Guyana Times Daily

Money laundering bill for third reading next week

Teenager allegedly raped in burial ground

Man commits suicide after setting lover’s house on fire

Truck driver in Coverden smash up likely for court Friday

ECLAC hosts regional workshop on energy in Guyana

Toshaos, senior members receive increase in stipends Females now part of MARAD training programme

thursday, october 24, 2013 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mother of three brutally beaten to death

Amother of three was brutally beaten to death by her reputed husband at their Lusignan, East Coast Demerara home on Wednesday, the latest in a spate of cases of domestic violence, which plagues our society.

Forty-five-year-old Mitranie Parmanand, also called “Mayleen Persaud”, of Lot 180 Grass Field, Lusignan, was found dead in her home about 13:30h by one of her sisters who had gone to check on her.

The woman was lying on

her bed in a semi-nude state with several marks of violence about her body which are consistent with physical abuse. Her reputed husband, 36-year-old Reaz,(only name given) has not been seen since. The police have launched a manhunt for him.

Guyana Times understands that the man, who is believed to be a heavy drinker, was previously sentenced to a fine of $80,000 after he beat Parmanand last Christmas, causing her to be hospitalised with bro-

ken legs and arms.

At the scene on Wednesday, Parmanand’s sister, Indranie Persaud, who found her dead, explained that on Tuesday about 19:00h, she received a telephone call from one of the neighbours informing her that Reaz was beating her sibling.

She disclosed that she went to the home and called out to her sister, who then opened the door. As they spoke, Parmanand confided in her. Persaud said her sister was crying out for pain

in her abdomen, complaining that the man kicked her in that region.

“I didn’t carry she to the hospital and I promise she that I go come back the next day (Wednesday) and tek she to the hospital and I went home… at about 11 o’clock, the neighbour call again and tell me that the man still beat my sista.”

Devastating news

The aggrieved Persaud now regrets not taking her sister to the hospital on Tuesday evening, told

Guyana Times. The deceased woman’s daughter, Kavita Persaud revealed that she was at home when her aunt called and related the devastating news. She rushed to the scene and found her mother dead on the bed and summoned the police.

She explained that she had not been in contact with her mother for more than six months. “After he de beat she up and mek she hand and foot bruk up… I tell she must not go back with he, but after she recover he come beg for she and they mek up back… I de object, but since then she nah talk to me and meh nah talk to she.” She added that she knew that her mother’s death was likely, given the state of affairs.

A neighbour explained that Parmanand was at her home on Sunday taking a few shots and later left for home. Upon arriving there, her reputed husband started to beat her accusing her of “fare picking”.

The neighbour said she went to the now dead woman’s home on Monday and Parmanand, who was in obvious pain, bitterly complained about her constant ill-treatment by the murder suspect. She asked the neighbour to take her to the hospital, but instead the neighbour telephoned the injured woman’s sister and related the ordeal.

Screaming

The neighbour added that as she was passing by the couple’s house on Tuesday evening about 23:00h, she heard the woman screaming for help. “I call out to he and put two good cussin and ask if he want kill she now… but he continue beating she bad… I nah even think to call the police”.

Guyana Times understands that apart from the one time the man was prosecuted, a number of reports were made at the police station but Parmanand would normally beg for the charges to be dropped.

She is survived by her three children and eight siblings. Her body was taken to the Lyken Funeral Home to awaiting a post-mortem on Friday.

Uncle remains in custody over toddler’s death

A15-year-old boy, who is suspected to have played a major role in the mysterious death of his two-year-old niece, remains in custody, police spokesman Ivelaw Whittaker disclosed on Wednesday. Medical practitioners are of the view that the child was sexually molested, but this cannot be confirmed unless the post-mortem examination is conducted.

Whittaker said the young man would be released shortly, but reiterated that the autopsy report will determine whether or not he is charged.

The teen told investigators that he was innocent and would not do anything to harm the toddler.

The autopsy, which was scheduled to be performed on Wednesday, was pushed back to Friday.

When Guyana Times visited the home of the teenager on Tuesday last, his relatives were tight-lipped.

Watson was on Monday

left in the care of her grandmother, who subsequently asked the young man to keep an eye on the child, since she had to run an errand.

It was reported that the child was playing in the yard with her cousins when she “mess up” and the other girls called the young man to clean her. He told relatives that while bathing the child, she had another bout of diarrhoea, which prompted him to take her to the upper flat of the house and give her tea, but soon after she fainted. She was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Monday, hours after she was seen playing in their yard, and later pronounced dead.

The relatives have since told investigators that they suspect that the child might have died after she contracted bird flu. The police are continuing their investigation.

Murdered, Mitranie Parmanand

Glenn Lall sold Eccles plot for hundreds of millions of dollars

– purchase price was meagre G$1 per square foot

It has surfaced that Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall, a suspected backtracker with alleged links to criminal gangs in Guyana, was leased a sizeable plot of land in Eccles Industrial Estate, East Bank Demerara in 2005 and sold it for hundreds of millions of dollars years later.

Lall is also the owner of the mud-slinging tabloid Kaieteur News, which is published by the National Media and Publishing Company Limited.

This matter came to the fore in a privatisation report prepared by Executive Secretary and Head of the Privatisation Unit Winston Brassington. The report dated December 2012, is titled, “Privatisation in Tables – Phase Two,” and covers the period 1993 to 2011.

Lall acquired the land through a government programme, as part of which lands were allocated to several businessmen for the purpose of commercial development. The land was purportedly intended to be used for printing of brochures, cards, newspapers and other publications.

At the time of the lease agreement, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), GoInvest and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce were looking to create a real estate environment for industrial and commercial development.

In page 79 of the report, it is stated that Lall was allocated the land (plot 52) on February 9, 2000. The land was subsequently developed by government and the lease agreement was signed with Lall on October 28, 2005.

At a previous press conference, during which Brassington accompanied Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh in briefing the media about government’s privatisation initiatives, it was revealed that Lall obtained the land at a meagre G$1 per square foot. Guyana Times has now been reliably informed that Lall proceeded to sell the land for hundreds of millions of dollars.

During the press conference, a former Kaieteur News reporter asked a question about government’s allocation of land for commercial development, premising his inquiry with the suggestion that only friends of the ruling People’s

Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration appear to benefit from the distribution of state land. Brassington replied that sections of the media were being selective and indicated that many different parties have engaged in transactions with NICIL and the Privatisation Unit, with Lall being one such beneficiary.

Lall has over the years consistently published misleading, inaccurate and vindictive articles against government officials and has now joined forces with opposition parties in vicious attacks against the government.

Commenting on the transaction with Lall, Brassington said this is not something that went to public tender, per se, because the applications were received by the Tourism Ministry and lands were allocated based on considerations for development. “The lease is pepper corn. The lease fee here is G$1 per square

foot. It’s a good deal, but you don’t hear these things being whipped up in the same frenzy as for other persons,” he said.

The head of the Privatisation Unit noted, with some concern, that sections of the media appear to report selectively on individuals within the business community whom they single out and target based on their relationship with government functionaries.

In an invited comment, one media expert said the principals of Kaieteur News ought to be ashamed of their selective reporting and choice of articles which only suit themselves and that of whom they support – the exact accusation which they level at other media houses, including the state media.

Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall

Tony Yassin

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Cutting Guyana’s nose

The opposition are pursuing a course of action that has very dangerous implications for Guyana’s survival in a globalised world. We refer to their stratagems to prevent the passing of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Bill, which would have Guyana comply with the regulations of the United Nations (UN)sanctioned Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The major characteristic of the present world economy is the reduced controls on financial transactions through the “liberalisation” regime implemented by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This liberalisation has resulted in a commercial environment in which a day’s delay in required financial information can result in firms losing their edge on their competition.

To reduce such delays, international firms avoid countries which cannot facilitate the almost instantaneous exchange of financial data. At the very best, if Guyana cannot deliver to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), by November, the assurance that it is willing and able to comply with the 40+9 guidelines issued by FATF, then it will be placed on that organisation’s list of “Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories” (NCCTs) – its “blacklist”.

According to the Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, the CFATF’s draft report already includes such a recommendation, and we are then only waiting for the other foot to fall, come November, unless the legislation is passed.

At present, there are 14 countries on the “blacklist”, two of which – Iran and North Korea – are the subjects of a call by FATF to “its members and other jurisdictions to apply countermeasures to protect the international financial system from the ongoing and substantial money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/ TF) risks emanating from them” .

The other 12, which include countries such as Pakistan and Turkey, have been adjudged to be “jurisdictions with strategic AMLCFT deficiencies that have not made sufficient progress in addressing the deficiencies or have not committed to an action plan developed with the FATF to address the deficiencies”.

If the legislation presently before the National Assembly is not approved, Guyana will most likely be placed in this second list. While under international law, there are no official sanctions that can be applied to Guyana, as it has done with the other countries on the list, the FATF will call on its members “to consider the risks arising from the deficiencies associated with the jurisdiction”.

What this means in effect is that since every major country is a member of the FATF, the international banking system will be forced to scrutinise such financial transactions very meticulously.

The bottom line in such a regimen means time – and time, to modern financial institutions, as we have taken pains to demonstrate, means money. With a very large economy such as Turkey, they will be willing to take the trouble, with Pakistan they might – depending on the transaction. But with Guyana, it is almost certain that the larger financial institutions will not be bothered. It is certain, then, that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates to which we have become accustomed in the past decade will almost certainly come to a halt, and even be reversed.

What is most troubling about the opposition’s willingness to take this enormous risk with their country’s health, is that the legislation will actually assist them in what they claim to be their aim: to reduce corruption, especially as it concerns governmental operations.

Take, for instance, their claims that there are instances where members of the government have been involved in siphoning off funds from public projects. Such funds would have had to be laundered.

But FATF’s Recommendations 12 and 22 propose measures to deal with “business relationships with politically exposed persons (PEPs)...who hold positions that can be abused for the purpose of laundering illicit funds or other predicate offences”.

The opposition are willing to cut Guyana’s nose to spite its economically healthy face. The electorate will remember this.

Investing in education

Dear Editor,

Plenty of studies have shown that many school systems, particularly those in urban and high-poverty areas, are plagued by makeshift places or decaying buildings that all threaten the health, safety and learning opportunities of students.

Good facilities are absolutely important for student learning. We can have adequacy of teachers and come

up with a strong academic programme, but the physical building conditions will have to be in place.

These days I am hearing that many of our buildings are too hot and overcrowded. Many students want space and a comfortable temperature. So the buildings must be up to par.

Recently, at Karawab, Lower Pomeroon River –a community that is fewer than 50 miles from Charity/

Essequibo Coast – a new primary school and stelling walkway were built. This school will be able to cater for over 200 students.

The building is a modern state-of-the-art two-storey concrete and wooden structure and it is the final one to be constructed under the Region Two Regional Administration’s work programme. It is all part of the overall effort to boost education in the outlying areas in

Guyana. When a government is investing so much, then the corresponding stewardship should be a must. I support the call for the beneficiaries of this school to take care of this precious input. Teachers must ensure that punctuality is a norm and that any suggestion of truancy will be dealt with.

Respectfully submitted, Monette Stewart

UK social worker in search of Guyanese

Dear Editor, I am a social worker/genealogical searcher in the United Kingdom. I am currently searching on behalf of a client for a lady whose maiden name was Jennifer

Sugrim, born 1955, I believe, in the Cummingsburg area of Georgetown.

I believe Jennifer moved to the U.S. in the 1970’s and married there. I am writing this letter in case any of

your readers might know of her and her whereabouts. It is very important to find her for the person on behalf of whom I am searching.

If anyone happens to have any information, kind-

ly email me at mbohm@dsl. pipex.com.

Thank you, Monica Bohm Social worker/genealogical searcher, UK

Insurance companies must have at least one late day

Dear Editor,

An insurance company recently opened its doors at their newly constructed office at Montrose, East Coast Demerara. Its head office is located in the heart of Georgetown, but as result of the taxing commute for those residing out of town, much consideration was given to the establishment of their new branch. Additionally, with the increase in motor vehicle sales, it is a wise decision to promote the expansion of

insurance companies country wide. However, the problem stems from the opening hours of this company and others in this business of insurance.

Most existing organisations often require employees to work an eight-hour shift which ends at 16:30h most days. Unfortunately, many of the individuals who have to transact business also work similar office hours and therefore have to apply for time off to run personal errands. Some individuals bare-

ly manage to find that extra time when the day comes.

I would like to strongly recommend that insurance companies consider having at least one late day that will cater specifically for people who cannot come to them during regular working hours.

I recall one afternoon I went to collect documents from an office only to find out that I could not be dealt with until Monday because the individuals who could have assisted me had already left for

the day. It was so disappointing and exhausting particularly since it was barely after lunch recess.

A late day should ideally comprise of a few individuals selected to work just about an hour or two after work. This arrangement can easily be monitored by management, possibly in the form of a roster. This will ensure that all customers are adequately facilitated.

Sincerely, Sonia Thomas

Entice the children into eating their vegetables and fruits by shaping these fresh foods into exciting shapes with food shapers, one of the products on sale at the Colombian exhibition currently being held at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Thomas Lands (Carl Croker photo)

Women’s Affairs Bureau supports the right of women to work

Dear Editor,

In 1995, the United Nations organised a World Conference of Women, which was attended by numerous heads of government and women’s organisations from 187 countries.

Guyana was represented by an 11-member delegation headed by a minister of the government. This Beijing 1995 conference, as it has been designated, was held 20 years after the first of three World Conferences of Women were held with only moderate achievement in terms of the status of women in society.

One of the main pillars of this fourth world conference was to secure the commitment of all governments represented at this historic conference to implement measures to ensure the removal of all social political, and economic barriers to the involvement of women at all levels of national development and to accelerate their progress, recognising that the movement for gender equality and non-discrimination, the world over, has been the defining development of our time.

Guyana committed itself to uphold the agreed conclusions on the critical areas of

concern emanating from the conference and articulated in the “Beijing Platform for Action”, which clearly advocates the acceleration of more women in the decision making positions at the highest levels.

Granted Geetanjalie Singh’s issue is not a gender issue per se, let us view it in the “spirit” of the Beijing Platform for Action and Guyana’s commitment to increasing the participation of women in national development. Here is an eminently well qualified woman, one of a small group of women in Guyana holding this qualification, and who is occupying the very senior position of director of audit. Her ability is not in question. Her challenge is that her husband is the minister of finance. A few questions arise. Is there a public service rule governing this situation which has been breached? Was this situation recognised when her husband was appointed minister? In terms of development planning, was this situation foreseen? In such a critical area of operation are there checks and balances or appropriate strategies to avoid the fears that are being insinuated?

Given the concerns being expressed, it is perhaps time that Guyana, recognising its limited human resources in this specialised field, and given the changing times in which we live, as well as the technological developments available to us, seeks to review its thinking on this matter, rather than just concentrate on removing a very competent and well qualified woman from a position in which she is contributing to national development.

The Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB) strongly supports the right of every woman to work especially in areas in which she is qualified or where she possesses the required competence.

While the WAB does not wish to pronounce on any perceived conflict to interest with Geetanjalie Singh’s position as audit director, it urges public support for women across Guyana to enjoy the basic freedom to pursue the vocation of their choice and for which they are eminently qualified.

Women’s Affairs Bureau, Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry

Red Thread is not interested in conflict of interest, nor in defending women

Dear Editor,

I have seen the response from Red Thread to Education Minister Priya Manickchand’s letter in defence of Geetanjali Singh. It is my view that she has been attacked viciously only because the group of Lallbachan Christopher Ram and Anand Goolsaran, among others, want to get at Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh.

Dr Singh has smashed them so often that they have decided to change tactic to get at him via his wife. That is one of the most cowardly and distasteful actions that I have ever witnessed. The only thing that equates with it is the response of Red Thread.

