LOOK ! INSIDE Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 1969 guyanatimesgy.com
THE BEACON OF TRUTH
December 1, 2013
PRICE
GPC/CPL OPCO shelves plans for Bourda sports academy
$100 vat included
WHAT'S INSIDE: P2 West Berbice rice farmers expect bigger profit this crop
Businessman loses some $2.2M due P2 to blackout Minister RodriguesBirkett honoured P9 by Argentina
The Bourda ground under water on Saturday, November 30. The principals of the Limacol brand, sponsors of the Limacol T-20 Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) and owners of the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Saturday announced plans to withdraw their proposal to transform the Bourda ground to a modern, world-class sports facility (Carl Croker photo)
Pastor calls for Gruesome early rehabilitation morning murders rock programme for Linden community ex-offenders See story on page 13
See story on page 10
Kevin Abbensetts: From P12 juvenile delinquent to budding professional athlete
Creative designer P12 opens children’s clothing store
2 news
SUNday, december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com
West Berbice rice farmers expect bigger profit this crop
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ice farmers in West Berbice are expecting a bigger profit this crop as they have produced the biggest crop in years. Some 90 per cent of the crop there has already been harvested, with some farmers reaping more than five tonnes of paddy per hectare. West Berbice is predominantly a rice growing area, and prior to this crop, the average yield per hectare was just below five tonnes. Some farmers are currently preparing their fields for the 2014 first crop while others are ahead of the game; they have already started to plant. Already 20
Region Five Chairman Bindrabham Bisnauth
per cent of cultivation has been completed. Region Five Chairman
Bindrabham Bisnauth said farmers can expect a bigger profit not only because they have produced more, but also because production cost was slashed. “Because of the intervention of the president and the minister of agriculture, all our farmers will benefit from a cheaper source of fertiliser.” Some 5000 tonnes of urea was made available to farmers at almost half the price they used to pay. The region has been working with the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) and
the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to ensure there is full readiness for the next crop. “We have completed most of the irrigation canals because now is the irrigation time,” Bisnauth said. According to the chairman, the rains most likely would not adversely affect the planting, pointing out that given the expansion of cultivation, the administration cannot adequately provide water to all the farmers during this critical time. Some farmers have been pumping water into their fields.
Region Five farmers pumping water to start the crop
Shipper busted with cocaine in boulanger at CJIA – CANU issues wanted bulletin for Lusignan woman
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shipper is in Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) custody after the drug enforcement unit intercepted more than 12 kilograms of cocaine in a shipment of boulanger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Saturday. The discovery was made around 03:30hrs. The cocaine was detected in the eggplants moments before it was loaded onto a Caribbean Airlines Flight destined for Toronto, Canada According to information received, the cocaine was detected during an inspection of the vegetable by CANU officials. Immediately after the bust, the shipper who normally exports vegetables abroad, was arrested and an investigation has been launched. According to sources, several others linked to the shipment are likely to be arrested soon. Meanwhile, CANU has issued a wanted bulletin for a businesswoman known as Lolita (only name given) of Lot 135 Grass Field, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, who was implicated in the said vegetable shipment. Anyone with information
that can lead to the arrest of the woman is asked to contact CANU headquarters on telephone number 227-3507 or the nearest police station. All information will be treated with strict confidentiality. Head of CANU, James Singh confirmed the bust and reiterated that while some shippers are finding more innovative means in getting the cocaine to their customers, the agency has stepped up its game to prevent illegal drugs from passing through Guyana’s main port of entry. He also confirmed that the shipper claimed that he is not the owner of the vegetables as it was given to him for shipping by someone. Guyana Times understands that there were other vegetables in the consignment. In August, Hedrick Cummings, 25, of John Street, Campbellville was jailed for five years for trafficking 15.55 kilograms of cocaine, which were found in a shipment of ochroes at the CJIA. Cummings had admitted that he attempted to smuggle the cocaine, because he did not have any money and wanted to make some very quickly, so he “tried a thing”.
Businessman loses some $2.2M due to blackout
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ummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara businessman Ishmain Janmahamad, whose business has been without electricity since Monday due to a blown fuse caused by a defective transformer, has estimated his losses thus far at $2.2 million. The businessman told Guyana Times on Saturday that Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) technicians are working feverishly to fix the problem so that he can avoid further losses. He said the setback will greatly affect his business as it is not insured. Janmahamad on Friday told this publication that he has thrown out more than 50 cases of cheese and chicken. He said the cheese is growing
fungus, and customers are returning the chicken claiming that it is too slimy, forcing him to reimburse them. The businessman said he has another container of chicken sitting on the wharf, but he was sceptical about paying so much money to clear it and he was unsure if GPL will have the problem fixed soon or if he would need to continue spending $300,000 to $800,000 on continuous repairs. He noted that the festive season is one of the most fruitful times of the year, and people place their orders months before for the holidays. Owing to the power outage, he is having a difficult time supplying his customers’ orders with fresh stock.
NEWS
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Sunday, December 1 from 14:30h-16:00h. The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Sunday, December 1 from
15:00h-16:30h.
WEATHER TODAY Countrywide: Thundery showers are expected to prevail during the day, with cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius.
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SUNday, december 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com
GPC/CPL OPCO shelves plans for Bourda sports academy
Wind: East to east south-easterly between 1.34 and 3.13 metres per second.
High Tide: 15:10h reaching a maximum height of 2.76 metres. Low Tide: 08:43h and 21:13h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.42 metre respectively.
A section of the historic Bourda ground, the famous members' pavilion. Now in disrepair, the ground was once the country’s prime venue for international cricket
T saturday, november 30, 2013
LOTTERY NUMBERS M 28 08 09 17 02 22 18 FREE TICKET
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he principals of the Limacol brand, sponsors of the Limacol T-20 Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) and owners of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, would like to clear up some misconceptions created by a story in the Kaieteur News published on November 30, concerning a proposal made by Limacol to the boards of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and the Georgetown Football Club (GFC). (1) It was the members of the board of GCC, who initiated the discussions with representatives of the Limacol brand to have a number of LCPL games scheduled at Bourda. (2) During subsequent discussions, it was pointed out that as far back as the scheduling of the International Cricket Council (ICC) T-20 World Cup cricket tournament of 2007, the facilities at Bourda could not satisfy the criteria for international cricket at the highest level. It was conceded that subsequently, the facilities had continued to decline in
an exponential fashion. (3) The principals of the Limacol brand reiterated their concern over the impact of this decline on the city of Georgetown in general and on its cricket and football heritage in particular, from economic, social and sport development standpoints. (4) The Limacol brand then submitted a proposal that addressed these issues: (a) The world class stadium, with all its amenities, would have returned international cricket and football to Georgetown along with an economic resurgence; (b) The financial structure of the endeavour would have ensured that GCC and GFC share in the profits generated, which would have enabled these clubs to return to their glory years. (c) The principals of Limacol are particular proud of their proposed cricket and football academy. The youths of Georgetown, as with any city in the world, need positive outlets for their ener-
gy. The academy could have been one of the institutions that would have provided the support and guidance to the many who are talented in the sports. The overall countrywide development of cricket and football would also have been facilitated. (5) The question of financing for the proposed stadium has been raised. The Limacol brand is proud that it put its money where its mouth was on the idea of professional T-20 Cricket in the Caribbean. There were many who doubted the venture would be successful. We demonstrated that the private sector could deliver a world class tournament second to none. Based on this demonstrated success, the financial community and CPL OPCO Guyana Inc have indicated that they stand ready to back the Limacol proposal. (6) In light of the mis-
representation of the proposal, the principals of Limacol have decided that they will not proceed further with its offer on the Bourda project. In the world of business, into which cricket had ventured in the present millennium, the issue of confidentiality is crucial and it is evident that this requirement will pose a problem for any joint venture between the Limacol brand and the GCC and GFC. (7) Finally, the principals of the Limacol brand would caution those that would continually deride those from the business community that seek to develop their companies and in so doing benefit the country. The Limacol Bourda Stadium and Sports Academy is an opportunity lost to all Georgetown, Guyana and to the country’s youths who are inclined toward sports.
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Views Sunday Times Editor: Tajeram Mohabir 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
Sensational I
n the last few decades, journalism experienced a “sensationalistic” trend which gradually gained ascendance as its practitioners, in their drive to shock the sensibilities of readers, pandered to the lowest common denominator. The technique was quickly snapped up by the electronic media which utilised their visual capabilities to the extent it could have been seen as a revival of the “yellow journalism” that prevailed at the turn of the 20th century in the U.S. as the Pulitzer and Hearst newspaper empires struggled for dominance. In India, the sensationalist approach reached its apogee with the launch of an investigative website in 2000, which morphed into a tabloid in 2004 and finally settled down as a magazine in 2007: it was unabashedly named “Tehelka” (“Sensational”). The driving force behind it was Tarun Tejpaul, but it was later revealed that the majority of the shares of the company were owned by several corporate interests that remained in the shadows. Tejpaul plunged into a muckraking investigative journalism that specialised in “sting” operations targeting corrupt practices in business and government. Its first sting was in cricket and led to a string of convictions as did its second which recorded government officials accepting bribes to seal an “arms deal”. When it launched its tabloid version in 2004, hundreds of writers and intellectuals subscribed to fund what Tejpaul called “free, fair and fearless” journalism. As its reputation grew, Tehelka took on other issues, including violence against women and Tejpaul revelled in his growing reputation as a crusader for the interests of the new rising middle class. However, as they strove for even larger revenues and reach, Tejpaul and his lieutenants, mainly his number two Shoma Chaudhary, succumbed to the temptations of power as they received funding from questionable sources. Three years ago, Tejpaul and Chaudhary launched a new and seemingly successful venture – Thinkfest, which was to be an annual literary and glitterati affair. It was later discovered that they actually owned only 19 per cent of the stocks while the rest were held by the aforementioned silent partners of questionable background. Two weeks ago, Tejpaul was arrested for rape of a young employee of Tehelka, who is young enough to be his daughter and in fact was best friends with his daughter. The news has dominated the Indian press and even displaced the perennial fixation of the country – politics. The question on everyone’s lips is, “Why?” And the answer should be of interest not only in India but in many other societies where the sensationalistic genre of journalism has not only crossed boundaries but shown that in the process, the moral fibre of its practitioners are inevitably corrupted. In the drive to remain “sensational”, the trampling on people and their reputations become the norm. The ones who lead the charge against “corruption and abuses” cross the line to “the other side”. In Britain, we saw the muckraking Rupert Murdoch and his News of the World have his employees violate every shred of decency to violate the privacy of citizens even as he showed that he could bend politicians to his will, because he controlled what was printed in his papers. The lesson is that journalism has to take stock of its responsibilities which go in tandem with the right to inform the public. In Britain, the government has launched a regulatory body with teeth – to impose huge fines when the media crosses the boundaries of solid journalistic practice. It is clear that while self-regulation sounds good in theory, in practice there will always be those who will push the envelope beyond the acceptable in their pursuit of power and profits. In Guyana, we have seen how sensationalistic journalism can be used to further the egoistic paranoia of its owners and how it can undermine the development of the country in general and business and the economy in particular. The authorities must follow the lead of Britain and bring some sanity to sensationalistic journalism.
Circle of Light: A 180-degree rainbow paints the sky, creating a bridge between earth and sky. I was hiking under the rain up in the Dolomites, in the Catinaccio Range close to Paolina hut, Trentino, Italy, waiting for a summer sunset, when the sky magically opened up and the sunlight made the rest (Alessandro Gruzza/National Geographic Photo Contest) (The Atlantic In Focus)
Mash adult calypso auditions must seek to be more creative Dear Editor, The Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, in collaboration with the Mash Secretariat has commenced auditions for participants in the 2014 Mash Adult Calypso competition. Calypso has often been referred to as the “people’s newspaper”. It captures the history of the Caribbean, inclusive of Guyana. Calypso music makes up a great part of West Indies’ Carnival and Guyana’s Mashramani.
Additionally, Calypso has been a vital means of expression, particularly during the days of slavery. The use of “double entendre” (double meanings) by slaves was often used a means of poking fun and poignantly communicating messages to plantation owners. The “double entendre” allowed for both the literal and the intended meaning of an expression. This is where our local performers fall short. They lack creativ-
ity and so they instead resort to raw and offensive expressions. Moreover, the art form should allow for movements in a song and an innovated four beats per bar. If I must, I recommend that persons listen to a few good calypso tunes. Namely, “Dan is the Man in the Van”, about the British education system, “Jean and Dinah”, about the American presence in T&T, “The Needle/ Injection” about sex; and “All a wee a wan family”
about social relationships. My advice to both current and potential Calypsonians is that they carefully select their subjects. Emphasis should be placed on making their messages dual, thereby removing any possibility of being blamed for what is put out there. Listeners will be free to determine which interpretation they choose to embrace. Respectfully, Jeremy Fraser
Heavy rainfall and chaos in Georgetown Dear Editor, Ongoing heavy rainfall Tuesday night left the capital city in total catastrophe. Many roads were flooded and the traffic build-up on Monday morning was insane as commuters hurried their way to their destinations. Though no accidents happened that morning, there was still mass chaos on the
roadways as vehicles bullied their way through the crowded, flooded streets. In such chaos, I asked myself, where were the police to provide some form of order and to allow for the smooth flow of traffic? Additionally, it was unbelievable, the amount of garbage that could be seen floating around the city. The flooding that oc-
curred Wednesday due to one night of heavy rainfall makes me realise that should something extremely chaotic and destructive happen to Guyana, we certainly would not be prepared for it. There was no sense of organisation or control of movement in the city. Several schools were under water and I must
commend the few security guards who did what they could to provide some form of elevation for the children. Wednesday’s ordeal was a perfect opportunity for Guyana to demonstrate its readiness for disasters, but clearly we are not prepared. With regards, Nathram Budhram
The restoration of Jonestown Dear Editor, A resident from Port Kaituma recently suggested that Jonestown should be restored and it is certainly evident that the idea is slowly but surely gathering momentum. Another individual suggested that the survivors from the 1978 massacre be contacted and
taken to the site where they could further share their individual experiences with us. As Guyanese, we should show interest in our country’s history and try to understand what our ancestors endured. Additionally, we should embrace Guyanese history, so as to
ensure that it is not repeated. Jonestown, whether restored or not, should not be forgotten. Presently, the area is now overrun by wild vegetation. Beneath that entire flora lies the history of one of the most infamous mass suicides, the biography of a cultic figure and a peek into
some serious religious psychology. I encourage all Guyanese to show more enthusiasm as it relates to restoring Jonestown and being able to recapture history. Respectfully, Jacob Armstrong
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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com
Rebellious students need special attention Dear Editor, Just recently, a female student accosted the Deputy Head of Vryman’s Erven Secondary School. She proceeded to prompt a physical altercation with the teacher, before hurling a piece of wood and running off. This particular student has established a track record of demonstrating temperamental behaviour in school and has been sus-
pended on several occasions. Several incidents over the years have caused many to conclude that students are frequently becoming more and more aggressive towards teachers in schools. In the event that a student sees it fit to stand up against a senior teacher in school, it would be almost critical to see the need to consider implementing counselling and guidance in
the education system. This student obviously has some form of issue that causes her to lash out in school and possibly cause potential harm to other students and teachers. It is, however, disappointing that no statement came from the school or the teacher herself, as it relates to the incident. Such cases need serious attention, including the confron-
tation and involvement of the child’s parents and the Education Ministry which can further probe if necessary. As pioneers of the future, we must ensure that we offer students the attention and guidance that they need in order to develop into wellrounded students. Sincerely, Quintyn Isles
Street robberies
Dear Editor, Criminality has taken a new form that despises every ounce of decency and normalcy. Young lads are riding around on bicycles and robbing people. Some even go as far as to indulge in an inquiry and then brazenly snatch valuable items from their victims and scurry off. When robberies take place so casually, especially during daylight hours, it drives fear into many people who have to carry out daily work routines and other personal duties on the road. Additionally, many individuals who invest in jewellery, cellphones and other fancy things are not able to enjoy the benefits of these valuable items simply
because they can be seen as the next potential target. For too long, Guyanese have been victims of choke and rob and snatch and run. We must put a stop to this. Proper laws need to be enforced to ensure that bandits are confronted and dealt with accordingly. Citizens should not have to walk the streets in fear of being pounced on. Each of us has the ability to earn money the legal way; too many people are making a living and taking the easy way out by stealing people’s hard earned belongings. We must bring this despicable act to an end immediately. Yours, Randolph Parris
Divorce settlement is more than just money Car thefts must not gather Dear Editor, A businessman recently killed his wife, before turning the gun on himself. Sources say that the duo was in the process of settling a divorce and this could have been the reason behind the man’s motives. While some see a divorce as the opportunity to restart life, others see it as an unfair perception that tarnishes their life and future plans. Additionally, divorce settlements require for several compromises to be made. Joint assets often
have to be divided and allocated evenly to both parties. Couples who have young children often have an added liability of determining child custody and child support arrangements. The man and his wife were married for 15 years and shared two children. They were said to be decent people; and friends and staff often spoke well of them. Many are still trying to fathom what could have triggered this rash decision for the businessman to take both his and his
wife’s lives. I strongly believe that people who are in the process of going through a divorce need to seek counselling. They need to know that violence should not be considered as an approach throughout their controversy. Over the years, males have proven themselves to be the ones who act out violently after word of a divorce. Many of them believe that the legal system is against them and will find all means to ensure that the woman is given more support.
