Guyana Times Daily 15th Jan 2014

Society still facing ills Muhammad confronted – Ramotar

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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2012 guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

PRICE

City swamped again by overnight rains, blocked drains See story on page 17

$60 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Mother of child who died after biting tongue braces for P2 probe findings

Baby kidnapped from day care P7 rescued

‌more showers predicted Several streets in Georgetown were virtually impassable on Tuesday following hours of rain. Poorly managed drainage systems in the capital were blamed for much of the disaster (Carl Croker photo)

Man kills girl,16; later commits suicide Tourism Ministry looking to woo more tourists this year See story on page 11

P7 Outrage over alleged police assault on Laing Avenue man

Rice farmers reeling from P12 Airy Hall flood

See story on page 3

Heavy rains batter Pomeroon farms See story on page 12

13 schools closed due to flooding P19

2 news

wednesday, January 15, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Merundoi puts spotlight Mother of child who died after biting on garbage crisis tongue braces for probe findings

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he local radio drama series Merundoi is taking steps to to highlight the ills of improper garbage disposal in Guyana, with the hope of creating behavioural change among citizens.

Speaking to Clean and Green Guyana on Monday, Merundoi’s Executive Director Margaret Lawrence said the drama group felt that the garbage situation in Guyana had become overwhelming and, therefore, decided to play its part to eliminate the social scourge. “We embarked on it, because it needed to be done,” she said.

The episodes on this topic have been ongoing for some four months and have received positive feedback.

Lawrence pointed out that aside from airing on local airwaves, the episodes had more than 10,000 hits, owing to them being streamed online.

The series on garbage is currently in its fourth season and has so far highlighted the need to pick up plastics,

Merundoi Executive Director Margaret Lawrence

clean drains, and the need for proper medical waste disposal among other practices. Regrettably, however, Lawrence said Merundoi will have to discontinue this series on garbage disposal owing to a lack of funding.

Lack of funding

She noted that the drama team would usually ensure its messages are enforced through community and school interventions. These activities, she said, call for funding, which is currently not available. Lawrence noted that she had approached government, but is awaiting

feedback.

She is, therefore, calling on corporate Guyana and civil institutions to support the radio series as it seeks to address the garbage situation and other national issues in Guyana. The Merundoi executive director believes “a collective approach is needed” to acquire the desired results.

She noted that citizens need to change their behaviours, since improper disposal of solid waste can cause health hazards.

Lawrence is also looking forward to have the proposal for the introduction of environmental wardens come into effect so that defaulters can be cautioned and action can be taken.

Persons desirous of sponsoring the Merundoi radio drama on correct garbage disposal can contact the following: Margaret Lawrence on 602-3838; Derwin Humphrey on 6823017; Merundoi office on 218-3417.

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he Expert Committee of High Level Professionals will soon release their findings on who is to be held accountable for the death of fouryear-old Jaden Mars after a thorough investigation was launched.

Last December, Mars succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was taken for treatment after he fell and bit his tongue.

The result of a post-mortem indicated that the lad died from a blocked main artery which led to the lung.

During an exclusive telephone interview, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran told Guyana Times he was informed by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud that the committee of professionals will soon release their findings and the family of the four-year-old will be contacted.

The mother of the dead child, Natalie Caseley, told this publication that she has

Four-year-old Jaden Mars

been constantly updated on the investigation which she was told was almost completed. She said she “trusts that they have been investigating” and she is focusing on “staying calm and letting the institution do its job”.

Caseley disclosed that it was indicated to her that a private anaesthesiologist has been brought in to ensure that there is no bias in the investigation, to check the dosages to see whether or not they were lethal.

“Everything has not fully registered to me, I am still in awe and shock," she told Guyana Times.

Praying for strength

Caseley, who is expecting another child, said the past few weeks have been hard but because the fact that she has an unborn child inside her is one of the things which keeps her from breaking down.

She said she prays for strength, even though she "cannot come to grips" with what has happened.

In January 2013, a similar incident occurred whereby a young man lost his life while receiving medical attention.

Fifteen-year-old Shamar Miggins died at the West Demerara Regional Hospital while he was receiving treatment for an abscess.

Reports indicate that Miggins died while he was was being injected with a drug. The nurse on duty at the time claimed in the early stages of the investigation, that the young man took the syringe and administered the drug himself via the IV line.

Nurse's licence

Miggins’ mother rejected that claim, and the nurse’s licence was subsequently suspended for six months.

Guyana Times understands that the nurse was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she has worked under close supervision and has been assessed as to whether her licence’s suspension should be extended or lifted.

Official reports from the ministry indicated that investigations revealed that the nurse who was attending to Miggins when he died erred while administering medication.

It was pointed out that the nursing council could have taken three actions based on the findings: censor, suspend, or strike the nurse off the nurses’ register.

Laparkan plans to increase market share in 2014

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orporate executives and senior management personnel from Laparkan Trading on Monday wrapped up discussions in Miami U.S.A on a strategic plan for ensuring total customer satisfaction as the company seeks to increase its market share in 2014 and beyond.

The Laparkan executives, drawn from its operations across the Caribbean, South and North America, were involved in two days of intense deliberations on the companies’ transportation logistics, port operations, money transfer and international business operations, the company said in a release.

“What has emerged from these two days of deliberations is consensus among our top executives that the Laparkan brand remains strong throughout the Caribbean and North America and that we have a strong customer base upon which we will build by continuing to strive for the highest level of customer service based on excellence,” the company’s Chairman Glen Khan said.

He said the meeting also examined some possible new

areas of related services as well as strategies for enhancing the operations of existing services such as the company’s Internet shopping and express shipping.

Laparkan Chief Executive Officer Hussein Haniff disclosed that a six-point plan has been agreed to for immediately enhancing operational efficiencies across the Laparkan network of ocean and air cargo and related services.

“We had an excellent meeting of all our general managers and senior management personnel from across the Caribbean, South America, the United States and Canada and we have identified strategies for immediate implementation which will ensure that we grow the business in this ever changing global environment,” Haniff said.

He said among the key decisions taken are the increased use of state-of-the-art information technology, the expanded provision of training for employees and the establishment of relationships with various agencies and organisations designed to create linkages which would drive new business to the company.

News

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wednesDay, January 15, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, January 15 from 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, January 15 from 15:45h-17:15h.

WEATHER TODAY

Countrywide: Thundery showers are expected during the day with partly cloudy conditions in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 26 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 03:57h and 16:10h reaching maximum heights of 2.41 metres and 2.56 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:44h and 22:09h reaching minimum heights of 0.78 metre and 0.65 metre respectively.

Man kills girl,16; later commits suicide

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he body of a teenager was on Tuesday morning discovered in a trench aback the Kuru Kururu Soesdyke/Linden Highway with several marks of violence.

The gruesome discovery of Rovena Cozier, 16, of Lot 717 Obama Street, Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, was made by her mother and sister about 06:30h, lying face down in the black water.

After being pulled from the trench, it was discovered that the teenager sustained a gash to her throat and a cut to her right wrist.

Several pieces of her personal belongings, along with a blood stained knife suspected to be the murder weapon were found in a track leading to the trench.

Suspect

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Georgetown on Monday and after they returned home in the afternoon, they showered and went to the shop.

They were acting normal and if they had a problem, they did not make it noticeable. She could not say if there was any reason the man would want her daughter dead.

The mother said they subsequently made contact with the suspect’s personal driver who claimed that as he was dropping him off at Diamond, East Bank Demerara on Monday evening, he was indeed acting in a strange manner.

By Bhisham Mohamed

The main suspect, Leo Rodrigues has since committed suicide. He was found hanging in his family's backyard in Suddie by his mother, police confirmed. Rodrigues is said to be 28 years old and a father of one. He and Cozier were due to tie the knot in August.

At the home of the dead teenager, her mother Shiveon Cozier explained that her daughter and Rodrigues left home about 18:00h on Monday evening with the intention of going to a nearby shop.

She said after time elapsed, she made contact with her daughter who promised to return shortly, but this never happened.

The aggrieved mother went on to say that she started to get an uneasy feeling and as she looked through the door, she saw her neighbour’s son, who informed her that he left the couple at the shop.

“He tell me that they offer he a drink but he refused and come home… so I went back inside,” she explained.

After time went by, she said that she took a shower and about 21:00h, she went in search of the couple, but there were no signs of them and, thinking that they probably

Relationship

Now dead teenager Rovena Cozier with murder suspect Leo Rodrigues in happier times

went for a moonlight walk, she went home. About 22:30h, the woman stated that she went to bed but up to that time, they had not returned home.

“I wake up like 02:00h and look outside to see if I see their footwear but there was none so I know that they did not come back home up to that time,” she said.

According to her, this was the first time that the couple went out for such a long time.

The mother said she went back to bed but her husband woke her up about 04:00h to enquire whether the teenager and her boyfriend had returned.

Search

He asked her to make a check in the girl’s room, and when she did, it was empty.

“I start to row... I start saying if they know de going out, then they shoulda call and say something… we nah know who to contact since he got family in Diamond, Timehri and Soesdyke… I say when the place get bright, I will go look for them,” he said.

As the place got brighter, the woman and one of her daughters went in search of the couple.

The woman explained that as they reached a distance, she saw a taxi heading in their direction and thought that it might be them, but instead, the car turned around.

“I get a strange feeling

so I told meh daughter, ‘let we go in the direction of the trench’…. As we reach closer, meh daughter ask me what they go do at behind there… but I tell she, let we go… When I walk, I see meh slippers, the one she left home with… we went lil more and we see she top… meh she oh God, is what he do with meh daughter… meh daughter went up lil bit more and see a knife with blood and she start scream that something terrible wrang with Rovena,” the mother said.

Floating body

She said she immediately sent for her husband and upon arrival, he recognised his daughter’s body floating in the trench.

The teen’s mother said that Rodrigues only came out of the interior a while ago and she was not aware of any misunderstanding between her daughter and Rodrigues.

She recalled them going to

“The taxi driver tell we that as he was heading to Diamond, he wanted something to drink but after the driver suggested that they stop at the Kozy Nook, he said he didn’t want to go in the light… so it had to be that he had blood on he skin and he didn’t want anyone see him,” she said.

The suspect and the now dead teen have been together for the past two years. He reportedly encouraged her to leave school.

Guyana Times understands that the teen’s parents did not agree with the relationship, but the teenager threatened to commit suicide if they objected.

The teenager attended the Kuru Kururu Primary School and dropped out while she was in third form at the Supply Primary School.

Her body was taken to Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination. She leaves to mourn her parents and four siblings. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy. com)

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, January 15, 2014

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

The migration conundrum

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he Caribbean has historically been an area that has both benefited and suffered from migration: most of its present population were brought in from outside the region to provide labour on plantations after the indigenous peoples were decimated or wiped out. With the severe level of underdevelopment imposed by the colonial powers, from the 20th century, outward migration provided a vent for the seething masses.

While there was some inter-territorial migration, especially from the smaller islands into more prosperous territories like Trinidad and Tobago, in the main, the flow of population was directed towards the metropolitan centres.

This trend, which accelerated after WWII, has never really been severely reduced much less reversed. Initially, the underlying push and pull factors were primarily economic: the colonies had few economic opportunities while the metropoles needed cheap labour. It was a vicious circle that defined “underdevelopment”: the colonial powers insisted that all industries be located in their countries so the colonies were restricted to producing primary products which, by definition could not generate sufficient profits to pay larges salaries or wages. The migration of unskilled labour was the export of one more “primary product”.

While Guyana did have its share of post-war emigration to Britain, Canada and the U.S., the numbers paled in comparison to those from Jamaica or Barbados. But beginning from the 1970s the tempo picked to the U.S. up after that country loosened its immigration laws while Britain tightened their’s in the preceding decade.

This also coincided with the inexorable collapse of the Guyanese economy under the PNC’s cooperative-socialism experiment. The rate of illegal migration eclipsed the legal migration from this period and was helped immeasurably by the policy of the U.S. to allow illegal immigrants to be sponsored by their U.S. born children.

By the 1990s, the phenomenon had become so structurally embedded into the society that had proven impossible to reverse. While there are many who bemoan Guyana’s very high rate of emigration by tertiary graduates (the figure of 85 per cent is regularly touted) the comparable figures from Jamaica and even Trinidad are not very far off.

Yet latter has decreased its “push factors” very significantly, to a point where it has recently been given the status of a “developed country”. With the continued gloomy economic news emanating from that country in addition to Jamaica and Barbados, their emigration rates are expected to inch upwards once again.

While the emigration from the Caribbean has led to the well documented “brain-drain”, there has been a growing recognition and acceptance of the positive side of the migration coin in that remittances from the departed citizenry now routinely surpass significantly, the flow of foreign direct investments into the region. This has led to calls for mechanisms to harness these funds for more sustainable developmental initiatives than consumer spending. But there can be other positive benefits harvested to the local developmental efforts which can maybe more effectively challenge the major push factor: comparatively low local wages.

For instance, the level of remittances suggest that the emigrants have done well economically in their new homelands and while this might make them less willing to remigrate, if they are suitable investments identified to them in their “native lands” they might be willing to invest.

These investment vehicles have been used very effectively by other diasporas, especially in the Eastern European countries, China and India. At present, there is an ongoing project sponsored by the International Office for Migration (IOM) to map the overseas Guyanese community, but it is our position that the effort must be much more focused on investment opportunities.

Simultaneously, there has to be a more concerted effort by the administration to counter the slew of negative news on Guyana being purveyed by the sensationalist yellow tabloids originating in Guyana and consumed by overseas Guyanese, who might conclude the investment risks here are too high.

Tourists on the Salar salt lake of Uyuni before the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally 2014, that will run from Salta to Uyuni, January 11 (Reuters/Jean-Paul Pelissier)

APNU is again missing the point Dear Editor, I refuse to pay any attention to anything that leaders of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) are saying. They were enraged with the late 2013 crime spree, yet they were the ones who adamantly opposed the firearms amendment bill.

This piece of legislation brought forward by the government was all about implementing tougher penalties for gunrunners. It was tabled

by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, but was not supported by the opposition

because of a personal vendetta against the minister.

It appears as if the opposition parties are continuously trying to find opportunities to lay blame on the ruling party. This time, they are inciting that the recent accident that killed Chief Librarian Gillian Thompson was due to the lack of attention placed on the state of lawlessness on the roadways.

In any country, it would be grossly unfair to say that the leaders of that country are to be held directly accountable for all inconveniences being caused.

In fact, Guyana has host-

ed several road safety campaigns over the years and was at one point criticised for being so strict. There have been campaigns against drunk driving; there has been a significant increase in police presence on the roads and there has been awareness pertaining to the consequences for drivers who continuously breach traffic regulations.

It is always bothersome to understand why people choose to fabricate stories.

The car which caused the accident was actually not evading police ranks, however, the driver is currently facing

multiple charges and with time, justice will be served.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) stepped up and discredited the numerous claims and accusations that were being made. I commend the force for their good work, but we must keep in mind that it is not easy to grab hold of the many road rebels.

It therefore means that instead of criticising, people should be more willing to help out by informing the relevant authorities of those guilty of traffic misconduct.

Sincerely, Elton Myers

Journalism has become twisted Dear Editor, Journalism in its entirety has become so twisted in Guyana that it often makes it extremely difficult to really determine the truth of any given situation. At present, investigative reports are surmised and conjured based on word of mouth from a variety of sources and individuals close to the relevant authorities. There is therefore no guarantee that the information gathered is precise and accurate.

When it comes to news re-

porting, it is extremely important that correct and balanced information is clearly sourced and wisely reported.

A recent incident leaves many to still understand what really played out when the police confronted a young man who was accused of breaching the law by not wearing a motorcycle helmet.

The 19-year-old is claiming that he was a victim of police brutality. He is alleging that he was grabbed by a police officer who violently gunbutted him to the mouth and

dealt him several blows about his body. Ironically, no charge was made against him, yet he has been released on bail.

The flip side is that the police officers involved in the incident are not defending themselves. In fact, they appear quite calm and collective. Some are of the assumption that they have nothing to say simply because they have grown tired of false wayward reports made against them.

Personally, I believe that if this young man was in fact brutalised by the police of-

ficer, then his first option should have been to do a medical which would have further authenticated if any injuries were in fact sustained at the hands of the police.

On another note, I am happy to know that the police are targeting erring motor cyclists and their pillion riders. Road safety is a major concern in Guyana and it important that those who err be chastised and disciplined.

Sincerely, Claire Nelson

Congested CJIA is no reason for bad services Dear Editor, The recent apologies pertaining to the complaint of a congested Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) was only addressed because of the context of the situation and, moreover, because of the man who made the statement. Otherwise, this issue with CJIA would have gone unnoticed and would have been accepted.

There are several problems being encountered

on a daily basis at CJIA. However, because of the unlikely chances of any change, many people let it slide and continue to endure what many would consider as poor service.

Many of the officers at CJIA have a distinct attitude problem. They are quite unwelcoming and unpleasant and lack very basic interpersonal qualities. There is nothing in their outlook that suggests that they are

capable of being helpful and courteous people. It is quite evident that these individuals require training.

