Guyana Times Daily

Caricom Reparations Commission irons out areas of P13 focus Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 1980 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, December 12, 2013

PRICE

All GuySuCo estates shutdown

$60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GPHC mum on child’s death

– workers demand annual production story bonus onSeepage 3

Hearings on operations of Corentyne orphanage begin today

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P9

Low interest funding P9 available for environmentallyfriendly small businesses

See story on page 2

Kaieteur News’ lies exposed yet again

Blatant disregard for facts: This property on Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, which Kaieteur News said was acquired by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, is the property of a Regent Street businessman who was devastated at the Kaieteur News article

AFC signals some Guyana Goldfields investing US$238M in support for antiAurora Gold Project money laundering bill

Campbelltown P10 residents complain about inadequate water, electricity supply ILO: Long-term unemployment, the new P12 challenge for many countries

See story on page 10

See story on page 8

Environment minister overturns allegations against him

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2 news

thursDay, december 12, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Kaieteur News’ lies exposed yet again

Views of the newly-refurbished Jagdeo Foundation with modern facilities, fencing and other amenities

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wner and publisher of the Kaieteur News Mohan Lall, aka Glenn Lall, and the newspaper’s Editor Adam Harris have been caught yet again peddling blatant lies about Bharrat Jagdeo in what appears to be a continuing manic obsession with the former president.

Guyana Times confirmed that the property located on Church Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, is not owned, nor is it in the process of being acquired, by the former president, as falsely claimed by the Kaieteur News on the front page of its Wednesday edition.

This publication con-

The Old Demerara House on New Garden Street in a dilapidated state with windows falling apart

firmed on Wednesday that the property is owned by a businessman who operates on Regent Street, Georgetown. The terrified

businessman, who spoke with this publication, said he has not sold the building, nor is it in the process of being sold to anyone.

The repairs and renovations on the Old Demerara House commenced back in September of 2012

The businessman, however, requested that his identity be withheld.

The Kaieteur News on its front page published photos of two properties: one at lot 299 Church Street and another at lot 300 New Garden Street, Queenstown, both of which it spuriously claimed have been acquired

by Jagdeo for an undisclosed sum.

The property on New Garden Street has been refurbished to house the Jagdeo Foundation. This development occurred since the latter part of 2012, when the building was in a state of complete disrepair and had to be refurbished to house the foundation.

The New Garden building was referred to as Old Demerara House and millions of dollars were invested to restore it to its current

state. The Kaieteur News’ article gave readers the impression that the edifice was acquired the way it looks now, as no reference was made to its previous condition.

The development was confirmed on September 21, 2012 when the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported that the foundation was being established at that location on New Garden Street.

GINA reported then that “renovations are currently being undertaken on the Old Demerara House where the foundation will be housed”.

The foundation was established for the development of various national policies by emphasising their implementation in practice.

It networks with government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs),

businesses and members of civil society to focus on four key areas: public health, environmental sustainability, economic advancement and social cohesion.

The foundation also seeks to foster collaboration with businesses and governmental interests to stimulate entrepreneurship, create investment and employment opportunities, and promote small businesses in an effort to increase productivity in Guyana.

The Kaieteur News again has demonstrated a palpable sign of the continued preoccupation with the former president by its principals.

Observers say, at this stage, one can only wonder, what the next piece of misinformation will be about. “It is inevitable, just wait and see,” said another businessman on Regent Street.

Flashback: Work in progress to restore the property to its former historic and artistic beauty

News

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday, December 12 from 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday, December 12 from 12:50h-14:20h.

WEATHER TODAY Countrywide: Thundery showers are expected to prevail during the day and into the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Wind: East north-easterly between 2.77 and 3.05 metres per second.

High Tide: 12:45h reaching a maximum height of 2.34 metres.

Low Tide: 06:13h and 18:50h reaching minimum heights of 0.95 metre and 0.87 metre respectively.

thurSDay, december 12, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

All GuySuCo estates shutdown

– workers demand annual production bonus

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isgruntled sugar workers on all estates downed tools on Wednesday, resulting in a total shutdown of operations across the industry.

The workers are demanding an annual production bonus for this year.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), which has organised the current strike, had on November 18 submitted a claim for an annual production bonus of 6.80 day’s pay for a production of 201,000 tonnes sugar, or alternatively 29,500 tonnes per day pay.

Deliberations

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

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According to a release, at a meeting on December 10, during the prolonged deliberations between the two parties, the corporation suggested to the union that it should review its original demand to facilitate further dialogue on the matter to which the general secretary of the union, who was the head of the delegation, responded that the union is “flexible” on its demand, and at the next meeting the union will communicate its “flexible position”.

On this note, the corporation suggested that both parties meet no later than the current week. It was then mutually agreed, with the concurrence of the delegation that both parties shall meet on Friday at GAWU's office. It was therefore not only most disappointing for the union to call a strike when there was an agreement to meet and further negotiate its demand, but its action violated the core of the extant collective labour agreement.

The strike will only ex-

GAWU President Komal Chand

acerbate the corporation’s ability to meet its financial obligation. Despite low production, strikes and low turnouts, the corporation in good faith continues to enhance wages. Just four weeks ago, the corporation, GAWU and NAACIE reached an agreement for an across the board increase of four per cent, effective from January 1, this year. The retroactive payments calculated to be $735 million will

be paid on December 20.

GuySuCo said on Wednesday morning, there were approximately 960 loaded punts with 5300 tonnes of cane waiting to be processed, which could yield 375 tonnes of sugar. In addition, there are 1275 tonnes of cane which are burnt in the fields waiting to be harvested, which could yield another 884 tonnes of sugar.

The corporation wishes to record its disappointment with this strike action and calls upon all parties to act more responsibly to ensure a full resumption by tomorrow [today],” the release said.

Full support

Meanwhile, GAWU President Komal Chand told Guyana Times on Wednesday that GAWU fully supports the strike, contending that workers have been waiting for too long to receive their annual production bonus. Chand said the union has waited some 23 days before it received a response on the issue, despite

numerous calls made to the corporation’s Industrial Relations Department. It was noted too that the union was told after a meeting with GuySuCo executives on Tuesday that the corporation will not be making any annual bonus awards.

It is after GAWU pointed out its disapproval on this issue, the corporation decided to meet with the union representatives this Friday.

Chand said workers have every right to protest and press for changes and the union will stand by their side.

The GAWU president said he hopes that Friday’s meeting will be fruitful and things could be resolved in keeping with the original agreement. He said that the annual production bonus is a compulsory payment and has to do with whatever production is made. Chand said he hopes that good sense prevails in the meeting and based on the result, the union will be able to inform its members on the next move.

GuySuCo estates across the country on Wednesday ground to a halt after workers did not report for duty

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, december 12, 2013

Views Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Suffer our children

T

he unfortunate episode involving three children from an orphanage in Berbice brings home the necessity for the authorities to articulate a comprehensive policy for children that need extended, comprehensive assistance of one form or another.

The plight of the three teenage girls evoked the worse horrors of the 19th century Dickensinian “Oliver Twist” orphanage scenes he so powerfully depicted.

The girls committed a minor infraction: they dared to venture out of the “home” and walk on the public road. The police were summoned and accepted the allegations of the head of the home, booked them on the 19th century charge of “wandering” and incarcerated the girls for three weeks.

After years of sensitisation of the police to the social dimensions of their work, they contacted no one in the social services sector, but brought the girls before a magistrate.

This worthy also magisterially ignored the social contexts and nets of which it is supposed to take cognisance of, during its deliberations. He committed the girls to the New Opportunity Corps (NOC). This institution, notwithstanding its new and optimistic name, has been in the news during the past few years for reasons that suggest the committal of teenage girls there for the innocuous charge of wandering, at the minimum, might have been “overkill”.

One reporter from this newspaper was chastised by the magistrate for using a stronger term to describe his decision.

The Human Services Ministry was belatedly brought in and has launched an inquiry to investigate the conditions of the Berbice home, which catered for battered women and abandoned children. No announcement has been made on a possible inquiry into the actions of the guardians of law and order –respectively, the court and the police, within the context of their social responsibilities.

In Guyana, the home for abandoned children in Berbice is typical of what prevails in the provision of this social service. It is privately run and its rules and regulations are established and enforced basically on the whims and fancies of the founders – which in some instances may be institutions.

In most instances, we are sure, the administrators, are very well meaning towards the welfare of their charges. The problem lies in the fact that they are left free to define and execute what that “welfare” might be.

Numerous studies in developed countries, where orphanages developed from the early 19th century, show that the charges can develop a host of social and behavioural problems in such institutions. In the absence of regulations, the “discipline” that the owner of the home in Berbice insisted on had to be idiosyncratic and its effects tenuous.

These problems in the U.S. led to the gradual abandonment of the orphanage and the adoption of the “foster care” approach where the focus is on placing the children in homes, where they might be exposed to a more “normal” environment.

In the last 10 years, there has been a gradual increase in calls for the reintroduction of “orphanages”, but with conditions and rules for the institutions clearly spelled out.

The movement of societies from “status to contract”, as one pioneering sociologist described the loosening of familial bonds, is continuing at an increased pace and there is no reason to assume that we in Guyana will not feel its impact. In fact, the increasing number of institutions that have been launched or are in the process of being launched to deal with the phenomenon demonstrate that we are already deeply affected.

It is our considered judgment that the Human Services Ministry must go far beyond the remit of an inquiry into one particular home. We suggest that experts be retained to conduct a wide ranging inquiry into the challenge of abandoned children in general, and working with other organisations in the society, such as religious groups, present a White Paper on the subject to Parliament.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Wednesday handed over 244 wheelchairs to the Health Ministry in its continued drive to provide humanitarian aid to those in need. Taking part in the presentation are Colin Goodluck (left), first counsellor in the West Indies Mission and Leslie Cadogan, deputy permanent secretary of the Health Ministry. Also in photo are representatives of the church

Challenging our many youths Dear Editor, Statistics reveal that ongoing efforts by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) have resulted in a significant number of young people being owners of land and other properties in Guyana.

I must commend the government for their efforts to ensure that home ownership is made easily and reasonably available to many Guyanese. Personally, I am delighted to see that many of our youths have the mindset that allows them the

desire to work, study, and dream and plan their lives ahead. It shows maturity and the inclination to live a purposeful life.

Many of the youths who spend their time idling on street corners actually possess a wide array of talent and skills. Many of them just need to be steered in the right direction; one that will allow them to live successful lives.

Additionally, our youths need to avoid using the excuse of a poor government for their current way of life.

With the guidance from our parents, we are each responsible for the people we become and the lives we choose to live.

All it calls for is vision and motivation and it will be the stepping stone for our youths. Positive motivation will surely inspire the desire to make great achievements.

The opportunity to have the privilege of garnering an education is important and better ensures the possibility of acquiring a good job.

However, it is not the end of the road for those who were

not able to receive a sound education.

Many technical and skilful jobs such as carpentry and masonry are still great means of earning a living. It is better to take this route than to subject ourselves to time wasting which can lead to a dishonest way of life.

I therefore challenge our youths to make the initial step to living an honest and hardworking life.

Yours truly, Zafar Hassan

An embarrassment to the GPF

Dear Editor, Two incidents involving the overall conduct of members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has greatly enraged me. The first incident saw members of the GPF poorly addressing a Berbice businessman, who had his licensed firearm erroneously taken from him. To date, the members of GPF have been unable to offer an explanation for their misconduct.

Just recently, an alleged bandit that was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital managed to es-

cape, while he was under the watch of an officer.

Whether or not the hospital staff was aware of the situation is unknown.

However, questions and concerns are being raised regarding the officer that was on guard and if opportunities for the bandit to escape were in fact being deliberately given. Irrespective of the assumptions, there is now a criminal on the run.

This individual was caught and beaten by residents of the Sophia community after he allegedly

snatched a laptop and cellphone from a young woman.

He was then subsequently handed over to the police.

This particular community has been criticised on several occasions of taking matters into their own hands and brutally beating and sometimes killing bandits. Though they tried on this occasion to follow protocol, they will certainly be disappointed in the outcome of this situation. Furthermore, they will state that it would’ve been best if they had just dealt

with the culprit in their own way.

There is no doubt that Guyana has a good police force, but it is necessary for those who err to be confronted and disciplined accordingly. We can start by having the officers who were involved in the two mentioned incidents account for their unprofessional conduct and lack of poor judgment.

Sincerely, Name withheld by request

An unsteady flow of electricity accounts for many losses Dear Editor, I wish to extend my sympathy to the residents of the Cummings Lodge community for the current predicament that they are encountering.

A defective transformer in the community resulted in a blown fuse which has left the residents without electricity for more than two days.

Additionally, many people have suffered losses including damage to electrical

appliances and loss of meat products and other perishable food that required refrigeration.

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is responsible for delivering all electricity needs to the nation.

However, I am disappointed in the sluggish manner in which this matter is being addressed. Clearly GPL needs to maximise on their staff competency and efficiency.

From a business perspective, the unreliable supply of power can greatly contribute to millions in losses, particularly during the Christmas season when prices usually double. One Cummings Lodge resident suffered loss well over $2 million worth of chicken and cheese which had to be left unrefrigerated due to the current power outage. My advice to the business community is to desist from buying large amounts

of perishable goods.

As it relates to GPL, it is imperative that they make improvements to their maintenance capability. Customers should not have to wait indefinitely for them to repair dysfunctional transformers and faulty wires.

With regards, Nathram Persaud

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

The power sector and energy conservation Dear Editor, An analysis of sectoral energy consumption revealed that the power sector accounted for the second largest share of energy imports in 2012.

Accounting for an estimated 33 per cent of the petroleum imports, this sector comprises of electricity generation, mainly from the country’s national electric utility, and a number of other small generation facilities (including self-generation) across the country.

Lighting is a seemingly inconspicuous and often overlooked element within a building’s infrastructure; yet it is estimated that electric lighting burns up to 25 per cent of the average home’s energy budget, and it can actually account for as much as 30-40 per cent of a typical commercial building’s energy costs. Energy conservation and efficiency practices, once adopted, can assist in lowering electricity costs.

What then is energy conservation and efficiency? Energy conservation refers to the saving of energy by any means, including energy efficiency, while energy efficiency is the efficient conversion and use of energy.

Energy efficiency employs devices and practices which result in less energy being used for the same task and function.

Hence, using energy efficient lights provides an opportunity for significant cost savings through reduced electricity bills.

Tremendous evolvement of lighting technology over the past two decades has resulted in the availability of a host of exciting, high performing and highly efficient new lighting products. Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps are available in a variety of sizes, shapes and colours thereby allowing for choice of lighting to be both attractive and efficient.

Replacing incandescent lamps with CFLs or LED lamps provides an opportunity to save money and cut down on electricity costs.

However, to truly maximise its efficiency it is important to choose the correct type of CFLs for lighting needs. When deciding on lighting fixtures consideration should therefore be given to the area that is to be lit.

For example a lower wattage could be used to light a passage way while one of a higher wattage could be used in the living room and areas where more lighting is required.

Further, a lot of energy could be saved by concentrating lights just where they are needed and reducing background or ambient light levels. This strategy, called task lighting, is widely used in office buildings, but it makes just as much sense to employ it in homes as well.

Making use of natural light is also another way to conserve energy. In terms of energy use, nothing is more efficient than transforming a dark space by

filling it with soft, evenly dispersed natural light. A single skylight or properly positioned window can provide as much light as dozens of light bulbs during the daylight hours.

Simply rearranging furniture in a room can optimise the benefit of natural light, for example, putting a favourite reading chair closer to a window. Painting walls in a light colour and using reflective louvres or Venetian blinds can help to improve overall lighting.

As the Christmas season approaches energy can be conserved by turning off decorative lights when retiring to bed and during the day. Using LED decorative lights instead of the regular filament light can also help to lower electricity bills.

To further conserve energy you can: • 1. Understand your own preferences and those of your family members before investing in unnecessary lighting solutions.

• 2. Install task lights where needed and reduce ambient light elsewhere. If work is concentrated in one corner of the room, for instance at a desk, consider dimming the lights throughout the room and using specific task lights while at your desk.

• 3. Make sure that you match the amount and quality of light to the task at hand. When you are performing tasks that require a high degree of visual attention, ensure that there is adequate lighting to prevent eyestrain.

• 4. Maximise the use of natural lighting.

Sunny days may help improve your mood, and they reduce your electric bill when you open the curtains and let the sun shine in!

• 5. Consider painting

your walls a lighter colour. This helps to minimise the need for artificial lighting.

• 6. Use four-foot fluorescent fixtures for areas that require extensive lighting.

• 7. Use occupancy sensors for automatically turning on and off your lights as needed.

• 8. Security and utility lighting do not need to be bright to be effective. As a security measure, use motion sensor lights in areas where you have walkways or where you wish to have greater security.

