Guyana Times Daily

Only PNC could have killed Rodney

Karen De Souza

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali and former West Indies Captains Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan struck a pose after

tuesday, august 5, 2014| guyanatimesgy.com

Doctor looks to improve diabetes care

... at Enmore Polyclinic after US training

United States Embassy

Chargé d’Affaires

Bryan Hunt met with Dr Nichole Nedd-Jerrick upon her return from the United States after participating in an Embassy-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) exchange.

In a release, the US Embassy said that Dr NeddJerrick, head of the Enmore Polyclinic, participated in an IVLP exchange on “Public Health Issues in the United States,” from July 6-25. Dr Nedd-Jerrick shared her IVLP experience with the Chargé d’Affaires and US Embassy representatives. She highlighted a visit to primary health care facilities including Life Flight Air Ambulance, Family Health Care of Worcester and the Barre Family Health Clinic, Massachusetts.

She was delighted to see the operations firsthand and underscored the value of this experience. She also discussed how she intends to apply the knowledge gained to the benefit of her organisation and other health-care facilities in Guyana. As a result of this experience, Dr NeddJerrick will seek to improve diabetes care plans at the Enmore Polyclinic, enhance use of nutrition displays, and follow up on the monitoring of the use of pesticides in cash crops. She also underscored the value of the many professional linkages made with US institutions and other IVLP participants from countries around the world, which can only strengthen her work for the benefit of the Guyanese people.

Phoenix, Arizona; and Seattle, Washington. One of the main objectives of the programme is to promote international cooperation on the common challenges facing the global community in preventing, treating, and managing chronic and non-communicable diseases such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

The IVLP participants had an opportunity to examine public awareness campaigns about health issues and challenges to healthcare delivery systems. They also examined federal, state, and local efforts at preventative screening and wellness programmes, such as projects promoting maternal and child health. In addition, participants had the opportunity to assess US and international health care programmes and increase information sharing and trans-

parency on global health issues.

Chargé d’Affaires Hunt highlighted collaborative partnerships between the US Government and the Government of Guyana in working to build in-country capacity and strengthening the public health systems to ensure the availability of comprehensive medical care for the people in every region of Guyana.

The IVLP is the US Department of State’s premier professional exchange programme. The programme brings together emerging leaders in their respective professions to learn how US experts in their professions operate, and to share best practices with the other programme fellows who hail from across the globe. To date, approximately 51 Guyanese mid-level professionals have participated in the IVLP.

Courts Essequibo Manager dies after Sunday crash

Chandanie Dass who was involved in a horrific accident on the Essequibo Coast on Saturday night succumbed to her injuries early Monday morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The 32-year-old of La Union Village on the Essequibo Coast was airdashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital following the accident at Annandale Public Road, Essequibo. Dass had sustained extensive spinal injuries and other injuries about her body. Although doctors desperately tried to save her, she succumbed to the injuries she sustained.

Dass, the driver of motor car PSS 3067, was heading south on the Annandale Public Road when she collided with motor van PRR 9027 driven by Nicklous Singh on

Saturday night. The Courts Manager, along with Ponnai Dass, was returning from a wedding reception.

Ponnai Dass is presently in the Intensive Care Unit at Suddie Public Hospital clinging to life. Both women were

pinned in the wreckage after the accident. They were pulled out and rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital by residents from the community. Chandanie Dass was described as a very hard working and determined young woman. Meanwhile, eight persons remain patients at the Suddie Public Hospital following the same accident, including the driver of the motor van. Those include: Kevin Kumar, Shane Kumar, Linden Marks, Krishna Ramsamooj and Anthony Hanes. In another accident on the same night, a mechanic of Queenstown Village lost his life also. Delvin Benn was involved in an accident on the Taymonth Manor Public Road. Three persons remain in hospital following that vehicular smash-up.

GDF partners with UG in Plaisance health outreach

Asix-member Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Medical Corps team partnered with students of the University of Guyana’s Social Work Unit, to bring medical services to residents of Plaisance, on the East Coast of Demerara, in the compound of the Plaisance Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

In a release, the Guyana Defence Force said the students are members of the Social Work Theory and Practice Course, of UG’s Diploma in Social Work programme. Student and group leader Carol Harding heaped praise on the members of the GDF team, saying, “They dispensed their duties very professionally. During the random blood sugar testing, they demonstrated that uniformed personnel could be warm and caring by helping several persons to be calm and allaying their fears. We were very

A member of the community being examined by a member of the GDF Medical Corps

happy with the collaboration, and, although we were expecting the dental team, the full participation and professional service of the team on the ground, eroded our disappointment.” Course Lecturer

was definitely a very positive and productive undertaking.

Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt gets a brief from Dr Nichole Nedd-Jerrick upon her return from the United States after participating in an Embassy-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) exchange

Barbara Thomas-Holder said that, from the reports she received, the partnership with the GDF

During the programme, Dr Nedd-Jerrick and her counterparts from 15 countries visited several cities, including Washington, DC; Worcester, Massachusetts;

Chandanie Dass

BRIDGE OPENINGS

WEATHER TODAY

Only PNC could have killed Rodney – Karen De Souza

BY TAJERAM MOAHBIR

ormer Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive

Karen De Souza has contended that given the threats and violence meted out to that party leaders and supporters, it could only be logical to conclude that the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government killed world renowned Historian, Dr Walter Rodney.

De Souza, who returned to the stand after giving her evidence-in-chief on April 29, told the tribunal that both the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the PNC saw the WPA as a threat, while noting that President Forbes Burnham was bent on maintaining power at all costs. The esteemed tribunal heard that Dr Rodney was an exceptional intellectual, who was charismatic, had mass appeal and was interested in removing the “dictatorial and oppressive PNC Government”.

Not racist

De Souza, under crossexamination from Attorney Selwyn Pieters, who is representing the Guyana Trade Unions Congress (GTUC), also confirmed that the late WPA leader did refer to Burnham as “King Kong” but explained that given the circumstance that it was made, the label was not racist, though admitting that it was derogatory. She explained that it was normal in those days from the various political parties to trade insults, pointing out that in retaliation, Burnham referred to the WPA leaders as “those little boys” and had referred to the PPP as a dead party, at the PNC’s third Biennial Congress.

The former WPA Executive explained that

the now ruling party at the time had a vibrant presence in the National Assembly, and according to persons who have already testified, it was seen by the PNC as the official Opposition party.

A falsity

She contended that contrary to the view the PNC is trying to propagate, the WPA could not at least be intimidating to Burnham, as he had the State’s security forces behind him, plus the party’s youth arm, the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM).

De Souza pointed out that the wrath of Burnham from all indications turned against the WPA in full force following the burning down of the National Development Ministry in 1979, though to a the best of her knowledge, the WPA had no hand in the arson.

Now a women's advocate, De Souza said during those days as an activist of the party, she was busy distributing the Day Clean, the WPA official newspaper and was only armed with spray cans to imprint the party’s message in public places.

Under rigorous crossexamination from Attorney

Pieters, De Souza said she had no information that the WPA was collecting arms and was trying to infiltrate the army as disclosed by others who have testified before the Commission. The former WPA Executive, who was 22 years old at the time she joined the WPA, described her role in the party then as a road soldier. She pointed out that she never knew Gregory Smith but learnt of him after Dr Rodney’s death.

De Souza also told the tribunal that she was unaware that Dr Rodney was testing a walkie-talkie on the night of June 13 when he was killed outside the Camp Street Prison, Georgetown. She remembered the WPA leader as brave and courageous man, who was a risk- taker, like all members of the party.

Risk-takers

De Souza explained that the WPA members were risk-takers in the sense that it was a given that once they became a member of the party, and it was known to the Burnham Government, they were automatically placed under scrutiny, noting that many were beaten up.

Recalling a WPA public meeting at Campbellville, Georgetown, she pointed out scores of party members were beaten by baton-wielding Police, with one WPA leader Moses Bhagwan suffering a broken hand. De Souza told the Commission that she could not remember if permission was granted for the meeting, but also could not recalling any Policeman being charged or disciplined for assaulting the fleeing WPA supporters.

Vile and cruel Meanwhile, WPA Executive Tacuma Ogunseye, who also was under cross-examination on Monday, reiterated to the Commission that President Burnham was a vile, cruel and vindictive man. He told the Commission of an incident in 1976 where protesting bauxite workers were rounded up, thrown into the Mackenzie Prison and tear gassed. Ogunseye also emphasised that Burnham was an individual who once he got power, he did all he could to maintain it at all costs.

After his cross-examination, in a brief statement, he said the PNC though that they would live out the Dr Rodney affair but they were wrong. He only warned that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will also be scrutinised for the killing of some 300 African youths during its current rule.

These, he said, are not matters of politics, but issues that affect the African community. At this point, he was stopped by Commission Chairman, Sir Richard Cheltenham for making political remarks. Sir Richard nevertheless thanked him for testifying before the Commission.

Former WPA Executive Karen De Souza taking the oath before her cross-examination

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

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Editorial

Rattling swords

AReuters report out of Washington, DC, said, “President Barack Obama dismissed Russia as a nation that ‘doesn’t make anything’ and said in an interview with the Economist magazine that the West needs to be ‘pretty firm’ with China as Beijing pushes to expand its role in the world economy.” Now there are several things that are discordant about such statements, coming from an American President.

At a minimum, Russia still makes more “things” than, say Israel, but the US has not only not dismissed Israel, but has actually being willing to risk a global conflagration to secure Israel’s interest. Russia also makes enough weapons to ensure that several of the “hot spots”, such as Iran, that have been created by the US become even hotter.

Even Reuters had to point out, “Russia is the world’s third-largest oil producer and second-largest natural gas producer.” The US has not dismissed Saudi Arabia with its oil reserves but no manufacturing base as “producing nothing”.

The new Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, greeted Russia’s President at the sideline of the BRICS summit, as the oldest and most trusted partner of his country. That summit, with Russia’s equal contribution, launched an alternative development bank to the World Bank, controlled by the US and its allies. It also funded a US$100 billion reserve fund, to stabilise the economies of the group, presenting an alternative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Surely Russia’s involvement in all these initiatives cannot be dismissed with a wave of the hand. Most countries across the globe welcomed the moves of BRICS and Russia, even though – or maybe because – of what can be seen as a direct challenge to America’s old hegemonic role.

As far as China’s new assertiveness on the economic front – and the beginnings of the same posture in the diplomatic arena is concerned, it would appear that the US is unwilling to accept the corollaries to a situation they, more than any other nation, helped create.

China is now the second largest economy in the world –and is poised to overtake the US within decades. This stellar achievement was accomplished by mostly American firms developing China as their “factory” to produce cheap goods – but more to the point – to deliver record profits to the owners of capital, even as their own manufacturing base and its workers’ employment collapsed.

Did the Americans think that unlike what has been the practice since the birth of economic specialisation, the Chinese would be content to take a back seat even in economic affairs? They cannot do that even if they wanted to. When a country has four TRILLION dollars as foreign reserves, with much of that in American greenbacks because it’s the Americans that are sucking in their goods more than any other country, surely they have to spend it somewhere?

Apart from having citizens with the highest savings rates in the world, the Chinese Government has also been very prudent and strategic in its use of its reserves. Its investments in Africa and in Latin America have dwarfed the US activity in these areas and Obama is obviously expressing their concerns about their hegemony being eroded. The ground reality, however, is that there is precious little that the US can do to counter the Chinese economic “deep pocket” diplomacy. And unfortunately, the almost reflexive are rattling their swords.

Last year, President Obama articulated a new US foreign doctrine summarised as a “pivot to Asia” – meaning that its overweening focus of activity will not be across the Atlantic to Europe and the Middle East, but across the Pacific to Asia. Everyone, most of all the Chinese, would have understood this “pivot” as a response to “China Rising”. At the economic level, the US has attempted to encircle China with a new trading bloc – the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which excludes China.

For the sake of world stability, the US should temper its rhetoric.

Guyana Festival deserves national support

Dear Editor,

The Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry has taken note, with disappointment, of the article in the Stabroek News, dated August 4, headlined, “Guyana Festival booths need more work”.

On this note, the Ministry would like to address several “concerns” raised in the article, first of which is the ‘”seemingly flimsy nature” of the infrastructure at the Stadium.

At this point, it is important to recognise that the installation of relevant infrastructure at the venue is at phase one, which means that the framework to house the booths is being erected.

Subsequently, reinforcement works will be carried out once the framework has been set and exhibition spaces allocated – this is the second phase. Following this, phase three will commence and this would entail the beautification of the entire area (painting, installing backdrops and props, etc).

The Ministry would like to remind the public that preparation of the National Stadium for the Guyana Festival began a few days ago and this process will be completed in phases. Therefore when Stabroek News reportedly visited the venue, phase one was in progress.

The article in the Stabroek News

raised concerns of credibility and accuracy and reflected the sheer inability of the Reporter and the Editor to present the facts to the nation. The publication instead opted to distort the truth and mislead the populace.

Further, the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry would like to state unequivocally, that at no time did any Stabroek News Reporter or Editor attempt to make contact with Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali or any other committee member to address any of the purported concerns raised in the said article.

The claim that efforts to make contact failed and that calls were not returned are mischievous and is viewed as selfish on the part of the publication.

With reference to the “damage on the tarmac” of the National Stadium, as is customary, the Tourism Ministry takes full responsibility for rectifying any disruption that may occur while infrastructure is being installed and hastens to assure that no permanent defacement has occurred.

At this juncture, the Tourism Ministry would like to express gratitude to all supporters, corporate sponsors and participants who have been working tirelessly to ensure that the Guyana Festival, to be opened a few days from now, is a success.

In recognition of the collective effort of all parties involved, participants, exhibitors and sponsors have been consulted regarding their level of participation and have been provided with the necessary space and support required during the Festival. The Surinamese owned Coney Island is no exception.

The space allocated for the Kids Zone which houses the Coney Island, was provided after extensive consultation with the operators over a prolonged period. Following the general pattern, all of the rides are being assembled in phases and will be completely set up in time for the grand opening on August 8.

The published article was filled with misleading photos, unsubstantiated content and was rife with bias reflecting non-nationalistic, unpatriotic views.

The Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry calls on the Stabroek Newspaper to adhere to the basic tenets of journalism and to embrace the practice of accurate reporting. After all, the Guyana Festival is a national event. Isn’t it deserving of national support?

Chevon Singh Communications Officer Guyana Tourism

Authority

The legalisation of marijuana in the US and what we can learn

Dear Editor,

As it stands, the possession, distribution and production of marijuana for any use is illegal in Guyana, just as it is in the majority of other countries. However, with the recent experiments in the American states of Colorado and Washington having seemingly positive results, talk of selective legalisation in Guyana has inevitably crept to the forefront.

Should we be considering this in order to, as the statistics in the US show, lower crime rates? Or, is the US Government just using the same methods used to reintroduce alcohol after Prohibition in order to generate money?

Other countries are considering legalising marijuana: Uruguay legalised

the use of marijuana last year in order to prevent drug dealers from making money. Guyana isn’t the only South American country considering its legalisation.

Argentina and Brazil are also in discussions about whether to, after Argentina decriminalised it five years ago. In addition, Canada is also calling for a regulated strain of marijuana to be made legal.

The positive results in Colorado’s experiment, which saw their crime rate fall and the US Government earn US$23.6 million in revenue – expected to rise to US$100 million by the end of the year –have also got other states considering the change.

What should we do? If the Colorado

experiment is anything to go by, it seems the legalisation of what is still an illegal drug in most places, will be treated similarly to the legalisation of alcohol in the US, which saw alcoholism being exploited in order to make money. If we are to learn from this, we need to ensure strict monitoring is introduced to prevent smuggling, as well as nonprofit, small growers to ensure the legalisation of marijuana doesn’t become a money-making strategy and consumers are supplied with a quality controlled product, which hasn’t been diluted by large companies.