Moreover, there is always a hassle when it comes to transporting one’s baggage.

The tantamount of touts at the bus park is what comes to mind when taxi drivers at the airport can be seen bullying each other to get a passenger. The implementation of a proper system is absolutely needed to minimise

the hassle and to render the assistance that is required by returning passengers.

Guyana’s airport is not one to brag about, but that is inconsequential. All that matters is that professionalism and helpfulness is embraced by all officers who have to attend to passengers.

Hoping for an improvement, Jason Morris

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, January 15, 2014

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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 RHTY&SC is looking at The citizens are behind Sooba a recommendation to honour Franklyn Langhorn Dear Editor, For most people from my generation, the radio was our main source of entertainment while growing up. My memories of the voices of legends like Matthew Allen, Pat Cameron, Bibi Narine, Clem David, Rovin Deodat, Pancho Carew, Christopher Dean and Ron Robinson would live with me forever for the joy and relaxation they brought to me during studies, moments of trials and loneliness.

Then television came and with other attractions, along with a full work schedule at the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC)

I lost contact with radio for over a decade.

Early last year, a colleague who is a security guard, encouraged me to listen to radio at night. His voice was full of excitement as he spoke about a particular radio announcer and the wonderful programmes he hosted. To please my colleague, I listened. The end result is that I hardly watch television in the evenings anymore as my work companion is now my radio.

Franklyn Langhorn is without doubt one of Guyana’s unsung heroes. In the era of a shortage of pro-

fessional radio announcers, he is a role model and hero.

On behalf of the thousands of Guyanese here at home and others who listen to him on the worldwide web, I would like to offer a big thank you to Langhorn for a job well done.

The RHTY&SC is currently looking at a recommendation to honour Langhorn under our “Tribute to Heroes” 2014 programmme scheduled for April.

Sincerely, Hilbert Foster Secretary/Chief Executive Officer RHTY&SC

People from the Pomeroon are often hard-working Dear Editor, People from the Pomeroon district are often hard working individuals who most times earn their living by engaging in various farming activities.

Many of them are humble people who struggle on a daily basis to make a profit.

I encountered one food vendor who contentedly admitted that she buys her farm produce in bulk at quite affordable prices from a Pomeroon farmer and all that is required of her is to uplift her ration on a weekly basis from the Parika Stelling.

The Pomeroon Women’s Agro-Processors Association (P-WAPA) located at Charity,

Essequibo Coast has over the years successfully managed to promote their Pomeroon Delight brands and further stand out among many competitors in the local food processing sector.

The facility is an overdrive which includes processing, packaging and dispatching consignments of all sorts.

This is indeed an achievement for Guyana and it is important that we recognise and give due praise to the P-WAPA. In fact, a letter in your column lamented the preference for locally made plantain chips over imported foreign brands which were expensive and less tasty.

Additionally, not so long ago, farmers suffered a blow when they were unable to protect and preserve thousands of pumpkins which were subsequently damaged during the rainy season.

In my attempt to promote and support the use of local products, I strongly suggest and recommend that the agriculture sector put measures in place to aid in the facilitation of the transportation of goods from Pomeroon. This much needed gesture would be greatly accepted by farmers.

Sincerely, Wazir Mohamed

Dear Editor, I refer to a recently published letter from the People’s National Congress (PNC)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) protesting against the confirmation of the appointment of Town Clerk of Georgetown Carol Sooba.

Many citizens who yearn for our city to be run without corruption, without the disorderliness of street vending, without the massive garbage accumulation, and without the flooding causing business to contract, citizens including the old and sick to suffer terribly, house foundations to be weakened and people’s furniture and equipment to be damaged, citizens were utterly disgusted at the PNC/APNU’s unwarranted protest.

This PNC/APNU protest is unacceptable to the citizens of Georgetown: * The committee which interviewed the then acting town clerk for her appointment had little or no academic qualifications and were highly biased and should not have been permitted to perpetrate their injustice. The members of this interviewing committee had publicly and consistently attacked the acting town clerk to secretly take off the books. In no democratic country would such a biased, incompetent and prejudiced appointment committee be allowed to ex-

ist. * From its letter, the PNC/APNU seems to be completely ignorant of the bases of personnel appointments. In appointing an officer, the following factors, among others, are taken into account: (a) Paper qualifications (b) Experience (c) Character and integrity (d) Work ethic (e) Length of time an officer has been acting in position (f) Success in performance PNC/APNU must remind itself that paper qualifications are only one of the several factors in assessing applications for employment. The acting town clerk scored almost 100 per cent in all the several criteria or factors, except paper qualifications, and this caused her to lead all others by a wide margin.

Indeed, in the public service, if an officer acted in a higher position for six months, he automatically qualifies for the higher salary. And if he acts for one year, he automatically is confirmed in the appointment. Sooba had been acting for nearly two years. * In the less than two years the acting town clerk had been serving, she carried out a revolution in City Hall. She has been successfully battling the endemic theft and corruption,

though threatened with violence. She has succeeded in avoiding the rubbish contractors striking for lack of pay. City Hall workers are paid on time and do not have the constant threat of being laid off.

The massive garbage accumulation in the city is being addressed with encouraging results. Revenues are being saved and earned for the first time in 20 years with the promise of financial stability in the face of constant abuse, threats and undermining by the old time Mayor and City Council (M&CC) mafs. * Sooba is within the tradition of the great town clerks Elmo Mayers and E A Adams, and is the fittest and most able town clerk for the last 20 years. Her appointment is well and truly within the laws and Constitution of Guyana and has been most democratically done.

The citizens are behind Sooba since we want relief from the man-made sufferings imposed on us by the M&CC. We call upon PNC/ APNU to be positive and constructive and, instead of attacking Sooba, to help to bring relief to the city, to call upon the M&CC and the government to clear the city drains and kokers, and to get the garbage build-up under control.

Yours sincerely, PI Peters

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Foundation

How to teach division to children (continued from Tuesday)

Step D: The next step is to teach the long division process. The key here is that we are focusing on the process, not on learning division – although doing the practice will help reinforce the concepts of division.

Example: 215 ÷ 5.

We actually start with a three digit number because it shows the repetitive process. Get out the X5 division card. On a white board, write the problem. The steps to the division process are: * Look at the first number, 2, does 5 go into 2? No, 5 is too big. * Look at the first 2 numbers together: 21. Looking at the division card, find the number closest to 21 without going over. You see that the number is 20. * Write the number to the left above the one on top.

Write the number to the right below the 21. So, a four goes on top and the 20 goes below. * Now, subtract 21-20. You get one.

Using an arrow (make sure they use the arrow) bring down the 5 so it is next to the 1, making 15. * Repeat process: find a number as close to 15 without going over. We find 15 in the table. The 3 goes on top above the 5. The 15 goes below the 15, now subtract.

We get 0. Note, there are no more numbers to bring down and since we ended with 0, we have no remainder.

Example: 3426 ÷ 5 • 5 doesn’t go into 3.

• Find closest to 34 on chart without going over: 30 (5X6=30).

• Put six on top and 30 under the 34.

• Subtract, get 4.

• 5. With arrow, bring down the two,

to get 42.

• Find the closest to 42 without going over: 40 (5X8=40) • Put the eight on top and the 40 under the 42.

• Subtract, get two.

• With arrow, bring down the six, to get 26.

• Find the closest to 26 without going over: 25 (5X5 =25) • Put the five on top and the 25 under the 26.

• Subtract, get one.

• Since that was our last number, one is the remainder.

• The answer is 685, remainder one.

Keep practicing with different divisors until the student can do it independently with the division cards.

Step E: The student now knows the concept of division and the process of division. Now they need to practice division without the help of the division strips. First give them problems with one of the easy divisors such as two or five and a two digit dividend.

Even if it goes in evenly such as five into 25, make sure they write out the 25 underneath and show the remainder goes to zero. Give them remainders that go to zeros and ones that don’t so they get practice taking the problem to the end.

Step F: Once the student is successful with two digit dividends with divisors of two and five, have them work with three and four digit dividends but still use the divisors of two and five.

Step G: Expand with new divisors one at a time. Do two digit dividends first and then expand to two or four digit dividends before moving onto a new divisor. (Apex-math)

Seven easy ways to make school more fun and productive Here’s a place to start: Have your child or teen purchase some kind of folder or notebook. Depending upon the specifications of classes and the student’s preferences this could be one folder for each subject or one large all inclusive notebook.

There should be a tab or pocket designated for papers to be done and one for completed work to turn-in.

Every student should use an assignment sheet or planner that shows both daily assignments and a calendar for long term or on-going assignments.

The key: Just purchasing organising materials does not automatically ensure organisation or use.

It’s a good first step, but students need to be taught how to use their materials and strategies and need to be monitored daily, then weekly until using them effectively becomes a habit.

Organisation and study habits don’t just happen for many students. Teachers who incorporate instruction and practice with note taking, memorising, test study, and organisation-

al skills into their curriculum are making a great investment in their students’ success for that year and years to come.

Parents who systematically brainstorm, plan, and monitor organisational skills with their children give their children a gift that is well worth the time it takes.

Up with down time!

Children and adults today find themselves bombarded with noise, visual stimulus (TV, computers, electronic games), information, and commitments on a continual basis. Even weekends are often filled to the brim. This creates a constant stressor on our systems affecting our listening, attention, mood, ability to problem solve and follow through, and just functioning in general.

Those with hearty systems may handle this with just a bit of tiredness or irritability, but for others, this constant overload may result in shutdown, meltdown, inflexibility, or a really bad mood!

Providing quiet time for children allows them to

(continued from Tuesday)

rest and restore the body and mind. It allows for creativity, daydreaming, and getting to know themselves. Energy, motivation, productivity, and attention are outcomes of taking the time for down time.

Here are some suggestions from an article titled The Importance of Kids’ Downtime by Dr Laura Bradway for getting more down time in your child’s life: Make a stand. Cut back on at least one weekly commitment even if your child objects at first.

Dr Lauren Bradway is the author of How to Maximise Your Child’s Learning Ability. She consults online with parents regarding their child’s learning style at www. helpingchildrengrow.com.

It’s time to get our children off the fast track to burnout.

Even adult brains need down time to function optimally. Thomas Leonard, a long time success coach, encourages people to be incredibly selfish and take a little time each day for themselves.

Neuropsychiatrist, Dr Daniel Amen, and Dr Gary Small MD both suggest that adults take 10 minutes a day for meditation or mental relaxation exercises in order to support and balance brain function. (This is a minimum. In this case, more is better)!

Sleep! We tend to be a sleep deprived society and often fail to connect challenges with memory, clear thinking, problem solving, and concentration with lack of sleep.

Researchers and sleep specialists indicate that most school-aged children need 10-11 hours of sleep a night.

If your child is having behaviour and attention problems at school, not enough sleep may be the culprit. Sleep specialist and author of Sleep Thieves, Stanley Coren, suggests that parents have their children go to bed an hour or so earlier for a week and see if their school performance changes.

This is an easy way to see if sleep is part of the problem. (Learning Disability)

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wednesDay, January 15, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Outrage over alleged police assault on Laing Avenue man

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he Alliance For Change (AFC) has joined in the condemnation of the alleged police assault on Colwyn Anthony Harding, a 23-yearold of Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

A formal complaint has since been lodged at the Timehri Police Station, and an investigation is said to have been launched.

In a statement, the party said it notes that this event is now a regular occurrence in Guyana and is another in a series of assaults and injustices meted out to young Guyanese men, who are taken advantage of by what can only be described as some "inhumane" individuals within the Guyana Police Force, and who ironically are charged with the responsibility to “protect and serve” the citizens of this country”.

Brutality

The AFC claimed that the level of brutality inflicted by some rogue elements in the force is increasing and laid the blame squarely at the feet of Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

In the case of Harding, the AFC said the commissioner of police has failed to take action on an event which took place in November and today the victim lies critical in a bed at the Georgetown Public Hospital with faeces oozing out of his protruding intestines, after a police officers’ baton was shoved up his anus.

“Brutal it is, these are the facts that the AFC has ascertained took place and we feel it is important for all Guyanese to understand the depths to which we have sunk as a people,” said the party.

Harding, the AFC said, was arrested on November 15, 2013 at a house in Timehri North. A number of policemen and members of the community policing group visited the house in which he and his girlfriend were staying and kicked down the door. They claimed that he had stolen some articles from a

resident.

The group included an inspector, a corporal and a constable who searched the house and found nothing of evidential value. The constable then allegedly said that he was going to sodomise Harding and videotape it.

Harding apparently responded that he was not a girl and there was no way he was going to let that happen. The constable then took his baton and hit Harding repeatedly until he fell unconscious, the AFC reported.

Harding reportedly regained consciousness in the bathroom after a bucket of water was thrown on him and observed that the constable had his camera from his mobile phone on.

He allegedly placed a condom on the baton and violently inserted the baton into Harding’s rectum thereby causing injury to his intestines.

Harding started to scream and the constable allegedly inserted two panties into his mouth in order to suppress the screams. Harding lost consciousness again. After the beating became excessive, the inspector allegedly said “let us take this man to the station”.

Beatings According to the AFC, the constable continued to beat Harding after which he and his girlfriend were arrested along with a 13-year-old boy from the area.

They were taken to the police station at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

After a short while, the officer at the police station allegedly observed that Harding was looking poorly and called the constable at the Timehri Police station and told him to come and uplift his prisoner as he did not want him to die at the outpost.

The constable and a party of policemen then allegedly went and uplifted Harding and took him to Timehri Police Station.

At the Timehri station, the constable continued to allegedly beat Harding in the presence of

AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes

the inspector and the corporal, AFC said.

The 13-year-old who had been arrested told the officers that it was his brother who stole the articles. The police then left the station to arrest the brother. After the brother was arrested and the stolen articles recovered, Harding demanded to be released, but was again beaten unconscious.

Formal report

The AFC said on Sunday its chairman, Nigel Hughes took Sharon Harding, the man’s mother, to the Timehri Police Station to make a formal report of the matter. An extended report was taken by the constable on duty and recorded in the station diary.

“The AFC holds the commissioner of police and the minister of home affairs responsible for the rogue activities of ranks and feels they both should resign as is expected in any democracy.

"The failure of the policemen and women at Timehri station to act while a clearly visibly injured Harding lay motionless on the cell floor speaks volumes of the prevailing climate in the Guyana Police Force.

"We are well aware of their failure to institute effective procedures, checks and balances that could have prevented such an incident from occurring, and their failure to act or seek redress after becoming aware of the situation,” the AFC said.

Baby kidnapped from day care rescued

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he four-month-old baby girl who was abducted from a day care centre Monday afternoon was early Tuesday evening removed from a house at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, an online news agency reported.

The abduction was reported to the police some time after 15:30h. The baby, Miracle Angel Prince, was reportedly picked up from the day care by 19-year-old teacher Candace Adonis of Vigilance Play Field, East Coast Demerara who claimed that she was the child’s aunt.

Adonis took the baby to a relative’s house, claiming that Miracle was hers.

Investigators were summoned and the woman was arrested. She then escorted police to the location and the toddler was rescued.

Pandemonium

Miracle was on Monday kidnapped from the Care Heart Day Care at Middle Street, Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

Pandemonium broke loose minutes later when the mother of the child Samantha Prince went to pick her up and was told that the child was collected by an aunt.

Prince immediately pulled out her mobile phone and contacted her sister who claimed that she did not collect the child. Other relatives were contacted, but all claimed that they did not pick up the child.

Guyana Times understands that the entire community was appalled by the incident, and residents immediately launched a search

party in hopes of rescuing the child and apprehending her abductor.

This publication understands that Prince did not complete the form which would have specified the names of the persons who were authorised to uplift the child. Nevertheless, teachers at the day care were advised that the only persons authorised to collect the child were her grandmother, mother, the mother’s boyfriend, and the mother’s sister.

False story

The headteacher of the centre told reporters that the suspect walked into the centre and claimed that the aunt who normally collects the baby was pregnant and she had to go out, thus she was given the responsibility to collect the child.

Monday was the first day for the child at the day care.

Attempts to make contact with Adonis who is known to the headteacher of the day care proved futile.

The mother of the child told Guyana Times that she suspects that her daughter was kidnapped as a form of revenge and close relatives of hers are involved. She explained that a few months ago her sister-in-law’s children had broken into her home which created a rift between them.

The teacher, who is attached to the Ash of Education Trust, is a close friend of her sister-in-law whom she claimed picked up “fire rage”. In addition, Prince claimed that she once did baby-sitting duties for Adonis’ younger siblings

Abducted: Miracle Angel Prince

and they have never had any problem.

They have not seen each other for almost a year, but surprisingly, Adonis appeared at her home on Sunday last. Prince explained that the woman took her baby and three other children for a walk, but brought them back, and she never thought that the woman had wicked intentions.

She recalled that on Monday as she was heading to the day care, she saw her sister-in-law’s son riding up and down and after the incident, she realised that it was a well-planned and thoughtout kidnapping.

“No one except my close family know I was taking the baby to that day care for the first time, and I feel she had her bad intentions when she come to visit me,” she said.