It is clear that Red Thread is not interested in conflict of interest, nor in defending women. They are carrying out the mandate of the opposition, which is to attack the government. For me, and many others that I have spoken to, Red Thread is effectively the women’s arm of the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). Its political agenda has led the group to take positions that are not only against women’s rights, including those which

have an ethnic under current.

Apart from Geetanjali Singh, other women are under vicious attacks today. One prominent example is acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba. Red Thread has maintained a deafening silence on Sooba’s travails. In addition, it has also been silent on the attacks against Marcia Nadir and more recently Jaya Manickchand.

The only time the organisation mentioned anything in its letter about Geetanjali Singh was to support those who chose to attack her. If they were interested in all women’s rights, then they would have defended the professional work of Sooba. No, instead they chose to side with the corrupt band at City Hall to hammer the acting town clerk.

Had they really been interested in conflict of interest, they would not have remained so silent on Nigel Hughes’ relationship with the foreman of the jury Vernon Griffith during the Lusignan Massacre trial. There was an eyewitness in this case who positively identified the accused. However, he walked.

What about the ques-

In 1992, we voted for change not an exchange

Dear Editor, Mayor Hamilton Green recently penned a letter that once again furnished the nation with the modus operandi of the People’s National Congress (PNC)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). This should serve to strengthen our resolve to ensure that the PNC/ APNU never regain the reigns of political leadership in Guyana.

Having been overwhelmingly defeated at that monumental October 5, 1992 polls after ensuring that Guyana was handed a most corrupt, inept, racist and brutal period of dictatorship for 28 years, Green wrote this, “When Dr Cheddi Jagan and I spoke, I complimented him and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) for accepting the concept or notion of the shared governance and said it would be noble of the PPP/C to put this policy in place in circumstances where they were victorious and not only where they were the losers. I told him that I would agree, provided the idea would apply to boards, commissions, the diplomatic service and even the cabinet. That was the end of our conversation.”

The information above is quite revealing and is a clear manifestation that, regardless of the lexical metamorphosis they may have undergone, the PNC remains the same oppressive, authoritarian power hungry entity as

we know it. The mayor validates the position that the PPP/C has always been open to the concept of shared governance – this should not be equated with attaining power through the backdoor as the PNC/APNU outfit would like.

Here we see that the father of our Nation, the embodiment of magnanimity, Dr Jagan after having been deliberately removed and kept out of political office by the now vanquished PNC made an offer for the rotation of mayors for a three-year period – “first year Good and Green for Guyana (GGG), second year PNC, and third year PPP/C.”

But this wasn’t enough for Green, who was trying to come to grips with losing political power. He wanted more. He wanted the same to be applied to boards, commissions, the diplomatic service and cabinet.

We should bear in mind that when the PPP/C won the 1992 elections, Dr Jagan adopted a policy of altruism, visà-vis his presidency, thereby allowing public servants to remain in their positions, though 95 per cent of them were affiliated to the PNC. These would include those on the state boards, commissions and the diplomatic service.

We should be cognisant of the fact the under the PNC dictatorship, the Foreign Affairs Ministry was the flagship ministry of the despotic

regime. Many within the opposition are erudite enough to point out that during that time Guyana’s foreign service was the envy of the countries in the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

In fact, a lot of prestige was given to those who were employed in the foreign service. During that period, only those sympathetic to the regime were employed in the foreign service. In fact many of the staff who were at the clerical level at that time have now become policymakers and are part of the decision making apparatus of the ministry. Many of them were visible during opposition campaigns in previous elections. In relation to the Cabinet positions, it is clear that the PNC was not prepared to cede power – they wanted to be placed in the corridors of power recklessly using the term shared governance. How could they have served in a PPP/C Cabinet, while being diametrically opposed to the social and economic policies of the PPP/C? They wanted a marriage without courtship. This would have been the trickery used by the PNC to continue to keep their hands on power.

Dr Jagan offered Green a yard, he wanted a mile. We voted in 1992 for a change in government. We voted for the PPP/C, not for an exchange.

Regards, Baldeo Mathura

tions of conflict of interest which arose upon the revelation of Nigel and Cathy Hughes’ relationship with the Amaila Falls Hydro Electricity Project (AFHEP) developer Sithe Global? Why have we not heard from those human rights campaigners and champions of transparency? Why is Red Thread so unconcerned?

I recall the telephone conversation between Winston Felix and Basil Williams –how lightly they were speaking of those eight persons murdered on the East Bank Demerara by marauding bandits, where Williams spoke so admiringly of the killers. Recall how they congratulated each other for turning things away from the People’s National Congress (PNC).

Red Thread and the rest are not taking principled positions. They have chosen to stand with the politics of the opposition. But why am I surprised after all they even abandoned Dr Walter Rodney, a fighter for racial and working class unity, and have sided with those that murdered him.

Sincerely, Rebeca

Constance

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

BY LISA CAPRETTO

Learn about the PTA’s and ways to get involved

Communicate effec tively. Design and print

“Happy Grams” as an easy way for teachers to regu larly report positive behaviour and/or achievements to parents. Consider using colour-coded lines on hallway walls, or foot prints on floors, to help direct parents to important places like the school office and library. Include a two-way commu nication mechanism, such as a questionand-answer section or mini survey, in each edition of your newslet ter.

Distribute calendars so parents can record up coming events, assignments and dates to check with teachers on their children’s progress.

Easy ways to get involved in the

suggestions through signs at the school and articles in the local newspaper.

Speak up for every

in partnership with the principal, identify ways the PTA/parent group can support one or

(CONTINUED FROM WEDNESDAY)

the school. Work with the local newspaper to promote special events that are happening at the school. Invite school alumni to make a donation to the school or to participate in an alumni sponsored programme through which they can volunteer time.

Support student success. Create a checklist and tip sheets for effective parent-teacher conferences.

Invite teachers and professionals from the community to speak at meetings on various topics. Provide parent involvement tips and

dy fam ily to show them the ropes. Plan workshops on how to ask the right questions about children’s progress and placement. Involve parents in ongoing training on topics such as being an effective advocate, identifying and supporting learning styles, resolving difficulties and fostering student achievement.

Share power. Working

plan. Host a forum for can didates running for public office; focus questions on issues that affect children, families and education. Get to know your elected officials at all levels of government, as they influence public policy decisions related to children and education.

Collaborate with the community. Reach out to senior/retired citizens and invite them to volunteer at

Additional involvement ideas

Participate by organising a breakfast or lunch. Get to know your child’s teacher by introducing yourself and scheduling a brief meeting.

Create a community bulletin board at the school to post information or ideas. Record yourself reading books onto tapes so children with reading challenges can enjoy them.

Host a block meeting at your home with other parents to discuss/share school issues and info. Offer to drive other students/families to school-related events they wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend. Invite other parents to join you when you volunteer at school. Whether you spend three hours or three months volunteering in a way that works for you, remember that you’re not just helping your child for the school year – you’re setting him up for success throughout his entire academic career. (Oprah.com)

TREAT HIM LIKE HE’S YOUR OLDEST Want your youngest child to achieve?

BY SARAH B WEIR

Anew study indicates that first-born children perform better in school and also suggests why. It’s not that they are smarter or have higher selfesteem, but that their parents are tougher on them. “People shouldn’t feel limited because they are the second or third child,” V Joseph Host of Duke University, tells Yahoo! Shine. “Yes, there are birth order patterns to what we accomplish, but these accomplishments are influenced by many different factors, including how we are raised by our parents.” Host co-authored the paper with Juan Patano of Washington University.

The authors, who are both economists, looked at data from the National

Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which surveyed more than 12,000 participants. The study controlled gender, divorce, family size, and other factors that might have influenced the outcomes. They found that parents of earlier-born children were harder on them when they brought home poor grades than they were with later-born children. Parents were also more lax with their rules for their younger children when it came to television watching, video games, and other activities that might diminish time dedicated to homework. The study found that the oldest child in a family of four is significantly more likely to “face daily homework monitoring relative to the last born in that family.” As a result, oldest children were more likely to be at the top of their classes and the youngest more likely to be at the bottom. What’s also interesting is that the survey found that parents took a tougher approach because they were trying to establish their reputation as a disciplinarian. Once they felt their tough-love style had been established with the first child, they had the tendency to slack off.

Susan Whitbourne, a professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, says she appreciates the study’s approach because it’s focusing on the role of the parent rather than something intrinsic to a child. “There is so much that’s written on birth order that seems very deterministic,” she tells Yahoo! Shine. “There is the tendency for parents to assume that the oldest is going to be better in school, so they put that expectation on them.”

The fascination with birth order and its effect on personality and success goes back more than 100 years, when Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler, a contemporary of Sigmund Freud, first theorised that birth order has an inherent role in shaping personality and classified characteristics of first-, second-, and last-born children as well as only children and twins.

(Yahoo! Shine)

NEW GPC INC’s greatest asset – its employees

The NEW GPC INC has recently been showcasing some of its major accomplishments and its benefits to Guyana. Over the coming days, we will look at the best asset of the company -- its employees. Part I commences with the employees, Part II focuses on the generous fringe benefits of the company and Part III of the series concludes with management and employee relations.

NEW GPC’s employees

The NEW GPC employs approximately 140 persons from around the nation to work in its manufacturing facility and administrative offices. These employees are constantly engaged in staff

Baird. “Every year, cost of living rising and the company knows this, so most time we get salary increase, so I stay. Why will I leave? These people care for you and treat you nice.”

The average employee stays with the company for a minimum of 15 years.

company participated in the Help and Shelter sensitisation workshops on genderbased violence and domestic violence. Additionally, another 100 employees were recently trained by, and received Food Handler’s Permits and Certificates from Guyana’s Food and

fied Guyanese and retain its staff.

The corporation maintains one of the largest internship programmes with the University of Guyana (UG) for chemistry and pharmacy students.

Olivia Brown is one of the NEW GPC’s up and com-

development workshops as part of the company’s vision to ensure the manufacture and distribution of quality pharmaceuticals.

“Our staff is well-trained and well-compensated for the work they do,” said Human Resources Officer Fay Smartt-Scott. “We recognise that the retention of employees is mutually beneficial to our staff and the company; therefore, it is in everyone’s best interest to ensure our employees are happy and satisfied at the work place.”

Mrs Fay Smartt-Scott has been employed with the company for 21 years and started as a typist. She rose through the rank and file and is now at the helm of the Human Resources Department.

The HR officer pointed out that the NEW GPC provides opportunities for growth and career development as well as provides competitive remunerative benefits to its staff. She posits that competitive salaries and fringe benefits aid in staff retention.

“I’ve been with this company since 1979,” said Wendy

“This is more than any company can ask for given the trends of migration and poor staff retention with companies in Guyana.” said Mrs Smartt-Scott.

It has been proven that many productive and profitable companies attribute their success, in part, to their commitment to ongoing employee training and education. This is not unusual in the NEW GPC.

Earlier this year, more than 30 employees of the

Drugs Department.

“We host these workshops all the time. It keeps us informed of new policies, new methods of doing things and to enhance our own skills,” said Nurse Myrtle Singh who has been with the company for over two decades.

Working for a first class company

As all efforts have been made to create a collegial environment, the NEW GPC has been able to buck the trend of migration of quali-

ing young professionals. Ms Brown, was introduced to the NEW GPC as an intern while she pursued her associates degree at UG. Upon completing her associates degree, she began to work with the company on a full-time basis until she returned to UG to complete her diploma. Two years later, Ms Brown returned to the NEW GPC to pursue her career having graduated with a distinction in pharmacy from the university.

“My initial experience as an intern convinced me that New GPC was the best place to work upon graduation from UG. The standards that are adhered to by the company are impressive and reassuring,” she said. “I thought to myself, “this is the kind of trendsetter company that will make a difference in Guyana,” so I knew I had to work for a company that gives back so much to my country.”

She further stated that “in an era where tobacco, alcohol and beverage companies thrive, to the detriment of one’s health, it gives me great job satisfaction to

be part of a company whose mission is to safeguard the health of our nation through the manufacture of bonafide pharmaceuticals.”

NEW GPC’s Production Manager, Mr Ramesh Persaud shares a similar sentiment to Ms Brown. He mentioned that he had opportunities to work in the Caribbean but he chose to stay because of the rewarding work he does with the company. He feels great satisfaction knowing that NEW GPC produces the best quality drugs for the Guyanese people.

On a recent tour of

and I feel at home when I’m at GPC.

Canteen Operator Fay Franklin Barkoye: “Pay is good and I have no problem with management. I was given the opportunity to better my education. Every time I produce certificates, I get salary increase. Also, when you look at other companies and the conditions at other companies; they are way, way below us at GPC. I am the treasurer of GLU so when I sit at the bargaining table and see what other company does pay them staff, I say to my self, Lord we lucky at GPC.” Ashley Persaud, Laboratory Technician in the Quality Control Department: “I love the knowledge I get from my job. Every day is a new learning experience. I would like to stay with GPC cause there’s room for growth; if you work hard, you get rewarded and promoted. Ms Persaud started as a work-study student in 2012 and subsequently applied for a job. She’s 18 years old and chose to get invaluable work

the NEW GPC, Guyana Times randomly asked employees of the company why they chose to work for NEW GPC. Their response is as followed: Shirley Saygon: “GPC employed me since 1989. They kept me beyond retirement and I’m very grateful.

experience at a reputable pharmaceutical company for a few years before furthering her studies at the U.G. Production Manager Ramesh Persaud: “Very rewarding to work with this company and it is less stressful. I work for 11 months in a year and get paid for 14

If it wasn’t for this I couldn’t send my grandkids to school. Today, both of my grandkids went to senior secondary school and did so well at CXC. I’m grateful to GPC

months when you factor in bonus and all fringe benefits. I love the staff camaraderie. This is a place where you get to express your opinion freely without any reprisal.

NEW GPC longstanding and new employees. Front row - left to right: Sukdeo Persaud (23 years), Wendy Baird (32 years), Dennis Alexander (two years), Rowena Hussain (31 years), Joann Richards (three years); and Ramesh Persaud (15 years). Back row: Sookram Sewcharan (two years), Indrowti Saktua (23 years), Telak Singh (nine years); Andy Carreiro (nine years); and Mariam Williams (three years).

Senior R&D Technician Mohamed Sabir who has been with the company for three years, conducts a distillation experiment. Also in photo is his colleague Kevin Dhanram

Ashley Persaud Fay Franklin Barkoye

Ramesh Persaud

Shirley Saygon

Quality Control Manager Keshwar Singh, who has been with the company for nine years, performs a test with the state-of-theart High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) machine

Senior R&D Technician Mohamed Sabir performing a quantative analysis on a product in the lab

thursday, october 24, 2013| guyanatimesgy.com

“Butterboy” jailed for carrying offensive weapon

Magistrate Clive Nurse on Wednesday sentenced Ivan “Butterboy” Tello, of Lot 205 Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, to three months in prison for the offence of carrying an offensive weapon, when he appeared at the Christianburg Magistrates’ Courts to an-

swer to the charge.

The court heard that the defendant was caught by police ranks with a chopper in his possession on Sunday, July 28, at Green Valley, Wismar, Linden. The prosecution’s facts revealed that on the said day, police ranks from the Wismar Police Station were conducting an

investigation and search in relation to a report of break and enter and larceny, allegedly committed by the defendant.

He was confronted by the ranks who conducted a search of his person and found the weapon. The facts went on to state that the defendant had no reason-

able explanation for carrying the weapon on his person. He was then arrested and charged for the offence. The defendant told the presiding magistrate that the weapon was being used to peel coconuts and that he handed it over to the ranks upon request. He was also fined $400.