As women, we need to be cautious during a divorce, especially if there are reasons to be and even more if their spouse has had a history of being violent. Additionally, women should desist from meeting their spouses, particularly in lonely areas. Divorces are unfortunate experiences, but as it relates to settlements, the law is not bias, so men need to allow and accept entirely, the outcome of a divorce. Sincerely, Devanandie Balgobin
Take measures to prevent pit bull attacks Dear Editor, Pit bulls are extremely vicious dogs which have over the years caused severe harm, injury and even death to many people worldwide. Pit bull attacks in Guyana are becoming too frequent and it is absolutely necessary for the relevant authorities to address this issue before it gets out of hand. Just recently, a resident of the Ogle communi-
ty was attacked by her husband’s two pit bulls. Police and neighbours were forced to kill the dogs. The woman was mauled and bitten in several areas about her body and is now in recovery after being admitted to hospital. For years, dogs have been kept as companion pets and have been used as a means of providing security and protection for many households. However, pit
bulls have been known to be unpredictable dogs, which have on several occasions viciously attacked people, including their owners, for no particular reason. The existence of this problem raises many concerns for people who fear being attacked by this particular breed of dog. A law must be implemented to ban the breeding and mining of these ferocious animals.
Deeply concerned, Ewan Charles
momentum
Dear Editor, Over the years, a few people have been the unfortunate victims of car theft. However, this criminal act seems to be slowly escalating and it is imperative that we address this issue immediately. Just recently, two bandits invaded a private auto sales business and casually drove off with two vehicles. In an era where technology dominates, we must begin to consider making use of remote vehicle disabling systems. This advanced feature of technology allows owners the ability to prevent an engine from starting, to prevent any movement of the vehicle, and to stop or slow a vehicle in motion. An additional fea-
ture even allows owners to have full control of the lock system of the vehicle once it has come to a stop. Aside from stealing a vehicle in its entirety, many bandits have, for quite some time, been involved in stealing external removable vehicle parts and accessories. They then proceed to make a profit off of these stolen items. As vehicle owners, we must share our concerns. I urge the relevant authorities to address this issue immediately. A concerted effort must be made to prevent the escalation of car theft crimes in Guyana. Sincerely, Tyrone Jackman
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Children behaving badly during holidays:
Reading: it’s a whole new dimension “Books had instant replay long before televised sports.” – Bern Williams
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Anu Dev
snap my book shut; take a deep breath and struggle to extricate myself from the recliner I was crumpled-up in for the past few hours. I wander downstairs with that happy glow only reading a really good book can give you. I wonder how many persons in this hitech (read: TV) age are doing this right now. Not too many, I conclude ruefully. My family doesn’t look at regular TV programming. But we sure take in a lot of movies – some even before they’re released in the States! With the opening of the Princess Theatres, the moral dilution to share in piracy has lessened a bit! Movies are just another way of telling stories and as with books, one’s enjoyment is heightened if the plot, characters, setting, themes and style are handled with sophistication. However, many movies are based on books – some of which I’ve read – and these have given me an interesting insight. No matter how accurate the casting crew tries to be,
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they rarely ever quite match up to the characters the way I “saw” them in the book. On the other elements of fiction, sometimes so many liberties are taken; one wonders why they still bothered to name the movie after the book. “P.S. I love you” and “Percy Jackson” are movies that disappointed greatly after reading the books. I’m waiting to see "Ender’s Game"... which I enjoyed immensely... along with its sequels. The point is, reading compels you to use your imagination to engage the world the writer has conjured and your apprehension through the written word makes that world yours as much as hers. It’s actually a mystery to me as to why persons deny themselves the opportunity to get lost in this act of co-creation that, (in the words of Rafiki of Lion King), makes us “look be-
yond what you see”. Reading doesn’t necessarily equate with “old-fashioned” and movies, “modern”. In fact, many new devices like the Kindle and iPad are either designed for reading or have free reading apps available. And with the new possibilities of embedded dictionaries or access to the Internet, reading is a whole new experience. This is as “modern” as you can get. The ability to read isn’t the main hurdle in Guyana – we supposedly have a literacy rate of over 99 per cent – an extraordinarily high figure. It is the desire to read that is the problem and one which won’t be overcome unless the act of reading becomes enjoyable. But that won’t happen if reading is something you’re forced to do for English B
or if you believe that “The Chrysalids” – which I did for my CSEC – is as good as it’s going to get. There are some really amazing books out there: books that make you cry, smile or even actually laugh. The examiners of CSEC are heading in the right direction with their new guidelines for literature appreciation and apprehension. Maybe they will now do something about the selection of texts: “The World of Prose” is as morbid as it gets. Some of the greatest achievements of humanity are in the form of great works of literature. And narratives, over the centurie are insightful chronicles, of history in their own right: Plato said they were even superior. The author’s elaboration of a particular concept or her choice of a writing style are inevitably products of her time. In a reversal, we now even speak of the “poetics of history”. There’s a whole world out there, so take time out from vegetating in front of the TV once in a while and enter into new dimensions through reading. Go on, take the plunge!
Is it ever OK to parent other people’s children? The holidays come with a lot of obligatory togetherness. What do you do if your family’s or friends’ children are getting under your skin? Author Julie Klam and two specialists offer advice for how to approach – or not – friends and family when their children misbehave. By Leanne Italie
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e’s the toddler who always bites. She’s the six-year-old drama queen prone to “it’s mine” fits and hair-pulling. The problem, for you anyway, is they belong to your best friend, your neighbour, or your exceedingly lenient big sister. With the holidays comes togetherness, sometimes thrust upon us. And with togetherness, especially the obligatory kind, comes major stress – for you and your children. But friction over the offspring of loved ones strikes all yearround, leading the grown-ups to ponder whether their adult relationships are worth it. Julie Klam, a Manhattan mom and author of the new book “Friendkeeping,” believes middle ground is possible. “Do the best you can to see them without their children, but when they are around, take the anthropologist’s point of view: ‘Hmm, that’s interesting that the kid is standing on a table throwing cheese at the wall,’ instead of getting wound up in it,” she said. Looking for the worst in other people’s children, and by association other people’s parenting prowess, is a road to nowhere, which may be where you land when things go dangerously wrong. But seriously troubled is different than the day-to-day grind of ill-mannered, bad-tempered children, and their parents who stand around and let it happen, by design or otherwise. “If you’re in your head keeping score of how rude they are, or whatever the things are that happen, it makes it much worse,” said Klam, who has a 10-year-old daughter. Klam found herself putting distance between her and a mom friend when the children were about 18 months old. “She just never limited her
kid’s physical thing, and it was a lot of the kind parenting of ‘Use your words,’ and the kid was flinging books really hard at my kid. My way is pick ‘em up and take ‘em out of there. We could not hang out with the kids together at all.” Deciding when to cut and run for the sake of your own sanity and the well-being of your children obviously depends on how deep the adult friendships go or how much the kin ties matter. And sometimes, it’s not easy making a clean break even with the merest of mommy acquaintances because of proximity. They’re in the park, at the play group, live next door. Either way, before you take the fatal step of severing ties, “Stop and try to figure out how much of this has to do with you and how much has to do with them,” Klam suggested. And keep in mind, she urged, that a seemingly outof-control three-year-old may mature into an angelic eightyear-old. Anastasia Gavalas, a family coach, educational consultant, and mom of five in Bridgehampton, NY, dares cross the line some parents will not trod upon: disciplining other people’s children. Her’s is the big, fun house with the pool, the spacious backyard, and the recreational basement. She gets a lot of young visitors, including two tween boys – one a relative and one a friend – who were instrumental in destroying her US$3000 leather couch during a party about a year ago. “To me it wasn’t about yelling and saying what did you do to my couch,” she said. “It was more about if you are going to come here you need to respect my things and that’s it, whether you’re five years old or 15 years old or 50 years old, so it was more about a teaching opportunity.” (CS Monitor)
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SUNday, december 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com
Diabetic foot centre, other Region 10 rallies for safer roads facilities commissioned in Region Five
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Students assembled at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground
Children on the newly-built tarmac at the Belladrum Primary School
The Diabetic Foot Centre which was commissioned at the Fort Wellington Hospital on Thursday
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ocal Government Minister Ganga Persaud on Thursday commissioned several health and education facilities in Region Five, some of which were capital works programmes under the 2013 national budget, while others were rolled over from 2012. These are in line with government’s continued efforts to provide the necessary infrastructure to enhance the lives of its citizens. Minister Persaud officially commissioned the Diabetic Foot Centre, which was constructed at a cost of $7.4 million in the Fort Wellington Hospital Complex compound, and is expected to provide specialised care for diabetic patients. Diabetic foot care was done previously through the administrative complex; hence, it was a serious challenge to caregivers as well as beneficiaries. “We will now be able to offer the same kind of care, but in an environment that is far more conducive, less challenges for the health care providers and the recipients,” Minister Persaud added.
Expanded service
There was also an extension at the Fort Wellington Rehabilitation Centre which was constructed at a cost of $5,714,228, a waiting area built at a cost of $2,611,602 which was done through savings accumulated by the regional administration, and a water filtration building for which $4.5 million was invested, and will see the complex being able to receive up to 900 gallons of purified water every eight hours. Minister Persaud said that these were continued steps in the regional developmental programmes to enhance health care delivery in the region. He commended the stakeholders who played
a role with regards to having these ideas conceptualised, implemented and successfully realised. Meanwhile, about $4.9 million was invested in the completion of the health centre at Bush Lot, which will see the complex being able to facilitate oral health, chronic illnesses, and family health services. This particular project started since 2011 and encountered some major challenges with the previous contractor whose contract was terminated. The region was able to engage another contractor and the works were completed in a timely manner. Other facilities commissioned were an eight-bed extension at the maternity ward at the Mahaicony Hospital and a drug storage bond built to the tune of $6
million and $4.4 million respectively. Minister Persaud urged that the buildings be maintained and deliver sufficient health care to the people, regardless of face, name, religion and ethnicity. Health Ministry P a r l i a m e n t a r y Representative, Joseph Hamilton also commended the region’s officials for the works they have been doing to ensure there are sufficient health services, and highlighted that since the intervention of the Diabetic Foot Programme, amputations have decreased by 50 per cent. A teachers’ quarter at Mortice, which was constructed at a cost of $4.4 million, located opposite the Mortice primary and secondary schools, will accommodate the headmistress of the primary school. Teachers and students of the Belladrum Primary School expressed gratitude for the construction of a tarmac at the school, while Region Five Chairman, Bindrabhan Bisnauth expressed appreciation to government for its continued investment into the region, especially in the area of education. Bisnauth also urged that the facilities be maintained and deliver services in the best interest of the people.
everal schools from Linden and Region 10 on Thursday participated in a road safety rally, hosted by the Region 10 Road Safety Association in collaboration with the E Division Traffic Department. The event was led by Region 10 Road Safety Association Chairman Kevin Barron, with students from the various schools carrying placards bearing the Road Safety Month theme “Alcohol, speed and inattentiveness
cause accidents; drive safely”. The march commenced at the Linden Technical Institute, and culminated at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground. At the MSC, the students were sensitised on road safety through poetry, while being addressed by various speakers, including E and F Division Commander Owen Trotz. Trotz drew attention to the fact that road accidents are responsible for far too many deaths in Region 10
and Guyana. He noted that the number of deaths for this month has surpassed that for the same period last year. Like the other speakers, he reiterated that road safety is everybody’s business, and admonished that persons should not be drinking and driving. He also commended the efforts of participating schools. Schools from across Guyana also participated in a massive road safety awareness rally in Georgetown on Friday.
Bissessar, Ralph remain Mon Repos Block CC police group top executives
I
ncumbent Chairman Harialal Bissessar and Vice Chairman Krishna Ralph have been re-elected to head the Block “CC” Mon Repos-Agriculture Road Community Development and Policing Group. According to reports, they were unanimously reelected for the 12th consecutive year since the group
was formed in July 2001. They were re-elected during the staging of the organisation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections in early November. According to Bissessar, the Block “CC” Mon Repos-Agriculture Road Community Development and Policing Group has evolved over the years, mak-
ing significant strides in both policing and community development. As Bissessar and team work to address issues affecting residents, major emphasis will be placed on the indiscriminate burning and dumping of garbage that pose serious health and environmental threats to resiturn to page 8 dents.
