Guyana Times Daily

Gold declaration up by 16.9 P3 per cent Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 1800

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Ramotar asks GPL to hold off on tariff hike

P13

GuyExpo 2013 launched See story on page 19

PRICE

$60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

OP staffer electrocuted while P2 changing bulb

Opposition passes P9 motion for probe into Region One gastro outbreak Moruca miner P10 chopped to death at Big Creek

President Donald Ramotar strikes a pose with acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali (left), PSC Chairman Ronald Webster (right) and GMSA head Clinton Williams (second left), at the official launch of GuyExpo 2013 Friday evening at the Guyana International Conference Centre (Carl Croker photo)

City Council breaks down greens vendors’ stalls See story on page 7

A vendor, extreme right, stands in despair, as she, along with passersby, observes the destruction of vendors' tents and stalls as produce was left exposed following the City Council's dismantling exercise at Bourda Market, Georgetown

Man killed, another P10 hurt in boat collision Fast track P12 green economy – Nokta

Pilot blames poor airstrip security for tragedy P19

2news

saturday, june 15, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

OP staffer electrocuted while changing bulb T

he personal assistant to head of the Climate Change Unit at Office of the President (OP) was electrocuted Thursday evening while attempting to change an electric bulb at his Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

Dead is 37-year-old Mark Anthony Munilall of Annandale North, ECD. According to information,

Munilall returned home about 19:30h when he was informed that one of the bulbs over the front access door was not working.

He reportedly changed his working clothes and went to attend to a task with the intention of replacing the bulb.

Guyana Times understands that Munilall stretched to unscrew the bulb with wet hands and

suddenly made a sound and fell to the ground. He was picked up and placed into a car and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

On the way to the medical institution, he reportedly died in the vicinity of Better Hope, ECD. He was still taken to the Guyana Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Dead: Mark Anthony Munilall

Friends of Munilall at Office of the President have expressed their condolences to the relatives, especially his wife and sons.

Climate Change Department Administrative Officer Monique Jones was in tears when this newspaper contacted the office for a comment. The tearful woman explained that she learnt of his demise late Thursday evening.

Jones stated that it was a shock to have learnt of the unfortunate death of Munilall, recalling that he had worked diligently for the office she is a part of. He joined the Climate Change Office close to three years ago as a driver, but he has worked his way up the ladder and was appointed Nokta’s personal

assistant.

The distraught woman stated that he was more than a worker, pointing out that he was someone who was trusted and loyal to his supervisors. “He was someone who had a positive personality and offer advice in time of need… He also worked beyond the call of duty where they are pressing issues at the office.”

In addition, she noted that the office has lost a friend. She described him as a “Jack of all trades”.

A post-mortem examination performed on Munilall

by Dr Nehaul Singh on Friday confirmed that he was electrocuted. He leaves to mourn his parents, wife, two sons and a sister.

Justice Institute Guyana launches EU-funded Amerindian guide

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he Justice Institute Guyana on Tuesday launched a guide to help Amerindian communities resolve their land issues using the Amerindian Act 2006.

The guide explains how an Amerindian community that does not have any land can use the Amerindian Act to obtain an absolute title to the land that it occupies and uses, a release from the EU said. According to the European Union (EU), the guide will also prove invaluable for Amerindian communities which already have land but need more, since it sets out the steps by which these communities can obtain a title to extend their existing landholdings. The Amerindian Act procedure enables communities to get land titles on the basis of only 25 years of occupation.

In contrast, proving native or aboriginal title to traditional lands requires a community to show occupation going back to the time when the colonial power first arrived.

The guide has been produced under a project which is funded by the EU under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). The project builds capacity among Amerindian toshaos (elected chiefs), village councils and communities to use the laws of Guyana to enable them to build democratic and equitable communities as Amerindian peoples.

“The most critical issue for Amerindian peoples is land. Amerindian peoples depend on the land for their physical well-being and in order to survive culturally as Amerindian peoples. Getting the land is only the first step.

The Amerindian Act gives Amerindian peoples the power to transform their communities based on the rule of law, democracy and the wise use of resources. But they have to use the Amerindian Act 2006,” Justice Institute Guyana Director Melinda Janki said.

According to Clarindo

Lucas, a former chairman of Region Nine and a highly respected Wapishana leader, ‘’a major problem for Amerindian peoples is that they do not know how to use the law. Through this EU supported project, the justice institute is working at the grass roots level direct with the people in their communities, to bring them information and simple explanations of the law.’’

In his remarks at the launch of the guide, head of Delegation of the EU to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký, highlighted that, ‘’the EU is intending to provide continuous support to these aspects in the coming years and will soon launch two calls for proposals for a total budget of approximately 1.5 million euros. These funds are complementary to the existing bilateral programmes in the sugar and sea defence sectors, among others.

He further said that, through this event, “it appears that Guyana can set a unique example in the world for the protection of indigenous people and of their environment. The European Union encourages both the civil society and the government of Guyana to pursue their efforts in that direction in the future.’’ Ambassador Kopecký expressed hope that the guide will aid the Amerindian community in their efforts at effective land management and acquisition.

The justice institute also teaches toshaos, village councillors and community residents their responsibilities under the Amerindian Act. Once they get their land title, they are responsible for what happens with the land and for protecting the land for future generations. One community, the Wai Wai, have declared their land as a protected area and are already benefiting from ecotourism and other non-destructive income generating activities, using their powers under the Amerindian Act.

News

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saturday, june 15, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

bridge openings

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Saturday, June 15, from 08:30h to 10:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Saturday, June 15, from 08:00h to 09:30h.

Weather

Countrywide: Thunder 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 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly at 5.36 to 2.68 metres per second.

High Tide: 08:45h and 21:18h reaching maximum heights of 2.39 metres and 2.34 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:17h and 14:46h reaching minimum heights of 0.87 metre and 0.82 metre respectively.

WEDNESday, June 12, 2013

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

08 14 25 23 22 26 03

FREE TICKET

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friday, june 14, 2013 Daily Millions

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

Gold declaration up by 16.9 per cent – new mines officers told to shun fraud

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atural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud on Friday warned a new batch of mines officers attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) against fraudulent activities.

Persaud, addressing the 26 newly-trained officers at the Regency Suites Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown on Friday, said while the gold mining industry has a lot of opportunities; it is often tarnished by illegal activities such as the alleged “shaking down”, unlawful mining operations and smuggling of gold.

“We have taken a firm position on this, and we will ensure that when there is evidence, people face disciplinary actions, including dismissal and we made this quite clear to the unions.”

Nevertheless, he said the ministry through the GGMC will continue to work closely with officers to ensure that they maintain a high level of professionalism. He said the temptations will be great, but officers must ensure that those illegal mining activities and criminal offences are rooted out of the sector.

“You may not even have to say anything or do anything, they will just come to you and you must be able to resist that type of temptation,” said Minister Persaud.

He added that officers must work earnestly to impose the social and environmental standards laid out by the mines commission.

This, he said is critical as the industry plays a leading

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud with GGMC officials and the newly trained mines officers

role in the country’s economy. Amid the recent drop in gold prices, Minister Persaud said the declaration has increased by 16.9 per cent with 216,294 ounces for 2013 when compared to 184,928 ounces in 2012 over the same period.

In addition to illegal mining operations and smuggling of gold, Minister Persaud condemned the brutal act of human trafficking and child labour. He encouraged the officers to report any case of trafficking and child labour to the police and social services.

“What they do too is affect the mining sector as a whole, you can have the best mining practice, you have the best technology and best environmental standards, but when you

go to the camps and see the social behaviours there, it takes away from the good mining activity and it also harms the country’s image.”

On a lighter tone, the natural resources minister advised the newlytrained officers to keep abreast with the evolving technologies in the sector.

He posited the ministry is audaciously working to incorporate technology in the industry to improve its recovery and simultaneously create diversity, not only in the gold mining sector, but the other mining industries as well.

The officers were urged to acknowledge their certificates not only as a symbol of authority, but symbol of great responsibility to propel the industry.

Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) President Patrick Harding applauded the officers for their successful completion of the programme. Through the programme, the GGMC has equipped the officers with the requisite knowledge and skills to function effectively in monitoring mining operations.

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saturday, june 15, 2013

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

CPL: It’s our time to shine

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hat is expected to be cricket’s biggest showpiece – the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will bowl off next month, bringing tremendous economic and other benefits to Guyana and the region. The tournament replaces the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament and is somewhat patterned off the Indian Premier League (IPL) model of the game, where money is generated and some of it is pumped back into the development and expansion of the sport.

The sheer magnitude of this event will help to strategically align Guyana, as the country will be featured in the extensive marketing and promotion of the CPL in the Caribbean and the wider world. Already Guyana’s CPL franchise was acquired by the NEW GPC/Limacol and the other five franchise countries are soon expected to do same.

The excitement is building and cricket-loving fans all over are looking forward to witnessing and participating in this massive event. There is also a huge Guyanese diaspora in the U.S., UK, Canada and other parts of the world who are eagerly awaiting this opportunity to return home to be part of this celebration. As pointed out by CPL Commercial Director Jamie Stewart, the CPL tournament could be used as a means of reconnecting with the Guyanese diaspora in the world while re-establishing the Guyanese identity and the need for a rebirth of a new wave of celebrating “things Guyanese”.

Additionally, one can only imagine the tremendous impact the CPL will have on our local economy and the economies of the region as a whole. It will stimulate growth, create jobs, and market Caribbean products and services to the rest of the world.

Founder and Chairman of the CPL, Ajmal Khan, in detailing the massive economic benefits of the tournament, puts it nicely: “I have witnessed first-hand the resurgence and revitalisation of communities and even countries when new businesses and industries are introduced into their economies, particularly those with such global reach. I believe that the CPL will have a tremendous economic impact, not only for the six franchise countries but also for the entire region. Benefits include international and regional travel to and around the Caribbean, hospitality, entertainment, transportation, and shopping. There will be significant advertising and marketing revenue, as we plan to make the CPL the biggest party on the planet, which will result in a significant boost in local employment opportunities surrounding the events.”

Importantly, too, is that the CPL will provide a perfect opportunity to showcase not just Caribbean cricket, but our Caribbean lifestyle such as our dance, music, food, our flora and fauna, and our tourism potential in general. Guyana, in particular, has a unique tourism product to offer the world and this is our chance to package and market it the best way we can.

In essence, the beauty of the various countries, our people, and their warmth will be on display for the world to see.

Last week, CPL announced that a weekly television programme – CPLT20 TV – will be on air from this month, featuring the six franchise countries where the T20 cricket tournament will be played. The CPLT20 show will also take viewers to the various countries and look back at some historic cricketing moments that made each of the territories unique.

Of significance too is that the CPL provides an opportunity for domestic cricketers to be exposed to the new concept of T20 league cricket. We are also pleased that players will now be able to now earn a decent living from their participation in the tournament. From all indications, 60 players, comprising 10 from each franchise, will be the beneficiaries of CPL developmental contracts.

The idea behind this is to impact the lives of the players by giving them the opportunity to earn a decent living while honing their skills. In exchange for that, players will be expected to go out into the communities and be ambassadors of cricket. They will go into schools and underprivileged areas and talk about CPL and other issues in order to motivate and spread positive messages to the younger generation. This is necessary as part of the overall development of the game in the region.

It is certainly the Caribbean’s time to shine and it is our hope that all stakeholders will utilise every opportunity available to capitalise on the direct and indirect benefits that will flow as a result of hosting this event. Let’s create an impression that will be the envy of the cricketing world.

Persons donating blood during Scotiabank's semi-annual blood drive on Thursday, in observance of World Blood Donor Day, at Scotiabank's main branch on Carmichael Street

Do reasons exist for rate hikes by GPL? Dear Editor, While I do not want it, I believe there is valid justification for electricity rate hikes until the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) can provide answers to some critical questions.

I expected GPL to apply for a rate increase, as its budgetary allocation was cut by the joint opposition. GPL did say at the time that one of the very possible repercussions for the cut was that of an increase in electricity rates.

The increase, albe-

it that I do not want it, comes in the context of rising fuel prices all over the world. Consumers worldwide are in fact facing and are set to face some tough times as manufacturers are passing on the impact of rise in fuel prices.

The areas to be affected are manifold – transport, manufactured goods, electricity, agricultural goods and general utilities, among others. Globally, China and Nigeria did quite a bit of hiking in terms of fuel.

So Guyana is certainly

caught in this web of rising fuel prices.

Stealing electricity forms another factor. Too many Guyanese are doing this. GPL must find a way to deal with this curse.

It seems that no matter what system is in place, many unscrupulous consumers can beat it.

A few places are notorious for electricity theft and many people see this in broad daylight. GPL is quite cognisant of this, but for reasons better left unsaid, the company is unable to deal with the

problem.

GPL has an effective system to cut power from defaulting customers, and I ask that this be applied nationwide. Also, those who owe large sums must be targeted and a system of payment must be worked out.

I call on the joint opposition to re-examine one of the effects of their petty politics. I ask that members redress this situation where GPL is concerned.

Yours faithfully, Joseph Fitzpatrick

Children’s playgrounds are important for their development Dear Editor, The children’s playground at the National Park took a lot of doing, but it is up and running. When I think of the many community centres in Guyana, I get angry. Each of these can have a section for the children, so that they do not have to come to Georgetown for a good time.

In terms of these playgrounds, they have a very good function. Playing outside is not just about let-

ting off steam. Maybe that is so for the bigger folk.

Playing is a vital part of childhood that helps children develop physical strength, coordination and balance. It can also provide opportunities for children to learn and develop many necessary life skills.

I think here of the social aspect.

Children, when they play with one another, learn to communicate, share, collaborate and empathise with oth-

ers. These things are emphasised by many coaches in terms of adults and their taking part in team sports.

So I am making my appeal – we need to support the setting up of play zones for our children. We have the space.

Just a few days ago, I visited two of our schools, situated in the very heart of the city. I was so sorry. The children did not have enough room to run

around in the yard, and that was made of concrete anyway.

Some of them do live in the Georgetown area and these get plenty of opportunities to go to the National Park. How about those outside of the area?

They need playing space too. If we value our children, we will plan for their all round development.

Yours sincerely, Onika Brotherson

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, june 15, 2013

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

Need for a book review section Dear Editor, A need that lives with us, and one that will live without us. The need to read.

Every day we challenge the youths to new blooming experiences, and some days are met with the harshness of our lifelines. If we do not possess the knowledge to conquer the wisdom we wish in our lifetime, then how will we live truly? As a human, have you ever asked yourself how do you get by? Do you get by because of fami-

ly, because of love, because of your intellect, because of your career, or because of your understanding?

I believe understanding one another can only come from reading. We live to exchange our emotions with others, through conversation, business deals and intense experiences. This can only be embellished by the joy of ebullience! This can only be met with the growth of reading.

Don’t you want to en-

lighten the world about what you have read, and now that you are reading, you are creating so many wonderful ideas which you will love to share? I think this is what the world grows upon, and the need to read is always there. We need to sit, and truly understand that it is there. Read a book, write your review, and let others know.

I vote for this government to have a section in their papers to allow young

minds to read, and send in their reviews on individual books. This will not only boost their minds, but it will further help the development of energy. Young, bubbling, beautiful energy. This is what we need!

What do you think is the need now my comrade? Give it a try, and see how it is.

I’d love to see that section in the papers. I’d love to!

Yours truly, Taymara Richards

Contractors must produce better work Dear Editor, Only contractors who produce quality work with adequate, proper and relevant equipment should be awarded contracts. Poor quality works and limited equipment were some of the shortcomings of local contractors. This seems to be the stance of the ministry of finance and I am in full support.