• 9. Make sure outdoor light fixtures have reflectors, deflectors, or covers to make more efficient use of the light source.

• 10. Use photo sensors or timers to automatically turn off lights during daylight hours and motion sensors to activate security or utility lighting where needed.

• 11. Invest in light socket switches that carry switches, so that appliances and lights plugged into the outlets can be turned off with the flip of a switch.

• 12. By making the extra effort to maximise your lighting efficiency you will not only save money by lowering your electricity bill but help to reduce green house gas emissions that cause global climate change.

You can learn more about energy conservation at www. gea.gov.gy.

Taiwo Williams, Public Communications Officer Guyana Energy Agency

The treatment of these young girls must be condemned Dear Editor, We must certainly condemn this kind of treatment of the three young girls ages 11, 14 and 15 who were being held at the Albion Police Station, Corentyne, Berbice and were placed before the court for wandering and now are on self bail.

These girls went through terrible times at a children’s orphanage in Corentyne and we should feel the deepest remorse for them. We need to see how, as a society, we collude to spawn these circumstances. When little girls like these commit suicide, it is discovered that constant abuse and sexual harassment by their abusers led them to it.

It is amazing to see how many of these cases go unnoticed by the police, the Human Services Ministry, and the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA).

Just listen to the mother (allegedly) telling her sons to sleep with these minors and to “be men” after abusing these three innocent young girls or – it is a call to take control both of oneself and the situation rather than to

submit to one’s human weakness.

In essence, we acculturate males to excise their vulnerabilities, their softer side in favour of a more macho, dominant disposition. For decades, police prosecutors and magistrates have been behaving like legislators, making laws as they see fit.

The magistrate’s court, for example, recently ruled that these young girls be deployed to the NOC without asking for a probation report from the school welfare officer before passing the sentence on them thereby overturning the law. The magistrate rationalised the ruling by saying that the NOC is the best place applying punishment to such a crime as wandering.

These children should have been placed in care, rather than being placed in the lock-up at the Albion Police Station where advantage can be taken of them.

This ruling alas, is not unusual since the country’s courts have increasingly usurped powers they previously did not have.

For feminists, this would

be yet another incident of cruelty against these young girls, yet we must see this tragedy as a consequence of certain prevalent psychological and socio-political dysfunctions within our society, sometimes occasioned by the family who manage the orphanage themselves.

This is not an attempt to minimise the cruelty of this act or exonerate the child molesters, but it explains one of the root causes of child abuse, children’s deaths and children committing suicide we have sadly experienced over the years in Guyana.

When our little daughters, like these three girls, become victims of this darkness, we are rightly aggrieved. But can the owner of this children’s home at Albion truthfully escape responsibility to these children? I think this orphanage needs to be investigated thoroughly and the owner be brought before the court for neglect of the children.

Sincerely, Mohamed Khan

A columnist who is seeking some form of glory Dear Editor, A recent article written by a sensationalist and a columnist entitled, “One day the PNC will say enough is enough”, has triggered an uproar in response from several individuals.

This particular columnist has for quite some time managed to get the best of some people. However, although he seems quite verbose, he has never been able to influence people in his favour and further get the support that he has always wanted.

Many people detest this particular individual primarily because of his character. He manifests a lot of emotional instability and is

characterised by an unnecessary form of aggression, which he seems to embrace.

He is known for his mood swings and always appears suspicious of other people’s actions.

I strongly believe that this man may have some psychological issues and needs to seek counselling.

Too many of his stories appear irrational and fabricated and so people very rarely take him seriously.

I have noticed that he tends to admire quite a few

selected personalities inclusive of Dr Walter Rodney, who was assassinated over three decades ago. Maybe, his grand delusion is that he can become such a person, and more over maybe he desires some form of martyrdom.

I strongly believe that this man is disturbed and needs assistance. His approaches and mannerism are just far from normal.

Yours truly, Hansraj Latchman

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Foundation

Migraine Talk

Your child’s headache or migraine C

hildren get headaches and migraines, too. In fact, 20 per cent of adults who suffer from headaches say their headaches started before age 10, while 50 per cent say they started getting headaches before age 20.

How common are headaches in children and adolescents?

Headaches are very common in children and adolescents. In one study, 56 per cent of boys and 74 per cent of girls between the ages of 12 and 17 reported having had a headache within the past month. By age 15, five per cent of all children and adolescents have had migraines and 15 per cent have had tension headaches.

Many parents worry that their child’s headache is the sign of a brain tumour or serious medical condition, but most headaches in children and adolescents are not the result of a serious illness.

What types of headaches do children and adolescents get?

Children get the same types of headaches adults do, including tension headaches, migraines, and sinus headaches.

What causes headaches in children and adolescents?

Most headaches in children are due to an illness, infection, cold, or fever. Other

conditions that can cause headaches include sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses), pharyngitis (inflammation or infection of the throat), or otitis (ear infection).

The exact causes of migraines are unknown, although they are related to changes in the brain as well as genetic causes. For many years, scientists believed that migraines were linked to the expanding (dilation) and constriction (narrowing) of blood vessels on the brain’s surface. However, it is now believed that migraines are caused by inherited abnormalities in certain areas of the brain.

Most children and adolescents – an estimated 70 per cent – who have migraines have an immediate family member who also suffers from them or who did in childhood. Children and adolescents with migraines may also inherit the tendency to be affected by certain migraine triggers, such as fatigue, bright lights, and changes in weather.

Other migraine triggers can be stress, anxiety, depression, a change in routine or sleep pattern, loud noises, or certain foods, food additives, and beverages. Too much physical activity or too much sun can trigger a migraine in some children or adolescents, as well. In girls,

changes during the menstrual cycle may trigger a bad headache.

Common causes of tension headaches include striving for academic excellence

vision, speech problems, or muscle weakness, they can be the sign of a more serious problem, such as: * Hydrocephalus (abnormal build-up of fluid in the

* Blood clots * Head trauma If you suspect any of the above listed conditions, immediately take your child to his or her doctor for evaluation.

How are headaches evaluated and diagnosed in children and adolescents?

as well as emotional stress related to family, school, or friends. Other causes of tension headaches include eyestrain and neck or back strain due to poor posture.

Depression may also be a reason your child is having headaches.

When tension headaches worsen over time and occur along with other neurological symptoms such as loss of

brain) * Infection of the brain including: * Meningitis (an infection or inflammation of the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord) * Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) * Abscess * Haemorrhage (bleeding within the brain) * Tumour

The good news for paediatric and adolescent headache sufferers is that once a correct headache diagnosis is made, an effective treatment plan can be started.

If your child has headache symptoms, the first step is to take your child to his or her doctor. The doctor will perform a complete physical exam and a headache evaluation. During the headache evaluation, your child’s headache history and description of the headaches will be evaluated. You and your child will be asked to describe the headache symptoms and characteristics as completely as possible.

A headache evaluation may include a CT scan or MRI if a structural disorder of the central nervous system is suspected. Both of these tests produce cross-sectional images of the brain that can reveal abnormal areas or problems.

If your child’s headache symptoms become worse or become more frequent despite treatment, ask your

child’s doctor for a referral to a specialist. Children should be referred to a paediatric neurologist, and adolescents should be referred to a headache specialist. Your child’s doctor should be able to provide the names of headache specialists.

How are headaches treated in children and adolescents?

Your doctor may recommend different types of headache treatment. You should establish a reasonable time frame with the doctor to evaluate your child’s headache symptoms.

The proper treatment will depend on several factors, including the type and frequency of the headache, its cause, and the age of the child. Treatment may include education, stress management, biofeedback and medications.

Headache education includes identifying and recording what triggers your child’s headache, such as lack of sleep, not eating at regular times, eating certain foods or additives, caffeine, environment, or stress.

Helping your child keep a headache diary can help you and your child record this information. Avoiding headache triggers is an important step in successfully treating the headaches.

Stress management: To successfully treat tension headaches, it is important for children and their parents to identify what causes or triggers the headaches.

Then they can learn ways to cope or remove the stressful activities or events.

B i o f e e d b a c k : Biofeedback equipment includes sensors connected to the body to monitor your child’s involuntary physical responses to headaches, such as breathing, pulse, heart rate, temperature, muscle tension, and brain activity. By learning to recognise these physical reactions and how the body responds in stressful situations, biofeedback can help your child learn how to release and control tension that causes headaches.

Medications: There are three categories of headache medications for children, including symptomatic relief and abortive and preventive medications. Many of the drugs used to treat adult headaches are used in smaller doses to treat headaches in children and adolescents. But aspirin should not be used to treat headaches in children under age 15. Aspirin can cause Reye’s syndrome, a rare, but fatal condition, young children can get. (WebMD)

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thursday, december 12, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

GPHC mum on child’s death

Dead: Jaden Mars

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fficials at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation remain tight-lipped on the sudden death of a four-yearold child who was admitted to the medical facility to seek treatment after he bit his tongue.

On Wednesday, officials at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation declined to release the findings of an autopsy on the body of four-year-old Jaden Mars, who died on Tuesday. He was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for his injured tongue.

The post-mortem on Mars was performed by Dr Nehaul Singh at the hospital’s mortuary. When contacted, Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan said he is not authorised to reveal the findings of the pathologist without consulting with the relatives of

the dead child.

Little Jaden was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital, a few hours after he was admitted last week Wednesday.

His mother Natalie Caseley explained that last Wednesday, her now dead son hit his chin and ultimately led to his tongue receiving a small cut that would have required about three stitches.

The child’s mother took him to the East La Penitence Health Centre, a short distance from their home, and while there, the nurses washed away the blood and referred him to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical attention.

Drowsy state

At the hospital, a nurse administered anaesthetic once, but it did not work, and as such, she administered another dose and still the lad did not fall into a drowsy state.

The distraught mother said after one hour, a group of people came out from a room in the Accident and Emergency Unit, informing her that it was necessary for her son to be transferred to the theatre to look after his tongue.

Her son, she added, did not want to go, claiming that his tongue was okay, but she insisted that the “nice doctors” will make him feel bet-

ter faster.

“I told him to go and I will be right here waiting on him when he gets out… that was the last moment I saw him… after he said ‘yes mommy’”.

After some time elapsed, she explained that a few medical professionals came out of the theatre and told her that Mars was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit after suffering cardiac arrest.

“When I went to see my child, he was strapped up with oxygen onto a machine and he was unresponsive… the machine was working, but there were no movements coming from my son.”

The mother said she left after she was given all assurances by the doctors that her son would be ok, however, she reportedly received a call from the hospital about mid-night informing her that her son had suffered another seizure and they were trying their best to save him.

The woman is of the opinion that her child was overdosed with anaesthetic. This, she alleged might have resulted in him suffering more than five cardiac arrests.

Caseley is insisting that her son was healthy when he was taken to the hospital even though he has had some problems with asthma in the past. The mother is demanding a full investigation, contending that nothing can replace her loss.

Man on bail for wounding charge

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43-year-old man was on Wednesday placed on bail after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was slapped with an unlawful wounding charge.

Reginald Henry initially pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on December 6 at Wismar Public Road, Linden, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Michael Walcott, but a not guilty plea was recorded based on his explanation.

An unrepresented Henry told the court that he was

provoked by Walcott stating that he was hit in the head with a piece of wood. He said that he had something in his hand which caused the complainant to suffer injuries.

However, Prosecutor Vernette Pindar said that on December 5, the two had a misunderstanding on the Linden bus park in Georgetown over the use of a minibus. On the following day, Henry saw Walcott walking along the One Mile Road, Wismar, Linden and approached him. He then took out an ice pick and stabbed the complainant to the region of his chest.

Walcott was taken to the

Mackenzie Hospital where he obtained a medical and the matter was reported.

Prosecutor Pindar objected to bail citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence along with the fact that he poses a flight risk since he is a miner in the interior.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry overruled the objections and granted bail in the sum of $100,000.

The matter was transferred to the Christianburg Magistrates' Courts where it will be heard before the presiding magistrate on January 14, 2014.

Golden Grove shooting

Reports of confrontation with businessman surface

T

he circumstances surrounding the death of the two men who were shot and killed in an alleged shootout with police last Saturday evening at Golden Grove, East Bank Demerera (EBD) seems to be more complicated as investigations continue.

This publication understands that Paul Bascom, also called “Shine Buck”, and Alberto Grant, called “Bush” were seen in a heated argument with Ravi Dookram, the businessman, prior to the shootout under his house.

Initially, the businessman claimed that he was not at home when the incident occurred, but from reports received; he was seen in the yard moments after the shooting.

During the argument, the men were seen “chucking” each other. This may have led to the businessman making contact with the police. Bascom and Grant reportedly left but later returned with a few other men in a minibus.

Bascom and Grant, along with another man, reportedly disembarked the minibus and walked into

the man’s yard through a front gate that was left open. Guyana Times understands that the police ranks, who were attired in plain clothes, arrived on the scene in a white Toyota NZE and were hiding in the businessman’s premises.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud on Monday stated that the men were intercepted while they were on foot in Dookram’s yard.

A source also stated that after the men entered the yard, gunshots were heard, and persons in the neighbourhood scampered to safety. The bodies of the men were removed by undertakers about four hours after the shooting occurred.

Close range Grant was reportedly shot three times at close range and was seen lying next to the gate while the other was shot and killed close to a black Toyota vehicle parked in the yard.

The dogs were reportedly in their kennels at the time of the shooting.

A post-mortem performed on the bodies proved that they died as a result of shock and haemorrhaging

due to gunshot injuries.

The two men were killed Saturday evening in Golden Grove during an alleged shootout with police minutes before they had planned to invade the property of a miner.

Police in a statement disclosed that they were acting on information received that a robbery was planned on a gold miner, and as such, ranks staked out an area at Golden Grove on Saturday night.

According to the police, about 22:30h, ranks challenged two men who were approaching on foot when one of them pulled out a handgun and opened fire on them.

In retaliation, the police returned fire and killed the two men. “A .38 snubnose revolver with two live rounds and two spent shells, along with one 9mm. round and two 7.62x39 rounds were recovered by the police,” a police release said.

In light of the shootout, Police Commissioner Leroy Brummel said the police have launched a thorough investigation into the incident since there seems to be some conflicting reports.

Brumell told media operatives that the Police Office for Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have been ordered to conduct investigations into the conflicting reports which surfaced hours after the shooting.

8 news

thursday, december 12, 2013| guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana Goldfields investing US$238M in Aurora Gold Project

Eyew tness Man in the mirror... ...in Africa arack Obama is regarded as an orator par excellence.

His speech at the memorial to Nelson Mandela didn’t disappoint. But as is often the case when leaders get caught up with soaring rhetoric, they get carried away and sometimes lose sight of the ground reality.

With Obama, there was one line that caught your Eyewitness’ attention: “There are too many of us who happily embrace Madiba’s legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality”.

And we wondered whether he had been brought up to scratch with what’s happening in his own neck of the woods. Last time we looked the “growing inequality” in the U.S. was at an all time high. The term “one per cent” has now entered the national vocabulary to immediately bring to mind the obscene amount of wealth that the elite has accumulated, and the even more obscene income that flows into their pockets.

Even as the U.S. jobless rate is stuck just below 10 per cent...with no long term relief in sight. Most of the “profits” are generated by the financial industry, while the average Joe and Jane, who would normally get a piece of the action from blue collar jobs like factory hands, are on the streets.

So while Wall Street makes money on money...the middle and lower class Americans sink further into debt as their jobs are exported to third world sweatshops. Where the labour is dirt cheap, as was seen in the Bangladeshi garment factory fire, and life is even cheaper.

But there was a special irony to Obama’s soaring rhetoric: he was the first African-American president honouring the iconic African leader of the time. Yet his remarks about inequality ignored the even the more dreaded condition of African-Americans versus even the poor Whites of that country.

In 2009, the median net worth of a black family was a piddling US$28,500, with Whites clocking in at US$265,000 – almost 10 times higher. This gap of US$236,500 was almost three times what it was back in 1984. Blacks are falling behind even faster that before.

The most telling statistic on equality is the number of Blacks in jail. Overall while “coloured” peoples are 30 per cent of the population, they make up 60 per cent of the prison population of every two million! One in every 15 African American men is in jail. The figure for Whites is one in 106. In the meantime, one out of every three Blacks in the “land of the free” will be jailed during their lifetime.

Isn’t it time world leaders take a look in the mirror, stop throwing mud, and begin to fix problems?

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From left to right: Guyana Goldfields Chief Executive Officer Scott Caldwell; Canadian High Commissioner, Dr Nicole Giles; Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud; and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds at the press briefing on Wednesday

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uyana Goldfields has announced it is investing US$238 million in the Aurora Gold Project, the second largest investment in the mining sector.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said he looks forward for the pouring of the first gold bar in the first quarter of 2015 when the company begins large scale production.