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Bissessar, Students being sensitised about violence against women Ralph
remain Mon Repos...
S
tudents from across the country will on Friday pause from studies for 15 minutes as experts briefly raise awareness of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW). International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was observed on November 25. The ministry in a release said students should also be sensitised from an early age to respect the rights of each other, particularly, the rights of females. To facilitate the programme, the ministry has identified and invited a number of women’s rights activists to speak on the issue, with more than 50 volunteers already committing to go into schools. The ministry believes that this exercise would be compelling and impacting on the student population as they are sensitised not only on the significance of IDEVAW, but also on the great need to remove domestic violence from society. In the event a volunteer did not go to a school, the administration of that school along with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) will deliver a presentation prepared by central ministry to be read at a general assembly. Education Minister Priya Manickchand said: “I am extremely pleased and encouraged with the response so far. We already have 12 volunteers from Men’s Empowerment
from page 7
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
Network, 10 from Help and Shelter, 20 from a private conversation started and ongoing on Facebook and we believe more positive responses from GAWL, the women’s arms of the political parties and religious organisations and other invitees will answer the invitation we sent to partner with us on this. Let us teach children from an early age to respect the rights of each other and work together to eliminate violence against women and domestic abuse in our society.”
Additionally, the committee will be clamping down on noise nuisance and the selling and use of explosives by both adults and children in the community. “The excessive speeding and dangerous driving by motorists, some under the influence of alcohol, especially along Agriculture Road that would pose a threat to lives will not be condoned,” he lamented. In addition to the two executives, Krishna Anil Dass has been elected as the secretary and Asif Shaw as treasurer. Ramlall Jodbir, Seeta Somra, Hemwattie Rambarak, Prem Singh, Mohini Maraj and Kampta Persaud were all elected members of the committee.
Eyew tness Backtracking?
...on local government We knew when you saw “backtracking”, you thought we’d be discussing the activities of the notorious publisher of the MuckrakerKN. Especially after you saw the horrific images of Haitians clinging on to the capsized boat of a backtracker taking them to the U.S. Ten persons died. While none were Guyanese on that trip – that’s merely the luck of the draw. But no... that’s not the backtracking we have in mind today: “backtrack” also means “to go back on your word or position”. And this is what the People’s National Congress (PNC) – the elephant in A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) – has done on the upcoming local government elections (LGEs). From the waning days of Desmond Hoyte and most of the years under R O H Corbin, the PNC has carried on about how it was a convert to Rodney’s call for “power to the people”. OK! OK! It didn’t actually cite Dr Walter Rodney (guilty conscience? Shame?), but it did say that it didn’t want political parties to contest LGEs. With local communities putting up local candidates for the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and municipalities, power would finally be in the hands of the “people”. It was all heady stuff...and some people (OK, a few) actually believed them. Hope beats eternal in the breasts of man, we’re told. But last time we looked, we saw it was blood pumping...and after all the blood the PNC has spilled in its quest for power, your humble (but realist) Eyewitness thought otherwise. And lo and behold!! We were right...not that we’re smart or anything ...it’s an elementary fact that leopards can’t change their spots. The PNC has launched its campaign for the LGEs and has not only dropped the call for political parties not to participate...but has actually dropped its erstwhile partners in APNU! It all boiled down to “power”. You see, the PNC’s leader, Granger didn’t think it could win the national elections on its lonesome... but when it comes to LGEs, that’s a party of a totally different colour. He knows for sure that because of the nature of our settlement patterns...it’s sure to win a whole lot of NDCs and municipalities. It must’ve been salivating and letting out all sorts of body fluids when it saw the People’s National Movement (PNM) in Trinidad blank the United National Congress (UNC) at LGEs. But to participate, the PNC obviously will not go along with the nonsense for the prezzie to sign the last bill and leave the Local Government Ministry with no authority over local government organs. Good thing. Otherwise it would be introducing federalism – the harebrained scheme of that wanker, Ravi Dev. ...on incitement Over in Jamaica, the elected officials are debating how to get a grip on the epidemic of gang warfare that’s plagued their country for quite a while. It’s in a select committee in Parliament – where representatives usually let their hair down – away from the spotlight of the Parliament proper. So we sometimes hear what these people really think on issues. Now, Jamaica and the entire Caribbean have been calling for an end to the lyrics of some songs from Jamaica that extol violence to such an extent, they actually call for its condign infliction on named groups. There was the famous case of Buju Banton who proposed that as far as gays are concerned, we must “bun dem” (kill them). And really this is more the norm than anything else. And mind you, we’re not even talking about the misogynist lyrics that propose what to do with females: “kick in dey back door” is a mild suggestion. But some of the Jamaican Members of Parliament (MPs) have rejected the ban on such lyrics. Their reason? They have no connection to gang violence! Have they heard of Gaza and Gully? ...on clean up After all the fuss raised about the garbage in the streets of Georgetown raised by the overnight rain, we haven’t hear a squeak from the APNU and government members who’d promised a while back to clean the city. Silence is golden?
NEWS
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Minister RodriguesBirkett honoured by Argentina
Simply the
Truth
GPL and the dark (part two) By Professor Daizal Samad
I Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett responds after being conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of the General Liberator of San Martin by Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timmerman
F
oreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett on Friday was presented with the Grand Cross of the Order of the General Liberator of San Martin by her Argentine counterpart Hector Timmerman. In decorating Minister Rodrigues-Birkett with this high order of the Republic of Argentina, Minister Timmerman paid tribute to the consistent friendship which Minister RodriguesBirkett and the government of Guyana have demonstrated to the government and people of Argentina. Minister Timmerman expressed confidence that both governments were guided by similar political and democratic ideals and convictions. The decoration was presented during an official visit paid by Minister RodriguesBirkett to Argentina on Thursday. During this visit, the foreign ministers discussed areas of bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Argentine South/South Cooperation Programme. They signed a bilateral agreement for the “Free exercise of remunerated activities by dependent relatives of diplomatic, consular, administrative and technical staff of their diplomatic missions, consular offices and international organisations”. They also took the opportunity to exchange views on the activities of sever-
al regional organisations of which their countries are members. Minister RodriguesBirkett also met with the defence and security ministers and officials from the health, social development, agriculture, tourism and industry ministries. At these meetings, there was an exchange of information on the activities undertaken by both countries within the different sectors and discussions focused on potential opportunities for cooperation. It was agreed that the two countries will work towards the early conclusion of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in agriculture that would include cattle rearing. Also, a mission from Argentina will pay a visit to Guyana in December this year with a view to exploring cooperation in the tourism sector. Other areas identified for cooperation between the two countries include post-graduate training for doctors in specialised areas, Spanish language training and military training at Argentine defence institutions. Cooperation between Guyana and Argentina has intensified since the re-establishment of an embassy in Guyana two years ago. Minister Rodrigues-Birkett was accompanied by foreign service officers Heather Seelochan and Jevon Rodrigues.
n the last column, we explored some of the economical implications of these constant blackouts that plague our nation. I failed to mention that, in four years or so, the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) has lost millions of dollars worth of equipment and repairs to damaged equipment. It was also necessary to buy two large stand-by Automatic Trip Switch (ATS) generators – one for Tain and one for Johns. But voltage fluctuations still disrupt student experiments and roast equipment. But UG does not pay for itself – they do not have that kind of simple business or social sense. So the burden is placed on the backs of taxpayers. Again! I have asked about refunds for damaged equipment. Every person that I have asked simply laughs. This hopeless, defeated laughter. Several people have asked: “whey yuh come from, Prof?” After all, such a question would only be asked by someone from Mars. So we all know the financial implications of these blackouts, things that put holes into our shallow pockets. But let us for a moment concentrate on damage other than financial damage. Financial damage leads to frustration, and frustration always finds some form of release. What then are the psychological implications of these blackouts? Why have those great brains at UG, for instance, not done work on this? No conference or seminar or endless meetings. Just hard work, tough solid research. Here is a scene. A family: a man, his wife, three children. The man is a cane harvester. The woman cleans other people’s houses. The children are school-aged. Both parents are tired, but they are like many other good
Professor Daizal Samad
parents who want better for their children. “Abe pickey nah guh cut cane. And deh nah guh wipe people house! Dem must tek education!” So they put their noses to the grindstone for a better life for their children. But the woman has to cook. And she asks her man to help with this or that thing: feed the fowls, or put some paint on a piece of wall or repair a fence...the children are with their books doing homework. Then the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) strikes! The woman cannot see to cook. The man cannot see to do any chores. They look upon their children, frozen by the darkness. They both get frustrated. They lash out. And we always hit those closest to us. He hits her, she hits back or defends herself. The children forget about homework and cower crying in a corner. They scream. It is not a few hours of blackout any more. It is the darkening of futures. Then some group comes and has a
seminar on domestic violence. Experts from abroad come and talk. The politicians come and talk. Teachers come and talk. Lecturers talk. Nice press release with nice picture. Facebook too. Then they leave, and the real people go back home to what they had before. The Guyana Police Force is helpless in the face of this stuff. We make them helpless, because we do not really train for this. How about a Special Victims Unit of specially trained cops to investigate, counsel, and prosecute sexual offenders and domestic violence perpetrators? Meanwhile, the scared children cannot have their homework done. They are now unwilling to go to school. They act up. The parents become more disappointed and frustrated. The violence gets worse. The noose around the neck of the future tightens. The result is truancy, poor discipline, drop outs, more frustration. Alcohol and drugs offer brief relief. Suicide rates go up. We look on but see nothing except the stuff in the press. And our leaders are there in Georgetown squabbling like the children we wish we did not place in darkness. Of course, this is putting a lot on GPL. But it would not be wise to dismiss any of this. Maybe the wise folk at the top could sponsor some kind of research on this. But research really is done only when people care. It is useless when the reason is to fill a form with stuff. The classroom becomes a place where the focus is on teachers, a dry and empty place. This, in my experience, is what prevails at a place like UG. In any university worthy of the name university, they would be fired. Tough love! But love is tough and tender. Next, look out for “Qualities of a good leader”.
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Pastor calls for rehabilitation programme for ex-offenders
P
ractical Christianity Ministries President, Pastor W P Jeffrey is calling on government to establish a formal ex-offender rehabilitation programme in light of the crime situation here. Jeffrey, who is also the founder of the organisation he heads, said even with all the resources being spent to outfit the police and expand the prison and the holding cells, the prospects for any abatement in criminal activities, do not look promising. Recently, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud reported that the majority of crimes are being committed by young people and about a third are repeat offenders. He also noted that 80 per cent of the persons charged with robbery are below 35; 93.6 per cent of repeat offenders for street crimes are below 35; 74.4 per cent of persons charged with breaking offences are below 35; and 66.3 per cent of persons charged with rape are below 35 years. “What was not in the crime chief’s report is the statistical fact that more than half of these offenders – due to stigmatisation, lack of after care and other post release services – are likely to perpetuate their criminality for many more years, even as younger criminals
join them. “What the chief did not say is that most of the street crimes (as opposed to white collar crimes) are being committed by young Black males, which is obvious, in part, by the disproportionate number of Black males in prison.” Report The Guyana Prison Service report, 2010-2015, titled, Towards Renewal and Reconstruction notes that the majority of the inmates, 68 per cent, are within the age group 16-35, confirming that more youth are involved in crime. Moreover, more youths are coming into the prisons for a number of offenses, including those of violence in one form or another. These youths are invariably, functionally illiterate, and in many instances, school drop-outs from predominantly single parent families,” the report says. The influx of criminal activities is also putting a strain on the penal system. The report indicated that overcrowding began to emerge in the 1970s, and at January 2010, prisoners’ population across the five locations – Georgetown, Mazaruni, New Amsterdam, Lusignan and Timehri – was in excess of its optimum capacity by
Pastor Wendell P Jeffrey 33 per cent. According to the strategic plan, one of the weaknesses of the Guyana Prison Service is its “inability to effectively classify and segregate criminals within the prison system because of overcrowding and staffing issues”. Unhelpful situation This means these young inmates – 16 to 25 – are being exposed to other forms of crimes, from the more seasoned inmates. They then return to society and unleash these new found skills on the community. According to Pastor Jeffrey, the Practical Christianity Ministries can run the programme. “We have 10 acres of land with running water from a spring; we have the
architectural drawings for the rehabilitation facility we intend to build; the men will have somewhere to go to when they are released. That this will serve as a halfway house; we have a detailed sustainability plan, using greenhouse hydroponic farming, with expertise being provided by the Israelis and the UKAID (they took a team to see our land); we will raise chickens and bees and other kinds of livestock that this will create employment for the men; we have met with the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, where we were advised on process of preparing, packaging and shipping of our products; we consulted with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards with regards to meeting international standards with our crops, poultry and honey; we have the manpower, using the released prisoner, ex-offenders and those from the homeless shelter in East La Penitence and even some from around the town; the men will enrol in continuing education; we met and spoke with the folks at the School of Adult and Continuing Education; the men would be enrolled in substance abuse programmes, for those with lingering addictive problems; and the men will be encouraged to attend religious services of their choice, so as to make that needed spiritual connection,” he said. The pastor also pointed out that there is a tangible reason the majority of street crimes are perpetuated by Black males. “People say that the guys cannot, or don’t want to change. Our question is, what has the society done to facilitate that change? Where are the after-care programmes?” he questioned.
Mollycoddling S
atiricus knew a lot about “mollycoddling”. As a boy, his dad took what young Satiricus thought was sadistic pleasure in foisting chores around the house and beyond on his tender shoulders. “I mean”, thought Satiricus, “how dare he send me to the corner shop for cigarettes?” He would run to his mother and whine. His father’s invariable response had been, “For Chrissake woman!! Don’t mollycoddle the boy! You want to turn him into a girl or something?” Well, from the way these fellas Tiny Veera and TB Jaan were talking, it sure as hell looked like the government was mollycoddling sugar workers. Even though they weren’t producing, the government, from what the two sugar experts claimed, was just throwing money at them. Satiricus was outraged – as a hard working pen-pusher in the newspaper business, nobody was throwing money at him. “Goat ain’t bite me!!” muttered Satiricus. And to rub salt into the wound his buddies Cappo and Bungi, who were cane-cutters, sure weren’t sharing any of this money that was being thrown at them. Satiricus still had to pay for his berries. He headed down to the back street bar to find out what was going on. Or at least get some free beers. “Buddaaay! How come yuh face so sour?” was how Cappo greeted Satiricus as soon as he spied him. “Doan ‘budday’ me! How come you raking in the big bucks and we ain’t even get a beer from you?” demanded Satiricus, heatedly. The other fellas at the table looked up in surprise mixed with anticipation. The prospect of free beers always had that effect on them. “Is wat schupidness yuh deh pan?” asked Cappo in genuine surprise. “Wha big bucks yuh talking about?” Satiricus quickly repeated what he’d read from the two sugar experts. Cappo listened and then responded. “Sato me friend, you know every story gat two sides?” Satiricus nodded. “Well, lemme tell you: Veera Daady used to own de sugar estate and me Dady and me wuk in de estate. Yuh surprise he tell you we wuk fuh too much money?” “Let me hear some facts, Cappo,” demanded Satiricus. “I want some beers.” “Wel,l Sato, de fact is canecutta only get pay fuh how much they cut and load...no wuk...no money!” “Well Veera and Jaan say the PPCEE paying you too much to cut and load.” Ret “Budday...we bin getting the same five per cent increase like dem civil servants fuh years. And dis year dey get five per cent and abee only get four per cent. And me na know how much cane dem a fetch!” “Well... they say 60 per cent of Guysuco expense is to pay you all!” came what Satiricus thought was the clinching point. “Sato, me, friend...when de white man was here...was 65 per cent fuh labour!!!” The table became quiet. No free beers.