Recently, in the cross street of Annandale South, just west of the Market Road, heading towards the Embankment Road, there is nothing but utter foolishness on display. This par-

ticular road, recently laid and very soft at that, is now not quite conducive to anything. The heavy duty machinery went in there, raked out the drains on both sides and dumped the stuff on the eastern side of the road.

Currently, even a small car cannot quite make it through. It is raining and the accumulated stuff is being washed back down into the drain and at the same time leaving slough on the access road. This is nonsense.

Out of frustration, many people are just pushing the stuff back into the drain. I

want to know who was paid and how much, where this absolute nonsense is concerned. The stuff that was taken out from the drain must not remain on the road, which that does not even have a parapet. Please may someone do something about this.

Contractors and builders must abide by rules and regulations, but many of them do not. So it is time to monitor them and when they do not deliver, simply refuse to pay them. Since it is now being admitted and acknowledged that citizens across Guyana have been

complaining about shoddy works executed by contractors, then the time has come for a proper response from government.

If it means jailing the delinquent and exacting refunds from them, so be it.

The government should never allow a defacing of any of its sector all because of a few unscrupulous contractors. I suggest that the road situation be the first target area. It is patently obvious that our roads are well below standard.

Yours sincerely, Christine Chung

The matter of not having the evidence on hand is not too pleasing Dear Editor, How can drug dealers walk free after the police fail to produce exhibits? Something went totally wrong. This is in fact kind of silly. A recent incident revolves around three men, who were before the court, jointly facing the charges of possession of cocaine and marijuana, and for the purpose of trafficking. They got off scot free from the charges, all because the police failed to produce the necessary exhibits.

Details at the hearing, show that the men were allegedly found with two grams of cocaine and two grams of marijuana when, on the day in question, the police raided a house at St John’s Street, New Amsterdam.

So point one is that marijuana was indeed found as the test proved. Is it the same here for this whitish substance? If so, where is this substance now? I ask the same for the marijuana. After all, the police said that they found stuff there.

The same question goes for the marijuana. Since noth-

ing was authenticated at the trial, it means that these three men can now cry foul against police who did the charging and testing.

The second thing is that if the police can do these kinds of things and get off, our judicial system must change. Who knows what actually took place – there is no evidence. This can get people to become suspicious.

Remember the report that came from them for the charge was that they found and they tested. Now I have to ask what became of what they found and whether or not the test was genuine.

This example of incompetence, flippancy or maybe collusion must get our attention. We cannot condone improper and unsubstantiated arrests and charges. Also, storage of evidence must not be taken for granted. We need to remind ourselves that crimes are national in nature and transcend the individual.

Yours respectfully, Elaine Harris

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Foundation

Authority, discipline, punishment, and four rules for getting good children

Grab their attention: Nine ways to help children get focused and stay focused

BY KUMON LEARNING CENTRES

C

hildren are doing a lot of multitasking these days – from surfing the Web to texting, instant messaging and listening to their iPods® – constant distractions compete for their attention. With so many potential interruptions, it can be difficult for children to stop and focus on the task at hand.

Yet, helping children develop self-discipline, effective focus strategies and concentration skills at an early age is a basis for long-term success in high school, college and the professional working world. Here are some practical and manageable tips parents can use to help their children focus, complete their homework and ultimately succeed.

Set expectations early Explain to your children that just as you have many important responsibilities (at home, at work, in your community, etc), learning is their most important "job" right now. The earlier you set your expectations and establish a routine for learning, homework and studying, the easier it will be to maintain. Make it a family practice: Allow older children to set an example for younger children – include younger children in homework and study hour by having them quietly colour, look at books or do some other learning activity during this time.

Manage distractions Although eliminating ev-

ery possible distraction is nearly impossible, there are ways to manage and minimise the number of things that can pull a child's focus away. Start with technology: no television, phone or computer until homework is done.

Total silence isn't required, because research has found that certain types of music help people concentrate better, especially classical and instrumental music. If your child is interested in listening to music, consider playing Bach, Mozart or Beethoven.

Establish rules for homework time There is nothing more distracting than a knock on the door and an invitation to play when it's homework time.

Require that your children's homework and studying be completed (neatly and correctly) before going out to play.

This can be hard in the summer, when other children are off from school at different times. As seasons and activities change throughout the year, be flexible and adapt to changing schedules.

You do homework too If possible, take this time to quietly do your own "homework". This might be work you brought home with you, reading you need to catch up on or sorting through mail and bills.

Your children will be more focused if they see you setting

a similar example. Though it may be difficult, try to be disciplined about your own use of computers and phones during this time. During homework and study time, think of your home as a library and do all you can to make it a place that fosters focus and limits distraction.

realistically, you may need to create a separate area for each child.

Set a place Create a designated place in your home for independent study. This space should have a table or desk with plenty of room for books and papers and should have all home-

No texting As adults, we know how text messages and emails can interrupt our own concentration. Let your children know they cannot read text messages or use their cellphones during study time or homework hour. If there are questions related to the assignment that you cannot answer, allow them to make a brief phone call (monitored by you, of course)!

work supplies readily available. Keep a few extra supplies on hand to avoid those last-minute, late-night dashes to the store for printer paper, poster board, paint, etc.

Also, try to establish this space in a quiet, low-traffic area of your home where distractions can be managed and minimised. Keep the area conducive to study by ensuring it is well lighted and ventilated. If you have more than one child and they can work together quietly – great! But

Rewards Rewards can be controversial because they can easily become bribes.

But the fact is, human beings respond to positive reinforcement. If you think a positive reward system will work to help motivate your children, avoid material, monetary or food rewards. Instead, negotiate the rewards based on spending quality time together. Ask your children to think of things they would like to do with you, and then make that a monthly goal.

Create a homework chart or download a free, printable chart online. For each homework assignment completed neatly, in a timely manner and without complaint, your child gets a star. These stars could then add up to an end-of-the-month treat: a new book, a trip to the park or mu-

seum, a bike ride or a family movie night.

Praise and positivity Even with the best intentions and optimal study conditions, getting children to settle down and focus can be challenging, especially if they have difficulties with concentration and attention. But with practice, patience, persistence and positivity, a good routine can be established within a month.

Remember to use positive reinforcement and verbal praise, because negativity and punishments only make children feel worse and do not motivate them to try harder. Offer specific praise to children that highlights their progress – not just results – such as "I'm proud of you for completing your math worksheets and for getting to the next level" versus a general "Good job!" Don't forget to also praise the child’s progress and not just the end result.

Communication Be sure to communicate homework guidelines to after-school caregivers so they can create a consistent, positive and focus-friendly work zone. Create a written list that after-school caregivers can follow that details your expectations, from the quiet, distraction-free environment to the amount of time that should be allotted for homework and study time. Even if you are not home while your children are doing their homework – take time to check it and let them know you are engaged. (www.oprah.com/relationships)

BY RICK ACKERLY

The secret of raising good children

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udy Stone, one of the all-time great teachers was charge of 48 seventh and eighth graders for their lunch/recess period one day in March several years ago. Judy called said: “There are three rules: no running, no throwing balls and no jumping off the stage.” For 45 minutes there was no bad behaviour, but spent the rest of our time adjudicating whether what was just observed was “running” or a fast walk, “jumping” or a giant step.

Was that projectile that went flying past us a “ball” or a wad of duct tape? Now and then we had someone take a 10-minute timeout, but all 50 students – the 13 and 14-year-olds and Miss Judy – had a good time together even though the restrictions were both unusual and cruel for children.

What did we do right?

Our attitude: “These are all good children and we know it will be hard for them to live within the restrictions this environment is putting on them,” – unspoken but assumed. It was understood that their “misbehaviour” as their need to understand the meaning and the reality of the boundaries.

Real boundaries: The rules represented actual requirements of the environment rather than something derived mysteriously from adult willpower. The boundaries were not a choice but a necessity like driving on the right side of the road. We didn’t explain.

No punishment: Consequences were just that.

“If you go beyond the pale; you will sit out until you can prove that you are ready to be a responsible member of society.”

Nothing else: That’s all there was to it. Questions of authority, respect, discipline, good-and-bad did not enter in, because we acted as if these were not in question. Do not waste breath your breath (and credibility) explaining things that you wanted them to take for granted. Treated them as wise (as in “a word to the wise is sufficient.”)

Authority: The teachers were, of course, the authorities who creating the conditions for them to have safe fun with each other. The teachers were in charge because it was our job to be in charge not because we were “principal” or “headteacher,” or better than anyone. Our authority derived from our responsibility; a substitute teacher or a parent volunteer can accomplish the same results.

Discipline: Ms Judy was not teaching discipline, but knew they were learning the disciplines of being responsible members of a group.(www. rickackerly.com)

7 City Council breaks down greens vendors’ stalls news

saturday, june 15, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

– farmers bemoan treatment by city mayor, constables; call for govt intervention

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endors operating along the Merriman Mall, Georgetown are calling on government, in particular the Agriculture Ministry, to intervene after the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) dismantled their tents and instructed them to cease operation.

Irate vendors who journeyed from Canal Two, West Bank Demerara and Parika, East Bank Essequibo to Georgetown to ply their trade said the actions of the council are unreasonable, leaving them with thousands of dollars in spoilt goods and huge debts as they complained bitterly to Guyana Times.

Poor city management

Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba, in an invited comment, said the huge tents erected were taking up a large portion of the mall – hence instructions were given to clear the area.

Efforts to contact Mayor Hamilton Green throughout the day were futile and he did not return calls to this newspaper, although numerous messages were left at his office. There continues to be growing criticism of Green’s lack of proper stewardship at the helm of a city continuously filled with garbage along many major streets.

One vendor said Green

the tarpaulin and now all the things dry up. Who gun buy this?” the vendor asked.

“We burn in the sun to farm all week and now look at this,” lamented Bharrat.

“Farming is not easy work. It is hard. Day in and day out we work hard. We not asking for favours, all we want is a place to sell.”

Jaslen Zaman

Chapaul Bharrat’s fruits and vegetables spoiling and in total ruin in the sun following City Council's dismantling campaign

should be more concerned with cleaning the dirty streets of Georgetown and properly accounting for his years of mismanagement as mayor, rather than preventing honest people from making a decent and honest living.

Chapaul Bharrat

Chapaul Bharrat, who has been vending in the vicinity for more than 18 years, said that, about 12:00h on Friday, a group of unruly city constables started shouting at him, saying he had violated the regulations of the council by exceeding the vending time, leaving them no other choice than to break

down his tent and remove his tarpaulin.

Bharrat said he was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 for the extra time spent on the mall and for the huge tent. He told Guyana Times that his tent and other installation materials are all now damaged.

The vendor said the council’s actions come although it was explained that he was unable to return to Canal Number Two at 22:00h on Thursday, since the area was experiencing flooding at the time.

Realising that the fruits and vegetables would have spoiled if locked in the truck until 15:00h on Friday, the

vendor said he decided to sell through Thursday night until Friday. Normally, he sells from 15:00h to 22:00h.

“I explain to them that we are having flood in Canal Number Two, and that we can’t leave anything lock up in the truck. I went, I ask, and I even beg them, but them didn’t grant me the favour,” said a despondent looking Bharrat.

Late Friday afternoon, the frustrated vendor was contemplating his next step.

“The agriculture minister got to come in and talk to us because the government saying grow more food, we are growing, and now we ain’t get nowhere to sell. They take away

Another vendor, Jaslen Zaman, who travelled from Parika, was stopped in her tracks when she attempted to put on sale fruits and vegetables. According to her, she sells wholesale from 08:00h to 16:00h along the mall before moving to a next location to retail the remaining produce, but things took a turn on Friday morning.

She said while off-loading her truck about 08:00h, she was rudely informed by the city constables that, if she continued to off-load, charges will be instituted. “Wheh I gun find money to pay farmers when you deh here whole day and can’t sell, this is our livelihood and it’s unfair,” the woman cried.

She was backed by another vendor from Parika, Toolise Ramnarine, although he did not give a comment to Guyana Times.

Meanwhile, many farmers operating along the conservancy dam at Canal

Polder Number Two recently told Guyana Times that they have been hard hit by widespread flooding for the second time in a year, a disaster caused by the age-old drainage problem.

Farmers

Standing in his flooded pak choi nursery, an upset and frustrated Narine Dindial said he continues to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in crops as the rainy season intensifies. After investing approximately $200,000 in his farm, Dindial said he is now plotting his next move, since more than half of the cash crop is damaged.

Another farmer, Narine Sukhan, who cultivates cash crops and rears livestock, said he had to find alternative land for his cows and goats, since his farm is now covered in water. Sukhan was, however, unable to save his crops, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.

According to him, the poor drainage situation is compounded by a decision made by the Agriculture Ministry to open the B-line koker. Sukhan said the koker has been opened for the past week and farmers continue to face the consequences as the rainy season intensifies.

8 news Taxi driver jailed for three years A saturday, june 15, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

41-year-old taxi driver was jailed for three years after he was convicted of cocaine trafficking when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Andrew Michael Park, of Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of narcotics for the purposes of trafficking when it was read to him in open court.

The chief magistrate then asked the defendant if he knew the penalty attached to the charge which he responded in the negative and maintained his guilty plea even after hearing that he could serve up to five years in prison if convicted.

According to the prosecution, on June 13 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Park was in possession of 3.124 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The de-

tom of his luggage, as he was informed that it was baked into the walls of the suitcase.

Clemency

Andrew Michael Park being escorted by a police rank from the court house

fendant, a hire car driver, was about to travel to New York via Caribbean Airlines Flight BW524.

Around 03:15h, the defendant checked in his black suitcase and then went to the departure lounge. About 04:30h, acting on a tip, a Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officer made contact with the defendant who identified himself along with his suitcase. A search was conducted on the suitcase and the illegal substance was found concealed

within its false bottom.

After being cautioned, Park then related that he was given the illegal substance to take to the United States and told that someone would collect it from him upon arrival. He was also told that he would be given US$5000 for transporting the substance. Park was then arrested.

The defendant explained to the court that this situation was not meant to happen, and he was not aware that the drug was in the bot-

Park begged for clemency, stating that he has never had a problem with the law.

He added that he has six children to take care of, two outstanding business loans, and a debt which he is trying to “get off of his chest”. He further stated that he has been cooperating with CANU officers and complimented them on a job well done.

The defendant presented himself in a rather peculiar fashion with his right index finger pointed to his shoulder and his left fist clenched at his side.

The chief magistrate, taking into account the prevalence of the offence and mitigating factors, along with other particulars, sentenced Park to a $30,000 fine in addition to three years’ imprisonment.

Kuru Kururu murder accused appears in court

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hameer Ali, who allegedly stabbed his reputed wife, Shaneeza “Reshma” Ramdat to

death, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday to answer to the capital offence.

Ali, who was recently discharged from the High Dependency Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital, was carried into the court on a chair by two men. The murder accused seemed to be on the brink of collapse and was largely non-responsive when the indictable charge was read against him.

The chief magistrate tried to establish a line of communication between herself and the accused to no avail. As a result, she left her desk and stood before the defendant to read him his charge which alleged that on June 8 at Kuru Kururu squatting area, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, he murdered Ramdat.

During the proceedings,

Murder accused Shameer Ali exiting the court

she stated that she may have to contact Legal Aid to represent the accused and requested a medical from the prosecution which is yet to be obtained since the accused is still undergoing treatment.

The prosecution stated that the administration is sorting out the defendant’s

medical and informed the court that even if Ali was remanded to the prison, owing to his current condition, he would not be granted entry without a medical report.

Ali was asked to return to court on June 24 for report and fixtures and the commencement of the preliminary inquiry.