Speaking at a media briefing held by the company at the Guyana International Conference Centre, the prime minister, who was performing the duties of president, said that as a country, “we have to open to the world…we have to partner with the world,” particularly given the potential size of the multimillion-dollar investment.

Prime Minister Hinds added that the experience, expertise and technologies which the investors are bringing into the country would have been difficult and time consuming to have been sourced locally. He said that the need for markets overseas to bring the necessary income needed to further develop Guyana, was also es-

sential. “Our challenge is to develop partnerships with the world… we have to develop the ability to recognise who we could develop good partnerships with.”

He said that the investment is somewhat risky, but he was looking forward to its success.

Tremendous benefit

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud also welcomed the investment, which he said government fully supports. The need to keep all stakeholders was necessary, he noted to ensure “national buy-in” and give them an opportunity to offer advice. The project will bring tremendous benefits to the Guyanese people, he added.

He assured all stakeholders that Guyana Gold Fields has undertaken a comprehensive environmental sensitivity index (ESI) and the necessary permits to ensure compliance with local laws and international best practices. The move by the company’s management team to reduce the “carbon footprint” of the site’s mining plant from 2000 hectares to 1200 hectares is recognition that

they are conscious of their responsibilities, the minister said. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s Environmental Division will be upgrading their monitoring capability and enforcement capacity to manage and ensure compliance, Minister Persaud added.

“It is an area in which we have commenced work, especially given that we are looking at a new type of mining technology that will be utilised, and to ensure that from an environmental standpoint we build that capacity.”

Record

Noting that gold declaration has set another record in excess of 452,000 ounces versus a target of 451,000 ounces and the 438,000 ounces declared in 2012, the minister said that there is growth and further expansion in the sector. He said that is it against this background that renewed and enhanced attention to environmental and social responsibility will be given.

The hope was expressed that the company would in-

spire and support others to pursue sound environmental practices. He added that a broad based panel to examine various reform initiatives was needed. “If we are not up to-date, if we are not prepared, as it were for today’s challenges and opportunities, but also in the future, I think it will be severely lacking in terms of our part in fulfilling our responsibility.”

The issue of diversification was also mentioned by Minister Persaud, who said that as part of the process, creating an enabling environment to attract investments, whether local or foreign, was necessary. He added that it seems as if when every effort is made to attract some sort of investment to move development forward, there are elements in society who take it to mean there was a “sellout, buyout or give-out”.

The minister stressed that Guyana would not be able to develop if incentives, in various forms, are not offered to enable the environment to attract potential investments that would enhance the nation’s development.

...in Guyana In Guyana, the soaring rhetoric and its obliviousness to ground reality is even more stark. What’s the opposition actually doing to help its constituency – much less the general population?

Back in 1989 Desmond Hoyte finally admitted the emperor had no clothes and ran, cup in hand, to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Carl Greenidge scored some points for admitting that the cupboard was not only bare...it had a hole via which we owned billions.

People were actually walking around with “white mouths”. Now how can they, with a straight face, say things haven’t improved? Are they helping their constituents by encouraging them to always blame “the other side”. In an improving economy, don’t they have a duty to encourage all Guyanese to buckle down and develop themselves and so the country?

Take the boom in gold mining during the last decade.

Shouldn’t the opposition work with their constituents who benefitted overwhelmingly from that windfall, to invest the money into sustainable enterprises?

We hope the leaders of the opposition would also take a look in the mirror. ...in India In the meantime, over in India, Narendra Modi, whose visa is cancelled by the U.S. is on his way to winning the next elections. Will the U.S. give him back his visa, like they did with Mandela, 18 years late?

news

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thursday, december 12, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Defective high voltage switchgear Low interest triggered massive blackout in Region Two funding available for A environmentallyfriendly small businesses – Tourism, Industry and

Commerce Ministry

By Indrawattie Natram

defect in the high voltage switchgear at the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), Anna Regina branch office triggered the massive blackout that struck Region Two late Monday, extending into Wednesday.

The defect was confirmed

by Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud during a visit to the power station on Wednesday.

He said a team of engineers has been dispatched from Georgetown to Region Two to ascertain the real cause of the lengthy blackout.

According to Persaud, the power outage which struck late Monday lasted for more than 24 hours in some areas in Region Two. The regional chairman said he was promised by the GPL engineers that power will be restored fully to the southern and north feeders on Wednesday, and called on

A GPL worker on a lamp pole in Anna Regina working to restore power to the commercial centre

the power company to honour its commitment to the affected residents.

Persaud went as far as to apologise to residents on behalf of GPL for the inconvenience caused to them by the blackout.

Meanwhile, a GPL official told Guyana Times that during a recent heavy downpour,

water entered the power house and several electrical appliances were damaged.

The officer said that power will be restored to some sections on the Essequibo Coast while others will experience as much as 30 hours of blackout.

Guyana Times observed several GPL technicians on

an electrical post trying to rectify the problem. The sudden power outage has caused great inconvenience to shop owners, businesses, housewives and workers.

GPL in a release confirmed that its engineers are working assiduously at the company’s Anna Regina power plant to rectify electrical problems that developed within the high voltage switchgear. With only two megawatts of the generating capacity available for distribution, consumers would have experienced prolonged periods without electricity as GPL resorted to loadshedding.

“Repairs to the switchgear will be completed today, (Wednesday), facilitating the distribution of the plant’s 5.4 MW installed capacity to the system which has a maximum demand of 4.2 MW,” the release concluded.

Hearings on operations of Corentyne orphanage begin today

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Representatives of small businesses at the workshop

ourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry Deputy Permanent Secretary Dhaneshwar Deonarine has announced that persons with environmentally-friendly business ideas can source financial support at low interest rates from the ministry.

Addressing scores of businessmen and women at a workshop on Wednesday at State House, Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, Deonarine said through the Small Business Act, the government is moving to provide incentive regime and support programmes for small businesses.

On this note, he said the Small Business Bureau (SBB) and the Small Business Council (SBC) were established, with the latter acting as an oversight and advising body to the bureau.

The bureau, he said, is responsible for fulfilling the mandate of the Small Business Act, noting that the vision is to develop the micro and small business sectors to its optimum, enabling them to move from subsistence to commercial levels, thereby linking them to the mainstream business economy.

He said the SBB has been offering its services to the public through business management training, export workshops, guidance on formal business registration and facilitation to attend trade shows and exhibitions.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud lauded the ministry for bringing the initiative to the region, noting that it will be of great help to budding young entrepreneurs.

Mutual Guarantee Fund Manager Gillian Griffith said the SBB’s main focus is to facilitate the expansion of business development services and promote self-sufficiency and sustainability initiatives for small businesses through the upcoming Low Carbon Micro and Small Enterprise Development Project (LCMSEDP).

Assistance will be provided in areas such as farming, processing, aquaculture, eco-tourism, business process outsourcing, bioethanol, low carbon activities, energy efficient transportation, apiculture, Internet and computer services, entertainment, arts and crafts, publishing and printing and vulnerable groups.

To obtain funding, collateral guarantees are needed as the SBB will guarantee up to 40 per cent of the collateral requirements of the banks.

The SBB will offer a maximum of five per cent subsidy on interest rates for loans.

Persons who do not qualify for loans because of perceived risks will be eligible for a grant. Technical and business management skills training will be provided.

he hearings for the inquiry into allegations of maltreatment of orphans at the Camal International Home begin today at 09:00h at the Albion Sports Complex, Region Six. The Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry is urging persons desirous of making a contribution to the inquiry to make use of the opportunity provided.

The investigations are being conducted following the recent arrest of three young girls who resided at the Camal’s International Home and subsequent alle-

gations of maltreatment of children housed at the institution.

The commission is chaired by Ayo DalgettyDean and its other members are Saudia Feroze, Erma Bovell, Childcare and Protection Agency Legal Council Joan Ann Edgill and Senior Probation and Social Services Officer Claudia Munroe. Hearings will commence shortly.

The three girls, who were sentenced to four years at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) on the charge of wandering, have refuted claims of them running away from the Camal International

Home. They said they were being ill-treated at the home and when they refused to do whatever they are told, the caretaker would verbally and physically abuse them and also limit their food.

The girls said they had to go to the home of the caretaker to do her housework when they came home from school. The girls, ages 15, 13 and 11, made an appearance at the New Amsterdam Magistrate's Court unrepresented last Monday.

According to the girls, they were never found on the road and the police collected them from the home after a call was made about

them wanting to commit suicide. One of the girls told this newspaper: “When I come from school the afternoon before, she start lashing me and asked me why I went to school and I said aunty Shalo son is a waste man, I told her I did not do that, the next day she tell me to weed the grass, I take the cutlass and chop when I ask for some water, she told me to stay right there and weed. I got upset and chopped up the dirt and she told me to continue and when I done go sit in the corner, when it was meals time I was given very little food.”

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thursday, December 12, 2013

News

AFC signals some support for anti-money laundering bill T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) said it is willing to consider the suspension of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly in order to facilitate the antimoney laundering bill being brought back to the House, but said it wants assurance that there will not be another stalemate.

The government has signalled its intention to have the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) Amendment Bill brought back to the House.

AFC in a statement said it is cognisant also of the A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) intention to table a number of amendments that will strengthen the bill, and in the spirit of compromise, it is prepared to work with the other parliamentary parties to ensure Guyana’s financial landscape benefits from both strengthened anti-money laundering laws and oversight of public procurement.

According to the party, in a roadmap that was shared with President Donald Ramotar and APNU leader David Granger, the AFC has outlined how passing the AMLCFT amendment bill and operationalising the Public Procurement Commission under the existing Procurement Act can both be accomplished, within three sittings of the National Assembly and before any deadline. What is needed now is the political

AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan

Attorney General Anil Nandlall

will to move both processes forward simultaneously, the AFC said.

and at the same sitting the House passes the AML/CFT amendment bill.

Government sees the AMLCFT bill as a matter of national importance, and has committed to giving the bill its highest priority because of its fundamental importance to the lives and livelihood of the people of Guyana.

To this end, government is set to re-table the bill at today’s sitting of the National Assembly.

Roadmap

The party pointed out that its roadmap includes setting aside the Standing Orders so that the AMLCFT amendment bill comes back to the House and at the same sitting, the bill is sent to a special select committee for refinement and the government names its nominees to the procurement commission; the Public Accounts Committee recommends the persons to sit on the commission to the assembly; at the next sitting, the House, by two-thirds majority, agrees the five persons to comprise the procurement commission; the persons so named are sworn in by the president; and at the third sitting, the House approves a Supplementary Financial Paper of a reasonable amount to support the work of the commission until the next budget is passed

Unpatriotic

Defeating the bill is not defeating the government but the interests of the country, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said.

“Defeating this bill is executing an onslaught on the welfare and well-being of every single Guyanese, including themselves (opposition) and their supporters,” he said, during a recent television programme.

Nandlall said govern-

ment did not see any alternative but to persevere to have the legislation passed, hence the re-tabling of the amended bill, which was defeated at the last sitting, after a third reading, causing Guyana to be blacklisted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

He explained that if Guyana is unable to go the CFATF plenary meeting in May 2014 with the enacted legislation, then the body will hand Guyana over to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the evaluation by the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) to begin.

He explained that the ICRG review process is critical in that “there are officials who will come to Guyana and physically examine the entire financial infrastructure”.

The ICRG process is one that can take about four to six years on average, and during the period the country remains blacklisted, it has to satisfy and undergo a whole host of requirements that will be imposed on the financial infrastructure of the country.

“The effect of all of that will be to slow down the economy, to scare away investors. It will be a disincentive for anyone wanting to transact business with Guyana,” he stated.

De liar and de spyer get ketch

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ome people smart and some people tink dem smart. Dem who tink dem smart wastin a whole thought. Dem does get ketch red handed. Lionel deliar tink he smart. He mek a deal and he turn he back.

He meet a man and he seh he never meet de man. Lionel de Liar behave like lil gyal who get away from dem house and tell dem mummah and daady lie when dem come home.

Lionel de Liar still tink he smart. But he is a real fart.

He get ketch red handed. Mook Lall is man, or so dem boys who seh dem is boys does tell people, who tink he smart. He stay just like Lionel de Liar. Wid no brains to tink, he still tink he smart. Lionel got lil brains. But not de Mook.

De Mook spy pun people and tek dem photo, then he turn it round and seh people spy pun he. One of dem boys who does send out de Mook official photos seh de Mook does pay people to spy. He payin de police. He payin de army. He payin de hospital. He payin GRA. Even he family wukkin deh. That is why he don’t wanna pay he taxes. He even payin de mortuary fuh dead people.

A reporter who leff de Mook and go back to de Mook seh de Mook got plenty spy. De Mook even spyin pun senior people at Camp Street. He get ketch red handed, but he still spyin. De headitor does spy too. But he don’t get extra pay fuh that though. As a soupaholic, de headitor done get house, land and car. He tink he gon get more. But de Mook spyin pun he too.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! De Mook and de headitor like to spy pun de former prezzy. But de more dem spy de less dem see.

So look out fuh more spyin. And look out fuh more lyin.

Campbelltown residents complain about inadequate water, electricity supply

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esidents of Campbelltown, Region Eight have complained of inadequate electricity and water supply when they met Opposition Leader David Granger on Tuesday.

Campbelltown is a village with a population of 700 located near Mahdia.

The residents, according to a release, told the opposition leader that even though their houses have pipelines installed (indoor plumbing), currently, there is no running water.

Residents of Mahdia and its environs get their water from the Salbora Creek, but due to poor management and lack of maintenance at the reservoir, residents are suffering.

Campbelltown residents also complained about the sporadic electricity supply which they claim has adversely affected their quality of life. The residents claim that the government had promised them 18 hours of electricity prior to the November 2011.

APNU leader David Granger

However that promise was not kept and Campbelltown now get 12 hours of electricity from 18:00h to 06:00h. The resident told the opposition leader that they believed that they were being punished by the government because they voted predominantly for the Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

Regional Councillor Timothy Junor, who was present at the meeting, said

the region was being systematically underserved under the stewardship of Regional Executive Officer Ronald Harsawack. This sentiment was shared by many of the residents.

Granger told the residents that they should not have to endure these types of hardships in 2013. He said because of lax governance, the people in one of the most potentially richest regions of the country were subjected to neglect. The opposition leader told the residents that APNU would ensure that their problems were brought to the attention of the relevant government ministers.

Granger said that if the opposition was not satisfied with the government’s response, then the matter would be brought to the floor of the National Assembly.

The opposition leader was accompanied on his visit by APNU Member of Parliament Ronald Bulkan, who has parliamentary responsibility for Region Eight.

11 Environment

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, DEcEMBER 12, 2013

Impulse shopping and the holiday season

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appealing.

uring the festive season, many persons fall victim to impulse shopping – buying things in the spur of the moment.

Have you ever wondered where all your shopping money went – only to realise you have bought things that you did not plan to, or really didn’t need? If so, then you are guilty of impulse shopping!

Though impulse shopping can be good for business, it can cause us to overspend and place us in debt. The question is: what causes people to go on shopping sprees? The answer lies within the brain,

When it comes to resisting “impulse shopping”, you will have to battle both against your brain and marketing experts.

Marketing experts thrive because of your impulse shopping; they use strategies such as sales to lure us to shop. A sale may not always offer a cheaper price but is a tactic to get you excited so that you shop more – often for things that you want but do not really need.

where a chemical called dopamine is present which is linked to a “wanting” effect – once there is a potential reward. A reward can be: the good feeling of owning an item; paying less; or buying something new and

Overcoming the impulse to buy unnecessarily is not easy. A first critical step is to accept or recognise that we are tempted by marketing ploys and our own impulsiveness. Here are six tips to help you to overcome

Marketing

Overcoming impulse shopping

impulse shopping: * Limit your available cash: leave home without your bank cards and with only what cash you intend to spend. * Make a shopping list and stick to it! * Window shop before actually shopping – this helps you to compare prices and to identify the good deals before hand. * Check your mood – do not go shopping just to cheer Yourself up!

* Try to stay away from your favourite stores or restaurants! * Avoid shopaholic friends!

It is better to take a little fun out of the shopping spree and be able to indulge yourself with the savings when needed! Breaking the impulse shopping habit is a challenge but with constant deliberate efforts it can be overcome. This holiday season, list your needs according to priority to help

you to focus on those things that are really important; this will, in the long run, place less stress on you and the environment.

Sources: http://alenmalkoc.

com/startups/a-worldwithout-impulse-purchases/ http://www.learnvest. com/2011/01/10-savvyways-to-stop-impulse-buying/

12 news

thursday, December 12, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Islamic school for higher education opens Saturday

Maulana, Dr Hisham Kabbani and maulana, Dr Waffie Mohamed unveil the plaque at the opening of the Guyana Branch of Markaz Al Ihsaan

The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex

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he Guyana Branch of Markaz Al Ihsaan of Trinidad and Tobago, which was established earlier in the year, a theological institute to provide higher quality Islamic education from the fundamentals of Islam to the tertiary level, will officially open its doors on December 14.