Leo Casimir cops CVC Award for Excellence
T
he Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) is pleased to announce that Leo Casimir is the 2013 winner of the Juanita Altenberg Award for Excellence. Casimir is a Caricom project coordinator with the Regional Global Fund Grant. In making the award, CVC Board Co-chair Donna DaCosta-Martinez said, “Mr Casimir is to be lauded for being instrumental in mobilising civil society’s involvement in Global Fund processes. He has taken very seriously and executed very well the mandate to ensure that the civil society sector maximises access to the available resources of the Global Fund in the region.” DaCosta-Martinez
pointed out that it was in recognition of the invaluable partnership between civil society organisations and inter-governmental agencies that the decision was made on this occasion to honour Casimir. CVC recognises that because of his personal commitment and passion to these successful partnerships, the capacity of civil society organisations in the region has been enhanced. In accepting the award, Casimir hastened to point out that “… any success must be credited to all members of my team. I share this award with them.” He thanked CVC for its regional work and for being strident in representing the voices of vulnerable communities throughout the region.
The Juanita Altenberg Award is named in honour of CVC’s founding cochair, the late Juanita Altenberg, who for decades advocated for the rights of vulnerable communities, not only in her home country of Suriname, but throughout the Caribbean. The inaugural award was presented to Suzette Moses-Burton of St Maarten in 2009 for her work with the community of persons living with HIV. The next was presented to Miriam Edwards of Guyana in 2010 for her work with sex workers. In 2011, the award was presented posthumously to CVC Co-founder and Executive Director, Dr Robert Carr for his internationally recognised work with vulnerable communities.
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K
evin Abbensetts has always been athletically inclined and so it was no surprise when he began showing much promise during sporting activities at school. Kevin attended the J E Burnham Primary School but had a history of disciplinary issues which always prevented him from participating at national track meets and other advanced events. He grew up with his maternal aunt from the age of two after moving from his hometown on the Essequibo Coast to fulfil his mother’s dream of a better chance at life for her children. After his adoptive parents separated, Kevin began to observe the economic toll the new adjustment was having on his aunt. She was forced to acquire her driver’s licences becoming who commuters would come to know as the first female minibus driver on the Georgetown route; utilising her minibus to transport schoolchildren on contract. But Kevin describes his childhood as playful and mischievous and revealed that he ended up in the company of a group of misguided youths even from a young age of eight. But it was Kevin’s competitive spirit that caused him to begin stealing from his aunt in an effort to keep up with his friends who often sported trendy gadgets and other high-priced items.
Robbing strangers
He recalled that the money from his aunt soon became inadequate to support his habit and he turned his attention to strangers on the streets, robbing and snatching anything on which he
Championships. In August of 2011, Kevin was released from the New Opportunity Corps and moved back to live with his aunt.
Education
He later wrote the entrance exams at the Kuru
Kevin Abbensetts (third left) participating at a recent game
could get his hands. “I use to see my friends getting certain things and I wanted what they had, so I decided to do bad things to get it,” he related. Kevin told how he was often scolded, but had become so immune to even the harshest form of punishment. “Whenever I carried home something that didn’t belong to me, my aunt would tell me to take it back and when I was rude to her, she would take me to the station. One of the inspectors at the station use to sit and talk to me and I would take a break for a while and start again.” Kevin related that the turning point in his life came one day in 2009 during a game of cricket at a softball ground with friends when one of the boys left for the urinals and found a laptop. “The person had left the laptop close to the dorms by the urinals and since I was the only person with a haversack, he picked it up and asked me to put it in my bag.” But someone had seen when the boys grabbed the laptop and alerted the gate
officials who followed the group as they were leaving. The guys began running but Kevin was caught and the stolen laptop recovered from his bag pack. Kevin was processed by police, charged and placed before a magistrate. However, when a probation report was provided and information was presented about his frequent involvement with police, the magistrate instructed that Kevin be placed at the New Opportunity Corps. Now 15 years old and accustomed to his city life, Kevin felt isolated and annoyed with the new situation.
New life
However, being from Essequibo, he maintained hopes that he could still feel at home and on arriving at the institution, Kevin immediately felt accepted and began making friends. He was placed in the agriculture corps for the first six months and detailed that he learnt a lot during his time there. He was later given an opportunity to learn welding and fabricating and remained in that course
Kevin Abbensetts (left) with a fellow competitor
throughout the duration of his stay. “I was doing really good in welding and I ended up staying there because I developed a love for it. Sometimes, we would slip into other classes when we had the time to see what other skills we could learn.” His welding instructor turned out to be an athletic coach and Kevin was able to participate at the interschools; eventually making it to the National Schools
Kuru Training College where he spent 10 months after being given an opportunity to further his education in welding. “Looking back now, I was glad that I was sent there because I don’t know where I would have been right now,” the 18-year-old remarked. While at Kuru Kuru, Kevin earned himself the title of Champions of Champions, running away with the male championship trophy.
He later enrolled at the Government Technical Institute (GTI) where he is currently pursuing studies in small appliance repairs. He has since networked with an old coach and was able to restart training. “I told him of my desire to start training and he told me to turn up at the training venues where he was coaching and I did. From then, I began improving and I represented North Zone in 2012. In that competition, I copped three silvers and one gold. I was happy because it was my first time in Georgetown and so I decided to pursue running,” Kevin said. However, having to selfsponsor at events is no easy task. “Sometimes you have to finance yourself and that can be tough but the Ministry of Culture has helped me in purchasing gear and other stuff I need.” In July, Kevin also represented Guyana in Trinidad where he placed first in the long jump, and third in the 400 heats. He recently participated at the Inter-Guiana games where he copped two gold medals. Kevin believes he is prepared and is hopeful of securing an athletic scholarship that would afford him an opportunity to reach the ultimate goal of becoming a professional athlete. “So I’m going to do my best. It might be hard,” he said. “But I’m ready for the competition.” Kevin now hopes to begin studies at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level where he intends to write five subjects.
Creative designer opens children’s clothing store
A
popular Guyanese creative designer has moved to open a children’s apparel store complete with a symbolic runway leading to the entrance of the brand new establishment. Andrew Juman, better known as Andrew Arts, which is the name of his popular graphic design and creative arts company, on Friday afternoon opened Mishal’s, a well-stocked children’s apparel store, located at 4 Area K, Plantation Ogle, East Coast Demerara. The store, named after Juman’s only daughter,
The aircraft pointing to the entrance of the store
Mishal Juman, caters to children from as young as three years old. In addition
to the clothing, Mishal’s also has a mini toy section. Speaking to the media at the commissioning, Juman said his love for children and his desire to provide a product and service with that special Andrew Arts ‘creative touch’ were the main factors behind his decision to open the store. The bright and vibrant colours of the store and the walkway leading to it combine to create a unique appearance. The walkway,
Little Mishal Juman cuts the ribbon to officially open the children’s apparel store at 4 Area K, Ogle, East Coast Demerara
which mimics an airstrip, was designed with an aircraft mounted at the entrance in a descending position, creating the impression that the plane is about to land. After landing, ‘passengers’ can then follow the walkway to the entrance of the store. This, Juman said, is the concept behind the design.
After the cutting of the ribbon, which was done by Mishal Juman, parents and the many children present had an opportunity to tour the store. While the children were overwhelmed by the bright colours and fun designs, their parents were also impressed by the overall stock of clothing and the competi-
tive prices at which they are being sold. Juman said he has plans to bring in even more clothing and toys in the near future. He looks forward to being able to supply and satisfy the needs of parents and their children, which when accomplished, he said, would be his ultimate reward.
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Gruesome early morning Professor Misir launches book on HIV knowledge, murders rock Linden stigma in Guyana community U A mother and her teenage son were in the wee hours of Saturday morning hacked to death at their home in Moblissa, Linden/Soesdyke Highway by the woman’s 17-year-old brother. The young man identified as Orin James is now on the lam. The dead are Molly James, 34, and her son Aaron James, 15, of Moblissa Public Road, Linden/ Soesdyke, formerly of North West District (NWD). As the news spread about the gruesome murder, relatives of the dead woman and residents rushed to the scene, and many wept when they saw what happened. The quiet village was left in a state of shock. According to information received, the woman on Thursday reported to the police that the suspect had allegedly raped her 13-yearold daughter, while she was washing clothes at a nearby creek. As a result, a report was made to the police, who went in search of the suspect, but he was not located. Upon learning of the complaint lodged against him, the young man went to the James’ home and fatally stabbed his sister. The woman’s 15-year-old son reportedly went to his mother’s assistance and was also stabbed to death. The teenager, who was allegedly sexually molested and her five other siblings managed to escape into the bushes. They were subsequently located and taken to the Mackenzie Police Station. At the time of the incident, which occurred about 00:30h, James was reportedly with her seven children. When Guyana Times visited the scene a few hours after the brutal murder, a trail of blood was visible in the sand − from the James’ home to the highway. This may have been caused when the police were removing the bodies from the house.
Tearful
Relatives were seen sitting close to the house, either with their hands on their chins or with tears settled in their eyes. The woman’s reputed husband, James Simon, was not at home at the time of the murder. He and Molly were together for the past five months and he last saw her alive on Thursday when he was leaving for the backdam. Simon went on to say that he was at work on Saturday morning when he received the tragic news. He said he immediately dropped everything and rushed home, which is some distance from where he works. The man said that by the time he reached home, the police had already removed the two bodies, but he later
The dead woman’s reputed husband, James Simon
learnt that his reputed wife was stabbed in her house, but ran a short distance before collapsing. While he does not know exactly what transpired, he admitted that the woman informed him that the suspect, who is the woman’s brother, had assaulted her daughter, and as such, she made a report at the police station.
Warning
He also revealed that the suspect lives with his parents a short distance away from where he committed the act. Simon also added that Orin would frequent the victims’ home and he had cause to warn him several times about his behaviour. Ignatius James, the father of the dead woman, stated that he was at home when he was informed about the murder by a friend, who telephoned him. He said as soon as he got the news, he went to the scene, but the bodies were already removed. Ignatius was not too aware as to what occurred, but was certain that his daughter and grandson were dead. The suspect, he added fled the scene and was not seen since. The distraught father explained that he last spoke with his daughter on Wednesday when she came out of the backdam with a quantity of cabbage. He said his daughter recently moved to the area and was in the process of constructing her home.
Separated
Ignatius said Molly, his eldest daughter, got married and went to live with her husband in Linden, but they separated. He explained that the man would usually send money for Molly and their children, but she had to travel to Georgetown to collect it. Quite unfortunately, she had planned to collect the money on the day she was killed. Aaron’s grandfather Lawrence Vibeiros, said he had assisted the woman in travelling from Region One
to Moblissa some time ago because of a “police story”. He said he heard of the alleged rape on Friday after the victim had related the incident to him. “She tell me she was down at the creek and the man go down right there and hold she down and cut she hand two places,” he said. The man related that after he arrived on the scene around 08:00h, he accompanied the police to the suspect’s father’s home at Moblissa in search of him, but related that the search turned up emptyhanded. One of the victims’ neighbours said he did not hear anything unusual and learnt of the murders later on Saturday morning. He related that he last saw the victims alive on Tuesday. “Molly old time fatherin-law come by me yesterday and he tell me that the girl get rape. He asked me if I hear anything and I said ‘no’,” he related. Ignatius said his daughter used to cut wild cabbage for a living. Police up to press time were still looking for the murder suspect.
niversity of Guyana Pro-Chancellor, Professor Prem Misir on Friday launched another book titled HIV and AIDS-Knowledge and Stigma in Guyana. Speaking at the launch held at the New Building Society, Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown, Professor Misir said the publication was influenced by work he carried out at the New York City Health Department, where he was the principal investigator to a study that dealt with HIV/AIDS. The book looked at a cross-sectional study using a purposive sample of 379 high school students from 15 urban and rural high schools in Guyana, and assessed their HIV and AIDS knowledge and stigma-related attitudes, and the relationships among gender, age, religion, and race/ethnicity and HIV and AIDS knowledge. Dr Misir said most of the high school students displayed an overall moderate knowledge on HIV and AIDS. He said the students understood the modes of HIV transmission; they recognised the symptoms of HIV and AIDS; nearly half of them believed that a blood donor was at risk of contracting HIV; and about
Dr Prem Misir
one-fifth of the students embraced myths and misconceptions surrounding HIV and AIDS. According to him, there was no statistically significant difference in the knowledge scores of male and female students. Knowledge scores, nevertheless, differed significantly between the 13 to 15 and 16 to 18 age groups, and among the religious and ethnic groups. He added that many surveys need to pay attention to addressing the issue of knowledge. Professor Misir believes that the way concept of HIV aids knowledge is measured is standard. Meanwhile, Caricom Assistant Secretary General of Human and Social Development, Dr Douglas Slater commended the work of Professor Misir, point-
ing out that extensive work was put into the research, which showed a significant difference of knowledge on HIV/AIDS between ethnic and religious groups. On that note, the Caricom official said the publication was timely, especially since the Pan Caribbean Partners against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) is currently undergoing a justice for all programme in the region. Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran also congratulated Professor Misir, stating that the book brings new life to the current data on HIV/AIDS in Guyana that could be used as a tool for future planning in HIV/ AIDS response. The study showed fissures in HIV/AIDS knowledge and substantial stigma-related attitudes. The book is said to be essential reading for medical professionals, policymakers and educators throughout the Caribbean region. Misir’s many publications include Cultural Identity and Creolisation in National Unity: The Multiethnic Caribbean and Leader Behaviour and the Compliance Structure in Education: A Sociological Study of Ideology and Social Change in Guyana.