Teenager allegedly raped in burial ground

Police are looking for a man who allegedly raped a 19-year-old Georgetown teen on Tuesday evening at Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice.

The suspected rapist is reportedly from Albion Front, Corentyne, Berbice.

Reports reaching Guyana Times revealed that on the night in question, the victim

was at Crimson Light Bar, located at Corriverton, when the suspect arrived in a dark coloured motorcar, stopped and pulled her into the car and sped away.

The suspect reportedly took her to a house in Williamsburg Village, Corentyne, where he parked his car and collected a motorcycle. He then forced her to

climb on the cycle and took her to the Rose Hall Burial Ground, where he had sex with her against her will. The ordeal, she told investigators, lasted for about five minutes.

After committing the act, the suspect then went back with the victim to Williamsburg Village, where she managed to escape and

reported the matter to the Rose Hall Police Outpost. The police immediately accompanied the woman to look for the man but came up empty handed.

She was subsequently taken to have a medical examination. The police are continuing their investigations and the rape suspect is yet to be arrested.

Taking duties seriously...

...to Amerindians

The National Toshaos Council (NTC) is meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal.

This has become an annual feature. It used to be called the “National Village Captain Meeting”, we believe, but it must’ve been decided that the “Amerindian” name for chief or captain – toshao – was more appropriate.

Of the nine languages spoken by the nine Amerindian tribes of Guyana, we bet “toshao” isn’t the name for “chief” or “headman” in all of them. The point we’re making is that for the longest while, we’ve had everybody and their uncle deciding what’s best for Amerindians. But we’re not sure it’s been for the best. Take this parading of Amerindian young women in grass skirts at the drop of a hat – or of a feathered head-dress.

Whose idea is that this represents “Amerindian culture” in this day and age? Sounds more like the salacious idea of the old editors of National Geographic Magazine, who never missed an opportunity to print pictures of naked, nubile, young African girls.

The only thing that put a stop to that was Hugh Hefner’s Playboy magazine – which made the entire subterfuge unnecessary. We hope someone would pass on the message to the authorities in Guyana. There’s an awful amount of crocodile tears flowing about Amerindian girls being trafficked to the coast. But doesn’t the constant disrobing of them at these coastal events simply whet the appetites of the perverts up here?

And talking about “coastal events”, why does the toshaos conference have to be on the coast? Shouldn’t all the big ones take a trip into the interior and hold the conference in one of the villages in the Pakaraimas or Northwest District? If they do that, they wouldn’t have to ask Amerindian toshaos how things are going. They’d see for themselves –first hand. Then also, there wouldn’t be the accusations that things are “fixed”.

Another thing that peeves us is the constant refrain to the captains... sorry, toshaos... to keep their speeches “short”. Why should they do so? They have their own way of “telling their story”. Why should they have to speak in terse bursts that violate all their code of propriety? We’ll tell you what. We believe that, henceforth, every NTC meeting should be held in the interior.

And only native food and drink should be served. Especially drinks like paiwari and cassiri. That’ll help to get tongues wagging. And maybe we’ll finally hear the real deal about Amerindians.

...to the court

Brynn Pollard, SC, does tend to conduct himself with enough gravitas to make most people hold him with some level of respect. But he’s fast using up that reservoir of goodwill with his interventions in the letter pages. He’s coming off as so partisan.

Take his latest effusion on Nigel Hughes’ sorry saga. Not the one about taking a job with Sithe and remaining mute about it. Pollard’s already weighed in on that one. This time, it’s about Hughes remaining mute when a judge enquired about any relation between the foreman of the jury in the infamous Lusignan Massacre case Vernon Griffith, and Hughes.

Turns out that Hughes was the man’s lawyer in a matter, a few years back. The foreman had just returned a verdict of not guilty... freeing Hughes clients.

Pollard is asserting that as counsel for the defendant, Hughes had no duty to reveal his relationship. But the question is, what about Hughes’ duty to the court, of which he is an officer? If, as Lord David Hope said, “he must draw the attention of the court to the relevant authorities even if they are against him”, does he have a lesser duty when the foreman is his partisan?

...on ownership

What’s this we hear about Mook Lall also having a piece of the action on the edifice at Camp and Lamaha? The one that’s going to have a Chinese restaurant.

Man commits suicide after setting lover’s house on fire

By IndrawattIe natram

Aman who alleged-

ly set his commonlaw wife’s rented house at Zorg Village on the Essequibo Coast ablaze early Wednesday morning was later in the afternoon found dead on the premises.

At about 18:00h the body of Patrick Seepaul was found at Zorg, Essequibo Coast. He is believed to have consumed poison. The body is at the Suddie Public Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy. Seepaul was suspected of having set fire to the dwelling house of Tameshwarie Narharry, 50 years, of Zorg, with whom he shared a relationship, at about 05:00h Wednesday. The upper flat of the building was destroyed and Narharry suf-

fered burns about the body. She has been admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Initial reports were that Seepaul fled the scene immediately after he allegedly doused the two storey concrete wooden building with gasoline and set it ablaze. Narharry, 51, was rescued by neigbours who immediately rushed her to Suddie Public Hospital. She was treated for first degree burns and was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Burn Unit.

Shareeda Mohamed, daughter of the injured woman said her mother’s entire body was burnt. The 15-year-old who was in the house when the fire started said she was awakened by the screams of her moth-

er, “my mother shouted for me, shouting fire! Fire! I ran over when I saw her, she was on fire, and the interior of the house was catching fire, I took a sheet and wrapped her and we both ran out”.

The teenager said by the time they reached to the lower flat, the upper flat was engulfed in flames. Relating the horrific ordeal, Mohamed said the family went to bed around 20:00h on Tuesday night. She related that Seepaul, who is a miner, left in the night to go buy gasoline. She said she heard when he returned. The tearful daughter added that her step-father told her mother that he was leaving for the interior early in the morning. She said the fire started from her mother’s room and quickly spread around the house. “All my books, our

chair set, television set, computer, printer, microwave, clothes, everything went up in flames”.

Clueless

The teen said there was nothing she could have saved as the fire was spreading quickly. According to the injured woman’s son, Wazim Karoon, he slept out that night. Karoon said he received a call from his sister, Shareeda, stating that his mother had been burnt and he should go to the hospital. The son said when he went to the hospital, he saw his mother helpless on the bed, “her hands, feet, and breast were all white, burnt, she was crying out for pains, I couldn’t watch my mother in that state”.

Another relative related that if the fire service had responded promptly, some items could have been saved. The family said the fire service did not act promptly and arrived one hour after the call was made. “Nothing was saved, nothing, if the fire service had arrived early, this could have been avoided” said a relative. Villagers told this newspaper that they saw Seepaul and a friend leaving on a motorcycle during the fire.

De Mook can’t get ovah de weddin

Mook Lall got major problems these days. And de problems is more than just not gettin invite to a businessman weddin. De Mook had want to go to that weddin so bad that he end up buyin he long grey suit, long grey pants, shiny grey shoes, and long grey bukta, long before even de bridegroom buy he suit.

Up to now de Mook can’t get ovah whah he miss out.

But de Mook was so haarden that he was hopin some body woulda call he fuh de Kangan. But some body had done eat out de Mook meat a long time. So when de Mook didn’t get de call, he start askin around fuh de second Sunday. But one a de businessman friend seh de Mook gon have to wait a lotta Sundays fuh that second Sunday.

Dem problems whah de Mook got is like addin insult to injury. Old people does seh is like rubbin salt in yuh wound. That is de description fuh when people got major problems and then other tings start to fall apart. And that is exactly de Mook disease – fallin. Both fallin apart and fallin down, aka can’t stand up. That is why Madam does have to stand up fuh he in de Kocheur.

But de disease ketchin on like dem wild fires in Australia. De standin up problem whah Mook Lall sufferin from ketchin plenty people.

De sea walls was givin plenty problems de other day until Minister Benn Down raise de sea wall. But de sea wall lovers only hopin that by the time de next high tide come, de high walls gon stand up to the tide and don’t crumble. That is because plenty of de roads that Minister Benn Down build not standin up to de pressure.

One a dem hen-gineers who wukkin fuh Minister Benn Down seh dem roads whah crumblin and fallin down is not dem fault. Dem blame de commuters and seh dem usin de roads bad. None a dem don’t to admit to de fallin down problem.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! But BK watchin on all de time. He waitin fuh dem come to he fuh more stones whah gon mek every ting stand up strong…except de Mook. That ain’t got cure!

Shareeda Mohamed managed to escape from the burning building

The gutted house

Tameshwarie Narharry received first-degree burns

UNITED NATIONS DAY 2013

Quick facts about the

United Nations

• The UN has 193 member states.

• Arabic, Chinese, English, Spanish, Russian and French are the official UN languages.

• Ban Ki-moon is the current secretary general

• Japan is the second largest contributor to the UN after the United States.

Water and agriculture

In 1945 with the ratification of the UN Charter by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being. However, since 1948, October 24 has been celebrated as United Nations (UN) Day.

The purpose of the United Nations is to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development, based on the principles of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people. It affords the opportunity for countries to balance global interdependence and national interests when addressing international problems. This has been achieved by setting up various organisations such as UN-Water, UNESCO, UNICEF, and UNAIDS.

The FAO

Commonly known as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), this arm of the UN came into existence in 1945 to improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, raise the standard of living in rural populations, and contribute to global economic growth.

Goals of the FAO: Help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition;

• Make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable; Reduce rural poverty;

• Enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems; and

• Increase the resilience of livelihoods from disasters.

According to the UN, the vast majority of population

growth takes place in developing countries. FAO projects that; world food production needs to increase by approximately 60 per cent to feed a growing world population.

Water and agriculture

Freshwater is literally the lifeblood of agriculture. Since the majority of the worlds freshwater is used to irrigate crops, the two are intertwined, hence, the management of the resource and the sector should be interconnected.

Agricultural water use will be a key element for increasing food production, especially in many developing countries, where water is often scarce. Currently around 800 million people in developing countries are chronically undernourished. While there is no global water crisis, the serious water and food security problems in some developing countries and regions need to be urgently addressed. One in five developing countries will face water shortages by 2030.

According to trends, the world’s population will grow from around seven billion people today to more than eight billion by 2030, an additional two billion people need to be fed within the next 30 years. This will significantly increase the pressure on our water resources. Additionally, agriculture is also one of the largest contributors to water pollution whether from chemicals or poor farming practices.

Did you know that? FAO estimates that the world uses 70 per cent of its freshwater for agriculture alone.

Agriculture contributes significantly to water pollution through the release of organic matter such as animal waste, and run off of excessive nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

This often results in fish kills, contamination of

drinking water supply, creation of dead zones in water bodies, and poisoning of humans (cancer and blue baby syndrome).

A call is therefore made to all persons involved in agriculture whether on a small, medium or large scale to be mindful of how you use our precious water resources.

Employing simple measures such as; harvesting of rainwater and watering your plants in the cool of the day can go a far way. The onus is on us to strike the balance between water use and food production.

Source: www.un.org/en/events/unday http://www.unwater.org/downloads/media/scarcity/kyotofactsheet_e.pdf

It takes large amounts of water to produce one meal. Match the amount of water it takes to produce the food on the left.

thursday, october 24, 2013

ECLAC hosts regional workshop on energy in Guyana

Key stakeholders have benefited from a three-day workshop held last week at Cara Lodge in Georgetown titled “Innovative and Regulatory Incentives for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiatives”.

The workshop was conducted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), with support from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). With representatives from Curacao, Guyana, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago in attendance, the workshop was part of an overarching sustainable energy project in the Caribbean under the theme ‘Reducing the carbon footprint in the Caribbean through the promotion of energy efficiency and the use of renewable technologies.’

“The initiative was implemented in recognition of the central issue of energy

and the need for renewed energy strategies in response to climate change,” said Williard Phillips, economic affairs officer of ECLAC subregional headquarters for the Caribbean and Trinidad and Tobago.

The workshop served as a spring board for the launching of a training manual which was developed to apprise stakeholders of the methodologies that may be employed in removing fiscal and regulatory barriers to implementation of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies.

“The aim behind the creation of the training manual is to seek to complement national initiatives in raising awareness of the barriers as well as build the capacity of energy experts in techniques that may be used in the removal of said barriers, thereby prompting greater energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy technologies…”

said Facilitator Elizabeth

Emanuel, ECLAC consultant and managing director, Jamaica Sustainability Managers, Jamaica.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Dr Mahender Sharma, in his remarks thanked ECLAC for being a supportive partner of the energy sector and expressed the view that the “… workshop presented the opportunity to equip participants with the skill set to effectively tackle very difficult and challenging topics relating to energy issues not only within their respective countries but from a regional perspective as well…”

The training manual, which was piloted in Guyana prior to its launch, is the product of consultations with the Guyana Energy Agency, representatives of the private sector and other agencies (in Guyana), where barriers that impede the implementation of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies were identified.

Truck driver in Coverden smashup likely for court Friday

Repish Bhagwandin, 19, of Hope, East Bank Demerara was on Tuesday discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital and is expected to make his court appearance at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

He is expected to be slapped with four charges of causing death by dangerous driving. A police source told Guyana Times that before charges are instituted, the post-mortem examinations had to be performed on the victims. The last was performed on Wednesday afternoon but a file with all the findings and evidence has to be presented to the director of public prosecutions (DPP) for recommendations. The ruling by the DPP is expected this afternoon.

Bhagwandin was allegedly the driver of motor lorry GPP 8495 which was loaded with sand when he collided with a route 72 minibus as he overtook another vehicle on the Coverden Public Road, East Bank Demerara on Friday last.

The collision left four persons dead and at least six hospitalised. Those who met their demise were the driver of the minibus, Felix Marc, 42, of 34 Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara; Delroy Evans,

32, and Loretta Evans, 52, of Mahdia, Region Eight and Pulmattie Samaroo of Berbice.

Marc and Delroy Evans died on the spot while Loretta Evans was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre while Samaroo died at the same institution later Friday evening. Those hospitalised and subsequently discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital were three-year-

old Mia Evans of Mahdia; Savatri Thomas, Urson Ridley, Kelly Douglas and Akeem Cave.

One day after the deadly accident, Bhagwandin told reporters that he is 20 years old and not what was reported in the press.

He also noted that he was given the truck to drive by his father and was not sure if he had a valid drivers’ licence since he had never seen any.

According to information received, the 19-yearold truck driver was driving motor lorry GPP 8495 which was loaded with sand and allegedly attempted

to pass another motor lorry that was parked on the roadway. In so doing, the lorry ended up in the path of a route 72 minibus bearing registration number BPP 3521 that was proceeding in the opposite direction, thus resulting in a collision.

The badly mangled minibus was partially on the parapet and on the road while the truck lost control and ended up in a nearby trench in a tilted position. Passengers recalled that the bus was not overloaded and that the driver was not speeding when the accident occurred.

One arrested for receiving stolen property

One man is in police custody after he received a quantity of fuel that was stolen from a construction site at Heathburn Village, East Bank Berbice reportedly by security guards between Sunday and Tuesday.

The alleged simple larceny was committed at the construction site of Kiran Nauth, 40, a contractor at Heathburn Village, East Bank Berbice, who resides at Lot 1 Unity Village, East Coast Demerara.

The thieves allegedly stole one oxygen bot-

tle valued $480,000; one box of welding rods valued $5000; one Earl pressure tester valued $600,000 and an undisclosed amount of diesel.

According to information received, a manager, Ramkissoon Ramdat Alli, told investigators that on Sunday afternoon about 16:00h, he secured the articles under the shed leaving a security guard and a mechanic.

He returned on Monday at 08:00h and noticed the articles mentioned missing and started to look around when he saw the

mechanic driving a truck with the diesel out of the compound.