The school will be offering the certificate in Islamic education. Guyana’s Sunni Muslim School, Madrasa Nooranie was established on September 2003 at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC). It has recently formalised the establishment of a branch to be based at the famed ACIC. The deal was confirmed by principal of the institute, maulana, Dr Waffie Mohamed when he visited Guyana in August.

On the recent visit to Guyana late last month, by the world’s renowned Muslim scholar, maulana, Dr Hisham Kabbani, he had officially unveiled a plaque to establish the Guyana branch of the prestigious institution.

Markaz Al Ihsaan was established in 2000 and offers courses in some of the specialised areas of Islamic knowledge. It is committed to the dissemination of Islamic knowledge and in assisting in the cultivation of a refined life for every individual, based on Quranic guidance and on the traditions of Prophet Muhammad. Its courses are designed to help the individual to know, practice and preach true Islam.

Markaz al Ihsaan recognises that many Muslim leaders, preachers and teachers do not have this kind of outlook on life; as a result, it has developed a band of competent, qualified teachers able to carry out this mission in order to be able to pass on the legacy of Islam at any level in the society.

Courses

It offers three levels: the certificate course (a one-year course designed to make the participants aware of all that is required to be an enlightened practising Muslim), the diploma course (a one-year

course open to students who have successfully completed the certificate course and which prepares the participants to be able to present Islam at a national, meaningful and learned way to believers and non-believers alike) and the alim course (a three-year course, which enables the participants to become qualified in Islamic theology, (alim). In the areas of specialised subjects on contemporary issues, Markaz al Ihsaan offers special subjects to each student, such as comparative religion, public speaking, Islamic sociology, Quranic psychology, Quranic philosophy, leadership course and religious sects in Islam.

Madrassa Nooranie was established under the tutorship of the late Pakistani Muslim Scholar Maulana Hafiz Noorul Hadi Haleem, and is operated by the ACIC in association with The Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman. It was declared open in 2003 by then President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Guyana branch of

the Markaz will offer the certificate course with qualified lecturers from Trinidad and Tobago, who will travel to Guyana to conduct the classes. Students must meet the admission age and other requirements and a limited amount of persons will be trained at one time. All course material, books etcetera will be provided free of charge by the Markaz.

Teachers

Principal of Madrasa Nooranie, Pakistani Maulana/Qari Muhammad Mujahid, now based at ACIC, will also be one of the teachers on the panel.

Registration forms are available at the ACIC and the programme is open to both male and female participants. For more information, persons can contact the ACIC on 276-0029, 2760232, 269-0210, 693-6540 or 628-4179. Emails can be sent to muslimjournal@yahoo.com Free accommodation is provided at ACIC for out of town male students.

Community involvement needed to address domestic violence – first lady

The gathering in front of Parliament Building at the domestic violence vigil on Tuesday evening

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he Human Services and Social Security Ministry through the Women’s Affairs Bureau and other partners on Tuesday evening held a vigil in front of Parliament Building to mark the end of 16 days of activism against domestic violence, and also in observance of International Human Rights Day. This event was attended by First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar, Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster, Education Minister Priya Manickchand, and Rights of the Child Commission Chairperson Aleema Nasir, among others.

The first lady, according to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, said government, through various ministries, has been

making this issue a central concern and has been investing resources to combat this social ill with collaboration from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious organisations, communities and other agencies.

“In Guyana, we are fortunate to have the issue of violence against women and the vulnerable comprise a prominent part of our national dialogue,” she pointed out.

Victims

“Domestic violence is a concern for us all, and therefore I implore us at the community level to safeguard our individual communities, this means we would be required to be engaged with those being abused as well as the abusers… this has to be a continuous par-

ticipation with every individual in the home,” she urged.

Minister Webster pointed out that 17 women who have been victims of domestic violence lost their lives thus far in the year.

“There is an urgent need for all of us to strengthen the institution and bonds of the families to provide greater support to its members, to the men out there, we are not here to traumatise you, but want to tell you to be better mentors,” she urged.

She pleaded with religious organisations, civil society, and NGOs to reach out more to the vulnerable in their homes and their communities. Stating that there is still a lot to be done to put an end to this violence, she reminded that it is also important that persons are educated on the issue and ways to address it.

The minister acknowledged that more positive messages can be sent through the media to promote the issue of domestic violence.

“The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security is reviewing this situation, based on several consultations held throughout the 10 administrative regions. It is our intention to formally submit the proposed recommendations which have emanated from those consultations as part of a national plan of action and we look forward to your cooperation,” the first lady said.

ILO: Long-term unemployment, the new challenge for many countries

Unemployment spells for workers are becoming longer in some countries compared to the pre-crisis situation in 2008, an ILO report says

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nemployment spells for workers are becoming longer in some countries compared to the pre-crisis situation in 2008, according to the new edition of the ILO Key Indicators of the Labour Market (KILM).

“Headlines on a recent decline in unemployment rates hide the bitter reality that many jobless workers are finding it increasingly difficult to get into a new job within a reasonable period of time of six months or less,” said Ekkehard Ernst, chief of the ILO Employment Trends Unit.

For example, in Spain, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Serbia and Bulgaria, longterm unemployment has increased by 40 per cent or more in comparison to 2008.

The latest edition of KILM − an online reference tool offering data and analysis on the world’s labour market − includes information about the dynamics of job losses and job creation in 70 developed and emerging economies.

The new figures show that in countries with similar unemployment rates, there can be substantial differences in labour market trends.

Shorter spells While both the U.S. and Germany had unemployment rates of around 6.3 per cent between 1970 and 2013, unemployment spells were on average shorter in the U.S. labour market. In France, where unemployment rates have been about 30 per cent higher than in Germany since 1991, it takes on average less time for an unemployed worker to find a job than it does in Germany.

In developing countries, the story is different. Workers move faster between spells of unemployment and employment than in advanced economies, but that is because they transit frequently into informal employment.

In Mexico, for instance, the number of people entering and leaving the labour market between 2001 and 2012 were 3.7 per cent and 69 per cent higher, respectively, than in the U.S. − one of the advanced economies with the highest labour market turnover.

“Unemployment rates only give a rough picture of the functioning of a country’s labour market. Our data will help countries adapt their policies to those categories of workers who are most affected by the dynamics of the la-

bour market,” explains Ernst.

The data on unemployment flows in the KILM cover, depending on the country, up to 40 years (1968-2012).

It is the first time that such statistics have been collected to obtain a single, consistent picture of labour market dynamics in both developed and developing countries.

Adequate education Countries at all development levels find that adequate education and skills make the difference between inclusive growth and growth that leaves large segments of society behind.

The report shows that the level of skills mismatch (the skills that workers have compared to what the market needs) in developing economies stood at an average of 17.1 per cent in 2012. During most of the past decade, it was well below this level, particularly in advanced economies.

The average incidence of over-qualification in developed economies was 10.1 per cent in 2010, up from 8.5 per cent in 2008, and particularly affected migrants, younger workers and persons with disabilities. Under-qualification in developed economies averaged 28.1 per cent in 2010 compared to 31 per cent in 2008.

The report also shows that the incidence of overeducation tends to increase over time. This is partly due to rising levels of educational attainment. In times of economic crises, when employment opportunities are scarce and unemployment rates are high, over-education tends to accelerate.

In addition to employment, KILM data also includes information and analysis on wages, labour productivity, working poverty and other labour market issues.

The other finding include: working poverty continues to decline and a global middle class is emerging; a total 822 million workers are in poverty in the developing world, amounting to 30.6 per cent of the workforce; the global middle class continues to expand; and the developing world’s middle class has surged by 870 million since 1991. Currently, 32 per cent of all employees in developing countries belong to the middle class, almost twice as much as at the end of the 1990s.

news

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Miss Guyana Universe serves New York homeless Caricom Reparations

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Katherina Roshana handing out food items to the homeless and needy in New York

iss Guyana Universe Katherina Roshana, during her recent visit to the U.S. was invited by the Calvary Mission Food Pantry to assist with serving food to homeless people.

The invitation was extended by Gary Singh, who heads the service-oriented religious and charitable organisation, along with other members including Roger Gary.

The Calvary Mission Food Pantry distributes essential food items to those in need every Saturday.

According to a release from the organisation, on November 22, Roshana served the homeless and needy in Richmond Hill, New York City. Roshana, who also holds the Miss India Guyana crown, said it was a “truly

moving experience” to have been invited to help this great organisation.

The statement disclosed that while distributing the food, Roshana conversed with the people and found them to be most joyful, cheerful and full of life. The people were grateful to the Calvary Mission for its services and also to the beauty queen for being there to spread her love and goodwill.

They even requested that she return, and as such, Roshana promised that whenever she is in New York City, she will visit the mission to serve them and give comfort.

Roshana is back in Guyana, where she continues her drive to promote autism education and help disabled children.

MARAD takes river safety campaign to Region Three

MARAD officials with teachers and the students of Aliki primary, nursery and secondary schools in their life jackets

MARAD officials with teachers and the students of the Saxacalli primary and nursery schools in their life jackets

he Maritime Administration D e p a r t m e n t (MARAD) as part of its ongoing river safety campaign has recently distributed a number of life jackets to several schools in Region Three.

A team from MARAD visited Hogg Island, Saxacalli, Lanaballi, Aliki and Bonasika in an effort to promote safety on the waterways and specifically to ensure that the children of those areas are safe while traversing the river.

Twenty life jackets were each distributed to the Northern Hogg Island Primary School, Saxacalli nursery and primary schools, Lanaballi primary and nursery schools, Aliki

be safely attired. She further reiterated that she will ensure that the jackets are worn by the students.

Teacher Ann Allicock, who received the jackets on behalf of Lanaballi primary and nursery schools, thanked MARAD for the timely gesture, noting that she was worried about the lives of the children being endangered while travelling on the waterways.

“I want to thank the team and MARAD, and will ensure that the children always wear their jackets while on the boats; the timing is very appropriate.”

The teachers at the Aliki primary, nursery and secondary school were also very appreciative of the visit by

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primary, nursery and secondary schools, and Lower Bonasika primary and nursery schools.

According to a release, Northern Hogg Island Primary School Headteacher Benedict Persaud, who received the jackets on behalf of the students, promised to ensure that all students wear them when traversing the waterways.

He expressed thanks to MARAD and said the gesture was a good initiative.

Accepting the jackets on behalf of students of Saxacalli nursery and primary schools, teacher Carlene Williams said the students never wore life vests while travelling the river and they now have an opportunity to

the MARAD team as they received the 20 jackets to be distributed to the students of the school.

Lower Bonasika primary and nursery school acting headmaster Kapil Dave Ramsammy received the jackets for the students of the school, and also expressed gratitude to MARAD. “We would like to thank MARAD for this initiative and for considering the safety of our children while travelling by boat.”

MARAD said in keeping with the message of promoting safety while traversing the waterways, it plans to further expand the life jacket distribution programme to other regions of the country.

Guyana, TT move to address uneven trade relations

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team from the Agriculture Ministry is set to next week visit the twin island of Trinidad and Tobago to meet with their counterparts to address the issue of non-tariff barrier between the two countries.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy during a recent interview explained that the meeting forms part of the recent agreements sealed between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

The latter, agreed to host the technical teams from both countries towards addressing the uneven rela-

tionship in terms of trade between the two countries.

“Guyana has expressed our discomfort with the fact that while we allow products from Trinidad and Barbados and other countries to freely enter into Guyana, that we believe that there are unfair barriers that exist in other countries,” he said.

Earlier this year, the two countries signed the agreement which will also see investors in the twin island engaging in large scale farming in Guyana, and both countries engaging in more economic activities.

The minister also disclosed that the ministry is pursuing another collaborative venture, aimed at developing the local coconut industry, but this time it is partnering with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) which has brought on board the Mexican government.

Minister Ramsammy explained that focus will be on improving the agronomist, agro-processing and marketing aspects of the industry.

IICA will provide the funding for a focal point team

to begin a two-month visit in January 2014, to Mexico for training in various aspects of the coconut industry. That country has a very successful industry, with high yields.

“The Mexican coconut industry is not unlike the Indian coconut or the coconut industry in Asia where every part of the coconut is used to produce valued-added and Guyana is trying to ensure that our coconut industry produces the best high yielding coconut, and also every part of the coconut is utilised in valued added product,” Minister Ramsammy said.

Commission irons out areas of focus

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ublic health was one of the key issues identified by the Caricom Reparations Commission to receive reparatory diplomacy and action. This disclosure was made by Caricom Reparations Commission Chairman, Professor Hilary Beckles, at a press conference on Tuesday following a meeting of the representatives from the commission with law firm Leigh Day on Monday at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, Jamaica.

According to Professor Beckles “the African descendants population in the Caribbean today has the highest incidence in the world of chronic diseases such as hypertension and type two diabetes”. He said it was the direct result of their nutritional exposure, endemic inhumane physical and emotional brutalisation and other aspects of the stress experience of slavery and postslavery apartheid.

Education was the second of the six issues identified. The commission chairman stated that at the end of the colonial period, the British left the African descended population in a state of general illiteracy. He noted that this illiteracy continued to plague Caribbean societies and accounted for significant parts of their development challenges.

Speaking to cultural institutions, Professor Beckles said there was no development of institutions such as museums and research centres to prepare Caribbean citizens for an understanding of their history.

Cultural deprivation He also spoke of cultural deprivation as another issue that needed to be addressed and outlined that the primary cultural effect of slavery was to break and eradicate African commitment to their culture.

He stated further that African culture was criminalised and pointed to how Caribbean people were affected by cultural deprivation. He said this included low ethnic self-esteem; the devaluation of black identity; broken structures and diminished family values; delegitimisation of African derived religious and cultural practices, and disconnection from ancestral roots and culture.

Psychological trauma was another area identified by the commission that needed to be addressed.

According to Professor Beckles, during the time

Caricom Reparations Commission Chairman, Professor Hilary Beckles

of slavery, Africans were classified in law as nonhuman, chattel, property and real estate. He said they were denied recognition as members of the human family by laws and practices derived from the parliaments and policies of Europe. This history, he said, has inflicted massive psychological damage upon African descendants and is evident daily in social life.

Technological backwardness The sixth issue which the commission said needed to be remedied was that of scientific and technological backwardness. It was highlighted that for 400 years, the policy of Britain and Europe had been that the Caribbean should not participate in any manufacturing or industrial process, and should be confined to the production of raw materials.

This policy, according to Professor Beckles “has rendered the Caribbean a technologically and scientifically ill-equipped civilisation for which it continues to experience debilitating backwardness in a science and technology globalised world”. Additionally, he said that the subjection of the Caribbean to this state has denied Caribbean youth membership and access to an enhancing science and technology culture that has become the world youth patrimony.

It was also explained by the commission chairman that the argument that Caricom should request reparatory dialogue with beneficiary slaveowning European states with a view to formulating a new development agenda for the Caribbean was reaffirmed.

The next meeting of the full commission will be in January 2014 and it is anticipated that its first interim report will be ready for submission to the Caricom heads of government meeting in February 2014.

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Regional

Trinidad moves to tighten regulations Uruguay marijuana move “illegal” – UN drugs watchdog regarding sale of tobacco products

The Uruguayan government hopes legalising the sale of marijuana will tackle drug cartels

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ruguay’s decision to legalise the production, sale and consumption of marijuana violates international law, the UN drugs watchdog says.

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warned that the move would endanger young people and “contribute to the earlier onset of addiction”.

The new law will allow registered Uruguayans over 18 to buy up to 40 grams (1.4 ounces) of the drug a month.

The government hopes it will help tackle drug cartels.

INCB chief Raymond Yans said he was “surprised” that the government in Montevideo had “knowingly decided to break the universally agreed and in-

ternationally endorsed treaty”.

In a statement, Yans said claims the law would help reduce crime relied on “rather precarious and unsubstantiated assumptions”.

The INCB is an independent body of experts established by the United Nations to monitor countries’ compliance with international drug treaties.

After nearly 12 hours of debate on Tuesday, senators gave the governmentsponsored bill their final approval, making Uruguay the first country in the world to legalise the production and sale of marijuana. Dozens of supporters of the bill proposed by the left-wing President Jose Mujica gathered outside the Congress in Montevideo to follow the vote. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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he Trinidad and Tobago government is moving to further tighten regulations regarding the sale of tobacco amid concerns by at least one cigarette company that the new measures were beyond its capabilities.

Health Minister Fuad Khan, who piloted the Tobacco Control Bill, told the Senate that the regulation provided for the mandatory labelling requirements for cigarette packaging in

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the Soviet Union in the Cold War. And on Tuesday after the handshake, a White House official said the Obama administration still had grave concerns about human rights violations in Cuba, Reuters reported.

