saturday, july 13, 2013 |
Residents of several communities along the East Coast Demerara and in Georgetown have been advice that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc will disrupt the supply of electricity temporarily to facilitate the major upgrade at the Sophia 69 kV Substation, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
According to a GPL release, customers powered by the Sophia sub-station are asked to prepare for a disruption of service on Sunday from 08:00h to 17:00h. This is to facilitate the connection of existing and new equipment at the upgraded Sophia sub-station, where work has been proceeding in a live environment; a planned shutdown of the sub-station will be required. This is unavoidable and a necessary requirement to ensure the safety of the construction workers.
Consequently, customers in the following areas will be affected by the power outage: East Coast Demerara be-
tween Liliendaal and Bygeval , Bel Air Village, Gardens, Promanade, Springs and Park, New Haven, Sophia, Lamaha Springs and Park, Congress Place, Lamaha Gardens, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, South Ruimveldt Park and section of GuyHoc Park, Vlissengen Road between Lamaha and North Road, section of Laluni and Lance Gibbs streets, Church Street between Vlissengen Road and New Garden streets, Camp Street between Lamaha and New Market streets, New Market Street between Camp & East streets, part of Thomas Street, North Cummingsburg and Sophia Exhibition Complex. This exercise is part of the modernisation of the Sophia sub-station under GPL’s massive Infrastructure Development Programme (IDP) aimed at improving the company’s transmission and distribution network across the country. GPL is currently implementing work under its
IDP which is a collaborative effort between the government of Guyana, GPL and the People’s Republic of China through a concessionary loan of US$38.96 million from the China ExportImport Bank (Eximbank). This amount is supplemented by US$3.9 million from counterpart sources for preparatory works, including route clearing, site preparation and backfilling to above 2005 flood levels.
The programme entails the construction of seven new 69/13.8 kV sub-stations, expansion/upgrade of three existing 69/13.8 kV sub-stations, construction of approximately 96 km of 69 kV transmission lines, including a link between the Demerara and Berbice interconnected systems, 2.1 km of submarine cable, the construction of a new central control centre with SCADA capabilities, and installation of 251 km of fibre-optic cable. Already, two new sub-stations at
Edinburgh, West Coast Demerara and Vreed-enHoop, West Bank Demerara, one expanded sub-station at Kingston, Georgetown and 14 km of interconnecting transmission lines with fibre-optic cable were constructed and commissioned during November/December 2012 and are in service.
Work is currently proceeding on the construction of the remaining five new sub-stations at New Sophia, Good Hope, New Georgetown, Columbia (Mahaicony) and Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, two expanded/ upgraded stations at Sophia and Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, the central control centre and 80km of interconnecting transmission lines and fibre-optic cable. The project is expected to be completed by December 2013. Once again, GPL apologises for any inconvenience that will be caused by this disruption as it continues to strive to provide a consistent supply of electricity to customers.
Buxtonian businessman Morris Wilson and his wife, Jocelyn, will be hosting a programme to commemorate the first anniversary of a monu-
ment, which was erected on August 3, 2012, in the East Coast Demerara village.
The monument was erected in memory of the killings of more than 400 Guyanese, who died during a spate of violence during the early 2000s. The monument is situated obliquely opposite to the Tippery Hall at Buxton Middle Walk.
In a release, the Wilsons stated that they have concluded arrangements for the programme which will be held on August 3, at the monument site. There will be the unveiling of plagues bearing the names of those who lost their lives.
Among those expected to attend the ceremony are government and opposition parliamentarians, and members of the diplomatic corps. Addresses will be delivered by Opposition Leader retired Brigadier David Granger, and Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member Dr David Hinds.
Later in the day, the Wilsons will also be co-hosting a one-day international symposium to mark the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Slave Rebellion. The forum, which will also be held in Buxton, will focus on the prospective economic ventures to undertake in order to further empower descendants of slaves in Guyana and around the world.
Additionally, the Wilsons will be supporting all the organisations in Buxton that are mounting emancipation activities on August 1. At the unveiling of the monument last year, Wilson said that he wanted to properly honour the victims who died during the period of violence in the early 2000s.
More attention to region’s youths needed
atin America and the Caribbean, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Deputy Regional Director Esteban Caballero believes more attention should be paid to adolescents and youths, as policymakers seek to address teenage pregnancy.
He expressed these sentiments in keeping with the theme for World Population Day 2013 – “Focus is on Adolescent Pregnancy”.
Caballero was at the time addressing member states at the 16th meeting of the Monitoring Committee Development and Cooperation Committee of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean on Thursday, at the International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.
He said the Latin American and Caribbean region offers opportunities that can advance the population and developmental agenda. However, efforts must be intensified to secure funding for the basic sexual and reproductive health services, as well as to improve their quality.
This, he believes can stem the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in the region.
“The region is working to develop more inclusive systems important to identify excluded populations, make them more visible through demographics, and define their social, cultural profiles [such as] in the case of indigenous peoples and their populations living in situations of vulnerability,” he explained.
Aside from the vulnerable, attention must also be paid to the characteristics of adolescents, urban populations and those affected by natural disasters, Caballero outlined.
“Since there has been no regulatory framework, as seen in the other areas, there is a need to strengthen youth policies and overcome legal barriers facing adolescents in accessing sexual reproductive health services.”
The deputy UNFPA regional director explained that the population dynamics facing the region is much more complex and direct than before, adding that “The global fertility rate is approaching the replacement level and levels below replacement are projected in the coming years”.
He pointed out that the most poverty stricken households are those with greater child and adolescent caring responsibility, with fertility rates that are often not those desired by women.
Meanwhile, Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster
said World Population Day is one in which the various issues affecting a country’s population are highlighted.
She noted that “International development partners and multilateral institutions need to pay attention to this as the people themselves who are affected by different issues throughout our world”.
Policymakers need to look at ways in which the global community can make positive and direct impacts on the lives of their peoples, Webster added. Referring to the theme for World Population Day 2013, Webster said, “at the Caribbean Forum on Population Migration and Development which was held over the past two days, there was comprehensive dialogue on this issue and recommendations have been made”.
In his message in observance of the day, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, “When we devote attention and resources to the education, health and well-being of adolescent girls, they will become an even greater force for positive change in society that will have an impact for generations to come.”
He encouraged that, “On this World Population Day, let us pledge to support adolescent girls to realise their potential and contribute to our shared future.” In 1989, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme recommended that July 11 be designated by the international community as World Population Day, as part of efforts to focus attention on the urgency of population issues in the context of overall development plans and the need to find solutions for these issues. The UN’s aim on the day this year, is to raise awareness on adolescent pregnancy in the hopes of delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Countrywide:
Winds: Easterly at 2.05 to 2.68 metres per second.
High
Low Tide: 01:04h and 13:28h reaching minimum heights of 0.68 metre and 0.66 metre respectively.
By Whitney Persaud
Contractors are like-
ly to miss the August 31 deadline for completion of works at the northern relief channel at Hope/Dochfour, East Coast Demerara, Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said on Friday. Ramsammy made the comments during a visit to the construction site. The minister was accompanied by members of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources. He advised by the team leader of CMON/ SKRN Engineering, Raymond Latchmansingh that there have been a number of technical challenges
– some weather related –which caused the setbacks.
Dr Ramsammy said the structures are dependent on each other, and as such, it will take some time before the works can be completed and ready to take on the draining and irrigation issues that face the East Coast of Demerara.
“The bridge is 74-75 per cent completed at this stage, the road is still to be built and that is the main part to be completed. The bridge will be completed by year-end and honestly, the August 31 deadline will be surpassed,” the minister explained.
Challenges
Dr Ramsammy said the canal and dam will be completed, but there is a small amount of work still to be done at the site. The minister said while he would have wanted to see greater progress on site, much has been done, given the challenges the team on the ground would have been experiencing in terms of technicalities and rain.
He assured that the $3.2 billion project is not facing any financial constraints and there would be no need for the ministry to approach the Parliament for any supplementary funds during the latter part of the year.
“The total of contracts
amounted to some $3 billion, and we do not anticipate any change in that,” he added.
A Partnership for Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon, in an invited comment, said he was pleased with the works at the site and lauded the local contractors, workmen, and engineers for the progress made so far.
“They are young Guyanese engineers who are very enthusiastic about what they are doing. I believe this is something that endears the project to us all as Guyanese. This project was rocky from the beginning, but the fact of the matter is, it has already started and has gone a long way,” he said.
Harmon said it was good to know that locals were getting the job done and foreigners were not involved in the actual ground works, even though they have played a part in drawing up of plans, etc.
The APNU representative said the only other thing left to do was to ensure that quality works is being done on site and taxpayers are getting value for money.
“We have been given assurance that the project will not have cost overruns, and we have also been assured that the only challenges faced by the contractors are those of technical nature
and also the weather,” he said.
“The workers are doing an impressive job on site, despite the fact that the deadline must be extended for completion of works at the head regulator, the bridge, and the outfall.
“I believe that contractors must work day and night, I have asked about lighting for the construction areas, and I think that they should be working day and night to ensure that the deadline will see works being completed as is being said,” he added.
Coordination Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Trevor Williams, who was part of the team that visited the site, said the coordination between the contractors on site was very commendable.
He also expressed satisfaction at the fact that the workmen and young skilled Guyanese were getting the job done, despite the setbacks that have already occurred. He added that although there have been assurances that no more monies will be requested to complete the project, the AFC would always support a call for a justified amount of funding for a developmental project. (whitneyp@guyanatimesgy.com)
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is investigating sand mining activities on a private property in Sand Hills, Demerara River following objections brought to the ministry by
residents of the community. As such, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud has directed the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission
(GGMC) to issue a cease work order to all parties pending a thorough investigation and satisfactory outcome. This matter is also engaging the attention of the court and the cease work order will be enforced by the commission until such time.
Meanwhile, the GGMC is again urging members of the public to report illegal sand mining activities to the commission or the nearest mining station.
Editor: Nigel Williams
Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134
Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown
Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com
Less than a week after the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government (HoG) met and “re-enacted’ the inaugural 1973 signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, our Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues signed the agreement that made Guyana an associate member of MERCOSUR – the “Common Market of the South”. While the chronology of the events might have been coincidental, the dynamics behind the MERCOSUR move have been accelerating while those of Caricom have stagnated.
In our editorial earlier this month, “MERCOSUR and trading blocs”, we supported the new direction being charted and we congratulate the government for formalising it. What was disappointing about the Caricom meeting was that, even in the face of an impending crisis in their economies, the island territories were still unwilling even to hit the “reset” button to move out of the “pause” mode into which the goal of completing the Common Market and Single Economy (CSME) had been placed two years ago.
On the other hand, MERCOSUR is being reinvigorated at the initiative of its largest members Brazil and Argentina, which have the wherewithal and the motivation to take their grouping to new levels – eventually to the form of a South American bloc expressed by UNASUR – “Union of South American Nations”. As a colony of Britain, we had remained fixated on the historical colonial ties with the Caribbean and turned a blind eye to the more natural geographical logic of the synergies inherent in a continental integration movement. We have now taken a significant first step in rectifying that oversight.
The report just submitted by the team on the project to complete the Lethem-Georgetown Highway, which would end in a deep-water harbour, is part of the overarching integration goal of linking all the countries of South America. There can be no integration of any type – social, economic or political – without transportation between the separate entities being facilitated. We can compare the enthusiasm of Brazil with completing that highway against the deadlock we have reached in Caricom on the transportation front. Even though transportation was one of the major issues that was supposed to be resolved at the HoG meeting in Trinidad last week, absolutely nothing was proposed to break the present impasse in that area.
We are not suggesting that joining MERCOSUR will be any kind of panacea: as with any integration movement there will be problems over specific initiatives. But we will be spared the single most debilitating factor that prevented Caricom from fulfilling its early promise: the petty insistence by leaders on refusing to see integration as a win-win situation. As far as Guyana is concerned, there were definite concerns that underdeveloped territories like Guyana would develop inordinately because they were better endowed with natural resources. Within MERCOSUR we will be a midget whose growth will threaten no one.
As an “associate” member, Guyana (and imminently, Suriname) will join Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru which can join free-trade agreements but remain outside the bloc’s customs union. If however, Guyana desires to become a full-fledged member as Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Paraguay and Uruguay are, it will have to renounce other free-trade agreements such as Caricom, or bring them into tariff compliance with MERCOSUR. It has been suggested that Guyana might become a bridge through which the entire Caricom might become members of MERCOSUR.
MERCOSUR has the potential to be a counterweight to the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA) and has been explicitly pushed by Brazil to perform this role so that the historic dependency relations of the former to the latter are not replicated going forward. Our contiguity with Brazil and Venezuela also offers unique opportunities for increasing our trade with MERCOSUR, but with significantly, those countries – as the contracts for our rice and paddy have demonstrated. We should learn from our unfortunate experiences with Caricom that upcoming initiatives, such as the suggested transportation linkages, must not be allowed to languish.
Dear Editor,
I take my hat off to Asiyah Mohammed of the Tuschen Deaf Academy, the winner of the finger spelling bee competition that was sponsored by Courts. We need to realise that spelling bees fulfil many functions and play very important roles in schools. They provide a form of competition for stu-
dents who may not get that in other avenues. They can also give students a sense of achievement, and this is so vital to their psychological development. When students suffer from low self-esteem, their progress is very slow, and just being a part of a spelling bee can help them to do some self-boosting. We all know that spelling
bees help develop vocabulary and an understanding of the English language that cannot be obtained from the computer. That is why we must keep pushing spelling bees.
Spelling is important because it also aids in reading. It helps cement the connection that is shared between sounds and letters. Spelling and reading
also have a common factor, that of proficiency with language.
On the other hand, bad spelling gives others a bad impression. Punctuation errors often go unnoticed, but everyone notices spelling errors. They are there to be seen when we write.
Yours faithfully, Sally Wintz
Dear Editor,
Again, proactive work by lawmen paid off. The police, during a recent patrol exercise in Georgetown, arrested a man with an illegal gun. Now what is really a gun crime? The term gun crime is used to describe the act of committing a criminal offence by using a gun, but there is more to it here and elsewhere. Gun laws also
make it illegal to carry a gun without a proper licence, even if the weapon is not used. Accusations of gun crimes are extremely serious. Charges of firearm possession or gun possession, or the handling of illegal firearms and illegal weapons, can result in a minimum prison sentence of five years.
Where do people like this man get guns from?
This is where the law must press home a very good advantage. I would have no qualms to keep this fellow in prison, before trial too, until he says where and who, as regards this weapon. There seems to be a lot of credence to the rumour that Guyana has gun lords. This man, who was arrested, is now with the police and the investigations are ongoing. There have
been too many armed robberies of late and a message must now be sent – nothing should be taken lightly in this area of criminality. I see illegal possession of guns as intentions to rob, maim or kill. No wonder in some countries, the penalty is very harsh. Guyana needs to follow suit.
Yours sincerely, Raymond Gardener
Dear Editor
I am never surprised when I read that results in the English Language are on the decline, and at every level too. This is the sad story all through school and unto university. It leaves me
to ponder a reason for this constant happening.
My contention is that we do not acquire the official language, the British standard, but have to be taught it here in Guyana. We naturally produce what
we have acquired, and this of course is the Guyanese Creole. Guyana, in many ways, is really a bi-lingual country.
The Creole, with plenty of similarities to the English, is juxtaposed to
and in immediate contiguity with English, and hence the problems. It is time to start teaching English Language as a second language.
Yours faithfully, Damien Glasgow
send your
Dear Editor,
There is a noticeable effort to bring more safety to Guyanese and I feel that a good word is in order for the Ministry of Home Affairs in this vein. Along the lines of safety, liaison officers and executives of the community policing groups (CPGs) were engaged in a leadership seminar, specifically focused on community policing, seeking to make these volunteers efficient. Also they were able to share their ideas, concerns and suggestions on a number of related issues.
I support anything that will enhance the safety of people in Guyana along the lines of being able to sleep peacefully at nights. I am not even thinking big crimes as yet. Many villages are being bothered by acts of petty thieves, and I see all of this as quite preventable. The members of most CPGs have their pulse on what obtains in many of their villages. If they can keep a close tab on suspects, then it will go a long way towards discouraging these people from committing their many annoying crimes.
The list of activities is quite long too – stealing household items from people’s yard, breaking and entering cars and other vehicles, fetching off plants, and even items from kitchen gardens, among others things. All that is required is that
villagers be civic and as soon as these petty crimes are committed, find out who is selling what and to whom. From here on, the police can take it over.
The next thing is that we must move from mere CPGs to integration into the force. In Afghanistan, there is a good example of what I am talking about. Interested people first complete a 10day basic training course, allowing them to function as peace officers. They then work alongside the police in their country, very similar to what is happening here with our policing groups, but only in a more rigid manner. Then after three years of this on-thejob training, these now very experienced workers have the choice of converting to full members of the police force. All that is required is that they go through a three-week continuation course, taught by the country’s Police Training and Advisory Team. Guyana can come up with something like this.