The woman claimed that the police went to the home of the suspect, but was told that it was Adonis who had the baby and not those who were in the house at the time.

Visits were made to the home of the young lady but she was not at home and relatives were not sure about her whereabouts at the time.

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wednesday, January 15, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

10-year-old girl killed in minibus accident T

he police Wednesday launched an investigation into a fatal accident that occurred about 11:10h that left the village of Bloomfield in a state of shock and bewilderment as news of the tragic death of a 10-yearold quickly spread across the village.

Dead is Selena “Marissa” Anthony, a grade five student of Aucklyne Primary, of 383 Bloomfield Village, on the Corentyne Coast. According to reports received, the child was attempting to cross the public road when she was struck by a speeding minibus.

Anthony was reportedly riding on a bicycle at the time of her death after she went to purchase ground geera for an elderly woman in her village.

She was hit by minibus BRR 6403 reportedly driven by the owner, Ghirdill Heralall, 40, of Number 59 Village, Corentyne.

The vehicle was proceeding west on the southern side of the Bloomfield Public Road when it struck the child.

Anthony was reportedly tossed several feet in the air and landed on her head.

At the home of the deceased, her mother, Monica Anthony, recalled how she became aware of the demise of her daughter. "This morning, Marissa tell me she ah go shop and come back, next thing me hear big noise and

a lil’ boy come tell me that me daughter get in a accident,” she tearfully related.

The woman said before she reached the scene of the accident, her child had already been taken to the hospital.

Devastated sister

Dead: Selena Marissa” Anthony

The elder sister of the dead child, Christina, 19, who was the last family member who spoke to Selena and the only one who was close enough to take her to the hospital, is devastated at the loss of her sibling and is trying to cope with her demise.

Disconsolate relatives of the deceased after the fatal accident

Christina recounted that she was about to enter her grandmother’s yard, which is situated close by the roadside when she saw her little sister riding a bicycle and she called out to her.

“I asked her where she was going and she shouted that she was coming back just now, I turn to open the gate and before I could do so, I heard a loud noise and a piercing scream,” she said.

She said for her it was like the world became dark and it was only the cries of the onlookers that snapped her out of her dazed confusion.

"I rushed to the road and I saw her lying there like a dog that get hit down with blood everywhere and I started to scream for help,” she recalled.

She indicated that no one came forward to render any assistance. "I pick up my sister and held her in my arms begging God to save her. Nobody offered help; I stopped a car and took her to the hospital myself,” she wept, unable to say anymore.

An eyewitness who asked not to be named said from all indications, the minibus was speeding. Police have disclosed that the driver of the vehicle is alleging that the 10-year-old rode out of an access street directly into the path of the minibus.

He said he immediately

applied the brakes, but the vehicle subsequently skidded and collided with the child who was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where she succumbed while receiving treatment.

The driver is in police custody as investigations continue.

Anthony, who leaves to mourn her parents, three brothers and one sister, is the second road fatality this year – the first being on the main road on January 4 – at Number 53 Village where a driver of a minibus was reversing the vehicle and ran over just-disembarked passenger Andre Phillips, 43, of Number 77 Village.

He was taken to the Springlands Hospital where he succumbed while receiving treatment.

Eyew tness

Volte face

...on police and politicians his SWAT business is certainly sussing out a whole lot of people who like to play both sides against the middle. Take Granger, leader of the PNC, APNU and the opposition. Incidentally, don’t get carried away with all those “leaders” titles – it’s all one job.

We know the parties in coalition with the PNC within APNU are just a handful of geriatrics from the WPA and, according to even their friend Ramkarran, the AFC’s pretty much washed up.

Anyhow, we just heard Granger carrying on about his fears of “civilian” interference in the just launched SWAT team. He fretted that it’ll be difficult to protect such a unit from “unprofessional intervention by political personalities”.

Imagine that!! This is the same man who not only went along with Burnham’s deprofessionalisation of all the disciplined forces...but was personally in charge of putting it into effect! As a matter of policy, Burnham declared that the British standard of professionalism was not for Guyana.

Here, rather than being loyal to the state, the officers of the police, army and every other military outfit had to swear personal loyalty to Burnham. He threw out the officers the British had left to train the force and promoted sycophantic loyalists like Granger. Way above their pay grade.

But competence wasn’t the thing – loyalty was. Granger headed the special unit called SPIC that indoctrinated officers into loyalty to the “founder leader”.

Did anyone wonder why the PPP was so circumspect about making changes in the disciplined forces – even though they knew it was a hotbed of PNC intrigue? (The army voted separately back then and their votes were announced separately: the PNC snagged over 90 per cent!) Burnham explicitly directed that while all members had to be loyal to HIS government – when it came to any other government – all bets were off.

So imagine Granger’s chutzpah when he talks about fears of “civilian” interference in the ranks. But then is it possible that his apparent “volte face” is on account of a change of mind? Or (gasp!) even a change of heart?

Hardly likely...on account of his taking on fellow hardliners ex-police CoP Felix and ex-GDF commandant Collins in his staff. As young members of the YSM, the latter two fellas were inducted into the brotherhood by Granger.

Granger didn’t do a volte face on the disciplined forces-civilian question....he’s already two faced. Those forces must be loyal only to the PNC.

T

...on Ombudsman If you think this “Ombudsman” office we’ve just got staffed sounds like a Scandinavian import – well it is. Those fellas near the North Pole worked out some mechanisms early on to make their societies run a little more smoothly. We guess when you’re shivering for more than half the year...you want to use that time making love and not war.

So these are the folks that brought us the hot tub and sauna where we can all chat comfortably in nakedness and get steamed up in more ways than one. And they also gave us the Ombudsman. And what is this you ask?

Well, it's your own personal legal officer who can take up cudgels on your behalf if you believe you’ve been given the short shrift (or “no shrift”) by people in governmental office.

Now isn’t that nice? What’s even nicer is that Granger (of many hats) has welcomed the move by the government. When the PNC was in government and was ordered to have an Ombudsman...the party merely created the office and defanged it by never staffing it properly.

Another “volte face”, you say? Just look at the second face, we say. ...on fence How low can AFC’s Ramjattan sink? He quotes his client, BM Soat’s instructions – in Creolese – to suggest the man’s unlettered. After pocketing Soat’s money, of course. Does this two-bit shyster have even half the acumen of Soat? Business or otherwise?

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wednesDay, January 15, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Guyanese bats for countrymen at Delhi Indian diaspora conference G

uyanese Ashook Ramsaran, president of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), made a passionate presentation at a plenary session of the 12th Annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), an Indian diaspora conference held in New Delhi India from January 7-9.

Ramsaran made several suggestions to the organisers of the PBD, which, if implemented, will benefit Guyana and Indo-Guyanese and the Indo-Caribbean diaspora.

The concept of the Indian diaspora was partially the brainchild of Guyanese. It was discussed by prominent Indo-Guyanese American leaders, including Ravi Dev, Vishnu Bisram, and Dr Mahin Gosine, among others, at a planning session at City University of New York (CUNY) Doctoral Centre in New York in February 1987.

Concept

The discussions were initiated by Professor Brinsley Samaroo to organise the Fourth Conference of Indians in the Diaspora, focusing on Indo-Caribbean people.

The concept of an Indian diaspora conclave in India was suggested by Guyanese Dharamdatt Sukhai, Ramesh Kalicharran, and Bisram, with Dr Mukhund Modi and Atal Behari Vajpayee – before he became prime minister – at an Indian restaurant in New York. The needs and benefits of a regular conference among people of Indian origin in India were discussed.

After he became prime minister, Vajpayee appointed Ambassador LM Singhvi to head a committee to develop the concept of a dias-

He also urged Indian organisations to exercise more transparency and accountability in their affairs, as well as responsible leadership and democratic succession. He said there should be inter-ethnic collaboration where Indians are settled so as to avoid isolation of Indian communities in multiethnic societies.

pora conclave. The committee held several meetings with the diaspora including with Indo-Caribbean people in New York. Out of these meetings, a report was developed that was accepted by the Indian Cabinet to host the PBD that began in 2003.

The conference is held from January 7-9 to coincide with the return of Gandhi to India from South Africa.

The PBD is held to bring the global Indian community to interact and discuss matters pertaining to their general and specific interests and concerns that will aid their home countries as their communities.

Commemoration

Connected

In an interview, asked why he attends PBD, Ramsaran, who comes from Whim Village on the Corentyne, noted that, like others, he comes to the annual PBD because it makes people feel connected.

“I am able to meet so many influential people from around the world as well as from the Indian national and state governments. I can outline issues confronting the diaspora including those facing Guyanese and other Caribbean people. I can lobby for various forms of assistance on their behalf,” said Ramsaran. “We care about India and the global community. But we want meaningful dialogue on matters of our interest and our concern relating to India to be discussed and resolved as expeditiously as possible.”

Ramsaran said GOPIO feels that, based on complaints, that there is a need for improved consular services, including visas, passports and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards. Guyanese and most

Ela Gandhi and Ashook Ramsaran, two delegates at the New Delhi 12th Annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)

foreigners need a visa to travel to India. However, holders of a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card do not need a visa.

He said he is seeking the input of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MOEA) for GOPIO’s global outreach to assist in updating the 2001 Non-Resident Indian (NRI)/PIO population census that was developed by the high-level commission headed by the late Ambassador Dr Singhvi.

Ramsaran raised several issues at the conference at his plenary session that will benefit Guyana. One issue pertains to the implication of OIC and PIO cards and their expected merger into one for all people of Indian origin.

He urged that the organ-

GNBS invites submissions on draft labelling standards

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he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is giving persons an opportunity to offer their suggestions on the draft standard “Specification for Labelling of Commodities, Part 10: Labelling of equipment, items and parts containing refrigerants.”

This standard outlines the labelling requirements for all types of equipment, items and parts containing refrigerants including containers or receptacles used for transporting and storing gases that are considered refrigerants.

The draft standard stipulates that all equipment, items and parts containing refrigerants, should be prominently marked and legible. Labels must include the chemical name, the quantity, and the country of

origin, while labels for containers or receptacles used for transporting and storing refrigerants must have on display the chemical name, the colour code, the quantity, and the percentage of the blend, if blended.

This standard was designed to be read in conjunction with the latest version of the Guyana Standard, GYS 9-1 “Specification for labelling of commodities – Part 1: Principles.”

This draft standard was designed by the GNBS by the Technical Committee (Environment) and approved by the National Standards Council.

The Technical Committee (Environment), which was led by Colis Primo was comprised persons from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA); National Ozone Action Unit; Guyana

Revenue Authority (GRA); Dhanson Trading; Guyana Consumer’s Association; Unicomer Courts Guyana Limited; Engineering Construction Inc; and GNBS. The standard was originally developed in 2002, with the primary objective of easily identifying ozonedepleting substances and facilitating the process of monitoring the importation of ozone-depleting substances in Guyana.

“In 2014, the standard was revised to meet current needs as the importation and use of various refrigerants has evolved. This standard is intended to be mandatory,” GNBS stated.

Persons have until March 15 to offer their comments.

The standard can be downloaded at www.gnbsgy.org

isers of PBD consult with or seek input from GOPIO and or other leading international Indian organisations on relevant sessions impacting on the diaspora, as well as in the selection of speakers for future PBD events.

Ramsaran also suggested more Indian government responsiveness and engagement on the NRI/PIO community’s needs. Ramsaran pledged GOPIO’s support for MOIA on surveys of Indian migration, second journeys, and remigration.

Ramsaran said he is working on a proposal for national and international federations of Indian organisations. He also said he has proposed the idea of Indian Arrival Commemoration Monuments in each of the major diaspora countries that hosted indentured servants – the so-called girmityas in South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad, Jamaica, Suriname, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St Vincent, Martinique and Reunion, among others.

These monuments, he said, would add to the historic

achievement of the Kolkata Memorial (2011), and it will coincide with Indian Arrival Day in each country.

Congratulations

In Delhi, Ramsaran met Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of the Mahatma. Last October, Ela sent a message congratulating Guyanese organisers of the 18th Mahatma Gandhi Peace March in Richmond Hill, applauding their work to unite people. Ramsaran discussed with Gandhi on keys to peaceful existence in multiethnic societies like Guyana.

Ramsaran said Gandhi reiterated her message of cooperation and collaboration with peace and harmony that are vital to those in multi-ethnic societies, including the Caribbean countries of Guyana, Trinidad and others which share significant populations of African and Indian origin, similar to South Africa.

(Vishnu Bisram contributed to this article)

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wednesday, January 15, 2014

News

UN seeks draft for climate negotiation at Peru confab

U

nited Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has

called for a “solid draft for negotiation” that would pave the way for a new global agree-

ment on climate change in 2015.

“If we are to adopt a new

Religious persecution UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

global agreement on climate change in 2015, we need to arrive in Lima (Peru) in December of this year with a solid draft for negotiation. The climate summit I will host (in New York) in September aims to advance bold action on the ground and mobilise political will for an ambitious agreement,” he said.

The UN secretary general issued the call during a press conference at the UN headquarters last Friday. But the UN is not alone in this fight; Guyana has pledged to create a greater impact this year.

High-profile meeting

During a recent high-profile meeting, President Donald Ramotar said Guyana will be advocating for climate change to be placed top on the agenda at the next Caribbean Community (Caricom) heads of government meeting. He said the Caribbean region must take into serious consideration the impacts of extreme weather conditions liked to climate change.

His calls come months ahead of the staging of the UN secretary general’s Climate Change Summit earmarked for September on the margins of the UN General Assembly and the Conference of Parties meeting of the Climate Change Convention in Lima, Peru, in December.

Though Caricom has made its position clear via the Liliendaal Declaration of 2009, the Guyana government believes that there is room for improvement. President Ramotar made these comments during a meeting with senior Caricom Climate Change officials Dr Kenrick Lesie and Dr Neville Trotz.

Just recently, Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque praised Guyana for the bold step taken to combat climate change. “Former President Bharrat Jagdeo is a key regional player, and recently, President Ramotar has called for greater rallying of efforts to address the threat of climate change,” he said, noting that Caricom will continue to place major emphasis on climate change.

Guyana has been placed in the spotlight following the development and implementation of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus (REDD+) initiative by the former President.

S

atiricus was very upset. Here it was he’s always been told Guyana was a multi-religious society. Everybody could practice their religion just the way it was spelled out in their own books or customs or whatever.

So how the heck (he actually used a much stronger expression) could these religious bigots from the opposition complain you shouldn’t kill goats at the National Sports Hall?

Satiricus wanted to know where else people prayed more fervently than at sporting events? Especially if bets had been placed on one team or the other.

And people will pray for their team to win in whichever way their religion prescribed. Some people go down on their knees. Some touch the ground with their heads. Some sit cross legged. Some raise their hands to the sky while standing. And some kill goats.

Others may kill fowl cocks or other animals... but it seemed that the bigots were only complaining about goats.

Who knows... maybe goat bite them, wondered Satiricus.

But this was a clear case of religious persecution and Satiricus hoped the human rights group was going to write one of those long-winded press releases they were famous for.

Then again, Satiricus knew that the husband and wife team that made up the human rights group was soooo busy. They’d long moved on to politics.

What made it worse, fretted Satiricus, was that the particular religious practice of goat sacrifice at sporting events was very much in line with the latest sustainable development goals of the country. Goats were notoriously fast breeders. Sacrificing them at sporting events kept down their numbers and saved us from being overrun by the pesky critters.

And best of all, the meat was curried and consumed immediately after the sporting event... when the real games began. How could you celebrate your teams victory or mourn their loss without goat curry cutters? Ahhh... the philistines!

Satiricus understood that this attack on religious freedom was going to be taken to the Parliament. He hoped the government was going to defend the people’s right to sacrifice goats. If the opposition wanted to make goats of themselves, then they ought to be skewered good and proper.

Satiricus vowed to show up in front of Parliament with the fellas from the back street bar, to protest for religious freedom.

He was going to walk with his goat to sacrifice to make his point. But he worried about the alligators the Speaker claimed were roaming outside Public Buildings.

Alligators also liked goat meat. How was Satiricus going to provide cutters for the boys after the protest?

ILO to launch global unemployment survey next week

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he International Labour Organisation (ILO) will next Wednesday launch its annual report “Global Employment Trends 2014”.

The study, according to an ILO release, offers the latest global and regional information and projections on several indicators of the labour market, including employment, unemployment, working poverty and vulnerable employment.

It also presents a number of policy considerations in light of the new challenges facing policymakers in the coming year. The Global Employment Trends

The ILO will next Wednesday launch its annual report Global Employment Trends 2014

report is an annual publication of the ILO Research Department.

11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, January 15, 2014

Tourism Ministry Slow growth predicted for ailing Barbados economy looking to woo more T tourists this year Rupununi Safari.

Guyana’s tourism sector is expected to be boosted significantly with the expansion of the CJIA and the Marriott Hotel. They both have the potential to stimulate Guyana’s economy, simultaneously creating a myriad of job opportunities and employment, which in turn will generate revenue.

Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali

T

he Tourism Ministry is projecting another record-breaking year in terms of tourist arrivals to Destination Guyana, projecting a 15 per cent increase.

In 2013, an increase of 11.7 per cent was recorded. The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) will continue to record numbers from all major ports of entry including Moleson Creek, Lethem, and the Ogle and Cheddi Jagan International airports.

According to a release, the ministry’s familiarisation trips are expected to attract more visitors. The “Fam” trip is proactive, cost effective and promotes the country, the ministry said.

Destination

Guyana is rapidly becoming a popular film and documentary destination. Numerous international broadcasting companies have shown interest in filming in the country. In 2013, the Discovery Channel filmed an entire season of the popular show “Gold Rush” and this year; there are plans for Alcon Films (producers of Twilight movies) to film part of a movie in Guyana.

The ministry, along with the GTA will strengthen collaboration with the private sector to host signature events throughout the year. These include the highly successful Fort Island Dinner, Masharama, Guyana Trade and Tourism Expo in New York and Canada, Leguan Night, and the South

Opportune time An expanded airport of the scale and magnitude intended is coming at an opportune time where nationals of other countries will be given the opportunity of frequenting Guyana. It is a relevant investment, and will attract major carriers which will ensure that the benefits will be significant to improving commerce in the country.

Several major carriers have already expressed their intention to begin plying the Georgetown route and others are expected to increase their flights.

The tourism sector’s efforts towards building a viable industry is one that is served by A-class services, and this was advanced in 2013 with the continuing construction of the Marriott, Guyana’s first five-star hotel. Work progressed rapidly, with the multi-storey edifice’s main building structure, and the east podium being completed, while work has moved apace on the other sections.

The hotel is scheduled to be completed in August this year.

The GTA will continue to make available the Guyana tourism products information online through various means such as its websites, the social media and other available technologies. The Information Communication Technology (ICT) unit at the GTA will continue to focus on training, regulations, institutional strengthening, community development programmes, niche product development, and the continued development of standards, criteria or best practices for Guyana’s tourism products and services.

Guyana has been dubbed “South America’s best kept secret” by the renowned National Geographic Traveller Magazine. The publication listed Guyana as one of the 21 must see places in 2014.

he Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) Tuesday predicted that the island’s economic growth is expected to accelerate slowly from less than one per cent in 2014 to about 1.6 in 2015, increasing up to three per cent thereafter.

In an analysis of Barbados’ current economic performance, the CBB said that its forecast is based principally on expectations for the tourism sector and on major investment projects planned by the private sector and the government. It said the forecast also took into account the strategies for strengthening the competitiveness of the foreign exchange sectors, and the potential growth of alternative energy production.

“Growth is expected to accelerate slowly from less than one per cent in 2014 to about 1.6 per cent in 2015 and between two per cent and three per cent thereafter,” the CBB said, noting that for investment outlook, a conservative estimate of known private sector investments that may be expected to materialise over the next three years could total Bds$2.2 billion (One Bds =US$0.50 cents) “In addition public sector investments and guarantees for infrastructure and participation in foreign exchange related projects are likely to be about Bds$740 million over that period,” it added.

The Freundel Stuart government is facing an uphill task in reviving the local economy and has already outlined plans to reduce the public service by 3000 jobs. In addition, the government said it would also institute a “strict programme of attrition” across the central public service, filling posts only where it is absolutely unavoidable, over the next five years, ending 2018-2019.

Debt exposures

The CBB said that the government has managed its debt exposures so as to limit the proportion of foreign currency earnings that is devoted to foreign debt service. It said the ratio of foreign debt service to foreign currency earnings is seven per cent and it is projected to re-

together” in reviving the economy.

“Your government is committed to succeeding and turning around this economy, we will not be distracted.

Let us band together as a strong and resilient people, working together to make our country better, taking the tough decisions that we have to but implementing the decisions that we know will bring years of lasting growth and development.”

Strict programme of attrition

Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Chris Sinckler

main below 10 per cent for the next five years and beyond. The CBB said the projected external debt service is also inclusive of the Bds$300 million Credit Suisse loan disbursed in December 2013. “The net indebtedness of public sector institutions to private firms and individuals at home and abroad is equivalent to 67 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) ,” it said, adding that the interest payments on government debt accounted for 24 per cent of government revenue in fiscal year 2012/13. The CBB said that compared with previous economic downturns, the Barbados economy has performed appreciably better during the current economic recession.

Last week government urged citizens to “band together” as it seeks to implement a raft of policies, including job cuts and a reduction in expenditure in a bid to revive an ailing economy. Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Chris Sinckler told a news conference that the adjustment process was never ever going to be easy and the Freundel Stuart government does not pretend that it was going to be a “painless process”.

But he promised Barbadians that “if we believe, we can turn the situation around – we will”, urging them to “work harder, smarter and

Late last month, Sinckler had also announced the plan by the government to cut public service jobs in a bid to save Bds$143 million.

He said government would also institute a “strict programme of attrition” across the central public service.

“This attrition is expected to reduce central government employment levels from approximately 16,970 to 14,612 jobs – a projected loss of 2358 posts; and savings of BdsS$121 million. Over the current 19-month adjustment period, public sector employment will be reduced by an additional 501 jobs with a projected savings of Bds$26 million,” said Sinckler.

The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), which represents the majority of the 28,000 public servants, has accused the government of already retrenching workers through technical manoeuvres.

The government said it intends to trim the service by 3000 jobs starting from today. Sinckler told reporters that the government had already undertaken a number of measures to increase revenue “and we are of the view that more taxation will not be part of the solution at this point in time”.

“The analysis that we have undertaken makes it clear that government expenditure needs to be reduced by a further Bds$143 million at the minimum over the full financial year and meeting this target would mean an inevitable, unfortunate though it may be, an inescapable loss of jobs in the public sector.”

12 News

wednesday, january 15, 2014 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Regina IMC Rice farmers reeling Anna to go after vendors from Airy Hall flood for rentals

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Farmers looking at their lost crops

One of the many rice fields that were affected by the flooding

cores of Airy Hall rice farmers are calling on the government to assist them to replant their fields that were damaged due to flooding caused by a breach in the conservancy dam.

The request was made

by Essequibo Coast farmers after their fields were inundated with knee high water from the massive breach in the conservancy in their village. The breach had resulted in approximately 150 acres of rice cultivation being destroyed due to the flooding.

Farmers are clueless as to their next move as they are not financially equipped to prepare the land for the next crop. Rice farming is the main economic activity at Airy Hall.

said his entire plot was destroyed. His field is situated close to where the breach occurred.

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Guyana Times visited farmers and had a firsthand view of their plight. One farmer, who took this newspaper on a tour of his farm, said he is frustrated about the situation.

Imam Ally Bacchus, who cultivates a 15-acre plot, said his crop was almost 30 days when the water came and destroyed it. Bacchus said his young plants were striving well before the breach in the conservancy flooded his field.

The farmer said he concentrates solely on farming as a business and has been doing it for approximately 20 years. Bacchus said he is worried if the crop will be delayed due to the excessive flooding. Another farmer, Latchman Persaud, who cultivates two acres of rice,

Great losses

Meanwhile, Guyana Rice Development Board General Manager Jagnarine Singh, giving an update on the situation, said most farmers, especially those who had plots close to the conservancy, suffered great losses. Singh visited the area and met with farmers. He said officers are on the ground monitoring the situation and giving technical advice. Singh disclosed that he will prepare a report which will be forwarded to the Agriculture Ministry and an assessment will be made.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud, who

frequents the area, called for cooperation of the farmers. Persaud said farmers should report any tampering of dams or drainage and irrigation structures to his office. The chairman has received reports that farmers are tampering with the dam, noting that this is the main reason for the erosion and massive “breakaway” in the conservancy.

The region is investigating these allegations. A contractor was hired to seal the breach in the conservancy, and the seal has since held up. Persaud disclosed that the situation is back to normal but the region continues to monitor the area to avoid any recurrence.

Persaud also called on farmers to avoid grazing cows on the dam.

Heavy rains batter Pomeroon farms

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ersistent heavy rainfall between Monday night and Tuesday battered the Essequibo Coast, resulting in several acres of farmlands in the Upper and Lower Pomeroon River being inundated.

Farmers living in the Lower Pomeroon areas of Try Best, Friendship, Hope Canal, Unity, Dredge Creek, Strong Hope, Kabakaburi and Siriki are adversely affected by the continuous rainfall.

A farmer surveys his water-logged crops

Farmers at Strong Hope are hoping that the water in their community recedes quickly

One Try Best watermelon farmer said he lost his entire crop due to the flooding.

He was expecting to harvest his crop within a week; however, all the melons are water soaked and will eventually rot.

Another farmer, Narada Persaud from Hope Canal, Lower Pomeroon, said his five acres of pumpkins he was expecting to reap within a week

has been destroyed.

He estimated his losses in the thousands. Another farmer, Parsram Persaud, known as “Indal”, said his farm of some 500 avocado plants and several acres of cassava have been destroyed. The farmer was also affected a few weeks ago when a breach in the conservancy dam occurred.

Farmers are of the view that the flooding is compounded by the water being

topped the lake, “ran over” the conservancy dam and into the Pomeroon River.

Farmers at Grant and Try Best are calling for the Cozier sluice channel to be desilted in an effort to help discharge more water from the Pomeroon River into the Atlantic Ocean.

They are also calling for the pump at Cozier to be operable so as to assist in drainage. A high-level government team headed by Region Two Chairman Parmanand

The situation in Try Best: A yard under water

released from the Tapakuma Lake through the Dawa Pump Station, into the Pomeroon River.

However, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud said the pump station was never opened to release water into the Pomeroon River.

He was supported by Region Two Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo, who explained that the water over-

Persaud recently visited the Lower Pomeroon River and spoke to several flood affected farmers.

The team included Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh, Regional Agriculture Officer Khemraj Khanhai, Engineer Jefaun Permansingh and Regional Democratic Council (RDC) councillor Vilma Da Silva.

usiness definitely will not be so bright for some vendors and stallholders at the Anna Regina Market, as the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Anna Regina Town Council has taken the decision to stop all credits to them at the Anna Regina and Bushlot markets.

This decision by the council took immediate effect as of January 1. The decision was made by the council after it found that many vendors owed hefty sums and were not paying.

The matter was raised at the first statutory meeting of the IMC on Monday.

Councillor Rajendra Prabhulall told the meeting that some $7 million was owed by some vendors and stallholders as rentals.

Prabhulall called on the IMC to apply the relevant

market by-laws to recover outstanding sums.

He said the IMC, when it came into existence, inherited the huge debt where millions of dollars were owed for rental of stalls, tables and spots. He said efforts made by the council to recoup the money have been unsuccessful, and in some cases, the method of collection was slow.

The councillor called on the IMC to take a very firm stance and fix a threeweek period for the collection of the entire $7 million outstanding.

Meanwhile, it was also noted that taxpayers in Anna Regina owe the IMC some $18 million in 2013.

Prabhulall said the council is experiencing problems and called for immediate actions to be taken to recoup the revenues.

ECLAC’s publication gives social, economic overview of Latin America, Caribbean

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he Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) released on Tuesday the Statistical Yearbook for Latin America and the Caribbean 2013, which is available on the Internet and updates the indicators referring to social, economic and environmental development in the region’s countries.

This annual publication, one of the most important of this regional United Nations organisation, is an important reference for people who need comparable statistical data between countries and over time. Most of the information comes directly from national statistics offices, central banks, international organisations and other official institutions, and for that reason ECLAC invites users to pay attention to the sources and technical notes included in this document.

Like previous editions, the yearbook is organised in four chapters. The first one addresses demographic and social matters, which include population, employment, gender, education and health indicators. For example, the document underscores that poverty continues affecting mainly the rural sector and extreme poverty is four times bigger in rural areas than in urban ones.

The second chapter offers economic statistics, providing data on price indexes, international trade, balance of payments and national accounts. In this part, the report shows, for example, that annual growth of

the regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2013 is estimated at 2.6 per cent, as was announced in the preliminary overview of the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean 2013, unveiled in December.

Next, the document presents information related to the environment and natural resources, organised in subjects such as biota, water, forests, energy, and environmental management. In this section, for instance, the document highlighted that by the end of 2012, a total of 9271 companies had the International Organisation for Standard (ISO) 14001 certification, which is requested voluntarily but compels them to create an environmental management plan. Of those, 1340 obtained it that same year, indicating a 17 per cent increase from the previous period.

Finally, the yearbook dedicates a chapter to addressing the methodological aspects of sources of the data, their definition and scope. The complete document in PDF format and the Excel tables of the Statistical Yearbook for Latin America and the Caribbean 2013 are available on ECLAC’s website.

More statistical information about Latin America and the Caribbean can be found on the website of CEPALSTAT, which includes an assortment of thematic databases that are updated periodically (covering social, national accounts, environmental, gender, productive activities and foreign trade matters, among others).

news

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tuesday, january 15, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Society still facing ills Muhammad confronted – Ramotar P

An elderly woman taking a lad to mosque

This disabled man braves the weather to attend mosque

resident Donald Ramotar told Muslims on Tuesday that many of the ills that Prophet Muhammad confronted are still plaguing society today.

Ramotar delivered addresses to mark the occasion of Youman Nabi at the Queenstown Masjid and the Peters' Hall Masjid subsequently. “What he was fighting for was to end poverty, to give people dignity. He was fighting for justice and freedom. Today we look around the world, we see some of those same things existing, and therefore, we need to continue to work to eradicate them in our society,” he said.

The president urged the gathering at both masjids to take inspiration from the example set by the holy prophet. He cited conflicts such as that in Sudan, noting, “what the holy prophet was trying to do was show the oneness of humanity – despite the diversity of our culture and our ethnic backgrounds – but if you look around the place, you will see many of these wars and struggles that are taking place are covered by differences that are created by people.”

He added, “In our country, we still have a lot to do, still have to fight to get our people out of poverty and the best way to do that is to try to help them to help themselves… we recognise that we have to do two things that are important; we have to create wealth in our country to satisfy the needs of our people, and we have to able to distribute that wealth so that everyone benefits,” he said.

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali is joined by fellow devotees, in front of the newly-constructed Queenstown Masjid on Church Street

Social services

President Donald Ramotar is flanked by Minister Ali and Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) President Fazil Feroze as he enters the Queenstown Masjid

The president addresses worshippers at the Queenstown Masjid

He noted that government has moved thus far in this direction, pointing out that Guyana is the only Caribbean nation where 30 per cent of the national budget goes to the social sector. “In that way, we believe we can distribute the wealth of society to the broadest amount of people we can find. Most of the 30 per cent goes to education, because we see education as the hook that can help people come out of poverty,” he said.

The president also pointed out that a significant amount goes towards improving health and providing affordable housing. “Health is important for persons to really enjoy life and all that life has to offer. We must be healthy persons, and that is why we have been working very hard to expand health facilities and want to build a new specialty hospital so that those who cannot afford it can gain many services right here that only the rich now can go abroad and get,” he said.

The head of state explained that government, however, has to create more wealth in order to satisfy all the demands of its people. He said this was one of the reasons government is seeking to invest in a hydropower station in Guyana and urged the worshippers to work hand-in-hand with government in order to achieve this goal of having more wealth.

Women proceed into the masjid

A section of the audience at the Queenstown Masjid

Message of peace

The Guyanese leader also noted that it is fitting that the prophet’s birthday be celebrated, since he brought forward one of the foremost religions into the world today. The head of state was joined by Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali at the Youman Nabi celebration at the Queenstown Masjid, and later by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and government Member of Parliament Manzoor Nadir at the Peters’ Hall Masjid.

The call to prayer

The president, Minister Ali and the CIOG president in a discussion before the religious ceremony began

A child reads from the Quran

Prime Minister Hinds, who made remarks, noted that the Prophet Muhammad’s message of peace and brotherhood is a message that is very relevant to Guyana. “We had significant improvement in our country over the last three decades, but I think that even with what we have today, which is not very much compared with other places, if we could be like the holy prophet demonstrated, we can be concerned, sympathetic and compassionate. If we can be respectful of all the creations of God, I think we can make a much better life, a much more enjoyable life for all here in Guyana.”

He also challenged the worshippers to improve their situation. “It is a challenge put here by who created us, and the best way that we can show our appreciation for his creation is to improve on our circumstances,” he said. Youman Nabi is the observance of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, who is believed by Muslims to be a messenger and prophet of God. Muhammad is considered by Muslims as the last prophet sent

by God for mankind and is the founder of Islam.

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wednesday, January 15, 2014

Regional

Barbados government extends deadline for public service layoffs

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Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart

he Barbados government has extended by 18 days, the deadline for laying off public servants following talks with labour unions on Monday.

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said the delay would allow the Civil Service Ministry to generate a list of names for those who would be retrenched as his administration seeks to turn around an ailing economy.

He said the unions – the Barbados Workers Union (BWU) and the National Union of Public Workers

(NUPW) – would be involved in the process.

“We had set the 15th of January for the taking of the first bit of action. That date must now be vacated because of the challenges posed to the Ministry of the Civil Service in even generating the list to be affected,” Stuart said.