Republicans on Capitol Hill were quick to condemn the gesture, with one Republican congresswoman chiding the move during an unrelated hearing on Tuesday. “Sometimes a handshake is just a handshake, but when the leader

of the free world shakes the bloody hand of a ruthless dictator like Raul Castro, it becomes a propaganda coup for the tyrant,” Florida Congresswoman Ileana RosLehtinen, who is known for her opposition to the Castro government, told Secretary of State John Kerry.

“Could you please tell the Cuban people living under that repressive regime that, a handshake notwithstanding, the U.S. policy toward the cruel and sadistic Cuban dictatorship has not weakened.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Happiness to be taught in schools in TT

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he TT Education Ministry has partnered with U.S.based organisation Project Happiness to teach children to be happy. At a news conference on Tuesday, Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh announced plans to infuse “happiness” into the curriculum in primary and secondary schools, using the strategies developed by Randy Taran, founder of Project Happiness. The news conference took place at the ministry in St Clair.

Gopeesingh said Taran’s

team would assist his ministry in widening and deepening the emotional development of children in schools.

Project Happiness is a programme used by schools to teach happiness and emotional resilience to young people using online resources, multimedia techniques and curriculum work. Taran and her team will lead a twoday workshop starting today with over 700 educators.

Gopeesingh said Taran’s programme fell in line with the ministry’s objective to focus on more than just ac-

ademic development. Taran told media the idea of bringing Project Happiness to TT seemed urgent and timely, considering recent news reports about violence toward children.

“The issues being seen in the news are not unique to TT and are being seen all over the world,” said Taran. “The world is changing. There is more stress and people need a different set of skills in order to survive. These skills need to be taught at a young age.” (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

fective than warnings with just a text in increasing the motivation to quit smoking, graphic pictures would seek to give smokers a visual image of the effects on smoking on the body.

“The disease showed in Schedule One (of the regulations) range from cancer to gangrene and there are images of the effect on children who suffer the most because of the poor choices of adult,” he said. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Laws hurting fight against teen pregnancy, says UNFPA exec

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White House says Obama-Castro handshake “not planned” resident Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro’s handshake at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service was unplanned, the White House has said. White House aide Ben Rhodes told reporters the two exchanged nothing more substantive than a greeting.

The Cuban government said the gesture may show the “beginning of the end of the U.S. aggressions”. The U.S. broke off diplomatic ties with Cuba in 1961 as Fidel Castro aligned with

Trinidad and Tobago.

He said the health messages and warnings were important in decreasing the attractiveness of smoking and that the new regulations would require all health messages to be printed on the carton and not on the packaging.

“It serves to ensure that the user is always in a position to see the health messages,” Dr Khan said, adding that because warnings with pictures were more ef-

The Caribbean ranks second only to Continental Africa in the number of adolescent girls being pregnant under 18 years old annually

eputy executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Kate Gilmore has described the laws in some Caribbean countries as a barrier in the fight against adolescent pregnancy, which has become a worrying issue for policymakers in the region.

Addressing journalists during Monday’s multi-stakeholder high level consultation on the reduction of adolescent pregnancy in the Caribbean which was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Trinidad, Gilmore said in most cases, the laws were confusing for young people.

“At the moment across the region, the legal framework are incoherent. They are uneven

and they create mixed messages, both for our young people and those around them,” Gilmore said.

“You can have this completely contradictory legal environment where you are too young to drive, but you are old enough to be a parent; where you are too young to vote, but you are old enough to be pregnant; where you are old enough to be subjected to gender-based violence, but deemed too young to have access to contraceptive,” she argued.

Particularly confusing, noted Gilmore, was the legal framework governing young people’s access to sexual and reproductive services and their rights to confidentiality in accessing these services. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

Bahamian minister calls for public hangings

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he Bahamian Agriculture Minister Alfred Gray said on Tuesday he wants public hangings in The Bahamas.

Gray also said the invasion of the home of acting prime minister Philip Brave Davis shows that the country’s leaders need “tighter security”.

He said he supports capital punishment for convicted murderers as a way to stop crime and said the government should abandon the Privy Council as the highest court of appeal to ensure that violent criminals are punished with death.

“I also believe that our country may have to go to the extreme of hanging

Bahamian Agriculture Minister Alfred Gray

these murderers and I want to do it on Bay Street,” Gray said. Death row convicts who lose their appeals at the Court of Appeal can appeal

to the Privy Council and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Gray’s comments came a day after Davis was robbed at gunpoint at his West Ridge home. Several of Davis’ colleagues reacted to the incident on Tuesday.

Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson said officials are looking at ways to increase security at Parliament and the courts.

“I know that the minister of national security and the commissioner of police are looking at matters relating to all of our public buildings such as Parliament, the courts and those kinds of buildings,” Maynard-Gibson said. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Senior UN official to visit Belize on human trafficking mission

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he United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, will pay a one week visit to Belize from Wednesday.

It said the purpose of the visit will be to “examine the situation of trafficking of women, men and children” and that it would be the first time that an independent expert of the UN Human Rights Council is visiting the Caribbean

Community (Caricom) member state. “During my visit to the Belize, I will study the situation in Belize, in order to make recommendations to prevent and fight trafficking, and protect its victims,” Ezeilo said.

The UN Human Rights

Office said Ezeilo, who visits Belize at the invitation of the government, will engage with state representatives, as well as members of international and civil society organizations working on the fight against trafficking in persons “in order to assess

the challenges and opportunities in Belize”.

The UN Special Rapporteur is responsible for promoting the prevention of trafficking in persons in all its forms and to encourage measures to uphold and protect the human

rights of victims.

“I look forward to this visit and the opportunity to engage with the government and stakeholders on effective and sustainable ways to combat trafficking in persons,” Ezeilo said. (Excerpt from

Antigua Observer)

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thursday, dECember 12, 2013

Red Cross says CAR death U.S. and UK suspend non-lethal aid for Syria rebels toll exceeds 500

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id officials in Central African Republic have said that more than 500 people had been killed over the past week in sectarian fighting.

Antoine Mbao Bogo with the local Red Cross said late on Tuesday that aid workers had collected 461 bodies across the capital of Bangui since last Thursday. That figure does not include the scores of Muslim victims whose bodies were brought to mosques for burial. France deployed around 1600 troops in the country after fight-

ing between Muslims and Christians escalated.

French forces are trying to disarm militias awash in automatic weapons in cities and towns, where would-be fighters are tough to distinguish from civilians. Two French soldiers were recently killed while carrying out operations against militias in the capital, Bangui.

The security and humanitarian situation in the country is deteriorating to alarming levels, London-based rights group Amnesty International said on Wednesday, reveal-

ing that its team saw 15 bodies awaiting burial outside a mosque in the capital on the same day.

Muslim leaders in Bangui told Associated Press news agency on Wednesday that at least four men had been killed by French forces during disarmament efforts in the last several days. Al Jazeera’s Nazanine Moshiri, reporting from a church in Bangui on Wednesday, said that hordes of people running away from violence were seeking refuge in similar places. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

Ukraine protesters defy police, leaders reject talks with president

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krainian protesters stood their ground on Wednesday after an overnight sweep by riot police and their leaders dismissed an offer of talks from a president they say must quit for favouring ties with Russia over the European Union.

Pressed by Europe and the United States, which condemned the destruction of a protest camp in central Kiev, President Viktor Yanukovich offered to meet

opposition leaders to find a way out of a crisis that blew up last month when he yielded to pressure from Moscow and spurned a free trade deal with the EU. But his opponents, whose supporters continued to occupy the capital’s City Hall, rejected his invitation and stuck to demands that the president and his government resign. The authorities had made their most forceful attempt so far to reclaim the streets, send-

ing in battalions of riot police with bulldozers to clear Independence Square. There were scuffles and arrests but police did not enter the nearby City Hall and by morning they withdrew from the streets.

Within hours, after meetings with U.S. and European Union officials who had urged him to compromise, Yanukovich asked his opponents to meet him to negotiate a way out of the impasse.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Thousands queue to see Mandela lying in state

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housands of emotional mourners lined-up to say goodbye to Nelson Mandela Wednesday as the much-loved former leader lay in state.

The anti-apartheid hero’s distraught widow, family members, presidents, royalty and thousands of ordinary South Africans were among those who turned out to pay their final respects before Mandela’s open casket at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he will lie

in state for three days.

Some stopped briefly to pray, some bowed and some brushed against the rope balustrade to get a closer look at the mortal remains of a man who had earned a place in history long before his death. Some collapsed, felled by the weight of their grief, before being helped away by medical personnel on standby or fellow onlookers.

“I was just feeling sad when I saw him lying there

as if he can wake up. As if I can say ‘Mr Mandela, how are you?’” said 44-year-old Anna Mtsoweni, who had joined the queue before dawn.

Among the dignitaries were former South African president FW de Klerk, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela for ending apartheid. “I hope that his focus on lasting reconciliation will live and will bloom in South Africa,” he said. (Excerpt from France24)

SMC fighters were reportedly asked to leave Bab al-Hawa by the Islamic Front

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he U.S. and UK have suspended all “nonlethal” support for rebels in northern Syria, but not humanitarian aid.

A U.S. spokesman said it was concerned about reports that Islamist rebels had seized bases belonging to the Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA).

Fighters from the Islamic Front, a new alli-

ance of rebel groups, ousted FSA-aligned fighters from the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey last week. The non-lethal aid includes medicine, vehicles and communications equipment.

The U.S. and European countries have been reluctant to supply weapons and ammunition directly to rebel groups in Syria be-

cause of concerns that they might end up in the possession of jihadists affiliated to al-Qaeda. However, they have reportedly facilitated secret arms shipments. White House spokesman Josh Earnest confirmed the U.S. had “suspended all further deliveries of non-lethal assistance into northern Syria” as a result of events at Bab al-Hawa.

But he stressed that humanitarian aid was not affected by the decision.

UK Foreign Office Minister Hugh Robertson told the BBC that “as far as we know at the moment” no British equipment had passed into the hands of Islamist militants, but he added: “It does make sense to suspend that aid until we know exactly what’s happened.” (Excerpt from BBC)

Indian LGBT activists outraged as Supreme Court reinstates gay sex ban

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irst there was surprise, then shock, then anger. By nightfall thousands across India had taken to the streets in spontaneous protests against an unexpected Supreme Court decision on Wednesday reversing a judgment that had decriminalised gay sex in the country.

Activists had expected the court simply to rubber-stamp the original 2009 ruling. Now India will rejoin the more than 70 countries – mainly in Africa, the Middle East and south Asia – where homosexual relations are illegal.

The reinstatement of a 153-year-old law passed under British rule and based on 16th-century English legislation means “carnal intercourse” between consenting adults of the same sex is once more defined as “unnatural” and punishable by up to 10 years in jail. Waving multicoloured flags and wearing black bandanas, the crowd of protesters that gathered at the Jantar Mantar, a favourite point for demonstrations in the Indian capital, Delhi, was full of young men and women.

“I am gay, punish me,” read one banner. “My love is not a crime,” read another.

The crowd cheered slogans of “My body, my rights” shouted by transgender protesters wearing bright traditional clothing.

For many the predominant emotion was disappointment. The 2009 decision of the high court in Delhi to repeal the law banning gay sex, known as section 377, was seen as a landmark in the campaign for equality in India. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

New details emerge on pilot of Asiana jet crash

Pope Francis named Time Person of the Year 2013

Time Magazine has named Pope Francis its Person of the Year

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ime named Pope Francis its person of the year Wednesday after nine months of a papacy that has brought ac-

colades from reformers, raised fears among conservatives, and drawn widespread adulation from people around the world for his man-of-the-people ways.

“He took the name of a humble saint and then called for a church of healing,” Time wrote in its announcement. “The septuagenarian superstar is poised to transform a place that measures change by the century.” Following him in the top five were NSA leaker Edward Snowden, gay rights activist Edith Windsor, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.

The top 10 also included Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, singer Miley Cyrus,

U.S. President Barack Obama, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of health and human services.

The new pope “comes at a time when the church seemed to be needing a huge burst of new energy,” Time contributor Howard Chua-Eoan said in a video announcing the magazine’s decision.

The magazine’s international editor, Bobby Ghosh, said Francis’ contributions in his short time in office have changed the church’s image as well as its substance. “He’s changed perceptions of the church from being this out-of-touch institution to one that is humble and merciful,” Ghosh said. (Excerpt from CNN)

Passengers evacuate from Asiana Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft after a crash landing at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California on July 6, in this photo courtesy of passenger Eugene Anthony Rah released to Reuters on July 8

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he pilot flying the Asiana Airlines jet that crashed in San Francisco, killing three people, was worried about landing successfully because a system used to guide planes down to the runway had been turned off during a construction project.

Testimony at a National Transportation Safety Board hearing Wednesday offered many new details about Lee Kang Kuk, an experienced 46-year-old pilot who was being trained on the 777 when the tail of

the plane slammed into a seawall at the edge of San Francisco Bay. Before the flight, Lee was asked about his knowledge of the 777’s auto flight system. He said he wasn’t so confident and believed he needed to study it more.

The pilot said that he was concerned about arriving without help from an instrument-landing system.

Controlling the descent, he said, “is very stressful.”

Lee said he had flown into San Francisco many times as a co-pilot on Boeing

747s but landed only a couple of cargo flights because Asiana captains were reluctant to turn over the controls to a first officer at “a special airport.”

As the plane drew close to the runway, Lee told investigators, he was momentarily blinded by a light “like a beam... right in front of me.”

He couldn’t say what colour the light was or whether it was above or below the horizon. The instructor pilot sitting next to him did not notice it. (Excerpt from Yahoo! News)

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Africa

Central America

Mexico moves to open oil resources to foreigners Uganda: Islam warns

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exico’s Senate has approved a measure to open the staterun oil fields to foreign investment for the first time in 75 years. The measure would let private firms explore and extract oil and gas with state-run firm Pemex, and take a share of the profits.

It now moves to the lower house to be voted on, where it is expected to pass.

President Enrique Pena Nieto wrote on Twitter that

it was “a significant decision for Mexico”.

Pena Nieto said it was necessary to modernise Mexico’s energy sector and increase oil production, which has dropped from 3.4 million barrels per day in 2004 to the current rate of 2.5 million barrels per day.

However, the left-wing Democratic Revolution Party said it was a submission to U.S. oil companies, and protesters set up camp outside

the Senate. They say the move strikes at the heart of Mexico’s identity.

In 1938, then-president Lazaro Cardenas nationalised the oil industry, which had been operated by foreigners up to that point, asserting that Mexico had a right to its mineral wealth.

If the measure passes Mexico’s Congress, it must then be approved by 17 of the country’s 32 federal entities.

(BBC News)

North America Microsoft says Xbox One global sales top two million

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icrosoft Corp has sold more than two million Xbox One video game consoles since its November 22 launch, catching up with rival Sony Corp’s PlayStation 4 released a week earlier.

The U.S. software giant on Wednesday said it took 18 days for Xbox One’s global sales to surpass two million – a new company record.

Japan’s Sony last week said it took 15 days for PS4 sales to cross 2.1 million.

The Xbox One, on sale in

13 countries, is selling quicker than its predecessor, the Xbox 360, and is sold out at most retailers, said Microsoft Xbox spokesman David Dennis.

“We’re manufacturing as fast as we can” to replenish supplies at stores during the holiday season, Dennis said. The Xbox One, priced US$499 in the United States, and PS4, priced US$399, offer improved graphics for increased realism and faster processors permitting smoother play, as well as nu-

merous exclusive games.

“Being even is a win for Sony,” Benchmark Co analyst Mike Hickey said.

Sony’s pitch that its PS4 is a gamer-centric device has successfully attracted game enthusiasts and “that will show in market share moving forward,” Hickey said.

Microsoft hopes the new Xbox will become the entertainment hub in living rooms, not only enticing gamers but appealing to a broader consumer base of TV fans and music lovers. (Reuters)

Europe

RBS fined US$100M by U.S. for Iran sanctions violations

T

he Royal Bank of Scotland has been fined US$100 million (£61 million, 73 million euros) by U.S. regulators for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran, Sudan, Burma, and Cuba.

The settlement follows from a 2010 internal investigation

by RBS into its historical U.S. dollar payment processes and controls. The violations took place between 2005-09, the U.S. Treasury said.

Meanwhile, RBS said it “acknowledges and deeply re-

grets these failings”, in a statement. RBS found that bank procedures removed location information on payments made to U.S. financial institutions from countries like Iran and Cuba.

Bank procedures “instructed employees to list the actual name of the Iranian financial institution rather than the Bank Identifier Code in the beneficiary bank field of the payment instructions,” according to regulators.

This prevented information about the banks from be-

ing included in cover letters and forms sent to U.S. clearing banks. Those institutions then processed the payments, in violation of U.S. sanctions.