In Guyana, the CPGs are met with a kind of hesitancy and with reasons too. First, they are not really empowered to do a lot, and their presence, many times, does not come over with authority and professionalism. Also, many of them do not enjoy the public trust for simple reasons like abuse of vehicles and setting poor ex-
amples publicly.
In Malaysia, the country’s inspector general of police has just approved an application to set up an auxiliary police unit to improve security at the council-owned buildings and court complex in the city. However, the approval does not extend to allowing the auxiliary police to patrol residential areas, because the duties of the police and auxiliary police team would clash when patrolling residential areas. Here it is the reverse I am thinking of having our full fledged cops in the high-risk areas, and if and when we have auxiliary officers, we deploy them to places where lighter duties are required.
Look what is happening now in Berbice. I get the impression that there are professional gangs and they carefully plan when and how they will operate. On one day alone, two big heists were committed, and this is now a pattern.
I am imagining that if the area had an auxiliary force, then a quicker reaction would have been possible. Also, this move will allow for faster communication and a better response from villagers. I just know that whatever we do, we need to stop burglary by all means.
Yours faithfully, Karen Sommerset
Dear Editor,
It is a healthy sign and it proves that Guyanese are daily enjoying a better quality of life. Some 160 persons just graduated from several six-month Information Technology (IT) courses, all done in Region Six in collaboration with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).
If we are talking globalisation, IT has not only brought the world closer together, but it has allowed the world’s economy to become a single interdependent system. This means that we can not only share information quickly and efficiently, but we can also bring down barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries. Literally, in terms of information, we have the world right at home. That is why the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme is so vital. It is and must always be in tandem with IT training.
When we think communication, IT has helped to
make communication cheaper, quicker and more efficient. We can now communicate with anyone around the globe by simply text messaging or sending of an email for an almost instantaneous response. The Internet has also opened up direct communication from different parts of the world, thanks to things like video conferencing. In fact, Skype is such a big hit these days. Government has been financing the programme through GuySuCo for the past 19 years. The regional chairman for Region Six quite rightly pointed out that it brings people of different backgrounds and ages together, so that they can interact and share ideas. Actually, the estate conducts two sets of courses each year, and thousands of persons have thus far benefited since the early 2000s. Now with laptops and Internet, I see a far better life for everyone.
Yours sincerely,
Walter Cumberbatch
or letters@guyanatimesgy.com
Dear Editor, There is a raging controversy as regards Trafficking in Persons (TIP) here in Guyana. The U.S. and Canadian envoys have both opined in the negative where the country is concerned. But the government
has indicated that it cannot understand why Guyana continues to be placed on the tier two watch list of the recent U.S. State Department report on trafficking.
The government’s position is that unfairly downgrading Guyana in the report helps to create a negative image that could affect the flow of investors to this country. Many other developing countries are erring, but yet not singled out.
Yours truly, Haresh Gobin
Dear Editor,
I remember reading about a hotel doing something that was grossly irritable and I am now reading about a police station that is doing the same. One person is claiming that for over one year now the Wales Police Station has been allowing water to go to waste, by having their black tanks overflow day and night.
Apparently, reports were made to the Guyana Water Inc (GWI), but it looks as if the matter is one for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) at its Wales Estate to look into. The question is not just which is the responsible agency is, but the matter of wasting water should not be tolerated.
The first issue I was re-
ferring to was a hotel on the East Coast Demerara. In this case, black tanks at the back of building are overflowing all day and night.
In fact, the overflow has created quite a gutter across the road. This gutter is ever expanding and now driv-
ers have to be careful when going across. GWI knows about this and nothing has been done. Water is precious and should not be wasted.
Yours truly, Camille Drifield
Dear Editor, The just concluded ad-hoc over-40 softball cricket tournament caught my attention. Now why can’t there be a few more tournaments like this one? Matches are quickly completed. In addition, softball cricket is safe and all that the players need are playing suits and a bat. There should be more softball cricket in Guyana. It is fun-filled and would provide a nice form of recreation for the family.
In Canada, the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) is planning to send a team to Guyana for the tour-
nament called the “Guyana Softball Cup 2013”. This tournament is scheduled to run from November 8-10, 2013. It seems as though we are not on top of things here. I would have expected a few more games, so that we can put together a good team. I also hope for some media reporting, even up to some live commentary. Here locally, we have the Guyana Softball League (GSL) and it used to organise many tournaments countrywide. I am so sorry that there is no more of the GT&T 10/10 competition,
but I am sure that with some extra effort, this competition can have new sponsors and supporters. Hundreds of teams used to take part. We cannot allow this kind of start to fall away. The games used to attract vast crowds too. I recall also a 10/10 tournament, held in Essequibo, that had some 64 teams competing. We can do with a lot of softball cricket in Guyana. We can do also with the presence of many former players.
Yours respectfully, Amar Khaleed
re achy legs keeping your child awake at night? He or she may have growing pains. Growing pains are cramping, achy muscle pains that some preschoolers and preteens feel in both legs. The pain usually occurs in the late afternoon or evenings. But it may cause your child to wake up in the middle of the night.
Growing pains usually start in early childhood, around age three or four. They tend to strike again in children aged eight to 12.
Causes of growing pains
Despite the name “growing pains,” there is no firm evidence that growing pains are linked to growth spurts.
Instead, growing pains may simply be muscle aches due to intense childhood activities that can wear your child’s muscles out. These activities include running, jumping, and climbing. Growing pains seem to be more common after a child has a particularly full day of sports.
Symptoms of growing pains
Growing pains are different for everyone. Some children have a lot of pain, others do not. Most children do not have pain every day. Growing pains can come and go. They may be experienced for months or even years. Most children outgrow growing pains within a few years.
The pain is usually felt in the late afternoon and evening, right before dinner time, and at bedtime. The leg pains may hurt so much that they may wake your child from sleep.
If your child seems perfectly fine in the morning, don’t be quick to
think he or she was faking. Growing pains disappear in the morning. They usually do not interfere with the child’s ability to play sports or be active.
In general, growing pains are felt in both legs, especially in the front of the thighs, back of legs (calves), or behind the knees.
Studies suggest that children who have growing pains may be more sensitive to pain. Children who have growing pains are also more likely to have headaches and abdominal pain.
How are growing pains diagnosed?
A doctor can usually diagnose growing pains by examining your child and asking questions about his or her medical history and symptoms. It is important to rule out any other possible causes of the pain before making the diagnosis of growing pains. This is why it is important to see the doctor if you think your child has growing pains or any limb pain. If your child has growing pains, the doctor will not see anything abnormal during the physical exam. Blood work and X-rays are usually not needed in this case.
How are growing pains treated?
Treatment of growing pains depends on how much pain your child has. The following things may ease discomfort and help your child feel better:
Massaging the legs.
• Stretching the leg muscles. This may be difficult for younger children.
• Placing a warm cloth or heating
pad on the sore leg. Be careful not to burn the skin and do not use during sleep.
If the pain does not get better, ask your health care provider if it’s OK to give your child an over-thecounter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Ask about the appropriate dose for your child. Never give aspirin to a child. Aspirin use in children has been linked to a life-threatening disease called Reye’s syndrome.
When should I call the doctor?
When deciding whether to call the doctor, it’s important to remember that growing pains are almost always felt in both legs. Pain that is only in one leg may be a sign of a more serious condition. Call your health care provider if this happens.
It’s also important to remember that growing pains affect muscles, not joints. And they do not cause limping or fever.
Call your child’s doctor or nurse if leg pain occurs with the following symptoms. They aren’t symptoms of growing pains, but your doctor will need to examine your child and run tests: injury, such as a fall
• fever loss of appetite
• limping or difficulty walking
• rash red, warm, painful, swollen joints
• tiredness weakness
• weight loss
And of course, call your doctor if you have any other concerns. (www.children.webmd.com)
Before your family has a chance to say, “Mom, I’m boooored!” you can be ready with this list of great ideas. So, slather on the sunblock, grab your shades, and live it up this summer!
Go play!
Help your little ones make new friends
At the playground or at daycare, sometimes they need a little help meeting new people.
Master the jump rope Games, songs, twirling techniques – proof, once again, that the simplest toys can provide hours of fun!
Try ball games
When kicking, catching, and throwing grow old, don’t just toss the ball in the closet. Decorate it with markers, try to catch it with towels, or make up new rules for kickball.
Chill out with yoga
They’ll have fun trying to balance on one foot, and you’ll both get to take a few deep breaths!
Rock out with some musical toys
Let tinkling melodies and crashing drums be your summer soundtrack!
Have a blast with outdooronly toys
If you’re gonna say, “You children go play outside!” at least give them some awesome outdoor toys to play with.
Celebrate fathers!
Looking for ways to make Father’s Day (or any day) great for dad? Check out crafts, gifts, dinner ideas, and more.
Educate yourself about their video games
Got a video game junkie at home? ESRB’s ratings can help you buy the best games for his age.
Let them read graphic novels
Reading is reading, whether it’s a novel or the side of a cereal box. Just make sure you approve of the content! Bonus: struggling readers will benefit from the visual clues to the story.
Get fit with high-activity Wii video games
Wii your bootie! Up-off-thecouch Wii video games will have everyone in your family disco-dancing, snowboarding, and swinging light-sabers in no time.
Play on mom-approved web sites for children
Moms know the sites they trust the most, based on what the site allows and doesn’t. No surprise: you’ll find Sesame, Nick Jr, and Disney in the mix.
Rainy day indoor games
It’s raining and you’re all developing cabin fever. Stop the mass exodus to the TV with these fun indoor games.
Sign your children up for music lessons
They’re ready sooner than you think! If they’re ga-ga for guitars, and can focus on a task for 10-15 minutes, it might be the right time.
Play dress-up!
Every home is happier when it’s filled with unicorns, astronauts, dragons, and fairies! Let them surf the web
More than two hours is probably too much, but this study shows that Web surfing can improve communication skills and mental sharpness.
Savour the summer nights
Q: Is there anything better than spending a starlit summer night with your family, chasing fireflies and eating s’mores?
A: No. There isn’t.
Play make believe. A lot.
Take note: our children are professional magic-makers! Who else do you know that can turn a sandwich bag into a life preserver? See why imagination counts. Explore a museum Major museums are starting Family Art programmes. Find one in your area and tap into your inner Monets.
Play these stuck-in-thecar games
A sample: Run through the alphabet for a game of I Spy. Give them maps and make them co-pilots. Count everything: cows, trucks, red lights. Take off the clown nose, mom
Who says you have to be “on” 24/7? Summer free-time presents the perfect opportunity for them to learn how to entertain themselves.
Talk to each other! Who cares about what’s on the tube when you can talk to your children about what makes them laugh, or what they think the world will be like in 50 years?
Play in the dirt
Children as young as one can appreciate the dirt under their fingernails. Let them dig holes, sprinkle seeds, and man the hose! (www.parenting.com)
Today, Guyana and Suriname will sign a bi-national declaration as they pledge to address critical health issues plaguing their populations, with HIV/AIDS and the mobile populations top on the agenda.
The signing of this declaration comes one day after a high-level meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, with Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran, Surinamese Health Minister Dr Michel Blokland, Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud and Surinamese Health Director Dr Marthelise Eersel, along with other key health officials.
Health challenges
In the presence of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, the Surinamese health minister said his country stands ready to work with Guyana in addressing health challenges confronting both countries. He said this move is key to meeting the needs of Guyanese and Surinamese, in particular the mobile populations.
“We share a long history of collaboration on health. In the past, the focus has been on border health and particular on control of infectious diseases that can cross borders. Nowadays, we have broadened the agenda and share lessons learnt on our health-care service delivery system and on strengthening the health workforce.”
With focus on inclusive health-care, Dr Blokland said the government of Suriname has developed a strategic plan which places major emphasis on establishing a social security system. “A general health insurance for all is part of this with the aim to achieve universal health coverage and guarantee that everybody can exercise their right of access to health care.”
Inclusive health care has been on the agenda for many years, said Dr Blokland; however, progress was only
Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran (right) and his Surinamese counterpart, Dr Michel Blokland addressing a press briefing shortly after the opening ceremony of the high-level meeting at the
achieved a few weeks ago with the implementation of phase one of the major health initiative. The first phase entails the coverage of all individuals from one to 16 years and above the age of 60 years.
“Our concern with reaching individuals with healthcare extends to those migrants living and working in our country, many of which making a considerable contribution to our economy. The complex setting of the gold-mining areas and the lack of documentation of some of the migrants is making health-care delivery not an easy task. We have to be very innovative.”
Simultaneously, Suriname will continue to strengthen its primary health-care system.
“This government has given priority to district health development. We have started the construction of a district hospital in Albina, at the French border and we will start this year also with the construction of a hospital in the district of Wanica with the assistance of the Chinese.”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran said the bi-national collaboration has been in the making for quite some time and was pleased that the both countries have taken appro-
priate steps to address critical problems facing the mobile population. According to Dr Ramsaran, while Suriname and Guyana have been unable to verify data on the mobile population, it is critical that migrants living in both countries receive adequate health-care services.
In an effort to reduce the number of Guyanese patients flocking the neighbouring hospital in Suriname, Dr Ramsaran said that his ministry has boosted the operations of the Skeldon Hospital, noting that in past, only one doctor was stationed at the facility but today, three doctors operate there. According to the health minister, more Cuban trained Guyanese doctors will be dispatched to the facility.
Meanwhile, Caricom Secretariat Human and Social Development Directorate, Officer-inCharge Garfield Barnwell congratulated Suriname and Guyana for taking another step towards sharing epidemiological information and best practices as they strive to minimise risks from the constant migration
of their people.
Barnwell posited that while the countries and other Caricom nations given much attention to chronic and non-communicable diseases; HIV has taken prominence for the past 20 years.
“You all are aware of the tremendous risk faced by the region at the beginning of the 21th century. The Caricom sub-region had the highest incidence of HIV facing any sub-region, with the exception of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Economic potential
The economic potential of the region by every expert estimate was under serious threat. The threat of dissemination to the productive human resources was real. Twelve years later, this threat has been mitigated by the persistent work of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS.”
According to him, access to anti-retroviral drug across the region is a major contributing factor to the reduction of mortality from HIV, noting that coverage of those eligible has reached 50 per cent. “Also worthy of mention are the heroic efforts to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV. The region is at the point of achieving this goal.”
He said the unwavering dedication shown by Caricom health professions cannot go unnoticed in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
In addition to the mobile populations and HIV/AIDS, attention was also given to tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases. The high-profile meeting was organised by the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) Coordinating Unit, the German International Cooperation Agency and the local Health Ministry.
saturday, july 13, 2013 |
The remains of David Younge, 29, of 1 ½ Mile Potaro Road, Bartica, who died in an accident Thursday evening on his way to Tiger Creek, finally arrived at the Bartica Hospital mortuary on Friday afternoon.
Speaking with Guyana Times moments after his arrival with the body at Bartica, Phillip Younge, an uncle disclosed that his nephew lost a part of his face during the accident. He was reportedly pinned by the vehicle after it came to a halt.
He explained that his nephew was in the tray of the vehicle bearing registration number GPP 4727, along with six others. The others, he said sustained minor injuries and were removed from the location minutes after the fatal accident. The aggrieved man added that it took them a few hours to transport the body through the backdam, claiming that the trail is in a deplorable state. He explained that his nephew left his Bartica home on Thursday morning for Tiger Creek.
Younge added that they leant of the accident on Friday morning and immediately travelled up to the location where the accident occurred. The man highlighted that as he arrived on the scene, he looked at his nephew and realised that one side of his face was missing.
Rodack Jack, 27, of Cinderella City, Amelia’s Ward, who was also involved in the accident, has been admitted to the medical institution at Bartica. He suffered lacerations to the head and arm. He is due to be discharged this morning. A hospital source told Guyana Times that the injured men arrived at the medical institution about 23:30h, but none was seriously injured.
“They all had scratches and bruises about their bodies but were treated and sent away leaving Jack behind for observation,” she added. Attempts to speak with Jack proved futile.
According to reports, the motor vehicle in which the victims was travelling in was heading to Tiger Creek, Region Seven, and while climbing a hill, it encountered mechanical problems and started to roll downhill. This led to the driving losing control of the vehicle, resulting in it toppling several times before coming to a halt. The survivors were rescued by a truck which was passing through the area a few minutes after the accident. They boarded the truck and were taken to Bartica. At least five men were in the vehicle which was transporting goods and fuel to the interior location. The vehicle was reportedly over loaded. Investigations into the accident are continuing.
