated with their wings by their parents who were invited to witness them in action, a first time for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). In a

release, the GDF said the 10 students, along with 25 seasoned static line jumpers, as well 10 free fallers, performed an exhibition jump at the Air Corps.

Colonel Enoch Gaskin, who is the most senior paratrooper in the force, congratulated the newcomers and cited their significance, pointing out that paratroopers are essential when other conventional means are not possible dur-

Caribbean, donors plan... from page 9

UNAIDS has developed an investment framework to help countries analyse their HIV epidemics and responses in order to develop targeted plans for increasing efficiencies, eliminating waste, and sustaining the AIDS response. The meeting used this approach to produce country-specific technical support plans and roadmaps to improve the strategic allocation of their HIV resources.

The meeting made several recommendations for Caribbean HIV responses to improve efficiencies such as targeting key populations at greatest risk, reducing programme management costs, strengthening pro-

curement systems to lower the price of drugs, improving strategic information to guide investment choices, and documenting the economic returns on HIV investments. It also called on governments to ensure that domestic allocations to HIV match their respective countries’ disease burdens and for the development of partnerships to share best practices and explore the potential of innovative health financing options. These could include social health insurance, innovative taxes, HIV and non-communicable disease trust funds, privatepublic partnerships, and debt swaps.

ing combat. He told them that they have been given the foundation and the force is now waiting to see the results.

He charged them to “fly swiftly” ahead of others and be shining examples for their peers. The basic paratroopers’ course lasted for five weeks and aimed to equip soldiers with the core skills necessary to effectively execute basic paratrooping on any mission

within a Special Forces team. This course is the first one for this year and catered for 10 students, all of whom were successful The GDF commenced paratrooping training in 1969 and over the years, officers and soldiers have also received training in Brazil, Cuba, the U.S., and UK GDF Paratroopers have also conducted displays in countries around the Caribbean.

G

overnment, with assistance from local trade union bodies and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), continues to engage communities around the country to stamp out truancy and child labour.

The Labour Ministry’s Senior Labour Occupational Safety and Health Officer Karen Vansluytman said among the major programmes implemented to tackle child labour and truancy is the TACKLE Project.

With financial assistance from the European Union, the TACKLE initiative commenced in January 2009 after an agreement was signed between Guyana and ILO. Approximately four years later, the project continues vigorously to address the issues of poverty, truancy, and child labour with unwavering support from the education and labour ministries, the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry, Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

Vansluytman, in a recent presentation in acknowledgement of World Day Against Child Labour, said the programme continues to reduce poverty by providing the vulnerable with equal access to educational and skills training programmes.

Dynamic campaign against child labour

She said through the TACKLE initiative, the Labour Management Information System Department executed a dynamic campaign against child labour in four main communities. Tackling agriculture and domestic labour, the team of officers journeyed to Number 58 Village and Black Bush Polder, Region Six where the detrimental impacts of child la-

bour were outlined. Similar activities were conducted in Ituni and Kwakwani in Region 10 where mining and logging are prevalent.

The Labour Ministry also commenced a School Retention and Child Labour Programme as it strives to reduce poverty in the Silver Hill-Soesdyke area along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

Focusing on nutrition enhancement, transportation, parental, educational and psychosocial support, the ministry is easing the aspects of school dropout and child labour.

Mentoring programme

Additionally, the Education Ministry is currently facilitating a mentoring programme at five secondary schools in the country. The programme, which caters for approximately 3500 students, and involves 100 parents and 75 teachers, was designed to prevent school drop outs and school-based violence. It commenced in October 2011.

Backing the Education Ministry programme, is a Labour Ministry project which focuses on sports, games, and life skills with the aim of preventing children from dropping out of school or engaging in domestic work. Disadvantaged communities targeted include Albouystown, Laing Avenue, and East and West Ruimveldt.

The GTUC and the FITUG also pitched in their support by staging workshops outlining the role of trade unions in child labour.

It is estimated that 218 million children are engaged in child labour around the world, with more than 100 million of the victims being girls. Most of the girls work in the agricultural sector, as labourers, in small production groups and can be seen daily selling on the streets or in market places.

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guyanatimesgy.com

News

Opposition rejects four security bills

T

he opposition on Thursday voted down four bills introduced

by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee as it continues its active non-cooperative approach against the minister.

The bills that were rejected are: the Evidence Amendment Bill, the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Amendment Bill and the Fire Service and Police Force name change bills.

These bills are part of the proposed reform of the national security sector, Rohee said. The minister told the House that the amendment to the evidence bill seeks to address certain loopholes. It will also expand the documents to which section 43 of the act applies and to include the report of an analyst of the Guyana Police Force or other duly qualified persons without taking away the right of the accused or the court, to test the reliability

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

of the report.

Evidence Bill

“The intention is to make admissible in evidence without the testimony of the analyst if he made the report... unless the analyst is required to give evidence pursuant to the instruction received from the court or an application by any party in the court proceedings,” Rohee said.

Currently, the legisla-

tion allows specific reports compiled by experts to be tendered and used in court without the need for the expert to give evidence in court. These include postmortem reports prepared by a pathologist and medical certificates prepared by a medical practitioner, after examination of a virtual complaint.

In addition to these two reports mentioned in the act, the report of the analyst who runs the test on suspected narcotics is also admissible in evidence without the need for that analyst to attend court to give evidence unless directed to do so. Rohee explained that in practice, after the analyst conducts the test on the suspected narcotics, he fills out a form and hands it over to the police and it is the police who appear in court and present the evidence.

He said the amendment is to request that certain

statutory provisions are not permitted in relation to the admission of evidence of the reports of the analyst in the following areas: fingerprints, firearms and ammunition, poisonous substances, local and foreign currencies, human blood, bones and tissues, fuel and fuel-based substances.

This, Minister Rohee said, will complement the work that will be executed by the soon to be completed, forensic laboratory.

“I believe Mr Speaker that the passage of this bill would go a far way in assisting, from a strategic point of view, the forensic laboratory when it becomes fully commissioned to advance its strategic plan and the Terms of Reference (ToRs) to which it has been mandated, Rohee added.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, in his support for the amendment, said the bill has not

been changed since 1972.

He said since then the world has changed significantly, litigation has changed, but most importantly, technology has made tremendous advances. He said it was, therefore, necessary for the law to remain as dynamic as it possibly can and therefore the changes are necessary to meet circumstances that are developed in society.

Vote down

The opposition, however, voted down this bill and did not give any explanation, other than it is being voted down, because it was presented by Minister Rohee. Similar fates met the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2013 and the two others that dealt with the name change for the Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Police Force.

Meanwhile, Rohee had appealed to the opposi-

tion for their support of the bills, during which time the opposition started to heckle.

He stated that drive-by shootings, executions, robberies, and hit-and-runs are some of the crimes committed by persons in vehicles. He said, “This bill seeks to block all possible loopholes in the law that is used by persons to prevent those who use vehicles in commission of crime to face the full brunt of the law.”

The minister said that the opposition needs to take into account that it is dealing with the country’s development and if this is the approach, then it will just hamper growth for the benefit of all citizens.

Minister Rohee said it is an interesting juncture of Guyana’s history where the government is seeking to help move the country forward, but is being hampered by the spiteful parliamentary opposition.

Romanex has rights to mine at Marudi – GGMC

M

u l g r a v i a n Ventures (Guyana) Incorporated and Romanex (Guyana) Exploration Limited have the right to conduct activities in the Marudi Mountain area.

So says the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

GGMC explained that Romanex Exploration Limited was granted a mining licence on April 16, 2009 with lifespan of 20 years – granting the company the opportunity to mine for gold and all other minerals over 7673 acres.

Subsequently, Romanex and Mulgravian entered into a contractual agreement for the latter to provide security and management services on the mining concession.