“But we are certain now that by the end of this month, we should be able to deal with those issues definitively and finally and of course between now and the end of the month the union will have an opportunity to further report on

those issues,” he added.

Last month, the government announced the plan to cut public service jobs in a bid to save Bds$143 million It said it would also institute a “strict programme of attrition” across the central public service, filling posts only where it is absolutely unavoidable, over the next five years, ending 2018-2019.

“This attrition is expected to reduce central government employment levels from approximately 16,970 to 14,612 jobs – a projected loss of 2358 posts; and savings of Bds$121 million.

Over the current 19-month adjustment period, public sector employment will be reduced by an additional 501 jobs with a projected savings of Bds$26 million,” said Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Chris Sinckler, who was also present at Monday’s meeting.

The government said it intends to trim the service by 3000 jobs and had hoped to begin laying off workers by today. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Puerto Rico voted top Caribbean island

Puerto Rico has been selected as the number one Caribbean Island in the USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award Contest

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uerto Rico has been selected as the number one Caribbean Island in the USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award Contest. Puerto Rico tops the list of destinations, which also included Curacao, Dominica and Barbados.

“We are delighted to receive this honour and invite travellers to explore and experience all that Puerto Rico offers for themselves,” said Ingrid Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. “We look forward to continuing to be a premier Caribbean destination for all travellers no matter what budget – whether they are simply looking for

Mexico starts disarming vigilantes

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exican security forces sent to quell unrest in the western state of Michoacan have started disarming local vigilante groups, state officials say.

The “self-defence groups” took control of a number of towns in an effort to drive out members of a drug cartel.

The army moved into Nueva Italia, where vigilantes and members of the Knights Templar drug gang engaged in a fire fight on Sunday.

Mexico’s interior minister has urged the vigilantes to lay down their arms.

The minister, Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, said they should either join the police force or disarm.

Soldiers and marines have also moved into the towns of Nueva Italia, Paracuaro and Antunez.

Leaders of the “self-defence groups” have given contradictory statements as

a place to relax and unwind, to the more adventurous who want to trek through rainforests and scuba in coral reefs.”

Just one visit to Puerto Rico reveals why it was the top selection in the 10 best contest. The island delivers a unique mix of Spanish, Taino Indian, and African influences, with a tropical atmosphere of beaches, rainforests and oceans.

Whether you are exploring the cultural beauty of Old San Juan, hiking in the stunning El Yunque National Forest – the only rainforest in the U.S. Forest Service, snorkeling in the submarine kingdom of coral reefs, or shopping in the designer

to whether they would disarm.

The leader of the General Council of the Community and Self-Defence Groups of Michoacan, Jose Manuel Mireles said in a video message from Mexico City –

where he is being treated for injuries sustained in a helicopter crash – that he would “heed the call from the interior minister”.

But in a subsequent video published on YouTube, Mireles denied he had or-

dered his group to disarm, saying he could not give such orders without calling a meeting of the group’s general council.

Other vigilante leaders were adamant they would not lay down arms. (Excerpt from BBC News)

from Caribbean News Now)

26 murders in TT in 13 days I

Federal police forces have been deployed to Michoacan to restore order

boutiques of Condado, Puerto Rico has something for everyone. And with no passport required for U.S. citizens and direct flights available from more than 15 major continental U.S. airports, getting to Puerto Rico is now easier than ever.

Nominees for the 10 Best Readers’ Choice Travel Award Contest are chosen by a panel of experts which include a combination of editors from USA TODAY, editors from 10 Best.com, expert contributors and sources for both these media and other Gannett publications. All votes are collected through the 10 Best.com website. (Excerpt

n just 13 days, the murder toll is now 26 in Trinadad and Tobago.

The most recent killings are that of Abigail Persad and Sherwin Wint. According to police reports, Wint, 25, was with his girlfriend Tamika Marcano, 20, at Boissiere Lane, Belmont, when a man fired at them.

Wint, of Samuel Lane, Belmont, was shot about the body while Marcano was shot in the arm. A third person, 16-year-old Roslyn Lewis was shot in the leg. At the time of the shooting, she was crossing the road. Police said the shooting took place around 20:30h Sunday.

Speaking with relatives outside the Forensic Science Centre, St James, on Monday, Wint’s sister Stacey Kelly said her brother was the only boy of her parents. She said her broth-

er was not affiliated in any way or in any type of illegal activity and had recently been employed at Johnny Q in Belmont.

Kelly said her brother was a nice person who was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Fifteen minutes after Wint’s killing, police said a man dressed in black with a black umbrella stood outside the home of Persad, 34, and opened fire as she was about to enter her home. Police reports are that around 20:45h, Persad was in the front passenger seat outside her Manhattan Drive, Maturita, Arima, home when she was shot. A male companion, who was in the car at the time of the shooting, ran leaving Persad and her six-year-old daughter in the vehicle. The child was not hurt. (Trinadad Guardian)

Jamaica: Damning evidence in Kartel trial

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amning texts painting a picture of events leading up to the disappearance of Clive “Lizard” Williams on August 16, 2011 were read in court on Monday during the murder trial of entertainer Vybz Kartel and his four co-accused.

In a flurry of texts, believed to have been exchanged between Williams and his girlfriend Onieka

Jackson, Williams said Vybz Kartel was going to kill him and repeatedly begged her to call the police and a person he referred to as Nadine. “U have to save me,” he said in one message.

Williams said he was running scared and that he was in a car heading to Havendale and begged desperately for Jackson to “hurry”.

Kartel and his co-accused

sat in the prisoners’ dock straight-faced as the texts were displayed and read

by Corporal Sean Brown of the Organised Crime Investigation Division to an attentive jury in the Home Circuit Court.

Brown attributed the name Kartel to one of the numbers in his display. To another, he attributed the name Shawn for accused Shawn “Shawn Storm”

Campbell. Justice Lennox Campbell had ruled earlier that any number that sent texts to Campbell without the sender being identified must not be shown to jurors.

Before the display was entered into evidence and the texts read, defence attorneys objected, saying that the information could not be verified because the disc JS1 is missing. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

Vybz Kartel (second right) and co-accused Shawn “Shawn Storm” Campbell entering the Supreme Court for their trial last year

15 Around the world

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, January 15, 2014

Violence erupts as Egypt Hollande ducks votes on country’s future first lady question

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iolence marked the beginning of a twoday referendum as Egyptians went to the polls Tuesday for the second time in 13 months to reshape their country’s future.

Six people died in clashes, according to a CNN count.

One person was killed, two were injured and 10 were arrested in clashes Tuesday afternoon outside a polling station in Nahya, Giza, the semi-official AlAhram news agency said, citing the Interior Ministry.

The dead protester had been demonstrating in favour of Mohamed Morsi, the former Muslim Brotherhood leader who became the nation’s first democratically elected president in June 2012 but was ousted from the job a year later in a mil-

A woman holds a child while voting Tuesday on Egypt’s constitutional referendum in Hawamdaya

itary coup.

Four other people were killed and seven wounded in Upper Egypt’s Sohag governate in a pro-Muslim Brotherhood march, the agency said, citing the

Interior Ministry.

A two-hour drive south of Cairo, in the city of Beni Suef, a 25-year-old member of the Muslim Brotherhood was fatally shot in a clash with security forces, state-

run media reported. The MENA and EgyNews agencies said the man was trying to storm a polling station.

Earlier Tuesday, the Muslim Brotherhood said peaceful protesters in Beni Suef had been chanting “against the referendum of blood”.

The violence began even before polls opened at 09:00h, when a bomb exploded near a Cairo courthouse. No one was hurt, security officials said.

Despite the explosion, Egyptians waited in long lines to cast their ballots.

“This will not scare us,” said Mohamed Moharram, a teacher who lives near the court. “In half an hour, I will go to my poll station and cast my ballot.” (Excerpt from

AL Jazeera)

F

rench President Francois Hollande has said he is experiencing a “difficult moment” in his private life, following claims of an affair with an actress.

But he refused to answer questions over the report, saying “private matters should be dealt with privately”.

Hollande was speaking at his first news conference since the allegations in the magazine Closer last week.

He said he would clarify whether Valerie Trierweiler was still first lady before a February trip to the U.S. He plans to travel to Washington on February 11.

The news conference was a long-planned event aimed at unveiling policies to help France’s struggling economy.

In a speech lasting more than half an hour, he addressed the main areas where business wants to see reform.

Facing hundreds of journalists at the presidential palace, Hollande said it was

French President Francois Hollande

“neither the time nor the place” to answer questions about his personal life.

He said he would not be drawn on the reports of the affairs with actress Julie Gayet “out of respect for those involved”.

Trierweiler has been in hospital since Friday suffering from “shock”, her aides say.

Asked about the state of his partner’s health, Hollande said she was resting and that he had no further comment to make on the subject. (Excerpt from BBC News)

U.S. angry at China jails doctor for selling babies Israel’s Kerry A comment U.S. journalist T booted out of Russia he U.S. has condemned as “offensive” reported comments

by Israel’s defence minister about Secretary of State John Kerry’s Middle East peace proposals.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the alleged comments

by Moshe Yaalon were “inappropriate” given America’s support to Israel’s security.

It was a rare rebuke to America’s ally.

Yaalon was quoted by Israel’s Yediot Ahronot newspaper as saying Kerry was acting out of “misplaced obsession and messianic fervour”.

He said a security plan Kerry had presented to Israel was “not worth the paper it was written on”.

“John Kerry – who has come to us determined and is acting out of an incomprehensible obsession and messianic fervour – cannot teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians,” he is quoted as saying.

Yaalon made his comments in private conversations in Israel and the U.S., the Israeli newspaper said.

His remarks also drew criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Excerpt from BBC News)

doctor has been sentenced to death for selling babies born at a hospital in northwest China’s Shaanxi province.

Zhang Shuxia, a former obstetrician with Fuping County Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, was sentenced on Tuesday for selling seven babies, one of whom later died, to human traffickers.

The penalty is normally commuted to life imprisonment.

Zhang obtained most of the newborns by telling their parents that they were sick or had died, before selling them to traffickers for prices reaching 47,000 yuan (US$7800), the court said.

The court found that Zhang had persuaded a mother to give up a pair of

newborn female twins last year by saying that one had died of disease, while the other had injured arms and legs.

Another baby she sold was later found dead in a ditch, dumped by a trafficker, the court said.

Zhang had received 20,000 yuan (US$3310) each for several female babies, it added, while one male baby fetched 47,000 yuan (US$7800) in 2011.

Her actions came to light on July 20, 2013, when a mother surnamed Dong suspected her baby had been abducted and reported the incident to police.

The baby was found in good condition in neighbouring Henan Province on August 5, 2013 and Zhang was detained in August.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UK probes role in India’s Golden Temple raid

B

ritain has said it would investigate its involvement in India’s 1984 Amritsar Golden Temple assault after declassified documents showed that British elite forces advised the Indians on how to carry out the deadly attack.

The storming of the Golden Temple – considered Sikhism’s holiest shrine – in Amritsar was one of the most violent episodes in the Indian government’s battle against Sikh separatists.

Papers recently made public and posted to the Stop Deportations blog detailed a secret advisory mission to India by an unnamed officer from the Special Air Service, one of Britain’s most elite military units.

The storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar has been one of the most violent episodes in the past several decades

It is not clear whether the Indians followed the officer’s plan, but the allegation that Britain played a role in the raid is explosive because the attack was spectacularly bloody, lead-

ing to hundreds of deaths and a breakdown in communal relations across India.

In a statement, the government acknowledged that the raid, Operation Blue Star, “led to a tragic loss

of life and we understand the very legitimate concerns that these papers will raise”.

It said Prime Minister David Cameron had been caught unaware by the paper’s content and had ordered an urgent investigation into the matter.

“Any requests today for advice from foreign governments are always evaluated carefully with full ministerial oversight and appropriate legal advice,” the statement added.

A member of the Sikh religious organisation, Shiromani Gurdwara Pranbandhak Committee, Kiranjot Kaur, said she was staggered by the revelation and asked for a thorough probe. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

R

The headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague

ussia has expelled an American journalist and author critical of President Vladimir Putin in one of the first such cases since the Cold War. David Satter, a former Moscow correspondent for the Financial Times and author of three books on Russia and the former Soviet Union, had been working as an adviser to the U.S. broadcasters Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty since September.

“As some of you may know, I’ve been expelled from Russia,” he wrote on his Twitter page Monday.

Satter told CNN he had gone to the Ukrainian capital Kiev to exchange his existing visa for a correspondent’s visa when he was told

his application had been rejected, on the grounds that his presence in Russia was “undesirable”. He is now in London “until we figure out what to do next”.

Satter is a fellow at Johns Hopkins University and the Hudson Institute, a U.S.-based think tank. He has written extensively on the history of Russia in the post-Soviet era.

In a prepared statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Satter of violating entry visa regulations.

It said that after entering Russia on November 21, he waited five days before converting his initial visa into a multi-entry visa – a “major breach of the Russian migration law”. (Excerpt from CNN)

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Caribbean

Africa

UNESCO to assist Caricom entrepreneurs UK, Ethiopia strengthen investment

T

he United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), through its International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC) based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and its Caribbean affiliated organisation CARISCIENCE based at the St Augustine Campus of the University of The West Indies, will be mounting a major training workshop to assist the

Caribbean Community (Caricom) region develop its entrepreneurial class.

This workshop titled “Training Workshop on Technopreneurship for the Caribbean” will take place in Trinidad and Tobago from May 5-9.

Its programme, developed by a team of experts mainly from Singapore and Malaysia, is designed to train 35 potential entrepreneurs from Caricom countries in the elements of entrepreneurship in re-

lation to the demand of the knowledge and innovation economy.

Participants will also be taught a systematic approach on how to create and build successful businesses which are based on, and driven, by technology.

ISTIC has successfully mounted this programme in a number of countries including Malaysia, India, South Korea, Kazikistan and, more recently, Kuwait in 2013. (Caribbean News

Now)

E

thiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Tedros Adhanom attended a business lunch organised by UK companies investing in Ethiopia in collaboration with the British Embassy in Addis Abeba.

The UK companies, which included Pitards, JCB, Diageo and Stratex were engaged in Ethiopia in leather, brewery, mining and garment businesses.

They also held a side exhibition of their products,

Tedros and Greg Dorey, the British Ambassador to Ethiopia, visited.

Addressing the meeting, Tedros noted that Ethiopia with its growing market size, its youthful labour force and its conducive investment climate offers great opportunity to British investors.

He reaffirmed the readiness of his office to support their efforts.

“It is through making your investment endeav-

ours in Ethiopia comfortable that we can lure others to come,” he said.

He said the government is doing its level best to address any problems in telecom and energy supplies, foreign currency, financial services or other investment related issues.

Greg Dorey said the bilateral relations between Britian and Ethiopia were developing steadily with a growing UK investment in Ethiopia. (allAfrica)

Asia

North America

Time Warner Cable rejects Charter’s Japan Airlines Boeing 787 grounded smoke seen outside plane US$60B bid as "grossly inadequate" after apan Airlines Co Ltd by regulators following the ter Japan Airlines and All

T

ime Warner Cable has rejected a US$60 billion (£37 billion) bid from rival, Charter Communications, saying the offer price was “grossly inadequate”. Charter had offered US$132.50 a share, with US$83 of that in cash and the rest in its own stock, to buy the firm.

It said it was going public with its offer because of a lack of interest from Time Warner’s management in

its efforts to purchase the firm. But Time Warner said Charter was trying to buy it for a “bargain” price.

“In essence, these guys are just trying to get a premium asset at a bargain basement price,” Rob Marcus, chief executive of Time Warner was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency.

“This makes the job of fending it off rather straightforward. Our shareholders will see it as what it is,

an attempt to steal the company.” Charter said it had made previous offers to buy Time Warner over the past six months, but had been rebuffed.

“They came back to us with a design to be dismissive,” Tom Rutledge, chief executive of Charter, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

“They have not engaged with us. All of the conversations have been one-way,” he added. (BBC News)

Europe

J

said it temporarily grounded one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners on Tuesday after white smoke was spotted outside the plane as cockpit warning lights indicated potential problems with the main battery and charger, and a battery cell appeared to be leaking.

The incident raised new concerns about the 787’s safety and reliability about one year after the global 787 fleet was grounded

overheating of two batteries.

Boeing Co said it was “aware of the 787 issue that occurred Tuesday afternoon at Narita, which appears to have involved the venting of a single battery cell.”

It referred to the process of fumes and heat being channelled outside the aircraft.

Boeing shares fell 0.6 per cent to US$139.87 on the New York Stock Exchange.

The incident came nearly a year to the day af-

Nippon Airways grounded their 787 fleets after two 787 batteries overheated on two different planes in less than two weeks.

Global regulators grounded the worldwide fleet on January 16, 2013.

The 787s remained grounded for more than three months while Boeing redesigned the battery, charger and containment system to ensure battery fires would not put the airplane at risk.

(The Guardian)

Middle East

Inflation finally falls to Bank of England’s two per cent target Dubai Duty Free to launch I online shopping nflation unexpectedly fell in December, returning to the Bank of England’s two per cent target for the first time in four years.