The matter was reported to his superiors and desperate efforts to contact the security guard proved futile.

Nevertheless, subsequent information received revealed that a businessman purchased a quantity of diesel from the mechanic knowing same to be stolen from the contractor.

He was later arrested and placed in custody at the Reliance Police Station.

Some of the participants at the workshop

Dead: Loretta Evans

Dead minibus driver, Felix Marc

Delroy Evans and his daughter, Mia Evans

Toshaos rap govt, police on ammo, passports

Amerindian leaders on Tuesday flayed the government and the Guyana Police Force for delays in gun licences issuance and ammunition acquisition, the handling of domestic violence and having to travel to Georgetown to obtain a passport.

These issues were raised during the ongoing National Toshaos Council conference at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), during a meeting with Home Affairs Ministry officials and police top brass, toshaos lamented that they often experience difficulties in accessing ammunition. In response, Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell informed that licensed firearm holders can place their orders at the nearest police station and the police officers will take on the responsibility of acquiring it.

The police commissioner urged the Amerindian leaders to work closely with ranks of the force, particularly with divisional commanders. The toshaos also spoke of the need for public education on social ills such as drug use.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud assured that the force is prepared to deal with this issue, from an awareness standpoint, as well as from an enforcement perspective.

With regard to the processing and issuance of passports, toshaos were told that if they have in their possession, the relevant documentation and can submit their applications early, the passport office will fast-track their applications

Rural constables

In an effort to boost law enforcement efforts in the hinterland, more than 100 toshaos and senior councillors took the oath of office as rural constables (RCs) on Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Courtney Ramsey, who currently heads the F Division, spoke at length of the force’s responsibilities as defined in the Police Act. He explained in great detail the provisions of the Disciplined Act Chapter 17:01, which speaks to role of RCs. These constables essentially support the efforts of police by executing police-related duties in their respective communities, to ensure the maintenance of law and order.

However, the RCs were reminded that their pres-

ence should, in no way, hamper regular policing. If confronted with serious situations, they are mandated to request backup and notify police ranks, who were trained to handle such matters.

Superintendent Ramsey said RCs must function as peace officers, mediators, negotiators, and mentors.

Crime Chief Persaud explained that as long as there is cause for suspicion, toshaos who are sworn RCs have the authority to conduct stop and search activities on vehicles and boats and make arrests once those suspicions have been confirmed.

Toshaos requested more equipment such as batons, handcuffs and land and water transport, which Commissioner Brumell said are issues that can be worked out at the level of the Home Affairs and Amerindian Affairs ministries.

Amerindian leaders of Region Nine were informed that the Force will be working to resuscitate dormant policing groups in their communities. Brumell assured the leaders that the Guyana Police is willing to do all that is necessary to address most, if not all of their issues, to ensure the maintenance of their rights to live in safe communities.

Burglars raid home of elderly Berbician

Burglars continue to wreak havoc in Berbice as they broke into the home of an elderly woman on Tuesday and carted off hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The police are investigating the alleged break and enter and larceny committed on the dwelling house of Jessey Peters, 60, of Lot 61 Race Course Springlands, Corentyne which occurred on Tuesday between 09:50h and 11:45h. The burglars reportedly carted off $100,000 belonging to Peters and a further $650,000 along with two pairs of blue Calvin Klein Jeans worth $10,000 each, belonging to her daughter.

Based on reports received, the victims live in a one-flat wooden house and

between the times mentioned, they went out to run a few errands and on their return, they discovered the hasp and staple and padlock wrenched off from the access door. On checking they discovered the articles mentioned missing. The matter was reported to the police who questioned several persons in the area but no useful information was garnered. Meanwhile, the police are also investigating an alleged attempted robbery on Khemchand Ramkellawan also called Vishaul, 39, a businessman of Lot 13 A Letter Kenny Village, Corentyne, Berbice which occurred on Tuesday. According to information gathered, Ramkellawan operates an electronic store and at about 09:30h on the day in ques-

Apply for concessions on your

land – Amerindians urged … subsurface resources belong to govt

Amerindians were urged to apply for various concessions within the boundaries of their titled lands by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, during an interactive session at the National Toshaos Council (NTC) meeting at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

The legal affairs minister on Tuesday reminded NTC stakeholders that despite special consideration given to them, the Amerindian Act dictates that while they are entitled to the surface rights of the land, the sub-surface resources still belong to the state, which has the authority to sign concessionary agreements permitting others access to that resource.

The minister said that the refusal to understand this “fundamental truth” is the principal basis for many of the conflicts between mining concessionaires and the title holders of Amerindian lands. “The important point that you must understand is that when you own a piece of land and you have title for it you do not own the minerals which lie beneath that land, that applies to every single Guyanese, that is not confined to Amerindians,” he told the gathering.

Law cannot be amended

He said it was not a principle that is confined to the laws of Guyana, but it was the law everywhere. Nandlall also called on the NTC stakeholders to understand that their call to get around this “truth”, since amending the Amerindian Act to solve the problem is not a valid resolution, because the act is guided by the Constitution which enshrines the rights of all Guyanese.

“I hear people call for the amendment of this act, to solve that problem; this act cannot be amended to solve that problem. The Constitution of this country is the supreme law and anything, any law that conflicts with the Constitution will be declared by a court to be null and void,” he said. The minister explained that the Constitution protects the rights of citizens, that is, their property right, and

a miner once he has a mining concession, has a proprietary interest.

Minister Nandlall told the NTC that once the Amerindian villages deny that miner access to this interest, either by amending the Amerindian Act or by passing some other law or by physical action, then they are, in fact, denying him his constitutional right.

State’s property

He explained that this denial of the miner’s constitutional right is the reason miners are able to go to court with such frequency and win cases against the Amerindian villages.

“There is not much that one can do with the Amerindian Act to deal with that situation, because no Parliament will pass a law that defeats the proprietary interest of other people. Neither will they pass a law that would deny the state of Guyana, their ability to use natural resources that are the state’s property,” Minister Nandlall stated.

During the exercise, the legal affairs minister also undertook to have pending Amerindian land dispute cases brought up more frequently in court. He also endorsed the NTC stakeholders’ call for a workshop for the toshaos dedicated solely to creating greater understanding of the Amerindian Act.

tion, his store was opened for business and he was behind the counter when two men entered and enquired the prices for mobile phones.

They then moved to the centre area where a quantity of amplifiers were stored and asked the businessman to show them the amplifiers. As Ramkellawan bent over to take out the amplifier, one of the suspects placed a gun to his neck and ordered him not to make any noise. Soon after, two customers walked into the store and the victim put up a fight which led to them to retreat and escape. Several persons were questioned and based on information received, the suspects joined a vehicle heading to New Amsterdam. The police are continuing their investigations.

An Amerindian leader seeking clarification on an issue from the police top brass

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud speaking at the meeting

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

El Salvador: Where women may be jailed for miscarrying

El Salvador has one of the toughest anti-abortion laws in the world. A side-effect is that women who suffer miscarriages or stillbirths are sometimes suspected of inducing an abortion – and can even be jailed for murder.

El Salvador is one of five countries with a total ban on abortion, along with Nicaragua, Chile, Honduras and The Dominican Republic. Since 1998, the law has allowed no exceptions –even if a woman is raped, her life is at risk or the foetus is severely deformed.

More than 200 women were reported to the police between 2000 and 2011, of whom 129 were prosecuted and 49 convicted – 26 for murder (with sentences of 12 to 35 years) and 23 for abortion, according to research by Citizens’ Group for the Decriminalisation of Abortion. Seven more have been convicted since 2012.

The study underlines that these women are overwhelmingly poor, unmarried and poorly educated – and they are usually denounced by pub-

The strict abortion law has other serious human rights implications.

lic hospital staff. Not a single criminal case originated from the private health sector where thousands of abortions are believed to take place annually. Suicide was the most common cause

of death in 2011 among 10-to-19-yearold girls, half of whom were pregnant, according to Health Ministry figures. It was also the third most common cause of maternal mortality. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Haiti questions findings of report on child labour and human trafficking

The government of Haiti has questioned the findings of a recent report by the Walk Free Foundation on the alleged prevalence of “modern slavery” in Haiti.

“As the first nation to free itself from slavery in 1804 and a supporter of several Latin American countries in their own fight for freedom, Haiti is a proud nation that is attempting to address the problems of child labour and human trafficking that have long plagued the country,” the government said in a press release.

Such reports, however, incorrectly inflate the prevalence of child labour in Haiti and do an enormous disservice to our government’s efforts to address the issue. This report supposedly arrives at its conclusions by

‘multiplying the estimated proportion of the population enslaved in [Haiti] (derived from random sample surveys and secondary source estimates) by the current population,’” the release continued.

The government said it is unaware of any serious ran-

dom sample surveys on this subject and its own analysis of so-called secondary source estimates reflects that they are largely based on anecdotal accounts. Haiti called on international partners to assist in the data collection efforts of its child protection agency. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Know the rules of the Caricom treaty, senator tells artistes

Jamaica’s Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister A J Nicholson says local artistes must ensure that they understand the specific requirements of other Caribbean Community (Caricom) states in which they intend to perform.

Stating that his ministry is aware of some of the challenges that the entertainers face, Senator Nicholson said efforts are being made to address them.

“It is important in this context to also bear in mind that the Revised Treaty al-

lows for a country to invoke Article 226 of the Revised Treaty on the basis of protecting public order and morals but this must be notified to the Council for Trade and Economic Development,” he said in reference to the Treaty of Chaguaramas that established Caricom.

“While Jamaica has stoutly defended its entertainers it is important for entertainers themselves to understand the requirements under the revised treaty and the exceptions,” Senator Nicholson told the

Senate on Friday.

Noting the provision under the Treaty for the movement of service providers, Senator Nicholson said Jamaican entertainers can be regarded as temporary service providers meaning that when they move from Jamaica to elsewhere in the Caribbean they are providing a service in that territory subject to the approval of the relevant authorities. Entertainers are eligible for both skills certificates and recognition as temporary service providers. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Fallout from illegal August strike: TT’s National Petroleum fires 68 workers

TT State-owned fuel distributor National Petroleum Marketing Company Limited (NP) has fired 68 employees for what it described as an “illegal work stoppage” at the company’s gantries at the NP’s head office in Sea Lots, Port of Spain, in August.

They were part of a group of 85 workers who had engaged in an Oilfields Workers’ Trade Unionsanctioned work stoppage from August 13-15. Their actions had resulted in panic buying throughout the country and all 85 employees were initially suspended with pay while the company investigated the matter. Following disciplinary hearings, however, the company on Tuesday terminated

the employment of 68 of the group for breaches of their contracts.

In a one-page statement issued Tuesday, NP’s acting corporate communications manager Rae Gilbert said individual disciplinary hearings were held on October 7 and 10 and each suspended employee was given the opportunity to respond to the following charges: • refusal to perform job functions • participation along with others in an illegal work stoppage

• unauthorised absence from work stations

Work stoppages such as this one, Gilbert said, have resulted in severe losses to the company over the past two years. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

OECS states urged to restructure domestic economies

St Kitts and Nevis and the other OECS member countries are being encouraged to restructure their domestic economies. The advice is coming from governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Sir Dwight Venner.

According to the ECCB governor, that thrust should include paying attention to the make-up of the private sector in the sub-region, because he says too much of the sector at the moment has

an informal status. His comments were based on the premise that OECS states need to be able to manage the expectations of their people.

“Because when we examine the private sector in the OECS… it’s two-thirds informal and one-thirds formal,” the governor said citing a survey done in St Lucia he suggested was applicable to the rest of the OECS.

“The one-third constitutes mainly those who do wholesale, retail, real es-

tate and construction. These are not tradable goods and therefore do not earn foreign exchange on the first round,” Venner explained. He wants to see the private sector reconstituted “to be two-thirds formal and to have a mix between the tradables and the nontradables”. Venner said the countries of the sub-region have to stretch their horizons into a single economic space to make them viable. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

High Court yet to rule on motion of no confidence – says PM Douglas

Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas has reiterated that a motion of no confidence filed against his government cannot be debated until the court rules on several matters filed by the Speaker.

Responding to a statement made by the St Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce on the outstanding matter at the opening session of the National Consultation on

the Economy, Douglas said his government is very confident there is no instability with regards to investment opportunities in this country, when you look in particular at the tremendous improvement in the rollout of new projects that are as a result of foreign direct investment.

“We are certain that there is no damage to the image of St. Kitts and Nevis, not after the several leader-

ship roles that we have been called upon to pursue in the region and in international and global community with the regards to the welfare of people all over the world” he said.

“I therefore wish to remind us that under the Constitution and Standing Orders, there is no stipulated timetable within which the motion of no confidence should be debated in our National Assembly.” (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Colombia’s Cerrejon coal railway bombed; exports unaffected

Astretch of the railway belonging to Colombia’s biggest coal producer, Cerrejon, was bombed late on Tuesday, the second such attack in 10 days but one that would not have any immediate impact on exports, the company said in a statement.

Military sources said this attack, like the previous one, was the work of the leftist FARC rebels. The guerrillas have stepped up attacks on coal and oil infrastructure in the last few weeks, also bombing the country’s number two oil pipeline. There were no deaths or injuries caused by the latest attack. The railway is owned and used exclusively by Cerrejon, a joint venture between Anglo American Plc, BHP Billiton and Xstrata Plc. In 2012 it carried 32.7 million tons of coal from its mine in La Guajira province to its own port, Puerto Bolivar. (Reuters)

Around the world

Syrian snipers target pregnant women, unborn babies, doctor says

An X-ray shows a bullet lodged in a baby’s head. The image would be chilling enough without knowing the child was still in its mother’s womb when it became the target of snipers hiding in the shadows in northern Syria.

The mother survived. Her baby didn’t. And it’s not the only one.

Volunteer doctor David Nott, a British surgeon who’s worked in several Syrian hospitals with the charity Syria Relief, says snipers are playing a “targeting game,” and heavily pregnant women are on the hit list.

“Most of the children removed were seven, eight, nine months gestation, which meant it was fairly obvious to anybody that these women were pregnant.” Young children are also being targeted, Nott said.

“After a while we noticed that there were certain trends going on,” Nott said.

“We had some days, say, 10 or 15 gunshot wounds of which eight or nine of them were targeted in one particular area. So for example, one day, we received say 15, 16 gunshot wounds and of that eight to nine were targeted in the left groin only.

Merkel calls Obama about “U.S. spying on her phone”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called U.S. President Barack Obama after receiving information that the U.S. may have spied on her mobile phone.

A spokesman for Merkel said the German leader “views such practices... as completely unacceptable”.

Merkel has called on U.S. officials to clarify the extent of their surveillance in Germany.

cerns from Germany as well as France and other U.S. allies over U.S. intelligence practices. The call comes a day after U.S. intelligence chief James Clapper denied reports that U.S. spies had recorded data from 70 million phone calls in France in a single 30-day period. He said a report in Le Monde newspaper contained “misleading information”.

Nott said 90 per cent of surgeries he performed on any given day were for sniper wounds.

On some days, the wounds were suspiciously similar.

Photos provided to CNN by Syria Relief show a young girl with painted nails lying in a hospital bed with head wounds. She appears no more than five years old. Another, around the same age, lies under a green sheet with a gaping wound to her forehead.

Russia reduces charges against Greenpeace activists over Arctic protest

Russia on Wednesday dropped piracy charges against 30 people involved in a Greenpeace protest against Arctic oil drilling, replacing them with lesser offences and cutting the maximum jail sentence they face to seven years from 15 years.

The charges against activists who protested at a Gazprom oil platform off Russia’s northern coast last month have been changed from piracy to hooliganism, the federal Investigative Committee said in a statement.