Ramdat, 23, formerly of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed several times in her neck. She was found lying face down in a pool of blood on the sand. According to reports, she was harvesting pineapples, using a knife, to take to her children who we are staying with their father on West Coast Demerara when she and the accused had a heated argument. The argument led to a scuffle, and Ali allegedly wrestled the knife from the woman’s hand and stabbed her repeatedly.

He then escaped into the bushes where he reportedly attempted to commit suicide by slashing his throat.

He was found in a clump of bushes a short distance away from the house that the couple shared.

Eyew tness

Political badmindedness... ...on security nly yesterday we complimented David Granger and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for displaying some political maturity to engage President Donald Ramotar on matters of national importance. We contrasted their behaviour with the Alliance for Change (AFC) and its leader Khemraj Ramjattan, who’d demanded cynical quid pro quos. This kind of Procrustean politics, we suggested, was dangerous to our body politic... which even more than other jurisdictions, demands a level of pragmatic accommodations.

But even as we were writing, Granger and APNU were following the lead of the AFC’s bull-headed intransigence to place partisan party politics ahead of the national interest. More than anyone else, Granger should appreciate the importance of a well functioning security apparatus for our country’s development. How then can he stymie necessary reforms of that apparatus just because he and his party have a problem with Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee.

Their claim is that Rohee’s incompetent. So what’s new? From the opposition’s comments in and out of Parliament, it’s obvious they believe – from the president down – executive incompetence is the order of the day. But in the case of Rohee, the constitutional demarcation of his remit prevents him from interfering with “operational” matters in the forces under his ministry. This makes it even easier for the opposition to keep him in check.

Problems with Rohee can only extend to the policies that he would be introducing, or has introduced, on behalf of the government to guide the forces. And this was all that Rohee was doing in Parliament – introducing four bills intended to improve the security apparatus of Guyana. Now Rohee, in his person, has nothing to do with the substantive aspects of the bills. Never mind the Stabber and Muckraker News dubbing them “Rohee Bills”. Either the opposition, for instance, believes changing the name from “Police Force” to “Police Service” is a good move for what it represents or not.

For donkey years, they’ve been complaining and protesting about the “rough and ready” approach of the police. But now they’re presented with new policies promulgated under the rubric of “service” rather than “force” – they’ve decided to kill it. A rejected bill can’t be re-introduced until after new elections and a new Parliament. We won’t get into the substance of the other bills – save to say that like the first mentioned above, the opposition in the past have affirmed they’re vital to the improvement of law and order.

Somebody better sing a dirge for Guyana.

O

...on Dr Rodney should end Once again the government has proposed that there be an international commission of inquiry (CoI) into the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney. The government ought to be complimented for this move. There are some that blame the government for not doing this right after they came into office in 1992. They forget the circumstances under which that feat was achieved.

First of all, those elections had been delayed for two years as the People’s National Congress (PNC) fooled around with the voters’ list.

Then when the count was released, there were forces in that party – led by Hamilton Green – who demanded that Desmond Hoyte reject the verdict of the people. People have to remember the Greeninspired assault on the elections commission building, in which scores, including the U.S. ambassador, were injured.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter had to intervene the next day and most feel Hoyte only accepted the results after Dr Cheddi Jagan accepted that the PNC would not be brought to trial for their reign of terror, which included the murder of Dr Rodney. In 2005 the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) joined with the PNC to remove the world “assassination” from the wording of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) parliamentary resolution for a CoI. We wonder what they’ll do this time. ...on cricket ending Consolidating the move by the NEW GPC/Limacol to bring T-20 cricket to Guyana, our government is the first to ink the “Host Venue Agreement”, confirming the hosting of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) games scheduled for our country. Say hey Limacol!!

9 Opposition passes motion for probe into Region One gastro outbreak news

saturday, june 15, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

– govt says country doesn’t need another inquiry

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he opposition on Thursday used its majority to pass a motion calling for the setting up of a commission of inquiry to probe the January-March 2013 gastro outbreak in Region One which left three children dead and hundreds of others sick.

The motion was tabled by Opposition Leader David Granger. According to Granger, there have been three confirmed deaths of three-month-old babies.

“If local coordination is poor … children will die… there will be a feeling of being abandoned and disregarded by the people…,” Granger said. “Deaths of children call for an inquiry and the opposition is not satisfied.”

He added that the opposition is also unsatisfied with the country’s emergency response systems. The opposition also made a call for the money made in the region to remain in the region for its own developments.

However, Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran said government quickly responded to the outbreak. He not-

ed that the ministries involved include the local government and regional development and housing and water. He said among the other agencies that have been assisting are the Civil Defence Commission (CDC); the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO); and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“Developments show that there is heightened interest in the areas. Yes, we did lose babies but the ministry stabilised the situation and put measures in place to prohibit such occurrences again… the deaths of the three babies are being highly politicised…,” the minister said.

Joint strategies

Making reference to a similar case in Jamaica, he continued, “We welcome you and we want to work together, but we do not need a commission but joint strategies to enable the effective actions are done to curb the situation …”

Noting that the nation’s health is also the responsibility of citizens and corporate bodies, the minister

free education.”

Touching on the status of health care in the region, Whittaker said Region One has 41 health posts, three health centres, three cottage or district hospitals, and one regional hospital.

“This is the extent to which we have improved over the years,” Whittaker noted.

He said there are strategies in place to improve and strengthen the system.

Health-care system

Opposition Leader David Granger

Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran

said he is appealing to citizens to protect their own health and that of other persons in the community.

He pointed out that gastroenteritis is very much preventable and the ministry wants to do more awareness work in order to educate persons.

Recently after the outbreak, a second medical team conducted community meetings in all of the affected communities. In addition to the meetings, certain supplies, such as oral dehydration salts,

were distributed to the targeted residents and they were educated on the uses.

Minister within the Local Government Ministry, Norman Whittaker highlighted the steps that have been taken to prevent a recurrence of the gastro outbreak.

He said, “That while we advance arguments that much is still to be done, and that there is still much to be done, we must also recognise that we have been able to make available free health care and

While Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy mentioned that all the parties should endeavour to boost the health-care system. “No baby should die if avoidable… we have not yet fully achieved this; however, it is the same around the world… we need to work together,” he said.

Ramsammy noted that the Health Ministry always strives for improvement and the Health Act clearly states that an “expert panel” will aid in investigating such situations. He emphasised that “anytime a child dies, we need to utilise and examine the reports….”

Residents of the North

West District (NWD) had laid the blame for the recent gastroenteritis outbreak in the area at the feet of miners, who they say have been improperly disposing of their human waste, which contaminated the water supply.

However, the health officials who visited the area noted that the poor sanitation practices of the residents, including the use of pit latrines, are responsible for the Escherichia coli (E coli) bacteria ending up in the waterways running through Canal Bank, Sebai and Port Kaituma, causing the outbreaks of gastroenteritis.

E coli are rod-shaped members of the coliform group, which is almost exclusively of faecal origin, and their presence confirms faecal contamination. The coliform bacterial group is abundant in the faeces of warm-blooded animals and could also be found in aquatic environments, in soil, and in vegetation. Coliforms are easily spread and their presence usually indicates that other pathogenic organisms of faecal origin may be present.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, june 15, 2013

News

Man killed, another hurt in boat collision

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By Bhisham Mohamed

ne man is dead while another has been hospitalised, following a boat collision at the estuary of the Supenaam Creek, Region Two, on Friday afternoon.

The dead man has been identified as Ganesh Roopnarine, also called “Shines”, 32, of Barnwell, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, while the injured man is Mohammed Salim Khan of Wakenaam Island, Region Three.

According to reports, Roopnarine had already loaded his boat and was on his way to Parika, but stopped at the mouth of the creek to refuel when

the other boat is believed to have slammed into him.

The father of one was at the stern of the boat, and as result of the impact of the collision, he fell into the water hitting his head in the process.

He was pulled and rushed to the Suddie Hospital, but succumbed on his way there. Khan, who was a passenger in the boat also suffered injuries and he too was taken to the hospital where he remains in a stable condition. He sustained injuries to his arms and legs.

Naresh Chattergoon, a cousin of the dead man who resides in Parika, ex-

plained that he received the dreaded news at about 17:00h and immediately rushed to Supenaam.

He was accompanied by Roopnarine’s grieving wife and son. Upon their arrival, they were told that Roopnarine was already transferred to the mortuary.

He stated that they were told that a boat had slammed into his boat, resulting in him receiving injuries which subsequently led to his demise.

A female relative stated that the man used to live with his parents in Affiance, but after marriage, he moved to Parika.

She said when they arrived at the hospital, her

nephew was already being taken to the Suddie Hospital mortuary.

However, they were given the opportunity to view Roopnarine’s body.

Hospital officials explained that he had suffered severe head injuries. Family members said he has been plying the Supenaam route for almost 10 years and was never involved in an accident.

The man leaves to mourn his wife, child, parents and siblings.

Meanwhile, the captain of the other boat was taken into custody and is assisting with investigations.

(bhisham@guyanatimesgy.com)

Moruca miner chopped Armed robbery suspect granted bail to death at Big Creek

J

ulio Bradford was granted bail after his third court appearance on two counts of attempting to commit a felony by Magistrate Fabian Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.

Bradford, 30, of Lot 5 Public Road, Bagotstown, was slapped with the charges of attempting to commit robbery under arms against Deron Mansfield and Charles Chan on April 21 in

Georgetown.

The police investigation is not complete and the prosecution did not have the defendant’s file after ample time was given to do so, hence the defendant, who was remanded after his two previous appearances, made an appeal for bail before the magistrate. Bradford was then granted bail in the sum of $300,000.

The matter is scheduled to continue on July 9.

A

miner was on Friday chopped to death at Big Creek, North West District (NWD) during a heated argument with one of his colleagues who accused him of poisoning him. The incident occurred about 09:00h.

The dead man was identified as Oral Norton, 22, of Moruca, NWD. According to police investigations,

Norton and the suspect were working in a mining pit when he was attacked and chopped about the body.

It is suspected that the incident stemmed from Norton preparing tea using a bark last month, which the suspect consumed and later became ill. The suspect has been arrested, and he is assisting with the investigation.

Plenty noise in de country

T

hese days every body talkin bout how much noise in de country. De Kitty people and Hadfield Street people complain bout bars that mekkin plenty noise and disturbin de neighbourhood. De people go to de police and de Home Affairs Ministry, but de noise still ain’t stop. Now dem goin to court to stop de noise.

Some of de neighbours seh de police can’t stop de noise because dem does go deh and mek noise demselves after dem get free drinks and food. So somebody need to mek noise pun de police men who does be on de night patrol. De neighbours seh dem patrollin de bar more than dem patrolling de streets.

A lotta people also complainin bout noise in gas stations too. It look like de gas station owners dem want to stop sellin gas and keep party every weekend. One man go to apply fuh a licence to run a gas station pun de East Bank, and de list of tings he want to sell got more beer and rum than gas and diesel.

De guvament officer ask de man how come he plan to sell more alcohol than fuel in a gas station. De man couldn’t find a proper answer, but he give de officer directions pun de East Coast to wheh does get de big parties pun weekends, and all of dem is gas station. So de man seh he want to set up a gas station like that pun de East Bank.

Well, old people does always seh that empty vessels does mek de most noise. And these days Parliament does mek more noise than de bars and de gas stations!

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! So look out fuh more noise in de Parliament next week, because it full of empty people mekkin plenty noise!

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, June 15, 2013

Rohee to re-table rejected bills in 11th Parliament H

that the bills are forward looking, progressive pieces of legislation and each bill is non-reactionary and democratic. They all help each Guyanese to look forward to better service through security sector changes, he noted.

ome Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has hinted that the four security bills that were rejected by the opposition on Thursday could be re-tabled in the 11th Parliament.

He made the comments during a news conference Thursday evening at the Parliament Buildings.

Speaking at the news conference, the minister stated quite clearly that he is content to await the sitting of the 11th Parliament after the next national elections in Guyana to bring the bills back to the National Assembly.

Security reform

The four bills rejected are the Evidence (Amendment) Bill, Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill and the Guyana Fire Service (Change of Name) Bill, and the Police (Change of Name) Bill, all aimed towards the security reform that the opposition had been advocating for several years.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds also expressed his disappointment with the parliamentary opposition.

He pointed out their determination not to approve any legislation presented by the

Disciplined Services Commission

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

minister despite their claims of commitment towards the fight against crime.

Hinds noted that most of their objections against the minister arose from their assumptions that the minister was responsible for the deaths of three persons during the July 2012 Linden protests. These assumptions, he explained, were however unjustified as proved by the commission of inquiry which investigated the happenings of that day.

He declared that as such, the opposition has no basis

for the position they have taken and are not earnest and responsible.

Minister Rohee expressed his commitment to the bills and is of the firm conviction that they are appropriate for the reform process of the security sector. He noted that they had first been presented and approved by Cabinet before they were brought before the House. “The bills are not about Clement Rohee, but about the people of Guyana,” he said.

The minister pointed out

Minister Rohee emphasised that the bills were sourced from the Disciplined Services Commission before which a number of other organisations along with the opposition appeared to plead for the reforms.

Minister Rohee posited that they are now in a “bind” because of the position taken not to approve bills tabled by him and are now unable to extricate themselves. The home affairs minister urged Guyanese to condemn this behaviour.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Anil Nandlall also supported his colleague minister and pointed out that crime is a serious problem in Guyana. As such, he observed, leaders in Parliament must ensure their actions are consistent with the wishes of the people who put them there. He urged that issues

should not be used to play “political football”, especially those related to crime.

Describing the merits of each bill, Minister Nandlall explained the measures outlined to address criminal matters and their means to address the reform of the sector. He also pointed out that Opposition Leader David Granger was a member of the Disciplined Services Commission which gave the recommendation for the Security Sector Reform in Guyana.

Police service

Meanwhile, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Chairman Basil Williams told a news conference on Friday that passage of the Evidence Amendment Bill “would not in any way change the situation if it were passed of the general malaise and slothfulness in the system with respect to the condition of criminal cases”.

He posited there is the possibility that the opposition can re-table these same bills within the next six months. He recalled that during the sitting of the last Parliament, the shadow Home Affairs Minister

Debroah Backer had requested a change in the name of the Guyana Police Force and the disciplinary services, noting that Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee never took it on.

“It is not tit for tat, but we are saying that can’t be a priority in the disciplinary forces,” he stressed.

The APNU chairman said if the minister was pressing for a 12 per cent increase in salaries across the board for the police and firemen then that would have been more impacting, especially as it relates to administration of justice in the country.

12 news

saturday, june 15, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Fast track green economy – Nokta C limate Change Unit Director Shyam Nokta said while Guyana has played its part to transform the world to a greener economy, there is recognition that this transformation must be effected at a faster and more efficient pace.

Nokta mentioned that the world continues to grapple with two defining challenges: to avert catastrophic climate change while delivering social development and reducing poverty.

“Increasingly, we have recognised that these challenges are closely linked and the move towards a low carbon economy and green growth is seen as an approach to economic and social development as well as environmental sustainability,” Nokta said.

Urgent action Among the urgent action needed to address climate change and reduce poverty is the creation of new jobs, reduction of the environmental impact of traditional economic sectors, reduction of the need for energy and raw material, avoidance of greenhouse gas emission, waste and pollution and maintaining ecosystem services such as clean water and biodiversity.

However, Nokta explained that climate change has proven that the global economy will require largescale investment in new technology, equipment and infrastructure which will provide

be addressed by developing countries.

Nokta pointed out that although many countries are moving towards a green economy and low carbon growth, these instances are confined to specific sectors and initiatives.

Shyam Nokta

major stimulus for muchneeded opportunities to retain and transform existing jobs.