Sincerely, Laura Chapman

A relative of nine Palestinians from the Abu Nejim family, whom medics said were killed by an Israeli air strike, mourns during their funeral in Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on August 4 (Reuters/Mohammed Salem)

Dr Rupert Roopnaraine: Dr Rodney’s Judas?

Dear Editor,

In the scriptures, the betrayal of Jesus by his disciple, Judas Iscariot, is seen as history’s most infamous example of treachery. Judas is described as the most vile, most scorned person in humankind because of his treachery. Indeed, when one looks at the life of Judas, one comes face to face with the darkest side of man’s nature.

In our lives, each of us may have our own personal Judas – someone who has no loyalty, no honour, no integrity: a traitor who cannot be trusted. Did the late Dr Walter Rodney have his own personal Judas in Dr Rupert Roopnaraine?

The ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the assassination of Dr Rodney seems to bear that out. Dr Roopnaraine was a trusted friend and confidante of Dr Rodney, and a leading figure in the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

Now some 34 years later, in his testimony before the CoI, Dr Roopnaraine surprisingly alleges that the WPA, under Dr Rodney, was amassing arms and ammunition to overthrow the Burnham regime. Dr Roopnaraine’s testimony seems to be suggesting that the actions of the Burnham regime may be justified if it orchestrated the assassination of Dr Rodney.

The problem with Dr Roopnaraine’s testimony is that there is not one iota of corroborating evidence to support his claim that Dr Rodney and the WPA were amassing arms and ammunition to overthrow the Government.

In fact, fellow WPA Executive Member Tacuma Ogunseye, in his testimony before the CoI, rubbished this allegation by Dr Roopnaraine. Ogunseye questioned whether it was possible for such a thing to have taken place without the knowledge

of the Guyana Government.

He recalled that, throughout that dark period in Guyana’s history, the Burnham regime had turned the country into a Police state with the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana People’s Militia, the Guyana National Service, the Guyana Youth and Student Movement, and the House of Israel monitoring any and every move of the Opposition.

Had that been the case, Ogunseye said, the Government would have known of it; and if so, he asked, why didn’t the Burnham Government bring a charge of high treason against Dr Rodney and the WPA?

Ogunseye reminded the court that in an effort to silence Dr Rodney, the Burnham Government had previously charged him and members of the WPA, including Dr Roopnaraine with arson – a charge that was never proven.

It is generally believed that the buildings were deliberately set on fire to frame Dr Rodney. If the Burnham regime was ready to charge Dr Rodney with arson, asked Ogunseye, why would they pass up this golden opportunity?

A charge of treason would have given the Burnham Government the legal justification to finally rid itself of Dr Rodney. But the fact that the Burnham Government never made any such claim meant that there was no such threat, argued Ogunseye.

Furthermore, in his testimony, Ogunseye pointed out that it was the leaders of the WPA, including Dr Roopnaraine, who were in mortal danger and lived in fear of their lives throughout that dark period in Guyana’s history. He recalled the execution of WPA members Edward Dublin and Ohene Koama.

Dublin was shot in Linden and his body dumped at a construction site. The Police, Ogunseye told the Commission, later claimed that Dublin was shot trying to steal cement; and that Koama was killed by the Police Death Squad who accused him of trying to open fire on them.

Ogunseye continued that these executions, the beating up, and harassment of many of the WPA members were actually identified in a handbook prepared by the Burnham Government. That the WPA could not even defend itself during that period, one has to wonder how it is possible that it could have been planning an armed insurrection.

Similar testimony from WPA founding member Eusi Kwayana also rubbished this allegation by Dr Roopnaraine. Kwayana contended that Dr Rodney was not a violent man by nature. Dr Rodney, he said, was more interested in opening the eyes of his fellow Guyanese to the race card conveniently being played by the Burnham regime to divide the masses and hold on to power.

It was Dr Rodney’s unerring conviction that by exposing it, Burnham’s tenuous hold on power would collapse around him. In a speech in Georgetown in 1976, Dr Rodney outlined his vision thus:

“You see, we have had too much of this foolishness of race. No ordinary Afro-Guyanese, no ordinary Indo-Guyanese can today afford to be misled by the myth of race. Time and time again it has been our undoing.

“Does it have anything to do with race that the cost of living far outstrips the increase in wages? Does it have anything to do with race that there are no goods in the shops? Does it have anything to do with race when the original lack

of democracy as exemplified in the national elections is reproduced at the level of Local Government Elections?

“Does it have anything to do with race when the bauxite workers cannot elect their own union leadership? Does it have anything to do with race when, day after day, whether one is Indian or African, without the appropriate party credentials, one gets no employment, loses one’s employment, or is subject to lack of promotion?

“It is clear that we must get beyond that red herring and recognise that it is intended to divide, that it is not intended in the interest of the common African and Indian people in this country.

“It is time that we understand that those in power are still attempting to maintain us in that mentality – maintain us captive in that mentality where we are afraid to act or we act injudiciously because we believe that our racial interests are at stake.

“Surely, we have to transcend the racial problems. Surely, we have to find ways and means of ensuring that there is racial justice in this society. But it certainly will not be done by a handful of so-called black men monopolising the power, squeezing the life out of all sections of the working class, and turning around and expecting that they will manipulate an issue such as the Arnold Rampersaud affair and get the support of ordinary black people because we will say, ‘After all; is only an Indian. We could hang him. No sweat’.

“Because, as I said before, you start with one thing, you end with another. The system doesn’t stop at racial discrimination. Because it is a system of class oppression, it only camouflages its class nature under

a racial cover. And in the end, it will move against anyone irrespective of colour.

“In the end, they will move even against their own. Because, don’t believe if you are a member of that party today, that you will be protected tomorrow from the injustices. Because when a monster grows, it grows out of control. It eats up even those who created the monster. And it’s time that our people understood that.”

In articulating that vision, the charismatic Dr Rodney laid bare the hypocrisy of the Burnham Government. That vision is believed to be the reason why Dr Rodney was assassinated and not, as Dr Roopnaraine now surprisingly alleges, the amassing of arms and ammunition to overthrow the Government.

Which begs the question: Why such a reversal from Dr Roopnaraine? Is it ambition? Is it the promise of political office? Today, the WPA is an ally of the PNC in a coalition arrangement under the name APNU, with Dr Roopnaraine as deputy to the leader of the PNC, David Granger, a high ranking officer in the Army at the time of Dr Rodney’s death who has refused to testify before the CoI, who is the Chairman.

Whatever his motivations, Dr Roopnaraine is seeking to tarnish the impeccable reputation of a friend whose shoestrings he is not fit to lace. Judas, it is said, at least had a crumb of self-respect to stand before his master in betrayal. Dr Roopnaraine chooses to do so after his death. Late at nights when the shadows come what do you hear, Dr Roopnaraine? The voice of Dr Rodney asking, “Et tu, Rupert?”

Sincerely, Dr Sham Samaroo

The case for reparations is for indigenous genocide, African slavery (Part One)

Dear Editor, I refer to a letter entitled, “Reparations compensation a cure for Professor Thomas’ socialism disease”. The issue of reparations has now unfortunately been addressed by the writer Sultan Mohamed. Not being someone who is registered in GECOM’s list of voters, he uses a fictitious name to spew his racial poison on our youth and on our nation.

Mohamed represents the death of truth, the death of justice, the death of democracy, and the death of equality. He weekly engages the nation with his racist poison. He is yet to be emancipated and yet to throw off his skin of racism.

In his latest racist approach to Indian hegemony in Guyana, Mohamed attacks Professor Emeritus Clive Thomas for stating reparations should not go to governments, but to the descendants of African slaves.

The case for reparations is for indigenous genocide and African slavery. These were the harmed. Why should anyone else be awarded payments other than those murdered and enslaved?

Mohamed mentions “the PNC Government seized the Indian Immigration Fund and built a single National Cultural Centre in Georgetown”. Mohamed never mentions how much money was seized to build a structure that could not have cost

US$1 million decades ago.

Mohamed fails to mention to the public that freed Africans were the ones that partially subsidised the passage of indentured servants from India to Guyana. Millions and millions of US dollars at that, tied much yet in today’s value. Perhaps Mohamed conveniently stayed away from the three-hour speech of fellow Guyanese and UK based Professor Clem Seecharran, who this February at the Umana Yana, said and wrote:

“The counter resilient African antipathy to indentured migrants, whose introduction they were made to partially subsidise, perceived as subverting their enhanced bargaining position with their former owners, the sugar planters.

“Having received no compensation for their enslavement over more than two centuries, freed Africans experienced the rapid erosion of their embryonic bargaining advantage of the 1840s, with the accelerated importation of indentured labourers throughout the latter half of the 19th century.

“By the 1890s, they saw Indians as the greatest threat to their future in the colony – as the numerically and economically ascendant group, pampered by planters, while they languished in penury as a result: the ‘alien coolie’ was

here to stay, with potential to dominate.

“This was exacerbated by fears that prominent Indians, such as JA Luckhoo and Dr William Hewley Wharton, were committed to creating an ‘Indian colony’, with the possible renewal of immigration from India, after the end of indentureship in 1920.

“African apprehensions were sustained in the 1930s, when prominent Indians, such as Peter Ruhomon and CR Jacob, advocated building of a ‘greater India’ in Guyana. This embedded a resilient fear among African Guyanese that they would lose everything to the Indian juggernaut.

“Moreover, the notion that British Guiana is an El Dorado, with stupendous re-

sources, has fed continual apprehension between Africans and Indians that whoever inherits the kingdom is on the royal road to a Golden Age.”

Mohamed speaks about equality in today’s Guyana when Africans and Amerindians who are almost 60 per cent of the population own less than five per cent of GDP and this can be traced to discrimination during and after slavery.

Perhaps Mohamed should read the works of Odeen Ishmael as illustrated in his book, The Guyana Story (From Earliest Times to Independence). Here Mohamed will find Indians apart from being paid wages were given State lands while Africans who worked free for

200 plus years in the harshest of conditions received none.

In 1896, Helena, an abandoned sugar plantation on the west bank of the Mahaica River, was purchased by the Government. It was then surveyed and divided into lots, and the old drainage canals were also cleared. Distribution of house lots and cultivation plots to the selected settlers began in April 1897, and by the time this process was completed, 1206 persons were in possession of land in the settlement.

The Whim settlement started in September 1898 when land for housing and cultivation was allocated to settlers. By March 1899, land was shared out to 574

persons. The settlers cultivated mainly rice, but also planted coconuts, coffee and fruit trees. With their earnings from the sugar estates, they were able to erect better houses than their counterparts at Helena. A third settlement for Indians was established at Bush Lot in West Berbice. The area was an abandoned estate which was heavily indebted to the Government for rates, and the proprietor sold it to the Government for $1200. Comprising an area of 1306 acres of which 463 acres were waste land, it was handed over to the Return Passage Committee in March 1897.

Yours truly, Eric Phillips

Page Foundation

Does nutrition affect puberty?

BY LAWRENCE ADAMS

Puberty marks the entry of a child into adolescence and sexual maturity. During puberty, your body goes through many changes that affect the way you look, feel and behave. Eating a healthy diet affects the age at which you reach puberty as well as your growth during puberty. Talk to your doctor about your eating habits to make sure they keep you healthy during this important time of growth.

Puberty features

A series of hormonal changes triggers the production of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which begin changes in your body. Boys and girls enter a growth spurt in which they get taller and experience redistribution of weight on their bodies. Young men begin producing testosterone and adult sperm cells. The eggs in a young woman’s ovaries begin to mature and she produces estrogen. These physiological changes mark your movement toward sexual maturity.

Age of onset

The age of onset of puberty depends on a variety of factors, including nutrition. Most girls enter puberty between age 8 and 13, while guys enter puberty from age 10 to 15.

A 2010 study published in “Paediatrics” by Frank

Biro found that girls begin puberty at a younger age than in previous decades. The modern American diet, which includes many processed, high-fat foods, may be to blame for this phenomenon. Being overweight or obese increases the likelihood that a girl will enter puberty earlier than average. Obesity may delay the onset of puberty in boys.

Research presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the Endocrine Society by scientist Deborah Sloboda found that pregnant rats that ate a high-fat diet had babies that reached puberty sooner. This suggests that a mother’s prenatal diet may affect her child’s age of pubertal onset.

Nutritional needs

In addition to affecting the age of pubertal onset,

nutrition affects a child’s progression through puberty. Puberty triggers a

calcium, zinc and folate during puberty for healthy growth. Menstruating girls are at an especially high risk of iron deficiency. Failing to get enough calcium or protein during puberty may damage your bone and muscle growth, which could affect your health later in life.

Considerations

In addition to delaying the onset of puberty, being overweight could cause hormonal imbalances that lead to serious health problems. Maintaining a healthy diet before and during puberty is essential to proper growth and development. Other factors, including genetics and en-

growth spurt, which increases your daily caloric needs. Following a healthy diet helps your body grow without becoming overweight. An adolescent also needs more protein, iron,

vironmental agents, also affect pubertal onset and development. Talk to your doctor about your diet to make sure you get enough nutrients during puberty. (livestrong.com)

Boys get eating disorders too

When teen-age girls get eating disorders, they often declare themselves to be “fat.” But when young boys develop eating disorders, they do not usually use words.

“They generally become extremely picky eaters and the list of foods they will eat grows smaller and smaller,” says Ellen Rome, MD, a Cleveland Clinic expert in adolescent medicine. “They avoid many foods and will even gag on some things.”

Warning signs

One strong warning sign is when a child suddenly cuts entire food groups out of his diet, such as declar-

obviously missing in boys, but older boys may notice a decreased libido,” Dr Rome says.

Potential triggers Many things can trigger eating disorders in young boys. The most common is being teased about their weight, especially at home. “This leads to low self-esteem, which puts them at even greater risk for obesity and eating disorders,” Dr Rome says.

Stresses such as parental divorce, sexual abuse or a general fear of growing up can contribute to an eating disorder as well.

Ensuring good nutrition

If young boys want to

ing himself to be a vegetarian. When this starts to happen, parents must be alert to additional symptoms such as failure to gain weight or grow, she says.

“With girls, the cessation of menstrual periods is often a red flag. That is

become vegetarian, “take them to a registered dietitian so they can learn to be a healthy vegetarian,” says Dr Rome. “They need to know how much tofu it will take to make up the protein they formerly got in meat.”

She also suggests that children with a sudden diet change be checked for physical problems that may be causing pain when they eat, such as irritable bowel disease. “Also, remember that reducing food intake can cause painful gastric slowdowns and constipation, further reducing a child’s desire to eat,” she says.

Treatment usually requires a team approach involving a dietitian, a pediatrician or adolescent medicine expert and a therapist to coach parents on forging new eating patterns. “Look for professionals who are experienced in disordered eating in children,” notes Dr Rome.

Underlying problems

She adds that “in children under 12, eating disorders may just be the tip of the iceberg. Younger boys and girls are more likely than older patients with eating disorders to have an underlying anxiety disorder, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.”

Concerned parents should get help from a pediatric psychologist or psychiatrist, because these disorders respond very well to treatment once they are recognised. (my.clevelandclinic.org)

19 NOC escapees recaptured, charged Sooba justifies cutting Councillors’ allowances

The 19 students of the troubled New Opportunity Corps (NOC) who recently escaped from the institution at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast were granted bail when they appeared at an Essequibo Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Students routinely escape from the facility – the country’s premier juvenile holding centre. The students reportedly escaped from the institution between July 30 and August 1. Although officials at the facility are tight-lipped about the issue, information reaching this newspaper revealed that the children “wandered off” into the backlands of Onderneeming Sand Pit.

They were recaptured over the weekend by officials from NOC and Police Officers.