Greenpeace said the new charges were still “wildly disproportionate” and promised to contest them.

All 30 people who were aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise during the

About

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in a recent report has warned that although new tuberculosis (TB) cases are falling worldwide, about three million people each year go undiagnosed and are not getting the required treatment.

September 18 protest, in which activists tried to scale the Prirazlomnaya platform, are being held in detention in the northern Murmansk region until at least late November.

The Investigative Committee said it had begun the procedure of pressing the new charges, which carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. The piracy charges were punishable by 10 to 15 years.

Greenpeace said the hooliganism charge “represents nothing less than an assault on the very principle of peaceful protest”.

“This is still a wildly disproportionate charge that carries up to seven years in jail,” Vladimir Chuprov of Greenpeace Russia said in a statement. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“Then the following day they were targeted in the right groin only. So it seemed to me like there was some of thing going on – a game going on – between the snipers.”

Knott said other local doctors he worked with told him they’d heard snipers were receiving little presents – like packets of cigarettes – for people they had shot during the day. (Excerpt from CNN)

The White House said President Obama had told Chancellor Merkel the U.S. was not monitoring her communications. “The United States is not monitoring and will not monitor the communications of the chancellor,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Carney told reporters the U.S. was examining con-

The German government would not elaborate over how it gained its information about alleged U.S. spying on their leader’s communications.

But news magazine Der Spiegel, which has published stories based on material from fugitive U.S. leaker Edward Snowden, said the information had come from its investigations. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Syria releases 13 women detainees

The Syrian government released 13 female detainees, an official and an activist group said Wednesday, in a move that appeared to be part of an ambitious regional prisoner exchange.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the women walked out of the headquarters of the Damascus provincial government Tuesday morning, but has not been able to contact them.

A Syrian government official confirmed the women’s release, but declined to provide further details. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media.

It was not immediately clear whether the women released were part of a complicated hostage swap last week brokered by Qatar and

the Palestinian Authority that saw Syrian rebels release nine Lebanese Shiite Muslims, while Lebanese gunmen simultaneously freed two Turkish pilots.

Lebanese officials have said a third part of the deal

called for the Syrian government to free a number of women detainees to meet the rebels’ demands.

The agreement illustrated how far Syria’s civil war, now in its third year, has spilled across the greater Middle East. It also appeared to represent one of the more ambitious negotiated settlements to come out of the war, in which the rival factions remain largely opposed to any bartered peace. (Excerpt from Yahoo! News)

three million TB cases undiagnosed annually – WHO Pope suspends German “luxury bishop”

“Quality TB care for millions worldwide has driven down TB deaths,” said Mario Raviglione, WHO Director of the Global TB Programme.

“But far too many people are still missing out on such care and are suffering as a result. They are not diagnosed, or not treated, or information on the quality of care they receive is unknown.”

WHO estimates in its

The report said the response to testing and treating all those affected by MDR-TB is inadequate

Global tuberculosis report 2013 that the three million people who are currently

undiagnosed by health systems account for one third of all those falling ill with

TB each year. About three quarters of the three million missed cases are concentrated in 12 countries according to the report.

The report was released by the WHO on Wednesday in London and Geneva.

Reaching the missed cases is among the report’s five priority actions to accelerate progress towards 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Other areas include: addressing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) as a public health crisis; accelerating the response to TB/HIV; increasing financing to close all resource gaps and ensuring rapid adoption of innovations. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Pope Francis has suspended indefinitely a German Roman Catholic prelate known as the “luxury bishop” from his diocese for spending US$43 million (31 million euros) of Church funds on his residence.

“The Holy See deems it appropriate to authorise a period of leave from the diocese for Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst,” the Vatican said in a statement on Wednesday.

But the pontiff, who has been stressing austerity, stopped short of dismissing him outright, a step which many German Catholics and the media had called for.

In a highly unusual move,

Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartzvan Elst of Limburg was ordered to leave his diocese while an investigation and audit into cost over-runs is held, the Vatican statement said.

The bishop, who met the pope on Monday, “was currently not in a position to carry out his episcopal ministry”. The statement said he should stay outside his diocese “for a period,” and that it would be administered in his absence by a vicar-general.

It did not specify how long the bishop would have to stay away but added that this would depend on an analysis of the finances of his Limburg diocese and the responsibilities for its high costs.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Snipers target women, children, Dr David Nott says

President Bashar Assad, right, gestures as he speaks during an interview with Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV, at the presidential palace in Damascus, Syris on Monday, October 21

networks

T

he Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) officially launched the Belize National Trade Information Network (N-TIN) at the Radisson Hotel, Belize.

Belize is one of six countries identified in a regionwide scan of the trade support institution landscape as being in the position to move ahead with the establishment of a N-TIN. The other countries

include TT, The Dominican Republic, Barbados, Suriname, and Jamaica.

Over the past year the agency has conducted a series of workshops and consultative meetings with the selected countries to introduce the approach and methodology that will be undertaken in the formation of the N-TINs.

David Gomez, manager for Trade and Export Development at Caribbean

Export, said: “The N-TINs are central to the delivery of enhanced trade information services and will contribute to the establishment of mechanisms at the regional level for similar services delivery... the process involves both data collection and compilation and identification of services that respond to the trade information needs of Cariforum exporters and the wider private sector.” (Trinidad Guardian)

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday as shares of Caterpillar and a group of chipmakers tumbled after they reported earnings, putting the S&P 500 on course to snap a four-session streak of record highs.

Results from Caterpillar Inc and Boeing Co, two Dow components, illustrated the mixed picture of the thirdquarter reporting season, which has investors concerned about revenue growth and company forecasts.

Caterpillar was one of the biggest decliners on the S&P, slumping 6.2 per cent to US$83.64 after the heavyequipment machinery maker cut its full-year outlook for a third time and its profit missed expectations. That sent shares tumbling by the most in a day since September 2011. On the upside, Boeing surged 4.9 per cent to US$128.43 after reporting a rise in adjusted profit and raising its fullyear forecast. The smaller-thanexpected September payrolls

London’s economy is doing even better after the banking crash than during the bubble –while nearly every other part of the UK has seen its economy shrink by comparison. Exclusive findings published by the Guardian show that London and the south-east are racing away from the rest of the UK at a pace that would have seemed almost incredible at the height of the financial panic.

During the boom from 1997 to 2006, London and the south-east was responsible for 37 per cent of the UK’s growth in output. Since the crash of 2007, however, their share has rocketed to 48 per cent. Every other nation and region – with the exception of Scotland – has suffered relative decline over the same period. The upshot is about a quarter of the population is responsible for half of the UK’s growth, leaving the

number reported by the Labour Department on Tuesday was seen as another sign of weakness in the economy.

“Earnings cannot grow if the economy is stalling or stuck in place,” said Tim Courtney, chief investment officer of Exencial Wealth Advisors in Oklahoma City, who oversees about US$1.2 billion in assets. “We are back to a normal scenario when weakness in the economic numbers is going to start weighing on stock prices.” (Reuters)

Sudan, South Sudan seek to mend ties to keep oil flowing

The presidents of Sudan and South Sudan said on Tuesday they were happy with work to rebuild southern oil exports through a Sudanese pipeline, seeking to end a recurring row that has hurt a vital source of revenues for both nations.

Within months of South Sudan’s secession in mid-2011 from Sudan, Juba halted its exports that at the time had been running at 300,000 barrels per day because of a row

of transit fees, border security and territory. Both economies struggled.

The taps were turned on again in April, but just three months later South Sudan had cutback output and threatened to shut it down again after Sudan accused Juba of backing rebels.

The land-locked south depends on a pipeline that runs north to a Sudanese terminal in Port Sudan. “The two sides express satisfaction over the

progress made with regard to the flow and export of oil,” the two presidents, Sudan’s Omar Hassan al-Bashir and South Sudan’s Salva Kiir, said in a joint communique after talks in Juba. It was only Bashir’s second visit since the south seceded. It followed unrest in Sudan in September over fuel subsidy cuts, driven by a severe financial crunch since the north lost most of its oil producing areas to the south. (allAfrica)

The Australian government has said it plans to raise the country’s debt limit by two-thirds to allay concerns it could face a future fiscal crisis. The newly-elected conservative government is looking to raise the borrowing limit to A$500 billion (US$486 billion; £300 billion).

Australia is forecast to reach its current A$300 billion ceiling in December.

Treasurer Joe Hockey said that he wanted to avoid a cri-

sis similar to the recent U.S. fiscal emergency.

“The debt limit needs to be set so as to provide sufficient headroom to ensure there is stability and certainty for the financial markets about the government’s capacity to finance its operations for the foreseeable future,” Hockey said.

“We need not look any further than the recent events in the United States to realise how imperative for stability and certainty is for confidence.” Earlier this month, the U.S. government was partially shutdown for 16 days after the Democrats and Republicans were unable to reach an agreement over the country’s budget and raising the debt ceiling. The situation was resolved last week after Congress hammered together a last-minute deal to temporarily raise the debt limit until the end of the first week of February 2014. (BBC News)

remaining three-quarters of Britons to share the rest.

The research also shows that the UK’s highest-earners have become relatively more prosperous after the crash, while many on middle incomes are being squeezed hard. In austerity Britain, the top 20 per cent of earning households are enjoying 37.5 per cent of all Britain’s income growth, even after accounting for taxes and benefits. (The Guardian)

Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties has announced the launch of World Trade Centre Mall (WTC Mall), a new shopping destination located in the Old Central Market area in the UAE capital. The mall includes mid to premium retail, dining and entertainment outlets and houses over 160 shops, 20 dining outlets, an eight-screen cinema and several external landscaped terraces.

Investors'

Brands and stores include Karen Millen, BCBG Maxazria, M.Missoni, Rodeo Drive, Gerry Webber and Via Rodeo. Dining/café options on offer are Shake Shack, Fat Burger, PF Chang’s, Starbucks, Dome Café, Costa Café and Brioche Doree.

Mohammed Al Mubarak, deputy CEO at Aldar Properties said, “The World Trade Centre Mall completes the transformation of Abu Dhabi’s historic

Keeping an eye on your

In turn, social networking site Facebook hit Google in a blind spot by outgrowing its status as a social site and branching out into all the nooks and crannies of the web, a final frontier which Google had laid claims to. The lesson gathered here is that your competitors aren’t always who you think they are. Besides your normal industry peers, be aware of which hidden companies are threatening to cross over industry lines to threaten your business.

Find several major competitors to follow. Commit your workforce to follow their every move, and try to gauge their business strategies based on their current products, supply chain, pricing and financial condition, if the company

trades publicly. For example, Google has been struggling to follow in Facebook’s footsteps with its social network, Google+. You can bet that both companies are thoroughly evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the other.

Facebook has “Like”, therefore Google has “+1”. Google is changing groups into a more user-friendly “Circles” format, so Facebook strikes back by revamping its Groups pages into a new, simpler format. iPhone and Google Apps? Check. Instant photo sharing from smartphones? Check. This kind of rapid fire tit-for-tat is what your company needs to stay competitive and ahead of your competitors. Make sure your products have everything your competitor

Central Market area, which was – and now remains – the heart of shopping in the capital.” The mall will also feature British department store, House of Fraser, for the first time in the Middle East. The store, spread across 100,000 square feet over four floors, features 170 brands such as Biba, Linea, Therapy, Vivienne Westwood, Versace Jeans, Dirk Bikkembergs, and Carolina Herrera. (Gulf Business)

competitors

promises and more – hopefully at a lower price. Lastly, follow public opinion regarding your competitors. Read its product reviews, and comments posted by real users. Take note of the good reviews as well as the bad, and see how you can use this free advice to modify your own products. Keeping your finger on the pulse of the everyday consumer, who cares enough to post his or her opinions online, can help avoid disastrous product design mistakes. Setting up social networking pages – on Twitter and Facebook – and inviting public discussion regarding your products can keep you well informed about your strengths and flaws compared to the competition. (Business Dictionary)

Business concept – Civil rights

Money laundering bill for third reading next week

By Svetlana MarShall

Government next week will be making its submission to the National Assembly on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill despite the lack of support by the opposition.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said owing to the delaying tactics employed by the opposition, the governing side moved to complete the work of the parliamentary special select committee reviewing the bill Tuesday night.

Opposition support

According to Dr Luncheon, within days, the report will be presented to the National Assembly and the amended bill will be read in the House for a third time. But the lingering question is; will the opposition support the bill’s passage?

“I don’t know if God will descend and put sanity in the heads of our parliamentary colleagues. But we have an obligation to this nation to pursue an enactment to avert those dire consequences,” the head of the Presidential Secretariat said.

The amended bill was read in the National Assembly for the first time on April 22, and subsequently on May 7 when the opposition voted for it to be sent to a special select committee.

Dr Luncheon said although Guyana has already been blacklisted in the draft Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) report and faces the risk of a financial crisis, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) continues to delay the process of considering the amended clauses of the bill.

He cited Tuesday as an example, when the opposition failed to show up for a scheduled meeting. But according to Dr Luncheon, APNU’s delaying tactics started before the Parliament went into recess.

“The parliamentary opposition conspired at the end of the session, just before the beginning of the parliamentary recess 2013, to delay the conclusion of the parliamentary special select committee on its consideration of the bill. It was clearly at that stage, ripe for its final consideration … ,” Dr Luncheon explained.

Turning his attention to the Alliance For Change (AFC), he said the party’s decision to support the amend-

ed bill only if the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) is established is unacceptable. “The AFC, they are even more ridiculous, this linkage between the enactment of the anti-money laundering amendment bill and the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission is touted as the AFC’s ultimate position.

“Heaven forbids in consideration of the non-enactment of the amended antimoney laundering bill, one would have to ask, what has adversely affected us by the non-establishment of the Public Procurement Commission,” Dr Luncheon said.

In May, the AFC withdrew its support for the bill, noting that the PPC must be established first.

Anti-money laundering

Dr Luncheon said the parties are operating as though the (amendment) bill is not a product of Guyana’s obligation to the CFATF.

He explained that the amendment to the original bill came about as a consequence of the multilateral evaluation report filed by CFATF. The Cabinet secretary said the opposition should not hold the country at ransom.

While the ruling party is

contending that the work of the committee has been completed, Opposition Leader David Granger said this was not the case, noting that the opposition has not received a formal notification that the work of the select committee was completed.

He said committee chairperson Gail Teixeira was advised that the opposition would not have been able to attend the meeting owing to the staging of its statutory shadow cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Stakeholders

Granger maintains that the opposition is still conducting interviews with stakeholders on the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

According to the APNU, the unit has received major criticism since its establishment approximately four years ago.

On May 27, Guyana missed the CFATF’s deadline and if blacklisted by FATF countries as a result of its failure to meet the new November 18 deadline, financial transactions involving Guyanese companies will be intensely scrutinised, creating significant delays in the financial and banking systems. (svetlanam@guyanatimesgy.com)

Toshaos, senior members receive increase in stipends

President Donald Ramotar has announced that village toshaos from across the country, along with senior council members and deputy toshaos, will soon receive an increase in their monthly stipends.

The president made this promise on Wednesday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, during the third day of the annual toshaos council meeting. He said toshaos’ stipends will be raised from $20,000 to $30,000, while the senior council members’ stipends will be increased from $15,000 to $20,000. Deputy toshaos will receive $15,000.

Budget cuts

Despite the budget cuts inflicted by the opposition in Parliament, Ramotar said government will still work toward implementing the increase. The president’s announcement was met with loud applause, but only from some sections of the gathering. Speaking to this publication after Wednesday’s meeting, some toshaos ex-

pressed pleasure, while others said they felt the increase could have been more substantial.

The Region Nine village of Rewa’s toshao, Daniel Haynes said the cost of living in the hinterland is high, hence the little stipend does not do much.