“Notwithstanding the potential benefits of green economy and what it can provide, this transformation will have a profound effect on the way countries produce, consume and earn a living in all sectors. We will have to be economy-wise, involving enterprise and citizens, workers; requiring political will, innovation and leadership at all levels in society,” Nokta explained.

The transition, he said, will be the challenge many developing countries will face at a time when there is a global economic crisis, insufficient political will and action for climate change and cut-backs on jobs and investment.

However, legitimate questions about whether green jobs can be sustained overtime and what will become of the traditional sectors must

Integrated approach He stated that a working model with an integrated approach of moving towards a low carbon growth trajectory such as Guyana’s pioneering Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) can potentially provide a blueprint to combating climate change while simultaneously promoting economic growth and development.

“Given the right economic incentives, Guyana can avoid significant emissions of greenhouse gases through deforestation that would normally occur by following the “business as usual” development model. The initiative to support the LCDS could be generated through interim payment for carbon storage services provided by Guyana’s forest. Payment such as the one we have through partnership with Norway and other sources and ultimately through the mechanism established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,” Nokta said.

The finances earned will allow Guyana to expand its economic growth and enable the economy to be aligned along a low carbon trajectory.

This is expected to catalyse Guyana’s efforts to diversify its economy and provide new economic opportunities, employment and more efficient use of resources while maintaining valuable forest ecosystems.

“We are now in the implementation phase of LCDS and over the past four years, Guyana has made significant progress; earning US$150 million through performancebased payments which are based on annual independent audit; not only our forest governance mechanism but the rate of deforestation which we have successfully maintained as one of the lowest in the region,” he pointed out.

Community development The funds earned will also be channelled into priority projects identified under the LCDS, including the flagship hydropower and community development initiatives at the village level in Amerindian communities.

Over 20 villages have been identified as beneficiaries this year and will be able to access direct financing for their community development plan. Smaller microenterprise projects will also target financing and support to vulnerable groups.

In March, President Donald Ramotar announced a new wave of economic activities under the LCDS which is expected to be launched very shortly.

GCCI executive says ICT key in Guyana’s economic future

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Lance Hinds

rainStreet Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lance Hinds said a technologydriven, knowledge-based economy is likely to be the hallmark and cornerstone of Guyana’s economic future.

Speaking on the significance of incorporating information communication technology (ICT) into the operations of local businesses, Hinds said the appropriate utilisation of ICT can improve the lives of Guyanese.

However, he emphasised that such a sector has to be nurtured in order to grow and mature the industry through the application of ICT in all sectors and at all levels of the economy.

“We live in an age when time, location and distance are irrelevant. If we do not adapt, we will be left stand-

ing still. Therefore, we have to move… and we have to move now,” he said.

According to Hinds, it is still possible for small developing countries like Guyana to play catch-up in the emerging, knowledge-based, global society.

Hinds, who also serves as senior vice president of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), believes that the opportunities are available and recent advancement in technology has levelled the playing field.

He pointed out that Caribbean governments have taken on the mandate of developing ICT as a viable, crosscutting, productive sector that contributes significantly to the social, economic development of the region.

Competitive environment

“This is a competitive environment and leaders in the region share this philosophy as well,” the CEO said.

He recalled that in 2002, regional leaders launched the Caribbean Connectivity Agenda and Platform for Action, since they recognised the potential ICT has in enhancing and integrating the society in areas of health, education, poverty reduction, delivery of public information and governance. continued on page 13

News

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saturday, june 15, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Ramotar asks GPL to hold off on tariff hike

By Leana Bradshaw

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resident Donald Ramotar on Friday evening announced that he has asked the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) to hold off on its proposal for tariff increase, while his government explores various means to restore the $5.2 billion subsidy that was slashed from this year’s budget.

Ramotar made the announcement while addressing the launch of GuyExpo 2013.

He said: “Today (Friday), I had discussions with some members of the board and the management of GPL and I’ve instructed them to hold their hands, that they should not act and implement this decision now – while we look for ways and means, while we look for a way to restore government’s subsidy to GPL”.

He reiterated that “the cut of more than $5 billion has been a serious blow and can have serious effects not only on the ordinary consumers, the ordinary working people, many of whom have been making representation to me, but it can have a big impact on the manufacturing sector and the business community whom I also been having conversations with”.

As such, he noted that government is willing and ready to take the matter of GPL’s subsidy back to Parliament, if it can be guaranteed of the support of the entire House to approve it in a bid to minimise any increase in tariffs GPL might be forced to implement.

Cheap energy is vital

The head of state pointed out that cheap energy is vital to the development of the manufacturing sector and the small man as well.

“We need cheap energy for domestic use… particularly our women that they can use different things in the household to do house work and we need cheap electricity in the business commu-

nity to encourage expansion, to encourage job creation [and] to encourage development,” Ramotar stated.

He pointed out that government has been investing many resources into building the capacity of GPL and enhancing its day-to-day operations.

Ramotar stressed that government is conscious of the burden an increase in electricity tariffs can place on citizens at both the domestic and business levels.

Hydroelectricity, the president said, can go a far way in satisfying the need for cheap energy, which will allow increased production in all sectors.

He pointed to the agriculture industry, which can be made more efficient through the use of affordable energy by implementing more technological and scientific techniques.

Ramotar concluded that “the possibilities [of hydroelectric power] are great… and our potential is enormous”.

The president said he looked forward to the day when Guyana would not have problems of financing the power company and when all parties could put aside their egos and work together for the development of the economy.

Criticisms

Ramotar’s announcement comes at a time when major local players have criticised GPL’s move to increase tariffs. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) said on Wednesday that it was deeply concerned over the proposed 26.7 per cent increase in rates. The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) also condemned the proposal and called for the restoration of the $5.2 billion subsidy.

The government and opposition have been sparring over the proposed increase, with the latter saying that the GPL’s proposal should not be considered.

Government, on the other

President Donald Ramotar

hand, has insisted that the power company has not increased tariffs in five years and the proposed hike is justified.

The PSC said it was

the contention of GPL that the purpose of the increase is to meet the immediate need for capital expenditure to realise an additional 26 megawatts of generating capacity; an expanded integrated transmission network linking West and East Demerara with Berbice, greatly strengthening the reliability of electrical supply in those areas; and the deployment of an additional 28 feeders, allowing an appreciable load reduction of the currently overloaded distribution system.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on Monday insisted that the company must be able to go ahead with the hike, saying this was coming after five years of no adjustment during which oil pric-

es rose by about 60 per cent.

He said the cost of oil constitutes about 80 per cent of the cost of providing electricity.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, the power company has been facing dire financial constraints over the past few years as a result of high technical and commercial losses, and this position has been compounded with the slashing of its subsidy by the parliamentary opposition.

According to GINA, the average price per kilowatt hour is $63, with the 26.7 per cent increase, that will increase to about $80 per kilowatt hour. Hinds, who has responsibility for the electricity sector, said GPL has been foregoing the in-

crease in tariffs that it ought to have been receiving. The company has calculated more than $20 billion in income have been foregone.

The prime minister said that while this increase will be very demanding on people, this adjustment should have been coming in smaller steps of about five per cent per annum.

“This 26.7 per cent is a big step, but it comes after five years of no increases and five years of greatly increased cost, especially for oil… the alternative for the future is for the annual review to be put into effect, in which case one would probably see increases of no more than five per cent per year,” he said. (leannab@guyanatimesgy.com)

GCCI executive says ICT key in... from page 12

Later in 2005, the Caricom Secretariat formed the regional ICT Steering Committee which was constituted as a primary mechanism for dealing with the regional information society and ICT issues.

The committee was intended to serve as a “think tank” of the secretariat and to be used as a coordinating and management tool for the advancement of ICTs. Hinds pointed to the improving skill set in the area of ICT and recognised the University of Guyana’s Department of Computer Science for producing better graduates than in previous years.

The BrainStreet executive said that the One Laptop Per Family project (OLPF) can be a game-

changer and is certainly one to watch. He stated that the OLPF has the potential to provide a significant jump in ICT penetration, especially in the rural and disadvantaged communities.

“We can now see the policy and related initiatives as it relates to low-cost connectivity, ICT education and literacy which are critical components to the development and success of a project like this,” Hinds remarked.

He also singled-out the upcoming E-governance project, which he described as another significant intervention in the local ICT environment.

Government services

“The efficient streamlining of delivery of government services is a benefit to

all. Information and related support will be provided far more efficiently to citizens and will generate employment, especially for those longstanding software development firms in Guyana.

Based on these events, we need to seriously build and develop the ICT sector similar to that in Jamaica and elsewhere,” he said.

Hinds stressed that stakeholders must build a national ICT roadmap which is action-oriented, distinct time horizons for medium and long term objectives and short term priorities. “This is a critical national matter.

Get with it or get left in the dust. It’s really that simple.”

Outlining the scope and potential of ICTs, Hinds explained that due to Guyana’s language, its similar time-

zone and willing workforce, it has long had a natural propensity to becoming an ICT hub.

“However, ICT growth here has been slow; way behind our Caribbean counterparts in scope, function and contributes to national development. Progress, over the years, while significant, has been a bit uneven and sometimes piecemeal,” he said.

Hinds mentioned that financial institutions such as banks are utilising 21st century technology, but it is often specific and sometimes insular.

BrainStreet Group is an IT services and consultancy company which has been operating in Guyana since 1994.

14

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guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Jamaican government Ecuador’s Congress Anti-hanging approves thorny moves to stop lobbyists may media law meet in TT child labour

E

The International Labour Organisation estimates that children make up nearly 30 per cent of the world’s estimated 50 to 100 million domestic workers

T

he Jamaica government says it is committed to the elimination of all forms of child labour in the country. “Our determination in this goal is unshakable and we will remain engaged with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the European Union, and other international and local partners in this endeavour,” said Labour and Social Security Minister Derrick Kellier.

The ILO has defined child labour as a form of abuse and according to the ILO Minimum Age Convention of 1973, child labour also refers to any work done by children which is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to them and interferes with their education.

The ILO estimates that children make up nearly 30 per cent of the world’s estimated 50 to 100 million domestic workers. The Child Care and Protection Act makes it an offence to employ a child under 13 years old. The law, however, makes an exception for children 13 to 15 years old to be employed, but only under circumstances where they are allowed to do only light work.

Kellier said the Jamaica will not condone “in any shape, size or form” the employment of children in hazardous work and that the authorities have increased their capacity to introduce, implement and enforce new legislation for this purpose. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Sao Paulo transport fare protest turns violent

cuador’s Congress on Friday passed a law creating a state watchdog to regulate newspaper and television content, a move critics called a blow to free speech but the government hailed as a step toward more balanced media.

The law represents a victory for socialist President Rafael Correa’s in his six-year battle with the country’s media during which he has sued several media outlets for libel and insulted reporters with epithets such as “wild beasts” and “rabid dogs.”

Opposition lawmakers, who wore gags during the debate, say the law will allow the government to control media through loosely defined regulations that require information be accurate and balanced.

Government officials, however, said it will make communications more democratic.

“This law is a milestone that separates the before and after in the history of communication and access to information by all Ecuadoreans,” Political Management Minister Betty Tola told reporters.

Several rights groups including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Amnesty International have expressed concern that the Correa government might be trampling on freedom of expression.

“One of this law’s main flaws is the creation of a new mechanism for regulating the traditional media and their websites. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bahamas opposition MP slaps government member in parliament

O

pposition member of parliament Loretta ButlerTurner said she was “provoked” into slapping a fellow MP Dr Andre Rollins in the House of Assembly in The Bahamas on Wednesday after, according to her, the Gaming Board chairman embraced her, whispered “horrific” things in her ear and would not let her go.

When he spoke to reporters afterwards, Rollins denied that he made disparaging remarks to Butler-Turner and said she “lost her cool”. He said he only encouraged her to seek a therapist because of her frequent emotional outbursts in the parliament.

Rollins said he hoped something positive would come out of the incident and show young men that they should remain cool in the face of conflict. The altercation took place at the House of Assembly’s top staircase landing moments after the House broke for lunch.

The Nassau Guardian, along with several other spectators, including some MPs, witnessed the slap. As ButlerTurner walked towards the staircase, Rollins approached her, put an arm around her shoulder and spoke into her ear.

The Guardian heard Butler-Turner loudly tell Rollins to stop touching her and when he did not, she slapped him once across the face, leaving onlookers stunned. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

E

fforts are in the works for TT to be the venue for a meeting of the abolitionist movement to establish a PanCaribbean Organisation For Life unit, says Carmelo Campos Cruz of the Puerto Rican Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

Cruz announced that during Thursday’s session of the antideath penalty conference which addressed Caribbean developments concerning the death penalty and the abolitionist thrust. Thirteen regional states, TT and Cuba among them, retain the death penalty.

Cruz was among panellists, including TT’s Leela Ramdeen, Catholic Commission for Social Justice, member of Greater Caribbean for Life (GCL); Jamaica’s Dr Lloyd Barnett, founding member of Greater Caribbean For Life and Sergio Ramirez, former judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Mexico. World Day Against the Death Penalty will be held on October 10 and the Caribbean and the death penalty will be the theme then. Cruz said members of the abolition movement would examine issues in the region during the event and members were thinking of meeting in TT to set up a Pan-Caribbean Organisation For Life group to link with civil society and all regional associates.

Former UN representative to the region Mike Plat expressed scepticism about the impact a world anti-death penalty day in the region might have when one could not get tiny St Kitts to change its death-penalty laws. (Excerpt from Trinidad

Guardian)

Ex-Argentine president gets seven years in prison for arms smuggling

A

n Argentine court has sentenced former President Carlos Menem to seven years in prison for his role in illegally smuggling weapons to Ecuador and Croatia.

An appeals court found Menem guilty of aggravated smuggling earlier this year.

Menem, 82, is serving as a senator and has immunity from going to prison, but lawmakers could vote to strip him of that protection. On Thursday, the court also sentenced former Argentine Defence Minister Oscar Camilion to 5½ years in prison.

Menem was Argentina’s president from 1989 to 1999. He has maintained his innocence.

The case against him and other government officials began in October 2008. Hundreds of witnesses testified, according to judicial officials. In 2011, a court absolved him of charges that he violated international weapons embargoes, but prosecutors won an appeal earlier this year.

Prosecutors alleged that Menem authorised the illegal sales of weapons to Ecuador and Croatia between 1991 and 1995.

Both Ecuador and Croatia were involved in armed conflicts at the time, and prosecutors said the weapons sales violated United Nations and Organisation of American States embargoes. In 2011, Menem told judges at a Buenos Aires court that his actions as president were “limited to signing decrees exporting weapons to Venezuela and Panama.” (Excerpt

St Lucia’s PM says Cuba cutting back on ends house arrest assistance to region Venezuela of Judge Maria Afiuni from CNN)

People were demonstrating against rises in bus and underground fares

P

rotests against bus and underground fare rises in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo have turned violent. Police fired rubber-coated bullets and tear gas, and detained more than 200 people. Police say they seized petrol bombs, knives and drugs.

Violence has also been reported at protests in Rio de Janeiro.

Prices for a single ticket in Sao Paulo were raised on June 2 from three reals (US$1.40, £0.90) to 3.20 reals (US$1.50, £0.96).

The authorities say that the rise is well below inflation, which since the last price rise in January 2011 has been at 15.5 per cent, according to official figures.

An estimated 5000 protesters converged on the streets of Sao Paulo’s central area on Thursday – the fourth day of the protests. The protesters clashed with police, who fired tear gas to try to disperse the crowd.

The demonstrators were mostly university students, but the authorities said there were also groups of anarchists looking for a fight. Some are reported to have set fire to rubbish in the streets, while others smashed shop windows.