The children appeared at the Charity Magistrate’s Court and were charged for damage to property and escaping from lawful custody. The matter was conducted in camera by Magistrate Sunil Scarce. Guyana Times was told that indeed seven females and 12 males escape through the back entrance of the facility that has no fencing.

The official disclosed the facility does not have any proper fencing at the back and students can easily “wander off”. Some of the students were recaptured at Little Red Village and in the dense forest of

Onderneeming.

They were then taken to a nearby Police station after which they were charged. NOC officials disclosed that the students’ parents were informed of their escape and subsequent recapture. The females are said to be at Aurora Police Station. According to information, the children were roaming aimlessly around various community damaging people’s property. In some instances, this newspaper was informed the girls were spending the night with men and before they were caught.

Investigation

Efforts to contact Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony on the issue were unsuccessful. However, his Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, told this newspaper that he was informed of the incident and cannot divulge any information as he was awaiting the compilation of a report. King explained that when incidents such as these occurred, the Police have to investigate to how and why the students escaped.

Only recently, the institution was rocked by allegations of sexual abuse of students by staff members. An investigation was launched by the Human Services and Social Security Ministry through its Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA). The Ministry had confirmed that four teenage girls of

the NOC had made the allegations of sexual assault. Guyana Times was told back then that one of the complainants gave a detailed account to her mother of the sexual abuse via a note that was slipped into her pocket when she visited the facility. Dr Anthony had denied the allegations saying that the staffers of the facility were being wrongfully accused.

The NOC has attracted a lot of negative publicity in recent years and a number of reports and investigations have been carried out. Only recently, Justice Winston Moore who was charged with conducting an inquiry into the August 2012 breakout of inmates who went on a rampage and set buildings ablaze presented the final report to the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry. The Ministry is deliberating on the report before the findings are made public.

In September 2012, the “Moore’s Commission” was installed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the breakout and alleged arson by NOC inmates, at the correctional facility. Reports were that the inmates had first set fire to the female dorm and managed to keep public-spirited persons at bay.

There were reports too of students overpowering guards at the detention centre, breaking down doors, and smashing windows in their frantic bid to flee the facility.

Hundreds “moving around” with

fake birth certificates – Rohee

Home Affairs Minister and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Clement Rohee said hundreds of Guyanese are moving around with false identification, including birth certificates and would even go outside the processes of the General Registration’s Office (GRO) to obtain birth certificates for various reasons.

His comments were made while making clarifications over his Ministry’s decision to revamp the requirements for obtaining the machine readable passports.

Rohee said the idea behind the new passport is to ensure its validity. However, there is little that can be done at this point.

“People use different names, their mother's name, father’s name, their place of birth and date of birth, those are the four main things and if those things are presented to the immigration, you will be perpetuating that false identity over into your passport. So we say whoever will come… we can’t guarantee that you will have it in a week”.

birth certificate requirement, the Home Affairs Minister said the Ministry decided to shift from the six-month time frame to two years, in an effort to calm the public which he said was finding it difficult to comply.

On the issue of the squashing of the

“We looked at the implications and took our decision independently from the courts. When we decided to shift

from six months to two years, it was to appease the public. That process had taken some sort of pressure on the GRO, we thought of the impacts, we sat with the Police and stakeholders on the issue. It is a decision that had to be tested. Having put out the six months timeline, we saw the response from the public. We assessed that response and went to two years, since the GRO thought that that was good”.

The Home Affairs Ministry had announced last month that first time applicants for the new passports were expected to present a birth certificate that was obtained no more than six months prior to the date of application.

However, that new rule had spurted endless criticisms from the general public. And although the requirement was changed from six months to two years, criticisms continued to mount.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had outlined that the requirement was enforced to strengthen the integrity of the process which was necessary to enable Guyana to comply with international best practices and prevent illegal use of travel documents.

The controversy continues at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, this time with the Councillors claiming that the acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba, is cutting their allowances hence they are unable to effectively carry out their duties.

Speaking with Guyana Times on the issue, Sooba defended her move to cut the allowances of some Councillors of the city, stating that she has always carried out her duties in accordance with the law. She explained that the law stipulates for the allowance to cover expenses incurred and these include travel expenses and duty costs.

The acting Town Clerk pointed out that if the Councillors do not show up to the Council meetings, then they would not be incurring any expenses; as such, she cannot pay them for services they are not performing.

Sooba disclosed that prior to her assuming the post of Town Clerk, some Councillors did not attend the meetings for as long as nine months and were still being paid. This, she noted, is illegal and she would not have a hand in it. “We have to follow the procedure…this is not a free-forall thing,” the acting Town Clerk stated.

She went on to say that her office has been punctual in the payments to the Councillors. The acting Town Clerk said the payments for July were a bit late since she had to wait until the last meeting of the month before she began calculating the payments.

In a statement released on Monday, the Mayor and Councillors of the City expressed disgust at what they described as the “unprece-

dented unilateral action of Ms Carol Sooba to deduct monies from the allowances of certain Councillors, for the month of July 2014”.

The Council said it loathes this action, noting that it has repeatedly complained about this move by Sooba, but the Minister of Local Government, Norman Whittaker and the Government seem to be supporting this illegal action, “by the individual they imposed on the council, as Town Clerk (ag)”.

“Unlawful action” – Council

The M&CC said Sooba has no authority or right, under the law, to interfere, in any way, with monies already approved for Councillors; hence, her action is unacceptable and illegal. Further, the situation at City Hall is restive. “This is affecting Councillors?the people’s representatives?from carrying out their functions to citizens, in their local communities. Consequently, citizens are unable to effectively participate, in the management and governance of their neighbourhoods,” the M&CC said.

“The Mayor and City Council is calling on citizens to take careful note of what is happening, in the Council, and to raise their voices against this unlawful action that is inhibiting the work of the Mayor and Councillors. This is happening in face of the fact that Ms Sooba made a non-priority purchase of a sofa for almost half a million dollars, for her office. This could not be right, fair, or just. The Council will now begin legal proceedings against Ms Sooba in the court, to have all monies deducted restored and for Ms Sooba to cease her illegal action,” the M&CC said.

Acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba

The NOC has been rocked by a series of scandals – including the burning of the female dorm, allegations of sexual abuse of students by staff members and the longstanding issue of juveniles escaping the facility

Taxi driver remanded for attempted murder after throwing acid on estranged wife

A38-year-old taxi driver on Monday afternoon appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was charged for attempting to commit murder.

The defendant who lives at Lot 25 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, has three children; ages 14, 15 and six. The court was told that the defendant and his wife are

separated, which according to details caused the argument.

The charge read that on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at Durban Street, Georgetown, the defendant unlawfully and maliciously wounded the virtual complainant (VC) Anchinalu Cannings with the intent to commit murder.

According to the facts, Cannings was having drinks

with friends on Durban Street when the defendant called her out. An argument ensured between them about reconciling their relationship – the defendant wanted Cannings to return to him and she refused.

The court heard that the defendant then went back to his vehicle, took out a jug containing the liquid and threw it on the virtual complainant. In an at-

tempt to protect herself, the VC raised her hands to block some of it, causing her to receive injuries to her hands and face. She was hospitalised on November 16, 2013 and discharged on December 18, 2013.

The defendant was unrepresented and was not allowed to plead to the charge. He was remanded and is committed to stand trial in the High Court.

Construction worker on bond after charged with three counts of abusive language

On Monday morning, in the courtroom of Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, a 38-year-old construction worker made his appearance after being charged for three counts of abusive language.

The charge which was read by the Magistrate stated that on July 31, at Houston Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, Quinsy Barnwell made use of abusive language to Christine Prince, which he pleaded not guilty to. On the same day, it is alleged that

he made use of abusive language to Elisabeth Johnson, to which he again entered a not guilty plea. The final charge read that on August 1, he again made use of abusive language to Keisha Washington. Yet again, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The defendant who lives at Lot 38 Houston Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara was placed on a bond to keep the peace and be on good behaviour while pending the verdict of the matter. He is to return to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before the Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on September 2.

Man charged for assaulting mother of his child

Appearing before Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday afternoon at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after being charged for assaulting the mother of his child was Wesley Gordon.

It is alleged that on August 1, at Lot 6 McDoom Public Road, East Bank Demerara, Gordon assaulted Yonette Tapin.

The defendant, who was unrepresented, entered a not guilty plea, telling the court that the mother of his child gave him HIV and he “snatched her and slapped her”. However, he did not produce any evidence to prove his statement. He said that he accepted her despite her disease. He said that it was the virtual complainant’s sister who filed the assault report.

The virtual complainant told the Magistrate that she and the defendant share a child together and it is the first time that he has assaulted her. She said that she is very fearful of him and pleaded with the Magistrate to get someone to remove his stuff from the house that they both reside in.

The defendant was placed on $15,000 bail and is said to return to court on September 2.

Eyew tness

Fixing...

...and “brightness”

The Americans say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

But what if it’s broken, and you don’t know what the heck it takes to “fix it”? Like Humpty Dumpty. Take the PNC. Even its most fervent supporter would concede the party’s broken – and broken bad – after the verbal pyrotechnics and voting gymnastics at their last Congress. So “what to do?” is the cry, from far and wide.

One Norman Browne’s lament and suggestion is typical. Now Browne is old line PNC...as we say “born PNC” from Linden, but living for quite a while in England. That doesn’t mean he’s removed from Guyana’s reality. From his visits, letters and comments on the blogs, this is one fella whose “navel string” is buried in his native land.

He’s firm in his belief that the PNC needs a changing of the guards: Corbin and Granger must go!! Can you believe this?? Corbin and Granger being linked as a “type”?? This must be the unkindest cut that can be given to Granger. And what’s needed to fix the PNC?? Bring in the young’uns, say Browne – “The PNC has never been short of great intellectuals.” And it is this kind of thinking – so prevalent amongst PNCites of all stripes – that your Eyewitness wants to talk about today.

Somehow Browne doesn’t get the irony of his suggestion: the PNC is broken, the PNC needs “intellectuals” to fix it – but it’s always been packed with “intellectuals”! If these intellectuals were there as leaders, then they produced the mess the PNC’s in. Shouldn’t PNCites start suspecting that maybe depending on “intellectuals” might be part of their problem – and not the solution??

What is it they say?? If you do the same thing over and over again but expect a different result, maybe you’re crazy?? Problem with the PNC, is from the time they were founded by LFS Burnham, his “brightness” became the defining criterion for leadership. And this has been the tragedy of that party.

The “bright man” was firstly more of a “smart man” and one who only had clever ideas. The “smart man” is only thinking of short term moves to win the moment –he has no inclination to hunker down for the long haul –which is what responsible leadership is all about.

He’ll bob and he’ll weave but never muster the will to do a “rope a dope” – to do what it takes to survive to fight in the future. The old people always said, “All smart fly does end up on cow’s backside”!! But unfortunately they take ordinary folks there with them.

...and just talk

Burnham never got it that being glib and dropping bon mots can only take you so far. He was never able to achieve power on his own – it was the Americans that ensconced him into office. For their purposes. If one reads the declassified US files of the era, they always saw him as a schemer who will “tack and turn” and say whatever is expedient to gain an advantage. No principles.

Burnham’s followers, into the present, refusing to deconstruct, much less critique him, refuse to concede that what’s needed in their leaders is not being a “talker” but a “doer”. And a doer is one who’s ready to buckle down for the long haul. An old PNCite, Ptolemy Reid – a countryman from Dartmouth – once advised that the party must be there “in and out of season” for its members.

But the “party” is not something outside its people. If the PNC is ever to satisfy the hopes and aspirations of its constituency, its new leaders must come from amongst the people. Not the elite “intellectuals”.

...the rigging

Granger says, “Bring evidence of Congress impropriety and I’ll probe.” All right. How about the shooter being your bodyguard and you lied about it?? Or is shooting at PNC Congresses, not an “impropriety”??

Guyana’s economy to grow by 4.5%

...

even as

ECLAC lowers prospects for region

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean has projected a 4.5 per cent growth rate for Guyana -- the highest prediction for the Caribbean and the eighth highest in the whole of Latin America.

Only Suriname is projected to grow above four per cent this year in the whole of the Caribbean, with a 4.4 per cent forecast. Trinidad and Tobago is at 2.2 per cent, Barbados 0.5 per cent and Jamaica 1.2 per cent.

For Latin America, Panama leads the way with 6.7 per cent followed by Bolivia 5.5 per cent.

The figures were released in ECLAC’s projections for Latin American and Caribbean economies, which the UN body said will experience average growth of 2.2 per cent in 2014, affected by the weakness in external demand, less dynamic domestic demand, insufficient investment, and limited room for implementing policies to spur an upturn.

These elements, ECLAC said have a differentiated impact on Latin American and Caribbean countries and sub-regions, confirming a high degree of heterogeneity in growth dynamics, ECLAC added.

The United Nations regional commission unveiled its report Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2014, in which it cut the regional growth forecast for 2014 that was issued last April (2.7 per cent).

The study indicates that the economic slowdown observed in the last quarter of 2013 persisted during the first months of 2014, meaning that the region will grow less than it did last year (2.5 per cent). Nevertheless, the report signals that a gradual improvement in some of

the world’s major economies should enable the trend to change towards the end of 2014.

“Macroeconomic policies have to take into account each country’s specific vulnerabilities. Without a doubt, it is important in all cases to increase investment and productivity to guarantee structural change with equality in the medium term. Both factors are key challenges for the economic sustainability of development, especially in the current context,” said Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary, during the presentation of the document.

On a regional level, 2014 growth will be led by Panama, with an increase in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 6.7 per cent. That country will be followed by Bolivia (5.5 per cent) and Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Nicaragua, with expansions of five per cent.

South America

The Central American Isthmus plus Haiti and the Dominican Republic is expected to grow 4.4 per cent, while South America will expand 1.8 per cent, although with great diversity among countries. The Caribbean will grow two per cent, which implies a recovery from the 1.2 per cent registered in 2013.

The reduction in estimated growth for 2014 responds to different factors, depending on the country being analysed, the document states. In the cases of Argentina -whose GDP will barely grow this year and Venezuela, which should experience a contraction of -0.5 per centthe available data for the early months of the year reflects the impact of some

imbalances that have been manifesting themselves in recent years.

In Chile and Peru, which will expand three per cent and 4.8 per cent, respectively, the decline in economic dynamism is linked to lower levels of investment and a deceleration in household consumption.

In Mexico, a rebound in growth is expected (2.5 per cent compared with 1.1 per cent in 2013), although the rate will be lower than previously forecast (three per cent), while Brazil will undergo a smaller annual expansion of 1.4 per cent, compared with 2.5 per cent last year.

According to ECLAC’s analysis, the resumption of economic growth in the US will benefit Mexico and Central American countries, while the recovery of the United Kingdom and several economies in the euro zone will have a positive impact, especially in the Caribbean, due to the arrival of more tourists.

The main risk is the lower growth forecast for

China in 2014, the report emphasised. The regional economies that are more specialised in exporting commodities to that country could be affected if the Asian giant cannot maintain its growth above seven per cent.

The study adds that in the medium term, the region is expected to face less dynamic demand for its main export goods and more costly external financing.

The Economic Survey 2014 stresses that in light of this new scenario, macroeconomic policies to manage the economic cycle and those oriented towards fostering more long-term growth must be closely coordinated.

“Macroeconomic policy must be reoriented, seeking to create the conditions for sustained growth and increased productivity. For that to happen, it is necessary to foster greater investment (public and private) in infrastructure and innovation and to boost the diversification of production,” the report highlights.

Sales clerk among two in custody for Lucky Dollar robbery

Two men including a staff member of the Lucky Dollar Store, Mon Repos branch, on the East Coast of Demerara, are in Police custody assisting with investigations into the robbery committed on the furniture store about a week ago.