His arms and legs are also believed to be broken. He said that he was not sure the reason for his nephew not coming out when the others were brought to Bartica. Younge, he added had no children and was not married. He leaves to mourn his mother and several siblings. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to be performed on Monday.
saturday, july 13, 2013| guyanatimesgy.co2
Ataxi driver was on Friday charged with the murder of Victor Da Silva who, along with his employer, was attacked by gunmen Monday morning at Cowan and Water streets.
Joseph Williams, 27, also known as Joel or Joey, was arraigned before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was charged with murder. It was alleged that on Monday, July 8, at Water Street, Kingston, Williams murdered Da Silva and made off with $8 mil-
lion in cash, property of Cecil Gajadhar. The accused, who was unrepresented, told the court he resides at Lot 59 Gordon Street, Kitty and has three children. He will return to court on July 18.
The 72-year-old was shot about four times around 08:15h, while his employer, Gajadhar, the owner of Gajadhar Service Station, of Foulis, East Coast Demerara, sustained a gunshot wound to his face.
According to reports, the businessman had left his home around 07:49h and was pro-
ceeding south on Water Street when his Honda CRV was ambushed by two men, who were patiently waiting for the businessman by a koker in the area. They fired upon Da Silva and Gajadhar, after which they carted off the money.
After the attack, the businessman managed to drive his car into an alley between the Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company and Republic Bank Limited along Hincks and Robb streets. Gajadhar got out of the vehicle after it came to a halt and
threw a bag over the fence of the bank before collapsing from his injuries. A security guard from the bank took him to the hospital where he received medical attention.
Two bullets are still lodged in his head, one at his right temple and the other between his upper lip and nostril. A post-mortem examination done on the body of Da Silva Wednesday proved that Da Silva died from his multiple gunshot injuries.
The accused was refused bail and remanded to prison.
Man granted $20,000 bail for unlawful assault
Aman charged with unlawful assault was granted bail when he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday. It is alleged that on July
10 at Carmichael Street, Lennox DiAntonio unlawfully assaulted Andrew Grovesna. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
DiAntonio was represented by Attorney Paul
Fung-A-Fat, who stated that the defendant, a taxi driver, is from Grove, East Bank Demerara. A request for reasonable bail was made.
When Magistrate Azore asked the virtual complain-
ant if he would like to proceed with the matter, he said yes. There were no objections to bail and it was set at the sum of $20,000. The matter is set to return to Court One on July 18.
AU.S. appeals court upheld the conviction on Friday of a former leader of the Shiite Muslim community in Trinidad and Tobago for his role in a conspiracy to bomb New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport, Reuters News agency has re-
ported.
Imam Kareem Ibrahim, 68, was unable to sway the second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York to re-
verse the 2011 guilty verdict on terrorism-related charges or the sentence of life.
Prosecutors said Ibrahim provided religious instruction and support to the group planning the failed attack, which involved destroying buildings, fuel tanks and pipelines at the JFK airport. The federal appeals court said a jury was entitled to find Ibrahim and his co-conspirators guilty of planning to blow up the airport.
The ruling followed a decision in May upholding the convictions of co-conspirators Russell Defreitas and Abdul Kadir, who were found guilty in August 2010 and also received life sentences. A fourth man charged in the case, Abdel Nur, pleaded guilty in June 2011 and received a 15-year prison sentence.
Prosecutors said Ibrahim joined the plot in May 2007 after meeting with Defreitas and a confidential FBI informant in Trinidad. Ibrahim among other things gave them advice on avoiding attention by U.S. authorities, prosecutors said.
He was arrested in Trinidad in June 2007 and extradited to the United States. A jury in Brooklyn, New York, found him guilty in May 2011 on five terrorism-related counts. On appeal, Ibrahim’s lawyers argued their client’s testimony was improperly limited, that evidence seized from Kadir’s home should not have been admitted, and that there was not enough evidence to support his conviction. They also challenged his sentence as unreasonable.
But the three-judge appellate panel rejected all of his arguments and upheld the sentence. Michael Hueston, a lawyer for Ibrahim, said his client was considering whether to seek further appeal, including a petition for review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
...on trafficking
he now familiar war of words has broken out between the U.S. embassy and the government of Guyana over the contents of the latest Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. According to the government, it seems that no matter what it does, it isn’t enough to please the U.S. It keeps on getting threatened with sanctions due to lowered rankings.
The government says its input on its efforts against TIP – and on the state of TIP in Guyana – don’t get reflected in the report. The U.S. keeps insisting that the report is derived from a wide variety of sources and is very credible. The problem is, since it doesn’t cite those sources, it could be accused of cherry picking to deliver whatever outcome it chooses – depending on political rather than humanitarian concerns.
And this could go both ways. For instance, it’s been accused of going soft for years on China because of the clout that country had in the economic realm. Most recently –due to mandated requirements about how long a country may be kept on a non-complying “tier” – China and Russia have been downgraded. Let’s see whether the kind of threats made to Guyana will be hurled at those countries. But the most worrying concern about credibility has to do with the mote that the U.S. needs to take out of its own eyes on the question of TIP. Take, for instance, the accusations against the government of Guyana that it isn’t conducting enough prosecutions. Try looking up how many persons have been prosecuted in the USA – with its 300 million population. You just can’t get a number. Yet hundreds of thousands are trafficked into prostitution every year in New York and the other major cities. Just stand at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and watch the blondes coming off the buses from the Midwest.
The only numbers we were able to get on America was that in 2012, convictions were down to 138 from 151 the previous year. Imagine just 138 convictions!!! And we get rapped for our convictions because we only convicted one person back in 2010. Heck...that’s a better conviction rate by far than the U.S. But who’s going to pull them up???
We’re not saying that TIP isn’t a problem that must be combated. But the U.S. should be clear on its criteria, transparent on its sources, and fair in its application before it gives a country “bad name”.
We thought the new minimum wage policy enunciated by the government would’ve passed through the business community like a dose of salts – a bit uncomfortable but no lasting damage done and lots of commendable results. Well, one of our bastions of goodwill towards his fellow man, who’s a biggie in the security area, has complained that low-paying employers needed more time to clean up their act.
Well...maybe. But we’re kinda shocked that those guards had been making below the minimum wage rate in their long hours guarding those who could afford them. Personally, I wouldn’t be sleeping too soundly if I knew my guardian wasn’t even making minimum wages. How much motivation he’d have to throw himself in front of a bullet for me?
But TIP is also involved in this minimum wages business in the U.S. The United Nations protocol on TIP also includes persons who are trafficked for labour – not just prostitution. The U.S. has the largest number of these workers...quite a lot of them trafficked from right here in Guyana. What’s the U.S. gonna do about it? Nothing. And who’s gonna tell it otherwise?
We hope A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) resists the pressure from Alliance For Change (AFC) to blackmail the government on the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill. The AFC’s only hope of political survival is to trap APNU on this slippery slope for the country. The country must come first.
Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Corporal
Mtakatifu Mbukwa
Rodney, through his attorney has filed a motion against the military board for contempt of court after they refused to comply with the ruling of the acting chief justice to desist from imposing restraints on him while he is being held in custody.
Rodney of Paradise, East Coast Demerara, was arrested for allegedly being absent without leave (AWOL) last month and was placed in solitary confinement. He then filed a lawsuit against the GDF board for damages in excess of $60 million.
He accused the army of torture and inhumane treatment and deprivation of legal representation, while claiming that his constitutional right under Article 141 of the Constitution of Guyana 1980 was wrongfully and/or wilfully violated.
Conservatory orders
Rodney’s attorney, Saphier Husain, also filed conservatory orders asking that the military board be restrained from (a) holding Rodney in solitary confinement until the hearing and determination of the matter; (b) restricting the movements of the corporal for the purpose of defecation, urine and any other expulsion of waste and provide proper lavatory facilities while he is in custody; and (c) denying him visit by family and friends.
The orders were granted by acting Chief Justice Ian Chang on Wednesday last. However, the board has allegedly not complied with the CJ’s orders; hence, a motion for contempt of court was filed against the members of the GDF board by Rodney’s attorney.
Included in the list of respondents in the motion are: GDF Board Chairman, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and President, Commander-in-Chief and Defence Minister, Donald Ramotar.
Defence Board Chief-of-Staff, Commodore Gary Best; Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee; Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodriquez-Birkett; Finance Minister Ashni Singh; acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell; Presidential Adviser Gail Texeira; Secretary of the Board Roger Luncheon; and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, all of whom are also members of Guyana Defence Board.
In the motion, Attorney Husain is claiming that the members of the GDF board are likely to face imprisonment for not paying obedience to and/or disobeying the order of the court, which stated that the board should desist from restricting the movements of Rodney for the purpose of defecation, urine or any other expulsion
Tof waste and provide proper adequate lavatory facilities to the rank while he is in custody.
The legal document further stated that even though they were aware of the court order, the respondents disallowed visits from Rodney’s relatives and friends.
In the affidavit, the corporal said on June 4, he was on his way to Camp Ayangana when he was arrested by GDF ranks, one of whom had punched him to the jaw. He continued that he was told that he was absent without leave and was being held pending investigations.
Handcuffed
“I was handcuffed and placed in a cell with concrete walls on all four sides. The floor was also concrete at ground level. There was only one pigeon hole, the only means of ventilation and light. There was no washroom, no toilet facilities, no water or light. There was a mattress placed on the concrete floor,” the affidavit stated.
Rodney is claiming that he was given two buckets: one to urine and the other to defecate (which were never removed from the cell), and received basic food such as bread, water and sometimes rice. He added that his clothing was never washed since his arrest on June 4, nor was he allowed to shower. He further stated that he was taken to the doctor on June 8 and was prescribed Ibuprofen for pain, but was only given the prescription once.
The corporal continued that on June 13, he was taken out of the cell for a hearing of evidence during which he requested an attorney, but was denied. He also stated that during the entire time of his confinement, he was denied visits from family and friends and to some extent his attorney.
He is suing for $50 million for torture, inhuman and degrading treatment in accordance with Article 141 of the Constitution of Guyana. He is also claiming an additional $6 million for deprivation of liberty and contravention of Article 139, and a further $4 million for deprivation of the above rights (Article 139 and 141).
he Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation Tool (CCORAL) was launched Friday with regional countries hoping it will become another initiative that will result in meaningful progress in the battle to combat climate change.
The new initiative will promote climate smart development by helping to embed a risk management ethic in decision-making processes and is a seminal on-line support tool in keeping with the thrust to promote a culture of risk management across the region.
The CCORAL has been developed by the Belize-based Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), with funding from the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and the Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN).
Hurricane activity
St Lucia’s Public Service Sustainable Development, Energy Science and Technology Minister Dr James Fletcher, said that the launch was taking place as the region deals with the 2013 tropical Atlantic hurricane season which, according to scientific predictions, will see above-normal hurricane activity.
“Indeed, we are convened here a mere three days after the passage of Tropical Storm Chantal which, thankfully, caused relatively little damage and no loss of life,” he told the delegates from various donor agencies, as well as regional and international organisations, adding that hurricanes pose a regular and real threat to the region.
Fletcher said that recent studies have shown that for the last several decades, a significant increase in average hurricane wind speeds are expected to peak by around 2025 accompanied by increases in the number of Category Four and Five hurricanes, from the present average of 1.4 per annum, to a new annual average of three to four.
He said a study conducted by the University of the West Indies (UWI) projects an increase in rainfall during tropical storms and hurricanes. “This means that regardless whether we witness an actual increase in the overall number of hurricanes per year, we can expect, due to climate change, an increase in the severity of hurricanes and, therefore, an increase in the ability of these weather systems to inflict serious harm on our region.”
Fletcher, deputising for Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony, said the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography have reported that greenhouse gas concentrations in the earth’s at-
mosphere have crossed the 400 parts per million threshold.
“Those of us who have followed international climate negotiations over the last few years will recall that the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) has been calling for greenhouse gas concentrations to be stabilised at well below 350 ppm in order to allow our people the opportunity to advance and, in some cases, even exist as nations rather than be swallowed by the rising seas.
Seeming reluctance
He said given the “seeming reluctance” on the part of these richer countries to significantly reduce emissions, countries such as those in the region, already recognised as being particularly vulnerable to climate change, will clearly be under even more pressure to adapt.
He said these circumstances must be considered in the context of the conclusions of numerous national and regional vulnerability assessments conducted in the Caribbean that climate change will have a significant and adverse impact
on every productive sector.
“Studies point, for example, to the future inundation of a number of sea ports and airports across the region and some estimates point to the cost of climate change claiming as much as 21 per cent of gross national product (GDP) in some Caribbean countries by 2100.”
Fletcher said already, constraints such as geographic location, small size and open and relatively undiversified economies have colluded to render regional countries, particularly susceptible to external shocks.“Only now, climate change has superimposed another layer of risk as a result of sea level rise, elevated temperatures, changes in precipitation and more intense hurricanes.”
But he urged that CCORAL does not become an initiative that becomes an intellectual pursuit.
“All too often, in the region, we have invested tremendous time and effort in the development of very good policy instruments and then failed to implement them.
Further, our regional organisations have often been criticised for being ineffective or too slow,” he said insisting that the regional, and national response to climate change be undertaken in a scientific and logical manner that assesses and quantifies the respective risk elements and addresses them in similar manner.
The second phase of the project will entail in-depth training for country-level decision makers and Fletcher said it should include the private sector and civil society “because the responsibility for addressing climate change resides not only with our governments, but with all social actors”.
Special milestone
Earlier, CCCCC Executive Director, Dr Kenrick Leslie described the launch of CCORAL as “a a special milestone in our regional programme to address the issues of climate change”. He told the delegates that the Caribbean has always played a leading role in dealing with the issue and impact of climate change, and that the CCORAL allows it once more “to take the lead not only in the Caribbean but in the developing world”. He said he also hoped CCORAL would help in “the transformational change” the region envisages as he provide a history of the events that led to the establishment of the project from 2009. The launch also heard short messages from representatives of the Guyanabased Caricom Secretariat and CDKN. (CMC)
Private sector executives have reiterated a call for a transformation of the University of Guyana (UG) into a well-managed, well-financed, dynamic and professional institution.
Representatives of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Tuesday met with UG Vice Chancellor Dr Jacob Opadeyi and expressed support for a complete overhaul of the tertiary institution.
The business community articulated a desire to see the local university recognised as a hub for national research and development. The GCCI emphasised that the university should be transformed into a centre for producing a competent and qualified, skilled labour force, which meets the needs of Guyana’s rapidly evolving private sector.
The chamber shared its competitiveness manifesto with the vice chancellor, and expressed a desire to work with the university to help to lower the barriers to competitiveness that are identified in the document.
Dr Opadeyi discussed some of the initiatives being pursued by the university’s administration, and outlined some of the challenges currently facing the institution. The vice chancellor also proposed areas in which the institution can collaborate with the private sector to enhance the university.
Professor Opadeyi had long indicated a desire to work collaboratively with the private sector in developing the university since his appointment earlier this year. He noted that the
university’s administration will be aggressively engaging private sector organisations and civil society in an effort to garner support for the institution’s development.
Dr Opadeyi added that there was much work to be done to enhance the infrastructure and aesthetics at the university, adding that it was in dire need of financial resources. “We cannot rely on government alone, because this is a university of the world and we all have to do our part,” he said.
Since his appointment, the professor has confirmed that all is not well with the country’s premier tertiary institution, but he has insisted that his energies will be channelled toward ensuring that the present state of af-
fairs is remedied. Dr Opadeyi indicated that his administration is committed to and will be actively pursuing the improvement of the campus.
In recent years, the university has been plagued by many problems including a staff shortage, unqualified lecturers, deplorable infrastructure, inadequate classroom space, and poor campus security.
Students, staff, and unions have been repeatedly complaining about the state of the university and the lack of effort on the part of past administrations to deal with the pressing issues.
In April 2012, the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) took industrial action, spending several weeks in protest of a severe staff shortage, inadequate facilities, lack of funding, and the inability to attract qualified professionals.
Unpaid contributions
About two weeks ago, the association again began a sit-in exercise over unpaid contributions, untimely payment of salaries, and a slew of other issues affecting the effective functioning of the campus. The unions believe that the ad-hoc, unplanned approach of relevant authorities to the university’s governance continues to have a negative impact on the functioning of the campus.
Dr Opadeyi has, however, pledged to continue making representation on behalf of the unions to the education and finance ministers. The vice chancellor also provided an update to the unions about the university’s outstanding liabilities, revealing that the institution is on the “verge of a collapse”.
Some people does get problem wid every body. When people get problem wid every body, every body can’t be wrong all de time. Is just like some people who does get into problems anywhere dem wuk, or any place dem go to, or wid all dem friends. All de friends can’t be wrong all de time. Old people seh when people stay like that, is dem is de real problem.