At least 55 people have been injured, according to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper. It added that six of its journalists had been wounded, two of them shot in the face. (Excerpt from BBC News)

T

he St Lucia government says several policy changes taking place in Cuba will severely affect Havana’s contribution to the health sector of Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries.

Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony, who recently ended a week long official visit to Cuba where he held talks with President Raul Castro and other senior government officials, said the changes have been brought about as a result of the worsening global economic climate.

He said the changes will bring to an end to Cuba’s traditional support for the regional health sector. “Cuba which once provided doctors free of charge to the rest of the world community, whether it be Africa, Latin America and even here in the Caribbean has indicated that those services will no longer be for free.

“The Cuban government has indicated that the export of these services has now become critical and crucial to their economic survival and while they are prepared to continue to make doctors available to the world, their assistance will be at a cost,” Anthony added.

Cuba has traditionally enjoyed close diplomatic relations with Caricom and a number of Caribbean students have benefitted from scholarships to study in Havana. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

T

he Venezuelan authorities have ended the house arrest of a judge held on corruption charges since 2009. A lawyer for Maria Lourdes Afiuni said a court in Caracas rescinded the detention order on health grounds after a request from the attorney general.

The 50-year-old judge has reportedly been suffering kidney problems. She has been on trial since November for corruption, abuse of authority and aiding an inmate’s escape, but has dismissed proceedings as rigged.

Opposition leaders consider her to be Venezuela’s highestprofile political prisoner, while human rights groups and international organisations have called her detention arbitrary and demanded her release.

Afiuni was arrested on the day she authorised the conditional release of banker Eligio Cedeno who had spent almost three years in prison awaiting trial – a year longer than Venezuelan law generally permitted. Cedeno later fled the country.

The day after the judge’s arrest, President Hugo Chavez publicly called her a “bandit” who should be sentenced to 30 years in prison.

She was subsequently placed in pre-trial detention for more than a year in a prison, where her lawyer said she was the victim of sexual violence. (Excerpt from BBC News)

etr in

15 Around the World

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, June 15, 2013

Iran votes for new president, Britain lobbies for nuclear Khamenei slams U.S. doubts export group to admit India

M

illions of Iranians voted to choose a new president on Friday, urged by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to turn out in force to discredit suggestions by arch foe the United States that the election would be a sham.

The 50 million eligible voters had a choice between six candidates to replace incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Having been vetted by Iran’s electoral authorities, none is seen a challenge to the Islamic Republic’s 34-year-old system of clerical rule.

Polling stations closed five hours later than planned in the capital Tehran because of what Iranian state media reported were large queues of people waiting to cast their vote. Voting was extended by four hours across the rest of the country.

B

Voter Zeynab shows the ink stain on her finger, to prove that she has voted outside the Iranian consulate in central London, June 14

With authorities estimating a turnout of more than 70 per cent, final results are unlikely to be announced until Saturday.

The first presidential election since a disputed 2009 contest led to months of unrest is unlikely to change rocky ties between the West and the OPEC na-

tion of 75 million, but it may bring a softening of the antagonistic style favoured by Ahmadinejad.

World powers in talks with Iran over its nuclear programme are looking for any signs of a recalibration of its negotiating stance after eight years of intransigence. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Erdogan makes conciliatory move to end Turkish protests

T

urkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told protesters on Friday he would put redevelopment plans for an Istanbul park on hold until a court rules, striking a markedly more conciliatory tone after two weeks of fierce anti-government demonstrations.

Financial markets rose on hopes that environmentalists who oppose the construction on Gezi Park would be satisfied, but it remained unclear whether other protesters with a wide

variety of grievances against Erdogan would go home.

Erdogan’s gesture at an overnight meeting was largely symbolic as the government is required by law to respect the court decision on an action brought by the environmentalists trying to block the plan. However, it contrasted with Erdogan’s earlier defiance when he attacked protesters on Taksim Square who accuse him of autocratic behaviour, and insisted the redevelopment would go ahead in the adjacent park.

“Of course the government respects judicial rulings and is obliged to implement them,” said Huseyin Celik, deputy chairman of the ruling AK Party who also attended in the talks.

“Until the judicial ruling is finalised there will not be any action whatsoever on Gezi Park.”

A police crackdown on peaceful campaigners in the park two weeks ago provoked an unprecedented wave of protest against Erdogan and his AK Party.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Czech leader clings to power after aide charged with graft

C

zech Prime Minister Petr Necas was clinging to office on Friday after prosecutors accused a close aide of being at the centre of a corrupt web of political favours and secret surveillance. The leader of a junior partner in the governing coalition told Reuters she had little confidence left in the prime minister, but that her party had not yet decided whether to withdraw its support.

Police raids on government offices on Thursday

signalled the most significant action against corruption in two decades in a country that has been mired in sleaze since its “Velvet Revolution” overthrew Communism in 1989.

In a defiant speech to lawmakers, the conservative prime minister dismissed the allegations and said he would stay on.

His fate now depends on whether on whether the smaller parties in his coalition stand by him.

The biggest opposition

party, the Social Democrats, said it would hold a no-confidence vote in the parliament, possibly on Tuesday. The opposition do not have enough votes to get this through, but they will if some lawmakers from the governing coalition turn against Necas.

“My confidence in him (Necas) is falling below freezing point,” Karolina Peake, head of the LIDEM party, smaller of the two junior coalition partners, told Reuters late on Friday.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Zimbabwean hackers hit ANC website

O

pponents of President Robert Mugabe have targeted the website of South Africa’s governing ANC, accusing it of backing Zimbabwe’s leader.

Anonymous Africa said it had also hacked into the sites of Zimbabwe’s Defence Ministry and the state-run Herald newspaper.

The ANC said its site had been “flooded” by a Distributed Denial of Service (DDS), which over-

whelms sites with huge amounts of traffic.

Mugabe has called elections in July.

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma is the lead mediator between Zimbabwe’s leader and his long-time rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. At 12:30 BST (11:30 GMT), all three websites were working again.

ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said the party’s website team was “currently

working on the problem, including assessing means to strengthen our security so that such does not recur in future”.

On its Twitter feed @ zim4thewin, Anonymous Africa said the ANC was an “enabler” of Mugabe’s government.

It said it had targeted the Zimbabwe Defence Ministry because of the “genocide” of 20,000 Ndebele people in the 1980s. (Excerpt from Reuters)

ritain has stepped up efforts to let India join an influential global body controlling nuclear exports, a move that would boost New Delhi’s standing as an atomic power but which has faced resistance from China and other countries.

The diplomatic tussle centres on whether emerging power India should be allowed into a key forum deciding rules for civilian nuclear trade, even though it

has refused to join an international pact under which it would have to give up its nuclear weapons.

London, Washington, Paris, and others argue nuclear-armed India should join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) – established in 1975 to ensure that civilian nuclear exports are not diverted for military purposes.

Britain has pressed its case in a paper prepared ahead of the NSG’s annual

meeting this week, arguing India qualifies because of the size of its civilian atomic industry and its commitment to stopping the spread of military material.

Western powers have taken a keen interest in the nuclear emergence of India – particularly its ambition to expand its capacity in the next 20 years by adding nearly 30 reactors, making it an attractive prospect for technology exporters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

U.S. considers no-fly zone after Syria crosses nerve gas “red line”

T

he United States is considering a no-fly zone in Syria, potentially its first direct intervention into the two-year-old civil war, Western diplomats said on Friday, after the White House said Syria had crossed a “red line” by using nerve gas.

After months of deliberation, President Barack Obama’s administration said on Thursday it would now arm rebels, having obtained proof the Syrian government used chemical weapons against fighters trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

Two senior Western diplomats said Washington is looking into a limited no-fly zone close to Syria’s southern border with Jordan.

Proving beyond doubt Syria’s use of chemical weapons is very difficult, as Ian Pannell reports (BBC)

“Washington is considering a no-fly zone to help Assad’s opponents,” one diplomat said.

Imposing a no-fly zone could require the United States to destroy Syria’s sophisticated Russian-built air defences, thrusting it into the war with the sort of action NATO used to help topple Muammar Gaddafi in

Libya two years ago.

However, Syria has dismissed as “a caravan of lies” claims that it used chemical weapons, after the U.S. said it would give the rebels “direct military aid”.

Syria’s foreign ministry said the U.S. had used “fabricated information” on chemical weapons to justify the move. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16

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guyanatimesgy.com

Asia

Caribbean

Economist on Howai’s forecast: TT growth RBI may cut policy rates by 0.25 per cent; positive but not significant keep CRR unchanged – HSBC

F

inance Minister Larry Howai’s optimism that the TT economy has made a “significant turnaround” is not shared by Dr Ronald Ramkissoon, chief economist at Republic Bank.

Dr Ramkissoon told the TT Guardian he is not certain the economy has achieved a full turn around as yet.

“Growth means that people are going to have jobs, the country is going to earn foreign exchange, govern-

ment’s revenues are going to rise and so on,” he said.

“Three consecutive quarters of growth for this economy is positive. Whether this growth can be described as a ‘significant turnaround’ just yet, is uncertain. The Finance Minister’s anxiety for growth however is well understood.”

When he kicked off debate on the Finance Supplementary Appropriation Bill in the

House of Representatives on Wednesday, Howai said there has been a “significant turnaround” in the economy and with successive growth over the last three quarters.

The minister said the rate of growth for the entire first half of the year has been projected by the Central Bank to be up to two per cent.

Ramkissoon said at Republic Bank’s Economics Unit they are not surprised by that news. (Trinidad Guardian)

North America

IMF: U.S. budget cuts “ill-designed”

T

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the U.S. to repeal the huge federal budget cuts introduced this year, denouncing them as “excessively rapid and ill-designed”. It said the deficit reduction programme would be a drag on growth this year.

It forecast growth of 1.9 per cent for 2013, but said it could be as much as 1.75 percentage points higher without the rapid tightening of fiscal policy. But the IMF

added that the overall U.S. economy was improving.

While the recovery had been “tepid”, it said the overall fundamentals had been gradually getting better. It pointed to a rebound in house prices and construction activity, stronger household balance sheets, an improvement in the labour market, and strong corporate profitability. “The deficit reduction in 2013 has been excessively rapid and ill-designed,” the IMF said, in its annual report

on the world’s biggest economy. Not only would spending cuts hurt in the short term, but “indiscriminate” reductions in education, science and infrastructure spending could reduce potential growth in the medium term, it said. “These cuts should be replaced with a back-loaded mix of entitlement savings (related to healthcare and pensions) and new revenues, along the lines of the administration’s budget proposal.”

(BBC News)

Europe

Fuel-saving Airbus A350 makes maiden flight

A

irbus’s next-generation A350 took its maiden flight on Friday, setting the stage for intensifying competition with U.S. rival Boeing in the long-haul wide-body aircraft market. With more than 10,000 employees and spectators looking on, the sleek jet – crewed by two British and French former fighter pilots and with tonnes of test equipment on board – took off into cloudy skies from the French city of Toulouse for a

four-hour flight. The event marks a milestone for the A350, which Airbus hopes will challenge Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner in the lucrative long-haul market. CEO of parent company EADS Tom Enders described the event as “a very special moment in an aerospace company”. The plane caps eight years of development estimated to be worth US$15 billion.

More than half of the A350 is made of light composite materials that re-

Market statistics

duce jet fuel, which make up about half the cost of longhaul flights. It is now set to enter a test-flying period that Airbus hopes will last less than 18 months, with the first delivery expected at the end of next year.

Confirmed customers so far include Qatar Airways, British Airways and Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific. The European company is predicting hundreds of orders for the A350 at next week’s Paris Air Show. (France24.com)

Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana

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

Buying

Selling

U.S.

GBP

$310.58

$344.58

Cambio

CAN

$161.50

$181.42

Gross

$312,663

USD

$198.42

$205.58

Net

$290,776

Selling

$322,632

Cur

$1645.25 $202.17

Indicators as on June 14, 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 14 USD GBP EUR June 13 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

T

he Reserve Bank of India is likely to cut policy rates by 0.25 per cent and keep the cash reserve ratio unchanged at its policy review next week, on the back of slower-thanexpected growth and more encouraging inflation readings, says a report by HSBC. “From the RBI’s perspective, the slower-than-expected growth and recently more encouraging inflation readings should pave the way for

another 25 bps rate cut on June 17, but we do not expect a cut in the CRR with the liquidity deficit (as on June 12) hovering near the RBI’s comfort level,” HSBC said in a research note.

The foreign brokerage firm further said, “We will, nevertheless, not preclude the possibility that the recent weakness in the INR could keep the RBI on hold in June.” In the last policy announcement on May 3,

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

(Times of India)

Middle East EU to impose 4.7 per cent duty on MidEast jet fuel imports

T

he European Union will impose a 4.7 per cent duty on jet fuel imports from the Middle East starting next year, officials have said, in a move that could significantly increase costs for the EU’s embattled airlines. Last month, EU officials said jet fuel imports could dodge the new tariff thanks to a waiver known as airworthiness certificates or EASA Form 1 certificates.

After reviewing the system, however, the officials

concluded that jet fuel cannot benefit from the waiver, which applies mostly to airplane parts. The new duty comes after the European Union removed the Gulf states from its generalised scheme of preferences (GSP), which offers preferential trade status to developing economies, because they are now classified as upper-middle income economies by the World Bank. EU officials, meanwhile, urged Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) to resume bilater-

al free-trade talks, halted years ago, that could lead to removing the tariff.

The tariff could have a significant impact on Europe’s jet fuel prices and on Middle East refineries, which could lose a major market. “There will be chaos. Europe will be stuck, they are short on jet fuel,” a senior official at a Middle East producer said. “At the end of the day, the consumer will have to pay for this.

There is no way we will,” he added. (Arabian Business)

Oceania

NZ baby food smuggled into China

I

nfant formula sold by New Zealand supermarket chains to Hong Kong is being smuggled into China as part of a black-market trade in imported milk powder. Countdown says four of its supermarkets are legally selling Karicare infant formula to exporters who are shipping it to Hong Kong.

From there, it is being smuggled into mainland China in a trade in which arrests now eclipse those

for drug trafficking in the region. On the mainland, it is being sold on the Chinese equivalent of Trade Me. Countdown receipts are shown to prove it is New Zealand-made. Rival supermarket owner Foodstuffs is also involved in the trade.

Foodstuffs Auckland’s general manager of retail, Rob Chemaly, said its Pak’nSave and New World stores could not sell formula in bulk as they were not certified, but

the company’s Gilmours wholesale stores had gained the certification and had been selling to exporters for several months.

The smuggling revelation has emerged in a Weekend Herald investigation into the state of infant formula produced in New Zealand after the state-run CCTV network in China last month ran a series of critical news items on our standards. (NZ Herald)

Investors' guide Wall St slides in volatile week, eyes on the Fed

S

tocks fell on Friday on low volume to end their third negative week in four on lingering concern over whether the world’s central banks will soon start to trim their stimulus programmes.

Uncertainty about the longevity of loose monetary policy around the world has caused volatility to jump lately. Nerves were frayed some more earlier in the week when the Bank of Japan decided to hold

policy steady. Attention is now focused on the Federal Reserve’s policy-setting meeting and press conference next week. Chairman Ben Bernanke’s congressional statement on May 22 raised concerns that the Fed could soon begin to cool its stimulus efforts.

“Bernanke is going to try to soothe the market and maintain his position he’s not tightening soon,” said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential

Business concept – Quality

Last:15176.08

the central bank had cut its key rate of lending, the repo rate, by 0.25 per cent.