The commission said that Romanex and its agents have the legal rights to enter and conduct activities that are in keeping with the agreements of the licence granted. “The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission will continue honour its agreement with the company to support legitimate mining operations and

engage all stakeholders that are interested to get involved in the mining sector.”

It was also pointed out that the Marudi Mountain area in which the company has mining concession is outside of any titled Amerindian area, including the village of Aishalton. “Further, some of the persons involved in the blockage of the excavator were directly and indirectly linked to illegal mining in the Marudi Mountain area. Efforts to provide legal alternatives to these individuals by the GGMC were rebuffed,” the commission said in the release. On Wednesday, the Aishalton Village Women Group stood before an excavator thereby blocking its passage through their community. The equipment owned by Mulgravian Ventures was destined for Marudi Mountain.

During the staging of the protest action, the women's group contended that Marudi is the traditional lands of the Wapishana people of the Deep South Rupununi, often used for hunting and hosting of traditional activities.

Man jailed for possession of utensil to smoke cocaine

A

man was jailed on a charge of possession of a utensil to smoke cocaine when he appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday.

Lester Singh, 54, however, pleaded not guilty to the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking charge. The charges state that on June 12 at Stabroek Market, Singh had in his possession 5.5 grams of cocaine

for the purpose of trafficking and a utensil to smoke the said substance.

Singh, a father of four, was reported to have a prior conviction of stealing.

The magistrate remanded Singh on the possession charge and sentenced him to one year’s imprisonment with an additional fine of $30,000 for the possession of a utensil to smoke cocaine.

The matter was transferred to Court Five for report and fixtures on June 17.

15 News

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, June 14, 2013

Roraima State governor in talks with President Ramotar on infrastructure projects

U.S. embassy donates supplies to Islamic schools

From left to right: HAP Director Melanie Collins alongside a teacher with recipients and CIOG Director of Education, Sheikh Moeen ul Hack

T President Donald Ramotar sharing a light moment with Roraima State Governor Jose de Anchieta Junior

A

visit by Roraima State Governor Jose de Anchieta Junior to Guyana for a meeting with President Donald Ramotar on Thursday focused attention on key infrastructure projects in the making that are guaranteed to boost trade and other relations between Guyana and neighbouring Brazil.

The governor met the president in the company of a delegation that included Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana Luiz Seixas De Andrade. The GeorgetownLethem road, deepwater harbour and hydroelectricity were high on the agenda.

All these were projects conceptualised during bilateral discussions between former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Brazil’s Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, and, according to the Roraima State governor, are of great importance to both countries.

It was agreed that the hydro project, once estab-

lished, will source cheap energy for Guyana and also supply power to northern Brazil, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

The two countries had set a June target by which the anticipated proposals, including timelines for implementation of the major infrastructural projects, would be approved at the opening of the first meeting of the Brazil-Guyana Working Group on Infrastructural Projects last February.

The working group came into being with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett and Brazilian External Relations Minister Antonio Patriota in December last year. It was agreed then that the group submit its report by the first quarter of 2013.

This month infrastructural teams from the two countries that have been

meeting over the past few months are expected to present reports on the proposals, designs, and other issues relating to the Linden to Lethem road, Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira had told residents of Aishalton during a visit in May. The stretch of road which has, over the years, been undergoing maintenance works, especially during the rainy season, will significantly reduce travel time from Georgetown to Lethem when paved.

At the commissioning of the Takutu River Bridge in 2009, the former Brazilian president had assured the road would be the next major undertaking through the Guyana-Brazil partnership.

Last December, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett had explained that the road was imperative to the full realisation of the trade potential between Guyana and Brazil, particularly the northern part of Brazil.

Yolanda Jonas wins grand prize in ANSA McAL “Perfect Wash” promotion

A

NSA McAL Company on Thursday held its final drawing for the Perfect Wash promotion at Survival Supermarket on Sheriff Street.

The promotion was launched on March 1 and ended on April 30. The promotion was the first one for Georgetown and received more than 10,000 entries, but only four of the entrants were lucky winners. It was the company’s way of giving back to their loyal customers, officials said.

The drawing began at 11:30h in the supermarket’s parking lot. Shoppers and passers-by gathered around to witness the drawing. Random shoppers from the store were selected to pull the name of a lucky contestant. Kacey Rollins, Devendra Tibeu, and Ann DaSilva were the lucky winners of consolation prizes which amount to a year’s

A shopper pulls one of the entries

supply of Ariel soap powder and the grand prize winner was Yolanda Jonas who won the Whirlpool washer.

The winner was contacted and when the news was broken to her, she started

screaming, saying that she always takes part in promotions but this was her first time winning anything. The promotion was also held in Essequibo and Berbice.

he U.S. embassy’s Humanitarian Assistance Programme (HAP) team donated a quantity of school supplies to children attending the AlGhazali Islamic Academy, in Georgetown and the MetenMeer- Zorg Islamic Academy, West Coast.

This initiative supports the embassy’s efforts to promote educational opportunities for less fortunate youths in Guyana, a release stated.

The HAP team distributed scholastic items on June 12, to approximately 200 students. This is the second dis-

tribution to these schools, the release stated, adding that these institutions provide educational programmes to orphaned children from different backgrounds.

On April 29 and 30 and May 1, the HAP team and Matthew Valkovic from the Spirit of America, donated books and school supplies to the Zeelugt Primary School in West Coast and the Marcie Craig and Wisburg Secondary Schools in Linden.

At Zeelugt Primary School, more than 100 students received school supplies. In Linden, school supplies

were distributed to the students who participate in the Community Youth Volunteer Programme.

Valkovic expressed satisfaction in seeing how his organisation’s efforts reinforce the U.S. embassy’s goals in these communities.

The HAP, in coordination with other U.S. agencies, the government of Guyana, and local civic organisations, provides basic humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations in order to avert humanitarian crises, promote democratic development and regional stability, and build local capacity.

Mo Ha

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Africa

Caribbean

Depreciating dollar in keeping with Nigeria’s economy is doing well ─ finance minister expectations – BoJ governor

B

ank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor Brian Wynter on Friday said that the movement of the dollar, which has passed the J$100 to US$1 mark, is in keeping with expectations of the Central Bank.

“I can reassure that the depreciation of the rate so far falls within the bank of Jamaica’s expectations and this level of the exchange rate

and its potential impact on prices in the economy is also within the boundaries of what we were forecasting,” Wynter told journalists at the weekly Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston. Wynter said that while he understood the concerns being expressed by many, the depreciation of the Jamaican dollar should be put in the correct context.

Quizzed as to the likelihood of the exchange rate reaching J$110 to US$1 in the near future, the governor would only say that Jamaica is operating under a flexible exchange rate regime, to which the Central Bank is committed.

According to Wynter, a critical component of the BoJ is to contain inflation and predicting the level the dollar would depreciate would not help.

(Jamaica Observer)

C

oordinating Minister for the Economy and Finance Ministry, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, replied critics of Federal Government’s economic growth claims, saying that the nation needed Gross Domestic Product, GDP, growth for the economy to impact positively on the people. Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, had, last week in

Abuja, told the House of Representatives that the impact of the economic growth claimed by Federal Government was not being felt by Nigerians.

Speaking at the Ministerial Platform in Abuja, Dr Okonjo-Iweala explained that Nigeria’s economy was strong, stable and growing at 6.75 per cent GDP, which had been recog-

nised by international rating agencies such as Fitch and Standard and Poor that upgraded Nigeria’s rating at a time many developed economies were being downgraded. She said: “Nigeria’s macro-economy is strong and stable. Our GDP is growing at about 6.75 per cent and some people say that they don’t see the impact. We are doing well. (allAfrica)

Asia North America Global shares fall for third day Japanese stocks enter bear market as yen strengthens on stimulus fears; yen soars

G

lobal stock markets fell for a third straight day on Thursday and the U.S. dollar hit a 10-week low against the yen as investors extended selling on worries about an end to central bank stimulus measures that have buoyed many asset markets.