De other day Freedie Kissmansoon had want a free pizza. That is what he call academic freedom. Every ting he want must be free. Every body who know de Man Kisser know that he don’t like pay fuh any ting. So he turn up and mek problems at de pizza place pun Camp Street, and then turn round and write up de owner in de only paper that would publish all de gutter stories...de mud paper. So was sheer problems wid de Man Kisser fuh free food.
Long before that, de Man Kisser had wanted a lotta books when he was in Canada. Is since then he never like to pay fuh any ting. So he decide to thief de books. When de Man Kisser come back to Guyana, he start de same thiefin at de UG library. As soon as de UG security find out, was sheer problems wid de Man Kisser fuh thiefin books. Now de Man Kisser want a free jeans. So he pretend that he goin to buy sum ting fuh he good wife pun Waterloo Street, then pretend that he vex wid de security. Is just sum ting wid thiefin people that dem never like security. But de Man Kisser still want to go back fuh de jeans another time. It gon be sheer problems wid de Man Kisser fuh free clothes.
Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Well, every body now on de look out to see what is de next free ting that de Man Kisser want. It gon be sheer problems wid de Man Kisser again!
The Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) has revealed that a community-based Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) approach is being introduced and at the facility level, the IMCI approach has been implemented countrywide.
In its five-year strategic plan 2012-2016, the commission said that while a small proportion of children account for a number of HIV cases in the country, there are several other factors which threaten children’s survival.
The commission noted that mother-to-child transmission has declined rapidly in recent years as a result of the free prevention of the mother-to-child transmission and an active anti-retroviral programme.
“Guyana’s immunisation programme is one of the successful programmes and the challenge is to ensure that these rates are maintained. The country, therefore, generally does not face a problem with vaccine-preventable diseases.”
However, the commis-
sion pointed out that the reduction of global funds to combat HIV/AIDS can place Guyana’s preventative programmes at risk.
In reporting on children’s rights to survival in areas of health, nutrition and sanitation, the commission found that the immediate causes of maternal and child mortality is largely preventable. “Children represent a very small proportion of HIV cases… but maternal and neonatal deaths are mainly associated with quality of care issues.”
Increasingly prevalent
According to the RCC, accidents, suicide and homicide become increasingly prevalent causes of death as children grow older. During its consultation, the commission recognised a need for increased data about HIV among children and young people and on HIV infection among children.
Stakeholders also discovered the need for greater efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS, tackle pregnancy among adolescents
and work to address youth sexuality, including access to condoms and adolescentfriendly services.
The commission also reported that mental health issues have been poorly acknowledged until recently and Guyana appears to have high rates of suicide and substance abuse.
However, this was not common among children although the loss of parents and caregivers to these ills can threaten child survival.
According to the commission, human resource constraints, shortages of medical equipment and information gaps have affected any type of intervention.
Guyana has high overall coverage of antenatal care, attendance by health professionals at deliveries and deliveries in health facilities.
However, there was a concern over the minimal quality of perinatal and postnatal care though recent initiatives to monitor maternal and neonatal deaths and improve perinatal information are promising.
“Disparities are evident
in health and nutrition outcomes and the services provided. In general, the disadvantaged groups of children and women are those in rural and interior areas, those of Amerindian ethnicity and those with low-level of maternal education and household wealth, but there are exceptions.”
It was discovered that Afro-Guyanese children have the highest rates of infant and under-five mortality and young children who are poor, Amerindian and living in the interior are better fed than others, though inadequate feeding is the norm for all groups.
The coastal and largely urban Region Four has the highest HIV prevalence while suicide is most prevalent in Region Six.
Gender disparity, wherever it exists, is largely in favour of females.
Also important is the finding that levels of household wealth and poverty influence almost all aspects of the realisation of children’s rights in Guyana.
The root factors influencing the realisation of children’s rights in Guyana are income, poverty and unequal access to services, unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change, emergencies and disaster management, social and cultural norms and values and the isolation and remoteness of many hinterland communities.
Some of the underlying factors such as migration patterns and teenage pregnancy are also relevant to these rights. Abuse and violence, nutritional status, substance abuse and knowledge and awareness were found to be other cross-cutting factors. Acute respiratory infection, vector-borne diseases and accidents are examples of immediate factors influencing child mortality and the realisation of the right to survival.
With Guyana making good progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of universal primary enrolment and reduced numbers of incomplete education,
the availability and accessibility of children to the right to education has increased.
The commission found that government programmes of universal school vouchers and feeding programmes for students in the lower primary levels have also helped in achieving these successes.
National policy
“Opportunities for recreation and for participation in national policy development and community dialogue are immediate factors influencing children’s expression, access to information and freedom of association which are key issues for the right to participation,” the commission found.
A number of priority areas and key strategies were identified by Rights of the Child (RCC) Commission as a means of fulfilling its responsibilities.
In its five-year strategic plan, the commission said it will need and support for interlinked strategies/priorities.
The National Training Centre for Persons with Disability, commonly called the Open Doors Centre, will be expanding its services within months, manager of the entity Arthur Lewis said.
Speaking with Guyana Times in a recent interview, Lewis said the disability centre is in the process of installing an Interim Management Committee (IMC) in keeping with recommendations made by Trinidad and Tobago, National Centre for Persons with Disabilities Chief Executive Officer Dr Beverly Beckles, who critically analysed the operations of the local centre.
Representatives will be drawn from the health and education ministries, the National Commission for Persons with Disability, the private sector, the Diamond and David Rose special needs schools and the Region Four Democratic Council.
Committee members
According to Lewis, the finalisation of the committee members will pave the way for the establishment of satellite programmes in Regions Two, Six and 10.
“Based on the needs assessment, we were able to realise that the number one priority lies within Region Six, Skeldon, so we are looking at setting up two programmes in Region Six, one at Skeldon and one at New Amsterdam, followed by Region 10 and close off 2013 with one at Suddie, those are the key regions.”
With assistance from organisations within the selected regions, the National Training Centre for Persons with Disability has already secured spaces for the establishment of their regional branches.
“We will not be taking the entire vocational package to these regions, but the skill areas that are essential to the regions,” Lewis explained.
With a student population of 34 at the Open Doors Centre at B Field Sophia, the facility offers four vocational courses such as information technology, carpentry and joinery, electronics and electrical installation and craft.
Expectations
“In those areas, we teach them not only the skills, but we teach them what some of their expectations are and what is expected in the world of work. So when they would have gone on, their attachment or gone out there in the world of work, the transitional period would be easy.” According to Lewis, similar services will be offered to the students of the branches.
Even as the facility awaits the installation of the IMC, the manager and team have begun to act on other recommendations put forward by the Trinidadian consultant during her visit in April.
Additionally, the Open Door Centre is in the process of boosting its staff complement with the acquisition
of permanent facilitators as against part-time employees. In April, Dr Beckles had lamented the importance of the placement of permanent staff. She had explained that the Open Doors Centre had a long list of vacant posts; a situation compounded by mostly part-time staff.
However, top on the long list of recommendations was the transfer of the facility from the Health Ministry to the Education Ministry, noting that under the latter, the centre will be better able to serve persons with disabilities.
She had also championed the cause for an improved transportation system to meet the needs of persons with disability. “How do we get people from Linden or New Amsterdam to the Open Doors Centre? How do you get people from Georgetown itself to the Open Doors Centre? ... I see no national transport for persons with disabilities in Guyana and that was one of the cry among most people,” Dr Beckles said as she questioned officials of the Health Ministry.
In Guyana, the Open Doors Centre is the lone organisation that provides vocational training for persons with disabilities. The facility is operated by three permanent employees with the majority of the workforce made up of part-time employees. With the mission to offer education and vocational training to persons with disabilities in the scientific, technical and commercial fields with the aim of providing employment, the Open Doors Centre was established by the Health Ministry more than eight years ago.
Transport Minister
Robeson Benn said government would not move to have the airport tax reduced by 10 per cent, in response to calls by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to do so.
Benn told the media on Friday that the idea was not feasible, given the fact that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is not in a profitmaking business and the investment that has to be made to have the airport expanded.
“I am not in favour of, and I would not be recommending, any lowering of any taxes. The taxes in comparison with other countries in the Caribbean are the lowest,” Benn stated.
According to him, there is only one place that has a difference in total taxes and airport fees in comparison with Guyana – Antigua. Depending on the price of the ticket, that tax can be lower than Guyana’s by two dollars.
Consolidated Fund
Benn explained that the money acquired from taxes goes to the Consolidated Fund and is often used for maintenance of all airport facilities across Guyana. He stated that the price of tickets relates principally to the availability of seats and the situation is that there are limited seats available during this peak season.
“There is a very high demand for seats. That demand under these circumstances outstrips the supply and given the nature of the
business, since seats are sold in blocks ahead, the closer you buy your tickets to the date of your intended travel, the higher the prices of tickets are,” the minister posited.
The minister said Guyana’s travel tax stands at 15 per cent and fixed terminal and security fee, US$25.
In other countries, the tax is around 17 per cent, especially for Jamaica and Barbados. Further statistics provided by Benn indicate that Suriname has the lowest tax fee of eight per cent, but its fixed terminal fee stands at US$66. Information was also provided on the current travel fares.
The base fare is US$300, the travel voucher tax US$45, passenger facilitation fee US$5, departure tax US$20, with the total cost for a ticket from Guyana to other Caribbean countries standing at US$370. The travel rates from other countries are between
US$368 and US$390. CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir noted that taxes are necessary to maintain the airport facilitued operation. Ghir also asserted that the CJIA is not here to make a profit, but to provide a service that form part of a larger service provided by the government. “So we cannot change the fees and increase as we feel like. Since 1984, we haven’t changed our landing fees,” he added.
APNU’s Joseph Harmon has suggested a reduction in airport taxes, by at least 10 per cent, to cushion the impact of travelling costs on the Guyanese travelling public, given the increase in international airfares. Harmon had said that Guyana has the highest travel voucher tax in the region. In a letter to Minister Benn, Harmon, asked the government to seriously consider dropping the travel voucher tax.
With only Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) flying the busy GeorgetownNew York route, there have been increasing complaints by passengers about the unusually high prices being charged for tickets.
Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali had called on Caribbean Airlines to review the current airfares, given the many complaints from the travelling public. Nothing has changed since, but plans are in place to have Fly Jamaica operate out of Guyana by the end of this month.
Eighteen persons from Canals Number One and Two Polders were recently sworn in as members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of their locale following the devolution of the neighbourhood democratic councils (NDCs) of the two areas on the advice of Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud.
At the swearing-in ceremony, at the Kawall Primary School, Canal Number Two on Wednesday, Minister Persaud pointed out to the members that having a position in public office can be challenging, but they must not stop doing what is in the best interest of the people. He also shared the NDC rules to them. Ten persons are from Canal Polder Two and eight from Canal Polder One .
“This requires commit-
ment and dedication and you have to be willing to give up yourself for the good of others… this doesn’t only require your attendance at meetings, it requires you interacting, interfacing and relating with persons within your constituency in the NDC,” Minister Persaud said, even as he urged that they utilise the NDC resources for their intended purposes.
“The NDC has no authority, none at all whatsoever to give anybody approval to occupy any reserves… NDC has no authority to sell any state land or attempt to sell it,” Minister Persaud highlighted. As he welcomed the new IMC members, Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber said, “It means you will have to give up your time… in getting the work done within your
various communities. You are now the village leaders. You are now the village fathers and mothers of the Canals Polder neighbourhood democratic council so
it’s expected of you to go out there and to perform in the interest of the people within your NDC.”
The Local Government Ministry had received sev-
eral petitions from the NDC, stating that for the past eight months they were unable to hold statutory meetings due to a lack of quorum.
the ministry subsequently placed a notice of inquiry in the newspapers; this was held on April 30 to determine residents’ views on the NDCs and the way forward. Principal Municipal Officer Nandranie Harricharan, supported by Floyd Patterson of the ministry, conducted the activity at which a large number of residents gave evidence. Following this, it was recommended that the NDC be dissolved. Subsequently, the minister consulted with the community groups and faith-based organisations prior to swearing-in the members. The main thrust of this initiative is to ensure that residents benefit from more efficient delivery of government services at the community level, a Government Information Agency (GINA) release said.
saturday, July 13, 2013 |
RK's Security Service chief executive
Roshan Khan is urging Guyanese businessmen to insure their employees as a precautionary measure in the event that there is an accident or killing such as the Water Street ambush.
Khan’s advice comes days after the death of Victor Da Silva and the robbery of his employer, Cecil Gajadhar, a popular gas station owner of Lot 18 Area H Foulis, East Coast Demerara.
The two men were robbed $8 million early Monday morning when their vehicle came under fire from two gunmen at Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown. Da Silva, 72, of Lot 10 Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara, received four shots to the stomach and died on the spot while Gajadhar was shot twice in the head, but survived.
Sole breadwinner
Khan, in a letter to this newspaper, said Da Silva was the sole breadwinner of his family and now they are left to “mourn and suffer”. “As the breadwinner, what happens to his family?” he asked while adding “most employers of gas stations and businesses do not insure their employees for death or accidental injuries”.
He further highlighted the instance where Gajadhar was recently robbed of over $4 million, noting that the businessman should have learnt from that incident.
Khan said he sympathises with his loss and death of his employee. “I am sure, that could he have turned back the clock, and hired an armed escort vehicle to ac-
company him, or used an armoured transport, he would do just that,” he said.
The security firm owner is advising businessmen and anyone transporting large sums of cash, to contract a proper security service, which is equipped with the personnel, the vehicles, insurance and expertise. Khan noted that a security service would have probably cost Gajadhar about $10,000 to
$15,000 for a safe and reliable transportation for his monies, which would have been insured.
“Any sums of money being taken to, or from a bank, or anywhere valued over $50,000 should be transported by an armoured taxi at least, which could cost just $1500 – $2000 for a short drop (with optional insurance), and larger sums with a full armoured truck.
“People have to be cautious, and realise that bandits are lurking at banking institutions, streets, and even one’s employees could help to set them up. For a few thousand dollars hundreds of thousands and millions could be saved and most of all, the most valuable to anyone… one’s life!”
Khan expressed his condolences to the family of DaSilva, while cautioning “people of Guyana, please be aware and care yourselves and your assets.”
Atractor operator is feared dead after he and friends went to swim in the Canje Creek on Thursday afternoon, but unfortunately, he never resurfaced after taking the first plunge.
Up to Friday, the search continues for Calvin Yearwood, 25, of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, who went to Berbice to visit his relatives three days ago. According to information received, about 16:35h on Thursday, Vonetta Burnham, aunt of the missing man contacted ranks of New Amsterdam Police Station, informing them that her nephew, Colin Yearwood came to Berbice to visit her about 10:00h on Thursday,
but left after spending a short time, claiming that he was going to visit a friend.
Additional information reaching the newspapers revealed that about 15:30h, she received a message that he went to Tucber Park, New Amsterdam, where he was seen swimming in the Canje River and suddenly started to struggle and then he disappeared. Two eyewitnesses reportedly told investigators that they were in the Nyabinghi Yard when they saw Yearwood, but spoke briefly to him and were told that he was going to take a bath in the Canje Creek.
They claimed that about 15:30h, they heard screams and rushed to the waterside
where they saw Yearwood in the creek struggling, and was about 30 feet from shore. In response, the two men jumped into the water with the intention of rendering assistance, but before they reached to Yearwood, he was submerged and disappeared.
Persons in the neighbourhood were alerted which led to the establishment of a search party, but after hours searching, the team came up empty-handed. The police and the search party continued their operations on Friday, but no one was seen. Attempts to speak with a relative proved futile. Investigations into the incident are continuing.
Police have been able to arrest and charge five persons, warned another six and conducted a series of raids, surveillance and patrols in response to the reports received through the On Line Crime Reporting System (OCRS), which was launched by the Home Affairs Ministry in October last year.
The programme is aimed at improving service delivery in the area of public safety and order. This initiative allows citizens who possess or have access to cellphones, computers and other Internet connected Information Technology (IT) devices to report crimes to the Guyana Police Force.
An analysis of reports from the OCRS for the period January 1 to June 30 revealed that 30 reports were made to the police by members of the public. According to a release by the Home Affairs Ministry, the Guyana Police Force continues to follow up reports made by the public and will engage the public to substantiate reports in order to fight crime with the strictest degree of confidentiality.
The Home Affairs Ministry continues to urge member of the public to make more use of the On Line Reporting System. Citizens who have witnessed a crime or have informa-
tion on a crime are encouraged to use their cellphones, BlackBerry devices, tablets and computers to send images, sound recordings, videos or text messages in making reports to the police.
Two men are in custody following the discovery of a quantity of elicit substance in separate police operations in the West Coast Berbice area on Thursday.