The bank entered into agreements with the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department and New York State Department of Financial Services. “We will continue to take aggressive action against those who would flout our law,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S Cohen. (BBC News)

Market statistics Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Cambio Rates

Fixed as at July 24, 2013 Calculated at 94% purity

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Selling

GBP

$336.54

$340.76

CAN

$194.04

$196.27

USD

$205.49

$207.93

U.S.

$1335.00

Cambio

$202.67

Gross

$254,331

Net

$236,527

Selling

$262,426

Indicators as on December 10, 2013 Live Spot Gold

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1252.30

$1253.30

Low/High

$1250.50

$1264.70

Change

+9.70

-0.77

USD GBP EUR

AM

PM

1255.25 765.49 912.05

1260.75 769.31 914.32

AM

PM

Dec 10

USD GBP EUR

1245.75 757.76 906.13

Last: 15843.53

Price Silver

Platinum

London Gold Fix

Dec 11

Indicators Crude Oil

1266.25 770.46 918.37 Changes: -129.60

Open: 15970.75

High:16029.06

% YTD: 20.90

52Wk Hi: 16174.51

US$ per barrel

$109.38 USD per Ounce

$20.40 $1379.00

Change %

-0.01 Change %

-0.13 -7.00

against commercial loans

T

he Qur’an says, Allah does not declare war on anyone except those who deal in ribah (interest on loans). It also says intoxicants and gambling are Satan’s handwork that people should abstain from them. But for ribah, the Qur’an does not only say it’s a sin, but Prophet Muhammad classified it among the seven major sins.

He said, a man who receives ribah commits an offence of more than 36 acts of fornication. Because of this the prophet established Waqf projects for

Asia

the social benefit of all, as an alternative to ribah. Waqf means a long-term, multigenerational venture in terms of real estate or moveable assets like cash and providing services such as education, health and businesses for economic development instead of getting loans with interest.

Professor Magda Ismail Mohsin, a lecturer of Islamic Finance at the Global University in Malaysia, has advised Muslims to invest in Waqf by voluntarily mobilising donations for various community devel-

opment programmes. She said this during the closing ceremony of the third Southern Africa cadre training programme at Colosseum hotel, in Pretoria, South Africa.

The workshop was sponsored by Islamic Development Bank (IDB). It also aimed at promoting self-reliance and sustainability of Waqf projects. It drew Muslim scholars from Uganda, Namibia, Zambia, Zanzibar, Malaysia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Mauritius.

(allAfrica)

India toughens insider trading rules

I

ndia’s financial market regulator unveiled new proposals on Wednesday, broadening the scope of who can be held liable for insider trading violations, as it steps up its fight against securities fraud.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) plans to include company employees, directors and their immediate relatives and other stakeholders such as founders, handling market sensitive information under its purview.

Middle East

Under current rules only senior executives are liable for trading violations. SEBI has long sought greater powers to investigate securities fraud, which many analysts say is undermining confidence in the stock market, particularly among retail investors.

In May India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged SEBI to root out the “disease of insider trading” from stock markets. Officials with access to sensitive information will also be required to sub-

mit planned trades in company shares ahead of time to resolve any potential conflict of interest.

The new proposals also mandate that every listed company and market intermediary formulate a code of conduct to regulate, monitor and report trading in securities by its employees or connected persons.

Trades by stakeholders, employees, directors and their immediate relatives would need to be disclosed internally to the company. (Reuters)

Marriott targets four-fold Dubai growth on Expo 2020 win

M

arriott International is planning to operate 10,000 rooms in Dubai, four times its current number, in time for Expo 2020. Speaking at a media roundtable today, Neal Jones, Marriott’s chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Middle East and Africa, said it will “definitely” be announcing new projects relating to the 2020 showcase.

“We have a robust growth plan to achieve 70,000 rooms within our portfolio by 2020. I

wouldn’t say it (Expo win) has drastically changed anything, but it’s certainly underpinned our confidence to achieving, if not exceeding, the 70,000 rooms. We think we can get to 10,000 rooms in Dubai.”

Asked if its focus will be introducing new brands, or expanding existing ones, Jones said: “I think it’s a bit of both, we will look to expand existing brands, which are well known and have great support and loyalty, but there are other

brands such as Residence Inn and potentially Protea, that we can bring to this part of the world which will help us underpin that growth.”

While he hailed the expo win as fantastic news for Dubai and the entire continent, he warned air lift into Dubai must grow at a similar pace to keep pace with supply.

“History dictates that it’s generally balanced, and we’ll look for that continued balance...” (Gulf Business)

Investors' guide

Online education – is it right for you? (Conclusion)

S

ome who have found difficulty in completing online coursework have reported a temptation to put off work in lieu of other activities, whether it’s a job, a boyfriend or girlfriend, or any of the other distractions readily present outside a dedicated learning environment.

So again, be honest with yourself. Many online universities will provide an estimate of the time required to complete the assigned coursework. Does this fit into your schedule? And more importantly, will you be motivated to complete it on your own?

Self-motivation

That brings us to the last (and often most important) consideration. Think about the tasks you set for yourself on a daily basis.

Whether it’s working out, reading a book or cleaning out the refrigerator, these solitary tasks require a great deal of self-motivation. Because let’s face it: there’s always something more fun to do.

A quality system of online education will pair you with other students to complete group projects, enabling you to work with classmates online, but you’ll still be doing the majority of the

work on your own. So if you struggle to complete projects, online education may be a pretty big challenge.

If you’re unsure exactly how you might fare, take a single course before committing to an entire programme and try out the process for yourself. Sign up for something you’re interested in and see how it goes.

If you have trouble staying on schedule, you may want to consider other options. But most participants have found it to be a positive experience, with each course they take enhancing their resume and personal growth. (Business Dictionary)

Business concept – Accountability % Change: -0.81 Low: 15827.7 52 Wk Lo: 12471.49

The obligation of an individual or organisation to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It also includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property.

news

17

thursday, December 12, 2013 | guyanatimesGY.com

Environment minister overturns Cabinet greenlights allegations against him multimillion-dollar

N

atural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud has overturned allegations that he misled Guyana during a recent presentation to the Parliamentary Sector Committee on Natural Resources.

Minister Persaud was placed under the microscope following revelations on Monday that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission had granted Muri Brasil Ventures Limited a Permission for Geological and Geophysical Surveys (PGGS).

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member Joseph Harmon had called on Minister Persaud to step down, contending that he had misled the National Assembly.

In defence of himself, Minister Persaud on Wednesday produced an excerpt of the transcript from the sector committee meeting which was held in the Parliament building. The document was produced by the Parliament Office of Guyana.

When asked by Harmon whether leases were issued for lands in the New River Triangle, Minister Persaud responded in the negative.

“As of 11:25 am today, I am advised by the manager of the Land Management

Administration Section of the GGMC that no mining permit licences or any permission be given for mining in the area you have outlined. I want to make that categorically clear.”

Consideration

He added, “What I do know and I am also being advised by the GGMC is that there have been applications for persons to engage and these applications are not being considered at this point in time until and unless we so have a policy direction of encouragement and allowing mining. The position of the government at this point in time is not to permit mining in that specific area as you have so highlighted.”

Thirsting for more information, the APNU parliamentarian asked whether any other activity such as forestry or permission for a forestry concession was granted for that area.

Again Persaud responded in the negative. “I am advised by the technical officer… I am told by the staff that there is no permitted forestry operation in that particular area.”

Minister Persaud also produced a document submitted to him by GGMC Deputy Commissioner Newell Dennison regarding the PGGS and Prospecting

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

Licences (PL). It was pointed out that the PGGS and PL do not include mining.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has remained firm on its position that no mining permit/licence has been granted for areas east of the New River.

Allegation

An anonymous letter leaked to the press on Monday indicated that the PGGS was issued to Muri Brasil Ventures Limited.

The agreement includes a clause which paves the way for a maximum of 18 prospecting licences for rare earth elements, bauxite,

gold and diamond.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) said Muri Brasil Ventures Limited was evaluated and granted PGGS through GGMC to conduct Geological and Geophysical Surveys in Rupununi, Mining District Number Six. “Cognisance should be taken of the fact that the PGGS held by Muri Brazil Venture Inc, a Guyanese company, was done in keeping with the ISO certified procedures. Additionally, it should be noted that a PGGS is a property exclusive to exploration and does not include any mining and or profit related activities. This is not related in any way to a prospecting licence, mining licence or mining permit, all of which are also done in keeping with the Mining Act and its regulation,” the ministry had explained.

The Natural Resources Ministry and GGMC said the PGGS was not issued in the dark, contending that relevant disclosures were made when the ministry shared information with the Guyana Human Rights Association and the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee.

contracts

C

abinet has given its no-objections to 10 contracts in the areas of security, infrastructure, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and health.

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon at his post-weekly press briefing on Wednesday announced the awards in the following sectors.

SECTOR

T

VALUE OF AWARD

Security

Supply and delivery $33.4M of construction materials for the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) in five lots

Health Sector

Procurement of medical supplies for regional health services under the Health Ministry Procurement of vaccines for the maternal child health programme Procurement of pharmaceuticals for regional health services

ICT

Public Works

Procurement of standalone photovoltaic systems to support the creation of hubs in hinterland communities Construction of riprap sea defence at Zeeburg, Region Three Execution of slope protection works at Onderneeming, Region Two Rehabilitation and construction of miscellaneous roads at: Wakenaam, Mahaica and Georgetown

BBCI celebrates fifth anniversary with Christmas Tree light up

he Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) in celebrating its fifth year in existence recently held a grand Christmas three lit-up, feting its employees and members of the public.

According to a release, some 500 persons from across the country attended the event held on the lawns of the company’s administrative building.

In addition to the carol singing, Santa also made an appearance with lots of toys for the children.

Speaking at the event, BBCI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Omadat Samaroo said the event will be added to the company’s calendar of activities, and it will continue as a tradition in years to come.

He reflected on the significance of Christmas, noting that it is a time for giving, sharing and reaching out to family, friends and others in need, which is a priority for BBCI. Other speakers included BBCI directors Gillian Burton and Cecil Kennard; Rose Hall Town

TENDER

$86.2M

US$105, 000

$156.6M

$222.6M

$115M

$107.8M

$45.6M $160.6M $60.5M

Police officer and accomplice remanded for robbery under arms

O The lit Christmas tree at the office of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc office

CEO Hilbert Foster; Region Five Chairman Bindranauth Bisnauth; Region Six Chairman David Armogan; Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association Public Relations Officer Imran Saccoor and Guyana Tourism Authority Director Indranauth Haralsingh.

The BBCI does not only play the role of collecting

tolls and facilitating vehicles crossing the Berbice River Bridge and vessels transiting through the retractor span and under the high span, but also discharges its corporate responsibilities.

In the past, the company has sponsored many events that benefited communities on both the eastern and western sides of the bridge, and

many other regions such as Georgetown, Linden, Parika and the hinterland.

Thus far this year, the company has received 101 public relation requests and has approved 94.

These include sponsorships of Mashramani 2013 events, horse racing events and donations of trophies to various nonprofit organisations and educational institutions.

n Wednesday, a duo was remanded to prison after they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry where they were jointly charged for robbery under arms.

Calvin Harris, a police officer and civilian Kelvin Pollard, both age 19, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on December 7 at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, being armed with a gun, they robbed Rosita Kalchow of G$620,000 and US$50 in cash.

According to the facts, to the complainant is an office assistant at Green Ice Taxi Service.

On the day in question, the first defendant (Harris) robbed Kalchow at

gun point. The second defendant (Pollard) was waiting on a motorcycle nearby and they both made good their escape.

The dispatcher then sent out a message to the taxi drivers who launched a search and the two men were subsequently found on Mandela Avenue.

Harris’s Lawyer, Melville Duke told the court that his client is a serving member of the Guyana Police Force and has good character.

On the day in question, Duke said that Harris went to the police station to make a report that his bike was stolen and at the station, he was pointed out as the perpetrator.

Bail was refused and the matter stands adjourned to January 10, 2014.

18

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thursday, december 12, 2013

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Stay focused on what needs to be done. Your competitive nature will lead you in the right direction. Don’t be thrown off your game just because someone makes an unexpected move.

dilbert

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) You are heading onward and upward.

Investments will bring big returns. Don’t let anyone stifle your intentions or enthusiasm. Set your plans in motion and don’t look back.

Calvin and Hobbes

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Shopping or taking part in festive events will ease your stress and help you reflect. Take care of financial matters that need to be dealt with before the year’s end.

CANCER (June 21July 22) A little give and take will be called for, today, but don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Keep it simple and to the point, and offer as much in return as you receive. Strive for equality in all that you do.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) Don’t be afraid to initiate change. A change of environment will do you good. Gravitate toward people and places that are unfamiliar and have something unique to offer.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Get out and strut your stuff. You’ll attract attention and interest in what you have to offer. Personal improvements will turn out well, and romance is on the rise.

Peanuts

SUDOKU

ARIES

LIBRA

(March 21-April 19)

(Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Pick up skills, knowledge and information that can help you get ahead.

Don’t let a change at home cost you too much. Stick to a set budget and try to manage your stress.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Express your feelings.

Don’t hesitate to bring up issues that have been bothering you. Spend quality time with the people you enjoy the most.

Romance will improve your life, if you’re ready for it.

Keep life simple and limit your spending.

Focus on emotional situations that need to be dealt with before you make a life-changing move.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Explore your options today. Personal encounters will lead to shared ideas and the possibility of a partnership. Love and romance are highlighted, and travel plans should be made.

Wednesday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) Ask questions if you aren’t sure what to do.

Someone is likely to withhold important information that you need to make a decision. A lastminute change will help you get back on course.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Success is looking for you, so make yourself available.

Participation will be your road to victory. Voice your opinion, roll up your sleeves and put in a good day’s work, and you will be rewarded.

news 19

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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

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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.

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Qualifications not only criteria for town clerk’s appointment – Dr Luncheon

H

ead of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon said qualifications are not the only criteria to be met for the appointment of Carol Sooba as town clerk of the City of Georgetown.

Responding to questions at his post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, Dr Luncheon said, “The qualification was one subset of criteria the panel had to make.”

He explained that the choice was between job experience and qualifications, noting that for public service job specifications; this is rarely the sole criteria.

Dr Luncheon also pointed out that Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon

would not have appointed someone who met none of the criteria required.

Minister Persaud had earlier this month rebutted the arguments that Sooba

does not possess the qualifications for the position. He stated that Sooba was the “best suited, overall rounded” person for the position.

After acting in the position for about 17 months, Sooba was early this month confirmed as town clerk.

She had been acting in the position, replacing former Town Clerk Yonette Pluck, who along with the City Treasurer Anthony Meredith, City Engineer Gregory Erskine and Solid Waste Management Unit head Hubert Urling was in the latter part of 2012 sent on leave and subsequently fired following an inquiry in the functioning of City Hall. That investigation revealed financial improprieties on the part of those

workers.

There were continuous efforts on the part of Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green and some of his councillors to oust Sooba while she had held the cap of acting town clerk, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

However, local government ministers Ganga Persaud and Norman Whittaker had continuously reaffirmed the ministry’s support of Sooba, expressing the view that the then acting town clerk was doing all within her power, with support of some of her administrative staff to seek to ensure that the city was benefiting from effective, efficient, transparent and accountable management.

UN Water Country Briefs produced on Guyana G uyana is part of an initial 13 countries that have benefitted from a profile study series: the United Nations (UN)-Water Country Briefs (WCBs).

Implemented by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)AQUASTAT programme, under the auspices of UNWater and with financial support from the United States Department of State, the WCBs in addition to providing an overview of the countries’ water system, is also designed to demonstrate the value of investments in water resources to policymakers.

FAO Representative in Guyana Dr Lystra FletcherPaul, on Wednesday presented Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy with the copy of the brief produced on Guyana at a ceremony at the Agriculture Ministry in Georgetown.

Minister Ramsammy, noting the importance of having water security, said the truth is that while the world faces this challenge,

Guyana remains in a better position than the vast majority of countries, because of its abundance of water.

According to Dr Ramsammy, Guyana is in the top three in the world when it comes to water resources. “We have access (if we can harness it) to water that is over 300,000 millimetres per capita while most countries are dealing with per capita access of less than 10,000” he said.

The minister said the irony is that Guyana can go instantly from having too much water to not having enough, and can have both happening at the same time.

“For the rest of this month and next month, we would be busy pumping water and opening up the sluices to release a lot of good water into the sea, and few weeks after the rainy season is over, we would want the water back, but we cannot take it back, because now it would be filled with salt and other things,” he said.

Dr Ramsammy urged

the ministry’s staff to use the baseline document that will be regularly updated as part of having a strong data system to guide agriculture and water use in the country.

He noted that Guyana has available for agricultural purposes almost four million hectares of land, but is at present utilising only 500,000 hectares, of which, fewer than 200,000 benefit from drainage and irrigation.