However, he said the increase in the stipend will make a difference. “I feel happy that we are getting the increase, and we will want to work more in our community because of this,” said Haynes.

The toshao of Taruka, Region Eight, Orvil Lazarus, stated he carries out a number of duties in his village and, as such, he was very pleased when the president disclosed that he would be raising the stipends.

Kamana (Region Eight) Toshao Derek Williams stated that although the stipend has increased, many items are expensive, and he made reference to transportation costs putting an enormous dent in persons’ pockets. “We have to catch a plane to come here.

An aircraft seat to Ogle Airport is about $36,000 one way,” he said.

Manawarin (Region

One) Toshao Alvin George disclosed that he does not think the stipend should be an issue, as based on the Amerindian Act, persons can seek employment elsewhere, while holding their positions.

The president also stated that the government will release money almost immediately to 50 villages, which will soon get computers through the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme.

Connectivity

Acknowledging that an issue of national concern is connectivity between the hinterland and Georgetown, the president explained that Prime Minister Samuel Hinds will table a telecommunications bill in the National Assembly aimed at liberalising the sector.

“We hope we can get more competition and more companies can come on board to provide the kind of services needed,” he said.

Responding to concerns about the deplorable condition of schools and health facilities, President Ramotar noted that the administration will consider contracting village councils to provide maintenance services.

Cabinet approves contracts

Cabinet on Tuesday granted its no-objection to another round of projects across the country, in keeping with government’s promise to enhance the lives of all Guyanese,

Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon made this disclosure on Wednesday during his post-Cabinet media briefing at the office of the president.

In the housing and water sector, 81 core homes in Regions Three, Four, Six, and 10 will be constructed using approximately $170.6 million, while several roads in Region Five stretching from Esau and Jacob to Mora would be rehabilitated and others constructed to the tune of $105.1 million.

Additionally, sections of the main access roads in Regions Two and Three will be rehabilitated at a cost of $65.5 million. Under the education sector, the government has ap-

proved $168.5 million for the provision of security services at the Education Ministry.

In the legal affairs sector, however, $22.9 million will be used to procure generators for the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, which has been under rehabilitation.

GRA closely monitoring roll-out of MIR

“I have always been advocating that if the villages have the capacity to do these things, we should give it to them to do... it will create more jobs and make more money available to circulate in the villages, and will have a positive impact in the village economies,” said the president.

Access to higher education

With regard to overcrowding in schools, Ramotar disclosed that government is working to establish more schools in the hinterland regions to address the problem. He made reference to the school at Kato, which is currently under construction.

Ramotar said the government is also working to put University of Guyana (UG) programmes online, so that persons in the hinterland region will have easier access to higher education without having to leave their communities.

In conclusion, the president assured the conference that he will make certain that the administration looks into all of the issues raised during the discussions at the event.

Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur has warned that his organisation will be closely monitoring the roll-out of the new Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR) concession, which will be made available to firsttime homeowners who hold mortgage loans of up to $30 million.

Sattaur said the MIR regulations, signed onto by the Finance Ministry, would see the GRA implementing a mechanism to administer the relief to homeowners. He explained that it was the tax on the interest from the mortgages that would be foregone.

The homeowners will be permitted to deduct the interest they pay on such mortgages from their taxable income for the purpose of personal income tax. The GRA would now be tasked with the mandate of compensating financial institutions that would have had to reduce that interest.

“A lot of checks and balances are put in the system to prevent further fraudulent claims as well. So those people who think they can smart the system, we are looking out for them,” he sternly stated.

Sattaur noted that the GRA has already begun the process and also has systems in place to ensure the public is sensitised about the new law.

He added that the system would also require interagency cooperation between the banks, the financial institutions, and the GRA. “Ultimately, the relief is granted through a reduction in the payment of your commitment to those institutions,” he explained.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh recently signed and sent for publication in the Official Gazette, the Income Tax MIR Regulations 2013. This ensures the establishment of the regulatory foundation for mortgage relief to be granted pursuant to the introduction of this measure announced in Budget 2013. The introduction of the MIR is expected to cost government approximately $580 million annually, and will benefit tens of thousands of first-time homeowners.

The MIR has been widely applauded as a measure that would contribute to further growth in the economy, as a result of the impetus it will give to homeownership and construction activity.

GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur

Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon

SUDOKU

You will leave a lasting impression on everyone you meet. Your interesting way of assessing situations and finding solutions will put you in a class of your own. There is money to be made.

By Bernice Bede Osol

(June 21July 22) (Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Look at change as a new beginning. Don’t let what others do or say stop you from following your heart or taking on a challenge or endeavour that interests you.

It’s a good day to do something challenging and to stray from your comfort zone. Updating your appearance will give you the confidence you require to follow your dream.

Don’t labour over what you cannot change. You need to let go of the past and start noticing the many opportunities in front of you. Love is complicated and changeable.

(Aug. 23Sept. 22)

(July 23Aug. 22) (Feb. 20-March 20)

Don’t hesitate; if you want to make a difference, put your plans into motion and follow through on them. You will have a lasting effect on a situation that will make your life easier.

(March 21-April 19)

Change may be inevitable, but it could also be your ticket to a fresh start. Check out what’s needed to head in a direction that suits your personal, financial and emotional needs.

(April 20-May 20)

Ask questions, offer suggestions and tackle any situation that could be improved with a little understanding, compassion and hands-on help. Short trips will bring good results.

(May 21June 20)

Do your own fact-finding today. You will have to take the steps necessary to accommodate your needs. A partnership will require you to make changes if you want it to survive.

Your undivided attention and precise action are needed to get the most out of a touchy situation. You can stay on top only if you trust and believe in your abilities.

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

The suggestions you make must be based on fact. You’ll walk a fine line if you decide to face off against someone in charge. Size up your situation and act accordingly.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Take a tour or try your hand at something that brings you pleasure, knowledge or added skills. Information should be your motivation, and it could be your ticket to a new beginning.

(Nov. 23Dec. 21)

If you want to achieve success, you’ll need to look your best and try your hardest. Focus on gaining recognition as well as remuneration for your skills and contributions. Keep physical activity to a minimum.

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

arCHie

dilbert

DENtistry

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Learn to play the guitar, keyboard, drums, and train your voice at Foundation 7. Phone: 225-1151 or 617-4200.

FlOwErs

Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

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thursday, october 24, 2013

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Miss Guyana Universe 2013 off to Moscow

Miss Guyana Universe 2013 Katherina Roshana has departed for Moscow, Russia, empowered by her love for Guyana and the support of thousands of fans in Guyana, and around the world.

The beauty queen is bubbling with energy and excitement, as she prepares to represent her country at the international pageant, whose activities start on Friday evening.

Her heart is empowered with one desire of mak-

ing Guyana proud, and Guyanese taste victory.

Roshana, who is also Miss Guyana India Worldwide and the Miss India Worldwide – Most Beautiful Skin Awardee 2013, is sponsored by the NEW GPC INC/ Limacol.

She promises to be extremely disciplined and to fulfil all commitments as required by the Miss Universe Organisation, and to make a name for Guyana that the world will remember for a long time.

Being an ardent Muslim,

she believes anything is possible with the blessings of God, the Creator, The Sustainer and Nourisher of all peoples and the universe.

An international peace ambassador, Roshana is also known for her humanitarian work.

Her pet projects are to assist and motivate the disabled children of the world, especially those suffering for autism.

She asks for the continued support, love and prayers of her fans, her friends and family.

Females now part of MARAD training programme

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) for the first time in its history has accepted female candidates to its cadet training programme, which is currently

ongoing.

The batch of 22 marine cadets – 17 males and five females – is pursuing training in marine inspection and piloting and they have completed one year so far, MARAD

said in a press release. The four-year programme will expose the cadets to life on various vessels (both local and foreign) so that they can acquire the necessary experience.

UN envoy on HIV/AIDS urges TT to remove anti-gay laws

UN Secretary General Envoy for HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean, Dr Edward Greene has pleaded for the removal of discriminatory immigration laws in Trinidad and Tobago that prohibit the entry of homosexuals.

This plea was made in a congratulatory message read on the occasion of the launch of the book HIV and Human Rights: Legal and Policy Perspectives on HIV and Human Rights in the Caribbean, edited by Sir George Alleyne and Professor Rose-Marie Bell Antoine, on Tuesday in Trinidad and Tobago.

According to a Caricom Secretariat report, Dr Greene noted that the book offered an appropriate launching pad for taking forward a constructive agenda on human rights, for which the PANCAP Justice for All Programme would be a major beneficiary.

Caricom Secretariat Assistant Secretary General for Human and Social Development, Dr Douglas Slater, delivered the feature address.

Dr Slater noted that the launch of the publication was a momentous one in

The UN Secretary General's envoy for HIV/AIDS, Dr Edward

“the Caribbean’s continuing struggle to address the issues of human rights for its people” and one which was “stimulating a movement from ideas to action”.

“The ideas and recommendations [in the book] contain the policy guidance and direction for the political decision makers and… create awareness and understanding of the critical issues required for the change that this Region needs, for the sake of humanity,” Dr Douglas said.

In her response co-editor, Professor Antoine, dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of the West

Indies, paid tribute to Sir George for his leadership in convening the 2010 symposium, from which the book is an outcome.

“This was true dialogue, which will make a valuable contribution to policy”, she said. She also paid tribute to the late Robert Carr and noted that “his compelling voice lived through the text”.

Co-editor, Chancellor and Professor Emeritus, University of the West Indies, Sir George Alleyne in his response drew attention to the rhetoric of Caribbean constitutions stating, “if rights were to be abrogated, this should be possible through constitutional change”.

He noted that “the only countries in the Western Hemisphere which criminalise homosexual sex in private are in the Caribbean … and the only way of changing, it seems, is through litigation”.

Sir George pointed out that the book indicates the additional work to be done and would be of optimal utility, “if it cedes in the mind of the young that stigma and discrimination is not in the best interest of the Caribbean”.

VEHiClEs FOr salE

HEaltH EDuCatiON

VaCaNCiEs

mEDitatiON

Greene

Marine cadets, including two females, converse with Minister Robeson Benn during a visit to his office

Anderson’s maiden ton hands NZ advantage

Corey Anderson scored his maiden Test century with a calculated dominance of the Bangladesh attack on Wednesday. His 116 led the way for New Zealand as they ended the third day of the second Test on 419 for 8 with a lead of 137.

Shakib Al Hasan’s fivewicket haul was the only solace for Bangladesh, who also had to endure a late, 84-run ninth-wicket partnership between BJ Watling and Ish Sodhi. On a pitch that is offering more turn every day, the stand further dented the confidence of the Bangladesh bowlers. Watling was unbeaten on 59 and Sodhi on 53, the legspinner’s maiden Test fifty.

Bangladesh had a good start to the day, picking one of the two wickets they had

Imran Tahir announced his comeback to Test cricket with a maiden five-wicket haul that embarrassed Pakistan as they were bowled out for 99 on the first day of the second Test in Dubai on Wednesday.

Graeme Smith then steered his team into the lead towards the end of the day with an unbeaten halfcentury and with seven wickets in hand, South Africa have already taken charge of the Test.

The day belonged to Tahir, whose last Test figures in Adelaide had read 371-260-0. He picked up three wickets in the last ten minutes of the first session and then added two more early in the second as Pakistan collapsed to 99 - their thirdlowest score against South Africa - in just 36.4 overs.

Two of those wickets, including that of Misbah-ulHaq, came in the last over before lunch after Dale Steyn had removed Younis Khan in the penultimate one, meaning Pakistan had all but frittered away the advantage of batting first on a pitch that is expected to aid the spinners later in the Test.

Tahir was introduced as early as the 12th over of the innings, but bowled too full in his first few overs. Azhar Ali and Shan Masood, who were

sought desperately on the second day. New Zealand had added 20 runs in 3.3 overs before Ross Taylor edged Shakib to first slip for 53 off 79 balls.

Williamson was the other wicket that the hosts wanted but they didn’t get the batsman for another couple of hours. While they focused on dismissing New Zealand’s No. 3, Bangladesh were blind-sided by Anderson, who had made his debut in the first Test in Chittagong.

Anderson made a quiet start, scoring just one run off his first 12 deliveries, but broke free with a four through long-on off Sohag Gazi. He swiftly hit a few more fours before swinging a six off Shakib and brought up his fifty off 72 balls. At lunch, New Zealand were 51 runs behind, but Anderson

making gradual progress, were both happy to push him straight down the ground for comfortable singles. But one such full delivery caught the inside edge of Masood’s bat and hit the stumps after hitting his back leg.

The second wicket was the big one though as Tahir bowled a flighted googly to which Misbah played outside the line and was hit right in front of the middle. Misbah reviewed the decision, but there wasn’t much of a case for him. The third one was off a quicker delivery that Adnan Akmal chose to play on the back foot, but it skidded past the inside edge on to the stumps to leave Pakistan in tatters. Pakistan were reduced from 52 for 2 to 60 for 6 in a matter of minutes as Tahir found the right length on the pitch.

Pakistan hopes for some resistance in the second session disappeared as soon as Saeed Ajmal was run out by a direct hit. Then, Tahir picked up two more wickets in an over - Asad Shafiq went for a slog and missed a straighter one while Mohammad Irfan missed a googly. Babar played a few shots but despite a 23-run stand for the last wicket, he didn’t stand in the way for Pakistan’s second sub-100 score in Dubai. Steyn, who had set the tone

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand 1st innings

P Fulton lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 14

H Rutherford c M Haque b Shakib Al Hasan 13

K Williamson c Tamim Iqbal b Abdur Razzak 62

R Taylor c N Hossain b Shakib Al Hasan 53

B McCullum* c R Hossain b Shakib Al Hasan 11

C Anderson c S Gazi b Al-Amin Hossain 116

B Watling† not out 59

D Bracewell c †M Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan 17

N Wagner c M Ayub b Nasir

Hossain 8 I Sodhi not out 55

Extras: (b 4, lb 4, w 2, nb 1) 11

Total: (8 wkts, 133 overs) 419

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-32, 3-101, 4-127, 5-267, 6-287, 7-318, 8-335

Bowling: Al-Amin Hossain

16-3-58-1, Sohag Gazi 348-77-0, Shakib Al Hasan 40-13-97-5, Abdur Razzak 19-1-84-1, Rubel Hossain 181-81-0, Nasir Hossain 3-1-71, Mominul Haque 3-0-7-0

had moved to 75 and Williamson was on 56.

The pair ensured New Zealand also maintained a good run-rate of 3.72. The first session saw New Zealand score 124 runs for the loss of one wicket and, with the threat of rain and a spinning track, it marked a shift in the momentum of the game.

Thirty-odd minutes after the break, Anderson reached his hundred with a glide through midwicket off Gazi.

of the day with a perfect outswinger to dismiss Khurram Manzoor in his first over after being deemed fit in the morning, cleaned up Junaid Khan to collect his third wicket of the innings with a reverse-swinging full delivery.

South Africa, as Smith had said at the toss, wanted to make first use of the pitch and their bowlers made sure they were in to bat midway in the second session.

Pakistan took to the field desperately seeking

It was an assertive innings - Bangladesh couldn’t get Anderson playing and missing for too long, and eventually the batsman would hit out with a four. Predictably, he played spin more than pace but dominated Shakib, Gazi and Abdur Razzak. Against Rubel Hossain, who tested him on a few occasions from around the wicket, Anderson struck five boundaries.

At the other end, Williamson steadily brought up his third successive fifty in the series with a four down the ground off AlAmin Hossain. Williamson had a reprieve on 58 when Mushfiqur dropped a chance off Gazi, but fortunately for Bangladesh, it didn’t cost them too much as the batsman was out for 62.