But Wall Street rebounded and oil prices recovered after the United States reported stronger-than-expected retail sales and jobless claims, which suggested

signs of resilience in the economy. Investors are trying to gauge when central banks around the world, particularly the Federal Reserve, which meets next Tuesday and Wednesday, will pull back on their accommodative monetary policies.

Japan’s Nikkei fell 6.4 per cent – its second-biggest daily drop in more than two years. Concern about a sooner-than-expected winding down of central bank liquidity mounted after re-

cent comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and a decision by the Bank of Japan to hold off on easing further. It has fuelled a selloff in global equities, emerging markets, risky bonds and commodities, while driving the safehaven yen sharply higher.

“The easy money helped us on the way up. The concern is mounting it’s going to end,” said Andre Bakhos, director of market analytics at Lek Securities in New York.

(MSN Money)

Europe

VW car recalls show hazards of rapid growth

T

he growing number of overseas recalls afflicting Germany’s Volkswagen shows the perils of rushing for volume as Europe’s largest automaker is vying for the world’s top spot. VW, which sells 60 per cent of vehicles outside its core European market, said on Wednesday it will pull 26,000 cars off the roads in Australia, the third straight month VW has had to recall models after similar steps in China, Singapore and

Japan. Over half a million autos, including VW’s bestselling Golf hatchback and the popular Passat model, are affected as VW aims to fix long-standing problems with seven-speed directshift (DSG) gearboxes.

While the actions pale in comparison to the 7.4 million autos Toyota recalled last October over faulty power window switches or the 1.8 million cars Hyundai Motor Corp and its Kia Motors affiliate took off U.S. roads in

April, they coincide with a drastic phase in VW’s global expansion. The Wolfsburgbased group is rolling out a cost-saving engineering platform at factories around the world, is tailoring more cars to specific regions and adding seven more plants in China, VW’s biggest market where its two joint ventures will spend almost 10 billion euros (US$13.34 billion) through 2015 on plants, products and equipment.

(Reuters)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

Fixed as at January 7, 2013 Calculated at 94% purity

Cur GBP

Buying

Selling

U.S.

$1645.25

$310.58

$344.58

Cambio

$312,663

$202.17

CAN

$161.50

$181.42

Gross

USD

$198.42

$205.58

Net

$290,776

Selling

$322,632

Indicators as on June 13, 2013 Live Spot Gold

Indicators

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1385.70

$1386.70

Low/High

$1373.00

$1389.40

Change

-02.70

-0.19

June 13 USD GBP EUR June 12 USD GBP EUR

London Gold Fix AM 1386.25 885.33 1039.71 AM 1377.25 878.40 1036.77

Crude Oil Price Silver Platinum

US$ per barrel

Change %

$104.95

+0.12

USD per Ounce

Change %

$21.85

+0.07 -28.00

$1450.00

PM 1385.00 883.63 1040.96 PM 1383.25 890.35 1038.18

J

apanese shares have tumbled after the yen hit a 10-week high against the U.S. dollar, triggering concerns of a drop in exporters’ profits. The Nikkei 225 index fell 6.5 per cent on Thursday. The drop put the market in bear territory, often defined as a 20 per cent fall from a stock index’s recent peak. The index has fallen 22 per cent since hitting a five-and-a-half-year high in May.

A strong yen erodes the value of exporters’ profits when they repatriate their foreign earnings back home.

The Japanese currency rose to 94.06 yen against the U.S. dollar in Asian trade, its highest level since April 4.

Investor sentiment has also been hurt by the Bank of Japan’s decision earlier this week to hold back on expanding its stimulus programme.

At the same time, there have also been concerns wheth-

Middle East Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed defends libel action

P

rince Alwaleed of Saudi Arabia has defended his decision to sue the business magazine Forbes. The billionaire is seeking damages over what he claims were “seriously defamatory comments” made about him. In March, Forbes calculated Prince Alwaleed’s fortune to be US$20 billion (£12.7 billion), placing him 26th on the magazine’s Rich List.

He disputed the methodology used and said Forbes had “insulted” the business community in Saudi Arabia.

Prince Alwaleed has previously said that the magazine underestimated his fortune by US$9.6 billion (£6.1 billion). However, in a statement, Prince Alwaleed’s investment vehicle, Kingdom Holding Company, said the libel action was not about his ranking on the Forbes Rich List, but about “correcting the seriously defamatory comments that have been made about HRH Prince Alwaleed as an individual and Kingdom Holding Company”. The

Changes: +180.85

% Change: +1.21

Open: 14992.54

High: 15202.27

Low: 14953.45

% YTD: +15.81

52Wk Hi: 15398.48

52 Wk Lo: 12035.09

case has been filed in a London court. Kingdom Holding Company owns stakes in Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and London’s Savoy Hotel.

Prince Alwaleed also accused Forbes of publishing a “deliberately insulting and inaccurate description of the business community in Saudi Arabia and specifically, Forbes’ denigration of the Saudi stock exchange (Tadawul), which is one of the most regulated in the world”. (BBC News)

Investors' guide Emotional intelligence and its impact on leadership

D

efined as the skills or ability necessary to identify, assess and control the emotions of oneself, other people or entire groups, emotional intelligence is a concept that has become widely popular in management texts and related literature for its ability to enhance and capitalise on the human potential of an organisation.

Seeking to support a leader’s cognitive, emotional and physical resources, the use of emotional intelligence is a modern tool of effective management, enabling the individual to manage a wide range of employees that are often

performing in a unique set of roles. In addition, emotional and personal competencies are two primary factors that are shown to be directly linked to performance within a work environment, making their identification and analysis essential for effective management as well as the increased development of the organisation’s human capital.

It pays to be ‘likeable’ In part, emotional intelligence is a response to the problems businesses face in the modern world. With tighter budgets, escalating costs and the continuous demand to produce more for

Business concept – Dividend

Last:15176.08

er recent aggressive policy moves announced by Japan would be enough to sustain a long term economic recovery in the world’s third-largest economy. However, analysts said the biggest concern among investors was the fluctuation in the yen’s value. The Japanese currency has weakened substantially over the past few months after Japanese policymakers introduced steps aimed at boosting growth. (BBC News)

less, there’s a need to develop a higher standard for leadership skills, ones that will effectively address the challenges of high employee turnover, a rapidly changing business environment and the ever-increasing demand for improved products and services. And at least in part, the solution to these problems is found in a leader who possesses technical knowledge as well as the social and emotional abilities that will enable them to meet and beat the afore mentioned challenges and maximise the human potential of their organisation while achieving their own personal agenda.

(Business Dictionary)

A share of the after-tax profit of a company, distributed to its shareholders according to the number and class of shares held by them. Smaller companies typically distribute dividends at the end of an accounting year, whereas larger, publicly held companies usually distribute it every quarter. The amount and timing of the dividend is decided by the board of directors, who also determine whether it is paid out of current earnings or the past earnings kept as reserve.

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, june 14, 2013

17

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Be wary of anybody, even a trusted friend, trying to pry some confidential information out of you. This person’s motives might be devious.

dilbert

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(July 23Aug. 22)

If you are having trouble making an important decision, seek advice from more than one person. Each counsellor might have some good ideas, but not the complete answer.

SUDOKU

Don’t be surprised if you don’t grasp the essence of an idea as quickly as you usually do. It’s one of those days when your head is likely to be off in the clouds.

LEO

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20)

Peanuts

(June 21July 22)

AQUARIUS

It isn’t a great idea to participate in an expensive pastime with a friend who is always reluctant to pay his or her fair share. Why would you expect something to change?