“Following this policy rate cut, the room for additional monetary policy easing is limited, and we only expect one more rate cut of 25 bps. Next year, the RBI will need to hike rates again, in our view,” HSBC said. HSBC expects another 25 bps cut in the JulySeptember quarter as well.

Financial in Newark, New Jersey. “The market wants to see the timetable for the tapering, and I doubt they’re going to get that.” Bernanke “has become the market whisperer,” she said.

“He knows tapering is necessary, but he’s learning the market isn’t going to wait for the Fed to act.” The unwinding of trades linked to central bank support has recently strengthened correlations between asset classes. (Reuters)

In manufacturing, a measure of excellence or a state of being free from defects, deficiencies and significant variations. It is brought about by strict and consistent commitment to certain standards that achieve uniformity of a product in order to satisfy specific customer or user requirements.

ISO 8402-1986 standard defines quality as “the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bears its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs.” If an automobile company finds a defect in one of their cars and makes a product recall, customer reliability and therefore production will decrease because trust will be lost in the car’s quality.

news

17

saturday, june 15, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Mismanagement plaguing Voltage conversion West Demerara hospitals – reason for constant blackouts – GPL parliamentary committee

By Whitney Persaud

M

ismanagement and poor administrative performance by various senior personnel have been identified as the reasons for the failures and challenges that are currently facing the hospitals in Region Three, the Parliamentary Social Services Committee has said.

This was the response given by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Indra Chandarpal following the committee’s visits to two hospitals in the region on Friday.

Chandarpal’s position on the issues faced by the Leonora Cottage Hospital and West Demerara Regional Hospital was endorsed by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Members of Parliament Renita Williams and John Adams and PPP/ C’s Dr Vindya Persaud.

Chandarpal speaking on behalf of her colleagues following their spot checks at the two hospitals said that there are a number of issues that need to be addressed.

“We have a mandate enshrined in our constitution that our constitution and our committee have collectively decided that we are going to visit the hospitals we have seen a number of challenges and we will be putting together a report on these issues,” she said.

Recommendations

After the compilation of the report, Chandarpal said it will be firstly presented to the committee during its next meeting in July after

PPP/C Member of Parliament Indra Chandarpal

which it will be placed before the Parliament. When these recommendations would have been discussed, a final decision will be made on the recommendations and solutions to eliminate the issues faced by the region’s health sector.

“When these recommendations would have been made then, the members of the public will have an opportunity to see and hear what the final decisions are… whatever we will be looking at based on those discussions and whatever we can do, we will do in a timely manner,” she assured.

Chandarpal said results will be seen within these hospital systems and steps will be taken to have the skilled and proper administrative human resources to ensure the effective functioning of the health facilities. “We will do our best to do what we can soon to alleviate in the shortest possible time some of those challenges,” she added.

The parliamentarian said it was a fact that some decisions can only be made

after presenting the report to the House and feedback is given to them members of the committee.

However, she said there are a number of things that could be done at their level, once written applications are submitted to the various authorities to provide the necessary assistance to both hospitals in the meantime.“A lot of things will have to remain where they are… the health authorities and regional authorities will have to work together in this regard,” the Member of Parliament stated.

Will be fixed

The attitude of management to their respective jobs is mainly the reasons for the downfalls and shortcomings.

In terms of facilities and equipment, Chandarpal said that the buildings and surroundings are in excellent conditions, apart from lacking some basic amenities.

“Everything seems OK on the surface but as you get into it, you recognise it is an administrative problem,” she noted.

According to the MPs, some persons are doing better than some in their respective positions, however the lackadaisical behaviour overwhelms the good efforts and contributes significantly to the underperformance and poor service from the hospitals.

“The fact that we have visited these hospitals, we have identified areas that need fixing and we will be fixing those things,” she said.

“The parliamentary committee meets on a monthly ba-

sis and the next statutory meeting, we will be putting up the report; something we don’t have to wait on is the response by the Parliament on the report, we will be doing our best to work with authorities to fix small problems”.

Chandarpal said it would not be wise to wait, since this is a case of the people’s health, which is important, being affected. “These things need to be done in a timely manner,” Chandarpal said.

The managers of the two hospitals both outlined a number of issues that need to be addressed and was given the assurance that the necessary steps will be taken to rectify them.

The MPs promised that the health facilities in that region would not be treated as a “stepchild” to the health sector, pointing out that it was only fair for equal health care to be given to the people of Region Three.

Some of the issues raised were the shortage of medical supplies, quarters for nurses and problems with the Leonora hospital mortuary.

For some time, citizens and hospital authorities were complaining about the issues that the hospital would face on a daily basis and the need for better management. Through a collaborative effort, the Members of Parliament from both the opposition and government have decided to reach out to the people by having oneand-one discussions with them through outreach programmes organised by the select committee on social services. (whitneyp@guyanatimesgy.com)

Telecoms, PUC amendment bills deferred again

T

he second reading of the 2012 Telecommunication Bill and the Public Utility Commission (Amendment) Bill were once again deferred on Thursday evening for further consultations among parties. The request for the deferral was made

by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

Hinds told the House that the government is reviewing proposals given by the two telecommunication companies in Guyana, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company and DIGICEL, regarding the liberalisation of the telecommunications market here.

He noted that in late May, there were intense consultations between the

companies while adding that they are still continuing to pursue an agreement with GT&T. “We are in the stage of exchanging proposals to reach an agreement with which both sides can milk,” Hinds stated.

The prime minister explained that they are trying to get an agreement because GT&T maintains that they were granted monopoly in certain sectors of the market in 1990. “We are purposely trying to reach an agreement with them so that, as we put the laws in place, we do not face GT&T going to court and possibly putting a stake on the law so we want to get to a position where we can go forward without having before us a court action,” he said.

The Telecommunication

Bill Number 18/2012 was tabled on August 9 last year and so was the Public Utilities Commission (Amendment) Bill Number 17/2012. Since the first reading of the two bills, the second reading has been deferred several times as the government continues to hold discussions between the two telecommunication companies.

GT&T currently has the monopoly on landline and international services. Digicel has to pay the local company for its mobile services bandwidth, which is being provided through GT&T. However, the international company had recently introduced reduced international rates after they won a court battle against the lo-

cal telecommunication company.

This action plan was short lived after the Public Utility Commission (PUC), responsible for approving rate increases for utilities companies in Guyana, ruled that Digicel had no authority to reduce its rate without their approval.

The Telecommunication Bill seeks to provide the establishment of a telecommunications agency and for a regular, coordinated, open and competitive telecommunications sector and other related matters. Meanwhile, the other piece of legislation seeks to amend the Public Utilities Commission Act to facilitate the provisions of the Telecommunications Bill.

sion. “We have done quite a bit of work. We started with an overall 50 hertz 15 megawatts. We have already done seven megawatts, the last eight is to be done,” he noted.

T

GPL CEO Bharat Dindyal

he constant blackouts across the country are mainly due to ongoing works being carried out by the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), to convert the electricity voltage from 50 hertz to 60 hertz for consumers.

This is according to the company’s chief executive officer, Bharat Dindyal, who invited the media to a site visit at the Sophia substation on Friday, to explain the real reason for the blackouts.

According to Dindyal, consumers may not be aware of the reasons for the blackouts and, therefore, it is only fair that they are educated on the issue. He said there have been frequent complaints, but some level of blackout in various locations will persist, given the conversion process. The company’s CEO added that a few commercial and domestic consumers within Georgetown should expect blackouts this weekend, as the voltage conversion moves apace.

These affected areas include Camp Street, Russell Street and Mc Doom. GPL, he said, is trying its best to avoid the outages, but, unfortunately, most of the work being carried out requires the company to work in areas where there are existing facilities and the company cannot work on those facilities, without taking off the power.

Consensus GPL is working in an incremental fashion on the conversion in Georgetown, he added. The transmission and distribution department is installing the new transformers for 60 hertz. Dindyal noted that GPL is having discussions with consumers in the affected areas to get consensus on when would be the most suitable time to perform the conver-

Improved performance GPL Chief Operations Officer David France said 80 to 90 per cent of the 50 hertz communities have been converted. The last to be converted will be Hadfield Street, Homestretch Avenue, Upper Regent Street, Shelter Belt and areas along Vlissengen Road and near the Office of the President, around Bourda.

“At the end of that conversion, all the consumers in the Demerara system will now be 60 cycles,” he asserted.

This upgrade will see an improved power supply in terms of frequency and voltage. It was noted that much of the equipment used by consumers are designed to use 60 hertz power. This conversion will, therefore, help to improve the company’s performance, in terms of distribution. The last conversion at the Sophia substation took place during the 1970s, when the power was upgraded to 50 hertz.

Blackouts When questioned as to whether the conversion will help in any way to reduce the frequent blackouts, the GPL CEO said Guyana’s system is nowhere close to making blackouts a thing of the past. “We still don’t have the capability to do the live line maintenance, which means that the power stays on and people there with special equipment will change over the lines,” he stated.

The project being conducted at the Sophia substation is part of a wider programme to enhance the transmission and distribution system, through a loan from the China Export and Import Bank, through a concessionary loan of US$38.936 million. Seven new substations and overhead transmission lines, among other infrastructural work, are expected to be completed under this project. This will result in improved quality of supply, system stability, improved voltage regulation, and reduced technical losses.

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saturday, june 15, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) If you’re required to make a decision that involves an associate, take into account your personal opinion of this individual.

Certain human factors can be very important.

dilbert

(June 21July 22) You will be even more adept than usual at expressing yourself both verbally and with the written word. Try to capitalise on this fortunate cycle.

AQUARIUS

LEO

(Jan. 20Feb. 19)

(July 23Aug. 22)

Beneficial changes could be in the works for your job or day-to-day activities. However, you’ll have to be observant in order to anticipate their direction.

Calvin and Hobbes

CANCER

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Something very advantageous could develop through a social contact.

This person could turn out to be an enormously valuable ally.

Be doubly alert for multiple opportunities to make or save money. A beneficial cycle is developing, and will produce some windfalls that could be substantial.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Maintain as much direct control over your own affairs as possible. You will do things far more effectively than will your subordinates.

Peanuts

SUDOKU

ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You might begin to appreciate something that you initially thought to be nothing but trouble. From this day forward, you’ll see it in a totally different light.

The old saying: “We get to heaven leaning on the arms of people we help,” will apply today.

Any kindness you show to others will be repaid in far greater measure.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You could be extremely lucky in an area of great importance, one in which you’ve rarely experienced good fortune in the past.

Take advantage of this break.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) As long as you maintain a positive attitude, success is likely in all of your important endeavours. Envision the results you desire, and take practical measures to bring them about.

Friday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) Try to focus your efforts and energy on ways to increase your earnings. Your financial trends look to be especially favourable.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Even if your companions deem your plans overblown, don’t be afraid to think on a large scale.

They’re viewing the scenario from the wrong perspective.

news 19

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GuyExpo 2013 launched T

he 2013 edition of Guyana’s premier trade fair and exhibition, GuyExpo, was officially launched on Friday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal with much pomp and ceremony.

The occasion was witnessed by President Donald Ramotar, private sector officials and a number of stakeholders involved in preparation of the mega event.

Acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali said the event will be hosted in partnership with the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

He highlighted the fact that Guyana opens up access to market opportunities to some 33 countries, and as such, the country’s human resource talent must be of high standard to be competitive on the world market.

“We have a natural base of human resource that can take us forward, that has the ability in terms of educational requirements to take us forward. It is how we innovatively use this human resource, this human capacity to further expand our economy,” Ali highlighted.

He added: “We have trade agreements with almost all the countries that form part of this market, yet we’ve not been able to capitalise on this advantage.

We’ve not been able to capitalise on our geographic positioning.”

The acting commerce minister informed business stakeholders present at the launch that “there is still over US$2.5 billion in unexplored potential for Caricom, especially in Cuba.”

As such, he said the private sector would need to reassess its target market in order to tap into this availability.

He outlined aquaculture, forest products, mining, information and communication technology and sustainable energy as areas that Guyana can significantly benefit from economically.

Ali also pointed out that according to the World Economic Report 2012/2013; Guyana is among the best countries, noting that its financial and human resource capacities are intact.

These, he said are the two most important determinants for investment and competitiveness within a country.

Ali noted that between 2006 and 2012, Guyana attracted $1.326 billion in foreign direct investment and growth in credit to the private sector increased from $30.6 billion in 2006 to $82.2 billion in 2012.

In this regard, he said, “the innovation that we speak of today must be the innovation that would lead

to a strong tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar delivering the feature address reiterated the fact that “we must constantly develop our human resources”, noting that “human capital will help to take us into the direction we have to go.”

He told stakeholders that “we have to move away from being just producers of raw materials to more and more being producers of finished products.”

Also speaking at the launch of GuyExpo 2013 was GMSA President Clinton Williams, whose organisation the ministry is collaborating with to stage the event.

The event will be held under the theme “Advancing Productivity through Innovation, Modernisation and Expansion”.

This year’s theme is consistent with Guyana’s successful macroeconomic strategy, prudent policy implementation and continuing efforts to expand opportunities for sustainable investments. The annual event to be hosted at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Georgetown, is slated to take place from October 3 to 6 and is anticipated to attract an overwhelming response from Guyanese, as well as overseas visitors.

Pilot blames poor airstrip security for tragedy

D

ays after the unfortunate death of 17-year-old Raquel Whitney Joseph at Ekereku Airstrip, Cuyuni, Mazaruni, pilot of the aircraft, Orlando Charles said the unfortunate occurrence could have been averted only if there were proper security systems at the airstrip.

During a telephone interview with this publication on Friday, Charles explained that only authorised personnel and crew members are allowed to be at that point where he had brought the aircraft to a halt and was surprised to have seen the young woman approaching the vessel minutes after it landed.

He added that there is little security at the location, making it impossible to keep a tab on all passengers and persons on the ground.

Charles is calling on the relevant authority to address the issue. Nevertheless, he expressed his sympathy on the passing of the teenager, noting that he has extended his hands in support to the bereaved family.

Charles, who is founder and director of Flight of Hope, to which the aircraft is registered, was shuttling cargo between Olive Creek and Ekereku for an associate of Gold Spring Resources Inc at the time of the incident. Charles recalled seeing the young woman at

Orlando Charles

Olive Creek a few hours prior to her demise. He explained that the teenager was at Olive Creek and managed to secure a flight to Ekereku, but in the process, she left a bag containing her belongings behind.

As he was about to leave Olive Creek, he was asked to take the bag for the young woman who was waiting at Ekereku airstrip to receive it. Upon landing about 17:30h, he explained that the engine of the aircraft was left running.

Soon after he got to a stable position, he alerted the baggage handler that it was safe to approach the aircraft to offload the cargo.

In the process, he said the teenager, who was not permitted to be close to the aircraft, sneaked up behind the two workmen and upon

seeing her, he instructed the two men to hand over the bag to her that he had transported from Olive Creek.

After she collected the bag, she walked towards the propellers. Charles noted that after he realised that, he quickly turn off the engine, but the propeller was still spinning when she came into contact with it.

Captain Charles further added that there was no extensive damage to the propeller.

The captain was scheduled to meet with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) on Friday afternoon. GCAA Director Zulfikar Mohammed told this newspaper that the findings of the incident will be made available as soon as it is completed.

Joseph was chopped to death on Wednesday afternoon after she reportedly walked into the propeller of a single-engine Cessna 172 aircraft at Ekereku Airstrip, Region Seven.

Joesph, of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, had left her home in mid-May for Bartica. It was reported that the privately-owned aircraft had just landed at the airstrip when Joseph ended up in the path of the plane.

The GCAA and the police have launched separate probes into the incident.