To make optimal use of agriculture land resources that the country is endowed with, outside of the enormous investment that is being made by government as a public good, the minister said, there must be investment from other investors more so those in the private sector .

Outside of Guyana, WCBs have been produced for Bangladesh, Chile, the Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Oman, Philippines, United Republic of Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia.

Guyana is the only Caribbean state to benefit from the study in this initial stage. The six-page brief presents the country’s water profile, water-related investment flows, and evidence and analysis on the state of irrigated agriculture, drinking water and sanitation, environment and health energy, industry and water governance.

Water is already scarce, and Dr Fletcher-Paul noted that many countries are pumping more than is recharged. She pointed out that national decision-makers and policy-making bodies need to have access to reliable information upon which to formulate strategies, policies and monitor information.

Based largely on quantitative data, she said the WCBs will help to foster increased political momentum for stronger interventions in water related issues, and serve as a tool to mobilise increased financial investment directed towards water related intervention.

GTC retirees picket NICIL for higher pensions

P

resident of the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers’ Union (GPTWU) Harold Shepherd joined with several Guyana Telecommunications Corporation (GTC) pensioners on Wednesday to picket the office of the National Industrial Commercial and Investments Limited (NICIL), demanding that the government move swiftly to ensure that the pensions are increased based on the original agreement that was agreed with the workers.

Shepherd told Guyana Times that when government sold the shares of GTC to the Guyana Telephone

and Telegraph Company (GT&T), it received over US$30 million. Workers were promised a higher pension, but have not received it to date.

Shepherd said the union had requested to meet with government to discuss this issue almost three years ago, but to no avail.

They also wrote President Donald Ramotar on the issue a few months ago, but the union has not received a letter acknowledging receipt of the correspondence.

Shepherd said that the union plans to intensify its protest action if it does not receive a timely response from any official that has respon-

sibility for the issue, particularly NICIL. He expressed disappointment with the administration for not taking heed to the calls made by the former GTC staff who served in various capacities at that organisation for many years.

The GPTWU president said that each and every worker that serves the GTC, deserves an increase in their pension, as the current pension of $18,000 per month is not adequate. This amount is paid to all GTC pensioners across the board, despite the fact that the group has engineers and other highly qualified and long- serving workers. He said this is an insult, especially to the higher level

of staff that served the GTC for decades.

One of the GTC pensioners, Lloyd Hopkinson, who served for 34 years as an engineer, explained that in 1990, the pre-calculated pension was set at $10,000 per month, but it also stated that once an employee reaches the age of 55 and the service they provide is unbroken, then they would qualify to be paid under the Pensions Act. Under this act, persons are paid two-thirds of the salary they received. Hopkinson said that the time has passed to institute an increase, but it is not too late to have it by this year or early next year.

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thursday, december 12, 2013

Rainy end in Centurion after another de Kock ton A

t press conferences, AB de Villiers sits next to Quinton de Kock, and watches de Kock talk with the admiration of a big brother at the success of the little one. Jokes are shared, comments are made, and fun is had.

In Centurion, in similar company of the captain, de Kock joined de Villiers as one of the only five players to have score three successive centuries in ODI cricket. Not only that, de Kock broke the record for most runs in a bilateral threematch series, following which de Villiers brought up his own hundred. Looking at the ease with which they punished the Indian bowling in that 171-run stand, you could hardly tell they had come together at 28 for 3 after India had finally shown up on this tour. However, India were spared another big chase as persistent rain forced play to be called off without a ball bowled in the second innings.

That sighting of India was brief: they dropped de Kock on 37 and 43, the spinners became flat after a few good overs, and the quicks barring Ishant Sharma served up their usual length bowling in the end to concede 185 in the last 23 overs. De Villiers, in particular, was severe, doing as he wished to the bowlers on a pitch was slow and twopaced because of the moisture it had retained from all the rain over the past week.

This was India’s best chance to create an impression in the series. The ball stopped, there was some

Quinton de Kock broke the record for the most runs in a three-match bilateral series (Getty Images)

seam movement and turn, and South Africa had rested Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis. All that did seem to be working for them: Hashim Amla got out to a leg-side full toss, and Henry Davids and JP Duminy fell to some seam and some extra bounce in one Ishant over. Considering the situation, de Kock might rate this century better than the previous two, but he did benefit from fielding errors in the formative stages of the partnership.

De Kock had played a few punchy drives down the ground, and it was proving to be difficult to get the timing right. As the balls became softer and spin came on, it seemed India could

employ a tight hold on the batsmen. De Kock was 37 off 49 when he tried to pull an Umesh Yadav halftracker, which ended up dragging to the left of short fine leg where Ajinkya Rahane spilled it. Three overs later, he gave R Ashwin the charge, but the ball stopped a touch, and his lob went towards long-on. Yuvraj Singh ran back from mid-on, seemed to have over-run it, slowed down, got two hands to it, but never had the stability you need to catch them over your head.

De Kock was 43 then, the partnership 52, and South Africa were only just recovering. Soon, though, the fight seemed to have left the bowlers. Ravindra Jadeja

AB de Villiers pulls during his hundred (Getty Images)

wasn’t effective, Ashwin began to drop short, and the runs began to flow. It was in the 28th over that the two batsmen really began to cut loose. A short ball from Ashwin was cut for four to take de Kock to 70 off 88.

At 36 off 55, de Villiers, too, was about to open up.

By the time the Powerplay came about, de Villiers had crossed his fifty, and de Kock was on 98, with South Africa on 168 for 3.

De Villiers just stood and swung and he got the balls to do so. There were some lovely effortless hits too, the sweep off Ashwin for six and also the chip over extra cover off the same bowler. There was one difficult chance for Yuvraj running

back from mid-off, but he couldn’t catch de Villiers. De Kock fell after bringing up the hundred, de Villiers too, but it failed to slow the rate down.

Shami and Yadav bowled

well in the 48th and the 49th over, but both ended the overs with full tosses.

David Miller was there to accept all the gifts, and his 56 off 34 took South Africa past 300. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD South Africa innings H Amla c Yuvraj Singh b Mohammed Shami 13 Q de Kock† b I Sharma 101 H Davids c Raina b I Sharma 1 JP Duminy c Raina b I Sharma 0 AB de Villiers* lbw b Yadav 109 D Miller not out 56 R McLaren c Yadav b I Sharma 6 W Parnell c RG Sharma b Mohammed Shami 9 V Philander

b Mohammed Shami 0 L Tsotsobe not out 1 Extras: (lb 2, w 3) 5 Total: (8 wkts, 50 overs) 301 Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-28, 3-28, 4-199, 5-252, 6-269, 7-291, 8-298 Bowling: I Sharma 10-1-40-4, U Yadav 9-0-57-1, Mohammed Shami 10-0-69-3, R Ashwin 9-063-0, R Jadeja 6-0-32-0, S Raina 3-0-16-0, V Kohli 3-0-22-0

Gordon is latest Giftland Watling, lower order boost NZ to 441 sports ambassador A

Giftland Hockey Ambassador Aliyah Gordon (left), along with first runner-up Janella Munroe (second right), Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) Secretary, Tricia Fiedtkou (right) and Giftland’s official Compton Babb. Gordon, who attends Queen’s College, will benefit from at least $300,000 in sports equipment and academic material and signed the one-year agreement on Monday in the presence of her father, Fiedtkou and Munroe of Hikers Hockey Club. Gordon acquired 564 from a Fcebook poll, BBM and in-store voting, while Munroe received 484 votes and was awarded $10,000.

nother day, another dropped catch from West Indies, and another New Zealand batsman making them pay. Had Tino Best not made a total misjudgment at deep midwicket, Trent Boult would have been gone for 3, and New Zealand would have been dismissed for 386. Instead, Best palmed the slog over the boundary, and the final pair of Boult and BJ Watling proceeded to thrash 58 runs at over a run a ball.

By the time Watling missed a slog off Shannon Gabriel to be bowled for 65, New Zealand had surged to 441, an addition of 134 runs in 25.1 overs to their overnight 307 for 6. On day one, West Indies had put down Ross Taylor on zero and watched him make 129.

After rain delayed the start by an hour and 15 minutes, New Zealand's progress was largely down to Watling, who showed his versatility by constantly doing what the situation demanded. On the first evening, he had stonewalled to 8 off 47 as stumps approached.

This morning, he and Tim Southee came out positive, attacking anything either too short and wide or too full.

Seeing Best go for 12 in the day's opening over, Darren

Sammy brought himself on and soon had Southee holing out to deep square leg for a 14-ball 21. Just as they had done through the innings, New Zealand were to string together another useful stand, of 49 between Ish Sodhi and Watling.

Sodhi was extremely competent for a No. 9. He defended solidly and duly put the loose ones away. Watling, seeing that Sodhi was in no trouble, turned the strike over as regularly as one would alongside a

specialist batsman.

Shaking off their initial waywardness, West Indies targetted the fuller lengths they had largely missed on the first day. Gabriel, especially, was unlucky not to break through, going past the edge on a few occasions. But New Zealand were fast approaching 400.

New Zealand will hope the workout with the bat has sufficiently warmed up their quick bowlers, following four days off after their exertions in Dunedin.

SCOREBOARD New Zealand 1st innings PG Fulton c †Ramdin b Sammy 6 Rutherford c †Ramdin b Best 11 KS Williamson c Sammy b Best 45 LRPL Taylor c Shillingford b Gabriel 129 BB McCullum* c Edwards b Deonarine 37 Corey J Anderson c Powell b Shillingford 38 BJ Watling† b Gabriel 65 TG Southee c Bravo b Sammy 21 IS Sodhi c †Ramdin b Best 27

N Wagner c Sammy b Best 0 TA Boult not out 38 Extras: (b 16, lb 6, nb 2) 24 Total: (all out; 115.1 overs) 441 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Fulton, 6.1 ov), 2-24 (Rutherford, 11.2 ov), 3-112 (Williamson, 32.4 ov), 4-189 (McCullum, 55.4 ov), 5-257 (Anderson, 76.3 ov), 6-296 (Taylor, 87.4 ov), 7-334 (Southee, 94.2 ov), 8-383 (Sodhi, 106.3 ov), 9-383 (Wagner, 106.4 ov), 10-441 (Watling, 115.1 ov) Bowling: TL Best 21-1-1104, ST Gabriel 25.1-5-862, DJG Sammy 25-3-92-2, S Shillingford 28-4-92-1 N Deonarine 16-2-39-1

thursday, december 12, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

Suns down Lakers; Nets get past Celtics

I

Manu Ginobili

NDIANAPOLIS Roy Hibbert scored 24 points and Paul George had 15 of his 17 points during a second-half rally to lead the Indiana Pacers past Miami, 90-84, in National Basketball Association action Tuesday night in a matchup of the Eastern Conference’s top two teams.

Indiana improved its league-best record to 19-3 and extended its lead to three full games by beating Miami at home for the fourth straight time.

LeBron James led the Heat with 17 points, 14 rebounds and six assists but had only three baskets and nine points over the final 36 minutes. Miami has now lost three of five.

The Heat led by 13 in the first half and didn’t trail until Hibbert completed a three-point play with 6:12 left in the third quarter to put the Pacers ahead 5857. But with George heating up, Hibbert dominating the middle and Indiana’s bench playing solid, Miami couldn’t tie it or take the lead again.

SUNS 114, LAKERS 108

Los Angeles: Goran Dragic scored 31 points and Phoenix kept Los Angeles winless with Kobe Bryant back in the lineup.

Bryant led the Lakers with 20 points while playing 29 mostly sharp minutes in his second game back from a nearly eight-month absence with a torn Achilles tendon. He led a fourth-quarter rally by the Lakers, who got within four points with three minutes left before Phoenix held on for its first three-game winning streak of the season.

Marcus Morris scored 22 points and Eric Bledsoe had 18 points and nine assists for the surprising Suns, who never trailed after the opening minutes. Phoenix held off the Lakers with superb fourth-quarter play from both Morris brothers.

Markieff Morris added 15 points.

SPURS 116, RAPTORS 103

Toronto: Manu Ginobili scored 16 points, Tony Parker had 15 and San Antonio beat Toronto for the sixth straight time.

Tim Duncan scored 14 points and Aron Baynes had a career-best 14 as the Spurs overcame a 14-point first quarter deficit to improve to 26-9 all-time

season, and grabbed nine rebounds. Pierce finished with four points and seven rebounds in his first appearance off the bench in six years after making a quick recovery from a broken right hand.

Avery Bradley scored 22 points and Jeff Green had 19 for the Celtics, who have been competitive after trading away two of their most important players from their 2008 NBA championship team. Boston had a three-game winning streak snapped and its Atlantic Division-leading record fell to 10-13 record

CAVALIERS 109, KNICKS 94

Cleveland: Kyrie Irving scored 37 points and Jarrett Jack added 17 points, leading Cleveland past sinking New York.

Irving added 11 assists.

The All-Star point guard had 12 points in the third

Roy Hibbert

against Toronto.

San Antonio has won three of six since its 11-game winning streak was halted with a loss at Oklahoma City on Nov. 27.

Danny Green had 14 points for the Spurs, while Marco Belinelli had 12 and Patty Mills 11.

DeMar DeRozan scored 19 points and Amir Johnson had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.

NETS 104, CELTICS 96

New York: Deron Williams scored a seasonhigh 25 points in his return to the lineup, Brook Lopez added 24, and Brooklyn beat Boston in the first matchup for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett against their former team.

Garnett had 11 points, just his third time in double figures for the Nets this

quarter with the big lead.

Detroit was unable to stop him inside, outside or on the break. Several of his seven assists came on his trademark 70-foot outlet passes off missed shots.

Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin added 18 points each for Minnesota, which finished with six players in double figures.

Brandon Jennings had 20 points for Detroit, but Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond were held to a combined total of 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Pistons have relied heavily on their frontcourt this season, but didn’t have the advantage in that matchup against Minnesota.

THUNDER 101, HAWKS 92

Atlanta: Kevin Durant scored 30 points and Oklahoma City won for the 11th time in 12 games.

Shelvin Mack scored 17 points off the bench to lead an Atlanta comeback but finally cooled off at the end.

Coming off an impressive 118-94 home victory over Indiana, the Thunder had more trouble on the road against the Hawks. But the result was the same: another Oklahoma City victory, despite a tough night for Russell Westbrook. He was held to 14 points on 6-of-21 shooting, though he did sink an impressive reverse layup with 1:41 remaining to help finish off Atlanta.

Durant made 9 of 21 from the field and 11 of 15 free throws.

Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 23 points.

BUCKS 78, BULLS 74

quarter, when the Cavs outscored the defenceless Knicks 33-20 and pulled away.

Tristan Thompson added 12 points and nine rebounds as Cleveland won its fourth straight at home.

New York, coming off an embarrassing 41-point loss at home to Boston, dropped to 5-15 and made coach Mike Woodson’s future even more uncertain.

Carmelo Anthony scored 29 and Amare Stoudemire 15 for the Knicks, who erased an early 18-point deficit, gave it all back, fell behind by 19 and lost for the 11th time in 13 games.

TIMBERWOLVES 121, PISTONS 94

Auburn Hills, Mich.: Kevin Love had 26 points and 16 rebounds to lead Minnesota.

Love only played 30 minutes, sitting out the fourth

Chicago: John Henson had 25 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots, and Milwaukee beat Chicago in a matchup of injury-riddled teams trying to break out of a slump.

Brandon Knight added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Milwaukee, which had dropped three of four. O.J. Mayo was just 2 for 12 from the field, but had seven assists and made a couple of big plays in the fourth quarter.

Chicago used only eight players after Joakim Noah was sidelined by a bruised right thigh. Carlos Boozer was the only starter in the lineup from the season opener at Miami.

Mike Dunleavy scored 18 of his 24 points in the second quarter, but the Bulls struggled on offence in the latter part of their fourth loss in five games. Boozer finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. (thespec.com)

21

Neymar stars as Barca thrash Celtic

B

Neymar

arcelona handed Celtic the harshest of Champions League lessons by producing a nearperfect display to equal the visitors’ heaviest European loss on Wednesday.

Gerard Pique opened the scoring and Barca added two more goals late in the first half through Pedro and Neymar.

Brazilian Neymar, a £49m summer signing from Santos, added two more before the hour mark to complete his hat-trick.

Cristian Tello completed Celtic’s misery, with Georgios Samaras’s late headed goal scant consolation.

The result means Neil Lennon’s side finish the Champions League group stage with their lowest-ever tally of three points.

And the margin of defeat at the Nou Camp matches the 5-0 loss to Artmedia Bratislava in what was former manager’s Gordon Strachan’s first match in charge in 2005.

Celtic came into the match having scored 12 and conceded none in their previous two domestic games, while Barcelona had been stung by recent losses to Ajax and Athletic Bilbao.

But this was Barca at their best, inflicting Celtic’s 25th away defeat in 27 Champions League matches.