Calvin and Hobbes

CANCER

It behooves you to be more careful concerning your possessions. Pay attention not only to how you handle them, but where you leave them, even for just a minute.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Your friends and family will take you at your word, so think twice before speaking. What you consider to be merely a comment might be taken as a promise.

ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Fortunately, you’re prepared to work hard, because advancing your career might not be as easy as it usually is. A strong, concerted effort will be required.

Since what you do and what you say are likely to be two different things, you could confuse people.

Try to be consistent with both your words and your deeds.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Someone you know has been trying to manipulate others into doing his or her work. Don’t fall prey to such machinations, and try to put a stop to them.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Don’t take well-meaning friends’ financial tips as gospel. Before making a major purchase or investment, be sure you know what you’re getting into.

Thursday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) In matters of small consequence, you’re not likely to pay much attention to the details, but if something is important, the opposite will be true.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Instead of giving input on a topic that you know little about, just be a good listener. There is a strong chance that if you flap your gums, you will be challenged.

18

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friday, june 14, 2013

Entertainment

for ICC this Saturday

to thrill fathers on Sunday

T

he Indian Cultural Centre, situated at Lot 67 New Haven, Bel Air, Georgetown is inviting all members of the public to view the classic movie “Mother India” on Saturday, June 15 from 17:30h at its head quarters.

“Mother India” is a 1957 drama directed

by Mehboob Khan, starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, and Raaj Kumar.

The film tells the story of a poor woman called Radha (Nargis) who, in the absence of her husband, struggles to raise her sons and survives against a money-lender amidst many troubles.

Despite her hardship, Radha lives a principled life and portrays a moral example of an ideal Indian woman. The film was an important one in the new Indian nation as it

H

orizon Arts Production (HAP) is preparing to stage its fifth annual Fathers’ Night cultural extravaganza on June 16 at 20:00h at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Kingston, Georgetown. The event is being held under the theme “Stand Tall Daddy”.

The songs, dances and dramatic pieces that will be showcased on that evening will speak straight to fathers, helping them to see that they are needed, while sending the

Spectrum 9 features

strong message that they need to reaffirm their commitment to their families as the head of the home, and to stick with their families through thick and thin as it is their ultimate responsibility.

It will be a fun filled evening with performances by Bonny Alves, Charmaine Blackman, Colin Ambrose, Sonia Yarde, Sheron Cadogan-Taylor, Abigail Brower, Leon Cummings, Clement Stanford, Simone Dowding and many other budding artistes.

Five fathers will be honoured that evening, and in addition each father entering the theatre will be treated to a complementary glass of wine and a small token.

The programme is being put together and directed by Mariatha Causway and Sheron Cadogan-Taylor, and in their words, “it’s entertainment for the entire family”.

Tickets cost $1000 and are available at the Theatre Guild or from any cast member.

“Gun Hill Road” for

S

ASOD’s LGBT Film Festival 2013 continues into its third week.

The film festival is being held at the Sidewalk Cafe on Middle Street, Georgetown from 19:00h.

On Sunday, June 16 the organisation will feature a special film to commemorate Father’s Day. The film is titled “Gun Hill Road” and will last for one hour, 26 minutes.

It is based on a prisoner (Enrique) who after three years in prison, returns home to the Bronx to find the world he knew changed.

His wife, Angela struggles to hide an emotional affair, and his teenage son, Michael explores a sexual transforma-

A scene from “Gun Hill Road”

tion well beyond Enrique’s grasp and understanding.

Unable to accept his child, Enrique clings to his masculine ideals while Angela attempts to hold the family together by protect-

Carib Chutney Mania

A I

portrayed rural India and depicted the role of women in dealing with feudal oppression.

The film also has a soundtrack with music from Naushad, and ever-popular songs sung

by Mohammed Rafi; Shamshad Begum; Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey. Nargis won the Filmfare Best Actress Award in 1958 and became the first Indian to receive the Best Actress award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in present-day Czech Republic.

Mother India won the Filmfare Award for Best Film and copped several other Filmfare awards including Best Director for Khan. The film was nominated for the 1958 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The movie is two hours, 50 minutes long. Admission is absolutely free.

t’s finally that time of the year when the drinks get colder, skin gets darker and the parties get a whole lot crazier… Jamzone Summer Break officially kicks off at Palm Court this Saturday when Hits and Jams Entertainment hosts the “Summer Colours Party”.

The launching party will allow patrons exclusive insights of the official Jamzone schedule which will be displayed on monitors around the venue. So

come out and start marking those calendars.

Also, the three finalists in the Miss Guyana Jamzone 2013 competition will be available for photo opportunities and interaction with patrons.

Entertainment will be provided by the 94.1 Boom FM DJs and Fusion Sound System. Ladies are free before 23:00h, so come out and enjoy the vibes in your SUMMER COLOURS…

NSA McAL Trading Ltd would like to sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused due to the second postponement of the Carib Chutney Mania concert which was planned for June 15 at the Better Hope Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara.

The postponement of the concert is due to the severe rainy weather that has been afflicting Guyana over the past few weeks.

While this is beyond the company’s control, officials have been checking the ground constantly and were hoping that they may have still been able to host the show this weekend but the ground is currently in a deplorable state.

The company wishes to let their supporters know that as soon as the weather holds up, they will be going ahead with the concert. As such, tickets are still valid.

ing Michael. Still under the watchful eye of his parole officer, Enrique must become the father he needs to be or, once again, risk losing his family and freedom.

again

The artistes slated to perform at this event, inclusive of KI and the JMC 3VENI Band, have expressed disappointment at not being able to perform this weekend, but have assured that they are willing to work as soon as a mutually agreed date becomes available.

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, june 14, 2013

19

Entertainment

Karma's Ravi 'B'

Trey Songz

Eve

its and Jams Entertainment has finally released the dates for the hosting of Guyana’s biggest summer event. Jamzone Summer Break 2013 has been set for August 16-25, 2013.

With the dates released, Guyanese abroad and those at home can make their summer plans and more so, finalise their travelling to be a part of the excitement.

The event will be hosted over a 10-day period with many attractions and some exciting events. Being its 13th year, Jamzone has grown from a simple one-day beach event to a 10-day affair with events ranging from the fanciest of Jazz Festivals to the biggest international concerts

and the most attractive sporting events.

From the time of Jamzone’s introduction in 2001 to present, it underwent several evolutionary stages but none was more significant than the facelift it received in 2009 when history was made in the local entertainment industry.

Three consecutive days of Super Concerts were hosted at the Guyana National Stadium where the Caribbean’s most prolific artistes performed. Guyana partied non-stop for three full days.

As the years rolled on, international acts were added to the roster of activities with the first being R&B Singer/Songwriter Ne-

Yo.

H

Hits and Jams continued to bring the best international artistes and the years went by. HJ has brought to Guyana R&B Singer/Songwriter Trey Songz; Rapper/Songwriter Eve; and Hip Hop Recording Artist Rick Ross. This year, the entertainment group will not only maintain 10 days of activities but the excitement will be intensified with new additions.

The string of events include the now annual Jazz Night and Fashion Show, Kids Zone, the Miss Jamzone International Pageant; the Regional Night concert and International Night concert.

Among initiatives added to this year’s schedule are a magnificent

Ski Show; a Biker’s Fest event; Food/ Local Night and a Football match between two big local teams.

Those who are anxious for the headlining acts to be revealed will have to wait a while longer as the Hits and Jams team is not quite ready to let the cat out the bag.

However, it must be noted that the main act for this year’s International Night has been secured with the contacts signed. As usual, patrons can look forward to a top class artiste who has stormed the music scene.

As it relates to the Regional Night concert, partyholics can anticipate outstanding singers and musicians who are sure to bring that Caribbean flare to the table.