Guyana Times understands that Police have reasons to believe that the staff member worked in collusion with the armed men to successfully execute the robbery. A source confirmed that one of the men in custody is a known character.

In addition, Police are grilling the men with the intension of them releasing the identity of the second gunman. The robbery which occurred last week is the second in recent times to affect the store which saw the gunmen, believed to be the same group, escaping with millions in cash and other items.

The similarities of the robberies have led Police in C Division (East Coast Demerara) to believe that the recent robberies might have been orchestrated by

staff members.

On Wednesday last, two men entered the business place under the pretence of paying their hire purchase installment at about 10:30h, with one of them demanding the staff be “quite and relax”.

The staff member was then forced at gunpoint into a room where they were locked in. The two men subsequently went to the upper flat of the building to the cashier, held her at gunpoint, emptied the cash canister, and then pushed

$10,000 into the woman’s pocket, telling her that she “can keep that” before relieving her of her mobile phone.

They also relieved the manager, Xavier Fraser, of his Samsung Galaxy smartphone, two tablets, one laptop, a camera, and an undisclosed sum of money before walking out of the store.

In the latter part of May, two men stormed the store in a similar fashion, forced the staff into a room after which they relieved the cashier of almost $2 million.

Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man need a lift

De Green Jah people slowly gettin quiet these last two days. De reason could be that dem finally realise that Green Jah is a born rigger and that he gon die a bigger rigger. So it look like Green Jah turn out better than he own teacher Burnt Ham. Is either Burnt Ham was de best teacher, or simply that Green Jah is de best rigger.

So Green Jah people gettin more and more down and dem gon need a lift soon. But is not only Green Jah people need a lift. Not too long ago, de Suru and Duru of de KFC –Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man – was talkin up some kinda noconfidence motion against de Guvament. But de whole motion ain’t had no motion.

Green Jah never see de motion. Parliament never hear de motion. Then Suru and Duru threaten de Prezzi wid de motion. By de time de Prezzi reply to de motion, Suru and Duru start gettin plenty motion. And anybody who know dem two, know that de direction of dem motion is always down, not up!

So wid Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man goin down, a newspaper finally admit that de problem is that de KFC looking to get a lift from de problems of de other parties. And any body gettin a lift in de KFC is always a problem... major problem.

No Gel Hughly does get a lift, but it does never be he own. And every body know a long time ago that neither Rum Jhaat nor Nagga Man ain’t get a lift in a long time.

Some body seh Rum Jhaat does turn to Nagga Man when he need a lift and Nagga Man does turn back to Rum Jhaat when he need a lift. And if both of dem get a lift at de same time, de people wanna know who gon be first and who gon be second!

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! And No Gel Hughly does go outside de party fuh all he lift.

Young

man remanded for $407,000 burglary

An 18-year-old charged with break and enter and larceny made his first court appearance on Monday afternoon at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The charge, read by the Magistrate, alleged that on July 15, Jerman Josiah broke and entered the dwelling house of Nickolas Marks at Lot 4 Greenfield, Providence , East Bank Demerara, where he stole the following items: one Samsung Laptop computer valued $278,000; a knife costing $8000; a backpack worth $12,000; a quantity of cowboy belts valued $12,500; a bottle of vodka priced at $5000; a bottle whiskey valued $1400;

and a quantity of gold and silver worth $20,000 – all property of Nickolas Marks, and a gold necklace valued $70,000, property of Shireen Bissoon. The defendant, who lives at Lot 127 Eccles Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge laid against him. According to the prosecuting official, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Deneshwer Maindranaught, on the day that the unemployed young man broke into the house, other houses were broken into and the defendant is a suspect. Josiah was remanded to prison until his next court date, October, 13.

ECLAC’s Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena

Rodney’s killing was first told to WPA members

– De Souza

BY TAJERAM MOHABIR

Former Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive

Karen De Souza said reporting the bomb explosion that killed party leader, Dr Walter Rodney to the Police was an exercise in futility, pointing out that the Police Force, which was under the direction of President Forbes Burnham, was always out to get him.

De Souza made the comment in response to a question posed by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Attorney Basil Williams on why the matter was not reported first to the Police but to WPA members.

She contended that had Dr Rodney been taken to a hospital and he was identified by medical officials, most likely he would have been ignored or turned over to the Police. The PNC Government had identified Dr Rodney as an enemy of the State in handbooks distributed among security officials.

On the fateful night of June 13, 1980, Dr Walter Rodney was with his brother Donald Rodney, when a bomb installed in a walkietalkie allegedly given to him by Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant William George Smith, exploded in

says reporting to Police would have been “useless”

his lap, killing him in the process. Dr Rodney, a world renowned Historian, who had a deep interest in developing a communication device that would evade the frequencies of the security forces, was reportedly testing the reception of the instrument outside the thick fence of the Camp Street Prison, Georgetown.

De Souza, under crossexamination on Monday, told the Commission that she heard the explosion from her Croal Street, Georgetown home and minutes after, Donald Rodney was knocking at her door.

Bloodied

On opening, she said she saw him covered in blood (some from the spurt of the explosion in Walter’s lap and minor injuries he had suffered in the process), and he immediately related to her that Walter was met wiht a “terrible accident”.

The former WPA Executive said on hearing the news, she was shocked, but rushed to the scene where she saw a crowd and about 15 members of the Death Squad.( a unit of the Guyana Police Force)

She explained that she recognised the members of the squad by their demeanour, and one member known as Fanfair. De Souza, who left her home with Donald

inside, told the Commission that though it was a risk to go to the scene; she went in the aid of a comrade. Under cross-examination by Attorney Keith Scotland, who is representing Donald Rodney, De Souza explained that the phrase “terrible accident” did not indicate that Rodney was killed by acci-

Lisa Punch bows out of “Rising Star” show

… but did Guyana proud

Guyanese songstress Lisa Punch’s dreams were shattered on Sunday evening following her elimination from the ABC’s singing competition

“Rising Star” which is aired live across the world. But the singer did her country proud to even make it into the competition, and progressed to the second round.

Performing Alicia Key’s “Girl on Fire”, she failed to raise the wall.

Performing first, Macy Kate sang “Who Knew” and managed to score 60 per cent which put her in the hot seat after Alice Lee scored 48 per cent and was sent home.

Punch had to beat 60 per cent but was short by a mere one per cent. She would have gotten “yes” from all the judges, but the voting public let her down, although her performance was incredibly

energetic and charismatic. Nevertheless, she still had another chance to reach the quarter finals if the West Coast voted for her, but this time around, she was not saved. After the performance, she said she enjoyed herself to the “max” and thanked her fans for their support over the past weeks. “Do not be discouraged because this is just the beginning of greater things in store for me and all of

Guyana. I’m very happy because unity was formed in my country and everyone agreed on one thing which is to make sure that I win. I didn’t win the show, but I’m a winner because I have you, the best set of people and best set of fans backing me all the way! We all can live our dreams,” Punch stated in a Facebook post. At the beginning of the show, she expressed her gratitude to President Donald Ramotar and the citizens of Guyana for believing in her. She was proud to say that Guyana’s motto, One People One Nation One Destiny was evident as the country rallied for her success. It is with this in mind that she noted she reached thus far in the competition and despite her not moving on, “this is not the end of Lisa Punch”.

The evening saw eight contestants going through to the quarter final which continues on ABC next Sunday.

dent, but conveyed to her that something catastrophic had happened, given that the Burnham’s PNC Government was after him.

The former WPA Executive, who told the Commission that she spent about 20 minutes at the scene, related that only Death Squad members were there, the area was not cordoned off and none of the Death Squad members were protecting the scene, pointing out that they were just “standing around”.

She said when she left the scene, no ambulance had arrived and when she returned home, Donald, whom she left standing on a stairs inside the house, was still on the stairs. De Souza

said she tended to him, noting that he suffered minor injuries and was bleeding on the face and arms. He was subsequently escorted from her home by WPA members, she told the Commission.

But PNCR Attorney Basil Williams put to her that the phrase a “terrible accident” indicated that something terrible happened, which should not have happened.

He also directed her attention to her statement that the People’s Progressive Party also saw the WPA as a threat, indicating that there might have been another force that committed the act to embarrass the PNC.

De Souza rejected these

assertions. She explained that though the PPP saw the WPA as a threat to its support base, only the PNC utlised violence and threats against its leaders and supporters.

Attorney Williams followed up by asking, why when Donald Rodney told her that his brother Walter met in a “terrible accident”, she did not ask what happened before rushing to the scene.

But De Souza pointed out she was so shocked on hearing the news and seeing the bloodied state of Donald, she knew something terrible had happened, and did not hesitate to go and see what occurred.

Cells

Meanwhile, the Commission heard that De Souza was unaware of the WPA lookout cells in Georgetown, and the WPA acquiring arms, informing the tribunal that “I was not given one”.

The Commission also heard that the House of Israel had access to the national radio station, Police brutality was a norm during the 1977-1980 period, and no rank was ever prosecuted, a PNC party card was a chief means of gaining employment and certain essential food items such as flour, split peas and powdered milk were banned by the PNC Government.

De Souza, under crossexamination by WPA Attorney Christopher Ram, told the tribunal that the PNC Government had a policy where public servants who acted in “offence” to their rule were transferred to remote locations in the country.

Former WPA Executive Karen De Souza (centre) interacts with Keith Scotland, Attorney representing Donald Rodney (left) and Selwyn Pieters, representing the GTUC during the break at the hearing on Monday

“All hands on deck” as Guyana Festival nears

By Svetlana MarShall

Hundreds of persons from across the Region have confirmed their participation for the highly- anticipated Guyana Festival, an event that will set the stage for Guyanese to promote their rich culture, talent and mouth-watering food.

At the venue of the event, the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Coast Demerara, Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali told Guyana Times that the event is gaining momentum, days ahead of the grand opening ceremony.

Minister Ali disclosed that there is tremendous international interest, pointing out that the tour operators in Suriname have confirmed that more than 500 persons have signed up for the threeday event. According to him, the ‘domino’ effect will be remarkable for the hotel and hospitality industry here.

Passports

Approximately 20,000 Guyana Festival Passports are being sold in countries around the world, including the United States and Canada, as well as South American and Caribbean countries. Sold at the cost of $3000 or US$15, the rush is on for the passports which will give spectators access to the event on all three days, starting on Friday, August 8, in addition to the opportunity to drive home in style in a spanking new car.

“The passport sales are going as expected. We have a lot of interest, and the sale is picking up greater and greater. And we also have daily tickets that are on sale at the cost of $1000 but the passports give you that added benefit of getting the more than 20 discount coupons and also the chance to win that car.”

said plans are moving apace.

The inaugural Guyana Festival will take both locals and foreigners by storm with the opening event – a National Concert, to be held under the theme “Myths and Legends… Sweet, Sweet Guyana,” as it sets the scene for an action-packed, culturally rich weekend. The National Steel Orchestra, Woodside Choir and Nrityageet dancers are among the line-up for the star-studded concert.

Festival Games

After long weeks of work, Guyanese from all walks of life, along with the international spectators, will converge at the National Stadium. History will also be created in the sporting arena, as the Festival Games take centre stage.

In the T20 Festival Cricket, the Masters will challenge President’s IX, in a heated match at 16:00h which will be followed by the Festival Football Match which will see the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) taking on Slingers at 19:00h.

“We have the exciting cricket match; you will have 22 West Indian players on one field at the same time and this will be followed by the football match, another thrilling game.”

Sheik Mohamed, Colin Stuart, Rabindra Seeram, Clyde Butts, Sudesh Dhaniram, Assad

King, Esuan Crandon, Devendra Bishoo, Travis Dowlin, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Keon Joseph, Zaheer Mohamed and Anthony Bramble are the members of “President’s IX”.

“After that we have the Night of the Legend Concert, which is going to be overwhelming, all the great singers, the great actors, all the great acts of the past will be on that stage for one night,” the Tourism Minister said.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the sweet aroma of finger-

Guyana on the international map,” Ali said, stressing that the Festival was designed to market Guyana.

Lifetime opportunity Guyana Times caught up with prolific West Indies batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan at the Guyana National Stadium. Chanderpaul said the Festival Cricket will be an opportunity of a lifetime. “It would be really excited to look at these players who would have played for Guyana and the West Indies… so I am hoping that persons come out and have some fun.” Chanderpaul, who would be representing the President’s IX, said, “Hopefully, they (Masters) don’t hit too much so that we can get them in the end.”

His colleague, Sarwan said he was “pretty excited to be part” of the match, as he is given yet another op-

licking Guyanese cuisine will fill the air, as persons engage in a National Cook Out. Some 40 individuals, families, and teams have signed up for the grand competition, with some participants coming from North America.

The Guyana Festival will end with a bang on Sunday

In the local arena, Ali said the response from the Private Sector has been “tremendous,” pointing out that there will be 70 booths spread across the tarmac, in addition to the six cultural villages and Coney Island.

Contrary to reports published in sections of the press, the Tourism Minister

Fudadin, Kevin Darlington, Faoud Bacchus, Amir Khan, Clayton Lambert, Derek Kallicharran, Sew Shivnarine, Steve Massiah and Vishal Nagamootoo are the renowned personalities that will take the field in their quest to defend the name “Masters”.

On the flip side of the coin, Lennox Cush, Reon

night with the “Generation Next Concert” featuring all the popular names and upcoming stars in the entertainment arena. “The Festival will be amazing and so we are looking forward to see every single Guyanese, from as far as possible out here to capitalise on this unique event which will put

PPP gives up hope of passage of AML/ CFT Bill this year

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Clement Rohee says that there is no optimism that the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill will be passed by the end of this year.

Rohee, who was speaking at the Party’s weekly Press conference on Monday, told reporters that the parliamentary Opposition continues to throw gauntlets at the matter, and he is sure that the Bill will not be passed before the year comes to an end.

portunity to make Guyana proud. He applauded the Tourism Ministry for incorporating the Festival Games into the weekend of activities. “I think it is very unique because you normally don’t get sports in these types of activities, but in Guyana we love our sport and so I think it is a great vision.”

Also present at the Stadium was the Commander of A Division, Clifton Hicken and his team. The A Division Team was consulting with the Tourism Ministry as they work out the logistics in the area of security. In a brief interview with Guyana Times, Commander Hicken said the same traffic arrangements that were in place during the hosting of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League and all other major events will be utilised.

“We will continue to use the three-lane system,” he said, positing that “adequate” Policemen and women will be at key points along the East Bank of Guyana to direct the flow of traffic. Additionally, there will be a heightened security presence within the Stadium as the events unfold. On Wednesday, another security meeting will be held to put the final systems in place.

Asked what methods will be used by the PPP to address the situation, Rohee informed the media that it will use both the parliamentary and extra parliamentary struggles. “Parliamentary struggle refers to fighting tooth and nail in the Parliament, exposing the Opposition in the Parliament, putting motions and bills that would make it difficult for the Opposition to reject. Extra parliamentary struggle means working among the people, streets and towns mobilising supporters and non-supporters of our work, both inside and outside Parliament”.

Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira had said that it would be good if Guyana could pass the Anti-Money Laundering Amendment Bill before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meets again in October.

Teixeira, who also chairs the Special Select Committee, had told Guyana Times that attempts had been made to convene an urgent meeting with the Opposition but to no avail. The work of the Select Committee had reportedly hit “rock bottom” between the Government and the coalition failing to agree on fundamental sections of the proposed amendments to the Principal Act.

The Government had objected to moves by the Opposition to establish an AML/CFT Authority and the removal of the powers of the Finance Minister and President to appoint and dismiss the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). This comes as a direct result of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) referring Guyana to FATF, because of its noncompliance with the agreed Action Plan.

A public statement was also issued in which the country was identified as a jurisdiction with significant AML/CFT deficiencies, which has failed to make significant progress in addressing those deficiencies.