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SUNday, december 1, 2013
guyanatimesgy.com
Regional
Heavy rain in Cuba lashes Kartel, others sold for 30 pieces of silver – lawyer Havana, killing two
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eavy rain has been battering Cuba since Friday, flooding streets and leaving at least two people dead. A number of buildings have collapsed in the capital, Havana, authorities say. A 54-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman are reported to have died as a house crumbled in central Havana. Up to 200mm (7.8in) of rain fell overnight and the Cuban meteorological
service has forecast more heavy rain for Saturday, particularly in the western and central regions. Yunior Amesa, the nephew of the two victims of the building collapse, told Associated Press news agency: “It was raining very hard and there was a lot of weight [from the water] up there. They went to bed.” Amesa says he narrowly escaped because he had to leave the house to go to
work. Many streets in the capital remain submerged, as the authorities assess the damage to other derelict buildings in the city. Bad weather also led to the closure of the picturesque Malecon seaside boulevard, lashed by stormy waves, AP reported. The torrential rain is expected to bring flooding to coastal areas in western Cuba and the central region. (BBC News)
Chief Justice defends Cayman’s jurisprudence
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hief Justice Honourable Anthony Smellie has explained that the courts in the Cayman Islands do not micromanage trustees and always give firms leeway to work in good faith. Speaking on Trust Law at the International Trust and Tax Summit in Miami on Tuesday, November 19 the chief justice presented a paper that highlighted “firmly established principle that the courts will not ordinarily interfere with the
exercise of discretion vested in the trustee once it is exercised in good faith.” He discussed the local cases where the court intervened nonetheless to avoid detrimental consequences for beneficiaries that would otherwise have arisen from their trustees acting upon erroneous legal or other professional advice or failing to act upon proper advice. “The basis upon which courts should intervene was the subject of a recent judgment from the UK Supreme
Court, in which that court strongly argued against courts’ intervening to reverse what may have been erroneous decisions of trustees seeking to avoid adverse tax consequences. Decrying “artificial” tax avoidance as a “social evil,” the Supreme Court declared that trustees should instead be left to face the consequences of their mistakes, including being sued by their beneficiaries,” the chief justice stated. (Excerpt
from Caymannetnews)
North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba Anglican province considers ordaining female bishops
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he subject of whether women may be ordained as Anglican bishops in the province of North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba (NECA) will be up for consideration in 2015. Bishop of Barbados and Archbishop of the Church and Province of the West Indies John Holder confirmed that at the House of Bishops and the Provincial Standing Committee meetings being held at Cortsland
Hotel this week, it was agreed a document would be formulated in time for the next meeting in 2015. “For some time we have been discussing the ordination and consecration of females as bishops in the province. Many years ago we decided to ordain women as priests in the province but we had to agree among the diocesan to the ordination as bishop and we have done so,” Archbishop Holder
told OBSERVER media. He said it is possible that at the next provincial meeting in Barbados, a resolution will be passed to allow ordination of female bishops. Archbishop Holder, however, noted that only when there are vacancies and nominations are open can a woman qualify to be placed on the ballot box where the synod votes. Once successful, the woman will be ordained as a bishop. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)
Another Trinidadian journalist under fire
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nother Trinidadian journalist is under fire from members of the public after she posted a comment on a social network about Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. On Friday afternoon, CNC3 News reporter Ria Rambally tweeted: “Our prime minister is a mother… under whose government children are being murdered. I am so angry!” Rambally made this comment a day after the gruesome discovery of the decomposing body of six-year-old Keyana Cumberbatch, who went missing earlier this week. On Friday, an autopsy conducted by senior pathologist Valerie Alexandrov revealed that she was sex-
CNC3 News reporter Ria Rambally
ually assaulted while unconscious, or when already dead. The cause of her death was given as blunt force trauma to the head. Cumberbatch’s body was found stuffed in a
plastic barrel inside her apartment in Maloney on Thursday. She had been missing since Monday. She was the second child to have been murdered in recent times. On November 20, toddler Jacob Monroe was found dead in a cesspit near his home in Maracas/ St Joseph. These two deaths, especially Cumberbatch’s, have sent the nation into shock and mourning, hence the outburst of Rambally, on the social network. Rambally even went as far as using obscenities towards someone who was pleading with her to keep her emotions at bay and telling her that PersadBissessar should not be blamed. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)
Entertainer Vybz Kartel (in red necktie) and co-accused Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell (in black necktie) enter the Supreme Court building last week for their ongoing murder trial
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defence attorney in the Vybz Kartel murder trial Friday suggested that the prosecution’s main witness “sold” the accused men for “30 pieces of silver” like Jesus was, con-
cocting a story of murder to avoid picking up a gun charge. The witness was being cross-examined by Pierre Rogers, the attorney for Kahira Jones, who — along
with Kartel, Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell, André St John and Shane Williams — is being tried in the Home Circuit Court for the August 16, 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams in a house in Havendale, St Andrew. During, the scorching cross-examination, Rogers repeatedly accused the witness — who testified with his head hung in an apparent bid to avoid eye contact with the accused men — of being a liar. But as Rogers applied the pressure‚ the witness tried maintaining his composure and stuck to his guns that he was telling the truth about what he said occurred at the Havendale home when Williams was killed. He also denied that the police assisted him with the making of his statement. Still, Rogers was relentless, at one point telling the witness: “Mr [name withheld] I hate to do this but you, Sir, are a liar.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
In Argentina, pregnant groom weds in a legal first
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he bride was born a man. The groom was born a woman. And when the Argentine couple wed Friday, it was the first time in the country that a groom tied the knot pregnant. Argentina in 2010 was the first country in Latin America to allow same-sex marriage. And two years later, it passed a law allowing transsexuals to get national IDs listing the gender with which they identify themselves.
So when Karen Bruselario wed Alexis Taborda in the north-eastern city of Victoria, it was another big step on their journey together after meeting in Buenos Aires as activists for transsexual and transgender rights. “It was a very emotional day, unique, really special because a dream came true for us. We had a civil marriage,” Taborda, 26, told AFP by phone. Their next big step: Taborda, who legally is
male as he self-identifies as such, is 36 weeks pregnant, with the couple’s first child. Neither had sex reassignment surgery. Taborda and Bruselario, 28, said they would like to marry in a Catholic church. So they sent an email to Argentine-born Pope Francis about their case. They have yet to receive a response from the pontiff. They claim to be the first couple of two transsexuals to wed there who have not had reassignment surgery.
(Excerpt from Yahoo! News)
We can’t protect every child – chairman of TT Children’s Authority
Six-year-old Keyana Cumberbatch
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hairman of the Children’s A u t h o r i t y Stephanie Daly said
there was nothing that could have been done in the circumstances to save six-year-old Keyana Cumberbatch. Daly spoke in an interview with reporters at Parliament, Tower D, Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain Friday. She said no matter what legislation was proclaimed, “There is no way anybody could protect every child in the nation. There will always be people who will be abused because it happens in their homes.” What the authority was trying to implement, she said, was a much stronger response and protection mechanism. Commenting on Keyana’s death, Daly said she was
shocked, and upset, and abuse by a person of trust is worse than abuse by others, but it was not appropriate to feel “that anything we can do would necessarily have prevented that particular child’s disaster.” She said the authority was working hard to ensure the legislation could be fully implemented in the shortest possible time. “There is absolutely no point giving people new legislation if the product isn’t there to support that legislation,” Daly said. Trying to fully implement the legislation without the necessary structures in place, she said, would only lead to more confusion. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)
guyanatimesgy.com
SUNday, december 1, 2013
15
Around the world
Day of rage: UK protests Israeli Leading Egyptian activist turns himself in plan to remove 70,000 Bedouins A
Bedouin demonstrators clash with Israeli security during a protest against the Prawer Plan in the southern village of Hura on November 30
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cross the UK Britons are to take to the streets to protest an Israeli plan to forcibly remove 70,000 Palestinian Bedouins from their homes. The proposal has triggered accusations of “ethnic cleansing” and “discrimination” from activist groups.
The Prawer Plan will see between 40,000 and 70,000 Bedouin citizens removed from their homes in South Israel. The Israeli government has said the Bedouins will be re-homed and granted compensation for the move. However, UKbased charity the Palestine
Solidarity Campaign says the plan heralds “the forced displacement of Palestinians from their homes and land, and systematic discrimination and separation.” The group published a letter in the Guardian on November 29 condemning the plan and urging the UK government to act. The letter contains the signatures of 50 public figures supporting the cause. The document calls for immediate action from the British government, urging harsh measures rather than the usual diplomatic rhetoric. “There can be no ‘business as usual’ with a state which is preparing to ethnically cleanse 70,000 people. It’s time to start challenging Israel’s racism and apartheid policies,” the activist group wrote in the letter. (Excerpt from RT News)
In Chicago, your social network could get you killed
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n Chicago’s most violent neighbourhoods, makeshift memorials to the young and dead sprout from street corners like wilting posies. Most often these victims are poor and black, cut down by gun violence that has long gripped America’s most hardened communities. But the ties that bind this forlorn demographic cut much deeper than their income, age or race. The most important factor in predicting who among them might be next to die could be found within a person’s network of friends. “Homicide is social-
ly contagious, and association with people engaged in risky behaviours – like carrying a firearm and engaging in criminal activities – increases the probability of victimisation,” a pair of Yale University sociologists wrote in a study released this month entitled, “Network Exposure and Homicide Victimisation in an African American Community”, published in the American Journal of Public Health. “Generally, you can’t catch a bullet from just anyone,” Andrew Papachristos, one of the authors told The Chicago Sun-Times. “Your relationship with the peo-
ple involved matters. It’s not unlike needle sharing or unprotected sex in the spread of HIV.” Papachristos and co-author Christopher Wildeman pored over homicide and arrest records between 2006 and 2011, analysing a network of 3718 high-risk individuals who had committed crimes together. The individuals lived within a six-mile area in a highcrime neighbourhood. The authors then modelled the odds of someone being shot and killed using individual characteristics, network position, and indirect exposure to homicide. (Excerpt from MSNBC)
Indian editor Tarun Tejpal arrested after bail rejected
Tarun Tejpal denies allegations that he sexually assaulted a female colleague
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he editor of a prominent Indian news magazine has been arrested over sexual assault allegations, after a court rejected an extension of his bail. The judge declined to extend Tarun Tejpal’s earlier “pre-bail” award, which had temporarily lifted the threat of arrest. Tejpal has not been for-
mally charged but denies the accusations against him. His unnamed accuser has said what he did “falls within the legal definition of rape”. She initially levelled claims against Tejpal in the media following the alleged incident at an event organised by the Tehelka magazine in Goa earlier this month. This prompted police
to launch an investigation with which she is now cooperating. Six journalists, including the managing editor of the publication, have resigned over the controversy. Under Indian law, pre-trial bail can be sought if an individual fears possible arrest. Tejpal was taken into custody within an hour of the court in Panaji, Goa, issuing its ruling. The prosecution argued that Tejpal should be arrested so he could be properly interrogated and his version of events cross-checked. His lawyer argued that Tejpal had agreed to abide by court-dictated conditions including the surrender of his passport if prebail was extended. Geeta Luthra argued that Tejpal was at risk of “humiliation and disgrace” if arrested. (Excerpt from BBC News)
hmad Maher, a symbol of the popular uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011, turned himself in to the authorities on Saturday after an order was issued for his arrest for defying a new law restricting demonstrations. The protest law, passed a week ago by the army-backed interim government, has provoked an outcry among rights groups. The army deposed elected Islamist pres-
ident Mohamed Mursi on July 3, following mass protests against his rule, and the country has seen widespread unrest since. Maher and around 100 supporters made their way to the Abdeen court, chanting: “Down, down with military rule! I’ll write on the prison wall that army rule is shameful and a betrayal!” Clashes broke out between security forces and activists outside the court after Maher turned himself
in. Police fired tear gas and used their batons to disperse the crowd. Maher will be detained for at least one day while his case is investigated, prosecution sources told Reuters. On Thursday, police arrested activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, also known for his role in the anti-Mubarak uprising. Arrest warrants had been issued for both men after they joined demonstrations outside the parliament to defy the protest law. (Excerpt
from Reuters)
Pakistan promises to help Afghans meet former Taliban chief
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai (Right) and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attend a joint news conference in Kabul, November 30
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akistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promised Afghanistan on Saturday that he would help arrange further meetings between Afghan officials and a former Taliban commander as part of renewed efforts to revive a defunct peace process. Pakistan announced it
would release the insurgent group’s former second-in-command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in September. Afghan officials believe he still retains enough influence within the Taliban to help rekindle peace talks. In a first such meeting, an Afghan delegation travelled to Pakistan about 10 days ago to meet the
former commander, who remains under the close supervision of his Pakistani minders. Sharif, in Kabul on a visit on Saturday, insisted Baradar was free and promised to facilitate further meetings. “Mullah Baradar has been released. We have discussed this matter at length today,” Sharif said. “Anybody who is sent... we will make sure that such meetings take place.” Baradar’s captivity in Pakistan has been a source of tension as anxiety grows ahead of the withdrawal of most U.S.-led troops from Afghanistan, planned for the end of next year. But the Taliban have yet to indicate they would accept the former leader back into the fold, or indeed even talk to him. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Shots fired as Thai protesters clash
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t least one person has been shot dead as Thai government supporters and foes clashed for the first time in a week of demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Ten people were also injured, hospital sources told Al Jazeera. It was not immediately known who fired the shots. The shooting in the capital, Bangkok, occurred after dark on Saturday night following scattered violence involving government oppo-
nents waylaying and beating several people they believed were going to a rally at a stadium of “Red Shirt’’ government supporters. Earlier on Saturday, protesters marched on the country’s two main telecommunications enterprises in Bangkok in an effort to paralyse the government. They have for the past week occupied or besieged government offices in what they describe as a civil disobedience campaign. They have vowed to seize the prime minister’s offices on Sunday.