Razzak broke the 140run stand as Williamson miscued and holed out to Tamim Iqbal at deep midwicket. Seven overs later, Al-Amin had Anderson caught in the covers for his first Test wicket. Anderson scored 116 off 173 balls with 13 fours and a couple of sixes.

Shakib completed his tenth five-wicket haul when he had Doug Bracewell caught behind in the 101st over of the New Zealand innings. Then came the lateorder resistance from Sodhi and Watling, who made sure they held on to the advantage created by the middleorder.

wickets, and they used both their reviews within five overs - once when Irfan hit Graeme Smith on the pads and the next time when the slip cordon was convinced Alviro Petersen had gloved one to the keeper - but both were turned down. Pakistan eventually struck through Zulfiqar Babar, who beat Petersen with an arm-ball and trapped him in front in his first over.

Petersen belatedly asked for a review, but that call became the sixth review on the day to be turned down. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan 1st innings

K Manzoor c du Plessis b Steyn 0

S Masood b Imran Tahir 21

Azhar Ali lbw b Morkel 19

Younis Khan c †de Villiers b Steyn 10

Misbah-ul-Haq* lbw b Imran Tahir 2

Asad Shafiq b Imran Tahir 10

Adnan Akmal† b Imran Tahir 0

Saeed Ajmal run out (Petersen) 0

Zulfiqar Babar not out 25

Mohammad Irfan b Imran Tahir 0

Junaid Khan b Steyn 4

Extras: (b 5, lb 3) 8

Total: (all out, 36.4 overs) 99

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-38, 3-52, 4-60, 5-60, 6-60, 7-64, 8-76, 9-76, 10-99

Bowling: D Steyn 13.4-2-38-3,

Washout after Australia make 295

Unseasonal rain in Ranchi washed out the fourth ODI after 4.1 overs of India’s chase on Wednesday, ensuring the series moved 2-1 in favour of Australia to Cuttack, which was experiencing more inclement weather.

There had been a brief shower soon after the match began, but it dissipated to allow Australia to complete their innings. The second instalment was heavier and prolonged, and though it relented with enough time to squeeze in a 20-over chase, the umpires ruled the outfield had been rendered too soggy to allow any play.

Before the damp end, George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell had revived Australia from 32 for 3 with a massive fifth-wicket stand following Mohammed Shami’s opening burst. However, their dismissals in the batting Powerplay robbed the visitors of a 300plus total for the first time in the series, albeit narrowly. Bailey and Maxwell added 153 in 22.4 overs but after both fell in their nineties to Vinay Kumar, Australia’s lower order was able to add only 57 in the last ten overs.

Shami’s sharp first spell had challenged Australia for the first time in the series with the new ball. The attack, however, lacked the same intensity afterwards. India also put down five catches, and only a couple of them were tough takes.

V Philander 5-2-9-0, M Morkel 5-1-12-1, Imran Tahir 13-3-32-5

South Africa 1st innings A Petersen lbw b Zulfiqar Babar 26 G Smith* not out 67 D Elgar c Azhar Ali b Saeed Ajmal 23

J Kallis lbw b Saeed Ajmal 7

D Steyn not out 3

Extras: (b 1, w 1) 2

Total: (3 wkts, 49 overs) 128

Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-91, 3-119

Bowling: Mohammad Irfan 9-0-29-0, Junaid Khan 122-34-0, Saeed Ajmal 18.44-42-2, Zulfiqar Babar 7.22-7-1, Azhar Ali 2-0-15-0

Bailey was put down first ball off Shami by Virat Kohli at third slip, and on 35 by R Ashwin off Vinay, both takeable chances. Maxwell was dropped on 44 by Yuvraj Singh off Jaydev Unadkat, a rather difficult diving opportunity at point, before MS Dhoni reprieved him on 69 behind the stumps off Suresh Raina.

Bailey went on to make his third half-century of the series and India were fortunate to see his back two short of a century, when he top-edged a Vinay long hop. Maxwell kicked on from the cameos he has been getting to inflict punishment on

India with a 77-ball 92 before falling lbw. Bailey and Maxwell hardly allowed the spinners to settle, and were also presented with regular long hops. India weren’t able to exert pressure at all on the duo, who turned the strike over consistently. Vinay delivered an entire opening over of gentle looseners, and Bailey drove and pulled him for three boundaries. Maxwell was given plenty of leg-side offerings to indulge in his quick-arm powerful swing. He countered Ashwin’s line from round the wicket, powering him for successive reverseswept boundaries, the first of which went for six.

After India sent the duo back, Dhoni didn’t give the ball to any of his seamers, opting for spin for nine of the last ten overs before he brought back Shami for the last one. Australia ‘s lower order, tied down by Raina and Ravindra Jadeja, promptly took 12 off it, despite atleast three deliveries finding the blockhole. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Corey Anderson celebrates his maiden Test hundred (AP)

George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell put on 153 for the fifth wicket in 22.4 overs (BCCI)

Man United hold on to beat Sociedad

Manchester United moved a step closer to the Champions League knockout stages with a narrow victory over Real Sociedad on Wednesday.

Inigo Martinez’s secondminute own goal - which also owed much to superb work by Wayne Rooney - ensured United maintained their unbeaten record in the competition this season.

United manager David Moyes will have made three points his sole objective after the disappointing 1-1 Premier League draw at home to Southampton on Saturday and in a week when their European campaign has been reduced to a sideshow by revelations in former manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s new autobiography.

And on the night when United gave a trial to Old Trafford’s new ‘singing section’, they at least had something to celebrate - unlike the 6,000 colourful visiting fans who followed Sociedad.

The La Liga side made United work hard for the win but it was one they fully deserved despite some anxious moments, particularly when Antoine Griezmann hit the post with a first-half free-kick.

Rooney was once again United’s main source of dan-

Richards, Sobers and Marshall in Wisden all-time World Test XI

Wisden has named four Englishmen in an all-time Test World XI to mark 150 years of the Cricketers’ Almanack.

ger as he continued the outstanding form he has shown this season.

If there are any complaints from Moyes, they will have centre on his side’s inability to finish the game off earlier - as well as some questionable defending that offered Sociedad hope.

And at least Moyes was finally able to move the agenda away from his predecessor Ferguson, who has claimed the headlines this week and overshadowed this important Champions League game as he raked over his 26 years in charge at Old Trafford.

Once again, this was not a fluent United performance but the result will give them added confidence ahead the return meeting away to Sociedad in a fortnight.

Moyes decided against risking striker Robin van Persie, who has been suffering with toe and groin injuries - but Rooney’s irresistible form meant the Netherlands international was not missed early on as United were ahead inside two minutes.

Rooney demonstrated perfect technique and speed of thought to evade three defenders in the area, only to curl a shot against the post with keeper Claudio Bravo beaten. As Sociedad appeared to have survived, Martinez sliced the rebound hopelessly into his own net.

Sociedad had a valid claim for Javier Hernandez being offside as Martinez did his unwitting work but Dutch referee Bas Nijhuis and his officials were unmoved by the complaints.

Rooney was at the heart of everything early on and almost added a second after 12 minutes - but Bravo was equal to his volley from Rafael’s cross.

From hesitant early beginnings, Sociedad grew in confidence into the game and were desperately unlucky not to equalise before half-time.

David De Gea had already saved athletically from Haris Seferovic but he could do nothing to stop Griezmann’s free-kick and was relieved as it bounced away off the woodwork.

Sociedad continued to improve after the break but United were creating chances as Phil Jones saw his header blocked by Bravo and Antonio Valencia’s low, angled shot struck the post.

Fortunately for United, Sociedad had lost the impetus they gather in the early moments of the second half and did not make United pay for those missed chances. (BBC Sport)

Williams beats Agnieszka Radwanska in Istanbul

World number one Serena Williams beat Agnieszka Radwanska for an eighth successive time to close in on the semi-finals of the WTA Championships on Wednesday.

American Williams won 6-2 6-4 in Istanbul to record her second win in Red Group with one more round-robin match to play, against Petra Kvitova.

In the White Group, Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic defeated second seed Victoria Azarenka 6-4 6-3 in her opening match.

China’s Li Na, also playing her first match, beat Sara Errani 6-3 7-6 (7-5).

The tournament brings together the top eight players in the world, with the top two players from each group of four qualifying for the semi-finals.

she created.

to be great every day.”

Jankovic capitalised on 40 unforced errors to beat Belarusian Azarenka.

The former world number one, playing in the tournament for the first time in three years, said: “I was so excited to qualify and give myself a chance to play against the best players in the world once again.

Openers Jack Hobbs and WG Grace are included, along with wicketkeeper Alan Knott and fast bowler Sydney Barnes. The team is captained by legendary Australia batsman Don Bradman and features his countryman Shane Warne.

Wisden World XI

West Indians Viv Richards, Garry Sobers and Malcolm Marshall all make the XI along with India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram of Pakistan. (BBC Sport)

1. Jack Hobbs (England, 1908-1930)

61 Tests, 5,410 runs at 56.94

2. WG Grace (England, 1880-1899)

22 Tests, 1,098 runs at 32.29

3. Donald Bradman (Australia, 1928-1948 - captain)

52 Tests, 6,996 runs at 99.94

4. Sachin Tendulkar (India, 1989-2013)

198 Tests, 15,837 runs at 53.86

5. Viv Richards (West Indies, 1974-1991)

121 Tests, 8,540 runs at 50.23

6. Garry Sobers (West Indies, 1954-1974)

93 Tests, 8,032 runs at 57.78, 235 wickets at 34.03

7. Alan Knott (England, 1967-1981 - wicketkeeper)

95 Tests, 4,389 runs at 32.75, 250 catches, 19 stumpings

8. Wasim Akram (Pakistan, 1985-2002)

104 Tests, 414 wickets at 23.62

9. Shane Warne (Australia, 1992-2007)

145 Tests, 708 wickets at 25.41

10. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies, 1978-1991)

81 Tests, 376 wickets at 20.94

11. Sydney Barnes (England, 1901-14)

27 Tests, 189 wickets at 16.43

With two wins, 32-year-old Williams is all-but assured of a place in the last four but was pushed hard by her Polish opponent, who was only able to convert one of the eight break points

“She definitely played pretty well but I can always look to improve on some things,” said Williams. “My serve wasn’t as good, but you can’t expect it

“Beating Vika will give me a lot of confidence going into the next matches.” Azarenka won her opening match against Italian Errani and faces Li in her final group match on Friday, knowing she can still reach the semi-finals. Li, who failed to get past the group stage in 2011 and 2012, opened with a sixth win in six matches against Errani, converting her third match point after being taken to a second-set tie-break.

“I still have to find the rhythm on the court,” said Li who took a threeweek break before the tournament. (BBC Sport)

Aguero earns Man City win in Moscow

Sergio Aguero scored twice as Manchester City came from behind to beat CSKA Moscow and reignite their Champions League Group D campaign on Wednesday.

Manuel Pellegrini had complained about the pitch at the Khimki Arena, and the City boss must have feared the worst when Zoran Tosic put the hosts ahead.

The former Manchester United player lobbed Joe Hart before Aguero levelled after David Silva’s cross.

Aguero capped a gutsy City display by heading home Alvaro Negredo’s cross.

It was far from comfortable for Pellegrini and his players, who were forced to endure some anxious moments against the Russian champions to record their

second away win of the group stage.

Indeed City goalkeeper Hart had to produce a fine stop with an outstretched leg to deny Japan international Keisuke Honda an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

But victory over CSKA in the return game at the Etihad Stadium on 5 November ought to allow City to start planning for the knockout stages for the first time.

After their flat performance against Bayern Munich three weeks ago, City now have six points from three games, three more than the Russians.

CSKA painted the pitch green in some areas after Pellegrini said it was “unbelievable” Uefa passed it fit for use following heavy rain.

But the Chilean’s prematch criticism of the surface was quickly brushed aside as City peppered the hosts’ goal.

Aguero, Yaya Toure, who said after the game he had been subjected to racist chanting, and Negredo all had chances before poor defending in the 32nd minute allowed Tosic to produce a moment of quality that was all too rare during his stint at Old Trafford between January 2009 and June 2010.

The 26-year-old Serbia international found the net with a delicate lob after Honda won an aerial duel with Javi Garcia.

Yet the character lacking from Pellegrini’s side in the 3-1 home defeat by Bayern last month was in ample supply as Aguero spear-

headed the turnaround.

Within two minutes the visitors were level, the Argentina forward getting ahead of marker Sergei Ignashevich to turn Silva’s low cross home from close range. And three minutes before the interval, Aguero put City in front with his ninth goal of the season, a brave header following a delightful cross from the outside of Negredo’s boot.

CSKA pushed forward in search of an equaliser after half-time, Tosic proving a serious threat as City lived dangerously.

Substitute Ahmed Musa thought he had equalised in the 80th minute with a terrific 20-yard strike but his effort was ruled out as Pontus Wernbloom fouled Toure. (BBC Sport)

Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney celebrate

Serena Williams

Garry Sobers

Kashif and Shanghai Kings retain Trophy Stall title

Neville Sarjoo T20 tournament bowls off Saturday

The Kashif and Shanghai Kings successfully defended their Trophy Stall Regulation Open basketball title by defeating Ameila Ward Jets 66-60 in the final of the tournament on Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

After looking wobbly in the group stage of the tournament, and scraping their way to the final four, the Kings overcame yet another hurdle in their quest to keep their title although they were out-rebounded 20-38 by the Jets.

However, the Kings shooting from downtown eradicated their inability to clean the glass during the game.

The inside-out game of the Kings allowed them to dominate the game from beyond the arc while the Jets played horrible perimeter defense on the guards of the Kings.

After the first half ended 38-33 in favour of the Kings, it was much of the same story for the Kings as they ended the third quarter ahead 56-49.

The final period had a bit of drama as the Jets held the Kings to three points for most of the period as they went on an 11-3 run. However, they had some turnovers that got the Kings to the stripe and that eventually secured them the win.

Steve Neils Jr was an artist with his three-point

shooting and play-making ability, dropping a gamehigh 21 points and nine assists.

Omally Sampson, who was named Most Valuable Player, grabbed 11 boards for the Kings and scored 13 points in the win. Orin Rose had 15 points while Marvin Hartman had 12 to contribute to the title defense.

Kevin Joseph was the sharp shooter for the Jets with 18 points while Shane Webster, who was named the defensive player of the

tournament, had 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Allister Webster also picked up a double-double in the loss with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Bankers Trust Falcons finished third in the tournament due to the Retrieve Raiders forfeiting the game because of the suspension of Dwayne “Brown Sugar” Roberts, who was banned for six years due to an altercation with a referee and alleged threats issued

towards a Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) official.

However, the Falcons featured in an earlier game against the Half Mile Bulls which they lost 64-51.

At the presentation ceremony held immediately after the tournament, the three top teams received their prizes from the Organizing Secretary of the LABA Ashton Angel Jr. The Most Disciplined team award went to the Block 22 Flames.

Brusche Classic set for Friday at MSC

The fourth edition of the Brusche Classic will bounce off on Friday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court from 18:00h with one game.

Defending champions

Trinity Grid Holding (TGH)

Pacesetters will meet the Amelia’s Ward Jets on the opening night. Eight clubsfive from Linden and three

from Georgetown - will battle for the top prize of $100,000, along with trophies and medals.

Organiser of the event Cloyde Brusche, noted that systems are in place for the opening of the event, which will see the teams receiving their fixtures and rules of the tournament.

With Wismar Pistons be-

ing the only Linden team to win the event, the Pacesetters will look for a third straight title to keep Georgetown as the supreme hub of basketball in the nation.