In the first operation, police acting on information, conducted a road block exercise at the Weldaad Public Road when motor car PJJ 8624, a silver Carina 212 was stopped and a search was carried out on the car and driver, Sherwin Morris and Alexander Mc Donald, a passenger.
During the search, a transparent plastic bag containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stem suspected to be cannabis were found
in Mc Donald’s front right side pants pocket. He was told of the offence, cautioned and arrested. He was subsequently taken to Weldaad Police Station along with the substance tested positive as cannabis which was weighed in his presence and amounted to one gramme. The driver of the car, Morris gave a written statement denying any knowledge of the substance.
Meanwhile, on Thursday about 22:15h, also on a roadblock exercise, police ranks intercepted motor car HC 1011, a silver motor car driven by Navin Wilson. Michell Ann Roberts and Troy Mussender, both of Number 28 Village, West
Coast Berbice were occupants of the car at the time of the operation. A search was carried out on the vehicle, but nothing was found. According to information, Roberts was observed acting in a suspicious manner, and was taken to Weldaad Police Station where a search was conducted on her person which led to the discovery of a quantity of leaves, seeds and stem suspected to be cannabis in her handbag. She was told of the offence and placed in custody. Subsequently, the substance tested positive as cannabis was then weighed in her presence and amounted to 24 grammes. She is in custody pending charges.
Four armed men on Thursday evening robbed and terrorised an overseas-based Guyanese at Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice carting off at least US$9500.
According to information received, the four men who were armed with a hand gun, shot gun, cutlass and knife respectively stormed the home of Sadesh Mangaldin of Lot 339 Ankerville, Port Mourant, Corentyne about 20:00h on Thursday evening. The men wore handkerchiefs masking the lower half of their faces.
Investigations revealed that Mangaldin arrived in Guyana from the U.S. on Saturday evening and stayed at his sister-in-law’s home at
Port Mourant, who reportedly gave him US$9500, which he kept in a black camera bag under his bed.
Additional information revealed that on the day in question, about 20:10h, the man was lying in a hammock under the house chatting with two friends when he saw one man armed with a handgun run into the yard. In response, he got up and ran upstairs and while there, he was confronted by another man armed with a cutlass who, dealt him two chops to his forehead and one to his left elbow and demanded that he hand over his money.
Fearful for his life after the first attack, Mangaldin reportedly took the armed men to his bedroom and
handed over the camera bag with the cash.
The bandit then took him to his sister-in-law’s bedroom during which they ransacked it for additional money. The two others remained with Mangaldin's friends under the house. After the ordeal which lasted for about three minutes, the bandits then joined their comrades downstairs and made good their escape on foot. A short while after the man’s sisteron-law returned home and was told of what transpired.
The woman, in turn took him to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was treated and sent away. The police subsequently visited the scene and took statements. Investigations are continuing. No one was arrested.
The parents of Shevon Venture who has been missing for 21 days are pleading with her to return home and reunite with her family at their Queenstown Village, Essequibo Coast home.
Her mother Roxanne Venture told Guyana Times that the teen has been missing for 21 days and would be grateful for her return.
The mother of three, said Shevon, her second child went missing on June 24.
The mother said she left home for work and when she returned home, her daughter was nowhere to be found.
The mother said her daughter had called her earlier on the morning on June 24, stating that she will be visiting her former school, Johanna Cecila Secondary, to return her textbooks.
The mother said she approved the visit. The saddened mother said when she returned home the evening, her neighbour told her that the teen left the house with a packed bag. The mother tried to call her daughter’s cellphone but got through only once.
saturday, july 13, 2013 |
Reigning Miss Guyana Universe 23-yearold Ruqayyah Boyer was officially sashed and crowned Miss Guyana World 2013 at the Pegasus Hotel on Friday in a simple yet sophisticated ceremony.
Boyer, who is currently pursuing studies at the University of Guyana, was crowned by young Sasha Devi-Bharrat, a representative of Irene Madray’s Recreational Arts and Resources Centre (IMRARC) and was sashed by 2006 Miss Guyana World Dessia Braithwaite.
Boyer was also sashed as an ambassador for the U.S.-based Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA).
asked if she has any family relatives in Linden, answered in the affirmative, but said she never introduced them to her daughter.
Roxanne said her husband Gavin Venture is crying constantly for his daughter. “My husband loves his girl children them, we want her home, we won’t be upset, we just want her home.”
The tearful mother said ever since the teenager disappeared, she was able to contact her once, with the teen saying that she is in Linden. The mother when
The mother said ever since the disappearance of her daughter, the peace of her house has been stolen. Contacts were also made with the teen’s former teachers, who said the textbooks were never returned.
The mother said she also received reports that her daughter was seen with a man. The mother said she made contact with the man’s employer and learnt that her daughter was not at the company. The mother is now appealing to the public to help in locating her daughter. Roxanne Venture can be contacted on telephone 6947430.
The Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Friday said it is concerned about government’s reluctance to renegotiate contracts with contractors and service providers in light of its new minimum wage and 40-hour work week policy.
In a statement, the body said it is gravely concerned over the recent pronouncements by Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul and his Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle about the acceptance by businesses of the new minimum wage and the portrayal in a negative light of those businesses which find it impossible to carry on with business as usual.
Minimum wage
“We emphasised in a previous release, the Private Sector Commission welcomes the new minimum wage and is of the opinion that it is a long overdue measure to bring relief to the lowest paid workers in the country. The Private Sector Commission was initially concerned that the notice period given for implementation was too short, but most businesses have put systems in place to comply. Our concern now is the reluctance by government to renegotiate contracts with its contractors and service providers to take into consideration the increase in the minimum wage.”
The PSC said it must be clearly understood that the increase in the minimum wage will result in increased costs for businesses, and at least some of those costs will have to be passed on to their customers if the businesses are to remain viable.
Increased costs
“As we have stated before, a concern for us is the possibility of the laying off of workers by businesses which are unable to meet the increased costs. The Private Sector Commission therefore calls upon government to consider renegotiating the affected contracts in a timely manner,” the release said. RK’s Security Service head Roshan Khan earlier this week had called for a renegotiation of his contract, threatening to lay off staff if this did not happen and also to terminate the contracts with government.
On Thursday, Dr Gopaul said the recently-introduced national minimum wage and 40-hour, five-day work week are not likely to change in spite of criticism from private employers.
The minister indicated that the government has noted concerns expressed by private employers, but remain steadfast in protecting workers, particularly nonunionised workers.
“The regulations will not change. Workers are entitled to and should bene-
fit from their hard labour. They no longer have to work 12 hours without overtime. Employers must respect employees’ hours. Beyond eight hours without pay is slavery and working for less than US$50 is unacceptable,” he said.
This is the first time in Guyana’s history that there is a national minimum wage for all workers, the minister said. Referring to an arbitration judgment by former Chancellor JOF Haynes, he noted that employers do not complain when things are bright, but always find excuses when faced with an increased wage bill.
The minister underscored the importance of the trade union movement to workers’ rights and urged that internationally, the movement support Guyana’s stance. He said many Guyanese garment workers are often exploited, as they are paid low salaries and work long hours even though the products are destined for sale in overseas big companies. Their employers and companies buying the garments, claim that their hands are tied by international competition. “Labour is valuable and all companies need to pay for it,” he said.
The national minimum wage and the new workweek became effective July 1.
The new Miss Guyana World was selected by the newly-elected franchise holder for Miss Guyana World, Natasha Martindale, who made the decision to opt for Boyer since she is already a reigning queen and was a finalist in the last Miss Guyana World Pageant.
It was after that pageant that Boyer attained the Miss Guyana Universe crown and represented Guyana at the Miss Universe pageant in the United States.
Speaking at the crowning, Boyer pledged her full commitment in every way possible to the country and CADVA. “I feel very fortunate to be bestowed with a second national title and
to be given the opportunity to represent Guyana once more in the international arena, this time for a cause that transcends any competition I have ever been a part of,” she underscored.
She expressed disappointment that the previous Miss World Guyana Arti Cameron could not be a part of the ceremony; however, she voiced pleasure in being crowned by Bharrat, a young girl diagnosed with a rare skin disorder, Lamellar ichthyosis.
She promised to be a “guiding light” for all those who wish to have their voices heard during her stint as
Miss World Guyana 2013. Boyer thanked her supporters. “I pledge to serve the people of my community as a humble citizen, my country as its goodwill queen, and the world within the diaspora with its many causes during my reign…with our national flag as a symbol of honour.”
Boyer is an advocate against gender-based violence; hence she decided to be an ambassador for CADVA. During her stint, she has joined forces with CADVA and by extension IMRARC. She will represent Guyana at the Miss World Pageant in Indonesia planned for September.
Government will continue with the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project, despite the severing of allocation in the 2013 Budget set aside to fund part of the project.
According to Works and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn, detail engineering works are being done with contractors and specialists working with his ministry, to refine the engineering aspect of the project.
Benn stated that field and laboratory works are also being done, but the heavy earth moving and other works have not started. “We are not stopping... we cannot stop doing the engineering refinements waiting on funds. We have to go ahead because we spent US$20 million on it already, which is about eight per cent of the cost. Either we let the money go down the line and forget about it. The question is whether Guyana needs this project or not,” he asserted.
Despite not having the funds to continue the project, Benn said his ministry will continue to do what is necessary to keep the project going. He noted that works cannot be halted, es-
Works and Hydraulics
Minister Robeson Benn
pecially if funds are made available in the future. The minister admitted that the budget cuts have caused a delay in works on the next phase of the project, noting that it has thrown a big spanner in the works.
“We anticipate that we would have been starting the removal of the vegetation, the digging of the pegas. There is very soft soil going northward of the airport and it’s a tricky engineering work to be done,” he added. China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), the contractor of the project, he said was expected to start some work in the meantime, but the
budget cut has caused the company to renege on its decision.
Construction of the new airport terminal is expected to be completed within 32 months. The geotextile work for the terminal building and taxi ways and a 1000 metre runway extension so far, have been completed. Feasibility studies and evaluations were done. Meanwhile, residents occupying homes on the outside of the airport are still to be relocated. The Housing and Water Ministry plans to relocate these squatters to Yarrowkabra, LindenSoesdyke Highway, where they hope to develop into a housing scheme. Some $250 million will be used to develop a new area for their relocation. There are close to 300 households that are currently dwelling on the outskirts of the CJIA. The CJIA Expansion Project also includes construction of a new terminal building, acquisition of eight boarding bridges, and installation of other state-ofthe-art equipment, such as elevators, escalators, and xray scanners, using threedimensional technology, along with flight information and security monitoring systems.
The average Dominican knows that when it rains heavily, it brings not only floods, landslides and increased fears for their safety.
Now, thanks to the increased rainfall in recent months, consumers with the island’ lone electricity company, The Dominica Electricity Company (DOMLEC) has announced a reduction in the rate of fuel surcharge leading to reduced electricity bills.
“For the last few months, we were looking at 40, 49, 42, 44 cents (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) but so far in June, we have noticed a 31 cents and July 33 cents, the lowest that we have seen in fuel surcharge since 2009,” said DOMLEC’s public relations officer, Adina BellotValentine.
The Dominica Electricity Company (DOMLEC) has announced a reduction in the rate of fuel surcharge leading to reduced electricity bills
AMexican man who was declared dead in 2010 has won an election for mayor in Oaxaca state, officials have said.
Lenin Carballido won the election in the town of San Agustin Amatengo after posting pictures of himself alongside slogans like “United for Development”.
However, police say Carballido’s family produced a death certificate in his name in 2010, when he was under investigation for a gang rape.
Prosecutors are now investigating whether he faked his own death.
His party, the left-
ist Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), said it had been fooled by the candidate and he would not be allowed to serve as mayor.
“When he registered as a candidate, he presented all his paperwork, his birth certificate, a letter stating he had no criminal record,” said the PRD’s Rey Morales.
“He fooled the prosecutors’ office, he fooled the office of records, he fooled electoral officials.”
Local media reported that the death certificate recorded his death of “natural causes” following a diabetic coma. (Excerpt from BBC News)
“It is attributed to the rain. For that last two months, we are realising about 40-44 per cent of hydro production. The rain has been helping,” she said, however, noting that while there rains have been helping push down the fuel surcharge, gas prices are continuing to rise.
two because as the price of oil goes up, we wouldn’t realise the savings that we would have, if we are using diesel.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to disconnect within the
As long as we are using diesel for the generation of fuel, we are going to have a fuel surcharge,” she said.
(Excerpt from Caribbean360)
Works and Local Government
Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan has accused his former colleague, Independent Liberal Party leader Jack Warner, of being a sexist over his statement about a “cabal” surrounding Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. He also said Warner’s popularity is fast fading because people are beginning to understand that he is a “spoiler” interested only in “selfish ambition for power”.
Speaking to members of the media after a visit to the Constutora OAS office at Golconda on Wednesday, after a site visit of the highway to Point Fortin project, Rambachan also accused the three councillors from the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation who defected from the People’s
Works and Local Government Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan
Partnership to join with Warner as being incompetent.
Earlier this week, the corporation’s vice-chairman and Valencia Councillor Lawrence Lalla, United
National Congress (UNC) councillor for Sangre Grande North-West Dayne Francois and Congress of the People (COP) councillor for Sangre Grande North-East Quincy Luces crossed the floor to the Independent Liberal Party (ILP). “Sometimes people mask their incompetence by trying to do something new... I think that is what happened,” Rambachan said of their decision.
“Those councillors were incompetent and they knew they would not be selected for the next local government elections, so they tried, as in local parlance, to take front before front take them.” Rambachan also defended the prime minister, saying Warner’s reference was both unfortunate and demeaning. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)
Twelve jurors were Friday morning selected in the murder trial of dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel.
Evidence in the case will be heard starting next Monday.
Kartel’s trial was postponed four times this week for varying reasons.
On Monday it was postponed to Tuesday because of issues pertaining to the
location of Kartel’s case files.
On Tuesday, the trial was again postponed, this time because of the unavailability of a courtroom. It failed to proceed further on Wednesday due to the involvement of the presiding judge, Justice Bryan Sykes in another trial. Then on Thursday the selection of jurors posed a stumbling block.
The entertainer whose name is Adijah Palmer is, along with Lenburgh McDonald and Nigel Thompson, charged for the July 2011 murder of St Catherine businessman, Barrington “Bossie” Bryan.
Bryan was reportedly shot and killed while he was standing with friends in Gregory Park, St Catherine. (Jamaica Observer)
Former CJ says St Kitts-Nevis noconfidence motion should be debated
It is very unprincipled to evade a motion of no-confidence, according to the former acting chief justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Sir Brian Alleyne.
Alleyne, speaking in his capacity as a former leading jurist, disagrees with the position of the speaker in parliament in Basseterre that the court should go ahead and hear his concerns in relation to a case on the motion, despite the group of parliamentarians who brought the case having withdrawn it.
Speaker Curtis Martin told parliament on Monday that he wanted these issues dealt with, and that his legal representatives would seek to have that addressed when the court meets on Thursday.
Alleyne does not think it likely that the speaker will get his way.
“Well if the matter is not before the court, the court cannot determine it … if he has filed a counter motion or a motion in the matter, perhaps he can require it to be heard,” Alleyne told WINN FM.
The retired jurist, a former Dominican parliamentarian, who held a number of portfolios as a government minister in the Eugenia Charles administration, said it is a sad development that the motion of no-confidence has not been heard to date. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)
Four South American countries say they will recall some of their ambassadors after the Bolivian president’s plane was banned from European airspace.
Evo Morales’ plane, returning from Russia, was rerouted to Austria, amid rumours that American fugitive Edward Snowden was on board.
Brazil, Argentina,
Venezuela and Uruguay say the incident violated international law.
Envoys will be recalled from France, Spain, Portugal and Italy, they say.
Snowden, a former CIA contractor, is wanted by Washington on charges of leaking secrets about U.S. surveillance schemes.
Speaking at a summit in Montevideo, the Uruguayan foreign minister, Luis
Almagro, said the actions of the European governments were “groundless, discriminatory and arbitrary”.
He went on: “The gravity of the situation – which is a typical neo-colonial practice – is an unusual, unfriendly and hostile act which violates human rights and affects the freedom of transit, displacement and immunity that is enjoyed by every head of state.” (Excerpt from BBC News)
Across-section of tourism sector practitioners gathered at the Montserrat Cultural Centre on Friday, July 5 for a national consultative workshop on community-based niche tourism products.
The Montserrat Tourism Authority (MTA) coordinated the workshop on behalf of the OECS Secretariat which is conducting similar exercises in all member states. The workshop was funded
as part of its 10th EDF programme. According to acting director of the MTA Elveta Chalmers, the workshop was “designed to identify existing and community-based niche products” in Montserrat’s tourism sector. She added that more can be done to make the island’s tourism product more appealing and that its market presence can be improved by building up the community-
based festivals. Dr Lorraine Nicholas of the OECS Tourism Desk encouraged Montserrat because of its size to view themselves as one community and to apply for funding to build community-based tourism ventures. Nicholas said 2.7 million euros of the 8.6 million euros available for economic integration and trade in the OECS, is earmarked for tourism projects.