A smaller rise in food prices compared with a year earlier offset a rise in petrol prices and the well publicised increases in gas and electricity bills. High-street discounting in the weeks before Christmas also helped lower the inflation rate, economists said, with toy

and computer game prices falling.

The surprise fall drove the consumer prices index to its lowest level since November 2009, when it stood at 1.9 per cent, the Office for National Statistics reported. Inflation has fallen sharply since June’s high of 2.9 per cent, and economists had expected it to remain unchanged last month at November’s 2.1 per cent.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said in-

flation was likely to remain “close to, if not below, the two per cent target for some time to come”.

The fall in CPI inflation will be a source of relief for the Bank’s monetary policy committee, under pressure to justify its ultra-loose policy stance despite economic growth and falling unemployment in recent months.

Interest rates have been on hold at an all-time low of 0.5 per cent since March 2009. (The Guardian)

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

$338.45

$342.69

CAN

$188.49

$190.66

USD

$205.73

$208.18

U.S.

$1335.00

Cambio

$202.67

Gross

$254,331

Net

$236,527

Selling

$262,426

Indicators as on January 14, 2013 Live Spot Gold

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1245.00

$1246.00

Low/High

$1241.30

$1255.80

-7.40

Change

-0.59

USD GBP EUR

Jan 13 USD GBP EUR

Last: 16373.86

Crude Oil

Price Silver

Platinum

London Gold Fix

Jan 14

Indicators

AM

PM

1248.75 760.97 913.10

1251.50 761.95 915.11

AM

PM

1246.00 757.86 911.89

1245.00 762.56 914.15

US$ per barrel

$106.75 USD per Ounce

$20.26 $1426.00

Change %

-0.47 Change %

-0.15 -15.00

Changes: +115.92

% Change: +0.71

Open:16261.09

High:16373.92

Low: 16261.09

% YTD: -1.22

52Wk Hi:16174.51

52 Wk Lo: 12471.49

D

ubai Duty Free (DFF) has plans to launch an online portal for flyers to purchase goods before they arrive at the airport as part of the company’s upcoming expansion plans.

Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman, revealed the news ahead of his appearance at a career clinic at the Canadian University of Dubai on Tuesday.

“There is so much com-

ing up that is exciting for the company,” McLoughlin said. “In the short term we are launching our online retail offer in the coming months, whereby passengers can order in advance of their travel, as phase one of the launch.

“We also have plans to expand at Dubai International Airport with the opening of Concourse D at the end of the year. And of course, there will be a great focus on

Investors' guide

Al Maktoum International – which is set to become one of the largest airports in the world.”

DFF recorded sales worth Dhs6.65 billion for 2013, an 11.4 per cent rise on 2012, with 25,973,819 sales transactions for the year at an average of 71,161 per day.

Perfume was the best selling product with liquor and gold following close behind. (Gulf Business)

CONTINUED from saturday

Being a savvy investor and a small business owner Realising this fact can be beneficial to small business owners during those tougher times, because the portfolio can be relied on to support the business.

If, on the other hand, the portfolio is built around the idea that growth is the major factor, the portfolio and the business could collapse during rough times.

Another thing to watch for as a small business owner is where you place your investments.

Small business owners are often single-minded individuals. They tend to

keep the bulk of the money within their industry interests. While this might seem like a good idea, if problems within that industry begin to occur, the small business owner’s portfolio could crash rather quickly, as could the small business, leaving the entrepreneur with some real problems.

To remedy this issue, diversity in the portfolio is especially important. In this manner, the portfolio will be protected if problems in the industry begin to occur.

Some of the best in-

vestments for small business owners are those that promise steady, slow growth. Things like mutual funds are a good idea, as they do tend growth steadily.

Most individual stocks, though, should be avoided.

While Wall Street would like to believe that stocks always gain in the end, some stocks simply don’t, and having a string of losses or simply a lack of gains in the long run isn’t going to be good for you or your business. (Business Dictionary)

Business concept – Ethics The basic concepts and fundamental principles of decent human conduct. It includes study of universal values such as the essential equality of all men and women, human or natural rights, obedience to the law of land, concern for health and safety and, increasingly, also for the natural environment.

news

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wednesday, January 15, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

City swamped again by overnight rains, blocked drains …more showers predicted

This flooded section of Orange Walk, Bourda was blocked off

By Vahnu Manikchand

M

ost of Georgetown was under shin-deep water following heavy rains that started Monday evening and continued throughout Tuesday.

With more showers predicted, city residents are bracing themselves for further suffering as the dysfunctional Mayor and City Council is unable to respond.

Flood-prone areas such as the Bourda and Stabroek markets, along with communities like Alberttown, Queenstown, Albouystown, Charlestown, Kitty and Central Georgetown, to name a few, were all flooded.

Guyana Times visited some of the affected areas and spoke with the residents about the damage and losses they suffered.

Bourda Market

The Bourda Market area, as usual, was severely flooded causing stall owners and vendors to suffer major losses in goods. While the market was shut down, flooded roads and persistent rain did not deter vendors from lining the streets and buyers from traversing the waters to make purchases.

Speaking to this newspaper, the

vendors expressed their frustration at the condition they have to work in and the losses they suffered. A single-parent vendor, Deon Hamer, said because of the high level of water, some of her produce in the stall got damaged.

“We can’t sell them to people, them thing gah throw away… also at my home in Vigilance, I lost half bale cement because the water destroy it and I only buy it Friday. I is a single parent and it hard, now I hustling to build me house,” she pointed out.

Blockages, garbage

The woman noted that she had been selling at the market for 45 years and every time it rains a little heavily, they face the same fate.

She said the contractors are the ones who cause blockages of the drains, as well as garbage.

Another vendor, Camille, vented her anger at the condition in which they have to work to earn a living.

“How long we could go on like this?

We need proper drainage. There is a lot of garbage in the market and this could give we bad bacteria in our skin,” she stated.

The angry woman continued that every morning and afternoon they have to pay rent and still, every

These persons are taking measures to prevent the water from entering their store

Another road was also closed due to the heavy rainfall

time it rains they have to be in floodwaters. “What we paying them for?

They suppose to make sure we get proper drainage… this is what we have to go through to make our living,” she said.

Walking with his wife to do their weekly market run, 69-year-old Alex Persaud told this newspaper that it is sad to see the city in this state every time it rains.

“We need to do something about the drainage in the city because every time rain fall, we get flood. The authorities should look into this; because people have to earn a living; when things like this happen it causes a lot of inconvenience for them. It is not healthy for Guyanese people to have to be in flooded waters so often,” stressed Persaud.

Advisory

In an advisory, authorities have warned to expect between 80mm to 100 millimetres (mm) of rainfall over a 24-hour period.

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy told this publication late Tuesday afternoon that while rain has ceased, it will continue for the next 12 hours. He said rains have been persistent in Regions One to Four and along the coast.

In addition, he noted that 20–

40mm of rain is expected. The minister further stated that there is heavy rainfall in the backlands, hence, the water will accumulate on the coast. Dr Ramsammy said there are two pumps which are not working, at Lamaha and JP Santos, both in Georgetown. He noted that all the East Coast Demerara pumps are working.

He went on to say that the sluices at the southern side of Georgetown are working, but because the canals are not cleared, the water flow is slow.

Weather data

The ministry on Monday night had said that the latest weather data led it to believe that coastal areas of Guyana, particularly Regions One to Four, might experience heavy showers during the next 24 hours.

It said some areas might experience rainfall between 80mm to 100 mm during that 24-hour period. “Please take necessary precautionary measures with dealing with possible flooding in certain low-lying areas. Heaviest rainfall is expected over Regions One to Four”, the release said.

Another update was issued late Tuesday afternoon, with the ministry advising that for the next four

Quamina Street is yet again flooded

hours the country can expect moderate to heavy downpours. While the Hydromet Office has predicted a break in extreme weather pattern at 17:00h, heavy downpours can be expected from 19:00h, ranging from 20 to 40mm along the coast.

Downpours

Regions One to Seven and 10 can expect moderate showers and heavy downpours at times, while other regions can expect light to moderate showers. Residents in coastal, riverine and low-lying areas are advised to take the precautionary measures against possible flooding.

According to the ministry, the heavy downpour saw water accumulation been recorded in several areas in Regions Two and Four. Among the areas affected are: Pomeroon, particularly Lillydale, Marlboro, Martindale, parts of Jacklow, David James Scheme, parts of Charity Housing Scheme and farmlands along the bank of Dredge Creek.

Henrietta is affected only in low residential areas.

In Region Three, it said minor accumulation of water has been reported in low areas and drainage channels in Tuschen Housing Scheme, and low farmlands of Bagotsville, Parika Back, and Vergenoegen.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, january 15, 2014

thursDAY, march 11, 2010 | guyanatimesGY.com

archie

By Bernice Bede Osol

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) Keep everything out in the open so you can deal with issues as they arise. You must clear up any misunderstandings with alacrity. Turn a negative into an opportunity.

dilbert

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) Don’t waste the day.

There is too much to do, and too little time. Secrets are apparent, and they must be considered before you make a decision based on limited information.

Calvin and Hobbes

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Take a chance and try something unique. Offer help and look for ways to utilise what you have to offer in more diverse ways. Romance will lead to happiness.

CANCER (June 21July 22) Relationships, partnerships and mingling with people who share your interests and concerns will bring about unusual and exciting opportunities.

Love is on the line, and romance will seal the deal.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) Watch your back today, especially when dealing with financial, legal or medical issues. Take some time to confabulate with trusted allies before taking a chance on someone or something you know too little about.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) Your suggestions will be well-received. Do your best to help out, but don’t let anyone take you for granted. Friendships will grow, and people from your past will reappear.

Peanuts ARIES (March 21-April 19)

SUDOKU

Avoid altercations.

Partnership problems will escalate if you aren’t willing to compromise. A common-sense approach to work and money will pay off. Keep your life simple.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Take a chance, and present what you have to offer. Showing your skills and expertise will be far more effective than talking about them. Actions speak louder than words.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) Stay calm and rely on your knowledge and ability to deliver information with intelligence and passion. Don’t allow anger or emotional tension to come between you and your goals.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) Enjoy the moment, take part in unique activities and develop relationships that will be of use to you in the future.

Alterations to your living arrangements will be comforting.

Tuesday's solution GEMINI (May 21June 20) You’ll be tempted by an offer that may not be legitimate or that is based on hearsay rather than facts. Step back before you suffer a loss.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) Keep an eye on your personal papers and concerns. Be prepared to make a sudden and unexpected move should anyone stand between you and your goals. Protect your assets.

news 19

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Also you can have all evil forces destroyed such as black magic, witchcraft, voodoo, obeyah etc and give powerful protection. We also do upliftment for clearing of land, dredging operations strictly in the interior.

For private and confidential service call 674-2112.

he Education Ministry has announced that 12 schools in Georgetown and one in Region Three will remain closed today due to the heavy rainfall on Tuesday.

The rains caused flooding in several areas in the

city and Upper East Coast Demerara. The schools that are closed today are Tutorial High, East Ruimveldt Secondary, The Bishops’ High, Queenstown Secondary, St Rose’s High, St Ambrose Primary, St Gabriel’s Primary, St Agnes Primary, Comenius

Primary, St Sidwell’s Primary, South Road Nursery and Happy Hearts Nursery, all in Georgetown.

The Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary in Region Three has also been closed.

The ministry in a release said it is monitoring the situation, and will

provide further information about the state of the schools as additional information is received.

“The ministry will alert parents, teachers and students as to when sessions can be resumed at these schools,” the release concluded.

Guyanese author goes international

O

n January 7, 2014, Guyanese Julia Theresa Kanhai officially became a published author when her first book BACKSLIDER was released in the United States.

Already scoring numerous hits on Google, the novel, which was published under Kanhai’s pen name, Terry K, is now available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble in America, Fishpond and Angus Robertson in Australia, and Eden in

England.

The fictional novel set in New Jersey and New York tells the story of rape, revenge and religion, and is intended for adult readers only. Further pointing to the book’s success, one review dubbed it a “…provocative and excellent read!”

For more information on the book, its press release and how to purchase a copy, visit the author’s website at http:// sbpra.com/TerryK or Google “BACKSLIDER by Terry K”.

Kanhai started writing poems at the age of eight and participated in impromptu speaking and elocution competitions in high school. In 2003, she earned a distinction in literature at CXC and was awarded best literary student.

In 2008, she graduated from the University of Guyana with a Bachelor of Arts and has been an English lecturer there since. The author is now writing her second novel titled Dream Guy.

Julia Theresa Kanhai

Car crashes into church – congregation miraculously escape injury; driver, passenger not seriously hurt

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M

The upside down car

any persons were left praising God even more fervently when a Black Toyota Allex PHH 9416 crashed into the Assembly of God Church at Lancaster Village, on the Corentyne Public Road around 20:15h on Tuesday, and all but the two occupants escaped injury. The two occupants suffered only minor injury.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the car was speeding, heading east when he lost control of the vehicle which hit a pile of mud that was on the shoulder of the road, catapulted into the air and flipped several times, spewing debris and mud all

over, before crashing into the church fence and then the church, coming to a stop upside down.

This caused widespread pandemonium in the church which was filled with more than 300 worshipers who were part of a weeklong crusade being held at the time.

According to Sheba Brown, “We were in the middle of the crusade when we hear a loud screech and then a bang with a strong vibration I panicked and ran ‘cause I didn’t expect it.”

According to Pastor Dennis Ram, it was a miracle that no one was seriously injured – what saved him and the others in the

Members of the congregation and occupants of the vehicle are thankful for their lives being spared

church from harm was a stockpile of wood for construction work ongoing on the church’s bridge.

The two occupants of the car, the male driver (no name given) from Kuru Kuru and a female passenger from the nearby village of Alness (only name given as Moore) were quickly rushed to the hospital by members of the church.

Odanna Corlette, another eyewitness, said she is very thankful to be alive as she was at the back of the church where the car hit and had it not been for the wood she would have

been in the hospital. She said after the impact, I run “outside and saw the car and driver but I don’t know who he is, he was covered in blood and had a burst on his head. We helped them out and send them way to the hospital.”

Corlette is urging drivers to be cautious.

The police arrived on the scene a few minutes later and are conducting their investigations. The members of the church offered special prayers for being safe and at the same time asked for the fast recovery of the accident victims.

Be positively influenced by Muhammad – IAC

T

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13 schools closed due to flooding T

Classified Ads $5+VAT per word Call: 226-9921

he Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) wishes to extend greetings to all Guyanese especially those who are adherents of Islam, on the occasion of Youman Nabi, a national holiday, which commemorates the birth (and the death) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (On Whom Be Peace).

The IAC recognises that followers of Islam were

present in this country since the days of slavery, as many of the enslaved Africans were Muslims.

The IAC also recognises that a new influx of Muslims to this country occurred during the period of indentureship, as approximately one out of every five East Indian immigrants was a follower of the teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Whom Peace

Be Upon).

The IAC calls upon all Guyanese to remember the moral pathways outlined by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Whom Peace Be Upon) in which he called all mankind to the way of peace and to the belief in the supreme being, and thus reminded them of the importance of principles such as faith, repentance, honesty, simplicity, equal-

ity, and concerned for the dispossessed and the poor.

The IAC, “in this significant commemoration of one who arguably is the greatest human who ever lived and who preached the value of love, sacrifice and compassion”, called upon all to be positively influenced in our everyday interactions with each other, irrespective of ethnic, religious and class origins.

20

guyanatimesGY.com

wednesday, january 15, 2014

Australian Open 2014….

Nadal, Federer into second round

Cristiano Ronaldo admits to mulling Manchester United summer return

W

Cristiano Ronaldo

Rafael Nadal

F

ormer champions Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer enjoyed safe passages to round two of the Australian Open.

Nadal’s potentially tricky test against Bernard Tomic ended when Tomic retired a set down, while Federer swept James Duckworth aside in straight sets.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin Del Potro also made the second round, but 13th seed John Isner went out.

On a day when temperatures reached 42C, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki also went through.

Azarenka’s quest to become the first woman since Martina Hingis (1997-99) to win three consecutive Australian Open titles began slowly as she struggled against world number 91 Larsson.

Larsson twice served for the first set but, after squandering opportunities at 5-4 and then 6-5, the Swede was punished as the second seed

Maria Sharapova

stepped up a level, winning the tie-break before breaking in the third game of the second set to assume complete control.

“It was a tough first set,” said Azarenka. “The first match can often be tricky and the weather was not helping.

It was important to win that first set and I really found my rhythm in the second set.”

Fifth title

Federer, chasing a fifth Australian Open title, broke Duckworth once in each of the first two sets to take the sting out of any challenge from the 21-year-old, before easing through the third set despite the heat.

It was the sixth seed’s first competitive match since six-time Grand Slam champion Stefan Edberg joined his coaching set-up.

“It’s great fun to be playing in front of him and it’s been a dream come true for me,” Federer said. “I used to watch his matches and get inspired

Roger Federer

to play this great game, so to have him in my corner through the year and this tournament is very special and I can’t be thankful enough.”