The tournament is in honor of the Brusche brothers - Mike, Clifton and James, who formed the Brusche foundation, and now reside in the United States of

America, after representing Guyana at the highest level.

Teams scheduled to participate are: Wismar Pistons (2010 winners), the Amelia’s Ward Jets, Half Mile Bulls, Victory Valley Royals and The Kashif and Shanghai Kings, TGH Pacesetters (defending champions), Ravens Basketball Club and Bounty Colts.

Ronaldo helps Real Madrid beat Juventus

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid beat Juventus 2-1 to maintain their 100% Champions League record on Wednesday.

Ronaldo opened the scoring with a dinked finish but Fernando Llorente equalised from close range before Ronaldo scored a penalty, his seventh goal in three Champions League games.

Juve had Giorgio Chiellini sent off before Real’s Gareth Bale came on

for the last 23 minutes.

Galatasaray went second in Group B, above Juve, by beating FC Copenhagen.

Felipe Melo, Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba scored the goals for Roberto Mancini’s side in their 3-1 win, with Claudemir scoring a late consolation.

Bayer Leverkusen moved above Shakhtar Donetsk into second place thanks to a 4-0 win over the Ukrainians.

Stefan Kiessling scored twice for the Bundesliga

side, with Simon Rolfes and Sidney Sam also netting.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s four goals helped Paris St-Germain hammer Anderlecht 5-0 to make it three wins from three in Group C. Edinson Cavani scored the French champions’ other goal.

Olympiakos remain second thanks to their 1-1 draw with Benfica, who are third.

Alejandro Dominguez gave the Greek side the lead in Portugal but Oscar Cardozo

equalised with seven minutes left. Bayern Munich kept up their 100% record with a 5-0 hammering of Viktoria Plzen, who are still without a point.

A Franck Ribery brace and goals from David Alaba, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gotze saw the holders to an easy win.

Second-placed Manchester City went three points clear of CSKA Moscow with their earlier 2-1 win. (BBC Sport)

The Neville Sarjoo T20 round robin tournament is set to bowl off on Saturday with four matches at the Diamond Community Centre and

YMCA grounds. On Saturday at the Diamond, the hosts will play Combined United from 09:30h while SUCC and North Soesdyke will do battle from 13:30h. At the YMCA venue, Ruimveldt face off with Herstelling A from 09:30h before the Laluni clash with Providence from 13:30h. The tournament continues the next day at the same venues. At Diamond, Herstelling A will play SUCC from 09:30h with Eccles play Sand Pipers in the afternoon.

At YMCA, North Soesdyke and Combined United clash with each other in the first game while Nandy Park and Farm will do battle in the other game.

Powell says he is more experienced now

FLORIDA, United States - Kieran

Powell believes that his experience and maturity as a batsman will be a key factor in the upcoming tour of India, as he looks to bolster West Indies’ batting ranks.

Powell, who made 61 from three innings during West Indies A’s recent tour of India, said that despite the difficult conditions in the subcontinent, West Indies had the adaptability within the team to succeed.

“India is a difficult place to bat but it’s good once you can utilize the conditions there. It’s about adapting quickly. The upcoming tour is much different to the first time I toured India because now I have more experience,” Powell said.

“I also had more responsibility playing and leading the A team here last month (in the limited-overs games) and seeing that the pitches had more grass, I think I know what to expect.

“I made 80 last time I was on the Mumbai pitch and it’s a lot of good memories. It’s a wonderful place to bat and it’s extra special with Sachin’s (Tendulkar) farewell. The pitch can be a bit flat but mostly, it’s batsman friendly.”

Powell admitted that his development from a middleorder batsman to an opener was going according to plan, but that he needed a bit more consistency. “It should be interesting to look to the matches ahead with more games now under my belt,” he said.

“But also, I can’t wait to bat with Shiv [Chanderpaul] and I hope we both have wonderful tours and rack up a few centuries.”

Chanderpaul will be playing his 150th Test in Mumbai and Powell said that the Guyana batsman would be the crucial element in gluing the batsmen together.

“It’s always a pleasure to bat with and learn from Shiv. His 150th match is a great achievement and as a batsman, he’s one of the best to take notes from. He is critical to our motives in India.”

Powell said that batting first and putting India under pressure, would be crucial to their chances in the series, and he placed full faith in his bowlers to do the job.

“Getting big scores and pegging India on the back foot is ideal. I know (Shane) Shillingford is going to be a big player with his spin and I’m always at short-leg for him and busy.

“He keeps batters so aware and he’s a great find for us. He’s moving from strength to strength also and will be troubling. The pitches are tailored for him I think.” (Cricinfo)

Neville Sarjoo

Omally Sampson (left) receives his MVP award from Ashton Angel at the presentation ceremony held after the finals

Kieran Powell

GT&T Indoor Hockey Championships... Hikers Cadets

topple Old Fort 8-4

The Hikers Cadets stamped their authority on the Men’s first division competition on Tuesday night in the GT&T National Indoor Hockey championships as they demolished last year’s finalists, Old Fort by an 8-4 margin.

While both teams were held scoreless in the opening ten minutes, Cadets’ Aroydy Branford continued his goal scoring form of the previous evening with a penalty corner flick in the 11th minute to put his team ahead. Old Fort then wrested the lead briefly as Dwight McCalman and Aderemi “Dove” Simon rattled in a field goal each to make it 2-1 for Old Fort.

Cadets’ Leon Bacchus, lurking in the Old Fort scoring circle, found his form at the right moment as he registered a personal hat-trick in the following ten minutes with teammate Michael Harding adding one more. A tired Old Fort managed two more goals in their attempted comeback before full time through Ascofu Simon and Dwight Sullivan, but a single strike by young Cadet Seon Sookhai and a double by Cadets captain Jamarj Assanah kept the result beyond doubt at 8-4.

The mighty GCC Tigers seemed on course to retain the trophy for a fifth straight year when they defeated the Hikers Divas 3-1 in their Ladies tie. The two top seeds played their usual exciting game to the melody of an excited crowd cheering on every play.

Kerensa Fernandes opened the GCC account in the third minute when she was first onto a loose rebound to take the score to 1-0. Trisha Woodroffe then completed a penalty corner that comprised of a plethora of passes that put the Hikers defense in disarray and captain Sonia Jardine got a well-deserved field goal in the second half to complete the Tigers tally of three.

The Hikers seemed intent to make a challenge when national striker Cora Towler made a brilliant solo run eleven minutes to give her team its first goal of the match but the game would remain at 3-1 for the remainder of time giving the Tigers an easy victory.

Teenage star Aliyah Gordon rained in six of the 15 goals that the GCC Spartans would score as they crushed newcomers Old Fort Heats by 15-0 in the other Ladies matchup of the evening. Samantha Fernandes added four goals for

Olato Sam sees potential in Courts Pee Wee football tourney

– believes it complements vision of MOE

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

the Spartans and Carol Caine three, while Ashley DeGroot and Gabriella Xavier scored one each.

The GCC second division side finally found their form when they upstaged Saints 6-4. Saints however, with improved performances in every tournament, kept the game competitive to the very end. GCC seemed in for an easy night when Steven Xavier and Eric Hing, with a field goal each, put them up by two in the first eight minutes of the match.

Diminutive striker Hilton Chester and teammate Kwesi Lewis however, each found the back of the GCC net to even the score within the next four minutes. The game then shifted back and forth as the two young energetic teams went head to head in an effort to secure the victory.

GCC managed four more through Andrew Xavier, Mark Sargeant and a double by Hing to complete his hat-trick, while Chester added a second for Saints and captain Joel Hunte completed their four-goal haul with a single.

In the lone veterans’ clash, a GCC side littered with former national players, outclassed Old Fort 6-3.

Guyana Hockey Board president, Philip Fernandes, was in fine form as he slammed home a bevy of four goals for GCC, while Damon Woodroffe and Alan Fernandes added one each. Old Fort seemed to be making a comeback shortly after the resumption of the second half as they scored all three of their goals shortly after resumption but failed to continue the trend as the game progressed. Dwayne Allen, Ivor Thompson and John Abrams each scored one for Old Fort.

Matches will continue every evening at the National Gymnasium until Sunday when the finals for all four divisions will be contested from 16:00 hours.

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Olato Sam, believes the Courts Pee Wee Under-11 football tournament can serve as a catalyst for growth in the sport after witnessing some of the games in the Round of 16 last weekend at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park.

Speaking to media operatives, Sam said the tournament can be described in one word - “fantastic”- since it provides a perfect opportunity for young players to harness their sporting skills, while receiving a formal education.

He added, “It really is a wonderful experience for young people and I think it complements everything that goes on in the school. They [students/players] are learning some wonderful lessons here; I’m seeing teamwork, I’m seeing discipline young people really following the rules and I’m seeing them really taking to the competition and all the lessons that come with this kind of engagement.”

The CEO noted that the Courts Pee Wee fits neatly into the ministry’s mandate to churn out well-rounded

individuals, who can make meaningful contributions to society in the future.

“I think when we can have these young people come out here and compete and do well and be proud of themselves, their schools and their teams, I think it would complement all the other things we’re trying to do in the education system…so I must give kudos to the organisers and all of the entities that have stepped forward to offer support,” he related.

Sam is also of the view that the tournament provides an ideal platform for the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to have a glimpse into the future, as the competition will help to mould potential national footballers.

“I’m very impressed with the quality of football, and I think if people and the Guyana Football Federation are looking on they would realise that this tournament really bodes well for what could potentially happen in the future,” Sam concluded.

Exciting matches

Action in the competition will resume on Saturday with eight games, the first two of which will kick off

at 10:00h at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue. Two unbeaten schoolsSt Pius and F.E. Pollardwill put their unblemished record on the line in the first quarter-final at 10:00h, while the other quarter-final games will pit St Margaret’s and East La Penitence at 11:00h, last year’s runner-up Tucville Primary and Enterprise Primary at 12:00 hours and St Gabriel’s and West Ruimveldt at 13:00h.

In the battle for positions 9-16, defending champions Marian Academy will tackle Ketley Primary at

10:00h, South Ruimveldt Primary will trade skills with Redeemer Primary at 11:00h, J.E. Burnham Primary will face St Stephen’s at 12:00h and St Ambrose will square off with North Georgetown at 13:00h.

At the end of the competition, which is a collaborative effort of Courts (Guyana) Inc., the Petra Organisation and Banks DIH Limited, the top four schools will each receive a 32-inch television set to aid visual sessions in the classroom. In 2012, the four top schools were recipients of a laptop each.

The 24 teams will be given stationery vouchers and participation trophies from Courts (Guyana) Inc., while they have been provided with two footballs each and playing bibs, compliments of the Petra Organisation. The champion school will also receive a complete set of uniforms.

A new champion will be crowned this year since last year’s winner Marian Academy’s poor performance has relegated them to the bottom tier of the tournament, where they will compete for positions 9-16.

RHTY&SC’s Pepsi U-19 team assists UCCA’s primary schools’ tournament

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club’s Pepsi Under-19 team donated close to $80,000 in educational materials and other prizes to the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association.

According to a press release from the RHTY&SC, the items are expected to be distributed to outstanding cricketers of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association/City Inn Suite Primary School tapeball competition that bowls off this weekend.

Secretary/CEO of the RHRTY&SC Hilbert Foster, before handing over the items to executives of the UCCA, lauded the work of the body since its formation late last year. The RHTY&SC and the Pepsi Under-19 team, Foster stated, were delighted to assist in the development of cricket across Berbice.

The RHTY&SC also stated that members of the team were asked by management to assist after a special request was made by UCCA vice president Sydney Jackman. Foster also disclosed that club teams Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Females, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division and Gizmos & Gadgets First Division com-

pleted an unprecedented 85 personal development projects for the year.

Speaking to the executives of the UCCA, Foster urged them to remain focused on their mandate and to serve the game faithfully without seeking power. He also pledged RHTY&SC’s continued support to the UCCA and any other association.

UCCA Treasurer Vicky Bharosay expressed gratitude to the management of RHTY&SC and the Pepsi Under-19 team, stating that in the past the club assisted

the UCCA with donations of trophies, stationery and other vital items. Bharosay noted that the association has organised several competitions at different age groups and delighted in the fact that the Upper Corentyne team is once again playing first division cricket.

Meanwhile, the primary school tournament is part of the UCCA’s effort to unearth junior talents for developmental programmes, which will be organised shortly.

Jackman stated that he had approached the

RHTY&SC with confidence that the organization would have helped, especially since it had helped in the reformation of the UCCA.

The items donated included: educational kits and materials, school bags, footwear, books and special prizes.

The RHTY&SC and the Berbice Cricket Board will, in the next two weeks, be assisting 12 clubs with over $400,000 worth of essential items, including scorebooks, water pitchers, dust bins, water buckets and stationery.

Eric Hing

Philip Fernandes

Aliyah Gordon

RHTY&SC CEO/Secretary Hilbert Foster presents items to UCCA Secretary Winston George in the presence of two UCCA executive members

Chief Education Officer Olato Sam

Special committee currently reviewing horse racing legislation

By Rajiv Bisnauth

ANational Sport Commission (NSC) five-member special committee has begun reviewing the draft horse racing legislation, and according to Director of Sport Neil Kumar, the process is expected to be completed in a timely manner.

It is unclear how long the process will take but Kumar said the committee, which is headed by a prominent lawyer, was specifically set up to deal with this specific piece of legislation.

“The National Sport Commission set up a special committee to look at the legislation and currently the committee is in the process of doing that. The committee is headed by a lawyer and they are making a special effort to review the document in a timely manner,” Kumar told this newspaper on Wednesday via telephone.

Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony in a recent interview had said that every step is being looked at to facilitate the likelihood of the passage of the horse racing legislation. The minister had also indicated that the document has to be keenly examined and therefore will take time.

“When we do legislations and take legislations to parliament

there are number of steps. Apart from the ministry agreeing it would then have to go to cabinet, would have to go to a discussion on our parliamentary agenda, will have to find a place there then we have to work to getting it tabled and things like that.

“So there is still a little bit more time and work to be done; we also have to look at what is being submitted to see whether it is capturing what we think needs to be done in terms of horse racing,” the minister has said.

Meanwhile, Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) president Cecil Kennard expressed satisfaction that some progress is being made to have the sport properly regularised. He said the lack of adequate legislation remains the main reason for the sport still not being properly administered.

“Things are not to the level as it ought to be and people are still doing what they feel like, and we cannot nail them because there is no legislation,” according to Kennard.

The retired Chancellor of the

Judiciary expressed that unless there is legislation in place, various forms of indiscretions by many unscrupulous horse and stable owners will continue to plague the sport. The former judge noted that many owners and trainers apply questionable practices to win, which significantly shortens the life span of a race horse. He also indicated that the other problem is the encroachment of the track by bettors and spectators.

Kennard noted that should legislation be passed into law, the

GHRA will impose the necessary penalties on horse owners, trainers, jockeys and even bettors and spectators.

Meanwhile, a few horse owners have expressed the need for proper legislation in order to raise the standard of the sport.

Guyana’s last legitimate racing authority was the Demerara Racing Authority that was located in Durban Backlands. The body once regularised horse racing and outlined parameters for trainers and owners of horses in Guyana, but it became defunct in 1972.

Dubbed the “Sport of Kings”, horse racing, since its resuscitation some six years ago, has been operating under a legal document that was registered under the Miscellaneous Deeds Act.

Mid last year, affiliated clubs to the GHRA decided to set up the Interim Management Committee (IMC) until January last when new elections were held.

Last January, the AGM and elections were attended by the seven race clubs, along with horse owners, trainers and other stakeholders.

The clubs present were allowed to engage in the voting process to reinstate the GHRA in full after a prolonged lapse in the sport’s governing body.

Dr Frank Anthony Neil Kumar

Cecil Kennard