A mix of royalists, southerners and the urban middle class, the government’s opponents are collectively called the Yellow Shirt movement and are united by their dislike for Thaksin Shinawatra, the controversial former prime minister. Thaksin, a one-time telecoms tycoon, was toppled in a military coup in 2006 and lives in self-imposed exile, but he is widely believed to be the real power behind the government of his younger sister Yingluck. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Ukraine’s bloody crackdown leads to call for sanctions
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kraine’s opposition leaders called for Western sanctions to be imposed and urged demonstrators to further protest action after police used force to break up a demonstration on Saturday against the government’s refusal to sign a trade deal with the European Union. Kiev’s central Independence Square has been ringed by police to prevent a repeat of the rally, which saw up to 10,000 people waving flags, sing-
ing songs and demanding the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych. The protest was prompted by Yanukovych’s confirmation on Friday that he had decided to turn his back on a landmark pact with the EU, instead keeping Ukraine closely aligned with Russia. About 500 police officers descended on the square – the symbolic heart of the 2004 Orange Revolution against elections rigged in favour of Yanukovych, as well as Ukraine’s 1990 anti-
Soviet protests – at 04:00h on Saturday, attacking protesters with truncheons. “I just can’t believe it happened,” said student Igor Mitrov, with a bandaged head and a bloodstained Ukrainian flag in his hands. Mitrov, 22 was among protesters regrouping in the grounds of Kiev’s St Mikhailovsky monastery. “The police were beating the girls with rubber batons and we, the guys, were trying to defend them. But without success.” (Excerpt from The Guardian)
16 News Businessman accuses policeman of illegally seizing his firearm T SUNday, december 1, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com
he commanderin-charge of the Springlands Police Station is being accused of wrongfully repossessing a firearm in the name of the Guyana Police Force. According to reports, the senior rank repossessed the licensed firearm belonging to a popular Corriverton businessman. Still upset about the incident, Kumar Dudnauth, 68, of Corriverton, owner of Dudnauth’s Hardware and Agri Centre, said the officer at the Springlands Police Station visited his premises about 19:00h on Friday,
accompanied by a man dressed in civilian clothing. Initially, Dudnauth thought the policeman was visiting to investigate a prior incident, but after inviting him into his house, he learnt that the police wanted to repossess his handgun. The officer reportedly requested the handgun and the gun’s licence, both of which the businessman said he handed over. Dudnauth said he cooperated with the policeman, and was told that the gun would be taken to the Springlands Police Station for a ballistic test.
The businessman reportedly pleaded with the officer for the gun to be taken to the station the following morning (Saturday), as he expressed security concerns, but his cries apparently fell on deaf ears. After realising that the gun would be taken way, Dudnauth requested an acknowledgement slip to indicate that the gun has been handed over to the police, but the commander did not budge at the request. The businessman expressed disappointment in the manner in which the matter was dealt with, ex-
plaining that procedures must be followed when firearms are being repossessed. Up until late Saturday night, the police did not contact the businessman concerning the gun. It is believed that the incident on Friday night stemmed from an attack on Dudnauth. He was shot in the waist and right leg, during an armed robbery on November 22. According to reports, about 20:25h, the businessman was attacked by bandits while in his yard. He was shot twice during the robbery.
Guyana has been able to contain AIDS – NAPS programme manager
NAPS Programme Manager, Dr Shanti Singh
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé
ational AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) Programme Manager, Dr Shanti Singh said Guyana has come a far way since the first AIDS case was recorded in 1987. She made the remark as Guyana today joins the HIV global community in observing World AIDS Day 2013 held under the theme “Getting to Zeros – Zero New Infections, Zero AIDS related deaths and Zero Discrimination”. Dr Singh in a release said NAPS has been privileged to be at the centre of the response. “We have committed from the very first case that our people will be provided with the highest quality of services and we have dedicated much of our time to fulfilling this promise. Indeed, the progress speaks for itself − Guyana has reported universal access to HIV prevention and treatment services, we are well poised to declare the elimination of mother to child transmission, many Guyanese know their HIV status, more than 81 per cent of persons living with HIV are reporting a 12-month survival and AIDS related deaths have decreased from almost 10 per cent in 2002 to less than four per cent in 2010. These translated to everyday lives mean that fewer babies are being born with HIV, less HIV infections are occurring and people living with HIV are living longer and healthier lives. We are turning the tide against the epidemic!” Dr Singh said as Guyana reflects on its achievements, NAPS has acknowledged that the journey is far from over; pointing out that stigma
and discrimination remained an issue. After 26 years, people and especially persons from the key populations are hesitant to access HIV prevention and treatment services for fear of discrimination. This has the potential to increase new infections and AIDS related deaths. “We at the ministry recommit to employing a comprehensive combination prevention approach that will include enhancing the structural and other related environments directed at reducing stigma and discrimination,” Dr Singh said.
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Response
The Guyana HIV response has continually evolved over the last 26 years, moving from an emergency response targeting the general population to now one that requires a more targeted focus on the high risk groups, from an initial vertical programme response to one now requiring a more sustained integrated approach and from acute management to now considering HIV as a chronic disease. “Through all of this, our people have been fortunate to have unswerving and loyal partners who have responded with us at the very beginning and many of who are still with us. We are grateful for the support of the government and people of the United States of America, for the PEPFAR, USAID and other programmes, the Global Fund, the World Bank, PANCAP, CIDA and all other institutions and agencies. We are thankful to all of the technical agencies under the UN system - UNAIDS,
PAHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and all others. “We salute our health care workers who have despite all the odds have persevered and continue to save lives,” Dr Singh said. She said though Guyana has come a far way, it must not be complacent, but must build on the momentum gained in reversing the epidemic. “We appreciate that only the combined efforts of our partners, stakeholders, people living with and affected by HIV and every Guyanese will bring us to the end of AIDS.” Meanwhile, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said families and friends who gather together to remember lost loved ones can rejoice in incredible hope for the future. “For the first time, we can see an end to an epidemic that has wrought such staggering devastation around the world. For the first time, we can say that we are beginning to control the epidemic and not that the epidemic is controlling us. “Few thought that we could achieve the progress which we are seeing today. Progress is clear in the scientific breakthroughs, visionary leadership and precision programming. The combination of these powerful factors means that people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives, can now protect their partners from becoming infected with the virus, and can keep their children free from HIV,” he said.
Several injured in minibus collision at Ruby
The driver of the passenger bus as he was being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Saturday evening
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t least 13 persons were taken to the West Demerara Regional and Leonora Cottage hospitals on Saturday evening after two minibuses collided at Ruby, East Bank Essequibo. According to reports, of the 13 passengers, four persons were listed as serious. They were subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical attention. Those transferred were Kissoon (only name given), Marissa Daniels and Eric Carter. The name of the fourth person was not immediately available. Those who sustained injuries and were treated at the two medical facilities and sent away are Tamika Johnson and her son, Anthony Johnson; Paul Clarke; Marisia Rahamen; and Olinda Bowling. The others were still being attended to by doctors, thus their names were not provided. According to information received, a driver of a private minibus was travelling out of Parika, East Bank Essequibo when he suddenly swerved into the path of a route 32 minibus driven by Eric Carter. Cater attempted to avoid an accident but ended up in a head-on collision. The route 32 minibus, which at the time was car-
“Big Foot” handed over to police by mother
Ending AIDS
Determining what the end of AIDS could look like is complex. To help answer these questions UNAIDS, together with The Lancet, have set up a commission to find answers to what ending AIDS will look like. It is certain that ending the AIDS epidemic will mean so much to so many. It will mean zero new HIV infections, zero people dying of AIDS – and all people living with dignity and without fear of discrimination. “Ending AIDS will mean celebrating birthdays instead of attending funerals. But make no mistake, stigma, denial and complacency are still among us, putting us in danger of failing the next generation. We must join our hearts and our voices – together we are stronger. The world is poised to end AIDS and if we stay true to our vision we will remember this as the day that a lifelong of dreams began to transform into reality,” Sidibé said.
rying 13 passengers, ended up in a nearby trench. The passengers were reportedly pulled from the wreckage, but according to reports, the two drivers were trapped in their vehicles. From all indications, they suffered broken feet and arms, along with injuries to their heads and other parts of their bodies. A student of Parika Salem Secondary School who was a passenger in the route 32 minibus explained that the driver was speeding when suddenly she felt an impact and realised the vehicle was in a trench. The accident occurred in the vicinity of the Two Brother’s Service Station about 17:30h. A friend of Carter said when he heard of the accident, he went to the aid of the passengers. The man said when he arrived at the scene, the route 32 bus was in the trench and its passengers were being pulled out by public-spirited persons. All the passengers were pulled from the bus and some were placed in a canter and taken to the West Demerera Regional Hospital, while the others were taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital in another vehicle. Some of the passengers were crying out in pain. This publication understands that the driver of the private bus was under the influence of alcohol.
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Brian “Big Foot” Leitch
ess than 24 hours after the police issued a wanted bulletin for Brian Leitch, also called “Big Foot” of Lot 2118 Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara for questioning in relation to the murder of Joseph Alexander Jagdeo, he was handed over to the police by his mother on Saturday afternoon. The police issued a wanted bulletin on Friday for the man who was implicated in the murder of Jagdeo, 62.
Jagdeo was found in his hotel with his hands tied and his mouth gagged, two days after he went missing. He was the owner of the South Central Hotel and his Bar, located at Lot 218 South Road, Georgetown. The businessman was discovered during a search by a live-in handyman early Thursday morning. He was found under a bed in Room 10 of the hotel. His body also bore marks of violence. His reputed wife Fazia Hack was distraught upon receiving the devastating news. Hack and Jagdeo did not live together, but she cooked for him. She last saw him a few days before he reportedly went missing. Jagdeo was described as a friendly person who was always willing to help those in need. He had been running the business, which he inherited from his father, for more than 20 years.
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news
sundAy, december 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com
10 land surveyors graduate T
he importance of the role of land surveyors and the need for continuous improvement were emphasised during the graduation of 10 persons in the field on Friday. Delivering the feature address, at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Robert Persaud lauded the successful surveyors that graduated from an initial batch of 34 and said that their achievement speaks to their “abilities... and being able to overcome challenges”. It was recalled that only five persons graduated in 2012 and three in 2011. Minister Persaud said that given the pass rates for previous years, he was happy with the efforts being made by the GLSC to have certified and competent land surveyors. The role that they play particularly in the evaluation process for certain types of potential investments was emphasised by the minister, “You will understand, not only in natural resources, but also in other economic activities, you will appreciate why is it we need to have qualified surveyors… but also why is it we need to have the quantity of land surveyors.” Minister Persaud added that it is important that the young surveyors not have their recent achievement blind their appetite for more knowledge and experience. “If you’re going to develop as a surveyor of any quality, speak with any of the surveyors who have been very prominent in our country, it is experience that really cuts the card at the end of the day.”
Legislation
Mention was made of the Land Surveyors Profession Bill, a piece of legislation, Minister Persaud said, would serve as a guide to ensure professional conduct, training and ethics which would result in the level of respect that is, accorded to other professions such as medicine, being given to that of land surveying. The bill, he said would also cater
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud and Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Doorga Persaud with the new batch of land surveyors
for the use of modern technology since the original act put into place in 1973 has not changed significantly to reflect rapidly changing technology. “What we’ve done is extricated the section that deals with the issue of professional conduct and the profession and we’ve created, based on consultation with the Surveyors Association and others, a specific bill which will have rights, as well as obligations, and it will at the end of the day lift the standards of the profession, where we will insist on integri-
serve in all our regions too, so there is a space for you. I want you to recognise that you have an obligation to provide services even to this commission itself. It will set a good foundation and it will also be your way of giving back.”
Continue studying
Giving brief remarks, Surveyors’ Association President Randolph ChooShee-Nam congratulated the new land surveyors, noting that their success at examinations only indicate what they did and not what they can do. Clients demand
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud presents a certificate to one of the land surveyors
ty, where we will insist on quality and whereby we will insist that when surveys are done, they are done by people who are qualified.” In closing Minister Persaud appealed to the graduates to join the government agencies, which are in need of their services and not only seek to move into the private sector. “Take for instance, we only have 12 surveyors, we need several more, we need surveyors to
the best, he added, and the need for real world experience must never be underestimated along with the need for further studies. “Never put down your book, and remember you will always need further training.” Giving an overview of the course which was extended due to extra funding from an original six weeks to eight, Surveys Division Manager Rene Duesbury said it was
the largest number of surveyors in over two decades to be sworn in annually. He mentioned an increase in the percentage of mathematics and astronomy passes and a decline in the percentage of theory and practice and use and adjustment passes. “This can be attributed to the fact that candidates placed more emphasis on mathematics and astronomy this year.” He explained that these persons have not only been trained to survey lands as their title connotes, but also economic inclusive zones, airspaces and water. “Today you have joined a prestigious club, as many before you have done; such as former President Arthur Chung, Wilson Harris, Edward Hopkinson, your current Examiner Mr Randolph Choo-Shee-Nam, to name a few. Great expectation is expected of you,” Duesbury said. Giving the vote of thanks, valedictorian Dinesh Sukhu, thanked his parents, lecturers and the board of examiners for their support, and encouraged his fellow surveyors to see their achievement as a stepping stone to greater things. He also challenged the next class to surpass this most recent effort. The other newly-sworn in surveyors are Terrence Sukhu, Terrence Thomas, Jason Alexander, Trevon Graham, Kwasi Wilson, Raphael Pearson, Dekwesi Yaw, Dexter Chacon and lone female Shibanah Lara. There have been 555 land surveyors sworn in since the original department was established in 1892.
Police force gets new computer training centre
Z
ara, a North Americanbased Guyanese company on Friday commissioned a computer training centre at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Camp Street, making it the third centre opened by the company. The other two are at the officers’ training centres in Essequibo and Berbice. The project is an effort by the company to promote Information Communication Technology (ICT) across Guyana and to help to enhance crime-fighting within the force through the use of
technology. The centre will not only be opened to the officers, but also to members of the public, providing basic ICT training and computer engineering courses. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell, expressed gratitude for the initiative. He said that it was very heartwarming that Zara’s officials were giving back to their country. He added that ever since the establishment of the other two centres, there have
been no complaints about equipment being damaged or stolen, and he assured the representatives of Zara that he will implement measures to ensure this remains so. Zara Vice President Jay Sobhraj highlighted that the company will continue to support initiatives in Guyana and this is not the end of this programme because it will also be providing technical training at these centres and the representatives will be working closely with the officers. Zara’s Technical Consultant Nardeo Singh
said that although they are residing abroad, Guyana remains their motherland and they will continue to invest in it. Also present at the event was Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali Hack, Assistant Commissioner, Balram Persaud, members of Zara and officers from the various divisions. Zara has thus far invested $60 million in establishing and equipping these labs. This is the company’s 12th investment in Guyana.
Injured bandit escapes from Georgetown Public Hospital
P
andemonium broke out at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Saturday afternoon after an alleged bandit, who was under police guard, made good his escape by scaling a fence. Edgar Blackman, 19, of Lot 9A Tucville, Georgetown, was admitted to the medical facility a few days ago after he received a sound thrashing from Sophia residents after he allegedly snatched a laptop and cellphone from a young woman. Police said Blackman escaped from the hospital about 15:50h. He was under investigation for robbery under arms. During his bid to recapture Blackman, a police rank discharged several rounds at the alleged bandit, damaging a window of the hospital complex. The police are investigating the incident. Guyana Times understands that Blackman, who was in the male surgical ward, requested to use the
wash room and permission was granted by the police at the door. As he left the ward, he reported ran down a corridor between the male ward and the Accident and Emergency Unit and finally down the stairs. The policeman gave chase and discharged a few rounds, but Blackman managed to dodge the bullets, ran towards the fence at the East Street Entrance and jumped over. It was reported that on Wednesday, a woman was walking along Dennis Street, Sophia when the fugitive and his accomplice, on bicycle, grabbed her cellular phone and laptop. As they attempted to escape, persons in the area followed them and Blackman was caught, and given a sound thrashing before being handed over to the police. His accomplice managed to escape.