(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki called Friday for the release of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi from detention, marking the first time the United States has made such a call.
Psaki said the detentions of Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood were “politically motivated” and urged the military to let
them go.
Morsi, the nation’s first democratically elected president, was ousted on July 3 by the Egyptian military.
Tens of thousands of people rallied Friday in front of a Cairo mosque calling not only for his release, but for his restoration to the job of president. Morsi’s supporters filled two avenues of the Nasr City neighbourhood as far as the eye could see.
Ex-intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, encamped at a Russian airport evading the reach of U.S. authorities, said on Friday he had sacrificed a comfortable life in disclosing U.S. spying secrets but had no regrets.
“A little over one month ago, I had family, a home in paradise,” he said in first public remarks on what he sees as the personal cost of incurring Washington’s anger in disclosing details of U.S. electronic surveillance programmes.
“I also had the capability without any warrant to search for, seize, and read your communications.
Anyone’s communications at any time. That is the power to change people’s fates,” he told human rights activists at the Moscow airport where he has lived since arriving from Hong Kong on June 23.
Snowden, 30, in remarks relayed by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, said he would seek temporary asylum in Russia. Until now he has been living in the transit area of Sheremetyevo airport without having gone through passport control.
Russian authorities said he should not harm the interests of the United States if he wants refuge in Russia – a condition set by President Vladimir Putin. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Asenior rebel commander in Syria is reported to have been killed by rebels from a rival group linked to al-Qaeda.
Kamal Hamami, of the Free Syrian Army’s (FSA) Supreme Military Council, was meeting members of the rival group “to discuss battle plans”.
An FSA spokesman said he was told by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant that they had killed Hamami.
The killing is part of an escalating struggle within the armed uprising between moderates and Islamists.
The BBC’s Paul Wood
says a civil war within a civil war is building within the opposition as the two sides engage in a battle that is partly over the spoils and partly ideological.
Kamal Hamami, also known as Abu Basir al-Ladkani, worked in a butcher’s shop before the conflict began, but went on to form one of the FSA’s key brigades in his native port city of Latakia.
He is believed to have met members of the Islamic state of Iraq and the Levant in Latakia to inform them of a planned offensive in the area, before being ambushed and shot dead. (Excerpt from BBC News)
FFifty-one people died there Monday when protesters clashed with security forces, who opened fire.
Many of his supporters have vowed to risk their lives to see him back in power.
Those backing his overthrow were unpersuaded. Interim Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi was working to complete a new government by Monday, a state news agency said. (CNN)
lights have resumed at London’s Heathrow Airport after a fire on a parked Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet.
All runways were closed for nearly 90 minutes after the fire at 16:30h BST. No passengers were aboard the plane at the time, a Heathrow spokesman said.
Fifty Dreamliners worldwide were grounded in January after malfunctions with the plane’s lithium-ion batteries.
Boeing modified the jets with new batteries and flights resumed in April.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport has despatched a team to the scene.
The Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner in the Heathrow incident – named the Queen of Sheba – flew from Addis Ababa to Nairobi on the first commercial flight since the grounding.
Pictures of the Heathrow fire showed the Queen of
Sheba close to a building and surrounded by fire vehicles. London Fire Brigade said its crews assisted Heathrow staff.
Fire-retardant foam appeared to have been sprayed at the airliner, and an area in front of the tail area on the fuselage appeared to be scorched. Ethiopian Airlines said smoke was detected from the aircraft after it had been parked at Heathrow for more than eight hours.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
Multiple Grammy award-winning singer Lauryn Hill is currently behind bars at the start of a threemonth prison sentence in Connecticut for tax evasion.
According to a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the singer had reported right on time to a minimum security prison in Danbury.
The former Fugees singer will serve her time with the general population at the Federal Correctional Institution of Danbury, where prisoners live in open dormitory-style living quarters and work in jobs such as food service, maintenance or
landscaping.
Following her release from Danbury, the 38-yearold will be under parole su-
Seven killed as commuter train derails outside Paris
Seven people died and several dozen were injured when a packed commuter train derailed at a station in Brétigny-surOrge, a southern suburb of Paris, Interior Minister Manuel Valls said Friday evening.
“The death toll is evolving constantly at this point and unfortunately it will probably rise,” Valls said. “At this stage there are seven people dead, several dozen wounded and some of them are serious.”
The packed train, en route from Paris to the central city of Limoges, was car-
rying some 385 passengers when it derailed on Friday evening at 17:15h and crashed into the station at Brétigny-sur-Orge, 12 miles south of Paris.
A passenger told France24: “Everything was fine as the train left Paris, and then we felt a violent shuddering and saw a billowing cloud of white smoke. We realised that the coaches behind us had fallen over and there were many people trapped inside. The train was full. SNCF staff told us that some of the dead had been decapitated.”
(Excerpt from France24)
pervision for a year, with the first three months to be spent confined to her home.
The singer was sen-
tenced in May for failing to pay tax on US$1.8 million of her earnings between 2005 and 2007.
After Hill had entered a guilty plea last year, her lawyer had sought probation for the singer, arguing her charitable works, family circumstances and the fact that she later paid back the taxes she owed should merit consideration.
During her sentencing, the longtime love of Rohan Marley said she had intended to pay the taxes, but was unable to do so after withdrawing from public life and ending her music career to raise her children. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)
Malala at UN: The Taliban failed to silence us
APakistani teenager nearly killed by Taliban gunmen for advocating that all girls should have the right to go to school gave her first formal public remarks Friday at the United Nations. It also happened to be Malala Yousafzai’s 16th birthday.
“Today, it is an honour for me to be speaking again after a long time,” she said. “Being here with such honourable people is a great moment in my life.”
She looked out at an audience of hundreds of children from around the world and UN members, includ-
ing Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and told them that she was wearing a pink shawl that once belonged to Benazir Bhutto, the two-time prime minister of Pakistan who was killed in 2007 in a suicide attack at a political rally.
“I don’t know where to begin my speech,” she said. “I don’t know what people would be expecting me to say. But first of all, thank you to God for whom we all are equal and thank you to every person who has prayed for my fast recovery and a new life. I cannot believe how much love people have shown me.”(Excerpt from CNN)
Anew body has been formed representing a working group of local information technology (IT) service providers, software developers and consultancy and advisory services.
The group is called the Jamaica Information Technology and Services Alliance (JITSA). Given the importance of IT to the national agenda and economically, there is a great need to provide the government, in-
dustry and media with more structured access to the extraordinary knowledge, talents and networks of IT experts who have been working in Jamaica for decades, JITSA said in a press release.
“The timing and purpose of JITSA’s formation is a recognition of the unique challenges Jamaica faces at the moment, as well as the increasing importance that information technology plays in national development and the
creation of high-quality jobs,” the group said.
“Now, more than ever, private and public sectors are forced to look to IT as a means of organisational transformation, leading to economic recovery and growth. The urgency of this need is further supported by the 2013 Global Information Technology Report produced by the World Economic Forum where Jamaica is ranked 85th in global network readiness,” added JITSA. (Jamaica Observer)
After searching fruitlessly for months, the owners of streaming video site Hulu have stopped looking for a buyer. Walt Disney, 21st Century Fox and NBC Universal said they would keep their ownership stakes and invest US$750 million (£496 million) to help the site grow.
“We believe the best path forward for Hulu is a meaningful recapitalisation,” said Fox president Chase Carey.
Direct TV and AT&T were reported to have submitted bids of US$1 billion in recent months.
Hulu’s owners “had meaningful conversations with a number of potential partners and buyers, each with impressive plans and offers to match,” said Carey. But in the end, the companies decided the best way forward was to continue to invest in the site and to use its technology to compete against rival Netflix.
Hulu has more than 30 million monthly visitors and generates revenue of more than US$700 million through subscriptions and a free adsupported service.
“Hulu has emerged as one of the most consumer friendly, technologically innovative viewing platforms in the digital era,” said Disney chief executive Bob Iger in a statement. A buyer for Hulu property had previously been sought in 2011. (BBC News)
Four Danish pension funds have filed a lawsuit against twelve large banks, accusing them of increasing costs for investors trading in the US$27 trillion credit default swap (CDS) market by stopping exchanges from entering the market.
The case, filed on Thursday in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois, follows a similar suit filed in May by an Ohio-based pension fund, the Sheet Metal
Workers Local 33 Cleveland District Pension Plan, in the same court.
The funds allege that dealers used their ownership and controls over clearing, data and other entities crucial to the market to block an independent clearinghouse from offering exchange-trading, deny market participants real-time price information and stop new participants from entering the market.
The CME Group, the
world’s largest derivatives exchange and Chicago-based hedge fund Citadel Group, planned to offer CDS exchange trading in 2008 before dropping the plan the following year.
The banks threatened to withdraw their business from the CME if it went through with its CDS trading venture, the funds allege. CDS are used to protect against losses if a borrower defaults on their debt or to speculate on their credit quality. (Reuters)
President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping after a ceremony to welcome him at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing before they presided over the signing of accords to facilitate US$1.1 billion low-interest loans for infrastructure development in Nigeria.
The two leaders exchanged
views on promotion of ties between China and Nigeria, as well as other African nations and witnessed the signing of agreements on finance, trade and culture.
Jonathan who is on his first visit to China since taking office later reviewed a guard of honor accompanied by President Xi Jinping. China’s CNTV quoted President Xi as emphasising efforts to pro-
mote new Sino-African strategic partnerships. Representatives from both sides signed five deals including a lending agreement between China’s Import-Export Bank and the Nigerian finance ministry for the expansion of the airport terminals and an economic and technical cooperation pact. Details of the agreements were not immediately available. (allAfrica)
China acknowledged U.S. concerns about cyber theft of intellectual property and trade secrets and agreed to steps that would open its financial and government procurement markets, the U.S. Treasury Department said on Friday. In a statement on outcomes of the annual U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue that concluded Thursday in Washington, the Treasury
Department also said China had committed to move to a market-determined exchange rate for its yuan currency.
“During the S&ED, Chinese officials acknowledged U.S. concerns over the growing problem of the cyberenabled theft of trade secrets and business confidential information,” the statement said. “China pledged to better protect against trade secret misappropriation through
strengthened enforcement,” it added, referring to an issue that Washington has made a top priority with China as U.S. economic losses from intellectual property theft mounted. Previous U.S. efforts to get Beijing to address the issue of hacking into American networks to steal intellectual property had met denials and a tendency by China to conflate cyber espionage with cyber-enabled trade secret theft. (Reuters)
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) plans to invest about US$200 million in Indian real estate, two sources said, underscoring a trend for large Gulf sovereign wealth funds to diversify away from traditional developed markets such as Europe.
ADIA, which manages the surpluses the Gulf emirate earns from oil exports, has appointed Kotak Realty Fund, run by Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd, to invest the money, one of the sources familiar with
the matter said.
Earlier this month, Oman’s State General Reserve Fund and the government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) and Temasek committed to invest US$200 million in a real estate fund run by India’s biggest mortgage lender, Housing Development Finance Corporation.
In May, Qatar paid US$1.26 billion for a five per cent stake in Indian telecoms firm Bharti Airtel Ltd, the world’s fourth-biggest mobile phone company by custom-
ers. India’s finance minister P Chidambaram visited the Gulf region in May for the second time in two months seeking investment in Asia’s third-largest economy. ADIA has investments of about US$400-$500 million in India which includes an 11.22 per cent stake in Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services and a US$50 million investment in Red Fort Capital, a real estate private equity fund. (Arabianbusiness)
As an owner of a small business, the danger of crippling litigation should also be at the top of your priorities. Legal headaches can take you by surprise and severely hurt your business’ bottom line. Here are some of the most common legal issues facing small businesses.
Disgruntled employees
As a business owner, this will be one of the most common legal headaches. In America, employees have far more rights than other countries, in the form of unions and reasons for “wrongful termination”. If you terminate a non-performing employee, make sure he or she signs documents carefully drafted by
an attorney upon termination to make the terms of dismissal crystal clear. Letting an employee go without any final termination forms leaves the door wide open for legal actions.
Discrimination/harassment cases
The legal ramifications of alleged discrimination – sexual, ethnic, age or otherwise, can cause your company serious problems. Make sure your human resources and legal departments are well equipped to handle these issues should they arise. During the hiring process, make sure you are prepared with all the applicants’ resumes should allegations of discrimination arise, to prove that you hire the most qualified individu-
als, regardless of gender, ethnicity or age.
Hold regular meetings to oversee co-worker relations and insure that discrimination on a smaller scale is not occurring between office cliques, or influencing the decisions of middle and lower managers.
Harassment – sexual, racist or otherwise – can be a serious problem in an integrated workplace with workers from various ethnic and religious backgrounds and social classes. Regular meetings and interviews with staff will allow your managers to police these transgressions, which should be eliminated quickly through the swift termination of offenders. (Business Dictionary)
Six ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have been certified in electronic intelligence operation after undergoing a three-day training session in fighting organised and network crimes conducted by Brazilian specialists.
The course, which began on Tuesday, concluded on Thursday with a closing ceremony at the GPF’s Training Centre. It was a collaborative effort between the GPF and the Brazil Federal Police and focused on audio and video surveillance operations.
Wealth of knowledge
Six officers from different sectors of the police force were selected to undergo the training, during which they gained a wealth of knowledge through the practical exercises. Two of Brazil’s best intelligence agents came to Guyana to conduct the training.
Deputy Police Commissioner and Crime Chief, Seelall Persaud, said the training is an example of the cooperation between the two police organisations, noting that they have collaborated in previous exercises such as drug and people trafficking.
Persaud was cognisant that organised and networked crimes are increasing; hence, Guyana must develop its capacity to tackle this issue.
He said the training will make a significant impact on
the police force; noting that it will aid in battling crime.
“One of the good things of our relations with the Brazilians in capacity building is not only their training and sending you back, they’re giving you the tools. In this case, they’re giving them the technology they trained them with,” he said.
Persaud said in 2007, there was a joint agreement between the two countries on police cooperation and drug remission. They have also agreed on judicial cooperation, which will allow witnesses from Brazil to testify in Guyana’s courts. A meeting in last May also concluded, with capacity building being the main point of focus, with this training being the first of a number of ini-
tiatives being realised.
This has resulted in “a sustained level of activity in building human resources capacity as well as technology”.
As such, he said the level of cooperation with Brazil speaks volumes.
State-of-the-art equipment
“The expectations of the public is that we will move from being a reactive police force which is broadly the perception, to one that is proactive and, therefore, able to control the level of crimes in Guyana,” Persaud stated.
Brazilian Federal Police Liaison Officer in Guyana, Jesaias Portela Ramos De Andrade believes the threeday training was fruitful,
pointing out that efforts will be made to coordinate intelligence operation training next year to enhance the capacity of GPF ranks.
“We’re gearing Guyana to deal with more advanced equipment in the market, state-of-the-art devices such as audio and video surveillance. The Guyana Police Force now has equipment from Denmark, Germany, and France to improve the capacity of the country to fight organised crimes and target high-level criminals in classified operations,” De Andrade pointed out.
He added that the facilitators of the training were high-level instructors, who can demonstrate the possibilities that can be derived from the use of technology.
The Home Affairs Ministry wishes to inform the general public that in collaboration with the National Community Policing Executive of the Community Policing Organisation of Guyana, a facebook page was created for community policing.
The ministry is encouraging the public to visit the page where valuable information on community policing could be accessed. Anyone who wishes to visit this page could do so by typing in the search bar on facebook: ‘Community Policing Groups’.
Aman appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on two counts of forgery and one count of fraud on Friday.
Wazim Baksh, 37, of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
The first charge stated that on March 8 at Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara, with intention to defraud, Baksh presented a
fake US$100 bank note to Deodat Persaud, knowing it to be false.
The second charge stated that on April 3 at Parika, East Bank Essequibo, the man obtained three outboard engines valued $4,000,500, property of Ravendra Budhoo, using a forged Republic Bank cheque.
On the second count of fraud, it is alleged that between February 1 and October 31, 2012, Baksh obtained $500,000 from
Robert Durga for a lease for a plot of land which he fraudulently converted to his own use.
Baksh was represented by Attorney Dexter Todd, who told the court that the said engines were retuned and that on the day the report was made, the virtual complainant made contact with the accused and they had exchanged words. He added that Persaud received $20,000 in place of the false US$100 bill.
saturday, july 13, 2013 |
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) expressed deep concern at the murder of journalist Aníbal Barrow, “a case that once again demonstrates the precarious environment in which journalists operate” in Honduras and the need to create a system of protection for journalists.