Guyana is now considered a risk to the international financial system, and, as such, CFATF members are being called upon to implement further countermeasures to protect their financial systems from the ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks emanating from Guyana. Attempts to reconcile the

political parties after major fallout over amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act of 2009 have proven futile.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh had said that the passage of the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill (AML/CFT) in the National Assembly alone could not suffice to undo the damage already done to the image of the country and the integrity of its financial system internationally.

FATF, at its last meeting in June had accepted the referral of Guyana from its regional watchdog, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), and was expected to undertake a review of Guyana, the results of which will be presented at its October meeting.

General Secretary of the PPP/C, Clement Rohee

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

A group of men busily putting together the array of rides and games for Coney Island

A Division Commander Clifton Hicken, along with supporting officers, inspecting the Stadium on Monday afternoon in the presence of a Tourism Ministry official

After long weeks of work, Guyanese from all walks of life, along with the international spectators, will converge at the National Stadium

Monument to slavery now set for 2015 unveiling at UN

Plans were for the ‘Ark of Return’, the permanent memorial to be housed at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York in honour of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, to be erected in time for the 69th session of the General Assembly, next month. But the timing has been pushed back to a date in 2015 to coincide with the start of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024).

The monument, which was designed by American of Haitian descent Rodney Leon, will be triangular in shape and made from gleaming white marble panels supported by a stainless steel structural frame, according to information from the permanent mission of Jamaica to the UN.

The triangular patterns, it said, are reminiscent of the triangular route of the slave trade which existed between the continents. The Ark of Return is a vessel which acts in a manner to undo the tragedy of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade in order to heal and move forward in a positive manner, a document from the mission said.

A model of ‘Ark of Return’ the permanent memorial to be erected at the UN headquarters in honour of the victims of slavery

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer on the eve of Emancipation Day, last Thursday, Jamaica’s former Permanent Representative to the UN on the permanent memorial,

Ambassador Raymond Wolfe pointed out that it was Jamaica that pushed for the monument to be erected. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Fuad: TT ready to tackle Ebola virus

HSecond USAIDfunded anti-Cuba programme exposed

Anew report by the Associated Press (AP), published on Sunday, has exposed a second covert anti-Cuba programme hatched under the Obama Administration and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), this one consisting of sending Latin American youngsters to the Caribbean island to encourage political subversion.

In April, AP revealed the existence of another programme called ZunZuneo – a Twitter like anti-Cuba social media platform – launched and funded by USAID in 2009 and whose aim was to become popular among Cuban youth and then to “push them into dissidence.” The USAID inspector general is investigating the programme, which was

ended in September 2012. Taking advantage of the so-called assistance for health programmes, the second anti-Cuba initiative was launched in early October 2009 by USAID. Youths from Venezuela, Costa Rica and Peru were sent to Cuba, hopefully to encourage a rebellion. They worked undercover as if they were tourists in an effort to identify people that could become political activists, according to AP.

With this aim in mind, the agents set up an HIVAIDS prevention workshop, which was thought to be the perfect cover, but they were plagued by incompetence and risk. Nearly a dozen young Latin Americans were used in the programme, which paid them US$5.41 per hour. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

ealth Minister, Dr Fuad Khan is assuring the nation that TT’s healthcare system is fully prepared to deal with an outbreak of the Ebola virus. In a telephone interview on Sunday, Khan said the Ministry has been closely monitoring the virus following several outbreaks in Africa. “The virus was contained and then it resurfaced. We have been monitoring this to see how best we could improve our own systems,” Khan said. He said locals travelling to and from Africa must have themselves checked by a doctor if falling ill.

rying,” Khan added.

But, he said, the virus has a 21-day incubation period and therefore symptoms would not be immediately detected. “We are ready. We have things in place and we are fully prepared to deal with any outbreak of an Ebola virus. We also have surveillance methods in place regarding international travel. The Ebola virus has a 90 per cent fatality rate and that is very wor-

The Health Minister said he was considering introducing thermal cameras at the ports of entry to prevent the spread of the chikungunya virus, commonly called ChikV. A thermal camera, also known as FLIR (forward-looking infrared), is a device that creates an image using infrared radiation, which is heat. The measurement of the infrared light illustrates and makes visible the heat radiation from the object. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

OAS and Caricom IMPACS sign agreement on security cooperation

The Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (Caricom IMPACS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 28 to promote and facilitate cooperation and collaboration aimed at advancing regional security.

Signing on behalf of

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza was the OAS Secretary for Multidimensional Security Adam Blackwell, and on behalf of Caricom IMPACS was Francis Forbes, executive director of Caricom IMPACS.

The agreement aims to promote and facilitate human resources capacity development within the area of security and to support the security needs of Caribbean

member states through the adoption of a flexible, collaborative relationship between the organisations.

The document also establishes mechanisms for enhanced coordination between the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security of the OAS and Caricom IMPACS and for the development and execution of joint programmes and projects. (Caribbean News Now)

Rabbis urge Cuba to free US prisoner Alan Gross

Agroup of American rabbis have called on President Barack Obama to negotiate the release of a US Jewish contractor detained in Cuba since 2009.

Some 300 rabbis sent a letter saying they were concerned about the health of 65-five-year-old Alan Gross.

Gross has served four years of a 15-year term for

taking internet equipment to Cuba illegally. His imprisonment has stymied efforts to improve diplomatic ties between Cuba and the US.

Cuba has offered several times to exchange Gross for three Cuban intelligence agents accused of spying who are in prison in the US. Washington has always refused, saying the cases are

different.

He was working installing internet for Cuba’s Jewish community. The rabbis urged President Obama to “take all steps necessary” to secure his release. Gross’s lawyer, Scott Gilbert, said his client has lost vision in one eye and his “emotional deterioration has been severe”. (BBC News)

Security Ministry merges MOCA

and ACB in

Jamaica

The National Security Ministry has merged the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) with the Major Organised Crime and AntiCorruption Task Force (MOCA).

The merged agencies will now be called the Major Organised Crime and AntiCorruption Agency, while maintaining its MOCA acronym. National Security Minister Peter Bunting made the announcement on Monday during a press conference at the Police

Officer’s Club on Old Hope Road, Kingston. In his statement, Bunting said the move comes as part of the Ministry’s crime prevention efforts and to tackle corruption and impunity. Bunting said that “the new agency will continue to investigate corruption and organised crime wherever it occurs” and will allow the JCF and Jamaica Defence Force to work together in reducing corruption. The new agency will be headed by Colonel Desmond Edwards of the JDF. (Jamaica Observer)

Caribbean carrier LIAT defends operations record

The regional airline, LIAT, has defended its record of operations saying that its flight cancellations were low as compared to the existing situation in the global airline industry.

“Our operational performance is certainly not where we would we want it to be and we owe it to our customers to deliver real improvements,” the Antiguabased airline said, follow-

ing criticisms levelled by the head of the Barbados-based National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Denis Clarke.

Clarke had been very critical of the airline, which is owned by the governments of Barbados, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Antigua and Barbuda.

The veteran trade unionist had been stuck in Antigua last week due to flight problems and described the cash-

strapped LIAT’s operations as “bedlam”. But in its statement defending its record, LIAT said while it respects the position taken by Clarke, its average punctuality over the last six years has been 67 per cent and that it has been forced to cancel between one and two flights daily in comparison to the one to two per cent average of the global airline industry. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Minister of National Security Peter Bunting

Gaza conflict: Israel and Hamas ‘agree ceasefire’

Israel and Palestinian groups including Hamas have agreed to a 72-hour humanitarian truce in Gaza, officials and Egyptian mediators say.

The ceasefire will start at 08:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Tuesday.

On Monday Israel held its own seven-hour “humanitarian window” in Gaza but then resumed its military operations. Health officials in Gaza say more than 1800 Palestinians have been killed in the

four-week conflict, which has also claimed 67 Israeli lives.

A Thai national working in Israel was also killed. There have been several truces called during the conflict but few have lasted, with each side accusing the other of violations. The latest was discussed on Monday by various Palestinian groups in Cairo, although Israel did not attend.

However, a senior Israeli official later told the BBC: “Israel will accept the draft

of the Egyptian proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, without preconditions and for 72 hours.” Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for Hamas, which controls Gaza, told Reuters news agency: “Hamas told Egypt a short while ago of its acceptance of a 72-hour period of calm.”

A senior Egyptian official told AFP news agency: “Egypt’s contacts with relevant parties have achieved a commitment for a 72-hour truce in Gaza.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

India landslide toll climbs to 109

The death toll from a landslide that buried a village in western India last week has climbed to 109, officials say. Rescue workers looking for survivors continued to dig through mud in Malin village near Pune in Maharashtra state.

The landslide hit the village early on Wednesday while people were sleeping. Eight people were rescued alive. A large part of a hill collapsed on Malin. Its population of about 160 tribal people were covered with

tonnes of loose earth, mud and rocks.

By Friday, rescue workers had reached the main inhabited area, but officials said chances of finding anyone alive in the rubble were slim.

On Monday, officials said about 50 people were still believed to be trapped under the rubble and rescuers were working through intermittent showers to find them.

The 109 dead include 44 men, 49 women and 16 children, the Press Trust

of India quoted district administration officials as saying on Monday. Carcasses of 22 animals have also been extricated from the debris, they said.

Relatives of those still missing were continuing to wait at the site, hoping and praying for a miracle.

The disaster in Malin came to light when a bus passed by and the driver saw that the village had disappeared under masses of mud and earth, officials said.

Nigeria Ebola doctor contracts the virus

Adoctor in the Nigerian city of Lagos who treated a Liberian victim of Ebola has contracted the virus, the second confirmed case in sub-Saharan Africa’s largest city, authorities said.

Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu, who confirmed the positive test, said on Monday that 70 other people believed to have come into contact with the Liberian were being monitored, with eight placed in

Leaders mark World War One centenary

from across

World leaders commemorated the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I by warning of lessons to be learned in the face of today’s many crises, including Ukraine.

at

“Peace has to be a shared goal,” Belgium’s King Philippe told leaders gathered in his country’s eastern city of Liege on Monday. “World War I reminds us to reflect on our responsibility... to bring people together.”

Leaders from across Europe attended the commemoration at the Allied War Memorial of Cointe, a tower complex overlooking the city alongside a weathered grey-stone church

painted with white doves for the occasion.

French President Francois Hollande recalled Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium in early August 1914 that turned what had been a localised Balkans war into a global conflagration, raising current day parallels.

“How can we remain neutral today when a people not far from Europe is fighting for their rights?” Hollande said, clearly referring to the Ukraine crisis. “How can we remain neutral when a civilian airliner is brought down... when there is conflict in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza?”

“We cannot remain neutral... Europe must live up to its responsibilities with the United Nations,” he told an audience that included Britain’s Prince William and wife Catherine, heads of state and representatives of some 80 countries. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ukrainian troops cross into Russia to avoid fighting, talks underway

Ukraine said on Monday it was in talks with Moscow over the return of 311 Ukrainian soldiers and border guards who had been forced by fighting with separatists to cross into Russia, but Russian border authorities said the troops were seeking asylum.

Both sides seemed set to use the fate of the troops to score propaganda points as Ukrainian government forces extended steady gains it has made

against the pro-Russian separatists since a Malaysian airliner was downed over a rebel-held area on July 17.

Ukrainian defence spokesman

Andriy Lysenko said a group of soldiers and border guards, who had been caught between the Russian border to the east and rebel positions in the west, had crossed into Russia in the early hours of Monday.

He put their number at 311, telling a news briefing they had retreat-

ed into Russia for safety reasons after helping their comrades’ break through rebel lines. Kiev, he said, was now negotiating with Russian authorities for their return.

In Moscow, authorities acknowledged that Ukrainian troops had crossed into Russian territory – though they put the number at 438 – and Russian border guards said they had crossed during the night seeking asylum. (Excerpt from Reuters)

quarantine including three who were “symptomatic.”

The confirmed case “is one of the doctors who attended to the Liberian Ebola patient who died,” Chukwu told journalists. A quarantine unit has been set up in Lagos and blood tests from the three people displaying Ebola-like symptoms have been sent for testing, with results expected later on Monday, the Minister said.

Patrick Sawyer, who worked for Liberia’s Finance

Ministry, contracted the virus from his sister before travelling to Lagos for a meeting of west African officials. He landed in Lagos on July 20 from Monrovia after switching planes in Togo’s capital Lome. He was visibly sick upon arrival and taken directly to the First Consultants hospital in the upmarket Lagos neighbourhood of Ikoyi. He died in quarantine on July 25. The hospital was closed indefinitely last week. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China earthquake: Troops join race to aid survivors

Local Policemen and firefighters have joined efforts to rescue injured residents

China has deployed 2500 soldiers to the South-western province of Yunnan to help search for survivors after an earthquake killed at least 398 people.

More than 1800 people were injured when the magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck on Sunday.

Attempts to reach the epicentre have been hampered by heavy rain, with some rescuers forced to travel on foot. State broadcaster CCTV said the earthquake was the strongest to hit the mountainous province in 14 years.

President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” to find survivors as he dispatched soldiers to the area. They joined more than 300 Police and firefighters from Zhaotong and about 400

emergency workers and sniffer dogs from across Yunnan province in the rescue operation.

But rescuers trying to deliver the much-needed supplies are struggling to reach the area, reports the BBC’s Celia Hatton in Beijing. Unrelenting rain and continuing landslides have left many roads in the region too damaged to use, she adds.

Firefighters managed to rescue 32 people, including a five-year-old boy, who had been trapped inside a residential block, the official Xinhua news agency reports. Bodies pulled out of collapsed buildings in Longtoushan, the epicentre of the earthquake, were laid out in the street wrapped in blankets or planks of wood, AFP reports. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Israel had resumed aerial attacks after a seven-hour pause on Monday

Leaders

Europe attended the commemoration

the Allied War Memorial of Cointe in Liege (source: radionz.co.nz)

Solomon details PNCR Congress election “rigging”

Region 10 Chairman and Central Executive Member of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) Sharma Solomon on Monday detailed the path that led to the mass disenfranchisement of delegates of Linden, and again questioned the ability of David Granger to lead the party of Forbes Burnham.

Solomon was leading a challenge against the “Granger’s establishment” at the Congress in conjunction with Aubrey Norton, but both gentlemen were withdrew their candidacy for any posts following the widespread “rigging”.

Despite attempts by the PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke to pour cold water on the allegations that have surfaced recently, Solomon maintains that the PNCR Secretariat has failed to uphold the party’s constitution. Solomon, in a release on Monday, chronicled key events leading up to the elections in his quest to prove that PNCR members in Linden, Region 10 were disenfranchised. The main Opposition party, which is the major partner of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition, reportedly has a membership of 805 persons in Region 10.

Accreditation Committee

Solomon, who is also a member of the Accreditation Committee, recalled that on March 19, he, along with Region 10 Member of Parliament (MP) Vanessa Kissoon, was summoned to a meeting at Congress Place with Granger, Party Chairman Basil Williams, and General Secretary Clarke along with Region 10 MP Renis Morian.

“The region’s representatives were instructed to configure all Linden party groups based on the national electoral boundary lines. Linden complied with the directive,” Solomon said. However, the region lat -

er learnt that the configuration of groups based on boundary lines was a requirement instituted by the Secretariat only for Linden. This issue of discrimination and biasness was unveiled during a meeting for all regional groups at Congress Place on May 29, he said. “Subsequently and without consultation with leaders of the Linden groups and the regional leadership, the Secretariat, apparently aided by others, dismantled the original groups (ie) the groups formed on boundary lines,” he further explained.

This move to sideline the leadership of the region and longstanding supporters resulted in members being displaced, hence making it difficult to determine delegates. Additionally, it gave rise to a series of conflicts between Linden and the Secretariat in relation to the number and identification of delegates. Solomon said while Linden was guided by its original groups, Congress Place insisted on using the reconfigured groups.