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saturday, june 15, 2013

Warner’s actions ‘‘despicable’’ – Sutherland C

ricket Australia’s chief executive, James Sutherland, has described David Warner’s attack on Joe Root as “a despicable thing” and said Warner was extremely fortunate to still be available for Ashes selection.

Sutherland also slammed the wider playing group and team management for the events that unfolded at the weekend, questioning why Warner and a group of Australian players were out drinking in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The usually mild-mannered Sutherland was clearly livid during a press conference on Friday in Brisbane, where he said Warner’s public apology in London on Thursday meant little.

Sutherland said there could have been no justification for Warner’s physical attack on an opposition player and that Warner was bringing “the game, his team and his teammates down”.

“David Warner has done a despicable thing,” Sutherland said. “But I also hold the team to account here. There were other peo-

David Warner

James Sutherland

ple there with him and those that were there need to take responsibility for that, but so does the team as a whole and the team management group as a whole.

“There is no place for violence anywhere and I’m extremely disappointed in that. I’m extremely disappointed in him and I have told him that... there were certain things that led to this situation that happened, as I understand it, at 02:30 in the morning. There’s not a

lot of good that happens at 02:30 in the morning in a pub or a nightclub. I believe that the team as a whole and the people who were around him at the time also need to take responsibility for what happened.”

As well as Warner and a group of England players, a number of other Australians including Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, Phillip Hughes and Clint McKay were reported to

have been at the Walkabout pub in Birmingham when Warner’s punch at Root occurred. Australia’s standin captain George Bailey said on Wednesday it had been “a minor incident” that had been dealt with in-house.

But Cricket Australia and its Code of Behaviour commissioner Gordon Lewis, a retired County Court judge, took the altercation seriously and at a hearing on Thursday Lewis imposed an A$11,500 fine on Warner and suspended him until the first Ashes Test. Lewis made his decision independently and while Sutherland said

Cricket Australia was comfortable with the punishment, he said Warner could count himself fortunate to be available for Ashes selection.

“I think he’s very lucky,” Sutherland said. “It could have been a lot worse, couldn’t it? It should never have got to that and as it stands, yes, he is lucky to be available for selection ...

Cricket people know it’s going to be very, very hard for David Warner to get selected for the first Test match.

He can’t play cricket until the first Test match starts.

“I note that overnight he has made comments apolo-

gising for what he has done and expressing remorse for his actions. That’s all well and good. It counts for a little bit, but not much. What really counts is his actions going forward in the future, and we’re watching those very closely.”

Warner’s public apology came less than a month after he faced the media in Sydney to express his regret at a foul-mouthed Twitter rant at two Australian journalists, which earned him a A$5750 fine. The incident in Birmingham was clearly far more serious and while Sutherland stopped short of declaring that Warner was on a final warning, he said the batsman had been put under no illusions as to the direction his career was heading if he did not change his behaviour.

“There is no excuse for what happened on Saturday night,” he said. “I don’t care what explanations people might want to put up, there is no place for violence in society and there is no place for Australian cricketers to be finding themselves in that position.” (Cricinfo)

Phil Mickelson shares Merion lead Confederations

Cup to go ahead despite protests

Rory McIlroy Phil Mickelson

P

hil Mickelson birdied the last to join fellow American Billy Horschel in a tie for a oneshot lead at the end of day two of the U.S. Open at Merion.

Mickelson took 72 and Horschel fired a stunning three-under 67 to finish one under on a dry but difficult day.

Luke Donald (72), Steve Stricker (69) and Justin Rose (69) ended level with Ian Poulter and Chinese Taipei amateur Pan ChengTsung still to finish.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy both carded 70s to end three over.

Play was suspended because of light at about 20:30 local time (01:30 BST) with 68 players still to complete round two after the rain-hit opening day backed up the schedule.

Five-time runner-up Mickelson led at the con-

clusion of the first round on Friday morning, and threatened to open a sizeable gap before missing a succession of birdie putts in a sunny but breezy second round.

Bogeys at 12 and 13 further scuppered his challenge but a 15ft putt across the 18th green put him back on top as he chases a fourth major title on Sunday, his 43rd birthday. Horschel, a PGA Tour winner this season, mastered Merion’s mysteries better than anyone by hitting all 18 greens in regulation in his 67, one of only three rounds completed under par along with Stricker and Rose.

Donald, who led by one at four under on Thursday evening, dropped two shots in his last three holes for a first-round 68 and then dropped to one over with four straight bogeys on his back nine before rallying.

Fellow Englishman Ian

Poulter was one under for his round after 14 holes when play was called off, while the 21-year-old Pan was two under for the day after nine.

Woods resumed at two over after 10 on Friday morning and ended with a first-round 73 before mixing three birdies with three bogeys in his second.

“Unless you have played practice rounds out here and you’ve seen the golf course, you don’t realise how difficult it is,” said the 14-time major champion.

“The short holes are short, but if you miss the fairway, you can’t get the ball on the green. And the longer holes are brutal.

“And this is probably the stiffest set of par-threes that we ever face. And then they’ve thrown some of the pin locations in that they have and it’s really tough.”

His playing partner McIlroy dropped three shots

in his last four holes to end his first round at three over and swapped four birdies with four bogeys in the afternoon.

Like Woods, he was happy with his position as the breezy conditions brought the field back to them.

“I’m very happy,” said McIlroy, the 2011 champion.

“I’m in a nice position going into the last two days.”

The projected cut to reduce the field to the top 60 and ties was estimated to come at seven over par.

Lee Westwood carded 77 to sit on seven under alongside Masters champion Adam Scott (75) and 2012 Green Jacket winner Bubba Watson (76).

England’s David Howell ended eight over, Northern Irish pair Graeme McDowell, the 2010 champion, and 2011 Open winner Darren Clarke missed the cut at 13 and 15 over respectively. (BBC Sport)

Protesters outside the Mane Garrincha stadium

F

IFA is confident the opening match of the Confederations Cup will go ahead as planned in Brasilia today despite protests outside the stadium.

Around 200 activists blocked the main road outside the newly built venue and set fire to mounds of tyres.

The protests were from groups unhappy at the amount of public money spent on the tournament and 2014’s World Cup. But a FIFA spokesman said the governing body had total confidence in local authorities to deal with the issues.

Brazil play Japan at the Mane Garrincha stadium in the country’s capital today, but Pekka Odriozola told BBC Sport that while

FIFA supported the protesters’ right to free speech, they were monitoring the situation, and were in constant contact with local officials.

More protests are believed to be planned for Sao Paolo, Belo Horizonte and Rio in the coming days.

Much of demonstrators’ anger and frustration is aimed at the billions of pounds being spent on new stadia, which they feel would be better spent on solving the chronic poverty in many of Brazil’s major cities.

Protests have been on the rise in Brazil in the past week. On Thursday, members of the Free Pass Movement clashed with police in both Sao Paolo and Rio over the rising cost of public transport. (BBC Sport)

saturday, june 15, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

Heat even NBA Finals with T Spurs after 109-93 win

21

Basketball tournament resumes in Linden

S

AN ANTONIO – LeBron James wanted the responsibility on his powerful shoulders.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh proved Thursday it doesn’t have to be that way.

James can win the Miami Heat plenty of games, but even he can’t win a title alone.

Riding big performances from their “Big Three”, the Heat tied the NBA Finals with a 109-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four. ‘’It was on our shoulders,’’ James said. ‘’We had to figure out how to win the game for us and play at the highest level. When all three of us are clicking we’re very tough to beat.’’

James had 33 points and 11 rebounds after failing to break 20 points in any of the first three games of the series, and Wade scored 32 points, 11 more than his previous high this postseason.

Bosh matched his playoff high with 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, he and Wade supplying the baskets that finally put the Spurs away for good midway through the fourth quarter.

Three players, 85 points.

Just the way the Heat envisioned it when they signed James and Bosh to play with Wade in 2010. ‘’The death of the Big Three was overrated,’’ Heat

Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade came up big in game four

owner Micky Arison said as he walked toward the winning locker room.

Sure was. His three prized players are just fine, and so are the Heat’s championship hopes. ‘’When Bosh, Wade and James score the way they did tonight and shoot it the way they did tonight, a team is going to have a difficult time if you help them like we did,’’ Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ‘’When those guys are playing like that, you better be playing a perfect game.’’

The Spurs weren’t, committing 19 turnovers that led to 23 points.

And just like they have for the past five months, the Heat bounced back from a loss with a victory. They are 12-0 after defeats since January 10, outscoring opponents by an average of nearly 20 points in the previous 11 victories.

Tim Duncan scored 20 points for the Spurs, who have one more game here on Sunday.

They fell to 10-3 at home all-time in the finals, failing to back up their 113-77 victory in Game Three that was the third-most lopsided score in the history of the championship series.

James insisted he would

be better after shooting seven of 21 from the field with no free throws in that game, saying he was the star and it was his job to lead his team. He was 15 of 25 on Thursday.

But while James – and millions of critics worldwide – wanted to pile all the pressure on the league’s MVP, it was Wade on Wednesday who said it was the Heat’s three All-Stars who had to lead them together, or there would be no championship.

He was right. And now those championship hopes are right back on track. ‘’It was all about myself, Chris and LeBron coming out and leading this team to a victory,’’ Wade said. ‘’The thing we talked about is we all have to make an impact in this game, somehow, some way.’’

Wade shot 14 of 25, adding six steals, six rebounds and four assists in a performance that James compared to when Wade was MVP of the 2006 finals.

Tony Parker had 15 points and nine assists for the Spurs, who made a finals-record 16 3-pointers on Tuesday but got up only 16 attempts in this one.

Gary Neal scored 13 points and Danny Green had 10, solid nights but nothing like when they combined for 13 3-pointers two nights earlier. (Yahoo! Sport)

Lotus criticise Pirelli over "very conservative" tyre choices

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otus have accused Pirelli of making overly conservative tyre choices for two of the next three races.

Tyres have become a hugely contentious issue this season, with some teams lobbying Pirelli to use harder ones.

Lotus’s Alan Permane said the decision to take the medium and hard tyres to Hungary was “very conservative”.

But Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said: “The tyres are more aggressive this year. They’ve all got the same – get on with it.” Red Bull and Mercedes have cars that are harder on their tyres.

“It’s unusual to take the same tyres to Hungary as to Bahrain and Silverstone,” Permane said.

“We didn’t have those tyres last year. We had medium and soft last year and people did two stops. So it absolutely doesn’t make sense – they’re too hard for that track.”

Pirelli made changes to all four of its tyres – ‘hard’, ‘medium’, ‘soft’ and ‘supersoft’ – this year in an at-

Pirelli tyres

tempt to promote more pit stops after admitting it had chosen tyres that were too conservative in the last third of 2012.

But the decision led to criticism from world champions Red Bull, who said the tyres were too soft and were preventing the drivers from pushing to the limit.

Mercedes, who are struggling with excessive rear tyre usage, have also lobbied for more conservative choices.

In contrast, Lotus, Ferrari and Force India have cars that are easier on the tyres and feel there is nothing wrong with the choices Pirelli has made so far this season.

Pirelli took the ‘soft’ and

‘hard’ tyres to the British race last year, but have chosen the ‘medium’ and the ‘hard’ for this year’s event on June 28-30.

Permane added: “They went softer to try to encourage more pit stops. There’s no point in them going softer with the tyres if they’re just going to take different harder tyres everywhere.

“This is exactly what they did in the last few races of last year. They brought harder and harder tyres and we just ended up doing one stop.

“And last year they said they didn’t want to interfere in the championship so they took conservative tyres, but I never really understood what that meant.”

Lotus team boss Eric Boullier is expected to raise the issue with Pirelli.

BBC Sport understands at least one other top team also have concerns about the choice of the ‘medium’ and the ‘hard’ tyres for Hungary.

A Pirelli spokesperson added: “The compound choices are made taking into account the data available, in particular track characteristics and expected weather conditions, in order to stay in the window of two to three pit stops.”

For the German Grand Prix, following Silverstone, the medium and soft tyres will be available, and in Hungary at the end of July the hard and medium again.

Pirelli has made a more conservative choice on tyre compounds than last year in both Britain and Hungary – last year the hard and the soft were used in Britain and the medium and the soft in Hungary.

This year’s tyres are all approximately one grade softer than last year’s – so this year’s hard is effectively last year’s medium in terms of rubber compound, and so on. (BBC Sport)

he ninth edition of the Linden Secondary School’s basketball tournament is set to resume on June 17 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard court.

The tournament which had to be postponed due to the inclement weather along with most students writing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations will convene with two games as five days of competition is left with the final of the tournament to be held June 28.

Monday’s match-up will see New Silvercity Secondary School going up against Linden Foundation Secondary School in what can turn out to be a very tightly contested encounter from 14:30h.

The second encounter at 16:00h will see the dominant Mackenzie High

School going up against defending champions Linden Technical Institute (LTI) who have been a bit of funk as of late.

Meanwhile the tournament will continue the following Wednesday and Friday with double headers on both days.

Wednesday will see Linden foundation secondary play Wisburg Secondary and the while the second will have Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary who have dominated their opponents facing New Silvercity Secondary.

Friday’s match-ups will feature New Silvercity Secondary and Mackenzie High play in the first game while the final game of the preliminary round will see Christianburg Wismar Secondary challenging Wisburg Secondary.

Ashraful episode a "loss of pride" for Bangladesh - Mushfiqur

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ushfiqur Rahim has called Mohammad Ashraful’s admission of involvement in match-fixing and spot-fixing as a “loss of pride” for the Bangladesh cricket team.

Mushfiqur said he was in disbelief when he first heard the news of the AntiCorruption and Security Unit’s (ACSU) investigation and Ashraful’s confession.

“Our pride was in the knowledge that none of our players are involved in such things,” Mushfiqur told ESPNcricinfo. “A few of our players got offers but said no, so hats off to them. It was a matter of pride that whether we played badly, nobody was in this business.

The investigation is still ongoing but what has happened is very wrong.

“I felt bad at first.

I couldn’t believe it.

Afterwards, if you talk about the reality the investigation is still ongoing but when I heard it from him, I felt worse. Taking the BPL matches aside, when I heard about the international matches, I felt it was unusual and unbelievable.”

The BCB confirmed last week that three international matches were to be investigated as well after Ashraful reportedly told the ACSU of being involved in corrupt practices in these matches. Ashraful’s confession to the ACSU regarding the international matches was first reported by the Dhaka-based Prothom Alo, in which one of the match-

Mohammad Ashraful

es mentioned was during Mushfiqur’s reign as captain.

Mushfiqur wants punitive action if Ashraful is found guilty by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after the ICC’s ACSU submits its report. However, he also admitted never being aware of Ashraful’s involvement despite playing together for eight years.

“We have been with him for so long, but we never realised what was going on.

Mashrafe [Mortaza] bhai said that he slept in his room,” Mushfiqur said. “If he is guilty, he should be given punishment. Our younger players should know this is a big crime. You cannot betray a nation, it doesn’t matter how big or small a player you are.”

However, Mushfiqur added that Ashraful would be welcomed back into the team if he is allowed to play.

“I hope he returns to cricket quickly,” he said. (Cricinfo)

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Back Circle confident ahead of Guinness Caribbean Street Football Challenge

Cycling season resumes today with P&P 11-race programme

– depart Guyana for SVG next week

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Andy Duke

confident Back Circle, representing Guyana, will wing out next week to compete in the second annual Guinness Caribbean Street Football Challenge to be played from June 21-23 in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Back Circle, Guyana’s national champion and losing finalist at the inaugural Guinness Street Challenge hosted last year in Guyana, expressed confidence in capturing the championships which will attract eight regional teams.