Honduras Public Ministry officials confirmed on Wednesday that they found Barrow’s dismembered and burnt body in a locality in the interiors of the country, after his kidnap on June 24 in San Pedro Sula.
According to the authorities, Barrow had been killed on the same day of his kidnapping.
Claudio Paolillo, president of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, expressed “the solidarity of the institution with the victim’s family and colleagues,” and demanded “an in-depth investigation into Barrow’s killing,” especially with regards to shedding light on who was the intellectual mastermind of the crime.
Paolillo, director of the weekly newspaper Busqueda, in Montevideo, Uruguay, expressed astonishment at a case that demonstrates once again “the precarious environment in
which journalists operate” in Honduras. Paolillo recalled that the IAPA, in conferences and delegations sent to the Central American nation, had insisted that the country adopted certain measures, including the reform of public policies that would impose tougher penalties for crimes committed against journalists and the creation of special prosecutor offices with the appropriate resources to investigate crimes against freedom of the press.
Responding to IAPA’s direct request to President Porfirio Lobo, the SubSecretary of Justice and Human Rights, Martha Sabillón, announced that the government is about to send to Congress a bill for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists, Social Communicators and Justice Operators. Sabillón also indicated that the appropriate budgetary resources for the implementation of protection programmes are being sought.
The IAPA is a not-forprofit organisation dedicated to the defence and promotion of freedom of the press and of expression in the Americas. It is made up of more than 1300 print publications from throughout the Western Hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida.
Aman charged with two counts of unlawful assault appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.
Eelwin Amsterdam, 35, of Lot 79 Brutas Street, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to both charges which stated that on July 10 at Agricola Public Road, he unlawfully assaulted Whitney Burkett.
According to reports, on June 21 and July 10 at Agricola Public Road, the accused unlawfully assaulted the woman who is the mother of his child.
The prosecution had no objections to bail, and the magistrate granted Amsterdam his pre-trial liberty in the sum of $20,000 on each count.
The accused will be making his next court appearance in Court One on July 18.
YThe lawyer stated that Robert Durga does not want to proceed with the matter. He said it was an unfortunate situation and asked for reasonable bail on his client’s behalf.
The prosecution had no objections to bail.
The magistrate dismissed the Durga matter and placed Baksh on $300,000 bail for the other two offences.
He will be making his next court appearance on July 18.
oung people in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) will benefit from an after-school programme designed to use creative techniques to reduce at-risk behaviours, increase health-related awareness, and impact educational aspirations, self-esteem and social connectedness.
According to a Caricom Secretariat release, framed through a partnership among the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) sub-regional office in Barbados, the Caricom Secretariat and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Sub-regional Cooperation Programme, the After School Activity Programme (ASAP) responds
to a goal of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework to enhance the quality of life and security of children, adolescents and youth through strengthened multi-sectoral and human rights based approaches in education, governance, health and social services.
The programme will equip the youth with life skills through sport participation by developing and expanding the understanding of parents, coaches and administrators of the educational value of sport. Pilots are to be held in Anguilla, Grenada and St Lucia. An evaluation of the success of the pilots will precede a full-scale implementation across the community.
If you and your special someone are in complete accord regarding an important decision, things will work out splendidly. Agreement is essential.
By Bernice Bede Osol
(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
Try to take on tasks that would make you feel productive. If you lack purpose and/or direction, your day will be quite unfulfilling.
You should be successful with an endeavour that you personally direct. However, if there’s something important that needs to be taken care of in the arrangement, you should do it yourself.
Don’t be too proud to accept payback for a past favour. The other party feels obligated to reciprocate, and his or her feelings will be hurt if you decline.
(Aug. 23Sept. 22)
(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)
Attempt to schedule your day so that you will be able to participate in an enjoyable pastime. If you have to set work aside, do so – you’ll find that it will make you more efficient later.
(March 21-April 19)
Even though you might think of it as an inconvenience, doing a favor for another will make you feel good about yourself. Offer to help without being asked.
(April 20-May 20)
You might want to think twice about asking a social contact for help, especially if that person’s career could overlap with yours.
(May 21June 20)
Someone with whom you have strong emotional ties might bring you luck involving a material arrangement. The two of you have been fortunate for each other before.
Focus on what you can give instead of on what you can get, and things will come easy for you. It’s funny how we always seem to receive payment when it’s not a priority.
(Sept. 23Oct. 23)
Even if you are the real force in an important score, let a companion who had only a small hand in the effort share the limelight. You’ll be repaid down the line.
(Oct. 24Nov. 22)
Spending time with friends will be exceptionally enjoyable for you, especially if the activities call for a little bit of competition. However, be sure to treat it lightly.
(Nov. 23Dec. 21)
To achieve a specific objective, you’ll need to employ bold measures. Now is not the time for half-measures.
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Typhoon Soulik has made landfall in Taiwan, bringing strong winds and torrential rain to the island. Some 8000 people were evacuated from their homes in areas prone to landslides as soldiers were deployed in highrisk areas, AFP reported.
Schools and offices in Taipei and several other cities closed on Friday afternoon as the tropical storm neared. Soulik is set to arrive in mainland China’s eastern provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang later on Saturday.
Local authorities have been asked to implement emergency response plans, China’s state-run news agency Xinhua reported, after recent torrential rain across large parts of the country that have reportedly left 200 people dead or missing.
Typhoon Soulik, a medium-force typhoon, had wind speeds of around 173 km/h (100 mph) this morning. It made landfall at around 03:00h on Saturday (19:00h GMT on Friday), Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau reported.
The strong winds and heavy rain have caused electricity disruptions, a run on food and essential supplies in supermarkets, and uprooted trees and signs in some areas.
Some flights to Taiwan have been disrupted, with both Cathay Pacific and China Airlines announcing cancellations. Precautionary measures have been taken to close the roads and bridges along areas most susceptible to disaster, officials said.
Fishing boats had been
returned to the shore before the typhoon hit, and members of the public were urged to avoid mountain and coastal areas. Evacuated residents – including 3000 from Kaohsiung city and 2000 from Pingtung county in the south of Taiwan – have been taken to local government buildings that have been turned into shelters, Agence France Press reported.
More than 2000 tourists had earlier been evacuated from Taiwan’s Green Island, near the city of Taitung, as a precaution. Typhoons are common during the summer in parts of East Asia, where the warm moist air and low pressure conditions enable tropical cyclones to form. In 2009, Taiwan was hit by Typhoon Morakot, which left hundreds dead in floods and mudslides. (BBC News)
AChinese girl died in hospital on Friday, becoming the third fatality in the crash of an Asiana Airlines jet at San Francisco airport last Saturday, doctors and Chinese officials said.
The child, who died on Friday morning, had been in critical condition, according to a statement from two doctors at San Francisco General Hospital. The girl was a Chinese national, according to the Chinese consulate in San Francisco.
The crash landing of the Boeing 777 also killed two Chinese teenage girls and injured more than 180 other people. The two victims who
died on Saturday were visiting the United States to attend summer camp with a group of schoolmates.
Both fell out of the plane during the crash and one was run over by a fire truck rushing to the scene, the San Francisco Police Department said on Friday, although it was unclear whether she was still alive at the time.
The coroner in San Mateo County, where the airport is located, has said he will release the girls’ autopsies results in about two weeks.
The bulk of injured passengers were taken to San Francisco General Hospital
and to Stanford Hospital and Clinics.
San Francisco General, which originally received 67 patients, still has six, including two in critical condition. Their injuries include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, abdominal injuries, internal bleeding, road rash and fractures, the hospital said.
Stanford still has one patient, who is in serious condition, according to a spokesman. It treated 55 patients from the crash. A handful of patients remain at other area hospitals, including one at St Francis and one at St Mary’s. (Reuters)
Ian Bell and Stuart Broad helped England build a potentially decisive lead of 261 over Australia in the first Ashes Test but the day was scarred by another major controversy on Friday. Coming together at the fall of England’s sixth wicket with the advantage just 153, the duo put on 108 to take the hosts to 326-6 at the close, with Bell on 95 and Broad on 47.
But in a hugely contentious moment, Broad was given an astonishing reprieve when umpire Aleem Dar failed to spot a thick edge to Michael Clarke at slip off the bowling of Ashton Agar.
Australia had already used up their two reviews and despite the big screen replays showing clear contact
with his bat, Broad declined to walk.
The incident, which left Clarke and his team-mates fuming and coach Darren Lehmann shaking his head in disbelief on the team balcony, came one day after England batsman Jonathan Trott was given out lbw by the third umpire despite Hot Spot technology being unavailable.
England were so perplexed by Trott’s dismissal that they raised the matter with the International Cricket Council and Australia are likely to be similarly aggrieved by Dar’s aberration and Broad’s decision not to give himself out.
The tourists’ frustration was compounded by the sense that the game was already slipping away from
them, given that England’s lead was already 232. The highest successful fourth innings run chase at Trent Bridge is England’s 2846 against New Zealand in 2004.
On a slow, turning pitch that could benefit off-spinner Graeme Swann, England will be confident of going 1-0 up in the series.
But nothing can be taken for granted, given the absence of seam movement and the unpredictable nature of Australia’s young batting line-up, who can take inspiration from debutant Agar’s record-breaking 98 at number 11 on Thursday.
If Agar was Thursday’s standout performer, then Friday belonged to Bell, who has only made one century in his past 35 Test innings and
Mickey Arthur, the former Australia coach, has hired a law firm in order to seek greater compensation after he was sacked by Cricket Australia last month.
Arthur, who was on contract until the 2015 World Cup, was dumped in June and immediately replaced by Darren Lehmann, previously the coach of Queensland.
Having returned home to Australia where he had indicated he would continue to live, Arthur has hired a legal team to explore concerns about the manner of his exit.
According to a report in the Australian, Arthur received no notice of termination or any suggestion that he was in breach of contract.
Arthur was sacked on June 24 over what CA called failures of discipline, consistency of behaviour and accountability. He is believed to have been given three months’ pay under a severance agreement, and is pursuing a more significant amount. It is possible that CA and Arthur will reach a settlement to avoid going to litigation
At the time of his remov-
al, Arthur had accepted responsibility for events that occurred on his watch, refusing to publicly criticise CA or his players. “The reality is when you take a job on as head coach you are totally responsible for the outcomes,” Arthur had said in Bristol.
“The players are a young group learning the way. I’m very structured in the way I go about things. I’m a man of principle, I try and get the team going in one direction because I firmly believe a team with culture is a successful team.
“I don’t feel let down by
has been averaging in the low 30s since his golden year of 2011, when he scored 950 runs at 118.75.
Barring the occasional late cut, his staccato innings offered little for the purists, but in the context of a lowscoring game it was among the most important he has played for his country.
On 34, he was given out lbw by umpire Kumar Dharmasena during a miserly spell by Shane Watson but the decision was overturned on review when Hawkeye showed the ball was missing leg stump.
When he reached fifty, he passed 6,000 Test runs, on 73 he brought up his highest score against Australia in England, and by the close he was within sight of a memorable hundred.
After two scarcely believable days of Test cricket, punctuated by catastrophic collapses and a dream debut, Friday’s play was much less frenzied.
England 2nd innings A Cook* c Clarke b Agar 50 J Root c †Haddin b Starc 5 J Trott lbw b Starc 0 K Pietersen b Pattinson 64 I Bell not out 95 J Bairstow c †Haddin b Agar 15 M Prior† c Cowan b Siddle 31 S Broad not out 47
Extras: (b2, lb13, w1, nb3) 19
Total: (6 wkts, 133 overs) 326 Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-11, 3-121, 4-131, 5-174, 6-218 Bowling: J Pattinson 28-7-891, M Starc 27-7-66-2, A Agar 35-9-82-2, P Siddle 28-1063-1, S Watson 15-11-11-0
It nevertheless remained utterly compelling as the fortunes of both teams fluctuated before England made their move in the final session.
The hosts had resumed on 80-2 with their two most experienced batsmen, Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen, looking to capitalise on promising starts.
Having played with uncharacteristic restraint on Thursday evening, Pietersen was aggressive from the off, driving at anything overpitched by Mitchell Starc and reaching fifty with his fourth boundary in the first
half-hour of play. His partnership with Cook, which began after Joe Root and Trott had been dismissed off successive balls on Thursday evening, had reached 110 when two quick wickets put Australia back in the driving seat. Pietersen was bowled for 64 when he diverted a length ball from James Pattinson onto his middle stump and Agar’s amazing debut continued when he made Cook his first Test victim with a turning ball that caught the edge of the England captain’s bat and flew to slip, where Clarke took a fine high catch.
England batsman
Kevin Pietersen has defended his teammate Stuart Broad’s decision not to walk after being reprieved by an umpiring error in the first Ashes Test against Australia.
Broad stood his ground when umpire Aleem Dar somehow failed to spot a thick edge to Michael Clarke at slip off the bowling of Ashton Agar.
the players at all. At the end of the day you live and die by the sword and I gave this job 100% of my time over the last couple of years. The disappointing thing is I thought we were nearly there to cracking it, I really do. I take responsibility for it.”
Australia won 10 of their 19 Tests during Arthur’s time in charge but he faced a few challenging times earlier in 2013, both on and off the field. The 4-0 defeat in India was overshadowed by the so-called homework sackings halfway through the trip. (Cricinfo)
Broad and Ian Bell added a further 29 runs to their unbroken 108-run stand to help England reach 326-6 in their second innings, for a lead of 261 over the tourists at the end of day three.
Pietersen said: “Each and every player that plays for their country, club side, county, province or franchise has the opportunity to wait for the decision the umpire makes, and you respect the umpire’s decision.
“We play hard, we play fair and each individual makes his own judgement in the middle. Aleem Dar is a fantastic umpire and has been rated one of the best over the past few years.
Wait and respect his decision.”
The controversial moment occurred deep into the final session of a nervewracking day in which the momentum shifted frequently between the teams.
Australia captain Clarke, who could not not challenge the decision having already used his two referrals, looked incensed and exchanged words with umpire Dar, while coach Darren Lehmann shook his head in astonishment.
In the post-match
news conference, however, Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle played the incident down.
“It just happened. It’s the umpire’s decision, you take it and you just keep going on,” he said.
“You just finish the over and go through to the next over. There wasn’t a big deal made out of it, we just went about our business.
“How many people have ever walked? At the end of the day it’s the umpire’s decision and players stick with it.” (BBC Sport)
France - Alberto Contador made up lost time with a tactical masterstroke in Friday’s 13th stage of the Tour de France, showing he would not let an opportunity slip to topple overall leader Chris Froome.
During a hectic 173km ride from Tours that ended with Britain’s Mark Cavendish crossing the line first, Contador’s SaxoTinkoff team split the peloton with a brutal acceleration 30 kilometers from the finish that left Froome trapped behind.
By the time Froome reached the finish line, one minute nine seconds had been sliced off his lead, leaving him 2:28 ahead of Dutchman Bauke Mollema and 2:45 clear of Spain’s Contador.
Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, who started the day second, trailed in behind the bunch and lost 9:54 after suffering a mechanical problem that cost him any realistic chance of a podium finish in Paris.
“Saxo saw their opportunity today (Friday) and hats off to them. They were rewarded with over a minute,” Froome told a news conference.
Contador, the 2007 and 2009 champion, told reporters: “We saw that some guys were dead so we decided to give it a try.”
The move was initiated by Australian Michael Rogers, who left Sky to join Saxo-Tinkoff this season.
“I saw riders on the limit and we had the whole team in front so I said to (Daniele) Bennati should we go and we looked at each other and we just went full gas,” Rogers told reporters.
“Today (Friday) was a special stage, we took the opportunity where it lies.”
Irishman Nicolas Roche said: “We turned back and asked Alberto if we could go, he nodded so we screamed at Benna “let’s go”, Bennati went and we buckled up.”
Sudden acceleration
The peloton had thinned out after 56km when Cavendish’s team, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, used the crosswind and a sudden acceleration to power away in a bid to eliminate some sprint specialists.
German Marcel Kittel, who has won three stages in this year’s Tour, was trapped behind and never made it back.
Valverde said he suffered a problem with his wheel with 85 kilometers remaining.
He could not rejoin the peloton despite being helped by his team mates as Mollema’s Belkin team joined forces with OPQS to keep the Spaniard at bay.
“It’s an unlucky day. We were very careful (near the front) but we really got no luck,” said Valverde.
Saxo-Tinkoff sports di-
rector Philippe Mauduit refused to join forces with Belkin and OPQS, however, saying the move would have been inappropriate.
“We would not work at the front after Valverde had a mechanical. But once he was two minutes behind...,” he told reporters.
Cavendish was hardly challenged in the home straight, easily outsprinting Slovakian Peter Sagan to take his 25th Tour de France stage win after being beaten by Kittel on Thursday.