Conflict

“For instance when Linden said X amount of persons were entitled to be delegates in Y group based on membership roll, the Secretariat would say only A amount are entitled to be in this group because it has only B amount of members. And where C was named as an entitled delegate in Z group, the Secretariat said Z group already has its entitled delegates’ quota. This matter was never entirely resolved even though assurance was given it would be,” Solomon explained.

Up until July 26, Linden and the Secretariat were trying to resolve this issue, with a commitment given that the matter would have been put to rest by the following day. But Solomon maintained that the Secretariat failed to abide by the rules of the constitution, pointing out that the Party Rules stipulate the conditions under which groups should be formed. Rule 10 (1) (a) and (b) states the General Secretary in special circumstances is allowed to form groups with smaller numbers but he must report to the Central Executive Committee when any such authorisation is given. According to Solomon, the General Secretary had deviated from this rule.

Turning his attention to the issuance of membership cards, the Region 10 Chairman, as he referenced Rules 8 and 15, explained that the system was put in

place to prevent non-members or ineligible members from casting a ballot. But, according to him, the Secretariat deviated from these rules by approving the use of national identification cards or passports as a mean of identification. This, he said, created loopholes, opening the electoral process for manipulation.

“These are the reason for demanding that the membership card be issued to every member. Members, including yours truly, who turned up on July 27 at Congress Place hoped they would have received their cards by this date. This non-issuance of cards affected a significant portion of Linden’s members and delegates,” he complained.

Further complicating the issue, though Solomon was nominated for the positions of Leader, Chairman, Vice Chairman and Committee Member, the General Secretary omitted the post of Vice Chairman. Although this was brought

to the attention of Clarke, it was never rectified, Solomon said. According to him, consistent with the party structure of allocation for delegates, Linden was entitled to 120 delegates, but the Secretariat maintained that the number was 119. “For the peace of the process, it was accepted,” the Regional Chairman said.

“The Secretariat said total delegates were 794, which shows that 15 per cent of the delegates were from Linden. While Linden has a different figure of the number of delegates that were denied the right to vote, the number placed the number at 55 which reflects 46 per cent of Linden’s delegates,” he said.

This, he lamented, was unacceptable, considering the efforts made by Linden to ensure their rights to express their will and wishes on their leader(s) of choice. He is now calling on the PNCR Secretariat to lead by example.

Litchfield man killed in road crash

Afather of five was on Sunday evening killed while another man is hospitalised after the motorcycle on which they were travelling slammed into a motor car at Number 11 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Dead is Eson Ritch, 39, of Lot 65 Linchfield, West Coast Berbice. The injured man has been identified as Clifford Mc Calmon, 23, also of Linchfield, WCB. He is presently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital suffering from lacerations to his head and other parts of his body.

According to information reaching this newspaper, the now dead man and Mc Calmon were heading home from Number 5 Village when they collided with the car that came out of cross a street as they were riding along the Number 11 Public Road. After the collision, Ritch reportedly received severe injuries and died on the spot.

He, along with the injured man, was taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arriv-

al. Mc Calmon was treated and due to the extent of his injuries, he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment.

Jennifer Ritch, mother of the dead man told Guyana Times in a telephone interview that she was at home on Sunday evening when she received a call informing her that her son was involved in an accident.

The distraught mother related that she received that call at about 21:00h and the person on the other end of the line instructed her to visit the Fort Wellington Hospital. The woman said that she hurried out with her husband and went to the medical facility, only to find her son’s motionless body on a stretcher.

His clothing, she added, was drenched in blood and soon after, he was wheeled away to the mortuary. She recalled receiving a telephone call from her son earlier on Sunday evening claiming that he was at Number 5 Village.

The now dead man’s stepfather, William

Hemerding said that he had just returned from church when they received the news of the man’s death. He said that the father of five worked in the interior but returned to the coast a while ago and has been working as a conductor ever since. The last time he saw Ritch alive was on Sunday morning when he left the home on his motorcycle.

Speaking slowly, Hemerding said that his son did not tell them where he was heading and they thought he had gone to visit his children at Paradise, WCB. The man could not give much information about the accident apart from being told that his stepson crashed into a car as it turned onto the main road at Number 11 Village and that he died on the spot.

Ritch leaves to mourn his mother, five children and four siblings. His body is at the Fort Wellington Mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination. The driver of the motor car was taken into Police custody as they continue their investigation.

Teen stabbed to death at Anna Regina

By IndrawattIe natram

Police on the Essequibo Coast are investigating the death of a 17-year-old who was found with a stab wound at the Anna Regina Squatting Area.

Dead is Alex Narine from Colombia Village on the Essequibo Coast. Narine was discovered by residents on the main pathway leading to the squatting area with a stab wound to his back which apparently penetrated his lungs. He was discovered around 15:30h on Monday.

Police said, in a release, that about 15:00h Narine was involved in an argument with another man over a computer at Drying Floor Ground, Anna Regina, during which he was stabbed to his back. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Suddie Hospital.

The suspect is in Police

Custody and is assisting with the investigations.

Meanwhile, according to Narine’s mother, Brenda, she received a call around 16:00h that her son was stabbed. The mother said she immediately took a vehicle and went to the scene; however, when she got there Police told her no one could touch the body. The mother said her son was still breathing and she was trying to get

Police to listen to her pleas to carry him to the hospital. Police conducted their investigations and then the body of the teenager was placed into the Police vehicle and transported to Suddie Public Hospital.

When the body reached Suddie Hospital, porters took a while to assist. The mother then began to scream for attention and a doctor came and hurriedly assisted. The teenager’s body was then transported inside where doctors certified him dead. The mother is of the view that if her son was transported on time, he could have been alive. According to Narine’s father, Devavratt, his son was in love with a teenager who was still attending school. He said his son left home Monday morning around 08:00h to visit his girlfriend. He noted his son worked in the interior and recently returned home a few days ago.

Wismar man busted with narcotics – court told

A25-year-old miner allegedly busted with a quantity of marijuana in Wismar, Linden was remanded to prison by Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday afternoon.

It is alleged that on August 2 at Lot 22 Wismar,

Clive Hope had in his possession 155 grams of cannabis sativa for the purpose of trafficking. Hope, of First Alley, Wismar, pleaded not guilty to the offence of possession of narcotics when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Prosecutor Dinero Jones informed the court that Hope has no prior history with the law, and the defendant was denied bail. The case was transferred to the Linden Court for August 20.

Region 10 Chairman and PNCR Executive Sharma Solomon

PNCR Leader David Granger

Dead: Alex Narine

Suspect held for Itaballi murder Biodiversity Research in Guyana

Forty-four-year-old

Arthur Alexander Taylor, a labourer, also known as “Bang”, is now assisting Police in Bartica with their investigations into the murder of 27-year-old Wayne Johnson of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, at Itaballi, Mazaruni River last Saturday. The killing occurred at around 21:05h. The deceased, also known as “Wayne”, worked as a truck driver at the Big Hope location, opposite Itaballi in the Mazaruni River and he was over at the Itaballi location at the said time when an argument ensued between himself and “Bang” over some remarks “Wayne” had earlier made expressing his displeasure about “Bang”'s reputed wife’s unwanted provocations.

Bystanders said that the two men then started to scuffle with each other at the Mazaruni River’s edge, where “Bang” then dealt a fatal blow with a kitchen knife that he had in his possession at the said

and managed to evade the Bartica Police until 04:00h on Monday morning when ranks apprehended him and took him in custody.

The suspect, a father of two boys, is being questioned at the said Police station and is expected to be charged with the capital offence of murder by the end of the week.

Based on reports gathered, Police ranks had received a tip-off that the suspect, whose name was given as “Andrew” was hiding in the area. They also received information that his wife was making sure that he was fed properly.

In light of this, the Police reportedly followed the man’s wife on Monday morning and made the arrest as he came out to collect his food. It is not clear whether or not the woman will be charged for harbouring a criminal. Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination performed on the body of Johnson gave the cause of death as perforation to the heart due to a single stab wound. The autopsy was

time. Johnson was stabbed to the left chest and fell to the ground, bleeding profusely. His lifeless body was taken to the Bartica Public Hospital by boat, where he was pronounced dead on arrival and placed in the Bartica Public Hospital Mortuary. On Sunday, Johnson’s body was transported to Georgetown and is being kept at the Lyken Funeral Parlour where it awaits burial.

Taylor, the murder suspect, fled the scene of the stabbing into nearby bushes

performed by Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Monday morning. The body was subsequently handed over to the family to make funeral arrangements. Johnson is expected to be laid to rest on Friday.

Residents of Itaballi described “Bang” as an aggressive person who would also demonstrate violent behaviour whenever he is intoxicated on the Itaballi Landing and he had on two previous occasions allegedly answered to murder charg-

es.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Sunday, a sister of the dead man related that they received the information of her brother’s death

on Saturday evening. She noted they were told that a woman (a hustler) had approached her brother but he rejected her. The spurned woman then went to her partner and reportedly concocted a story. On Sunday, while Johnson was at a shop imbibing, he was confronted by the woman’s partner. The two had an exchange of words and an argument subsequently ensued between them, during which the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed Johnson in his upper chest area before escaping.

The distraught sister explained that they were made to understand that the suspect was involved in similar incidents on the coast, and would usually escaped into the interior to hide before returning. Another relative told this newspaper that Johnson had called home around 17:00h on Saturday and informed his family that he was on his way out; however, they received another call some time after 22:00h about the unfortunate news.

The relative disclosed that Johnson sustained a single stab wound in the region of the heart. Johnson, a father of two, had moved to the interior about three years ago and had been living in Itaballi with a woman who is bearing his third child.

Research is one of the priority areas identified in the National Biodiversity Action Plan in order to generate data on Guyana’s biological resources for sustainable management. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for coordinating

research activities in conservation and protection of biodiversity.

In order to conduct biodiversity research in Guyana, a Research Permit must be acquired from the EPA. Here is the application process for biodiversity research:

(1) Potential Researchers register via the National Biodiversity Research Information System (NBRIS) http://www.epabiodiv.gy/rap/

(2) REGISTRATION APPROVED (2) REGISTRATION NOT APPROVED

(3) Research Application submitted to the EPA and processing fee paid.

(7) RESEARCH PERMIT ISSUED

(8) SPECIMEN EXPORT PERMIT ISSUED (If necessary)

An application form along with supporting documents and application fee of US$75 must be submitted to the EPA three months before the commencement date of the research. Applications made in less than three months, require a late application fee of US$40.

Applications, along with supporting documents, must be submitted through the National Biodiversity Research Information System (NBRIS), which is an EPA initiative that was launched in August 2013.

The NBRIS consist of two database management applications; the WEB and LAN Modules.

The objectives of the webbased module are as follows:

* Facilitate electronic submission (ie, via electronic forms) of research applications for approval by the EPA;

* Facilitate enquiries by prospective researchers on the status of the application;

* Facilitate comments/ suggestions made by other stakeholders reviewing the application;

* Allow researchers to modify and/or resubmit application-related information based on the responses from the EPA and/or stakeholders;

The LAN module is located on a server located within the EPA office. The LAN module is updated by the web-based module and is the final repository of all information submit-

(4) Application reviewed by the Application Sub-committee of the National Biodiversity Committee.

(5) APPLICATION APPROVED

(5) APPLICATION NOT APPROVED

(6) PAYMENT OF RESEARCH PERMIT FEE

ted as part of the research application process. The LAN module is used to monitor all approved research activities most specifically in the following areas:

* Number of specimens taken overseas;

* Number of specimens returned;

* Number of specimens deposited with the competent authority;

* Species studied;

* Duration of research activities;

* Reports submitted by researchers; and

* Reports submitted by local and counterpart agencies.

The application also includes a Document Management System which provides indexed, retrievable electronic storage of all publications, research documents and images such as photos and maps. Information will also be maintained on all previous research activities which will serve as a guideline for reviewing future applications by the same researchers.

After the research is completed, researchers are required to submit a preliminary report, field notes, photographs and recordings to the EPA before they depart Guyana. They are also required to submit a copy of their final report once completed along with any other reports/publications based on the research.

Researchers wishing to export specimens collected under their Research Permit must apply for an Export Permit from the EPA. While the Agency welcomes the opportunity to explore Guyana’s biological resources for informed decision making; measures are put in place to ensure our biological wealth is protected and there are benefits to the country as well. You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.

The Mazaruni River edge area on the Itaballi landing where the scuffle occurred. In the background on the other side of the Mazaruni River is the Big Hope Quarry

The bloodied torso of Wayne Johnson at the Bartica Public Hospital

The accused Arthur Alexander Taylor, also known as “Bang”

Sarwan, Lambert to captain sides at Guyana Festival cricket match

Former Guyana and West Indies cricketer Clayton Benjamin Lambert has been named captain of the Masters’ IX that will play against a President’s IX in the Guyana Festival cricket match to be staged on August 9, 2014 at the Guyana National Stadium.

The left handed Lambert, 52, who also bowls off-break, will skipper the side that includes names such as Travis Dowlin, Sew Shivnarine, Derrick Kallicharran, Clyde Butts and Colin Stuart.

Meanwhile, the experienced Ramnaresh Sarwan will lead the President’s IX that include big names such as Test batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Lennox Cush, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Reon King and Easun

Crandon.

The 20 overs match on Saturday takes place from 16:00h to 18:00h.

The Master’s XI reads: Clayton Lambert –Captain, Travis Dowlin,

Sudesh Dhaniram, Rabindranauth Seeram, Faoud Bacchus, Steve Messiah, Sew Shivnarine, Derrick Kallicharran, Shiek Mohamed – Wkpr, Kevin Darlington, Arjune Nandu,

Clyde Butts, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, Colin Stuart, Hubrun Evans and Amir Khan. Manager/Coach –Mark Harper

The President’s XI reads: Ramnaresh Sarwan

Kennard Memorial Turf Club race meet…

– Captain, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Azeemul Haniff, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Lennox Cush, Vishal Nagamootoo – Wkpr, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Roderick Lovell, Rayon Griffith, Zaheer Mohamed, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Anthony Bramble, Reon King, Easun Crandon and Jermaine Neblette. Manager/Coach – Garvin Nedd

In addition to this, on the same day, there will be the spectacular Night of Legends Concert which will see renowned local artistes such as Dave Martins, Sammy Baksh, Terry Gajraj, the Yoruba Singers, Mighty Rebel, Sash Persaud, Celia Samaroo, Teddy Jones, Johnny Braff, Glenn Miller,

On Sunday, August 10, a next generation concert will be held to help develop new/ young talents in the music industry. It will be followed by a cook-off competition of traditional local cuisine, such as duck curry, cookup, pepperpot, metemgee and black cake, among others. That activity will be organised by King’s Jewellery World. The fundamental objective of the Guyana Festival set for August 8 to 10 is to showcase Guyana’s diverse cultural heritage, local manufactured products and services, and to celebrate local celebrities. The Guyana Festival is the brainchild of the Ministry of Tourism.

Score’sEven dishes out a whipping!

If there was ever a question about the fastest horse in Guyana that was answered on Sunday when Score’s Even gave a gate to pole beating on the top horses in the country when the Kennard Memorial Turf Club held its annual one-day horse race meet at its race track at Bush Lot, Farm in Corentyne.

The horse from the Dennis Deoroop Simple Royal Stable, with Jockey Randolph Richmond on board, took control when the event for horses classified as ‘A’ and lower was held. As the animal came out of

the second turn it relaxed and then galloped on the homestretch for a comfortable win with Bridal Stone Corner in distant second and Run Nana Run third. I Will Get Another occupied the fourth place as the featured race ended. Rock Movie Star, one of the pre-race favourites, failed to finish in the top four.