With several acts booked for this event, it will be an evening of Soca, Dancehall, Reggae and Chutney sure to keep fans gyrating all through the night. Jamzone Summer Break is an annual entertainment festival which is held in Guyana during the month of August.

It has been accredited by the Tourism Ministry as an annual calendar festival in Guyana which serves to provide both domestic and international tourists with wholesome entertainment during the local August holiday known internationally as the ‘summer’ vacation.

Jump start the weekend with

J

ump start this weekend with Corona Beer happy hours starting at 19:00h-21:00h with a two-for-one special at Seepaul’s Sports Bar located at 161 Alexander Street, Kitty. While there this Friday, test your vocal skills with the Corona models.

On Saturday the Corona team will also be at Seeta’s Bar, Lot 6 Station Street, Kitty, for yet another Corona happy hour. There patrons will again be privileged to interact with the stunning Corona beauties between 19:00h and 21:00h.

Then on Sunday, as the weekend wines down, all roads lead to Altitude Cocktail Bar and Lounge, Lot 3 Sandy Babb Street, Kitty.

So if you’re the type of person who likes a quiet sophisticated atmosphere, this is the place to be on Sunday evening. Join the Corona and Altitude team for an evening of fine music and meaningful conversation while sipping on your favourite beverage under the stars from 21:00-23:00h.

Corona Extra, which took Guyana’s market by storm, was officially launched a month ago through the auspices of TopBrandz Distributors. Corona Extra delivers a unique fun, sun and beach state of mind. It is a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously or try too hard to impress.

20

Entertainment

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FRIday, june 14, 2013

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Vanilla

nominated for ISA awards

G

uyana’s three time road queen, Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts was nominated in the 11th annual International Soca Awards as Best New Female Artist of the Year. The award ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Spice Basket, Beaulieu in Grenada on August 6.

Roberts who has been creating some stir in Guyana among her female soca artistes, is the only Guyanese performer who was nominated this year. Reigning road March King, Adrian Dutchin and songstress Celeste David were past nominees but never copped the award.

Vanilla is one of six nominees in the category going up against nominees from Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and St Kitts with her song ‘Piece Ah Me’ which was released last year. The soca song was produced by Burchmore Simon of Kross Kolor Records and Andy Armstrong of Barbados.

Among the nominees are Barbados international superstar and Grammy Award winner Rihanna, Wyclef Jean, Nicki Minaj, Pitbull and ISA nominated Def Jam recording artiste Trinidad James.

Topping the awards listed nominees for 2013 with nine nominations is Trinidad and Tobago Power and Groovy Soca monarch Machel Montano with Lil Rick, Bunji Garlin, Destra and Rikki Jai receiving four nominations each.

The Soca Awards Organisation (SAO) was founded in 2003 by Trinidad native entrepreneur

Mr Colin ‘CJ’ Jackman and was created to bring recognition to the soca and calypso genres.

The first award ceremony was held in 2003 and by 2006 it was registered and trademarked as the International Soca Awards (ISA).

The ISA is the Caribbean’s version of the Grammy, Hip Hop, MTV and BET Awards and this year it is said to be the biggest yet featuring 34 categories including five new ones. Voting ends August 2. Guyana, let’s rally around and vote for Vanilla for Best New Soca Artiste of The Year. http://www.socaawards.com/vote.

Remember, you must vote in all the categories in order for your vote to be counted.

Brandon says goodbye to jingle competition as he pursues musical mission

W

ithin hours, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited 2012 Jingle star, Brandon Harding will be handing over his title to one of 10 contestants in this year's finals of the English Segment slated for the National Cultural Centre this evening.

Harding now eyes the international circuit as he is eager to take his music to another level that will give him more recognition.

One year ago, at age 17, his colossal vocal talent wooed Guyanese thus proving to be the best capturing t h e Jingle star title.

Life before the jingle completion was that of a normal

teenager but now he is dreaming big.

Reflecting on the win, Harding explained that the win was a personal achievement, thanking GT&T, while noting that he amply demonstrated that focus, hard-work, sacrifice and sheer God given talent are important ingredients for success.

To him, it was a moment of satisfaction when his name was announced as the winner of the competition since he was able to use his singing talent to keep his clientele, proving that Guyana is a reservoir of enormous talent.

For Harding the jingle competition was a major launching pad for widening his musical career but admits that it is now left up to him to use that experience to move upward.

“It is exciting thinking about the future of my music career and to be one of Guyana’s best… to me the Brandon brand has got to be constant and consistent at trying to be the best. This of course necessitates me having deep appreciation and understanding of my fans whose love and affection have been a major part of my drive.”

As he gears to perform this evening, his message to those in the competition is that the music business is about being focused, having the drive to work hard and sacrifice. He noted that once there is this understanding “I can assure you of success.”

His final thoughts as he congratulates the competition’s finalists: “it’s all up to you, be focused, have a good time and don’t worry. The judges will be on your side if you bring it on”.

The competition was also a boost to his self-esteem and he

was able to discover a new level of hidden courage, even though he knew had talent and the drive to be successful.

Since the competition the talented young man recorded a song, titled, ‘got to get you girl;’ a story from his school days when he chased after his sweetheart.

In addition Harding says he has a compilation of nine additional songs in the recording line-up.

In an effort that reinforces that he is a team player, he has been working with the lyrically talented, Jonathan ‘Lil Red’ King who is a song writer.

Singing since the age of five, Harding has participated in school junior calypso competitions and performed in the church choir. It was during these activities that his father recognised his singing talent.

Fondly he recalls, “I used to take a small tape recorder to sing and record my music creations and he used to listen and smile a lot and that alone made me happy.”

However, while most of the Jingle and Song Competition contenders have seemingly faded, according to Harding, the “big game is yet to be played”. The father of one son ‘Zadier’ says, “I am focused on putting together my first album which is a big challenge but not unachievable even as I recognise the local music industry has its ups and downs.”

Given his experience in competing in Caribbean competitions, he has not ruled out entering other competitions.

However, he believes that even though competition is an excellent measurement of one’s strength, unless there is an absolute need for him to compete in other music shows, he would prefer to leave space for others.

friday, june 14, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

Bolt strikes back with 200m Diamond League win in Oslo S ix-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt bounced back from a shock 100m defeat in Rome to ease to victory in the 200m at the Oslo Diamond League on Thursday.

The Jamaican’s first outing over his favoured event was disrupted when Churundy Martina false started.

On the restart, Bolt got out of the blocks well before pulling away in the final 50m to win in 19.79 seconds – the world’s fastest time this year.

Norway’s Jasyma Saidy Ndure was second, ahead of Britain’s James Ellington.

Bolt, who is the only man to break the 20-second mark over 200m this season, arrived in Oslo having lost the 100m by one hundredth of a second in Rome last week.

But the Jamaican – as he had promised he would – demonstrated there was no need to be concerned as he powered to victory at the Bislett Stadium.

Bolt, who entered the sta-

Usain Bolt

dium in an electric Formula 1-style racing car, finished three hundredths of a second quicker than Frankie Fredericks of Namibia managed in 1996 to set a new Bislett Games record.

He later tweeted: “Very chilly but I ran as fast as I could, and as I promised. It was good so I can’t complain.”

The three British challengers lining up against Bolt could not get close to the world record hold-

er. Ellington clocked 20.55 to edge Belgium’s Olympic 400m finalist Jonathan Borlee for third, David Bolarinwa was fifth in 20.62 and Danny Talbot sixth in 20.72.

Earlier, Britain’s Tiffany Porter eased to victory in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.76 seconds, comfortably finishing ahead of her nearest rivals Sara Aerts (12.95) and Beate Schrott (12.97).