Lleyton Hewitt arrived for his 15th Australian Open with high hopes after beating Federer to win the warm-up tournament in Brisbane.

The 32-year-old did manage to equal Andre Agassi’s Open era record of 41 career five-set matches, but it was only in defeat.

“Every Grand Slam loss is tough,” said the former world number one. “There’s no easy ones you know, obviously if you come close to winning.

Even though it’s a first -round match, it’s still frustrating.”

Nadal had been handed a tough draw against Australian Tomic, the world number 57 who was once as high as 27.

However, after taking the first set 6-4, Nadal was granted a path to the second round when Tomic retired to boos from some sections of the

crowd.

“I felt really sorry for Bernard,” said Nadal, who retired from his 2011 Australian Open quarter-final against David Ferrer. “I was in that situation a few years ago and I know how tough is to take that decision.”

Opportunity

Tomic, who reached the fourth round two years ago, said: “This opportunity I had to play against Rafa was huge for me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t compete. It was very difficult for me to say sorry to the crowd.”

Sharapova was playing her first Grand Slam match since Wimbledon, having missed the U.S. Open with shoulder problems that brought an early end to her season.

The Russian led 4-0 but Mattek-Sands, who as usual stood out from the crowd with her purple hair and kneelength black socks, scrapped all the way to the finish. (BBC Sport)

orld player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo admitted he considered returning to Manchester United in the summer.

Ronaldo won the 2013 Ballon d’Or in Zurich on Monday night, the second time he was named best player on the planet after claiming the award back in 2008 as a United player.

The 28-year-old left Old Trafford for Real Madrid the following year in a world-record £80m deal but revealed Rio Ferdinand had called him in the off-season to try and convince him to return to Manchester and the Premier League.

“It was true that Rio Ferdinand spoke to me a lot to try and make me come back to United,” he said afterwards.

“Rio is a great friend of mine, we played many years together at Manchester United and we were neighbours when I was there.

“He’s a fantastic guy and tried to change my mind to go back to Manchester.

“I did think about United, they are still in my heart.

It’s a club where I played for six years, I love the club.

“I have a lot friends there and I wish them the best.”

The Portugal captain, who did not win any silver-

ware with Real last year, secured 1,365 points in the Ballon d’Or voting, with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi having to settle for second place with 1,205 and Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery third on 1,127.

The Real Madrid forward scored a staggering 69 goals in 59 matches during 2013 and helped Portugal secure their place in next year’s World Cup finals by scoring all four goals in their 4-2 aggregate play-off victory over Sweden.

After picking up the award, an emotional Ronaldo, who was previously honoured in 2008, said: “I have no words to describe this moment. Thanks to all of my team-mates at Real Madrid and the national team.

“Without all of their efforts this would not have been possible. I am very happy, it is very difficult to win this award.

“Everybody that has been involved with me on a personal level I have to thank.

My partner, my friends, my son. It is a tremendously emotional moment.”

On his rivalry with Messi, the 28-year-old added: “I have a very professional relationship with Messi, he’s a player I admire. (Skysport)

Pakistan-Australia Test series set to be downsized

A

ustralia’s Test series against Pakistan in October this year will be downsized to the minimum two matches, while the venue for the encounter is expected to be confirmed as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Despite the International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Programme dictating that the tour would consist of three Tests, the PCB has negotiated for the removal of one five-day match to be replaced by a series of limited-overs matches, likely to include three ODIs and a Twenty20 fixture.

While the location of these matches is yet to be finalised, the loss of a Test from the fixture list is certain. This schedule is expected to bring in a more lucrative broadcast fee for the cash-pressured governing body of cricket in Pakistan, forced to subsist on series played in neutral venues since the terrorist attack on the touring Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.

“Our expectation will be that it will be in the UAE, and my expectation is that it won’t be three Test matches, it will probably be two Test matches and a combination of one-dayers,” James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, told ABC Radio during the Sydney Ashes Test.

World Cup

“Perhaps with a view to the fact there’s a World Cup here in Australia and New Zealand in February and March 2015.

“It’s the hosts’ call on that and we’ll work as closely as we can with them, there’s a reciprocal arrangement, we wouldn’t like to be playing a series of less than three but that’s their choice how they balance that, and at the end of the day, Pakistan are not able to host international cricket in Pakistan, their commercial viability is really affected by that, so we respect their position and the decisions they need to make

Australia and Pakistan have not met in Tests since the 2010 series in England © AFP

there,” he said.

Apart from the UAE, the only other plausible venue for a Test match is Qatar, where the PCB is presently hosting a women’s tournament.

However stadium facilities and infrastructure in the nation set to host the next football World Cup are not as advanced or varied as those in the UAE, with Dubai host to the ICC’s headquarters and global cricket academy.

The most recent encounter between the two nations was also played over just two Tests, the “MCC Spirit of Cricket” series which took place in England in the northern summer of 2010 and was split 1-1 when Pakistan won at Headingley after Australia’s victory at Lord’s.

While CA have spoken consistently of their desire for Test bouts of at least three matches’ duration, their own schedule is increasingly light on such series.

Apart from blue-chip contests against England

(five Tests) and India (four), Australia have played twoTest series against New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa in recent times. Their next visit to the West Indies in May 2015 is also scheduled to include the bare minimum two Tests.

Real challenge

“The programme is a real challenge, there’s no doubt for us as administrators it is one of the most difficult things we do and we often talk about it in the context of being a three-dimensional game of chess,” Sutherland said.

“Unlike other sporting codes we don’t have a unilateral ability to work out what our programme might be, we have to see what’s going on in other parts of the world, what country is playing where and how. And we need to work out the international programme and then work out the best we can from the domestic programme,” he added. (Cricinfo)

wednesday, january 15, 2014

guyanatimesGY.com

Six Bajans in CCC Super50 squad

S

ix Barbadians including veteran player/ coach Floyd Reifer have been included in the Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) 14-man squad for the 2014 WICB NAGICO Super50 championship in Trinidad & Tobago from January 28 to February 16.

Reifer, 41, is a former West Indies captain and left-hand middle order batsman, who announced his retirement from the first-class four-day tournament last season.

The other Barbadians are his cousin, Raymon Reifer, an all-rounder, who bats left-hand and bowls left-arm medium-pace; lefthand opening batsman Anthony Alleyne, top order batsman and former captain Kyle Corbin, all-rounder Kyle Mayers, a left-hand batsman and right-arm medium-pacer and experienced off-spinner Ryan Austin.

As announced earlier, the squad will be captained for the first time by Guyanese all-rounder Steven Jacobs, a middle order batsman, who bowls off-breaks.

There are four Jamaicans in wicket-keeper/batsman Chadwick Walton, who is a current West Indies One-

Steven Jacobs

Day International and Twenty20 player, attacking opening batsman Shacaya Thomas, leg-spinner Akeem Dewar and all-rounder Wayne Morgan, who bowls medium-fast; two Windward Islanders – Dominican allrounder Kavem Hodge, a leftarm spinner and right-hand batsman, and Vincentian pacer Kesrick Williams – with left-arm spinner Kristopher Ramsaran of Trinidad & Tobago completing the squad.

No room was found for two of the top players in the three recent CCC trial matches – batsman Kyle Hope, who made 123 runs

without being dismissed in all three matches, which he captained against Jacobs’ XI and fellow Barbadian, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, who took seven wickets for 50 runs off 25.2 overs including seven maidens, at an average of 7.14 and a very miserly economy rate of 1.97.

Based on the selection, however, it would appear that a quota system was in operation but Barbadians, as has been customary, still boasted of virtually half of the squad.

CCC finished second in last year’s Super50 championship, which was won by Windward Islands.

Squad: Steven Jacobs (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Ryan Austin, Kyle Corbin, Akeem Dewar, Kavem Hodge, Kyle Mayers, Kristopher Ramsaran, Wayne Morgan, Shacaya Thomas, Floyd Reifer (Player/Coach), Raymon Reifer, Chadwick Walton, Kesrick Williams.

Management Unit: Steven Leslie (manager), Floyd Reifer (coach), Andrew Simpson (physiotherapist/ trainer), Curtly Ambrose (bowling consultant), Corey Collymore (Assistant Coach).

(www.windiescricket.com))

21

Triple Coronation Cup winner dies

Three-time Coronation Cup winner St Nicholas Abbey

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hree-time Coronation Cup winner St Nicholas Abbey has died after losing a battle against serious illness.

The seven-year-old, who was trained by Aidan O’Brien, won six Group One races but suffered a leg fracture last summer.

His owners Coolmore Stud in Ireland helped the horse when he suffered from life-threatening laminitis.

But Coolmore said St Nicholas Abbey had to be put down on Tuesday on “humane grounds”.

An ante-post favourite for the 2010 Derby at Epsom, he missed the race through injury but went on

to win the Coronation Cup at the course a record three times from 2011 to 2013.

In a statement, Tipperary-based Coolmore said: “This is extremely unfortunate as St Nicholas Abbey had been in terrific form, the laminitis was resolving very well and the fracture had healed better than expected.

“Coolmore would like to thank the surgeons, the international experts and all the staff at Fethard Equine Hospital who gave him such excellent care 24/7.

“We would also like to thank the multitude of wellwishers for all the cards and messages of support for St

Nicholas Abbey.

“He will be buried in the graveyard here at Coolmore.”

O’Brien’s son Joseph guided the colt to victory four times, including historic victory in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs in the United States.

Joseph, then aged 18 years and five months, was the youngest jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race.

“It was my first big win on the world stage and my first big win outside Ireland,” he told the Racing Post.

“What happened to him was very sad. Everyone would have liked to see him stand at stud.” (BBC Sport)

Watts is lone newcomer for High cost for lab report WI Women’s team affecting Asafa’s

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he West Indies selectors on Tuesday announced the 15-member West Indies Women’s squad for the upcoming eight-match series in New Zealand.

The team will again be led by inspirational captain Merissa Aguilleira, who has been at the helm since 2008. There is one newcomer, Vanessa Watts, an accurate right-arm slow bowler and steady lower-order batter from Jamaica.

The 26-year-old Watts was one of the leading slow bowlers during last year’s WICB Women’s Tournament when she helped Jamaica win both the 50-over and T20 titles. She took eight wickets in the 50-overs competition, including best figures of 4-12 against Dominica.

She also had six wickets in the T20 tournament including 2-17 in the final against Barbados.

“We want to welcome Vanessa to the squad for the upcoming series and we know she will fit in very well.

She is one of the players who has been knocking at the door for a while now and she has earned her opportunity,” said Sherwin Campbell, the Head Coach.

“She is a hardworking cricketer and has a very good work ethic. We have a core of really good players and a very cohesive unit going to

defence at drug hearing

Vanessa Watts

New Zealand and I know she will fit into the group and make her contribution when she gets the opportunity.”

The squad includes most of the players who featured in the West Indies Women’s victory in the Tri-Series TriNation last October – including Stafanie Taylor, the twotime ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year; and Anisa Mohammed – one of the most successful wicket-takers in women’s cricket history.

The West Indies women’s team, the World Cup runners-up, will arrive in New Zealand on Monday, February 10 and will have a one-week camp as they prepare to face the White Ferns in three One-Day

Internationals and five T20 Internationals.

The ODIs will be played at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. The first three T20s will be at Queens Park, Invercargill, with the last two T20s at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.

The full squad reads: Merissa Aguilleira (captain/ wicket-keeper), Shemaine Campbelle, Shanel Daley, Chinelle Henry, Stacyann King, Kycia Knight (wicket-keeper), Kyshona Knight, Natasha Mclean, Anisa Mohammed, Subrina Munroe, Shaquana Quintyne, Shakera Selman, Tremayne Smartt, Stafanie Taylor and Vanessa Watts

(www.windiescricket.com)

Asafa Powell (right) and members of his defence team (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

K

ingston, Jamaica – A lab report that could be critical to Asafa Powell’s defence in his drug hearing apparently will not be in evidence because the defence team cannot afford to pay the cost submitted

by Informed Choice Lab in Kentucky, USA. That report is said to have proven that oxilofrine was discovered in the supplement Epiphany D1 consumed by the athlete.

Powell who gave evidence Tuesday morning (January 14) said he researched the product for approximately six hours and in conjunction

with his agent Paul Doyle, they were satisfied it was a legal supplement.

Powell, under questioning from his attorney Kwame Brown, also revealed that he took an extra dosage of the supplement on the morning of the National Trials, held in June last year.

“When I started taking it I should have taken two in the morning for a week, then up the dosage to four pills after. I was not doing that so I decided to take four that morning,” said Powell.

Under cross-examination by Lackston Robinson, Powell admitted that he

was not acquainted with the doping control rules but he knew they existed.

“Sir in this sport there are persons that I have to rely on like my coach and my agent,” said Powell.

Powell, the former world record holder in the 100m, also admitted that he never attended a doping seminar and didn’t know of any in Jamaica.

Powell is facing a drug hearing at the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown Kingston after testing positive for the banned stimulant oxilofrine at the National Trials last June.

(Jamaica Observer)

22 Samuels mending well after surgery Crawford returned unopposed as DCU&SA W guyanatimesGY.com

wednesday, january 15, 2014

S

Shannon Crawford right with Nigel Duguid

hannon Crawford was re-elected unopposed as president of the Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (DCU&SA) when the body held its Annual General

Meeting on Sunday last at the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU).

Nigel Duguid was retained as the vice president while Nolan Hawke will serve as the secretary. Eddie Nicholls

is the treasurer and Arleigh Rutherford the assistant secretary treasurer.

Zaheer Mohamed was elected the Public Relations Officer while the committee members are Ryan Banwari, Javed Persaud, Chetnarine Persaud and Ava Baker.

Speaking after the elections Crawford said that one of the main objectives for 2014 is to strengthen the sub associations which are Upper Demerara, East Coast Demerara, West Demerara and Georgetown adding that Upper Demerara and West Demerara are facing some challenges.

He stated that efforts will be made to give the umpires in Upper Demerara more exposure since not much cricket is being played there.

Gabriel aiming for consistency

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hile many regional players would want to forget the injury-plagued West Indies tour of New Zealand, fast bowler Shannon Gabriel will remember it for the lessons it taught him.

The Sagicor High Performance Centre graduate played the first and second Tests against New Zealand, returning figures of zero for 148 from 27.5 overs and none for 16 from five overs in Dunedin and two for 86 from 25.1 overs in Wellington.

Speaking to the Express during a Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board three-day trial match at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain Couva on Saturday, Gabriel admitted those were not his best performances but said they were experiences he could learn from.

“I think the tour to New Zealand was another learning experience for me in terms of being more consistent and getting a better look at international cricket, how to adjust to different conditions and learning about different things to do with the ball,” he explained.

And the key lessons for Gabriel was the need for consistency, having a plan and being able to execute it when the time is right.

“The international arena

Shannon Gabriel

is much more difficult than first-class cricket and I think the main thing is just to be more consistent in what you are doing and knowing what you want to do with the ball and when to do it,” he added.

Now back in training with the T&T side for the regional Super50 – which will be hosted in Trinidad and Tobago from January 30 to February 17 – Gabriel wants to prove that he can take his game up another notch.

The 25-year-old right arm pacer was selected in the T&T squad for the Super50 and will form part of a T&T bowling attack which will be more reliant on pace to get the job done.

Gabriel, Ravi Rampaul, Kevon Cooper, Dwayne Bravo, Rayad Emrit are the pacers in the side, with Sunil Narine, Imran Khan and Yannick Ottley doing

the the spin bowling.

Jason Mohammed is also a spin option while Lendl Simmons can provide some medium pace support.

Looking ahead to his upcoming assignment, Gabriel said: “I just go out there and give 100 per cent but I have a personal goals for the tournament.

“Most people don’t see me as a limited overs player so I just want to go out there and showcase my ability and prove them wrong,” he said.

“I am taking everything in stride and learning from each game I play and learning from my mistakes.

“At the end of the day you just have to go out there and put the ball in the right areas. We have the experience of Dwayne and Ravi there also so they will be able to help me a along.” (www.windiescricket.com)

Beaton wants to dominate...

Beaton captained Guyana under-19 team 2011 while he also skippered Essequibo at the Guyana Cricket Board senior intercounty competition. He went on to represent the regional team at the under-19 world cup tournament in Australia while he has featured for Guyana in all three versions, four-day, one-day and T20.

Having shown great aggression and hostility during his admirable career so far, many felt he has the potential to already attire in the prestigious maroon colours and without hesitation

he mentioned that he is also looking forward to that with great intensity.

“I am fast and bowling with control and certainly I looking forward for a West Indies’ pick this year, but I know I have to take wickets on a consistent basis and impress the selectors; a good opportunity once selected in the final XI to showcase my talent at the 50-over tournament in Trinidad and Tobago,” Beaton, who missed the inaugural Caribbean Premier League T20 last year owing to injury, divulged.

After facing Ireland,

from back page

Guyana will then tackle Windward Islands and defending champion Jamaica.