Perfect Wind Storm of The Jagdeo stable won the D3 and lower six furlong event in a neck to neck finish with Princess She Is Not to take the $500,000 purse. It was the animal’s first win in Guyana.

Battle Hymn of The

Sooklall Stable was the most outstanding horse with two wins. It won the G3 category for none winners to give its owner $300,000 in a very competitive race which saw Cat Messiah, Bridal Stone Corner and The Legend finishing in that order. The animal also took the G1 race worth $320,000 in another very competitive race with Red Cloud, Another Jet and Moonsoon following.

Cat Messiah got revenge when the animal rode away with the ‘I’ and lower race contested over a distance of 6 furlongs. The winning purse was worth $250,000. The others to

place in that race were Mary Ann, Party Time and Lady Secret.

The J1 event was won by Royal Cash with Smarty Light coming behind.

Royal Stallion of The Simple Royal stable won the J3 race.

Jockey Randolph Richmond was adjudged Champion jockey, while Yap Drepaul was adjudged runner up. The Simple Royal and Sooklall Stables with two wins each were the top stables.

The champion horses were Battle Hymn.

Dennis Deoroop and Sooklall were adjudged top trainers.

Hilton Hemerding, Winston Caesar and Aubrey Mann performing.

Clayton Lambert Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Ramnaresh Sarwan

Battle Hymn with Yap Dreapaul wins the G3 race in fine style

Jockey Richmond mounts Score Even as owner Dennic Deoroop receive thier winning trophy-1

Perfect Wind Storm ahead of Princess She is Not in the G3 race

Noble House Goals Galore Indoor

Hikers, Revelation are champs

The Pepsi Hikers ripped the final curtain off the rod with a spectacular showdown of hockey to upstage arch-rivals GCC by eight goals to five in the senior final of the annual Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey Championships. While the Hikers fielded a star-studded line-up featuring several of the recent bronze medallists from the Pan American Indoor Championships in Uruguay, Jamarj Assanah emerged once again as the standout in a performance that further cements his reputation as one of the best in the game.

With GCC starting the

match on (+3) to the Hikers (0), the defending champs would have needed to bring their attacking brand of hockey from the opening whistle. The two only unbeaten sides in the competition had drawn their pool encounter 3-3 earlier in the week and the final was a difficult one to call. The game started at fever pitch as both sides attacked with pace and defended tenaciously but in just the third minute a defensive error left Assanah free on the right to draw the goalkeeper and slip the ball to France on the far post to guide it in the open goal.

Two minutes later, Assanah pounced on a loose

ball at right back and drove left, evading a pair of GCC defenders before sending a reverse pass to France this time on the opposite post to finish in like fashion. GCC’s Stephen Xavier made a run of his own just one minute later and found Kevin Spencer in the circle who feinted the goalkeeper, drove right and executed a diving finish to signal game on. As the halftime break drew near, goalpoacher France would latch onto a lose rebound to complete his hat-trick and send his team into the break trailing by only one goal at 4-3.

The Hikers produced an even more dominant sec-

ond half as GCC would only manage one more goal through Mark Sargeant while the Hikers swarmed their opposition with five more to secure the runaway victory. Division top goalscorer France registered two more goals to his name while Assanah deservedly added a double and Leon Bacchus a single for the Hikers.

In the junior division final, Revelation took on newcomers- the Under-19 mix- in a game that went the distance. With the teams even on 9-9 at full time, it would take a penalty shootout to separate them. With Revelation enjoying a (+8) handicap to

the (+7) Under-19 Mix, they would quickly fall behind as Unzie Copeland managed a quick double in the first 10 minutes of play to put the Under-21s ahead. It would take until the middle of the second half for Revelation to draw the scores through a Kenisha Wills breakaway which would leave the teams dead even at the final whistle and facing a penalty shootout.

The Under-19 Mix had won their semi-final through a shootout and must have gained some degree of confidence from that experience, but Revelation goalkeeper Annesa Permaul was up to the challenge. Permaul man-

aged to keep a clean sheet in the penalty shootout denying all three Under-19 efforts while Maria Munroe, with a swift reverse drag, scored the winning goal for Revelation.

The Emerging Female Player Award went to Minsodia Culpepper of the Old Fort Shooting Stars while the male award went to Deheron Wilkinson of the Under-19 Mix. Ashley DeGroot of the Spartans received the Most Goals Award for the junior division with an unmatched 18-goal haul, while Pepsi Hikers Captain Robert France, with 14 goals, received the accolade for the senior division.

Regional Women’s Super50 Tournament… Senior women cricketers depart for Dominica

Guyana’s senior female team departed today for Dominica where they will compete in the 2014 Regional Super50 Tournament from August 5 to 14, 2014. The teams vying for the title are Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St Vincent, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Seeing the players off, the President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Drubahadur, urged them to give their best and make Guyana proud. He further called on the senior Guyana players with West Indies experience (Tremayne Campbelle, Tremayne Smartt, Subrina Munroe and June Ogle) to lead by example and help guide the younger players.

The President also welcomed newcomer Lashuna Toussaint and wished her the best for her first outing with the senior team.

The Guyanese women will be looking for their first Regional title and coach Andre Percival believes

these ladies are capable of accomplishing the task as the team has a rich blend of experience and new talent. The furthest Guyana managed to reach in the Regional Super50 was the semifinal in 2012 when Barbados hosted the tournament.

Guyana will battle Jamaica in Round One on August 7, St Vincent in Round Two on August 8, and St Lucia in Round Three on August 10. The semi-finals are slated for August 12 while the final will be on August 13.

The Guyana team reads: June Ogle (captain), TremayneSmartt (v. captain), Latoya Smith, Melanie Henry, ShemaineCampbelle, KavitaYadram, Lashuna Toussaint (wkt keeper), Plaffiana Millington, Akaze Thompson, Hasena Mohamed, Subrina Munroe, Katana Mentore, Heema Singh, Erva Giddings. The Coach is Andre Percival and the Manager is Carol Nurse. (GCB press release)

The senior Guyana women’s team with President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Drubahadur (right) prior to their departure for the 2014 Regional Super50 Tournament in Dominica

Revelation are the junior division champs

Pepsi Hikers are the male champions of the annual Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey Championships

GRFU concludes Summer Camp with tag rugby festival

Afun-filled game of tag rugby brought the curtain down on the Guyana Football Rugby Union (GRFU) 2014 Annual Summer Camp on Saturday.

The mini tag rugby festival was held to showcase the skills of its young players that participated in the camp as well as its introductory Get into Rugby

(GIR) Programmes aimed at teaching young children the game of rugby. More than 45 male and female youths participated in the tag rugby festival held under the watchful eyes of Youth Development Officers Troy Yhip and Larry Adonis. Medals and trophies were presented by Mrs Shellon Green, wife of GRFU President Peter

Green.

In a brief comment, President Green commended the sterling efforts of the Youth Development Officers and stated that from such humble beginnings the seeds of success for youth rugby have been sown with the promise of a bountiful harvest to come.

The GRFU also acknowledged the vital in-

put from various persons and companies, including Scotiabank, DDL, Trophy stall, Banks DIH Ltd, Dyna’s Embroidery, Nedd’s Bakery and Royal Castle.

The GRFU’s Saturday Programme continues with the youth players set to showcase their skills in an upcoming U-21 and U-19 tournament in the coming weeks.

Injury to Indiana Pacers All-Star Paul George changes landscape of Eastern Conference

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When Indiana Pacers star Paul George crashed into the stanchion during Team USA’s scrimmage in Las Vegas on Friday night, the crowd was left speechless, and the NBA picture, which had been coming into focus after a wild offseason, quickly changed. George’s leg bent awkwardly, and it didn’t take long for people inside Thomas and Mack Center to realize how serious the injury was. Trainers grabbed towels, hoping to cover the gruesome injury. Some players did the same, only choosing to use the towels to shield their

eyes. James Harden, who was closest to George on the play, dropped his head - the agony was plastered all over his face. Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving was brought to tears while hugging his father after the scrimmage ended prematurely.

With his family and teammates nearby, George was wheeled out of the arena, which was left in silence. A lock for Team USA at one time, George was instead forced to think about the long road of recovery ahead as he was rushed to the hospital for special surgery to repair a fracture of his tibia and fibula. (Yahoo Sport)

india’s return to nets hints at changes

India’s first day on a cricket field since the loss at the Ageas Bowl, and what would have been a demoralising verdict for them in the James Anderson hearing, began with a longish huddle at Old Trafford on Monday afternoon. Arms around each other, regrouping after having taken a beating on the field, in the court, and - they certainly believe - in a corridor at Trent Bridge. At one point, fielding coach Trevor Penney could be seen speaking animatedly in the huddle. Others spoke too. Wonder if someone said, “Boys, how the hell do we take 20 wickets here?”

While what happened between Ravindra Jadeja and Anderson remains an issue, India will know you win Test matches by taking 20 wickets or playing teams led by Garry Sobers or Michael Clarke. India have done so only four times in their last 15 away Tests. On three of those four occasions, those 20 wickets have cost India more than their batsmen were able to score. The other successful instance was on this tour, at Lord’s, but the two architects of that win - Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar - were out of action on the first day of India’s pre-Test training. During their customary pre-nets footballs game, both Ishant and

Bhuvneshwar took up goalkeeping duties. Ishant has been ruled out of fourth Test, MS Dhoni has already said, but Bhuvneshwar, who had a swelling on his ankle, remains a matter of interest. When the nets began, Ishant took up umpiring duties, ironically because he is guilty of bowling more noballs than most in the world today. Bhuvneshwar bowled a few deliveries gingerly, off a short run, and pulled out in five minutes or so. Seen from outside, the signs cannot be good: the Test begins on Thursday. However, seeing how India called up replacement for Wriddhiman Saha but not an extra fast bowlerUmesh Yadav is available, for example - the educated guess would be that they are confident of his being fit in time for Old Trafford. That Ishant is still with the team, and that a replacement has not been called for, would mean they are hopeful of his return in time for the Oval Test. The team, however, will not say what the injuries are.

Even if Bhuvneshwar is fit for Old Trafford, India will need a much-improved performance from Mohammed Shami, who has taken five wickets at 73.20 apiece. His economy rate of 3.81, too, has been the worst among specialist bowlers. No spe-

cialist bowler’s wickets or overs have cost more per unit in this series. However, Shami looked really good at the nets on Monday, bowling at a good pace, repeatedly beating specialist batsmen. M Vijay was hit high on the thigh pads often, Cheteshwar Pujara had his poles uprooted, and Shikhar Dhawan was squared up and beaten around off.

That might not be the

only cause for concern for Dhawan, though. For the first time since India reached Nottingham, Gautam Gambhir had a hit pretty early on in the nets. It was a clear sign that Dhawanafter six failures - cannot take his place for granted. India have left open that option of bringing Gambhir in. Gambhir last played a Test for India in early 2012, in Nagpur against England.

Gambhir is not the only option India seem to have left open. R Ashwin, who in the eyes of the experts and public has become a better spinner with every passing day out of the Test team, was more active in the nets than usual. He had a decent bowl at the start, and also got a longish hit with the bat. If he does come in, as almost everyone has demanded by now, he will do

so in place of either Jadeja, who looked ineffective at the Ageas Bowl, or Rohit Sharma. Ashwin’s last Test was Johannesburg, where he bowled 42 wicketless overs, 36 of those in the second innings. India have options, and they could prove you wrong, but in the absence of Ishant, this side does not look like one that will take 20 wickets for fewer runs than what their batsmen score. That is one reason that could make India think of stacking their batting up, and retain Rohit. Unless Dhoni looks to bowl that extra bowler for more than 10-12 overs, he will be better off with that specialist batsman at No. 6. For the first time in the series, you could not tell from India’s nets what combination and players they are looking to play. Gambhir and Dhawan netted next to each other. Ashwin and Jadeja bowled with each other. Rohit and Ashwin batted one after the other. Bhuvneshwar did not bowl. Varun Aaron and Pankaj Singh could not be ruled out. You could tell India were not in a desirable situation when it comes to picking the XI, but at least they were back on the field, and laughing and joking at the end of the session. (espncricinfo.com)

Some of the participants of the just concluded 2014 Annual Summer Camp held by the GRFU

Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not do much work in the nets on Monday. Photo: Associated Press

George was wheeled out of the arena, which was left in silence

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Marco Pantani: Italian prosecutors reopen investigation

Prosecutors in Italy have reopened an inquiry into the death of cyclist Marco Pantani after his family presented what it says is evidence he was murdered.

Pantani, who won the 1998 Tour de France, was ruled to have died of a cocaine overdose after being found dead in his room on Valentine’s Day 2004.

The Italian’s mother believes her son, who was 34 when he died, was murdered. Tonina Pantani alleges he was beaten and forced to drink a lethal dose of cocaine dissolved in liquid.

“We have just received documents sent by those close to [Pantani] and we have opened an investigation,” said Paolo Giovagnoli, the public prosecutor in Rimini, where Pantani’s body was found. We will read them and if we decide to proceed with a new investigation, we will appoint an examining magistrate to do so.”

In the year of his victory in the Tour de France, Pantani also won the Giro d’Italia.

Mrs Pantani told la Repubblica newspaper: “I

will never stop until I see the truth written about Marco...” Without elaborating on a possible motive, she added: “My feeling from the very beginning was that he had discovered something and somebody shut his mouth.”

The Pantani family says the marks found on Marco Pantani’s body show he had been beaten, and the high amount of cocaine found in his system suggested he had swallowed the drug, which it claims is something he would not have done willingly. (BBC Sport)

tiger Woods injury leaves future looking uncertain

Tiger Woods couldn’t disguise his agony as his comeback from back surgery came to its abrupt end at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio. Witnessing his painful attempt to change his shoes in the Firestone car park in the wake of his buggy ride from the ninth fairway, it was hard not to fear for his golfing future.

This is a massive setback for the former world number one, who was playing only his 10th competitive round since back surgery in March. The 38-year-old was a frail figure as he departed. Dismiss any notion that he cured his back problems with the microdiscectomy he underwent on 31 March to alleviate a pinched nerve.

Woods first suffered back spasms during the Barclays tournament in New Jersey last September. Although he completed the 2013 calendar, the injury resurfaced when he withdrew from the Honda Classic in early March. The 14-time major champion finished the WGC event at Doral the following week but soon after was told he needed surgery to repair the problem.

court, children, promotion, visa, pregnancy, education, depression, job, sexual, jealousy, enemy, money, drinking ? Also you can have all evil forces

It cost him his place at the Masters and US Open, and although Woods returned to action in Washington at the Quicken Loans National at

During his third round Tiger Woods swore at a cameraman who

Congressional on 19 June, he was clearly rusty and he missed the cut.

Woods didn’t play again until the Open, where he played all four rounds but never contended.

This week in Ohio his rounds became progressively worse with scores of 68, 71 and 72. During his third round he swore at a cameraman who he felt was getting too close to him. On the second hole of his final round Woods faced an awkward shot from the top of a fairway bunker. “When I hit my second shot I fell back into the bunker. I just jarred it and it’s been spasming ever since,” he said.

“It’s the whole lower back. I don’t know what happened.”

Given the apparent extent of his pain it is hard to

imagine Woods being fit for the final major of the year, the US PGA, at Valhalla next week. Indeed, his season may well be over. US Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson has been considering whether to pick the current world number 10 for this September’s match at Gleneagles. That decision may have been taken out of his hands. It has been a calamitous week for the American team following the withdrawal of Dustin Johnson from competitive golf to confront “personal challenges”. Given the debilitating nature of recurring back problems, it doesn’t feel like an exaggeration to say the challenge facing Woods now is one of trying to save his career.