“It wasn’t my best time

but I’m being optimistic and patient. The World Championships in Moscow is the big goal at this point,” said Porter.

There was also a British win in the women’s long jump where Shara Proctor’s first-time leap of 6.89m was enough to secure victory ahead of France’s Eloyse Lesueur (6.68m).

European indoor 400m champion Perri ShakesDrayton ran a season’s best 54.03 seconds to finish second in the women’s 400m hurdles, behind Olympic bronze medallist Zuzana Hejnova (53.60).

“I am very pleased with that,” the Londoner told the BBC. “I am going to juggle with both [the 400m flat and hurdles] and see how it goes.”

In the men’s 400m, Britain’s Nigel Levine beat Olympic silver medallist Luguelin Santos to take third – but his time of 45.63s was not enough to match winner Youssef Ahmed Masrahi (45.33) or Ramon Miller (45.58). (BBC Sport)

Luke Donald leads from Phil Mickelson in U.S. Open at Merion

L

uke Donald edged ahead of Phil Mickelson with his final shot to lead by one after a rain-hit first day of the 113th U.S. Open at Merion.

The Englishman reached four under after 13 before play was called off, with Mickelson in the clubhouse after a 67.

Adam Scott also got to three under, with holder Webb Simpson, Matthew Goggin and Alistair Presnell two under. Tiger Woods, who appeared to injure his left wrist, was two over after 10 with playing partner Rory McIlroy level par.

Play was suspended for nearly four hours on Thursday morning because of severe storms and then again for a short time later in the day, leaving almost half of the field to finish their first

rounds on Friday morning.

Merion’s iconic East course is the shortest U.S. Open venue for nine years at 6996 yards, but only 16 players were under par when the claxon went to call off play for the evening.

Former world number one Donald, trying to be England’s first U.S. Open winner since Tony Jacklin in 1970, has not had a top-10 finish in nine U.S. Opens but his controlled game seemed well-suited to Merion’s tight layout.

He birdied the first and third and bogeyed the fifth before three straight birdies from 11 took him past Mickelson.

The five-time U.S. Open runner-up led for most of the day despite landing back in Philadephia at 03:30h after dashing back to San Diego

for his daughter’s graduation on Wednesday.

“I told her that I want to be there. I don’t want to miss her speech. I don’t want to miss her graduation,” Mickelson said. “She’s worked very hard and I’m very proud of her.”

The left-hander, who will be 43 on Sunday, carded his lowest first-round score in 23 U.S. Opens as he chases his first national title to add to three Masters and a U.S. PGA. Mickelson said he managed to get just enough sleep on his private jet and in the morning’s weather delay and insists he used his travel time wisely.

“I was able to take the time on the plane to read my notes, study, relive the golf course, go through how I was going to play each hole,

where the pins were, where I want to miss it, where I want to be, study the green charts,” he said.

“It gave me a great few hours to study my notes and get mentally prepared.”

Masters champion Scott, the world number three, birdied the 11th with his final shot to get to three under and pip playing partners Woods and McIlroy, the world’s top two.

McIlroy also chose to finish off after the horn had sounded but missed, while Woods opted to return in the morning to attempt his short par putt.

Woods, who won the last of his 14 majors titles at the 2008 U.S. Open, seemed to hurt his wrist early in the round and suffered visible pain again on the 11th. (BBC

21

Warner apologises for Joe Root punch

David Warner

A

ustralia batsman David Warner apologised for punching England’s Joe Root in the face in a Birmingham bar.

Warner, 26, was suspended until the first Ashes Test on July 10 and fined £7000 (AU $11,500) after the incident early on Sunday morning.

“I struck Joe Root in the face and I’m here to apologise to Joe and own up to it,” Warner told a media conference.

“I’m extremely remorseful. I have let my teammates, Cricket Australia, the fans, myself and my family down.”

Warner will now miss the remainder of his country’s Champions Trophy campaign and the tour matches against Somerset and Worcestershire, although he is eligible for the first Test at Trent Bridge.

He added: “I have accepted the punishment that has been handed down and I’m accountable for my actions.

“Since then I have exchanged text messages with Joe. He accepted my apology which I am thoroughly grateful for.”

Warner, who has played in 19 Test matches for his country, was dropped for Australia’s Champions Trophy game against New Zealand on Wednesday as a punishment.

He could have been sent home from the tour after pleading guilty to a charge of “unbecoming behaviour”.

Australia captain Michael Clarke admitted Warner’s behaviour was unacceptable.

“Although the punishment for David is quite harsh that’s the reality when you play for the Australian cricket team,” said Clarke.

“This is not an IPL team, this is not state cricket, it’s not county cricket. When you play for Australia there are standards you have to uphold. His actions have not met the standard required of an Australian cricketer.”

Warner’s suspension means he will miss valuable match-practice as he aims to end a poor run of form.

He has made seven single-figure scores in his last nine innings while playing for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League and one-day internationals for Australia.

This incident is not the first time Warner has been in trouble with Cricket Australia, and last month he was fined £3700 for a foulmouthed Twitter exchange with two Australian journalists. Warner admitted he needed to improve his behaviour and said: “I’ve got to be a bit smarter with what I do on and off the field.

Hopefully I will still have a part to play in the Ashes.”

(BBC Sport)

Jamaican quarter miler Blake banned for six years

Sport)

Trivedi faces suspension over anti-corruption code breach

S

iddharth Trivedi, the Rajasthan Royals pace bowler, is likely to be suspended by the BCCI pending inquiry for breaching the board’s anti-corruption code in relation to the ongoing IPL controversy.

Trivedi is not under the scanner for any direct wrongdoing but for not reporting to the IPL or the BCCI the fact that he had been approached by bookies. During the investigation into the case involving his three team-mates who were arrested for alleged spot-fixing, he reportedly told police authorities about several approaches he received from bookies that he did not pay heed to. Not re-

porting it first to the board could go against Trivedi, and he is likely to receive a showcause notice later this week.

“Since he didn’t report any of these alleged approaches to either his team management or the IPL authorities or the BCCI’s AntiCorruption Unit, he has to be issued a show-cause notice and suspended till the investigation is complete,” a BCCI insider said.

Trivedi, a witness for the prosecution, had also recorded a statement before a magistrate in a Delhi court last month.

According to the BCCI’s anti-corruption code, Trivedi’s actions amount to

a breach of the regulations.

Article 2.4.2 of the code refers to “failing or refusing to disclose to the ACU of the BCCI (without undue delay) full details of any approaches or invitations received by the participant to engage in conduct that would amount to a breach of this anti-corruption code.” Article 2.4.3 explains how a breach would also include failing to report “approaches or invitations that have been received by any other party to engage in conduct that would amount to a breach of this AntiCorruption Code”.

Gujarat bowler-turnedbookie Amit Singh, who was arrested along with

Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila and other bookies, is also likely to be sent a show-cause notice and suspended.

Though Singh was not contracted to any of the IPL franchises for the 2013 season, according to the board’s anti-corruption code a player is monitored for 12 months after his last domestic or international appearance. Singh had featured in Gujarat’s Ranji Trophy campaign in the previous domestic season as well as the IPL, and is allegedly suspected to have played a pivotal role in mediating between the cricketers and the betting mafia.

(Cricinfo)

Domonique Blake

K

I N G S T O N , Jamaica – Jamaican quartermiler Domonique Blake was on Thursday slapped with a six year ban for doping by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO).

Blake tested positive for methylhexaneamine at the Jamaica Olympic Trials last year. She finished sixth in the 400m at the trials and was suspended for ninemonths in 2006.

Blake represented Jamaica at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in March last year.

Her case was adjourned in March because of the absence of one of the members of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel.

Blake’s six year ban takes effect days after the Jamaican government announced a 16 million Jamaican dollar budget for drug testing of athletes.