Fun and games help people go green, says study
Eco-themed games were a good way to reach people about environmental issues, the study found
P
laying games can help change attitudes and behaviour towards environmental issues, a study has suggested. Consultant Paula Owen, who carried out the 12-month “Eco-games” study, said the results highlighted how games, such as bingo, could help raise environmental awareness. She added that the findings also showed that people did not engage with “doom and gloom” messages. Owen said she planned to release a free “Eco-games” app at Christmas. Since the project was launched in March at London’s Science Museum, she said hundreds of people had participated in “eco fun and games” events across the London area. She added that more than half of the participants pledged to modify their behaviour in order to reduce their impact on the environment.
No finger-wagging
The study found that, on average, each respondent had saved about halfa-tonne of carbon emissions. Among the most popular activities were not overfilling the kettle, putting lids on saucepans and taking
shorter showers. “If we are to have any chance to stop some of the worst excesses of climatic change over this century, we need everyone to play their part, however small that part might be,” Owen observed. “Our new approach to communication and engagement, using the medium of social games and fun instead of finger-wagging and guilttripping, is proving itself to be a powerful tool in the armoury of environmental educators.” The project set out to explore whether “gamification” could be used to encourage pro-environment behaviour among people who normally did not engage with green issues. Gamification refers to the idea of using the concepts and and mechanics of games but in a non-gaming environment. The events allowed people to take part in a range of modified games, including Play Your Eco-Cards Right and Eco-Snakes and Ladders. The study was carried out as part of the London Leaders Programme, which was set up by the London Sustainable Development Commission. (BBC News)
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guyanatimesgy.com
sunday, december 1, 2013
thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com
By Bernice Bede Osol
archie
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Keep your finances in order and your sights on your personal goals. Don’t feel pressured into making a choice when clearly you are in the driver’s seat. Make a decision and don’t budge.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) Question your values and change your goals. Re-evaluate your position, and if you aren’t happy with the way things are going, do whatever it takes to change your course of action.
PISCES (Feb.20March 20)
dilbert
Do what you can, but don’t overstep your bounds. Listen, and you will realise your choice is clear; following through will come easy. Romance will improve your day.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) A change in your financial situation can make a difference to your standard of living. Don’t be too quick to give up a position you enjoy. Stick to basics and moderation.
CANCER (June 21July 22) Share your thoughts, feelings and intentions, and you will get a favourable response. Don’t let excess stand between you and what you want. Reasonable plans will seal a deal.
LEO (July 23Aug. 22) Fair and straightforward discussions will help alleviate future problems. Keeping an open mind and making simple plans will be the prerequisites to compromise and equality. Embrace change.
VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) A day trip will bring you joy, adventure and a closer connection to someone you love. Romance is highlighted along with personal alterations that make you look and feel your best.
LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) Don’t overspend on home improvements. Uncertainties will arise regarding how you feel and the way you are currently living. Consider your options, but don’t make an impulsive move.
Calvin and Hobbes TAURUS (April 20May 20) Talk about matters that concern you personally. You can resolve issues and make plans and agreements that will help improve your relationships with the people you care about most.
Peanuts
GEMINI (May 21June 20) You’ll be torn between what you want and what you are allowed to do. A heated discussion will make matters worse. Include whoever is holding you back, and you may reach an agreement.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Express your feelings and make unusual plans that will bring about a change at home or where you reside. Romance should be planned and a commitment made.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Come together with people who share your concerns and interests. You can make a difference if you question what’s wrong and demand change. Speak up and make changes.
YELLOW PAGES sunday, december 1, 2013
dentistry Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034
EDUCATION SAT/AP/CXC/IGCSE English classes, personalized tutoring. Phone: 6124821 after 4pm, 274-0437 after 7pm.
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
FOR SALE 1 stall stabroek market phone: 718757-8031, 658-0145 Mecury in large quantities, 99.9999% purity in grey flask. Phone: 219-4535 60FT Antenna (Mass) for Radio, TV, Cellular, with cables, brackets, sky light $500,000 227-3939, 621-4000 73” 3D TV Mitsubishi Like new $450,000 227-3939, 621-4000 DIESEL Generator silent 28 kva SDMO John Deere engine, missing Fuel Pump, Panel, Avr MAKE OFFER 227-3939, 621-4000 CLARKE forklifts 2000, 3000, 4000 Lb, lifting capacity MAKE AN OFFER TEL: 227-3939, 621-4000 Generac Generator 15 kva, portable, $500,000 cash or credit available Tel: 227-3939, 621-4000 Diesel Generator, 3 cylinder Lister pitter (England) key start, 15 kva, $650,000 cash or credit Tel: 2273939, 621-4000 Chicken Hatchery (Robbins), 28,000 eggs capacity fully ready, $ 5.5 million or CREDIT available TEL: 2273939 621-4000
GOLDSMITH R.Sookraj & Gift Shop for the best in hand made jewellery ,(made to order) Phone: 612-2125/223-6156
health Are you suffering from abnormal behaviors, addictions, stresses, or psychosomatic sickness? Feeling suicidal, low self-esteem, loneliness, unloved, anger, conflicts and relationship problems? For appointments call 592621-0552. 12:00pm -6:00pm, Email: healthworldhc@gmail.com
immigration Immigration & Visa Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/ visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc. Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates. Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca
KEY CUTTing Professional Key Shop, 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. Phone: 225-3923, mobile: 6213249. We cut any type of key, service and repair all types of locks. Get your extra key today.
lAND FOR SALE Promising gold and diamond mining land for sale in different areas. Phone: 699-3992.
LOST One Dog which answers to the name Zion. Colour Cream/White/ Brown about 1 foot tall. Last seen on Wednesday, November 13, between Success & LBI, ECD. If seen please call on numbers 619-8086, 699-7077, 220-3183.
MEDITATION Learn transcendental meditation and reduce stress & anxiety, develop full brain potential, increase creativity and intelligence, concentration, focus and memory, be healthier & happier, increase energy vitality and longetivity, enjoy more success in life, improve relationships and develop higher states of consciousness, a technique that works for everyone, for next introductory lecture. Contact Ashoke phone 233-6921, 6093701, email: kashokejp_68@yahoo.com or Sherlock phone 2252243, 614-9726 optician
Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect trendy touch.
property for sale PRIME COMMERICAL PROPERTY, AT BUSY JUNCTION CUMMINGS AND MIDDLE STREETS IN ALBERTOWN, 3 LOTS WITH BUSINESS, (NUT CENTRE) PRICE NEG. TEL 621-4000, 227-3939
powerful protection. Private and confidential. Phone: 674-2112. Cleansing of spiritual problems of all kinds. Powerful Ifá protection against evil. Get help to overcome problems with love, relationship, legal, sexual, pregnancy, business, sickness, jobs, enemies, work, money. Call 10am - 4pm. Tel: 592690-1824. Email: anew-life@live. com Dutch Spiritual work. Unite lovers, get rid of evil, enhance prosperity, good luck baths and charm bowu guards, etc. Phone: 220-0708, 612-6417, 687-5653
TO let
Small business space suitable for technician shop, taxi base, etc. Phone: 691-7164, 231- 2619. Business place for rent , Plantain Walk ,Vreed –en Hoop. Phone:649-0707. House at Lamaha Gardens. Hot & cold water, AC, etc. Phone: 2194535. Two modern apartments at Campbellville, hot & cold water, etc Phone: 219-4535 One house located in Lamaha Gardens, hot and cold water. Call 219-4535 EXECUTIVE TWO STOREY BUILDING 3 BEDROOMS WITH ALL MODERN CONVENIENCES FURNISHED/ UNFURNISHED, MEADOW BROOK GARDENS, MR NARAINE. PHONE: 696-8230 Two-bedroom self contained apt. Caneville, Grove. PHONE: 669-1954 Two modern apartments at Campbellville, hot & cold water etc. Call: 219-4535 Recently constructed bond with house and office space on the same lot, centrally located in Broad Street, ideal for business or manufacturing. Phone: 623-0425, 609-2876
1 flat concrete house at Parfaite Harmonie. Phone: 643-4740 Lot 48 Light Street, Alberttown. Contact Ram on 619-4483, 6017883 or 227-1454, 226-6325. 1 property at reasonable price, located in Bareroot, East Coast Demerara. Phone: 612-6417. One two storey house at lot 93 Atlantic Gardens, ECD; upperflat-3 bedrooms, kitchen and bath; lower flat-2 bedrooms, kitchen and bath. Call 592-619-4483, 592-656-7471
Dutch healing and upliftment, for clearing of land, dredging and ground work (strictly interior operation). Phone: 662-1247.
spirituality Suriname astrology palmist and Djuka healer. The most powerful spiritualist in the world. Are you suffering from the following problems? (any religions) love, marriage, family, health, business, husband and wife relationships, property, court, children, promotion, visa, pregnancy, education, depression, job, sexual, jealousy, enemy, money, drinking, also you can have all evil forces destroyed such as black magic, witchcraft, voodoo, obeyah, etc, and gives
LEROY TRIDENT car 250 CC, 4 doors, power window, $495,000 cash or credit TEL 227-3939, 621-4000 HILUX SURF 4 DOORS, minor parts needed, sold as is $750,000 TEL: 227-3939, 621-4000 Nissan Maxima, fully powered needs repairs sold as is $300,000 cash 227-3939, 621-4000 Stretch limousine, Lincoln Town car, fully powered $6.5 million or credit available Tel 227-3939, 621-4000 Mitsubishi 3000 GT sports car, fully powered, $1.7 cash or credit available TEL: 227-3939, 621-4000 Toyota Hilux extra cab, pick up $3.m. Phone: 264-2682. Titan (hardly driven) $3.5M neg. Phone: 691-9984 JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA PREMIO; TOYOTA ALLION; TOYOTA COROLLA AXIO; TOYOTA NOAH; SUZUKI SWIFT; MERCEDES BENZ C200 COMPRESSOR; BMW 318i; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; HONDA CRV; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, SOLID DIFFERENTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 3, 3.5 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; 3 TON DUMP TRUCK; NISSAN ATLAS 2-TON TRUCK.PREORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICE AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND A SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST.
Toyota Hilux 172 diesel extra-cab pick-up, 4x4 manual (5-speed transmission) a/c, p/s p/w p/l, winch, off road front bumper, KC lights, side baranka bars, bush-ready, Old Man Emu, rear leaf springs, lifted Old Man Emu shocks, snorkel, bed liner. Phone: 623-0425, 609-2876
Gas station land. Size: over one acre Phone Ms Liverpool on 625-7582, 681-9293.
services
Trike Can-Am style motorcycle, 200cc new, unregistered $450,000 neg or credit TEL 227-3939, 6214000
One 450 Honda ATV. Phone: 6263817
EXECUTIVE TWO STOREY BUILDING 3 BEDROOMS WITH ALL MODERN CONVIENCES, MEADOW BROOK GARDENS, MR NARAINE. PHONE: 696-8230
1 three-building centrally located downtown in Thomas Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, recently renovated, fully air conditioned, ideal for office with spaces for boardroom, or any other business. Immediate possession. Phone: 609-2876.
VEHICLES FOR SALE
VACANCIES One customs clerk with at least three subjects CXC including English Language, mathematics. Applicant must be computer literate. Please submit application before the October 11, 2013 to email: windsortechhomes@gmail.com or call 669-6874 or 682-3481
WANTED BODYWORK MAN TO SPARY MOTORCYCLE, HANDYMAN TO WORK IN STORE, MAID GO AND COME CLEANING ONLY (UNDER 30 YRS) APPLY GUYANA VARIETY STORE Tel 227-3939 One experienced production manager to work in Furniture Factory and one AutoCAD/draft person. Contact 657-1414 Urgently needed! One plot of land in Parfaite Harmonie, Herstelling and Eccles. Phone: 675-7292 One female babysitter, between 40 & 45 years, must be from Georgetown, be able to work flexible hours and some weekends, applicant with a sound secondary education may apply. Phone: 614-5711, 9am- 3pm
Classified Ads $5+VAT per word Call: 226-9921
19 Peru to increase agricultural productivity with IDB support
P
eru will receive a US$40 million loan from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) to help incorporate the latest technology in the agricultural sector and close existing productivity gaps. The comprehensive project is part of Peru’s National Agricultural Innovation Programme (PNIA for its acronym in Spanish) aimed at increasing agriculture sector growths through productivity increases rather than by expanding land use and labour force. While agriculture employs one quarter of Peru’s economically active population and contributes eight per cent of the GDP, land and labour productivity levels are very low – especially in marginal areas of the Andes and the Amazon – and significant yield gaps exist for many crops when compared to the best performing Latin American countries. The project for the improvement of PNIA’s Agricultural Innovation Strategic Services is expected to triple the number of technologies transferred annually to farmers and help increase the annual growth rate in yields of priority products such as potatoes, coffee, maize, rice and quinoa by 0.5 per cent, benefiting 1.6 million producers, of which 44 per cent fall below the poverty line and 16 per cent are headed by women. The activities financed by the programme will strengthen the technical and operational capacity of the National Agricultural Innovation Institute (INIA for its acronym in Spanish), improve its ability to effectively manage research and innovation activities, modernise the governance structure, and will significantly increase the number of research trials and technology transfer activities for priority crops and thematic activities such as biotechnology and genetic resources, climate change, and post-harvest. Furthermore it will help increase INIA’s capacity to interact with the private sector as well as increase its cooperation with national and international relevant institutions. The IDB loan has a maturity of 9.75 years, with an 8.25 grace period and LIBOR-based interest rate.