The early signs were worrying for Celtic as they twice gave up cheap possession deep in their own half and though Barcelona failed to punish them, it was not long before the hosts did take advantage.

Alexis Sanchez drove in from the right and though his shot, which deflected off Efe Ambrose, was kept out

by Fraser Forster, Pique was inside the Celtic sixyard box to poke the ball into the net.

The danger at that stage was that a ruthless Barca could run riot, but Celtic - who had left Charlie

Mulgrew and Kris Commons out of the starting line-up - regrouped and kept the Catalans at bay until just before the interval.

That was when the home team stepped up a couple of gears, with Neymar central to all that was good about Tata Martino’s side.

Celtic claimed for a handball against Pique, but when that wasn’t forthcoming, Neymar shuffled away from Efe Ambrose before squaring the ball for Pedro, whose exquisite movement to the front post allowed him a straight-forward tapin past Forster.

And matters deteriorated further for Celtic moments later at the end of a move that involved innumerable passes. Alexis lifted the ball over the heads of the Celtic defence for Martin Montoya and his pass was swept into the net by the irresistible Neymar.

If that goal was sublime, the fourth was even more majestic. Again it was Neymar who finished it following a back-heeled onetwo with Xavi, this time curling it past Forster from the edge of the box, and again it was the culmination of a prolonged period of possession.

Forster did manage to keep Xavi’s free kick from bulging the net, but he was beaten for a fifth time as Neymar nutmegged Ambrose and claimed his hat-trick, with the beleaguered Adam Matthews unable to knock it off the line.

The brilliant Brazilian could have scored another two either side of Tello’s strike, which deflected off Virgil van Dijk to leave Forster wrong-footed.

Samaras, who only a year ago had put Celtic ahead in the same stadium, headed Commons’ free kick past Pinto in the closing stages and had another effort cleared off the line by Pique, but the winning margin did not flatter Barcelona. (BBC Sport)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, december 12, 2013

Preparation in advanced Berbice remain stage for PMTC/Shariff in control despite Khan’s 6-69 horse race meet – Essequibo facing uphill task against President’s XI W ith entries topping 80-horse mark, the principals of the Port Mourant Turf Club (PMTC) and the Shariff Business Enterprise and Racing Stable have already put most systems in place for Sunday’s horse race meet, slated for the club’s race track, Corentyne, Berbice.

The organisers have put together an impressive eight-race programme for the meet with over $8 million up for grabs.

All the big name horses are set to be on show for what is expected to be a competitive day of racing.

An impressive lineup of animals have already entered for the day’s event, with the likes of: Score Is Even, Settle In Seattle, Sleeping in Town, Grande De Roja, The Message, The Bailiff, Got to Go, California Strike, Mission King,

Home Bush Baby, Renia dian and E and Lower and Del Cafe, Better than Two-year-old West Indies Gold, Swing Easy, Fresh median and Guyana Open.

Again, Silent Night, Easy Both races carry a winning to win, Night Crescendo, purse of $400,000 and will Traditional Man, Savion, run over 1200 meters.

Both the Three-year-old The Gump, Treacle, Storm In a tea Cup, Silent Lizzy, Guyana Open and the G1 Serenity, Third World, and Lower races will run Joyful Victory, Intruging over 1200 meters with the Account, Fairy Landing, animals running for a winFeels like Gold, Diamond ning purse of $300,000.

The I and Lower conDazzling, Work Force , Marathon Man, Dream test has a winning purse of Girl, Stormy Lass, Super $200,000, while the G and Bowl, Mona Lisa and I Want Lower class match-up will Revenge, among others. see the winner pocketing The feature race is clas- $150,000.

The meet will be run unsified for A and Lower allotted weight horses. The race der the rules of the Guyana will run over 1200 meters Horse Racing Authority for the top prize of $1.2 mil- (GHRA). Horse owners are lion. also reminded to get their In the co-feature, for horses properly registered Three-year-old West Indies with the GHRA. Those bred horses, the winner will horses not properly regisreceive $500,000 and a tro- tered will not be allowed to phy over 1200 meters. participate in the day’s proOther events on the ceedings. Race time is 12:30 day’s card are the D3 me- hours. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

Arsenal reach last 16 despite loss A

rsenal qualified for the Champions League knockout stages as Group F runnersup despite losing to Napoli.

It is the 14th successive season the Gunners have reached the second phase and after weathering early pressure, they went close via Olivier Giroud.

But Gonzalo Higuain put Napoli ahead before Mikel Arteta was sent off.

And although Jose Callejon scored a second for Napoli in injury time, Borussia Dortmund’s 2-1 win at Marseille knocked out the Italian side.

When Argentine striker Higuain struck after 73 minutes, his side were on course for a runners-up spot, but Kevin Grosskreutz’s goal for Dortmund three minutes from time sent last season’s runners-up through.

Arsenal had to lose by three goals in order to miss out on qualification, but they took the sting out of the game with some controlled possession and there was no time for Napoli to grab a third after Callejon had lobbed Wojciech Szczesny to put the hosts 2-0 up.

The evening’s results meant that Dortmund, Arsenal and Napoli all finished on 12 points, but the Germans beat Arsenal to top spot on a better head-tohead record. The Gunners pipped the Italian side to second place on goal difference.

As runners-up the Gunners could now face top seeds such as holders Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris

Gonzalo Higuain

St-Germain or Atletico Madrid.

Arsene Wenger’s side may have been forgiven for not approaching their game in their usual attacking manner, but they soon found a rhythm to their passing after an energetic opening from the hosts which saw Goran Pandev test Szczesny with an early shot.

Arsenal’s first meaningful opening came on 23 minutes when a flowing exchange of passes ended with France striker Giroud’s angled shot being beaten away

by Napoli goalkeeper Rafael Cabral.

With Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere on the bench, Mathieu Flamini came into the side and was instrumental in wrestling control in midfield and Napoli committed several fouls as their frustration grew.

The hosts had two decent opportunities to strike before half-time, though, as the energetic Dries Mertens played in Christian Maggio

down the right channel but he lifted his shot over the bar with Szczesny coming out to close him down.

The Arsenal goalkeeper then almost gifted Napoli a goal as he kicked Laurent Koscielny’s backpass straight at Higuain, but the striker - who was a Gunners target in the summer - headed wide from an angle.

Napoli improved around the hour mark and almost went ahead when Raul Albiol’s pass found left-back Pablo Armero but his tame shot was easily saved.

Rafael Benitez’s team then wasted three further chances before Higuain finally made the breakthrough, turning and finding the bottom corner after collecting Callejon’s pass outside the box.

With Borussia Dortmund drawing with Marseille at this point, the Stadio San Paolo erupted as Napoli moved into second spot in the group.

The home crowd cheered further three minute later when Arteta received a second yellow card, having already been booked in the first half for a foul on Callejon.

That set up a nervous finale, and when Callejon scored it looked like there may be a chance for Napoli to knock Arsenal out.

But there was only enough time left to kick off and Dortmund’s late goal confined Benitez, who was Chelsea’s interim manager at this time last season, to the Europa League for a second consecutive campaign.

(BBC Sport)

Amir Khan

Royston Crandon

Devendra Bishoo

By Rajiv Bisnauth

243.

First class leg-spinner Khan engineered Berbice’s middle and tail-end collapse with a six-wicket haul. He claimed 6-69, while Zaheer Mohamed took 2-46.

The 31–year-old, Crandon and his overnight partner Krisndatt Ramoo, batted through the entire first session and in the process wiped off Demerara’s first innings total of 161.

They progressed to lunch at 182-3. Crandon was on 84, while Ramoo, playing the ideal foil, was on 33.

However, the second session was a glaring contrast with Berbice losing seven wickets for only 60 runs.

Crandon was the first to be dismissed for 95 (9x4). Following Crandon’s dismissal Jonathan Foo (0), Devon Clements (0), Ramoo (49), Anthony Bramble (15), Bishoo (7) and Raun Johnson (11), fell in quick succession.

Essequibo/President’s XI Meanwhile, Essequibo were staring down the barrel at stumps on day two in the other game at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.

At stumps, the Essequibians, facing a massive deficit of 193, were 126 for 6 from 35.3 overs, trailing by 63 runs.

Opener Royan Fredricks made an aggressive 38 off 40 deliveries; his inning was decorated with six boundaries and a maximum.

Fellow opener Kevon Boodie (0), Dellon Heyliger (6) Etnauth Persaud (12), Anthony Adams (18) and Parmesh Parsotam (23) all fell in the second innings.

All-rounder Kemo Paul was unbeaten on 24.

Fast bowler Andre Stoll, who was the destroy-

er-in-chief on the first day, returned to claim 2 for 12 off six overs, while off-spinner Collis Butts grabbed 2 for 14.

The President’s XI, who resumed day two on 121 for 4 were dismissed for 297, half way through the post lunch session, with skipper Vishal “Cheesy” Singh, falling short of a century by 15 runs.

The diminutive Singh, who resumed on 52, led from the front with the bat, fashioned a typically patient 85, while his overnight partner Shaquille Williams and wicket-keeper Jason Sinclair scored fluent half-centuries. Ryan Ramdass also scored a half-century, hitting 59 on the first day.

Both Singh and Williams looked in control right from the start of play with Williams being the more aggressive of the two, hitting eight boundaries in his 52.

Singh, on the other hand, who hit an unbeaten century against the Berbice in the second innings of the first round game, played in his usual style, hitting a solitary boundary in his 235-ball knock.

The pair shared an 88run stand before both were removed by left-arm spinner Anthony Adams (4-90) just before the lunch interval. At the interval, the President’s XI reached 229 for 6, stretching the lead to 125.

However, upon resumption Sinclair took his total to an unbeaten 60 from 125 deliveries with three fours and two sixes before the innings ended.

Adams was supported by Keanu Harry (3-49), Dillon Heyliger (2-59) and Kemo Paul (1-12). The action continues today at 9:30h.

A

post-tea session batting collapse by Demerara, left Berbice in total control at the end of the second day in their second round Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior InterCounty four-day tournament match on Wednesday at the Enmore Community Centre ground.

Spinners Devendra Bishoo and Royston Crandon shared five second innings wickets between them which left Demerara facing an arduous task, as Berbice tightened the screws for an outright victory.

The hosts were reduced to 68-6 in their second innings, still 14 runs behind Berbice first innings lead of 82 runs.

With footmarks on the pitch becoming more prominent in the day’s final session, Bishoo exploited the conditions and claimed 3-15 to follow-up with his first innings figures of 6-50. Crandon (212) also enjoyed some late afternoon success.

Demerara suffered a stunning top and middleorder batting collapse with only opener Trevon Griffith (40) and skipper Leon Johnson (10), ambling to double figures. Rajendra Chandrika (2), Ramnaresh Sarwan (1), Christopher Barnwell (5) and Steven Jacobs (2) were the other batsmen dismissed.

Amir Khan (4*) and Chris Pattadin, who is yet to score, were at the crease when the stumps were drawn.

Earlier, Royston Crandon fell short of a century by five runs when Berbice resumed from an overnight 73-3 to be eventually bowled out just before the tea interval for

thursday, december 12, 2013

guyanatimesGY.com

23

North Georgetown advances to quarter-finals of K&S tourney

T

The deciding penalty to end the game after a tense penalty shootout (Treiston Joseph photos)

North Georgetown celebrates the nail biting win

ension rose as North Georgetown Secondary pulled off a sudden death penalty win over Patentia Secondary on Wednesday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground when

attendance into an uproar.

However, the celebration would be short-lived as Patentia drew even with an electric strike from Kenton Boyce in the 22nd minute to give his team a fighting chance of making the quar-

the Kashif and Shanghai Secondary School football tournament continued.

The game at the end of regulation time was 1-all but after sudden death spot kicks North Georgetown emerged 4-3 winners. Both

teams had struggled to make positive attacking moves in the second-half.

Joshua Ferrier opened the game with a brilliant goal in the 14th minute to put North Georgetown ahead, sending the fans in

Chelsea beat Steaua to top group C helsea secured top spot in Champions League Group E as Demba Ba scored the only goal in a straightforward win over Steaua Bucharest at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

The Senegal striker, 28, turned in Oscar’s flick-on after the hosts dominated the opening 10 minutes.

Gabriel Iancu squandered a fine, and rare, chance to equalise for Steaua as he miscued when one-on-one soon after.

Chelsea should have increased their winning margin, with Ba and Eden Hazard guilty of particularly glaring misses.

The Blues will be paired with one of Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, Olympiakos, Zenit St Petersburg or AC Milan when the draw for the last 16 is made in the Swiss city of Nyon on 16 December.

However they will need sharper form than was required against Steaua if they are to get close to replicating their 2012 success.

In the build-up to their final group game, Jose Mourinho had called on his side to be more ruthless in front of goal.

While Chelsea again created plenty of chances, particularly in the first 10 minutes, they failed to capitalise.

David Luiz and Oscar had both shot wide before Ba bundled the ball into the net at the far post after Oscar rose unchallenged

ter-final round.

The second half was filled with back and forth tussles between the teams, with play being distributed in the midfield.

With full time ending, penalties were left to decide

the result but after the allotted five penalties per team it ended 3-3 draw until the deadlock was broken.

Meanwhile North Georgetown will next meet a very strong Waramadong team.

Athletics free from doping is an unrealistic idea – Michael Johnson

F

Michael Johnson

Demba Ba

to flick Willian’s corner through the six-yard box.

Mourinho had also insisted that Chelsea’s concession of three goals in both of their previous two matches was down to bad luck rather than poor defending.

Steaua’s outstanding chance of the match, however, was at least partly self-inflicted.

John Obi Mikel gave the ball away and, with Luiz caught upfield, neither John Terry nor Frank Lampard tracked Iancu’s diagonal run and were relieved to see the teenage striker scuff his shot wide as goalkeeper Petr Cech advanced.

Chelsea continued to create and waste chances, with Branislav Ivanovic’s

header pushed over the top by Ciprian Tatarusanu before Frank Lampard volleyed wide from the edge of the box.

But they still looked vulnerable at the back when their Romanian opponents, albeit infrequently, attacked.

Patelis Kapetanos’s pot-shot from 25 yards fizzed off target after he had shrugged off Terry’s attention.

Willian’s performance, full of penetrative passing, was one of the pluses for Chelsea in the first-half and the Brazilian’s precise cross after the break deserved more than to be blazed over the top via Ba’s shin.

Andre Schurrle, who had tormented Daniel

Georgievski in Chelsea’s 4-0 win in the reverse fixture, had an instant impact against the Steaua right-back again when he came off the bench.

After tricking his way to the byeline, the Germany international’s low shot looped up invitingly for Hazard to convert, but the Belgian could not react quickly enough to keep his header on target.

With Schalke beating Basel in the group’s other game, a first victory in eight attempts in England for the Romanians would have toppled Chelsea from top spot.

But in truth, that never looked likely as Mourinho’s men got the job done. (BBC Sport)

our-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson believes it is “unrealistic” to think athletics will ever be drug-free.

Six Jamaicans, including former 100m world-record holder Asafa Powell and 2004 Olympic sprint relay champion Sherone Simpson, tested positive for banned substances earlier this year.

“Athletics is a microcosm of real life,” said American Johnson.

“In real life you will always have people who cheat. It’s unrealistic to expect athletics to be drugfree.”

Johnson, who won 4x100m gold at the 1992 Barcelona Games, the 200m and 400m double in Athens four years later, and the 400m title in Sydney in 2000, believes the Olympics is the saving grace of athletics but thinks the sport needs to adapt in order to improve its appeal.

“Other sports may have

fans that can put up with [doping] but in athletics the fans want to see the Olympians hold true to the Olympic ideal and values,” he said.

“To be honest, if it weren’t for the Olympics, athletics would be dead. Off the face of the earth.”

He added: “Everyone loves to see people have a race but we’re seeing too much emphasis placed on world records and not on the battle between the athletes.

“We must look closely at the sport and see what it is that people actually want to watch.

“Do we need the women’s discus? A 3,000m and 5000m steeplechase at the same meeting? Nothing has happened to change the sport in my time.

“We need to look at a new format, package it better to engage more fans.

Other sports have done it to increase their fan base, why can’t athletics?” (BBC Sport)

thursDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013

TOP SCORES

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

New Zealand 307-6 (Taylor 129) v West Indies (up to press time); Pakistan 146-7 beat Sri Lanka by three wickets; South Africa 301-8 (de Villiers 109, de Kock 101, Miller 56*, Ishant 4-40) v India

North Georgetown advances to quarter-finals of K&S tourney See story on page

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Some of the action during the game that ended in a stalemate after regulation time INSIDE TODAY’S SPORT

Watling, P20 lower order boost NZ to 441

Berbice remain in control despite Khan’s 6-69 See story on page

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– Essequibo facing uphill task against President’s XI Vishal Singh plays in his usual patient style

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