Pantani won both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia in 1998

he felt was getting too close to him

Golfer Guyadeen prevails at Grand Cypress Challenge

The Golden Arrow Head was flying proudly at the Grand Cypress Challenge in Orlando, Florida at the weekend as US-based amateur golfer Crisendat Guyadeen emerged the winner from a field of more than 150 golfers.

In fact, the Golf Channel Amateur Tour (GCAM) twoday major tournament had 170 players from all parts of United States, Canada, Mexico and of course Guyana converging on the Championship North/South course played by many PGA and LPGA play-

Running Brave to miss Boyce/ Jefford Classic

The Running Brave Athletics Club (RBAC) will not be participating in this year’s edition of the Boyce/Jefford Track and Field Classic set for August 16 and 17 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden.

The club’s inability to train, according to Coach of the club Sham Johnny, is the reason for its non-participation at the event.

“We are not prepared for Boyce/Jefford, we have no place to train so we are not running,” Johnny told Guyana Times Sport via telephone.

The Running Brave Athletics Club are the defending champions of the

meet which will more than likely drop the quality of competition at the two-day event.

Speaking with the organiser of the track and field classic, Edison Jefford, he related that the committee is moving ahead with plans to pull off a successful event.

“As it is right now we have not received any official correspondence from Running Brave about the non-participation. If it is true then it is unfortunate that they will take a stance like that for whatever reason.

“We have not received entries from Running Brave and we are going to go ahead with our registration for the games… all it means if they are not participating is that a new champion will be crowned and another club will benefit,” Jefford told Guyana Times Sport when contacted.

The Boyce/Jefford Classic is the only meet in Guyana with an International flavour as well as the only meet that provides athletes with the chance to be rewarded financially through the team cash prize or the special individual events that have cash incentives attached. (Treiston Jospeh)

ers.

Guyadeen made a first round shot of +3 and a second round shot of +6 to end with a winning total of 9 over par.

“The course has a brick wall that you have to hit your tee shot over and a creek that runs across the fairway that is not visible until you get near the green. Many golfers are victims to this creek. However, despite all those difficulties and intense competition I managed to beat the field and come in first place,” an elated Guyadeen told Guyana Times Sport.

Guyadeen plays as a proud Guyanese and is always ecstatic when the Guyana flag is flying because of him. However, he is seeking to step it up a notch and go international where he hopes to have the Golden Arrow Head hoisted because of his exploits. He has shown he has the skills and patriotism to be a good ambassador but is now waiting on his country to give him the nod.

“I was once again able fly the Guyana flag high above the rest and felt very privileged and proud to do so again. I once again would like to represent Guyana internationally

at the Latin America Amateur Championship (LAAC) Golf Tournament to be held in Argentina in January 2015. I have repeatedly pleaded with the Guyana Golf Authorities in Lusignan, and nothing has been done.

“The important thing is that Guyana has to be a registered member of the LAAC and World Golf Association.

represent Guyana at a higher level. The USA National tournament will be telecast on The Golf Channel.

The Guyanese golfer and businessman, who resides, works and plays golf in the USA, has been playing on the Golf Channel Amateur Tour for the past 4 years and has won several times “The experience playing

make a mistake,” Guyadeen had previously told this publication.

Prior to last weekend’s tournament, Guyadeen won the Palmer Flight tournament in the Golf Channel Amateur Tour (GCAM) on Long Island, USA in July. He shot 74 (+2) to win at Harbor Links Golf Course.

Prior to winning at Harbor

Just to let you know I am paying all my expenses and is no monetary burden to the country,” Guyadeen stated.

Guyadeen’s win on the major tournaments also qualifies him to play in the USA National tournament to be played in October 2014 in Arizona where he is hoping to

CULT / EBFA U-17 Football League…

golf in America is one of a very honest and competitive nature. Coming from Guyana is always an underdog situation which in itself is an additional pressure, but as long as you are sound in your mind and have a great game you can be successful, as long as you stay focus and don’t get upset if you

Links, Guyadeen continued his winning streak with a first round shot of +1 and a second round score of +7 to finish with a best score of 8 over par at Naples. Guyadeen has also said he plans to play in some tournaments here in Guyana this year.

Dick nets 5 in Grove Hi Tech’s win over KK Warriors

Grove Hi Tech, led by five goals from National Under-17 forward Joel Dick, thumped Kuru Kururu Warriors 8-0 to maintain their unbeaten record when play in the CULT sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) league continued on Saturday at the Grove Playfield.

After opening the scoring in the 9th minute compliments of a Mervin Squires effort, Dick took over proceedings by netting in the 30th, 39th, 42nd, 51st, and 64th minutes.

The Linden Soesdyke Highway based Warriors did their utmost to keep the Hi Tech boys at bay

Smythfield Rockers registered their first win in the Legend Classic Basketball Tournament for teams in Berbice when they overpowered newcomers Ithaca Hardliners at the Ithaca Court on Sunday.

Led by a game high 26 points from Tyrone Dey, the Rockers rocked the

Hardliners to win 58-41 after holding a 26-17 half time lead.

Dey was the key man in the game and almost single handedly beat the boys from West Berbice.

The New Amsterdam based Smythfield Rockers had earlier secured an 1810 lead at the end of the first

quarter. Dey received good support from Jason Fraser who sunk seventeen points.

In a losing effort, Daymon Edwards scored nine points for the Hardliners.

The competition continues on Sunday with Canje knights taking on the Black Sharks at the Fyrish Court. Canje Knights,

but were not able to for any long period. To add to their woes, Warriors netted an own goal in the 67th minute.

Mervin Squires put the icing on the cake when he converted in the 80th minute to seal a huge win for the home team.

Meanwhile, Agricola Red Triangle were down to oppose Diamond United in the day’s other encounter but the Diamond boys were a no show which meant that Agricola took full points without breaking a sweat via the walk over route. Matches are set to continue on Saturday at the same venue.

Black Sharks and Rose Hall Jammers make up Group ‘A’ while Group ‘B’ consists of Hardliners, Rockers and New Amsterdam Warriors. The competition is being played on a round robin basis and is sponsored by Ponai’s Pharmacy and Nand Persaud Rice Mills. (Andrew Carmichael)

Guyadeen poses with his hardware after prevailing at the Grand Cypress Challenge in Orlando, Florida at the weekend

Joel Dick is flanked by Trevor Jones (right) and Mervin Squires

Sham Johnny

Guyana win first leg of IGG

Guyana won the first leg of the Inter Guiana Games (IGG) which concluded on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Australia to deliver ‘best’ Commonwealth Games

The next Commonwealth Games will be from 4-15 April 2018 in Australia and most of the venues for the disciplines are already in place

ASecond place went to Suriname who finished first in swimming, second in athletics and first for boys in basketball and third for girls.

Guyana’s win in athletics was the major difference that helped the hosts to win despite finishing third in swimming and second in basketball.

Inter Guiana Games 2014...

French Guiana brought up the rear as they failed to register a point in athletics due to not fielding a team, and finished second in swimming but first for girls in basketball and third for males.

Director of Sport Neil

Kumar was very optimistic of Guyana’s chances in the second leg of the IGG tri-nation tournament scheduled for Suriname later in the year. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sport Alfred Kind declared the first leg closed.

Male and female basketball teams suffer defeats on final day

By TreisTon Joseph

Guyana’s male basketball players were defeated 65-72 to finish second behind Suriname in the first leg of the Inter Guiana Games 2014 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Sunday.

Guyana seemed on course to a tough win early in the game as they pushed the pace of the ball to score efficiently to finish the first half with a 40-36 advantage.

However, the second half was much different as turnovers became the tale of tape for the Guyanese side as they began to struggle to keep possession of the ball, falling behind at the end of the third by two points with the score on 50-48.

The much bigger Dutchmen did not ease their attack against Guyana as they downed some big shots that got the crowd going but resulted in dismay for the Guyanese males.

Shafeeq Thomas and Terron Welch each had 13 points while big man

Leonard Primo had 11 points in the loss.

Xavier Gelberg was the game’s lead scorer with 22 points while Randy Chen had 12 and Dango Ariferlee had 13 in the win.

Meanwhile, the females suffered the same fate as

the Guyanese men but were routed 38-72 by the girls from French Guiana.

Cathrina Desir dominated the game from the post with a game high 20 points while Bourbon Te3psiana had 15 points in the win.

ustralia has promised to build on the “standout” Glasgow 2014 and deliver the “best” Commonwealth Games. Jann Stuckey, the minister for the next Games on Australia’s Gold Coast in April 2018, also believes the event will “continue for a long time”.

“The Gold Coast won’t be the beginning of the end - it will be a reinvigoration,” said Stuckey.

The enthusiasm for the Games is in contrast to fears over its future before Glasgow 2014. There was a lack of interest from member countries in staging the event, with no serious interest expressed to be 2022 hosts ahead of a March 2014 deadline.

Glasgow 2014 is believed to have cost more than £500m to stage and the finances needed to host future events was believed to be one of the issues. In addition, a major dispute over governance between the Commonwealth Games Federation and its members may also have had a detrimental effect.

However, South African city Durban and Edmonton, in Canada, eventually came forward as potential suitors and confirmed bids for the 22nd Games must be lodged by March 2015. Reg Milley, who is leading Edmonton’s bid to host the Games, says the event needs to be modernised to stay relevant and has suggested adding new sports to the programme.

governing body the UCI has also campaigned for skateboarding to gain inclusion at the Olympics.

Speaking to BBC World Service’s Sportsworld programme, Milley, chairman of the Edmonton 2022 bid committee, said his team had learned a lot from observing Glasgow 2014 at close quarters. He said: “We have been talking to the young people here and in the wider Commonwealth about what they want in 2022 - the time when they will be at their peak.

“We need to renew and stay relevant.”

Edmonton hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1978, while it was last staged in Canada in Victoria in 1994.

An African city has yet to welcome the event. The president of the South African Sports Confederation & Olympic Committee, Gideon Sam, who is part of the Durban bid team, said the Commonwealth Games Federation should consider how his country staged the 2010 Fifa World Cup if they need help making their decision.

He said: “Ask Fifa what Durban can do. We have the infrastructure to deliver. This is Africa’s time. This is Durban’s time.”

“Do we need three-onthree basketball, beach volleyball, BMX and skateboard?” asked Milley.

Guyana finished second in both the male and female basketball competitions.

Tamara Hunter tried her best for Guyana with 12 points while Ginelle Ifill was limited to just nine points in the game.

BMX cycling was added to the Olympic programme for the 2008 Beijing Games, while beach volleyball became an Olympic event at Atlanta in 1996. Cycling’s

The next Games will be from 4-15 April 2018 in Australia and most of the venues for the disciplines are already in place. New arenas have been built for the badminton, wrestling, track cycling and mountain biking, while the Aquatic Centre is ready three years ahead of schedule and will host August’s Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

(BBC Sport)

The Guyana women’s basketballers had defeated Suriname in their opening game on Saturday but fell to French Guiana on Sunday

The teams at the opening ceremony of the Inter Guiana Games at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday

Paul, bowlers give Guyana victory over Leewards

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Aspirited Guyana Under-19 side clinched a sensational 76-run victory over the Leeward Islands in the opening round of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional One-day cricket tournament at the Enmore Community Centre ground on Monday.

The three-day champions were first dismissed for 202 in 49.2 overs but relied on a brilliant bowling display to stop the Leeward Islands at 126 in 42.2 overs.

The Leeward Islands line-up had no answer to the guile and deception of the Guyanese spinners as the four spinners shared eight wickets among them.

The visitors’ innings never really looked set to take off and stuttered and stumbled all the way through with only captain Jeremiah Louis (29), Mohit Hingorani (26), Shaquille Martina (14) and Jaeel Clarke (10), offering any resistance.

Balchan Baldeo demonstrated his wily potency, claiming three wickets for a mere 15 runs off ten overs, while Sharaz Ramcharran (2-13), Steven Sankar (2-29) and Daimon Waldron (1-31) all played their part with the ball. Pacer Niall Smith also chipped in with 1-15.

Earlier, Kemo Paul res-

cued Guyana from a position of 60-5 with a composed half-century. The visitors’ bowlers showed good discipline. They gave no width or bowled over pitched deliveries or short balls. They stuck to the basics, bowling a good line and length.

Alzarri Joseph was spot on up front; he moved the ball a little and made the batsmen play cautiously. He removed both Shimron Hetmyer and Brain Sattuar in the fifth over. The attacking Hetmyer was bowled for 14, while Sattuar went leg before wicket without scoring after offering no shot to leave the home side on 24-2.

The tourists then removed Tagnarine Chanderpaul (21), Balchand Baldeo (6) and Askay Homraj (5).

Paul and Sharaz Ramcharran (23) then stitched together a seventh run partnership to take Guyana to 98-6.

Paul immediately after recorded his half century off 77 balls and then helped Guyana past the hundred landmark in the 27th over but soon after Kemol Savory was dismissed for six. Paul and Waldron took Guyana to 140 before Waldron was dismissed for five.

A ninth-wicket partnership between Paul and

Steven Sankar saw the hosts reach 198 before Paal’s fine innings came to an end, fourteen runs short of a century. Paul innings spanned 105 balls, inclusive of four boundaries a six. Sankar contributed 13 to the total.

Louis was the best bowler for the visitors with 4-23. Joseph (2-46), Hodge (232), Martina (1-36) and Hingorani (1-32) among the wickets.

Meanwhile, in other first round matches; Trinidad

and Tobago beat the ICC Americas by 164 runs, while Jamaica trashed Barbados by eight wickets.

The second round of the tournament continues today with Guyana playing the ICC Americas at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda, Windward Islands oppose Barbados at the Demerara Cricket Club ground and Jamaica challenge the Leeward Islands at Wales Community Centre ground.

SCOREBOARD

Guyana innings S. Hetymer b Joseph 14

T. Chanderpaul b Louis 21

B. Sattuar lbw b Joseph 0

B. Baldeo lbw b Louis 6 A. Homraj c Joseph b Hodge 5

K. Paul c Louis b Hodge 86

S. Ramcharran b Martina 23

K. Savory lbw b Hingorani 6

D. Waldron lbw b Louis 5

S. Sankar c wkp Clarke b Hodge 13 N. Smith not out 02

Extras: (w17, lb5) 22

Total: (all out; 49.2 overs) 202 Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-24, 3-54, 4-54, 5-60, 698, 7-107, 8-140, 9-198, 10-202

Bowling: Joseph 10-0-46-2 (w5), Archibald 3-0-23-0 (w2), Louis 8.2-1-23-4 (w4), Hodge 9-1-32-2 (w3), Carty 1-0-5-0 (w2), Martina 10-0-36-1 (w2), Hingorani 8-0-32-1 (w1)

Leeward Islands innings

R. Powell b Smith 2

M. Hingorani (Hetmyer/ Savory) 26

D. West lbw b Baldeo 5

K. Carty c Hetmyer b Baldeo 7

A. Hodge b Baldeo 0 J. Clarke LBW b Sankar 10 J. Louis c Hetmyer b Ramcharran 29 S. Martina c Ramcharran b Waldron 14 K. Scott b Sankar 8 A. Joseph c&b Ramcharran 8 Archibald not out 0

Extras: (10w, 3nb, 2b, 2lb) 17

Total: (all out; 42.2 overs) 126

Fall of wickets: 1-2,28, 3-22, 4-22, 5-60, 6-64, 7-84, 8-99,9-126-10-126

Bowling: Smith 3-0-15-1 (nb3), Baldeo 10-4-15-3 (w1), Paul 5-1-19-0 (w2), Ramcharran 6.2-1-13-2, Sankar 10-0-292, Waldron 8-1-31-1 (w2)

Kemo Paul on the attack during his innings (Photo: Rajiv Bisnauth)

Pepsi Hikers are the male champions of the annual Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey Championships

Ramnaresh Sarwan Clayton Lambert