“The guys were tactically brilliant yesterday and for them to come back today (Friday) and ride even harder, even sooner shows what a special group of team mates I have,” the Isle of Man rider told a news conference.
“I’m incredibly proud.”
Today’s 14th stage takes the peloton from SaintPourcain-sur-Sioule to Lyon.
The breakaway specialists will have a good chance of prevailing before Sunday’s much-feared stage that finishes at the top of Mont Ventoux.
today’s ride could also be a chance to shine for Valverde’s team mate Nairo Quintana of Colombia.(Reuters)
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney ‘will remain at club’
David Moyes has again said Wayne Rooney will stay at Manchester United.
The 27-year-old is travelling home from the club’s pre-season tour in Thailand because of a hamstring problem.
Speculation about the England striker’s future has continued despite the new United boss saying last week that Rooney was not for sale.
“It’s hard to keep repeating myself. But I will do. Wayne is a Manchester United player and will remain that,” he said.
“Unless I was speaking double Dutch I think we said Wayne Rooney is not for sale.”
Chelsea are also in Thailand and new manager Jose Mourinho was questioned on Friday about whether he was interested in signing Rooney.
He said: “I cannot speak
about players from other teams but you know me. I have always said what I think and I like the player very much.
“I cannot say more than that. He is fast and direct. I like him but he is a Manchester United player.”
Asked if he thought Mourinho was being mischievous, Moyes said: “I don’t think so.
Mohamed Al Fayed has ended his 16-year stint as Fulham owner by selling the club to Shahid Khan, owner of NFL side Jacksonville Jaguars.
Khan, 62, a billionaire car-parts entrepreneur, is the sixth American owner of a Premier League club.
During his time in charge, Egyptian Al Fayed, 84, took Fulham from the third tier to the top flight and into Europe.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to be chairman of Fulham football club for 16 memorable years,” he said.
Financial details of the takeover have yet to be officially disclosed, with media reports valuing the deal at between £150m and £200m.
A leading supporters group said the news represented an “exciting but uncertain time” for Fulham, who finished last season 12th in the league.
Pakistan-born Khan, who moved to the United States aged 16, employs thousands of people through his car parts business.
“Fulham is the perfect club at the perfect time for me. I want to be clear, I do not view myself so much as the owner of Fulham, but a custodian of the club on behalf of its fans,” he said.
“My priority is to ensure the club and Craven Cottage each have a viable and sustainable Premier League future that fans of present and future generations can be proud of.
“We will manage the club’s financial and operational affairs with prudence and care, with youth development and community programmes as fundamentally important elements of
Fulham’s future.”
Khan bought Jacksonville Jaguars in December 2011, but they struggled last season, finishing bottom of AFC South with two wins from 14 matches.
The Jaguars are scheduled to play one regularseason NFL ‘home’ game at Wembley each year from 2013 to 2016, starting in October against the San Francisco 49ers.
In a statement Al Fayed called Khan “a living embodiment of the American success story” and said they met twice before completing the deal.
“I am now delighted to be passing this great and historic club into the care and stewardship of an outstanding man who has already achieved much in his life and will, I am sure, take Fulham on to even greater things,” said the former Harrods owner.
Al Fayed bought Fulham for a reported £30m in 1997 and provided the funds which helped the Cottagers’ rise from the third tier of English football to the Premier League.
“The time is right because I have found a very good man in Shahid Khan to
accept the responsibility and privilege that I have enjoyed at Fulham since 1997.”
In arguably the club’s most successful ever period, he guided Fulham to their third promotion in five seasons in 2000-01, giving Fulham top-flight status for the first time since 1968.
The 2013-14 season will be their 13th successive Premier League campaign, making them one of the division’s longest-serving teams. Fulham also reached the final of the Europa League in May 2010, losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid. The Fulham Supporters’ Trust said the club enjoyed “wonderful progression” under Al Fayed and fans extended “heartfelt thanks” to him.
“The change of ownership presents an exciting, if uncertain time, for Fulham fans, but the trust feels it is important to recognise the immeasurable contribution our outgoing chairman has made to the history of our great club,” it said.
Al Fayed said he had “loved every minute” of his time at the club, which included welcoming pop star Michael Jackson to games. (BBC Sport)
CHELTENHAM, England –
Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger registered his fourth County Championship century of the summer to set up a potentially thrilling finish on the final day of the Second Division match against Kent at Cheltenham.
“People are entitled to talk about good players. I’m getting asked plenty of questions about Wayne so I’m sure Jose will be getting asked about lots of players as well.”
Rooney, who has scored 197 goals in 402 appearances for United, is expected to be injured for two to three weeks, less than the month initially stated on Thursday.
(BBC Sport)
Klinger posted an unbeaten 102 as Gloucestershire made 237 for 1 declared in their second innings. He has now scored more than 1,000 runs in all cricket this season.
Bottom-of-the-table Kent will bat tomorrow having been set a target of 411 to win in a minimum 96 overs. Klinger and Kent skipper James Tredwell struck a deal during the lunch interval, contriving imaginative declarations in order to arrive at a meaningful finale.
Although only nine wickets had fallen in seven previous sessions, unsuspecting Festival-goers still looked mystified when Kent declared their first innings on 389 for 5 in the 101st over, forfeiting a fifth batting bonus point in favour of giving themselves an opportunity to win a four-day game for the first time in nine attempts this season.
Having agreed not to enforce the follow-on, Gloucestershire commenced their second innings 173 runs ahead with the intention of setting Kent a target to chase on the final day.
Left-hander Chris Dent picked up where he had left off in the first innings, playing shots all around the wicket and threatening a second successive century, albeit it against declaration bowling. Even in the circumstances, Dent was doubtless bitterly disappointed to offer a return catch to occasional spinner Sam Northeast after rushing to 82 from 75 balls and helping himself to 13 fours.
Having served as junior partner in an opening stand of 151, Klinger accelerated during the final hour to raise three figures from 118 balls with nine fours and a six. (WICB)
By TreisTon Joseph
The West Indies cricket team touched down at the Cheddi Jagan Internationa Airport (CJIA) at approximately 12:15h on Friday after a two-year hiatus international cricket due to a dispute between the GCB and Government of Guyana.
The West Indies, scheduled to face Pakistan on Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, arrived to an exceptional greeting from telecommunication giants Digicel who issued each member of the team with SIM cards.
With a disappointing showing in the Celkon Mobile tri-nation series also featured Sri Lanka and India, West Indies’ newly appointed ODI captain,
“I think they’re (Guyanese) going to welcome us, we know they love their cricket and we’re going to make sure that they come out and not disappoint them, we have two games
here against a very good team and we are excited about it,” Bravo stated.
However, Bravo was keen to note that while being in Guyana again was a good feeling for himself and his troops, they will not take the Pakistan side lightly.
“Like I said Pakistan is a team that most people class as an elite team and you never know to expect from them but it’s a team we respect highly and we’re not going to take them lightly… they themselves were disappointed with their performance in England (Champions Trophy) we had the best of them in England but this is a whole new set up.
“The last time Pakistan played in the Caribbean we won that series, that is in the back of our minds and it is a confidence booster for us and hopefully we can do well again,” Bravo commented.
West Indies will be practicing today at the Guyana National Stadium in preparation for their match against Pakistan on Sunday from 09:00h.
Dwayne Bravo, highlighted that the team will rebound against the Pakistanis.
“The fans can expect some excitement and some heart and we going to rebound from our disappointing end to a very good series that started off in Jamaica but we regrouped we had a couple of days off and we are looking forward to this se-
ries against Pakistan.
“Playing here in Guyana we always do well, you know the people of Guyana come out and support us to 100 percent so we going to ensure we give the fans what they really come out to see and definitely we looking forward to the series and another chance to lead a bunch of guys that I’m happy with and we look forward
to Sunday,” the newly appointed captain told media representatives present.
Meanwhile, with cricket returning to Guyana and no Guyanese on the team, Bravo believes that such a situation will not stop the support of the Guyanese public.
“Well it’s something that I never expected but having said that Shiv (Shivnarine
Chanderpaul) is obviously playing in England and has retired from ODI cricket, Sarwan (Ramnerish) was in and out of the ODI team, he is not finished as yet and he is still a big part of our set up but I think this is a West Indies team and I know the Guyanese are going to welcome us whether Sarwan or Shiv is here or anything like that.
England suffered their first defeat by Spain for 17 years as they succumbed to an injury-time own goal from goalkeeper Karen Bardsley in their Euro 2013 opener in Linkoping on Friday.
Hope Powell’s side twice recovered from going behind with Eniola Aluko replying to Veronica Boquete’s early strike and Laura Bassett seeming to have pinched a late point when she cancelled out Jennifer Hermoso’s finish.
But as the game entered stoppage time, Adriana’s cross from the left hit Bardsley in the face as she was challenged by Alexia Putellas and deflected in.
England’s performance was an improvement on their showing against Sweden in a warm-up game last week, but
in keeping with the men’s national team, Spain - competing in their first European Championship since 1997 - kept the ball well for long periods and made it tough night for Powell’s side.
It means a second consecutive defeat for England, who were 11 games unbeaten before they arrived in Sweden and are hoping to repeat their Euro 2009 run when
they made it to the final.
But with Group C rivals France winning their opening game 3-1 against Russia earlier on Friday, this upset leaves Powell’s side with an uphill task. (BBC Sport)
New Zealand Cricket’s board of directors is set to undergo an overhaul, following its adoption of a new constitution at a special general meeting on Friday.
As per the new constitution, an ‘appointments panel’ will recommend candidates for the eight-member board of directors, and the 28 members of the NZC will then vote to endorse - or reject - the candidates.
While the current directors are eligible to seek reelection to their posts, NZC chairman Chris Moller announced at the meeting that he would step down step down from the role in September, following the elections.
“I have been chairman of New Zealand Cricket for three years and a director for five years, the same duration that I chose to be involved in New Zealand Rugby and being chairman is a hugely time consuming role,” Moller was quoted as
saying in a NZC release. “I also think it is in the best interests of cricket in New Zealand for a new chairman to be inducted into the ICC during the tenure of Alan Isaac as president.”
It was decided that the appointments panel will comprise a convenor who is nominated by the board, the chairpersons of three of the major associations (the six major associations will be represented on the panel by annual rotation) and one person nominated by Sport New Zealand, the government organisation responsible for sport.
The first panel includes NZC president Stephen Boock as convenor, Auckland Cricket chairman Rex Smith, Northern Districts Cricket chairman Lachlan Muldowney, Otago Cricket chairman Murray Hughes and Sport New Zealand’s John Wells.
As per the new process, vacancies on the board of directors will be publicly advertised, and anyone can apply for the posts. The adverts will go out on July 13, and the appointments panel will process the applications over the next 10 weeks. It will advise NZC of its recommended candidates on September 10, and the voting will be on September 19 at the board’s next special general meeting. Until then, the current directors will remain office.
The new board of directors, based on the appointment panel’s recommendations, might be paid salaries. (Cricinfo)
Fans interested in attending matches at the Guyana National Stadium during the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will not have to worry too much about any exorbitant costs of tickets.
Ticket prices were released on Friday and will be sold at rock-bottom prices.
Tickets prices for Guyana’s Amazon Warriors first two games on July 31 and August 2 against Trinidad and Tobago’s Red Steel and Jamaica’s Tallawahs are:
South West Stand (Green Stand) – $2500 (US$12.50); North West Stand (Red Stand) – $2000 (US$10);
South Stand (Orange Stand) - $2000 (US$10) and Grass Mound/Party Stand $1500 (US$7.50). Both games start at 20:00hrs.
Meanwhile, ticket prices for the double header on August 4 are: South West Stand (Green Stand) - $3500 (US$17.50); North West Stand (Red Stand) – $3000 (US$15); South Stand (Orange Stand) -$3000 (US$15) and Grass Mound/Party Stand - $2000 (US$10).
Antigua Hawksbills will play Jamaica Tallawahs from 15:00h while Guyana Amazon Warriors will clash with St. Lucia Zouks in the feature game from
20:00hrs.
Tickets are available at LCPL ticket office, former Del Casa building, Middle Street, Georgetown from Monday to Saturday from 09:00h to 18:00h and on Sunday from 10:00h to 14:00h leading up to the event.
Tickets are also available at Courts on Main Street and Diamond Public Road locations and Digicel, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall, Corriverton, Parika and Anna Regina locations and will be available during normal working hours. (Rajiv Bisnauth photo)
Ashley Khalil had a comfortable straight sets win over Kathy Ten-Pow in the first ladies quarters-final on Thursday in the Digicel Senior National Squash Championships at the Georgetown Club courts.
Khalil defeated TenPow 11-3, 11-7, 11-0 while Ashley DeGroot was made to work hard by Victoria Arjoon. She lost the first games at seven but then stormed back to take the other three games 11-6, 113, 11-2. In the last ladies match-
up of the evening Mary Fung-A-Fat was extended to four games but defeated Akeila Wiltshire 11-7, 11-3, 9-11, 11-4. In the men’s round of 16 matchups the expected feature encounter between Raphael De Groot and Deje Dias did not turn out to be that close as Raphael was too good for Deje, winning fairly comfortably 11-7, 117, 11-4. Defending champion Alex Arjoon was much too strong for Brian Yong, winning 11-2, 11-0, 11-1 while Nicolette Fernandes was
Ateam from the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) will be visiting four turf clubs this weekend to ensure all twoyear-old horses are properly registered.
According to a release from the GHRA, the team will visit the Port Mourant Turf Club at 13:00h and the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club at 15:00h today.
On Sunday the team will visit the Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club at 09:00h, then move over to the Rising Sun Turf Club at 11:00h.
clinical in her win over Ian Mekdeci 11-3, 11-3, 11-3.
Jason-Ray Khalil won easily against Jo Jo Mekdeci, winning 11-2, 111, 11-3 while former national champion Regan Pollard sent Nicholas Narain to all corners of the court to win 11-7, 11-4, 11-6. Other winners in the men’s round of 16 matches were: Ben Mekdeci defeated Adam Alves 11-6, 11-5, 11-5
Nyron Joseph defeated Dennis Dias 11-6, 11-5, 11-4
Steven Xavier beat Alan Downes 11-3, 11-8, 11-6
The GHRA indicated that it looks forward to the cooperation of horse owners and trainers in ensuring that their horses are present at the various locations on the dates and times mentioned above.
Should any horse owner or trainer fail to have his horse registered, that horse will not be allowed to participate in any race meet organised and run under the aus-
pices of the GHRA. According to President of the GHRA, Cecil Kennard, the GHRA is hoping for the full cooperation of all in trying to move the sport forward. Meanwhile, the GHRA has established a Secretarial Unit at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot, Corentyne. An assistant secretary is available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 08:00h to 12:00h to assist anyone who wishes to obtain any information concerning classification and registration of horses and any other related matter.
Horse owners should they need more information can contact the secretariat on 331–0693.
CUnder-17
medalist Tirana Mitchell had a tough showing at the World Youth Championship on Friday after failing to move past the first round of the 200m. Mitchell, competing in heat one of seven, finished seventh in 25.69s, running out of lane three in the female 200m event. Hannah Cunliffe of America won the
heat in 23.80s.
Meanwhile, the Guyanese contingent will watch the remainder of the games from the stands as 400m athlete Jason Yaw exited at the semi-final stage of his event a day prior to Mitchell’s 200m run.
The championship is expected to finish on Sunday while the Guyanese contingent is expected to return to Guyana on Tuesday.
Donetsk, UKRAINE – Jamaican sprint hurdler Yanique Thompson has smashed a 14-year record and bagged her country’s first gold medal here at the IAAF World Youth Championships (WYC)
The 17-year-old student stopped the clock in an amazing 12.94 seconds to win the 100 metres hurdles final at the RSC Olympiyskiy.
Thompson has become the first Jamaican 100m hurdles gold medallist at the WYC, and the first to hold a world record in the event at any level, after bettering Adrianna Lamalle’s 13.08, which was set in 1999.
“It’s amazing!” exclaimed a stunned Thompson.
“I wanted to get that gold medal. This is my last year as a junior and I didn’t want to leave without something”.
Thompson’s run was the brightest spark in a mixed day for the Jamaicans, who for the third time in the eight-year history of the WYC, failed to win a medal in the 100m.
Yanique Thompson
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has been suspended for two ODIs and his teammates have been fined 40 per cent of their match fees for their slow over-rate in the final of the tri-series against India in Port of Spain.
Match referee David Boon handed the suspension after Sri Lanka were found three overs short of their target at the end of the match, after time allowances were taken into consideration. Mathews accepted the suspension which avoided a formal hearing.
In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct, the captain receives two suspension points and his team-mates are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for each of the first two overs short and 20 per cent for every subsequent over they fail to bowl in the stipulated time. Two suspension points equate to a