22

friday, june 14, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

Greaves continues ripping form in USA

Guyana signs Host Venue Agreement for CPL matches

Dr Frank Anthony

Sunil Narine

Mohamed Hafeez

By Rajiv Bisnauth

against St Lucia. The other match scheduled to be played here is between Antigua and Barbuda and Jamaica on August 4.

Guyana will then play host Trinidad and Tobago on August 9 and Barbados on August 11 and host Jamaica on August 14. Their final preliminary game is against hosts Antigua and Barbuda on August 17.

The inaugural event, which has replaced the Caribbean T20 tournament, will commence on July 29 in Barbados and concludes on August 24 in Trinidad and Tobago.

On the other hand, it has not been established whether the other five Caribbean territories hosting franchise teams have signed on to their respective HVAs. The tournament will be played among six teams: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago; it also has a group stage and a playoff stage.

In the group stage, the teams play a double round

robin tournament where each team plays each other on a home and away basis.

The playoff stage includes two matches: the eliminator and the final. The eliminator will be played between the second and third ranked teams and the final, between the top ranked team and the winner of the eliminator.

The NEW GPC/Limacol secured the Guyana Franchise on June 11.

Guyana’s franchise players are West Indian Sunil Narine and Pakistan player Mohammed Hafeez.

They are joined by Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, James Franklin, Chris Barnwell, Martin Guptill, Krishmar Santokie, William Perkins, Steven Jacobs, Ronsford Beaton, Trevon Griffith, Narsingh Deonarine and Veerasammy Permaul.

Former West Indies offspinner Roger Harper was named head coach and will be assisted by former fast bowler Curtly Ambrose.

T Guyanese cyclist Alanzo Greaves in a celebratory mood after winning one of his three races

A

lanzo Greaves emerged with his third victory on Tuesday evening since arriving in the United States of America three weeks ago.

Competing in the Floyd Bennett Category 1-2-3 race, the 23-year-old finished the 40-mile race ahead of 59 other competitors from various parts of the world.

“It feels good to win again. Because the race I wasn’t in a mood to ride, so coming out on top is really a good feeling,” Greaves told this publication.

His latest victory followed first place finishes in the Historic Riverton Criterium (Pro 1-2-3) race on last Saturday and the WS

United Category One race last Thursday.

Greaves also ended as runner-up in the Connecticut Criterium (Pro 1-2-3) on Sunday.

Apart from the three top podium spots, Greaves also copped fourth in the CRCA Open Category 1-3; 12th in the Floyd Bennette Category 1-3; 18th in the Bound Brook Criterium Pro-1 and 52nd in the Tour of Somerville Category Pro1.

Greaves, who finished fourth overall in the annual Three-Stage, said he is enjoying the experience so far, and is eager to develop on what he has learnt when he returns to Guyana soon.

This is Greaves’ third vis-

it to the USA to participate in cycling training/competitions.

He informed that he would be back in time to challenge local counterparts in the Guyana Cycling Federation’s National Championship, billed for the end of the month.

Greaves has been in tremendous form this season, winning an unprecedented 11 races so far in 2013.

His trip has been made possible with support from Digicel, Bounty Farm, Spads Inc, Toucan Industries, Kevin Jeffrey and family, Café Sol, Compton Persaud, Roraima Bikers Club, Linden Dowridge and George Humphrey.

(Avenash Ramzan)

he Guyana government signed the Host Venue Agreement (HVA) with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) recently, confirming Guyana’s hosting of its leg of the CPL T20 tournament, scheduled to be played at the National Stadium, Providence.

The agreement was formalised on Tuesday between the Guyana government and CPL officials, according to Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony.

“We have signed the host venue agreement with CPL, so those persons who were a little concerned need not to be any longer, Guyana is ready and will be hosting the matches scheduled to be played here,” the minister said.

The Guyana franchise, bought by the NEW GPC/ Limacol, will play three of their seven preliminary games at home, on July 31 against Trinidad and Tobago, August 2 against Jamaica and August 4

MUST WIN! Rain rules at Arnos Vale on day two

– Bravo promises Windies best in do-or-die contest

C

ARDIFF, Wales – West Indies plan to give it their all today when they face South Africa in a do-or-die contest in their final Group B match.

Both teams are on two points – one win and one defeat – and the winners of the match at Swalec Stadium will advance to the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy. The losers will be eliminated.

Speaking after Thursday’s training session West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo said: “It’s now like a quarter-final... doesn't make it easier; it makes it more exciting. That is something we love as players. It’s one of the reasons we play the game to become competitive and trust in our skills and our team-mates.

Whenever we’re in a position that is a must win situation we all come together and bring our best game. We saw it last year in Sri Lanka and I’m sure you will see it again.”

West Indies won their opening match against Pakistan by two wickets at the Oval last Friday, but lost to India by eight wickets at the same venue ear-

lier this week. Bravo said his players have prepared well for Friday’s encounter.

“We had a good preparation session today and we are looking forward to the challenge again tomorrow and hopefully we come out on top... what we can control is how we prepare and how we play. We will come out tomorrow to play a good game of cricket, and try to do the basics right and learn from our mistakes,” Bravo said.

“For us, we’re going to enjoy the occasion and forget about what happened in the previous game. It's a tournament… it’s a knockout game. It will bring out the best. We have been in this situation before and we did well.

So, no pressure is on us. I’m really excited and looking forward to this game tomorrow (today).”

Dwayne Bravo (captain), Denesh Ramdin (vice captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Devon Smith (WICB)

K

INGSTOWN, St Vincent – It was a frustrating day at Arnos Vale on Thursday as not a ball was bowled on day two of the second ‘Test’.

So what do you do when rain restricts you to the dressing room?

Some of the players tried football in the dressing room while others tried reading. Some just sat around and chatted. Either way, everyone would have much preferred to either be playing or watching the cricket.

From as early as 08:30h local time, a heavy shower showed a glimpse of what was to come on Thursday. It stopped briefly but only to allow the players to get to the ground.

Once there, the groundstaff could be seen making a desperate bid to get the outfield and pitch ready for a 10:30h start. There was no way the day would start at the scheduled 10:00h.

But all the hard work they put in would be dashed by 10:30h as another heavy shower arrived. It was so heavy and lasted so long, the players were forced to take an early lunch at 11:40h. Ten minutes before the early lunch, the rains had again subsided. However, within minutes of lunch being taken, another heavy shower came across the ground.

By the time lunch was over, the

No play was possible on the morning of day two but these fellas found some fun in the rain

rain again was over. It appeared day two would finally start after close to 90 minutes of mopping up and spreading of sawdust to wet parts of the ground. As all the covers were rolled off the field, feeding

a sense of optimism to the few fans who turned up at the ground, hopes were brought back down to the reality of the day.

Around 14:00h, the ground had gotten dark. There was not any rain in the air but even so, it would be dangerous to allow play in such light. The match referee ordered the covers back on. Within minutes of the last cover coming back on, the heavy rain that promised to come burst down. Again, another short, sharp shower, but enough to leave the covers waterlogged.

Back to square one we were, where we had continuously gone back for six times throughout the day. At 14:48h, the skies cleared, and Bequia out in the distance could be seen partially. The rigorous task of mopping up had once again begun, but to no avail, the rains returned. Minutes after four, the umpires called time on the day’s play, stating that play would start 30 minutes earlier on day three.

Only the birds enjoyed the weather and water on the field; swimming, flying and singing on our distress. The dampness of the day and weather forced the umpires to eventually send everyone home.

It can be said, the only thing was not damp was that the spirit of the groundsmen. (WICB)

friday, june 14, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

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Sri Lanka dent England prospects E

ngland’s Champions Trophy hopes hang in the balance after Kumar Sangakkara’s imperious century led Sri Lanka to a seven-wicket victory at The Oval on Thursday.