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december 1, 2013
guyanatimesGY.com
De Villiers steers South Africa to victory in tricky chase S
outh Africa chased successfully for the first time in eight matches but they had their bowlers to thank for setting up a moderate target on Saturday. They restricted Pakistan to a score under 200 on a surface where extra bounce and turn made batting tricky. Vernon Philander, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell all got the ball to kick up from back of a length and tested Pakistan’s line-up with tight lines. Contrastingly, Pakistan’s attack, sans Junaid Khan, only really troubled South Africa with their spinners, whose mid-innings strangehold threatened to send the hosts into freefall. AB de Villiers batted with the patience required to steer his team and save them from being whitewashed in a three-ODI series for the first time in more than 20 years. The loss
AB de Villers steers the ball into the off side
would have left Pakistan wondering what could have been had they had Shahid Afridi, who was rested, as a bowling option in this game. Pakistan made four changes in total to their XI and despite the new-look outfit, Misbah-ul-Haq promised not to take a relaxed approach to the final fixture.He was the only one
who stuck to that resolution, with a customary half-century amid the collapse. The memo was missed by the rest, starting with Ahmed Shehzad, who played lazily at the fourth delivery of the morning to give Hashim Amla a regulation catch at first slip. Asad Shafiq also failed to make use of his opportunity but Umar Amin
showed better temperament. In his first appearance in this series, he was asked to open and did the right thing by giving himself time to get his eye in before attacking. With Sohaib Maqsood in good touch, the pair looked capable of setting Pakistan up. They scored 41 runs in the 47 balls they were to-
gether before a well-judged catch by Amla at slip ended their stand and indicated the problems extra bounce would cause. Ryan McLaren pitched back of a length and Amin got a thick edge as he fended at it to force Amla into a jump. McLaren continued to trouble Pakistan’s batsmen with the lift he generated. His short ball also accounted for Masood, who played the pull too early and popped the ball up for McLaren to complete the a nifty catch in his follow-through. When Umar Akmal too was the victim of a stunning catch - by his opposite number who dived one-handed to take it - Pakistan were teetering. They inched even closer to unravelling when Bilawal Bhatti and Anwar Ali were dismissed in the space of three balls to leave Pakistan at 97 for 7. It was a situation Misbah-ul-Haq has been in many a time and one he knows how to navigate expertly. He found an ally in Abdur Rehman, who was willing to rotate strike and spend time at the crease. The pair negotiated the short ball bar-
rage well but also flirted with danger. Misbah was on 43 when he almost threw it away, cutting off Wayne Parnell. JP Duminy at backward point put down a simple chance. Rehman lofted McLaren to third man but the substitute fielder spilled it. The pair posted 51 before Rehman holed out to deep square leg and Misbah was left to finish off. Back to back sixes off Imran Tahir, whom Misbah charged to smack straight down the ground, took him three-quarters of the way to a century, but as been the case throughout his career, he was left stranded with Pakistan on a belowpar score. South Africa’s openers set about their task briskly. Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock blitzed their way 34 off the first five overs against a Pakistan opening pair that offered width and strayed on the pads. Had they tempered their enthusiasm with some caution, they could have batted through but de Kock was the first to go when he top-edged a pull off Bilawal Bhatti.
(Cricinfo)
Misbah-ul-Haq played the lone hand for Pakistan with the bat, again
SCORE BOARD Pakistan innings Umar Amin c Amla b McLaren 25 Ahmed Shehzad c Amla b Philander 0 Asad Shafiq c †de Kock b Tsotsobe 1 Sohaib Maqsood c & b McLaren 25 Misbah-ul-Haq* not out 79 Umar Akmal† c †de Kock b Philander 5 Bilawal Bhatti c Amla b Imran Tahir 1 Anwar Ali c †de Kock b Philander 1 Abdur Rehman c Amla b Imran Tahir 22 Sohail Tanvir c Parnell b Tsotsobe 6 Saeed Ajmal c de Villiers b Parnell 0 Extras: (lb 1, w 13) 14 Total: (all out, 46.5 overs) 179 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-7, 3-48, 4-67, 5-85, 6-96, 7-97, 8-148, 9-164, 10-179
Bowling: V Philander 10-326-3, L Tsotsobe 10-2-38-2, R McLaren 8-1-28-2, W Parnell 8.50-30-1, Imran Tahir 10-0-56-2 South Africa innings Q de Kock† c Saeed Ajmal b Bilawal Bhatti 15 H Amla run out (Umar Amin/†Umar Akmal) 41 H Davids st †Umar Akmal b Saeed Ajmal 7 JP Duminy c †Umar Akmal b Abdur Rehman 16 AB de Villiers* not out 48 D Miller c †Umar Akmal b Sohail Tanvir 24 R McLaren b Saeed Ajmal 17 W Parnell not out 7 Extras: (lb 4, nb 2) 6 Total: (6 wkts, 38.4 overs) 181 Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-49, 3-75, 4-84, 5-124, 6-164 Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 7.4-0-421, Anwar Ali 2-0-15-0, Bilawal Bhatti 8-1-35-1, Saeed Ajmal 101-34-2, Abdur Rehman 9-0-401, Sohaib Maqsood 2-0-11-0
december 1, 2013
guyanatimesGY.com
DMW International Indoor Hockey Festival…
GCC Tigers, Toros light up Gymnasium G
CC Tigers and the Toronto Toros played to an anti-climactic 3-3 draw while another Canadian club, Revamp, continued their unbeaten run when the ladies took centre stage in the Digicel segment of the Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival at the National Gymnasium on Friday evening. Revamp Hockey Club defeated YMCA of Barbados while Queens Park buried GCC in convincing fashion to make them strong contenders for the Digicel title. GCC vets and Hickers, of Guyana, have qualified top of their pools for the semi-finals with Fatima of Trinidad and Old Old Fort poised for the challenge in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, the Toronto Toros went on the offensive from the start of their clash with GCC Tigers before Lauren Sudac smashed home a rebound shot five minutes into play. However, this celebration was shortlived when GCC’s Marzana Fiedtkou shot found the back of the net. Trisha Woodroffe and striker Kerensa Fernandes also scored to put the local side up by two at the half way mar of the game. The second half saw a resurgence from the Toros with Canadian national player Kaelan Watson managing to pull one back for the visitors. Further, drama ensued when a defensive error by GCC resulted in Ally Evanyshyn levelling the
The Revamp Hockey Club of Toronto put on a clinical display of finishing as they upended the YMCA of Barbados 6-4. YMCA put in a spirited performance but lacked the quality and depth of Revamp to trouble the Canadians. Jonathan Roberts exhibited a litany of skills in producing five of Revamp’s six goals with Tim Branco scoring the sixth. Ryan Cowie and Donovan Smith each scored one goal for YMCA in the first half but trailed Revamp throughout the match. Right back Sean Revamp's Canadian international Scott Sandison on the attack Harewood made some efAfter two quick opening fective overlapping runs score to end the match. However, the Toros re- goals by Nicholas Gonsalves and produced two goals for turned later in the day to and Sean Lee-Quay, Old YMCA in the second half thrash the Hikers ladies 7-0 Fort managed to keep their but fell short of catching the in a one-sided duel that end- opponents silent for the rest Canadians with a final score ed the Hikers charge for a of the half although they of 6-4. Fatima enjoyed good pulled one back on the buzzspot in the final. Although conceding an er through Aderemi Simon. success in the Carib vetPark however erans division by defeatearly goal by Mika Ella-Tang Queen’s of Trinidad’s Magnolias, fel- would have the better hand ing Old Old Fort by 7-3 and low islanders Malvern man- in the second half, pour- returning to bury Malvern aged to pull off a come-from- ing in five more goals to Old by 6-2. Colin Young and Nicholas Wren were the behind victory by scoring Fort’s three. Queen’s Park came back top marksman for Fatima, the winner just two minutes later in the day to defeat both with a six-goal hauls from full-time. Former Trinidad interna- the YMCA of Barbados 9–6. in the two matches. The tional Oire Trotman-Martin Although the Bajans strung GCC vets advanced their was on fire for Malvern as together some brilliant mo- unbeaten run by defeating she rattled home the double ments of hockey, mainly Malvern of Trinidad by 4 leaving her team in conten- through Rohan Thomas and to 1. The evening was highSean Harewood, Bell comtion for a spot in the final. In the men’s competi- manded his troops to a disci- lighted by the opening ceretion, Queen’s Park Hockey plined performance that was mony where Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony welClub of Trinidad firmly es- impossible to match. In their final outing of the comed and encouraged the tablished themselves as the surprise of the tournament. day, Queen’s Park brushed teams. Matches continued on Led by former Guyanese in- aside local national champiternational, Jerazeno Bell, ons GCC 9-2 with a physical, Saturday, with the finals the Parkites outclassed lo- high-pressure game that left scheduled for this evening. cal side Old Fort 7-4 in their the Bourda side short of answers. first duel of the day.
Marian to host school relays as part of CSEC project By Treiston Joseph
M
arian Academy is set to host its first School relay event on December 7 at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda from 10:00h. The event will for part of the School Based Assessment (SBA) for students who will be sitting Physical Education at next year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). The students are expected to organise the event where they will focus on various areas such as first-aid and meet management in order to pull off a successful event/project. Physical Education teacher at Marian Academy Keith Smith explained that the event is set to have over 30 schools participating; 12 have already confirmed their willingness to participate in the event. “This championship is an SBA project; it is planned
and is going to be executed and documented by the children writing the physical education exam in 2014,” Smith told Guyana Times Sport in an exclusive interview. Meet director Kyle Rambiriche, student of the Marian Academy, noted that the relay championships will be successful once everyone performs as they should. “This project is basically a lot of preparation. We have been putting a lot of effort into it, we have different areas such as first aid and technical and finance and what we do is that we have a system that once everybody does their job we will have a successful competition. All of us have designated roles and once they are fulfilled we will have a smooth project,” Rambiriche noted. On the other hand, Smith explained what CSEC examiners will be taking note of to award marks for the project: “What CXC will be
looking for is how well the students plan, execute and document a project of their choice. “Everyone has an official duty from a competition director right down to technical persons and they would have to show CXC how they put together these roles and they (CXC) will look at how it is structured from the time it started to the time it reaches the documentation stage. Further, the event will have three age categories: Under-14, 17 and Open. The Under-14 category will have the 4x100 and the 4x200 metres relay while the under-17 and Open will have the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays. There will also be a male and female 1500 metres medley relay where an athlete from each category will have to feature on a leg. Meanwhile, the organisers have confirmed two outof-town schools to participate; registration is ongoing.
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La Belle Sports Bar and Hotel domino competition starts December 9
La Belle Sports Bar and Hotel representative Seizana Elliot (left) presents the second place prize to Mark Wiltshire
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he La Belle Sports Club and Hotel open Dominoes competition will commence on December 9 at Dynasty Sports Bar. Among the teams set to do battle for the top prize of $150,000 and trophy are Rage, Mix Up, West Side, TNT and C7, among others. The runner-up will receive a trophy and $75,000, while the third place finisher will be the recipient of $35,000. The man-of-the-match in the final and the player that shares the first love will take home $5,000 each. Speaking at the launch of the tournament on Friday, at La Belle Sports Bar and Hotel, Norton
Street, Lodge, senior organising secretary of the Georgetown Dominoes Association (GDA) Mark Wiltshire said the tournament is expected to be keenly contested. He also added that the teams are eagerly looking forward for the competition. After presenting the second place prize to Wiltshire, representative of the sponsor Seizana Elliot said the La Belle Sports Club and Hotel is happy to be associated with the sport of domino and wished the participating teams well. The final will be played at La Belle Sports Bar and Hotel on December 14 and 15.
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december 1, 2013
guyanatimesGY.com
Guinness Street Football-Georgetown leg…
Mendonca envisions heated rivalry this week By Avenash Ramzan
A
fter two nights of rivalry, which saw all 32 teams in action, the Georgetown leg of the sixth annual Guinness Greatest in the Streets football tournament will resume on Tuesday with another eight games at the National Cultural Centre tarmac. Both nights were affected by rain, but that did not stop the matches from being played as large crowds turned up at Demerara Park last Tuesday and National Cultural Centre tarmac on Thursday to witness the best street teams in the city battle for supremacy. According to Troy Mendonca, a director of the Petra Organisation, which has teamed up with Banks DIH Limited to stage the competition, the rivalry
Troy Mendonca
among teams is expected to rise tremendously during the coming week, as the winners from last week would look to solidify their positions, while the losers would obviously look to rebound. “I think the rain would have hampered the performance of some of the teams,
so looking ahead to the upcoming games we’re hoping for better weather which would ultimately result in more competitive play,” Mendonca said on Saturday. Despite the rain, Mendonca was satisfied with the general progress made so far, including the fact that some upsets were recorded, most notable among them being defending champions Leopold Street enduring a 2-4 defeat at the hands of Laing Avenue in the opening game of the tournament. The former Georgetown Football Association (GFA) president also outlined that the stakeholders were happy to welcome more community teams this year, along with their band of supporters. He also urged the teams to battle hard during the coming weeks, as apart from
Part of the action on the opening night of the competition last Tuesday
being crowned Georgetown zone champions, they will earn the right to compete in the national playoff where the winner will earn automatically qualify
to represent Guyana at the Guinness Caribbean Street Challenge in Trinidad and Tobago in July 2014. Mendonca further highlighted that similar zone competitions will be held in Berbice, East Coast Demerara, West Demerara,
Linden and Bartica in the coming months to decide the teams moving forward to the national playoff. The Georgetown zone has attracted 32 teams battling in eight groups of four. During the group phase, the teams will compete in a round-robin format with the top two advancing to the round of 16, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The champion team will receive $500,000, while the runner-up will collect $300,000, third $200,000 and fourth $100,000. All the other teams will receive participation stipends of no less than $10,000. The tournament will run until December 21 with the playing venues being Demerara Park, Albouystown Recreation Centre, National Cultural Centre tarmac, Burnham Court, California Square and the National Park for the final.
RHTY&SC launches “Make a wish” programme
RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster (left) hands over the first “Make a wish” donation to NASS teacher, Shalom Vanderstoop
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he cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) have launched another major programme that would allow less fortunate youths and children to fulfill their dreams and wishes. The “Make a wish” programme was launched last Wednesday by the RHT Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and second division, Pepsi Under-19, Metro Females and Gizmos and Gadgets first division teams when they assisted a young New Amsterdam Secondary School (NASS) student to fulfill his wishes to graduate with his classmates at the school’s annual graduation ceremony. The administration of the school had requested the RHTY&SC’s assistance to enable the less fortunate student to graduate. West Indies female cricketer and RHTY&SC member, Shemaine Campbelle, willingly donated an undisclosed financial amount that
was presented to the young student. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster in handing over the donation stated that under the club’s “Make a wish” project a total of 12 youths (one per month) would be able to fulfill a wish with the assistance from the cricketers of Guyana’s leading youth and sports club. Foster stated that due to poverty, too many youths are unable to fulfill their dreams in sports, culture or education and the RHTY&SC was committed to making positive differences. “Each month, one less fortunate youth would be selected by the cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club and would have their wishes and dreams come true,” a release from the RHTY&SC read. Sports Master of the NASS, Shalom Vanderstoop, who received the contribution on behalf of the student, expressed gratitude to the RHTY&SC and its cricketers, especially Campbelle, for their assistance.
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december 1, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com
Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business
december 1, 2013
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DMW International Indoor Hockey Festival…
GCC Tigers, Toros light up Gymnasium
See story on page
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Revamp's Jonathan Roberts receives a pass near the YMCA goal INSIDE TODAY’S SPORT
Mendonca envisions heated rivalry P22 this week
YMCA's Rohan Thomas being challenged by two Canadian defenders
Marian to host school relays as part of CSEC project See story on page
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Keith Smith and some his student who will be organising the relay event
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