They are defending champions St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana, Antigua/Barbuda, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and newcomers Grenada, Dominica, and St Kitts/ Nevis.

Back Circle will be captained by veteran street footballer Wayne Wilson and will include six players from last year’s regional championship.

The other team members are prolific midfield player, Philip Rowley, who plays at the local club level for BK International

Devon Harris

Daniel Favorite

Phillip Rowley

Seon McKenzie

Vincent Thomas

Wayne Wilson

Western Tigers, sturdy defender Devon Harris, who represents the Guyana Defence Force in local competitions, Daniel Favorite, another member of the Western Tigers team, instrumental striker Andy Duke, experienced street footballer Vincent Thomas and veteran defender Seon McKenzie, a former first division player for Santos FC, and newcomer to the team.

The East Ruimveldtbased team trains daily at the California Square tarmac in preparation for the regional tournament.

Duke said the players have been training extreme-

ly hard over the past few weeks and are fine-tuning strategies as they seek to return home with the championship trophy.

“We realised our mistake last year and we are not going to make the same mistake again so we are working hard on strategies and being focused for the task at hand,” Duke revealed.

The winning team will cart off US$4000. In addition the players will be given a chance to earn official coaching qualifications.

The coaching programme will be held in conjunction with the Jamaican Football Federation and will cover all aspects of football coaching,

from drills and skills to nutrition and sports psychology.

It is an Advanced Level One recognised by CONCACAF and FIFA. The course is aimed at future coaches who want to upgrade and enhance their coaching skills and make coaching a career choice.

The runner up team will receive US$2000, while third place will take home US$1000. The inaugural Guinness Skills Challenge champion will also receive US$1000. Guinness Brand Manager, Lee Baptiste, will accompany the team representing Guyana to the championships.

T

Jude Bentley

Junior Niles

he cycling season will resume today with an 11-race programme at the inner circuit of the National Park.

The event, the 13th annual P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited’s 11-race programme, will be the first at the venue for almost a month. Action will pedal off at 09:00h.

The experienced Jude Bentley is set to defend his title in the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race having won last year’s activity in a time of one hour, 18 minutes, 26 seconds, while Junior Niles is the defending champion of the Veterans Under-50 category.

A new champion will be crowned in the Juveniles

event, since last year’s winner Paul DeNobrega has since graduated to the senior division.

Other races include the 12-14 Boys and Girls, Veterans Over-50 and Over60, Uprights, BMX Boys Open, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-14.

Managing Director of P&P Insurance Brokers and Consultants Limited, Bishwa Panday, is expected to assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion of the races.

The last event to be hosted in this part of the country was the 31st annual Independence Three-Stage meet, which took place on May 18-19. The day’s activities are being organised by national cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed.

Heartbreak as Windies...

From back page

Brathwaite, Deonarine lead response

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INGSTOWN, ST VINCENT – Kraigg Brathwate and Narsingh Deonarine led West Indies A’s charge in their first innings after another rainhit day in the second ‘Test’ at Arnos Vale. In many ways, the day started similar to that of day two, when not a ball was bowled. Rain was in the air throughout the early morning but held up enough for the groundstaff to dry the ground and have it ready for a 09:30h start. However, the clouds hung low, and just after the first over was delivered by Sheldon Cotterell, a heavy drizzle came down.

But today’s periods off the field were nowhere near as long as day two. Within a short space of time, the players were back out. As if the rain had something to do with it, Cotterell and quickie partner, Miguel Cummins fired up. The former had been threatening for much of his early spell and he was rewarded with the big wicket of centurion Kaushal Silva for 119.

Not long after, Cummins

would account for the wicket of right-arm pacer, Suranga Lakmal.

Eventually Sri Lanka A were bowled out twenty minutes before Lunch for 314. Cummins finished with 4-70 while Jonathan Carter had 3-51.

With 10 minutes to Lunch, the West Indies A opening batsmen had to see out a tricky two overs.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Assad Fudadin saw the hosts to the break. However, after the break, Fudadin pushing at a delivery outside off-stump, gave Lakmal his first wicket.

At 4/1, skipper Kirk Edwards strolled out to the middle. But he didn’t last very long, falling victim to a delivery that kept a little low, and uprooting his off-stump.

West Indies A were 9-2. Leon Johnson helped Brathwaite do some minor repairs, but after being dropped twice, he failed to take advantage of his luck, pushing a delivery from Lakmal straight into the hands of cover.

Narsingh Deonarine and Brathwaite would take West Indies A to Tea on 77/3. Both

batsmen would start their own show in the final session.

As they both settled in and became more comfortable at the crease, the Sri Lanka A bowlers became frustrated.

Brathwaite crossed his 50 in no time. He was well supported by Deonarine, who also crossed his 50. Both batsmen put on an unbroken stand of 115 runs to strengthen the

backbone of the West Indies A 1st innings.

Rain returned with a halfhour left in the day’s play, ending all proceedings on Friday.

Deonarine was on 58 while Brathwaite was 70. Whether both batsmen can get to triple figures on Saturday will be about the only thing worth showing up for as another tame draw looms. (WICB)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka A U Jayasundera c Carter b Cummins 4 D Karunarathne* c Walton b Carter 24 K Withanage c Walton b Carter 10 K Silva LBW Cotterell 119 A Perera c Walton b Miller 50 A Priyanjana LBW Cummins 20 C de Silva b Permaul 33 T Kaushalya c Walton b Carter 15 S Lakmal c Brathwaite b Cummins 12 A Pushpakumara c Fudadin b Cummins 13 V Perera not out 0 Total: 314 Fall of Wickets: 1-29, 2-33, 3-51, 4-215, 5-160, 6-193, 7-252, 8-275, 9-294, 10-314

Bowling: Cotterell 21-4-42-1 (2nb), Cummins 25.1-70-4 (6nb), Carter 11-1-51-3 (1wd), Miller 21-2-55-1, Permaul 22-3-651 (1nb), Deonarine 9-3-27-0 West Indies A K Brathwaite not out 70 A Fudadin c b Lakmal 1 K Edwards b Lakmal 1 L Johnson c b V. Perera 12 N Deonarine not out 58 Total: (3 wickets) 155 Fall of Wickets: 1-4, 2-9, 3-40 Bowling: Lakmal 12-2-232 (3nb), V Perera 10.5-2-361 (1nb), M Pushpakumara 9-1-40-0 (1nb), T Kaushalya 11-0-49-0 (1nb)

Marlon Samuels during his innings

South Africa ended their league engagements with three points from as many matches while West Indies also finished with the same margin.

India are the other team to have qualified from Group B after finishing their league engagements with four points. (WICB)

SCOREBOARD South Africa innings C Ingram c DM Bravo b Pollard 73 H Amla c Gayle b Samuels 23 AB de Villiers*† c DM Bravo b Rampaul 37 JP Duminy c †Charles b DJ Bravo 2 F du Plessis run out (DJ Bravo) 35 D Miller c Sammy b DJ Bravo 38 R McLaren not out 7 R Peterson not out 0 Extras: (b2, lb4, w9) 15 Total: (6 wkts, 31 overs) 230 Fall of wickets: 1-80, 2-124, 3-128, 4-153, 5-221, 6-229 Bowling: R Rampaul 6-0-371, T Best 5-0-35-0, S Narine 7-0-47-0, D Sammy 2-0-18-0, DJ Bravo 5-0-43-2, M Samuels 2-0-14-1, K Pollard 4-0-30-1

West Indies innings C Gayle c du Plessis b Morris 36 J Charles† c †de Villiers b Steyn 16 D Smith lbw b Peterson 30 M Samuels b Steyn 48 DM Bravo run out (Amla/McLaren) 12 K Pollard c Steyn b McLaren 28 DJ Bravo* not out 8 D Sammy not out 0 Extras: (lb5, w7) 12 Total: (6 wkts, 26.1 overs) 190 Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-75, 3-87, 4-104, 5-162, 6-190 Bowling: JP Duminy 3-029-0, L Tsotsobe 6-0-37-0, D Steyn 6-0-33-2, C Morris 4-0-30-1, R Peterson 4-0-221, R McLaren 3.1-0-34-1

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23

GCB Inter-County U-17 Tournament…..

Essequibo rally to shock Demerara, win by six-wickets

Travis Drakes goes aerial during his innings (Rajiv Bisnauth photos)

By Rajiv Bisnauth

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spirited Essequibo team pulled a stunning six-wicket upset over host Demerara in round one of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) InterCounty 50-over cricket competition on Friday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

The game was reduced to a 20 overs per side after overnight rains prevented any play until 14:00h.

Chasing a modest 92, Essequibo were reduced to 48 for 3, when Nathan Persaud, who opened the batting, departed for 33.

But a steady 40-run stand for the fourth wicket between Keano Harry (10 not out) and Travis Drakes (24, 3x4, 1x6) took them to the doorstep of victory.

With five runs needed Ryan Adams hit a maximum as Essequibo ended at 94 for six, winning off the second ball of the 18th over.

Medium pacer Navendra Persaud was the best bowler for the hosts with 3 for 10. Travis Persaud was

the other wicket-taker for Demerara.

Earlier, Demerara players were victims of complacency which saw them ending on 92 for 7 after opting to bat.

Navindra Seeraj topscored for Demerara with an unbeaten 17-ball 20 in a shoddy batting effort. The next best score was 13 each from Chetenarine Pooran and Travis Persaud. Extras contributed 26 runs to the total.

Skipper Kemo Paul, picked 2 for 14 runs while Akini Adams, Kevin Martinborough, Travis Drakes and Newland Cadogan picked up a wicket apiece.

Round two will be played today between Berbice and Essequibo at the same venue. 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 pick the Guyana team for the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Regional Under-17

GOA to celebrate International Olympic Day with walk/jog, 10K

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he Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) will be hosting a jog, walk and 10K team race in celebration of International Olympic Day on Sunday, June 23, staring outside of Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) from 06:00h.

The jog/walk is open to all persons 10 years and older and will not be deemed as a race but as a celebration in Olympic spirit that will see the participants receiving a jersey and a certificate of participation.

However, the 10K team event will be competitive

and will see $60,000 being put up for grabs for the winning team. Second place will receive $42,000 while third will receive $30,000.

In addition, each team will have to be made up of four males and two females as the fastest accumulated time will be dubbed the winner. Entry for this event will also be free while each club, association and school can enter the maximum of two teams.

Meanwhile entries to the event are asked to be submitted no later than June 16 to Olympic House on High Street by 16:00h.

Kemo Paul was bowled by medium pacer Navendra Persaud (not in picture)

competition scheduled to be played from June 29 to July 8 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaica are the defending champions after winning the inaugural tourna-

ment last year and will be looking to defend their title against Barbados, Guyana,

Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands.

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saturday, june 15, 2013

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

Guyana Amazon Warriors!

TOP SCORES

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

– CPL announces franchise teams names

A

fter weeks of speculations and hundreds of suggestions via social media, the much-anticipated Caribbean Premier League franchise teams names have been announced and their logos revealed.

“We are thrilled with the final team names and the logos; we believe they are reflective of the character and culture of each country and I’m sure each team will live up to their name,” said Damien O’Donohoe, CPL CEO. “Our fans had some very inspired suggestions which were taken into consideration, and definitely contributed to the creative process which resulted in these names.”

Guyana is probably best known for its pristine amazon rainforest, and so it is no surprise that team Guyana will go by the moniker Guyana Amazon Warriors™. The team logo was created using the shapes within the national flag to create arrows and represent the dynamism of the team and its

warrior spirit. (Twitter: @GYAmazonWarrior; Facebook: www.facebook.com/GuyanaAmazonWarriors) The Guyana Franchise has been aquired by NEW GPC/ Limacol.

Antigua will go by the name Antigua Hawksbills™, which speaks to the hawksbill turtle, the most common sea turtle in Antigua, and an endangered species. Animal heads are familiar and popular sports teams branding icons, and Antigua’s logo of the hawksbill’s head is col-

ourful, dynamic and strong.

(Twitter: @ANUHawksbills; Facebook:www.facebook. com/AntiguaHawksbills) Barbados fans will be cheering for the Barbados Tridents™ whose gold and blue colours are front and centre on the logo which depicts a trident formed as a crown representing the notion of kings, and a desire to win and be dominant. It is also a reference to carnival costumes and Barbados’ independent spirit. (Twitter: @BIMTridents;

Facebook:www.facebook. com/BarbadosTridents) The strength, fearlessness and physical prowess of the Jamaica team is captured in its name, Jamaica Tallawahs™. Tallawah is a Jamaican term for something or someone who is sturdy, strong and not to be underestimated. A crocodile is used in the logo because it is native to Jamaica, and plays an important part in the country’s history and folklore. It is also featured in the Jamaica coat

the logo are based on a combination of a classic zouk dance pose, a cricketer hitting a six and a backwards dive catch, all depicting the team spirit that franchise players Darren Sammy and Herschelle Gibbs will surely bring to the CPL. (Twitter: @SLUZouks; Facebook: www.facebook. com/StLuciaZouks) The sixth and final franchise team is the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel™, the name itself suggesting a force to be reckoned with if franchise player Dwayne Bravo has anything to do of arms and many of the with it. The national flag government’s official seals. and its dominant diagonal (Twitter: @JAMTallawahs; strip are key recognisable Facebook:www.facebook. symbols so it made sense to com/JamaicaTallawahs) combine them in a classic St Lucia is one of four sporting icon, and link it to islands in the Caribbean the idea of battle strength on known for its zouk music, the field of play. (Twitter:@ and so a fitting name for TTRedSteel; Facebook:www. the St Lucian team is the St facebook.com/TnTRedSteel) Lucia Zouks™. The logo is The inaugural Caribbean a colourful mixture of blues Premier League gets underand yellows with a flame way on July 30 in Barbados symbol that is derived from when the Barbados the national coat of arms, Tridents™ take on the St representing a desire to Lucia Zouks™. win. The two characters in

Heartbreak as Windies fall Brathwaite, Deonarine short on D/L lead response C See story on page

22

ARDIFF, Wales – Gutsy West Indies were eliminated from the Champions Trophy in remarkable and unfortunate circumstances after their rain-marred Group B match against South Africa ended in a tie on the Duckworth Lewis method.

The West Indies, who had to win the match to go through to the last four, were exactly level on the Duckworth/Lewis system for rain-affected matches at 190 for six off 26.1 overs. Both teams finished on three points but the South Africans have advanced on the strength of a better net run rate.

The heavens opened up again to bring an early end to the game as the Caribbean side chased the target.

Kieron Pollard’s wicket at a crucial juncture proved to be the turning point in the game.

If Pollard had kept his wicket intact, after scoring

a 23-ball 28, West Indies would have been the winners and advanced along with India from Group B. But the hard-hitting batsman was dismissed by Ryan McLaren just before the rain intervened, dashing West Indies hopes of earning a semifinal berth.

West Indies needed 41 runs off 4.5 overs when play was called off and at that stage, they were required to have scored 193 for six under D/L method.

Darren Sammy and skipper Dwayne Bravo were left stranded at the crease as the on-field umpires decided to call off the match after brief discussion.

Marlon Samuels gave West Indies real hope when he blazed 48 off 38 balls with two sixes after opener Chris Gayle (36) had failed for the third time to convert a good start into a big score.

West Indies lost opener Johnson Charles (16) early

SA celebrate a wicket on Friday

into their run chase as he was caught by wicketkeeper AB de Villiers at short third man off Dale Steyn.

Devon Smith stroked an elegant 30 before he was lbw

to left-arm spinner Robin Peterson after an appeal to the third umpire by the South African side when the left-hander was originally given not out. Turn to page 22

Kraigg Brathwaite and Narsingh Deonarine

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