Sangakkara’s unbeaten 134, aided by a 30-ball half-century from Nuwan Kulasekara, took Sri Lanka to their target of 294 with 17 balls to spare.

Earlier, fifties from Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Joe Root – on the day he received a public apology for being punched

by David Warner – seemed to have England well placed on a good batting wicket.

Ravi Bopara made 33 not out from 13 balls, clubbing 28 from the final over to carry the hosts to an imposing 293-7.

But Sangakkara’s chanceless knock means Cook’s side must beat New Zealand at Cardiff on Sunday if they are to advance to the semi-finals.

Sri Lanka, who were bowled out for 138 in their opening one-wicket defeat

by New Zealand, will advance with victory over Australia on Monday.

That they have gone from the verge of elimination to having their fate in their own hands is largely down to a majestic performance from Sangakkara.

The wicketkeeper took

Kumar Sangakkara

advantage of a home attack that was unable to find the reverse swing that was so instrumental in their win over Australia, although England were unhappy to see one ball changed by the umpires midway through Sri Lanka’s chase.

Accumulating from the good balls and punishing the bad, the left-hander scored all around the wicket, increasing his aggression as the target drew nearer.

Arriving in the third over after Kusal Perera shovelled James Anderson to mid-on, he shared stands of 92 with Tillakaratne Dilshan and 85 with Mahela Jayawardene as Sri Lanka found the boundary

Inter-county U-17 tourney bowls off today

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-17 InterCounty 50 overs cricket competition bowls off today from 09:30h at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

Essequibo will be squaring off against Demerara.

Round two will be played on Saturday between Berbiec and Essequibo at Everest or Georgetown cricket club ground. The final round will see Berbice playing Demerara at the Everest Cricket Club ground on Sunday.

The competition is being used as a yardstick by the junior selectors to select the Guyana team for the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Regional Under-17 competition, scheduled to be played from June 29 to July 8 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaica are the defending champions after winning the inaugural tournament last year; they will be looking to defend their title against Barbados, Guyana, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands.

Essequibo full squad reads: Kemo Paul (Captain), Parmesh Parasotam, Ryan Adams (wk), Travis Drakes, Keano Harry,

David Williams, Mahindra Balabdar, Akini Adams, Latchman Dindyal, Newland Cadogan, Kevin Martinborough, Insaaf Dindyal, Nathan Persaud and Miguel Jones. The coach is Andy Ramnarine and the manager is Nazeer Mohamed.

Berbice full squad reads: Shimron Hetmeyer (Captain), Balchand Baldeo, Leon Andrews, Brandon Persaud, Deon Esau, Adrian Singh, Parmanand Ramdhan, Ritesh Omroa, Daniel Lewis, Jason Anderson, Narendra Permaul, Suraj Dookhana, Kassim Khan, Grisean Grant and Kevindra Persaud. The coach is Leslie Solomon while Andrea Percival will serve as manager.

Demerara full squad reads: Travis Persaud (Captain), Tevin Imlach (vice captain), Ronaldo Renee, Chetenarine Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford, Clitus Johnson, Devendra Chunilall, Navindra Seeraj, Navendra Persaud, Keshram Keyhodan, Mark Hamilton, Daniel Basdeo, Carlton Jacques, and Shamar Graham. The manager is Robert Adonis while Gavin Nedd has been appointed head coach.

with more regularity than England were able to earlier in the day.

After Dilshan holed out off Graeme Swann to longon and Jayawardene pulled Anderson to deep square leg, Sri Lanka showed the flexibility to promote Kulasekara.

Although he was in-

volved in a mix-up that could have seen Sangakkara run out for 100, it was Kulasekara’s consecutive sixes off Swann that seemed to spell the end for England, with the expensive Stuart Broad getting more harsh treatment in the next over as the hosts became ragged.

He ended unbeaten on 58 off 38 balls, leaving Sangakkara to seal victory with a pull off Broad that took their unbroken partnership to 110.

England would have been hopeful of a target that pushed Sri Lanka harder after Cook, Trott and Root took them to 2493, but Root’s wicket was the first of three to fall without addition – albeit with Eoin Morgan harshly adjudged lbw off Lasith Malinga.

Asked to bat in conditions that looked favourable for bowling, England faced few problems from the Sri Lanka attack and were

satisfied with steady accumulation, manoeuvring the ball and running well.

After Ian Bell clipped Shaminda Eranga tamely to mid-wicket, Cook and Trott added 83 for the second wicket, not of-

ten finding the boundary but constantly keeping the scoreboard ticking.

Cook was lbw sweeping Rangana Herath on 59, bringing Root to the crease to continue in the same manner. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD England innings A Cook* lbw b Herath 59 I Bell c Perera b Eranga 20 J Trott lbw b Herath 76 J Root c Jayawardene b Malinga 68 E Morgan lbw b Malinga 13 J Buttler† c †Sangakkara b Kulasekara 0 R Bopara not out 33 T Bresnan b Eranga 4 S Broad not out 7 Extras: (lb10, w3) 13 Total: (7 wkts, 50 overs) 293 Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-131, 3-218, 4-249, 5-249, 6-249, 7-254 Bowling: K Kulasekara 10-042-1, L Malinga 10-2-58-2, R Eranga 10-0-80-2, A Mathews

6-0-28-0, H Herath 10-046-2, T Dilshan 4-0-29-0 Sri Lanka innings M Perera c Bopara b Anderson 6 T Dilshan c Root b Swann 44 K Sangakkara† not out 134 M Jayawardene c sub (JM Bairstow) b Anderson 42 K Kulasekara not out 58 Extras: (lb6, w7) 13 Total: (3 wkts, 47.1 overs) 297 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-102, 3-187 Bowling: J Anderson 10-051-2, S Broad 8.1-0-67-0, T Bresnan 10-0-63-0, J Root 3-0-27-0, G Swann 10-050-1, R Bopara 6-0-33-0

friday, june 14, 2013

TOP SCORES

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

Match abandoned Australia 243-8 (Voges 71, Bailey 55, McClenaghan 4-65) v New Zealand 51-2

Guyana signs Host Venue Agreement K for CPL matches

Digicel makes major investment in CPL

See story on page

22

The National Stadium, Providence has been confirmed to host the Guyana leg of the inaugural CPL T20 tournament

INSIDE TODAY'S SPORTS

ingston, Jamaica – With excitement building towards the start of the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which bowls off in Barbados on July 30, Digicel has taken a majority stake in the annual Twenty20 cricket tournament, it was announced recently.

The move sees Digicel further expanding its substantial cricket portfolio which includes sponsorship of West Indies cricket, sponsorship of a number of individual players including Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard, among others, an extensive youth development programme and sponsorship of the CPL. Ajmal Khan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Verus International, said; “Since we launched the CPL in partnership with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), we have been focused on attracting major strategic partners who will help build a world class tournament that stimulates the local economies of the Caribbean. I am delighted that my close partners at Digicel have shared so passionately the vision I have for the development of cricket and the unequalled opportunity that is provided by this tournament for the en-

Chris Gayle

tire Caribbean region. I look forward to working with the WICB and Digicel to accomplish these goals.”

Commenting on the decision to invest in the CPL, Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, said; “The Caribbean Premier League is set to be the biggest party in sport this summer. We have already signed on as a major sponsor of the tournament, so when we were offered the opportunity to invest in the CPL, we jumped at it. We are really excited by the opportunities the League brings to the region across tourism, trade and importantly, jobs for local Caribbean people.

We look forward to an incredible cricket event and we hope everybody will enjoy the show.” (CPL)

MUST WIN!

Greaves P22 continues ripping form – Bravo in USA promises

See story on page

22

Windies best in do-or-die contest

West Indies will have to draw on all their strengths today to win

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