Group B consists of the hosts, Leeward Islands, Barbados and CCC. The Guyanese combination will be led by West Indies ebullient T20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell and includes veteran batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan. The last time Guyana tasted success in this version of regional cricket was 2005, but since then the trophy has become an elusive commodity. (www.windiescricket.com)

est Indies batsman Marlon Samuels is hoping to be fit and ready in time for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 championship, which will be held in Bangladesh in March.

The 32-year-old, who played a pivotal role in helping the West Indies lift the Twenty20 title two years ago, is currently recuperating from a hand surgery, which was done two weeks ago.

“The hope is that I will be fit and ready prior to the World Twenty20,” said Samuels.

“The surgery went very well, and I am really pleased with my progress so far.

I would also like to take the time out to thank Dr (Akshai) Mansingh for the excellent work he did during the surgery.

"The swelling has been settling down and I have started to move my fingers since. It is therefore just a matter of allowing it to settle some more before I start therapy and rehab work. So, all in all, I must say that I am happy, and in a matter of weeks I hope to be back in the nets again,” he added.

According to Samuels, the injury, which occurred close to his wrist, has been affecting him in recent times.

It was not, however, until the team’s tour of New Zealand that it acted up and required surgery.

The injury will sideline Samuels for the West Indies Cricket Board NAGICO Super50, which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from January 30 to February 16.

He is also likely to miss Ireland’s tour of the Caribbean, which gets under way on February 19. (www.windi-

escricket.com)

England claim rare tour victory

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ngland won a game on Australian soil for the first time since midNovember, although there were still a couple of areas of concern despite the wide margin of victory.

Alastair Cook’s run of single-figure scores continued and England were in a spot of bother at 5 for 129 halfway through the match but Gary Ballance and Jos Buttler struck fifties before the bowlers dismantled the Prime Minister’s XI in 26 overs.

With Mitchell Johnson in line to return for Australia in Brisbane on Friday, having sat out the first ODI, footage of Cook and Joe Root falling to the pace of Brett Lee – 37 years old but still with a click in his heels – will doubtless make the video dossier compiled by Darren Lehmann’s analysts.

Root followed up a 23-ball 3 on Sunday with 1 off 14 balls in Canberra and, without a half-century since making 87 in the second Test, his form is a cause for concern.

Ravi Bopara was again deployed as England’s fifth bowler and he ran through to tail to produce eye-catching figures of 4 for 3 from three overs.

The rest of the attack all performed creditably, against a batting line-up that seasoned youth with a couple of experienced hands; Boyd Rankin, Chris Jordan, Tim Bresnan and James Tredwell sharing five wickets.

“It’s great to get a win.

It’s going to be a moraleboost for everyone, no matter who it is against,” Buttler said afterwards, his comments reflecting just how difficult this tour has become for England since they beat a CA Invitational XI in Sydney two months ago, in the final warm-up before the Tests.

“There were a lot of positives that came out of today. We got up to a challenging total and put them under pressure straight away with the ball.

"We had a lot of energy and we really tried to target early wickets and we got those. Everyone is pleased to get a win and hopefully we can take that momentum forward to Brisbane,” he said.

As in Melbourne, which ended in a six-wicket win for Australia, Cook won the toss

England enjoyed a rare victory on their tour of Australia after beating a Prime Minister’s XI

and chose to bat, only to be sent back inside the first over – this time caught behind off a short ball from Lee. Root also did not last long but Michael Carberry, in the side for Ian Bell, steadied the innings with 47, only for another wobble to ensue.

Ballance compiled 56, with just three boundaries, and Buttler then added 80 in partnership with Bresnan to help post a competitive total - perhaps aided by Lee only bowling seven overs, due to the heat.

With Steven Finn again left out – his tour remains stuck in a rut – and Ben Stokes rested, Rankin and Jordan continued to lead the

pace attack.

Jordan made the opening incision, as Peter Handscomb dragged on for 8, and Rankin then struck twice in consecutive overs.

When Brad Hodge, another former Australia international in his late thirties, who top-scored with 28, picked out Carberry in the deep trying to slog Tredwell’s offspin, the PM XI were struggling on 4 for 58.

Bopara then had a hand in each of the last five wickets to fall, including a runout, as the end came quickly. The chances of Australia being similarly obliging at the Gabba appear slim.

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD England XI won by 172 runs 14 January 2014 - day/ night (50-over match) England XI innings (50 overs maximum) AN Cook* c †Handscomb b Lee 1 MA Carberry c Lee b Cutting 47 JE Root lbw b Lee 1 GS Ballance c AC McDermott b Muirhead 56 EJG Morgan b Muirhead 4 RS Bopara c Spaseski b Muirhead 18 JC Buttler† b Bird 61 TT Bresnan c BR McDermott b AC McDermott 36 CJ Jordan not out 11 JC Tredwell not out 18 Extras: (b 4, w 5, nb 2) 11 Total: (8 wickets; 50 overs) 264 Did not bat: WB Rankin Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Cook, 0.5 ov), 2-12 (Root, 4.4 ov), 3-87 (Carberry, 18.4 ov), 4-98 (Morgan, 21.4 ov), 5-129 (Bopara, 25.5 ov), 6-149 (Ballance, 29.5 ov), 7-229 (Bresnan, 45.1 ov), 8-236 (Buttler, 46.4 ov) Bowling : B Lee 7-1-22-2, JM Bird 10-0-58-1, AC McDermott 8-047-1, CA Rose 5-0-18-0, BCJ Cutting 10-0-63-

1, JM Muirhead 10- 0-52-3 Prime Minister’s XI innings (target: 265 runs from 50 overs) PSP Handscomb† b Jordan 8 LA Pomersbach c †Buttler b Rankin 1 BJ Hodge c Carberry b Tredwell 28 BR McDermott c Root b Rankin 1 M Spaseski c Root b Bresnan 13 BCJ Cutting c Ballance b Bopara 9 CA Rose run out (Bopara) 8 B Lee* b Bopara 12 JM Muirhead b Bopara 0 JM Bird lbw b Bopara 0 AC McDermott not out 1 Extras: (lb 1, w 10) 11 Total: (all out; 26 overs) 92 Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Handscomb, 3.2 ov), 2-18 (Pomersbach, 4.6 ov), 3-24 (BR McDermott, 6.6 ov), 4-58 (Hodge, 16.4 ov), 5-58 (Spaseski, 17.5 ov), 6-74 (Rose, 21.3 ov), 7-76 (Cutting, 23.3 ov), 8-77 (Muirhead, 23.5 ov), 9-91 (Bird, 25.1 ov), 10-92 (Lee, 25.6 ov) Bowling: WB Rankin 8-0-392, JC Tredwell 4-0-10-1, CJ Jordan 5-0-13-1, TT Bresnan 6-1-26-1, RS Bopara 3-0-3-4

wednesday, january 15, 2014

guyanatimesGY.com

23

Super50 squad well balanced – manager Griffith silent on criteria used to select squad

By Rajiv Bisnauth

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Alvin Johnson

Rayon Griffith

Shiek Mohamed

Christopher Barnwell

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Ramnaresh Sarwan

uyana’s squad for the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board’s NAGICO Super50 tournament is one of the most well-balanced units comprising the maximum number of match-winners, according to team manager Alvin Johnson, who feels it is the best chance for the Guyanese to bag their tenth coveted title.

The squad will be led

by West Indies Twenty20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell and includes nine players who have represented the regional side in Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20s.

“We have an extremely well-balanced team and the best part is everyone seems to be in form,” Johnson said.

Johnson believes the team has the advantage of having a strong batting lineup which will excel on batting friendly wickets. He said the team also has enough firepower in bowling to compete in the tournament.

He also believes the team’s flexibility provided by the presence of batting and bowling all rounders will be a major asset in the tournament.

Guyana has the services of the prolific Shivnarine Chanderpaul, former West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, West Indies middle-order batsmen Narsingh Deonarine and Assad Fudadin, and West Indies A team batsman Leon Johnson in their line-up.

team is that they have a lot of bowling and batting allrounders, which gives us a lot of options,” he said.

The bowling also hinges around fast bowlers Ronsford Beaton and Wintz, while Anthony Bramble is the wicketkeeper.

ment,” Johnson said.

“I think this team is a lot more mentally fit and united, while the presence of Shiv and Sars is also a positive input given their experience as West Indies players.

I would say everyone is in high spirits and eager to get into action,” he concluded.

squad and the omission of allrounder Zaheer Mohamed, leg-spinner Amir Khan and batsman Jonathon Foo. However, this publication tried to ascertain the criteria used by the selection panel, but Griffith did not ndivulge any information when asked on Monday.

“The Guyana Cricket Board will send out a release,” Griffith said.

fending One Day champions the Windward Islands.

The Guyanese will then play Jamaica on February 4, before taking on the defending champions on February 7.

When the action bowls off month-end, the Guyanese will be aiming for a 10th regional 50-over title, the last of which was achieved in 2005 when they defeated Barbados in near darkness in the final of the KFC Cup at the GCC ground, Bourda.

Prior to that, Guyana reigned supreme in 1980, 1983, 1985, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2003.

Guyana’s 14-man squad reads: Robin Bacchus, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (vice-captain), Narsingh Deonarine, Christopher Barnwell (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble (w/k), Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton and Paul Wintz.

All-rounders

The all rounders include skipper Barnwell, Royston Crandon, and the likes of Devendra Bishoo, Veersammy Permaul and Paul Wintz.

“Our batting looks very strong, and if the wickets suit the spinners, we have some quality spinners in the side, the likes of Bishoo and Permaul, who will exploit such conditions” Johnson said.

“The good part of the

Newcomer

Former national Under-19 opener Robin Bacchus is the lone newcomer in the team, with fellow left-hander Trevon Griffith being the other opener in the squad.

On the other hand, Johnson declared that he is satisfied with the team’s preparation to date.

He applauded the Guyana Cricket Board in taking the initiative to have two fitness experts from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Patrick King and Carl Stephenson, as part of the squad rigorous training regime.

“This is the ideal preparation for such a tourna-

Silent

Meanwhile, following the announcement of the squad, Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Rayon Griffith remains tight-lipped on the criteria used to select the squad.

While the 14-man squad is mixed with youth and experience, the announcement of the squad has led to the resignation of former national wicketkeeper/batsman Sheik Mohamed, who served as a member of the Senior Selection Panel.

Mohamed is also questioning the selection criteria used to select the Super50

Tournament

The NAGICO Super50 competition will be held from January 30 to February 15 in Trinidad and Tobago, featuring Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, the Windward Islands, the Leeward Islands, the Combined Campuses and Colleges and ICC affiliate side Ireland.

The Barnwell-led Guyana team will open its quest for honours against Ireland in a Zone A match on January 31.

The other two teams in Zone A are Jamaica and de-

Georgetown cycling season AAG to roll out 2014 plans - Hutson says Road to Rio still a work in progress pedals off next week

By Treiston Joseph

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Hassan Mohamed

Raynauth Jeffrey

Raul Leal

he local cycling season in Georgetown will commence on January 25 with the 21st annual Ricks and Sari Agro Industries Limited 11-race cycle programme at the National Park inner circuit.

The event which is organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed pedals off at 9:00hrs and will mark another busy year for cyclists.

The card includes 12 to 14 yrs Open (3 laps), BMX Boys 12 to 14 yrs (3 laps), Veterans U-50 yrs (5 laps), BMX Boys 9 to 12 yrs (3 laps), Veteran O-50 yrs (5 laps), BMX Boys 6 to 9 yrs (2 laps), Upright Cyclists (5 laps), BMX Girls 6 to 12 yrs (1 lap), BMX Boys Open (3 laps), Juveniles and Schoolboys & Invitational feature events.

Last year, Raynauth Jeffrey, who had clocked

One Hour 16 Minutes 56 Seconds, won the feature 35-lap race while Raul Leal was victorious in the juveniles 10-lap in a time of 25 Minutes 12.34 Seconds.

Leal will resume competitive cycling after recovering fully from the careerthreatening injuries he sustained in May last following a road accident in which he suffered a broken right forearm and right leg while training.

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resident of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Aubrey Hutson believes that 2014 will be a better year for athletics.

"The essence of athletics is competition, we are going to have two national seniors this year to make up for 2013 but we are still working on the calendar, we are still to meet with the coaches to make sure they agree and approve of the calendar," he said in a telephone interview with Guyana Times Sport.

“We have a lot of stuff planned; my word to the athletes would be to continue to train hard because the competitions are going to come.

"There is going to be a lot of work this year and we are looking at beefing up our field events, especially after Inter Guiana Games (IGG) last year…so we are looking to see how best we can make

Aubrey Hutson.

the field events attractive,” Hutson told this publication.

Jumping standards

He noted that jumping standards for the high jump are currently on the way to Guyana from the USA, while the AAG will be looking to modify the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) long jump pit.

During the telephone interview, Hutson touched on

the reason for the incomplete Road to Rio plan for the Summer Olympics.

“To put a plan out there in isolation is not what we want to do; we just don’t need to put a plan out because people want a plan, what we are doing right now is that we are going through the methodology of the plan.

“We are looking at what we want to be achieved and pointing out who we believe can achieve them and get there, but it’s not a case that we are not working on something.

"We want the plan to be firm and to last so that it can be tested every six months to find progress and make changes if we need to,” Hutson said.

Meanwhile as it is midway through the first month of 2014, the first competition of the AAG is slated for January 29 as a cross country event before heading into the developmental meets during February.

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

wednesday, January 15, 2014

TOP SCORES

Beaton wants to dominate Super50

A

c o n f i d e n t Ronsford Beaton is looking to produce good performances for Guyana at the imminent West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) NAGICO Super50 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.

The right-arm quickie has expressed firm optimism of dominating with the ball after declaring his preparations are great, both physically and mentally. He is 21 years old and has already played plenty of cricket and has no doubt matured well in a relatively short time.

“Definitely, I want to perform to the best of my ability and come out with a good economy rate; I [am] not the fittest, but I feel I am in good shape with my fitness so I am really looking forward to do well for my country,” Beaton related told Guyana Times Sport via email.

Guyana will begin their campaign against invitational touring

Ronsford Beaton

INSIDE TODAY’S SPORT

team Ireland on January 31 at the famous Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, having been placed in Group A. Beaton, who made his List A debut last year February against Leeward Islands in Antigua, said the side is well-balanced to make a huge impact on this occasion.

“We have a good team to compete and I think with the warmup matches we are definitely ready to make our country proud. We have experienced and talented players and that gives me the confidence of predicting a great outcome for us,” an enthusiastic Beaton asserted.

Only last September when Beaton toured with the West Indies A team to India, renowned versatile all-rounder Yuvraj Singh recognised his natural talent and rated him as a young Curtly Ambrose, a former West Indies and distinguished fast bowler. turn to page 22

Ajmal wants more spin in Sharjah

AAG to roll out 2014 A plans P23

fter listless performances in the first two Tests in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has called for pitches that provide more support for spinners. He rued the lack of help from the surfaces in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, after managing only five wickets in those two matches, but has vowed to bounce back in the Sharjah Test.

He was wicketless in the second innings of the first Test for 49 overs, conceding 115 runs, and had to wait another 28.2 overs in Dubai to take his first wicket, making the stretch 77.2 overs. In a 32-Test career, Ajmal has never had to wait as long for a wicket: his previous longest wait was 41.1 overs, in the first innings against England at Lord’s in 2010 and he ended with figures of 2 for 126 from 44 overs.

“I have been playing in Dubai for the last six years, but haven’t seen such a bad response here,” Ajmal said in Sharjah. “The ball used to turn

in Dubai during the previous matches that we played, but this wicket was good for fast bowlers and was not supporting the spinners. I did a lot of hard work but couldn’t get a result, but I have never been disappointed with my cricket and will try to perform.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had flown their own curator to the UAE along with Intikhab Alam to help the local curators prepare the pitches in UAE for the series, but Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said the tracks are not the type they wanted for the series. For Sharjah there are two pitches being prepared, and Ajmal suggested the tracks will be batsmen friendly.

Since May 2011, Ajmal has bowled 1931.3 overs - the most by any bowler in international cricket during the span - but isn’t worried about the workload. “We don’t play that much Test cricket there’s no workload,” he said.

“I was rested for Afghanistan match, I did rest in South Africa, I was rested during the series

against the West Indies so whenever team management gives me rest I do get and whenever they think I should play I am completely positive with this.

“No there’s no pressure either, it’s cricket and there are ups and downs,” he insisted. “I don’t feel that if the performance is not good in the last two matches I should be disappointed, I am doing the hard work and will bounce back. The ball isn’t spinning and they are playing cautiously, if I had got some spin the result would have been different, they are relaxed while facing me and keep the bat inside and that’s why they are playing me well.”

When asked a good bowler is always a good bowler, regardless of any sort pitch is, he replied: “The wicket was very slow and whatever abilities I had used it, but I didn’t get any support even on day five.

The ball didn’t spin, but yes it shouldn’t be a problem and I am not disappointed, I always play positively and inshallah I will do better.”

Saeed Ajmal: “I have been playing in Dubai for the for the last six years, but haven’t seen such a bad bad response here”

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